tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14995210572895603012024-02-18T19:44:42.823-08:00FoW Army MenA blog for players of Flames of War and other miniature table top games.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-5769042965912358962016-03-07T09:54:00.002-08:002016-03-07T09:54:42.646-08:00WWPD Painting ArticleIn case you missed it, I did write a painting article for my friends at WWPD. Check it out and leave feedback here if you wish.<br />
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<a href="http://www.wwpd.net/2016/03/nato-tri-color-camo-in-6mm.html" target="_blank">http://www.wwpd.net/2016/03/nato-tri-color-camo-in-6mm.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-45431020233498701012016-02-23T12:26:00.001-08:002016-02-23T12:26:22.733-08:00Yet another long gap between updates!So... what is new?!<br />
<br />
In a single word - 6mm.<br />
<br />
And here is the story:<br />
<br />
I love FoW in 15mm. I really do! I can accept the ground scale and compression in the era. Why? For me it has to do with the fact that there are all shapes and sizes of vehicles. You can have Brit Carriers running around. You can have Panzer I's running around. You can have Stewies and Greyhounds and Pumas and Shermans and Crocs! You can even have a King Tiger. And all these range from small, jeep like vehicles to massive heavy tanks. And with some infantry on the table, a few buildings, some roads and some trees, you will get a very cool looking result. So what if a Sherman can shoot 32"! It just seems to work.<br />
<br />
But in modern times, it doesn't work as well. For me, the start was Fate of a Nation. With the points structure in that era, the UAR needs a ton of vehicles on the table to have a fair game against the Israelis. And the result means that there are 32 or 42 T-55 tanks running around, while the Israeli player is fielding 8 or 10. Have you seen the size of a T-55 in 15mm? They are big! Now, think Dust Up and try putting 20 tanks in the corner. It looks weird.<br />
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And then you have Team Yankee. And you get this...<br />
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<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/23064904229_df43107292_z_zpsjzagphpo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/23064904229_df43107292_z_zpsjzagphpo.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Does that look weird to you too? Overlapping rotors? Like I stated above, I can't quite get my head around this or even adequately explain why I see modern era different that WWII. But I do.<br />
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While this alone was probably enough in my eyes (forgive the pun), it was the expense that did it for me. I did an article for WWPD on this very subject, so rather than repeat myself, I will just add the link here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wwpd.net/2015/10/heroics-and-ros-review.html" target="_blank">http://www.wwpd.net/2015/10/heroics-and-ros-review.html</a><br />
<br />
So for a fraction of the cost for 15mm, I can get the entire book of FoaN and Team Yankee. Between my eyes and my wallet, 6mm is the way to go.<br />
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How do they look next to each other? Well...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/77ED0D05-011C-46F1-B388-1ACFEC547274_zps3dwjmlfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/77ED0D05-011C-46F1-B388-1ACFEC547274_zps3dwjmlfb.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Israeli Magach in two scales</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/4A42005E-AC33-4D14-A9FD-464CEE90EBAD_zpsyogehlwv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/4A42005E-AC33-4D14-A9FD-464CEE90EBAD_zpsyogehlwv.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magach and S'hots</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To help this in 15mm, some people are suggesting playing TeamYankee on a larger table. And that might work to a degree. But by reducing the scale from 1:100 to 1:300, you have effectively tripled the size of the table. And you can get something that looks like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHn9_gcxrIXjFV6QlQBDWjA_1rv8UIz9wLcopx3N2l1HqNoy6cy4ZYC2SRc2eq5BdZfpQienl4X2bi5N6FgwNvuuP6BWATYE9owjXI7y0qQiRCw7OLyFZ2dtvhFZhahFdZXoHp4Qo0jc2/s1600/IMG_5275+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHn9_gcxrIXjFV6QlQBDWjA_1rv8UIz9wLcopx3N2l1HqNoy6cy4ZYC2SRc2eq5BdZfpQienl4X2bi5N6FgwNvuuP6BWATYE9owjXI7y0qQiRCw7OLyFZ2dtvhFZhahFdZXoHp4Qo0jc2/s400/IMG_5275+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Are you kidding me! Who would not want to play on terrain or a table that can look this good. 6mm allows you to have a much more cinematic feel to the game and still learn the same rules. Because to make it work well, guess what you need to change in the Team Yankee rules? Nothing! Do not change any stats, movement ranges, shooting ranges, rules, templates, etc. Everything stays exactly the same.<br />
<br />
So for less money and better visuals, 6mm is the way to go here. And if you need terrain, simply take the money you would have spent on a starter box for Team Yankee and buy hills and buildings. In the long run, this will be the easiest, fastest and most economical way to enjoy the game!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-67631807404971557962014-11-20T08:36:00.001-08:002014-11-20T08:36:05.404-08:00Ahh, painting weather!Here in Wisconsin (USA for those outside 'Murica), the weather is turning to winter much earlier than normal. How do I know? Check this out... my Bernese Mountain Dog loving the weather!<br />
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Awwww...<br />
<br />
So that means painting is in the works. As is me actually writing a post!<br />
<br />
I am hammering out the AQMF infantry, tanks and tripods. I would like to get them table ready by next weekend, which is Thanksgiving in the States. My dad will be in town and I would love to be able to push some toys with him. And my son will be back from college, so he can join the fun as well.<br />
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With the imminent release of Fate of a Nation II, I am certain that my Arab and Israelis will get some attention. Add to those, the Panzers and other Germans and I am now swimming in stuff that needs to get painted!<br />
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On the tournament scene, I finished the year ranked #4 in the USA. I guess that means I have to change my blog title from a beginner to someone that is experienced. Nah... too much work.<br />
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That meant I received an invitation to the US Masters and for the second year in a row, I had to decline. Work keeps getting in the way of my hobby! That also meant I missed Fall-In this year too.<br />
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But I was able to get a few games in against Mike Jacobs to get him ready for Masters. But what is amazing is that since July, I have only played 3 games of FoW. Ouch.<br />
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But now the weather is turning and I can focus on painting and playing!<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-62987667547122902522014-08-25T06:37:00.000-07:002014-08-25T06:37:01.414-07:00Summer Update and Magnetizing All Quiet on the Martian Front Steam Tanks<br />
Where has the summer gone?<br />
<br />
So a quick update before the tutorial. I went to Historicon and played in the Doubles Tournament put on by my great friends at I-95 (I am an honorary member). Bill Wilcox and I partnered up and ran US Stewie horde and Recon horde. The theme was MW and you had 1,000 per player, with a 100 point swing (I think). Bill and I had three great games with Dominic / his partner in crime, Jesse Shaeffer / Kurt Reese and Joe Lewis / Gary Overmeyer. Lots of fun! Bill and I ended with three wins and we came in 3rd place.<br />
<br />
I did not play in the LW Nats tournament, but congratulations to my amigo Mike Jacobs who finished in 4th. Nicely done!<br />
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Bill and I did get a chance to play All Quiet on the Martian Front. Bill got in at the beginning with the Kickstarter. We had a great time and I ended up going over to the AQMF booth and just opening my wallet. I ended up buying the Starter Box, a box of Steam Tanks, a box of Scout Tripods, 2 blisters of US infantry and a blister of Fleeing Civilians.<br />
<br />
Due to life / work, I just now got around to opening up the boxes. The Steam Tanks come 3 in a box and they let you build a Mark I, II or III tank. Well, I thought I would pull out the magnets and go for being able to make all three! But before I get into the details, one word of caution - magnetizing the Steam Tank is a royal pain in the butt. I ultimately decided I would magnetize 3 tanks and build the remaining 6 as Mark III. Your results may vary...<br />
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Anyway, on with the show!<br />
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Here is a Steam Tank cut from the sprue. Notice the Tripod in the upper right? I did magnetize those, but in the end you really cannot do it. The Black Cloud gun thingy is too heavy and the magnet cannot support the weight. But back to the Steam Tank. What we are doing here is determining which parts need to be magnetized and which can be glued.<br />
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This what is glued so far. The parts are the top hull, the bottom hull, the boiler cover, boiler stack, tow hook and the driver's area on the upper hull (lower left from this view). The two track pieces have yet to be glued. I also glued the upper hull for the Mark III together and the sponson holders. Those can be seen at the top of the picture.<br />
<br />
The first challenge to face is how to get the top hull for the Mark III and the flat cover for the Mark I and II to be magnetized and still cover the big hole. I realized I needed to "lift" the magnet from the bottom of the tank. To do that, I simply glued wood sticks together (sticks I use for gun pits) and created a platform. See below:<br />
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Here is what they look like after gluing, but before cutting to size (and ignore the AIW stuff!!):<br />
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<br />
So I used wood glue, then cut them to fit the hulls.<br />
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The next challenge is how to magnetize the sponsons. There are huge holes that they get glued into, but it is too deep for a magnet.<br />
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<br />
The answer is White Stuff! Using the putty, I filled the holes. Now I had to let his stuff cure overnight because you are using so much of it. But by the next morning, we were good to go!<br />
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The next day, I glued all the magnets on. Now be careful with polarity. It isn't enough to just check the two that are actually connecting. Because you have so many magnets, they get close to each other. If you reverse the polarity, it can really stink! Notice that I had to cut the grooves from the covers and the sponson holders. You can also see the magnets under the hull cover and the Mark III upper hull.<br />
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So what does the final result look like? You judge!<br />
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Mark III<br />
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Mark II<br />
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Not too bad!<br />
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You can see the next two magnetized tanks below and 3 Mark III that are not magnetized.<br />
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And finally, some love to the Tripods!!<br />
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Good luck and happy gaming!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-92146962712958026282014-04-18T08:19:00.000-07:002014-04-18T08:19:40.159-07:00Adepticon ARR / UpdateSo after taking a week and a half to get back into the swing of things at work, here is my update from Adepticon. I won't go back over my list as you can check it out on my last post.<br />
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Thursday:<br />
<br />
Mike Jacobs (Cornishkeebler) and I meet up at my house and drive down to Chicago together. I have my trunk loaded with 9 six-packs of Wisconsin beer and a cooler with wheels. As Mike said - I was trying to buy my way to a good sportsmanship score (didn't work!!). We drove down and had lunch at Portillo's. When I used to live in Chicago, this was my place to go. We then headed over to the Convention and met up with old friends. After checking in, we got a practice game in with our Minnesota friends. I went up against Keith Gilmour and his Brits. We rolled up Breakthrough and had a go. NGFS did its thing and Keith did his thing. We ended 4-3 to me. After that and dinner, I headed to O'Hare to grab Eric Turner (Paw Paw) and brought him back.<br />
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Friday:<br />
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Round 1: Encounter (Fair Fight Mission)<br />
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I get Byron Sinor, who is the top ranked American right now. He has the 80th ID from Citizen Soldiers. While I like the PDF, getting to pay for Trained artillery that hits like Vets is a great bargain. And that is what he ran. So right away, I get Blue v. Blue with an excellent player. Details aside, we play. We arty each other. We continue to arty each other. I try a ballsy move that almost pays off for an early win. He counters. We arty each other. 3-3. Byron goes on to win the tournament.<br />
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Round 2: Hastyattack (Mobile Battle)<br />
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I play Shane. Great fun! He runs German Grens of some type. He waits for Reserves. I arty him. My Pios, Boat Section, both arty platoons and Towed TDs are on the board to start. PSV lays wire to slow the advance. I arty him. He is able to get a platoon into my zone, which I promptly run. I get him down three platoons and with no hope of securing an objective or doing damage, it ends 6-1 to me.<br />
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Round 3: No Retreat (Defensive Battle)<br />
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I play Jesse Shaeffer. He runs a Hungarian Assault Gun Company. Nasty list. Heavy arty, Recon and air support. We go something like 14 turns and it end with a 4-3 to me. Basically, NGFS hits. Jesse rolls armor saves and passed a lot of them. He then makes guns and infantry evaporate with Breakthrough guns. He plays a great game and it was close. Jesse goes on to finish 3rd.<br />
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For dinner, Mike, Eric, Jeff Hady, Dan Larson and I head out to dinner at a nice Mexican place.<br />
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Saturday:<br />
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Round 4: Breakthrough (Mobile Battle)<br />
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I play Todd and his Hetzer Company. With a large village in the center, I am able to use NGFS perfectly against his list. In a very smart move, he puts as many Hetzers in Reserves as he can. I wish I could say the game was close. It wasn't. Bad match up for him. 6-1 to me.<br />
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Round 5: Surrounded (Defensive Battle)<br />
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I play Charlie Clay and his massive Croc (6!!) list from Overlord. Hard fought 3-4 to him. It was bloody on both sides. Charlie goes on to finish 4th in the tournament.<br />
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Round 6: Free For All (Fair Fight)<br />
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I play an old friend Paul Devolpi and his Soviets. Yes, Soviets are back! He led the tournament after Day 1. Again, I almost pull off the Hail Mary play and get on an objective. All I need to do is NGFS and arty his 1iC (bail would be perfect) to keep him from contesting. I hit him and he rolls a... 6. Saved. Paul is able to contest and make my recon jeeps run. 3-3. Paul goes on to finish in 6th place for the tournament.<br />
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Final Result - I finish tied for 8th (9th after tie breakers). I go 3-3, 4-3, 3-4 and 3-3 against 4 of the top 6 finishers. Brutal draw for me. If you want any details on the scoring fubar at the end of the tournament, check out the forums at WWPD.<br />
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Saturday night, Mike, Eric, Chris Hecht and I head out to get some Hibachi, drink and watch the Badgers play in the NCAA Final Four. I had a great time!<br />
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<br />
Sunday:<br />
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Mike and I team up and enter the Doubles Tournament. 700 points for each team member and you can share 50 points across. We run cheesy Boat Weasels.<br />
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Round 1: Hastyattack (Mobile Battle)<br />
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We play two great guys - one of whom I played in my very first tournament at Adepticon three years ago. We didn't play Nats, but the Baby Seal Tournament. He runs Grens (Assualt variety) and his partner is running 2 King Tigers and a Grille platoon. Mike basically arties him (Mike has the NGFS platoon) and I use the other arty and Towed TDs. The game is over in 3 turns as NGFS takes out both KTs, and helps get the Grilles to die. 6-1 win.<br />
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Round 2: No Retreat (Defensive Battle)<br />
<br />
Due to a scheduling snafu with Eric (he thought his flight was at 10am - it was 10pm), he and Jesse decided to enter the tournament. Rematch for me against those damn Hungarians!! This game was closer than the score indicates as they did a great first turn move to try and put a world of hurt on the TD Section. I was able to disengage and leave enough room to pop. Return fire and some arty took care of the Hungarian recon tanks. But they pressed the objective and NGFS did its thing. We were able to break the Hungarian Company (no 1iC to take the Company Morale Check). 6-1 win.<br />
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Round 3: Encounter (Fair Fight)<br />
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We play our good friends Chris Fretts and Andrew Hopson. They are running mirrored US Tanks with Jumbos and Easy Eights. One has armored mortars in reserve and the other has ARP in reserve. Basically, it was a tough matchup for them. Chris has posted an AAR over at WWPD in the thread about NGFS. Game is over on Turn 4. We NGFS Andrew's Company to death and he fails the Company Morale roll. 6-1 win.<br />
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Mike and I win the tournament going 6-1, 6-1 and 6-1. NGFS (again) was the difference. I have vowed never to run that list again. Now, in what I thought was even cooler - Mike and I got "Favorite Opponent" form all three of our opponents! That was pretty cool considering what we were running. But since we won, the prizes went to another team - totally agree with that!<br />
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Last Night:<br />
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We are now trying to figure out a home for our group. Our LGS has moved and essentially closed their retail operations. Mike and I have run many games in my house (I have a good setup there), but we need a place to handle 3 or 4 tables. We have been trying a location on the other side of Madison and we finally got 6 players to show up. We played a 3 on 3 modified version of FFA across two tables. Great fun. Smooth Riding Americans did the job! We each brought 1,000 points, so I went with two platoons of 2 E8, Jumbo and Sherman. 1iC in E8 and 2iC in Jumbo. It was fun just to mess around.<br />
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So there is my update!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-15148070376802924912014-03-27T07:50:00.002-07:002014-03-27T07:50:42.369-07:00Adepticon LW Nats List and Thoughts<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, it is that time of the year where the first Nats
tournament happens in the States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
