Brian the Dane

It's all good. It's in fact, all very good. Excellent even. It's just the excitement building. The AAR is a kicker tease of delight and we all want Christmas. Now. I hear voices saying, patience grasshopper. (since the game is newer and somewhat more different, reading the manual is like a nice appetizer). Close it is. It's all good. Very good. I've never been dissapointed by a Hubert Cater (and team) release. Ever.

I've already warned my wife, about the release of this game. So planning ahead, I bought her a Mercedes to keep her smiling. Not! I can't afford that! Besides, I'll just make up later. Thank god my PC is portable - I'm working late, hon. No, Really. God I'm stressed! too. On all fronts! It's the triple entente all over again! Be home as soon as I can.

Goodness this meal looks tasty. And yes, I am hungry enough.

Well, I'm not going to Myanmar, nor Cuba or even Denmark. Nothing exciting like that. I am thinking of going to the grocery store though! Pretty excited about that! Anyways, my guess for the release date looks to be a little off, as it's a few hours ago. The after action report is such a tease! I'm looking at the screen shots and thinking this is going to be so cool. It's kind of like seeing and smelling a great meal and being told you're not hungry enough yet. Wait awhile. I hear voices saying learn patience, grass hopper. But it's all good. I'm looking forward to it. It looks like the Big Deal. My new guess for release date is February 28th, 2011. Now that I'm reconciled to it, it's all good. But man, that meal looks good!

It's idle fun, but and fundamentally unimportant, but since I can't storm the trenches yet, why not? I'm guessing the game will be released on February 19th, 2011 at approximately 2:11 am. But that's a rough guess. However I will also say that's Eastern Standard Time. So for me, the actual release date will seem like 5:11 am. Now that's just a speculation. I could be off by a couple of minutes (and no, I have no inside knowledge). I think the World War Two expansion will be out in early April (say, April 3rd at 4:13 pm, eastern standard time). I think also, this will be the best release yet.

That's a great questions And a great answer. I'm reading between the lines and I can smell the sulfer in the trenches coming soon. Very soon

Your older bones are not very happy bones on this subject, and though I like and appreciate all your comments and insights, and more, I'm having question marks about those older bones...sad question marks... Actually, not really. Because I've not seen games by Fury Software come out much later than was expected. Plus note the silence of King Hubert - that means he's kind of busy (and it's not that he's busy brooding). And besides, well, I don't got any besides. So anyways... Well, I don't have any of those either.

I don't think you're going to get an answer to that. Probably because Hubert and company are totally swamped doing the final touches on this upcoming majestic creation of intense gaming and genre. But also, because I think it's going to be a surprise. I feel in my bones it's definitely February, but when in February is the question I'm eager to know. I had read it was mid- to late February. One thing I'm sure of is that we won't be told it's next week on the tenth at 3pm. (though one can wish). I'm checking here everyday though

There's lot's, but to keep this short... 1) It's be a great surprise if this were, like, released on Tuesday, February 1 - kind of like a February fools day. 2) I'd like a special viking unit for Denmark. We know they avoided trench warfare because they had their viking boats to get them around and up and down the rivers. 3) Seriously though, I'd like if there were more than two difficulty levels. With the experience, we've got .5, 1., 1.5, and 2 as I recall. But for difficulty levels there's only 1 and 2, and both just kill me. I'd like .5, 1, 1.5 and 2. I know I'm asking for this late in the stages of release, but maybe if and when a patch is needed (especially for the Viking unit!). Meanwhile, can't wait. Well, I can, technically, since I have to, but that aside, can't wait.

Frankly, I don't think I'd be a customer of a WW3 game with the Strategic Command Engine. The whole movement module would have to be radically overhauled. Afterall, with basically a two week turn cycle, jets could move just about any where, ships would be incredibly slow...just thinking about it makes me start seeing potential fault lines.... World War One with the SC engine. I think it works. Once done, I also see how things could go futher back in time - Civil War, War of Independance, Franco Prussia war as a scenario, lots of opportunities. Similarly, Korean War could probably be tackled as a scenario somewhere along the lines. I just don't think the SC engine is made for a circa 1980's WW3 scenario. I admit it's a neglected area, don't get me wrong. But SC has a niche, that I think it would need to evolve slowly out of, if we're to keep receiving the quality that we have. But that's just my nine cents worth...

