How to 'simulate' a battle?

[Summercat (OP)]

I can't play Starfire. I honestly don't have teh room or the time to play out a battle of more than a few ships - and I lack the hexmaps for 'em. Even so, it'd be me vs... well, me.

But I'd love to write the fiction. So.

How would you guys suggest 'simulating' a battle for fictional purposes? Just.... pulling it out of my arse?

~Bengaley Summercat

[rmcrowe]

Some people have been known to use an abbreviated version.  Establish the distance between the two (or more) fleets.  Using their known speed capabilities and tendency (if any) to stay together, use that distance as a range, and open or close whole fleets or subgroups as speed allows.  This converts 2 dimensions down to one, but does not depict the effort of the fleeing units (if any) to avoid their own blind spots.  Such effort will knock 1 increment of speed off every second or third turn, on the average.  I tend to fight battles out in full, myself, but . . .

robert

[coldsteel]

With 2 kids, space is an issue. I use a copy of the SFB 22x30 hex map downsized to an 8x11 piece of paper and printed off. Then I print off the fleet lists (if in SA) or write up the fleets in Word and print. I then use pencils to track forces and movement. Print off about 20-30 and you're portable.

[ShadoCat]

Unless you've moved, I should be relatively near by.

I have the maps and the room (just not always the time) to run some battles.

We should be on relatively even footing since I haven't run any except in my head.

[Erik L]

Is this a Battle of the 'Cats in the offing?

[ShadoCat]

Is this a Battle of the 'Cats in the offing?

Meow!

[Summercat (OP)]

Is this a Battle of the 'Cats in the offing?

Meow!

Pussy.

I'm still in the area, yeah ^_^ We ought to get together and kick my ass.

[ShadoCat]

I'm still in the area, yeah ^_^ We ought to get together and kick my ass.

Do you still have my contact info?

I am generally available Monday evenings (catch as catch can at other times).

   -- Jeff

[Summercat (OP)]

I'm still in the area, yeah ^_^ We ought to get together and kick my ass.

Do you still have my contact info?

I am generally available Monday evenings (catch as catch can at other times).

   -- Jeff

Sadly, no. Mmm, monday. I'm off on Monday from 1PM onward...

Maybe we should get together then to discuss stuff? >.>;

[ShadoCat]

Do you still have my contact info?

I am generally available Monday evenings (catch as catch can at other times).

   -- Jeff

Sadly, no. Mmm, monday. I'm off on Monday from 1PM onward...

Maybe we should get together then to discuss stuff? >.>;

Well, if you don't have my email address from the previous group, it is [my nick] + 2 at cox dot net (obscured to keep the site from becoming interesting to web spiders).

[coldsteel]

Anyone know of a decent cheap electronic randon number generator? You do get funny looks when rolling dice at the call center...

[rmcrowe]

There is one built into my Casio fx-260 solar.  I suspect any mid-grade (multi-function, non-graphing) calculator will have one.  About 10 dollars, if that is cheap enough.

robert

[Erik L]

Anyone know of a decent cheap electronic randon number generator? You do get funny looks when rolling dice at the call center...

I wrote one that runs on Windows systems. If you are able to install software, let me know, and I'll dig it up tonight and post it.

[RoguePhoenix]

I'm assuming that if your at work you have access to Microsoft Office. Just use Excel. It comes with a nice random number generator with all real numbers between 0 to 1 (non-inclusive).

The integer command takes all decimal numbers and rounds them down to the nearest integer.

Therefore the fomula you want to use for a range of numbers (a through b inclusive) will be this Int(Rand()*(b+1-a)+a)

So assuming you want integers between 1 (a) and 10 (b) set up your fomula like this.

=Int(Rand()*(10+1-1)+1)

The nice thing about this is that you can copy and paste this into as many cells as you want to do a whole bunch at the same time. The other nice thing is it's a pretty rare occasion where you can't find some legitimate reason to have a window of Excel open on your computer.  

[coldsteel]

@ Eric: thanks, but I need one hand-portable.

@ RogueP: Good idea, but the way our systems are set-up at work, I don't have access to Excel at my level. In about 6 months, when I make Account Sup or OJT Coach, I will then.

@ RMCrowe: good idea, I'll check out WalMart today.