81: Better Dead than Red v1.1 - MC 04 North German Plain '85
2 - 1 - 0
| Rating: | 7.98 (4) |
| Games Played: | 3 |
| SM: | 8 |
| Turns: | 164 |
| Type: | Custom |
| First Side: | Warsaw Pact |
| Second Side: | NATO |
Central Germany - 9 May 1981: East-West tensions have been building. NATO intel resources have identified massive Warsaw Pact movements of troops, vehicles, and aircraft. Although the Waraw Pact Spring Maneuvers have just ended, these formations have been spotted in what can only be described as forward assembly areas in East Germany. NATO leaders have already alerted their reserves and the U.S. is just completing deployment of REFORGER units to Germany. Now, with this latest intel and the impending failure to reach a diplomatic solution, NATO has ordered its units to deploy according to their war plans. World War III is about to begin. *****The following HOUSE RULES are in effect: (1) The first ten turns of the game are considered as pre-war during which neither side may cross the Inner-German Border (IGB) with any force. (2) NATO may not deploy forces adjacent to the IGB. (3) Enemy units may not be targeted with offensive fire. (4) Bridges may not be damaged prior to the start of hostilities. (5) DDR Grenztruppen and Worker's Militia Battalions may not leave the DDR at any time (they are for rear area defense in the DDR only). (6) The war begins on turn 11 or 10 May 1981. (7) Based on West Germany's doctrine of forward defense, NATO is obligated to supporting that doctrine. Therefore, should the Warsaw Pact player capture the 10,000 victory points of objectives east of hex row 125 before turn 33, an automatic major victory is granted to him. *****
| Player Voting Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Member | Balance | Enjoyment |
 Aolain |
Well Balanced | 8 |
 Scar |
Totally Pro Warsaw Pact | 7 |
 JDR Dragoon |
Well Balanced | 8 |
 burroughs |
Well Balanced | 10 |
| Gaming Records | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Side Player | 2nd Side Player | Result | Score | ||||||
|
 |
JDR Dragoon | vs. | burroughs |  |
|
Draw | 80 | 80 |
|
 |
Scar | vs. | wranger |  |
|
Warsaw Pact Minor Victory | 112 | 48 |
|
 |
Aolain | vs. | Scar | |
|
Warsaw Pact Minor Victory | 112 | 48 |
The OOB still needs some work, some of the weapons in particular are off kilter (West German 110mm rocket launcher with 20 he range?). What was especially good about the scenario was the 10first "pre-war" turns which meant, that NATO had a chance to actually prepare a defence, while it gave the WAPA player a chance to set up the attack he wanted, rather than the one the scenario designer wanted. Overall much recommended.
Unfortunately I couldn't carry on after some three years of struggling to keep the game going and get that concluded on my side. The trick was to keep it fast at the very beginning which I neglected a bit and after some years passed I got burnt out - the game is huge and involves a lot of clicking which was finally compounded by some kind of excessive strain injury, forcing me to give it up along a number of my other PPBEM in playing then. Anyway, this scenario is indeed a work of thought, but hard to be played on the WP pact for a regular wargamer due to its immense size - even though there are much larger TOC ones - but for the most hardcore Blitzers.
The task of crossing the river lines not to rely solely on the Fuld Gap seems a purely technical operation as the main objectives are well within WP forces reach from the very onset of the war, but then the Clausewitzan friction and attrition start to tell compounded by a skilful NATO delaying actions and deliberate and determined defence on the western river banks. Still possible to achieve, but nevertheless a daunting tasks. Looks like no-one has reported the WP victory in this one and I failed to be the first.
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