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Speaking of WNLB here's what is practically the sequel...
Tom516


Joined: 08 Feb 2006
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http://www.madminutegames.com/index.htm

Take Command: Bull Run and its sequel Take Command: 2nd Manassas. They look really good and are certainly a step up from the venerable and still fun Waterloo. What's particularly nice is its set within the mid-Victorian period so you'll be able to get rifles from the period. The not too good news is that it still use the old sprites so its a ruddy hard deal modding the graphics for the units. The absolutely bad news is that the map at this time cannot be modified. However anyone with time, inclination and a decent graphics editor could quite easily (understatement of the year) re-do everything here as the Anglo-Zulu War because aside from the map, everything (so they say) can be changed.

http://www.madminutegames.com/modding.htm

Well I don't actually have this game but I do have Waterloo and if the former is any indication this promises to be a great improvement. Of course it's a grand-tactical battlefield simulation while Zulu Total War will have more versatility (epic historymaking writ large on a canvas stretching from 1806 to 1896) at the cost of tiny details (I think in Bull Run you could do as many uniforms for each of the Volunteers, Police, Mounted Rifles, Regulars, Impis, etc. as you want limited only by time and sometimes frustration but theoretically I think you could have all) so it may also be something worth checking out.

Best wishes all,

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Tom "Harlechman"
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a Rome TW: BI mod.
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Tom

WNLB is the only computer strategy simulation game that I have played.

On reading through the RTW/BI instructions I was thinking the operation of the game may be difficult, while controlling units, etc. However, it does seem reasonably similar to WNLB, so do you think, having played this game, it will assist me greatly in the understanding of RTW/BI ?

I've viewed the above sites and the Take Command game(s) do appear to be better visually, the figures, wagons, cannons, etc.

I also had a quick look at the game Julian mentioned - Battlefield 2.

Am I right that over 60 gamers can be involved at the same time ?

In regards to Multi-player FPS games, if this many players were able to be involved, does this mean 60 or so characters on the screen would all be gamers ?

Does seem a lot, but if it were the case, an AZW-related FPS using the additional ideas described elsewhere, use of commands, controlling officers operating groups of 3 or 4 AI 'friendlies', would be great, especially against an AI Zulu army, gamers perhaps controlling the Zulu Commanders and therefore all the regiments.

Talking about that, what is the maximum amount of gamers that can be on Multi-player FPS games at the moment ?

I'm trying to understand the operation and construction of such games, as well as the other possibilites, including AZW mods of current games.

Coll

PS. I noticed that 'Take Command - Shiloh' is in development, possibly being released December 2006.
similar
Tom516


Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Posts: 136
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Hi Coll,

Well in a general sense pretty similar, though you have greater capacity for grouping units together as there is no real 'command' structure in RTW BI aside from general or officer types having some sort of morale bonus. You can designate a bunch of units as a left or right wing or have the entire bunch grouped together and so forth. Once you get the hang of it the controls are quite intuitive.

Actually FPS types really aren't my thing as I have vertigo and get easily dizzy even if I desperately want to play. That being said there are games now where thousands of players all over the world can exist in a virtual world - world of Warcraft, MU, Ragnarok, etc. are Massive Multi-Player Online Role Playing Game (MMPORG) types - but they're usually fantasy or WW2 types. There is however one called Pirates of the Burning Sea which is situated in the 'pirate era' so there's no reason that there can't be a pre-20th century type game. The good thing though is we know that the technology is there and if a specialist group can put together something like a 'virtual Victorian South Africa' you can have a large number of players. It would be good to as you essentially make up the rules in these free-flowing games.

The characters on screen aren't necessarily all gamers - some are BOTs (computer controlled AI characters).

If you're up for grand strategy Take Command does seem extremely promising. The chaps there loved the Sid Meier series of games Gettysburg, Antietam, Waterloo, Austerlitz, but hated its limitations so they did their own. It really looks impressive - units are at a 1:10 man scale but there's no reason that you can't make it 1:1 and have units at company size. Each unit can have its own distinctive uniform and within a unit there can be up to six random costumes - meaning you can have a mattering of corporal and sergeant's stripes, long service chevrons even chaps with dilapidated uniforms wearing straw round hats or even unstained pith helmets. The cost though is in memory. They recommend at least a Gigabyte of memory as each uniform is 38MB of RAM and you need something like 12 basic ones for generals, artillery, cavalry, infantry, wagons, etc. It apparently slows down also when there's fighting going on so it may be wise to up the memory before playing. I think, just judging by WNLB, it will be worth it.

They've provided quite a bit of info on how to modify stuff so who's to say there won't be, in the future an AZW mod for Take Command (the Zulus can make their 'firing animation' into a spear throwing one and there are others who use firearms of course.)

Best wishes,

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Tom "Harlechman"
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Tom

I'm thinking I may get Take Command - Bull Run, to see what it is like, hopefully being able to play it on my computer, seeing as to how I can play Waterloo without any problems.

As you say, it contains rifles, cannon, etc., and will allow me to compare it to Waterloo, regarding game play and graphics.

Additionally, should it be as good as it looks, it might be worth obtaining the 2 sequels - 2nd Manassas and Shiloh (when the latter is released), to see how they also compare to each other, terrain, etc.

They certainly look promising.

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Tom516


Joined: 08 Feb 2006
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I think it should be a better grand tactical simulator though of course you are limited to just one battle (and you still cannot do any new maps).

I think that they mentioned that you need a lot of RAM though (1 GB RAM was actually recommended to play it smoothly) but then you can never have too much RAM Smile

I think though that they are very similar but of course they have minor improvements here and there but what is really different is the map. You cannot make new maps.

Cheers,
Tom516

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Tom "Harlechman"
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Tom

Even if thought not for to make an AZW mod, playing the game for what it is, as well as seeing possible improvements in this type of game, will be worth obtaining it/them.

I very much like the idea of a strategy simulation only covering a specific battle in great detail, which you can alter with What if ? scenarios, etc.

'Take Command : Isandlwana' or 'Take Command : Rorke's Drift'

I'd very much like to see the above titles appear some day.

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Tom516


Joined: 08 Feb 2006
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While that company which was doing Rorke's Drift is probably a good idea (every soldier has a name) I think Take Command: Isandhlwana or Khambula or Ulundi would be great.

Tom516

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Speaking of WNLB here's what is practically the sequel...
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