Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: Utgaard on August 17, 2024, 04:43:37 PM
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Our small group had another exciting game of Big CoC putting my US Airborne platoon supported by a platoon of Shermans from the 2nd Armored versus 2 Axis platoons - one of Italian Bersaglieri played by Max supported by German Panzergrenadiere played by Alex.
And the first game where the terrain I built over the last few weeks was used for the first time - now it really starts to look like Sicily (or even Tunesia).
You can find a complete BatRep on my Blog:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/08/big-chain-of-command-batrep-hell-on.html (https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/08/big-chain-of-command-batrep-hell-on.html)
The battlefield:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9WI_xphisflcpw59TWj8IruA539lTQy5xN9ZkH2bWW4Pz6joQzb2W0Wh_lpWeEauHO9nGHVRTMhdHF0MRcw2ExCWk7g9cwOEIrRccGq3zw45iFymCRM5bLFKu-2qAjO9ximr1xItduolk4_9YBHK8l4UISncPz-Emn1CRbVEKPF99hoN_LOH3gm4ZoP8/s800/Big_CoC-2.jpg)
Just a few houses and barns, but this junction controls the advance route into the valley
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TD5qUGO79r-fsZd8bCn0X4U3inhC_CVXqQoNwCJDmyFGE922cI5xIN_B_4SO6OKL64OGNn8EpuU-1-V17tdshb57u13qsJlw5vs7uDsHVzaTuzbPuk-_U0E_h_8B6fPQrJVsp-KkTyEYBjgWu12ZEJYd5ti4Gyv0ferwdd7NFAkNz8qq7TQwDDs_xmNV/s800/Big_CoC-3.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKt-ILTdaHkopNe8iBhuWycPRaqr3Vt2TKcpfByOenPIROVQhiTmLWYLim5G9sASRRkFoksJANqF7O1mojafD1PwVNuM80JTEAmdcFeh1eUiqfZtgoI46Ml0Ji83l5MaJHdTWABeXytX3-Pl2zl359azTpjfoySEIkSJQbAicSfnWsAILrmJmTf6XgtbH/s800/Big_CoC-4.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7tufui5q-YIjwixmR3GzQ3CGKryLQ_TNNDiSHC_Vwn-Vqh_W7d-fXwIsRtTNSkowadrSU5QpDbYYFlRbNucdJ1R4rCL1ykj5IfkSMbHbowyQj9AIHKaAHeHm9XuOjFwiWxNVnZ5miW_D9yNYCIZXW8AZCPWT0YZEEJU1kBdQZXXhvYy96Zb7L2rokuvG/s800/Big_CoC-7.jpg)
The Bersaglieri fire Cover Fire on the hill with the citrus plantation, forcing the Airborne to duck their heads.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcZm7JzfLsvkzPI-2hT7MCPkI3CK60qHrDtQoboZqlLomMltmjCo0hEcgZrEXd80RL28T_0BWZbrg-4zFHKIIwNi-C6B4E8qL75ZlIKt2sWnLIYMnLLuBR-MnNm1X3ZZl6ZEOKe25vGNy5KC56qEQs1ZskEsI9tPFk0UenRKRwjBlWf5_PR0Tl6jsBeJm/s800/2024-08-03%2019.58.10.jpg)
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That looks great! My arid mat does Italy and Tunisia (green does the rest) that’s not a stretch. Your scenery is excellent and cohesive (roads look perfect). Nice to see some actual hills as well. Going to read the AAR………
Andrew
BeneathALeadMountain
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Great report. Don't mess with US Airborne lightly! :D
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Thank you very much guys, really appreciate that :)
Great report. Don't mess with US Airborne lightly! :D
... and even though I don't play my US Airborne as Elite, but as a Regular 8)
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Absolutely splendid looking table :o :-* these roads really do work well!
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Thank you! :)
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Lovely board and terrain and a super AAR.
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Thank you, really appreciate that :)
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Fantastic looking game!
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Many thanks for that
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Another game of CoC putting Italian Fucileri (played by me) versus a platoon of US Armoured (played by my mate Max) with our usual setting of Operation Husky.
A platoon of the 4ª Divisione fanteria ‘Livorno’ under the command of Tenente Ludovico Spadaro is ordered to reconnoitre the surroundings of an inconspicuous village which, however, controls an important branch of a road that follows a valley further into the interior of Sicily.
Unfortunately, the Allied high command had the same idea and so the Italians (Force Morale 8), slightly disillusioned by the retreat, came up against a highly motivated platoon of the 2nd Armoured (Force Morale).
What unfolded was a fierce and bloody battle with the better end for the Italians which fought on their own soil!
