http://www.wargamecollege.net/2012/04/1942-1945-pbem-update-1-5-beta/
Just a quick update that The Third Reich 42 - 45 PBEM **UNTESTED BETA** 1.5 is available for download above... just over .5 MB
Quick notes are there, but notes for the Strategic Warfare Component can be found at
http://www.wargamecollege.net/2012/01/e ... s-tr42-45/
What through off the previous version hardcore was adjustments to the formations and OOB which skewed the events, which I avoided this time. I only managed to get a few of the TO&E changes in -- and I definitely appreciate all the help and notes. Will see how things go with this version.
East & West Front 1942-1945 scenario
Moderators: ralphtricky, JAMiAM
RE: East & West Front 1942-1945 scenario
I decided to resign from my job - which started out great for the first 9 months and has been hell the past 27 months. During this period the company went through 7 marketing managers and no less than 6 ppc teams, just to put that into context. That carried over to my being exceptionally erratic too... still 'twitching' - heh..
Anyways, back to wargaming and an attempt to develop a few niches in Ukraine between a handful of expats. A close friend of mind has OdessaTalk.com - which caters to news and commentary about issues in Ukraine. Just around the corner is Victory in Europe day which is still celebrated here. One thing we're trying to find is a "Scenario" that focuses upon the Siege of Odessa in 1941 - which led to Odessa being declared one of the first Hero Cities of the Soviet Union -- we'll be doing an article on that, but he is also wanting to see a "wargame after action report" to match with it. Likely to be the first of several of this type of thing. Will be linking to Matrix in support of any games we actually run (TOAW III, WITE or otherwise).
Welcome any word of a scenario for TOAW -- otherwise might run with either the WITE Kyiv or Dnepropetrovsk scenario - and then maybe make a TOAW specific Siege of Odessa for next year... or somethin'
Anyways, back to wargaming and an attempt to develop a few niches in Ukraine between a handful of expats. A close friend of mind has OdessaTalk.com - which caters to news and commentary about issues in Ukraine. Just around the corner is Victory in Europe day which is still celebrated here. One thing we're trying to find is a "Scenario" that focuses upon the Siege of Odessa in 1941 - which led to Odessa being declared one of the first Hero Cities of the Soviet Union -- we'll be doing an article on that, but he is also wanting to see a "wargame after action report" to match with it. Likely to be the first of several of this type of thing. Will be linking to Matrix in support of any games we actually run (TOAW III, WITE or otherwise).
Welcome any word of a scenario for TOAW -- otherwise might run with either the WITE Kyiv or Dnepropetrovsk scenario - and then maybe make a TOAW specific Siege of Odessa for next year... or somethin'
RE: East & West Front 1942-1945 scenario
Mark,
There is a TOAW I scenario Odessa 41 by Scott M Baron over at Rugged Defense. I cannot comment on it since I have not yet seen it but I do have it converted to TOAW III if you are unable to convert it yourself. The scenario is from 2003 and almost certainly needs work. That's the only one I can think of. It might be worth checking it out.
Best wishes,
Steve
There is a TOAW I scenario Odessa 41 by Scott M Baron over at Rugged Defense. I cannot comment on it since I have not yet seen it but I do have it converted to TOAW III if you are unable to convert it yourself. The scenario is from 2003 and almost certainly needs work. That's the only one I can think of. It might be worth checking it out.
Best wishes,
Steve
I love the smell of TOAW in the morning...
RE: East & West Front 1942-1945 scenario
Hi Steve,
Thanks - I just tried opening it without luck - the editor just hung for a few minutes. If you can send it to me at MWDabbs (at) gmail dot com - I'd be very grateful. Will take a look at it and go from there.
Thanks much!
Mark
Thanks - I just tried opening it without luck - the editor just hung for a few minutes. If you can send it to me at MWDabbs (at) gmail dot com - I'd be very grateful. Will take a look at it and go from there.
Thanks much!
