War in the East 2: A First Look | Tutorial Gameplay - Part 1

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The Eastern Front, the most decisive theatre of World War II and the largest land battlefield. A fight to the end, Total War between the Third Reich and the Soviet Union, each commanding millions. The legendary wargame team at 2by3 Games has spent years revisiting this titanic conflict to once again establish a new state of the art.
Gary Grigsby’s War in the East 2 is a complete overhaul and improvement of the original War in the East, with no stone left unturned to provide a more realistic, more historically rich, and more challenging strategy experience. War in the East 2 comes with a wide array of scenarios ranging from the short tutorial on the Battle for Velikie Luki, to the four-month Destruction of Southwest Front, up to the immense full 1941 - 1945 Grand Campaign of the entire Eastern front from Operation Barbarossa to the fall of Berlin. A total of seven Operational Scenarios and three Full Map Campaigns await you with hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of historical gameplay.
Years of new development have resulted in the best AI opponent ever made by 2by3 for any of their game. Also included are a much more accurate map including a full single and double rail network as well as the historical road network, a detailed and expanded Order of Battle, new realistic movement and combat models, an advanced Logistics system, a vastly improved and easy to manage Air system and many other improvements in the interface and game management, as well as a built-in encyclopedia of the weapons and units of the Eastern Front. This is just scratching the surface of the many new features and improvements, all of which are explained in a fully comprehensive manual, also available as a physical copy.
#WorldWarII #WWII #Operation_Barbarossa

[@mathewm7136]

It's not just a game, it's a career.

[@zakalwe2240]

Its a headache. I'm a filthy casual.

[@suivezlemir]

that's the best comment of 2021, right there

[@karlgutenburg9176]

war in the pacific is a career, this is like you start a new job, and you leave the corporation after a year or so of terrible relationship with management.

[@GregoryGeilman]

I have been at it for 47 years now, lol!

[@PredatorPeyami]

wish it paid

[@freedomfirst5557]

I either learn to play this game, or study to become a Neuro Surgeon.

[@thehistoricalgamer]

Haha, why not both?

[@gohibniugoh1668]

I can imagine you leading hordes of soldiers armed with EMGs, the most diabolical medical test imaginable (they stick needles in your nerves, and if that wasnt enough, they run voltage through them).

[@freedomfirst5557]

@@gohibniugoh1668 That is oddly specific......like you've been pondering that.

[@freedomfirst5557]

@@thehistoricalgamer Because I don't want my brain to explode

[@Joeyboots80]

RTFM NOOB! J/K This game is definitely not for everyone. But for those that it clicks with, it's nearly a spiritual experience.

[@GamerGuy249]

I always want to play games like these, and then I see actual gameplay and I realize I'm too stupid to play games like these.

[@arvopohja7693]

I know how you feel..

[@bigvinnie3]

Nah man you can do it bud its easier than it looks

[@jacksonbernard855]

If you ignore all the complex bits it's not too difficult to master the standard parts, at which point you can learn pieces of varying complexity although idk if that would work for this game, that's just my standard experience

[@arvopohja7693]

@@jacksonbernard855 last version i could only master short scenarios. This game takes epic consentration skills

[@ozcarplayz1656]

Dont worry, i know all the insides of an airplane but i still dont understand half of the first game

[@chrismunson7302]

Great intro to the game. I was an unpaid tester on this game for 3 years. To me this is a must have game. Best unit historical research ever and includes such obscure units as the 500th zbv Penal Bicycle Recon Battalion. Interface is much improved over WitE. Can't argue with comments below that campaign games are a big time commitment but I enjoy every minute. Really though, gameplay is very intuitive and manual dives are for things like what event triggers a Romanian surrender. Things like air unit rebasing are drag and drop. Hope everyone gets to enjoy the game as I have.

[@robertsantamaria6857]

Wow, and I thought the original was an imposing monster of a game. Seems like Mr. Grigsby looked at his original work and thought it was much too light and wasn't complex enough. At $80 it's a steal for what it is, but I still haven't finished the first game so I feel like I should finish that first. See you in 10 years WitE2.

[@Truth_Hurts528]

On the contrary they've done a lot to "streamline" WitE2 including offering AI control over the air war.

