World in Conflict Beta

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

More impressions:

The game is too fast, especially with unbalanced teams. It's not the number of players that's unbalancing - a 5 v 7 game where the 5 have all logged weeks of playing time and are "majors" is going to be unfair to 7 new players (part of the reason I've lost 20 matches and only one twice).

You'd think there would be a simple balancing thing that mixes high ranked players evenly. It would be an excellent feature.

Being support is really frustrating at times. No one will willing provide air cover, so if you don't, then you'll get chopper ganked. If you do concentrate on AA units, the helis avoid you and everyone complains there's no air cover. The darn heavy AA units move too slow to be everywhere at once. And if you follow a tank column, you'll die when the other team's support finds you.

The Daisy cutter is scary. For the first time, I saw it floating lazily at my position. I thought, "hmmm. Wonder what that is." It fit in because my team was airdropping things all around it. So then I realize it's a falling bomb. Boom! No units. Very cool though.

The "Assault" mode is better than the multi-objective mode because it increases team work by focusing everyone on one objective. Of course, defense is really hard...

[Husar]

Haven't played assault yet.

Concerning support and anti-air units, if the choppers avoid you that's their problem as long as your team can take points and conquer the map. The big deficit of helicopters is they cannot conquer anything and without conquering you cannot win.

On a sidenote, I really like those two trailers here rule the world and destruction blues.

Todsay the german version got an 18+ rating now I really hope they won't cut it in some way by replacing soldiers with cyborgs or renaming nukes to rabbits or whatever. Otherwise I shall cancel my preorder and get it in english.

[Bijo]

More impressions:

The game is too fast, especially with unbalanced teams. It's not the number of players that's unbalancing - a 5 v 7 game where the 5 have all logged weeks of playing time and are "majors" is going to be unfair to 7 new players (part of the reason I've lost 20 matches and only one twice).

You'd think there would be a simple balancing thing that mixes high ranked players evenly. It would be an excellent feature.

You could go to the beta forums and discuss it (if it hasn't been already). I think you have a point in saying imbalance should be avoided.

The Daisy cutter is scary. For the first time, I saw it floating lazily at my position. I thought, "hmmm. Wonder what that is." It fit in because my team was airdropping things all around it. So then I realize it's a falling bomb. Boom! No units. Very cool though.

Heh heh, I had the same thing. I would not recommend to play as Support, however: I would recommend Armour or Air and let other people deal with Support.

The "Assault" mode is better than the multi-objective mode because it increases team work by focusing everyone on one objective. Of course, defense is really hard...

I tried it out and didn't like Assault which is slightly strange or unexpected as I seem to recall I wished an Assault/Defend mode in certain war games before. I think Domination mode is better for it encourages more coordinated and tactical teamplay all over and not raw strategic blasting and pounding of one area. At least the latter has been the experience I've had in Assault mode.


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Husar, one should get the English version anyway ;)

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

After an intense Assault map, I might become a tank WOMAN OF ILL-REPUTE.

The Ruskies overran all the objectives up till the airfield in under 5 minutes. I started dropping heavy tanks on the capture points and praying. It worked though, since they only rushed light tanks and their choppers were sliced up by timely support.

Delightful. And I suggested the rank balancing on the beta forums.

EDIT: When does this beta end? With July?

Also, I play under the nom de guerre of "Hellbender".

EDIT 2: If you sign up at Massgate's forum and set an avatar for your account, it will be used as the logo on your units.
http://beta.massgate.net/forum-index.php

[Bijo]

EDIT: When does this beta end? With July?

I think it is the end of July indeed.

[Mikeus Caesar]

The Daisy cutter is scary. For the first time, I saw it floating lazily at my position. I thought, "hmmm. Wonder what that is." It fit in because my team was airdropping things all around it. So then I realize it's a falling bomb. Boom! No units. Very cool though.

Daisy cutter is pure brilliance. I managed to turn the tide of a game with a single daisy cutter - half the enemy was playing as Armour, and had all gathered near the crop refinery for a final assault. It had to be done. Out of about 28 tanks (lots of light tank spam!) about 3 heavy tanks survived, their owner having noticed the bomb innocuously floating out of the summer sky and managing to drive off in time. My team then managed to storm the bridge and air-strip, resulting in one of the most horrific (but brilliant) stalemates ever, in which there were no trees left and the entire map was covered in craters.

[Husar]

EDIT 2: If you sign up at Massgate's forum and set an avatar for your account, it will be used as the logo on your units.
http://beta.massgate.net/forum-index.php

You should read the screenshot topic some more.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

You played the closed beta, Husar? I want Leopard tanks so badly...

