Free France Campaign

[bru888]

Free France 1940-1945 v0.19 has been uploaded. It includes the new Battle of Medenine scenario.

Free France 1940-1945 (nine scenarios)

This one is short; you can see that I finished it in 10 turns. It really is just an introduction to Battle of the Mareth Line, which is next. But I did enjoy playing it and it was touch-and-go for a while in the beginning. It being brief, I played it through three times and was satisfied with the gameplay balance on the third pass. Remember, it's only a prelude and the human player should win this battle because the Axis attack was a miserable failure in real life.

Screenshot 1.jpg (470.54 KiB) Viewed 1664 times

[Mascarenhas]

Nice and easy one, this is. As an hors d´oeuvre for the main course ahead. Can´t wait.

[ColonelY]

08Fezzan: (v0.17; level 3 difficulty)

An excellent scenario!

By the way, awesome little addition, this Italian recon unit appearing in the top North... a cool way to attract the player's attention on what's happening up there.

As promised, I've managed to start playing (a good fourth of) 08Fezzan and, well, this scenario looks indeed very promising.

Thanks. If it drags, start over with the v0.18 version of the scenario. This has reduced enemy resources so enemy units will not keep coming back. If you do make it through your current version, however, I am interested in whether you can get to all primary objectives on or before Turn 40. Play well!

Whether I can get to all primary objectives before Turn 40? Yes.
Turn 20: All 5 enemy airfields under control and a single enemy plane unit still airborne (heavily depleted)...
Turn 21: No more enemy plane in the skies...
Turn 27: The 6th village along our road to Tripoli has been captured.
... Then waiting for Monty to reach! ...
Turn 34: Moved Leclerc up, near Tripoli, behind the British -> Major Victory! ('Could have happened sooner, at least by one turn, as Leclerc was ready in the 6th village, ready to move up quickly, but I was too busy looking at these units automatically moving.)
So, yes, before turn 40.


Not much to change here.

Though, perhaps:

1. About "Fortezza Margherita"... this hex is revealed from start but we've absolutely no idea why until we've captured it, see the effect of this capture and read the corresponding event... Perhaps adding an event at some turn start (the second or the third maybe), targetting this hex and shortly introducing this place...
Need a picture? Here's one: https://www.parismuseescollections.pari ... rincipales

2. Watch out: moving Leclerc (too) early in Tripoli with its recon unit will trigger the validation of the corresponding primary objective (and probably then trigger as well an "early" Major Victory)!
The flag may still be Italian (as the hex isn't captured by a land recon unit), Monty could still be really far... but now...


Et voilà!

[ColonelY]

And good replayability, in particular with the random deployment of many Italian units.

You know, despite the instructions, it's damn tempting, while waiting Monty to reach Tripoli , to send groups to capture some of the nearby towns or villages... ( ) especially because they have no garrisons at all - intel won thanks to the recon units at disposal!


Excellent scenario, thanks!

[bru888]

Nice and easy one, this is. As an hors d´oeuvre for the main course ahead. Can´t wait.

Question for you and Colonel.

I am thinking of automating the action taking place at the Mareth Line itself, concentrating on the flanking actions indicated by the green arrows.

Briefly, the Greek and FF forces will be tasked with clearing the mountain passes and securing the flank of the main attack force sent by Montgomery around the Matmata Hills to Tebaga Gap in the north - an historical event. Greeks and FF join this force, push through the gap, and either annihilate the Axis army from the rear or harass them on their way retreating north.

The battle on the Mareth Line (green oval) would be automated until at least the breakthrough at Tebaga Gap. So the question is, how do you guys feel about that? Remember, the Mareth Line was a strong line of defense and Montgomery was stalemated until this "left hook" through the Matmata Hills. Do you want to play all of that or concentrate just on the action involving the Greeks and Free French?

Screenshot 3.jpg (687.63 KiB) Viewed 1635 times

[bru888]

By the way, awesome little addition, this Italian recon unit appearing in the top North... a cool way to attract the player's attention on what's happening up there.

Are you talking about this fellow here? Is he misbehaving? He is supposed to be on Local Defense, range 3:

Screenshot 2.jpg (766.67 KiB) Viewed 1632 times

So, yes, before turn 40.

I am very glad to hear this. It's very satisfying when a plan, a choreography, comes together nicely.

About "Fortezza Margherita"...

I will work something in.

