Module:Ardennes '44

Files and Module Information

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Comments
PUBLISHED 2003

DESIGNER Mark Simonitch

DEVELOPER Tony Curtis

ART DIRECTOR Rodger B. MacGowan

MAP ART Mark Simonitch

COUNTER ART Mark Simonitch

VASSAL MODULE Gary Krockover 1st Ed, John Rainey 2nd Ed (using Gary's as a base)

December 16, 1944 After a period of fog, rain, and snow blankets the area, three German armies unleash 26 divisions against thinly held American lines in the Ardennes forest of Belgium and Luxembourg. The objective of the Germans is to push through the Ardennes, then cross the Meuse River and head for Antwerp. Hitler hopes to split the Allied armies apart and smash their vital supply port at Antwerp. Can the Americans stop them?

Historically, the German army trampled the American VIII Corps and penetrated within two miles of the Meuse. The Americans stubbornly fought the Germans at many critical crossroads slowing and then stopping Germany's elite forces. Historically, the German offensive achieved little except to create a "bulge" in the American line.

Ardennes '44 explores this fascinating campaign with a detailed order of battle and an extremely accurate Ardennes game map which covers the area from the Our River to the Meuse. Ardennes '44 covers the period from December 16th to the 26th. Two shorter one-map scenarios are included which cover the initial stages of the German attack. The Ardennes '44 game system is designed by Mark Simonitch, winner of the CSR James F. Dunnigan Award for Design Elegance and Best WWII Board Game of 2000 for Ukraine '43.

The result is Ardennes '44, a game that both the "Bulge enthusiast" and the casual player will enjoy. German attacks follow historical advance routes, and the Bastogne and St. Vith defense perimeters are often as large as they were historically (instead of one big stack of units in the town itself). The Allied player has a chance at holding Elsenborn Ridge and making the Germans pay dearly for the twin villages of Rockerath and Krinkelt. Likewise, the German player has an equal chance of changing history and reaching the Meuse River.

{Text taken from Ardennes '44 game page on GMT Games website.}

VASSAL MODULE Jean Philippe Biron (2nd Edition v1.0)

Brand new VASSAL module improved for Ardennes '44 2nd Edition in the style of the Holland '44 module from Nigel Rabbetts and some others from the "Somewhere" ' "Sometime" series by Mark Simonitch.

A number of new features such as:


 * New graphics and colors for units and markers styled as in Holland '44 module.
 * Remove All Combat Markers.
 * Show/Hide the Fuel Dump Markers Display.
 * A random selection for Dump Markers (manageable only by the Allied player or solo).
 * Highlighting certain pieces to find them easily.
 * Show/Hide the Setup Cards Window.
 * Show/Hide all units and markers on the map (not all pieces) for a better overview.
 * Show/Hide VP Hexes.
 * Show/Hide German At Start Divisional areas.
 * More functionality in the right-click menus with a Sub-Menus organization.
 * Customized movement Trail.
 * Control Markers avoiding the players can trace a supply road portion path using towns and cities he doesn't control.
 * Quick Set Up and Normal Set Up for The Campaign Game.
 * Keyboard Shortcuts in the Help Menu.

Hereunder a screenshoot.

If you notice errors, omissions, misprintings, bugs or anything else please fell free to contact me by email and report it to me. I will make the corrections accordingly. Thank you.

VASSAL MODULE Jean Philippe Biron (3rd Edition v1.0)

Vassal Module for the 3rd Edition.

Map and Counters have been changed according to the Rulebook p.30. Included new Charts and Tables. Corrected some minor errors coming from the 2nd Edition Module.

You'll also find new features:


 * Toggle Movement Trails
 * Show/Hide the German Army Boundaries
 * Show/Hide the Ourthe River Line
 * Search Units (pieces Inventory)

If you notice errors, omissions, misprintings, bugs, wrong setups or anything else please fell free to contact me by email and report it to me. I will make the corrections accordingly. Thank you.

VASSAL MODULE Jean Philippe Biron (3rd Edition v1.1)

Revised version of the VASSAL Module v1.0 for the 3rd Edition.

Now the Show/Hide following features should work.

ALT L Show/Hide the German Army Boundaries ALT R Show/Hide the Ourthe River Line ALT V Show/Hide VP Hexes ALT X Show/Hide German At Start Divisional areas

They are automatically activated when the module, vlog/vsav files or the scenarios are loaded. They work in exactly the same way as the "Show / Hide all pieces on this map" feature (ALT H, the blue globe). An additional command button has been added. It allows to hide one, many or all of this four features. But it is still possible to Show/Hide them independently. Moreover, when you display or disable them, the opposing player does not see it in the vlog file.

