Burma
Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:27 am
This is both a review and a discussion of strategy for Burma. The scenario covers a period of British colonialism in the first half of the 20th century. You must construct a railway connecting as many cities as you can, and fulfilling haul missions to key cities. Goods must be carried inland, or military cargoes to Lashio, the end of steel and the beginning of the Burma Road; and tea, oil, and iron or bauxite must be hauled to Rangoon for export.
Track is limited. You start with some track allowance, which is augmented in small amounts weekly. You get additional track allowance for transporting troops. Limiting track construction is the governor of this scenario because although it is a rich map, you are not at liberty to fully exploit the country’s resources.
There is only one company in the scenario, which seems historically accurate. Also, the railway was never connected to any other so there would be no other players.
First thing was to start in Rangoon, and lay track as quickly as possible to connect Mandalay, the first city needing goods. I proceeded towards the northern terminus of Myitkyina, and began the second goods mission. Along the way I connected cities that had barracks, and ran the track lines close to tea farms. Lashio was an easy two way mission, with goods coming and iron going.
I began with hub and spoke mentality, soon started the lumber and goods hauls on P8s which are very economical to run. However I soon got into trouble because the single track was getting congested. P8s have poor acceleration so transport was getting sluggish. I was making good money with industry ownership, so cost was not an issue. As quickly as I could I replaced the P8s on flat routes with Class 500s because of their better acceleration. It became apparent that I was completing haul missions quite rapidly, but was short of new track, so I diverted most trains to troop transport. Their consists were set to 2 troops, 4 any cargo, 4 minimum, then run for every possible pair of cities that had barracks.
I started in 1900 so there was no Burma Road mission. In the end, my map looked almost exactly like the rail map that comes with the scenario, because the track limitation affects how the connections are made. I got Gold on Hard in 1919, after 19+ years, a little too easy for a first go.
Back to the review:
- Great art and a great interpretation of the period.
- The map is a little too rich, too easy. I would lower the density
- I would look for more historical stuff. Maybe some headlines, maybe a bit of interaction with the army could explain context and lead to a troop haul offer.
- Your fate seems a bit too laid in stone, with little chance to vary playing strategy. A few more cities not connected historically would help. I believe there is a secondary port across the bay from Rangoon. That city could be added, and could have similar warehouses to and be in the same territory as Rangoon.
Track is limited. You start with some track allowance, which is augmented in small amounts weekly. You get additional track allowance for transporting troops. Limiting track construction is the governor of this scenario because although it is a rich map, you are not at liberty to fully exploit the country’s resources.
There is only one company in the scenario, which seems historically accurate. Also, the railway was never connected to any other so there would be no other players.
First thing was to start in Rangoon, and lay track as quickly as possible to connect Mandalay, the first city needing goods. I proceeded towards the northern terminus of Myitkyina, and began the second goods mission. Along the way I connected cities that had barracks, and ran the track lines close to tea farms. Lashio was an easy two way mission, with goods coming and iron going.
I began with hub and spoke mentality, soon started the lumber and goods hauls on P8s which are very economical to run. However I soon got into trouble because the single track was getting congested. P8s have poor acceleration so transport was getting sluggish. I was making good money with industry ownership, so cost was not an issue. As quickly as I could I replaced the P8s on flat routes with Class 500s because of their better acceleration. It became apparent that I was completing haul missions quite rapidly, but was short of new track, so I diverted most trains to troop transport. Their consists were set to 2 troops, 4 any cargo, 4 minimum, then run for every possible pair of cities that had barracks.
I started in 1900 so there was no Burma Road mission. In the end, my map looked almost exactly like the rail map that comes with the scenario, because the track limitation affects how the connections are made. I got Gold on Hard in 1919, after 19+ years, a little too easy for a first go.
Back to the review:
- Great art and a great interpretation of the period.
- The map is a little too rich, too easy. I would lower the density
- I would look for more historical stuff. Maybe some headlines, maybe a bit of interaction with the army could explain context and lead to a troop haul offer.
- Your fate seems a bit too laid in stone, with little chance to vary playing strategy. A few more cities not connected historically would help. I believe there is a secondary port across the bay from Rangoon. That city could be added, and could have similar warehouses to and be in the same territory as Rangoon.