Flying Squirrel Entertainment
Battle Cry of Freedom => General Discussion => Topic started by: McEwan on December 05, 2012, 01:58:57 am
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You are looking over a Civil War battlefield from a bird's eye point of view. The game starts and your forces are arrayed in front of you. You click on your artillery unit card and click on a nearby hillock with the intention of setting them up on the high ground, and a blue way-point icon appears. Satisfied, you then split your infantry forces evenly into two groups and send them to either side of your guns, in line with each other. (Sound familiar yet?) The enemy army is suddenly seen cresting a large ridge to your northeast. You quickly order your guns to start shelling the ridge, and mobilize your two corps, moving the second down the middle while sending the first around the the right.
Seeing that you had broken up your forces, your enemy moves the vast majority of infantry onto your right flank to overwhelm your 1st corp. You focus your artillery fire on the advancing enemy infantry and swing your 2nd corp on top of a small hill to poise them to flank the enemy, where unfortunately they are driven back by the enemy artillery. In a last ditch effort to save your chances of victory, you set up your 1st corp in their tracks and dish out devastating point blank volleys. You order your 2nd forward as well, and they bravely charge through a hail of shells. In the center of the map, all three infantry forces crash into hectic melee. Shots are fired from meters away, Confederate war cries fill the air; in the blinding smoke, bayonets and muskets are blurs as they hit back and forth, stabbing and swinging and chambering and...wait, what?
Oddly enough you were so mesmerized by the battle, you forgot you weren't playing the North and South mod for Napoleon Total War; you are playing Battle Cry of Freedom in the newly introduced Grand Commander gamemode! How silly you are!
Yes, my latest fantasy for Battle Cry of Freedom is the addition of a completely revolutionary game mode called Grand Commander to be used in direct correlation with the BCoF network, battle, and regiment systems. Very much like in the Total War series, there is a singular, overlooking commander with full access to the whole battlefield. This commander has control of every unit on his team, and can move them to any position on the map, in any formation he wishes.
First of all, let me explain how the basis of this game mode (the regiments) would work.
**Disclaimer: I may very well be blinded by lust and not have any idea on how the future in-game systems will work. All here is speculation.**
In NW, we don't have a chance in hell to make a game mode like I will describe. What I'm describing is a fully functional commander interface where one person can select each registered regiment of real individuals, give them movement orders, group regiments together, have them make formations, and give general orders like firing permissions, crouching/laying down (if it's included), and withdrawing, to name a few. I say "registered regiments" because with the new Regiment system made by FSE, the identities of each singular regiment and members will be registered in the actual game. Perhaps this means we can make it possible, in this game mode, to have those identities be selectable units able to be ordered in-game.
Now to get to the specifics. Unlike in Total War, each unit will not be immediately required to execute whichever order is given, pretty much because they are AI, while in this game mode you will be ordering actual humans. Each regiment commander (these will be encoded and registered in the game as well) will be able to execute each order on their own time, but within reason of course. When each order is given, the regiment commander will receive an indication of said order in the form of a movement way-point or a text notification on his screen. The type of formation will also be indicated. When the order is received, the regiment commander can follow it immediately, wait for support, or in the execution, override it personally if unexpected or hostile actions make the given order impossible or impractical. The choice of this action is, of course, on the regiment commander's own judgement.
The "unit cards" of each registered regiment will work much like they do in Total War. They will be placed on some part of the Grand Commander's interface and will show a picture of the type of unit that regiment is, the number of men currently alive, and their current orders. The Grand Commander can select one of them, or multiple unit cards, and order them using methods not unlike Total War methods. When each regiment completes their orders (perhaps each regiment commander can press a button that confirms their completion of orders...?) an icon will pop up on their unit card, replacing their order icons. I think to minimize the amount of stuff going on and maximize performance, the Grand Commander will have to physically see any personal order overrides, as the icons on the unit cards will not change.
The rest of the game mode mechanics will work like the regular battle mode in BCoF. One team will do their best to eliminate the other, and when all on one team are dead, the next round begins. This system will, I think, do much more to immerse individuals and regiments as a whole into to game, as each commander will not have to worry about the overall tactics of the battle, but only the execution and effectiveness of his orders. And not only will the battles go more smoothly, as the coordination will be streamlined and centralized by the Grand Commander, but each battle will be a different experience, as each Grand Commander has his own tactic, traits, and way of playing the game.
In conclusion (finally ;)) I think this type of game mode will add so much to the quality and immersion of the game, especially in events. I know the game is still in very early development, and the developers do not know the extent or potential of capabilities their systems have. If this is at all possible, I would love some feedback, and some ideas from the rest of you wouldn't hurt. :D
Hope you enjoyed reading! I'll be thinking on this subject; I hope you guys will be as well. :)
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don't worry McEwan im sure the devs will see it as you do one day ;)
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Oh that'd be awesome!!
Wouldn't it be hard to make a game mode like that, let alone run an event on it... But it does sound awesome!!!
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Anyone wanna summarize it for those of us who are too lazy to read?
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Well now, if you see this thread and want a summary, then you obviously didn't see the warning in the title! A little reading never hurt anyone, and if you want to get a clear idea of how my idea works, then you'll have to read the whole thing. ;)
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Ok so I think I get your concept, a gamemode where someone is a "General" and they set way points for the other players like a general would do? Kind of like an NTW battle with real people
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Kind of like an NTW battle with real people
Yes, that's pretty much how I described it. :D
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Is an interesting idea would only work in events that are organised so i don't know how beneficial it will be for the devs to add it in but is an interesting idea. Maybe when the game is released a modder ( presuming the game will be moddable ) will be able to do something like this who knows.