Watch out: moving Leclerc (too) early in Tripoli . . .

Good point. I overlooked Leclerc, being a recon unit, will not trigger the "premature Tripolitania location entry" defense mechanism ("Dismissal!"). I will handle it by requiring the other related primary objectives to be completed first:

Screenshot 3.jpg (303.64 KiB) Viewed 1632 times

By the way, I am pleased that you are pleased with Fezzan. I was concerned that you would be disappointed that I glossed over the year of Leclerc's raids into Libya - at one time, you were looking for a separate scenario for these events. See what I said to Mascarenhas recently about needing to make, in my judgment, decisions on how to do this campaign in order to respect history somewhat while making it challenging and fun. Thus, the decisions to compress Fezzan to one scenario but split Medenine and Mareth Line.

[ColonelY]

By the way, awesome little addition, this Italian recon unit appearing in the top North... a cool way to attract the player's attention on what's happening up there.

Are you talking about this fellow here? Is he misbehaving? He is supposed to be on Local Defense, range 3:

Well, yes, it should have been this one... but then I've no idea how it ended up so much northwards...

[...]

Watch out: moving Leclerc (too) early in Tripoli . . .

Good point. I overlooked Leclerc, being a recon unit, will not trigger the "premature Tripolitania location entry" defense mechanism ("Dismissal!"). I will handle it by requiring the other related primary objectives to be completed first:

But that may not be enough... when I played it, I had all other objectives already completed and still the option to rush Leclerc northwards.
(Still without capturing any nearby town or village, you can extend your line of control by massing units around this 6th village, thus creating somehow "sooner" a supply line with the British moving finally towards Tripoli...)
So, perhaps add instead, or rather as well, another condition to check whether the turn is "> XYZ" (once Monty troops have taken Tripoli!)...


By the way, I am pleased that you are pleased with Fezzan. I was concerned that you would be disappointed that I glossed over the year of Leclerc's raids into Libya - at one time, you were looking for a separate scenario for these events. [...] Indeed. No worries, choices have to be made anyway. Almost in this sector we've already had Kufra, now Fezzan... We've already seen the famous LRDG as well... The Fezzan scenario is a masterpiece - and that does count within the balance as well! And you do already mention the year of Leclerc's raids into Libya, so...

Oh, and one more little something:

https://www.france-libre.net/koufra-fezzan/ From here one could find some complements that may be worth adding here or there, like:

1. Sebha was the main military center (that's seems quite coherent with what has been seen on map) but Mourzouk was the religious capital... it is worth mentioning somewhere? Like together with a tiny event once Mourzouk has been captured?

2. (Translated from French:) "[...]The Italians are driven out of Fezzan, now administered by Colonel Raymond Delange; the English will not get their hands on what de Gaulle will call, in his Memoirs of War, "this tasty fruit of the desert." Boldness and method paid off. [...]"

3. [...] the first Frenchmen from Chad - after a march of more than 3,000 km - enter Tripoli [...]

[ColonelY]

Nice and easy one, this is. As an hors d´oeuvre for the main course ahead. Can´t wait.

Question for you and Colonel.

I am thinking of automating the action taking place at the Mareth Line itself, concentrating on the flanking actions indicated by the green arrows.

Briefly, the Greek and FF forces will be tasked with clearing the mountain passes and securing the flank of the main attack force sent by Montgomery around the Matmata Hills to Tebaga Gap in the north - an historical event. Greeks and FF join this force, push through the gap, and either annihilate the Axis army from the rear or harass them on their way retreating north.

The battle on the Mareth Line (green oval) would be automated until at least the breakthrough at Tebaga Gap. So the question is, how do you guys feel about that? Remember, the Mareth Line was a strong line of defense and Montgomery was stalemated until this "left hook" through the Matmata Hills. Do you want to play all of that or concentrate just on the action involving the Greeks and Free French?

Hmmm... Good question. I hesitate...

1. Automating a part of the action, why not? This has already been done a little bit during the Fezzan scenario (Monty's advance), so it shouldn't be too shocking or disorienting for the player... But then it will indeed be necessary to "switch back to manual" when the Greeks and the Free French are ready enough to threaten the flank of the Axis forces...

