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Pantherblaster -> (12/3/2000 7:29:00 AM)

Hi Bill, well, I really like the U to the R campaign so far (I've got 31 points now and am far into germany) but, the further you get into the campaign the more veteran your own troops are going to get while the opposition does get stronger but only pretty marginally (atleast that's the way I see it), they, the germans, are getting better vehicles and troops (especially during the bulge). The problem, I think, is that their numbers are still a bit too low to SERIOUSLY threaten the US from at the very least getting a draw, certainly if, as I mentioned before, the US experience is going up. So, once in 3 or 4 battles you really should have a battle that REALLY wears down a player (bocage like), so that he has the job of constantely buying (relatively large amounts) of new units to replace the KIA-ones, leaving less space to upgrade units making it through safe, instead of massively upgrading existing ones that safely made it through so far. you could increase the german numbers, their equipment (higher standard), the terrain and the weather (slowing down the max. rate of advance), or seriously increase the german experiene (more than +10%)to represent elite or other highly regarded battle formations. Also the use of para airdrops should either be restricted to a much smaller number of scenarios or the german should be better positioned and equipped to deal with them(second-line troops behind the main lines, barricades, patrolling vehicles, flak emplacements shooting the bits out of the, just landed para's. This should really be done to limit the impact they can make on a battle (I use and airdrop them pretty much always if their is an meeting engagement, advance or assault mission). The previously mentioned experience increase brings me to a question though, how could it be that the germans have such a low experience, leadership and morale figures compared to especially the US army ones (USMC I figure should be quite wright). Ok, so the germans used landstorm and other not so superior kind of troops at the front But, that was only from 1944 and on (as far as I know, I could be mistaken though). And that argument can be countered with th fact that the germans had build up a lot more experience during the first years of the war, while the USA wasn't even involved yet. German officers were also known for their tactical competence (more than US army officers as far as I kwow, again I could be mistaken), while the morale of the german troops remained high among large parts of their armed forces, even during the latest half year of the war (that I do know for sure). So, how could these US army numbers be so superior to the german ones? I'm really wandering about this, please, help me out of my misery AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!! I love this game, PANTHERBLASTER



Wild Bill -> (12/3/2000 9:28:00 AM)

Good going PB. Some thoughts. When I design a campaign, I try to keep the whole spectrum of the SPWAW gaming community in mind. That means making victories attainable, but difficult. I could make them harder, but then a large number would give up in frustration. I could make them easier, but then those hardcore gamers like you would get bored. So, what to do? Try to strike a happy medium. Now to numbers. Actually, I did try to incorporate that idea, an occasional real blood-letting scenario to keep the Allied player honest and sober. You are just too good. And I did raise the numbers on the German side, considerably. You should have seen them before I did [img]http://www.matrixgames.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif[/img]! I've tinkered with the numbers of most of the units, except your core forces, of course. I can't touch those. In a long campaign human player forces that survive and attain kills in battle after battle become in reality super-human. I can't change that. Your experience has been better than most, and I attribute that to your skills in commanding in SPWAW. One of these days, I am going to do a "hard-core" campaign for you die-hards, and then watch you bleed [img]http://www.matrixgames.com/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] Wild Bill ------------------ In Arduis Fidelis Wild Bill Wilder Coordinator, Scenario Design Matrix Games



victorhauser -> (12/3/2000 10:49:00 AM)

I believe that campaigns are most challenging when the human player does most of the advancing/assaulting because the AI is better when defending than attacking. Also, it seems to me that 1 month per battle is the "ideal" because unit experience increases and replacements seem to fit SPWaW best that way. Some possibilities that intrigue me: NZ Division in Italy USMC Tarawa-Okinawa Grossdeutchland Division 1SSF Brigade (US/Canadian Special Forces) 2nd Free French Armored Division 5th Guards Tank Army Manstein's "Lost Victories"



Paco -> (12/4/2000 1:07:00 AM)

Hey, Congrats on an awesome campaign! I'm not finsished with it yet, but I've come far into Germany (up for the five point battle). Im doing well so far with 6 decisive, 6 marginal and a draw. After reading Pantherblasters post I must agree on some points and disagree on others. The campaign is not too though nor too easy. It's just about right. I don't think that the US outnumber the Germans at all since I've found myself outnumbered at most battles. Also, I do not think that there's too much room for upgrades. Maybe I'm risking too much of my force to win a battle, but during the whole campaign I've only been able to upgrade two units. And about the experience issue: In the last months of the war, a lot of the german forces where composed of soldiers under 20 years old (due to the lack of grown men), many were 12-15. As you can figure many of these boys had no military training to speak of. Morale was hardly high anywere outside of hitler's bunker. I also have some ideas for improvements: The briefings (and maybe debriefings) should in my opinion contain more information about what kind of german force your up against and what artillery support you have, because this must (?) have been known to high command. You have included some of this information in certain scenarios of the campaign but far from all. You really like to know wheter your supposed to buy yourself a howitzer battery or if there's already some for you to use. That's all... keep up the good work!



