Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: CapnJim on August 29, 2021, 02:29:41 AM
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This is my first foray back into WW2 since I joined this distinguished group called LAF. I've posted AARs and/or pics on the Conflicts that came in from the Cold, Old West, and Pulp boards. But I decided it was time to head to 1944 for a bit.
These guys are all Warlord plastics. I took a sprue each of Grenadiers, Blitzkrieg, and Afrika Korps Germans (all free, courtesy of Wargames Illustrated!), and put this Gruppe together, mixing bits from all 3 sprues. I even added an arm from Warlords plastic US GIs (the arm with the hand holding the cigarette on one of the Feldwebels).
These pics show the Feldwebels and the MG42 team, from various angles.
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These pics show the Schutzen from various angles, along with the Gruppe all together...Enjoy!
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I even added an arm from Warlords plastic US GIs (the arm with the hand holding the cigarette on one of the Feldwebels).
One of my favourite ways to do a quick conversion, good work on these.
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Outstanding! Not everyone creates lifelike poses, but yours come to life!
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Thanks, fellas!
@MaleGriffin: I do try to make my plastics into realistic poses. Thanks for that comment especially... 8)
And I stand corrected. This is my SECOND foray into LAF's WW2 section. I forgot I posted an AAR of a GIs vs. Heer battle a while back...
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Well, these guys finally got to see some table-top action.
My gaming group played a WW2 scenario this Wednesday past. It was a 28mm scrum, using Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles. I used the "Counterattack at La Fiere" scenario from one of the SkirmishCampaigns scenario books. It takes place at 1315 hrs on 06 June 1944, and involves the German counterattack on Cauquigny (located across the causeway from La Fiere).
Gene played the US airborne forces. He had the following troops at his disposal (all rated as "veteran" in FFol:BB):
Patrol, 507th PIR (deployed hidden in and around the church in Cauquigny (see map below)
Patrol Leader
Patrol BAR team
Patrol MMG team
Patrol rifle team
Reinforcements, 508th PIR (these chaps had to advance along the causeway from the east board edge)
Platoon Leader
Platoon Sergeant
Bazooka team
2 parachute infantry squads
They also had access to 14 smoke rounds fired from off-board (up to 6 could be fired per turn).
Ted played the Germans. He had the following troops at his disposal, all of whom could enter from the west board edge, or the western 2' of the south board edge:
100th Panzer Training Div.
SdKfz 234 Puma
StuG III
1057. Infanterie Regiment
Platoon Leader
2 full squads
2 reduced squads (less their MG42 teams)
Mortar FO
I acted as umpire/GM. The only change I made to the scenario was the Puma and StuG. It was supposed to be 2 Sumoa 35Rs, but I don't have any of those. The StuG and Puma I did have.
Also, for the smoke, we used the regular off-board arty rules from FFoL:BB to land them (with a 5" diameter for each round). Then, at the beginning of each turn, the US player had to pass a medium task roll for each round that had landed in previous turns to keep it. Several ended up dissipating due to that...
And, for hand grenades, we used regular to-hit rules, using 6"/12" as the range for them. We used a deviation range of 1/2 d10.
The game worked out well. I'll post Part 1 of the AAR later this evening...
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And now, on with the show!
The German objective was the church. As such, the Germans came on from the west, concentrating their effort on the north side of the main east-west road. They advanced 3 squads abreast with the 4th squad, the LT, and the mortar FO behind. The StuG came on in front of the center squad. The US had deployed their patrol units with the MMG in the church tower, the patrol leader and the BAR team in the lower level of the church, and the rifle team in the house just southwest of the church. Meanwhile, the US reinforcement platoon began crossing the causeway, one squad on each side of the road, with the platoon leader, platoon sergeant and bazooka team interspersed among them.
First blood went to the Americans. Their M1919 team in the church tower opened up on the Germans advancing through the fields to their west, causing casualties and shock. The Germans kept going forward under fire from that MMG, which had a commanding view of their approach. The German Puma moved up ahead of the advancing infantry. Meanwhile the US reinforcements worked their way further west along the causeway. And American smoke rounds began to fall in the village between the Germans and the US reinforcements.
Second blood went to the Germans. One squad dealt with the US rifle team in the house, while the rest kept up their advance, all under fire from the US MMG in the church tower. But the Germans kept up their advance, with the StuG and the Puma beginning to work on the church tower with HE shells. The Puma, however got too close to the church, and ahead of its infantry support. The US BAR team, who had AT grenades, close assaulted the Puma from the church. Two of the 3 assaulting US troops fell in the assault, but they still managed to KO the Puma. That KO'ed Puma would later flummox the German StuG, as it blocked its path through the village. Back to the east, the US reinforcement platoon approached the west end of the causeway, and prepared to get into the fight. Some of the American smoke rounds dissipated, while others fell anew.
Things were heating up in Cauquigny...the US patrol was still (barely) hanging on, and both the Germans and the US were closing in on the church in force. The US patrol was down to a few men, but the Germans had also already lost several men and the Puma.
Stay tuned for Part 2...
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The WI 'freebies' are an excellent way to glean some very nice Squads for FFofL games. Your German Infantry look excellent Cap'n.
:-*
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Sounds like, and looks like fun, using FFOL BB.
Nice to get the figures to the table.
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Thanks, chaps! Now on with Part 2...
At the end of Part 1, the German platoon, supported by a StuG and a Puma, were advancing from the west toward the church in Cauquigny. They had taken several casualties (mainly from the US MMG in the church tower), and had lost their Puma. The US patrol was still holding on, but had lost a few men, as well. And the US reinforcement platoon had advanced across the causeway from La Fiere to the east.
The Germans continued to press toward the church, taking casualties as they went. But with the StuG blocked from advancing through Cauquigny any further by the KO'ed Puma, it simply supported the grenadier's assault on the church by firing HE rounds into it. And German small arms fire finally silenced that US MMG. Meanwhile, the US reinforcements entered Cauquigny, with the LT, the Plt Sgt, 1st squad, and the bazooka team angling right toward the church, while their 2nd squad angled to their left to try an end run on the German's right flank.
Too bad for the US 2nd squad. The Germans mortar FO had gotten himself set up on the upper floor of the house to the SW of the church, with his eyes on the US 2nd squad. German 8cm mortar rounds began to fall with some accuracy on the US 2nd squad. Between their shock and casualties, that pretty took them out of the fight.
Back at the church, things were coming to a head. The US reinforcement 1st squad had beat the Germans into the church. The Germans had parts of 3 squads lined up to assault the church. Grenades flew in both directions, with some accuracy. The US paratroopers pulled back from the windows. A German squad went in. A deadly struggle inside the church ensued. Several men, wearing both khaki and field grey, fell. But in the end, after a valiant struggle, it was the US paratroopers who had to beat feet out of the church.
Then, it was over. The US paratroopers (what was left of them) retreated back to the east, toward La Fiere. The Germans, at great cost, had retaken Cauquigny.
Interestingly, the result of our fight pretty much mirrored the historical result, albeit just a bit more deadly for the Germans. In the real battle, the US paratroopers did take out one of the German AFVs, and did indeed end up retreating back to La Fiere having inflicted and taken some serious casualties. The Germans would go on to attack La Fiere across the causeway, and once I paint up another Puma and a US airborne 57mm AT gun, maybe we'll play that battle (it is included in the same Skirmish Campaigns scenario book we used for this fight).
This is the 2nd time we've used FFoL:BB for a WW2 battle, and we think it works quite well. I will say that the casualty dice were hotter than usual for both sides this game, with more W/KIA then shock being inflicted.
Hope you all enjoy reading about the game. We sure enjoyed playing it!
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Great report. Thanks for posting. I get lots of people asking about Fistful of Lead Bigger Battles for WW2. I just don’t have time post anything.
The great part is you can use use regular scale FfoL for small raids and thrn up the scale for latger battles, even using same characters.
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Thanks, Jaye. I don't (yet anyway) do FaceBook, or I'd post something on Wiley games' FB page...
But feel free to lift any of the text or photos here and post it.
Please not that this was our 2nd foray into WW2 with FfoL:BB. See here: https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=131835.0
Also, for anyone interested, here are the US and German scenario sheets and maps, FfoL:BB'ized. Please note again, to give credit where credit is due, that the original scenario came from the SkirmishCampaigns Normandy "44 First Hours scenario book.
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Excellent, thanks!
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Great work, across the board. Excellent poses (something I really need to improve on) with your Germans. Outstanding battle report information. There is a certain…. “tone”… to what you present that sort of reminds me of how much I have forgotten over the years. Hoo-ah!
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Excellent, thanks!
You're welcome. Glad to help! :D
Great work, across the board. Excellent poses (something I really need to improve on) with your Germans. Outstanding battle report information. There is a certain…. “tone”… to what you present that sort of reminds me of how much I have forgotten over the years. Hoo-ah!
Thanks! I do try to make my plastics in realistic poses. That's one reason I like working with them. And I'm glad you noticed that "tone" in my reports. I do try to make them sound appropriate for their genre.... ;)
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Working on some odds and ends for my WW2 stuff. Got done up some dismounted STuG crew, some squad-filler US airborne, and a German MG42 MMG team. Pics to follow, hopefully Wednesday.
Left to do (all prepped and primed):
A German sniper team
US bazooka teams (both regular and airborne)
Dismounted USMC tankers
A US 57mm AT gun, with both regular and airborne crew
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And here they are. 1st two pics are the dismounted STuG crew (Wargames Atlantic Panzer Lehr guys). 2nd two pics are the German MG42 team (Artizan Designs). And the 3rd two pics are US airborne squad fillers (BAR guy is Battle Honors, and the riflemen are Warlord plastics). All 28mm.
More pics to follow as I get more done...enjoy!
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Excellent stuff. That board looks great as well! It's got a nice impression of 'height' to it with the trees and buildings and so on. Big trees and nice undergrowth make for an attractive impression.
What do you make of the Panzer Lehr figures by WA?
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Looking good (painting, figures, board, everything)!
We've been playing a similar La Fiere campaign with the Chain of Command rules. It's interesting to read how this plays with another set of rules. I do own FFoL BB, but haven't played a game with it yet.
T.
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Looking good (painting, figures, board, everything)!
We've been playing a similar La Fiere campaign with the Chain of Command rules. It's interesting to read how this plays with another set of rules. I do own FFoL BB, but haven't played a game with it yet.
T.
Thanks. I saw your AAR, and posted a comment. These odds and ends (well, most of them, anyway) are getting ready to do a scenario based on the German counterattack across the causeway to seize La Fiere and its bridge. I'll post the FfoL:BB scenario when I have it done up, and before we play it. Of course, I'll post pics of the added odds and ends as I paint them, and I'll post pics of the game after we play it!
Excellent stuff. That board looks great as well! It's got a nice impression of 'height' to it with the trees and buildings and so on. Big trees and nice undergrowth make for an attractive impression.
What do you make of the Panzer Lehr figures by WA?
Overall, I quite like them. As you can see (and as was intended by WA), they can be used for dismounted panzer crew. The only 2 quibbles I have are...
1. Their kit is a bit light. Bread bag, canteen, and ammo pouches. No e-tool or gas mask canister.
2. The pistol holsters are a bit large. I used some spare Warlord holsters on these chaps.
Otherr than that, they look good - nice dynamic poses and plenty of head and weapon choices.
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Looking good mate, as usual! 👍
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Thanks! :)
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I really like SkirmishCampaigns scenario books. Much better than playing point based games. Excellent terrain and figures.
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I really like SkirmishCampaigns scenario books. Much better than playing point based games. Excellent terrain and figures.
Thanks! And I'm more of a scenario man myself. Points-based stuff never did it for me.
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Okay - more odds and ends, all 28mm. USMC dismounted tank crew (Brigade Games), a German sniper team (Warlord plastic), and US Airborne (Artizan Designs) and Regular (Empress) bazooka teams.
Next up is a US 57nn AT gun, with both Airborne and Regular crews...
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Next up is a US 57mm AT gun. One gun, 2 crews - airborne and regular infantry. The airborne crew are Warlord metal, except for the standing chap - he's an old Battle Honors guy. The regular infantry crew is kit-bashed Warlord plastics (mostly the 2 US boxes, with the arms with the binos coming from one of their German boxes).
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Good work matey. The insignia / badges really work….something I’m always afraid to do.
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Good work matey. The insignia / badges really work….something I’m always afraid to do.
Thanks, Digits! Yeah, I try to paint rank and unit badges on some of my figs. Especially my WW2 and Vietnam stuff...
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I love your figures! Once again, great poses! Thank you for sharing!
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I love your figures! Once again, great poses! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks! I appreciate your comments... :)
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Just noticed the Atlantic panzer Lehr above. How do you find them? I have been considering getting a box to mix in with my Artizan and Warlord Lehr.
Any chance you could put a few alongside some Artizan / warlord Germans please?
Cheers
David
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Just noticed the Atlantic panzer Lehr above. How do you find them? I have been considering getting a box to mix in with my Artizan and Warlord Lehr.
Any chance you could put a few alongside some Artizan / warlord Germans please?
David
A. As for the Wargames Atlantic Panzer Lehr chaps - these are the only 3 I've built so far. I do like how they came out. The rest of the box is gonna be done up as Panzer Lehr infantry. Overall, I like 'em. Just a few quibbles. First, as with all the WA figures, due to how they mold their necks and heads, any head swap with non-WA heads will take just a bit of shaving on the WA neck and the other head. Second, their kit is a bit light. Essentially, just ammo pouches, bread bags, and water bottles. No gas mask cannisters, bayonets, mess kits, or e-tools. I'll probably add some Warlord bits to them as I build them as infantry. And (and this is really picky), their holsters are a bit big for my tastes. But overall, I like 'em. Nice dynamic poses, and plenty of weapon and head choices.
B. Please see the attached pics for comparisons. In each shot, left to right, it's WA, Warlord, and Artizan. Hope they help... :)
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Excellent, thanks for that mate.
I’d already figured they were light on clutter. Luckily I have quite a useful bits box so I am going to order a couple of sprues from eBay me thinks.
They look a little thin by comparison with the others, but I’m struggling to collect enough variety to do my Lehr fully in metal. Between the two boxes, Artizan and Warlord, I think nearly half seem to be carrying panzerfausts! Having enough MG42 teams was going to be an issue but i notice on the sprue there are two alternate MG42 arms and a spare gun, so lots of opportunity to sort that out.
I look forward to seeing your Lehr infantry.
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I look forward to seeing your Lehr infantry.
So do I! Not sure when that will be though. My painting queue is long and winding, and I never know what's next until I get to sorting a batch out for prepping...too many periods to game, I guess... ;)
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Don’t I know it fella!
Well, as I said, I’ve ordered a pair of sprues so I can make a few of the missing lmg teams I need, so I may beat you to it I suppose. The airborne are practically finished and I’ve had metal Lehr based and primed for a while now……
The biggest issue I face is there are simply no supports available (vehicles aside) for them so a little limiting…..
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Hmm. I suppose you could use metal support weapons (mortars, tripod MG42s, AT guns, etc.) and use WA chaps to make up the crews. The trick may be finding a Panzerschreck... but with all those Panzerfausts, you may not need one... :D
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Yup, I ordered a pair of tripod mounted mg’s and a couple of panzerschrecks from the assault group……will give it a go……
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I did find this, Panzershreck-wise...
https://www.wargaming3d.com/product/panzerschreck-and-rockets/
And Rubicon's "German Stowage 2" set has a Panzerschreck in it, as well...
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I've finished doing up the follow-on scenario to the Le Fiere Counterattack game, shown earlier in this thread. This one is titled "Tank Attack", and sees the Germans attacking Le Fiere across the causeway from Cauquigny, after seizing Cauquigny from the US paratroopers. I've attached the US and German scenario sheets and maps below, should anyone be interested. My regular gaming group plans to play it out at one of our next few weekly gaming sessions. A couple notes, though:
1. This scenario is based on the scenario of the same name that is included in SkirmishCampaigns' Normandy '44 - First Hours D-Day scenario book. I've translated it into Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles format.
