Series Replay: rbeyma vs gregorit

[gregorit]

"On December 16th, 1944, Germany launched its last, desperate offensive in the West. Seven Panzer and thirteen infantry divisions burst out of the Ardennes and swept through the surprised and thinly held American line. In the most dramatic and bloodiest battle of the West, the American Army would soon slow and then stop the spearheads of Hitler's elite panzer armies."

It is SO on! rbeyma and I are going to document our next match here: We'll have screenshots accompanied by snide commentary with some gratuitous gloating thrown in for good measure. Public commentary is welcome. To ensure the match is worthy of posting, we're going to restart if the Germans don't get at least five activations the first day. (We both feel the Allies would otherwise start with too large an advantage and the Germans would be forced into many early unentertaining, and risky, moves.) Kick-off is slated for Saturday so buckle up.

[rbeyma]

Armchair Field Marshals rejoice! The press corps is set to report in on Wacht Am Rhein. Commentary available from the front. The journalists will have a hard time keeping up with Panzer spearhead Peiper but will report the news as soon as able.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqlE9eNWYj4

Comments, suggestions, criticisms encouraged!

[Yojimbo252]

Great initiative guys, I'm looking forward to this!

[jeffd]

Not that you need it, but please have an official

>>>>>SEAL OF APPROVAL<<<<<

for this. Happy playing, gentlemen, and I'm going to be watching with a great deal of interest!

[gregorit]

Gaming Bio: An IT Consultant by day, Tom Gregorio by night is a long-time gamer; boardgames, computer games, cards, dice, you name it. While primarily interested in WW2 games centered on the conflict in the east, the Battle of the Bulge has also drawn his interest. He combines a love of dispassionate logic, risk management, and statistical analysis to play games in as detached a manner as possible. He can't 'fight the tape', but he will hedge his positions and leverage even the smallest of edges to try to build winning positions.

Game Preface: I enjoy playing Shenandoah Studio's Battle of the Bulge and find it offers a lot of different challenges. The campaign game is particularly interesting because it offers a lot of opportunities to both players and rewards long-term strategy while still requiring a complete mastery of the game tactics. At this point, I've probably played 75+ games and feel pretty comfortable with my understanding of the underlying rules, game mechanics, combat outcomes, and many useful game tactics and strategies. I do think there's more 'undiscovered country' out there, though, and the exploration and exposing of these is what keeps me engaged.

Game Strategy: My Germans will try to be methodical and relentless. They won't be afraid to leave holes in their lines and will constantly try to push forwards. Reaching the Meuse is useful to release the OKH reserve but I will also strive to secure Bastogne or Verviers as well as Spa and St. Vith. My belief is that the Germans need to have 4VP under control by the time the Brits arrive if they want to hold out in the long game against a sizable Allied Army. I will try to kill as many Allied Units as possible but won't let the 1 VP units distract me from more important targets.

I'm looking forward to playing Richard, prior experience has shown him to be more than formidable at this game!

[gregorit]

Stop the presses! I'm going to be the Allies.

Allied Strategy: My approach is generally opportunistic in nature - the US will count on bad luck or questionable decision-making by my opponent before taking any significant chances. I will make Richard fight for every VP city except St. Vith. Bastogne will be defended with as many units as I can stuff into it and I will not risk losing Verviers to anything but a massed Panzer assault. My general approach is to preserve units and give lots of ground; I don't mind him getting next to the Meuse but I'd prefer it didn't happen until the 19th at the earliest. Combined arms groups of armor and infantry will try to bleed the German armor units, or at least put a few dents in them, and eventually I will assemble killer Allied stacks that will peck away at exposed elements of the German army. Once the fuel shortages set in, I won't hesitate to launch myself at weakened German positions. The Race to Arlon is something I'll sometimes concede if it means Bastogne is held, Patton can probably come in a little further west and still save the town.

And that's how my GI's roll.

