Free France Campaign

[ColonelY]

[...] By raising the Union Jack and not the banner of La Croix de Lorraine, it also counts for the Primary Objective [...]

Well seen and very nicely presented!

Bru, as easy solution, I suggest simply adapting the text of this pri obj, perhaps something like:

From
"At least 15 villages must lower the flag of Vichy France and raise the banner of La Croix de Lorraine. Some will be undefended while others will be garrisoned by Vichy troops who will either fight or surrender and join us."

To
"At least 15 villages must lower the flag of Vichy France and raise the banner of La Croix de Lorraine or (temporarily) the Union Jack of our British Allies. Some villages will be undefended while others will be garrisoned by Vichy troops who will either fight or surrender and join us."

[ColonelY]

Well, of course, in this campaign I like to see Free French flags a little everywhere, but...

Otherwise, if one remains very strict about this point, that each(*) village has to be taken by Free French instead of British, it could be embarrassing if, by inattention or in the enthusiasm of the heat of the action, the British take a village... Then what? Since there is no option to change this, the success of this objective as a whole could be in question? Should one then reload a savefile?

I would say that has to be avoided.


(*) I believe we're talking about all the villages on this map, or are there more than 15 of them? Now I don't remember...

[terminator]

Well, of course, in this campaign I like to see Free French flags a little everywhere, but...

Otherwise, if one remains very strict about this point, that each(*) village has to be taken by Free French instead of British, it could be embarrassing if, by inattention or in the enthusiasm of the heat of the action, the British take a village... Then what? Since there is no option to change this, the success of this objective as a whole could be in question? Should one then reload a savefile?

I would say that has to be avoided.


(*) I believe we're talking about all the villages on this map, or are there more than 15 of them? Now I don't remember...

There are 18 villages with a silver flag in total.

[ColonelY]

Ah, ok, thanks!
(Hence the "at least" of the obj descr )


So it would be possible to see a few British flags over some villages anyway...

Now, a choice remains:
Either we expect a big majority of flags flying as purely Free French (with adaptation in the triggers and (*)) OR we allow the two allied flags (with adaptation of the text of the objective).

Bru, your pick?


EDIT: (*) ... and with then a tiny clarification as well within the text of this obj (see next post about it).

[terminator]

Convert Colonial Infantry

This secondary objective should only work if there is at least one Free French Unit nearby. If there is none, this Colonial Infantry should defend itself against the British. This is possible with the Editor (Nation choice).

[ColonelY]

[...]

So it would be possible to see a few British flags over some villages anyway...

Now, a choice remains:
Either we expect a big majority of flags flying as purely Free French (with adaptation in the triggers) OR we allow the two allied flags (with adaptation of the text of the objective).

Bru, your pick?

Another element related to all this:
If I remember correctly, this pri obj has already been made easier as I thought it was previously about taking ALL villages (18)... and now it's already 15. So, perhaps don't make it too easy either...

Oh, and anyway, if the majority of purely Free French flag is finally chosen, then the obj descr would need some addition as well (to be as clear as possible), perhaps something as:
"At least 15 villages must lower the flag of Vichy France and raise the banner of La Croix de Lorraine (and, question of prestige, NOT the Union Jack of our British Allies - pay attention to this point!). Some villages will be undefended while others will be garrisoned by Vichy troops who will either fight or surrender and join us."

[ColonelY]

Convert Colonial Infantry

This secondary objective should only work if there is at least one Free French Unit nearby. If there is none, this Colonial Infantry should defend itself against the British. [...]

Well, it's an idea...

But if it's done and if some "Colonial Infantry yet to be Converted" is killed purely while being surrounded by British troops, then the sec obj "Convert 4 colonial infantry units" will automatically be failed (not enough left).

Now, if they fight, they could move... and perhaps this motion may be enough to create some issue with the triggers, I don't know, I haven't checked this...

On the other hand, they (are supposed to more or less already) know what's going on... so they might rally even if they meet a Brit first.

[bru888]

You are not meant to take a train ride into Dakar. You could do so, I suppose, by boarding in Rufisque, but come on. "Righto, chaps. Everybody got their ticket? All aboard, now. Next stop, Dakar! (If the Vichy don't blow up our train, that is.)"

If anything, the Railroad Yard prevents such nonsense until at least it is cleared. Then you have to go back to Rufisque if you want to take a train. Until the next roadblock; I may put more in now that you have pointed this out.

Everybody and his brother has WHEELS to help cover the distance. When you play these scenarios, do you want to play them historically and realistically, or are you looking for a way to game them?

There is one last means of transport that I have tested, it is at least as fast as the road in the forest(in haste, I forgot the Supply ships ):

Capture d%u2019écran (707).jpg (790.9 KiB) Viewed 1797 times

That you can do, and with my blessing. At least that is plausible. But riding a train into battle is ridiculous. Besides, is it not true that you cannot disembark from a train until you get to a town; i.e., Dakar? What happens when enemies are encountered along the way? In any event, play the map the way it was designed; I will not be making any alterations to it for the purpose of facilitating train rides.

[bru888]

By the way, there is nothing wrong with the Dakar objective triggers in question. They work as designed. There is only a possibility of conflict with the text, which I will edit to include "British" or substitute "Allies" as needed.

Perhaps we can finish with Dakar? Somebody seems to be stuck on the first scenario, almost in nitpicking mode. It is beginning to move beyond helpful and into annoying. The next stage will be "ignore."

