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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Simplied Pointing?

I've been considering the way most games handle point costs. In most games, like 40k or FoW, the scale of a game is around 1500 points and up. A typical unit costs between 100 and 300 points, with 5 point increments, and every upgrade has a point cost.  But does the difference between, say a 155 point tank and a 175 point tank truly effect list design that much, particularly if the number of choices are already constrained by a force organization chart or other limiting mechanism? How would a greatly simplified point system affect play?  Would reducing the granularity of pointing increase or decrease min-maxing shenanigans? 

For example, consider the following simplified point scheme for a game like 40k or FoW:

Infantry
Pricing is for the first 5-10 models. Additional models would cost more points.

Crappy Infantry: 2 points.  A unit with truly awful morale, toughness, or weapon options. A unit more valuable for having wounds than for anything else.  Examples: FoW Reluctant Conscripts, 40k grots.  That sort of thing.  Upgrading the squad by 5-10 models would cost 1 point.

Normal Infantry:3 points. A unit with average morale and toughness. The price includes standard weapon options.  Examples:  FoW CT infantry with an LMG, mortar, and bazooka-equivalent, a 40k IG squad with a heavy and a special weapon, an Eldar Guardian squad with a heavy weapons platform, etc.  Upgrading the squad by 5-10 models would cost 1 point.

Elite Infantry: 4 points.  A unit with good morale and toughness.  The price includes standard weapon options.  Alternatively, a unit with average morale and toughness but good weapon options.  Examples: FoW CT infantry with multiple LMGs or AT options.  FoW CV or FT infantry with a single LMG and single AT weapon, etc. A 40k Tactical Marine Squad with a heavy and a special weapon. Upgrading the squad by 5-10 models would cost 1 point.

Super-Elite Infantry: 5 points. A unit with excellent morale, toughness, and weapon options.  Examples include FoW FV paratroopers, Sternguard, etc.  Upgrading the squad by 5-10 models would cost 1 point.

Tanks
Pricing is per tank or tank squadron (depending on game scale).

Armored Box: 1 point. The "tank" is lightly armored and has only a minimal weapon.  Examples: a 40k rhino.

Light Vehicle: 2 points. This vehicle is lightly armored by has a decent weapon system.  Examples: a FoW light tank with an HMG or small cannon, or a 40k Razorback or Landspeeder.

Average Vehicle: 3 points. A vehicle with decent armor and a good weapon system or two.  Examples: A FoW medium tank with AT10, a 40k Predator or Chimera.

Better Vehicle: 4 points. A vehicle with one outstanding feature, and the rest decent.  Examples, a FoW T-35/85. A 40k Leman Russ.

Superior Vehicle: 5 points. A vehicle superior in several respects and decent in only a few.  Examples: A FoW Tiger or Panther.

All the Trimmings
What about the little things on a unit, that make a small difference in game play, but might not be worth a whole point. I suggest that any or all such upgrades cost 1/2 a point.  Spend a point, getsome extras (from a choice) on any two units. So buying AtT for a Space Marine Tactical Squad would get you shooting or melee options on your sergeant.  Buying AtT for a Rhino would let you take a dozer blade, storm bolter, or hunter-killer missile.  Buying AtT for a rifle squad might get you an extra bazooka or MG.  The idea is to make the extras expensive enough that the player would hesitate, but without making the pricing super complicated.