tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13126735090066111182024-02-19T05:24:58.301-05:00RangerX3XVideo game blog.RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.comBlogger395125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-3046942194962187162022-07-19T14:57:00.005-04:002022-07-19T14:58:13.522-04:00Soviet Union National Focus<p>The following list after the page break is the current National Focus path that I am using for the Soviet Union with Joseph Stalin as the leader. While the all important Desperate Measures focus is chosen immediately after the start of Operation Barbarossa, it is because significant battlefield preparations have been ongoing for some time and other focuses were required to be done in a certain order to hit historical dates as closely as possible. The following list is a work in progress as this game is ever evolving however, it has successfully gotten me the beginning of the war with Germany.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>National Focus (through 10/1/1941)</p><p>Heavy Industry<br />Infrastructure Effort<br />Found the PCDI<br />The Path of Marxism/ Leninism<br />The Centre<br />The Stalin Constitution<br />The Zinovyevite Terrorist Center<br />Socialism in One Country<br />Secure the Administration<br />Addressing Internal Affairs<br />Expand the Agitprop<br />The Anti- Soviet Trotskyist Center<br />The Collectivization Process<br />The Workers' Dictatorship<br />Centralization and Discipline<br />The Military Conspiracy<br />Strengthen the Mobilization Plan<br />PC of Mechanical Engineering<br />Military Engineering University<br />Behead the Snake<br />The Bloc of Rights and Trotskyites<br />The Means to Wage War<br />Leningrad Polytechnical Institute<br />Finish the Five Year Plan<br />Foreign Experts<br />The Comintern<br />Baltic Secuity<br />Claims in the Baltic<br />Secure Leningrad<br />Eastern Development<br />Develop the Urals<br />The USSR Academy of Sciences<br />Claim on Bessarabia<br />Third Five Year Plan<br />Reorganize the PC of Heavy Industry<br />Steel Casting Industry<br />Synthetic Rubber<br />Industrial Modernization<br />Oil Production<br />Middle East Diplomacy<br />Support Afghan Communism<br />Preemptive Invasion of Iran<br />Desperate Measures</p><p></p>RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-75544436755606365552022-07-19T00:02:00.004-04:002022-07-19T00:03:14.394-04:00Hears of Iron IV<p>I have been doing a lot of games as the Soviet Union, attempting to mirror real life events and timings as closely as the game will allow. Not all of time though, playing as Trotsky or one of the other principals to overthrow Stalin in time to still have to deal with Operation Barbarossa certainly spices things up. The most recent build I am working on refining has the ultimatums for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania by August 1939, and the Winter War by November 1939.</p><p>However several recent games have resulted in Finland ceding territory and no actual combat resulting in a White Peace having occurred. Throw in the claims on Bessarabia in May 1940 and Operation Countenance by September 1941. Fighting a war with Iran with or without the aid of the British while at the same time holding back the Germans is quite a challenge to gear up for, considering all of the hideous debuffs the USSR starts the game out with.</p><p>Overall I been having a lot of fun with the game and once I hone my focus, research, construction and templates I will posts those lists here for anyone that may want to try them out.</p>RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-69134106489910122652021-04-11T11:46:00.002-04:002021-04-11T13:36:04.672-04:00Twitch LivestreamToday I will be doing a <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/rangerx3x" target="_blank">livestream on Twitch</a> of Flashpoint Campaigns Red Storm "The Pied Piper Scenario (NATO)". Stream starts at 12:00 PM EST (weather permitting) and will be posted to this blog after the broadcast has ended. <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/videos/983911143" target="_blank">Video link</a>.RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-34632851385130286382020-12-18T13:42:00.003-05:002020-12-18T13:42:16.843-05:002020This year has been a clusterfuck for a lot of people. My wife and I are both blessed to have full-time jobs so, we have been able to deal with the pandemic rather well. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holidy season whatever you may celebrate. On the gaming front I am heavy into Conan Exiles, a sandbox surivival crafting type game. It is a lot of fun to play and I have managed to put in a couple of Twitch streams on it. The past couple of months my presence on that platform has been light but I most certainly am not giving up on streaming. Maintaining a set schedule just didn't work for me in the long run so, now I stream when I can and when I feel like it. Take care everyone and I hope you all have a productive and fruitful 2021! :)RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-75819059291280777432019-12-24T07:46:00.000-05:002019-12-24T07:46:32.158-05:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XGEWfhoNhkM/UrocEHzXt_I/AAAAAAAAZSY/0I1Te4DA5C8/s1600/Merry%2BChristmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XGEWfhoNhkM/UrocEHzXt_I/AAAAAAAAZSY/0I1Te4DA5C8/s640/Merry%2BChristmas.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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To all please have a happy and safe holiday season :)<br />
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2019 was kind of an odd-ball year for me. As with 2018, most of my focus was with trying to build my <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/rangerx3x" target="_blank">Twitch</a> channel. That had the unfortunate side effect of reducing my time available for this blog and in particular after-action reports.<br />
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And I made a colossal error in deleting my entire library of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXm5-YsvSFvqmdvoMN3L4yA" target="_blank">YouTube</a> videos. This was not an accidental click of a button, but an intentional act in admittedly a poor reaction to YouTube's new terms of service and the legal threat posed by radical new implementation of <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaking-regulatory-reform-proceedings/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule" target="_blank">COPPA</a> (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act), a law passed in 1998 that is now the bane of anyone wishing to be a YouTube "influencer".<br />
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In reality I overreacted to the perceived threat of facing fines as the vast majority of my content was wargaming related. This is why a lot of content (in particular the Video label) is now missing from this blog. I reverted all of those posts to draft so as not to make the blog look abandoned.<br />
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Which in practice it has been abandoned in the past two years. I aim to correct that in 2020 by attempting to strike a balance between my <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/rangerx3x" target="_blank">Twitch</a> live streaming, my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXm5-YsvSFvqmdvoMN3L4yA" target="_blank">YouTube</a> uploads, and my after-action reports or other wargame related content here.<br />
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-23339291322634053572019-10-10T17:10:00.001-04:002019-10-10T17:10:25.499-04:00Sharp End GamingChris over at Sharp End Gaming is a longtime war gaming friend. Please check out his newsletter and consider subscribing (which is completely free and only requires an email address): <a href="https://iplaygames.substack.com/" target="_blank">Sharp End Gaming</a>.RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-61648405869568528902018-12-24T17:39:00.002-05:002018-12-24T17:39:38.100-05:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XGEWfhoNhkM/UrocEHzXt_I/AAAAAAAAZSY/0I1Te4DA5C8/s1600/Merry%2BChristmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XGEWfhoNhkM/UrocEHzXt_I/AAAAAAAAZSY/0I1Te4DA5C8/s640/Merry%2BChristmas.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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To all please have a happy and safe holiday season :)RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-77477278312292696022018-09-30T06:54:00.000-04:002018-09-30T06:54:08.082-04:00SITREPHello everyone! Just a quick update on me and this blog. First, the blog: It is not dead, or abandoned. I am just trying to figure out what to do with it. Back in May I became an <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/rangerx3x" target="_blank">affiliated streamer</a> on Twitch, and part of the agreement (this is all public knowledge so no NDA stuff here) is that they receive first rights to each broadcast. This means I cannot dual-stream to YouTube any longer. I can still post videos there; however, it must be at least 24 hours after the initial broadcast on Twitch.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>This presents a problem for me as my ISP instituted a 1 TB data cap a year ago. My wife and I watch a lot of streaming content (Netflix, Twitch, and YouTube, etc.) and the data cap was never an issue until I started broadcasting live on Twitch. Now we are constantly up against this cap, to the point that I have to monitor the usage daily so as not to go over. Unlimited internet is available, but at an additional $50 USD a month for a total of $600 per year.<br />
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What does all that have to do with this blog? Quite a lot, actually. This blog started out as a depository for after-action reports that I would write for scenarios that I played in various games. It would not be uncommon for me to play a mission for one to three hours, and then spend four to as much as eight hours over several days browsing through screenshots and writing the blog post. This was a chore, albeit and enjoyable one. However, it led to a situation where, at my best I could churn out one AAR per week.<br />
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Broadcasting game play is quite the opposite. There is little to no post-broadcast effort required (at most social media posts), and the feedback is immediate (for viewers can interact with me live during the stream). I am able to post daily (to Twitch) and cover much more content than I possibly could attempting to write a blog post after playing a specific game.<br />
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Again, this blog is not dead or abandoned. I am just trying to determine how best to integrate it into my Twitch broadcasting space.RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-82362657673199519682018-04-08T07:55:00.000-04:002018-04-08T17:27:43.344-04:00Civilization VI Quick and Dirty Review (Updated)I got this game as part of a <a href="https://www.humblebundle.com/monthly/p/february_2018_monthly#civilization6" target="_blank">recent Humble Bundle</a> and have toyed around with it a bit. This morning I tried my first earnest game and immediately ran into a well-known yet still unresolved bug, where unit combat sounds stop working. Well, they will work for one engagement, and then not work for the next two, then work for the next, then not for the next, etc. Basically, it is a dice roll whether or not the combat sounds will work for any encounter.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>A quick <a href="https://www.google.com/search?ei=JQLKWt71CdDGsQXQsYvgBQ&q=civ+6+combat+sounds+not+working" target="_blank">Google search</a> reveals this problem has been around since launch and has yet to be satisfactorily addressed by the developer of the game, Firaxis (a developer I admire for their excellent XCOM reboot). About the only consistent recommendation for a “solution” is to start a new game, and not move any unit to the edge of the map. For a game that is all about exploration and expansion, this is just too much to take.<br />
