Strategy and Wargaming

The Warplan Pacific beta is coming to an end and we’re getting closer and closer to release.

With that in mind, we have prepared the Warplan Pacific Tour, covering the main changes and improvements introduced in Warplan Pacific. The new series has a very special tour guide, as the videos are narrated by Alvaro Sousa, the developer of the Warplan series of games.

A new episode will be published on a weekly basis.

EPISODE #1 – Advancements and Unit Changes

The first video covers changes in advancement that were based on player recommendations. It will also talk about unit differences between countries, the new marine unit ability, special country rules, and added events for China.

Find out more here.

Source: Blue’s News

Fates Divided is now available on Steam as a new DLC pack for Total War: THREE KINGDOMS the Windows, macOS, and Linux strategy game set in ancient China. A new Release Trailer shows off some cinematics and gameplay. Here’s what the fates hold for a who purchase this:

Determine the fate of China in the new Chapter pack for Total War: Three Kingdoms. Grow Yuan Shao’s mighty army or stand in his way as Cao Cao and use strategy to achieve the grandest of ambitions.

In the Fates Divided Chapter Pack you begin at 200 CE, a period that finds Yuan Shao and Cao Cao at a crucial turning point. These childhood friends have borne witness to each other’s growing ambition, but Yuan Shao’s patience with Cao Cao is fast coming to an end – a childhood bond is about to break.

Fates Divided includes significant improvements to several in-game mechanics, a new faction, and new units, as well as new playstyles for established factions.

Slitherine has released a new Battle video showcasing one of the scenarios coming with Panzer Corps 2: Axis Operations 1941.

It is a large tank engagement that took place during the early stage of Operation Barbarossa: the Battle of Raseiniai.

Each scenario in Axis Operations  1941 has been carefully researched and designed to be different. We hope that this battle video did a good job at showing Raseiniai in Panzer Corps 2.

Furthermore, we have some important news: Axis Operations 1941 will be released on March 18.

We’ll see you next week with another battle video: Bryansk.

Source: Blue’s News

2×2 Games and Croteam announce Barbarossa, new DLC that will come to Steam on April 21st for Unity of Command II. As the title suggests, this is based on Operation Barbarossa, allowing owners of the World War II strategy sequel to recreate Germany’s ill-fated invasion of Soviet Russia. The DLC includes 23 scenarios, new maps, new units, new vehicles, and alternative outcomes that make it possible, if difficult, for Germany’s plan to succeed. Here’s the battle plan:

On 22 June 1941, a Sunday, Nazi Germany set in motion the largest invasion in the history of warfare — the attack on the Soviet Union, codenamed “Barbarossa”. By the time the four-year conflict on the Eastern Front is over, the world will have witnessed a war that’s unfathomable in scale and unparalleled in brutality.

In this DLC, you command Axis forces during Operation Barbarossa, from their summer of roaring victories to the painful halt at the gates of Moscow in the winter of 1941/42.

Key Features of the Barbarossa DLC

• 23-scenario historical campaign, with battles from the lakes of Karelia in the north to the Black Sea beaches in the south
• Limited, but still difficult to achieve, alternative historical outcomes, such as capturing Moscow in late 1941
• Detailed, zoomed-in maps for the hard-fought sieges of Odessa and Sevastopol
• 20+ new unit types including those from Italy, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Finland, and Spain.
• Beautiful new vehicle models including BT-7 and T-26 tanks, and the iconic ZIS-5 truck

You can now preorder Gary Grigsby’s upcoming masterpiece by visiting the Product page.

We are only selling the game on the Matrix Games (and Slitherine) site for now, and the game will release on Steam at a later date. Anyone pre-purchasing, or purchasing on the day of release will get a Steam key eventually, when the title launches there.

Both digital only and upgrade to physical are available. The first 1000 copies are coming by air and will begin shipping on April 16th, while the remaining copies will be shipped in May when the next batch of books arrives.

