Hi I am new to this forum, so I do not know if this has already been asked and/or answered (I apologize if it has), but I was wondering whether one can use EiA for the geopolitical and strategic element of the Napoleonic era, while allowing alternate forms of combat resolution (miniatures) that could have it results fed into EiA. If so, would one need to do it for both land and naval conflicts or could one just choose one (land) and have the computer resolve the other (naval)? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Will EiA allow for external combat resolution?
Moderator: MOD_EIA
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ninjabob51
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ninjabob51 wrote:Hi I am new to this forum, so I do not know if this has already been asked and/or answered (I apologize if it has), but I was wondering whether one can use EiA for the geopolitical and strategic element of the Napoleonic era, while allowing alternate forms of combat resolution (miniatures) that could have it results fed into EiA. If so, would one need to do it for both land and naval conflicts or could one just choose one (land) and have the computer resolve the other (naval)? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
You might find the lag time to complete a game virtually impossible. There can be 3-4 battles happening involving dozens of corps in one turn.
For a more reasonable effort have you ever looked at Adanac games which has some good rules for this on a smaller scale?
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Bart Koehler
- Posts: 59
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- Location: Mt. Olive, NJ
Interesting question. The answer is, unfortunately no. However, I am curious as to what sort of mechanism you would like to see. It sounds as if you would like to use EiA to create the backstory for a Miniatures Battle campaign. Being a fan of miniatures and miniature campaigns, I think I understand what you are asking. However, this falls outside of the scope of Empire in Arms. Intriguing concept though.ninjabob51 wrote:Hi I am new to this forum, so I do not know if this has already been asked and/or answered (I apologize if it has), but I was wondering whether one can use EiA for the geopolitical and strategic element of the Napoleonic era, while allowing alternate forms of combat resolution (miniatures) that could have it results fed into EiA.
Bart
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HordesOfSerbs
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Not sure if I got this right, but it reminds me of the script I wrote that 'rolled the dice' and mailed the results to everyone. We played PBEM 3R during our uni days and I wanted something to eliminate cheating.
Needless to say it was tedious to check every freakin' roll. Much better just to trust everyone. But - it would always remain suspicious if there is a huge battle with unfavourable odds (I fondly remember one Axis ride on fully stacked Gibraltar - successful Spanish Gambit that ultimately led to full Nazi domination of Europe).
Anyway, the cheating problem still remains with modern integrated games - playing (and saving intermittently, where possible) the critical turn ad infinitum until you've got the best results and was discussed elsewhere on this forum.
So, it is an interesting way to tackle the issue. I believe there are more sophisticated dice servers nowadays on the Net (and what stops Matrix providing one). If the programmed EiA battle resolution mechanics still depends on dice roll resuls, it is relatively simple to link it up and get the results back that way. It will introduce delay (which will not be that significant for PBEM game, in my opinion) and make the game dependable on external service that may go down (which is a bit more serious).
Again, it is quite an interesting thing for developer to play with, pity that Matrix is in testing mode and code is likely frozen for architectural changes like this. For a a gamer... well, I couldn't care less
Needless to say it was tedious to check every freakin' roll. Much better just to trust everyone. But - it would always remain suspicious if there is a huge battle with unfavourable odds (I fondly remember one Axis ride on fully stacked Gibraltar - successful Spanish Gambit that ultimately led to full Nazi domination of Europe).
Anyway, the cheating problem still remains with modern integrated games - playing (and saving intermittently, where possible) the critical turn ad infinitum until you've got the best results and was discussed elsewhere on this forum.
So, it is an interesting way to tackle the issue. I believe there are more sophisticated dice servers nowadays on the Net (and what stops Matrix providing one). If the programmed EiA battle resolution mechanics still depends on dice roll resuls, it is relatively simple to link it up and get the results back that way. It will introduce delay (which will not be that significant for PBEM game, in my opinion) and make the game dependable on external service that may go down (which is a bit more serious).
Again, it is quite an interesting thing for developer to play with, pity that Matrix is in testing mode and code is likely frozen for architectural changes like this. For a a gamer... well, I couldn't care less
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ninjabob51
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2003 5:54 pm
- Location: Ottawa, Ont. Canada
Thank you all for your replies.
1. Yohan, would you happen to have a web site address for Adanac? I searched but had no luck.
2. To answer your question Bart, I was hoping that EiA would be able to provide the strategic backdrop for a series of miniatures games. Though I love Napoleonic miniatures, I truly believe that Napoleonic warfare was more about grand strategy then battlefield tactics. Napoleon was great because of how he set the circumstances leading to the battle, more so than for any battlefield tactics he used (as Mack found out in 1805). I was hoping for a game that would concentrate on the big picture, logistics and post battle consequence that would allow battle resolution on the table. I find that miniatures players tend to slug it out (morale permitting)to the end as there are no consequences to loosing or winning at too high a cost (especially Sweden and Austria) when the big picture is involved. Also most tabletop games are relatively equal in size with possibly battlefield but not strategic fog-of war, which I feel a strategic computer game could provide. Supply and logistics were important for armies that won battles by marching (I believe that this was one of the great differences between regimental and Corps armies- as well a s command structure) and a computer game would be able to better represent this aspect. I realize that refighting the entire Napoleonic wars in miniatures would be impossible or at best daunting, but I hoped that a feature could be established allowing players to choose all, some or none of the battles as computer resolved or by miniatures with battlefield results ported back. Conversely particular campaigns like 1809 or 1813 could be done with miniature resolution or for those that love the naval aspect of the era just have those battles fought in miniatures. I have recently started using a computer moderated set of rules for miniatures that I like immensly (Carnage&GloryII) and this has sparked my interest in computer rules for the grander levels. These are just a couple quick thought I had on the matter, and welcome any input that you or others may have.
