The saddest thing in wargaming is an unplayed scenario! Being on the other end of things now and seeing how much love goes into each scenario, it is sad to see any unplayed scenario but with PG, there are so many, it is understandable.
But it does lead me to believe that for the rest of my life I will always have a new scenario to try!
I guess unlike some of the 'madder' and more 'intense' players. The rest of us have to make do with some form of selection policy for the few games we get in ?
Personally, unless its a large epic, I rarely hand-pick a scenario. I either prefer the opponent gives me a choice from 3 or 4, or with Wayne for example, we have a 'Random-Select' system so that no one side is intentionally favoured. Therefore, if he gets 3 slanted to the allies or I to the Axis, then it is merely the dice God's performing their art.
However, with our random select procedure there is often a theme. Our current game (from Red Warriors) was randomly selected (via dice) from the whole PG gamut. The next one on deck will be a random pick from whatever the PG Top 20 rated scenarios are. After that, it will be one headed "Wayne's Favourites".
The "Favourites" section was created by both of us. We both went through the whole set manually and picked ones (without the other player being allowed to see at this stage) what scenarios we would love to play. We then put the two seperate lists together, and any scenario that had been picked by the pair of us entered the 'favourites' bag (in the guise of a folded piece of paper or chit). So when it comes to a "Random Favourite", we dip into the bag, pull out a chit and the scenario on that chit is what we will play next (as one of our dual-favourites). In the case of a "Wayne's Favourite". Instead of the chit being pulled randomly from the favourites bag, Wayne instead gets to choose which "Favourite" he wishes to play.
Our full list of "Which scenario to play" is here below. It goes in a round robin of 20 scenarios, then back to the top again.
The "Random Pick" section is made up of a list of ALL the games which are then assigned a 'percentage chance" of coming up. Then each scenario within that game is given the same type of odds. This means that every scenario in PG has the same chance of being chosen as any other. To be honest, we both enjoy the process when it comes of going through the dice rolls to see which scenario is picked. We then cogitate together as to whom has got the advantage in the upcoming game. Thats how our current Red Warriors game came to be chosen (called "The Chosen" funnily enough) as did our last Road To Berlin scenario "Spring Awakened".
1. Dual-Favourite (pull a chit from the favourites bag).
2. Random-Pick (this is diced for using the whole PG collection where any scenario can come up, classic or dog, we'll play it)
3. Dual-Favourite (as No.1 above)
4. Invasion of Germany scenario (I love this campaign and we are playing them in date order one by one)
5. Random Pick (as No.2 above)
6. PG Top 20 Pick (diced for from the current PGHQ Top 20 rated scenarios)
7. Wayne Favourite (Wayne gets to pick his own choice)
8. Random Pick (as No.2 above)
9. Invasion of Germany Scenario (as No.4 above)
10. Dual-Favourite (as No.1 above)
11. Random Pick (as No.2 above)
12. Dual Favourite (as No.1 above)
13. Random Pick (as No.2 above)
14. Invasion of Germany Scenario (as No.4 above)
15. Vince's Favourite (as No.7 above but I pick instead of Wayne)
16. Dual-Favourite (as No.1 above)
17. PG Top 20 Pick (as No.6 above)
18. Random Pick (as No.2 above)
19. Invasion of Germany Scenario (as No.4 above)
20. Dual-Favourite (as No.1 above)
Right now
it looks like we're not going to get rid of our unplayed scenarios until early 2015... and that's if nothing new is ever released again (something we know to be false).
I need to adjust the scale on that graph!
with many new scenarios coming online and the limited number of "core" players, I think it it is fair to say that there will never be 100% play. But I would love to be proved wrong on this and love to see aars for all.
After that, it will be one headed "Wayne's Favourites".
IE One I may win
Vince is right I enjoy our random picking of scenario, yes we get some one sided ones (though there are not a many of those as some people claim) We get to play scenario's we would not normally consider, its a good idea if you have a regular opponent. Who knows Jays we may pick one of those virgin scenarios untouched by a gamer's hand.
Matt and I try to play through all the scenarios of a supplement, always commanding the same side. I find I gain familiarity with what my troops can accomplish in a given time frame and, in the case of Indian Unity, how the Razakars became much tougher to dislodge in very short order.
We're trying Panzer Lehr at the moment but as this supplement has a lot more scenarios than War on the equator and Indian Mutiny, we'll see how far we will get.
I am really enjoying the hidden rules when playing against Matt (in that one scenario with Alan). I find it adds a big element of tension and forces the attacker to consider his moves more carefully.
(04-20-2013, 05:28 AM)Hugmenot Wrote: [ -> ]I am really enjoying the hidden rules when playing against Matt (in that one scenario with Alan). I find it adds a big element of tension and forces the attacker to consider his moves more carefully.
I am also currently playing Panzer Lehr (#13 Road to St. Gilles) via PBEM and illustrates that scout cars become ultra important as they can zoom around and uncover units, most likely getting killed but at least it is not a double point - as in the case of tanks - and it allows the more powerful units to deal with those uncovered units.
Well, referring to the post I made upstream about selecting random scenarios, the time came for Wayne and I to select a PG Top 20 random selection. I was girding my loins for my first ever Cassino battle as there are about 5 Cassino games in the top 20.
What did we get ?
A bloody Eastern Front Deluxe again "Spruce Grove" # 49. So that is our next one. As a PG Top 20 scenario we are expecting it to be fun. We shall see if we rate it as highly as others have so far.