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).
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.
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Had a further session solo with Combat Commander managing to complete 2 scenarios
First had Romanians attacking Russians in 1941, second Germans attacking French in 1940
Another two excellent games in 'lonely pint mode'.
This has Germans defending against Poles (using French deck and units) in 1939.
Forgot how hard it can be with 'French' single discard limit especially if several dud cards in a hand.
But the main objective turned out to be 5 due to random chit draws (I done these after set up) worth a whopping 15VPs per side and with it being the most forward of all the objectives it was soon taken by Poles and Huns never got close to taking it back.
Such a great system
We only managed a few turns due to discussing his visit to Warfare and various rule sets (a fav subject for our waffling) but we found RFR to be a fast playing set with simple shooting and movement allowing sizeable games playable in a reasonable (ie Rapid) time frame.
There are a few major differences from RF2 and indeed even quicker playing but maintains the interesting sequence of play (2 Move phases allowing you to 'shoot in' an attack).
Infantry are much more durable if based in 2's or 3's.
We did however have real difficulty with rules for 'standard' hedges and spotting related to them as wording very confusing (there is confusion on various RF Bakebook sites) but impact on a game is huge regarding possible lines of fire and we played them differently (sort of bocage like) than we have in past I think.
A consequence of brevity of rules in this regard as what was covered in several pages in RF2 is now boiled down to a couple of sentences (I always find this an issue with such condensed/simple rule sets in that they tend to have gaps in clarity) but nothing else caused problems that we came across.
Definitely needs some clarity (and rules for Bocage) or of course house ruling.
British attackers in Fontenay-le-Pesnil and approaching St Nicolas Farm (on right)
Also played some Combat Commander in solo mode this week and had rare old time as usual even if I am beating myself !
So much action in each game and fluctuating fortunes and managed to get through 3 scenarios in an afternoon.
Played through last two scenarios of basic Combat Commander with both showing actions of US vs Germans first in Normandy around 8th July with SS counterattacking (very low unit count in this one) and second a US assault on Kraut positions around a hill in Italy 1944 (large numbers of US units)
US won first and lost second.
So that is the twelve base game scenarios played through and good fun it was too, such an exciting system even on ones own as always so much happening.
There is an official solo system but I have not got around to trying it as yet maybe if I try the Mediterranean expansion ?
SS counter assault in Normandy
Names of scenarios escape me but first had Yank Para force facing Kraut Volksgrenadiers near Hitdorf 1945 and second with Ivans vs Huns in 1943.
On a real Combat Commander kick at present and Stephen introduced to game with couple of scenarios played to completion.
I set up 'Hedgerows and Hand Grenades' again giving him control of attacking US, picked things up pretty well (its not a hard game to play) but did succumb to a bit of 'analysis paralysis' in early going.
Game was close (as ever) with my Krauts coming out on top after a batch of Time Triggers as we seemed to whizz through to Sudden Death (still took 3 rolls to end game)
We then played a second scenario 'Paralyzed From The West Down' set in St Mere Eglise on 7th June with Stephen again taking the Yanks.
This one we played through much quicker (again a narrow Hun victory)
Action in the bocage
Later I played some more solo (plan is to play through the 12 scenarios of base game) with 'Closed For Renovation' (Humaine, Belgium 27th December 1944), 'Cold Front' (Staritsa, Russia 30th December 1941, 'Paralyzsed From West Down' (again) and 'Bessarabian Nights' (Bessarabia April 1944) all completed.
This time with a bit of purpose as I managed to persuade Stephen to try the system this week (as a wee change of pace from our GDA-a-thon)
So it was Fat Lipki, Hedgerows A d Hand Grenades and Bonfire of the NKVD and great fun again.
Fat Lipki
