More solo Board Wargaming

Another week with no miniatures game (couple planned for weekend) so another couple of solo sessions with some cardboard/wooden warriors.

First up I had a short game of WW2 Barbarossa To Berlin (one of my top ten games), short due to Germans failing abjectly to doing anything meaningful in Russia which will usually lead to disaster as game progresses.

Then it was another COIN title this time Andean Abyss with Government and FARC neck and neck throughout but Cartels and AUC languishing well of the race.

Always struggle to be effective with AUC in this game but usually Cartels very strong.

Would love to obtain Chinas War and the latest South American Guerilla Wars titles but hard to justify the cost of boardgames at present.

Such a colourful game

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And then in a real blast from the past I had a go with Squad Leader and the famed 'The Guards Counterattack' scenario (might this be the most famous/played single board wargame scenario ever ?).

Strange to use the venerable teeny weeney counters which were of course standard size back in the day and not used to such stacking, but still a great game in this its most basic pared down form.

Played this to death in early gaming days but not seen any action in decades.

Colourful and eye-catching as well especially for a game from 1977

Some solo COINage and ongoing Pbem (Storm Over Arnhem and Combat Mission)

Got Fire In The Lake onto table (no minis game this week) for a solo session (only way I can get a win) and hugely enjoyable it was.

I still have not gotten the wherewithal to try the actual solo systems included but just played each faction as best I can as usual.

Played the Full scenario and US had a torrid time throughout even though they trounced NVA concentrations several times as public support dwindled constantly (only Saigon seemed firmly pro USA) and finished in last place (not helped by a surge just before last Propaganda card)

NVA tried a full military build up from get go which worked to a degree (certainly occupied US army) but a preparatory Guerilla campaign in initial stages (especially in the long scenario) a better strategy but did finish above US in third.

ARVN done usual flip flopping from helping or hindering US goals and did achieve victory conditions at one point with control of swathes of country but could not hold onto gains but finished second.

So victory went to VC who started rather poorly but steadily gained the 'support' of populace and established bases throughout Vietnam and had a +1 VP level on turn of fifth Propaganda card for a narrow win.

Such a fun game even playing it in my own tiny mind space.

Had planned to re-set and play the Fall Of Saigon expansion but instead opted to try A Distant Plain again using long scenario.

Early on but Government in strongest position thus far with Taliban struggling (just like VC) and Warlords and Coalition dawdling

Do so enjoy the COIN system.

Also Storm Over Arnhem game via Vassal started in earnest with Mike with a 6pdr Troop taking out 2 Armoured Car units to start proceedings.

 

And last but not least an ongoing Pbem game of Combat Mission (boy have I gotten moneys worth from this series of games) with NJ John with a scenario set in Italy 1944 with South Africans (moi) defending a German attack

Had to take pics via phone as not able to screenshot for reasons unknown

Not a great start on first turn as an exposed Sherman done what Shermans do 

 

Battle Command - Bautzen 1813 scenario

Napoleonic game today with Stephen and I choose to use Battle Command with 'Franquemonts Attack at Bautzen' May 1813 scenario (adapted from GDB).

I took my Prussians in defence with Stephen using French and Wurttembergers (seldom seen toys) in attack.

Well as ever Stephen was in Dice Demon mode from early on with his Artillery doing lots of damage whilst mine were pants.

In fact it seemed his guns were going to win game all on their own combined with his ability to roll even on Action Matrix giving him optimal choices on each card.

My rolls spread even and odd with several ones meaning no choice at all beyond card default and the benefit of French having a D12 CinC vs a D10 was prominent throughout game.

Probably worst of his frankly demonic dicing was when my Cuirassier arrived from reserve and tried to charge an average French unit in Line but he rolled a 12 whilst I inevitably rolled a 1 so heavies routed toot suite !!

Crushing but these 'big swings' are what make the combat system decisive and aid quick play, but I swear he must sacrifice various small animals before each game :-)

Prussian morale was dropping fast with little discomfort for French but thankfully I managed to pass first Army Morale roll, and as always seems to happen my lot started inflicting some pain on French sods but yet again too little too late.

Prussians conceded not long after............. 

Great game as ever and we got to really see the difference to game play with the Action Matrix/Small Card Deck as opposed to FOB with larger deck.

Always good to play a game to completion in reasonable time

As before we both feel Bat Cmd seems to suit 2 player better with the increased choices/decisions of Matrix whilst FOB slicker for multi-player but essentially the same Piquet 'feel' to game overall.

French pressuring Prussians all along the battle line

Prussian artillery wiped out on hill 

More even exchanges in center

Prussian right barely holding

Prussian left looking exposed

Prussian Cuirassier routing out of shot (and in abject shame) on left 

Prussians holding on but Army Morale has been decimated

Waves of fresh French troops press on 

Prussian center weakening

So many French approaching

French gunnery has severely weakened Prussians

Loss of a Brigadier General not helping putting Brigade in Disorder (yellow puffs)

French skirmishers getting in way of following formations

A hard pounding (German equivalent) 

My Artillery concentrated on left and close to useless all day

French hitting power from their guns was relentless early on

Panzer Grenadier Deluxe - Road To Budapest scenario

Game at Stephens and he decided to play 'Road To Budapest' scenario with Panzer Grenadier Deluxe rules (older WW2 set by Dave Brown).

I was German defender against Russian attacker.

We failed to finish but Russians were pressing hard on Fascist lines and my off-board Panthers were due to enter fray (Ivans had 2 JSII about to appear)

One of my favourite WW2 sets as nice balance of complexity and playability with good period flavour and eminently suited to 15mm kit..

Stephen maybe not so enamoured (ala most DB sets).

A blast from past - Storm Over Arnhem

Just started a new Vassal PBEM game and we are trying Storm Over Arnhem the old Avalon Hill classic with Mike as Germans.

The Vassal module is one of older types so lacking the finesse of later modules but seems functional overall.

Hopefully with the alternating Area Activation/Action system this should play well with only a couple of issues relating to Advantage Marker to address (Likely we will just ignore the re-roll aspect)

One of the more eye catching boards from AH era nicely recreated

Commands & Colors - finale

Finished (in super quick time) the last C&C scenario Cirta with Mike the final scenario in our basic game campaign.

Roman victory in short order (5 turns) with only my left flank units being used and those being enough to takeout the Numidians facing them.

And so ends a hugely enjoyable series of games using Vassal.

C&C Napoleonics (as well suited to Pbem) a real contender for next game we try but maybe something else ?