New to the game! Some questions

[deesee]

Hi all,

I don't usually play computer games, but I found this one, tried the demo and just had to buy it. I work from my home office and the last few days has seen my work productivity drop to 0%!! Oh well.

Anyway, I've played two games as the Axis and got spanked easily. I didn't read the manual and just started playing so I made major mistakes: lost my whole Navy, ran out of oil, no air force...man did I suck bad! So:

1. Should I start with "Fog of War" off?
2. Should I start with "Oil Consumption" off?
3. How do I move troops across bodies of water? I don't see a troop transport ship that I can buy...only Navy ships.

Anyway, thanks in advance.

[Horseman]

Hi all,

I don't usually play computer games, but I found this one, tried the demo and just had to buy it. I work from my home office and the last few days has seen my work productivity drop to 0%!! Oh well.

Anyway, I've played two games as the Axis and got spanked easily. I didn't read the manual and just started playing so I made major mistakes: lost my whole Navy, ran out of oil, no air force...man did I suck bad! So:

1. Should I start with "Fog of War" off?
2. Should I start with "Oil Consumption" off?
3. How do I move troops across bodies of water? I don't see a troop transport ship that I can buy...only Navy ships.

Anyway, thanks in advance.

Hi Deesee I'm new to the game as well...its way to addictive!

1 - Don't know what the vets would say but I started playing with it on...Its probably a double edged sword to have it off because while you will be able to see all the AI's units the same applies in reverse. But I guess its down to personal preference

2 - I have started with oil consumption on. Playing as the axis you may be better served with it off (the allies dont really get too badly effected by oil as far as i can tell) I have it on because I feel I'd rather get used to it as it makes the game more challenging (it makes you think, do you really need those extra armour/fighter/bomber units!)

3 - This one I can give you a definate answer on. You dont buy transports as you do other units. Move what ever unit you want to move via the sea (any ground or air unit can use sea transports) next to a friendly port. On your next turn you can click the board transport button (its next to the rail move button) the unit will then embark in the port and can move that turn. To disembark just move next to the hex you want to land in and then in your next turn use the same button to disembark. If you cant find the buttons it might be best to consult the manual! boarding a transport costs a small amount of pp's disembarking does not.

hope that helps a little
Horseman

[deesee]

Glad to see you're having as much fun as me.

I hate to say it, but I'm going to have to read the darn manual. The troop transport thing was staring me right in the face.

What is the game flow like for you? Are you attacking every turn? It seems like that's all I do...attack...attack...attack. And of course, that can't be right.

This is so cool...can't imagine what it would be like to have to make these decisions for real.

BTW, it seems to me like Germany has no chance at conquest. The odds are definitely stacked against them.

Enjoy!

[Horseman]

It is fun. I dont find I'm attacking every turn. For example after the fall of Poland and Denmark in my 1st game I had several turns where I was redeploying for the low countries/france campaign. After france fell I had several turns of building up for sea lion.

I'm on my 2nd game now (also as axis) to see how thats going check out the AAR in the AAR forum!

[jjdenver]

You'll find that you will master beating the AI. Once you do that you face a much greater challenge if you try PBEM vs another human. For PBEM I'd highly recommend getting the BJR mod which is discussed in another thread on this forum. Your first PBEM game should probably be against another beginner if you can find one - against an experienced player you'd have no chance.

[OzHawkeye2]

Hi all,

I don't usually play computer games, but I found this one, tried the demo and just had to buy it. I work from my home office and the last few days has seen my work productivity drop to 0%!! Oh well.

Anyway, I've played two games as the Axis and got spanked easily. I didn't read the manual and just started playing so I made major mistakes: lost my whole Navy, ran out of oil, no air force...man did I suck bad! So:

1. Should I start with "Fog of War" off?
2. Should I start with "Oil Consumption" off?
3. How do I move troops across bodies of water? I don't see a troop transport ship that I can buy...only Navy ships.

Anyway, thanks in advance.

When playing a new game, I generally have a game or two of "romper stompin' all over the cripple'd AI" games. For me that was huge Axis advantage, no oil, no fog, etc etc. Ditto a reverse game with the Allies. Of course, with those advantages it's an easy win, but it gives you a feel for how the game will play. Some go the other extreme and find they learn more from a right real hiding, so it's just personal preference. I also turn off "end in 45" so I can play it out right to the panzers rolling down Penn Ave and hookin' left over the White House lawn.

As the very wisened and battle hardened jjdenver has said, once you've beaten the AI (and it's play is weak in a number of areas that you'll learn), then PBEM seems to be where its at, and for that, you'd best get used to oil and fog on with no advantages either side. I tend to think, especially in the BJR mod, that a game under those conditions with two equally matched players should result in a slight Allied victory, that is, Germans doing ok to hold Berlin (and possibly Rome), with the resurgent Russians pushing into the eastern defensive bunkers in Germany and the Allies having taking Paris (and Rome if they went that way).

Also note, a previous answer to 3 was not quite 100% correct. Garrison units can't transport. All others can though.

[deesee]

Hey guys,

Just so you know, I played for like 6 hours today; went to dinner with the wife (Ethiopian place in L.A...eh, not bad), and now I'm back at it. I set the level to "easy" (max advantage for Axis), shut off fog, and shut off oil.

I have taken over the British Isles, but it turns out they moved to Ottawa...not sure if that would have happened in real life, but I'm no expert. I have driven the russians back, back, back and am about to hit Moscow baby!

I have basically settled on a pattern of air attack, then ground attack. If the city is within naval reach, I'll hit them with that before the ground attack.

So far so good, and although I've given myself an unfair advantage, it's taught me a lot.

Having a hell of time trying to take Port Said!

Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

[Horseman]

Oops yes I forgot that garrisons cant use sea transports - sorry!

And as for the British goverment moving to Otawa, that is hitoricaly accurate as in the dark days of the battle of Britain plans were already in place to do this incase of a German invasion. There was actually little hope that Britain could have held if operation sealion had been launched, we were actually very porly equiped as so much had been left behind in france.

[nats]

Hey guys,

Just so you know, I played for like 6 hours today; went to dinner with the wife (Ethiopian place in L.A...eh, not bad), and now I'm back at it. I set the level to "easy" (max advantage for Axis), shut off fog, and shut off oil.

I have taken over the British Isles, but it turns out they moved to Ottawa...not sure if that would have happened in real life, but I'm no expert. I have driven the russians back, back, back and am about to hit Moscow baby!

I have basically settled on a pattern of air attack, then ground attack. If the city is within naval reach, I'll hit them with that before the ground attack.

So far so good, and although I've given myself an unfair advantage, it's taught me a lot.

Having a hell of time trying to take Port Said!

Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

I am also quite new to this game and having a blast playing it. But I would say you have to really play with Fog on and Oil Consumption on otherwise it is too easy - you can see the convoys coming and attack them, also you can easily defeat the Russians without oil problems. I am playing Barbarossa and was doing quite well until I started running out of oil.

Have to say this is the toughest game I have played in ages - not becuase of the GUI (HOI2s paradox take note!) but becuase of the strategic decisions you have to make etc. Ive played other games like the Total War games, Panzer General and Heart of Iron games amongst a few others and this is by far the most fun Ive had for a long time.

[julyderek]

Have to say this is the toughest game I have played in ages - not becuase of the GUI (HOI2s paradox take note!) but becuase of the strategic decisions you have to make etc. Ive played other games like the Total War games, Panzer General and Heart of Iron games amongst a few others and this is by far the most fun Ive had for a long time.

Ditto. PBeM mode rocks !