Matrix Games Forums

CSV Version 4.0 is now available over at Rugged Defense. Some of the highlights for this update are:

- Strategic bombing modified to work better with Opart 3 AA resolution

- Completely re-worked both PO's to take advantange of Elmer's capabilitites.

- Made some graphic changes (rice paddies, airmobile marines, etc)

- Added new Ho Chi Minh trail option. The trail is modeled as a broken rail line which the NLF player has to dedicate units to repair (under the old rules a supply increase was just automatically added in to represent improvements to the trail).

- Added extended game option. NLF has option to extend game to end of 1975.

- Redefined Laos/Cambodia border violations. Instead of a large one-time penalty per violation the penalty was lessened and will repeat if Allied forces go in deeper.

- Modified Allied air reinforcement schedule. When air units are requested they will enter piecemeal in order to temper allied air interediction capabilities.

- Added penalty for rapid U.S. buildup (an extra increase to the EEV).

- Pacification rates for the NLF have been adjusted to address some play balance issues that were revealed in my playtests.

Enjoy.

Curt

Great work Curt [8D]

ORIGINAL: Raindem

CSV Version 4.0 is now available over at Rugged Defense. Some of the highlights for this update are:

- Strategic bombing modified to work better with Opart 3 AA resolution

Can't comment on this much since most of my play is in the first three years. During that time as a US player I commit my air to CS and Interdiction. I do think a good optional rule is to not allow the strategic air units (B-52's) to be placed on interdiction orders unless Strategic bombing theater option is in play. Of course the increased EEV cost of activating those units does offset their increased flexibility against mobile units.

- Completely re-worked both PO's to take advantange of Elmer's capabilitites.

The Free World Armies (US or FWA) does have a workable PO in 4.0. Some of the large unit fighting moves out of the Central highlands and into Laos and Cambodia against the US PO. Not as historically accurate but the feel in still there and the guerilla/pacification campaign in South Vietnam still follows the same trends. It is Elmer after all but expect to be dismayed when the US pours all over you and your base areas. Elmer or no Elmer.

- Added new Ho Chi Minh trail option. The trail is modeled as a broken rail line which the NLF player has to dedicate units to repair (under the old rules a supply increase was just automatically added in to represent improvements to the trail).

Really liked this touch. NLF units have to be committed to creating/expanding the trail. Eventually US airstrikes and NLF enginner units will tend to concentrate on obvious choke points.

- Modified Allied air reinforcement schedule. When air units are requested they will enter piecemeal in order to temper allied air interediction capabilities.

Something had to be done here. With the three major air groups getting all of their units when they initially entered it was to easy to shut down NLF offensive capability early.
I am a bit concerned that the combination of this with the added EEV costs of getting these units might be a bit of overkill.

ORIGINAL: Narses
Can't comment on this much since most of my play is in the first three years. During that time as a US player I commit my air to CS and Interdiction. I do think a good optional rule is to not allow the strategic air units (B-52's) to be placed on interdiction orders unless Strategic bombing theater option is in play. Of course the increased EEV cost of activating those units does offset their increased flexibility against mobile units.

No one's really tested this in any of the playtests because it was so much more fun to set everything to interdiction and watch the popcorn. I've checked out the effects/results solitaire but so much depends on how one uses the aircraft I have a feeling I'll be coming back to this one.

The Free World Armies (US or FWA) does have a workable PO in 4.0. Some of the large unit fighting moves out of the Central highlands and into Laos and Cambodia against the US PO. Not as historically accurate but the feel in still there and the guerilla/pacification campaign in South Vietnam still follows the same trends. It is Elmer after all but expect to be dismayed when the US pours all over you and your base areas. Elmer or no Elmer.

Over half the development time for this version was dedicated to the Allied PO.

Really liked this touch. NLF units have to be committed to creating/expanding the trail. Eventually US airstrikes and NLF enginner units will tend to concentrate on obvious choke points.

Thanks. Also provides a small incentive for Allied forces to cross the border and damage a few trail hexes, and then bomb the NVA engineers who show up to repair them.

Something had to be done here. With the three major air groups getting all of their units when they initially entered it was to easy to shut down NLF offensive capability early.

I am a bit concerned that the combination of this with the added EEV costs of getting these units might be a bit of overkill.

The cost increase for air units had less to do with interdiction and more with the EEV situation overall. The U.S. was able to remain in force for too long, even when all other events followed a historical course. The cost of the independent brigades and MAF were also increased. Still, you might be right. I'll keep an eye on this one to make sure I didn't over-compensate.