Tanks! Redux

Watched Dunkirk the other night.  Not the new one, the good one.

Duly inspired, I dug out my 1/100 armor with accompanying terrain, and set up a mini-campaign for Tanks!.

Basic premise was a pack of misfit British armor, caught up in the backwash of the Arras counterattack, tries to get to the coast.  Set up random parameters for German opposition, and British crew capabilities.

Since the campaign was “based on a true story”, the rag-tags had an interesting set of crew skills and helpful equipment.  These add-ons provide the abilities to shrug off misfortunes of all kinds. The Germans were faceless, robotic drones.

The tricky part was what each force could see, and if they saw something, how/could that information be communicated.  Did some basic research on tank radios and found there is not that much out there.  So, just had some fun with it, using yes/no, directional, and other random dice.

The British had an armored car for scouting; an A12 Cruiser,  a Mk 1 Matilda and a Mk 2 Matilda.  The German mix could include Pz II, III or IVs.

The unintended consequence of all of this was another trip into the world of computer graphic design.  I’d designed some Tanks! cards with GIMP in the past, but had lost all of my chops.  Downloaded a template over a Boardgamegeek, and  floundered.  Wound up using my old mock-up cards.  Hopefully, I’ll continue to slog away at the new cards.

Again, it’s a real challenge to resist ginning up too many house rules.  Sure, I had to make spot judgments on backing up, Matilda frontal armor and others, but resisted the need to codify them.  Here’s photos of the first two scenarios.  Lots of Hide N’ Seek trying to work through woods along roads/side roads.

Had to pick up this AM.  I’m thinking coastal operations later in the week, or Heroes of Normandie.

Underrated Fun

Quick and semi-gratuitous post.  Set Fistful of Lead up on the dining table.  Couple of shootouts.

Can’t recommend this rule set enough.  Easy to read through, and the Play Aid Sheet covers about 95 percent of what you can run into.

Just turn the little guys loose, and see what kind of mischief ensues.  Only level of control I impose is whether or not they can see/are aware of what’s going on around them.  For that, I use the trusty “Yes/No” die.

This Spring – if that ever gets here – one project is to assemble some paper buildings.

Unintended Consequences

Put together the Army Rosters and rolled for Commander and Staff  characteristics.

Wanted to play a quality (Ottomans) versus quantity (Local) scenario, with both  forces built using an equal number of points,  and using the same terrain as last time.  Why same terrain?  I want to see if that defensive position can be forced.   The attacking Ottomans do have an advantage as the Locals don’t have as many shot or archaic missile (bow) units as the previous game’s defenders.

However…………

The Ottomans have a real leadership problem.  The dice dictated an Inexperienced Lord that is also Cowardly.  His staff has an Incompetent Physician.  These are a lot of negative DRM modifiers.    On the other hand, he is considered Dashing.  All that means is that he can get into trouble quicker.  This all begs the question, “How did someone like this get command”?  Well, it does happen, and we will see what Bey Osker Boz can do.

On the other hand, or side of the hill, the Local Commander, Taaj el-Burki, has no strengths or weaknesses, but does have a Bad Gunner on his staff.  But, since his force has no artillery, it’s of no consequence.

Here’s a photo of the Army Rosters Sheet.  Before I get started, I’ll have to come up with a name for the “Local” place.  I’ll go over the “Game Modifiers” in my next post.

Movement Or Motion?

Decided to get the new Ottomans on the table, so focus for the Irregular Wars campaign will shift to the North.

Working premise is fighting for control of a port in/about Aden between Ottomans and Local Bey.  This involves creating some new characters.

I stumbled on an old post while revisiting my fragmented methodology.  What I had scribbled down or previously posted didn’t reflect my currenting thinking, so I set about reinventing the wheel.

The basis of all this is the game’s Chance Cards, but modified to provide solo campaign variability for The Lord (Commander), his Staff, and a specific battle.

Here’s a link to the revised chart.  I’ll be working with it later today.

At Last

After finishing up the Italian Wars and Husaria figures in early January, I decided to get on with it and take care of the last of my  15mm Ottomans.  I was on a painting roll, and they were the last of my projects.

