MP vs. SP

[Shemar]

This subject has been bugging me a lot and especially after I talked with Herman about it I decided to post my thoughts and see how everybody else feels.

I love the idea of MP Harpoon. When I found out that there is no real (strategic level) AI in Harpoon, but the computer opponent is pretty much left to the missions designed by the scenario author, I felt MP was the main way to play this game.

However, soon after playing MP a few times, the realities struck. The time consuming nature of the really big and interesting scenarios (even assuming for a moment the technical difficulties of playing those in MP are resolved) make it next to impossible to play them with others. Managing to have a 20 hour game going with someone else over time zones and scheduling conflicts, not to mention RL aggro, is an exercise in frustration.

On top of that add the fact that I generally like to take things -real- slow (I generally never play faster than 5-1) while when playing MP, time is always an issue.

The result? Even though I -wish- I could play all these great scenarios against a human opponent, the reality is SP is the way to go for the most part, at least for me. Even assuming I have 4-5 hours straight available to me and I do find someone who can play at the same time for the same duration, we are still limited to simple scenarios that to me feel more like 'shoot-em-ups' than intellectual exercises in military tactics and manouvering.

Any thoughts?

[Herman Hum]

However, soon after playing MP a few times, the realities struck. The time consuming nature of the really big and interesting scenarios (even assuming for a moment the technical difficulties of playing those in MP are resolved) make it next to impossible to play them with others. Managing to have a 20 hour game going with someone else over time zones and scheduling conflicts, not to mention RL aggro, is an exercise in frustration.

On top of that add the fact that I generally like to take things -real- slow (I generally never play faster than 5-1) while when playing MP, time is always an issue.

The result? Even though I -wish- I could play all these great scenarios against a human opponent, the reality is SP is the way to go for the most part, at least for me. Even assuming I have 4-5 hours straight available to me and I do find someone who can play at the same time for the same duration, we are still limited to simple scenarios that to me feel more like 'shoot-em-ups' than intellectual exercises in military tactics and manouvering.

I can count the number of ANW games I've played through to the end involving 3 or more players on one hand. One match was with a friend and his roommate, one was a 9 hr marathon, and another 2 were with the same quick 'shoot-em-up' scenario.

I can whole-heartedly agree that ANW SP is probably the way most players use it. Real life issues just do not accommodate much MP. I have a few regular MP partners (Eds and AngleOfAttack) who like to play 1v1 and we have been able to carry games over for weeks and even months, but folks with this level of dedication are few and far in between.

Unfortunately, the ANW AI just gets "dumber and dumber". As of now, the AI might sail a BCGN or BB right into the middle of an unarmed convoy and not fire a shot because the merchant vessels are unarmed and thus pose 'no threat' to the BB/BCGN.

Unarmed units not engaged (http://tinyurl.com/2phx5p)

Unarmed units will not be engaged by AI units (sub or ship) on Plotted mission. This is due to the fact that the targets pose no 'threat' to the AI unit thus elicits no response. Once weapons are added to the targets, they are immediately attacked.

And there appears to be no end in sight for this type of silliness. The only saving grace of ANW IS the MP since a human opponent can always override dumb AI behaviour. So, the game continues to be used in a mode that is primarily unplayable since no one can find time to play MP. :cry:

There's some good discussion on UseNet (http://tinyurl.com/2ropgt) in this regard, too.

[FreekS]

I agree MP should be the most challenging way to play - but practicalities of peoples times, preferences and such limit it to fairly small scens. I still prefer SP - and can play games over and over again as many have been very well designed and tested in SP over many years.

I've only recently started designing scens with MP in mind, and since I don't play MP much myself - I think that there is still a lot of potential for interesting, quick and very challenging new MP scenario's to be created.
Its only the last 4 or so scens that I designed with MP in mind, and the feedback I got (from the few players who played them) was so positive that I think even with all the drawbacks of ANW; great MP games could be made.

Freek

[MikMyk]

MP's great if I have tons of time and SP works out if I don't.