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Difference between revisions of "User:Jellyfishgreen/Railhead"

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Logistics: Railhead
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''' Logistics: Railhead '''
RAILHEAD, a game of 1800's warfare with logistics
+
'' RAILHEAD, a game of 1800's warfare with logistics ''
  
- Note that "Artillery/Scout/Infantry" in the previous idea could also translate to Napoleonic warfare (Risk,  
+
* Note that "Artillery/Scout/Infantry" in the previous idea could also translate to Napoleonic warfare (Risk, Little Wars).
 
+
* Among other things this translates the artillery ranges to a smaller scale (somewhere between direct cannon fire and the explosive shell)
Little Wars).
+
* What if we tried focusing purely on an enjoyable "victory-through-logistics" simulation?
- Among other things this translates the artillery ranges to a smaller scale (somewhere between direct cannon fire  
+
* Idea: Your armies on the front lines need a certain amount of resupply per day to fight effectively
 
+
* The actual army combat is either simplified enough to be manageable at the same time as your logistics, or handed off to an AI? Choice of 2 general's hats, or both?
and the explosive shell)
+
* Also AI can run logistics, especially as enemy or in combat training.
- What if we tried focusing purely on an enjoyable "victory-through-logistics" simulation?
+
* The opposition is similarly presented (France vs Prussia, say, or Redosia vs Bluegaria) ..Industrial Heartland vs Motherland...
- Idea: Your armies on the front lines need a certain amount of resupply per day to fight effectively
+
* Turn-based and probably hex
- The actual army combat is either simplified enough to be manageable at the same time as your logistics, or  
+
* Auto-form between armies and nearest supply depot? No.
 
+
* Or always onus on player to place (?cheap cache) manually if expecting to hold a position? Yes.
handed off to an AI? Choice of 2 general's hats, or both?
+
* armies only resupply themselves when moved onto a cache/depot/base (/town scavenging/friendly army)
- Also AI can run logistics, especially as enemy or in combat training.
+
* Resources for the player: time, monetary cost (and attention)
- The opposition is similarly presented (France vs Prussia, say, or Redosia vs Bluegaria) ..Industrial Heartland  
+
* Money resource represented by War Chest.  
 
 
vs Motherland...
 
- Turn-based and probably hex
 
- Auto-form between armies and nearest supply depot? No.
 
- Or always onus on player to place (?cheap cache) manually if expecting to hold a position? Yes.
 
- armies only resupply themselves when moved onto a cache/depot/base (/town scavenging/friendly army)
 
- Resources for the player: time, monetary cost (and attention)
 
- Money resource represented by War Chest.  
 
  
 
== War Chest ==
 
== War Chest ==
- fixed for a given scenario? eg training
+
* fixed for a given scenario? eg training
- receives updates - income from government, periodically
+
* receives updates * income from government, periodically
- or bonus-based eg capturing cities (or scenario ends if x captured)
+
* or bonus-based eg capturing cities (or scenario ends if x captured)
- or could be designed out altogether, if Time is the resource
+
* or could be designed out altogether, if Time is the resource
 
== Army ==
 
== Army ==
- Perhaps, like Risk or Hex Empire, not actually distinguishable as soldiers or artillery - generic army units,  
+
* Perhaps, like Risk or Hex Empire, not actually distinguishable as soldiers or artillery * generic army units, considered as soldiers.
 
+
* Reinforcements (bringing *soldiers* to the front) was actually key in Hex Empire
considered as soldiers.
+
* Chief role is to fight at front.  
- Reinforcements (bringing *soldiers* to the front) was actually key in Hex Empire
+
* Side role to protect logistics ie supply dumps.
- Chief role is to fight at front.  
+
* Troops have a certain max troop strength & max carrying capacity & max morale.
- Side role to protect logistics ie supply dumps.
+
* Bought? Or present in full strength at start and up to you to manage through the scenario?
- Troops have a certain max troop strength & max carrying capacity & max morale.
+
* Approx scale: 1 infantry unit = 1 company (80 infantry? approx 60-200 historically) in 4 platoons
- Bought? Or present in full strength at start and up to you to manage through the scenario?
+
* 1 unit per hex, normally, unless passing through or melee
 +
* Formations are important. What officer assists in keeping formations?
 +
* every unit has a flag? insignia carried by ensign? or option for colour party morale booster - one per brigade affects all adjacent countrymen
 +
* toy soldier art concepts.
 
