Playtesters Wanted

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by shahadi

Some feedback: In the early engagements, I used my Apaches at low altitude to score big time against the Iraqi armor in the Center sector. My Apaches in the North sector popped-up from buildings with tremendous devastation. In the Southern sector, I have prepared an ambush.

Cobra's actually, the USMC has never used the Apache.
Yeah the lack of USMC tanks means our air, helos, and ATGMs are our anti-armor units. Part of the intent here to let players "learn" for themselves that you don't necessarily need tanks to stop tanks.

Originally Posted by shahadi

Since some units are positioned at certain off-road points, as they are not appearing as check-points, I assume the brigade S2 staff anticipated as Insurgent encroachment, correct?

If I understand your comment correctly it's more that this is the desert. Roads are convenient but rarely limit the potential avenues of approach one can use. So units are positioned to cover those not the roads themselves.

Originally Posted by shahadi

As with the other guys, I find the AI movement is very good thus far. I want to play the USMC side then switch to Iraqi using a simple straight-up penetration maneuver.

I seriously doubt the AI will put up much of a fight as the USMC side, as they'll die in place in their initial positions. The AI can't handle "shoot and scoot" tactics. Nor will it reload from ammo trucks.

[wulfir]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

From what you say it sounds like the Iraqi's never got to your main defensive positions? If so I need to tweak. Some are suppose to be able to make it that far.

The did not engage any of the entrenched USMC rifle companies. I moved Echo Company forward and this unit saw some action, but not that much.

ATGMs, artillery and air killed off the bulk of Iraqi armour before they got close. But it's not given the result would at all be similiar with a different setup of the core...

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by wulfir

ATGMs, artillery and air killed off the bulk of Iraqi armour before they got close. But it's not given the result would at all be similiar with a different setup of the core...

Very true, but while exactly as expected I thought some would make it to the entrenched positions. Have to tweak a bit.

Questions:
What did you find odd/unusual about USMC deployment?

Was any of the initial deployment "wrong"?

How useful were the UAV's and MV-22's as spotters? Too much? I'm considering pulling the MV-22's as they're NOT recon helos, but they are part of a MEU and under the circumstances they're not needed for redeployment. The other option is to use Gulf Co in the MV-22's as the reserve vice Echo Co in AAV's.

How useful/effective did you find the inherent air assets (the F-35's) of the MEU? Decisive or merely handy?

The Iraqi's had an off-board artillery battalion (3 x batteries in a total of 6 x platoons) did your non-player-controlled "Ctr Bty Air" do a fair job dealing with them? Too effective?

I made the bulk of the Iraqi armor T-72's because M1's would be near invulnerable to SMAWs/AT4s but from the sound of it they never made it far enough for that to be an issue. Did you find the M1's difficult to deal with?

Did Iraqi AA play any role on the battle? Most was MPADs in M113's, did any actually deploy? Did the Iraqi MT-LB w/ZU-23's have any effect on your use of air?

[wulfir]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

What did you find odd/unusual about USMC deployment?

Nothing really..., the service/support units, wounded, civilians etc might be somewhat unusual but I understand their role in the scenario.

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Was any of the initial deployment "wrong"?

IMHO, not really.

Originally Posted by Suhiir

How useful were the UAV's and MV-22's as spotters? Too much?

They give you near complete coverage of the battlefield.

Originally Posted by Suhiir

How useful/effective did you find the inherent air assets (the F-35's) of the MEU? Decisive or merely handy?

More decisive than handy. I used them to target Iraqi Abrams tanks mainly.

Originally Posted by Suhiir

The Iraqi's had an off-board artillery battalion (3 x batteries in a total of 6 x platoons) did your non-player-controlled "Ctr Bty Air" do a fair job dealing with them? Too effective?

The Iraqi artillery did not give me much trouble so I guess not.

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Did you find the M1's difficult to deal with?

More dangerous than the T72s - but they will be killed by TOWs, air and artillery. Especially the quick response artillery with their ammo trucks are useful. The true hero of this scneario is the Forward Observer...

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Did Iraqi AA play any role on the battle? Most was MPADs in M113's, did any actually deploy? Did the Iraqi MT-LB w/ZU-23's have any effect on your use of air?

The MT-LB AA tracks did not make much of an impact but the Strela/Stinger teams did damage one Jet and one Cobra.

[Suhiir]

Thank you again. Very useful observations.
*begins tweaking*

Originally Posted by wulfir

The true hero of this scenario is the Forward Observer...

*just chuckles*

[Suhiir]

Thanks again wulfir.

Forgot to ask before.
Was 36 turns enough to "defeat" the Iraqi's without spending the last few turns killing stragglers? Or were there still enough of them alive to continue the assault?

Sounds like I need to trade some T-72's for Abrams if I want them to reach the main defense line.

VERY odd about those two mech companies. Maybe I'll have to have them enter earlier or something *scratches her head*

[wulfir]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Was 36 turns enough to "defeat" the Iraqi's without spending the last few turns killing stragglers? Or were there still enough of them alive to continue the assault?

I think 36 turns will be enough for most players.

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Sounds like I need to trade some T-72's for Abrams if I want them to reach the main defense line.

Maybe, maybe not - this all depends on the deployment of the player, and if he still packs enough AT punch at the end of the campaign (though I think most players will).

[Suhiir]

They should unless they lost a couple tanks/Vipers during the earlier scenarios. And if they've lost half their tanks/vipers then I guess they'll learn attrition battles hurt.

Going to trade in one battalions T-72's for Abrams, so wind up to half and half instead of the current three-fourths one-fourth. Also think I'll give the T-72 battalions BMP's vice M113's. Seems the BMPs don't carry ATGMs but most players won't realize that at first, greater initial heart attack value.

[wulfir]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Going to trade in one battalions T-72's for Abrams, so wind up to half and half instead of the current three-fourths one-fourth. Also think I'll give the T-72 battalions BMP's vice M113's. Seems the BMPs don't carry ATGMs but most players won't realize that at first, greater initial heart attack value.

You could mabye increase the experience/morale value some on selected Iraqi units, not all perhaps, but some. Depending on the number of scenarios the player's units will probably be close to elite...

...but what a new player might consider a hard scenario is an easy meal for a veteran player - perfect playblance does not exist, IMHO.

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by wulfir

You could mabye increase the experience/morale value some on selected Iraqi units, not all perhaps, but some. Depending on the number of scenarios the player's units will probably be close to elite...

...but what a new player might consider a hard scenario is an easy meal for a veteran player - perfect playblance does not exist, IMHO.

This will be about the 7th scenario, so some may be elite, but all should be veteran.

Yeah, playbalance is ALWAYS "fun".

With luck this campaign series will "teach" the value of maneuver as most scenarios seem to be head-on-head.
Course the problem is creating scenarios that require the player to do more then "Hey Diddle, Diddle, Straight Up The Middle".