Dev Blog #20 - Barbed Wire
You might wonder why soldiers couldnt simply cut through wire, or perhaps lay down some fabric or material to allow a crossing? Those things are possible but the scale of barbed wire usage makes it a lot harder than crossing a modern day barbed wire fence. For instance, take a look at this photograph:
How long would it take a cut a decent sized path through all this? First World War generals tried using artillery to reliably clear paths through wire - it didnt work. Later in the war they tried tanks - sometimes it was effective, but other times wire would choke up the tracks and leave tanks disabled. Wire cutting was effective, but slow and very dangerous under fire. Often wire cutting at night using stealth might be the best way to clear a route, but naturally the enemy wouldnt just sit back and allow that to happen. There would be scouts, raiders, wire laying parties, and more out in no-mans land at night. The Italians in particular had trouble dealing with barbed wire earlier in the war because they lacked good equipment for the job. This is part of the reason why the Italian Compagnie della morte or Companies of death gained such a reputation. They were mixed groups of infantry and engineers who wore body armor and heavy helmets to go and cut wire or blast gaps in it - some argue they can be considered predecessors of the Arditi shock troops.
Italian Company of Death engineers with their body armor. We know we use this screenshot a lot, but its a good one!
In Isonzo, there are three types of wire: player built wire, weak point wire, and prebuilt wire. The prebuilt wire is similar to the wire seen in previous WW1 Game Series games. It will slow you and injure you, and cannot be removed. It represents the thickly laid and firmly built wire that was very difficult to get rid of even with tools and time. Weak point wire is different - while it has the same effect, it can be built and cut by players repeatedly during the game. Defenders can construct wire at these gaps in the wire, and attackers will want to remove it. This wire appears on the minimap as a sort of mini-objective, like forward spawn points and heavy weapons. It represents the entrance and exits to trench lines that would have been used by scout parties to enter no-mans land, which is why the wire is thinner and possible to cut at these locations.
One of the weak spots in a belt of pre-built wire. [previewyoutube=VT2TGL7oOac;full][/previewyoutube]Assaulting a weak point in the wire under intense machine gun fire. Every sector has parts where the attackers will need to break through thick belts of prebuilt wire by cutting it at these weak points, almost certainly while under fire - this provides cinematic moments in the battle, but it also emphasizes the historical importance of wire during the First World War!
Continuous wire belts in several sectors on our Sixth Battle of the Isonzo maps. Last but certainly not least, there is the player built wire! Engineers will be able to construct short stretches of wire anywhere on the map which is flat enough. This wire can be cut by opponents, or destroyed by large explosions. While there is a limit on how much wire you can lay (both a team limit and a per engineer limit) its quite generous.
How you use this wire as an engineer is up to you. Obvious choices are narrow paths and entrances that you want to seal off, or perhaps along the top of trenches if you want to stop enemies jumping in and arent worried about the wire getting in the way of your shooting out. Remember that your wire can be cut though, so it is an obstacle rather than a complete denial of an area. If you need to delay enemies longer, youll need to lay multiple lines of wire.
An engineer constructing some wire to block a trench. However, you can also use it to funnel enemies in a particular direction on open ground (given the choice, many people will simply take a clear path rather than stopping to remove your wire), or place it on the sides of a heavy machine gun to get in the way of flanking enemies aiming to backstab the gunner. Again, being an obstacle is enough! Enemies will be able to circumvent or remove wire you lay, but even delaying them for a few seconds might save your machine gun or prevent a sabotage bomb being laid. Two types of wire are available: one is a fairly simple short stretch of wire of the type that was historically used to block communication trenches (that connected the front line and rear area trenches) in battle to prevent attackers advancing. The other is inspired by the cheval de frise, which translates as Frisian horse. This is a sort of catch-all term for spiked obstacles, originally a reference to skilled Frisian cavalry and their powerful steeds hundreds of years ago - youd want good anti-cavalry defenses to fight them!
A section of player built Frisian horse wire on the left, with the simpler wire choice to the right. Each type of wire has a separate build limit, so make sure to use both! And that wraps it up! The barbed wire in Isonzo is interactive and player driven, and we think youll be surprised how much fun it can be to work with. Whether youre laying it down or clearing it out, wire can change the course of battles. Isonzo is available to wishlist already! See you next time...
[ 2022-05-27 11:03:32 CET ] [ Original post ]
Barbed wire is one of the most common battlefield obstacles youll find in the WW1 Game Series, whether youre fighting in France and Belgium with Verdun, on the Eastern Front with Tannenberg, or here in Isonzo. It slows you down, tangles you up, and will cause injury with potential death if you dont free yourself.
Why not just cut it?
