Visit The Scenario Depot
Newest Scenarios
CMAK
Kampfgruppe Richter in Budel. Dilemma, fight the allies or retreat?
A Very British Civil War
Note: this is clearly a “what-if” scenario, loosely based on the bustling miniatures war gaming off-shoot of the same name. Outstanding work has been done by Solway Crafts and Miniatures, and I credit them with the brilliance of this war gaming theme.
Background
England, May 1938 (designer note: note the in-game calendar notes “1944”; this is only to create the optics of lush green environment of the British Isles)
Weather: overcast, mild, dry
The very social fabric of Great Britain was torn during the apocalypse that was The Great War. The mightiest empire on the globe ended victorious, but at what cost? The rigid social hierarchy was shaken, and the world wide waves of social change did not stop at the English Channel. Class structure, worker’s rights, regional animosities have all brewed in the decades following the Great War. This has all been exacerbated by the crippling economic crisis of the 1930s, to which the ever cautious government responded to by constricting public spending ever more.
In May 1937, King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom married Wallis Simpson. The marriage to Wallis was not supported by Stanley Baldwin, the British Prime Minister; and King Edward refused to abdicate. This marriage left the British government, and most of the people, alienated; and public hatred for King Edward and Queen Wallis rose. Parliament was torn, and in the general election of 1937, Baldwin was defeated. The Conservative party, ripped by the issue of King Edward’s marriage, as well as economic and regional tensions, broke apart, and a large segment of the Tory support went to the British Union of Fascists. Oswald Mosley’s promise to ensure public order, and shore up the Empire, resonated with a public tired of public disturbances, strikes in essential services, and the economic malaise. The Labour party too split, with the more radical sections forming their own splinter parties which ran their own candidates. The 1937 election results saw a fractured parliament, and although only winning slightly over 200 seats, and less than 30% of the vote, the BUF formed the largest caucus in the House of Commons. King Edward VIII asked Oswald Mosely to form a government. Mosley did so and almost immediately issued “Orders of Council”, outlawing strikes, restricting collective bargaining, and establishing new offences for unauthorized public gatherings, and publishing “any article intended to alarm the public”. Any opposition was swiftly responded to, if not by the police, then by Mosely’s own BUF Blackshirts, the BUF’s paramilitary wing.
In January 1938, a protest by Dockyard workers in Liverpool was brutally crushed by the BUF and elements of the Regular Army; and violent clashes began across the country; between the Kings troops and those of several other factions. The British Civil War has begun!

Factions: The outbreak of conflict led several groups to attempt to seize the country or their own personal goals. Major factions included:
On the Right (Axis in this scenario
* The Edwardian Army – elements of the professional Army, bound to King Edward VIII.
* The Royal Navy and Royal Marines – bound by tradition and culture to remain loyal to the reigning monarch, and the majority have done so.
* The British Union of Fascists (or “BUF”) – the dominant political party, led by Oswald MOSLEY and heavily backed by German and Italian interests. Mosley has garnered considerable support in his efforts to restore order internally and restore the status of Britain’s Empire
* The Mosley Youth – a “social club” of young men, who have been drilled and armed by unknown sources, and have formed para-military units to push the BUF agenda.
* Foreign Volunteer Units: after the recruiting of numerous foreign elements to fight in the Spanish Civil War, similar detachments have been formed to back those with similar agendas in the British Civil War. Contingents from other fascist and imperialist sympathizers have been formed. Here we will see the presence of the “Hanoverian Legion”, volunteers from Germany, who are backing the Edwardian and BUF efforts
On the Left (Allied in this scenario)
* The Albertine Army – elements of the regular forces, plus most of the “Territorial Army”, backing the young Prince Albert’s claim to the throne.
* The Anglican League - A large army led by a group of bishops and archbishops, they were aligned with the Albertine Army. Many are veterans of the Great War.
* The People’s Party Army - Made up of disillusioned Labour party supporters, disgruntled workers and Spanish Civil War veterans, they are seeking to turn Britain into a Socialist state based upon Lenin's Russia.
* The Farmer’s Union: radical small plot farmers and farm working hands, seeking better pay, price subsidies, and land redistribution. They are heavily influenced by Marxist doctrine.
* The Student’s Union: like students before and after them, the university students have ramparts to thwart whomever they view as authoritarian,
* Foreign Volunteer Units: after the recruiting of numerous foreign elements to fight in the Spanish Civil War, similar detachments have been formed to back those with similar agendas in the British Civil War. Groups of Americans, Canadians, and ANZAC units have been formed; here we will see the Lafayette Battalion, formed of French volunteers, many fresh from the savage fighting in Spain.
This scenario occurs in the West Coast port town of Twaddlemore. Twaddlemore is the home base for a small Royal Navy destroyer flotilla, as well as being a mid-sized port for international commerce. Given that the United Kingdom lives or dies based on this freedom to trade overseas, the port is vital to all in this conflict. The Royal Navy, which for the most part has remained loyal to King Edward VIII, dispatched the flotilla two days ago to join the rest of the fleet, tasked with stemming the flow of foreign volunteers coming to fight for their faction of choice. Many of these foreigners have come directly from fighting for the Nationalists or the Republicans in Spain, who have endured two years of their own brutal Civil War already.
Yesterday the dock workers, who are heavily influenced by communist agents and are affiliated with the People’s Party, refused to move armaments stored in the dock warehouses. Instead, they armed themselves and fighting broke out when security staff sought to control the situation. Who opened fire first is both in dispute and a moot point at this juncture. A company of the Army’s Provost Corps was rushed to Twaddlemore by train, but a bomb was used to derail the trail just outside of town. Multiple factions are either in town currently or rumoured to be headed this way. The Telephone Exchange is the key to communicating with the rest of the country, and is clearly a goal to secure. Likewise, the docks and the armaments stored there in are also of immense value. Lastly, the mysterious new Wireless Tower being built on the south shore is of unknown value, as the work crews are from “away” and appear to be quite Teutonic in manner.
This battle will surely prove that the term “Civil War” is clearly a misnomer.
A historically fictional 'what if' look at the events leading up to the Deutsche Afrika Korps capture of Tobruk in June 1942.
SCENARIO DESCRIPTION
A meeting engagement played out in the wooded terrain of the Ardennes at the beginning of the Bulge. 60+ turns.

