Campaign for South Vietnam Vs Larry

[Raindem]

Enjoying the heck out of your AAR guys. This is the way the scenario was meant to be played.

Curt

[Hyding]

Larry expresses some concern with the work being done by my air units flying interdiction missions. I am getting no feedback at all of the strikes even occurring.

I do see reports of enemy units evaporating when I playback Larry's turn but if the unit is not eliminated I'm not seeing any report. In TOAW III an "airstrike" or "air attack" notice would appear whenever interdiction aircraft hit something even if no damage was inflicted.

Is their a report or setting that will allow me to monitor my interdiction strike in some way?

[Hyding]

ORIGINAL: Raindem

Enjoying the heck out of your AAR guys. This is the way the scenario was meant to be played.

Curt

Can't thank you enough for all the work you have put into making and updating this scenario.

[Hyding]

repeat deleted

[Hyding]

ORIGINAL: Narses

The 1965 monsoon season (turns 4-6, April to June) has now ended.

Below is an extract from my monsoon notes from an earlier AAR the first para covers free fire again but has some extra info and addresses free fire in monsoon turns.

Unless the US player selects free fire he will be suffering under a 50% air shock penalty. You select free fire by moving the units on the free fire slide located at hexes 58,61 to 58,65. Always move it to one end or the other or it may not work right. It cost the US a victory point every turn it is selected. Never and I do mean NEVER leave free fire selected during the monsoon. You will pay the victory point penalty and get no benefit. The monsoon penalty takes precedence over the free fire buff.

The monsoon itself is handled as you would expect by the weather engine with increased storms and rain. There will a lot of mud. Weather is something I do not pay enough attention to in any TOAW scenario. It is worth remembering however when you select air superiority aircraft that the NFL has no all-weather interceptors.

More important in this scenario is the monsoon effects from April –June. This changes the US air shock penalty to 25%. It also reduces the NLF’s ability to project supply. The NLF still gets supply but only units in or very near supply points will receive any. Now I will not bomb the Hanoi area during these turns but other than that I largely ignore it. Well that is not entirely true. I will conduct the same I missions I usually would but I will remember that it will take more aircraft to achieve the same results. Offensive and defensive ground planning should probably bear that in mind but operations still need to go forward. I try not to allow a drop in tempo.

Curt’s guide mentions that he likes to conduct NLF offensives during good weather (so units do not run out of supply and have better movement). He is talking about large offensives like TET and mini-TET that involve theater events and mobilizing the hidden VC reserves. I know from experience that he will conduct more localized offensives and raids during the monsoon to take advantage of reduced CAS and interdiction. That is just good play. Even the Tet style offensives would do well to start on the last turn of the monsoon so early attacks are faced with reduced airpower and resupply the next turn is normal. The approach would face weaker interdiction but also lower supplies.

If I suspect the NLF may be going to launch attacks during the monsoon I will reduce my interdiction levels. I mean after all his supply situation will be crap anyway and interdiction strikes will be weaker. Redirecting aircraft can help offset the impact of the monsoon on CAS. You have to realize though that the NLF player may be using the monsoon for a period of increased movement while interdiction is inhibited or redirected. A smart NFL player will check the US interdiction level in the air briefing as his first action every turn. A major shift in the CAS/Interdiction ratio should have an impact on where, how and if the NFL moves or attacks.

Like many things in the scenario few choices are 100% correct 100% of the time and head games and feints a big part of things.

The left image is a supply situation on a normal turn. The right image is the same location in a monsoon turn.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Narses

Larry expresses some concern with the work being done by my air units flying interdiction missions. I am getting no feedback at all of the strikes even occurring.

I do see reports of enemy units evaporating when I playback Larry's turn but if the unit is not eliminated I'm not seeing any report. In TOAW III an "airstrike" or "air attack" notice would appear whenever interdiction aircraft hit something even if no damage was inflicted.

Is their a report or setting that will allow me to monitor my interdiction strike in some way?

I wish there were. It's needed. I've advocated for combat results for the interdiction strikes but it's been no go
so far. There's competing priorities. I'm glad we get a notice that a strike has occured, at least we get that.

[Hyding]

That's just it Larry. I'm not getting notices of my interdiction strikes in the replays in TOAW IV. Just get a message if one of your units evaporates.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Raindem
Enjoying the heck out of your AAR guys. This is the way the scenario was meant to be played.

