I just checked the blog stats and noticed that yesterday the blog passed 100,000 views! That is amazing to me. Who knows how many views it might have if I actually updated it more frequently....
Just a quick post for now, but I'll be posting some images of my growing 25mm ECW collection shortly.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Welcome 2015
I thought I'd start of my 2015 with a new post, and a renewed effort to post more regularly.
I had some extra vacation saved up, so I've been off for the past two weeks. I always like having nice blocks of time, as it allows for some concentrated project time. This year was a bit less productive, given the frigid temperatures/snow (can't spray prime!) and the head cold I've been battling for a week and a half.
Even so, I've made great progress on my 15mm collection for FoB:WW2. I had remounted my 25mm WWII stuff for the new lower scale game (was '39-'45, now tentatively titled "Fields of Valor"), so while it "could" work for FoBWW2, it didn't feel right to me. I'm concentrating my initial 15mm armies on the first couple of years of the Russian campaign. Since 12/18, I completed 8 companies of Soviet infantry, 2 battalion heavy weapon markers/stands, 3 companies of German Mk.III's, 1 company of Mk. II's, and 12 companies of infantry, plus 6 battalion heavy weapon markers/stands. I've also based up 4 stands of German air cover, plus 5 Town Sections. A couple of photos below:
I had some extra vacation saved up, so I've been off for the past two weeks. I always like having nice blocks of time, as it allows for some concentrated project time. This year was a bit less productive, given the frigid temperatures/snow (can't spray prime!) and the head cold I've been battling for a week and a half.
Even so, I've made great progress on my 15mm collection for FoB:WW2. I had remounted my 25mm WWII stuff for the new lower scale game (was '39-'45, now tentatively titled "Fields of Valor"), so while it "could" work for FoBWW2, it didn't feel right to me. I'm concentrating my initial 15mm armies on the first couple of years of the Russian campaign. Since 12/18, I completed 8 companies of Soviet infantry, 2 battalion heavy weapon markers/stands, 3 companies of German Mk.III's, 1 company of Mk. II's, and 12 companies of infantry, plus 6 battalion heavy weapon markers/stands. I've also based up 4 stands of German air cover, plus 5 Town Sections. A couple of photos below:
Soviet battalion of 3 companies
German tank companies
German infantry company
The holiday has also provided more time for reading. In this instance, I am close to finishing "Battle of Surigao Strait" by Anthony P. Tully. http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Surigao-Strait-Twentieth-Century-Battles/dp/0253352428/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420159146&sr=1-1&keywords=battle+of+surigao+strait
Being a landlubber to my core, I have to remember which direction is port and which is starboard. BUT - this is a FANTASTIC book and read. Tully covers all aspects of the battle, spending considerable time at the start of the book to go through the Japanese plans, the ships involved, and then move on to the approach to the battle, culminating in the surface then surface/air battle. Tully covers both sides very thoroughly, but it feels more focused on the Japanese point of view. The odds faced, the determination shown by the Japanese force are awe inspiring. The refusal by nearly all survivors to be rescued and the USN reluctantly (at first) leaving them to their fate, was.....troubling to me. The descriptions of the PT boat attacks, destroyer torpedo attacks, the night combat - all are fantastic. Rule mechanisms were bouncing around in my head as I was reading! If you have ANY interest at all in WW2 naval combat, read this book.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
After Action Report - 39-45
This wasn't much of a contest, I'm afraid. I kind of stacked the game against the US, giving the Germans a Tiger II and a Panther platoon. I wanted to find out if the best of the German tanks were really powerful.
Guess what?
They are!
The Germans attacked on the right flank of the US, and pretty much destroyed everything on that flank with the Panthers and Tiger II. The far right US infantry platoon (3 squads) and 76mm Sherman platoon (2 sections) lasted a while, but didn't do any significant damage. One of the Sherman sections managed to suppress and put a hit on the Tiger II section, but that was the high point. When things were going tough, the US tried to Heroically Rally the far right infantry platoon, but the platoon Lt. only made it through one rally before he bought the farm. BOOM! After that loss, the entire infantry platoon went suppressed, and the writing was on the wall.
I thought the US was deployed too linearly, and the Germans made them pay. At the point of contact, the Germans had at least a 2:1 numerical advantage, not to mention the qualitative superiority of their armor.
So - '39-'45 worked well. My scenario skills need honing, however....
Some shots from the game (a crushing German victory):
Guess what?
They are!
The Germans attacked on the right flank of the US, and pretty much destroyed everything on that flank with the Panthers and Tiger II. The far right US infantry platoon (3 squads) and 76mm Sherman platoon (2 sections) lasted a while, but didn't do any significant damage. One of the Sherman sections managed to suppress and put a hit on the Tiger II section, but that was the high point. When things were going tough, the US tried to Heroically Rally the far right infantry platoon, but the platoon Lt. only made it through one rally before he bought the farm. BOOM! After that loss, the entire infantry platoon went suppressed, and the writing was on the wall.
I thought the US was deployed too linearly, and the Germans made them pay. At the point of contact, the Germans had at least a 2:1 numerical advantage, not to mention the qualitative superiority of their armor.
So - '39-'45 worked well. My scenario skills need honing, however....
Some shots from the game (a crushing German victory):
Pre-Battle View of My '39-'45 Tabletop
So, the guys are on their way over. We're playing a late war game, US vs. Germans. The Germans have a rather intimidating force - King Tiger section, a platoon of Panthers, a platoon of PanzerGrenadiers, etc. To counter this, the US is fairly light in infantry, but should benefit from having a couple of FO's to facilitate their sections of off-table 105mm artillery. They also have a platoon of 76mm Shermans, 2 platoons of 75mm Shermans, and a platoon of M10 TD's. How many Shermans does it take to take out a King Tiger? We'll find out in a few hours....
