Running a 350 player Massive Online Cooperative Tabletop War Game... "Week Three"

We've wanted a cooperative large scale war game for ARMCO for AGES. I'm sick of waiting. So I started making one. Welcome to the Meta Campaign Season 3.
This video is a recap of the Third week.
Video on the First Campaign!
• I Made a Massive Multi...
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[@alexi4829]

Enemy turret: _immobilises Tigers_ Tigers: _obliterates turret_ Someone over comms: "temper temper!"

[@BraydenParker-s5t]

😂😂😂 Tigers: they started it

[@ilijaveselinovic8441]

This is a commander of tigers, I'm just glad I'm finally be on camera

[@velafie7513]

Your whole battlegroup are a bunch of badass's for taking on two fronts and dominating. Tigers is a hero.

[@theelectricgamer9889]

This is Razgriz leader, we are currently heading up to the Endurance with the surrendered pilots in tow. Good luck everyone, and if we all get out alive drinks and pizza are on the house.

[@av8bharrier2modified76]

🗿

[@wilsonriley1856]

Nice reference in the name!

[@anguschamberlain633]

We will hold you to that

[@YoshiBlad3]

Tigers: I DIDN’T HEAR NO BELL.

[@jarednamlooc589]

I hope this makes a comeback!! I really want to see the next episode!

[@nod20090]

Just love watching these videos, congrats to you and everyone invloved for making something that I'm sure is wonderful to play, but equally as enjoyable to listen to the recaps of, though that might be slightly influenced by the music choice, massive fan of it!

[@JanJansen985]

So basically this is the game foxhole but you dont have to play the game as a part time job

[@FeyTheBin]

Foxhole but turn-based strategy.

[@sonoftroja1093]

This Is CROW reporting in; we are currently completing extraction and going to Orbit after Yos was captured. Luckily since round 3 we haven’t lost more units. It’s Important to note that when Icarus landed we had initially expected support from the Tornado in the east, yet they lost a-lot of Infantry on the landing which is why Icarus ended in a bit of a stalemate. Furthermore I wish to empathise how Icarus going absolutely bonkers when JAGS survived their engagement. While we rolled the highest the enemy rolled statistically implausible, the enemy should have obliterated Jags with an average roll of 9, but JAGS survived

[@reidzalewski4563]

Rabbit being the continuing unexpected plucky heroes has to be the best part of this series so far.

[@goldenguardian8753]

Aether MBT actual, commander Gold speaking, "We did good lads, let's get out and drinks are on me back on our bird! I want to see everyone off this rock!"

[@sanskitten1581]

This is Blizzard checking in. Hope bringing in Yos will at least get Prometheus into the highlights

[@adamofblastworks1517]

I subscribed specifically for this, and I missed it for almost 2 months.

[@honidian]

Oracle-Actual to all ARMCO units. Making final preparations for orbital insertion burn. Keep up the good work.

[@Wish-and-Hope]

Will week 4+5 still get a video? I'm hooked! (Also joined the discord to perhaps deploy in the next mission! o7 )

[@FeyTheBin]

10:19 AND THEN THE WINGED HUSSARS ARRIVED!!

[@andreasbienert306]

Shack cheekily avoiding to show the area a bit further northeast of the VTOL shed... Turn 2, Icarus asked for a fire support mission on the enemies across the river, and us bombers from Hurricane answered *in force*.

[@john_mystery]

I understand focusing on a different operations group each video but it can also leave out some pretty cool and interesting moments that happened elsewhere too.

[@AonghasMcTavish]

Some point at the end of turn 3. This is black widow squadron, we're headed west with Bluejays to the front. Ive submitted a plan for a few days from now, operation Freebird, it's just a deaft right now. Hang on i just got a ping from Bluejays... out.

[@laflol2316]

“Black Widows this is the Bluejays. I’ve got good copy on the documentation for Operation Free Bird. I’ve got word that Operation Blackout might be able to cut the power to the Citadel soon. I’ve sent you my ideas in an updated documentation. Spread word to other fighters, I’ve got an idea… Bluejays over and out!”

