Opinion Wanted: Fixed vs. Multi-Player Choice in WWII Scenario

[ww2commander]

Hi All,

I have been busily working for the past 4 months on a WW2 Eastern Front scenario in the spirit of Captain Nemo's Red Front (with much knowledge and advice provided by members on this forum).

Whilst I don't want to release too much details at this stage (awaiting XP release and constantly evolving concepts), I have reached a critical point in which I must decide to make my scenario fixed player (only USSR) or multi-player (USSR/Germany).

The pros and cons of each decision have significant impacts to the development of the final scenario as I must take into account dumbing down things where an AI might not understand how to use 'advanced' scenario features (relocating factories, refugees, lend-lease, advanced production model etc.).

If you really had to make this choice (in my place), would you prefer to limit the scenario to just a playable USSR (similar to Red Front) with all the historic variables included for the player to use properly, or a playable Germany/USSR scenario which strips advanced options (as the AI does not understand how to use them) and provides a more generic format.

Any feedback is warmly welcomed.

 

[jeffah3539]

For me personally, I like being able to play both sides. They present very different challenges and are both very interesting in different ways. Salvaging the Soviet effort against the Nazi juggernaut is always exhilarating. But, leading the blitzkrieg in a race against time while contemplating Napoleon's demise is fun as well.

I have another option for you but I don't know how feasible it is. You could put out two different scenarios, one for each side. They could use the same general map but have different code for the actual features for each side. It would essentially mean creating two mods but it might solve the problem you mention. Since you are more focused on the Soviet scenario you could create that first and then eventually adapt your code and new features for a Nazi scenario.

I am fascinated by the Eastern Front of WW2 especially from the Soviet perspective so I will be looking forward to whatever you create. I would love to see a scenario with accurately named and arrayed units battling each other. Seeing the envelopment and destruction of the Soviet 3rd and 10th armies at Bialystok or the destruction of the Nazi 6th Army at Stalingrad in a scenario would be awesome.

Good luck on your modding!

 

[Ahriman]

I would go towards making something with advanced, human-only mechanics, so that the human is only the Soviets. There are tons of scenarios that let you play everyone, but they often fail to give a satisfying play experience, for the simple reason that the human player is way better than the AI. Many ww2 scenarios let you play everyone, and in order to make it challenging to play as the Germans as a human, they end up making the game incredibly easy if played from an Allied perspective.

Create the most awesome play experience you can, with the deck stacked against the Soviets.

Then if it works well, create a separate scenario with different game rules and mechanisms for the Germans, but using the same unit art and map and such.

 

[ww2commander]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

That is probably the best approach to take. My personal bias is leaning towards Soviet only as I used to love replaying again and again Civ2 Red Front scenario.

I have tried to make this scenario twice before using Civ3 and 4, but on both accounts I was restricted by various game mechanics.

This time round, LUA and XML allow me to do almost anything I need. The irony of course is that graphics are the obstacle with Civ5!

Hopefully more chime in with their views and suggestions which always helps think outside the box.