Scenario/Campaign Size

[DoubleDeuce]

Just curious what kind of formula people would use to determine a small, medium or large scenario for FC:RS. I understand it's really subjective but I want to be able to give interested players of my content a gauge to go by when such as when I include in the description that this is medium size scenario or campaign and they get the same feeling when they play it.

For example, the Silver Lions campaign I'm working on involves a battalion sized US Armor/Infantry mix Task Force with typical attachments from brigade such as an FSO, ADA and Engineer assets.

[Tazak]

I'm using the following:

Up to Bn size force - small
Reinforced Bn but smaller than Regt/Bde - medium
Full Regt/Bde or larger - large

[JohnOs]

Another question, that I have is balanced or not balanced? For example, NATO Company vs Soviet BN, NATO BN vs Soviet Regiment. How are the scenario designers basing the size of the forces, trail and error or just winging it [:)]

[MikeAP]

ORIGINAL: Tazak

I'm using the following:

Up to Bn size force - small
Reinforced Bn but smaller than Regt/Bde - medium
Full Regt/Bde or larger - large

I like this.

I hope one day we can even see some CO/TM sized engagements.

[Tazak]

I think for scenarios we're lucky in so far as 'historic' side the game is limited to OOB and which units faced each other over the border, but once the war starts all bets are off so we have only a imagination and plausibility limiting scenario design e.g. would you expect to see USMC in CENTAG....most likely not but what would the US do if REFORGER had not gone to plan and other areas of the globe were quiet.

There are a number of factors I consider:

'historic' forces available
'historic' high level battle plan
what forces would be it take to hold various terrain features against various size enemy forces
what would the 'historic' enemy likely do or allocate in terms of ground forces and support

From those factors I select what I feel are appropriate forces for each side, then I play test it a few times before increasing or decreasing either forces or VP locations until I get the feel of the scenario how I want it.

Balance can be done in various guises from adding in Division or Army support assets, keeping entire units but reducing number of subunits within that unit i.e. breakdowns or recent losses not yet replaced, you can also balance forces by 'downgrading' equipment i.e. T80B over T80U, Abbott SPA over M109A2, BMP2(g) over BMP2(m), M1IP over M1A1, or as Mad Russian has noted in a thread somewhere that you can balance a scenario by using larger or smaller VP locations.

Personally I've found that even with 'rule of thumb' approaches of Bn/Regt vs. Regt/Div or 1:3 odds etc balancing can take longer

Campaign forces seem different, I've found you need to throw scenario balance out a little bit to allow for a reduction of player forces over a number of battle.

(Caveat: this is just my take and I bow to any and all advice Mad Russian provides [&o])

[Tazak]

ORIGINAL: MikeAP

I hope one day we can even see some CO/TM sized engagements.

I'm sure a scenario with a soviet tank company might be a tad boring [:D] with a single counter
side note, what is TM?

although I've been toying with the idea of a scenario based around a stay behind section of SAS over looking a MSR and calling in airstrikes or heavy arty on soviet tanks as they transit through towards the FEBA. I think it would be interesting to see a full strike package including SEAD carrying out interdiction missions.

[Mad Russian]

I'm toying with a campaign that centers around a 'stay behind' West German unit. The scenarios will be almost exclusively attack since the unit is left behind to disrupt.

I can't say for sure but I think they interdict some reinforcements coming in from the Soviet Union that don't have mainline equipment in them. [X(]

Again, I can't say for sure but it appears the campaign may be longer than normal with smaller sized actions. [X(]

But then again, who knows what I'll come up with...I think I've shown that I can be pretty inventive when it comes to actions that are represented.

There seems to be at least one small scenario based in an earlier date. If I recall correctly, and I may not as the older I get the less I remember accurately, the fight takes place in 1979....who knows what's coming our way???!!!??? [:D]

I think these should be available within the next 30 days or even much less.....[8|]

Good Hunting.

MR