View Full Version : Decisive Action - Two Questions
I have two questions regarding Decisive Action, which my brother in Ireland and I are considering for PBEM play.
1. Is there a demo available? I haven't seen one at the HPS site.
2. How does this compare to the "Combat Command 2: Danger Forward" game, which also allows PBEM and has a demo (said demo being great!). The latter game is more complex than TOAW without being overwhelming in its time demands.
Thank you for any help.
Bob Riley
rsriley2@msn.com
Da is more of an operational military simulation type game. CC2 is more of strategic grand tactical game that resembles tactical games of the 70's. No direct fire in DA. DA does allow you to use fun things like Electronic warfare units though. CC2 will give you more scenarios out of the box and while it's pbem community is small it possible to find active players at the blitz.
I like both games but it kinda depends on what you are looking for out of the game. If you are looking for operational modern warfare DA is the way to go...or possibly one of HPS sims Modern campaign games or TOAW. We have a very active Toaw Community here and it gives you the best of both worlds. WWI to modern.
I happen to really like CC2's game system, and if you can wait just a bit I am hoping to have my CC2 Review posted very soon.
Combat Mission games, in my opinion are one of the very best values for your money, with thousands of user made scenarios, hundreds of graphics mods, and a very active pbem community. If you like WWII tactical games you should definitely check it out there is a demo too. Also CMAK is only $35.
Your reply was most informative and even more than I asked for, "Norad" !!! It was truly helpful to me and also to my brother.
Also, I see that you posted your photo in your reply. Your similarity in appearance to Sean Connery in "The Hill" is really quite striking! ;)
Hi Michael, when I went to the Combat Mission: AK site, I realized that my brother and I had played the demo of Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin, but we found that it took several email exchanges to even have one full turn by each player. It became quite tedious in execution, although playing against the AI is much fun. That email experience with BB is different than, say, Panzer General II. I haven't played the PBEM mode of the demo of Combat Command 2: Danger Forward (or of Decisive Action), so I have no other basis for comparison so far.
So I am considering all of this. Thanks again for a most informative reply.
Bob Riley
Also, I see that you posted your photo in your reply. Your similarity in appearance to Sean Connery in "The Hill" is really quite striking! ;)
I get that a lot. :D
I know what you mean with the multiple file exchanges for CM but I still love it :love:
CC2 can have multiple or you can have the computer handle some of it and have as little as 1 file per person per move. Very cool and VERY easy. Panzer campaigns also can have 1 file games as well. TOAW not sure.
I don't think DA has a demo and I am fairly certain it also uses one file per person for PBEM.
If you have any other more specific questions let me know. I own all of the games I mentioned above.
Let me know what you two decide, as you have probably found yourselves another opponent :devil:
You wrote:
CC2 can have multiple or you can have the computer handle some of it and have as little as 1 file per person per move. Very cool and VERY easy. Panzer campaigns also can have 1 file games as well. TOAW not sure.
I don't think DA has a demo and I am fairly certain it also uses one file per person for PBEM.
I have discovered that (computer handle some of it) in CC2 - Danger Forward Demo (and the Afrika Corps version demo). Some of the Panzer Campaigns, like Operation Market-Garden, also look great, although they might be very time-consuming per turn. DA - you said there is no sound of combat or anything? How does combat get resolved? How long do the turns take, on average. Is it more overwhelming than CC 2 or more or less comparable?
Thank you for any further helpful replies. Bon Jour.
Bob
Panzer Campaigns comes with BIG scenarios and small scenarios but do generally take a longer time to complete.
DA is turn based we-go system, like combat mission. No background sound. Sound is about the same as CC2, explosions and gunshots. maps are not hex based. If you look at the top of this forum page the screen shot is from DA. The round shaded area with the black diagonal lines is the units foot print. The size of the foot print depends on its posture. When a friendly foot print overlaps with an enemy battle occures and forces loose a percentage of the combat power.
Supply is explicit, the computer can handle it or you can do it manually.
DA is alot of fun but the scenario selection is very limited. I am also not positive how well suited the games are for two player because I have not played any living opponents. The scenarios become pretty easy after the first try because you know where everything is and there are not alot of variables.
CC2 has more scenarios, more randomness is built into them with the amphibious and air operations each of which have effects determined by dice rolls so they are hard to predict.
While DA is more like a simulation CC2 is very board gamey but both are easy to learn and play. (this is not bad)what I mean by this is CC2 has very well defined rules and modifiers. They take alot into account, and provide depth, but are pretty easy to follow. Being able to understand WHY things work the way they do allows for the development of real tactical strategy.
Bottom line in my opinion, while I think DA is a fun and really quite unique game, if it is THE ONLY game you plan to purchase in a while, I would want you to get all the facts you can.
Here is a forum post with some more info:http://www.warfarehq.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6689
Here are our D/L's for DA. The DP's NTC 2 AAR and Curts "guides" will not only detail how the game is played but you should get a reasonable FEEL for how the game plays:http://www.warfarehq.com/archives/forumdisplay.php?f=39
Here are some DA articles from wargamer:http://www.wargamer.com/articles/search_new.asp
Here are CC2 reviews from Wargamer:http://www.wargamer.com/articles/search_new.asp
Hi Michael,
You wrote:
DA is alot of fun but the scenario selection is very limited. I am also not positive how well suited the games are for two player because I have not played any living opponents. The scenarios become pretty easy after the first try because you know where everything is and there are not alot of variables.
CC2 has more scenarios, more randomness is built into them with the amphibious and air operations each of which have effects determined by dice rolls so they are hard to predict.
While DA is more like a simulation CC2 is very board gamey but both are easy to learn and play. (this is not bad)what I mean by this is CC2 has very well defined rules and modifiers. They take alot into account, and provide depth, but are pretty easy to follow. Being able to understand WHY things work the way they do allows for the development of real tactical strategy.
Thank you. I personally lean towards CC2 but my brother got a bit confused by the phases and is still ambivalent.
Bob Riley
I was working til midnight last night trying to finish my CC2 review. I hope to have it posted by Thursday night. Maybe have your brother read it through. I tried to be thorough. :D
Hi Michael,
You wrote:
I was working til midnight last night trying to finish my CC2 review. I hope to have it posted by Thursday night. Maybe have your brother read it through. I tried to be thorough.
I look forward to reading your review! Where on the site will it be posted? Thank you for this alert.
Bob Riley
From the WFHQ home page at the top you will see a link that says "Reviews" it will be there. I will post the link here for you though. :D
At Last!!! Here is a link to my CC2 Review!
http://www.warfarehq.com/reviews/reviews.shtml
Hope you enjoy it! :D
Hi Michael,
You wrote:
At Last!!! Here is a link to my CC2 Review!
http://www.warfarehq.com/reviews/reviews.shtml
Hope you enjoy it!
This was a great review and very informative. Thank you.
PBEM seems to "make" many of these games. I think playing against the AI loses its interest after a while for many or most of them. I have only played the demos (as opposed to full versions) of cc2dfge and cc2ak and enjoyed them but they are most fun when playing against my brother in Ireland. I may have to consider going to one of the links you listed in order to find regular opponents, however, if/when I order a full edition. My brother's work and schedule prohibits his making regular pbem moves.
Congratulations again on a great and informative review.
Bob Riley
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