tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post6556302383149242938..comments2024-01-13T03:07:48.472-08:00Comments on Map and Counters: SPI, THE ARDENNES OFFENSIVE (1973)JCB IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-9199080717183347732011-07-30T08:31:28.912-07:002011-07-30T08:31:28.912-07:00Greetings Chuck:
Your comments mirror my own reco...Greetings Chuck:<br /><br />Your comments mirror my own recollection of the early game turns. Unfortunately, by the time Don raised the issue of the "southern breakthrough", I had already passed my own copy of the game off to another player; hence, I was unable to personally double-check the legality of Don's recommended German opening.<br /><br />Thanks for commenting and<br />JCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-16723035652377982482011-07-30T08:18:32.416-07:002011-07-30T08:18:32.416-07:00First turn there is no initial movement phase for ...First turn there is no initial movement phase for either side, secondly the Germans per the errata must attack all units they are in contact with using all units.<br /><br />The 5-12 in the south will be able to move in it's mech movement phase because infantry can not advance after combat and only armor can. So the southern 5-12 can reach a position to cover those fords in the south with Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-81741106405784909452011-01-11T12:24:31.341-08:002011-01-11T12:24:31.341-08:00Greetings Don:
Yes, I agree that any American tur...Greetings Don:<br /><br />Yes, I agree that any American turn one or turn two riposte must be aimed at cutting supply to the German player's southern spearhead. I just don't remember -- it's been a long time, after all -- exactly what form the American countermove would take. Certainly, I do remember (as the Germans) shuffling incoming assault gun brigades along the southern map JCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-59308634015070325242011-01-11T11:44:35.883-08:002011-01-11T11:44:35.883-08:00Any turn 1 counter move is very limited, as only m...Any turn 1 counter move is very limited, as only mech not in enemy ZOC can move.<br /><br />Supply is key to this game, much more so that most others and needs to be rigorously enforced.<br /><br />I have 2 copies and live in VA and going to Prezcon this Feb.<br /><br />Don JohnsonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-9347627479234118772011-01-08T18:56:12.903-08:002011-01-08T18:56:12.903-08:00Good Evening Don:
I'm with you in terms of th...Good Evening Don:<br /><br />I'm with you in terms of the ability of the Germans to penetrate the American position in the south; in fact, I think that I used to do something very similar with the motorized Fallshirmjager regiments, myself. For some reason, though, I don't recall a southern German push actually resulting in an early breakthrough by the Seventh Army and the Fifth Panzer JCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-23600949241626681282011-01-08T17:43:24.360-08:002011-01-08T17:43:24.360-08:00Yes, supply is a consideration. The unit in 3108 ...Yes, supply is a consideration. The unit in 3108 will be in supply from 2906, but the others will depend on what happens at 2909. But even at half speed, if nothing is opposing you, you can move twice and go far. For example, the unit at 3408 can move twice at 5MPs to 3617, cutting off the westernmost SE entry hexes, the eastern ones being easier to cut off.<br /><br />Don Johnson<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-24737622578955013312011-01-08T16:59:55.093-08:002011-01-08T16:59:55.093-08:00Greetings Again Everybody:
Thanks everyone for co...Greetings Again Everybody:<br /><br />Thanks everyone for contributing your thoughts on Don's souther strategy.<br /><br />Clearly, Don is correct that the German motorized Fallshirmjager division from the Seventh Army can get across the Our River using the ford. I seem to recall, however, that the key to blocking a major German penetration on the American right is to prevent the Nazis from JCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-71218982228644456782011-01-08T16:57:03.677-08:002011-01-08T16:57:03.677-08:00It is also sort of strange as nothing happened lik...It is also sort of strange as nothing happened like it in history that I know of. <br /><br />But as the road junction at 3408 is now owned by the Germans, the closest US unit that might react is the armor 5-12 in 3206 but it is stuck in the ZOC of the 6-4 in 3106, assuming the German does not attack. A 4-12 is in 2114 and might move to 3113, but then south of that is free, so the whole south Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-35417806012758026352011-01-08T15:27:24.341-08:002011-01-08T15:27:24.341-08:00My tricky move.
The 3-10 in 2707 crosses the rive...My tricky move.<br /><br />The 3-10 in 2707 crosses the river at the ford and ends up in 3408 for 10 MPs. Another 3-10 ends up in 3208 from 2507 and a 4-10 frromm 2508 ends up in 3108. This gets 3 mech across the river using the ford, which is not interdicted, being a ford and not a bridge. None of these units were involved in combat, so they can move in the mech movement phase.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-34161516501792241342011-01-08T15:10:38.526-08:002011-01-08T15:10:38.526-08:00Didn't drop my name in.
Skip FranklinDidn't drop my name in.<br /><br />Skip FranklinDarksanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17911305852047427631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-63861299331559061392011-01-08T15:09:56.777-08:002011-01-08T15:09:56.777-08:00In most of my Ardennes games as the German player ...In most of my Ardennes games as the German player it makes sense to block off the southern portion of the map. It takes less units. This assumes that there are rules allowing your to just block the road. Not all games are designed that way.Darksanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17911305852047427631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-1842030566307677542011-01-08T14:18:15.474-08:002011-01-08T14:18:15.474-08:00I played this a lot when it first came out. Germa...I played this a lot when it first came out. German forces start out bunched up at the start line, not all in optimal positions. Movement penalties for stacking and the careful planning needed for road movement are a challenge for the German player early in the game. The German player needs to make the most of the starting situation. I recall a high level of frustration for the German player Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-47793619440877055022011-01-08T08:09:09.095-08:002011-01-08T08:09:09.095-08:00Greetings Again Don:
Your idea about a southern s...Greetings Again Don:<br /><br />Your idea about a southern strategy picqued my interest enough that I visited the Boardgamegeek site to see if I could get a better look at the game map. I assume that you are referring to the ford due east of Diekirch, but for some reason, I don't recall it being quite so easy as you suggest for the Germans to blow through the American right flank and then JCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-81109072794759683442011-01-08T06:22:46.519-08:002011-01-08T06:22:46.519-08:00IIRC, there was a ford that the mech units could c...IIRC, there was a ford that the mech units could cross and then it was galloping time, as the US response was always a turn late.<br /><br />Don JohnsonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-86279573347713602662011-01-07T19:56:27.052-08:002011-01-07T19:56:27.052-08:00Greetings Don:
Thank you, as always, for your int...Greetings Don:<br /><br />Thank you, as always, for your interest and your comments.<br /><br />I confess that it has been awhile since I looked carefully at THE ARDENNES OFFENSIVE game map, so I'm trying to dredge up some of my earlier impressions based purely on my memory of the game map and historical starting positions.<br /><br />In any case, I assume that you are suggesting that von JCB IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490081362549015107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-323410954165990702011-01-07T18:46:32.130-08:002011-01-07T18:46:32.130-08:00I think there is a fatal flaw in the game, the Ger...I think there is a fatal flaw in the game, the Germans can break out in the South across the river, IIRC. This makes the game ahistorical from the get go.<br /><br />Don JohnsonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836956334020662322.post-49852588392783971562010-12-26T13:04:29.435-08:002010-12-26T13:04:29.435-08:00Quirks,Yes it did have those but after tackling SP...Quirks,Yes it did have those but after tackling SPI's Bastogne it was a great jump ahead for a Bulge game by them. But sadly it got lost for me in the glut of newer games on the subject but I have returned to it over the past 10 years so again finding it's many interesting pointsKim Meintsnoreply@blogger.com