2. All the units included in the scenario are straight from the scenario book mentioned above, with the exception of the German armor. In reality, the 100. Ersatz Panzer Abteilung used mostly captured Renault R35s, with a few PzKfw III's. I don't yet have any of those, so I substituted what I have in my collection (2 Pumas, and StuG III, and a PzKfw IV). If you play the scenario with R35s, I would rate them in FfoL:BB as medium vehicles with light guns.
3. This scenario could be a tough nut for the Germans. These is some disagreement among scenario designers on whether to rate the US Paratroopers as Veteran/Elite, or simply Regular. Based on the scenario book on which I based this scenario, and my own understanding of how the US Paratroopers performed on D-Day, I gave them the Veteran trait in FfoL:BB. You could downgrade them to Regular (d10s), which could make this a bit less of a challenge for the Germans.
As usual, I'll post an illustrated AAR once we do in fact play this out.
Also, I'm almost done with that 2nd German Puma. Pics of it will appear here upon completion.
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Just finished this today. A German SdKfz 234 Puma, done up from the Panzer Lehr Division, more or less (inspired by the good Mr. digits' WW2 thread and his Panzer Lehr stuff).
EDIT: The model is a Warlord 28mm plastic kit.
That completes what I needed to paint up to do the above scenario. As previously mentioned, my gaming group will play that scenario out at one of our next few gaming sessions. Of course, an illustrated AAR will follow...
As to what's next - who knows? The leading candidates are some Panzer Lehr infantry (once I get the Artizan Panzer Lehr chaps I've ordered....), and some generic modern(ish) Central/South American policia. Stay tuned to this thread, or my thread in the "Conflicts That Came in From the Cold" section here at the LAF, to find out!
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Very good! Despite there really not being many of them produced, one my absolute favourites.
I’d best get painting my Lehr minis then hadn’t I! Looking forward to seeing yours come together.
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Looking good mate! 👍
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Thanks, Gents!
And I've decided I needn't choose! I'll start working on BOTH my Panzer Lehr fellas and those Policia... 8)
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Got my first Panzer Lehr squad prepped yesterday. Priming will happen this afternoon. 3 each of Warlord and Artizan metal, and WA plastic. Painting to follow...
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Very nice! I like your camo!
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Looking forward to seeing the Lehr…
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can't wait to see the Lehr figures
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Lovely looking Puma.
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Lovely looking Puma.
Very nice! I like your camo!
Thanks, fellas! I don't own an airbrush, so on vehicles like this one, I use the "stippling" technique. I did discover that my stippling brush (itself a retired paintbrush) needs to ne re-retired. Once I retire another suitable brush, I'll do so.
can't wait to see the Lehr figures
Looking forward to seeing the Lehr…
They are now all primed and ready to go. Since I've been tasked by Higher HQ to help with her family's garage sale this weekend, they have been put on next week's painting schedule! Pics to follow, of course...
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And here they are - my Panzer Lehr 1st Squad (or 1. Gruppe, to be nationally correct). All these guys are 28mm. The Squad Leader is a Warlord metal, and the MG team is Artizan. In the 3rd and 4th pic, we have (left to right) a Wargames Atlantic plastic, an Artizan metal, and a Warlord metal. In the 5th and 6th pics, we have Wargames Atlantic plastics on either side, and a Warlord metal in the middle.
I did add a few bits of spare Warlord kit to the Wargames Atlantic chaps. Also, as you can see, the metal and plastic rifles differ a bit in size. But as you can also see, that difference is way less noticeable in the pic of them together on the table. So I'm good with them being together in the squads.
I plan on 2 or 3 more squads, plus a Platoon HQ. And perhaps Panzerschreck and tripod-MG42 teams. All in due time, though......
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Yup looking good mate. Particularly like your helmet covers.
Looking forward to seeing your take on the supports…….did your panzerschrecks arrive?
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Great work Cap'n! 🫡
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Beautifully done!
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Love 'em 8)
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Cheers, chaps! :D
Digits: Haven't ordered them yet. I'm in the States and TAG is not. I'll be on vacation in a couple weeks, so I plan to order upon my return.
My plan right now is to use 2 figures from the Warlord PL set (prone SMG guy and MG loader) and the kneeling WA guy to man the tripod MG42. I think my P-Schreck team will be up and on the move...using WA chaps.
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very nice indeed
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That's the thing about the Lehr, we can all learn something from it. ;)
Now for the Panzer Lehrer, a balding maths professor with glasses and an armoured piano or, as the man would have it himself, an armoured '88 string guitar'.
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Thanks, Tom. Appreciate it.
And it's a good thing I get your sense of humor, Carlos....oy..... 8)
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Well, my gaming group played the "Tank Attack" scenario we adapted from a Skirmish Campaigns book (see page 3 of this thread). It is the first German attack across the Le Fiere causeway and bridge after taking Cauquigny from US paratroopers on D-Day. We played the lead-in scenario (the German attack on Cauquigny) several weeks back (see Page 1 earlier in this thread), and the Germans did indeed push the US Airborne boys back across the causeway (as happened historically).
As with the first game, Gene played the US Airborne chaps, and Ted played the German fellas. Gene had a Plt Ldr, Plt Sgt, 2 reduced-strength airborne squads (a result of losing the 1st battle), 2 bazooka teams, and a 57mm AT gun. For his reinforcements, he rolled a mortar FO (which he would use to very good effect...).
Ted had 1 StuGIII, 2 SdKFz 234 Pumas (I don't have any French R35s, so these stood in...), a Plt HQ, 3 grenadier squads, a MG42 MMG, a mortar FO, and an arty FO. For his reinforcements, he rolled a sniper team.
The German mission was to attack east across the causeway, seize the bridge, and try to grab as many buildings as possible. The US mission was to prevent all that.
Gene set up with his Plt Ldr, a squad, a bazooka team, and the AT gun dug in just east of the bridge on the north side of the main road, while the Plt Sgt, the other squad and bazooka team, and the mortar FO dug in south of the main road.
Ted deployed his AFVs along the road in Cauquigny, with the StuG leading, with his 3 squads lined up ready to dash across the causeway. His Plt HQ was right behind the center squad. His arty FO and sniper team were up in the church tower, while his MMG and mortar FO were in the wood-line lining the west bank f the river's floodplain.
Again, we used Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles. Ted started things off by beginning his advance across the causeway, the StuG in front, then a Puma, with a squad each coming up along the tree-lines on each side of the road. Then the 2nd Puma. The 3rd squad and the Plt HQ brought up the rear. It was quiet at first...
To be continued.....
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nice!
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Thanks, Jaye!
And it did indeed start out pretty quiet, with the Germans cautiously advancing along the causeway. They got about halfway across when all hell broke loose!
The US mortar FO quickly established comms with his FDC, and called in very accurate fire on the Germans on the causeway. The initial fire mission of the US mortars took out several Germans from the advancing squads, and even(luckily) took out one of the Pumas (which now blocked the road for the 2nd Puma...).
The Germans tried to respond in kind, with their mortar FO calling in fire on the Americans north of the main road, and their arty FO doing so on the Americans south of the road. While the Germans fire missions did cause a few casualties, it was nowhere near as accurate as the American mortar fire. And the German MG42 tried to put down covering fire, but it jammed... :(
The Germans kept up their slow advance along the causeway, however. But another US mortar mission put paid to that, taking out more German infantry, effectively taking out both the leading squads. And the Germans kept up their artillery fire as well. Again it was not as accurate as the US fire.
The US bazooka team nearest to the bridge had to back off as the StuG advanced across the bridge, and the German Leutnant brought his 3rd squad up to try to keep the attack going. A US bazooka team hiding in a barn near the Manor took a risky shot at the StuG, hitting it but not doing much damage. Although dust and debris poured out the now-broken windows in that barn from the bazooka shot, the team was luckily not hurt. This time, the US mortar fire was not quiet as accurate, while the German mortar fire KO'ed the US bazooka team in the barn.
While the German infantry was sorting itself out after the murderous US mortar fire, the 2nd German Puma managed to push the KO'ed Puma out of the way, and the StuG had by now advanced the bridge. But it drew fire from the now-regrouped US bazooka team, as well as the US AT gun. A few hits later, the StuG was a smoking wreck. And that was that. the German Leutnant pulled back to Cauquigny to wait for further orders and to see to the wounded. The US paratroopers had held the Le Fiere bridge. For now anyway...
As with our previous fight, this battle had similar results as its historical counterpart. But unlike our previous fight, which played out very similarly to the historical battle, this one was really decided by strikingly accurate US mortar fire. The German infantry really never had a chance to get in the fight. That StuG, without infantry support, really stood no chance of holding the bridge it had taken.
Once again, Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles played a WW2 fight very well. We all had a good time. And this is one of the scenarios I plan to run at HMGS-Great lakes' convention Advance the Colors in Springfield, OH Oct. 6-7. FYI, the other one I plan to run is my "Prisoner Swap Gone Bad" scenario covered in my thread on the Pulp Board.
One note - this was the first outing for my Panzer Lehr 1st squad and one of my Pumas. Neither fared well, I'm afraid...
Hope you enjoy this AAR. Comments, of course, are welcome!
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Glad the rules worked for you, and gave you a good game.
We always enjoy them, whenever we play them.
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Newly painted troops always get it first.
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First off, your tables are amazing!
Second, just a couple weeks ago I decided the best size scenarios for BB are those found in the skirmish books. So I was pumped to see your AAR using them.
Third, a friend and I are working on a project and I will be reaching out.
Fourth, keep these reports coming.
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Todddddd!
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Todddddd!
After reading this series of posts I had to join the forum and start posting.
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There's some good stuff on here.
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First off, your tables are amazing!
Second, just a couple weeks ago I decided the best size scenarios for BB are those found in the skirmish books. So I was pumped to see your AAR using them.
Third, a friend and I are working on a project and I will be reaching out.
Fourth, keep these reports coming.
First, Thanks!
Second, I agree. We think FfOL:BB works best for WW2 and "modern" stuff at the reinforced platoon level. Which is the level at which the Skirmish Campaigns books generally work.
Third, waiting for your reach out. ;) Looking forward to seeing what you have in mind.
Fourth, we play several periods, most of which are done with the FfOL family of rules. Mind you, Black Powder, Gettysburg Soldiers, and a few others get played from time to time, but FfOL comprise our go to rule sets lately, and WW2 is one of the periods we like to play. So just stay tuned...in fact I have another squad of 28mm Lanzer Lehr all primed and ready for painting...
And welcome to the LAF. Great stuff here, on all the boards...
Newly painted troops always get it first.
Ain't that the truth... :)
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Well, I ran the Le Fiere Bridge Tank Attack scenario at Advance the Colors in Springfield OH, USA this weekend past. 28mm, using Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles. I had 6 players, 3 on each side.
The US had the same OOB as the playtest (see above), except that they rolled for 2x6" of trenches instead of a mortar FO for reinforcements. The US side set up with a squad, a leader, a bazooka team, and the AT gun north of the road, and the rest of the troops south of the road. All dug in or in buildings.
The Germans also had the same OOB as the playtest, but rolled for the Company HQ in a Kubelwagen instead of the sniper team for reinforcements. And they would need him...
The Germans began their advance east across the causeway, with the Pumas in the lead, followed by an infantry squad and Plt. HQ, and the StuG. A squad each worked their way along the trees lining each side of the road. The Co HQ brought up the rear.
The Americans waited till the lead puma got almost all the way across the bridge before they opened fire. The AT gun knocked out the lead Puma, blocking the bridge. As the German infantry moved up to the river, a general firefight broke out along the US line. Both sides took casualties, and the AT gun and bazookas took out the 2nd Puma. German mortars and artillery fell among the US positions, taking out quite a few paratroopers.
The German squads on each side of the road were in positions at the rivers' edge, while the StuG shoved the trail KO'ed Puma out of the way and moved up behind the lead KO'ed Puma on the bridge. The 3rd German squad followed it. All the while, the German Leutnant and Hauptmann encouraged their men forward, the Leutnant on foot, and the Hauptmann from the comfort of his Kubelwagen.
Then 2 things happened that sealed the deal. First, German artillery took out the AT Gun, while a German squad got across the bridge and stormed the US trench south of the main ford near Le Fiere Manor. That got the game to the turn limit, and what remained of the US paratroopers beat feat east out of Le Fiere.
Both sides took heavy casualties, but the German officers did yeoman's work in keeping their men moving forward. And, the Germans FO's were way more effective in directing their fire in this game. And the Germans pulled off a costly win.
These 4 pics show the battlefield:
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And these pics are from the battle...
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Well, after a lull in my painting (induced by other stuff taking up some of my time...), I finally got brush to figure again. This time, It's my Panzer Lehr 2nd Squad. Like 1st Squad, it's a mix of Warlord and Artizan metals, and Wargames Atlantic plastics. The 1st 2 pics are the NCOs and the MG42 team, the 2nd 2 pics are the riflemen, and the last 2 are the whole squad together.
At some point we'll see if they fare any better in their 1st battle than their brothers in the 1st Squad did... ;)
Hope you enjoy!
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Great work Cap'n! 🫡
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Aye they look good!
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Thanks, fellas. Only a platoon HQ, 3rd squad, MG42 MMG team, 2 SdkFz 251s, and a Pazerschreck or 2 to go.... :D
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Inspired by Ash and his group shots of his minis, I've begun to do the same. My Vietnam and Modern minis are already up in my relevant threads in the "Conflicts That Came in From the Cold" Board. It's now time for my WW2 minis. Allies first.
And in them, US Army first. These shots are my mid-war US stuff. Figures are Warlord plastic and metal, Black Tree Design metal, Perry plastic, and a couple Empress metals. The tanks are Rubicon and Warlord kits. The dismounted tankers are Warlord and Artizan Design metals. Of course, the tanks can also go with my Late war US Army boys, whom you will see in the next post.
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And these shots are my late war US stuff. Figures are Empress metal and Wargames Factory plastics (and a Warlord metal).
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Now, for my US Army airborne boys. There are some Warlord metals and plastics, as well as Artizan Designs and a few Battle Honors. The AT gun is Warlord (it's the same gun as the mid-war US guys - I just did up 2 crews...).
To be fair, I purchased the guys with darker bases and 82rd shoulder patches already painted...the rest I did.
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And here is some miscellaneous US stuff. The vehicles are diecasts. The Major is a Wi Giants in Miniature, and his driver/radio guy is a Warlord metal. The medics are one each Warlord plastic and metal.
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Next up are my US Marines. Mostly Warlord metals and plastics, with a few Gaddis Gaming guys in there. The Platoon Sergeant is a Wi Giants in Miniature.
The tank is a diecast, and its crew are Brigade Games metals.
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The last of my Allied troops at this point are British Paras. They are a mix of Warlord plastics and Battle Honors metals. The chaps in the darker red berets came painted that way - I did the rest. You'll notice there are extra Bren and PIAT teams, as well as a couple extra PIAT gunners...
Next, I'll have pics of my Axis forces - Germans and Japanese. Later this week, I would imagine...in the meantime, I hope you enjoy these group shots!
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A great collection here. My favourite is the little pickup truck, so weird to see in army colours.
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So many great pieces! 👏🏻
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Great collection.
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Thanks, fellas!
A great collection here. My favourite is the little pickup truck, so weird to see in army colours.
Yeah, it's a neat little truck. It hasn't appeared in any battles yet - I gotta come up with a scenario in which to use it!
And with all those Allies, they need somebody to fight. Thus, I have some Axis troops to show you all.
We'll start with the Germans. First up is my Heer grenadier platoon, with some supports. The infantry figures are Warlord metals and plastics, and Wargames factory plastics. The dismounted Panzer crew are a Warlord metal and some metal figs whose manufacturer I don't recall... :? The StuG crew are Wargames Atlantics plastics.
The bigger Panzer IV is a 1/48 diecast. The smaller one is a toy I got and tarted up. It scales in at 1/52. The Stug is Warlord - my wargaming bud Ted gave it me painted up like that! The Puma is metal, and I don't know the manufacturer - -I got it painted as such at a Convention years ago...
