Some much needed transport and support firepower for my growing Panzergrenadier force
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Sunday, 25 August 2013
First outing - Chain of Command
I got together today with my good buddy Nick B from SADWC for a first game of Chain of Command so thought I'd post a few piccies and thoughts here rather than the traditional Batrep.
The Patrol Phase really gets you thinking! Both players take it in turn to move their patrol markers traying to gain an advantage on the choicest bits of the battlefield from which to take the fight to the enemy.
Once Patrol Markers come within 12" of an enemy marker both markers are 'locked down' and may not move anymore.
Once one sides markers are locked down both players deploy Jump Off Markers. These markers represent where your own troops may be placed on the battlefield once deployed by a senior commander.
The attacking player takes first phase and rolls a number of Chain of Command dice. The scores on the dice allow him to command either a team, section, a junior commander or a senior commander.
All dice that show 5's go into a Chain of Command Pool which once you have a chain of six points give you a Chain of Command Dice which opens a host of new tactical options you can use to thwart your enemy's plans.
If two 6's are rolled in the same Command Dice Roll you can sneak in an additional active phase, throw. Three 6's end the turn, whilst four 6's ened the turn and result in a random event.
Senior Commanders deploy troops onto the battlefield and both they and Junior Commanders activate teams and sections to carry out fire and movement, rallying, overwatch etc.
Players can use Tactical Movement to creep around making best use of available cover. They can move normally and can move 'at the double' - movement is randomised by multiples of D6.
Sections and weapons team can be put on overwatch and can give covering fire denying their enemy access to areas of the battlefield. Both tactics require successful orders from a commander. A very nice mechanic which prevents omnipotence and leaves you with proper command and control issues given the limited number of orders you might be able to make!
Firing can cause Shock as well as Casualties, often doing both! Close Combat is far slicker than other WW2 Skirmish games and whilst still very bloody, feels a far more relaistic representation.
All in all CoC is a very well thought out set of rules with lots of unique mechanisms which make command and control pivotal and central to game play. You really begin to feel a bit of the pressure commanders on the ground must have felt about which decisions are going to be the right ones.
Very, very enjoyable indeed.
The Patrol Phase really gets you thinking! Both players take it in turn to move their patrol markers traying to gain an advantage on the choicest bits of the battlefield from which to take the fight to the enemy.
Once Patrol Markers come within 12" of an enemy marker both markers are 'locked down' and may not move anymore.
Once one sides markers are locked down both players deploy Jump Off Markers. These markers represent where your own troops may be placed on the battlefield once deployed by a senior commander.
The attacking player takes first phase and rolls a number of Chain of Command dice. The scores on the dice allow him to command either a team, section, a junior commander or a senior commander.
All dice that show 5's go into a Chain of Command Pool which once you have a chain of six points give you a Chain of Command Dice which opens a host of new tactical options you can use to thwart your enemy's plans.
If two 6's are rolled in the same Command Dice Roll you can sneak in an additional active phase, throw. Three 6's end the turn, whilst four 6's ened the turn and result in a random event.
Senior Commanders deploy troops onto the battlefield and both they and Junior Commanders activate teams and sections to carry out fire and movement, rallying, overwatch etc.
 |
| Troops being deployed by a senior commander |
 |
| Tommy and Jerry creeping around the Bocage |
Sections and weapons team can be put on overwatch and can give covering fire denying their enemy access to areas of the battlefield. Both tactics require successful orders from a commander. A very nice mechanic which prevents omnipotence and leaves you with proper command and control issues given the limited number of orders you might be able to make!
 |
| A Tommy fire and manouvre drill expertly executed! |
Firing can cause Shock as well as Casualties, often doing both! Close Combat is far slicker than other WW2 Skirmish games and whilst still very bloody, feels a far more relaistic representation.
 |
| A Tommy Infantry section is decimated by fire from an MG42 before Jerry riflemen move in for the kill. Actually in the game the assualting Jerry rifle team was manhandled by the ubiquitous Tommies and wiped out to a man... |
All in all CoC is a very well thought out set of rules with lots of unique mechanisms which make command and control pivotal and central to game play. You really begin to feel a bit of the pressure commanders on the ground must have felt about which decisions are going to be the right ones.
 |
| Jerries Senior Commander in a bit of a pickle |
Very, very enjoyable indeed.
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
Both ends of the spectrum
I've been working really hard of late with barely a weekend off since I moved to the new job, however having time off during the week when the house is quiet I have rediscovered my mojo a bit and managed to find the inspiration to finish off some loose ends.
With the impending release of Too Fat Lardies Chain of Command, my main focus has been on getting lots of 28's out of the way so it was great to put the finishing touches to some Wehrmacht Command and a number of British armoured vehicles that had been languishing in the back of the cupboard.
I also have a 6mm game of Battlegroup Kursk lined up with a colleague so found some time and a few models knocking around that I had forgot I had and gave them a re-paint ahead of the game later this month.
With the impending release of Too Fat Lardies Chain of Command, my main focus has been on getting lots of 28's out of the way so it was great to put the finishing touches to some Wehrmacht Command and a number of British armoured vehicles that had been languishing in the back of the cupboard.
I also have a 6mm game of Battlegroup Kursk lined up with a colleague so found some time and a few models knocking around that I had forgot I had and gave them a re-paint ahead of the game later this month.
Thursday, 8 August 2013
Shingle Street Gentleman's Shooting Club
Finally got around to finishing these off (less a bit of work on the bases...) The Gentleman's Shooting Club of Shingle Street
Led by another veteran of the Great War, Captain W.L Simpson (MC) of (retd) , the Club is all set for a bit of 'Boche Bashing'. Pip! Pip!
