Greetings from Canada, Thank you for a very comprehensive and interesting presentation. I am currently playing 'I Ain't Been Shot, Mum' company level solo campaign, working on a NATO vs. Warsaw Pact 1962 campaign, BOAR Centurions and Bundeswehr M-48's vs. Red Army T-55's and IS-3's. I am quite new to war gaming and have encountered some frustration with the mechanics of solo play (I also 'bit off more than i can chew'). Your suggestions have proven to be most helpful and I enjoy your commentary immensely.
There's a big difference between a game where the combat is mostly melee, like ancients, and a modern game where its mostly ranged, like tanks or rifles. In a modern setting I'd have separate action decks for the infantry and the AFVs.
Thanks Lee, for a enjoyable informative video. I have probably played more solo wargames over the years than facing an opponent, simply due to work and family not lining up with being able to get to my local club, so many of the things you said are right. Chance and randomisation are very tempting but should be used in moderation, otherwise you spend more time listing what ifs rather than playing. Likewise AI programmed enemies are great when you want to try out something specific, but a bit like playing a PC game once you know how they will move/react you counter each move easily and it gets boring. One thing to really enhance solo gaming is to have a scenario or objective in mind before you start - venerable books like those of CS Grant are really useful, but something like the scenarios from Neil Thomas's One Hour Wargames are just as good. Alternatively set up some sort of narrative campaign, so one battle links to the next to keep the interest going - a good old wargames log ala Don Featherstone is a great tool and fun to read over when you are done. Want a real tactical challenge, set up a table and defence force, then get your wife or junior family member to set up the attackers, you will be those attackers. Look forward to more, take care
Subtlety is key, like he says often in the video. I have found randomizing terrain keeps a basic scenario feeling fresh enough and using cards for a random event in a turn helps a lot as well, but I've found it's important to keep those wild events away at all costs. Things can be random enough with dice involved already. I just played a game this morning over breakfast where Blue's Elite heavy cavalry made a flank attack against Red's battered artillery and took heavy casualties as a result for their efforts all due to a 6-2 die roll in favor of Red.
One trick, just thinking about the first couple ideas you have pitched: make the AI rules "modular" (e.g., units of type X behave in one of N possible ways relative to a given situation [like spotting the enemy, the unit is cautious, or supports other units, or aggressively engages, or...]). Create a deck of cards for each type of unit, each card in the deck describes the AI behaviour of the unit. Then it avoids the problem you noted, of outwitting the AI before even starting the game.
I've never liked the randomness in solo gaming. Here is my method: Draw a map of the battlefield but make it slightly larger than the actual playing area. Make several (I prefer six) plans of attack for each side such as: strong right flank attack, pincer attack, defend the river/high ground etc. Remember do this for both sides. Now roll the dice or somehow randomly determine which attack each side will use. (You know the plan is brilliant because it was YOUR plan.) Now maneuver the troops on the map until point of contact. You will find that terrain will not always be where you anticipated. Place the terrain and troops and play the game. Troops that don't fit on the board due to placement are considered flank marching or in reserve.
Simulating both sides takes away the element of "knowing the enemies plans, because I am the human". Then you just apply logic and chance too everything and watch it play out. You can go very far with your tools, even into solo rpg oracles like Mythic, using rpg like traits and personalities and other factor as a means to determine probabilities. (is this unit motivated, cowardly, cautious, calculated?) Or place you and your human intellect as ONE avatar on the table and perhaps roleplay that. Try to warn others...are they within command range? Etc etc.
Currently solo playing Chain of Command, WW2. Only have a German Platoon and British Paras Platoon atm. Working on a BEF platoon for some early war play. Using 1/72 (25mm) for the shear selection and great prices.
No pressure to get a game done to an arbitrary deadline, especially if you have a games room or a dedicated table where you can leave things set up for continuation another day.
Baha all those wargames im struggling to create one. Guess i must buy my first wargame cause its not easy to find pnp games yall like with no experience. thank you sir
Restrictions are slowing lifting. Retail is now open and (now we have had our vaccine) the wife and I have been shopping for the first time in a year. The next big date is 17th May when households can meet inside and things like museums can open. All remaining restrictions will be lifted on the 21st June....just in time for my daughter's wedding a week later.
Greetings from Canada,
Thank you for a very comprehensive and interesting presentation. I am currently playing 'I Ain't Been Shot, Mum' company level solo campaign, working on a NATO vs. Warsaw Pact 1962 campaign, BOAR Centurions and Bundeswehr M-48's vs. Red Army T-55's and IS-3's. I am quite new to war gaming and have encountered some frustration with the mechanics of solo play (I also 'bit off more than i can chew'). Your suggestions have proven to be most helpful and I enjoy your commentary immensely.