[Bijo]

And still the infantry tree is so vulnerable and buggy. If it will not be fixed I will not purchase the game.

* there seems to be a forced auto-selection of transport trucks and squads when you command them to embark, thus when you select another irrelevant unit and command it somewhere both non-embarked selected squads and the previously selected trucks will move there, whereafter usually most of the embarking fails and must be performed again or what's left of it. It decelerates you, especially during overture for example when immediate conquest of points is necessary and no one else is nearby to do so.

* infantry's mobility is poor meaning great vulnerability, though it can be remedied by, indeed, hasty transportation (trucks, armoured cars, transport choppers), but unfortunately they are expensive severely reducing your chance at an effective combat force. Trucks are reasonably cheap -- and even then you will have limited fighting capability -- but they easily perish by enemy choppers (and armour). If you're unlucky to have your troops inside they will die alongside the transport unless you unloaded them in time.

Teamwork in this regard is possible, but will most likely not occur because it requires coordination by proper communication -- something usually lacking in public games.

* if there is no cover, your infantry are even more vulnerable.

* cover such as trees and buildings perish easily.

* if your infantry has been spotted usually the nearest cover to which you flee is the most obvious target for airstrikes. Where else must an infantry player go to be safe? One simply directs napalm or chemical weapons at buildings and forests and they are done. You could choose to not run into forests which is unexpected, but if enemy ground units engage you any kind of relocation is futile and there isn't much left to do than to engage suicidally, going down, and taking as many foes with you as is possible.

* infantry is easily spotted by choppers even if you are in heavy deep cover again such as forests. If you're right in the center of it and they fly over they see you. How should that be possible? And if you have your squads set to 'hold fire' they still fire and are detected. Napalm, large area, boom, done.

* due to the tricky balance between mobility and combat power, you'll hardly ever have superior infantry ably taking on foes.

* prices, again, are too high for what you get in return.

Overall, it requires extreme micromanagement (and luck) for infantry to be effective -- more than other roles. And they are buggy, and they are -- compared to others -- expensive. Infantry should be the best damn role in the game because it's always the foot soldiers who are versatile, effective, and sneaky. When still -- even when moving -- they should be not or hardly detected. Even (bombed out) buildings should provide cover and stealth.

The combination of overemphasis of easy airstrikes, artillery, general raw power (including illogically fast tank runovers of entire squads), infantry's weak anti-air and anti-tank arms, the difficult balance between mobility and power, etc., makes infantry the toughest and most frustrating tree to play... but also the most rewarding and satisfactory if you succeed.

It is either hit or miss.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

I wonder how easy it will be to mod. That could solve a lot of problems if it's flexible.

[Husar]

No, didn't get access to the closed beta, i just preordered the game which unlocks the Riviera map with NATO forces. Could be a bit late now though since IIRC the open beta ends on the 31st.
I just hope the demos will come soon.

[Mikeus Caesar]

Bijo - i'm a master of infantry, and find them quite fun to play as. When hiding in forests, as soon as you're spotted, just start moving. That way you get out of the way of any napalm strikes. Plus, choppers shouldn't be too much bother - normal, bland, 600-point foot infantry can easily take out an entire group of choppers, especially while concealed in a forest.

Also, bombed out buildings do provide cover. Just try it, you'll be surprised.

[Bijo]

When hiding in forests, as soon as you're spotted, just start moving. That way you get out of the way of any napalm strikes.

Unless they predict you will move and possibly target a larger area. And even if you evade the airstrike -- or artillery -- there is sometimes the case where smart people use the strike -- of whatever size -- behind you while a crushing tank force, easily running you over, engages you in the front. That's more or less a full encirclement which can be very quickly effected.

Plus, choppers shouldn't be too much bother - normal, bland, 600-point foot infantry can easily take out an entire group of choppers, especially while concealed in a forest.

Correct. But I also use anti-tank infantry to make sure tanks take a good punch if I encounter them while I advance. This -- with the greedy prices -- reduces anti-air capability. Damage from the standard infantry to air units and armoured ground units is low.

And since the enemy can easily burn forests, there is nothing left of it after a while.

Also, bombed out buildings do provide cover. Just try it, you'll be surprised.

Probably correct. I have seen a shield icon on bombed out buildings but should the infantry not be concealed? They wear appropriate camouflage uniforms and are men who have more free movement and ability than for example a tank to remain undetected and surprise a foe while lying still on the ground or something alike.

Still, fact remains in this beta infantry control is buggy and it hinders one's efficiency when playing them (which is already the most difficult and underpowered): (building) selection; embarking; movement; defensive orders (run); concealment; etc.

