Slitherine

First of all, many thanks to Slitherine for offering me my first Beta test ever.
Now, onto the game:
-Neat and simple presentation. I never liked long and heavy videos for the introduction which waste actual playing time...
-Library: Hot keys and Credits, OK! But I would have expected a manual here as well...
-Dossier: didn't understand what's that for, but "coming soon"!
-Multiplayer: Login & Password: What username and which password? The one to log on Slitherine reply forum?
-Load game: nothing to say, how does the auto-save work? (How many turns?) and how to turn it on/off? Couldn't find it.
-New Game: Very good! One tab for scenarios & one for the campaigns...and 6 tutorials for scenarios and 1 for campaign: GREAT for a new player as I am... Difficulty level and choose your side option is very welcome, but why not in the campaign?
-Zoom with the wheel is good but too fast.
-Game interface: Very clear and not too complicated, like that... Love the help message bubbles appearing when sliding cursor over icons: Well done and good thought for us beginners.
-The left panel for selected unit, and the right for cursor (when over another unit) is very clear.
-Sadly, no details for terrain type with bonuses and cons: I mean if I select a unit, ok it appears in the left panel, but to make moves faster, the right panel should display (according to terrain type) the good and bad results which may occur if selected unit has to be moved on that type of hex (if you see what I mean...)
-I like the difference between motorised transport and walking range when selecting infantry unit, but why when moving infantry unit in a walking range, it affects the petrol supply ??? Seems unfair and abnormal.
-The Purchase screen seems very clear too, but surprise an Infantry costs the double of a Panzer???
-What's missing (to my taste) on the Purchase screen are the help bubbles when passing cursor over units' characteristics icons (same as it appears on the game interface). Easier and faster than having to learn, at least could be optional for the players who have difficulty to remember icons' meanings.
-System menu is classic.
-Very handy and discreet Stats panel and Units' list to check everything at a glance.
-Units are not "standing out" enough, couldn't spot the enemies until I actually reach the target hex...
-On the other side, the strategy map is very clear and well displayed, with units well differentiated and bright objectives.
-Attack range of units could appear when right-clicking on them just to make it faster again than having to watch at the stats.
-I believe the red diagonal bar on units' strength means that no other change/move can be made for that turn.
-Like the fact that units once moved can delay their attack if I want, that way I moved three units and surrounded a city, but surprisingly could only attack with two of them, did I do something wrong, or is it normal?
-Zoom is way too fast and not enough progressive, only two levels, the close one which renders very well with very aesthetic details of the scenery, and the other one of the entire map which suppresses the great strategic map view of the battlefield.
-Units, towns, fields, plains, hills and mountains look very very good, I like that classic "neo-retro" style, very elegant! Love the soft pastel colors... Just would put a bit more effort to differentiate infantry and grenadiers units.
-The supply action obviously doesn't supply petrol to non-motorised units, but could be a good idea to be able to purchase a simple empty truck for those infantry units and move it from a friendly town nearby to the forementioned unit to kind of upgrade it with transport if you wish to do so..
-How to recognize core units from from auxiliary units (if any...)?
-The star next to the units' flag on the unit panel (rated on a scale of five) means the level of gained experience according to the number of fights?
-Only two hexes for artillery range?
-What does the Air Attack of [1] mean between brackets on Grenadiers' stats? ([])
-I think a tutorial with enemy units moving would help more to learn the ropes and tricks.
-We should be able to see actual detailed movements of all units hex by hex to check the path used.
-Scrolling is too fast.
-I also like the recon vehicle stopping as soon as spotting new enemy unit, very smart, and gives you the possibility to reduce your move: Clever decision guys!
-Hexes are too light, in subtle mode, barely see them, and in strong: just perceive them. Understand this is for the beauty of the graphics which are really cool but a little intensity wouldn't be too much...
-Gameplay is fun and addictive; exactly what I was expecting, sorry if I'm only a Beer and Spretzels general. Reminds me of Panzer Tactics but with more depth. I love it...
-If by accident, we click out from the last moved unit, the cool "Undo" option becomes unavailable: it's unfair, it happened twice already.
We should keep this option opened at least until we select and move another unit before losing the right to use it...
-What is the difference between replacement and elite replacement?
-Cannot undo recon vehicle move??? Why?
-For the beauty of the gesture, and to point to minor visual effects, units should face each other when fighting. (Hope I'm not too much with this statement).
-How does the entrenchment loss work?
-Fortifications could be more detailed with a better design.
-Artillery unit cannot possess/win a victory objective hex???
-52 scenarios (when played both sides) isn't bad at all so far, hope we can get more on all WWII theater fronts.
-So far, (I played only the two first tutorials, but had so much as you'll notice to say) I think it's a very good game henceforth, you sold it to me, exactly the type I was looking for.
-Game isn't slow at all, even runs too fast on my Dell Inspiron Intel Core i3 @ 2.40 GHz, under Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit.
-Seems pretty simple and easy to play for beginners.
-Haven't started PBEM yet.
-Scenario editor seems also easy to use, but cannot find how to put units on map. Good thing to be able to create his own challenge.
-WHERE IS THE GAME MANUAL???

