Liam

Well, Sombra. You're right on one point, the Siberians would've never abandoned the Far East if Axis Japan would've possibly threatened them. However they had their hands tied with China and the VAST Pacific-IndoChina-etc... SO it is unlikely that the Japanese would've posed much threat the Russians. Especially since Japan had already invaded the Far East and failed miserably in the 30s. Also it's hard to imagine that the British Empire could've moved it's seat of Government as the Economic Powerhouse of England could've never been moved, though really Moscow-Leningrad-Stalingrad are one of the few suitable Governments for the USSR too... Also the Industrial-Rail Centers of that Nation. All the movement of Capitols happens more or less due to the fact that there is no feesible alternative to balance out the game. England is too easy to take, and it would've not surrendered "ever!" Not under the Axis Tyranny by 1940! Despite how people feel toward the English abandoning the French, they had no alternative. Only Italy and France are shortchanged in the Major Power surrender, they really don't have an alternative to jump to. The US How Guard? Well, a nation that could've conscripted a Million men a few weeks, should get some bonuses. Plus as big as Continental Europe alone! Just having the USA surrender is completely gay, there is no way that it would've ever surrendered, it didn't in 1812 when the Brits burnt it's whitehouse, only after every territory was taken. Look at the Civil War... Bitter Bloody People

88s were great, but so was the bofors from Sweden, 40mm, like an automatic antiair unit! I think different antiair for different situations.

The reason most the Amphibious Operations of WW2 were a success I think is the virginity of them. That the Amphibious vs Land Forces knew in that era they must have great Numerical Superiority. In nearly every conflict during WW2 that was the case. Plus on a Tactical level a lot of Pacific Islands don't need a real Port or City to feed them, nor do many regions in Europe. May not be efficient supply but it works. One could say that the BEF leaving France was in a way a makeshift Amphibious Action and unexpected by the Germans. In most cases all Amphibious Actions had total AirPower and NavalPower also. Ensuring the first phazes success, secrecy-recon-landing unhindered

Alright, here is for some of the souls here to contemplate I decided to reopen my Hearts of Iron II Doomsday Game, and learn it. Just because I was bored and I wasn't able to play Europa Universalis III, my Machine is too ancient First off I will say this, at the fastest Speed the game moves, I was able to make it to 1939 in 10 hours from 1936. This was build time, I decided to play Italy and I nearly Doubled it's Income to Create More of a War Machine to fight against this AI. I have by the way played 4-5 Previous games that are incomplete to prepare myself Italy's Air force is modest but the advanced in the World, after 4 years of Conflict on and off she has given away Libya and Ethiopia in exchange for Yugoslavia and Greece. In her attempts to invade France she captured 1 province and nearly was defeated until Hitler bailed her out then back at France with my 3 new improved Panzer Divisions, the only units I've been able to create all game! The level operation is Divisional, the Technology Development is as lowly as a Pak Gun, or a Battlefield Doctrine, i.e. Static Defense, or Attrition Warfare. The difference in 1 slider choice or another is about never more than 5-10% on the whole... The difference ultimately is that this game is about 100-200Xs more complicated and indepth than SC2 including the WAW package. I decided to quit my first game as Italy as I was winning too easily. Their AI is easy to beat as well, and not too the smartest, my current game I've gone the route of History, make conquest Vichy and All of North Africa-MiddleEast and Turkey, I think what I shall attempt to accomplish is to learn the game engine, so far I've not lost any units and only reloaded saves and autosaves due to bugs I can imagine a mutliplayer game of this requiring at least 10 hours a week, to do a few years. At least! If there are frequent combats, perhaps double that, as the game is RTS not turn based. Strategic Command 2 is nowhere near this level and their WAW package doesn't even graze the surface of that sort of detail. It's still in it's simplicty the original package with a few new units, and improved Map, some improved features. It's much more cosmetic and I doubt a game will take much longer than Vanilla SC2 once very efficient strategies are studied. I did the comparison and the Example of another leading wargame to make people griping understand that SC2 WAW is still very much Strategic and Abstract, you're not controlling 200-300 individual units, 20 combats at once, 15-25 different aspects to your Government.

