Game Management Cheatsheet

[slightlyrandom]

Not sure what you use to keep track of the game while it is progress, but your remarks on how much of a timesink making attack rolls etc. is, I figure this might be of assistance:

A Game Management Cheatsheet Alpha 0.32, Attached,

Basic gist is, Pods on the field each have a Sheet in the Spreadsheet, with relevant statistics. When attacking, go to attacking Pods Sheet, type in some data on position (heights, distance, cover), along with numbers from your RNG and the name of the target Pod (Yellow fields). The sheet grabs relevant values from that Pods sheet, and spits out Hit values (Blue fields).

I don't know what else you might want to use it for, so it's basically in Alpha still, with fields for data that isn't necessary for To-Hit calculations. Depending on how keen you are, I can fix it up so you keep track of Sig, Energy etc. at least semi automatically. Could also add a field to keep track of Pod positions, have it calculate some more stuff automatically.
Or, go the full hog, kludge a map system together so you can handle the entire game with a single spreadsheet.
That last part might turn out to be a bit awkward.

Anyway, let me know if you want me to refine this a bit for ya, and in which direction.

Attachments:

[slightlyrandom]

Fiddled a bit, made a new version.

This one you input Position, Height and Cover on each Pod (as well as target, ofc), and it auto-generates height difference and distance from there.

I'll leave it like this until you tell me whether you want it to track Sig/Energy/Ammo as well.

Might change the layout at some point, too.

Attachments:

[Gravedust]

Ooh.. I had 5 seconds to look at this this morning, but I'm at work now.. Seems very cool, actually.

I'm afraid it may have sewn some confusion, but 'calc'ing' is my general term for everything that goes into getting a round ready for publishing, from recording player orders to doing the writeup at the end.

Calculating shots isn't too hard actually, I have a pretty decent system for doing it. Really it's updating all the pod stats in Illustrator and positioning all the icons and stuff that takes up the most time. There really isn't a way around it.

After the players' turn it also takes me about an hour to figure out what I want the RED/s BROWNs to do, sometimes longer if there's a lot going on or a situation I really needed to think about. (Mission 2 I would spend almost 2 hours trying to figure out how best to use my 3 guys without getting creamed immediately. : / )

And after that I of course still need to calc everything and move/place everything. It's not the math parts of the process that's bogging me down really, it's just the number of units on the map and the amount of changing numbers and adjusting status bars in illustrator and fiddly placement of icons is too damn high to do quickly.

I really admire you initiative and willingness to help though and I'll fiddle with this a bit more once I get home, but unfortunately it may not be a solution to the matter at hand. There may be some players who could find it valuable as a shot calculator though.


In case you're interested though, this is what a full combat log of mine looks like:

((I shorthand through a few things, like sig levels I know will be going to 0 after reduction or energy expenditures from a full capacitor that are less than the regen rating of the pod, so some #s will be missing.))

BLUE TURN
====================

Cokerpilot (BLUE6)
>Move 5 North
> Link DRN2 ((??))
> Hack Brown 1 Missile (+5 Sig)(15)
50 (+50 Hack)(+50 Device)(-30Hack)(-30 Device) = 90 ::no effect::
(-5 sig(10)

Captain Foo
!! 10 shields (-10 energy)(+2 Sig(57)
>Move east 5
>Arty (-1 ammo(4)(+15 Sig)(72)
(-5 sig(67)(+10 Regen)

Captain Bravo
!! 5 to shields (+1 Sig(4)(-5 energy(0)
>Jump north 1 (+5 Sig(9)
>Melee Brown 4
10(+30skill)(+25weapon)(-41) = 24
>Move 2 North 2 West
(-5 Sig)(4)(+5 regen(5)

Balk (BLUE4)
>Move 3 East
>Volley 2 guns at B4 (-1 ammo(13)(-1 ammo(13)(+10 Sig)(25)
19(+50Acc)(+22size)(-20 Height)(-30 evasion) ::40 ::Miss::
> Fire 1 rail at B4 (-1 ammo(14)(+5 Sig(30)
(-5 Sig(25)
20(+50Acc)(+22size)(-20 Height)(-30 evasion) ::41 ::Miss::


dis astranagant
!!1 xp to EVA
>Move North1
> Volley 3 at Brown 4 (-1ammo(9)(-1ammo(9)(-1ammo(9) (+9 Sig)(37)
91(+70 acc)(+133)(-30)(-20 Height) ::Hit:: (60 damage)( 20 shield, 40 armor)
>Jump N2 (+6 sig(43)
(-5 sig(38)

Ghost of Starman (BLUE 5)
>Fire laser at Brown 4 (-5 energy(35)(+4 Sig(16)
58(+50 acc)(+33size)(-20 height)(-30eva) = 91 ::miss::
>Fire Laser at Brown 4 (-3 energy(40)(+4 Sig(20)
11(+50 acc)(+33size)(-20 height)(-30eva) = 44 ::miss::
>Move West 1, South 1, Face North
(-5 sig(15)(+30 regen(50)


BLACK2:
>Move 5 east
> Jump 2 East (+9 sig)(9)
(-5 sig(4)

BLACK3:
>Move east 2
>Launch Arty on E27(-1 ammo(10)(+4 sig(4)
>Launch Arty on E27(-1 ammo(10)(+4 sig(8)
(-5 sig(4)

BLACK 4
>Move East 7
>Jump east 4 (+10 sig)
(-5 sig(5)

