PC war sim

[FifaInspected]

Hey all,

I'm wondering if any of you could recommend a good PC based WWII sim.

[Gurantsu]

First person shooter: Brothers In Arms series or Red Orchestra.

Tactical : Officers (although its psuedo strategy) or Theater Of War series.

Strategy: Hearts Of Iron.

[Rodster]

Panzer General II is very good. As Grant mentioned the Operational Art of War series is epic and has a high learning curve. The Hearts of Iron also as a high learning curve and is has a lot of micro-managing if you're into that.

For an RTS, Company of Heroes is very good.

[FifaInspected]

Thanks fellas.

Any suggestions as to where I should purchase these from?

[Rodster]

Panzer General II ($5.99) can be found at GOG.com and Hearts of Iron III was on sale for under $10 but I forgot where.

[pk500]

An oldie-but-very goodie: Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin.

http://www.battlefront.com/products/cmbb/cmbb.html

TONS of free mods, scenarios and other add-ons available, too.

It's not WWII, but Vietcong is a very underrated Vietnam War FPS on the PC. The AI is decent and challenging, and the scenarios really capture the suspense and "HOLY SH*T, where the hell did that come from?" nature of jungle combat.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/vietcong/index.html

Commander: Europe at War is the ultimate beer-and-pretzels WWII grand strategy game that I've played. Pretty low learning curve but very addictive:

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/344 ... t.War.Gold

As others have said, The Operational Art of War III might be the most versatile strategy game ever made. So many conflicts with so many scenarios are depicted, from the Revolutionary War to modern combat, with tons of WWII scenarios on every front. A wet dream if you were into Avalon Hill or SPI hex-based board games.

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/317 ... of.War.III

[LAking]

Men of War is pretty good. It's available on Steam has some expansions as well. People had compared it to the old Close Combat games from microsoft so I gave it a try. It's probably somewhere in between Combat Mission and Company of Heroes. Not quite full on sim but not a complete tank rush RTS game.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rus ... Btitle%3B0

their is a sequel, Men of War: Attack Squad that might be even better.

[LAking]

Oh, and although I have only played a few mintues of it, Ruse seems intriguing. The single player is suppose to be a bore but the multiplayer is supposed to be fun.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rus ... Btitle%3B0

[RobVarak]

The first 3 Combat Mission games are my favorite PC games of all time. They're incredibly rich and deep, but with approachable interfaces. Only drawback is rudimentary graphics, but that's not really the point of game like these. These games are tactical, battalion size and below for the most part, with a fantastic "we-go" system where both sides plot their moves and then watch a "movie" of the resolution.

Battlefront just last week released the latest game in the series: Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy. The asset list is significantly curtailed compared to those of the CMx1 games (being limited to the actual TO&E available to the respective sides in June-August 1944), but there are a ton of improvements to the engine. Most notable is the fact that where the old games were abstracted below the squad level, the new engine simulates every soldier, bullet and grenade. This is an enormous improvement. I'm happy to shell out for the modules down the road.

They've also added a real-time option in the new games, in case you're messed up in the head and prefer that sort of thing. I can't recommend the series highly enough. Also, if you're interested in the history, equipment and tactics of the Second World War, the Battlefront forums are a goldmine. It's like a huge pub where everyone has their own area of expertise and is willing to share, argue and joke about it.

[dougb]

As Rob wrote the new Combat Mission Normandy game is excellent. For an Eastern Front version at close to the same level (platoon, company) you could try Panzer Command Ostfront.

http://matrixgames.com/products/391/det ... :.Ostfront

One thing Ostfront (which I don't have) has going for it over CMN is that the former covers the entire war on the Eastern Front while the latter provides scenarios and battles covering only the American portion of the inital Normandy Campaign. I do have CMN and still recommend picking it up if you're at all interested in this level and detail of WWII combat.

If you're interested in a series that provides the absolute best operational command simulation with terrific AI I'd recommend Command Ops: Battles From the Bulge (earlier games of the series had the Aegaean and the Market Garden Airdrop). Very, very revolutionary series in that it was really the first series to successfully break from the designs that simply moved board game hex gaming to the pc. You give orders to higher headquarters that then distribute the orders to lower level headquarters who move the actual companies, platoons etc. to their objectives an attack based on parameters you provide (or that can be determined by the AI). Wonderful game that includes tons of detail without the overwhelming amount of micromanagement that often afflicts pc war games.

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/377 ... .the.Bulge.

For a more traditional operational pc wargame you could try Decisive Campaigns: The Blitzkrieg from Warsaw to Paris which has lovely attractive graphics and a system that provides some nice chrome without being overwhelming. Another operational game that Operational Art of War that provides an incredible amount of scenarios from virtually every theatre in WWII. It's a game that allows users to create their own scenarios - hence the wide variety.

Both those games are Matrix as well.

http://www.matrixgames.com/

Of course, if you ever played board war games Vassal allows you to play board war games on-line against opponets live or by email (the majority of my gaming is board wargames using Vassal and skype). So, as far as good wargames to play on the pc the sky is pretty much the limit...

Best wishes,

Doug

[dougb]

An oldie-but-very goodie: Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin.

http://www.battlefront.com/products/cmbb/cmbb.html

TONS of free mods, scenarios and other add-ons available, too.

