Campaign Series Middle East - Videos

[Jason Petho]

It finally released! YAY! The 2.30 UPDATE is available for Middle East. I go through how to install it and give some hints and tips about what has changed throughout the session as I play Humbling of the Tank. I ended up playing as the Israeli's although I meant to play as the Egyptians, but it was still an interesting experience. Keep in mind, that scenario is designed for Head to Head play. It is interesting to see how the Legacy AI plays, or doesn't. Intriguing experience for me as I prepare to script these scenarios.

https://youtu.be/E3cEw1UqAwU

[Jason Petho]

Another session with Middle East. This time I ended up playing a couple scenarios. I played both sides of The Last Stand about an Israeli kibbutz defending against an Egyptian assault in 1948. And then played the classic "Long Walk Home" scenario where a French company sized unit is trying to head back "home" in the Algerian countryside. While enjoyable, I do miss the scripting, it makes the game far more enriching. I look forward to creating the scripts when I have time. OH! I also made mention of a BETA 2.31 PATCH that is available on the Matrix Games forum that corrects the Org Editor.

https://youtu.be/ne5fNS0_Nlg

[Jason Petho]

Another session with Middle East. There was some difficulties getting Twitch loaded, so be patient with that. It doesn't impact the YouTube session apart from my babbles. I restarted the machine and all was fine afterwards. Regardless, I played the Teaching Set scenarios, Hot Seat! With a couple hours, I was able to get through them all pretty quickly as they are only 6 turns each. They are great for learning how the system works and how the weapons become more deadly as the decades pass. They are best against a human opponent, PBEM, Hot Seat or LAN.

https://youtu.be/acVOg1woNFc

[Jason Petho]

Back to the Sinai with lots and lots and lots of tanks. I started playing Advantage Jiradi, which is an Israeli armoured brigade advancing along a single road into numerous defensive lines set by the Egyptians. A challenge? Oh yes, yes indeed. Some valuable lessons with thanks and infantry in half-tracks were explained, especially how to use them in assaults.

https://youtu.be/JqF5BYk9N0U

[Jason Petho]

Here we are along the coast of the northern Sinai. Some fantastic examples of how to assault with armoured vehicles. Like a knife through butter we are tearing through the lines. But then, out of nowhere, night fell. That changes the rest of the scenario. A fascinating turn of events indeed!

https://youtu.be/B2QBc9sN0WM

[Jason Petho]

We played through the end of the scenario working through the Jiradi Pass. That was a close one, darkness made a world of difference. It was an interesting scenario and the last 5 turns had me wondering if I was going to be able to move the division off the map. This gave me a lot of ideas for when I script the scenario and realized how challenging this would be against a human player. Fascinating indeed!

https://youtu.be/7tLCd-MjM8A

[Jason Petho]

And into Lebanon we go as we attempt to clear the route towards the Beirut airport along the coast. As the Israeli's, we have two mechanized brigades worth of goodies to play with. The primary challenge for the scenario will be learning how to operate heavily mechanized forces in the mountainous and forested terrain, dotted with villages throughout the area. The secondary challenge is to see how I can script the AI to make it a worth opponent, so I am taking notes as I advance.

https://youtu.be/mvqe4BgTLIQ

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Middle East: The night assault is going better this session, although I'm still taking some bad losses. As I advance into the weeds along the Umm Katef position, I am running into positions where I am losing tanks to anti-tank guns and recoilless rifles. Due to the limitations in movement and vast array of trenches, the tanks need to get up close and personal, especially as I am using them with assaulting the trenches with Engineers. A very effective tactic indeed. Also assault with a combination of loaded halftracks and tanks - in open terrain.

https://youtu.be/eWJgyInh6c8

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Middle East: Talk about a blast! Figuratively and literally. There's a ton of violence, and the grind is slow, but it is a heck of a fun fight. The Israeli's are making progress in the east, taking over villages and clearing woods. There is exceptionally heavy fighting along the coast, as the Syrians and PLO troops seem to be making the stand along the coast. It is giving me a lot of interesting ideas on how I will be scripting these type of scenarios that are heavily focused on mechanized units.


https://youtu.be/7HnIeSmX0vc

[Jason Petho]

