tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75418559653485256242024-03-15T09:16:31.785+01:00Gaming with TooFatLardiesPlaying the period, not the rules ...and spreading the LardAnibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.comBlogger484125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-34729768397723956722024-01-31T13:24:00.005+01:002024-01-31T13:24:51.748+01:00Painting Challenge Report #3<p>A spell of extremely and abnormal warm and sunny weather last week in Madrid, facilitated undusting my airbrush to work outdoors on a couple of 28mm 2WW Allied vehicles for the challenge.</p><p>First, a late war British 4-wheeled Humber Mk IV used in the recon sections of the British and Commonwealth divisions. Over 6,000 were produced during the war (of the different versions) and saw post-war action up to the 60s: the latest in record, an obscure colonial conflict in Asia between Portugal and India for the control of Goa, where the Humber featured among the recon squadrons of the Portuguese forces.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2eKEwU_8043N4m7Mb6GY26enf2O2X8TJpghadC48XXVTZiR1JDXUpBo-BlWfsNylU5VKGkH5SkDVOXfg3BHlX-o3OEP1aa97ao0JtNdn8XA9H5R0tp9kCh2VCzo-g6oIQ1rYVNJxuvMblgm6ASnI0gIdgNBe_HTqbvWUk4iMI-2lZixBh7qqcBvtPDVd/s400/IMG_0130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="400" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2eKEwU_8043N4m7Mb6GY26enf2O2X8TJpghadC48XXVTZiR1JDXUpBo-BlWfsNylU5VKGkH5SkDVOXfg3BHlX-o3OEP1aa97ao0JtNdn8XA9H5R0tp9kCh2VCzo-g6oIQ1rYVNJxuvMblgm6ASnI0gIdgNBe_HTqbvWUk4iMI-2lZixBh7qqcBvtPDVd/w400-h359/IMG_0130.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>This kitl has been painted in the olive green and "Mickey Mouse" cammo scheme widely used in the Western Europe campaigns of 1944-45</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hLiHMhqnidEnMPOYibAtt1D5GvQxTaOyN3wK1A9wGYQNzJPm2FKn8acbjIkmYy8zQ2ZpF_pUTNGnq9p9o7qrAH1SUlqU9L2idBQJs2akvKiD3IWdEVzq4IK3QfC9cKjyiVcF3YRhc56ESWDD6WEl2L8spSGXGJ_QM5f3MyONYug4Q-id7PfY3hhhntGo/s400/IMG_0130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="400" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hLiHMhqnidEnMPOYibAtt1D5GvQxTaOyN3wK1A9wGYQNzJPm2FKn8acbjIkmYy8zQ2ZpF_pUTNGnq9p9o7qrAH1SUlqU9L2idBQJs2akvKiD3IWdEVzq4IK3QfC9cKjyiVcF3YRhc56ESWDD6WEl2L8spSGXGJ_QM5f3MyONYug4Q-id7PfY3hhhntGo/s320/IMG_0130.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGPc-NATmQOydmPt5WlwHxMxSM8gCdCplpWgjBdcpif31cQiBYzNYdATn_D7A3StJZRS7l9kkh_WyIATnsAn9yXkedJWLVBH3d0IyJgdK2fRhG81oZqnD2XyQjmDvsVLhb8jwkKk1TfzUU3PDG1bSJbRcVZBhg1gdDg4o6aHDMCmFQvrDt_ChOEMwQnUB/s400/IMG_0133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGPc-NATmQOydmPt5WlwHxMxSM8gCdCplpWgjBdcpif31cQiBYzNYdATn_D7A3StJZRS7l9kkh_WyIATnsAn9yXkedJWLVBH3d0IyJgdK2fRhG81oZqnD2XyQjmDvsVLhb8jwkKk1TfzUU3PDG1bSJbRcVZBhg1gdDg4o6aHDMCmFQvrDt_ChOEMwQnUB/w360-h400/IMG_0133.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p>This is an old Warlord resin model with metal fittings, which incidentally has been recently replaced with (in my view) a more nicely designed plastic model. </p><p>The second contribution to the Challenge last week is a US M3 halftrack, the real workhorse of the Allied mechanized units in Europe (including several thousands supplied to the Soviet Union).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHgtnULLOEtD206ZIh3se0p-pFSugHMIwdIbTPaAsqgAP7my3kZ1tDAQt54tMWI9SyA4qtbGSpcjKSL-PQdID9_1Lj7plO13utcwVnvIAj8gCgWNxhO9npWp-Az3CdEZG0XVIEGmuyRiRmZzZpePapo-2gZB4uFx4iheVmmCgcp5N4gG0dPCaWkXSpGlR/s400/IMG_0134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="274" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHgtnULLOEtD206ZIh3se0p-pFSugHMIwdIbTPaAsqgAP7my3kZ1tDAQt54tMWI9SyA4qtbGSpcjKSL-PQdID9_1Lj7plO13utcwVnvIAj8gCgWNxhO9npWp-Az3CdEZG0XVIEGmuyRiRmZzZpePapo-2gZB4uFx4iheVmmCgcp5N4gG0dPCaWkXSpGlR/w274-h400/IMG_0134.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0jH-elHn5aA2q6ysTywloWwzyHh-snlvvOzACc0URXFtdY1gY8piXq1vUUXKm7NuYmkpvZNNpmVymad3yEZ7gd7396DtMRnblFyYeI43IveW89-P4HsEr_EEWnGJqD0152MpqqTOZB2Uy_jj-7g4CCaD57OacJkM5kKEhN-lIwSX4XPDlYYOxOHSzdxs/s400/IMG_0137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="400" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0jH-elHn5aA2q6ysTywloWwzyHh-snlvvOzACc0URXFtdY1gY8piXq1vUUXKm7NuYmkpvZNNpmVymad3yEZ7gd7396DtMRnblFyYeI43IveW89-P4HsEr_EEWnGJqD0152MpqqTOZB2Uy_jj-7g4CCaD57OacJkM5kKEhN-lIwSX4XPDlYYOxOHSzdxs/w400-h316/IMG_0137.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>A solid and reliable APC, it saw action in Asia, Middle East and Latin America well into the 80s. It was also the main APC vehicle of the Spanish army, until being replaced by the M113 in the early 80s. Actually, you can see it featuring both on the Allied and Axis sides in classical war movies films like Patton or the Battle of the Ardennes, filmed both in Spain with the support of our army.</p><p>This kit was acquired assembled second hand to one of my local club friends, and I'm unsure whether it is a Rubicon or a Warlord model. </p><p>These two vehicles plus an extra bonus earned in one the Challenge Library rooms themes, added 60 points to muy personal scoring. I'm now at 200 points accumulated, or 50% of my 400 points target for the year.</p><p> </p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-37392055890104596782024-01-27T19:52:00.001+01:002024-01-27T19:52:25.478+01:00Painting Challenge Report #2<p>This is long overdue post, as the original entry published in the Painting Challenge blog was dated January 7th 2024. My second contribution to the Challenge this year is a unit of Late Roman mounted light archers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJCwSecQ4XPmirtQeZMj6wcGgtQRm2G6p8YrWmXjPqxrEIeMqSVBH3pvEzX4FBFF-CcG0PXOmMYkPN1AZM5bHsUow-oyozwE4oloNmsGJxSsqr1_ZuikOcvM07RN19FL49mcpuvsGYIXDLT-cBTLF1hweE4nS8SI9vY0uC5_FRJ3GSs8A1aeaVoRQn66p/s2617/IMG_0010.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2397" data-original-width="2617" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJCwSecQ4XPmirtQeZMj6wcGgtQRm2G6p8YrWmXjPqxrEIeMqSVBH3pvEzX4FBFF-CcG0PXOmMYkPN1AZM5bHsUow-oyozwE4oloNmsGJxSsqr1_ZuikOcvM07RN19FL49mcpuvsGYIXDLT-cBTLF1hweE4nS8SI9vY0uC5_FRJ3GSs8A1aeaVoRQn66p/w400-h366/IMG_0010.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The unit is part of the project that slowly is taking shape to have an 8 points Saga Late Roman warband: more cavalry will arrive soon and I have the Heavy Cavakry and Light Infantry boxes already at home. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GAyUJj-lsAmFcy0jXy1MNDRFiuazgGHhorz4VWEZrh4tZfLk0BNnBpVb4KiqD06cAmRNt3z5oGtFSeq4N_xfehLXgel4tp4Vl8R73qWbvZlP66hLRMXAPxiW1QUBphpIPTA55Vznp1Drnb7-ksYkUsZy-Z5Mym7SvhYGWARyWX3XAW2kwkOEZk_XCKiF/s3076/IMG_0012.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1942" data-original-width="3076" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GAyUJj-lsAmFcy0jXy1MNDRFiuazgGHhorz4VWEZrh4tZfLk0BNnBpVb4KiqD06cAmRNt3z5oGtFSeq4N_xfehLXgel4tp4Vl8R73qWbvZlP66hLRMXAPxiW1QUBphpIPTA55Vznp1Drnb7-ksYkUsZy-Z5Mym7SvhYGWARyWX3XAW2kwkOEZk_XCKiF/w400-h253/IMG_0012.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The models are part of the multi-pose Gripping Beast plastic range (<a href="https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/GBP23_Late_Roman_Light_Cavalry--product--5908.html">Late Roman Light Cavalry</a>) offering two different options (armed with bows or with javelins). These are vey well designed minis and the box offer (in my humble opinion) one of the best quality for price combos in the market. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE49wldj_x-aAN_KC-irqR-iQ5CfTnpTliNP-OCkTU46E4dYK0-E103_wCMHBeJsoHRJt0KD-RcU2-2TNwMHldDA7p7rSxFnLUBeC39KcGW78WysO6yw3uHcDkOmve2wxWWroW80Azdoguw6ReTaFakhyphenhyphenx8qZF4OTUmZCu4vI3tDj-2HeVntjM9dYHe2UQ/s2799/IMG_0014.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2675" data-original-width="2799" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE49wldj_x-aAN_KC-irqR-iQ5CfTnpTliNP-OCkTU46E4dYK0-E103_wCMHBeJsoHRJt0KD-RcU2-2TNwMHldDA7p7rSxFnLUBeC39KcGW78WysO6yw3uHcDkOmve2wxWWroW80Azdoguw6ReTaFakhyphenhyphenx8qZF4OTUmZCu4vI3tDj-2HeVntjM9dYHe2UQ/w400-h383/IMG_0014.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The unit together with some bonus points add 100 points to my Challenge score, to a total of 140 points. I'm now at 35% of my Challenge target of 400 points by March 31st, and I'm confident that will reach the target on time with the pipeline of models currently sitting on my desk.</p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-685703339545884232024-01-07T13:29:00.001+01:002024-01-07T13:47:13.237+01:00The Last Hundred Yards Reviewed: The Ultimate WWII Tactical Game<p><a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/c-103-the-last-hundred-yards-series.aspx#[PageNumber(0)|PageSize(50)|PageSort(Name)|DisplayType(Grid)]">The Last Hundred Yards</a> (LHY) is a series of tactical board wargames in a Second World War environment designed by Mike Denson and published by <a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/">GMT Games.</a> The LHY system has recently become my number #1 tactical game of choice in detriment of Advanced Squad Leader (ASL). The LHY cover small mostly infantry-based skirmish actions at company/platoon level, with an innovative sequence of play resulting in fun, fast paced and furious engagements.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EPxJA7GyhMVYwYSUM6ES5qxVftRzW-xVjdmTTeRWt1V-c8zP9UehW6xSifMkLk4lDn0m8pjopbkSU48AImyBfyW22hwFfRcB5dlba12s5JAj4AkFlx3HKaDQW6Vl8TMC-XCsEtzPzy-6ABMYEHlm4jF8OcoXZvLOuP4LP6KCcK8hjCyp-NL38MXQhWnL/s300/pic7562901.