Sorry to say but the tactical aspect of SC2 is long understood, ever since SC1 was more IPed than SC2! It takes a long time to finish a game, I doubt a AA gun, will change it much, just the time we think and plan our strategies. On Average it takes me 1 hour per Year of game time in SC2 vanilla, and that can double by '42-'43

I can get in this some times. One feels that the battlefield is being dictated to them, rather than the reverse. Everything starts to go wrong. Your mind starts shooting off, "Damnit! Why did I do that?" That's when you start asking yourself, "WAIT NOW! What intelligent move can I make to stem the tide, what can do with what I've got that will move things a little bit in my favor!" As the Allies, timing and patience are of the utmost as well as with the Axis. If the Allies do not commit and decide to the right battles and the right places, "game over." This is only a case of that nothing else, Good Battle Warriors

Beware Colin about taking advice or striking out in SC2 minicombats, the point of SC2 isn't always protecting 5-10 objectives but rather using all those garrisons in a focused objective to obtain 5-10 valuable resources, both alleviating pressure on your defense and killing maximum effect. Offensive Doctrine, something I'm a bit so so at myself... Level4 Tanks are deadly in this game even without the new evolutions in WAW.. It means the Axis are fully geared, it is likely the USSR can only hide in Mountains and hold... while the West will have to pull off a miracle, unless the forces are equivelant or greater than in # to take them on 4-5 Heavy Tanks means the Axis are going for the Ultimate End quickly

Very interesting Allied strategy, with the Russians. As for what I see in the Images, the Axis had a Speartip, the Russians a Gap for it to be pushed into and the only hope would be to let the spear in to the wound and to bleed the Axis. That is what I think the original hope was for JG, as there is no way for the Russian Military to destroy that Military form it's position... I have to say that JG and Terif have a greater Mastery of Positioning and Deployment than the rest. Very very important, and here recon and and ancitipation played a huge part. More than Units, or MPPs... Or even luck GG JG P.S. Your Challenged

Artillery can be loaded several ways, on a Tank! On a Car! Or haulled! So that means that Yes(!) Artillery can fire 200 aprox. miles away and even with horses in a game turn, a horse can haul a piece up to the lines, what 10-15 miles? Then the Artillery can fire what 5-10 Miles? And naturally you'll deploy the unit right up on the frontlines with the Infantry so it can virtually fire over 1 tile, some Artillery can fire 20 miles. So what's out of the ordinary? A bit tactical but a way to eliminate the use of the Fighter unit as a Strategic/Tactical/Air Superiority unit! Which was far more ahistorical than artillery as unentrenching 1st tier units, inspire fear then attack! Artillery killed more armies than Fighters? It's not so impractical Gents... as for Commandos, a small breakthrough unit, also doing away with bloody mass Fighters and Bombers unentrenching units. Rockets could never fire accurately and hit a man in WW2, but we never much argued that? Though there were portable AntiPersonal Rockets, and portable TankBuster Rockets? Was it abstract, it didn't look that way... As for Destroyers, really a tiny tiny boat, but very very powerful, and there is a lot of Ocean in SC2, really mindboggling, wouldn't hurt to fill it up a little more and make it a little more interesting with the new submarine diving evasive rules! I think the general idea in this game is get away from UberFighters, of SC1 days, where now you build up 4 bars, with Manny who has 2 or 3 bars himself...and that makes him a level 12 HQ. And find other ways to cross a river, break a Mountain Entrenched Unit, kill a defensive Fortified line... Do away with the humdrum, Fighter Fighter Fighter... and if you're lucky in the older versions Allies bought bombers... Now the only question is will the Axis and Allies employ the new units and will they have enough cash to buy them. SC2 is fantasy, but as are all games. The feel however should give you a slight elusion that you are there. Kind of like an abstract Dream, if it does that, Kudos, if not then it needs work.

Glad to note you were reading HC, Yes, a much more historical Feel, much more indepth... a lot of studying to do, on the dynamics, and yet still playable. as the Axis vs Allied AI I noticed it attacked a lot more frequently, they took the iniative when in the previous versions they often fell asleep only reacting to an offensive and then planning very linear moves. However there are a few chokepoints on the map the AI doesn't understand that costs it direly. Proper time to abandon the Maginot move back on the mine, where entrenchment is 3 and the MPP value, and is not an easy target for the Axis with 1 or 2 Maginot Tiles covered by French Armies. For instance when my units arrived outside of Paris, 2 corps were posted North and South of the Capitol Tile, and that wasn't an effective deterrent. The AI should've posted both Corps in Front of the city, Corps cannot counterattack very effectivetly and they are not going to stop armies/tanks assualting them in that position. In Front of Paris it would've delayed my victory of France. Also I noticed the AI didn't bombard my Coastal Offensives quite as well as it should've, but that is understandable... The AI also saw the benefit of moving into Benelux when I left the tile open there for it and it could be an easy trap. I suppose you cannot train it to do everything you want, it will attack targets of opportunity, which it did with effectiveness in other positions, I Pre-DOWed Benelux to make the game harder, and the Dutch Corps moved up to occuppy 2 German cities and harassed me, as I also PRE-DOWed Denmark, so it operated in to prevent me from getting position... Doing much damage to my economy. The Naval aspect the Allied also were very aggressive, I could see some room for improvement there as they let me get away at the last minute, the AI does not yet understand how to bait a Sub... Though Much has improved from previous versions

