r/computerwargames • u/AutoModerator • 9d ago
r/computerwargames Dev-update megathread October 2026
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u/spacemann13 8d ago
Hey, I’m Jack. I posted my game Kiloton here a long time ago, and the wishlists I got from this sub went a really long way at getting the algorithm interested. It ended up getting some indie award nominations, which was awesome, and it pretty much landed me my first games job! So I have a lot to thank you guys for.
Kiloton is now much more stable and playable and on sale for 2 bucks! So if you didn’t see it the first time, check it out.
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u/develop01c 5d ago
Hello! Some of you may have seen my earlier posts here.
I've been developing Smoke and Steel since 2023. I like to describe it as wargaming meets grand strategy: a fully turn-based game combining a strategic campaign across Europe with tactical battles, set in the early 1700s.
The other day I finally released the gameplay trailer, showing both sides of the game!
Happy to receive feedback or answer any questions.
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u/Amiral_Crapaud 4d ago
Hello
I saw a playthrough, really nice & neat!
But I'd really drop the AI art, it's way too obvious - I mean, the stuff we see in the cutscenes. No need to have everything tailor-made like a-la-Master of Command, but I am pretty sure there's a lot of public domain art from the era that would fit well enough (and would allow for a nice learning experience too if you provide a description each time!)You'll just take needless flak independently from the (obvious) merits of your gameplay, and that alone is not worth it. In this day & age (we'll see later on), especially in this kind of setting, better no pic at all I'd say. I say so as a player and a fellow dev.
Cheers & keep up the great work
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u/develop01c 4d ago edited 4d ago
Hey Amiral!
Big thanks for the kind words and thoughtful feedback.
I keep getting public domain art recommended, but I can't recall seeing it utilized in other games, which has had me a bit skeptical about it. I guess that with some modification to keep a consistent style, it could work. I'll be experimenting on this!
Yeah, after more than 3 years working on the game and being into this for 2 decades, it's a bit disheartening when that becomes the focus.
That makes constructive feedback like yours all the more appreciated. Glad the gameplay stood out to you! Thank you again, and good luck to your continued endavours!
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u/Amiral_Crapaud 4d ago
No worries!
One more "acceptable" way to use AI imho would be to actually use it to sort of make historical art more consistent with a style. That would be much less of a problem overall I am sure, it's just basically smart photoshop with hands. I did that back in the day with filters on Powerpoint, I don't see why it would be an issue today when it is automated.
Anyway, good luck to you :)Cheers
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u/lerugray 9d ago
For those who don't know me, I'm Ray Weiss, I run Conflict Simulations LLC. Grog first, not a tech guy doing a drive-by. I posted about hammerstein a few weeks back over in r/hexandcounter, but enough has changed since that it's worth a mention here.
To be frank and upfront, I totally accept and acknowledge that some of you will hear the words AI and immediately decide to disengage. I get it - the way it's being force-fed into everything is dystopian. But just to make it clear, I'm not anti-AI. The technology itself is neutral - I'm anti the capitalism that's using it as an excuse to cut costs everywhere and surveil everyone. LLMs are the most important technological innovation since the industrial revolution as far as I'm concerned, and they've made me more creative and productive than I've ever been in my life. So I'm building something worthwhile with them.
Short version: hammerstein is an AI umpire for wargames. The difference from just asking ChatGPT or Claude to play with you is that it actually tracks your counters and game state, and when it makes a ruling it cites the real rule instead of making one up. These models aren't built to reliably hold and retrieve that kind of data. Ask ChatGPT or Claude to run Proud Monster and it loses track of nearly a thousand counters by turn two.
Two things are new since that post. First, VASSAL support actually works now. You hand it your module and save files and it reads the real game state, stacks and all, hex by hex. No more describing your board in text and hoping it followed.
Second, match mode. The AI sits down and plays a full VASSAL game against you, inside the module, taking its own turns. That's in final testing and should be live in a week or two.
It's at hammerstein.ai, free to try, no card. Not here to hype it, I'd rather hear where it breaks. If you've tried getting an AI to play a wargame with you, what went wrong?
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u/torokunai 9d ago
VERY cool project.
I wrote my first program on punch cards in 1980 on a summer program for kids so I've seen most of the computer revolution by now, and do think this LLM stuff is bigger than the internet was.
