Subject: 1813 Napoleonic Game Review From: "COL Bill Gray" Thought I would post this FYI, since I don't believe I've seen it hit here yet. It comes off the Newsgroup rec.games.miniatures.historical. Mini guys, like myself, often use computer & board games to supplement our main focus of toy soldiers. Such games allow us to play in different periods of history, at different echelons of warfare (minis tend to be tactical only) and also serve as useful research platforms for scenario design or as full fledged miniature campaign systems. Anyhoo, nuff said so here is the review of the 1813 Napoleon computer game by Matt Pavone. Regards, Bill Gray I know there must be some interest among members of this newsgroup to the much anticipated release of Wargamer, Napoleon 1813. Well, I ordered the game from Empire UK and it showed up in less than a week (35 pounds, post included). Game runs fine in terms of system compatibility. Ok, where do i begin. I started a grand campaign from the french side (of course!). I rapidly mobilized new forces and had them marching about all over the place, with my overall strategic goal to take Berlin whilst holding the allies in the Dresden/Leipzig area. I put Davout in command of this weak section in Saxony, figuring he's about the best I had, while Napoleon took command of the newly raised Grand Armee to manuever on Berlin. Coordinating several army groups I pressed deep into Allied territory. While trying to add a new command (corps) to the grand armee i somehow lost Napoleon, and he was replaced by a "no name" in command. Sigh...I couldn't find him anywhere....unless I missed a message announcing his death or illness or something. Needless to say, I was able to take berlin, but was then pushed back on several fronts in an around that area. Davout is holding nicely in Dresden, having forced the upstart Austrians back in several battles....that where I've left off after the latest crash. The game crashes and otherwise locks up with regularity so I've had to save often. Bizarre things happen and there is apparently no rhyme nor reason to them... In that regard, the game has proved to be somewhat frustrating. Tactical combat resolution is decent, but takes a bit to get used to. All of this being said, however, its certainly the best game of its type ever produced and will become a masterpiece given a multiplayer option and a bunch of bug fix patches. The graphics are decent and I rather enjoy the operational level of play, only taking the field for critical tactical actions. Recommendation: If you're a die hard computer wargamer, this one is certainly for you. You might be best off waiting until it hits American store shelves, as the version to be release here will already have been patched and will come supporting multi-player (Im told by empire anyway). On the whole, I haven't been able to stop playing it since I started, but I have yet to decide if its because the game is that good or because I like the subject matter so much. Well, I have to go now, as "Varnot"? is waiting with the Grand Armee (or should I say routing with it, as whoever he is, he shouldn't be commanding a company, much less my main strike force!) Subject: Re: 1813 Napoleonic Game Review From: "Scott Udell" COL Bill Gray wrote in message <01bf2000$74b522a0$2c8c0b86@8pod811>... >Anyhoo, nuff said so here is the review of the 1813 Napoleon computer game >by Matt Pavone. >You might be best off waiting until it hits American >store shelves, as the version to be release here will already have been >patched and will come supporting multi-player (Im told by empire anyway). No, it won't; I spoke with an Empire US rep last Thursday, and was told that the U.S. version would be identical to the UK version, but that the first patches would be available a week after the game ships here (apparently they didn't wait for the patches because they've got an exclusive distribution deal with Electronics Boutique, and EB was pushing for them to ship it). The first patch will have bug fixes, and a second patch will address AI issues (several of which were apparently caused by last-minute tweaks to the system). Later on down the road a larger patch (to add multiplayer) is apparently planned. Scott Udell