Slitherine

Live Q&A Session with Designer Mark Herman

Time & Place: Google Hangout OnAir, Thursday, April 17th at 4:00pm EDT

RSVP HERE

Why is the map divided the way it is?
What are the space names based on?
Why were Flak guns added to Desert Fox?

You have questions, and we have the man with the answers. Join us Thursday as we sit down with designer Mark Herman to chat about Desert Fox: The Battle of El Alamein.

With every game in our Crisis in Command series, we attempt to capture the important elements of the historical situation while also creating a fun game. Much of this responsibility falls on the designer. Join us as we talk with Mark Herman about how he made this happen in Desert Fox.

Post your questions below, and we will answer them live!

- How would equipment differences between units be represented in the game?
For example, the Eighth Army received Grant and Sherman tanks whose 75 mm high-explosive shells made quite a difference against both German tanks and AT guns, replacing the ill-equipped 2-pdr Crusader plagued by mechanical problems. The Germans began to use the long-barrel 75 mm Pz IV F2 tank although in small numbers.

- Would a 1-pip British tank unit be equal as offensive/defensive capabilities with an Afrika Korps tank unit of same size?

- Does the game model the lack of coordination between Commonwealth infantry divisions and tank brigades?
There are quite a few accounts of infantry advances without receiving tank support on time, only to be pushed back with heavy losses by German/Italian armor counter-attacks.

Looking forward to playing "Desert Fox", I hope you'll also release the impressive map as a printable PDF.

Thank you,
Vlad

The period covered in the campaign saw big changes in the Commonwealth armaments and tactics. Those are reflected in the game by increasing maximum strength for CW armour. Also, the CW starts without receiving a combined arms bonus for attacks with both infantry and armour; as the campaign progresses they obtain this benefit, reflecting new and better tactics.

I saw this the other day and when Mark Herman mentioned actually meeting Von Mellenthin and Balck I couldn't help feeling a little star struck in a geeky way Incidentally I had found the report from the NATO conference which they attended in 1981 a couple of months back while scouring the net on information on General Balck. It's a really interesting read for anyone interested in how these guys were thinking.

Generals Balck and Von Mellenthin on Tactics: Implications for NATO Military Doctrine
http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/CSI/docs/Go ... cs_May.pdf

Cheers