year, Adepticon will be LW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
expecting MW since 2012 was LW and 2013 was EW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh well, LW it is.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The points were slotted at 1,650.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year was 1,780.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wouldn’t think 130 points would matter
that much, but it does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Canadian list
at 1,780 did well – tied for 11<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> with over 100 people playing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to make that same list fit into 1,650
just wasn’t happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I could have
tried to change it up, but I just wasn’t excited about bringing Canadians to
two straight LW Nats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So off to the
drawing board I went.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought about going back to TFA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think folks have forgotten about the list
and the potency of the list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But 1,650
is too high of a point total.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TFA needs
around 1,500 to really shine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought
about 2 ID, but that didn’t excite me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thought about a Citizen Soldiers list, but that too didn’t strike me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same for 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> AD with Patton (been
there), Cromwells and a Stewie horde.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I did think quite a bit about a Soviet list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite right now is something like this:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">HQ – T-34<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon / Company 1: 10 T-34s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon / Company 2: 8 T-34s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon 3: Short Spetznaz<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon 4: 3 SU-100<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon 5: 3 SU-100<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon 6: 3 DshK Trucks (SPAA)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon 7: 12 Zis guns plus Scout Cars with .50cals (13 of
them)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a very good list and I believe I will see it at
Adepticon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Infiltrate 11 T-34s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use the Zis guns that Ed Forbes loves so much
– it really is a great platoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SPAA to
keep Rudel at bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has it all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But there is another list out there and one that I came very
close to running last year. Unfortunately, it is so full of cheese that it
borders on offensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How’s that for an intro!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what is the list?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>US Assault Company out of Overlord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here is the list:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>US Assault Company - Confident Trained</strong></span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>HQ:</strong> 1 and 2iC Carbine Team<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Platoon 1:</strong> Boat Section (Cmd Rifle, 4 Rifle, 2 Bazooka, 60mm
Mortar and a Flame-thrower)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Platoon 2:</strong> Boat Section (Cmd Rifle, 4 Rifle, 2 Bazooka, 60mm
Mortar and a Flame-thrower)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Platoon 3:</strong> Mortar Platoon with 2 81mm Mortars and Cmd
Carbine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Platoon 4:</strong> AT Gun Platoon with 3 57mm, 1 Bazooka and Cmd
Carbine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Platoon 5:</strong> Recon Platoon with 3 Recon Jeeps and 1 .50cal
Recon Jeep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Platoon 6:</strong> Cannon Platoon with 6 105mm Light Howitzers, Cmd
Carbine and Observer)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Platoon 7:</strong> Towed TDs with 4 M5 3” guns, 4 bazookas, Cmd
Carbine and 4 .50cal Halftracks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Platoon 8:</strong> Engineer Combat Platoon with 2 Bazookas, 2 HMGs /
Pio Rifles (swap at game start) and Cmd Pio Rifle with Pio Supply Vehicle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Platoon 9:</strong> Field Artillery Battery with 4 105mm guns, Staff
Team, Cmd Carbine and Observer with Jeep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Platoon 10:</strong> SPAA – one Quad .50cal and one 37mm Halftrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>NGFS:</strong> Heavy Cruiser<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Air Cover:</strong> Limited P-47 (Air Cover mean they intercept on
5+, ground attack on 6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>AOP<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10 Platoons at 1,650 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My thoughts on the list:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, NGFS is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Crazy good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can bring a Naval
AOP or use a ground observer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is AT
6, FP 1+ on a doublewide template, with reroll misses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, you have to range in each turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, the 1iC can spot, but no one else can do
so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, you can’t combine it with any
other arty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But still…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The math is on my side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rerolling misses and you have to pass a Top
Armor save needing a 6?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You roll a 5 and
you are bailed, anything else kills you?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FP 1+ is a good thing…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Against open tops (TDs, Marders, Halftracks,
etc.), you can only hope for a bail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dug
in infantry will disappear (one out of three hits will fail the save).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with the Naval AOP running around, I can find
you pretty much anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bringing
AA?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, either I use terrain to mask, go
after your SPAA with everything I have, say forget it and arty the SPAA before
it can shoot my AOPs or just bring the ground observer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of options!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I have my Cannon Platoon of 6 Light Howitzers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How are they different that normal
105mm?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slightly less range on
bombardment, less range on direct fire and they don’t have a gun shield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise, they are identical in every way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AT 4, FP 4+.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And because they are a Cannon Platoon, any Platoon Commander can be a
spotter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the 1iC does not have a +1
added.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with 6 guns, that is a normal
template with reroll misses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, did I mention the other artillery platoon yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one with four 105mm Howitzers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the AOP to go with it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, so this platoon gets Time on Target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or I can combine with the Cannon Platoon and
have another doublewide with reroll misses at AT 4, FP 4+.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I have my Air Cover to protect the AOPs from enemy air
craft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If my opponent doesn’t have air,
then I need a 6 to get a Ground Attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s ok because their primary role is to protect the skies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anything else is bonus!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course, I have to bring Towed TDs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dropping 8 AT 12, FP 3+ shots out of a mobile
ambush and having bazookas running amok with .50cal halftracks is just too good
to be true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then add the mobility of the Recon Jeeps – along with their
limited ability to keep Spearhead and Recon moves in check – and you have a
neat little platoon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">SPAA comes along for the ride to protect the artillery from
air that get past my Air Cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus
they can be used to help dig out infantry if necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, they are only two vehicles but they can
pack a punch if necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And my Pios.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
lovely Pios.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facing an AA Mech or Armor
list?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drop three glorious stands of wire
to slow it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Against tanks, lay down
a minefield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I need to do is slow
down the Spearhead and Recon moves and let the arty do the rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Am I worried about facing an AA Infantry list?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not really since this list is AA against
Infantry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see a Brit player
wanting to Night Attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok – we roll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But most Defensive Battles have a 24”
distance to the objective and moving 6” at a time will cause you to get there
right around when night lifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am ok
with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And attacking infantry doesn’t
bother me either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can close some distance
and let the artillery take over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is funny (in a sad way) is that a friend of mine
recorded over 60 turns in Free For All at Historicon last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was arty fest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I am going to try to break that
number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I ignore the first loss, I have great AT, I have four
templates (air, FAB, Cannon and NGFS), I have two AOPs, I have two infantry
platoons with zooks and flame-throwers, I have recon, TDs and Pioneers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NGFS will be available every turn. You can’t
pin it, kill it, smoke it, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure,
you could smoke the ground observer – if I bring it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For half on / half off missions, I will have
just under 1,200 points of my army on the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, this is a silly list and full of cheese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know. Effectively, I am bringing 22 artillery guns with only 10 of them being on the table. A bit much, don't you think?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-72782370552743440952013-12-27T22:00:00.001-08:002013-12-27T22:00:27.958-08:00Magach 2 or 3? How about BOTH! Same with Sho't!Here in the States, there is an old question that is asked:<br />
<br />
Ginger or Mary Ann?<br />
<br />
The correct answer is BOTH!<br />
<br />
For Christmas, I got a boat load of AIW stuff (good thing I preordered it all). I got 6 Sho't / Centurions, 6 M51 Ishermans, 6 Magach 2 /3, 6 AMX-15, Israeli decals and half track stowage. Needless to say, I have been an assembling machine!<br />
<br />
With both the Magach and Sho't boxes, you have to choose which version of the gun you want to mount. Because I like to choose "both", I decided to magnetize the barrels for both the Sho'ts and the Magachs.<br />
<br />
The Magach is pretty easy to do. So let's tackle the tough one - the Sho't.<br />
<br />
This is what the model looks like when you pull them out of the box:<br />
<br />
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The tracks are all one piece - including skirts - plus the hull and the turret. Here is a closeup of the turret:<br />
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<br />
Notice the hull is flush - this allows the gun to be glued flush. Take a look at this picture, which shows the back of the gun:<br />
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Ignore the magnet for now. So you simply glue the gun to the turret and off you go. But we want both barrels to work.<br />
<br />
To do the drilling, you will need several different sizes of bits. I went micro, then used three different bits - but only one was actually "drilled" with my drill. Here are my bits and drill:<br />
<br />
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And my drill:<br />
<br />
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<br />
Ok. Here are the steps.<br />
<br />
Step 1 - Turret as is out of the box:<br />
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<br />
Step 2 - Micro bit<br />
<br />
Using the small bit, find the center of the turret and make a small hole. I found that being slightly lower than center was advantageous.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Step 3 - Next bit (I believe I used 9/32")<br />
<br />
Using a normal drill bit and using your hand, slowly rotate the bit to make a larger hole. Depth isn't important as you just want to expand the hole and take away the outer resin "shell".<br />
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<br />
Step 4 - Next, next bit<br />
<br />
Repeat the exact same step as above, but with the next larger size bit.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Notice the hole is getting larger. This is exactly what you want.<br />
<br />
Step 5 - Drill Baby!!<br />
<br />
Now, take the size bit that is needed to make the hole large enough for the magnets. I used the same magnets that are included in the model for the turrets. I just took those to my neighborhood hobby shop and found an exact match. So I bought 30... or 60.<br />
<br />
The trick is to start very slowly with the drill until the bit has shaved away all the hard resin. Then increase the drill speed and apply a little more pressure to the drill.<br />
<br />
This is what the turret should look like after.<br />
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I was a little "high" on this specific turret. Now don't worry about it because you will just match up the location of the hole and where you will glue the magnet on the barrel.<br />
<br />
You may want to check the depth by grabbing your magnets and making sure that two magnets can fit inside the hole.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/2140f2b90b03eff3241061514d206356_zps2025ec09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/2140f2b90b03eff3241061514d206356_zps2025ec09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You need two to fit inside - one for the magnet that will be glued inside the turret and one for the magnet from the barrel.<br />
<br />
That is it for the turret! Now, glue a magnet into the turret. Oh, be sure to mark or know which side of the magnet you need to be facing out for the barrel...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/771eea8db216601b57d1884680a7d3b0_zpsef6bffba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/771eea8db216601b57d1884680a7d3b0_zpsef6bffba.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So yours should look like the above.<br />
<br />
Now, grab a barrel and place it over the hole and try to see where the magnet should be glued. This is the tricky part. I have no suggestion other than to eyeball it. You could stick a piece of chalk to something that can hold ink, but that seemed more of a pain than just eyeballing. And so far it has worked for me.<br />
<br />
Here is the picture from above (again) showing the gun and the magnet:<br />
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<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/33fbfa05422fab2b30dcd541336f36c0_zps644040ee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/33fbfa05422fab2b30dcd541336f36c0_zps644040ee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And on the model:<br />
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<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/22F07915-9E42-4C2B-8C12-E5536E08AF2A_zpscv73ls3j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/22F07915-9E42-4C2B-8C12-E5536E08AF2A_zpscv73ls3j.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Notice that those Sho't have different barrels! That is what we want!<br />
<br />
So now you have both barrels and can bring both versions of the tank to the game.<br />
<br />
<br />
The Magach works the same way, except the whole drilling and gluing of the magnets is way easier. Each Magach turret has a predrilled hole for the gun. And each gun has a protrusion exactly where it would go into the hole in the turret. Just expand the hole using the same process above and cut off the metal protrusion from the barrel.<br />
<br />
Here is the finished result:<br />
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<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/a695619edd8d21e4f18dbace8bc05640_zps6b5c846d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/a695619edd8d21e4f18dbace8bc05640_zps6b5c846d.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
Now, notice that a portion of the turret bottom got chipped. Do not worry! It happened on 5 of the 6 models I have. And you will not be able to see it when the turret is on the tank. Want proof?<br />
<br />
Here is the underside:<br />
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<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/9a299f262e8de0b5720d25934f9defbd_zps30d3d223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/9a299f262e8de0b5720d25934f9defbd_zps30d3d223.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here is the top view:<br />
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<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/da00c49f8d4897710ff3c573e65e651b_zpsb8355398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/da00c49f8d4897710ff3c573e65e651b_zpsb8355398.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And on the tank:<br />
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<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/c34200cd6ce4edf16f78ecf8e611a9fe_zps4deddda6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/c34200cd6ce4edf16f78ecf8e611a9fe_zps4deddda6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And with the other barrel:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/3a010bff7b37b8e43d4ca7507beaaac4_zps98670394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/3a010bff7b37b8e43d4ca7507beaaac4_zps98670394.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So if you take the time to drill and glue, you will have both versions of the Magach and the Sho't available for you. I believe it is totally worth it and the results are pretty darn good! Best of luck and drop me a question in the comments.<br />
<br />
Oh, here is my table - just AIW stuff...<br />
