A few quick questions before purchase...

[GCCRacer]

Hi all,

I'm both new to the world of Slitherine/Matrix Games and to WH40K. Meaning I've never played the tabletop game, but from the glimpses I got of the universe, it's a fascinating setting, it's fun to read up on the Lexicanum about the different units and stories.

So here's finally a game that seems to promise some of that world in a digital playfield.

My questions thus, before I purchase:

1) From a technical perspective I assume 16:10, FSAA etc. are all supported? No letterboxing, black bars or other restrictions? Too many games these days only cater for 16:9 aspects or use odd rendering methods that disable antialiasing.

I also hate Steam for specific reasons, so I understand that buying the title here will have no online activation or other intrusive DRM with it. I love GOG for the way they sell their games as "buy it, keep it forever" so this here is the same idea?

2) I did play a lot of Combat Mission Barbarossa back in the day, so I have experience with very detailed tactical turn based games. From the reviews and videos I checked about Sanctus Reach, it appears to me right now there isn't quite that element of "Rock/Paper/Scissors" in place that you find for example in an Infantry/Tank/Artillery WW2 title. I understand that WH40K wouldn't be the setting for such a title, but also that bringing out the strengths and weaknesses of each unit should be possible and fun. Is this happening here, is the balance going there?

To maybe better clarify the question: Most gameplay videos I saw, to me, look basically like "have as many units as possible shoot on the nearest opponent squad". Very few units seem dedicated to only fit specific jobs. Armor doesn't seem very scary either (Frontal assaults by standard Grey Hunters versus Gorkanaut...). My biggest pleasure in CMBB always was when I had the right unit, at the right time, doing the right thing to multiply force (like keeping a tank alive to take out an entire enemy infantry platoon, or that lucky artillery observer killing two enemy tanks in one strike...). Is Sanctus Reach about doing such things, or is it more akin to an RTS where you are trying to mass up units and dish out as much generic damage as you can?

3) I saw the rumours about DLC. I'd definitly love to see additional parts of the WH40K universe appear in this game. Is this really confirmed to happen?

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply. I'd very much love to become part of the community, though for 30EUR entry price it pays to ask a few questions. Got burned enough with Spacehulk Deathwing

[ImperialGrunt]

GCCRacer, I'll leave the technical questions to the experts but I can comment about the gameplay. First of all, if you are a 40k fan and like the tactical level covered, this is a very fun game and it will likely expand and improve. It is not a clickfest RTS and you do have to pick your tactics and use the right weapons against the right kind of targets for maximum effectiveness in order to prevent casualties. You do have to make good decisions.

With that said, it is not Combat Mission and does not have the same level of detail. I am a huge CM fan and very familiar with the series. This game is much more casual and forgiving. It is not the table top game either, although obviously elements are similar.

But since Santus Reach has been released, I've played the game for nearly 30 hours, mostly skirmishes. It's very fun and just "tactical enough" coming from a CM veteran perspective. I highly recommend the game for the price.

[kodan]

I am pretty happy with the game so far. I played around with it some the first couple of days and felt like it was actually too difficult. Once I calmed down some and paid real attention to things its actually pretty easy to play. Don't have to go rushing all over slow and steady wins this race it seems. Technically this game isn't all that demanding visually I think you get some AA options and various resolutions. I have a native 1920x1080 and that was supported not sure if 16:10 is or not.

The game is fairly loosely based on the tabletop so some units do perform better against certain types of enemies. Like Rhino guns while on the "tank" are bolters so they are better against lighter armored targets. Terminators with stormbolters are good against most infantry and not bad against armor in melee with their powerfists. Regular Flamers are great for breaking morale and doing some aoe damage but OMG Terminator flamers are WAY better and I think that's cause they have something closer to a vehicle mounted flamer versus the squad carried bolter sized one. Scout Bikes suck in melee but their guns clear stuff out if you can keep it a couple squares away. Meltaguns can pretty much eat up anything but they excel at anti armor. You can even get levelups(wish they weren't totally random and we had some choice) that allow your leader dudes (or at least one of mine has one) bullets that are really good at anti armor called vengeance rounds.

Its not grand strategy or tactics but it is probably the best take on doing something even approximating the table top in a LONG time. I am honestly surprised Gamesworkshop let this come out since its so close to tabletop in many ways). I LOVED Chaos Gate back in the day and to me once I got back in the groove of this style of combat this game is even better.

[GCCRacer]

Thanks to both of you for the valuablem and extensive explanations

I'd love to see the answers to #1 somewhere, also if the updates (as per the patch thread) are available offline-standalone. Then I'll join your ranks.

Bought my first WH40K book yesterday - the Snow Wolves Omnibus.

[zakblood]

all patches of games are in the members area once a given game it bought, so can be downloaded at will, and played fully offline

[HeinzHarald]

The game seems to support just about any resolution that Windows can use. I run it at 3:2 ratio and no black bars.

[GCCRacer]

Thanks Zak and Heinz Harald. I bought it

[IainMcNeil]

The game supports all modern resolutions as it runs in 3D so 16:10 should be no issues.