Something between a board and a card game?

If i keep all the prices logical.
Meaning all bodies are always 3. And all weapons are always 1.
I could add modification cards.

The one to adjust the body would be based on the 4 existing armor types. But let's say, only health is added with various movement speeds.
A wrong speed would mean impossible to add. I need to research on this.
A negative version of this would allow for 1 more weapon.
And a weapon modifier (for any weapon) would be based on the attack range.

Let's say, the infantry squad has a negative adjustment on the health. But it allows the squad to carry not 3 but 4 weapons. And actually could choose to carry only 2 weapons with both an attack range adjustment.
So you got this stack of cards:
- body
- negative body adjustment
- weapon
- weapon adjustment
- weapon 2
- weapon 2 adjustment

6 cards that make up 1 squad on the fields.

Although, I don't have time to get physical...

But here is the plan:
For now, the bodies, weapons and possible adjustments will be handwritten.
Then the pieces, I still got a stack of sillouettes from one of 10 years ago. I will be using those.

I think, I allow the players to have up to 4 designs. And they are used right away.
As for the HQ. It will simply be rules of what 1 HQ can do. But maybe I should give it a different name?
Base component perhaps?

I got the dice ready. I got plenty of hexagon maps. And I am going to try out something new with the terrain.

I looked into a brighter side and darker side of the hexagons. That way, I might create the illusion of higher and lower grounds.

Not sure if I should apply terrain mechanics. The space will not be an issue any longer. Movement will be reduced though by the type of terrain. And thus, if you have an unit that has a movement of 1. In just 1 turn, it cannot go through a thick forest. You need multiple turns. And I think that the maximum movement penalty should be no more than 2. This means that if you move into a forest. You get a penalty of 1. A tank with movement of 1 will be able to move in on the second turn. Then 1 turn remains to either move out again, or attack from that spot.

As for penalties on accuracy. Not sure which mechanic I should take exactly. I kinda forgot.... unbelievable, hahahaha.
Same goes for the penalties on movement etc. But I am sure I got it explained somewhere.

Before a game;
players create a deck that has no more than a total value of ##. The value of cards can range from 1 to 6.

Determing turn order for the round;
Depending on the number of players. But most likely picking a number from a bag.

Drawing phase;
no more than 7 cards. Discard one, put it back at the end of the deck.

Design phase (primairy turn order);
only if a player wants too.
A set of cards are combined into one unit/defense.
A piece is added to the mix to represent the design.
The player can start producing this piece.

Production phase (primairy turn order);
The things a player wants, has to be set aside for now. The pieces are placed at the end of a round.
The player can choose a number of pieces, no more than 6 per design may be on the board. The maximum for that round is the reversed triangular number for the number of HQ.
1 HQ allows for 1 piece
3 HQ allows for 2 pieces.
6 HQ allows for 3 pieces.
etc.

Action phase (secondairy turn order);
It begins with the primairy turn order.
After this, the second turn starts with the second player in turn.
The player in turn decides on the piece that can either be moved or attacked with.
The piece can perform 3 actions.
All other players in the turn order will decide on their piece as well. But don't have to (saving it for a better choice)
The actions are performed simoultainiously.
Declared in the current turn order.

For a second or third attack. The piece needs to be attacking in the first and second place. The later the attack, the more powerfull it will be. There will be a complete section in the manual for how combat takes place.
It includes determing targets and counter measures.

There are pieces that can perform more than 3 actions due to them being cheaper in value. These can have a 1st attack, then move twice, then reset the action order. It can go up to 7 actions including attacks. And 8 actions if only movement takes place. The latter makes almost no sense though.

The number of turns played are no more than the number of players
Everyone can go a 1st time for that round. Some will play multiple turns later on if they decide to preserve their counter measurments.

Each piece can perform only once per round. Once used, they are exhausted for that round. And rather defencless.

Placing phase (primairy turn order);
If it is still possible, pieces are placed now. The player can decide which pieces are discarded.

End of the round.

***

I tested a bit with building up a base. I am not happy with it.