Mark
RE: East & West Front 1942-1945 scenario
Mark,
Having problems with thunderstorm at the moment so I may have sent the scenario twice. Sorry about that.
Best wishes,
Steve
Having problems with thunderstorm at the moment so I may have sent the scenario twice. Sorry about that.
Best wishes,
Steve
I love the smell of TOAW in the morning...
RE: East & West Front 1942-1945 scenario
No problemo, thank you for the file. Just responded via e-mail. If nothing else it is a good starting point. I'll go through Russian sources tonight to see how hard it would be to make another version with a bit more detail. McBride's Siege of Sevastapol is similar in a number of ways. Or may just play a larger scenario and just put a special focus on this area of operations within the broader context. Thanks Steve!
RE: East & West Front 1942-1945 scenario
Just posted the same to the AAR, posting here, too---
about a big problem. Up until the most recent turn received, Axis supply was 27 --
on T015, it jumped up to 77%.
I just went through the scenario dump file and isolated the problem to the DAK Axis Supply Point Reduction using the wrong trigger (Supply 1+ vs Supply Point 1). Where the supply point should be just 50% of regular -- the trigger effectively added +50 to axis supply.
I don't see a fix for this. The event is #849 - one of the last few and one of the last added.
My apologies to everyone -- I'll have a fix out later today (Friday).
about a big problem. Up until the most recent turn received, Axis supply was 27 --
on T015, it jumped up to 77%.
I just went through the scenario dump file and isolated the problem to the DAK Axis Supply Point Reduction using the wrong trigger (Supply 1+ vs Supply Point 1). Where the supply point should be just 50% of regular -- the trigger effectively added +50 to axis supply.
I don't see a fix for this. The event is #849 - one of the last few and one of the last added.
My apologies to everyone -- I'll have a fix out later today (Friday).
RE: East & West Front 1942-1945 scenario
wargamecollege.net/ThirdReich42-45v152.zip
Ok, that's the link to the updated file v. 1.5.2 - fixes the event in question, further tweaks Axis 81mm & 120mm mortar replacement rates.
Again, my apologies.
Ok, that's the link to the updated file v. 1.5.2 - fixes the event in question, further tweaks Axis 81mm & 120mm mortar replacement rates.
Again, my apologies.
RE: East & West Front 1942-1945 scenario
Mark,
Thanks for the update. Keep up the good work.
Best wishes,
Steve
Thanks for the update. Keep up the good work.
Best wishes,
Steve
I love the smell of TOAW in the morning...
Calculating Squads replacement rates
Mark, just a quick question: how did you figure out the replacement rates for the rifle squads of the different nations?
Lotsa historical data for planes, guns & tanks...but squads?
Based on the number of infantry squads in a division I use usually assume that 25% of all the men historically sent to the front get incorporated into infantry squads (this includes engineers and cavalry). Then I assume 10 men per squad. So:
rifle squads per turn = (conscripts per turn/4) / 10
The above might be different for different nations depending on the ratio of support to frontline troops.
Just curious to see how you get your numbers!
Lotsa historical data for planes, guns & tanks...but squads?
Based on the number of infantry squads in a division I use usually assume that 25% of all the men historically sent to the front get incorporated into infantry squads (this includes engineers and cavalry). Then I assume 10 men per squad. So:
rifle squads per turn = (conscripts per turn/4) / 10
The above might be different for different nations depending on the ratio of support to frontline troops.
Just curious to see how you get your numbers!
RE: Calculating Squads replacement rates
Hey Fabio, how's it going? My brain buckled trying to get historically accurate replacement rates as most scenarios deviate from history - some play more aggressive, others less aggressive. It depends, in part, on how you view replacements. On one hand they could be new recruits only. On the other, and on this scale, they could be a composite of recruits, return of long-term injured, unit reorganizations and streamlining of teeth to tail ratios - sending clerks off to be riflemen, etc.