Simpson was with the 2nd Battalion of the Suffolk's as part of the BEF seeing action near Mons and Le Cateau. Simpson remained with the Battalion throughout the war and was wounded in the second battle of Arras on the Wancourt-Tilly road in 1918.
Led by another veteran of the Great War, Captain W.L Simpson (MC) of (retd) , the Club is all set for a bit of 'Boche Bashing'. Pip! Pip!
Simpson was with the 2nd Battalion of the Suffolk's as part of the BEF seeing action near Mons and Le Cateau. Simpson remained with the Battalion throughout the war and was wounded in the second battle of Arras on the Wancourt-Tilly road in 1918.
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Breaking my summer duck
After almost four months of not raising a paintbrush in anger, i finally managed to find some time in between work and real life to get on with my 28mm WW2 projects.
My incentive is the impending release of Chain of Command by Too Fat Lardies.
First up, a Sherman and M3 Half Track to support my US Infantry.
My incentive is the impending release of Chain of Command by Too Fat Lardies.
First up, a Sherman and M3 Half Track to support my US Infantry.
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Shingle Street Nick
Spurred on by something a little different, here are the Boys in Blue from 'Shingle Street Nick', led by the ubiquitous Sergeant Kipling (DCM*), a WW1 veteran of some reknown.
Although Shingle Street in Suffolk is well known for mysterious goings on in 1940's Britain, it has become the backdrop for a fictitous Bolt Action mini-campaign which will see all sorts of wierd and wonderful units take on the might of the Wehrmacht in the fields of Britain's home counties following a full scale german invasion of England.
Next up, the Gentry, the landowners shooting club and their hounds!
*Distinguished Conduct Meadal
(Level 2 Gallantry Award)
Instituted on 4th December 1854.
The D.C.M. was the first official medal award to recognise an act of gallantry in the field by a member of the armed forces who was below the rank of officer. It was the other ranks' equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order.
The D.C.M. was awarded for gallantry in the field in the face of the enemy. Other ranks in the British Army and also non-commissioned ranks in Commonwealth Forces were eligible for this award.
The reverse of the medal bears the inscription “For Distinguished Conduct in the Field”. A bar carrying the date of a subsequent deed could be added to the ribbon until 1916 when the bar was changed to a laurel wreath. A recipient of the award is entitled to used the letters D.C.M. after their name.
The D.C.M. was discontinued as an award by the British Armed Forces in 1993, when the three awards of the D.S.O, the D.C.M. and the C.G.M. were replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is now the second level gallantry award for all ranks of the British Armed Forces.
Although Shingle Street in Suffolk is well known for mysterious goings on in 1940's Britain, it has become the backdrop for a fictitous Bolt Action mini-campaign which will see all sorts of wierd and wonderful units take on the might of the Wehrmacht in the fields of Britain's home counties following a full scale german invasion of England.
Next up, the Gentry, the landowners shooting club and their hounds!
*Distinguished Conduct Meadal
(Level 2 Gallantry Award)
Instituted on 4th December 1854.
The D.C.M. was the first official medal award to recognise an act of gallantry in the field by a member of the armed forces who was below the rank of officer. It was the other ranks' equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order.
The D.C.M. was awarded for gallantry in the field in the face of the enemy. Other ranks in the British Army and also non-commissioned ranks in Commonwealth Forces were eligible for this award.
The reverse of the medal bears the inscription “For Distinguished Conduct in the Field”. A bar carrying the date of a subsequent deed could be added to the ribbon until 1916 when the bar was changed to a laurel wreath. A recipient of the award is entitled to used the letters D.C.M. after their name.
The D.C.M. was discontinued as an award by the British Armed Forces in 1993, when the three awards of the D.S.O, the D.C.M. and the C.G.M. were replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is now the second level gallantry award for all ranks of the British Armed Forces.
Friday, 1 February 2013
More Bolt Action Germans
This time Heer from Warlord which I have been working on in the run up to Christmas. Seems to be a recurring theme this time of year - lots of people with missing painting mojo's.
These have been finished for a while but I just cant muster any energy to finish the basing off before varnishing.
On a more positive note there has been some progress on my LMP 2013 - nothing new painted but the collection has been added to and in true fashion my willpower lasted all of two weeks before a purchase not on my list of new purchases was made in the shape of Battlegroup Kursk which is getting rave reviews at the club.
I will find out this evening as I have a game lined up with my regular gaming buddy Nick B at SADWC
I bought the final bits and pices for my Irish SAGA warband and have today ordered some Artizan Long Arm of the Law minis and Woodbine Designs Gentlemen and Poachers.
Random purchase you might say, however there's method in the madness so to speak. Rather than collect more Late War British for Bolt Action, I am going for something slightly different and aiming to collect a Home Guard unit accompanied by armed civilians which can double up for AVBCW...
These have been finished for a while but I just cant muster any energy to finish the basing off before varnishing.
On a more positive note there has been some progress on my LMP 2013 - nothing new painted but the collection has been added to and in true fashion my willpower lasted all of two weeks before a purchase not on my list of new purchases was made in the shape of Battlegroup Kursk which is getting rave reviews at the club.
I will find out this evening as I have a game lined up with my regular gaming buddy Nick B at SADWC
I bought the final bits and pices for my Irish SAGA warband and have today ordered some Artizan Long Arm of the Law minis and Woodbine Designs Gentlemen and Poachers.
Random purchase you might say, however there's method in the madness so to speak. Rather than collect more Late War British for Bolt Action, I am going for something slightly different and aiming to collect a Home Guard unit accompanied by armed civilians which can double up for AVBCW...
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