Had a great game last night at The Last Square with Joe (Keamma). I tried the 11th Armoured PDF list from Battlefront and Joe played SS Fallschirmjaeger from either HH or ABtF. So it was a good historical matchup. The interesting part of the 11th PDF is that you get CT and not RV.
1750 LW
My list of Armoured Recce
Command HQ - 2 Cromwells
HQ Support - Cromwell CS
Combat Platoons:
2 Armoured Recce Platoons - 3 Cromwells and 1 Challenger
Support Platoons:
1 Full Platoon of US Paras
2 Guns Sections (8 guns) of Priests, one with base AA MG guns, the other section with .50cal.
4 platoons. Pretty small, but I am attacker. Unless we roll Encounter, I am on the table.
Mission:
Encounter. Of course it is.
I don't know everything Joe had as it all did not make the table. But this is what I think he had:
3 platoons FJ
1 platoon Jagpanzer (4)
Some "hero" that allows people to rise from the dead. Say what?!?!?! Are they Necrons?!?!?
2 platoon of mortars
1 platoon of recoiless rifle or something
One more platoon that I don't remember, but he had 8 platoons total.
Table had good terrain. He rolled as "attacker" and chose the table side that was most beneficial to him to "defend".
He placed 3 FJ platoons and the Jagpanzers.
I placed the Paras and one Recce Cromwell platoon.
Game recap:
I rolled to go first. I tried to digin my paras to defend both objectives. Failed. I was timid with the croms, moving around some woods and put a crom to take a long shot at the Jagpanzer. Miss.
On his trun, Joe tried to digin one FJ platoon on the objective. Fail. He moved the other 2 platoons forward towards my defensive zone in the cover to trees. Jagpnazers shuffled a little, took a shot with no results on the croms.
My next turn, I moved my HQ with the "leaderless platoon of the CS" in double time to quickly bypass the FJ and get to the rear. Rules questions - see my post on the flames of war forum in the rules section. While Joe and I agreed that I could do what I did, I am looking for verification. Took a few shots from the croms and I brewed one.
The next few turns bleed together in my mind. The net result is that I kill 2 of the Jagpanzers and he kills 2 croms. My HQ makes it to the objective and Joe has to move the Jagpanzers over to defend. His FJ moves towards my now dugin and gone to ground paras.
Turn 4:
With his FJ ready to pounce, I roll for reserves and get one platoon. I then roll for scattered and I get the table edge. 8 Priests, plus 2 observer tanks arrive just in time to machine gun the snot out of the FJs. I gut one of the platoons. The other loses just one stand. The warrior guy gets another stand back from the dead. Whatever.
On his turn he unpins everyone and assaults. The gutted platoon actually pulls back to woods, leaving the other FJ platoon to do the dirty work. They asault the paras. After about 4 rounds of assaults, my paras are wiped and he has (I think) 4 stands left. Joe has not received reserves yet.
Turn 5:
Crom HQ and CS contesting and focus fire on one of the two remaining jagpanzers in the woods. Nothing. I get my last reserves on the table. I machine gun the remaining FJ platoons and end up destroying one platoon and the CiC. I force a morale check on the other and Joe fails the platoon morale - rolled a 2. His warrior gets to reroll and all he needs is a 2+. He rolls a 1. Both FJ platoons are gone. The third leaves the objective and assaults one of the crom platoons. He passes tank terror, saves all his infantry saves from defensive fire and proceeds to do nothing on the assault. I break off. His 2 Jagpanzers don't do anything against the Croms.
Game ends on time.
Result:
Draw 3-2 me. He wiped my paras and I killed and ran off 2 FJs.
Thoughts:
I like the CT option for the company. Protected ammo and Confident are really nice on unbailing tanks. I am becoming a fan of the 11th Armoured PDF.
I still need to pick up the pace of play.
I still need to be a bit more agressive on the whole. I was really aggressive with the HQ, but I should have rushed the Jagpanzers with the other armoured recce platoon.
I never fired the arty, but rather they became MG platforms. It worked really, really nice.
I love semi indirect fire. That is how I killed 2 of the Jagpazers.
Showing posts with label list. Show all posts
Showing posts with label list. Show all posts
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Long(ish) Post and Plea for Comments!
This is going to be a bit of a long post. I have done a poor job on the updates, so here they go:
Plea. For comments. I am beginning to take this personally. ;-) I am looking for some input on the "dream list", so please give any and all feedback. It will help my self esteem.
