WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

I'm working on a project that would allow several players to participate in a custom designed user campaign.

Basically I would create an operational map, assign the mission/objectives and players would move their units on the map. As units are moved I would determine if contact was made in each hex they moved through based on an 'Enemy Threat Level' and detailed chart/tables. In the event contact is made I would then create custom scenarios (again using charts/tables) for each unit in contact and the players would have to complete them (they would play against the AI). based on results they would secure the hex, be forced to withdraw to their previous hex location, etc.

If you have any ideas or questions please post them so I can decide how much time I should devote to this project. I could post a ton more but this is still pretty much in development with a small group of playtesters.

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

Well ok sounds good but what is the goal at the macro-map level? Are we just moving around to get good exercise?

Sounds like a great idea so far.

T_R

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

Each engagement would result in a custom scenario with details that the player needs to accomplish at that time. If he is is moving through the hex he would need to get past any enemy forces or eliminated them, etc. Since the AI is being used I would need to use actual Victory Hexes to help control their movement to some degree.

The main thing is to limit your casualties and as a team accomplish the operational objectives. Losing forces would be bad as there would be no replacements or reinforcements for the whole campaign. The campaign would represent a day or 2 of time (simulated/abstracted 4 hour turns) so you have to make due with what you have against whatever ends up coming your way.

Once of the benefits to this is I end up with a large # of custom maps, all fitting an identical theme. With the resulting scenarios I also have the basis for a in-depth user campaign to be put together afterwards. I would just need to tweak the scenario's, link them together in the campaign editor and formalize the storyline.

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

For those who might want more information here is the current Operational Turn 1 Situation

British Mech Infantry Battalion advances West during the later phase of Operation Compass. The objectives will be the seizure of both Sidi Sueicher and Sidi Sultan and the road in between. This will help cut off Italian 10th Army forces retreating South from Benghazi. Italian forces are already in the area with more forces coming in from North/NorthWest and heading South.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n..._Situation.jpg

• Explosion Markers indicate contact with enemy forces.
• Little Green squares indicate cleared hexes (these are now Enemy Threat Level - Green Level areas).

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

Wow!

Now that's impressive!

How'd you get the graphics for the units like that?

Man this is so awesome I definitely wanna play -- how do I sign up?

T_R

PS In other words, change my vote to: "Yes, I'd like to participate" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

I'm using a combination of things to run this. Cyberboard for tracking everything at the operational level, The Campaign Series for the Base Map, ACOW for the Icons (although I have to mod them for use with Cyberboard). Then I use WinSPWW2 create the actual battles from enemy contact for the players to fight out against the AI.

Right now I have 4 playtesters running though a small campaign to work out the kinks and stuff. My plans are to move up for the 1st official one to larger number of players. Maybe a full Regiment with players commanding Companies so that would be about 10-15 players maybe.

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

Wow! All I can say is mega-wow!

I have started work on a little plinky 5 map campaign fought scenario by scenario where the scenarios could loop as territory was lost or gained. I thought I had something. To say I'm playing with tinkertoys would be a compliment!

Smokin' hot!

I guess I'll just have to be patient and wait for your playtesters but I definitely want in!

Are you setting up an email list of prospective players?

And at some point will you be moving up to pvp instead of pvai?

T_R

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

No mailing list or sigups are being taken at this time. Once playtesting is done and we have decided on the next theme/theater as well as finalizing the rules I will start creating all the necessary webpages and supporting stuff.

I would like to add in another human player side to challenge the other players more but PvP adds an enormous amount of extra work. It also makes battles last well over 60 days in many cases for a 24 turn Pbem unless all players keep the turn rate up all the time. One slow pair (usually caused by RL issues) makes it so the whole campaign is on hold till they finish.

I am considering a "pool" of players to act as the enemy for battles as these are generated but these guys would not have dedicated unit assignments like those on the player team.

If any of you out there have iuput into what operation you would like to see covered (i.e Kursk, Bulge, Sicily, etc), by all means please speak up. A large amount of research is usually required so that needs to start before any campaign can be set up.

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

How about Stalingrad with the city proper as well as the hill Mam. Kurg. and the two airfields Pitom. & Gumrak as victory objectives...?

It might be interesting to have a city map...

