Home Before the Leaves Fall (Hellen [Entente] v Elmer [Germans])

[Hellen_slith]

EDIT: changed title of post, resumed game w/ Elmer):

One the frustrating things about going through this encyclopedia project is when you come across what seems to be a "forgotten gem" and I think the WWI scene "Home Before the Leaves Fall" is one of those gems, so I just had to give it a go against the PO. The "easy to read" scenario briefing can be viewed / downloaded via this link (a 3 page pdf that will open in a new window for you)

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1eV1Ce ... Wi0wRz44al

This looks like a fun scene, based on a board game classic, and looking at the various reviews / notes I saw it pegged as playable (in the original version) as being able to complete a board game version of this within about six hours, so I thought that would be a good scene to try on this lazy day to see if I can get through it in one day. I am not familiar with the board game, other than what I looked at on the interweb thing, so I might not be playing this right, but I will give it a throw as best I can....

So, the first turn seems to be a set up turn (I was surprised to get the first move as Entente, but it is starting to make sense.) Here is the screen as of the beginning of move 1 Entente (looks like a nice map!!)

[pz501]

I designed this scenario for TOAW: Wargame of The Year, then updated it for TOAW III, and then TOAW IV when I (briefly) was part of the beta team. I don't consider the version included in TOAW IV to be finished, working correctly, or taking advantage of all the new features. It probably should never have been included in the TOAW IV package. That was beyond my control. Just a friendly heads up if you encounter any problems or weird things using it.

Since I'm no longer active with TOAW in any way, shape, or form, anyone (so far as I'm concerned) is free to modify, and improve on this scenario, and introduce new versions, etc.

[Hellen_slith]

Thanks for the input and the heads up! So, this one truly is a "forgotten gem!" So far, seems playable to me, but I know next to nothing about the board game (or the scenario editor either) so maybe someone with knowledge of those areas might consider updating this one. Thanks again!

[Hellen_slith]

One kind of funny thing about the scene, is while I expected Germans to move first, it took me a few "restarts" of the game w/ me choosing Entente against Germans PO, until it did give Germans first move. Not sure if that matters, but anyway now Germans are "side 1" I guess you might say, and they invade Belgium on schedule ... crushing Belgian border guards and pressing toward Leige. News item says France Army of Alsace now ready for action.

[Hellen_slith]

@Entente turn 4 (August 4, 1914)

The Leige Fortress Artilleries are slaughtering Boche left and right!!
But, artillery has only so much ammunition,
Liege 5 Fortress is nearly out of shells!!

France Alsace Cavalry paws the ground, but exclusion zone is keeping them at bay...
they want a piece of Boche, too!

[Hellen_slith]

@Entente turn 7 (August 8, 1914)

Liege continues its valiant defense.
Germans are being mauled!!

but, now they send in siege artillery ...

French bide their time, watching the slaughter.

[Hellen_slith]

@Entente turn 11 (August 12, 1914)

German disaster! The heavy German artillery is no use against cavalry charges in at close range,
Boche are forced to retreat to German lines!!! Belgians are emboldened!!

PS: the scene notes indicate "best played as Entente" w/re/to PO play,
not sure if that meant best to play as Germans against PO,
or Entente against PO

but in this go, the Belgians (human) are beating Elmer PO pretty badly.

The scene plays pretty quickly, I've done 10 moves in about an hour,
which indicates that this scene can be played out in about five or six hours.

Pretty fun and quick, maybe better to play as Germans against Elmer Entente?
not sure.....

[Hellen_slith]

@Entente beginning of turn 14 (August 15, 1914)

Germans resume their effort into Liege, making some progress.

British reinforcements have appeared at the coast of France.

The exclusion zone has been removed ... perhaps time for Plan XVII

[Hellen_slith]

@Entente turn 17 (August 18, 1914)

Liege (the starred hex) is reduced to rubble by German artillery.
The Belgians must retreat--better to declare Liege "open city" now,
and try to save Belgians for defense of Antwerp / Namur etc.

