Contemplating Purchase... ActionCards?

[LarryP]

I am dragging my heels here on making a positive purchase decision. I need some sway guys! [8|]

One question in the meantime though: How do the Actioncards work? (I saw them in a screenshot). [&:]

[jbunnelle]

Oooh, I hope it's like Totaler Krieg. Yes, please, more info.

[seille]

Ok i´ll tell you !
 
Action cards are events the player can run in his turn by clicking at.
Normally when you press the card button you run a event coded by the scenario designer
like buying predefined troops.
You could also destroy a location by such a card.
 
Europe 1939 for example uses action cards for setting "Arrival hexes" (for fresh troops)
and many different cards for buying different predefined units.
 
Other cards have a high impact like the german "Western offensive"-Card. That card reduces the readiness
of the western player for this turn by 50% and switches ownership of Oslo and Kopenhagen to Germany.
 
All these cards (and their costs) must be defined in the editor when making the scenario.
The designer can choose when they appear, for which side, what they do and what they cost.
 
Overall a great feature !
 
Hope this was a help.

[Erik Rutins]

Well, the system is very flexible so to some extent things can vary by scenario depending on how the designer set it up. Action Cards are part of the system. By default, they are used to represent research but they can represent events, reinforcements, etc. They are generally "bought" with political points (PPs) which are an expensive resource you can produce in your cities and towns.

If you look at the briefing for Europe 1939 I just posted in another thread, that should give you some idea of how they are used there as well (also read the AARs).

Regards,

- Erik

[ravinhood]

Does the AI use these action cards?

[seille]

No, the AI can´t handle action cards. That´s why these scenario´s (with actioncards) are humanonly.

[Barthheart]

Instead of action cards the AI can have events pre-programmed to do the same sort of things.

Great game by the way Vic.

[Mightfox]

Could a scenario have one side with action cards(meant as human) and one side without, but with events?(AI)

Also, are scenarios set with cards actually unplayable solo, or do they simply not work very well? Couldn't the AI do well without using any cards?

[freeboy]

just think of action cards as, from a designeer standpoint a user interfaced event "card" or from a user standpoint, ala Toaw a "option" theater opti9on etc.. and yes, action cards are side specific.. so, the sides in a multiside have different cards, or no cards at the designers prefference

[TheHellPatrol]

ORIGINAL: LarryP

I am dragging my heels here on making a positive purchase decision. I need some sway guys! [8|]

Hey LarryP! After raving about Guns Of August and taking personal responsibility for your purchase yet to this day you have yet to have it work, albeit playable, i am leery to subject you to more grief. AT does seem to be more Window's friendly and coming from a programmer that offered his first release as freeware well, that shows cajones[;)]. It's not a historical wargame, nor does it stand well against the Decisive Battles series, but it does offer alot of "what-if" random gameplay that allows you to wage war as you see fit.
I don't see myself waking up one morning wanting to play the Ardennes scenario, but on the other hand once i start a random game i can see where the fun factor is...what should i research, build etc...

P.S. The AI does seem very decent so far[8D].

[tweber]

Could a scenario have one side with action cards(meant as human) and one side without, but with events?(AI)

The answer is yes and no. The beauty of action cards is that they give a player choices. As a scenario designer, you can 'check' (editor term) to see if a side is played by the AI. If it is, you can then do the types of things that and action card would do. This could be even randomized so it is not completely deterministic. However, the scenario designer now no longer needs action cards.

[Banquet]

ORIGINAL: TheHellPatrol

once i start a random game i can see where the fun factor is...what should i research, build etc...

P.S. The AI does seem very decent so far[8D].

It's great that the historical battles seem (per AAR's) to go pretty well but the random battles seem to be the hidden gem of this game. They are genius!

[Kipper]

I scoffed at the idea of random fantasy battles and only tried one for the laugh. Am hooked! They are a game within a game!

