Wild Bill -> Scenario Design: Historicity vs Playability (6/2/2000 8:13:00 PM)
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Arguments about reality vs historicity have gone on in scenario design forever it seems. Just how historical does a scenario have to be to be historical? That is a debatable question.
In my mind, the scenario designer is striving for a proper mix of challenge and accurate historical representation (provided the battle is a historical one).
In a sense, there is no such thing as a totally historical recreation. No one knows where every tree and shell hole were on the battlefield, or how many rounds of ammo each unit had, or the names of all the tank commanders or squad leaders.
Most of us rely on the word of historians. We weren't there. We don't know. And historians sometimes differ in their description of the battle.
Ultimately it is the choice of the designer. Mixing both (historicity and playability) is no easy task. That is why some opt only for hypothetical situations (G). You can't go wrong there!
But I like reliving the moment, recreating the feel of the actual battle. Now that may mean making some adjustments that might not have been in the actual battle to give it that "feel."
So actually no one can lay claim to a "totally historical scenario." In my mind, ain't no such thing. But you get as close as you can based on the information that you have and flavor it enough to make it fun.
Every once in a while a designer will create an unwinnable scenario. His reason? I want it to show the actual battle and its outcome. Okay. That is his choice. In such a case, a note should be attached in the text file explaining that.
Ultimately, in most "historical" scenarios, there is going to have to be a little tolerance. That does not mean just throwing in units to have them there. Strive for accuracy. I saw a map once of a Pacific Island that had absolutely NO resemblance to the real thing. Now here, I would have to say the author is in error, stating that the battle is "historical."
It is hard to have a fixed rule, and a lot of it is done by feel that comes through experience.
I want a scenario to be historical but I want it to be fun and challenging.
And that is my diatribe of the day...Wild Bill
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Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games
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