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<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/12DA1AE2-BE65-4F1A-83B5-5618294E74B6_zpslwreobta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/12DA1AE2-BE65-4F1A-83B5-5618294E74B6_zpslwreobta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-72729240222142920232013-12-20T13:15:00.001-08:002013-12-20T13:15:20.092-08:00Merry Christmas!I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas Season!<br />
<br />
Of course, here in the States we do not get a two week break from work. Nope. But I am taking some time off from work next week and I have big, big plans for painting.<br />
<br />
I have 10 Panzer IV, 5 Panzer III, 7 SU-100s, 6 AMX, 6 Ishermans, 6 Magachs, 4 Sho'ts, 2 Super Shermans, 3 Sherman 105mm, 10 T-34/85 for AIW (need to build) and a bunch of Germans too. My idea is to get everything assembled so that right after Christmas, I can have a day full of painting. I only hope the compressor does not burn out on the airbrush!<br />
<br />
I hope everyone has a great holiday and safe travels to those that are on the road!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-80730390964096359792013-12-03T09:20:00.000-08:002013-12-03T09:20:36.319-08:00Current Update - painting and US Masters!Well, the weather has changed here in Wisconsin. Snow. Grey. Blah... So that means...<br />
<br />
<strong>Painting Weather!!</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
So here is a current status on my painting queue. Truth be told, I have a bigger problem with stuff that is painted, but not decaled or totally finished. Unprimed metal or resin is not the problem. So this is where I stand right now:<br />
<br />
I am almost done with my first company of Strelk. 33 stands of Soviet goodness!! I just have boots and some SMGs to finish up, then on to basing!<br />
<br />
I have 12 US arty guns (8 155mm and 4 105mm) that I need to base. They are painted and on the bases, they just need flocking and grasses applied.<br />
<br />
All my Shermans, Stewies and Chaffees are painted up. The just need decals / a few Chaffees need details painted up.<br />
<br />
Roos and LVTs still need decals. I have 6 Roos that are totally done - I used those this summer at Historicon. But the rest need decals.<br />
<br />
Germans that I received from Wilcox for my son need a little bit of loving attention.<br />
<br />
I also traded stuff with Joe for Germans and Crab Shermans. Those need just a little bit of work.<br />
<br />
But right now, my focus is on...<br />
<br />
AIW!! I have a bunch of boxes that I ordered for Christmas sitting in my house. My lovely wife has not allowed me to open them early and get cracking on painting. I do have a box of AMXs that I will start up on because they are rewards and not part of the Christmas loot! Now I will be under the pressure gun here because Joe has scheduled an AIW game day at The Last Square for January 25th. So one month to get a lot of Israelis, Jordanians and UAR tanks painted and ready for public viewing.<br />
<br />
I also have some Soviets (SU-100), Germans (Panzer III, IV, Kubelwagons and Trucks) and a few Americans (Sherman 105s) that will need to be completed too. I figure if I am going to airbrush, I might as well paint 40+ vehicles at the same time!!<br />
<br />
I will get some pictures loaded up as progress is made.<br />
<br />
On the tournament scene, I did not attend Fall-In this year. I am bummed. <strong>But, I was invited to US Masters!!</strong> I was an alternate and several other guys could not make the event this year (Wilcox, Riha, Leland and a few others), so I actually got the invite!! Wohoo!!<br />
<br />
But...<br />
<br />
I could not make it. Yes, I know. Unfortunately, while work trips can be convenient (see trip to UK and adding a visit to Wilcox) they can also get in the way. And ultimately, that was the issue here. I need to be in Salt Lake City, Utah on the Sunday right after Masters. To change my flights would have cost me a lot of money ($500). With such short notice, I just could not make that happen. But I was totally excited about getting the invite in the first place! I do wish everyone the best of luck and I wish I was able to attend!<br />
<br />
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!<br />
<br />
AllenUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-176368313253663042013-11-07T07:01:00.000-08:002013-11-07T07:01:48.348-08:00Long Update and PostSo here we are in early November, which means that it is getting cold in Wisconsin and little toy soldiers start calling my name even louder. Oh yeah, with Christmas around the corner I need to get some ideas in front of my wonderful wife. So with all that, let's jump into the update!<br />
<br />
First, AIW has hit the stores and I am very excited. I have been drooling over getting the models to paint up and put on the table. Prudence would dictate that I choose an army and just collect. But never having met Prudence and I hear she can be a real <a href="mailto:b@tch">b@tch</a>, I decided to just buy all sorts of stuff! For the Israeli forces, I have picked up some Magach (Pattons), AMX, M51 Ishermans, M50 Shermans and Sho't are on order. I then plan on painting a few Pattons as Jordanian tanks. And I have picked up more T-34s and some SU-100 for the UAR! I really want to try painting them and see how they turn out.<br />
<br />
As a game supplement, the AIW stuff is pretty good for a first crack. Yes, I would have loved to have seen Israeli Paras in a list. But you can't have everything and this is just the beginning (I hope)! The forces are varied and here is a quick synopsis:<br />
<br />
Israelis have all the cool special rules (Mission Tactics, Stormtrooper, SiF, Mounted Assault, etc.) and the cool tanks. Have you seen the Centurions - err, Sho't!!?? But they cost a lot of points. So if you want the super cool tanks, you will have only a few on the table to face a horde of UAR. So from a gaming perspective, the Isherman / Sherman / AMX will end up being a better choice.<br />
<br />
UAR is simply a horde. Just pick the type of horde. The non-cheese way of doing this is to max out the SU-100 and get something decent in the way of tanks. The cheese way of doing this is to run two companies of T-34s with SU-100s maxed out. AT 16 and SiF is a really good combination. Oh, bring your paint and your wallet. To run two companies of T-34s, you will need 62 T-34s and 12 SU-100. Yeah, that is reasonable.<br />
<br />
Jordanians are the nice, sweet spot. Sure they are Trained and sure, you still have Hen & Chicks. But you get great weapon systems (Centurions and Pattons) plus good to great mech forces. The price cut for Trained makes the cool toys reasonable in price.<br />
<br />
So here is the summary:<br />
<br />
If you want cool toys with the cool rules, go Israeli.<br />
If you want a zillion tanks on the board and have the personal wealth to do it, go UAR.<br />
If you want a good list with the cool toys, go Jordanian.<br />
<br />
Due to AIW, I am in the process of gutting my painting table. My first goal is to finish up my Strelk "platoon." I am getting much closer to this being completed. I still have 12 US arty guns plus their crew on the table to finish up. Bolt Action has been set aside for the time being. And I have a new German list to get painted up. Then add on that Joe and I conducted our personal swap faire and my list to paint has never been longer. But I am moving all that WIP into a box to make room for AIW.<br />
<br />
Also, I should point out that when the weather turns in Madison, I can get a whole lot more painting done. So I do expect a big push starting up around Thanksgiving and moving into the holidays.<br />
<br />
Historically, I also get some painting done at the end of October due to the schools being out for the 4th Thursday and Friday. But this year, business took me to the UK for a week and that was a no-go. I was able to extend the stay for a few extra days and see Bill. Funny, here are two guys who play a lot of FoW and what do we do? We play Command and Colors Napoleonics!! We played several games last January and had a blast. This time I think we got in 6 or 8 games. A great break and a lot of fun. If you are not familiar with the game, I would strongly recommend you check it out. It is simple to learn but difficult to master - a great combination for any game! Truth be told, Napoleonics is not really on my radar. I have never played a miniature game set in Napoleonic era and I am not sure I ever will. But this game is so good, that I have become hooked. Maybe I will post a review... hmmmmm...<br />
<br />
So that is what is up for right now. I just ran my first game with updated Red Bear numbers. I will say that the Soviets are not dead on arrival anymore! I expect to see more Soviet Green tanks running on the tables in the future. I am also excited to see what shows up in Desperate Measures - the upcoming LW East Front book.<br />
<br />
Now, back to finishing Strelk so I can get my AIW started!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-64620673797312606792013-08-19T12:04:00.001-07:002013-08-19T12:04:15.351-07:00Arab Israeli Wars for FoW Announced!In case you missed it, here is an image of the announcement in this most recent issue of Wargames Illustrated:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/1176394_496011250493609_1520765567_n_zpsfc515b96.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/1176394_496011250493609_1520765567_n_zpsfc515b96.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I can't wait!!<br />
<br />
A supplement to the game for 1967!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-25504249930004834272013-07-22T10:00:00.003-07:002013-07-22T15:53:12.406-07:00Historicon Nats and Doubles Mega AAR!!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mega Historicon AAR<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well after a long week and weekend, I am back in the saddle
at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a great time seeing friends
and making new ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It goes without
saying that the biggest joy I have is seeing everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So let me get straight into the action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Thursday Doubles:<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Round 1:</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I partnered with Bill Wilcox.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ran US 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Armored Division
with Patton and I ran Vet Armored Rifles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We each had 1,000 points, but we could swap up to 100.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran a 910 list and Bill ran 1,090.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were 40 teams or 80 guys playing!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jeff Flint / SonBae on the WWPD Forum had already called us
out for Round 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ran a StuG Batterie
and Michael ran a Panzerspaeh list with 8-Rads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mission was Blind Domination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you are not familiar, check out the mission!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is on WWPD in the scenario section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Basically, there are Domination Points and not objectives on the
board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You claim the points like an
objective though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Table has 12 points
and first to 8 wins (after Turn 6).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
wrinkle with Blind Domination is that you have to choose your entry point (long
table edge broken into 12” corridors) before the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you see how it all develops, but you can’t
change the entry point!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn 1 you get
Recon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn two you get 1 platoon,
Warriors and Observers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything else
on Turn 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Doubles, it means you each
get a platoon on Turn 2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Turn 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cav Recon
comes on and gets to a 2 point objective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>8-Rads get several points right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No shooting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Turn 2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put Arp on
left middle and place them behind a hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But they could be targeted by the 8-Rads if they moved aggressively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bill put Shermans on right middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8-Rads do move aggressively and race towards
our points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This causes them to sit on a
huge number of points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8-rads shoot the
ARP and kill one track plus 2 stands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They pass motivation to hang around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Turn 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Game changes
quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get out platoons on and we
had put Shermans in the same slot as the ARP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We kill the 8-rads on my side of the table by shooting them to bails and
assaulting them with ARP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Middle has the
exact same thing happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right sees the
3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> patrol die from shooting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Company Morale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Germans pass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Turn 4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cut to the
chase – 1iC is killed and Panzerspaeh Company runs, thus ending the game 6-1
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Bill and I now own 10 of the 12
Domination Points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for tie breaks,
it matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Round 2:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mission is Free For All and we play Marcus and Al.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marcus is running JagPanthers or something
large and nasty with crazy AT and FA. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Company was literally a 1iC of this thing,
with two platoons of 1 Jagwhatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Al
is running Grens, SturmTigers and StuGs I think.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The board is rubble city on left and woods / hills / fields
on right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ARP goes on the left in
tracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arty is on left with ARP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ARP on right with Cav Recon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All Shermans are on right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spearhead gets us well forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can’t remember the exact turn sequences, but my left ARP
ends up sitting in a niche of rubble, still in the tracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This forces Al’s Grens to be very
careful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a Jagwhatever in
support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my 295 point is holding up
about 700 points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This let’s Bill move
his tanks on the right and go after the Jagwhatevers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swirling battle ensues and we take the
objective on the right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6-1 us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Round 3:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mission is Dust Up and we play Erin / Joe Lewis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The details on this one are even fuzzier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one thing I remember is that my 105s got
Time on Target for something like 6 turns straight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bill and I kill a bunch of stuff, but we can’t
break either company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We assault the
objective, but we just can’t pull it off.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But our performance was good enough to get us 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup>
place!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Riha and Barnes finished in first
– I think one point ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a great day and an awesome tournament!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See my picture wearing the “Cheetos Eater”
T-Shirt I had made up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/Cheetos_zps8b7c8d14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/Cheetos_zps8b7c8d14.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now to the Nats!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I brought my trusty Canadians to the tournament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2 Infantry platoons with Roos, 6pdrs with
carriers, 25pdrs and 2 Canadian Armoured Recce platoons (2 Sherman Vs and 2
Fireflies – all with .50cals).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Round 1:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I play Jason Roshon, who brought US 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> AD
(Confident Trained US Armor).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t remember
the exact list, but he had Shermans with Easy Eights (2 platoons), 1iC in an
Easy Eight, 2iC in a Jumbo, Cav Recon, Armored Mortars, Trained ARP, 5 Stewies
and other nastiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mission was
Encounter.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since Encounter does not have Prepared Positions, I am not
subject to Armored Reserves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the
list I was facing, I went with the two CAR platoons and the 6pdrs on the board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The board had a rubble town on the
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also had trees that would
allow Jason to get his tanks fairly close to the objectives and be totally out
of LoS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He put the Stewies, Mortars and
Cav Recon in Reserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Early turns see me
dig in and wait for the attack to develop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was also waiting to see what would happen with the Stuarts coming on
from Reserve. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jason moves the Shermans
up and stays behind woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But along the
way, the CAR takes out a Sherman from the left platoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We start getting our Reserves (Delayed) and I
bring infantry on the far left and the 25 pdrs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jason moves the Armored Mortars into fairing range, but he leaves a guy sticking
out where my observer can spot him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
range in and end up causing the platoon to run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This causes Jason to move into the woods on the left and engage me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, he bogs a dude along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does claim a Sherman, but he cannot take
the return fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kill or bail everyone
and have the infantry ready for the follow-up assault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I now shift all my CAR to the left, throw
everyone in Roos and go Stuart hunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jason now has to respond and starts to move the other Shermans on the
far right to the left, but arty hounds them along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I end up wiping the Stewies, Cav Recons and
cause a Company Morale, which Jason fails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It took a decent number of turns, but once the shooting started the game