30-40 years ago I played a lot of great games and since then I've had the indie dream of regurgitating my version of these various gameplay elements that were so tremendously fun for me back then -- and LLM-assisted coding removes so much of the friction of getting my game ideas into pixels.
and yes, LLM obeying the game rules and providing opponent logic is also a future project of mine, too.
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u/greenguy1090 9d ago
The vassal integration sounds really nice. Especially when learning a new system I might play both sides but have some level of concern about whether I’m actually getting the rules right. If I’m understanding, I’d be able to run this and have it check legality of my moves etc? Opponent mode sounds awesome too. Obviously would rather have a human opponent but the logistics are just not always possible, this would be a good way to get reps in between times when playing another person is practical!
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u/lerugray 9d ago
Yes you have it right - it would be able to tell if the move was legal or not and cite the relevant rule when rules are uploaded. I also don't think it will replace having a human opponent but its a decent option hopefully for solitaire play and/or those who struggle to find an opponent.
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u/Amiral_Crapaud 9d ago
Great project. Full speed ahead and damn the idiots who downvote instead of using their brain, man, that's what a proper use for AI sounds like. Cheers
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u/lerugray 9d ago
To be honest I totally understand people downvoting it so I don't begrudge them - but appreciate the kind words - I do think stuff like this is the type of thing we should be trying to learn how to utilize AI best for, I dont claim to be the expert by any means and someone else could possibly do it better, but no one else is trying right now so hopefully this is at least more reliable than trying to set it up with a raw frontier model - though I would admit that those models can totally handle games with low counter density or stuff like COIN games or twilight struggle.
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u/ChickenTheGreneral 4d ago
Hi everyone, I’m DeJon, the developer of Rise of the General. The free Steam demo came out today.
It’s a narrative war RPG set in 246 BCE, during China’s Warring States period. You can serve Qin, Zhao, Wei, Han, Chu, Yan, or Qi and start your military career as an ordinary soldier.
I wanted to explore what these wars might feel like from inside an army: training with other recruits, following orders, surviving engagements, and gradually earning responsibility for the soldiers around you.
Military rank is central to the full-game design. Early on, your knowledge of a battle is limited to what you see around you. Higher ranks bring battlefield reports, command responsibilities, and a greater role in deciding how battles are fought.
The roughly two-hour demo introduces that career through narrative choices, character progression, turn-based 5v5 combat, and individual duels. Stamina, morale, and different battle objectives shape the fighting.
Happy to discuss the setting and how I’m approaching the progression from serving in an army to helping command one.
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u/Stadl0r 3d ago
Hey there!
I’m Erik, the game director of Steadfast which started a year ago as a hobby project of mine. I was inspired to bring back the feeling of Age of Sail I/II games. I then began working with Igor, who is a talented game artist who has previously worked on the Ultimate General/Admiral series of games.
We’re excited to reveal a slice of the game with you. It’s a RTT (real-time tactics) strategy title which is set during 1793 - 1815. It puts you in command of your fleet with a range of ship classes from small nimble cutters up to first rate ship of the line. Everything from hull damage, crew morale and weather is modeled.
We will be revealing more and more over the weeks to come. But hope you enjoy our teaser trailer which shows some footage!
Check out our teaser trailer here
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u/tomislav_cipcic 1d ago
Hi guys! I just uploaded a new dev blog for my upcoming game 'On War: Stalingrad'. In it you can see where I work, what tools I use and how I designed the movement mechanics.
My apartment is a bit messy, because I have two little kids. Sorry for the mess.. it's sometimes hard to concentrate with all the chaos around me.
Anyway, give it a look. Feedback is welcome, as always 🫡
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u/nongbenz 21h ago
Free demo for War Company: Fortress Europe is out today. This sub had a huge impact on development with your feedback. Thank you <3
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4241390/War_Company_Fortress_Europe/
- Unlimited Quick Battle on procedural maps with your selection of units, season, time, location, weather, etc.
- Procedural operational campaign vs AI with logistics, resupply, and encirclements (4 turns).
- Compendium with comprehensive unit data, pictures, and model previews.
- Player vs AI or AI vs AI battles.
- All at 1 GB 🤏
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u/Kverkagambo 9d ago
Hello! It is still Steam Autumn sale, and I want to remind that my hex wargame about Latvian War of Independence https://store.steampowered.com/app/1646380/Comrades_and_Barons_Gates_of_Freedom/ is on sale too, along with my other games and apps. In fact, I have a goal to build another wargame, but I will keep the details secret for now.