Matrix Games Forums

Hey guys,

I was sleeping when I thought of a great idea for a Forum Simulation. How about using The Operational Art of War video game, which has many scenarios of all sizes simulating various campaigns in an operational scale, and instead of playing alone, to stick to one side and use real-life people, who join the forums, to be generals in that campaign and make their own decisions and see how it plays out?

For example, there would be a whole forum based on an Operation Husky game that someon set up with TOAW, or any other game. The person who set it up would be the Game Master; the Game Master would be responsible for first posting the OOB, playing the game itself, and making AAR reports on how the people's decisions affected the game. From the OOB, various players would pick different Corps/Divisions/Battalions/Regiments to play, for example in Sicily, one player can be the US 7th Army, while the other could be the British 8th Army. The trick is to cooperate together in order to achieve success.

I'll make a forum if people are interested. Anyone with TOAW or any other game can post here. Anyone like this idea? Thanks in advance


Arya

I've played games like this before, albeit at a tactical scale. It can be fun, but player turnover/disappearance rates are high. 

That idea is a good one. Please check this thread

http://forums.gamesquad.com/showthread.php?t=30980

Tweak the concept just a bit and you have a PBM game.

In other words, have the players/commanders download the save file for the game and move their own units wherever they want, plan attacks, and upload the file for the next "commander". The GM could coordinate air/naval/TO support, end the turn, and post battle results.

I've played these before, but they often fail over time due to lack of interest, inactive players, and so on, like hellfish said.

They also require lots of rules, which can be time-consuming for the GM. Plus, new players often find some of the rules not to their liking and try to have them changed, sparking ugly debates that can easily break a game.

Edit: Ok, I've read that old Gamesquad thread and it seems that TOAW PBMs needn't have as many rules as I thought they should. This will actually be very simple.