Script and campaign scenery / Alternate history

[Pyros]

Script and campaign scenery / Alternate history

This is the place where we must write the scenery/Novel of the camapaign.
This is a very important and crucial activity for the early stages of the project and we must take into consideration all parameters related with the later designing phase of the project.
The most important thing is to relate the commanding level (army size) with the appropriate historical events/battles.
We also have to take into consideration a connectivity factor between the various mission types and also a logical evolution of events.

http://www.screamingeaglesthroughtime.com/id88.html

http://www.gruntonline.com/TheWar/the_war.htm

http://www.vfw.org/magazine/aug97/38.shtml

http://www.war-stories.com/

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/7963/sontay.htm

[Double_Deuce]

I have been thinking about thisa little. Maybe we should develop a character and simulate his journey through the standard 1 year tour of duty in Vietnam. We could always have him come back say in a year or so for another tour in a different position.

For example;
Character shows up in Vietnam as a 2nd Lt. (Platoon Leader) and goes through a 1 year tour. Promoted to 1st Lt. during this time. Goes back to the states for a couple months/1 year. Promoted to Captain during this time. Goes back to Nam as Company Commander. Does his 1 year tour and then back to the states. Promoted to Major (say while assigned to an Academy (War College, etc) as an instructor. Over time he is promoted to Major, then Lt. Col. Upon promotion to Lt. Col goes back to Nam as Battalion Commander.

We could ID 3 major operations/campaigns during in Vietnam that we could believably fit his character into. Then use those 3 campaigns/time frames to break the overall project out into. We would thoroughly research each and build them as seperate Campaigns. Then concentrate on building each.

[Pyros]

Hi DD,

and welcome to everyone!

Nice ideas there, but this mean that we have to do 3 independent campaigns (1 small, 1 medium and 1 large), instead of one.

If you take account the amount of time to make 1 complete campaign or 3 part-time campaigns, it is almost the same. On the other hand, one of the strong elements of a campaign is the building and evolution of the core force in addition with the fact that a player becomes sentimentally attached with his core force.
So, in the evolution of the campaign the player will try to protect his experienced troops (1st platoon) and he will have a core army with different experience levels (he will command veterans and rookies).
On the other hand what you propose is better from historical accuracy and way more easily from script point of view.
Look, what I suggest...
We do both ways!
We start with the synthesis of complete campaign and then by using the theatre of operations (maps, info etc) we split the campaign to smaller parts.

There is also another possibility...

The platoon will start as a "platoon"... US military advisors or Special Operation team in the early years of the conflict... and then in the theatre of Operations No2 they will be attached to Company (serving in another theatre of Operations ToO).
Then all this formation in the next ToO will be transferred as an attachment to a battalion fighting in the new ToO.

This way we may still keep a certain degree of historical accuracy by taking into consideration the actual units that fought in certain major battles with only a minimal addition of an independent attachment of for example a platoon in a company, and a company in a battalion.
I think such small modifications won't heart the historical accuracy of a complete campaign (and the gameplay benefits are very important).
The player not only will have the opportunity to experience the progressive increase in the level of command (Platoon then Company then Battalion then Reinforced Battalion), but in addition he won't lose his interest from playing the campaign (this usually happens when a player is playing several battles with the same core force).

Anyway, I agree with you. It is very easy to make it both ways, 1 complete and 3 smaller part-time campaigns.

[Double_Deuce]

As you say 1 campaign would probably be best. Maybe this base one could be used to set the stage for a 2nd and 3rd Campaign to be added later (should it be desired) as sequals like books in a series. Each time the character comes back in a different part of the War with a different rank/unit. What we will do this time is build the 1st "book".

To start, a new Lt. arriving for his tour. When, where and with who?

[Pyros]

...and here the story begins... LOL

[narwan]

Been thinking about the feel and mood of the campaign too. Sofar i've come up with 5 different possible concepts for the campaign:

1) regular army security operations. This would be what the bulk of the combat forces would have been engaged in for most of the time (think Tour of duty). Emphasis would be on dense terrain (lots of jungle), guerilla style combat, probably more defensive in nature (from US pov), opponents mostly VC. ME's and advance/delays mostly?

2) Marines near the border with north Vietnam. This would be more akin to regular combat operations instead of guerilla style. Terrain would be more open and the adversaries would mainly be NVA. More assaults/defends?

3) Airmobile operations. This offers a great variety in possible conditions, but is primairily an offensive tool so advances, assaults and ME's seem more likely scenario's.

4) Mekong delta patrols. Lot's of patrol boats, hovercrafts etc, and maps with lots of 'wet terrain'. The craft would act as a sort of light armor and transport at the same time.
Opponents would almost exclusively be VC, assault and defend scenario's seem less plausible here (due to terrain).

5) special forces operations. Not really what I think would best suit this campaign but it's an option. Lot's of options for scenario's here.

Comments and criticism welcome!

Remco