There are a lot of variables in this scenario, too, and it builds in the German mobilization system. Axis receive 4 incremental replacement boosts totaling up to +52% of base in 10 - 15% increments; Allies can also reduce Axis replacement rates via 9 EEV events for up to 140% of base in 5 to 35% increments. Most of that is not likely to be seen until 1944-1945.
I went the simple route, starting with 1% of total and rounding to the nearest regiment, battalion or company by squad type. That proved way too much. Present version has it at .65% which is a lot closer, but still too much. Next version drops it to about .5% - and may or may not consolidate the types of rifle squads.
While an argument could easily be made that there's no way that the Axis could generate as many actual rifle squads as "could happen in a best case scenario". But, it could conceivably increase the amount of firepower per man/squad.
Hopefully this helps some or at least explain what I'm looking at or trying to...
There are a lot of variables in this scenario, too, and it builds in the German mobilization system. Axis receive 4 incremental replacement boosts totaling up to +52% of base in 10 - 15% increments; Allies can also reduce Axis replacement rates via 9 EEV events for up to 140% of base in 5 to 35% increments. Most of that is not likely to be seen until 1944-1945.
I went the simple route, starting with 1% of total and rounding to the nearest regiment, battalion or company by squad type. That proved way too much. Present version has it at .65% which is a lot closer, but still too much. Next version drops it to about .5% - and may or may not consolidate the types of rifle squads.
While an argument could easily be made that there's no way that the Axis could generate as many actual rifle squads as "could happen in a best case scenario". But, it could conceivably increase the amount of firepower per man/squad.
Hopefully this helps some or at least explain what I'm looking at or trying to...
RE: Calculating Squads replacement rates
Coming up with an issue. I have the completed scenario, everything is done. Another player has done some work on the map, but saved it as a new scenario (without OOB/events, etc.) - just a blank map. I saved the new map as an .mal file. Then when importing it into the existing scenario, it resets all of the units as needing to be deployed. Both maps are 299 x 299.
Am I doing something wrong? Need to do something else with the map file? or, is that just the way things are?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Am I doing something wrong? Need to do something else with the map file? or, is that just the way things are?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
RE: Calculating Squads replacement rates
Mark, can you save events and OOB as XML files and load them into a 'new' scenario with the new map? I am not sure if you need to redeploy every unit though. That 'd be a bummer.
I have been working hard on 'East Front II'! I will start posting about various design choices soon. The first step was to make the
OOB and replacement rates as historical as possible. Given that replacements are mostly done through 'disband' events there will be options to make the production and the OOB more flexible, especially for the Soviet Union as the campaign proceeds, as getting extra arty tubes vs tanks, or having more armies than historical, at a cost in supply rates...
It should be fun. I will surely have design questions for you!
I have been working hard on 'East Front II'! I will start posting about various design choices soon. The first step was to make the
OOB and replacement rates as historical as possible. Given that replacements are mostly done through 'disband' events there will be options to make the production and the OOB more flexible, especially for the Soviet Union as the campaign proceeds, as getting extra arty tubes vs tanks, or having more armies than historical, at a cost in supply rates...
It should be fun. I will surely have design questions for you!
RE: Calculating Squads replacement rates
Whoa - cool, that appears to have worked perfectly, thank you, thank you, thank you! Deployment are retained. New map is implemented. Events are intact. The Global Financial Crisis has ended. Well...
RE: Calculating Squads replacement rates
Just a quick update that a new version of the Third Reich 1942 - 1945 (1.8) will (barring natural disasters) be available on Monday at the latest. Lots of changes have been implemented, here's a quick overview:
* Axis squad-based, some heavy weapons and some aircraft-based replacement rates reduced again, some Wehrkreis increased.
* Allied squad-based replacement rates (mostly Soviet) increased dramatically with additional supplemental disbands.
