Next GTotH Theater/Campaign

[DoubleDeuce]

So, while we are working out the system and formatting issues in the current Group Tigers on the Hunt I wanted to get feedback on what those whom may be interested would like to see as far as the theme for the next go-round.

I am planning this to be much a longer campaign in terms of the number of missions per player and accommodating more players, "maybe" a full regiment. More likely just 2 Battalions though, as that would mean at least 6+ scenarios to design per round. For perspective it usually takes a full day, working pretty much all day, for each scenario from start to finish. Anything more than 6 will probably be too much with summer coming up and having a family here.

At the moment we are limited to the 4 nations already in the game although we could theoretically use the UK forces for many Allied Minors such as Poland, Norway, Belgium, Greece and the Netherlands as well as probably a few others, so don't count anyone out.

One option is we could follow a unit through a specific battle (say 8-10 Daily or every other Day Missions) so somewhere about 10-20 days of combat action.

The other option would be to follow a specific unit through the entire war doing Monthly Missions where the 'theater' changes as the unit moves around through the war.

I will probably add more to this thread but I wanted to put this out there while I work on the backend bookkeeping stuff and finish up the written rules

[DoubleDeuce]

Hmm, I have some ideas that I wanted to add to the thread but since the forums here do not support polls I'll need to find another option to get feedback on that. I used SurveyMonkey before when I attempted to run a GSASL game a few years back. I'll see if I can get back into my account and set something up.

[DoubleDeuce]

I'm thinking maybe something with either and American or British airborne/glider unit as the core force. Then there is always a Crete based campaign using a core German force. Thoughts?

[okiefire1]

ORIGINAL: Double Deuce

I'm thinking maybe something with either and American or British airborne/glider unit as the core force. Then there is always a Crete based campaign using a core German force. Thoughts?

Good idea. IIRC I once saw a SASL campaign simulating the Band of Brothers. But anything you create will be great and fun to play. Looking forward to it. And, again, thanks for your effort!

[DoubleDeuce]

I've been leaning towards something done from British side this time. Maybe all or parts of the Battle of Breville. Since there were so many different units involved, and types, rather than all players being part of the same unit (A, B and C Companies, etc from the same Battalion/Regiments) I am thinking each player can choose their core company force from a list. This way there will be no need of an overall commander and the group's results will affect the follow on missions for the rest of the team. This also means there will not be an arbitrary limit to the number of players needed to round out a specific unit like if I used a Battalion, there could really only be 3-4 players, 2 Battalions, then 6-8 players, etc.

Anyway, just an idea I am throwing together at the moment.

In the meantime I will be working up Mission #3 for the current test run campaign, continuing to put the rules down on paper and waiting for the patch.

[UP844]

ORIGINAL: okiefire_ssl

But anything you create will be great and fun to play. Looking forward to it. And, again, thanks for your effort!

I fully second that!

[desicat]

Crete is always one of my favorites, although I like infantry battles that have very few AFV's.

[DoubleDeuce]

ORIGINAL: desicat

Crete is always one of my favorites, although I like infantry battles that have very few AFV's.

I was looking at Crete too but ended up leaning toward NW Europe.

[Ratzki]

What about Having the Germans stand in for the Finns

[DoubleDeuce]

ORIGINAL: Ratzki

What about Having the Germans stand in for the Finns

Honestly never through about the Finns because I don't think I am familiar enough with that front to come up with a good campaign. Is there enough research material out there to come up with something? Also, SASL doesn't include them so I would probably have to com up with my own charts.

[UP844]

The struggle for Narvik could be the subject for another (later [:)]) interesting Scandinavian campaign.

P.S. I entered my votes in the poll. I think adding an extra high-rank leader as the player's persona would mean providing an extra, unnecessary advantage for the player. I already consider the 9-1 leader in my 3rd company as "myself" [;)]

[DoubleDeuce]

ORIGINAL: UP844

The struggle for Narvik could be the subject for another (later [:)]) interesting Scandinavian campaign.

That was actually one of the first things I thought about but I would like to have real French units/equipment available for that one.

ORIGINAL: UP844P.S. I entered my votes in the poll. I think adding an extra high-rank leader as the player's persona would mean providing an extra, unnecessary advantage for the player. I already consider the 9-1 leader in my 3rd company as "myself" [;)]

It would likely be a 7-0. using the SASL system it would increase the total force value of your unit (the US#) which would then increase the possible enemy force you could encounter. Not by much but a little depending on the leader's point value.

[benway9]

I would definitely be interested in participating in the next GTotH Campaign. I've never written an AAR of any sort, but I would certainly be willing to try to describe the events of my company's campaign. Is there anything I would need to do to get involved?

Thanks much

[DoubleDeuce]

Don't let UP844's novels scare you off. Basically for an AAR you will need track your losses and some other, end of game information and report it back to me for processing. The details are still being worked on such as a 1-2 page fillable .pdf form you plug the information into and save.

For the AAR part you will only need to provide a sentence or 2 at most that covers 2-3 turns of action (kind of the paragraph format UPP844 posted). It's not an absolute requirement and is mostly just a way to document significant events from those turns that you want to highlight. You can be as brief or detailed as you like. It's mostly just to add flavor to the campaign.

To get involved you will only need to sign up once that date comes when I call for players, maybe 2 weeks or so. The missions (scenarios) for this campaign will be played using the HARD difficulty setting so you need to be able to play at that level.

Lastly, if you have any intention of playing make sure to visit the survey, linked in the first post of this thread, and vote your preferences.

[UP844]

The essential data you must report in the AAR are the losses you incurred. I do not know if it is required (Double Deuce is still working on this aspect), but I think that reporting the ID of any unit(s) subject to Battle Hardening / Replacement with lower quality units, or performing remarkable feats (e.g. killing an AFV in CC) is also advisable.

For a more extensive AAR (aka as a novel [;)]), take notes about the most remarkable feats occurring on the battlefield, such as:
> heroic deeds, e.g. a 2nd Line HS killing three enemy Engineers in CC
> the sudden appearance of enemy forcees
> the achievement of victory conditions or of an intermediate objective

Don't get bogged reporting any and all the details of fire and movement, or you will end up with a AAR as exciting as a tax assessment.

P.S. The clause written in 1-point Arial at the bottom of the enlistment form reads: "I agree to be sent on suicide missions" [:D]

[DoubleDeuce]

The AAR reporting (and OOB tracking) mechanism will likely be a 1-2 page fillable .pdf form, with as much info in dropdown boxes as I can incorporate. That way you can print it out and have handy during the game to make notes, etc., as needed. Then once you are done with the mission, update the 'master' pdf you have, save and PM it to me. Then I will update it, with replacements and info for the next mission and send it back with that next mission and so on.

[benway9]

OK, well it seems like the AAR is not going to be too much of an issue. Count me in for the upcoming campaign. I've already completed the survey. Just keep me abreast of any changes if/when they arise. Thanks again. I'll try to lead my company to victory