SOWWL Purchasing, SP use advice

Hey everyone,

I'm planning to buy SOW:WL, and download the KS mod of course.

Where is the best place to buy it? I've heard mixed reports about Steam and SOW:WL.

Also; in your opinion, what is the AI like? I have an idea of using the game to resolve battles for a solo campaign I have in mind- both sides would be AI and I would be a spectator or command some insignificant little command. Is this feasible, or is the AI rather strange and unrealistic?

Many thanks!

Good morning Your Majesty

I don't have a personal preference over the Steam vs Matrix version. You may see a price difference of a few $$$ if that's important for you. If you buy the Matrix version you get a Steam key as well and I have been watching the Matrix forums recently and their tech support seems quite good. I play Steam games in other genres (FPS) and have never had a problem with them and their update interface, etc is really slick and helpful. I've never had need to use their tech support though - which is probably a good sign in its own right.

The AI of WL is much improved over GB and the cavalry behaviour is particularly good. You may see some anomalous behaviour in the small details but the overall result at, say, the division or corps level, feels about right. Just don't focus too much on what individual squadrons or battalions are doing because their behaviour can sometimes look strange down at the melee/charge/halt/counter move level.

We like to think the KS Mod improves the game (or else we wouldn't have invested so much time in making it) and we are especially happy with the new power of well-sited artillery, skirmishers vs formed troops and the brigade formations.

Two people here had problems with the Steam version. One of those may have been due to DirectX9 not being installed. Regardless, I'd recommend buying the game from Matrix. First, their help support is very good and second, you actually own the game you pay for. You're not renting it.

Last summer, I actually used the game and the KS players to resolve a few of the battles I had while playing Campaigns Along the Danube. These were co-op games vs the AI and gave very believable results. The AI won as many as the players. I would think the AI playing itself would be somewhat similar. You will likely have to take the role of CinC of one of the armies as you'll want one to attack and the other to defend. You'd give your corps or division commanders an initial movement order and stance. After that, you could just be a spectator.