* Strategic Warfare and EEV system substantially overhauled; same effects but based upon a scale of 950 vs 100. Now allows for +1 to EEV per industry attacked per turn with an Axis absorption rate of -2 EEV per turn through Spring of 1944; then -3 EEV 44-45. Works to encourage a more systematic and sustained bombing campaign that can push the EEV and detrimental Axis effects higher than before. The greatest deterioration will still come through capturing the Ruhr Valley and Ploesti. Surrender of Axis minor allies now contributes to increasing EEV.
* Italian and Romanian surrender routines improved (less predictable results).
* Italian 2nd, 9th and 11th Armies (Balkans/Greece) and Regia Marina are now "unreliable" (chance to go static each turn)
* PLA units in the Balkans are now all (G)uerrillas. This area should now be a TRUE nightmare for the Axis.
* Thanks to Mike Goldsberry - a comprehensive review of US/UK forces by brigade/squadron - should now reflect the full glory of Western Air Power and adds a few ground units. Special Operations components increased to include "airborne deception divisions", more commandos, and an overall tighter TO&E structure.
* Soviet OOB adjusted to remove the AT Brigade "composites" - shifted support assets to the Army level rocket units, shifted AT and Assault Guns over to the Tank Brigades -- should apply to less "automatic overruns" and make the tank brigades more viable in the end game.
* A number of assault gun and anti-tank brigades added to the Axis OOB (missed previously).
* More formations start in a fixed status with TO disbands that can be used to activate them early at a significant VP cost.
* Mike expanded the map to include most of Iraq - past Basra and down to Kuwait City.
* Some super rivers reduced. Winter weather should allow more freezing to take place.
* Implemented 6 Axis TO's - can only select 1 on Turn 1:
A) Historical - +2 Axis Supply (original rate decreased by 2)
B) a slightly embellished Plan Kathleen -- Brandenberg's link up with the IRA in Ireland.
C) early Case Anton -- early disbanding of Vichy Forces in return for 1 Franco-German Corps and unfettered access to Vichy territories.
D) Herkules -- probably the strongest TO, gives the Axis a foothold on Malta - control of the island is not guaranteed. With new exclusion zones, Malta becomes a very prominent element of the Mediterranean (at least until Allies approach Tunis).
E) Arab Uprising -- maybe the most controversial element in which the main danger is Contagion.
F) Maus Battalion -- for those who love "special units" -- trades 15 turns of 3% replacements for a total of 18 Super Heavy Maus Tanks which will only drop into 653 Hvy AT Bn.
* Potential for Turkey to activate as Pro-Axis if Grozny or Sokhumi are taken by Axis.
Doing some minor tweaking and playtesting, just fixed the last of the known broken events.
Core issues with 1.5 are Axis replacement rates being too high, super-rivers play too significant of a role, the Strategic Bombing campaign is too reliant upon progress on the ground to have a truly significant impact, and some events are too predictable - and can be gamed by both sides.
The Herkules/Malta TO is included and may seem overpowered favoring the Axis, however this is the ONLY TO that will become "immediately known" to the Allied Player, applying to greater security in activating the English Home Forces and/or drawing upon English garrison forces in the Middle East. It also carries very substantial risk to 3x Italian Naval Task Forces which become "unreliable" (chance to go static each turn) starting on Turn 6.
The Ireland and Arab Uprising "cards" if played make for kind of mini-game unto themselves. If the IRA "somehow" manages to take Belfast - the entire GHQ Home Forces is withdrawn from play to quell a "general uprising" (which could well re-ignite problems in the Middle East, too). The Arab Uprising... however, should be 'pure fun' -- giving the Axis player a chance to play the same kind of campaign that the Allies get in the Balkans - but across "wide open spaces".
Overall - my intention is for there to be a greater degree of uncertainty and higher levels of risk for both players.
I'll post again once it is ready for download. Initially the scenario instructions will likely be only available on the web site with a simplified "need to know" text file. The full scenario guide and updated charts will take me a couple more weeks.