How about those craters? They are indeed hovering over them -- though their selection shows appropriate adaptation to the ground -- while they should be lying in it to some degree of concealment (preferrably full concealment just like in forests).

And while I'm at it, I think they should exclude use of specialized anti-infantry airstrikes such as napalm and gas in multiplayer And Or give infantry some form of protection against gas.


EDIT:
That single-player demo must arrive and it better be good so I will play it eagerly and again and again.


EDIT2:
A most dissatisfactory event when one does much effort and he must wail in bitter defeat as his foe triumphs.


It was very close. We were behind a great percentage whereafter we finally hussled and were winning only for the enemy to come in full force to engage my infantry. Perhaps large efforts were too much directed at other points than the bridge. Hah hah, but look at that tab: we had more points and STILL we fell beneath their military boot. And look at that: that person in the tab dares to take my transportation title?

[Mikeus Caesar]

I see you've got your graphics on the 'ultra butt-ugly' setting

Nicely done though, coming top in nearly everything. I have to disagree with you though on excluding napalm and gas from multiplayer - that's tantamount to having it nerfed, just because you don't like it. Seriously, Napalm and gas is easy to avoid. Just make sure you keep your units out of the way of any obvious strike zones, and if you are spotted, just run into the centre of a forest. People always seem to think you'll stay at the very edges.

And consider yourself lucky if hit by gas. At least with that you have a chance to save all of your men if you've got fast enough reactions.

[Bijo]

I see you've got your graphics on the 'ultra butt-ugly' setting

Actually, it would've looked nicer: I forgot to enable high quality textures and was, while in-game, curiously wondering why for instance those flags looked so ugly, and of course I poorly saved the shot as a JPG with my limited picture knowledge. Graphics in-game look good enough to me with high textures, bloom, high-quality terrain and craters, some stuff here and there, nothing fancy, no shadows. I don't really need superb graphics: they distract too much from the game ;)

Nicely done though, coming top in nearly everything. I have to disagree with you though on excluding napalm and gas from multiplayer - that's tantamount to having it nerfed, just because you don't like it. Seriously, Napalm and gas is easy to avoid. Just make sure you keep your units out of the way of any obvious strike zones, and if you are spotted, just run into the centre of a forest. People always seem to think you'll stay at the very edges.

What if you're not in a forest or if there's no forest nearby? For instance the Farm map doesn't have much trees. As Soviets I either take and defend the north farm on the right or the bridge in the center. It only takes a little spotting and napalm to set the small amount of trees ablaze. Some would possibly argue infantry should start on the left side but ah. This still is not just about napalm and gas: it also includes artillery of course.

Can you imagine in that match I posted there I was virtually defending the bridge by myself with most of my infantry forces and minimal outside aid?

And consider yourself lucky if hit by gas. At least with that you have a chance to save all of your men if you've got fast enough reactions.

Those I have, but the chance of success is small. They usually direct gas at you when you garrison buildings (and sometimes in forests). Even if one has fast reactions it is still severely minimized by the buggy controls metioned before.

[Mikeus Caesar]

What if you're not in a forest or if there's no forest nearby? For instance the Farm map doesn't have much trees. As Soviets I either take and defend the north farm on the right or the bridge in the center. It only takes a little spotting and napalm to set the small amount of trees ablaze. Some would possibly argue infantry should start on the left side but ah. This still is not just about napalm and gas: it also includes artillery of course.

Farm map is actually quite easy to defend, depending on how you position your men. I managed to hold the airstrip for an entire round against constant tank and air assault, with artillery constantly pounding my position. By the end it looked like Iwo Jima, just a barren hell, but i was still holding it!

[Bijo]

Farm map is actually quite easy to defend, depending on how you position your men. I managed to hold the airstrip for an entire round against constant tank and air assault, with artillery constantly pounding my position. By the end it looked like Iwo Jima, just a barren hell, but i was still holding it!

Heh heh! You are saying you defended it alone against armour and air? I hardly know the airstrip location 'cause I hardly engage it by ground or air but it is the left side, right, where there are more trees near the closest drop location?

If so, it reasonably removes the need for transport and it does provide extra starting cover which would probably remain if the foe would be hindered in coming close. That still leaves their easy point-and-click strikes.


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I have been playing more support, though. It is quite nice and I have racked up points and kills quickly. I have seen that with infantry the thing is that you are not just a ground force which can assault and defend -- you are also a "support" force to aid ground/air in conquest or vice versa (which is obvious). This is a great versatiliy which requires a not-so-simple-as-other-roles mastery to utilize efficiently.

I have been dropping my infantry role slowly since I finally started enjoying support with heavy artillery *shame*. It actually allowed me to finally launch a nuke or two which is something I could hardly do playing infantry.

