Warno (video game)

Last updated

Warno
Developer(s) Eugen Systems
Publisher(s) Eugen Systems
Director(s) Alexis Le Dressay
Engine Iriszoom
Platform(s) Windows
ReleaseMay 23, 2024
Genre(s) Real-time strategy, real-time tactics, turn-based strategy
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Warno is a real-time tactics and turn-based strategy video game created and published by Eugen Systems, released into early access on January 20, 2022, and fully released on May 23, 2024. A spiritual successor to Wargame: European Escalation, also developed by Eugen, it takes place in a World War III setting in the Fulda Gap, portraying a conventional conflict between NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

Contents

Gameplay

Warno is a strategy game with a real-time tactical layer (for the missions & map levels) and a turn-based strategic layer (for the Army General campaigns). Players control individual units meant to represent historical military vehicles and infantry formations of the Cold War. There are many game modes in Warno focusing on various goals, such as acquiring an amount of points from objectives in the Conquest mode or destroying a number of enemy units in Destruction. [1] The game is played by anywhere between 1 and 20 people, with multiplayer games scaling up to 10 versus 10. Single-player play takes the form of skirmishes against the AI, scripted battles set in specific places, and a turn-based strategic campaign.

In both multiplayer and single-player modes, all players receive a ticking income of points to spend on deployable units, such as infantry, artillery, tanks, reconnaissance units, air defense units, attack helicopters, helicopter-borne infantry, and aircraft. The units available to the player depend on their chosen battlegroup. Various battlegroups have different specializations, such as a focus on infantry combat or combined arms warfare. Some basic unit functions can be assigned to the AI, but a majority of actions are done by the player. Units are controlled in real time. [2]

The playable formations (known as 'Battlegroups') in game are inspired from the orders of battle of divisions, regiments, and some corps that would have likely engaged each other during the initial stages of war along the German border in the year 1989, such as the American 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment or the Soviet 79th Guards Tank Division. NATO forces are exclusively those based out of CENTAG, the NATO formation which served in Central Europe, especially Germany. [3]

While the tactical gameplay is similar to Wargame, Warno has received considerable quality of life improvements and gameplay changes seen in the Steel Division titles, including allowing the AI to carry out smart orders for player units, the reworked deck system incorporating the orders of battle of in-game divisions, and variants and traits of units in the armory. Warno also incorporated dedicated single-player content, such as (turn-based) Army General campaigns and (real-time) Operations, from Steel Division 2. [4] The game includes a basic map editor for player use which allows for simple asset manipulation. [5]

Story

The story of Warno takes place in an alternate world of 1989. The point of divergence is in April 1987 when hardliners stage a coup against Mikhail Gorbachev due to his perestroika reforms. The Communist Party, KGB, and Soviet Army form a troika to restore glory to the Soviet Union. Unrest in the Baltic and Armenia is crushed and, spurred on by the inaction of the West, the USSR launches a takeover of Finland, installing a pro-Soviet government and bringing that country firmly in their sphere of influence. This spurs the West, led by the United States under Ronald Reagan, to increase military spending. Western sanctions and increase military spending leads to food shortages and an oil crisis in the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, NATO conducts a larger than ever Exercise Reforger in September 1989, which the paranoid troika fears is a cover for conflict. Under the cover of their own Zapad exercise, the Warsaw Pact prepares to strike first.

As of September 2024, there are five Army General campaigns taking place across various parts of the conflict and in the CENTAG and lower NORTHTAG areas of operations. "Bruderkrieg", "Fulda Gap", and "Airborne Assault" take place on Day 1 of the conflict. "The Left Hook" takes place on Day 4. Lastly, "Highway 66" takes place on Day 7.

