AK: Kasserine Pass

[VPaulus]

Please post here your comments about this scenario.

[tnourie]

The first scenario I am trying is Kasserine Pass as the Allies, Lieutenant, and I noticed there is no Allied air power?? It should be weak Allied air power, not non-existent. . . And most of the Allied powers are not motorized by default?

Otherwise, as of turn two, the Axis powers seem about right, strength wise, and Von Arnim's and Meese's groups are split properly for the twin main thrusts north.

I do like the opening screen. It took me quite a while to download the game, however, even with a high speed connection. Almost an hour?

The multi-player, when activated, is telling me it needs a serial number but there is no option to place it? (Serial number is non-existent)

[uran21]

Scenarios are designed to be played from Axis side. In the case of Allied air power it will appear during scenario trough concept of reinforcements.

[tnourie]

Scenarios are designed to be played from Axis side. In the case of Allied air power it will appear during scenario trough concept of reinforcements.

OK, is the Axis AI just not developed yet? Will this be permanent or just so far in the developement of the game? Thanks for the heads up about the air reinforcements thing. I like the African Campaigns played from both sides, but the Allies present a special challenge because the Germans had better leadership, training and for the most part, equipment.

[uran21]

Focus is placed on Axis campaign so Allied AI is scripted but Axis side will not be. Allied point of view will be covered in the future with content designed for Allied campaigns.

[tnourie]

Focus is placed on Axis campaign so Allied AI is scripted but Axis side will not be. Allied point of view will be covered in the future with content designed for Allied campaigns.

I'm not trying to be a smart-ass here, so please do not take this the wrong way: Affording the player the option to play as the Allies without any reasonable Axis AI is misleading, as there is no real hope for any kind of challenge. I do know it's focused on the German side, but if you include the Allied "point of view" as it were by allowing players to chose the side they will play. . . .

Some Axis AI should be there, or barring that, take the Allied option away. But please don't. Now that you've opened the box, throw some minimal effort into the Axis AI and make it fun!

I personally would like to do the game from both sides, as N. Africa was an interesting set of campaigns from both perspectives.

[Rudankort]

Some Axis AI should be there, or barring that, take the Allied option away. But please don't. Now that you've opened the box, throw some minimal effort into the Axis AI and make it fun!

Axis AI which would make the scenarios "playable" is not really feasible. Any single player scenario is balanced so that the AI side has a certain material advantage, in order to offset player's advantage in intelligence, as well as his knowledge of the scenarios after a few playthroughs. If playing for player's side, the AI is at a double disadvantage (both in material and intelligence). Surely the player can use those Matildas to run over the AI opponent in early Africa scens, but will it be fun? Besides, certain things the AI cannot possibly understand at all. Like more complex victory conditions, explained to the player via text message in a human language.

The only thing we can do is, indeed, disable the option to play as allies vs. axis AI. Shall we do it? Any more opinions on this?

I personally would like to do the game from both sides, as N. Africa was an interesting set of campaigns from both perspectives.

N. Africa campaign from allied perspective is very likely to appear in the future, as part of "allied corps".

[nikivdd]

Beta2
Colonel.

Upgraded the sherman and a PzIIIL to a Tiger I and my 2 StuG's to StuGIIIG. No purchases.

Deployed these core troops:


I left the italian tanks, antitank and artillery in the reserve pool.

I liked the mission, carefully advancing through the mountains with artillery support nearby. Had a good time taking care of the american Wolverines. I think the american troops in the mountains, especially towards Thala are not entrenched enough. It was rather easy to dislodge those troops after a barrage with the aux Nebelwerfer and a StuGIIIB. I expected a counterattack near Kasserine, so i left a few troops there just incase, but it never happened. Near Tebessa i placed some troops on the south road, really expecting a counterattack, that also never came. I also expected more enemy air activity but it must have been superbowl or something. The few P38's never made a dent into my Tigers.
I also took Haidra in my search for captured equipment and bingo...


First time i notice that a captured unit did not appear adjacent to the city but one hex further away. A new feature or was it scripted like that?