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I have yet to find any official information on this bug from the developer. I submitted a ticket at <a href="https://support.2k.com/" target="_blank">2K Support</a> and will refrain from knocking the game with a bad Steam review (for the moment), but this is shoddy work for a franchise that I had thought was AAA-level gaming. I am beginning to see why it has such poor reviews.<br />
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This is a game that I am hoping to livestream at some point, however I don’t care to invest time and energy into something that is unfinished or outright abandoned.<br />
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Update 17:25: As mentioned above, I submitted a ticket this morning to 2K and they responded
that there is a fix in the works for the intermittent combat sounds that will
be part of the next patch, however there is currently no ETA for the release
date.<br />
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I am quite impressed with a same day response that is 1) on a Sunday, and 2) not a copy and pasted boilerplate rebuttal of my issue.<br />
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RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-67775714174839468022018-02-18T11:30:00.001-05:002018-02-18T11:30:19.799-05:00Assassin’s Creed IIBack in 2012 I was full bore into my Steam whore phase where anything that even remotely looked interesting that was on a deeply discounted sale I would invariably pick up. I have dozens of games that I have either only played a few minutes in, and some I have never even installed (after five + years of ownership). During the 2012 Christmas sale I picked up <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/33230/Assassins_Creed_2_Deluxe_Edition/" target="_blank">Assassin's Creed II</a>: Deluxe Edition for $4.99, as well as Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Deluxe, and Assassin's Creed Revelations - Gold Edition for $4.99 - $7.49 each.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I have no idea what the Deluxe or Gold editions mean because I barely have spent anytime in playing these games. After a small bit of research this year I determined that AC2 is widely considered to be the top game in the series, if not then in 2nd place behind the new Origins game (which I do not own). So, I installed AC2 on my new gaming rig and gave it an honest go to see if I could get into a game that features parkour-like actions.<br />
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To say that this effort was colossally frustrating would be a dour understatement. The keyboard and mouse simply were not cutting it, and even though I have an older Logitech Dual Action gamepad hooked up to my machine, the game did not set the default control scheme to that (these games seem to scream for the use of a controller over a mouse and keyboard). So, I went into the controls and located where it showed by Logitech controller and selected that.<br />
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After much trial and error, I finally managed to complete the tutorial sequence, with the main protagonist and his older brother sitting atop a church roof. This was a major pain in the ass just to get to this point as there simply is nothing intuitive about the control scheme (frustration mounts when basic front-back-left-right movement that worked previously cease to function and you are left with no indication as to why).<br />
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After a small bit of additional research, it appears my anguish over the terrible controls is not isolated to just me being a noob with the game. Far from it. In fact, there are <a href="https://kotaku.com/dear-assassin-s-creed-fix-your-damn-controls-1740664231" target="_blank">articles</a> from people who love the games still complaining about the terrible hit or miss control setup to this day. I find it odd that a company the size of Ubisoft would allow such an IP as Assassin’s Creed to suffer under such an anchor weighing it down.<br />
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The long and short of this commentary is I finally realize why I cannot get into these games. It is not because I am now 50+ and the days of being able to “git gud” are long past: It is because it is neigh impossible to get good at these games when you have a control scheme actively working against you at every conceivable turn.<br />
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Games should be a challenge, yes, but they should also be fun, not an exercise in frustration.<br />
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Would you drive a car if when you turned to the right, the car went to the left and in reverse?RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-14777233041501627332018-02-11T15:01:00.001-05:002018-02-11T15:01:19.129-05:00PC Gaming is Dead and Cryptocurrency Killed ItI am a free market guy, I don’t believe that the government has any business setting minimum wage, rent controls, and the like. The market should dictate the price of any given product or service, and people should be free to make informed (or misinformed) decisions at will. At least I thought I was a free market guy. It turns out I am as long as it works for me, but when I feel the negative effects of the pseudo-free market that exists in America, I am one of those pussies who cry to the Federal Government for help.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>By now most gamers have heard and are well versed in the story of cryptocurrency and the impact that it has had on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT-pP4wvLV8" target="_blank">supply and demand</a> of graphics processing units (GPU), and even complete off the shelf retail gaming computers (Alienware, MSI, etc.) While there are those who state with crystal ball-like certainty (much the same as I am with the title of this post) that it is dying off and to be patient, there are others who see no end in sight to what has happened in the market in just the past year.<br />
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Full disclosure: I am not in the market for either a new gaming rig or a new GPU, I am happy with my current setup and my wife is happy with my old gaming rig as it is more than what is needed for her to watch YouTube and Netflix on. My angle in writing this is what the lay of the land would look like if, for some reason I had to be in the market: It does not look very good at all. Bottomline is that actually I would not be able to purchase the same exact gaming rig I bought a year ago today given what crypto has done to the market.<br />
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Last March I purchased an MSI Aegis 3 VR capable gaming rig that featured an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8 GB GDDR5X video card. I couldn’t care less about virtual reality, I do not have the hardware (headset) and have no desire to wear a television screen on my head just for the pleasure of buying the games I love a second time to “experience” them in VR. I bought the machine because it has killer gaming specs and was selling for a reasonable (non-sale) $1,599.99 price point (USD).<br />
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That same machine is now selling for <a href="https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1K66UU4934" target="_blank">$4,645.35</a> and is completely out of stock. The video card alone is now going for an average retail price of $1,019.99 (which is 2/3rd of what I paid for the entire gaming rig just 11 months ago). One manufacturer is even selling the card at <a href="https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA85V4RS1590&cm_re=NVIDIA_GeForce_GTX_1080_8_GB_GDDR5X-_-14-487-244-_-Product" target="_blank">$1,399.76</a>. This is pretty much all thanks to what has happened to cryptocurrency in the last year.<br />
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So-called “miners” are buying these GPU’s (and even entire systems just for the GPU), and it has caused prices to soar. This has caused a backlash against the manufacturers, even though in most circumstances it is the retailers that are setting the price. Many people who just want to game (and not mine crypto) cannot afford the machines that are required to play today’s games. This has effectively stopped the gaming community from keeping pace with the titles that are being released.<br />
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This is an unfortunate slippery-slope that can lead to video game development simply ceasing to exist. Why spend hundreds of millions of dollars to make that next triple-A title when almost no one can afford to upgrade their now-potato computer because GPU’s cost more today than entire gaming rigs cost just a year ago.<br />
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One solution would be for manufacturers to produce X number of units that are reserved for confirmed video gamers. Yes, that would totally suck, but the day may be coming where you would have to apply to purchase a video card at the base MSRP. This would require that the middleman (Best Buy, Newegg, etc.) be cut completely out of the equation. Short of this or cryptocurrency completely crashing (which is quite possible but does not appear to be on the horizon at the moment), there would be no way that the average gamer can save up to purchase a machine capable of playing the games that are currently in development.<br />
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Something has to be done, and damn it, it may be time for the Federal Government to get involved.<br />
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RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-51502312442788968512017-12-31T08:57:00.002-05:002017-12-31T08:57:44.592-05:00Top 10 Video Games of 2017The following list is my top 10 games that I have played in the last year. Feel free to chime in with some of your favorites from the past 12 months of gaming.<br />
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1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fallout 4<br />
2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition<br />
3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Motorsports Manager<br />
4.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Breach & Clear<br />
5.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cities Skylines (gift)<br />
6.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Grand Theft Auto V<br />
7.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>F1 2014<br />
8.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ticket to Ride (gift)<br />
9.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Flashpoint Campaigns: Red Storm (gift)<br />
10.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>MS Flight Simulator X<br />
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Gift items are games that were purchased for me by other Steam gamers: Thank you for your gift!<br />
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Happy New Year Everyone!!RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-53620832057922491832017-12-29T09:57:00.000-05:002017-12-29T10:08:04.291-05:00Steam Winter Sale - ArmA 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A2JafkGswIo/VF5m4gcdVVI/AAAAAAAAYGo/FQ1CUuvkee01_r6tsG-oTsdW2Xk8SiZ6ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/ArmA3360X180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="360" height="100" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A2JafkGswIo/VF5m4gcdVVI/AAAAAAAAYGo/FQ1CUuvkee01_r6tsG-oTsdW2Xk8SiZ6ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/ArmA3360X180.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