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Here are some more Germans. They are parts of 3 different platoons, which as you can see are works in progress. We have panzer grenadiers, Panzer Lehr, and SS troops in there. They are a mix or Warlord metal and plastic, Artizan Design metals, and Wargames Atlantic plastics. My ultimate goal is to have a full supported platoon of each... :o
The left SdKfz 251 is a Rubicon kit, and the right one is a diecast. The Puma is a Warlord kit.
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Here are the last of the Germans. The figures are HQ types, a mix of Warlord and Artizan Design metals. The vehicles are all diecasts.
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And, finally, the Japanese. They all all Warlord, both metals and plastics.
That's it for my WW2 stuff. I think my US 1920s/302 gangster stuff will be next, up in the Pulp Board.
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Super stuff. I like that gaming matt as well, which make is that one?
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Yeah, it's a neat little truck. It hasn't appeared in any battles yet - I gotta come up with a scenario in which to use it!
Seem like something they used on the airfields and depots. A whatif German raid in England maybe? Or simply the Japanese attack on the Pacific.
Btw, nice work on the Axis forces :)
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Seem like something they used on the airfields and depots. A whatif German raid in England maybe? Or simply the Japanese attack on the Pacific.
Btw, nice work on the Axis forces :)
Thanks, Freddy.
I'll come up with something in which to use that truck....
Super stuff. I like that gaming matt as well, which make is that one?
I picked it up at a convention in '21. Not sure 100%, but I think it's a Deep Cut Studios mat...
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Okay. So I got a copy of the Xenos Rampant rules. While they are designed for various Sci-Fi/Weird War settings, I think they could be used for conventional fights from about 1900 up to now. After my first read-through, they seem to cover all the bases (standard infantry combat with various troop types, suggested WW2 "national" characteristics, vehicles, flying vehicles, civilians, night fighting, stealth, random events, etc.)...I would just ignore the sci-fi stuff.
I think I'll come up with a WW2 scenario which with to try them out. Then my weekly gaming group will play them. Of course, I will then post an illustrated AAR here, along with our thoughts on how it went. That may be as early as this Friday, if I get my stuff together... :D
As usual, stay tuned...
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It seems like it would work pretty well. I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts about how it plays.
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I also plan to use them for WW2 Sicily, though goodness knows when that will be.
Following with very much interest!
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I use them for my Vietnam war games. Works quite well.
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Thanks for the comments, fellas. The more I read through these rules, the more I like them. The Sci-Fi stuff notwithstanding, it looks like they cover just about everything you'd need for 20th and 21st Century combat. And I'll do my best to use them in this Friday's game.
My initial idea is a British Para raid (with just a bit of help from the local resistance) on a small French town during the early morning hours of June 6, 1944. Maybe to capture/kill the local Gestapo Chief and/or a Nazi "Dignitary". There's a scenario in the book that covers that kind of action...
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just give us an after action report on how the rules worked out for you, please
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As you wish. It shall be done. :D
My plan is to work up the scenario and units stats tomorrow/Thursday. I'll post that stuff here, as well...
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I got a copy of the play test Xenos Rampant a couple of years ago and immediately used it for Modern Africa. It worked great.
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I got a copy of the play test Xenos Rampant a couple of years ago and immediately used it for Modern Africa. It worked great.
Good to know. Thanks.
And without further ado, here are the scenario sheets for Friday's game. Holler with any questions...and as I mentioned, an illustrated AAR will follow...
1st 2 pics are the British Para info. 2nd 2 are the German info.
Please note the disparity in points for the forces. The Paras have 50% more then the Germans, and it could still be quite the trick for them...
If you want to play this (with Xenos Rampant or any other rules), any small village set-up should do. Just place the target building ("A") at or near the center of the board. The board pictured is about 3-1/2'x5'. But a 4'x4' board would work just as well.
And I'll have a resistance member in my British Commend Group, and Gestapo and Collaborator figures in my German HQ group. Be sure to have more pistols/SMGs in the Command and HQ Groups, due to the Close Quarters Doctrine rule. If your figures in those groups are predominantly rifle-armed, ditch that rule for them.
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That looks really good. what computer program do you use to write the orbats?
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Nice prep - all saved for future reference 8)
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Nice prep - all saved for future reference 8)
That looks really good. what computer program do you use to write the orbats?
Thanks, fellas!
As for the program I used for these sheets, I built the OrBats using Microsoft excel spreadsheet. I also dolled up the scenario maps in Microsoft Paint. Then, I imported both into Microsoft Word documents. Hope that helps.
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Here is our brave Paras' target building, where everything is all quiet and peaceful...for now anyway... ;)
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Very atmospheric…
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Thanks for the info about the spreadsheets. Nice target you have there, hope it doesn't stay that quiet for much longer ;)
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Thanks for the info about the spreadsheets.
You're welcome!
We did play this scenario today. Here's the set-up (please refer to the map below):
The scenario takes place at night (technically early morning...), so we used the Night and Stealth and Raising the Alarm rules. Furthermore, it takes place on 06 June 1944. That date ring any bells? 8)
We used the Fog of War rules, which stated that if any unit failed an activation check, the offending player would roll on the relevant chart in the book, with the results being applied immediately and appropriately. This so-called Fog of War would have a dramatic effect on our little affair here (cue dramatic music)...
Ted played the Germans. He had 2 5-man patrols out (both rifle groups), at the points marked "P". Using the stealth rules, he had to do activation tests for them until the alarm was raised. The German HQ group (with its dastardly Gestapo Chief and cowardly collaborator...boo, hiss...) was in building "A" (the target building). A 3rd rifle group and a MG group were in building "1". A MG group each was in building "2" and "3". The German units in the buildings had to wait for the alarm to be raised before they could act, and (as reinforcements) they had to roll their activation on their 1st turn after the alarm was raised.
I played the Paras. My weapons group deployed on the west side of the church. My rifle groups deployed in the SW corner, and my Command Group (led by one Maj. Dodsworth, 3rd Earl of Neavher-on-Thyme and a fine specimen of soldierly virtue...) started in the woods just south of the target building. My cunning plan was for Maj. Dodsworth and his group to get in and grab their quarry, supported by the rifle groups. The weapons group would keep on eye on things from across the street by the SW corner of the church. Then the lot of them would melt away in the night. That was the plan, anyway. Quick and easy, right? What could go wrong?....
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And now, on with the show. And what a show it was!
Getting in Should Be the Easy Part...
And it certainly started out that way. Maj. Dodsworth's Resistance Guide had informed him about the 2 patrols the Germans had out. One was on the street next to the church heading north, while the other was standing around near the shops on the corner of the road heading out of town to the southeast. After the jump, he had collected about 20 men, including himself and their Resistance friend. He had himself, his Sergeant Major, radio man, and batman, and that Resistance chap in his little command group. He also had 2 5-man rifle groups led by Sergeants, who would support his approach on the target building from the woods south of town. He also had a weapons group, led by a Sergeant and with a Bren team and a PIAT team. He sent them around the west of the Village, to set up at the southwest corner of the church to watch over the target building and their quarry's vehicles parked outside it.
It all started out well enough. His group, with the rifle groups to his left, moved cautiously up through the woods and the back gardens of the target building and some houses next to it. He hoped his weapons group was getting into place. They were. So far so good. What the Good Major didn't know was that the German patrol by the church was heading north, away from them, and the patrol to their east was confused as to what to do, unsettled perhaps by all the aircraft and Flak noise (Fog of War). At this rate, he should be upon the target building without his lads being spotted. Oh well. If only that were the case...
Out of nowhere...well, out of the church, actually...gunfire erupted, disturbing the steady drone of aircraft overhead and the distant booms of Flak (and alerting the Germans that something was afoot...). That gunfire, coming from either a confused band or Resistance fighters, or perhaps some ne'er-do-well collaborators, rang out from the church windows and was directed at the British weapons group. Well, that gunfire was inconsequential, except in incurring the wrath of said weapons group. After they returned fire, nothing more was heard from whoever desecrated that church by firing from it.
But the damage had been done. The Germans would now be aware that something untoward was going on and Maj. Dodsworth's plan was scuppered. The fight was on! And what a fight it would prove to be...as you'll see in Part 2: Achtung! Fallschirmjagern!... - coming soon...
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Nice map, great set up fella.
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Yeah, that’s a great looking table for the game! It should be quite an immersive experience.
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Thanks, Fellas. Here's....
Part 2: Achtung! Fallschirmjagern!"
Once the cat was out of the bag, the first German contact was in the back garden of the houses just west of the target building. A German MG group stumbled out the back door, right in front of some Paras. Of course, frenzied shooting took place, wounding Germans and Brits alike.
The German patrol by the church took position by a car parked nearby, and traded fire with the Paras' weapons group. Those Germans would take the worst of it. The other patrol collected their wits, and headed west through the back gardens. And more Germans showed up. A rifle group came out into the street from the buildings just west of the target building, while another MG group came out the back door of the commercial buildings by the target building (unfortunately for the Germans, an officer from a different German unit burst out of the woods, and ordered them off to the south to deal with some other threat (Fog of War)).
Meanwhile (unbeknownst to anyone else, and a Fog of War event), another group of fighters (perhaps a less-than-stalwart group of resistance fighters) gathered their weapons in the uppermost floor of the buildings west of the target building. They then looked out the windows, saw all those Germans, put their weapons back away, and went back to bed...
Meanwhile, outside, as the one Para rifle group dealt with the first German unit contacted, the other Para rifle group headed down the alley next to the target building toward the Germans HQ vehicles, while Maj. Dodsworth and his chaps skirted around the east side of said building. On the German side, an MG group had come out the back door of the residence catty-corner from the target building, and was making their way toward the church. And another came out the front door of that building, and headed west down the street toward the fight. And the German HQ men had come out onto the street, and headed east up the street, away from the fight toward the MG group heading toward them.
Stay tuned for Part 3: There he is! Get him!.....
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And now,....
Part 3: There he is! Get him!
By now, our brave Para lads had gotten themselves into quite a pickle...
Both sides have taken casualties, and one German rifle group had been grabbed and taken away by some other German officer. As the German HQ guys cowered - er, I mean led from - behind an MG group up the street from the target building, the Germans were slowly pressing our lads into a defensive position in the street out in front of the target building. Too bad for the Germans that they were driving the Paras right toward the German HQ group.....
Things got very confusing. Men went down, shot dead in the street in the dead of night. Bayonet crossed with rifle butt, and in the middle of it all, a Der Spiegel reporter appeared from a the commercial building across from the target building to record what would surely be a brilliant Nazi victory (Fog of War).
By now, the German HQ men had retreated through an alley to the back gardens at the northeast corner of our little village. Maj. Dodsworth had temporarily taken refuge behind a car parked at the curb, trading shots with a MG group shielding the German HQ group. But at this point it looked grim for our Brave Para chaps. They were losing good men, and were stuck in an ever-lessening perimeter out in the street. And it looked like their quarry was getting away. But isn't it darkest just before the dawn?
Indeed it is. Maj. Dodsworth dropped several Germans from behind the car where he had taken cover, and one of his rifle Sergeants exercised some personal initiative, improvised and kicked some ass. He spotted their quarry in that back yard across from the target building, order his lads to fix bayonets, leapt across the garden wall, and charged screaming into the German HQ group. By now, that Der Spiegel reporter was near enough to witness this spectacle. But what he saw dismayed him. The German Hauptmann grabbed the Gestapo Chief, threw him at the charging British Sergeant and riflemen, and stepped back to the fence at his rear. Then he heard that sickening "click!" when you step on a booby trap (Fog of War). The good Hauptmann froze. He was in quite the spot. He had just sacrificed the Gestapo Chief to save his own ass, right in front of a German reporter. And he had just stepped on a booby trap that his own men had probably set. Again right in front of that reporter. He froze, indeed, trying desperately to figure out how not to get blown up...
Meanwhile, the Paras could see the body of the collaborator lying on the ground, inert and already apparently lifeless. Oh well...at least they had one of their targets, and now they had to make their escape...Maj. Dodsworth, who could make out the gist of what happened looking down the alley from his position at that car, yelled at his men to "Run! Get that man out of here! I'll catch up!"...
Stay tuned for Part 4: "Maj. Dodsworth Runs Into Infamy", the final part of our AAR. You'll get the answers to these questions:
1. Will that Para Sergeant and his riflemen bundle their prisoner off to safety?
2. Will Maj. Dodsworth indeed "catch up"?
3. Will the German Hauptmann get out of his sticky wicket?
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What an awesome and visually appealing after action report! It sounds like it was a fun game!
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What an awesome and visually appealing after action report! It sounds like it was a fun game!
It was a fun game. And thanks for your comment - but wait, there's more! And with that, it's time for:
Part 4: Maj. Dodsworth Runs Into Infamy" (the final part).
Our hero, Maj. Dodsworth, crouched behind the car with his Sten Gun at the ready. Those Germans blokes they were there after had slinked away down that alley across the street from him. Next to him, his Sgt. Maj, radio man and batman were down on the sidewalk next to him (their resistance friend had been shot several minutes earlier). He was still trading fire with a few Germans in the street in front of their target building and a couple more in that alley, and he could see bodies lying in the streets, both his men and the enemy...things had gotten a bit dicey...
Just then, from the back of that alley across the street, he saw what he was sure was a scuffle and a few shots. He then heard Sgt. Lyckett-Upham's booming voice "We 'ave 'im, Sir!". The good Major shouted back: "Run! Get that bugger out of 'ere! I'll be along shortly, lads!"...
And run Sgt. Lyckett-Upham and Lance Cpl. Gridley did. They headed west, through the back gardens toward the street. They ducked north along the sidewalk behind a big lorrie parked their. And they needed that lorrie. For cover. Several Germans at the head end of the street, as well as one on the other side of that lorrie, opened fire on them as they ran. They could hear rounds hitting steel and glass, but they kept going. The Germans would fire a few rounds, and then chase after them a bit, fire a bit more, and so on - always seemingly hot on our boys' heels. And just as it looked like the Germans were on them, they got away, slipping off into a nearby woods in the night, dragging their prize along with them. Those intel chaps should be able to have a chat with him, for sure...
But what of Maj. Dodsworth? With the Germans out in the streets now distracted by going after Lyckett-Upham and their Gestapo Chief, Dodsworth could have easily slipped away toward the southeast, and circled north to link up with his lads. But that was not the sort of man Maj. Dodsworth considered himself to be. He decided he had to make a break for it alright, but he would follow along after Sgt. Lyckett-Upham, and catch up to them in those woods north of the village. So, he put a fresh magazine in his Sten Gun, pulled the bolt back, adjusted his helmet just so and steeled his nerves, and took off north across the street toward that alley, zig-zagging as he went.
As he entered the alley, he could see 2 Germans waiting for him. He must have surprised them, as they fired wildly into the night at very close range. Maj. Dodsworth did not fire wildly. At point blank range, he leveled his Tommy Gun, and squeezed the trigger. One German went down. He butt-stroked the other on his way up the alley, and when he emerged into the back garden, he saw the German Hauptmann and a civilian standing in the corner next to the loo. He never even lifted up his Schmeisser. Why?, Maj. Dodsworth would never know...
Maj. Dodsworth also cut west, out toward the street by the church. Right out into a street full or the Germans who were chasing Lyckett-Upham. They saw him, and a new chase was on.
Dodsworth deked along the sidewalk, keeping that lorrie between him and the Germans. He then ducked back east through a machine shop area. By then, the German Hauptmann had grown a pair, and had thrown himself and that reporter off and away from that booby trap. And absolutely nothing happened. A dud! The Hauptmann got up, brushed himself off, and headed toward the sound of the chase. The reporter followed along behind him.
It now looked as though Maj. Dodsworth had made a mistake ducking into that machine shop yard. He could hear German footsteps getting very close. He wheeled around, just as some Germans were on him. He fired...which must have surprised the Germans, as they backed off just a bit. And just enough. Maj. Dodsworth got around the corner of the shop building, hoping to see a gate in the yard wall....
