Originally Posted by Double_Deuce (Post 778368)

Something I was just pondering and thought that I would add is . . what about doing it at the campaign level instead of just a scenario?

Something similar to what Wulfir and I were doing with the custom user campaigns BUT instead of multiple parallel campaign games where each players is playing their own campaign, you have multiple commanders running in a single campaign game.

Basically, just like I was running BUT instead of one player commanding the core force through the campaign, you have 3-4 players passing the campaign save file around so each "commander" moves and shoots with only their own assigned units. Say for example that the core force is a reinforced company and each player is a platoon leader with one player being the overall company commander who runs the HQ units AND any artillery/air support and provides general orders to his platoon leaders.

It would take some coordination between players where the CO player plays his units 1st and then writes up a short set of orders (transmitted via radio) and passes the file to the 1st platoon leader, who moves his units and then passed the file to the 2nd platoon leader and so on. As the turns progress the platoon leaders can request support from the CO for artillery, air or other available support he has at his disposal and he would pass along the approval or not so that players could take control of the units or call artillery/air attack from their platoon HQ unit.

Perhaps a short campaign (3-4 battles) following a company of the Australian 2/16 Battalion during Operation Exporter (circa June/July 1941) in the Middle East?

Thoughts?

Originally Posted by iCaMpWiThAWP (Post 778376)

I like it, but coordinating moves and such things may be a little hard.

Originally Posted by Double_Deuce (Post 778407)

I think keeping the maps and core force small, like we did with the RCW II game you can aim for a 4-7 days per turn (12 turn game) turnaround time. However, with that time schedule you are looking at around 10-12 weeks per scenario/mission. That's 12 months for a 5 scenario campaign, a long time for a campaign to hold interest.

Questions is . . . are there 4+ people out there with that kind of time on their hands?

I have some ideas but might need to do a little testing to see if I could implement some special configurations like a really customized core force and how casualties are replaced.

Also, what if a platoon leader unit (the x0 unit) is wiped out, does he keep running his platoon or get replaced?

Originally Posted by gila (Post 778410)

Cd users should use the *5* key utility,
Non cd users could just rename thier units,keeping units more cohesive that way;)

Originally Posted by Double_Deuce (Post 778412)

I would rename the units for easier tracking so there is consistency. Players would be limited to only calling for fire/air by submitting a request and getting permission from the CO and coordinating it through him.

I'm thinking that the CO gets the file 1st each turn and then, after moving/shooting with his units, passes it to the other platoon leaders in sequence, with the CO and each platoon leader passing along a short briefing to the next player for reference. We could use the forums here with a special thread and when each player is done they upload the save file and post a short/brief kind of AAR for that part of their turn (say no more than 100 words maximum which is about 2/3 the size of this paragraph) for the next guy to download, play and repost. That way there is a flow to the story line that the players and lurkers can follow.

Also, it would allow me as the GM to snatch the file, from any point in the game, load it and take some screenshots and do a running AAR.

Originally Posted by gila (Post 778415)

Yeah,you as GM,could rename each unit to make gameplay easier,but would that make it more labour intensive for you?

Trading turns,could be a bigger issue here,the most important thing to remember is never end turn unless CO does so,

And a good AAR will help keep interest going in the case of drop-outs and in eventuality of recuiting new commanders:D