Simple Equation WTO (id:#56659)
Multi-Man Publishing (ASL Starter Kit #1 ID: S3)   [next]   [previous]
Aachen, Germany 1944-10-12 ()
Designer: Ken Dunn
Starter kit scenario?:    Deluxe scenario?:
 
Balance:
AmericanGerman
61.596958174905%

Overview:

The battle for Aachen had been raging for two days. A complicated series of maneuvers designed to encircle the city from both the north and south had been occupying the American command. These few units committed to the frontal assault on Aachen had some tough going. Not only were the Aachen defenders numerically superior, but they were fighting on their home soil for one of the cherished Nazi symbols: Aachen, home of the First Reich.
Attacker: American (3rd Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment)
Defender: German (404th Regiment, 246th Volksgrenadier Division)  
6.5 turns
    Players: 2     OBA: None     Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:14.5 D:12.0
AFVs: A:0
AFVs: D:0
Guns: A:0 D:0

Victory Conditions:

Exit VP: Building Control VC: Area Control VC:
Unit Based VC: LOS Style VC: CVP Cap:
Misc Rules: Grain not in Season. D: 2 secret Fortified Buildings
Map Board(s): y z
Overlays: NONE
Errata (source)
Players wanting to play this game/Request a match:

Scenario info

Last Played:
DateReporterOpponentResultComments
2022-08-21(A) Craig Renier vs Paul Maulin American winA refresher game for a returning player. The Germans had a rear defense setup maintaining a few good LOS shots for an American advance. The Americans moved forward aggressively on the south side, getting lucky with a few MCs. This was followed by low IFT rolls against the Germans. By Turn 2, the Americans were deep into the buildings on the south side. On Turn 3, repeated American low rolls followed by German missed MCs and eliminated leaders left the defense with no hope. A decisive American win.
2022-08-17(A) Jack Wilson vs Bob T. American winAnother VASL learning game. Having played this a couple of times solo, and now twice with live opponent, I think I can safely say that this one tilts in American favor. The VC state that the Americans win immediately if they control 25 building hexes (not buildings).

At first glance, it looks to be a classic fighting withdraw tactic for the Germans, However, if the Germans fall back even a few hexes, they pretty much concede the needed VC hexes. Thus, they have to stand and fight.

The combination of a cruddy OB (a mix of 2nd line squads and conscripts), plus mediocre leadership vs. American mass and firepower, is just too much to overcome IMO.

BTW, I have still yet to do anything with that FT the Americans get. Either the squad lugging it gets busted, or the thing flames out.
2022-06-15(A) Jack Wilson vs Eric Filipkowski American winFirst time playing this FTF. It is easy to see why it is rated both here and on ROAR so heavily in favor of the Americans. Although the Germans start with only 2.5 less squads than the Americans, 5 of them are the dreaded conscripts: easy to break, hard to rally. In addition, the VC state that the Americans win as soon as they control 25 building HEXES on board Z- not buildings. And, by my count, there are at least 26 building hexes within 3 hexes of the entry side of board Z. So, the Americans don't have to push too far onto the victory board to gobble up those hexes. This, in turn, essentially forces the Germans to contest the American drive, and forego a probably safer fighting withdraw strategy.

I set up heavy on my left, with another strike force going up the middle. Using leaders and a couple of CXs, I had seven squads lining the eastern edge of the tree line by the end of the APh - ready to unleash massive FGs across the open ground on my DFPh during his first turn.

On the right I set up two squads, 2 MMGs with the 9-2 leader and they got into a multi-phase firefight with his own mini kill-stack HMG and 8-1 leader. In one turn alone, my gang made rate I think 5 or 6 times in a row and ran out of targets to pound.

Eric did a good job of contesting my advance. Perhaps he could have benefitted from a little more skulking, But, as I mentioned above, his maneuver room to the rear was limited, and so standing fast might have been the better idea in the end.

Although, I was getting a little worried that I might run out of time, his line began to crumble by turn 4, and by the end of my turn 5 I had captured the required hexes. A fun game, but a definite challenge for the Germans.

