A Epicomms Epic game idea |
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Cuban Commissar
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea  Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 8:50 pm |
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| Purestrain |
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Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:32 am
Posts: 2934
Location: Colorado, USA
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Hello all,
I have an idea of how a group us us can play a Epic:A battle just using the forum. ?Here is my idea and let me know your thoughts on the pros and cons of such a adventure.
First we have our cast of charaters:
The Host: ?This is the most vital person and unfortuately the real workhorse of the prject. ?This person will require:
1. ?Two epic armies
2. ?A place to play Epic and keep it set up over a period of time.
3. A camera
4. The ability to update maps
Two Army commanders: ?The people assigned the role of army commander get to choose what formations to activite and initial deployment. ??
The formation commanders: ?Each army formation is commanded by a person on the forum. ?Their role is to give orders to their formations to the host.
How it works:
The host sets up a board to play on. ?The army commanders rotate deciding where to place their formations. ?As they are placed the host places them on the board and updates the map for all players.
When play begins the host rolls to see you has the initiative. ?The winning army commander chooses which formation to activate. ?
The formation commader of the activitated unit provides the order to the Host. ?The host rolls for the activiation and carries out the order. ?
Orders should be as simple as possible. For example:
Mech Infantry Formation 1: Advance, Move toward objective A then Target Enemy Formation X.
The host then performs the action moving the miniatures rolling all the dice, snapping a few pictures, and updating the maps.
Of course becuase you won't be at the table many of the lesser decisions such as the exact plalcement of X unit within Y formation is not up to the formation commander, but the host. ?
I think taking a step back will be refreshing and cause some general fun. ?As an army or formation commander you will be making decisions based roughly on the intel being provided to you which is never as perfect as a wargamer hovering over a table with a ruler in hand.
"Charlie platoon move to assault enemy formation zebra...
We can't sir we are out of position.
Damit man I thought you where oin hill 712
No sir we are on hill 732 500 meters to the north
Then who in the hell is on hill 712
I don't think those are our troops Colonel!
Well there is my idea. ?What to you think.
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primarch
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 9:26 pm |
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| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:46 am
Posts: 27069
Location: Edmond, Oklahoma USA
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Hi!
If and when I move into the new house, I beleive I could host this.
I'd probably take it further with a real "live" webcam to transmit "the game" and probably get real time reactions.
We shall see....
Primarch
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Cuban Commissar
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:16 pm |
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| Purestrain |
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Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:32 am
Posts: 2934
Location: Colorado, USA
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I was already thinking of you as the perfect host. That way you can naver say I have no one with...
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iblisdrax
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:29 pm |
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Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2003 10:54 pm
Posts: 3381
Location: First star to the right, and straight on till morning.
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Hmmm...you guys ever seen any of the PBEM games out there? You could do this simply by using counters and a hex map. Not necessary to have every piece or even keep them set up. Just have to record the location of everything, including terrain and objectives, and issue orders based on that. Matter of fact, if there was a coder here they could probably whip up a small program that would keep track of it for you.
my 2cents,
iblisdrax
_________________
"Have Leman Reuss, will travel"
"Hallo. My name is Indigo Montoya. You killed my father prepare to die!"
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Cuban Commissar
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:53 pm |
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| Purestrain |
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Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:32 am
Posts: 2934
Location: Colorado, USA
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I'm familiar with such programs one of the best out there is called Cyberboard.
With PBEM games you either need a computer to keep track of your forces, and what would be the fun if you don't use minis. Or both players would have to have the exact set up on on their locations. That is logitically very hard and would not allow multiple players.
I really wanted a simply yet enjoyable way for a group of us to play out a game via the forum with the logistics being handled by one very dedicated individual.
I also wanted to use minis to generate miniture pictures and battle reports. One of my favorite things of all times.
In essence the host is running the solo game with the decisions being made by forums members as opposed to a system that uses either a random action table, or "reaction card" system, or "I'll make the best unbaised choice for this unit" method.
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Tas
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 11:50 pm |
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Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2003 10:01 am
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Location: Sydney, NSW
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Another, less resource intensive system would be to provide the "distant" players with a map, list of forces, objectives etc and let them make the deployments and give initial orders and "actions on" lists for , say 2 turns.
The host then does these actions moving and firing units in the spirit of their orders.
After 2 turns, snap shots of the battelfield (aka Recon updates) are given to the commanders who then may revsie their order for the next 2 turns
It takes longer, but requires more thought from each commander
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Tas
My General blog: http://tasmancave.blogspot.com/
My VSF Blog: http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/
My ECW Blog: http://declaresir.blogspot.com/
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Cuban Commissar
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:08 am |
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| Purestrain |
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Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:32 am
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Location: Colorado, USA
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Thats a good suggestion.
So instead of turn for turn orders you write. My formation attempting to take or defend terrian X, at all cost!!!!.
That's a lot like Spreadhead, where commanders have to write their unit's intentions before the battle and can only change it with some degree of difficulty.
But so much of epic is decision based on what just happen.
It depends on the host I suppose. And what they are willing to do.
I hope to have this ability in two years. If and when we move into a bigger house and if and when the epic armies get done.
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Tas
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:53 am |
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Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2003 10:01 am
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Location: Sydney, NSW
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We used to run our face to face STARGRUNT games like that. Commanders would scribe a battlemap including routes for detachments to be taken to their obejctives. Units had to comply with them until contact was made (ie the enemy spotted) so that you couldnt react the those bad guys sneaking up behind the hill which you couldnt see...
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Tas
My General blog: http://tasmancave.blogspot.com/
My VSF Blog: http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/
My ECW Blog: http://declaresir.blogspot.com/
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Cuban Commissar
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 4:00 am |
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| Purestrain |
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Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:32 am
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Location: Colorado, USA
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I knew you would like it. Makes that new house even better.
Well you got me signed up if need be.
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Tas
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 4:57 am |
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Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2003 10:01 am
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Location: Sydney, NSW
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Hmmm...."Virtual Epic"... 
_________________
Tas
My General blog: http://tasmancave.blogspot.com/
My VSF Blog: http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/
My ECW Blog: http://declaresir.blogspot.com/
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Mojarn Piett
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 7:04 am |
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Location: Finland
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Sounds good. Where do I sign up? 
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I don't know and I let who care. -J.S.
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vanvlak
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:05 am |
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iblisdrax
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:11 am |
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netepic
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Post subject: A Epicomms Epic game idea Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:49 am |
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Joined: Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:26 pm
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Location: Southfields, London, England
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| Quote (iblisdrax @ 06 2005 June,22:29) | Hmmm...you guys ever seen any of the PBEM games out there? You could do this simply by using counters and a hex map. ?Not necessary to have every piece or even keep them set up. ?Just have to record the location of everything, including terrain and objectives, and issue orders based on that. ?Matter of fact, if there was a coder here they could probably whip up a small program that would keep track of it for you. ?
my 2cents,
iblisdrax |
 , I am so close to completing a program like that, but am so busy at the mo.
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