Text-based Battle Mockups

Text-based Battle Mockups //The purpose of this experiment is to compare different methods of presenting battle in text form. It is a mock-up for demonstration purposes only, not an actual game. It may ignore choices you make. Imagination recommended.// Select mockup: [[Narrative Multiple Choice->n1]] [[Simplified Multiple Choice->m1]] [[Card Game->k1]] [[Card Game (Condensed)->c1]] [[Points System->p1]] [[Report->r1]] <a href="/prototypes">Return to Recurse Games</a>

Attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits Your army of conscripts (6), sharpshooters (4), and death knights (3) prepares to face the enemy. Sweet Sekinke has a much smaller force of raiders and a couple veterans. The landscape slopes gently, with patches of trees here and there. Overhead, a partly cloudy sky. You discuss your strategy with the troops... [[Let there be no survivors. Kill them all!->n2]] [[Take risks. Death or glory!->n2]] [[Proceed normally.->n2]]

You are attacking some bandits! Attacker: //You (6 conscripts, 4 sharpshooters, 3 death knights)// Defender: //Sweet Sekinke's Bandits (6 raiders, 2 veterans)// [[Maximise casualties->m2]] [[Fight recklessly->m2]] [[Fight normally->m2]]

You are attacking some bandits! Attacker: //You (2 conscripts, 4 sharpshooters, 2 death knights)// Defender: //Sweet Sekinke's Bandits (1 raider, 2 veterans)// [[Send death knights to kill fleeing enemies->m3]] [[Fire at the enemy, risking friendly fire->m3]] [[Continue->m3]] You maximise casualties. The enemy uses trees as cover. Your sharpshooters and conscripts shoot and kill 2 enemy raiders. 1 enemy raider flees. Enemy raiders shoot and kill 1 friendly conscript. Your conscripts and death knights charge the enemy. 2 enemy raiders flee. Enemy raiders and veterans charge and kill 1 friendly death knight. 3 friendly conscripts flee.

You defeat the defending bandits! Attacker: //You (3 conscripts, 4 sharpshooters, 2 death knights)// Defender: //Sweet Sekinke's Bandits (0 troops)// [[Done->Start]] Your death knights kill 2 fleeing enemies. Your conscripts and death knights charge and kill 2 veterans. The enemy begins retreating. 1 enemy raider flees. You regroup with retreated troops. You gain 3 conscripts. 4 enemy raiders survived.

Attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits You tell the troops to let none survive, and march on the enemy. They take cover in a patch of forest, and exchange fire with your sharpshooters and conscripts. 2 enemy raiders are killed, and 1 flees. 1 of your conscripts is also killed. You continue to greatly outnumber the enemy, and the battle moves in your favour. [[Charge with conscripts and death knights.->n2b]] [[Charge with conscripts only.->n2b]] [[Charge with death knights only.->n2b]]

Attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits Your conscripts and death knights charge the enemy, clashing with their raiders and veterans. 2 enemy raiders flee. The enemy fights furiously, killing 1 of your death knights and sending 3 conscripts into retreat. You continue to greatly outnumber the enemy, and the battle moves slightly in your favour. Some opportunities present themselves... [[Send some death knights to kill retreating enemies.->n3]] [[Order your sharpshooters to fire, risking friendly troops.->n3]] [[Continue the attack, unchanged.->n3]]

Attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits You order some death knights to kill retreating enemies, and they kill 2 of them. Your conscripts and death knights continue the attack, killing both enemy veterans. The remaining enemy raiders (1) retreat. The enemy is defeated! After the battle, you regroup with your routed conscripts (3). 4 enemy raiders survived the battle. [[Done.->Start]]

You are attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits! Your army: KKKSSSSCCCCCC Their army: VVRRRRRR Select strategy: Select tactics: (colour: red)[++] [[No Quarter->c2]] (colour: blue)[^^] [[Friendly Fire->c2]] (colour: red)[||] (colour: gray)[More enemy and slightly more ](colour: blue)[^^] (colour: gray)[Risks melee troops,] (colour: red)[~~] (colour: gray)[friendly casualties ](colour: blue)[^^] (colour: gray)[increases missile fire] (colour: yellow)[**] [[Embrace Chaos->c2]] (colour: red)[+\] [[Pursuit->c2]] (colour: yellow)[**] (colour: gray)[Chance of victory more ](colour: red)[.|] (colour: gray)[Risks death knights,] (colour: yellow)[**] (colour: gray)[randomised ](colour: red)[*|] (colour: gray)[kills routing enemies] (colour: gray + red)[.%] [[Hit and Run->c2]] (colour: gray + blue)[CC] [[Risk Conscripts->c2]] (colour: gray + red)[..] (colour: gray)[Weakens enemy, although ](colour: gray + blue)[CC] (colour: gray)[More casualties absorbed] (colour: gray + red)[%.] (colour: gray)[makes victory unlikely ](colour: gray + blue)[CC] (colour: gray)[by conscripts] (colour: blue)[~|] [[Frontal Assault->c2]] (colour: orange)[=>] [[Cavalry Charge->c2]] (colour: blue)[X|] (colour: gray)[Default, balanced strategy ](colour: orange)[=>] (colour: gray)[Risks death knights for] (colour: blue)[X|] (colour: gray)[ ](colour: orange)[=>] (colour: gray)[more damage at start of combat]

