The Fight on Lake Toba - The Matrix Games version of Rising Sun
Rating: | 8.9 (3) |
Games Played: | 2 |
SM: | 5 |
Turns: | 31 |
Type: | Custom |
First Side: | Axis |
Second Side: | Allies |
Downloads: | 247 |
Lake Toba region, North Central Sumatra: The "main" island of the Dutch East Indies, Java, has already surrendered to the Japanese. Stranded on the northern end of the large island of Sumatra, a large force of Dutch troops still hold out. On March 12th the Japanese, mobilising from the newly captured naval base of Singapore, land along the north eastern coast from Sabang Island in the north, south to near Medan. The core element of this invasion force is the vaunted Imperial Guards Division, with experience in China and the fight for Malaya already under it's belt. Quickly seizing the cities of Medan and Pematangsiantar, the Japanese pursue the retreating Dutch forces into the undeveloped wilds of north central Sumatra. The Dutch have planned to make a stand in a series of semi-prepared fortified areas and wage a guerilla type war against the Japanese until further outside help can arrive from the other Allied powers. The rapidity of the Japanese advance continues to confound all efforts by the Dutch to organize an effective resistance. The reliability of the locally raised troops is now becoming a serious issue as nothing has been able to stop the Japanese onslaught, neither the impreginable fortress at Singapore or the main KNIL army on the island of Java, and local sentiment for the Dutch has, by and large, never been good. The Japanese Kokushi Detachment, of the Guards Division moves inland to the large, volcanicly formed, lake in the mountains, hot on the heels of Dutch Major Van Aarsen's troops who are trying to stabilize some sort of position north of Siborongorong around the town of Balige and further north at Porsea, on the south and eastern shores, respectively, of Lake Toba. On the night of the 13th, the Japanese, "blow through" Porsea, bypassing resisting Dutch troops and assisted by coastal boats which land troops behind the bulk of the Dutch troops in the Porsea area, move on toward Balige. On the morning of the 14th Dutch Lt Van de Ploeg gets permission to counterattack toward Porsea and rescue the surrounded garrison there and, by a series of ambushes along the only good road, try and stymie the Japanese advance.
Player Voting Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Member | Balance | Enjoyment |
Mike Abberton | Well Balanced | 9 |
Scud | Well Balanced | 6 |
Tiger 88 | Well Balanced | 4 |
Gaming Records | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st Side Player | 2nd Side Player | Result | Score | ||||||
Scud | vs. | Tiger 88 | Draw | 30 | 30 | ||||
Mike Abberton | vs. | Hawk Kriegsman | Draw | 30 | 30 |
Allies fight by blocks and ambushes to prevent the Japanese from reaching objectives. The lack of Allied firepower prevents the scenario from being much fun to play, though it seems well balanced.
Resolve then, that on this very ground, with small flags waving and tinny blasts on tiny trumpets, we shall meet the enemy, and not only may he be ours, he may be us. --Walt Kelly
Just an overall "boring" scenario from the Axis side of this one. Force mix is spotty, you have arty units that you cannot use for indirect fire but rather direct, and tough to get into position to use or help with your advance. Reinforcements come on but too late in the game to make an impact.