Author Topic: We really need "Flexible Fronts" (Read 638 times)

Ripsnort · « **on:** March 11, 2002, 02:27:32 PM »

http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=44792&referrerid=3203

Punting this subject up again.

I've noticed a trend. In this last TOD (and many others as well) we're basically hitting the same area, with same aircraft, for all 3 frames. Our squadron attendance diminishes after the first frame...can you blame them? I mean we're basically repeating the same thing 3 weeks in a row...

Anyway, food for thought, read the original "Flexible Fronts" post I put forward awhile back.

Nifty · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2002, 03:45:55 PM »

It's something we'll implement eventually, Rip. We don't want to throw in too many new wrinkles at once. Unfortunately, the numbers issue really hampered our wrinkle in frame 3. The FDB were a Kamikaze strike. They were to fly their planes directly into the ships. However, they met "87 Hellcats" according to Sling. Only Sally made it through and scored a hit.

Honestly, I contemplated a moving front for this TOD. However, after seeing the insane numbers imbalance, I just felt it would have added insult to injury to the IJN side. After Frame 1, I was just hoping it was a one frame thing, and the numbers would equal out in the second frame. We've had frames in the past where the numbers were off, but then just fine the next frame, or even tilted the opposite direction. After Frame 2, the numbers problem persisted (and I brought it up with sling and daddog privately) and I tottaly forgot about moving the fronts as was contemplated. Prior to the TOD starting, skernsk and I did discuss it, I just decided against it after frame 1, and plum forgot it after frame 2.

skernsk · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2002, 08:33:24 AM »

There is a reason for similar orders too Rip.

We choose objectives for both sides, and we have to be careful that they are very similar. For example in frame 2 of The Big Show I chose a target for the allies that generated 600 points:eek: and basically porked the scores for the scenario.

We are still working on the objective based scoring and we can get much more creative with what we are going to pick for targets.

Objective based scoring will have your primary, secondary and alternate targets and each of those will be worth so many points. For example when I chose that same target that porked The Big Show it will not generate 15points per structure but will be worth "X amount" of points period. I can make an objective as simple as attacking "one" building

As for the moving front. Let's discuss that a little bit more here in this thread.

- you want us to move the front. Correct? Give or take a few fields etc? On what criteria should we "award" a field to a side? Totally destroyed, partially destroyed or just do it so that the front moves and we can move tha action around the map?

- with the strat totally changing in 1.09 I have to admit I don't fully understand how it will work and that might be a problem at the start.

- another idea is attrition. If a bunch of spits are destroyed in one frame we can make replacment aircraft be Hurricanes (similar to Hostile Shores) and that might change things a bit.

gimme something to work with here

Ripsnort · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2002, 08:43:15 AM »

Skernsk, the link shows the original concept, but I will add more to your questions:

Quote

As for the moving front. Let's discuss that a little bit more here in this thread.

- you want us to move the front. Correct? Give or take a few fields etc? On what criteria should we
"award" a field to a side? Totally destroyed, partially destroyed or just do it so that the front moves and we can move tha action around the map?

Basically, if you want the front to move, you have to earn it. Fields would have to be 100% destroyed. Again, like the link to the concept says, if Allies get, say, 2 fields knocked out 100%, and Axis gets 1 field knocked out 100%, then Allies get a new field for operations for the CO of that side to decide what he wants to do with. He may want to immediatley cap that field for the next frame to prevent a re-take of it. Or he may want to base some operations out of it. CM's really have nothing additional to do except check the targets of each side for amount destroyed, and declare where the front moves, depending on how many fields each side totally destroys.

Quote

- with the strat totally changing in 1.09 I have to admit I don't fully understand how it will work and that might be a problem at the start.

- another idea is attrition. If a bunch of spits are destroyed in one frame we can make replacment aircraft be Hurricanes (similar to Hostile Shores) and that might change things a bit.

[/b]

That would work great in conjunction with the concept pointd out above, lets say a Spitfire squadron decides to Jabo a enemy field, they might get the field 100% down, but if they lose all their A/C, then they're down graded to Hurri's, and if the field is awarded (ie, Allies have more destroyed fields total than axis), those Hurri;s might end up having to cap that field the next frame!

I still think alot of my fellows just find redunancy a bit much, think of flexible fronts as "reward" for a job well done. It also's throws the CO of each frame alittle variety in what he can and can't do, as well as what he should do in regards for "keeping what we have" or "Continue pressure on the enemy"

skernsk · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2002, 01:38:50 PM »

heh .. caught me being lazy and ignoring the link:)

I will try to implement something with regards to this in order to make the event more interesting. As for authenticity, I am wizzing around the arena during the frame and looking at the targets. I can just use that in order to decide whether or not a field is dead.

With 1.09 coming out and the "mini-country" aspect to grabbing terrain I think the moving front will work nicely. We could give a 75% of the stuff in one country and it would be up to the CO whether to dig in, or regroup further back.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2002, 07:33:49 AM »

Thanks for considering it! Either way, I think I can speak for MAG-33, you guys are doing a helluva good job, I feel sorry for those squadrons that have not participated in a TOD, they really rock! Its what most of our guys live for week in and week out.