[@randomguy-tg7ok]

Question from someone interested in joining: How long is it expected to be until season 4? (Also, is there any knowledge level expected or is someone completely green who got algorithmed here a few days ago allowed to join in?)

[@rustedgaming8224]

Commenting so I see the response too

[@andrewchapman2039]

Man, watching these back makes me inspired to continue working on my own similar idea from a few months back. Wish I had this sort of community though, can't imagine getting several hundred people in for this kind of thing!

[@CannonGerbil]

So, uh, is week 4 coming out soon?

[@jonskowitz]

I'm freaking loving this whole series

[@ic0niccal863]

looking forward to jumping into campaign 4

[@localwalloutlet]

Same

[@krimsonkarma8412]

Same

[@theyoger]

This has been a amazing campaign, i like how the new order system seems to work

[@Constatine95]

Really love these videos. I miss your Table top series when you were a GM for the star wars story all those months back, so this is super cool and im loving it

[@wepntech]

loving this, makes me wanna see more stuff like this.

[@heckhoundbolt8574]

When is Week 4 coming out?

[@frostbite4859]

I really love these episodes, jumping between the different groups and their turns each episode is a bit disorienting. But otherwise its great and it makes me feel like im in universe listining to a war report over the radio

[@Drakefance5]

I can't wait to see the battle for the wall recap.

[@morgansgames]

Thanks for the recap! Looks like a load of fun!

[@LordCubbo]

The more and more I watch this series, the more and more I want to see how all the players interact with each other in real time. And I kind of want to join in too.😅

[@360tan]

Pegasus, Reporting for duty! I have somehow subsumed all of Prometheus and feeling like were going to storm a castle soon.

[@JohnDoe-ut7cq]

Hitting the gas and getting out of atmo. This post was sponsored by the Norton sling wings, Norton: bombs, bullets, and birthday cakes; we delivered it all.

[@sillerbarly4927]

This is Bonesaw, glad we made back to the boat. Now to trade some medical supplies for some of the looted gold

[@Raio_Verusia]

Thanks again, Shack, loving every one of these!

[@jamesfitton5038]

when you going to make the next vid?

[@nymalous3428]

Enemy reinforcements? Typical. I'm really enjoying this. I'm so glad you decided to do this and also glad I found it. I'm invested now.

[@EthanB-n3t]

Once again this is awesome hope you keep up this hard work. Stay safe

[@Holydude]

Is there any more of this coming out soon?

[@baitposter]

When the rules are more fully hashed out, it'd be incredible to have an automated video game that can run/umpire this

[@forklaundry]

So awesome. Keep it coming!

[@qwertyh4195]

when are you going to release next part?

[@mj6463]

It would be cool if medics rolled to see what proportion of a squad could be saved. Partial strength squads would have to have fresh troops reinforce them from orbit.

[@RasakBlood]

Love these action report type videos.

[@ObliviousNaga]

I would love to be a medic in something like this. Just looks like a lot of fun

[@donovian111]

This is intriguing, but I do wonder how compelling the gameplay actually is. Feels like with this many people, support class are just stuck doing the cliche "Uh, yeah, I guess repair/heal the frontline unit" over and over again.

[@jarrenbrown9422]

I'm in Icarus and this happened with our HAT that paradropped us in. They had one turn where they helped a lot! Then they didn't really do anything until the last turn.

[@donovian111]

@@jarrenbrown9422 Yeah, exactly my concern. That's unfortunate.

[@holy_crusaderoftheholyland4713]

​@@donovian111I mean this campaign is still a test for shack.

[@donovian111]

@@holy_crusaderoftheholyland4713 and?

[@jasonnguyen350]

Would love more of these

[@Wind2378]

Rabbit: Look to my coming on the first light of the darkest day. ;)

[@malaficus]

Command and conquer music? Good choice.

