Observations after playing the tutorial

[Tacfire]

The demo overall looks pretty good, and I expect I will be purchasing this game soon. A couple of observations:

1. The planning map needs to be either enlarged or have a zoom function . I am playing the game on 1920 x 1200 resolution and the mini map is too small for planning - all the units are cluttered up on the map. It really needs to be enlarged, I can not see the layout of my forces the way it is right now. I think this is a significant issue.

2. Units' retreating behavior sometimes seems strange. Not always, but sometimes, it appears that units are retreating the wrong way behind the enemies' lines and not behind their own lines. What determines the direction of routed units? Is their some kind of supply lines or zone of control on the map, or do the units retreat toward their side's top commander, or does it depend on the facing of the unit the moment it breaks?

3. Besides the battle sounds being too low (which was already mentioned), it might be nice to add some commander voices or human battle cries once in a while to the battle sounds. Right now I only hear rifle and cannon fire. This is not a major issue but I think it would improve the battle sounds if it could be added later on.

Overall though the game looks pretty good. The game ran very nice on my computer with no graphical bugs or crashes

[rebel13]

Hi Norb and team..wow, you guys are awesome and it has been worth the wait. Really enjoyed playing the demo (both single and MP). One thing I notice during my second play at the SP Demo mode, was the reserve units on the road, when they were brought foward manually (without sending the courier), after the units had been engaged, I received a courier that said the unit arrived..huh. :blink: ...it was already fighting. So far, no other problems have come up.

Sent my cash and now waiting for my activation. Looking forward to many evenings enjoying this game.

Hurrahh

[Little Powell]

Tacfire wrote:

2. Units' retreating behavior sometimes seems strange. Not always, but sometimes, it appears that units are retreating the wrong way behind the enemies' lines and not behind their own lines. What determines the direction of routed units? Is their some kind of supply lines or zone of control on the map, or do the units retreat toward their side's top commander, or does it depend on the facing of the unit the moment it breaks?

There is a safe zone that is set for each scenario. So lets say Commander A has a safe zone of location A, every unit under his command will retreat there. It's possible that you were moving past the enemy lines where their safe zone was, or vise versa.

[larrytagg]

Janh wrote:

Looks promising what Norb & Team have achieved. I really am impressed by the courier system, and I find it a nice requirement to integrate this as well as HITS at higher difficulty levels.

But I have also some suggestions, of course I do. Free in the spirit of Lee ordering Hood Texans forward, I would despite the need to use the courier system be able to order and move units in my direct vicinity myself.

First, having no sign on the minimap at historic difficulty level is nice, but now I would like to be able to scribble some own notes and markings on there... that would be really cool!

It also would be really nice if you could order units and formations to certain spots/coordinates on the map (or alternatively "50, 100, 150... yards south of X) rather than only "named locations". As mentioned in the forum earlier, I concur that being able to select and path units on the minimap, and a zoom feature would really bring the HITS & courier concept to fruition.
I image from my TC2M experience with scenarios of corps or army level (especially open play), the combination of an imperfect AI (the attack vs. hold issue, lack of artillery positing itself well etc) and HITS is a pain as you would have to micromanage these large formations when they come onto the map first.

Do routed units now disappear magically again as they did in TC2M, or do they stay at some safeplace/edge of map etc with a chance of long-term rally?

If you like HITS and the courier system, you're my kind of guy, Janh. I like your ideas for the using the Map. We'll take the subject up soon, when we design the patch.
You should be able to direct units within your "Control" distance (that's like shouting distance). I'll test it to see if it's working.
Yes, routed units don't come back. They're gone.

[Jack ONeill]

Norb and Team -

Excellent job. I Like everything operational about it w/ minor issues like the ones previously stated by others. Tutorial is great - scored a 2598 on 3rd. outing.

Questions though - On the actual, tutorial combat field I have sky blue fields, no roads and no streams. Have played around with the option settings but no changes.
Very odd.
Also, I have a grey circle on the field surrounding Cutler. Can I assume it is a visual or combat ranging information device? AND how can I get rid of it? It is very annoying.

Haven't had time to play MP yet, ( ), but probably because I am in PST.

I am running XP with a new vid card, but only 1 gig of ram. Processor is only a Pentium 4, 2.4 Ghz. single core.

Could be part of the problem.

Oh well, off to MP land.

Sic Semper Fidelis

Jack O'Neill/bfrusa B)

[larrytagg]

Janh wrote:

But I have also some suggestions, of course I do. Free in the spirit of Lee ordering Hood Texans forward, I would despite the need to use the courier system be able to order and move units in my direct vicinity myself.

I just tested the "shouted" commands, and they work.
Even if you're Difficulty Level demands that you give messages by couriers, you can give direct commands to those within your Control radius.
First, select your own commander and look at the flag icon of the unit you want to direct. If it has a bronze ring around its flag, it's within your Control Radius.
Then give it a movement command like you would normally do. It will respond immediately--you've just shouted your command to it.