The Lone Wargamer: Unleash Your Inner General with Solo Wargaming
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- Опубліковано 23 лип 2024
- What are the benefits of Solo Wargaming and how can you do it when the rules don't specifically allow for it?
#solowarrior #solowargaming #wargaming - Ігри
Solo gaming has always been a big aspect of my hobby. From playing both sides 'even handedly' as a youngster to today's use of solo specific rules and mechanisms that have developed over the years for non-solo games. As a member of the Solo Wargames Association, I found lots of inspiration and mechanisms in the association magazine, Lone Warrior. I am a fan of 'Programmed Wargames Scenarios' which has great replay value. I play a lot of Two Hour Wargames rules, such as Nuts!, which are designed for solo play and can also be used as competitive or co-operative. The familiarity with solo has influenced my preference for games that have some form of 'fog of war' mechanisms or are card driven. Piquet, Nuts!, and many TFL games are favourites for this reason.
Over the years of spoken to plenty of gamers who've never played solo, and not because they lack space to play at home. I'm not for a minute suggesting that everyone gives up the social side of their hobby so they can play by themselves, there's definitely benefit to both sides of the hobby.
solo gamer since the 80s : ) and I always mix and add to rules and make my own rules most times
Done alot of solo gaming myself since lockdown, find its my most common form of wargaming. My local clubs are very skirmish based. Solo gaming allows me to refight the major battles of history. Trying what ifs and campaigns. Lots of good points here lee, not much to add. Personally my main system is a simple D6 system. Will this general counter attack here? Is he a competent commander, decisive, indecisive, cautious, aggressive. And then modifier the roll accordingly, allows for different results in games rather than the standard play vs yourself game.
I really started solo wargaming in earnest during lockdown as well. I had done solo games before that but that's when it really took off from me. Certainly not a replacement for playing with my buddies, it just means I now get double the games in that I used to.
Hey Big Lee! I game mostly Solo these days, and I agree with your points! One item that I have found handy is a timer to limit the "Pondering" I do for both sides, to within reason, to keep things moving along! One of the challenges of Command that I enjoy is trying to make the best "Correct" decision I can in a limited amount of time. If i lose the game... I go and sulk in my tent... and plot revenge against myself! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Great review & update! I'm glad that you & your pals were able to travel, attend, & have a nice time to boot! Watch your flanks... and I'll see you down the trail!
I do like to solo play alot. I use a system that works for most of the games I play: I assign an officer to parts of my army, and then I assign a competense value (1-6, with the main general at minium 3) to them. For modern time periods I sometimes go as down as squad leader level, but ususally assignin company leader and platoon leaders will work fine. For medieval or ancients, I usually assign values for atleast the general in charge, vanguard, main army and rearguard. Adding more subcommanders can lead to some interresting situations, but adds playtime significantly.
In the beginning of an battle, I write down three main plans for both armies (for example: Rearguard's cavalry will attack the left flank, while infantry holds the high ground, with vanguards archers advancing to rough ground on the right). All these plans have to be viable and not suicidal, and can be different for both armies. Then I roll dice for both armies, to see which plan the army general chooses.
When the battle begins, I play almost like as an umpire, moving my armies according to the orders that the general gave. If at any point I feel like one of the units might be in a situation where it would be wise to do something differently, I write a new order for that unit, and I roll dice to see if the officer is competent enough to realise this opportunity (say, his competence value is 4, so he need 4 or more to pass), or if he keeps moving according to the old plan. This can also be done on the whole army level, but the order has to be more generalised, so that the general doesn't micromanage the whole army.
I've also tinkered with more values that I can give to my officers, like courage and weariness, that can change the game alot. A officer that is otherwise competent, but cowardly, might not follow general's orders if they are two risky for him (My rule is, that if the order ends up with said unit engaging the enemy in melee, it's risky). If courage test is failed, I write down a less dangerous order, and roll dice again to see if the cowardly officer passes. If not, he will hold his position. Weariness accumulates for every commander when their troops are in combat. Every round when most of commanders troops are engaged in combat, they add +1 to their weariness check. Every round that most of their troops are not in combat, removes -1 from their weariness check. My roll order for all the tests is weariness, competense and lastly courage.
These can also accumulate in campaing, like base weariness can build up if army fights multiple battles in a row, or a courage might increase if officer leads his men to combat sucsessfully two times in a row during a battle etc etc.
Must admit I'm finding myself drawn to more solo games, mostly so I can play more of the games I want to play (most of the games at my club are skirimish and I wouldn't mind big battle now and then).