Alright, loaded up the Demo, to explore this new title. Interesting! The Map is much cleaner, and much more precise. There will be much more naval warfare at this point due to it. Also due to the fact Subs and Destroyers play a role in the game. Though subs will still be killed by a determined player they at least now can get out of a bad situation a little better than before, and Cruisers are more like MainLine Capitol Ships... You will have to have Airpower, and Destroyers now to easily polish off Subs, that or few extra ships. The are some interesting additives, with a more realistic feel, like Rails/Roads getting rid of weather effect. Rain grounding Air Units. Fighters are nolonger UnitKillers. DiveBombers are now the Big Punch Air Unit. Fighters are just helpful but really are going to lose their power. DiveBombers also have an AntiTank tech which I think with experience will make them vital, if they're affordable! Big factor that will change the dynamics! Tanks and Bombers are double strike units, which means they can both hammer a target twice, instead of once. This will change everything. Bombers before were a bit weak as you needed a couple to really empty out a City, Resource, Unit. Now Bombers will be effective if you have just 1. Tanks that were really too expensive will be Massively more powerful, as high tank techs will be more powerful than FIGHTERS! Bit more like real War, indeed! As for Commandos, antiair, antitank units, I'm not sure their value. BTW: I beat the AI the first try on the hardest setting in my sleep but it was A LOT more intelligent than usual. just no challenge for me P.S. the new Bomber that Italy has will actually bring it into the game I think a little earlier. With an HQ, two way to Egypt it may actually be able to play a role So much more I haven't investigated

This is where the game is decided Russia

Donetz Coal Mines with or Minsk triggers Urals Build event. Approaching any of the cities deep inside of the USSR and Caucasus may effect the Siberians, but they come regardless after Winter of '41 some time... All this taking into consideration kill as many reds as you can or capture as much real estate as possible, taking into consideration you need to garrison from Partisans who appear much in the Prippet Marshes, and near Leningrad if you want Destroy the USSR Partisans with air and do not march through those regions, the Red Control Zones will not take new partisans, not always practical though if you're on the march Generally you've got 2 options, 1 to goto Caucasus, cut off the Neck of the USSR, or go for head in Leningrad-Moscow-Stalingrad. Either way you can go, but going into the Caucasus Mnts is a pain as the supply of 5 is very good and with partisans and counterattacks by the USSR that may not last. Good thing to do is research LR air and try to kill as much as possible from a distance, whatever you do STAY in supply, this is not France... Stay close to those Supply 5 cities as they scorch on both sides, keep the Chain going and kill as you go, eventually your experience and destruction of the USSR should turn the tide

I think people often forget how hard it would have been to take Turkey-SpainPortugal-Switzerland or Sweden... The devotion in resources and the Political Cost, Germany swept through what they did because it was on the way to their goals, most Little Europs jumped on board free of charge.. Yugoslavia probably would've joined the Axis, Greeks were defiant because of Italy. Norway was for Nickle... Denmark to get to Norway and protect the Straits. So on and so forth, Low Countries bypass Maginot, Poland for Anger, Period. Germany really would only want to fight 1 country, USSR, and subjegate France as was done... So in a sense after USA enters when the minorgrabbing happens it does appear somewhat Ahistorical, perharps a way do mod this down would be to give MPP Trade from these nations that is more valued than killing them? Increasing each year that the USA and USSR come closer to entering, negating the Minor DOW morale effect As for Tiles and Hexes, I miss Hexes... Though Tiles I think allowed for a bigger map and probably what was up to date. HOI uses a Territorial Map, which I like but the colors can be dull.. Maps are always difficult to get perfect, hardest part is choosing. I think I might try HOI Doomsday and the new patches, a little worried about the time and energy it might take though to actually go there and do that. Probably like EU2, 5 month games

Actually Baron should've had 2 saves, one that says Network next to it and the other that says E-mail Thanks

do this goto your Battlefront SC2 Folder, go into the Folder titled IP or NETWORK copy that save file to your PBEM then reopen SC2 and bingo

