Wargame: AirLand Battle

[Tricky]

So I've been playing this new RTS game a bit - Paul also got it and we played co-op last night. There's a few niggles (the latest patch broke the invite friends feature - whoops) but overall it's a very good game. It's based on 80s era conflict - NATO vs Warsaw Pact with tanks, infantry, choppers and aircraft. There are a single player skirmish and campaign options as well as online 10 v 10 multiplayer! 

The first thing to say is - it's a challenge! And slightly intimidating - but once you realise a few key things it's actually quite accessible.

There are big tanks (Challengers!) but some of the cheaper units can actually be the most effective - the Brits have Milan for example. Hide one of the those in the woods and they can blow up tanks from afar whist remaining hidden. Re-supply is key though - units only have so much fuel and ammo with them.  There's a landrover with missiles - that is also pretty good. Air units like Sea Harriers and Tornado's are great but vulnerable to SAMs so have to be used carefully. Recon (like heli-mounted SAS or Green Jackets) are essential for spotting dangers lurking in the woods. Combined arms and plenty of AA cover is essential.

You can also play as the Yanks (and many other countries) with Tomcats and Sea Cobra's and Abrams tanks.

One thing I just found is that you can customised the 'deck' you play with. So I tweaked the British deck to get rid of the units I don't want and include a few more I did - like tracked-mounted auto cannons, and SAS troops. If you go US you can add the F117A stealth-fighter (certain 'prototype' units are allowed).

If you play the game then I recommend reading this well written (and unofficial) gameplay guide:

http://www.wargame-ee.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=93&t=31679

One key tip from it is: "Flashing units are hidden from the enemy, spotted units are opaque". I was wondering why units seemed to flash randomly...

There are a few rough edges with the game that need patching but all in all, I'm really enjoying it. The slightly odd title is apparently named after the NATO 'AirLand' doctrine for fighting a Soviet invasion during the cold war.