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Caranorn -> (10/27/2003 8:24:25 PM)
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Reading this announcement was a bit of a shock to me I must say. For one thing I like many have been waiting for CWiF for years now (I haven't managed to play a table top game of WiF for 3 years I believe, just takes too much room). In that time I also beta tested CWiF a bit and have come to greatly respect Chris Marrinacci's work (he single handedly programmed the old CWiF beta). I hope he will be part of the team to work on the now Matrix Games CWiF.
But my great worry concerning this announcement is that Matrix Games will remake CWiF to it's own vision. That was never the intent of the original CWiF project. While Chris was the sole programmer of the project, Harry and the guus at ADG were spending a lot of time to refine and clarify the rules (RAW, rules as written, the continous update process of Deluxe WiF rules). Likewise the WiF mailing list(s) worked on this over the years, trying to assist Harry in interpeting the rules and then later beta test CWiF. It was in many ways through this process that matters such as leaving out the ai for the beginbning were arrived at. It was deemed more important to create a faithful computerised version of WiF rather then create a second rate ai which would not challenge any of us (I have played WiF and CWiF solo exclusively, I need no ai, the only ai I'd ever use would have to be first rate). Therefore it was decided that two ways to play should be encouraged, hotseat (the way to solo it or play against a local opponent) or via the internet (email or other, I think the closed beta tried some of this out, hopefully some of that group will arrive on these forums soon). From the start it was clear that CWiF had to follow the original game sequences and be able to use any and all options (some might not work in the end and will have to be dropped, but the least is to try and implement them). That means CWiF should be able to handle WiF Classic (deluxe rules though, not 5 or earlier versions) as well as it would handle a complete deluxe version with SiF, PiF, AfiF, AmiF, PaiF etc. Preferably CWiF should also include some of the more classic house rules developed over the years, better even allow for some customisation of rules. Today, hardly any table top game of WiF uses the same identical set of rules, this should be reflected in CWiF (even the WiF tournaments usually start by agreeing on the options and house rules).
Lastly, Matrix Games need not look at new markets to sell CWiF to. If a faithful copy of WiF is created, a large customer base of the original games will be available as well as numerous traditional wargamers who either never played WiF or never even bought it due to it's enormous size and complexity. Much of this fear of the monster game will be negated through the simplification a computer version will provide (it takes hours to set up a game of WiF, with the computer's help you can do it in minutes, with the computer you also don't always have to reference obscure rules or worse post a quiestion on the mailing list or contact Harry directly). Reaching new markets outside the existing wargaming groups should be a secondary aim (in the end we should gain many of the current users of HOI and similar semi historic games).
Oh and a game editor would definitelly be needed in CWiF, I for one would probably rework the entire naval order of battle (I wish adding my shipyards in flames options along with a version Marc Horran's order of battle were possible, but I bet such drastic changes to the unit build process is impossible). But in the end, I think a simple editor is the norm anyhow and a complex one might not be needed.
Lastly, if Harry hasn't done so yet, the WiF mailing list should be contacted to help in this project. For political reasons I won't return there now, but concerning WiF, that list has enormous experience and skill as well as some serious design capacity. In addition, that list can form the backbone of future beta testers (along with experienced Matrix gamers and testers).
Marc Burggraff aka Caran...
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