2. On the other hand, a good big and complete scenario always goes well! If the Axis forces are strong enough to anyway resist any English push (the English who don't know it yet!), why not? With Axis forces focused on defensive mode... and maybe the player can have an objective to accomplish at least XYZ damage to the Axis forces with his English ground troops (for example) before the end of this or that turn in order to force him to be aggressive and try to break through anyway... When one can threaten to hit them from the flank or even to encircle them, then the enemy will be able to leave his defensive positions...

3. Well, we could do both and leave the choice to the player with a question at the beginning of the scenario... but that would be too much work, so let's forget about it.

Ahh, like this, I don't really know... well... okay, right now, I think I'd rather go for the big full battle. ( )

Why? Well, it's like in Operation Exporter: we could have automated the progression of Australian ground troops along the coast, but that would have been a shame...

So, we can have the whole battle, but focus on the Greeks and the French through the briefing (with the camera moving!), pop-up events, choice of objectives...

[ColonelY]

By the way, what would happen in terms of coherence if the player does fail this secondary objective "Keep the Greek Sacred Squadron alive" (in Medenine) to discover in the next scenario the overall same Greek formation ready to go and play a crucial role in Mareth Line?

'Could be time to use again some campaign variable, couldn't it?

Indeed, if we've lost them before, then it should be more difficult in the next scenario, but then it complicates a little things (briefing and so one).

And then this objective, I mean "Keep the Greek Sacred Squadron alive", shall be moved from secondary to primary, because then it becomes really important, right?

[ColonelY]

Or, another alternative, perhaps, could be to put this sec obj as a pri obj... so if this one is failed, then the scen should end (at best) in a draw... then, simply force the player to do better than a draw before reaching the next scenario! That may be an easy solution.

[bru888]

By the way, awesome little addition, this Italian recon unit appearing in the top North... a cool way to attract the player's attention on what's happening up there.

Are you talking about this fellow here? Is he misbehaving? He is supposed to be on Local Defense, range 3:

Well, yes, it should have been this one... but then I've no idea how it ended up so much northwards...

I placed it there, along with an L6/40 tank and a few foxholes, to make the trip up the road a bit more interesting but not too hard so as to upset the schedule which, thankfully, you proved to be just about right.

[bru888]

But that may not be enough... when I played it, I had all other objectives already completed and still the option to rush Leclerc northwards.

Quite right. I overlooked the obvious: just restrict it to after Turn 35, when Montgomery has left Tripoli and moved west.

I clarified the three associated objectives. As you know, you can "Seize six villages in Tripolitania" and "Link up with Montgomery's forces" before he and his army actually arrive in Tripoli on (his) Turn 32. You can do these even after he leaves Tripoli on (his) Turn 35 but if you do the link up before (your) Turn 36, that is the secondary objective. On (your) Turn 36, you are cleared to move Leclerc into Tripoli to satisfy the last primary objective:

Screenshot 1.jpg (299.29 KiB) Viewed 1584 times

Screenshot 2.jpg (70.33 KiB) Viewed 1584 times

Screenshot 3.jpg (76.66 KiB) Viewed 1584 times

Screenshot 4.jpg (67.59 KiB) Viewed 1584 times

Screenshot 5.jpg (279.33 KiB) Viewed 1584 times

I enhanced the victory popup for that objective with some verbiage that you provided above:

Screenshot 6.jpg (273.39 KiB) Viewed 1584 times

[ColonelY]

Nice, nice.


Though, I see a very, very tiny little detail here: in the enhanced victory popup, there is the very first symbol missing (it comes from the fact that you've removed few words I believe).

[ColonelY]

& By the way, the Hoorah! could have been kept... to start with it.

[ColonelY]

09Medenine:

Free France 1940-1945 v0.19 has been uploaded. It includes the new Battle of Medenine scenario.

[...] This one is short; you can see that I finished it in 10 turns. It really is just an introduction to Battle of the Mareth Line, which is next. But I did enjoy playing it and it was touch-and-go for a while in the beginning. It being brief, I played it through three times and was satisfied with the gameplay balance on the third pass. Remember, it's only a prelude and the human player should win this battle because the Axis attack was a miserable failure in real life. [...]

Very nice little scenario!

... with some cool and immersive briefing too! ( )


But indeed a relatively short scenario... I finished it in 9 turns (well, it has been finished during the 8th turn, but validated at the start of the 9th turn - anyway, doesn't really matter!).

So, if you don't intend to increase (much) the amount of (land) units on this battlefield, then I suggest reducing the amount of turns from 20 to perhaps 13 or rather 12!