And the British babe pointing out the supposed flaws is on the one hand sexist and on the other hand insulting. Kindly knock it off.

[bru888]

Colonel, thank you for your suggestions under the heading of "To enrich the scenario on Corsica even more, here are some ideas ... " I will consider those. However, there will be no French air units in Operation Vesuvius. The air experience campaign variables are too tedious in a situation where some FF air units would be spawned later in the scenario.

[bru888]

Colonel, thank you for your suggestions under the heading of "To enrich the scenario on Corsica even more, here are some ideas ... " I will consider those.

Screenshot 1.jpg (161.86 KiB) Viewed 1762 times

I included a couple of other ideas of yours which will be in the next campaign update.

[bru888]

The Operation Diadem map is finished. Quoting myself when I looked at it: "Close enough." Reduced the mountain terrain somewhat in favor of rough terrain and forests in order to facilitate combat, although there will still be mountain positions to assault. Primary objective: Pierce the Gustav Line. Secondary objective: Break through the Hitler Line. Eight nations involved so far.

Screenshot 2.jpg (566.4 KiB) Viewed 1708 times

[ColonelY]

Awesome map!

[...] Eight nations involved so far. [...]

Nice, and we see already 6 allied factions present thanks to the flags. There'll be Americans, British, Canadians, Polish, Indians and Free French...

We may perhaps involve as well the "2nd New Zealand Division", but perhaps even the "6th South African Armoured Division" (the Army Reserve) and even the "Italian Corps of Liberation"... ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation ... h_II_Corps ) And it is said, for example, that these Italian fight well around Monte Cassino and suffered heavy casualties... A little like in the Corsican scenario, some Italians begin to fight for the Allies.

Oh, and by the way, we can see some British paratroopers as well in this (Wiki) Order of Battle... I don't think they have been dropped or something during this Operation, but perhaps we can find some cool and plausible use for them (we've no airborne mission so far within this splendid campaign) - we'll see!

[ColonelY]

Well, it seems that historically the paratroopers did not accomplish much in Italy (in terms of airborne mission, that is)... there was Operation Hasty, shortly after Operation Diadem, and not very far away, where their objective was to harass the Germans withdrawing to the Gothic Line. The mission was considered as a success: a German brigade was diverted to hunt this small paratrooper force, and a German division was retained on rear-area security duties instead of going into the front line...

[ColonelY]

Short video about Operation Diadem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqaSci_lCuk

[Mascarenhas]

Is not this a perfect setting for the Brazilian Expeditionary Force show up?

[ColonelY]

I had never heard of this Brazilian Expeditionary Force - thank you for introducing me to this aspect.

Represent this force? Well, I would say not in this scenario because they start arriving in Italy in July 1944 while this battle takes place in May 1944... (Besides we've already plenty of various nations involved. )

These Brazilians were involved at the Gothic Line, so later in the Italian campaign and more northwards...

[bru888]

Awesome map!

[...] Eight nations involved so far. [...]

Nice, and we see already 6 allied factions present thanks to the flags. There'll be Americans, British, Canadians, Polish, Indians and Free French...

We may perhaps involve as well the "2nd New Zealand Division", but perhaps even the "6th South African Armoured Division" (the Army Reserve) and even the "Italian Corps of Liberation"... ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation ... h_II_Corps ) And it is said, for example, that these Italian fight well around Monte Cassino and suffered heavy casualties... A little like in the Corsican scenario, some Italians begin to fight for the Allies.

Oh, and by the way, we can see some British paratroopers as well in this (Wiki) Order of Battle... I don't think they have been dropped or something during this Operation, but perhaps we can find some cool and plausible use for them (we've no airborne mission so far within this splendid campaign) - we'll see!

A very timely link to the order of battle; that's what I am addressing today. I would have found it, I suppose, but you saved me the trouble.

If you ever read Rick Atkinson's Liberation Trilogy, you may be struck, as I was, by how most if not all Allied parachute missions during the war were truly fouled up. Even Normandy did not go 100% to plan. Elsewhere, they were disastrous.

Operation Jedburgh will feature paratroopers, though.

[bru888]

Is not this a perfect setting for the Brazilian Expeditionary Force show up?

I had never heard of this Brazilian Expeditionary Force - thank you for introducing me to this aspect.

Represent this force? Well, I would say not in this scenario because they start arriving in Italy in July 1944 while this battle takes place in May 1944... (Besides we've already plenty of various nations involved. )

These Brazilians were involved at the Gothic Line, so later in the Italian campaign and more northwards...

Good suggestion, Masca, but I am afraid that they arrive too late, as the Colonel says (Wikipedia has them coming to Italy even later, in September 1944).

Plus, their flag wouldn't make the "squint factor" (that imaginary line, not to be crossed, where squinting one's eyes and pretending overcomes something unrealistic). There simply is no flag in the game that comes close to the Brazilian flag:

Flag_of_Brazil.jpg (17.55 KiB) Viewed 1628 times

Too bad, though. I would LOVE to find a spot for the Brazilian Expeditionary Force insignia! (I wonder what's in that pipe he's smoking.)

Brazilian_Expeditionary_Forces_insignia_(smoking_snake).svg.png (20.51 KiB) Viewed 1628 times

[bru888]

Is not this a perfect setting for the Brazilian Expeditionary Force show up?

By the way, Masca, I just read yesterday about how this Covid thing is exploding in your country. Please stay safe. We need you here.