c3k

Official timestamp: today, 30012015 at 1244. A choosing shall be chosen...

Oh, it has been noted. In red ink.

The AAR will not be delayed. Waiting is weakness. It will not be tolerated. The first turn will be expected within 2 hours of a contact with the winner. Who will then become the loser!

Each day, we get halfway closer to the release!

Yes, a dead jeep... but with its last gasp, it whispered the name of its murderer. Retribution will be swift!

BMP-3 is very capable. Very.

Oooooohhhhh, now we get the whole, "Don't play blind, play like you know what's coming up!" speech! Fair notice: sfhand has murdered a jeep. I have nothing to show for it. (Or the dead men who were in it.)

"hit the curve"? Bah. I straighten the curve. Like a Mobius strip, I circle endlessly in a straight line. Or something. The channelized nature of the passes is interesting, as is the tradeoff between speed (the roads) and the slow but steady woods routes. I eschewed any change of my plan, preferring to walk into the door repeatedly. Also, I thought you'd call me out if I obviously reacted to the LAST game.

Indeed. Little do they know how I will interpret my own rules.

I thought the release was set for February 29th?

The level of smack-talk is distressingly low. I fear I must ascribe it to either a lack of martial spirit, or that anyone wanting a free copy is too busy working to post. Of course, if they're too busy to post, will they be too busy for the AAR???

I'm pretty sure that has been addressed. Map edges: I love 'em. Shrug. If the designer doesn't want someone hugging an edge (there will ALWAYS be an edge), then put impassable terrain there. (Now, you still have an edge to the playable area, you just get to see what's on the other side.) Or, fill it with mines. Or, make the edges an exit zone for both sides, with no bonus points for exiting. Unit gets too close...you lose it. Ken

Sfhand and I restarted our battle. I'm still Allies. He has taken a different defensive approach: hide. It's like the old spaghetti western. My guys, the gunfighters, have just ridden into town. "It's quiet." "Yeah. Too quiet." I expect to be opened up upon in a crossfire from the saloon roof and the upper floor of the prostitute house. A flaming wagon will no doubt block my retreat. My attack will continue. A lot of overwatch and probing. Something will kick up.

A few turn on from my post above... Sfhand's cunning plan has been revealed: he shoved his tanks up those wooded roads so that their wrecks would become roadblocks and slow my advance! Brilliant. Early war tanks are no match for mid/late tanks. Our battle has focused into 3 prime areas of contact, as the main roads over the hills are being contested. Lots of little fun actions.

^^^ Too funny!

Bwa-ha-ha! You amuse me. The date approacheth, nigh! Or something. Does that help?

LOL. Personally, I never test something when I'm playing. There is no "morality value" attached to that, just my personal preference. And, no, I have no "issue" if my oppo tests something before sending a turn. I find I learn the hard-won lessons better. Passwords: I always send my password, as a courtesy, after a game. Again, that's me. Having said all that, if you really don't know if you're visible, then test it. But, getting down there with the camera, setting a few "test" movement points and searching with target lines, can give you a lot of information. In a test environment, throw some units down: Give them different movement commands, and watch, from hotseat, whether a spotting unit can see them or if there is a difference based on movement speed. Fanatic units will adhere to your orders. Usually. Give everyone tight covered arcs.

"Second phase"? There is but ONE phase: kill mine enemies!! That so-called "guerilla force" is my main strike force. I had not intended it, but they begged me to let them stay in the fight. Their honor demanded it. I acquiesced. Kidding aside, sfhand did stumble upon what I think is key in every battle: position. The first role is to assess the terrain and pick out the key features. Then, based on mission and forces, allocate what you can. The key terrain needs to be held (or taken). Everything else is noise. Sprinkle with balance and experience, to taste. That was our first battle, where I was Axis. In sfhand's and my second battle, as modified, I am Allied. We're only a few minutes into this one. My first push through the hills has shown several Axis armored contacts, contesting the roads. He has sent them right up the roads at me. That, in my opinion, is a mistake. Maneuverability is critical to an outnumbered defense. sfhand seems to've split his mobile forces onto 3 locations, where they are hamstrung. Sure, I've lost 3 jeeps. I laugh at that! Sfhand, if you are listening, tell me where you want my jeeps, and I will send them there, with tight covered arcs, so that you can convert them to scrap at your leisure! The board is best fought with the pawns swept aside. (Of 3 burning jeeps, only one sprouted crosses. But that one was full!) In the same light-hearted tone, I do not think sending the armor as recce up the roads will benefit sfhand in time or space. Sure, I'll have to shake out of convoy formation to deal with them, but that's a good tradeoff. He has split his armor and come face to face with my columns. Now I don't have to wonder where they are. I think I'll order a jeep crew to dismount and board his tanks. A little hand to hand inside the turret would be good for everyone, no? Ken

Okay...understood. I =think= this has been a long-term known issue. I'll double-check and make sure it's listed if it isn't already. Thanks, Ken

"Set piece" is the opposite of "meeting engagement". The scale does not matter, although it's usually used in terms of large battles since all the pieces include the panoply of supporting arms and fires. Both sides are ready and have their forces on the field of battle. There is no feeding in, or meeting. The front line is fixed before the battle and one side crosses it into a prepared defense. The offensive side has arrayed it's support and coordinated with all the units meant to fight.

Well, no. This is a little embarrassing, but, what the hey, here it is. Apparently I have total control and influence over the jar. I don't know how it happened, but there it is. See, the game is ready. Totally tight, buttoned up, warehouse and distribution centers bulging at the seams. The issue? My "win a free copy" thread. See, I've picked a winner. I shouldn't have, but I did. In order for that individual to win, the game needs to be delayed. I mentioned that to Charles, and, well, he included some sort of time-delay code into the game. It can't be released yet. Blame the delay on the one I give a copy to. It's all his fault. Ken

Bulletpoint (nice sig!), So, what's the bug? Ken

If it is possible to kneel behind it and not be seen, it is bocage. (It doesn't mean EVERY soldier will be hidden, only that it is possible for some to be hidden.) If every soldier can be seen while kneeling, it is a hedge. At least, that's my rule of thumb.

Sounds like something someone posted upstream.

Thanks. We shall have a winner announced...whenever.