....and he didn't see any. He turned around, his back to the wall now, and there were several Germans closing in on him all just several feet away. And he could hear what he presumed to be that Hauptmann, barking orders in German. And with that, it appeared as if Maj. Dodsworth would spend the rest of the war in a German POW camp. Or worse. But would he?
No! Our good Major pointed with his index finger, screamed "Look over there!", and scrambled over the wall at his back. He dashed into the woods just north of town not looking back.
Maj. Dodsworth, 3rd Earl of Neavher-on-Thyme and a now even-finer specimen of soldierly virtue, had done it. He and his men had successfully grabbed a Gestapo man in the dead of night an scarpered off with him. He did find Sgt, Lyckett-Upham, Lance Cpl. Gridley, and their Gestapo prisoner in those woods, and were able to find their battalion CP. Whereupon the delivered him to the Battalion Intelligence Officer, who likely would give that Gestapo chap a taste of his own medicine.
Maj. Dodsworth and his hastily-assembled little force had indeed done it. With some flare and with a vary dramatic ending, as well. But at a very steep cost. Maj. Dodsworth started out with himself, 18 more Paras, and that Resistance fellow. Out of those 20 men, only 3 made it out (Maj. Dodsworth, Sgt, Lyckett-Upham, and Lance Cpl. Gridley. But they gave better than they got. Their foes started out with 35 men. Only 7 remained fit for duty after Maj. Dodsworth made good his escape (and, they had nabbed one of their 2 men).
I will provide out thoughts on how well Xenos Rampant worked for WW2 in my next post, but suffice it to say that we thought that it worked very well, and certainly made for a very entertaining and dramatic little fight....
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Impressive! Outstanding figures and terrain! Thank you for sharing!
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Yes, that's a rather pretty little village you are shooting up there.
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Outstanding pictures and a super report
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Great report - looking forward to your insights on how the rules played 8)
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Yes, that's a rather pretty little village you are shooting up there.
Yes, well, thanks. But it had to be done...
Outstanding pictures and a super report
Impressive! Outstanding figures and terrain! Thank you for sharing!
Great report - looking forward to your insights on how the rules played 8)
Thanks, fellas. Our thoughts on using these rules for WW2 area s follows:
Using Xenos Rampant for WW2.
Units
First off, Mr. Mersey and Co. already had rules for pretty much everything up to about 1900. Despite their groove toward Sci-Fi settings, these rules can indeed be used for engagements from about 1900 up to, well, today.
These rules provide for several types of units, from "Militia Rabble' to "Elite Infantry". Each type of infantry has a few inherent traits, and several more that can be "purchased" (especially if if you are using points - we don't, but we figured up the points anyway...). In addition, there are "Xenos" rules that can be "purchased" to further buff up units. The myriad of unit types that one can come up with is impressive. Even ignoring the Sci-Fi stuff, we couldn't think of a unit type that couldn't be represented with these rules. Heck, even some of the Sci-Fi stuff would have non-Sci-Fi equivalents, with a little imagination applied...
One note here. Units have an "Armor" value, which dictates how many hits a unit has to take before a figure is KO'd. This can be adjusted for the firer's range and cover. We decided that it didn't necessarily indicate the level of their personal armor, but (at least in this period) it was more a function of their tactical competence in terms of movement and their use of available cover and concealment. In periods where units would have personal armor, that goes into the mix.
There are even vehicle rules, each with their own traits and buffs (one of which is "Flying", so UH-1s, UH-60s and the like can be represented). As it turned out (since the Paras got between the German HQ dudes and their rides, we ended up not needing to us the vehicle rules. So, I can sense another run at these rules, WITH vehicles in the mix.
Units have several characteristics, used for movement, firing, HtH combat, defense, and "Courage". Each unit type has specific scores that need to be equaled or exceeded to activate, but each unit type also has at least een free type of action that doesn't require rolling to activate. In our fight, the Paras (as Heavy Infantry) didn't need to roll to activate to fire their weapons. The Germans, on the other hand, didn't need to roll to activate to move (unless they were moving into HtH). That would come into play, and provide some very tense and dramatic moments in the final phase of our fight, as the Paras were hustling their prey off the Board, and our Good Major was making his heroic escape...
All units start out with 10 dice to fire and do HtH. Once they get below 50% strength, they then use 5 dice. We only used the base 5-man units. Larger units (10 men, and is a few cases 15 men), still use the same 10 die/5 die, but their chances of scoring kills increase a bit. We may toy around with 10-man units, but we think 5-man groups feel right for WW2 - a squad/section would then be a rifle team and an MG team, with the appropriate buffs. We'll see...
The basic infantry unit, at least for the 2 unit types we used, assumes the average soldier is rifle-armed. For units with a preponderance of pistols/SMGs, we applied the "Close Quarters Doctrine" trait, which reduced their firing range. And for the MG groups, we used the "Heavy Weapons" trait, which increased their effectiveness. And for our Paras' Weapons team and their PIAT, we used the "Armor-Piercing" trait (but restricted using it for anti-vehicle fire).
Movement
This was pretty straightforward.
Combat
Based on the above comments, this was pretty straightforward too. As would be the case in real life, our groups with MGs fared better in taking out enemy troops, and once groups got below 50% strength, it was harder to kill folks. Not impossible, however, as Maj. Dodworth demonstrated... ;)
Morale
Again, pretty straightforward. Both in terms of becoming Suppressed, the effects of being Suppressed, and becoming un-Suppressed.
Optional Stuff
These rules have "National Characteristics" for WW1 and WW2 units. We used them, as they made sense. We also used the Fog of War rules, which came into play when a unit failed an activation roll. Out of almost 20 turns (we lost track...), this only happened 7 times, and 4 of them had a direct impact on the game (one of the German sentry patrols getting spooked early on, the gunmen opening fire on the Para Weapons Group from the church (which raised the alarm), a German MG group getting re-tasked away (taking them out of the fight), and the German Hauptmann stepping on that booby trap). A 5th one saw a German reporter show up (just in time to see the Paras snatch the Gestapo man, get away with him, and Maj. Dodsworth's escape). I wonder how he wrote that up? :D
The other 2 Fog of War events involved another group of gunmen. The appeared, and blew their very first activation roll, and wound up getting spooked, taking them right back out of the game. We're not sure any of the active combatants even knew about them...
We also used the Night Fighting and the Stealth and Raising the Alarm rules. Too bad those stupid gunmen in the church mucked things up for the Paras...
All the optional rules we used added to the enjoyability of the game.
Conclusion
While intended for use if various Sci-Fi settings, Xenos Rampant is a perfectly usable set of rules for small unit combat from about 1900 to now. Between the myriad of unit types and sizes the game can handle, the ways you can use optional buffs and Xenos Rules to customize units, the movement, combat, and "Courage" rules, and all the available optional rules, one would be hard-pressed to find something not covered by these rules for that period. Heck, the rules even state that if you can think of a reasonable Xenos rule the authors didn't include, to go ahead and do so (we did that with the Paras' Smoke rule, which was based on one of the included Xenos rules).
Verdict: These rules will indeed go into our regular rotation. And not just for WW2...I can see some Vietnam and Modern action being played out with them...
I hope our game, its AAR, and these thoughts on Xenos Rampant being used for a non-Sci-Fi setting are helpful. It was sure fun providing them... :D
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So, I went to a Menards (a big-box home improvement store here in the States) in Toledo, OH yesterday. They had a couple aisle-bins with bunches of diecast cars in them. In one bin, they had a good number of 1/48 US WW2 deuce-and-a-half trucks. They were $3 each. So, I got 3 of them. They actually look pretty good, as you can see from the pics below. And especially for the price...and they do indeed measure out to 1/48 scale.
I'll eventually tart them up a bit (repaint the winch cables and reels, paint the windshield wipers, repaint the tarps, and weather them up a bit). Once I do that, I'll post pics of them tarted up.
The first pic shows one of the trucks in its package, and the 2nd pic shows the back of that package.
The 3rd and 4th pics show a truck, out of the box, from a couple angles.
The 5th pic shows the truck with a few of my GIs, for scale comparison. It works for me...
Now a platoon of my GIs can ride to battle in style...
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A Captain in Toledo? Inquiring minds must know.
COLONEL KURTZ "Where are you from Willard ?"
WILLARD "I'm from Ohio, sir."
KURTZ "Were you born there ?"
WILLARD "Yes, sir."
KURTZ "Whereabouts ?"
WILLARD "Toledo, sir."
KURTZ "How far were you from the river ?"
WILLARD "The Ohio river, sir ? About 200 miles." lol
Nice looking truck, never knew Bob Denver drove 'em, just boats. Can't have been John, he just flew planes..... not so well as it turned out. ;)
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Great find! 👍
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As soon as i saw your post I ran out to Menards to find these. The good news: I was successful! The not so good: they were in the $5 bin at my store, not the $3 one…. Still a bargain, though!
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A Captain in Toledo? Inquiring minds must know.
COLONEL KURTZ "Where are you from Willard ?"
WILLARD "I'm from Ohio, sir."
KURTZ "Were you born there ?"
WILLARD "Yes, sir."
KURTZ "Whereabouts ?"
WILLARD "Toledo, sir."
KURTZ "How far were you from the river ?"
WILLARD "The Ohio river, sir ? About 200 miles." lol
Nice looking truck, never knew Bob Denver drove 'em, just boats. Can't have been John, he just flew planes..... not so well as it turned out. ;)
A. More like a Captain FROM Toledo. I grew up there, and currently live in Michigan a few miles north of the state line...and I was a Captain of Armor/Cavalry, not SF. And IIRC, BOB Denver couldn't drive a boat that well, either... :o
Great find! 👍
As soon as i saw your post I ran out to Menards to find these. The good news: I was successful! The not so good: they were in the $5 bin at my store, not the $3 one…. Still a bargain, though!
Yeah, a great find indeed. The ones I got were in the $3 bin, but rang up at $5. Once the cashier realized they were mis-binned, she changed it to $3 each...either way, as you pointed out, a bargain...
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Thanks for the heads up on the trucks. Will be heading to Menards today to pickup a few. Just in time for our upcoming K47 campaign!
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Nice looking trucks for the price. I'd gladly trade a Home Depot for a Menard's
any day.
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Thanks for the heads up on the trucks. Will be heading to Menards today to pickup a few. Just in time for our upcoming K47 campaign!
Hope you found some!
Nice looking trucks for the price. I'd gladly trade a Home Depot for a Menard's
any day.
Yeah - Home Despot ain't my favorite store...
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Well, it's back to WW2 for my weekly gaming group tomorrow (Friday, the 17 Nov). As I wrote the 82nd Airborne Hold Until Relieved! scenario for the Cold War Gone Hot supplement to Force on Force 2 , I decided to tweak it, using the Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles rules) for the days immediately following D-Day in WW2. It now involves a US Army platoon (reinforced with tanks) trying to relieve a unit of US paratroopers and some French partisans holed up in a French village. Of course, they are being attacked by Germans...
Here are the US scenario sheets:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-161123190745.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-161123190727.jpeg)
And here are the German scenario sheets (forgive the "Soviet/Polish" labeling in the German set-up zone - I imported that image from my copy of the CWGH proof...):
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-161123190706.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-161123190642.jpeg)
We play at 11am tomorrow. I'll do up an illustrated AAR after the conclusion of hostilities...
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Excellent
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Thanks, Jaye!
And, now on with the show!
Part 1: The German Attack, and the Arrival of the Relief Force.
First off, a couple shots of our quiet little Normandy Village. Here it is, looking from the north.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123171043.jpeg)
And here, from the south.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123171023.jpeg)
The 101st boys, with a few mis-dropped 82nd guys thrown in, set up mostly along the stone wall at the south and southwest edges of the village. Their Bazooka teams were immediately east of the bridge to cover that, while their .30 cal team was in the upper floor of the house by the road at the south edge of the village. The French partisans were in the farm at the southwest corner of the village (maybe one of them owned said farm).
The initial German platoon was in the woods south of town, while the 2 Pumas came up the road from the south. This is where things started.
The German infantry moved out in the woods, heading north, while the Pumas headed up the road. Things were quiet so far, until one of the Pumas fired on the partisans in the farm.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123171008.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170954.jpeg)
The other Puma fired at the Paratroopers along the wall, forcing a rifle team back. The partisans in the farm also pulled back a bit.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170938.jpeg)
The Airborne LT tried to talk some French civilians into joining the cause, but they thought better of it. The civilians in the cafe stayed there, while those out in the street began to find somewhere else to be.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170921.jpeg)
Then, good news! The US relief force's 1st Squad came on west of that farm where the partisans were.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170854.jpeg)
And, an M4 Sherman came up from the southwest. Right into a Panzerfaust. Luckily it didn't do too much damage. And it returned fire.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170831.jpeg)
As the Germans slowly made their way north through the woods, the US relief force 2nd squad came up from the south and got into a firefight with some Germans in the woods. Both sides lost men.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170812.jpeg)
West of the Village, the US relief force LT and his RTO came on, and led the 1st squad toward the Village. He tried to get his on-call artillery, but it wasn't available.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170754.jpeg)
Then, the US 3rd squad and a 2nd M4 Sherman came up from the south. The 3rd squad's rifle team got mixed up in the 2nd squad's firefight, losing a few men, while their BAR team skirted northeast around some trees. The Sherman and a Puma fired at each other, with the Sherman getting the upper hand.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170739.jpeg)
Then bad news for the Americans. The German 2nd Platoon's 1st squad came on, on a hill just southeast of the bridge. They fired on the Airborne's bazooka teams along the river, killing a man.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170721.jpeg)
I'll leave it there for now. Stay tuned for Part 2: The German 2nd Wave.
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And now: Part 2: The German 2nd Wave.
What with all the shooting going on, the civilians in the street opted to be somewhere else, and headed for more secure environs.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170704.jpeg)
Meanwhile, while the US relief force and the Germans were having at it in the woods south of town, the US airborne LT ordered his men to shift left a bit, to cover the approach up the road from the south.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170647.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170631.jpeg)
Near the farm at the southwest corner of the village, the partisans were taking a beating. The US relief force LT had 1st squad's BAR group move to back them up, while he sent 1st squad's maneuver group toward the village to try to link up with the paratroopers. The LT kept trying to raise their arty on the radio, to little avail.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170615.jpeg)
The Germans had eyes on that farm too, and rifle group moved up to it. The few remaining partisans had already bugged out.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170557.jpeg)
Back in the woods, a PzKfw IV came up, surprising the Sherman there, who had been focusing on those Pumas. The Sherman was now in a bad way.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170538.jpeg)
Speaking of those Pumas, the US airborne LT had reached TacAir on the horn. The unmistakable sound of the big rotary piston engine on a P47 could be heard overhead. So could the sound of that bomb detonating next to a Puma, knocking it out. The other Puma wasn't in much better shape. And, a BAR group from the US relief force worked its way around the burning Puma. The Germans and the US relief force men kept up their firefight in the woods south of town.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170440.jpeg)
In town, the airborne boys had finished their repositioning, and exchanged fire with the German 2nd platoon squad on the hill by the bridge. This little fight forced the 2 airborne bazooka teams back away from the river.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170422.jpeg)
The firefight in the woods continued, with both sides taking casualties.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170401.jpeg)
The maneuver group from the US relief force moved toward the west end of the village, in an attempt to find and link up with the airborne units in town.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170345.jpeg)
Now, more bad news for the US relief force. A StuG III came up behind the Sherman near the woods southwest of town. This Sherman was ready, though, and got a good solid hit on the StuG.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170330.jpeg)
Back at the farm, the US BAR group had gotten into the bigger of the 2 farm buildings, and that German squad brought up its MG42 team to the farm's wall. They exchanged fire with each other. That P47 did a 2nd pass, and dropped its other bomb on the German squad on the hill by the bridge. That US BAR team moved to take up that German squad's former position.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170315.jpeg)
That's it for now...I'll post Part 3: The US Final Push (the final part) here in a bit. Stay tuned, and I hope you're enjoying the story thus far...
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And, in a grand finale, I present Part 3: The US Final Push!
