Best resources for general solo gaming mechanics?

[ShortscaleDave]

N00b question:  Can anyone point me to the best resources that give sound, elegant, and enjoyable mechanics that can be applied to most skirmish games to enable a truer game experience - 'AI' mechanics being the main thrust I imagine! I'd love to hear from folks with experience of such.

I've been playing combat zone with a mate but most often against myself, simply playing both sides which ahs taught me a lot but lacks the surprise element. I'm also going to be doing the same with Matakishi's wonderful CROM system and it would be ace to play solo without knowing what the opposition are planning ahead of time!

Thanks in advance

[6milPhil]

A copy of this might help: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Donald-Featherstones-Solo-Wargaming-Curry/dp/1409260119

I used to have a copy and one of the techniques it suggested was dividing the table into gridded zones and have cards which define what's in them. So you'd have your force in A1 aiming to get to D4, and in each adjacent square there's a chance of having enemy which you reveal by turning cards. No enemy? then proceed to the next square and do the same.

Of course you can add to this with additional orders or target cards.

Also have a butchers at: http://lonewarriorswa.com/category/solo-wargaming

[Cherno]

FFG's Gears of War - The Board Game has, in my opinion, one of the best AI systems. Each player draws a card after his turn, and each card activates all model of one enemy type and which then act in either of two ways decided by circumstance.

[eilif]

It's not a treatise on the subject, but virtually any of the Two Hour Wargames products will give you alot to consider for solo gaming.

[zorg]

A copy of this might help: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Donald-Featherstones-Solo-Wargaming-Curry/dp/1409260119

This. The book explains, imo correctly, that for a solo game, you need a different mindset. It's not really about winning, it's about pitching different tactics against each other. Basically, you pick or assign randomly a basic tactic for each side, and then implement it to the best of your ability. The book describes various variations of that premise.

[petercooman123]

The new deadzone expansion, contagion, comes with a set of ai cards.

I have them lying around, but haven't tried them out yet. Maybe worthwhile to look into?

Those are for a skirmish game though.

An example of one of the cards can be found here:
http://varcancluster.blogspot.be/2014/09/deadzone-contagion-reviewed.html