A complete and formatted BatRep can be found on my Blog:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/09/coc-batrep-operation-husky-or-holidays.html (https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/09/coc-batrep-operation-husky-or-holidays.html)
Some pictures from the battle:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrilXys3E0mSG0TAfRJykvLkhUSBnH0c6B5yUMZ_Txuqp87POz3RaXn0J0g1QNbus_7lL1aU3KSCDw2SSOSYL3ea13f2jyL5nBj-qOnDA1-1KWydeUx2IiO15S0eyOHVW_qjlNFfAHpstjkGwClHo1gINW63qkV3rY85IAeJqj81lD9y3Y-PnZG09HpGwm/s800/coc_game-1.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4IyJzRwrbQjZ_Muc7GAxNZVVzvR96ijdbVzM1gzwEL1QvGiO8ug52TvdGN4dzNdDYInqXL5R-wqHmre-u-huhvya5KT6GFn8VkCeY-orINCjXAhcgikM4ecx66y4yY3G3ud5dYg6FAc5yzVhCRdV9xiY2FhI5fa60npIcb7oivQ61B3AcTrimUK789g8/s800/coc_game-3.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFysEfoFkisNwWKrg1B9PXG9l-QI9gNQVLopS2SU7m5klq61T8fatELEmYKUxXNuRyXdSkJTo7_754o5P5wSr6BTAR9TiNe0d6S4D0nDN5-fNOY2TlVPhe00jhVEB6bVoiKcKZORCbIpgOw2bMONM4th1v4KYk2VXBrBcjurEK4HyqaYXhqrx_0NBR0Eiu/s800/coc_game-6.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZG3QUiGQ08eF_r8_jmyoivLO4yVV-p8ekun9lpb930YFWJmYmquIzLgStNkCMlrdz7f6nmYFWv2frBRPDCO4dpBzlw_cEuDmoHcAKUr8RrnT7HkljN3VA3hWi7HStt5nhC81TNEOB3ATSeOtqs7kMxrgQ1_b0-G7dEgkYHBD0pEdWKSaOqIYBwl0CDaQQ/s800/coc_game-7.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9tyRVE_2mwgIYqWZ47UTBqhnNmL7gEvrtXX7fYDhoOUfF1ZAyTtz9u4A4YMV6iU-3ZcKhkv7S0-3OetoQn53uNDjaKNeYYAesnBe87l1hnRsjeG67fgKQ3Vt3vFXfSLs9UUyBQT4os-wSszghZ_aWvzJsN1co4E74BB42BBgwx0PLzVVn3RnSHyuKSzH/s800/coc_game-9.jpg)
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Well, hello, 2nd Armored...
Then, goodbye 2nd Armored...
Oh well. Maybe next time, And they should bring their tanks...
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Yes, I was lucky that he didn't prepare his attack better because he was too impatient - his HQ squad wasn't even deployed yet.
With their additional firepower I would have lost the duel, or at least had to give up this position.
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Not familiar with this idea of "Big CoC"?
As it is a Platoon level game with supports I didn't think you could have a whole tank Platoon. Can you explain it a bit for me?
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That’s a really nice looking game
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Thank you guys :)
Not familiar with this idea of "Big CoC"?
As it is a Platoon level game with supports I didn't think you could have a whole tank Platoon. Can you explain it a bit for me?
There is a free supplement available with the Lardies to expand CoC to multi platoon level, mostly intended for multiplayer games.
So you can play with additional infantry platoons per side but field a tank troop too instead - the supplement provides the math to calculate different tank troops/platoons ranging from 3 to 5 tanks, like their historical counterparts.
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Thank you guys :)
There is a free supplement available with the Lardies to expand CoC to multi platoon level, mostly intended for multiplayer games.
So you can play with additional infantry platoons per side but field a tank troop too instead - the supplement provides the math to calculate different tank troops/platoons ranging from 3 to 5 tanks, like their historical counterparts.
That's cool
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Last Saturday was not only another game of Big Chain of Command with Bernhard and Max, but it was also the last big test for TaToCon to see if our line-ups including the fixed support work and if the terrain fits.
Max and me will be presenting CoC on 28 September at TaToCon, a nice smaller convention in Puchheim (near Munich), and of course hope to encourage people to play along with us.
A platoon of US Airborne, supported by a squad of three M5 Stuarts against a platoon of Bersaglieri in combination with a squad of 3 M13/40 tanks, setting Sicily 1943.
The Italian Bersaglieri were able to skilfully outmanoeuvre the Americans and isolate one of the two Airborne squads, which could not withstand the concentrated fire of three enemy squads for long.
Its remaining remnants finally had to flee and after the supporting HMG team was also eliminated, the morale of the paratroopers finally collapsed.
