jrv
Forum Guru
From Dezign Pack 3, “Mayhem” is an early Russo-German meeting engagement between mixed bags of armor and infantry. Both sides begin partially on board, with more forces entering on the first, second and third turns. The terrain is a mix of wooded hills bordered by river to the west. VC are complicated, as the Germans can win in four different ways. They can control heights, exit 10 VP (“4 of which must be infantry”), control the four stone buildings on board 40, or they can “eliminate” (destroy, Immobilize, or cause MA to not function) all Russian armor.
Beyond having early war Russian and German tanks, what drew me to this scenario was that three of the Russian tanks enter the battle amphibiously. Such novelty can't be resisted.
Although the VC doesn't have to be selected or declared in advance, it was obvious from his first move that my opponent selected the “clear the heights” VC. The Russians start with a force on the hilltop, but given its rather mediocre anti-tank capability (one ATR, two 50mm MTR and a HMG) and the large amount of armor and infantry attacking, I set these toward the rear of the board 50 mountain. Some of the conscripts set up in positions to dig more foxholes. Though it was a tough decision, I traded the 8-1 in for a 10-0 commissar. I felt the Russians reinforcements weren't going to arrive before I desperately needed a rally. The 10-0 and the HMG were positioned to prevent the advance of the Germans on board 40 by setting up in 50O5.
The Germans sent everyone against the board 50 mountain. The German flanking armor paused briefly in the 50U6 area to interdict Russian reinforcements, lost a Pz II, then joined the main attack up the front slope of the mountain through the 50K3-K9 area. A sIG IB in motion in Z6 attracted the T-26s. In the ensuing armor battle the sIG died along with the PzKpfw 38, but the Russian losses were a T-26 destroyed, one recalled (MA X), and one T-40 lost on a CH. With the loss of a sIG to the Russian sniper, the armor exchange ratio was exactly even, which favors the Russians.
Once the German Infantry reached the hilltop, they immediately started pushing the Russians backward. My plan was to fortify the back peak of the board 40 hill. I had formed a line of Infantry in the Q hexrow, and I had Russian tanks on the roads and breaking trails through the woods to help stiffen the Russian line.
At this point (bottom of turn 5), my opponent had to leave. I would judge the situation to be about even or perhaps favoring the Germans at game end. Had my opponent made a stronger stand at the stream crossing on board 50, my reinforcements would have been seriously delayed and I probably would have been swept off the VC hilltop with little hope of recapturing it.
The scenario needs some clarification/errata. First, the exit VC has the phrase, “4 of which must be infantry.” As seasoned ASL Rules Lawyers, we all immediately recognize that “infantry” is not an approved ASL term. What was intended might be “Infantry” or it might be Personnel. If the former, that means the units have to walk off. No riding in trucks to fulfill the VC. No matter which was meant, I think the scenario needs a “dismounted vehicle crews don't count for VC” SSR. If the Germans park two Panzers by the board edge, they can fulfill the VC by abandoning then advancing off board.
Overall I thought it was a tasty ASL morsel that lived up to my expectations. I think the Russians have a much harder battle than the Germans, however.
JR
Beyond having early war Russian and German tanks, what drew me to this scenario was that three of the Russian tanks enter the battle amphibiously. Such novelty can't be resisted.
Although the VC doesn't have to be selected or declared in advance, it was obvious from his first move that my opponent selected the “clear the heights” VC. The Russians start with a force on the hilltop, but given its rather mediocre anti-tank capability (one ATR, two 50mm MTR and a HMG) and the large amount of armor and infantry attacking, I set these toward the rear of the board 50 mountain. Some of the conscripts set up in positions to dig more foxholes. Though it was a tough decision, I traded the 8-1 in for a 10-0 commissar. I felt the Russians reinforcements weren't going to arrive before I desperately needed a rally. The 10-0 and the HMG were positioned to prevent the advance of the Germans on board 40 by setting up in 50O5.
The Germans sent everyone against the board 50 mountain. The German flanking armor paused briefly in the 50U6 area to interdict Russian reinforcements, lost a Pz II, then joined the main attack up the front slope of the mountain through the 50K3-K9 area. A sIG IB in motion in Z6 attracted the T-26s. In the ensuing armor battle the sIG died along with the PzKpfw 38, but the Russian losses were a T-26 destroyed, one recalled (MA X), and one T-40 lost on a CH. With the loss of a sIG to the Russian sniper, the armor exchange ratio was exactly even, which favors the Russians.
Once the German Infantry reached the hilltop, they immediately started pushing the Russians backward. My plan was to fortify the back peak of the board 40 hill. I had formed a line of Infantry in the Q hexrow, and I had Russian tanks on the roads and breaking trails through the woods to help stiffen the Russian line.
At this point (bottom of turn 5), my opponent had to leave. I would judge the situation to be about even or perhaps favoring the Germans at game end. Had my opponent made a stronger stand at the stream crossing on board 50, my reinforcements would have been seriously delayed and I probably would have been swept off the VC hilltop with little hope of recapturing it.
The scenario needs some clarification/errata. First, the exit VC has the phrase, “4 of which must be infantry.” As seasoned ASL Rules Lawyers, we all immediately recognize that “infantry” is not an approved ASL term. What was intended might be “Infantry” or it might be Personnel. If the former, that means the units have to walk off. No riding in trucks to fulfill the VC. No matter which was meant, I think the scenario needs a “dismounted vehicle crews don't count for VC” SSR. If the Germans park two Panzers by the board edge, they can fulfill the VC by abandoning then advancing off board.
Overall I thought it was a tasty ASL morsel that lived up to my expectations. I think the Russians have a much harder battle than the Germans, however.
JR
It's all very well to split hairs about it because in no playtest (and there were many, many playtests of this scenario all over the country) did the German player ever win by the exit conditions. They mostly just never tried. The vast bulk of the playtest reports on "Mayhem" had the Germans clearing the hill or eliminating the Russian tanks. But I liked the idea of giving them two more doable options. And it forces the Russian to guard against the boardedge creep or the suicidal dash. 