Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations Simulation Game

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Well, I started this thread to introduce a really good new Naval War-game Simulation to SD.

it is something I have been watching for, for a long time. That being a decent and natural, more modern, follow on to the Harpoon gaming system from years ago. (Board games in the 1970s, Computer game in the 1980s).

After several false starts with other systems that have come and gone in the past few years like Avalon Hills' 5th Fleet (1994), Jane's Fleet Command (1999), and Dangerous Waters (2005), etc., I believe I have found it. Each of those other games were fun...but none of them ever nearly reached the level of complexity and realism found in Harpoon.

Now one has.

The new Game is, "Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations," by WarFare Sims (which was a split off group from the Original Harpoon Users Group (HUG)...I believe they were originally Haproon HQ if I am not mistaken, and marketed by Matrix Games, and now more recently also available on Steam.

Command-01.jpg

It is a naval warfare simulation game played out on an accurate #-D map of the world. It comes with numerous scenarios and several databases ranging from the Cold War to the Current set of units, to future data for units projected into the mid 2020s. There is huge user base and a LOT of scenarios that people hav written.

It is currently a game that you play against the computer and is not available for network play.

However, it has a very in depth scenario editor (like Harpoon) and the ability to create multiple sides to any scenario, all of which can either be played by the individual, or the computer. It literally has every major nation's vessels, weapons, sensors, aircraft, abases, etc. programmed into it that can be added to whichever side as combatants or neutral players. This allows for the development of scenarios ranging from anything as simple and straight forward as a SU-30 vs a Mig-29K, or a J-20 vs an F-22, to individual vessel scenarios, to SAGs, to fill up Fleet engagements. And you could have bases from afar...anyplace on the planet, programmed to send reinforcements at particular times or given particular parameters that trigger it. As I say, very comprehensive.

Command-02.jpg

Finally, although it does not have a direct Data Base editor per sey, it does allow you to add new weapons, sensors, mounts, etc. to existing data base units and then save these as custom units.

It was first released in September of 2013 and has undergone a number of iterations, the latest being the professional edition released last summer (2015). The latest data base/software release was 1.092 in December, and they have 1.10 coming out very soon...all of which you can get free from their site to download and upgrade your system.

I looked at it, read about it, talked to some knowledgeable friends about it, and then once the new features and data base came out I decided to get it.

The game is not cheap. You will pay $75 for the download in most places, and $95 if you want the download and the box with the DVDs and printed user manuals.

(NOTE: There is a standalone expansion pack called Command: Northern Inferno, which is a much cheaper ($19.99), but very less capable package. it basically has a campaign using that postulates a sharp conflict between the US and the USSR in the 1970s and has numerous scenarios as a part of that campaign. It does not allow for other scenarios or editing/making your own. But it does allow someone to get into the game a lot cheaper and determine if they want to get the full game).

Command-03.jpg

So, this weekend I went ahead and bought the game direct from Warfare Sims (
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
). I ended up paying for both the download and the box and manual with the DVDs.

I played the first Tutorial scenario to get a feel for it, and am now building a scenario to match the first confrontation/scrimmage in my upcoming book:

"Once Upon a Maritime in the Western Pacific"

I am including Woody Island and Sanya (on Hainan Island) for the Chinese, and Anderson AFB in the Philippines and Okinawa in this scenario as places where the two SAGs coming together in the northern South China Sea will look to for support.

I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised. It has the feel and capabilities that I would say are about the closest to Harpoon of any system I have seen since Harpoon II.

So, I think I am going to end up spending far too much time with it...which is to say I think it is going to be pretty good. I find it very useful in my writing to use such a system, with this much realism, to model the scenarios...besides also playing the various scenarios and creating new ones.

Yes...it does not have the ability to have two or more players playing with and against each other over a network...but I hope they will address that in the future. In the mean time I know I will really enjoy going through all the provided scenarios and campaigns, as well as the many, many user available ones out there.

Command-04.jpg

So, I highly recommend it to anyone with this level of interest and a willingness to pay $75 or more to get it.

Here's a decent YouTube video of one of the scenarios involving Russia in a conflict with one of its former satellite states):


Here's another YouTube video of the game, ;looking at a scenario n of India and China:


Finally., here's a review of the game from USNI:

Command: A worthy Successor to Harpoon
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


And here's another review from PC Game Review:
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Anyone getting into the game can post their thoughts, experiences, or scenarios here.

