The last several weeks have been fairly brutal from a travel perspective. Work just keeps getting in the way of quality gaming and painting!
I was able to get a game in last week, which is detailed in an earlier post. But this week is a no-go due to travel (again). However, the weekend is a different story with respect to painting.
My wife and daughter are headed on a 7+ hour (each way) road trip to a volleyball tournament. Unfortunately, I will still be out of town when the team is heading out. Darn. That means my son and I will be here over the weekend. By ourselves. With none of the wonderful women in my life at home. Hmmmm. Makes me think we will have Paintfest!! (Just say it in your "Monster Truck Annoucer Man Voice!!)
Paintfest, Paintfest, Paintfest!!!
Here is what is actually on the table, ready for painting:
109 British Paratroopers from Arnhem. They are all attached to plastic bottle tops (think soda - I use golf tees for golf!) and ready for the primer coat and a base coat.
2 full platoons of British Armoured Recce (Cromwells and Challengers)
1 Cromwell for the Company Command Team
1 Sherman Firefly (leftover)
2 M7 Priests
2 M7 Priest Crew Sets
4 17pdr British Anti-Tank Crew Sets
3 Typhoons (already primed)
1 Horsa Glider (already primed)
6 M3 Halftracks
3 M2 Halftracks
1 Imperial Guard Leman Russ Tank. Ok, I thought I would try something new and my son donated a Leman Russ to the cause. I will paint it like a modern Abrams with desert colors. Should be interesting.
Maybe, maybe my son's new Grey Knights 40k guys. He has something like 4 platoons and some "Dreadknight" thing. The models look really good, but I am not sure if he will let me paint them. He is a great painter and may just want me to prime and base. I understand.
I also have some other units ready for decals and weathering, but this upcoming weekend will be all about the painting.
Wish us luck!!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
AAR and Rules Questions
Had a great game last night at The Last Square with Joe (Keamma). I tried the 11th Armoured PDF list from Battlefront and Joe played SS Fallschirmjaeger from either HH or ABtF. So it was a good historical matchup. The interesting part of the 11th PDF is that you get CT and not RV.
1750 LW
My list of Armoured Recce
Command HQ - 2 Cromwells
HQ Support - Cromwell CS
Combat Platoons:
2 Armoured Recce Platoons - 3 Cromwells and 1 Challenger
Support Platoons:
1 Full Platoon of US Paras
2 Guns Sections (8 guns) of Priests, one with base AA MG guns, the other section with .50cal.
4 platoons. Pretty small, but I am attacker. Unless we roll Encounter, I am on the table.
Mission:
Encounter. Of course it is.
I don't know everything Joe had as it all did not make the table. But this is what I think he had:
3 platoons FJ
1 platoon Jagpanzer (4)
Some "hero" that allows people to rise from the dead. Say what?!?!?! Are they Necrons?!?!?
2 platoon of mortars
1 platoon of recoiless rifle or something
One more platoon that I don't remember, but he had 8 platoons total.
Table had good terrain. He rolled as "attacker" and chose the table side that was most beneficial to him to "defend".
He placed 3 FJ platoons and the Jagpanzers.
I placed the Paras and one Recce Cromwell platoon.
Game recap:
I rolled to go first. I tried to digin my paras to defend both objectives. Failed. I was timid with the croms, moving around some woods and put a crom to take a long shot at the Jagpanzer. Miss.
On his trun, Joe tried to digin one FJ platoon on the objective. Fail. He moved the other 2 platoons forward towards my defensive zone in the cover to trees. Jagpnazers shuffled a little, took a shot with no results on the croms.
My next turn, I moved my HQ with the "leaderless platoon of the CS" in double time to quickly bypass the FJ and get to the rear. Rules questions - see my post on the flames of war forum in the rules section. While Joe and I agreed that I could do what I did, I am looking for verification. Took a few shots from the croms and I brewed one.
The next few turns bleed together in my mind. The net result is that I kill 2 of the Jagpanzers and he kills 2 croms. My HQ makes it to the objective and Joe has to move the Jagpanzers over to defend. His FJ moves towards my now dugin and gone to ground paras.
Turn 4:
With his FJ ready to pounce, I roll for reserves and get one platoon. I then roll for scattered and I get the table edge. 8 Priests, plus 2 observer tanks arrive just in time to machine gun the snot out of the FJs. I gut one of the platoons. The other loses just one stand. The warrior guy gets another stand back from the dead. Whatever.