pace picked up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Result:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6-1 to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Round 2:<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I draw Caleb Vicks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is a CGR Painter guy and super nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had Brit Lorried Rifles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two
platoons of rifles, UCs, a two mortar tube platoon, a platoon of two 6pdrs with
carries, two platoons of Cromwells and Challengers (one had 2 Croms, the other
had 3 Croms), a platoon of Achilles M10s and a platoon of Bofors SPAA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9 platoons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mission was Cauldron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose to Night
Attack.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This board was total BS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Horrible board that really sucked for both of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were four sections of narrow trees literally
(and we measured it too!) going down the middle of the board as measure from
short ends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So for Cauldron, this forced
the game to be played on two halves (left and right).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, there was a break in the trees – that had
a building taking up the space perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a BF board too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, back to
the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I placed the objectives pretty far apart and on each of the
two halves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Infantry goes on each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Short Crom deploys with a Cromwell in the
woods on my left and looking out the left half, with the other tanks on the
right half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The long platoon is in
Immediate Ambush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rest are in Delayed
Reserves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Random Deployment sees my
infantry on the upper right, CAR in lower right and CAR in lower left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>25pdrs, 6pdrs and infantry are in Reserves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Immediate Ambush goes on the right half.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I end up killing the Cromwell sticking out fairly early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get Reserves Turn 2 and put the infantry on
the table on the left, protected by hedges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These move towards the objective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Night Lifts top of 4 and shooting really begins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We swirl for a few turns, but I am able to
kill the 2 Crom platoons, then kill the mortars from Reserve and the
Bofors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Realizing that the Achilles were
next, Caleb shakes hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then spend
a good thirty minutes talking tactics and list building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilcox comes over and joins the discussion
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a blast, and yes I bought
Caleb a beer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Result: 6-1 to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Round 3:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I draw David Danner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Super, super nice guy and a great opponent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t say enough!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His list?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t have a copy because it was the exact same as mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had come up with the same list, but wasn’t
100% sure about it until he read my article that I wrote for WWPD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it was a mirrored list game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mission was Pincer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both opted to Night Attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David had the Maple Leaf dice and rolled a
5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shrugged, knowing that I had to
defend while I rolled my Brit Para dice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I rolled a 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wohoo!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that basically sealed the fate for David.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our table had a hill in the middle and a lot of woods on the
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he made the right his
deployment zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nice choice for
David.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He puts his objective in the middle
(perfect spot) and I put mine as close as I can to my area, but closest to
where I happened to be sitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see
the hill created two avenues of attack for me and I chose the avenue closest to
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there was a field there for me
to use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So everything rushes down that
axis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David chooses to deploy his 25pdrs
on the close objective with CAR support from behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6pdrs are in Ambush (I know that will hurt).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Under the cover of night, I move out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Spearhead and Turn 1 movement, I am now
8 inches away from the close objective and in assault range of the arty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David knows what is coming and decides to pop
the Ambush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rolls for sight and he
can see one of my CAR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lights me up,
but I survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I arty him back and kill
some guns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also shoot with the CAR,
but can’t kill them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I assault the
guns with the infantry and they are destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am now on the objective, but not dug in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bottom of Turn 2 sees the 6dprs finish off a
CAR platoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His CAR now has to get into
assault range to contest and David decides to assault me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I can’t stop the assault, I can
certainly swing back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do and after two
rounds of assaults, I end up bailing every tank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am now on the objective without anything contesting
and win at the top of Turn 3.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Result: 5-2 to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After Day 1, I am sitting with 20 points (you get a bonus
for the win).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That made me tied for 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>
with Tony Davis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Day 2:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Round 4:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tony Davis and I face off!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He has a Canadian list, but with Crocs, UCs, Wasps and 2 Breaching
Groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mission is
Counterattack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Night Attack Tony.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, I know Tony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have talked, emailed, broken bread and shared beers with Tony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like Tony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He can be misunderstood on the forums at times – or not misunderstood at
all – but in person he is a nice dude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had a wonderful game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Table (again) was rubble village on right and woods / fields
on left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The details are sketchy / it
would take way too long to describe, but basically I got on the wrong side of
the power curve and Tony was able to knock out both CAR with his reserves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to assault into the objective in the
village, but I could not hold it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
a much closer game than the result states, but Tony schooled me pretty
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did learn quite a bit during
that game and I look forward to the rematch!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Result: 1-6 loss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Round 5:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I continue to my roll of playing excellent
opponents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get Phillip Messier and his
US Glider troops from Nuts!.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mission
is Hold The Line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has 2 platoons of
Gliders, HMG platoon (he CAs them into the infantry), two Hellcats platoons, two
105 platoons, 57mm AT guns and one more that I am forgetting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since his list looks to be weak on the attack,
I decide not to Night Attack and we roll for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to be honest, Night Attack would not have
been a huge benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I “won” the roll
and had to attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the game,
Phillip states that he would not have won if he had to attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to agree.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The game details are boring, but basically I move forward,
TDs pop, they have subpar shooting, I can’t make them pay for it, attack bogs
down, I shift attack axis, get an assault into the objective, but I am cut down
the next turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His Hellcats are down to
just a few vehicles, but I can’t run the platoon until very late in the
game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shake hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Result: 2-5 loss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Round 6:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I draw Charlie Clay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So I have three straight games against solid players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will be tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mission is Free For All.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Charlie has Vet US Armored Rifles with Hellcats, Scotts,
Shermans, Abrams, Recon, AOP and Limited Air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Table is rural (no ruined towns!!) with a hill in my area, a hill in
Charlie’s, some trees and a rural house with a stone courtyard in his
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have trees in mine and roads are
in both of our areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I put CAR, 6pdrs and 25pdrs and infantry on the left objective
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CAR and infantry on right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right CAR is in a hull down position in the
hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charlie loads up my right side
with ARP, Shermans, Scotts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Middle has
ARP and Recon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TDs are on the left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charlie goes first, so no air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He moves aggressively towards me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my turn, I mount everyone up on the left
and blitz the TDs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I arty the ARP and do
some damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CAR shifts slightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn 2 sees Charlie get air, but only one
plane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pops the TDs and kills a Roo,
but only kills one infantry stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
TDs also get a carrier, but the gun lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the right, he doubles the ARP into my LoS, moves the Shermans and the
Scotts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shooting results in a smoke
round on the CAR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My turn, I destroy the
TDs, assault into the rural house with the court yard to kill the 2iC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the right, I destroy – to a man – the ARP
that doubled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I may have nailed
a Scott.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That left the left objective
wide open, with Charlie moving Recon in that direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Based on the look on Charlie’s face, we
decide on a 5-2 for me and call it a game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I might have gotten the 6-1, but we both did not want to sit and roll
dice for another 2 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Result: 5-2 for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That left me with 29 points total.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Edited - I now know the results and I finished tied for 11th place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I
fell back on Day 2, to finish that high with 106 guys playing makes me
happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had great games and enjoyed the
time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as always, learned new tactics
that will make me a better player next time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Congrats to James Gains / Chaos45 for the overall
victory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And congrats to my good friend
Bill Wilcox on Best General!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-9739853787359331992013-06-17T10:47:00.000-07:002013-06-17T12:31:03.098-07:00Normandy Tournament AAR<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Normandy Tournament<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This past weekend, Joe hosted a Normandy themed tournament
at The Last Square.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We originally wanted
to support the new books from Battlefront.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, we were unable to do so with the delay in the book
release.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we went with Turning Tide
and Earth and Steel as the books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The format was interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You had to have a base force of 1,500 points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you could make an “A” list and a “B”
list – each adding an additional 280 points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In Round 1, you chose A or B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
Round 2, you had to run the other list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In Round 3, Joe would roll and we would run either the base force or A
and B together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This made the players
really think about their lists and think about potential matchups on game day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For my base force, I went to my old standby of Task Force A.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Base:<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">HQ – 2 Greyhounds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon 1: Armored Recon<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon 2: Armored Recon<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon 3: Hellcats<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon 4: Hellcats<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon 5: Engineers with zooks, PSV and Dozer Sherman<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Platoon 6: Sherman platoon – 4 Shermans including Pool</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">AOP<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>A:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Add Armored Recon and Priest Battery<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>B:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Add Stuarts (4) and 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Sherman<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Round 1:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/60beb81d84542ec2aad1a08c3ac5df8d_zps9b789259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/60beb81d84542ec2aad1a08c3ac5df8d_zps9b789259.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joe had announced that a Defensive Battle would be the first
mission, but the actual mission would be randomly drawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rolled Pincer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I faced Robert B. with his Grens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this matchup, I went with the “A” list
and proceeded to totally forget about the Priests and left them off the
table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ouch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucky for me that it did not impact the
game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have Robert’s specific
list, but it had two gren platoons, a heavy platoon, nebs, flame throwing
half-tracks and other nastiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I
am Always Attack, I got everything on the board and Robert had Delayed
Reserves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robert also chose to defend in
the upper half of the board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Robert put a gren platoon in Ambush, the heavy platoon on
the close objective (I put mine in the field on the left side just above the middle)
and the nebs near his objective (upper right).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I placed Shermans, Engineers and one recon platoon on the far right and
everything else in the gap between the tree line on the left and the river /
behind the tree line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to
Spearhead everything – the Engineers got just short of the road on the right, with
the recon getting to the bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
left side saw the Sec Sections of both TDs come out – one headed to the
buildings and the other along the tree line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>1iC shifted to the right, 2iC went between buildings and trees on left
along with the other recon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn 1 saw
Shermans move up to a firing line with LoS to the Nebs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I moved Engineers up to the bridge and got a
few across.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TDs popped and everything
unloaded on the Heavy Platoon and the Observer that was placed in a
building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Observer was killed with
.50cals and the Heavy was pinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AOP
was placed to really prevent the ambush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Turn 2 saw the grens deploy in the orchard to the right of the road
(green felt missing the actual trees).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Robert then moved them out to support the Heavy platoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to kill a Neb (Nebs killed a
Hellcat in Turn 1), I ran the grens and assaulted the Heavy off the objective. Robert
