Michael Junkin - 11:14am Jul 21, 2001 PST (#7216 of 7472)
Recent arrivals: GBII and HBTLF

OOTW for me is GBII. As others have said, there's alot of game here.
First impressions:

The scope of the game is very ambitious - AGC from Oct. 41 through end
of May 43 (178 turns) but there are many smaller scenarios (see below.)

There are three full mapsheets that join on their longer sides, forming
a 66x34 surface. The long dimension runs NS. For each large map there's
a small 14x22 "extension", each of which sits to the E of its mate. So
the whole surface is 66x48, covering from L. Ilmen in the north to just
south of Kursk in the south, and from west of Smolensk to E. of Moscow
(22 hexrows E.).

So the map is essentially the GBI map with an additional section to the
N. and about 25 hexrows wider, allowing more elbow room E. of Moscow (if
you ever get there...) Yes, the colour matching problem is there, but I
understand that my replacements are already in the mail. Certainly these
maps are useable, anyway.

The maps are quite appealing to (my) eye. Things are more muted than in
OCS's early days and IMO that's for the better. Things are crisp and
clear. The terrain symbols are what you'd expect for OCS. My only gripe
is the double-track RR lines are drawn as two not-very parallel lines -
they should be precisely parallel, so it looks a bit strange. Still, a
minor gripe.

There are 10 1/2 countersheets - 7 units, 3 markers and 1/2
errata/extras (errata counters for GBII, air unit replacements for EaTG,
DAK, Tunisia, more breakdown counters.

The counters have the standard OCS style. One interesting thing is that
the Germans are not gray - more of a light-gray/tan - it's hard to tell,
but whatever the colour is, I like it. There are lots of neat little
units: the 2/66zvb - a company of captured T-34s, RR siege guns, the LVF
French inf. III, NKVD units broken out by colour, Soviet airborne units,
Soviet ski IIs, aerosans (sleds on skis powered by aircraft engines -
what a ride that would be!) and Soviet commando companies.

The game-specific rules are only 10 pages long. Making up the rest of
the 128-page game-specific booklet are scenarios (19), OOBs and some
notes (six pages). The scenarios include three small scenarios, coverng
parts of the first phase of Typhoon, eight medium-sized scenarios,
covering:

1. Typhoon up to the Soviet counter-offensive (20 turns)

2. The second phase of Typhoon (i.e., that covered by SPI's "Operation
Typhoon")

3. Initial Soviet counter-attack (9 turns)

4. The remainder of the Soviet counter-attack (25 turns, 'til Apr 1 '42)

5. Historical '42 Summer Campaign (a series of smaller operations)

6. "Operation Kremlin" (an operation, not carried out, that the Germans
intended to initiate to deceive the Soviets into thinking the main '42
objective was Moscow.)

7. "Full On" Moscow Offensive (assumes the Germans did focus on Moscow
as their primary offensive in '42.)

8. Operation Mars (failed Soviet major offensive that was a partner to
Uranus)

Many of these scenarios can also be campaign starts - that is, you can
take up the campaign at that point.

What's exciting to me about this is the new ground - Mars, the summer
'42 scenarios, the Soviet counteroffensive, none of which I've gamed at
an operational level. I'm really looking forward to getting into this...

All in all, a VERY impressive package.

And if the scope of this isn't enough, note that two years hence will be
Case Blue which, with the EatG replacement maps now available and GBII
will allow you to game the entire Eastern front S. of L. Ilmen from Oct.
'41 to just before Kursk.

Has anyone else noticed that these games, combined with DAK, Tunisia and
Sicily, means that OCS will virtually completely cover the middle (i.e.,
the most interesting) portion of WWII in Europe?

Now that's ambitious!

Michael.