The Germans are trying to seize important territory: bridges, cross-roads, and towns to allow breakthrough armored thrusts. Central to this map is the village of L’Shone and its surrounding road network.

The Americans are trying to occupy the same terrain to prevent its use by the Germans.

Best played as: H2H
Second Best played as: H2H
(Not designed for vs. AI play due to mounted units)

Map edge friendly to Axis: East. Map edge friendly to Allies: West.

It is hard to believe that it was only a week ago when we first heard of “The Outbreak”. Initially it was thought to be a terrorist biological attack, with outbreaks in large cities overwhelming medical facilities. But soon it was apparent it was much more… the more we hear, the more we realize that we know very little – the cause – the prognosis – or the scale of this crisis. All remain unknown – at least to the general populace. What the “government” knows may be something else again.
You are Jack McCann, police chief in the small coastal tourist town of Shady Acres, Maine. Normally by this time of the year, your town is overrun with loud tourists from the cities of the East Coast. If only that were the case.
Four days ago a large staff of the Center for Disease Control showed up at the Town Hall, and brusquely informed the Mayor, Chuck Zeto, that the Federal Government was immediately taking control of “Shady Island”, a favourite picnic spot in the bay. This was all one-way communication, you don’t know much more other than soon thereafter a convoy of sealed trucks arrived and barbed wire was being strung across the access bridge to the island.
The National Guard has been mobilized, and your own police force has been placed under the command of the governor’s office.
And yet even now, you are not sure why. A strange illness has swept the globe, but what little news was initially released was like something from a bad movie. Now that trickle of news has stopped altogether. The official story is that a Chinese cyber attack has shut down the Internet, but this being Small Town America, there are a lot of conspiracy theories floating about.
The Mayor, Chuck Zeto, who also is the local bank manager, has asked that citizens assist in securing the town from whatever threats may arise. Given that the local National Rifle Association sponsored Chuck’s last campaign, their members were eager to show their affinity for the 2nd amendment and reaffirm their ownership of large capacity magazines and assault rifles. With some hesitation, you agreed to deputize these men, but have asked them to stay at home until they may actually be required. Their training and experience doesn’t necessarily match their enthusiasm.
You were at your office all night. You had a call from Doctor Jacobie at the hospital. Dr. Jacobie, a Vietnam war draft dodger who only returned from Canada in the 1990s, is determined to ignore what he considers a “fascist edict” that all patients in suspected cases of the “outbreak” be turned over to the C.D.C. immediately and quarantined on the Island. “It reminds me of the interment of the Japanese in 1942!” Jacobie ranted, and he said he would treat all patients as “patients, not criminals”. At that, you sent two teams of part time deputies to the hospital to deal with any issues that may arise.
The town is an important transportation hub, in that the coastal railway runs through the town. The Railway has deployed their own security at the train station, as if there is an epidemic, it is important to prevent those infected from traveling. Hopefully they have enough staff to do the job.
You remained in your office all night, and it seemed that things may be calming down, but then with a complete news black out, and the mute C.D.C. guards by the island Park, who knows? You did receive several calls from citizens overnight, reporting screams and other noises from the areas near cemeteries last night; typically the local teens will go there to drink and smoke up. Although you usually will send a Deputy to put the run on them, there are more important things to do now.
The sun is coming up, but a heavy thick fog has blankets the town. A convoy of C.D.C. relieve staff are expected in from Bangor any minute; hopefully they have some news. To allow your exhausted staff get some needed rest, two detachments of National Guard troops will be arriving, one is about 5 minutes away and a second convoy from the east in another 5 minutes after that. It will be good to get home and hit the sheets. You are so tired you feel like the walking dead.
Your phone rings. It is the security detail from the train station. Old man Codger, a elderly farmer who lives north east of town, has just shown up at the Rail station, out of breath and terrified. He is rambling about being attacked at his home, and that the only way he could escape is by setting the buildings on fire. You had better send a Deputy to go interview him. It sounds bizarre.
The phone rings again… it is Deputy Boomhauer at the hospital. He sounds quite distraught. Apparently the hospital was overwhelmed with patients overnight, and now he reports the motion detector alarms in the morgue have gone off.
At that second the switch board lights up, and several simultaneous “10-78” calls are received – “officer need assistance!”… What the?????”

This scenario is
1) Meant strictly for play against the AI. Although it one player wants to try playing the Axis/Zombies, please feel free.
2) The scenario is meant to be strictly for fun.
3) Watch you ammo loads. Shoot for the head. You only have the ammo you brought into the fight.
August 12,1944. France. SE of Argentan.
Married platoons of U.S. 5th Armored Division
night out-posts.
France, 1940 - Case Red.

