theforger

@Bootie - Manual upload as administrator?

DOWNLOAD IT HERE....
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2ijgih8265lnpkj/AAD_u1055f305MjAau1aXhAFa?dl=0
From the man himself...
December 16th 05:35, the “Ghost Front” erupts in a maelstrom of noise and violence as Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein begins.
The Rollbahn D Campaign contains 35 linear scenarios built as historically accurate as I’ve been able to achieve. 
You control the fortunes of KG Peiper, SG Knittel, and Panzer Brigade 150, along with elements from KG Hansen, KG Sandig, and the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division.
Boy did this project snowball!
The Campaign begins with a choice. Either starting at the very beginning or on Day 3 of the offensive. The latter will be an easier route as you’ll have not suffered any losses to your core units. I’ve included here what it takes to progress within the Campaign as not every engagement is balanced. The scenarios range from small to medium to Ben Hur like epics. 
I’ve made minor changes to the Day 1-2 scenarios based on the feedback from the Rollbahn D Part 1 Campaign.
Day1-2
SN01: Murky Merlscheid / Fallshirmjager Regiment 9 / Minor Victory
SN02: Leaving Lanzerath / Fallshirmjager Regiment 9 / Minor Victory
SN03: Minen The Gap / Spitze / Minor Victory
SN04: Breakthrough / Spitze Kompanie and FSJ / Minor Victory
SN05: Hurrying Through Honsfeld / Spitze and Gndrs / Draw
SN06: Bull in gen China Shop / Spitze and Spitze Komp / Minor Victory
SN07: Butchers Of Baugnez / Spitze and KG Peiper / Minor Victory
Day 3 
SN08: Laying Down The Recht / KG Hansen / Minor Victory
SN09: Poteau The Priority / KG Hansen / Minor Victory
SN10: Storming Stavelot / KG Peiper / Tactical Victory
SN11: Trois Is A Crowd / KG Peiper and FSJ / Draw
SN12: Jabos! / KG Peiper / Tactical Defeat
SN13: Probe At Stavelot / KG Peiper and FSJ / Minor Victory 
SN14: Neufmoulin Rouge / KG Peiper / Draw
Day 4
SN15: Duel In The Mist / KG Peiper and FSJ / Minor Victory
SN16: Too Tight At Targnon / KG Peiper / Tactical Defeat
SN17: Vorauskompanie Searches For Gas / SG Knittel / Tactical Defeat
SN18: Ster Way To Heaven / KG Peiper, Sandig, SG Knittel / Tactical Defeat
Day 5
SN19: Stationary At Stavelot / SG Knittel / Major Defeat
SN20: Chewin Them Up At Cheneux / KG Peiper / Tactical Victory
SN21: Treachery At Les Tcheous / KG Sandig / Draw
SN22: Closing The Door / SG Knittel / Draw
SN23: Ambush At Chenai / KG Sandig / Draw
SN24: Violence At The Preventorium / KG Peiper / Draw
Day 6
SN25: KG X Factor / Panzer Brigade 150 / Tactical Defeat
SN26: No Prizes At Noupre / KG Hansen, SG Knittel / Minor Victory
SN27: Punishment At Parfondry / SG Knittel / Tactical Defeat
SN28: TF Jordan Storms Stoumont / KG Peiper / Draw
SN29: Cold Hearts At Froidcour / KG Peiper / Tactical Victory
SN30: Persistence Prevails / KG Peiper / Draw
Day 7
SN31: Borgoumont Blitz / KG Peiper / Major Defeat
SN32: Kicking Coblenz / SG Knittel / Total Defeat
SN33: Festung La Gleize / KG Peiper / Tactical Victory
SN34: Hansens Surprise / KG Hansen / Draw
Day 9
SN35: Katz Und Maus / The Survivors / Minor Victory
 
All the maps are my own, apart from Cheneux, which is stock that I’ve modified. Ranks/uniforms can be inaccurate as command units are above the battalion level.
Each Scenario will be available as a separate download in January.
 
Good Luck!

