Assault Rule Discussion Part 2

[SGT Rice]

I see valid points on both sides of the debate. On the con side ...

The Volk opposed to the changes can correctly state that a lot of the hard work and 'institutional memory' that's been accumulated here in this forum has been dissipated by the major changes in v1.03. Just one example; I've always found the scenario database to be invaluable for understanding what the play balance is like before starting up a new scenario with someone, but now I have no idea; its like starting over.

If scenario stats for v1.03 were compiled separately, what story would they tell? Drastic changes in balance across the board? Drastic changes in balance in a subset of games? Or very little affect on balance?

I don't think anyone knows, and it would take a awhile to find out (i.e., time for enough reported games too accumulate). It would also entail someone modding the current game reports mechanism to track game versions (since not everyone uses v1.03), and they would have to do that soon before the existing sample of reported games gets too many v1.03 results mixed in with TS results (unless they could filter reported games by date, allowing them to compile stats on pre-v1.03 matches).

Even if someone was willing/able to make that effort, they still face the possibility that their efforts to reconstitute the scenario database would be a waste of time because the game system now seems to be somewhat dynamic; significant changes that affect play balance may be coming along periodically, more selectable optional rules are available, the new rules have bugs that need fixing, etc.

All of which is a long-winded way of saying that change can be difficult, uncomfortable and costly.