[@camilomontoya7412]

@@Truth_Hurts528 Yes they did streamline the air war but the logistics has been upped a notch!

[@angiesoncrant2121]

Not detailed enough. I want to have information on inventory of steel, glass, concrete, parts and components, and allocate them down to the individual rivet. I want to be able to spend an entire lifetime on the very first turn.

[@deelingerTV]

Hi, Velikiye Luki should sound like Velee-kee-yea Looky. And the meaning is kinda “the great meadows” in ancient Russian.

[@jeffjensen8]

To those wondering, War in the East (WitE) is a game where you're supposed to start by reading the manual before touching the game. In the original game, even when doing the tutorial it suggests you have read most of the manual. I think you can even get a physical copy of this with a girthy physical manual

Btw... Allmost EVERY wargame is exagerating the effects of snow. I don’t know, maybe it’s because I’m a veteran of the swedish army but snow doesn’t really affect military operations all that much. Not to the absurd extent that most strategy games would have you believe anyway. The darkness is probably the most prominent feature of winter actually. The sun rising at 9am and setting at 3pm is far more influential than the fact its cold and the ground is white and fluffy.

[@joqqeman]

This was different in ages past with far inferior technology and logistical capacity

@@joqqeman I wouldnt necessarily agree. Two generations ago, people were more used to doing physical labour outside in the elements than people are today.

[@joqqeman]

@ yes but like it or not the effort took far more time without sufficient mechanisation and poorer roads and railways. The time and effort were out of possible combat effort.

[@thehistoricalgamer]

I think its not about just the fact there's snow, and more about the temp and the volumes of snow on top of the terrible infrastructure. A little bit of snow is one thing, feet and feet of snow when you're trying to move across fields and unpaved roads, and the temp is so cold your motor oil is freezing because its not just 0 C but instead its -30 Celsius or whatever bonkers cold temps were happening in the winter of 1941...

[@joqqeman]

@@thehistoricalgamer and that's only when you have motorized vehicles which for most troops was not the case. Imagine all the trouble for clearing the way for that massive logistical pipeline.. And they had inadequate railroad capacity from the get go!

[@Blueqoose]

I love hex and counter games on the computer. It's a shame they get glossed over by strategy players because they aren't nice and shiny to look at. I will take depth and mechanics over graphics and smoothness any day.

[@general-cromwell6639]

I played a couple of the GG's board games back in the day...I had to play solo because they were beasts and I couldn't find any other gamers willing to play such an immense commitment...the map covered a significant portion of my floor. And there were thousands of counters, I think there even rail gauge counters. Anyways, that was in the "classics" time. All the best. Cheers

[@user-Ghost293]

Now that is how to perfectly explain the game mechanics and a scenario. Great work ... very informative and extremely useful. Thanks so much..

[@jeffjensen8]

2:26 "SparkleyTits" may he be forever remembered. (3rd from bottom row, 3rd name in)

[@blackedelweiss601]

Being as the first one took me like over 2 years to do one play through... not sure if I can commit again lol

[@Choros22]

I had similar thoughts but I bought it. Maybe I'll finish my first campaign by like September... If I get bored at work I can day dream about strategy to entertain myself 😳

[@andrewcronin4131]

This looks as amazing. I have been enamored by their games since buying the original Gary Grigsby's War in Russia the earliest version and then sneaking into my universities school of business computer lab, after 5pm on a Friday (They had top of the range IBM 386DX100 systems, with EGA monitors) to play it until the cleaners finally kicked me out. For me the Holy Grail is a game depicting the entire European conflict from 1939-1945. The team have mentioned it as a eventual goal previously and the presence of a map and oob for west and southern fronts, makes me think that dream may be close.

[@dutovdevlich3781]

Hard copy not to start mailing till April 16th. Strategy Guy dojo has a let's play running he very familiar with GG games and is trying to teach how to play though is planning tutorial videos soon once he's played enough.

[@dutovdevlich3781]

Strategy Gaming Dojo

[@bremnersghost948]

Respect to the OCD Creators of this, Just watching THG makes my head hurt.

[@khurramwadiwalla4922]

Booted game up to relax after work. *20 minutes* later drafted into labor battalion outside Stalingrad.