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="210" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EPxJA7GyhMVYwYSUM6ES5qxVftRzW-xVjdmTTeRWt1V-c8zP9UehW6xSifMkLk4lDn0m8pjopbkSU48AImyBfyW22hwFfRcB5dlba12s5JAj4AkFlx3HKaDQW6Vl8TMC-XCsEtzPzy-6ABMYEHlm4jF8OcoXZvLOuP4LP6KCcK8hjCyp-NL38MXQhWnL/s1600/pic7562901.webp" width="210" /></a></div>The terrain scale is 1 hex = 50 yards and the time-scale is variable, each "turn" or combat cycle representing between 2 and 5 minutes. Counters represents squads and sections (half squads), platoon leaders, support weapons (HMG/MMG, flamethrowers or light antitank weapons squads) and individual vehicles. <p></p><p>Additionally there's a myriad of auxiliary counters to keep a record of activated units, fire effects (more on this later), heroic units, etc as well as other counters representing minefields, foxholes, smoke of fortified positions among others.</p><p>The quality of production is high as usual in GMT: units counters are large 9/16 of an inch squares (3/4 of an inch for auxiliary counters) and maps are very nicely printed giving a sense of "3d" depth; the maps are generic geomorphic, double sided printed and can be arranged in almost infinite combinations. </p><p>When compared to ASL, there are a few aspects that are worth taking into consideration:</p><p>The first is the length and complexity of rules: you got everything you need to play in a 34-pages long publication (the current rules book version 3.1). There's also a complementary "playbook" with extended illustrated examples of play of the different rules sections. And the scenarios (or "Missions" in LHY parlance) can include some (very few) special rules applicable to that particular situation. <br /></p><p>Second, the game is played using the historical orders of battle. The forces are organised in companies of three platoons, each led by a platoon commander and depicting three squads and potentially some support weapons. You can argue that these were "paper-strength" orbats; but missions (based on historical real engagements) take into consideration the real manpower of the units involved, adjusting the forces accordingly.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pbHvxKBZnvv8afite3e6DuyvvIh1fVA_KXQPmIV_chMXjmL-u-vnNKbtOR-lKTDFZnRE1d_XvRayUEAQnnJeBFPMkmq5_liIQXbNPWsgSu9ww3XuTOdcOH3-Bp3YtNh0V5FP5918rJMRcb8RTGUwLNRW30SIusB6C2HXeUu1e2UHgrZhrAAYkaz968Tu/s492/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202024-01-07%20a%20las%2013.08.13.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="443" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pbHvxKBZnvv8afite3e6DuyvvIh1fVA_KXQPmIV_chMXjmL-u-vnNKbtOR-lKTDFZnRE1d_XvRayUEAQnnJeBFPMkmq5_liIQXbNPWsgSu9ww3XuTOdcOH3-Bp3YtNh0V5FP5918rJMRcb8RTGUwLNRW30SIusB6C2HXeUu1e2UHgrZhrAAYkaz968Tu/w288-h320/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202024-01-07%20a%20las%2013.08.13.png" width="288" /></a></div>Third you play against the clock and the casualties. Missions may set some objectives, but you must accomplish the mission in a fixed timeframe (and time passed is variable in each turn) and not incurring excessive casualties. Unlike ASL for example, where you can win a scenario even with only one suqad left on the table, in LHY the depletion of your manpower counts against you. <br /><p></p><p>Finally, the very innovative game system based on an action/reaction chain of the players' units, reflecting the combat friction typically found in the battlefield.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;"> </span></b></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;"> </span></b></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;"> </span></b></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Overview of the Playing System</span></b> <br /></h3><p>How the system works? The sequence of play is structured in 7 phases or steps. </p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHOj56sNcrN3EuuKR99sCfXrhTXYr7cQG9gKqXAIMP0mpPB-adYHwF_GyJJiZdS6Okt_c81F-DfgKEJqSNZnDC6Qj4HRdT_Zm-cMAK-i-Nz8DPDUPDHGpniiSU73hFG506408nHzZ5kJLPJlCpPaRH4_k1xVQXjzD9nKBwobllEtJtrcm2GP3TjegkMnI/s482/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202024-01-07%20a%20las%2013.04.08.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHOj56sNcrN3EuuKR99sCfXrhTXYr7cQG9gKqXAIMP0mpPB-adYHwF_GyJJiZdS6Okt_c81F-DfgKEJqSNZnDC6Qj4HRdT_Zm-cMAK-i-Nz8DPDUPDHGpniiSU73hFG506408nHzZ5kJLPJlCpPaRH4_k1xVQXjzD9nKBwobllEtJtrcm2GP3TjegkMnI/w287-h320/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202024-01-07%20a%20las%2013.04.08.png" width="287" /></a></b></div><b> Phase 1 (initiative)</b> is to determine initiative rolling a dice and winning the side with the higher outcome. Note however that there is no full randomness. Usually the attacking side owns the initiative at the start and will have a positive DRM to the die roll in subsequent turns. <p></p><p>Once initiative is resolved we entre into <b>Phase 2 (activation)</b>, the nitty-gritty of the system, based on an action-reaction chain. Activation is made by company and then by platoon within a company. Two platoons of the same active company may coordinate actions with a die roll, but usually you go platoon by platoon (To clarify: as the attacker, I declare that Able will be my active company; from there I activate platoon by platoon).</p><p>The selected platoon may undertake different possible actions: move, fire, withdraw, assault, call for mortars, recover from disruption or just stay put. Once the player declares the end of its platoon activations, the opposing player can react with the units that saw an action (i.e.: in LOS of an activated enemy undertaking an action). When the opposing player declares the end of the reaction, the player with the initiative may react to the enemy reactions or else conclude that platoon activation and activate a second platoon. Reactions do not need to be just shooting someone getting into LOS, but players can move units to get a position of advantage or to avoid being assaulted.</p><p>As you see the system creates a cascade of action/reaction moves. Interesting, shooting is not resolved automatically in this phase; therefore you decide your actions/reaction without any knowledge of what effect shooting had on the enemy unit. This adds another layer of friction to the game.</p><p>Introducing shooting, the system rewards proximity to the target which basically implies that little harm is made when shooting at three hexes or more. Fire effect is calculated as a "dice roll modifier" ranging from -4 to +3. The base number is the firepower of the unit shooting and the distance to the target, then adjusted by a list of modifiers (cover, hindrances, concealment, density of manpower in the target hex...) to get the final fire modifier. <br /></p><p>One example to illustrate the mechanics. </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A German rifle squad with a firepower of 1 and fire range of 10 hexes, shots at a US squad in a forest at 4 hexes distance. </li><li>Crossing range (10) with the distance (4) in the Small Arms Fire Table, the German squad will have a base number of 0 (+1 for firepower less -1 modifier for distance).</li><li> As the target unit is under cover of some woods, there's an additional -1 penalty to the shot, resulting a total fire modifier on -1 </li></ul><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08vmUvKNOFPV7izxkd9Vzt2YjN3Xt6CVn5zgbxhG1P-FUHs0jTxXPJ4BEg9MwYOjlcTTlSThKu0K8eJLyurR6apevwEZxBx60p6Zt6FU8vbuLa8BTNf2ICkelIyPRO8zL33FCMeGJsOFE8Ije_-KWCGOIW6i84ADC-vmJwV1cU-tmh9ENR5vnyZFaBG7V/s244/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202024-01-07%20a%20las%2013.06.19.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="221" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08vmUvKNOFPV7izxkd9Vzt2YjN3Xt6CVn5zgbxhG1P-FUHs0jTxXPJ4BEg9MwYOjlcTTlSThKu0K8eJLyurR6apevwEZxBx60p6Zt6FU8vbuLa8BTNf2ICkelIyPRO8zL33FCMeGJsOFE8Ije_-KWCGOIW6i84ADC-vmJwV1cU-tmh9ENR5vnyZFaBG7V/w290-h320/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202024-01-07%20a%20las%2013.06.19.png" width="290" /></a></i></div><i> Note: should the Germans have fired at 3 hexes or closer, the modifier for distance for a 10 fire range squad would have been 0 and therefore the final fire modifier would have been 0: +1 fire power + 0 distance modifier -1 for woods</i>).<p></p><p>At this stage of phase 2, the target unit under fire will be marked with a "-1" Small Arms Fire Die Roll Modifier (SADRM) counter, but the actual effect of the fire will not be resolved yet. </p><p>Once the active player concluded activating all the platoons and both players finished their respective reactions, the play sequence moves to <b>Phase 3 of Fire Resolution</b>. As explained, the units under fire are marked in Phase 2 with the SADRM modifier. Firer rolls a 10-sided die, adds the modifier and compares the final result to the unit cohesion level: if lower, no effect; greater, the unit disrupts; if 10 or higher, the units suffers a casualty.</p><p>Assaults resolution is done in <b>Phase 4 </b>(after firing). Like shooting, assaults take place in Phase 2 as part of the units activations, but the effect of the melee is unknown until later in the sequence of play.</p><p><b>Phase 5 </b>relates to mortars: now it's the time to extend fire missions called in the current turn; or to attempt contacting the battery for the following turn. </p><p>In <b>Phase 6 (Time Lapse)</b> the active player rolls for time spent in the turn, which is variable between 2 and 5 minutes</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrTCPPEnP2NAkz9kbJmX14sGlmIfJTFiNEwzDb2qxRQ1P59Uy8P1cnOzFtJLSWWZzHXiDItifO1ENID4tXxr2WVK8AptGsmHvGCnS0Rbt727wwZIx4kQOaE1MKHgg9sCUn4X_G4gKhhTSfmhio67GwQtAh2ncOhr71XiE0eAfsUslguwAxqb4jSW3MrE_/s3081/IMG_0053.