Fire In The Lake/Fall Of Saigon solo game completed

Managed to complete my solo game of FITL with VC coming out victors by 1 point.

The normal FITL game finished with both USA and NVA shattered (some massive costly battles between the two) and at Paris Peace Talks which are conducted after last Coup card the US was forced to retreat and NVA to call a ceasefire (this is based on their victory level at this stage prior to Fall of Saigon decks etc). 

This left VC and ARVN in fairly strong positions and indeed at one point ARVN looked to be in ascendancy as they were 3 points beyond their required win level. 

However a terrible run of events saw them lose 10+ points and then the VC upped their victory level taking the game by the single VP as Watergate Coup card appeared.

So only one campaign of expansion (6 cards of possible 8 for 1972) conducted but such fun overall and all in good timing as GDA2 released tomorrow which will doubtless consume my time. 

Near end of standard scenario and USA has begun decimating NVA regular forces and bases (they were all but annihilated in Laos/Cambodia)

NVA losses combined with low Resources is crippling

USA has committed most of its available forces to counter NVA but costing them VP

VC establishing themselves in Mekong Delta

ARVN too are looking strong overall

At game end in 1972 and NVA are mullered as are US (both forced in retreat status)

After Paris Peace Talks the US Army has been completely withdrawn and the VC have just managed to achieve victory.

ARVN had managed to get some armour assets on board but did not get to use them.

Glory Is Fleeting test game and Fall Of Saigon solo scenario

Game today with Stephen (recovered from last weeks dread lurgy) trying Glory Is Fleeting rules with his 1812 Russians facing my invading French Grand Armee.

We both choose from the respective Infantry Corps lists fielding 4 Divisions each although Russians had more mounted troops overall as allowed a Mixed Division.

The French list took me several attempts to get right as several core units must be purchased before one gets to select freely but yields a fairly plausible Divisional sized force with several veteran units in 1812.

As only our second outing with rules we played less than optimally as trying to cover as many situations as possible for learning purposes.

So for example I charged into fully fresh large Russian Infantry units (with Artillery attachments) which unsurprisingly saw my units bounced badly but this did show us the charge sequence/actions in full and how supports and Cavalry support charges worked.

Couple of minor queries over wording re Supports but nothing we could not work out with careful reading of rules.

As per previous version (FOGN) I still love the Scenario/Terrain set up and Deployment system.

Apologies for couple of fuzzy pics 

Also this week I managed another solo session with Fall Of Saigon expansion to Fire In The Lake, this time trying the Extended Short Scenario. 

This has a single 8 card 1968 deck (from FITL) being followed by three 8 card decks for 1973, 74 and 1975 from expansion but including all four 'factions'.

Great stuff again with Viet Cong winning at end of 1974 by 1 VP.

Fall of Saigon in progress

Fall of Saigon expansion arrived (after a days delay due to Courier mix up) and I got it to table for solo try (no minis game this week as Stephen unwell)

Expansion includes scenarios to extend the scenarios of FITL and most intriguing a a scenario entitled 'Black April' using with the NVA and ARVN only and dealing with the NVA offensives that sealed demise of south after Paris Peace Accords.

This piqued my interest most so set it up for a play through.

With just 2 'factions' this is a two player scenario and utilises the two player initiative system from Colonial Twilight and goodly portion of the new cards decks covering 1973-1975 (24 cards per year plus new Coup cards although only 6-8 cards per year used in a scenario).

Armour is introduced in expansion (with new triangular blocks) and a couple of new associated OPs and Special Activity (Spearhead) and these are an interesting twist.

Only played through 1973 and just into 1974 but the NVA do seem irresistible especially their new 'Spring Offensive' Pivotal Event which allows them to Free March, Free Bombard and Free Attack all across the board once conditions are correct (post Watergate and regular troops fully mobilised) and have taken Saigon and most of the North.

Doubtless my play or ARVN is less than optimal (too many Events taken I fear) but thats what a play through is for.

All in all whilst just dipping a toe this is an excellent expansion and look forward to using the Extended options for other scenarios wherein if no clear winner in a standard FITL game you check the effect of Paris Peace talks then set up extended decks to play into 1973-1975.

Making a great game even better.  

Set up for Black April with only NVA and ARVN pieces (VC and USA are not used)

Overlay for 2-player Initiative and US posture track (only top line used in this scn)

That nasty Spring Offensive used and Saigon occupied by NVA (ARVN lost 14 units here !!)

NVA largely in control in north after offensive, note huge ARVN losses (these go to US casualty box in this scenario)

The busy life of a Wargamer in retirement with a bit more solo dabbling, some Pbem and missing pics.

Been dabbling and dibbling again this last few days with various board Wargames but also made a couple of purchases (!!) and did manage to play a minis game but photos seem to have gone AWOL ?

On board Wargame front I set up (always prefer physical game to Vassal as excellent as that is) and played through several turns (up until I realised Axis were stuffed in late 1943) of WW2: Barbarossa To Berlin a CDG type I have always enjoyed.

Then I got Battle of Britain onto table this being the Plastic Soldier Company version (bought a while back for bargain £15) of an old TSR game (which I own). 

A fairly simple but quick playing game. 

Ironically despite being by PSC the plastic aircraft are rather underwhelming so I used those from old TSR version as these are much crisper castings.

On Pbem front game of No Retreat! The Russian Front continues with German (moi) Turn 3 having just ended. 

Ivans (Mike) looking rather thin on ground but they will have 6 cards in their part of turn to 'spend' to restore units and they have a few reserves arriving as well so should look better for them.

I also played with Stephen a Napoleonic minis game using the superbly priced (ie free) Valour & Fortitude Rules for a bash with my Prussians against his French. 

Stephen used an old (V1) GDB scenario based on action at Gross-Gorschen 1813. 

This was mainly to try out a couple of house rules concerning Open Order units as we don't like how they play as written and are trying to make them more akin to pure Skirmish formation. 

Went well but I whilst I took photos they seem to have gotten deleted from my phone/Google account accidentally I assume. 

The rules (and other stuff) are downloadable at https://www.perry-miniatures.com/valour-fortitude/vf-rules/

And then I bought a couple of items the first being the long awaited second edition of General D'Armee by Dave Brown which is a pre-order due 4th of March or so.

Also made an EBay purchase of one of the expansions for Fire In The Lake game namely 'The Fall Of Saigon 1972-1975' a title I have been on lookout for to expand this hugely enjoyable COIN system game.