Downfall - a fresh solo session

Another solo play with this truly involving game and I reset to start of Campaign scenario.

A very different game so far (and realised had made couple of mistakes on first outing) compared to last as Soviets much less effective against OKH and the Allies in west failed several Strategic Warfare rolls which slowed their domination of Mediterranean and has allowed OKW to evacuate North Africa and build up strength (forces in Italy rather strong) as I enter Turn 5.

Eventually Italy was forced out of war after Sicily captured but Allied progress into Italy looks unlikely, a landing elsewhere is needed (if I could but draw the required Naval Dominance card) to drain off OKW units.

OKW Action card hand draws seem to have obtained just about every card OKH would want (still have effect but lessened for OKW).

Finding this to be a very addictive game, very much a case of  'I will do just one more action' which becomes several and what seems like 15 minutes going by has actually been 2 hours ! 

++ Addendum - I misunderstood the full use of beachhead markers which would have allowed limited Allied intervention in Europe prior to Overlord style OP which really needs that elusive Naval Dominance card - which can convert these Beachs to Mulberry Ports. So whilst now Soviets are again crushing in East Allies could have at least threatened VP cities and dissipated OKW effort somewhat ++

OKW units in North Africa heading to Tunis for escape to Italy

And the consequence for Allies is strong German presence on the 'Boot' despite loss of Sicily.

Much slower Soviet progress on Eastern Front

Soviets pushing in South but struggling up North

Allies still not threatening NW Europe as OKW strengthens units 

Progress on 'Siege Of Malta' and 'North Atlantic' tracks has been tad pathetic

Downfall - first solo play

Had a solo session with Downfall (in sauna that was wargame room !) as a learning experience.

Very interesting and involving game with several new concepts to embrace, that played pretty well solo (bar managing the card hands, which got quite large at times) with the back and forth playing sequence and order options for each side keeping things fresh and unpredictable.

As Allies I concentrated early on with Strategic Warfare as they have few units on board (in fact rather few overall) only in North Africa/Tunisia.

This saw Allies gain control of Malta Convoys and win the Battle of the Atlantic but fail to do much with Strategic Bombing (not sure the benefits of better air units is worth effort until later in war).

I struggled to fully understand the Naval (and Supply) aspects of the game preferring not to risk sending any reserves until requisite sea areas under full control.

In retrospect I can see an argument for OKW to evacuate Tunisia toot suite as once Mediterranean zones are dominated by Royal Navy their units are nigh impossible to reinforce. 

Allies never got to launch attack into western Europe but did manage to invade Sicily and Italian mainland getting hung up at Cassino and Rome but I never got to knock Italy out of war (required Event card did not appear).

Therefore OKW had little to do bar contest Italy and do occasional Strategic Warfare.

This was really all because of the almost total collapse of OKH on Ostfront as the Soviets proved to be an inexorable juggernaut.

Tough choice for OKH whether to stand firm or give ground as units can get cut-off and annihilated (dead units are not returned/re-built) if not careful.

The Ivans just seemed to hoover up city objective hexes and their VP levels ramped up quickly indeed they won game automatically in Turn 3 (out of 8).

Doubtless there are better strategies/card use/order use than I managed with OKH and indeed Allies

All in all this is a fun game system with lots going on and it does suck you in despite turns being lengthy.

Combat and Movement all easily resolved at least on land as again I failed to do much at sea (game rated as Medium complexity which is pretty much spot on).

Soviet juggernaut pushing westwards..................................

Not sure of impact/purpose of opposing Fleets in Black and Baltic Seas (maybe later or am missing something)

Allies gain toehold in Sicily

Large Allied fleets in North Atlantic but invasion force stuck in UK as OKW fortifies French coast

End of game with not much change for Allies bar sending some reserves to Italy

Where they are hung up at Rome having just taken Cassino after a struggle (note Soviets already into Balkans and Bulgaria knocked out of war)

Soviets at very gates of Berlin and Allies not even ashore in West

The paltry Allied objectives held 

Dominant Soviet conquests yielding the 10VP difference need to win outright for them and OKW

Comparing this to WW2 Barbarossa To Berlin (a CDG type) it is much different with less overt 'scripting', but with more involved and lengthier turns, with BTB relying firmly on its card driven system to conduct OPs and Events whilst Downfall has a more nuanced system of cards, Action Chits and Events. 

The strategic warfare and naval aspects are seemingly more important in Downfall as not purely Event cards and do effect Supply but much less frequently than in BTB also very few Event card chains compared with BTB which has several 'trees' of need play card 1 to play card 2. 

Similar subject matter covered with BTB being probably quicker to play and less of footprint but Downfall much less predictable and free flowing.

Downfall, Conquest Of The Third Reich - a board wargame purchase

With yet another birthday coming up I got myself (on wifes behalf) a board wargame from summer sale at Second Chance Games and went with Downfall from GMT which has garnered good reviews.

Am finding board wargames are generally getting to be out of price range I am willing to pay so obtaining this one for under £50 was hard to resist.

Game punched and set up ready to go as solo effort with relatively low unit count although it has a somewhat larger footprint than usual.

