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Right, at the risk of exposing my complete inability to play war games properly, I am going to put Red Lancer's Players Handbook to the test (good idea by the way).

Without the manual - can I get through a Husky scenario as the Allies on Easy - and win?

I set the game options as instructed.

The preferences screen I click default - nothing seems to happen so assume the default setting are already set...as ..er ...the default.

I now select the Husky Scenario. This has a brief summary to the right giving the historical setting.

I am immediately confronted with an Automatic Air Direction Creation box. I therefore ignore Chapters 2 and 3 of the Handbook and go to Chapter 4. Introduction to the Air Planning Phase and using Auto Air Directive Creation. Time for a quick read....

Hey Warspite1,

Congratulations on the first public AAR. I think Easy will be easy for you though, crank it up for your next one. The tutorial videos go hand in hand with the Player's Handbook, feel free to watch those too. [8D]

Regards,

- Erik

Okay so I can set Directives for my Tactical and Strategic air units - fun! [:)] I can set priority levels - None, Low, Medium or High for the various missions.

I click "Amphib Support South" ON and the computer populates some of these missions. Looks like my Strategic Bombers are being roped in to support the forthcoming landings in a ground attack stylee. Airfields, Railyards and Railways are targeted to varying degrees.

Meanwhile my Tactical Air forces put lots of effort into air superiority, and a lesser effort into supporting the ground attack units. Thus Interdiction is the priority here.

I'm sure the computer er sorry Air Vice-Marshall Park and co, know what they are doing and I leave these settings as is.

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Hey Warspite1,

Congratulations on the first public AAR. I think Easy will be easy for you though, crank it up for your next one. The tutorial videos go hand in hand with the Player's Handbook, feel free to watch those too. [8D]

Regards,

- Erik

warspite1

Easy? Erik have you seen me play MWIF? [:D] I fully expect to get my bottom handed to me - and I can blame Red Lancer and his Handbook [;)]

Mmmm.... not sure what happened there. Right, in the Air Planning tab, I click on a button 3rd from the left and I can see where my aircraft are flying to. I assume the invasion beaches are near Agrigento. I thought the British landed near Syracuse? However, there do not seem to be any aircraft there.

Maybe I'm wrong - I know Malta Air Command have it all under control....

Ahh right - I've found the Air Directive Summary screen - not sure what that is telling me so I'll move right along and click the F12 "Execute" button.

I am asked if I want to Execute Air Directives and I say "Tally-ho, chocs away....and stuff" - or in other words yes.

Oh my word the screen has gone barmy!! Bombs an' **** falling all over the place [X(]

When my machine settles down I get an Air Execution Summary.

My aircraft flew almost 12,000 sorties. I seem to have been splattered. I lost a stack of aircraft for little return. Mmmm I'm going to have words with Park and Connigham + whoever the US guy is (shamefully I can't remember [&:]).

Anyway, here's the butchers bill (I hope I haven't blown air superiority).

Okay I've now come a bit stuck. The next two chapters are movement and Invasions. Movement is first so I'll have a read of that and then Chapter 6 and hopefully I work out how to get the troops to Sicily

Damn is that the time already? I've got a school play to go to for the little warspite's so I'll continue Operation Husky when I return.

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Okay I've now come a bit stuck. The next two chapters are movement and Invasions. Movement is first so I'll have a read of that and then Chapter 6 and hopefully I work out how to get the troops to Sicily

Damn is that the time already? I've got a school play to go to for the little warspite's so I'll continue Operation Husky when I return.

thanks for doing this, the AARs by those who are competent are interesting but its great to see someone applying the 'read the relevant chapter before I make a move' approach

Just watched the tutorial movies! I strongly recommend them! [:D]

Hold on - is your success going to be based on my expertise. Am I on trial here? [&:]

In my defence I refer your Honour to the Handbook page 4 and the aim and format - especially the small print disclaimer in invisible ink at the bottom which explains my life story including why I do scenario design, test co-ord, graphics, manuals - in fact anything to hide the fact that I love war games but am not a good player. Failing that bribery - I promise to lobby for inclusion of Warspite as a named ship in any future development of the game engine. [:)]

ORIGINAL: Red Lancer

Hold on - is your success going to be based on my expertise. Am I on trial here? [&:]

In my defence I refer your Honour to the Handbook page 4 and the aim and format - especially the small print disclaimer in invisible ink at the bottom which explains my life story including why I do scenario design, test co-ord, graphics, manuals - in fact anything to hide the fact that I love war games but am not a good player. Failing that bribery - I promise to lobby for inclusion of Warspite as a named ship in any future development of the game engine. [:)]

Your expertise will remain respected. Warspite1 must have a scapegoat for his bumbling.

ORIGINAL: Red Lancer

Hold on - is your success going to be based on my expertise. Am I on trial here? [&:]

In my defence I refer your Honour to the Handbook page 4 and the aim and format - especially the small print disclaimer in invisible ink at the bottom which explains my life story including why I do scenario design, test co-ord, graphics, manuals - in fact anything to hide the fact that I love war games but am not a good player. Failing that bribery - I promise to lobby for inclusion of Warspite as a named ship in any future development of the game engine. [:)]

warspite1

As I said at the outset Red Lancer, I think the Handbook is a great idea - I am covering the bases so that when I lose on easy, its not my fault [;)]

You're sorted then - I lose on easy too[:D]

...anyways, back to the game.

JocMeister was right, I should have looked at the videos!!! I was right about the invasion site for the UK forces [&:]. What a dumbass.

So, in line with the tutorials I send my ships to sea, loaded to the gills with troops.

From West to East we have:

II US Corps

3rd US Infantry Division carried by TF86
1st US Infantry Division carried by TF81
45th US Infantry Division carried by TF85

British XXX Corps (British unless stated)

1st Canadian and 51st Infantry Divisions
231st Infantry Brigade

British XIII Corps
50th Infantry Division
5th Infantry Division

All carried by TF545.

For this next bit I am going to have to read the handbook on movement as I cannot see how, in the tutorial, the follow-up units get to port and then sea.

I'll pick this up tomorrow. This is fun![:)]

ORIGINAL: Red Lancer

Hold on - is your success going to be based on my expertise. Am I on trial here? [&:]

In my defence I refer your Honour to the Handbook page 4 and the aim and format - especially the small print disclaimer in invisible ink at the bottom which explains my life story including why I do scenario design, test co-ord, graphics, manuals - in fact anything to hide the fact that I love war games but am not a good player. Failing that bribery - I promise to lobby for inclusion of Warspite as a named ship in any future development of the game engine. [:)]

Just blame alcohol! It always works for me!