Game of Test of Battle (ie Command Decision IV) today at Stephens using his most excellent 10mm kit.
We selected a scenario we found online based on counterattack against the Scottish corridor during Epsom Offensive June 1944.
Scenario looked good with 3 Battalions from 15th Scottish Division defending a road from counterattacks by KG Fey from 1st SS and KG Weidinger from 2nd SS (also 3 Bttns) both with some armour and artillery support.
Pretty busy table with masses of hedgerows and orchards cutting visibility/LOS down to a few inches at most (max of 12" along the tree lined roads).
However the game was not that satisfying despite the rules being very slick and easy to remember and like most US rule sets queries are easily answered.
Problem was that the SS were classed as Veterans Morale 9 with the British Regulars (ie 2 levels lower) Morale 8.
The SS Coys (all at full strength) with 3 Inf and 1 Wpns Stand could pump out 8 basic dice versus the Brit Coys with their 3 Stands garnering a mere 3 dice in reply.
Added to this the Weapons Platoons have much better hit numbers and indeed being Veteran all the SS firing has a +1 so Brits with their 3 dice (6 if Opp firing) needed generally 4 or less to hit (with -1 cover) whilst SS with 8 dice (12 of Opp fire) needed 5 with Inf and 8 with Wpns (even in harder cover it was still 4 and 7).
Then any hits on SS have 50% chance of having no effect whereas Brits have only 30% chance.
This meant the SS were an unstoppable juggernaut that could simply blow British away whilst Brits could inflict little or no damage on SS.
British did have better artillery access (but lack of decent field of view for spotting stands nullified this).
We stopped the game after several turns as it was obvious that it was so one-sided as to be unplayable and an exercise in futility.
The SS PzGr are best Germans can field (their standard Infantry less potent) especially at full OOB but one wonders based on TOB model how they failed to sweep British from Normandy !
The scenario not the best in hindsight as just too much Germans stuff with too many advantages.
Pity as the rule system is great and quicker playing than older CD versions but I am beginning to recall now why I ended up going to Spearhead and other rules.
Yanks (not unsurprisingly) are better match-up as they too have Armoured Infantry Coys with 2 dice firepower and weapons Platoons.
One must pity the British and the Russians however in historical match-ups, they may fair better of course versus lesser German types or in points based games (the SS Coys cost 255pts with Hanomags the British Coys a mere 55 points on foot not sure they are even worth that !!!)
RTR Churchills move up to support Infantry
SS start to appear
A British Battalion that was immobile until Germans closed to 9"
Germans push forward annihilating a single blocking Company in village
British defence may look formidable, but of course looks can be deceiving
Panzers appear
British Infantry about to be deluged with fire
Churchills deploy but one Troop forced back by Tiger as PzGrs cross the stream
SS deploying
Two British Infantry Companies have been blown away around upper roadway
