This will be my out of game stream of thought thread :)

[Obsolete]

I think I liked that one. IIRC I knocked out one tiger early either through air support, or somehow by broad-side ambush. So I guess I had it half as bad as everyone else I actually like the Hellcats for stuff like this, but I would have LOVED them more if they had a lot more armour (hint, hint), though technically that wouldn't be so realistic. So I won't complain.

You're right about urban fighting being a blast, and it can be so painful to the armours too, but it's pretty realistic. In the early Polish campaign the Germans lost a very large chunk of their prized panzers from city fighting. Strategic plans changed overnight and even the Fuhrer ordered the panzers to avoid city fighting at almost all costs. So that should tell you something.

Somehow this procedure changed later on and I'm not sure why, but Tigers were used a lot for pratrolling through cities, etc. I'm wondering if it was a mix due to no choice, or morale support, higher armour? Though I do remember a tale of Wittann pursuing an allied column right into a city after shooting it up despite he was isolated and alone with just his own single Tiger (How do they do that?!) After knocking out some more units in the city he in fact ran out of one of his 9 lives when an AT knocked him out of commission. Though the crew were able to escape, and hours later returned with more Tigers to regain the one they were forced to abandon.

I am NOT surprised they were so eager to recoup abandoned Tigers.

Now this brings up another question. I do remember being able to force crews to abandon tanks in this game. I think I drove one of my tanks on top of an axis tank that was abandoned and it dissapeared. I thought this meant it would be re-placed back on the map, but under my control. This turned out not to be... If it's not on the current game-design list, I wouldn't mind seeing this sort of idea added though at some time.

[MrsWargamer]

Just played Killing Spree, what a clever name

I went in, couldn't seem to find much, shot up a few trucks and Pumas, but essentially I got wiped out to the last unit by Panthers. I wonder if I was supposed to run away sooner?

I also wonder how I was supposed to find 20 units to wipe out.

Picked two M8 HMC thinking they were going to be my precious artillery, but all they wanted to do was direct support fire, and they sucked at it for me at least

Next try I am buying something else hehe.

[Obsolete]

DSW, I find that the artillery units are just too inaccurate to be worth it in most instances. There aren't many scenarios with M8's so maybe I'm not giving it enough credit where credit is due.

I also find Mortars to be a pain because they simply can't move unless you risk a truck, and even then you are losing precious turns by moving... and you're almost always going to have to move if advancing (even when defending). Not to mention you're GAMBLING when trying to hit with the mortars, while always giving away your position.

I may just re-evaluate this after another run through the scenarios. The problem is you're either going to love or hate those units depending on the LUCK factor in the short-term.

BTW, for city fighting you probably have realized now that the flame-thrower is the most over-powered unit in the game That's probably why I think you get a maximum of only one to buy in those maps.

[Obsolete]

DS I decided to take a look at that scenario again, and I don't blame you for being surprised about the M8.

It is SUPPOSED to be a howitzer, but clearly from my tests this does not behave as such. There is no bombard option that ever comes up, all you can do is use HE. Furthermore, I noticed in the stats it is supposed to also come equipped with a flame-thrower, but has no range on this so it obviously can't use its flame throwing abilities?

Hopefully Pip can clear this up soon. Perhaps the unit stats have a few typos in there, or the developers were tweaking around too much and forgot to change things back proper.

But as I said earlier, you're probably better off avoiding the artillery in the first place... you see!

[MrsWargamer]

Actually thus far I have found artillery rules the game.

I use mortars to hammer infantry, make them in effective at responding and then get in close and hit them hard with armour or troops. I also find armour hit by artillery fire respond poorly and often allows me to move in close for shot.

I do find that the big guns though sling that stuff around fairly casually I'd rather have an on board weapon like a 25pdr or a decent amount of mortars.

[MrsWargamer]

No matter how I seem to play it, artillery remains dominant.

I almost wonder if it is TOO effective? But I have been seeing no comments in the few occasional wanders in other threads complaining about it.

Just read the comments about smoke. I support ASL maybe making it too easy to have, gotta be a way to fix that. But I do wish it was in game here. I recall how vital it was in Steel Panthers. Attacking without smoke cover in some battles would just be viewed as insane. Just as much as attacking without any artillery prep for that matter. I think it needs to be considered as something open to only proper sized artillery though. I can't see the simulation gaining from infantry having it.

Meanwhile in my second run through with The Assault battle (and I can't recall the darned real name, but it is before The Seige), learned to not go hog wild on Crusaders, as they suck Lost half to friggin Pak 37s that my Matildas would routinely ignore. Thought to get 2 Bishops though. Man I love those things.

Not seeing any problems in the fun factor. Not having trouble with the interface. Are we using proper sound effects though? Why does it always seem to be Italians when I am fighting Germans?

I am liking the size areas of the battles. They seem to be quick and fast and doable. Who knows, maybe some of the hard core grogs will call this game too non serious. Screw them
I'm giving away my War in the Pacific, because sometimes a game can be made so detailed, so much work to play that the word 'play' doesn't belong in the discussion at all.

I am currently seeing we can do multi player, but, it seems that I can only play solo as allied. Is both sides expected to be available for solo?

[pipfromslitherine]

Because the missions are balanced from the point of view of the Allies you'll only be able to play against the Axis.

Unless you mod the missions into your own versions to allow you to play the other side

Cheers

Pip

[pomakli]

No matter how I seem to play it, artillery remains dominant.

I almost wonder if it is TOO effective? But I have been seeing no comments in the few occasional wanders in other threads complaining about it.

Hi!

For my taste is the artillery also too effective! (I wrote it before!) Good to know I am not the only one!

BR

[pomakli]

Just read the comments about smoke. I support ASL maybe making it too easy to have, gotta be a way to fix that. But I do wish it was in game here. I recall how vital it was in Steel Panthers. Attacking without smoke cover in some battles would just be viewed as insane.

Hi!

Ian wrote:
"We decided not to support smoke some time ago - it required some significant work to do and we felt added too much complexity."

That's it!

God save the modders!

[pomakli]

Are we using proper sound effects though? Why does it always seem to be Italians when I am fighting Germans?

That was my first complaint too.

Ian wrote:
"We know - we're going to try and fix if we can. Not sure it is possible though."

I think, they'll do it!

But I can't imagine how busy they are!!

Wait and see!

Maybe we shold find an Italian wargamer!

[MrsWargamer]

God I love mortar fire.

I think I just completely trashed a German assault all because of very nice maximum range mortar fire.

The forces on the left flank never seemed to show up though, must have been an adjustment between betas. Meanwhile, the right flank assault was totally owned. Again, I seem to recall they were a lot more aggressive in earlier playings. I won't make rash conclusions till I give beta 8 a run through though. I might have just been lucky. Thought it was going to go south when a Stuka cherry picked a 2 pdr on me. But then the Stuka couldn't take out a Bren Carrier on two passes. And the Axis armour totally left the infantry out to get slaughtered by me. Half my force wasn't even employed. They had to read about the battle in the papers the next day

Won completely the Dust storm fight, but not before the enemy armour did a fine job making me look like I was going to suffer an 11th hour total loss.
I hate losing valuable stuff at the very end of a fight