You might wonder why soldiers couldnt simply cut through wire, or perhaps lay down some fabric or material to allow a crossing? Those things are possible but the scale of barbed wire usage makes it a lot harder than crossing a modern day barbed wire fence. For instance, take a look at this photograph:
How long would it take a cut a decent sized path through all this? First World War generals tried using artillery to reliably clear paths through wire - it didnt work. Later in the war they tried tanks - sometimes it was effective, but other times wire would choke up the tracks and leave tanks disabled. Wire cutting was effective, but slow and very dangerous under fire. Often wire cutting at night using stealth might be the best way to clear a route, but naturally the enemy wouldnt just sit back and allow that to happen. There would be scouts, raiders, wire laying parties, and more out in no-mans land at night. The Italians in particular had trouble dealing with barbed wire earlier in the war because they lacked good equipment for the job. This is part of the reason why the Italian Compagnie della morte or Companies of death gained such a reputation. They were mixed groups of infantry and engineers who wore body armor and heavy helmets to go and cut wire or blast gaps in it - some argue they can be considered predecessors of the Arditi shock troops.
Italian Company of Death engineers with their body armor. We know we use this screenshot a lot, but its a good one!
Types of wire in Isonzo
In Isonzo, there are three types of wire: player built wire, weak point wire, and prebuilt wire. The prebuilt wire is similar to the wire seen in previous WW1 Game Series games. It will slow you and injure you, and cannot be removed. It represents the thickly laid and firmly built wire that was very difficult to get rid of even with tools and time. Weak point wire is different - while it has the same effect, it can be built and cut by players repeatedly during the game. Defenders can construct wire at these gaps in the wire, and attackers will want to remove it. This wire appears on the minimap as a sort of mini-objective, like forward spawn points and heavy weapons. It represents the entrance and exits to trench lines that would have been used by scout parties to enter no-mans land, which is why the wire is thinner and possible to cut at these locations.
One of the weak spots in a belt of pre-built wire. [previewyoutube=VT2TGL7oOac;full][/previewyoutube]Assaulting a weak point in the wire under intense machine gun fire. Every sector has parts where the attackers will need to break through thick belts of prebuilt wire by cutting it at these weak points, almost certainly while under fire - this provides cinematic moments in the battle, but it also emphasizes the historical importance of wire during the First World War!
Continuous wire belts in several sectors on our Sixth Battle of the Isonzo maps. Last but certainly not least, there is the player built wire! Engineers will be able to construct short stretches of wire anywhere on the map which is flat enough. This wire can be cut by opponents, or destroyed by large explosions. While there is a limit on how much wire you can lay (both a team limit and a per engineer limit) its quite generous.
Wire in use
How you use this wire as an engineer is up to you. Obvious choices are narrow paths and entrances that you want to seal off, or perhaps along the top of trenches if you want to stop enemies jumping in and arent worried about the wire getting in the way of your shooting out. Remember that your wire can be cut though, so it is an obstacle rather than a complete denial of an area. If you need to delay enemies longer, youll need to lay multiple lines of wire.
An engineer constructing some wire to block a trench. However, you can also use it to funnel enemies in a particular direction on open ground (given the choice, many people will simply take a clear path rather than stopping to remove your wire), or place it on the sides of a heavy machine gun to get in the way of flanking enemies aiming to backstab the gunner. Again, being an obstacle is enough! Enemies will be able to circumvent or remove wire you lay, but even delaying them for a few seconds might save your machine gun or prevent a sabotage bomb being laid. Two types of wire are available: one is a fairly simple short stretch of wire of the type that was historically used to block communication trenches (that connected the front line and rear area trenches) in battle to prevent attackers advancing. The other is inspired by the cheval de frise, which translates as Frisian horse. This is a sort of catch-all term for spiked obstacles, originally a reference to skilled Frisian cavalry and their powerful steeds hundreds of years ago - youd want good anti-cavalry defenses to fight them!
A section of player built Frisian horse wire on the left, with the simpler wire choice to the right. Each type of wire has a separate build limit, so make sure to use both! And that wraps it up! The barbed wire in Isonzo is interactive and player driven, and we think youll be surprised how much fun it can be to work with. Whether youre laying it down or clearing it out, wire can change the course of battles. Isonzo is available to wishlist already! See you next time...
Isonzo
M2H
M2H
2022-09-13
Indie Strategy Simulation MMO Singleplayer Multiplayer
Game News Posts 161
🎹🖱️Keyboard + Mouse
🎮 Full Controller Support
Very Positive
(10705 reviews)
https://www.ww1gameseries.com/isonzo/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1556790 
K Station Windows Content [17.84 G]
World War One expands to the mountains of the Italian Front - beautiful but deadly in equal measure. Inspired by the two year struggle for control of the Isonzo river valley and the Alps during World War One, Isonzo elevates the WW1 Games Series, figuratively and literally.
From the makers of Verdun and Tannenberg …
The new Offensive game mode puts you right in the middle of key historical offensives on the Italian Front. Lead the charge across stunning Italian landscapes as you choose your path to victory - cut paths through barbed wire, flank your enemies by following mountain trails, or man a mortar to blast a way through. Shape a dynamic battlefield by laying sandbags and wire, placing ammo crates, deploying trench periscopes or sniper shields, and more.
