Selectable turn lengths for PBEM games

[Hook]

I'd like the option to select different turn lengths for a PBEM game.  Options could be from the default 15 minutes for a turn to 2 hours, with settings for 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 1 hour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours.

This would allow people to get through a PBEM game in a day or two rather than playing for many days or weeks.  It would also give the opportunity to "play out" a PBEM game after both players have decided the battle is basically over, but still give them the opportunity to give late-game orders if desired.

I'm thinking about a turn length slider on the PBEM screen, which could be set before running the turn.  Most of the time it would be set at the beginning, and only changed when the players both decided they didn't have any more orders to give.  The game could use the *shortest* time either player sets when it does the next turn.

I doubt many people would want to play with historical order delays and a 2 hour turn, but playing with limited (40 minute) delays or even no delay would have the same effect.  Using 2 hour turns would give 5 order phases in a 10 hour battle (1000 initial, then 1200, 1400, 1600 and 1800 for a battle that ends at 2000) which should play fairly well, but it wouldn't allow micromanagement.

JMM might use a button to "Finish the battle" but I'm looking for more flexibility here.

Hook

[Gunner24]

I would be very strongly in favour of something like this, should it be possible, a better choice would be a great addition.....it is quite easy to see people losing interest in having several PBEM games on the go when they are all taking 40 turns and at least 40+ days.

[spec10]

Just to keep this in the loop: I feel the same. Adjustable turn length's would be great.

[HarryInk]

I did like the idea of kicking a done game over to AI vs AI and watching the further colllapse and pursuit, but I suppose once the result & stats are in then really creating tactical detail is academic.  Combat Mission has '[ask for a] ceasefire' and 'surrender' as player options to end a battle if the game doesn't auto-surrender you when you're overrun.  I wonder if the first isn't a useful option?

[Gunner24]

[ask for a] ceasefire' and 'surrender' as player options to end a battle if the game doesn't auto-surrender you when you're overrun.  I wonder if the first isn't a useful option?

I like the idea, I think I posted about this somewhere else, but it was not well recieved if I remember correctly.....I'll try to find it.

[Gunner24]

Here it is :
http://www.histwar.org/forum/index.php/topic,4117.0.html

Hook said games should be played to a finish, but that was talking about MP, of course PBEM is very different.

[AJ]

I like the idea

[Hook]

I think the game should be allowed to play out because sometimes what looks like a loss turns into a win.  Of course, if you don't care to find out, then simply surrendering might be a way to go.  Don't expect an experienced player to surrender often.

Hook

[Jean Lafitte]

Great idea.

Would it be easy to implement?

[AJ]

I think the game should be allowed to play out because sometimes what looks like a loss turns into a win.  Of course, if you don't care to find out, then simply surrendering might be a way to go.  Don't expect an experienced player to surrender often.

Hook

I completely agree with Hook. In the numerouse pbem battles I have fought, many have come down to the wire before being decided one way or the other. Also at nbc a player incurrs penalty points for a "Surrender", so it's rare to see it happen.

[Marquês de Alorna]

This is just to bump the thread. I'm now playing my first PBEM and I think that it would be very nice to have a customizable turn length the way Hook has proposed.

António