Question on Dynamic Campaigns

John Tiller's Campaign Series exemplifies tactical war-gaming at its finest by bringing you the entire collection of TalonSoft's award-winning campaign series. Containing TalonSoft's West Front, East Front, and Rising Sun platoon-level combat series, as well as all of the official add-ons and expansion packs, the Matrix Edition allows players to dictate the events of World War II from the tumultuous beginning to its climatic conclusion. We are working together with original programmer John Tiller to bring you this updated edition.

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satisfaction
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Question on Dynamic Campaigns

Post by satisfaction »

I've been playing this series forever, but never really got into the dynamic campaigns. It seemed to me that every mission (only ever got about 3 in!) I faced the same opponent...but his forces were fresh every time. How does this work? Do you continue to face a full strength enemy every time? or does this fluctuate? Also is the enemy force always of a size similar to yours? I found that I knew what was coming and that seemed to take some of the fun out of it...get in his rear and kill the artillery then mop up. I knew how many guns etc... Anyone have better knowledge of how these work? I love the concept and hope my impression is just not deep enough!
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Jason Petho
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RE: Question on Dynamic Campaigns

Post by Jason Petho »

ORIGINAL: satisfaction
I've been playing this series forever, but never really got into the dynamic campaigns. It seemed to me that every mission (only ever got about 3 in!) I faced the same opponent...but his forces were fresh every time. How does this work?

The Dynamic Campaigns are merely a set of "Random" Battles between specified dates.
ORIGINAL: satisfaction
Do you continue to face a full strength enemy every time? or does this fluctuate?


The opposing forces will always be full strength in a DCG.

ORIGINAL: satisfaction
Also is the enemy force always of a size similar to yours?

Unless you alter the difficulty level, then yes, they will be roughly the same size.

ORIGINAL: satisfaction
I found that I knew what was coming and that seemed to take some of the fun out of it...get in his rear and kill the artillery then mop up. I knew how many guns etc... Anyone have better knowledge of how these work? I love the concept and hope my impression is just not deep enough!

For more of a challenge, I would recommend playing the Linked Campaigns and then, if you feel confident with that, find a human opponent to play. The DCG's are good for practicing tactics.

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RE: Question on Dynamic Campaigns

Post by serg3d »

ORIGINAL: Jason Petho
ORIGINAL: satisfaction
Also is the enemy force always of a size similar to yours?

Unless you alter the difficulty level, then yes, they will be roughly the same size.
The relative your/enemy strength can fluctuate wildly in DCG. One battle you face enemy infantry division which arrived on battlefield piecemeal, with open flanks, while you have your full strength tank brigade in static defense line with pillboxes, bunkers, trenches, heavy ATG regiment, AA guns, and a regiment of heavy howitzers.
But the next battle it's your brigade arrive piecemeal and your face two-regiment panzer division with only one battalion of your tank, and some crappy infantry, without pillboxes, without bunkers, and your paltry amount of ATGs and howitzers will arrive in the middle of battle then supply hexes already under enemy fire, and the rest of your tanks will arrive at the end of the battle, just in time to be mowed up by enemy panzers.
ORIGINAL: satisfaction
I found that I knew what was coming and that seemed to take some of the fun out of it...get in his rear and kill the artillery then mop up. I knew how many guns etc... Anyone have better knowledge of how these work? I love the concept and hope my impression is just not deep enough!
For more of a challenge, I would recommend playing the Linked Campaigns and then, if you feel confident with that, find a human opponent to play. The DCG's are good for practicing tactics.
That is the question of preferences. I found Linked Campaigns easy, slow and boring. DCG are more random and have equipment upgrades.
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RE: Question on Dynamic Campaigns

Post by Jason Petho »

ORIGINAL: serg3d
The relative your/enemy strength can fluctuate wildly in DCG. One battle you face enemy infantry division which arrived on battlefield piecemeal, with open flanks, while you have your full strength tank brigade in static defense line with pillboxes, bunkers, trenches, heavy ATG regiment, AA guns, and a regiment of heavy howitzers.
But the next battle it's your brigade arrive piecemeal and your face two-regiment panzer division with only one battalion of your tank, and some crappy infantry, without pillboxes, without bunkers, and your paltry amount of ATGs and howitzers will arrive in the middle of battle then supply hexes already under enemy fire, and the rest of your tanks will arrive at the end of the battle, just in time to be mowed up by enemy panzers.

There is a file that will decide what you are playing against for each battle (generally speaking) by the role of a die. While the force type will mix depending on mission type, the size of the forces will remain approximately same for those missions. If you are defending, you will face a larger force than if you are attacking.
ORIGINAL: satisfaction
That is the question of preferences. I found Linked Campaigns easy, slow and boring. DCG are more random and have equipment upgrades.

To each their own.

LCG's can have equipment upgrades as well, if the designer choses to do so.

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RE: Question on Dynamic Campaigns

Post by serg3d »

ORIGINAL: Jason Petho
While the force type will mix depending on mission type, the size of the forces will remain approximately same for those missions. If you are defending, you will face a larger force than if you are attacking.
Jason Petho

Is force size count by formations, by amount of units SP or some by kind of force evaluation, taking into account quality of the units ? If it's by formation you can face infantry division, or one-regiment panzer division, or two-regiment panzer division. Formation rank is the same, but the real strength is quite different. Even with the same amount of tanks it could be all Pz-38(t), or mix of Pz-IIIG, Pz-IVD - again quite diffrenet strength.
BTW I like this randomness.
I have couple of question:
Do player losses accounted for in battle setup - that is if my losses are big do I get more auxiliaries ?
Do AI units also have reinforcement schedule, or arrive all at once ?
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RE: Question on Dynamic Campaigns

Post by Warhorse »

I usually end up editing the particular scenario in the DCG, adding more units for the enemy, etc.

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RE: Question on Dynamic Campaigns

Post by Jason Petho »

ORIGINAL: serg3d
ORIGINAL: Jason Petho
While the force type will mix depending on mission type, the size of the forces will remain approximately same for those missions. If you are defending, you will face a larger force than if you are attacking.
Jason Petho

Is force size count by formations, by amount of units SP or some by kind of force evaluation, taking into account quality of the units ? If it's by formation you can face infantry division, or one-regiment panzer division, or two-regiment panzer division. Formation rank is the same, but the real strength is quite different. Even with the same amount of tanks it could be all Pz-38(t), or mix of Pz-IIIG, Pz-IVD - again quite diffrenet strength.

The force selection is randomly generated from a pool of formation types, based on a die roll. The size of your core unit and the mission type will determine the size of opposing force you will face.
ORIGINAL: serg3d
BTW I like this randomness.

As you've noted, understood.

ORIGINAL: serg3d
I have couple of question:
Do player losses accounted for in battle setup - that is if my losses are big do I get more auxiliaries ?

No, player losses are not accounted for, only mission type.
ORIGINAL: serg3d
Do AI units also have reinforcement schedule, or arrive all at once ?

It depends on the scenario type of the scenario. If the scenario has a reinforcement schedule for the opposing force, it will be randomly generated.

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RE: Question on Dynamic Campaigns

Post by Bazooka Bob »

In the DCG's, why can't the OPForce have a random generator for variable unit strengths.  It is can be really tough sometimes when your forces gets beat down. no matter how well you play, to go up against full strength units every time.
Don't view the situation as being outnumbered. View the situation as having a wide selection of targets to choose from.
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