Heavy Tanks of the 4th DCR must smash a hole in the advancing German line - but there are complications.
At Dornot, the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps' first attempt to establish a bridgehead on the Moselle River south of Metz met bloody failure. Two and a half miles south of Dornot the XX Corps' 10 Infantry Regiment is trying once more to establish a permanent bridgehead across the Moselle at Arnaville. Since the first U.S. troops crossed at Arnaville on the night of 8/9 September, the Germans have been launching increasingly vicious counterattacks in an effort to destroy the bridgehead and repeat what happened at Dornot.
This is an Aug 44 meeting engagement between Brit and German mech forces in Belgium. The map is based on a satellite photo of Neubruck just southeast of St. Vith.
Cassino town was destroyed by Allied Airforces on Wednesday, March 15th, along with the abby known as Monte Cassino. "The town was blown assunder and beaten into heaps of rubble, the official British history reported. Yet hundreds of bombs and thousands of shells failed to pound the town to powder, contrary to Allied expectations, nor were the surviving defenders 'rendered comatose', as planned." --The Day of Battle
CMBB
The Axis launch a major attack on the Allied defenses.
Soviet vs. German Meeting Engagement. 60+ turns.
Best played as: H2H (Not recommended for vs. AI play due to mounted infantry.)

In recent weeks, this industrial center has been the scene of increasingly sharp clashes between recon units and regular forces. Both sides have traded jabs over this important airplane fabrication city. Both have moved into the town and then been forced out again. No one seems to be able to hold it. The landing gear assembly plant on the edge of town was occupied by the Red Army a few days ago and then burned and destroyed as the Wehrmacht forced them out. Much of the town lies untouched, but the workers and residents know it is just a matter of time before a major battle rages through the streets of their city…

After another bloody engagement, both sides have backed off. Again, in the still of a Sunday morning under the cover of a pounding rainstorm, both sides push forces forward to gain possession of the city.

No one is sure where the front lines lie. Is the enemy in front of you? Or is he gone?

Push forward, as so many before you have tried, and hold this town once and for all!
This is a CMBB scenario, modelling Plan Yellow in France in May 1940.
It is a "dynamic flag" scenario, on a large map that will provide many options in attack and defence.
July 1941, a german advance detachment, composed of motorized infantry with Stug support, attempts to cut off retreating russian forces.
Russians attack three German-held villages in an attempt to secure the flank of a future offensive.
July, 1944. Operation Bagration already going on since one month. The german north front runs danger to be cut off. Setting down of german troops in western direction
runs among constant attacks of soviet armoured shock forces...
43-02-01, South. SS commandos save Kleist's troops from encirclement. Fictional.
42-07-10, South. Axis forces in Group A cross the Donits to secure northern flank in the beggining of Fall Blau Operation. Semi-fictional.
October, 1942
In the northern Caucaus, along the Terek river line, the battle has been raging brutally for nearly two months. Germany's 13.Panzer-Division tasked with taking the key junction city of Vladikavkaz (Ordzhonikidze) has been stymied in it's every attempt to breakthrough.

But now, at the end of October a break has been achieved through the first mountain range and panzers are rolling along the valley near Ardon, on a back route to Vladikavkaz.

The Russians, somewhat disorganized, are withdrawing to new positions. A desperate stand is ordered to slow the German advance and buy time to set-up the new defensive positions.

Russian breakout from a Kessel against a German blocking force.
CMBO
German infantry dawn attack during the Battle of the Bulge. American infantry caught off-guard whilst lining up for chow.

VPs for casualties and German exit points only.
Before dawn on D-Day the British airbourne must destroy the gun batteries at Vierville.
Koen - A Town to conquer
*****************************************

a Couple of weeks ago the Allies have conquered one of the major towns in France.

Now the Germans broke through the American line of defense in the Ardennes and are advancing rapidly towards this town.

Can the Allied commander hold this town?
November 1944, the French 2nd Armored Division is tasked to breach the German fortified line of the Vosges mountains. This battle takes place on the second days of the attack. The different French Task forces are competing with each other in order to be the first to reach the plain of Alsace. The company team Minjonnet (part of the Task Force Massu) blocked close to Voyer in a narrow valley by German remnants of the 708. ID has to bypass quickly this resistance. The French can be sure that their old enemy is not about to ease their action !
An American WWII GI's dream come true- a "what if" American assault on Berlin AND a chance to personally bag the ol'Führer himself!
Arnhem Bridge battle. British airborne against armoured SS.
Updated Scenarios
CMAK
A Very British Civil War
Note: this is clearly a “what-if” scenario, loosely based on the bustling miniatures war gaming off-shoot of the same name. Outstanding work has been done by Solway Crafts and Miniatures, and I credit them with the brilliance of this war gaming theme.
Background
England, May 1938 (designer note: note the in-game calendar notes “1944”; this is only to create the optics of lush green environment of the British Isles)
Weather: overcast, mild, dry
The very social fabric of Great Britain was torn during the apocalypse that was The Great War. The mightiest empire on the globe ended victorious, but at what cost? The rigid social hierarchy was shaken, and the world wide waves of social change did not stop at the English Channel. Class structure, worker’s rights, regional animosities have all brewed in the decades following the Great War. This has all been exacerbated by the crippling economic crisis of the 1930s, to which the ever cautious government responded to by constricting public spending ever more.
In May 1937, King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom married Wallis Simpson. The marriage to Wallis was not supported by Stanley Baldwin, the British Prime Minister; and King Edward refused to abdicate. This marriage left the British government, and most of the people, alienated; and public hatred for King Edward and Queen Wallis rose. Parliament was torn, and in the general election of 1937, Baldwin was defeated. The Conservative party, ripped by the issue of King Edward’s marriage, as well as economic and regional tensions, broke apart, and a large segment of the Tory support went to the British Union of Fascists. Oswald Mosley’s promise to ensure public order, and shore up the Empire, resonated with a public tired of public disturbances, strikes in essential services, and the economic malaise. The Labour party too split, with the more radical sections forming their own splinter parties which ran their own candidates. The 1937 election results saw a fractured parliament, and although only winning slightly over 200 seats, and less than 30% of the vote, the BUF formed the largest caucus in the House of Commons. King Edward VIII asked Oswald Mosely to form a government. Mosley did so and almost immediately issued “Orders of Council”, outlawing strikes, restricting collective bargaining, and establishing new offences for unauthorized public gatherings, and publishing “any article intended to alarm the public”. Any opposition was swiftly responded to, if not by the police, then by Mosely’s own BUF Blackshirts, the BUF’s paramilitary wing.
In January 1938, a protest by Dockyard workers in Liverpool was brutally crushed by the BUF and elements of the Regular Army; and violent clashes began across the country; between the Kings troops and those of several other factions. The British Civil War has begun!