One closing comment: The scenario is titled: "Simple Equation." The designer explains that during the battle for Aachen, the Americans used long range MG fire to soften up defenders, then rushed in with FTs to finish them off. Hence, the 'simple equation.' Given the fact that the Americans are given only one FT, I didn't really see how the math of that equation was ever going to add up. In my case, after carefully creeping forward with my 3-3-7 with the FT and finally moving adjacent to a HS with a broken leader and broken full squad, my FT team melted down on his 4 +2 shot and fled the scene never to be seen again.

The dice give, and the dice taketh away.
2022-03-09(A) Craig Renier vs Eric American winThis was a continuation of refresher games with a returning ASL player. The German defense was ably set up with the HMG on the German right defending the approach from the woods while also covering a number of hexes on the left. The Americans focused their attack on the German left with MMG support in the center and covering forces on the right. Accurate German defensive fire broke the American 9-2 and two MMCs with a MMG, seriously hampering the attack. But when the Germans attempted a subsequent withdrawal to a second line of defense, they suffered heavy losses. The Americans quickly rallied and made slow but steady progress across the open ground, using as much smoke as possible. The attack was aided by ineffective German defensive fire. Once the American forces crossed the open ground, they were able to put their superior fire power to use with few places for the Germans to skulk. There was faint hope to hold off the onslaught, but after two more German MMCs and a leader broke, all hope was lost and the German player conceded.
2022-02-10(A) Igor Luckyanov vs Ivan Smirnov American win
2021-12-27(D) Igor Luckyanov vs Artem Kalinovskii German win
2021-12-27(A) Artem Kalinovskii vs Igor Luckyanov German win
2021-12-06(A) Jim Liang vs Craig Renier American win
2021-12-06(A) Craig Renier vs Jim Liang American winThe American major drive was through the center with a strong force on the German right. Cautious moves cost the Americans precious time. On Turn 3, the Americans had not yet taken any buildings or crossed most of the open ground. However, German forces were beginning to break and not rally. Once the open ground was crossed on the right and left, there was very little the German defense could do. The Germans were afforded a few 2-2 or 4-2 shots, but many cowered followed by successful American MC rolls. Finally, on a low odds shot, a key German MMC with LMG covering the German left flank broke. A poor move by the German exasperated the setback providing an opening for the eventual American win.
2021-08-07(D) César Moreno vs Carl American winI thought american was being overcautious, when he was preparing for a carefully planned and brilliantly executed assault. By turn 4 I had no GO units so I had to concede.
2021-07-17(A) Craig Renier vs Tim Stevens German winThe Americans attacked on a broad front. They were able to get across the open ground and roads with few losses. But then the wheels fell off the wagon. Failed MCs, TCs, and Rallys left broken squads strewn across the battle field. In combat, IFTs were ineffective and the Americans couldn't even win a 2:1 -3 CC roll. With no hope of attaining the VC, the Americans conceded on Axis Turn 6.
2021-06-09(A) Andreas Brueckner vs Martin Moser German winAmericans put a considerable force in the upper left corner and only a minor flanking force in the woods. Re-distributing these troops during the game did not work and US attacks through the middle of the board got nowhere at all. Americans conceded in round 5.
2021-05-30(D) Craig Renier vs Martin Moser American winA very close American win. The German defense was helped by early low rolls while the Americans could not successfully place smoke. The German defense was cracked on Turn 3, but was able to reform a strong secondary line. The American flanked the German left, rushing through as many buildings as possible while slogging through the German defense in the middle. On the final turn, the Germans pinned 2 MMCs and broke 2 more. But the German player mistakenly held his fire with his HMG cracking the door for an American win. Through careful maneuvering, the Americans were able to gain control of exactly 25 building hexes in the APh.
2021-05-16(D) Chris Turner vs Brian Shortridge American win

