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Herwin and corbon, thanks for those eminently understandible explanations! 

All I know is that I have had outstanding WW2 board game experiences (even in Solitaire mode) using two dice and a cup.

Strangely, I understood Herwin's explanation, and will use the 1942 scenario to apply game terms.

Say we have a line starting at turn 1, and we play to turn 42. We will label this line "Expectations."
We have a 2nd line running from turn 1 to turn 42, and we will label this one, "What Really Happens in the Game."

When "What Really Happens in the Game" is nothing like "Expectations", we (the players) come to the forums and say "What really happened in my game does not meet my expectations".

If enough players agree, then the designers will take a closer look at data and formulas in the game (the explicit values).

The application of Crank-Nicholson comes when the designers agree with the players and rewrite code, and we will call this a "Patch."

So, we will keep applying the "Patch" so "What Really Happens in the Game" comes closer to "Expectations".

There is a lot more verbage to write on this, but I think this is the gist of the Crank-Nicholson method in game terms.

What is Wite?

   I have been for 20 years a follower of Europa series, specially its DNO/FiTe/Scorched Earth, and to me WitE is the perfect computerized BOARD game,plainly ,a wet dream maked real.

        An hexed Map with counters who can model attrition , waste and tearing by modifiying your combat factors infinitelly... that is not at the reach of a "paper" board game

ORIGINAL: vilcum

What is Wite?

  I have been for 20 years a follower of Europa series, specially its DNO/FiTe/Scorched Earth, and to me WitE is the perfect computerized BOARD game,plainly ,a wet dream maked real.

       An hexed Map with counters who can model attrition , waste and tearing by modifiying your combat factors infinitelly... that is not at the reach of a "paper" board game

I wasn't criticizing WiTE. I was making an observation about the fact that I have been able to play war games of similar complexity (game play complexity - not design complexity) for several decades without needing to know what the application of Crank-Nicholson implies for applications and modelling. I just needed to know how to throw a dice

Ok my two cents, I've been playing wargames for 41 years, since AH's Stalingrad in 1970. I've been testing this game nearly 3 years now, and still try to get up earlier than my wife to play it...lol...And whats great is Gary, Joel and Pavel are still working on it to make it better, and we testers are still testing... Not many releases can boast that...

ORIGINAL: PyleDriver

Ok my two cents, I've been playing wargames for 41 years, since AH's Stalingrad in 1970. I've been testing this game nearly 3 years now, and still try to get up earlier than my wife to play it...lol...And whats great is Gary, Joel and Pavel are still working on it to make it better, and we testers are still testing... Not many releases can boast that...

Indeed. I think you can count them with the fingers of one hand (and no, I'm not counting those who release patches as they release "modules" with content that used to come along the game in the initial release).

EDIT: Spelling

ORIGINAL: herwin

Investigate Vassal.

Red Star Rising?

ORIGINAL: PyleDriver

Ok my two cents, I've been playing wargames for 41 years, since AH's Stalingrad in 1970. I've been testing this game nearly 3 years now, and still try to get up earlier than my wife to play it...lol...And whats great is Gary, Joel and Pavel are still working on it to make it better, and we testers are still testing... Not many releases can boast that...

And I thank you for it, and all the people responsible for this product. This is why certain people and companies get my money. Been playing games since Avalon Hill's 'War in the Pacific' (circa 1975 for me), and have been buying products with Gary Grigsby's name on them since.....hmm, around 1984. I will mention Joel here by name too, since he was running SSI for a long time when I bought almost every game they put out.

Wargaming isn't about fun, it's just a way of life [:)]

If X equals my play, and Y equals my enjoyment, with Z being the amount of times I have screamed at a "hold" result of 1.9/1 odds, then the obvious ratio of...oh hell, who am I kidding, I only got a masters degree in history!

WITE is a game for me, and nobody can tell me different.

Overshooting occurs, for example, when you wipe out a unit. The losses beyond the strength of the unit are ignored. Yet, the costs to the other side are not. In reality, the battle would end without those excess costs and the unit winning would be available for recovery or to do some other task. Over hundreds of turns, it adds up.

Great example. Now I, and probably most others, understand what you mean. Good point.

That brings up a question: If there are superb boardgame designs out there, why not computerize them to a cat free environment?

Yes, yes, and yes. I am still waiting for a good PC version of Third Reich, the definitive WWII game made in the late 1970s or so.

Edit: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1563 ... hird-reich

+Edit: Problem with Vassal is I want the PC for bookkeeping, and to provide an opponent. Even for playing solitaire, Vassal and the like are a bit on the 'amateurish' side in look and feel.

ORIGINAL: Tesuji

I am still waiting for a good PC version of Third Reich, the definitive WWII game made in the late 1970s or so.

One of my favorite strategic-level WW2 board games. There was PC version many years ago, but it had numerous problems, IIRC.

Exactly. Some bugs, weak AI, and no Pbem, iIrc.

The great thing about the boardgame is complete WWII ETO (land/naval/air), reasonable detail, but just below 'Monster Game' size. Endless replayability, to top it.

Many, many hours with Third Reich (boardgame). The computer version sucked. It had so many bugs and lockups I couldnt play it. Another one of those games that went in the trash bin...

If you like Third Reich, GG's AWD is a great game. At first I didn't like WAW, the first release, it seamed to abstract. Once you get into Garys mind of thinking it is one of the most playable games out there. The what if's are endless. I still go back and play it on and of all the time...

ORIGINAL: PeeDeeAitch

If X equals my play, and Y equals my enjoyment, with Z being the amount of times I have screamed at a "hold" result of 1.9/1 odds, then the obvious ratio of...oh hell, who am I kidding, I only got a masters degree in history!

WITE is a game for me, and nobody can tell me different.

Well, my original degrees are in experimental psychology

All this maths stuff looks to me like classic displacement activity. Worry about equations whilst your army runs away. I bet neither Crank nor Nicholson could play this game for toffee.

My subsequent degrees are in law so I will sue anyone who disagrees with me, or who beats me at the game.

My other masters is in Cultural/Social Anthropology - I would be happy to get a government grant to do fieldwork and go study the primitives who play this game.

ORIGINAL: PeeDeeAitch

My other masters is in Cultural/Social Anthropology - I would be happy to get a government grant to do fieldwork and go study the primitives who play this game.

A fruitless search. The primitives all play poker

Poker? Did someone call my name?