2nd for this. The bocage is not that difficult and it is a great little CG.
3rd for this, and not solely to bocage being my favorite fighting environment. When it came out (LCP's first TM), it was a relatively new template. The "small, manageable" CG vs the "long and drawn out monster" CGs of Stalingrad/ Tarawa. Or, the 'weekend CG' vs the 'multi-month CG' if you will. Sure,
another company had made a variety of these, but few enjoyed them or took them seriously due to lack of play-testing, proofing, etc. There was a rare one as well from other sources, the 'Harz Attack' mini-CG from Steve Swann e.g. Not to say that George's earliest TMs did not have some proofing/rules ambiguities, but it slowly became apparent with each successive one that he was trying to iron out a semi-permanent CG framework to use in later works. So, beyond the obvious fun factor of the PHD map/forces, I would think that I am not the only one that holds PHD more dearly due to the paradigm shift it invoked. I find it most surprising that no one else has followed this template considering its widespread acceptance and cheer. "Hatten In Flames" seems to be in the same vein, and widely applauded for all the same reasons, but somehow I feel MMP isn't responding to a successful TPP template as much as it simply proofed/PT'd/published one person's (Andy Rogers) particular vision, which happened to be limited in size & scope compared to other HASLs.
I have played the following:
PHD x 2 (once solo, once contested)
OzB x 2 (once solo, once contested)
CM x 1 (once solo)
Each unique in its own way, I can honestly say that I enjoyed them all equally; giving only a slight edge to PHD for the reasons outlined above, and due to my cherished opponent at the time. I have a few things on the burner, but plan to get 'Drive For St. Lo' on the table before the New Year.
