Campaign Series Vietnam TET DLC

[Jason Petho]

As you know, I’m working on the first DLC, Tet 1968.

I’d like to make A Week In type scenario, so looking for ideas of what you’d like to play.

Let me know!

Jason Petho

[berto]

An obvious choice is Khe Sanh. Being a siege, it is not the most dynamic of battles. But it was fought over a period of several months. Maybe there was a period in there that was more dynamic. For variety, how about a Week In scenario from the Side B NVA perspective for a change? So a Side B NVA human player Week at Khe Sanh is what I would suggest.

Admittedly, what with needing to SAI the Side A Americans and their greater variety of equipment, helos, aircraft, etc., that would present quite a challenge. But at least the defending US ground forces would tend to be more static, so that portion of the scripting might be easier.

[bruce205]

Start at the beginning and I would like to play as the bad guys

[ironbar61]

Operation Pegasus (1–14 April 1968)

[Andrea G]

What about A Week in Hue ?

[bruce205]

Jason so what did you decide on ?

[Jason Petho]

Haven't decided yet, I'm still scripting the other scenarios. I'm saving the big one for last.

So many options!

[brotherofbuff]

Long as you depict the battles in Hue 1968 by Mark Bowden. Or have a fictional Full Metal Jack/ Short timers scenario

[berto]

Hue scenarios? Definitely!

The following at least:

VN_680131_Hue1_Surprise
VN_680201_Hue2_Tay_Loc
VN_680203_Hue4_Lieu_Coc_Thuong
VN_680204_Hue3_Provincial
VN_680204_Hue5_Que_Chu
VN_680214_Hue7_Dong_Ba
VN_680221_Hue6_3rdBdeBlitz
VN_680223_Hue8_Imperial_Palace

[brotherofbuff]

awesome

[Genosse]

Hey Jason, not sure if you decided yet, but I think Hue will be well-represented in the large number of individual scenarios.

I would actually recommend A Week In Saigon - with the caveat that it use the huge regional map and include action around the city as well. You have the initial assault on the airport and drama at the US embassy, then you have the huge effort against US headquarters I think to the north east of Saigon, with US mobile reserves slamming into NVA units on the highways, and conclude with lesser known urban battles against VC holdouts in iirc West Saigon.

I think it would be a truly varied mix of types of mission and preserves the exciting mystery of the opening couple days of the Tet shock - plus Saigon environs is such a beautiful and interesting map in your game!

Thank You, and if not the initial release choice, it could be a great hand off for someone as a free addon to the '68 DLC!

[Jason Petho]

Good day, Genosse

You know what, I was thinking exactly that indeed instead of Hue. I think it would be an interesting challenge for the Free World forces, especially as the fighting was scattered about.

Depending on the size of the map, I could incorporate quite a few of the surrounding attacks.

Decisions, decisions. How big to make the map!?

[Genosse]

Great news to hear you're receptive Jason! I think it would continue the fresh scenario selection in your games and provide many opportunities for creative use of daily objectives and Event Points given the political nature of many of the North's targets in the area.

I was just looking through Osprey Campaign Series 4: Tet Offensive 1968 Turning Point in Vietnam by James R. Arnold, and comparing it to the Saigon map you use in the Assimilation scenario for argument's sake. The northeast HQ I referred to is the dramatic battle for Bien Hoa airbase and the logistical complex at Long Binh, which were surrounded and then saved by heliborne and armored cav relief forces. These facilities are only 15 miles northeast of Saigon and could easily be included on a large map. You could choose to extend the map out to cover surrounding engagements in the Phuoc Le or My Tho directions while still keeping at or under the Camargue map.

Regarding Saigon herself the only major combat landmark I couldn't positively find on your map was the National Broadcasting Station, so you have a great starting point. I'm sure you have better sources, but I recommend looking at the aforementioned Osprey title if possible. The book describes the chaos of Tet in the Saigon AO in a tense and vivid way that I think your event scripting is a great fit for. It also gives good overview of the communist units and their jump off points around the capital and Long Binh. Thanks for your consideration, I hope you go in this direction!

[Dragnaath]

Very cool, any idea for the release timeframe?

[Jason Petho]

Hopefully for the summer, still lots to do though!