Shout out to my friend KAGE. He has been called out on the WWPD podcast for the decal tutorial. But as good as that is, I think his discussions on rules and other "oddities" is superb. You can check KAGE out here: http://kagefow.blogspot.com/
I received my compressor. Wow. Reminds me of a story when I used to wear suits for work. I was poor. I bought good suits, but let's face it - they were cheap. One day in a store, my usual sales person suggested I try on a Hickey Freeman suit. For those of you out there who do not know, let's just say it is expensive and American Presidents wear Hickey Freeman. Anyway, I was reluctant to try it on stating that in no way could it be that much better. After my wife made me put it on, let's just say I was wrong. There is a HUGE difference. It did not change the fact that I could in no way afford that suit. The sales person was just setting me up for years down the road when I could afford it (note to self - you STILL cannot afford it!). But there is a difference. Now, back to the compressor. I was optimistic that the ability to regulate the air pressure would help my skills. As the great Ed McMahon would say "YOU ARE CORRECT SIR!!" Indeed. I set the pressure to around 12psi for my dual action airbrush and voila! Small dots without spidering. In my euphoria, I went nuts on vehicles. As you can see from my table list, the British Armor has taken over. Picture to follow a bit later since my camera skills suck. So I am sold and a believer. You must use regulated air pressure!
Since the suggestion of a "dream list" tournament, I have been researching like a banchee. I am starting to like British Armor a lot. Amoured Recce - Cromwells and Challengers from Hells Highway! I also checked out Stalin's Europe - with the Lend Lease 76mm Shermans. 10 for 610 points??!! I get it that you get the Hen and Chicks rule (move greater than 6", no shooting). But they are 10! 12 on the AT line, protected ammo and machine guns galore! Did I mention 10 of them??!!! I have to think about that a little more. I forget if the 610 points are CT or CV.
After I get through the British Armor and get my fix of airbrushing, then I will tackle the Brit Paras. While I want the paint job to be good, I have a feeeling I will be trying anything to shorten the process. Sorry CdC, but I just can't do the layers. Your stuff is the BEST I have seen and some day I want to give it a go. But at my slow pace, it would literally take me 24 months to paint two full companies of paras. For those of you who are not familiar with his work, you can check him out here: http://cracdeschevaliers.blogspot.com/
I did get a game in last week with my dad visiting. My highlight was Sherman 76mm ambushing Panthers. 2 out of 3 up in flames. Awesome. Too bad my Stewies were decimated earlier in the game due to poor generalmanship (i.e. my brainfart). The roll of the day: My partner Rob was trying to pin an assault. With 8 dice, he scored 5 hits on Vet Germans. But wait, it gets better. On Joe's infantry save roll (Keamma on the FoW forum), he rolled all one and twos. 5 hits, 5 infantry stands gone in a flash. We did not get a picture in time and we chose not to recreate the roll. Those two rolls outshined Rob's bazooka team that could not roll anything else but a 6. Tank terror - 6. To hit - 6. FP on the bazooka - 6 please! I think he had two straight assaults where he kept rolling sixes. I just hope he is on the otherside of the table when the law of averages kick in!
My theory on dice - they can hurt good tactics, but only to a degree. But they can certainly help poor tactics! In fact, I think they help poor tactics more than they hurt good tactics. But you still need to roll like a freak of nature.
Oh, I bought Force on Force from Osprey. These are the Ambush Alley rules all "gussied up." Modern 15mm. Hummm. Can anyone say Abrams please!! I am tired of playing with crappy American tanks. I NEED REVENGE!!!! My wife rolled her eyes thinking of $$ flying out the window. This fall I think I will put together some M1A2s and T-55 / T-72 from Iraq. Quick little game based on a scenario in the rule book. Could be a good demo game.
Inappropriate Question of the Month: My dad asking me how much money I have spent on FoW. All in. Models, paint, rules, books, templates, storage, weathering pigments, glue, tape measures, dice and markers, washes, airbrush, compressor, files and knives, terrain, buildings, bridges, game mats, scale logs for gun pits, pre-painted entrenchment markers, etc. Ouch. I gave him an answer, but it was grossly understated. Yet still a big number. I comment every week to my LGS owners (still can't say enough about The Last Square in Madison - check them out!!) that paint is my crack habit. I always walk out with more paint. BUT I DO USE IT!!! Based on comments from friends, my unbuilt list is actually rather small. So I do make progress on what I buy. I am still amazed that I have taken to the painting as much as I have. It does tend to relax me. If you really want to barf up a lung, ask yourself that same question.
Sorry kids, not college for you. But have you seen my 15,000 points of Soviets?!?!?! Or my scale recreation of Kursk?? Ouch indeed.