[rbeyma]

Gaming Bio: I can't remember a time when I wasn't a gamer, and a strategy gamer first and foremost. Traditional war games at first, then Real time and Turn based strategy on the computer. Growing up wargames were constantly being designed and playtested in my midst, and the mechanics and strategy of wargames in general are second nature to me. I am partial to 19th century warfare in its elegant simplicity, but I am more than happy to command tanks or paratroopers on any given day. Constantly "pushing the envelope" in every game I play, I prefer being on the offensive. Like a shifty running back, I will find the seam and burst through it at the first available opportunity. Like many young panzer commanders, perhaps reckless aggression will be my undoing, or perhaps it will create a decisive breakthrough.

Game Preface: I believe Shenandoah Studio's amazing new iPad game is nothing short of the vanguard of a shift in the hobby. For some time, mobile computing and wireless connectivity has made gaming accessible almost anywhere at almost anytime. However every game of this new breed that has existed before has been some combination of: trivially simple, shamelessly soliciting , noncompetitive, or ill-themed, if not all of the above. iPad Bulge offers many hours and days of engaging gameplay for a very fair price. I have played in the neighborhood of 40-50 games and learn to succeed with both sides. However I think the Germans have an edge in play balance.

Game Strategy: As the Germans I will seek to push forward and create very real threats that if not properly reacted to, I will proceed to capitalize upon. If the Allies stack heavily one side or the other I will exploit the weakness on the other flank. If they defend too far back I may sit on points and wait for them to come regain VPs. If they defend too far forward, I will decimate every American division I can get my panzer sights on.

[gregorit]

Reports from the front lines are somewhat troubling - I have limited air recon assets but I am receiving widespread reports from forward posts of the 99th, 106th, and 29th infantry divisions of large scale German attacks. Below is what they're telling me - I'm just hoping it's just "jumpiness" from some of the green troops fresh from the States.

One key precautionary move I did make was moving an element of the 9th Arm to Bastogne from Beaufort - that's my tripwire move. I next have to consider moving 102AC from Monshau to Eupen or Elsenborn but I need to see what, if anything, 12th SS is going to do. A thing I don't want to have happen is a one-pip unit in Eupen at day-break of the 17th if the 12SS has cleared Elsenborn and put the 99th out of commission.

[Yojimbo252]

Take this with a pinch of salt as I'm not not privy to how the opening impulses played out exactly and I'm certainly not holding myself as an expert in the game, but it's interesting the 2nd Panzer didn't move from Dasburg to Lullange, favouring St.Vith instead.

The 2nd Panzer combined with the 5th FJ would have been able to assault Bastogne prior to the arrival of the 10th Arm from Arlon but now that isn't really an option as a 1 unit assault on Bastogne would be quite perilous.

I also question the prioritisation of moving the Panzer Lehr Div from Prum to St.Vith. I think moving the 2x Inf from Losheim to Malmedy is more important (to take Trois Point / Spa / Eupen on the first impulse of the 17 Dec if Bastogne is no longer to be the immediate 17th Dec target) as is attacking with the force from Gemund to Elsenborn to gain full advantage of the +1 Surprise on the 16th plus the +1 for Axis Artillery.

Given it's now 16:00 there's a very real chance the Axis may not be able to perform both actions.

The other consideration is the Panzer Lehr can only use road movement on the 16th (2 spaces). If due to time constraints the move from Prum to St.Vith is delayed until the 17th, I don't see it as a major issue as the Axis can conduct strategic movement from the 17th onwards until clear weather allowing the unit to move 3 areas so it only puts it 'half an impulse' behind.

Just my 2 cents.

In any case love the gaming bios, preface and strategy outline along with the game reports.

Keep 'em coming!

[s_Uberskooper]

I think this game lends itself pretty well to narrated playthroughs. Have you guys considered creating videos of you playing through an narrating each turn as you make your decisions? Is there a good way to record the iPad screen?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqlE9eNWYj4

Every time there is a WWII video posted the comments seem to be inevitably overrun with Neo-Nazis and trolls. It's really one of the most despicable elements of anything related to WWII.

