CMRT GROGHEAD MULTIPLAYER PLANNING THREAD

[undercovergeek]

it sounds awesome, epic but awesome - might be worth a shout to see if theres 6 interested

[Con]

I would be up for it but can you do this?

There would have to be some logistic for naming the turns for each player and an agreed upon sequence to do this on.  Would the force commander only be able to issue orders via email (ie A plattoon advance and secure the hedgerow by 0835).  I guess the commander would be the only one to call in Arty through the FO unless one of the subordinates was given permission).

Could be very interesting to do this if possible

Con

[undercovergeek]

yeah i figure commander in charge of arty and maybe IAVs and three subordinates with their platoons - commander watches it first, tells platoons where to go and then the platoons numbered 1, 2, and 3 do their orders in sequence finishing with 3rd platoon and then send on

[Boggit]

Maybe Con, I think you're right in your thinking. As I see it based on the company scenario, the order should be this.

3 player - Designate Company Commander, 2nd Platoon Commander, 3rd Platoon Commander (with more players a side just alter the commands) [4 players really would be ideal, with 3 being platoon commanders]

Turn -
  Company Commander issues orders by email to platoon commanders (including standing orders, whether sub commanders to communicate with each other etc.).
  Company Commander moves HQ unit/Exec Officer/Fwd Observer/Company assets/1st Platoon (if 3 platoons and 3 players)
  Company Commander saves game and emails to Platoon Commander 2

  Platoon Commander 2 moves units under command
  Platoon Commander 2 emails feedback to Company Commander/other platoon commanders if permitted in standing orders e.g calls for indirect fire, airstrikes, support requests etc
  Platoon Commander 2 saves game and emails to Platoon Commander 3

Platoon Commander 3 does the same, but sends the PBEM file to the Company Commander of the other side.

Wash and repeat by the opposing side. Easy peasy... ::)

It's important to limit emails to one message sent by HQ to any sub commander and vice versa a minute to simulate signalling issues, and time to formulate a response. Basically the idea is that the Company Commander could be getting two requests, updates or whatever, but can only sensibly take and reply to just one of them in a minute turn. This should create a little uncertainty, particularly for Platoon Commanders about what actions/support is available to them. It also means that the Company Commander is under pressure, especially if a lot of unexpected stuff starts to happen.

I've probably made some glaring error there, but that's how I'd envisage it.

[Boggit]

yeah i figure commander in charge of arty and maybe IAVs and three subordinates with their platoons - commander watches it first, tells platoons where to go and then the platoons numbered 1, 2, and 3 do their orders in sequence finishing with 3rd platoon and then send on

You just beat me to it, but basically that's more or less the lines I was thinking on. :)

[Father Ted]

How do you go about implementing FoW?  I'd like the idea that the Platoon COs could only see what they/their chaps can see and the Company CO is similarly blinded, but I'm not sure you could do this except by scout's honour.

[JasonPratt]

Pretty sure it would have to be scout's honor, yep.

Dang, you guys are going to talk me into spending a few hundred bucks on CMx3, aren't you?  :P

(Because even if I got only one game and its 3.0 update, eventually I'd want to get them all and their 3.0 update.)

[JasonPratt]

Also, don't forget that once the game turn is generated, each commander on a side needs to be sent a file of the film simultaneously (first one team's film and then the other I suppose -- I remember how CMx1 pbem used to work, don't know what CMx+ has changed.)

[Boggit]

Pretty sure it would have to be scout's honor, yep.

Dang, you guys are going to talk me into spending a few hundred bucks on CMx3, aren't you?  :P

(Because even if I got only one game and its 3.0 update, eventually I'd want to get them all and their 3.0 update.)

It's compelling isn't it? The more we talk about it, the better the house rules will be - only don't overcomplicate it or someone will trip up.

Definitely, on FOW it's scouts honour and just tabbing on just your own units. Another commander can warn you of danger, but if you misinterpret, or still don't see it then - tough!

[Boggit]

In principle you're doing well with four/five already sniffing at the bait;
Con
Geek
Jason
Judge
Father Ted

One more and you can start talking teams, positions, and pretty important - the scenario!

Just a thought - you might want to tap Pinetree, Michael Dorosh and Pak40 on this - all veteran CM players AFAIK, and even if they don't make up the numbers, their views are likely to be very helpful. :)

[undercovergeek]

Maybe the platoon leaders only use ground level view

[Con]

While I agree that commanders should only be limited to tabbing on their units are we talking about the following for FOW (this is a question for discussion purposes).

1. Limit to only the units you command
2. Limit the camera view to FPS for your units
3. Disable icons for both sides.

My take is that implementing some of these we will have some problems that are inherent in any game like this.  The most obvious one being how to place orders at a distance.  There is a certain amount of CMBN micromanagement that is required to make sure your troops get to the correct side of a hedgerow or will engage a certain target or arc at a waypoint.  If we limit our order making ability to first person I feel that while the friction of war will certainly be felt it would be unrealistic as well given that in real life you could provide more detailed orders to your troops then you can in CMBN.

A potential solution would be to allow the commander to only allow replays with first person perspectives of only the command unit and any unit that is in good contact (redline) of the command unit.  However allow orders to be given as normal.  This would limit the intel of what happened to squads that are executing your orders unless they can clearly report back to their CO unit.  Lose the CO and no replays allowed you only get the initial turn and that is it.  Of course this would have to be as said earlier under house rules scouts honor.

What do you think or is this making it too convoluted?

Thanks
Con

[Cyrano]

I'll just offer this from my own experience:

For your first go, keep it brutally simple.  Each player gets 1/3 of the force available to his side and commands only that.  He's free to look at anything he wants, but keeps hands off the other stuff.  The commander, if one be necessary, is the last person to get the turn and compile it for the opponents.  He also gets the FFOs.

Otherwise, we let everybody talk -- even between teams.  The game of "telephone" that's built into this in the same room, much less over the Internet, will give you more than enough confusion!

Again, my tuppence.

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)

[Con]

I agree with Cyrano

The first try should be simple forces, simple map and simple commands.  Lets see how that plays out before we start trying to make rules that we dont know if they will work

Con

[undercovergeek]

Plus 1....

Let's refine our own system not get confused by it