CoC Bloody Bucket campaign (completed)

[TacticalPainter]

I've been wanting to give this intriguing campaign a try for some time, so I'm pleased to make it our first CoC campaign of the year. This is set in the Ardennes in the winter of 1944 with elements of the US 28th Division trying to hold an outpost line along Skyline Drive in the face of the German winter offensive.

While the average CoC campaign follows a campaign ladder in a reasonably logical order this campaign allows for the Germans to infiltrate around the campaign ladder with the potential to strike at any of the maps and in any order they might choose. Excellent for fog of war and something that keeps the American player trying to second guess where trouble may be coming from next.



To help readers that are not familiar with the campaign I've put together a post that helps explain how the campaign works and what the options are for both players. You can find that here https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/02/a-guide-to-following-bloody-bucket.html



I've also produced a post about pulling together the various elements of terrain and the miniatures needed to run the campaign and you can find that here http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/02/getting-ready-for-bloody-bucket-campaign.html

[Shahbahraz]

Looking forward to this one... where's the snow?? 

[TacticalPainter]

Looking forward to this one... where's the snow?? 

There wasn’t any there then, it was cold but snow didn’t fall there until a week or so later. I know everyone thinks Bulge=snow, but as I’ve discovered this is not always so. Naturally this is very convenient as I don’t have any snow terrain but I’m not fudging history this really is snow-free.

[TacticalPainter]

After a couple of turns with the Germans infiltrating around the American positions we hit turn 3 of the campaign with two assaults launched. The first is on Map 1 Skyline Drive and so we begin the fighting that will determine the outcome of the campaign. The full AAR is here: http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/02/bloody-bucket-turn-3-scenario-1-skyline.html

[vodkafan]

Just read the AAR, you and Dave have got this down to a fine art now. Great table, I really got the sense of that expanse of deadly open ground.
And having read all the material on your blog about the 6 maps and the early turn manoeuvring It's really added an extra dimension to these rules. I always liked the sequential way you moved from one map to the next  before but this is even better.
Keep up the good work 

[brunei35]

Excellent AAR to go with well written overview of the campaign and the description of the first two turns. Thank you. A return to a part of the old 'normal' - breakfast and Tactical Painter, happy days!

Cheers
Tony

[jon_1066]

The additions look great and the campaign is something different.  Looking forward to seeing how it progresses.

[Marine0846]

Really cool campaign game.
You are an excellent story teller.
Exciting to the end.
Thanks so much for sharing.

[Severian]

Looking forward to seeing how this develops. Your campaign AARs are always excellent.

[Digits]

Indeed, as soon as the lockdown ends, I will be playing Bloody Bucket myself....looking forward to any tips you put up.

At least lockdown is giving us the chance to make all our scenery!

[bluewillow]

Excellent, I look forward to the reports

Cheers
Matt

[gamer Mac]

great stuff 
The AAR is great too

[TacticalPainter]

Many thanks for all the great comments, so pleased to see so many following the campaign and enjoying it so far.

The Germans make their second attack of campaign turn 3. This time they fall on Holzthum Village at Map 3. Can this platoon of Volksgrenadiers have more success than the platoon that attacked Skyline Drive? Full AAR is here: https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2021/02/bloody-bucket-campaign-turn-3-scenario.html

[gamer Mac]

I really enjoy your AAR's
I thought the German firepower was going to win that one
I really like how these rules supply a lot of twists and turns
And a single decision can change the game result
Looking forward to the campaign progress

[Marine0846]

Excellent AAR.
I figured the Germans with all their firepower would have a good chance for a win.
Well played for an American win.
Will be real interesting if the German bridge the river.
Thanks for the great write up.