To a true Europa fanatic this article may seem heretical. What follows is a crude, untested framework that will allow Scorched Earth to be played without the two northern maps (5B and 6A). The reason for trying to implement such an idea is so that those of us with a very limited playing space can still enjoy fighting the majority of the conflict.

Three approaches readily suggest themselves:

1. A passive off-map box which assumes events in the Northern Theatre (NT) follow history.

2. An active off-map box with combat charts, attrition, etc.

3. Enclose and air condition your garage.

I chose #3. My wife informs me that a backup plan should be prepared, so away we go. What I aim for is a passive Northern Theatre. Some 'interaction" will be unavoidable.

The Northern Theatre is the Finnish theatre (as described in SE rule 32.B.1, paragraph 2) and the area on the two omitted maps. It might help to keep the units in the Northern Theatre in a baggie or to keep a list someplace.

I. Soviet Deployment

B. 6 RE of the Leningrad MD reserve must be deployed in Leningrad or adjacent to the northern hexes of Leningrad and may not move until an Axis unit moves next to one of them or any Leningrad city hex. The remainder of the reserve may deploy per the rules and may move freely.

II. Axis Deployment

B. All of Germany's Army Norway is in the NT. Ten of Germany's resource points must be sent to the NT. They are considered to be used during combat and are therefore "destroyed."

III. Reinforcements and Replacements

B. All German reinforcements arriving in the Arctic, Sweden or Finland go to the NT.

C. All Soviet reinforcements arriving in the Arkhangelsk MD go to the NT. All Soviet replacements from the Arkhangelsk MD go to the NT where they are destroyed. Allied lend- lease North is not affected. It appears at rail hex 0108 on map 2A.

IV. Escalating Force Requirements

If either side fails to meet these troop levels his opponent may immediately choose 1.5 times the shortfall in RE from anywhere on the map. The shortfall is sent to the NT. The 50% extra is eliminated and sent to the force pool. The shortfall must be taken in proportion from the troop types in which the shortfall occurs.

At certain times troops from both sides in the NT receive upgrades or conversions or must be withdrawn. Those directly affecting specific units in the NT are listed below. They must be taken. The non-specific conversion/upgrades available to each side may be performed on troops in the NT to meet deployment requirements.

A. Deployment Requirements

1. Apr I 42:

German Same as listing for 1942 scenario.

Finnish Whatever they have accumulated.

Soviet All troops listed in the 1942 scenario for the Karelian sector plus 35 REs of any type.

2. Jul I 43: (These OBs are drawn from the information provided in "Zitadelle" by David S. Berry, ETO #28)

German

1 x 7-8 Mtn XX	6(SS)
3 x 6-8 Mtn XX	2,6,7
2 x 7-6 Inf XX	163, 169
1 x 4-5 Static Inf XX	any (210)
1 x 2-8* Mtn III	139
3 x 2-6* Inf III	193,388,503LW
1 x 1-2-6 Art III	837
1 x 2-3-6 Art III	477
3 x 1-8 Ski MG II	4,13,14
1 x 1-8 Rkt Art II	10
2 x 1-8 Bicycle II	68,776
4 pts hv AA	(LW)

Finnish Whatever they have accumulated.

Soviet

2 x 5-6 Rifle XX	(Gds)
2 x 5-6 Rifle XX
17 x 4-6 Rifle XX
11 x 2-6* Rifle X	(Nvl)
4 x 1-8 Ski X
1 x 2-6* Marine X	(Nvl)
2 x 2-6 Art X
2 x 1-6 AA III
2 x 0-1 -5 Cons X
3 pts hv AA
40 REs of any type

B. Conversions, Upgrades and Withdrawals for Specific Units

German

Jan I 42: Withdraw 6-8 Mtn XX (3)

Jun II 42: Convert 3-10 Mot XX (Nord SS) to 7-8 Mtn XX (6N SS)

Aug I 42: Withdraw 2-10 Mtn 111 (9 SS)
Convert 3 x 1-8 Mot MG 11 (4,13, 14) to 3 x 1-8 Ski MG 11 (4,13,14)

Jun I 43: Withdraw 2-8 Mtn Pol 111 (18 SS-Pol)

Oct I 43: Convert 1 -8 Rkt Art I 1 (10) to 3-1-8 Rkt Art III (Nor)
Withdraw 1-8 Bicycle 11 (68)

Jul I 44: Convert 3 x 1-8 Ski MG 11 (4,13, 14) to 1 x 3-4-8 Ski MG X (Finn)

Soviet

Sep I 42: Convert 1-8 Ski X (6 w) to 2-8 Ski X (31 w)

V. Finnish Armistice

The effects of the armistice are per rule 32.B.4.a and c. All German forces in the NT are considered to be sent to Norway or the western front. They are not available for play. The Soviet player may release the 23rd Army and the 7th Army for use. These armies consist of the units listed in the initial 1941 OB. The 7th Army arrives via any Soviet controlled rail hex on the northern edge of map 2A three turns after the armistice. The 23rd Army arrives one turn after the armistice via any Soviet controlled 1941 USSR/Finland border railroad hex on the northern edge of the Karelian Isthmus. All Soviet reinforcements and replacements arriving after the armistice on the two deleted maps or the Arkangelsk MD are available for play.

VI. Operational Guidelines

B. Units in the NT are permanently removed from play. The only exceptions are the re-entry of Soviet troops following a Finnish armistice and the conversion/ withdrawal of troops in the NT as listed in the OB. Also, divisions may be assembled or broken down. Units in the NT may not be scrapped or disbanded.

C. Units may be sent to the NT to meet force level requirements.

D. Exact unit IDs are not necessary but may help in tracking conversions and withdrawals.

E. That portion of the Finnish theatre that is on the map is off limits to both sides. Exceptions: German air units may fly over the Finnish theatre though they may not base there. Soviet air units may patrol attack over the Finnish theatre but may not otherwise fly over it. (This represents the Finnish air defences.)

F. Hango is considered to be Finnish controlled for all game purposes.

G. German units may trace supply from Finland per normal rules.

H. Soviet factories may not be evacuated to the NT.

I. For all practical purposes ignore the existence of Finland.

Letter to Editor: Response (#4)