Troops for Base Defence

[snafu]

Hi All,
   The other day and was talking to a friend who is not really into PC games but more into the "Traditional" type of wargaming (With small figures and models). We were discussing the strat and base capture logistics in AH and some (IMO) interesting suggestions came up. He liked the train & convoy resupply aspect, although thought it should be more player dependent (Manable acks only on trains etc) He also thought the TOD concept was brilliant CM's, but he was less than impressed with our current method of base capture. Particularly M3's LVT's & C47's all carrying 10 troops, all bases regardless of size requiring the same number of troops to effect a capture and also a standard "town" no matter what size of target it represents.

Afer a "Brainstorming" session of "what if's" we came up with what is detailed below, it was great to see someone who knows a lot about wargaming and what works and what doesn't but has no pre conceived ideas of field capture in Aces High or even PC games in general.
 
Some of these suggestions have been made at various times in the past and some probably have more holes than I could imagine...but here is what we came up with....

   Currently to capture a base you need to get 10 troops into the map room in a certain amount of time, any which make it to the map room fire a single shot then sit around drinking tea, beer or whatever until the total number reaches 10 (Or they die from old age). Even if something similar to "Armageddon" is going on a few feet away out on the field they are in no danger from base defences.

In traditional wargaming. Territory, objects etc are captured using various weighted calculations taking everything into account from ground elevations to the weather and something similar to a "Dice throw" to factor in the element of chance. This has been developed over many years and is now almost a science. In a flowing sim like AH (Not turn based) we can remove the "Dice" or chance aspect, and also most other criteria as they are player or terrain controlled by default. For our purposes all the current game factors can still apply, (Player skill etc) but what we need is the ability to "recover" situations, principally from troops already in the map room.

Here's the idea, It probably (Definately) needs some work but I think has the basis of an intersting concept.

Add "Defensive Troops".......
To ensure base capture you need to achieve a numerical advantage of "X" in the map room (Plus all the necessary buildings, Acks etc down - as now). "X" would be a different number depending on the size of the field. (Say 6-Vfield,12-Small Field & Port, 18-Medium Field, 24-Large Field -Just an example)

Supply vehicles & planes should all carry approximate historically correct loadouts (M3 = 10-12, LVT = 18, C47 = 27) a single C47 could capture all fields, whereas an M3 could only capture a vehicle field single handedly. An LVT a Vfield, Small field, Port or Medium field. All but a single LVT attacking a medium field would therefore allow for troop casualties

Barracks would also be given a single vehicle availability rating, Say 7 troops per barracks and adjust the number of barracks per field type. Then reduced numbers of troops would be available to a single vehicle as the barracks were destroyed. (Bit like fuel is handled now but real numbers instead of percentages). An untouched large field might have 4 Barracks. If only one remained all vehicles could only carry 7 troops 2 remaining would mean M3 could take full load of say 12 but LVT & C47 could only take 14 etc. Different fields types would have different numbers of barracks so a C47 taking off from a small field (With say only 2 barracks) could only take 14 troops, This might be enough for the job in hand but they could hop to another small field and grab another 14 from the rearm pad. Which brings me onto.....I would like to see vehicles & C47's being able to park at remote field rearm points and increase any load by the amount available at the field (Upto their maximum loadout)

This all "could" work as follows.....
C47's can only supply other fields (Not the one they take off from).
Ground vehicles can supply the local field & remote fields. (As long as the barracks & VH are up). The distance from the VH to the town is large enough to mean a drive is required. Apart from V fields (But killing the VH or barracks would stop troops spawning on the field). The defensive troops would make for the map room and reduce the numerical advantage of any offensive troops already there on a 1 to 1 basis. (Down to zero, - no building up a reserve to increase the number of offensive troops required above the default for each field type). Current time troops "Stay alive" could continue as now.

This would mean that as further troop carrying vehicles (Jeeps, Landing craft etc) are introduced each would have it's own definative role, The Jeep for instance might only carry 4 troops but would be more manouverable and quicker than the other GV's, Climb moderate hills easier, and be ideal for defensive troop duties, but 2 Jeeps could capture a V field etc,etc. A load out of 3 troops but with a mounted 50 cal would be nice as well. Landing craft could become "Gun positions" on a Panzer, M16 or M3 so that once you reach "The beach" you just jump into the driver position lower the door (Hook Key)?? and away you go. Also a better damage model which allowed single troops to be killed while still on the vehicle, (Reflected in the "Troop counter" on the dash).

While I'm on the subject of "Strat" I made a post in another thread some time ago where I said "Supplies should be given an ordinance rating so that the amount of drops required was proportional to the damage and target being supplied. I still think this is a valid suggestion and would like to further expand it to include different supply loadouts for each of the vehicles & C47. A C47 should definately be able to speed up the rebuild of an object quicker than an M3.

This is just "How I would like it to work", The programming required would probably make it a non starter

Either way no critisism of the current setup is intended it's just a few ideas

Anyway... wadda ya think?

Good ideas?
Bad Ideas?
Don't care?

TTFN
snafu

[Ripsnort]

I like any new ideas that keeps the game "fresh" and flowing.  (Thumbs up smiley here)

[SKurj]

Click my sig +) i suggested defensive troops waaaay back when, mebbe one day!


SKurj

[GhostRider2110]

I also have to agree.. something a little more would add much to the game.  

See-ya
mdbaker

106th Air Group

[AKManiac]

I think these are great Ideas,

I kind of would like to see more in base capturing that would require more effort...its would be cool to see 3 or 4 C-47s being escorted by fighters and the works, and to see full out ground wars with troops and such...it would be alot more complicated and would probably require a drastic change in the way things are done now...and the programming would probably be hell...but I must say great ideas i see above

you don't just get a smiley you get a