Last time on the blog we only saw the very start of the battle represented in our upcoming free Montello map: the Second Battle of the Piave River.
Leaked Austro-Hungarian battle plans meant that the Italians were able to bombard them just before they began their assault, while they were still packed together in forward trenches. Casualties were heavy, and in places even led to the attack being cancelled or delayed. For the most part though, the Austro-Hungarian soldiers went forward and aggressively crossed the river to engage Italian positions on the other side.
They made it over the river and were able to advance 5 miles (8 km) further before the attack ran out of steam. The Austro-Hungarian commander Boroevi attempted to restart the assault in the following days, but the destruction of bridges and high water levels made resupply across the river a nightmare, with some troops even drowning as they tried to cross.
A screenshot of the Piave river in Isonzo alongside reference materials. You can easily imagine how long those pontoon bridges would last under artillery fire.
On July 19th, four days after the attack began, the Italian General Diaz launched a counterattack into Boroevi's flank which inflicted significant losses and further degraded their ability to attack. By the next day, Emperor Karl had taken personal command and ordered a retreat. Three days after that, the Italians finished recapturing all the lost ground on their side of the river. Italy's allies encouraged them to keep up the offensive and chase the Austro-Hungarians across the Piave, but General Diaz figured that the same supply issues that had hindered the Austro-Hungarian operations would block effective Italian attacks as well - not to mention the fact his forces were still scattered and not ready for an offensive. Instead smaller actions were taken to secure useful ground and prepare for a future offensive. Italy would be at no further risk of attack from the thoroughly exhausted Austro-Hungarian military.
The town of Nervesa della Battaglia in-game, as seen from the defender's perspective looking towards the Austro-Hungarian advance.
Gameplay and History
As with all our maps, we've done a lot of research to recreate the battlefield while also making it a playable space with entertaining gameplay. This means making sure key landmarks and defenses are represented, but allows for some wriggle room when it comes to proportions and distances. The goal is to capture the challenges and opportunities offered by the landscape, but avoid frustration or particular objectives being too easy.
These photographs of the river helped us create a memorable starting area for the battle.
People unfamiliar with the First World War might think all trenches are much alike, but as all you veteran WW1 Series players will know, every area of every front had trenches with specific quirks. Getting trenches right for each map is a top priority.
For the next blog, we'll share a first view of the new map in motion, and for the blog after that we'll be going more in-depth about what to expect when stepping onto the Montello battlefield for the first time!
See you next time!
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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]
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.
- 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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