CDG SOLO METHOD: Original Method v. New Method

[@Skyrider68]

Allow me to congratulate you on your partnering with GMT for licensed use of your Solo Method. Hoping you might discuss this on a new video in the not-too-distant future.

[@blackmoreproductions3259]

Joe you have a very clever and useful play aid here. I am sure the gaming community will support you in testing, etc. Excellent work sir!

[@StukaJoe]

Thanks, Mark. I'm very confident that with the help of gamers, we can apply the Method to almost every CDG. Thanks for your support.

[@PHLewis1956ye1q9]

This looks great, Joe. Even though it may be a while before I give this system a try, I really do appreciate the time and effort you spent creating it. You're a class act, Joe. :) Thanks.

[@StukaJoe]

Thanks, Patrick. Glad you find it interesting. I hope to build upon this and systemize the Method with living rules and tweaks for specific games.

[@Secretwargamer]

Good to see GMT publishing your CDG method - just placed an order. I’ve been using it for Washington’s War, Barbarossa to Berlin and Paths of Glory.

[@jensblixt190]

Thank you for making this! 😊 just played a game of cc ancients and a game of Caesar yesterday. Probably two of the best solo plays I have played😊 Great work!😁

[@StukaJoe]

My pleasure, Jens! Glad the CDG Solo System makes solo play more enjoyable! Cheers!

[@mmcdaniel17]

I am so excited to get the GMT product. Thank you for all of your work!

[@tony1stgen]

Interesting method for CDG games. Although the second method gives the player more scope for choice and uncertainty the first still had some good ideas to it. Great video, can't wait to see the method mature.

[@StukaJoe]

I'll keep posting videos on the method, hoping that the brainstorming that develops helps improve it. That's what's so fun about this, it's being created day-by-day.

[@kennethnied5242]

Hey, I just received a package from GMT with a CDG solo system designed by a Joe named Stuka! I've wanted to try your system for some time with For The People. Now I no longer have an excuse to delay.

[@StukaJoe]

Finally arrived! Hope you enjoy it, Ken! Cheers.

[@davidheath4171]

I loved this system, the new method, and it's given C & C Ancients a whole new lease of life. Joe's sheets already include the specific fixes for C & C Ancients. Great stuff

[@StukaJoe]

Glad you liked the method, David. I really appreciate it! Thanks!

[@davidheath4171]

@@StukaJoe I prefered the new method for C&C, but I've kept the files for the old sstem. Maybe other games would benefit from the first system, who knows!

[@dennisheinen3898]

Joe, always enjoy your videos and love your enthusiasm and passion for war games.

[@StukaJoe]

Thanks, Dennis. Glad to know the videos are appreciated; I enjoy making them, especially if they are helpful.

[@houarno]

Do I assume correctly that combat cards play out in the following way: once combat begins, each side can choose from their upturned CC cards? You don't turn over any additional cards (unlike original method)?

[@notchob]

This is really clever. Your use of video to explain it helps a lot. I try imagine reading or hearing it and would be more confusing. Your videos are the best for clarity, audio and GREAT visual aids. I saw below that you are designing your own game. You really should because I suspect you'll bring a lot of helpful player aids and streamline play.

[@StukaJoe]

Thanks, notchob. I appreciate your support. I like showing mechanics of play in video instead of just saying my opinion about it. My game design project is barely commencing, but I'm truly committed to it. Let's see what happens.

[@horrido666]

Wow. Good work. Thanks. You should consider a kickstarter to make a kit for this.

[@StukaJoe]

Not a bad idea, Dan. But, I'd rather share it this way and get everyone's feedback. Otherwise, I would have to playtest this thing with all the CDGs, and that can take forever! Cheers.

[@frankburgo9425]

Joe, as usual, outstanding. Will be downloading this and definitely using it.

[@mj846]

What happens in Unhappy King Charles to the Ace in the Hole cards that a side can save, do they go to the A slot automatically like the Barbarossa to Berlin example?

[@DazzaManOfWar]

Thank you Joe. Brilliant. Is there any additional rukes so I can use this with combat commander ?

[@JPFalcononor]

The timing of your new method could not have come at a better time. I want to first try this on a non "wargame", the War of the Ring as I will be receiving the Anniversary Edition today. I have been working on an AI for the Shadow player side, and your new system will be a great asset. Thanks for this opportunity.