More details and a complete AAR can be found on my Blog at:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/09/bcoc-batrep-advance-on-niscemi-sicily.html (https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/09/bcoc-batrep-advance-on-niscemi-sicily.html)
And some random shots from the game:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tU-ysoxx2YM7Z20i3288QBCJqunFondBvDu1j9cy31kT3BY2Z-Moenp-ht94WF8_APiCNf4sk9WvgQylSePI1u6TY2YZ2SIXfx6YQ6S8uUcZ2r92ROBZWOooyPcFdjsr1y7iAtyBK1T_BpIPAgGXJa-Kg0SGljMMBA_xZDH3n8_b9h7SCd1ReRtUWNyv/s800/BigCoC-1.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJDvsooQZhT5_OFaoFqd_LdYURVJ3gvaUcSkSqtOZytjQRLaKD3FZxObrLJA7ZIY53bOQzsnQXh-ITYNlWjZ2m5Vi8JzE9v85qfEAnC9-gvi4YURU50LyxDP1YfnlwMquvjILit0nxgBFf75Uhplkk1b0BzbuMMpX-rTQTRWYKkYwJ4vkAXDyC-mXss-L/s800/BigCoC-4.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNrnk1GdyEp_aunKTS-gk38xfkUduWRGeWUsT0C9PgGgDXYZecl-n1tt3dWG5e-P1i4aSQ8ku7_sqYBADDGwTxhZ1GWaAibT5mGvGjjm9oYG2AcVHpzxYBdwky1J4ecqdYcAUTKEpXUQP2yEdEK6LXmenB8fPjFfo0h44BmOTLrfQD3M37h6ib9Ra0Nnq/s800/BigCoC-5.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-yR4rumfiVaz-FS30dugODheJdAacWNpuCbMt6QV95FVYjLLAzY70kJ4gscI-xAITuFbIreDwfFMVDWCdJe1ZoJzRbRzU-Y13THvD2TRFK_z1LcxdQx04lJKBqQLOLZl_uuHdNw2ZbCo5dTERgvfcb5etyXp9IafgFcaS31PTS0Kh1oMO0KfJEvD_nsq/s800/BigCoC-11.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp2RG2pdZXvrHe0fc9O5as_Lq-QAFYkY3sAKD7f5ec4YPjfkUjZKN66S1ucHytpdndAHSk1rRrpyun0h3PLQNR7KxXbuuHInSSEXSJcLc-LIg7JdWk7YFmtkTAZKhDGupwX_qrAtQEIb1OunwMM8MN14Ebu99fgxrIxRsUj3yLo2SHj4XAZe5LsdCGE3h/s800/BigCoC-15.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvPoSAo2LkXQvTK75Z0anVyLRe5u8AzyrGJ7YC_bf2OPYUvchlYDL_5AAxXXuXK2D0OfbKyoyuwGUAbiZMchTCN9hwXnvVy4etYdsQ0W79rtS0FqwJcGa3JGvizxT0DqSBFQW6nmJlCPhQ6qhh46JFtVsJy2fn3JvGUqMKqpHQ5jzZEO8RAbkX8KViaRH/s800/BigCoC-16.jpg)
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Bummer for the US Airborne guys. It all looks good, though!
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Fantastic-looking game! Thank you for sharing!
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Many thanks guys, really appreciate that! :)
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Our monthly CoC game happened on last Saturday, again a Big CoC with 4 players.
Two Italian platoons (one of Fucileri played by me and one of Bersaglieri played by Max) were ordered to probe (Scenario "The Probe") forward to test the defences manned by a mixture of US Paras (commanded by Dodo) and supported by US Armored (commanded by Bernhard).
The patrols of both sides fought to get the best positions with the Italians trying to avoid the orchards on their left flank because of the increased effect the US 60mm mortars would have there and instead attack with force on the right flank while securing the village located on the dominating hill as a strongpoint.
The US boys ended up holding both flanks with the idea of creating a killing zone in the center but overlooked the problem of only being able to support each other with great difficulty as the killing zone would apply to the as well in this case as soon as the Italians occpied the village.
The Italians instead hat the advantage of the "Inner Line" as Napoleon would have called it 😎
Even though it looked like a clear victory for the Italians in the end, it was a hard-fought game that could easily have gone in the Allies' favour with only a few different dice results - typical CoC, you should never be too sure that you have victory in the bag.
A complete BatRep can be found on my Blog:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/11/big-coc-batrep-probe-towards-gela.html (https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/11/big-coc-batrep-probe-towards-gela.html)
A few random shots:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNma9QlmLHSKsHoENqLdJEjWJ3_FU8IiP8nKgP-HQuz1brvroROWQHp22p1jwF9k_ghqMBgwI5waJZyhWN2p6RRWtHXgRiee9rCyB9Wv76bRmDBx3MJNe0NWXzHJNR0-4t-e9VVhs3P2Jq8sjuVU77V0zuepFbmiuyRPgI_tZCHg9NZ-hH_BFOtkq9BXVN/s800/big_coc_rtd-1.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86D_4xmCISrJQjnZy9B-57rQxYs56kJ2Cn2azIqQAZLUSiIMekArYAMpVJObhVP_61jkhc4eHk14xNX8CrYoaXzVcs_WzjQ2j1g_z7uxksS4Gh1c_c8u7uWoEIofsRfrVyFaJuya9efjt0ord4vWcrmy3ddU4HRAEDatNG_-EPucs2JSZsXJ-Sn-tu_Zp/s800/big_coc_rtd-3.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdjq3Q2mVfRSEucwJ6uMd4Nu5evtBLTUtKmWSZcj9ZKJq-cBYNDL5OmijcYhfBHsMJOy-7gIIXmcXSohmxbrLKfq-8NGgKmEsTfhiM7uJmsTwbslrKxirywS-FDk9uvUE0CG97mC6f66AgKJnHt-Gfb-miEV2ARL0ptsbHgTRshKx6WvRb7vHt43Vgert/s800/big_coc_rtd-6.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXS5qCOCYj_O8ieu-XVwnfoHJrQ_cdQB5YDGHBz5fi6rU6t7QkKiOPiVH7bzwct5kxk1ZKQqRBYsYdYc0XccxR4dRdIl6IGCbrx349keMP2dowvhpKVsWmG2VKDkoV8h3fh6fnNiq_kuH3DDkCULQ1wfU7CHsXeqZILFmbxSXUI5YOnFx28VAMQnrxpvz/s800/big_coc_rtd-11.jpg)
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Sounds like the Americans need to get their s**t together... 8)
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Fantastic looking table and nice report
Cheers
Matt
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Our last game for 2024; of course Big CoC in 15mm again and on this occasion we wanted to test a first draft of a home grown scenario.
A centrally located object must be conquered and secured by an advancing infantry platoon, which is supported by a troop tank.
Both sides secretly declare teams and/or squads in advance, which are allowed to operate directly on the table for a pre-determined number of phases after the patrol phase, until the remaining troops are allowed to join the battle.
