F40 help!

[Dog Soldier]

Ricky is dead on about the reason for the VP totals changes in the F40 campaign. It was possible to not even cross the Louvain - Namur- Meuse River line on the map and still win as the Germans due to Allied casualties.

Prinz von Egan is wrong in thinking the channel objectives should be so high. They would be very valuable if a Sickle Cut strategy for the Germans would work cutting off the French 1st, 6th, and 7th Armies and the BEF in Belgium as was done historically. Against a competent Allied player, no such surprise move through the Ardennes is possible or a quick crossing of the Meuse. If the Allies are forced back relentlessly, they have enough units to prevent a break through. It is only a question of time if they can hold the western VP hexes before the clock runs out. This is in line with the thinking that the Germans had to win a quick victory in the west. A war of attrition on a static front was doomed to failure for the 3rd Reich. the Allies had more resources and would eventually win a longer war just as they did in 1918.

The funny thing is, the Allied player could abandon the south and SW area of the map and concentrate in the north. There is enough supply there to hold out and with the additional forces freed from the south the Germans would have a hard time capturing enough objectives. The allies would have to time such a move until after they have received the fixed units in the south and the reinforcements that come in there. This is possible.... and the excellent amount of rail movement ...I think 50 units at one time, will allow the Allies to get their troops out of the south and into positions in the north.

The weird part is the Allies could win with this strategy while the Germans waltz into Paris and sip champagne on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees!

The objective furthest south is the village Stonne. It is worth 500 VP, I Think. This village sits on on a plateau that dominates that area. west of the Meuse River. It was the ideal jumping off point for a French operational counter attack against a German move from Sedan to the west. Manstien insisted that the area around Stonne be taken to prevent the French from making a counterattack at the base of the German breakthrough.

Dog Soldier