Factions: The outbreak of conflict led several groups to attempt to seize the country or their own personal goals. Major factions included:
On the Right (Axis in this scenario
* The Edwardian Army – elements of the professional Army, bound to King Edward VIII.
* The Royal Navy and Royal Marines – bound by tradition and culture to remain loyal to the reigning monarch, and the majority have done so.
* The British Union of Fascists (or “BUF”) – the dominant political party, led by Oswald MOSLEY and heavily backed by German and Italian interests. Mosley has garnered considerable support in his efforts to restore order internally and restore the status of Britain’s Empire
* The Mosley Youth – a “social club” of young men, who have been drilled and armed by unknown sources, and have formed para-military units to push the BUF agenda.
* Foreign Volunteer Units: after the recruiting of numerous foreign elements to fight in the Spanish Civil War, similar detachments have been formed to back those with similar agendas in the British Civil War. Contingents from other fascist and imperialist sympathizers have been formed. Here we will see the presence of the “Hanoverian Legion”, volunteers from Germany, who are backing the Edwardian and BUF efforts
On the Left (Allied in this scenario)
* The Albertine Army – elements of the regular forces, plus most of the “Territorial Army”, backing the young Prince Albert’s claim to the throne.
* The Anglican League - A large army led by a group of bishops and archbishops, they were aligned with the Albertine Army. Many are veterans of the Great War.
* The People’s Party Army - Made up of disillusioned Labour party supporters, disgruntled workers and Spanish Civil War veterans, they are seeking to turn Britain into a Socialist state based upon Lenin's Russia.
* The Farmer’s Union: radical small plot farmers and farm working hands, seeking better pay, price subsidies, and land redistribution. They are heavily influenced by Marxist doctrine.
* The Student’s Union: like students before and after them, the university students have ramparts to thwart whomever they view as authoritarian,
* Foreign Volunteer Units: after the recruiting of numerous foreign elements to fight in the Spanish Civil War, similar detachments have been formed to back those with similar agendas in the British Civil War. Groups of Americans, Canadians, and ANZAC units have been formed; here we will see the Lafayette Battalion, formed of French volunteers, many fresh from the savage fighting in Spain.
This scenario occurs in the West Coast port town of Twaddlemore. Twaddlemore is the home base for a small Royal Navy destroyer flotilla, as well as being a mid-sized port for international commerce. Given that the United Kingdom lives or dies based on this freedom to trade overseas, the port is vital to all in this conflict. The Royal Navy, which for the most part has remained loyal to King Edward VIII, dispatched the flotilla two days ago to join the rest of the fleet, tasked with stemming the flow of foreign volunteers coming to fight for their faction of choice. Many of these foreigners have come directly from fighting for the Nationalists or the Republicans in Spain, who have endured two years of their own brutal Civil War already.
Yesterday the dock workers, who are heavily influenced by communist agents and are affiliated with the People’s Party, refused to move armaments stored in the dock warehouses. Instead, they armed themselves and fighting broke out when security staff sought to control the situation. Who opened fire first is both in dispute and a moot point at this juncture. A company of the Army’s Provost Corps was rushed to Twaddlemore by train, but a bomb was used to derail the trail just outside of town. Multiple factions are either in town currently or rumoured to be headed this way. The Telephone Exchange is the key to communicating with the rest of the country, and is clearly a goal to secure. Likewise, the docks and the armaments stored there in are also of immense value. Lastly, the mysterious new Wireless Tower being built on the south shore is of unknown value, as the work crews are from “away” and appear to be quite Teutonic in manner.
This battle will surely prove that the term “Civil War” is clearly a misnomer.
A historically fictional 'what if' look at the events leading up to the Deutsche Afrika Korps capture of Tobruk in June 1942.
France, 1940 - Case Red.

