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cpdeyoung -> GD19383v3 Gaming Considerations (9/22/2018 2:23:19 PM)
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As I watch games forming for this magnificent mod, I want to share some thoughts.
1. GD1938v3 is a monster game. It is very hard to play a 1942 turn of the Allies in less than four hours. Do not judge the playing speed by June 1938, as the number of fronts and unit increase your time and immersion will increase far more. I believe a player can keep up with one fast paced game, or two if you are retired, and dedicated. Handling three or four games, and maintaining an acceptable pace, is probably impossible over the long run. The game not only has long turns, but it has many of them.
2. I think it is a mistake to play this game with more than three players. There is a built in problem with passing turns, always a point where the game can slow down. You also have more chances for holidays (multi-national) and vacations interfering. Perhaps the most important aspect is that coalition played by multiple players requires lots of chatter and cooperation, which only some players are good at. It is hard enough to win with one player per coalition. It is even harder if the FR-GB need aid in Europe, and the US-CH player wants to play USN in the Pacific.
3. Even with the most dedicated, motivated players it is very hard to finish the game. The most important criteria when picking a set of players is persistence. Will each player agree to play past the point where their victory seems impossible to achieve?
4. ATG does not have the infrastructure to support record keeping in a game of this scale. I used to think a spreadsheet was enough to supplement the game. I now feel that a paper journal, or Word document is also necessary. I used to use paper, but I now use Word. In this document I remind myself of my "To do" list for future turns. By mid-war it is all just too much to remember.
5. Each game probably should have an AAR. In a game that can take a year or more shared experience is valuable.
6. Each player should consider a replacement strategy if they must quit, or be absent for a long time. Perhaps sending passwords to a neutral party would be wise.
This is a pretty fair amount of blather about a game. Be assured this game is worth it. It is wonderful fun, but like most worthwhile things requires effort!
Chuck
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