After reading campaign manual... (Full Version)

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exsonic01 -> After reading campaign manual... (5/5/2019 3:22:59 AM)

While I really like the idea of automating campaign generation (I'm also fan of automate everything as a computational scientist), I'm bit worried about the campaign generator.

First thing is the lack of storytelling part. I mentioned this in one of the previous posts, so I will skip about this in here.

Next point is about the diversity of game play experience during campaign. From my point of view, campaign might be repetitive and eventually become boring with current system. In this case, 'repetitive' means not about maps and units, but about mission type and mission targets. With current system, all missions in campaign will be very similar, frontal attack/defense game against the opponent on the otherside of tactical map.

Of course, tactical map itself and opponent forces will be changed, but the core contents will be the same, 1:1 battle against AI on linear frontline. During the campaign, player will be only allowed to attack the enemy on the other side of the map, or defend from the enemy coming from other side of the map. Campaign might become continuous collection of similar battles over and over again.

So... how about introduce more mission types and more mission goals? In current system, players cannot enjoy something like "evacuation" mission of WEE. Or fight against the chasing opponent from the rear, while retreat/march to other side of the map. Or protect and evacuate civilians and their vehicles as much as possible from city during last phase of sudden retreat / evacuation. Or defense against multiple enemy AIs assaulting from all directions until reinforcement arrives... I guess most of them might be possible to introduce with current system, by tweaking of VP locations or slightly modify VP-oriented AI or etc... But I don't know about the source code of this game, so I maybe totally wrong here. Civilian AIs looks not easy to me, though.

Then it would be possible to categorize missions, something like "offensive mission types", "defensive mission types", and "neutral mission types". Then, introduce assault / retreat factor to the campaign generator, which can be set by user, or randomly generated based on the direction of the waypoint from the campaign map, or campaign difficulty setting. Depending on random numbers, location of tactical battle, campaign progress or campaign score, and morale or other factors, maybe it would be possible for campaign generators to initiate such "unique" offensive or defensive missions in the middle of automated campaign. I wish those will make campaign much more dynamic.

This is just my brainstorming ideas, so please don't be burdened. But there might be very very interesting missions which players can immerse themselves to the game. I think such contents will make this game far richer than before.




ps) How about showing the movement of friendly and enemy army units from operational layer and campaign map? Players cannot control the units from operational layer, as a commander of one of the units shown in campaign map. But just showing would be still very helpful.

Then, introduce operational layer AI, to strategically moving / directing the forces under command. (I guess operational layer AI might not that difficult when compared to tactical layer AIs?) Then, allow campaign generator to create unique missions based on campaign progress shown from operational layer. In this case, many unique missions, like battle under surrounded situation, or battle against rear enemy during retreat... would much much more sense and appeal to players.

In this case, showing the unit movement and campaign status from operational layer to players have additional advantage, increase the immersion and concentration of players, by showing players the reasonable motivation of their situation and their battle.




Rosseau -> RE: After reading campaign manual... (5/5/2019 4:38:34 AM)

The operational or campaign map sounds a lot like Close Combat's, which some people found less than ideal. Nor did they do anything regarding mission diversity to my knowledge. But they had the units stats and maybe branching campaign? I can't remember.

IMO, none of the Close Combat games (except maybe the old Cross of Iron release) can hold a candle to AB, at least versus the AI.
So the ideas above are great, but my guess is the CC devs had more muscle, and imo over the years did as little with the code as possible.




Monkie -> RE: After reading campaign manual... (5/5/2019 5:11:38 AM)

We will just have to wait and see how it plays out when it's released. In real wars many times combat takes place over the same terrain with both sides slugging it out back and forth so I don't think this approach is unrealistic for the conflict it's trying to represent. Hopefully the campaign will force the player to play with conservation of forces in mind and this should create a whole new level of planning and execution. The challenge should be doing more and more with less and less and depending on your veteran units to hold the line or lead the attack.

The idea of a strategic AI would most likely have to be quite an undertaking and require starting from scratch to build, perhaps being incorporated into it's own DLC.

I'm happy to see the CG being included and look forward to it.




Lowlaner2012 -> RE: After reading campaign manual... (5/5/2019 10:01:00 AM)

+1

I think AB is one of the best strategy games I've played, I really like the cold war setting as there are very few games that cover this era...

I'm also looking forward to the campaign generator, also don't underestimate the power of narrative, I'm not saying that the dev shouldn't refine it in the future, if that's possible of course...

Roll on Thursday 😃




exsonic01 -> RE: After reading campaign manual... (5/5/2019 5:28:40 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Rosseau
The operational or campaign map sounds a lot like Close Combat's, which some people found less than ideal. Nor did they do anything regarding mission diversity to my knowledge. But they had the units stats and maybe branching campaign? I can't remember.

My idea is just showing players what is going on from operational layer, not allow players to control battle groups units on the operational map. So, it is not like CC, or W:AB / W:RD. Rather, a bit close to W:EE.




nikolas93TS -> RE: After reading campaign manual... (5/5/2019 10:19:45 PM)

What will be released in a few days from now is just a first iteration of the campaign mode. It is still evolving "work in progress" and we do plan to introduce many new features in future. I am sure there will be many critics and suggestions, but that feedback is exactly what we need to improve it.




