New Scenario : The Capture of Balta - a Squad Leader Scenario for PC:K

[rickier65]

I've attached a new fixed battle for PC:K. This battle is adapted from AH's Squad Leader Scenario #13- The Capture of Balta. (Actually a Cross of Iron module scenario).

I've extended the length of play from the the 10 turns in SL, to 25 turns in PC:K (This is so the German forces aren't forced to "run" headlong into some rather heavy Russian defenses. And even at 25 turns the Soviet turn bonus is modertaely small.

This scenario also includes a new map. It's actually only a modification of one of the existing maps, with some new / different light and heavy woods. Some changes in the road network, and Some buildings have been changed. The map folder is Balta_L5.

I've included a template for the new map, so that it can also be used in the RBG. The template is virtually the same as the roginal map, with an edited briefing to reflext the changes that were done to the map. THe template name is Summer
Map(L5 - Balta).

Any and all comments are welcome - I started this to learn the editor and see how well SL scenarios would translate - since SL was one of my early enjoyeable experiences with board wargaming.

Thanks to the kindly folks on the forums here who very patiently answered some really basic (and sometimes dumb) questions.

Thanks, and please comment - I'm really not sure I have a good play balance here, I played through once and was handed a Legendary defeat by Russian AI - but then I"m not a very good player.

Thanks,
Rick

EDIT: Replaced file with Capture of Balta v11, see post 24 in this thread for details of changes and for JTSGME version 1.1 of download. The attachment to this message is the non-JSTGME version 1.1.

[Stridor]

Thank you Rick,

It looks like the modding bug has bit you. It is good to see you having fun!

Regards

S.

[EagleMountainDK]

Hi Rick, any chance of making your scenario JSGME ready? I'm not allowed to host 4mb files at my site [:(]

[Erik Rutins]

I'll set it up and reupload.

[Erik Rutins]

Here's the JSGME ready version.

[EagleMountainDK]

Thanks Erik, I will update the MOD overview page [:)]

[Erik Rutins]

Wow, this is a tough one but a lot of fun! Great work on this. I managed a Marginal Victory on Turn 28, but in the end I had to grab the last flag with my StuG, which was down to only APHE ammo and blew away one of the T-26s the AI had in reserve for the last few points.

My advance was working pretty well - clearing houses and using bounding overwatch to move down the roads. I took the northern objective with my infantry forces and the Rumanians managed (with great difficulty) to close assault and eliminate a T-26 at the cost of 2 squads.

I think extending the time limit to 30 Turns would probably be a bit better and/or you might make a few more of the Soviet forces Green.

I have my original scenario card at home, but I don't recall any Fallschirmjagers - were you using those as a substitute to model something SL had and PC doesn't? If so, we may be able to add it in. I recall SL giving Engineers things like Satchel Charges and Flamethrowers - there's a Satchel Charge mod but we have no flamethrowers at present. Perhaps make one platoon of Pioneers Elite to represent the best assault troops with the special weapons?

Regards,

- Erik

[Erik Rutins]

Some pics...

[Erik Rutins]

Final view...

[Erik Rutins]

Again, great job doing your own map mod as well as scenario and including a template to boot - thanks!

[rickier65]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

I think extending the time limit to 30 Turns would probably be a bit better and/or you might make a few more of the Soviet forces Green.

I can do that, after playing my first test battle, I increased from 15 to 25 turns, and then turned down the Defender bonus in case it ran over. And I made a number of Russians Green. But it was just a guess at what might work, and it sounds like maybe a little longer - if I recall the scenario briefing - it was actually 3 hours for battle.

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

I have my original scenario card at home, but I don't recall any Fallschirmjagers - were you using those as a substitute to model something SL had and PC doesn't? If so, we may be able to add it in. I recall SL giving Engineers things like Satchel Charges and Flamethrowers - there's a Satchel Charge mod but we have no flamethrowers at present. Perhaps make one platoon of Pioneers Elite to represent the best assault troops with the special weapons?

No Fallshimjagers in the SL version. but in addition to the normal 4-6-7 SL squads, they had a number of 8-3-8 squads, so I went through the German Inf. in PCK and thought the Fallshimjagers were as close as I could get to this 8-3-8 squad.

I almost put in the satchel charge unit mod that Mraah (Rob) did, since these do show up in the SL scenario ( along with Flame throwers). But I wasn't sure what would happen to sceanrio if someone who didn't have the mod tried to play it. How is that handled?


Hey - glad you enjoyed it! and I appreciate you taking the time to play it and post some comments.

I'll probably let it simmer for a week or so now, and see if I get any other feedback before making changes. And I'll sort out this mod format, and try to set it up mod ready next time.

In the meantime, if you, or someone lets me know what will happen if I use a unit from a mod, how the scenario will work if someone doesnt have it. I guess one way is to install the mod, and let folks know in write-up that it will install it, and credit Rob.

Thanks again! The more I play and tinker, the more I'm enjoying this.

Between Panzer Campaign: Kharkov and Advanced Tactics, my free time (and reading time) has veirtually disappeared!

Thanks
Rick

[Rik81]

What a clever idea! At one time I think I must of had every SL and ASL scenario that existed. Great idea to convert some of these to PC. I think I will "wait" with you for your next, revised, download before I actually try it out; but, just wanted to say I think it is a neat thing to do. Thanks for your work!