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3081" data-original-width="3013" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrTCPPEnP2NAkz9kbJmX14sGlmIfJTFiNEwzDb2qxRQ1P59Uy8P1cnOzFtJLSWWZzHXiDItifO1ENID4tXxr2WVK8AptGsmHvGCnS0Rbt727wwZIx4kQOaE1MKHgg9sCUn4X_G4gKhhTSfmhio67GwQtAh2ncOhr71XiE0eAfsUslguwAxqb4jSW3MrE_/s320/IMG_0053.HEIC" width="313" /></a></div>And the final <b>Phase 7 is a clean up phase</b> in which players remove different game markers, the smoke counters placed in Phase 2, or place conceal markers on units out of LOS, etc<p></p><p>This is a nutshell how the system works, being very unique and distinctive compared to other tactical systems in the market. The rules book of course have many other chapters dealing with vehicles, anti-tank fire, airborne troops, special national characteristics (applicable to Russian and Japanese units), night fights, etc. </p><p>If I have to summarise the game, the system rewards the player gaining and keeping the initiative. Having the initiative is in fact a key driver to win a game: as an attacker, getting the initiative allows great flexibility of action, with the defender only able react to your moves. If on the contrary, the defender gets the initiative, he'd be able to slow down the attacker, only having to decide how much time for space he's willing to trade.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #ffa400;">Current product line and future releases</b></h3><p>The <a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/c-103-the-last-hundred-yards-series.aspx#[PageNumber(0)|PageSize(50)|PageSort(Name)|DisplayType(Grid)]">LHY series</a> currently has four game boxes (or "volumes") and one "mission pack" (set of scenarios)</p><p><a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/p-901-the-last-hundred-yards-2nd-printing.aspx">Volume 1 ("The Last Hundred Yards")</a> covered the US and the German army in the European Western Front during 1944 and 1945</p><p><a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/p-831-the-last-hundred-yards-volume-2-airborne-over-europe.aspx">Volume 2 ("Airborne Over Europe") </a>introduced US and German paratroop units as well as British armour units (representing the XXX Corps assets for the US side Market Garden) </p><p><a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/p-871-the-last-hundred-yards-volume-3-the-solomon-islands.aspx">Volume 3 ("The Solomon Islands")</a> introduced the Japanese Imperial Army and the US Marines in Guadalcanal.</p><p><a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/p-956-the-last-hundred-yards-volume-4-the-russian-front.aspx">Volume 4 ("The Russian Front")</a> very recently released (December 2023) covers the Eastern Front battles confronting the Red Army and the Germans between 1943 and 1945.</p><p><a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/p-946-the-last-hundred-yards-mission-pack-1.aspx">Mission Pack 1</a> provides some new maps and mission cards to play in the European Western Front.</p><p>In relation to future releases, the only confirmed addition to the series will be Volume 5 ("For King & Country"), introducing the British Forces in Western Europe during 1944 (Normandy and Market Garden). Vol 5 is currently in <a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/p-1061-the-last-hundred-yards-volume-5-for-king-country.aspx">GMT's P500 page</a> and likely to be released in late 2024<br /></p><p>In a recent thread in <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3206918/whats-next">BGG, </a>Mike Denson announced he's taking a step back after the release of Volume 5 but will leave a committed and experienced team in place to ensure continuity of the system. After Vol 5 the team seems inclined to return to the Eastern Front battles but focused on the earlier war period (1941-43); no official release date yet, but sometime in 2025 likely. <br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Convinced to jump-in? Some important considerations</span></b><br /></h3><p>So you have been convinced and want to play LHY? You must then consider the following:</p><p>Vol 1 and Vol 2 are core acquisitions that you need to have. These are needed to play the Russian Front volume, the Mission pack and the future British volume. </p><p>Volume 3 (The Solomons) on the other hand, is a self-contained game; if your focus in the Pacific, don't need to buy the rest of the boxes. </p><p>The designer is continuously updating the rules and support materials (playbook, tables) with the the introduction of new armies and suggestions from players across the world. For that reason, all the booklets and support tables coming in the different game boxes are outdated.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/p-901-the-last-hundred-yards-2nd-printing.aspx">GMT website</a> posts the most recent versions of the rules, tables, etc. Check regularly for new version, to uploading and eventually printing. The <a href="https://gmtwebsiteassets.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/LHY/Last+Hundred+Yards+--+Basic+Training+Proof+Final.pdf">latest version of the rules</a> (as I'm writing this) is 3.1 The changes versus version 3.0 (included in the latest Russian Front game) are minimal but I suggest checking v 3.1and marking the amended paragraphs in the 3.0 printed booklet. <br /></p><p>This also applies to the missions or scenarios: GMT has released last December the amended missions in downloadable pdf format for all the different volumes (<i>including Russian Front!.. I wonder who is in charge of quality control at the firm)</i>. There's lots of small but nonetheless significant, changes that you should be aware of before playing any mission. </p><p>Finally, if you haven't done it yet I strongly advise to sign in to the LHY's <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/202721/last-hundred-yards">BGG website page</a>. There you'll find a very active and supportive community of players, with tons of reviews, videos and other downloadable materials. My experience requesting clarifications and questions couldn't have been better indeed. Designer Mike Denson is also quite active in the forums. </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnV-pJpBhLDuS1vbeMxrgN3qrV1xKUVCjMMHQcl85EJ5cLViwTh7vwdmkOWlBuqoX07yMMRT08xKKkdIj0vNrl6LrSuXaBr_7Pc4JIIqm7G9FVTMOCCWqiNF1ua_BAP4GD4_nOzd5exLERGl6c2SGk_PB0ndGsk1e9cfaYscy9I2eaX1JJDPYp-TIQIbCa/s3508/IMG_0052.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2152" data-original-width="3508" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnV-pJpBhLDuS1vbeMxrgN3qrV1xKUVCjMMHQcl85EJ5cLViwTh7vwdmkOWlBuqoX07yMMRT08xKKkdIj0vNrl6LrSuXaBr_7Pc4JIIqm7G9FVTMOCCWqiNF1ua_BAP4GD4_nOzd5exLERGl6c2SGk_PB0ndGsk1e9cfaYscy9I2eaX1JJDPYp-TIQIbCa/w400-h245/IMG_0052.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>GBoH and LHY - Two of my favourite rules systems</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-81362010106285937732024-01-06T12:38:00.008+01:002024-01-06T12:43:08.287+01:00Painting Challenge report #1<p>A late start this year in the <a href="http://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/">Annual Painting Challenge</a>, Christmas holidays have been particularly busy with different family and friends gatherings. In any case, my first post is already live (published on December 31st) and will eventually be the initial part of a series dedicated to 2WW recce vehicles.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGBPLLIPZs_Sg9F7ZpTWIhmN3WD3GlncgVHiR2dHaEsJ4vndEHNyh0GW12vmJDdRURq4W3RGsMOyy3_lHbF4e8_I_1MI1ShaFOQuv3zPD8a6I-4sNcBDYR2u0fPxTwgxde5V3UE7N0VX3gYQ58rUID9vm_Cr0dgH4Oql-MYSYqnzPJgZ4lDRoUn1racMU/s3768/IMG_0015.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2866" data-original-width="3768" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGBPLLIPZs_Sg9F7ZpTWIhmN3WD3GlncgVHiR2dHaEsJ4vndEHNyh0GW12vmJDdRURq4W3RGsMOyy3_lHbF4e8_I_1MI1ShaFOQuv3zPD8a6I-4sNcBDYR2u0fPxTwgxde5V3UE7N0VX3gYQ58rUID9vm_Cr0dgH4Oql-MYSYqnzPJgZ4lDRoUn1racMU/w400-h304/IMG_0015.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>This is a German "Luchs" (or Lynx in Englsih) an evolution of the Panzer II that saw action from mid '43 in the recon units of the German divisions both in the Eastern and Western front. The production was limited to a total of 100 units (according to Wikipedia), which made sense cutting when Germany went into a defensive stance and shifter efforts to the large "cats".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjm6o4HyXZrz7ma0TcGSu9ZmIIEbS1v9WFgKapJSD6xa9LzNj_tefxs0RPFZRY3nS_sgt-pkq1iA7Q9PzADpfE-cFbnqfNadvrtQgkFlQ78dgkmAmxNCMNc1lBeQHx9L99ptROlDUdKAZkeP0x-ooCAHcLMc8B8DKWONGT41mFV7ttuDGCc0zmILwzceJ/s3554/IMG_0017.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2576" data-original-width="3554" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjm6o4HyXZrz7ma0TcGSu9ZmIIEbS1v9WFgKapJSD6xa9LzNj_tefxs0RPFZRY3nS_sgt-pkq1iA7Q9PzADpfE-cFbnqfNadvrtQgkFlQ78dgkmAmxNCMNc1lBeQHx9L99ptROlDUdKAZkeP0x-ooCAHcLMc8B8DKWONGT41mFV7ttuDGCc0zmILwzceJ/w400-h290/IMG_0017.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>This is a resin 3D printed model from the French company Eskice; this model in particular has a good design but the truth is that the brand is pretty irregular in the quality of their designs (the German Fallschirmjager for example are terrible) </p><p>It was painted in a 2-colour (dark yellow + green) cammo scheme with a faded touch.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1poRfa1gcyWrx7NFIvvednX8O62JwHkPU0k-LhSc7tmiFzhedwJwFkK0YenyYHqPrHtRalHTwfDStkB8jBkUCnxCbl3HaD5PqbyEBxp7x_VOMP2wSaNZRoCi1XpuieLNMCRZe60G7HbaEJIph9EdY56cszi1IcSe3nNJf7MbXxFGfeilEBVYuZY-suYFY/s2596/IMG_0018.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1948" data-original-width="2596" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1poRfa1gcyWrx7NFIvvednX8O62JwHkPU0k-LhSc7tmiFzhedwJwFkK0YenyYHqPrHtRalHTwfDStkB8jBkUCnxCbl3HaD5PqbyEBxp7x_VOMP2wSaNZRoCi1XpuieLNMCRZe60G7HbaEJIph9EdY56cszi1IcSe3nNJf7MbXxFGfeilEBVYuZY-suYFY/w400-h300/IMG_0018.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p>The model scored for the "New Acquisitions" section of this year's Challenge bonus pool (developed around the sections of a Public Library) and merited a total of 40 points (or 10% of my 400 points Challenge target in 2024).