And compared to so many other games in the past, I already have had my money's worth out of this piece of gaming heaven.

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: TheHellPatrol

Hey LarryP! After raving about Guns Of August and taking personal responsibility for your purchase yet to this day you have yet to have it work, albeit playable, i am leery to subject you to more grief. AT does seem to be more Window's friendly and coming from a programmer that offered his first release as freeware well, that shows cajones[;)]. It's not a historical wargame, nor does it stand well against the Decisive Battles series, but it does offer alot of "what-if" random gameplay that allows you to wage war as you see fit.
I don't see myself waking up one morning wanting to play the Ardennes scenario, but on the other hand once i start a random game i can see where the fun factor is...what should i research, build etc...

P.S. The AI does seem very decent so far[8D].

I never even thought of you being liable for any advice you have given that caused a less than perfect purchase. Long sentence there. You have always given excellent outlook on all the games I have brought to you! Everyone is different in their likes and dislikes with games. Very much so. We were all taken by GoA at first. Then we played it. [:D] That's supposed to be funny but I will get in trouble for sure. Oh well, rag on someone that cares. [X(]

Anyway, I am passing on this title and saving my credit card for the next one, maybe. Not my type of game. [>:]

Thanks for the post Elliott! [&o]

[Kipper]

I had an excellent game with the North Africa 41 scenario today - ebbed and flowed across the continent in a very satisfying fashion, indeed in terms of flow and maneuver I found it more authentic than TOAW, which bogs down into trench warfare so easily. The Axis panzer divisions lapped at my flanks in a very satisfying way and moved deep and well, dislocating me backwards.

Note that the historical operational scenarios do not have production, research etc. etc. Reinforcements arrive as per historical schedule.

The engine is hugely flexible, so much so it takes a bit to get your head around how flxxible it can be: you can have a scenario with two(or more) forces in an operational campaign within a campaign timeframe; or 2(or more) "regimes" going at it over a long period, complete with production, research, national morale, strategic decision points (the "cards") etc etc.

So far I have been playing the operational stuff (being a grognard of long standing ) and am delighted with that part of the game alone.

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: Kipper

I had an excellent game with the North Africa 41 scenario today - ebbed and flowed across the continent in a very satisfying fashion, indeed in terms of flow and maneuver I found it more authentic than TOAW, which bogs down into trench warfare so easily. The Axis panzer divisions lapped at my flanks in a very satisfying way and moved deep and well, dislocating me backwards.

Note that the historical operational scenarios do not have production, research etc. etc. Reinforcements arrive as per historical schedule. The engine is hugely flexible, so much so it takes a bit to get your head around how felxible it can be!

How long approximately does a scenario last like North Africa 41?

Is it a let down that historical operational scenarios don't have production and research?

[Kipper]

I can't see how a theatre commander in North Africa at the operational level would be interested in production and research, so I was delighted to see that it could be excluded from scenarios depending of course on the way they were created.

As to how long, there's a good few hours gameplay in a scenario. I haven't finished it yet!

[TheHellPatrol]

ORIGINAL: TheHellPatrol

I don't see myself waking up one morning wanting to play the Ardennes scenario

[&o]Okay, i was wrong about that one. I started the '41 North Africa scenario late last night and that's the first thing i thought of when i got up this morning. The "timed replacement" scenarios have a whole different feel to them...very fluid with lot's of maneuvering[8D].

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: LarryP

Anyway, I am passing on this title and saving my credit card for the next one, maybe. Not my type of game. [>:]

Well... ummmm... it's like this... I changed my mind and bought it. Will get back to you all later. [;)]

[Awac835]

ORIGINAL: LarryP

ORIGINAL: LarryP

Anyway, I am passing on this title and saving my credit card for the next one, maybe. Not my type of game. [>:]

Well... ummmm... it's like this... I changed my mind and bought it. Will get back to you all later. [;)]

LOL... well tbh i cant see how you can regret it, it is great.