There were several games that I picked up for Christmas during the Steam Winter Sale: American Truck Simulator, ArmA 3, Dishonored, South Park, Tabletop Simulator, as well as some DLC for a race management game that I am heavily into called Motorsport Manager.<br />
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I took a look at ArmA 3 a <a href="https://rangerx3x.blogspot.com/2014/11/arma-iii-free-play-weekend-review.html" target="_blank">full three years ago</a> during a Steam Free Play Weekend offer and was not impressed with what I saw, given the price point at that time (it was going for $59.99 USD and was marked down that weekend to $29.99). I noted an issue with armor crews bailing yet continuing on the assigned waypoint as if they could possibly contribute to the battle.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The game was on sale three years later for $13.59 (regular $39.99) so even though I stated in my review back then that I would wait until it was deeply discounted, I decided to take the plunge and pick it up (I am a huge <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Flashpoint:_Cold_War_Crisis" target="_blank">Operation Flashpoint</a> fan from back in the early 2000’s and have always supported Bohemia Interactive when possible).<br />
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This was a mistake. The first issue is that Steam keeps track of all time played, even a Free Play Weekend from over three years ago, so with only a few minutes in the Eden Editor to find some major issues, I have already gone over my two-hour limit for a refund.<br />
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And yes, I would have requested a refund.<br />
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<a href="https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/910156967340731272/9ACC5E6E1D2C68F4FC9F5E538F918A02A6062569/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/910156967340731272/9ACC5E6E1D2C68F4FC9F5E538F918A02A6062569/" width="640" /></a></div>
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In the above screen shot I placed a group of BLUFOR tanks with waypoints towards a patrol of OPFOR tanks. We made way to the objective and promptly destroyed the enemy armor, however the AI driver of my tank flipped the vehicle on some rocks which rendered it useless.<br />
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All AI crew members bailed and proceeded on with the group waypoint as if they could somehow contribute to any further engagements that might occur.<br />
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Now let me be clear here, I know what ArmA is and what ArmA is not. ArmA is a total package military sandbox simulator. ArmA is not a poor man’s Steel Beasts Pro high fidelity armored combat simulation (not even close).<br />
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But the AI pathing problems and behavior when a vehicle is damaged beyond use have been plaguing the franchise since Cold War Crisis in 2001. While they may finally have gotten around to aesthetic things such as a holstered sidearm, there apparently are longstanding pathing and combat issues that have yet to be satisfactorily resolved.<br />
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Don’t get me wrong, the game looks great and seems to play great on my new rig, however I was hoping for some improvement in some very ancient evils that have crippled the game from being more than what it could be.<br />
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Points are also deducted for the “in-app purchase” feel of the interface in several screens, where I feel like I bought a shell of game if not a virtual storefront for them to hock their additional DLC products.<br />
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Rating: C<br />
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Verdict: Do not purchase unless you are a diehard fan of the series (like I am)RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-40092421741733077842017-12-27T18:36:00.001-05:002017-12-27T18:36:25.458-05:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To all please have a happy and safe holiday season (better late than never :)RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-89303568846629069272017-11-18T21:06:00.000-05:002017-11-18T21:07:00.428-05:00Breach & Clear Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/266130/Breach__Clear/" target="_blank">Breach & Clear</a> is currently on sale at Steam for 90% off at $1.49 USD. It can be bundled with Breach & Clear: Deadline Rebirth for $2.99 USD. While I have both games I really could not get into the changes they made with Deadline Rebirth and haven't played it in quite some time. The original B&C however is a very well made turn-based tactical tactical game that is well worth the full price of $14.99 and is a steal at 90% off.RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-68324005387518540702017-10-15T09:43:00.001-04:002017-10-15T09:43:35.767-04:00Blog Maintenance and Other ThingsHello everyone, I have been made aware that some of the file download links no longer work. I will begin the process of reviewing what links are expired and will update them accordingly. If you happen to encounter a broken file download link, the best way to alert me to this is to make a comment in the section that you are experiencing the broken link at.<br />
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What I am working on: I have had a new gaming rig since March of this year and have been playing a lot of games but have done little blog posting other than a video or commentary here and there. Part of this is due to the amount of time required to write a worthwhile post, and part of it is that I have not brought over certain applications yet such as Paint Shop Pro (something that I have had for over ten years but it still works and does everything that I need it to).<br />
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I have been dabbling a little bit in Flashpoint Campaigns: Red Storm, and hopefully can get back into it enough to complete the Soviet single player scenarios and write up full AAR’s, but truth be told none of those previous entries registered in any of my three top ten lists on the left side of the blog frame. What does register are one off efforts and a couple of videos now and again.<br />
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While I do not have advertising on this blog and have no need to whore myself out to click bait traps, it would be nice to see some feedback if there is something specific that interests you. The comment section at the bottom of each post is the place to do it. While this blog is largely an open canvass, I will take into consideration recommendations.RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-45729902414766460842017-09-21T18:21:00.001-04:002017-09-23T22:20:31.607-04:00Angry Gamers Get Creation Clubbed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1ZgC1xRRaQ/VGHBIhNO-hI/AAAAAAAAYP8/SPE5RvqfZ1IaFDuta4LKPNWgIj6HLKK-ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Steam360X180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="360" height="100" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1ZgC1xRRaQ/VGHBIhNO-hI/AAAAAAAAYP8/SPE5RvqfZ1IaFDuta4LKPNWgIj6HLKK-ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/Steam360X180.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
There is a <a href="https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/09/20/steam-review-bombs/#more-478371" target="_blank">good article over at RPS</a> detailing the issues that Steam is experiencing with portions of the gaming community in revolt over questionable moves by developers, such as with paid mods in the form of Creation Club for <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/489830/The_Elder_Scrolls_V_Skyrim_Special_Edition/" target="_blank">Skyrim</a> and <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/377160/Fallout_4/" target="_blank">Fallout 4</a>.<br />
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These hostile review actions are meant to punish developers for unpopular decisions, and apparently are affecting the bottom line as the retailer (Steam) is forced to deploy data graphs to explain away anger spikes, and the developer (Bethesda) is forced to have a fire sale on their initial content offering, putting up some items for free after requiring users to pay credits (cash) for them.<br />
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This further exacerbates a situation where all Steam based end users were required to download an update (which can no longer be refused on Steam) that placed the data files on the customers machine, regardless if they paid to unlock the content or not. After an outcry from the community, the developer alluded to this being a design mistake that they would investigate.<br />
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The next Creation Club update to come out apparently did not install the new files onto the customers machine, but inexplicably left the original content alone. With absolutely no guidance from the developer, those who did not purchase any unlocks and did not wish to have these files on their computer were left to fend for themselves in terms of figuring what should be deleted to purge the content properly.<br />
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The Creation Club could be a tool that when properly utilized enhances the end user experience. Unfortunately, the less than professional rollout and the fouled-up customer-unfriendly follow-up have left a bad taste in many gamers mouths, with many in the community suspicious of anything the developer does to mitigate the damage.RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-80058560843559008762017-09-01T15:14:00.001-04:002017-09-01T15:14:20.687-04:00Fallout 4 Creation ClubFor those of you who do not know Bethesda released something called the Creation Club, which is now fully integrated with Fallout 4. It is basically paid mods, and this post is not to debate the pros and cons of that. This post is to rant on how Bethesda screwed my game up. I use mods to improve the game, and one of those mods for me had to be the Achievements Mods Enabler so that I could work towards the 80 or so Steam Achievements that come with the game.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Well the implementation of the Creation Club made substantial changes to the executable file which in turn caused the enabler mod to become out of date, requiring it to be updated by the mod author. They have done that, but I am having difficulty extracting the files when I did not in the past. That as well is not what this post is about.<br />
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What this post is about is a decision made by Bethesda to preinstall the Creation Club mod content onto each players computer. Even if you have never used a mod before in your life, and have no intention of checking the new feature out, you are giving up download bandwidth as well as HDD (or dare I say SSD) space for content that you do not have the choice to refuse.<br />
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It would be one thing if you could shop for what you want, buy it and then download it. But the way Bethesda is doing this, you are forced to download all the store onto your drive regardless of whether any of it is something that you would buy.<br />
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And as each new approved Creation Club content file is finalized and released, you will be forced to download and store it on your local machine.<br />
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This must be one of the most asinine, arrogant, and customer unfriendly heavy-handed tactics I have come across since getting into gaming. Anyone who faces data caps from their ISP, or suffers from poor internet connectivity will pay a steep price.<br />