=== Troop Strength ===
 
=== Troop Strength ===
- Troops gain replacements ie automatically 'regenerate' when in supply, proportional to the rate of supply. Also  
+
* Troops gain replacements ie automatically 'regenerate' when in supply, proportional to the rate of supply. Also reflects better food/better hospitals at the bigger bases.
 
+
* Defined max for each unit type, will only regen up to original max
reflects better food/better hospitals at the bigger bases.
+
* Stackable? see Combat.
- Defined max for each unit type, will only regen up to original max
 
- Stackable? see Combat.
 
 
=== Carrying Capacity ===
 
=== Carrying Capacity ===
- Reflects how many supplies are actually carried by the troops when they leave the depot (staging area)
+
* Reflects how many supplies are actually carried by the troops when they leave the depot (staging area)
- armies only resupply themselves when moved onto a cache/depot/base (/town scavenging?/friendly army)
+
* armies only resupply themselves when moved onto a cache/depot/base (/town scavenging?/friendly army)
- or between adjacent armies? sharing supplies if sharing hex.
+
* or between adjacent armies? sharing supplies if sharing hex.
- captured enemy caches?
+
* captured enemy caches?
- Usage rate:
+
* Usage rate:
- Resupply rate:
+
* Resupply rate:
- when supplies run out (or on approach to zero), starvation casualties mount
+
* when supplies run out (or on approach to zero), starvation casualties mount
 
=== Morale ===
 
=== Morale ===
- raised ++ by victory
+
* raised ++ by victory
- lowered by casualties  
+
* lowered by casualties  
- drops slowly when bored/idle (?weather) (except in a town - entertainment)
+
* drops slowly when bored/idle (?weather) (except in a town * entertainment)
- increases slowly (to max) when >50% CC
+
* increases slowly (to max) when >50% CC
- decreases slowly (to min) when <50% CC (&++ starvation or scrounging)
+
* decreases slowly (to min) when <50% CC (&++ starvation or scrounging)
- automatic surrender rule when attacked, if certain conditions are true (recognize hopeless situation)
+
* automatic surrender rule when attacked, if certain conditions are true (recognize hopeless situation)
- such as: supply lines cut, no adjacent friendlies, neighbors have surrendered
+
* such as: supply lines cut, no adjacent friendlies, neighbors have surrendered
- Prepare separate Morale table, with all possible modifiers, unique ID 000-999
+
* Prepare separate Morale table, with all possible modifiers, unique ID 000-999
 
=== Unit Types ===
 
=== Unit Types ===
 
* Infantry: move x, attacks adjacent hex, medium damage, medium defense
 
* Infantry: move x, attacks adjacent hex, medium damage, medium defense
* Cavalry: move x*2, attacks adjacent hex, light damage/defense (the Scout/Skirmish role), +charge ability (like  
+
* Cavalry: move x*2, attacks adjacent hex, light damage/defense (the Scout/Skirmish role), +charge ability (like little-wars) (bonus negated if already in adjacent hex at start of move)
 
+
* Artillery: move x/3, attacks non-adjacent hex (ranged), heavy damage, low defense, retreat from cavalry charge/melee (abandoning guns)
little-wars) (bonus negated if already in adjacent hex at start of move)
 
* Artillery: move x/3, attacks non-adjacent hex (ranged), heavy damage, low defense, retreat from cavalry  
 
 
 
charge/melee (abandoning guns)
 
 
=== Combat ===
 
=== Combat ===
- heh! Not the key point but it needs to make sense!
+
* heh! Not the key point but it needs to make sense!
- For now throw in some borrowed Combat Results Table for attack/defense
+
* For now throw in some borrowed Combat Results Table for attack/defense
- Moderated by terrain type, morale, cavalry charges, experience
+
* Moderated by terrain type, morale, cavalry charges, experience
- see free wargame links such as "march towards the sound of guns" or "cannonade".  
+
* see free wargame links such as "march towards the sound of guns" or "cannonade". http://www.angelfire.com/games2/warpspawn/Can.html
 
+
* keeping att/def low and attrition low (except for drastic actions like melee) emphasizes supply bonuses and surrendering making the difference. (Like Little Wars, surrendering or retreating would happen before a total wipeout, even with overwhelming force.)
http://www.angelfire.com/games2/warpspawn/Can.html
 
- keeping att/def low and attrition low (except for drastic actions like melee) emphasizes supply bonuses and  
 
 
 
surrendering making the difference. (Like Little Wars, surrendering or retreating would happen before a total  
 
 
 
wipeout, even with overwhelming force.)
 
