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.

A day of fiddling about..............

Spent the day doing something and nothing !

Completed set up for FOB3 game next Thursday with Stephen, terrain now complete and Russians deployed at Paltzig awaiting the Prussians.

Fleece I am using is green as per second pic (first over exposed ?)

That at least was the something...............


Then set up Storm Over Arnhem and immediately binned it to set up A Distant Plain yet again (kind of addicted to this one even solo).

I have found over 'lockdown' period I have been doing this quite frequently, investing time in setting up a game (board or miniatures) then 'struggling' to read rules or play the game and  flitting to something else !!

A Distant Plain - another solo play through

Managed a game of A Distant Plain solo today with the Medium scenario.

Whizzed through to completion on 5th Propaganda card with a victory for the Coalition who scored a -1 (mainly due to a timely use of Surge to get stuff out of the country) narrowly beating the Warlords on a -2.

Both Taliban and Government some ways back.

Another fun outing with the COIN system which is enjoyable even in solo (non-Bot) mode.

I really ought to get Pendragon and Falling Skies to the table as neither more than fiddled with thus far.

Vassal session with the 4 Barrs and A Distant Plain

Another session with family via Vassal of A Distant Plain.
This our third go with this excellent game and the Main 5 Propaganda card scenario.
Completed 2 Propaganda rounds thus far and honours pretty even.

Vassal - A Distant Plain again

Another session with family circle and A Distant Plain.
We managed to thwart the Coalition(brother) win but at cost of Taliban (Dad) success after a wave of terror throughout the country.
Warlords (son) finished third and poor old Government (yours truly) languished in last place.

Game 2 end situation 

All enjoying this most excellent COIN game so 'signed up' for a third session which has started with an opportune card for Taliban (a free wave of Terror) and a Surge by Coalition forces.



Game 3 after 1st Card play

Vassal - A Distant Plain more family fun

Another Vassal session of A Distant Plain with Dad, Brother and Son tonight (after waiting a week for Virgin to come back on line for son).
Played through two more Propaganda cards with only 1 more to appear.
None of us really doing that well but Coalition (brother) sitting at -4 and with Surge ability has good chance of winning unless we can thwart him.
Great to get some 'live' wargaming.

Also set up Storm Over Normandy for some quick playing solo fun for VE Day

A Distant Plain - Vassal a second family outing.

Started another game of A Distant Plain on Vassal with Dad, Brother and Son.
Brother staying with Coalition (I can see he has an idea how to use them), Dad now Taliban and Son Warlords with me retaining Government.
We played the Main Scenario again and got through 2 Propaganda cards with Coalition being close to a win just before second Propaganda Card but Warlords managed to use Terror in several key locations pegging the Coalition back by loss of Support.
Good to see they are getting the gist of the game and its many strategies, twists and turns.
Good deal of 'diplomacy' in a 4 player game (as in "fer feck sake do something to stop him !!" and suchlike) and just a bit of back stabbing and double dealing.
Great system COIN, not a 'pure' wargame but nice mix of Military, Political and Economic issues backed by historical Events.
And whilst there is no substitute for me to physical play of game with its tactile feel and visual appeal, Vassal is a good system for such remote (and savable) play with family and/or friends.


Situation at end of 2nd Propaganda card

More board wargaming - solo (Festung Europa) and Vassal (A Distant PLain)

Another session of A Distant Plain tonight with my Government faction winning on 5th Propaganda card with -1 victory total, Brother Coalition 2nd on -2, Dad with Warlords in 3rd on -3 and Son with Taliban 4th on -9.

As this was a learning game we will start afresh in due course with COIN factions remaining same but Warlords and Taliban swapping players.

With only a couple of minor issues (some cards need regenerated/noted as auto-discarded) the game played smoothly on Vassal.










The final positions on Victory Track.

Also managed to get Festung Europa onto table for a solo play.
Not played this much (maybe once before ?) but interesting 'light' CDG game of western front 1943-45 starting with OP Husky.

Vassal - A Distant Plain - more Barr family play

Another session with Son, Brother and Dad tonight of A Distant Plain via Vassal.
We got through a couple more Propaganda cards.
Dad with Warlords was in a winning position at one stage but combined Ops by Government (me) and Coalition (bro) saw them knocked back a bit but still ahead at end of session.
Another session planned for Wednesday which may see game completed.
Great stuff and a gaming life-saver is Vassal !!