T_R

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

I find Stalingrad way too... dense to play. But that's just my opinion.

Bulge and Sicily are always favorites of mine even though I'm a Sovieto-German Front afficionado.

How about Hungary 44-45 with the Soviets' Budapest operations or the Germans' 3 Konrad operations?

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

I agree for the most part. Many I think would prefer a campaign where movement is more fluid. Many interested and former campaign players frequently ask me to include armor or mech based forces, something not really useful in a city fight like Stalingrad or Berlin.

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

Darn shot down by the ack ack guns once again ;(

T_R

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

Sounds interesting http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Don't have time just now but might be interesting in future http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

:) I did not see the replay... but half my forces were looking backward when I started the next turn, so I figured something had happened... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/stupid.gif

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

Umm ya this is an amazing coincidence that has generated a severely off topic post but...

Ya well I figured out that you have to hit the directional enter/exit arrows BEFORE you plot the air mission otherwise who knows the path the plane will take (oh ya we know right to the ground) ;(

T_R

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

If kept to a small scale, say 3-4 players it is definitely something that is doable. This system is surprisingly easier to manage IF sticking to player vs AI so there is the possibly I could run more than 1 at a time. Maybe even running a Stalingrad one in conjunction with another larger campaign for those wanting more maneuver room. Besides, I really wanna use those sewer fortifications in the game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns? *DELETED*
 

Post deleted by Tiger_Reyth

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

So to clarify then with the default AI opponent it's a race to capture the victory locations right?

Once a vl is captured what is to prevent another unit from attempting to re-capture it?

T_R

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

Not sure I follow you. Do you mean at the tactical level or the operational level? IN most cases the AI (if on the defense) already controls the VH's. This is at both levels.

If you mean captured by another friendly unit there is no incentive for anyone to do this. Players are not in competition with each other. NO points are given for capturing anthing, its a mattrer of completing the assigned mission goals for the team as a whole.

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

So it is a team competition for who completes their mission first?

T_R

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

There is only one team of players, at least at this point in the system's development. All players work together to accomplish the team mission/objective.

In the playtest version this mission/objective is the capture and clearing of the villages (Sidi Sultan and Sidi Sueicher) and the road between them. It doesn't matter who takes what area or who does most of the fighting. It is simply an enhanced User Campaign where more than 1 player is participating in a custom tailored storyline.

It all about fun, not necessarily competition between any two or more players, except maybe for bragging rights.

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

Ok I get it. It is then like middle ground between just playing the comp in a battle and playing full PBEM with a human.

T_R

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

Yes, at least until I add in players for the enemy forces if at some point I decide to to do that.

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

Well of course one thing that would help that effort is to set like a solid and inflexible 2 or 3-day limit on all moves so that if violated the AI automatically takes over.

See I think that macro-level AI is pretty simple and could easily be simulated with some well thought out charts and tables. I mean there's not much to think about, there's not many options. A series of charts and tables controlled by the admin should do it, right?

Secondly there would have to be a pretty low limit on the total number of players to keep the admin workload down...

T_R

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

With all the charts and tables I have created I can finish designing 2-4 scenarios per week without issue (including maps). The part that takes time is the setting waypoints and stuff in an effort to make the AI more formidable to the human player.

In the official campaign I am considering there would be a full Regiment available to players with each of them commanding a full company. In that case you are probably talking 9-15 players on the team.

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

Well that's a kewl idea...

Ya micro-level AI is apparently not up to snuff, hence the waypoints...

Hmmm, makes me think about hacking the waypoint routines to make them programmable... But then I'm only dreaming <sigh>.

T_R

Re: WinSPWW2 Multi-player User Campaigns?
 

For those who are keeping up with the campaign here is the current Operational Turn 2 Situation.

British Mech Infantry Battalion advances West during the later phase of Operation Compass. The objectives are the seizure of both Sidi Sueicher and Sidi Sultan and the road in between. This will help cut off Italian 10th Army forces retreating South from Benghazi. Italian forces are already in the area with more forces coming in from North/NorthWest and heading South.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n..._Situation.jpg

• Explosion Markers indicate contact with enemy forces.
• Little Green squares indicate cleared hexes (these are now Enemy Threat Level - Green Level areas).