Questions about Campaign For North Africa 40D-43

[warspite1]

Can anybody assist please?

I am playing the above scenario as the CW. There are a few things I don't understand and cannot see anything in the manual, designers notes or the documentation.

1. At the end of the Axis Turn 46 the turn went straight into another Axis turn. The CW did not get a go. I don't believe I did anything different. Is this a bug or a game/scenario feature?

2. There are Allied 'strongpoints' at Tobruk. 2 or 3 times now the Axis have bombarded these and they have been slaughtered by a 'minefield effect'. This is the only reference I can see to this in the paperwork. What is this about please? Why would a minefield cause massive losses to units conducting an artillery bombardment?

The Crusader AA used for the Tobruk Strongpoints have been renamed “Tobruk Strongpoint”, and made “fixed”, with a different graphic. Similarly, the 104mm Guns used for the “Tobruk Minefield Effect” have been so renamed and made fixed.

Also these strongpoints never seem to go down in strength. They have been bombarded repeatedly for many, many turns, but they do not ever seem to be affected.

Thanks for any help.

[Szilard]

For 1, this is the widely disliked "variable initiative" feature, which can flip the player order. Sec 10.1 in the manual.

The Force defined in the Scenario as “the first player” (usually the Attacking Force) will always
move first on the first Turn of a Scenario. After that, the first player is determined by an Initiative Check. This means the order of players can change from Turn to Turn.

The Initiative Level of a Force is partly randomized, but is strongly influenced by the
average Movement Allowance of all friendly Land units on the map not assigned to Formations with
a Reserve status.

Hopefully a future patch will make this feature optional.

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Can anybody assist please?

I am playing the above scenario as the CW. There are a few things I don't understand and cannot see anything in the manual, designers notes or the documentation.

1. At the end of the Axis Turn 46 the turn went straight into another Axis turn. The CW did not get a go. I don't believe I did anything different. Is this a bug or a game/scenario feature?

You have variable initiative turned on. (As you should). For the longest time, you were dealing only with the mostly foot-bound Italians, keeping the initiative to yourself. Now you face the heavily motorized DAK. Initiative has switched back to them.

2. There are Allied 'strongpoints' at Tobruk. 2 or 3 times now the Axis have bombarded these and they have been slaughtered by a 'minefield effect'. This is the only reference I can see to this in the paperwork. What is this about please? Why would a minefield cause massive losses to units conducting an artillery bombardment?

The minefield units' effect are augmented by minefield artillery in Tobruk. Axis artillery that bombards within its range suffer counterbattery from it.

The Crusader AA used for the Tobruk Strongpoints have been renamed “Tobruk Strongpoint”, and made “fixed”, with a different graphic. Similarly, the 104mm Guns used for the “Tobruk Minefield Effect” have been so renamed and made fixed.

Also these strongpoints never seem to go down in strength. They have been bombarded repeatedly for many, many turns, but they do not ever seem to be affected.

They are armored and so are nearly immune to bombardment. It takes armor to take them out.

You are playing the PO. No human would be so ineffective. It doesn't seem to matter how strong I make the Tobruk defenses they can only hold up for a few turns against human Axis players.

Considering that this is your first time out of the gate, I think you've accounted for yourself very well. But don't lose track of the fact that you're playing the PO.

[warspite1]

Thank-you both for your assistance - so I should have been looking up initiative....

Considering that this is your first time out of the gate, I think you've accounted for yourself very well. But don't lose track of the fact that you're playing the PO.

What? So you are trying to tell me I haven't suddenly morphed from wargaming liability to tactical genius overnight???



[:D][:)]

[secadegas]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

You have variable initiative turned on. (As you should).

Meaning there is a way to turn it off?

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: secadegas

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

You have variable initiative turned on. (As you should).

Meaning there is a way to turn it off?

Actually, no. I was thinking of "Scenario Variability". A senior moment.

[Oberst_Klink]

ORIGINAL: secadegas

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

You have variable initiative turned on. (As you should).

Meaning there is a way to turn it off?

Joao,

it's related to your original post - tm.asp?m=4379545

Klink, Oberst

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

You are playing the PO. No human would be so ineffective. It doesn't seem to matter how strong I make the Tobruk defenses they can only hold up for a few turns against human Axis players.

warspite1

So does this mean that in a two-player (human vs human) game the scenario is unbalanced?

[secadegas]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

ORIGINAL: secadegas

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

You have variable initiative turned on. (As you should).

Meaning there is a way to turn it off?

Actually, no. I was thinking of "Scenario Variability". A senior moment.

No worries. Happens to me all the time...

[secadegas]

ORIGINAL: Oberst_Klink

ORIGINAL: secadegas

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

You have variable initiative turned on. (As you should).

Meaning there is a way to turn it off?

Joao,

it's related to your original post - tm.asp?m=4379545

Klink, Oberst

Noted. Thanks.

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

You are playing the PO. No human would be so ineffective. It doesn't seem to matter how strong I make the Tobruk defenses they can only hold up for a few turns against human Axis players.

warspite1

So does this mean that in a two-player (human vs human) game the scenario is unbalanced?

Rugged Defense playing statistics indicate that it is pretty well balanced. But there are such wide variation in skill between players who can say? PO vs. PO tests always go to the CW. I think the Axis have real chances to win, especially on Rommel's first offensive. But if the CW can weather that storm, he should prevail due to weight of material.

[Curtis Lemay]

Here's an old article I've written on the scenario that I'd advise players to read before playing against a human:

tm.asp?m=2231162

Some of it is now obsolete, but most remains good advice.

[mccartyg]

Well, what would you refer as a good starting intermediate example of TOAW 4 gameplay for someone that has played TOAW3, Bob Cross?

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: mccartyg

Well, what would you refer as a good starting intermediate example of TOAW 4 gameplay for someone that has played TOAW3, Bob Cross?

I'm not sure exactly what you're asking for, but I always recommend this detailed example from TOAW III as a training tool:

tm.asp?m=1546619

Note that it dates from 2007, so some aspects of it are obsolete, but it's so detailed that it should still help newcomers.