Overall first impression, well done guys, it's a touch-down! Just need, to my taste and in my humble opinion, to fix those little touch-ups.

Shall tell you more as per game's progression.
Thank you very much for that "gift", it's Christmas before time!
Cheers.[/list]

Hey JYF1, thanks for so detailed message. Some comments and answers to your questions.

JYF1 wrote: -Library: Hot keys and Credits, OK! But I would have expected a manual here as well...

Manual will be here... soon.

JYF1 wrote: -Multiplayer: Login & Password: What username and which password? The one to log on Slitherine reply forum?

Yes.

JYF1 wrote: -Load game: nothing to say, how does the auto-save work? (How many turns?) and how to turn it on/off? Couldn't find it.

Autosave is saved at the end of each half-turn (for Axis and Allies separately). No option to turn it off.

JYF1 wrote: -New Game: Very good! One tab for scenarios & one for the campaigns...and 6 tutorials for scenarios and 1 for campaign: GREAT for a new player as I am... Difficulty level and choose your side option is very welcome, but why not in the campaign?

Because then the AI would have a core, while you would play new set of units all the time, so it is not really what we call a campaign. Separate campaigns for Allies will follow after the initial release.

JYF1 wrote: -I like the difference between motorised transport and walking range when selecting infantry unit, but why when moving infantry unit in a walking range, it affects the petrol supply ??? Seems unfair and abnormal.

Well, even if your unit walks, its transport needs to follow and spends some fuel.

JYF1 wrote: -What's missing (to my taste) on the Purchase screen are the help bubbles when passing cursor over units' characteristics icons (same as it appears on the game interface). Easier and faster than having to learn, at least could be optional for the players who have difficulty to remember icons' meanings.

Tips do appear but with a certain delay. Too long?

JYF1 wrote: -Units are not "standing out" enough, couldn't spot the enemies until I actually reach the target hex...

Perhaps they were hidden in fog of war?

JYF1 wrote: -Like the fact that units once moved can delay their attack if I want, that way I moved three units and surrounded a city, but surprisingly could only attack with two of them, did I do something wrong, or is it normal?

It is not normal at all, maybe one of the three units spent its attack action earlier?

JYF1 wrote: -How to recognize core units from from auxiliary units (if any...)?

They differ by the color of strength plate border (gold vs. silver)

JYF1 wrote: -The star next to the units' flag on the unit panel (rated on a scale of five) means the level of gained experience according to the number of fights?

Yes.

JYF1 wrote: -Only two hexes for artillery range?

Depends on arty type.

JYF1 wrote: -What does the Air Attack of [1] mean between brackets on Grenadiers' stats? ([])

It means that the unit cannot attack planes, but can shhot back if attacked from air.

JYF1 wrote: -I think a tutorial with enemy units moving would help more to learn the ropes and tricks.

They move a lot in late tutorial scens.

JYF1 wrote: -What is the difference between replacement and elite replacement?

The latter preserves unit's experience but is more expensive.

JYF1 wrote: -Cannot undo recon vehicle move??? Why?

Because they reveal enemy units as they move. It would be unfair to allow you to reveal all enemy units and then just undo the move and use recon again.