Finally... unless there are major snafus (which I hope won't be the case) this is likely to be the last update for the scenario. Mike Goldsberry might take over from here, but we'll also be starting (renewing) work on another project. In any case there are very few events still open, no more units available to the Allies, no more formations available to the Axis, and I'm really not sure a PO is going to be worth the effort.
* Axis squad-based, some heavy weapons and some aircraft-based replacement rates reduced again, some Wehrkreis increased.
* Allied squad-based replacement rates (mostly Soviet) increased dramatically with additional supplemental disbands.
* Strategic Warfare and EEV system substantially overhauled; same effects but based upon a scale of 950 vs 100. Now allows for +1 to EEV per industry attacked per turn with an Axis absorption rate of -2 EEV per turn through Spring of 1944; then -3 EEV 44-45. Works to encourage a more systematic and sustained bombing campaign that can push the EEV and detrimental Axis effects higher than before. The greatest deterioration will still come through capturing the Ruhr Valley and Ploesti. Surrender of Axis minor allies now contributes to increasing EEV.
* Italian and Romanian surrender routines improved (less predictable results).
* Italian 2nd, 9th and 11th Armies (Balkans/Greece) and Regia Marina are now "unreliable" (chance to go static each turn)
* PLA units in the Balkans are now all (G)uerrillas. This area should now be a TRUE nightmare for the Axis.
* Thanks to Mike Goldsberry - a comprehensive review of US/UK forces by brigade/squadron - should now reflect the full glory of Western Air Power and adds a few ground units. Special Operations components increased to include "airborne deception divisions", more commandos, and an overall tighter TO&E structure.
* Soviet OOB adjusted to remove the AT Brigade "composites" - shifted support assets to the Army level rocket units, shifted AT and Assault Guns over to the Tank Brigades -- should apply to less "automatic overruns" and make the tank brigades more viable in the end game.
* A number of assault gun and anti-tank brigades added to the Axis OOB (missed previously).
* More formations start in a fixed status with TO disbands that can be used to activate them early at a significant VP cost.
* Mike expanded the map to include most of Iraq - past Basra and down to Kuwait City.
* Some super rivers reduced. Winter weather should allow more freezing to take place.
* Implemented 6 Axis TO's - can only select 1 on Turn 1:
A) Historical - +2 Axis Supply (original rate decreased by 2)
B) a slightly embellished Plan Kathleen -- Brandenberg's link up with the IRA in Ireland.
C) early Case Anton -- early disbanding of Vichy Forces in return for 1 Franco-German Corps and unfettered access to Vichy territories.
D) Herkules -- probably the strongest TO, gives the Axis a foothold on Malta - control of the island is not guaranteed. With new exclusion zones, Malta becomes a very prominent element of the Mediterranean (at least until Allies approach Tunis).
E) Arab Uprising -- maybe the most controversial element in which the main danger is Contagion.
F) Maus Battalion -- for those who love "special units" -- trades 15 turns of 3% replacements for a total of 18 Super Heavy Maus Tanks which will only drop into 653 Hvy AT Bn.
* Potential for Turkey to activate as Pro-Axis if Grozny or Sokhumi are taken by Axis.
Doing some minor tweaking and playtesting, just fixed the last of the known broken events.
Core issues with 1.5 are Axis replacement rates being too high, super-rivers play too significant of a role, the Strategic Bombing campaign is too reliant upon progress on the ground to have a truly significant impact, and some events are too predictable - and can be gamed by both sides.
The Herkules/Malta TO is included and may seem overpowered favoring the Axis, however this is the ONLY TO that will become "immediately known" to the Allied Player, applying to greater security in activating the English Home Forces and/or drawing upon English garrison forces in the Middle East. It also carries very substantial risk to 3x Italian Naval Task Forces which become "unreliable" (chance to go static each turn) starting on Turn 6.