In addition to Army General, there are also eight single mission operations, focusing on single engagements between various elements of NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

Black Horse's Last Stand (21 June 1989) - Fulda was lost with 24 hours. 11th "Black Horse" ACR fought valiantly but the 8th Guards Army was too strong. Now the battered 1-11th ACR has fallen back to the town of Bad Orb, with the Soviet 39th Guards Motorized Division hot in pursuit. 1-11th ACR is ordered to take up a blocking position outside the town in order to cover the approach to Frankfurt, while they wait for Bundeswehr reinforcements to arrive.

Sledgehammer (25 June 1989) - By the third day of the war, the Soviets had reached Hanau, on the outskirts of Frankfurt-am-Main. Though they have been successful so far, NATO resolve is stiffening. Eager to keep up their momentum, 57th Guards Motorized Rifle Division has been tasked to conduct a combined arms assault to clear the remaining outposts and blocking positions in the Main valley and enable the 79th Guards Tank Division to exploit their success and drive on to Frankfurt.

Red Juggernaut (23 June 1989) - The 79th Guards Tank Division has led the Soviet thrust into West Germany. Their advance has pushed elements of 11th ACR into U.S. 3rd Armored Division's lines and the Americans are rapidly trying to set up a defensive line. The 79th Guards Tank must keep up the pressure on the Americans and break through their lines at Ortenberg so the advance on Frankfurt can continue.

Backhand Blow (25 June 1989) - The Soviet offensive towards Frankfurt has been contained, though the city of V Corps rear support area are still under threat. as the 79th Guards Tank Division regroups at Bruchköbel, U.S. 3rd Armored Division plans to launch a swift counterattack against them, in hopes of throwing the Soviets off balance and allowing NATO to gain the local initiative.

The Kitzingen Ruse (20 June 1989) - In the opening hours of the war, the Warsaw Pact prepares to attack Würzburg, hoping to open an alternate axis of advance towards Frankfurt to the northwest. The VDV's 900th Air Assault Battalion is tasked with seizing the town of Kitzingen and establishing a bridgehead over the Main river. The 900th must hold this location against counterattacks by the American's and West Germany's, while they await reinforcements that are surely on their way....

Götterdämmerung (28 June 1989) - Tasked with screening the southern flank of the Warsaw Pact's thrust into CENTAG, the NVA's 11th Mot.-Schützendivision found itself overextended and soon blocked by NATO forces. Forced to retreat with heavy losses, its forces are in disarray as U.S. and West Germany armored formations purse it. The 1st Battalion of Mot.-Schützenregiment MSR-17 is tasked with defending the town of Stegaurach on the approaches to Bamberg in order to give its parent division a chance to reorganize.

The Dieburg Salient (30 June 1989) - The outbreak of World War III has spurred France into answering it obligation to NATO. However, France's scheduled deployment is moved up as Warsaw Pact forces threaten to encircle Frankfurt. 7e Division Blindée has been moved up to a salient protruding into the Warsaw Pact lines near Dieburg. Here the division must hold their position while follow-on French forces deploy behind it in preparation for the counterattack towards Frankfurt.

Hold Until Relieved (22 June 1989) - In the early days of the invasion, the British Army of the Rhine found itself hard pressed on every side, and none more so than in British I Corps area of operations. an infantry battalion from the Queen's Own Highlanders has managed to take up positions behind the Diemel river but their numbers are too few. A squadron of tanks from the Blues & Royals is sent to reinforce them, check the Soviet advance, and if possible, launch a counterattack.

As part of the NORTHTAG DLC, four new operations were released.

Running the Gauntlet (21 June 1989)

The Winged Hussars (26 June 1989)

Marauders (24 June 1989)

Survivors (28 June 1989)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army of the Czech Republic</span> Combined military forces of the Czech Republic

The Czech Armed Forces, also known as the Czech Army, is the military service responsible for the defence of the Czech Republic as part of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic alongside the Military Office of the President of the Republic and the Castle Guard. The army consists of the General Staff, the Land Forces, the Air Force and support units.