On one side was a US Armoured platoon, which was supported by an M3A1, a squad of Goumiers and a troop of Shermans.
Opposite them was a platoon of Fucileri, reinforced by a scout squad, a Canona da 47/32, a squad of M35 Brixia mortars and a troop of Semovente 75/18.
As usual, it was a close game, but the decisive factor was that the US boys ran out of time, as the Italians were credited with 2 victory points for each round (3 sixes were rolled twice, and the round was ended once by a CoC dice) in which they were able to hold the crossroads.
We have made some changes/amandments to the scenario, which we will then test in the new year.
More pics and a more detailed BatRep can be found on my Blog as usual:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/12/big-coc-batrep-battle-for-crossroad.html (https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2024/12/big-coc-batrep-battle-for-crossroad.html)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3t6FX3u1sc8N7vQEyVKdvr8PdQQ58xRtPnfvHNjKbsR1FVDD_brEfVjvdLjA4Vpvgk5OvRh19crAur0tkkzJohAgC-SybahVoIFDQgFDdhL3yBvLa23F-m5Lna21L1lbl0HAhuRsVQxYuK9MDZDVG9WN4RH5l_VQX10KqaWkja8btZR8jvj7IqzD4FCZY/s800/Big_CoC-1.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1Xag6jVEq7oyPHQSN3wdkznL8WDoBKk48VrsLPsfP97MhLZGyXRE3rd0rmYoqMivFdUdzIVJcE5Xzcur_BP67qjZgMKt5PoPvHYNw6zVDdiDT5dncfZ-YauJRa3ks1fQT7jr4SOP0uQfVagZx1BT9MwpK0uXuNxTu8HBZRs-A91H_uxKM8AGa_bHKNyV/s800/Big_CoC-2.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlroM6lIgh_2dw5J-MhlEh38TA9h7fMKhQpsIYGqoDGL4s4RDswo0g9_HkEQFyGmag_Q2eYattDQ-JzL5BAplt5d-JqtD3AU06knSOje-XoyGDMoE0P8zTgkKOUXjw5F5bXrFV1S8yhJJrbZumvSui6lYsNZg4HCkSXv1qPye8T3eLVeyLewSrWgKCQtc-/s800/Big_CoC-4.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiSgov2oWJfD1URELCFaeA3bF6V4Jk7fIHCPstT-OZnW4ToHS5yweavRdZnSpA1Bnd8y2rq0aqtcOY2lJ_2LJ763yN06W_g1HQMuuwHRmm2UMvSCUD-cpwWRUOpM8I6RnVIjKoYbswH_t4lyv4qhnBCLxNteU-KkBhYn1_BpgPv7vuVQlYqH5aCKrpzb0/s800/Big_CoC-5.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YJXuz5PJfy6Ij05_-dCMF_4PrdGV_j5f7RNAkYbbJrhnHh6SHWTX10L8IiYJR74wA1wDxYuNkqjEJtbgywugwkdq0ns8s8YJ9Ql3_Goo7Bs_gYD83zzuCMZHVEAS8dSu7TJz8_RwZYFup6tKvqm7DjNPRTM9TYbz9z7_MgCHLdBT_OiuxmEfXTxcty1Y/s800/Big_CoC-8.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lAvdhAzPGQ9L1tkNnxADmAw0BUnR6BhngZTB8o4K6CXSNMSzmYuu9CklicGS6B1sw7kHt5DKHPc03Si5qCqpek5a5yC2Vw2Vq2wgoUkBBFWcKB95rTn4Nciz6mEotDCaAr8O7YD8g43uUJFXsLFIu_X84DH2wGcA6vD0aEDVHRwLSckbJdGo097p3cvd/s800/Big_CoC-13.jpg)
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Really like your terrain layout.
Thanks for the AAR.
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The terrain does indeed look grand. Good report, in spite of the outcome. Maybe the US boys will win one eventually....
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Thank you very much, guys :)
Regarding the US Boys:
I should have lost this game in the Scout Phase already as I had only 1 squad chosen for this phase and my mate had a squad of Goumiers and 1 squad Armored mounted on their M3A1.
Their bad luck rolling dices was really astonishing :o
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Saturday was the time again: Max, Daniel and me had another game of Big Chain of Command - the scenario was ‘Attack on an Objective’.
Max took over a US Armoured platoon, which was supported by a troop of 3 Shermans.
Opposite them was a platoon of the Italian ‘Livorno’ and a troop of 3 Semovente 75/18 - Daniel led the infantry and I tried to support him with the assault guns.
The US Armoured had orders to hold the village at Piano Lupo, but the Livorno had to take the village at all costs as it protected access to the landing zone at Gela.
Luck swung back and forth - a Sherman managed to take out the artillery observer right at the start of the game, but went up in flames shortly afterwards.
It was another very exciting match in which Daniel was able to bring the Italian infantry forwards in an excellently coordinated manner and put the US Boys under pressure time and again.