JYF1 wrote: -How does the entrenchment loss work?

Every attack reduces it.

JYF1 wrote: -Artillery unit cannot possess/win a victory objective hex???

Right.

JYF1 wrote: -WHERE IS THE GAME MANUAL???

Coming soon...

Many thanks for your answers Rudankort, I have started the Campaign tutorial and was surprised as it is the same as in the scenarios, the good point being the briefing explaining about new units and objectives, but if we fail on one scenario: we have to restart it all from scratch, so I gave up and went directly for the 1st campaign, actually it looks much better than the tutorial, and I think I managed to launch many attacks on a single enemy using more than two units in one turn only (which I couldn't do in the tuto.)

If I got it right, replacement are limited when you're next to enemy, but how does it work? How do you calculate the amount of strength gained when surrounded?

The forts are very hard to destroy! What kind of unit is the best to annihilate them?

What are the railways for? (Minimize move cost?)

I'm kind of confused between roads, railways and rivers sometime, I think colors should be more intense, the railways look like the roads, maybe a little bigger with a graphic touch (look like a railway) could make things easier.
...and the hexes which host those types of terrain should mention them instead of displaying "clear".
By the way what the (x,y) coordinates for?

The SdKfz anti-air doesn't inflict any damage at all to the planes?

The ground type affects the combat, doesn't it, but I don't know in which manner.
(e.g. the tanks have combat bonus when fighting in plains, haven't they? and infantry do also gain power when fighting in cities or forests, can you explain how this works?)

Some vehicles like the first and cheapest panzer can cross rivers, but some can't... How can we know which ones are able to do so? Ok, you can say just try and see but when buying units to build your army, it would be necessary to know according to the type of land map...

Why sometime Recon units can attack and sometime they cannot??? Even with ammo, it seems that the attack is not possible, the red target doesn't appear... Strange, is it normal??

I finished the Polish campaign on a normal level just in time, I guess the harder levels must be terrific...

Looking forward to read the manual...

Thank you

[quote="JYF1"]
-What's missing (to my taste) on the Purchase screen are the help bubbles when passing cursor over units' characteristics icons (same as it appears on the game interface). Easier and faster than having to learn, at least could be optional for the players who have difficulty to remember icons' meanings.
[/quote]

Tips do appear but with a certain delay. Too long?

They do not appear for me in the Purchase screen...


[quote="JYF1"]
-Units are not "standing out" enough, couldn't spot the enemies until I actually reach the target hex...
[/quote]

Perhaps they were hidden in fog of war?

No, they are a bit too "light" and I don't see them very well. But I noticed that there is a little delay for them to appear even when the hex has been revealed.

[quote="JYF1"]
-Like the fact that units once moved can delay their attack if I want, that way I moved three units and surrounded a city, but surprisingly could only attack with two of them, did I do something wrong, or is it normal?
[/quote]

It is not normal at all, maybe one of the three units spent its attack action earlier?

No it happened twice already, (in tutorial), cannot unleash more than two attacks ...!?


[quote="JYF1"]
-Cannot undo recon vehicle move??? Why?
[/quote]

Because they reveal enemy units as they move. It would be unfair to allow you to reveal all enemy units and then just undo the move and use recon again.

Well that's right actually, that would be cheating...

[quote="JYF1"]
-How does the entrenchment loss work?
[/quote]

Every attack reduces it.

...and can we actually gain entrenchment if we don't make a move but fight?

Gosh! I passed Polish campaign just in time, but was completely wipe out in 10 turns on the second round with inasion of Belgium and northern France. Played on a normal level, too hard for me, too many forces to face: they just come out from everywhere, and kick me.
Moreover, not enough prestige is granted to purchase or make replacements, The Elite replacements are the only good ones if you want to get chances to survive, the standard replacement make you loose too much experience, and then you cannot stand in front of opponents.
I really wonder how the experienced players can manage to go far in the game? Sadly, I can't...
Still couldn't differentiate the core from auxiliary units. I feel sad as I really enjoy playing WWII turn based strategy wargames as Panzer Tactics on DS, which is more simple to play. But would that be too hard for me??
I'll give it a new go on easy mode to see.