ORIGINAL: macgregor
... IMHO it just seems to me, that the reason given for the lack of pbem feasability is the amount of non-phasing player decisions. My point is that in the boardgame these decisions still have to be made. It takes as long for me to click my mouse button a couple of times as it does to say, arrange my air units for combat. In fact I'd dare say it takes me less time. Now if you're on dailup this would be pure hell -as are most IP games if you have dailup. The time consumption is the same as in the boardgame, it's for things like deciding whether to use that plane as a fighter or a bomber( as an example) Now if you want to reconsider if all those rounds and phases are necesary you'll have to take that up with Harry Roland. But I personally like the game the way it is. Some phases are long -like the movement phase(allowing the non-phasing player some respite) while things suchas combat rounds require steady attention. The computer saves time with beancounting and computation not to mention clarity of placement. You cannot cheat and should not have to be looking up rules quite as often -and you don't have to be near an opponent. Space is yet another issue. A father could watch his kids and still play -and not a cat, toddler, or jealous girlfriend can mess up your board. This isn't enough for you guys?
For some reason, you seem convinced that I want to change WiF for the computer. I would prefer to change it as little as possible, or not at all even. In fact, I am one of those so-called
purists who would enjoy having the option of implementing the multiple scales of the boardgame when playing over the computer. This would allow MWiF to be used as a training tool, practicing strategies and tactics to be used over-the-board. I understand that unified scale will be a feature of the game, but I would still like to have the other option available.
While it is true that the amount of time to click a mouse will not add to the time required for WiF, PBEM will, if the sequence and non-phasing interactions remain as they are, be
much more time consuming than over-the-boad play, even if players check for the updated game file several times a day. I am not endorsing changing the sequence of play for MWiF, just stating a fact that makes coding the game for email play difficult. Since you seem convinced that PBEM will not slow down WiF when played in its current form, I would be interested to hear your solution to the issue rppeatedly having to wait for the non-phasing sides decisions for CAP, naval and air interception, choice of combat tables, etc...
