"The Solo Wargaming Binder?" Topic

Problem here. I keep buying books on solo wargaming, and the books keep wanting to discuss campaign logistics, personalities and how to generate battlefields. What I actually need is a card or dice-driven AI, capable of deploying my "opponent's" army, making tactical choices for him or both. Looks as though I'll have to put it together out of pieces.
Don Featherstone has an army deployment system which looks suitable for anything roughly horse & musket.
Mersey's "Babbage" in TMWWBK has a set of tactical priorities surely suitable for skirmishes.
Our own Herkeybird has an enemy appearance generator suitable for patrols and such, and there's something similar in "Operation Last Train."

But wargaming is vast and we all sample only bits. What am I missing? Obvious thing is a deployment generator for a modern tanks & infantry brigade. But surely more is out there?

Stray articles in obscure magazines always welcome!

Robert,
As another solo gamer, I can appreciate your problem. Take a look at rules like The Portable Wargame or One Hour Wargames. You might find them helpful.

Get drunk. Set up the "enemy" army.
When you're sober, setup your forces!
An enjoyable endeavor!

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And

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May be of interest but sadly no digital versions to reduce costs for you over there.

I have played 5150, from Two Hour Wargames, and found that game provides me with a good solo experience. Potential enemies are randomly placed and unknown until spotted. The board is divided into 9 sections and there is also random placement of terrain and buildings to help give variety. I am fairly certain that the newest version of Chain Reaction is free if you want to have a look at their system to see if you like it.

Have it but never used it so no opinion if it works or not.

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I have considered trying solo rules for rank and flank rules, but not got further than having you set up both sides dispositions and randomising which side you command.
Alternatively, deployment can be done by working out 3+ different deployments for the opposition, deploy your army, and randomly pick one of the preworked deployments to face you.

Some good suggestions here. I second RittervonBek's in particular.

Robert,
Agree it is a conundrum. I have played with several systems for deploying your opponent and have never come up with anything better than what I wrote up for Platoon forward. Anything more random is too random. It uses blinds and a weighted chart. For larger battles I just substitute Platoon or company for squad. Grants solo book is also pretty good if you want to use a specific scenario but it isn't hidden from you.
As for AI on how to react; I think I have finally cracked that nut recently. It will be several charts but has worked well the three times I have tried it. Symmetric battles are obviously easier but I think it will work for both.
After baseball season I should have more time to test it out.
Doesn't help you today but hopefully next year. Other than that I can only think of chain reaction which some people like but I found way too fiddly and really isn't true AI. Haven't tried hostile but have tried other AI chart systems and they have been too random. .

Joe

If someone tries hostile let us know what you think. I suspect it will be generic unfortunately. I would love to be wrong.

Thank you all. I think I've got the germ of a system. Long post or short article will eventually follow, but probably not soon. The castings are so many, and I am so tired.

Robert
Sorry you are so tired. Hope you are okay. : )
Take care
Joe

You can always try:
SOLO SECRETS OF WARGAME DESIGN: Volume 3: A Tabletop Toolkit of Ideas, Analysis, and Rule Mechanics
OMM Book No: 198833
by Wally Simon; edited by Russ Lockwood

The third volume of the SECRETS OF WARGAME DESIGN series concentrates on solo wargaming ideas. Peel back the layers of game theory to generate great solo games for a variety of periods. Delve into the real nuts and bolts of game mechanics to create a more compelling -- and often more entertaining -- tabletop battle.

* Simple Solo Guidelines: Morale, Data Sheets, and a Napoleonic River Line Attack
* Good Morning Vietnam: Cards, Squares, and Sequences
* WWII Efficiency: Too Much Damage, Loss Points, Reaction Points, and Combat Points
* Napoleonic Equality of Inequality: Simon's Theory of Fire Power
* Scenario Generation: A Line in the Terrain
* Speedy Solo Siege: Zones, Building Points, and the Passage of Time
* Third Time's Charm: Modern Solo Squad Skirmish
* Renaissance Squared: Grids, Groups, and Grinds
* Bad Blood in the Balkans: WWII Command, Control, Activation, and Quality
* Rules are Greener: American Revolution Response Chart and Efficiency Levels
* Solo Hastings: Flights of Fancy?
* NATO Rescue in Serbia: Pop-Up Squads, Prisoners, and Running Battles
* BONUS: The Wally Quadfecta: Universal Guidelines for Good Game Design

On the OMM website:
SOLO SECRETS OF WARGAME DESIGN: Volume 3

Scroll down -- it's volume 3 of 9 Secrets of Wargame Design booklets. Full Disclosure: OMM publishes the booklets in paper and PDF versions.

Have Hostile AI but have not tried it yet as an AI.

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Another possibility is a system called Adjutant Introuvable,which I also have but not tried yet.

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Thank you for the links. Looks like it might work for a true man to man skirmish game. Would love your thoughts.
What I have started to develop is for WWII+ squads/ platoons. It is going to be situation specific rather than generic. Ran it once and so far optimistic.
Have Adjutant and wasn't overly impressed.

Joe