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Going to the bathroom takes longer than reading that Jacob.
You can do it!
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Reading is effort xD
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effort makes experience, experience gives you level ups and perks.
Your choice mate.
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But my bed is nice and warm :P
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Which is a great place to read from.
As supported by the fact that you are reading and posting on this forum here.
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I have always wanted a game mode like this, but always been too lazy to suggest it. Thank you for taking your time :P
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Good idea! ;D
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Uhh WOW. Love it. Would lose my job and wife playing the game then 8)
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One of the best things about line battles on NW is the skill in knowing where your enemy are and having a soldier's perspective. Having a map like Total War sounds cool, but it's not what the game is about. One of the biggest problems in the American Civil War was vision, so this would harm the game's realism. This also would take ages to make and implement into the game, so it's unlikely I'm afraid. However, I do like the idea giving regiments orders from a supreme commander. Maybe in line battles commanders could stand on a hill top and give regiments movement commands using markers and formations commands using trumpets?
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Something I would love to see implemented is the ability for someone to simply be the general on the battlefield.
Already in NW, you say?
Not quite. I would love to see an actual staff present. People to actually carry orders to the regiments present on the field, fellow general officers to give advice, etc.
"Runner, inform the 8th Georgia that they must fall back swiftly, before they become encircled. Move quickly, lad, they haven't got long."
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Something I would love to see implemented is the ability for someone to simply be the general on the battlefield.
Already in NW, you say?
Not quite. I would love to see an actual staff present. People to actually carry orders to the regiments present on the field, fellow general officers to give advice, etc.
"Runner, inform the 8th Georgia that they must fall back swiftly, before they become encircled. Move quickly, lad, they haven't got long."
There is a staff of sorts (in the N&S mod at least) which gives a good variety of command units, but not the command abilities, as you are suggesting. Trust me, I want to see that as much as you do. :D
The "Total War" idea could be an option, not the singular game mode, of course.
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The problem with North and South is that it goes so far as to give the general's staff 'rankers', whereas it should simply be the general and his various aides. And the abilities shouldn't really be forced, to be honest. Insubordination was and remains present on a battlefield, and it really should be up to the regimental commander's intuition as to whether or not directly following the orders is worth the risk.
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The problem with North and South is that it goes so far as to give the general's staff 'rankers', whereas it should simply be the general and his various aides. And the abilities shouldn't really be forced, to be honest. Insubordination was and remains present on a battlefield, and it really should be up to the regimental commander's intuition as to whether or not directly following the orders is worth the risk.
I agree, but those things you are specifically suggesting are wholly organic, based off the intuitions and thoughts of each commander against the personal skill of that commander, among various factors of the battlefield. You can't exactly code processes of mind into a game. ;)
But if the game is made in such a way that reflects those things, then they could be a very possible outcome.
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I agree, but those things you are specifically suggesting are wholly organic, based off the intuitions and thoughts of each commander against the personal skill of that commander, among various factors of the battlefield. You can't exactly code processes of mind into a game. ;)
But if the game is made in such a way that reflects those things, then they could be a very possible outcome.
That's what I'm trying to say here. :P
It'd be best to just put in the general class/staff, and let the players do the rest.
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I think this is the best idea I have ever seen posted on this forum :)
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Cool idea, but I think such a gamemode would warrant it's own game entirely, like perhaps Total War could just make an official American Civil War game and call it at that.
Going on about Total War though, I'd love it if there could be more than 4v4 players, say 10v10, and each player commanded a single unit... it would be a step up from commander battles withe lack of facing direction command or walk/run and etc... >.>
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i still like the idea, but played too much battlefield 2 to believe its used^^ in bf2 at the end only arty was used, because waypoints on public dont work well and in events its still better to use teamspeak for general orders. but maybe with the regiment system it would work.
hmmm how do you select a commander?
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A system similar to Arma II's conquest mode could work, combined with some other perks and quirks. Players get to vote one person as general, who will get access to a special class that only the elected person can use. And when riding around in his swanky general's uniform he can place markers similar to positioning troops in commander battle. If you want to go all-out realism you could even include the requirement that once a marker is placed, a player within range of the general (part of his staff) would have to ride within hearing range of the ordered battalion for the actual marker to appear. This avoids the god-like "every order is followed instantly" that occurs in Total War games and could even pose tactical opportunities where you'd send your cavalry to hunt down enemy messengers on their way to deliver orders.
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Cool idea
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That would be the coolest thing ever in a video game. When a commander would become "Enticed" with the idea of playing the game from a command point of view they would acquire regiments to fight their wars as they see fit! For example regiment 1 likes to obey orders and holds their ground until death. the commander would be inclined to get them on his team as a guard unit. Time passes and he realizes he can count on them a lot to do some heavy lifting. Some are weak, some are good shots. It would be like a card game of commanders and regiments are the cards. And being they are all individual regiments with their own special sets of skills it would play a large part in the whole advancement and depth of the game mode/game.
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Well put hugo, I believe Battlefield 2 had something like this. Where one player would be the grand commander, who controlled everything. I think it would be awesome if each regiment had some sort of skill sets, like the rock-paper-scissors system where a regiment would counter another regiment, but get brutally murdered by yet another. And then be able to take matters into your own hands by being able to take control of any of the ground units! Maybe some day, we will get a game like this!
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I dunno, doesn't seem like it'd fit well.
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I rekon it'd be sick however only as long as the orders you are given are optional - more like suggestions cause you could get those few naughty commanders who dont follow orders and then screw up your army which adds a sense of realism and also that the general is still a physical person as well so that he can fight like everyone else and is unable to command when dead. Finally could you devise a system so that Brigadier Generals are included in the system