General d'Armee 2 a quick initial try

A brief try of new GDA2 today at Stephens (whose physical copy arrived just as we started) with a 1813/14 Prussian vs French match up using the 'pick n mix' Divisional lists included with terrain generated from the system in the GDB rules.

The lists are quite good generating plausible Divisional forces as you get 4 core Brigades (3 Foot 1 Mounted) with options to choose 1-3 more depending on size of game you want. 

Additionally you use upgrades/promotions to regrade some troops or add extra units with number of such upgrades determined by size of game and attacker vs defender (attacker also get 2 extra Line units). 

British and French benefit from access to more Light Infantry units which if 'bought'/upgraded to Veteran are very flexible as only they can operate  Deployed into Skirmish Order in the open (lesser quality Lights can only skirmish in cover/rough) 

We rolled for attacker/defender (much easier to sort this prior to a game as effects list options) and as defender I got option to choose a Redoubt which can be the Tactical Objective in a game (one is selected within defenders zone and can be a BUA or Hill or some such). Defenders deploy in own half of table and cannot advance into enemy half unless they are Skirmishers or Cavalry or a Brigade using Re-deploy command.

We only played a few turns as lots of discussion (as is our want) of new systems in rules and effects of new Taskings and especially the new CinC Commands.

Systems for shooting, charging and combat are simpler overall (and more intuitive we felt) with most situations/circumstances being either re-rolls or additional Casualty Dice or simple adjustment to 'quality' of shooting effect. 

Charges being limited to single units (with supports) is much easier to work out and cuts out need for several rules like Massed Columns.

Troop grades are simpler in that things like Grenadier or Reservist is a permanent state rather than old changes after X casualties deal, again making things simpler overall.

Artillery Brigades are no more (they felt out of place in Divisional game) with Batteries being attached to an Infantry Brigade with a maximum of 1 per Brigade and Artillery Assault is limited to a single Battery per turn so much less impactful than in GDA1 (they always seemed too good).

We tried a cavalry charge vs foot in Line who now must dice to form Square (or not) with option to choose to stay in Line being removed. 

As it turned out my Line failed to form square and became an Unformed Line but managed to bounce the Light Cavalry and supports due to a judicious re-roll.

I also tried new CinC Command 'Post of Honour' which gives a unit/Brigade enhanced charging/combat ability at cost of a couple of ADCs and a CinC Command chit (we had 2 each of these). 

The various CinC commands look pretty potent but are non-repeatable one-shot wonders so timing is key.

Overall very happy with new version and look forward to more game time with them to discover nuances and tactics.

They work well for a Divisional (4-6 Brigades) on our tables size and whilst not as fast playing as the similarly pitched Lasalle 2, they do add some nice tactical decisions/flavour to game play. 

There are rules included for larger sized Corps Level games (but bigger tables required) but I would stick with Glory is Fleeting, Shako 2 or of course FOB for such larger encounters.

Only a couple of pics as engrossed in activity

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.

Late to the party, just watched nay endured 'that' Napoleon movie

Just watched Napoleon this evening (released today on Apple TV) and oh my oh my what can I say that has not already been said !?

What a waste of talent and a complete affront to history and even simple story telling and as a history/movie buff it was at times an excruciating watch. 

Now I do not expect, nor indeed want, Hollywood history based films to be documentaries and understand fully the need to condense events or characters to propel a movie or convey drama but by heck this was mostly a turgid, cringe worthy 150 or so minutes of film making.

Such a pity as there were some marvellous vistas (Egypt looked stunning as did marching Prussian Army for instance) and sumptuous sets and costumes but these were denigrated to occasional background noise by the overall crapness of the so called story.

Of course the 'battle' scenes were what I was really watching for and oh dearie, dearie me is the most polite I can be, such potential simply wasted in such pathetic cartoonish style. 

