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

WW2 Barbarossa To Berlin - solo play

Got BTB onto table for a solo session, such a fun game which always scratches a strategic itch for me and is one of my favourite CDG and Ted Racier games.

Germans conducted decent Op Barbarossa and took Leningrad with OP Nordlicht but failed with Op Taifun to take Moscow and the first Winter turn was awful for them (Panzers count as Infantry, all combats effected and everyone in Limited Supply !).

Russian strength building fast through reinforcement and replacements and British being very annoying in North Africa destroying Afrika Korps and thumping Italians with Desert Army.

I only played up until USA entered war in mid 1942 but good stuff (must try this via Pbem as limited interrupt type cards)

A comment of mine on game that was included on late lamented Roger MacGowans C3i page back in 2013 !!!

The busy life of a Wargamer in retirement with a bit more solo dabbling, some Pbem and missing pics.

Been dabbling and dibbling again this last few days with various board Wargames but also made a couple of purchases (!!) and did manage to play a minis game but photos seem to have gone AWOL ?

On board Wargame front I set up (always prefer physical game to Vassal as excellent as that is) and played through several turns (up until I realised Axis were stuffed in late 1943) of WW2: Barbarossa To Berlin a CDG type I have always enjoyed.

Then I got Battle of Britain onto table this being the Plastic Soldier Company version (bought a while back for bargain £15) of an old TSR game (which I own). 

A fairly simple but quick playing game. 

Ironically despite being by PSC the plastic aircraft are rather underwhelming so I used those from old TSR version as these are much crisper castings.

On Pbem front game of No Retreat! The Russian Front continues with German (moi) Turn 3 having just ended. 

Ivans (Mike) looking rather thin on ground but they will have 6 cards in their part of turn to 'spend' to restore units and they have a few reserves arriving as well so should look better for them.

I also played with Stephen a Napoleonic minis game using the superbly priced (ie free) Valour & Fortitude Rules for a bash with my Prussians against his French. 

Stephen used an old (V1) GDB scenario based on action at Gross-Gorschen 1813. 

This was mainly to try out a couple of house rules concerning Open Order units as we don't like how they play as written and are trying to make them more akin to pure Skirmish formation. 

Went well but I whilst I took photos they seem to have gotten deleted from my phone/Google account accidentally I assume. 

The rules (and other stuff) are downloadable at https://www.perry-miniatures.com/valour-fortitude/vf-rules/

And then I bought a couple of items the first being the long awaited second edition of General D'Armee by Dave Brown which is a pre-order due 4th of March or so.

Also made an EBay purchase of one of the expansions for Fire In The Lake game namely 'The Fall Of Saigon 1972-1975' a title I have been on lookout for to expand this hugely enjoyable COIN system game.

Another favourite board wargame gets some solo table time: WW2 Barbarossa To Berlin

Another solo board wargaming session this week (no minis game in pipeline due to Stephen on hols) and I wheeled out BTB for a play through.

I do love this game despite its numerous special rules and exceptions with the CDG style a solo boon.

Germans had decent Barbarossa offensive cutting deep into mother Russia but Allies were fortunate to get reserves into play quickly.

Leningrad and Kharkov did fall (along with several other cities) but not Moscow as Taifun card late into Axis hand.

Very little action in N.Africa (bar one mandated Allied offensive) until early Op Torch saw Allies roll up Italian  forces in theatre with Afrika Corps withdrawing to Italy. 

As Total War deck additions appeared in mid 1943 the Germans decided to use Totaller Krieg (essentially going on strategic defence posture) but suffered on Ostfront and were very open to Allied invasions in West. 

Husky hastened Italian collapse and with Overlord in Allied hand I called it early in 1944 for Axis as just not enough strength to fight on three fronts.

Great stuff

Up next No Retreat! Russian Front or maybe a minis game not decided as yet.

 

WWII: Barbarossa To Berlin game on table and some interesting Piquet news..............

Got WW2BTB on to table for a solo play.

Been awhile and struggled a bit remembering some of the special (chrome) rules but still a very fun game to play even solo.

Barbarossa was a bit of a damp squib for Germans but now threatening Moscow (with Taifun card in hands) but only just as winter draws in, Allies got both Soviet Reinforcement cards early so looking pretty strong on Ost front.

In other news Brent Oman has a new rule set in progress (due out late August early September) from the Piquet stable entitled 'Battle Command' (not being touted as replacement for Field of Battle just an alternative covering same period ie 1700-1900AD).

Details somewhat sparse but seems it will retain the combat and move systems of Field of Battle but with new reduced card deck but with each card offering possible multiple actions and no 'dud' cards as such. Apparently the CinC quality has more effect on proceedings.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Brent designs over the years so looking forward to this one.

Cover 

Sample card (interesting)

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.