I have been wrestling with how to handle my desire to include both a mini-campaign and also close tactical combat in CYNTHIA ANN'S WAR. I want the players on both sides, or the solo player running either side, to make strategic decisions about raids and counter-raids and long term missions. The Comanche were opportunists, as well as highly risk averse, and really need a wide range of possible targets to hit OR TO AVOID. The Texans were reactive, but it was a very aggressive reaction and finding and hitting a Comanche village or horse herd was very much a desire though seldom achieved. But not never; Sul Ross did recover Cynthia Ann Parker, against her will.
Is the best way to handle this through a map board game? With actual battles either being resolved on he map though a die roll where they are lopsided, OR transferred to the table top where the battle is interesting and reasonably balanced?
What I have in mind is three maps, generic in the sense of not being specifically accurate of actual territory: a Texas county on the edge of the Balcones escarpment; a typical Hill Country area; and a typical High plains area. Opposing forces would play hide and seek on each, and generate fights for the miniatures.
GROK had no problem in instantly producing a program for creating maps, and I am confident that when i get one I like it can also turn it into something that looks good, like on parchment or such. With and also without a hex grid. So right now my plan is to have the maps and to write two sets of rules, for the maps and for the tabletop. On the maps the basic units will be war parties and companies of rangers and militia and home guards. On the table top individual figures organized into small maneuver elements, such as a pair of scouts or a mess of four rangers.
The main "coin" of the game will be leaders' reputations which can rise and fall as raids and counterattacks unfold.
Reaction?
finally dips his toe into the world of Aeronef.