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And considering Steam no longer allows a user to ignore an update altogether, you are forced to play the game either offline or not at all if you want to avoid these forced installations.<br />
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This stupid move is a major fail on the part of Bethesda, and it is ripping the community apart.RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-47815053505141335682017-08-13T11:08:00.000-04:002017-08-13T11:08:01.511-04:00Real LifeLater this evening my 26-year-old niece will be taken off life support and her organs will be harvested according to her wishes so that others may benefit. She leaves behind two small children (6 and 3), and is passing while being 4 weeks pregnant.<br />
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Life is short (sometimes brutally so) and in many instances, is just not fucking fair at all. If you have someone that you love and care about, let them know. If you have unresolved grudges, set them aside for the greater good and reconnect with those who may have grown distant.<br />
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Because you never, ever know when something is going to come at you and turn your life upside down.RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-62077731309462003352017-06-28T09:23:00.001-04:002018-02-12T07:09:59.304-05:00Fallout 4 ReviewA couple of months ago I declared Skyrim as the greatest video game that I have ever played. That statement is now under serious assault from a title that I largely ignored for over a year. The fact that they are both from the same developer is quite astounding in my opinion. The only other Fallout game I played was New Vegas, and it is the only title in the first-person series to be done by a different developer. I didn’t much care for it and basically dismissed the series as cartoonish.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Around a month ago I cobbled together some gift cards and discounts and I bought a digital download for Fallout 4 on Newegg for $9.99. That provided me with a legitimate Steam key where I could download the game from my favorite online retailer (they were selling the base game at $29.99). Later, I picked up the Season Pass and have since been lost in this game.<br />
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Much of what drove the negative reviews on Steam (another reason I shied away from this title) are the very things that I find amazing: A fully voiced protagonist (Courtenay Taylor does an outstanding job as Nora, the Sole Survivor), a settlement building mode that you literally can be consumed by, and simply one of the best gunplay/first-person shooter packages I have ever experienced.<br />
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I have over 300 hours in and have reached level 71, but have yet to finish the main quest (or most of the DLC content for that matter). One of the things that I love to do in Skyrim is to go on raiding parties, hitting known bandit locations and wiping them out to rid Tamriel of their vile scourge. In Fallout 4 I have spent a great number of hours doing the same thing, ridding the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the vagrants that pose a threat to the settlers.<br />
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Fallout 4 is an amazing game that has completely taken me by surprise, and is simply one of the best (if not the best) video games I have played yet.<br />
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There are many historical locations in Massachusetts
represented in the game that add to the immersion.<br />
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Not all quests relate to killing things or finding lost artifacts. Here I must rescue a runway cat from another vault.</div>
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There is so much Power Armor in this game it is quite easy to assemble a junk yard of unused sets. I typically play without this armor as it is resource intensive to maintain (it is the only armor in the game that must be repaired when damaged). Mostly I use it to go back to a location to scavenge for materials as it significantly boosts your carrying weight capacity.</div>
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While Raiders and Gunners are the most prevalent enemy, there are situations in the base game where they will talk to you (and not immediately try to kill you). While there is no overarching karma system here, your actions can directly impact the affinity system of a specific companion (if you are traveling with one). Dogmeat has no cares about such interactions and doesn’t judge you if you kill them, pay the toll, or pay the toll and then kill them.</div>
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There are quite a few specialty items littering the Wasteland that can do everything from boosting a critical stat to allowing you more decorative choices in designing settlements. Finding these things (magazines, bobbleheads, etc.) has become somewhat of a minigame within the main game.</div>
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Companions in the game also typically have a perk that can be obtained when you maximize affinity with them. There is in addition to this a romance system that does not have to be engaged in if not desired, and does not affect the ability to gain the companions perk (which is permanent and cannot be taken back). Also, the game is not judgmental as to whom you choose to romance.</div>
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The bobblehead perks may seem inconsequential but do add up overtime to make the player character more robust across several of the games mechanics.</div>
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Settlement building can either be embraced or ignored, but is
a quite satisfying aspect of the game. If you like designing things and not
using cookie-cutter solutions to solve every problem, the game has many locations
that should be addressed at a custom solution level to solve their issues
effectively. In the end, I find this to be one of the bestselling points of the
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While some people complain about companions, I find their combat AI to be exceptional. Yes, there is the occasional interference of them walking in front of you when you are aiming, but this is quite minimal in my opinion and is vastly outweighed by their superior use of cover and concealment. This is better implemented at the AI level than in any game I have played before.</div>
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There are many “Holy Shit” moments of the game where it pivots and becomes something entirely unexpected.</div>
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The landscape is littered with developer wisecracks.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Curie is exceptional in combat, and her dialogue lines are
some of the most situationally hilarious available in the game.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I encounter difficult situation such as this, I let the
combatants weaken each other and then move in to mop up the surviving threats.
This is an especially useful tactic when not in Power Armor and facing an enemy
several levels higher than your player character.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Silver Shroud questline is one of the most enjoyable in
the game. The over the top voice acting of the character Nora (as voiced by Courtenay
Taylor) is one of the most hilarious things you will hear in a video game.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Managing settlers can be a bit finicky, but the game provides some assistance with management software. There are mods available that do even more, but sadly they seem to have been broken by game updates and abandoned by the mod author, so I tend to shy away from those as it can have a detrimental impact to your save game file.</div>
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The kill cam in the game can be quite amazing at times, producing incredible images.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UP50i9Xj5pA/WoGEEUgx04I/AAAAAAAAdHc/cHaNlZvhBtYmI-I6mZFXcj4u6hYpIBUGACKgBGAs/s1600/20170627231248_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UP50i9Xj5pA/WoGEEUgx04I/AAAAAAAAdHc/cHaNlZvhBtYmI-I6mZFXcj4u6hYpIBUGACKgBGAs/s640/20170627231248_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This a nightclub in Sanctuary for the benefit of my sym population.</div>
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<a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/377160/Fallout_4/" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/377160/Fallout_4/" target="_blank">Fallout 4</a> is an amazing game that I am not even close to finishing yet. If this game even remotely interests you, I would recommend picking it up on a Steam sale.</div>
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It is amazing.</div>
RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-77350438288523513002017-05-18T19:08:00.002-04:002017-05-18T19:08:55.400-04:00SITREPThis is just a quick post to let everyone who visits this blog know that I am alive and well. I have been playing a lot of Skyrim SE and have 74 out of the 75 achievements on Steam. The last one will take quite a bit of grinding since on this build I am not making any of the skills legendary, so I sit at level 71 with 7 levels to go to spawn the necessary dragon to kill for the final achievement at level 78. Once all that is said and done with I plan on setting Skyrim aside and focusing on other games.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Recently I made my first ever pre-purchase of a game, that being <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/418460/Rising_Storm_2_Vietnam/" target="_blank">Rising Storm 2: Vietnam</a> by Antimatter Games. I really like the Vietnam era of video gaming, although sadly there are not very many titles that take advantage of this transitional phase of combat operations. I was a huge fan of Battlefield Vietnam and was somewhat disappointed to see that game fade over time. There was an adequate adaptation for Battlefield Bad Company 2 which scratched the itch, but somehow fell flat as a true replacement.<br />
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The closed beta 7 wave for RS2V just wrapped up and I would have to say that I am quite impressed with the MP only game. It is highly playable but only features infantry and helicopters (attack and transport). There are no drivable vehicles in the game or jets that can be used by players. I like how the developer seems to be going for a more serious game in that there are limitations on who can fly choppers and the available slots are quite limited.<br />
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While I grind away at Skyrim SE, I also plan on filling out my gaming time with some wargames as well as other titles that have taken a backburner as of late.RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-47579059449667423502017-04-17T06:00:00.000-04:002017-04-17T06:00:04.091-04:00Highway to the Reich Eindhoven Historical Campaign Day Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The following post is Day Two of the Historical Campaign for Eindhoven, a nine day nine hour scenario in Highway to the Reich by Panther Games. Breaking the blog post up into structured segments for each day should allow for better tactical analysis and reassessment of the battle plan based on the situation on the ground (as well as a more organized approach to writing an after-action report for a scenario as long as this).<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The Eindhoven scenario is one of three historical campaigns (Arnhem, Eindhoven, and Nijmegen) that form the backbone of the Operation Market Garden representation in the Airborne Assault engine at that time (preceded by Red Devils Over Arnhem and succeeded by the HTTR expansion pack for Command Operations). The missions feature various elements of the Allies 30 Corps fighting against the Axis 1st Fallschirmjäger Army and 2nd SS Panzer Corps.<br />