Curt

First of all, thanks for all your hard work and insight. This is one of the most detailed
in depth, realistic scenarios there are and it's a joy to play it.

And now a proposal: I see you're posting a newer version than the one we're playing and I'm
wondering if we ought to restart. The reasons this might be a good idea is :
(1) the players are going to want to play the newer version, not the one we're playing.
(2) it's got correctiions and additions that might make a difference in gameplay.
(3) we're only on turn, like 5 or something.
(4) Com'on okay?

What do you think Bill?

[Hyding]

You are awaiting my turn 8.

But... I wasted my first turn and you were still knocking the dust off your memory of this scenario so a restart may be best.

I'm also receiving pbl files showing your situation at the start of your turn. I have not been viewing them since I realized what they were but hopefully this will stop occurring if we begin a new game. Should we begin a new AAR for the new game?

Where have you spotted the new version?

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Narses
You are awaiting my turn 8.

But... I wasted my first turn and you were still knocking the dust off your memory of this scenario so a restart may be best.

I'm also receiving pbl files showing your situation at the start of your turn. I have not been viewing them since I realized what they were but hopefully this will stop occurring if we begin a new game. Should we begin a new AAR for the new game?

Yes indeed. Please do me a favor and start the new one for me. Thanks.

ORIGINAL: Narses
Where have you spotted the new version?

Curt Posted the new version right here:
tm.asp?m=4390629

[Hyding]

Okay it has been years since I loaded a new version or a scenario would someone walk me (and anyone who has not done this before) through this just to be sure?

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Narses
Okay it has been years since I loaded a new version or a scenario would someone walk me
(and anyone who has not done this before) through this just to be sure?

Just unzip the download package and put the *.sce, *.doc, and *.bmp in the Modern-Asia
scenario folder overwriting the old copies, and put the CSV folder in your graphics
override folder overwriting the old copy. Then start up the game. I'll go prepare
the challenge that you can accept.

EDIT: Yeah, I've probably confused you. Don't start up the game. I've already
created the challenge you can accept. I'll email you with the password.

[Hyding]

Okay I guess I did need to ask for help.

Inside the TOAW IV folder I can only find a graphics folder and a graphics file I do not see the others. I know I could find them in TOAW III but I do not see them here. I also do not see a saves file but I can access that as a recently used folder.

[larryfulkerson]

Here you go Bill dude. Here's some clues. You can see there's some
file name changes involved and the scenario specific folder needs a
name change to match the new name of the scenario. And the equipment
file needs a name change too come to think of it.

[larryfulkerson]

The equipment file was named "equipment.eqp" and that won't work. You gotta rename the equipment file as well.

EDIT: And yes, I'm modding the scenario with some of my own damaged bridge tiles, etc.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what's going on in the\ new scenario for the NVA. The RR engineers are going to be scarce for the first early
way time period and the um.....command groups are to cease production on T61 and that's all you're gonna get. Great.

[Hyding]

THanks for the help Larry I think I've got it. Have accepted your challenge looks like you did set yourself up as the NLF again.

God Luck have fun.

[larryfulkerson]

Bill and I have corresponded back and forth and we've decided to restart and do a PBEM game the
old fashioned way. That will produce a file that I would ordinarily send to Bill but I had a
thought: How about instead of sending it to Bill why don't I post it here below so that you
guys can watch the playback. My password is "password" without the quotes in case you need it
at some point, no wait, to get into MY turns you'd need Bill's password so I guess you'll have
to PM him for that in future turns. This turn doesn't have the Allies side password yet.

Just unzip it and load the saved game.

[Hyding]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

Bill and I have corresponded back and forth and we've decided to restart and do a PBEM game the
old fashioned way. That will produce a file that I would ordinarily send to Bill but I had a
thought: How about instead of sending it to Bill why don't I post it here below so that you
guys can watch the playback. My password is "password" without the quotes in case you need it
at some point, no wait, to get into MY turns you'd need Bill's password so I guess you'll have
to PM him for that in future turns. This turn doesn't have the Allies side password yet.

Just unzip it and load the saved game.

BUT I'M SHY!
Well I guess if you show them yours I can show them mine.

The password I will use will be drowssap.

Every foolish attack and every scout platoon choppered nto an NVA regiment will be there.

Since everyone could have so much detailed information about the map and unit strengths perhaps we should use separate threads. That way everyone caan comment and question freely without giving away too much too early.

[larryfulkerson]

So all that works for me. And you, Bill, started this thread so I'll use the other one.
Good idea.