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View Full Version : here it is, Vietnam Campaign!


Bdr.Mallette
15 Mar 04, 22:00
Okay, okay.

I know this is sorta bad luck to do but.....

I am pretty well finished my Scenario.
Change 2-3 very small things and it's done.

I am play testing it right now and it is going VERY WELL.

So, is anybody interested in knowing what it's about.

Well.......

here it is.

A campaign scenario for SOUTH VIETNAM!

Yes, a totally complete scenario.

540 full-week turns.

Theatre options for U.S. involvement and all.

Fight alone as ARVN or succomb to the fact that you need help, fast and a lot of it and order the U.S. forces into battle.

It really is a good one.

435 events.
weather events, VP events, variable monitoring, escalation of forces on both sides. Some political aspects, supply, air mobility, trail activation, bombing, air strengths, Freeworld Forces and good AI for both sides so far.

I have been testing it and tweaking for the last 3 weeks.
I have been letting the computer play itself and it seems to be doing well.
All events are working properly and the strengths of the forces seem to be represented properly.
I was so happy last night after playing for like 4 turns(1.5 hours), everything was so smooth and well, I was ****ing so excited man.
I had been working on it from scratch for like 6 months. Going around in circles from the Ev_ed and **** like that. I went loonie for a bit....lol

Anyways, I will be posting it in a few days.
If you have tried others and didn't like them, I promise you will like this one.
It is more than playable from both sides with events triggering AI actions and effects, etc.
It is very appealing to the eyes, good colour combos and strengths aren't overpowering.
The only thing is, it is not a total re-enactment of the Vietnam war.
You will have the choice(U.S.) in how escalated it gets or just try and save your copuntry as the ARVN and see what happens. It is do-able, you have to do well tho to win as ARVN alone.


It is modeled after Victory Games' "Vietnam:1965-1975" and is a very close representation.
I really hope I am not jinxing myself but I know the Ev_ed like the back of my hand now, so I should be able to clear anything up before posting.

Here is the Scenario Briefing:

"The Vietnam War

A campaign scenario encompassing South Vietnam, parts of North Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The South Vietnamese Forces, major US forces and some limited Free World Allies attempt to prevent a communist take-over of Vietnam and beyond.

Best Played as: Either
Date: May 1965
Location: South Vietnam
Map scale: 10km per hex
Time scale: Full Week turns
Unit Scale: Battalion/Regimental
Length: 540 turns, estimated End time is September 1975

UNIT COLORS:
NORTH VIETNAM
NVA --> Dark Red on Red
NLF/Viet Cong --> White on Grey
NVA/VC--> Grey on Red (heavy NVA support)

US ARMY/ARVN
US Army --> Brown on Olive Drab
Army of the Republic of Vietnam --> Lt. Green on Yellow
Free World Allies --> Blue, Lgt. Green, White on Olive Drab.

Significant Events:

1.All VP's are permanent so if objectives are taken and lost, the effect that it was accomplished and affected the battle, war or simply some formations isn't lost.

2. The US/ARVN player may choose whether or not he/she wishes to deploy any US forces to the theatre, other than the 3rd Marine Expeditionary force. The player will have to move certain markers to certain locations to activate troop deployment and availability.

3. There are four Victory Point locations that must be taken and held for NVA/NLF to win a decisive victory.

4. The capture of Saigon means a total victory for the NVA/NLF.

5. The US/ARVN forces are penalized heavily for entering into LAOS, CAMBODIA OR NORTH VIETNAM.

6. If the U.S. doesn’t commit its’ forces (the main body and why it became an American war), there is a penalty if the 3rd Marines get into big trouble. They will be withdrawn and leave the ARVN alone to fend off the communist hordes if battalions or HQ’s of the 3rd Marines get destroyed, possibly. Knowing that America is out of the war, the NVA/NLF will proceed to reinforce its’ forces for the final push to the sea and eventually Saigon.

7. Monsoon season generally starts in spring and lasts for several weeks, sometimes months. This will affect Air Mobility as well as supply.

8. Each side is well supplied in the beginning of the war and will either diminish or increase depending upon effects in the scenario, such as bombing of the Ho Chi Minh Trail or the North and also the attacking of cities.

