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Operation Konrad - 2023 QB Campaign Planning

OnePingOnly said:
I finished the map for Farkasreti Cemetery, Budapest - one of six potential battle sites for the siege. This was part of the front line in 1945, and a key part of the German defense of Buda. The cemetery is a hilly forest in the middle of neighborhoods, with a ton of micro-terrain.
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It looks good, but two comments - I think the cemetery was only covered with parkland in the 1950s..? And the houses at the lower left look more like modern US suburbia with plenty of space between the buildings :)

I like the micro-terrain in the cemetery. Should be a tricky infantry fight because they can hide between the small hills.
 
Bulletpoint said:
It looks good, but two comments - I think the cemetery was only covered with parkland in the 1950s..? And the houses at the lower left look more like modern US suburbia with plenty of space between the buildings :)
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Yeah, I had trouble finding anything that showed the state of the cemetery and its environs in the 1940s. I wasn't sure if the mortuary and "welcome" buildings on the east side and the mausoleum on the hill dated from pre-war or post-war.

For the lower left... don't tell anyone :whistle: but I got lazy with placing houses and fences/hedges and just didn't do the density I used on other maps. All those buildings will be behind the Soviet start line, so I kinda said "f" it.

Thanks for the feedback though - I'll do some more research on the park areas.
 
dkchapuis said:
Can you explain some more how the mechanics of QB and force selection will work?
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Sure... I have a book o' rules almost completed, but:
Each match-up (QB) will be assigned a map, a type of battle (attack, probe, or meeting engagement), weather, etc. based on a pre-set schedule, the location on the campaign map, and the units present at that location.

QB force selection works like this example:

If Chap the German player is commanding the 1st Panzer Division on Velence Track and still has both Battalions (strength points) intact, he can choose to use Bn A or Bn B on this turn. Per Table 3 below, 1st Pz Div (row 5) Bn A is Armored Infantry with Panzer IVs. Bn B is just Armored Infantry.

Table 3 Units.jpg

Let's say Chap picks Bn B. He then consults the Formation table, which says that since Bn B is Armored Infantry and the 1st Pz Division is a Wehrmacht unit, he must use one of the listed Wehrmacht Armored Infantry formations as his base formation. At least 60% of the allocated points must be spent on this formation. The other 40% can be spent on stuff from outside the Formation, like add-on AT guns, or haltracks, or armored cars, etc. (as dictated by the table). But no tanks, since the unit is Armored Infantry.
Table 5 Formations.jpg

If Chap wanted to use Bn A, which is Armored Infantry + Pz IV, he has several options: 1) He could buy one of the Armored Infantry formations as before, and add on individual Pz IV's (Pz IV Ausf H or Ausf J, per Table #6) with his 40% points. 2) He could buy one of the Wehrmacht Armor formations (row 7 in the table above) and add on infantry with his 40% points, or 3) he could buy the Armored Infantry formation and NO PzIVs.

Table 6 describes what armor options can actually be used when stated in Table 3.

Table 6 Armor.jpg

Most of this info will be provided to the players for their match-ups, to keep player admin down.

I'm still working to confirm that the 60% core formation minimum is the best value to use.

Also, I am planning these to be MEDIUM battles, so there should be enough points available to field platoon levels of AFVs.
 
I had some spare time last night to finish up the Budapest / Csepel Island map.
Many of Hungary's armament works were located on the northern end of the island along the Danube, and some continued production up until capture.
This should be an absolute horror show.
bandicam 2023-03-02 12-31-34-836.jpg


bandicam 2023-03-02 12-31-02-825.jpg

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bandicam 2023-03-02 12-29-11-249.jpg


bandicam 2023-03-02 12-32-02-312.jpg

Only one more map to finish, and then I'll be ready to start this thing!

@Rico - I'll reach out privately for some final help :)
 
OnePingOnly said:
Each track has a "core" German and a Soviet unit assigned, and as they lose battles or suffer >50% casualties, they will take strength losses and may be eliminated. Each unit has one or two "strength points", and these get marked off as they are lost.

Both sides have reserves that can be deployed to either fill these gaps, or augment the forces already on the tracks. Many of the reserves feature better equipment than the Core units (e.g. Germans getting Panthers instead of PzIVs or Soviets getting IS-2s instead of T-34/85s), but they must be used wisely.

