Couple of games played....

Having just turned 50 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) on 25th I managed to get in a couple of board wargames


First up was a scenario from White Star Rising

Scenario from the Cobra expansion had US forces attacking to capture a town from Germans.
This one went to the wire with Germans just managing to hold one of the four town objective hexes for a narrow win.
US failing to activate either of its two formations in penultimate turn was main factor.

Next up was a scenario from Combat Commander

Scenario pitted US Paratroops against the equivalent Fallschirmjager in Normandy.
Both sides pretty much mirror image of each other (each fielding 3 Leaders 9 Squads 3 half Squads and slightly different support weapons).
Fjr in Attack posture and US in Recon mode.
Burden of attack on Germans and they got caught in a couple of heavy firepower attacks losing several squads.
This despite the US losing an MMG and an HMG to breakdowns !

Best of the birthday cards I received

White Star Rising board wargame

Played Elsborn Ridge scenario from White Star Rising at my Dads.
Great game so easy to play and with so few rules easy to recall from memory.
Game ended in a draw with Germans taking one objective town (needed to take two of the three possible to win). Only being held up by judicious use of my two Artillery missions which caused a few key disruptions which my Dad failed to rally off holding his advance for two crucial turns with his potent SS formation (Panthers a Jagdpanther and a King Tiger !!). His weaker Volksgrenadiers made no headway on opposite flank (Germans constrained by a Divisional boundary) especially as I had placed (ie hidden) bulk of my Armour on that sector. Great fun

Overview

Germans pushing on both flanks (split by River/Divisional boundary)

SS energy expended

Volksgrenadiers advance

SS ready for push into town

Stalemate 

White Star Rising another scenario played

Another go with this game at my Fathers tonight with scenario West Of Paderborn (which enticed us both as armour only and my Dad was stationed there in 70's with BAOR and I lived there throughout 1972 !). Another fun game with Artillery Barrages and Smoke new additions we had not tried before. Nasty one this for Germans as despite having 3 Tigers a JagdPzV and a Wirbelwind, they have a tough task stemming the flow of a US combat group without losing too many units themselves (Lost Hun =2 VP lost US = 1VP same if either side can exit units via opposite board edges). Tactical mistake by Germans (ie too far advanced and aggressive) saw them pounded by artillery and blinded by smoke whilst Yanks sneakily flanked them to exit several units. Biggest asset for US (and pain in the proverbial for Krauts) was the P47 that appeared in chit pull from turn 5. It managed to remain on patrol until the end destroying 2 Panzer units and Disrupting 2 others despite the attentions of the Wirbelwind.

Nazi armour advances prematurely

Yanks hiding 

White Star Rising Operation Cobra expansion arrives

This expansion for my recently acquired White Star Rising arrived today being a bunch of new scenarios covering the Op Cobra breakout and a sheet and a bit of new counters for the game (Includes extra German US & Brit counters with new Canadian and Free French). Nice addition if a tad expensive and a rather 'cartoonish' cover to the booklet.

Also had a quick solo play of a Conflict Of Heroes scenario from the Storm of Steel edition and jolly enjoyable it was too even though the Ivans got trounced (I sort of forgot how potent German units generally in the game especially their single Tiger Tank). I ought to play this one more as such beautiful components and a really good system of Command and Control/Action Points/Cardplay.

White Star Rising first play

Had a couple of hours today to run through a few turns of the initial 'Noville' scenario. Overall impression is rather good as I like the Chit Pull mechanism and movement, combat (essentially an opposed rolls system) etc are all fairly straight forward processes. Bit of concern as to HQs wherein they are of course very important but die (can be replaced with lesser versions) if other units in hex are eliminated, so could see potential for this being main thrust of game many times (ie kill the HQs) only time will tell.






Poor iPhone pics again not doing justice to the nice game components

Overview of situation at end of fourth turn

White Star Rising Board Wargame

Very nice surprise from postman on my day off as he delivered 'Nations At War : White Star Rising' game which I had forgotten I had on order from a few weeks ago as awaiting stock. Nice components and does not look too complex.

Of course yet more time needing to be found to give it a go !