[@rylilund4636]

Very cool, is there any plan for a stealth component? Either infantry, vehicles, aircraft or all? I like the mental image of long range scout patrol being inserted behind enemy lines to gather info, sabotage infrastructure, etc but via stealth rather than a light vehicle drive-by. Maybe as a movement order where you can't move as far but enemies won't engage you unless you engage first or they get within a certain distance. I would be very interested to see a guerrilla campaign at some point.

[@pastramiandrye]

has the resupply system been described yet? You could give units an ammo count that they use up during engagements, and that would give all the pilots something to do once they've dropped troops into an area, making them essential for keeping an offensive action going

[@sierranevada4601]

is this a suggestion or a description of the resuplly for air units and arty?

[@pastramiandrye]

@@sierranevada4601 A suggestion

[@Farmerswood-p5p]

Questions When Armco players build/capture/recruit units in the campaign do players already playing the game take over them or do players who have died and players on the sign up list take control of the units Are there special ops infantry that can infiltrate fortifications or cities that can cause general mayhem to the enemies back lines if not would their be a combo roll of detection and sabotage where depending on the stance of the unit a roll will determine how both effective the sabotage was and how undetected they are like if their in sleeper mode the role lean more to stealth then sabotage and would they gain bonuses the longer they are in bedded waiting to open the the gates or turn of the shields at a oprotune moment in the enemies lines especially in urban places where it’s easier to disappear in a group of refugees while the upriser stance favors sabotage but have very little stealth because blowing up a tank or causing a riot or freeing prisoners is going to attract some attention and the unit would be limited to like seven people and they would not pack a lot of fire power more small hands weapons or would this be way to difficult

[@Farmerswood-p5p]

Sorry for the paragraph of a question

[@alik5972]

Still waiting

[@sternenwind00e]

is there anybody else talking about how this campaign ended?

[@blusoldier371]

MAN I gotta play this sometime or at least watch, looks sick. When will it be open?

[@andreisitancrile6999]

shit man... I just found this, and already wish to play

[@ghillieguy52]

Current campaign is winding down, we don't know precisely when the next starts so pop into the discord

[@andreisitancrile6999]

Already am there

[@EverydayNormieMadafacka]

Great video!

[@MrTurtleman1107]

was just thinking about this and saw the post

[@jaywerner8415]

_Shack finding out the hard way what it means to be a Quatermaster_

[@Joe-s4y]

How do you make the maps? I realy wanted to make a game like this to play with friends

[@tylabs6766]

Love these

[@aureliusagustinustansil8526]

Royal jags gonna enter action hero mode lmao

[@scribblerstudios9895]

I honestly feel kinda bad for the enemy in this one. They were *not* prepared for the lightening war style that the players brought in it seems

[@talscorner3696]

Amazing!

[@calejohnson173]

Oh this is cool. Is there any way for me and my board game group to see about joining something like this?

[@SonofWolfe23]

How does someone join this as a player?

[@Warork41]

How can you join? I’m really interested in participating.

[@chocobo8402]

What program did you use to make that really nice blue map.

[@thinkergaming3299]

What Map creator/map maker are you using? I was thinking of using something similar for a BattleTech campaign at my local game store.

[@Mikalent]

How would one go about joining one of these games? Is it in person, or online? Do you have to sign up, or are the players chosen at random?

[@jasoncox4640]

Yes!!!

[@XxboxodxX-nk4mz]

i love theses

[@Owen902]

Engagement for the algorithm

[@zalansandor8660]

Is there any specific needs to join ? Like age or anything ? Also gotta suscribe this is amazing

[@sierranevada4601]

you must like coffee /j Otherwise uhhh be respectful, don't make warcrime jokes. you'd be suprised how much that second one comes up.

[@zalansandor8660]

@sierranevada4601 can I put ICE cream in my coffe ?

[@fleetmastereddie6306]

ICARUS STANDS! Holy Divers put Holy in our name cause it won't be in our actions!

[@gabefaught7979]

what are you using to make the maps? ik you use photoshop and SC for the discord posts but what about the base map itself?