On his turn he unpins everyone and assaults. The gutted platoon actually pulls back to woods, leaving the other FJ platoon to do the dirty work. They asault the paras. After about 4 rounds of assaults, my paras are wiped and he has (I think) 4 stands left. Joe has not received reserves yet.
Turn 5:
Crom HQ and CS contesting and focus fire on one of the two remaining jagpanzers in the woods. Nothing. I get my last reserves on the table. I machine gun the remaining FJ platoons and end up destroying one platoon and the CiC. I force a morale check on the other and Joe fails the platoon morale - rolled a 2. His warrior gets to reroll and all he needs is a 2+. He rolls a 1. Both FJ platoons are gone. The third leaves the objective and assaults one of the crom platoons. He passes tank terror, saves all his infantry saves from defensive fire and proceeds to do nothing on the assault. I break off. His 2 Jagpanzers don't do anything against the Croms.
Game ends on time.
Result:
Draw 3-2 me. He wiped my paras and I killed and ran off 2 FJs.
Thoughts:
I like the CT option for the company. Protected ammo and Confident are really nice on unbailing tanks. I am becoming a fan of the 11th Armoured PDF.
I still need to pick up the pace of play.
I still need to be a bit more agressive on the whole. I was really aggressive with the HQ, but I should have rushed the Jagpanzers with the other armoured recce platoon.
I never fired the arty, but rather they became MG platforms. It worked really, really nice.
I love semi indirect fire. That is how I killed 2 of the Jagpazers.
1750 LW
My list of Armoured Recce
Command HQ - 2 Cromwells
HQ Support - Cromwell CS
Combat Platoons:
2 Armoured Recce Platoons - 3 Cromwells and 1 Challenger
Support Platoons:
1 Full Platoon of US Paras
2 Guns Sections (8 guns) of Priests, one with base AA MG guns, the other section with .50cal.
4 platoons. Pretty small, but I am attacker. Unless we roll Encounter, I am on the table.
Mission:
Encounter. Of course it is.
I don't know everything Joe had as it all did not make the table. But this is what I think he had:
3 platoons FJ
1 platoon Jagpanzer (4)
Some "hero" that allows people to rise from the dead. Say what?!?!?! Are they Necrons?!?!?
2 platoon of mortars
1 platoon of recoiless rifle or something
One more platoon that I don't remember, but he had 8 platoons total.
Table had good terrain. He rolled as "attacker" and chose the table side that was most beneficial to him to "defend".
He placed 3 FJ platoons and the Jagpanzers.
I placed the Paras and one Recce Cromwell platoon.
Game recap:
I rolled to go first. I tried to digin my paras to defend both objectives. Failed. I was timid with the croms, moving around some woods and put a crom to take a long shot at the Jagpanzer. Miss.
On his trun, Joe tried to digin one FJ platoon on the objective. Fail. He moved the other 2 platoons forward towards my defensive zone in the cover to trees. Jagpnazers shuffled a little, took a shot with no results on the croms.
My next turn, I moved my HQ with the "leaderless platoon of the CS" in double time to quickly bypass the FJ and get to the rear. Rules questions - see my post on the flames of war forum in the rules section. While Joe and I agreed that I could do what I did, I am looking for verification. Took a few shots from the croms and I brewed one.
The next few turns bleed together in my mind. The net result is that I kill 2 of the Jagpanzers and he kills 2 croms. My HQ makes it to the objective and Joe has to move the Jagpanzers over to defend. His FJ moves towards my now dugin and gone to ground paras.
Turn 4:
With his FJ ready to pounce, I roll for reserves and get one platoon. I then roll for scattered and I get the table edge. 8 Priests, plus 2 observer tanks arrive just in time to machine gun the snot out of the FJs. I gut one of the platoons. The other loses just one stand. The warrior guy gets another stand back from the dead. Whatever.
On his turn he unpins everyone and assaults. The gutted platoon actually pulls back to woods, leaving the other FJ platoon to do the dirty work. They asault the paras. After about 4 rounds of assaults, my paras are wiped and he has (I think) 4 stands left. Joe has not received reserves yet.
Turn 5:
Crom HQ and CS contesting and focus fire on one of the two remaining jagpanzers in the woods. Nothing. I get my last reserves on the table. I machine gun the remaining FJ platoons and end up destroying one platoon and the CiC. I force a morale check on the other and Joe fails the platoon morale - rolled a 2. His warrior gets to reroll and all he needs is a 2+. He rolls a 1. Both FJ platoons are gone. The third leaves the objective and assaults one of the crom platoons. He passes tank terror, saves all his infantry saves from defensive fire and proceeds to do nothing on the assault. I break off. His 2 Jagpanzers don't do anything against the Croms.
