07-13-2014, 01:11 AM,
(This post was last modified: 07-13-2014, 01:12 AM by vince hughes.)
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vince hughes
Second Lieutenant
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Posts: 1,310
Threads: 61
Joined: May 2012
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RE: Marianas 44
(07-12-2014, 11:37 PM)Matt W Wrote: I actually have less problem with the AARs than the rankings and I don't have much problem with the rankings given that you can view the ranking without designer statistics
Talking of ratings without designer's ratings added (as I have them on my log-in). Its a right old battle at the top there. If you have the ratings without Jay's own ratings then Cassino tops them with 3.73 in 200 plays. That is pretty impressive over 200 games.
Kursk South Flank is a mere nidge of 0.02 behind with 3.71 but just 140 plays at present. It'll be a tough ask to keep scoring mainly '4's over the next 60 plays for KSF to catch up. However, if Cass gets played more plays then maybe some '3's will bring that leading score down.
Saipan 44 is a creditable 3rd without Jay's scores. That is 3.60 from 111 plays. It is actually interesting looking at the scenarios without Jay's ratings too. Because he rates them all 4 & 5 it is impossible for the outside person looking in to immediately find a scenario to play and cherry pick which of the scenarios are classics. However, take the designer away from those ratings and then it becomes readily apparent. Scenario 1 "Red Beach" with 4.40 seems that everybody loves it as they do #7 "Throw them into the sea" with the same score. The ones at present that are not living up to 4+ status are #8 "Mopping Up Afetna" and #34 "Fate of Company B". The public rate them at 2.80. Which is still touching nigh on the '3' level for standard fare.
More unbelievable to me is Fall of France 5th with 3.43. Most of my scores in 8 or 9 plays have been around '4's and there is also one I rated 4 but looking back should have given 5. That box-set however has spawned no less than 390 plays on PGHQ and the more plays a game gets, it seems the harder to maintain a higher rating. It is also a whole 0.28 from 3rd place. A quarter of a point with this amount of plays is hard to make up ground and yet I think most people I've spoken to love this set.
Elsenborn Ridge in 4th place and 282 plays shows 3.57, so it IS lagging from the top 3 with a gap of 0.14. But 4th place is still an impressive location for any set in this series and as we all know, it gets no bonus points for being the accepted 'lead-in' package to the series.
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07-22-2014, 03:56 AM,
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JayTownsend
Colonel
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Posts: 1,860
Threads: 193
Joined: May 2012
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RE: Marianas 44
Marianas 1944, scenario 5: Tanks on the Right!
I am just kind of bouncing through the scenario book replaying scenarios here and there and decided on playing this scenario, as the Japanese are attacking at night against a stronger US opponent but with achievable victory conditions, at least in my mind. Scenarios 2, 3, and 4 the visibility is only one hex, as it is a moonless night and that was missed in the scenario special rules.
The American setup first which forces them to setup spread out across the map, trying not to allow the Japanese access to the beaches. This allowed the Japanese to setup on larger attack force again thin but strong American lines, with a second smaller Japanese force to hitting further south, to keep the American from consolidating their forces. Last a third Japanese tank force to exploit any holes in the American lines.
The American were taking a large total on the attacking Japanese but the Japanese kept pushing on, no matter what their losses were, forcing the American to shift forces, losing the Dug-in status in many cases. Finally the Japanese found two small holes pushing through a small group of Infantry to the beaches which had to be tracked down and destroyed however the second group was three pretty fast Type 95 tanks steps, which played cat and mouse with American forces right to the end of the game, taking out the M3/75 and overrunning one of the 37mm AT Gun units unsupported by Infantry. The US Marines eliminated 26 Japanese steps which would have given them a three to one advantage and major victory as the Japanese only eliminated 6 Marine steps BUT they did not eliminate those three Japanese tanks steps that made a dash for the beaches on the last couple of turns. Not giving up hope as the Japanese player with the mounting losses, the Japanese came away with a Major Victory, using movement to spread out the Americans lines.
Note, next time I play this as the American, I’ll setup closer to the beaches, giving me less area to defend, as this was my critical mistake as the American player.
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