I will continue to post regarding my experiences with the game.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
Well, I started this thread to introduce a really good new Naval War-game Simulation to SD.

it is something I have been watching for, for a long time. That being a decent and natural, more modern, follow on to the Harpoon gaming system from years ago. (Board games in the 1970s, Computer game in the 1980s).

After several false starts with other systems that have come and gone in the past few years like Avalon Hills' 5th Fleet (1994), Jane's Fleet Command (1999), and Dangerous Waters (2005), etc., I believe I have found it. Each of those other games were fun...but none of them ever nearly reached the level of complexity and realism found in Harpoon.

Now one has.

The new Game is, "Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations," by WarFare Sims (which was a split off group from the Original Harpoon Users Group (HUG)...I believe they were originally Haproon HQ if I am not mistaken, and marketed by Matrix Games, and now more recently also available on Steam.


It is a naval warfare simulation game played out on an accurate #-D map of the world. It comes with numerous scenarios and several databases ranging from the Cold War to the Current set of units, to future data for units projected into the mid 2020s. There is huge user base and a LOT of scenarios that people hav written.

It is currently a game that you play against the computer and is not available for network play.

However, it has a very in depth scenario editor (like Harpoon) and the ability to create multiple sides to any scenario, all of which can either be played by the individual, or the computer. It literally has every major nation's vessels, weapons, sensors, aircraft, abases, etc. programmed into it that can be added to whichever side as combatants or neutral players. This allows for the development of scenarios ranging from anything as simple and straight forward as a SU-30 vs a Mig-29K, or a J-20 vs an F-22, to individual vessel scenarios, to SAGs, to fill up Fleet engagements. And you could have bases from afar...anyplace on the planet, programmed to send reinforcements at particular times or given particular parameters that trigger it. As I say, very comprehensive.


Finally, although it does not have a direct Data Base editor per sey, it does allow you to add new weapons, sensors, mounts, etc. to existing data base units and then save these as custom units.

It was first released in September of 2013 and has undergone a number of iterations, the latest being the professional edition released last summer (2015). The latest data base/software release was 1.092 in December, and they have 1.10 coming out very soon...all of which you can get free from their site to download and upgrade your system.

I looked at it, read about it, talked to some knowledgeable friends about it, and then once the new features and data base came out I decided to get it.

The game is not cheap. You will pay $75 for the download in most places, and $95 if you want the download and the box with the DVDs and printed user manuals.

(NOTE: There is a standalone expansion pack called Command: Northern Inferno, which is a much cheaper ($19.99), but very less capable package. it basically has a campaign using that postulates a sharp conflict between the US and the USSR in the 1970s and has numerous scenarios as a part of that campaign. It does not allow for other scenarios or editing/making your own. But it does allow someone to get into the game a lot cheaper and determine if they want to get the full game).


So, this weekend I went ahead and bought the game direct from Warfare Sims (
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
). I ended up paying for both the download and the box and manual with the DVDs.

I played the first Tutorial scenario to get a feel for it, and am now building a scenario to match the first confrontation/scrimmage in my upcoming book:

"Once Upon a Maritime in the Western Pacific"

I am including Woody Island and Sanya (on Hainan Island) for the Chinese, and Anderson AFB in the Philippines and Okinawa in this scenario as places where the two SAGs coming together in the northern South China Sea will look to for support.

I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised. It has the feel and capabilities that I would say are about the closest to Harpoon of any system I have seen since Harpoon II.

So, I think I am going to end up spending far too much time with it...which is to say I think it is going to be pretty good. I find it very useful in my writing to use such a system, with this much realism, to model the scenarios...besides also playing the various scenarios and creating new ones.

Yes...it does not have the ability to have two or more players playing with and against each other over a network...but I hope they will address that in the future. In the mean time I know I will really enjoy going through all the provided scenarios and campaigns, as well as the many, many user available ones out there.


So, I highly recommend it to anyone with this level of interest and a willingness to pay $75 or more to get it.

Here's a decent YouTube video of one of the scenarios involving Russia in a conflict with one of its former satellite states):


Here's another YouTube video of the game, ;looking at a scenario n of India and China:


Finally., here's a review of the game from USNI:

Command: A worthy Successor to Harpoon
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


And here's another review from PC Game Review:
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Anyone getting into the game can post their thoughts, experiences, or scenarios here.

I will continue to post regarding my experiences with the game.

