Totem Games: Ironclads 2 American Civil War released for Windows

[Rockin Robbins]

I just got the game and am climbing the learning curve. First thoughts: this is TWO games, the turn based strategic one (you can't win if you don't win this one) and the real time tactical battle. I quickly found that I was intuitively good at the tactical battle but am still getting a handle on the strategic.

My initial strategy will be to fight tactical battles automatically and concentrate on the strategic aspect. Warning! Tactical battles can be very long and they are nail-biters to be sure! Beautiful ship modeling and the water is plenty adequate. I love the smoke and fire. It is a little hard to click on individual guns because the ship is moving with the waves and its own power. When your mouse leaves the gun the dialog box goes away.

I'll be doing some screenshots and video of what the game looks like and explaining a little bit (as much as I presently understand, subject to correction and refinement) about how things work.

I'm especially interested in the strategic aspect as I'm a veteran of the sacred Avalon Hill games Stalingrad, Africa Corps, Gettysburg and Jutland. Was always frustrated at the limitations of board games and the strategic and tactical games here are what board games always dreamed they could be.

Anybody expecting this to be Borderlands 2 with non-stop action and fragging is going to be disappointed. The game is long and thoughtful. But if you're interested in simulations you aren't looking for Borderlands 2 anyway. Stay tuned!

[Onkel Neal]

Looking forward to seeing your video, RR

[Rockin Robbins]

Well, now you've made me do it! Moving 90.71 GB of FRAPS video to a dedicated hard drive. This could take a couple of hours......

Play the !

[Rockin Robbins]

Computer is down for some reason. I'm at work trying to access it by remote control to do the copy function and it's MIA. Did some preliminary video last night and this is going to be divided into separate sections or nobody will watch it.

So I'll do an installation video, a strategic video and a tactical video. I want to keep each video under 15 minutes and hopefully around 10. The tactical video will probably be the longest.

As an aside, the Union side starts with not one ironclad and they take 20 months to produce. That means that at best, you get to use ironclads for four turns during a game. Everything else is wood steamers. Unless you can hijack some of the Confederate income stream you can't afford to begin building an ironclad for several turns. That means that my strategy will be somehow to take the high seas positions early and hope the Confederates' superior firepower doesn't sink too many of them. It's going to take more experience before I figure out where the Union advantage is supposed to be. At this point I don't see it.

[Maxim]

The Union sufficient advantages. And you've found the right one of them. The Union advantage cruisers. Therefore, it may try to destroy the trade of the South.
In addition, the US has more ships and more money. And as you know for war only need three things. Money, money and money! When intercepting merchantman (blockade runner) you will receive a cash prize.

The game has 48 turns (months). Two-towered US 1300t monitor built 16 months. Ironclads are actively used in the second half of the game.

P.S. Rock Paper Shotgun about Totem Team:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015...head-reflects/

[Rockin Robbins]

Very nice! I know what I'll be building with my ill-got money! (this ship financed by Confederate booty. Thank you Jeff Davis!)

[Rockin Robbins]

Tweaking the Ironclads II Installation Tutorial video right now. I'll upload it as a private video on You Tube until Maxim okays it then go public. Stand by please!