Veitikka -> RE: After reading campaign manual... (5/5/2019 10:29:27 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: exsonic01

Next point is about the diversity of game play experience during campaign. From my point of view, campaign might be repetitive and eventually become boring with current system. In this case, 'repetitive' means not about maps and units, but about mission type and mission targets. With current system, all missions in campaign will be very similar, frontal attack/defense game against the opponent on the otherside of tactical map.

Of course, tactical map itself and opponent forces will be changed, but the core contents will be the same, 1:1 battle against AI on linear frontline. During the campaign, player will be only allowed to attack the enemy on the other side of the map, or defend from the enemy coming from other side of the map. Campaign might become continuous collection of similar battles over and over again.

So... how about introduce more mission types and more mission goals? In current system, players cannot enjoy something like "evacuation" mission of WEE. Or fight against the chasing opponent from the rear, while retreat/march to other side of the map. Or protect and evacuate civilians and their vehicles as much as possible from city during last phase of sudden retreat / evacuation. Or defense against multiple enemy AIs assaulting from all directions until reinforcement arrives... I guess most of them might be possible to introduce with current system, by tweaking of VP locations or slightly modify VP-oriented AI or etc... But I don't know about the source code of this game, so I maybe totally wrong here. Civilian AIs looks not easy to me, though.

Then it would be possible to categorize missions, something like "offensive mission types", "defensive mission types", and "neutral mission types". Then, introduce assault / retreat factor to the campaign generator, which can be set by user, or randomly generated based on the direction of the waypoint from the campaign map, or campaign difficulty setting. Depending on random numbers, location of tactical battle, campaign progress or campaign score, and morale or other factors, maybe it would be possible for campaign generators to initiate such "unique" offensive or defensive missions in the middle of automated campaign. I wish those will make campaign much more dynamic.

This is just my brainstorming ideas, so please don't be burdened. But there might be very very interesting missions which players can immerse themselves to the game. I think such contents will make this game far richer than before.


The current Campaign Generator system is mostly about what happens before a battle and after a battle. What you are suggesting are new battle types, and even if more mission types can be added in the future, that was not the emphasis this time. The main idea was to provide a context and continuum to the battles, using the existing battle system.

quote:



ps) How about showing the movement of friendly and enemy army units from operational layer and campaign map? Players cannot control the units from operational layer, as a commander of one of the units shown in campaign map. But just showing would be still very helpful.


There have been different ideas about showing formations, support, artillery, or whatever on the campaign map, but we haven't been able to settle with anything yet.

quote:



Then, introduce operational layer AI, to strategically moving / directing the forces under command. (I guess operational layer AI might not that difficult when compared to tactical layer AIs?) Then, allow campaign generator to create unique missions based on campaign progress shown from operational layer. In this case, many unique missions, like battle under surrounded situation, or battle against rear enemy during retreat... would much much more sense and appeal to players.

In this case, showing the unit movement and campaign status from operational layer to players have additional advantage, increase the immersion and concentration of players, by showing players the reasonable motivation of their situation and their battle.


A simple operational level game is probably easier to implement than the complex tactical level game that we have, but still, it would be like making another game. In this project we must carefully weigh what's the best use of our time and resources.




CSO_Talorgan -> RE: After reading campaign manual... (5/19/2019 1:55:48 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Rosseau

and imo over the years did as little with the code as possible


Quite





Javolenus -> RE: After reading campaign manual... (5/19/2019 6:57:02 PM)

With you on lack of campaign story/drama & need for more varied objectives. John Tiller's Squad Battles features an editor with many types of possible objective. Also--might be interesting to include (if possible) asymmetrical warfare theatres (e.g. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan).




CSO_Talorgan -> RE: After reading campaign manual... (5/19/2019 7:28:19 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Javolenus

might be interesting to include (if possible) asymmetrical warfare


I'm with you on this.




exsonic01 -> RE: After reading campaign manual... (5/19/2019 8:27:33 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Veitikka
The current Campaign Generator system is mostly about what happens before a battle and after a battle. What you are suggesting are new battle types, and even if more mission types can be added in the future, that was not the emphasis this time. The main idea was to provide a context and continuum to the battles, using the existing battle system.


quote:


There have been different ideas about showing formations, support, artillery, or whatever on the campaign map, but we haven't been able to settle with anything yet.


quote:


A simple operational level game is probably easier to implement than the complex tactical level game that we have, but still, it would be like making another game. In this project we must carefully weigh what's the best use of our time and resources.


I understand your point. Me and other players will wait for someday, if we can see some interesting campaign features in the future. I also wrote about this issue in other post:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=4632878




Perturabo -> RE: After reading campaign manual... (5/20/2019 12:31:05 AM)

I'm against any operational mini-game stuff but the game really needs CC4-style battlegroups to give campaign designers some control on what is happening. I feel battlegroups was one thing that CC4 did right.




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