Heavy Tanks of the 4th DCR must smash a hole in the advancing German line - but there are complications.
Axis and Allied forces clash for a town and large hill.
This is an Aug 44 meeting engagement between Brit and German mech forces in Belgium. The map is based on a satellite photo of Neubruck just southeast of St. Vith.
At Dornot, the U.S. Third Army's XX Corps' first attempt to establish a bridgehead on the Moselle River south of Metz met bloody failure. Two and a half miles south of Dornot the XX Corps' 10 Infantry Regiment is trying once more to establish a permanent bridgehead across the Moselle at Arnaville. Since the first U.S. troops crossed at Arnaville on the night of 8/9 September, the Germans have been launching increasingly vicious counterattacks in an effort to destroy the bridgehead and repeat what happened at Dornot.
Normandy - known for its rolling fields, orchards, stud farms and a good glass of cider. Sheltered from the elements which can pound the coastline this is a landscape is carpeted in apple blossom. It is here, at the heart of one of the best designated cider producing areas that you will find the Chateau les Bruyîres, an Empire period residence and 18th century manor house - run by the Wehrmacht. It is your task to put an end to this inappropriate ownership.
US Army invades an island defended by Italian Troops.

Map is 1200x1200.
Non-Historical.
20 Battles 10 Turns each.

Play HtH (Preferred), or Allied vs. Axis AI.
Allow AI to setup units, there is no pre-planned setup for the defender yet.
Two Reinforced Infantry Companies with Armor Support clash in this typical Meeting Engagement.
engineering company attacks dug in german positions somewhere near monte cassino to capture wine stash for captain hosehead
CMBB
Soviet vs. German Meeting Engagement. 60+ turns.
Best played as: H2H (Not recommended for vs. AI play due to mounted infantry.)

In recent weeks, this industrial center has been the scene of increasingly sharp clashes between recon units and regular forces. Both sides have traded jabs over this important airplane fabrication city. Both have moved into the town and then been forced out again. No one seems to be able to hold it. The landing gear assembly plant on the edge of town was occupied by the Red Army a few days ago and then burned and destroyed as the Wehrmacht forced them out. Much of the town lies untouched, but the workers and residents know it is just a matter of time before a major battle rages through the streets of their city…

After another bloody engagement, both sides have backed off. Again, in the still of a Sunday morning under the cover of a pounding rainstorm, both sides push forces forward to gain possession of the city.

No one is sure where the front lines lie. Is the enemy in front of you? Or is he gone?

Push forward, as so many before you have tried, and hold this town once and for all!
The Axis launch a major attack on the Allied defenses.
Russians attack three German-held villages in an attempt to secure the flank of a future offensive.
Russian breakout from a Kessel against a German blocking force.
43-02-01, South. SS commandos save Kleist's troops from encirclement. Fictional.
42-07-10, South. Axis forces in Group A cross the Donits to secure northern flank in the beggining of Fall Blau Operation. Semi-fictional.
October, 1942
In the northern Caucaus, along the Terek river line, the battle has been raging brutally for nearly two months. Germany's 13.Panzer-Division tasked with taking the key junction city of Vladikavkaz (Ordzhonikidze) has been stymied in it's every attempt to breakthrough.

But now, at the end of October a break has been achieved through the first mountain range and panzers are rolling along the valley near Ardon, on a back route to Vladikavkaz.

The Russians, somewhat disorganized, are withdrawing to new positions. A desperate stand is ordered to slow the German advance and buy time to set-up the new defensive positions.

a product of HDCS

3rd SS Totenkopf arrives back at the front after its Hiatus from the front in France and is immediately thrown back into action.

Follow the swift Donet's campaign the IInd SS panzer Korps stands poised for the final push too retake Kharkov and restore the pride of the Waffen SS, but they have too cross the Mzha river first.

Alternative History : Moskow Decision
This the first of a series of fictional scenarios based on the hipotetic decision by Hitler to attack Moskow instead of Kiev during the august 1941.
The german offensive to Moskow is starting, the first task is to take the bridge over the Dnjepr between Smolensk and Viazma.
Alternative History : Moskow Decision
This the first of a series of fictional scenarios based on the hipotetic decision by Hitler to attack Moskow instead of Kiev during the august 1941.
The german offensive to Moskow is starting, the first task is to take the bridge over the Dnjepr between Smolensk and Viazma.
CMBO
German infantry dawn attack during the Battle of the Bulge. American infantry caught off-guard whilst lining up for chow.

VPs for casualties and German exit points only.
An American WWII GI's dream come true- a "what if" American assault on Berlin AND a chance to personally bag the ol'Führer himself!
Newest Maps
CMAK
a fictional Town in North Africa.
Fictional City in North Africa. Best played as a meeting
engagement.
Fictional City in North Africa. Best played as a meeting
engagement.
Version 2, church size and orientation adjusted to be in village center. Minor adjustments such as villages, small hills and ridges around the wheat fields.
Mixed terrain, woods, open fields, villages, church, river, bridges.
This is a huge (actually 5 x 4 km) map representing a piece of French countryside west of the town of Arras. It is flat (gentle slopes) and moderately populated with villages, forests, orchards and the like. It is suitable for a massive battle of regiment-sized forces (15,000 points or more).
Fictional Map, Crete, An almost compleatly dried up river bed with a ruined bridge across, 2 small hamlets on either side
The axis forces have captured the ridge east of Lieso. It´s been quiet over a month, so they have had enough time to dig deep in the ridge.