The west absolutely brutal, the fighting is close and deadly. The east is going a little smoother as I am running into lighter resistance, but even that lighter resistance is turning out to offer some unique challenges. I continue to learn a lot as I play this, especially in seeing how the Legacy AI will defend and how strong it can be. It gives me a plethora of ideas to make the Scripted AI a living hell. Muhahahaha.

https://youtu.be/3xwZ80IpzaE

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Middle East: I haven't played by email this with the new version, so here is the first attempt. John had asked if I wanted to play and sent me the first turn. He is playing as the Muslim Brotherhood and attempting to capture the Israeli settlement of Etzion. I have my work cut out for me as he definitely outnumbers me in troops, although the quality and positioning of my troops is superior. This is the entire PBEM game.

https://youtu.be/6Igx8PEWPGo

[Jason Petho]

Advancing into the refugee camps in southern Gaza. The area is defended by Egyptian and Palestinian volunteers. The first handful of turns have been nail biting, but I am making progress while I capture positions. It is a challenging scenario so far, even with a defending legacy AI. It is a methodical attack, but I keep finding surprises. I am curious to see if there will be additional movement but is giving me some ideas how to script the Egyptian AI.

https://youtu.be/KbM85LKAM2I

[Jason Petho]

That went right to the wire. I managed to secure the majority of the objectives, but I was still fighting to the bitter end. Exiting some troops also bore some fruit in term of points. I can see how I can make this more interesting with some Event Points and some determined tactics from the Egyptians, but this was a challenging scenario even with just the Legacy AI. The terrain around the crossroads and village areas made this quite a fun scenario!

https://youtu.be/txXrKmFlf64

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Middle East: We are attacking the positions at Umm Katef in 1967. It's a night scenario, the whole thing, which makes this battle quite interesting. I have a good idea where the defences are but I have no idea what they consist of and holy, trying to advance and clear these positions is leaving opportunity for a bunch of valuable lessons. I made it to about half way through the scenario, the first battalion taking heavy casualties in its assaults. But, there is progress.

https://youtu.be/o_7OnZN0iX0

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Middle East: Back into Lebanon we go! There have been some excellent small unit tactics on display in this session of the scenario. I showed the importance of utilizing all your weapons platforms, in conjunction with artillery, especially as it pertains to assaulting defended and dug in positions. Unfortunately, I had forgotten the amount of anti-aircraft and types - SA-7's included - and had suffered some pretty horrendous helicopter losses. Ah well, can't win them all!

https://youtu.be/rARUbbuCZuw

[Jason Petho]

The last few turns were full of small tactical engagements. Overwhelming the Syrians and PLO troops along the coast brought the overwhelming victory. Battle in the hills with small contingents of troops turned out to be the most fun in this scenario as it was always interesting to see what the best force mix would be ideal in various situations. There are lots of valuable lessons in this session.

https://youtu.be/dkYUHe5GsQI

[Big Ivan]

Hi Jason,

Awesome playthrough of this Lebanon scenario Jason.

It was a great scenario in the original Campaign Series Divided Ground. It was even better in the latest revision of Campaign Series Middle East that you just played!!

Thanks my friend!!

Regards,
John, aka (Big Ivan)

[Jason Petho]

Here we go, advancing along the Suez Canal with a goal of defeating a large Egyptian force. Fortunately, we have a lot of parachutists in mechanized vehicles with plenty of supporting units including tanks and artillery. There are a lot of reinforcements on the way. The advance has been steading with some basic tactical lessons on combined ground arms and using them efficiently. The desert is a wonderful place for armour.

https://youtu.be/kvYSr36Ua7Q

[Jason Petho]

There is a lot of in your face combat in this session. Attacks all along the front. I have received a tank brigade as reinforcements and have decided what to do with them. Muhahaha. I also had to make a map edit, which I did live, in case you need to see how to do it! Most importantly, I provided some advice on how to assault defended positions with a mechanized force, even with the infantry still loaded!

https://youtu.be/WPp6N7EyjSA

[Jason Petho]

I ran into an Sagger ambush. What a mess. So many burning tanks and direct firing at the Sagger yielded very little results. I had to dig them out with infantry and artillery. Alas, the tanks were taking hits the entire time. The eastern approaches are moving, albeit slowly. Lots of intense and in your face action in this scenario, but it is an absolute hoot!

https://youtu.be/2K7GP--1AE8