seabolt Wrote:A variation that I've been toying with that would play faster:
Turn the battlefield into a five by five grid of smaller "sectors." Each side has a pool of forces that must be divided up and allocated to each sector, then the commanders on the team are each assigned a sector and its forces. You end up fighting (for instance) five 1-on-1 matches on a team basis. The results of the fighting in each sector determine how the front shifts before the next round's fighting (much like Europa Twilight though on a much smaller basis).
Here’s an idea along those lines, and it may even be similar to what Gunslngr has in mind but without hassle of lengthy turns.
Let’s call it ‘Brigade Campaign’.
Teams
Two teams, doesn’t matter how many on each team, as long as they are equal, but let’s say four a side.
Each team has a team leader (Brigadier), who may also command one of his four battalions.
The campaign could be 3 to 5 rounds, of four battles a round (so each player fights one battle a round).
Each battle will be one player against one player, all battles will be meeting engagements.
Map Grid
The front lines would be four maps long (if 8 players), and the map grid would be seven maps deep for a four round battle. Doesn’t matter if the maps actually inter-lock, as long as they are from the same theatre.
All 28 maps would be picked out ahead of time. Each player could pick out 3 or 4 maps to be randomly assigned to the map grid.
Points
In the first round each team leader (Brigadier) gets 12,000 points.
After looking at the maps, and considering his Battalion commanders, he can distribute those points to any of the four sectors along his front lines.
He could give each Battalion commander 3000 points, or could give two 4000 points and two 2000 points. We could impose a minimum of 1000 points, and a maximum of 6000 points per sector.
Each battle would be set up at 10,000 points vs 10,000 points, but each player only spends what he has been given by his team leader.
Therefore, each Battalion commander won’t even know how many points the enemy has, that he is facing.
Sectors
Each Brigadier would also choose where he wants each commander. After both sides have assigned battalion commanders and points to sectors, they would find out which enemy Battalion Commander (BC) they are facing. BCs must stay in the same sector for the remainder of the campaign. Unless a BC has to drop out, in which case he could be replaced.
In subsequent rounds, a draw will mean you stay on the same map. A win means you advance a map on the map grid.
Artillery
All battles set to 6 aircraft.
Artillery is maximum of 10% for whole Brigade, but again the Brigadier can distribute as he sees fit.
So if round one has 12,000 points then Brigade has max 1,200 of arty. The Brigadier may give two sectors 4000 points and two sectors 2000 points, but he may allot 400 points of arty to each of the 2000 point Battalions and only 200 arty to each of the 4000 point Battalions.
Round Two and Refit Points
Each Brigade gets the force points that survived the first battle, plus refit points at the start of round two.
Calculate surviving force points by taking the total score of the enemy, minus VHex points, and deduct that from your start points.
Now here’s the interesting bit:
The refit points depend on the depth of penetration on the map grid. (success is rewarded)
EDIT: Here's a better Map Grid for two 4 man teams (8 players/battalions) (love using PAINT.net :))
If the allies had three draws and a win. They would get refit points of 3x1500 for the draws and 1x2000 for the win. For a total of 6500 refit points. If the allies lost 5000 force points in round one, then they add their remaining 7000 points to the 6500 refit points. Giving the Brigadier 13,500 points to distribute in round two.
The Axis had three draws and a loss. Giving them 3x1500 and 1x1000 for a total of 5500 refit points to add to their remaining force points.
The Allied Brigadier may then give more points to his successful battalion commander in an attempt to get another win and 2500 ‘rear’ refit points. But even if that commander gets a draw, he remains on the enemy ‘objective’ map and wins his brigade 2000 refit points for round 3.
Victory Conditions
After four rounds, the victory is decided by ground captured.
You get one point for each map grid you’ve advanced.
Misc
Depending on the date, theatre, the allied players could have US, UK, Polish sectors; the Axis, Italian or German.