(VASL Log)
2021-04-20(D) Michal Kostan vs Polda American win
2021-02-20(D) Jonathan Townsend vs Alberto German winWe forgot the rules for Inexperience (ie. 3MF and double cowering), but still the Americans must really push forward to win this.
2021-02-20(A) Jonathan Townsend vs Myself American winStill wasn't using using the Inexperienced rules, but the Americans can really afford to push forward: with their number of troops and high rally rating they can keep rolling forward whilst the rear rallies to take over from the next broken wave.
2021-02-02(A) Jonathan Townsend vs Myself German win
2021-01-22(A) Michal Kostan vs [solo] American win
2020-11-29(D) Omid Mashregh-Zamini vs projectmilhouse American win
2020-11-29(A) Dan B vs Omid Mashregh-Zamini American win
2020-11-12(A) Jason Mr. vs Brian Shortridge German winAmerican forces kept breaking against the skulking German center, managed to break through around on the Southern flank late in the game, but didn't score enough victory buildings.
2020-09-20(A) Craig Renier vs Ethan Delwood German winThe American first turn laid the groundwork for the eventual loss by moving too slow and cautiously. In the final turn, the American had a long shot chance at a victory but moved the wrong unit first giving the German player a high odds shot against a MMC moving in the open.
2020-08-06(D) David Garvin vs Loic Gourdon German winI stopped him by the seat of my pants. Loic was a single controlled hex away from winning; it was that close!
2020-07-20(A) César Moreno vs Craig Renier American win
2020-07-20(D) Craig Renier vs Cesar Moreno American winThe American advance focused on the German right and center. The German defense was able to hold up well to the American assault, but German forces were slowly reduced. In the final two turns, the German defense had no leaders remaining. While very close, the Americans were able to gain control of the last required building hexes in the final turn.
2020-07-12(A) Craig Renier vs Keith Hiljus American winMain American thrust was on the German right flank. The German HMG was positioned in the center covering the open ground on the right. However, the MMC broke. Another MMC took its place but failed to recover the HMG for two player turns giving the American forces time to cross the open ground. The remaining American forces advanced up the center and were able to make slow progress capturing enough building hexes to make up the balance not captured on the German right. German player conceded at the beginning of German Turn 6.
2020-05-24(D) Dave Mareske vs Craig Renier German winInitial slow advancement by the Americans is proving to wear down the Germans. Will they have enough troops and time to take the number of victory hexes...Americans came up short in Victory locations as the Germans were worn down to almost nothing on the last turn.
2020-05-24(A) Craig Renier vs Dave Mareske German winAmerican used too much Prep Fire and was slow to advance coming up short in occupied buildings.
2020-04-03(D) Kevin Sanders vs Derek Dunn American winInteresting - went to the last American Turn. Not enough Germans left to stop the capture of just enough VPs. Good defense for 1st 4 turns then attrition hit
2020-04-02(A) santiago jimenez vs Miguel Lopez American win
2019-12-26(A) Matt Peterson vs Tobias American win
2019-12-10(A) Jacob Elmqvist vs Ingemar Gardell German win
2019-11-21(D) Vilis Pavulans vs Jonathan Otte American winBalance to the yanks.. I just couldn´t hold on..
2019-10-03(A) David Garvin vs David Hughes American winOnce I cracked his line, I poured through and won handily
2019-09-25(A) David Garvin vs Nick Faryna German winNick and I duked it out in Aachen. He is new to ASL, but not to wargames, so he "gets it". Came to the final turn and he ended up pinning a squad that left me one hex short of winning. It was that close.
Great match!
2019-09-07(A) Dmitry Klyuykov vs Fedor Grachev American win
2019-09-07(D) Dmitry Klyuykov vs Fedor Grachev German win
2019-08-31(D) Dmitry Klyuykov vs Pavel Kaloshin German winAmericans didn't capture a single building, German fire was devastating.
2019-08-08(D) Javier Rodrigo Ballesteros vs Carlos Fernández American win
2019-07-27(A) David Wiesenhahn vs American win
2019-06-29(A) Owen Edwards vs Solitaire German win
2019-06-08(A) David Wiesenhahn vs American win
2019-05-29(A) Tom Kearney vs Eric Gray American winNew player development.
2019-05-19(D) Michael Focht vs Michael Focht, Jr. German win
2019-05-04(A) Michael Focht vs Michael Focht, Jr. American win
