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Major_Mess -> Kanonfutter vs Major Mess - Somewhere in Russia 1942 (2/19/2004 11:08:50 AM)
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This is my first PBEM game – I thought that a DAR/AAR report seen through the eyes of a FNG could be fun. There’s a lot to learn – all help welcomed. I’ve also invited Kanonfutter to add his side to the story.
Major Mess reporting:
Well, as I warned you in my previous dispatch…….I’ve now got myself in to a PBEM game with Kanonfutter. I’m the Germans vs Mr. K’s Russians – March 1942 – 4000 pts.
I gotta admit, this is a whole new thing for me. I’m used to having everything done for me with the scenarios (My C.O. has pronounced me to be “a lazy ****”), and the AI will sorta match in it’s own way whatever crazy ideas I have when I start a campaign.
But this……………………….!!!!!!!!!!!!
First of all, I got to get everything I need with 4000 pts.
Focusing……..Focusing…….trying to remember all the tips and tricks from these forums (hard to do at my age, I can hardly remember what I had for breakfast).
I try to pick a nice balanced force. 10% or so of this, at least 10% of that, a couple of these, a few of those. Lots of armor, but not too much. Get my infantry – quality or quantity? (Listen to the Kat people and you would think all they have is quality – hey Ammo Sgt.?) & recon, recon, recon.
I set up a dummy game – to try out my various plans for my force composition. I worked on this for hours. Try this, try that, too many points, not using my points wisely, aaahhhhhh.
What tactics will I use? what will my strategy be?, where the hell is Holt’s Tactic Guide? I really have must have fussed over this for far too long.
And all this time I have no idea how Kanonfutter fights – No intel at all.
I could be looking at a skadillion cavalry or a huge amount of arty to pound the snot out of me.
Or maybe he’ll treat me like the real Russkies did in those days, waves of tanks with their poor troopers hanging on.
Or scads of partisans roaming through my back yard.
Ah………………..to hell with it, I ended up picking what I wanted.
Now I have to set up my gang for the upcoming battle. It is a large map, which is good….lots of room to manoeuvre. My VP’s are out in the open, his are on the lee side of a small hill. There are two other sets of VP’s ready for the taking, one set is in a wide open field to the South, the other one is in the North, just East of another small hill that is presently in the possession of those Russians. There are forests and hills to the North with a rail line running East – West through them. Perfect ambush country. This is not going to be easy.
I set up my priority “Gold Spots” for what arty I have, I’ve studied with great interest Capt. Pixel’s findings on artillery. (By the way, considering the work that Pixel has done for this game, don’t you think he is due to move up the old Chain of Command? What do you think? I don’t know what army he’s in, but if he were in my army, I’d be putting him in for a battlefield promotion. I am a Major you know! – Maybe I should submit a poll. I’ll have to think about that.)
Kill zones are marked out; fields of fire are checked, then double-checked. I think all my T’s are dotted, and my I’s are crossed. I’m ready.
My plan is completed; my troops are dispersed with their orders.
Tighten your chin straps mein comrades………………..It’s dawn, look at the sky – it’s a good day to die.
Troops set……………first strike with arty set………………turn sent to Kanonfutter.
Mess Out.
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