I'm on the fence about this one right now. The game will add a new conquest campaign (similar to Red Dragon, but I hope its better), but we are also losing all the Western Front armies. I really wish this had been another expansion. I just don't like the idea of a sequel losing content that existed in the original. What will determine if I buy this at launch is if the conquest campaign is significantly improved over the version we got in Red Dragon. If not, I'm definitely waiting for this to go on sale first. The only other favorable scenario I see is if SD2 allows you to use all the content from the original game if you own both (like the old Dawn of War franchise used to do). If that's the case, all the better.
I'm looking forward to it and I don't care too much about losing the allied divisions. It will be interesting to see what divisions the Soviet will get. The game takes place during operation bagration in 1944 which was launched only a couple of weeks after the invasion of normandie
Been playing SD a fair amount lately. Shame we losing content, I wish they could have just carried it on and added to what we already had, As Warhammer TW have done. Anyway, I will be playing the new game. I would like to see a bigger player base for multiplayer games, There are still more people player Wargame then SD.
Still waiting to hear how this game "improves" on previous versions. Have they specified exactly what is so different about this game?
Okay, I'm happier about it now. Good on them. I wonder if they will address the issues with Tank Destroyers generally not working as intended.
I've gone from very reluctant over this sequel to looking forward to it. There is a lot of good news to read about with these updates.
From what they have told us in the dev diaries and shown through videos, it looks like it will be a better game. It looks like a proper sequel. It keeps the good parts from the first game and improve on them. It looks like there are enough improvements to validate a purchase on it's own and then we add in all the new content. Now, nothing is certain until we actually get the chance to play the game ourselves. However, they do have a good track record with all their previous releases. I will most likely pick this up unless something drastic happens before it releases.
Yeah, it pisses me off when you get a sequel that is inferior to the original. That's not how sequels should work. Especially in game design where you could literally release the same basic game like before, but with more customization and game modes and people would be completely fine with that.
Spoiler: New axis divisions 5th Panzerdivision (German 5th Armoured Division) The German 5th Armoured Division has a lot of weight to throw around. It's a beefy, battle-hardened division, the toughest in the sector, and boasts plenty of Panthers and Tigers. Its one weakness is a fluke of history—its heavy recon battalion was back in Germany training when Operation Bagration kicked off, forcing them to make do with infantry scouts. It packs a heavy punch, but it can't see very well. 20th Panzerdivision (German 20th Armoured Division) The German 20th Armoured Division was caught a bit unprepared for a big fight. With only one tank battalion containing some Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks, it lives in the shadow of its flashier sibling above. It's a scrappy division, however, and has shored up some of its weaknesses by pinching Soviet tanks, anti-tank guns and infantry weapons. It's a rubbish Panzerdivision, but Eugen says it can be a versatile Panzergrenadier division. 78th Sturmdivision (German 78th Assault Division) The Sturmdivision was meant to be the model for future infantry divisions, small but boasting lots of support weapons and guns, including MP-44 assault rifles, StuG assault guns and the Pak 43 anti-tank gun. It can pack a wallop. It's even stronger than a Panzergrenadier division, says Eugen, and thus protects the critical Moscow-Minsk highway, backed up by heavy Nashorn tank destroyers and unfortunate penal units. 28th Jägerdivision (German 28th Light Infantry Division) This division had been around the block a few times when Operation Bagration started. It's an experienced division that excels in close combat. The Jäger are equipped with MP-40 SMGs and MP-44 assault rifles and get some additional support from assault guns and tank destroyers. 14th Infanterie-Division (German 14th Infantry Division) Another improvised division, the 14th Infantry Division is actually missing a bunch of its infantry, but it makes up for this with strong mechanised support units, including StuGs and Tigers. You'll spot a lot of captured Soviet artillery and anti-tank guns in the roster, too, making this another almost-Panzergrenadier division. That seems to be a theme—armoured and infantry divisions that are really mechanised infantry. Don't let anyone put you in a box. Gruppe Harteneck (German Battle Group ‘Harteneck’) Battle Group Harteneck was put together in a pinch and flung at Soviet vanguards. Its losses were then replaced by whatever was just sitting around, so there are a lot of different units. It's built around the 4th Cavalry Brigade, mounted infantry with MP-44s and supported by light tanks, such as the Panzer II and III. There's even a half battalion of tank-destroying Tigers. Eugen says you'll want to use it for recon mostly, and it's got almost no anti-aircraft capabilities and has to instead rely on the Luftwaffe. Köruck 559 (German Security Command 559) Initially designed for security and anti-partisan jobs, this division ended up getting stuck right between Soviet armour and a key German command hub at Minsk. The last force between them and their target. It's got a wide assortment of units, historically gained over the course of the battle, so you'll be able to field everything from elite Tigers to anti-air artillery, as well as the weaker police troops and light armoured units it was originally built around. 1st Lovas Hadosztály (Hungarian 1st Cavalry Division) An elite Hungarian division, the 'Hussar Division' is full of experienced infantry and recon units, supported by lots of Hungarian medium tanks. It struggles in the anti-tank department, but thanks to its Nimrod self-propelled anti-air gun, among others, it can handle plenty of threats from ground and air. During Operation Bagration, it was thrown against Soviet armoured divisions to cover the German retreat, costing the 1st Cavalry almost all of its tanks. The division survived, however, and it got some of the first Hetzer tank destroyers as replacements. 5th Tartalékos Hadosztály (Hungarian 5th Reserve Division) The Axis' second Hungarian division, unlike the one above, was only formed for security and anti-partisan duties, but it was still called in to shore up the German line after the Soviet assaults had punched holes through it. Eugen describes it as "WWI-minded", fighting defensively and mostly with infantry and machine guns. It has some backup, however, in the form of an independent armoured company with tanks designed for infantry support. It gets some help from the skies, too, thanks to the Pumas, the elite fighter-wing of the Royal Hungarian Air Force.