Plea. For comments. I am beginning to take this personally. ;-) I am looking for some input on the "dream list", so please give any and all feedback. It will help my self esteem.
Shout out to my friend KAGE. He has been called out on the WWPD podcast for the decal tutorial. But as good as that is, I think his discussions on rules and other "oddities" is superb. You can check KAGE out here: http://kagefow.blogspot.com/
I received my compressor. Wow. Reminds me of a story when I used to wear suits for work. I was poor. I bought good suits, but let's face it - they were cheap. One day in a store, my usual sales person suggested I try on a Hickey Freeman suit. For those of you out there who do not know, let's just say it is expensive and American Presidents wear Hickey Freeman. Anyway, I was reluctant to try it on stating that in no way could it be that much better. After my wife made me put it on, let's just say I was wrong. There is a HUGE difference. It did not change the fact that I could in no way afford that suit. The sales person was just setting me up for years down the road when I could afford it (note to self - you STILL cannot afford it!). But there is a difference. Now, back to the compressor. I was optimistic that the ability to regulate the air pressure would help my skills. As the great Ed McMahon would say "YOU ARE CORRECT SIR!!" Indeed. I set the pressure to around 12psi for my dual action airbrush and voila! Small dots without spidering. In my euphoria, I went nuts on vehicles. As you can see from my table list, the British Armor has taken over. Picture to follow a bit later since my camera skills suck. So I am sold and a believer. You must use regulated air pressure!
Since the suggestion of a "dream list" tournament, I have been researching like a banchee. I am starting to like British Armor a lot. Amoured Recce - Cromwells and Challengers from Hells Highway! I also checked out Stalin's Europe - with the Lend Lease 76mm Shermans. 10 for 610 points??!! I get it that you get the Hen and Chicks rule (move greater than 6", no shooting). But they are 10! 12 on the AT line, protected ammo and machine guns galore! Did I mention 10 of them??!!! I have to think about that a little more. I forget if the 610 points are CT or CV.
After I get through the British Armor and get my fix of airbrushing, then I will tackle the Brit Paras. While I want the paint job to be good, I have a feeeling I will be trying anything to shorten the process. Sorry CdC, but I just can't do the layers. Your stuff is the BEST I have seen and some day I want to give it a go. But at my slow pace, it would literally take me 24 months to paint two full companies of paras. For those of you who are not familiar with his work, you can check him out here: http://cracdeschevaliers.blogspot.com/
I did get a game in last week with my dad visiting. My highlight was Sherman 76mm ambushing Panthers. 2 out of 3 up in flames. Awesome. Too bad my Stewies were decimated earlier in the game due to poor generalmanship (i.e. my brainfart). The roll of the day: My partner Rob was trying to pin an assault. With 8 dice, he scored 5 hits on Vet Germans. But wait, it gets better. On Joe's infantry save roll (Keamma on the FoW forum), he rolled all one and twos. 5 hits, 5 infantry stands gone in a flash. We did not get a picture in time and we chose not to recreate the roll. Those two rolls outshined Rob's bazooka team that could not roll anything else but a 6. Tank terror - 6. To hit - 6. FP on the bazooka - 6 please! I think he had two straight assaults where he kept rolling sixes. I just hope he is on the otherside of the table when the law of averages kick in!
My theory on dice - they can hurt good tactics, but only to a degree. But they can certainly help poor tactics! In fact, I think they help poor tactics more than they hurt good tactics. But you still need to roll like a freak of nature.
Oh, I bought Force on Force from Osprey. These are the Ambush Alley rules all "gussied up." Modern 15mm. Hummm. Can anyone say Abrams please!! I am tired of playing with crappy American tanks. I NEED REVENGE!!!! My wife rolled her eyes thinking of $$ flying out the window. This fall I think I will put together some M1A2s and T-55 / T-72 from Iraq. Quick little game based on a scenario in the rule book. Could be a good demo game.
Inappropriate Question of the Month: My dad asking me how much money I have spent on FoW. All in. Models, paint, rules, books, templates, storage, weathering pigments, glue, tape measures, dice and markers, washes, airbrush, compressor, files and knives, terrain, buildings, bridges, game mats, scale logs for gun pits, pre-painted entrenchment markers, etc. Ouch. I gave him an answer, but it was grossly understated. Yet still a big number. I comment every week to my LGS owners (still can't say enough about The Last Square in Madison - check them out!!) that paint is my crack habit. I always walk out with more paint. BUT I DO USE IT!!! Based on comments from friends, my unbuilt list is actually rather small. So I do make progress on what I buy. I am still amazed that I have taken to the painting as much as I have. It does tend to relax me. If you really want to barf up a lung, ask yourself that same question.