BLACK1
>Move East 5
>Mass Hack, -20 sensor disrupt (+5 sig(5)
52(+120 Hack)(+50 device)(+15Beowulf)(-30hack)(-30device) 177 Vs: 150
52(+120 Hack)(+50 device)(+15Beowulf)(-50hack)(-30device) 157 Vs: 150
(-5 sig(5)


ASSEMBLER
4(+50acc)(+17 Size)(-10 cover)(-50 evasion)(-10 recoil) = 1


=================================


ARTILLERY

forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3452757&pagenumber=43&perpage=40#post399453396
C. Bravo (T-18)

Hits SS (40)
Hits IW5 (60)


forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3452757&pagenumber=43&perpage=40#post399455704
C. Foo (AA-4)

Hits SS(0)
Hits TD1 (30)


=================================
::PENDING ARTILLERY::

Captain Foo
forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3452757&userid=0&perpage=40&pagenumber=45#post399509539




RED TURN
====================================================

BROWN4
!!12 to shields (+2 sig(15)(-12 energy(8)
>Fire 1 laser at Blue 1 (+2 Sig(17)(-2 energy(6)
11(+50 acc)(+53Size)(+20 Height)(-25 Eva) = 109 ::Hit:: (10 damage (5 shields/5 hull)
>Fire 1 laser at Blue 1 (+2 Sig(19) (-2 energy(4)
18(+50 acc)(+53Size)(+20 Height)(-25 Eva)
>Fire 2 lasers at Blue 1 (+4 Sig(23) (-4 energy(0)
17(+50 acc)(+53Size)(+20 Height)(-25 Eva)
(-5 Sig(18)(+15 Regen)

RED 1
>Move 4 West, South2
>Melee Blue2
47(+30skill)(+40 weapon)(-59) = 58
>3-burst at Blue2 (-3 ammo(21)(+12 Sig)(12)
50(+50 acc)(+182 Size)(-10 Height)(-35 eva)(-48 recoil) = 189 ::Hit:: 60 damage
(-5 sig(7)

RED3
>Move South 2, West 2
>Lay Arty
(-5 Sig(0)

RED 2
>Move South 2, Face West
>Lay Arty
>Volley Launchers on ######edited#### (-1 ammo)(-1 ammo)(+4 sig(4)
(-5 Sig)(0)

BROWN 1
>Launch Missile at Blue 3(-1 ammo(15)(+4 Sig(10)
3(+13 Sensors((-20)))(+67 Sig) = 83 ::Miss::
>Hack Blue 2, Disable Weapon(+3 sig(14)
39(+30hack)(+30 device) =99 Vs. 100 ::FAIL::
>Move West 3
(-5 sig(9)

BROWN2
>Launch Missile at Blue 3(-1 ammo(14)(+4 Sig(13)
(-20 Sensors)
37(+0 Sensors((-20)))(+67 Sig) = 104 ::Hit::
>Hack Blue 2, Disable Weapon )+3 Sig(16)
29(+50 Hack)(+30 device) = 109 ::Success::
(-1 Sig(11)

BROWN5
>Move NW2, W2

BROWN7
>Move West 6

BROWN 6:
>Spawns in to north.

BROWN 3
>Spawn in to the east



RED ARTILLERY
=============================

2x D20 R2 on U21




=====================
RED PENDING ARTILLERY



#####EDITED######




VOTES
=======================

EAST LANCE R1 CANNON B5
EAST LANCE R1 CANNON B5
EAST LANCE R1 CANNON B5
EAST LANCE R1 CANNON B5
EAST LANCE R1 CANNON B5
EAST LANCE R1 CANNON B5
EAST LANCE R1 CANNON B5
EAST LANCE R1 CANNON B5
EAST LANCE R1 CANNON B5
EAST LANCE R1 CANNON B5
EAST LANCE R1
(Unregistered)NO MOVEMENT LANCE FULL POWER BLUE4 CANNON BLUE 5
(Unregistered)NO MOVEMENT LANCE FULL POWER BLUE4 CANNON BLUE 5
(Unregistered)NO MOVEMENT LANCE FULL POWER BLUE4 CANNON BLUE 5
(Unregistered)NO MOVEMENT LANCE FULL POWER BLUE4 CANNON BLUE 5
(Unregistered)NO MOVEMENT LANCE FULL POWER BLUE4 CANNON BLUE 5
(Unregistered)NO MOVEMENT LANCE FULL POWER BLUE4 CANNON BLUE 5
EAST CANNON B5
EAST CANNON B5
EAST CANNON B5
NORTH LANCE R1 CANNON B5
WEST LANCE R1 CANNON B5
NO MOVEMENT LANCE R1 CANNON B5

[slightlyrandom]

What it does is almost-automate these lines:
19(+50Acc)(+22size)(-20 Height)(-30 evasion) ::40 ::Miss::

It really depends on how you keep track of information now. I suspect it won't be worth it for you to fiddle with and learn a different system unless I can figure out a way to let you keep track of basically everything in the Spreadsheet, with eas(y/ier) ways to update Sig/Energy/Ammo than current, along with the current functionality of Position/Hit Calculation.


I don't think it'll be much good to people trying to figure out what to do in its current form, but I guess it could be tweaked to fill that role. Especially if I implement a height map and add some additional fields for firing positions...
Do you happen to have a height map in text format?