The GMT Weekend at the Warehouse offers gamers an opportunity to play their favorite games amongst the shelves of thousands of GMT games.  For me, the best part is the opportunity to meet designers and other notables that created and love the games.  Now that I am designing Liberty or Death it gives me the rare opportunity to meet face to face with those working with me.  COIN Series Developer Mike Bertucelli and I enjoyed playing head to head, trading smack talk like we have known each other for years, all the while working the kinks out of the game.   Gene Billingsley is the master facilitator, and in fifteen minutes with him I complete 6 things on my to-do list.  This year was a rare treat with Mark Simonitch and Tony Curtis in attendance.  Mark and I talked about the Republic of Texas and he gave me advice (and a deadline) on working with the artists engaged in Liberty or Death’s production: Terry Leeds and Charlie Kibler.  Tony helped me nail down piece types and colors – the final production version is going to be fantastic! But, I must say the highlight was spending time with the Bot Master – Örjan Ariander visiting from Stockholm, Sweden!

Some of the GMT/COIN Brain Trust – Series Developer Mike Bertucelli, GMT President Gene Billingsley, Bot-Master Örjan Ariander and Liberty or Death Designer Harold Buchanan

For those of you not familiar with the Bot Master, an explanation is due.  First of all, the COIN Series includes an interesting and innovative system that allows players to leave any faction to, in effect, play itself as a Bot.  This is facilitated through flow charts (supported by rules) that very specifically direct the actions of that Bot.  In Liberty or Death, solo players can play any Faction and the Bots’ flow charts will direct the other Factions against them. Players also have the ability to play Patriots versus British and use bots for the other two Factions, Indians and French.  The Bots dramatically increase play options for any number of players.  I also believe they cultivated another group of solo players who prefer to play with “Bots” instead of playing all sides themselves.

There have been 1- and 2-player games with solitaire rules before, but Volko Ruhnke pioneered the use of Bots in multi-player war games with Andean Abyss, and has been improving it as the COIN Series advances.  Through the development in the later games a key play tester had a significant and increasing impact on the Bots.  This culminated in Fire in the Lake where he worked directly with Mark Herman and Volko Ruhnke to develop the Bots who are now detailed enough to handle a complex set of Factions and Operations.  This play tester is currently running the Bot Development for Liberty or Death.  His name is Örjan Ariander.  Just as stars like Madonna and Kanye are recognized by one word names, we know him simply as Örjan.

Örjan waiting patiently for the human to make his move!

My exposure to Örjan was built on an introduction from Volko Ruhnke while we were in the heat of designing Liberty or Death.  My interest was getting him on board early and ensuring I did everything necessary to facilitate Bot development.  Due to time zone differentials, we could only communicate by e-mail.  This was a significant disadvantage in my mind because it slowed and limited collaboration.  Despite this handicap, we made great progress once Bot development started.  Not only does Örjan nail Bot development, but working with him was like having five of the best play testers on the job, as he produced a stream of feedback that significantly improved the game.  He possesses limitless energy and a big brain.  Volko told me that he imagined Örjan walking around viewing the world in code – probably like the Matrix….   This mystique made me very excited to meet Örjan face to face.

I arrived Thursday afternoon with my friends, game designers Trevor Bender and Treg Julander.  Örjan greeted us with a smile and a warm handshake.  He spoke the Queen’s English.  When asked what he wanted to do, he said “Let’s play Liberty or Death!”  Within the half hour, we were at a table with Mike Bertucelli’s prototype of Liberty or Death between us.   The first night we played a four-player game using the 1775 Long Scenario– A People Numerous and Armed (I love that title).  We got through four Campaigns and called it with the Royalists way ahead in Support over Opposition.  It was just a question of whether the British or the Indians would optimize their very different sets of goals.  We came out of that play test with comfort that the recent set of adjustments to the Scenario balance were positive.  Trevor played the British and was convinced that with a little luck he could turn second place into a win.  Don’t tell Trevor but my money would have been on the Indians….

Our first play test – a four player game using the 1775 Scenario

We strolled in Saturday morning and went at it straight away.  Örjan played the Patriots and I played the British.  The Bots played the French and Indian Factions.  Örjan was disappointed in his Patriot play, but I attribute much of his frustration to a new set of human players.  In games as in life, the more different people you play with the more you see varied and interesting new strategies.  I think my British played a little differently than he had experienced so far and that kept him off balance.  He later agreed he learned a lot.  We also made a good number of adjustments to the Bots to enhance their functionality.

This weekend concluded with a solo game on Saturday.  I played the Patriots and Örjan orchestrated the Bots.  We played the 1776 Medium Scenario (Howe Returns to New York) and played 4 Campaigns.  It was as close a game as I have ever seen, but despite the arrival of the French, I lost to the Bots.  It was great fun watching Örjan orchestrate the Bots.  Every now and then the Bots would do something neither of us expected.  Frequently this was something really good.  Örjan would lean back and laugh with great satisfaction – and usually at my expense.    He would say: “I love it when the Bots do something brilliant!” or “I love it when the Bots beat me!”  Of course they weren’t beating him, they were beating me…

Harold and Örjan over a Liberty or Death play test

Örjan also sat with me and Mike Bertucelli and played a six-player game of our new prototype called Tank Duel.  We each took a tank and blasted each other.  As I recall the Russian T34’s closed range with our German Panzer IVs and blasted us.  I suffered a particularly horrific death as my tank was immobilized and took a 76mm shell through the turret from my flank, killing my commander, starting an ammo fire, and sending what was left of my crew scrambling from my tank.  Örjan spoke of a solo tank Bot – not a bad idea!

Playing our prototype Tank Duel with 6 players

In the end, we made some big steps improving Bot effectiveness and play balance.  This was critical as we are close to production.  The best part for me was watching Örjan beaten the second day by a Bot.  It was much like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein where the Monster haunts its creator – Victor Frankenstein!  Last year Elon Musk said “[With Artificial Intelligence the] …risk of something seriously dangerous happening is in the five year timeframe…”  It is my hope that Örjan uses his powers for good and not evil.  In the meantime, if the Bots start talking to me, I swear I will give up gaming all together!

Author: Harold Buchanan