A division is a large military unit or formation, usually consisting of between 10,000 and 25,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades; in turn, several divisions typically make up a corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V Corps (United States)</span> One of four active corps of the U.S. Army, currently part of U.S. Army Europe

V Corps, formerly known as the Fifth Corps, is a regular corps of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Camp Kościuszko, Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Armored Division (United States)</span> Inactive US Army formation

The 3rd Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army. Unofficially nicknamed the "Third Herd", the division was first activated in 1941 and was active in the European Theater of World War II. The division was stationed in West Germany for much of the Cold War and also participated in the Persian Gulf War. On 17 January 1992, still in Germany, the division ceased operations. In October 1992, it was formally inactivated as part of a general drawing down of U.S. military forces at the end of the Cold War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VII Corps (United States)</span> Military unit

The VII Army Corps of the United States Army was one of the two principal corps of the United States Army Europe during the Cold War. Activated in 1918 for World War I, it was reactivated for World War II and again during the Cold War. During both World War II and the Cold War it was subordinate to the Seventh Army, or USAREUR and was headquartered at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, West Germany, from 1951 until it was redeployed to the US after significant success in the Gulf War in 1991, then inactivated in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fulda Gap</span> Cold War strategically important area

The Fulda Gap, an area between the Hesse-Thuringian border, the former Inner German border, and Frankfurt am Main, contains two corridors of lowlands through which tanks might have driven in a surprise attack by the Soviets and their Warsaw Pact allies to gain crossings of the Rhine River. Named for the town of Fulda, the Fulda Gap became seen as strategically important during the Cold War of 1947–1991. The Fulda Gap roughly corresponds to the route along which Napoleon chose to withdraw his armies after defeat at the Battle of Leipzig. Napoleon succeeded in defeating a Bavarian-Austrian army under Wrede in the Battle of Hanau not far from Frankfurt. From there he escaped back to France.

<i>Team Yankee</i> 1987 novel by Harold Coyle

Team Yankee is a techno-thriller novel written in 1987 by Harold Coyle, then a major in the United States Army. Set during the World War III scenario outlined in Sir John Hackett's novel The Third World War: The Untold Story, the novel follows the titular United States Army armored company-sized team in combat against the Soviet Union after the Warsaw Pact invades Western Europe. While Hackett's book emphasizes strategy and world politics, Coyle's features the experiences of the tank crews and infantrymen fighting on the front lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">11th Armored Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment is a unit of the United States Army garrisoned at the Fort Irwin National Training Center in California. The regiment has served in the Philippine–American War, the Pancho Villa Expedition, World War II, the Vietnam War, Gulf War and Iraq War. The 11th ACR serves as the opposing force (OPFOR) for the Army and Marine task forces, and foreign military forces that train at Fort Irwin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of 73 Easting</span> Tank battle fought on 26 February 1991, during the Gulf War

The Battle of 73 Easting was fought on 26 February 1991, during the Gulf War, between Coalition armored forces and Iraqi armored forces. It was named for a UTM north–south coordinate line that was used as a phase line by Coalition forces to measure their progress through the desert. The battle was later described by Lt. John Mecca, a participant, as "the last great tank battle of the 20th century." This battle took place several hours after another, smaller, tank battle at Al Busayyah.

The 8th Guards Order of Lenin Combined Arms Army was an army of the Soviet Army, as a successor to the 62nd Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army, which was formed during World War II and was disbanded in 1998 after being downsized into a corps.

<i>NATO Commander</i> 1983 video game

NATO Commander is a strategy video game designed by Sid Meier for Atari 8-bit computers and published in 1983 by MicroProse. Ports to the Apple II, and Commodore 64 were released the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Observation Post Alpha</span>

Observation Post Alpha, OP Alpha, or Point Alpha was a Cold War observation post between Rasdorf, Hesse, West Germany and Geisa, Thuringia, East Germany. The post overlooked part of the "Fulda Gap", which would have been a prime invasion route for Warsaw Pact forces had the Cold War erupted into actual warfare. It was abandoned by the military in 1991. Today, the "Point Alpha" memorial commemorates the observation point's four decades of existence. The memorial is dedicated to keeping it and a nearby section of the inner German border as reminders of the division of Germany and the confrontation between NATO and Warsaw Pact in the Cold War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romanian armies in the Battle of Stalingrad</span>

