Slitherine

Please post here your comments about this scenario.

The Communique to Commander:

"What is this? I don't understand. Radioman, (better with exclamation, ie, as in

Radioman! as if shouting?)

Also, Ohh these imprudent Americans.... (better with exclamation as in

Oh! These imprudent Americans....

Also, We know the Allies armored reinforcements are already enroute....

(better with Allied instead of Allies)

Post Game End Note to Bastogne.


On one hand, our path to Antwerp had never looked more open than it does.
However, with the weather....

Better: On one hand, our path to Antwerp has never looked more open than it does now,
however, with the weather....

7) Bastogne Assault – beta 1

Level: Rommel, imported corps
Prestige: Begin: 2,025. End: 3,150. Net: +1,125
Result: DV 21/23
Replacement policy/prestige: none used.

Core changes: Disbanded 1x 234/8 recon unit.

Problems:

• • Aux V weapons secured in Bastogne Siege appear to be “use or loose” in a scenario. Should warn of that, or provide escape hex to evac unused ones. I only deployed three of the 10 “aux” V weapons earned in Bastogne Siege. I just used the provided aux ones, and did not get back the three I deployed (I suspected I would not, so did not deploy more). The instructions re: using the V weapons have been good, but a note in the start of this scenario that deployed/unused ones are left behind would be good (or an escape hex).

General impressions/comments:

• • Decent effort to fight off counterattacks. I deployed badly when I should have anticipated their direction better; but still it was manageable to earn a DV with a few turns to spare.
  • Nice scenario with careful attention required. Best scenario so far in this campaign.

Bastogne Assault

Well, this one didn't go so well. The counterattack in the southwest overwhelmed my core, I am going to attempt it again with a different deployment strategy.. I actually made decent progress in capturing the objectives, but I think I split my core too much. Still, it is a good representation of trying to take Bastogne with Patton riding to the rescue and the scenario briefing is absolutely classic.

Bastogne assault beta1

Colonel, Imported Core DV 22/23

Prestige before/after deployment: 10125/7375
Prestige on last turn/incl. victory bonus: 8123/8123

During my first playthrough the AI locked up very early on turn 9 when it moved its airplanes, the first time I have ever seen anything like that. I waited a minute, Alt-tabbed (to start my process explorer), but as I did that it immediately continued, so just a glitch I suppose.

Anyway, V-weapons worked very well, and my core was well suited to counter the Allied airforce, I had almost total air supremacy due to my heavy air and AAA assets. The weather was almost always clear but a few snowy turns caused interesting situations, readjusting plans on the fly because planes are suddenly useless. So the weather parameters are just about perfect it seems.

I played twice, with very different deployment strategies. First time I did an even (and thus scattered) deployment all around Bastogne, the result was chaotic and expensive, and a lot of units were ineffective in these scattered groups. The second time I deployed everything on the West and South sides of the map, meaning I could leave my recon units at home because each group had enough spotting heroes and air support to do without, freeing up room for more useful units. This deployment worked much better, I could even farm a little prestige during the last turns.

The first time I had managed to stop the Allied attack waves (the direction they came from was not hard to guess) by camping at Sibret (17,32) and South of Tillet (6,22), which worked even better the second time because of the more concentrated forces I deployed. After defeating the Allied reinforcements I captured their airfields in the Southwest (only an Allied recon car and two AAA had remained), and sent the rest after my small infantry/artillery groups which had been steadily nibbling away the Allied defenses around Bastogne.

I found it crucial to quickly capture the airfield at (12,17), so I could better counter the Allied attacks with my airplanes. It can be done on turn two, leaving enough time to have airplanes covering my units in the South, which saved me a lot of trouble and losses. So making this airfield harder to capture would make life for people with an air-heavy core more difficult.

Bastogne Assault - Second Attempt
General Level
Imported Core
Ending Prestige 1990
DV on turn 22/23

Losses: 1x Towed AT gun

Well, this second attempt went much better! I set up a strong defensive force in the south west, while I unified all the rest of my troops in the southeast to clear out Bastogne proper.

Strengths: Once again, LOVE the briefing. The V weapons were fun, and it is interesting to try to decide the best application for them. It is a tough challenge to try to advance slowly through Bastogne, while holding the line against the strong counterattack. The tough, overstrength 101st were fun to fight against and I liked the General McAuliffe unit.

Weaknesses: There should be a warning about the counterattack coming in the southwest in the scenario briefing, and some of the deployment zones should either be removed or there should also be a warning in the briefing about diluting your troops too much, as I found this approach to be disastrous. I also think the AI air units should maybe get an experience boost because I found it a bit too easy to gain air supremacy.

Beta 1. Standard Core. General Level. Starting prestige 3269. Ending prestige 1011.

I played a couple of turns with my forces widely dispersed at deployment. I decided I didn't like it and restarted with a heavy presence in the south (I was expecting the counter attack from there). The rest of my forces were concentrated in two groups east and west of Bastogne. The fighting was very tough, but I was able to get the DV on the last turn (I could have taken it 2 turns earlier, but I went prestige farming). The V-weapons are a nice addition to the game. One change I would suggest is that the V-2s should have a range equal to their fuel. I think they should be able to hit anywhere on the map on the turn they are launched.

The battle was very challenging. Deciding on what to use the V-1 weapons on was difficult at first. I used them on the enemy artillery and ATGs for the most part.

billmv44 wrote:I think they should be able to hit anywhere on the map on the turn they are launched.

A very good idea.

Beta2 - Colonel level - Imported core - DV at turn 19

Yes, that was a nice scenario. those AI-counterattacks are massive and hard, some of my core units were hardly damaged and each counterattack was more difficult to reply. First all units were overstrengthed but at the end most of them were damaged. I had only one fighter and two tac-bombers deployed and was surprised by the AI-air-presence: did I skip a notice in the briefing? However, if I'll replay the scenario i'll deploy more air-units. I would not change anything.