No random selection of variants?

[Temple]

I remember from the old CCAW that it was possible to enable a hidden random selection of the scenario variant, so that the player didn't know which variant he was playing. Is that no longer in the new CAW?

[Gregor_SSG]

ORIGINAL: Temple

I remember from the old CCAW that it was possible to enable a hidden random selection of the scenario variant, so that the player didn't know which variant he was playing. Is that no longer in the new CAW?

We're looking at ways of getting more variability into the game for both single player and multiplayer.

Gregor

[flintlock]

ORIGINAL: Gregor_SSG

We're looking at ways of getting more variability into the game for both single player and multiplayer.

Great to read, Gregor. In the meantime, I'm really enjoying CAW. Many thanks for a fun and engaging title.

[Temple]

ORIGINAL: Gregor_SSG

ORIGINAL: Temple

I remember from the old CCAW that it was possible to enable a hidden random selection of the scenario variant, so that the player didn't know which variant he was playing. Is that no longer in the new CAW?

We're looking at ways of getting more variability into the game for both single player and multiplayer.

Gregor

Thanks Gregor. In the old CCAW I tinkered around with the editor a lot and I remember that you could take an existing scenario and create several variants, then choose "Random Selection" so you didn't know which one was chosen.

From reading the new CAW manual I see that in a scenario you can have multiple WarRoom sets. I was experimenting around and saw that it was easy to duplicate a WarRoom set to make a variant. Now we just need a way to allow a random selection of the variant with no feedback to the player so that there can be more uncertainty in the scenario.

[JD Walter]

Thanks from me, too, Gregor. I am greatly enjoying the game and think it is a marvelous update of the 1984 edition I played on the Apple. I think SSG has the best interface design in the business; your titles are uniformly accessable and streamlined for play. I count CAW as one of my best buys this year and money well spent for the sheer enjoyment and number of hours I have spent with it.

[MarkShot]

I decided to spice things up and go random. I haven't played Midway yet.

From CCAW ... here is an example of Midway with 10 different variants. With the Random WarRoom option selected, I won't know which one the computer has assigned me (unless I recognize it due to the OOB).

---

Of course, having a variant selector is only one part of the puzzle. The other part is that you need to have scenarios with a non-trivial number of variants.

[Adam Parker]

I wanna!

And if this is what Gregor and the team can come up with in 1788 when the game was first released, I have immense faith in what they'll deliver in 2007 [;)]

[Rebel Yell]

ORIGINAL: Adam Parker

I wanna!

And if this is what Gregor and the team can come up with in 1788 when the game was first released, I have immense faith in what they'll deliver in 2007 [;)]

No wonder there are some bugs, if the code was originally written in 1788!?! [;)]

[Adam Parker]

Aussie company, came over with the First Fleet [;)]

[Marcus Caelius]

ORIGINAL: TempleI was experimenting around and saw that it was easy to duplicate a WarRoom set to make a variant.

How do you do this?

[RayWolfe]

ORIGINAL: Adam Parker
I wanna!
And if this is what Gregor and the team can come up with in 1788 when the game was first released, I have immense faith in what they'll deliver in 2007 [;)]

Ah yes! But I suspect that many of those variants were added after original release.
Ray

[Toby42]

I still think that the "Old" game had more depth and character.

[GoodGuy]

I'm starting to want it, if only the gfx wouldn't be so .... DOS-ish [:D].

The CAW GUI design is superior, it's kinda class of its own, seriously, but the missing variety and missing transparency [POE pointed that out in another thread] pulls down the superb GUI design.
Rule of thumb here: whistles and bells in the GUI/gfx department can't make up for the lack of depth and variety. While the latter can be fixed, I'm not sure about the former, since that's part of a general design decision.

[MarkShot]

I must say for a DOS game the interface is very nicely done and ergonomic.

Two things I like about DOS game UIs:

(1) They are more keyboard and less mouse oriented. For fast and expert plan, this can be more comfortable.

(2) Given that they often use menus, it is much easier to program functions which were not directly implemented in the game onto my G15 programmable keyboard.

[MarkShot]

One issues with CCAW and the random variants is that you never find out what you were playing; even when the battle is done. In Sid Meier's Gettysburg, you could play random variants, but the AAR debrief told you which one you had played.

Here is my Midway variant which I just played.

After the first day or so, it became apparent that I was vastly outnumbered by the Japanese. Thus, I decided to spend most of my time on the run and hiding; my three carriers versus their eight carriers. When I struck, I attempted to hit their landing and naval support forces.

I guess the strategy worked, since I managed a draw. Although they bombarded Midway, they did not invade.

[MarkShot]

Midway is shelled ...

[MarkShot]

The USA manages a draw ...

[MarkShot]

I lose all my three carriers ...

[MarkShot]

The Japanese carrier force is intact and I dared not threaten it ...

[MarkShot]

The invasion force is heavily damaged ...