Who the hell comes up with the time to play a scenario on this site?

[Fort]

Some of the scenarios from AP19 have absolutely absurd times to play numbers.
What sort of method is used to determine these times...Dartboards?

And, there is a scenario that has no playings, yet has a balance number listed?
Really quite off-putting to say the least.

GF

 

[Hutch]

My thoughts on this:
The Archive uses some formula involving the number of counters to determine the length of play.
AP206 may be using the balance from the scenario from The Bunker DB052 with the same name "Jungle Rats", considering it already has ROAR data listed.

 

[Michael R]

Vehicles inflate the estimated playing time. I looked at the longest one, AP206. I plugged in the numbers of squads, vehicles and guns into a spreadsheet that I use to estimate the playing time. I don't have the scenario yet, so I assumed all assets are available on turn one.

My spreadsheet determines 4.9 hours to play. The Archive estimates 6 hours.

 

[pensatl1962]

“AI”
Seriously, why even have an estimated play time? I’ve never chosen a scenario based on this parameter in the Archive. Most of us are experienced enough to look at the card, note the number of turns, squads, AFVs, and fortifications and get a feel for how long it will take.

 

[Zakopious]

I think that the time estimates are based on very experienced players.
I made up a formula for Starter Kit #1 games:

Total Time = (min/counter-turn) X (Total Nationality counters) X (#Turns)

Scenario Archive (min/counter-turn) ~ 0.8
My (min/counter-turn) ~ 1.2

My games are always longer than the Scenario Archive estimated times for the Starter Kit #1 scenarios.

My formula: Total Time = (min/counter-turn) X (Total Nationality counters) X (#Turns)

Scenario Archive (min/counter-turn) ~ 0.8

My (min/counter-turn) ~ 1.2

S1 EXAMPLE:
S1 Retaking Vierville: Nationality counters = 33, Turns = 5, My (min/counter-turn) = 1.2

My estimate of Total time = 1.2 (min/counter-turn) X 33 (Nationality counters) X 5 Turns = 198 min = 3.3 hrs

Scenario Archive time estimate for S1, Retaking Vierville is 2.7 hrs.

The formula is admittedly rough. I did not allow a time difference for the squads which come in on later turns.

 

[fenyan]

I usually expect an hour a turn for your average scenario.

 

[Fort]

I think that the time estimates are based on very experienced players.

I am a very experienced player and the times for the scenarios in AP19 are way off. The times to play are inflated by quite a bit.

A very experienced player will play any of those scenarios in a tournament round of 4-5 hours with time to spare.

 

[Fort]

“AI”
Seriously, why even have an estimated play time? I’ve never chosen a scenario based on this parameter in the Archive. Most of us are experienced enough to look at the card, note the number of turns, squads, AFVs, and fortifications and get a feel for how long it will take.

^This...

What an estimated time does is discourage TD's, who choose to rely on this, to pass over scenarios that are listed as taking longer than 5 hours to play from consideration.

 

[Fort]

My thoughts on this:
The Archive uses some formula involving the number of counters to determine the length of play.
AP206 may be using the balance from the scenario from The Bunker DB052 with the same name "Jungle Rats", considering it already has ROAR data listed.

The Formula needs work.

And, you are correct with the same name snafu, the DB scenario is at 60.9% for one side. And that is exactly what the scenario archive has it rated (61%).

 

[william.stoppel]

I am a very experienced player and the times for the scenarios in AP19 are way off. The times to play are inflated by quite a bit.

A very experienced player will play any of those scenarios in a tournament round of 4-5 hours with time to spare.

But how about for a fair to middling player like me Grumpy Fort? You know how slow I am coming from my Mississippi public school background.

 

[Smedley]

As a notoriously slow player, I would not hesitate to play any of the AP19 scenarios in a tournament. None should take longer than 4-5 hours.

 

[Actionjick]

Some of the scenarios from AP19 have absolutely absurd times to play numbers.
What sort of method is used to determine these times...Dartboards?

And, there is a scenario that has no playings, yet has a balance number listed?
Really quite off-putting to say the least.

GF

What I also find most peculiar is a balance number with no playings.

 

[Actionjick]

I am a very experienced player and the times for the scenarios in AP19 are way off. The times to play are inflated by quite a bit.

A very experienced player will play any of those scenarios in a tournament round of 4-5 hours with time to spare.

I wondered if the time to play would be " fudged " more heavily on the high end than the low.

 

[Actionjick]

^This...

What an estimated time does is discourage TD's, who choose to rely on this, to pass over scenarios that are listed as taking longer than 5 hours to play from consideration.

Especially when you consider that most attendees will be fairly experienced to very experienced players and given the time constraints of most events will probably pick up their pace of play.

It must be discouraging as a designer to have a scenario you know can be completed in four hours to be listed as a six hour scenario.

 

[Zakopious]

Especially when you consider that most attendees will be fairly experienced to very experienced players and given the time constraints of most events will probably pick up their pace of play.

It must be discouraging as a designer to have a scenario you know can be completed in four hours to be listed as a six hour scenario.

Perhaps designers should list an estimated play time on the scenario.

 

[Robin Reeve]

Perhaps designers should list an estimated play time on the scenario.

LFT do it.

 

[Michael R]

And, you are correct with the same name snafu, the DB scenario is at 60.9% for one side. And that is exactly what the scenario archive has it rated (61%).

I tried to correct the ROAR results in the Archive, but it isn't possible because AP206 is not yet in ROAR, like many other scenarios.

 

[Fort]

But how about for a fair to middling player like me Grumpy Fort? You know how slow I am coming from my Mississippi public school background.

im sure Mrs Bill can help with that, General.

 

[Fort]

Perhaps designers should list an estimated play time on the scenario.

Play time is very subjective. It’s up to the players to decide how long it will take them.
I can play a scenario in almost half the time it takes Perry.

 

[Sparafucil3]

Play time is very subjective. It’s up to the players to decide how long it will take them.
I can play a scenario in almost half the time it takes Perry.

I recall playing Nishne Nyet in under 2.5 hours. I think we did Texas Flood in about 3.75 hours. — jim