then failed the Company Morale at the top of Turn 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6-1 to TFA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Robert is a nice guy and was fun to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he is still in the learning phase and
this was a tough matchup for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Round 2:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/47d91285a90196122da6026fc79431cd_zps97fc210b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/47d91285a90196122da6026fc79431cd_zps97fc210b.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note: Lower right is a hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joe rolled for a random Mobile Battle mission and Counterattack
came up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a 6-1 under my belt and
the fact that I finished the game early, that paired me with the top ranked
Axis player from Round 1 – Dan Larson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have played Dan twice before in tournaments, with the
first time being difficult for both of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, we had an epic game last year (Dan got me 4-3) and that really
healed any wounds from our first game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dan is a very good player and specializes in running German armor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a Masters Qualifier, he is considered to be
one of the strongest players in our region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This would be a tough matchup for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dan brought a Panzer list chock full of Panzer IVs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the record, 14 Panzer IVs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also had a recon platoon of 3 halftracks
and an infantry platoon (grens?) with command shreck and a flamethrower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since he had to defend against Always
Attacks, he was subject to Mobile Reserves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He chose to defend the quarter that is the upper left, with my objective
going in the lower left (in the field about half way up inside the field).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His objective was in the upper middle of his deployment
area (about 4” from the crest of the beach).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With so few platoons (he could only have two) this caused him to be
deliberate in his platoon choices and placement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went with the infantry in the woods to the
left of the small creek (bog check and slow going) along with the 2iC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This blocked off the road for my Spearhead
move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 1iC was around the corner and
tucked in a little niche of the same woods – just above the fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Panzer IV platoon was in Ambush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two Panzer platoons were in Reserves, along
with the recon. I placed the Engineers across from him, but with a few teams
able to move behind the building in Spearhead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything else (I had Stewies in this list) went to the right edge of
my deployment area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TD Sec Sections were
able to Spearhead below the orchard, Stewies went with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Early turns saw me lift GtG on the infantry and kill a
stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My infantry was able to get into
the building and move forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dan
pulled his infantry back fully into the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The 2iC bogged pulling back into the woods and was killed the next
turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dan placed his Ambush on the far left
edge of the board and moved them down behind the field and just above the
road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His long shots at my Shermans were
ineffective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next turn I popped my TDs
(one platoon in the orchard to the left of the building and the other in the
orchard to the right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With 16 total
shots, I got 4 hits which resulted in a bail and two dead Panzers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ouch, return fire was going to hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the next few turns, Dan got Reserves as
was able to kill both Hellcat platoons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I killed the original Ambush platoon, 1iC, 2iC and reduced one
of the other Panzer IV platoons to half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My Shermans were in good shape, along with the Engineers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did run a recon platoon around the top of
my deployment area to try to threaten the objective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with his infantry pulling back and
deciding to stay stationary, I shifted my axis of attack and went for the
objective with the Engineers, 1iC, 2iC, Shermans and recon platoon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Late turns saw Dan move the infantry out of cover and to the
hill crest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By that time, I had so much
fire that I was able to kill the platoon dead and take the objective on the top
of Turn 7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4-3 win for TFA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was a good game and Dan played as well as I expected
him to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the game, he thought
he made two mistakes – the placement of the 2iC and the movement of his ambush
platoon of Panzer IVs downward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I agreed
with the first, disagreed with the second because that mistake did not hurt
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought the biggest issue was the
movement of the infantry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have
put them in the top edge of the woods and fed one stand at a time to the
objective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Round 3:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/c7577574fbd7eb89b554864cd8adfd21_zps80bc6b01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/c7577574fbd7eb89b554864cd8adfd21_zps80bc6b01.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This round would be a Fair Fight and Joe rolled Free For
All.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, we played with just
the base list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My opponent was my good friend Mike Jacobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He won his first two games and this was the Number
One table for Round 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike brought
Panzer IVs (platoon of 4 and 3), 2 Tigers, 3 Pumas and the 1 and 2iC in Panzer
IVs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the “Attacker”, I chose the left
edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put one objective on the road
and the other down by the creek – just off the picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike put one in the town and the other in the
field – lower left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For deployment, Mike
put the short IV platoon in the woods on the hill top right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He put the other IV platoon just below the
road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He put the Pumas by the
village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tigers went in the woods on the
bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 and 2iC ended up down low
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had placed (you alternate, so I
am speeding it up) my Engineers in the village, Shermans hidden by the
buildings in the lower left portion of the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything else was lined up above the creek but
below the hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spearhead saw everything
move forward that could.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Early turns saw Mike win the roll for first turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> H</span>e shot up a Sec Section, but did not
destroy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pumas moved around the
village, full IV platoon began cautiously moving down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I popped all the TDs turn one, with 3 from
one platoon focusing in the 1iC (just above the woods at the bottom) and all
the rest plowing into the Tigers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike attached
1 and 2 iC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I killed a Tiger and
2iC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bailed 1iC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pass morale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tiger shoots and kills two Hellcats (he had Every Shot Counts and For
the Fatherland).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During Stormtrooper,
the lone Tiger bogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a mistake, I
left my now still full TD platoon to fire at the 1iC when I should have moved
them off the hill and below the woods to focus on the now bogged Tiger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I shoot 6 shots at the Tiger and
Mike passes all armor saves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I aggressively
move the recon up to contest the objective on Turn 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike is now moving the IVs down and I have a
chance to win by killing the closest IV to the objective (assuming Tiger stays
bogged).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t seal the deal…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Late turns saw Mike finally unbog and his IVs plus Pumas are
able to take out my Shermans and Poole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The lone Tiger is successful in killing another Hellcat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I start to realize I am very exposed, one
Hellcat platoon is destroyed by the IVs and the Pumas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I have inflicted damage on almost every
platoon, none are below half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did kill
1 and 2iC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With 2 Hellcats left, I am
now pulling back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recon units are engaging
the Pumas, but I can’t make them run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mike kills off the last Hellcat and Recon, causing me an auto-fail
Company Morale in Turn 8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1-6 Defeat for
TFA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So Mike wins the tournament!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He played a great game and went 6-1, 4-3, 6-1 for the win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a great time myself, played three fun
games and came away feeling pretty good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-40599494611778985962013-05-26T20:57:00.000-07:002013-05-26T21:08:04.574-07:002nd Annual Cheesehead Championship UpdateThis past Saturday was the 2nd Annual Cheesehead Championship, held at The Last Square in Madison, WI. Mike Jacobs hosted the event again and acted as TO for the tournament. Due to the odd number of players, he also had to jump in and drop dice. The only "rule" for the event is that you have to live in Wisconsin. Think of it as a state tournament.<br />
<br />
I won this event last year by winning my last round game and submarining up to first place. The goal this year was to simply not embarrass myself!<br />
<br />
I decided a few months ago that I would try my hand at the Canadians from Market Garden. I ran a Canadian Infantry Company that looked like this:<br />
<br />
HQ - 1iC and 2iC<br />
Infantry Platoon with Roos plus .50cals<br />
Infantry Platoon with Roos plus .50cals<br />
Canadian Armoured Recce with 2 Sherman V and 2 Fireflies plus .50cals<br />
Canadian Armoured Recce with 2 Sherman V and 2 Fireflies plus .50cals<br />
AT Platoon of 4 6pdrs plus carriers<br />
Arty Battery of 4 25pdrs<br />
1,780 points.<br />
<br />
I am pretty familiar with the list and I thought it would do well. I was very worried about facing a Patton led 7th Armored Division list or a Panzers to the Meuse list. The PttM list is by far the strongest German armored list for LW. It is an aggressive and in your face list - in fact the kind of list that I like to run! Oh, I am always worried about the US 2 ID list...<br />
<br />
I helped Mike setup the boards on Friday night and we left two boards for the BF Ranger group from Racine, Wisconsin to setup. With one of the boards in the front of the store, we decided that we would try to have a local player on that board in case store visitors wanted to ask questions. So for Round 1, I ended up being placed on that table.<br />
<br />
<strong>Round 1: Free For All</strong><br />
Opponent: Ryan Pecore with Estonian Infantry<br />
<br />
I did not get to keep a copy of his list, so here it is from memory:<br />
<br />
Fearless Vet Estonians<br />
HQ - 1iC and 2iC I think with Fausts<br />
Infantry platoon<br />
Infantry platoon (short?)<br />
Infantry platoon upgraded to recee<br />
HMG platoon<br />
3 StuGs<br />
<br />
Confident Vet<br />
2 Tigers<br />
<br />
Fearless Trained<br />
4 gun arty (105 equivalent)<br />
2 88 AT guns with extra crew<br />
2 or 3 AA Flak guns<br />
<br />
We rolled and he got to choose the table side. Based on the picture just below, he chose the right side to deploy his troops.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
He placed his objectives on the left (my zone) just above the road closer to the woods and below the road in the fields. I placed mine trying to spread out his guns putting one objective at the top right just below the top road and the other below the road on the lower right. While we alternated deployment, I will summarize:<br />
<br />
He put an infantry platoon and the arty on the top, the Tigers in the fields on the top, the StuGs behind the woods just above the middle of the board, the recon behind the plowed fields, then all the other guns and infantry around the bottom objective.<br />
<br />
I countered with an infantry platoon mounted in Roos behind the trees on the top left, the 6pdrs and a CAR (Canadian Armoured Recce) in the woods alternating a gun and tank in a semi-circle all with shots towards his zone. I then put the other infantry on the objective in the fields, with the arty in the fields (we played all fields as giving concealment) and the CAR in the fields. With the CAR getting Cautious Movement, I knew I could move in the fields and still be GtG. Meaning his nasty 88 would not be able to hit me.<br />
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I won the roll to go first. I basically dug everything in and did not shoot. He moved the Tigers up. His arty started a duel with my battery that would last the entire game! My Turn 2 saw me shoot the Tigers with everything I had and missed. He returned the favor by mission his shots! While this was going on, Ryan started to move the StuGs toward the crossroads and through the woods. Turn 3 saw me kill a Tiger and bail the other, resulting in a failed Platoon Morale for the Tigers. His turn saw the StuGs and the other CAR start a duel, but he bogged a StuG in the woods in a really bad position. Basically, I was able to get the top CAR and 6pdrs into action on one of the three StuGs. After moving to keep the 88s with no targets, I was able to destroy the StuGs. I then called my other Roos forward and everything except the 25pdrs were moving towards the top objective. After seeing what was about to happen, Ryan called the game after Turn 5 or 6. Basically my entire force was mobile, he had 1 arty gun left and a single infantry platoon on the objective. Now he was moving another infantry platoon up there, but the Roos were about to unload into them. Both he and I knew the game was over.<br />
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6-1 Win for me.<br />
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As a note, I did not get a picture of Ryan's army, but he won Best Painted. They looked amazingly good!<br />
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<strong>Round 2: Counterattack</strong><br />
Opponent: Ben Aehl<br />
<br />
Confident Vet German Armor<br />
HQ - Tiger and Bergepanther<br />
Platoon 1 - 2 Tigers<br />
Platoon 2 - 2 Tigers<br />
Platoon 3 - 3 Panthers<br />
Platoon 4 - 2 SPAA<br />
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Here is a picture of the board:<br />
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<br />
Ok. Now Ben is a young and very good player. He is also super familiar with my list. I have played his list several times including once last week. In fact, we played Counterattack and I defended resulting in a 6-1 win for me. But I have also won in Breakthrough using a Night Attack against Ben. So I just jumped at the decision to Night Attack and I really didn't think this through. And it cost me dearly. What I forgot was that based on linear obstacle rules, if you are against it you see though it and the enemy is not concealed. But you will be concealed to return fire. Oh, I should mention we did NOT play the board as bocage, but rather high hedges with a simple bog check. So I decided to Night Attack and that put him with just two platoons on the board. He decided to deploy in the upper right, with the lower right holding the other objective. I had to deploy top left. He put 2 Tigers and the 1iC to the right of the road, at the intersection of the two hedges (across the road from the dark brown house. Now I made mistake number 2. I loaded everything on the top and decided to cross straight ahead as the objective was in the open area on the top right. But Ben placed it making sure he could contest if he was below the left to right hedges just above the grey house. I should have used my Spearhead and moved out down the left side of the picture, then cut to the right on the road and go after the other objective.<br />
<br />
Suffice to say that Ben played a great game and got a very, very timely roll of shots (got the distance needed with the Night Shooting Range roll, with 5 shots, he got 3 sixes, 2 gun tanks and 2 FP rolls to kill 2 Fireflies at night). That put me on the wrong side of the power curve and I simply could not recover. I mean I threw everything I had at him, but he just knocked me down time and again. The game ended with me failing Company Morale on Turn 9 (having passed the previous turn). I had the entire arty platoon still alive. And the 1iC. And that is all. And I killed one Tiger and a Bergepanther.<br />
<br />
Great win and well played by Ben. The mark of a good player is that when you make a mistake, they make you pay for it. I did and he did...<br />
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1-6 Loss to me.<br />
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<br />
<strong>Round 3: No Retreat</strong><br />
<br />
Now I am back to the middle of the pack. But local players Ben, CJ Thode (Canadian list!!) and Joe Abrisz (PttM) were all perfect with two 6-1 wins. With tiebreakers, CJ and Ben faced off. Joe faced off against a Cromwell list.<br />
<br />
Opponent: Rick Gearhart (Lead Racine Ranger)<br />
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Confident Vet Panzers to the Meuse<br />
HQ - 1iC and 2iC Panzer IV J or whatever the PttM version is...<br />
Platoon 1 - 4 Panzer IV<br />
Platoon 2 - 4 Panzer IV<br />
Platoon 3 - Full Arfkalung<br />
Platoon 4 - Short Arfkalung<br />
Platoon 5 - Puma Patrol<br />
Platoon 6 - Whirblewind SPAA things<br />
Platoon 7 - 3 Nebs<br />
Sporadic Air<br />
<br />
Here is the table:<br />
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Now I ask you... If you had to defend, which short table edge are YOU taking?? The top with a building, orchard, a river and trees on a hill? Or the fields, hills, trees and buildings on the bottom?<br />
