Blurry eyed Germans spot some Russians across the rubble.
The veteran German platoon close assault the pinned and suppressed Russians.
This attack ended in abject failure.
Elsewhere the Germans got some enemy submachine gunners pinned down.
While nearby two heavy machine guns went mano-mano.
For one of the players it was their first taste of Stalingrad and they were so enthused they sent me some of the photos they had taken. I understand he thought it a fantastic game with all the feel of close quarter squad level combat as he imagined it was. More so I believe he said it was very playable and above all fun!
Other players criticised me for the poor set up and I was annoyed at my poor memory of the rules. Grrr. Can't please everyone.
Additional, submitted photos by a new fan of the game. I am sure he would be really interested if there was a Napoleonic version of the rules. I would just be amazed.
Other players criticised me for the poor set up and I was annoyed at my poor memory of the rules. Grrr. Can't please everyone.
Additional, submitted photos by a new fan of the game. I am sure he would be really interested if there was a Napoleonic version of the rules. I would just be amazed.
This was just before the attack by the German veterans.
The attack goes in.
They start to clear the building after their initial success.
But the Russian company commander and his trusty NKVD assistant are too much for them.
As mentioned I was a tad rusty on the rules (my fault as I didn't bother reading the rule summary I had made previously) and in a bad move used a previous set up that turned out to be a bit hard to follow. Hidden set-up is the best part of this scenario, but I need to make it easier for players to visualise their deployment. With the recent success of white board markers and laminated labels I'm thinking of a laminated map for each player to write on as an aid to set-up.
Annoyingly I since found that I had made a better roster, just failed to print it out. It's been a long year.
'Twas great fun Mark. For some reason my Napoleonic tactics did not work. When one played a bit more historically, the effects were somewhat better, but it was a bit late by then, as you said. I also need to practise throwing 5s and 6s like Brendan!
ReplyDeleteThe game rewards 5s and 6s (unlike Impetus which rewards an additional ability to throw 1s at critical times).
DeleteGlad you enjoyed it. You will enjoy the next game all the more I am sure.
Plus I hope you appreciated I went all out to use some 1/72nd scale figures.
What rules are you using?
ReplyDeleteI’ve done the same once or twice.. hosted a game and didn’t know the rules as well as I ought.
You’re table though foes look the part: covered in ruins. 😀
The rules are Crossfire by Arty Conliffe and the scenario comes with the rules. The selling point is that no rulers are required and there are no fixed game turns, which can make for long pauses while nothing much happens and then lots of action and sudden end, which always feels to me what company level actions would be like. It is just important to have a table full of terrain (and it is amazing what you can do with cardboard, sand, PVA glue, kitty litter and paint).
Delete