Saturday 2 September 2023

The Fate of All - Tentative Box Art, v3

The ancient Boeotian Muse Melete finally appeared me in dream, and today I was able to produce a first version of the box for The Fate of All.

I went to the Battle of Issus mosaic, and used a lead white pigment to write the words Melete suggested.
I also had to use some ochre pigment, that I bought from a shady Phoenician merchant and costed me a fortune. Oh, the sacrifices the Gods require from a poor wargame designer!

I would have liked to use the Greek notation for the years, but "111th Olympiad, Year 3" is probably a bit cryptic today.

The box will be 31.5 x 23.5 cm, the same size used for the C3 series. I've made some test and it should be able to accommodate the 5 maps (4 operational and 1 tactical), the 4 - 5 countersheets and everything else without any problem.



Tuesday 23 May 2023

It's Time to Lift the Curtain, and Reveal The Fate of All

For several months now, we've kept Thin Red Line Games next project hidden. The only details shared publicly were the operation codename (HADES EMBRACE) and the secrecy level (NATO COSMIC SECRET, an official NATO term no matter how ridiculous it sounds). 

I must confess this was part of a plan to deliberately mislead and confound enemy spies, apparently with good results. Now, the Auguries have determined that it is time to reveal the Will of the Gods.


Loosely inspired on SPI's "The Conquerors", The Fate of All is an operational / tactical simulation covering the first four years of the campaign led by Alexander the Great against the Achaemenid Empire ruled by Darius III.

Rules are centred on the problems of army organisation, supply and morale. Armies must be organised in a balanced way or they will move slowly, cavalry must be assigned to foraging, raid, or reconnaissance, morale must be kept under control using glory or donations.

Political aspects are also a key element. Both sides will have to use money or threats to gain support and will face treason, revolts and dubious allies.

All the classical sources and several modern military-focused studies are being used during development. In particular, The Anabasis of Alexander by Arrian has been chosen as the main and most reliable classical source for two reasons: Arrian based most of his writing on the now lost Ptolemy's account of the campaign, and he was himself a military commander, thus having a better understanding of the problems and key facts of a military campaign.

The final goal is to give a realistic representation of ancient warfare, without strange salads of godly interventions, auguries and Homeric duels. In the end, players will find that the problems faced were similar to those encountered during the Napoleonic era or the American Civil War.

The four maps will cover Greece, part of the Balkans, Anatolia, Egypt and the Middle East up to Babylon. The scale is 30 km per hex with monthly turns.

Maps Overview (still in development)

The maps are designed using the latest archaeological studies and findings, but despite centuries of research several things are still only vaguely known: Some examples are the extension and path of the Persian Royal Roads, the location of several important cities and the exact route of Alexander's Army. In these cases, the "most accepted theory" rule has been used.

Map detail of Kypros and Syrian coast

Map detail of Lower Macedonia and Thessaly

Counters will be 5/8" (same as in the C3 series). Each counter represents a formation, from a Macedonian Phalanx Taxis (approx. 1500 soldiers) to a Cavalry Ile (200 - 300 mounted soldiers). Commanders and naval forces are also represented and will be key elements for the final victory.

Counters Sample (provisional values & art)

Battles can be fought using Strategic Combat, still realistic but quicker, or to their full extent using the Tactical Rules and Map - probably the best choice for a decisive battle.

Tactical Map with part of the Macedonian army deployed (still in development)

Last but not least, rules for solo playing of the full campaign as Macedonian player will be included!

Cost? No idea yet. When? Somewhere in 2023 hopefully. More details to come, but as usual you may reserve a copy immediately by writing a Votive Tablet to info@TRLGames.com !





Wednesday 28 September 2022

Die Festung Hamburg - Scenarios Details

Here's the list of the scenarios you will find in the C3 Module 3 - Die Festung Hamburg, each one with a brief introduction and a situation map.

The basic premise used in the whole series is that Warsaw Pact was able to obtain a certain level of operational surprise. 

This makes the situation in the North German Plain sector particularly difficult for NATO, as most of its forces come from the Dutch and Danish armies, both heavily relying on reservists and needing several days to be fully operational. To make things even worse, the Dutch I Corps is stationed in the Netherlands. In the end, during the first critical hours the whole sector must be defended by two West German divisions, supported by one Dutch and one US brigade.

On the opposite side, Warsaw Pact can commit between 9 and 12 divisions, depending by the STAVKA strategic decisions. Luckily for NATO, several of them have a below-average quality and equipment but despite that, they are there.

Also, remember! Enlist today at the nearest recruitment office by writing to info@TRLGames.com, and help Defending Freedom / Liberating the Oppressed Proletariat!

Scenario 1 - Our Dearest Brothers

Despite the unfavourable terrain, the estuary of the Elbe - Lübeck canal  is a primary objective in the first hours of the Warsaw Pact offensive in Europe, as once it has been crossed NATO has little or no chance to establish a robust defense line before Kiel, 60 km to the North. The task is assigned to East German 8th Motorized Rifle Division, reinforced by heavy artillery support and having an amphibious regiment as an ace in the sleeve.