[@thehistoricalgamer]

Very good comrade! We shall defeat the fascist invaders arm in arm, for mother Russia, even if death is required of us!

[@moronsmorons8913]

@@thehistoricalgamer As communist German I feel you!

[@bartdrozdek3356]

Reminded me of V for Victory Velikiye Luki on 5.25 floppy disk

[@Joeyboots80]

Hello fellow old person! :)

[@bartdrozdek3356]

Haha Hello there! I think it's about time for upgrade from the 286 Packard Bell running DOS 😁

[@RifleEyez]

Honestly my dream game would be a mix of elements of this game - the scope, detail and depth - with elements of HOI, like the global strategy, politics like government/laws, coups, sending volunteers, alliances, trade, PP decisions, tech/focus trees, the building/production system, the tank/ship designer, and how time/turns work, with a little more depth with Officers/Generals like the traits system in HOI 4 (awarding medals, perhaps). I'm probably missing a lot of HOI features I'd like and features from War in the East (some which may already be included) as I'm yet to play it, just watch. Ultimately HOI on steroids with a map x10 the size, at least, because it always felt too small to me. Where planning Barbarossa takes hours needing to consider terrain, weather, bridges, rivers, supplies, logistics, specific air zones and not huge regions like HOI 4 and so on - all while juggling second rate troops for garrisons in the West and elsewhere, along with refitting units from active combat fronts to bolster the garrison. Sure No Step Back DLC for HOI 4 kind of adds some of these things but it's not such a huge penalty you're forced to plan everything around it. I would never leave the house if that game was ever made. Maybe by the time I'm 50 and have way more free time we'll see it, so it's probably for the best. But imagine managing not only the Eastern Front but also troops in the West and Africa, and even campaigns in other continents, with all of the 'best' aspects of both games.

[@angelfan16]

I just got into Shadow Empire, and I really like it. Stumbled on this as well. Good heavens.

[@gohibniugoh1668]

Awesome, brings back memories of playing SPIs War in the East boardgame. I have enjoyed many of Gary Grigsbys works.

[@primmakinsofis614]

Regarding the map size, it appears to be the same map as the full-size map size _War in the West_ (which can be seen and explored in detail in the editor for that game). The full WitW map was 378 hexes wide and 355 hexes tall (with each hex being 10 miles).

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

The Eastern Front was not "one" of the biggest conflicts in human history. It is *the* biggest.

[@Lerxstification]

Until today’s battles of woke SJWs vs sanity

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

@@IkLms11 I mean largest, like most reasonable and educated people, in terms of human impact (labor, materiel, casualties, democide). The land area involved in the Pacific conflict was enormous if those areas of Asia are included, roughly equal to the total land area involved in Central and Eastern Europe in the Soviet-German conflict. But the materiel and casualties involved are no comparison at all. That is precisely why, when the Soviet Union, fulfilling its promise to the United States, declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria, destroyed the Kwangtung Army and occupied the entire region in a matter of days.

[@dcsmall1]

I've been waiting for this game, wanted to get WitE but was advised to wait for this, glad it's finally here!

[@Joeyboots80]

You made the right decision.

[@Milankov94]

Now we need the zoom in for every division and have a total war like gameplay.

[@ChrisStoneinator]

War in the East but every engagement is its own Company of Heroes scenario

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

War in the East 1 had a very tedious and clunky interface. I hope this is an improvement.

[@primmakinsofis614]

The interface appears to be similar to that of _War in the West_ but with a few new graphical improvements/flourishes. It still does make the same mistake of left-aligning columns of numbers on many screens, however. (Many games make this mistake. I don't know why. Columns of numbers should always be right-aligned, unless some have decimal values, in which align on the decimal point.)

[@raz1683]

I hope you make a walkthrough of it

[@chuckwhite3033]

1943.. Let's Play Part 181. He did War in the Pacific so it shouldn't faze him!

[@thehistoricalgamer]

Not sure if this is a critique or a complement... but I'll take it as a complement!

[@raz1683]

@@thehistoricalgamer It is! A bit of banter in it with knowing how long the campaign will take XD

[@robertx8020]

Gary Grigsby? count me in !!

[@BlightJJ]

Buying this game for sure! What do you all think of the Tiller Panzer Campaigns? Or Strategic Command? Is strategic command to simple? I’m new to these games and watching these videos has opened my world to a whole world or wargaming I didn’t even know existed beyond a tabletop!

