Extremely disappointing

[Anthony]

I've just read something that has put an enormous dent in my hopes for this game.

Apparently only one unit is allowed in a hex, and there's no stacking allowed.

I totally fail to see how this system will adequately portray the large Napoleonic battles of the period. I'm stunned.

I have to admit that my anticipation for this game just went through the floor. I commented on the Matrix forums that it seems this will play out like WW2 with muskets.

Extremely disappointed

[lordzimoa]

If you liked Commander: Europe at War I`m sure you will enjoy Commander: Napoleon at War as well.

People jump to all sort of conclusions before having played the actual game.

There are many games I like and dislike, all is a matter of taste I guess. I always try them out first, than make my own personal conclusion if it my cup of tea, or not...

The game is fun and entertaining, it is no exact documentary of Napoleonic history. Of course we use all kind of abstractions, one turn represents a couple of weeks, it is more a tactical strategy game, you may bring Russia on its knees in 1812 playing as Napoleon or give him an ear washing as Austria on the Danube in 1809. It is your game and destiny set during the Napoleonic Wars.

In the end will it enjoy you while playing is what counts and I know for sure many people will appreciate the easy to learn but hard to master philosophy, that is typical of the Commander series.

Give it a try first.


Tim aka LZ

[IainMcNeil]

No problem - if it's not what you're looking for that's ok. This is a fun strategy game with a Napoleonic setting and is not a simulation of Napoleonic warfare. If you bear that in mind I think you'll enjoy it greatly.

[Anthony]

I never played CEAW, and have to admit that I was never really tempted to. I never played Panzer General either because I didn't like the idea of no stacking. At least the no stacking concept kind of fits in with WW2. Napoleonic warfare most certainly does not lend itself to no stacking on the strategic scale.

I can appreciate the concept of try it first...and if there's a demo I certainly will. but if I have to pay full price for a game to try it then I'm afraid I have to make choices without playing. I've wasted far too much money on disappointing games in my time to keep repeating the same scenario. If I shelled out my hard earned every time I wanted to try a game I'd be broke before too long.

I'll keep my ear to the ground on this game but I have to admit it's looking like it won't be a purchase from me at the moment. Seems like I'll be waiting another 20 years for that ideal Strategic Napoleonic wargame that I've been dreaming about since playing 'War and Peace' back in the 80s.

The sad thing is that I just don't understand what was so difficult about introducing the concept of unit stacking on, of all things, a Napoleonic strategy game.

[IainMcNeil]

There is nothing difficult about stacking - we just dont like it from a game design and flow point of view. Games with stacking are fiddly to play and have much more niche appeal. I certainly would never play one except as a board game

[Anthony]

OK. Looks like it certainly isn't my cup of tea but I hope it's a success for you guys.

[IainMcNeil]

Thanks and hope you find the game you're looking for

[alaric318]

greetings, i are sure that stacking will not be an issue, to have a successor of commander - europe at war in napoleonic times is my dream, and there are very few others turn based games, napoleonic that combines tactical and strategic theaters in one, i have seen some screenshots, and i see the map is large enough that stacking simply is not needed, europe at war was very playable and without "heavy" bugs from 1.0, it is just one more reason for me to buy just the day of release, and in europe at war, the not stacking rule is not an issue, more on, it make easier to manage the units and again, the map scale is enough to given clear the no stacking rule, anyway you play europe at war and have indeed a wargame/boardgame feel, added in is the combined arms tactics portrayed in the game, few turn based games in the napoleonic timeline portrait combined tactics, maybe the only problem that comes to mind is if artillery is not too weak if it have to go on first line to make bombardments, anyway it is historical on all major battles of the timeline this risk for artillery, for me this game is a must buy, and hope it will be a success, this, only can bring on more games of this (great) style to the market if the success is enough,

thanks for reading and best regards,

alarick.

[general_solomon]

I've just read something that has put an enormous dent in my hopes for this game.

Apparently only one unit is allowed in a hex, and there's no stacking allowed.

I totally fail to see how this system will adequately portray the large Napoleonic battles of the period. I'm stunned.

I have to admit that my anticipation for this game just went through the floor. I commented on the Matrix forums that it seems this will play out like WW2 with muskets.

Extremely disappointed

Hi Anthony,

I probably would have felt the same way if I did not play Crown of glory. in the game you can't stack unit but game play is smooth. You gotta remember, division had over 10k men. so i am willing to take some abstractions if the game is tactically sound.

my two cents.

after i play the game i will be able to maintain my position, either way.

see you on the battle field.

gen. solomon

[joe98]

I played Commander Europe at War.

A lack of stacking is not an issue and actually improves the game.

In my opinon, CEaW could have been a great game - except for particulair flaws no applicable to Napoleonic warfare

-

[aztorx]

what a surprise; i was waiting this game for 6 months and would buy it yesterday but read the product data again from matrix game site, is this game for 2 Players ! ? i know it s a igougo game with pbem,TCP/IP and AI but just for 2 players ? i am shocked if thats the case
?

[firepowerjohan]

what a surprise; i was waiting this game for 6 months and would buy it yesterday but read the product data again from matrix game site, is this game for 2 Players ! ? i know it s a igougo game with pbem,TCP/IP and AI but just for 2 players ? i am shocked if thats the case
?

It is the same as Commander Europe at War with 2 sides fighting each other. Did you read anywhere about it allowing more than 2 players let us know and we can correct it.

[Happycat]

To all who have their doubts; during the beta test I fell in love with this game. While it is always possible to find something to complain about (although I usually wait until AFTER I've tried something before complaining ), the game runs quite smoothly, seems to be bug free thus far, and is a great deal of fun.

