Opinnion on PBEM Campaign Game

[Jack_Dionne]

If you finished one what did you think?

[Wdll]

Eh, I am not sure what you mean. It feels good?

[Jack_Dionne]

If you completed one would you play another?
Did it feel balanced?
Did you like the maps?

[JohnHale]

Welcome back, Jack!

I've completed 3, and in the middle of another 3, if that's an answer.

Maps are what you make of them: it uses standard generated maps, or you can use the "load custom map" option.

They're interesting to play: you can protect your core and fight largely with auxiliaries - but then if your oppo gets a good victory they'll have more repair points, so you might be facing a larger force in your next battle.

And when you take a good pasting and can't repair your Core, you have to be really careful in the next battle.... (Thanks, Cross!)

[Imp]

In many ways they are better than a one off battle, you get aux to tailor your force for the battle but unlike a single battle you have to buy an all round force that you can do all engagement types with, all that mobility is not so useful if you are defending.
Balance can be a problem if you do not adapt, its better to survive reasonably intact than get a slightly better outcome so if things go badly think fighting withdrawl or you will start the next battle at a big disadvantage.
House rules. If one player really mucks it up you can allow them a slight advantage if you so wish from letting them move first to moving flags to a delay intead of meeting for the next battle.
My view also offboard arty should not be allowed in the core as it improves & the player with longer ranged stuff gets an advantage when it becomes good at counter battery.
Also consider no helos or restricting in the core for variety as in campaigns the computer decides air availability but if in core you will always have available.
On maps exactly the same as a battle not sure what you are getting at.

On occasion battles ending can be a bit sluggish dragging on when little is left of one side & most objectives taken.

[Jack_Dionne]

Originally Posted by Imp

In many ways they are better than a one off battle, you get aux to tailor your force for the battle but unlike a single battle you have to buy an all round force that you can do all engagement types with, all that mobility is not so useful if you are defending.
Balance can be a problem if you do not adapt, its better to survive reasonably intact than get a slightly better outcome so if things go badly think fighting withdrawl or you will start the next battle at a big disadvantage.
House rules. If one player really mucks it up you can allow them a slight advantage if you so wish from letting them move first to moving flags to a delay intead of meeting for the next battle.
My view also offboard arty should not be allowed in the core as it improves & the player with longer ranged stuff gets an advantage when it becomes good at counter battery.
Also consider no helos or restricting in the core for variety as in campaigns the computer decides air availability but if in core you will always have available.
On maps exactly the same as a battle not sure what you are getting at.

On occasion battles ending can be a bit sluggish dragging on when little is left of one side & most objectives taken.

That's the type of information I was looking for, thanks.

[Wdll]

I am sorry if my answer wasn't good. Your question was vague at best.

Yes, I have played several campaigns, yes I like them, this is why I keep playing PBEM campaigns.

[Imp]

No worries Canada off to kick some proverbial butt now?

[Cross]

I've played quite a few PBEM campaigns.

Many years ago, when I switched from playing against the AI to human opponents, I could never really go back to the AI. Human opponents are just a lot more fun. But I missed the campaigns.

Now with PBEM campaigns...well, it's just the next level of addiction.

PBEM camps are not much different to a series of PBEM battles, where you get to decide or negotiate the circumstances, maps, v-hexes, preferences etc. for each battle. But there's continuity with your core, and you get to know your officers, or hopefully they are around long enough to become familiar.

My only complaint is that the winner is awarded a lot more repair points than the loser (often double). This makes the next battle even easier for the winner, and the campaign can soon become unbalanced.

This unbalance quickly 'snow balls' and has caused a premature end to most of my campaigns.

I actually think the loser should be getting more repair points. He's likely the less experienced player, and he probably has more to repair, so he's the one who needs help if he's going to have a chance at a successful second battle.

To combat this problem, I recommend keeping the turns low (15 to 20, but I may experiment with around 12) which will help keep battalions from being decimated.

Apart from that, you could agree that the winner is not allowed to expand his core. I volunteered to do this, and it helps.

cheers,
Cross

[Imp]

Cross threads have been posted on the repair points balance problem when PBEM Campaigns first came out, you may have been one of the posters.
I did the no expanding core thing but with a few campaigns under my belt now as it stands it makes little diffrence.
If you do not use house rules & one side loses considerably more units the total outcome is decided.
If you win the first battle you will probably be at full strength for the next & so on.
As you are going to take less losses than him once you are a few battles in you just convert your repair points store to aux units & hit him with a huge force, only thought of recently.
A better solution instead of keeping the turns low would be a reduced victory requirment for the game to end early & modifying the repair point allotment in my view.
I actually find trying to withdraw hang on to what you have one of the best facets of PBEM campains as you tend to just go for broke in battles.