Drive them out - Combat Mission: Final Blitzkrieg

Beautiful map and carefully considered historical context. The terrain and apparent asymetry of the forces provides a great challenge. Could be improved with slightly more options in deployment areas for the attacking allied force.

Great scenario though could be improved if the allies had more room to deploy

I hated this scenario from the start - I have never played anything that felt so constraining and lopsided. I cannot play CM now based on this horrible experience. I have played these wargames since Avalon Hill - I hope I can recover enough to take up arms again. WORST EVER.

Seems to be quite pro Axis. I'm wondering if the US has all the tank(s) in this (there is only one) that scenario designer intended.
Definitely a tough struggle against MP-toting SS squads, for masochistic US players only ;-)

Probably challenging as the Allies against the computer. BUT PLAYED H2H ... IT IS TOTALLY PRO AXIS. Don't waste your time with it!

The sheer weight of automatic weapons on the axis side makes H2H a very tough prospect for the allied player.

Against a more static AI opponent, the map would make for a fun challenge on allied side.

I thought it was a pretty horrible scenario for the US. Germans have so many HMGs with enough ammo to lay down a lot of area fire. Very difficult for the infantry to advance once the tank runs out of HE. If I was the US commander I'd be asking for more armor support.

The American troopers, who are mostly only regulars and greens with their simple Garand rifles, are facing a German company which is equipped with NINE heavy machine guns (shooting right across the whle map) and lots and lots of modern aussault rifles "Sturmgewehr 44". And allthough the Americans have one Sherman at their disposal (with reduced ammo) they are facing an overwhelming firepower which soon leads to a desperate situation for the GIs who are suffering heavy losses on their advance. They are just breaking. Apart from that imbalance in firepower this scenario mainly is an infantry house-to-house/streetfight scenario. Unfortunately the movements of the infantry are not so very well animated in CM (sometimes the soldiers are even looking as if they were a little bit retarded while they are moving) and so it isn't that much fun to play and watch an "infantry only" scenario in general. But the map is nicely done.

A pro Axis scenario for sure, but somehow Shorker still pulled out a minor victory on me. (how?) Expert use of his armor and mortar fire, that's how! Made me retreat and scurry for cover, until no more mortar strikes. And, I had one platoon that got bored in the woods ... and just HAD to get close. (big mistake) ... as they were completely wiped out.

However, once his armor knocked out and mortars empty, there was no way to advance further against my numerous MG42s and other fire power. I even had several squads out of ammo, what with all the GI targets to shoot at.

BTW, I would have HATED playing this as the attacker, as Mudking obviously did.

My congrats to George on using his available forces so well.

Pro Axis for sure

Lovely map in the snow, atmospheric setting. Had the potential for a good fight

Interesting balance of forces - Read the BRIEFING!!

A good scenario, but hard. I rate it slightly pro-Axis because the Axis is on the defensive and can set up in positions using angles which can chew advancing squads up. With only a few men the Axis can hold up a whole squad and make it difficult to gain ground. Each objective can be covered by the Axis with enfilading fire which makes it very hard to advance without taking causalities. For the Allies to advance smoke is key. There is not enough smoke to last the whole scenario for the Allies, although some extra smoke is provided by off board mortars. Be careful with the use of the tank. It is to be shepherded. Even with squad support my tank was damaged moving into a part of the town. Initially, I was not able to break my squads up. This was possible later. I would have liked the ability to do that earlier in the game.

As everyone else said, the GIs get ample opportunities to get themselves shot.

Needs rebalancing to be a H2H scenario (a platoon of M4s would do the trick, methinks).

Aside from this, it is a beatuifully crafted map and an interesting challenge!