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Note: This is a repost that was originally featured in <a href="https://rangerx3x.blogspot.com/2014/10/highway-to-reich-eindhoven-historical_24.html" target="_blank">October 2014</a>.<br />
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Please refer to the previous entry covering <a href="http://rangerx3x.blogspot.com/2014/10/highway-to-reich-eindhoven-historical_22.html" target="_blank">Day One</a> action for detailed information about how the battle progressed to this point. Note: <i>all</i> links used in this post are to actual articles containing additional information about the subject matter and are not any form of automated link advertising.<br />
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<u>Day One Analysis</u></div>
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I am currently in control of nine out of the 16 total location objectives. Significant exceptions are Eindhoven (17 VP) and Hulstheuvel Highway Bridge (10 VP), not because they are being contested but rather I have not yet dispatched any forces there. The total force strength is 7,484 personnel, 64 guns, a 1,698 anti-personnel firepower rating, a 3,568 anti-armor firepower rating, and a 273 bombardment rating.<br />
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From this point forward combat power values will be abbreviated (armored fighting vehicles=AFV, etc.)<br />
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If the scenario were to end right now, I would have killed 526 Axis personnel and 61 gun units (five destroyed by fire and two by surrender). Allied losses would be 150 personnel and two gun units. The kill to death disparity is promising so far.<br />
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<u>Combat Action</u></div>
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During the night I used A Company 326th Airborne Engineering Battalion to unprimed the Veghel Canal Rail Bridge and Leest Minor Road Bridge crossing points before sending them to secure the Veghel River Rail Bridge Objective (7 VP). The Veghel Canal Highway Bridge Objective (14 VP) and the Veghel Canal Rail Bridge Objective (7 VP) have been lost during this timeframe.</div>
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1<sup>st</sup> Battalion 506<sup>th</sup> Parachute Infantry
Regiment have achieved the Woensel Junction Objective (7 VP) and 2/506<sup>th</sup>
Bn have achieved the Phillips Factory Objective (7 VP).<o:p></o:p></div>
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A/326th fails to take the Veghel River Rail Bridge as they are interfered with and the Germans detonate the charges, taking the 7 VP for that objective out of the mix (for now). They are left in place without orders pending the arrival of British units with bridging capacity to assist in rebuilding the crossing point.</div>
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1st Battalion 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment has retaken the Veghel Canal Rail Bridge Objective (7 VP) and will continue to be deployed there to protect the left flank of the main Veghel crossing point to the east.</div>
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At 08:23 the 6th Durham Light Infantry Battalion (688P/24AFV/24G/134AP/216AA/32A/38B) arrives and is ordered to attack into the eastern side of Eindhoven.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 1,000m</li>
<li>Depth – 600m</li>
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Once they have completed the assault, they will be redeployed into a defensive blocking position which will help protect the eastern flank of the objective by covering the multiple roads running into Eindhoven from Tongelre.</div>
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The 1st Bridge Platoon 30th Corps (70P/8AP/4AA) arrives and is ordered to move to the Veghel River Rail Bridge Objective (7 VP) that was blown earlier in the scenario.</div>
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<li>Formation – Road Column</li>
<li>Route – Avoidance</li>
<li>Aggro – Min</li>
<li>Losses – Min</li>
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The only part of the route that I micro manage is towards the very end where I place waypoints at the beginning and end of the highway bridge. Once they are in position, I intended to use their Bridge Building Capacity (3) to reconstruct the crossing point at the rail bridge to reactive the currently dormant objective and its 7 VP.</div>
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This apparently was too much latitude to leave to a single
unit AI commander as they go west and immediately encounter German units along
their displayed route. Had they instead gone right through the attack of the 6<sup>th</sup> DLI Bn they would avoided having been immediately
engaged.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At 09:17 the 11th Field Engineer Company 30th Corps (321P/9AFV/1G/47AP/48AA/13A) arrives and is ordered to the same destination as the 1st Bridge Platoon (which is trapped to the west), however the 11th Coy is given a different route specification.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Formation – Road Column</li>
<li>Route – Avoidance</li>
<li>Aggro – Min</li>
<li>Losses – Min</li>
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This should allow them to clear the Eindhoven sector with little enemy engagement.</div>
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D Battery 73rd SP Anti-tank Regiment (60P/12AFV/80AP/111AA/55A) arrives and is ordered to take up a defensive observation position in Line formation north of Eindhoven with direct line of sight to the road network coming from the east.</div>
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C Battery 27th Light Anti-aircraft Regiment (162P/18G/90P/393AA) is likewise ordered to a defensive observation position directly in front of some woods to the west of Tongelre. Their 18 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bofors_40_mm_gun" target="_blank">Bofors 40mm AA</a> weapons and six <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIAT" target="_blank">PIAT</a> should cause some disruption to any Axis forces attempting to approach Eindhoven from the southwest.</div>
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Note how the 11th Coy has already cleared the city and is all the way over by Tongelre due to their specific routing. At this point I give up waiting for the 1st Bridge Platoon to change their path (they were given Avoidance instructions) and issue new movement orders to take them to the east along the same roads that the engineers have taken successfully.</div>
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The 15/19 Hussars (535P/71AFV/9G/419AP/578AA/592A/56B) arrive and is ordered to attack into the western side of Eindhoven.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 600m</li>
<li>Depth – 300m</li>
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Once they have completed the assault, they will be redeployed into a defensive blocking position which will help protect the western flank of the objective by covering the multiple roads running into Eindhoven from Welshap and Best.</div>
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6th DLI Bn have completed their assault into the eastern part of Eindhoven and are repositioned.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 1,000m</li>
<li>Depth – 300m</li>
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These two groups (the Durham’s and the Hussars) will form the backbone of the defense of Eindhoven.</div>
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The 15/19 Hussars are realigned into a defensive blocking
position just ahead of their present location. This should help knock the two
identified German units out of the objective perimeter and achieve the
Eindhoven Objective (17 VP) again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The 1<sup>st</sup> Bridge Platoon arrives at the blown
crossing point that used to be the Veghel River Rail Bridge Objective (7 VP)
which the Germans destroyed back around 7 AM when the A/326<sup>th</sup> Coy
failed to unprimed it. 1<sup>st</sup> Platoon is grouped with A/326<sup>th</sup>
Coy and the 11<sup>th</sup> Coy that arrived earlier and ordered to begin
constructing the light rail bridge which will reactivate the dormant objective.<o:p></o:p></div>
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B Battery 81st Airborne AA Battalion (120P/23AP/42AA) arrives and is ordered to move northwest. Their 12 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M2_Browning" target="_blank">M2 50cal HMG</a> and six <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazooka" target="_blank">bazookas</a> are positioned in a clearing off of the main road leading from Boxtel to Best, allowing them a clear line of sight to the corridor with which to provide early warning as well as spotting for artillery employment.</div>
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3rd Battalion 327th Glider Infantry Regiment (465P/152AP/249AA/25B) arrives in the landing zone above Son and is ordered to attack the Veghel Canal Rail Bridge Objective (7 VP) currently being contested by the 1/501st Bn.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 600m</li>
<li>Depth – 300m</li>
</ul>
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Their bounding box is slanted to the right in an attempt to marginalize the possibility of friendly fire (which I am not sure is modeled in the engine or not).</div>
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The 327th Glider Infantry Regiment HQ (310P/35AP/18AA) has also arrived and is ordered to defend in-situ at the landing zone (this is not captured in the image above). Normally I prefer to work back to the higher ranked unit; however they landed before 1st and 2nd Bn.</div>
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A Battery 81<sup>st</sup> Airborne AA Battalion
(160P/29AP/67AA) arrives and is ordered to move to a clearing to the north of
the road running through Liemde. Much like B Battery earlier, this should allow
for early warning, artillery spotting and harassing fire with the HMG. The
light blue line is the line-of-sight tool indicating that there is clear visibility
to the road and beyond (with no dead zones).<o:p></o:p></div>
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F Battery 81st Airborne AT Battalion (40P/4G/7AP/65AA) arrives and is ordered to move to a clearing to the northeast of Son facing a track running from the east that could be a possible avenue of approach by the Germans, given that there is an intelligence sighting of a unit near the woods there. The light blue LOS line indicates great observation of the track which will be afforded to the four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_QF_6-pounder" target="_blank">6pdr AT</a> guns once they are in position.</div>
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The 907th Glider Field Artillery Battalion (371P/12G/110AP/175AA/112B) arrives and is ordered to Defend at a clearing near Goosen Bunder to advance the blue range ring 5km northwest which should bring the Boxtel area into the fire zone of the 12 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M3_howitzer" target="_blank">M3 105mm Howitzers</a>.</div>
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2nd Battalion 327th Glider Infantry Regiment (465P/152AP/249AA/25B) arrives and is ordered to move to a staging area at the village of Mariaheide just north of Veghel.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Formation – Road Column</li>
<li>Route – Quickest</li>
<li>Aggro – Min</li>
<li>Losses – Min</li>
</ul>
