Campaign Series: Middle East 1948-1985 - Gameplay Video

I thought it might be a good idea to link to the first promotional video for Campaign Series Middle East. It's quite educational and gives some of you some interesting insights about what's new and what the CS Legion team did to improve the playability and of course the fun!

Art of War Papers - An 'Exit Strategy' Not A Winning Strategy?

Another recommended read to shed some light on Britain's involvement in its former protectorates and colonies. Download the whole study here. Yet another resource that was used to create some of the tactical-wargaming scenarios one finds at CS - Middle East.

Step 4 - How to create events & editing the .lua file

Although one has to get used to it, editing the .LUA file is as interesting as it is enhancing the game play. Like the Event Editor at TOAW IV, using a simple tool like Notepad++ for editing the .LUA file, with a bit of practice (or in my case - trial and error!) really a piece of cake!

The Pentagon Papers - History of the Vietnam War

An interesting read that gives an insight about the background of the struggle in Indochina and its implications.  You can read the whole four editions here.

Step 3 - Placing the units, adding features & objectives

The final and last step in creating a small but challenging scenario for CS Middle East. Placing the units, setting objectives and improving some positions. That's basically it. A detailed guide with easy to follow steps however is in the making.

Step 2 - Creating or using an existing map

The next step is to create or simply chose a map. In our case the Bootcamp (Desert).map will do just fine. Instead of the desert, we switch the environment to a more Mediterranean setting. This can be easily done in clicking on Values. We first change the Region to North Africa and then the Biome to Mediterranean. If preferred, we could of course change the village and town names and add some more features, such as improved positions, etc. 

How to... create a small Bootcamp scenario for CS Middle East

A quick preview about the next upcoming little project of mine - How to... create a small Bootcamp scenario for CS Middle East. We'll pit a crack company of hardened French Foreign Legionares against a company of mediocre Algerian FLN troops. Don't be fooled tough... This is November 1954... the situation would be quite the other way around in the years of 1961/1962... seasoned FLN troops vs. French conscripts would be quite a different ballgame.

A Savage War of Peace - Algeria 1954-1962

While doing my research for more tutorials about the French struggle(s) in their former colonies I bumped into this read. Seems like I have to get this one... Disclaimer: No, it's not linked to Amazon's affiliate program; I ain't get a centime. Just your attention about the subject... I hope.

A follow up read, highly recommended, is a study/thesis by Frederick J. Schwarz - Doctrines of Defeat, La Guerre Revolutionnaire and Counter-insurgency Warfare. 

French Ground Force Organisation & Counterrevolutionary Warfare 1945-1962

An interesting read and one of many sources that's being used by the scenario designers and the development team to implement its findings into Campaign Series Middle East and the upcoming CS - Vietnam. Click here to download it from the NATO website.

La fin

The end of turn 9 and, the game... In the next series of slides, I will try to explain more of the interface, with links to the manual, of course. 

Sometimes one needs to move around

Now look at that! It seems we made the right decision after all, avoiding the direct approach via RN-4. Time to defend our objective with the forces at our disposal.

Nous doublerons nos efforts!

I decided to direct and accompany the assault! It seems we killed the local commander and captured the weapons cache. Still... I am sure there are enemy forces around and about...

A quick view on some game mechanics

Time to explain some of the interface features as well as the unit values in 2D mode.

Surprise, surprise!

Now what have we got here? Seems like our M-8 reece troopers spotted what we've been looking for after all! We got'em with their pants down... literally.

CS Vietnam Web Survey - Your feedback appreciated!

Before we continue our small tutorial in Algeria, have a look at the web survey about what the development team of CS Legion can do in order to present you with another tactical wargaming experience of excellence. Ready? Just click here to go to the survey.

La nuit est finie ... enfin!

So far, so good. The patrouille de recon is in position, just behind them the Battalion HQ and myself. There was no incident along the southern approach and all the troops are off the lorries.

Où est l'ennemi?

The enemy's tactic, one has to admit, was good. Wait, hit and then run. No casualties were inflicted on both sides. Due to the confusion, I was able to get my lorries and the remnants of the M-8 Platoon through Oued Fodda; ready to use the southern route towards our objective.

Le long de la route nous allons ...

The best plan does not survive the first contact with the enemy... The M-8 Platoon was quite careful in approaching Oued Fodda. As we can see, it didn't help them. They got bushwhacked, disrupted and one M-8 being destroyed in the process. To make  matters worse, we can't use the new recon reveal feature, because... you guessed it, the unit is disrupted! B*gger!

Pour la France et la gloire...

OK. Before we even think about moving out, let's consider the terrain and the various approaches towards our objective. 

1) We could use the direct approach using RN-4, through Oued Fodda or

2) divert to the South and approach the objective along the road that's being shielded on both sides with olive groves.

I am back!

Yes... it took me nearly 6 years to get back into blogging and so on. At the moment I am working on quite a few tutorials (not for WinSPWW2, yet...), including TOAW IV and a revamped and, quite frankly, mega-improved version(s) of the Campaign Series in collaboration with the guys of CS Legion. So, stay tuned for more regular reports on the Tactical Wargaming front!