Abstracted, there's 8 objectives.
Annihilation
Defense
Escort
Extraction
Recon
Assassination
Destruction
Survival
for sake of argument let's ignore that Survival's just annhilation on the backfoot, Escort is just defense but the obj. is moving, and Destruction is just assassination but the obj. is immobile.
From there, we can get missions. You have a single objective, no more.
8 possible missions, in the void.
But no plan survives contact with the enemy.
So the mission will invariably change.
If they change from one to the other, and can repeat in a slightly different context, that's an exponential increase.
64 missions, in the void.
That'd be for something basic, like taking a hill, or a single part of a village.
If Ramirez needs to secure the burger town, that'd be Annihilation to clear it, then Defense to set shit up against retaliation
So for something bigger, let's rule of 3 it. 3 Missions to complete one Big Objective.
Each is Mission is 2 Little Objectives. And they can double up. Which means...
262,144 combinations.
im always kinda surprised at how hard exponents scale
That's a lot.
But one big objective is not a won campaign. That's like a solid push.
So let's say, need 4 Big Objectives to really change the worldstate. Get the elemental crystals, collect the triforce, attune the five rings, whatever.
Which means, in that sequence there'd be like...
4.7223665e+21 combinations.
And that's just white void, you're in a flat plain, equal forces.
More objectives than there are grains of sand.
Just add in like...
Are you on the back foot, or frontfoot?
Is the tone, to ultra simplify, glorious or dower?
Is the setting sci-fi, modern, or fantasy?
Does your objective have mini objectives within it? Lil things done in 2 turns, but demand a change in strategy none the less?
i think my math is right in that it quickly becomes more objectives than there are atoms in the universe.
AND
PLAYERS!
Will be happy with a single objective, done well!
Maybe a double objective will spice it up sometimes!
luv math.