Slitherine

leci wrote:Happy to play as a German participant. So if there is a slot count me in - ideally I just need a typical BA scenario to play - and the URL for the scenario.

I would have loved to play as the Commander, but re scripts etc probably beyond my immediate capabilities although I love strategy games especially re WWiI.

Leci

Hey Leci, Sorry if I misexplained this... You don't have to do anything with scripts as a Commander or as a player... The Strategic Campaign Map stuff is all done by manually looking at JPEG pictures of maps, emailing team mates and then emailing the GM for that day's turn... (I like the way you're thinking of scripting that directly into BA, but believe me I'm not close enough to being even half that clever! )

Hiya - no problem, I can do that - happy to be back on board.... Count me in

Ooops - happy to be OKW commander.

Leci aka Gilles

leci wrote:Ooops - happy to be OKW commander.

Leci aka Gilles

Remember, if you need anything/help..just ask. Will try an help out as much as you like. I played as Allied Commander, but would like to just help out or be an assistant this time around....Lol
Mike

Is there a format to direct Team Members and advise GMs?

On a practical front:
- how do I recieve updated maps?
- what is the timeframe on my tactical/strategic thoughts and decisions?
- do I have an inventory of available BGs and military resources - and refresh rates?
- again, what is the format of directions to Team Memebers/local commanders?

Leci aka Gilles

leci wrote:On a practical front:
- how do I recieve updated maps?

All maps are posted on this thread by the GM running that day's turn

leci wrote:- what is the timeframe on my tactical/strategic thoughts and decisions?

In reality, it's whenever both sides are ready. It usually took a couple of days for teams to thrash out their options and come to decisions... If you took more than a week, I suspect you'd become the victim of flame emails from impatient soldiers (think Herr Leutnant Liljequist! )

leci wrote:- do I have an inventory of available BGs and military resources - and refresh rates?

Coming soon. That's point 2 on your GM's "to do" list -> viewtopic.php?f=87&t=38844&start=20#p363992

leci wrote:- again, what is the format of directions to Team Memebers/local commanders?

Within teams, it's by plain vanilla email. I'll ask you to do it a certain way for your orders to me, but I'll explain exactly how when we get there... Soon...

As a GM, what do I need to do? You mention allocating forces etc... Please let me know either via email or here on what I need to do to keep the game progressing from that perspective.

From my German commander viewpoint, will the game's German Order of Battle be historical? Or will it reflect the 'what if' scenario where for example Hitler and opposing commanders and organisations left reserves in back areas (way beyond the ability to influence events in the crucial first 24 - 48 window) ie reserves better placed tactically?

Leci

Brummbar44 wrote:As a GM, what do I need to do? You mention allocating forces etc... Please let me know either via email or here on what I need to do to keep the game progressing from that perspective.

Hey Brummbar,

Role of GM:

Strategic Phase
1. Update Strategic Campaign Map (show BG positions and strengths before orders) on this thread
2. Report new 5-day weather forecast on this thread
3. Receive prioritised orders from both Commanders, by email
4. Resolve orders into actual moves, and report on this thread
5. Update Strategic Campaign Map (show new BG positions and any battles for that day) on this thread

Battle Phase
6. Design/edit battle maps (we have most of these already, but we can fix any issues/improve as we go along)
7. Place available units from the fighting BGs onto their respective battle maps (to be available for force selection)
8. Define deployment zones for both sides
9. Update new GJS Campaign Folder for that day's battle and upload to eg. Dropbox, so players can download it to play
10. Be available to answer questions during the battles, on forum (or by email/PM for private questions)
11. Receive killed in action (KIA) screenshot and declaration of VPs from players at the end of the battle
12. Report battle results on this thread (winner/loser and KIAs)

Post Battle Phase
13. Reduce the unit pools of fighting BGs by their battle losses
14. Withdraw (or dissolve) the BGs that lost
[Repeat from 1 again]

I'll do for June 6th and 7th, so you can see what happens. We'll do together for June 8th.
And I'd like you to have a go for June 9th... ok?

leci wrote:From my German commander viewpoint, will the game's German Order of Battle be historical? Or will it reflect the 'what if' scenario where for example Hitler and opposing commanders and organisations left reserves in back areas (way beyond the ability to influence events in the crucial first 24 - 48 window) ie reserves better placed tactically?