[@StukaJoe]

Great JP. I should have the new Method's instructions, stickers and displays at BGG's Paths of Glory's page for the Method before the end of this week. I would really appreciate if you report your experiences with the Method (good or bad), in order to continue to develop it. Maybe you could help me with the tweaks for War of the Ring. Thanks.

[@JPFalcononor]

Stuka Joe Most definitely I will keep you informed...once I work out the system incorporating your ideas, I will be opening up a new thread on the BGG WOTR forum

[@chriscooper2607]

An old thread I know, but I’ve just started PoG and looking at these solo versions. I kind of preferred the feel of the original as it is more random so you feel you are playing a historical narrative rather than trying to optimise gameplay. But I understand how the lack of control could be frustrating for a “serious” PoG player. One point I didn’t get. You state that the original method cycles cards too quickly through the deck. But this seems to be a function of the fact that, in effect, any card cycled from the E slot is put in the played/discard pile. If you instead just return the unplaced cards from E to the deck and only put the cards that are actually played in the discard pile, then the “cycling” must be identical to the original game.

[@StukaJoe]

That is a great point, Chris! Why should a card that leaves the hand (Spaces A to E) unplayed be placed in the played/discard pile if it was never played at all? It makes more sense that it should return to the bottom of the draw pile. Note that there will still be cycling of such cards as they leave the hand unplayed, but they will return sooner to the hand than before. I’m glad that you still enjoy and find value in the Original Method. Cheers!

[@13TMO]

Hello, would this work for Empire of the Sun?

[@StukaJoe]

Yes. Here’s the link to the Method’s materials in BGG. There is a tweak sheet for Empire of the Sun. boardgamegeek.com/filepage/128764/cdg-solo-method-display-and-materials

[@13TMO]

Thank you for a quick answer.

[@Jon-G]

Go to 12:24 to skip the old method.

[@farpointgamingdirect]

Looks great! How would your system like Combat Commander where there is a discard limit depending on what nation the AI would be?

[@StukaJoe]

Thank you. In Combat Commander, when it is a player's turn he can (1) perform one of more Orders by playing cards from his hand; or (2) he may discard any number of Fate cards. With the Method, you would roll the die and depending on the die result, you choose (1) or (2). (1) If you choose to perform one or more Orders by playing cards, you may only do so using face-up cards indicated by the die result. (2) If you don't like the die roll and the face-up cards the side has, you may discard any number of face-up cards. In CC, there are different hand sizes depending the role of the forces. Let's say that in one scenario the Russians are attackers, so their hand size is 6 cards, while the Germans are defenders, with a hand size of 4. The Method allows for different hand sizes, but there must always at least one card in every space on the display. In a case such as the one above, where the Russians have two more cards, simply add one card to the Russian display at Space A and another in Space D. Therefore, if when playing the Russians the player rolls an "AB" result, the player has three cards to choose from: the two cards in A and the single card in B. Cheers. Joe

[@StukaJoe]

Thank you. You can use it for Combat Commander. What I have not figured out is how to handle Opportunity Fire. The CDG Solo Method is simply a card selection mechanism, which limits your choices to 2, 3 and sometimes 4 cards, while leaving other cards face down (creating the fog of war of not knowing the full capabilities of a side). Cheers!

[@Demy1970]

What is the easiest game to get started with this? I don’t understand the die rolls

[@davidreeves498]

Excellent CDG solo system, Joe. Where exactly on BGG will this be uploaded? I would like to grab the download file. Thanks, David

[@georgedrever]

Hi Joe, any chance of your system being applied to my current fave game Unconditional Surrender? It's a big game for sure, but automation of even some of the opposition's game mechanics in solitaire mode would make a great game even better.

[@StukaJoe]

I don’t think so, George. The CDG Solo Method is simply a card selection mechanism and Unconditional Surrender has no cards at all. Cheers!

[@NicodeliusVladTzepesh]

What's you advice to play Battle lore 2nd and Red Alert?

[@Eric-62]

Thank you Joe, this solo CDG method seems really interesting. Indeed, I need to see how it works for Combat Card.

[@lundinandreas]

This is great! What happens if you have a game where you have a common deck for both sides, like in Wilderness War. Do you split the draw deck or do you have a common draw pile and put just one card in the 'C' space when called for?

[@lundinandreas]

***** great! I'll try that! Maybe a short report on how it all worked out will follow.

[@StukaJoe]

Great! Looking forward to hearing how it went. Cheers.