Help!
I've finished a campaign build, BUT the zip file is 26MB...therefore breaches the 20MB limit on https://www.thefewgoodmen.com/tsd3/
If anyone can help it'll be appreciated. Already to go on the 16th Dec as well!
 

December 16th 05:35, the “Ghost Front” erupts in a maelstrom of noise and violence as Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein begins.
The Rollbahn D Campaign contains 35 linear scenarios built as historically accurate as I’ve been able to achieve. 
You control the fortunes of KG Peiper, SG Knittel, and Panzer Brigade 150, along with elements from KG Hansen, KG Sandig, and the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division.
Boy did this project snowball!
The Campaign begins with a choice. Either starting at the very beginning or on Day 3 of the offensive. The latter will be an easier route as you’ll have not suffered any losses to your core units. I’ve included here what it takes to progress within the Campaign as not every engagement is balanced. The scenarios range from small to medium to Ben Hur like epics. 
I’ve made minor changes to the Day 1-2 scenarios based on the feedback from the Rollbahn D Part 1 Campaign.
Day1-2
SN01: Murky Merlscheid / Fallshirmjager Regiment 9 / Minor Victory
SN02: Leaving Lanzerath / Fallshirmjager Regiment 9 / Minor Victory
SN03: Minen The Gap / Spitze / Minor Victory
SN04: Breakthrough / Spitze Kompanie and FSJ / Minor Victory
SN05: Hurrying Through Honsfeld / Spitze and Gndrs / Draw
SN06: Bull in gen China Shop / Spitze and Spitze Komp / Minor Victory
SN07: Butchers Of Baugnez / Spitze and KG Peiper / Minor Victory
Day 3 
SN08: Laying Down The Recht / KG Hansen / Minor Victory
SN09: Poteau The Priority / KG Hansen / Minor Victory
SN10: Storming Stavelot / KG Peiper / Tactical Victory
SN11: Trois Is A Crowd / KG Peiper and FSJ / Draw
SN12: Jabos! / KG Peiper / Tactical Defeat
SN13: Probe At Stavelot / KG Peiper and FSJ / Minor Victory 
SN14: Neufmoulin Rouge / KG Peiper / Draw
Day 4
SN15: Duel In The Mist / KG Peiper and FSJ / Minor Victory
SN16: Too Tight At Targnon / KG Peiper / Tactical Defeat
SN17: Vorauskompanie Searches For Gas / SG Knittel / Tactical Defeat
SN18: Ster Way To Heaven / KG Peiper, Sandig, SG Knittel / Tactical Defeat
Day 5
SN19: Stationary At Stavelot / SG Knittel / Major Defeat
SN20: Chewin Them Up At Cheneux / KG Peiper / Tactical Victory
SN21: Treachery At Les Tcheous / KG Sandig / Draw
SN22: Closing The Door / SG Knittel / Draw
SN23: Ambush At Chenai / KG Sandig / Draw
SN24: Violence At The Preventorium / KG Peiper / Draw
Day 6
SN25: KG X Factor / Panzer Brigade 150 / Tactical Defeat
SN26: No Prizes At Noupre / KG Hansen, SG Knittel / Minor Victory
SN27: Punishment At Parfondry / SG Knittel / Tactical Defeat
SN28: TF Jordan Storms Stoumont / KG Peiper / Draw
SN29: Cold Hearts At Froidcour / KG Peiper / Tactical Victory
SN30: Persistence Prevails / KG Peiper / Draw
Day 7
SN31: Borgoumont Blitz / KG Peiper / Major Defeat
SN32: Kicking Coblenz / SG Knittel / Total Defeat
SN33: Festung La Gleize / KG Peiper / Tactical Victory
SN34: Hansens Surprise / KG Hansen / Draw
Day 9
SN35: Katz Und Maus / The Survivors / Minor Victory
 
All the maps are my own, apart from Cheneux, which is stock that I’ve modified. Ranks/uniforms can be inaccurate as command units are above the battalion level.
Each Scenario will be available as a separate download in January.
 
Good Luck!
 
