Strategy and Wargaming

Do Things You’ve Never Done Before In New Crusader Kings Expansion

crusader-kings-3Roads to Power Major Expansion Offers New Ways to Play Popular Strategy Game

Learn new ways to unlock power and prestige in Roads to Power, the new Major Expansion from Crusader Kings III. Be a wandering mercenary, building a reputation as a fixer or outlaw, or lead a noble family in an ancient empire, using influence and intrigue to secure your place. New events, government systems, schemes and lifestyles are yours to explore.

Coming on September 24, Roads to Power is a major expansion to Crusader Kings III, Paradox Interactive’s award-winning strategy/role-playing experience about high politics and relationship building in a dynamic medieval world. It is a part of the game’s Chapter III, the Expansion Pass for 2024 that includes a free clothing pack, the Core Expansion Legends of the Dead, and an upcoming event pack emphasizing character travel.

Roads to Power introduces two new ways to engage with this world, with never-before-seen game styles. You can roam the world as a Landless Adventurer, fulfilling contracts and building up your own base of power, until you feel strong enough to claim a new kingdom for yourself and your band of followers. Or, play as a noble in the Byzantine Empire in a non-feudal system, scheming your way to the top, as you compete against other powerful families at the imperial court, using your influence to manipulate the political system in your favor, placing strong and friendly candidates in seats of power – even the throne itself.

Watch the release date announcement trailer for Crusader Kings III: Roads to Power HERE.

Features of Crusader Kings III: Road to Power include:

  • Administrative Government: Experience medieval rule outside of the feudal system with a new style of empire management. A web of Governors jockeys for position in the empire with intrigue and power, sometimes rewarding merit and sometimes rewarding perfidy. Only a truly skilled Emperor can keep these squabbling forces in line.
  • The Family Estate: Run and manage a powerful Family Estate, the seat of your House’s power, even when you hold no other land. Construct new buildings and improvements to further your power and influence within an administrative empire.
  • Influence System: Build up a character’s influence within an administrative empire to climb the rungs of bureaucracy. Raise your status in the realm and gather more power for yourself. Start as a landless noble on an estate, and compete for valuable provinces to govern before making your bid for the Purple.
  • A Life of Adventure: Freely roam the map, untied to any realm or holding, going wherever the winds of fortune blow you. Fulfill contracts as a landless adventurer, even through the generations, building up a reputation of your own. Earn gold, prestige and fame travelling the globe until you decide to settle down and claim land you have earned through merit.
  • Choose Successor or Caesar: Spend the influence you have gathered to determine the course of the Empire and get the successor you want, whether a royal family member, a powerful noble, a martial hero, or any other candidate you can rally the people behind. The Emperor can even opt to co-rule if the burden of the throne is too much for one person.
  • New Byzantine Flavor Content: New events, monuments and activities built around the Byzantine theme, including chariot racing.
  • Cosmetic Additions: A Byzantine-themed UI skin and new court fashions for your characters, new 2D event art, new on-map monuments of the Byzantine world, new on-map holding designs, and a Byzantine throne room for Royal Court sessions, among other aesthetic improvements. New music inspired by Orthodox holy chants is also included.

    • Crusader Kings III: Roads to Power will be available on 24 September 2024 as part of Crusader Kings III: Chapter III – which includes the Core Expansion Legends of the Dead, the Major Expansion Roads to Power and the Event Pack Wandering Nobles. More game information is available on the official Crusader Kings III website.

    Crusader Kings III Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | |
    Scramble: Battle of Britain – Flight School, Episode #5 Released

    scramble-battle-of-britainSlitherine Games has released the Scramble: Battle of Britain – Flight School, Episode #5 video.

    Watch Flight School, Episode #5 “Maneuvers” HERE.

    Maneuvering & Aerobatics

    Aerobatics is the piloting of aircraft through maneuvers not typical of steady, stable flight. Most dogfighting, even the short and simple bounce out of the sun, involves aggressive maneuvering that falls into the category of aerobatics. Loops, rolls, and stalls, all aerobatic maneuvers themselves, are the building blocks of more complex aerobatics like the Immelman or the Split-S.

