SimWar

[LoD]

SimWar

Major battles should be represented as the world is represented, with players interacting mostly with players and some non-player characters, with the rest of the activity taking place...virtually.

I would like to see the introduction of a script called SimWar that can be added to particular rooms in which large scale battles may be taking place over the course of time. The script would introduce echoes depicting virtual battle scenes between the major forces involved while randomly spawning NPC soldiers, or groups of soldiers between 2-5, within the room.

PC's would be able to inhabit these rooms and fight or assist the NPC combatants as able, which would be raging whether they were present or not. The SimWar flag could be added by Imms prior to a scheduled fight over a span of several rooms to simulate the ebb and flow of a battlefield or add it to single locations to represent an isolated raid/attack.

My feeling is that this model of handling mass battle would:

> Take the instant gank factor of Units out of the equation.
> Allow players to plan and develop tactics primarily against other players.
> Create a dynamic and random battlefield that contains it's own surprises, twists and turns.
> Allow the Imms to easily assign "battlefiends".

Example of SimWar

There would be three aspects of SimWar; battle echoes, random NPC spawns, and loaded NPC events.

Battle Echoes

Battle echoes would be given off every 1 to 5 minutes, selected from a database of random phrases that can be edited/manipulated to fit the situation.

[Random Battle Echoes A - Example]

> A war cry pierces the battlefield as a company of sun-emblazoned soldiers charges into a swarm of black and green emblazoned pikemen.

> Intense heat washes over you as a searing orb of scarlet fire hurtles overhead, igniting a unit of northern crossbowmen.

> A sharp whistling sound draws close as black fletched arrows begin piercing the western side of the battlefield.

Random NPC Spawns

Random spawns would happen every 5-10 minutes, where some number of NPC soldiers from either side would enter the battlefield. The spawn would be accompanied by a room echo, and each NPC would be clanned and aggressive toward anyone of the opposite clan (i.e. Sun Legion vs. Arm of the Dragon).

The NPC's would be predominantly mundane soldiers, but there could be the chance of some more specialized units:

> 80% chance of spawning between 1-4 human soldiers from either army.
> 10% chance of spawning between 1-3 half-giant soldiers from either army.
> 5% chance of spawning between 1-2 magickers/mutants from either army.
> 1% chance of spawning 1 templar from either army.

[Random NPC Spawns - Example]

Loud shouts are heard as a group of soldiers break free from the main army, engaging one another on an open stretch of field.
The lanky, black-haired Allanaki soldier joins the fray.
The stout, blue eyed Allanaki soldier joins the fray.
The hunched, scarred Tuluki soldier joins the fray.

Flanked by the charred corpses of soldiers, two templars appear in a rancid cloud, locked in a brutal fight.
The towering, broad-shouldered templar joins the fray.
The narrow eyed, white haired templar joins the fray.

Loaded NPC Events

Immortals could load NPC events onto the battlefield and allow SimWar to add to the mix by its random NPC generation. Loading up a magickal creature, rampaging beast from the arena cages, mutant horror controlled by the Tulukis, or other interesting encounters could be created when a high PC count is witnessed in the area.

[Loaded NPC Events - Example]

Surrounded by a group of cloaked figures, flames erupt around a dragon-masked figure on the western horizon.

The flames rise higher and higher, consuming a stretch of earth and launching dust and debris high into the air.

As the dust settles, a molten beetle crawls forward, its scales glowing like angry embers.

A huge fire beetle fades into existence.

Summary

I think if we could remove some of the heavy NPC presence from the encounters, create some random and surprising activity, and let most of the PC interaction be with other PC's, that these massive battleground scenes will be a lot more interesting to watch and participate in.

-LoD

[Synthesis]

Great ideas.  Additionally:

1) Add supply trains to the mix.  This would consist of a small wagon and maybe a few NPCs, accompanied by any PC soldiers/mercenaries available.  The wagon would autopilot itself back and forth between the army's camp and its supply base.  Obviously, it would be susceptible to attack.

2) Add scouts and scouting parties.  Every several days, have a scouting party of several NPC soldiers run a patrol through the surrounding area.  Code them to flee if overwhelmed (to prevent people from farming them), and return back to their base camp.  These NPC scouts/patrols could also be accompanied by PCs.

3) Add bandits and scavengers in the surrounding area.  A huge war is going on, things get lost, disorder and chaos create the perfect environment for raiders looking to take advantage.  Think Tuluki privateers ambushing Allanaki patrols and profiteering off of their obsidian goods, and Allanaki bandits doing the opposite.  Think escaped muls looking to exact revenge on anyone.

4) Add independent merchant caravans.  Every so often, have a caravan leave one city-state and travel to a camp, set up shop for several days, then leave.  Armor repair, replacement weapons/armor, spice (for Tulukis), liquor, bedrolls, better food, etc. available.

5) Let the mantis get involved.  Supposedly there's a mantis presence out there, and there are a bunch of self-propelled meatballs wandering back and forth through the desert.  Banquets like that only come around once in a King's Age.  Add the occasional mantis hunting party taking advantage of the situation.

As things currently stand, it's really very difficult to be useful if you aren't actually inside a camp.  So far, I haven't really seen a way to engage in combat with other PCs (beyond the occasional arrow shot in from afar), because it seems like PCs always travel in a group with several "unit" NPCs.  I don't know how supplies are being run, but it seems like so far the vast majority of the system is virtual.  The closest you can get to having a feel for the war is to stand from a safe distance and "watch" what's going on, which is somewhat interesting, but certainly doesn't provide a lot of satisfaction.

I think a sort of behind-the-scenes accounting system could tally up each side's victories/defeats from SimWar encounters, provide reports to relevant PC leaders, and ultimately would allow PCs much more to do by giving them numerous small-scale engagements in which they could take part--engagements that, while small, would still affect the outcome of the war.