Matrix Games Forums

The first Tournament for Strategic Command American Civil War is coming soon.
The "Into Battle!" tournament will start on July 21st at 13:00 UTC.



The tournament will consist of three rounds, with each round 35 days long.

Each round will consist of a different scenario from the game:

1863 Lee Rides North
May 8, 1863 – December 30, 1865 (47 turns)
As Union armies overrun the West, General Lee plans to take back the initiative in the East. To Gettysburg!

1862 Trent War
February 25, 1862 – December 30, 1865 (66 turns) (Alt-History)
The Trent Incident explodes into war as Great Britain recognizes the Confederacy.

1862 Blue and Gray
April 12, 1861 – December 30, 1865 (82 turns)
The first shots of the Civil War are fired at Fort Sumter. Can the Union be preserved, or is a house divided doomed to fall?

Are you ready to jump Into Battle?

Sign up now here
https://www.matrixgames.com/tournaments

Isn't it a little early to start a tournament the game isn't even released yet. Maybe give it a couple of months for people to learn the game? Not that important to me just saying.

I actually think MP will both be an excellent environment to learn the game's nuances and also where the game will truly shine si I am really happy a tournament has been set up.

I am sure others will be set up later though for those who prefer to wait.

I enjoy winning but am also more than happy to have my ass handed to me if I learn a few things in the process so a MP is exactly what I need early on but I realise we are all different and I will definitely playing a SP Campaign or two as well from Thursday onwards

I also think the MP is quite helpful for testing out the balancing of the game. So this can be seen as a beta for the MP part of the game. Or was there MP during the beta?

There have been Multiplayer games during Beta, but with release the game moves to a much wider group of players so further feedback will certainly help us continue to perfect the game balance.

This tournament will definitely play a role there, while also being an excellent way to learn the game - and have fun too!

Soulcollector wrote: Tue Jun 28, 2022 4:20 pm I also think the MP is quite helpful for testing out the balancing of the game. So this can be seen as a beta for the MP part of the game. Or was there MP during the beta?

Yes I was involved in 6 MP matches during the Beta, plus a 7th I won't count because it became a ghost deal.

There were other MP tests started from the very beginning of the beta and continued through out the different versions as we all worked out some kinks as it were.
I have to say it's some of the funnest and hardcore multiplayer experience I have had through years of playing various wargames vs other humans.

Definitely, more players getting involved in multiplayer matches after release is always good to collect data on balance and any issues possibly missed for the various scenarios.

Fury Software has always been good on supporting their games and considering player ideas on how to improve the current version of each of the titles in the SC ecosystem.

Just saw the player list. There is a player called bstian whom i once had as an opponent - did not play a single round - so i followed his history, he joined some 4 or so SC tournaments but never played one round. So please give him to someone else than me when you define the player groups

Well I dont want him either thanks

I am a bit curious, are there known rules for points etc.? For example in 1863 scenario, it is absolutely obvious that Union wins. I think holding to the end of 64' might be big win for CSA, not mentioning the end date of 65'. Is the date of Union win some indicator of score, or what are the goals of the game?
In other scenarios Union is favoured too, though I guess with time limit it might not be apparent, on first half of turns.

I can play two turns per day, morning and evening. Will that work for the tournament?

metabagel wrote: Tue Jul 05, 2022 6:39 pm I can play two turns per day, morning and evening. Will that work for the tournament?

Definitely, though you would be fortunate to get another player engaging at that pace. I decided to withdraw from the tournament remembering belatedly having had some frustrating experiences with very slow play from opponents or no shows in the Field of Glory 2 tournaments that Slitherine ran. You may be luckier than me though and you can get some good games in.

Beriand wrote: Mon Jul 04, 2022 8:01 pm I am a bit curious, are there known rules for points etc.? For example in 1863 scenario, it is absolutely obvious that Union wins. I think holding to the end of 64' might be big win for CSA, not mentioning the end date of 65'. Is the date of Union win some indicator of score, or what are the goals of the game?
In other scenarios Union is favoured too, though I guess with time limit it might not be apparent, on first half of turns.

