Waiting to buy ...

[Nats]

This game looks ace, I loved M1 Tank Platoon (presently playing through the old Tornado game on here)

Just wondering what the state of the game is regarding the devs release plan (Russians starting to be added I presume) and how the campaign plays at the moment. How much gameplay is in this game and should I still wait for a while? Can't afford to waste money these days like many, I will buy this eventually, just interested how much is in this now ie roughly how many hours gameplay? Judging from the reviews around 20 hrs?

[BobobVanBlob]

The last estimate I had for someone blasting through the missions as fast as possible and finishing them once was that in 8 hours an experienced player that never loses could win all the missions (without the fact that some missions can be played as both redfor and blufor + some others allow you to select if you want daytime or nighttime). Then you can add the early version of the campaign that is featuring around 30 missions so let's say 5 more hours to play all the mission campaigns at least once that you can double if you want to experience them all as blufor.

Then you can add the time it will take to actually get good at the game (not so much learning how to play but more learning how to use the tanks) and the randomisation on some of the maps in terms of spawns, axes of attack, types of tanks, trying to play the National VolksArmee contingency plan, etc. You can easily get way more than 20 hours out of it.

And now for the rugpull coming from the guy with 180 hours (minimum, you can add 100 on the pre-steam versions) on the game. Have you ever played Heat Signature? I play it a bit like that game. You get short enough missions that you can decide to play for 20 minutes to reach a satisfactory conclusion on a mission and get on with your day. It's small enough bites of gameplay that I do quite enjoy the fact I can just think "I want to blow up Abrams and Bradleys" and do that within less than 20 minutes.

[Nats]

Cheers for that.

So the campaign is just a series of missions at the moment not dynamic in any way? I see improvements are planned though.

I got a lot out of of Tornado just trying the simulation and training, testing strategies etc. Now on over 35 hrs on that old game with its pixellated visuals (some old games are still great). So Is there any of this in the game for example training missions with invulnerability?

In the original M1 Tank Platoon I used to love just sneaking around enemies and getting them from behind from a high hill etc, endless fun doing that lol. But that requires knowing where the enemies are first.

[HAPY HAPY HAPY]

Originally posted by Nats:

Cheers for that.

So the campaign is just a series of missions at the moment not dynamic in any way? I see improvements are planned though.

I got a lot out of of Tornado just trying the simulation and training, testing strategies etc. Now on over 35 hrs on that old game with its pixellated visuals (some old games are still great). So Is there any of this in the game for example training missions with invulnerability?

In the original M1 Tank Platoon I used to love just sneaking around enemies and getting them from behind from a high hill etc, endless fun doing that lol. But that requires knowing where the enemies are first.

The way campaign works is that it consists of various mission templates, that are guided by certain objectives, and depending on the state of the overall campaign progress, the units available to you and the enemy, will change. Different missions allow you to indirectly affect the general course of the war by wearing out logistics, and how you do in the mission, will reflect on your overall campaign.

Campaign is actually pretty solid, in a sense that while the mission objectives are the same, the randomization is enough to keep it from getting repetetive fast.

Keep in mind that campaign is WIP, however, and a lot will probably change between now and the release of the game.

[Twelvefield]

You're not happy with Nuclear Option? GHPC has fewer features than NO, and I believe a smaller dev team. Like NO, it's definitely playable and fun. Like NO, it's Early Access and needs more work.

[Nats]

Originally posted by Twelvefield:

You're not happy with Nuclear Option? GHPC has fewer features than NO, and I believe a smaller dev team. Like NO, it's definitely playable and fun. Like NO, it's Early Access and needs more work.

NO had major bugs though where I couldnt even start the game half the time. This one is a lot more realistic as well. I like realistic war sims games but ones that are lighter than DCS. Like EF2000 and Tornado. I will get this game when the campaign is practically complete most likely. But yeah I am not a great fan of EA games.

[Bobby]

Originally posted by Nats:

Originally posted by Twelvefield:

You're not happy with Nuclear Option? GHPC has fewer features than NO, and I believe a smaller dev team. Like NO, it's definitely playable and fun. Like NO, it's Early Access and needs more work.