West German 18 Panzer Brigade, reinforced by 6 Division Recon Battalion, is charged with the defense of the sector. The brigade had just a few hours to assemble and organize and as a result only two battalions are in the Forward Edge of Battle Area when the hostilities begin. The Brigade Commander must immediately take a hard decision: Defend the canal with the few troops available and risk being destroyed on the border, or adopt an in-depth defense and allow the enemy to easily cross the difficult water obstacle.

Whatever the choice, the Eastern and Western brothers are going to meet very soon, in the worst possible terms.

Start Date and Time: July 24, 1985 0600ZT
Length: From D0 H06 to D0 H21

Scenario 2 - The Sickle's Long Shadow

Warsaw Pact’s main effort in the Hamburg sector is Operation Latvia, bearing some resemblance with the German Fall Gelb operation against France and having the final objective to cut out Hamburg and continental Denmark from the rest of Western Europe. 

Unsurprisingly, the task is assigned to Soviet 2nd Guards Tank Army, the most powerful formation in the sector, with a first echelon composed by two divisions, additional front-level artillery, and 38th Guards Air Assault Brigade. The orders are to break through the NATO lines at the junction between NORTHAG and BALTAP areas of responsibility, advance along the West bank of river Elbe, and reach the North Sea near Stade.

The attacked sector is theoretically defended by the combined West German / Dutch I Corps, with a total strength of three divisions, but the Kremlin’s maskirovka partially worked out and NATO has lost precious hours. As a result, most of the two Dutch divisions are still en route or mobilising and only a couple of West German brigades are actually ready to face the Soviets.

Start Date and Time: July 24, 1985 0600ZT
Length: From D0 H06 to D1 H06

Scenario 3 - A Pact of Blood

Cutting the NATO’s access to the Baltic is one of the primary objectives for Warsaw Pact Northern Front.

STAVKA has assigned considerable forces to the task, with three East German and two Polish divisions ready to cross the Inner German Border at July 24, 0600 Zulu Time. What these divisions lack in quality is compensated by artillery, air support and of course sheer numbers.

On the opposite side, the combined Danish / West German LANDJUT Corps is far from being ready to receive the blow: The Danes are still mobilising and cannot be expected before D+1, while the UK Mobile Force needs at least two days to reach its expected disembarking port at Brunsbüttel. 

Only West German 6 PanzerGrenadier division and a Territorial brigade are available to slow down the assault in the first crucial hours, with two additional Danish brigades arriving from midnight. War has just started, and  the LANDJUT Commander already has some life-or-death decisions to take.

Start Date and Time: July 24, 1985 0600ZT
Length: From D0 H06 to D2 H09

Scenario 4 - The Roaring Sound of Doom

Phase One of Operation Latvia went well for Warsaw Pact: Two days after the start of the offensive the first echelon divisions from Soviet 2nd Guards Tank Army control the West bank of river Elbe, cutting out Hamburg and the BALTAP sector from the rest of the NATO forces. Phase Two is planned to follow immediately, and  the army’s two fresh divisions are ordered to spearhead the attack and reach the river Weser.

On NATO side, West German 3 PanzerDivision had to defend most of the sector alone for the first 48 hours, paying a heavy tribute in blood for that. The Dutch brigades and artillery are now finally getting into position, and the NORTHAG Commander can hope to stabilise the front, reorganise the most battered units, and stop the Soviets before they achieve a breakthrough.

At the dawn of D+2, Soviet 21st and 94th Guards Motorized Rifle Divisions conduct a Forward Passage of Lines and start assaulting the exhausted NATO defensive positions, under heavy artillery support. All hell breaks loose again.

Start Date and Time: July 26, 1985 0300ZT
Length: From D2 H03 to D4 H21

Campaign 1 - The North Stygian Plain


On June 8th, 1985 General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party Mikhail Gorbachev is deposed by a military coup. A State of Emergency Committee, formed by Kremlin hardliners and presided by Andrei Gromyko, takes power in Soviet Union. 

Tension between the two Blocs increases sharply, reaching alarming levels after mass protests in several Warsaw Pact countries are suppressed by local Soviet forces. Interpreting these events as a covert attempt by capitalist forces to bring the Socialist System to its knees, the new Soviet Politburo decides to play all its remaining cards and starts mobilising Class II and III Divisions. 

NATO diplomatic attempts to defuse the conflict receive reassuring answers about Soviet Union’s desire for peace, not supported by any change in Warsaw Pact’s troop movements. 

In the end, the last supporters of the diplomatic approach surrender to the harsh reality when faced dozens of satellite photos irrefutably showing Warsaw Pact Armies moving in attack formation toward the German Inner Border. 