You are attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits! Your army: KKKSSSSCCCCCC Their army: VVRRRRRR Select strategy: Select tactics: (colour: red)[++] No Quarter (colour: blue)[^^] [[Friendly Fire->c3]] (colour: red)[||] (colour: gray)[More enemy and slightly more ](colour: blue)[^^] (colour: gray)[Risks melee troops,] (colour: red)[~~] (colour: gray)[friendly casualties ](colour: blue)[^^] (colour: gray)[increases missile fire] (colour: gray)[**] Embrace Chaos (colour: red)[+\] [[Pursuit->c3]] (colour: gray)[**] (colour: gray)[Chance of victory more ](colour: red)[.|] (colour: gray)[Risks death knights,] (colour: gray)[**] (colour: gray)[randomised ](colour: red)[*|] (colour: gray)[kills routing enemies] (colour: gray)[.%] Hit and Run (colour: gray + blue)[CC] [[Risk Conscripts->c3]] (colour: gray)[..] (colour: gray)[Weakens enemy, although ](colour: gray + blue)[CC] (colour: gray)[More casualties absorbed] (colour: gray)[%.] (colour: gray)[makes victory unlikely ](colour: gray + blue)[CC] (colour: gray)[by conscripts] (colour: gray)[~|] Frontal Assault (colour: orange)[=>] [[Cavalry Charge->c3]] (colour: gray)[X|] (colour: gray)[Default, balanced strategy ](colour: orange)[=>] (colour: gray)[Risks death knights for] (colour: gray)[X|] (colour: gray)[ ](colour: orange)[=>] (colour: gray)[more damage at start of combat]

You are attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits! Your army (KKKSSSSCCCCCC): (colour: red)[++ No Quarter] (colour: red)[~~] (colour: gray)[(more enemy and slightly more friendly casualties)] (colour: blue)[^^ Friendly Fire] (colour: blue)[^^] (colour: gray)[(risks melee troops, increases missile fire)] Enemy army (VVRRRRRR): (colour: yellow)[!! Ambush] (colour: yellow)[!!] (colour: gray)[(bonus kills before battle)] (colour: orange + gray)[RR Risk Raiders] (colour: orange + gray)[RR] (colour: gray)[(more casualties absorbed by raiders)] (colour: green + orange)[xx Tree Cover] (colour: green + orange)[TT] (colour: gray)[(increased defence against missile fire)] [[Continue->c4]]

You attack and defeat Sweet Sekinke's Bandits! Your army: KSSSSCCCCC Your losses: (colour: red)[KKC] Enemy army: RRRR Enemy losses: (colour: red)[VVRR] [[Done->c4]]

You are attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits. You have 3 death knights, 4 sharpshooters, and 6 conscripts. The enemy has a much smaller force of raiders with some veterans. Select tactics (2pts remaining): [[( ) Send conscripts to front-line (1pt)->p2]] [[( ) Send death knights to front-line (1pt)->p2]] [[( ) Order missile troops to risk friendly fire (1pt)->p2]] [[( ) Take risks, making outcome of battle less certain (1pt)->p2]] [[( ) Send scouts to detect enemy ambushes (1pt)->p2]] [[Done->p2]]

You come accross Sweet Sekinke's Bandits. You have 3 death knights, 4 sharpshooters, and 6 conscripts. The enemy's force is much smaller, mostly raiders and some veterans. [[Attack->r2]] [[Leave them alone->Start]]

You attack Sweet Sekinke's Bandits! The enemy is easily defeated, despite using some nearby trees as cover. Your troops: 1 death knight, 4 sharpshooters, 1 conscript. Total killed: 2 death knights, 1 conscript. Enemy troops: 4 conscripts. Total killed: 2 veterans, 2 conscripts. [[Done->Start]]