9. If U.S. forces are selected to enter the war, there is a VP penalty for political and economical reasons. Coming with those penalties is an automatic increase in Supply available, air mobility points as well as sea transport. Air power and sea power also increase. ARVN forces will fight with more confidence and there is a chance to stave off the enemy. From the NVA/NLF point of view, you are confident this war is already won and it is just a matter of time before the U.S. forces leave again. The fact that the U.S. has entered the conflict makes it more of a political fight than a conventional one, at least for a time. Finish the job before U.S. forces are adequately supported or prolong till you feel the Americans have lost the political aspect of the war.

US/ARVN Forces:

Objectives:
1. To maintain control of the cities and supply routes.
2. Control the mountain peaks whenever possible.
3. Search and Destroy any and all enemy forces.
4. Do not allow Hue, Saigon, DaNang or major port cities to fall into enemy hands, this will cause major penalties and possibly losing the war.
5. Maintain Order within your Formations, such as don't let your formations wander too far from HQ units.
6. Hue is a major key to victory. The communist government was looking to set up a temporary government in a southern city and Hue was a perfect choice. The ancient and great capitol city of Vietnam. Do not forget to protect other cities as well.
Air Power should be adequate enough. Use it wisely.
Possibly create fire bases with your overwhelming Artillery power on peaks or near key cities and objectives.
Progress checks will be made to see how the war is going, so you better hope you pass them or suffer consequences.


NVA/NLF Forces:

Objectives:
1. Primary objectives for the NLF is to attack cities or forces with weaker defenses than their own. Attacking cities gives valuable VP's, even if the city is not taken.
2. Capturing and holding mountain peaks is a valuable tool for scouting, VP's are rewarded for mountain peaks.
3. Try to cause as much trouble with enemy supply lines and tie down valuable enemy forces by small attacks so the NVA can come in and clean up.
4. Primary objectives for the NVA is to attack US/ARVN forces and cities.
VP's will be awarded for each attack on a city.
5. Capturing Saigon results in instant victory.
6. A decisive victory can be accomplished by capturing certain objectives and cities.
Holding them is a must or retaking them should result in a victory.
7. Capturing Hue will not bring victory but it will enhance your skill on the battlefield and hamper or weaken the US/ARVN forces. Your temporary communist government in Hue will have lasting effects on the war.

Moving your NVA forces along the Ho Chi Minh trail is possibly detrimental due to heavy bombers but your NVA can move quickly and attain decisive victories before US forces are fully deployed with proper support.
Your NVA forces are much stronger than the ARVN but the ARVN have air support and air mobility.
Use your NLF forces as best as possible, remember, they are generally a guerrilla force. Strike fast and retreat fast.

This Scenario was based on the Victory Games Board game "Vietnam:1965-1975".
There are some new formations added, the force deployments are different and events in the game will greatly influence formations and strengths but it is as close as I can get to re-creating the game, not including the South Vietnamese political and presidential aspects.
This was a very difficult scenario to develop.
There are so many variables and the event editor was lacking sometimes or possibly my imagination and experience with it was poor.
I tried to introduce a little of everything into the scenario.
The ORDER OF BATTLE is somewhat accurate. Smaller units were encompassed into the battalions by giving extra artillery power or ground strengths.
I am sure there are many things that I could have done but just didn't get around to it or….. forgot to do it..lol!!!

It was rather hard to do sometimes.
Takes a long time too!

I would just like to say that I created this scenario from SCRATCH!!!!
I swear to god almighty! I copied nothing from previous scenarios.
I looked at the Tet offensive one to judge the contents of each Battalion/regiment to see if it warrants changes or are the numbers okay.
I bought this game after playing the Korea demo for TOAW.
I thought it would be a great tool for re-creating “Vietnam:1965-75”, a game I never really got to play with anybody because of the size and scope.
I have to say this because there is a lot of data out there that I didn’t know about… like maps and oobs and such….ahhhhhh. I was upset when I found all this stuff out. Oh well, smarter for doing myself at first!!!!! LOL


Anyways…..

Good luck and hopefully it will be okay!

Jason Mallette
skhooter@excite.com

Take off eh! You hoser!

Ubique Quofas et Gloria Ducunt."


Check back later for the Scenario!!!!


