BootCamp 10 Trains, Wrecks, Engineers

Troll · 05-06-2010, 07:28 AM,

This post concerns not only wrecks and engineers and wreck clearing units but trains. The prior post concerning wrecks and engineers and wreck clearing units came into play when I was designing my scenario which also incorporates trains. I went to the manual and the only thing about trains points you to Bootcamp 10. The reason I went to bootcamp 10 is because of the following. I can not load Inf units into a troop train ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh. But I can load anti tank guns etc. into a troop train and can load Inf units into a supply train which makes no sense. In Bootcamp 10 sure enough, the game has Inf units loaded in troop trains. I unloaded the inf units and next turn I tried to load them back into the troop train and the AI would not allow it which confirms what happened in my scenario design where I could no load Inf units in a troop train. So it seems that there is a definite bug in the game mechanics concerning what can and can not be loaded in trains. Last but not least, I can not load anything in a supply car and do not see how you can even use them. Has any1 used supply cars? The wrecks come into play in Bootcamp 10 because the trains can go no further than the the hex in front of the wrecks and that is where the wreck clearing units come into play. As far as the last post concerning engineer tasks, different engineer units had different TO&E. Combat engineers would not have a bulldozer in their back pocket to clear wrecks nor would mine laying engineers etc. Each engineer unit had specific tasks to perform just like a brick layer would not do any welding on a building. Yes you can climb over the wrecks but it takes more time to do so and vehicles just aren't going anywhere and that is what the wrecks simulate. You get enough junk piled up on a small narrow road or bridge and you are not going anywhere :) "A Bridge to Far" :) I have to try and remember that this is just a game and the designers did what they did and we can only hope things will change, but as far as the train thingy goes, the trains need to be Revamped entirely in my opinion because it just doesn't make any sense.

Cheers

Joe

**Jason Petho** · 05-06-2010, 07:39 AM,

Supply trains are trains that are high victory point trains. They serve no purpose except for you to gain points by exiting them at a Exit Hex or your opponent to gain points if he destroys them. They are not intended to carry anything.

Troop trains should carry infantry and they did during testing. I will look at the platoon files to figure out why they aren't now.

Not sure if you saw this from the bootcamp document:

** Bootcamp 10 -- Wrecks!
EAST FRONT --- PLAY AS AXIS

Details: This is designed to play as the AXIS player, to be played with Fog of War and all options ON.

Purpose: This scenario depicts the Wreck Removal abilities some units have and some of the new unit type units; Troop Trains, Armoured Trains, Supply Trains, Werkstatt and Werkstattzug platoons.

Situation: As the AXIS player, you start off the scenario with your forces scattered about the map. Your mission is to move the rail units to the East Exit Objectives and remove them from the map.

Difficulty: This scenario is rated as Moderate to Difficult.

Scenario Play: You will notice that the area that you are playing on is long and narrow, with a railway traveling through a thick forest the full length of the map. At Hex 8,19 is a train station with a number of new train types. You are tasked with moving these units down the rails to the exit objectives at Hex 89,12. Your biggest problem appears to be that the rails are blocked with wrecks.

Now, in the Campaign Series, there is a way to clear wrecks! These come in the form of Maintenance Platoons, Dozers, Recovery Platoons or Werkstatt Platoons, depending on the nationality.

Since you are playing the AXIS side, if you move to Hex 20,10 you will find a Werkstat platoon. This is a mobile Wreck removal unit. In Hex 19,10 there is another wreck removal type, an infantry style Werkstattzug loaded on Krupp Protze. There are additional infantry Werkstattzug located around Hex 69, 28 available for use.

Using these Wreck removal units is fairly easy. All you have to do is move them into a hex that has wrecks in it and let them sit. The undisrupted removal unit will remove two wrecks per turn.

The scenario itself is fairly straightforward. Advance to the wrecks and clear them, allowing the trains to successfully exit the map at the Exit Objective. Be mindful of partisan and ambushes though, one has to make the scenario somewhat challenging.

Limitations: Unfortunately, HAL is outdated. The software does not know how to handle these special units.

Design Considerations: These are specialist type units and should be used sparingly in scenarios when it is warranted. These are non-combat units that have high Victory Point values and should only be used in secured areas, or heavily protected areas.

Jason Petho