Sword & Siege Crusades: Book I

With every release of a WDS game my tbr grows. Hope to see Panzer Campaigns and Civil War Battles on Steam soon

Incredibly detailed games with a ton of scenarios. Playing the campaigns in PBEM with a friend is peak wargaming. A must buy for wargame enthusiasts. DUES VULT!

Anna Comnena once wrote that 'a fully armoured mounted Frank charging at full speed could produce a hole in the walls of Babylon'. Seems like the gods of modern digital wargaming now believe they've also gained sufficient mass and velocity to preach the holy word of John Tiller to the lay non-believers in the pagan land of Steam. Took them a while. Much like Victor Reijkersz of [i]Shadow Empire[/i] fame, many wargaming devs are often wary of wide-appeal platforms. Because once they arrive, a wild [i]consumer[/i] appears: [i]Muh graphics! Muh interface!! Muh visual options!!!1 Muh tutorials!!!11! Muh streamlined game design!1111 Muh wallet!1!!11111 Muh historical ignorance!111!!!!!!111!!1!!!!!1111 THumBs DOOOwwWWNnNN[/i] You'll see it aplenty in reviews to come. Silence, [i]consumer[/i]. [insert king_Baldwin_meme.jpeg] These games demand knowledge, imagination, commitment, time, economically stable position in one's life - or being a middle-aged overeducated balding male American heartland citizen. [spoiler](No, I meet none of those prerequisites)[/spoiler] This is the coolest crusades-themed game I've ever seen - with the possible exception of the tabletop [i]Kingdom of Heaven[/i] and [i]Nevsky[/i] (technically a crusader game), but I haven't played those. Slow, deliberate, intricate, historically accurate and sporting a powerful rules engine. Also, visually gorgeous as far as traditional digital wargames go, only to be outdone by [i]Field of Glory[/i], and, it would seem, by their own recently released [i]American Revolutionary War[/i]. DEUS V- well, you know what Deus does. Now, me, on the other hand - I'm just chipping in [spoiler][strike]the walls of Babylon[/strike][/spoiler] for the [spoiler][strike]greater glory of God[/strike][/spoiler] review score.

Crusades Book 1 comes complete with more scenarios than you are likely able to ever playthrough. Also included are 2 Campaigns with even more game play options. Scenario design and map editing are also available in this massive package. What good would all the content be if it wasn't a decent game? Well you don't have to worry as the gameplay is interesting and compelling. While the game may appear daunting at first blush, within an hour when following the tutorial the game and system should all fall into place for you. There is a lot under the hood to consume and enjoy. All in all a great package worthy of your time and money. I've been playing the game for way more hours than listed here as I purchased the game originally direct from them some time ago. They have included a Steam Key for those that buy the game direct at no extra charge.

Best wargame available, hope they bring the others to steam too.

[h1] A Window into History: Wargame Design Studio & Crusades Book I [/h1] The lineage of Wargame Design Studio passes through the highest pedigree of wargaming. You can trace it back to Talonsoft, HPS, and John Tiller's golden age. When you look at the people involved, you see a direct connection to the era when Avalon Hill and SPI ruled. The company itself is part of the history of our hobby. With the release of the finest wargaming on PC, we welcome a new chapter with its arrival on Steam. Whether you view these games as simulations or games (or both?), I have found that after hundreds of games in multiplayer, ladder play, and solo campaigns, they offer another window into the history they cover. Have you ever read a book on a battle and been confused about who was where? What does a Soviet division look like? What tanks did the French have? Who were the Crusaders, how many answered the call, and what was their army like? WDS games give you the maps, the leaders, and the order of battle, placing them before the drawing of swords. Sometimes this is strictly historical, or perhaps even more intriguingly, in "what-if" scenarios. Play a scenario in Crusades Book I, then go back and read your book again about the battle. The combatants and the combat come into a new and clearer light. Think you can do better? This is your chance to prove it. Antioch, Nicaea, and Jerusalem are yours for the taking, or for the keeping. You are not only buying a game; you can join the WDS forums or try out multiplayer matches. Do you love to read or discuss history? Just look at the blogs and the news. You will find a community of people who love the hobby and the history as much as you do. Meticulous research, a dedication to history, and continued support long after a game is released. How many companies support their games decades after release? In this review, I am appealing more to the simulation side. Sometimes, if we want to understand what is happening today, we have to look into the past. Crusades Book I takes you back to the beginning of today's history to see where it all started. I overwhelming recommend Crusades Book I for historical and gameplay value. Editorial Note: I own many of the WDS titles from their website. My steam key came from a purchase of CBI on the WDS store. I estimate my current time in this game at 40 hours.