The physical manual is a 520 page hardbound full color volume. The biggest printed manual we’ve ever done. All shipments at this point are from the UK and we recommend carefully reviewing the shipping options (typically Royal Mail or DPD) to determine which iss best for your location.

Royal Mail is a typical mail service, DPD is an air courier service and shipping times, customs/VAT costs and service to special addresses may vary by your location. However, the shipping cost is significant due to the sheer weight of the hardbound manual, which comes in at over 4.5 lbs / 2+ kg.

For more information and clarification on purchase option, please visit the Forum.

It is time for our first Panzer Corps 2: Axis Operations 1941 battle video.

This time, we will be covering one of the most impactful moments of the early war, the breakthrough at Thermopylae.

Speed is vital if you wish to break the retreating British and prevent their escape. Having secured the escaping British, the time will come when you also need to assault the mighty defences of the Thermopylae pass. How you tackle this task, is up to you.

Find out more about Panzer Corps 2: Axis Operations 1941 via the games official webpage.

The latest in the Victory At Sea franchise hits Early Access today on Steam.

Evil Twin Artworks’ follow up to Victory At Sea Pacific has finally launched in Early Access with a weeklong 10% discount.

“Set in the American Civil War we have taken a different slant to other games out there by looking at this conflict from the naval side of things.” said James Carroll, Director at Evil Twin Artworks. “Battles took place on both the sea and on rivers of the American Civil War, as the navies of both sides supplied their land forces with resources and transport, requiring both to work together for victory. The Battles on the water powerfully affected the course of the war and would be fundamental as to whom would take victory.”

The game enters EA with a fully playable version of the Union campaign. Following on from this will see a Confederate campaign, as well as Modding and a custom battle mode which will launch through Early Access. While the game will launch in EA with a full roster of ports the Evil Twins will be adding more unique port environment designs as well.

Evil Twin Artworks recently played another round of Victory At Sea Ironclad in a Live stream on the Steam store and you can view it here.

Victory at Sea Ironclad features:

• Search and destroy enemy fleets during the American Civil War
• Effortlessly switch between commanding the entire theatre of war and controlling the fate of individual vessels and fleets.
• Use Resources to build new structures and ships
• Upgrade Ports
• Build shipyards
• Build farms and factories
• Harass shipping and starve ports of vital supplies
• Organize large scale amphibious assaults on major ports
• Control unique vessels such as the formidable Ironclads
• Pausable gameplay allows you to order fleets and then continue the action
• Play as North or South (Play as the South will become available through Early Access)
• Create customisable battles (Will become available through Early Access)

From small skirmishes involving single ships and hunting down merchantmen, to the clashing of massive fleets against implacable enemies, Victory at Sea Ironclad is your ticket to exciting battles that take place on the dangerous seas of the American Civil War.

You can check out the new Steam page for Victory At Sea Ironclad HERE.

Victory At Sea Ironclad Official Website

FRIENDSHIP, ALLEGIANCE, BETRAYAL

Out March 11th, Fates Divided is the next dynasty-defining Chapter Pack for Total War: Three Kingdoms. Set ten years after the turbulent events of the main campaign, players will bear witness to the bitter end of a once great friendship between two of the foremost warlords of the period as they fight to control the future of China.

Forge a new empire with an army headed by two of China’s mightiest warlords, the merciless Cao Cao and the powerful Yuan Shao, each with their own unique motivations and stories to tell from the 200 CE timeline. Following them into the battle is a multitude of era-defining warriors such as Ye Vanguard Spearmen, Xiongnu Noble Cavalry and Qingzhou Halberds, as well as the chance to control the elite Northern Army should you claim victory over your adversaries.

Players can also embark on a new cross-generational campaign as Liu Yan, a man of great ambition and strategy, as he attempts to establish a legacy for his family in the shadow of the Han Empire. Use his unique aspiration mechanic to set the stage for his son Liu Zhang’s eventual inheritance, and reap the rewards of your father’s hard work, or watch as his best laid plans crumble under your care.