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Once they arrive they will be issued an attack order to take the Hulstheuvel Highway Bridge Objective (10 VP).</div>
</div>
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E Battery 81<sup>st</sup> Airborne AT Battalion
(40P/4G/7AP/65AA) arrives and is ordered to move to a clearing to the east of
Son facing the road running from that direction which will probably be the
primary approach of German reinforcements coming from the east. The light blue
LOS line indicates great observation of the road which will be afforded to the
four 6pdr AT guns once they are in position.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1st Battalion 327th Glider Infantry Regiment (465P/152AP/249AA/25B) arrives and is ordered to move to a staging area at the village of Mariaheide just north of Veghel.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Formation – Road Column</li>
<li>Route – Quickest</li>
<li>Aggro – Min</li>
<li>Losses – Min</li>
</ul>
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Once they arrive they will be issued an attack order to take the Uden Objective (7 VP).</div>
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The 321st Parachute Light Artillery Battalion (371P/95AP/175AA/60B) arrives and is ordered to setup up a firebase for their 12 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M116_howitzer" target="_blank">M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzers</a> just off of the main highway running north to south. This should move the outer blue range ring just enough to provide coverage for the units defending Eindhoven.</div>
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D Battery 81st Airborne AT Battalion (40P/4G/7AP/65AA) and B Battery 81st Airborne AA Battalion (120P/23AP/42AA) arrives and are ordered to move to a defensive observation position in Line formation in a clearing just above a road leading to St. Oedenrode from the east. This position will give them excellent line of sight to the road and the orchard in front of them will help shield them from view for a short time.</div>
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<div>
This completes the Day Two reinforcement schedule for the Allies.</div>
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At 18:00 a number of adjustments are made to better position my troops for the long haul as the reinforcements over the next couple of days will be sparse at best.</div>
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C Company 326th Airborne Engineering Battalion (142P/56AP/102AA) is detached from the 502nd and 3/502nd Bn defending at Son and is ordered to the west to take up a defensive observation post observing a track running from the Best area. The line of sight tool indicates they should have sufficient visibility to provide early warning of any significant enemy activity in that area.</div>
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3rd Battalion 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (585P/143AP/138AA/25B) is also detached from their organic superior and is ordered to assume a defensive blocking position just slightly to the east to guard against any attack on Son.</div>
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The 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment HQ and remaining base unit (310P/36AP/18AA) are ordered to defend in-situ at their present location.</div>
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<div>
After all of the artillery batteries have arrived at their destinations I finally uncheck the “Rest After Bombard” setting that has been active all game (to conserve ammunition) which places the units into an “On Call” status to be used automatically by the various AI commanders on the battlefield. As all three artillery units are still under my direct Fire Control, I can still issue my own orders when opportunities present themselves as reported by the various observation positions setup earlier in the day.</div>
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As the lead elements of the 327th Glider Infantry Battalions make their way into Veghel the status of the construction at the dormant river rail bridge objective is checked. The 1st Bridge Platoon and the two attached engineer units are doing a great job rebuilding a light bridge that once complete will reactivate the Veghel River Rail Bridge Objective and its 7 VP.</div>
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"We shall seize the victory points - it's all a question of victory points - with thunderclap surprise, and hold them until they can be counted at the end of the scenario".</div>
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At 22:53 3/327th Bn has successfully assaulted the Veghel Canal Rail Bridge Objective (7 VP) and along with the 1/501st Bn already defending there amass enough Combat Power within the objective perimeter to once again achieve the objective.</div>
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To be continued…</div>
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RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-54268030547502927622017-04-10T09:39:00.001-04:002017-04-10T09:39:54.007-04:00Highway to the Reich Eindhoven Historical Campaign Day One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Eindhoven campaign is one of three historical campaigns (Arnhem, Eindhoven, and Nijmegen) that are part of the scenario list for the original Highway to the Reich by Panther Games. The scenarios also include some coup de main campaigns and a number of smaller and what-if scenarios. Arnhem and Eindhoven clock in at nine days and nine hours where Nijmegen is approximately half that at four days and ten hours of total scenario time.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>These three historical campaigns form the backbone of the Operation Market Garden representation in the Airborne Assault engine at that time (preceded by Red Devils Over Arnhem and succeeded by the HTTR expansion pack for Command Operations, as Conquest of the Aegean focused on a different theater altogether). The missions feature various elements of the Allies 30 Corps fighting against the Axis 1st Fallschirmjäger Army and 2nd SS Panzer Corps.<br />
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Note: This is a repost that was originally featured in <a href="https://rangerx3x.blogspot.com/2014/10/highway-to-reich-eindhoven-historical_22.html" target="_blank">October 2014</a>.<br />
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The following after-action report is one of three that I hope to complete while playing out the original historical campaigns from Highway to the Reich: Arnhem, Eindhoven, and <a href="http://rangerx3x.blogspot.com/2014/10/highway-to-reich-nijmegen-historical_6.html" target="_blank">Nijmegen</a>. For this particular effort, I will break the AAR up into a single post for each day of action, and then make a consolidation post at after the completion of the scenario.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>New Scenario Options</u></div>
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Realistic Orders Delay, Historical Weather and Reinforcement Schedules, and Normal Supply.<br />
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<u>Battle Map and Terrain Considerations</u></div>
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The starting forces are various elements of the 501st, 502nd, and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments totaling approximately 2,000 personnel. Additional units will drop within the first hour of the scenario bringing the force closer to parachute division strength.</div>
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There are several potential crossing points for the follow-on armor units to traverse, however the optimal route is along Hell’s Highway which puts the Son Highway Bridge (17 Victory Points) on the Wilhelmina Canal, the St. Oedenrode Highway Bridge (17 VP) on the Dommel, and the Veghel River Highway Bridge (14 VP) and Veghel Canal Highway Bridge (14 VP) at the top of the priority list. </div>
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<u>Objectives</u></div>
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There are a total of 16 objectives plus the obligatory Destroy the Enemy (5 VP). All objectives are active from the start to the completion of the scenario, and all of them calculate the Victory Points based on 100% of Occupation which will make this scenario difficult if not technically impossible to achieve a Decisive Victory outcome (please see my commentary on this in the Post Mortem section of the consolidation post once the scenario has been completed).</div>
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<u>Initial Orders</u></div>
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With no orders delay for the first 60 minutes (and the benefit of a ten day scenario) I run the game until all of the airborne forces arrive (leaving just the 377th Field Artillery Battalion which I will take under my direct Fire Control). This gives me a starting force of 7,224 personnel, a 1,641 anti-personnel firepower rating, a 3,462 anti-armor firepower rating, and a 217 bombardment rating.</div>
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From this point forward combat power values will be abbreviated (armored fighting vehicles=AFV, etc.)</div>
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1st Battalion 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (564P/137AP/131AA/25B) which has landed some 5 miles (8.0 km) east of its planned drop zone is ordered to take up a defensive blocking position along the canal road leading to Veghel Canal Rail Bridge Objective (7 VP) facing northwest. The Secure Crossing order is given so that the charges placed on the bridge can be unprimed while the force is digging in.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 1,000m</li>
<li>Depth – 600m</li>
</ul>
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Although the line formation is selected, the force will advance to a forming-up point determined by the AI commander in road column formation (by default), then shake out at the FUP into line formation while digging in. The Rate of Fire is left at Normal because I do not want this blocking force running out of ammunition.</div>
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2nd Battalion 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (574P/139AP/132AA/25B) are augmented with A Company 326th Airborne Engineering Battalion and ordered to attack the Veghel River Highway Bridge Objective (14 VP) with a forming up point at the Veghel Canal Highway Bridge Objective (14 VP).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 1,000m</li>
<li>Depth – 600m</li>
<li>Secure Crossing</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While the two objectives overlap and I could place the force in between to cover both, I find that somewhat gamey and decide to move them on the opposite side of the second waterway to take up a more logical blocking position facing northeast.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
3rd Battalion 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (427P/102AP/98AA/25B) is ordered to attack the Veghel Canal Highway Bridge Objective (which 2nd Bn will be passing through almost simultaneously) with a FUP 1km to the south.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 600m</li>
<li>Depth – 300m</li>
