Desert War: What's Next?

[bcgames]

You have convinced me--Eastern Front is the money-maker. But which year is the money-maker?

1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
Some years
All years

Which year does the job? Convince your peers.

[Jorm]

france 1940 would be good

a BIG no to normandy or bulge, there are already many games that cover these

[Rasputitsa]

ORIGINAL: bcgames

You have convinced me--Eastern Front is the money-maker. But which year is the money-maker?

1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
Some years
All years

Which year does the job? Convince your peers.

EF not my choice, but staying positive, suggest middle years late 42/43.

Early on the Soviets have a major command and control breakdown and the Axis has a very large air superiority. Conversely, 1944/45 the Axis becomes a punch-bag.

1943, things have equalised, with both sides having useful air components, nice equipment on line, the Axis have Tiger, Panther, etc., with the Soviets packing some useful kit, T34/85, IL2 etc..

Both sides have powerful anti-tank guns available, so the AFVs cannot just run amok, neither side is a pushover and some thought will have to be given to strategy and tactics.

I think the main issue is unit count, for a WEGO game, where you need to anticipate the results of the combat. You don't get to intervene, or change you mind, as the turn plays through, which you can in a turn-based game, so there is a lot to remember.

Scenarios of reasonable size, or sand-box options where the scenario size is adjustable.

[Royal Fusilier]

Eastern Front late '42 would be best since the Soviets have found their feet and the Germans are no longer running over them. That is why Velikiye Luki is such a good battle to cover since the size is manageable and the Soviets are on the offense. It was know as the Stalingrad in the north but with a much better German chance to avoid defeat. Second Kharkov would also be great but that would be quite a large battle.

[Meteor2]

I would opt for
- Velikiye Luki
- Charkow (2nd and 3rd)
- Smolensk 1941
- Operation "Wintergewitter" (?)

So, mostly for the period 1942 - 1943.

[FredSanford3]

Wouldn't it be easier and quicker to bring new games out if they are an evolutionary step from the current Desert War, rather than a jump to an entirely new theater? Assuming so, I think the best bet for the developers would be to expand to slightly earlier, and slightly later, and geographically similar theaters.

So in that case, I'd vote for a Torch expansion, and then some eastern Med action that doesn't get a lot of coverage- Lebanon/Syria campaign, Greece, Crete.

Then expand to Eastern Front 42-43 (you'd already have German templates from the current & Torch eras), and Sicilian/Italian Campaign.

Then a "Blitz" game for 39-42 (including Barbarossa)

Then a Western Front 44-45 title

Then a late war Eastern Front title.

Then a Pacific title, and maybe include Korean War (I included Korea since much of the Pac theater land battles were fairly one-sided and had limited scope for maneuver).

[jack54]

I think....Torch is a great idea![:D]

[Saint Ruth]

Yes, Torch would be good, but I've also an itch to do something different, away form the sun! [8D]
It'd be nice to add weather (more than Tunisian mud I mean!), air-supply drops, rail supply etc, different terrain etc...
Cheers,
Brian

[Royal Fusilier]

To me Torch would be rather boring. Best to leave the desert and go to greener fields.

[Deathtreader]

ORIGINAL: Saint Ruth

Yes, Torch would be good, but I've also an itch to do something different, away form the sun! [8D]
It'd be nice to add weather (more than Tunisian mud I mean!), air-supply drops, rail supply etc, different terrain etc...
Cheers,
Brian

Hi all,

While I'm a fan of the EF 42 to 43 scenarios, for something COMPLETELY different from the sand and sun you might consider Finland 39 with snow and ice, completely different topography and weather/climate, bumbling giant vs fewer more nimble opponents. Allows for several new unit types, many possible small/medium scenarios, ground conditions(snow, ice, mud etc.), and because of a shorter timeframe would be suitable for the implementation of a full campaign game.

Just sayin........... [&o]

Rob.[:)]

[bcgames]

Describe your most wanted Eastern Front 1942-43 scenario. Given that the Desert War engine is focused on the operational level at army level and below, what do you want to see? German 6th Army vs 62 Army during Summer/Fall 1942? Or individual armies involved in the brief eight days of Operation Citadel. Or Corps vs corps or division, or division vs division or regiment/brigade? Describe the scenario--situation, date and objective. Trust that I have the sources to fill in the blanks. What say you?

[Meteor2]

Kharkov, May 1942 (10.05. - 30.05.1942)

Probably on a regimental level.
With 350.000 german soldiers and 750.000 soviet soldiers regiments are a reasonable unit size, I think.
Or maybe regiments on the German side and divisions on the soviet side.

[Royal Fusilier]

I think Velikiye Luki at the battalion level would be best. Start in mid-November '42 till mid-January '43 with the Soviet objective of capturing the city while the Germans need to hold and relieve the garrison within the city.

[kipanderson]

Hi,

Scale. Still battalion manoeuvre units, this lower operational scale is the most fun[:)].


Mid to late war. If it has to be '42 then relief of Stalingrad, or attempt to relieve. DEC '42 with 11th Panzer and all that.


Big game but with some smaller scenarios. Kharkov Feb '43 would fit the bill perfectly. First showing of SS for some different units for those who like that stuff and lots of armoured spearheads rushing and crashing around. Plus terrain variation with some big cities too.

All the best,
kip.

[76mm]

Please not Stalingrad or Kursk [>:][>:][>:]

Smolensk, Kharkov 42, Kharkov 43, Maybe the advance on the Dnepr in 43, heck even Rostov or Crimea.

[JJKettunen]

A vote for Kharkov Feb '43 from me.

[Okayrun3254]

I appreciate the opportunity to provide recommendations for scenarios. My picks are:

Stalingrad relief - Dec 42
Chir River Battles - Dec 42
Kharkov - May 42
Kharkov - Winter 43
2nd Battle of Kiev, Oct-Dec 43
Battle of Kirovograd - Jan 44

[Rasputitsa]

'Now for something completely different'

Different timescale, but how about 'Battles of Khalkhin Gol', May to August 1939.

Open terrain, similar to the Desert War scenarios.

[Lowlaner2012]

I would like to see the game system used to do the Arab Israeli wars.....

Cheers

[wodin]

Go tactical!!😁

Or at least reduce hex size, as just to many stacks and going by screenshots looks very crammed.

How's about doing away with hexes altogether?