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I defended from the bottom. Now we had said at the beginning of the tournament that no bridge could become blocked - vehicles would always be able to move over the wrecks at slow going with no bog check. Right as the game started, Ryan wanted the bridge on the left to be high enough to block LoS (the bridge arcs up several inches). I agreed and we also decided that the one on the right would not block LoS. Oh, the camo pattern areas are all woods.<br />
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My objective was placed in the middle of my area, in the woods just below and right of the road intersection below the building. Rick put his on the road that connects the two bridge roads. It was just below the field that extends across the middle of the board (yellow and greenish - furthest right). I deployed my infantry on that objective, but placed two infantry stands as far forward to the left and right as I could. I did this to block his massive Spearhead move (4 platoons!!). I put the CAR in the left dark green field. 6pdrs are in ambush. Second infantry, CAR and 25pdrs are in Reserve.<br />
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Rick deployed the 1iC, 2iC, Pumas, Full Arfkas and both Panzer platoons on the left road just even with the woods on the hill (his deployment line). He was able to get the small Arfkas on the far right, just below the river. I was amazed he could fit them in there, but he did!! Very creative! He put the SPAA on the hill below the woods. Nebs were upper left corner. Observer was in the building.<br />
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Spearhead saw everything move as far as they could until they got into LoS.<br />
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Turn 1 saw everything move into my area. The Pumas ended on the road about even with the two buildings (my observer was in the taller one). Panzers are on the bridge and the short Arfka was behind the field, but still in the tracks. While he was aggressive, he was not aggressive enough with the Pumas. Even with the 8" recce bubble, I was able to place my 6pdrs in the woods to get shots (but not all guns had shots). Rather than the gory details, I will basically summarize:<br />
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I was able to catch the short Arfkas in their tracks with Semi-Indirect Fire from a Sherman. Two hits. That killed a track, bailed a track and killed a stand. But he was forced to dismount. He was not able to dig in and in the next turn I lit him up with CAR MG fire and got him to 3 stands. His Pumas tried to break off from 2 6pdrs and while successful, I was able to kill one before it got away. I also got Reserves and brought the CAR up the road that all the Panzers were trying to get down. Between the Reserve CAR and the SiF of the other 3 CAR tanks, Panzers got lit up. Over the next 4 turns I killed every Panzer that crossed the River. I also killed the last Puma. Down three platoons, he went with the f#ck it move and tried to assault with 3 Arfka stands and the now remnants of the other. Neither really worked and we shook hands. All told, I lost 1 Sherman V to air, and 2 or 3 infantry stands.<br />
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6-1 Win for me.<br />
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So with bonus scoring for victories (+.5 for 6-1, +.25 for 5-2 and +.1 for 4-3), I ended with 14 points and was tied with Joe who lost 1-6 to Cromwells. With tiebreaker I finished 4th. But Ben won the event by beating CJ 4-3 in a nail biter! So that took the sting out of getting a 1-6 posted on my head!<br />
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It was a great weekend and after clean up, Joe and I went out with two other players and had a good dinner! I hope to see everyone back for next year's event!! It was a great success again!<br />
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Here is a photo dump of the tables:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/66942a3fc0a309a4f1127403c0c8f451_zps1321ee96.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/66942a3fc0a309a4f1127403c0c8f451_zps1321ee96.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rural Eastern Germany</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/e6468b3b65fdf352123f594067f5a008_zpsfb6cf632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/e6468b3b65fdf352123f594067f5a008_zpsfb6cf632.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soviet City</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/1d62638c4b818b13f8364ed6b814ce91_zps41502886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/1d62638c4b818b13f8364ed6b814ce91_zps41502886.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Italy (there were hills molded in the boards)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/06f116e39f90eaae9e93dfbb1dccb3d4_zps45e7d33b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/06f116e39f90eaae9e93dfbb1dccb3d4_zps45e7d33b.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dutch Village / French Village / End Scene to Saving Private Ryan</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/6ffea81a7ad6d3c03a55fe509ea87580_zps248236e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/6ffea81a7ad6d3c03a55fe509ea87580_zps248236e4.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow / Bulge Board (played snow as hard packed and no movement restrictions)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/0d3cfa7096df87b65d9e6f5ffa53a543_zps3b4d66a3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/0d3cfa7096df87b65d9e6f5ffa53a543_zps3b4d66a3.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French Village (All my BF buildings!!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/a80975a6efff273b18d2ec25dab58658_zps0ea6742e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/a80975a6efff273b18d2ec25dab58658_zps0ea6742e.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ranger Table #1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/4233d0eab4a5568a592ebfc0b1c35606_zps4b7d18d1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/4233d0eab4a5568a592ebfc0b1c35606_zps4b7d18d1.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ranger Table #2</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-23395407639184721402013-05-20T06:19:00.003-07:002013-05-20T06:19:53.167-07:00Tournament Season ArrivesI have been a big slacker this year. By this time last year, I had played in several tournaments and had some solid results. This year? Nothing. Nada. Just haven't been able to make it happen. I had a golden opportunity to head to Wolfkrieg and was not given the 1iC green light. Adepticon was EW and I am not a fan. I was planning on going to Little Wars outside Chicago the following week, but real life got in the way.<br />
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So I find myself in the middle on May with zippo tournaments. But the tide is turning!<br />
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This weekend will be the 2nd Annual Cheesehead Champioship Tournament. Mike came up with this idea last year. Basically, it is open to any FoW player from Wisconsin. We had a good turnout for Year 1 and Year 2 looks to be a lot bigger! It is LW 1,780 and will serve as a good warm up to Historicon.<br />
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For all to see, here is my list:<br />
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Canadian Infantry (CV)<br />
Market Garden Book<br />
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HQ - 1iC and 2iC<br />
Platoon 1 - Full infantry, with Roos plus .50cal<br />
Platoon 2 - Full infantry, with Roos plus .50cal<br />
Platoon 3 - Anti-Tank Platoon of 4 6pdrs plus carriers<br />
Platoon 4 - Canadian Armoured Recce with 2 Sherman V and 2 Fireflies<br />
Platoon 5 - Canadian Armoured Recce with 2 Sherman V and 2 Fireflies<br />
Platoon 6 - Artillery Battery - 4 25pdrs<br />
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Solid list. Not 2 ID solid, but solid enough. I want to run the Canadians in a tournament and see the results. Friends have run a list like this (I gave them the idea) to great success on the east coast. We will see how it works in Cheeseland.<br />
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Depending on the way the list plays, I will either bring something like it to Historicon or go back to 2 ID. We will see...<br />
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Here are some progress pictures from the very large painting queue:<br />
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Family photo:<br />
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Canadian Shermans, Achilles, Crocs, Roos and 2 ID bazooka team. Now there are three Crocs total, 8 Shermans, a full division of 2 ID and 12 Roos!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-76260678430525012892013-04-01T07:10:00.001-07:002013-04-01T07:10:37.504-07:00April Update - no foolin'!!One of the benefits of working in an accounting firm is that no one and I mean zippo folks do anything for April Fool's. We are just too busy to mess around. Which is good for me because I am pretty darn gullible!<br />
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I am still trying to get my painting queue under control. Unfortunately, my spending is still happening (ooooohhhh, shiny new toys!!) and that just makes the queue worse. I am also trying to get several new armies on the table and that makes for slow going too. So here is a status:<br />
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US 2nd Infantry Division<br />
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I have my Winter Rifle Company all painted up and put onto a base. I will be basing them in snow. I have chosen to delay the basing, so the stands are all tucked away safely in a box. I also have Towed TDs that will see the same basing effect. And I have two platoons of Chaffees that I will do a white wash on. Those are all on hold right now and not considered to be "on the table."<br />
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<strong>Strelk</strong><br />
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This one is more of a long term plan. But I have the foot sloggers to be able to pull this off. I will not buy any arty until I get the infantry finished. Or so he says...<br />
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<strong>British Commandos</strong><br />
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If you have seen earlier posts, I have the LVTs base painted, highlighted and washed. But I stopped here and pulled them from the table. I also have three platoons of Commandos still in the blisters. This will probably end up coming before the Strelk and maybe the 2 ID. It really depends on whether or not I buy 12 Sherman Crabs.<br />
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<br />
<strong>Canadian Rifles</strong><br />
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These are on the table right now. Well, the support units are! The infantry themselves are still in a box...<br />
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I have on the table a section of 25pdrs, 6pdrs, 12 Roos, 9 Universal Carriers and Shermans.<br />
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Off to the left are all the Roos. In the background are the 25pdrs, the 6pdrs and the Carriers. The infantry are the crews for the 25pdrs, 6 pdrs and the Roos.<br />
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My Carriers are ready for decals and fixing up the bases. These have the molded bases on the vehicles, so I have to paint them and put some grasses on them as well. But the driver is painted and in place!<br />
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The 25pdrs and the 6pdrs are finished. I am now working on the bases for the 25pdrs. These are the molded bases that come in the new box. The 6pdrs are also finished. The crews for both are completed, but I need to paint the bottom on the model to reflect the color of the bases.<br />
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The Roos...<br />
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Crew is in place on this one. I am not sure what to paint the "interior" of the Roo, so I only did this one. I am waiting for the last minute to put the .50cal on the Roo. I will also do another round of dry brushing the highlights. The details don't yet "pop" as much as I would like. Then it will be on to the decals and prepping the bases. All the crews are finished.<br />
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Then it will be on to the infantry...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-15093849189191612462013-02-28T14:08:00.001-08:002013-02-28T14:08:47.414-08:00Updates, thoughts on MG lists, paintingWhere to begin...<br />
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Let's start with having way to much stuff to paint! I think I have finally caught the disease of buying way too much stuff than I will ever paint. And for this I blame Battlefront and Evan.<br />
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So I am still putting finishing touches on my 2 ID / Winter Infantry Company. I still have a bunch of vehicles that need decals. And then what happens...<br />
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I go out and buy (now in my defense, these were fire sales!!!):<br />
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2 Strelk Platoons<br />
1 Strelk Company<br />
Brit Rifle Company<br />
US SP AA - enough to field the 4 vehicles<br />
US 155mm Arty<br />
US M4A3 Lates from BF<br />
Brit Shermans<br />
3 Brit Commando Platoons<br />
Brit Para Recon Jeeps<br />
US Winter Bazookas<br />
US Winter HMGs<br />
Brit Universal Carriers<br />
Brit Ram / Roos<br />
Brit LVTs<br />
Brit Land Mattresses<br />
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Ok, you get the idea...<br />
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And this is on top of the stuff that I am still trying to paint. I am an idiot...<br />
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Here is a quick picture or two of my progress:<br />
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<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/39daf50fa88952135919bcc16e36fdfc_zps948d4f69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/39daf50fa88952135919bcc16e36fdfc_zps948d4f69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/39daf50fa88952135919bcc16e36fdfc_zps948d4f69.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/39daf50fa88952135919bcc16e36fdfc_zps948d4f69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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These are three of my Rams. I will admit to having 9 more...<br />
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<a href="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/09c71408571ad03a86b22ce6d67d245d_zps21fb1419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17/webgriffin/09c71408571ad03a86b22ce6d67d245d_zps21fb1419.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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One of my LVTs. I will admit to having 5 more...<br />
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Which brings me to my thoughts on the MG books.<br />
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First, I am much more familiar with the Allied lists because, well I play Allied lists. The German lists a varied, some are a bit quirky - like 12 88s!!! - and others are simply good lists - KG Spindler. But there is literally something for everyone in the BbB book for the Germans.<br />
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The MG book for the Allies is very good. Yes, everyone is aware that the 17pdrs now get APDS, so the AT stat has been bumped up to 15. At the 6pdr AT gun has been bumped up to AT 11. The PDFs have been incorporated into the book and the Commandos have been added - along with some really good Canadian lists.<br />
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Let me say that again... really good Canadian lists... Remember when I posted last year about TFA?? While not TFA quality "good", the Canadians are worth a peek. Plus you get the cool Rams / Roos to have your infantry tool around in!! Oh, the Commandos are pretty good too. I mean, where else can you get 16 Sherman tanks rated CV for 800 points?? Ok, they are Crab Tanks (Flails) and they can't assault and they don't have a hull MG, but they are still AT 10 tanks... So Commandos can get 16 tanks and the LVTs. And if you want more fun, grab some Naval Guns!!<br />
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Now are they 2 ID strong, maybe. But probably not. But check them out.<br />
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As you see in the pictures above, I did try to get some painting done last weekend. All told, 32 vehicles have now been base coated and panel faded. Unfortunately, my airbrush is now "dead". But the good news is the TWO replacement airbrushes are now in the mail!!<br />
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So that is about it for now. I don't have any tournaments on the docket as I am skipping EW Nats at Adepticon this year. But I am planning on attending Historicon again and entering the LW Nats!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-28735217081962467802013-02-05T07:44:00.001-08:002013-02-05T07:48:45.110-08:00What?! First post in 2013?!?!Unreal. I had not realized it had been so long since my last post. And those two sentences are becoming more and more common on this blog.<br />
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So... what have I been up to?<br />
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Lots of course!<br />
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My painting queue is getting rather rediculous. Between Christmas gifts, ordering from a fire sale and gifts from friends, my unpainted stuff is rather large. I am having to resort to playing with basecoated models! I believe I literally have 50+ vehicles that need decals and weathering.<br />
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I am very pleased to see the new MG books! I will say this about the Allies: The Canadians Rock! Like I said with TFA, the Canadians are very, very strong. Due to special rules, you get to re-roll to unpin and unbail. So the Canadians effectively get Protected Ammo on everything. Plain Jane Shermans just got better! Oh yeah, the Armored Reccee get Eyes and Ears as well as Cautious Movement. Nice!<br />
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I also went to visit a good friend in California that is moving to the UK in a few weeks. Yup, had to go play and drink with Bill and his lovely wife. That was a hoot!<br />
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We played Up Front!, a Napoleonic game (very cool!) and 4 games of FoW. Here is a quick AAR:<br />
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Bill ran his list that he took to Bane of War. It was CT US Tanks with Patton.<br />
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HQ: E8 and Jumbo<br />
Platoon 1: 2 E8 and 2 Sherman Lates<br />
Platoon 2: 2 E8 and 2 Sherman Lates<br />
Platoon 3: 5 Stewies<br />
Platoon 4: Engineers (he later removed and went with 4 more Stewies)<br />
Platoon 5: Cav Recon<br />
Platoon 6: Armored mortars<br />
Patton<br />
(after 4 games, he did tweak the list a bit more, but you get the idea)<br />
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I ran 2 ID (CV). While my list was altered as well, this was the most common version:<br />
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HQ<br />
Platoon 1: Full platoon with pimped out zooks<br />
Platoon 2: Full platoon with pimped out zooks<br />
Platoon 3: HMG platoon with pimped out zooks<br />
Platoon 4: HMG platoon with pimped out zooks<br />
Platoon 5: AT Gun platoon<br />
Platoon 6: Recon Jeeps (all .50 cal)<br />
Platoon 7: TD platoon with Jacksons (Trained)<br />
Platoon 8: Towed TD (Vet) with pimped out zooks<br />
(yes, no arty. Crazy, huh??)<br />
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The first 3 games were all played on the same board. It was fairly dense - call it "I-95" quality. I did not get a picture of the board - sorry.<br />
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Game 1: Fighting Withdrawal (Bill 5, Allen 2)<br />
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I put one infantry platoon on the left and one on the middle. I had two TD platoons middle to middle right. Jeeps were on a road in the middle and AT guns in Ambush. I had Combat Attached both HMGs to each platoon. Bill put everything on my right.<br />
