Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: mkeogh76

Started playing the Mekong "A Week In" scenario.

I enjoyed playing the first day. However, when I followed orders by sending a certain battalion to take control that large island, some of the objectives on that island triggered the "not following orders" popup which deducts 1,000 EPs. I don't understand why. The objectives were on that island, and clearly showed a value of "1" both on the map and in the hex descriptor which, according to the scenario briefing, means that they're supposed to be captured. Yet I got punished for doing so. Is this a bug? Or some sort of "red-herring" feature to randomly ding the player EP points?

quote:

ORIGINAL: mkeogh76
I did not enjoy the second day much. Just a lesson in frustration. Watching my ammo/arty levels drop to "0" despite there being little or no fighting. Having to move across the entire map using tiresome river transport to capture objectives in a vast area some of which AGAIN triggered the "not following order" popup despite being labeled "1." And finally trying to plot backroads detours for that ARNV column to avoid hitting "0" objectives. One mis-click and BOOM: goodbye, 1000 EP. It was just more frustrating than fun, and I threw in the towel after 90 turns.

quote:

ORIGINAL: mkeogh76
I love the concept of the "A Week In" scenarios- force preservation, following orders, and determining force makeup for the missions. But the game's mechanics, some questionable design decisions, and those "not following orders" popups on objectives clearly marked "1" wore me down. Maybe I'll give it another shot someday.

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ORIGINAL: mkeogh76

Sorry, I can't remember the broken objectives. Wasn't sure if it was a feature or a bug. So, I just played through without marking them down. It happened 4 or 5 times over the course of the two days I played. At least two on the first day island mission and another two or three in the Delta/Gamma areas of the 2nd day missions.

I completed those 2nd day supply missions. However, those missions come late in the day when the ammo situation was already ridiculous. Plus, it takes time to move the supply trucks to those remote locations especially the ones requiring the use of the very slow pontoon ferries. And then upon reaching those locations, one must wait another five turns for the ammo levels to rise. By the time I completed those missions I'd been stuck playing with either very limited ammo/arty or none at all for most of the day. It was extremely frustrating watching my ammo/arty diminish every turn despite my not using any of it. Of course, when fighting did occur, my troops were instantly "low ammo" and without any arty/mortar support. It felt more like I was fighting against the scenario design than the VC. Those supply missions should be given much earlier in the day. (Granted, now that I know about them, if I do attempt this scenario again then I will ensure supply trucks accompany the troops so I can more quickly complete those missions.)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mkeogh76

I completed the 1st day supply mission as well, but supply wasn't an issue on the first day. So, I didn't pay attention/notice any effects from completing it. The 2nd day, though, watching every turn as my ammo/arty precipitously dropped down to "0" despite my not firing anything just came across as "gamey"- an artificially created challenge. Part of the reason I wasn't sure those broken objectives really were "broken" was the "throw a wrench in the works" nature of taking away my ammo/arty on the 2nd day. However, it was a lesson learned: take along supply trucks in case a logistics mission pops-up.