New to Operational Campains...Advice?

[Mr Grumpy]

Hi Guys,

I am specifically joining this ladder for the new introduction of the WWI Series HPS has started. I would be new to this series(Operational Campaigns), but not new to WWI games. I currently play HPS Civil War and EAW series games. I'm currently on the Black Powder/Cold Steel Ladder . Could someone give me some advice as to how this engine works? I just preordered France 1914, so I probably need to learn the engine. I can tell from the screenshots it's a bit different than HPS Civil War or HPS EAW's. I've also played The Campaign Series in my past.
I did my senior thesis in College on the German Military of World War I and why the German's should have in fact won that war(One Can only imagine how excited I am for this new series to begin.....:bow: I cannot wait!!!). I started playing Talonsoft's West Front in 1999 when i was only 15 years old. I didn't start PBEMing until a few years ago. I was heavily into the Campaign series for a good decade, but WWII is addressed ad nasuem and I needed a change. WWI is overlooked in the PC gaming world....Until now?? I've played just about every WWI game there is (espeically all the games on the matrix games website) and it's doesn't phase me.
Finally, my question is, since this engine is basically foreign to me, is it suggested or would it be necessary, to purchase and play one of the WWII HPs OPS games to get a handle on the engine? So I can get going ASAP with PBEMing once I get France '14? Or should I just wait? Thoughts? Thanks in Advance!!

-Gary aka WinfieldScott21

Gary,
Welcome to the OpS ladder.....

F14 uses the same interface as all the PzC titles and if you were familiar with how a PzC title works then F14 would not present any issues in this regard.

F14 also uses a modified version of the PzC engine with say 85% of the features working in an identical way, but the devil is in the detail and the modifications to the engine would mean a PzC could not simply transfer the same tactics to F14 and be successful, they would need to adjust their style of play to reflect the new situation.

So while i would never say don't buy a PzC title, if you only intend to play F14 i would wait until you have the title and then play for several days against the AI to learn how the various functions of the engine and interface work.

Once you are competent in that regard then you can try PBEM games without getting so frustrated. ;)