I'm buying this game the day it comes out! Maybe the day before it comes out! I have no complaints on the game engine. I don't mind squares. The games are nail biting. I don't think Hubert would be going to WW1, if he didn't know what he was doing.

But I can't wait. This is going to be so cool. I've always felt that the SC game engine would fit the WW1 era perfectly. This game is going to sell. Hmmm, thinkin Christmas is coming soon...

This is a great AAR! Thanks Guys. I will read it to the end. I still think the Germans have a chance to take over all of Europe. (well not really, but it's fun to say)

I'm curious. How much readiness does Stalin get if Hitler doesn't agree to divide Poland. In my games as allies (always allies), I've never seen the computer not divide Poland (in Patton Drives East, it sometimes happens). There are so many permutations of what can happen in this game, that even though there is less tactical than the others (or so it seems to me), there's alot going on. Against the computer, as allies again of course, Japan took that Portugese island without permission, and suddenly Portugal became an ally. Not a useful one, but a fun one. Anyways, this doesn't have anything to do with the AAR's, which I'm totally enjoying reading, and one day will get to start and make once I'm good enough not to get stomped on right away (I play so linear).

Hey Folks, I just want to say thanks for the AAR's. They are great, and very great, and I learn alot from them, plus I get to enjoy the game vicariously. Soon, I'm going to want to challenge, but I'm no where near good enough. At this point, I'm still playing Allies, with the Axis getting only a plus one experience bonus. Anyways, if I could ask, I'd like to hear a bit more about how some of the decision points impact you and the game. Like not accepting Vichy surrender seems so far a bad mistake, so I don't know why one wouldn't do it always. Same with Dividing Poland. Are you having India declare war on the Axis right away? And if so, why? What about the free French. It seems expensive to me, but I do it anyways. Anyways, great reading. Thanks Rambo, for getting it somewhat organized so we can track them better.

Hi Folks, Been away a spell. Reading up on everything, but then the passwords changed. Anyways, love reading the AAR's and would love to see more of them, but this post isn't about that. I've been playing the Alliance of Evil scenario. And I have to say, I love it! It reminds me of the 1938 scenario in Patton Drives East. And as the Allies, it's just not easy, even on normal settings. Just sharing thoughts, and it's good to be back. I heard mention somewhere about patch 1.02, but haven't seen it. Is that actually out yet? Anyways, great game and hope all is well.

Hi Gamers and Hubert and co designers, I don't care what anyone says, well I do, but that's an aside. Well Done! I finished the game as the Allies. That's the side I play most in all the games in the SC universe. But that's just me. I am afterall, almost a Swede. It's a tough game! I tried at a higher level for the first few times, and I...well got crushed...So this time, I played at the minimal settings... I enjoyed. Alot. The map is tight. And takes time to learn and like, but in some ways, that's good, as the AI plays fast and there isn't quite the wait that there was in Pacific Strike. I won, in May 45. Knowing that I was going to win, I took my time as Germany started to fall apart. Nicely done by the way. Of course there is a panzer army or corp defending Berlin... I kind of got the whole Ethiopean (spelling), thing and Addis Abba, but i think for balance that's stretching it a bit. Suggestion: Let England be as weak as it was down there, so you don't need to alter reality to make England as strong as it was in PDE and it's predecessor (by the way, Patton Drives East is still my favorite, what with sudden strike, where the game starts before September 1.) Italy really didn't have anything down there. Anyways, I saw that i would need to reinforce and transport those lovely headquarter in lower Africa to get the support I needed, in order to fight up in North Africa. And I did. And then the game went apace. I used the Russian engineer to build a line up from Rostov and it worked very well. Suggestion: No engineer for Russia. They are very good and very effective, and once the fort is built, slide in even a corps, and the hex is protected and protected. In PDE, it worked sometimes, but it was a nail biter. Tech investment... With England, i started hard with convoys, i forget the tech term, and got very lucky. Having played all the other SC's, I had learned that the key is MMP's, so maximize as best as one can, investment there. I did. Got lucky in China, then Russia and even England. The US was close behind. So, at beginner level, my MMPs were ramping up. The mountains of China helped me hold firm. Same with Russia, or USSR. I didn't lose Moscow. In the SC games, I know I will. This time though, I didn't. And I'm not that good at this. Suggestion: For Industrial Tech investment, let it happen, but have the countries ramp up a bit more historically, like we know it happened. In Pacific Strike, the U.S. gets some gratuitous ramp up. The tech investment enhances, or, perhaps not. So the tech perhaps sway the history by twenty or so percent, from history. But even with no investment, they ramp up MMP developmenet anyways. Russia did, with the new industry in the east. The US, linear to Pacific Strike did, as well. It's a very strong influencer. In all cases and countries, i made sure to have two chits for Industrial Tech, and got very lucky. The good guys all hit five before too long. If I may say, make the ramp up somewhat scripted, as we know the allies would, though Britain less so (if fact, i would almost suggest, as they wear down, like we know they did, their tech advances would help keep them even.) Anyways, thoughts, reflections and unwanted suggestions... Good game. I like it. (by the way, War in Flames has been in development for 11 years and is not even yet getting close). Ths is GC, and I praise it. (and though don't pay me yet to do so. smile). Thoughts, many thought, for my first game finished. And yes, now I will paly it again. Good job, Hubert and crew....

