GJS'44 Campaign Main Thread - Final June 16th 1944 Tournamen

[jcb989]

we are running our philibuster in Bayeux as scheduled, maybe 7 turns remaining, Brits taking loses well over German rate.

[mlazar]

Buron got off to a slow start. We are only on turn 17. Our schedules are not synced.

[GottaLove88s]

Thanks Gents, Buron and Bayeux seem to be moving nicely. Caen maybe MIA?

[GottaLove88s]

News reports from the 'shadow' Buron battle... It's a tough ol' assault...

The Allied commander executed a cunning strategy, driving infantry down the western side of the map, across the rocks at the top, then back north under cover of the forest on the far side of the river, intending to eliminate most of the four German ATGs... Early fighting was favourable with Allied numerical superiority easily destroying several lone German patrols on the Brit side of the river...

However, an ingenious German counter-response (we suspect that the German colonel got bored, which is understandable since it takes fooorever to get Allied infantry to the top of the river and across) pushed an 88, pzshreks and infantry over to the Allied side of the river in force... A defensive Vickers HMG went 1-for-1, an M5 scout took out a pzshrek at range, but then Allied losses mounted to a well placed 88 in trees, including two Cromwells and an M5... Ultimately, intelligent German unit mix and force strength overcame Allied defenders at the Brit HQ flag in the northwest.

The remaining Allied assault force was by then too far to the south to come back, having already crossed to the German side of the river, so it became impossible to retake the original Allied VP flag. This spurred the Allies into a courageous (foolish? stubborn? lol) do or die "strategy" to take the central bridge flag, to avoid dissolution... Numerous Allied infantry softened up German infantry and an ATG in the trees by the bridge, but resistance remained firm. German mortar positions killed many of our brave lads, exposed to serial mortar bombardments despite the protection of forest, unable to recover with no medic or rally...

At the end, it became an Allied kamikaze mission with the remaining M5 and transports, desperate to take the bridge flag, to avoid dissolution... Well placed defenders chalked up a "happy hunting" time...

Final score: Allied losses 13 units, Germans losses 11, but the Allies were unable to recover any flags and would have been dissolved. Easy German victory

Since the Buron campaign game must be drawing to its own close, it's safe to admit, if I were to play this one again, I wouldn't do it that way... It takes faaar too long to take Allied infantry up to the top of the map, across the river and back down again, leaving the Allied HQ flag at risk, despite a strong core defence force which may prove too small if the Germans are adventurous... So, that leaves two options: A heavy assault in the centre, supported by mortars to obscure tanks from ATGs... Or a numbers game, simply attempting to whittle down the enemy so that remaining defenders could be defeated by a subsequent attack...

All of which could be summarised as... Jcb caned my ass... Well played, Sir!

Anyone want to replay?

How's the campaign Buron game going? I'm sure the 'real' Allied commander will have been MUCH smarter than I was! DOH

[GottaLove88s]

Guys,

Other than Ouistreham, which completed in a pioneer's heartbeat, the GJS'44 campaign games seem to be stalling... already into Feb...

Two quick questions for all players please...

1. Are you all still able to play? Or would anyone like to drop out? Please confirm if you're in or out, from the next round
Too much of a good thing can lose its sparkle, and commanders under fire might need time to recover their morale
Get some R'n'R if you need to gentlemen... The pixel panzers will be waiting for you when you feel recharged... maybe even with the benefits of the BA2 engine

If some folks would like to drop out, either permanently or for R'n'R to return later, commanders can rejig their teams to keep the campaign balanced
2. So please indicate which side you're happy to play, Allies, Germans, or Either, in case we need to rebalance

If we have dropouts, let's open up to some new blood too.

Jcb & Cavehobbit are proving stunning commanders. If there's space, let's top up their troops, so we can all power on...

[cavehobbit]

News from Bayeux
Only one turn remaining. If jcb doesn't have any hidden units by my flags I've succeeded in halting the first attack and kept Bayeux in German hands.

I will continue playing this campaign And I've been talking to two other players who might be interested in participating.

/P-A

[GottaLove88s]

News from Bayeux
Only one turn remaining. If jcb doesn't have any hidden units by my flags I've succeeded in halting the first attack and kept Bayeux in German hands.

