Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: Battle Brush Sigur on May 14, 2022, 09:53:17 AM
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I played something! and with my own figures too! Yup, for 2 years we've been planning to get this campaign started, now it finally happened. We're doing the "29, Let's Go!" campaign for Chain of Command. You can read about it and a battle report of the first game here:
https://www.tabletopstories.net/language/en/2022/05/29-lets-go-game-1/ (https://www.tabletopstories.net/language/en/2022/05/29-lets-go-game-1/)
(https://www.tabletopstories.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/29-lets-go.png)
For the first time in a long time I'm playing with my own figures again, which is nice. Unfortunately, my German WW2 collection in 28mm is tiny (and mostly Warlord plastics). I juuuuuust have enough figures for a full platoon, plus some rudimentary support. :D Goes without saying that I had to get some more stuff following the game.
Hope you enjoy the article!
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Very short and sharp! Hope young Habisch has recovered from his fainting spell lol
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:D He'll be fine. Thanks for the comment! Yeah, the action itself was rather one-sided on the surface. It could have gone way different if for some factors turning out differently, I think. Let's see how it goes next time! (in 2 weeks IIRC).
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Interesting. If the Americans run true to form, they'll precede their next attack with a boatload of artillery. Maybe even literally, if they have access to naval gunfire support...
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Interesting. If the Americans run true to form, they'll precede their next attack with a boatload of artillery. Maybe even literally, if they have access to naval gunfire support...
That's what I'm worried about. :D I think it makes for a pretty good narrative. They try to race down the main road to link up with Utah asap, run into opposition at La Cambe, they fall back a little, call in more support and have another go.
Fortunately they don't have naval fire support, but they might bring off-table mortars next time, and those could ruin my day. :D
Spurred on by hs game I took stock of my very small German WW2 collection in 28mm. I was rather sure I had a not-too-pretty Pak40 by Black Tree Design somewhere. So I started rummaging through boxes and instead unearthed a leIG18 with crew. Even better. Then I headed over to Warlord's website, fell over due to the head-spinning price increase on everything. Got up, ordered some pretty Empress figures from the Netherlands (hooray for mainland Europe stockists!).
Until those arrive I decided to make 'little' support stuff. The sort of stuff you only think of when having to deal with a limited list of supports and you don't get distracted with all the shiny toys.
For our first game Col.Bourne made some last-minutes low-level supports for Germans (minefields, entrenchments, barbed wire), and had a pretty ingenious idea for depicting minefields. You can seee it here in the picture in the upper right:
(https://www.tabletopstories.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220512_200655.jpg)
Just four posts, makes for great, flexible minefields. Excellent. So I nicked that idea immediately, and made 8 such posts for 28mm gaming and 8 for 15mm gaming (usually we play Chain of Command in 15mm, so I have all sorts of stuff for that size, but 28mm's been rather neglected so far).
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2022_05/entrenchements1.jpg.d1fed6c36fdf6f03c77dc09ce0bc3dea.jpg)
I read that the German army used all sorts of markers to subtly mark minefields for friendly troops. I didn't feel like using the old "achtung, minen!" sign. Then I found a photo of a sign saying "Minenfrei" (meaning "free of mines", cleared). Which would be more entertaining, as a sort of detestable trick. Then I read that at some point they used posts, painted olive drab, with little flat parts cut into the wood facing the 'friendly' direction, painted red, with a black M painted on. I like that because it's easy to do and it's a very optimistic idea as well, expecting never to come through again, facing the other direction.
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2022_05/entrenchments2.jpg.9d75f788f46bba5f1915c4c899216832.jpg)
At the same time I made some entrenchments based on these suggestions (whilst listening to the ESC and feeling a bit sick. Not due to the ESC though.):
http://northern-wargaming.blogspot.com/2015/07/ww2-entrenchments-in-28mm-with-tutorial.html (http://northern-wargaming.blogspot.com/2015/07/ww2-entrenchments-in-28mm-with-tutorial.html)
By no means perfect, but my main objectives were not to make them too large, to keep them as generic as possible (so I can use them for several periods) and simple/sturdy. Entrenchments on top of a table are always a bit odd anyway, aren't they. Of course there's the proper way of doing it....
https://tinyhordes.com/dug-in-soviets/ (https://tinyhordes.com/dug-in-soviets/)
...but the way I did them should work alright. Especially since it's mostly guns which are sitting in entrenchments anyway.
Oh, I also made a media from some plastic warlord sets (and an arm from the Wargames Atlantic Partisans set. Very useful.), rummaging through his little medic's purse.
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Wonderful report. I was reminded of the '...Many rivers to cross...' campaign of germans vs. Dutch just a few threads over. Except here, the tables are turned, and the Germans are on the defensive.