Otherwise, nothing spotted. Good balance, good action, good variation of units in presence... Top!


Et voilà !


Well, but of course there are already these two posts not to be forgotten (but they won't anyway, I know it ):

By the way, what would happen in terms of coherence if the player does fail this secondary objective "Keep the Greek Sacred Squadron alive" (in Medenine) to discover in the next scenario the overall same Greek formation ready to go and play a crucial role in Mareth Line?

'Could be time to use again some campaign variable, couldn't it?

Indeed, if we've lost them before, then it should be more difficult in the next scenario, but then it complicates a little things (briefing and so one).

And then this objective, I mean "Keep the Greek Sacred Squadron alive", shall be moved from secondary to primary, because then it becomes really important, right?

&

Or, another alternative, perhaps, could be to put this sec obj as a pri obj... so if this one is failed, then the scen should end (at best) in a draw... then, simply force the player to do better than a draw before reaching the next scenario! That may be an easy solution.

[bru888]

Though, I see a very, very tiny little detail here: in the enhanced victory popup, there is the very first symbol missing (it comes from the fact that you've removed few words I believe).

How so? What symbol is missing?*

& By the way, the Hoorah! could have been kept... to start with it.

It's still in there. The text box scrolls up (even though there is no scroll bar), so the first line is missing in that screenshot.

*Oh, I figured out what you mean. It is the single quotation mark at the beginning of the crowd cheers (I always use single rather than double quotation marks; single looks cleaner and I don't trust the game to not goof up the double, which I have seen happen elsewhere). It's also still in there; as I mentioned above, the first line of the popup message is intact:

Screenshot 1.jpg (30.34 KiB) Viewed 1560 times

[bru888]

Yes, I agree on NOT automating the British forces at the Mareth Line. Usually when a designer does this, somebody complains that they would have wanted to control the automated units.

I thought it might be tedious for some players to play them because I must design the scenario so that British forces are NOT going to crack the Mareth Line without the flanking "left hook" that occurred in real life. Others may miss controlling the action regardless, though.

Maybe I will put in a yes/no dialog on whether to contol them or not with a warning that Montgomery is stalemated . . . and include objectives to NOT lose too many of his units trying to get past the Mareth Line BUT to also inflict a certain amount of damage there . . .

Either way, Montgomery does need to engage the Axis forces at the Mareth Line to keep them from sending forces to reinforce the Tebaga Gap and that must be shown in the scenario. It's actually going to be a challenge to not automate that part of the battle, but that's what I'm here for.

EDIT: "a warning that Montgomery is stalemated . . . and include objectives to NOT lose too many of his units trying to get past the Mareth Line BUT to also inflict a certain amount of damage there . . ." Yes, this is the way to go. This should be an interesting challenge and, when the tide shifts with the breakthrough at Tebaga Gap, will lead to a satisfying follow up, playing the British units as Axis forces are either decimated at, or retreat from, the Mareth Line.

[bru888]

Back to Medenine.

Yes, the briefing is brief. There's not much time for chatting with the Axis on your doorstep, attacking! The Admiral's briefing will continue in Mareth Line.

I have in mind what you or Masca said about the human player getting a resource bonus for finishing a scenario too early when it has too many turns scheduled. 20 turns is definitely too much but 12 may be cutting it too fine for inexperienced players. Let's cut it back to 15 turns.

Funny thing about the Greek units. In my mind, I had already constructed and worked with the background idea, which is that these are just two units of the Greek Sacred Squadron. More will appear in Mareth Line. So if these two get destroyed in Medanine, not a problem for Mareth Line . . . except that I have not conveyed my mind construct to the player! I have altered the text in Medanine in order to do so:

Screenshot 2.jpg (353.12 KiB) Viewed 1550 times

Screenshot 3.jpg (73.85 KiB) Viewed 1550 times

Although I am having fun with the Sacred Squadron (more to come in Mareth Line), I don't want them to be significant enough to win, lose, or draw a scenario based on what happens to them. Heh, perhaps you wonder why I have to feature their "experience" as much as I have. It's because the game includes only a 1941 version of Greek infantry!

[bru888]

Free France 1940-1945 v0.20 has been uploaded. It includes the updates to Fezzan and Battle of Medenine discussed above.

Free France 1940-1945 (nine scenarios)

[Mascarenhas]

About Mareth Line

I also prefer the big scenario, without automated sections.