Sorry kids, not college for you. But have you seen my 15,000 points of Soviets?!?!?! Or my scale recreation of Kursk?? Ouch indeed.
Monday, May 9, 2011
All-Star List
What if you could create a list without regard to TO&E lists? What if you could have Armored Rifles supported by Panzer IVs and calling in Typhoons? What about American 76mm? Or being able to field M12 155mm SP arty without having to pay for the 105s?
That is exactly the question that has been asked. As I posted earlier, there is some talk about a tourney setup that would do just that.
So what would you do?
The only "rule" is that your Company Commander and one (1) combat platoon have to be "legal." Otherwise, all options are available.
So let's have it! Here is a chance to make whatever you want!!
That is exactly the question that has been asked. As I posted earlier, there is some talk about a tourney setup that would do just that.
So what would you do?
The only "rule" is that your Company Commander and one (1) combat platoon have to be "legal." Otherwise, all options are available.
So let's have it! Here is a chance to make whatever you want!!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Compressor arrived!
I have been travelling for work over the last 4 days and while I was away, my compressor arrived. I am ready to put this badboy to work. I will try to provide a report in the coming week as to my success with regulated pressure. I have very high expectations!
The only hurdle is that my father is coming to visit. Of course that is not a problem at all! It will just take some time away from painting. But who knows, he is a history geek and maybe I can convince him to inhale fumes with me.
I also received a note from Joe (Keamma in the FOW forums). We are getting ready to propose another tournament. But he has presented an amazing idea:
1750 late war, split 1,250, with two additional forces at 250 each.
Choose your Company HQ and then add a single (one) combat platoon from the same "list."
Then go nuts!! No other TOE limits. In fact, you are required to have at least one additional nationality in the list. You will get additional tournament points if you have 3 or more. Only rule is that nations that share national rules do not count as separate (for example Commonwealth are all one "nation" in the tournament).
Boy has my head been spinning. Stuarts, with Panzer IVs, with Russian Strelk, with Typhoons!! Oh my.
I have started to narrow on Brit armor - Cromwells, with US FSSF as infantry and possibly Soviet 76mm Shermans. Maybe some Falshimjeager (is that how you spell it?!??!) in support as well. Then Typhoons or Sturmoviks. Dare I go with an 88??
Any and all comments welcome!
The only hurdle is that my father is coming to visit. Of course that is not a problem at all! It will just take some time away from painting. But who knows, he is a history geek and maybe I can convince him to inhale fumes with me.
I also received a note from Joe (Keamma in the FOW forums). We are getting ready to propose another tournament. But he has presented an amazing idea:
1750 late war, split 1,250, with two additional forces at 250 each.
Choose your Company HQ and then add a single (one) combat platoon from the same "list."
Then go nuts!! No other TOE limits. In fact, you are required to have at least one additional nationality in the list. You will get additional tournament points if you have 3 or more. Only rule is that nations that share national rules do not count as separate (for example Commonwealth are all one "nation" in the tournament).
Boy has my head been spinning. Stuarts, with Panzer IVs, with Russian Strelk, with Typhoons!! Oh my.
I have started to narrow on Brit armor - Cromwells, with US FSSF as infantry and possibly Soviet 76mm Shermans. Maybe some Falshimjeager (is that how you spell it?!??!) in support as well. Then Typhoons or Sturmoviks. Dare I go with an 88??
Any and all comments welcome!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Getting Ready for Adepticon
Well, not much done on the painting front. I have been out of town and not able to get any painting done. My airbrush is a little broken right now, so I have a replacement on the way. I am tempted with upgrading my airbrush, but that will have to wait for a bit. For the record, I have a Badger Crescendo 175. It is good for the basics and I can get a fairly small line. I would love to get an Iwata HP-BH, which looks like an amazing airbrush. My biggest problem is that I cannot get a narrow enough line to do "pre-shading" on my armor panels at 15mm. I can do the highlighting on the panels themselves, but not the panel lines. The Iwata looks like (and sounds like from the forums) that it can do that very well. But it is very, very pricy - so I will wait.
So my British armor and Typhoons sit awaiting a basecoat.
But I did get my army list ready for Adepticon. It is a midwar tournament, 900 points. With the 900 point limit, I only need one combat platoon. I struggled with my list and asked several people for some input. I wanted to go traditional American Armor, but at 900 points you really run into a problem with the actual number of platoons. I then thought about a tank company with Stuarts leading the way, but the same problem existed. So I went with what I think will be a popular build - American Armored Rifles.
