Saturday 8 September 2018

Von Gow at Hill 70

Today I was sent a link to an adventure game or interactive fiction game set during the Battle of Loos, 1915. The game was created by Nick Luft who sent me the link.

Here is the link:  Hill70

The game will take about 15 minutes and sets the player as a German battalion CO.  The decisions you make affect your subsequent options and also the ammo, morale and strength of your unit - changes to which will further affect your options.
I ran through it earlier today (it worked fine on my iPad) and achieved what I think is quite a good result, having heroically led my men in a spirited counterattack which captured the redoubt.  As can be seen from the screenshot, those who survived were in very good spirits!
So why not give it a go and leave your results in a comment.

13 comments:

Martin Rapier said...

You will be delighted to know that von Fricke (the Germanic side of my family) also managed a heroic counterattack and retook Hill 70. Shame about the Adjudent.

Ammo: 40%
Morale: 125%
Strength: 63%

so at the rate, we'll run out of bullets before people and be very happy about it!

Thanks for sharing that. It reminds me of Monkey Orange.

itchy's wargames said...

A noble victory
Hill 70
Ammunition = 55%
Morale = 115%
Strength = 68%

really good fun

Martin Rapier said...

I thought I'd try it again with a bit more of a 1914 approach (none of this recce, taking cover or short rush lark).

We held the 2nd line and only last half our men. The enemy seem to have taken Hill 70 though.

Tim Gow said...

Martin Rapier
Well done! I tried the short rushes by half company. It could be the future.

Tim Gow said...

Itchy’s wargames
You killed less of your guys than me!

Archduke Piccolo said...

I think I might have been overcautious.
Ammo: 65%
Morale: 85%
Strength: 76%
I used the short half-company rushes, and counter-attacked in support of 22nd Infantry with just one company (without asking permission from the Rgt Cdr Oberstleutnant von Bontz). Seemed to me that absent absent information of events on my own Regiment's front I would be taking too much on myself to commit two companies (though the temptation was strong). A quick decision called for, the single company was something of a balance between ensuring we still had a line, bearing in mind that only green fields stood behind us, and restoring the position of 22 Infantry.

Steve-the-Wargamer said...


Ammunition = 40%
Morale = 100%
Strength = 62%

...redoubt taken, but I'm not sure the men liked me much.. :o)

David Bradley said...

My result in this fascinating game.

Ammunition = 65%
Morale = 120%
Strength = 85%

Short of ammo but high on morale. Gott Straff England!

NickLuft said...

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all playing it and giving me such great feedback.

If any of you want to read the original regimental history then see this most excellent little book. I took most of the formation changes from that book and had to "think" what they would mean and what other choices were available.

Wynne, Captain G C. (2011) “Landrecies to Cambrai: Case studies of German offensive and defensive operations on the Western Front 1914-17” Solihull: Helion.


Nick

Tim Gow said...

Archduke Piccolo
You'd think they'd be happier, given how many more survived!

Tim Gow said...

Steve the wargamer
Very similar to my own result - I wonder if we had the same er, 'plan'

Tim Gow said...

David Bradley
Great result - you have more men and ammo then most of us and your chaps seem pretty pleased too!

Tim Gow said...

Nick Luft
Thanks for making your work freely available - please keep us posted with any further developments or new games.