Some VASSAL and PBEM action

Been a while since I posted any screenshots from ongoing Vassal and Pbem games so......





Turning Point Stalingrad with Ivans barely holding on during 29th Sept (VASSAL)

The Dark Valley Nothern regions (Vassal)

Southern portion

CMAK a tough crossing of Volturno for 36th Texans

Campaign Series Western Front a Spanish Civil War bash

Piquet Les Grognards - solo (and some new additions)

Solo game of PK Les Grognards played using French and Prussians.

Interesting to see 'original' style PK in action (although Les Grogs has several changes to initial set) with separate ratings for Firing, Melee and Morale compared to Field Of Battle's Combat and Defense.

I used a optional Active/Reactive D12 rolls for Initiative wherein each side gets to use rolled number for initiative use.
This worked well and less at times jarring extremes than standard D20 and Phase Limiting system.

Use of Opportunity chips and using 1 Pip or every single action seems odd after FOB.
But allowing Cavalry (and Old Guard) to perform Morale Challenges I like along with Cavalry Opportunity Charges (FOB sort of covers this by having units capable of multiple moves on single card play - dice rolls allowing).

Having to place extra Dress Line cards into decks along with Major Morale card and then discarding cards based on losses is also interesting.

The combat systems work fine as do the card decks but overall I found the game to be a lot less dramatic than FOB which subsumes a lot of these things into the Even vs Odds rolls and uses Pips merely to turn cards not per action.
The FOB system streamlines so much as no need for the Deployment and Move in Class II/IV cards from PK as again the Evens vs Odds system elegantly caters for this.


FOB2 Melee is definitely more exciting as resolved in same turn as initiated (FOB1 was more akin to original PK) and not having to wait for a Melee Resolution Card.

Still PK is streaks ahead of most rule sets for non-linear sequence of play and narrative building but its newer offspring is indeed hard to better in the drama and speed of play stakes.

Les Grogs has a Grand Tactical version (each unit a Regt/Brig) included which I must try and the horizon movement option looks interesting.

As to the new additions-

Print version of set I acquired on PDF

and

And two (what am I thinking !!???) new additions to the Steiner Clan.

L'Art De La Guerre - Galatians versus Caesars Legions

Game at Stephens using the excellent LADG rules which we have not used for a brave while.

I wanted to try 'Hairy Barbarian' types so picked Galatians and Stephen selected Marian Roman list with Caesar in charge.

All my foot and most of mounted were Elite troops so they had decent durability and Furious Charge (double hits on 1st round if they win).
The Roman Legions were roughly half Average and the rest Elite.

The Elite Romans proved to be awesome indeed as with Elite, Impact and Armour they need to outscored by 3 or more at first impact then by 4 in melee a very tough proposition on a D6 !!

I did manage to beat one unit of Legionaries but the rest held my charge inflicting cohesion hits which cause -1 Disorder modifier in ensuing combats (in LADG you can Pips allowing Rally off all but first hit) making besting the Romans unlikely.
The average Legionaries are still tough but beatable.
The Galatians being Elite did stand for a while not sure if Average Celts are viable ?

Actions on both flanks were largely irrelevant as terrain stymied both sets on mounted on my right and my Chariots played 'chassies' with Light Horse on the left.

At least in LADG the Romans stand and fight unlike in DBMM wherein they constantly maneuver away from the lumbering Celts which is unlike any battle account I know off.

We were both a bit ropey with memory of some rule points but they are fully comprehensive and answers are usually easily found and clear.

As always after playing a discussion ensues as to what armies to try next and indeed what can beat these Romans :-)


Not the best pics as only my crappy phone camera with me.

Fathers Day game - Fighting Formations: Grossdeutschland Infantry Division

Game of Fighting Formations: Grossdeutschland Infantry Division with my Dad on Fathers Day.
Think we played this once before and had forgotten how good it is.

Played the introductory scenario to refresh memory and then delved into scenario one which is essentially a tank-fest, and none the worse for it.

My T34 Platoons had easy pickings of German Infantry until a Company of Panzer IIIs appeared.
Whilst the Pz IIIs have trouble dealing with the T34s frontally there are enough of them to swarm the T34s and when the PzIVF2s arrive the potency of German weaponry is suddenly apparent.
By the time my reinforcing Company arrived it was a foregone conclusion...........

Love the game play and interactions of resource management with Orders and Initiative in the game combined with units and playable systems and the asset cards are nice touch.
Lots of decisions to make each phase of turn.