World in Conflict Beta

[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.