WG110: "Reconnaissance in Force (B)"

Scenario Design by Bill Thomson; updated 110601

June 1944; As 'Green' American units enter the combat line and 'See the Elephant', lackluster leadership and tactics leads to high casualties as the pressed Germans retain a sting.

RULE LIMITATIONS: All Squad Leader 4th edition rules apply, in addition to SQL compiled Q/A and Squad Leader Academy rule conventions.

VICTORY CONDITIONS: The American player wins if he occupies with an unbroken unit and has uncontested control or destroys all three building L6, O4, and T9 and ends the scenario with at least four unbroken squads. If the American player successfully detonates a DC in L6 or T9 regardless of the IFT result, the building is considered destoyed for victory purposes occupation is no longer necessary.

BOARD LAYOUT:

SCENARIO SEQUENCE:

GERMAN FORCES:

• AT START: Setup on any whole or partial hex west of hexrow V inclusive:
  • 1x91; 1x70; 6x467; 1xHMG; 2xLMG
• TURN 3: Enter from West edge:
  • 1x81; 1x6+1; 1xAHT, 4x468; 1xmmg; 2x:LMG

AMERICAN FORCES:

• AT START: Setup on any whole or partial hex east of hexrow Z inclusive:
  • 1x91, 1x80, 1x70; 2x847; 10x666, 1xMMG, 4xBAZ, 1xDC.

SPECIAL SCENARIO RULES:

• WG110.1: The American 847s have unlimited smoke making ability in this scenario.
• WG110.2: The German 468 squads represent elite units (i.e. Panzergrenadiers). Other than possessing higher morale, they have identical capabilities as 467s.
• WG110.3: Note: Bazookas do not benefit from Point blank fire; Bazooka To Hit die rolls are subject to +2 when firing at moving targets.
• WG110.4: Board 16; Default orientation (hex id on lower left); Roads do not exist, Wheatfields are in season. Brush hexes are considered to be woods. During the American player setup, two woods hexes (draggable overlays) may be placed in any non building hex that is not adjacent to a hedge or wall. In these hexes, the woods is considered to extend to all hexsides.
• WG110.5: Due to wet ground, a +2 drm applies to all entrenchment attempts (base creation number is '3').
• WG110.6: SIDE SELECTION PROCEDURE: Each player takes one marker of each nationality and simultaneously reveals their choice of side. If opposing sides are selected, those sides are assigned. If the same side is chosen, the players bid for side with the lower rated (seed) player bidding first. Bids may start at '0' and progress in whole numbers only. The bid is the number of dominate AT START squads to be added to the opposing side. The bid continues until one player accepts the opposing side whose force is augmented with that bid. Please report the bid, winning side and comments (i.e. uneven die rolls at key moments) as this data will be used for balance modification the scenario prior to its published form.

PLAYTEST STATUS: This scenario is currently in playtest (Beta Release), please contact Squad Leader Academy to join this effort. The 'final' version will be published as a SQLA/Wargame Academy (WGA) scenario pack.

PLAYTEST HISTORY:

• 7/10/04: The first known playtest involved Pete Pollard and Bill Thomson. The Germans started with 6x467, the Americans had to occupy all three buildings with a unbroken unit, a DC could not destroy a building for victory purposes, adn could lose no more than 8 squads. Hindered by consistent below average German DR in the middle turns and steady German fire, the American effort was stalled never getting adjacent to L6 and could not stay in O4. Post-game, several scenario clarifications were made. The victory conditions were modified to the American favor as reflected in the next game.
• 7/12/04: Robert Menzel and Bill Thomson started via server play. Based on the previous result, the German at start was increased to 7x467 due to VC changes in the American favor. Americans needed only two VPs either by occupying the three VP buildings at 1 VP or detonate the DC in a building gaining 1 VP and negating the occupation status of the building. In hindsight, this mandated a forward German defense as T9 as a given and O4 is vulnerable to a DC attack, adn unintentionally eliminating the American need to assualt the L7 position. Bad German DR and steady American fire with a few KIAs thrown in on several 16 af attacks quickly reduced the German forces. Changes were made mid game as reflected in this card. The DC can only be used vs a single hex building for VP purposes, the German initial force is back to 6x467, and the American must end the scenario with four unbroken squads.
• 8/07/04: As part of the Boardgamers Player Association 'World Boardgame Championships' held in Baltimore MD, four games were played in the Squad Leader Tournament. The Germans won two of four plays (Jimmy Chau, Andrew Cummins,Eric Filipkowski, Chuck Frascati, Chuck Leonard, Paul Risner, Matthew Spitznagel, Bryan Van Nortwick).