 
== Simultaneous Turn Resolution ==
 
== Simultaneous Turn Resolution ==
- idea: like LSN, there is an "orders" phase then an "execution" phase
+
* idea: like LSN, there is an "orders" phase then an "execution" phase
- units may find themselves caught out by unanticipated enemy movement eg same destination hex: melee
+
* units may find themselves caught out by unanticipated enemy movement eg same destination hex: melee
- Solium has same concept, PBEM but not simultaneous execution
+
* Solium has same concept, PBEM but not simultaneous execution
- "orders" is closer to concept of the day.  
+
* "orders" is closer to concept of the day.  
 
== Limited Orders ==
 
== Limited Orders ==
- Limited number of orders available per turn(not all units can move) like Solium, HexCommand, Memoir44. Reduces  
+
* Limited number of orders available per turn(not all units can move) like Solium, HexCommand, Memoir44. Reduces micromanagement & raises strategic thinking requirements. Same restriction on enemy obviously.
 
+
* This may be linked to number of Commander units on the field (Brigadier Generals) or increased somewhat by purchasing them as a unit. Logically commanders could give extra orders to units they are in contact with at start of turn.
micromanagement & raises strategic thinking requirements. Same restriction on enemy obviously.
 
- This may be linked to number of Commander units on the field (Brigadier Generals) or increased somewhat by  
 
 
 
purchasing them as a unit. Logically commanders could give extra orders to units they are in contact with at start  
 
 
 
of turn.
 
  
 
== Logistic Buildings ==
 
== Logistic Buildings ==
- able to set up bases? then move (or dismantle & rebuild) bases after advancing? "engineer" corps considered  
+
* able to set up bases? then move (or dismantle & rebuild) bases after advancing? "engineer" corps considered invisible except when actually building.  
 
+
* Unlimited engineer corps * or another resource to manage/limiting factor on how many simultaneous road/base/bridge efforts?
invisible except when actually building.  
+
* fortification upgrades? or existing? Bunkers (anti-siege), walls (anti-inf), wire/ditch (anti-cav), & new description automatic based on upgrades eg fortress
- Unlimited engineer corps - or another resource to manage/limiting factor on how many simultaneous  
+
* Single-hex supply dumps might be in the centre of a 6-hex fortress (eg Halifax); might be a port, part of a town, city, etc.
 
+
* Map scale might be: a city, and outlying villages and farmland, rarely two cities would be close enough to be shown in entirety on same battle map?
road/base/bridge efforts?
 
- fortification upgrades? or existing? Bunkers (anti-siege), walls (anti-inf), wire/ditch (anti-cav), & new  
 
 
 
description automatic based on upgrades eg fortress
 
- Single-hex supply dumps might be in the centre of a 6-hex fortress (eg Halifax); might be a port, part of a  
 
 
 
town, city, etc.
 
- Map scale might be: a city, and outlying villages and farmland, rarely two cities would be close enough to be  
 
 
 
shown in entirety on same battle map?
 
  
 
=== Factories ===
 
=== Factories ===
- Begin with at least one: main source(s) of supply  
+
* Begin with at least one: main source(s) of supply  
- What makes new available? Where located: cities only?
+
* What makes new available? Where located: cities only?
- Capturable from enemy.
+
* Capturable from enemy.
- flavor only: munitions, food, clothing (boots, beans, bullets)
+
* flavor only: munitions, food, clothing (boots, beans, bullets)
- Actual production referred to generically as supplies. (supply units)
+
* Actual production referred to generically as supplies. (supply units)
- Flavor: The Old Mill. (on a river of course) Pembrose Nitrates. Acme Bandages.
+
* Flavor: The Old Mill. (on a river of course) Pembrose Nitrates. Acme Bandages.
 