We also had the luck on our side: while the Shermans could only ‘knock on the door’ of the Semoventi, we had ‘the pope in our pocket’ when it came to rolling the dice: his Shermans burst like their hopes of victory.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7EEY7mWDlYJmuoYBR-PkS8Oy4JFS7_eYqFpC5wwYmr_wmwUiI3LnlXib-AzVGEPsZfaVK44khUR0G9z6U0v5MvIhTXT7ppLb3QJmfg1xB5NrSKJ2xA20UKdSXo1C9vbB0X6hG8FXGjWhiyz-FFkeP8cQyfH3wBVC6PMOtwsb1WMwxh9v5xXcvSXReeh5/s800/big_coc-1.jpg)
The battlefield - the village was the target for both sides.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2GNWAjDXMUpUHH1gWvkQEgwaiaynynrIrxOUis_hglxBoJp0dhXFOB3cdafZWfAhChlbEJ9sQJeFJv9AV8Zj8wkN9C7DNpM7vyO4622FbGzJjan_mC0RBWtJffl_44vQnuyeuWQ3VSKQ8ZLBlAG1L6XRRhhjBtSnh43C3kFl9Ir6Req03iIyt9gadfdL/s800/big_coc-15.jpg)
For now, you can still enjoy what the cellar and plantations have to offer, but that is about to change.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMuORSZ-TVzUgXHLuaGii1Es-goMdw3o5myyOJd0cXdmbGqkqekf5Ed6CxxQGptqygnAC4ed5NWB9w-kV4Pe0k2pTYjbCaucOemaqg5pxpVx7AfnXypD2ieLtWUjt1qpuV1n-FWGQAhhJNEJb5dLF4-G2jmfh2SwEbMncgVbuHyI5Cg9Szl3fV7EjcFd-/s800/big_coc-10.jpg)
Burning Shermans ...
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQY3IE9VyufAogVXKciSG1HKW58QgsesJq_jWQQeQ4uzN67pRcPt_KWYkq1gw2PaUjrt5u7HB8GyeDEhz6tE9L7iadm20YEWsBQ5Px83iQV7CieX8mY4RpMHTuLzIcZ-RCPMFsQ7fPf5NvSF6a4xB7Tpcpp4ZIwcflE8EVB1xWVMson-YuIzvoa9LfEwqB/s800/big_coc-8.jpg)
Supported by the farmstead, the Italians begin their advance in the classic combined arms.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1M4IedI7wBdbHHIQkOrIK9XG49X8Bc9eceTx5Kr4WYV0ttnLflm27EzKJCJW5TS3eqkk49E3xjgBC5xN6-kkHXsYyLDyD3_j5YLKf5mpLeCO914suUPlA4yG0rjnUBUKSohroJQrHFLMRcuahOU-WxjkanFcQqPqVGyiZGYi9-UgMNM0hWbiikqoyBGsn/s800/big_coc-12.jpg)
The village is surrounded, the US Boys have to break off the battle and the surviving troops retreat.
More pictures and a detailed report can be found on my blog as usual:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/01/chain-of-command-aar-counterattack-on.html (https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/01/chain-of-command-aar-counterattack-on.html)
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It's all rigged against the US. I'm sure of it... ;D
Once again, a great report and lovely terrain!
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Reconnaissance-in-force
Max and I used our monthly CoC game last Saturday to further refine our self-designed scenario.
It is roughly based on a reconnaissance-in-force in which a central object has to be captured - in our case a farm dominating an important crossroads.
A normal patrol phase is played, followed by a reconnaissance phase of variable duration in which only light troops, scouts and motorised squads may be deployed, the number of which is secretly determined by both players (but the more troops are deployed, the more difficult it becomes to bring reinforcements into play).
All other troops then appear in the normal game following this phase.
And there is a kind of ticking clock - the side that does not hold the object loses 1 of its Force Morale at the end of a round.
Max took over a platoon of US Parachute Infantry (Elite), which was reinforced by a squad of Goumiers and a 57mm AT gun..
Opposite them was a platoon of Fucilieri of the ‘Livorno’, reinforced by a squadra esploratori, a squad of Brixia mortars, a FIAT 3000 and a SPA AS.37, in which one of the Livorno squads embarked, and I had also allowed myself a Red Dice ... 2 wasted support points, as it turned out
The Red Dice failed me completely, only once it showed a usable two - otherwise the whole game only fives/sixes, exactly the two numbers that don't count with it ...
Above all, however, I made some fatal mistakes and therefore deserved to lose:
I should have let the motorised Fucilieri squad disembark at the farm instead of sending them into the village.
This would have allowed me to better mitigate the losses and hold the farm together with the scout squad, but above all it would not have been completely isolated there, as was the case in the village.
Because of this isolated position, I was forced to activate the squad in the village at all times - on the one hand to reduce shock, which accumulated over time, and on the other to be able to return fire from the Goumiers and the bazooka team.
And in the end, it were exactly these orders that I lacked elsewhere, for example to bring my reinforcements into play.
Max, on the other hand, played it smart, focussed his fire on the few defenders in the farm and therefore deserved his victory.
Congratulations!
