[MarkDV]

HOLD AT ANY PRICE—AAR

The scenario comes from G.Kellns LSSAH packet. It’s scenario no.31 in his ongoing scenarios covering those thugs known and loved as the SS (I give myself wiggle room on that one—when I fight them, they’re thugs, when they’re my troops, they’re known and loved….but I digress.)

The scenario features nine 658s, with a 50Lpak holed up in the village on board 3. The SS win by having ONE GO MMC within the village confines defined in this scenario as all bldgs within the 3Q3, 3R2, 3U3 3Q8 3N4 roadnet. In other words, a rat hunt. To do this task, the soviets have 10 T-34M43s, and 17 8 morale squads. YOIKS. The kickers for the soviets are that 1- they have ZERO control where their troops enter the map 2-they come in packets ie a group of 5 tanks, a group of 3 tanks/3 squads and a group of 2 tanks and 14 squads.
Jeffs defense had the majority of his troops in the victory area, with one squad and 8-1smc in the 3N2 bldg, with a HMG, in the 2nd level hex. Pregame rubbling zapped a lot of bldg hexes for me, (DR 8 or greater to rubble a bldg by SSR). He remarked after the game that if he could have done it differently, the HMG would have been in the victory area, and the 3N2bldg would have had a LMG/658 and 8-1.

In fact, this scenario was a blowout, and not a very enjoyable one for either of us. The SS, are simply outgunned in this scenario AND I had perfect entry rolls for my soviets. ( The soviets have a variable entry in this scenario) To add insult to injury, most of Jeffs dice were not friendly to him ie couldn’t pass MCs and wasn’t firing effectively for the most part.
My group of 5 tanks entered on the n. edge by hill 522, and started shelling the village. Turn 2 saw me get the big group of INF ie 14 squads along the w.edge, where 1 458 got zapped by the HMG team, and then everyone else, who were concealed, slunk onto the board edge by the 3N2 bldg and in a lucky advancing fire shot, broke both the 8-1 and 658 (thus taking out the HMG). I then took the 3N2 bldg for my own, establishing a base of fire in it, with my 9-1, 2MMGs and two458s dishing out a case of death to any Germans who dared show their face. My last group, 3 tanks and 3628s entered on the east edge and slunk their way towards the 3Q8 intersection.

Jeff did have one spot of extraordinary luck. Turn 4 I rolled a T34 adjacent to a 8-0 and 658 (in the 3N7bldg hex). He takes his PAATC for the MMC, passes, and declares streetfighting. Motion --+2. SMC-1, ambush –1. He rolls a SNAKES. Burn the tank, PLUS, he creates a SMC. He rolls a 1—a 8-1.
Ok, I figure he can’t do this twice, so, I roll a second T-34 past this squad. He passes the PAATC again, and rolls a SECOND on command SNAKES—this time creating a 8-0. SINCE this playing, having talked it out with another one of our circle (one Tony Sella) it was pointed out that the SECOND attack could NOT have occurred unless the tank tried physically entering the hex-which I didn’t do.

Jeff conceded on turn 5. He was down to 2SMCs and 2GO 658s—all the other SS scum were either dead or broken (and about to be KIA given that they had no rout paths). Jeff did NOT HIP a unit-a mistake on his part and said after in our AAR that if he could do it over again, he’d have put the HMG in the victory area and most of all the other units there also (he had some HS outside of the VC area to harass me—all’s they managed to do was draw fire and die).

I think that the scenario needs something to help the Germans along. PfK shots? It is a November 43 scenario. ATMMs for CC? These are SS troops on the Russian front after all. A bldg or hex that gives them fanaticism benefits? I would think that the SS get one of these as a choice, much like is done in the recent SOCAL ASL pack (which, now that I’m briefly on that topic, is a great buy….but I digress again.)

Having carped, I can only say good things for the work that G.Kelln has done for ASL. And besides, a bad day of ASL beats a good day at work, right? Or is that fishing?…..

Mark “playing 1 to 2 games of ASL a week still isn’t enough, but I’ll be ok” De Vries

[George Kelln]

Mark;

First of of all, thanks for the great AAR, and I hope you enjoy playing it.

Now it is November 1943 and PF are available to the Germans, and during playtesting any Russian tanks that ventured too far forward of their infantry escort was soon under counter-attack by a PF-toting German squad looking to pop one at a one hex range.

I watched in one playtest, the German in a three fire phase (DFPH-PFPh-AFPh) knock out 5 T34M43.... The Russian forgot all about PF, but the German didn't. In the rematch he didn't forget...

But a common complaint/praise was the Russian (or a matter of fact the German) truly having no control over what or where his units will arrive, and in some cases must he had to be prepared to fight immediatley upon entering the board.

During the playtesting went 12-7 for the Germans with the result calling for a smaller German force vice a larger Russian force. But as you mentioned Mark, the random rubble does make it prepare the set piece defence difficult. That 2nd level HMG team wasn't always available to the German.

But all in all the playtesters call it a fun and quick scenario, and that is what I try to produce. But once more a great AAR and as you said "playing ASL anytime is better than work".

Look forward for future AARs from you.

George "Still out in the wilderness" Kelln
_________________
George "Still in the Wilderness" Kelln

[MarkDV]

I'm having a Wayne/Garth moment--thanx for the response.

HAVING said that, when Jeff and I read the rules, we thought it said that PFs are available only via SSR from Sept-Dec 43, and that they would be PfKs to boot ie with a TK of 'only' 21. Having said that, if we didn't use the PfKs and Jeff was able to, well, our bust.

Random rant--having gotten to see these scenarios, IMHO you should make them available to ALL players either for sale or free. It's a really good set these PANZER ACES and I've played some great ASL b/c of them (read my review for PARRY AND STRIKE--Jeff and I are saying it was our most entertaining game in years, and he and I have been opponents since 1989)

Thanx again for the response.

Mark

[Doug Kirk]

I have played this twice, once as each side and won both games. I like it, overall I think it it only slightly favors the Russian. Perhaps I am stating the obviouse, but if the Russian gets the big infantry group first, I like them alot, if the big infantry group comes on last, then I like the German, with probably the best game when the 14 squads enter on turn 2.

I must agree with Mark about the Panzer Aces pack, and in particular about Parry and Strike. This is a great one!

Now, about Aus Der Traum from the Rhein pack, I am not sure about this one.......How do the Americans have a chance?