scenario design -please help !

[retired from gaming]

could any of experienced scenario designers post a short guide for scenario designing ? Sort of "how to make a scenario in 5 easy steps", pretty much like "How to create a web page" by Weasel.

I am not talking anything fancy, just main things which MUST be done for scen to work.
thanx in advance,
maciej

[Vesku]

For which version?

[retired from gaming]

winMBT

[Vesku]

Sorry, haven't done any for that.

[Greybeard]

Hello Maciej,

Ok - here's my 2 cents worth..

not really a whole lot different than setting up a PBEM battle

Step one.. identify what kind of battle (ME, Advance, Assault), and whether or not it has a historical background.. and the countries involved..

Step 2: how large? - and what map terrain.. you may wish to create a new map (which requires more time to research if historical setting is desired)

Step 3: Purchase the forces and deploy on a map.. you might wish to identify which side is intended for human player.. or if the intent is to have a reasonably balanced PBEM game..

Step 4: while deploying.. set up your flags - usually in historical/important terrain or other map features.. some might be road junctions.. towns, high ground, bridges, fords, etc.. along with that comes the decision of what value the flags ought to be..

Step 5, once you are set, playtest the game for balance.. this usually works best to play the intended opponent (human or AI) IMHO human is better because the AI won't see shortfalls.. use different people to play test. Playtesting is propably the most important part of the scenario design..

Polish and finish..

Try different things, like setting objectives for AI controlled forces.. adding reinforcements to arrive later, set 'gold' spots for artillery for the human players.. make sure that your units are appropriate.. AKA, don't provide big guns with transports that are too small.. try and remember a FO for any major artillery.. pay attention to historical/'normal' force compositions and unit types.. don't overload one side or the other with elite troops

Once several play tests are complete, and the suggested adjustments are confirmed, then you are pretty well set to go..

Steve

[retired from gaming]

Big thanks Steve,
I was just wondering if it was as easy as it looked like (technical wise, balance and historical accurancy is something completely different). Also couldnt find when and where you place VPs, but since I never reached deploy phase it's clear now.
Am I right all those "different things, like setting objectives for AI etc" are done in deployment phase ?
And you can switch for and back from deployment to buyng ?

[keepitloki]

Yep, you set the VHs in the deploy section of the editor. If you're setting up a PBEM battle player 1 can also setup the VHs. On the editor page you can switch back and forth between all the different sections as much as you like, deploying,deleting and rebuying, redeploying.

[retired from gaming]

Thanks Keepitloki, that's what I thought. Will try in reality tonite, at home.