This could not have gone much worse for the Australians. Rolling 1s in assaults will never get you anywhere, particularly against the Japanese. The slapfight assault led by Lt Rockatansky was the back-breaker. I had the opportunity to run through a hole in the Japanese lines, and Lt Rockatansky and his 2 full platoons might have escaped unscathed, but the disrupted & demoralized stack of Japanese infantry just ahead was too tempting to ignore. Pretty much any result other than a 1 on that assault and Lt Miyagi's men would have dispersed, granting the Aussies badly needed VPs and still leaving them time to get away. As it went, it was not to be.

The Diggers absolutely have a chance in this scenario, but they have little room for error and a few lopsided assault rolls will quickly doom them.

Shad's Campaign Thoughts

Brutal.

I had been looking forward to starting this campaign for two weeks. I chose the officers for both sides with the utmost care. Keeping track of all the little ways they can gain or lose leadership points added some bookkeeping, but the emotional investment and pleasure gained more than made up for that.

I was only playing solo, but I still was heartbroken to see my childhood hero Crocodile Dundee shot for desertion(!) and my favorite reluctant badass Mad Max captured by the enemy in the very first campaign battle! As the Japanese I was also frustrated by the Kamen Rider's lack of chances to fight and Mr. Miyagi's stunning cowardice. (although he didn't desert like Dundee did...)

If you have the luxury of a regular face-to-face opponent, I think the Kokoda Trail Campaign Game would make for a wargaming experience you would never, ever forget.

Now, if you would please excuse me. I have to go recruit two new Australian lieutenants...