The Commander Series Forum

Hi I'm working up a Scenario for the 4th July 1943 attack on Butovo as part of the opening to Operation Citadel and the battle of Kursk.

It is a WIP so German TOE is not complete and the Deployment and Objectives are not up yet but if you would like to follow along with my progress you can read about it here....

http://amoebaarenaofdeath.blogspot.com/


Has to be ready by Saturday 23rd which is when we'll be playing and will be posting the AAR up here when done.

Would like to hear your thoughts or any pointers that would improve it.

Thanks

Looks good so far.

Interested to see where the sides deploy and what rules you'll apply for the effect of "torrential rain".

I’m looking forward to seeing more.

Regarding your Soviet TOE.
I would normally have the an HQ for the Rifle Battalion and the CO in addition in overall charge of the whole battlegroup. This adds the extra chance of getting a successful order through if one of the HQs fail.
I usually allocate an Anti-tank Rifle upgrade to 1 in 3 infantry units, representing available ATRs distributed to critical points.
The artillery seems very limited, having only 3 assets to fire and no method of calling in fire. Maybe this is what you intended, but you do have options despite there being no FAO available to the Soviets for this date. One of the Recce Unit (Scouts) options can call in artillery (note 1, page 124). Also, up to 6 HE assets are allowed for each Artillery Unit for the Soviets for this date.

Hope some of this helps.

By the way – seeing that set square on your table (in the pictures below the scenario) reminds my of playing Napoleonics against one of our club members.

Thanks for the comments.

Englishman, yeah we have to get our thinking caps on for the weather rules for torrential rain.

Albie I like your proposed changes to the Soviet TOE. General Sutov has some Anti-Tank rifle models so that is an easy addition for us to make. Also agree on the additional CO was coming to the same conclusion myself last night. I think we will have 3 players a side on the day and I want to be able to give them a formation each and not give them too much stuff to worry about.
Hadn't seen the scouts option to call in artillery, thanks.
The number of assets was intentionally limited, we have just started playing BKC and getting into the whole scenario creation gig and I'm not sure how powerful it will be. Will do some play testing and see if they need more.

Oh and don't worry the set square was just for the purposes of making the river sections, not some sort of awful tool for measuring pivots and deflection in game.

You could use the Artillery Support on table, as an arty support unit (like Infantry Guns/Mortars). Quite handy, unless you want them off board!

Also, I like your Campaign flow chart for generating battle types! I wouldn't mind stealing that if you don't mind?

As this is an outpost forward of the Soviet main line of defence my thinking was the Arty would be off-board to the rear but thanks Toxic I had forgotten that they could be on table also.

If they're rear area support then you might be better with them off table, for sure I'd say give them about an asset for every two turns the scenario is expected to run to...

Please steal away Toxic, I lifted the idea from another site originally

Consider it stolen, and if anyone asks I'll tell them it's mostly yours. Mostly

Hi

Blog updated with 1st draft of German TOE, deployment and objectives. Found the weather rules in the rule book as well.

Have a novel plan for German pre game recon.

I have included 3 possible objectives but note it is only normal for games of BKC to use one. Anyone have any experience with multiple objectives?

Appreciate any feedback!

http://amoebaarenaofdeath.blogspot.com/2013/02/...

I like the recce idea btw! Very cunning... I hope you're banning them taking their phones in so they don't snap a cheeky bit of aerial recce photo's

Love it. I'm going to have to try that!

Glad you both like it, yes no mobile technology in 43

Playing through on Saturday so will have a bat rep up next week.

The other thing to consider with the torrential rain is the effect on visibility, see same P24 of BKCII.

Thanks Englishman, will add that in.

We are furiously trying to finish building all the terrain for Saturdays game at the moment.

Mini update on terrain progress as well.

http://amoebaarenaofdeath.blogspot.com/2013/02/...

That's a very cool amount of work going on there, I approve

Should look top notch!

Bat report up!

http://amoebaarenaofdeath.blogspot.co.uk/2013/0...

Good report, and seems like great fun. I also like your sound effect templates!

Thanks Olden glad you enjoyed it and yes as you can see we have a big special effects budget.

Very nice report and looks like a very good game.
The German getting 6 orders off in one turn was a killer!

Yeah 3 PzIVs firing at point blank range, consecutively for 6 turns really killed it for the Russians

Ooo, ow - that's very painful!

Good report, nice to see everything on the table