Spoiler: Soviet Divisions 2-y Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Korpus (2nd Guards Tank Corps) Developer Eugen Systems calls this division a "paragon of Soviet technology". It's chock full of new tanks specifically for Operation Bagration, so you can roll into battle with brand spanking new T-34s and T-85s. Older tanks lend support through recon and command roles, so they'll still have their uses. Watch out, however, because it doesn't have strong anti-air defences, though it does get some help from the American AA halftracks it's borrowing. Thanks, America! 29-y Tankovy Korpus (29th Tank Corps) More tanks! This division is similar to the 2nd Guards, but it hasn't been given the same upgrade. Amid the older tanks, however, are some quirks that have been lend-leased by other nations, including a lot of M10 Wolverines and some Boston A-20 air support. The highlight comes in the form of the new IS-2 heavy tanks, just rolling out of the factories. They've even got that new tank smell. Again, it's not got strong AA defences, but it's generally more versatile, though not as punchy, as the 2nd Guards. 3-y Gvardeyskiy Mekhanizyrovanniy Korpus (3rd Guards Mechanized Corps) This division, historically, was among the first to make it across the Berezina river and link with the partisans holding important bridges. In-game this is reflected by the division's strong infantry that's backed up by partisan light scouts, as well as lend-leased M4A2 Sherman tanks. It's a well rounded division, says Eugen, and provides strong air support. Podvizhnaya Gruppa Tyurina (Manoeuver Group "Tyurin") A makeshift division created from random mechanised independent units and the 157th Rifle Division, Manoeuver Group “Tyurin” was put together to fill in the gap left by the absence of corps-level tank formations in the 2nd Belorussian Front. I'm envisioning the A Team or some other group of outsiders thrust together by fate, but with tanks. My imagination might be taking liberties. The division has strong infantry, elite assault engineers, anti-tank guns and a couple of tank brigades that include some borrowed Stuarts and captured Panzer IV F1s. It's all very ragtag. Podvizhnaya Gruppa Bezuglogo (Manoeuver Group "Bezugly") Similar to Tyurin, Bezugly was created to fill in a gap. Instead of being an infantry division, however, it's built around the 28th Guard Tank Brigade, full of an assortment of tanks and vehicles, from older T-70s and T-34s, to SU-122 assault guns and captured tanks like the SU-88 and two T-6s. Sappers and penal troops are in the mix, too, along with forty SU-76s. World War 2's most versatile vehicle, Eugen calls them, acting as artillery, tank destroyers or assault guns. You can, in fact, have it all. 9-ya Gvardeyskaya Kavaleriyskaya Diviziya (9th Guards Cavalry Division) The Kuban Cossacks of the 9th Guards Cavalry like to get up close to their enemies. Soviet cavalry divisions get their own tank battalions with T-70s and Valentine light tanks, as well as a few medium ones, and boast assault guns support and even some rocket launchers to give them some extra artillery wallop. The OSNAZ light amphibious battalion, a precursor to Spetsnaz, is also part of the division, and probably not to be messed with. 26-ya Gvardeyskaya Strelkovaya Diviziya (26th Guards Rifle Division) During Operation Bagration, the 26th Guards Rifle Division was part of the first assault wave against the main German stronghold. It's one of the strongest anti-infantry divisions that the Soviets can field, boasting great close-quarter battalions and special assault units. The OT-34 flame tanks will let you heat up the battlefield, and you'll be able to field KV heavy tanks, super-heavy artillery, sappers and heavy fighter-bomber support. 44-ya Gvardeyskaya Strelkovaya Diviziya (44th Guards Rifle Division) This one's a bit more plain than the 26th GRD. The 44th are a standard rifle division, backed up by a tank brigade featuring some T-34/76s and T-34/85s. It's a more balanced division, says Eugen, even if it's not quite as flashy as some of the others. 184-ya Strelkovaya Diviziya (184th Guards Rifle Division) The last of the new Soviet divisions is the 184th Guards Rifle Division. It famously contained Roza Shanina, the Soviet sniper with 59 confirmed kills and first woman in the 3rd Belorussian Front to receive the Order of Glory medal. It's an infantry division with a tank brigade for support, mostly containing older lend-lease tanks. Expect lots of towed artillery and some ISU-122 tank destroyers. Eugen's advice is to dig in and fight defensively in prepared positions, letting the enemy walk right into your bullets.
I have enjoyed the skirmishes abit, but the campaign desperately needs multiplayer, the AI just derps your divisions into oblivion.
Big update and modding tools released! Fate of Finland https://steamcommunity.com/games/919640/announcements/detail/1706237168306435303
