• Mike Conklin

Just picked up Rout Pack III from Critical Hit, ($9.95 at my local hobby store). The set includes 8 scenarios, which I guess are reprints from the original Rout Report.

The Rout Pack III scenarios creep up to published daylight for the first time. That is, they are special event and tournament scenarios that were never printed in the Rout, or anywhere else. If there are any copies of these out in the world, they must be some sorry-looking photocopies from the Romulus Dairy Mart. Rules-Challenged players take note: no PTO, no NA. Kurt Martin.

This is just my first impression.

Grade: A-. They corrected the major problem I had with Leatherneck 2, not putting the scenario in order and there is a wide variety of scenario types to keep it interesting. Since I buy the General usually just for the two scenarios the cost per scenario is reasonable.

The scenario cards use the (now) standard CH scenario layout and clip art. I am getting used to it.

My only nag is what I consider silly "Any mutually agreed upon alteration to either side OB." listed under handicaps. I don't feel its needed, and if on every card it can be assumed. (This is my opinion, I could be wrong.)

Very brief summary of the scenarios:

RPIII #1: The Dragons' Claws: France May 40. Germans defend against French infantry and armor. Germans start with six of 12 squads broken and DM.

RPIII #2: Flamed in France: France May 40. German PzIIs, Pz35(t)s and PSW 231s against British Mk VIs and A13s in a tank battle royal.

RPIII #3: A Funny Kind of War: Holland Oct 44. British try to dig the Germans out of stones buildings. (Includes Sherman Crab).

RPIII #4: Saving Madagascar. Madagascar May 42. British attempt to break through a Vichy French posistion.

RPIII #5: A Room with a View. Finland 39. Finns attempt to take a Russian position with out taking to many casualties.

RPIII #6: Hampshires on the Hill. Normandy July 44. Germans must take the buildings and hills from the British.

RPIII #7: Decapition. Russia Feb 43. Germans must recover body of Theodor Eicke, killed when his recon plane was shot down by the Russians. Unusual victory conditions.

RPIII #8: Another Damn Bridge. Belgium Dec 44. German Panthers and Panzer IVs must cross a bridge defended by a mixed bag of Americans with TD reinforcements.

BTW, I did a quick search of the Chronology of War listing and couldn't find any of these titles, so I have no idea which Rout Report scenarios these were.

A couple looked really interesting, so this seems to be a good value, wide variety of situations, no extras that are only used once or twice (overlays and unmounted counters, I still don't know where to store my 4 North Koreans from CH's OAF pack). So over all I recommend this. The minus is just for the Critical Hit clip art.

• Ted Bleck

I've tried not to comment on the quality of the scenarios since I have not played them yet. I only offer a brief description of the actions and OB's. Make up your own minds if this is a must have scenario pack or not. To order go to Critical Hit's Webpage or see your local game retailer.

A Nifty color cover sheet and 8 scenarios, all scenario cards are printed on heavy card stock, layout is in the standard CH! Format, CH! Graphical representations of ASL counter art, scenario cards ARE numbered consecutively for ease of filing.

RPIII-1: THE DRAGONS' CLAW

Mont-Saint-Eloi, France, 22 May, 1940, 6 turns, Scenario Attacker: French, Scenario Defender: German, Map area: 10, 16. 17. 19 (all half boards, 2 board equivalent). The French have a choice of gaining 24 CVP or controlling 20 buildings without losing >= 20 CVP of their own (an automatic loss). To accomplish these missions they have 13 squads, a couple of crews, 5 S35's, 3 Laffty 520's and good leadership. SW's are plentiful. The Germans have 12 squads, mediocre leadership and SW's (though they do get 1 37L ATG and 2 Kfz1's. They are put at further disadvantage with a random breaking procedure which DM's half of the German defenders.

RPIII-2: FLAMED IN FRANCE

St. Omer, France, 23 May, 1940, 5 turns, Scenario Attacker: British, Scenario Defender: German, Map area: 17, 18 (2 boards). An all out tankers delight... armor only. the British get Mk VI's(x2), A13's (x6), and A13 CS's (x1)along with a 8-1 armor leader. The Germans have 2 Pz IIA's, 6 Pz 35t's, 3 PSW 231 (6 rad) and a 9-1 armor leader. The Brits get a 6 VP bonus at start of game. Both sides gain VP's for exiting the enemy board edge or having all of its AFV's on the opponent's half of the map area. CVP's are also gained normally. A side can lose immediately if they have <=1 mobile AFV with functioning MA on boards anytime during the scenario.

RPII-3:: A FUNNY KIND OF WAR

Hertogonbosch, Holland, 22 October 1944, 7 turns, Scenario Attacker: British, Scenario Defender: German, Map area: 16, 19, 40 (3 boards). The British must control >= 11 points of buildings/bridges to win. The German player gets to establish the value of several buildings and bridges prior to start of play to add to the uncertainty of the scenario. To accomplish their mission the British have 12 squads, good leadership, adequate SQ, and a mix of armor including 2 Sherman Crabs, 4 Sherman V's, 2 Wasps, and 4 Ram Kangaroos. To check the British attack the Germans aheb10 squads, good leadership, 30 factors of mines, 2 50L ATG;s and a 20L flak AA gun. To aid in the defense they also have 6 trenches and a mixed bag of SW's.

RPIII-4: SAVING MADAGASCAR

Near Antisirne, Madagascar, 5 May 1942, 7.5 turns, Scenario Attacker: British, Scenario Defender: French, Map area: 37 (1 board). The British can win by amassing >= 35 CVP and earn double CVP for units exited across the enemy end of the map area. They get 15 squads, good leadership and SW with 2 Bren A Carriers, 3 Valentine II's and 2 Tetrarch's. To stop the Brits the French get 12 squads, adequate leadership and SW's and 2 75 ART pieces. They have plenty of fortifications to assist in the mission including pillboxes, trenches, wire and a roadblock.

RPIII-5: A ROOM WITH A VIEW

Hevosalmi, Finland, 12 December 1939, 8 turns, Scenario Attacker: Finns, Scenario Defender: Russian, Map area: 7, 40 (2 boards with several overlays and moderate terrain modification through SSR's). The Finns win if there is no GO Russian MMC in building 40oL7 and they lose if the take >= 21 CVP in casualties. To accomplish the mission they have 20 squads and excellent leadership and SW, and a 75mm OBA module. The Russians have 22 squads, adequate leadership and SW's along with a 75mm OBA module of their own. They also receive 2 T26 M33 and 1 T26S M37 tanks.

RPIII-6: HAMPSHIRES ON THE HILL

Maltot, Normandy, 10 July 1944, 6.5 turns, Scenario Attacker: German, Scenario Defender: British, Map area: 10, 11, 16 (3 boards). The Germans win immediately upon controlling all buildings an half of board 11 so long as there are no GO British units on a hill and the Germans have not lost > 35 VP. The Germans get 11 squads, adequate leadership and SW and have 4 Pz VG(L), 3 SPW 251/1's, 1 SPW 251/10 and 1 SPW 251/smg HT's. They also receive a 75mm OBA module. To counter the German thrust the Brits get 13 squads, solid leadership and SW, 10 "?", a lone Churchill VII, a Carrier MMG A and a solitary 76LL ATG. They also receive a 120mm OBA module with some SSR restrictions on its use.

RPIII-7: DECAPITATION

Artelnoye, Russia, 27 February 1943, 7.5 turns, Scenario Attacker: German, Scenario Defender: Russian, Map area: 19,. 22 (2 boards). It's a race to recover bodies. The Russians will immediately if they recovery "bodies" defined in SSR's. The Germans must go a step further by recovering bodies and controlling 10 buildings. The Russians have 17 mixed squads, OK leadership and SW. They also get 12 "?" to confuse the issue. The Germans have 10.5 SS squads and excellent leadership along with 12 "?"? of their own. They have available a 81mm OBA module. They also receive 3 Pz IVF2's and 2 StuG IIIG's Ground snow is in effect.

RPIII-8: ANOTHER DAMN BRIDGE

Malmedy, Belgium, 21 December 1944, 6 turns, Scenario Attacker: German, Scenario Defender: American, Map area: 40, 41 (2 half boards, 1 board equivalent). The Germans must cross the river with 4 manned tanks with functioning MA or control building 41FF2 and accumulate >= 18 CVP while having lost fewer CVP. They have at their disposal 9 squads, good leadership and plenty of SW's. Their AFV's are 2 PZ VG's, 2 PZ IVJ's and 3 SPW 251/1's. To stop the Germans the American force consists of 6 squads so-so leadership and SW. They are reinforced by 1.5 squads and 2 M36B1's, 2 M20's and a jeep. Mist rules are used from KGP along with soft ground.