Path: utzoo!yunexus!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uunet!gistdev!andy From: andy@gistdev.gist.com (Andy Warinner) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games Subject: Re: review on Halls of Montezuma Message-ID: <911@gistdev.gist.com> Date: 31 May 90 14:35:58 GMT Article-I.D.: gistdev.911 References: Organization: Global Information Systems Technology Inc., Savoy, IL Lines: 77 wk0t+@andrew.cmu.edu (Wai Sung Kok) writes: >the following is from about a week of playing the game. I have been playing "Halls of Montezuma" (HoM) for about four months. If you can master a game in a week, you probably won't be playing it a month later. >(1)there is a lack of control over the movement of your unit, what happen > is that they always go where you don't want them to go ,like right into > an ambush. >(2)since the program decide how your unit will move, you can't do simple stuff > like bypass or encirclement, e.g. there is 8 hex of desert between >your unit > and the place you want it to go, the program decide that going through 10 > hex of road is faster , without taking into account that an enemy division > is sitting on the road., this error usually prove to be fatal. I don't want to start a big debate over realism vs. playability but HoM is a "realistic" game. You don't exercise direct control over each individual unit on the battle field. That does not mean you do not have no control over the units. You can bypass and encircle, try pulling the unit back in reserve (it will deploy near the HQ) then move the HQ. This will work if you have enough room. I have found that the "attack specific unit" order is also useful for encirclement. Pull a unit into reserve and then order it to attack a unit at the end of a line. It is not fair or accurate to say that HoM does not allow you control of movement or limits your choice of attack and defence. To play HoM well, you have to manage your units well, choose your attacks carefully, and place your HQs judiciously. If you are really frustrated by unit movements, edit the scenario and add new divisional objectives. Units move to divisional objectives. Maneuver is the most difficult aspect of HoM to master. When I bought HoM I was looking for a game that simulated the role of the commander on the battlefield. Controlling each individual unit on the battlefield is not an accurate simulation and also reduces the playability of the game. Strategic Conquest is a good example of this. You spend more time moving around units instead of carrying out strategy. >(3)you cannot use your air support to attack enemy unit not in direct contact > with your unit. this feature is important to prevent reinforcement > from coming up to the frontline. The off-board support simulates tactical support, not strategic or interdiction support. Strategic or interdiction support will not prevent the unit from reaching the battlefield, it will only inflict casualties on the unit. Also, it is extremely rare for strategic air support to be placed under the control of the battlefield commander. >I strongly discourage any serious war gamer from buying this game, at >the present moment it not up to Squad Leader 's standard ( make by >Avalon Hill ). >Panzer Battle and American Civil War are also made by the same company using >the same game system, so don't waste your money on them I would consider myself to be a "serious war gamer". HoM is the best simulation I have played (though Patton vs. Rommel is a close second). It strikes an excellent balance between realism and playability as opposed to Squad Leader which is so complicated it is almost unplayable. HoM is also a good value since it includes a complete scenario editor. I do have one caveat about HoM. Several of the scenarios are of the Marines invasions of Pacific islands (Okinawa, Iwo Jima). These scenarios are pretty much head-on assaults of continous defensive lines. These scenarios put a premium on management of units but there is little room for maneuver which emphasizes HoM's lack of direct control of unit movement. Panzer Battles has scenarios that emphasize movement. Buy HoM if you prefer head-to-head fighting, buy PB if you prefer maneuver. BTW: is anyone out there in netland developing new scenarios for SSG's Battlefront system? I am very interested in new scenarios. Andrew Warinner | "Semper ubi sub ubi" - J. Caesar GIST, Inc. | Standard | EMAIL: andy@gistdev.gist.com disclaimer... | {uunet, uiucuxc}!gistdev!andy