On July 23rd, 1985 Transfer of Authority to NATO finally takes place, and SACEUR immediately issues a GENERAL ALERT order. A few hours later, Warsaw Pact divisions smash into NORTHAG covering forces.

Start Date and Time: July 24, 1985 0600ZT 
Length (Short Campaign): from D0 H06 to D2 H21
Length (Long Campaign): from D0 H06 to D4 H21

Campaign 2 - One Minute to Midnight

Following June 1985 military coup in Soviet Union, tension between the two blocs keeps on increasing despite several attempts by both sides to defuse the situation. 

In July, Soviet Union’s State Emergency Committee decides to reaffirm the Brezhnev’s Doctrine by brutally crushing a Polish national strike and leaving hundreds of dead civilians in Danzig and Stettin. 

Media and popular pressure force Western countries to declare an embargo on Soviet Union. The Kremlin reacts by denouncing “a perfidious attempt by capitalist powers to strangle the Socialist Countries” and by mobilising Category II and III Divisions. 

In a matter of days, DEFCON is raised to level 2 and several NATO countries begin the mobilisation process. 

To show NATO determination, a Task Force centered on British Carrier HMS Invincible is dispatched to Norwegian Sea. On July 23rd, NATO and Soviet forces in the area are involved in increasingly dangerous confrontations. At 2014 ZT, a Soviet P-270 Moskit missile armed with a 200Kt nuclear warhead sinks the HMS Manchester, killing more than 300 seamen. The Britons react on similar terms, with a Buccaneer nuclear strike on Soviet destroyer Kulakov. 

From that moment on, the situation goes out of control. On July 24th, 1985 Warsaw Pact forces launch a major offensive against West Germany, with unrestricted chemical and nuclear warfare. A fully mobilised NATO reacts on similar terms, and the worst nightmare of 20th Century becomes a reality. 

Start Date and Time: July 24, 1985 0600ZT 
Length (Short Campaign): from D0 H06 to D2 H21
Length (Long Campaign): from D0 H06 to D4 H21




Saturday 27 August 2022

Die Festung Hamburg - NORTHAG Sector 1 / BALTAP OOB

 

HEADQUARTERS NORTHERN ARMY GROUP


23 July 1985

TOSee Distribution

SUBJECTNORTHAG SECTOR 1 / BALTAP DEFENSE FORCES

1. Attached is the new edition of the units assigned to the defense of NORTHAG Sector 1 and BALTAP Sector LANDJUT, as per OPLAN 4102 revised July 15th, 1985.

2. Hostilities with Warsaw Pact are expected to start within the next 72 hours.

3. Any change to the previously standing orders and SoP must be planned and executed within the next 24 hours, reducing time-consuming standard procedures to a minimum whenever needed.

                                                                                                             Sir Nigel Bagnall
                                                                                                             NORTHAG Commander in Chief




Friday 26 August 2022

Die Festung Hamburg - Northern Front OOB

Comrades, 
the latest Order of Battle for Operation Ladoga, Northern Front Sector 1 is here below. Hamburg, Bremen, Wilhelmshaven and Kiel are some of the key objectives in the Sector.

As you can see, there is an important contribution by our Brothers of the German Democratic Republic and Polish People's Republic. They will be soon informed about their commitment to the Socialist Cause.




Friday 5 August 2022

Die Festung Hamburg - Area of Operations Extended

As you maybe know, the command / organizational structure of NATO had one of its most important boundaries right along the Elbe river, separating AFCENT (Allied Forces Central Europe, including CENTAG and NORTHAG) from BALTAP (Allied Forces Baltic Approaches, including the LANDJUT Corps and the Danish Army).

Like NORTHAG and CENTAG, BALTAP had its own air command and assets (AIRBALTAP) and its own strategic objectives: namely, the defense of Schleswig-Holstein, the territory of Denmark and the whole Baltic Sea.

During development, several good discussions concerned the rules needed for simulating the capabilities, limitations and strategic needs of BALTAP. 

Most of the development team suggested to extend the map further North to the Kiel Kanal in order to give JUTLAND Corps enough room for retreating, and to include what would have probably been the last serious obstacle to a Warsaw Pact advance into continental Denmark.

For a series of reasons, I stubbornly resisted the idea to expand the map until all the special rules for handling BALTAP were almost ready....And at that point, I realised I was wrong. Uh, almost time.

So here's the latest, extended Operational Map for Die Festung Hamburg! Bigger, Longer and Uncut.
The operational area is much better represented and includes what could be considered the last plausible defense for the LANDJUT corps. As a consequence, several special rules for BALTAP will be probably not needed anymore.


For comparison, here's the previous, smaller map draft:







Saturday 23 July 2022

Die Festung Hamburg - Concept Box Art

As the 1985: Deadly Northern Lights shipments are by now almost completed, I'm re-focusing on the next C3 module - Die Festung Hamburg.

Here's a first box art concept. It's still being discussed by the development team, but I'm quite in love with this scary, apocalyptic picture!