[Husar]

I've just played a bit(some hours actually ) with Bijo.
Yes, he is a good player and he has way too much time.

Well, it was fun and we also tried out the group feature of the lobby which basically allows players to form a group and chat withing that group as well as join a server together. Apparently when one member of that group joins a server, the others are asked whether they want to follow. It's different from joining a clan because it's not permanent and adds no tags or anything, I think it could be very useful once someone knows a few people playing the game.

Well, the beta ends tomorrow at 9am CET, that's when we can only hope for an MP demo to come soon.

[Bijo]

I learn fast ;)

Regarding time, I have actually been inventing excuses to dodge certain duties to allow me to play this -- damn good(!) -- multiplayer beta since it is about to cease soon and I hadn't much time to actually acquaint myself with it (which was only a few days). I figured I was to sneakily take as much joy of it as I could while it's lasting

[Csargo]

Played a game just a minute ago. Had to get some play time in before it closes. :D

[Mikeus Caesar]

Heh heh! You are saying you defended it alone against armour and air? I hardly know the airstrip location 'cause I hardly engage it by ground or air but it is the left side, right, where there are more trees near the closest drop location?

If so, it reasonably removes the need for transport and it does provide extra starting cover which would probably remain if the foe would be hindered in coming close. That still leaves their easy point-and-click strikes.

I spread my infantry out across the entire airstrip and managed to defend it by myself, yes. Just so long as you move your units about after each attack (prevent the use of ta strikes on you), use the special grenade launcher ability, keep a constant stream of reinforcements coming and make good use of the resupply button on depleted units, then you can easily win. In the end the enemy team pooled all their TA together so that they could nuke me, it was hilarious.

[Bijo]

Too bad the beta has ended. It was a good ride. I figured I actually could've upped my settings as I now have noticed it is pretty smooth when set to Very High and a few options deactivated that don't really influence picture quality that badly (and soft shadows even remain). Well, it's just good to know for when I get my hands on this game in the near future. It also shows this is a terribly well done engine which even my poor system can handle well.

EDIT:
* Does anyone here know when the single-player demo will arrive?
* Heh heh! I noticed I've made it quite high on the leaderboard of the beta.

[Husar]

Yes, you were at least in the Top 300, I was in the Top 2500 or so for some time but then I didn't play and fell back since only the points made in thelast 7 days count for the ladder.

The Demo should be out between soon(say the devs in the forums) and the end of August(says the newsletter I got at the end of the beta).

Concerning the engine, you should've played Ground Control, which was also by Massive Entertainment, it ran smoothly on my somewhat outdated Pc back then and it looked really great for it's time, it was the reason I never really worried about WiC and my system specs. It was released as freeware by the way and maybe you want to try it until the WiC demo comes, you can get it here.

[Csargo]

You were like 4000 something Husar. I wasn't even on the ladder. It was fun while it lasted.

[Husar]

That was yesterday when I crawled up from 7000 something, I fell down since I visited my parents last week. Ladder is not very important anyway and I don't usually consider myself an elite player, upper middle field is enough for me when it comes to games, otherwise I'd have to invest more time than I consider fun.

[Csargo]

That was yesterday when I crawled up from 7000 something, I fell down since I visited my parents last week. Ladder is not very important anyway and I don't usually consider myself an elite player, upper middle field is enough for me when it comes to games, otherwise I'd have to invest more time than I consider fun.

I played only about an hour or a little more total. I don't put much time into games, but this one was entertaining while it lasted. I'll definitely get the demo.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

I was playing a little Ground Control, and WiC is really just a big upgrade for it, when you boil the two games down.

[Husar]

I was playing a little Ground Control, and WiC is really just a big upgrade for it, when you boil the two games down.

That can be said about sooooooo many games. And you probably mean Ground Control 2 since the first has no unit resupply.
I only wish there was a game that was just a graphical upgrade to old Janes' flightsims.

[Bijo]

Yes, you were at least in the Top 300, I was in the Top 2500 or so for some time but then I didn't play and fell back since only the points made in thelast 7 days count for the ladder.

Concerning the engine, you should've played Ground Control, which was also by Massive Entertainment, it ran smoothly on my somewhat outdated Pc back then and it looked really great for it's time, it was the reason I never really worried about WiC and my system specs. It was released as freeware by the way and maybe you want to try it until the WiC demo comes, you can get it here.

I don't think I will be playing that much, but I will at least have a look at Ground Control.

Regarding my leaderboard position, I saw it was 156.

[Husar]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Woz4oK1kphw

Not many games can beat this I think.

It's graphical excellence.