900 points gets you:
CiC and 2iC comamnd carbine teams, with a M3 HT + .50 cal and a jeep
Armored Rifles: 5 squads, command rifle, bazooka, 2 LMG, 60mm mortar, with 2 M3 HT + .50 cal and 3 M3 HT with AAMG
Armored Mortars: Comamnd carbine, M2 HT and 3 81mm mortars on M3 HT with .50 cal
Tank Platoon: 3 Shermans + Reb Jackson
Tank Platoon: 4 Stuarts
4 Platoons. I like the list as it gives me a little of everything. I don't like the fact that it seems like I am trying to do too much. But 900 is not 1,250. I would feel a little more comfortable running straight armor if I could have squeezed in more platoons.
So if you are going to Adepticon in Chicago, you now know the details of one list!
I will be testing it against Joe tomorrow night. It is too late to change now, but I would like to see how it plays. We will see!
So my British armor and Typhoons sit awaiting a basecoat.
But I did get my army list ready for Adepticon. It is a midwar tournament, 900 points. With the 900 point limit, I only need one combat platoon. I struggled with my list and asked several people for some input. I wanted to go traditional American Armor, but at 900 points you really run into a problem with the actual number of platoons. I then thought about a tank company with Stuarts leading the way, but the same problem existed. So I went with what I think will be a popular build - American Armored Rifles.
900 points gets you:
CiC and 2iC comamnd carbine teams, with a M3 HT + .50 cal and a jeep
Armored Rifles: 5 squads, command rifle, bazooka, 2 LMG, 60mm mortar, with 2 M3 HT + .50 cal and 3 M3 HT with AAMG
Armored Mortars: Comamnd carbine, M2 HT and 3 81mm mortars on M3 HT with .50 cal
Tank Platoon: 3 Shermans + Reb Jackson
Tank Platoon: 4 Stuarts
4 Platoons. I like the list as it gives me a little of everything. I don't like the fact that it seems like I am trying to do too much. But 900 is not 1,250. I would feel a little more comfortable running straight armor if I could have squeezed in more platoons.
So if you are going to Adepticon in Chicago, you now know the details of one list!
I will be testing it against Joe tomorrow night. It is too late to change now, but I would like to see how it plays. We will see!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
AAR - FoW Mid War Tournament - The Last Square, Madison, WI
Just finished up my second tournament ever and make a good showing.
So let me set the stage:
Mid war - 1,500 points, split into 3 task groups. White is 1,000 points and must be a legal build. Red and Blue are 250 points each. No splitting of points across each task group. 3 games, random missions chosen from Encounter, Free for All, Fighting Withdrawl and one other that we didn't use and I don't remember.
I brought American armor, which is CT.
White:
2 75mm Shermans (CiC and 2iC)
4 75mm Shermans
4 M5 Stuarts
1 Recon Section (Tank), which is 2 rifle teams, command carbine, M2 Half track and 2 unarmed jeeps)
Blue:
1 Recon Section (Tank) mirrored exactly like above
1 Armored Field Artillery Battery - 3 M7 Priests
Red:
1 Armored Rifle Platoon - normal with 3 rifle teams and bazooka swapping out for 37mm gun
1 Sporadic air from Warhawks (I proxied my P-47s)
Round One:
Played Ben, who is a young player in our normal league. He fielded a german grenadier company. The mission was Encounter. Ugg. But we had all 1,500 points on the table. I was defender, he was attacker. He could only bring in 2 platoons and I could field 3. He ended up putting down a platoon of 3 Marders, a Tiger e and grenadier platoon (Tiger was the CiC). I put down armored rifle, Stuarts and Shermans. Recons (both) and Priests were in reserve. From my view, he went Marders on the left objective, grenadiers in the middle protecting the other objective and the Tiger on a slope with a line right down the road. I didn't realize it then, but Tiger had a shot on my Shermans. I had placed an objective on my end behind a river and put the armored rifles on it. Stewies were on the other side of the river and the Shermans were in the middle. Picture below shows the end.
Turn 1:
He moved his Marders up on a hill and killed a Stewie. Uh oh. His Tiger had a shot at a Sherman due to poor placement (recurring theme) and killed it. Stormtroopered his Marders back, but due to an aggressive first move, he could only get one below the hill.
