Variable Time - how long?

Michael Dorosh · Sep 10, 2016

In CMX1 variable time was, I think, up to 10% of the length of a scenario, determined randomly.

I'm playing a 45-turn CMFB QB right now, and we are entering the 17th turn of variable extra time. That's almost 40% of the length of the game added after the fact. I'm familiar with all the real world arguments for variable time, but this seems excessive.

They don't even mention variable time in the manual, naturally, other than a brief reference on p.80 that says the end turn is determined at random. It doesn't say how, when the determination is made, or what the possible maximum will be.

In football, managing the clock is part of the game. I would have thought so too in CM, but planning to go an extra 40% seems like it could even be a bug. I hit cease fire about 15 turns ago but my opponent seems to want to keep going. It's a meeting engagement and we've both had units in the central (and only) objective, so likely a draw unless I killed lots of units - which I thought might be the case 15 turns ago.

Thoughts? Is this a bug? What's the longest a variable-turn ending has gone? Has BFC released any insight into how this works?

A Canadian Cat · Sep 10, 2016

?? 17th extra turn - so there is a -17 in the time window? That would be a bug because the scenario editor allows setting the variable time to a maximum of 0-15 minutes. Which title is this? As long as this is CMBS and you have a save or a screen shot (and what scenario) post a link here or PM me to get the file to me --> and I'll log it.

For the record I hate variable time. Hate it. No scenario designed by me will ever have extra time and any time I critique a scenario that has it I'll mention that I don't like it. It is not often there is a feature that I would like to see removed but this is one of them.

Michael Dorosh · Sep 11, 2016

I'm on extra turn 20 now, of a 45 minute QB meeting battle (sorry, this is CMFB, I posted in the wrong forum). Drop me an email at madorosh@shaw.ca and I'll share my file(s) with you via Dropbox.

Michael Dorosh · Sep 11, 2016

Fredrocker · Sep 12, 2016

Thanks for posting this thread, as a Designer, I have had a battle in playtest go to the 15 extra minute mark before quitting (this was on a 0-5 min variable time set)... and I always thought that any battle would never go beyond 15 minutes... Until explanations come out and I have a better understanding of this I will not create anything with variable time...

Again thanx, I like the analogy of Football and Clock Management, I play many CM games much the same way...

Michael Dorosh · Sep 12, 2016

Ok, we did agree to Cease Fire, and it was on turn 22 of extra time - just about 49% of the regular time was added on. I did like the variable time in CMX1, which seemed to always be in the 1 to 5 minute range. Hopefully this can be fixed.

A Canadian Cat · Sep 12, 2016

I have reported the problem.

@Fredrocker you have seen the variable extra time go past what you had set in the battle in the past? That is not good if you ever see that again please store away the save and the scenario as it was when the play test and we can get that looked at.

Fredrocker · Sep 12, 2016

A Canadian Cat said:
I have reported the problem.

@Fredrocker you have seen the variable extra time go past what you had set in the battle in the past? That is not good if you ever see that again please store away the save and the scenario as it was when the play test and we can get that looked at.

Will do Mr. Cat...