Another Western desert dust up

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Oooh, just found a BKC battle report thread, must spam that out of existence then!       

Phillip and Martyn at the Leighton Buzzard club have been observing my games with Stephen Mark, Dave & David closely over the last few months, and when I asked Phillip whether he wanted a Napoleonics game, he said he really wanted to try BKC (and Martyn was invited to join in too, as he used to play back in the day with v.II), so we arranged a date. I put out two 1500 point combined forces lists and we played an encounter game so that they could enjoy learning the basic rules. We used the 'hits stay on' varient, and discussed the 'spread hits' system, but decided to keep fire at platoon for this game.

They chose to join together and play against me, using the Germans (better command stats, therefore easier to use), terrain was closed on one side, more open on the other. Both armoured groups headed to the open flank, while infantry headed through cover on the closer left. apart from a small selection of British infantry that wasn't keen on moving off that base line!


The infantry on both sides decided the best course of action was to take what limited shelter there was from the palm thickets, and Colonel Antrobus use HMGs and Mortars (or in the German case HMG and PaK36s) over the oasis to wear each other down.


In the middle, the German CinC takes over the Panzer IVDs and supporting infantry, while the British central infantry refuses to move. "The tea urn was not sufficently warmed. Until that pot is made properly, we are not leaving this spot!"


On the right, the German armour tears through the British, even though tthey were classed as being hull down. The British armoured second line refused to move, making our superiority in numbers pointless as the front line evaporated.


The middle British infantry finally moves, but blunders and drops their command staus by one, permenantly! He will soon be retired...
Meanwhile, Antrobus sent the two carrier platoons out wide to provide covering fire on the Germans in the scrub, reinforcing the support weapon's fire (as the Vickers guns were taking repeated hits from the German support weapons).


But all this cunning was not helping the armour, which, when it did move up into line, found a line of burned out hulks. The inferior numbered German tanks had systematically chewed through their line. A13s and Crusaders all perished, while only taking out a single platoon in return.


In the end, an emphatic German victory, while the British could not even claim a minor victory. Phillip and Martyn really enjoyed their games, and spent a long time talking through extra rules with me and future forces. Phillip has ordered an army, Martyn has dug out his long unpainted troops and they are setting up forces for 'Operation Crusader', looks like the Western Desert will be busy for a while.

I'm glad we kept the 'concentrated hits' rule, as I have a feeling my tanks would have died even quicker than they did!!! 

Oh, Techno, I used the wide angle lens, so no foggy effects today!

[Steve J]

Another excellent game there Will and good to see the new players really enjoying themselves. Nice to see the pennants on the aerials of the British tanks, something my storage system would not accomodate (luckily for me !).

[fred.]

Good of you to let the new players win, always the way to entice them in!

On a more serious note (for toy soldiers) this does read a bit like some of the less fun BKC games we have had where one side really struggles with their command rolls, whilst the other side makes loads, and can just defeat the enemy in detail.

I know (and appreciate) failed command rolls - but it getting them to a balance feels important to get a game that is at least interesting for both players. And bigger games even the dice roll swings out.

I wonder if a few re-roll chits per side might help - or even just for the CV7 and 8 commanders, to make them a little less poor?

[fred.]

Another excellent game there Will and good to see the new players really enjoying themselves. Nice to see the pennants on the aerials of the British tanks, something my storage system would not accomodate (luckily for me !).

Pennants are surprisingly easy to add. Bristle aerials, then pennants from thin plastic card, or even just paper, painted the right colour. 


But they do add quite a bit of height for storage, and a number of mine are now have a jaunty bend in the middle!

[Techno 3]

Looking good, Will !

Have you sorted out the 'foggy' lens ?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Fred
British commanders were 8/8(dropped 7, but was pretty ineffective before that)& 9, who had the infantry.
I appear to have dice that roll high for command and need to think where I need the better commander
Germans have 9, 9, and 10
It makes quite a difference..

Soon my French and Poles with their 7 & 8s will take to the table, it will get REALLY interesting

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Phil, no, I used the wide angle lens and heavily edited.

[Chris Pringle]

Nice report of a good-looking game. Well done on stimulating your players' enthusiasm!

[Techno 3]

Phil, no, I used the wide angle lens and heavily edited.

It works very well, Will ! Great stuff.

[sunjester]

Good looking game Will. The British couldn't seem to a catch a break at all!

[fred.]

Fred
British commanders were 8/8(dropped 7, but was pretty ineffective before that)& 9, who had the infantry.
I appear to have dice that roll high for command and need to think where I need the better commander
Germans have 9, 9, and 10
It makes quite a difference..

Soon my French and Poles with their 7 & 8s will take to the table, it will get REALLY interesting

It does make quite a difference!

We've found with any of the Warmaster style command games that any time a player has the option to purchase better commanders they will always choose them, almost irrespective of the extra points cost. It makes such a different getting consistent commands off for formations.

Too many failures just becomes disheartening.

We've had some good games of 1940 French vs Germans but also had a few disastrous ones where the Germans just run rings!

 

[dylan]

I find that, especially with new players, it makes for a better game for them if you arbitrarily keep CVs at 9 or 10 for everyone.

[Scarlett]

Will it was a good game.
I liked the rules, fast and simple, much like myself.
I am now in the middle of getting my DAK army table ready.
I visited Martyn for coffee during the week,
and he is busy painting his British.
I am doing some background research reading,
(Mostly looking at the pictures),
The German 90th Africa Division is a very interesting formation.
Looking forward to getting my DAK army on the table.
Can I just say a big thankyou to Leon, who has been helpful.
Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Hi Phillip
Great to have you here

Welcome to the forum,you will see how prolific I am with my postings! ..