Nice table and miniatures too btw! 8)
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Wonderful report. I was reminded of the '...Many rivers to cross...' campaign of germans vs. Dutch just a few threads over. Except here, the tables are turned, and the Germans are on the defensive.
Nice table and miniatures too btw! 8)
Yes, how much a few years can change. :P Just the other night I read up on the "Many rivers to cross" campaign. I love the way he writes his battle reports. Very play-by-play, and the many photos and few words keep the tension up so well while you're reading. The AAR I wrote there was weirdly short and short on pictures, because I'm not used to taking game photos with my cellphone any more, and we agreed that I'd write from the German point of view while Col.Bourne's AARs will be strictly from the US point of view. I'll let you know when his AAR is up.
Thanks! The table and Americans (and Pak40k) are entirely Col.Bourne's, my 28mm collection encompasses a German platoon (just so), an MMG42 and the odd Panzerschreck team. :D But I'm working on it.
Now exuse me please, the postman just dropped some Empress figures at the door. :)
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Now exuse me please, the postman just dropped some Empress figures at the door. :)
lol Priorities!
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lol Priorities!
"Lead over meat", as the battle cry of the lonely wargamer goes. lol
The figures are in the bath now, so I'm back on here. :P The figures look great. Of course the Gewehr43 is a problematic thing. I bent their barrels all back into shape, but one was so bent (way beyond Krummerlauf), it snapped and I'll have to replace the barrel somehow. Oh well. The Pak40 looks great as well.
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Col.Bourne's AAR of the game is up now on his blog, depicting the scenes from the US point of view:
https://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2022/05/chain-of-command-probe-at-la-cambe-turn.html (https://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2022/05/chain-of-command-probe-at-la-cambe-turn.html)
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Yep. This is what happens when you leave a 2nd Lt in charge of things lol
Oh; and unfortunate dice rolls for activation, obviously... :D
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@Daeothar: I won't comment on that because we'll play again this week and I'm starting to worry. :D
Well, I'm slowly painting some Empress Germans I got.
(https://i.imgur.com/V4UwQLX.jpg)
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Beautifully done!
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Yep. This is what happens when you leave a 2nd Lt in charge of things lol
Oh; and unfortunate dice rolls for activation, obviously... :D
*crusty old NCO voice*….. Nothing more dangerous than a “butter bar” with a map…
Great work on this project Battle Brush Sigur!
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@MaleGriffin: Cheers!
@Grumpy Gnome: :D :D And thanks to you.
Heyhey, tomorrow we'll proceed with our campaign and I'm worried already. So I painted these Empress Volksgrenadiers (and one Warlord dude).
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2022_05/done1schrift.jpg.89dde5bf6f03f0f9e6798391f7be93bc.jpg)
slightly larger version: https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2022_05/done1schrift.jpg.89dde5bf6f03f0f9e6798391f7be93bc.jpg (https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2022_05/done1schrift.jpg.89dde5bf6f03f0f9e6798391f7be93bc.jpg)
My plan is to use these for replacement in my platoon, so expect to see NONE of them on the table ever! ;) If things go to plan.
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Lovely work on those Germans. Great job!
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Cheers, Capn! It was really fun painting figures just for myself again. It's been a while since I last did that.
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Heyhey, here's the AAR of last night's game #2 in our campaign:
https://www.tabletopstories.net/language/en/2022/05/29-lets-go-game-1-2/ (https://www.tabletopstories.net/language/en/2022/05/29-lets-go-game-1-2/)
(https://www.tabletopstories.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220526_210324shoop.jpg)
Hope you enjoy the article!
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Wow. Close but no cigar, from the US perspective. Methinks they need to use some of those extra support points for a barrage. Maybe the 3rd time will be the charm....
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Hey BBS,
Some nicely painted figures there!
Well written AARs, champion work.
I haven't got a copy of this campaign but it looks like the US are on a hiding to nothing in this one!
Thanks for posting.
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That was one dogged defense!
The American plan (or lack thereof) was clearly not up to it again, but I fear they will have too much weight of numbers the next time around.
The most sensible thing to do would be to leave some nasty surprises behind and fall back to the next prepared position.
Another great battle report; can't wait for the next installment :)
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Yes, the defending Germans have done a fantastic job twice on that map, more than it was thought possible to achieve...the sensible thing would be to pull back to the next map....and yet ;D it is so tempting to see if they can hold it a third time...the wrecked Shermans block and limit their approaches. How is Young Habich?
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@CapnJim: Maybe!
@Captain Darling: Thanks very much! Yeah, I think it really is a tough one, this scenario.