 
 
 

Talk to me Goose!
I can host it for you on my dropbox...
DOWNLOAD IT HERE....
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2ijgih8265lnpkj/AAD_u1055f305MjAau1aXhAFa?dl=0

From the CMFR Cutting Room Floor. Any time there was a BFC switch over to another project, I'd try out something weird with the included tools. You may have seen a version of this in CMCW, which was an adaptation of this original concept. The idea is to have a visual to track the campaign over, with choices depicted "on map" for the campaign portion.
This is simply a map that is zoomed way out to cover an operational area. Houses are towns, large buildings are urban areas, factories are industrial areas, and so on. The scale has been exploded to represent a potential campaign level view. The player would have a small unit representing their force on-map. I suppose you could have more than one unit, t depict multiple combat groups, but that is untested. Enemy forces would probably be tied to the scenario, but there may be some area for creativity there.
The campaign script has two potential decisions per branch. That could be a choice between any number of scenarios - a choice between attacking one of two towns, etc. Something like this could used as a makeshift operational map. This concept could then be used (in whole or portion) to create branching battles on an "operational map" made from a standard map...but scaled up. I like the idea of using the entire map for this one, as it would keep a sense of progression (or not). Like CMMC, but without any extra engine stuff, and everything is tracked via the campaign script. It gives a graphic progression to the text-based campaign we currently have.
My idea was to have a few new flavor objects for the towns and smaller trees, but it can be done with what we have (and maybe a 2D mod or two). I suppose there should be some standard for what the 3D stuff means (2 small barns= town, 4 large buildings= city, etc). It's getting the practical stuff on-map, then making sure it doesn't look like a dog's breakfast in 3D.
The "operational map" where the high-level branching choices are is below - this map being for the area covered by Operation Spring Awakening. It was too much of a slog for a campaign, but the operational map remains. If you have CMFR, you will see some maps destined for this idea.
In practical terms - The choice to the player would be "take the road to Deg, or take the road to Enying", then the player will move their campaign operational map Schwimmwagen/Jeep, etc. to that "town" on the map (or any choice trigger terrain), which will be linked to that battle as the next battle in the campaign in the campaign script. I the map attached, the Germans start at the west (just because of the current map rotation - really north), heading east (south, geographically) to Simontornya or Cece.
The attached example is far too large, and was intended to be split into smaller sections. Doing something of this size would be unmanageable to make a campaign script for if the battles were numerous. Each operational sub-map would be its own campaign, with 6 or so branches. That's probably 12 sub-maps, which can be easily made from Master Maps, QB maps, etc.
If I get any free time to cipher it out, I'll attach a script example for the branching for the first round using this map, and maybe others may wish to test the idea out on their own ideas. I have a few of my own, but they need a fair amount of time to percolate.
Images, looking west to east. Hungary, Lake Balaton region.


 

https://www.thefewgoodmen.com/tsd3/cm-final-blitzkrieg/cmfb-closing-the-door/
uploaded this quick 30 minute CMFB scenario.
Axis versus Allies, but maybe playable H2H.
Medium map but small number of fighting forces north east of Trois Ponts. 
This is the 16th of 35 scenarios built for soon to be completed Rollbahn D campaign trilogy. It is set on the afternoon 20th Dec 44.
"Tank fire echoes down the Ambleve valley. You control SG Knittels small rearguard at Petit Spai bridge, and now on full alert. 
The bridge is Peipers only tenuous supply route and from the sounds of gunfire the position seems to be under imminent threat.
Your soldiers need to grab as many Panzerfausts from the SPWs as possible and take up ambush positions as quickly as possible."
NB: The featured pic shows the approximate end location of the KGs only Hummel. Page 82-84 Duel In The Mist 2.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This was a fun little battle on a great looking map. And I am looking forward to getting back onto Rollbahn again soon.