 

Vassal - A Distant Plain a family affair.............

Managed a to start a game of 'A Distant Plain' tonight via Vassal involving my son, brother and Dad, so very much a family affair (we also used Whats App video call).
Only Dad has played the physical game so tad slow initially explaining some stuff to son and brother but once first couple of card plays done it started to flow well.
Bit of a learning curve also for me controlling via Vassal but nothing too brain reducing.
We played through to end of first Propaganda card and as yet no clear leader (strategies only starting to become clear to newbies).
Son is playing as Taliban, brother as Coalition, Dad as Warlords and me as Government.
Great fun and really nice in these odd days to have a family 'get together'.
Plan is to play at least once per week.




The situation at end of first Propaganda card.

Quick update

Must confess I thought that this ‘social distancing’ would lead to a burst of painting, virtual or solo gaming but not felt much like doing very much in past few days as in a sort of what is best described as a limbo state of mind........ plenty of ideas but no action.........

No real health worries for my wife or I, or youngster over in England (but possible financial issues) but am concerned re older members of family circle and indeed society.
Feeling blessed and relieved to be Retired as thoughts of trying to Police people in current situation just awful, so many idiots !

+++ Sincerely hope all of you and yours come through this unscathed. +++

Anyhow the above not withstanding I did manage to get A Distant Plain onto table today and get a few turns in and nice to divert mind from outside world.
Hoping to get online with my Dad later for a game of Eastern Front (from old Campaign Series) as he is just not into Vassal.





Game bathed n sunlight

Lucy one of my dogs helping out

A beautiful day outside

A Distant Plain - another 3 player session

Impromptu game at mine tonight with Stephen and Richard as their RPG get together cancelled.

So inset up A Distant Plain again with Stephen as Government, Richard as Taliban (his choice) and control of Coalition and Warlords residing avec moi.

Set up the ‘short’ scenario Obama's War (4 decks) although we only managed 2 Propaganda rounds, in just under 3 hours, but they were 21 cards apart !

Government was ahead at one stage but managed to pin them back avoiding possible auto-win.

Coalition done well but Warlords way of the mark as were the Taliban.

Do love the COIN games such a nice balance of game and history in playable format.



Only a pic of set up as too engrossed in playing/teaching the game

A Distant Plain - 3 player

Got 'A Distant Plain' onto table today for a 3 player game, was to be full 4 ball but Le Duc caught in a foreign land (well stuck in Dublin) so 3 it was with Richard and Mr P.

I took control of Coalition and Warlords with Mr P as Afghan Government and Richard as Taliban nasties.

We managed to play through 3 Propaganda cards (used Medium scenario with 5 Prop cards) which was good considering first time for both chaps.
So not finished but great fun with this excellent game from an excellent series.

Mechanically easy to play but so much depth and varied decision making for each player backed up by decent historical context (the event cards).





Only one poor pic from game (and one from prior set up) as engrossed and sun kind of blinding !

Fire In The Lake and A Distant Plain played

At my Dads last night (had to forgo Elimination Club as family Gets first dibs) and we played both Fire in the Lake and A Distant Plain !

Fire in the Lake was first up and despite using the long full war scenario Dads VC achieved an auto victory on 3rd Coup by 1 point.

Then it was A Distant Plain which we did not finish but all 4 factions were in very poor VP status.

Such great games these and never the same each play due the large variation of tactics, cards and events.

A Distant Plain -short scenario played 'Obamas War'

Played short (4 Propaganda cards) scenario 'Obamas War' with my Dad last night of this COIN game.
I again took Warlords and Taliban as pairing against Coalition and Government (Warlords could be paired with Coalition as interesting twist with Taliban and Government co-existing).
A very close game in the end with Government narrowly losing with -20 compared to Warlords with -18 (Coalition finished on -9 and Taliban on -7).
All done to last event card which allowed me to claw back 4 Resources with a special activity.
So many key decisions to make with every card and turn with this game.
Events can be very enticing and indeed beneficial but sometimes you just need to take Ops and Activities instead in order to progress your score.
Great stuff once again.