How do you upload a scenario anyways???


L8r

Skhooter :cool: :nuts:

Wolfe Tone
16 Mar 04, 16:50
This looks like a really interesting scenario. I will certainly give it a try. I played VG Vietnam scenario as part of an ARVN/US team many years ago (1985?) and it was an excellent game.

Congratulations on what was no doubt a major effort on your part to put together such a 'Monster''.

Bdr.Mallette
17 Mar 04, 15:41
Yes it has been rather Brutal.


I have found the key to doing ascenario is to have a small amount of events that activate or fail to activate all other events.
Forces acting and arriving upon those events and then time lines run off of those events that activate or fail to activate.
If this sounds like a circle, it is, or was anyways. Tweaking the P.O. and 2-3 events and thats IT.
Just giving the NVA player a chance to choose whether or not U.S. gets involved, fight the ARVN with certain events kicking U.S. committment or just fight against the ARVN by themselves.
The Theater option1 is all set to go and it was a bit of a machine to build, the NVA should be okay cuz it's only three Theater options.

Holy cow, I could talk about this for awhile. lol

Thx for caring, i am glad sumbody does...... LOL

L8R
Bdr.Mallette :cool:

aussiesta
08 Apr 04, 07:36
The scenario looks great. Congratulations. But 540 turns?
There should be some shortened version for us humans who need time to eat and stuff. I own that beautiful VG boardgame, and thought of doing a TOAW version of one of the short scenarios there. Something like that could be done with this game of yours: a package, instead of just one campaign game of 540 turns. Something like the options the boardgame itself offers: a post-Tet campaign 1968-1975, plus one for the First Volley scenario in the boardgame, and maybe a few others, including the Easter offensive. Something like that. When you have the time, I mean. I don't think that would be a piece of cake, and offer my help if needed.

Bdr.Mallette
08 Apr 04, 10:48
I know, I know...
540 turns...

But it doesn't have to be.
There is an opportunity for the NLF to capture Saigon quickly, if they maneuvre properly, there is a chance that the US/ARVn could quickly evacuate the south of VietCong and set-up a line defense at the borders. There is a great chance that the NVA/NLF WILL lengthen the war by stalling and building up and forcing the US to do the same and costing VPs. It is long.
The NLF/NVA can capture certain objectives(port cities) to achieve a decisive victory using variable points from different events happening.
It kinda makes you wonder why someone would fight a war like that with no definite end!? It could have gone on longer, no?


Anyways....

You are absolutely correct.

:cool:

aussiesta
08 Apr 04, 11:16
:D
Something real simple: let's say you take the scenario as it is, and add an event that terminates it in 24 turns. Then, you add another event that provides a number of VPs for one side that will allow the NLF a reasonable chance to win a tactical victory in such a short time (as reasonable as the US/ARVN chance). Then, you change the name of the file and call it 'Vietnam 1965: the First Six Months'. I think that could be used as a pretty good introduction to the campaign game. I can do it mylself, if that's all right with you (I won't ask for credit! ;) )

Bdr.Mallette
08 Apr 04, 17:23
Yep, go ahead.
but if ya play as NVA/NLF and the U.S. doesn't enter, you'll be finished in about 4-6 months.
The ARVN cannot defend against NVA alone. no match.
If U.S. doesn't enter, it stays on track1, if they do then it changes to tracks 3 then 2 after a delay then back to one, after abot 30 turns, which is the most aggressive track.

If you(nlf/nva) capture 4 Port cities, and DaNAng or Hue, there is a very good chance the scenario will end, depending upon border crossings, and U.S. intervention but still, with U.S. in it, same rules apply, just harder to capture cities.

Do what you will.
I plan to do a totla revamp of this scenario soon, using a 5km/hex map and bigger oOB.

But just respect the work I did do, it was a lot.(for a first one)

Cool?


:cool:

aussiesta
13 Apr 04, 07:36
Great.
I'll do the shortened version as soon as I can, and then send it to you for stamp of approval. It's your game, I'll just cut and paste stuff here and there, so to speak.
Cheers.