</p><p>Have a great 2024! <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-51809882906551288562023-06-11T19:14:00.003+02:002023-06-21T11:20:40.389+02:00Kampfgruppe Von Luck #4 - Scenario 3: Attacking the Corridor of Death <p>Time: early hours of June 6th, 1944</p><p>Location: La Bas de Ranville, British main position</p><p>This is an attack-defend scenario in the main British defensive position. At least in theory, each house may become a strong point and the Germans have to clear it out paying a high price in blood</p><p>The British decided to deploy a new fresh platoon and the Germans played with the platoon used in Scenario 1, with only 1 man missing at this stage. The Germans also have 19 support points which were used to reinforce the kampfgruppe with an additional squad and bring an artillery forward observer and a self-propelled 105cm gun (Lorraine Schelepper)</p><p>The British spent their support points in one 6 pounder AT gun and roadblock.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_R2XfAD1-9tjXBeeat7EjKGEiMgenLUTWeciiKdrhMcSjtLb0pKv1_Osck01HRDYdjb1JceR0lYfecDecUXAR3qJRujR6cR5mqpq5N1kEdBPiAam2mXJ0lCrTnlIA5uzFhBwcaFrx95O2bYTgfrV_ONzrCsAFnCjWHVQPiNEALuaTgyUxCFJozkRcw/s587/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-06-11%20a%20las%2012.50.03.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="587" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_R2XfAD1-9tjXBeeat7EjKGEiMgenLUTWeciiKdrhMcSjtLb0pKv1_Osck01HRDYdjb1JceR0lYfecDecUXAR3qJRujR6cR5mqpq5N1kEdBPiAam2mXJ0lCrTnlIA5uzFhBwcaFrx95O2bYTgfrV_ONzrCsAFnCjWHVQPiNEALuaTgyUxCFJozkRcw/w400-h263/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-06-11%20a%20las%2012.50.03.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />After the patrol phase (see jumpoff points in map above), the Germans went for a quick deploy in 3 phases, bringing three squads, the SPG and the FOO in short order. The British roadblock forced the SPG to stop at the first crossroads and stay in overwatch in case a British unit emerged, while the FOO initiated a pre-emptive bombardment in the area marked with a flame.<p></p><p>The game first few phases saw both opponents taking a conservative approach: all German units in overwatch while no British units showing on the field. At a point, the British rolled three 6s and took the opportunity to lift the German artillery barrage, and to deploy an infantry squad and fire on the Germans next to the orchard during two consecutive phases, alas with very little effect (just one shock).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtKHELs2Yx_H_vtwD5NxFRFTVhEkdOnwY0FdxBWcrR4WedsFoFEhlqZ3YWPd-alypfoK_ZUqhfrNe5eMv9bvzzvYvzuwsd40Ma8nYYC5wV1USe14FpvW8JTYaKboWvfkUripxx2zq4apf3z9qWYmsusXdlVbKbWBItIdIvNif67E_qPpIfda40kC_6A/s587/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-06-11%20a%20las%2012.49.46.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="587" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtKHELs2Yx_H_vtwD5NxFRFTVhEkdOnwY0FdxBWcrR4WedsFoFEhlqZ3YWPd-alypfoK_ZUqhfrNe5eMv9bvzzvYvzuwsd40Ma8nYYC5wV1USe14FpvW8JTYaKboWvfkUripxx2zq4apf3z9qWYmsusXdlVbKbWBItIdIvNif67E_qPpIfda40kC_6A/w400-h263/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-06-11%20a%20las%2012.49.46.png" width="400" /></a></div>The German reacting reforming the squad and and the SPG (13 HE capability) to return fire on the reckless British, killing 5 men in total. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfqSWoJCsOQKPCUfKvqTbXSnGV6H8zqUGZYGbkH186tMfi71T3uY2rh3hoS63lMkvNjhSdMlbGPwytlQlzjl6dv5sgCEGxls6hDhX1FiWQP0XbXr_DNbWucwvXv9bUMIbmAYVt42h7SNakrokH7PGvWuCt-sgiH3gvLKtYmzOdcpGC8uG60A72ZwWWw/s587/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-06-11%20a%20las%2012.50.15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="587" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfqSWoJCsOQKPCUfKvqTbXSnGV6H8zqUGZYGbkH186tMfi71T3uY2rh3hoS63lMkvNjhSdMlbGPwytlQlzjl6dv5sgCEGxls6hDhX1FiWQP0XbXr_DNbWucwvXv9bUMIbmAYVt42h7SNakrokH7PGvWuCt-sgiH3gvLKtYmzOdcpGC8uG60A72ZwWWw/w400-h263/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-06-11%20a%20las%2012.50.15.png" width="400" /></a></div>The British saw the opportunity in turn now to fire at the SPG by the flank, deploying the 6 pounder on the main road of Ranville. But luck was not on the British side and failed to hit the behemoth. The SPG now turn left and fired, wiping out the ATG crew and gun in one salvo. The British player saw no point in continue fighting and called a retreat. <p></p><p>Three victories to the Germans so far. This scenario was supposed to be a bloodbath for the German but it was otherwise. The Germans need to win another two scenarios in five possible games. The three German platoons are in very good shape, while the British are by now scrapping the bottom of the barrel. In my opinion, very challenging for the British to win the campaign in these current conditions. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>--UPDATE JUNE 21 --</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>The Allied player reassessed the situation and concluded that he had no real opportunity to turnaround the game and conceded defeat. The campaign is concluded with a decisive German victory</b><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">- Photo Report -</span></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3zClSjIVvfPL4RmcfKeDr16BWgEpBWF22uOCdRW5003AfGpOexoEAexoAks_hwH2XFZ4BEtSlZ3y2TVoJK8-OZFYU3hL6MnTJSIKE3FpUSXvcqjmhFFQHs8SIVFbybLVxvoDn8PKriT5LcuI1Flc-sCPMG-jGA21eSFmqnIjKMVNOeepjtpg4Rdjiw/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.23.54.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3zClSjIVvfPL4RmcfKeDr16BWgEpBWF22uOCdRW5003AfGpOexoEAexoAks_hwH2XFZ4BEtSlZ3y2TVoJK8-OZFYU3hL6MnTJSIKE3FpUSXvcqjmhFFQHs8SIVFbybLVxvoDn8PKriT5LcuI1Flc-sCPMG-jGA21eSFmqnIjKMVNOeepjtpg4Rdjiw/w400-h300/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.23.54.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">British Jumpoff Points</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULVGs8_EpziYPCtPGplWp6DchplH4ExRUW9ED7x9XOLI9C1gVsR71UZ2uzpDYP6hZ8I4D_ZjGCvKkwlprwHa1pmCnSZbPqvW9x7hkHLIsQflGWhVoWFndFN1aOVGlWCssu6aVmFE0UFkLzGzQRn6Q2lr3DvQCU2biUTDKtWW9e-5z7NJ7DTwUB-bsCg/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.23.54(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULVGs8_EpziYPCtPGplWp6DchplH4ExRUW9ED7x9XOLI9C1gVsR71UZ2uzpDYP6hZ8I4D_ZjGCvKkwlprwHa1pmCnSZbPqvW9x7hkHLIsQflGWhVoWFndFN1aOVGlWCssu6aVmFE0UFkLzGzQRn6Q2lr3DvQCU2biUTDKtWW9e-5z7NJ7DTwUB-bsCg/w300-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.23.54(1).jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">German Jumpoff Points</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-8aYAHW-XtKMkMO_kpqw3cQ06vUrmISknNu0jF0YRG5upQQ-d2Rf5j2etukkX6BzFh3eOwQXKAedaEjtCd0KfoBolBjF0evTEoneNTlLjWwRareFtX1f_t1PbS2nlWbu1zXW4WtkAYzqHhezRxvJUTitpd2jnqWGoh0dUx1_2BXo40eKvLHzudCemQ/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.20.54(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-8aYAHW-XtKMkMO_kpqw3cQ06vUrmISknNu0jF0YRG5upQQ-d2Rf5j2etukkX6BzFh3eOwQXKAedaEjtCd0KfoBolBjF0evTEoneNTlLjWwRareFtX1f_t1PbS2nlWbu1zXW4WtkAYzqHhezRxvJUTitpd2jnqWGoh0dUx1_2BXo40eKvLHzudCemQ/w300-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.20.54(3).jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">German deployment #1</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhGFDv_uZoU5vT2NUEx4hg5JANzJVy7FJAFjUxU0jienmYukPMPw6apZy8nE7c0LPgu2ONIi2inte61tL__SMAm7qtncyc7zA1t_kCZf3Hsdgf2hIlNHB0cp3QDSHzFyRMeJnpoHtNnVNOJBDaioOhEfuXPST2N3xuT_TtJIWyVXOeyXyPf4cRx9xUw/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.20.54(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhGFDv_uZoU5vT2NUEx4hg5JANzJVy7FJAFjUxU0jienmYukPMPw6apZy8nE7c0LPgu2ONIi2inte61tL__SMAm7qtncyc7zA1t_kCZf3Hsdgf2hIlNHB0cp3QDSHzFyRMeJnpoHtNnVNOJBDaioOhEfuXPST2N3xuT_TtJIWyVXOeyXyPf4cRx9xUw/w400-h300/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.20.54(1).jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">German deployment #2</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlCYfO3yEv-4zRS9ZMI6OZCfr7a_r6Oypzm0DicTJp1STVmUA_rJdaBnLWUslqjg4rqELBly48osn9Fx7mIGMZA2iBmGGYT8eB7tZtjTwh4YkShMi2pTzrUYKdflPX4Qxn2DEv6GHHPuvOBFxSmcit3maYAeUHvUbH7CkEryHDmOUJrXztZppywEasA/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.20.54(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlCYfO3yEv-4zRS9ZMI6OZCfr7a_r6Oypzm0DicTJp1STVmUA_rJdaBnLWUslqjg4rqELBly48osn9Fx7mIGMZA2iBmGGYT8eB7tZtjTwh4YkShMi2pTzrUYKdflPX4Qxn2DEv6GHHPuvOBFxSmcit3maYAeUHvUbH7CkEryHDmOUJrXztZppywEasA/w300-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.20.54(2).jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">German SP Gun</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7R-iiW8MUxqkCnYNrF54SBLW9BIJKfYkRLPsNVKZhQ8C95JuQOYBUQ2Vs2YhewgyEi2zQ4q3DQ_Z7bUpNCZSkCq5Uw_HJY_N9cUROzxW9mLeEvcuRmIwCmmpFRuC89AFmIQc6STIxboHr_hKb7TJqoBuCCVDBeFf6io3zGJ4XQa8IUceH6d-rbymjLw/s1280/photo_2023-06-11%2019.12.50.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7R-iiW8MUxqkCnYNrF54SBLW9BIJKfYkRLPsNVKZhQ8C95JuQOYBUQ2Vs2YhewgyEi2zQ4q3DQ_Z7bUpNCZSkCq5Uw_HJY_N9cUROzxW9mLeEvcuRmIwCmmpFRuC89AFmIQc6STIxboHr_hKb7TJqoBuCCVDBeFf6io3zGJ4XQa8IUceH6d-rbymjLw/w400-h225/photo_2023-06-11%2019.12.50.