So out of the current 3 boxes and Designer series, and the ones posted online, I'd like to kind of compile a list of the best scenarios.

And by best I guess I mean not broken... I'm a new player and something like 2 out of the last 4 scenarios were just totally stacked for one side or the other or just not fun to play.

Good and balanced beginner ones
Blood on the Mountain
Breaking the Line
Chain of Command Tiger Hunt

Crossroads (I fix this one by simple removing 2 US Shermans)
DOTF-Hellfire Pass
Liberation (Give the Germans 2 extra infantry squads)
DOTF-Rescue Mission
Road to Ruin
Silence the Guns

There really are many more that to me look pretty good without having played them yet. If I find a likable scenario out of balance I just tweak it. Don't be afraid to do the same. FFG will not be sending men in black suits to your home if you do

4lterego said:

Don't forget that the relative strengths of the players have an impact on the relative balance of the scenarios. If a scenario is balanced for two players of equal strength, it won't be if one player is stronger than the other. Also, opinions on the balance of specific scenarios often change over time, especially if a player sees that their approach to that scenario was a bit off on the first go-round.

Thats right i find for the most part the scenarios are not unbalanced as it depends on the stratagy that you use, I have found even if I have been smashed in a game i try a differnt aproach the next time and what do you know i do a whole lot better or even win. ( i do like playing the role of the underdog in scenarios as you have to be a whole more aware) Thats what drew me to TOI the historical element i got sick of playing those games where you have say 1000pts each and then fight it out, as i said its fun being on the back foot and also when my group plays were always switch side to see who had the better stratagy.

Lebatron said:

By Breaking the Line, do you mean At the Breaking Point ? It's the first scenario listed in the base game and seems to me to be very imbalanced in favor of the Americans. I've played this one twice so far. The first time was a team game a couple of years ago. As the Germans, my team mate and I never came close to winning, although I forget the details.

The second time was a solo game a few weeks ago. I stuck to the divisional limits, so the two American mortars were in separate squads, but this still didn't seem to help much. The Germans had a lot of lucky attack and defense rolls, wiping out American squads left and right, while escaping destruction surprisingly often. The problem was that their units were simply irreplacable when lost, while the Americans kept getting new squads from the reinforcement deck. Even successfully taking out all 4 American MG's, while preserving the 2 German ones didn't make the difference.

There was only one safe assault path that I could see, which didn't require a turn as sitting ducks on the barbed wire, being attacked from close range. The Germans sat back in the safety of trenches in the woods (engineer built), killing squad after squad, but never reached a point where that assault could be made without grave danger. Finally on turn 7 they had no choice but to go for it. The game was on the line. They charged through the hole in the wire, and got butchered on turn 8. Even very lucky rolling didn't give them a chance it seems.

I'm in the process of setting up for another solo attempt. I'm going to try some new setups, Namely, the Americans are going to position some squads a bit forward to contest the 1pt neutral CP that the Germans get on their side of the map. It has some risk for the Americans but I'm guessing it will delay the Germans for a couple of turns and US reinforcements should still be able to make the difference. One thing seems certain. If the US player sets up a conservative defense, the German can't crack it.

My question is how do you see the scenario as balanced. (If we're talking about the same one) What tactics do you think I'm overlooking?

Breaking the Line is a beginner scenario that is on the FFG web site under support its made up of 4 boards and is very winable by both sides

In random order:

1.) To save Bastogne (Designer series vol. 1) (Let's hope it's not analogue with George Michael's 1990 album called "Listen without prejudice vol. 1" of which a second volume was never released, but I digress...)

2.) Assault on Kidney Ridge (DotF)

3.) Omaha beach (Normandy) (Don't really like the strategy it takes for the Americans to make it through the first few turns as I pointed out in another thread, but it sure is balanced and otherwise also a lot of fun).

4.) Hellfire pass (DoTF)

5.) Tiger Hunt (digital)

6.) Stavelot express (base game)

There are many more but I don't remember all of them by heart. These should keep you busy for a while, though!

Hellfire pass, really? everything i have read so far suggests the germans always win.

Mind you I have not played this one myself yet (Guess it could be the same as with picking up the picese, everything I read on it suggested the Germans win yet I just played 2 rounds tonight with a friend both playing each side and the Brits won both times, very close though both times)

Aussie_Digger said:

I lost that scenario as the German player, but it was close.

Its true that there are plenty of unbalanced scenarios but the skill of the player does have a lot to do with it. Try putting the more experienced player on the side that seems to have the disadvantage.

I find that in a lot of the scenarios there are only a few obvious approaches that both sides will quickly recognize and be able to counter; thus giving the win to the player with the advantage. But try to give a scenario some good thought before you play it and you just might be able to deceive your opponent, after all many battles have been won or lost due to this.

Personally what i like to do is pick out a scenario to play several hours or even a day or two in advance. Then throughout the day(s) i think about different strategies and periodically look at the booklet to make sure all the units and the battlefield are fresh in my mind. You would be surprised with the ideas you might come up with.

Defending requires understandably easier tactics in most cases. One thing to remember when on the offensive is to make note of how much time it will take for your units to reach their objective so that you dont run out of time while caught up in firefights (Ive made this mistake several times; losing the game by a single hex or two because of a miscalculation). This way you can keep track of how much time your units can spend in one place or use up in decoy attacks. Also remember that sometimes higher casualties are necessary for a win. I often find i lose a lot of time moving slowly trying to keep my troops alive.

Pilot17 said:

very good points!

Pilot17 said:

Well said! I second that!

Planning the strategy for an upcoming scenario is part of the fun. Anticipating the other player's strategy, trying to thwart my fellow's plan from what I know of his fighting style... I agree most scenarios are balanced or offer an interesting and fun challenge with this attitude in mind.

I dissagree. Its extremly booring starting on a scenario and then find out its broken. Nothing is more boring. Therefore I strongly suggest that you read through the scenarios first, and pick the ones you like. There are a few very good scenarios out there, you just have to find them.

For me I find Night hunt (if played correctly) from designers scenarios to be an extremly fun scenario. Its a scenario where the defender needs to be agressive, and night vision makes for some nice sneaky manoevering.

And just another comment, no, all scenarios does not give something to the game... Some of the scenarios are so extremly stupid that they are not worth trying. Thats atleast my opinion.

But then, there has to be a few stupid ones before a great one apears