Here is the battlefield, prior to the troops being set out.
Here is the battlefield, prior to the troops being set out.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
39-45 Game
We played another game of 39-45 this past Saturday. The Germans were outnumbered by about 50% but had the advantage of being on the defensive (2+ US companies, plus Sherman platoon, AT gun, offboard support vs. 1 German company plus Stug section, 20mm and 75mm AT gun. The game played well, with a narrow German victory - they had 1 Morale Point remaining when the US failed their Morale test!
I made a few modifications based on the post game discussion and observations. At this point, the game feels pretty "tight", and should only need a few tweaks here and there. I'm very happy with it - it plays fast, with many swings in momentum.
I didn't get many photos of the game, but here are a few -
German commanders. Terry and Adolfo appear to be clapping in glee at an American misstep. Greg appears to be doing a Coca-Cola commercial with great product placement. Greg (in red) just waits to destroy the Americans.
I made a few modifications based on the post game discussion and observations. At this point, the game feels pretty "tight", and should only need a few tweaks here and there. I'm very happy with it - it plays fast, with many swings in momentum.
I didn't get many photos of the game, but here are a few -
John's American squads race up the hill to take out the 20mm gun section. They eventually did so, but at a very high cost.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Finally - A New Post!
I see that the last post was back at the end of May. Ouch! Where did that Summer go?? Well....Mile High Nationals, visit to Rosebud battlefield/Fetterman battlefield/Little Bighorn battlefield, Black Hills/Sturgis motorcycle vacation, wife knee surgery, house projects.....and here we are with the impending first day of Fall!
We played a test game of the new WW2 set of rules I'm working on, titled "'39-'45". These are a low level game, with each 3 stand infantry unit representing a squad, each vehicle 1-2 real vehicles, each weapon 1-2 weapons. The game had 2 companies of US infantry vs. 2 companies of German infantry, with a platoon of 3 tank models per side. I know, I know - not very imaginative. But, I wanted the game to allow both sides to both attack and defend and it WAS a test game after all.
I'm pretty happy with the rules - they play fast and seem to reward good tactical decisions. This was a pretty big game - around 23 units per side, and it was played to a decisive conclusion in 3 hours of play time.
Some photos from the game:
We played a test game of the new WW2 set of rules I'm working on, titled "'39-'45". These are a low level game, with each 3 stand infantry unit representing a squad, each vehicle 1-2 real vehicles, each weapon 1-2 weapons. The game had 2 companies of US infantry vs. 2 companies of German infantry, with a platoon of 3 tank models per side. I know, I know - not very imaginative. But, I wanted the game to allow both sides to both attack and defend and it WAS a test game after all.
I'm pretty happy with the rules - they play fast and seem to reward good tactical decisions. This was a pretty big game - around 23 units per side, and it was played to a decisive conclusion in 3 hours of play time.
Some photos from the game:
Monday, May 26, 2014
Franco-Prussian War Campaign Ends.....With a Thump
The final game was "interesting". "Odd" might be a better description. The French had elected to fight on the same battlefield as in Game 3 (the campaign mechanism gave this battlefield as a choice, and they chose to fight again on the same ground). The terrain was very full, with probably 40% of the table full of woods. The Prussians had a huge advantage in initial deployment, but since the French won the actual deployment/placement rolls, the Prussian plan (to get as far up the hill as possible in the initial set up, as well as get on the French left flank) hit the windshield at 120 MPH with a giant splat.
The French were huddled on the hill in a formation best described as a giant blob, and stayed on that hill for the duration of the game, gleefully firing off round after round of Chassepot ammunition at the flailing Prussians.
The game was a disaster for the Prussians - they ended up losing by 16 points - a crushing loss.
The campaign ended after 4 games with 1 win for the Prussians, 3 for the French. 10 Campaign Points for the Prussians, 26 for the French. At this rate, I'd say the French are eyeing the German border...
One item that was noticeable was that in all three losses, the Prussians made little if any use of their vastly superior artillery.
Some photos:
The French were huddled on the hill in a formation best described as a giant blob, and stayed on that hill for the duration of the game, gleefully firing off round after round of Chassepot ammunition at the flailing Prussians.
The game was a disaster for the Prussians - they ended up losing by 16 points - a crushing loss.
The campaign ended after 4 games with 1 win for the Prussians, 3 for the French. 10 Campaign Points for the Prussians, 26 for the French. At this rate, I'd say the French are eyeing the German border...
One item that was noticeable was that in all three losses, the Prussians made little if any use of their vastly superior artillery.
Some photos:
General Toby attempts to use the Force to levitate cookies off of the counter down to his location
Initial deployments. Ick. This game could have been played on a card table!
French cavalry pass the time on a nice, comfortable flank march
The French win no points for subtlety with their deployment
Rank after rank after rank of French
Prussian infantry enjoy a nice walk in the woods
French division moves off on an assault on a town
So - the campaign season is over, and I'm thinking of trying some WW2 stuff for the next game at the end of June. I'm rebasing my stuff and working on a new WW2 rule "set" for the game. I'm wanting to get to a set that fits multiple scales (unit could be a squad, platoon, company, battalion) with somewhat minimal changes that would allow players to play any scale of game that they wanted without learning an entirely new set of rules. We'll see how that works out....
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