All Bridges Burning set up

Managed to get All Bridges Burning fully set up for hopefully playing through of the tutorial. 

As with all the COIN games components are excellent and rather eye catching (loving the wintery look)

Similarly to all games in the series there are several nuances and unique rules specific to the subject matter at hand, which being about the Finnish Civil War in 1917-18 I am not at all familiar with.

This is first COIN title I have that has an overtly non-combatant style faction (the Moderates) which is primarily Political rather than Military or Insurgent, interesting to see how they play.

Unfortunately my levels of concentration of late have been rather low (anyone else finding this ?) and will have to try this one in small chunks if I am to assimilate it to any degree. 

All Bridges Burning (how apt)

All Bridges Burning the latest COIN series finally arrived today but I confess that presently lacking any enthusiasm for this or anything gaming related.

Will hopefully get into it in due course does look good.

Colonial Twilight - solo play

Not much wargaming this week (for various reasons) but have set and begun playing the ever excellent COIN series game, Colonial Twilight with the Medium scenario.

My son is (hopefully) coming home for Christmas (to bubble) in a few weeks and keen to play this with him so getting some practice with rules and system again.

Still awaiting arrival of All Bridges Are Burning (which has been delayed from supplier)

Some more Board Wargame COINage

Managed another couple of solo COIN game outings this past week and started a PBEM game via Vassal as well.

Medium scenario game of A Distant Plain with Warlords winning narrowly (by 1 VP)

Long scenario game of Colonial Twilight with French coming out on top by 5 VP

Vassal game with Falling Sky commenced with Long scenario (very early stages)

Such a great system and fun even played solo (I have not used the included 'Bots' as yet) as so many variables and choices it keeps one fully engaged no matter the subject matter.

No Retreat! The Russian Front again

Another session with this excellent game with my Dad.

I recently acquired (ie this week) the updated 3rd Edition Card Deck and so gave these a run out (along with 3rd Edition rules of course).

Some significant changes (more so to cards) but nothing too onerous to revise in brain.

We started campaign from Fall Blau scenario (second scenario in game) which starts in Turn 7 and played through to Turn 20.

Another great game it was too, with the Russians getting stronger and stronger as game progressed.

Germans were being pushed right back to the Reichs borders pretty much on schedule, with their southern 'Balkan' zone about to crumble but still in reasonable strength up in Poland/East Prussia.

When I got back into board Wargames about 10 or so years ago (after a hiatus following demise of Avalon Hill) this was one of my first purchases and one I keep coming back to as just such a good experience to play.

Is it the greatest game on Eastern Front ever ? probably not but its a damn fine one being so playable with low unit count and yet so much 'feel' of the campaign.

 

No Retreat! The Russian Front played

 

Game with my Dad of No Retreat! The Russian Front.

Such an excellent and playable game of....um...er....The Russian Front.

We started with the standard Op Barbarossa scenario and played through to Turn 12 (March -April 1943) just as Initiative turns to Soviets.

Great game and Dad close to an auto-win on Turn 3 being just 1 VP shy.

We saw Leningrad fall, Moscow threatened and roving Cauldron type battles around Moscow and Kharkov as Soviet strength grew.

Great stuff in a very playable format.

We used 1st Edition rules but will try updated 3rd edition rules at some point.

Poor pics as lighting not phone-camera friendly

Several board wargames dabbled with..............

 Been a quiet sort of week gaming wise but did manage to get a few board wargames to table top to muck about with solo fashion.

First up was Paths of Glory a game I have neglected and trying to re-learn

Then it was No Retreat! The Russian Front 

And last but by no means least Colonial Twilight

Hitler's Reich played

 

Game of Hitler's Reich with my Dad tonight.

Been a while since we played this.

A highly abstract but very fun experience with lots of wild swings of fortune but not much like history !

Axis controlled North African coast at one stage from Libya right across to Iraq !

Italy was knocked out of war in 1942 and Spain entered on Axis side.

Op Barbarossa not launched but Soviets not able to take any of Reich except Poland.

Allies too weak (only 5 card hard and all awful) to launch Overlord and Bagration.

We both got caught up in endless Land attacks and Blitzkriegs neglecting to utilize Events much.

Axis (Dad) won in 1945 with Substantial Victory having higher card allowance than Allies.

Colonial Twilight a solo outing

 

Had another solo session with this hugely enjoyable game.

Played the full scenario again but it ended on fourth Propaganda card with an FLN auto win by +3 VP.

Even solo I love the depth of decision making and choices each side is presented with on every card.

The sense of history is prevalent throughout despite the random nature of card event 'timeline'.

Colonial Twilight a close run thing.........

 

Played that most excellent 2-player COIN game Colonial Twilight with my Dad.

We played the full length (5 deck) scenario and it went right to the last Propaganda card (with only 5 Event cards not used).

Dad played as the French/Government and I was therefore the FLN insurgents.

As always a totally engrossing topsy turvy flow of events and actions and tough decisions.

French twice failed by just 1 Victory Point to achieve an auto win but in the end the FLN pipped them at the post by a narrow 2 VP after 'Agitating in a 2 Population area to tip balance from a drawn result.

Such an excellent game.

A Wargamers 'blind date'

++++ Precursor/disclaimer - I am not cheating on my wife of 35 years !! ++++

I was contacted recently via Board Game Geek by a chap (Colin Campbell) who lives in Belfast who had seen my Blog.

Colin is a long time Wargamer (whose name I recognised but did not recall meeting before) who has recently moved abode and had to downscale (oh the horror !!) his miniatures collection but who has fallen in love with Board Wargaming in last 18 months or so.

We agreed to meet (ie the 'blind date') and so I trundled off to his home last night (30 min drive).

Colin had Clash Of Monarchs set up and is playing through the introductory scenario to try to learn this fairly deep but complex CDG.

We ended up waffling (ie chatting/discussing for you non Ulster readers) for hours about our wargaming history and likes/dislikes and mutual acquaintances, being NI not unusual to find we sort of ran in same circles unbeknownst to each other (I already regret not having had a game in 'The Basement') over the years.

We did play a short card phase of COM as I took first Austrian Turn so did manage a little bit of actual gaming !

Colin to visit me next and maybe we might actually play a game but no promises..............

Clash Of Monarchs on Colin's table (note his home made stand-up Leaders) and he has highlighted the various Theater and Regional boundaries on the map.

  

Combat Commander - couple of scenarios played

Couple of scenarios from Combat Commander: Mediterranean played with my Dad.

First set on Eastern Front in 1941 pitting Romanians against Russians the second a 1940 bash with Germans versus French.

As always two great games (both Allied wins). 

Fire In The Lake - solo play of short scenario

Had a quick solo play of Fire In The Lake trying out the short (3 deck) scenario for first time.
Great game even solo as so many choices and events although again I did not use the 'Bots' as too time consuming.
Scenario covers 1965-1967 with only 24 cards (+3 Coup cards) from the 1965 portion (48 cards) of deck.
NVA have a larger initial presence than in other scenarios and indeed finished a close second to the US.
VC third with ARVN in last place as I continue to struggle to play them effectively.
COIN system is very addictive.