A’44 continues, live on Vassal Monday nites.

I cant say Im having a blast, but it is interesting.

I’ve grown to like Simonitch’s ZOC Bond system. I suspect y’all know im a huge Ukraine ’43 and S’42 fan.

But this module is just so heavily rules for effect heavy that you end up playing more against the system than the opponent.

40% of the results are defender favored, with a ‘double chance’ using Determined Defence 24% of the time [using odds table odds from 1:1 -7:1.

Then we have # of Divisions in an attack restrictions, CF restrictions, The fine tuned factors of both sides, & of course Jabos and Time on Target results mean Germans are forced to eat 1:1 and 2;1 attack too often. Oh Allied trucks move 12mp, German 5. Why? Because.

As a contrast some other systems and I hate to brag on The Last Gamble like a fanboi AGAIN but damn. There I feel like both sides have the SAME system and its my ability vs the opponent and the terrain.

Are there a plethora of special rules. Yes of course the Bulge demands it. But on the WHOLE the CORE system is looking to you to sort out the best way to use combined arms, terrain, arty etc to advance your cause.

This by no means says ‘A’44 is bad’, its just I find it frustrating at the scale represented.

Now that said, the Germans are actually doing ‘ok’ and have stretched the Allies thinly. But this is fleeting as 10+ new uits arrive that are Inf and I think 3 steps with 6-6-3 factors. They will plug the holes and JABO rules will allow the yanks to take the offensive. So everything is playing out historically as we hit the high water mark probably this turn. SO suck it up buttercup!

🙂