Great War Commander played

Game with Stephen today and I introduced him to Great War Commander playing the initial 1914 scenario from base game.

We have played WW2 version a couple of times but his first time with GWC.

I took attacking Huns and he the defending Frogs in what turned out to be a very close result.

I had upper hand initially managing to capture a Secret Objective and inflict losses but then lost a couple of units and after a Sudden Death roll (turn 9) I was 2 VPs ahead but Stephens Secret Objective gave him a 3 VP swing for a 1 point French win.

Whilst GWC is of course very similar to CC:E it is different enough (in scale alone) to make it feel to be a  fresh game experience.

Game end with several Blazes burning and Huns pushing towards exit roads

The Victory Point track at end 

Commands & Colors Ancients - One scenario completed another starts

2nd Beneventum scenario completed in ongoing Vassal Punic Campaign with Mike and next scenario Castulo commenced.

2nd Beneventum was another close run contest which could easily have gone to Carthage had my Romans failed in last turn we played.

New scenario Castulo has interesting terrain set up and victory conditions (Romans lose instantly if Scipio killed but can gain Victory Banners if able to push units of enemy board edge)

No Retreat and Combat Mission

No game this week (due to dental appointment) but did manage to get in a solo session with No Retreat! The Russian Front which is always entertaining.

The low unit count and moderate complexity makes this a fun game.

Germans currently threatening around Minsk and Moscow with Russkies doing their usual scrambling to hold in initial turns.

Also an ongoing Pbem game with Combat Mission Afrika Korps with John with a Tunisia scenario 'Hells Hill' with John as Huns and me as Brits

Early stages but the Sherman pictured has just managed to take out a PzIV on turret at 800m with 3 shots.

 

Commands & Colors Ancients - Dertosa completed and 2nd Benenventum commences

Completed Dertosa scenario with Mike on Vassal with my Romans gaining a rather too narrow win. 

Despite having a superior Command Card limit (6 vs 4) I had no 'special' type cards until last hand, whilst Mikes Carthaginians seemed to obtain every one  through course of game making it difficult for Rome with myriad extra moves and attacks.

End positions at Dertosa

We are now onto next scenario '2nd Battle Of Beneventum 214BC'.

Starting deployments 

Commands & Colors Vassal - Cannae ends and Dertosa begins

Just completed another C&C scenario with Mike in our ongoing Vassal PBEM 'Campaign' with his Carthaginians under Hannibal handily dealing with my Punic (Puny ?) Romans.

We are now onto scenario entitled Dertosa which is an encounter I know of as Battle of the Ebro (Scipio vs Hadrasbul in Iberia) but hopefully Rome can exact revenge.

Starting positions

 

Downfall - a fresh solo session

Another solo play with this truly involving game and I reset to start of Campaign scenario.

A very different game so far (and realised had made couple of mistakes on first outing) compared to last as Soviets much less effective against OKH and the Allies in west failed several Strategic Warfare rolls which slowed their domination of Mediterranean and has allowed OKW to evacuate North Africa and build up strength (forces in Italy rather strong) as I enter Turn 5.

Eventually Italy was forced out of war after Sicily captured but Allied progress into Italy looks unlikely, a landing elsewhere is needed (if I could but draw the required Naval Dominance card) to drain off OKW units.

OKW Action card hand draws seem to have obtained just about every card OKH would want (still have effect but lessened for OKW).

Finding this to be a very addictive game, very much a case of  'I will do just one more action' which becomes several and what seems like 15 minutes going by has actually been 2 hours ! 

++ Addendum - I misunderstood the full use of beachhead markers which would have allowed limited Allied intervention in Europe prior to Overlord style OP which really needs that elusive Naval Dominance card - which can convert these Beachs to Mulberry Ports. So whilst now Soviets are again crushing in East Allies could have at least threatened VP cities and dissipated OKW effort somewhat ++

OKW units in North Africa heading to Tunis for escape to Italy

And the consequence for Allies is strong German presence on the 'Boot' despite loss of Sicily.

Much slower Soviet progress on Eastern Front

Soviets pushing in South but struggling up North

Allies still not threatening NW Europe as OKW strengthens units 

Progress on 'Siege Of Malta' and 'North Atlantic' tracks has been tad pathetic

Downfall - first solo play

Had a solo session with Downfall (in sauna that was wargame room !) as a learning experience.

Very interesting and involving game with several new concepts to embrace, that played pretty well solo (bar managing the card hands, which got quite large at times) with the back and forth playing sequence and order options for each side keeping things fresh and unpredictable.

As Allies I concentrated early on with Strategic Warfare as they have few units on board (in fact rather few overall) only in North Africa/Tunisia.

This saw Allies gain control of Malta Convoys and win the Battle of the Atlantic but fail to do much with Strategic Bombing (not sure the benefits of better air units is worth effort until later in war).

