NPC Storyline Wars

[Kaiser Kirk]

Good Evening all,

After some discussion the idea of trying a 'Storyline' war with an NPC is moving forward.
This will hopefully be interesting for all, and healthy for the SIM.

This is for Public Comment and Concerns.

The current goal is to allow for minor wars with NPCs.
Player(s) wishing a minor war would propose a storyline.
An NPC Player Council would provide input on the NPC side.
Decisive battles would be gamed out.

The use of a Player council also removes me from the 'Adversarial' role for minor wars, but I can be the neutral wargamer for the battles.

- Storyline wars would be limited to non-critical provinces and actions.
                           - No homelands
                           - No "critical provinces" - i.e. a critical base, or the sole port for a region (unless the entire region is at risk)
                           - No near-total fleet destruction
- Wars beyond the above criteria can be fought, but are not 'storyline', but full opposition, as the NPC will fight hard to win or inflict as much damage as possible.

- These would be limited to 0-3 provinces (non-critical ) "at risk" for each side.
                           - The player(s) would be initiating and would identify the potential goals / gains, including targeted provinces.
                           - The player will also nominate roughly equal "value" provinces they are 'risking'
                           - The war storyline may include the temporary gain or loss of other provinces, including in homelands or critical,
                              But it is pre-agreed that these 'temporary' gains are lost in the Peace Treaty
- The Player(s) proposing the war will outline the story.
                            - Roughly how it starts
                            - Roughly where the battles will be
                            - What the proposed decisive bits are
                                   - The forces committed would be portions of the overall fleet -
                                                     -enough to matter, not enough to destroy the loosers navy.
                                                     -They will probably be somewhat similar in ratio to the overall fleets,
                                                     - adjusted for distance from 'home'/support.
                                   - The actual composition would be left to the two sides (Player/NPC council)
                                   - The OUTCOME of the Decisive Battles ARE NOT Storyline, those are to be wargamed.
                            - Any 'featured' secondary battles, and the rough forces
                                   - Example  : The Graf Spee at Montevideo - not critical to WWII, but perhaps nice to highlight
                                   - These can be gamed out, or storylined as desired.
                            - Storylines featuring tremendous success for particular weapon systems should be previewed with the mods
                                    first to ensure they fit the appropriate tech.

- The NPC Council for the NPC  (1 mod +2 players)
                            - Reviews the storyline and what is "at risk"
                                   - votes on if it's acceptable for a storylne war
                                   - can propose alterations that fit the NPC better - different provinces at risk, a variation on the decisive battle.
                                   - determines just how big a chunk of the NPCs forces are sent.
- The Mod 
                            - Games out the battles in addition to normal mod things.

- Other Players 
                            - If uninvolved players want to join the war, there are roughly 3 levels
                            - Write "skirmishes" or "diplomatic scenes".  These will no ' real damage' to either side, but diplomatic aspects can be weighed on the story by the
                               players/NPC council.
                            - Undefined - but some mechanism for 'lend lease' or 'mercenaries' or 'intelligence'.  Given timelines this would probably matter only in longer wars, but could be part of the impetus to end one.
                            - Become directly involved, at which point it stops being a storyline and becomes a non-storyline war.



Summary :
This is new,
comments / concerns are welcome.
I think it's a way to make this happen reasonably
but there may be unexpected stumbling blocks.

[Kaiser Kirk]

The above is up for discussion.



The 'end game' is a Player vs. Mayan War.

For the Mayan Player Council I would like to ask the Following  :

Jefgte : As the architect of the Mayan fleet, I expect you have the best idea of how they should be allocated and used.

Rocky:  Wilno may be neutral , but access to the storyline may help avoid elements that would bring Wilno in as a full participant.

Snip :  Mod Councilor  (2 votes) : Like Wilno, Rome has some interest, and I think knowing up front and being able to ID what would bring Rome in will hopefully allow avoiding that trigger- so we can have the storyline war, and minor border changes.

This coming  week will allow us to hash out some comments/concerns.

Mayan Tech, Fleet Size, LP/DP/AP is all to be determined the weekend of Nov 5-7th.

[The Rock Doctor]

Councilman Rock has a certain ring to it.

[Jefgte]

It's time to move Peoples Republic of Maya in the Player Nations part... Just for the Fleet.

-------------

Mayan Tech, Fleet Size, LP/DP/AP is all to be determined the weekend of Nov 5-7th.

I guess the war will come in late 1919, early 1920.
At this date, none of the cruisers, battleships or battle cruisers laid down in 1917 will be available.
On the other hand, can be added to the previous 250,000t,
light units:
DDs + 4 x 870t
SS + 2 x 500t
MTBA + 16 x 40t

[Kaiser Kirk]

I believe the actual "go date" for the war is somewhat undetermined.

This is a new process we are trying, but the hope is in the 1920s or 1921s.

I hope to be able to move us into 1920 HY1 the first weekend in November.

Snip's design for NPCs give them force sizes in proportion to the original player nations.
So when I do the prep for the turn, the 'colony update' will give me a chance to figure out
the rough Mayan forces.

[TacCovert4]

I believe the actual "go date" for the war is somewhat undetermined.

This is a new process we are trying, but the hope is in the 1920s or 1921s.

I hope to be able to move us into 1920 HY1 the first weekend in November.

Snip's design for NPCs give them force sizes in proportion to the original player nations.
So when I do the prep for the turn, the 'colony update' will give me a chance to figure out
the rough Mayan forces.

I don't want this war to 'stall' the regularly scheduled stuff.  So presume it won't happen any early than 2hy20, possibly 1hy21.  That gives time for the forces to be developed, storyline stuff to be worked on, tensions and such to be noted, etc.