    A Scramble turn simulates for roughly two and a half seconds. In aerobatic terms, with World War II aircraft, this converts to roughly a quarter of a loop, or a third of a roll. Players will chain these partial maneuvers naturally from turn to turn so every dogfight in Scramble resembles the fanciest airshow routines.

    Scramble’s Turn/Climb Assist couples roll and yaw control surface inputs, so one of the easiest maneuvers in Scramble is the barrel roll. With a little “climb” input and a little “turn” input players can initiate barrel rolls to re-engage a target or enter a rolling scissors with a pursuing enemy.

    Scramble aerodynamics model sideslip-induced rolls, so yawing in the same direction of roll input will increase roll rate. The coupling of yaw and roll inputs in the Turn/Climb Assist assures all basic rolls in Scramble experience this boosted roll rate. Players using Traditional Aircraft Control, with access to all three axes independently, can command full yaw and roll inputs to one side to induce a maximum roll rate, and coupling these inputs with a heavy pitch input will flip an aircraft in a twist resembling a weak snap roll.

    Aerobatic maneuvering in a dogfight is ultimately a means to an end, and graceful loops that wow crowds at airshow routines may not be the optimal tactics with an enemy in pursuit. But when thinking three-moves-ahead and flying clean, efficient aerobatics a player can execute a quarter loop, followed by a vertical climb, with a rudder turn at the apex to hammerhead their guns onto the unsuspecting enemy flailing to line up their shot in the climb.

    Stay tuned for more Flight School episodes and exciting news coming soon!

    Scramble: Battle of Britain Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | |
    Strategic Command WWII: War in the Pacific – Release Date Announced

    strategic-command-wwii-war-in-the-pacificMatrix Games announced today that Strategic Command WWII: War in the Pacific will be out on June 25th.

    Soon you’ll be able to battle through land and sea, commanding the forces of 7 Major powers: Japan, Australia, China, Communist China, USA, US and USSR. The 1941 Day of Infamy campaign is coming with 36.000 hex map, get ready to re-fight the 20th century’s greatest conflict in the Pacific.

    If you haven’t yet, register for the beta, in the meantime you can find a feedback article here.

    Strategic Command WWII: War in the Pacific Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | |
    Command the Battlefield Like Never Before in Men of War II, Out Now on PC

    men-of-war-2Prepare to wage war! Fulqrum Publishing and Best Way are thrilled to announce the official launch of the highly anticipated real-time strategy game, Men of War II, available for PC today on Steam, Epic Games Store, and other digital retailers for $44.99 USD / £37.99 GBP / €44.99 EUR.

    Men of War II delivers an unparalleled World War II RTS experience, meticulously crafted for both seasoned veterans and new commanders alike. Players will command their forces across epic clashes and focused manoeuvres, strategize their campaigns, and experience the chaos and brutality of war like never before.

    Featuring an unmatched level of strategic depth, Men of War II offers players a staggering number of meticulously detailed units, each with unique specializations to fit their strategic visions. It also offers unwavering historical fidelity with authentic environments and battlefields and advanced enemy AI that will try to outsmart and outmanoeuvre players by adapting to their playstyles.

    In Men of War II, players will take command of one of three World War II global powers – the Soviets, Americans, or Third Reich – each boasting a unique narrative campaign, allowing them to experience the war from different perspectives and utilise their military expertise in their choices. Two further Historical campaigns introduce pivotal battles with scenarios inspired by historical events, as well as a dynamic Conquest campaign and a skirmish-style experience in Raid mode. Players can also team up with up to four friends and tackle any campaign cooperatively.

    Men of War II also boasts extensive multiplayer options, allowing players to compete against each other (PvP) or work together against the AI (PvE). Ranked matchmaking ensures balanced competition across three distinct battle setups: Battalions, Combined Arms, and Classic Mode.

    After last year’s public playtests, Best Way took extra time and care to incorporate improvements from community feedback. This dedication means that Men of War II launches with numerous technical improvements, bug fixes, balancing tweaks, and enhanced audio-visual quality – a testament to the team’s commitment to delivering a polished experience to players at launch. Best Way are determined to listen to their community post-launch as well, and will continue to improve Men of War II with their feedback.