[@jeffthompson2264]

Andreas Lundin i

[@EmanuelaleunamE]

An emphatic THANK-YOU from a woman who desperately wants to play all her ancient-history war games. This video is perfection. 🩵

[@StukaJoe]

Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy playing the games with the Method! Cheers!

[@muldrdemelk]

Buenas. He estado probando el método con el escenario de Guerra Tardía del Twilight Struggle (el que viene en el reglamento) y realmente funciona. Evidentemente no es igual que tener al otro jugador "cara a cara" y ver su sufrimiento (y ocultar el tuyo), pero la experiencia ha sido más que buena. Me ha sucedido en un par de ocasiones (al reponer cartas boca abajo) que el dado no permitía jugar realmente ninguna de las cartas (evento o menor número de operaciones boca arriba - estaban todas boca abajo -). Lo que me lleva a la pregunta: ¿Cuando repongo cartas de las columnas de la izquierda lo hago siempre "boca arriba"? Al ver el vídeo he entendido que no, por lo que he yo he optado por volver a tirar el dado hasta lograr una tirada que permita "jugar cartas". Por lo demás el comportamiento de la Inteligencia Artificial es más que aceptable y seguiré utilizando tu método. ¡Gracias! Esta es la plantilla que he hecho para jugar con un dado de seis caras normal (sin customizar) goo.gl/photos/j5nCJEpQ4YsDJtgi6

[@forzamark]

where is the file to download this method? I'm looking forward to trying this out. Thank Stuka Joe.

[@eugeniomariopazielli8478]

Hi stukajoe, could your method work with Combat Commander ??? What do you think about it???

[@StukaJoe]

I haven’t tried it with CC because I haven’t figured a way to deal with opportunity fire.

[@eugeniomariopazielli8478]

@@StukaJoe yes it is not suitable, I noticed

[@spbdrummer38]

Well thought out changes Joe. What are the chances that your mechanics trial will include For the People? That's the game I really look forward to trying with this. Also, where do you plan on posting links to the materials? Thanks for the time and effort. It's greatly appreciated!

[@StukaJoe]

Thank you, Morgan's Raiders. I will be posting the Method's Sourcebook with the basic instructions this Friday on BGG, in the Paths of Glory's Files section, in the page for the CDG Solo Method I set up there. The Sourcebook will include Method's basic instructions and die results, images of stickers for the die (in eight different colors), and it will have a Tweaks Section for each game as well as how to handle common CDG card mechanics. I will also post the Method's card displays (in 8 different colors, you choose the ones you like). As to these tweaks, the goal is that each CDG have a page (2 sides maximum) where adjustments are made for that particular game. The Sourcebook I will be publishing on Friday will have the Tweak Sheet for Paths of Glory to give gamers an idea of the format of the sheet. I will post a video soon of the basic New Method's instructions, plus how to handle certain situations common to various CDGs like: Combat Event Cards, Mandatory Cards, Scoring Cards, etc. I want to publish a new series of videos relating to the CDG Solo Method, which, I will call for now "CDG Fridays". Each video will be a 15-minute (maximum) presentation of the Method's rules as applied to a particular game. The first one will be about Paths of Glory and then, at the end of the video, I 'll inform viewers of next week's CDG. That way, I can receive input from gamers who try the Method with the next game over the weekend. I intend to progress from game to game this way, taking the simpler CDGs first. So, as to For the People, because it's CDG mechanics are fairly simple, I can certainly put it in line behind Paths of Glory. I would love to have your input on this. I intend to credit contributors in the Tweak Sheets of the games they help with. Going from simpler to more complex CDGs will allow to build momentum and collect ideas as to how to implement the Method with the more complex games down the line. I'm really excited about all this as you can probably tell. If this thing takes off, I'm thinking about trying to get a page in Consimworld for all things related to the Method. The format in BGG doesn't allow for it, since the Method is not a game, nor it is accepted as an Accessory there. In Having all things relating to the Method in one place, like a Consimworld page, will help with its development. Let's see what happens! Thanks for your support. Cheers. Joe

[@GeoffreyGreer]

Great system, Joe. Looking forward to trying it out on a couple different titles on my shelf. Where do you post the resource files?