DV 18/22 (could have been 14/22), 4714PP
No losses.

[uran21]

Captured equipment little away from town is scripted this way. The reason why you were not counterattacked is because units scripted to do this were probably killed. There are some units at side of your advance and those who bypass them will experience attack from the rear. Did you get the aux Valentine?

[nikivdd]

Captured equipment little away from town is scripted this way. The reason why you were not counterattacked is because units scripted to do this were probably killed. There are some units at side of your advance and those who bypass them will experience attack from the rear. Did you get the aux Valentine?

No aux valentine.
There were some american troops in the mountains away from the road on both sides of the river, but i took them out

[uran21]

Good feedback. We haven't heard about those scenarios nothing so far. Thx.

[billmv44]

General level. Starting prestige 5620, ending 2389. Upgraded 4 PzIVGs to Tigers, elite replacements for all core units.

I also left behind my Italian units and my mobile AA. My plan was to lead with my two strongest Tigers (+6 Attack & +4 Attack heroes). I took both sides of the pass within two turns. My recon units spotted the units on my flanks in time for me to smash them before any damage was done. I captured both the Valentine and the Wolverine. Only the Wolverine was a core unit. Overall, seemed a little easy. The P38s were cut to pieces by my 88 AA guns. I expected a bit more Allied air power.

[monkspider]

Kasserine Pass
General Level
DV on turn 21/22
Ending prestige 3600
No losses

I upgraded one of my SS panzers to a Tiger but intend for it to be my only Tiger for the rest of the campaign. This was a great scenario that required nearly the entire 22 turns to get the DV.

My strategy was to send my SS troops and Italians north and the rest of my German troops south. It was a pretty unique scenario, advancing slowly and steadily through the mountains. I somehow missed out on all the captured units though sadly. Great work on this one.

[Kamerer]

Kasserine Beta 2

FM level played
Start prestige: 3,900 End: 5,050. Net: +1,150
Result: DV at 14/21

An intimidating looking map at first, but easy to drive through with good forces. I bought green dismounted Gj units, and they easily handled opponent forces. From a few accounts of this battle I have read, this felt and looked like a very good approximation.

The allied infantry was too quick to leave their city hexes and attack when my infantry approached, making them much easier to kill. Perhaps they should be static?

Hmm, an M10. That might be interesting…

[Kamerer]

Kasserine Pass, Beta 4
Level: Field Marshal
Begin Prest. 1,300: End: 2,800. Net: +1,500.
Result: DV at 17/18

Problems:

- Captured Valentine will trigger if you attack the artillery unit with air. I “captured it” on turn one by having a spotting Fighter placed on the hex and attacking the artillery. So capture is lost immediately since it generates into middle of allied armor and artillery. Do not believe this is desirable.

Otherwise it played well. I believe it was toughened up a bit, which made it feel better.

[billmv44]

General level. Release candidate 2.

A bit tougher this time. No captured Valentine. I did capture the Wolverine. DV on 18/18. The battle through the mountains was harder than last time. Lost my captured spitfire due to not paying attention to fuel status. Totally my fault. I like the red shading in addition to the red dots for the aircraft. Of course it's useless if you forget to check all your units! Foolish me.

[ThvN]

RC2, Colonel. I see the roads have been changed from grey to sand, wasn't really necessary. Also, I expected a connecting road between (32,24)-(38,26), but that's a very minor issue.

Played as part of campaign this time, it seemed more difficult than I remember, lower turn limit? I was careful and scouted a lot so I pre-empted the ambush forces. Did not get the Valentine, but I did get the M10 by moving some units across the mountains around (10,12). I also split some forces to go around the mountains east side of Thala, I had an 8-rad (SdKfz 233) recon quickly going around the back like this and blasting the artillery at (28,5), which made progress a lot easier. Maybe position a unit to delay such moves.

Good scenario to learn about 'traffic jams' and watch those fuel meters on the planes. The new fuel range indication is very helpful and clear.