DLC '45 West #02: Elsenborn Ridge

[VPaulus]

Please post here your comments about this scenario.

[billmv44]

General level. Standard core. Starting Prestige 5686, ending 1725 (after some upgrades and purchases).

This one started out fairly smoothly. The Americans are tough but few in number. The snow makes going slow and fuel usage is very high. You really have to watch that on all of your forces. Even if you had enough prestige, buying all Tiger IIs would be a mistake, due to their slowness and high fuel consumption.

One I reached the ridge, things got much tougher. The Long Tom's have long range! That was surprising and they really pounded my first infantry unit to come within range. My strategy was to take Wahlerscheid with one force, and then roll up the ridge north to south. Meanwhile, a second force drove to the other VHs.

DV on 16/16. This one seemed harder that St. Vith. So far two scenarios and two interesting additions (V-1s and long range arty). Both are good additions to game play.

[monkspider]

Eisenhorn Ridge
General Level
Imported Core
Starting prestige 2900
Ending Prestige 2100
DV on turn 16/16

Another excellent scenario. My strategy essentially consisted of sending one division north, toward the northernmost objective, and then swing south toward the ridge. One division would storm through the center and bear most of the responsibility for clearing the ridge, and then my third division would drive west toward the two objective hexes over there and then help attack the ridge if possible (which it was able to do, starting at about turn 14).

My strategy seemed to work well, and looking on the strategic map after the battle, I seemed to have lucked out and bypassed a couple tough clusters of enemy units. I could have got a decisive victory on turn 15, but took one more turn to claim a few more non-objective hexes. That darn ridge was very tough to clear, the range of the long toms came as quite a surprise. I only completely cleared it on the very last turn. The scenario seems well balanced, and I would suggest no major changes.

[Kamerer]

2) Elsenborn Ridge – beta 2

Level: Field Marshal, stock/game corps
Prestige - Begin: 1,175. End: 2,425. Net: +1,250
Result: DV 16/16
No replacements used in-scenario.

Core Changes: Many, many.

Problems:

• • Briefing: "roadways" is one word.

General impressions/comments:

• • Briefing was thorough and clear, other than minor grammar noted above.
  • I sent fast Panzers around the north, took the siege guns from behind. It was an inexpensive scenario to start blooding a “new” corps. Once the proximate battery was cleared, other forces cleared the valley. I had the map cleared except the entrenched infantry and a/t on the ridge, I did not bother digging them out.
  • I will play the stock corps through this beta to see how it fares. I am worried about the weak fighters and infantry, and lack of field artillery with strength/experience/heroes. The tanks are generous, as well as a/t. Quite a few more than I had in my imported corps.
  • I think the scenario worked fine.

[zappel]

Beta2 - Colonel level - Imported core - DV at turn 12

Yes, I like tanks rolling towed artillery. The whole scenario is amazing and enjoyable. I have nine airplanes and a lot of AA-units in my core forces so I was not able to deploy only ground units. But the lack of allied fighters is comfortable, so I could engage two tactical and on strategic bomber. They had only a few attacks but were valuable.
The other path from St. Vith (Houffalize) was very much harder (in beta1) so this was also a scenario to earn prestige by minor damages: I prefer playing Elsenborn.

[semper_fidelis]

One thing that I have noted with this scenario is the map shows as green and weather forecast for the upcoming turn (after deployment) always shows sunny and clear. Obviously the briefing dispels any notion that is true and when the game starts, the map is covered in snow and has the right weather report.

[maho1973]

Beta 2 - colonel level - prestige: 9500 pp (begin) / 7738 pp (end) - DV 16/16 turn - preset core

- some unit upgrades and changes were done
- I liked the prestige bonus at the end of St. Vith (good units are expensive)
- some good battles here
- good map design
- another great scenario

no changes, please.