Who's the sadistic....

Jackk · Post by **Jackk** » Tue Jun 27, 2000 7:06 am

....sunovagun who made that Steel Shield scen?

Cripes I fired that up to see what kinda neat stuff was in there and ... OMG ... that's alot of units...alot of map....alot of ...AAAAAGGGGHHHHH! Holy cow.
An hour later...after my first turn...I thought "Jackk, there aint no way yer gettin thru this in one evening...or 3 for that matter!"
I guess I'm just not ready for divisional (?) sized combat yet...LOL
I will finish this scen since I started it already, but I think I'll stick to the smaller stuff from now on....I'm just not that much into self-inflicted confusion

Oh, and before anyone fries me, this is actually a compliment. Man what time this must've taken. You guys did a heck of a job on this scen, and on the patch too! I couldn't even imagine stocking this scen with troops much less designing the map and laying it all out. Wow! Awesome!

Good job guys!

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Jackk
"Smile today cuz tomorrow may really suck"

Tankhead · Post by **Tankhead** » Tue Jun 27, 2000 8:33 am

You could give your thanks to Wild Bill. It's just awesome I just love it. Sadistic yeah

WB is just a mad man when it comes to scenarios. Hey WB if you listening my hats off to you I been at this scenario since I downloaded the pacht Sunday morning and I only got 8 turns done what a beast

Tankhead

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Tue Jun 27, 2000 11:47 am

Gentlemen, I'm always listening

Especially when the words are so kind. When they are not, I immediately ply my age and say, "huh?"

Steel Shield is not for the faint of heart or the short of time. It is for those, like you Tankhead, and others of your temperament, who love the big battles. We have our quick plays scenarios for some of the guys. Now for some "big plays" for those who love them.

Playing it is a challenge. Designing it...You can imagine. My thought on the map was, okay, ...okay ...okay ...WHAT, MORE MAP?

When you've designed nearly 1,000 scenarios for all versions of SP over the last five years, with three standard sizes, no more, you become used to them. Now being confronted with a map twice as big requires some serious rethinking

But its done. Its been tested. It can be played. It can be won. It just takes awhile.

NOW

in the next one I maxed out the UK/NZ forces in Operation Supercharge. The good news and the bad news. First the good. It is desert, open terrain. You can see your units so much easier.

Now the bad news

So can the enemy. If playing the UK, topping Aqaqqir Ridge and staring down the muzzles of Rommel's carefull placed 88s will certainly test your will and skill

Now that is no spoiler. Rommel always had a pair of 88s in that back pocket of his. You know they'll be there.

So after wandering the woods of the Ardennes, in the freezing cold and snow, get ready for a change in climate and a change in battle. This one is really bloody!

I hope to have it to you in a week or so.
"Supercharge - The Maximum Effort!"

Montgomery stated flatly that he was willing to accept 100% casualties to break Rommel's forces and send him in retreat towards Tripoli.

Coming soon...Wild Bill

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In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

[This message has been edited by Wild Bill (edited 06-27-2000).]

BA Evans · Post by **BA Evans** » Tue Jun 27, 2000 5:12 pm

Originally posted by Wild Bill:

Montgomery stated flatly that he was willing to accept 100% casualties to break Rommel's forces and send him in retreat towards Tripoli.

What did his troops think about this statement?!?

Tankhead · Post by **Tankhead** » Tue Jun 27, 2000 6:53 pm

Wild Bill you sure know how to keep a fellah in suspense. Looking forward to supercharge

Tankhead

Spunkgibbon · Post by **Spunkgibbon** » Tue Jun 27, 2000 11:27 pm

Originally posted by BA Evans:

What did his troops think about this statement?!?

It was probably something like:
Yeah, right. He'll never get 100%. He'll be lucky to get 50% casualties. Bloody nerve of the fella. I'll shoot Rommel myself before getting wounded for that pompous git.

Fabs · Post by **Fabs** » Wed Jun 28, 2000 12:46 am

Can't wait to get my hands on "Supercharge", El Alamein being one of my favourite battles.

Will we also get a map of the terrain separately, for those of us who might like to design smaller bits of the same battle?

