Modern military strategy game

[Blackhawk]

I'm looking for one. There is a specific game I'd love to play right now - Combat Mission with modern (1985+) real-world units. Does such a game exist? Graphics aren't a big issue, but I'd prefer to avoid hexes-and-counters strat games.

[Rincewind]

I'm looking for one. There is a specific game I'd love to play right now - Combat Mission with modern (1985+) real-world units. Does such a game exist? Graphics aren't a big issue, but I'd prefer to avoid hexes-and-counters strat games.

Am I the only one that found Combat Missions larger scenarios so unbearably cumbersome as to ruin about half the game?

And BH, I have no idea-I dont think such a game exists in the we-go, 3D state of CM-you would probably half to settle for one of those super stat intensive sims some of the other guys like.

[Grifman]

Well the nearest thing I think is Steel Panthers II. It's got hexes but individual tanks and squads of men. It's turn based but very well done, and you can set up just about any nation against any nation with their database of vehicles, aircraft, artillery and infantry squads. A great game, though a bit old now.

[dbt1949]

There the battle simulations type of games at Shrapnel games "Brigade Combat Team.Falklands War,Raging Tiger,Armored Task Force) and the HPS games Point of Attack 2 and Decisive Action. These all are almost most combat simulators than games.
There's some somes at www.shrapnelgames.com and screenshots for the HPS titles at www.hpssims.com.
If you decide to buy them you can probably get them cheaper at http://www.nws-online.net/ .

[dbt1949]

Oh yes, www.battlefront.com is getting ready to release their modern tank simulator game T-72. The also have TacOps 4 which is a little easier than the Shrapnel and HPS titles.

[Blackhawk]

And BH, I have no idea-I dont think such a game exists in the we-go, 3D state of CM-you would probably half to settle for one of those super stat intensive sims some of the other guys like.

I'm just using that as my ideal - I love the size of the forces, the casual pace, the combination of 3d engine with detailed, but behind the scenes accurate detail, and so forth.

dbt - those look like fantastic games, but they fit what I meant by 'hexes and counters' - abstract representations of the terrain and units. That kind of detail is great, but I want to feel like I'm watching a battle, not a planning table. It kills the romance for me.

Thanks for the input so far - I couldn't think of a game like I wanted, so I didn't have high hopes when I started the thread.

[raydude]

Unfortunately you'll likely not find a modern military strategy game that has anything on a platoon level scale like Combat Mission. Not anything that tries to model modern military units and weapons accurately. I'd say for modern warfare that one would find 2 general scenarios:

1. modern forces battles other modern forces (i.e. US vs. Russia or Soviet styled forces)

OR

2. modern forces vs. slightly less modern forces (i.e US vs. Iraqi army) or modern forces vs. insurgents.

Probably only modern forces vs. insurgents would allow you to game on a platoon level and have it be interesting. The problem is that modern combat today (at least for US forces) can be summed up as:

If you can see it, you can kill it.

If you don't believe me, fire up a demo game of TacOps. In the scenarios offered in the demo, entire tank platoons can get wiped out within the span of 1 turn - 60 seconds, entire companies in the span of a few minutes. Its just not feasible to have modern vs. modern force warfare simulated as a platoon level strategy game. One tank platoon is 4 tanks. One side or the other gets annihilated too quickly; usually the first one to spot the other wins.

That's why modern warfare strategy games are probably doomed to to be represented as hexes and counters. But in any case, your romance may vary. Personally, I would think that it would almost be just like playing 'modern general', since todays generals don't get to see displays with little tanks shooting each other either.

[em2nought]

I think there is some sort of MOD for Operation Flashpoint that turns it into more of a RTS game. That might be as close as you can come to a modern Combat Mission game.

http://www.ofpec.com/intel/index.php?a= ... 25&catID=6 is as close as I could come to finding it. The download link doesn't work, but I imagine its out there somewhere.

[Scanner]

Steel Beasts has a strategic mode in which you give orders to all allied units. Although the 3D is limited to the view from your current tank, you can hand off some of the gunnery chores to the AI.

I think there is some sort of MOD for Operation Flashpoint that turns it into more of a RTS game. That might be as close as you can come to a modern Combat Mission game.

Looks cool! This appear to be a working link.

[Blackhawk]

That's why modern warfare strategy games are probably doomed to to be represented as hexes and counters. But in any case, your romance may vary. Personally, I would think that it would almost be just like playing 'modern general', since todays generals don't get to see displays with little tanks shooting each other either.

That's probably a good point - also, too much of modern warfare takes place away from the actual battlefield. Unfortunately, playing 'modern general' isn't quite what I had in mind. Thanks for all the input anyway.

[Poleaxe]

Well the nearest thing I think is Steel Panthers II. It's got hexes but individual tanks and squads of men. It's turn based but very well done, and you can set up just about any nation against any nation with their database of vehicles, aircraft, artillery and infantry squads. A great game, though a bit old now.

Actually, Steel Panthers: World at War is avaiable for free download. It's an IgoUgo but I think it would fit the bill nicely. I installed it on my laptop last night.

[karapcik]

SPMBT just got released for free at Shrapnel Games (it is the re-release of Steel Panthers II). This one will let you play from 1948 to the modern era with the OOB. This might scratch your itch.

The free copy can be found here

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/SPCamo/wSPMBT/6.htm

There is a copy for purchase that allows higher resolutions and more PBEM save slots. Worth 40.00? Maybe...


From the press release on Wargamer.com :

"The Camo Workshop (formerly known as SPCamo Group) and Shrapnel Games announced today the long-awaited release of Windows Steel Panthers Main Battle Tank, or WinSPMBT. This latest upgrade represents in the ongoing development work which first began with SSI's 1996 release of Steel Panthers 2, a classic turn-based tactical wargame set from 1946 to the modern era. Along with SPWW2, The Camo Workshop has been updating the game for years, and full information on the project can be found on its official web site.

WinSPMBT represents a full upgrade from the old DOS platform SPBMT had been running on, and can be had as a free download or as a boxed CD package from Shrapnel Games. Gamers can choose to download the 100 MB file for free or show support of the project by purchasing the retail package through the Gamers' Front for $34.95. Beyond the move to Windows, WinSPMBT also sports:

* Three new scenarios and one new campaign (in addition to all the scenarios and campaigns previously found in the game)

* Ten new terrains added, including such types as brick cobblestones and autumn orchards

* Twelve terrain tile sets completely revised

* Updated OOB files, and two new nations (Paraguay and Uruguay added)

* Tanks actually can reverse move, instead of having to turn all the way around to retreat move

The enhanced, retail version of WinSPMBT includes a printed quick start guide, supported resolutions of up to 1600x1200, 250 PBEM save game slots, an external map editor, secure tournament play, and advanced search options for the encyclopedia.

To download the full version of WinSPMBT for free, visit this Shrapnel Games' web page. Or, to show your support of the Camo Workshop's years of work, purchase WinSPMBT through Gamers' Front for $34.95."