I struggled to fully understand the Naval (and Supply) aspects of the game preferring not to risk sending any reserves until requisite sea areas under full control.

In retrospect I can see an argument for OKW to evacuate Tunisia toot suite as once Mediterranean zones are dominated by Royal Navy their units are nigh impossible to reinforce. 

Allies never got to launch attack into western Europe but did manage to invade Sicily and Italian mainland getting hung up at Cassino and Rome but I never got to knock Italy out of war (required Event card did not appear).

Therefore OKW had little to do bar contest Italy and do occasional Strategic Warfare.

This was really all because of the almost total collapse of OKH on Ostfront as the Soviets proved to be an inexorable juggernaut.

Tough choice for OKH whether to stand firm or give ground as units can get cut-off and annihilated (dead units are not returned/re-built) if not careful.

The Ivans just seemed to hoover up city objective hexes and their VP levels ramped up quickly indeed they won game automatically in Turn 3 (out of 8).

Doubtless there are better strategies/card use/order use than I managed with OKH and indeed Allies

All in all this is a fun game system with lots going on and it does suck you in despite turns being lengthy.

Combat and Movement all easily resolved at least on land as again I failed to do much at sea (game rated as Medium complexity which is pretty much spot on).

Soviet juggernaut pushing westwards..................................

Not sure of impact/purpose of opposing Fleets in Black and Baltic Seas (maybe later or am missing something)

Allies gain toehold in Sicily

Large Allied fleets in North Atlantic but invasion force stuck in UK as OKW fortifies French coast

End of game with not much change for Allies bar sending some reserves to Italy

Where they are hung up at Rome having just taken Cassino after a struggle (note Soviets already into Balkans and Bulgaria knocked out of war)

Soviets at very gates of Berlin and Allies not even ashore in West

The paltry Allied objectives held 

Dominant Soviet conquests yielding the 10VP difference need to win outright for them and OKW

Comparing this to WW2 Barbarossa To Berlin (a CDG type) it is much different with less overt 'scripting', but with more involved and lengthier turns, with BTB relying firmly on its card driven system to conduct OPs and Events whilst Downfall has a more nuanced system of cards, Action Chits and Events. 

The strategic warfare and naval aspects are seemingly more important in Downfall as not purely Event cards and do effect Supply but much less frequently than in BTB also very few Event card chains compared with BTB which has several 'trees' of need play card 1 to play card 2. 

Similar subject matter covered with BTB being probably quicker to play and less of footprint but Downfall much less predictable and free flowing.

Downfall, Conquest Of The Third Reich - a board wargame purchase

With yet another birthday coming up I got myself (on wifes behalf) a board wargame from summer sale at Second Chance Games and went with Downfall from GMT which has garnered good reviews.

Am finding board wargames are generally getting to be out of price range I am willing to pay so obtaining this one for under £50 was hard to resist.

Game punched and set up ready to go as solo effort with relatively low unit count although it has a somewhat larger footprint than usual.

Standard GMT quality however I went with standard paper map version as to obtain the mounted boards and larger box would have doubled cost.

Covers essentially same theatre as WW2 Barbarossa To Berlin, which is a favourite of mine, although starting in November 1942 rather than June 1941.

It has unusual mechanic of it being Soviets versus Western Allies but with each side controlling a Nazi faction (why do I detest that word !?) with Soviets using OKW in West/Mediterranean forces to delay Allies and OKH forces in east used to delay Soviets.

Now to read the rules.......................

Combat Commander Europe - a couple of solo Stalingrad games

Had a quick solo session with Combat Commander playing first two scenarios from the Stalingrad scenario pack.

Both excellent games with so much happening, with Huns completely dominating the Ivans in first game but coming up well short in second (based around Grain Elevator action).

Vassal - Commands & Colors - Lake Trasimenus game completed

Finished another scenario of ongoing Commands & Colors campaign with Mike and his Carthaginians were victorious once more.

The extra command cards Carthage gains when under Hannibal is a definite advantage but Mikes shooting dice were awesome this game as constantly caused a drain of attrition to my units.

On to Cannae next.........................................

Commands & Colors Ancients - Vassal PBEM games ends

End of another C&C Ancients Vassal game with Mike and this time his Carthaginians were victorious at the Trebbia braking my winning streak when the outflanking force under Mago appeared inflicted telling losses.

But boy was it close as the previous Roman turn I was a mere 1 hit from destroying enough Cartho units for an auto-victory !!

A slick playing and fun light system that works well on Vassal

Combat Commander - a quick solo session

Only had couple of hours spare today so set up a solo game of Combat Commander using a scenario based around action at Goch Germany in 1945 with British in Recon mode against defending German 2nd line troops.

Fast and furious it proved to be as Germans just about held on for the win after multiple Sudden Death rolls (fairly whizzed through decks) with a lucky increase to Surrender level saving them from auto defeat so allowing a VP victory.