[Consim-l] Budapest 45 - Command 31

[Pat Collins]

I played this recently, as I prepare for the Spring Games Plus auction. I 
had played and liked Rommel at Gazala, and this also is a very fun and 
satisfying game.

Its strength (and for many, weakness)  is the "roster sheet" approach to 
combat strength and step losses. Each unit has a different rating for 
strength and number of steps it has. Most infantry have a few steps, and 
decent defense and so so attack ratings.

Big units like Tank Corps and Panzer Div. have many steps and a lot of 
strength. The CRT is very attritional, and you almost always lose one step, 
in attack or defense. One cool thing is that for FtF play you can have the 
units upside down, and revealed only at moment of combat. The rosters should 
of course be hidden at all times.

To add to the fun, the Panzers can split off "detachments" of a step, to 
provide some bluff, as well as a ZOC. Movement is stopped when you enter a 
ZOC, and retreating into one causes a step loss. The German player can set 
up some nice problems using these, but a lucky/brave Soviet can pull off an 
easy win by guessing right.

The situation starts with the Soviets having Budapest circled. A German 
force comes on map to try to break through. If the Russians can take 
Budapest, they win at once. If the Germans can get a supplied unit into 
Budapest, they win at once. There are some Russian units on map, and they 
can "release" reserves, and more come on as reinforcements.

The German can usually get close to the  city, the key is can the Russian 
weaken the siege enough to let the big tank and mech units come on map and 
do some damage. Both sides get VPs for destroying steps, and that is how you 
count victory if you dont' get an automatic win.

Very fun, fast playing, and reasonably balanced. Not sure if it gets sold 
off or not yet.......

Regards, Pat
Last Played: Ardennes, ASL SK, Henderson Field/Op Shoestring