Slaughter At Ponyri HASL

Honza

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SaP is going to be the 1st HASL on the battle of Kursk.
I'm really looking forward to it.
From my various scenarios set at Kursk I'm getting a picture of the kind of warfare that it was.
Massive fortification complexes, dug-in tanks and cupollas, relatively open terrain ideal for massed armor battles, trench and pillbox networks etc. etc.

It was the old equation of "immovable object vs irresistable force".
What makes it such interesting ASL is that so many factors come into play. Its 'Combined Arms' at its peak.

Slaughter At Ponyri seems to involve many of those elements mentioned above from what I've heard. It will be a very intense ASL experience.

I'm looking forward to trying out assaulting the Russian lines with companies of German troops with Tanks and SPG galore. Heavy German AFV + Halftracks + Elite Troops laden with fortification busting SW; whats not to like!
Or trying my hand at designing the defense perimeter with lots of Fortification 'goodies' at my disposal.

Kursk deserves an HASL of its own; like Stalingrad, Ardennes, Arnhem etc.

Can't wait!!! :surprise:
 

M.Koch

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Bring It On !!!

Maybe we get some sneak-peeks/infos about it from ASLOK this year ?:shy:

MK
 

David Reinking

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A playtest version was at West Coast Melee a few years back. As I recall, it used pretty much all of the appropriate German and Russian infantry set-- to include "Panzer Lehr" pieces from Op Veritable.

Just looking at the map with all the counters, I could not help but hear strains of Wagner in my head as I got to play a Game Turn as part of a multi-person team as the Germans.

This one's gonna be huge!
 

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Who's working on this? I haven't heard of it before.

I recently finished "Ivan's War" by Catherine Merridale. She spent a lot of time around Kursk interviewing veterans and locals. The book is more about the life of a Red Army soldier than a war narrative - but you get a great flavor for what the fighting at Kursk was all about and how it impacted those who fought and lived there.

I hope to see this HASL soon -
 

kdalton

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This would be Mr. Shellng. And yes, I have a chunk of the Don-Petros map and it looks cool.
 

wrongway149

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Maybe we get some sneak-peeks/infos about it from ASLOK this year ?:shy:

MK
Don Petros is doing the map and CG-- I am doing most of the scenarios (have two submissions on a particular part from Chas Smith of HoB)

I will have the VASL (imperfect ) version of the map available, along with a few scenarios. (Not sure if I will playtest any right now.)
 

Blackcloud6

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SaP is going to be the 1st HASL on the battle of Kursk.
The first on Kursk? Really?

How about: Hell's Bridgehead?

From Desperation Morale:

Designed by Dave Lamb, Hell's Bridgehead (HB) depicts the attempt by the 3rd SS Totenkopf Panzer Division to seize and hold a bridgehead across the Psel River, defended by the 95th Guards Rifle Division (and reinforced by units of the 5th Guards Tank Army), during the battle of Kursk in July 1943.
 

Honza

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The first on Kursk? Really?

How about: Hell's Bridgehead?

From Desperation Morale:
You are right Fred. My mistake; I totally forgot 'Hells Bridgehead'. I happen to own it too!
It will probably be a very different HASL from HB though. Bigger and probably more comprehensive. Different sort of fighting too.
 

Blackcloud6

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You are right Fred. My mistake; I totally forgot 'Hells Bridgehead'. I happen to own it too!
It will probably be a very different HASL from HB though. Bigger and probably more comprehensive. Different sort of fighting too.
Well, I look forward to getting it! It will be cool I'm sure. One could do a whole passal of CG's from Kursk.
 

Dave Lamb

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Well, I look forward to getting it! It will be cool I'm sure. One could do a whole passal of CG's from Kursk.
Ray Tapio unofficially announced ten days ago on the CH message board the following product release for ATS was forthcoming:

"Based on your feedback, the first PONYRI is slated for October 2007 -- it is already done and I included the counters needed on the SPANISH BLUE sprue. Each of the 4 maps is its own game, with bundled scenarios. A small sheet of counters is also included. Why would any wargamer want to deploy a platoon of Ferdinands, on a historical map, I wouldn't know. I'll just have to provide that opportunity and have faith y'all know best...