https://www.thefewgoodmen.com/tsd3/cm-final-blitzkrieg/cmfb-closing-the-door/
uploaded this quick 30 minute CMFB scenario.
Axis versus Allies, but maybe playable H2H.
Medium map but small number of fighting forces north east of Trois Ponts. 
This is the 16th of 35 scenarios built for soon to be completed Rollbahn D campaign trilogy. It is set on the afternoon 20th Dec 44.
"Tank fire echoes down the Ambleve valley. You control SG Knittels small rearguard at Petit Spai bridge, and now on full alert. 
The bridge is Peipers only tenuous supply route and from the sounds of gunfire the position seems to be under imminent threat.
Your soldiers need to grab as many Panzerfausts from the SPWs as possible and take up ambush positions as quickly as possible."
NB: The featured pic shows the approximate end location of the KGs only Hummel. Page 82-84 Duel In The Mist 2.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

https://www.thefewgoodmen.com/tsd3/cm-final-blitzkrieg/cmfb-closing-the-door/
uploaded this quick 30 minute CMFB scenario.
Axis versus Allies, but maybe playable H2H.
Medium map but small number of fighting forces north east of Trois Ponts. 
This is the 16th of 35 scenarios built for soon to be completed Rollbahn D campaign trilogy. It is set on the afternoon 20th Dec 44.
"Tank fire echoes down the Ambleve valley. You control SG Knittels small rearguard at Petit Spai bridge, and now on full alert. 
The bridge is Peipers only tenuous supply route and from the sounds of gunfire the position seems to be under imminent threat.
Your soldiers need to grab as many Panzerfausts from the SPWs as possible and take up ambush positions as quickly as possible."
NB: The featured pic shows the approximate end location of the KGs only Hummel. Page 82-84 Duel In The Mist 2.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Operation Barbarossa did pretty much as well as it could, starting a few weeks earlier or capturing Moscow would not have made a difference in the long run. The Op was based on the belief that the Communist regime would implode. That was not the case in hindsight, but at the time it seemed a reasonable assumption based on opinion of Russian emigres, the purges in the Russian army and Russian performance in the Finnish war. US and UK in 41 also expected Russia to collapse.
Once it was obvious Russia was fighting on, the Germans had to face the fact that the logistic challenges made it impossible to conquer all of Russia. Based on pre-Op planning, the Germans estimated that the maximum that they could supply their troops was 500 km from the bases and that is where the initial offensive petered out in July. After that, they had to move bases forward to support additional offensives. Problem was the railroad network was inadequate, not just the type, but the number. The Germans needed at least one dedicated rail line per army, they fielded around 10 armies, but they could only count on really one rail line per Army Group, so troops on the front line were always short of everything. Best example is winter clothing. The Germans had all the winter clothing they needed for the entire armies in the east in storage in Germany and Poland, problem was the entire rail capacity in Russia was taken up by fuel, ammo and food so they were unable to transport winter clothing to the front line troops.

I have made a mod for ploughed fields in snowy conditions that produces much less annoying moiré patterns. The ploughed fields ground texture is also used for some of the crop fields. Here is an overview what it looks like under sunny conditions (click and enhance to expand for a closer view):

The mod is the same for Final Blitzkrieg and Red Thunder but I made seperate folders for convenience. Note that there is a seperate one for Fortress Italy. All three can be found here for now, and maybe @Bootie can add them to CMMODS later on.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1cyq3wnr79ym0mb/AACTEp1VWL0H-3zUaiCzSxC1a?dl=0

Ah cool.
This new core units file - you'll have to update ALL the missions in the campaign with it.
So it sounds like as you trying to update each of these missions individually with the revised core units files the game is crashing? Correct?
If so I'd suggest with the three causing issue is make a copy of each of these missions.
Then delete any units related to the core unit file that are there, then update each scenario (with the deleted units) with the new core units file.
Top tip!! take some screenshot/photos of the units (re AI plan, unit victory allocations and their deployment on the map etc BEFORE deleting em!)

Sadly for us, Part 3 is not yet done, so we all have is a trailer.
 
Regards,

John Kettler

Already intense combat at the Donetsk Airport escalates, and it's altogether too "You are there" to be remotely comfortable viewing. Much of the footage is blurry, jumpy or both, but what do you expect when fire is pouring in, the building is on fire, etc.? Nor is it just the Donetsk Airport where battle rages.
 