=== Supply Dumps ===
 
=== Supply Dumps ===
- Storage, like energy; supply buffers
+
* Storage, like energy; supply buffers
- Cheaper(?existing buildings) if placed in cities  
+
* Cheaper(?existing buildings) if placed in cities  
- 3 grades
+
* 3 grades
 
# low: supply cache (?supply dump?): cheapest to build, low capacity
 
# low: supply cache (?supply dump?): cheapest to build, low capacity
 
# (?medium low: supply dump? only if balance point needed)
 
# (?medium low: supply dump? only if balance point needed)
 
# medium: supply depot: medium
 
# medium: supply depot: medium
 
# high: supply base (?centre?): high
 
# high: supply base (?centre?): high
- cost recovered (eg 60%) when dismantling
+
* cost recovered (eg 60%) when dismantling
- upgradeable
+
* upgradeable
  
 
== Logistic Routes ==
 
== Logistic Routes ==
- Begin with a certain amount pre-existing between cities. IE historical roads.
+
* Begin with a certain amount pre-existing between cities. IE historical roads.
- Placed (by player) between cities, or arbitrary points, ie building the ''network'' not the nodes
+
* Placed (by player) between cities, or arbitrary points, ie building the ''network'' not the nodes
- must place supply nodes (buildings) as above.
+
* must place supply nodes (buildings) as above.
- Road building required to upgrade routes, cost varies with length (hex by hex progress, managed by AI engineers)
+
* Road building required to upgrade routes, cost varies with length (hex by hex progress, managed by AI engineers)
- Upgrade in stages (1->2->3->4) or allow jumps (1->4)?
+
* Upgrade in stages (1->2->3->4) or allow jumps (1->4)?
- When upgraded - try an option where all units switch to next type, or enough to give same equivalent capacity,  
+
* When upgraded: try an option where all units switch to next type, or enough to give same equivalent capacity, if already in pool, and return to pool. Eg new road, return 4 mules to pool, take 2 carts from pool, (maybe player just clicks OK ?or can tweak default numbers to see new capacity before clicking OK)  
 
+
* Reduces player micromanagement of results of previous decision to upgrade, by doing the logical. They can then add more units themselves.
if already in pool, and return to pool. Eg new road, return 4 mules to pool, take 2 carts from pool, (maybe player  
+
* When all are removed from a route, gray out marker and/or remove highlight from route. (Road is still present, route marker, but no traffic.) Handle mule paths differently?  
 
+
* Smart reconfig if new depot placed on existing route. (new autoassigned marker, etc)
just clicks OK ?or can tweak default numbers to see new capacity before clicking OK) - Reduces player  
 
 
 
micromanagement of results of previous decision to upgrade, by doing the logical. They can then add more units  
 
 
 
themselves.
 
- When all are removed from a route, gray out marker and/or remove highlight from route. (Road is still present,  
 
 
 
route marker, but no traffic.) Handle mule paths differently?  
 
- Smart reconfig if new depot placed on existing route. (new autoassigned marker, etc)
 
  
 
== Logistic Units ==
 
== Logistic Units ==
- automoved by AI once placed on a route (click on route marker (RedBallExpress))
+
* automoved by AI once placed on a route (click on route marker (RedBallExpress))
- automove at end of turn, allowing player override during turn?
+
* automove at end of turn, allowing player override during turn?
- can be attacked directly by armies
+
* can be attacked directly by armies
- can be removed from a route and returned to a central 'pool' eg right-click on route marker.  
+
* can be removed from a route and returned to a central 'pool' eg right-click on route marker.  
- Sidebar "motor pool" display should show with labelled icons (& icon bar or fuel gauge) & numbers how many of  
+
* Sidebar "motor pool" display should show with labelled icons (& icon bar or fuel gauge) & numbers how many of each type are in use/total owned eg Mules 7/10, Carts 4/4. "Mule pool" heh. Horseheads with blinders. (+)(Buy) and (-)(Sell) buttons for each row. --what if more than 10? Scaling icons to represent a percentage rather than just 1? What does 20 overlapping small pixelated mule heads look like? Available units in highlight or border, in-use units lowlighted. See "Antarctic Colony" flash eg.
 
+
* Assume units can place immediately anywhere from pool, ie mules 'move' instantly from one side of the map to the other.
each type are in use/total owned eg Mules 7/10, Carts 4/4. "Mule pool" heh. Horseheads with blinders. (+)(Buy) and  
 
 
 
(-)(Sell) buttons for each row. --what if more than 10? Scaling icons to represent a percentage rather than just  
 
 
 
1? What does 20 overlapping small pixelated mule heads look like? Available units in highlight or border, in-use  
 
 
 
units lowlighted. See "Antarctic Colony" flash eg.
 
- Assume units can place immediately anywhere from pool, ie mules 'move' instantly from one side of the map to the  
 
 
 
other.
 