Yes, the last.  I may augment what I have, but that’s it for any large scale endeavours.  I know;  Never Say Never….

Here they are.  Now, they won’t stay in a cardboard flat.  Gave that up some years ago.  Hundreds of dollars in figures and countless hours of work left in flimsy cardboard.  No, they’ll go into a tool box.  A nice home….They’ll make excellent opponents for my late Medieval/Early Renaissance (@1450 CE) Europeans.

Going to give painting/constructing  a rest for awhile.  Work on my East Africa Renaissance Campaign, as well as get out some skirmish figures and terrain that need to see the light of day.

Action At Neo – The Battle

It ended so quickly.  What some might find to be the weakness of the Irregular Wars’ rule set was on full display during this action.

Over at Boardgamegeek, there’s a on-going (and increasingly pedantic) thread discussing fog of war and randomness.  While Irregular Wars doesn’t have much in the way of fog, it certainly can provide plenty of randomness.

First off, the tidy initial dispositions featured in the previous post were immediately disrupted by the designed randomness of the Disease and Mishaps die rolls.

Some companies pushed forward, led by over-enthusiastic Captains.  Others formed up ravaged by disease, with reduced Resolve (companies with black die).

It took a couple of turns for the attacking Sanwanians to sort themselves out and advance towards the Neons.  Their attack plan called for Archers to neutralize the Neon center, while Warriors assaulted the small ridgeline on their right.  The flanked Neons would then be subjected to a general assault.

However,  Neon archery took its toll.  After several exchanges, many Sanwanian units were wavering (red dice).  And, it only took one misplaced Company’s (left within archery range) scattering to unhinge the Sanwanian center and left.  Again, a Scattering Company reduces the Resolve of any friendly unit within 80mm (2U)by one.  Wavering companies are down to their last Resolve.  They lose that, they Scatter.  And, that’s what happened – en masse.

The companies facing to the rear are those that scattered in just one turn.  Here’s what the battlefield looked like after they were removed.

While the Sanwanian Warriors on the right made a last valiant effort to close with the Neon Archers, the latter companies were able to disengage.  The Warriors withdrew.

A notable victory for  Neo, with all due credit to the help provided by Bey Mahir of Behefe.

Action At Neo – Initial Dispositions

The stage has been set for battle between the Sanwanians and Neons.

Quick note:  I have capitalized game-specific terms/usages.

The Neons made the most of the short time they had to prepare.   Much of the credit for the ability of the peaceful Neons to resist goes to the Lord of the Behefian forces sent to their aid.

Bey Heydar (or The Lion) is an Experienced  and Heroic Persian mercenary (receiving a positive die roll for Initiative and also when his Company is in Melee).  He has brought with him three companies of Persian Archers and one of Shot,  along with two companies of  mercenary Warriors.  His staff includes one of Behefe’s most experienced Physicians (this is a positive modifier when rolling for Disease and Mishaps after initial deployment(s)).

Recognizing the Neons lack of combat experience, Heydar’s preparations  focused on a Neon strength; hunting.   The majority of the Neon contingent received intensive  Archers training, with  one Company of young men to be used as Warriors.

The nominal Lord of the Neons is Sisay (or Good Omen).  He has excellent Local Knowledge and is an Inspiring Lord (receiving a positive modifier when rallying companies).  However, he is Inexperienced and Cowardly (these two traits will result in negative modifiers when he rolls for Initiative and if/when in Melee with his Company).

The Sanwanians are led by Tamrat (or Miracle).  His  distinguished conduct in the recent  victory over Kattego made him  the logical choice to lead this large force,  with includes a  solid Veteran contingent.  He is Heroic and  Experienced.  His only shortcoming is Rash behavior in the field (increasing his chances of being killed in melee).

The Sanwanians are once again accompanied by their  adopted Wandering Mystic (Shaman in game terms), Kibwe Nkruma.  He is counted on to bolster the Resolve of any Wavering companies.

Photos of the summary sheet for the battle, and initial dispositions before rolling for Disease and Mishaps are shown below.  The dispositions are oriented North/South (Top/Bottom), with Neons in the North.

