• Michael "6+3 Conklin

Here is my review of Kinetic Energy’s March Madness 99 Scenario Pack. For the unaware the scenario pack updated 10 of Kinetic Energy's classic scenarios from TOT 1, 2 and 3, and MM'97.
What you get: 5 double sided color scenario cards, a sheet with TOT Railroad overlays. 6 unmounted German and 1 British vehicle. The overlays and vehicles are given for those who did not own TOT 2 or 3.
First of all let me say that the scenario cards are ART. The color are bright and correct. The pictures look good, though some are obviously taken from movies. No where do the colors obsure information. Well done. [Note: read my thoughts on color scenario cards following this review].
Following is a brief description of the changes that were made. It is not a detailed list. I am not here to critized or approve of KE method of updating their scenarios, nor am I going to stir the pot by making the scenario pack unnecessary to those who wish the changes.

KE 13 Scorched Earth (TOT Teaser C)
Balance rewritten for both sides.
VCs, raised the Casualty points for the Germans.
Massive changes to Russian OB. Only part of Russian OB now HIP.
Added a German squad.
Reduced the Breakdown number for the German PzII(Fl) to X10.

KE 14 Another Day, Another Field (TOT KE 8)
Balance rewritten for both sides.
VC completely rewritten.
Dropped SSR 3.

KE 15 Angels at the Airifield (KE 10)
Balance rewritten for both sides.
Added second motar to US OB.
Combined SSR 1 & 2. SSR 3 now 2.
SSR 3: Modifies the Japanese.

KE 16 Tiger 222 (TOT #7)
Balance rewritten for both sides.
German VP needed are reduced and VC rewritten.
American OB: added a crew and replaced the AT Gun with a M10 TD, 4 squads may be HIP.
German OB: Added SS 8-3-8 and a LMG.
SSR 1 Added of board movement note.
SSR: M10 HIP.
SSR 3 added HIP AT/AP mines count as a halfsquad against US HIP availability.
SSR 4: 8-3-8 Assualt Engineer, Added Schurzen.

KE 17 Nightmare (TOT #8)
Balance rewritten for both sides.
Added American causality cap in VCs.
Redid German OB.
SSR 3, added additional cloaking counters and stealthy AFV crews.

KE 18 Winter Wonderland (TOT #10)
Balance rewritten for both sides.
Increased German VP needed, dropped casuality VP counts against Germans.
Modified both OBs.
SSR: Mist will not change. Soft ground in effect.
Removed one American OBA module.
Added SSR 3: 8-3-8 Assualt Engineers, StuPz IV not SS, Schurzen.

KE 19 Bitter Reply (TOT #11)
Balance rewritten for both sides.
Added American casualty cap to VCs.
Added a BAZ to American OB, modified German OB.
SSR: Vehicle crews may not voluntary abandon the vehicles.
SSR 4: rewrote the German OBA.

KE 20 The Steel-Eyed Boys (TOT #15)
Balance rewritten for both sides.
Dropped Armor leaders from VC (there aren’t any).
Reduced German OB by a HMG, added 4 hts to the British.

KE 21 Frazen’s Roadblock (TOT #25)
Balance rewritten for both sides.
Raised British Casualty Cap, dropped (Excluding Prisoners) from VCs.

KE 22 Black Friday (TOT #28)
Balance rewritten for both sides.
Lowered the British squad requirement for victory.
Removed MMG from German OB. Placed the 88LL AT Gun under the same Ammo depletion as the PzJg Tigers. Removed the Boresight restriction.

As you can see some scenarios have had just a few tweeks, other have been extentively modified.

Should you get this. If you don’t have the scenarios, I would say yes. If you do, then it is going to depend on weither you play them, talking to Russ, most have been improved and are more balanced. But is it up to you.

My view on color on scenario cards. Done right it's nice. It even more quickly allows you to see what sides are being used. It displays multi-national OB better. Done wrong it can make the scenarios harder to read. The problem is that it is nice, not necessary. If I have to pay a couple of extra bucks because the scenario cards are in color, then I would rather pass. Other than appearance to the scenario card, it adds nothing to the game.

"Of course this is my opinion, I could be wrong"