ORIGINAL: Telemecus
I suppose it is worth distinguishing what a Supreme Commander has to do, with what it would be good for them to do. The absolute requirement for the game is that the Supreme Commander HAS to allocate things like points, units etc to the others, and their responsibilities. But someone who does that job well might start doing something else - and might find what they have to do a very small part of the game for them.
Personally that is where I think the interest comes from for the role - and the thing I would love to compare notes on with other Supreme Commanders whether or not I am one in this game. Some approaches are
i) Make a strategic analysis of your situation and that of your opponent, develop a grand strategy over multiple turns, and let that lead on to who gets what. Is this Neogodhobo's idea?
ii) Spend a lot of time with other players getting their plans and ideas, seeing where they cannot all be done, and man managing the way to get as much as possible for all. Perhaps what Crackaces is suggesting?
I think there is a lot more to be said on this and it will be a hot topic for the game. Perhaps a "Dummy's guide to how to be a Supreme Commander" can be written afterwards?
I guess I was expecting something else from a Supreme Commander.
Here is how I was planning to play the role and my idea about how it should be done :
My idea of what the Supreme commander do :
Supreme commander would basically, role-play a supreme commander, as it historically was during WW2.
( as much as the game allows ) So :
A) Makes every important decisions
( such as allocating admin points for exemple )
B) Prepare offensive/defensive operations.
C) Plan meetings with each ground commanders to talk about strategies.
( aka : I made this operation, review your sector, tell me if you think its possible for you to achieve these goals in the time ask, what do you think a good alternative would be, what do you feel your opponent's weakness/aptitude are ? How can you counter/take advantage of those, etc etc )
D) Asset situation on all fronts, intelligence, revise operations and plan according to opponents weakness/aptitude.
The way I was planning to play it :
Basically, I was planning to start making clear objective to capture/hold. Devise plans according to those. Write it all down, separate each section of the plan and give the section of the plan with the area of operation of each ground commanders to them.
-Was going to note every detail possible
( Strength of operation ( numbers of men, AFV, airplanes, commanders in charge of the operation , etc )
-Was going to note every detail of the execution of that operation
( casualties, progress, battles, etc )
-Was going to put in paper the entire operation,
( how it went, final result, consequences, etc )
and put it in a file.
Keep all operations until the end of the game to later put to the public.
I also wanted to start some spy action, meaning that I would sometime make fake plans, along with real plans, available to the enemy so as to trick them.
( wich is why I came up with that post earlier about having a Top secret document thread )
I was also going to , obviously, allocate admin points and everything else that touches that subject. but to also hold meeting with ground commanders
( separately ) and discuss about the whole situation in general.
And well to supervise everything that is going around.
So, basically, this is my idea of what being the supreme commander was going to be about.
If it isnt, then Id just really prefer to be a ground commander. In wich case, we could just give me back my Army Group Center position. I would really prefer not having to giving command that I already have as I want to be with the men under my control until the end. Im in it for the long run, and I start being transferred around, I fear it would jeopardize my long run plan.
If I start doing something, and then someone else comes in and destroy everything I started doing, it will not only negatively affect everyone under my command ( wheter it be ground commanders, or army commanders ( AI )). but it will affect negatively the whole team as troops will have to be shifted around and strategies changed, and lose precious times, effort and energy.
And that is only since I started using steam to play the game. I really should spend more time with my wife.