While the US relief force's 1st squad's BAR group was having it out with that German MG42 team at the farm, their maneuver group made its way into the village from the west road. Their, the US airborne LT had re-repositioned a squad back to their right to effect the link-up.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170259.jpeg)
Back in the south woods, another German squad came up to support the Panzer IV (which was effectively dealing with the Sherman there).
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170238.jpeg)
Soon enough, that Sherman crew bailed out and abandoned the Sherman. The Panzer IV took advantage of the situation, and moved forward. The US BAR group on the hill by the bridge took up a position facing the Germans. And the crew of the 2nd Puma had had enough, and they too abandoned their vehicle.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170221.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170202.jpeg)
With the arrival of the US relief maneuver group on their right, and the BAR group on the left, the US airborne troops in town had an even stronger position.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170148.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170101.jpeg)
Meanwhile, in the firefight in the woods south of town, the German weight of numbers was beginning to tell. The US relief force LT felt the pressure. But the LT was able to finally get through to higher HQ and call in light artillery on the Germans in the woods (even though his RTO was down, at his side).
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170046.jpeg)
Another German 2nd platoon squad came up from the southwest, and helped the Germans press closer to the village. By now, the US BAR group at the farm was down to just the man with the BAR, but he had taken out the German MG42 team.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170031.jpeg)
The Sherman southwest of town had forced the StuG II crew to abandon it, and pressed deeper into the woods. It was in a tough situation though, as the woods still had several Germans in it. And, the German commander had made his way to the north edge of the woods, and called in heavy mortars on the US paratroopers in town, causing a couple casualties.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123170012.jpeg)
The Panzer IV and a few German grenadiers stayed put by the abandoned Sherman. The US paratroopers had got their bazookas back up to the river, covering the road and bridge. By now the road south of town was littered with burning and abandoned vehicles.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123165956.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123165939.jpeg)
And, while the Germans had more or less cleaned out the woods south of town, they had taken heavy casualties doing so. And the US still had a formidable defense set up in the Village.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-201123165923.jpeg)
With a Sherman tank and a couple small pockets am American infantry still in the woods, and a stout defense set up in the Village, the Germans didn't have the strength left to crack that nut. The firing died down, and both sides licked their wounds...
And that is where the battle ended. The Americans had effected a link-up with the Paratroopers, but at the expense of a Sherman tank, almost 2/3 of the relief platoon, and the partisans. Only 4 paratroopers were down at the end of the fight.
The Germans didn't fare much better. Their initial platoon was gutted (losing about 2/3 of them), and the 2nd platoon lost a squad, as well. And, they had lost 2 Pumas and a StuG. So, while the US had effected a link-up, the Germans won on points with the butcher's bill. It was an expensive win for the Germans, but they failed to block the link-up.
All in all, we got through 15 turns in about 4-1/2 hours. Ted played the US paratroopers and French partisans, and I played the US relief platoon. Gene played all the Germans. It may have gone a bit quicker, if we had a 2nd German player. Gene had to keep track of 2 hands of cards. But it worked out OK, and we all had fun. Although Gene did say that, even though he won, it didn't feel like it with the casualties the Germans took...
Thanks for reading all the way to the end, if you did. Hope you enjoyed it... :)
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And, Happy US Thanksgiving to everyone!
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Nice report and a lovely looking game.
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Nice report and a lovely looking game.
Thanks! It was fun to play in, I can tell you that....
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Great report and pictures.
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Excellent looking game and superb AAR!
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Thanks, fellas!
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Great AAR and a lovely looking game. :-*
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Great AAR and a lovely looking game. :-*
Thanks, M'Lord!
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Now that I'm back, and recovered from, vacation, and I've done the additions to my modern forces I wanted to, It's time to switch gears.
Wargames, Soldiers, and Strategy, Issue #128 had a series of scenarios set in late WW2, involving US and German troops. I will be painting some additions to my WW2 collection so we can play these scenarios out. It'll take some time, as I'm getting into 28mm ACW stuff at the same time. But, I'll be posting pics of these additions as I get them done. Stay tuned...
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Yippeeee lol
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Thanks, flatpack. Unfortunately, the painting is going slowly at the moment. Real life keeps rearing its ugly head...too many pots on the fire...but all in due time...
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Well, I've now gotten to the WW2 stuff. First up are US GIs, all 28mm.
These 5 guys are various manufacturers. The chap on the left is a plastic Perry Miniatures GI, to round out my mid-war 3rd squad (he's as replacement for one that was broken during a game some time ago). The middle 2 guys are a sniper team, made from Warlord's new US Rangers box (except for the spotter's left arm - that's a Perry arm). The 2 guys on the right are late-war Wargames Factory plastics, to round out my late-war 2nd squad.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-310724225937.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-310724225908.jpeg)
The rest of the boys are my late-war 3rd squad, all Empress Miniatures. These 3 are the squad NCOs and the BAR gunner:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-310724225834.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-310724225801.jpeg)
And these are the squad's riflemen:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-310724225733.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-310724225708.jpeg)
This is the whole Empress squad:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-310724225648.jpeg)
Next up are some Empress Miniatures' volksgrenadiers - a squad (2 NCOs, an MG42 team, and 5 riflemen) and a panzerfaust team of 2 men. I will also do a Wargames Factory grenadier, to round out my Heer 2rd squad. Pics of these will follow once completed - painting should start next week...
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Those Empress G.I.'s look great. How do they compare in size to Warlord's G.I.'s?
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They do look good. Lovely work Jim!
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Thanks, fellas!
Those Empress G.I.'s look great. How do they compare in size to Warlord's G.I.'s?
Since we all have our own preferences, here's a shot to compare a couple Empress miniatures guys with a couple Warlord guys. You may, of course, draw your own conclusions. Please note, though, that the Empress fellas are attired in the 1943 field jacket, while the Warlord chaps are wearing the 1941 combat jacket. In my opinion, they size well together, but I now have 2 platoons - one in the '41 jacket, and one in the '43 jacket. My plan is to have support weapons (bazookas, MGs, mortars...) in both types of jacket, as well.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-030824202304.jpeg)
Hope this helps...
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You can always mix 'n' match, the M1943 kit was pretty slow and sporadic in terms of reaching the troops at the front, so there were people wearing M 1941 Parsons jackets and the old shoes and gaiters combinations until the very end, either through choice or availability.
The old Wargames Factory box, which was actually a really good set of sculpts had a bet both ways and gave 'em M1943 combat jackets with shoes and gaiters, which while technically possible did look slightly odd on every figure.
If you have any of the Perry metal US figures I'd be curious to see them in a figure comparison. I've been eyeing off their chaps in shirtsleeves as candidates for the SW Pacific for years and it seems that the plastic US are a bit bigger than their 8th Army and DAK.
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Yep. One of my late war US squads are Wargames Factory. All my GIs have the Big Red One patch, so I can mix and match if I want. I may try to come up with a big scenario for both platoons...
As for the Perry metal GIs, I don't have any. But now that you mention it, I may get enough to do a squad of Army GIs for the Normandy campaign dressed in the brown duck-hunter camo.
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They're looking great! Really like the Empress guys.
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They're looking great! Really like the Empress guys.
Thanks! Mr. Hicks does indeed produce some lovely sculpts, which are a joy on which to apply paint...
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Great looking chaps and I was always a big fan of Paul Hicks - too bad he´s not designing 15mm too 8)
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Mr. Hicks does indeed produce some lovely sculpts, which are a joy on which to apply paint...
Seconded. Couldn't agree more...
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Thanks, fellas...
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And, now, for my next trick... 8)
Empress 28mm Volksgrenadiers. Well mostly anyways, as you'll see.
First up are NCOs and a MG42 team.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-101024001745.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-101024001717.jpeg)
Next are 3 chaps with Panzerfausts, and a Wargames Factory plastic Heer fella (the one on the right - he's a filler for my Wargames factory Heer squad...)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-101024001654.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-101024001629.jpeg)
And these are the good ol' rifleman...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-101024001608.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-101024001505.jpeg)
Last, the whole lot together...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/16550-101024001443.jpeg)
The Volksgrenadiers are a 9-man Gruppe, and a 2-man Panzerjager team (the 2 with StG44s).
Next up are US M1919 teams and 60mm mortar teams. Prepping and priming on those guys is scheduled for next week.
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Nicely done fella. I do like these Empress chaps…just a shame they won’t mix in with my slightly larger figures. Keep it up!
Ps…if you hav3 any Warlord Volks….can you pop them side by side please? 🙏
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Very nice indeed.
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Really top notch work Jim! Liking those a lot. :-* :-*
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Lovely range of figures. Good choice.
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Really nicely painted and these Empress VG´s are superbly sculpted chaps too! :-*
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Thanks, fellas. Appreciate that.
Digits: I don't have any Warlord VGs. I looked at a squad box at the con I went to this past weekend, but I didn't end up buying them. I can cobble more up with the several boxes of Warlord plastic Germans I have on my Shelves of Opportunity...
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Don’t worry thanks fella. I picked up a packet from Paul at Partizan on Sunday. Sadly they don’t fit with my other minis. Nice sculpts though.
Anyway, I have been playing with the new winter Fallschirmjagers and have realised they can give me the variety I need.
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I saw that on your thread. I am so gonna use/steal that idea....I have several boxes/sprues of several Warlord plastic German sets laying around....
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Next up are US support weapons.
For clarity's sake, I refer to those fellas wearing the '41 "Parson's" jacket as "mid-war", while those wearing the '43 field jacket are "late war". With that out of the way, on with the show...
Of these, first are 60mm mortar teams. The late war guys (left) are Empress metals. The mid-war guys (right) are Warlord metals. Slung weapons, and those lying on the crates, are Warlord plastics, and the crates themselves are from a Rubicon plastic stowage set.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-311024202944.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-311024202921.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-311024202857.jpeg)
Next are the .30-cal teams. The late war chaps (left) are Empress metals, except for the ammo bearer - he's a Warlord metal. The mid-war guys (right) are Warlord metals.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-311024202832.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-311024202810.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-311024202741.jpeg)
With those guys, I have 4 MG teams (2 mid-war and 2 late war), and 2 mortar teams (1 each mid-war and late war).
Next up are a Heer Panzerschreck team, a Heer radio team, and 4 dismounted Panzer crew. Prepping on them in under way, and I plan to begin painting them Monday.
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They look great!
US Army was mix n match till the very end, so its a good combo.
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Those G.I.'s look great
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They look great!
US Army was mix n match till the very end, so its a good combo.
Thanks, carlos. And yeah - mixing the 2 uniform types ain't a problem. I can field a 2-platoon rifle company now...
Those G.I.'s look great
Thanks, Tom. Appreciate it.
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Very nice work :)
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Very nice work :)
Thanks!
And, between posting pics of my painted minis, we're gonna play a WW2 game tomorrow (Friday). We plan to use a set of Sci-Fi rules we played at a convention in September. These rules, called Fictioneers, are designed to be used with older sci-fi models. We liked it so much we WW2-ified them, and will try that out tomorrow (Friday).
The scenario I chose has a bit of everything in it. It's the Grandcamp scenario from the Skirmish Campaigns Heroes of Omaha and Lanzer Lehr scenario book. However, due to the contents of my collection, I flipped the script. The book's scenario calls for US troops from the 29th Infantry Division attacking German troops from the 352nd Infantry Division. In our game, it'll be German troops coounter-attacking US troops.
Here are the troops involved:
US Forces
Platoon HQ (SMG, 2x Rifles)
Bazooka Team (Bazooka, Rifle)
Infantry Squad (2 SMG, 1 BAR, 7 Rifles)
57mm AT Gun (4 Crew, Medium Cannon)
MMG Team (MMG, 3 Crew)
Reinforcements (roll d20)
• 1-10 BAR Team (BAR, Rifle)
• 11-14 Composite Infantry Team (SMG, BAR, 4x Rifles)
• 12-18 Recon Team (SMG, Rifle), and BAR Team (BAR, Rifle)
• 19-20 None
German Forces
PzKfw IV (Medium Vehicle, Medium Armor, Medium Cannon)
Platoon HQ (Pistol, SMG, Panzerschreck, Rifle), with Kubelwagen (Light Vehicle, No Armor)
2x Infantry Squads (2x SMG, LMG, 6x Rifles), with SdKfz 251s (Light Vehicle, Light Armor, MMG)
Infantry Squad (2x SMG, LMG, 6x Rifles)
Mortar FO (SMG, Rifle, Radio) (2 tubes)
Reinforcements (roll d20)
• 1-5 None
• 6-13 MMG Team (MMG, 3 crew)
• 14-15 Sniper Team (Sniper Rifle, Rifle)
• 16-17 StuG III (Medium Vehicle, Medium Armor, Medium Cannon)
• 18-20 Heavy Mortar FO (This unit is off-board to the east, but has LOS to the entire board - 3 tubes)
Here is the map:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-071124233815.jpeg)
As you can see, the board is criss-crossed with bocage. The Germans have 2 objectives - to seize the farmhouse, and/or to exit 18 individual troops off the west board edge. The Americans' mission is to prevent those.
As a note, the German Panzerschreck and mortar FO teams are newly painted. This will be their first fight. Once I finish some dismounted panzer crew (likely next week), I'll post photos of them all here in my thread. US bazooka teams, a US FO team, and dismounted US tankers will follow the German tankers.
Also, I got a copy of V For Victory (by Studio Tomahawk). Frankly, they look quite intriguing. We'll be taking them for a spin soon, as well. Maybe we'll use this same scenario. Once we play them, I'll post a report and some kind of brief review here, as well.
SP is 1100 hrs. tomorrow. Report to follow.
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Well, we did indeed fight this fight yesterday (Friday).
I played the Americans. My reinforcements were a BAR team. The scenario allows the defender to begin hidden and on Overwatch, so I recorded my units' positions on a map. The Germans would be able to spot my units under these circumstances:
1. A US unit moves.
2. A US unit shoots.
3. A German unit gets close enough to a US unit (2" for hard cover, and 3" for light cover).
The scenario also lets the defender begin dug into the bocage, in a deliberate defense. Since I flipped the script, with the Americans defending, I decided not to let the Americans dig in, as they would be conducting a hasty defence.
Ted and Gene split the Germans between them. Their reinforcements were the MMG team.
All units in this fight are "Regular" troops. No "Veteran/Elite" or "Green" troops here.
The Germans had 12 turns to accomplish their objective(s), and the table is about 3' (north-south) by 4' (east-west).
Before I get into the battle report, here are a few notes on the WW2-ified Fictioneer rules we used.
All dice used are d12s.
Initiative
All players roll a d12 at the start of the game, to determine action order in each turn for the rest of the game. The turn order ended up being Gene, Ted, then me.
Movement
Infantry moves 6", while light and medium vehicles move 12". We did not have any heavy vehicles. Movement can be modified due to the moving unit's circumstances and terrain.
Firing
Each figure or weapon system rolls a die. There is a base target of 7 to roll at or under for each die. There are modifiers to the target # depending on circumstances (pretty standard). The firer can designate individual target figures. Otherwise, the defender decides which target unit figures are hit.
For each hit, there is a saving roll. The target number depends on the weapon firing, and the target's "armor" level. For infantry, any unsaved hits cause a casualty. For vehicles, any unsaved hits penetrate the vehicle's armor. The firer rolls a # of d6 (determined by the firing weapon, with a d6 added if firing into flank/rear/top/bottom armor). The total rolled equals the number of hits a vehicle takes. Of course, vehicles can only take so many penetration hits (called a Damage Rating, or DR). In our game, the Kubelwagen's DR was 2, the half-track's DR was 5, and the Panzer IV's DR was 10.
Hand-to-hand Combat
We didn't have any hand-to-hand combat.
Morale
Once a squad or team takes 50% casualties, or a vehicle takes 50% damage, they must do a morale check on a d12. The target number is 5 or less, modified by circumstances. Pass this check, and the unit is good to go. Miss it by 1 or 2, the unit is Shaken. Shaken units suffer penalties in the game, and can fire, but not move. They lose their Shaken status at the end of their next turn. Miss the Morale Check by 3 or more, and the unit is Pinned. Pinned units do nothing in their future turns, but may take Morale checks until they pass (or are destroyed).