@Daeothar: Thanks very much! Usually I'd play 'nicer', but in a campaign in which my guys are confronted with a full battalion and losses on my side would be very problematic to replace I kinda feel responsible for keeping my guys alive for as long as possible! The thing is that by now they already got TONS of support, but just 5 command dice to go around each phase. Space is an issue as well So while they get more options eventually they hit a point of diminishing returns on how punchy the attack can get. At least that's what I'm banking on. :D
@vodkafan: It's incredibly tempting. :D Habich is still a bit shaky (mostly because that evil Obergefreiter Stanischewski is riding him pretty hard eversince the first game!), but he will cope. Morale among the men is actually getting better after the first successes.
Heyhey, here's the AAR of the third US attack against La Cambe.
https://www.tabletopstories.net/language/en/2022/05/29-lets-go-game-3/ (https://www.tabletopstories.net/language/en/2022/05/29-lets-go-game-3/)
(https://www.tabletopstories.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220529_205318.jpg)
The Americans got more supports than ever; let's see if the breakthrough happens this time!
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Wow, your Germans sure are a stubborn lot, aren't they? :D
I hadn't expected them to hold out this time, but there they are, sharper than ever. Some of them wil be up for an Iron Cross or two before long I reckon!
Another suspenseful game and an entertaining, great write-up 8)
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Wow, your Germans sure are a stubborn lot, aren't they? :D
I hadn't expected them to hold out this time, but there they are, sharper than ever. Some of them wil be up for an Iron Cross or two before long I reckon!
Another suspenseful game and an entertaining, great write-up 8)
Cheers, thanks for reading and commenting!
Yeah, this one's turning into a nail biter. With each game US troops get a little bit further. This game was less of a meat grinder than the second one, but at times felt even closer!
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Slooooooowly but surely I'm getting the guns ready for painting.
Pak40, Pak38 (look at how small it is compared to the pak40. I never knew that the Pak40 was such a monster), leIG18 (a really, really interesting weapon)
(https://i.imgur.com/YAyjwzc.jpg)
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I noticed that the Perrys pak38 comes without turn-y wheels for adjusting elevation and traverse on the gun. Not sure if that's by design, because I got it second hand (first time around, the glorious gentleman who sent the gun and two crewfigures for just the postage cost, didn't include the one central part, which is why work on all my guns is delayed by a few days. Friction!).
According to the website it comes with a crewman sighting/aiming the gun, which is a great thing. We don't get enough crew figures actually aiming an AT gun. Well, he wasn't included in the parcel I got, so there's nothing to cover up the lack of turny wheels, so I added them to a "good enough" extent. Just so I can be smug and "proper" about it without putting much work in, which is my favourite sort of job. ;)
(https://i.imgur.com/Oc8zY0K.jpg)
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Slightly delayed, but here it is! Col.Bourne's AAR of our second game:
https://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2022/06/29-lets-go-turn-2-map-1-probe-at-la.html (https://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2022/06/29-lets-go-turn-2-map-1-probe-at-la.html)
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Dang! Those Germans are really giving to the Americans. It's definitely time for the US artillery to flatten the place... :o
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@CapnJim: Well, they kinda did in game #3, but I think they still need to figure the coordinaiton out. :)
....and here's Col.Bourne's AAR of the third game!
https://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2022/06/29-lets-go-probe-at-la-cambe-part-3.html (https://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2022/06/29-lets-go-probe-at-la-cambe-part-3.html)
He really had a marathon doing these, now we're all up to speed again. :)
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@CapnJim: Well, they kinda did in game #3, but I think they still need to figure the coordinaiton out. :)
Yeah - arty does work better when you can actually get it on target and on time properly...... ;)
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Yeah - arty does work better when you can actually get it on target and on time properly...... ;)
I think it was Clausewitz who said "it's all about getting stuff on target and on time properly, innit." :D
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Heyhey, finally we got to go on with our "29, Let's Go!" campaign. Game#4, once more the Probe at La Cambe!
https://www.tabletopstories.net/language/en/2022/06/29-lets-go-game-4/ (https://www.tabletopstories.net/language/en/2022/06/29-lets-go-game-4/)
(https://www.tabletopstories.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/20220626_144642.jpg)
Hope you enjoy the article!
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Fantastic figures and a great looking game!
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Another nail biter!
When I saw the picture of the US team only inches away from the board edge, I was sure it was over, but they were turned in the nick of time.
A great write up again! 8)
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Great report again! The Americans are having a run of hard luck, though. Oh well...
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@MaleGriffin: Thank you! :) US figures, terrain, drinks and the German Pak40 all provided by Col.Bourne, so most of the praise goes his way of course. :)
@Daeothar: I experienced it quite the same. :D I was quite certain that that time they'd break through.
