Suite du florilège d’annonces en provenance de la conférence de Matrix et Slitherine, où l’on découvre cette semaine le second épisode de la jeune série Decisive Campaigns. Nommé Case Blue, après la Campagne de France VR Designs s’attaque ici au Front de l’Est, précisemment à l’offensive de 1942 dans le Caucase, et son prélude, mais aussi la contre-offensive soviétique qui s’ensuivit et amena au désastre que fut Stalingrad pour l’armée allemande.
En plus d’offrir une simulation à l’échelle régimentaire avec un haut degré de réalisme historique, Case Blue utilisera le système PBEM ++ ainsi que tout un ensemble d’améliorations par rapport à From Warsaw to Paris, le précédent volet de la série. Dont des mécanismes pour gérer le haut commandement, et donc faciliter la gestion du front et des objectifs pour le joueur.
Voyez la liste ci-dessous ainsi que cette page chez Matrix pour plus de précisions (ainsi que le test de Warsaw to Paris si vous ne connaissez pas cette série). Aucune date de sortie n’a été annoncée pour l’instant, le jeu entrant tout juste ces jours-ci en phase de bêta test, test auquel vous pouvez d’ailleurs postuler par ici chez Matrix.
Résumé et principale caractéristiques
The development team behind the award-winning game Decisive Campaigns: From Warsaw To Paris is back with a new and improved game engine that focuses on the decisive year and theater of World War II! Decisive Campaigns: Case Blue simulates the German drive to Stalingrad and into the Caucasus of the summer of 1942, as well as its May preludes (2nd Kharkov offensive, Operation Trappenjagd) and also the Soviet winter counter-offensive (Operation Uranus) that ended with the encirclement of 6th Army in Stalingrad and the destruction of the axis minor armies.
New features compared to Warsaw To Paris:
High Command Rules
-Intermediary objectives keep game more interesting during long campaign scenarios
-Gives the German player a better historical simulation of the effect of overambitious orders of german High Command
-Include no step back order rules and dismissal rules
Replacement troops that are send to units in the field that dont have their ideal OOB complement.
Historical reinforcement units arrive every so many days and become available through play of an action card
Completely new AI written specifically for Case Blue
New divisions or HQs can be created from scratch or lost regiments rebuild, unit divisional types can also be changed
Logistical Centers provide big boost to radius of supply network
Navy units and option to do amphibious invasions
Air Supply missions allow you to keep encircled troops in supply
Artillery stockpiles
Much larger variety if officer action cards: more then 25 different cards are present
Axis Minor Rules
Weather extended with mud and winter season ; rivers can freeze over
Officerpool allows changing field commanders
PBEM++ system allows easy in-game multiplayer through Slitherines PBEM++ servers.
Editor has been made accessible
Rail differences and repair time
Airfield overcrowding rules and more realistic intercept rules
Improved naval transport loading and unloading rules
Oil Reserves that can run out and limit your panzer and air mobility and battle-worthiness
Special eastern rules for details like guards, partisans, worker militias and Cossacks.
Enemy ZOC can now affect your movement cost