[@camilomontoya7412]

I have the first war in the east as well as strategic command II. Strategic Command II is child's play compared to this game.

[@Viewfromtheturret]

I like Strategic Command. Much simpler than WitE2 but a very different different scale. Tiller PzC series is good as well. It is also much simpler but takes a bit of learning via the manual (or watch some videos) just because the interface is not so friendly. My main complaint with PzC is that supply is a bit simple and the interface can sometimes be annoying. I always want to zoom in one more level. But if you want something lighter than WitE2 it could be a good choice. Tiller certainly has tons of games from which to choose.

[@adamtruong1759]

I wonder if there will be a Battle of the Atlantic/Western Front/Eastern Front version of WITP, that would sound very fun.

[@GrayLensman51]

Good buy IF you don't already own the original WITE, otherwise similar to Paradox game remakes and more pricey, (but at least they didn't dumb down the game play like Paradox has done in their recent remakes.) Game mechanics pretty much the same as the original with some internal gameplay mechanics alterations, even the graphics appear to only be slightly altered from the original WITE. Most gaming companies would market something like this as a major expansion and new buyers would have to buy the original game to utilize the expansion with it. That way old owners would only have to shell out the cost of the "major expansion". Okay! I get that maybe 2by3 and Matrix didn't want to make the overall price that high for new players to be introduced to the WITE game system so they made the decision to package the whole works as a "new" game, but this is a major slap in the face for the owners of the original WITE to stiff them for the same price as brand new buyers. Considering original WITE owners already have $110 ($80 for the original game plus $30 for two additional add-ons), as an owner of the original WITE, I'm gonna pass on this unless they offer a substantial discount (50% or more) for owning the previous version, which makes up 75% plus of this new WITE 2's look and feel.

[@themodernwarfarehistorian825]

Okay, hear me out: Imagine a multiplayer game where every player controls a nation (if small) or, idk, a front/army group It would probably be a 15v15 or something like that, but it would be awesome

[@LTrotsky21stCentury]

And you can conquer the world as Luxembourg! (HOI4 is a cartoon, not a strategy game based on WW2).

[@FreethoughtsOnline]

Seems to me this time around that the tables/info/reports are somewhat easier to access. I really like what i see so far, even the map looks nicer than the old one. This game is on my list.

[@fredwin]

I appreciate that time is one of, if not the most important aspect and resource of war, but I hate playing campaigns that have like a strict 10 turn limit. It's not fun or realistic.

[@skapunker1986]

I bought War in the East 1 on steam during a steam sale years ago, i noticed this game a couple of years ago when i played alot of Hearts of Iron, and i noticed that this game was one of the Most expensive strategy games on steam. unfortunately i never gave the game more than 1 hour of gameplay... i quickly found out the learning curve was a bit to steep for my taste. but im still glad i own the game none the less. Im watching your video now, to see what the differences are between East 1 and 2.

[@Analitique]

Looking forward to this series game looks really nice and in depth exactly the kind of strategy game I like :)

[@Joeyboots80]

Bought the Hardback Edition. I know, I have a sickness lol.

[@derStrategieNerd]

This game is really awesome! Thanks for showing it.

[@darojax]

Very curious where the information about an upcoming 4 player coop mode can be located? It's the first time I hear of this, unable to find any information about it in the release manual? Currently you can not even do the WitW thing with splitting ground and air between two players.

[@thehistoricalgamer]

It's in the manual, page 15, 2.8.4 Intended Changes

[@darojax]

@@thehistoricalgamer I guess I need glasses! This is great stuff, thanks for clarifying.

[@TheAlison1456]

Based historical gamer

[@saltydodger9597]

HG, will that be a Soviet campaign v AI or a pbem. I'd love to see the latter!! Take on the strategy gaming Dojo in a pbem would be my vote!!!!

[@thehistoricalgamer]

I may do a PBEM eventually but I’d like my first game to be vs the AI.

[@ponyhelena2300]

how do i pick a champion and select ignite spell

[@buskeiten3625]

I got the War on the East and West first parts and I have been thinking about getting this one. Can you recommend it, or is it too similar to the original War on the East, to be worth that much money?