A complete AAR and much more pictures on my Blog at:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/02/chain-of-command-aar-reconnaissance-in.html (https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/02/chain-of-command-aar-reconnaissance-in.html)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAS_d5vgyE_lW7PlfUsjrGMK-PIVwKNMHu3JU6Jz3Z3AWmAZnBN4cYW7umWA27lDAwCqp4TZqz7VO49UcS5B6uQo2jqgrYTh_kzXUV4kIOd5sGOfGMVUFF0yYdXMhKxB1R8xPBSHed71ZBkfR57chEsYnHhCOw86Di6DwkFH014TsVbJBKJXviiVM_sQI/s800/big_coc-2.jpg)
The battlefield ... somewhere on Sicily
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1Dg84f6oMd4b4_LkpqHKRTUbyy7F62hOeSD3QIhDm9R-h9oqAXoqPWiQwDDHkVTCEuWWiELM5C2K2dH4mBN6dqrNiiEh2UrPWNbg6icgyxRCwWFhXtXGm3Fu9YzV5G-kBdYC88OSckCoCLBPAit1L5FFvdTOeeCW2TLKW5V0fJ0fglUUxCKwbdJSw2kU/s800/big_coc-4.jpg)
esploratori enter the main objective - the small farm
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOA8cPyscakUkLo4bl0B69LyezdW-lJ7c6jAw-6mkK0o8pHOlKwZX5N0CF-jEVeXGMTcB2OuEwIYcjV7AHLVbjuiP7Q2m3dqWTS-kGkZvQ5H_emL3NSTAnZIDvGHVXRzQW0F_CjBhU6iTgNOsTefTAsvJpMQmoYKWvV80-CBEYvbzNbvALeHuf8PaA26y/s800/big_coc-6.jpg)
Meanwhile some fusilier try to deny the village to the advancing Goumiers
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDS5GijchDBNHd08bZfgIxhWl8U91-Fs02ECb_AUgUbLo_SlDXKUFE3mgADKqO-4et8GPFUtLWzOJUcBFC5FdhZkVQU6taowccLxl2kl07O7zlCIgC-sT0nFdYs5-FO_XX80S8udNYraTrGVcKPS5fLcloxWZS43uW9qPOGlBg6J9XQnoly3hVp6nS2kH/s800/big_coc-9.jpg)
US Paras ready to attack the farm
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIArGjxpitzwHyhkMGHBtH7au5kJuJ_10a_7JBAuM9XaX_YuNyn5QfZ2NDqhUcHD7ko5YF1zZjq49w0DMue4jd8nYT9vQcm60A3AimBr0u4HJ_v2cmwn-LUsJQd87IGswvPWFF8qfLriGFsCgcbMHTt0ofvcvpFEjbb-qZYj66b-9WezJFCVmaJBKi5Gpu/s800/big_coc-13.jpg)
The fight in full swing
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Nice report, terrain, and minis, as usual. Nice to see the US boys win for once... 8)
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Thank you for the compliments :)
And yes, it was well deserved for the US boys!
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On Saturday there was an introductory game in Chain of Command for Stefan from our club ?Weiss Blaue Strategen?.
He commanded one platoon of US Parachute Infantry that I had provided and played against Max's Bersaglieri, which he had set up according to my new army list.
I took over the game management and was on hand to answer Stefan's questions.
Some pics of the game:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPioSSVOMkQWYcj0AQmkpdqU_8ZV6JgwKt5jdjU-gc2HNhoY-DMM_5Sol0ApGun7XpQf1xGByUz8Jc7dikSVuxcBz_9j10mDebdoNWu1RzegcXQ41OdiilluOfSx3se_vMiMJ46JNG3BEGYYGI6uLAIO8ObXbh7HilIWG56zyuokhrT3ySfh29gG_kAQRq/s800/sheijtan-1.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb0SptTNuhL__pFGKZ9OkBu2q2mCTT4oq3W1YOwrmonTiCdTHprLWmoKrRyQiCWGzcQWa15wWW3FsP7-vRKOCyUsm2WVb5Vw6AzkTvvUE-shJKHK26u7l9f0U8iFc6N5YRaVmrTy0KDv1Q6VcEkEGMf57ZJnIsBHS4ZZAI1QgDJOQdXOshuam_cd5JpBG/s889/sheijtan-4.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmavgmM9LpeP5uwDRq6TkBHHfHjXAu39RuvGJInV-7uP-UVgDt0qOv9t7M6IqGrc3F-XG80xhHw7yzG5KfYuRvx8VkIjjfgnKE6ccps-_GX0t05wW5vtgRqCZB29u4vOT_Fnuc0gaCZj6cJwJvPdqsnyH-T4dUgF5qhgvEanX_GIMD48GlGWcjAuV4XHc2/s800/sheijtan-6.jpg)
Stefan even managed to win the game also supported by some incredible dice rolls like this one :o
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98Wg71HN0AFiQFTukVj7HqCqqYurJ-YtQqaoFHWv6XdMb6S7EJ2JRvT4nx3mtwUNHYVhRkO9K4WPhdw9MoiSqLWW2-0iKEdgz0tusOtE8nRhzwdhiISDn7LaqwsefVIdpRSEpgoOdUBcj5dns_hMh04uCPL6oquV_pZ0yvwp4-udHCaTSf2RzY5LUxEg4/s1067/sheijtan-5.jpg)
But what was much more important for us was that all three of us had fun and it was Stefan's first game of CoC, but not his last for sure.
More pics and an AAR on my Blog at:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/03/chain-of-command-aar-clash-of-patrols.html (https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/03/chain-of-command-aar-clash-of-patrols.html)
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This is a great thread, some lovely tables and game reports. It?s interesting to follow your journey in scenario design and introducing new players. Nothing like a beautiful table to grab a new player?s attention!
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Very nice stuff.
Really enjoy folllowing this thread.
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It's always good when the new guy wins. As you mentioned, it tends to whet his appetite...
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Thank you very much guys, really appreciate that! :)
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On Saturday Daniel, Max and me met up again for our monthly CoC game, so we had another Big Chain of Command, which we also used as the final test for our self-designed scenario: Reconnaissance-in-force (I'll post the scenario on the blog in the next few days).
