One could even allow certain choices for OB to enhance replayablity and night would be particularly interesting.
In the early years of GRENADIER tournament, double blinds were held for some who did not participate in the main tournament. Some of them were moderated by Klaus Fischer (HoB back then).
Part of the OoBs could be purchased for a number of points. And, of course, you did not know the opponent's forces at all. You had your 'mission' and some 'recce reports' (which could be enhanced by spending points on them). So you knew that, say 'mechanized forces' were said to be approaching and that enemy Fighter Bombers had been quite active since the morning. Things like that.
I remember that in one of these double blinds, I played in the team of the Allies - I think it was Russians vs. Germans. We had purchased some of those SU-57(a) halftracks with 57LL guns. The Germans attacked with a spearhead of CE Panthers. We opened up on them with HMG at long range but creating enough uneasiness, so that they went BU. Then we fired at them at very long range with the SU-57s, which where hiding in some woods on a row of hills. By the rules of the game, tanks could not see much while BU. So the Germans noted that shells were falling close to their Panthers and some of those even hit the tanks without doing any sigificant damage. But for the love of God, the Germans could not 'see' from where the fire was coming exactly, nor what exact type of fire they were receiving. I.e. they did not 'know' that the 57LLs couldn't do much to them at that range. Nevertheless, it scared the hell out of them and they stopped and pulled back for the moment - buying us time to bring up reinforcements.
Then, there were also elements of the unknown and unexpected: Suddenly, we spotted Trucks approaching from the rear. After a round or two of panic (Had we been flanked?), we could discern that they were
our own trucks. But our OoB did not contain any trucks. We were confused. So one guy of our team did something splendid:
He told the moderator: "I'll step out with my 9-1 onto the crossroads where the trucks will apparently soon pass. The 9-1 will block their way and stop them and ask them, what this is all about."
Klaus Fischer grinned and said: "He, Lieutenant - whadda ya think yer doin holding us up?"
Player (aka 9-1): "Who are you guys and what are you up to?"
Klaus Fischer (aka Truckers): "We are from 123th supply and searching 86th armored to drop off our load of APCR. You know where to find 86th? Do we have to take a right or left turn at this crossroads?"
Player (aka 9-1): "If you take a left, you are headed for doom, as some Panthers have just retreated into those woods over yonder. If you take a right, you are headed for death, because there are German grenadiers right behind that hill where the road takes a bend."
Klaus Fischer (aka Truckers): "Shit! Can't be. This is road N67 and we've been told it would be entirely free of the enemy."
Player (aka 9-1): "Nope, this is road N72 and you are lost like Columbus. [The N67 was on the extreme other flank of the playing area] Only Germans to the front here."
Klaus Fischer (aka Truckers): "F
*! Whadda we do know? Our Sarge told us that he'll rip our a if we don't deliver the ammo."
In a stroke of genius - Player (aka 9-1): "I'll tell you: You drop off your APCR ammo
right here! This here column of our tanks could well use it."
Klaus Fischer (aka Truckers): "But, but..."
Player (aka 9-1): "STFU and unload the ammo at the double NOW! If not... Well, you seem to look like volunteers to me for scouting that road to the left."
Klaus Fischer (aka Truckers): "Uh, no! Erm, we'll dump the ammo immediately."
Player (aka 9-1): "Told ya!"
This raised the APCR Depletion number for the platoon of T-85s from 5 to 8 for the game. Great fun!
von Marwitz