Smile. That's a long list. Of course the battle of Denmark isn't in the top ten.

Thank you, Bill. Makes sense. I just had to ask. Asking silly questions is part of my job description.

This is just a curiousity question... Nantes is the title of the portcity in France... Now I've seen and read that Cherborg was a key port initially. And Brest was an even larger and more important port as well and critical to the unloading of supplies. Le Havre was not, as it was badly damage and of not much use until much later (as far as I know). I find very few references to Nantes in the history books as far as it's key relevancy to the landings in France... So the curiosity questions is: Why did you choose Nantes as the key port in Western France?

The engine, at its core, seems like one of the best engines I've yet seen or played in all the years I've been playing...Over the years of SC, I've had many of the onemoreturnitis virus's, and I just couldn't fix it. Just one more turn. No wait. Just one more after that I meant. I have tried to do a mod, but reading what being said on this post and others, I'm becoming very tempted to try my hand... Great engine...

I am totally impressed! That is exceptionally supportive from the developers side. One comment I would like to make here... Relative to the discussion about planes wiping out corps or tanks or armies... Air power was devastating, especially as the war went on. Destroying supply and cohesion and moral and all of that. Units were not segmented on a map with squares or hexes. They were not separated by counters of various representative strengthes. That is simply so that we, the players, can have playability that approaches what historically happened and give us, the players, a feel of the contest. I think the planes issue is being taken out of context a bit. But that is, of course, just an observation...

I'm not sure, but it could also be that your HQ's are not at full strength. Or, I could be completely off base. So that would lead to ask, are less than full strength HQ's less effective than full strength HQ's? I thought they were (otherwise I'm needlessly bringing mine up to full strength). But some how I think that may have something to do with it...

I've got to say. Criticism is good, but not if it's all critical.... So far, i like. I like what was before, and i like what is now. Is this a poor release? is this a bad game? hmmm, I won't answer that answer that. I am not a critic. But i will say my opinion.. I have always wanted the true World War event. This is it. And I think it's good. Some of it may seem a bit WW1, at times, but no, it's not that way. It's just a smaller planet, so the tiles are tight. I'm only into 41, having restarted three times for not getting it near right. If you want some criticism, I will find it, but so far i haven't found cause. They don't pay me to say this (would be kind of nice). I got what i wanted, and like it. Global War World Two, all connected...

Ah! Now I think I understand something much better. I thought increasing the AI actually just made the computer smarter. Now I think the AI is already smart and increasing the difficulty levels and experience makes the game more replayable once someone starts achieving some mastery of the game....Is that in fact the case? That maybe be why I've had to restart as the allies three times. I do, will just go with standard averages. I maybe be an outstanding person. I am not an outstanding player. (no, I'm not good at reading rulebooks when there are more important things to do, like playing the game!)