That's it in a (very brief) nutshell.
Now, on with the show.
I (secretly) deployed my units as such:
1. Platoon HQ: In the front yard of the farmhouse.
2. Rifle Squad: Lining the bocage immediately east of the farmhouse.
3. MMG (M1919): Upper floor of the farmhouse, oriented east.
4. 57mm AT Gun: At south end of bocage immediately east of the farmhouse, covering east down the road.
5. BAR Team: At the NE corner of the bocage, across the road from the AT gun.
6. Bazooka Team: In the eastern end of the light woods.
I didn't have enough of either infantry or AT weapons to adequately cover all the possible avenues of approach the Germans could use. Their infantry could come up the north, central, and/or south fields. Their armor could use the road, or use breaks in the bocage to come up the central field. I tried to position my troops to cover, or be able to move to cover, all these avenues of approach. The MMG up in the farmhouse, did have good lines of sight and fields of fire across much of the board (especially the central and north avenues of approach). As it turns out, my positioning worked out OK.
The German vehicles moved west up the road, led by their tank. The dismounted grenadier squad advanced north of the road through that eastern-most field. The Americans held their fire. I didn't want to show my hand too early.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190854.jpeg)
My AT gun took a bead on those German vehicles from its hidden position. I hoped they would continue down the road, but was afraid they would veer into the fields through a break in the bocage. And, that's what they did. The American AT gun opened fire at the trail half-track. And missed. Quite an inauspicious beginning...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190830.jpeg)
The German armor moved through the field, still led by the tank and partly covered by the light woods (where my bazooka team was patiently, quietly, waiting).
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190809.jpeg)
The bazooka team opened fire at the tank. It hit but didn't penetrate. More inauspiciousness... The bazooka team retreated further into the woods as the Panzer IV's coax MG raked those woods. The lead halftrack's panzergrenadiers dismounted, and the grenadiers advanced into the next field.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190741.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190712.jpeg)
With the German AFV's moving through the central fields, my American AT gun crew worked to trundle their gun to a position where they could fire effectively in the center. As the bazooka team and Panzer IV played their cat-and-mouse game in and near the light woods (with neither doing much), the remainder of the Americans held their fire.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190644.jpeg)
The Germans crept forward, with one panzergrenadier squad remaining mounted. The American AT gun, now re-positioned, fired at the German tank, damaging it and shaking the crew. Unfortunately, the bazooka team was now "rounds complete", and moved back toward their line.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190610.jpeg)
Then, another 57mm American AP round KO'ed the Panzer IV. The American M1919 in the farmhouse opened up on the Germans in the field.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190539.jpeg)
The grenadiers and a tripod-mounted MG42 team at the bocage return fire at the American MMG, while the panzergrenadiers advanced.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190507.jpeg)
"Now, Maitland. Now's your time!" I don't know what the US squad leader's name was, but the quote fits the circumstances. The US rifle squad opened fire. Both dismounted german squads were taking casualties.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190429.jpeg)
It was decision time for the Germans. Their infantry had taken casualties, and their tank was a burning wreck. The remnants of the grenadier squad at the bocage, along with the MG42 team, kept up a steady fire on the Americans. The panzergrenadiers mounted back up. And the other panzergrenadiers' half-track backed out onto the road, and headed west up the road. And the german platoon Commander came on in his Kubelwagen, while their mortar FO tried to find a good position, from which to call in fire on the Americans.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190401.jpeg)
He found one. Mortar rounds began to fall among and around the US positions. Rifle and machine gun fire peppered their row of bocage, and raked the upper floor of the farmhouse. Now, Americans were getting hit. And they had a German half-track fast approaching down the road on their right flank, and another still in the fight in the center.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190326.jpeg)
The German Platoon Commander and the panzerschreck team dismounted the Kubelwagen. Things were hanging in the balance....and something had to give...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-091124190256.jpeg)
Things did indeed hang in the balance. The Americans had taken out the German tank, as well as several infantry. But, their bazooka team was out of rounds, and they themselves had taken a few casualties, most notably from the M1919 team in the farmhouse and the AT gun crew. And, halftracks were headed for them, up the middle and down their right. Things were by no means decided yet...
...but they would be, in Part 2 of this report. Which I will post soon enough. Stay tuned.
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Nailbiter huh?
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Nailbiter huh?
Yep. Part 1 covered the first half of the fight (about 6 turns out of the 12). At that point, it was anybody's ball game. But now it's time for Part 2, in which the matter is decided.
With the German Platoon Commander on the scene, the stalled German attack got going again. The MG42 and the mortars would try to suppress the Americans, while the remaining grenadiers would advance through the light woods...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124222230.jpeg)
...and the panzergrenadiers in the central field would press the attack there. They didn't get far. The lone remaining US AT gun crewman frantically worked to effectively service his piece. Another German AFV fell victim to a 57mm round. The half-track burst into flames. There were no survivors.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124222422.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124222318.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124222251.jpeg)
The other panzergrenadier squad sped up the road. There, the American Platoon leader played his last remaining aces, so to speak. The BAR team across the road from the farmhouse and the Platoon HQ (both heretofore uncommitted), along with the now rocket-less bazooka team and some rifleman, traded fire with the half-track and its occupants as it drove by. Small arms fire rang out, grenades flew, and men on both sides were hit. The half-track managed to get through the gauntlet, and escaped to the west.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124222350.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124222204.jpeg)
By now, the American defences were running a bit thin. The German machine guns and mortars were taking a toll on the US troops, and the remaining men in the rifle squad at the bocage line were now pinned down. The Americans were holding on, but just barely.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124222136.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124222106.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124222038.jpeg)
Fire from the Americans slackened. The German grenadiers worked their way through the light woods, while their machine gun and mortars covered their advance.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124222009.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124221942.jpeg)
But, the Americans had held on just long enough. Their Lieutenant ordered his survivors to fall back. He stayed behind to rally his pinned down squad, which he did just in the nick of time. The last American casualty would fall as the BAR team crossed the road to join the other Americans and escape.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124221920.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-101124221856.jpeg)
The Americans had done it. They had held up the Germans attack just long enough. But it was an expensive win. The Lieutenant would only escape with 10 of his men. But they had made the Germans pay. They had inflicted about 60-ish% casualties on the Germans troops, and had taken out a tank and a half-track.
And that was that. The fight was over. After our post-battle discussion, we came to 3 conclusions:
A. Our WW2-ified version of Fictioneers provided a satisfying game with the appropriate "WW2" feel to it. We may make the initiative order a bit more random by squad/team/vehicle, with colored dice/chits drawn for a bag/cup or perhaps cards. Other than that, all the various rules worked out well, and it just felt "right".
B. This scenario did a great job in showing the tactical challenges in attacking through the bocage country (especially with a frontal assault), as well as defending it with limited resources (I couldn't sufficiently cover every avenue of approach, but ended up guessing right). We all enjoyed it a lot!
C. We enjoyed the scenario so much, that we will play it again this coming Friday (15 Nov). Only this time, we will try out the new V for Victory rules by Studio Tomahawk. Of course, i'll post a battle report afterwards, along with our thoughts on those rules.
That's it for now. Thanks for reading!
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Thank you! That was a most enjoyable read. Hard fought game and yes it does seem to have caught the difficulties involved in close terrain. Well done mate!
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Thank you! That was a most enjoyable read. Hard fought game and yes it does seem to have caught the difficulties involved in close terrain. Well done mate!
Thanks, carlos. Appreciate that.
I plan to post the scenario in V for Victory format today or tomorrow, in preparation for Friday's game.
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That was great Jim; well written, and beautifully illistrated.
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That was great Jim; well written, and beautifully illistrated.
Thanks, Ash. Appreciate that.
And, now, here is the scenario info for our V for Victory game scheduled for tomorrow (Friday the 15th).
As a refresher, here's the map:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-071124233815.jpeg)
Here is the US Information; modified for V for Victory (The Platoon Special Rule has been slightly modified from the book to suit the scenario from the Skirmish Campaigns book.
US Forces
Platoon HQ (Commander w/rifle; HQ Team w/SMG, rifle)
Bazooka Team (Bazooka, Rifle) (d6 Fire Actions ______ per game)
Infantry Squad (Fire Team w/SMG, 1 BAR, 2 Rifles; Maneuver Team w/SMG, 5 rifles)
57mm AT Gun (4 Crew, AT Gun - Medium)
MMG Team (3 crew, MMG)
Reinforcements (roll d20)
1-10 BAR Team (BAR, Rifle)
11-14 Composite Infantry Team (SMG, BAR, 4x Rifles)
12-18 Recon Team (SMG, Rifle), and BAR Team (BAR, Rifle)
19-20 None
The US player marks his units on a map. US units begin the game Camouflaged. They are put on the Board when they move, fire, or are Spotted.
Platoon Special Rule
Support: While you set up the game, roll a d8. On a success, you may roll a 2nd time for Reinforcements.
National Special Rule
Fire at Will: Once per turn, after revealing and playing one of your Activation Cards, you can roll a d12. If you get a success, you can resolve a Fire Action with a Deactivated Unit. This Fire Action has to be resolved as Suppressive Fire.
Mission
Your platoon must both of these missions within 12 turns:
1. Hold the farmhouse.
2. Prevent the Germans from moving 18 or more non-pinned or panicked figures off the west board edge. Remember, a vehicle counts as 1 figure for these purposes.
German Forces
PzKfwIV (Armor 3, Primary Weapons: Turret AT Gun – Medium, coax MMG, Secondary weapon: Hull MMG)
Platoon HQ (Commander w/Pistol; HQ Team w/ SMG; Kubelwagen (Armor 0))
AT Team (Panzerschreck, Rifle (d6 Fire Actions _____ per game)
2x Panzer Grenadier Squads (each with Fire Team w/SMG, 1 LMG, 2 Rifles; Maneuver Team w/SMG, 4 rifles; SdKfz251 (Armor 1, Primary Weapon: Pintle-front MMG))
Grenadier Squad (Fire Team w/SMG, 1 LMG, 2 Rifles; Maneuver Team w/SMG, 4 rifles)
Light Mortar FO (SMG, Rifle, Radio) (5 Light Mortar Fire Actions per game)
Reinforcements (roll d20)
1-5 None
6-13 MMG Team (MMG, 3 crew)
14-15 Sniper Team(Sniper Rifle, Rifle)
16-17 StuG III (Armor 3, Primary Weapons: Hull AT Gun – Medium, coax MMG, Secondary weapon: Hull MMG)
18-20 Medium Mortar FO (2x Rifles, Radio) (2 Medium Mortar Fire Actions per game). Off-board to east with LoS to entire board.
Platoon Special Rule
Mechanized: Teams from this platoon can disembark from a vehicle while resolving an Assault Action. Vehicles listed as part of squads/teams are integral parts of those squads/teams.
National Special Rule
Tactician: Once per turn, you can roll a d12 after revealing one of your Activation Cards. If you get a success, you can choose to ignore one of the Order Icons on your card and instead resolve 1 Order of your choice (Move, Engage, or Tactical). If the roll fails, resolve your card normally
Mission
Your platoon must accomplish one or both of these missions within 12 turns:
3. Seize and hold the farmhouse.
4. Move 18 or more non-pinned or panicked figures off the west board edge. Remember, a vehicle counts as 1 figure for these purposes.
That oughta do it. The Germans hit the SP at 1100 hrs. tomorrow. Report to follow. Out.
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Brilliant AAR with lovely terrain and figures!
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Great narrative game!
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Very interesting BatRep with nice terrain and miniatures :)
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Thanks, fellas!
We did play that scenario this Friday past, using Studio Tomahawk's new V for Victory rules. First, let me provide a mini-review of the rules.
V for Victory
Anyone who has played Congo, from Studio Tomahawk, will find similarities with these rules. Here a couple universal mechanics of the rules:
A. The game uses 3 die types, d6s, d8s, and d12s. Whenever a roll is needed to decide something, 1 or more dice, of various types are rolled. A result of 5+ on each die is the target for a success. That target number never changes. What changes are the die types. Modifiers, called "burns" (which reduce a die's type) or "boosts" (which increase a die's types), are applied to the die type's to be rolled.
B. Measurements are by rulers, of varying lengths. There are 4 ruler types - Very Short (VS - 2"), Short (S - 4"), Medium (M - 6"), and Long (L - 12"). Movement rates and weapons' ranges are measured in X Ruler lengths. For example, rifles have a range of 2L. Infantry can run for 2S. That sort of thing.
Unit stats are fairly straightforward. There are unit ratings (Raw, Standard, and Veteran), weapons they are equipped with, etc.. The basic unit is an infantry platoon HQ, 1 or 2 squads, and a selection of extra squads, support weapons, and vehicles. Extra units (teams, support weapons, and vehicles) besides the basic unit, are purchased by a point system, governed by the scenario to be played. In this scenario, I used the OOB's and reinforcements used in the scenario book from which i adapted it from. The rulebook has unit organizations for US, German, British, and Soviet units, and are based on the later war period ('44 and '45). Each force has Special Rules, some of which which can be used once each turn.
The system uses cards to activate units. Each side has a hand of 8 cards - 7 cards which allow units in the force to do a certain number of certain types of actions and with assigned initiative values of 1 thru 7, and a Special Rule card (which allows the force to use one of their Special Rules (this card can be played at any point in a turn the Special Rule allows).
Each turn consists of each side picking one of their activation cards, showing them simultaneously, with the card with the higher initiative value going first in that phase, followed by the other side. That process is done 7 times each turn.
When a players uses his/her activation card, they are allowed to complete the actions listed on the card. 2 things here:
A. There are 3 types of actions - Movement (Advance and Run), Engage (Fire and Close Assault), and Tactical (Rally, Withdraw, and Unlimber (which includes actually unlimbering a gun, as well as setting up a support weapon, like a MMG or mortar)). Each activation cards lets a force perform a set # of one of more of these Action types.
B. Units can be activated by either: a single team/vehicle, or teams from a squad within 1L of each other, or any team/vehicle within 1L of the Platoon Commander. Teams/vehicles may perform 2 actions each turn, and they may be from different activation cards. If a team/vehicle has not used both its activations in a turn, it may perform reaction fire on an enemy unit that performs an action except Rally.
Movement, shooting, and close assault (for small arms and anti-vehicle combat) are pretty straightforward. Keep in mind the comments about rulers, die types, and the never-changing target # mentioned above.
Units may take casualties from combat, but likely will take Street Points (similar to shock in other systems). As a team/vehicle takes Stress Points, they advance (degrade?) through a sequence of Morale Levels. The best is Confident, then Shaken, then Pinned, and the Panicked. Panicked units are in trouble. Stress Points may be removed and Morale Levels improved by either Rally or Withdraw actions. When a force takes 50% casualties, they Break and lose the game.
The rule book has 11 scenarios in it. Most game tables are said to be 4'x4', and most game lengths are said to be 4 turns.
That's the gist of it. I'll cover our thoughts on the rules after the AAR, which starts now...
Bocage Combat, 2nd Game Battle Report
We had 4 players this time. We had a guest player (David, with whom we've played at various conventions over the years). He and Gene took the Germans. They split the German force between them, and played their activation deck each turn by committee. They ended up with the StuG for their reinforcements.
Ted took the Americans. He ended up with the composite squad, a BAR team, and a Recon team as reinforcements.
I acted as GM.
The Germans tried tactics different from the previous game. One panzergrenadier headed went west down the road mounted in their halftrack. The 2nd panzergrenadier squad, also mounted in their halftrack and followed by the StuG, went right, and attacked up that central field. The dismounted grenadiers went left to attack up the southern field, supported by the Panzer IV. The Platoon HQ led from behind in the center left, and the mortar FO set up to support the attack in the center. Once again, the Germans did not move up the northern field.