That is an advantage. Getting a play what you want to play.
Im new to wargames, but I am a lonely gamer and thats the way it will be.😏
I've been solo wargaming for many years, even though I didn't start that way. It just became my preference over time. I do use some of the aids you mentioned from time to time, but I like playing both sides fairly. I'm not for bending the rules to help my Persians, or other prefered combatants. It just wouldn't be cricket! Or British!
Because I live in a very isolated area, I play almost exclusively alone. However, I always try to bring new people to the hobby. Playing alone allows me to prepare for games, gives me a better understanding of the rules and, like you said, it is better than not playing.
Good video, as I always look for new perspectives on solo wargaming. Whether it is due to my poor Googling skills, lack of local wargaming clubs, or both, I've been without a local club for 4 years. So, solo wargaming has been my "go to" (along with living vicariously through battle reports on UA-cam!). I do miss the social side of the hobby.
Started with solo back then and has since returned to it. Most of the time I physically change the side of the game tabel and the dice I use. This helps to take a different perspective in two ways. And you often see things and opportunities that you didn't see on the opposite turn before.
Programmed scenarios are a nice change from this approach and I use them from time to time. For me the main advantage is that you can play relatively flexibly in terms of time. No “what” or “when” to debate, you can jump straight into a game.
Thanks for this. The Road to Glory set-up system from Volley and Bayonet (2nd Edn) can be useful for solo play.
I haven't got those rules but a friend of mine has, I'll see if I can borrow his copy for a quick read.
I was indeed thinking of the Road to Glory scenario system when watching the video. The variation this introduces to our normal two player, or multiplayer, games is significant and of course represents a range of tactical challenges. As such it is a favourite of ours for normal game nights. Using this system for a solo game would work rather well.
Hi Lee; was a solo wargamer for a period during the '80s due to a lack of opponents & not really being someone who likes club gaming (not that we had one back then); I found it a poor substitute for face-face gaming as it lacked the stimulus & challenge of an opponent who I didn't already know what they were planning .
Since then & due to obscure circumstances & chance meetings, I have had a hard core of friends to game with, which I find much more satisfying, not to mention a better socially interactive environment.
I do enjoy wargaming. A lot of the games i do play have a Solo element in them. So they are great to get on the table when you want to play and nobody is available. Just when solo playing you need both sides of a game. Which some of use have and some don't.
On the automation side of Solitaire Wargaming, I've found that using a combination of the "Hostile Tactical AI" & "Skirmish Cards 4 Miniatures (S.C.4.M.)" to dictate the opposing sides works quite well. HTAI is great for having pure automation for units that are aggressive or lack some form of leadership command, whilst SC4M can be used for more tactical approaches when the game calls for it. HTAI also offers great automation for units that are patrolling or units in need of some sort of action command or compass direction. SC4M is also great for answering questions the opposing commander might have like "Do I need to call for reinforcements?" or "Should I use an Artillery Strike this round?" With its Mythinc GM-like question answering system. I would highly advise any solitaire player to look into these two items.
Interesting, I'll look into these.
Can you post a link to these two solo aides?
An interesting video Lee. I have not fought many solo games. Those I have played have tended to test out rule mechanics, especially useful when I was involved in the development group for an Ancients rule set.
That said I have been considering trying some solo games for a one rule set that I enjoy. I’m finding pinning down regular opponents for these rules more difficult these days, in part due to my opponent’s work commitments. My thinking is to run smaller tactical exercises involving a battalion or two, compared to a normal reinforced brigade which is our regular sized game. I suspect that may create some interesting games.
My solo gaming are usually skirmish size fantasy, like Rangers of Shadowdeep. It uses a bit of a 'reaction table' for the AI, which is suited for some narrative driven games, not usre if it would work on a grand scale though.
Only thing that keeps me from solo gaming is the never ending and ever changing pile of clutter on my games table... I really need to get more organized.
What solo books do people recommend?
I only solo wargame these days. I play traditional hex and counter wargames and I have a few rules I put on my self while playing. The first rule is I treat the counters as though they are real soldiers. I force my self to not do suicidal attacks and decisions that are highly questionable. Secondly I always play both sides to the best of my ability and take no sides. Thirdly I try to use the tactics of the era I am gaming. I solo wargame because there is really no one around that plays and the ones that are have long since burned their bridge with me. When it comes to miniatures I paint them for the hobby and haven't gotten around to playing solo miniatures. I have taken nearly a year off from miniature painting after major burnout from the last couple of years. I am looking at getting some Pendraken Napoleonic Wars and WW2 miniatures for the new year.