    For more game information, visit the official Fulqrum Publishing website.

    Men of War II Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | |
    Gear Up and Stand Out with Men of War II Frontline Hero Pack

    men-of-war-2Fulqrum Publishing and Ukrainian studio Best Way are excited to announce the Frontline Hero pack, a new DLC pack for real-time strategy game Men of War II, free for players purchasing Men of War II within the first week of launch on May 15th.

    The Frontline Hero pack provides exclusive cosmetic features for player profiles, including two exclusive profile badges and six exclusive avatars, a set of 10 wallpaper images, and an instant unlock of four collectible tank units. It provides fans of Men of War II with a chance to stand out from the crowd.

    The Frontline Hero Pack instantly unlocks the following collectible units*:

    M4A3E8 “Sherman”

  • A US Army medium tank, the latest modification of the M4A3E8 with a 75mm gun. It is a beautiful but deadly war machine adorned with a unique camouflage design, pin-up art, and other decorative exterior elements.

    • Panther Ausf. A

  • A German medium tank, the latest modification of the Pz.Kpfw. V class with a 75mm gun. A formidable predator with excellent combat characteristics and a unique camouflage pattern, capable of intimidating even the most experienced hunters on the battlefield.

    • T-34-85

  • A Soviet medium tank, a modification of the T-34 class with an 85mm gun. It can hold its own and emerge victorious from any battle; it features a unique camouflage system that distinguishes it from its brothers on the battlefield. It can become a deadly threat to any enemy in the right hands.

    • T-34-85M

  • A Soviet medium tank, the latest modification of the T-34 class, armed with an 85mm gun. It features a modified camouflage design and spaced armor, which reduces the destructive effect of enemy anti-tank rounds. This is an experienced fighter, ready for any surprises.

    • *All units are also available for unlocking via in-game actions.

    Don’t stop the tanks! For players who want to go beyond the battlefield, a Deluxe Edition of Men of War II will also be available. This comprehensive edition offers players the full game, the Frontline Hero Pack, a digital artbook offering a behind-the-scenes look, and the official soundtrack to score their victories. The Deluxe Edition is priced at $54.99 USD / £45.99 GBP / €54.99 EUR, with a 10% discount for the first week.

    Men of War II will be available for PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and other digital stores on May 15, 2024, retailing for $44.99 USD/£37.99 GBP/€44.99 EUR. For more information, visit the official Fulqrum Publishing website.

    Men of War II Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | |
    World War II! The 2024 winSPWW2 Upgrade Patch is In! Hooah!

    Another year and anither anticipated Upgrade, Fixes and Additions have arrived. This game is now in it’s Twenty Sixth year with the release of WinSPWW2v17, bringing the total number of versions/upgrades of the game release to 38. Since the time the first tentative steps were taken to begin modding SP2 into a WW2 based game to today at least 9600 days have passed… that’s over 7400 days longer than WW2 lasted. We say Impressive!

    First, DO NOT apply the upgrade patches while in the midst of a secure PBEM game as the game will fail.

    Available for immediate download, this patch is ready to run. So, let’s take a look at what the great guys at Camo Workshop have given us…

    The 2024 consolidation patch updates any version of winSPWW2 version 9 and up to version 17. winSPWW2 version 17.0 includes:

  • 2 New Scenarios
  • 16 Revised/Updated Scenarios
  • 100 Updated Scenario txt files
  • 1 New Campaign
  • 1 Completely Revised Campaign- #13
  • 114 New or Revised OOB Photos
  • 43 Updated OOB files
  • 14 New or Updated Graphic SHP files
  • 35 New or Revised Vehicle/Aircraft Icons
  • 35 New or Revised Encyclopaedia/Help Text files
  • 1 New sound file
  • 25 New complete or WIP maps

    • 1. Two new standard infantry unitclasses (UC172 and UC179) replace the old Bicycle unitclasses that were no longer used and were of no real use in the game in their old form.

