Operation Iraqi Freedom: Saddam's Final Gamble

[Don Maddox]

Hi guys, I see the forum is doing quite well.

I have been working on an Operation Iraqi Freedom scenario since the opening days of the campaign. The scenario is basically complete and I am currently running through a series of quality control checks to see how it plays. Within the next several days I will need 2-4 experienced ACOW players to take this baby for a test drive and provide me with some feedback. Please don't email me if you're only going to play 4 or 5 truns then vanish.

I'm only going to release the scenario to the playtesters for now. I will release version 1.0 when the time is right.

Scenario author: Don Maddox
Date: 18 March - 14 April 2003
Location: Kuwait/Southern Iraq
Map scale: 2.5 km/hex
Unit scale: Company/troop
Turns: 52-55

Operation Iraqi Freedom was an unusual military campaign in several respects. It will take a talented coalition player to equal the accomplishments of the real campaign. Simple rush tactics are not going to cut it.

If you're interested on being part of the playtest team email me at donald.maddox@us.army.mil

I expect to have beta version 1.3 ready very shortly.

[CommC]

Don,
I'm working on an Iraqi Freedom scenario, too.

Maybe we can compare notes. My map is 5 km/hex, 1/2 day turns.

I'm currently puzzled about how to implement US airmobile special forces and precision guided air to surface weapons. The B-1 and B-2 bombers are in the game, but I'm not sure if their weapons are modeled correctly to be precision guided.

Although some estimated the number of Iraqi Fedayeen and irregular forces at more than 10,000, I think that realistically the number was much less than that, perhaps 2000 to 4000.

[MonsterZero]

Hmmm...I don't design scenarios (have too little time for playing them, not to mention creating) but I will make you an attractive picture to show in the battle description.

[Mad Cow]

I have 2 gamesof EA going and 2 games of virginia '62 going, so there is no way I can playtest for ya.

But good luck with it. I can't wait to check out the finished product.

Do all Iraqi Army units disband on Turn 1?

:D

[Weyoun]

Haha, yeah very funny, Mad Cow.

Anyway, Don Maddox's Army internet connection bans him from coming to warfarehq.com anymore. If you wish to speak with him, email him. :)

[CommC]

Mad Cow,
Your comment about the Iraqi units disbanding at the start brings up an interesting point.

This scenario will be hugely asymmetric, but that doesn't mean it has to unbalanced. Through use of a limited number of turns, bonus victory points for the Iraqis if certain objectives aren't taken by the coalition on time, and a multiplier for damage the coalition forces take can all be used to make the scenario balanced.

Besides, if played PBEM, it could always be mirrored.

I have been working on a modification to the original Gulf War scenario to make it both more historical and more balanced. I figured out a way in the event editor to give bonus victory points to the Iraqi side for any damage they inflict on the US forces.

I give the Iraqis extra victory points if the Republican Guards units survive to the later turns of the scenario. There is a strict time limit the coalition must follow to achieve the main territorial objectives or they take victory point penalties.

The other good point is, how can we simulate (in ACOW) mass desertions from units upon the start of hostilities? We could put events in the editor to have some units evaporate if certain objectives are taken by the other side. In the Gulf War one scenario, I put most of the starting Iraqi forces with very low supply, proficiency and morale. They evaporated quickly upon contact with the enemy, heheh.

So, in short, I think I can balance almost any scenario with creative use of the event list.

Perhaps this thread belongs in the scenario design forum.

[Mantis]

Originally posted by CommC
The other good point is, how can we simulate (in ACOW) mass desertions from units upon the start of hostilities?

Pestilence setting. But I've no idea if it can be changed by events midgame, etc. Designers?

[JAMiAM]

Originally posted by Mantis


Pestilence setting. But I've no idea if it can be changed by events midgame, etc. Designers?

Yes, it can.

[Mad Cow]

How about an interesting 'what if' variant of Iraqi Freedom.

Like, a full scale Turkish invasion of the north while the US is still pushing towards Baghdad. It would see limited US forces and the Kurds vs. the Turks.

Could also do an Iranian invasion variant.

Or an invasion of Syria by the US and IDF.

Just brainstorming.