Regards,

John Kettler

Here is a first rate, unflinching, and intimate look at the 93rd Brigade alerted and called into action, for it was the most combat ready formation available. Doc has excellent extensive footage and extensive informative interviews with the Ukrainians in the fight.  There are many actions in here that would easily fit CMBS, too--if you ignore later actions at the Donetsk Airport deep into the fight there where five divisions' worth of Russian mortar, artillery and rocket fire rained down daily (15,000 rounds/day). By contrast, when the North Vietnamese Army did long range bombardment of An Loc, South Vietnam, the world was shocked by 1200 rounds/day. The interviewees are easily understood, and there is full English VO, too. Titles keep the viewer oriented as to the date and battalion being discussed. Supporting graphic is a large computerized map put up to show who was where, course of action, etc.

Part 1
 
Regards,

John Kettler

Steve Grammont has been interviewed at the Grogheads Site. Just featured today.
http://grogheads.com/interviews/21100#more-21100

+1   And mebbe even Afrika Korps.

In urban terrain even more than anyplace else, follow the mantra...
Never send a team anywhere a scout hasn't been. Never send a squad anywhere a team hasn't been. Never send a platoon anywhere a squad hasn't been.
Never send armor anywhere infantry hasn't been.
When you have time and opportunity, never send anyone artillery hasn't been.

Alarmeinheiten is basically done.  I just need to update the briefing and compile the newest version of the "mini-campaign".  There is so much new content available right now I don't think there is much demand for another scenario to play.  Also with the warm weather RL has been busy for me.  As a result I just switched out placeholders for the new FR content did a little testing but not much else.
  

 
The police mod-pack is pretty cool.  I enjoy playing around with it.  Some of the mods need work and of course attempting to expand it into a campaign slowed things way down.  Someday.


 
Devoted most of my free time to the CMCW Kriegsburg scenarios (these are released).

     

Nice site.
Definitely a rabbit hole to lose a bunch of time in. 

There are reports showing what the fighting strength of a division was, and what it should be, down to the number of rifles!
The SS Divisions are from RH10/312 starting from the LSSAH, /313 DAS Reich..../318 Hohenstauffen
A must see site for any scenario designer.

https://blog.sturmpanzer.com
Has a how to guide to search the Bundesarchiv for divisional records.
He has an index of panzer divisions. For example searching on RH10/140 shows all the KStN unit/status charts for the 1st Panzer Division from 1943-45. RH10/141 2nd Panzer etc.
The image quality is fantastic.

There are a lot of WW2 documentaries made in the years following WW2 on Amazon Prime.  One very interesting one I just watched was the battles around St Vith.  Very interesting narratives from the generals Iincl von Manteuffel) down to ordinary soldiers.  Much new real action film I hadn't seen b4 shot by both US and German cameramen.   
Interesting highlights:  Shermans with wood logs and sandbags to enhance the armor. many tanks and HT;s incl Tiger II's and many great shots of bedraggled uniforms, and details of the villages, towns and terrain in the area.  Seems that much of the Bulge battles did not have snow.  Hopefully, inspirational for map and scenario designers.  
https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B073CC5WNP/ref=atv_hm_hom_1_c_myhimm_2_2
 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bear-Marches-West-Scenarios-Wargames-ebook/dp/B0086V6KA4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+bear+marches+west&qid=1622891997&sr=8-1
This may help?

And that's the end of the first act of this massive campaign.
In conclusion, I very much enjoyed this act, especially because the Spitze missions were my favourite of the official Peiper campaign, and I always wanted to see that part expanded upon.
I appreciated being able to use many of the German vehicles as intended; for example using MG halftracks to give fire support for my infantry - something that works against light opposition but not when the enemy is bristling with tanks and AT guns like in most scenarios.
Also a pet peeve of mine: Often in CM, the ground has been deliberately sculpted to prevent any long-range LOF to anything, making the halftracks nearly useless. In this campaign, LOF was not always granted, but in many cases it was actually possible to find overwatch positions.
Looking forward to the next chapters.