You are attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits. You have 3 death knights, 4 sharpshooters, and 6 conscripts. The enemy has a much smaller force of raiders with some veterans. Select tactics (1pt remaining): [[(x) Send conscripts to front-line (1pt)->p3]] [[( ) Send death knights to front-line (1pt)->p3]] [[( ) Order missile troops to risk friendly fire (1pt)->p3]] [[( ) Take risks, making outcome of battle less certain (1pt)->p3]] [[( ) Send scouts to detect enemy ambushes (1pt)->p3]] [[Done->p3]]

You are attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits. You have 3 death knights, 4 sharpshooters, and 6 conscripts. The enemy has a much smaller force of raiders with some veterans. Select tactics (1pt remaining): [[( ) Send conscripts to front-line (1pt)->p4]] [[(x) Send death knights to front-line (1pt)->p4]] [[( ) Order missile troops to risk friendly fire (1pt)->p4]] [[( ) Take risks, making outcome of battle less certain (1pt)->p4]] [[( ) Send scouts to detect enemy ambushes (1pt)->p4]] [[Done->p4]]

You are attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits. You have 3 death knights, 4 sharpshooters, and 6 conscripts. The enemy has a much smaller force of raiders with some veterans. Select tactics (0pts remaining): [[( ) Send conscripts to front-line (1pt)->p5]] [[(x) Send death knights to front-line (1pt)->p5]] [[(x) Order missile troops to risk friendly fire (1pt)->p5]] [[( ) Take risks, making outcome of battle less certain (1pt)->p5]] [[( ) Send scouts to detect enemy ambushes (1pt)->p5]] [[Done->p5]]

You attack Sweet Sekinke's Bandits, sending death knights to the front-line and ordering missile troops to risk friendly fire. The enemy uses nearby trees as cover and sends veterans to the front-line. You win a decisive victory! Troops remaining: 1 death knight, 4 sharpshooters, 5 conscripts. Troops killed: 2 death knights, 1 conscript. Enemies remaining: 4 raiders. Enemies killed: 2 veterans, 4 raiders. [[Done->Start]]

You attack and defeat Sweet Sekinke's Bandits! Margin of victory: (colour: lime)[+3] Your losses: (colour: red)[KK]KSSSS(colour: red)[C]CCCCC Enemy losses: (colour: red)[VV](colour: red)[RR]RRRR (colour: red)[++] (colour: purple)[Your strategy: No Quarter] (colour: red)[~~] (colour: gray)[Your losses: K. Enemy losses: RV. Margin of victory: +2.] (colour: blue)[^^] (colour: purple)[Your tactic: Friendly Fire] (colour: blue)[^^] (colour: gray)[Your losses: C. Enemy losses: V. Margin of victory: +1] (colour: aqua)[%%] (colour: purple)[Your advantage: Superior Numbers] (colour: aqua)[%%] (colour: gray)[Margin of victory: +1.] (colour: yellow)[!!] (colour: purple)[Enemy strategy: Ambush] (colour: yellow)[!!] (colour: gray)[Your losses: K. Margin of victory: -1.] (colour: orange + gray)[RR] (colour: purple)[Enemy tactic: Risk Raiders] (colour: orange + gray)[RR] (colour: gray)[Enemy losses: R.] (colour: green + orange)[xx] (colour: purple)[Enemy advantage: Tree Cover] (colour: green + orange)[TT] (colour: gray)[Enemies protected: RR.] [[Done->Start]]

You are attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits! Your army: KKKSSSSCCCCCC Their army: VVRRRRRR Select strategy: (colour: red)[++] [[No Quarter->k2]] (colour: red)[~~] (colour: gray)[(more enemy and slightly more friendly casualties)] (colour: yellow)[**] [[Embrace Chaos->k2]] (colour: yellow)[**] (colour: gray)[(chance of victory more randomised)] (colour: gray + red)[.%] [[Hit and Run->k2]] (colour: gray + red)[..] (colour: gray)[(weakens enemy, victory unlikely)] (colour: blue)[|~] [[Frontal Assault->k2]] (colour: blue)[X|] (colour: gray)[(default strategy)]

You are attacking Sweet Sekinke's Bandits! Your army: KKKSSSSCCCCCC Their army: VVRRRRRR Select tactics: (colour: blue)[^^] [[Friendly Fire->k3]] (colour: blue)[^^] (colour: gray)[(risks melee troops, increases missile fire)] (colour: red)[+\] [[Pursuit->k3]] (colour: red)[*|] (colour: gray)[(risks death knights, kills routing enemies)] (colour: gray + blue)[CC] [[Risk Conscripts->k3]] (colour: gray + blue)[CC] (colour: gray)[(more casualties absorbed by conscripts)] (colour: orange)[=>] [[Cavalry Charge->k3]] (colour: orange)[=>] (colour: gray)[(risks damage, more damage initially)]