Question for those playing with success...

[gbs]

I just got this game and am just getting into it. Like others I am trying to understand what is going on. Have a few questions.
What are the best settings to play at? Those enjoying the game, what exact settings are you using?
Can settings be prescribed before the scenario starts?
Is "turn based" Igo yougo or wego?
I am starting with Palistine. My grand HQ has two fighters and one bomber. How do I order them to engage? Also, can I bombard the enemy prior to my land attact? Same for artillary. I include them (artillary) in the front line attack but how do I know if they are effective or not?
Trying to understand activation/coordination. Where can I read up on what this means and why it is important.

Hope the forum doesn't mind but I will have more questions I'm sure.

[Tamas]

We certainly don't mind questions.

First of all, make sure you have applied the 1.05 beta patch. Yes, it is labelled a "beta" patch but no one has encountered any issues with it so far, and it has some great improvements.

As for settings, I highly recommend you go with the standar rules, ie. do not turn on "strictly turn based mode". That mode and its sub-options activate the really "boardgamish" rules, and there is nothing wrong with them, in fact, they can help you grasp the finer points of the system, but you might be overwhelmed with it as your first game.

For airplanes: you need to drag and drop them to their support section on the battle screen. That means from the left of the unit you comitted to the battle (Artillery goes to the right of that unit). When they are there, they contribute to the combat. You will find artillery especially useful.

For further reading, the detailed manual is nearing completition and you can find a stickied thread with sections of it. Also in an other sticky thread, you can find the rules of the original La Grande Guerre boardgame WW1 is based on. A more lengthy read, but the boardgame and the computer game are almost identical so a lot of useful stuff there. I can especially recommend the diplomacy rules and tables.

And please, don't be shy to ask further questions. This is a very deep, complex game.

[gbs]

Tamas, thanks very much. I have another question about movement. The popups suggest using administrative movement when moving armys and corps behind the front lines and not in enemy territory. It also says we can move by rail from one front to the other. This all saves movement points. When I am moving units I don't see any options for other types of movement. Do these just apply to the Big Campaign?

[Tamas]

Tamas, thanks very much. I have another question about movement. The popups suggest using administrative movement when moving armys and corps behind the front lines and not in enemy territory. It also says we can move by rail from one front to the other. This all saves movement points. When I am moving units I don't see any options for other types of movement. Do these just apply to the Big Campaign?

No. Those are presents as little icons above the corps in the stack. So, if you select a stack, you get the pictures of the units in it at the bottom of the screen. Just above them are these little buttons for administrative, naval, and rail movement, and also for railroad conversion (a critical thing for supply! be noted, that you need to move through the area you wish to convert to make it work).

Administrative and rail movement, however, are subject to some restrictions (rail movement most notably: not just the obvious railroad line from start to finish, but also the capacity of the railroad in any given space entered.)

[gbs]

Wow. I think one could teach a college class on this game.

[vonRocko]

I just wanted to add: Read the popup tooltips closely, they have much information. Most of us have been learning without the benefit of a rulebook,(parts are coming out) and the tooltips help.
Good luck and hang in there, this game is worth it!

[06 Maestro]

One option I change right away is the ''automatically merge stacks". When the time comes for a large scale regrouping, I could turn it on for one turn-have not felt the need for that yet.