Ok, I've started up my AAR for the recently released Rorke's Drift game, The Drift 1879.

It's a tricky game to document, especially since there are so many turns of similar waves of Zulu attacks, but I've given it my best shot. There should be roughly another 4 parts to it coming..

The Drift 1879 AAR - Part 1

http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=3634

Wow, very exciting! I can't wait for part 2! 

I like the fact that in my current game, the Zulus are not attacking in the same order as yours. That randomness is essential for those interested in replayabilty!

Originally Posted By Slick Wilhelm (17 APR 2012 2:42pm)

Wow, very exciting! I can't wait for part 2! 

 

+1

I looked at doing an AAR - but it seemed to awkward - as you alluded to - but well done - that's a good AAR on a difficult game to create one for.

I saw you ddn't randomise the Zulu advances...interesting or was that just for the AAR?

Originally Posted By JudgeDredd (18 APR 2012 1:12am)

I looked at doing an AAR - but it seemed to awkward - as you alluded to - but well done - that's a good AAR on a difficult game to create one for.

Yeah, the game is quite tricky to produce anything worth looking at in terms of action and dynamics. If you catch the screenshot right, you can capture the lines denoting fire, but the info panel at the bottom, with the numbers and result of the fire action doesn't update till the fire line has disappeared. So if you want the info stored, you capture after the fire line. So the screenshot only shows a yellow circle under the firer, and a red circle on the fire upon. Scaling these shots down to 600 pixels wide doesn't do it much justice. 

So rather than capture every detail, I thought I'd give an overview of what was happening, with screenshots showing positioning, and then try to follow it up with the battle report for those who need numbers.

I wish the fire line was bigger, and bolder, and remained on the screen longer WITH the information result. Or if the fire result could be put over the victim along with the line that would make AAR screenshots a lot easier to capture and show the action.

Also the action in this game is just a series of endless waves of Zulu's charging at a fortified position, by the time the game is done, you'll have seen many, many turns and many, many waves - which is why I decided to pick a few frames out of a few turns, to just give the general gist of what is going on. Detailing every turn and every shot would take me well into next year to document it.

Every turn has a lot of screenshots to process, if you're capturing the details to follow the action as you write up, but at points I'm sure I was capturing misses and other extra nonsense whilst playing. To grab the shots for the write ups I started playing at 7pm, and was up to turn 74 by 1am the next morning. Then I spent another hour or so the next day playing/screen grabbing to get to the end game. So the game was a 7 hour session. If I was just playing I'm sure it would be much swifter.

Some games are just not built to support AAR's very well. Combat Command is another game I struggled with to document in an AAR. However, a game like Unity of Command was designed sepcifically to allow replays and capturing to video was a dream!

Originally Posted By JudgeDredd (18 APR 2012 1:12am)
 

I saw you ddn't randomise the Zulu advances...interesting or was that just for the AAR?

I wanted the AAR to follow the historical setup, and have the waves of Zulu's arrive according to history (as best as it can be portrayed in such a game). 

I can see the randomising of the waves is a key part of extending the game's replayability. 

Ok, I've posted up Part 2 of this AAR. Enjoy!

http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=10168

Spelk,

These aars are great!  Definately, firing up Zulu on the DVD player this weekend.

Thanks.

Haigg

Originally Posted By Haigg (19 APR 2012 12:08pm)

These aars are great!  Definately, firing up Zulu on the DVD player this weekend.

Thanks for the kind words Haigg.

"Why us Sarge, Why?"

"Because we're 'ere lad, there's no-body else!"

Epic struggle, well told by a master narrator. Excellent job, Spelk! 

I'm a little curious why you haven't sustained any wounded. All of your casualties have been KIA. 

I can't wait to try my hand at this game. I think I'll try a go as the Zulus. 

That could be a rare bug - because I also noticed in my game there were no wounded - every casualty was KIA

I hadn't noticed it, or more I hadn't realised it could be a bug. 

I've mentioned it, but I assumed the British were so overwhelmed by force that they died, without the "luxury" of wounds. 

But now you've pointed it out, it does seem quite strange that we're taking no wounds, only total kills.

Well I would venture to guess that the wounded were omitted because what could you do with them? Since the Hospital is barricaded, they could not enter there so a separate wounded soldier icon would need to be spawned, or some type of negative modifier to reflect that wounded were in the group. Probably it was simply easier to eliminate the possibilty rather than create more complexity.

Originally Posted By spelk (19 APR 2012 3:33pm)

Originally Posted By Haigg (19 APR 2012 12:08pm)

These aars are great!  Definately, firing up Zulu on the DVD player this weekend.

 

Thanks for the kind words Haigg.

 

"Why us Sarge, Why?"

 

"Because we're 'ere lad, there's no-body else!"

"Zulu's to the North sir. Thousands of them."

Fahsands of 'em!

Finally got Part 3 up! It seems to take ages to get all these screenshots uploaded, sorted and commented upon.

Enjoy.

http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=11174

Originally Posted By JudgeDredd (20 APR 2012 12:37am)

That could be a rare bug - because I also noticed in my game there were no wounded - every casualty was KIA

Not rare. Haven't had a game yet that was any different. No wounded for the Brits.

One hell of an AAR this. Superb.

Thanks for the kind words, if I get a chance this weekend, I'll crack on with Part 4.

The Drift 1879 AAR - Part 4 is up!

http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=14089

Originally Posted By Slick Wilhelm (19 APR 2012 3:44pm)

Epic struggle, well told by a master narrator. Excellent job, Spelk! 

 

I'm a little curious why you haven't sustained any wounded. All of your casualties have been KIA. 

 

I can't wait to try my hand at this game. I think I'll try a go as the Zulus. 

Hello Slick!  When you get The Drift let me know what you think.

Decided to take a quick look at the wargamer forums, saw you here and decided what the heck I may as well sign up.  Hopefully my computer will hold out long enough for us to finish the BAB email game.

Great read.

The Drift AAR - Part 5 is up!

http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=24498

You have a great gift of story telling. Fantastic read!

Originally Posted By WallysWorld (23 JUN 2012 7:10pm)

You have a great gift of story telling. Fantastic read! 

Thanks for the kind words, and thank you for taking the time to read it.