There's a big difference between a game where the combat is mostly melee, like ancients, and a modern game where its mostly ranged, like tanks or rifles. In a modern setting I'd have separate action decks for the infantry and the AFVs.
Thanks Lee, for a enjoyable informative video.
I have probably played more solo wargames over the years than facing an opponent, simply due to work and family not lining up with being able to get to my local club, so many of the things you said are right.
Chance and randomisation are very tempting but should be used in moderation, otherwise you spend more time listing what ifs rather than playing. Likewise AI programmed enemies are great when you want to try out something specific, but a bit like playing a PC game once you know how they will move/react you counter each move easily and it gets boring.
One thing to really enhance solo gaming is to have a scenario or objective in mind before you start - venerable books like those of CS Grant are really useful, but something like the scenarios from Neil Thomas's One Hour Wargames are just as good. Alternatively set up some sort of narrative campaign, so one battle links to the next to keep the interest going - a good old wargames log ala Don Featherstone is a great tool and fun to read over when you are done.
Want a real tactical challenge, set up a table and defence force, then get your wife or junior family member to set up the attackers, you will be those attackers.
Look forward to more, take care
Thanks for the great feedback and suggestions.
Wow! Great reflections in this comment!
Subtlety is key, like he says often in the video. I have found randomizing terrain keeps a basic scenario feeling fresh enough and using cards for a random event in a turn helps a lot as well, but I've found it's important to keep those wild events away at all costs. Things can be random enough with dice involved already.
I just played a game this morning over breakfast where Blue's Elite heavy cavalry made a flank attack against Red's battered artillery and took heavy casualties as a result for their efforts all due to a 6-2 die roll in favor of Red.
One trick, just thinking about the first couple ideas you have pitched: make the AI rules "modular" (e.g., units of type X behave in one of N possible ways relative to a given situation [like spotting the enemy, the unit is cautious, or supports other units, or aggressively engages, or...]). Create a deck of cards for each type of unit, each card in the deck describes the AI behaviour of the unit. Then it avoids the problem you noted, of outwitting the AI before even starting the game.
I like that idea. I may give it a try.
Thanks for posting great videos full of ideas and information.
Thank you. I'll have to do a follow up video at some point, I'm sure there are plenty of extra ideas that can go in it.
I've never liked the randomness in solo gaming.
Here is my method:
Draw a map of the battlefield but make it slightly larger than the actual playing area.
Make several (I prefer six) plans of attack for each side such as: strong right flank attack, pincer attack, defend the river/high ground etc. Remember do this for both sides.
Now roll the dice or somehow randomly determine which attack each side will use.
(You know the plan is brilliant because it was YOUR plan.)
Now maneuver the troops on the map until point of contact. You will find that terrain will not always be where you anticipated.
Place the terrain and troops and play the game. Troops that don't fit on the board due to placement are considered flank marching or in reserve.
Simulating both sides takes away the element of "knowing the enemies plans, because I am the human". Then you just apply logic and chance too everything and watch it play out. You can go very far with your tools, even into solo rpg oracles like Mythic, using rpg like traits and personalities and other factor as a means to determine probabilities. (is this unit motivated, cowardly, cautious, calculated?) Or place you and your human intellect as ONE avatar on the table and perhaps roleplay that. Try to warn others...are they within command range? Etc etc.
Currently solo playing Chain of Command, WW2.
Only have a German Platoon and British Paras Platoon atm.
Working on a BEF platoon for some early war play.
Using 1/72 (25mm) for the shear selection and great prices.
I'm a relative newbie to CoC having only really got into it last year. I've got Para's as well. By far my favourite force so far.
try Rapid Fire, faster game....
@@AyebeeMk2
I only play skirmish games where it is one to one for miniatures.
Thank you for the consideration.
Great tips! Thanks!
Thanks for watching the video. Glad you found it helpful.
They're always watching.
the thing about solo games the game and last as long as you want too
No pressure to get a game done to an arbitrary deadline, especially if you have a games room or a dedicated table where you can leave things set up for continuation another day.
Baha all those wargames im struggling to create one. Guess i must buy my first wargame cause its not easy to find pnp games yall like with no experience. thank you sir
Wait a minute, we didn't even get to see the game board.
Alway a new idea that I can use
Cheat? Heck no!
We break the rules!
Lol
Break away...no one is looking!
Are you not out of confinement yet Lee?
Lee is still under house confinement. It is for the benefit of society.😵😵On the other hand you should have noted he has been out and about.
Restrictions are slowing lifting. Retail is now open and (now we have had our vaccine) the wife and I have been shopping for the first time in a year. The next big date is 17th May when households can meet inside and things like museums can open. All remaining restrictions will be lifted on the 21st June....just in time for my daughter's wedding a week later.
Thunderbolt Apache Leader is a great solo game.
Not encountered that one before, I'll have to look it up.