CfNA 40-43 (GeneralJCL [DAK] v Hellen [CW])

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: Hellen_slith

@beginning of CW turn 109
I finally worked up the courage to watch the replay
(I usually don't, to keep the feel of "mysterious adventure in the desert")

but Oh, Lawd, they coming ....
there were about 1000 or more "hidden" moves that sailed by,
so the Germans are on the march.

Starting to look a bit dicey for the Brits and associates.
New Zealanders are fighting for their lives!

Isn't there a firing squad waiting for you yet?

[Hellen_slith]

Nope, not yet! Maybe when he gets to Cairo!
We're just playing this one for fun,
so, hopefully, no firing squads!

PS: A msg from the future:

Dear Mr. Cross:
You can send that firing squad now, I'm waiting for it in Tobruk.

Oh, WAIT! Never mind, Tobruk is now destroyed!
LoL!! Sorry if we played this one .... "wrong".
It was a hell of lot more fun OUR way, instead of counting beans for a year.
LoL!!

[Hellen_slith]

@ beginning of CW turn 116 (Oct. 25, 1941)

noticed the Theater Option for CW, had to read about that ....
unsure what good it will do me right now, so I guess I will elect to delay the respite.

Rommel is pushing toward El Alamein, 70th / 4th / and 8th are there to defend.
Hope 4th can hold the ridges and escarpments, lots of defensive terrain around there.
Pretty weak down south. Need some more reinforcements along those escarpments above the Qatari Depression.
Lookouts on Hill 758.

Still a draw! Almost halfway through this monster...
Well played, General!

[Hellen_slith]

@CW turn 121, so many questions....maybe we "broke" the scene with such unconventional play?
or maybe we are not taking advantage of all the quirks that are built in?

At any rate, much fun to play, some questions:
What means the changing Axis Convoy levels?
Now it is @ "D (23)" ... maybe part of the Desert Fox rule?

Also, there is now mention of the "Raid on Rommel" ....
maybe I (as CW) have lost that opportunity, but the notes do not seem to explain much about that.

Is that an historical event that I should have strived toward in this game?
Anyway, things seem to be heating up around El Alamein,
Axis seems to be trying to swing around the Alam Halfa ridge,
I am bring up more reinforcements from Cairo now, but kind of winging it at this point,
not being sure if the General is going to stab at El Alamein or swing 'round to Egypt / Alexandria / Cairo
and leave El Alamein to starve. Interesting game! Definitely "strange adventure" now!
We seem to be reaching another critical point ....
I think he is swing around the Halfa Ridge, not sure that, or heading for Cairo etc.

[StuccoFresco]

Situation is tense.

[Hellen_slith]

@cw 122 or so, Raid on Rommel seems to have been game / AI controlled via dice roll....

It failed for me (RATS!!). Back to the drawing board!!

[Hellen_slith]

@CW turn 130

Brits are on the march again, you can see where they've left their trenches and pushed the Axis back a few hexes.

Need the 1st Armored to roll out, but still three or so turns before they activate.

[Hellen_slith]

@CW 133 British 1st Armored rolls out.

CW recaptures Mersa Matruh

Axis appears to be in retreat

[StuccoFresco]

That's a full reversal of the situation.

[Hellen_slith]

Yes, but, seems like during the last few moves, the General has reversed things again ... British 1st AD has been encircled, not much prayer for them. Many Allied troops are now facing disaster. Seems like he led me on into the desert, and into the Qatar Depression, and then Rommel pounced.

Much gnashing of teeth here on my part ... awaiting his next move. Back to Cairo!

[Hellen_slith]

@CW turn 154 (March 7, 1942)

although the situation briefing says this is still a draw,
looks like the Germans are winning.

Commonwealth has been driven back to El Alamein once again
Axis convoy level has changed once again (is now "B(16)")
that has changed in the last three months (game time) from
A(12) to C(19) and now to B(16).
Not sure if that's bad or good, but ...

We're now about 2/3 of the way toward completing this monster
(approx. 90 moves remaining)

[jmlima]

Those airfields are asking to be raided by a flanking force...

[John B.]

What a nail bier! Sure seems like a fun scenario.

[John B.]

Sorry, *biter.

[Hellen_slith]

ORIGINAL: jmlima

Those airfields are asking to be raided by a flanking force...

Don't give him any ideas!! LoL.

Yes, all of the CfNA scenarios by Bob Cross are a lot of fun, the thing I like about them is that you don't get into a whole lot of "trench" warfare, there is lots of room for maneuver and even though the map is huge and the sceneario is so many moves, there is not an overwhelming amount of units. Pretty straight-forward scene and really captures the "feel" of the old SPI game (I forget the name) about North Africa. This is one that I've played since AcOW days, still no good at it, but it just lots of fun.

[jmlima]

ORIGINAL: Hellen_slith

...

Yes, all of the CfNA scenarios by Bob Cross are a lot of fun, the thing I like about them is that you don't get into a whole lot of "trench" warfare, there is lots of room for maneuver and even though the map is huge and the sceneario is so many moves, there is not an overwhelming amount of units. Pretty straight-forward scene and really captures the "feel" of the old SPI game (I forget the name) about North Africa. This is one that I've played since AcOW days, still no good at it, but it just lots of fun.

I only played one of them once, there were so many reconstituting units that we ended up being able to form a north to south line in pure WW1 style. At that point we called it a day and declared an armistice.

[Hellen_slith]

@Commonwealth turn 158 (March 21, 1942)

Disaster! El Alamein is captured by the Nazis.
The Fleet is garrisoned.

Going to have to back it on up to Alexandria / Cairo.
Still a draw per the point system. So there's that.

[Hellen_slith]

@ turn 158 (round 9 of combat):
Wait!! What's this??

Report that South Africans have RETAKEN El Alamein!
CW Corps HQ and Supply Columns have been rescued and are making their way to Burg el Arab!!!

Cairo rejoices! But for how long ....

[John B.]

That German supply line can't be in good shape!

[Hellen_slith]

Yes, well, I hope not!

Over the past few days, I have not heard from the General. He is usually very consistent w/ his moves, so I hope that he is OK!

PS: just checked my other computer, seems that he has cycled a move. Fingers crossed for the Commonwealth!