<li>Secure Crossing</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once they have unprimed the crossing point, I intend to move them to the east to also secure the Leest Minor Road Bridge Objective (3 VP) and take up a defensive blocking posture facing southeast.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A Battery 81st Airborne AT Battalion (40P/7AP/65) is ordered to take up a defensive blocking position off of the canal road running through Leest with a southeast facing. Their four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_QF_6-pounder" target="_blank">6pdr AT guns</a> will play a significant role in delaying any German advance through this corridor (and they may be able to achieve the Leest objective at the same time).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment HQ (308P/34AP/16AA) having been reduced due to the detachments outlined above is ordered to defend in-situ at their present location. The intent is to move them forward towards Veghel once the bulk of any German resistance there is quelled.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pYkGlJKgAyM/VEV4fGJ1JMI/AAAAAAAAXeY/WlWDC78b-Mo/s1600/D011335I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pYkGlJKgAyM/VEV4fGJ1JMI/AAAAAAAAXeY/WlWDC78b-Mo/s1600/D011335I.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
1st Battalion 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (585P/143AP/138AA/25B) is ordered to attack the Best Highway Bridge Objective (3 VP) with a forming-up point in the woods to the northeast of the bridge, which should aid in concealing their approach.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 1,000m</li>
<li>Depth – 600m</li>
<li>Secure Crossing</li>
</ul>
<br />
Depending on the success of this effort, they may be left there to defend the extreme left flank of the Son objective, or moved to the Best Rail Bridge to secure it as well.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The St. Oedenrode Highway Bridge Objective (17 VP) has an
orchard approximately 1km south that is concealed by some woods. This area
between Vernhout and Neinsel will provide an excellent forming-up point for the
attack to secure the vital crossing point.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1e5L-Dhiriw/VEV5FKy5G5I/AAAAAAAAXeo/decfP8rVT5k/s1600/D011335H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1e5L-Dhiriw/VEV5FKy5G5I/AAAAAAAAXeo/decfP8rVT5k/s1600/D011335H.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2nd Battalion 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (585P/143AP/138AA/25B) are augmented with B Company 326th Airborne Engineering Battalion and ordered to attack St. Oedenrode with a forming up point in the orchards directly south of the objective.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 1,000m</li>
<li>Depth – 600m</li>
<li>Secure Crossing</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once the crossing point is secured the force will be left there to hold it throughout the remainder of the scenario.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2WpUiRHH21g/VEV5Ts80vpI/AAAAAAAAXew/zG5sC6l8GFk/s1600/D011335F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2WpUiRHH21g/VEV5Ts80vpI/AAAAAAAAXew/zG5sC6l8GFk/s1600/D011335F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
3rd Battalion 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (427P/143AP/138AA/25B) is ordered to move to the Koevering Objective (7 VP).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Formation – Road Column</li>
<li>Route – Quickest</li>
<li>Aggro – Min</li>
<li>Losses – Min</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once they have arrived at the objective they will be spread out in a defensive posture to cover multiple approaches and be kept out of direct action so as to save them as a reserve component if needed later in the scenario.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
B Battery 81<sup>st</sup> Airborne AT Battalion (40P/7AP/65)
is ordered to take up a defensive blocking position at the Neinsel Objective (7
VP). This is a simple Defend order with a single click placed on top of the
objective which will allow the unit to determine how best to get there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWts9KuN5WkKKi3j2KyLjGN1vQPrWDgBHXkaVXod2GngZEdIYm4hJIB-xS3FV0HO9uAynt-yToYBGud6eGlrJdRLhsa5FZDPYspqGcMoeTsodlWckYo47RRdaAWgXf6YZVRnwP9wBcqY/s1600/D011335K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWts9KuN5WkKKi3j2KyLjGN1vQPrWDgBHXkaVXod2GngZEdIYm4hJIB-xS3FV0HO9uAynt-yToYBGud6eGlrJdRLhsa5FZDPYspqGcMoeTsodlWckYo47RRdaAWgXf6YZVRnwP9wBcqY/s1600/D011335K.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The 502<sup>nd</sup> Parachute Infantry Regiment HQ (309P/35AP/17AA)
having been reduced due to the detachments outlined above is ordered to defend
in-situ at their present location and the drop zone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The 506<sup>th</sup> Parachute Infantry Regiment HQ (2,247P/501AP/536AA/75B)
has landed approximately 2.5km to the northwest of the Son Highway Bridge
Objective (17 VP) which is perhaps the single most important bridge in the
scenario (if this crossing point over the Wilhelmina Canal is blown by the
Germans, the closest heavy bridge is 5km to the west at Best).<br />
<br />
The regiment is
concealed by the multitude of woods directly in front of it between them and
the objective.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLe0DT7sh3U/VEYYyZpAPiI/AAAAAAAAXfc/tnfJGoeJ6b0/s1600/D011335M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLe0DT7sh3U/VEYYyZpAPiI/AAAAAAAAXfc/tnfJGoeJ6b0/s1600/D011335M.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The entire force of 2,000 + personnel is ordered to perform a complex attack (any attack that has two or more headquarter units) past the Son objective with a forming-up point directly in front of their present location but concealed by the woods.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 1,500m</li>
<li>Depth – 1,000m</li>
<li>Secure Crossing</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once the crossing point is secured I intend to keep the HQ element and one battalion at the objective and then send two battalions further south along the main highway to secure additional objectives.<br />
<br />
When the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment lands on day two, I intend to use them to further secure the approach from the east.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIP05OYmaLsw28TcWYsKT683jauoJhUE5LmNq0fvTx7h7l0exvihBoFPT9BChiHlq7fdcPCEblRZm_oVIkUTbH4emRnV2U1UrFaYGHBKulzC90Y-mvxlOPcKJdUbbO3_OZMurT1emvYFc/s1600/D011335N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIP05OYmaLsw28TcWYsKT683jauoJhUE5LmNq0fvTx7h7l0exvihBoFPT9BChiHlq7fdcPCEblRZm_oVIkUTbH4emRnV2U1UrFaYGHBKulzC90Y-mvxlOPcKJdUbbO3_OZMurT1emvYFc/s1600/D011335N.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The remaining two units on the map, the 101<sup>st</sup>
Airborne Division HQ and base (678P/67AP/23AA) are ordered to defend in-situ at
their present location.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BnoXZRBtj0o/VEYcA1mhxZI/AAAAAAAAXfw/71MVcCZQ6Dc/s1600/D011354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BnoXZRBtj0o/VEYcA1mhxZI/AAAAAAAAXfw/71MVcCZQ6Dc/s1600/D011354.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The 377th Parachute Light Artillery Battalion (372P/96AP/176AA/61B) arrives and are ordered to setup up a firebase for their 12 M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzers along a track approximately 2km directly north of their present location which should move the outer blue range ring just enough to provide coverage for the paratroopers assaulting the Veghel bridges.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Combat Action</u></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once the 377<sup>th</sup> is in place I immediately issue a
bombardment order against identified enemy contacts in Veghel to assist the 2/501<sup>st</sup>
assault on the Veghel River Highway Bridge (14 VP) Objective. Hopefully by the
time they are setup and ready to fire 2nd Bn has not already overrun the friendly
fire zone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BHsz5CGqyvw/VEYfyIexYLI/AAAAAAAAXgI/pRM4AFZY6S4/s1600/D011652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BHsz5CGqyvw/VEYfyIexYLI/AAAAAAAAXgI/pRM4AFZY6S4/s1600/D011652.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Likewise at the Son objective, the 377<sup>th</sup> is
ordered to bombard just ahead of the assaulting forces to assist in suppressing
the enemy defenders and preventing them from detonating the charges. In this
instance the bombardment duration is increased to 25 in order to provide
sufficient duration to support the securing of this vital crossing point.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By 18:00 a number of the early objectives have been
achieved, and although the St. Oedenrode Highway Bridge Objective (17 VP) is
still in play, the crossing point was successfully unprimed during the on-going
assault by the 2/502<sup>nd</sup>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
By 21:00 enough progress has been made to begin evaluating some changes to further strengthen my positions. In the Veghel sector the battalions of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment have achieved their objectives; however there are a number of crossing points that are still primed.<br />
<br />
1/501st Bn which is presently executing a Secure Crossing order while maintaining a northwest deployment facing is struggling with the charges placed on the Veghel Canal Rail Bridge Objective (7 VP) with the meter showing they have completed approximately 20% of the task. To resolve this I detach A Company 326th Airborne Engineering Battalion from 2/501st Bn (who have already unprimed their crossing point) and order them to the objective with a Secure Crossing order.<br />
<br />
This frees 1/501st Bn up to be placed with a true Defend order which I will issue as in-situ so the dug-in force does not have to redeploy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Y5moLnZt5w/VEdN8zgx2RI/AAAAAAAAXgw/ZBWqEwyw0Ts/s1600/D012100B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Y5moLnZt5w/VEdN8zgx2RI/AAAAAAAAXgw/ZBWqEwyw0Ts/s1600/D012100B.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<div>
The situation with 2/501st Bn is different in that their original orders were to attack the Veghel River Highway Bridge Objective (14 VP) with a Secure Crossing order (which they have accomplished). After the objective was achieved the force dug-in on the opposite side of the waterway (having exploited past the objective) however they are not in an optimal facing for the duration of the scenario.<br />
<br />
A new Defend order is issued so they can redeploy to better defend the approach into Veghel.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 1,000m</li>
<li>Depth – 600m</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With the detachment of the engineer company they will need to dig-in again with the new order and should have this accomplished by daybreak (having been relatively rested and suffering no adverse fatigue).</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
3/501st Bn which has achieved the Veghel Canal Highway Bridge Objective (14 VP) has not yet unprimed the charges on the bridge. Although they have progressed to approximately 50%, I reallocate the force with a Defend order to face southeast.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 600m</li>
<li>Depth – 300m</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I intend to utilize the engineer company to complete the removal of the charges (once they are freed up from their current assignment) or use some of the British engineering units that will be arriving in the next couple of days.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With 3<sup>rd</sup> Bn clearing out from the objective, I
move the 501<sup>st</sup> HQ and base units forward with a simple Defend order.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U8x2HzO0Uq4/VEdTJOb0J8I/AAAAAAAAXhQ/vylfcwEImEc/s1600/D012100E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U8x2HzO0Uq4/VEdTJOb0J8I/AAAAAAAAXhQ/vylfcwEImEc/s1600/D012100E.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3/502<sup>nd</sup> Bn is redeployed at the Koevering
Objective (7 VP) by detaching all three parachute companies and issuing Defend
orders with specific facings to best
cover the approaches to the highway that leads from St. Oedenrode to Veghel.