 

New Leader….New Enemy

What a difference a victory makes.  The otherwise peaceful Sanwanians, reveling in their marital prowess and emboldened by the exhortations of Kibwe Nkruma, are now coveting the rich grazing lands surrounding the village of Neo.

The visionary (some say psychotic)  Nkruma convinced Sanwa’s Council of Elders  the unexpected victory  was proof the village’s destiny is that of greatness and accompanying wealth.  To ignore their providential good fortune would invite disaster at the hands of  Shango, God of Fire and Lightning.

The Council agreed that with Kattego weakened there would be plenty of time  to attack North and subjugate Neo.  Once accomplished, Kattego would be attacked and brought under Sawanian control.

These two villages would provide new-found riches in crops, herds and slaves.  They  would also serve as buffers against aggression from coastal towns.

Council members opposing this plan were given the choice of compliance, death or exile.  One chose exile, but fearing for his and his family’s lives regardless of promises of safe passage, fled  to Neo.

The Neons were shocked and dismayed by his news and abrupt turn of events.  They had lived in peace for as long as anyone could remember and had no experience in warfare.

Desperate, they turned to the leader of Behefe, Bey Iman Mahir,  for protection.

He agreed to send soldiers to help defend Neo.  He wanted to stop the spread of this agitation before it affected his domain.  However, he also saw the possibilities of increased wealth.  So, there were terms.

The terrified Neons agreed to reduce the prices of goods sold to Behefian merchants, and to now pay annual tribute to  Bey Mahir.

Mahir’s small expeditionary force marched to Neo and began training the Neons for combat.

It’s All A Blur….Action At Sanwa: Part 2 – The Fight

I have a newfound admiration for gamers publishing quality After Action Reports (AARs).  I lack the discipline and ability to a)  systematically record what occurred and b) take quality photos to document the ebb and flow of the game.

My (weak and convenient) excuse is that I get all wrapped up in gameplay.

So, what follows is a semi-coherent, poorly documented account of The Action(s) at Sanwa.

It’s plural because I played the scenario twice.  As discussed in an earlier post, I was not satisfied by my adherence to the rules, and wanted to try again.

Both games had the same outcome:  A resounding Kattegoan defeat.  By design, the circumstances were similar.  By this, I mean that each side employed the same tactics in both games.  Again, the purpose of the replay was to get better with implementing the rules.

In that regard, the second game was a success.

The battlefield featured several areas of rough terrain, and a small hill dominating the west.  North is at the top of the photo.  The measuring stick has 40mm (company frontage) increments (referred to as units in RAW).

As defenders, the Sanwanians deployed first, with two Companies of Archers on the small hill, four Companies of Archers deployed just north of the rough terrain in the center, and with all  warrior companies to the east, and deployed in depth.  The Lord’s Company was positioned in the center along with one Company of Slavers.

The attacking Kattegoans reacted with a similar deployment.  Two Companies of Scouts holding down the left (west) flank, with three Companies of Archers and two Companies of Warriors in the center, with all others on the right flank.

A quick tactical note:  Deployment in depth is trickey.  Rules As Written (RAW) has a Wavering company (Resolve at one (1)) immediately retiring one (1) D3 movement units (in this game a unit=40mm) to its immediate rear.  Any Company it comes in contact with (there is no interpenetration in these rules) immediately loses one (1) Resolve.  If a unit reaches a Resolve of Zero (0), it Scatters.  Any Company within two (2) movement units immediately loses one (1) Resolve.  Companies stacked up and with low Resolve can literally evaporate in a single turn.  This is absolutely critical when Companies (as is the case with Tribal Warriors) start with a Resolve of only three (3), and maybe at  two (2), if effected by Disease.

Both sides moved out of their deployment areas, crossed their respective  lines of departure, and began exchanging ineffective missile fire.  Yes, some Companies took significant enough losses to retire, but they were quickly rallied and moved back to their original positions.

