Loquitor
Senior Member
There was talk once upon a time of releasing this module again. Any more talk of this happening?
Fortress Cassino
- Thread starter Loquitor
- Start date
n3ddy
Member
A splendid question! Now for an equally splendid answer, please!
IYAOYAS
Member
I'd like to see it reprinted.
nebel
Share and Enjoy
Are y'all referring to the Critical Hit title 'Carnage at Cassino'? If so, you've got the wrong forum. From what I can tell, the first edition still looks to be available, though I have heard rumors of a reprint. Which would be great if it includes a better map.
Is there a separate HOB Cassino title??? That would be cool.
Is there a separate HOB Cassino title??? That would be cool.
Loquitor
Senior Member
Talking about the HOB product. From Mark's site:
Fortress Cassino (FC) is the fourth Heat of Battle historical module and the last from its first "era," before Eddie Zeman left and several new people came in to change the look and feel of Heat of Battle products. It primarily focuses on fighting between the 2nd New Zealand Division and the German 1st Parachute Division in March 1944 in the third battle of Monte Cassino.
The historical map (used by 7 of the 10 scenarios) features the town of Cassino and the adjoining slopes of the mountain. The map is decent, but not striking (it does, however, far surpass the map from the other Cassino module, Critical Hit's Carnage at Cassino). Unfortunately, some of the slope depictions on the map are hard to read and had to be specified in the module rules. The small countersheet (designed by Nadir El-Farra) includes a few German artillery pieces and Allied fighter-bombers, underground passages, revetments, a flooded marker, tank cupolas and 35 counters representing 1st line New Zealand squads and half-squads. The counters are attractive and well done.
Module-specific rules to represent the conditions around Cassino include rules for saturated and flooded ground conditions, large craters, underground passages, siege towers and the Fortress of Castle Hill. Rules include caves but not cave complexes. New Zealand squads are represented as 4-5-7 first line squads with a broken side morale of 8. Though ANZAC, they are not stealthy. As was typical of early HOB releases, full designer's endnotes explain the rationale behind these various rules.
The scenario cards, unlike previous HOB releases, were printed in full color on glossy cardstock and new color artwork. This was an interesting experiment that was only partially successful. The map depictions on the scenario cards looked quite nice in color; however, the counter renditions on the scenario cards left much to be desired. The SMC and MMC counters themselves were white, with colored figures. However, the SW counters had black and white weapon depictions on a nationality-colored background. This was quite odd; moreover, the shade of blue used for the German SW was very dark, which made the counter renditions very hard to read (this was also true, to a lesser degree, with the American SW counters in the one scenario featuring U.S. troops). This experiment was not repeated.
Most of the scenarios represent the March 1944 actions featuring the Kiwi troops, but several scenarios depict other actions from the months-long battle for Cassino that feature Americans or Gurkhas. Most of the scenarios are medium-sized, with a few small scenarios thrown in. There are no large scenarios and none that use the full extent of the historical map. Several of the scenarios have relatively "exotic" special rules, such as having all German units undergo a pre-scenario Heat of Battle DR.
Like other early HOB releases, the campaign game in Fortress Cassino is based on the rules from Kampfgruppe Peiper II and Red Barricades (which thus are needed in order to play the FC campaign). The campaign game was HOB's longest published to that time, at 22 campaign dates.
Fortress Cassino (FC) is the fourth Heat of Battle historical module and the last from its first "era," before Eddie Zeman left and several new people came in to change the look and feel of Heat of Battle products. It primarily focuses on fighting between the 2nd New Zealand Division and the German 1st Parachute Division in March 1944 in the third battle of Monte Cassino.
The historical map (used by 7 of the 10 scenarios) features the town of Cassino and the adjoining slopes of the mountain. The map is decent, but not striking (it does, however, far surpass the map from the other Cassino module, Critical Hit's Carnage at Cassino). Unfortunately, some of the slope depictions on the map are hard to read and had to be specified in the module rules. The small countersheet (designed by Nadir El-Farra) includes a few German artillery pieces and Allied fighter-bombers, underground passages, revetments, a flooded marker, tank cupolas and 35 counters representing 1st line New Zealand squads and half-squads. The counters are attractive and well done.
Module-specific rules to represent the conditions around Cassino include rules for saturated and flooded ground conditions, large craters, underground passages, siege towers and the Fortress of Castle Hill. Rules include caves but not cave complexes. New Zealand squads are represented as 4-5-7 first line squads with a broken side morale of 8. Though ANZAC, they are not stealthy. As was typical of early HOB releases, full designer's endnotes explain the rationale behind these various rules.
The scenario cards, unlike previous HOB releases, were printed in full color on glossy cardstock and new color artwork. This was an interesting experiment that was only partially successful. The map depictions on the scenario cards looked quite nice in color; however, the counter renditions on the scenario cards left much to be desired. The SMC and MMC counters themselves were white, with colored figures. However, the SW counters had black and white weapon depictions on a nationality-colored background. This was quite odd; moreover, the shade of blue used for the German SW was very dark, which made the counter renditions very hard to read (this was also true, to a lesser degree, with the American SW counters in the one scenario featuring U.S. troops). This experiment was not repeated.
Most of the scenarios represent the March 1944 actions featuring the Kiwi troops, but several scenarios depict other actions from the months-long battle for Cassino that feature Americans or Gurkhas. Most of the scenarios are medium-sized, with a few small scenarios thrown in. There are no large scenarios and none that use the full extent of the historical map. Several of the scenarios have relatively "exotic" special rules, such as having all German units undergo a pre-scenario Heat of Battle DR.
Like other early HOB releases, the campaign game in Fortress Cassino is based on the rules from Kampfgruppe Peiper II and Red Barricades (which thus are needed in order to play the FC campaign). The campaign game was HOB's longest published to that time, at 22 campaign dates.
nebel
Share and Enjoy
I hadn't read (or had forgotten about that one). Sounds like a good one to get!
Loquitor
Senior Member
Hello???? Hello???? Anyone for HOB out there????
If there is no plan to reprint this how about allowing Dave to sell the CG and Scenarios on his site???? That way I can at least use VASL. Dave could sell everything except for the map and counters (which can be had online anyways)
If there is no plan to reprint this how about allowing Dave to sell the CG and Scenarios on his site???? That way I can at least use VASL. Dave could sell everything except for the map and counters (which can be had online anyways)
ScoobySnacks
Member
I would be interested in this title as well.
An e-file would be fine for me since I'd probably only VASL it anyway.
An e-file would be fine for me since I'd probably only VASL it anyway.
Loquitor
Senior Member
Has anyone heard anything from a member of HOB lately?
ScoobySnacks
Member
They have not been responding to questions on CSW either. The CSW thread shows issues with the website so they have become invisible in many locations.
ScoobySnacks
Member
Berlin is still available minus the chapter divider and counters.
I picked up one a couple weeks ago. The rules and scenario's were photocopies but the map was real.
I picked up one a couple weeks ago. The rules and scenario's were photocopies but the map was real.
Yeah I know, but I think It is a lot of money for getting a high percentage photocopied product.
I will think of it, but I think there is a lot of interesting products that are not photocopied.
Regards,
Raúl
I will think of it, but I think there is a lot of interesting products that are not photocopied.
Regards,
Raúl