Will it include terrain fought over during "Lightfoot", the precursor of Supercharge?

Many thanks again, Wild Bill, with great anticipation.

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Fabs

[This message has been edited by Fabs (edited 06-27-2000).]

johnfmonahan · Post by **johnfmonahan** » Wed Jun 28, 2000 4:10 am

Bill,

You guys do a GREAT job. Many thanks.

I played and bought a lot of SPI games in the 70's and 80's. I always thought that the downfall was listening too much to their feedback forms. That group was skewed toward large, complicated scenarios/games. I see some of this on these boards. You have the hardest core gamers. I am concerned that we are building a game and expectations of games toward a small group of people that cannot be economically sustained. I suggest that you start running a survey of people who download SPWAW (as opposed to the hardcore gang(including me)) to get the expectations/desires of a larger, more economically sustainable group. I love your work and would hate to see you repeat anyones' misteakes.
I don't know your business model but I would constantly verify the assumptions. Free advice and worth every cent !

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When in doubt, go on line.

Exnur · Post by **Exnur** » Wed Jun 28, 2000 9:23 am

Originally posted by BA Evans:

What did his troops think about this statement?!?

There are a lot of stories about troops resenting Monty, especially the other nations in the Commonwealth. I read one story where he told a Canadian subordinate to hurry up his men and take the enemy positions, because the German positions didn't look tidy on his map. This is after some long fighting by the Canadian 1st infantry div. On the other hand, he was well liked by a lot of British soldiers.

Desert Fox · Post by **Desert Fox** » Wed Jun 28, 2000 10:54 am

Originally posted by Exnur:
On the other hand, he was well liked by a lot of British soldiers.

People liked Monty? Well, everyone else had the common sense to realize that the sooner the war was over, the sooner Monty would be out of a job and more importantly, out of their lives.

Voriax · Post by **Voriax** » Wed Jun 28, 2000 5:18 pm

Originally posted by Wild Bill:

Playing it is a challenge. Designing it...You can imagine. My thought on the map was, okay, ...okay ...okay ...WHAT, MORE MAP?

Yeah indeed. I tend to forget moving some units as they are so faaaar away

Going on turn 17 now as Germans, US army is broken so things are looking good! And I still have a pile of reinforcements coming up. But, knowing Bill's designs, US reinforcements are also in the way I think.

In any case the final result will be a bloodbath in enormous proportions.

Extremely well done, Bill

Voriax

bigjim · Post by **bigjim** » Thu Jun 29, 2000 7:21 am

Awww it wasn't too tuff I won as the US in 14 turns the Germans tossed in the towel.

BigJim

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Thu Jun 29, 2000 7:38 am

Ah, not all of us are born killers like you, Big Jim

Currie's reaction (head of 9th Armored Brigade was a stoic one). He did not give that message to his subordinates, wisely so.

When the battle ended and the smoke was clearing, only 12 of his over 70 tanks were operational.

Asked about his Brigade, he bitterly pointed to the few beaten up tanks that remained and like Pickett of old, cried, "THAT is my brigade!"

I don't think he ever forgave Montgomery for that one.

Rommel did break, however, and Monty kept his job.

Thanks guys. Stalingrad, Supercharge and more big ones.

And don't worry, smaller quicker playing scenarios are my favorites so we'll never get away from that, its a promise!

We need a mix, however, to please all gamers, and that is what we will have as long as I am doing the scenario thing here.

And how long will that be?

Wild Bill

------------------
In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

jsaurman · Post by **jsaurman** » Mon Jul 03, 2000 11:18 pm

I loved this scenerio, played it as the US and won in 29 turns, it was difficult to find a way to manage where everything was on such a large map, but you learn eventually.

I especially liked the enemy stragglers that arrive towards the end of the battle, once you think you have everything under control, here come a few more units and then you have to scramble to piece together something to defeat them. The German tactics are much better than in SP3, they avoid large open spaces and crossroads, and try to attack from the top or bottom instead of the "straight on from the east" tactic used so much in SP3.

All around a great scenerio! Keep up the good work Wild Bill!

JIM