The Will of the Senate PBM - out of character thread IV

**SwordsMaster** · 12-01-2006, 16:17

As others, I'm all for it, but I cannot play multiplayer battles, so I guess the custom battle option is the better one... On the other hand, i'd like to see the results somehow trascend to the campaign map....

**Lucjan** · 12-01-2006, 16:19

Perhaps for those of us with poor connections or other issues, we can mix the methods.

Have the two opposing players draw up a general battleplan after a battlefield is chosen, then give those plans to players with better connections to have the battles fought out, but they'd have to follow the plans exactly and the plan would have to be fairly well detailed and explained.

**econ21** · 12-01-2006, 16:31

I've just offered to act as the "umpire" in any battles between Dutch_guy and GeneralHankerchief. I have over 30 years familiarity with tabletop wargaming and also have a decent feel for how combat resolution plays out in RTR:PE (plus, I can always fire up a custom battle to check). I think I can work out a decent battlegame if any protagonists want to use that method - e.g. the protagonists give orders for deployment, then we split the battle into about six "turns" that they give movement orders for, with combat being resolved between each turn. I could even try to work up online end of turn diagrams, so people have a good idea what's going on. For those with problems doing MP, it might be a fun and interactive way of resolving some battles.

But I'll leave it to any participants in particular battles to agree between each other how they want the battle resolved, and I will help oversee it in anyway I can.

**Braden** · 12-01-2006, 16:39

Simon,

In the LARP system I take part in we've fought quite a few battles using that method.

Using IM, email or Forums we've played out battles in "Turns" just as you've described.

Deployment and initial orders are given then the battle is played out for a set number of turns (in our case they used actual table-top systems), then a new picture of the battle field was handed out (overhead picture) to the commanders.

Next set of orders were issued etc.

And so on.

Actually, if a good number of us don't have the capability to run MP battles then I'm more than happy to use this system to resolve any battles that need to be done this way.

All the players involved found it very interesting to use this method, mainly as there were Two camps, fighting against each other and in our case we had to write down our orders on cards....send a real runner to the battlefield.....have the orders issued...combats where rolled up and resolved...and then the runner came back with "his version" of what happened and how the battlefield looked at the point HE left it...

As you can imagine, we were all sitting round this big table, in our full armour, (much like Time Commanders), in a Field Army tent, all waiting for the runners to return...

...darn that was exciting!

Others we've played just make use of IM to bounce messages between allied commanders and then we post, by a deadline, full orders. Off-line the results would be rolled up and digital photos taken, loaded up to the forum and we'd all react to that plus a written breakdown (IC based) of what happened.

Though in our Rome game the pictures could be just screen dumps of an Modded AI vs AI game (would be quicker and less space consuming).

How does everyone else think of that then?

EDIT: Actually can you have an AI vs AI game and issue orders to both sides?? Will have to think about that.....

**TinCow** · 12-01-2006, 16:59

To clarify, though I have not played TW multiplayer before, I am perfectly willing to fight battles online at any time.

**Dooz** · 12-01-2006, 18:14

I've never played MP TW either, but have a good connection and computer so I'm ready to go

.

**Mount Suribachi** · 12-01-2006, 19:09

I'll be available tomorrow evening (UK time) if someone wants to have a crack at setting up a trial MP game.

**Tamur** · 12-01-2006, 19:38

As you can imagine, we were all sitting round this big table, in our full armour, (much like Time Commanders), in a Field Army tent, all waiting for the runners to return...

haha, that sounds like a real party. What fun!

With the number of people who are either hesitant or unable to fight online battles, I am definitely in favour of the turn-based setup that econ and Braden have outlined. I must confess that I have never actually done a tabletop battle in my life outside of D&D, but as long as the rules were straightforward I don't see this as a problem.

**Braden** · 12-01-2006, 21:24

What we did in our LARP was just to use Tabletop rules to decide the outcome of the battles (in our case we could, we can find out how, just use Romes own engine for this).

Other than that it was just like playing a MP game but Pausing after issuing the orders...then Un-Pausing but not seeing the outcome until AFTER the combats have been resolved.

It was an instinctive thing as to how long they waited until Pausing again ready for more orders to be issued after the players had been told and shown what there last set of orders "did".

hmmmm....I'm sure I used to have a full transcription of our last on-line battle.....will look for it.

**econ21** · 12-01-2006, 23:14

Just a heads-up that I am about to load up the savegame and start the initial maneouvring of the civil war. If you have specific directions for your general, let me have them now.

I don't know how fast I will get things done, but I will be checking my PM box every half day or so in case you want to pass on information. If it drags, you will have lots of updates and chances to give orders. But if we reach a showdown in two turns, then the maneouvring will be put on hold quickly and we will have to tackle the issue of how to actually fight a battle (once again - my principle is that the two or more protaganists should agree the method they prefer, although that method should reflect the relative strengths of the respective armies on the ground).

Where I have not received orders, I probably will leave the character inactive unless I think a particular move is obvious.

I will find a mechanic to make sure everyone's character calls together the biggest possible army - splurging on mercs and appealing to neighbouring garrisons.

It's been suggested that non-player controlled close relatives should side with players' avatars and I think that's a good idea, although I am not sure if they should march independently.

If you plan to write something really juicy for the civil war stories thread, please alert me and we can coordinate timing and try to make sure the in-game movements are consistent with the stories you want to tell.

EDIT: The thread's getting a bit long now and the outbreak of the Civil War is as good a time as any to start a new one.