[@StukaJoe]

Thank you. The materials are in BGG’s file page for Paths of Glory: boardgamegeek.com/filepage/128764/cdg-solo-method-display-and-materials

[@Rogue66669]

Hi Joe how did you make the player card displays? Sorry if I missed it if you explained

[@StukaJoe]

I made them using PowerPoint. They are larger than letter size, so you have to print them at their actual size. You can get them at the files page for Paths of Glory. Here's the link: boardgamegeek.com/filepage/128764/cdg-solo-method-display-and-materials

[@Secretwargamer]

This looks really good thanks for working this method out.

[@StukaJoe]

Thanks, Secretwargamer. Hope you like it and give it a test drive with your favorite CDG. Cheers.

[@edwardpresutti1296]

Will the new method work for wilderness war...7 card hands?

[@StukaJoe]

Yes. In BGG, there is a tweak sheet for Wilderness War. Here’s the link to the CDG Sourcebook there: boardgamegeek.com/filepage/128764/cdg-solo-method-display-and-materials

[@edwardpresutti1296]

@@StukaJoe which game has the "file" ur referring to... I didn't find anything labeled "tweak" sheet...

[@edwardpresutti1296]

Never mind I found it!

[@jeromyfisher297]

Joe, are you Familiar with “great work commander”? Do you think your system would work for this game?

[@StukaJoe]

Yes. Great War Commander is derives from Combat Commander, a tactical CDG that has Opportunity Fire, which, as yet, I haven’t found a way to treat it with the CDG Solo Method.

[@mikel1978]

Would this work with Battlelore by Fantasy Flight games? I don't have the game, 'cause it's not solo-able, unless this system would do the magic.

[@StukaJoe]

I don’t know, Mike. I don’t have the game. Sorry.

[@mikel1978]

@@StukaJoe K, thanks Joe!

[@SgtFaustWargames]

Looks brilliant. When are you going to design a full-fledged game?

[@joeperez3520]

Any more videos about this new system coming?

[@StukaJoe]

Definitely, Joe! I just arrived from a wargaming convention in Spain and I will be posting videos about the con. I plan to follow shortly afterwards with a demo video of the new (2017) Solo Method. Thanks!

[@joeperez3520]

@@StukaJoe Looking forward to the videos.

[@viktorkm]

Am I suppose to play one side normal and one side like this? Or play both side like this?Im new to CDG, planning on to buy Wilderness war, is that a good entrypoint?My favourite game of all time is Combat Commander, but I suspect this system doesent work in that game. Becouse you get to play multiplencards before your opponent get to play. Also the OP-Fire situation is different.

[@viktorkm]

Thank you for the answer :) Just wondering if you are still working on a CC version, or have you put that project aside?

[@maxeisert7466]

Interesting (new) method but a human player will have the choice between all (5) cards while in the AI version you can only choose between 3 and even than is not sure the "best" card is chosen. This disadvantage should be countered by some advantage for the AI (maybe an extra card?). I could have missed it but I didn't see such a 'balancing' advantage in the (old and new) method. I think that's why some people tend to use this (Stuka) method on both sides (human and AI) when playing solo.

[@StukaJoe]

The method is intended for the solo player to play both sides. Cheers!

[@maxeisert7466]

Okay. I thought the human played according to the standard (2-player) rules while the AI player was using the Stuka method.

[@mbaquara]

Excellent! Congrats!

[@michaelmuller8072]

Great system. Thanks a lot!

[@Anuket73]

He estado pensando como aplicar este método al twilight struggle y no lo veo claro. Las cartas de puntuación deben ser jugadas en tu turno y no te las puedes guardar para el siguiente. Con este método se podrían quedar cartas de puntuación sin jugar de un turno a otro, tengo que pensar...

[@StukaJoe]

José, en el "Sourcebook" explico cómo manejar las cartas de puntuación. Aquí te incluyo las instrucciones en cuanto a este tipo de carta. Cartas de puntuación son cartas "especiales" bajo el método. Se pueden jugar normalmente, o sea, si el dado indica la letra de un espacio que contiene una carta de puntuación, se puede jugar esta carta o cualquier otra indicada por el dado. Sin embargo, si el resultado del dado es C(calavera), la calavera hace que se juege involuntariamente la carta de puntuación. Finalmente, si hay una carta de puntuación boca arriba en la plantilla y queda una ronda de acción, la carta de puntuación deberá ser jugada sin necesidad de arrojar el dado. Si tienes alguna duda, déjame saber. Lo que sí todavía no he resuelto es cómo manejar las "Headliner Cards", estas son las cartas que cada bando escoje en la primer fase del turno. Lo ideal para mi es que exista algun mecanismo aleatorio que escoje las cartas para cada bando. Por ejemplo, cada bando arroja el dado y se escoje la carta de menor valor indicada por el dado. Saludos.