Since the HQ, or base component. Is a sweet mix of everything a normal RTS has to offer in a base.
The first HQ will probably spend 2 rounds producing 2 more HQ. Then a player needs 1.5 rounds for the third tier.
4/3th for the 4th tier.
etc.
It will take more than 1 round, but less than 2 rounds if you will. Of course this is not the case. But the buildup looks like this:

1>2>3>5>7>10>14>18>23>29>36 etc.
In just 10 rounds, the whole map is covered with HQ.
Now, I said that the maximum is 6 per piece. So this should be obvious for the HQ as well.
1>2>3>5>6
And the maximum per round is 3 new pieces.

Maybe someone has a better suggestion in this?

"harvesting" tools.
Seems I need to get my harvesters out. They move to a location with resources.
So the HQ is now only tasked with production without the resource gathering.
This also means that resource gathering is lineair once again.
Aaaaand. You can have only 6 harvesters...
Or 12, or 18, or 24, or 30.
Ok, I am assuming we would get these players that would go for it.

Why? Because the harvesting tool would also cost only 1. And giving every design 1 would allow all units to harvest...

On a side note. That won't do. The fields are underground. So the 1 range will certainly only be able to stand on the resource patch.
And this resource patch, like the old fashioned days. Will be able to send out 1, 2 or 3 resources.
If they are any higher. The harvest tools should start getting an attack range. So, more can be placed upon the same field.

***

The harvest tool of range "0" will cost 1. A normal unit would have 3 of them.
The harvest tool of range "1" will cost 1.5. A normal unit would have 2 of them. AND if the unit design would end up with 0.5 at the end. The costs would be rounded upwards in the game. 5.5 is 6. 4.5 is 5 etc.
The harvest tool of range "2" will cost 2. A normal unit would have 1 of them. Either way, the harvest tools can get the Optics card as well. And a map could get the design that certain locations are hard to reach.

A smart player will observe the map and adjust its deck accordingly.

The HQ will still give 1 resource per round. So you don't end up without asap. Still, the players need to have a good hand. So, what if I allow players to have their starting hand? They pick the cards then need for their start. This will certainly include their harvester.

Make note, a harvester can be awarded with weapons too.

***

With an average of 3 resources per harvester, and a total of 6 harvesters. And also 6 HQ. The total will be 24 resources per round. The cost of production will now not be 1, but the value instead.

So a cheaper design will allow for faster production. But the size is still all the same.
Design analysis:

Total value 6.
3 Actions.
Relative worth 18.
Specialist damage 15.
Specialist burst damage 20.
Specialist charge damage 60.

Total value 5.
4 Actions.
Relative worth 20.
Specialist damage 16.
Specialist burst damage 32.
Specialist charge damage 48.

Total value 4.
5 Actions.
Relative worth 20.
Specialist damage 15.
Specialist burst damage 24.
Specialist charge damage 36.

Total value 3.
6 Actions.
Relative worth 18.
Specialist damage 12.
Specialist burst damage 16.
Specialist charge damage 48.

Total value 2.
7 Actions.
Relative worth 14.
Specialist damage 7.
Specialist burst damage 12.
Specialist charge damage 24.

Total value 1.
8 Actions.
Relative worth 0.
Specialist damage 0.
Specialist burst damage 0.
Specialist charge damage 0.

Players might consider getting the value 5 instead of value 6. But it will be their choice.
Note: The specialists are a value 1 body. With the rest in weapons.
The burst damage is the first action of every set of 3.
The charge damage is the last action of every set of 3.

I included the value 1 that has no weapons. The reason is that this design would be the fastest. And it can help asap if a player suspects an attack might take place on a more expensive unit. With 8 actions, if the attack is not taking place yet, it can move in 8, 16, or even 24 places. And simply by sarcrificing itself, absorb a massive attack on a good support unit.
This is a very rare tactic and hard to do. The enemy might still play tricks too. Perhaps you need 6 of these to correctly fodder.

While the income can be eventually on average 18 per round.
The value of a design is the cost of getting 1 of those units or structures on the map.

Then the "research" for such design is a cumulative cost.
Value 1, costs 1
Value 2, costs 3
Value 3, costs 6
Value 4, costs 10
Value 5, costs 15
Value 6, costs 21

I decided that a lower value can be placed together with another lower value in 1 region. Now, the biggest will be point main. Always. And if the value's are equal. The defending player can decide how the damage is divided on those units. While fodder is at a disadvantage. So they got a slight advantage in some situations.