2019-04-15(A) Mark Peak vs Matt Peak In progress
2019-04-04(A) Miguel De Abella vs Me American winAmericans won on 5th turn. No deffense possible. They took both flanks.
2019-03-26(D) Daniel Alm vs anon American winAmericans won on 5th turn.
2019-01-24(D) Mark Peak vs Marco Sommi DrawWe agreed to stop playing this game as we were confused by the victory conditions
2019-01-20(A) Tom Abromaitis vs German win
2018-12-08(D) Jonathan Kapleau vs Acton, Patrick American win
2018-11-15(D) Chris Anthony vs David Anthony German win
2018-08-23(D) davide galloni vs Alle German wintraining
2018-08-05(D) David Garvin vs Tim Pelican German winCame to the final turn, but I kept the US just shy of the count they needed. Dice helped, admittedly
2017-11-03(A) Kermit Mullins vs Scott Waites German winAlways fun game to play. After 3 turns, my Americans are struggling to stay unbroken. Might be a rough game for me!
2017-09-08(D) Lee Hyde vs Azim German winTraining scenario really, but learnt about using FG's and not to charge across open ground
2017-09-07(A) Jonathan Kapleau vs Taylor, Greg American win
2017-08-21(A) Jonathan Kapleau vs Dempsey, Jack American win
2017-05-21(A) Jim Rupp vs James L. American winStarted out pretty slow, as my line decided that shooting straight was not in the cards. After turn three, everything started breaking loose, then on turn 4, the German right flank totally lost it. I thought I had lost on turn six, when the German line fully rallied, but by the end, I managed to do the "gamey run" and gathered up all the victory hexes plus one. Not quite a fan of this game as the short turn time and close quarters makes for a mad rush at the end.
2017-05-13(A) Seumas Hoskins vs Dean American winGermans opted to keep all units on the back board, allowing a fast US approach in z. The initial US assault went off without a hitch, smoke down, FT charging the breach and burning a hole in the German line. As the US advanced forward, the Germans continuously broke under allied FGs. The objective was met by turn 4.
2017-04-26(A) Louis Langdeau vs Andrew S American winManaged to pull out a win on American Turn 6. The flamethrower did yeoman's service, and after units started breaking, they began to pile up into easily breakable blobs. After the flanks collapsed, it was over.
2017-03-11(D) Stephen dedier vs Keurejian, Matt American winMy first full game played and I was mopped up!
2017-02-25(A) Bob Davis vs James W American winLearned that the open field on the left is near impossible to move through. James had a lone squad in the woods that proved to be very problematic. Never give up. I thought I was out and in the last turn seized 10 buildings and brought it down to the final CC phase before James beat me.
2017-01-30(A) J M vs German win
2016-11-28(A) Jeff B vs Bronson Barnhart American winGermans set up a very aggressive forward defense, and even pressed the attack themselves. This occupied the Americans for a couple turns, but their superior firepower and range proved too much, breaking all but one German squad by the end of Turn 3. It was simply a matter of rounding them up and taking buildings after that and the game was over Turn 4.
2016-07-24(D) Tom Abromaitis vs DrawHot, hot dice for the German side. Solo.
2016-06-01(D) David Garvin vs Patrick Ireland German win
2016-03-26(D) David Garvin vs Craig Stark German win
2015-10-04(D) Dmitry Klyuykov vs Anna Aleksanyan American win
2015-09-08(A) Ken Monson vs Joe Gauthier American winVery hard start for Americans, but once I broke through his initial defensive line, Germans couldn't rally fast enough to set up a fallback line. I was also able to get around one flank and sweep up a bunch of victory hex buildings.
2015-08-10(D) Alberto Griffa vs Daniel Soukup American win
2015-08-08(D) JP Laurio vs Ron DrawPBeM. We messed up the victory conditions and decided to call it a draw.
2014-06-22(D) leo zhu vs AraKalLek German winAraKalLek make some wrong tactics and lose soon.
2014-01-11(D) Merric Blackman vs Michael Elshaug German win
2012-08-27(A) Ken Priddy vs German win
2012-07-18(A) O Ramaille vs American winThe americans concentrated their assault on the center held by some volksgrenadiers. Outnumbered they were, but the germans shot very precisely and held various US waves back. At last, the american leaders did a great job by rallying their troops with efficiency. During the last turn, german resistance in the center gave out and the american swarmed into the city of Aachen, controlling 28 buildings.