Very Kool Master Jeff, but while we are "WAR GAMING", how about Iowa, whooooo HOOOOO!
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Well maybe a little off topic, but it will make our "War Gaming" a LOT MORE KOOL!
I used to spend HOURS and HOURS on Harpoon, and ultimately modeled all of my naval warfare scenarios in my book using it:

"Dragon's Fury: World War against America and the West"
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


When I told my wife my what I had found with this new game...hehehe...her comment was, "Oh no."
LOL!
 

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
Well, I started this thread to introduce a really good new Naval War-game Simulation to SD.

it is something I have been watching for, for a long time. That being a decent and natural, more modern, follow on to the Harpoon gaming system from years ago. (Board games in the 1970s, Computer game in the 1980s).

After several false starts with other systems that have come and gone in the past few years like Avalon Hills' 5th Fleet (1994), Jane's Fleet Command (1999), and Dangerous Waters (2005), etc., I believe I have found it. Each of those other games were fun...but none of them ever nearly reached the level of complexity and realism found in Harpoon.

Now one has.

The new Game is, "Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations," by WarFare Sims (which was a split off group from the Original Harpoon Users Group (HUG)...I believe they were originally Haproon HQ if I am not mistaken, and marketed by Matrix Games, and now more recently also available on Steam.

I've been aware of Command for quite a few years now, and I've heard that it is immensely powerful and realistic.

However one problem I've also heard of is that the standard product does not allow an individual to customize units with differing specifications or capabilities, and all of the unit specs are only updated from a central database.

That is one key reason why I haven't bought Command (the other reason being my laptop probably can't run it very well). Naturally, I'd be interested in simulating various Chinese military assets, but many of their capabilities and specifications in the central database of Command are... a bit off (to say the last), from what I've heard by other players.

That said, I've heard that Command offers a "professional" version with various add ons, one of which is a database editor to customize and change the specs of units. I might buy Command with such an add on one day.
 

Blackstone

Brigadier
I used to spend HOURS and HOURS on Harpoon, and ultimately modeled all of my naval warfare scenarios in my book using it:

"Dragon's Fury: World War against America and the West"
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


When I told my wife my what I had found with this new game...hehehe...her comment was, "Oh no."
LOL!
You got to post some of your scenarios with the new game, maybe even in a documentary format.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
I've been aware of Command for quite a few years now, and I've heard that it is immensely powerful and realistic.

However one problem I've also heard of is that the standard product does not allow an individual to customize units with differing specifications or capabilities, and all of the unit specs are only updated from a central database.

That is one key reason why I haven't bought Command (the other reason being my laptop probably can't run it very well).

That said, I've heard that Command offers a "professional" version with various add ons, one of which is a database editor to customize and change the specs of units. I might buy Command with such an add on one day.
well, the initial version of Command came out in September of 2013 I believe.

I can tell you that the version I have allows you to add different mounts for weapons, sensors, etc. to vessels you add to your scenarios and customize them. There is a sub-system in the game for it, and the ini files can actually be edited to do it too. You can them save those units.

There is no Data Base Editor so that their data bases integrity is retained...but they have numerous version of each of three data bases to choose from.

But you can customize units and save them to be used in your (or others') scenarios.

Lots oc customizing options which will take me some time to dig into and master...but that is what I like. Loved it about Harpoon, and am glad to see it here too.

bltizo said:
That said, I've heard that Command offers a "professional" version with various add ons, one of which is a database editor to customize and change the specs of units. I might buy Command with such an add on one day.
They do have a Professional edition with a full data base editor and a lot of analytical tools. Those features can be purchased through the professional edition...and several of the features can be chosen to populate in and customize the professional edition to a using entities needs.

Research houses, Institutes, training companies, the military, etc. are all potential customers for that type of thing. I believe...from what I am already seeing, that the "Game of the Year" version that I purchased will be sufficient for my needs. But if I need to go that Professional route...it is good to know it is there.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
You got to post some of your scenarios with the new game, maybe even in a documentary format.
Well, once I finish them,...and hehehe...for those in my book, once the book is published, I will do so.

I will also probably be developing other ones outside of my book to publish on their official sites.

They have an official forum where decent scenarios are gathered and actually made available to the fan base for free. The one pack they have now has quite a few to add to the 35 that come with the game.
 
Last edited:

navyreco

Senior Member
Thanks for the heads' up Jeff.

And for your info, I've known CMANO for a while, I even was one of the (many) beta testers.

And I post on their forums quite a bit:
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


The "game" is great, and keeps on getting better since its launch. The team does a great job
 
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