Dec 30 2007
Norm Kogers Operational Art of War
When I was a kid my grandfather told me war stories. He had fought in the Finnish army during World War II and would tell me tales of Ski troopers and tanks, molotov cocktails and machine guns. Military David and Goliath stories.
This sparked an interest in military history which has stayed with me since, and is likely responsible for my interest in both firearms and strategy games. I’ve spoken enough about my interest in firearms, so now I’ll bore you with some rambling about my favorite video game.
Years ago I came across The Operational Art of War by Norm Koger and was immediately hooked. The game is essentially an automated board game on a grand scale using hex maps and counters. The game takes care of all the humdrum details of maintaining unit statistics, supply, morale and effectiveness and allows the player to concentrate on the battle itself. A powerfull scenario editor is included which, while not for the faint of heart, allows one to build their own scenarios varrying in scope from small engagements to massive campaigns. Of course for those less interested in building something pre-packaged scenarios came with the game covering the major engagements of WWII.
(British Paras Land too close to the bridges in Arnhem)
I played this game for days. Usually ending with the Operation: Barbarossa scenario which is a logistical nightmare. Sadly the game would not run under Windows XP, and I dedicated an old laptop as my personal TOAW computer. Thankfully I can now retire the tired old laptop, as The Operational Art of War: III has been released and I can now play to my hearts content on the desktop PC at home.
(Chaos reigns due to bad drop-zone selection)
The game allows you to play multiple what-ifs out, and to see if you’re a top notch armchair general. Bad choices leave your troops exposed and poorly supplied, easy pickings for the enemy. Play too cautiously and you’ll fail to meet the historical objectives.
You really have to be a history buff or old school Grognard for this game to have any appeal. There are no animations, no glitzy menus and no magical objects that will save your armies from the abyss of bad leadership.
The appeal for us history buffs, is seeing the battle play out on maps before our eyes. Having the choice of replaying history as it is written, or rolling the dice and seeing if we can do things a little better. If this sounds at all like you, then go give the game a try (The website allows you to download a copy for free when you purchase one for delivery, instant gratification is everything it’s cracked up to be.).
That’s the ramble, now I’ve got to run and see if I can save those Red Devils from disaster in Arnhem.
I too, heard stories from both my grandfather and father, as well as lived a few myself,having served in the Persian Gulf and Bosinia.
But, the ones that still awe me to this day is grandfathers stories, while he served in the 8th Army Air Corps as a pilot of a A26, later a B17L. They just don’t make like that anymore.
The game I like to play to kindle such memories is Battlefield 1942. I don’t play online much anymore, most because of brat kids. But, I do play it alot, when not blogging or shooting.
Michael: Yep, I found my grandfathers stories absolutely enthralling, and that was without a multiple engine bomber attached to them, so I can well imagine.
I used to play BF1942, and still do from time to time against the computer, but my computer is out of date, and can barely handle it, I have no doubt it’d give up the ghost if I tried online play.
7 years ago I was all over online play. First with first person shooters, and then Novalogics MASSIVE online flight sim games (120 aircraft bombing around one battlefield? It was absolutely enjoyably insane). But cheating and lag eventually drove me nuts, and I figured the computer is at least an honest, if rather stupid, opponent.
Am still trying to justify the expense of an Xbox to play Call of Duty 4, which looks like a rather dangerous game as far as my getting anything approaching proper sleep is concerned.
hmmmm….tempting, real temping. Only $39. I’d jump on it if it did have simple online play. Can you do email or any kind of time-lag multi player play?
Nope, no online play. It offers computer vs. player, player vs. player (hotseat) and PBEM (play by email).
Although I’d be happy to go against you in play by email.
-GRIN-
I’ll just have to scrape up the cash on a CC and the email thing works for me. I remember us playing a Vietnam variant of this system when we were kids. All the hobby stores had these style strategy games along the top racks back in the day in those identical 3-inch wide boxes, each one for a different scenario or style of combat.
It would make a great play a few rounds whenever you’re logged into Facebook kinda game.
Are you willing to have more than one game Via email?
Theodore: Works for me, let me know when you’re set up and we’ll try a small scenario to get started.
Piet: YEP! The more the merrier, didn’t think it was your kinda game to be honest, but I’d love to go against human players for a change, the computer is kinda predictable.
Cool!
Anything bigger than a platoon and I get overwhelmed. Otherwise I’d love a crack at it.
You could also do Steel Panthers: World at War…
http://www.steelpanthersonline.com/main.asp
If you just want the game, with the built in scenarios (lots of ‘em), and the scenario/campaign editor, it’s a free download.
And there are lots of other scenarios and campaigns available for download as well.
You can play hot seat or by email.
Hey they have Harpoon still! This company’s like a musemu of old strategy games!
FreddyBoomBoom: Aw man, I’ve spent HOURS playing steel panthers (modern and WWII), except for the fact that it’s a little limited in scope it’s a great way of killing a few hours (and say an armored column or two).
-GRIN-
Theodore: Oh yeah… Harpoon is still kicking around out there, there’s talk of a Harpoon 4 coming out.
OK, so I’m taking my baby steps invading South Korea. I figure a weeks or so and I’ll be able actually co-ordinate offensives and not completely embarrass myself.
OT You needed this
http://youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=MwWF7JHwS4w
Mugwug … considering you started your gaming career with “Hitchhiker’s Guide” in text mode, you have likely alread have tried … http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hitchhikers/game_nolan.shtml