Tuchola Forest 1945 preview Options

[ScrapyardBob]

(He's not dead, he's only mapping.)

Some of ya'll might've heard rumors about an upcoming map release. Well, here are a few teaser screenshots.

The basic premise is that it's Jan 1945 and the Russians are getting ready to push towards Berlin through Poland. This means it's a winter map, using the After-Hourz vehicles (including the Jagdpanzer), and the Germans are on the defensive. Tuchola Forest is a large forested area in north Poland which seemed appropriate.

(I have no clue whether there was any actual combat in Tuchola Forest.)

Key points:
- Primarily designed for BAS gameplay
- Will probably support CNQ (but with an S-shaped objective path)
- CTF is also probable
- Map size is very similar to Barbarossa
- Visual conditions will change from round to round
- Beta testing will probably be in May 2006 with a Jun 2006 release
- I'm 4 weeks into the construction and about 40% complete (100-120 hours so far?).

...

Early pictures of the South Forest. This stretch of trees forms the majority of the south flank on the map. Visibility is heavily obstructed but it's still easy to drive vehicles through the trees. Infantry have the clear advantage as they are short enough to be blow the bottom branch level and can also hear vehicles approaching.







Bridge that leads west out of the South Forest and into the german area (a.k.a. the "Southwest Bridge"):



The north bridge out of the south forest (looking west). It connects north to the farm fields in the middle of the map. This bridge is actually called the "South Bridge".



German defensive position that overlooks the German #2 base area. The firing slit allows portable MGs to be setup to help guard the pak40 gunner.



There's a pass along the north side of the russians that looks like it was formed by a glacier. Haven't decided whether to simply label this area the "North Pass" or stick with calling it "Glacier Pass".












One unique feature of the map is going to be the addition of foot trails through otherwise impassable ridge lines. This allows infantry to slip through enemy lines and to help neutralize defenses prior to armor being brought forward. They also serve as escape routes for infantry that are being pursued by vehicles.














Finally, some fresh shots of the middle fields (middle area of the map and the main battleground):



















Note: Some of the screenshots above were taken during a winter storm where visibility drops to about 2/3 of what it normally is. You'll encounter winter storm conditions in about 10% of the rounds right now. There's also a 10% chance that you'll get better then average visibility which lets you see about 25% farther then normal.

[ScrapyardBob]

So, looking at the map and thinking about strategies. Most of what I talked about a month ago with regards to the map still applies.

Primary Objective - Control the river

If your team can keep the enemy on their side of the river, you probably won't lose the round. The best way to do this is by controlling the middle of the map (all four bridges plus the river ford). Control of the river and the middle of the map allows you to bring armor forward without it getting chewed up in the rear areas.

a. North Bridge - Neither team has a stranglehold on this bridge. Both sides will need to stay agile in order to keep this bridge closed to enemy traffic.

b. River Ford - The Germans have the advantage at the river ford crossing (due to the West Farm Bunker and the West Farm Tank Scrape). Russians will need to counter these positions by using the flanks and sweeping in on the West Farm area from Hill 75 and Hill 57.

c. South Bridge - While not a primary east-west avenue for vehicles, it is a major avenue for infantry infiltrators as they move between Hill 57 and Hill 17.

d. South Forest - Germans will want to control the Southeast Bridge, but will have difficulties due to the Pak45 that guards it. Russians will want to control the Southwest bridge, but will have difficulties due to the pak40 that guards that one.

Advanced Objective - Bottle the enemy into their spawn

Once you've got the enemy bottled into their side of the map, the next step is to shove them into their spawn and keep them there. That is easier said then done for the most part.

a. Germans - Germans should push forward and seize Hill 44 and the Glacier Pass. A second team will have to control the mortar bunker just west of Russian #2. The third team should setup shop at the "E" exit of the Hill 17 Trail. The fourth team will want to setup shop at the mortar position on Hill 13.

Alternately, Germans could push in even closer to the Russian spawn and get between the Russian spawn and the bases. The germans would need to control the northern spawn locations to force the Russians to spawn inside their HQ house, away from any armor.

b. Russians - Russians will want to push west of the river and seize key locations such as Hill 83, the Farm, the West Farm Bunker, Hill 57 and Hill 31.

Russians should attempt to take and hold the two southeastern spawn bunkers in the German spawn area. This will force the germans to spawn down in the ammo dump area. It simply requires that russians get within 1000u of the german spawn points inside those two bunkers. Once that happens, the Germans will be have to fight back uphill to retake their two bunkers and regain use of their heavy tanks. (But I may move one of the heavy tanks down near the Ammo Dump.)

I think that a pair of Russians could probably spawn-rape the Germans for quite a while if they can keep them spawning down in the Ammo Dump buildings. It won't be like shooting sitting ducks on Barbarossa, but there's a good chance that you could get away with it for a while.