 
=== Types ===
 
=== Types ===
 
Ranked by capacity (and susceptibility to damage) and terrain requirements; cost
 
Ranked by capacity (and susceptibility to damage) and terrain requirements; cost
- Pack Mule: Requires minimal/footpath (eg even into the mountains, but not straight up cliffs or rivers)
+
* Pack Mule: Requires minimal/footpath (eg even into the mountains, but not straight up cliffs or rivers). (no wheels)
- Horse Cart: Requires dirt road, river ford, floating bridge
+
* Horse Cart: Requires dirt road, river ford, floating bridge (2 wheels)
- Truck: Requires paved road, road bridge
+
* Wagon/Truck: Requires paved road, road bridge (4 wheels)
- Rail car : Requires rail track, station, railhead, rail bridge
+
* Rail car : Requires rail track, station, railhead, rail bridge (8 wheels)
- How to represent >1 mule? >1 train car?
+
* How to represent >1 mule? >1 train car?
 
Optional: Waterways, canals, barges,  
 
Optional: Waterways, canals, barges,  
 
== Resupply rate Formula ==
 
== Resupply rate Formula ==
 
Formula: Resupply rate = capacity of carriers * number of carriers * route length (?* fudge)
 
Formula: Resupply rate = capacity of carriers * number of carriers * route length (?* fudge)
Carriers will attempt to fully load themselves from supply depot/source
+
* Carriers will attempt to fully load themselves from supply depot/source
Direction of flow (source->drain) is always heartland factory -> army in field
+
* Direction of flow (source->drain) is always heartland factory -> army in field
 
eg. army1 resupply = 3 pack mules over 7 kilometers
 
eg. army1 resupply = 3 pack mules over 7 kilometers
  
 
== Resultants ==
 
== Resultants ==
- when building or extending a railroad, placing cheap caches as you go allows you to reap benefit before reaching  
+
* when building or extending a railroad, placing cheap caches as you go allows you to reap benefit before reaching intended extent. '''Railhead'''
 
+
* Armies have a better chance of intercepting attacks on their depot if placed away from depot (out of supply?adjacent) & also you need to move out of supply to advance. Balance for player risk/reward.
intended extent. '''Railhead'''
+
* must game min/max scenarios ie what limits on infinite mules on one route?
- Armies have a better chance of intercepting attacks on their depot if placed away from depot (out of supply?
+
* if not stackable * then solves this one: all armies stacked on one base. Defeat that! * cut rail line. Hit railcars with artillery. * what if all armies stacked on factory? No rail line.  
 
 
adjacent) & also you need to move out of supply to advance. Balance for player risk/reward.
 
- must game min/max scenarios ie what limits on infinite mules on one route?
 
- if not stackable - then solves this one: all armies stacked on one base. Defeat that! - cut rail line. Hit  
 
 
 
railcars with artillery. - what if all armies stacked on factory? No rail line.  
 
 
== Loss Conditions ==
 
== Loss Conditions ==
- armies wiped out. All armies wiped out. Recognize endgame.
+
* armies wiped out. All armies wiped out. Recognize endgame.
- logistics wiped out. Recognize endgame if warchest empty.
+
* logistics wiped out. Recognize endgame if warchest empty.
- engineers wiped out. Recognize endgame if warchest empty.
+
* engineers wiped out. Recognize endgame if warchest empty.
 
== Win Conditions (Objectives) ==
 
== Win Conditions (Objectives) ==
- eliminate all enemy armies
+
* eliminate all enemy armies
- capture and hold all enemy cities
+
* capture and hold all enemy cities
- training/scenario objectives: certain cities, certain factories, build x depots, connect city x by rail
+
* training/scenario objectives: certain cities, certain factories, build x depots, connect city x by rail
 +
* protect special units eg entertainers or VIPs
 +
* surrender to revolutionary forces
  
 
== Strategies & Fun ==
 
== Strategies & Fun ==
- Keep your armies in supply to keep them alive! Rotate wounded to rear.
+
* Keep your armies in supply to keep them alive! Rotate wounded to rear.
- Advance armies to capture cities - and bring up supply lines behind them.
+
* Advance armies to capture cities * and bring up supply lines behind them.
- Upgrade routes (combat engineers) or dismantle, upgrade depots or dismantle
+
* Upgrade routes (combat engineers) or dismantle, upgrade depots or dismantle
- Repair cut or bombed routes, bridges, chase away enemy! Keep "Red Ball Express" moving!
+
* Repair cut or bombed routes, bridges, chase away enemy! Keep "Red Ball Express" moving!
- Take over enemy supply depots (?and blow up to prevent recapture?)
+
* Take over enemy supply depots (?and blow up to prevent recapture?)
- Take over enemy cities and factories to increase production (/gain new units?)
+
* Take over enemy cities and factories to increase production (/gain new units?)
- Starve enemy armies by cutting rail lines, encircle and demolish them
+
* Starve enemy armies by cutting rail lines, encircle and demolish them
  