On plus side Waterloo had me literally laughing out loud (along with the under the table 'seduction') and who knew Boney lead so many cavalry charges sabre in hand throughout his career, nor indeed that French cannon hit the tops of Pyramids, I could go on but shall refrain, and to paraphrase Ridley Scott (how are the mighty fallen) "I wasn't there so what the actual feck do I know ?".

Ah well was I guess it was watchable in its own painfully horrid way and I never thought Braveheart would be worsted, but that is at least a proper 'movie' able to tell a compelling story with decent acting alongside the albeit truly horrible history.

Indeed there have been several stinkers from historical perspective but most are at least entertaining in the main (stand up Anzio, Spartacus, Battle of the Bulge) but this was such a disappointing experience. 

As an aside I watched with better half who also thought it was disjointed (understatement) and awful overall without fully understanding my ire at battle scenes, indeed she commented that the only decently acted scene was that of Boney hearing of Josephines death, brief though it was.

I also had to watch a few scenes from Waterloo to cleanse my eyeballs afterwards..........

 

There he is sabre in hand.............again

One of the better vistas soon ruined by farcical 'action'

Boney spends a lot of time with fingers in ears, which may actually be accurate but I was not there so cannot confirm or refute

There he goes again doing his Ney (not given even a mention) impersonation

 

Fire In The Lake another solo outing

Whilst awaiting imminent (Monday 4th) release of GDA2 I was in several minds as to what to play in meantime and Glory is Fleeting seemed attractive but I plumbed for another session with Fire In The Lake COIN game (as I am kind of addicted to it !)

Plan is to play through the Full Scenario then onto the Fall of Saigon so no faction can win in normal scenario (option). 

Whether I get enough time over the weekend to do so is another thing as once GDA2 rules/Pdf arrive they will have to be fully inspected.

Have so far played through first 2 Coup cards and NVA and ARVN have both fully mobilised their forces whilst VC and USA had both been strong but they have both at this point taken huge casualties. 

The US in particular suffered awful troop losses from massive attacks from NVA and VC in succession and this saw US Aid to Vietnam plummet to zero (three time casualties are deducted from Aid level). 

As third Campaign starts the NVA are still very strong (and only faction in position to use their Pivotal Event - Easter Offensive) with US still looking weak with a distinct lack of bases available.

NVA look dominant although ARVN are out in force and have mostly secured their Lines of Communication

US casualties mounting (it got worse) and Aid was cut off as a consequence

NVA spreading influence in north

Whilst massing to threaten Saigon (US and ARVN later increased forces in capital) 

 

More dabbling with Glory Is Fleeting rules

Another run out for Glory Is Fleeting rules today with Stephen.

He used a pre-1812 British Peninsula force and I used contemporary French Army of Suchet in Spain (both fielded 12 units)

Suchet is by default an Exceptional General so I was able to strip 3 options from strategies available to British (I rolled 6 dice with double 1, double, 2 and double 3 making decision of which to remove automatic).

I ended up choosing Flexible Defence from 4 options left to me and Stephen picked Flank March (interesting to see this strategy)

Peninsula terrain has access to lots of hills (3 compulsory for defender) but we had quite varied terrain which fell quite well for me (with a large wood securing a flank and a strong point in a central town). 

The flank march obviously influenced deployments with Stephan sending 2 Divisions on flank marches (both deep on same flank as it turned out).

Thankfully I had a Division of Veteran units deployed on my right as these bore brunt of Brit attention as I tried to turn his left.

My Cavalry Reserve arrived centrally and was sent to support my outnumbered right wing.

We failed to finish as we thrashed out a few remaining rules lessons regarding supporting units (some wording confused us) and the sequencing of melee combat, and just how Skirmishing works (pretty much a variation of Lasalle 2 method) and of course interspersed with waffling over pros and cons, intricacies of system and the army lists and army make ups :-)

But this is overall a decent system (I do so like the set up/strategies system) that suits the Corps vs Corps scale of game and whilst none of inertia (no Pips, cards etc) we are used to or national characteristics, it works for this level and style game (pick up points game playable in a few hours).