Rambo for some quickaction for boredom until World At War comes out, where you don't have to pull out your Wallet Gamespy Arcade Searh Free Games, after you download and sign up for the client, it's a little tricky to navigate a lot of free stuff, try America's Army Special Forces, Free. BattleFront '42 Wake Island is on there for free also... Also you can try HOI Doomsday at http://www.gamershell.com/news/29216.html gives you 3 hours of play before it expires... few other sites you can search on google

Lacking decisiveness, Allies lose the iniative to Axis Raiders, and Naval Skirmishes around Gibraltar, Norway! Axis actually take the Might of the Oceans, except the Med! Also destroying or removing threats by poorly supplied Allied Units in the wrong places at the wrong times! Allies believe sheer Numbers win but supply at deployment wins Something I often lack, "Fortune Favors the bold!"

I always had a hard time beating you Iron Ranger in SC1, also CodeName Condor and HellRaiser. 3 of the Best aside from Rambo, DragonHeart and Terif... Plus I miss Avatar that little Quebecer There are some guys that play on PanzerLiga, like Sombra and a few others that are real tough cookies but they are hard to get on here lately Rambo is very good, few would've lasted this long, he got a little tired I think playing 20 hours and made a bad decision or two or tried to push his Russians before they were ready for an offensive. That is a simple error... Otherwise the Roles could've been reversed, I just had more patience than him. Plus I have used focused aggression not just Fighters and Tanks. They really didn't decide the game at all. 2/3rds of Rambo's Armies and Tanks were Knockouted by my Tanks-Experience... my Aircraft just punched holes in his lines, he covered his butt real real well.. we traded Bock for Vatutin and a lot of Units but I do not operate around so much vs Rambo so I had 6-7 Armies and Tanks pumped out for this battle.. another 6-7 now comming, he still has to replace what he lost more MPPs or not you have to have those 'forces in place' My destruction of the USSR was delayed nearly a year now because he killed of 1 of my 3 HQs, and his distractions... but I have Naval Domination of the Shipping Lanes, he has been to busy debating Italy I think, or trying to draw my navy into an actual battle

The Allies retreat or are crushed, stubbornly

The Allies move up to block my Advances in the North, and have reserves in the South to Breech any holes, none of this is effective due to the Maximum use of Airpower and #s

Rambo CounterAttacks and Evicts the Axis from the USSR, but the Axis rebuild behind his sight, due to his lack of Recon, and prepare for the Kill!

aesopo this week I'm mentally bogged down, lets wait for WAW for us to start a game.. I am mentally tired and slow and it effects my strategies so much I am impotent. Think the WAW will put me at a great disadvantage and also enlighten with new ideas

Bor, I didn't know that Galaxy Civ 2 was that advanced with it's AI... is it anything like MOO2 was? Oh, how I miss that beautiful Gem, then they had to go mess it up with MOO3 as far as HOI, since it's 10 Xs more detailed I suppose that's why it's 10 Xs more buggy. I find it's AI as boring as it gets, generally once you learn the game mechanics you can win with any substandard Country by just doing some smart micromanagement, but maybe that's true of all Wargames vs AI that give you a lot of time. One thing I have had a hard time getting over with HOI is it's resemblance to EU1, 2... So much so that I feel a bit bogged down. As it's not match in simplicity and Perfection to that engine so why emulate it? I suppose because it's easy for the designer... I say I admire that the designer of SC2 went from Hexagons to Tiles, and succeeded, I prefer neither as I like Civ...

SC2 and the new patch that is arriving shows the latest and greatest in WW2 Strategic Level warfare. There are several other titles that are likeable, but the lack something... A dedicated Multiplayer Crew... I tried to find a World at War Match when I purchased it, noone showed up! I have seen few and few MP strategy games based on WW2 with a following. Since Axis & Allies many years ago SC2 has one of the largest Fan Bases, that and Hearts of Iron So it's a tough choose but you're pretty much locked into to the two if you want the Multiplayer action as AI action is very very limited, why Civilizations new releases are in my opinion very lagging... CEAW, Commander Europe At War looks nice.. It needs time to grow and gather a following and to be expanded Making History, been Demo-ing it, has mixed reviews, neat but seems to be lacking Mulitplayer as well and the scale isn't like Hearts of Iron, very cosmetic. Neat if you could find Friends to play but not the historical feel of SSI Genre Games... HOI has more of it, SC some. CEAW some as for tactical warfare There are limited titles out there I can inform you on but ask others