 
== Linkys ==
 
== Linkys ==
Line 225: Line 169:
 
== Glossary ==
 
== Glossary ==
 
glossary to have links into text of design document later.
 
glossary to have links into text of design document later.
wagonway
+
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/wagonway
lorry
+
* lorry
gurney
+
* gurney
locomotive
+
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/locomotive
steamer
+
* steamer
fusillier
+
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fusillier
grenadier
+
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/grenadier
dragoon
+
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dragoon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse-drawn_vehicle  
+
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse-drawn_vehicle  
(2-wheeled Cart, 4-wheeled Wagon)
+
* (2-wheeled Cart, 4-wheeled Wagon)
Covered Wagon  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conestoga_wagon
+
* Covered Wagon  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conestoga_wagon
http://dwarffortresswiki.net/index.php/User:Jellyfishgreen/Railhead
+
* Railhead http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Rail-Head
 +
* http://dwarffortresswiki.net/index.php/User:Jellyfishgreen/Railhead
 +
 
 +
--[[User:Jellyfishgreen|Jellyfishgreen]] 11:43, 15 December 2009 (UTC)

Latest revision as of 17:25, 17 December 2009

Logistics: Railhead RAILHEAD, a game of 1800's warfare with logistics

  • Note that "Artillery/Scout/Infantry" in the previous idea could also translate to Napoleonic warfare (Risk, Little Wars).
  • Among other things this translates the artillery ranges to a smaller scale (somewhere between direct cannon fire and the explosive shell)
  • What if we tried focusing purely on an enjoyable "victory-through-logistics" simulation?
  • Idea: Your armies on the front lines need a certain amount of resupply per day to fight effectively
  • The actual army combat is either simplified enough to be manageable at the same time as your logistics, or handed off to an AI? Choice of 2 general's hats, or both?
  • Also AI can run logistics, especially as enemy or in combat training.
  • The opposition is similarly presented (France vs Prussia, say, or Redosia vs Bluegaria) ..Industrial Heartland vs Motherland...
  • Turn-based and probably hex
  • Auto-form between armies and nearest supply depot? No.
  • Or always onus on player to place (?cheap cache) manually if expecting to hold a position? Yes.
  • armies only resupply themselves when moved onto a cache/depot/base (/town scavenging/friendly army)
  • Resources for the player: time, monetary cost (and attention)
  • Money resource represented by War Chest.

War Chest[edit]

  • fixed for a given scenario? eg training
  • receives updates * income from government, periodically
  • or bonus-based eg capturing cities (or scenario ends if x captured)
  • or could be designed out altogether, if Time is the resource

Army[edit]

  • Perhaps, like Risk or Hex Empire, not actually distinguishable as soldiers or artillery * generic army units, considered as soldiers.
  • Reinforcements (bringing *soldiers* to the front) was actually key in Hex Empire
  • Chief role is to fight at front.
  • Side role to protect logistics ie supply dumps.
  • Troops have a certain max troop strength & max carrying capacity & max morale.
  • Bought? Or present in full strength at start and up to you to manage through the scenario?
  • Approx scale: 1 infantry unit = 1 company (80 infantry? approx 60-200 historically) in 4 platoons
  • 1 unit per hex, normally, unless passing through or melee
  • Formations are important. What officer assists in keeping formations?
  • every unit has a flag? insignia carried by ensign? or option for colour party morale booster - one per brigade affects all adjacent countrymen
  • toy soldier art concepts.

Troop Strength[edit]

  • Troops gain replacements ie automatically 'regenerate' when in supply, proportional to the rate of supply. Also reflects better food/better hospitals at the bigger bases.
  • Defined max for each unit type, will only regen up to original max
  • Stackable? see Combat.