NO had major bugs though where I couldnt even start the game half the time. This one is a lot more realistic as well. I like realistic war sims games but ones that are lighter than DCS. Like EF2000 and Tornado. I will get this game when the campaign is practically complete most likely. But yeah I am not a great fan of EA games.

Your the first person in *years* that I’ve read that plays EF2000!
I have EF2000 Reloaded along with TAW on my older Win 10 machine, running through a DOS Box. It was my all time fav simulations from day one. I have the old DOS EF2000 + TACTCOM and I managed to get Super EF2000 from America many eons ago. When DID decided to make EF2000 they were making a TIALD trainer for the RAF Tornado and that’s how it was born.
Ah, Tornado. Another that I have on about 6 floppy’s! Along with Falcon 3 in a combined box set and a cracking manual - don’t you miss them… :( I got it on CD-ROM eons ago. I suppose you also played DI’s Apache/Hind/Falcon?

I was a regular for nearly 20 years on CombatSim and SimHQ and we regularly got talking to Steve Hunt and Mike Dubose (M1TP2) I got coloured contour lines integrated in the game, my small claim to fame ;)
when I played the demo of GHPC the AI squad was as dumb as @. If you stopped they would wander about in circles, like puppies following a master.
Also you couldn’t manually assign them instructions individually like holding positions for cover while you advanced (like M1TP2) then recall them to formation.
The other thing is engagements feel far too enclosed and maps not open enough.

The biggy for me was the ‘concrete’ trees/saplings. I like to use terrain to my advantage, that means not being *funnelled * down obvious death trap/engagement routes. If you’ve played sims for decades you get a natural gut feeling to *not go there*.
Sadly, the saplings/trees cannot be crossed and are *concrete* - they stop 50+ tons dead! So you find yourself driving like a car following gaps in the strategically placed trees…..
I’ve been following this for well over a year now and afaik, trees are still not forgiving. Correct?
Before everyone tries to give me a lecture on tanks/trees. I understand that pretty much all modern US major engagements have been (since WW2) desert and urban. So I understand those not old enough to have seen or witnessed anything less.
If we go to Vietnam or the modern invasion that’s happening, we see tanks (Challenger’s, Leopard’s etc) utilising trees for camouflage and to avoid open areas of conflict by driving through wooded areas to create safe passages without breaking skylines etc.
In the case of M1TP2, they also had trees and large open areas, along with undulating terrain.
Lastly, Steel Fury Kharkov 1942 allows you to mobilise your tanks through entire woodland, slowly (modelled to perfection) bringing trees down and lifting your tank as it traverses over them, to (again) miss the obvious tank trap/funnelling terrain for the uninitiated. Your choice.
I just love replayability ;)

If this comes to GHPC, I will definitely be interested!
But not while it’s canned and scripted *you must go down this terrain route, and NO, you can’t cut through the thin line of saplings/trees*

Let me know asap.

[Nats]

Originally posted by Bobby:

Your the first person in *years* that I’ve read that plays EF2000! I have EF2000 Reloaded along with TAW on my older Win 10 machine, running through a DOS Box. It was my all time fav simulations from day one. I have the old DOS EF2000 + TACTCOM and I managed to get Super EF2000 from America many eons ago. When DID decided to make EF2000 they were making a TIALD trainer for the RAF Tornado and that’s how it was born.
Ah, Tornado. Another that I have on about 6 floppy’s! Along with Falcon 3 in a combined box set and a cracking manual - don’t you miss them… :( I got it on CD-ROM eons ago. I suppose you also played DI’s Apache/Hind/Falcon?

Yes played them all in the past. I am playing Tornado now which is on Steam and is superb still. I played EF2000 to death years ago when it came out not sure I could play it again. But Tornado I never played that much so its still fresh to me. Falcon 4 is practically a new game now with BMS so I might try that one again. But I prefer the lighter sims I always have, EF2000 was just at the right level for me. I like the look of this tank sim as well I will check it out properly in the future. I do miss the old sims but plenty of recent developments to get excited about especially now Microprose is back ...

