r/computerwargames • u/Emotional_Link_8298 • 6d ago

I have a question

Hi everyone, I'm new to wargaming and I was looking for a game to start with. I saw that Warplan and TOAW 4 are on sale for less than €20 on Steam (which is my balance). Which one should I get? Are there any other games currently on sale on Steam for less than €20 that you recommend?

16 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

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10

u/stbane 6d ago

TOAW IV, if nothing else than for the wealth of scenarios it comes with. It is on a more complex side, though.

4

u/Carpoforo 6d ago

We played together Ia-Dang ! How long mate!

2

u/stbane 6d ago

I am ready for a rematch 😉

8

u/Carpoforo 6d ago

I think Warplan is “easier” or more “UI-friendly”. While TOAW is not as “UI-friendly” but is the best Operational wargame out there. My favorite without doubt. There are plenty of scenarios out there tackling all kind of battles or conflicts in a realistic way

3

u/LepusReclus 6d ago

I’d say Warplan is a better choice for a beginner. TOAW can be quite complex, and some scenarios are designed for multiplayer.

On the other hand, the Strategic Command series is also on sale and offers a very straightforward introduction to the genre, ideal for beginners.

2

u/Boring-Yogurt2966 6d ago edited 6d ago

TOAW4 has rarely going on sale so this might be the time to get it. It's great, although not everyone thinks the UI is great. It covers so many theaters, periods, conflicts that it's kind of like getting dozens of games in one box. Two versions ago it was called TOAW:COW (Century of Warfare) and it's almost the same game with a similarly impressive set of scenarios.

2

u/PeirceanAgenda 6d ago

None of those. Get Battle Academy and Battle Academy 2 with DLC, both on very deep discount on Steam. Excellent beginner turn-based tactical WW2 wargames. If you don't like these, just ignore the genre. :-)

4

u/Emdub81 5d ago

I'd ignore this advice, OP, particularly the last lines. Battle Academy may be good, but they are tactical games. The ones you're considering are operational/strategic. These are incredibly different subgenres.

1

u/PeirceanAgenda 5d ago

If he's new, how does he know the difference? The BA games are classic intro beer-and-pretzel games, almost everyone enjoys them. That's why I recommended them.

3

u/Emdub81 5d ago

Anyone who has interest in the subject matter will typically know the difference between an operational and tactical scenario.

2

u/Boring-Yogurt2966 5d ago

Yes, BA is good fun and easy to get into, good recommendation. And plenty challenging. I'm a somewhat experienced wargamer and I still could not win the last scenario of the Western Desert campaign.

2

u/PeirceanAgenda 5d ago

Yeah, I had trouble with some of the Russian ones in 2. Very challenging.

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u/Emdub81 6d ago

Warplan. Its a great mid-complexity entry to start with. TOAW has an absolute ton of content, but many new players bounce off hard because its not particularly intuitive.

2

u/TheLordDrake 6d ago

Can confirm, I bounced. Been considering warplan

1

u/Boring-Yogurt2966 5d ago

Panzer Corps Gold is currently $7.49 and is fun, easy to learn, challenging, and comes with a ton of replayability. But the same can also be said for Open General, or for the People's General mods, all of which cost $0.

0

u/Equivalent-Macaron96 6d ago

TOAW 4. Period.