Barbarossa To Berlin - solo play

Got Barbarossa To Berlin board wargame to table for short solo session.

Been awhile since I have had a board game in action and very enjoyable this was too even if only solo mode.

This game really does show just how preeminent the Eastern Front was compared to the sideshow that is the North African theatre (but a possible drain on resources) and even when Western Front is opened in Italy and France the main area of pain or gain for Whermacht is definitely Russia.

I only played until Total War started and Germans up against it due to insufficient VPs gathered in Russia and think the would have been hard pressed had I continued to bitter end.

Moscow was threatened but Panzer Armies failed to take it and then suffered losses to Panzers (a real hurt to German cause), Leningrad also held out and Germans never really got further than Kharkov before having to shore up a collapsing line.

Still here............

Not much gaming done again this week as still under a lethargic cloud as free hours just seem to drift by in between, eating, cleaning, eating, watching goggle box, eating, delivering to oldies, eating and sleeping... Oh and enjoying my dogs, definitely mans best friends................
Am reading tons and listening to a lot of music but just do not seem to be able to concentrate on miniatures stuff (did manage to buy some Basetex online) in any aspect.
Couple of ongoing PBeM Vassal games only other gaming input
Lots of plans in space between ears but just not coming to fruition.

After finishing A Distant Plain (Government win) I set up and am intermittently (very) playing WWII Barbarossa To Berlin.

Barbarossa To Berlin game played

Game with of BTB last night with my Dad first we have played this in ages.
Enjoyable CDG this one with lots of flavour.
Dad took Germans (just for a change) and launched Barbarossa as initial strategy.
No real deep penetration of Soviet lines, more of a broad front, approach, but did cause a couple of large encirclement on the border of the Reich.
However he got engrossed in trying to reduce Leningrad which managed to survive several assaults by feeding in reserves.
However he was rather lucky and managed to take Moscow despite my defence with two Armies which lost me Stalin and 4VP.
However being rusty with the game we both forgot that by time Total War begins Hitler Takes Command must be played in order for Germans to avail of Totaler Krieg card.
As Germans were at a respectable 14 VPs which with the +20 from TK might well have thwarted Allies.
We ran out of time but Allies had whittled VPs back down to 10 by launching Op Torch and clearing North Africa and retaking Moscow as Soviet Tank units arrived enmass.
Had forgotten how good this game is with a bit more meat on its bones than Hitlers Reich.

Board Wargame - Barbarossa To Berlin WW2 played

Game of Barbarossa To Berlin WW2 played with my Dad last night.

Been ages since we played this but still as fun as ever.

We played up to end of 1942 (ie 8 turns) when Axis (Dad) conceded as he failed to get Totaler Krieg into play when his Victory Point count was at 11+ as I had managed to reduce it by play of Casablanca card.

Lesson is that Axis need to play Hitler Takes Command card asap for its event not any other purpose.

Had also played a game of Combat Commander the previous weekend but forgot to post or take more than one pic ! 

WW2 Barbarossa To Berlin played

A game of BTB played with my Dad.

As a change I played Axis and came very close to an auto victory in mid 1943 but just could not hold onto a couple of victory locations in Russia (20vp required I had 19vp at turn end !!).

I ignored North African zone and was lucky Dad failed to get US into the war early as he was gaining control there with British alone.

As Total War occurred I had 34 VPs which may have just been enough to see off resurgent Allies but we had to end game at that point.

Great stuff

And in some sad Steiner news I had to say goodbye today to my little furry pal Gizmo and boy oh boy does it hurt :-(

WW2 Barbarossa To Berlin board wargame played

Managed to get a solo play of this excellent game today (as rules refresher)

Just as flavoursome as I remember with Germans pushing East and coming up against Russian brick wall whilst Rommel got completely out foxed in North Africa

This arrived today and looks to have a great selection of scenarios (playable with other sets too)

WW2 Barbarossa To Berlin

Played Barbarossa To Berlin (GMT Games) with my Dad last night.
Been a while since we played this but soon got into swing of things.
Usual to and fro on Eastern Front with Axis (Dad as ever) at one point threatening to take Moscow but timely and early arrival of Siberians managed to thwart him. Russian strength then built up quite quickly.
The British managed to clear North Africa despite appearance of Panzer Armee Afrika.
Rommel's bunch got holed up in Tripoli trying to counter possible appearance of Casablanca card after Allied Torch landings.
As pressure built on the Eastern Front the Axis put all his eggs in that basket and so a limited Allied invasion on Western Front became viable in mid 1943.
This indeed happened and won the game for Allies as two Armies managed to land unopposed and take the German Victory Level down to naught giving Allies the game.
A game I always enjoy this one.

Board Wargames ongoing online................

Just a few screenshots from several (ie too many !) Vassal (and one Cyberboard) PBEM games I have going at present.
Vassal has really helped rejuvenate my interest in Board Wargames however to the detriment of my figure painting and bank balance !!

This is Paths Of Glory (Cyberboard version) with Western Front situation in 1915 with Germans mounting an assault on my British and Belgiums at Brussels

Age of Napoleon game circa 1807 against aptly named Greig Goodfellow with me upholding Allied cause against the Ogre

WW2 Barbarossa To Berlin (one of my favourite games) in which my Allies are getting royally duffed having lost North Africa the Caucasus and at one point Moscow !!

Bitter Woods an Avalon Hill (RIP) game my first time playing. I am US forces having a hard time stemming Nazi tide (good luck spotting US units !!)

Southern sector

 Northern sector (with Liege in trouble)

Kingdom Of Heaven against ex-pat Norman playing as Crusaders in Third Crusade scenario. I have suffered a lot from attrition and disease but both Richard and Saladin have powerful armies heading for a showdown.

Northern region

Southern region where I am besieging Jerusalem and suffering awfully to epidemic disease !

Liberty Roads another first time try with me as defenders of Third Reich. Renny my fresh opponent has invaded in Brittany and is firmly ashore. An interesting game this one with no ZOC !! and some nice 'chrome' such as Support Counter draws.

Turning Point Stalingrad another old Avalon Hill (RIP) title I had for years but now playing for first time in anger !! Tough situation for Ivans (ie yours truly).

Soviet remaining 'strongholds' in the northern enclaves of the city

The overall situation with Nazis having cleared southern Stalingrad

And last but not least Hannibal: Rome vs Carthage another AH title I have not played in years. Note this Vassal module uses the newer Phalanx Games Edition board and counters (which I find a little cluttered and indistinct on Vassal)