If you are fortunate enough to have "e-buddies" who you can pbem with, then this game (just like CEAW0 absolutely shines!

Give it a try!

[Anthony]

After reading initial impressions of this I'm even more convinced that I won't be buying it ever. Especially after seeing one particular screenshot.

Not that it's a bad game, on the contrary, a lot of people seem to like it; but it's not what I'm looking for.

You can dress the troops in bright colours and have cavalry instead of tanks, but this game is not, and never will be Napoleonic warfare. It's WW2 with funny hats.

Not my thing, unfortunately.

[firepowerjohan]

I also saw a screenshot somewhere with a guy who was giving the AI a large handicap so it had loads more units than they should. It is not difficult to produce, just a matter of instead of finishing off the AI you let it remain and build up but it does not reflect a real game IMO where both players try to win.

Same could be done in WW2 if Allies had been halting in 1944 instead of invading Germany letting Germany build up however large force they could, but I do not understand the reason

On normal difficulty the AI is too easy and on high difficulty the unit density is too high, there is no way we can win is there?

[Happycat]

After reading initial impressions of this I'm even more convinced that I won't be buying it ever. Especially after seeing one particular screenshot.

Not that it's a bad game, on the contrary, a lot of people seem to like it; but it's not what I'm looking for.

You can dress the troops in bright colours and have cavalry instead of tanks, but this game is not, and never will be Napoleonic warfare. It's WW2 with funny hats.

Not my thing, unfortunately.

Not that I am trying to convince you, because it matters not to me if you buy CNAW, but this is far from being WW2 with "funny hats". The movement is slow, it is almost impossible to build a continuous front, and because of that, maneuver is everything in this game.

Outflanking and rolling up the enemy line is a key component of CNAW.

It is unfortunate that Slitherine does not make a demo available, but I am sure they have a valid reason.

One of the things that constantly amazes me on this forum is the number of people who come on a criticize games, or mods to games, that they have not tried.

The game is $49. In Canada, that is just a bit less than the price for an evening for two at the movies, including some trashy snacks. By the time you factor in babysitters, gasoline and the very good chance that the movie will turn out to be crap anyway, I don't know why someone would not take a chance on a game in this price range.

BTW, when you trash something like this by calling it WW2 with funny hats, you are indirectly impugning the taste and judgment of those of us who like it. I know everyone is entitled to their opinion, but believe it or not, sometimes the rest of us don't really care to hear it

EDIT: corrected a typo

[dooya]

[...]
The game is $49. In Canada, that is just a bit less than the price for an evening for two at the movies, including some trashy snacks. By the time you factor in babysitters, gasoline and the very good chance that the movie will turn out to be crap anyway, I don't know why someone would not take a chance on a game in this price range.[...]

Please have a web cam at your hands when you tell your girl "Hey darling, I was thinking about taking you out to the cinema, but then I decided to buy a war game."

[Happycat]

[...]
The game is $49. In Canada, that is just a bit less than the price for an evening for two at the movies, including some trashy snacks. By the time you factor in babysitters, gasoline and the very good chance that the movie will turn out to be crap anyway, I don't know why someone would not take a chance on a game in this price range.[...]

Please have a web cam at your hands when you tell your girl "Hey darling, I was thinking about taking you out to the cinema, but then I decided to buy a war game."

I'm married and my wife goes to bed hours earlier than me --- so there will be no opportunities for posting any kind of violent footage to YouTube

But, funny comment on your part nevertheless!

[aztorx]

it s not your fault. i didnt play CEaW but i read this sentence in game spot and thought Napoleon fighting with allied forces.
"Take control of Napoleon's forces or the Allied Coalition who opposed him, including Britain, Prussia, Austria and Russia." anyway, i am sorry i ll wait for LGS 's other game which is called LOWN(working title) now, hope it ll be a more than 2 players game !?

firepowerjohan wrote :

It is the same as Commander Europe at War with 2 sides fighting each other. Did you read anywhere about it allowing more than 2 players let us know and we can correct it.

[RufusTFirefly]

Sorry guys, but I can not understand why Anthony and aztrox critizise CNaW for not being the game they are looking for.

@Anthony: Seems like you are looking for something like HoI or Advanced Tactics placed in Napoleonic times. I agree with you that this would be a very intersting game. But it would be a game with more detailed management in building and units and forming army groups of different units than it is intended in CNaW. So, CNaW is just not the right game for you, like CEaW and all of Panzer General Series or SC are not the right games in this case. And I can only underline what Happycat wrote: CNaW is not a WWII game with happy hats, but a strategy game of a quite interesting time of which far too few games like this exist. In a game like this it is quite different planning a startegy for you dont have fighters and bombers, paratroopers, and subs that allow totally different units movements and combats than in CNaW. The interesting time of Napoleonic wars is why I like this game and look foreward to some interesting pbems.

@aztrox: The large scale of CNaW makes it impossible to play it in a different mode than 1vs1. It is just similar to what I wrote above. You need a game with smaller scale and larger amount of units in case of playing with four or more players. But this would be a different kind of game. CNaW is a game similar to CEaW and everyone who knows CEaW or who has looked at the screens of CNaW should know that it is a game for 1vs1-szenarios. Thats the reason which there are szenarios like 1812 including 19 turns. They are very good for pbems or tcp/ip but not for long time pbems played by a larger group. Lets hope, a game like this will be developped. Then we will meet at battlefield, hopefully.

@Happycat: Uups, how expensive is cinema in Canada? Here in Germany we pay only 7 euros per person (so it should be 7 US dollars, sry, dont know the relation between Canadian dollar and euro). Unfortunately I have to go on a seminar next week. But when I am back, maybe you like to start a pbem.