Two Romanian armies, the Third and the Fourth, were involved in the Battle of Stalingrad, helping to protect the northern and southern flanks respectively, of the German 6th Army as it tried to conquer the city of Stalingrad defended by the Red Army in mid to late 1942. Underpowered and poorly equipped, these forces were unable to stop the Soviet November offensive, which punched through both flanks and left the German 6th Army encircled in Stalingrad. The Romanians suffered enormous losses, which effectively ended their offensive capability on the Eastern Front for the remainder of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lublin–Brest offensive</span> Soviet Union

The Lublin–Brest Offensive was a part of the Operation Bagration strategic offensive by the Soviet Red Army to clear the Nazi German forces from the regions of Eastern Poland and Western Belarus. The offensive was executed by the left (southern) wing of the 1st Belorussian Front and took place during July 1944; it was opposed by the German Army Group North Ukraine and Army Group Centre.

During the Cold War, NATO and the Warsaw Pact both had large tank formations present in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">39th Guards Motor Rifle Division</span> Motor rifle division of the Soviet military

The 39th Guards Motor Rifle Division of the Soviet Ground Forces was a mechanised infantry division active from 1965 to 1992. It was originally formed as the 39th Guards Rifle Division of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. It was formed during the German-Soviet War as part of the 62nd Army and assigned to the defense of Stalingrad, officially arriving at the theater in August 1942. In September the division fought through German forces which were attempting to encircle the city, and was assigned to defend the 'Volga Corridor,' the last supply line remaining for Soviet units in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hungarian People's Army</span> Former Eastern Bloc states land forces

The Hungarian People's Army or the HPA was the military of the Hungarian People's Republic and the armed branch of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party from 1951 to 1990. It only saw combat in a foreign country once during its existence, which was assisting the Soviet Union in crushing the Prague Spring. It maintained close ties to the Warsaw Pact along with other Eastern Bloc countries. It dissolved in 1989 and retained its current form through the Hungarian Defence Forces.

The Central Army Group (CENTAG) was a NATO military formation comprising four Army Corps from two NATO member nations comprising troops from Canada, West Germany and the United States. During the Cold War, CENTAG was NATO's forward defence in the southern half of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). The northern half of the FRG was defended by the four Army Corps of NATO's Northern Army Group (NORTHAG). During wartime, CENTAG would command four frontline corps. Air support was provided by Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force.

The 254th Motor Rifle Division was a motorized infantry division of the Soviet Army during the Cold War and later the Ukrainian Army. It was formed in June 1941 from NKVD Border Troops and reservists as part of the Northwestern Front and fought against the German invasion of Russia. In 1944 the division was the first Soviet unit to enter Romanian territory and in 1945 fought in the Battle of Bautzen. The division, briefly renumbered as the 27th Mechanized Division, was part of the Soviet forces that put down the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and was afterwards stationed in Hungary. The unit participated in the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, after which it returned to Hungary.

<i>MBT</i> (board game) Board wargame published in 1989

MBT is a board wargame published by Avalon Hill in 1989 that simulates hypothetical World War Three tank combat between NATO and Warsaw Pact forces in Western Europe. A second edition was published by GMT Games in 2016.

References

  1. "WARNO - Early Access PC Review". thegamingoutsider.com. 2022-03-21. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  2. "WARNO: Early Access Impressions". superjumpmagazine.com. 2022-04-09. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  3. "Cold War RTS Warno is set in a convincingly plausible alt-history 1989". pcgamesn.com. 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  4. "WARNO - Army General Preview - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 2022-10-14. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  5. "WARNO - Happy New Year, Map Editor Incoming! - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 2024-01-03. Retrieved 2024-01-29.

Further reading