Bdr.Mallette
22 Apr 04, 15:17
Okay, by shorten it, I thought you meant using operation kinda scenarios. Like operation yadda yadda to defend hoohoo hoohoo.
I don't think you can shorten a war just by shortening the time period. If they wanted to win it in 6 months, I'm sure they might've or could've but, the strategies they used didn't allow that into the equation.

You can use the OOB, MAp and whatever ya want but if yer gonna change the scenario, put some effort into it. it may be easier to start a new one, not just change the legth of turns.
Offer it to some other members and see if they like it better, feel free, no madda, but I still think the length is fine. The variable levels and VP events could end it quicker but it depends on the players "STRATEGY".
I PBEM another member and I used the totally wrong strategy as NLF and I was run out the country within 5 months, of course I have updated it since then for a more aggressive Guerrilla feel but still, I used wrong strategy and lost. Ergo.... Iunno!!!

If you have the VG manual, create an operation.

Check my new update for coups and offensive events.

Last one!!


L8R

:cool:

T1000
15 May 04, 11:24
Since the scenario link is gone... I downloaded your scenarion from somewhere else which I cant remember... anyway, I load it up and let the PC play against itself to see if ti make sense.. but after 20 turns, I feel that something isn't right.. howcome there was no US forces!! So I stopped the game and look into the reinforcement schedule and yes.. there was no US forces in the list.. I am using Century of Warfare v1.04. Any help with this? :cry:

Bdr.Mallette
15 May 04, 18:27
check theater options.

event driven for most forces.

Jean St. Marc
21 May 04, 18:30
My hat is off to you for your effort in making the Viet Nam scenario work. I once started converting the Victory Games map into a scenario but, after few screw-ups, decided that I didn't have the patience.

I'm not sure that I have the latest version, but in the version I have, I have only found two obvious errors for your consideration:

- 3rd Bde/1st ID won't deploy. It shows in the data base as "divided" with no equipment. I've tried "re-equipping" and "deleting/copying" but I can't make it come.

- The 22nd ARVN Armor Bn has the equipment of an ARVN inf bde. Easy fix to re-equip.

A recommendation: Replace the "155 Howitzer" with the "155 Gun". For some reason the "155 Howitzer" has a shorter range than than a "105 Howitzer".

Again, thanx for the effort. Let me know if you have a "definitive" version.

Bdr.Mallette
21 May 04, 20:33
thanx, it was a bit of a troublesome design.
Even worse, it was my first attempt at a scenario without knowing a lot about TOAW. I got lucky with the outcome I feel sometimes. Could also be in part to Mr.Koger. Thanks Norm. lol

The latest version is ver4, which i feel is the last version.
With one change, make a proficiency level change for the forces. Each unit is okay but the force Pro. is at 100 each.

I'm thinking 67 NVA and 63 for US.
67 for supply reasons and 63 for indecisiveness and political reasons otherwise (80 NVA 85 US for strictly military reasons).

Keep version 3 on hand though. I didn't do a full test with 4 cuz I didn't change much.

Bomber :D

piero1971
24 May 04, 07:54
now all that remains to do is continue the map north and plan for a few strategic options, that include the US invasion of Cambodia, and the invasion of the North Vietnam!

Also, more events for political effects of losses, etc. would be cool... or options such as more campaigns to win "hearts and minds" of vietnamese people, etc. as well as regime change in the South...

cool scenario.

Bdr.Mallette
25 May 04, 18:17
Thanks man.

The only problem with extending the scenario is, I ran out of events. There are only 500 in the program so, I dunno.
Either I have to make a whole new scenario for the South Vietnam conflict with all option incorporated into it, or, create a new scenario with those possible actions.

By the time I reached the final scenario with 500 events, I was pooped. I had evented myself out, so to speak.
When i was doing final version, i had to use events that were scattered all over(bad original design) and left over as spaces between certain events.


I am adding a really small scenario today. Focuses mainly on the Bien Dien area(I Corps) and very small unit strengths.

Hopefully people will find it okay.

Check it out.

"Bien Dien Encounter"

Bdr. :cool: Mallette.

piero1971
26 May 04, 09:34
I know, 4000 units, 500 events, 1000 (?) place names ONLY - it sucks!!!!

When will nerds like me be able to do a Barbarossa or Normandy at Platoon level??????????

(or perhaps become secretary of defense, make war and play it out live.. ha ha!)