William Boersma reports on his playtest of the Valley of Death scenario from Tide of Iron: Days of the Fox. See photos and commentary from his test and what he recommends for the Next Wave.

2. Days of the Fox – Valley of Death Scenario
This is a play test of the Valley of Death scenario as it's currently
published, with suggestions to make it a better scenario for the
Next Wave edition of Days of the Fox.

3. My board set up.
The Allied Tactic:
1. Americans concentrate on the German forces and
objective in the top center of the map.
2. British deal with the Germans centered around the
two hill hexes
3. The remaining Allied forces would deal with the
center objective. One squad each had been
detached from the main forces to capture the “1”
command point objectives.
The German Tactic:
1. To hold off the Allies as long as possible.
Overview:
The 88 on the hill has good coverage of the
battlefield even though it’s very exposed - I didn’t
see any better spots for it. The buildings in the top
center are, as they often are in TOI, death traps.
With LOS and the Allies having the initiative;
combined fire and concussive firepower are sure to
eliminate any German squads foolish enough to set
up there so I positioned them mostly behind
the buildings.

4. 88 Vulnerability
The picture above illustrates the vulnerability of the 88 in this position. As the Germans set up first, but the
Allies have the initiative, the Matilda can fire at it right away. (Yes, it has LOS - level 1 hills are of the same
height and therefore the dunes do not block LOS!) Of course, the crew(s) are also highly vulnerable!

5. German Vulnerability
The picture above shows the vulnerability of any German squads wanting to set up in the buildings hexes in
the top center (yes, again, the Allies have LOS immediately!) I did realize I placed some American units too far
forward, i.e. outside of the designated set-up hexes, but I corrected this before I started play and the Sherman
still had direct LOS of the front building. This is very important as it makes setting up there and claiming the
two attached command points very tricky for the Germans.

6. Notes:
Although I had some lucky shots, especially for the Allies, they
had, by the end of round 3 cleared 2 of the 3 victory point
markers, taken over control of the ’88 (remember, equipment
can be captured!) lightly damaged the Panzer III, and have
mostly been able to seize the initiative (5 command points
against still 4 for the Germans, but probably as of the next round
the latter will only have 2 left) and, last but not least,
consistently been able to pin the one remaining German MG (in
the pillbox). Those two double mortars sure are killing, aren’t
they (-;

7. Recommendations:
1 of 5
1. Reduce the number of rounds from 6 to 5.

8. Recommendations:
2 of 5
2. Give the Germans an extra entrenchment to give
the 88 some extra protection. This would be great if
need be added as a special rule. At the very least it
does give the 88 itself +1 armor, but would
otherwise not help because the crews could be
easily pinned and therefore be made incapable of
operating it. Also, allow the Germans to set up the
other fortifications and obstacles at will on their set
up maps.

9. Recommendations:
3 of 5
3. Reduce the total number of Allied mortars by 2; 1
for the British and 1 for the Americans. Add four
regulars.

10. Recommendations:
4 of 5
4. Give the initiative to the Germans; this allows them
to more easily set up on the “2” command point
objective and probably do some damage with fire
and move. The tanks will also need to be more
careful in setting up as the 88 would potentially get
the first shot!

11. Recommendations:
5 of 5
5. Perhaps the no surrender (and desperate
defenders) op cards could be added.
Note that all these recommendations are in favor of
the Germans. Implementing them all might switch the
balance decisively the other way. If number 1 is not the
change of choice, I’d first go for 3 and 4 above!