TOAW IV RELEASE on 16th November 2017

[BigDuke66]

For all wargamers this series should not be unknown, now the The Operational Art of War IV or short TOAW IV was released by Matrix Games:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4372295

Here are some useful links that should give more insight into the game, not only for newcomers but also for the grognards:

- For the GUI:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4380544

- A roughly up-to-date feature list with a small recent update:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3899655
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=4384529

- Analysis of the BATTLEFIELD TIMESTAMPS, that prevents the famous turn-burn of the previous games:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4274372

- Analysis of the SUPPLY ENHANCEMENTS, that prevents the unrealistic behavior of previous games that even with no supply units could still act rather good:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4282417

- Analysis of the NAVAL WARFARE, an area that has strongly developed compared to previous games:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4292790

- To get more insight and a feeling for the game the Directive 21 Workshop of larryfulkerson should be checked:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4382219

[Weasel]

My biggest complaint about TOAW is that every battle is the same no matter the era, only the numbers on the counter and movement change. Really a WW1 battle and a modern conflict are identical in game terms except for #s. Might just be me, but that is why I stopped playing.

[BigDuke66]

Well it's rather a benefit because you can play from WW1 to WW3 without learning a new game again and again. All one has to do it adjust the play style to the era.
And on the operational level things to not differ so much as they do on a tactical level. You see this good in detail operational games like the Panzer Campaigns and the First World War series for JTS.
Still, it's up to the scenario designer what to make of the games possibilities as he has a lot things to set which can differ the way battles feel.
There are the usual flat scenarios for easy playing but than again scenarios like the one depicting Army Group North in 1944 were the designer worked 2 years on it and that goes so deep that even every equipment is specified and not generic, these kind of scenarios are just wonderful.

[Weasel]

I will have to see what changed in IV.

[BigDuke66]

I have added a bunch of links in the first post to threads that should give enough clue of the changes to TOAW IV.

[zap]

I have added a bunch of links in the first post to threads that should give enough clue of the changes to TOAW IV.

Was curious as to active players of this on the Blitz? I thought it would see more activity here. Though at matrix things are very active.

[BigDuke66]

The dust from the release still hasn't settled, the initial horde of "less smart people" that flooded the Matrix board with a lot crap, that only distracted from the game and its worth, is slowly disappearing. But there is still misunderstanding about the game, its improvements and the way things work.
While the newbee could solve their problems general themselves if they would only read the f... manual, the real wargamers are likely already digging into the improvements, moding graphics, adjusting UI, etc. to fit their personal needs.
Parallel to this there is already a first patch out as public beta to fix some things.

So once the dust has settled and the real wargamers get going again with there human vs human games, small & big, I'm sure we see more activity here.
For now I'm glad that those kind of people that don't even read the manual are not coming here, the board would be more active but it would also be a mess.