The upgrade of units is also possible.
Simply pay the difference between the cumulative costs.
Value 5 goes to 6. This is 21 - 15 = 6.
Multiply this by upgrade factor 2.
We get 12.
And every unit of this design in the map also gets this upgrade. But the costs is doubled as well.
The maximum is 6. Thus another 12.
The total is 24 here. But suddenly all those units are stronger.
The must be room though!

The exchange between units is also possible.
This is a downgrade for both units.
Then treat each card as an upgrade.
The costs can become very high. But let's say you have 2 different fronts. And the enemy is countering due to RPS mechanics in a very good way. If you manage to exchange the right weapons. Suddenly you are in a very good position.

***

In this last regard. But also with upgrades. Having the correct weapons will result in a factor 3 at most for that weapon.
In a lot of situations, surviving by an exchange of weapons will get a cumulative effect in the long run. Which is good.

The total costs?
An example would be exchanging a value of 3 in weapons.
The upgrade costs is 21-6=15
The cost is multiplied by 2, thus 30.
This for both unit designs. Thus 60.

Then if there are 6 units of each design in the map. We got 6 units times 2 designs times 3 upgrade value times 2 upgrade factor = 72

A total of 60+72=132 in costs...

You might reconsider if you don't want those units to keep a position. Since 6 units times 2 designs times 6 value per design is a total of 72. Which is almost half.

Well, a piece can do 3 (or more, depending on the value of the piece)

But how many pieces can the players order around?

Originally I had 3 to 7 with the action points. I don't want to use action points again.
Originally, the 3 actions on 1 squad was born due to the player having only 1 squad left. It could run away, so much faster and deal, so much more damage. The enemy however could defend 3 times as well with just 1 squad. In a sense, it was very balanced, and while the actions got limited if one player was losing. The actions however did do so much more in other occasions in that same situation.

How to get this in a game without action points?
Should I allow an X ammount of exhaustion being removed per round? Meaning that if a player has 1 squad while the other has a hundred, that the number of squads with actions is for example 5.
And this one player can remove an exhaustion?
Removing an exhaustion and doing an action should cost "2" perhaps? Yet this remains 2 and doesn't increase. So, 1 squad can still do 3 turns of actions. While another player has 5 squads doing 1 action.
This can be tracked without tokens, right? Or should I have a tracking mat for things like this? I already need one for the resources though.

I had a whole debate here, written down. But decided to delete it and keep it short.

***

So, yeah, I think the research should be linear.
The value of the design times 3.
So, a value 2 design will cost 6 resources. Then you can produce them.

And the limit is really just 3 actions per squad per turn.
Or else, the lower value units are too Over powered.

It is already a fact that players with less squads can have a squad do more than 1 turn per round.
1 turn, costs 1 AP
A refresh costs 1 AP, so...
2 turns, costs 3 AP
3 turns, costs 5 AP

I discarded that option seeing as how the number of cards with one design can be totally different. We talked about this before too. That is why I discarded the option. Freedom in certain area's cause limitations in other area's.

Well, we did have some games, in 2019 if I recall correctly.
Where the players had to get through a mix of blockages.

We where testing if a wall of destructable objects could hold players at bay.
A natural entrance that you had to make if you will.

***

Either way, I want to work on the weapons a bit. Making sure we got a good balance in these.
Then the bodies.
Then other cards.

Making decisions on the HQ is stil impossible without having other concrete decisions.

I arrived at seeing what unit designs are possiblewith a movement of 4.
Seems there are only 4, infantry not included.

And the value for balance? All 3.5.

I talked with someone from my test group.
He actually likes the idea of predesigned units in a whole.
aka the USC.

In a sense, I got more options.
But the player doesn't.

Besides of predesigned cards. It would mean that the whole cardgame portion of the game would be removed. And I have to go back to square 1.
Wait...

I could include predesigned cards. But these would be the design exceptions. And are rare.
The player can draw them and play them. But these cards hardly can be adjusted at all.
And the player can't upgrade them etc.
These cards would require the maximum research cost as well of 18.

It is kinda like playing with green in MtG.
You start with fodder.

Some get upgraded a lot.
And you will get big creatures for a high cost.