Game ends on time.
Result:
Draw 3-2 me. He wiped my paras and I killed and ran off 2 FJs.
Thoughts:
I like the CT option for the company. Protected ammo and Confident are really nice on unbailing tanks. I am becoming a fan of the 11th Armoured PDF.
I still need to pick up the pace of play.
I still need to be a bit more agressive on the whole. I was really aggressive with the HQ, but I should have rushed the Jagpanzers with the other armoured recce platoon.
I never fired the arty, but rather they became MG platforms. It worked really, really nice.
I love semi indirect fire. That is how I killed 2 of the Jagpazers.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Long(ish) Post and Plea for Comments!
This is going to be a bit of a long post. I have done a poor job on the updates, so here they go:
Plea. For comments. I am beginning to take this personally. ;-) I am looking for some input on the "dream list", so please give any and all feedback. It will help my self esteem.
Shout out to my friend KAGE. He has been called out on the WWPD podcast for the decal tutorial. But as good as that is, I think his discussions on rules and other "oddities" is superb. You can check KAGE out here: http://kagefow.blogspot.com/
I received my compressor. Wow. Reminds me of a story when I used to wear suits for work. I was poor. I bought good suits, but let's face it - they were cheap. One day in a store, my usual sales person suggested I try on a Hickey Freeman suit. For those of you out there who do not know, let's just say it is expensive and American Presidents wear Hickey Freeman. Anyway, I was reluctant to try it on stating that in no way could it be that much better. After my wife made me put it on, let's just say I was wrong. There is a HUGE difference. It did not change the fact that I could in no way afford that suit. The sales person was just setting me up for years down the road when I could afford it (note to self - you STILL cannot afford it!). But there is a difference. Now, back to the compressor. I was optimistic that the ability to regulate the air pressure would help my skills. As the great Ed McMahon would say "YOU ARE CORRECT SIR!!" Indeed. I set the pressure to around 12psi for my dual action airbrush and voila! Small dots without spidering. In my euphoria, I went nuts on vehicles. As you can see from my table list, the British Armor has taken over. Picture to follow a bit later since my camera skills suck. So I am sold and a believer. You must use regulated air pressure!
Since the suggestion of a "dream list" tournament, I have been researching like a banchee. I am starting to like British Armor a lot. Amoured Recce - Cromwells and Challengers from Hells Highway! I also checked out Stalin's Europe - with the Lend Lease 76mm Shermans. 10 for 610 points??!! I get it that you get the Hen and Chicks rule (move greater than 6", no shooting). But they are 10! 12 on the AT line, protected ammo and machine guns galore! Did I mention 10 of them??!!! I have to think about that a little more. I forget if the 610 points are CT or CV.
After I get through the British Armor and get my fix of airbrushing, then I will tackle the Brit Paras. While I want the paint job to be good, I have a feeeling I will be trying anything to shorten the process. Sorry CdC, but I just can't do the layers. Your stuff is the BEST I have seen and some day I want to give it a go. But at my slow pace, it would literally take me 24 months to paint two full companies of paras. For those of you who are not familiar with his work, you can check him out here: http://cracdeschevaliers.blogspot.com/
I did get a game in last week with my dad visiting. My highlight was Sherman 76mm ambushing Panthers. 2 out of 3 up in flames. Awesome. Too bad my Stewies were decimated earlier in the game due to poor generalmanship (i.e. my brainfart). The roll of the day: My partner Rob was trying to pin an assault. With 8 dice, he scored 5 hits on Vet Germans. But wait, it gets better. On Joe's infantry save roll (Keamma on the FoW forum), he rolled all one and twos. 5 hits, 5 infantry stands gone in a flash. We did not get a picture in time and we chose not to recreate the roll. Those two rolls outshined Rob's bazooka team that could not roll anything else but a 6. Tank terror - 6. To hit - 6. FP on the bazooka - 6 please! I think he had two straight assaults where he kept rolling sixes. I just hope he is on the otherside of the table when the law of averages kick in!
My theory on dice - they can hurt good tactics, but only to a degree. But they can certainly help poor tactics! In fact, I think they help poor tactics more than they hurt good tactics. But you still need to roll like a freak of nature.
Oh, I bought Force on Force from Osprey. These are the Ambush Alley rules all "gussied up." Modern 15mm. Hummm. Can anyone say Abrams please!! I am tired of playing with crappy American tanks. I NEED REVENGE!!!! My wife rolled her eyes thinking of $$ flying out the window. This fall I think I will put together some M1A2s and T-55 / T-72 from Iraq. Quick little game based on a scenario in the rule book. Could be a good demo game.
