Solo wargaming

Started by T13A, 13 November 2014, 03:39:31 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

T13A

Hi

Following on from the topic about who do you mainly game with, I was just wondering for those who play solo (which includes myself about 75% of the time) do you use some kind of 'system' (e.g. cards or dice) to control one or both sides or act as the commander for both sides? In other words how do you do it?

Cheers  Paul
T13A Out!

Ithoriel

Normally I play both sides to the best of my ability, as far as possible not using my knowledge of the enemies plans to the advantage of one side or the other.

Occasionally I've used one home-grown system or another to drive one side and played the other, usually where one side has few decisions to make - a siege for example.
There are 100 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who can work from incomplete data

Poggle

I use cards and dice for solo play. The Too Fat Lardies rules lend themselves well to this. The Sands of Sudan rules based on those by Peter Gilder have just been released. I've used the original version for solo play for years with excellent results.

petercooman

I mostly play BKC or another warmaster variant. The need to pass a command roll before something happens adds a nice fog of war that makes solo-play possible.

Steve J

I tend to go for games such as BKCII, Black Powder, Chain of Command etc that have command and control mechanics built into the rules. I tend to see myself as playing one side, often the one that I like the look of most or has the better background fluff.

fsn

It depends on the scenario I write. I give each side an objective or set of objectives.

I tend to "play" one side and let the other be pseudo random. For example "will the Panther take on the Sherman or the AT gun?" 60% Sherman, 40% AT gun - dice for action.



Happiest when playing with myself - FSN
Lord Oik of Runcorn (You may refer to me as Milord Oik)

Oik of the Year 2013, 2014; Prize for originality and 'having a go, bless him', 2015
3 votes in the 2016 Painting Competition!; 2017-2019 The Wilderness years
Oik of the Year 2020; 7 votes in the 2021 Painting Competition
11 votes in the 2022 Painting Competition (Double figures!)
2023 - the year of Gerald:
2024 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

Techno

Nobby.

You write the scenario.....Send me a pic of the battlefield, and I'll play one of the sides.
A new form of internet gaming ?
Cheers - Phil (Well.....It'll be the nearest I get to ever getting a game.... :'( :'( :'()

GrumpyOldMan

Hello

At the moment I'm using a Lardies type activation system, Red Actions as the nuts and bolts mechanics and matrices to control the opposition ala Pony Wars, Science vs Pluck etc.

Science vs Pluck is available from here. (Tinywars website seems to be having some problems but these can still be downloaded):-

http://www.tinywars.com/attach/svp/SVPOPB.zip
http://www.tinywars.com/attach/svp/SVPQR.zip
http://www.tinywars.com/attach/svp/SVPUPB.zip

The last, Umpires Guide is the best for matrices etc.

Don't worry about the period, it's the ideas you're after.

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan


sundaygeneral

Personaly, I simply use (and buy) rules allowing (or encouraging) solo and coop play. In the worst case, I buy and use rulesets that are "solo friendly" (these with random activations, random events, campaign systems, etc...).

But most of the time, I use "ready to solo play" rules, because I'm not very good at tweaking rules, even if I plan to make a try with FUBAR as soon as possible.

I also still didn't try to use a "solo system" (or core rules) inside a non-solo game.

GrumpyOldMan

Hello Phil/Techno

Quote from: Techno on 13 November 2014, 09:50:56 PM
Nobby.

You write the scenario.....Send me a pic of the battlefield, and I'll play one of the sides.
A new form of internet gaming ?
Cheers - Phil (Well.....It'll be the nearest I get to ever getting a game.... :'( :'( :'()

Why don't you try something like this, they're hoping to put out a demo/beta before Christmas:-

http://www.thevirtualwargamesroom.com/mfeatures





Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

SV52

Quote from: T13A on 13 November 2014, 03:39:31 PM
Hi

Following on from the topic about who do you mainly game with, I was just wondering for those who play solo (which includes myself about 75% of the time) do you use some kind of 'system' (e.g. cards or dice) to control one or both sides or act as the commander for both sides? In other words how do you do it?

Cheers  Paul

Cards and dice, there are some pretty good solo tweaks for DBx around which can be readily adapted.  I'm messing about with the early stages of trying to solo Peter Young's 'Charge!', Irregular Wars and a very basic WW2 set of rules.
"The time has come, the walrus said..."

2017 Paint-Off - Winner!

Heedless Horseman

Me, I just 'play' with model soldiers...my own 'rules'...sometimes adapted from others, but usually just dice throws for uncertainties. I am not a 'gamer'...just want to see units in situations and using my imagination for the s***t going down on the blokes involved...wondering how they might have felt and responded. That is why I like figures, rather than computer games...by the time that you have ordered, assembled, based and painted the damn things...you feel an affinity...they are YOUR troops... 'real' weight under your hands...and you 'feel' their pain or 'glory'.   :(    :)
(40 Yrs ago. I should have been an Angry Young Man... but wasn't.
Now... I am an Old B******! )  ;)

paulr

Quote from: Heedless Horseman on 16 November 2014, 12:57:40 AM
... That is why I like figures, rather than computer games...by the time that you have ordered, assembled, based and painted the damn things...you feel an affinity...they are YOUR troops... 'real' weight under your hands...and you 'feel' their pain or 'glory'.   :(    :)

Well said that man  =D> =D> =D>
Lord Lensman of Wellington
2018 Painting Competition - 1 x Runner-Up!
2022 Painting Competition - 1 x Runner-Up!
2023 Painting Competition - 1 x Runner-Up!

Steve J

Completely agree Heedless.

Techno

Quote from: GrumpyOldMan on 15 November 2014, 01:01:37 AM
Hello Phil/Techno

Why don't you try something like this, they're hoping to put out a demo/beta before Christmas:-
Cheers
GrumpyOldMan

Thanks, Grumps.
If I get the time, I might have a go at that.
Cheers - Phil