The release of Fates Divided will usher in a sizeable free content update to all players of Three Kingdoms including faction reworks for Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, a new Imperial Intrigue mechanic, improvements to the Faction Council and much more.

Watch the Total War: Three Kingdoms - Fates Divided Announcement Trailer here.

More information on the Fates Divided Chapter Pack can be found on the official FAQ here.

Click here to pre-order Fates Divided and receive 10% off.

Combat Mission Cold War is set in the tipping-point years of a conflict that gripped the world for 45 years. Between 1979-1982, both the NATO and Soviet Warsaw Pact militaries began the shift away from industrialized warfare of the early 20th century and towards the modern digital battlefield of today. Combat Mission Cold War simulates several “what if” conflict scenarios between US and Soviet forces centered on the strategic Fulda Gap and environs in West Germany.

The game also simulates the early days of the US National Training Center (NTC) as US forces began to rapidly transform away from Vietnam era doctrine and towards the revolutionary AirLand Battle concepts that would define warfare in the modern era.

It truly was a transformational period in battlefield doctrine and revolutionary equipment for both the NATO and Warsaw Pact forces. Combat Mission Cold War is set in a period that features true peer versus peer forces facing off in what can be nail biting action.

Combat Mission Cold War is intended to be a sandbox for experimentation, for example how would a situation unfold when equipped with M-60A3s or M1s in 1982 facing off against T-80s? How about the same situation with M-60A1s or M-60A2s in 1979 against T-64s or T-62s? Combat Mission Cold War allows a player to do just that!

For the old-timers who served during the Cold War it would be gratifying to actually play out many of the scenarios that were conjectured and trained for during the late seventies to the early eighties, or to re-fight battles at the National Training Center (NTC). Combat Mission Cold War provides those old-timers, and any others that are interested, the opportunity to do just that.

Highlights: Combat Mission Cold War provides the player with the opportunity to take command of either US or Soviet tactical formations, centering on the Company Team or Battalion Task Force between 1979 to 1982. Tactical formations include highly detailed, historically accurate organizations, equipment and modeling of weapons effects that is second-to-none within the wargaming industry. Highlights include the full suite of era-accurate tanks and mechanized infantry fighting vehicles, including many not available in any other Combat Mission franchise: (M48, M60 series of tanks, M150 TOW, M1 (105), T64, and T80, etc.). In addition, it offers a full suite of aircraft effects modeled on legendary platforms such as the iconic US F-4 Phantom and A-7 Corsair. Coming back to Combat Mission are the first variants of the venerable A-10 Warthog and F-16 Fighting Falcon, as well as the Army variants of the AH-1 Cobra gunships. The Soviets bring with them their service workhorses, the infamous Mig-23/27, the Su-17, the rare but powerful Su-25 Frogfoot, and the well-known Mi-24 series gunship, including the first “Hind A” version and the famous “Hind D.”

Combat Mission Cold War comes with:

• 15 standalone scenarios set in the US V and VII Corp sectors of West Germany. Scenarios range from small platoon-based actions to large Battalion battles.
• 3 full length campaigns:
• The NTC Campaign. The National Training Center in the California Mojave Desert was established in 1982, right at the end of Combat Mission Cold War’s time frame. The NTC campaign puts you in command of a US Army Company Team as it begins its rotation and trial by simulated fire against the premier Soviet style formation in the world, the NTC OPFOR (Opposing Force).
• The US West German Campaign. Set in the southern Fulda Strategic Corridor between Fulda and Hanau, the US campaign unfolds across historically accurate maps as player take charge of the 2nd Bn TF of the 28th Infantry Regt in a race to stop the Soviet juggernaut. In keeping with the sandbox theme of Combat Mission Cold War, there are two versions of the US Campaign, 1982 and 1979 to allow players the opportunity to see and compare the differences in equipment between the two periods.
• The Soviet Campaign. Set north and east of Fulda, the Soviet Campaign follows the “Ride of the 120th Motor Rifle Regt” on the opening 48 hours of a fictional “what if” West German invasion. Players will fight on historical battlefields “that never were”, such as Eiterfield and Alsfeld as part of the first wave of Soviet troops racing towards their divisional objectives.

