Gaming Post

A rare post in recent times... a gaming related one!

To be fair, since being back from my European adventure, there has been plenty of gaming.

But... I've been all photo'd out. Motivation levels on taking photos and posting were low - it was good to have a bit of a break from photo editing.

Until now that is!

And the game was Bolt Action. Something we haven't played in awhile.

We settled on 1250pts with Dallas and I combining on the German side, whilst Brent fielded his Brits.

Forces were something like this...

Germany
1st Lt. + friend
Reg Squad - 10 men
Volks Gren Squad - 10 men (all with assault rifles..)
Vet Squad - 8 men (loaded up with smg's)
Panzerschreck
StuH 42
Light Infantry Gun
Puma
251/10
251/1

British
1st Lt. + 2 friends
3x Vet Squads - 10 men
Medium Machine Gun
Medium Mortar + spotter
Vet Sniper Team
Comet
Daimler
6pdr + Carrier to tow
FAO
PIAT team

So we were going to outnumbered.

Mission was just a meeting engagement.

Glasses were drained and the game began -

The advance started...

With the Germans choosing the right flank for the concentrated schwerepunkt.

And the British FAO smiled. "Roger roger, old boy. Mike target, alpha, bravo, cup of tea". And with that the bombardment arrived. Although there must have been some rum in that cup of tea since it scattered.

But, luck was with the British - it scattered to the most opportune spot... especially when a 6 was rolled for barrage diameter.

7 German units pinned... :-(

Pretty much game over at that point.

Oh and then the British mortar ranged in on one of the half tracks first turn!?!?

But us Germans, we don't give up! The fight back was hard, but British timidness gave a chance.

It did require some aggressive moves and assaults, but overall it wasn't enough.

At least it wasn't a complete wupping in the end - 9 : 4 to the British.

Well played Brent - we are checking your dice closely next time!

Bolt Action

Friday night games and Bolt Action.

800pts was the agreed limit and it would be Andrew and I vs. Paul & Ian.

But, at the 11th hour, the points were increased to 1000pts!! There was nothing for it... I would have to drop the sniper team to fit in the Wirbelwind :-)

Andrew had decided to field a Last Levy force (supported by Charlemagne SS), so it was going to be interesting...

Against us were a combined French / Russian force.

It would be a straight up meeting engagement.

German fire in the first few turns does little, but the Russians pepper the Last Levy with fire decimating a couple of units. French fire pins the Puma out of the game.

Pinned in the middle by the immobilised T34/85, the German centre is effectively stalled. The right is collapsing under the weight of Russian advance and French flank maneuver. As for the left... well both the German regular troops and French are locked down there.

So there's nothing for it. The Hitler Youth jump out of some ruins! For the Fatherland!

And unload their panzerfausts (note actual fausts, not bits of fluff) destroying the Greyhound and Scout Car. A nice bit of work.

But little else is happening.

Other than some very angry Goums rolling up the German right.

And a lucky bit of fluff (aka panzerfaust) knocks out the Wirbelwind. Only for that Russian unit to be wiped out by the SS in return.

And with that, the game is pretty much over - turn 6 ends.

8 VP to 6, so a close game overall, but victory to the Allied forces it is.

Next time Germany shall have revenge!!

Tank Wars

Friday night gaming, but with a twist...

Having painted a Panther, Pak40 and some trucks... along with Dallas having a Tiger and many other German vehicles... there was a burning desire to get them on the table.

What better way than with a Tank Wars game!

So, the scene was set. Dallas, Ian and I would be on the German side. Lee, Brent and Andrew on the Allied side.

Lists were:

Barkmann	Vet		496
Wittmann	Vet		519
Panzer IV H	Vet	Tank Ace skills, schurzen	342
Panzer IV H	Reg	schurzen	245
Wirbelwind	Reg		240
Puma	Reg		160
Pak 40	Reg		110
105mm Howitzer	Vet	Spotter	100
10 Man Gren Squad	Vet	1x smg, 1x lmg, 2x faust	173
Halftrack	Reg		89
Truck	Reg		39
Truck	Reg		39
Kubelwagon	Reg		21
		Total	2573

Pool	Vet		304
Abrams	Vet		314
Sherman (75mm)	Reg		195
Sherman (75mm)	Reg		195
Churchill VII	Vet	Tank Ace skills	572
Comet	Reg		355
M5 Stuart	Reg		135
6pdr ATG	Reg		75
12 Man US Inf Squad	Vet	1x smg, 2x bar, atg	193
Forward Air Observer	Reg		75
Carrier	Reg	lmg	70
M3 Halftrack	Reg		99
Jeep	Reg		21
		Total	2603

So, the Allies would have the advantage. But only seemed fair with Wittmann and Barkmann on the German side.

Set up:

Spot the one drinking... ;-)

With that it, it would be kill 'em all. 

And the first units started arriving... the Allies spreading over their deployment zone.

But, soon the German schwerpunkt became obvious - the left flank (Allied right) would be the main point of attack.

This was to avoid the US Forward Air Observer... although why Dallas decided to go after him with the Puma... I'll never know. Oh and Wittmann (Dallas) went alone on the Axis right...

Lucky that the Wirbelwind was in range. Bye bye USAF.

And then first blood to the Axis - a 6 to hit and a 6 to penetrate causes 2 fires and ultimately the destruction of the Allied Comet. A significant early blow.

Wittman, Abrams and another Sherman bounce shells of each other...

 But many of these are rolled...

Mostly by Dallas. Andrew is actually rolling like a demon and immobilises Wittmann effectively neutralising him for the entire game!!

Meanwhile on the Axis left, the advance is slow and steady. The Allied forces are whittled down or immobilised with plenty of turret jams for good measure :-) The US character Pool also bites the dust.

But the fight back is strong. Another air strike removes the Puma and a sneaky Stuart gets the Wirbelwind.

A brave Panzer IV H charges forward past an immobile Sherman (turret also jammed) to engage the Churchill at close range...

A couple more German losses see the game swing back towards the Allies, but a faust into the side of the immobile Sherman destroys it and some lucky mg dice knock out the British 6pdr. This gives the final win to the Axis.

Overall an interesting experiment, but the game felt flat. Too large and too many skills / characters for our first crack at Tank Wars. 

A bit of debate ongoing about this one as a game overall. Tiger Fear certainly had an impact and some of the challenges of the game overall (limited die rolling - only 1 shot per tank) lessened the enjoyment. 

But, still good company and very cool to see all our tank toys on the table!

I'm sure we'll be giving it another go some time :-)