Alternate setups?

[jamespcrowley]

Looking at what is a stunningly detailed and beautiful map of Ist Bull Run/Manassas, you can see the historical set-up of the units involved.

Is this the sole option or will either/both sides have the ability to set up in different, non-historical ways and, if so, does this extend to the AI?

I ask this as it may have considerable impact on re-playability.

[budd]

Re-playability is defiantly a major factor in my purchase decisions. Is the AI scripted? will it do the same moves every time.

[Gil R.]

Good questions, of course.

First, regarding scenarios, yes, the game is moddable -- something I will address in more detail at a later point. We certainly want to encourage modders. What you are seeing in the big map is the setup for the standard scenario, but we have others, and will have more. (A list is on the products page.) At release we will have 25 scenarios total, but plan to add more very soon after release, and will continue to add both historical and alternate-history scenarios.

As for the AI, it is loosely scripted. In general, and I will address this in more detail at a later point, scripting merely suggests to units where to head and whether to be defending, attacking or reinforcing, and the code then decides whether to go along with that or retask the units. So both the player and AI have a lot of free will.

[budd]

Thanks Gil. Looking forward to more info.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: James Crowley
Is this the sole option or will either/both sides have the ability to set up in different, non-historical ways and, if so, does this extend to the AI?

Both for 1st Manassas and other battles, there are "what if" variants that allow for more flexibility as well as "historical battle" versions.

[Rosseau]

I had questioned the lack of scenarios and emphasis on 1861 in another thread. But seeing the map, I understand.

[Gil R.]

Getting back to James Crowley's original question, I can now confirm that we do plan to release a scenario-editor soon after the game comes out. This can be used to place units on the map and change facing/formation, while the units' and commanders' various stats need to be modded in the data files (which are all .txt, in tab-delimited format). AI scripting is also done in these files.

So, this means that those with some interest in modding will be able to do pretty much anything they want on the existing maps.

[zakblood]

like me then, thanks[;)]