Autumn Fog Playtesters Thread

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the front lines when we quit. The pockets circled in green would have eventually been reduced and the German units freed up could have helped push to the west some more. It was a wild ride and one of the more enjoyable games I've played in a long time. Patrick is a good player and it shows. Thanks Patrick.

[sPzAbt653]

Thanks for the excellent playtesting and feedback guys [&o].

I'm going to finish my current game as the Allies against the PO (currently at turn 80), then I am going to do the Germans against the PO. After that I should be able to post the scenario somewhere for download.

In the meantime, if anyone else wants to playtest or post results or thoughts, please do!

Thanks again,
Steve

[Telumar]

I'd like to give it a try. Looks good, great work so far!

Cariundel at yahoo de 

[sPzAbt653]

File sent!

[Abnormalmind]

I'm not sure what I would have done after closing the three pockets. I was inclined to head northwest along the rail line towards the Allied rear. But that's a really long supply route and a cut anywhere along the line would have been catastrophic. Fortunately, the mobile supply units can be railed around. It takes a long time to repair all the rail.

Sedan was about to fall.

Time is the big issue in this scenario. You may feel inclined to reach out to touch everything, but when the Soviet offensive starts, the Axis can't afford to leave the Panzer Divisions on the map. The Voksgrenadier units, which aren't that great, are left to defend whatever was captured.

I would have likely ignored the south towards Verdun. There wasn't much point to commit troops to seize the crossings to destroy the few remaining US units trapped on the other bank.

It was a great playtest! This scenario is a gem. It has many different options for both sides. Well done Steve!

[sPzAbt653]

Thanks for the nice comments Patrick.

I used your map to scraw some lines! Because I have the benefit of multiple plays, I think that after the three pockets were eliminated, a general fall back to the white line (along the Maginot Line) may have been held for some time with the VG divisions. That might allow for a panzer thrust along the green line to possibly trap the Allied units in the gold circle (if they don't fall back). At that point a defense might be held along the black line, and if there was still time, a shot could be taken at the purple lines. Or it could be time at that point to start shifting the panzers to the East Front. If the purple line attack was used to reach the Meuse, then there would be the decision of maybe keeping all the panzers in the area (leaving the East Front to it's own fate) in order to continue beating up on the weakened Western Allies. What neat possibilities!

[sPzAbt653]

For Autumn Fog 3.0, along with some slight unit changes, the map area at the lower right near the red lines has been changed a little to help prevent the Germans from so easily preventing US units entering there. Also, some of the airbases were relocated and 'distant hex' values were given to most airbases for both sides. There was an area southeast of St. Vith (at Steinebruck) where non-foot units could get trapped between rivers. A road spur was added there to prevent that happening.

[larryfulkerson]

May I be so bold as to ask for a copy of your August Fog 3.0?  I'll gladly playtest that bad boy for you.  Also, I want to echo Patrick's comment that this scenario is a gem.  I love this thing.  It may replace my obsession for FITE sometime soon.

[sPzAbt653]

Hey Mr. Fulkerson, I sent it to you earlier this week, but just sent it to you again.

Thanks [:)]

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653
Hey Mr. Fulkerson, I sent it to you earlier this week, but just sent it to you again.
Thanks

Ooops. I thought you were talking about a version that you had produced since the version you sent me that Patrick and I just got through playtesting.

[fulcrum90]

Hi sPzAbt653

Could send me a copy of the last version??? thanks

[sPzAbt653]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653
Hey Mr. Fulkerson, I sent it to you earlier this week, but just sent it to you again.
Thanks

Ooops. I thought you were talking about a version that you had produced since the version you sent me that Patrick and I just got through playtesting.

You are correct, but I sent it to you hot off the presses-lickety split. You get priority shipments [:D].

[Telumar]

Playing the newest version (3.0), turn 1.

Shouldn't be warm, or should it?!

[sPzAbt653]

ORIGINAL: Telumar

Playing the newest version (3.0), turn 1.

Shouldn't be warm, or should it?!

It will turn cold quickly.

Which side are you playing ? Germans aginst the PO ??

[Telumar]

Yes, Germans against the PO.

[sPzAbt653]

ORIGINAL: Telumar

Yes, Germans against the PO.

Going for the Meuse ??

[larryfulkerson]

Randy and I are playing August Fog ( PBEM ) and I'm not doing an AAR for our game but I thought I'd do one for turn 6 'cause he's not feeling well.  It's a frames-style html document that you can find here:

http://www.filedropper.com/afgameturn6

[Caz Collins]

As Larry mentioned, he and I are playing SPzAbt653’s Bulge scenario “Autumn Fog”. Larry is playing the Germans and I am the Allies. This is my first After Action Report, so please bear with me until I get a handle on posting the graphics. Actually, this is also my first PBEM game, and I am playing against Larry, so be prepared for some stunningly superlative game play – on Larry’s part!

The 100-turn “Autumn Fog’ scenario falls into two phases: the explosive German attack, which eventually bogs down, followed by the Allied counterattack pushing the Germans back to or beyond their start line and a crushing Allied victory (I hope!). As Autumn Fog is still in the development phase (I think), and if Larry is willing, I would like to play out the game for as long as it makes sense to do so. That means I need to prevent Larry’s explosive German attack exploding me out of the game before phase two.

As for strategic defensive plans, ideally it would be best to contain the German attack along its’ entire front, then counterattack when it is spent. As Larry is likely to bust through at multiple places I will try to manage where that happens. I plan to try to hold the initial contact lines on the Northern and Southern edges, about 10% of the front each (the “solid shoulders”). I then plan to maintain a solid front in the center of his attack, falling back as he pushes. I want to limit his break through to a point above and below my solid center. That should put the eventually arriving Allied counter-attacking forces near the base of each of his break through. I think my solid center will eventually fall back through Bastogne, making my overall plan somewhat historical in nature.

Tactically I plan to make major use the extensive river system in the battle area. The scenario designer has made many of rivers in this area “super rivers” (in TOAW game type). This prevents most units in the game from crossing them except at bridge sites (or with ferry units). By destroying select bridges I will try to channel Larry’s attacks into the areas between the rivers and disperse his overall attack focus.

I also plan to adopt a flexible defense and not try to hold every inch of ground. I would like to salvage most of the U.S. units on the start line, but holding key choke points as needed.

That’s’ the plan anyway.

Randy Collins

[larryfulkerson]

Okie dokie....I've finished Axis turn 8.  Bastogne is getting closer.  Made some progress in the south.  Gained a hex or two in the middle.  All this progress is going to come to a screeching halt when he gets his planes so I gotta do it now.  Turn 8's AAR can be found here:

http://www.filedropper.com/afgameturn8

[larryfulkerson]

Okie dokie....I've finished Axis turn 9.  I'm sneaking up on Luxembourg and making some progress in the south.  It's slow going through the trees in the middle of the map however.  You can find the turn 9 AAR here:  http://www.filedropper.com/afgameturn9