My favorite scenario size is...

[CapnDarwin]

We all have a favorite Red Storm scenario size we like to play. Some like the smaller fights while others love the monster battles. Where do you stand and why?

Comments welcome.

[jack54]

I like small and medium battles the best. It feels more personal to me. A lot has to do with the set up time too; I tend to get impatient.

(with that said and 'a bit off topic' but maybe there could be a place where people could post their set-ups for different scenarios: It would be interesting to see various set-ups (I'm also lazy;I hate dragging and dropping a lot of forces).

[IronMikeGolf]

More important to me than scenario size is accurate TOE. Really irks to see mech bns missing their mortar and scout platoons.

[CapnDarwin]

Jeff, with any luck our included TOEs are accurate in the datafiles, but I'm sure there are places where information may have been lacking or inaccurate. We definitely welcome firsthand data and we have made updates to the files when new info comes to light. As for scenario OOB/TOE, those can vary based on the intent of the scenario designer for that particular scenario. In some case equipment is out of service, breaks down, goes to the wrong place, etc. and the scenario designer can remove it to fit the situation.

Hope that makes sense.

[hazmaxed]

I voted medium, but that is only because I haven't yet tried one of the large scenarios. I only purchased the game a few weeks ago. Once I play more of the scenarios, and try a campaign, I may change my opinion.

[jds1978]

Large with all the bells and whistles

[Mad Russian]

ORIGINAL: Iron Mike Golf

More important to me than scenario size is accurate TOE. Really irks to see mech bns missing their mortar and scout platoons.

Most of the time when units are missing TO&E parts and pieces it's because I've deleted them. In the US Army I served in we NEVER had full TO&E. NEVER. And that was in peace time. Imagine just how much more fun it would be in wartime.

So, I pretty much never give you full strength TO&E's either. That goes for all nations, at all times, in any weather...ymmv.

Good Hunting.

MR

[DoubleDeuce]

I'm more a fan of Battalion Task Force sized engagements or smaller. Any larger I get bogged down and generally lose interest.

[IronMikeGolf]

Been in plenty of line infantry bns. In the 70's, MTOE mismatches were equipment, with old stuff in lieu of new stuff, M60 mg ILO M2 HB on mess trucks, etc. Never, ever experienced missing platoons. Of course, I was not everywhere. Short on personnel with 8 or 9 men in squads when authorized 11 men, yes. NCOs slotted as plt leaders, yes. Can't speak to combat support or service support units.

It was quite a different Army by the late 80s, though.

Edited to add: Of course, if such vacancies are historical fact and the scenario or campaign is designed to allow us to play "what if" with historical forces, then I am all for it. In the Hell on Wheels campaign, it just didn't feel right and we were offered no explanation or rationale for those mortar platoons not being there.

[Mad Russian]

You never had people take wrong turns, mechanical breakdowns,etc? You're right that's a very different army than the one I was in. The one I was in was during the Vietnam War. We were short of everything, all the time. We had a lot of downlined equipment due to shortages of spare parts, etc.

I was with Bn HQ for much of my deployment to Europe, I saw the units that were ordered to be somewhere at a given time and then hours or even days later have them show up. We had a Cpt even go to the Czech border. Past all the warning signs. To the point he was detained by US troops as he was about to enter Czechoslovakia. Not the brightest bulb on the string. The point that I make in all the battles is that things happen. In 'A Time To Dance' the ACR activate and move out as they are ready. The force assembles right before your eyes. Those are the kind of situations I remember being a part of.

Good Hunting.

MR

[WABAC]

I appreciate the current scale of forces available to me on the current hex size. I am agnostic about scenario sizes because it all depends on the engine and the scenario designer.

It seems like this engine works great from platoon on platoon out to division level engagements in the 20th and 21st century setting. But probably not so well for those Corps and Army level efforts we could play with in TOAW. But I don't play that game any more.

I do have a sneaking suspicion that the engine, and its time scale, would also work well in an "Age of Rifles" type setting, or maybe even an age of muskets type setting. But yeah, it would require some fiddling on hex scales, accuracy, lethality, and so on. But if certain numbers could be dialed down to .5 or .25 then maybe it wouldn't be so much of a stretch. [:)]

[Tazak]

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian
We had a Cpt even go to the Czech border. Past all the warning signs. To the point he was detained by US troops as he was about to enter Czechoslovakia. Not the brightest bulb on the string.

I've always maintained the most dangerous thing on the battlefield is an officer with a map

[Panzer_Leader]

ORIGINAL: Double Deuce

I'm more a fan of Battalion Task Force sized engagements or smaller. Any larger I get bogged down and generally lose interest.

I agree with Double Deuce that, when playing NATO, a reinforced battalion-sized battle group is perfect. If playing as the Soviets, given they maneuver companies like NATO does platoons, a regimental-sized organisation seems best. I can and have played some larger scenarios but find that span of control becomes an issue and I'm so far down in the detail of maneuvering platoons / companies that I lose sight of the bigger picture. I can do it - it's just not as much fun for me.

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: Capn Darwin

We all have a favorite Red Storm scenario size we like to play. Some like the smaller fights while others love the monster battles. Where do you stand and why?

Comments welcome.

I've ticked 'large' as I think at that scale you start to get a feel for how things fit together and better context to the smaller engagements that make up the overall battle.

But the scenario I've played the most (from both sides) is 'Time to Dance'. Its a true gem, balanced, teaches you new things every time and quick enough that if you try something unusual and it goes wrong you haven't invested much time.

A set up for that, designed for PBEM would be a truely fantastic addition to the scenario range.

[Mad Russian]

The Soviet setup for A Time To Dance works for a PBEM setup.

Good Hunting.

MR