The Ireland and Arab Uprising "cards" if played make for kind of mini-game unto themselves. If the IRA "somehow" manages to take Belfast - the entire GHQ Home Forces is withdrawn from play to quell a "general uprising" (which could well re-ignite problems in the Middle East, too). The Arab Uprising... however, should be 'pure fun' -- giving the Axis player a chance to play the same kind of campaign that the Allies get in the Balkans - but across "wide open spaces".
Overall - my intention is for there to be a greater degree of uncertainty and higher levels of risk for both players.
I'll post again once it is ready for download. Initially the scenario instructions will likely be only available on the web site with a simplified "need to know" text file. The full scenario guide and updated charts will take me a couple more weeks.
Finally... unless there are major snafus (which I hope won't be the case) this is likely to be the last update for the scenario. Mike Goldsberry might take over from here, but we'll also be starting (renewing) work on another project. In any case there are very few events still open, no more units available to the Allies, no more formations available to the Axis, and I'm really not sure a PO is going to be worth the effort.
RE: Third Reich 42-45 v. 1.8 available
http://www.wargamecollege.net/2012/08/reich-1942-1945-version-1-8/
Version 1.8 is now available. Scenario instructions are in the zip and on the web site. Web site and the earlier scenario guide are undergoing revisions.
Onto the next project.
Version 1.8 is now available. Scenario instructions are in the zip and on the web site. Web site and the earlier scenario guide are undergoing revisions.
Onto the next project.
RE: Third Reich 42-45 v. 1.8 available
Mark, since we're only 50 turns or so from the end of our playtest, I say we finish that up, then get started on this one.
Looking forward to it...
Looking forward to it...
RE: Third Reich 42-45 v. 1.8 available
Yeah, agree - to deep into this one to not see how it goes. I'll be running a couple games of this scenario most likely without an AAR, will save any AAR for our next game.
RE: Third Reich 42-45 v. 1.8 available
A quick note... that as can be expected there are some issues that still need to be fixed. These are relatively minor compared to previous issues -- two units arriving too early and a duplicate color scheme that withdraws the Axis T1 Theater Options and the Allied Eastern Polish Army before it arrives - and now I understand why.
And snow... now there's too much extending to Row 100 which is the 1st Weather Zone, I'll try to bump it out with a couple warm fronts on T2 & 3. I'll have these fixed by the weekend if not earlier...
And snow... now there's too much extending to Row 100 which is the 1st Weather Zone, I'll try to bump it out with a couple warm fronts on T2 & 3. I'll have these fixed by the weekend if not earlier...
RE: Third Reich 42-45 v. 1.8 available
Okay, new files are now up.
* Adjusted Vichy Sequence per advice from Ben Turner -- will no longer show in news string. Now, Allies will receive a HQ named "Vichy Meeting" between Turns 21 and 34 indicating that Torch may proceed with a very high probability of Vichy Forces laying down arms the turn after. However, there is a 7% chance that Vichy Forces will continue to fight until the Allies approach Paris (slight radius effect).
* Two units arriving early (T1) are now queued to their proper events.
* Changed colors of the Axis T1 Only TO's so that it doesn't impact the Polish armies forming in Russia...
* One slight replacement rate adjustment.
* Set up a Warm Front on T2.
Overall minor points, but now the Vichy component can be a real surprise for both sides.
* Adjusted Vichy Sequence per advice from Ben Turner -- will no longer show in news string. Now, Allies will receive a HQ named "Vichy Meeting" between Turns 21 and 34 indicating that Torch may proceed with a very high probability of Vichy Forces laying down arms the turn after. However, there is a 7% chance that Vichy Forces will continue to fight until the Allies approach Paris (slight radius effect).
* Two units arriving early (T1) are now queued to their proper events.
* Changed colors of the Axis T1 Only TO's so that it doesn't impact the Polish armies forming in Russia...
* One slight replacement rate adjustment.
* Set up a Warm Front on T2.
Overall minor points, but now the Vichy component can be a real surprise for both sides.