@CapnJim: Aye, you could say that. After each game I'm checking weather or not we're playing the hedges wrong or something, but so far I haven't found anything in that regard.
With a slight delay, here's the tale of game #4 told from the US point of view:
https://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2022/07/29-lets-go-probe-at-la-cambe-turn4-map-1.html?m=1 (https://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2022/07/29-lets-go-probe-at-la-cambe-turn4-map-1.html?m=1)
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'ello. :) After a few months of pause we finally got together again to continue the 29, Let's Go! pint-sized campaign. This time we moved on to map 2 which posed interesting new challenges.
Here's an AAR from the German point of view, written by yours truly:
https://www.tabletopstories.net/language/en/2022/11/29-lets-go-game-5/
...and here's the whole thing from the US point of view:
http://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2022/11/29-lets-go-turn-5-map-2.html?m=1 (http://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2022/11/29-lets-go-turn-5-map-2.html?m=1)
(https://www.tabletopstories.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/charge.jpg)
Hope you enjoy the articles!
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Yay; the battle continues! 8)
Another great, but rather short battle report. The German defense is really very stiff and considering the terrain, there's very little the Americans can do to answer. The loss of Obergefreiter Lohse will be felt during the next engagement though...
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Yay; the battle continues! 8)
Another great, but rather short battle report. The German defense is really very stiff and considering the terrain, there's very little the Americans can do to answer. The loss of Obergefreiter Lohse will be felt during the next engagement though...
Quite!
Yeah, the terrrain is harsh. I'm constantly thinking we're playing the hedges wrong or something, but it seems like it's correct that way. The shortness of the battle report is due to the fact that we were getting back into the rules after a pause (plus: new map!) and I was busy trying to memorize rules and figuring out how to play. Not to mention that I'm a bit unsure if people are all that interested in the details or not. Let me know!
Also: I'm not taking my camera to these games any more, just the cellphone, and I'm really dissatisfgied with how those come out. I may have to play around with the settings, but then again, there's few things as undignified as having to do things with smartphones. :D
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Heyhey, the AARs of the final two games of our 29, Let's Go! campaign are up now.
https://www.tabletopstories.net/language/en/2023/01/29-lets-go-games-6-7-the-finale/
(https://www.tabletopstories.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20230114_154204.jpg)
Hope you enjoy the write-up and find it interesting. Col.Bourne, writing about the games from the US perspective should have his AARs up soon as well.
edit: In fact I realized he already started putting up campaign updates on the US side, starting with an unfortunate incident: http://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2023/01/29-lets-go-death-from-above.html (http://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2023/01/29-lets-go-death-from-above.html)
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Well, perhaps the Americans will do better in the future. They can't do much worse, can they?
Also: I'm not taking my camera to these games any more, just the cellphone, and I'm really dissatisfgied with how those come out. I may have to play around with the settings, but then again, there's few things as undignified as having to do things with smartphones. :D
Then color me undignified. All my minis shots are taken with a smartphone... ;)
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Excellent stuff, thank you for posting. Your tables and forces look great. Always interesting to see the battles from both sides as well.
Balm
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@CapnJim: I'll call you more capable at handling a smartphone camera. I'm sure my telephone photocamera could do better if I was willing to fiddle with the settings, but I dislike smartphones so much on so many different levels that I find it hard to spend any more time with it than I have to. :D
@BeneathALeadMountain: Cheers, thanks for reading! Yeah, there's always room for improvement in terms of looks, but given how we (meaning Col.Bourne :D )have to set up and tear down the table each time it always looks really good. I like the buildings and roads in particular.
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I can totally relate to that as I don’t have a dedicated gaming space (yet) and my terrain and tabletop aspirations are high. It takes longer and longer to set the table every time - I have at least limited my future projects to using one of the two main terrain sets I’ve already got with some different scatter terrain to help the illusion. That initial game we played with fully painted forces and scenery was the slippery first step to my ruination (or maybe divorce! lol ).
Looking forward to your next PSC,
Andrew
Balm
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@BeneathALeadMountain: That's very sensible. I like the idea of using the same terrain but use scatter terrain to add 'period (or setting) flavour'.
Here's Col.Bourne's recap of the last two campaign games:
http://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2023/01/29-lets-go-delaying-action-at-arthaney.html (http://leadpoet.blogspot.com/2023/01/29-lets-go-delaying-action-at-arthaney.html)
It's an entirely different presentation to how I write those things up. :D Really good read.
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That's very sensible. I like the idea of using the same terrain but use scatter terrain to add 'period (or setting) flavour'.
I do that, too. Vehicles (carts, wagons, trucks, and/or cars) help set the mood, too.