Wild Bill -> (12/4/2000 1:15:00 AM)

Very well stated, Paco. I would agree with you. By way of explanation, the amount of writing space in the text is EXTREMELY limited, allowing for about a medium sized paragraph. I lobbied strongly to change that, but it was not accomplished. Thus the campaign designer is forced to try to give a historical flavor to what is happening and a few hints as to what might be needed. Say too much and you give it all away. Say too little and you leave the player in the lurch. Trying to fit it all into that cramped space is almost as hard as designing the battle. [img]http://www.matrixgames.com/ubb/eek.gif[/img] I wish we could do as you recommend. I really do. Glad you have enjoyed the campaign. Does it seem too long to you? Wild Bill ------------------ In Arduis Fidelis Wild Bill Wilder Coordinator, Scenario Design Matrix Games



kao16 -> (12/4/2000 1:32:00 AM)

I went into U2R without adjusting preferences - should I have "Reduced Squads" ON (default) or OFF (I ask, remembering that it should be OFF for designed Senarios but not sure about designed Campaigns)?



Wild Bill -> (12/4/2000 1:40:00 AM)

I designed it with it off, Kao, but you feel free to adjust at whatever is best for you. Wild Bill ------------------ In Arduis Fidelis Wild Bill Wilder Coordinator, Scenario Design Matrix Games



Paco -> (12/4/2000 4:19:00 AM)

About campaign length: I'd say the longer the better, while not getting extreme. The Utah-Rhine campaign is by far longer than I first thought, which I found very good.



Lou -> (12/4/2000 4:34:00 AM)

I just finished U2R, and man, am I tired! WB, without sounding like I'm trying to blow smoke up your flak vest, I have to say that this may be one of the best campaigns I've played in the SP series. I lost count of the times where I thought, "ok, I've got this situation under control", only to find yet another Panther poking its ugly snout at me. Game play was challenging, but balanced and fair. Unlike other campaigns, I never felt that AI won 'cuz it was cheating. The times I got my butt kicked were entirely my own fault. What would I like to see? Hypothetical postwar U.S./British/French vs. Russian matchups. Someone mentioned a German vs. Japanese postwar fight. Now, that would be pretty darn cool. Of course, I would like to see more campaigns in general. I greatly prefer campaigns over one game scenarios. I like the continuity and history. Few things make you feel more in the game than when a cherished AT team, squad, or tank dies valiantly. Now then...my semester projects are calling and Dune is on SciFi tonight. I'll be putting the wars on hold until after the semester. (Yeah, right!) Lou



Wild Bill -> (12/4/2000 4:39:00 AM)

Iperceive your comments and congratulatory and encouraging, Lou. And I thank you. Like most of us, encouragement is a great incentive to try harder. It is much appreciated. In the light of your suggestion, I should let you know that the next campaign is indeed a hypothetical one, US vs USSR in a confrontation, April-May, 1945 in Central Germany in the Hannover-Elbe River area. Testers are working hard on it even now and it should be ready before the HOlidays. I'm thrilled you've enjoyed U2R and I hope you will get equal (or more)pleasure from the others. Wild Bill ------------------ In Arduis Fidelis Wild Bill Wilder Coordinator, Scenario Design Matrix Games



Pantherblaster -> (12/4/2000 6:40:00 AM)

Hi Bill, How about a short campaign for what's called "the battle for The Hague". German airborne and paratrooper units landing at three airfields around The Hague (Netherlands central government center aswell as the queens residence)in the morning of 10 of may 1940. The germans figured they could just land their Junkers on the airstrips step out of the aircraft and take the airfield. They made one major mistake though, they had performed recconnaisance of the battle grounds by intelligence officers several months before the war. The Dutch, however had seen what had happened particularly in Norway where the germans landed their transport aircraft on the airfields too and had sent (modern 20 and 40 mm) extra triple A and some of their few armored cars and some extra troops to these airfields in addition to the (modern) 10cm triple A already stationed around the city, as a precaution (they could do this quickly because their 1st Army Corps, which was stationed near The Hague, was ment to counter the allies back into the sea if they violated the Netherlands neutrality). The germans didn't know this because their last intelligence report was from before their invasion into Norway. The germans suffered heavy losses when they landed on the airfields, their passengers being shot to pulp while still in their aircrafts, the survivors and para's being dropped on the wrong still succeded in capturing some airfields before being driven of by the Dutch 1st Army Corps over the next two days. The german objective to capture the Dutch Queen and the cabinet were never even close to being completed while not being able to launch any serious airborne operation until the battle for Crete. However it would have been sensationally had it worked. Play as the germans and 1: take the airifeld with para's and airmobile troops (limit their losses)so 2: reinforced with extra airmopbile troops you hold off the Dutch counters, 3: conquer the road to The Hague, 4: take several key centers in the city and 5 storm the palace (capture the Queen) and hold on to it in 5: a Dutch divisional attack to retake the palace and force your surrender. Or atleast something like this. A small (under equipped) country against a (relatively) light but well equipped elite force of the NAZI'S, with the latter being put in a very precarious position from the start. Just an idea, nothing more. I personally would like to see more campaigns and scenarios in which minor countries are involved. Howabout a "Rommel conquers - may/june 1940" campaign against the French, Belgians and English? Anyway I am veeeeeeery interested in your new campaign between the western and eastern allies. I'm sure It's marked with the same quality as your previous campaigns and scenarios (not to forget. Regards, PANTHERBLASTER



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