Matrix Games Forums

So, at the tactical hex size level, a barrage of smoke sure would be helpful....wish list?

50-250m per hex for squad (WinSPWW") and platoon sized units (Campaign Series), yes. DC:AO is still an operational wargame.

Klink, Oberst

I am currently reading Zeulke's book on the Canadians in the Liri Valley, Italy campaign. Smoke was used extensively in the Italian campaign and formed a planned component of multi-brigade attacks. At least in Italy, smoke was a significant factor in large scale operations.

PS: It wasn't used in small quantities. Massive artillery smoke barrages and also smoke barrels put out along the front. Light up the barrels and they would burn for quite some time producing smoke. Whole front covered in smoke. Also used to cover flanks of major attacks.

The problem is, that after smoke, players ask for mine field laying capabilities. Yes, large barrages of smoke were used in theatres where there was more or less like a stalemate and the defender had plenty of time (not just a few hours) to prepare extensive defence works and the attacker full scale and meticulously planned smoke and artillery barrages for a multiple Bde/Div attack. Having created and or modified a couple of scenarios for tactical/operational games, I still believe including them in DC:AO wouldn't really make any difference. Also think about how the AI would handle them. 1st priority I see tm is to tweak the AI, report and get rid of some undiscovered bugs, as well as get a bunch of us together to create a Market Garden master map and brain storm the OOB, TO&E, etc.🤓

Klink, Oberst

The problem is, that after smoke, players ask for mine field laying capabilities.

My initial conclusions from playing Ardennes is that defense is very powerful in game. Accurately powerful. Infantry alone has great difficulty in offensive operations. Smoke would be helpful in infantry offensive actions. I could see smoke reducing the power of defense to a certain extent. Although minefield would have an opposite effect. Extensive minefields were a major component of defensive positions, slowing down operations, separating armor from infantry and inflicting a significant negative direct impact on both infantry and armor. At some point, I think introducing those components would be helpful in modeling WW2 tactics.

Of course, Vic has to make the decisions as to priorities and where to take the game. I am very happy with what I see right now. This game has a lot of depth and easy to play at the same time. It is definitely cutting edge and very high quality. I am looking forward to new campaigns beyond Ardennes including Market Garden. Recently I have been reading Zuelke's and Daglish's books on the Brit/Canadian operations in the Normandy campaign. I think those would also be very interesting and then throw in the African campaigns. So much potential.