Leci

Partially historical. At the start on June 6th, you'll have access to mostly weaker "Ost" brigades but also the stronger 352 and 346 regular infantry divisions. You can start these in any of the major sectors (their names are capitalised on the Strategic Campaign Map, which I'll re-attach below).

You'll receive four brigades of 21st Panzer on June 7th. You can choose to bring these into Villers Bocage (southwest) or Vimont (southeast) and will then get three moves for each BG (2 moves for armoured/mechanised, +1 move for holding the Caen major road hub). If 21Pz isn't fighting Allied paras on June 7th, they'll certainly be in action by June 8th. In reality, 21Pz was based behind Caen and some elements counterattacked on D-Day itself, preventing the capture of the city.

Other German brigades can be introduced into Villers Bocage or Vimont over the coming turns.

No, I'm not going to give you 12SS or Panzer Lehr on the first day, but yes, you will get them... and nobody will make you hold them in reserve...

The Strategic Map for GJS'44 is composed of 49 sectors
- 17 major sectors (with capitalised names)
- 32 minor sectors

For scoring, major sectors are valued at 4 points, minor sectors are worth 1 point each
At the start of the campaign, the Germans hold 100 points (17x4 + 32)

Moves are permitted into any adjacent sector, including diagonally

Towns and villages, roads and rivers, will be approximately replicated in BA battle maps as they are shown in the strategic map, eg. Tilly sur Seulles will have a small river running from east to west, which will force attackers from Rauray to use the single road bridge from the north.

The Orne River and Caen Canal, running south to north, from Orne Bridge to Ouistreham, can only be crossed by BGs (or supplies) at Orne Bridge, Caen & Pegasus Bridge. These three sectors are critical choke points to obstruct the enemy, or to blockade his supplies.

In reality, the importance of denying the Germans the use of Pegasus Bridge, meant that 2nd Airborne (Ox & Bucks Light Inf) were sent by gliders to take the crossing the night of June 5th, supported by 6th Airborne arriving on D-Day.

Certain sectors offer valuable strategic benefits to the side that holds them:
- Gold, Juno, Sword & Ouistreham; Allies gain +1 Artillery bonus (for each of these sectors held)
- Gold, Juno & Sword beach; Allies gain Resupply bonus if they hold all three beaches (Germans can Resupply from the start)
- Bayeux, Bretteville, Lebisey Woods & Bois de Bavent; Allies gain Promotion bonus once they capture any two of these sectors (Germans can Promote from the start)
- Merville-Franceville, Hillman Battery, Cagny & Hill 112; Germans gain +1 Artillery bonus (for each of these sectors held)
- Carpiquet Airfield; Germans gain +2 Fw190 bonuses, while Carpiquet is held (the 'planes won't come back if Carpiquet is lost and retaken)
- Caen major road hub; All BGs gain +1 extra move during the strategic phase, while Caen is held

GERMAN ORDER OF BATTLE

For each battle group (BG) you'll find BG name, type, availability date, and unit composition... The armour is off to the right, so if you can't see it, right click and open in a new window. Each BG is capped at 32 units (to stay below Battle Academy's 64-units per map limitation). You'll only get 20-25 units per map to fight with, but the force selection will permit you to choose anything that's in your pool.

Elite SS BGs are highlighted in red because they will always receive the Medic and Rally bonuses. Deploy them wisely.

Remember that losses during battles will be deducted from the pool for that BG. If you lose 'em in the battle, you lose 'em for the campaign. However, you are permitted to move neighbouring BGs into each other, to merge their pools (if the combined number of units remains less than 32).

Leci, Now you've got the Strategic Campaign Map and the German Order of Battle (both above), I recommend you start chatting with K9mike and Morge4 about where you'd like to deploy your troops that are available on June 6th. You can deploy them in any of the major sectors (capitalised on the map).

For this first turn, you won't get any moves before the Allies attack you...