Carrying Capacity[edit]

  • Reflects how many supplies are actually carried by the troops when they leave the depot (staging area)
  • armies only resupply themselves when moved onto a cache/depot/base (/town scavenging?/friendly army)
  • or between adjacent armies? sharing supplies if sharing hex.
  • captured enemy caches?
  • Usage rate:
  • Resupply rate:
  • when supplies run out (or on approach to zero), starvation casualties mount

Morale[edit]

  • raised ++ by victory
  • lowered by casualties
  • drops slowly when bored/idle (?weather) (except in a town * entertainment)
  • increases slowly (to max) when >50% CC
  • decreases slowly (to min) when <50% CC (&++ starvation or scrounging)
  • automatic surrender rule when attacked, if certain conditions are true (recognize hopeless situation)
  • such as: supply lines cut, no adjacent friendlies, neighbors have surrendered
  • Prepare separate Morale table, with all possible modifiers, unique ID 000-999

Unit Types[edit]

  • Infantry: move x, attacks adjacent hex, medium damage, medium defense
  • Cavalry: move x*2, attacks adjacent hex, light damage/defense (the Scout/Skirmish role), +charge ability (like little-wars) (bonus negated if already in adjacent hex at start of move)
  • Artillery: move x/3, attacks non-adjacent hex (ranged), heavy damage, low defense, retreat from cavalry charge/melee (abandoning guns)

Combat[edit]

  • heh! Not the key point but it needs to make sense!
  • For now throw in some borrowed Combat Results Table for attack/defense
  • Moderated by terrain type, morale, cavalry charges, experience
  • see free wargame links such as "march towards the sound of guns" or "cannonade". http://www.angelfire.com/games2/warpspawn/Can.html
  • keeping att/def low and attrition low (except for drastic actions like melee) emphasizes supply bonuses and surrendering making the difference. (Like Little Wars, surrendering or retreating would happen before a total wipeout, even with overwhelming force.)

Simultaneous Turn Resolution[edit]

  • idea: like LSN, there is an "orders" phase then an "execution" phase
  • units may find themselves caught out by unanticipated enemy movement eg same destination hex: melee
  • Solium has same concept, PBEM but not simultaneous execution
  • "orders" is closer to concept of the day.

Limited Orders[edit]

  • Limited number of orders available per turn(not all units can move) like Solium, HexCommand, Memoir44. Reduces micromanagement & raises strategic thinking requirements. Same restriction on enemy obviously.
  • This may be linked to number of Commander units on the field (Brigadier Generals) or increased somewhat by purchasing them as a unit. Logically commanders could give extra orders to units they are in contact with at start of turn.

Logistic Buildings[edit]

  • able to set up bases? then move (or dismantle & rebuild) bases after advancing? "engineer" corps considered invisible except when actually building.
  • Unlimited engineer corps * or another resource to manage/limiting factor on how many simultaneous road/base/bridge efforts?
  • fortification upgrades? or existing? Bunkers (anti-siege), walls (anti-inf), wire/ditch (anti-cav), & new description automatic based on upgrades eg fortress
  • Single-hex supply dumps might be in the centre of a 6-hex fortress (eg Halifax); might be a port, part of a town, city, etc.
  • Map scale might be: a city, and outlying villages and farmland, rarely two cities would be close enough to be shown in entirety on same battle map?

Factories[edit]

  • Begin with at least one: main source(s) of supply
  • What makes new available? Where located: cities only?
  • Capturable from enemy.
  • flavor only: munitions, food, clothing (boots, beans, bullets)
  • Actual production referred to generically as supplies. (supply units)
  • Flavor: The Old Mill. (on a river of course) Pembrose Nitrates. Acme Bandages.

Supply Dumps[edit]

  • Storage, like energy; supply buffers
  • Cheaper(?existing buildings) if placed in cities
  • 3 grades
  1. low: supply cache (?supply dump?): cheapest to build, low capacity
  2. (?medium low: supply dump? only if balance point needed)
  3. medium: supply depot: medium
  4. high: supply base (?centre?): high
  • cost recovered (eg 60%) when dismantling
  • upgradeable

Logistic Routes[edit]

  • Begin with a certain amount pre-existing between cities. IE historical roads.
  • Placed (by player) between cities, or arbitrary points, ie building the network not the nodes
  • must place supply nodes (buildings) as above.
  • Road building required to upgrade routes, cost varies with length (hex by hex progress, managed by AI engineers)
  • Upgrade in stages (1->2->3->4) or allow jumps (1->4)?
  • When upgraded: try an option where all units switch to next type, or enough to give same equivalent capacity, if already in pool, and return to pool. Eg new road, return 4 mules to pool, take 2 carts from pool, (maybe player just clicks OK ?or can tweak default numbers to see new capacity before clicking OK)
  • Reduces player micromanagement of results of previous decision to upgrade, by doing the logical. They can then add more units themselves.
  • When all are removed from a route, gray out marker and/or remove highlight from route. (Road is still present, route marker, but no traffic.) Handle mule paths differently?
  • Smart reconfig if new depot placed on existing route. (new autoassigned marker, etc)

