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I Roll Alone's avatar

Regarding a solo tactical wargame I encourage you to check out Danger Close. Haven't started yet but the concepts introduced sound interesting.

Eric Dill's avatar

I’ll check that out! I’m also pondering the question: when does a ttrpg become a wargame? I would like to have a narrative component (ala Fire Emblem) but also a robust strategy component.

I Roll Alone's avatar

Good question. I think the moment the game provides you with tactical decisions, positioning, movement as a core game engine while at the same time be less about individual characters but the movement of your squad/battalion as a whole? Its not about the Paladin criting kite, but drawing fire so that other members can outflank the enemy. Its also rather mission based. In that sense it might be said that a game like Blades in the Dark is somewhat close to a wargame. But it is still more focused on the individual skill of the character, their ideals etc.

That being said, a game can probably be a bit of both as long as you provide the rules.

But if you resolve conflict on the level of an individual rather than the movement of your forces I think this becomes the deciding factor.

Just realized I said the same thing twice. I will just leave it here as this was a real time thought process :)

Eric Dill's avatar

I think that's a fair statement (said two ways!). I have the desire for both a squad based game (similar to but more grounded than Over War), and an individual unit based tactical game (similar to Fire Emblem).

If you've ever seen GilaRPGs RUNE, I am very inspired by the combat in it for an individual unit style game.

Ivo Ziskra's avatar

Great insights. Sadly my constraint is usually time. I usually have to work in little time frames that make projects take longer, but sometimes I think of something better while waiting to finish a project. I usually don't have a problem being creative.

Eric Dill's avatar

I, too, struggle to finish a project before starting a new one. I’m battling that right now actually.

Ivo Ziskra's avatar

Yeah, I got several projects going. Working on a couple Islands for Islands of Weirdhope. Got a system agnostic cyberpunk npc creator in the works. Working on a White Box setting. Brainstorming on several other settings and my own futuristic racing ttrpg. Always projects going on. I think I got a couple game jams coming up, too. Got an old project to finish, too.

Eric Dill's avatar

A futuristic racing ttrpg sounds awesome! I have toyed with how to do something akin to Need for Speed as a TTRPG for a while now.

Ivo Ziskra's avatar

Mine will likely be more like Wipeout meets Rock and Roll Racing. I love Need for Speed especially the Underground games.

Eric Dill's avatar

I’ve not played Wipeout in AGES! That was such a fun game. Underground and Most Wanted would be the inspirations for this, if I ever get round to brainstorming it. A Star Wars: Rogue Squadron type game would be fun too!

Ivo Ziskra's avatar

If I ever think of anything for a Need for Speed game I will let you know.

Jake Zemeckis's avatar

Great insights as usual. Thanks for the mention!

Eric Dill's avatar

Thanks for reading! Absolutely, your actual plays and insights on games are inspiring to me.

John Strain's avatar

Creative or productive,

Ya that is the question!

Old Shakes would agree, I suspose.

When i am one I find I am not the other.