On my turn, I rolled for air and got 2 planes. I rushed the Marders with the Stewies and I was able to get a shot in. My CiC came along for the ride too. I ended up bailing one of the Marders. I moved the Shermans into the village and hid from the "big kitty." Planes came in and... wiped out the Marders. Literally. That was pivotal because the whole left side was empty. Now it was a race to the objective and the Tiger had to pivot over. Could I get there before reserves on 3?
Turn 2:
Race is on. Tiger moved over. Somewhere, he bailed my CiC from a Tiger shot by missing FP to kill.
On my turn I double timed the Stewies to contest. I then had to aggressively move the Shermans towards the Tiger, including putting my 2iC 1 inch away.
Turn 3:
Big roll - his reserves. No! He took the shots at the Stewies and only managed one hit. Bye bye Stewie. But he could not get to the objective and he could not get enough hits on the Stewies to force a morale check.
My turn 3, I have an objective and the game is over.
6-1 Victory, but I only killed one platoon and lost zero.
Round 2:
Up against Dave from Chicago playing Finns. I can't tell you the specifics, but he had nasty troops with super deadly Anti-Tank rating, 2 mortar platoons (122 and 80 somethings) and 2 KV-1 or 2s. Can't remember.
Mission was Fighting Withdrawl and we could field White group and either Red or Blue. I went with Priest / Recon task force and kept the planes and the armored rifle platoon out of the game. I was the attacker.
I spread out the objectives as much as possible. He decided to place all of his infantry in the woods. He had his nasty anti-tank infantry on my left and his KVs on my right. What was key to this game is that he decided to defend the table length that we had placed our stuff on while getting ready. Afterward we both agreed that he should have switched sides with me. His second mistake was that due to terrain, I actually had a path to the KVs that limited his vision.
I don't remember the details of the game too much, but I did an "American Sherman Bull Rush" up the right flank and sent the Stewies up the middle to keep his infantry in the woods. After two turns, I was able to close in on the KVs. Untimely rolls (good for me) on his armor saves and by turn 4, I had both KVs destroyed. He tried a last ditch assault, but the Sherman's and Stewie's machine guns were just too much and the resulting pin ended the game.
Another 6-1 Victory, but I only killed 1 platoon and zero lost
I do have to say that Dave was one of the nicest, most sporting people I have played against. He made the game a pleasure.
Round 3:
Mission was Free for All and only used the White (1,000) group. I drew Caleb from MN. He was the best of the 7-7 group. Since I had killed 2 platoons and lost 0 in 2 games, I was in 3rd. Two other players were 12-2, but they had killed more platoons. Joe made a comment that I was "too efficient in winning." Darn!
Caleb had 2 platoons of german pioneers and a platoon of various Panzer IIIs. By the way, how do you German players keep up with the 267 different types of tanks!!
Turned out to be a great game, but I made two massively stupid mistakes and I wish we could go again. I had to play for the 6-1 win to stand any chance of getting the tourney win and qualify for USA Nationals.
Mistake 1: I placed my Stewies where the Panzers could see on a long range shot. Dorkus that I am hung my Platoon Leader out on the edge. Gone. Destroyed. Now I can't move them.
Mistake 2: I am an idiot and did not remember the rule about CiC or 2iC "choosing" a new platoon leader.
So because of those two mistakes, my Stewies are pill boxes. My Shermans made a game of it and caught 3 of the 4 panzers in the open with side shots. All 3 gone. Caleb failed the Platoon morale check, but the darn Company Commander saved him. I was unable to get the last panzer. Since I was playing for the win, I had to get aggressive with the tanks. His pioneers were sitting on the objectives and dug in. I got too close and learned how nasty flame throwers can be. 3 Shermans gone in the assault, but the Platoon Leader passed the Platoon morale check. I lost the 2iC earlier in the game and by Turn 8, he was shifting the pioneer teams across the board to get his objective and along the way took out my last Shermans. With stationary Stewies, we shook hands.
1-6 Loss.
I did not get a picture of the last game.
So, 13-8 after being at 12-2. But not bad for my second tourney.
On a related note, I did win best painted army!!
I want to thank Joe for setting up the tourney and for Bev & Karl at The Last Square for hosting the event.
Here are a few pictures!
So let me set the stage:
Mid war - 1,500 points, split into 3 task groups. White is 1,000 points and must be a legal build. Red and Blue are 250 points each. No splitting of points across each task group. 3 games, random missions chosen from Encounter, Free for All, Fighting Withdrawl and one other that we didn't use and I don't remember.
I brought American armor, which is CT.
White:
2 75mm Shermans (CiC and 2iC)
4 75mm Shermans
4 M5 Stuarts
1 Recon Section (Tank), which is 2 rifle teams, command carbine, M2 Half track and 2 unarmed jeeps)
Blue:
1 Recon Section (Tank) mirrored exactly like above
1 Armored Field Artillery Battery - 3 M7 Priests
Red:
1 Armored Rifle Platoon - normal with 3 rifle teams and bazooka swapping out for 37mm gun
1 Sporadic air from Warhawks (I proxied my P-47s)
Round One:
Played Ben, who is a young player in our normal league. He fielded a german grenadier company. The mission was Encounter. Ugg. But we had all 1,500 points on the table. I was defender, he was attacker. He could only bring in 2 platoons and I could field 3. He ended up putting down a platoon of 3 Marders, a Tiger e and grenadier platoon (Tiger was the CiC). I put down armored rifle, Stuarts and Shermans. Recons (both) and Priests were in reserve. From my view, he went Marders on the left objective, grenadiers in the middle protecting the other objective and the Tiger on a slope with a line right down the road. I didn't realize it then, but Tiger had a shot on my Shermans. I had placed an objective on my end behind a river and put the armored rifles on it. Stewies were on the other side of the river and the Shermans were in the middle. Picture below shows the end.
Turn 1:
He moved his Marders up on a hill and killed a Stewie. Uh oh. His Tiger had a shot at a Sherman due to poor placement (recurring theme) and killed it. Stormtroopered his Marders back, but due to an aggressive first move, he could only get one below the hill.
On my turn, I rolled for air and got 2 planes. I rushed the Marders with the Stewies and I was able to get a shot in. My CiC came along for the ride too. I ended up bailing one of the Marders. I moved the Shermans into the village and hid from the "big kitty." Planes came in and... wiped out the Marders. Literally. That was pivotal because the whole left side was empty. Now it was a race to the objective and the Tiger had to pivot over. Could I get there before reserves on 3?
Turn 2:
Race is on. Tiger moved over. Somewhere, he bailed my CiC from a Tiger shot by missing FP to kill.
On my turn I double timed the Stewies to contest. I then had to aggressively move the Shermans towards the Tiger, including putting my 2iC 1 inch away.
Turn 3:
Big roll - his reserves. No! He took the shots at the Stewies and only managed one hit. Bye bye Stewie. But he could not get to the objective and he could not get enough hits on the Stewies to force a morale check.
My turn 3, I have an objective and the game is over.
6-1 Victory, but I only killed one platoon and lost zero.
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| End of the game |
Round 2:
Up against Dave from Chicago playing Finns. I can't tell you the specifics, but he had nasty troops with super deadly Anti-Tank rating, 2 mortar platoons (122 and 80 somethings) and 2 KV-1 or 2s. Can't remember.
Mission was Fighting Withdrawl and we could field White group and either Red or Blue. I went with Priest / Recon task force and kept the planes and the armored rifle platoon out of the game. I was the attacker.
I spread out the objectives as much as possible. He decided to place all of his infantry in the woods. He had his nasty anti-tank infantry on my left and his KVs on my right. What was key to this game is that he decided to defend the table length that we had placed our stuff on while getting ready. Afterward we both agreed that he should have switched sides with me. His second mistake was that due to terrain, I actually had a path to the KVs that limited his vision.
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| Start - after Recon |
I don't remember the details of the game too much, but I did an "American Sherman Bull Rush" up the right flank and sent the Stewies up the middle to keep his infantry in the woods. After two turns, I was able to close in on the KVs. Untimely rolls (good for me) on his armor saves and by turn 4, I had both KVs destroyed. He tried a last ditch assault, but the Sherman's and Stewie's machine guns were just too much and the resulting pin ended the game.
Another 6-1 Victory, but I only killed 1 platoon and zero lost
I do have to say that Dave was one of the nicest, most sporting people I have played against. He made the game a pleasure.
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| End of Game - pinned on the assault, we did not move them back |
Round 3:
Mission was Free for All and only used the White (1,000) group. I drew Caleb from MN. He was the best of the 7-7 group. Since I had killed 2 platoons and lost 0 in 2 games, I was in 3rd. Two other players were 12-2, but they had killed more platoons. Joe made a comment that I was "too efficient in winning." Darn!
Caleb had 2 platoons of german pioneers and a platoon of various Panzer IIIs. By the way, how do you German players keep up with the 267 different types of tanks!!
Turned out to be a great game, but I made two massively stupid mistakes and I wish we could go again. I had to play for the 6-1 win to stand any chance of getting the tourney win and qualify for USA Nationals.
Mistake 1: I placed my Stewies where the Panzers could see on a long range shot. Dorkus that I am hung my Platoon Leader out on the edge. Gone. Destroyed. Now I can't move them.
Mistake 2: I am an idiot and did not remember the rule about CiC or 2iC "choosing" a new platoon leader.
So because of those two mistakes, my Stewies are pill boxes. My Shermans made a game of it and caught 3 of the 4 panzers in the open with side shots. All 3 gone. Caleb failed the Platoon morale check, but the darn Company Commander saved him. I was unable to get the last panzer. Since I was playing for the win, I had to get aggressive with the tanks. His pioneers were sitting on the objectives and dug in. I got too close and learned how nasty flame throwers can be. 3 Shermans gone in the assault, but the Platoon Leader passed the Platoon morale check. I lost the 2iC earlier in the game and by Turn 8, he was shifting the pioneer teams across the board to get his objective and along the way took out my last Shermans. With stationary Stewies, we shook hands.
1-6 Loss.
I did not get a picture of the last game.
So, 13-8 after being at 12-2. But not bad for my second tourney.
On a related note, I did win best painted army!!
I want to thank Joe for setting up the tourney and for Bev & Karl at The Last Square for hosting the event.
Here are a few pictures!
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| Mike (right) who did qualify for USA Nationals this past Fall. |
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| Joe (center right) - Thanks for being the host and ref!! |
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| Best painted. Explosion markers will be on the post tomorrow! |
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Current and Future Forces
I currently field a USA Tank Company, usually the 2nd or 3rd Armored as found in Cobra. I have just completed a full company of First Special Services Forces (Devil's Brigade) and I have British Airlanding about to enter the painting table. My personal criteria for units in Flames of War is based on very personal experience and family relationships. My wife's uncle was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in the Devil's Bridage. I have had the honor of visiting the Normandy Beaches twice, including Pont du Hoc, Pegasus Bridge and St. Mare Eglise. It is a trip that I encourage all to take. So that should explain my force selections. And I will be busy painting for the next 12 months.
Already completed:
11 M4 Shermans (75mm) to serve as CiC, 2iC, Platoons
7 M4 Shermans (76mm)
1 Armored Rifle Platoon
1 Armored Mortar Platoon
1 AOP
1 Full Section of P-47s
1 M12 155mm SP Platoon
10 Jeeps (recon, mortar, etc.)
1 M10 Tank Destroyer Platoon (full)
10 M3 Half tracks
5 M5 Stewarts
1 Armored Field Battery (M7) Platoon
In process:
1 105mm Field Artillery Battery
1 M1 Heavy Anti-aircraft Artillery Platoon
1 Armored Rifle Platoon
1 Dismounted MG crews
1 Fire Direction Center
2 2 1/2 Ton Trucks
1 DUKW Section (with a twist)
Awaiting Work:
1 Typhoon Section
1 British Airlanding Artillery
1 British Airlanding Heavy Anti-Tank Platoon
1 British Airlanding Company (Pegasus Bridge)
1 British Armored Platoon (Shermans)
Various objectives, terrain, buildings, etc.
Here are some pictures:
I admit that I have challenges getting all the mold lines off the tank barrels. Of course, I hope no one is looking from 3 inches away during a game!
Already completed:
11 M4 Shermans (75mm) to serve as CiC, 2iC, Platoons
7 M4 Shermans (76mm)
1 Armored Rifle Platoon
1 Armored Mortar Platoon
1 AOP
1 Full Section of P-47s
1 M12 155mm SP Platoon
10 Jeeps (recon, mortar, etc.)
1 M10 Tank Destroyer Platoon (full)
10 M3 Half tracks
5 M5 Stewarts
1 Armored Field Battery (M7) Platoon
In process:
1 105mm Field Artillery Battery
1 M1 Heavy Anti-aircraft Artillery Platoon
1 Armored Rifle Platoon
1 Dismounted MG crews
1 Fire Direction Center
2 2 1/2 Ton Trucks
1 DUKW Section (with a twist)
Awaiting Work:
1 Typhoon Section
1 British Airlanding Artillery
1 British Airlanding Heavy Anti-Tank Platoon
1 British Airlanding Company (Pegasus Bridge)
1 British Armored Platoon (Shermans)
Various objectives, terrain, buildings, etc.
Here are some pictures:
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| Armored Company |
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| Tank Destroyers! |
I admit that I have challenges getting all the mold lines off the tank barrels. Of course, I hope no one is looking from 3 inches away during a game!
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