OneLittleThunder Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 Because I am that kind of geek, I spend a fair bit of time thinking about various Malifaux schemes and strategies and how they interact. (This also happens because I don't get to actually play the game as often as I'd like, but that's another story.) One day while stuck on a long conference call, I started working on a way to represent those interactions visually, and eventually came up with a set of layered graphics files that allow you to overlay the specific strats and schemes you're going to be playing, and see visually where the action is likely to be. A couple of examples: Example 1: Guard the Stash, Standard, Convict Labor, Inspection, Show of Force, Catch & Release (not location-dependent), Exhaust Their Forces (not location-dependent) This was a combination that came up at a recent tournament I attended (The Normal One in Northampton, UK). I found it interesting that all of the location-dependent schemes were focused on the centerline, so there was no particular reason to try to enter the opponent's territory (although if you chose Catch & Release or Exhaust Their Forces, you might well do so to chase down the opponent's models). Example 2: Squatter's Rights, Corner, Convict Labor, Hunting Party (not location-dependent), Show of Force, Covert Breakthrough, Occupy Their Turf This is an interesting combination of focus along the centerline and in the center of the board, plus a lot of activity around the respective deployment zones.I find it interesting to see the areas where Covert Breakthrough and Occupy Their Turf overlap (and, perhaps more importantly, where they don't). Will this be of use to anyone? I have no idea. Maybe some of you are just data geeks like me, or want to consider how to place terrain to create interesting interactions, or are just curious. If so, you can download the files here and fiddle with them to your heart's content. They are formatted as SVG files, one per deployment type, with each scheme and strategy being an individual layer which can be made visible or hidden as desired. I used Inkscape (free and open-source) to create/edit/view these; other SVG-capable apps (Adobe Illustrator, GIMP, probably others) should also work, but I make no guarantees. Standard and Gaining Grounds strats and schemes are included. Comments, suggestions, and gratuitous abuse welcome! FILES LAST UPDATED: May 4 2016, 1640 GMT - Squatter's Rights markers fixed, adjustments to all four maps for visual consistency. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brdparker Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 Dude, I had the same idea a while ago. Kudos on actually getting started with it; I just kept putting it off. More kudos on using my favorite vector program (free or not), Inkscape! This is about how I'd approach it. The next few notations you would need are: - How to convey different station ranks (I brainstormed I, II, III, IV, and V for Peon through Master, and L for Leader, with strike-through for "non" descriptors, such as non-peon) - How to convey once/game effects (such as spring the trap) versus multi-turn effects (such as bodyguard). - How to convey wound levels (such as bodyguard) - How to differentiate between a friendly and opposing model. One thought would be a filled in circle to denote enemy and empty for friendly. Incorporate that with the first point by putting the station number inside. - Hidden versus open scheme choices (as you mentioned). I'd be happy to proof"read" some of the things for you. My thought was to make the pictures of the boards be miniaturized to fit at the bottom of the scheme/strat cards for easy reference. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeblee Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 If this could get turned into an app with checkboxes to allow users to build their current set of circumstances, that would be amazingly useful. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneLittleThunder Posted May 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 59 minutes ago, brdparker said: This is about how I'd approach it. The next few notations you would need are: - How to convey different station ranks (I brainstormed I, II, III, IV, and V for Peon through Master, and L for Leader, with strike-through for "non" descriptors, such as non-peon) - How to convey once/game effects (such as spring the trap) versus multi-turn effects (such as bodyguard). - How to convey wound levels (such as bodyguard) - How to differentiate between a friendly and opposing model. One thought would be a filled in circle to denote enemy and empty for friendly. Incorporate that with the first point by putting the station number inside. - Hidden versus open scheme choices (as you mentioned). I'd be happy to proof"read" some of the things for you. My thought was to make the pictures of the boards be miniaturized to fit at the bottom of the scheme/strat cards for easy reference. This was never intended to be more than a broad strokes, quick-and-dirty overview that would convey essential information at a glance. I can see the value in adding the kind of stuff you're describing, but I feel like it would (a) make it more slow and difficult to interpret and (b) involve a lot more work than I'm prepared to put into it. That said, you're welcome to use my stuff as a starting point and add in all the bells and whistles - I'd love to see what you come up with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brdparker Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 Point b is what I think had been holding me back. I'll get around to it at some point, but yeah if you don't mind me using your framework to build off of, I appreciate that! I'll see what sort of time I can dedicate to it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneLittleThunder Posted May 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 45 minutes ago, zeeblee said: If this could get turned into an app with checkboxes to allow users to build their current set of circumstances, that would be amazingly useful. Agreed on all counts! Sadly, however, I don't have any app development experience, and while I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to learn, that (again) sounds like more work than I would find worthwhile at the moment. It might be more worthwhile if I charged for the app, but that means stepping on Wyrd's IP, which I have zero interest in doing. Of course, if Wyrd wants to hire me to develop such an app... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dhampir Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 I've got the skills to make it interactive. I'll see what I can put together for you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneLittleThunder Posted May 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 UPDATE: Squatter's Rights markers were misplaced, because I apparently can't manage simple geometry. Also made a few small adjustments to all four maps for visual consistency. Updated files are now available at the same link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dhampir Posted May 25, 2016 Report Share Posted May 25, 2016 Sorry life got in the way... I put together a very quick (and dirty) mock up of the stratgizer. https://codepen.io/Dhampir/pen/yJBzqR Thoughts? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chryspainthemum Posted May 26, 2016 Report Share Posted May 26, 2016 This is actually amazing, definitely going to be using this. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth Posted May 26, 2016 Report Share Posted May 26, 2016 This is great. I did something similar but it was just visual flash-cards for memorizing Strats and Schemes. Any way you could throw one of these together for GG2016? I'm going to use this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneLittleThunder Posted May 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2016 @GOTH: Both my files and @Dhampir's web page include both "Classic" and GG2016 Strats and Schemes. @Dhampir: Awesome! Much easier than mine to use on the fly. Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dhampir Posted May 27, 2016 Report Share Posted May 27, 2016 I'll pretty it up and host it on a web page, as soon as I get a chance. Watch this space... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeeblee Posted May 27, 2016 Report Share Posted May 27, 2016 That's awesome! One bug I found is that de-selecting schemes does not remove their graphical element, so they pile up. But this is so sweet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yvarre Posted May 27, 2016 Report Share Posted May 27, 2016 Damn, I map these out just on graph paper along with potential turn 1s of crews I take and threat ranges of crews I might face. I've got maybe 20 pages split between different Thunders crews that I'd take in a given strat and scheme pool. The handy visual reference is really nice, though, and a system to easily recur mapping would save me time in making my playbooks. I feel like Vassal can be used to this effect too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godswearhats Posted May 27, 2016 Report Share Posted May 27, 2016 @Dhampir: happy to help out if you want another set of eyes on the CSS etc. (day job: web app dev manager). I'd also love to see this work on a mobile web platform, which is how one could use it for games. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dhampir Posted August 11, 2016 Report Share Posted August 11, 2016 An update, the strategizer has a new home and a new look.http://malifauxcanberra.org/malifaux-strategizer/ Now to fix that lingering 'Schemes not deselecting' bug and maybe make it work on mobiles, then I'm calling it done. (Feedback always appreciated) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddywhack Posted August 11, 2016 Report Share Posted August 11, 2016 Very nice overall. Some of the zones aren't appearing correctly for me (corners for one), but I'm guessing you are still working things out. The deselecting bug would be great to get rid of. Thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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