I'm currently building a hypothetical series of scenarios based on Operation Sealion (as you may know from my earlier posts). Generally do you prefer to be able to deploy your troops or are you happy with normal scenario deplyment (troops in place already)?. Given a shadow player system where you are all equally handicapped by the initial deployment.
Any opinions?
I like deploying my own, especially if defending. If you think about it, if they are deployed for you then you just sort of sit back and wait. However, with that said what I did with my Fintel Ridge scenario was give the defender enough units in the rear to play with a reaction force so he could customize it a bit.
I see your point. In fact I'm completely on your side. It's just that a big part of me is too lazy to redraw all those north/south maps. Although, the first of my scenarios intentionally forces the defending player to deploy as best he can "on foot", while the German landing craft approach the beaches (which are in a certain disarray due to the night assault (something I pulled from my research on the operation). I'd like to think my scenarios have more "flavour" than balance. But I like to deploy my own troops too, I think I'll be redrawing my river crossing map east/west.
In historical tournaments (if there would be any) I'd prefer deployed units, in hypothetical ones it doesn't matter that much. Like Chris said it's more important to deploy them yourself in defense when you have limited mobility.