Good point Beriand. Is the tournament conducted with mirrored play (players play both sides) between opponents?

Devoncop is right. The tournaments seem to have a lot of no shows or extremely slow players. Do tournament directors attempt to eliminate no shows from subsequent tournament participation (unless they have a legitimate reason for no show)?

LoneRunner wrote: Thu Jul 07, 2022 4:47 pm

Beriand wrote: Mon Jul 04, 2022 8:01 pm I am a bit curious, are there known rules for points etc.? For example in 1863 scenario, it is absolutely obvious that Union wins. I think holding to the end of 64' might be big win for CSA, not mentioning the end date of 65'. Is the date of Union win some indicator of score, or what are the goals of the game?
In other scenarios Union is favoured too, though I guess with time limit it might not be apparent, on first half of turns.

Good point Beriand. Is the tournament conducted with mirrored play (players play both sides) between opponents?

Devoncop is right. The tournaments seem to have a lot of no shows or extremely slow players. Do tournament directors attempt to eliminate no shows from subsequent tournament participation (unless they have a legitimate reason for no show)?

Good questions, as I have avoided the tournaments because of ghosters and the like.

Another dilemma is Time Zone differences. For example, it's hard for someone on the west coast of North America to get in sync with a dedicated opponent in Central Europe and bang out 3 turns each in a day. With casual MP this isn't an issue...but with the time restraints of the tournament...its hard to complete a whole match.

Compound that with the huge annoyance of being paired with an unknown non Matrix member player (who are prone to ghost/get bored/won't answer PMs etc) and its unfortunately no.....I'll pass.

True, for those on the West Coast Pacific Standard time, tough to bang out those early rounds which are quick. Unless, you pick your opponent.

Anyone got a "Ladder website" for rankings. (would be nice if Matrix would just have one that can be leveraged and attached to the web directory for each game).

I decided to withdraw from the tournament. If anyone wants to join, grab the open spot now.

Just out of curiosity: How are the tournament games scored?

The point system is as follows:

1) Victory Conditions - Map situation is in effect right from the get go, e.g. current victory conditions are weighed into the score, and of course victory conditions change from the start of the campaign to the finish.

CAMPAIGN SCORING (VICTORY CONDITIONS)
100 MAJOR
75 MINOR
50 STALEMATE

2) Kills Ratio - The strength point losses in MPPs you inflict on your opponent relative to the strength point losses in MPPs he inflicts upon you.

3) National Morale Ratio - National Morale of all your major nations on your side, including those that have surrendered (those that have surrendered will have 0 NM applied to the formula) relative to 100% will factor in to the score

4) MPP Growth - Current total MPPs relative to your at start home MPPs for all major nations on your side will factor into the score as well, e.g. if you are expanding and your opponent is contracting, you are doing better with this factor than he will be etc.

* * *

The major portion is the current victory conditions, e.g. item 1), while items 2) to 4) will push that score a bit higher or lower depending on how you are doing.

Scores are relative to 100 points, and if you are in a MAJOR VICTORY position which equals 100 Victory points, then you can certainly push higher than 100 points if you are also doing very well in the other categories, or push a bit lower if you did not do so well and paid a heavy toll to get there. Doing well also generally means your score is pushed higher while your opponents score is pushed lower, and vice versa.

There should also be a bonus for turns left if you gain a major victory.
Otherwise it would be pointwise better to delay the victory and maximise the points for 2 - 4.
This will be quite annoying to the losing side if the game is already decided.

Generally I also think that a fast major victory should be the target not a slow one.

Fafnir wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:23 pm There should also be a bonus for turns left if you gain a major victory.
Otherwise it would be pointwise better to delay the victory and maximise the points for 2 - 4.
This will be quite annoying to the losing side if the game is already decided.

Generally I also think that a fast major victory should be the target not a slow one.

Oh, I thought no one would take those points seriously Yeah, the scoring is plain terrible, especially for cases when game end (minor/major victory) is expected within time for the round. One can hold out for whole year longer, but this is actually not beneficial, as MPPs gap is widening.
In reality, for cases like 1863 campaign it feels like simply 'end date' should be the most important factor, no?