Final forces :
-German: 1 leader and 3 squads (1 broken)
-American: 4 leaders, 5 squads (1 broken) and 5 half-squads (1 broken)

Losses:
- German = 70% of losses
- American = 50% of losses.
2012-04-27(D) Russell Dewhurst vs Gordon American winAmericans had to take 25 building hexes from my Germans. I was doing well in midgame but instead of pulling back I engaged his much larger force too aggressively and on the final turn 7 he got his 25 hexes for the win.
2011-12-28(D) Richard Jenulis vs Lane Taylor German win
2011-12-18(A) Michal Kostan vs [solo] American win
2011-09-03(D) Stefan C vs osterhausm American winAmerican firepower won the day, avoided the HMG trap almost entirely.
2011-07-10(A) Benjamin Dale vs Christopher Cale American winGermans had a lot of difficulty holding on to anything. Americans kept pressure on routing right flank, whilst bringing large fire groups on the fortified locations of the left flank.
2010-11-20(D) Don Lazov vs Nate Lazov German win
2010-06-02(D) Miikka Sohlman vs Matti Holsti American win
2010-05-12(D) Kermit Mullins vs Scott Waites German win4-3-6 did an awesome job holding the center till turn 4.
2010-04-21(A) Paul Messina vs Chuck Pierce American win
2010-03-28(D) Paul Messina vs Julian Davis American win
2009-11-24(A) Scott Bluerock vs sbluerock American winwould like to reconsider German defense
2009-09-11(A) Martí Cabré vs Eloi Soler German win
2009-09-01(D) Aaron Sibley vs Daryl Sims American win
2009-08-09(A) Don Lazov vs Nate Lazov American win
2009-05-25(D) Luke Sineath vs Charlotte Tyner American win
2009-01-24(A) David Hassler vs Will Riley American wingerman setup probably too far forward
2008-10-30(D) LE BILLAN Laurent vs Lorenzo In progressTurn 5, Germans are runing for their life, most of them DM.
2008-10-07(D) Allen Evenson vs Jerry DeMoss German winAmericans controlled 12 bldg hexes at games end.
2008-02-14(D) Malcolm Lowe vs Criss M German winGermany HMG seemed to be the difference in this...
2008-01-15(A) Doba Serge vs German win
2008-01-01(A) LE BILLAN Laurent vs Lorenzo American winPowerfull attack from the Americans and bad set up for the Germans.
2008-01-01(A) LE BILLAN Laurent vs Lorenzo American winPowerfull attack from the Americans and bad set up for the Germans.
2008-01-01(A) LE BILLAN Laurent vs Lorenzo American winPowerfull attack from the americans and bad set up for the Germans.
2007-08-15(A) Richard Salisbury vs KR American win
2007-02-17(D) Allen Evenson vs David Tsui American winConquest NW ASLSK Tourney Rnd1
2007-01-17(A) Rich Weiley vs Dave Longworth American winPlayed with full ASL rules and the Command and Control rules from SASL as an experiment.
2007-01-13(A) Chris Anthony vs Anonymous German win
2006-05-27(A) Martí Cabré vs Gèrman Argerich American win
2006-04-18(A) simon jones vs Martin Vicca German win
2006-02-14(A) Nathan Scott vs JB German win
2006-01-31(A) Fred Ingram vs Dave McLee American win
2006-01-21(A) simon jones vs Cryophobia German win
2004-11-11(A) Keith Colins vs Mike Przbylo American win
2004-09-01(A) mark watson vs Pat Thompson German win
2004-08-08(A) Jesus Pie vs ArnauPiePalau American win
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ActionDate
Heloanjin Added a playing2022-08-21 12:48:11
Jwil2020 Added a playing2022-08-17 21:11:43
Jwil2020 Rated the scenario2022-06-15 22:09:38
Jwil2020 Added a playing2022-06-15 22:09:32
Heloanjin Added a playing2022-03-09 04:19:25
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(aachen US troops.png)Imagehoxson1792
VASL Log file ()VASL Game Logowenedwards423
VASL Log file (SKS3_0044_GT5_RtPh (1).vlog)VASL Game LogStumpy82138
(s3.jpg)Map ImageTwirling1130
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Set Up [moved to this, the correct, scenario]
 
Statistics:
Avg Rating: 6.39Votes: 140
Views: 10229
To-Play list count: 10
Estimated Play time: 4 hours
Recorded Games: 106
Archive recorded plays:
American62
German39
Drawn:3

ROAR Data: (as of November 2021)
Simple Equation [Confirmed]
[A] American 100
[D] German 62
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