Re: Playtesters Wanted
 

Cobra's actually, the USMC has never used the Apache. :D
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.

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.

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.

Re: Playtesters Wanted
 

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...

Re: Playtesters Wanted
 

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?

Re: Playtesters Wanted
 

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


IMHO, not really.

They give you near complete coverage of the battlefield.


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


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


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...

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

Re: Playtesters Wanted
 

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

*just chuckles*

Re: Playtesters Wanted
 

Just for fun I will re-play the scenario with a similar size force based on the Nordic Battle Group concept that will have somewhat less AT capability.

The OOB is loosely based on a mix of NBG 08 and NBG 11.

HQ/NBG Cmdr
Forward Observer
Special Forces Element (4 SSG Teams, RG-32M)

Mech Inf Coy (CV90) Sweden
Mech Inf Coy (Bv309) Sweden
Mech Inf Coy (AMW Patria) Finland
Bn Support Coy (Pioneer Plt-trucks, Recce Plt-RG32M, AA Plt-Rbs 70, Lvkv 90, Mortar Plt - 120mm towed, Supply Element - 6 Ammo Carriers)

Cavalry Recce Coy (Piranah) - Ireland (this formation is a mix of in game Australian and Swiss units)

Heavy Company - Norway (Tank Plt - Leopard 2A4NO, Leo 2 Dozer, 2 Engineer Plt's - Bv206, Indirect Fire Plt - 6 BW L52 Archer)

Heavy Supply Company - (6 Ammo Carriers) Norway

Independent Mech Platoon(+) - (XA-185 Pasi) Estonia (mix of in game Israeli and Finnish units)

Independent Mech Platoon - (Patria AMW) Croatia

Helicopter Group (2 Augusta 109, 2 UH-60 Blackhawk, 2 Mi-8 C Hip)

Air Support Element (6 JAS-39 Gripen)

No attack helicopters, no UAV, no off board artillery.

I'm using mostly stock OOB units and the Mech Inf companies are mostly equipped with AT capability having about 3 ATGM teams each. The Irish Recce Company has the most ATGM weapons, including two TOW armed Pirahnas. The Norwegian Heavy Company has all the tanks and the Archer artillery systems and is probably the best equipped to kill armour.

Of course I know the routes the AI will take, but I will probably not be able to halt all the attacks at once. We'll see...

Re: Playtesters Wanted
 

This is good stuff,and another campaign being hammered out,keep up the great work Suhiir and you have probalely the best playtester with Wulfir:banana:

Re: Playtesters Wanted
 

Unfortunately, if I'm not mistaken, if you buy any new units for a scenario it tends to screw up the waypoints.

Re: Playtesters Wanted
 

More the merrier!
Feedback as always appreciated. Specially in a project of this scope because you're ALWAYS going to miss something.

Re: Playtesters Wanted
 

Don't know - but I'm not playing it as a scenario, but as a two scenario long campaign. I made a 1 turn long "intro scenario" where I bought the forces to be used, bought air support for aux pts.

I'm on turn 8.

The Irish in the south have knocked out about 8 or so T72s and a couple of M113s, but are now running low on ammo. There are two TOW armed Piranah's and one Leopard 2 Dozer. Three of the infantry Cav Scout Teams have Javelin ATGMs, but with only two rounds. Falling back to re-load, but the T72s are closing in, and behind it the wave of mech inf and Abrams'.

There are two things I happening I did not notice before. There is one T72 platoon moving through the rough terrain in the middle of the map, and about a company size T72 tank force is moving along the hard surface road from the centre of the map to the upper part...

In the far upper part of the map I have the Norwegian Leopard 2 platoon, and these have killed off a large part of the enemy tanks and armoured cars.