Paul Rohrbaugh - 10:18am Nov 28, 2000 PST (#556 of 557)
Vallee de la mort

This game covers the battles of the siege of Dien Bien Phu. The scale
has weekly turns, with up to 7 impulses of a day each. Units are mostly
battalions and artillery batteries, with the French also fielding 10
tank units (each representing 1 tank, all named after a famous battle).
There are aircraft units (F8F, F6F, C-47, C-119, PBY, F4U and
Helldivers) for the French, while the Viet Minh have Katyusha rockets,
engineers, and a mine. Units are rated for combat, movement and morale.
The Foreign Legion and paratroops are the toughest, but the Bo Doi's of
the Viet Minh's 308th are just as tough, too.

Sequence of play is 1)Supply/Reinforcement, 2)Strategic phase (for the
week) of bombardment, and movement, 3)Tactical impulses (a day each) of
movement, fire, and assault combats, and finally 4) an end phase for
recovery and victory determination.

he map is an area depiction of the Dien Bien Phu valley. Rules cover the
"parachute mafia," AA fire, paratroop drops, and 2 different forms of
combat. Random events cover the effects of the "Rats of Nam Yum", the
death of "Earthquake McGoon," as well as other events that did or could
have affected the campaign. Both sides have definite capabilities and
liabilities that will lead to numerous key decisions being made
throughout the game by the players. The game has several scenarios
covering key battles of the campaign and all can be played solitaire.
Although it is in a small format, this is "big" game. The individual
scenarios can be played in 1-2 hours, while the entire campaign may take
7-8 to reach a conclusion. Play test sessions indicate that although the
French are challenged, it is no walk-over for the Viet Minh. Both sides
will be hard put to maintain supplies for everyone/everything into May.
Pushing things too rapidly, however, on the Viet Minh's part may put
them into a hole they can't climb out of later in the game. Anyone who
remembers GDW's old monster "Citadel" should be pleased with this game
that is similar in scope. The Co-op's ministrations, however, should
make this effort much more playable and historically accurate. Enjoy the
game! 

Paul Rohrbaugh