Burden of Command

Burden of Command for PC is a tactical RPG created by Green Tree Games - a small, American team. The famous Chris Avellone was one of the project's co-creators - he had also co-created such classics as Fallout 2 or Planescape Torment.

Plot

The game tells a story of the 7th US Infantry Regiment, also known as the Cottonbalers, who took part in the Second World War. The players participate in a story campaign based on real-life events. One is required to complete a series of difficult missions - those are divided into 18 battles.

Mechanics

Burden of Command for PC was inspired by games such as The Banner Saga, Crusader Kings II or XCOM. The player takes on the role of the leader of the Cottonbalers and commands the subordinates both during battles and out of combat. When fighting, the player moves around a map divided into hexes, attacking the enemy and blocking their attacks. The game's turn-based combat system gives the player time needed to think through certain actions, as each of them is highly important, because the player has a limited number of command points required to take any action.

The soldiers are described by different statistics, such as respect, stress or trust - those affect both their combat capabilities and way of thinking. The stats are affected not only by winning battles (for which the player gains experience points), but also through choices made on the path. As the commander, the player oftentimes faces serious issues, such as whether to leave a wounded soldier to die or to try saving them, which would involve placing the entire mission at risk. This type of dilema is a common occurrence in Burden of Command. The player is the one to decide what kind of a commander they are. However, one must remember that if the subordinates do not respect the player as their leader, their effectiveness in combat is reduced.

The experience is diversified with a few other features. The permanent death system makes every soldier important, because if they are lost in combat, there is no way to revive them, which is especially painful in case of an experienced veteran. Apart from that, dynamic events influence the play - thanks to them, the player cannot always predict everything.

Technical aspects

Burden of Command for PC is played from an isometric view. The graphics are relatively simple and devoid of eye-catchers, but the creators implemented such practical features as destructible buildings, which brings another factor influencing the course of a battle.

Last updated on July 13, 2017