    2. Electronic garbage was appearing along the left side of some maps. This has been corrected

    3. All “cavalry” unit classes now behave the same way in the same terrain types.

    You can download the upgrade HERE.

    More game information can be found on the winSPWW2 webpage.

    Strategy and Wargaming winSPMBT - winSPWW2 | Donster | |
    Scramble: Battle of Britain – Flight School, Episode #4 Released

    scramble-battle-of-britainSlitherine Games has released the Scramble: Battle of Britain – Flight School, Episode #4 video.

    Watch Flight School, Episode #4 “”Aircraft Control” HERE.

    Aircraft in Scramble simulate in 3D space with six degrees of freedom: three degrees for XYZ position, and three degrees for rotation about the XYZ axes. Simulation is the foundation of Scramble gameplay depth, and analog control of the airplanes allows players to replicate most of the maneuvers they are familiar with from real-world aerobatics and dogfighting, but controlling airplanes is a hard problem to begin with, and designing a control scheme for the turn-based environment of Scramble proved one of the longest lasting challenges our team faced.

    In Flight School Lesson 4 we will introduce you to the Turn/Climb Assist – our default Scramble control scheme – and we will explain how it couples some traditional aircraft control inputs to provide an intuitive piloting experience for all players, regardless of their familiarity with piloting airplanes.

    Read the full article HERE.

    Scramble Battle of Britain is a turn-based tactical dogfighting game that puts you at the heart of the action. Lead your squadron of pilots in a desperate battle for air supremacy. Fully-simulated flight physics and powerful camera tools let you plan and execute your attacks with perfect precision.

    Scramble: Battle of Britain breaks the chaos of a dogfight into short, thrilling chunks of action. Set in a dynamic 3D airspace, this simultaneous turn-based dogfighting game minimizes time and reflex demands while retaining the intricate details of aerodynamics and physics-based simulation unique to the piloting experience. Players strategically plan the maneuvers of their aircraft during simultaneous turns and witness the outcomes in real-time.

    Engage in intense aerial battles as Luftwaffe and RAF fighter squadrons clash over the English Channel. Plan your flight paths, execute breathtaking maneuvers, rewind time to evaluate battle damage, and outsmart your opponents with strategic brilliance and captivating aerobatics. Get ready to take control of the skies!

    Scramble: Battle of Britain Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | |
    Europa Universalis IV: Winds of Change Available Now

    New Missions and Other Historical Content Now Live

    Over a dozen nations get makeovers in Winds of Change, a new expansion pack for Europa Universalis IV, available now. This expansion pack adds new historical content for nations as different as the Aztec Empire that dominated 15th century Mexico, to the Mughal Empire that emerged out of Central Asia to dominate India for three hundreds years, to the trading republics of Venice and the Netherlands, each controlling the seas to guide precious cargo home.

    Watch the Europa Universalis IV: Winds of Change – Official Release Trailer HERE.

    This historical content takes many forms, including expanded and branching mission trees, unique government reforms that reflect the characteristics of certain nations, new decisions and events, and special mechanics that allow you to leverage cultural abilities for unique bonuses.

    Europa Universalis IV: Winds of Change includes new historical content for:

  • Major American Nations: The Aztecs, Maya and Inca all get significant updates, including an Aztec mechanic that promotes warfare and demanding sacrifices, new ways to unite the Mayan nations into one kingdom, Incan royal authority, and many other improvements and updates. These nations also receive special content to allow an alternate-history invasion of the Old World.
  • Major Trading Nations: Both The Netherlands and Venice see expanded historical flavor, including more detailed content for the creation and enlargement of the Dutch Republic, the Glorious Revolution uniting the Dutch and British crowns, the Venetian Council of Ten, and the glories of the Venetian Renaissance.
  • Gunpowder Empires: The declining Timurid Empire can either fully embrace Persian traditions or return to its horse empire roots through a life of plunder, and the rising Mughal Empire has new routes to unite all of India under its sway. The Central Asian Horde nations also get updates, including unique flavor for the Tatar, Mongol and Moghul Khanates.
  • Central Europe: Austria, Hungary and Bohemia get revised trees, including the possibility for the Austrian and Hungarians to form the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary and for Bohemia to expand Hussite Power in the heart of the Empire, while all three can tailor the HRE to their liking.
  • Major Formable European Nations: New alt-historical options and content for the formation of Germany and Italy.
  • Minor Orthodox Empires: Surrounded by enemies, the Black Sea kingdoms of Theodoro and Trebizond seek to thrive and expand, potentially reviving Orthodox fortunes in the region.
  • Hisn Kayfa and Hormuz/Oman: The minor nation Hisn Kayfa, heirs of the Ayyubid dynasty, and major Gulf trading powers of Hormuz and Oman get unique mission trees to dominate the Middle East.