[@samaeldesolado]

Hello there @thehistoricalgamer Im thinking into getting the game soon , you think there will be still physical copies available in around a month or two ? Cheers

[@garybanks2325]

Ami right in thinking the Germans lost more to frostbitre than actual fighting in trhe early part of the war against Russia?

[@TheNordhammer]

The AI does not look all that improved- just up an leaving a fortified victory hex & depot...

[@thehistoricalgamer]

Well it is a tutorial, it might be scripted differently. It's intended to be an introductory scenario.

[@bradleyhunter3019]

Experience is folded into "Morale"

[@clausbohm9807]

For those that have issues with the graphics, I need to do the following for the game to work www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4987629

[@sonnyb7612]

More of this game please

[@bradleyhunter3019]

I'm in the "Historical Research" credits...

I played the first War in the East and unfortunately the AI was a disappointment. I started to try a pincermovement to envelop Moscow. It was a tough fight but suddenly... the Moscow defenders retreated and abandoned Moscow to avoid being cut off... wtf?!?

[@Truth_Hurts528]

They have claimed extensive improvements to the AI. It's been 10 years since the original after all.

@@Truth_Hurts528 Yay!!! Really?!? 😃 I’m gona give it another go then. Thanks!

[@Truth_Hurts528]

@ From the Matrix store "Newly re-designed and re-built by Gary Grigsby for War in the East 2 Greatly enhanced Defensive AI performance as well as improved Offensive AI performance"

[@mathewm7136]

@@Truth_Hurts528 The original came out in the '90's when GG was working for SSI and I played it on an Atari 800XL.

[@thehistoricalgamer]

You're thinking of "War in Russia" which was a good game in its own right.

[@tiagoferreira5368]

Everyone is playing on the Axis side, if you play as the soviets you will get a lot more views

[@gonzalomoro3623]

Wite was fun nor witwest . Is it worth the change In terms of fun?

[@kikufutaba524]

I have War in the East but this game while a improvement is just too expensive.

[@thehistoricalgamer]

Keep an eye on it, they do some pretty aggressive sales, though I imagine it will be a bit before this one goes on sale.

[@uncletimo6059]

wait wait wait didnt you used to be called pew pew chew chew (something to this effect?)

[@jelliottii]

Think they will have War in the West 2 next?

[@thehistoricalgamer]

I doubt it. I think they've said their next project is a sequel to Steel Panthers, and War in the East 2 seems to be built on the same code/map base as War in the West, a lot of the War in the East 2 enhancements actually were to some degree in War in the West... my gut says the next War in the series, if they do it anytime soon, would be a merging of War in the East and War in the West, into "War in Europe" ... or that's the dram anyway.

[@primmakinsofis614]

I'd like to see a new and improved version of _Eagle Day to Bombing the Reich_ incorporating some of the better air operations aspects from _War in the West._

[@jelliottii]

@@thehistoricalgamer now that merge would be totally awesome and totally huge !!! I'd be down for that for sure !!!

[@kingtigerinturkeyvol2620]

Will this game come to steam? Cause in my country, it is worth to 100 USD :(

[@thehistoricalgamer]

War in the West and War in the East 1 both did eventually. But I'd expect it to take a few months.

[@Viewfromtheturret]

Not sure about post launch but pre-orders will also get a Steam key when it releases there.

[@themodernwarfarehistorian825]

1 turn = 1 week? Oh, I hoped it was like WINP, where 1 turn = 1 day

[@thehistoricalgamer]

They haven't done 1 turn = 1 day since then... even the original Pacific War game that War in the Pacific was based on was 1 turn = 1 week back in the SSI days. WITP is an enigma, I think only WITP and Bombing the Reich use the 1 turn per day.

[@joqqeman]

@@thehistoricalgamer I think it's because WITP:AE is basically the ancient game with lots and lots of tweaks and duct tape :D

[@malcolmrose3361]

@@joqqeman Or because it's difficult to reproduce carrier operations when each turn is a week?

[@sparkyfromel]

I miss the 1993 "war in Russia" for Windows 95 , it was made for people not geniuses unfortunately , windows 10 crashed it , and I'm not so good at finiking with the software

[@bergsteiger09]

Had a buddy who knew one of the developers and asked if I wanted to try it out last year. I set it up and it was waaaay too much. Interface is horrid and the level of complexity is ridiculous. Not my cup of tea at all. It is certainly a labor of love though. Wish them luck.

