The Operational Art of War
Encyclopedia
The Operational Art of War (TOAW) is a series of computer wargames noted for their scope, detail, and flexibility in recreating, at an operational level, the major land battles of the 20th century. A Norm Koger design, Talonsoft
published the first of the series in 1998. Matrix games
bought the rights to the franchise and created a new game in 2006, TOAW 3, which was the first non-Norm Koger designed game in the series.
published:
Matrix games
published:
s and basic info for the units, or an isometric view that depicts the units with small pictures of soldiers, tanks, etc. Gameplay is turn-based.
The scale of the game is variable, with distances ranging from 2.5km per hex to 50km per hex, and each turn simulating from 1/4 day to 1 week of time, but is fundamentally "operational", focusing on battalion
, division
, and corps
combat. The option of scale is left to a maker of a particular scenario to choose, resulting in a wide range of user-made scenarios; ranging from, for example, a small engagement in northern Germany between several companies to an entire World War II
on division scale.
The maximum number of units that can be made in a scenario is 2,000 per side, although managing more than 200 can often be complicated. Each unit is assigned unique equipment (types of infantry, tanks, aircraft, etc.) and given its own name, info and color code.
The game also includes "events", which is a series of programmable events which display a message and can have several different causes and effects. The variability of these events makes each scenario—when properly designed—very complex and variable. The maximum number of in-game events is 500 (or 1,000 for TOAW III version).
The games include a scenario editor, and much of the content in the follow-up games are designs developed by the community of avid players.
The game is being developed further. There is now an equipment editor available.
TalonSoft
TalonSoft was a Baltimore, Maryland-based computer game developer founded in 1995 by Jim Rose and John Davidson. The company specialized in wargames; many of its releases were acclaimed within the wargaming community....
published the first of the series in 1998. Matrix games
Matrix Games
Matrix Games is a publisher of computer games, specifically strategy games and wargames. They are based out of Staten Island, New York.Their focus is primarily but not exclusively on war games and turn-based strategy...
bought the rights to the franchise and created a new game in 2006, TOAW 3, which was the first non-Norm Koger designed game in the series.
Games in the series
TalonsoftTalonSoft
TalonSoft was a Baltimore, Maryland-based computer game developer founded in 1995 by Jim Rose and John Davidson. The company specialized in wargames; many of its releases were acclaimed within the wargaming community....
published:
- The Operational Art of War I: 1939-1955 (1998)
- The Operational Art of War II: Modern Battles 1956-2000 (1999)
- The Operational Art of War II: Flashpoint Kosovo (1999)
- The Operational Art of War II: Elite Edition (2000)
- The Operational Art of War: Century of Warfare (2000)
Matrix games
Matrix Games
Matrix Games is a publisher of computer games, specifically strategy games and wargames. They are based out of Staten Island, New York.Their focus is primarily but not exclusively on war games and turn-based strategy...
published:
- The Operational Art of War III http://matrixgames.com/games/game.asp?gid=317 (2006)
Concept
The basic appearance of the game is the traditional view onto a hexagonal grid, although the player may choose a map-like overhead view with military symbolAPP-6a
Allied Procedural Publication 6A Military Symbols for Land Based Systems was the NATO standard for military map marking symbols. APP-6A was promulgated in December 1999. The NATO standardization agreement that covers APP-6A is STANAG 2019 , promulgated in December 2000...
s and basic info for the units, or an isometric view that depicts the units with small pictures of soldiers, tanks, etc. Gameplay is turn-based.
The scale of the game is variable, with distances ranging from 2.5km per hex to 50km per hex, and each turn simulating from 1/4 day to 1 week of time, but is fundamentally "operational", focusing on battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
, and corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
combat. The option of scale is left to a maker of a particular scenario to choose, resulting in a wide range of user-made scenarios; ranging from, for example, a small engagement in northern Germany between several companies to an entire World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on division scale.
The maximum number of units that can be made in a scenario is 2,000 per side, although managing more than 200 can often be complicated. Each unit is assigned unique equipment (types of infantry, tanks, aircraft, etc.) and given its own name, info and color code.
The game also includes "events", which is a series of programmable events which display a message and can have several different causes and effects. The variability of these events makes each scenario—when properly designed—very complex and variable. The maximum number of in-game events is 500 (or 1,000 for TOAW III version).
The games include a scenario editor, and much of the content in the follow-up games are designs developed by the community of avid players.
The game is being developed further. There is now an equipment editor available.
Scenario depots
These locations contain many user-made scenarios for the game:External links
- Matrix Games, publisher of Norm Koger's The Operational Art of War III
- World at War international TOAW community
- GameSquad TOAW forum at GameSquad
- Center of the Tactical and Operational Simulations Centrum Symulacji Taktyczno-Operacyjnych - Polish TOAW fans forum with scenarios, AARs and League