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This was over before it started. Bill moved his entire army up to 16.1" away from my dudes. Or he was able to get closer, but out of LoS. And for the first time, I was very worried that my TDs would be prevented from deploying (we used the proposed changes from Phil). He swarmed the objective on Turn 1. I deployed the TDs and popped the Ambush. I put a world of hurt on the Shermans and killed a Stewie platoon. But not enough. He was able to pin, block movement and keep me off the objective. 2-5 for Bill. This was my first game against Bill ever. He does play a different style!<br />
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Game 2: Breakthrough (Bill 4, Allen 3)<br />
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Now that I had experienced Bill's style, I knew what to do. My deployment was really good (after the game, Bill illustrated the PERFECT deployment) and I focused his attack. He was surprised that I did not deploy right up on the deployment border, but rather gave him room to move. I did not attach the HMGs this time and that was the right call. I put the AT guns in overwatch that covered the middle of the board. Towed TDs were on the board as my only mobile platoon. Jacksons and Jeeps were in Reserves due to Mobile Reserves rule. So I had the two infantry platoons and the MG platoons ready to run to the objectives. Bill focused on the middle and went AT gun hunting. But he did try to flank of Sherman platoon, which was a mistake. Turn 1 saw the AT guns get ripped, but they lived. One gun that is... In my turn, I got reserves and the Jacksons came on for side shots on the Sherman Platoon. That lone AT gun was able to kill one of the Shermans and the Jacksons ripped apart the rest. Point for me! Turn 2 saw the ATguns wiped and Bill put the Stewies within distance to contest the closest objective. I deployed the Towed TDs and the Stewies were gutted. If not for Patton, they would have run! And that started the swirling death match. My jeeps came on the next turn and I went hunting for his recon. While the odds were with me, the dice were not. My jeeps died and one of his recon jeeps was left standing. I did run another Sherman platoon. Bill ended up assaulting my troops with his engineers after blasting them for a few turns. The Stewies were the star for Bill as they kept killing infantry. By Turn 6, he is on one objective and I cannot get a guy to contest (even with rerolls due to 1iC, I failed to unpin 3 straight turns). But I was able to get Bill below half strength, so it came down to Company Morale for Bill. He passed and won! 3-4 for Bill. This was a great game and came down to a 50/50 roll for the win.<br />
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Game 3: Counter Attack (Bill 3, Allen 4)<br />
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This game was also a blast! I kept the HMGs as separate platoons, which allowed me to get 4 on the board. I put AT guns on the board, both infantry platoons and Towed TDs. Reserves were Jeeps, Jacksons and HMGs. I was able to dig in where needed and moved where needed. Bill went AT gun hunting again, but I survived much better this time. The game came down to TDs + AT Guns killing a Sherman platoon, Jacksons getting a Sherman platoon and the infantry assaulting the 1iC. We ended up calling the game as I had total control of the objectives and Bill was about to lose the Company Morale roll.<br />
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Game 4: Dust Up (Bill 5, Allen 2)<br />
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Short and sweet - a mistake by me in Turn 1 cost me! Bill and I broke for lunch after Turn 1 and he showed me the mistake. UGGGHH!!! Now I can say with 100% certainty, I never saw the move. Had I done what Bill suggested, we calculated he is rolling Company Morale Turn 2. So a 6-1 or 5-2 ended up a 2-5. And that is FoW! As I said, Bill plays a different style and that was the case in this game. I learned more in this game than any single game in a long, long time!<br />
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So Bill ended up 3-1 against me. Or as I say it - I beat Bill! And if not for a 50/50 roll, we would have split our two games!<br />
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Maybe I don't suck afterall...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-68642916345182149992012-12-21T13:51:00.001-08:002012-12-21T13:51:17.070-08:00Merry Christmas!All -<br />
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I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas!<br />
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It has been a great FoW year and I am so very happy to have met and made such wonderful friends playing a silly game of toy soldiers.<br />
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I look forward to the New Year!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-11884157710730948372012-12-10T13:37:00.000-08:002012-12-10T13:37:43.706-08:00Campaign Update and Doubles Tournament UpdateSo we have moved into Round 2 of the Campaign. If you are interested in the campaign rules, check out my previous post.<br />
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This past week, Mike went down the list for determining "initiative" which meant that I was subject to everyone else's whim.<br />
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And guess what? My expanding territory was not even atatcked! Turns out that Rob decided to attack Robert. So Rob went for a para-drop. Mike decided that since Robert wasn't there to play, that Rob would instead face me as Robert's proxy. The deal is that if you can't make an evening, you should not be penalized with an "auto-loss." Not sure how Rob was feeling about that...<br />
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So we had US Paras dropping on top of... US Paras. Both Rob and I fielded a list out of Nuts! I went with 2 para platoons, para LMGs attached into those platoons, TDs (Hellcats), glider arty, and 2 sections of .50cal jeeps. I also upgraded to Toccoa Sergeants and bought "Shifty" Powers. Rob went with 4 para platoons, AT guns and arty. We fought the Airborne Assault mission out of the new Normandy Battles.<br />
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No pictures (again?!?!!). The game went fairly quickly as I deployed the 2 para platoons and the recee jeeps on the board. I did have to shift one of the para platoons to be able to cover the two objectives that were left (attacker pulls one of the two he places). Rob slowly moved in, waiting on his reserves to arrive. So we got to Turn 3 really quickly. Bottom of 3 Night is still in effect. Top of 4 Night stays in effect and Rob now is closing the gap very quickly. I need night to lift!! Bottom of 4 I get my wish. And the timing was very bad for Rob. I ran the arty, but at the cost of my 4 jeeps! You see, I killed all but a gun and the commander and lost 2 recee jeeps in the process when Rob shifted his paras and got shots on the jeeps. So with just the gun and the commander, I assaulted with two jeeps. Got through DF just fine. So two swings with Vet and... I missed two. He doesn't have a hit, so no Motivation test needed. Two swings with trained... and two hits. Damn!<br />
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Elsewhere I am gutting paras in the open with LMGs and the TDs had come on to blast .50cals into the same para unit. After that turn, Rob decided to "pull back" and withdraw from the mission. This is allowed after Turn 4 in any mission that we are playing for the Campaign. So Robert keeps his territory with the loss of 100 points. Not bad... Rob got a bit of a bloodier nose from the fight.<br />
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Doubles Tournament<br />
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This past Saturday, Mike hosted a tournament at The Last Square. The event was MW Doubles at 1,165 per Company - with the ability for you to mix nations as long as they are both Allies or both Axis. For those of you wondering, Mike did that point level because that is the cost of 3 Tigers. As a 10th team, he played 6 Tigers.<br />
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I partnered with Joe. He ran Mixed Tankovy with Lees, Stuarts, T-26s and BT-"whatevers" for the points. Lots of Soviet Tanks. Oh yeah, Conscript Soviet Tanks. I ran US Armored Rifles with 2 ARP, M10s, Scotts and Armored Mortars.<br />
<br />Round 1 we ended up playing 6 Tigers. Thanks Mike! In a twist, Round 1 was Free For All. Basically, Joe's 1,165 were almost useless since the best the Lees could do was bail on the side (no long barrels). But what Joe did was to litter the objectives with a ton of tanks to keep the Tigers from moving in certain places. The M10s got a Tiger, but couldn't kill the other one. The ARP did that and we claimed an objective. Mike was 2-2-2 across the back and he couldn't get over to the objective in time. Plus we had the other side also locked down with ARP.<br />
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Round 2, we played Chriss Fretts and Andrew Hobson from Indy. Great guys and a game that I will remember for a very, very long time! We played Breakthrough and Joe and I attacked Chris' US Tanks (Stuarts, Lees, armored recee) and Andrew's Brit Paras. Bloody, swarming battle that came down to the bitter end. Joe and I broke Chris' company and took them 6-1. But the score does not at all describe the closeness of the game.<br />
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Round 3 was against Robert and Robert in Fighting Withdrawal. Robert #1 had Soviet Strelk horde with AT guns and recee, while Robert #2 had US Tanks with Lees, Stuarts (AGAIN!?!?!!?), 105s, Scotts and SP arty. While I was the main attack force in Round 1, Joe was the main attack force in Round 2. My job was to kill Lees and the M10s did that perfectly. Joe's job was to line up and assault Strelk. Which he did perfectly. In the end, we had the objective on Turn 5 and won. But even if we lost the objective, we were going to get both guys to Company Morale rolls the next turn. 5-2 to us.<br />
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So we ended up 5-2, 6-1 and 5-2. With some scoring adjustments (you got extra points for wins and lost points for losing 1iC, 2iC and any warriors), we came in 2nd place behind some of the Indy guys. So it was Gary's team in 1st, we were 2nd, Joe Lewis' team was 3rd and Chris / Andrew were 4th. Not bad company!!<br />
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But most importantly, I had a blast with my friend Joe! We played well together and our lists allowed us to carry the other guy when needed - me in Round 1 and Joe in Round 3. THAT is what a doubles tournament is all about!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-19104615422693965932012-12-05T09:19:00.000-08:002012-12-05T09:20:29.961-08:00LW Campaign in the US Midwest!! Who knew??New Campaign Underway!<br />
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After getting a little burned out with just playing week after week of "decide and era, build a list and drop dice", Mike decided to take matters into his own hands again. And that is when he came up with the idea for a campaign set in the Midwest USA.<br />
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Basically, think of this as a game of Risk. Everyone that wanted to join the campaign was given two territories - a rural and expansive territory and a "capital." So with 10 players, we took a map and went about splitting up Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.<br />
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But that wasn't enough...<br />
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Mike also decided that we would be given a "bank account" of 3,500 points to use in battle in Late War. Now a single battle could only go to 1,780 points. You could choose to use less if you wanted. And when you lost a vehicle, you lost the points. When you lost a gun, you lost a point. When you lost an infantry platoon, you lost the points. If a vehicle platoon runs from the table, you only "lost" what was left behind (i.e. destroyed vehicles). If a platoon of infantry runs, you lose 50% of the points. You lose more if you had 3 or fewer stands. Of course, if the entire platoon is destroyed you lose all the points. And for aircraft, you only have 10 total planes. If two get shot down in a single attack, you now have 8 total. So air will be at a premium and expect your bank account to go down.<br />
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But if you take a territory, you earn 250 points. If you take a capital, you get 500 points. So you are rewarded if you attack!<br />
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Players had to choose a nation and cannot change at all. We also decided that Canadians will not be considered British, rather they are their own nation. In addition, we can only use books or PDFs that are published and approved by BF. I, of course, went with U S of A baby!! American, F@#* Yeah!!<br />
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As to the map itself, Mike also rules that if you are on Lake Michigan or Superior, you can amphibious assault from the lake into another territory. Now you don't have to have a list that is "beach assault" and we are not running the "beach assault" mission, but it does allow you to traverse the map quickly. He also ruled that you can paradrop on any other territory on the map - provided you have access to a para list. And for our campaign, that means Soviets and Canadians do not have paras. As a note on that, this isn't a historical argument but rather a list issue in FoW.<br />
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Without further ado, here is the map after Round 1: (although two players have yet to complete Round 1)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkaPJqEZhuHo7m372nnmv8tiZQ1k6FC50GZDVpK45X9uyG6AOyNH_n7RaxGEj0JfV3Dq3vwSow5fYY7nqU9XhKwktqtleBZ6kprkqZlPyPQEJY5iyKPvKqCE95uyFx9Ecky4Ys_ryclRE/s1600/Midwest+for+Mike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkaPJqEZhuHo7m372nnmv8tiZQ1k6FC50GZDVpK45X9uyG6AOyNH_n7RaxGEj0JfV3Dq3vwSow5fYY7nqU9XhKwktqtleBZ6kprkqZlPyPQEJY5iyKPvKqCE95uyFx9Ecky4Ys_ryclRE/s400/Midwest+for+Mike.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
I was given Milwaukee (USA) and the area surrounding the city (green in the lower right). CJ (Canadians) is to the west in Madison, Patrick (Germans) is to the north in Green Bay. Rob (USA) is up in the UP of Michigan with Mike (German) to his south in Wausau. Joe (British) is hanging out in Iowa, with Robert (Soviet) to his north in Rochester, MN. Ben (German) is in Minneapolis area, Kevin (USA) to his north in Duluth, with Pickle (his last name!) in Eau Claire, WI (Germans) and bodering almost everyone on the map.<br />
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To start Round One, Mike picked three players who could start the game by declaring their attack. If you were attacked, you don't get to pick a battle - you are now "spoken for." He will rotate this list throughout the campaign so everyone gets an equal chance. I was able to go second and in a quirk of map making, Mike had created an open territory in Illinois with a capital in Rockford. Well I had to go and liberate my Illinois Brothers! But I think someone forgot to tell Illinois that they needed liberation. To counter my move, CJ decided to also invade Illinois. That led Mike to declare that CJ and I will play Encounter! Mike decided to paradrop on Rockford for the easy points. But wait!! Joe also decided to paradrop on Rockford! Pickle decided to invade Minnesota and took on Ben. Patrick and I have a peace pact and he decided to attack Rob to the north! So four games all happening at the same time!<br />
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In my game of Encounter, I went with a 6 platoon Cav Recon list. To be completly fair, CJ wanted a short game and wanted to experience the TD stuff. Okaaaaaaaaay - I can do that! I deployed Jackson Sec Section, Towed Sec Section, 2 ID infantry. Chafees, and the two recee platoons were in Reserve. In a brilliant move, CJ decided to actually keep the high point totals off the board because he thought he would be wiped out. So he put 25pdrs, a Sherman platoon with 1 Firefly, Stuart Recce platoon and an infantry platoon on the board. His reserves were two Sherman platoons, an infantry platoon and an AA Crusader platoon that was split off from the HQ. He also got some special hero in a tank.<br />
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I won't give a full AAR, but basically the Shermans were dead Turn 1 before he even had a chance to play by virtue of my Towed TDs popping within 16". My zooks stayed in the halftracks and lit up the infantry platoon. The Jackson Sec Section stayed on the board and wiped the 25pdr command stand, staff team and the battery command team. The 2 ID dug in on one of my objectives. Turn 2 saw me kill the hero, two 25pdr (Jacksons popped) and the Stuarts. CJ passed the platoon morale. Now in his shooting over the first two turns, he did get 3 guns and a Jackson. Turn 3 saw my Chaffees arrive from Reserve in the perfect spot and move to assault the infantry platoon. But the Jacksons completely destroyed the 25pdrs, and with CJ below half and having lost the 1iC, the game was over.<br />
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What was "sad" is that I told CJ I wouldn't go completely crazy with the TDs - meaning I did not pop the Jacksons, assault the guns and run the platoon in Turn 1, which would have placed me on the objective and ended the game because he could not have moved over quick enough. And that, my friends, sums up a big issue with the TDs. The infamous Turn 1 win without the other guy really getting a chance.<br />
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To that end, I do want to thank BF for opening the official dialog on the subject of TDs!<br />
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In the other games, Mike fought to a bloody victory over Joe; Pickle took out Ben and Patrick took out Rob's US Paras.<br />
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I will keep folks updated as the campaign progresses!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-56370420399040612732012-10-22T09:33:00.000-07:002012-10-22T09:33:05.684-07:00RockCon Update, Fall-In Preview!New proclamation:<br />
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No More Proclamations.<br />
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Another month goes by with a single post. Wow. So here is my FoW update to cover the last 4 to six weeks:<br />
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This past weekend was RockCon, which is a mid-sized convention held in Rockford, IL. My LGS is a big supporter, so the guys try to either run events, participate in events or just help out where and when we can. This year, Joe ran a Bulge game (not a tournament) on Friday night and a 1,780 LW Normandy Themed Tournament on Saturday. Let me start with Friday.<br />
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If you want details, you can see the details at FoW forums under the Conventions Thread. Basically, the Allies got 1,000 points and the Germans got 2,000. However, if anyone ran a list out of the three Bulge books, then you got an extra 100 points. So I created three lists that all saw the table at 1,100. They were a 2nd Cav Recon list, a 2 ID list and a Combat Engineer list. We ended up having a Ranger list from Normandy (Igor from Poland was in the house again this year!!), a Para list from Nuts! and Armored Rifles. We went up against 12,000+ points of German nasties! The boards were laid out in a giant "H" shape, with each verticle being 24' long and the connector part being 6' long. Bastogne was located in the vertical connector - right in the middle. So the Germans could come on at any of the 4 "ends" of the H shape. Roads were normal, off road was slow going and concealed (very light woods) but did not block LoS. There were also 4 random events for each section of the ends and the middle connector. Here is a map:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVarYF9qB3xksxGfdUwJaCIMCtXBdq9Tfck0Gw24_pzFRCoHT7yYiRW4eImpq8PIaNEUHp0_Ffhy-dJB02Qu17iisF3fn-KjgRcmD2J-YqVYhwJILqTq7Pp4OvpuCb3ac8vTVHg6AjqQW/s1600/Bulge+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVarYF9qB3xksxGfdUwJaCIMCtXBdq9Tfck0Gw24_pzFRCoHT7yYiRW4eImpq8PIaNEUHp0_Ffhy-dJB02Qu17iisF3fn-KjgRcmD2J-YqVYhwJILqTq7Pp4OvpuCb3ac8vTVHg6AjqQW/s400/Bulge+Map.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Bastogne is Orange and the grey boxes were towns along the way. Based on a random event, my 2nd Cav Recon popped up in the lower left corner of the map above - facing Panthers, Stugs, Grens - Oh My! Rangers were in the upper left, Engineers popped on the upper right section and Rifles in the lower right. 2 ID was deployed at the start of the game split between the two towns to the left and right of Bastogne. And of course, our Paras were defending Bastogne!!<br />