Inappropriate Question of the Month: My dad asking me how much money I have spent on FoW. All in. Models, paint, rules, books, templates, storage, weathering pigments, glue, tape measures, dice and markers, washes, airbrush, compressor, files and knives, terrain, buildings, bridges, game mats, scale logs for gun pits, pre-painted entrenchment markers, etc. Ouch. I gave him an answer, but it was grossly understated. Yet still a big number. I comment every week to my LGS owners (still can't say enough about The Last Square in Madison - check them out!!) that paint is my crack habit. I always walk out with more paint. BUT I DO USE IT!!! Based on comments from friends, my unbuilt list is actually rather small. So I do make progress on what I buy. I am still amazed that I have taken to the painting as much as I have. It does tend to relax me. If you really want to barf up a lung, ask yourself that same question.
Sorry kids, not college for you. But have you seen my 15,000 points of Soviets?!?!?! Or my scale recreation of Kursk?? Ouch indeed.
Plea. For comments. I am beginning to take this personally. ;-) I am looking for some input on the "dream list", so please give any and all feedback. It will help my self esteem.
Shout out to my friend KAGE. He has been called out on the WWPD podcast for the decal tutorial. But as good as that is, I think his discussions on rules and other "oddities" is superb. You can check KAGE out here: http://kagefow.blogspot.com/
I received my compressor. Wow. Reminds me of a story when I used to wear suits for work. I was poor. I bought good suits, but let's face it - they were cheap. One day in a store, my usual sales person suggested I try on a Hickey Freeman suit. For those of you out there who do not know, let's just say it is expensive and American Presidents wear Hickey Freeman. Anyway, I was reluctant to try it on stating that in no way could it be that much better. After my wife made me put it on, let's just say I was wrong. There is a HUGE difference. It did not change the fact that I could in no way afford that suit. The sales person was just setting me up for years down the road when I could afford it (note to self - you STILL cannot afford it!). But there is a difference. Now, back to the compressor. I was optimistic that the ability to regulate the air pressure would help my skills. As the great Ed McMahon would say "YOU ARE CORRECT SIR!!" Indeed. I set the pressure to around 12psi for my dual action airbrush and voila! Small dots without spidering. In my euphoria, I went nuts on vehicles. As you can see from my table list, the British Armor has taken over. Picture to follow a bit later since my camera skills suck. So I am sold and a believer. You must use regulated air pressure!
Since the suggestion of a "dream list" tournament, I have been researching like a banchee. I am starting to like British Armor a lot. Amoured Recce - Cromwells and Challengers from Hells Highway! I also checked out Stalin's Europe - with the Lend Lease 76mm Shermans. 10 for 610 points??!! I get it that you get the Hen and Chicks rule (move greater than 6", no shooting). But they are 10! 12 on the AT line, protected ammo and machine guns galore! Did I mention 10 of them??!!! I have to think about that a little more. I forget if the 610 points are CT or CV.
After I get through the British Armor and get my fix of airbrushing, then I will tackle the Brit Paras. While I want the paint job to be good, I have a feeeling I will be trying anything to shorten the process. Sorry CdC, but I just can't do the layers. Your stuff is the BEST I have seen and some day I want to give it a go. But at my slow pace, it would literally take me 24 months to paint two full companies of paras. For those of you who are not familiar with his work, you can check him out here: http://cracdeschevaliers.blogspot.com/
I did get a game in last week with my dad visiting. My highlight was Sherman 76mm ambushing Panthers. 2 out of 3 up in flames. Awesome. Too bad my Stewies were decimated earlier in the game due to poor generalmanship (i.e. my brainfart). The roll of the day: My partner Rob was trying to pin an assault. With 8 dice, he scored 5 hits on Vet Germans. But wait, it gets better. On Joe's infantry save roll (Keamma on the FoW forum), he rolled all one and twos. 5 hits, 5 infantry stands gone in a flash. We did not get a picture in time and we chose not to recreate the roll. Those two rolls outshined Rob's bazooka team that could not roll anything else but a 6. Tank terror - 6. To hit - 6. FP on the bazooka - 6 please! I think he had two straight assaults where he kept rolling sixes. I just hope he is on the otherside of the table when the law of averages kick in!
My theory on dice - they can hurt good tactics, but only to a degree. But they can certainly help poor tactics! In fact, I think they help poor tactics more than they hurt good tactics. But you still need to roll like a freak of nature.
