P39 Question for Arkan and Akilpio

[Ricky B]

A quick comment on the balancing of campaigns in the games, based on HTH and all. Ed/Volcano Man in his FWWC games has the team including himself play through the campaigns HTH as team games, usually, and tweaks things as we go. It is still only one play through but leads to some reasonable confidence that they work, even if balance is not perfect. Since players vary so much, that would be impossible. For Serbia, for example, we did play all 4 invasion campaigns through to the end, although we had the termination rule kick in for at least the 4th campaign - although Ed did boost the CP major victory level by around 1500 points during the play as we were a turn away from termination at around turn 110 with only a few objectives taken.

So it is possible but does require a longer release timeline as shown in those games. I know a couple of the recent PzCs have had HTH play start at least but may be no finish, during testing.

[Steel God]

A quick comment on the balancing of campaigns in the games, based on HTH and all. Ed/Volcano Man in his FWWC games has the team including himself play through the campaigns HTH as team games, usually, and tweaks things as we go. It is still only one play through but leads to some reasonable confidence that they work, even if balance is not perfect. Since players vary so much, that would be impossible. For Serbia, for example, we did play all 4 invasion campaigns through to the end, although we had the termination rule kick in for at least the 4th campaign - although Ed did boost the CP major victory level by around 1500 points during the play as we were a turn away from termination at around turn 110 with only a few objectives taken.

So it is possible but does require a longer release timeline as shown in those games. I know a couple of the recent PzCs have had HTH play start at least but may be no finish, during testing.

When it comes to Ed and any work he has done on Scenario Design the "normal rules" don't apply.  He is quite simply the best all around scenario designer in my opinion.  Most of the scenarios he produces tend to be well thought out, and well balanced from a "head to head player's perspective".   Because he was such an excellent player and understands what makes a good scenario and what balance is, that shines through in his products.  Not saying others are bad at it, he is just a cut above the rest in this man's opinion.  Does he bat 1.000?  Of course not, but unbalanced ones are the exception, as opposed to the norm.