Which counts more ...

[majog]

To all:

"Ap Tau Ambush", is a very interesting scn and can be played a myriad of ways. This one is actually very balanced and has been one or lost by both side a serious number of times. Yes the exit hex is there. Most people who play blind try and make it to the hex and get waxed along the way. Some are more sneaky and find a way to keep from getting totally beat to hell. The NVA are not fixed the whole game an it is up to the US player to figure that out early enough. If you go up one side of the map the arty takes out your loaded heuy's if you go up the other you are safe but still cannot provide any cover for the armored column that still has to make it up the road to get additional points. Also the NVA can play havock on the armored column from a points perspective even if the US does not try to move up the road (but I won't share how as the Tourney is still on).

Another point.... this scn is similar to a new one I released several months back. If the US tries to engage the NVA head on it becomes a blood bath. The US player needs to decide early on that discression is the better part of valor and skirt the enemy when he can to come up behind the VP hexes that are lightly defended. The problem is that most players are used to EF and WF were the units points are the same for either side. You have to remind yourself that the NVA can loose 3 infantry unit for every US infanty or heuy unit in DGVN. That is one of key things that makes play more dynamic.

You also have civilians that can cause you negative points if you kill them. Jumbo was a master of drawing fire by using civilians. He even stooped to loading them into trucks and running them into ambushes. Unfair play, heck NO! It is programmed into the game to make it more complex than WF or EF. If you combine that with the mobility factors it is a little like the difference between basketball and football. One a sport of brawn and power the other of speed and agility. Football tactics won't work in basketball and DGVN tactics won't work in WF or EF.

Although as Stefan pointed out, having a good opponent that figures out the tricks takes some of the fun out of it, it is still fair play. His question of win at all cost (as long as fair) is a valid one in most play but in a tourney people play to win or why join. If you are not playing to win, you may as well continue to play the same group you have been before the tourney. Heck I am the scn designer and programmer of DGVN and lost a couple of rounds ago. I know the trick and could have done some edge of the rules things to win but like some others here just love to play and wanted to host another DGVN tourney not neccessarily just win a tourney. That having been said, those of you in the End of Summer Tourney watch out:), I made the mistake in the Sharks tourney of not watching a few replays and it ain't happening again.

Good luck to all and have fun, after all it is just a game and not real life.