Voronezh AAR on "Sugarfree Gamer"

[Tomislav Uzelac]

Another very nice AAR, this time with annotated video:

Turn 1: http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=3262
Turn 2: http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=3272
Turn 3: http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=3282
Turn 4: http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=3287
Turn 5: http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=3292

...and that's it. Many thanks to Ian for posting this!

[Tomislav Uzelac]

As an epilogue, ComradeP couldn't resist sending Ian the replay of his macho thrashing of that same scenario.

http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=3297

I think when you compare both playthroughs, you can clearly see that UoC is less of a puzzle game but has more to do with skill. There's no single secret move in Pieter's AAR that you can use and instantly get a brilliant victory. It's more about consistent application of the right techniques in right situations, i.e. some skill that can only be acquired by studying and mastering the game system.

[spelk]

Thanks for linking my AAR here Tomislav! Much appreciated.

The two attempts, as you say, certainly underlines the different approaches that can be made, employing similar tactics, but mine was executed as a probing, off the cuff, reaction to the enemy - and I think what ComradeP's impressive run shows, is exactly how to attain more focused objectives, and really maximise the advantages, and limit the disadvantages. The beauty of the game, is that it allows a victory with players at both levels. Albeit my victory was minor. I still felt I'd been challenged, I'd reacted to an impressive AI, and I come away with a satisfied win, and a hankering for attempting the same scenario again. That in itself is indicative of a very good design at play. If a player, is compelled to play the same scenario through, to try some alternate approach, you've done your job as a game designer in giving the user interesting operational options to play with.

[Tomislav Uzelac]

Yeah, thanks, that's exactly the point. The idea is indeed that you play the scenarios a few times. The first thing is to learn the system but then even when you're already experienced you have some interesting playthroughs left, exploring different approaches and relating to historical outcomes for instance.