Matrix Games Forums

Hi,

The approach I've taken to the decisions is that they are presented from the point of view of the Operational Commander picking up the next one from the big pile on his desk, flipping through the reports, asking for more information from his staff if needed, and then making the call.

There are no surprises in the decisions.

All the information you need to make them is provided in the report bundles. With every decision there are at least two points of views. You'll see reports from the characters involved and how they view the situation. If General Wagner has a report there expressing his displeasure about whatever then you can expect that your relationship with him will deteriorate if you go against his recommendation.

If there is a random roll involved in a decision option then this is flagged and you're given '40% chance of a good outcome', for example to allow you to make an informed judgement of the pros and cons.

Franz Halder didn't sit at his desk reading reports that told him that option A will give him ++ relations with Himmler, - relations with Von Bock and a +23% boost to SS Div morale.

The decisions are designed to accommodate different leadership styles. A player who is a big picture guy can skim the barest details and make the call. Another player will take the time to read through the report bundle and weigh up the the various factors and personalities in play. Somebody else might decided to handball most of the decisions to his Chief of Staff and focus on the big picture.

They are all valid ways of playing the game, none of them necessarily any better than the other, but you'll get a different outcome from all three as you would in any aspect of life where weighty decisions are involved.

The 'Option Cost' report at the bottom of every report bundle gives a breakdown on why each decision option costs what it does.

Cheers,
Cameron

OK, the report bundle and Option Cost report seems to address the issue to me.

To 76's point about IRL knowing what people's reactions will be, that knowledge will be gained over time, you were not born knowing. Yes these folks did work together and knew each other somewhat (and some better than others), but there are not hard and fast rules.

I look at the decisions critically. If AGN has captured some Russian trucks, and kept them, and Gen Wagner is demanding they be given to him, its not hard to imagine that if you take the trucks and give them to Wagner that von Leeb is going to be annoyed about it. One time he might be -5 annoyed, another time -15. The variability is one of the great things about the game IMHO.

Or, to put it another way, the game no more tells you that it is a "good" idea to take the trucks than it tells you it is a "bad" idea to attack 5 defending divisions across a river in mud with only one division. You are left to figure those things out for yourself.

Franz Halder didn't sit at his desk reading reports that told him that option A will give him ++ relations with Himmler, - relations with Von Bock and a +23% boost to SS Div morale.

You'd think he'd have an idea, at the least. But, if your intent is that we play blind, then blind we shall play

Hi BrotherJayne,

Nope, you aren't expected to wear dark glasses.

The characters involved have written reports expressing their views on the matter and their reasoning. These are available to you to read if you wish.

Which is about all the hard information Halder probably had to go on.

The reports give you an a clear idea of a characters position on the topic in question and why.

Keep in mind that the decisions are situational.

There isn't any one right answer to them. It all depends on your current situation, both militarily and relationship wise.

What works with a particular decision one time might not be ideal the next.

Cheers,
Cameron

ORIGINAL: lancer
The reports give you an a clear idea of a characters position on the topic in question and why.

So, playing as krauts, you have the AGN and AGC rail route decisions. In those, Keitel sounds ready to burst a vessel if you make a decision, yet there is no impact to relationship if you make a choice.

That seems murky.

Hi,

I was being a little benevolent here. Didn't want to hit you too hard at the start of the game.

It can be tweaked.

Cheers,
Cameron