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">British Airborne Squad</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJhaj2805VPJmYkfW6MPVrlQ_gsvxX5w0tlSSqh5xUemw1t1Y5r-uhwB4h_APcHSRogaSoVpUh7z81n3QCEJ67M6o3j1SL-27KWNut-DActAZOO0iqwtjARKUFpjeB677Hkl_-UqdSVLFQYUjIR4L9cUbEImcEx9tM9kkBelg6We6Ugdq4OXoywbWqw/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.20.55(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJhaj2805VPJmYkfW6MPVrlQ_gsvxX5w0tlSSqh5xUemw1t1Y5r-uhwB4h_APcHSRogaSoVpUh7z81n3QCEJ67M6o3j1SL-27KWNut-DActAZOO0iqwtjARKUFpjeB677Hkl_-UqdSVLFQYUjIR4L9cUbEImcEx9tM9kkBelg6We6Ugdq4OXoywbWqw/w300-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.20.55(2).jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>British 6 Pounder</i></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcEhNlISkw1ikd8X_QeXRkT9rfhEv3p6PCPfJdAdoJJnKAXsXYS-1kjeHJHnkQXaNgE0by4DHq7Gr4IhSk4u4qzpjQlfVH5EE50HK0LmZSsRz-VRdEfjmkKhsqKliKosiD10M8Ckk0D6doENNH3Jjaox_jeJZEpM6wuJE69WpdTSPZD0ZHGeusg_i4Q/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.20.55(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcEhNlISkw1ikd8X_QeXRkT9rfhEv3p6PCPfJdAdoJJnKAXsXYS-1kjeHJHnkQXaNgE0by4DHq7Gr4IhSk4u4qzpjQlfVH5EE50HK0LmZSsRz-VRdEfjmkKhsqKliKosiD10M8Ckk0D6doENNH3Jjaox_jeJZEpM6wuJE69WpdTSPZD0ZHGeusg_i4Q/w400-h225/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-11%20at%2012.20.55(3).jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">British 6 Pounder</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-6980629731433146952023-05-22T20:34:00.003+02:002023-05-22T23:17:00.107+02:00What a Cowboy! A First Take<p> Never say never... when Too Fat Lardies announced the publication of a new set of rules to play with cowboys, my inner historical wargamer soul said: "Bah! No interest... won't play this".... famous last words.</p><p>Piqued by the exchange of messages in the club's Telegram group, the nice photos shared there and the (pushing) siren voice of my club pal Miguel, the Club Dragon <a href="https://toofatlardies.co.uk/product-category/whatacowboy/">What a Cowboy</a> leader, I finally surrendered and gave it a try... and ... oh boy! What a fun time I had so far!. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo96Jkv5jN2aOX9Y5TkhF78BxCTG2vdHeyqVrPwaWhPz9ynh3_YCAKjbY3dgHbkWDF0zeYqEiTic1Rlaq1yTv9yHLCEwvYo5ClgnlPQQ6Ev5TswQVnXHrpDWABrewxspnX6KI08ZFpb5unYpJxvoaUuFIGtmX705J6DyZxT5DgzxdIfd87OOg6nS78A/s1697/WaC-Cover-small.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo96Jkv5jN2aOX9Y5TkhF78BxCTG2vdHeyqVrPwaWhPz9ynh3_YCAKjbY3dgHbkWDF0zeYqEiTic1Rlaq1yTv9yHLCEwvYo5ClgnlPQQ6Ev5TswQVnXHrpDWABrewxspnX6KI08ZFpb5unYpJxvoaUuFIGtmX705J6DyZxT5DgzxdIfd87OOg6nS78A/s320/WaC-Cover-small.png" width="226" /></a></div><p></p><p>As said, I'm a deeply rooted historical gamer (both board and tabletop); but my recent foray into the <a href="https://mylardiesgames.blogspot.com/2023/04/lurking-into-mordor-thoughts-about-war.html">War of The Ring</a> showed that there's life (and fun) outside the pure historical simulation universe. <br /></p><p>What follows is a brief summary and my personal take on the rules after a couple of games (note: I don't have the printed copy, only the electronic PDF version).</p><p>The rules were designed and written by <a href="https://twitter.com/johnsav06196556">John Savage</a>, an active and long standing member of the Lard fans club. I´ve seen posts testing the rules in social media for years, so I had no doubt the final product was going to be solid as a rock.</p><p>The book is a lavishly illustrated, impressive 86 pages tome, covering the main rules mechanics, a guide to create characters and recruit a gang, and finally the campaign system.</p><p>I have only played so far with the basic set of rules, but has been enough not only to enjoy a couple of hours rolling dice on a table but also to understand the full potential of the game.</p><p>What a Cowboy is a very cinematic set of rules where you at best are going to play with a couple of main characters and may be three secondary actors known as henchmen. So forget about playing serious and professionally as you do with your historical rule sets; and no, you won't have to paint a lot of minis to start playing.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOqC9wavlOvI6J_MNYLLfMbOFS5QJBhvvvYCgbdrVqrdMowbL8EbD78qZq4019GhdkShbucSCpi3dLgepQkQ05AFrbQQZuftx56rexfidFGICN2qW5lRBhfn0RM_x4a4dBMxILJmjNHhTMKsx6Eb-uqJcwrMT20zR9b--BvvueSe3YWAChdzsD1mH_w/s762/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-05-22%20a%20las%2015.41.07.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="762" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOqC9wavlOvI6J_MNYLLfMbOFS5QJBhvvvYCgbdrVqrdMowbL8EbD78qZq4019GhdkShbucSCpi3dLgepQkQ05AFrbQQZuftx56rexfidFGICN2qW5lRBhfn0RM_x4a4dBMxILJmjNHhTMKsx6Eb-uqJcwrMT20zR9b--BvvueSe3YWAChdzsD1mH_w/s320/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-05-22%20a%20las%2015.41.07.png" width="320" /></a></div>The system is loosely based in the What a Tanker system, but adapted to the the features of the North American frontier lands in the mid-19th century. <p></p><p>Your character can have a certain level (ranging from "greenhorn" to "legend"); he will usually have a Colt or a Winchester (in the more advance rules you can choose from a wide range of weaponry); and he may also have some special skill.</p><p>You have initially 6 action dice. Each score (1 to 6) allows the characters to move (1), spot (2), aim (3), or fire/reload your weapon (4-5). </p><p>The 6 can be used as a joker to undertake any of the other actions (so for example, you can move with 1 and 6; or fire/reload your weapon with 4-5 and 6); recover shocks; or attempt some adventorous (I'll say "crazy" action), like for example rolling on the floor while shooting at your opponent. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn8FfUUK9bKmi2Jv67VGlBaRGSCXJz4UGT4p0G3llAdI5VE1WJg4aJXbAqF6--jUO4uiEyZNi3Uu6Wztq2ZhowLMVY-OjkCDSj186z4rC8uda6Qv8kxMUFKkQnyemeh6m9YcNb77PuWJ-S0V-4u-HluL-_0KZSnVQ_UVDzkY5pyvEkP9UmYwM0cvRQQ/s618/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-05-22%20a%20las%2019.57.16.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="618" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn8FfUUK9bKmi2Jv67VGlBaRGSCXJz4UGT4p0G3llAdI5VE1WJg4aJXbAqF6--jUO4uiEyZNi3Uu6Wztq2ZhowLMVY-OjkCDSj186z4rC8uda6Qv8kxMUFKkQnyemeh6m9YcNb77PuWJ-S0V-4u-HluL-_0KZSnVQ_UVDzkY5pyvEkP9UmYwM0cvRQQ/w335-h343/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-05-22%20a%20las%2019.57.16.png" width="335" /></a></div>In addition you may have one or more "Bonanza Tokens", that allow the character to opportunistically react to an enemy action. And there's also a special card deck (the "Desperado Deck") that you can distribute among all playing characters, enabling some one-off actions (can be <a href="https://toofatlardies.co.uk/desperado-card-deck-download/">downloaded for free)</a>. <br /><p></p><p>The game is based on card driven activations: each character is represented and activated by a card of a standard card deck. When a character shots (or is shot by) other character, you have different factors to take into consideration including whether the shot is aimed, distance to target, cover benefitting the target, type of weapon used, etc. </p><p>Characters can react to shootings (equivalent to "saving throws") trying to avoid the bullet by hitting the dirt or taking cover nearby. If failing dodging the bullet, the character receives an impact that can range from being a simple shock to a critical wound. <br /></p><p>And that's basically it. You have of course typical (and sensible) rules covering LOS, levels of cover when being shot, riding horses, etc. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqX8kg3AW1l8AlizIpsonPqAPj0vbR3Mj4WXauy5N6p6sVgdKh9_WLpL82K5Nr6mkjTX1ZuqwE8VFDXQsjafgWz9lCggWZcSbGRZsvBBNemHL0Cs5SNNpj0MvRh2fkR6ARdlcIQMlvYGnF7NlzHXo5JfXS2OkupTefnqq7iXHG7WnmLf1whhWcSUaiRg/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-22%20at%2019.36.33(3).jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqX8kg3AW1l8AlizIpsonPqAPj0vbR3Mj4WXauy5N6p6sVgdKh9_WLpL82K5Nr6mkjTX1ZuqwE8VFDXQsjafgWz9lCggWZcSbGRZsvBBNemHL0Cs5SNNpj0MvRh2fkR6ARdlcIQMlvYGnF7NlzHXo5JfXS2OkupTefnqq7iXHG7WnmLf1whhWcSUaiRg/w292-h219/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-22%20at%2019.36.33(3).jpeg" width="292" /></a></div>The fun part of the game is using you dice results to make all sorts of actions usually seen in cowboy movies: jump from balcony to ride a horse, assault a train or stage coach by jumping from your horse, crash the Saloon's glass window and come up shooting your gun... you choose.<p></p><p>For my first two games I received two characters (a greenhorn and a gunslinger) given that the average life of a new playeer in the game was 5 to 8 turns at best. </p><p>These were the infamous and fearsome Lardo Brothers, Nicolas and Ricardo. Both were killed in record time in my first game, so soon I learnt that bravado brings suffering, and it's best to move and to approach your enemies using the best possible cover on the table (from fences or barrels, to wagons or even the wood pisoir cabin on the back of a house XD.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-xy9d37hyPT-_whx5m4IvCyVogSuAATrOlA1IldrY_5Xg-AP2ZaLFalPs9EpJgWJ9vUngbFhVau5sF8NrtWsywgLW1xrfPzat837LCWaMnF9OjMwmrWle-ajdw48sJURWjcA2AZ2sEsmwcLZsiAeCrLLojYMjN2qlYUMAwiiyL5y4jyezsGovN3iRA/s1280/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-22%20at%2019.46.50.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-xy9d37hyPT-_whx5m4IvCyVogSuAATrOlA1IldrY_5Xg-AP2ZaLFalPs9EpJgWJ9vUngbFhVau5sF8NrtWsywgLW1xrfPzat837LCWaMnF9OjMwmrWle-ajdw48sJURWjcA2AZ2sEsmwcLZsiAeCrLLojYMjN2qlYUMAwiiyL5y4jyezsGovN3iRA/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-22%20at%2019.46.50.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Future plans include elaborating more detailed characters with a background story, riding horses and potentially starting a campaign next Autumn.<br /></p><p>As said, to play What a Cowboy you need not to invest a lot in minis (although once you have a couple of typical cowboy characters, you want also the sheriff and the deputy, the gambler, the Mexicans or the red skins just in case).</p><p>Scenery on the other hand is money well spent, and once you have a few tytpical houses (saloon, hotel, jail, etc) you start collecting like mad all type of things: drinking troughs, fences and rails, a graveyard, ... a train!! The visual impact is key ingredient in enjoying the games.