Pics lacking variety as all the action was mainly in one area 

A bit of PC Pbem action with Combat Mission: Barbarossa To Berlin

Few turns into another Pbem scenario with 'New Jersey John' playing a scenario entitled 'The Mouse Commander' set in November 1942 during Soviet encirclement of Stalingrad. 

Scenario pits elements of 22nd Panzer (John) against units of 26th Tank Corps (yours truly) in and around a fog bound village.

My initial force of foot sloggers supported by numerous T26 Tanks (truly abysmal piece of kit) and have just about gained a foothold on edge of village with several T34s now arriving.

Germans encountered thus far have comprised of infantry with Pz38t/PzII (?) support and a couple of Pak 36 which are easily a match for the T26 horrors which are manned by mostly green crews, so many Soviet AP hits have resulted in 'shell broken up' even at close range !!

The fog has both assisted and hampered in equal measure as able to advance unmolested but stumbling into unseen enemy and I expect heaver Hun kit will appear (PzIII or IV ?).

T34s wade through a sea of destroyed T26 minnows

Vision limited by foggy conditions and plenty of hiding spots for ambushing Fascists 

Hard to credit that I have been playing the various CM titles since 2000 !!!!!

This is original ad that sucked me in and recall it taking ages to download the file 

Battle of Gilly 15th June 1815 with Field of Battle 3 at Ulster Wargames Society (and other stuff)

Played Gilly scenario with FOB3 as planned at UWS meeting today with usual suspects Dave T and Dave B with a young chap Mark also playing (great to see youthful enthusiasm).

Another excellent game with plenty of incident which saw French (Dave T and Mark) chase off Prussians (under Dave B).

Prussians made a bit of a tactical blunder by trying to redeploy an Infantry Brigade from their left wing but ended up getting shot in flank several times by French Artillery and then the potent Empress Dragoons (after a favourable run of cards and movement rolls) managed to get across a ford and crashed into a Battalion in march column annihilating them in short order along with a screen of skirmishers.

Such things can occur in FOB which Dave B had likely forgotten, of course had he been luckier with cards it could all have been a stroke of tactical genius.

French foot pushed across the stream and into Gilly as poor Prussian volleys failed to thwart their progress and things got desperate for Prussians who threw caution to wind using 'Daring Deeds' with commanders to Rally troops but saw two commanders rendered Hors De Combat whilst stirring their troops.

Prussian morale plummeted (25) and an Army Morale card saw them yield (French lost 9 of their 35), this was a smallish game and was played to completion in about 3hours.

The French deployed with 'Boney' himself (on road) as outnumbered Prussians push aggressively forward on their right and fatal redeployment into march column of their left wing Brigade although at that stage the French cavalry seemed a long way off

Prussian right wing ready to march to left but Cavalry support sitting too far back on slopes (note the ford) to provide effective cover for this manouvre

Later and the French Artillery and Empress Dragoons (far left) have caused havoc on Prussian left with units destroyed and routing after being caught in marching columns. 

French are into Gilly and pressing hard on their left, as Prussian morale about to collapse.

And a couple of better pics taken by Bryn.

Also at club was usual great looking game from Phil (with Leslie and Paddy) and his 20mm kit think it was based on action at Son bridge during Market Garden.

Again more Bryn pics

Mike along with Simon and Bryn played an ACW boardgame 'A Fearful Sacrifice' with a First Day of Gettysburg scenario utilising only one of its two large game maps. 

This is a visually impressive game with lovely components (nice chunky counters) and a system using card activation/actions and at a tactical scale that seemed quite 'miniatures like'. 

Not sure how it ended but Bufords Cavalry (Simon) screen seemed to have stymied Rebel (Bryn) advance and Union reserves seemed to be pouring in around Gettysburg town and Cemetery Ridge last I saw.

More from Bryn who was Reb commander

Andy (glowing from his recent Team Yankee win in Wales) and Jeremy played Hail Caesar 2 with their 28mm Romans and Celts, they managed two games I believe.