Desert War: Designing Avalanche

[bcgames]

This DevLog discusses the development of a Desert War scenario about Operation Avalanche--the invasion of Italy at Salerno in September 1943.

[bcgames]

Murphy's Law of Warfare: The decisive battle will occur at night at the intersection of four map sheets. So it is with the Battle at Salerno...

So where do we find the maps? My go-to place is the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection Army Map Service Topographic Map Series:

https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/

...and for the Battle of Salerno (Avalanche), you will need these four maps:

http://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/i ... 1-1943.jpg
http://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/i ... 2-1943.jpg
http://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/i ... 6-1944.jpg
http://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/i ... 7-1943.jpg

From these, you can build the following:

[bcgames]

Work in progress. Merry Christmas.

[bcgames]

WIP...entering towns now...

[Alan Sharif]

Wow!

[bcgames]

Thanks. This is just the tile-based map using the editor. The image-based map will be a step up.

[bcgames]

WIP...

There will be two Naval Zones in Avalanche (Northern and Southern). Ships in a Naval Zone will only be able to support the beachheads they supported historically. This effect is created by using the InvalidTerrain terrain type to create the barrier between the various Naval Assets in the scenario.

[bcgames]

WIP...started to build the image-based map starting with the Gulf of Salerno (over-laid the tile-based map). Allies Player will be able to build his first three waves and select the beaches for the Brits. The German artillery will get a crack at them before they come ashore.

[bcgames]

WIP...

[bcgames]

Thankfully, there is a lack of interest in this topic. I will cease work. Knowledge gained from the experience? Useful. And now...back to Russia.

[Alan Sharif]

Sad, as I am sure it would have been a great scenario.

[bcgames]

Yep, Christmas break is over. Time to go back to work.

[laska2k8]

ORIGINAL: bcgames

Thankfully, there is a lack of interest in this topic. I will cease work. Knowledge gained from the experience? Useful. And now...back to Russia.

I wish this game one day will head West ?

[Alan Sharif]

I must confess, I found the lack of interest surprising. No accounting for taste.

[Saint Ruth]

ORIGINAL: laska2k8

ORIGINAL: bcgames

Thankfully, there is a lack of interest in this topic. I will cease work. Knowledge gained from the experience? Useful. And now...back to Russia.

I wish this game one day will head West ?

Hopefully! Something like Arnhem would be good!

[canuckgamer]

I bought Desert War along with two friends during the holiday sale. For what it's worth we are all interested in a scenario about the Salerno landing and have also been following your posts on the Russian front. We are in to our first PBEM games of Desert War starting with low unit count scenarios like Sid Barrani. As long time boardgamers dating back to the days of Avalon Hill we are impressed with Desert War although it will be a learning process because there is more to it than initial impressions. We have been playing the Combat Mission series which also uses the WEGO system for years but it is tactical scale.

One thing I would like to see is thicker looking counters although I assume the issue would be when there are large stacks.

Regardless, look forward to new scenarios and the Russian front using the Desert War game system.

[Saint Ruth]

Cheers Canuckgamer. Unfortunately, can't do much about the "thickness" of the counters, but in the next patch, they'll be a bit smaller. [8D]

[bcgames]

ORIGINAL: Saint Ruth

...in the next patch, they'll be a bit smaller. [8D]

...and a bit "thicker". The counters in the patch will be beveled in appearance.

[bcgames]

ORIGINAL: Saint Ruth

ORIGINAL: laska2k8

ORIGINAL: bcgames

Thankfully, there is a lack of interest in this topic. I will cease work. Knowledge gained from the experience? Useful. And now...back to Russia.

I wish this game one day will head West ?

Hopefully! Something like Arnhem would be good!

Yes, indeed. Market-Garden and The Battle of the Scheldt brought together properly into one game.

[Okayrun3254]

Definitely liking the thicker counters!!