why do you play...

[John Bark]

TOAW? i'm an ASLer. What is it about TOAW that makes you want to play it?

i'm considering buy it. but, just an unsure.

[Ben Turner]

Isn't Advanced Squad Leader a tactical game? Very different subject.

TOAW's essentially the best operational land warfare simulator there is available at the present time. This despite the fact it is now seven years since its original release.

[John Bark]

ben, yes, ASL is a tactical level game. and it was my understanding that TOAW is an operational level game. which is great. i was just wondering why TOAW is so much better than say A3R or other games on that level.

what i want to do is get my son, who's 8, soon to be 9, playing an operational level game that is fun and will help him learn more tactics before attempting games like ASL and other smaller unit games.

your thoughts?

[Menschenfresser]

For me it's two aspects:
-The damned fine community of scenario developers here, at TDG, and elsewhere roaming the Earth looking for new conflicts to model.

-And the depth of the game. Let me just say that after some five years of play, I am not at all bored with the game, and certainly have not learned to use all aspects of it to my advantage. It is that complex.

I'll tell you what hooked me on this game initially. I bought it and put it aside after flipping a few of the Disk scenarios. Then I found several AARs on this site and others, which I read through one bored day at work. Decided to give it another go.

Read the AARs here and elsewhere. They'll give you a sense of the game better than any description.

[Ben Turner]

what i want to do is get my son, who's 8, soon to be 9, playing an operational level game that is fun and will help him learn more tactics before attempting games like ASL and other smaller unit games.

your thoughts?

I'm not sure TOAW's really great for a boy of eight or nine. As Mensch notes, a lot of people find it difficult to get into. I'd start him with something simpler first. Then bring in the big guns at about age twelve.

The real reason people have children: so they have someone to play computer games with.

[Narki]

TOAW is simply the best strategy game to date. It has a MASSIVE database of units and allows me to play scenarios ranging from the 19th century to the 2000's with equal accuracy. The massive scale and the limitless amount of scenario options is what keeps me stuck in the TOAW addiction.

[viridomaros]

except if your kid is already a fan of wargamme i doubt he will like it as a start
i have the same oppinion than ben, it's better to start with something easier
e.g. panzer general 3d even if it's a bit arcade at least it has a bit better graphics.

[Secret Agent]

Don't forget the fact that (this should be attractive to an ASLer) you get ALL THE SCENARIOS for $50 (or however much it costs)!!!! (Plus you can download more for free!!!!) :devil:

[J. Dhatori]

Hmmmh, it's a good game. :) :cheeky:

[Ben Turner]

Don't forget the fact that (this should be attractive to an ASLer) you get ALL THE SCENARIOS for $50 (or however much it costs)!!!!

(Almost) All the ones on the disk are junk, though. This is the problem.

[nemo]

what i want to do is get my son, who's 8, soon to be 9, playing an operational level game that is fun and will help him learn more tactics before attempting games like ASL and other smaller unit games.

your thoughts?There's a 3D mode in TOAW and the possibility to play with standard rules (i.e. simplifying the game interface and rules - no supply considerations, no disengagement penalties etc.) which might make the game more friendly to a 9 year old boy. No bells and whistles or flashy FPS-like graphics though.

Maybe you could give a go at the demo and try it out with your son.

[viridomaros]

(Almost) All the ones on the disk are junk, though. This is the problem.

well they're good to start playing to have a feeling how the game is working against the computer but when you want to move to pbem i agree it's better to look for better scenario.
like the ones tdg is producing :cheeky:

[Ben Turner]

Maybe you could give a go at the demo and try it out with your son.

Might as well- nothing to lose.