[@holy_crusaderoftheholyland4713]

For this campaign shack used photo shop to make that map and then import it into table top simulator.

[@BrianHall33]

Can Arty do any damage? You keep talking about the debuffs and cover destruction they do but is that on top of the damage or instead of the damage?

[@holy_crusaderoftheholyland4713]

Yes, artillery can do damage.

[@sonoftroja1093]

Essentially Artillery worked in this campaign as solely a support unit. So they can both lower and buff enemy and friendly defence stats. They can also join in a friendly assault and roll for damage, but importantly they can’t target individual units as before, so they have to support a friendly assault

[@cheesiestmaster879]

It's Cheese here

[@ElizabethProck]

Where is space engineers group survival season three ?

[@David-rs4po]

Very interesting project. Obviously, what you're doing isn't particularly new. Wargaming magazines used to run projects like this in the dawn of gaming, but it's a cool take on things. Also the combat mission community has done WW II projects like this before.

[@siluda9255]

i wish i could participate but for some reason i can't join armco discord

[@ChainsWorld1]

Where can i buy it?

[@sierranevada4601]

its shack run, there's nothing to buy

[@nightlord251]

What about Prometheus

[@jacksonschulein3216]

Herald -01 to all Armco forces we are burning for high orbit time to GTFO! Last craft to land buys drinks!

[@mikkoleinonen9846]

So you invented kriegspiel?

[@hismajestysirkart0she4ka2nd]

I like the series and the idea overall, but there is too much “technical details” for my taste. Like, I don't really need to know specifics of how this and that unit works in current game mechanic or which dice rolls have made to enjoy the story. In my opinion a “pure narrative” with only minor mechanical details would be far more enjoyable for those of us, who don’t actually play in this game. P.S Sorry for my bad English, it's neither my native language nor a language I know well

[@holy_crusaderoftheholyland4713]

The entire point of the meta campaign is about the community coming together to do this. You will need rules and everything to be explained or there will be a lot of confusion. It's impossible to separate the "technical details" from the game.

[@hismajestysirkart0she4ka2nd]

And I thought that the whole point of such a campaign, in bigger picture, is to create interesting interactive stories that take place as a result of the actions of a large number of players and gamemasters. Only a relatively small part of the community will be directly involved in the process, and the rules and such would be relevant mainly to those players. I think that for the rest of the audience, a detailed explanation of the "backend" may be somewhat redundant

[@destroyer68175]

@@hismajestysirkart0she4ka2nd its because while some people might Not like the discussion of the technical portions (you for example), some people Do like the addition of the technical aspects and how it actually functions as a game (me for example). That, and because its a community game, letting people who are in the community (or who are just watching the video) who have some interest in joining later games know how things work is a helpful "tutorial" you could call it. Oh, and because the video also serves as basically a detailed after-action report for the actual players themselves, to inform people about what squads are where, what theyve done so far, and what theyre planning overall. Things that might otherwise be glossed over, or that werent given much attention, by people focused on another part of the fight. Something very helpful considering the plans are all made in a discord group with multiple different chat areas people are spread around in.

[@Thefirstcommenter]

Hi

[@mustlovedragons8047]

Trump is not Hitler. We are not trash. I'm sorry you can't see that. I'm sorry if we met you'd tell me we couldn't be friends. All because of a bunch of lies.

[@aenorist2431]

I think you might want to randomize damage, not even it out, between aircraft. Simple reason is that it would otherwise encourage "doomstacking" - 10 fighters flying side by side, never actually loosing a unit because nothing is gonna do 51 Points of damage in a turn. Just figure out damage incurred and then randomly assign each instance of damage to a unit. Say you have been hit with a 3, 2, 2 and 4. Your wing contains F1, F2 and F3. You roll a D3, get a 1, assign the 3 damage to F1. Repeat, taking fighters out of the pool as they are destroyed.

[@shoootme]

I wish I had the time to play this, but my schedule is a little tight at the moment. I do however have some 3D models that I am happy for you to use in this if you feel they would fit, where's the best place to put them on the Discord server?