Allied forces are attacking with brutal force from east. Tuomari-Laurila has already been taken.
The axis forces are about to assault a little town called Lieso in aim to capture a road that leads through a ridge to deeper east. The allied forces are dug in somewhere around the old elementary school.
A small river splits a large map, with lots of roads and 6 bridges to control and a town also to control. This map is for meeting engagements and no side has a terrain advantage. Hopefully this will boil down to your choice of units and your game play.
CMBB
Beautiful and challenging map perfect for direct or flank approach. Fight in the woods, the streets, the buildings or inside a small factory! Great for infantery with some armor and artillerie support and IDEAL for a quick motorized assault in the middle of a foggy night.
This was a work in progress for the cancelled CM Campaigns. Maps are both operations and battles. Four maps included. One is large version (75% accurate scale) of the entire fortress of Brest Litovsk and immediate area. Others are 2 km x 2 km maps of the north and south portions of the fortress. You are welcome to use these maps as long as your credit "Bannon DC" for map creation.
1600x1600m, middle eastern front,
3 big victory locations in the middle of the map,
4 additional small flags,
medium settlement with surrounding rural areas,
some hills, woods and farmland,
a small river crossing from N to S,
prepared setup-zones for both sides,
therefor I call it battlefield-map.
Germans advance easily untill they find... A speed bump on the road to Leningrad
This Map is designed for Meeting engagements, it is set in a fictional City.
A medium town lying crosswisely to the advance direction. In and around the town gardens and fields, some bush and tree rows.
2 small rivers with some fords.
Only 1 large victory location.
Best used for meeting engagements.
Damaged large town/small city divided by a river. Contains several bridges, an old fortress, stadium, factories, railway station, and an old manor. Flags spread pretty evenly out on the map, made for a QB axis attack. IMPORTANT: ONLY FOR USE WITH UMLAUTS STALINGRAD MODS. You most use the scenario with these three mods found at www.cmmods.com:

FULL_telephonepole_umlaut
rubble_spray_umlaut
stalingrad_buildings_umlaut
Stalingrad-ish map made for Umlaut´s Stalingrad-mods.
29 2x2km maps. Various terrain; city, village, farmland, deep forests ...

They all quite beatuful ;)
I know it was UK and not USSR! but i didnt own CMAK when i made the level and i dont want to do everything over again so USSR must equal UK! its a fun level with the FJ troops in the greatest air invasion prior to D-Day.
CMBO
This CMBO map is built from a topographical map of the little town of Seville, NE of Melbourne, Australia. My idea was to lauch a Brit brigade (3 btns) across it at a German static defence screening mobile reserves.
Desiliens is an ancient Roman town. The map features the ruins of the town, an aquaduct, and the ruins of a villa on a low central hill.

The eastern side of the map is mostly woods, the west is hills and farms. It is most suitable for an assault on the town, but if the focus is shifted to the ruined villa it would be good for a meeting engagement.
Updated Maps
CMAK
Ideal for a QB ME
CMBB
This Map is designed for Meeting engagements, it is set in a fictional City.
axis winterattack on a Russian City
Please feel free to download, use or edit the map.

Screenshots can be found here:

http://worldatwar.eu/index.php?entity_sess=512x00db4fede3b24a34db2c5e9d283f162c&lang=3&location=boardshownode&boardid=51
A town with a river and lake surrounded by grainfields
Map is based on a sketch in the book > Die guten Glaubens waren< the history of the SS Polizei Division and shows a hard-fought area south of Leningrad. The Observatory was not reached by the Germans although they really tried it
This is part of a series of maps on the so-called Ladoga
Front
CMBO
Newest Members
fungf
frankf
Tony1066
EvanMoore
paul maullin

Scenarios  (510)
Maps  (118)
Opponents  (11318)

 

Playtesting Tactics
Quick Jump:

 

Keyword Search:  
NAME MESSAGE
Computer Experience Bonus "CEB"
MAD RUSSIAN
Senior Tester

Member #468
SUPPORTER
2010
2009
2008
2007
Joined: Oct 2003
Ratings: 14 / 1 / 0
Discussions: 138
Post #112   6888 days, 21 hours, 22 minutes, 59 seconds ago           
What is a computer experience bonus? It is a setting that allows the computer to play with more “intelligence”. It’s what’s known as a CEB. You can choose it when you are on the screen that allows you to choose which side you are playing.

I have used a +2 CEB for playtesting my scenarios since the days I was with CSDT. Rob Disney and Tom Grace taught me about CEB’s.

A lot of players don’t like the idea that if you give a CEB you raise up the level of experience of the computer forces. Instead of viewing the CEB as raising the overall level of enemy force experience, I view it as raising the overall level of the AI game play. That works for me personally.

I have chosen to use a +2 CEB when I playtest my scenarios because that is on the higher end of the scale but not maxed out. I want my versus the AI scenarios to play tough but not impossible. Using a +2 allows players, with both lesser and greater gaming skill than I have, to adjust the CEB to their own level, while the +2 I use seems to balance the scenarios for most players.

I include in every scenario designed for play vs the AI, what I consider to be the CEB you should personally use. Not everyone may agree with that but if this is helpful to you then include it in your own briefings.

I hope this helps not only your game play but your playtesting abilities as well.


Good Hunting.


MR
CHRIS "FERROUS"
Junior Tester

Member #424
Joined: Oct 2003
Ratings: 4 / 0 / 0
Discussions: 68
Post #113   6888 days, 12 hours, 1 minute, 39 seconds ago        
I usually use at least a +1 bonus for the AI, and believe this gives a better game than giving a force (size) bonus which could simply mean you get to shoot more 'green acting' AI units, particularly vehicles.

It sounds like a good idea to design for a mid-range experience bonus, but might this leave it unbalanced for a pbem? I think very few players would want to use a bonus in a pbem.

MR, you're the guy to answer this question; when an experience bonus is given to the AI, does the player score more points for kills because the units are more experienced?

I ask because I've sometimes found it easier to win WITH a bonus than without! This makes me more reticent about giving out bonuses now.