[h1]ヘックスに魅せられた人々へ捧ぐ、十字軍戦闘シミュレーター[/h1] ウォーゲームは現代戦をテーマにするものが圧倒的に多く、近世以降の時代を禁忌にしている私は、興味はあれど今まで触れる機会がありませんでした。このゲームは十字軍がテーマとの事で体験版を遊んでみたところ、面白かったので本体を購入しました。 体験版をやればすぐわかりますが、1990年代リリースのゲームだと言われても何の疑問も無いくらいの簡素な見た目とUIです。よって、ビジュアル面を期待する人が手を出すべきゲームではありません。このゲームの強みは、歴史リアリズムの追求と緻密な戦闘シミュレーターという2点につきます。 こちらに開発チームのメンバー紹介があります。どんなレビューよりも「伝わるもの」がここに含まれているので是非御覧下さい。 https://wargameds.com/pages/about-us-wds 私もおじさんと呼ばれてしかるべき年齢になりましたが、私が産まれるよりも前からヘックスマップに夢中になった人々がいるという事を今回初めて実感したかもしれません。 公式説明を要約すると、本ゲームは取り上げるテーマについて膨大な時間をかけて調査し関与したすべての部隊、適切な制服、正しい武器が含まれます。さらに、戦闘が行われた実際の戦場を表現するために、正確で詳細な地図を使用します。 言わば生粋の歴史、軍事マニア達が、歴史上の戦闘記録について徹底的に調査し、それをゲームで再現しようとしているもの、それが「ウォーゲーム」と呼ばれる物の正体だったのですねぇ。その手の物に興味の無い私ですら引き込まれてしまうような、深みのある考察がそこでは行われていました。 その一例 https://x.com/i/status/2047980449750999056 Wargame Design Studioは、主に「戦術」にフォーカスしたウォーゲームの開発会社として長い歴史を持ちますが、Steamでのリリースはこの作品が初タイトルなのだそうです。その戦闘シミュレーターの部分について、私が特徴的だと感じたシステムを以下に列挙しておきます。これはSteamでよく見かける一般的なタクティカルゲームには殆ど見られない独自要素と言えます。これらを駆使する事で、とても緻密なヘックス戦闘が実現されています。とりあえず、私のアイコンキャラが一時的に十字軍装備になるくらいは楽しませて貰っていると言っておきましょう😋 攻城戦 防御設備として、壁、タワー、門などがありユニットはその上に登る事が可能。攻める側は攻城塔や梯子を使って攻略する必要があり、壁を破壊するトレビュシェットや破城槌など、リアルに即した攻城兵器も多数存在。 ユニットの方向指定 六角形のどの角を向いているかの指定あり。ZoCは前面2ヘックスのみに発生。側面、背面の概念あり。方向を変更するにも移動コストを消費。 陣形 攻撃に適したライン(横列)、移動重視のカラム(縦列)、対騎兵用のブロック、散兵用のスカーミッシュなど、ユニット毎に状況に応じて陣形の切り替えが必要。こちらも移動コストを消費。 例として、橋、門、壁などの通行にはカラムが必須。ラインとカラムのユニットが混ざると無秩序状態になる等。 高さの概念 高い場所では視野が拡がり、射線などの確保が容易になり有利。 防御射撃 敵の射撃範囲内での行動は防御射撃が発動するリスクを伴うが、発動条件は意図的にランダム化されている。 スケール 1ヘックスの幅は40メートル、1ターンは10分と規定。両陣営は交互にターンを処理するが、実際は同時に行動しているという建前で設計されている。 前面占有率 ヘックス内に複数ユニットをスタックさせる事が可能だが前面占有率の概念があり、前面を確保しないと射撃能力を十分に発揮できない。これは戦場におけるリアリティ追求の一例。 階層化された指揮官 指揮官は階層化されており、上官の影響範囲にいる事でより良く統率される。最終的に最下級の指揮官が配下の兵士の士気を高め、無秩序状態からの復帰確率を高める。これが軍全体の安定性に大きく寄与。 際立つ騎兵 騎兵は特別なチャージ能力を有し、歩兵から攻撃される事すら無い。この時代の騎兵が如何に絶大な存在であったかを知らしめる。 ------ 言語サポートについて 日本語には対応していませんが、まったく何の問題もありません。なぜならゲーム中に文章を読むことが無いからです。戦闘前のシナリオ説明をAIに翻訳させて読めばそれで終わりです👌🏻 最後に価格について、膨大な時間を歴史調査につぎ込んでいる事を考慮すると、この高価格も納得ではあるのですが、Steamの相場から考えるとやはり今の半額以下であるべきだとは思います。 まずは体験版を！ ただし、面白さに到達するまでに３回は挫折を覚悟してくださいw私がそうでしたw 1) 簡素なビジュアルに不安を覚える 2) 難解な戦闘ルールに苦戦する 3) クセのあるUIに辟易する しかし殆どは慣れが解決します。マニュアルだけでなく開発の背景、裏側まで披露するデザインノートなど、PDF資料が充実しているので活用必須てす。開発者が日々の改善と長期間のサポートを約束している事もお忘れなく。 願わくばこのシステムでファンタジーゲームを遊んでみたいです。公式では難しくても、ゲームのModサポート機能の範囲が拡がれば、可能性があるかもしれません。

