First World War Campaigns - Optional Rules

[jim pfleck]

Duke,

regarding alternative fire and historicity, it depends on preference---do you want it predictable or unpredictable (to me, the later is more historical in the sense that it is unpredictable, but perhaps the more predictable outcomes lead to better historical representation over time--I play both ways with no real preference).

I have always hated hard ZOC, leads to gamey tactics to surround units, IMHO.


Regarding Johnny's comments on blown units and assaults, he does not say all assaults, only blown units. In the WWI games this is important. When I play, I focus more on fatigue management and preventing units from breaking more than anything else. If you let them get high fatigue, they can take 2-3 days to fully recover and 1.5 days at least to return to combat. Broken units take forever to un-break ( I have not seen one recover and I am told they will eventually in the longer scenarios-I am only in turn 40 of Race to the Sea and nothing has been broken)

Having played at least 10 PBEM to conclusion, most of them at least 30 turns (and most in France 14), I am very happy with how the system models history--losses are on historic levels, doctrines and unit capabilities are well modeled (maybe some of the French units should have slightly higher morale), and the flow of the battles seems to more or less match history.

I think one of the reasons I enjoy this series so much (there are a few of us who have developed a near cult like obsession over the last year or two), is that the scenarios are so well balanced, not because history is tweaked, but of the VP locations and amounts etc.

I get the impression that you have not played them much or at all and I would encourage you to do so---I think they model history better than the ACW and NWC games.