The vanguards of an American and an Italian battle group clashed at Pozillo, a rather small village on Sicily and both sides tried to secure the small village as a base for further operations.
What followed was a fierce and bloody battle in which more and more troops became involved with the US Boys try to hold their strong position and the Italians to dislodge them from the village of Pozillo.
It was another exciting game in which Daniel's perfectly played patrol phase was ultimately the deciding factor in favour of the US Boys:
The Americans controlled the village from the start, but at the same time had denied the Italians the church as a jumping-off point for many phases and were able to pin them in their cover outside of Pozillo.
In addition, Max and his Italians had relied for too long on being able to drive the US Armoured out of the village simply by firing on with one of his Fucilieri squads, albeit very devastatingly, supported by the Cannone da 65/17.
For a complete AAR including more pics please have a look on my Blog at:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/04/big-chain-of-command-aar-fight-for.html (https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/04/big-chain-of-command-aar-fight-for.html)
And here are some pics from the game:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVphTvtQL3I54n4-KvY9TE8CRXG4Yh5ZwfvMl-02bNPNcDo5PIcJnIelrq-1toSZcrIGrC43S_fQHoIMmvalqlF4DuBB06nNW3AbCLVnYX9G0VjXuwl_dyjxuuxCDLRNYxHitJeVa9d-awkWkb0yVD8Ppoj9GkmgryF8EM5xA5-DxQscvdncXmiUG0_9-j/s800/BigCoC_Husky-1.jpg)
The battlefield is set
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHv_e8lb2_lnwkmi3tzhQUvzwJMQRyz1aIryamBaz2IXYGRXLg8yecH4xxzlNVc_lQQAlIMGG2FRF27nsoVKAhI4dN4ZT0QDdmKSu-mniRt3g3aB5dpNV4brgDbqk8HR2KZbtOS3o7K7w1tXXQrzOgJgQIeMsUYcwUY99U4PcQgixHbTO5mNTQNhXX2lv/s800/BigCoC_Husky-3.jpg)
US scouts push forward outside ...
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxK6joMzpNZv0g3hk3Zya-TDAQ-I8odzHpwMoucr4Q-vKzhBElG3efUbTSpjOMIgf3up4JlTr1fLuoLxmrWZFssB7rRIXzyo0Dt-qpn9b8bNFMY5hxUJ6cbgIeLSG9VgaXEgGbwdx6YjV-W6evwypFMutrED5PopDpXZI43SskXnEYLg-GZPDU2quv5iT/s800/BigCoC_Husky-5.jpg)
... and US Armoured within Pozillo
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwKKelVgDNEedxL1q1dgtgm6_FE9adunkQmJ1l_ZnNMK4Gb4asI9L__lUMHj1J1s9VRyfTb07QcMxtnxASoR-_9i1Q2AQVVe7CdcgMIFRKmDLKgI8P7XJrJrZqphWobX6WwpDjTbrB9VLW-i2k_SAj_rbFE3_jKbpafFtiVO5mBXIfHil1RYssel0yPPe/s814/BigCoC_Husky-6.jpg)
First blood - the Italian AB41 is out of action
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-XjEZXMC2z5l2cgEGpSlSgn9fcAigLN5IJ7CGMLf6yyA8BUhPFI5oU3lIlPdAfGq80afReN04epMo6Wlw_7-IiFnYDnUz0AchUWuQoMq-burGxZbWNj2NAQnd2Z1RA0DSEeJE90QjMqd5RX8hInu1_cMC9PnoSgh8R1AbLN2OZ85tL5RURTeFuoRbhRl/s800/BigCoC_Husky-9.jpg)
The Italian Fucilieri attack ...
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx_x8n7_kwssKxztCFB4oJ83GtKByDuvB4BvXmuOC80U_5caaipAyIEZR-aAoVtCfh8nBpUYo4rcwBJ9PZSx9OdcSbfXtpRENwt33FzNGGg1RbicbvrOphOOb_TxxUbjhRMFgoAdhs4ea1eNIebJglNx6-aMLoiYQ8j68MSuqWibGX_Qzg-z_AKHWux1q/s800/BigCoC_Husky-10.jpg)
... but are soon repulsed by US Airborne positioned behind the hedges.
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Great pictures. Your board and terrain is excellent.
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Looks fantastic, as always! Sounds like a fun game too! I've never played CoC, mainly because I kind of want a little more toys on the table than just plt+ vs plt+. How does Big CoC run ruleswise to games like IABSM or Battlegroup who are designed to run sligtly bigger battles?
Your Italy AAR's are certainly inspiring me to invest a little into mediterranean terrain (in anticipation of BG:Italy).
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Really like your buildings, very Mediterrainean(-10sp?)!!! Plus your dice bucket, looks cool with the roundel emblem!
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Great report, including the pics. Another win for the Americans, eh?
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Really do like your terrain layouts.
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Many thanks to all of you, really appreciate that :)
<Snip>I've never played CoC, mainly because I kind of want a little more toys on the table than just plt+ vs plt+. How does Big CoC run ruleswise to games like IABSM or Battlegroup who are designed to run sligtly bigger battles?</Snip>
I don't think you can compare the systems directly.
As far as Big CoC is concerned, it's no problem for us to play an infantry and a tank troop (3-4 tanks or armoured cars) at the same time, including the supports.
Even 2 infantry platoons are easy for a player to handle, but here you often lose focus and concentrate more on the platoon where the action is - which is not historically wrong as a commander to lose the overview and get lost in details.
However, Big CoC is also meant to be a multi-player game and that works really fantastic, we will soon be so many players that we will be playing at company level, so to speak, with 3-4 infantry platoons and 1-2 tank platoons.
With Battlegroup you could still trade the crowd as a single player, but even then it doesn't play quite as smoothly for us.
For really big games, we would rather switch to ‘O’-Group; we want to test this system later this year.
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We continued with CoC, more precisely Max and I were able to test the new version (v2) of the rules that had been released 3 days earlier.
As usual, the setting was ‘Operation Husky’. Max took on my US Armoured against his platoon of Bersaglieri I was commanding.
We then started again with the first mission in the rules (‘The Patrol’) and will work our way through all the other missions in the upcoming games.
The game was damn tight, the new version is more clearly written and easier to understand, the changes are all well-made and make perfect sense.
In short, we were thrilled.
Here are a few impressions of the game, a full BatRep can be found on my blog as usual:
https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/06/chain-of-command-v2-batrep-our-first.html (https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/06/chain-of-command-v2-batrep-our-first.html)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PmLbA0BNb2xFzRcAJ3ByNXGEQ6b8NGV_QclYR0VhrMBHhLxhe8OPwerQ4pguFBnQBVRWB0ZX0Fj0QDhQTRLqcEjrBisQjQafY61R-g9BxrTPhH9gP0rNVxv_w8RJcjvAtu92ETXnTlWx16mAFfKRJlFsY5TVB8KFf-MV9WNqtcWzUFNsszvoWBNLYxyS/s800/CoC_v2_Patrol-1.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzqBXJGU5N0pJAStMZZa8Z3xJp8j8ARH_wzABbMPTRdndB_aEb8Ph2DcSMeRlF37aYzg3eBe740XrFxeAGyF54QgU7g00oPwgR6ZGP3A_XoObTyAgT_yF9WI-IocrMD7jvPMwElOgkME35Q0y0ZQhkLRAMMDXSKcuc5BTL5q6S3pJsDZkC1oiErvdevAD/s800/CoC_v2_Patrol-6.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCcSzN6rUl9w6GX7UIL2zpLZmXPPJ0SjQWF-84kuw2zCrzrGa8O7D2Z-O9lsf6FVTcBskTBi2tSZMyl9BM3GCEPDWtYCeciaZN1qPVR3G07fgu_ARd0J82-_WPRWSO2Tvq2aYXBHvP_4lHqRISwMbjF4yaX5kXNSL-IjXbFu9mM6L4HEG_vrny_cdN3rw/s800/CoC_v2_Patrol-8.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakbxmz_NnX3q9VIJLi1Yqthv8pG07Dh6uTGkcD-OL_TAh0lV6YBIRO9sU0WLLT-Q7TytMNd9j1iLC_ij-Ug2lZwGzRyKEgeW4wlx4imInDoy33V_euwSbkXTXpeD-Zm8N5Jfwds_yfOBanTk4pyHfuWtFH5XvlnXrBZE6uewRHjkZsy6GHuIzkM6SbId6/s800/CoC_v2_Patrol-10.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAaEV4uY3xIFgEwkyxYmgKrcJXu3XIBwqYgaMucJ7gCBvhH-bp9Fe1iYQMdokymg56EEMW40FMNK6WfkBuOcMnB67b-QAdeJYkqf9dfyKdx3Aby-voqXoBCWKDMO6L62CjjZm8uhRPLiJH9pcKUsPvwVBKUQ1J7Frt15GC63OFnN5HuiVelb4NhbPxwEd/s800/CoC_v2_Patrol-9.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJ68s5PN9L83VV1OKnLOu8-WS9pzZRKlOTmIVCG4hegYabVCA7IC9n-f7XQtiCcdt8EANE5WKGbJ_n0WJNrCKJ1oC0-zI9xWveAUL59EOtLA3Ol6uFPccv1g82df99dPY79RphsWn3idAB6scj1Yu-kHh51bz2JzxKcivlyER8J9CLJZ1Vjn0WTUEQcCJ/s800/CoC_v2_Patrol-15.jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gD0trqon2PUm2fsRxtCAKmhyphenhyphenWk1g6b7jj3H7-md_EfreBiZDnj8BeiO_MlkwFN5e8joQZ-XDVqm1AGY2Uug4IaNHcQlhM55aYIeEL5IsvIpspRcooSA8Ss7WMtVOPVuPiss-CQjzQ94J_N3lernZoCywpNqFKoiK7qZxTb5vwm_56jw9996NJ41RNN-t/s800/CoC_v2_Patrol-17.jpg)
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Nice looking game and a good game report. I’m really liking the v2 CoC rules, they don’t change the game so much as refine it and offer a few more tactical options. You definitely don’t want to be caught bunched up, that doesn’t end well!
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Fantastic looking table once again, yet to read through the blog. Looking forward to hear about the 2nd ed of CoC, as I never played 1e.
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Thank you guys, really appreciate that! :)
<snip>I’m really liking the v2 CoC rules, they don’t change the game so much as refine it and offer a few more tactical options. You definitely don’t want to be caught bunched up, that doesn’t end well!
Yeah we like v2 too, same reasons as for you, it´s even much more interactive now as was before.
And yes, while in v1 this was a tactic zu spread the hits on more teams, now it´s a signal for disaster - and rightly so.
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Smashing setup! Gotta love that palm plantation.
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Thank you! :)