A "new" tournament idea

[Cole]

One idea is to use one large scenario and divide into a team game. Instead of splitting forces and each player has an independent command the sides would be split into the overall commander (Corps, Division, etc) and his subordinate commands.

This is the weak point because most will want to play. Maybe the overall commander also directly controls the reserves. There will also need to be a referee.

The way this game would be played is that all orders must be sent from the main HQ to subordinate units. The commander sends his orders through the referee because the commander can only send orders when his HQ is in supply and only to those subordinate HQs that are both in range and also in supply.

If the overall HQ is in supply and sends an order to a subordinate HQ that isn't in supply then the referee would hold onto the message until such time as the subordinate HQ's radiomen can set up and process their traffic. This will slow down the game some so can only be used in longer scenarios.

I don't foresee doing this below the subordinate commanders (i.e. Corps sends to the subordinate player's Divisional HQ and now the Divisional HQ has to follow the same process to send to all his Regiments, then down to Battalions, etc). This would be more realistic but would really slow down the game.

The end result would be less of an "omnipresent" intelligence directing a side that has perfect knowledge of all his forces, even down to the recon unit spotting on the far side of the map. The overall commander will be frustrated at times by not having the intent of his orders followed or misunderstood.

As for the time problem, no problem. That's where the referee steps in. After a predetermined amount of time the referee steps in, ends the turn, and if a lot of the side hasn't finished playing then that reflects on that sides motivation and command and control. I think that would also add an element of realism. Lot's of fighting will be going on for a vital village but for some reason the panzer battalion 2 clicks away never moves to help....