Question before purchasing the game.

Zgok · 10-20-12, 06:33 PM

Hello, I am thinking of purchasing the game, yet one concern lies in my head preventing me from doing so; are U-boats controllable by the player, or are they only controlled by the AI?

CCIP · 10-20-12, 06:45 PM

They are controllable on the strategic map (i.e. you can send them places and they will attack ships), but not on the tactical map or in battles; they do appear in engagements, but all they will do is launch torpedoes (if they are close to an enemy ship) and dive at the start of a scenario, "disappearing" from the map.

Granted, that's not unfair - given the limitations of both the U-boats and ASW in that period, direct tactical control over subs would make them extremely unrealistic.

Strategically, subs aren't incredibly effective, but are able to throw in some very nasty surprises nonetheless. I've lost several capital ships and countless smaller ships to torpedo attacks on the strategic map, and even when these attacks don't sink anything, they can seriously damage ships and result in long repair times. They are also okay at scouting and excellent at commerce raiding.

However the game is really not "about" subs in any serious fashion - it's about surface combat, mostly between "big guys". You will be dealing with your subs for maybe 1% of your time in the game.

Zgok · 10-21-12, 01:40 PM

Thank you for the reply.Hmm guess it does make sense, considering the communications of the era, in addition to the fact that the game is focused on Fleet battles, of the Mahan philosophy that was prevalent of the time. Could it be modded? Either way, I will buy this game sooner or later. I have been in the WW1 mood, in particular the U-boats, and the Ottoman Front, a shame there arent too many games about WW1, such a fascinating subject.

CCIP · 10-21-12, 04:44 PM

I'd love to see controllable subs, and if SES plan to continue making games in the future in other theaters and later periods, they will HAVE to make controllable subs eventually (and aircraft). Actually most of the pieces required for it are already there - the subs exist as 3D units that can dive and launch torpedoes. The real problem is that there is no ASW behaviour of any kind. It's the same with the Zeppelins in game - they exist as 3D units and fly correctly, but there is no AA behaviour, so they are also not player-controllable in battles.

Sadly, the modding ability is very limited right now because the game's code and data are closed. I know there was some talk about opening it up more earlier, but I'm not sure much came out of that in the end.

10-22-12, 12:25 AM

Check out Steam and Iron, tactical naval combat in WW1 over at NWS.

http://forums.navalwarfare.net/showt...WNLOADS-THREAD

Comes with fleets from Britain, France, Germany, Austria Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Russia and the USA with other nations addable by the user. Also a Ship designer and editor, scenario editor with the entire world usable, a Baltic Sea campaign (in beta with North Sea and Adriatic campaigns to follow) but no fancy graphics. Much less expensive as well.

Better than anything from SES in every way except eye candy IMHO.

Sailor Steve · 10-22-12, 07:37 AM

^ ^ ^

Looks like a computer version of the tabletop games I've been playing for decades.

troopie · 10-28-12, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randomizer

Check out Steam and Iron, tactical naval combat in WW1 over at NWS.

http://forums.navalwarfare.net/showt...WNLOADS-THREAD

Comes with fleets from Britain, France, Germany, Austria Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Russia and the USA with other nations addable by the user. Also a Ship designer and editor, scenario editor with the entire world usable, a Baltic Sea campaign (in beta with North Sea and Adriatic campaigns to follow) but no fancy graphics. Much less expensive as well.

Better than anything from SES in every way except eye candy IMHO.

Downloaded 'Steam and Iron' tonite and have just played a few Scenarios. I love it! Cheers for heads up.

The demo was certainly worth a look and sold me on the game. Yeah It's a little excy but I'm happy to pay the asking price for something independent like this.

02-05-13, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randomizer

Check out Steam and Iron, tactical naval combat in WW1 over at NWS.

http://forums.navalwarfare.net/showt...WNLOADS-THREAD

Comes with fleets from Britain, France, Germany, Austria Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Russia and the USA with other nations addable by the user. Also a Ship designer and editor, scenario editor with the entire world usable, a Baltic Sea campaign (in beta with North Sea and Adriatic campaigns to follow) but no fancy graphics. Much less expensive as well.

Better than anything from SES in every way except eye candy IMHO.

Yes, finally took the plunge on this myself, and just love it. I only hesitated because of the price, but once you start playing it and start designing ships and scenarios, your hooked. I'm a big war plan Red and Orange fan, and have already started designing ships for the 1920 or 30's time period and its great. Lots of potential and as you say still being developed. Maybe we should start a forum out here for dicussion of this little gem, if it would be ok with Neal!

Regards:
Captain Rockwell Torry

10-20-12, 06:33 PM	#1
Zgok Seaman Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Side 3 (Principality of Zeon) Posts: 36 Downloads: 102 Uploads: 0	Question before purchasing the game. Hello, I am thinking of purchasing the game, yet one concern lies in my head preventing me from doing so; are U-boats controllable by the player, or are they only controlled by the AI? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

10-20-12, 06:45 PM	#2
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	They are controllable on the strategic map (i.e. you can send them places and they will attack ships), but not on the tactical map or in battles; they do appear in engagements, but all they will do is launch torpedoes (if they are close to an enemy ship) and dive at the start of a scenario, "disappearing" from the map. Granted, that's not unfair - given the limitations of both the U-boats and ASW in that period, direct tactical control over subs would make them extremely unrealistic. Strategically, subs aren't incredibly effective, but are able to throw in some very nasty surprises nonetheless. I've lost several capital ships and countless smaller ships to torpedo attacks on the strategic map, and even when these attacks don't sink anything, they can seriously damage ships and result in long repair times. They are also okay at scouting and excellent at commerce raiding. However the game is really not "about" subs in any serious fashion - it's about surface combat, mostly between "big guys". You will be dealing with your subs for maybe 1% of your time in the game. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

10-21-12, 01:40 PM	#3
Zgok Seaman Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Side 3 (Principality of Zeon) Posts: 36 Downloads: 102 Uploads: 0	Thank you for the reply.Hmm guess it does make sense, considering the communications of the era, in addition to the fact that the game is focused on Fleet battles, of the Mahan philosophy that was prevalent of the time. Could it be modded? Either way, I will buy this game sooner or later. I have been in the WW1 mood, in particular the U-boats, and the Ottoman Front, a shame there arent too many games about WW1, such a fascinating subject. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

10-21-12, 04:44 PM	#4
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	I'd love to see controllable subs, and if SES plan to continue making games in the future in other theaters and later periods, they will HAVE to make controllable subs eventually (and aircraft). Actually most of the pieces required for it are already there - the subs exist as 3D units that can dive and launch torpedoes. The real problem is that there is no ASW behaviour of any kind. It's the same with the Zeppelins in game - they exist as 3D units and fly correctly, but there is no AA behaviour, so they are also not player-controllable in battles. Sadly, the modding ability is very limited right now because the game's code and data are closed. I know there was some talk about opening it up more earlier, but I'm not sure much came out of that in the end. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

10-22-12, 07:37 AM	#6
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	^ ^ ^ Looks like a computer version of the tabletop games I've been playing for decades. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

10-22-12, 12:25 AM	#5
Randomizer Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Check out Steam and Iron, tactical naval combat in WW1 over at NWS. http://forums.navalwarfare.net/showt...WNLOADS-THREAD Comes with fleets from Britain, France, Germany, Austria Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Russia and the USA with other nations addable by the user. Also a Ship designer and editor, scenario editor with the entire world usable, a Baltic Sea campaign (in beta with North Sea and Adriatic campaigns to follow) but no fancy graphics. Much less expensive as well. Better than anything from SES in every way except eye candy IMHO.