Heatwave board wargames

Managed to get a couple of board wargames in with my son Steven who is 'home' from England for 10 days (not seen him since late 2019 due to travel restrictions) and who brought a incredibly hot heatwave with him (several record temperatures recorded for N.I.).

Had planned a couple of figure games but room just too hot and sticky.

First up was the excellent COIN game 'Colonial Twilight' with Steven as Insurgent FLN and I as Government (French) playing the Full length scenario.

This proved to be a very close game, in fact a draw with us both scoring zero !

Then later a Combat Commander scenario with Steven choosing Russians (do not recall scenario title) defending in 1941 against Germans.

Another close game, but a run of Time Checks saw the game slip from Germans as time ran out before they could invest the last objective (which has large VP count)

Great to get some quality time with son after so long and with two fine games played.

Treading water..........

Not much wargaming action this month, as feel like I am treading water (actually more like treacle) awaiting lockdown restrictions to ease here in NI sufficiently to allow face to face gaming again (last game was back in early October !).

Just about managed a couple of COIN games solo play and of course ordered a couple of new  rule sets.

Fire In The Lake

Colonial Twilight

New edition due anytime soon (by end of April ?)

This one on pre-order a big battle set from Osprey

Division sized set from author of Honours of War (SYW Set)

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.

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

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.

Colonial Twilight solo play (or chasing off the 'Black Dog')

Managed a full solo game of Colonial Twilight yesterday and what a cathartic time it was.

I played the Medium (4 deck) scenario which I have not tried before.
Game went along at a cracking rate and I just did not notice the whole (wet and dreary) afternoon disappear.

Game was narrowly won by the French Government (score -10) over the FLN (score -14) on 4th Propaganda card with some 9 Event cards unplayed (out of 48 in scenario).

I do so enjoy the COIN system even solo

++ Here in N.Ireland our Covid-19 restrictions are be eased and from now we are allowed to gather indoors with friends (groups of up to 6 with distancing) so 'proper' live wargaming back on the menu.
Game planned for next Monday with Stephen after a hiatus with our last game being on 12th March, which seems an absolute age ago !!
Not so sure when club meetings will return ?
Also hope to get back to face to face board wargaming with my Dad, but with he and my Mum both being in more vulnerable group (over 70 but no major medical conditions) we will need to discuss and maybe delay.
But certainly looking forward to getting back to some form of normality to counteract the depressing deluge of crap ongoing at present. ++

A round up after busy weekend

Been off line couple of days so quick round up of wargaming activity.

Attended Elimination Club (last meeting for a period due to Covid-19 issues) briefly on Friday where a 10mm League of Augsburg game using Black Powder was being played by Bryn and Shane.
No idea as to result.

Quick solo game of Colonial Twilight on Saturday and what an enjoyable time again with the ever excellent COIN system (I could happily self-isolate with these games alone never mind all my other options)

And game tonight with my Dad of Combat Commander with the ever excellent Barrikady Factory scenario from the Stalingrad Pack.

Right down to the wire with Dad narrowly failing to out number my Ivans in factory (20 units each) as Time ran out.

A good third of the factory was rubble of blazing.

++Footnote++

My parents are both over 70 but in otherwise decent respiratory health, but are worried and concerned by UK plans to combat Covid-19 by having them self-isolate for 4+ months and I fully understand why.

I am behind (or at least understand) UK Government plans thus far, but do think they need better information dissemination to at least try to allay some genuine fears and concerns.

Bottom line is that for some sadly this pandemic will doubtless have a fatal outcome and maybe for others a life changing impact physically, mentally and otherwise (think the economic issues are yet to be fully revealed/assessed) 

I did try to explain that they pretty much keep to themselves anyhow (not big into social activities) so maybe not too much of a stretch with support from me and Jan.

Strange times and am just thankful I am no longer a Police Officer as the temptation to baton to a pulp the 'bulk-buyers' and 'doomsday merchants' would be just too much for me I fear !!

The despicably selfish behaviour by some 'members' of society is truly infuriating to say the least.

If only Covid-19 targeted the stupid gene rather than elderly/infirm............

COIN system 2 more games played.

At my Dads tonight and another two session of COIN magic.
Have both Liberty Or Death and Pendragon in my library now but not had any time to learn so it was Fire In The Lake and Colonial Twilight again.

First up was Fire In The Lake trying the full scenario again and once more Dad with the VC/NVA won an auto victory early in game.
Very hard to Pacify enough of VC Opposition areas or remove bases quickly enough to stop them achieving 35 VP (they start on 29).
A card we have not seen before 'Chairman Ho' proved very powerful giving 3 Free Limited Operations to VC and NVA.

Then it was onto Colonial Twilight again the full scenario this one was as ever much closer although my French twice were 1 VP short of an auto win.
However when last Propaganda card appeared I had just managed to reach 37 VP and win as FLN were still some 10 VP from their victory level. 

Colonial Twilight 2 games in one session

Played the excellent and engrossing Colonial Twilight COIN game with my Dad tonight.

I played as FLN managing to win on 3rd Propaganda Card so we re-set and had a second game which was much closer with Dad conceding on 4th Propaganda Card as he was so far off Victory Level and FLN very close.

Such a deep but playable game which changes each replay due to cards and Initiative.

Colonial Twilight 2 games played

Revisited the most excellent COIN game Colonial Twilight tonight with my Dad managing to complete 2 games of the full scenario.
I was French both times and managed to win both times on 3rd and 4th Propaganda cards respectively.
First game I was quite lucky (certainly not like me) with card events quickly increasing my Commitment level and support to a winning level.
Second game was altogether tighter affair although Dad learned that large groupings of FLN are vulnerable to French Air Lifts and Sweeps/Assaults (pretty much as historically the FLN found they suffered trying to match French Combat power).
A risky move to convert Constantine to Support using my last 4 Resources but putting French up to  37 VPs paid off with a quickly appearing Propaganda card before FLN could counter.
Such an excellent game and system.