D-Day to the Ruhr 1944-45

[sPzAbt653]

Hey MacGregor, are you the guy that loves naval stuff? If so, it is nice to see you around.

To answer your request, I have checked the logs for both versions of the scenario and there are 'PO Activates' events in both. This should mean that either version is playable PBEM. I have no memory of nor see any evidence that either version would not be playable PBEM.

Latest versions that I have are:
D-Day to the Ruhr(A) 1944-45 v1.3
D-Day to the Ruhr(G) 1944-45 v1.1
Both from mid 2020. Please let me know if you don't have access to these and I will forward them to you, or I could re-post them here.

[Rescue193]

Way back in Jan '23 you wrote:

Latest versions that I have are:
D-Day to the Ruhr(A) 1944-45 v1.3
D-Day to the Ruhr(G) 1944-45 v1.1
Both from mid 2020. Please let me know if you don't have access to these and I will forward them to you, or I could re-post them here.

Currently I'm playing (A) v1.2 & V.1(G) from the original zipped download — although I haven't gotten around to the (G) version yet.

So, I was wondering if you had, indeed, posted later the versions (A) v1.3 & (G) v1.1 here (and if so where?) or failing that could you please forward them to me?

Regards,

R193

[sPzAbt653]

I never posted a later version because it wasn't significant.

[Rescue193]

Ah! Okay.

I was curios to know if there was anything new in the update but I guess not. I did find what I think might be a glitch concerning the option (Event 1305) for deploying the Polish 1st Armoured Div. Ev1305 activates Ev1306 which decrements the Allied supply state by -3 (which is what it should do). However, Ev1306 also activates Ev1550:

"Event: 1550, Critical Supply Trigger 1550 debug
Trigger: Event activated.
Effect: Activate event.
Trigger Event 1306 ().
Affected Event 1559 (12th AG gets supply priority for the next 2 weeks)."

As far as I can tell (and I have poked about in the Editor to track it down) this means that whenever the option to release the division is exercised the supply priority routine is invoked. I guess, in the normal course of the game, a player might not notice what's happening but, being a curious soul, I've experimented and found that no matter what the supply state might be activating the Poles always trips the switch whereas activating any another unit (even one with a higher supply tariff) doesn't have the same effect.

I can only assume that either nobody else has raised the issue - its not easy to spot - or more likely it's probably just me jumping to an erroneous conclusion.

Anyhow, thanks for taking the time and trouble to get back to me, I appreciate it.

Regards,

Rescue193

[sPzAbt653]

it's probably just me jumping to an erroneous conclusion.

Correct!

But I will explain! First, for anyone following from the sidelines, the Critical Supply Point is detailed in the Scenario Document. Referring to that, you can see that the Critical Supply Point will be triggered at some point. But this will not always occur at the same point, otherwise players wouldn't trigger it

However, it must be triggered, so it will be triggered eventually when the Polish 1st AD is released.

Now that you've let the cat out of the bag, no one will ever release the Polish 1st AD

But one must wonder ... is there perhaps a failsafe event? One with an even more severe penalty? Well, you'd have to try not releasing the Polish 1st AD in your next play thru to see what happens, if you are so bold! Mwah haha

[Rescue193]

Well! That's just a cunning, mean-minded, tricksy-Hobbit sort of trap to set for an unwary TOAW-cadet. True it's clever but, I reckon, it's a tad unsporting. I apologise for unwittingly blowing the "Polish surprise" but all I can say in my defence is: "how the deuce was I meant to know?"

But one must wonder ... is there perhaps a failsafe event? One with an even more severe penalty? Well, you'd have to try not releasing the Polish 1st AD in your next play thru to see what happens, if you are so bold! Mwah haha

I've already embarked upon your suggestion (about not deploying the Poles which did slow me down a bit but I used a version of 'Wild Oats' to compensate) and I've got as far as Turn 114. I'm using the second Airborne drop to to eliminate the Breskens Pocket and clear the Scheldt Estuary in an effort to get Antwerp open significantly earlier than the historical timeline and was hoping that the resulting supply boost might let me release the Poles (but that ain't gonna happen now is it?).

As for your doubtlessly fiendish 'failsafe'. Is this "Pooh Trap" a bluff or even a double-bluff? Doubtless I shall find out in due course but, Herr Professor Von Moriarty, I am - gulp! - ready for ya!

I should have said this in my first message. It is a splendid scenario an I'm enjoying playing it immensely, thanks a million. If you ever do think about an update I have a couple of ideas I'd be happy to tell you about. Actually, I'm already tweaking a couple of trivial things (entirely for my own satisfaction of course) in the OOB as well as something a little more complex concerning the Airborne.

Regards,

Rescue 193

[sPzAbt653]

... a bluff or even a double-bluff?

It's been years since that one was worked on so memory may not be clear but I think it is bluff. Since you are testing it I won't have to take the time to do it so that is appreciated.

An update is planned and it is up to third on a to-do list. Any thoughts you have are welcome, thanks!

[cathar1244]

Those are intriguing solutions to the scenario design problems posed by the 1944 campaign in NW Europe, well done.

[Rescue193]

Those are intriguing solutions to the scenario design problems posed by the 1944 campaign in NW Europe, well done.

I didn't expect a "Kobayashi Maru"* sort of trick in the scenario but being a bright young lad access to "Evil Ed" conferred a bit of an edge that, perhaps, I ought not to have had. When I found the Pooh Trap I didn't recognise it for what it was. It never occurred to me that dedicated, honourable and thoroughly "good egg" types like scenario designers would stoop so low .

Pft!

However, a rather more subtle and, perhaps, less obvious (less detectable) ruse has occurred to me that should achieve more-or less the same effect. The problem is making it work but discussing it in an open forum would defeat the point would it not?

So, I'll plod on towards the Ruhr, hopefully, rout the enemy and possibly discover the "other" potentially cataclysmic trap (nuclear attack in the Ardennes in December?) that might have been set.

Regards

R193

*An episode from the original Star Trek series.

[Rescue193]

... a bluff or even a double-bluff?

It's been years since that one was worked on so memory may not be clear but I think it is bluff. Since you are testing it I won't have to take the time to do it so that is appreciated.

An update is planned and it is up to third on a to-do list. Any thoughts you have are welcome, thanks!

I'll tread carefully and try not to fall down any holes — on second thoughts should maybe I just blunder headlong into the unknown in order to trigger any trap?

If you're serious about wanting my input I'd be delighted to make a contribution for whatever good it might do. It all take me a day or two (or twelve) to get my thoughts sorted and typed.

One caveat, I shall not be liable for any injury you might incur from laughing to excess, snorting, choking or shaking your head violently at my naivety, ignorance or general stupidity. Deal?

R193

[sPzAbt653]

We all know the Kobayashi Maru scenario. Kirk hacked the program in order to affect a positive outcome for himself. Surprisingly, this was viewed not as a lowly cheat, but as a great accomplishment !! Fascinating.