Lo, banners fly in morning haze, And armies march through medieval days. And steel is drawn, the trumpets call, To breach the gate or hold the wall. Across the sands, through dust and fire, Commanders rise with bold desire. And every battle, every blade, Marks all the choices leaders made. Sword & Siege: Crusades awaits, With castle walls and iron gates. So lead the charge, defend your claim, And write your legend in the game!

Fantastic Wargame from the best in the Buisness! WDS used to be John Tiller Wargaming and this Medievil setting is just sublime!.If you can play one of these wargames then you can play them all, it's as simple as that. >https://steamcommunity.com/groups/FansOfJohnTillerSoftware

Like a lot of the reviewers I've got a lot longer on WDS version before it came to steam. This is a varied, well-researched and in-depth wargame with a range of scenarios both famous and obscure, and a campaign mode that carries decisions between fights. The interface is busy but it does have a lot to include and you will use pretty much all those buttons across the top. Feedback is generally in the text at the bottom and almost always tells you WHY you couldn't do something - by Grognard standards this is supremely good! I like the tile or blocks for units, I'm less sold personally on the more zoomed in models, they look static and almost out of touch with the backgrounds. Graphics aren't the selling point for these games, of course, and the game as a whole looks reasonable. There's a small but active MP community, hopefully we'll see some of the groups advertising on the steam boards soon but the publishers (WDS) own boards have links. Do yourself a big favour after you buy it and open the install folder - the manual and quickstart are both very useful and the tutorial scenarios are designed to go with the quickstart guide. There's also some interesting information about the maps, the theory and philosophy behind them, some recommended reading for interest and sometimes hints about how to approach the battles.