Ponyri ordering details to follow also, using the standard methods."


I haven't seen any of this personally, and the only reason I mention this is because it almost certain to become ported over into the ASLComp. line eventually.

I've recused myself from doing any R&D work on this, and my plate is so full right now that I'll likely have to find or assign someone else to do any ASLComp development on this (if &) when it comes my way.
 

wrongway149

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Can't agree with that. Dave's a good friend of mine, a superb ASL player and good scenario designer.
They are really two different battles. The northern part of Citadel was very slow-moving. In fact,the fighting around Ponyri and Teploye was pretty much over while the drive to Prokhorovka was just getting underway!
 

Dave Lamb

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They are really two different battles. The northern part of Citadel was very slow-moving. In fact,the fighting around Ponyri and Teploye was pretty much over while the drive to Prokhorovka was just getting underway!
Pete is correct. I suspect the flavor between HB and SaP will be different.

As for Slaughter at Ponyri and CH's 'March of the Mastadons' (tentative title), I've seen Don's beautiful map. They are very different in coverage.

With the CH version, the area covered is slightly different in map coverage. I saw a rough draft of the monster map submitted by Larry Winslow before Ray broke it down into four smaller, digestible parts. I suspect that all four maps will be reconnectible, but they may not directly attach (ala Sudden Full Contact & Devil's In The Woods). I guess that each historical, mini-map pack will come with between four and six scenarios.
 

Tuomo

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I will have the VASL (imperfect ) version of the map available, along with a few scenarios. (Not sure if I will playtest any right now.)
Pete - I don't have your latest email address. If you'd give me another chance, I'd be glad to fix things and make the VASL map usable. I let you down before by not finishing the job - life got busy, but I'd really like to get this cleaned up cuz its Way Cool.

Tom
 

M.Koch

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Don Petros is doing the map and CG-- I am doing most of the scenarios (have two submissions on a particular part from Chas Smith of HoB)

I will have the VASL (imperfect ) version of the map available, along with a few scenarios. (Not sure if I will playtest any right now.)
Thanks, Pete

MK
 

Honza

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Pete is correct. I suspect the flavor between HB and SaP will be different.

As for Slaughter at Ponyri and CH's 'March of the Mastadons' (tentative title), I've seen Don's beautiful map. They are very different in coverage.

With the CH version, the area covered is slightly different in map coverage. I saw a rough draft of the monster map submitted by Larry Winslow before Ray broke it down into four smaller, digestible parts. I suspect that all four maps will be reconnectible, but they may not directly attach (ala Sudden Full Contact & Devil's In The Woods). I guess that each historical, mini-map pack will come with between four and six scenarios.
This all sounds very interesting Dave! Thanks. :yummy:
 

wrongway149

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Pete - I don't have your latest email address. If you'd give me another chance, I'd be glad to fix things and make the VASL map usable. I let you down before by not finishing the job - life got busy, but I'd really like to get this cleaned up cuz its Way Cool.

Tom
pshelling@comcast.net

Don's had some life issues as well, so once he can get back at it, we can finish up. I'd say 80% done right now, but we want to leave MMP with as little work as possible when we turn it over (Assuming it will be MMP, as that part is not final, either.)
 

jwb3

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The first proper one.......
Can't agree with that. Dave's a good friend of mine, a superb ASL player and good scenario designer.
I can't agree with it either. HB was the product that made me realize there was something new going on at CH, and that perhaps it was time to give them another chance.

In particular, IIRC it was the first time I saw one of their AH-quality maps. (Not counting A:TTB, which was odd in enough ways that I didn't consider it a leading indicator!)


John
 

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I have been excited about SaP ever since I first heard of it. I hope it goes to MMP

Pete:

Is it a question of MMP accepting it or you shopping it to others?
 
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