Questions about the game

Neugart · Post by **Neugart** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:11 pm

hi everybody,

I spotted this game just a moment ago, and thought I'd find out more about it. I have been on the lookout for a good WWII grand strategy game for quite while now. We used to play Avalon Hill's Advanced Third Reich board game for years, but nowadays it seems we don't have much time for board games, and a PC game like that would be a heaven sent.

So from the first looks this game appears promising, especially as it is turn based. I liked HOI as single player game, but multiplayer was a bit too much. So how abotu Commander-Europe at War, does it support multiplay properly? it says in the game info 1-2 players and email play, but does this mean that only 2 players can play it by email and whatnot? To call it multiplayer game I would expect 2-5 players ideally.

What about other features, like diplomacy, industrial assets, R&D, and the all important panzer exploitation move, are corresponding features present here?

Cheers,
Neugart

firepowerjohan · Post by **firepowerjohan** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:37 am

Welcome to the forum, Neugart

The games you mention suggest you will like CEaW also. CEaW is easier to use than HOI series due to the simple interface, yet deep to play and challenging as Third Reich. Game is only 1-2 players, but in addition to PBEM we also have Hotseat and TcpIP with a complete timer system.

Diplomacy is simple and you cannot form alliances or prevent historical events happening. This is something we will greatly improve but that is for the sequel.

Economy consist of Production Capacity, manpower and oil where units get lower quality once you start to over recruit and when you run out of oil you can not move or attack with oil consuming units.

We have exploitation move into a hex where enemy retreated from.

I also have a FAQ topic here which is good for new players to pick up on some things viewtopic.php?t=3520

Furthermore there is a detailed description here about some of the most significant characteristiscs of CEaW.
viewtopic.php?t=3375

Neugart · Post by **Neugart** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:42 am

Thanks for the info Johan. I have kind of mixed feelings about CEaW after reading your reply and browsing the forum. It sounds promising, but I was hoping for proper multiplay option, more than 2 players that is. Ideally Western Allies, Soviet Union and Axis (Germany & Italy etc.) So that is a disappointment to be honest.

Another thing I am not so sure about, is the lack of variation in alliances and historical events. The historical course of events if fine for a game or two, but it soon gets boring. The game would have longer life expectancy with some variables in this regard.

I might buy the game for single play, just to see what it's like. But it's not what I hoped it would be, and frankly in this day and age, it seems to be lacking in some vital components you would expect a modern game to have. Maybe in the sequel then?

firepowerjohan · Post by **firepowerjohan** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:51 am

Well, I played RTS and other wargamers with 3-8 players that bored me out also and there are millions of ppl playing Chess and other classical 2 player games. I would not say the one is better than the other just that ppl have different taste. It is like comparing if RTS is better than TBS. Adding more players would mean a different game and a need to redesign some other aspects of the game also so it is no easy fix, not doable in any patch I am afraid...

It is too early to tell about a sequel. We might decide to shift focus, scope or detail level of the game but such decision is of course dependant on feedback from our players so you are welcome with ideas

Neugart · Post by **Neugart** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:29 pm

firepowerjohan wrote:Well, I played RTS and other wargamers with 3-8 players that bored me out also and there are millions of ppl playing Chess and other classical 2 player games. I would not say the one is better than the other just that ppl have different taste. It is like comparing if RTS is better than TBS. Adding more players would mean a different game and a need to redesign some other aspects of the game also so it is no easy fix, not doable in any patch I am afraid...

It is too early to tell about a sequel. We might decide to shift focus, scope or detail level of the game but such decision is of course dependant on feedback from our players so you are welcome with ideas

I hear you and I have nothing against playing single or two player wargames. It's just that this level of grand strategy and this particluar cofnlict would really benefit from more than 2 players, in my opinion. Plus in most WWII large scale games it's just too much work to concentrate on playing more than two major countries. Dunno how it is with this game, since I haven't tried it out yet.

Sigh, I just wish someone made A3R or it's successor World at War for computer... and with 3-5 multiplayer option.

Redpossum · Post by **Redpossum** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:36 pm

Multi-player games are great when they work, but getting 3 people together at the same time to play is twice as difficult as getting two together, and the difficulty doubles with each additional player.

Neugart · Post by **Neugart** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:18 am

That's what spoiled the multiplayer HOI for me, but with PBEM option a turn based game would be perfect.

davetheroad · Post by **davetheroad** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 7:47 am

You can play CEAW with 3 players PBEM once russia is in the game. the russians have their own resources and production so there is no reason why the allied players cannot just split their turn, saving and emailing the game between them.

I reckon there is limited diplomacy for europe vis a vis the allied sides anyway. what do the western allies always do, cut off lend lease, and what do the russians do, grab as much of europe as they can before taking berlin

TCP-IP is the way to go, brilliant gaming experience, but not 3 player.

Dave