Congrats on the Bayeux game so far. Jcb is a very tough opponent. I've no doubt he'll have some surprise in store for you, lol. Good luck both. Looking forward to seeing the result.

I will continue playing this campaign And I've been talking to two other players who might be interested in participating.

/P-A

Great news that you're in PA. German command appears to be doing well under you!
If Mowby doesn't mind, would be great for you to take up the reins permanently.

Yes, please do invite new players. It's fun to create original Normandy maps for BA's awesome engine. The more widely played, the better!
Some of the guys have been playing GJS, in one form or another, for nearly half a year, so there might be dropouts... Let's re-invigorate and get things rolling again...

[cavehobbit]

Bayeux

June 8th - Bayeux VPs
German - Mairie HQ (5 pts)
Allied - Pont Ste Jean (5 pts)
Allied - Road to the South (3 pts)
German - Highway to Caen (3 pts)
German - Cathedral (1 pt)
German 9 pts v Allied 8 pts
German victory

[GottaLove88s]

Thanks Cavehobbit... Looks like a stubborn defence... And a wise attacker deciding to cut his losses once his scouts/recon were disabled...
Survivors of II/744/711 now face a second attack from a slightly different direction... 231/50 approaching from the northeast...
I will set that one up so you can play it out while we're waiting for Caen and Buron... Same commanders? Or new appointments?

Summarised Battle Results - June 8th AM - Provisional

OUISTREHAM - German Victory
Allied (151/50) KIAs = 20+6 = 4x Inf, 2x Eng, 2x Scout, 1x Flamey, 3x Mortar, 3x Bren, 2x M16AA, 1x Cromwell, 2x Sherman (plus dissolution penalties 1x Inf, 1x HMG, 1x PIAT, 1x 17pdr, 1x 6pdr, 1x Bren)
German (858/346) KIAs = 8 = 2x Inf, 1x Eng, 3x Scout, 1x 251/1, 1x WirbelAA
151/50 is dissolved (due to all units lost in battle)

BAYEUX - German Victory
Allied (9/3) KIAs = 12 = 2x Inf, 2x HMG, 2x Scout, 1x PIAT, 1x Bren, 2x M16AA, 2x M5
German (II/744/711) KIAs = 3 = 1x Eng, 1x PzShrek, 1x 251/1
9/3 withdraws to Vaux sur Aure

Here's what we're looking at for June 8th...

OUISTREHAM - GERMAN VICTORY - Joncorcuera (858/346 defending) v K9mike (151/50 attacking)
BAYEUX - GERMAN VICTORY - Cavehobbit (II/744/711 defending) v Jcb989 (9/3 attacking)
CAEN - started - iProp (6al/6) defending v Morge4 (125/21Pz attacking)
BURON - started - Mlazar (II/736/716 defending) v Random27 (8/3cdn attacking)

4x CONFIRMED BATTLES - June 8th AM

Battle maps will approximate what you see on the Strat Map, but I've provided short descriptions below to help you with force selection...

OUISTREHAM - 151/50 (inf) [NTMRS] attacks fortified defence (AFD) v 858/346 (inf) [AFMRPS] - attacker arrives from W
Enormous fortified beach with many defences positioned towards the sea. Some woods, estuary and marshes. A small town at the eastern edge

CAEN - 125/21Pz (mech) [APS] attacks fortified defence (AFD) v 6al/6 (para) [ATMRS] - attacker arrives from SE
Regional capital city with a castle fortress controlling river crossings. A busy port, cathedral, warehouses and university districts. Urban extreme.

BAYEUX - 9/3 (mech) [AMRS] attacks fortified defence (AFD) v II/744/711 (VG inf) [PS] - attacker arrives from N
Historic town, dominated by river, cathedral and a fortified town hall. Fields to the south and west.

BURON - 8/3cdn (mech) [S] attacks fortified defence (AFD) v II/736/716 (VG inf) [MPS] - attacker arrives from NW
Mostly fields and hedgerow, some small woods, several roads through the centre. Opposing forces are divided by a river towards the west.