Oh, I bought Force on Force from Osprey. These are the Ambush Alley rules all "gussied up." Modern 15mm. Hummm. Can anyone say Abrams please!! I am tired of playing with crappy American tanks. I NEED REVENGE!!!! My wife rolled her eyes thinking of $$ flying out the window. This fall I think I will put together some M1A2s and T-55 / T-72 from Iraq. Quick little game based on a scenario in the rule book. Could be a good demo game.
Inappropriate Question of the Month: My dad asking me how much money I have spent on FoW. All in. Models, paint, rules, books, templates, storage, weathering pigments, glue, tape measures, dice and markers, washes, airbrush, compressor, files and knives, terrain, buildings, bridges, game mats, scale logs for gun pits, pre-painted entrenchment markers, etc. Ouch. I gave him an answer, but it was grossly understated. Yet still a big number. I comment every week to my LGS owners (still can't say enough about The Last Square in Madison - check them out!!) that paint is my crack habit. I always walk out with more paint. BUT I DO USE IT!!! Based on comments from friends, my unbuilt list is actually rather small. So I do make progress on what I buy. I am still amazed that I have taken to the painting as much as I have. It does tend to relax me. If you really want to barf up a lung, ask yourself that same question.
Sorry kids, not college for you. But have you seen my 15,000 points of Soviets?!?!?! Or my scale recreation of Kursk?? Ouch indeed.
Monday, May 9, 2011
All-Star List
What if you could create a list without regard to TO&E lists? What if you could have Armored Rifles supported by Panzer IVs and calling in Typhoons? What about American 76mm? Or being able to field M12 155mm SP arty without having to pay for the 105s?
That is exactly the question that has been asked. As I posted earlier, there is some talk about a tourney setup that would do just that.
So what would you do?
The only "rule" is that your Company Commander and one (1) combat platoon have to be "legal." Otherwise, all options are available.
So let's have it! Here is a chance to make whatever you want!!
That is exactly the question that has been asked. As I posted earlier, there is some talk about a tourney setup that would do just that.
So what would you do?
The only "rule" is that your Company Commander and one (1) combat platoon have to be "legal." Otherwise, all options are available.
So let's have it! Here is a chance to make whatever you want!!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Compressor arrived!
I have been travelling for work over the last 4 days and while I was away, my compressor arrived. I am ready to put this badboy to work. I will try to provide a report in the coming week as to my success with regulated pressure. I have very high expectations!
The only hurdle is that my father is coming to visit. Of course that is not a problem at all! It will just take some time away from painting. But who knows, he is a history geek and maybe I can convince him to inhale fumes with me.
I also received a note from Joe (Keamma in the FOW forums). We are getting ready to propose another tournament. But he has presented an amazing idea:
1750 late war, split 1,250, with two additional forces at 250 each.
Choose your Company HQ and then add a single (one) combat platoon from the same "list."
Then go nuts!! No other TOE limits. In fact, you are required to have at least one additional nationality in the list. You will get additional tournament points if you have 3 or more. Only rule is that nations that share national rules do not count as separate (for example Commonwealth are all one "nation" in the tournament).
Boy has my head been spinning. Stuarts, with Panzer IVs, with Russian Strelk, with Typhoons!! Oh my.
I have started to narrow on Brit armor - Cromwells, with US FSSF as infantry and possibly Soviet 76mm Shermans. Maybe some Falshimjeager (is that how you spell it?!??!) in support as well. Then Typhoons or Sturmoviks. Dare I go with an 88??
Any and all comments welcome!
The only hurdle is that my father is coming to visit. Of course that is not a problem at all! It will just take some time away from painting. But who knows, he is a history geek and maybe I can convince him to inhale fumes with me.
I also received a note from Joe (Keamma in the FOW forums). We are getting ready to propose another tournament. But he has presented an amazing idea:
1750 late war, split 1,250, with two additional forces at 250 each.
Choose your Company HQ and then add a single (one) combat platoon from the same "list."
Then go nuts!! No other TOE limits. In fact, you are required to have at least one additional nationality in the list. You will get additional tournament points if you have 3 or more. Only rule is that nations that share national rules do not count as separate (for example Commonwealth are all one "nation" in the tournament).
Boy has my head been spinning. Stuarts, with Panzer IVs, with Russian Strelk, with Typhoons!! Oh my.
I have started to narrow on Brit armor - Cromwells, with US FSSF as infantry and possibly Soviet 76mm Shermans. Maybe some Falshimjeager (is that how you spell it?!??!) in support as well. Then Typhoons or Sturmoviks. Dare I go with an 88??
Any and all comments welcome!
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