About the Fighting

[OldSarge]

I've been a long time player of GDW's Assault series (including Boots & Saddle & Replacements). This is the first game that appears to capture that pretty nicely.

As I was serving and still in FRG at the time this game covers, I have long awaited a Cold War era 'what if' game that would do the period justice.

Now, a question. Will the game be able to capture different alert levels for NATO? Or will the game assume that NATO started on 100% alert with the full unit turning out. I ask this because I remember there were times when we were pretty much off our guard, and other times, like when General Krosen(sp?) was hit with an RPG outside of Heidelberg, IIRC we went to full alert after that event!!

Anyway, looking good so far!! [8D]

[CapnDarwin]

OldSarge, Mad Russian has you covered. The first scenario is the 11th ACR caught of guard and trying to get out of their garrison as the Russians roll in. There are also setting in the scenario editor for timing reinforcements and withdrawals, fixing units in place, setting ammo, training level and morale and even reducing the units in a formation to show earlier losses or broken gear not ready to fight. A lot of options.

He making some very awesome scenarios.

[midgard30]

ORIGINAL: wodin

Music to my ears..

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian



There are two basic types of wargamers. Those that play wargames like chess, very structured, and those that play it that believe no plan lasts past the first shot and that warfare is trying to execute a plan out of utter chaos. I belong to the second group of gamers. My scenarios will make you adjust constantly to changing situations in as many aspects of the combat model as I possibly can.


MR

I belong to the first group, but my games always turn out like those of the second group. That's why my plans never work. [:D]

[Mad Russian]

Different alert levels, different support levels, different reinforcement times, units/weapons systems both arriving and leaving during the game. In some scenarios there are Army/Corps/Division level support for TF sized combat units. At other times there are only recon elements present and you are very much on the Sharp End!

Yes, I've been making scenarios since about 1972. I started making my own scenarios with PanzerBlitz. We had 4 complete sets of boards and 10 sets of counters when I was in the Army. We had a room in Bn HQ where we could leave the games set up. AIW was less well liked we only had 2 sets of boards and 4 sets of counters for it. [:D]

The Bn Co, Bn XO, S-2 and many of the Company Co's would drop by to watch us play. We also did MBX' (Map Based Exercises) where I was a Soviet commander. I got the nickname Mad Russian way back then because I was upset at how gamers or US Army commanders would play the Russians. They weren't US/NATO formations in T-34/T-62's. I used to beat the heck out of the company commanders. When we would drive up on site during Reforger or ARTEP's they would ask me questions about Soviet tactics and how to counter them.

Good Hunting.

MR

[demiller]

ORIGINAL: OldSarge

I've been a long time player of GDW's Assault series (including Boots & Saddle & Replacements). This is the first game that appears to capture that pretty nicely.

I've had the same thought as I've been reading about this game. It very, very much reminds me of Assault. That was a great game series.

[OldSarge]

Thanks,MR! It is really great to hear that you were there and are accounting for the realities of how the units, certainly in 7th Army, actually operated at that time. [8D]

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

Different alert levels, different support levels, different reinforcement times, units/weapons systems both arriving and leaving during the game. In some scenarios there are Army/Corps/Division level support for TF sized combat units. At other times there are only recon elements present and you are very much on the Sharp End!

Yes, I've been making scenarios since about 1972. I started making my own scenarios with PanzerBlitz. We had 4 complete sets of boards and 10 sets of counters when I was in the Army. We had a room in Bn HQ where we could leave the games set up. AIW was less well liked we only had 2 sets of boards and 4 sets of counters for it. [:D]

The Bn Co, Bn XO, S-2 and many of the Company Co's would drop by to watch us play. We also did MBX' (Map Based Exercises) where I was a Soviet commander. I got the nickname Mad Russian way back then because I was upset at how gamers or US Army commanders would play the Russians. They weren't US/NATO formations in T-34/T-62's. I used to beat the heck out of the company commanders. When we would drive up on site during Reforger or ARTEP's they would ask me questions about Soviet tactics and how to counter them.

Good Hunting.

MR

[OldSarge]

IMO, the Assault series was probably the best of the WWIII games out there. TAHGC had TAC-Air which was good, but I think the rules for Assault really nailed it. I only wish that I had gone ahead and picked up the Bundeswehr expansion when I had the opportunity to do so.

