Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

Hello again!

After some break, here I present you some three new scenarios. This time series are dedicated to different "target group" than previously with Showdown America and those singular ones.

Oil Crisis Spreads focuses on:
- Battalion sized combat
- Not so common historical sector (1975 for western nations, vehicle and line infantry heavy sets)
- Original enemies, bringing middle eastern nations of Saudi Arabia, UAE and others into play. Let us not forget there is a world besides Vietnam at that time ^^


Currently there are 3 scenarios in the pack, more to come when my time is right:
- My Home is my castle (as French)
- Doorway to Arabia (as British)
- To block the push (as American)

All these scenarios take place hundreds of miles away but in just few hours.

Enjoy and give me some feedback.

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

You are a very Evil man! I've been on sick leave and started playing your series yesterday and probably have raised my blood pressure double digits! I won't spoil anything here, but the two I've gone through are definitely a challenge!

Love your maps. Great topography and texturing!

Well done SaS!

Tom

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

I did playthrough of all of them before releasing. Yes, I forgot to mention they are kinda demanding. I won all of them, but with heavy, very heavy losses. In fact, Doorway to Arabia with UK Paras left me standing with about 20 combat capable men of entire reinforced battalion.
Obviously no spoilers though ^^
In "To Block the Push" I recommend to advance quickly and relentlessly in order to develop good defensive position for proper fight. Use TOWs and Shileilaghs well, try to secure their dropzones so crews won't die. You can also use jeeps dropped with Stinger teams. These jeeps - in my vision - are to be used for quick transportation of ammo caches between TOWs and Stingers. Yet, I had to survive this on close combat with my good old LAWs only :P

More to come in some time: a continuation of "Doorway to Arabia" when Gurkhas are transported to reinforce the Paras against onslaught of proper Saudi forces...
And USMC assault right on Abu Dhabi, capital of UAE, that was just a bunch of dirt and some stone buildings back then.


REQUEST
Generally, Saudi peninsula got developed after 1991. If anyone has good picks of key cities or bases during '70s era, I would be glad, it may help me with maps.
Also, UAE military at that time was not particularly existent as this country was forming from couple of duchies into proper federal state. Same goes to military, UAE had about 7 different forces, ranging from battalion sized to couple of thousand men under the rule of one of the princes. It was quite feudal, in short. If anyone has anything on this, I could well use it, too.

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

I do have some stuff for Arabian peninsula in 60's and 70's (mostly Yemen and UAE) - My father was stationed in Aden during the "emergency" and Radfan campaigns. I am, however, away from home till June 8th - will dig out what I have then.

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

Having problems getting an old external drive to co-operate - may have to take it to a professional :(
It contains, amongst other things, alternate OOB's for Oman and UAE, photos and maps from the Radfan, Aden Emergency and Dhofar campaigns, etc. and a whole ficticious campaign set in amongst the many enclaves and exclaves of eastern UAE / Northern Oman.

The Arabian peninsular is a great resource for scenarios, etc and an all too often over-looked one! One would struggle to find a year since 1945 when there wasn't a conflict of some kind going on in the UAE, Oman, Yemen or the islands off their coasts! Coups, border skirmishes, civil wars, rebellions, religious strife all fought by seperatists, irredentists and foreign powers - often with multiple sides in the same fight!

In the meantime, some stuff that you can look into that may provide ideas:

Oman Trucial Scouts - a force with British officers and Omani / Yemeni / Abu Dhabi men that is the basis of much of the current UAE military. Active from 1951 through to the '70s.

for scenario ideas try small actions like the Sharjah-Fujairah Border war (fought over 1/4 an acre), through to the huge mess of "Egypt's Vietnam" - the North Yemen Civil War or the Dhofar Rebellion, where British fought along side Omani regulars, Iranians and nomadic tribesmen against Chinese "advisors", communist guerrilas, Yemani "freedom fighters", Soviets, mercenaries, terrorists and drug runners.

Major bases tend to be ports and/or airfields as a lot of the interior is arid desert (it's not called "the empty quarter" for nothing!). In the period you are interested in Aden, Mirbat (made famous by the SAS "battle"), Salalah, Bateen (air base), Muscat, Fujairah, etc.

Hope this gives you something to be getting on with (would love to see more scenarios from this corner of the world) till I can share more concrete stuff. :)

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

Playing the scenarios now and either I have awful luck or I am really bad at this!

In the British attack on the airfield I had EVERY aircraft shot down or aborted/RTB! The few hardy paratroops who managed to land (outside the perimeter) never managed to make it to a single objective! Eeeek! More SEAD please.

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

I'm not sure how I missed this scenario. I'll take a look and thank you for posting.

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Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

@Scorpio - probably bad luck. It is possible to drop on the airstrip, but you need to carefully maneuver over there. Use quick speed of your paras on pavement ground and reach southern-inner fences. This should give you cover and good firing position you need.
Also, move with your paras by switching the squads. Enemy will not concentrate on one single unit, but will "split" its accuracy, thus limiting your casualties.

But as I said, after this scenario, I had a platoon barely left standing.

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

I'm looking at this one and opted for your other scenario, Operation Flash - Nova Gradiska to play instead. Maybe after this one, I'll come back to it.

I would not plan a para assault landing in a very hot LZ such would be the airfield. I'd send the paras outside the AB about 5km out, set a commando or SAS company to attack and hold the main gate, and the secure the road into the AB from reinforcements.

Thanks.

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

I'm PBEM the "Doorway to Arabia" Scenario as the Arabs, my opponent as the Brits, it has been very entertaining, 15 or more turns so far, the Buccaneers bombers are having their way against all sort of targets but the base personnel and infantry are still holding on, i suspect that things are gonna get interesting in a few turns or so :). I'm really enjoying it. Congrats SAStroop :clap::clap::up::fire: Keep it up!