In the below example, the second and third German tracks (from the top)have won 2 victories and are poised to advance to the 3rd square, while the other 3 tracks have suffered losses with fewer advances. The Soviets have deployed the 7th Mech Corps and the 1st Guards Mech Corps as reserves on the two tracks of concern. The counters communicate the types of units that may be purchased/faced, and there are simple tables for purchasing QB forces to guide the player.
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Just to be clear, there is no mechanic where battle sizes are adjusted? So in the above example, if the Commander augments a track or over 50% casualties are suffered on a track, it is still a medium size QB with no force size adjustments?
 
dkchapuis said:
Just to be clear, there is no mechanic where battle sizes are adjusted? So in the above example, if the Commander augments a track or over 50% casualties are suffered on a track, it is still a medium size QB with no force size adjustments?
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Hey Chap-
Each Unit has either 1 or 2 "strength points," with each strength point being a type of force that can be allocated to a QB. It's probably best to think of the strength point as the capability to field a particular type of formation, more so than a discrete, specific unit.
As long as the strength point keeps winning QBs and suffering less than 50% casualties, it suffers no tangible losses that carry over battle to battle. that impact QB points. If the strength point loses or suffers more than 50% casualties, it is simply destroyed and can't be used in other battles. At no point will a player suffer a penalty that reduces QB points for their side.
Reserve Units allow the Commander to replace destroyed Core Units on a Track, OR to add strength points with better capabilities to a Track (e.g., King Tigers instead of Pz IVs,). Using Reserves also gives a QB point BONUS to the side using them (usually- there's some rules around this). As a practical matter, it made little sense to offer players the option to buy more powerful units without giving points to do so.

So - positive force size adjustments are possible.

I'm requesting a campaign thread for this so I can post the rules, but maybe I'll do that here to get some "Have you thought about what happens if..." feedback.
 
OnePingOnly said:
. Using Reserves also gives a QB point BONUS to the side using them (usually- there's some rules around this). As a practical matter, it made little sense to offer players the option to buy more powerful units without giving points to do so.

So - positive force size adjustments are possible.
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This is specifically what I was wondering about.
 
OnePingOnly said:
As a practical matter, it made little sense to offer players the option to buy more powerful units without giving points to do so.
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Hmmmm.... yes that makes sense if you want the player to upgrade 5x Panzer IV to 5x Tiger II, but that's a huge upgrade.

I find the points costs of many units a bit wonky. Especially with the Germans where their basic tanks are too expensive, and their big tanks too cheap for what you get, in my opinion.

Even getting 3x Tiger II instead of 5x Panzer IV would be a big advantage to the German player, I think.
 
By the way, I just found your youtube channel. Really good video AARs.

Will you be doing any from this campaign? I'd like to see how the fight for the churchyard or that industrial area turn out.
 
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Bulletpoint said:
By the way, I just found your youtube channel. Really good video AARs.

Will you be doing any from this campaign? I'd like to see how the fight for the churchyard or that industrial area turn out.
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Why, thank you! My channel’s unofficial motto is “Not as good as Usually Hapless, but better than DiplexHeated.” :)

Sadly, I will not be playing in the campaign as I have to manage. I’m hoping some of the interested parties will do AARs - whether video or detailed text. “The guys” have been good about some form of AARs in the current Cold War Cup.

The German Budapest commander has a brutal campaign ahead, I think. But we have some that love urban stuff (@Artkin ?)
 
OnePingOnly said:
Why, thank you! My channel’s unofficial motto is “Not as good as Usually Hapless, but better than DiplexHeated.” :)

Sadly, I will not be playing in the campaign as I have to manage. I’m hoping some of the interested parties will do AARs - whether video or detailed text. “The guys” have been good about some form of AARs in the current Cold War Cup.

The German Budapest commander has a brutal campaign ahead, I think. But we have some that love urban stuff (@Artkin ?)
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So long as it's well done, for sure. The Berlin maps were incredible but sadly under utilized.
I always go back and watch our game on your youtube channel. That Downfall scene was ridiculously funny. I'm always wheezing watching it. Kriegsmarine infantry? I might as well have one eyed men! LMAO.
 
Almost there....
1. I'm putting the finishing touches on the last custom map.
2. I'm quality checking all the Round 1 maps.
3. @Rico is helping me with the campaign map and unit counters. (Thanks, man!!!!)
4. I've asked for a Campaign thread.
5. Once I have the thread, I'll re-confirm who actually wants to play. Will need 12 good men (or women).
6. The rules have been tested (on paper), and I feel good enough to share them for comment and questions. They are attached.
 

Attachments

  • Operation Konrad 3-7-23.pdf
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Impressive. Reminds me of the Operation Konrad tournament I played in CMx1 about 15 years ago. Your Csepel map is the spitting image of the final battle of that tournament, as far as I can remember it.
Since you mentioned carpal syndrome... what is the most tedious/frustrating/repetitive actions in the CM scenario editor when making a map of this size and level of detail?
 
When will this campaign start and is there availability to join?
 
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