WDS Blog post - Scheldt '44 Play Test

[Mike Prucha]

I understand why the Canadian troops have low ratings but I'm still surprised that irregular forces have such high quality factors? Any chance of showing the backs of the units so I can see the factors?

I apologise if you think I was being flippant or funny about the units.

Hey Ian,

Certainly didn't think you were being flippant or funny at all! I should have probably explained the reasoning for the morale values for the resistance fighters as well. In reading Canadian war diaries and intelligence, time and again I've found references praising the Belgian and French resistance fighters for their willingness to endure the same hardships and dangers as the Canadian soldier, this despite their material shortages. Now when assigning morale ratings we're basically trying to weigh two concepts, both the training of the unit and its enthusiasm/elan. The two aren't always the same - you could have an otherwise well-trained unit that for whatever is reluctant/unenthusiastic and vice-versa. In the case of our irregulars, we've chosen mostly D ratings as this seemed like a good balance between these considerations. There is one company of irregulars, Group Harry of the Antwerp MNR/NKB, who are rated at C as their exploits were quite remarkable and they played a critical role in securing the Antwerp docks. I don't have the game pulled up to take a screenshot of the back of the unit card, but I will say that the disparity in firepower between the Canadian regulars and resistance irregulars is substantial and the Canadian infantry company/battalion is most definitely the more powerful unit.

EDIT: One more thought - While in the minority, there were a fair number of resistance fighters who were veterans of the 1940 campaign (and therefore had at least some training or even combat experience) who had either escaped captivity or had been released. The Belgian AS/GL in particular tried to recruit men who had fought in 1940 and its leadership was principally composed of officers of the old Belgian Army.

-Mike P