Thinking ahead, it's worth beginning to consider what you'll do with the four brigades of 21 Panzer when they arrive next turn, on June 7th. They will all start in the enlarged Villers Bocage or Vimont sectors (you choose which BGs start where) and will then get 3 moves (2 for being armoured/mixed +1 for holding the Caen road network).

Hey guys,

I definitely want in this thing. Have followed the other thread and waited for a new battle to start, so here are my details:

1. KingT ()
2. iPad BA 2.0.6
3. Allied or German - wherever there's space
4. tanks, but I'll take infantry command too
5. not at this time
6. not at this time.

Where (and how) do I get the maps on the iPad?

kingt wrote:Hey guys,

I definitely want in this thing. Have followed the other thread and waited for a new battle to start, so here are my details:

1. KingT ()
2. iPad BA 2.0.6
3. Allied or German - wherever there's space
4. tanks, but I'll take infantry command too
5. not at this time
6. not at this time.

Where (and how) do I get the maps on the iPad?

Since that was my first post on the forum (I don't talk much during games either mostly because I'm on the iPad and don't want to type in a lot of stuff - and only say something when I spot errors in the game) I'm not allowed to add my email address yet, but will do so in a few more posts so I don't get the "too spammy notification". Or if you PM me I can give it to you that way and have you post it for me.

Thanks for the map and data.

Can you send the data via email? MS Excel if possible.

What format is the original map? Good to get this as source file.

In the 1st col, what does VG denote?

Cheers

ALLIED ORDER OF BATTLE

For each battle group (BG) you'll find its BG name, type, availability date, and unit composition... The armour is off to the right, so if you can't see it, right click and open in a new window. Each BG is capped at 32 units (to stay below Battle Academy's 64-units per map limitation). You'll only get 20-25 units per map to fight with, but the force selection will permit you to choose anything that's in your pool.

BGs from 3 divisions are highlighted in red... 6th Airborne, Royal Marine commandos, and the specialist 79th Armoured Division (which pioneered use of many of "Churchill's Funnies" eg. the Crocodile tank). These BGs will always receive the Medic and Rally bonuses. Deploy them wisely.

The asterisks on the 6th AB and RM commando BGs means that these units can be parachuted directly into enemy territory. If they parachute into an enemy occupied sector, they will launch an Attack versus a Surprised Defence (ASD). If they parachute into an unoccupied sector, they will take it and rest. AB and RM troops carry supplies for FIVE DAYS. After the fifth day, they must establish a continuous Allied-held pathway back to an Allied-held Gold, Juno, Sword or Corseulles beach, or they will be considered "out of supply" and will suffer severely handicapping morale penalties.

Remember that losses during battles will be deducted from the pool for that BG. If you lose 'em in the battle, you lose 'em for the campaign. However, you are permitted to move neighbouring BGs into each other, to merge their pools (if the combined number of units remains less than 32).

The Allies have >20% more units than the Germans, and can earn valuable strategic bonuses once they capture territory. The BGs in the Order of Battle are the only units that both sides will receive. There will be no further reinforcements...

leci wrote: In the 1st col, what does VG denote?

VolksGrenadier.

leci wrote:In the 1st col, what does VG denote?

BA volksgrenadier infantry = low morale, weak infantry... Old men, young boys, recuperating war wounded and "volunteer" "Ost" units who would very much rather be somewhere else.

Ok folks, we're almost good to go...

Starting Teams:

German High Commander: Leci
German Players: Morge4, K9mike, 2-3 more spaces available (players & reserves)

Strategic Allied Commander: Brummbar44
Allied Players: Random27, KingT, Jcb989, 1-2 more spaces available (reserves)

1st Games Master (GM): GottaLove88s
2nd GM: Brummbar44
3rd GM: EMPTY??

We can add new players into teams as we go along, ideally having 2-4 players per side. So nobody needs to feel pressured to rush games if you get too busy with real life.

Thanks for offering to help GM, Brummbar. This campaign will go much faster/smoother if we can share the workload. Don't worry about impartiality. I'll stay as a non-playing GM, until everyone gets the hang of this.

If we can persuade a 3rd GM to join us, it will be good for our sanity (and marriages )... 2nd & 3rd GMs can play as well as moderate.