[@kennethbillings614]

The first one was huge. Nah make it bigger we have more computing power.

[@PredatorPeyami]

600 turkish lira :O will stick to first game for a while

[@gunhojput]

Velikiye Luki is pronounced like this vuh-lee-kee-yuh loo-kee all best.

[@GizmoSeven]

Oh my, This looks like spreadsheet the game non-space flavor.

[@epicochafausen9312]

hoi3 but 20 years late

[@HistoricalConflict]

this looks just like the original lol. at least give us owners a discount damn. Also lets face it no one knows what the hell is going on in this game they just click and move things

[@adamtruong1759]

Yeah, I would like to stop the evil fascist in their tracks. I mean the Soviets weren't much better (or better period) but I rather-, wait. Which side would I rather want to win? I'm genuinely in a delheima.

[@johnsaxon5154]

Just distance yourself emotionally from the game, and see it more as a challenge of how to win from the position you are in.

[@LS-rw9yp]

You played as the Soviets! Lmao! Take the easy way...

[@bradleyhunter3019]

Yes, eventually, there will be a "Gary Grigsby's War in Europe"

[@Gloryholrr]

I'm kinda surprise to see that you are playing this game.

[@thehistoricalgamer]

Why? I have a 118+ episode War in the Pacific game going on the channel also.

[@Gloryholrr]

@@thehistoricalgamerwell usually you don't play these types if games.

[@Lowkeh]

War on the 'ea? ₍​◐​ᴗ ◔​₎ These titles maan, _I swear..._ ...they're out to get me, I just know it!

[@neilbreen9041]

I don't like the fact that one turn is 7 days. I think it's too much for ww2.

[@dubiousdoublechin6363]

War in the Pacific has single, two and three day turns as far as I'm aware. The sheer scope of that game makes me weep.

[@allazabolotneva4968]

спасибо союзник

[@matei8master8]

Disliked because you kept butchering the pronunciation of Velikie Luki. Scratch that - EVERY SINGLE Russian city on the map.

[@TheRealDill93]

And I thought HOI4 was hard. :(

[@eniskaantasoren]

War in the East 2 is 700 tl in turkey :( and as i am a student i cant buying it... Can someone gift me becouse i really LOVE this game, i have over 3k hours on wite1 :3

[@user-eq6vs7tl7r]

А теперь заново и по русски пожалуйста.

[@Galantus1964]

80.. did you say 80 no game is worth that... but i guess they need to get the money back somehow, bc this game will have such a small playerbase.. to me watching paint dry is more intresting than this... BUT i wish you the best of luck with this ... and keep all of the amazing ( well mostly )content flowing

[@mathewm7136]

...all of GG's games are (and have always been) at that level of detail. As he's the only designer to go to that level of details, he has a very dedicated fan base in a niche market. He an Sid Meier are the two most successful individual game designers in the gaming business.

[@CODRD]

Its a niche game in a niche market, and the people who would pay $80 (and $20 for the physical manual) will pay that sort of money to play said game. I don't believe that there is a game out there like this in the amount of detail.

[@joqqeman]

@@CODRD yeah, you can charge more when only a very small amount of ppl want the type of game they do and nobody else gives it to them! :D

[@thehistoricalgamer]

Grigsby games have more in common with the board game market imho than the PC market. Their definition of "most gamers" are different because their target markets are different. Their pricing structure and sales structure again is more similar to hardcore board wargames than pc games also. I see nothing wrong with having different approaches and philosophy's, its fine to make games for non mainstream markets. It would be boring if everyone made every game for the mass market.

[@joqqeman]

@@thehistoricalgamer for sure and also, not everyone has what it takes to make a hit game for the general audience. These guys are proficient in simulating very specific interactions and doing extensive historical research. That type of effort would be wasted in many other genres.

[@keithkraine475]

Surely HOI 4 looks better, is more intuitive, offers the world to play in and is a lot cheaper?

[@netbotcl586]

HOI4 with all of the DLCs isn't cheaper and still doesn't provide as much depth.