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After 4+ hours of bloodbath, my Cav Recon were destroyed, but they fought valiantly and took two German companies with them - one by destruction and the other by "no way in heck we are getting to Bastogne so we run!!" All told, 1,100 Cav Recon points destroyed 2 Panther Platoons of 4 Panthers, 1 Panther Platoon of 3 Panthers, 1 StuG Platoon with 3 StuGs and a Panther 1iC - with that kill coming from a M8 Greyhound!! But my Jacksons, Towed TDs, 2 Recon Patrols, 2 ID platoon and another M10 TD platoon from the 2 ID company down the road all met a glorious end for the Allies! The other areas were just as bloody, but the Germans did make it much further down the road than in my sector. However, in the end Bastogne held as the Germans forces that finally got there were so depleted that they could not move the Paras!<br />
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It was a great time and the second time in three years Joe has run this game. It takes a lot of work and prep. I do think the next time we run it, we will make movement a little easier as the Germans have a tough time getting down the roads.<br />
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Saturday saw 1,780 in LW Normandy - you could only field lists out of Turning Tide and Earth & Steel. I ran the Cromwell 7th AD list - yes, not TFA! 24 players started the day ready to fight. I started the day going up against James (Chaos45) and his very good list of CT guns, arty and grens with CV Marders, 8-Rads and StuGs. James ended up spanking me 6-1 and was a great sport because for a bit he ended up playing against himself as work called and had issues. So after the game, I talked to Joe and relegated myself to the bottom and helped teach some newer players. Plus I kept getting calls from work and it was not fair to my opponents. So I had a fun game with Nick, who was playing a Panzer IV company. Congrats to Panzer Dan for the victory and to all the other players. It was great to see everyone.<br />
<br />
So now I can prepare for the upcoming Fall-In Doubles Tournament and a MW Double Tournament in Madison next month!<br />
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I am also finishing up some long awaited painting chores. I am close to getting 8 Hellcats, 4 Jacksons, 2 M10s, 6 M8 Greyhounds, 2 Oddballs, 4 Jumbos, 5 Easy Eights, 4 M4A3 lates and 2 Abrams Warriors done and off the table! Whew... I am now in the hated "painting treads" part as I choose to paint the treads on the models. Yes, I know... Yes, I know...<br />
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I will also be finishing up some buildings and I will be placing an order for more Sentinel buildings now that they have released the Row Houses. And yes, the church will be mine too!<br />
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And I also used my Lucage from Luke Melia on Saturday (although we played them as hedges and not straight up Bocage). They looked great and we got a lot of compliments!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-11928698807417342182012-09-14T09:31:00.002-07:002012-09-14T11:05:20.481-07:00LW List Discussion - Cav Recon in DCIf you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I have a certain love for all things Tank Destroyer. Now this post is not about my feelings over the rules and the power that TDs and multiple TDs bring to the game. That is a different topic and I am not using this post to discuss that topic. This post is about list construction <em><strong>using the rules as they exist today.</strong></em><br />
<br />
So with that in mind, here we go!<br />
<br />
The key element to maximizing the power of the TDs is to bring more than one platoon to the table. There are many options here: Task Force A in Turning Tide, Rangers in Turning Tide (I believe), TD Company in Blood, Guts & Glory, Rifle Company in Devil's Charge and Cav Recon in Devil's Charge. I might have missed one or two, but you get the idea. Now if you want a discussion on TFA, look in my archives to March of 2012 and read those posts because...<br />
<br />
Right now, my list is Cav Recon.<br />
<br />
When BG&G came out, I was all over the Tank Destroyer Company. You can build a great list using that force - no doubt. But when DC came out, a friend let me on to the Cav Recon list as a possibility. After looking into the details, I am convinced this is a great list.<br />
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Rather than going through my thoughts, I will simply show the list and discuss each platoon and the reasoning around my choice. And it will be done with an eye towards tournament play.<br />
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Here is a solid iteration of the Cav Recon Company from DC:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG1JUenKXm0cukw21YW3NrQej8HGY5hEC2K6RzYXgqSbN1WrjYLmeAMQvwbOq9MlI4-odPha_2zKUqsUpDw8tnYEzaLIQkv15m8jKk1qMe264uUo15zT1AlH6Q7yFzoUDsNq5qIxkvbFW/s1600/List+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG1JUenKXm0cukw21YW3NrQej8HGY5hEC2K6RzYXgqSbN1WrjYLmeAMQvwbOq9MlI4-odPha_2zKUqsUpDw8tnYEzaLIQkv15m8jKk1qMe264uUo15zT1AlH6Q7yFzoUDsNq5qIxkvbFW/s400/List+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Let's start with the "core" of the list, which are the Combat Platoons. You have to bring two platoons, just like almost every list in the game. To maximize the points in support, choose the smallest platoons possible. So with a single patrol in each platoon and the HQ, you have spent 265 points. That leaves 1,515 out of 1,780 yet to spend. And this is a huge benefit! For the math fans out there, I have just spent 15% of my total points to fill out the diagram of what I have to bring. Amazing! And this is a key for building a nasty, tournament worthy list.<br />
<br />
Next are the TDs. You have the ability to bring two platoons of TDs with this list. To bring anything other than two is just crazy talk! So which do you bring? One word - Jacksons. I love the M10s and M18s, but you have to bring M36 Jacksons. AT 14 is necessary in LW. Plus you get Detroit's Finest and you get Front Armor of 4. One thing that killed me in a game at LW Nats was Ed Harding's AA guns. Those are nasty against Hellcats. In fact, more Hellcats were killed by AA than by Panzer IVs in that game. So Jacksons get a better gun, 14" movement and enough armor to ward off machine gun fire, HMGs, .50cals (think Blue on Blue) and some AA. Do you go Vet or Trained? The answer depends on points and play style. Personally, I am going Vet. Why? Well, you will whiff on some shots - trust me. So what is the best defense in that situation? Easy - don't get hit with the shots coming back! Assuming you are in terrain, you will be 5+ to hit. And that is better than 4! 8 shots coming back will hit you between two and three times at Vet. At Trained, you are getting hit four times. You want Vet.<br />
<br />
Now the second TD platoon will be Towed, since that is all that is offered in the diagram. But fear not! You must add in the bazzokas and the halftracks to make a mobile unit. Plus, with 5 infantry stands (4 being bazookas) that are also recon running around the board, this is too good to pass up. You need to go after infantry - .50cal them to death. Armor - guns and bazookas to clean up the mess via shooting and assaults. And you can leave the guns behind if necessary and take the infantry and tracks to go raise hell on the table! Now, Vet or Trained? I still like Vet here because I need the Vet roll on skill checks. Lift GtG with bazookas? Yes, with a 3+. Need to hit in assaults? Yes, with a 3+. So make the investment in Vet.<br />
<br />
So we are now at 4 platoons and have chewed up 1,105 points. Yes, the TDs are expensive but well worth it. What do we do next?<br />
<br />
Grab an infantry platoon. You can choose Vet or Trained Rifles, Trained ARP or Vet Engineers. Now I love Engineers. I use them in my TFA list and they work really well, provided you jack them up with the bazookas and supply trucks. With TFA, you can even add a Sherman Dozer, but not here. The knee jerk is to go with the Trained ARP. Now this would work and can work in this list if you need points, but the sleeper is the Vet Rifle Platoon (2 ID). Take that and either go SMG for all or go with max bazookas. Both have their place. But remember that you will get the 2 ID benefit of Moving At The Double through Difficult Terrain. Yes, 16" of Vet, nasty, bazooka laden Riflemen goodness! This will help when you have to attack an Infantry Company or another Mech list.<br />
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Next, you need one more trick up your sleeve. You need smoke. It would also help to have more armor. And fast armor at that. So go grab Chaffees!! Your 6th platoon will be 5 Chaffees. Now I know they cost about the same as a Sherman. But the real value with the Chaffees is that they come from a different box in the force diagram. They are not a Tank Platoon, they are a Light Tank Platoon. And you can get this in the Cav Recon list while still getting two TD platoons. So you buy a Stuart with a Sherman gun. And with Stabilizers... and with Smoke... This is the final piece. What you will do is smoke those units that did not die from TD shots. Or use them to get side shots on high armor targets, like Panthers...<br />
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And with the 40pts you have left, go grab an AOP. Use it to prevent an ambush right where you don't want it to appear.<br />
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And that does it! You have a 1,780 point LW list that:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Has exceptional AT capabilites</li>
<li>Huge amount of Recon</li>
<li>Great Ambushes</li>
<li>Strong infantry</li>
<li>Supreme mobility with Recon Moves and fast armor (the slowest tank is 14")</li>
</ul>
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And that makes for a killer list...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-66456743124903574732012-08-24T14:35:00.000-07:002012-08-24T14:35:03.124-07:0020 Questions - everyone else is doing it!<span style="font-family: inherit;">I see on several blogs that folks are posting answers to 20 Questions. So, having the need to be a "cool kid", I thought I would do the same. Here they are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Favorite Wargaming period?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">WW2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is really the
only period that I wargame with miniatures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Next period, money no object?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I would license the FoW rules and create books and models
for Cold War “What If” series.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Favorite 5 films?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">My favorites are:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Godfather<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Raiders of the Lost Arc<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ferris Bueller’s Day Off<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Caddyshack<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Austin Powers<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Favorite 5 TV series?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Sopranos<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bugs Bunny and Road Runner Show (really)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Big Bang Theory<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Star Trek (original – duh!)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Band of Brothers<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Favorite book and author?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book: Dune, Frank Herbert<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Author: W.E.B. Griffin<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Greatest General? (Can’t count yourself)<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Omar Bradley, US Army<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Favorite Wargaming rules?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Flames of War, Battlefront Studios<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Favorite sport and team?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sport: Golf<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Team: Michigan State University Spartans!</span><br />
Single Team: US Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Team, 1980<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>If you had an “only use once” time machine, when and where
would you go?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Romantic: Go back to the day I met my wife and relive it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Historical: Go back to Philadelphia, 1776 and ask “can you
clarify this part and this part…”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Religious: Go back to the Middle East and watch…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My real answer: Go back and play the stock market, already
knowing what will happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will make
billions…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mua mua mua…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Last meal on Death Row?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">One that has a key in it that will let me get the heck out
of Dodge before the morning…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Fantasy relationship and why?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Darth Vader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want
him to tell me he is my father and he wants to rule the galaxy together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That way I can say “Sounds good Dad, let’s go!!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>If your life were a movie, who would play you?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brad Pitt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Duh.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Favorite comic superhero?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Superman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too easy
and vanilla, but come on!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s
Superman!!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Favorite military quote?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“I want to kill some naaaahtzies” – Inglorious Basterds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“What’s this ‘we s%@t’ White Man…” – Tonto, upon being
surrounded by 10,000 native Americans with The Lone Ranger <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Always look on the bright side of life!” – Crucifixion, somewhere
around 30 AD.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Historical destination to visit?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Omaha Beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Been
twice.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Biggest Wargaming regret?<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Saying yes to a demo game of Flames of War…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Favorite fantasy job?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am weird – I like the one I have pretty well!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Favorite band?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have to answer by eras / genres:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Simple Minds, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Who, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">U2, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Johnny Cash, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nirvana, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Green Day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Favorite wargaming moment?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Any moment that I have played with my son!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>What upsets you?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Idiots.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1499521057289560301.post-63418707739333092682012-08-20T06:56:00.000-07:002012-08-20T06:56:41.925-07:00Trying to get back in the blogging grooveSo last week, I went back into my business calendar (diary for you Commonwealth types) and realized the following:<br />
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I have been on the road each week since July 8th. Seriously?!?!?! Between work and play, it has been a rough stretch. I don't travel as a part of regular business, other than attending various meetings and conferences. I am not in sales, so this was a stretch "for the records."<br />
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And I wondered why I had not posted in a while...<br />
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I will be adjusting my painting queue to reflect some changes shortly. But here is what is on the table right now:<br />
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I have 8 Hellcats, 2 M10s, 4 Jacksons, 5 Jumbos, 5 Easy Eights, 5 M4A3 (lates), 6 M8 Armored Cars, 4 M20 Utility vehicles, 2 Oddball Objectives all primed and waiting painting. Funny thing is that the crews for all of these are basically finished.<br />
<br />
4 Towed TD Guns based and awaiting finishing touches.<br />
<br />
22 T-34s that need decals.<br />
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12 Stewarts that need decals.<br />
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A starter box of Bolt Action Brit Paras primed.<br />
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Bolt Action (28mm) Cromwell and Sherman primed (except issue with turret on the Sherman).<br />
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Patton Warrior and Abrams (two tanks) primed.<br />
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And boxes / blisters waiting to be painted including Early War stuff, 8 Brit 25 pdrs, etc.<br />
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<br />
And with that, I have started to unload some of my stuff...<br />
<br />
Yes, I sold one of my Oddball objectives - this one was from Historicon. I saw that David Vigor sold one of his on eBay for $255!! Whhhoooaaaatttt?? So with a lot of encouragement from my wife, I posted the only Oddball that was still in the blister and it sold for $128. Wow.<br />
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I then decided to unload some other items in the consignment area of my FLGS. So I unloaded 12 Halftracks that were primed, basecoated and had the panels shaded. They were from Command Decision and didn't look right on the table. I also unloaded my Adepticon bag from Battlefoam - the one you got for being the first 500 to register. I also unloaded my BF plastic Shermans and a box of Brits Paras. Yes, I decided that there was no way I would ever paint another Para Company, so off they went. Hey, I only held on to the box for 18 months!!<br />
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And what did I do in return??<br />
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Bought more crap.<br />
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I decided to buy the US Rifle Company (Winter) and do winter bases. That meant I purchased the Woodland Scenics snow and paste stuff. BTW - if you want a really good tutorial on winter basing, check out YouTube and watch the Woodland Scenics Snow 10 minute video. It is geared towards model railroading, but it will work on bases. I am going to try it first on my Towed TD platoon to see how they look.<br />
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So this weekend I was able to get some priming in and assembled the Bolt Action tanks. It will be a few more weeks before I get another chance to paint. That is too bad because I do enjoy just sitting, painting and letting all the pressure of work just melt away.<br />
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Ahhhh....<br />
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I hope others are not as crazy as I am with respect to selling crap, then buying more crap. But I doubt it!!<br />
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