Standard GMT quality however I went with standard paper map version as to obtain the mounted boards and larger box would have doubled cost.

Covers essentially same theatre as WW2 Barbarossa To Berlin, which is a favourite of mine, although starting in November 1942 rather than June 1941.

It has unusual mechanic of it being Soviets versus Western Allies but with each side controlling a Nazi faction (why do I detest that word !?) with Soviets using OKW in West/Mediterranean forces to delay Allies and OKH forces in east used to delay Soviets.

Now to read the rules.......................

Combat Commander Europe - a couple of solo Stalingrad games

Had a quick solo session with Combat Commander playing first two scenarios from the Stalingrad scenario pack.

Both excellent games with so much happening, with Huns completely dominating the Ivans in first game but coming up well short in second (based around Grain Elevator action).

Chain Of Command 2 - Pushing On scenario played

Game today with Stephen and we decided to give COC2 an outing.

I selected the second scenario 'Pushing On' from the Op Martlet Campaign booklet with Stephen as attacking British and I as defending Huns.

This is an Attack vs Defence scenario but Brits managed to get to go first in Patrol Phase and this allowed them to get a Jump Off point within striking distance of central farm which was one of 2 Objectives (I placed it sort of centrally to test the new Objective/Final Countdown system.

And then with getting to activate first Stephen soon had a Section occupying the objective (bit unsure about how this worked in scenario context as wording seemed contradictory regarding when Final Countdown could occur and by whom) but we initiated the Final Countdown (10 Phases) and played out the action.

Having been a while since we played COC we had to relearn several basics re Shock and Commands but both thought the new generation and use of COC Points improved the game.

I had a PzIV (comes as part of core force) but it refused to appear due to ongoing Preliminary Bombardment despite Brits having 2 Shermans on table for it to potentially engage.

Game went to British after Sudden Death kicked in as double 6 rolled and they occupied Objective.

All in all a fun outing with new set and whilst I still prefer the scale/level of IABSM the COC Dice system is preferrable to cards in several ways.

Not a lot to see in pics as not much kit on display

Ulster Wargames Society - Katzbach 1813 with Field of Battle 3

Club meeting today and I put on a FOB 3 Napoleonic game based on a scenario from GDB 'Katzbach 1813' with Prussians (and some late arriving Russians) against French.

Andy took the French and Dave T along with Dave B commanded the more numerous Allies.

French are defenders and deploy up to roughly two thirds on way across table and Prussians up to 12" from their edge.

French deployed with mainly infantry formations in centre areas with several Legere in skirmish formation and mounted on flanks.

Prussians had their large 'standard' Brigade (2 Fusiliers and 4 Musketeers) on their left, a Landwehr Brigade on central hill with artillery and their cavalry massed on their left wing.

Both sides have off-table Reserves due to arrive on 1st, 2nd and 4th Movement cards.

Highlights of game were the Allied reserves arriving very quickly but their right wing refusing to activate for 3 full Move cards.

Prussian cavalry on left managed to dominate the hill adjacent to the river and were soon supported by arriving foot formations.

French did manage to get their Reserves on as well and were able to send cavalry to their left wing forcing Prussians foot into square.

Other French cavalry contested the hill on their right that Prussians had invested and indeed this became a hotly contested area of battlefield with numerous charges by mounted, units being flanked and destroyed and lots of morale points lost by both sides.

Things were more circumspect on Allied right as both side artillery were concentrated here with a steady drain of losses but less dramatic than elsewhere.

A French unit of Elite Hussars caused Prussians all sorts of problems despite being virtually surrounded (indeed they managed to escape trap) whilst a small unit (3UI) of Prussian Garde Jager caused similar mayhem before being routed.

Losses on both sides were mounting and French morale (31) was exhausted first but Allied morale was also tottering on brink despite having a large number of unengaged units (including the Russians).

When French pulled an Army Morale card Andy managed to roll a 10 and the Allied hearts sank but lo and behold they also rolled a 10 so French quit the field and it transpired that the Allies had  a mere 1 Morale left plus 2 'gifted' from French so very close to edge themselves.

Great stuff once again with FOB3 and always enjoyable when a game ends up so close

Clash in centre

Prussians forced into square as French cavalry swirls about

Intense action unfolds on high ground on Allied left

Both sides reserves shore up center

French 'Marie Louise units' advance in march columns 

Things bit more static on French left

Early stages (Prussians have occupied hill in far distance)

French deployment on left

Opposing Prussians (rooted to spot for ages)

Action on Prussian left with the hilltop contested fiercely by both sides

The Elite French Hussars in some trouble as flanked and threatened from rear whilst Garde Jager are doing their thing (unit at 11 o'clock)

Also at club several other games (good turn out again today) but no idea how these turned out

Phil and co played a Boer War game using Men Who Would Be Kings in 20mm

This Boer cavalry column seems to be tip toeing along a precipice !!

Jeremy and several others put on a game of Infamy Infamy (Sharp Practice for Ancients ?) in 28mm Romans vs Germans

Charlie and co played another Battle Tech game (think rules are Alpha Strike ?) with some nice sci fi buildings

Dave P and Adam played a 28mm game of Battlegroup WW2 but I failed to see or take any pics of this.