[Mraah]

ORIGINAL: Rick
No Fallshimjagers in the SL version. but in addition to the normal 4-6-7 SL squads, they had a number of 8-3-8 squads, so I went through the German Inf. in PCK and thought the Fallshimjagers were as close as I could get to this 8-3-8 squad.

You know, while you let the scenario simmer, you can try your hand at making a 8-3-8 squad from scratch. I found that the more I mod ... the more I'm forced to mod something else just to get to where it works right.

I almost put in the satchel charge unit mod that Mraah (Rob) did, since these do show up in the SL scenario ( along with Flame throwers). But I wasn't sure what would happen to sceanrio if someone who didn't have the mod tried to play it. How is that handled?

It won't break the scenario, most likely causing a play balance (if any).

In the meantime, if you, or someone lets me know what will happen if I use a unit from a mod, how the scenario will work if someone doesnt have it. I guess one way is to install the mod, and let folks know in write-up that it will install it, and credit Rob.

Does the scenario have Pioneer's? I haven't looked yet, but the unit's I gave the satchel charge are the Pioneers.
You might have to build your 8-3-8 from scratch and, as Horatio in Miami CSI would say, ... "take it to the lab" [:D]

Rob

[rickier65]

I don't think I'm quite ready to jump into adding custom units for scenarios. And yes, A significant part of the German force I put into Balta were German Pioneers. I need to experiment with what happens if I include your Stachel charge pioneers in scenario. I thought about it, but decided not to complicate thinkg (for me).

I'm no tnearly as quick as you other guys.

Seeing all of the things you've got going (between the maps, and the modles, and units) - I dont imagine you have time to play many scenarios - so I'm not surprised you haven't looked at it *g*.

Thanks!

Rick

[Mraah]

ORIGINAL: Rick
I don't think I'm quite ready to jump into adding custom units for scenarios. And yes, A significant part of the German force I put into Balta were German Pioneers. I need to experiment with what happens if I include your Stachel charge pioneers in scenario. I thought about it, but decided not to complicate thinkg (for me).

Yes ... I like the way you're approaching this. I'm a little hap-hazard ... sticking 100 pieces of bubble gum in my mouth so I can make a big bubble, only to choke on it! Let me know how the satchels work out. I don't mind assisting you in making some custom units (save you the trouble of getting side-tracked from your design)... it would be an honor and give me some purpose. Do you need walls? [:D] I'm good at basic shape design! Just PM me for anything.

I'm no tnearly as quick as you other guys.

You're alot faster than me. You've got great reviews on your scenario plus you dabbled in map editting ... way ahead of me. [:)]

Rob

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Rick
I can do that, after playing my first test battle, I increased from 15 to 25 turns, and then turned down the Defender bonus in case it ran over. And I made a number of Russians Green. But it was just a guess at what might work, and it sounds like maybe a little longer - if I recall the scenario briefing - it was actually 3 hours for battle.

Yeah, I think SL turns are tough to compare precisely, but based on that one replay I think about 30 would still be very challenging but doable.

No Fallshimjagers in the SL version. but in addition to the normal 4-6-7 SL squads, they had a number of 8-3-8 squads, so I went through the German Inf. in PCK and thought the Fallshimjagers were as close as I could get to this 8-3-8 squad.

Ok, I took at look at the original scenario. I like how you adapted it, but the 4-6-7 vs. 8-3-8 question is an interesting one. The 8-3-8s have twice the firepower, half the range and higher morale. There's no direct comparison since I think these units' stats are a bit more gameplay rather than reality-based. I'm guessing these are intended to be elite SMG-based assault squads.

In PCK, the '41 Fallschirmjagers just have 1 more point of Firepower within 30 meters, so you're probably better off sticking to Pioneer squads, but just making two platoons of them Elite, which will give them +1 FP at all ranges.

I almost put in the satchel charge unit mod that Mraah (Rob) did, since these do show up in the SL scenario ( along with Flame throwers). But I wasn't sure what would happen to sceanrio if someone who didn't have the mod tried to play it. How is that handled?

The safest way to do it would be to create some new Pioneer units (infantry unit files) and equip them with satchel charges and flamethrowers (new gun files). That way you have them for your scenario, but it doesn't overwrite the default ones or mess with the default scenario balance where they are used.

Thanks again! The more I play and tinker, the more I'm enjoying this.
Between Panzer Campaign: Kharkov and Advanced Tactics, my free time (and reading time) has veirtually disappeared!

Glad to hear it! AT also sucked down a lot of my free time, I had to force myself to stop as other games were demanding my attention.

[rickier65]

Erik -

THanks for the suggestions! I"m going to print them out and put them in my folder for revising Balta. I may not even wait for the whole week - I'm playing it through again myself.

I appreciate you taking the time to give some specific advice on this - I can't imagine how you find the time to do that.


Thanks
Rick

[Erik Rutins]

Rick,

No problem - I'm pleased to see you and others getting into this side of the game and will give you all the support I can. I hope my suggestions are helpful.

As a side note, you may also want to extend the arrival of the second group of T-26s as they were originally Turn 5 in a 10 turn scenario, so that might work better if you put them proportionally in the middle of whatever the final turn length before bonus turns out to be.

Regards,

- Erik

[PDiFolco]

What's the use of JGSME for additional scenarios ? They aren't supposed to overwrite anything ?
I'm puzzled ...

[Stridor]

ORIGINAL: PDiFolco

What's the use of JGSME for additional scenarios ? They aren't supposed to overwrite anything ?
I'm puzzled ...

I guess so that if you didn't want to see that scenario appear in the set battle list anymore you could remove it.