FTF 5 now over....

mepbmlist
#1

Shortly after the catapult was invented one of the (very large) catapult
darts was shown to a king of Sparta and it was explained how the dart was
thrown, The king responded "Hercules! Courage has been removed from war."
  I'm starting to feel like that king of Sparta. Just as the atomic genie
can not be restuffed into the bottle, so these (apparently) four programs
can not be wished away. Will they change the game as we know it? Yes.
Will the changes be good? Probably not.

While I doubt I will change your opinion, I must say that I believe that quality of MePBM will be improved, not diminished by the new mapping program. There are a number of skilled players out there that do not have the time to go through each and every turn with the same detail as others due to young families, demanding jobs, unforunate events. This is a tool that they will be able to keep their level of play consistent despite the pressures of "real life".

Also, think of chess. In that game, everything is on the board, and there is no fog of war. Still, innovative strategies are consistently developed (not bad for a game that old), personalities of the player are a huge factor (for chess players, think of "setting your opponents hair on fire"), and experience & skill are overwhelming advantages. No two chess games are the same. And no two chess players are the same (trust me, I know....... :wink:

This is not to say that MePBM will be like chess, as it will not. Skilled opponents will be able to "create" a fog of war for their opponents. For example, players see a FP icon that they knew was a 1500HI minus minor losses last turn. But, what they did not know is that the Eo also moved a 2000HC army to the same hex ready to hit a potential 5 DS popcentres instead of the one that the HI army could reach.... The DS move their armies and agents to the wrong hex. Players would actually have to use their brains more with this mapping program.

With the informational databases already compiled and programs in existence, I believe that the new mapping program will actually foster new strategies and ideas, as players maneuver to find another way to defeat their foes that have the same level of information.

Just my half cent,
Wade

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#2

With the informational databases already compiled and programs in existence,
I believe that the new mapping program will actually foster new strategies
and ideas, as players maneuver to find another way to defeat their foes that
have the same level of information.

As a player it already has - we were testing it before release for a couple of months (comparing it with the hand created map until now we don't do the map by hand any more). The outcome for us has been more intricate planning, more fun and greater understanding and appreciation of the game. As with many changes not everything will meet with everyone's approval here I can be pretty sure of that, but I hope that once we release it then players will find their game improved.

Clint (player & GM)