The three Highlighting commands for Traffic Markers, Greif Markers and Dump Markers should also work.

Some other improvements have been added:


 * Now you can flip Disrupted Markers to their Broken side and vice versa.
 * The D1* Combat Result Marker have been changed to DS.
 * The ENG+ Combat Result Marker have been added.
 * Determined Defense “Delay (-1 Step)” Marker have been added.
 * More Combat Identification Letters are available.
 * The « two Dice » roll give now two results and not the sum.
 * The Remnant Display for CC Remnants are now going G through L instead of I through M.
 * Some omissions and placement errors in the scenarios have been corrected.
 * All keyboard shortcuts have been tested. Some have been modified. They all work.
 * Other small minor fixes and some small improvements were made.

Special thanks to Gregory Niswonger and Ivan Kent for their help in improving the module.

VASSAL MODULE Jean Philippe Biron (3rd Edition v1.2)

Improved version of the VASSAL Module v1.1 for the 3rd Edition.


 * Corrected German 150 bde counter back.
 * Added a Surrender menu which send surrendered units to the surrender Box.
 * Old surrender menu (wich place surrender marker) has name changed to "Isolated".
 * Added some missing Combat markers.
 * Corrected some other minor things.

This version is compatible with all vlog or vsav files from the previous version v1.1. So you can play v1.1 game with this version module. You just have to refresh counters just after download the old vlog or vsav (in the tool menu).

VASSAL MODULE Jean Philippe Biron (3rd Edition v1.3)

Improved version of the VASSAL Module v1.2 for the 3rd Edition.

- 150 Pz Bde It's now possible to do an infiltration movement or an effect of surprise via the right click menu of this unit. The corresponding Die Roll is automatically made and if the 150 Pz Bde failed and is detected, then the green band disappear and the unit become completely gray. - Von der Heyte You can roll the die via the right click menu for the paradrop purposes. Depending on the result, the effects are directly and automatically applied. - 653 PzJ You can roll the die via the right click menu for the arrival. Depending on the result, the effects are directly and automatically applied. - A wrong placement in hex E2828 has been corrected. - 4/22/2 Inf + 4/803/TD(-) stack has been replaced E1103 -> E1102 (the hex E1103 is a forest hex with no roaded hexsides so 4/803/TD(-) can not be there). - Fuel Dump Markers have been suppressed (not used in the scenario). - Greif Markers 1, 2 and 3 have been retire from the map. - German 150 Bde have the “detected” status.
 * A lot of unit names are now more detailed.
 * Lehr/130 Recon has been corrected. The stacking value on full strength side has changed to 2 in 3rd Edition.
 * You can now highlight Roadblock Markers in the same way than Traffic Markers.
 * There is now a special ability in the right click menu for the following units:
 * The Patton’s Counterattack scenario:

This version is compatible with all vlog or vsav files from the previous version v1.2. So you can play v1.2 game with this version module. You just have to refresh counters just after download the old vlog or vsav (in the tool menu).

VASSAL MODULE Jean Philippe Biron (3rd Edition v1.4)

Improved version of the VASSAL Module v1.3 for the 3rd Edition.


 * Corrected a dysfunction in the 150 Pz Bde Ability Menu.
 * Eliminated Breakdown units now return to the Breakdown Display and not in the Eliminated Box (Eliminated Breakdown units must go back to the display where they may be used again).
 * The Build an IP property in the Right Click Menus is disabled if the eligible unit has previously move.
 * The speed of execution when Highlighting Greif, Traffic and Fuel Dump Markers are now faster.
 * Added an Highlight Disrupted/Broken Markers button (ALT W) in the General Menu. Useful for locating at a glance Disrupted/Broken units and remove Markers when conditions are met without any forgetting.

This version is compatible with all vlog or vsav files from the previous version v1.3. So you can play v1.3 game with this version module. You just have to refresh counters just after download the old vlog or vsav (in the tool menu).

VASSAL MODULE Jean Philippe Biron (3rd Edition v1.5)

Improved version of the VASSAL Module v1.4 for the 3rd Edition.