First blood went to the Americans. Their bazooka team, set up at the edge of a bocage row directly across the road from the farmhouse, knocked out the 1st panzergrenadiers' halftrack as it began its advance down the road. One shot, one kill. Well, actually, more then one kill. 4 panzergrenadiers died when the halftrack went up in smoke and flames. The rest quickly dismounted, a bit stressed about the whole thing.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124191214.jpeg)
The 2nd panzergrenadier squad moved up into the center field, and began unassing their halftrack...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124191153.jpeg)
...while the grenadiers and the panzer IV went left.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124191130.jpeg)
Then, all Hell broke loose. The Americans knocked the other halftrack out with their AT gun, and riflement lining the bocage row opened fire on the panzergrenadiers. 4 more panzergrenadiers went down, in and out of the track.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124191050.jpeg)
OK. So far, not so good for the Germans.
The Panzer IV was able to grind its way through the bocage, with the grenadiers close at hand. The StuG and the mortar FO showed up, and went right to support the battered panzergrenadiers.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124190942.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124191009.jpeg)
Meanwhile the 2nd squad's panzergrenadiers and the Americans by the farmhouse traded rifle and machine gun fire. And a few HE rounds from the StuG. The German troops in the open next to the burning halftrack were beginning to panic, however.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124190908.jpeg)
When Americans came out of the bocage on their right flank, those panzergrenadiers in the central field finished panicking and bugged out. Apparently, they had had enough.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124190831.jpeg)
It wasn't all going the Americans; way, though. The German mortar FO was calling in light mortar fire on the American positions near the farmhouse. And, as previously mentioned, the StuG was now on the scene.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124190804.jpeg)
Over on the German left, the grenadiers and the Panzer IV had worked their way up on the American right flank. They opened fire on the Americans, who now had a new threat to which they needed to react.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124190704.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124190631.jpeg)
And if that wasn't enough, the Stug moved up through the central field, to support the remnants of the panzergrenadiers. German mortar rounds kept falling among the Americans.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124190601.jpeg)
The fight on the American right continued, with the grenadiers getting set to begin the final assault on the farm. The American AT gun and the Panzer IV traded fire, with the AT gun betting the shorter straw on that deal...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124190531.jpeg)
The remaining panzergrenadiers moved against the American center, supported by that StuG. Things were coming to a head.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124190504.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-171124190435.jpeg)
Unfortunately, this is the point we ran out of time. :o We had gotten 4 turns in, as recommended by the rule book. But folks had to head home.
The Americans still held the farm, but they had taken several casualties, particularly (once again) from the AT gun and the MMG team. The Germans had lost both halftracks and about 2/3 of their panzergrenadiers, but still had a few panzergrenadiers, both the Panzer and the StuG, along with a fresh grenadier squad. The Germans were pretty much ready to commence the final assault. If we had had the time to play another turn or 2, we likely would have come to a final tactical conclusion. At this point, it was still anybody's game.
Our Thoughts
Of course, it took a fair bit of time to play these 4 turns. I was the only one who had read the rules, and we played the first turn or 2 very slowly, to work through the very interesting turn sequence and game mechanics. The game was really designed for one player vs. one player, with a platoon or so each side. While Ted decided which activation card he would play each phase of a turn pretty quickly, at times it took Gene and David some time to decide which activation card they wanted to play each phase. If it were just Gene or just David, that may have gone a bit quicker.
We enjoyed the rules. It didn't take long to wrap our heads around the turn sequence or game mechanics (although one of us took a bit longer that the others - no names though). We found the game interesting and intriging, but would likely not run it at any conventions. Both Ted and I run multi-player participation games, and we thought this was not suited well for that kind of game. We may, however, play it from time to time at our regular gaming sessions.
The rules did produce results that felt "right" just as the other rules we used did. They just both went about their business differently.
There were, however, a few nits we picked with V for Victory. The rules, as written, do not permit vehicles to close assault infantry. That tactic was definitely used in WW2, so we may scheme up a house rule for it. In addition, there was no rule for smoke. Again, another house rule may be in order. Last, I disagreed with a few of the ratings they gave some vehicles. Since that is pretty much a matter of personal and/or professional opinion, I just tweaked the Panzer IV stats a bit for this scenario.
All in all, we enjoyed the game. We would have liked to go another turn or 2, but things happen. And using either set of rules, I was able to adapt the scenario from its original format. As with the other game, the scenario demonstrated the tactical challenges, for both sides, of fighting in bocage country.
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A question for CapnJim!
I've played original FFoL many times for Old West. I've used BB a few times for ACW. A while back, I tried BB for WWII. I found it worked quite well for infantry.
But we also had one tank per side. The rules seem to treat AFVs like units, with tanks accumulating hits until they get knocked out. Between this attrition mechanic and
the ability to take off shock, it seemed like the tanks were impossible to kill.
Did you notice this in your games too? If so, did you try a work around? If not, do you think we played the vehicles wrong?
Thanks, Mark
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Well, when playing FfoL:BB, we've had to have vehicles get hit 2 or 3 times to kill them. But we've also had one-shot kills.
The trick is rating vehicles and AT weapons "right". For example, a bazooka is a "missile launcher" by the rules and rolls 3 dice to hit. We rate vehicles like a Panzer IV as "large" vehicles, with "heavy" guns.
So, the bazooka rolls 3 dice to hit. With good rolls, it gets 3 hits. Then, with good rolls, if can get 6 damage points (2 per dice). That's enough to kill a "large" vehicle.
Odds are, though, you won't roll that well all the time, and it'll take a couple or a few shots to take out a tank. That is pretty realistic.
Remember the rule about crews abandoning vehicles when their Shock to Damage ratio gets off. And any crews that are Rallying Shock ain't moving or fighting.
Does that help?
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Cap-
It certainly gives me food for thought, and hopefully a poke in the right direction when I reread the rules
with an eye towards trying them for WWII again.
Thanks!
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You're welcome.
We do add in 2 house rules for vehicles:
A. Shock and Damage both reduce a vehicle's movement, and Shock reduces it's firepower. We also reduce its firepower by its damage.
2. The vehicle's armor save is reduced one level of armor when hit in the flank, rear, top, or bottom. An armored vehicle's armor save can't be increased above 10+.
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Okay. More painted figures again. This time, its more Germans, all 28mm. As you have probably surmised, I've been filling in holes in my collection. And that will continue for a while...
As I mentioned, these chaps are Germans, Heer troops. 1st is a panzerschreck team. They are mostly Warlord plastics (German Infantry and German Grenadiers), except for the loader's left arm (a Warlord plastic US Infantry bazooka arm) and the panzerschreck itself (TAG metal). And, frankly, I don't recall what set the gunner's left arm came from - it was in my spares box. This team participated in those bocage battles, but really didn't contribute much.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-221124000130.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-221124000041.jpeg)
Next, we have a radio team. These fellas are Harlequin Miniatures metals. These guys were the mortar FO team in those bocage battles. They actually acquitted themselves quite well - the "Newly Painted Miniatures" curse didn't seem to affect them. 8)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-211124235943.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-211124235906.jpeg)
And these dudes are dismounted armored vehicle crewman. All Empress Miniatures metals.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-211124235821.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-211124235743.jpeg)
Next up, all prepped and ready to prime, is a mix of Americans and Germans, again all 28mm. For the Americans, we'll have 2 bazooka teams (one Warlord plastic and one Empress metal), an FO team (Harlequin Miniatures metals), and some dismounted tankers (Empress Miniatures metals). For the Germans, it'll be a PaK40 AT gun (Artizan Designs metal) and a 4-man crew (2 Artizan Designs metals and 2 Warlord plastics). Of course, pics will follow when I've finished painting them.
Till then...
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Nice work Jim, especially the panzerschreck conversion. :-*
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They look great keep up the good work Capn
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Thanks, fellas!
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I got some more US GI support troops done up, all (as usual) 28mm.
First up is a bazooka team. These are Warlord plastics.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-161224214942.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-161224214923.jpeg)
Next up is another bazooka team. These fellas are Empress metals.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-161224214902.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-161224214842.jpeg)
And next is an FO team. They could also be a good ol' everyday command team. These are Harlequin metals.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-161224214820.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-161224214748.jpeg)
And, last, here are some Empress dismounted tankers.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-161224214727.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-161224214704.jpeg)
And, for comparison purposes, here they all are together.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-161224214640.jpeg)
With them, that gives me 2 complete platoons (3 squads each, with platoon HQs), with a higher ranking officer, 4 bazooka teams, 4 M1919 teams, 2 60mm mortar teams, a sniper team, an FO team, a 57mm AT gun, 11 dismounted tankers, 2 M4 Sherman (75mm) tanks, 3 deuce-and-a-halfs, 2 jeeps (one is a medic jeep, the other has a trailer), and an ambulance. As you can see, uniforms include a mix of M41 "Parsons" and M43 field jackets. I still want to do up an engineer squad, an M4 Sherman (76mm), 2 halftracks, and an M8 Greyhound. Those'll be after the first of the year.
Next up will be a German PaK40 with crew. That'll likely get done and posted here next week.
Enjoy!
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It would appear that Harlequin metals and Black Tree designs are one and the same.
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It would appear that Harlequin metals and Black Tree designs are one and the same.
They are. BTD bought the range. Of course Harlequin being defunct, they are safer and more reliable to deal with than BTD. ;)
Impressive collection Jim! Surely you have to squeeze a tank destroyer in there as well?
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I thought the 2 lines looked oddly similar. Now I know why! As Tom suggested and carlos confirmed, they are indeed one and the same.
A far as a TD goes, one never knows. Is any collection ever truly complete? ;)
If I do get one, I'm leaning toward an M18 Hellcat. It has always been my favorite US TD - it's fast, got a good gun, and just looks cool...
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And now, for my next trick... :D
A German PaK40, in 28mm. The gun, gunner, and loader are from Artizan Designs. The gun commander and rifleman are Warlord plastics.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-241224220040.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-241224220014.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-241224215954.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-241224215926.jpeg)
With this AT gun, that gives me the following Germans:
Grenadiers
Platoon HQ
Sniper team
Panzerschreck team
Radio team
MG42 MMG team
3 squads
Panzergrenadiers/Volksgrenadiers
Platoon HQ
Panzerschreck team
2 squads
Waffen SS
Platoon HQ
MG42 MMG team
Radio team
2 understrength squads
PanzerLehr
2 squads
Miscellaneous
12 dismounted armored vehicle crewmen
2 Higher ranking officers
1 Gestapo agent
1 Vichy French official
1 Vehicle driver standing around smoking
1 Feldgendarme
Vehicles
2 PzKfw IVs
1 StuG III
2 Pumas
2 SdKfz 251s
2 Krupp-Protze trucks
1 Kubelwagen
1 Volkswagen
1 Mercedes staff car
1 PaK40 (yeah, I know - it's not technically a vehicle...)
In the pipeline?:
Panzergrenadiers/Volksgrenadiers
1 squad
1 MG42 MMG team
1 panzerschreck team
1 sniper team
Waffen SS
Flesh out 2 understrength squads
3rd squad
1 Panzerschreck team
1 sniper team
PanzerLehr
Platoon HQ
1 squad
1 MG42 MMG team
1 Panzerschreck team
1 sniper team
Vehicles
2 PxKfw IVs
4 SdKfz 251s
1 PzKfw III
1 PzKfw VI (Warlord's Kelly's Heroes version)
And that doesn't even count a DAK platoon...
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That's a really nice collection you have there.
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Thanks, carlos. Appreciate that.
I also have US Airborne and Marine platoons, a British Para platoon, and an IJA platoon...
Gotta have options, man... :D
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And now, for my next trick! US Engineers, all 28mm...
I did up a squad over the last few days. Here is the Squad Leader (the chap on the left), and a mine clearing team. These 4 are all Black Tree Design/Harlequin Miniatures metal figures.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-310125010353.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-310125010329.jpeg)
The rest are (mostly) Warlord plastic figures, done up from their US Rangers and American GIs boxes. There are a few perry plastic arms with M1 Garands in there, though.
Here is a demolitions team:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-310125010302.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-310125010235.jpeg)
And here is a wire clearance team:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-310125010204.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-310125010134.jpeg)
And, hail, hail, the gang's all here:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/64/16550-310125010110.jpeg)
As you can see, there's a mix of uniform parts here...and doing these brought back memories from my days as an enlisted combat engineer ('80 to '84). I trained on all that stuff, even the Bangelore Torpedoes...
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Nice looking team! Love the bangalore guys. :-* :-* You should give one of them a Zippo to light it.
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These chaps look nice - and they are very useful too 8)
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Nice looking team! Love the bangalore guys. :-* :-* You should give one of them a Zippo to light it.
Thanks. If you look close, that team leader has a cigarette hangin' from his mouth. I'm quite sure he'd have a Zippo. But we used Pull-ring Fuse Ignitors...
These chaps look nice - and they are very useful too 8)
Thanks. I plan for them to be useful in some upcoming games I have in mind...
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Thanks. If you look close, that team leader has a cigarette hangin' from his mount. I'm quite sure he'd have a Zippo. But we used Pull-ring Fuse Ignitors...
Thanks. I plan for them to be useful in some upcoming games I have in mind...
Yeah, it's all moved on since using safety fuses. I understand the modern equivalent is 3 star pickets, some PE and some det cord that comes as a kit.
Missed the burning ciggie. Nice touch! Lucky Strikes. It's toasted!
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Combat Engineers looking great! Really like the mix of uniforms, gives em a nice realistic/rag-tag sort of feel.
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Yeah, it's all moved on since using safety fuses. I understand the modern equivalent is 3 star pickets, some PE and some det cord that comes as a kit.
Missed the burning ciggie. Nice touch! Lucky Strikes. It's toasted!
Well, my combat engineer gig was 40+ years ago... ;)
And, yes, either Lucky Strikes or Camel unfiltereds...
Combat Engineers looking great! Really like the mix of uniforms, gives em a nice realistic/rag-tag sort of feel.
Thanks. I like the uniform mix too.
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Yup looking good fella. Loving these engineers.
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Thanks! As I mentioned, it was kinda a trip down memory lane building and painting them...
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Yup, I enjoyed converting my winter German engineers…..just a shame they have limited use in game! 😕
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I know what you mean. But I'm getting ready for some WW2 action later this year with my regular gaming group. Engineers might come in handy in a scenario or 2 I plan to use from a fairly recent issue of Wargames, Soldiers, & Strategies...
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I've managed to do up another squad of German Volksgrenadiers (or maybe just Heer dressed for inclement weather). I took one sprue each of Warlord's Grenadiers, Waffen SS, Winter Infantry, and Winter Fallschirmjager, and kit-bashed them into a 9-man gruppe. A body from this sprue, arms from that sprue, gear from another sprue, and so on. I now present to you with what I came up.
First, we have the NCOs and the MG42 team...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/65/16550-080425185259.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/65/16550-080425185225.jpeg)
And here are the Schutzen...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/65/16550-080425185157.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/65/16550-080425185130.jpeg)
And here they all are together...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/65/16550-080425185059.jpeg)
With these chaps, that gives me 2 full platons of German infantry, with support weapons. At some point (maybe in 2026), I need to fill out my Waffen SS and Panzerlehr platoons...
Now, it's time to work on some vehicles and terrain. Of course, pics will follow as events warrant...
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They look great fella.
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They do indeed!
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Nice kitbashing, that's one of the parts I like the most about Warlord kits- especially the Germans. Your paint gives them personality.
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They look outstanding, very well done! :-*
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Thanks, fellas. Appreciate it...
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Started working on some WW2 vehicles, as I get ready to foist some WW2 scenarios on my regular gaming group.
First done is a US M8 armored car. It's a 28mm Warlord Games plastic kit. Stowage is from a Rubicon plastic stowage kit, and the vehicle commander is from Wargames Factory's plastic US Infantry set.
Here it is:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-050525185428.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-050525185413.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-050525185351.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-050525185331.jpeg)
After I do up an MDF farmhouse, my next vehicle will be a US M4(76) Sherman.
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Nice looking Greyhound. One of the better Italeri/Warlord kits.
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Nice one, like the decent weathering.
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BTW mate, if you ever feel the need for a second M8, the Rubicon kit is a cracker and gives you a few more options (including a buld as an M20).
