"The 4th Republic" scenario available to download!

[GreenDestiny]

Hey Lava… your scenario looks very interesting and your tip guide sounds cool also. But you got to remember that there are three different AI settings, weak for beginners, moderate, and strong for experts. So please don't dumb down your scenario to much.
I'm looking forward to this one.

[*Lava*]

ORIGINAL: GreenDestiny
So please don't dumb down your scenario to much.

Hi Mate!

I haven't dumbed down the scenario at all. In fact, I have done as much as I could to make it as hard as I can.

The veteran TOAWer should be able to battle his way through it. It was designed to "try" to give even the "grog" a difficult time. I say "try", because there are times when the AI just does silly things, like leaving his capital unprotected. So I have placed some "traps" in the scenario to try to compensate.

Because of this, I decided to include the tips for newer players who might have a hard time of it. Using the tips is a player decision. If you need them, use them. If not, just forget they exist.

Ray (alias Lava)

[*Lava*]

Hi!

Just a progress report.

The scenario is entering its final phase now.

Still have the briefs to do and some fairly minor testing to complete.

Graphics are now done.

Here's my news graphic:

Had to get Napoleon and his staff in there..

And here is my reinforcement graphic:

A pair of Renault tanks.

Looks like I'm on schedule for a late August release.

Ray (alias Lava)

[Silvanski]

Nice pics Lava... looking forward to the scenario... one remark though ... You spell Istanbul, but Tula as Toula and Kursk as Koursk... French spelling I suppose... no problem as I can adapt city names in the editor

[*Lava*]

Hi!

Indeed, the map names are mostly in French. But I don't think that will make much difference for folks.

Ray (alias Lava)

[*Lava*]

Hi!

Mission Complete!

Hopefully should be available for download soon.

Ray (alias Lava)

[TOCarroll]

Looks awesome. I can't wait to try it. Good work, Lava.
 
P.S.   I hope the French Leader is not Marshall Petan [:'(]!
 
Tom OC

[*Lava*]

ORIGINAL: TOCarroll
I hope the French Leader is not Marshall Petan [:'(]!

Well.. the French Leader is the player!

In the scenario I called him Emperor Napoleon VI.

BTW.. if he dies.. you lose. So take care of him.

Ray (alias Lava)

[TOCarroll]

Touche!

[Silvanski]

Great! Can't wait to try it out!

[Silvanski]

It's available I see [:)] http://www.wargamer.com/gamesdepot/details.asp?sid=4358

One question: why is "Anvers"/Antwerp situated in The Netherlands?

[*Lava*]

ORIGINAL: Silvanski

It's available I see [:)] http://www.wargamer.com/gamesdepot/details.asp?sid=4358

One question: why is "Anvers"/Antwerp situated in The Netherlands?

Uhh.. dunno.

But I take it that is incorrect.

Sorry, I pretty much used the map as I found it. The only differences were adding in Portugal, Turkey and clearing away loads and loads of roads and railroads.

Ray (alias Lava)

[*Lava*]

However...

It's out and I hope folks enjoy the scenario. I may regret this, but feedback is definately welcome.

[;)]

For those unsure what is going on with the scenario, here is the scenario description:
_________

The Fourth Republic

Designed by Ray (aka Lava) Rivers
rayriverss@hotmail.com

Based on Patrick Feyret's Scenario "39-45"

**********

Single Player Only
Allies computer vs human player

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Map size: All of Europe
Map scale: 50 km
Time scale: Weekly turns
Unit scale: Corps/Divisions
Length : 190 turns

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Important Events

Research (allowing the player his choice of advanced weapons) ends turn 4.

The player receives a shock advantage from turn 2 through 10.

Loss of the "Napoleon VI" counter ends in automatic defeat.

Loss of Paris ends in automatic defeat.

Capture of key countries enables reinforcements and bonuses to supply.

Russia and Turkey declare war on France turn 116.

Supply points for the invasion of the United Kingdom are only enabled by the capture of Moscow.

The conquest of the United Kingdom ends the game in automatic Victory for the player.

**********

Research Islands

Research Islands is constructed to give the player an option on what "future" units he would like to see join his forces.

A research item is selected by placing the civilian "Researchers" counter on a ship and landing him on an island.

The only restraint the player has on choice is that he may only choose one item per horizontal line. Thus, for example, if the player wishes to begin research on "LR Bomber" he may do so on his first move. But will be blocked from researching "Missile" on his subsequent move.

All research will eventually result in additional forces with the exception of "Nucs" which is based on probability of discovery.

**********

Historical Overview

The Fourth Republic scenario is a hypothetical study in the operational art of war. The player is thrust into the position as Emperor of France during the late 1930's. Surrounded by fascist regimes, the player must unite Europe in a time when that continent, still reeling from the huge losses of World War I was unable to unite to face a common aggressor. As Napoleon VI, you must use this hesitancy to your advantage. Move aggressively to expand your empire as quickly as possible before the combined forces of Russia and Turkey declare war.

**********

Designer Notes

As a hypothetical study all Orders of Battle are merely representative and not historically based.

The intention of the game is to present the player with an overwhelming opponent.

The player must be able to attack, and yet at the same time defend, especially during the first 20 turns.

To guide the player, certain events are scheduled to provoke responses by the United Kingdom. Be wary of such events unless you can move boldly to contain British reinforcements.

VIVE L'EMPEROR!

GOOD LUCK and have FUN!

Ray (aka Lava) Rivers

[Silvanski]

ORIGINAL: Lava

ORIGINAL: Silvanski

It's available I see [:)] http://www.wargamer.com/gamesdepot/details.asp?sid=4358

One question: why is "Anvers"/Antwerp situated in The Netherlands?

Uhh.. dunno.

But I take it that is incorrect.

Ray (alias Lava)

Err yeah it is... I know you used an existing map design and I understand very well that it's not easy outlining small countries like the BeNeLux on a hexagonal grid, especially when it's a smaller scale map where one wants to represent as much as Europe as possible... No problem, I re-aligned the Dutch Belgian border above the Anvers hex in the editor.

Edit to add that I played a few turns and it seems a nifty scenario... I like the variability you built in using your research island. Good job Lava!

[*Lava*]

Hi!

Sorry about the map error.. I assumed (get's you in trouble everytime) it was correct.

My bad.

Ray (alias Lava)

[ceyan]

Been playing it off and on over the last week, and I'm having a lot of trouble trying to figure out how to advance. I played one game through all the way where I took the slow and steady approach (which is more my style as I'm definitely much more focused on a defensive strategy than offensive - in general), which worked over time. However, by the time Russia declared war and opened up I was still working on Poland and Bulgaria and hadn't even had a chance ot enter Spain or Portugal. I think my problem mostly stemmed from not having a good idea of what to do from the start.

So far the best bet I've seen is to hold the Rhine with the 2nd Army and push with the 1st, 5th and Imperial Guard into north Germany. The big problem I've seen with that is you can only go a few hexes into Italy, using the 3rd Army, without additional support. And thanks to the British I haven't found a way to secure Spain and Portugal even with the help of the 5th. And without the 5th I get my butt handed to me by the combined German/British onslaught from Belgium. Haven't even found a way to hold an effective line with just the Guard and 1st.

Also I'm not sure how to handle the North African side of things. I've never been able to hold Tunisia, and given the situation I'm pretty sure that's meant to be the case. My first play through I didn't even hold Algeria, by the time you can match the Italians (turn 10) the Italians had linked up with the Spanish. My second time, when I did actually hold Algeria (by just abandoning Tunisia) I only managed that much by using the cheese tactic of running my fleets over Tripoli to utterly kill the Allied supply lines.

I'm sure 99% of the problem is my newbie status and my inability to break the German line without using every non-essential counter (and even then only pushing them back a single hex every other turn or so).

Oh yeah, shouldn't there be something in Iraq? Even if just a fortress unit? Right now my first move (after I found out late in my first game) is to run the Levant HQ unit to Mossoul and pick up the free oil bonus.