    • Europa Universalis IV: Winds of Change is now available for the suggested retail price of $19.99/£16.75/€19.99. More game information is available at the official Europa Universalis IV website or via the games official Steam page.

    Europa Universalis IV Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | |
    CLASSIFIED: FRANCE ’44 Agent Pack Released

    classified-france-44The second DLC for Absolutely Games’ strategic epic launches today with a new Special Ops Map, Special Ops missions, weapon, weapon variant, and clothing set.

    Absolutely Games and Team17 Digital have today launched the Agent Pack for WWII-based strategy epic Classified: France ‘44. Available for PC1, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S, the Agent Pack grants players new gear for their covert operations, including a new Special Ops map, ‘Radar’; Two new Special Ops missions, Over Hill Under Hill and Make Every Kill Count; a new weapon, the Winchester 1912; a new weapon variant, Beretta ‘Compact’; and a new clothing set, Female Resistance ‘Agent’.

    An original take on the turn-based tactics genre, Classified: France ’44 authentically captures the challenges of World War II firefights, shining a light on a lesser known story. Players will take charge of the Jedburghs: a group of special forces dropped deep in the heart of Nazi-occupied France, working with the Resistance to disrupt and sabotage enemy forces in the lead up to D-Day.

    The season pass for Classified: France ’44 can be purchased for £19.99/$19.99/€19.99, granting access to all four DLC packs, with the individual DLC packs 1-4 available for £5.99/$5.99/€5.99 each.

    For more information on Classified: France ’44, visit the official website. PC users can purchase the game via Steam.

    Classified: France ‘44 Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | |
    Men of War II deploys May 15, 2024

    men-of-war-2The eagerly awaited World War II RTS gets ready for its PC launch

    Fulqrum Publishing and Ukrainian studio Best Way are excited to announce that their highly anticipated RTS title Men of War II releases on May 15, 2024 on PC. A date long-term fans may appreciate, as this marks the 10th anniversary since the full release of Men of War: Assault Squad 2.

    Following a number of public playtests last year, the team at Best Way opted to spend extra development time to incorporate feedback from the community. The fans will be able to enjoy the fruits of this extra labor at launch, as the game has received numerous technical improvements and bug fixes, as well as balancing and various upgrades to audio-visual quality since the last Open Beta.

    Men of War II will launch with three playable nations – the Soviets, Americans and the Third Reich – each with their own narrative campaign, as well as two further Historical campaigns, a dynamic Conquest campaign and a skirmish-like Raid mode. All of the single-player content can also be played in co-op with up to five players, and the game offers extensive PvP and PvE multiplayer options, including ranked match-making for all three battle setups (Battalions, Combined Arms and Classic Mode).

    The new chapter in the evolution of the top-rated RTS franchise provides a World War II real-time strategy experience like never before with an unprecedented number of units with different specialisations to command, unyielding attention to historical fidelity, advanced enemy AI, new levels of visual and audio excellence; and with a plethora of customisable gameplay options and modes for single-player as well as PvP and co-op multiplayer, Men of War II appeals to both the hardcore RTS aficionado and the more casual fan alike.

    Watch the new Men of War II Release Date Reveal Trailer HERE.

    Men of War II will be available for PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and other digital stores on May 15, 2024, retailing for $44.99 USD/£37.99 GBP/€44.99 EUR. For more information, visit the official Fulqrum Publishing website.

    Men of War II Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | |