Parachutes Over Crete - sell me on it

[Shad]

Those of you who own this game and have played it and enjoyed it...

• what new concepts / mechanics does PoCr introduce to the series, if any?
  
• what does PoCr do better than other PG games, if anything?
  
• apart from being shiny and new, why are you pulling PoCr off the shelf instead of any other PG title?
  

[saracv3]

Cuz it’s neato, man. I did some research on your collection, General. Haven’t played a game since 2010: except for starting the ASSAL?

Seriously, I thought why do I even want this game? Well, I had to complete my collection, just like Afrika 1944, Slovakia’s War and Africa Orientale Italia. To complete my collection is to collect historical games. And chase Robin for#1 completion.(Yeah right ! )

But it is mainly that Crete is a piece ofWWII history I had a chance to explore. One push was seeing a biography of Max Schmeling , the great boxer, who was a German paratrooper The new concepts include prodigious use of paratrooper attack, a type of warfare that would literally fall from grace as a German typology of tactical offense as a result of the tough Battle. Both sides lost over 13,000 men killed. I know very little about Crete, Greece 1940-1941 or the Balkans before this game came out.

When compared to various stand-alone PG games, it has the feel of a Dunkirk or a later game with smaller Jay Townsend scenarios and the standard Matt Ward battle game touch. These “mini-campaign write-ups have now become a staple feature in PG games, supplements and extensions. They come from an increased desire to add more historical background, but there could eventually morph even more complex principles into the writing such as maps, charts and bibliographic notes.

In closing, the maps are again somewhat dark and confusing like Dunkirk’s, but not quite as bad. No doubt, not to take Peter or Dr. Mike to task, but to point that color glossy TEC’s are desirable and necessary in dealing with these interesting but subtle Riessen terrains. I know just enough about glossy printing to know that it can be done; albeit expensive
, but it can be done. Also, there was no excuse for the missing town in Map 98. That should be replaced upon request as APL. policy has been to replace missing unit sheets upon request.

a

[Shad]

Thanks for the write-up, Craig.

Yes, my playing frequency took a huge hit after 2010... launched this site, moved to a new apartment without a game room, had a baby, wargame partner moved away, and things got busy at work... any one of those alone would have been troubling, but together it was a perfect storm.

I'm optimistic I'll begin to start playing semi-frequently again now that we have Vassal. We'll see how it goes!

I'm very close to getting this one... Maybe at the beginning of summer.

[plloyd1010]

I have no objection to wrestling in the GIFU again. Or just about anywhere else.

[saracv3]

I have no objection to wrestling in the GIFU again. Or just about anywhere else.

I realize you’re only slightly busy. How many players you got in your personal VASSAL army- 2000 or so? But there is one issue maybe even I can help with- Putting PoCr in the ILS.There is at least one player that likes using ILS- Me! I couldn’t wait for PoCr to appear in it. The fortuitous aspect here is that PoCr doesn’t have that many large scenarios so the leader input will be relatively small.

[plloyd1010]

I realize you’re only slightly busy. How many players you got in your personal VASSAL army- 2000 or so? But there is one issue maybe even I can help with- Putting PoCr in the ILS.There is at least one player that likes using ILS- Me! I couldn’t wait for PoCr to appear in it. The fortuitous aspect here is that PoCr doesn’t have that many large scenarios so the leader input will be relatively small.

I think 4. For making extensions, mostly me, but Bob and other Craig help too.

All you need is a leader list to start the ILS. PoCr will need 6 in the end.

[rerathbun]

But there is one issue maybe even I can help with- Putting PoCr in the ILS.There is at least one player that likes using ILS- Me!

I've entered the leaders for Ancient Armor!

I use the tool, also.  I've started on the PoCr leaders, have finished the Greeks and am working through the Luftwaffe at the moment.

[saracv3]

But there is one issue maybe even I can help with- Putting PoCr in the ILS.There is at least one player that likes using ILS- Me!

I've entered the leaders for Ancient Armor!

I use the tool, also.  I've started on the PoCr leaders, have finished the Greeks and am working through the Luftwaffe at the moment.

i

Of course I had my tongue firm in my cheek when I said that at least there was one other player that irked ILS. I did Afrika 1944 #1 the other day and realized that in some game, supplement or extension there might be different forces to enter into the mix.
I like random Vegas outcomes.
I think the only thing holding PoCr back for me is the code. I can list the leaders, too. Right now, Im getting ready for Engineer Drop #15. If I saw PoCr on the ILS list I could merely add the list.

[saracv3]

Those of you who own this game and have played it and enjoyed it...

• what new concepts / mechanics does PoCr introduce to the series, if any?
  
• what does PoCr do better than other PG games, if anything?
  
• apart from being shiny and new, why are you pulling PoCr off the shelf instead of any other PG title?
  

And here’s another POS (Point ofSale) that might be cool: PoCr meets Bom Alley. The two game systems- PG and SWWAS could be combined to form a campaign game pitting the Allies against the Axis. We could get The Admiral to write up pano game surrounding Crete May-June, 1941. We could use, say, 4-6 players Comments?”

[rerathbun]

Of course I had my tongue firm in my cheek when I said that at least there was one other player . . .

I assumed so, but my answer didn't make that assumption clear.  

PoCr leaders are listed.  I checked them as I entered them, but please let me know of any errors.