France Plan XVII has failed to put enough pressure on the Germans in Alsace.
Germans are now making their way into France frontier.
Elmer has awakened! He is bent upon revenge for the Belgian aggression!

With British and other reinforcements showing up for Entente,
and previously garrisoned units getting activated,
we have now 360+ chits on the board just for Entente (was around 160 at beginning of game)
and with so many options (e.g., how to proceed w/ Belgium / Alsace / British)
it is taking me much longer to cycle a turn and do it any real justice.

Revising my estimate to think, probably a good 12 to 15 hours total to play this one out,
if you wish to do close examination of options and units and formations.

I think it plays well, might be a pretty good scene for PBEM.

[Hellen_slith]

@Entente turn 18 (August 19, 1914)

zoomed out a bit, and fog of war off so we can see Elmer's Germans.

Liege is now occupied by Germans, they've pushed beyond 10 or so KMs.

French not making any significant progress w/ Plan XVII.

Paris and the British are still a bit to the west of the screenshot here,
I labeled Amiens and the Argonne for reference down south.

I haven't yet made much use of Allied rail, it has lots of points,
so I will rail more now. Lots more units, as you can see.

Not quite half way through this scene, definitely more than one sitting needed to play this one.

I think it is pretty fun ... YMMV!

[Hellen_slith]

@Entente 19 (August 20, 1914)

Elmer starting to get a little rowdy,
he is making some progress ... heading for Namur, looks like.

You can barely see over on the western edge of map,
some of the leading elements of the British making their way east.

[Hellen_slith]

@ Germans turn 20 (August 21, 1914)

I started a game in this with Felix on the server (I am Germans)
about 30 turns left, not sure if I can get to Paris,
but I'm going to try to turn this corner and just stab to the South.

Just destroyed / pushed back Lauden forces (empty hex w/ red outline),
but not enough juice to get a unit into the town proper;

I think that is Se Trond there right above Lauden,
managed to get the infantry in there.

I would add, that if you play Germans for the WWI scenes,
set your radio thing to "German Marching Songs of WWI":

a solid hour + of German marches from WWI. Really gives it atmosphere!

link to German marches of WWI:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMGmImi4GF8

at end of Germans turn 20:

[Hellen_slith]

@Germans turn 26 (August 27, 1914)

about 20 / 25 km till Brussels;
making some solid progress toward / into
Namur Fortress; I've got several troops across
to the Namur side of the river.

About the halfway mark in this scene. Briefing says about 25 turns to go.
All the battles are in this area ...
just artillery barrages farther south.
If I can turn this corner, then I can start either toward Paris,
or turn SSE and roll up the Maginot Line.
Or, even just head for the sea.

Pretty fun game!

[FelixHu]

I realized i could start an offensive in south,so i started to liberate Metz.

[FelixHu]

thanks

[Hellen_slith]

NP!! I play as if we actually had a board in front of us, so naturally, we can see each other's pieces.

For me: Namur (a *17 city) is in German hands now,
I am going to try to push through that gap b/w Namur and Brussels and fix those bridges.

I am almost in practically open field there, perfect for German cavalry / etc.
I am trying to avoid the major rivers, and just push South / SSW and (hoping) to encircle Paris.
Of course, I may just head for the sea and put Antwerp under siege.

I am sure you already know, France Plan XVII is just a distraction to me for now ...
Germans, to Belgium and beyond! I need to move artillery up ....

Okay, well, well met Mr. Felix and thank you for playing this one with me!

[FelixHu]

game crushed twice while almost done

[FelixHu]

still crashing,some point in battle

[Hellen_slith]

Mr. Felix, sorry to hear you are having game problems.

If they persist, we might try emailing the tech support line,
in past they have been able to restore a save point in on line games.

Or, if you would rather, we can shelve this one and perhaps try another scene?
Maybe post the behavior / details of the crash in tech support forum?

[FelixHu]

i made same movements 3 times.
well i can stop attack this round,but what if next round.
fine to play from savepoint or another.
i'll make attacks and post.