Important
I also have a WW.exe which allows me to play skirmish and multiplayer with the GOG version. If I replace the original exe in the GOG folder (NOT the launcher) with it then the game doesn't ask for a CD anymore and won't terminate. However, I didn't create this exe (crack) myself so I don't want to be held accountable for it's contents, origin or potential copy rights.
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Issue still persists.
The multiplayer wizard is definitely not "broken" as Venita claims. If I install the game from my original CD I can play skirmishes just fine. However, using the original CD with the GOG version doesn't prevent the error, since apparently the DRM can't recognize it with the GOG version. It still terminates claiming I need a CD. This is just a matter of omitting the (isolated?) DRM.
Multiplayer even works as well on the old version, however I don't recommend playing it. Many games from that era have issues with desynchs and it's really malicious with War Wind. The netcode is just beyond bad and I don't expect an outside team to fix that. It's an issue with the game's own netcode and not a compatibility issue with modern systems.
The game doesn't even detect there is a desynch. You will simply notice (sooner or later) that the map you have differs from the one your friends see. Also, you will lose control over your units one by one as they become subject to ghost commands even to the point where they start attacking your own structures. I assume the game simply loses track of who ordered which unit to do what and then things get mixed up.
It has always been like that and the originial developer never fixed it.
One final note:
Skirmishes =/= scenarios
There are skirmishes where you play various multiplayer modes vs the AI on default or custom pvp maps. It's just like multiplayer but without other players. The game lists all maps but not all of them can be played vs AI because there is a player setting in the map editor that governs whether a player can be human, AI or both and some maps or game modes simply weren't created with AI in mind. There is a limit of 2 AI per game (game code can't handle more due to bad optimization) so modes like seven vs one wouldn't even work.
Save for the crudeness, this is exactly like modern skirmish modes in modern RTS.
Additionally, there are actual scenarios with a campaign-like objective and a short story to them that start you at odds with the AI and often give you hero units right away. You can access these via the main menu -> select desired race -> (menu where you'd start a campaign) 2nd button from the top gives you a random scenario of your race. There are 3 or 4 scenarios available for each race. Don't get discouraged if you roll the same scenario a couple of times in a row. There are definitely more of them.
With the GOG version:
Scenarios WORK
Skirmishes do NOT work
Multiplayer does NOT work
Skirmishes and Multiplayer theoretically function "properly" and all but the game's original DRM prevents you from playing them.
Post edited June 20, 2017 by Escadin