I have high hopes the FPC will fill the hole....[:)]

ORIGINAL: demiller

ORIGINAL: OldSarge

I've been a long time player of GDW's Assault series (including Boots & Saddle & Replacements). This is the first game that appears to capture that pretty nicely.

I've had the same thought as I've been reading about this game. It very, very much reminds me of Assault. That was a great game series.

[Mad Russian]

The Bundeswehr is here!

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

Here is an example of the, not so brief, Main Briefing for the introductory scenario. This will give you some idea of how I see the events unfolding.

The Soviet Union is withdrawing it's forces from the German Democratic Republic (GDR). They have alerted both NATO and the UN that they are moving two divisions east in the sector of the 8th Guards Army. This announcement was made months in advance. Several smaller units have left their permanent duty stations, earlier this month, for new locations further east.

NATO was on low alert status and is having to learn to deal with the fact that the Cold War is over. What to do now?

But wait, the 533rd Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion stationed in the Fulda Gap is getting information that isn't matching up with how events should be unfolding. It seems the Soviets aren't moving to the east. They start scrambling to find out what's up.

The 79th Guards Tank Division left it's garrison at Suhl and moved southeast on Route 281. When it reached Coburg the lead element, the 17th Guards Tank Regiment, turned southwest on Route 303 and west onto Route 279. The entire time they were in road march formation. There was no NATO interference with the approach to the border.

17th Guards Tank Regiment entered Saal an der Saale and gave the prearranged order for the batteries of 8th Guards Army to fire on Camp Lee and the approaches to Bad Neustadt and Rödelmaier. The guns errupted into life as the lead elements drove through Wülfershausen and turned towards the 11th ACR.

2nd Squadron, 11th ACR at Camp Lee, outside Bad Neustadt, is hammered by 152mm artillery fire. The camp had been warned only minutes before and very few of the squadron's vehicles were moving towards Rödelmaier on Route 279. It is fitting that 2nd Squadron was the last element of the Regiment to leave Vietnam, after five and a half years of service, and it is the first US unit to be engaged by the Soviet advance in WWIII.

The two elite units that have been facing each other over the decades will come together in a mighty clash. The Black Horse outposts along the border at Rödelmaier will have to deal with the Soviet advance down Route 279 until the rest of the squadron can move to their aid. Or until the Soviet Army breaks through and is advancing.

At 0400 the day is just beginning. What was going to be a hot day in July was about to get a lot hotter.

The Cold War is about to become a Hot War. It's time to dance to the music.

Good Hunting.

MR

[OldSarge]

Sounds plausible to me!

[CapnDarwin]

Yes, MR is crafting all of the primary 1989 scenarios and campaigns for the game as well as being our Jedi map maker. I believe people will love his work , but curse his name when their battle planning goes pear shaped. [:D]

[Mad Russian]

At the moment at least, the game centers on the 1989 combat forces of NATO and the Soviet Union. That was the year that NATO finally thought it could stop a Warsaw Pact attack.

We'll see how well you do with that.

Good Hunting.

MR

[CapnDarwin]

To backup what MR said and what has been posted elsewhere the game will be focusing on on 1989. This will match up to the original FPG time line. The game system can cover anything from 1980 to 1989.

[8D]

[wodin]

I always thought NATO knew they'd have to go Nuclear and Russia didn't want that at all and hoped it could win through mass use of conventional armed forces.

So it will be interesting to see if NATO could hold them back just using conventional weapons..though knowing me I can't resist a Tac Nuke.

[CapnDarwin]

Being on Nato soil would have to be thought out before popping a nuke. Same thing with chemical weapons.

[Mad Russian]

Nukes and Chemical weapons are in the game. Depending on the number of campaigns we get done will depend on how much you see them in the original release.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

An interesting development about the fighting is, that, at this moment, the first scenario for the American campaign is the favorite. [&o]

That might be because of these guys!

Good Hunting.

MR

[JohnOs]

ok, I'm trying to read all the post about FPC:RS and I didn't see anywhere where I, a player, can make my own scenarios? If it is posted sorry for asking a question already asked.

[cbelva]

Yes you can make your own scenarios.

[Mad Russian]

The game comes with a full scenario editor. It is one of the major areas of change from FPG. The editor is extremely flexible.

Good Hunting.

MR