A scenario designer recently criticized me for my opinion that his scenario was unbalanced (I had written a review of his scenario at The Depot).  He showed me the results of many tournament battles his scenario had been used in, which showed there to be a close to 50/50 split of victories for each side.

I pointed out to him that few, if any, of those tournament battles were played blind, unlike mine, which was.

As the attacker, I had a much harder time playing the scenario blind than I would have had knowing the defender's setup areas, type of units at start, type of reinforcements and their arrival times, etc.

I then looked at the playing record of the scenario here at The Blitz and, sure enough, there has yet to be a win recorded for the attacker, or a draw for that matter.

The bottom line is, when played in a non-blind tournament, the scenario appears balanced, but here at The Blitz the results indicate otherwise, with five out of five wins for the defender, including one total and two majors.

(I'd rather not give the name of the scenario or designer)

This leads me to wonder just how prevalent blind play is, here at The Blitz.  Up until now, I thought that while there may a good number of people who like to play blind, I didn't think it was a majority.  But looking at the results of this particular scenario might indicate that a far larger number of folks who play here play blind.

I play blind almost exclusively.  The only time I don't is if I play a newbie, who understandably might not be trusting enough to immediately play blind, in which case I try to wean him of his bad habits after the first game.  :-)

So here's my question:  Do you generally play blind or not?  I guess this might be sort of a poll.

I do not like playing if it is not blind. Takes all of the fun right out of it.
I would rather lose than look.

Rocketbuzz

I'm a newbie, but have been playing wargames for 35 years ( SPI, Avalon Hill, etc. - guess that dates me as a generic grognard).
The simulation aspect of gaming is what draws me, therefore EXTREME F.O.G. is THE PREREQUISITE. The PC can handle the mechanical aspects of implementation, and allow one to concentrate on the scenario mission AND experience moments of pure, 'Aw S..t', TERROR.

I'm marching lockstep with Politikov (even historically). Playing "blind" allows for the most fun.  Why would you not do it if you could?
mTk

SC,

I always "try" to blind games unless an opponent really wants to play a particular sceanrio that I've already played.  In such a case I would inform him that I have played the scenario and on which side I played.

Wild Bill Bartus

PS - When I create scenarios I create them for blind play.

Have to say I prefer playing blind too, it adds that bit more excitement.

Bootie

Blind in my *definite* first choice.  

I've played scenarios non-blind as well and, although still enjoyable, the edge just ins't quite there.

Blind in my *definite* first choice.  

I've played scenarios non-blind as well and, although still enjoyable, the edge just isn't quite there.

Wild Bill wrote:

> PS - When I create scenarios I create them for blind
> play.

Great, how about a list of your scenarios?

Every Quick Battle I play is blind

Every battle I play against Bill, I feel my eyes have been knocked out with hot pokers..


While blind play is great, I enjoy it myself, there's a limiting factor of only being able to play a scenario once. Unless the designer allows a multiple setup choice, that luxury fast dissolves. I enjoy playing the same fights over after a period of time with different opponents, but I do let them know I'm not blind to the fighting and yet I still lose the damn things.

CM is so flexible and inconsistent that blind play isn't always needed to get that "WTF" feeling.. :grin: