With Napoleon’s End another interesting package has arrived from OSG. This publication follows the previous title La Patrie en Danger and coincides with Napoleon Retreats. This means we can now relive the battles in France from the end of January to March 1814, shortly before Napoleon’s abdication in April.
The weather roll shows frost. This allows for normal movement and combat. Everything is now set to play the Battle of Mormant. En avant!
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Before I move on to other topics, I would like to briefly summarise the outcome of the Battle of Tannenberg. The scenario is taken from The Eastern Front: 1914 – 1917. It serves well as an introductionary scenario to Der Weltkrieg Simulation Series. The game mechanics are relatively simple, with few special rules. However, making good operational decisions is not so easy. The dilemma is that forcing a decision on the battlefield requires the spirited attack, but the losses are enormous. The penalty for the attackers is prohibitive if they cannot inflict enough damage on the defenders to force a retreat.
If we take a look at the news today, we find more and more articles about the increasing tensions in South East Asia. Both the 
People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the 
Democratic Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have escalated their aggressive stance towards neighbouring countries. This has reignited my interest in looking at the strategic and operational aspect of this potential crisis region.
I will report here on my latest project, a strategic surprise scenario of GMT’s Next War: Vietnam. In all my recent Next War games, I kept forgetting general and specific rules every now and then. So I’ve decided to stick to the standard rules, only adding supply and refugees from the options. This way I can familiarise myself with the rules even better before I introduce the full advanced rules.
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Having dealt with the historical context of the Battle of Tannenberg and the Russian Invasion of East Prussias in the year 1914, I will now move on to the actual war game. The Eastern Front: 1914 – 1917 offers me an army-level game with divisions and brigades as manoeuvre elements. Here, I report on the course of the solo campaign for East Prussia in August 1914, from mobilisation to the first decisive battles.
Tannenberg: Eagles in the East serves as an introductory game for the SPW Der Weltkrieg series. I share an interest in World War 1 with one of my wargames colleagues, Christoph. This includes both the operational side of this conflict as well as the politics. We have both visited several WW1 sites and museums and read books on various topics. Now we have decided to delve into some of the scenarios offered in the SPW volume The Eastern Front: 1914 – 1917. Here I will play the introductory scenario on my own to re-familiarise myself with the rules and report on my findings.
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On the first weekend of the new year, I took part in BochumCon 2024. This convention in Bochum, Germany, is dedicated to strategic board games. Matthias has organised the event for the fifth time now, with about 20 enthusiasts as participants. The unconventional thing about the convention is that about ⅓ of the participants actually work in the games industry as game designers or editors. This means that a lot of expertise about board games is represented, and the discussions are correspondingly in-depth. Nevertheless, the event is intended as leisure time and it is great fun to start the new year in this way.
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What sounds like the labelling for an SF outpost is the Finnish ASL expansion. I swore I wouldn’t buy it because I think the Finns are as overrated in ASL as the Italians are underrated. But what the heck, in the end I couldn’t resist. So here’s a new addition to my warchest Hakkaa Päälle! And I’m so glad that the German QWERTZ keyboard allows regular access to the “Umlaute” (äöü). 😎
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Advancing Fire has recently released ORSOGNA, a HASL set in Abruzzo in December 1943. centres on the fierce fighting in which the 
British 8th Army attempted to break through the German Gustaf Line along the Moro River. Amongst other battles the Battles I to IV of Orsogna saw fierce fighting between the 
2nd New Zealand Division and the 
German 26th Armoured Division. Latter was supported by parts of the Fallschirmjäger, Gebirgsjäger and the 
65. Infanterie-Division. The town itself was the subject of further fighting between Canadians and German paratroopers until February 1944 and was only fully liberated in July 1944.
The second campaign day promises to see a following up of the Soviet effort to take the Cogwheel Railway Station. The environmental conditions (EC) are Wet, the sky is Overcast, Snowfall is possible on a Weather Check DR ≥10.
The Soviets receive 12 CCPP & 3 SPCC and convert them to a Guards Rifles Company set up on board and a section of OT-34 tanks to support the attack. Artillery and air cover are not available for this attack. The Axis receive 8 CCPP & 3 SCP , which they convert into a Vannay Hvy Weapons Co and an 80mm AA-gun, both of which are deployed on board, and place a second German Alarm Co in reserve.
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In preparation of the Festung Budapest campaign I read the scenario special rules and layed out the map. I have prepared the start forces for both sides and made up a battle plan. To better organise the various battle groups I use plastic bags, one for each unit. They will hold all counters during campaign day preparation and between scenarios.
Attenzionen!!! 