Cheers,
Bob
1. Yohan, would you happen to have a web site address for Adanac? I searched but had no luck.
2. To answer your question Bart, I was hoping that EiA would be able to provide the strategic backdrop for a series of miniatures games. Though I love Napoleonic miniatures, I truly believe that Napoleonic warfare was more about grand strategy then battlefield tactics. Napoleon was great because of how he set the circumstances leading to the battle, more so than for any battlefield tactics he used (as Mack found out in 1805). I was hoping for a game that would concentrate on the big picture, logistics and post battle consequence that would allow battle resolution on the table. I find that miniatures players tend to slug it out (morale permitting)to the end as there are no consequences to loosing or winning at too high a cost (especially Sweden and Austria) when the big picture is involved. Also most tabletop games are relatively equal in size with possibly battlefield but not strategic fog-of war, which I feel a strategic computer game could provide. Supply and logistics were important for armies that won battles by marching (I believe that this was one of the great differences between regimental and Corps armies- as well a s command structure) and a computer game would be able to better represent this aspect. I realize that refighting the entire Napoleonic wars in miniatures would be impossible or at best daunting, but I hoped that a feature could be established allowing players to choose all, some or none of the battles as computer resolved or by miniatures with battlefield results ported back. Conversely particular campaigns like 1809 or 1813 could be done with miniature resolution or for those that love the naval aspect of the era just have those battles fought in miniatures. I have recently started using a computer moderated set of rules for miniatures that I like immensly (Carnage&GloryII) and this has sparked my interest in computer rules for the grander levels. These are just a couple quick thought I had on the matter, and welcome any input that you or others may have.
Cheers,
Bob
http://www.adanaccommandstudies.com/ninjabob51 wrote:Thank you all for your replies.
1. Yohan, would you happen to have a web site address for Adanac? I searched but had no luck.
Cheers,
Bob
Good choices
Wow, Adanac and Carnage & Glory II are both terrific. C&GII is the only miniatures set that I really like and Adanac gets better all of the time. C&GII is inexpensive and easy to learn -as opposed to it's english counterpart. Both are more than worth their price and highly recommended.
The link to Carnage & Glory II is: http://home.att.net/~npmarsh/index.htm
The link to Carnage & Glory II is: http://home.att.net/~npmarsh/index.htm
Vive l'Empereur!
New to the forum also. I would also be interested in the option to input battle results when the player desires (with the players picking which battles this would apply to). The reason for the interest in that I am a Napoleonic Miniatures player and one of expansions to the miniature rules system Napoleon's Battles included rules for converting Empire in Arms battles to minitature battles and then back to Empire in Arms strength points. An option that allowed players to input some results would allow the system to be used as a campaign system for miniature battles (the players could play one of the shorter campaigns in a reasonable amount of time).
By allowing the players to pick which battles this would apply to, the more interesting ones could be fought as miniature battles and the others could be resolved by the computer in the interest of keeping the computer game moving.
One of the things that miniature gamers look for is an overall system that tracks strength points, attrition, production, etc and allows the players to make the strategic moves and then fight the grand tactical battles on the table top. The option to have computer resolution or input for a given battle would work well for this as it frees the player from tracking all this on paper and allows them to concentrate on the strategy and the battles.
By allowing the players to pick which battles this would apply to, the more interesting ones could be fought as miniature battles and the others could be resolved by the computer in the interest of keeping the computer game moving.
One of the things that miniature gamers look for is an overall system that tracks strength points, attrition, production, etc and allows the players to make the strategic moves and then fight the grand tactical battles on the table top. The option to have computer resolution or input for a given battle would work well for this as it frees the player from tracking all this on paper and allows them to concentrate on the strategy and the battles.
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demonterico
- Posts: 288
- Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2002 5:57 am
- Location: Seattle WA
EIA is an excellent format for miniatures campaigns. I've used the game a number of times for that purpose. The scenario in Spain is one we've enjoyed a number of times. Doing this requires converting EIA strength points to the appropriate minatures, and then back again to points after the miniatures battle is resolved. We never fought every battle in miniature, but rather would pick out those that seemed most interesting. Most battles were resolved using the EIA rules. It is interesting to fight miniatures battles in this manner. Now a general has many more possibilities to consider. For example; should cavalry be used up in the battle or saved for the pursuit afterwards?
It would be nice if the Matrix version of EIA would allow for this option.
Dave
It would be nice if the Matrix version of EIA would allow for this option.
Dave
The world has never seen a more impressive demonstration of the influence of sea power upon history. Those far distant, storm-beaten ships, upon which the Grand Army never looked, stood between it and the dominion of the world. -- Alfred Thayer Mahan
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Bart Koehler
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 4:00 pm
- Location: Mt. Olive, NJ
I understand the need and as a ministures player myself, certainly understand the rationale for it. However, this will not be included with this game for the foreseable future.Windfire wrote:New to the forum also. I would also be interested in the option to input battle results when the player desires (with the players picking which battles this would apply to).
Bart
. Thanks for the response. Looking forward to the game.