An Odd Question Re Solitaire Play

[John S]

This is a convoluted question but please bear with me so that you know what I am asking and why.

I am a very old wargamer going back to the earliest days of board gaming. When I was growing up, there were very few opponents available, and my regular pattern of game playing was simply to "turn the board around". I would play one side using my best efforts, then switch to the other side and again use my best efforts to win for them. I know all the disadvantages of this, e.g. it is hard to fool or mislead the other player... but believe it or not the constant switching of sides later helped me as a lawyer - I found it quite easy to look at the matter from the other side's point of view and figure out their likely strategy. For a lot of reasons, even though human opponents are now readily available, I am not a fan of play be mail etc. I understand the multitude of virtues involved in playing against another human but there are associated commitments and frustrations, and it really is just not for me.

Over the last three decades, I have often found the computer AI to be totally deficient in otherwise excellent game systems. My solution has been to "turn the board around" by using the "head-to-head" play option that is usually available.

I have stated on this and other forums that I consider the system utilized in Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa to be perhaps the most intriguing and best wargame system that I have ever seen. I must admit though that I say this against a background in which in each of the 5 or more campaigns that I have played as the Germans I have given up because the incredible accumulation of Soviet forces has seemed to me to be undefeatable by late October, despite a pretty good campaign by me. I have read dozens and dozens of books on Barbarossa, and I know the Soviets mobilized and brought to the front a LOT of troops, but my impression was that the game was sadly unbalanced.

I have recently read the postings about the extensive cheats by the computer AI and the fact that the full nature and extent of the cheats are pretty much unknown by the player. I understand the developer's problem - I remember in around 2002 a developer said, "an experienced wargamer can take one look at the rules, the map and the units and do calculations and reach conclusions that 100 years of programming cannot overcome."

With that extensive and boring background - here is my question.

What is the best way to play the game solitaire head to head? I have looked but have been unable to find the "head to head" setting that you see in other systems such as the John Tiller games. Is the only way to do this to create some sort of convoluted Play By Email structure where I send turns back and forth to myself? Is it possible to do that, will it work? I would appreciate any thoughts and help that anyone can provide. Also, I assume that this type of arrangement would eliminate the computer cheats and balance the historicity of the game but if I am wrong about this, please let me know.

Thanks. Great game system but I am sorry that the shortcuts that were chosen were probably too extensive.

[budd]

After you chose scenario Barbarossa 41, under the opponents sections click both sides to human and off you go. Enjoy

[John S]

Wow. Thanks. Sorry I felt I had to write such a long treatise in order to elicit such a simple answer. Sometimes you miss things that are staring you in the face.

[budd]

No Worries, your treatise was very elegant Have fun

[Dave25210]

John S, that was an interesting post, I had similar opinion and experience as you do. Played numerous campaign as GE, tried hard yet always got badly defeated eventually… then I got the same info about cheating AI and figured that it’s unfair fight perhaps…. Considered turning the board as you do, but never got past 2 rounds, it didn’t feel right.

But, would you post your experience how is the game going that way? Thanks.

[John S]

Funny, one of the reasons for my “treatise” was that I wanted to try to avoid any lecture about how I would be a better and more enlightened person if I gave up solitaire play in favor of playing against humans. I have endured those well intended instructions a few times in the past but at this point in my life I am grateful to not get another lecture.

I remember one developer at Simulations Publications who, decades ago, said that wargaming was supposed to have a social engagement function so he would never develop a game that could be played in solitaire. To each his own. I have always enjoyed the ability to stop thinking about work and then fully concentrate, for either a long time or a short time….my choice…..upon a challenging intellectual puzzle with fascinating historical overtones.

[buchand]

For 54 years I have played almost exclusively solitaire. I had waned since losing space for board set up as my wife thought that clothes, eating and visitors were more important Then TOAW came to my rescue. Decisive Campaigns, WITE and others followed.
It was my cool down after work, my retreat from stress and many times just because I enjoyed it. I'm not be nature a great socialiser but the contact through forums etc made me feel part of a community. If a developer believes that the games are purely/mainly for dual play then fine, let the buyer know and lower the price as the AI isn't important.
Here's to all the who enjoy the game face to face, email or solo.

[Zovs]

Great discussion fellows. I to grew up in the 70s playing and learning board wargames by my self. When I found a few groups who met at hobby stores (remember those?) it was a special treat. I do the same today, mostly for PBEM I rely on the WDS series of games (Musket & Pike, Napoleonic’s, American Civil War, First World War, WW2, and Modern Combat), to me WDS is very much like how my beloved SPI and S&T games were. But at the same time I still enjoy playing solo, despite the AI tricks and cheats.

Just some thoughts…

[Zovs]

BTW I really do enjoy DC:Barb, great game and system.

Another great system for solo playing that I find fascinating is Panther Games (now attached to Lock n Load Publishing), Command Ops 2. The core game is free on Steam, comes with 3 scenarios and at the Steam Workshop is another 14-18 free scenarios, plus there is currently 7 DLCs for CO2, and there is a Steam sale starting on the 21st.

But I really do enjoy soloing Command Ops 2.