[Bobby]

Check out GoG for some serious classics that work with Win 7,10,11 B17 2: The Mighty Eighth, IL-2 for a start and lots more is there if you haven’t played it.,

I’m an old fart, did 20+ years of dedicated Jane’s, Microprose,Empire,DID,DI,Rowan using HOTAS. I still have my Thrustmaster. But I’m 3 houses down the road since then and more like yourself, into light sims or less damn buttons.

BMS is just toooo heavy. Have you seen the startup sequence alone??

[Nats]

Yeah I was looking at the B17 Mighty 8th Redux here on Steam, just waiting for it to get updated graphically externally with new B17 models and I will probably get it - another game I played a lot years ago. Also Bloody 100th looks amazing as well.

Check out Tornado on Steam it's very good.

Also thinking of getting the old F117 Stealth Fighter when I've finished with Tornado. But that F117 is a few years before Tornado and really is looking a bit old. It was another sim I never played that much.

I think when Gunship 2000, Frontier Elite II and EF2000 came out all my time went on those three games. Then when Falcon 4 came out and I took time to learn it that was all I played for several years. I am very interested to see what Microprose do with Falcon 5.0 because I think BMS have made it a bit too complex for me. I am 57 now and not great at learning complex sims now lol. But we will see.

Strike Fighters 2 is worth a look if you like lighter sims. The terrain looks rubbish but its got some really interesting planes like Lightnings and Hunters. The First Eagles (Thirdwire's WW1 sim) mod is really good. Also Helicopter Gunship Dex is shaping up to be a good sim, just awaiting a dynamic campaign soon and that will be worth playing a lot.

[Bobby]

Originally posted by Nats:

Yeah I was looking at the B17 Mighty 8th Redux here on Steam, just waiting for it to get updated graphically externally with new B17 models and I will probably get it - another game I played a lot years ago. Also Bloody 100th looks amazing as well.

Check out Tornado on Steam it's very good.

Also thinking of getting the old F117 Stealth Fighter when I've finished with Tornado. But that F117 is a few years before Tornado and really is looking a bit old. It was another sim I never played that much.

I think when Gunship 2000, Frontier Elite II and EF2000 came out all my time went on those three games. Then when Falcon 4 came out and I took time to learn it that was all I played for several years. I am very interested to see what Microprose do with Falcon 5.0 because I think BMS have made it a bit too complex for me. I am 57 now and not great at learning complex sims now lol. But we will see.

Strike Fighters 2 is worth a look if you like lighter sims. The terrain looks rubbish but its got some really interesting planes like Lightnings and Hunters. The First Eagles (Thirdwire's WW1 sim) mod is really good. Also Helicopter Gunship Dex is shaping up to be a good sim, just awaiting a dynamic campaign soon and that will be worth playing a lot.

I’m 60. F117 is a really good sim, along the lines of TFX? I played Tornado to death from floppy, just so ahead of it’s time.
I have Strike Fighters 2. Remember EAW? That and a FFB2 joystick was unbeatable!! Well the guys that made that went on to make SF.
Btw, if you go to SimHQ EAW is still supported to this day with mods galore!
Meatwater sounds etc. you can buy EAW on GoG.

I’ll keep my eyes peeled for Microprose etc. As I said I’ve had my day with complex sims and play more RPG and plug-n-play f-light sims. Dynamic campaigns are my thing also.

Thanks for the heads-up. I will check the rest out, never heard of them. Longbow Gold/2 was my baby along with F-15/F-18

Cheers

[Delta Dagger]

Originally posted by Bobby:

BMS is just toooo heavy. Have you seen the startup sequence alone??

Bah, Vipers aren't that involved to start up!

Granted, if you're using a pre-stored location for the INS alignment.

Joking aside, having more offerings like NO and GHPC are very welcome. It's a real nice thing to dip my toes into before I consider moving up to Steel Beasts.

[Nats]

Just looking to get back into combat sims and there are so few around these days.