Take part in historical offensives from the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo to the Strafexpedition. Reflecting the course of the actual battles, as the attackers advance the fighting will shift through vastly different landscapes within a single offensive: from hillside fortresses to mountain trenches and fierce urban combat on city streets. Everything is recreated based on research and field trips, from sound effects and uniforms down to the houses, vineyards and trenches you’ll be fighting over.
Call in support with a unique historically accurate flare system: flare guns can mark targets for artillery or biplane flybys, or different colored flares can be used to guide your team. Once the big guns have softened up the enemy, finish the job at close quarters with an Arditi dagger or mountaineer’s pickaxe. Man heavy machine guns, mortars and even mountain guns for more direct fire support.
Choose from six classes based on historical combat roles and build your loadout from a selection of weapons, equipment and perks linked to that class, giving flexibility and variety while staying grounded in what real soldiers might have carried. You’ll be operating wire cutters, bandaging yourself and wounded teammates, and blowing the whistle to start an assault. One shot can kill and even lighter injuries can lead to quickly bleeding out.
Being an effective soldier in Isonzo is not just about being a good marksman. Mastering the terrain is also key - the mountain can be a friend or foe. Learn how to navigate well to maintain cover and surprise your enemies or support your allies.
Finally… watch out for the dreaded poison gas. You’ve never experienced WW1 action quite like this!
Isonzo key features include:
More Games in the Authentic WW1 Game Series
Immerse yourself in more WW1 action with our other standalone titles Tannenberg and Verdun. Experience trench warfare on the Western Front in Verdun, or maneuver for control of key sectors in Tannenberg on the Eastern Front. These authentic WW1 shooters let players choose from a range of squads from across the war, as they fight for control of the ever-changing frontlines.
From the makers of Verdun and Tannenberg …
The new Offensive game mode puts you right in the middle of key historical offensives on the Italian Front. Lead the charge across stunning Italian landscapes as you choose your path to victory - cut paths through barbed wire, flank your enemies by following mountain trails, or man a mortar to blast a way through. Shape a dynamic battlefield by laying sandbags and wire, placing ammo crates, deploying trench periscopes or sniper shields, and more.
Take part in historical offensives from the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo to the Strafexpedition. Reflecting the course of the actual battles, as the attackers advance the fighting will shift through vastly different landscapes within a single offensive: from hillside fortresses to mountain trenches and fierce urban combat on city streets. Everything is recreated based on research and field trips, from sound effects and uniforms down to the houses, vineyards and trenches you’ll be fighting over.
Call in support with a unique historically accurate flare system: flare guns can mark targets for artillery or biplane flybys, or different colored flares can be used to guide your team. Once the big guns have softened up the enemy, finish the job at close quarters with an Arditi dagger or mountaineer’s pickaxe. Man heavy machine guns, mortars and even mountain guns for more direct fire support.
Choose from six classes based on historical combat roles and build your loadout from a selection of weapons, equipment and perks linked to that class, giving flexibility and variety while staying grounded in what real soldiers might have carried. You’ll be operating wire cutters, bandaging yourself and wounded teammates, and blowing the whistle to start an assault. One shot can kill and even lighter injuries can lead to quickly bleeding out.
Being an effective soldier in Isonzo is not just about being a good marksman. Mastering the terrain is also key - the mountain can be a friend or foe. Learn how to navigate well to maintain cover and surprise your enemies or support your allies.
Finally… watch out for the dreaded poison gas. You’ve never experienced WW1 action quite like this!
Isonzo key features include:
- Mountain warfare: Assaulting mountain fortifications, battling through ruined towns, and fording rivers are just a few of the challenges you’ll face as you fight your way through numerous enemy positions
- Tactical multiplayer FPS: Choose your role and loadout carefully to survive this high altitude combat - play a sniper to pick off the enemy engineers before they can cut your wire, use rifle grenades to clear enemy machine guns, and much more
- World War One Gameplay: Historical Offensive game mode based on real battles and focused on the unique challenges of Alpine warfare. Fight with 30+ WW1 weapons, poisonous gas attacks, and intense artillery barrages
- Build for victory: Place your own wire, sandbags, trench periscopes, and more! Whether you’re digging in or on the attack, shaping the battlefield to your advantage will be key to victory
- Faces of war: Make every class your own by picking from a variety of historically class-appropriate uniforms, accessories and headgear. As a finishing touch, you can even pick your mustache from several famous period-accurate styles!
- Authentic WW1 atmosphere: Accuracy in everything from maps and weaponry to music and the uniforms – fight for the Kingdom of Italy or the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy
More Games in the Authentic WW1 Game Series
Immerse yourself in more WW1 action with our other standalone titles Tannenberg and Verdun. Experience trench warfare on the Western Front in Verdun, or maneuver for control of key sectors in Tannenberg on the Eastern Front. These authentic WW1 shooters let players choose from a range of squads from across the war, as they fight for control of the ever-changing frontlines.
MINIMAL SETUP
- OS: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640
- Storage: 20 GB available space
- OS: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- Processor: Intel i7-4770Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
- Storage: 20 GB available space
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