Special Features: Combat Mission Cold War is somewhat unique within the franchise in that it covers a broader time-period than many other Combat Mission base games with a view to eventually covering an even wider period. The aim is to provide the player with the broadest set of experiences and tools to build their own scenarios if they so wish.

Combat Mission Cold War also includes new and reoccurring battlefield innovations such as the introduction of Single and Dual-Purpose Improved Cluster Munitions delivered by both air and artillery support. The early days of electronic warfare is also modeled giving players a sense of the impact an encroaching digital age would have on warfare. Finally Combat Mission Cold War is more than a clash of equipment and weapons, it simulates a clash between command-and-control systems. The US, embracing maneuver warfare doctrine, while the Soviets favour mass, and centrally controlled command systems; Combat Mission Cold War allows the player to see in detail how the clash of these two doctrines would have played out.

Find out more on the official Combat Mission Cold War Steam page.

Rebuild the Empire of the Classical World’s Greatest Conqueror

Though the man has died, his dream of universal empire lives on. The spirit and ambition of Alexander fuels the wars of his quarreling generals, each master of a large kingdom that is somehow still not large enough. Become the master of arms and diplomat extraordinaire as you claim your right to be the heir of Alexander.

Heirs of Alexander is the newest content pack for Imperator: Rome, Paradox Development Studio’s grand strategy game about the classical world. New events and missions highlight the Wars of the Diadochi, a series of bitter struggles fought by former generals and followers of Alexander the Great.

The Heirs of Alexander content pack includes:

• Unique Mission Trees: New special mission objectives for the Antigonid Empire in Anatolia, Seleucid Empire in Asia, Ptolemaic Empire in Egypt, Macedonia and Thrace.
• Shared Mission Tree: Diadochi-themed mission objectives available to all of the Successor Kingdoms.
• Wonder Designer: New tool that allows players to build their own custom monuments, adding bonuses to their location or to the entire empire.
• New Events: Various Historical Events based on the history and legacy of Alexander’s followers.
• New Deities: Regional gods and goddesses from the Hellenistic kingdoms.
• New Treasures: Distinctive artifacts from the Hellenistic kingdoms.
• New Music: Three new music tracks to inspire your Successor Kingdom.

Heirs of Alexander is now available at major online retailers for the suggested retail price of $9.99/£7.19/€9.99.

This content pack is accompanied by a major free update. The 2.0 ‘Marius’ update to Imperator: Rome is a significant reworking of the military system in the game, adding new features that transform war and army management.

• Levies: Draft levies from your provinces to fight your wars. Their size and composition is based on the cultures and population types in the province.
• Legions: Advance your military technology to create standing, professional military forces to guard your empire. But beware of their cost and tendency to follow disloyal generals.
• Military Histories: Legions and Mercenary units have histories that will list their accomplishments over time.
• Engineers: Special cohort to help with sieges, river crossings and road building.
• Changes to Inventions and Military Traditions: Radically overhauled invention system – unlock new abilities alongside old inventions, and shape your civilization like never before.
• Diadochi War Goals: New large scale conquests available to Hellenistic kingdoms to better model the ambitions of Successor rulers.
• UI Overhaul: Completely reworked interface to make options and decisions more intuitive.
• And much more: New unit models for levy and legion units, new port construction options, changes to forts and deities.

For more game information, and to purchase the game, visit the official Imperator: Rome webpage. Imperator: Rome is also available via Steam.