[*Lava*]

Hi!

In designing the scenario I felt France would really find itself in a very difficult starting position. It is virtually surrounded by hostile countries. It's colonies are vulnerable and it's one ally, Finland cutoff from reinforcement.

The player needs to take himself back to the 1930's. Think about what had been happening on the continent at that time. He has three fronts, the eastern (Germany/Belgium), southeastern (Italy) and western front (Spain). The player must succeed on one of those fronts. He has a shock bonus from turn 2-10. The player must take advantage of the bonus and attack. These first 10 moves are the most critical to the game.

The answer is there if one places himself in the historical context and correctly evaluates his opponents ability to wage war at that time. You are not strong enough to go toe to toe with all of europe, so you must come up with a strategy which pits strength against vulnerability.

This is why I struggled with whether or not to put "tips" into the game. Unlike a replay of the second world war, the player has no precedence from which to follow, only his skills in the operational art of war.

Perhaps it would help if folks understand that I have taken the relative military strategies of France and Germany and swapped them.

I could say more, but in so doing, I would basically solve the problem for folks by telling you how to "breakout." I grant you that the scenario is based on premises which I believe to have existed at the time and which could be debated, however, it is after all a hypothetical scenario. If, however, you are really struggling, drop me a PM and I'll be happy to give you a couple tips on getting started.

* Maxim 79 - "The first principle of a general-in-chief is to calculate what he must do, to see if he has all the means to surmount the obstacles with which the enemy can oppose him and, when he had made his decision, to do everything to overcome them." Napoleon

* "Superior weight at the intended decisive point does not suffice unless that point cannot be reinforced in time by the opponent." Liddel Hart

* "Now an army may be likened to water, for just as flowing water avoids the heights and hastens to the lowlands, so an army avoids strength and strikes weakness." Sun Tzu

Ray (alias Lava)

[Karri]

Very interesting scenario. I'm at trun 38, and right now only Britain, Greece and Spain stand in my way(of course there's Russia and Turkey, but they're not my enemies yet). I started my Grand offensive by attacking towards Belgium and Holland, I moved everything I had there. By turn 10 I was within 3 hexes of Berlin, and soon after my tanks rolled there. Must say though, there were some troubled turns as my forces were quite depleted and exhausted from time to time. Actually, at one point I was sure I wasn't going to make it, when all of a sudden the AI launched series of suicide attacks against my lines, crippling the entire German army in them.

Anyways, after that Poland fell then Italy and most of Balkans. I noticed that the tank divisions were quite strong, in fact my usual strategy was to drive them through the enemy lines and into their capital, made the fighting quite easy.

Two things however:
1. Air units, due to the scale the attacker is pretty much always decimated. The AI kept loosing whole air untis in each attack it made. My losses weren't small either.
2. Rail Repair. Only one RR unit? Makes supply situation quite unbearable.

[*Lava*]

Hi!

Thanks for the feedback.

Yes, the AI air units are indeed quite suicidal, I couldn't figure out how to fix that.

As for the rail repair, you get another one later on in the scenario and the one you start with I think you will find can be divided when it reaches its full compliment of rail repair crews. I limited the scenario to a single repair unit to stress the player.

BTW.. you dodged a lot of bullets by moving so quickly. Didn't think the tank units were THAT strong and able to do that much damage. Guess I should have have placed those allied objectives on Paris to force the player to have to commit more to defense, but I thought that would put too much pressure on the player. I'm still a rookie at scenario design.

Once again, thanks for the feedback.

Ray (alias Lava)

[ceyan]

Is there a trigger for the British Invasion force landing in Spain? Just playing through again and I was doing pretty good (I'd managed to take out Italy with a concentrated push, and thanks to the PO using the BEF to hook around into Germany, I was able to make a suicide attempt on Amsterdam that worked out) but on turn 9 they showed up suddenly, and I can't figure out what I did to spark it. Since I don't remember them showing up this early before, I had to have done something (or my memory could just be shot to hell).