Logistic Units[edit]

  • automoved by AI once placed on a route (click on route marker (RedBallExpress))
  • automove at end of turn, allowing player override during turn?
  • can be attacked directly by armies
  • can be removed from a route and returned to a central 'pool' eg right-click on route marker.
  • Sidebar "motor pool" display should show with labelled icons (& icon bar or fuel gauge) & numbers how many of each type are in use/total owned eg Mules 7/10, Carts 4/4. "Mule pool" heh. Horseheads with blinders. (+)(Buy) and (-)(Sell) buttons for each row. --what if more than 10? Scaling icons to represent a percentage rather than just 1? What does 20 overlapping small pixelated mule heads look like? Available units in highlight or border, in-use units lowlighted. See "Antarctic Colony" flash eg.
  • Assume units can place immediately anywhere from pool, ie mules 'move' instantly from one side of the map to the other.

Types[edit]

Ranked by capacity (and susceptibility to damage) and terrain requirements; cost

  • Pack Mule: Requires minimal/footpath (eg even into the mountains, but not straight up cliffs or rivers). (no wheels)
  • Horse Cart: Requires dirt road, river ford, floating bridge (2 wheels)
  • Wagon/Truck: Requires paved road, road bridge (4 wheels)
  • Rail car : Requires rail track, station, railhead, rail bridge (8 wheels)
  • How to represent >1 mule? >1 train car?

Optional: Waterways, canals, barges,

Resupply rate Formula[edit]

Formula: Resupply rate = capacity of carriers * number of carriers * route length (?* fudge)

  • Carriers will attempt to fully load themselves from supply depot/source
  • Direction of flow (source->drain) is always heartland factory -> army in field

eg. army1 resupply = 3 pack mules over 7 kilometers

Resultants[edit]

  • when building or extending a railroad, placing cheap caches as you go allows you to reap benefit before reaching intended extent. Railhead
  • Armies have a better chance of intercepting attacks on their depot if placed away from depot (out of supply?adjacent) & also you need to move out of supply to advance. Balance for player risk/reward.
  • must game min/max scenarios ie what limits on infinite mules on one route?
  • if not stackable * then solves this one: all armies stacked on one base. Defeat that! * cut rail line. Hit railcars with artillery. * what if all armies stacked on factory? No rail line.

Loss Conditions[edit]

  • armies wiped out. All armies wiped out. Recognize endgame.
  • logistics wiped out. Recognize endgame if warchest empty.
  • engineers wiped out. Recognize endgame if warchest empty.

Win Conditions (Objectives)[edit]

  • eliminate all enemy armies
  • capture and hold all enemy cities
  • training/scenario objectives: certain cities, certain factories, build x depots, connect city x by rail
  • protect special units eg entertainers or VIPs
  • surrender to revolutionary forces

Strategies & Fun[edit]

  • Keep your armies in supply to keep them alive! Rotate wounded to rear.
  • Advance armies to capture cities * and bring up supply lines behind them.
  • Upgrade routes (combat engineers) or dismantle, upgrade depots or dismantle
  • Repair cut or bombed routes, bridges, chase away enemy! Keep "Red Ball Express" moving!
  • Take over enemy supply depots (?and blow up to prevent recapture?)
  • Take over enemy cities and factories to increase production (/gain new units?)
  • Starve enemy armies by cutting rail lines, encircle and demolish them

Linkys[edit]

Napoleon at War http://www.freeverse.com/mac/product/?id=9001 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/the-practical-art-of-moving-armies.htm

Free Rules selection http://freewargamesrules.co.uk/index.php?page=napoleonic

http://www.kamikazewargames.com/index.htm

http://sourceforge.net/projects/wargame/ (Ogre3DJava, non-hex, nice map, compiled for Windows) http://sourceforge.net/projects/sdlwargame/ (Utilities, 0.1, not updated since 2005)

Glossary[edit]

glossary to have links into text of design document later.

--Jellyfishgreen 11:43, 15 December 2009 (UTC)