Implementing Plan XVII

[Volcano Man]

Good info on a possible opening strategy. It is certainly a viable option to continue the Plan XVII attacks to slap the Germans in the face in the center. What it boils down to, deep in the Ardennes, is a division on division battle - usually happening independently of each other. Both the French and the Germans have to fend each other off and reorganize / consolidate their advancing units, as both are superior and inferior to each other in different places. The initial period of the campaign (and the Ardennes scenario) can be very exciting and frantic in this sector.

However, I would be cautious in the Nancy sector - at least initially. Saying not to worry at all about because it will not fall can be false, depending on the circumstances. I have seen Nancy come very close to falling from the initial German attack towards the south in that sector. Naturally however, you can gauge the success of the German push at Nancy and adjust accordingly since everything in these perfect strategies always depends on what the Germans do and how they react. Back in the Ardennes, you are correct that the 25th Hesse Div is in a bad place and (as was historical) it needs to fall back across the river when under great pressure, then hold the crossings indefinitely with careful placement of MGKs and field guns. Speaking of which, continual French pressure must be met with careful positioning of German machine guns and field artillery to cover the roads and bridges, and they must of course adopt a defensive posture to wear down the French if the French continue to attack.

I played an exciting game as the French where I crashed head first into the Germans who did the same, and in most sectors they had to fall back and go on the defensive which is where I gradually ran out of steam. In some places I was pushing back the Germans while in others (just several km away in some places) I was in full rout. Continual piling on of additional forces might help keep up some form of momentum, but it can be assumed that the Germans would need to push their reserves in and go on the defensive in an intelligent manner to counter (and not keep attacking mindlessly forward). Of course the grand picture is not to hang around in the Ardennes too long, I would think the French have to voluntarily withdraw or they risk being in the wrong place when the 2nd and 3rd German Armies are banging up on the French 5th Army.

Historically the fighting in the Ardennes was very bloody on both sides and (overall) the Germans did not come out as well as they had liked to. I look at the Ardennes sector as a Pearl Harbor type situation; the Germans need to be successful immediately by destroying as much as possible, then prepare for the back lash! :eek1:

As a side note on something this reminds me of: one day I would like for there to be a Political Victory Termination condition to where the campaign can end suddenly (similar to the Nuclear Termination rule in MC series) the moment that a Major Victory condition is achieved. This would allow the possibility of adding in more objectives in the Ardennes and at Metz to make it possible for the French to actually win off of Plan XVII attacks if they do well enough with it, rather than just hope to stun the Germans with the Plan XVII attacks. This might allow for an earlier starting campaign scenario where both sides can pick their initial plan options. Oh well, maybe one day! :whis: