"Testing a scenario for Ambush Valley/Force on Force" Topic

We play tested a scenario that was designed for Face of Battle and used Ambush Valley rules. I was going to say with mixed results, but not really mixed. You will have to read the blog for the explanation.

link

Mike

Hey Mike

I have this book and looking at the scenario it calls for CH-46 Chinooks which I think is a typo, should be CH-46 Sea Knights as the USMC didn't use the CH-47 Chinook (Army Heavy Lift Helicopter) as far as I know. I didn't read in your AAR but maybe the difference in lift capacity between the UH-1 and CH-46, which is almost 3 times more, could make the difference. The USMC player would only need one CH-46 to survive on the LZ to be able to recover everyone. Just a thought, or maybe increase the number of UH-1 helicopters?? Honestly, the number of CH-46 helicopters, 3 or 4 if I remember correctly, was something that put me off this one. Not sure where to even find the game board space for that many 28mm scale Sea Knights, let alone the cost.

I do like the book and have read through it. The scenarios look interesting but I haven't gotten around to playing any of them yet. I was considering the same approach you used, but having never played FOB and finding the setup for the scenarios a bit unusual, will stick to a simple set of rules for now. Maybe the Long Road South by Iron Ivan or FNG, then later move into FOF.

BTW, cool AAR and game. The 20mm by Charlie Company Vietnam minis by RAFM were always a favorite of mine. Also a few Britannia 20mm as well?? Anyways like the game, your AAR was the first I have seen for any scenarios in this book. Have you taken a look at the Skirmish Campaigns Hamburger Hill book?

As said we are going to give this one more go. I suppose we could fiddle with the number of Helos. What really made this scenario tough to play was the need to get the unresponsive bodies into the helos. We did not take into account the two troopers in the back of all the Helos. That might help with loading the Marines onto the Hueys. There are eighteen incapacitated Marines. There are 15 Marines on the ground. Even if every Marine were load the incapacitated Marines onto the helos, it would take a couple of turns. And you really do not want to leave the North Vietnamese firing indiscriminately without any return fire.