[@freddieyu]

Very interesting! Where can you get the files for these?

[@StukaJoe]

In the Paths of Glory page at BGG. Here the link: boardgamegeek.com/filepage/128764/cdg-solo-method-display-and-materials

[@aldosimeone2485]

Hi Stuka Joe, let me know if this game system only can apply to any type of game or only to Card Driven.Ad example can be applied to For The People?

[@StukaJoe]

Sure thing, Aldo. The Method is intended for card-driven games. However, I know some people who are testing it, with some variations, with No Retreat, which is a card-assisted game. As to For the People, there wouldn't be any major changes. Use the die results as in the Demo video: "ABC", "CDE", "AB", "DE": flip the cards indicated by the result face up and play any for any allowable purpose. "C(face-up/Jolly Roger): Flip up the card in Space C and play that card or any other face-up card for any allowable purpose. Because in For the People there is one Mandatory Card (#14: Red River Campaign). This card may be played normally by the side controlling it if its space appears in the die result. However, if the card is face-up and the Jolly Roger is rolled, it has to be played by the side. The other die result is "C(face-up/Event). Here, flip the top card of the draw pile (C) and play this card or any other face-up card for the event. If there is no playable event or you don't wish to play an event, play the lowest-valued ops card face-up for any allowable purpose. As you can see, the same Method die results in the demo using Paths of Glory, are used for For the People. However, there are some games that will need some modifications, as, for instance, those games with cards with no Operational Points (We the People, Combat Commmander, Command and Colors), for which, the die results of "C(face-up/Jolly Roger)" and "C(face-up/Event)" will have a different meaning. Cheers. Joe

[@Texscripter]

For the longest time, I've assumed you use this method to manage the hand of a bot player, but apparently the intent is to use it to manage BOTH sides. You're still making the best choice for each side that you can; this system is merely removing a lot of the uncertainty in card choices. (For clarity, I've not utilized this yet, but I did back the P500.) Is that right?

[@StukaJoe]

It allows the player to choose each round one card between 2 to 3 cards choices (in exceptional circumstances, between 4 cards), while not knowing which cards of the opposing side will be playable during its next round. The method die roll determines each round which cards are playable, so, the fact that a card is face up doesn’t mean it’s playable unless the die roll includes the card in the result. So, the method actually retains uncertainty of which cards are actually playable each round.

[@Texscripter]

@@StukaJoe thank you much, I appreciate the clarity. And congratulations on this, by the way!

[@StukaJoe]

@@Texscripter Thank you for your interest and support! Cheers!

[@pauldicocco8850]

Hi Jose, I appreciate all the effort you put into this CDG method. However, it doesn't seem like the opponent plays like an AI. You still need to make the "best" decision for the opponent with some cards in a few games, like commands & colors. Is this a big drawback to your method? I'm looking for something that can turn the opponent into a completely unpredictable AI without you having to choose what it does.

[@StukaJoe]

Thanks, Paul. The CDG Solo Method, as you have noted, is not an Artificial Intelligence mechanism. You play both sides to the best of your ability. The Method is simply a card selection mechanic that limits the active side's card choices and also the player's knowledge of the inactive side's cards. This is done to introduce the element of uncertainty that CDGs have when you play them with a live opponent. It's never been an AI system. Cheers.

[@pauldicocco8850]

@@StukaJoe I see what you're saying. Ok, that's not what I'm looking for then. If I'm playing a 1 vs. 1 game, I see no sense in playing while also benefiting my opponent's best interests during its turn. Looks like CDG games are not meant to be truly played solo.

[@hangarflying]

Very interesting!

[@mongpnmontpb5470]

Thanks

[@sergioarteagahernandez9802]

Joe cuando puedas explica en castellano nuevo método solo por favor

[@StukaJoe]

Sergio, pienso hacerlo cuando pueda. Esta semana fui operado del ojo derecho otra vez. Tengo intenciones de hacer un video en español enseñando como funciona el metodo nuevo. Gracias por tu apoyo. José