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

@Shahadi - No spoilers from my side, but I have chosen such "daring" approach because there is a major base in the city nearby. If Brits would be stopped on the desert for long enough for reinforcements to come... that would be an end of entire Para. Dropping inside the walls gives them protection and advantage against these reinforcements.
But yes, as mentioned, this one is tough and is sort of example when "Intelligence did not do its best".

@Oche - hats off-head for trying this one on PBEM :D Do you happen to have some masochistic tendencies maybe? :D

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

And speaking about scenarios in general, here come two new ones.


NIGHTTIME IN ARABIA is a continuation of "Doorway in Arabia" released before. We assume Paras were (barely) capable of capturing that airfield and reinforcements are coming in to support them. But Saudis mobilized a big force and are trying to recapture King Khalid Airbase in the middle of the night.
This is multi-layered scenario, you should like it. Beware though, AI waypoints gave me a lot of trouble. These may still not work correctly. Feedback appreciated.

SANDY RIDGE is a new front, a Libyan one, that belongs to the Italians. Italian task force has just conducted good and easy landing and they now push on Tripoli in order to disable that OAPEC member. Libyans are trying to fortify the capital and for this reason a strong, heavily armoured Libyan group secures and digs in on Sandy Ridge, location on the only road along the coast that Italians need to capture.
This one is mostly tank-on-tank engagement, but one side has huge advantage of defences (no, this is not your side). This one is quite tough to beat but all who enjoyed Yom Kippur scenarios in this game should also like this one.


What will come next? If you win the Sandy Ridge, combined arms assault on Tripoli will be imminent. But in so called meantime, it will be a good moment to release USMC naval landing straight at Abu Dhabi. I will put a lot of heart into this one.
And do not forget one more front to open: back then, Iraq was also an important OPEC member. And Iran was supporting the west. Beyond that, there is also Bahrain and Kuwait that need some attention. I am waiting for your suggestions, but I was wondering of Canadians could not take Bahrain, mainly from the air.

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

I enjoy a good scenario challenge every now and then, whether thay maybe historical or fiction instead of playing the boring predictable Buy/deploy battles on random generated maps, i guess i like the "high" of the fog of war feel provided thru scenarios:):up::fight:

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

Suggestions are always welcome of course, but unless somebody is also directly involved in those scenario designs, you will always have last call on scenario guidelines and direction.

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

I enjoyed these last 2 scenarios as well as the others in this series. Please keep the coming

I scored a DV vs the Saudis since they charged with their armor without waiting for the infantry to catch up. LAWs made short work of them.

I only got a draw vs the Libyans. They had an endless supply of tanks and Italy lacked the 3:1 ratio of forces needed for a frontal assault. The Libyan force may need to be reduced to make this winnable.

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

A draw is a win sort of.
At the very least it's not a loss.

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

As for Nighttime in Arabia, problem with those rushing tanks is annoying. I am considering lowering their speed so they maneuver together with infantry. I just love AI for this.

As for Italians... this scenario was planned to be tough. When playtested I achieved a marginal victory, which was quite weak though. I deployed my tanks in bounding overwatch and tried to rush my infantry as close to the slope as possible. Then I relied on training of Bersaglieri troops and I was clearing the nests one by one.
"Strategically" assuming, this attack would always be tragic. If Italians to not rush with all they have got, Libyans will fortify. But Italian attack also means casualties, yet, thats sort of "lesser evil".

I am not sure when I will release the next one, but I surely will. Keep up the feedback!

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

OK, these are probably two finals going for the patch. Fully tested and working.

Just reminding: we are in 1975, Israel lost Yom Kippur war and is occupied and continuing US support leads to total oil embargo from OPEC countries. US and its European allies decide to use force in order to open Arab oil markets again.

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT (6th scenario) is opening of the new front. You command 6 various companies of USMC in opening moves of invasion on Abu Dhabi. Get massive air support and naval artillery, complete synchronized objectives and try to knock out the head of UAE in first minutes of war.
More details in mission description.

TRIBAL WAR (7th scenario) is indirect continuation of Doorway to Arabia and Nighttime in Arabia. Command a small, mixed British force as they punch through Saudi roadblock in mountainious western part of the country and make your way towards Mekka where the Queen wants you.

Hope you like these two ;)
Quick reminder: these are small to medium scenarios, the smallest of all I make.

Have fun and thank you ;)

So far were released:
1. My home is my castle
2. Doorway to Arabia
3. To block the push
4. Nighttime in Arabia (Scenario pack 1)
5. Sandy Ridge (Scenario pack 1)
6. Straight to the point (Scenario pack 2)
7. Tribal war (Scenario pack 2)

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

I was randomly searching for those in scenario lists after 2019 update, and I cannot see them? Were these omitted by mistake?

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

Yes. I cannot recall noticing that they were posted even back to 2015 ( but I was a bit distracted in May 2015.......)

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

That's fine, I will add two more soon since it was a while this series were continued. When the time comes lest's just rename the scenarios so they are all togerther in a row within the scenario list

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

Yes. Whenever we release another update these will be in a continuous series....... remind me to double check I have them all whenever we announce that

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

I am reminding you :V

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

OK. I will see what I can do

This is what I have and their order. Did I miss any ? That new one is not part of that series
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/attac...1&d=1584566545

And just be advised there is a good chance they are not going to be in those exact slots when the patch is released

Re: Oil Crisis Spreads series
 

Sorry, I missed that message. Yes, all seem to be there, 7 scenarios total so far.