UoC v/s other war games

[dirrtymartini]

UoC has spoiled me. I tried a round of Panzer Corps and it just didn't...it wasn't...something was missing. SUPPLY LINES! There I was driving deep behind enemy lines, encircling units and cutting enemy supply lines...when it hit me. THERE ARE NONE.

[Case]

I really like hearts of iron 2, darkest hour. I still don't know how to play it 100% though... its a bit complicated (though a lot easier than HOI 3). Anyone know of other games of this nature that have reasonable accessability? I love Unity of Command...I just wish there was a multiplayer lobby!

[Valhuen]

For strategic/operational level gaming, The Operational Art of War III, excellent wargame, one of the best ever made. Hundreds of included and user made scenarios covering WWI through Modern, with tons of WWII campaigns. Decisive Campaigns series is also quite good, as is Gary Grigsby's War in the East. John Tiller's Campaign Series also deserves a mention. All of the above are available from Matrix Games. Hearts of Iron series has been a personal favorite for years, but it does have its limitations as mentioned above.

For a smaller scale wargame (battalion level), a personal favorite is the original Combat Mission series from Battlefront Games. Barbarossa to Berlin and Afrika Korps being the best (the first game is good, but suffered from odd mechanics choices that were corrected later on). The newer Combat Mission series is decent as well, but expensive as it cuts up the war into peacemeal parts (whereas Barbarossa to Berlin covered the entire Eastern Front '41-'45).

Panzer Corps is good (it is in every way a remake of the original Panzer General), but is definitely on the casual side of things.

[SteveFSX/P3D]

Commander Europe at War has good accessibility in terms of being a bit lighter than HOI but still has enough complexity to keep it interesting.

I agree with Valhuen that Barbarossa to Berlin (combat mission) is a superb company/battalion level battlefield simulator - and Panzer Corps has online play that you crave. I don't however think Grrigsby's War in the East is a good option in terms of ease of play or having less complexity. That has to be one of most complex wargames available in my opinion.

[Case]

Hey stemak thanks for the recommendations... commander looks right up my alley!

[HolmeBass]

Korsun Pcoket is very good, mine came with a free Battle Of The Bulge scenario. Supply is more abstract, but at least it is present. Panzer Corps and other games without any supply rules are bogus- what's the point of blitzkrieg if you can't isolate enemy units via encirclement?

[SeriousCat]

Hearts of Iron III with the Iron Cross Edition mod is even better than Unity of Command (UoC) for supply tactics, but the interface is so clunky you'll prefer playing UoC. (The mod removes the 'gamey', arcade elements and introduces hyper-realism.) Also, I love the minimalist, yet detailed and crisp visual style in UoC. Hearts of Iron has always been really ugly.

[beltsman]

UOC has ruined wargames for me. Anything without a supply system like UOC is boring to me.

Also, imagine if Civilization 5 used the UOC supply system (build logistics units to build supply lines like tile improvement). I am salivating...