In the year 1876 General Jules von Verdy laid the foundations of the so-called "free Kriegsspiel" in which the complicated rules and book keeping of the "rigid Kriegsspiel" were replaced to a great extent by an umpire that would use his own criteria to decide the outcomes across the board. This pivotal shift in the implementation of wargames is meticulously documented in Peter Perla's The Art of Wargaming.
The business of maneuvering armor in tight spaces is a dangerous one. In this scenario, I'm fighting as the Russians, trying to clear up a road for a further reconnaissance mission. The road had only one bend, yet the route was tactically tortuous. The first stop of the tactical route: clearing mines.
According to the designer of Scheldt '44, the Moerbrugge scenario is unwinnable. In real life, the actions depicted in the scenario were an absolute mess. Due to an underestimation of the Allied commanders, the almost non-existent German resistance ended up being a superbly laid defensive system all along the Gent-Brugge Canal.
This self-edited mission was quite enlightening for me. In this video report, the details.
It would be silly to end this year without a mention of Unity of Command II (UoCII). Right beneath the great graphics, the efficient interface, the tough computer opponent and the well-thought game mechanics you will find grognard-worth wargaming riches. Don't get confused by the looks, this is not Panzer General. Unity of Command II is a true wargame for the 21st century.
Well, pardon the old engine circa 2003, but there is still quality tactical gaming for me in this one. Besides that I just want to make a small point. So sorry if I offend any retinas with this. 😀
This content is from the Sidi Bouzid campaign in the beforementioned war game. I am playing as the Germans and at the start the only formation present is the 10 PzDiv. The 10th has a relatively complex task: to push forward towards Lessouda via the Lessouda-Sbeitla road and to encircle the enemy strongpoint located in the escarpment north of Lessouda.
Benchmarksims continues to deliver with stoic quietness. Two decades after the original Falcon 4.0 hit the shelves, the combat flight simulator is alive and well.
Scheldt '44 has brought new 2D graphics, with better resolution and visibility plus a new zoom level. This is great for aging eyes.
... battle space is the three-dimensional area in which the platoon can acquire enemy forces and influence them with effective fires.