Any thoughts?
MAD RUSSIAN
Senior Tester

Member #468
SUPPORTER
2010
2009
2008
2007
Joined: Oct 2003
Ratings: 14 / 1 / 0
Discussions: 138
Post #114   6888 days, 4 hours, 17 minutes, 12 seconds ago        
Quote:
Originally posted by: Chris "Ferrous":

It sounds like a good idea to design for a mid-range experience bonus, but might this leave it unbalanced for a pbem? I think very few players would want to use a bonus in a pbem.

MR, you're the guy to answer this question; when an experience bonus is given to the AI, does the player score more points for kills because the units are more experienced?

I ask because I've sometimes found it easier to win WITH a bonus than without! This makes me more reticent about giving out bonuses now.

Any thoughts?



You're right about unbalancing the scenario for PBEM. That is why I always make one for vs the AI and for PBEM play seperate of each other. Each should be balanced for their particular brand of playing style.

I've seen where the original points are still applied but I have never checked it. Even if the points are increased they are harder to get as the computer plays better. At least that is what I think.

Good Hunting.

MR
LEEW
Junior Tester

Member #5800
Joined: Jan 2007
Ratings: 0 / 0 / 0
Discussions: 58
Post #359   6003 days, 4 hours, 12 minutes, 34 seconds ago        
It seems that the CEB makes the battle against the AI more of a challenge.

It has been stated else where, that the AI makes the same (dumb) plans, but because of the higher experience level of the units they can take more punishment, and thus it makes it seem that the battle is harder.

So instead of the AI having different levels of play, the units receive what amounts to a moral boost, which allows for more punishment to be absorbed, before breaking. So the AI can force it's (dumb) plan for a longer amount of time, before it falls apart.

I don't know, but would like to understand this better.

I know with axis tanks and a +2 CEB given for the AI, that they can shoot really well. Usually getting a hit on the second shot. So this does sound like an experience increase for the units.

Does increase experience also increase the moral level of the unit as well?

That brings up another question. If a unit has a higher experience level, what do they gain exactly. Better shooting, better moral. What about movement, is this better or not??

In the last several games I've played against the axis AI with +2 CEB I've noticed the armor, when the AI was moving up against attacking tanks, that it would act like it was key holing the units for ambush purposes against my armor, which was spotted.

So it acts like the AI is playing smarter or acting like it has more experience, which would mean it has to be using a different routine to figure what it will do.

Now if the computer just uses the one routine to determine all moves and only the units are tougher or better at shooting and higher moral then these movements should show up with green units as well. The only difference being that the unit probably would not hit the target for several shots, with a less chance of successful ambush. Thus it would seem easier to overcome without the CEB, but would nail you almost every time with the higher CEB.

So I guess that I need to go back to playing without the CEB to see if the AI units do indeed act the same but just perform the orders less effeciently.

It would have been nice if the developers would have shed some light on this before abandoning the game. Has anyone ever done a search at BF forums on CEB?

lee Smile
--------------------
LEEW
Junior Tester

Member #5800
Joined: Jan 2007
Ratings: 0 / 0 / 0
Discussions: 58
Post #360   6002 days, 4 hours, 35 minutes, 9 seconds ago        
Here is a few comments from the BF forums, cut and paste:

lee Smile

AI bonus can be significant. With an opponent like FJ's, which will be mostly Vet or Reg, giving them a 2+ experience bonus will bush them up to Crack --- a very difficult proposition, as they shoot better, break less, and win more often in melee.

The experiance bonus causes the AI's troops to act at one level higher per level of bonus. For instance at a +1 bonus "green" troops under AI control would perform as "regular" troops, regular as veteran etc. At a +3 bonus "green" troops would act the same as "crack" troops.

This would make them less likely to break and reduce command delay times and generally make the AI troops and tanks a little more formidible. As far as I know however it does not change the value of the AI units for end game scoring.

I've always been in doubt when selecting experience level for my tanks. You can "feel" the difference over time when it comes to morale, but I haven't really gotten any firm impression about how much a step up on experience improves gunnery skill. So I made a little map, placed 5 identical vehicles as close together as you can get them, assigned each a different experience level and placed some targets in the direction they were facing. The difference in distance between the tanks and their targets were always 1m or less (since the 5 tanks can't occupy the exact same spot).
I placed a Sherman, an M10 and a Chaffee at 1500, 750 and 300m respectively, all with front facing the german tanks, and noted the probabilities to hit:

code:
------------------------------------------------

Panther VG Late (dual magnification optics):
1500m 750m 300m
Elite 38% 62% 91%
Crack 30% 51% 83%
Veteran 25% 44% 77%
Regular 22% 39% 71%
Green 17% 32% 62%%
change in gunnery skill compared to level above
Crack 21% 18% 9%
Veteran 17% 14% 7%
Regular 12% 13% 8%
Green 23% 18% 13%

------------------------------------------------

so for instance, at 1500m you'd be 23% more likely to hit with a regular crew than with a green one, at 750m you'd be 13% more likely to hit with a veteran crew than with a regular one and so forth.

code:
------------------------------------------------

StuG IIIG Late Mid (Long Range Optics):
1500m 750m 300m
Elite 33% 59% 90%
Crack 26% 49% 83%
Veteran 21% 42% 77%
Regular 19% 37% 71%
Green 15% 31% 63%%
change in gunnery skill compared to level above
Crack 21% 17% 8%
Veteran 19% 14% 7%
Regular 10% 12% 8%
Green 21% 16% 11%

------------------------------------------------

So it appears the greatest changes happen between a green and a regular crew and, at longer ranges, between a elite and a crack crew.