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9i4PAvoE2wluwc-KK0S1N-Z2hiyXeQgmpM6A8dTH107Cpi59FjKerwBp9Olpisv5J2UGoswhBQ03loFHbNSoUBrZf_4iKOQe7KlPnFOF9t0PsjWj-N6j12C02RDiWRrhgYHd0bmk7kXULEmN7euxfp3emngcOHJH74eXkLXiK2FUuzmUPMrj7SY0nQ/s2000/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-22%20at%2019.36.33(1).jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9i4PAvoE2wluwc-KK0S1N-Z2hiyXeQgmpM6A8dTH107Cpi59FjKerwBp9Olpisv5J2UGoswhBQ03loFHbNSoUBrZf_4iKOQe7KlPnFOF9t0PsjWj-N6j12C02RDiWRrhgYHd0bmk7kXULEmN7euxfp3emngcOHJH74eXkLXiK2FUuzmUPMrj7SY0nQ/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-22%20at%2019.36.33(1).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>In summary: a fantastic, fun, fast and simple set of rules. From a historical wargamer to anotehr historical wargamer: forget formations, tactics and combined arms... unleash your imagination and return to your childhood cowboy and indians games payed with your pals. </p><p>And of course, search in your TV streaming provider all those John Wayne films to get inspiration for your games.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Hope this short review entices many of you to give a try to What a Cowboy.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrkzrg6iWxnZ2l3fdTCQVYUXORC-BFVGkl_ZqDM37nSCnCZXm08TUxeSbad6jPA1YXYGHqwZSgnQfqJFtlrYdPQY719-TS4tqrfGdQZRHlF3VxwTzrm0yeNHJjhZPeAmgLhpSVaaDcrBirOy4hp5UEobTVKwQ7pjUTqTlslUcn2GE8c-9jZaZ7UtUcQ/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-22%20at%2019.36.33(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrkzrg6iWxnZ2l3fdTCQVYUXORC-BFVGkl_ZqDM37nSCnCZXm08TUxeSbad6jPA1YXYGHqwZSgnQfqJFtlrYdPQY719-TS4tqrfGdQZRHlF3VxwTzrm0yeNHJjhZPeAmgLhpSVaaDcrBirOy4hp5UEobTVKwQ7pjUTqTlslUcn2GE8c-9jZaZ7UtUcQ/w400-h300/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-22%20at%2019.36.33(2).jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfbGrg1DynMxK-szw2EZTaNOJ_rAE4emxhNfPAXjEr5CkLzITNDwgqfaQ81W5zWr4wKGADBO-Obf_-9grCtP8F-m-2lxvGMQj3_JKzBokBeVCwsJii4ExwiK2lFvP-ule51Ll9c7PDVDtaC-vey3T9OATV4ZYD6KNLtnzz-sWSH20qPNUZDBzWuvamw/s1023/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-22%20at%2019.48.30.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="664" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfbGrg1DynMxK-szw2EZTaNOJ_rAE4emxhNfPAXjEr5CkLzITNDwgqfaQ81W5zWr4wKGADBO-Obf_-9grCtP8F-m-2lxvGMQj3_JKzBokBeVCwsJii4ExwiK2lFvP-ule51Ll9c7PDVDtaC-vey3T9OATV4ZYD6KNLtnzz-sWSH20qPNUZDBzWuvamw/w297-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-22%20at%2019.48.30.jpeg" width="297" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p> <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-37634268927670036202023-05-21T17:21:00.004+02:002023-05-21T17:38:13.434+02:00Kampfgruppe Von Luck #3 - Scenario 2: Probe Among the Hedgerows<p> Time: early hours of June 6th, 1944</p><p>Location: British forward positions on the southern outskirts of Le Bas de Ranville</p><p>Having pulled back form the outer outposts, the British platoon stops to hold the enemy in the outskirts of La Bas Ranville. In Chain of Command terms this is a "Scenario 2 - Probe" game.<br /></p><p>The British forces are the remnants of the decimated platoon that played Scenario 1. Bad dice rolls and none of the scattered platoon teams after the drop appeared. The British had 4 support points invested in an HMG.</p><p>For this scenario the German has a new fresh platoon plus 13 support points. These were invested in a second senior leader, a Forward Observer team and a Lorraine Schlepper self propelled 150 mm gun. <br /></p><p>To win the scenario, the Germans must reach the British starting line with at least one team.</p><p>The following illustration shows the jump-off points after the patrol phase and a opening moves of both players.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6a38U8jHfT3N8HuvXL5qbw-yNoEVjo1CuKd6CMQBALdtDFQP45q3PCndG57ZDfMsm5JQGj8ZgMs7OTwSSqoBGRZ8oCdCcV9lmlYotkMQ4FWxXIynJLAKlkgFaqOOtcCbG4RAaX9SwpnpDcJ1LP9GjM5-Vjj83sWTm4xoEYJrKfI8PzAUG8Jeh0NFDQ/s720/202305_VonLuck_Campaign_01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6a38U8jHfT3N8HuvXL5qbw-yNoEVjo1CuKd6CMQBALdtDFQP45q3PCndG57ZDfMsm5JQGj8ZgMs7OTwSSqoBGRZ8oCdCcV9lmlYotkMQ4FWxXIynJLAKlkgFaqOOtcCbG4RAaX9SwpnpDcJ1LP9GjM5-Vjj83sWTm4xoEYJrKfI8PzAUG8Jeh0NFDQ/w400-h225/202305_VonLuck_Campaign_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>In these first phases the British decided to delay as long as possible deploying troops on the table, facing overwhelming odds and fire power. He only deployed a sniper team to make opportunistic pot shots on the German troops. <br /></p><p>The German on the other hand brought on the table two sections and the artillery observer, placing successfully a barrage in the second activation. The first section deployed in the road and started moving towards the farm compound, while the second section followed the artillery walking barrage towards the British base line. </p><p>The game looked at this stage a done deal when, as usual "friction" created an unexpected situation: the British ended the turn with a Chain of Command dice and therefore the barrage lifted catching half a German squad in the open, in the ploughed field. </p><p>When the German FO failed to contact the battery to resume the mission, a doble British turn was used to deploy the HMG team a the edge of the ploughed field and two Bren teams behind the wall at the farm compound. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJ_IGh1RHtieBJC4_6jsvKOvBX4EA5S5kKin48tS5l4bJ8HPQeWshwX4W17dzqKhiy3BPZsBijxOqJc_vXi3HHrUFSKC8iH8ZKoT3QuOL2AgWEV5QH7-QjVBE6S-uLO79F7kUDeQ-Ii5G3cssXWU3KDjkcYco3C2s9nefZFSuSLyQkltxdPOs6164CQ/s720/202305_VonLuck_Campaign02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJ_IGh1RHtieBJC4_6jsvKOvBX4EA5S5kKin48tS5l4bJ8HPQeWshwX4W17dzqKhiy3BPZsBijxOqJc_vXi3HHrUFSKC8iH8ZKoT3QuOL2AgWEV5QH7-QjVBE6S-uLO79F7kUDeQ-Ii5G3cssXWU3KDjkcYco3C2s9nefZFSuSLyQkltxdPOs6164CQ/w400-h225/202305_VonLuck_Campaign02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Firing at close distance, the British made 4 KIAs and first pinned and then broke one of the German teams, fleeing towards the orchard below in the map. Considering the overwhelming fire power of the combined 6 LMG teams, the 150 gun and the off-board mortars, the British took a conservative stance, and pulled back in good order and with no casualties.</p><p>A second German victory in the campaign, he will need another 4 victories in a total of 6 remaining games to win the campaign. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">- Photo Report -</span><br /></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm52kPKAGwdi4_LbvmAW5Zzs84RSNfurIDR7hph_FyPfnZ7qVKSpkSTvM_qKdA5_UhU59hsuUms63LE5yaBZGwmBCMg115BITh-lNHwn8NtB5rjl8A9BNmaqyjyR8hegRr0HIl7w_VwdWKSQM17iSRZZgiCRHDlBITj6BuG5UEGCMFmBNuYnf9kgOdrg/s2076/IMG_8053.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2076" data-original-width="1592" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm52kPKAGwdi4_LbvmAW5Zzs84RSNfurIDR7hph_FyPfnZ7qVKSpkSTvM_qKdA5_UhU59hsuUms63LE5yaBZGwmBCMg115BITh-lNHwn8NtB5rjl8A9BNmaqyjyR8hegRr0HIl7w_VwdWKSQM17iSRZZgiCRHDlBITj6BuG5UEGCMFmBNuYnf9kgOdrg/w306-h400/IMG_8053.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>British Jump Off Points</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0rXT-d2ykRdpw5Wu-2OYuBRywlIMzSnYDXK6HCahDIdC5JEaleQ-k9E3Viv_0twGvekQ3BaG9zEFXGa1Cweaz5vYDsEWURH8Ltt6apHIc0jJdS9kYq03Kdg2i4uCXzoQsdJXGT0aoY930Jx9M8tpJhDl1e8ZSgFGU_x2KlEp_O9oWyWPxCty9du-aw/s2141/IMG_8050.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="2141" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0rXT-d2ykRdpw5Wu-2OYuBRywlIMzSnYDXK6HCahDIdC5JEaleQ-k9E3Viv_0twGvekQ3BaG9zEFXGa1Cweaz5vYDsEWURH8Ltt6apHIc0jJdS9kYq03Kdg2i4uCXzoQsdJXGT0aoY930Jx9M8tpJhDl1e8ZSgFGU_x2KlEp_O9oWyWPxCty9du-aw/w400-h289/IMG_8050.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>German Jump Off Points</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaDjlT8H2b3gzTsIaVxKd2hswdjJ_Wv9I4tTBeF0XRVzWYgr6xfT1RLDTtknV9bRFzkZO3zwMGZl-jvu6_EqU2D3j8K4-1qFu88R3eAZ0PZ-Kc2YFoRgF8Wc1GcOXZZdbDVYXrpYf9uuxDChBIcsWjoCgcxUjeu4HDac4DFP8O0W2ioIjS0fh2XuYRw/s2978/IMG_8058.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2864" data-original-width="2978" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaDjlT8H2b3gzTsIaVxKd2hswdjJ_Wv9I4tTBeF0XRVzWYgr6xfT1RLDTtknV9bRFzkZO3zwMGZl-jvu6_EqU2D3j8K4-1qFu88R3eAZ0PZ-Kc2YFoRgF8Wc1GcOXZZdbDVYXrpYf9uuxDChBIcsWjoCgcxUjeu4HDac4DFP8O0W2ioIjS0fh2XuYRw/w400-h385/IMG_8058.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Schnell!</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5slKjYqag55-D9Q_INxqvy_mBKpiiCBRqQ8-XC2VHnyRC3MJlZ6Vm9FQUB_4CChxcrHua-QhP4RahdpnpP-drK1gNNjbPxBRGVas5rDCir_8hON6JvrzPJxMXeOcsFjVlVfFXRghqOZI3WsfauuGqWEUs7FDAJByzfS7k0N71szbpsRINPfcSXACGLA/s2599/IMG_8056.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2599" data-original-width="2447" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5slKjYqag55-D9Q_INxqvy_mBKpiiCBRqQ8-XC2VHnyRC3MJlZ6Vm9FQUB_4CChxcrHua-QhP4RahdpnpP-drK1gNNjbPxBRGVas5rDCir_8hON6JvrzPJxMXeOcsFjVlVfFXRghqOZI3WsfauuGqWEUs7FDAJByzfS7k0N71szbpsRINPfcSXACGLA/w376-h400/IMG_8056.jpg" width="376" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>German Artillery Observer</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-nAUWAGULd8WMPSi0K9-ecjjWAZyQxsiZHLvuz694TK5YqIoM7W3ob6I2y4tc0Q5_wCPHAn1K4nihcyWBXnagC2OKHmsyHISAz5maUNdiDBXB4igTY_PHe6JHaism9brw_9TA584khwoT0vjSTSDnQzP0JcsbDuLMm8V1oq3xLqbjYrzoklJW7ksfg/s2084/IMG_8054.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1927" data-original-width="2084" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-nAUWAGULd8WMPSi0K9-ecjjWAZyQxsiZHLvuz694TK5YqIoM7W3ob6I2y4tc0Q5_wCPHAn1K4nihcyWBXnagC2OKHmsyHISAz5maUNdiDBXB4igTY_PHe6JHaism9brw_9TA584khwoT0vjSTSDnQzP0JcsbDuLMm8V1oq3xLqbjYrzoklJW7ksfg/w400-h370/IMG_8054.