The HQ unit is also issued a separate Defend order on top of its current
location without using in-situ, which will allow the AI to reposition the mortar
platoon as it sees fit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The 2/502<sup>nd</sup> Bn is struggling somewhat with the St.
Oedenrode Highway Bridge Objective (17 VP), however the crossing point was
successfully unprimed earlier during the assault. I decide to let this play out
and make no changes to their current orders.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The complex attack by the entire 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment on the Son Highway Bridge Objective (17 VP) has been a total success which allows me to reallocate the forces to secure additional objectives further to the south leading towards Eindhoven.<br />
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1/506th Bn is ordered to race forward to the Woensel Junction Objective (7 VP) and 2/506th Bn is ordered to move to the Phillips Factory Objective (7 VP).</div>
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<ul>
<li>Formation – Road Column</li>
<li>Route – Quickest</li>
<li>Aggro – Min</li>
<li>Losses – Min</li>
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With the Victory Points in the scenario counted as Occupation in full, it is important that I capture these objectives as quickly as possible (now that the Son crossing point has been unprimed).</div>
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A Battery 81<sup>st</sup> Airborne AT Battalion is detached
from the 506<sup>th</sup> and ordered to take a defensive position facing south
just below Breugel which should allow for an gun attack against the axis of any
German advance along the canal road west to east. The 502<sup>nd</sup> HQ with
3/506<sup>th</sup> Bn still attached is given a simple Defend order at Son.<br />
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1/502nd Bn which has already unprimed the crossing point at the Best Highway Bridge Objective (3 VP) is ordered to Defend with a northwest facing.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Formation – Line</li>
<li>Aggro – Max</li>
<li>Losses – Max</li>
<li>Frontage – 1,000m</li>
<li>Depth – 600m</li>
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With elements of the 506th racing forward to secure additional objectives closer towards Eindhoven, their back should be relatively protected to allow for such a facing away from the canal.<br />
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To be continued...</div>
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RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-7397615913922756282017-04-10T00:50:00.005-04:002017-04-10T00:50:55.764-04:00Skyrim SE ThoughtsRecently I have been playing a lot of the <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/489830/" target="_blank">Skyrim Special Edition</a> that was released last October. While I am grateful to the developer for providing this full game free of charge to owners of the original game and all DLC, I must wonder why they didn’t take some development opportunity to fix some major bugs in the game which were successfully addressed over the years by the <a href="http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/266/?" target="_blank">Unofficial Skyrim Patch</a> (USSEP). Seriously, what were they thinking?<br />
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<a name='more'></a>This evening I was working on completing the <a href="http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Companions" target="_blank">Companions</a> quest line, one of the most popular quest lines in the game. I had already achieved the Werewolf Mastered Steam achievement, and had already been named Harbinger of the Companions by finishing the last primary quest “<a href="http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Glory_of_the_Dead" target="_blank">Glory of the Dead</a>”. This led me to working on some of the radiant quests, which brings you to cleansing both Vilkas and Farkas of their lycanthropy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/87100177920207911/6337B6834DD57E132718A6AC155C87DA8B2205CE/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/87100177920207911/6337B6834DD57E132718A6AC155C87DA8B2205CE/" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>What the hell??</i></td></tr>
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When getting the option to assist Vilkas, as soon as you leave Jorrvaskr the game seems to forget all about the radiant quest (no map marker), and Vilkas promptly goes about his business since the AI no longer recognizes him as a follower. But you cannot get anyone else to follow you as the game still thinks that you do have a follower. To say it was about two hours’ worth of ALT+TAB troubleshooting hell would be an understatement.<br />
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In the end, I had to complete all the <a href="http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Totems_of_Hircine" target="_blank">Totems of Hircine</a> quests with Aela the Huntress (which meant grinding through the alternating Animal Extinction quests) to somehow allow the game to let me use the “setstage CR13 100” console command as it was locked as completed (but not completed as in the screen capture above). Prior to completing the Totem quests with Aela, the game refused to recognize the console commands (and yes, I was entering them correctly).<br />
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After clearing Vilkas through the console, I could complete Farkas through normal gameplay, at which time I tossed another witch head into the fire to cleanse myself of the lycanthropy scourge. After that I went home and finally could sleep in bed with my avatar wife and gain the Lovers and Mothers comfort buffs for the next day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And I thought getting this achievement was a grind.</i></td></tr>
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I love Skyrim, but damn if these game breaking bugs take it down a notch. They are game breaking in that not all players would grind as much as I (and countless others) did just to clear something that never ever should have passed through quality assurance testing. AAA titles are supposed to have the requisite alpha and beta testing before being released, not substandard effort on quest critical issues years after release.<br />
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Which brings me to the final thought of the maddening decision by the developer to disable achievements for anyone who uses mods in the game, the most popular of which was USSEP which fixed many of the game breaking bugs that the developers couldn’t be bothered with.<br />
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Why allow mods in the game if you turn around and penalize the player (of a single player game) for using them?RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1312673509006611118.post-35287340871111919532017-03-29T21:14:00.002-04:002017-03-29T21:14:59.573-04:00For Honor ReviewAfter much consternation and miscommunication, I finally received my activation code for the game. While I would have preferred this run through Steam, I had to install Uplay to download it and play from that service (so I have no screen shots at the moment). This short review is not a commentary on the Uplay service as it seems to be love or hate in the gaming community, however I will say that I did not encounter a single issue with the service during my hour in that game.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_Honor" target="_blank">For Honor</a> is quite a stunning game on a computer that can handle the graphics (again sorry for no images at this time). There are three general roles to be had, Knight, Viking, or Samurai. The game feels closer to The Elder Scrolls Online then it does to Skyrim in the sense that it is more of a hack and slash fighting game than it is anything else given my short time with it. I played the first scenario as a Knight on easy just to get a feel for the flow of the game, and must say this title looks top notch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/304390/ss_317109f669d0ca77af24abf5d0d29a463c96b4f1.1920x1080.jpg?t=1489070929" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/304390/ss_317109f669d0ca77af24abf5d0d29a463c96b4f1.1920x1080.jpg?t=1489070929" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Credit Steam/Ubisoft Montreal</i></td></tr>
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Ubisoft and Uplay have had a poor reputation in the last decade with repetitive DRM debacles (Silent Hunter 5 anyone?) So, it is nice to see them put together something that (for the moment) works out of the virtual box, looks beautiful and features what I feel to be intuitive sword play incorporating a variety of blocking, dodging, and attack modes.<br />
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I have not ventured into multiplayer yet so I do not know how that will play out, however the single player campaign seems quite polished and this tile just may be worth the full asking price these days.RangerX3Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06935147333140536471noreply@blogger.com0