26 and/or 27 December

I'm off and will be around Friday and Saturday afternoons if anyone is interested in playing.

I know MJP wants to play.

Anyone else?

Depends on what goes on around here but I would be interested if time permits.

I'm free too (well, cheap at least).

I'm away from home ATM and will be on the 26th as well but will probably be back home on the 27th so could fit a game in then.

Yeah count me in. Would be great to have a game during the slow time when everyone seems to be off...........................

Fine for me, it's been a while since I lead a division to meet our fate in battle.

Let's say around the usual time 20:00 GMT ?

I could handle a game on 27th, UK evening.

I too am free on both days. I have a small scenario, Austrians vs French on one of the random maps.

I will relay to Garnier that you're coming around in regards to all things GCM.

That's awesome.

Can we expect you to show up for a GCM game soon?

All kidding aside, I'll be on the ks ts channel around 20:00 GMT.

So is the game on the 26th or the 27th? Both would be fine with me too as I just want the practice!

Soldier wrote:I will relay to Garnier that you're coming around in regards to all things GCM.

That's awesome.

That may be a case of slightly over reading the use of a random map. But as this is the season of giving, feel free to encourage Garnier's hopes and dreams to soar.

I am eager to play so I will be both days, if nothing comes up.

some of us are on the GCM TS Iberalc and plan on playing today with the KS group.

I'll be on at 20:00GMT today. We would need a total of 6 players minimum, 8 would be best, to staff both sides of the scenario. Of course more can be accommodated by players taking brigade commands.

Unless someone has a scenario made for today's game, I'll put one together with smaller divisions, 2 infantry, 1 cavalry and 2 batteries in each. I'll use another random map, (Nap_Port_RandomMaps6L_2). So it will be French vs Brit. and allies. Again we will need 6 players at a minimum, with 8 being optimal. Of course more can be accommodated with brigade commands. It will revolve around the town of Villaflor, a vital French supply depot. Capturing it from the French, will make it almost impossible for them to maintain a presence in Portugal. Can His Grace pull it off?

Ah, British! We don't see them used very often. I'll try to get there for 20:00 GMT.

Yes, lets try to get going at our usual time of 20:00GMT, (12:00PST, 13:00MST, 14:00CST, 15:00EST). This battle will have a slightly higher proportion of cavalry than we usually do. So caution is advised.

What was feeling concerning the smaller divisions? Did they make for a better battle experience?

I like the smaller divisions.

The battle did feel smaller. Perhaps with smaller divisions we could have another per side.

I'd also like to see separate cavalry divisions with their own artillery. It was rare to have cavalry brigaded into infantry divisions - except for the late Prussians.

Each side could have had another division, at the cost of one brigade commander.

Perhaps we could try a mix. A few 3 inf brigade divisions and a few 2.

More player controlled attacks with smaller divisions.

Either way, the games have been great. I hope to get even more gcm guys to come play.

Having somewhat smaller commands takes organizational and OOB considerations to a new level. When there are 3 players to command 3 large divisions, there isn't much to decide: each player takes a division. But where the number of players exceeds the division count, a C-in-C can be more creative in matching player experience and skill sets to his organization. This certainly makes it more interesting for C-in-C's and does, I think, present hard real-world choices to opposing commanders. Does it make more sense to pair 2 inexperienced players to run a single division in the hope that enhanced command control offsets experience deficit? Or perhaps creating a super-division (organizationally speaking) with a veteran division commander paired with another player commanding one of the division's infantry or cavalry brigades is better. And, of course, there's been lots of contrast in styles lately between C-in-C's choosing troop command for themselves vs. exercising a purely leadership role. The answers will likely vary greatly by scenario, but it does add a level of fodder for post-battle analysis.

There are a couple of other aspects of smaller commands. Fewer troops on the field makes for faster, better-running battles. And there is also the psychology that a player may tend to be more careful with fewer troops. This is his command for the day and once it has been trashed, he's out of the battle for all intents and purposes. Just speculating, but it might interject a more realistic caution to the battles.

I agree with Mark that the battles have been great lately. Hopefully, the influx of players and continued positive experiences will grow the player base sufficiently to provide even more interesting options.

kg little mac wrote

"Either way, the games have been great. I hope to get even more gcm guys to come play."

Yes some terrific games in the last few weeks.   Great to see the 2 groups coming together as well.

I'm trying to recruit from the face-to-face kriegsspielers.  Several of them have the game, but I think they are wary that the rest of us are experts.  If only they knew  

They typically have much less experience with the game than the GCM’ers, so the plan is to run some trial games, just for them.  If they flounder, at least there will be no–one else looking!  First game is due tomorrow.  We will play a scenario vs the AI to further reduce the pressure.

Rich (henridecat) has already made the leap, but he is braver than most. Cavalryman.

Martin (J)

I haven't seen the e-mails for tomorrows Test vs Ai game.

Also did you get Phill W-P working in a game yet Martin? (I've been away over Xmas)

You should have them, Diggers. They include a link to the new mod plus a scenario briefing. Let me know if not.

Rich is already configured. Sorted David out this morning. Am due to do the same for Graham in 20 mins, and am meeting up with Phill on T/S at 19.30. If you're around, why not join us and I'll check I can host you?

Only one I haven't heard from is Sean, but he's probably already ok.

Martin (J)