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>British Sniper</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p> <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI810d2LPXLzONqsBN7J0ERa_FiOY3oFf8KX-I5s8RHqFN3zyCVzqAuUDDvC1zrhS94nBim1F0mf6tUvwVcNti6N5UFgYXsXDPYVMXCyYbE2IqGc02_dmEq_2bR7izaIoZlv_GEq7YBM8dBln45ebDVPfbqhedaMjJHgnJjAkL6f9Fo7ULTBtWWBcUYA/s3183/IMG_8065.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3183" data-original-width="2483" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI810d2LPXLzONqsBN7J0ERa_FiOY3oFf8KX-I5s8RHqFN3zyCVzqAuUDDvC1zrhS94nBim1F0mf6tUvwVcNti6N5UFgYXsXDPYVMXCyYbE2IqGc02_dmEq_2bR7izaIoZlv_GEq7YBM8dBln45ebDVPfbqhedaMjJHgnJjAkL6f9Fo7ULTBtWWBcUYA/w313-h400/IMG_8065.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ups! German Team Caught Naked</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvGeWmROXGWipEsQGsGyrw5vZuoUOXI-ibHftmOpj8llicxHWX2JHGDmGTdhBqctlLTqKVb4OEWV295ku5KO9LPqZEpBHVMmtU1YMStZ1A1gEhkjAbIrwhYU6Q2_ZN8LrhNdqyjpN2uaIcToJ2fho1WK8iAxEKDhUYiLz_evTnKT17GEHv19E6cEjZg/s4032/IMG_8064.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvGeWmROXGWipEsQGsGyrw5vZuoUOXI-ibHftmOpj8llicxHWX2JHGDmGTdhBqctlLTqKVb4OEWV295ku5KO9LPqZEpBHVMmtU1YMStZ1A1gEhkjAbIrwhYU6Q2_ZN8LrhNdqyjpN2uaIcToJ2fho1WK8iAxEKDhUYiLz_evTnKT17GEHv19E6cEjZg/w300-h400/IMG_8064.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>British Airborne Vickers HMG</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYFFUuJYU7z7glmf1iKyiGJVK2AFntBSgzQi0aKiXkQHQzMJswKe8IyI6JPGc2lnVN-IHEm3_KsnMcT-Ca_vtnGVYMCf-Jlp_ZonQc9IDWYq7kWxawUoTh8Uj8A5pf2ugINyyoWxaRK6XAMuArtNOps8ctqv7meFMGaNNoYXkp2ThhIbjUnP1oC788Q/s4032/IMG_8062.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYFFUuJYU7z7glmf1iKyiGJVK2AFntBSgzQi0aKiXkQHQzMJswKe8IyI6JPGc2lnVN-IHEm3_KsnMcT-Ca_vtnGVYMCf-Jlp_ZonQc9IDWYq7kWxawUoTh8Uj8A5pf2ugINyyoWxaRK6XAMuArtNOps8ctqv7meFMGaNNoYXkp2ThhIbjUnP1oC788Q/w300-h400/IMG_8062.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>British Airborne Bren Teams</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP8AzQr1vykfQHXE4o3LeHzc7gxyzrnfE0Y57qKk9gjAPOVwLQPl0FhEiqdxydtDffC5LA_zOonmaakB8Sdn_OuiaQuwiMT2v8A24WlKhMYdCe3iozzbRRnV2kuRa54_x6Xf-P8t4zhu5uw0jmja6ewZNg_BmVlOpgVQQk1rofY2hbobJMWOqBFRaAQ/s2234/IMG_8060.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2077" data-original-width="2234" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP8AzQr1vykfQHXE4o3LeHzc7gxyzrnfE0Y57qKk9gjAPOVwLQPl0FhEiqdxydtDffC5LA_zOonmaakB8Sdn_OuiaQuwiMT2v8A24WlKhMYdCe3iozzbRRnV2kuRa54_x6Xf-P8t4zhu5uw0jmja6ewZNg_BmVlOpgVQQk1rofY2hbobJMWOqBFRaAQ/w400-h373/IMG_8060.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lorraine Schlepper self propelled 150 mm gun </i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IZ_wrPvofRxhV62EEA3IpZg955xjdiQKZ0zANdauc17sFHkz8UBDuaYrTssf5wu68RF2tRFdH4idapK-cfcwO7K0QWP4Vmt9K7ZAKo2iu_nTrAb84Qj5waoHsOXOZ53Ti7b-QpT_f36LVoaPBsMCns0QjcfP1q8c47XHYxiGIJvCkZMVVktWo86BIA/s4032/IMG_8059.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IZ_wrPvofRxhV62EEA3IpZg955xjdiQKZ0zANdauc17sFHkz8UBDuaYrTssf5wu68RF2tRFdH4idapK-cfcwO7K0QWP4Vmt9K7ZAKo2iu_nTrAb84Qj5waoHsOXOZ53Ti7b-QpT_f36LVoaPBsMCns0QjcfP1q8c47XHYxiGIJvCkZMVVktWo86BIA/w300-h400/IMG_8059.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>German Squad and Artillery Walking Barrage</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p> </p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-72874172981315481612023-04-30T21:22:00.002+02:002023-04-30T21:22:54.748+02:00Kampfgruppe Von Luck #2 - Scenario 1: Patrol on the Ring Contour<p>Time and Date: early hours of June 6th, 1944</p><p>Location: High ground South of Ranville</p><p>The first scenario takes place in the outposts line of the 12th Para. Being the early hours after the first landing, the British platoon forces are widely scattered, with groups of men regrouping towards the landing zones. In Chain of Command terms this will be a "Scenario 1 ´The Patrol" game. </p><p>The British had a weak platoon missing several teams of their three sections. They had no support points in this first game. The Germans fielded a full Panzer Grenadier platoon with two LMG teams pr section (a lot of firepower) and 4 support points (an Adjutant and a Forward Observer) </p><p>The terrain is basically flat with dense wheatfields covering the area. These wheatfields provide light cover to stationary troops. After rolling for moral, the British started the patrol phase followed by the Germans. The final location of the jump off points is marked in the map attached.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B9ydXZP0_-p57DTkvmGvJTmGIFlPSVyeA0nEaRpCEoq1hY2ophowLxGWlOZWZgi2gwWjFeUyN5Onzrzb5FjDJbJZLlz6ePxKK3ZnmttrgdRwEVjkfkT275JUtRPHGq9BYfgAOX4nzEzla7H9jXFzy2lelw9e18980HNqrplANp_gkIvbkkAqkb6nYA/s720/202305_VonLuck_Campaign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B9ydXZP0_-p57DTkvmGvJTmGIFlPSVyeA0nEaRpCEoq1hY2ophowLxGWlOZWZgi2gwWjFeUyN5Onzrzb5FjDJbJZLlz6ePxKK3ZnmttrgdRwEVjkfkT275JUtRPHGq9BYfgAOX4nzEzla7H9jXFzy2lelw9e18980HNqrplANp_gkIvbkkAqkb6nYA/w400-h225/202305_VonLuck_Campaign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Although my role in the campaign is to act as umpire, the two German players had conflicting family agendas today, and thus I took their side and played against the British. <br /><p></p><p>This was a short game. The British opted for an early fast deployment along the hedge line from the two jump off points; the third jump off point far in the bottom of the map was intended to deploy the snipers (but this was not finally the case).</p><p>The three German sections deployed from each of the jump off points, while the Senior leader and the artillery observer deployed from one at the bottom of the map. The German plan was simple: two sections (located mid and upper part of the map) used the overwhelming fire power to pin the British concentration. The third German section moved to captured the isolated jumpoff point and initiate a flank movement, while the artillery observer tried (unsuccessfully) to call the mortars.</p><p>The fire of the two German sections killed and routed a significant number of paras, wounded twice the senior leader and reduced the British Platoon morale level to 4. With their flank now under threat, the British player pulled back and left the field. A first victory to the German side with just casualties.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #ffa400;"> - Photo Report - </b><br /></p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVuJqKdItX4myliP0IiRECJeOs4dOW3hrLfVi8cPVVIQn_PITM9q8JIbHVFGnJEe5OCoat09sa6NME-R_HWMIICOF-MgAUuaDu17xZix_pjboPLFKaABGxfdSbv31c2LWMaX7yxEy-3-vbpw-3YOOj8UamVx8XwxXnCPnSUf4A2o2IVMiRYn4p5yPQQ/s2324/IMG_7948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1423" data-original-width="2324" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVuJqKdItX4myliP0IiRECJeOs4dOW3hrLfVi8cPVVIQn_PITM9q8JIbHVFGnJEe5OCoat09sa6NME-R_HWMIICOF-MgAUuaDu17xZix_pjboPLFKaABGxfdSbv31c2LWMaX7yxEy-3-vbpw-3YOOj8UamVx8XwxXnCPnSUf4A2o2IVMiRYn4p5yPQQ/w400-h245/IMG_7948.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>British Jump Off Points</i></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdWEUhEC237qOOyj3v-XQfBFu8Z_qETPsIZ5wvUllrV-XIQ5KFizyBvedHvhQk9RzZXEkAoorUMaA4GpQa-xHN5Yl44DVSOqzWEq0YWvqgaIoNx_ZNjAfvVJKnavNUOPVqKOILm8zfb-G-IAtc8A1YYmCLEg7-uW7mV2wO-MQPADVMhfGHWll2lVBxg/s2100/IMG_7947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="2100" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdWEUhEC237qOOyj3v-XQfBFu8Z_qETPsIZ5wvUllrV-XIQ5KFizyBvedHvhQk9RzZXEkAoorUMaA4GpQa-xHN5Yl44DVSOqzWEq0YWvqgaIoNx_ZNjAfvVJKnavNUOPVqKOILm8zfb-G-IAtc8A1YYmCLEg7-uW7mV2wO-MQPADVMhfGHWll2lVBxg/w400-h300/IMG_7947.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>German Jump Off Points</i></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctixfrjKELnbiqNAHWzw3eoW1nSSTa-_XWCd-JfzaV2GjcvIp3UCod5CeIgOkYfQwIqWRHCTA7sM2Jp2_YBVpVqXiEw4DaAybDr8_G45F-WyHEmgbbktIhCUFh5CIzVeadFjjakHDhLB261yKupyVqa81ydEvHxGKVFsVe6apcqEOcqvJoAWGSkH3uA/s4032/IMG_7955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3LXoCMqZgxJySNSiK-ujaql5YZljxfrlvrDcvMqhjRvwVBr3_9nN0USEwejuNTY9Bk0MpUBwANLuzvJEWJfFsX0ri_6NSwnJzXX7ARIq4fyvxOEuW6rl0ZlCVaHn1WHttvPYZTCGwsU589byU30yHbJXoi_Ka3xTOwQUN9ZlurU8Tx40G20hNqkkEA/s3979/IMG_7950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2290" data-original-width="3979" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3LXoCMqZgxJySNSiK-ujaql5YZljxfrlvrDcvMqhjRvwVBr3_9nN0USEwejuNTY9Bk0MpUBwANLuzvJEWJfFsX0ri_6NSwnJzXX7ARIq4fyvxOEuW6rl0ZlCVaHn1WHttvPYZTCGwsU589byU30yHbJXoi_Ka3xTOwQUN9ZlurU8Tx40G20hNqkkEA/w400-h230/IMG_7950.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>British Sections Deployed</i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctixfrjKELnbiqNAHWzw3eoW1nSSTa-_XWCd-JfzaV2GjcvIp3UCod5CeIgOkYfQwIqWRHCTA7sM2Jp2_YBVpVqXiEw4DaAybDr8_G45F-WyHEmgbbktIhCUFh5CIzVeadFjjakHDhLB261yKupyVqa81ydEvHxGKVFsVe6apcqEOcqvJoAWGSkH3uA/w400-h300/IMG_7955.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">German Panzer Grenadiers Firing to the British Line </span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VYg7V0NZS3KsAIaIQFFnQcpdtlLXrEvm9QHiKf3exHpMZS45P7ljDdfpaKI9qOO5cYmO0XtY6HeB_zsDXxm9NuMbAK4uNmQrTVJOXmDDP9FfqFCoJInhUy3q0gq3nzQcSONDtrux8u8jIZ3P-w3YpnMQa8RiDIYJOWUr0ZfEymZdTS_yN_bs3rpOug/s3275/IMG_7951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2381" data-original-width="3275" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VYg7V0NZS3KsAIaIQFFnQcpdtlLXrEvm9QHiKf3exHpMZS45P7ljDdfpaKI9qOO5cYmO0XtY6HeB_zsDXxm9NuMbAK4uNmQrTVJOXmDDP9FfqFCoJInhUy3q0gq3nzQcSONDtrux8u8jIZ3P-w3YpnMQa8RiDIYJOWUr0ZfEymZdTS_yN_bs3rpOug/w400-h291/IMG_7951.