Scenario Of The Month - October: Crisis on the Oder

[Crossroads]

Shall we start with "Crisis on the Oder"?

So let us kick start our new monthly feature with a classic: Surviving the Crisis on the Oder

LOL, some six months wiser, I actually begin to 'get' some of the hints and tips here:
https://www.theblitz.club/message_boards...is+on+oder

Using the long range of German gunnery was a key here. Also, as both sides played their game of hide&seek at times, it was important to stack proper amount of panzers to certain key hexes, to assure there was enough opportunity fire to keep those beasts at bay.

Additionally, I have now come into conclusion myself that I actually prefer to play without the Armour Facing optional rule.

AF on, ambushes definitively are a lot of fun when succesful, but at times they just create an unbelievable amount of havoc. A long scenario can be decided if given a chance for destructive butt shots. Having said that, AF OFF gives at least to me a more balanced feeling.

This was a difficult scenario, as infantry actually played a second fiddle here. As effective as the Panzer Grenadiers are against enemy armour, they basically had to stay hidden on this one, and only come out when it was safe to do show.

What a fun scenario. Would like to try it as a Russian player one day.

[Kool Kat]

Gents: :smoke:

Since I was playing the Russians... and battling Petri not too long ago in this scenario... I'll weigh in from the Russian perspective. :eek1:

First - I liked this scenario somewhat... but felt that the map was rather small and severely restricted flanking movement. In other words, the German forces were deployed along the known enemy lines of advance... and the Russians had little choice, but to try to bulldoze their way through the German pillboxes. I'm sure this was historical, but IMO, this makes for a game with fewer offensive options. I also felt that the Russian did not have adequate artillery. Certainly, in this late war scenario... the Russian side should be able to field more then just 3 76mm batteries! :(

Russian players need to effectively utilize smoke, and terrain to close in within striking distance of the German pillboxes... and then overwhelm them. Speed is essential. Delay too long and German armor with its long range cannon, will pick off your exposed IS-2's. Use infantry to assault and "kick out" any stubborn panzergrenadiers holding forward positions... and then use your infantry to hold the VP hexes.

I agree with Petri that infantry takes a "back seat" to armor in this scenario. Majority of Russian infantry is truck-mounted... making it difficult to keep up with your armor off-road and very vulnerable to enemy fire. I found deploying and effectively utilizing my infantry to be difficult because of a lot of open terrain. Only on the Russian right flank, where the terrain is dominated by a large hill with patches of forest, could I effectively use the Russian infantry.

Be alert to where your forces can (and can't) cross the Oder River. Much of the Oder is a "major" river which means it can only be crossed at a bridge. The river also divides large sections of the battlefield. Several times during this scenario, I found some of my Russian units "isolated" from the major battle because of river hexes that could not be crossed.

Finally, because your Russian units are operating on a small map... with restricted avenues of advance... defended by pillboxes... panzergrenadiers... Panthers... and Mark IV's... expect armor casualties. Speed, a little recklessness, and a lot of intestinal fortitude... will go a long way for the Russians in "Crisis on the Oder." :cool2:

[K K Rossokolski]

I like this idea, especially as we are a GAMING club. Could I make a suggestion or two.
Monthly is good. Who leads off next month? What about the first responder from the previous month?

I think the starter needs a little more preamble about the scen under discussion, with historical playing records. It might read like this.........

Crisis on the Oder EF Feb 1945, Germans attempt to hold the Oder line against powerful Russian Tank attacks
An absolute classic. 171 games %age-wise breaks 44-14-43, which suggests a perfectly balanced game.

Points to raise....how might it play with EA on?
...suitability as a scen for imstructional purposes?

[Kool Kat]

I think the starter needs a little more preamble about the scen under discussion, with historical playing records. It might read like this.........

Crisis on the Oder EF Feb 1945, Germans attempt to hold the Oder line against powerful Russian Tank attacks
An absolute classic. 171 games %age-wise breaks 44-14-43, which suggests a perfectly balanced game.

Points to raise....how might it play with EA on?
...suitability as a scen for imstructional purposes?

Agree. IMO, it would be good to either "standardize" the OP or at least provide an URL link back to the scenario in the database.

[Mark W]

Awesome write up.

I love this scenario, near and dear to my heart. I remember it being one of the first scenarios I played in the original EF. Enjoyed playing the Germans against Russian AI and ambushing the soviet armor with PzGrenadiers.

[Scud]

This was a great idea. I've asked the site officers to put in a new CS "Scenario of the Month" forum up at the top, so threads won't get buried and where searches can be made for players looking for interesting scenarios. Once they get to it I'll move this thread to it's new spot and let everyone know.

I'd suggest "Crisis on the Oder" be November's too since October is almost done. Give anyone who'd like to play it before responding a chance. Be great to have two volunteers play it and submit AARs.

As for who goes next, first responder works, or maybe the guy who submits chooses the next person to pick(?) Or just volunteers?

Dave

[Mark W]

This was a great idea. I've asked the site officers to put in a new CS "Scenario of the Month" forum up at the top, so threads won't get buried and where searches can be made for players looking for interesting scenarios. Once they get to it I'll move this thread to it's new spot and let everyone know.

I'd suggest "Crisis on the Oder" be November's too since October is almost done. Give anyone who'd like to play it before responding a chance. Be great to have two volunteers play it and submit AARs.

As for who goes next, first responder works, or maybe the guy who submits chooses the next person to pick(?) Or just volunteers?

Dave

I'll take a shot at it, someone start as Allied and send me the turn.

[Larry Reese]

I dig this scenario actually, though I've always felt the scenario seemed under weight, as though the designer started with more units and backed many of them out before finally settling on those you see in the current scenario.

LR

[Crossroads]

I think the starter needs a little more preamble about the scen under discussion, with historical playing records. It might read like this.........

Crisis on the Oder EF Feb 1945, Germans attempt to hold the Oder line against powerful Russian Tank attacks
An absolute classic. 171 games %age-wise breaks 44-14-43, which suggests a perfectly balanced game.

Points to raise....how might it play with EA on?
...suitability as a scen for imstructional purposes?

Agree. IMO, it would be good to either "standardize" the OP or at least provide an URL link back to the scenario in the database.

Great points made, gents!

Mike, perhaps you could set up a proper model for November's SotM -discussion, being the one who replied first? :) Or are there any other volunteers out there?

I confess I just more or less hastily fired this away, to get this thing started up...:whis:

[Kool Kat]

Mike, perhaps you could set up a proper model for November's SotM -discussion, being the one who replied first? :) Or are there any other volunteers out there?

Petri - I believe Dave suggested that "Crisis on the Oder" count also towards the Nov. SotM since Oct is nearly over? He is also going to have the thread moved under "Important Threads" so it does not get lost in the regular postings.