The Warriors of each side advanced towards each other, but stayed beyond charge distance hoping for a favorable outcome in the lengthy missile exchange.  The Kattegoans lost patience and moved within charge range (Three (3) Units) of their opponents.  They gambled on gaining the initiative for the next turn (“Lord” Oumar being an Experienced Lord with a +1D6 modifier when rolling for initiative).  If so,  they could charge and receive a +1 D6 combat modifier.   It was not to be.  The Sanwanians rolled higher, and attacked.

Both sides were locked in melee for several turns.   Melee in Irregular Wars is decided by comparative 1xD6 rolls.  If the difference in rolls is one (1) or two (2), the units remain engaged.  If the difference is three (3) to six (6), the loser suffers a loss in Resolve.  If greater than six (6), a loss of two (2) Resolves.  Now here is where things get interesting…..a tie results in a “Bloody Draw”, where both sides lose one (1) Resolve.

As mentioned above, when a Company reaches one (1) Resolve, it Wavers, and must withdraw 1xD3 units directly to the rear.  In a “Bloody Draw” with  Companies at a one (1), both Companies have to withdraw.  This creates a battlefield that cannot be characterized as “tidy”, and accounts for the seeming absence of linear frontages for both sides.

After as series of melees, the Kattegoans buckled (the Sanwanian Warriors have shields – well all except one Company).  Simultaneously, the Sanwanians moved reserves to engage the Kattegoan Archers.

Quick Note:  The cotton “smoke” indicates a firearm equipped Company  has fired and has yet to  reload.  Reloading takes one turn’s Action Phase.  In this photo, the firing Company includes Lord Oumar, who subsequently became very busy using his Company’s Action Phase to rally his Wavering Companies.  His Company took several turns rallying companies before it reloaded.

Oumar’s efforts were effective as his threatened flank stabilized.  A Pious Company (with the ability to rally due to their strong religious beliefs – and designated with a gold cube) is shown moving behind the Kattegoans in order to support the left flank.

The Sanwanians maintained their pressure on the Kattegoan right flank, pushing through resistance as the Kattegoan archers continue to be disrupted by missile fire and a flank attack.

As the Sanwanian Archers moved forward  to support the final assault, the Kattegoan flank collapsed.  Only a few companies were able to flee the field without Scattering.

End Game here was very similar to the first battle.  Here’s a few pictures of those final stages of Game Number One.

In this sequence, what remained of the Kattegoan right flank/center were hemmed in, and attempted a retreat to the Northwest. It is doubtful their pursuers will take the fleeing Slavers alive.were pursued by the Sanwanians.

Good, fun solitaire game with twists and turns.  Not for the Gamer looking for total control.

Now I have figure out the ramifications of this stunning victory.

Done…..Not Done

Classic miniature wargaming episode involving the ongoing struggle with my K&M trees.

The order arrived last week, so I set to work.  Quick service.

While not a “how to do”, because I am the last person to pose as an authority on the “crafty” part of the hobby, here’s a quick overview of the process used to get  the trees ready for the table.

The first step was to prime the bases, then paint with WalMart Burnt Umber.

Here’s the tools and materials for the rest of the job.  The trees in the background were from my first attempt as described in an earlier post.

A 3/32 bit was perfect for drilling out the bases.  I found the “as is” base hole to be just a bit too narrow for the threaded tree trunks.  The masking tape is approximately 4/10 inch wide.

Some of the trunks need to be shortened (so they wouldn’t protrude through the bottom of the base) and some bent, so a cutter and pliers was needed.

The tape was wound around the upper part of the trunk, so it (roughly) “matches up” with the trunk diameter of the base.

Before inserting the tree, I dabbed the exposed trunk and base with Superglue.  Held it for about 10 seconds in a (relatively) straight position.

Then I painted the taped portion of the trunk with Burnt Umber.

When all 25 of the trees were finished, I flocked the bases.

Done.

No.

I had added a package of 38mm trees to my order, thinking they would match up with my smaller trees.  Despite measuring, it was not the case.  Too small.  But, they were perfectly serviceable for my 15mm figures.  Well, those fellows need properly sized trees on their table, also.

So, another order.  The good news is that the smaller trees do not need tape for their trunks.  Just prime, paint, glue, flock.  We’ll see.