My First Impressions

[Riekopo]

I'm really liking this alpha. It's bringing back memories of my dad and I playing Sid Meier's Gettysburg. I really like the art style and the battles feel epic. It makes Total War battles feel like small potatoes. I will now list my thoughts as they just occurred.

 

• I'm having a hard time telling what terrain is raised.
• Is there a bonus tied to having the high ground?
• I like the sounds, but I wish I heard more horns and other instruments and more voices giving commands.
• Is there no way to cancel a move order after you've dragged the arrow?
• I think we might need a waypoint system.
• I guess the units are sprites. I'd like to see what they'd look like as 3D units.
• Lingering smoke and blood might be cool.
• Cannonball impact craters and damaged buildings might be cool.
• I'd like to be able to scale my units' physical body size. They seem kind of big.
• The UI in the top left corner looks kind of out of place to me. Too modern maybe.
• Does terrain affect speed, morale, or other things?
• What types of terrain are there?
• Why can't I drag select? With so many units to control this is needed I think.
• Is right click used for anything? Seems like a huge waste not to use it. I can't right click to attack.
• All of the controls should be available to the player on the screen not hidden beneath keyboard clicks or mouse combos.
• I haven't heard any period music which is odd.
• Where are the flags and officers in the units?
• Is there an ammo count?
• What is the white circle around the general?
• When a cannon is set on Auto it should also indicate what ammo type it's shooting.
• What are the differences between the infantry types?
• What determines whether a unit moves as a column or as a line?
• Maybe we should be able to set formations like column, battle line, skirmish line, etc.
• The grammar needs a better english speaker, no offense. Preferably get a civil war historian to write everything for the game. For example I don't know if the word "recon" was in use at the time,
• Someone needs to make a subreddit for Game Labs.
• Is the High-Water Mark and The Angle on the map?
• There should be a default AI. I was really overwhelmed and confused by all the AI choices.
• Steam cloud saves, trading cards, achievements, and multiplayer are needed. Workshop support too if possible.
• Is there an easy way to make a unit do a U-turn? I'm currently fighting with the drag arrows to do this simple maneuver.
• Is condition a measure of fatigue or how many men are left?
• After I give an attack order the unit seems to forget it after a few seconds.

[TheCenturion]

Woah, that's a lot of suggestions, thanks for taking the time to post them! I'll address a few:

 

• Is there no way to cancel a move order after you've dragged the arrow?

Yes, double click on a unit (Wait... I think ) to cancel their orders. 

 

• I think we might need a waypoint system.

 

Not sure about that. Isn't the current arrow system already this?

 

• I guess the units are sprites. I'd like to see what they'd look like as 3D units.

I don't know, I really like the 2D aesthetics the game goes for. The game is focused on the overall battle, rather than individual men and their details.

 

• Does terrain affect speed, morale, or other things?

I think it does. Forests, for example, provide extra cover but lower speed. Similar story with hills.

 

• What is the white circle around the general?

I think that's the general's effect range. Units in it will get a morale boost.

 

• What are the differences between the infantry types?

Line brigades are your normal infantry, skirmishers are smaller and number and are meant to screen/harass, while videttes are... cavalry... of some sort. 

 

• What determines whether a unit moves as a column or as a line?

I long range move order causes the unit to ravel as a column, while danger or a short range move order cause it to switch to line.

 

• There should be a default AI. I was really overwhelmed and confused by all the AI choices.

I'd say the 'Balanced' AI is fairly default.

 

• Is there an easy way to make a unit do a U-turn? I'm currently fighting with the drag arrows to do this simple maneuver.

Depends what you mean by U-turn. Hold the middle mouse button to rotate a unit. Draw a U with the arrows, and the unit will slowly turn.

 

• Is condition a measure of fatigue or how many men are left?

I think it's both, actually. Don't hold me to that though.

 

Many of your other reasons are fully viable suggestions and Darth is working on ways to improve things. I imagine many things will be added after the core mechanics of the game are settled. 

[lotharr51]

A few of your points that resonated with me:

• I'd like to see an about-face command, too.
• I'm curious about elevation as well. I'd like to better understand how it works. In my mind, attacking a steep/large hill should present a challenge.
• I also like the idea of being able to set a unit's formation vs having dedicated units.
• Lingering smoke - I like that a lot, but it should be a toggle.

 

 

 

while videttes are... cavalry... of some sort

[python]

First of all, game is superb. However...

I am basing on suggestions from Riekopo's : (with notes in bracelets)

 

• I'm having a hard time telling what terrain is raised. (or "what my unit will see when it will be there")
• I like the sounds, but I wish I heard more horns and other instruments and more voices giving commands.
• I think we might need a waypoint system. (do not change at all - current system is pefect !)
• The UI in the top left corner looks kind of out of place to me. Too modern maybe.

I do not know units and generals. I would like to have a bigger picture (there is plenty of place in left upper game corner)

Is this unit experienced or now ? Are they "tough" or not ?

It should be also info how many soldiers left (not only in the unit itself). 

Biger picture of the soldier (like in Osprey books :-) ) would be nice - this game is for historical fans more than for shooter fans !

 

•  
• Why can't I drag select? With so many units to control this is needed I think.
•  
•  
• What is the white circle around the general? ( I suppose it is "morale" activator. But how it works ?
•  

and my suggestions:

 

#1 How to win ? Really ! I won all three battles, had 36.000 VP vs 15.000 VP and I have lost. It should be clear on the beginning what I have to achieve to win the battle,

 

#2 The choices between battles. Looks cool, but it does not say what I am choosing. Maybe small maps would be helpful ( as Gettysburg is not my childhood)

 

#3 My side reinforcement should be indicated on the map from the beginning - even as arrow with short info what I am expecting. During first battle, I move my Conf units north, and surprisingle there was reinforcements...

 

As I said, great game - keep working !