[rbeyma]

Wacht Am Rhein: T-1 hour

Dawn has yet to break. Colonel Peiper is finishing his staff meeting:

"Our infantry has already crossed into enemy lines and has had great success. The tight road network is proving troublesome for our armored columns but we will soon be upon the enemy. American armored reserves in the Malmedy area must be attacked and destroyed before the can escape to a more defensible position. This will open the road to the Meuse!"

Like many experienced Allied players, Tom moved CCA into Bastogne first impulse. Without the opportunity to block it in Longvilly, I must jump on the other available target before it escapes to Spa. The unit kill is nice, and keeping Spa open is better. Usually the Americans will keep CCR in Lullange as long as they can.

[rbeyma]

Dietrich's Headquarters, 1600 hours on the 16th.

Model asks Dietrich to brief him on the operations for the day.

"The initial stages of the assault have succeeded, though we have taken significant losses on 3 of our divisions, 2 of them elite panzer formations. Our panzer columns are still backed up along the main road through St. Vith but we will be moving west into open territory shortly!"

The day overall for the Germans was a mixed success. I would have liked one more impulse to move some infantry up like Yojimbo mentioned. Maybe its a stylistic thing but I like converging multiple units, especially tanks, into one area so I can activated them the next turn in just one 'impulse'. I find that if a German unit doesn't get on the "train" on the 16th and the 17th is a short day, units will be left behind for the critical 18-20th turns.

In the south I notice many German players will take out the 109th with the 2nd Pz to pressure the southern end. I am not a fan of this move as I think the infantry do a good job of pressuring here and the 4th in could move to Wiltz early on the 17th to really gum up the 2nd pz. As for the 2nd pz not moving to Lullange, I chose not to do that because my infantry assault on Lullange did not go as well as I had hoped, and I would not be able to obtain the crushing dawn attack on Bastogne before the 10th armor gets there that I like to have when moving the 2nd pz there.

The last thing I will mention is the force in Gemund. I usually try to save this for close to the last thing. Some Allied players will move the Recon from Monschau into Stadtkyll on the 16th late to both resupply the 106th and be a nuisance. I'm not sold on this being a great move for the Allied player but I prefer not to have to deal with it. If this guy isn't dealt with he can delay German reinforcements, including 2 Panzer divisions, on the 19th.

[gregorit]

Regarding posting videos: I'm afraid I'm a bit old-school - I don't know that I have the skills and tools necessary to post on You-Tube in a fashion that would meet my own quality standards. I am doing some research though, one thing that I would want to be able to do is load, and reload, a saved game but I'm not sure BoB supports that.

[daviddunham]

Either of the players should be able to load the game from Game Center at any time (even when it’s completed). Having a complete replay of the game is a feature we discussed, but is on the cutting room floor (where it will likely stay). However, you would be able to replay the end game sequence.

[emos]

Either of the players should be able to load the game from Game Center at any time (even when it’s completed). Having a complete replay of the game is a feature we discussed, but is on the cutting room floor (where it will likely stay). However, you would be able to replay the end game sequence.

I know you have your reasons for not including it (amount of data I guess?) but I still think it would be awesome to have access to a full review of the game, much like an AAR. The current end review is nice but having access to the actual "tape" would enable me to review what moves and combats worked and what my mistakes were.

[jeffd]

Just as a side note, there is an app called Reflector (http://www.reflectorapp.com) that lets you wirelessly mirror your iPad on a Mac's screen. You can then use a Mac screencap program such as Screeny to record your video. That's how I currently make my iPad play videos.

[daviddunham]

I still think it would be awesome to have access to a full review of the game…

Completely agree. Many worthy things get cut. On the other hand, there’s always next game.

For making my videos, I used AirServer to get them on the Mac, and then Screeny. However, I’d rather see this series in stills, I think it works better for the commentary.

[Yojimbo252]

When's the next installment of the replay?

[blahblah3502]

When's the next installment of the replay?

Yes! I was wondering too!

[Pat]

Thirded ..