Alternate Activation Ideas

[squinch]

I came up with an interesting activation method quite by accident. Well, mostly because I can't add. We were playing a fairly high point value game, about 600 vs. 300 with about 15 units per side. It was a base assault and I accidently placed too few cards for the attacker in the deck. At the end of the first turn we realized all the attacking units hadn't gone.

Bingo, I thought, what a great mechanic.

On any given turn the attacker can only activate a limited number of units. If they focused on shooting, they couldn't advance on the base with every APC and troops. If they focused on advancing, they couldn't shoot their all their tanks. It forced a lot of thinking and combined arms in localized areas of the table. The battle ebbed and flowed much more like you would expect a real one to. Certainly it should be used only in scenario specific cases, but it was a huge driver of realistic tactics. You could even apply it to both sides.

In a different game, I used another variant of the card system by forcing one high power unit to use only a specific card (an Ace of that sides color). This created a few interesting situations during the game as one time it activated early and couldn't take advantage of the current situation. On the last turn of the game it was the first card drawn and won the game. This was the, "If at first you don't succeed..." AAR I posted.

Anyone have any thoughts on other activation methods or interesting outcomes with their activation strategies?

I've attached a pic from the game.


Squinch

[ypu]

Personally I enjoy the activation system used in dirtside II,
Basically the player with the most units starts of activating one unit, then activation switches on a 1 for 1 basis.
The trick is that when the enemy has more un-activated units then you your allowed to force him to go again, this way he will be forced to tip his hand a bit but might reduce the effectiveness of your units.

Basically having more units on the field allows you a head start, after that the smaller force controls the flow of battle. In a system like this decided what unit to activate is a very important tactical choice as you slowly eliminate your responsiveness across the board.

Dirtside has stats chips that you have on the board along with the minis that you flip over to mark that they have activated. And with a system like this I can imagine it getting confusing what has activated and what hasn't. My suggestion would be to Tap (rotate to its side) the stat cards of the units that have activated.

[twogunsblazing]

For our games, we use alternate activation, with an initiative roll at the start of each turn to decide who takes the first activation.

[comstar]

I'm the same as twogunslazing. But occasionally due to scenario this can change.

[Mr. Harold]

I like to add the skill of the commander (if there is one) to the 2D6 roll.

[squinch]

You guys really need to spice it up :>)

Give the patrol phase a try and let me know if you like it. I just started a new thread about it.
Squinch

[Tim Vidlak]

I've been using Random Card Activation Rules for Quite some Time. Each unit is assigned a Card, in Addition the deck always will include a Number of Special Cards I will explain bellow. I require Commanders & Sub-Commanders to pass a Skill Check to use Any Command Actions "Push Moves" or "Take The Pain" I play using Multiple Platoons & Require a Sub-Commander with each Platoon (when Giving Orders to a unit from another Platoon the Skill Check is at -1.)



The Deck consists of 1 card for each unit & a minimum of 3 additional Cards these are Command & Control Cards. I have Also used Fog Of War Cards Based on the Mission, Usually A D6-2 Cards Some of these are listed bellow. Fog Of War Cards when drawn roll 1D6-the Current Turn on the roll of 4+ the Card is returned to the Deck.





Command & Control Cards include

1 A Reset Card that Forces the deck to be refreshed (reshuffled) this can Allow a units to activate more than once during the Turn

2 An End Turn Card that Starts a new turn units that have not activated have lost their activation for that turn

3 A Fatigued Card that Limits all units that have not activated will receive only a single action when the are activated.



Fog Of War Cards

1 Anti Infantry Mine Field the next unit activated has entered a Mine Field all Members must

pass a Skill test or takes a Strength 6 Hit with a 1" Burst. In Addition the Unit

will have to pass another Skill Test to clear the area before it can move on.

2 Anti Tank Mine the next Vehicle activated has Tripped an Anti Tank Mine it takes a Strength

12 AP 3 Hit with NO Burst.

3 RF Interference Command Skills are only usable at 1/2 the models Mental Stat for Range

4 Friendly Fire the Next unit that activates Must take a Shooting Action at the A random

Friendly Unit within Range Unless they Pass a Skill Check at -1

5 Vehicle Maintenance Problem the next vehicle Activated must take a Critical Check on Its

Engine & Tech as a result of lack of proper maintenance.

6 Hardened Defense The Unit Gains +1 Guard until it Moves from its Current Location if the unit wishes to Fortify the Position make a Skill Check if passed they Gain an Additional +1 to the its Guard Stat (for +2 Guard)

7 Catch the Enemy Exposed The Unit Gains +1 to its Shoot Skill Until the Beginning of the next turn.

I have used other Fog Of War Effects but am still working on perfecting the System.



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[squinch]

I've always loved some type of unpredictable activation system whether it's cards, dice, etc. It still surprises me how many folks don't like that. Really is cool to see how people react to changing situations during these types of games.

The following isn't about activation but hits at the heart of the unpredictable and some peoples distaste.

I was umpiring a 15mm WW2 game about ten years ago (company level, lots of stuff on the table, and no definitely not FOW) and aircraft arrived for one side. There was a small chance they could mistake targets and fall under the control of the other side for one turn. Well, this happened and the game was delayed for an hour because one player on the 'receiving' end of their own bombs could not accept this outcome as possible. Even after the opposing side offered to skip the aircraft the guy kept up his ranting and we had to finally call the game off. I could never really tell if he had just never cracked open a book or was just simple. Who knows, the bombs might have missed anyway.

Definitely seems to be two camps.
Squinch

[twogunsblazing]

Definitely a story of a bad gaming experience that one!!!

I think for many people, the satisfaction gained from orchestrating and executing a good game plan is very high...the rluck of the dice is more than enough randomness for most people and having extra random stuff happen to your force can really detract from your feeling of having masterminded a cunning plan

[squinch]

TGB- That's a great point.

Squinch