Of course, this just measures the probability to hit a stationary target with the first shot on a sunny breezy day with a clear LOS.

Interesting. I checked your results in a QB Editor and indeed there is a diffence in "to hit" probability between tanks with diffent skill levels. This fact contradicts what BTS was saying about the differencies in skill levels of armor vehicles. BTS stated that the only difference was a rate of fire (and a morale) but they emphasized that the gunnery skill does not chance with skill level. At least that was the case in CMBO. I wonder when this got changed...

CMBO didn't have any use for vehicle morale, but to-hit chances certainly changed with experience, which remained in CMBB and CMAK.

you should not give the computer any experience bonuses. It will falsify your tactics, e.g. changing the firepower needed to suppress infantry and the like.


--------------------
LEEW
Junior Tester

Member #5800
Joined: Jan 2007
Ratings: 0 / 0 / 0
Discussions: 58
Post #361   6002 days, 4 hours, 26 minutes, 38 seconds ago        
Quote:
you should not give the computer any experience bonuses. It will falsify your tactics, e.g. changing the firepower needed to suppress infantry and the like.



So the designers need to state what CEB to use to test the scenario, if any at all. I've just spent days testing scenarios only to find out that the test are not valid.

It was not a waste of time, because I enjoyed playing the well made scenario's, but the results were of no use to the designer as far as tactics are concerned.

lee Smile
--------------------
ROCKINHARRY
Junior Tester

Member #869
Joined: Jan 2004
Ratings: 0 / 0 / 0
Discussions: 56
Post #368   4963 days, 9 hours, 7 minutes, 38 seconds ago        
The game manual says that certain experience levels are required for tank crews, to use gun optics properly.

I´d always wondered about the oftentimes poor hitting capabilities of the german 88 guns and got the idea, BFC toned them somewhat down for "balancing" purposes. But...

Lets take the Jagdpanther (late) 88mm L71 gun optics:

"extreme magnification optics"

Crew must be at least "veteran" or better, to use these optics without penalties.

The game manual also describes, that high magnification narrows field of view, which is a disadvantage at shorter ranges for moving targets. Also bad lighting conditions neutralize the gun optics capabilities.

So it´s really worth to get the gripes about CMBB gun optics system, to get the most out of your armor & guns.

With the Jagdpanther example above, it´s obvious that you need them to be veteran minimum and have maps which enable long engagement ranges (1500-2000m) and good weather/lighting. Same applies for the 88mm Flak and Pak.

Edit: Confirmation from "Moon" at BFC

There is a description of how optics work in the game manual. And they do improve accuracy. However, we track a whole bunch of factors, so depending on distance, weather, and the type of optic used, you might see a whole range of results.

In a nutshell, long-range optics with a narrow field of view provide a to-hit bonus at long range, but generally have worse spotting abilities (at any range), and it takes longer to acquire a target, too, even once spotted.

Martin




(modified 10/23/2010 07:08:23 by rockinharry)
--------------------
former member of SPWAW Lost Victories design team and Wild Bills Raiders

Rockinharry Music at Myspace

for PBEM requesters; I´ll play TPG stuff that needs testing only!

RockinHarry Scenarios:

RHZ Death Factory #1 CMAK ETO Scenario
RHZ Fall Gelb CMAK ETO Scenario

Rockinharry Mods can be found at GAJs Mod Place
ROCKINHARRY
Junior Tester

Member #869
Joined: Jan 2004
Ratings: 0 / 0 / 0
Discussions: 56
Post #369   4963 days, 8 hours, 45 minutes, 52 seconds ago        
I personally dislike using CEB at all, for the reasons that LEEW describes so well above.

If a scenario and map is setupped in ways, that give the strategic AI better options, adding some CEB might be in order sometimes.

I´d prefer fine tuning AI units by tinkering with "fanatism" options, or setting leader attributes for various formations individually.

Dug in defenders should have their HQ units "camouflage" rating raised most of the time. Or increasing "command range" might help to lessen the effect, that the AI likes seperating its units from its HQ units, when attacking.

I also prefer having tank platoons, instead of single tanks, in order to benefit from leader attibutes. This could well sometimes simulate russian tank attacks, that break down, once the command tank was killed (veteran leader, +2 morale, commanding a platoon of regulars). This makes T-34 or KVs less invincible, particularly in 1941 scenarios.

In this situation, any scenario fine tuning would be unhooked by adding CEB.
--------------------
former member of SPWAW Lost Victories design team and Wild Bills Raiders

Rockinharry Music at Myspace

for PBEM requesters; I´ll play TPG stuff that needs testing only!

RockinHarry Scenarios:

RHZ Death Factory #1 CMAK ETO Scenario
RHZ Fall Gelb CMAK ETO Scenario

Rockinharry Mods can be found at GAJs Mod Place

Quick Jump:

Home :: Join :: Author's Login :: Modfy Your Profile :: Who's Who? :: Chat :: Help/About :: Reference Material :: VL Planner :: Contact
Opponent Finder :: Scenario Finder :: Scenario Upload :: Scenario Design Tips :: Research Area :: Scenario Discussion :: Map Finder :: Map Upload

Combat Mission - Beyond Overlord/Barbarossa To Berlin/Afrika Korps is a registered trademark of Battlefront.com
Advanced Squad Leader is a trademark of Avalon Hill Games, Inc., a Hasbro affiliate
Additional Material, Copyright ©2024 Gary Krockover

Log In