 * Now the Highlightings for German Divisional Boundaries, Army Boundaries, VP hexes and Ourthe River Line are not loaded at startup.
 * Arrow Markers no longer stack in the center of hexes by magnetism (they can be moved anywhere) and are a little smaller.
 * An overstacking in the Quick Setup Scenario has been corrected.
 * The speed of execution when moving the Game Turn Marker is now faster.
 * There is now new markers for bridge demolition attempts which can be turn to "blown" if the attempts are successful or to "Remove next GT" if the attempts are failed.

CAREFULL: This version is not compatible with all vlog or vsav files from the previous version v1.4. So you cannot play v1.4 games with this version module. New games must be started with this version and both player should use the same version.

VASSAL MODULE Jean Philippe Biron (3rd Edition v1.6)

Improved version of the VASSAL Module v1.5 for the 3rd Edition.


 * Eliminated Remnant units now return to the Remnant Display and not in the Eliminated Box (Eliminated Remnant units must go back to the display where they may be used again). Parent units are permanently lost and are shelved (they don't go on the Eliminated Box).
 * New "Advances" Markers. May be useful for some of you.
 * Corrected 1SS/1/1 unit wich was disappearing on an unfortunate CTRL D.
 * Corrected the markers for bridge demolition attempts which can be turn to "blown" if the attempts are successful or removed if the attempts are failed.
 * Added an Remove All At Start Restriction Markers button (ALT F3) in the General Menu. Useful for removing All Restriction Markers in just one click.

This version is compatible with all vlog or vsav files from the previous version v1.5. So you can play v1.5 game with this version module. You just have to refresh counters just after download the old vlog or vsav (in the tool menu).

VASSAL MODULE Jean Philippe Biron (3rd Edition v1.7)

Improved version of the VASSAL Module v1.6 for the 3rd Edition.


 * Corrected some Disrupted/Broken Markers wich did not highlight.
 * You can now highlight Engaged Markers.
 * ToT Combat Marker is added.
 * The odds Markers have now the ability to be decremented or incremented (via the Right Click Menu).
 * Added a Defender Decision Marker that can be labelled. Useful for PBEM.
 * Lose/Gain step report is now not redundant when using the keyboard Sortcuts.
 * Improved the way how Fuel Dump Markers are revealed. The allied player can now reveal the Fuel Dump Markers during the course of the game in a vlog file. The revealed hidden sides remain invisible for the German player, only the Allied player can see them. Once revealed, the Fuel Dump markers are identified and can no longer be interchanged. The German player still has no access to these Markers. Whether revealed or not, now they stack with other counters all the time. N.B. To be revealed, markers must be in a correct location.

This version is compatible with all vlog or vsav files from the previous version v1.6. So you can play v1.6 game with this version module. You just have to refresh counters just after download the old vlog or vsav (in the tool menu).

If you notice errors, omissions, misprintings, bugs, wrong setups or anything else please fell free to contact me by email and report it to me. I will make the corrections accordingly. Thank you.

Players

 * fjt_us@yahoo.com@jeb123
 * gary@garykrockover.com@GJK
 * DerDiplomat@gmx.net@DerDiplomat
 * robarrieta@gmail.com@robarrieta
 * antchamorro@gmail.com@anchamo2000
 * leegb1@msn.com@Bridge
 * pzlehr@bellsouth.net@pzlehr
 * michel.drapeau@gmail.com@MiracleMike
 * wsaurin@nomade.fr@rop
 * keithtod@gmail.com@ktodd
 * jjtaylor37@yahoo.com@jjtaylor37
 * abi.dierecte@gmail.com@LukeSineath
 * rad_tech1958@yahoo.com@DRZ
 * toadkillerdog.land@gmail.com@Toadkillerdog
 * raestuart@hotmail.com@raestuart
 * rosgen@gmail.com@asdnart
 * rdokter@hotmail.com@rdokter
 * shmcbee@bellsouth.net@shmcbee
 * nemesis8472@hotmail.com@Arnie
 * playtester1313@hotmail.com@harkonnen13
 * sincrobuster@yahoo.es@sincrobuster
 * m_wrightyau@yahoo.com.au@MWright
 * akapuno@gmail.com@JonasK
 * abi.dierecte@gmail.com@Rindu
 * gevmontej@gmail.com@Gevalle
 * jphbiron@orange.fr@jphbiron
 * michael.s.owens@us.army.mil@MikeO
 * thomasvangaever@gmail.com@TVG01
 * hipshott@gmail.com@Hipshot
 * polymath66@gmail.com@Paul-E
 * rickgalli@gmail.com@Rick Galli