David
New Zealand
Taupo
May the Great Spirit Bless all who read this.
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This was my first foray into OCS and I was introduced to the game with this scenario by Patrick who owns the game. I was playing the Germans. You can read a description of the scenario here. Here's the setup details:
Map Area: East Map, rows 1-18.
Set Up Order: Soviet, German
First Player on Turn 1: Soviet
First Turn: 26 Jun 44
Last Turn: 5 Jul 44
Game Length: 4
So it's a very short scenario utilizing a small portion of one of the maps, perfect for a beginner like me.
On our first analysis of the position it looked to us that the Germans were going to have a tough time with this battle, as their right flank was virtually unprotected, and the Russians with a well planned attack could sweep around this flank, threaten Polotsk and other populated areas further behind the German lines, and hopefully secure sufficient victory points through taking these areas. As the turns progressed we soon realised that it wasn't gong to be that easy for the Russians.
My frontline units in the Hedgehogs held on in the first turn but Soviet breakthroughs soon started appearing, despite stirling work by German artillery in Reserve. The Soviets swept round the German right flank and started massing towards Polotsk and probing forward to my rear lines. Keeping the rail and road link open to Polotsk was vital to it's survival and I managed to do so. I started garrisoning Polotsk with my units knowing that I only had to hold on for a couple of turns and that the city was the key to the game. Without it, Patrick was not going to be able to get sufficient victory points.
The Soviets took Glubokoye on my right flank with an armoured unit but I counterattacked, destroy the unit and reclaimed the city. On the last turn Patrick realised that he just wasn't going to be able to secure enough victory points and called off the offensive.
Here is a photo of the main activity area at the conclusion. You can see my front-line pushed back from its starting position occupying the hedgehog line of defence. The road/rail link to Polotsk is still only (barely) and you can see some very low strength security units assigned suicidal jobs to allow the last supplies to get through. Polotsk is stacked with a variety of units, a few reasonable ones but also units of bakers, supply troops and HQ staff who have been given rifles and cobbled together into makeshift fighting units.
It would be interesting to replay this scenario. I think Patrick would have refined his plan and a win for the Germans would be much more elusive second time around.
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武士に二言無し
Italy
Caravaggio
Europe + Earth + Via Lactea
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Hi David,
Nice AAR and nice ... avatar!
F.
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Michael Pankonien
United States
Dallas
Texas
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Snowman wrote: Polotsk is stacked with a variety of units, a few reasonable ones but also units of bakers, supply troops and HQ staff who have been given rifles and cobbled together into makeshift fighting units.
Ah, the 241st Fighting Bakers eh?
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Peter Hutchinson
New Zealand
Waitakere
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Well David how was you're first foray into OCS?
Patrick and Colin taught and introduced me to OCS as well. I particularly like Baltic Gap. Hope you enjoyed it too, albeit a significant time commitment.
I really like the game system (probably the best operational level game system I have played) but seldom have the time for it. 
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David
New Zealand
Taupo
May the Great Spirit Bless all who read this.
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Jury wrote: Well David how was you're first foray into OCS? Patrick and Colin taught and introduced me to OCS as well. I particularly like Baltic Gap. Hope you enjoyed it too, albeit a significant time commitment. I really like the game system (probably the best operational level game system I have played) but seldom have the time for it.
Hi Peter. My first impressions are favorable. I like the way it makes you feel you are actually trying to manage operational units in a realistic manner. It's not just a matter of throwing everything into the front line, but the line of supply and rear area control is just as important.
I like the detail the designer has gone into and the maps are very nice.
I'm looking forward to the next game and will see if my impressions remain favorable. I would love to see the maps set up for the main campaign one day.
My only concern at the moment is counter density in BG. Even in the very small scenario we played I found the density of counters at times difficult to manage, both in a physical sense and secondly mentally, trying to keep track of the myriad of units.
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Peter Hutchinson
New Zealand
Waitakere
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Absolutely; lots of counters in BG.
As I am sure Patrick would tell you, Burma and Tunisia have far fewer counters and may be a good intro. for longer scenarios without the density - but I like the Baltic setting and the challenge of playing the Germans; real game tension !
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Michael Pankonien
United States
Dallas
Texas
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I haven't had the pleasure of playing Baltic Gap yet, and although I've heard plenty of joy from others on it I've always been a little turned off by its counter density.
Peter wrote: As I am sure Patrick would tell you, Burma and Tunisia have far fewer counters and may be a good intro.
Can't agree more! Tunisia's strength (and weakness in some people's opinion) is the way the terrain more or less dictates the allied advance for you. For a new player, this frees you up to focus on learning the rules and tactics of OCS!
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