Do You Like Wargames?

[Leonidas]

Haupt. Dietrich:

Howdy!

I was only going to play a couple turns last night - and wouldn't you know it - the darn game sucked me right in

I'm going to try to get the Soviets into the fight as well. I've never managed to do that before, so it might be kind of interesting. . .

Those wasscally marine divisions are moving fast, so it looks like I'll be trying to free a few North Korean divisions before they get cut-off.

I sure hope those Chinese planes and tanks have their engines running - I'm going to need their assistance by the time my boys have hiked up through the hinterlands lol

And some hot cocoa would be nice too. . .

[Grumbold]

Darn you guys are getting me itching to play a hex wargame for the first time in years. I've got to resist - there are too many other games i've already preordered to give TOAW the attention it clearly deserves!

[Leonidas]

Here's a map of Korea.

As of turn 15 my forces are quite far south extending from Taejon in the west, to Ulchin on the east coast. I control all the main roads and railways, but the US reinforcements are attacking me from the Pusan bridgehead, and they are carrying some major firepower. They have broken through at Taejon, and are pouring massive units through the line. Several of my battered units have disintegrated

I better high-tail it outta injun country - and fast

This means fighting a strategic withdrawal, moving my battered and tired forces north of the 38th parallel, and all the way to the Yalu River. I hope MacArthur takes the bait. The Commies have a BIG surprise waiting for him at the Manchurian border lol.

Heh, it ain't gonna be pretty.

[Leonidas]

Originally posted by Grumbold
Darn you guys are getting me itching to play a hex wargame for the first time in years. I've got to resist - there are too many other games i've already preordered to give TOAW the attention it clearly deserves!

Grumbold: Hi The nice thing about the TOAW game system is, you can fight any conflict from 1900 right on into the future. It doesn't have flashy graphics and real time clickfests, but having to think about strategy, making battle plans, and carrying out fighting maneuvers, not mention re-creating the great battles of history, can be very absorbing

Although, TOAW is just one game in my mighty arsenal of fun games

[Case]

Does anyone know any sites with maps for TOAW?
(I bought the game off Mattyboy last week, and would like to make some scenarios for it)

[Cookie Monster]

Leonidas:

I see you're making some interesting progress. That map you supplied is great for keeping track of where you are. As soon as I saw it I promptly saved it as my background here at work! Too bad I can't play here at work though

One of my greatest weaknesses is the art of the fighting withdrawal. I would be interested in hearing how you make out in your dash to the "Frozen Choisin"! I typically get routed when I start running north.

I can relate to the surprise you have in store at the Manchurian border though!

Keep that cocoa warm because "winters in Korea are harsh" or something like that. (I'm quoting, rather poorly I think, from the scenario notes)

Grumbold:

How are you?

You're right. There's nothing like a good hex wargame to waste away an entire evening. I'll have to agree with Leonidas WRT the joys of carefully planning an attack/defense sans clickfest.

Case:

Check out www.wargamer.com or www.warfarehq.com for scenarios and maps for TOAW.

Good luck all!!

[Harovan]

I absolutely loved TOAW, Vol. 1, when it was new, and would like to play all these cool scenarios. I even made one myself, when the game was new.

Unfortunately, I have a localized version (German), and Talonsoft never released localized patches . Scenarios are, of course, not compatible between different versions. So I sit with a screwed game and can only wish you guys to have fun. I'd like to have a US/UK version, but never saw an opportunity to get one.

[Cookie Monster]

That's a shame Sir Ralph.

TOAW is a great game. Have you tried looking in your local stores for TOAW A Century of War? This version of the game contains all the scenarios from both TOAW1&2 as well as many extras. Check the internet as well.

[Leonidas]

Case:

What maps are you looking for? What scenarios were you planning to do?

Definitely check out the wargamer site - they have a ton of scenarios for TOAW and other games.

Best of luck!


Sir Ralph:

That's really too bad. I'm surprised that there are no German patches out there. But keep your eyes out - perhaps sometime you'll see a US version in a store. . .

[Leonidas]

Haupt. Dietrich:

It's mighty cold in northern Korea this time of year

As to the situation:

1) The UN forces moved faster than I had expected, causing me to get a few units cut-off from supply just south-west of Taejon. I fought desperately to break the encirclement, but my forces in this sector were just too weak to counter the massive reinforcements that were pouring in on the UN side. The UN was moving the 503rd US Army, 1st marines, as well as the 7th, 6th and 11th Divisions north along the east coast; while the US 25th, 2nd, and 3rd Divisions were moving north along the west coast. So I decided to cut my losses and "bug out".

2) Looking at the map of Korea, it is obvious for a commander that there are only two lines of retreat north: the road that runs along the coastal spine in the east; and the road/rail network in the west that runs through Seoul and up north.

3) I stationed light blocking forces at Seoul and Yonan in the west and at Ulchin and Chumunjin in the east. I entrenched these forces. These would serve to block the UN forces as I retreated my forces north.

4) Since in TOAW there are disengagement penalties, I used my HQ units to withdraw any forces that were next to the enemy. I did this by moving a HQ unit into the stack of units that were next to the enemy. I then withdrew all my forces, leaving the HQ unit as the last unit to move. When all the units had been withdrawn, I then moved the HQ unit away. If done in this way, none of my units will suffer disengagement penalties, although they are still subject to attacks from the air.

5) By Turn 21, I was able to withdraw the vast bulk of my forces. I think I waited a little too late to do so, as the UN surrounded and destroyed several units. But I had to cut my losses and run.

6) My blocking forces slowed the UN to allow me to set up a defensive line in the north running west to east along the Chongju to Hamhung line.

7) By turn 23 advanced elements of the UN/US forces were engaging my forces along this defensive line. News reports indicated that the Chinese were threatening to intervene in the conflict. In fact, several squadrons of Chinese Mig fighters began engaging US planes in North Korea. There was even an attempted assassination of President Truman. The world situation became very tense. . .

8) By turn 24, UN forces had broken through my defensive line. I then withdrew the bulk of my forces to both the Chinese border in the north-west (at Sinuiju), and to the Soviet border in the north-east (at Songjin). The world held its breath. . .

9) By turn 27, MacArthur was unmoved by Chinese threats to intervene in the conflict, and poured troops very far north along the Yalu River. Several Marine and US Army Divisions headed for both the Chinese and Soviet borders. . .

10) I waited anxiously for news from my comrade leaders in Bejing and Moscow. . .

11) Then it happened - Turn 27 - BREAKING NEWS:

* China was rocked by a revolution - internal problems prevented China from intervening in the conflict. It withdrew all Mig fighter squadrons.

* The Soviets, seeing its Communist ally, China, shrink from entering the war, sent peaceful overtures to the US President.

* MacArthur, bouyed by his military successes, pinned my battered forces and WON THE KOREAN WAR!



One thing about the TOAW events engine, you never know what's going to happen. This completely caught me by surprise. I still had substantial NK forces. With the Chinese units I was hoping to get, I was going to do a sweeping movement south of Tokch'on and catch the bulk of the UN forces that had moved north into the Chosin Resevoir.

Ah, well, as a tin-pot dictator of Korea, I will have to forgo my plans of world conquest until my buddies in China and Mosow can get their acts together.

But, I'll have to try again. . .

[Cookie Monster]

Leonidas!


Your last report literally had my chin hit the floor!

I can only imagine the utter horror you must have felt when you were hit with the news. I'll bet that your top NK general was probably thinking "those UN idiots think we're running from them, wait until we get to the border of Manchuria bwhaaahaaahaa!" But on turn 27 I bet he required a change of trousers!

On another note I read what you did with your HQ units during your withdrawal. I use this tactic as well to avoid the disengagement penalties. Unfortunately, with NK's pitiful airforce not much can be done about the massive interdiction attacks by the UN. My problem is setting up a few units at key terrain locations to help stall the pursueing UN forces. From what I read of your account I think I've got some ideas now.

I'll have to break out this scenario this weekend and have another go at it. What's really great about TOAW is that it's one of those games that you can put down for a while and then come back to it with the same enthusiasm as you had the first time playing. That Norm Koger is really good!

Good luck on your next attempt.

[Leonidas]

Originally posted by Haupt. Dietrich
Leonidas!


Your last report literally had my chin hit the floor!

I can only imagine the utter horror you must have felt when you were hit with the news. I'll bet that your top NK general was probably thinking "those UN idiots think we're running from them, wait until we get to the border of Manchuria bwhaaahaaahaa!" But on turn 27 I bet he required a change of trousers!

On another note I read what you did with your HQ units during your withdrawal. I use this tactic as well to avoid the disengagement penalties. Unfortunately, with NK's pitiful airforce not much can be done about the massive interdiction attacks by the UN. My problem is setting up a few units at key terrain locations to help stall the pursueing UN forces. From what I read of your account I think I've got some ideas now.

I'll have to break out this scenario this weekend and have another go at it. What's really great about TOAW is that it's one of those games that you can put down for a while and then come back to it with the same enthusiasm as you had the first time playing. That Norm Koger is really good!

Good luck on your next attempt.

Haupt. Dietrich:

I was sure surprised to have lost by turn 27, considering I had substantial forces left in the field and the scenario can run until turn 51 or so.

That's one thing I like about a well-designed scenario in TOAW, you just never know what events are going to pop up and ruin your day

As I play a battle in TOAW, I like to read about the political/military events going on elsewhere in the world. It makes you feel like your little war is having an impact in the world (which is usually the case in real life).

Now that the Americans have won, my North Korean soldiers have been wantonly munching on MacDonald's burgers, watching Britney Spear videos, and have been begging me to take them to Disney World. . .

The traitors. . .

I think American culture overcame all that great ideological indoctrination my troops have been subjected to over the years. . .

Best of luck in your next attempt. Let us know how you make out.

In the meantime, I am planning another comeback. . .

[Case]

When I played the Korean scenario (I led the Koreans to a minor victory!), I found that the tactic of running like hell to North Korea, then attacking UN troops as they crossed rivers worked well.
But it was the massive Chinese intervention which saved me from defeat (I got 4+ armies when the UN was just outside Pyongyang)

[ravagon]

LOL@Leonidas!
I haven't seen that one before. You've inspired me to have another go at it too now. However given my past performances I will almost certainly NOT be posting results here.

Originally posted by Haupt. Dietrich
What's really great about TOAW is that it's one of those games that you can put down for a while and then come back to it with the same enthusiasm as you had the first time playing. That Norm Koger is really good!

Couldn't agree more.

[Leonidas]

Originally posted by Case
When I played the Korean scenario (I led the Koreans to a minor victory!), I found that the tactic of running like hell to North Korea, then attacking UN troops as they crossed rivers worked well.
But it was the massive Chinese intervention which saved me from defeat (I got 4+ armies when the UN was just outside Pyongyang)

Case: Well done! It's amazing the results you can get from playing this scenario. In all the times I've played it, I don't think I've gotten the same results twice. It goes to show you that it was designed by the master himself: Norm Koger

Although, I think I retreated a little tooo far north, lol

The Marines had nothing left to do but twiddle their thumbs