Suggestion regarding die rolls etc.

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

Suggestion regarding die rolls etc.

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> Suggestion regarding die rolls etc.

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Suggestion regarding die rolls etc. - 11/16/2004 9:01:58 AM

guke

Posts: 47
Joined: 7/16/2004
Status: offline

IMO the hardest part of learning to play the game is to figure what factors influence
the results of your actions. For example, it would be nice to know how bomber altitude
affects bombing results or why a specific airgroup chose to not fly any sorties last turn.

I find myself constantly browsing the forums to see if anybody has figured out a certain
piece of game mechanics or if I have to find out myself by trial and error.

Why not create a logfile and log all die rolls and factors influencing these in this file?
What I mean is results of moral checks, factors that are calculated into ground combat odds
etc.

I'd be surprised if something like this didn't already exist in the code for debugging purposes
and I am sure it would make understanding the game much easier.

regards,
Gunnar

Post #: 1

RE: Suggestion regarding die rolls etc. - 11/16/2004 3:39:02 PM

Feinder

Posts: 6589
Joined: 9/4/2002
From: Land o' Lakes, FL
Status: offline

While I do think it would be nice to see more information (like what the heck do all those numbers mean that flash on the LCU combat screen?), -more- numbers would potentiall take away some of the "feel" of the game.

It's the same reason that folks produce the Zeros in droves, the numbers are better. Or we calculate the exact amount of guys that can fit on a pair of AKs on Tuesday in the rain.

It's just the anal-retentive trait of (most) wargamers to crunch the numbers whenever they can. If you give the game more numbers (to a point), then you just have a game of numbers. The (somewhat inadequate) attempt at Fog of War tries to blur the numbers, and yet the very first thing we do is check the actual losses report each day.

But there is certainly a part of me that wants to know exactly what's going on, I think the current game does somewhat simulate the delimma facing many of the theater commanders at the time, "How many guys does he really have at Rangoon? Will one division do it? Should I add an Tank Rgt from the reserves? How long should I bombard before hand?..."

More numbers = good.
More number = bad.

Take your pick. Just call me Switzerland.

-F-

_____________________________

"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me

(in reply to guke)

Post #: 2

RE: Suggestion regarding die rolls etc. - 11/16/2004 7:13:13 PM

dtravel

Posts: 4533
Joined: 7/7/2004
Status: offline

Much of the player's lack of information is deliberate design. I agree that much of it is exceedingly annoying but it isn't likely to change. Another large chunk of the lack of info is the very poorly written manual. (Yes, some of you out there disagree with me on this and think I have unrealistic expectations. Too bad.

) But various ... persistant ... people out there (*cough*OCD*cough*) have figured out various parts. If you have a more specific question, Guke, put it up and someone will probably answer it. (Correct answers cost more, of course.

)

_____________________________

This game does not have a learning curve. It has a learning cliff.

"Bomb early, bomb often, bomb everything." - Niceguy

Any bugs I report are always straight stock games.

(in reply to Feinder)

Post #: 3

RE: Suggestion regarding die rolls etc. - 11/16/2004 9:50:12 PM

Nikademus

Posts: 25684
Joined: 5/27/2000
From: Alien spacecraft
Status: offline

the more numbers you know....the more you can game the system. This has always been the case with wargames.

_____________________________

(in reply to dtravel)

Post #: 4

RE: Suggestion regarding die rolls etc. - 11/16/2004 10:38:38 PM

Feinder

Posts: 6589
Joined: 9/4/2002
From: Land o' Lakes, FL
Status: offline

^
|

Bingo.

-F-

_____________________________

"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me

(in reply to Nikademus)

Post #: 5

RE: Suggestion regarding die rolls etc. - 11/17/2004 1:56:33 AM

dtravel

Posts: 4533
Joined: 7/7/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

the more numbers you know....the more you can game the system. This has always been the case with wargames.

Ya, anything else obvious you want to state.

Basically I agree with you, Nikademus. I think the real question becomes how much of the numbers should the player know. Some things the player should know (or at least have access to), such as how much supply is required to feed his units and how much cargo/passenger space does a unit need to be shipped, because the RL commanders had the information and it is critical to the player's decision making. Some the player has to know in order to issue orders to the game because it is a computer game. And some we just want to know because, well, because we're competitive (like why did my 1,000 lb bomb just bounce off the Yamato's deck armor!).

_____________________________

This game does not have a learning curve. It has a learning cliff.

"Bomb early, bomb often, bomb everything." - Niceguy

Any bugs I report are always straight stock games.

(in reply to Nikademus)

Post #: 6

Page: [1]

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> Suggestion regarding die rolls etc.

Page: [1]