It's not WWII, but Vietcong is a very underrated Vietnam War FPS on the PC. The AI is decent and challenging, and the scenarios really capture the suspense and "HOLY SH*T, where the hell did that come from?" nature of jungle combat.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/vietcong/index.html

Commander: Europe at War is the ultimate beer-and-pretzels WWII grand strategy game that I've played. Pretty low learning curve but very addictive:

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/344 ... t.War.Gold

As others have said, The Operational Art of War III might be the most versatile strategy game ever made. So many conflicts with so many scenarios are depicted, from the Revolutionary War to modern combat, with tons of WWII scenarios on every front. A wet dream if you were into Avalon Hill or SPI hex-based board games.

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/317 ... of.War.III

Ah, I see that you're already all over the Matrix games LOL! PK they've just done a big update for Commander: Europe at War. Still same resolution I think so now widescreen fix but they've added a ton of new goodies to the game.

Best wishes,

Doug

[pk500]

Thanks for the tip on CEAW, Doug!

[dougb]

Anybody else on here play board war games by Vassal?

Best wishes,

Doug

[Danimal]

Anybody else on here play board war games by Vassal?

Best wishes,

Doug

I do Doug what do you have in mind?

[vinny-b]

Hey all, I'm wondering if any of you could recommend a good PC based WWII sim.

I know you preferenced PC, but have you tried RUSE (PS3, 360)? It's a RTS WWII sim.

[dougb]

Anybody else on here play board war games by Vassal?

Best wishes,

Doug

I do Doug what do you have in mind?

Hi Dan,

Have you played any American Civil War games? I'm helping paytest the upcoming remake by MMP of Stonewall Jackson's Way but I'd like to pick up a strategic level Civil War game as well. Do you have any particular recommendations.

Also Dan if you'd like a vassal game some time let me know. Check by collection over at Boargame geek and let me know if you'd be up for a vassal game sometime. Dougb1 is my BGG handle.

Best wishes,

Doug

[FifaInspected]

Hey all, I'm wondering if any of you could recommend a good PC based WWII sim.

I know you preferenced PC, but have you tried RUSE (PS3, 360)? It's a RTS WWII sim.

Vinny, I have not played Ruse.. I'll look into it. Thanks!

[Rodster]

I picked up RUSE (PS3) for $14.99 from Newegg, yup backlog.

[Danimal]

Hi Dan,

Have you played any American Civil War games? I'm helping paytest the upcoming remake by MMP of Stonewall Jackson's Way but I'd like to pick up a strategic level Civil War game as well. Do you have any particular recommendations.

Also Dan if you'd like a vassal game some time let me know. Check by collection over at Boargame geek and let me know if you'd be up for a vassal game sometime. Dougb1 is my BGG handle.

Best wishes,

Doug

Doug added you as a geekbuddy. I'll check out your list later, I'm interested in playing fighting formations on vassal but am open to others.

As for Civil War games only one I own now is the AGEOD one but haven't played it in a while.

[dougb]

Fighting Formation is one I'd be happy to play - I'll need to refresh on the rules a bit.

I had Ageod's Civil War but lost the license key and I have Gary Grigsby's War Between the States. One of the things that has bothered me about pc war games is the overwhelming amount of micromanagement involved - they almost literally include the last kitchen battalion. When I play a civil war game at the theatre or stategic level I don't want to have to concern myself with every last brigade and regiment. Gary Grigby's War in the East is probably one of the worst examples. It's that and the greater social element in boar wargaming (even vassal based) that have returned me to the board war-game side of thins.

Best wishes,

Doug

[LAking]

Hey all, I'm wondering if any of you could recommend a good PC based WWII sim.

I know you preferenced PC, but have you tried RUSE (PS3, 360)? It's a RTS WWII sim.

RUSE is available on PC as well.

[Gurantsu]

Don't know if its on VASSAL, but the best Civil War boardgame going is Summer Storm, about the battle of Gettysburg. A lot to take in, but once you get the hang if it no others compare.

I actually ran around the battlefield with the games designer and cartographer Rick Barber. Really interesting trip. Got some rolled signed copies of the maps from him also, as well as a beer at the late Gettysburg Brew House. Rick has done the maps for many a game.

[dougb]

Don't know if its on VASSAL, but the best Civil War boardgame going is Summer Storm, about the battle of Gettysburg. A lot to take in, but once you get the hang if it no others compare.

I actually ran around the battlefield with the games designer and cartographer Rick Barber. Really interesting trip. Got some rolled signed copies of the maps from him also, as well as a beer at the late Gettysburg Brew House. Rick has done the maps for many a game.

That's amazing - are you involved in re-enactments like Rick? I've been impressed with his map artwork - just bought Gettysburg The Wheat Field which features a map done by Rick. Really like his pen and ink approach to the maps that look absolutely lovely.

There is a Vassal module for Summer Storm that was created quite recently. I've browsed the rules which do appear quite complex but may pick up this game if there's someone I can play it with.

Best wishes,

Doug

[dougb]

Summer Storm vassal module.

http://www.box.net/shared/mck1o7k2jf

best wishes,

Doug

[Gurantsu]

I don't do reenactments. My dad would go to what he called "shoots" when I was a kid. He had the gun and uniform, but they did more target shooting with them instead of recreating battles. He gave me his musket when I turned 30. It was made in 1863, same year as Gettysburg.