1x POSSIBLE BATTLE - June 8th PM (if defender wins June 8th AM)

BAYEUX 231/50 (mech) [S] attacks fortified defence (AFD) v II/744/711 (VG inf) [PS] - attacker arrives from NE
Historic town, dominated by river, cathedral and fortified town hall

Bonuses in square brackets [A=Arty, N=Naval Arty, T=Typhoon, F=Fw190G-2, M=Medic, R=Rally, P=Promote, S=Resupply]

[GottaLove88s]

Cavehobbit, Please could you update and share the latest Strat Map for all players/commanders to see?
Mike did the last one, but he's going to take a break for awhile. I believe you've been working on some slick mapping for the German players?
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=38844&start=920#p377631

[cavehobbit]

Ok here's a map of the current situation. Just one small question. Is it possible for 9/3 to withdraw to Thaon? This sector wasn't in allied control according to the latest map you refer to?

7.74 Withdrawing BGs are moved to an empty neighbouring sector already controlled by their side. The direction of withdrawal is determined randomly by dice throw and will be reported by the GM. The chances are weighted as follows: Withdrawal directly opposite the approach of the attacking unit, 6 chances, Withdrawal diagonally away from the approach of the attacking unit, 2x 2 chances; Withdrawal to the side of the approach of the attacking unit, 2x 1 chance. Units are not permitted to withdraw towards the attacking unit, even diagonally.

[GottaLove88s]

WOW! Love the slick map, P-A.
Yes, you're correct. Good spot! I shouldn't have included Thaon in the dice throw for 9/3's withdrawal route. Withdrawals are only possible to friendly sectors.
Please withdraw 9/3 to Vaux sur Aure instead. I'll update the battle summary above...

[GottaLove88s]

PS. Serious cool roundel effect to show ownership! How in heck did you do that???

[cavehobbit]

PS. Serious cool roundel effect to show ownership! How in heck did you do that???

Just some Photoshop magic

Map updated!

[morge4]

Caen is moving along...I've been busy and haven't gotten to it for a few days...

[jcb989]

I confirm the first-round-attack results in Bayeux.
Yes, we lost an unacceptable number of our scout units to be able to press in any attacks.
Although one poor scout was lost in the last turn... losing the M5's so quick really hurt.
We had to swing several units to the east because they were on our flank if we wanted to push
for that big 1pt catherdal that was the obvious focus point of any assualt from the north.

I'm in for continued rounds but I feel I'm more suited for a VP role and not the commander in chief role.
If only because I don't always have the time to encourage more dialog amongst the team mates or post strategic thought threads.
Mike was able to do that far better than me and I would be happy to support him if he wanted the job.
I think I buried myself a bit game-wise by starting up 7 tourney games over yonder, play 1 turn a night per game and some casual commenting in forums for fun is going to be my normal game pace out here generally..

Stand-by for a decision on allied commander for Bayeux Round 2. I will offer that game to Mike or Random or Iprop first if no takers I'd be happy to play it.

[mlazar]

Buron is moving along but slowly. We are at turn 11(or 12), The Allied forces die valiantly. Unfortunately my Marder's, my 88 and my mortar are suppressed. I think I can still hold onto 3 VP spaces to win the game by 1 point. It will be tough if he pushes hard.

[cavehobbit]

Map updated again, and I've also improved the BG icons. The value at the top left corner shows how many unit the BG got.

[GottaLove88s]

Map updated again, and I've also improved the BG icons. The value at the top left corner shows how many unit the BG got.

WOW! Very cool PA... Have re-attached here in full size... For some reason, the forum forces me to scroll your attachment to see the map in full (probably due to my small laptop screen, lol).
Love the ambience of your faded-into-map roundels v crosses... If anyone's counting, Major sectors (capitalised) score 4 points, Minor sectors (lower case) score 1 point... The whole map counts 100 points.
Your unit count for each BG is going to be really handy for attack/defence planning... You've even put stripes on the elites!!

Is it possible to add the new BGs scheduled to arrive (or able to return from dissolution) on June 9th?
Perhaps German BGs off board to the bottom left? Allies off board to top right? But tbh if you can, I leave it to your creativity... You're leaving the rest of us behind for dust...
NICE.

[GottaLove88s]

Order of Battle updated for both sides (MS Excel) -> http://bit.ly/BA88gjs44oob

894 Allied units v 714 German units (either in play or yet to arrive)
5-to-4 unit advantage to the Allies...