Campaign System

[Mad Russian]

I don't think that balanced battles are the issue as much as each side getting a chance to perform a task that is important to that side's overall objectives. If the attacking side has overwhelming odds, then when playing the battle have the attacking side perform more tasks to gain more levels of victory, like multiple flags, or ensuring a bridge stays intact, or a shorter time frame to accomplish the tasks. This way the defender can get his butt kicked yet influence subsequent battles by denying the objectives of the attacker. And the attacker can do the same, by overachieving the tasks required like taking more flags then the minmum required in less time with higher enemy kills for example. You are not fighting a battle to see who wins, we know the attacker will, but lets fight for time delays or extra casualties on either side by interpalating some company vs company size battle over an attempt to blow a small bridge before the attacker gets there.

Victory is simple. Each battle area is a 2km x 2km square. Inside that square in a pattern making a square are four flags. Control more of them than your opponent and you control the battle area. Equal numbers and you have a draw. If neither side wants to pull out then the battle continues with reinforcing the battle area an option to both sides depending on their force dispositions on the operational map.

Do you as the defender that gets your butt kicked want that game reported here on the ladder? We all fight battles to win.

If the games are played in real time then holding out for another day means something.

Let me explain real time. We have a month of 30 days in it. You have 20 turn PBEM's.

Three battles start on Day 1.

(1) Battle A is finished in 9 days ( 18 game files - 6 turns). This releases the Side that initiated that battle to initiate another battle. RIGHT THEN! There are no rounds to be contended with!

(2) Battle B is finished in 12 days ( 24 game files - 8 turns) This now releases the side that initiated this battle to initiate another battle. RIGHT THEN!

(3) Battle C is finished is stopped on day 30. The game is set for 20 turns with fixed ending. ( 60 game files - 20 turns) This battle went the whole distance.

If at the end of Battle C there is not one gamer with more flags under control than the other OR if neither side wishes to leave the battle area, the map is reset and another battle started in that location with both sides being allowed to reinforce according to their force dispostion on the operational level map.

The battles that are then started would look like this for the Axis forces.

Battle A - started on day one. Concluded on day 9.

Battle B - started on day one. Concluded on day 12.

Battle C - started on day one. Concluded on day 30.

All battles MUST be finished by day 30 or they are called by the administrator. It is up to the commander for that side to ensure that their files are returned on time...1 file per day unless an agreed to schedule change. TCP or shotgun files on Saturday...whatever...

Battle D - started on Day 10 after the conclusion of Battle A.

Battle E - started on Day 14 after the conclusion of Battle B.

Battle F - started on Day 3 of Month 2 after the conclusion of Battle C. This is a continuation of Battle C.

The commanders would decide how long between battles to start new ones. This system would make holding out on a map where you are heavily outnumbered sometimes imperative and every day counts for other battle locations.

For instance, if the loss of that location would close a pocket on two others battle locations. You may want to take heavy losses in that one and stop combat in the other two and then re-initiate combat in an attempt to get out of the forming pocket.

You absolutely fight each battle to see who wins. Battles are fought for a reason in real life and the same thing would hold true here. Or else why bother if there was no reason to win the fight?

The sole exception that comes to mind is to tie up the enemy's reserves in a fight to help you win in another location.

Good Hunting.

MR