Matrix/2By3: Simple and effective way to make PBEM "Combat Replay" 100x better !!!

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

We can all agree that UV is absolutely fantastic and that it has no parallel
in any current wargame available on market.

It especially shines in PBEM where two (able) opponents fight.

Thanks again Matrix/2By3 !!!


But... (there is always but)... one small issue is spoiling best possible
enjoyment...

It is the "Combat replay" that is 100% same for both opponents in PBEM.

This is wrong and it defies the "FoW" (Fog of War) principle that we all like
so much.


I thought about this for long time and here are few suggestions/ideas of how
to make "Combat Replay" 100x better with just a simple modification (I am almost
positively sure that this would not require any major code changes)...


Suggestions/ideas for 100x better "Combat Replay" in PBEM

#1
The "Combat Replay" file should be PBEM password protected just like the save
files are.


#2
Before viewing "Combat Replay" the UV player would be asked question whether
he/she is Player1 or Player2.

When player ID question is answered the PBEM password prompt would appear (for
player chosen) and only when proper password is entered the "Combat Replay"
would be played.


#3
The "Combat Replay" play would be same as it is today and same "Combat Report"
textual file would be created with following exceptions:

a)
The player would not be able to see where from enemy aircraft come (i.e. those
lines that show origin and target) in any type of mission (this is
_MAYOR_ spoiler - we don't have AWACS in WWII).

b)
The player would not be able to see that enemy ships hit friendly or enemy
mines (mines don't have radios on board <VBG>).

c)
The player would not be able to see that enemy ships are clearing friendly or
enemy mines (again mines don't have radios on board <VBG>).

d)
The player would not be able to see that enemy search aircraft sees his TFs
unless his CAP and/or flak engage/fire on enemy search aircraft.

e)
The Japanese player would not be able to see that coastal watchers see his
TFs.



What do you think gentleman?

Matrx/2By2 can this be done?


Leo "Apollo11"

[Full Moon]

Sounds fine but

The "Combat Replay" file should be PBEM password protected just like the save

Better solutions would be completly incorporating combat replay file into save file and,

Before viewing "Combat Replay" the UV player would be asked question whether he/she is Player1 or Player2

Doesn't it already do this? I mean it asks your password, so I'm not sure about this part.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

Originally posted by Full Moon

Better solutions would be completly incorporating combat replay file into save file.

My suggestion was to make things as simple and easy to do as possible without mayor rewrites.

Doesn't it already do this? I mean it asks your password, so I'm not sure about this part.

Nope. The "Combat Replay" file is free to load and watch without any password protection.


Leo "Apollo11"

[Yamamoto]

I like getting feedback on what my mines are doing. Since both players get it its fair. If we didn't get feedback I would feel like I was wasting my time minning anything.

I think you WOULD find out if your mines hit a ship. There would be radio calls for help, news about it a few days later, etc.

I also like knowing which base enemy planes came from. They would fly straight to their target so it would be pretty easy to tell. If you couldn't tell then you wouldn't know which base to bomb to shut them down. That would be as frustrating as bombing ports used to be before we got intel on how many ships where present.

Yamamoto

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

Originally posted by Yamamoto

I like getting feedback on what my mines are doing. Since both players get it its fair. If we didn't get feedback I would feel like I was wasting my time minning anything.

But this is exactly what mine warfare is. You do it in hope that they will do
something to enemy (and you have no feedback).

Current UV way of you knowing mine hitting something in UV is "nice and gamey
thing" but 100% unrealistic...

I think you WOULD find out if your mines hit a ship. There would be radio calls for help, news about it a few days later, etc.

You would possibly get info that some enemy ships are in trouble but what
caused that would be unknown.

I also like knowing which base enemy planes came from. They would fly straight to their target so it would be pretty easy to tell. If you couldn't tell then you wouldn't know which base to bomb to shut them down. That would be as frustrating as bombing ports used to be before we got intel on how many ships where present.

Yamamoto

Like I said in my original mail - there were no AWACS planes in WWII...

You would have no other option than to do "Recon" of enemy bases (just like in
real war) and based on that guestimate where from enemy aircraft come from.

If you are, for example, in Port Moresby there is no tool in WWII to know
whether some Japanese aircraft come from Rabaul or Kavieng.

This is what real WWII was - most of it was heavy guessing game...


Leo "Apollo11"

[HannoMeier]

I would also fully support an individual combat report. It would also show your exact ship positions and only enemy sightings. You would have no idea, if your force was sighted or not.

[iceboy105]

Originally posted by Apollo11
Hi all,

We can all agree that UV is absolutely fantastic and that it has no parallel
in any current wargame available on market.

It especially shines in PBEM where two (able) opponents fight.

Thanks again Matrix/2By3 !!!


But... (there is always but)... one small issue is spoiling best possible
enjoyment...

It is the "Combat replay" that is 100% same for both opponents in PBEM.

This is wrong and it defies the "FoW" (Fog of War) principle that we all like
so much.


I thought about this for long time and here are few suggestions/ideas of how
to make "Combat Replay" 100x better with just a simple modification (I am almost
positively sure that this would not require any major code changes)...


Suggestions/ideas for 100x better "Combat Replay" in PBEM

#1
The "Combat Replay" file should be PBEM password protected just like the save
files are.


#2
Before viewing "Combat Replay" the UV player would be asked question whether
he/she is Player1 or Player2.

When player ID question is answered the PBEM password prompt would appear (for
player chosen) and only when proper password is entered the "Combat Replay"
would be played.


#3
The "Combat Replay" play would be same as it is today and same "Combat Report"
textual file would be created with following exceptions:

a)
The player would not be able to see where from enemy aircraft come (i.e. those
lines that show origin and target) in any type of mission (this is
_MAYOR_ spoiler - we don't have AWACS in WWII).

b)
The player would not be able to see that enemy ships hit friendly or enemy
mines (mines don't have radios on board <VBG>).

c)
The player would not be able to see that enemy ships are clearing friendly or
enemy mines (again mines don't have radios on board <VBG>).

d)
The player would not be able to see that enemy search aircraft sees his TFs
unless his CAP and/or flak engage/fire on enemy search aircraft.

e)
The Japanese player would not be able to see that coastal watchers see his
TFs.



What do you think gentleman?

Matrx/2By2 can this be done?


Leo "Apollo11"

In simple terms how about a seperate combat report for the allies and a seperate one for the japanese. Thus you only see what your own forces see. Sounds like a good idea to me!