Anyone playing WiC demo?

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2007-08-26 09:54pm

I'm curious what people think of the new maps, particularly the SP level. I was impressed - I imagined they'd throw you in with bad AI buddies, but they use communication and objectives to tie you and your AI buddies together as much as possible. And hey, BB 63!

Also, I've noticed a few small changes with the units. Medium AA is still too short-ranged, but it seems to be more effective once it gets going. Humvees/UAZs are no longer tough as all shit (anyone who saw the beta 'UAZ swarm' that took a depressingly long time to kill?). Chopper chinguns are now less useful against choppers, and also seem to be less useful against heavy armour. Infantry MANPADs are now far more useful (ROF++), and even a pair of infantry squads can be a deterrant to chopper swarms.

There also seems to be some cheating going around, with regard to TA points.

ray245 · Post by **ray245** » 2007-08-27 12:59am

Nope, if your team is willingly to give ALL your TA points to just one person, that person can use multiple nukes for maximum damage.

Too bad the infantry cost is still quite high to get a larger number of infantry.

The new map is small, which makes infantry effective. But when the map is a large one...I don't see how infantry can make much difference.

And they do need to hide infantry units garrisoned in buildings from long range sight. They are basically allowing artillery to pin point the exact buildings to destroy...

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2007-08-27 02:04am

Infantry in large maps requires coordination with differant people to use, this isn't new and isn't going to change, it's been brought up since the Alpha, and the only thing I've noticed is that all it requires is good players who know how to make effective use of the infantry.

On demo news...

*shakes fist*
Download corrupted, 3rd time.

Brother-Captain Gaius · Post by **Brother-Captain Gaius** » 2007-08-27 02:09am

Since teams usually suck, I've gotten along well enough by myself as infantry on large maps. I just take 1-2 transport helicopters and ferry my guys around where they're needed; I'll usually score in the top 3 at the end of the round.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2007-08-27 03:20am

ray245 wrote:Nope, if your team is willingly to give ALL your TA points to just one person, that person can use multiple nukes for maximum damage.

No shit. They even tell you when people transfer points, so it's not a giant mystery. Please, don't assume I'm as stupid as you: multiple expensive strikes from one player in the first minute with not a single TA transmission is not normal.

In other news the retarded 'I have 30 points give me more for nuke' thing is stupid. If they were *using* those points, the team would be better off, and I've seen people do that sort of request when the map was going to be over in a few minutes anyway due to our team getting spanked. Oh yay, you decided not to use TA to help the team because you want to drop a nuke, thanks for wasting our time.

BCG, I like infantry for the same reason, people really underestimate it. You can easily take a spot and hold it against people for huge points - unless you're playing me, because I just love napalm.

Alexandrov · Post by **Alexandrov** » 2007-08-27 03:24am

I wish there was another map to play on for MP. The lack of variety makes MP boring within a few rounds.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2007-08-27 03:25am

Alexandrov wrote:I wish there was another map to play on for MP. The lack of variety makes MP boring within a few rounds.

Are you serious? For you, an RTS only lasts (a few rounds) x (number of maps)?

Anyway, I see two maps. Ruins is a bit silly, but it's not too bad. Is it pre-order only or somthing?

Alexandrov · Post by **Alexandrov** » 2007-08-27 03:36am

Well, no, but I don't find the Seaside map very enjoyable. A better maps gets boring less quickly.

And yes, Ruins is pre-order only.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2007-08-27 03:46am

Some thoughts:

Pretty, ALOT prettier then Alpha, but my FPS dropped, ace is not a happy camper there, but the 6800GT at 1280x1024...I was expecting this.

Otherwise, this games SP is insanely fun. Yes, I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't like multi so much.

Laughing Mechanicus · Post by **Laughing Mechanicus** » 2007-08-27 06:58am

The singleplayer mission really surprised me. I was just expecting a fairly bog standard RTS SP where an anonymnous voice says 'Go here, kill 20 BMPs, no go here, kill 20 Hinds' but instead we get high quality cutscenes throughout (brilliant considering it's an RTS) and AI helpers who actually help. One minor complaint though, you can't tell when one of your AI team calls for tactical aid, so you can end up overkilling and wasting some TA.

I had great fun luring a huge group of soviet vehicles into one of the choke points you have to defend then dropping a Daisy Cutter square in the middle of them.

Ace Pace wrote:Some thoughts:

Pretty, ALOT prettier then Alpha, but my FPS dropped, ace is not a happy camper there, but the 6800GT at 1280x1024...I was expecting this.

Otherwise, this games SP is insanely fun. Yes, I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't like multi so much.

I don't know if this will help you, but I had the same problem where the demo's performance was crippled compared the Betas. I was able to alleviate the problem quite substantially (about a 10 FPS gain) by disabling transparency anti-aliasing. Guess the game gets a bit of a headache trying to blend all liberally applied sprites. Not sure if the 6800 does transparency AA though, I have a 7800.

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2007-08-29 11:29am

Tried the SP and it's pretty fun. Combined Arms warfare actually counts for this game and Anti-Tank Infantry really dole out decent damage.

Normally i have my infantry accompany my tanks especially in urban terrain to provide support.

ray245 · Post by **ray245** » 2007-08-29 12:57pm

Only problem is...your AI buddy still do some stupid stuff...like sending the tanks against a bunch of anti-tank infrantry...