For various reasons I built up a collection of M8s. The plastic Warlord/Italeri M8 and the original resin/metal version (which is crud) as well as the Rubicon version. Alas, they all got nuked in a 'wife insists on cleaning that incident'* along with a Stuart and the rest of the Indochina armour. Last year I picked up the Tamiya 1/48 version for more modern adventures but yet to build it.
*An eight foot plus fall rarely does kits any good, especially if they are in a box with heavier items.
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Thanks, fellas.
If I do a 2nd M8, it will be a Rubicon kit. That way, I can see how the 2 compare...
My Rubicon M4A1 (76mm) is about halfway done. I plan to post pics upon its completion (perhaps as early as this weekend...).
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Well, I finished the M4A1 Sherman (76). Mostly anyway. It's a Rubicon kit, too, with stowage from the Rubicon Allied Stowage kit. The kit come with 2 different turrets and three different 76mm guns. I decided to go with the later model turret, and the gun with e muzzle brake.
I wasn't fond of the TC in the kit, so I will look for another one. I have lots of options, so I just gotta look for the "right" one.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-230525013610.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-230525013551.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-230525013530.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-230525013508.jpeg)
That gives me 2 M4s with 75mm guns (one each Warlord and Rubicon), and this 76mm-armed one...
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Really lovely work on that Sherman Jim. Fine looking bit of kit, nicely finished. :-* :-* :-*
There's a pleasing aesthetic quality to the shape of those cast hull M4A1 models
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This quote sums up my feeling on Shermans-
"We had two platoons of M4s, a 76mm M4A1, five high-powered Fireflies, half a squad of Jumbos, a whole galaxy of M4A1s,A2s,A3s, a quartet of 105mms, a quartet of Easy Eights, a case of random bits, a pintle mount, and two dozen sprues of various Rubicon bits. Not that we needed all that for the game, but once you get locked into a serious Sherman collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can."
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Apologies to one Hunter S. Thompson. ;)
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This quote sums up my feeling on Shermans-
"We had two platoons of M4s, a 76mm M4A1, five high-powered Fireflies, half a squad of Jumbos, a whole galaxy of M4A1s,A2s,A3s, a quartet of 105mms, a quartet of Easy Eights, a case of random bits, a pintle mount, and two dozen sprues of various Rubicon bits. Not that we needed all that for the game, but once you get locked into a serious Sherman collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can."
Excellent! lol (brings back musical memories)
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A. Thanks, carlos.
B. Funny. It does fit, though, as there were about a bazillion models and variants of Shermans... ;)
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Those look great! Canada used the Greyhound into Korea as a recce troop vehicle! And all the Shermans were “acquired” from the Marines. The armoured squadron showed up with M10 open-top which obviously made no sense for Korea.
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A. Thanks, carlos.
B. Funny. It does fit, though, as there were about a bazillion models and variants of Shermans... ;)
There was a 'convertible' version of the Sherman, the Kangaroo. So once you have found suitably scaled miniatures of a 300 pound Samoan attorney and Raoul Duke, you'll have a suitable ride to Las Vegas.
I have the Rubicon M4A2, kitted out as a Soviet tank. They are fun little models to make and to detail.
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There was a 'convertible' version of the Sherman, the Kangaroo. So once you have found suitably scaled miniatures of a 300 pound Samoan attorney and Raoul Duke, you'll have a suitable ride to Las Vegas.
I have the Rubicon M4A2, kitted out as a Soviet tank. They are fun little models to make and to detail.
The Kangaroo was not based on the Sherman it was based on defrocked Priests, initially, and then Ram tanks - and was a distinctly Canadian thing. 😇
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Yes and no....
While the vast majority of the Kangaroos were RAMs or 'defrocked Priests' there were a few converted from Sherman III (M4A2) in Italy.
It's OK, Celine, John Candy, Nickleback, Bryan Adams and Bill Shatner are still all yours. Enjoy! ;)
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Yes and no....
While the vast majority of the Kangaroos were RAMs or 'defrocked Priests' there were a few converted from Sherman III (M4A2) in Italy.
It's OK, Celine, John Candy, Nickleback, Bryan Adams and Bill Shatner are still all yours. Enjoy! ;)
Celine is impressed! I’m a Ram aficionado and did not know of the Sherman III version - thanks Carlos! “Nickelback”
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Don't forget Alannah Myles!
Celine is impressed! I’m a Ram aficionado and did not know of the Sherman III version - thanks Carlos! “Nickelback”
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Don't forget Alannah Myles!
I saw her perform my first year at university, at my campus pub; she was FUN. lol
Apologies to Cap’n Jim for the Canadian highjack, eh.
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I'm so jealous, one of my favourite singers.
I saw her perform my first year at university, at my campus pub; she was FUN. lol
Apologies to Cap’n Jim for the Canadian highjack, eh.
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I'm so jealous, one of my favourite singers.
One of my residence friends - it was his birthday - and she gave him a birthday kiss! What a show.
Black Velvet … in that little boy’s heart …
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:o :o ;D :-* lol lol
One of my residence friends - it was his birthday - and she gave him a birthday kiss! What a show.
Black Velvet … in that little boy’s heart …
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If it makes you feel better,* I once paid for my brother in-law to attend an Alanis Morissette concert in Brazil. Carlinhos (my bro in-law) is a lovely man but of limited financial means and for reasons I can never fathom was out of his mind that she was doing a gig in Salvador. Tickets were well out of his reach price wise. Needless to say I didn't join him.
Different strokes for different folks. The woman looks a horse and sounds like a cat in the process of having its innards converted to violin strings but Carlinhos was smitten.
Canadians who dabble with music are a mixed blessing. We'll happily accept yer Cowboy Junkies, yer Leonard Cohens and yer Martha Wainwrights but could you be a bit more judicious in your exposure of yer Justins and Avrils and your Bubles?
* I'm not quite sure how it makes me feel. On the one hand he enjoyed himself and I'm glad that I could help out. On the other it strikes me as a form of torture I wouldn't inflict on my worst enemy.
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Now, now, fellas. Be nice. :D
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Hi CapnJim
A few questions.
Do you still use FfoL Bigger Battles for ww2 or did you find something that better suits your need?
In Bigger Battles did you use the traits, like 3 traits for 1 unit, 2 for for 1 and the rest gets 1 trait? Or do you just assign traits when appropriate?
How do you use on board mortars? A dedicated spotter?
Offboard mortars and arty? Dedicated spotter and only him? Or can anybody spot and call for support?
Nice AARs. Thank you for those.
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Hi CapnJim
A few questions.
Do you still use FfoL Bigger Battles for ww2 or did you find something that better suits your need?
In Bigger Battles did you use the traits, like 3 traits for 1 unit, 2 for for 1 and the rest gets 1 trait? Or do you just assign traits when appropriate?
How do you use on board mortars? A dedicated spotter?
Offboard mortars and arty? Dedicated spotter and only him? Or can anybody spot and call for support?
Nice AARs. Thank you for those.
Yes - we do still use Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles for WW2. Haven't had a game in a little bit, but that's about to change. We fixin' to play 3 WW2 scenarios not too far down the road here - US attacking Germans in Spring of '45, adapting scenarios included in a Wargames, Soldiers, & Strategies article several issues back. And we will be using FFoL: BB for them.
As for traits, we don't overdo it. Some leaders get the Encouraging trait, while we assign a trait or 2 to units as we deem appropriate. For example, US infantry teams (2 per squad - one with the BAR team and the other with the riflemen) get the Skirmishers trait, which allows them to fire more effectively on the move, while local partisans/guerillas typically get the Rangers trait, which allows them to more more effectively through difficult terrain (they know the shortcuts). Things like that. We take the same approach for our modern(ish) games.
Mortars and artillery depend on the tactical situation. Light mortars can be on-board, and usually use LoS to engage targets, and we halve the deviation distances in the book. We don't deploy medium/heavy mortars and artillery on the board - depending on the army in question, either Platoon Leaders/Commanders or FOs can call them in from off-board (usually with 3 incoming rounds each mission - each deviating separately.
And thanks for the AAR comment. Hope my answers help...
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Thx a lot.
I keep looking for platoon sized rules that seem to do what I want them to do, while always forgetting that I have the full range of FfoL. And they, along with XR seem to be what I’m after.
And kudos for not playing with points and tinkering with what is your idea of ww2.
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Thx a lot.
I keep looking for platoon sized rules that seem to do what I want them to do, while always forgetting that I have the full range of FfoL. And they, along with XR seem to be what I’m after.
And kudos for not playing with points and tinkering with what is your idea of ww2.
As it turns out, we've played WW2 with XR as well. It worked fine.
And we don't much care for points-based games. My group likes scenario-driven games. And they are rarely include equal forces...
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Btw if you want smaller games take a look at Five men at Kursk. I’m also thinking about trying Hammer of Democracy or Fivecore. All from Nordic Weasel. Five men at Kursk looks best imho, but is not suited for platoon level games.
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Hmm. Thanks for the tips. Mayhaps I'll take a gander at them...
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Well, I lied. Sort of. We are indeed going to play the 3 WW2 scenarios included in Wargames, Soldiers, & Strategy Issue 128, but not necessarily with Fistful or Lead: Bigger Battles. We're gonna do the 3 scenarios, but I'm thinking of using different rules for each one (haven't really decided yet... 8)).
First up is the 1st of the 3 scenarios, scheduled for 25 July. I've adapted it to Xenos Rampant, and made a couple other tweaks (mostly to suit my 28mm WW2 collection).
Here is the Scenario Sheet:
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-100725011704.jpeg)
Here is the US Unit Sheet:
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-100725011648.jpeg)
And here is the German Unit Sheet:
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-100725011628.jpeg)
As you can see, this ain't an even fight. :o But even with a 2 to 1 troop ratio (given how I've rated the troops using Xenos Rampant's estimates of combat power), it's gonna be a trick for the Americans, as they have to negotiate a bunch of open ground in their assault. Conversely, the Germans don't have it easy either. They ain't got the best troops, and they have to balance fighting and withdrawing at the same time.
Should be interesting...
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This game is on schedule for this Friday (25 July). I got it pretty much ready to go earlier today. So let's familiarize ourselves with the field of battle.
Here is the field from above...
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-200725023510.jpeg)
Here's a lower view looking south.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-190725221704.jpeg)
And looking east.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-190725221648.jpeg)
Looking north.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-190725221633.jpeg)
And finally, looking west.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-190725221615.jpeg)
As for the combatants, here are the Germans. The left column, from top to bottom, is the Zug HQ, 1. Gruppe (MG42 team and rifle team), and 2. Gruppe (MG42 team and rifle team). The right column is (again, top to bottom) the MG42 MMG team and the Panzerschreck team.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-190725221559.jpeg)
Here are the US boys. The left column, from top to bottom, is the Platoon HQ, 1st Squad (BAR team and rifle team), 2nd Squad (BAR team and rifle team), and 3rd Squad (BAR team and rifle team). The right column is (again, top to bottom) the M1919 MMG team, the 60mm mortar team, and the M4(75mm) tank.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-190725221543.jpeg)
Hostilities commence at 1100 hrs. Friday. AAR to follow.
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Looks great, looking forward to the AAR :)
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All in good time. ;) Hopefully I can get to the AAR this weekend.
I'm looking forward to this fight. Both sides have some tactical challenges, but I think the Volksgrenadiers will have their work cut out for them...
And thanks!
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We did indeed play this scenario this Friday past (25 July). After randomly determining who played what, Gene and I took the Germans, while Dave and Ted took the GIs. This was intentionally designed to be a tough nut for the Germans. And boy was it... :o
Our poor depleted Volksgrenadier platoon deployed. One squad north of the road, with the MG team forward and dug in, their rifle team behind them. Another squad south of the road, again with their MG team dug in forward and their rifle team behind. The tripod MG42 team was dug in in the copse of trees by the road intersection. The Panzerschreck team was in the east end of the north woods, and the Platoon HQ in the copse of trees behind the MG42 team.
The GIs then deployed with their Platoon HQ, 1st Squad, and the M1919 team in the south woods, while 2nd and 3rd Squads were in the north woods. The infantry would work the flanks, while the M4 and the 60mm mortar team deployed just north of the road at the west board edge. They would be the base of fire support. And they would do a grand job of it...
The GIs went first, as the attacker.
First blood went to the Sherman. A 75mm HE round took out a tripod MG42 crewman, suppressing the team.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232636.jpeg)
The GIs advanced. The Sherman was careful not to get ahead of the infantry.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232619.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232600.jpeg)
Then, a Panzerschreck rocket streaked toward the Sherman, hitting it. But it only did some light damage to it. The tank returned fire, suppressing the Panzerschreck team.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232546.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232530.jpeg)
The Americans kept up their advance, as well as the pressure on the poor Germans. The 2 German rifle teams began their withdrawal, their MG teams trying to cover their movement. The MG teams paid a price for their bravery, however.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232515.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232442.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232457.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232427.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232413.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232359.jpeg)
Even the withdrawing rifleman were getting shot down. The US 60mm mortar and tank were providing very effective covering fire.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232346.jpeg)
The Americans kept coming, methodically moving through cover. Their lightly damaged Sherman was careful not to outdistance the infantry. It wasn't without cost for the GIs, though. They'd lost 3 men so far, 2 from the M1919 team and 1 from the 60mm mortar team. And the Sherman took a close call from panzerfaust fire.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232329.jpeg)
The Germans were taking a beating. The MG and Panzerschreck teams were, for all intents and purposes, out of the fight. Now, the Platoon HQ began to withdraw as well.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232314.jpeg)
And the GIs kept advancing. There wasn't much left in their way, and they began moving out of the cover of the woods.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232300.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232244.jpeg)
What few Germans were left, kept up their withdrawal. They took casualties as they did, and the retreat had turned into a rout.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232229.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232215.jpeg)
The Americans didn't let up.
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232201.jpeg)
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232148.jpeg)
And just to put salt on the Germans' wounds, a barrage of 81mm mortars fell on the remnants of the German Platoon HQ
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/66/16550-260725232133.jpeg)
And that was that. Only a handful of Volksgrenadiers escaped the American attack. The GIs won: 8 pts. to 2.
The way was open to begin the assault on the next German town. Scenario #2 will see the Americans attack the outskirts of that town. That game will likely be played in September, and may be played with a different set of rules. We haven't decided that yet.
This fight was brutal for the Germans. Between the US tactics and their die-rolling (as bad as Ted rolled in last week's Vietnam game, he rolled that good in this game...), and the poor quality of the German troops and their (our...) shitty die-rolling, it was rough day to be a Volksgrenadier. But take heed, their resistance should stiffen in Scenario #2.
We think Xenos Rampant handled the game (and period) very well. This was our 2nd WW2 game using these rules (we've also played 2 modernish games using them, as well), and so far they work well.
We did make these tweaks, however:
1. Failing an Activation Test did not end that side's turn. All units had the opportunity to activate.
2. The Armor-Piercing Unit Rule (for Panzerfausts and the Panzerschreck) only applied to anti-vehicle fire, and the Heavy Weapons Unit Rule for MGs only applied to anti-personnel fire.
3. I added a smoke grenade Xenos Rule for the US Platoon HQ, although it never got used.
Other than those, we played the rules pretty straight. We'll keep them in our rotation...
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One thing I'll add is this.
Before the game, I inquired with Google Gemini about its thoughts on the situation facing both the GIs and the Volksgrenadiers. I explained the tactical situation, the terrain, and the troops available from each side's perspective. I did not inform Gemini about the rules we were using. In fact, I didn't even tell it that this was a wargame. In both cases, it summarized the situation, and provided what I thought were well-reasoned and relevant thoughts and recommendations on tactical considerations and the tactics themselves. It was an interesting exercise...in fact, my brother and I discussed the scenario the Sunday prior, and Gemini's thoughts pretty much mirrored our discussion. Just food for thought...and I only mention my stab at using AI (my first time), as it relates to a wargame scenario and game.
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Nice pictures and AAR, thanks for sharing with us! :)
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Thanks. Appreciate that.
I'm working on Scenario #2 (the Americans hit the outskirts of the German town). Methinks we'll be doing it with Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles.