Saturday, April 15, 2023

Advanced Squad Leader: BFP-138: Outgunned!

 Played this one with Tycho.  A very fun scenario even though I messed up the VC yet again...  Highly recommended.

The Poles get crappy tanks, the Russians too AND all of the Russian vehicles are inexperienced.  This guy would be a better Tank Commander.



The setup.  The Poles have to get across the stream for VP or capture the buildings or kill Russians.  A total of 50+ points for the win.  I had it in my head they had to get off the board for the points, not just on the other side of the stream...



End of turn 1.  The Poles have those extra crappy French tanks of WWI vintage.  Speeds of 8 and 5...


End of turn 2.  The Russian tanks on the right would fire MGs all game and not do a thing (oops, I think they caused a MC that broke a squad one time).  The +1 for crappy leadership is brutal.  This is also the only game I remember where I lost more vehicle crews than vehicles.  Two immobilized tanks had their crews bail out and get shot dead.  The 76mm gun truck was fired upon and the crew rolled boxcars for the MC.  For their part the fastest French tanks stopped, tried to start and rolled boxcars and then both ended up immobilized.

Then it sinks in.  Why are the Poles not going for the exit VP?




HEY!  The Poles only have to get across the stream and they have the last half game turn too - all they have to do is advance out of the stream and I can't stop them!  Bum Rush!

Thinking back I should have had the tanks simply move to where they could fire on the Polish tanks and the 76mm should probably have stayed put.  As it was my troops did far better then they deserved.  On the right my 7-1, squad and LMG moved right next to a Polish squad and leader.  Poles missed and the Russians took them out.  Most of the rest of my troops managed to make it adjacent or into CC as well.  When the Polish tanks went out of the stream they had just enough points for the win.  One less tank living (took out one with the HMG) would have been a Russian win.



Maybe I will refresh on the VC instead of relying on memory from a couple weeks back in my next game, by what start now?

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Fireball Forward: Stiffening Resistance (Game two)

 Started a second round of Stiffening Resistance on Tabletop Simulator.  We finished up to the end of turn 3 in 2.5 hours.  Not bad since it includes setup and rules reading time.


The situation at the end of turn 3.  The Germans are taking lumps.  Blind fire into the buildings by the UK resulted in a lot more Morale Checks for the Germans then averages would allow.  One tank rolled double red sixes when fast moving for instance.  One UK halftrack is down and the Germans have lost a squad and 3 Halftracks.  The one with the 75mm is still in the game though.

First Blood!  The Germans got the first kill in the game - which was quickly followed by the Germans losing their unit as well.