I was hoping for a cooperative type of mission though...online that is...

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2007-08-29 01:04pm

Did anyone manage to do the "Defend the Supermarket bit"? I tried to, but it takes so long to clear the initial bunch of Soviet AFVs that they suddenly swarm over with infantry and helis and finally arty strikes.

ray245 · Post by **ray245** » 2007-08-29 01:40pm

Fingolfin_Noldor wrote:Did anyone manage to do the "Defend the Supermarket bit"? I tried to, but it takes so long to clear the initial bunch of Soviet AFVs that they suddenly swarm over with infantry and helis and finally arty strikes.

I did...on easy level...

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2007-08-29 01:48pm

ray245 wrote:
Fingolfin_Noldor wrote:Did anyone manage to do the "Defend the Supermarket bit"? I tried to, but it takes so long to clear the initial bunch of Soviet AFVs that they suddenly swarm over with infantry and helis and finally arty strikes.
I did...on easy level...

Ok... I was playing Normal... Maybe I need more infantry, but the Helis will be a pain.

Companion Cube · Post by **Companion Cube** » 2007-08-29 02:50pm

Bannon is such a pissant.

Did anyone manage to do the "Defend the Supermarket bit"? I tried to, but it takes so long to clear the initial bunch of Soviet AFVs that they suddenly swarm over with infantry and helis and finally arty strikes.

I found garrisoning the supermarket with two antitank squads and one squad of riflemen worked fine. I had a second squad of riflemen stashed in a building behind the market, and all of my vehicles hiding behind it, darting out when needed. They just popped smoke when the choppers appeared, and the riflemen took care of those. Don't forget to call in your heavy tanks when they become available.

Also, having one or two of those repair jeeps and shift-clicking "repair" on all of your damaged units give them a bit of help.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2007-08-29 04:37pm

I had no real problems achieving all the objectives on hard. The SP mission is a lot slower than MP, so maybe I'm used to a faster pace. I even only got four of my silly tanks out, because I didn't need them and then you lose access to them.

Hawkwings · Post by **Hawkwings** » 2007-08-29 09:34pm

The SP was nice, the MP is pretty good, though I don't like the smallness of the map. Then again, it gives infantry something to do.

My only complaint is that the enemy always seems to do so much more damage than I do!

I'm pretty good as an armor and air commander, decent at support, and I suck at infantry.

Laughing Mechanicus · Post by **Laughing Mechanicus** » 2007-08-29 09:39pm

Hawkwings wrote:The SP was nice, the MP is pretty good, though I don't like the smallness of the map. Then again, it gives infantry something to do.

My only complaint is that the enemy always seems to do so much more damage than I do!

I'm pretty good as an armor and air commander, decent at support, and I suck at infantry.

Yes, same here with infantry; I'm never able to do very much effectively when I use them. I've tried all the usual like hiding them in buildings or forests, but they always get spotted almost immediately and then one air/artillery strike and I've lost most of my units.

Does anybody who has more success with infantry have any tips on how to avoid getting TA'd to death while still remaining an efficient fighting force?

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2007-08-29 10:26pm

3rd Impact wrote: I found garrisoning the supermarket with two antitank squads and one squad of riflemen worked fine. I had a second squad of riflemen stashed in a building behind the market, and all of my vehicles hiding behind it, darting out when needed. They just popped smoke when the choppers appeared, and the riflemen took care of those. Don't forget to call in your heavy tanks when they become available.

Also, having one or two of those repair jeeps and shift-clicking "repair" on all of your damaged units give them a bit of help.

Repair Jeep? I thought there's only a repair vehicle that was a track. Unless I am missing something.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2007-08-29 10:54pm

The humvee/uaz repairs things too. No, it doesn't make sense.

GuppyShark · Post by **GuppyShark** » 2007-08-29 10:57pm

Aaron Ash wrote:Does anybody who has more success with infantry have any tips on how to avoid getting TA'd to death while still remaining an efficient fighting force?

Stay mobile. Even leg infantry can greatly reduce the effectiveness of strikes by shifting their position. Most TAs are going to be targetted by memory (clicking at where the rockets come from).

In the beta I found anti-tank infantry to be a bit redundant, they sacrificed a lot of anti-infantry and anti-air power for slightly more effectiveness versus tanks. Tanks have a hard time engaging infantry in terrain and will try to avoid you or waste a lot of time shelling you from a distance with anti-tank rounds.

ray245 · Post by **ray245** » 2007-08-29 11:11pm

Lucky for all the air support guys...too many people seem to be in love with anti-tank units...which means they cannoy shoot my helicopters down when I fire on them.

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2007-08-30 12:33am

Stark wrote:The humvee/uaz repairs things too. No, it doesn't make sense.

No it does not... just as the idea of a T-80 that can't launch missiles from its gun...

GuppyShark · Post by **GuppyShark** » 2007-08-30 01:47am

ray245 wrote:Lucky for all the air support guys...too many people seem to be in love with anti-tank units...which means they cannoy shoot my helicopters down when I fire on them.

And for guys like me, who absolutely hate hate hate air whores...

I just wish they had the Bradley Linebacker. My favorite armored vehicle!