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Third German Section and Forward Observer</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3X1Pv6o4t8kzu5pnn8AiRF4SkcBM5P9VRb9DEz1s8AgmpU5xGcONGFiHCl2H5lxBPp7Fi__qq-WwMujAeXvJfWiX5JJ7tqWF6c5UqNmMpWO6gkh4OuEM_o4I17rzWBwloWGXdcT_b54WWWoyzNorOUKvO89ZIMfLvf0ka2RmTcEFuepRMnZIR20S_Q/s3525/IMG_7957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2858" data-original-width="3525" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3X1Pv6o4t8kzu5pnn8AiRF4SkcBM5P9VRb9DEz1s8AgmpU5xGcONGFiHCl2H5lxBPp7Fi__qq-WwMujAeXvJfWiX5JJ7tqWF6c5UqNmMpWO6gkh4OuEM_o4I17rzWBwloWGXdcT_b54WWWoyzNorOUKvO89ZIMfLvf0ka2RmTcEFuepRMnZIR20S_Q/w400-h324/IMG_7957.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">British Jump Off Point Captured and Initiating Flank Attack</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-87354463914908045362023-04-14T11:53:00.007+02:002023-04-24T09:39:31.788+02:00Kampfgruppe Von Luck Campaign #1 - Introduction<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsJz2srOgdnh6eLVS9dYqhr5VUoFM4SNKQ11zQ3aU2CqxsmJaSdS0Vzkw7TxRk0Z8mWrHTF6FP6E0B2oZkDb461Pq6qSfQJWG9FwZ1368u4E6vLxZJy7RR21IJv6RfvD5a1bQiRRriP4WQGsCOAymZXyt2_JGMq4iq8OuuTGvpRhnusZGHZ-XkqXNXA/s652/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-04-14%20a%20las%2011.08.15.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="475" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsJz2srOgdnh6eLVS9dYqhr5VUoFM4SNKQ11zQ3aU2CqxsmJaSdS0Vzkw7TxRk0Z8mWrHTF6FP6E0B2oZkDb461Pq6qSfQJWG9FwZ1368u4E6vLxZJy7RR21IJv6RfvD5a1bQiRRriP4WQGsCOAymZXyt2_JGMq4iq8OuuTGvpRhnusZGHZ-XkqXNXA/w233-h320/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-04-14%20a%20las%2011.08.15.png" width="233" /></a></div>Some of my boardgame opponents are having problems to attend the Sunday morning club sessions for a few weeks. I'm turning my attention again to miniature wargaming and will spend the rest of April and most of May umpiring one of my favourite Chain of Command campaigns: <a href="https://toofatlardies.co.uk/product/kampfgruppe-von-luck/">Kampfgruppe Von Luck</a>.<p></p><p>The start of the campaign is set for Sunday April 23rd and there will be one British and two German players involved. It will also be an opportunity to put on the table for the first time, my <a href="https://mylardiesgames.blogspot.com/2018/12/a-personal-guide-to-painting-british.html">British Red Devils </a>platoon painted in 2019! </p><p>My plan is to do a series of after action reports for each of the games of the campaign over the following months. This first post will introduce the main elements of the campaign.</p><p>First the historical context. Kampfgruppe Von Luck (KVL from now on) is focused on Operation Tonga, the operations undertaken by the British 6th Airborne Division on the east flank of the Normandy landings and the reaction of the German 21st Panzer Division defending that area during the first hours after the airborne landings <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRzH0G-3ctKv7BjAN-DREJkg6Sr0jaWmAzXtDvlc-Nr4WPUH28i_LQi3MIvNpW5OgpRsDN8xqyZ3tqYlIrpWGTxEkTQP_3mtdqwtZzmQpYoNj7FB7bBAfyEfKPmO3Z2V51UatqhQQFdWPRydLtQ-iL4_FeKt-YEirgQM6dSJQOG3kn1UpzM8-hX6bgw/s415/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-04-14%20a%20las%2011.22.11.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="413" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRzH0G-3ctKv7BjAN-DREJkg6Sr0jaWmAzXtDvlc-Nr4WPUH28i_LQi3MIvNpW5OgpRsDN8xqyZ3tqYlIrpWGTxEkTQP_3mtdqwtZzmQpYoNj7FB7bBAfyEfKPmO3Z2V51UatqhQQFdWPRydLtQ-iL4_FeKt-YEirgQM6dSJQOG3kn1UpzM8-hX6bgw/w398-h400/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-04-14%20a%20las%2011.22.11.png" width="398" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">6th Airborne Plan of Operation</span></i></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>The campaign is organised around five maps or "rungs" with the Germans on the offensive. The objective is to capture Le Bas de Ranville, the gate to the German armoured forces to attack the rivers over the Orne. This should be achieved in a maximum of 8 turns or games.</p><p>The Germans play with a battalion of the 125th Panzer Grenadier, mainly infantry with some limited armour support, including some of the panzer "rarities" built ad-hoc based on chassis from old 1940 French armour. </p><p>On the other side, the British forces belong to the 12th Para. Although having superiority in men, the British starts the game widely scattered, receiving increasing reinforcements as the campaign advances, but are also light on AT weapons to defend against the armoured German elements.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPgeA5FxQBwG26M0LKpmZPtqG1RdDJwWQxnf0Ue_cFePMwsfIEr7D7lDHuf6qbxrsm8ynNu6sw4Kq5MyOqxAu4nP078AERQssuR5ztjHirfot9V-dIJtP9MLyGEqTV6HqMgy6_3uFBxfQY6jQnSuefV2ZBX4GWLIweT1DQof-oyPOQUmaVhmzRmwCqA/s933/Cover-small.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPgeA5FxQBwG26M0LKpmZPtqG1RdDJwWQxnf0Ue_cFePMwsfIEr7D7lDHuf6qbxrsm8ynNu6sw4Kq5MyOqxAu4nP078AERQssuR5ztjHirfot9V-dIJtP9MLyGEqTV6HqMgy6_3uFBxfQY6jQnSuefV2ZBX4GWLIweT1DQof-oyPOQUmaVhmzRmwCqA/s320/Cover-small.webp" width="223" /></a></div>For more information on the Chain of Command campaigns system, I advise you to take a look to the supplement publication "<a href="https://toofatlardies.co.uk/product/at-the-sharp-end-campaign-handbook/">At the Sharp End</a>" <p></p><p>From the publisher website:</p><p><i>At the Sharp End allows you to follow the exploits of your force
throughout a series of linked games. To succeed you’ll need to keep your
men safe, your CO happy whilst ensuring the effectiveness of your key
leaders. Included is a complete campaign system covering everything you
need to run a campaign with an absolute minimum of effort and paperwork
(almost none in fact).</i>
</p><div><i> Three types of campaign options are presented so the gamer can
select one to suit the amount of time he has available and the degree of
detail he is looking for. The most simple option allows the gamer to
start campaigning straight away, whilst the others allow the building of
historical campaigns. It’s all there, even down to gallantry awards so
you can see your characters develop in action.<span face="Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefbf7; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.2px;">. </span>The whole At the Sharp End PDF Handbook will serve as a key to be
used with Chain of Command campaigns produced by us in our Specials, in
magazine articles and as stand-alone supplements, as well as allowing
the gamer to build his own campaigns with a minimum of effort.</i></div><div><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>-UPDATE- </b></div><div>Last Sunday was Madrid's Marathon. The access to our club premises was an inferno and some players could not even reach the area. We have postponed the campaign start to Sunday April 30rd<i><br /></i></div>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-58333966761409848632023-04-12T12:50:00.003+02:002023-04-13T09:30:09.919+02:00Lurking into Mordor: Thoughts about The War of the Ring Boardgame<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">This may come as a surprise to some of my followers: a post about a fantasy game? Were you not a diehard historical gamer?</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gKZCyjewJpVHTEifHs3dfW6dbvROm03NMsnXyxwy-mktNSqfzYjwaHp5XgOwTSs7wp89TKQF7Mt_P1eygyf6bEoS7VmU0bKWCyUQ-sPW76szrZw99ZTXjuwdgiHenhyOCnV2i9soBRvKFjlGzQQJS6ZDBKT6YVwAStum85_9NLM0kmIAZD0aYFvsqA/s1600/elden-ring-frodo-y-sam-1.jpg_729188885.webp"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gKZCyjewJpVHTEifHs3dfW6dbvROm03NMsnXyxwy-mktNSqfzYjwaHp5XgOwTSs7wp89TKQF7Mt_P1eygyf6bEoS7VmU0bKWCyUQ-sPW76szrZw99ZTXjuwdgiHenhyOCnV2i9soBRvKFjlGzQQJS6ZDBKT6YVwAStum85_9NLM0kmIAZD0aYFvsqA/w400-h225/elden-ring-frodo-y-sam-1.jpg_729188885.webp" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>You, playing a fantasy game??</i></b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Well yes and no. As commented in a previous post titled <a href="https://mylardiesgames.blogspot.com/2023/03/board-games-vs-miniature-wargames-there.html">"Board Games vs Miniature Wargames"</a>, my wargamer CV shows some early assignments in fantasy-related gaming (both, RPG with D&D and massive battles with Warhammer Fantasy). </p><p style="text-align: left;">True, for several decades now I have only played historical games and mainly miniatures-based. But in my recent come back to board gaming, I was attracted to a game called "The War of the Ring", after watching the gameplay series on Youtube made by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd8UwY8XBgaz5zV9TVnxHKQ">Agustí Barrio</a> (Spain's #1 wargames influencer!). </p><p style="text-align: left;">Being also a Tolkien fan did not help me to jump into that wagon. And with Father's Day in Spain taking place on March 19th, I just "nudged" my family to swap the traditional tie-and-socks pack for a copy of the game instead. </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSlTJw64uycpwB5ft1G2Gm7syqSy2PcZr1s_F91xsyP1VcNZrvia2ym3VKCjLCI0S1zLt__3w8zNhpmvccD_6XtOksHjBOBu-UVbifSvzhzSw8DT-cOE1Z1ljB5O9Q87zfxESQ-nzJlR48FgfSsu3z9-DDAvZXrvboDA_SBDaxmRwTbEScwyMdDG2xA/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.42.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1684" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSlTJw64uycpwB5ft1G2Gm7syqSy2PcZr1s_F91xsyP1VcNZrvia2ym3VKCjLCI0S1zLt__3w8zNhpmvccD_6XtOksHjBOBu-UVbifSvzhzSw8DT-cOE1Z1ljB5O9Q87zfxESQ-nzJlR48FgfSsu3z9-DDAvZXrvboDA_SBDaxmRwTbEScwyMdDG2xA/w329-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.42.jpeg" width="329" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Box size comparison: War of Ring vs standard board game</i></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />The second edition of the game was released in Spanish by <a href="https://devir.es/guerra-del-anillo">Devir</a>; a very high quality box (the one I own now) with a content that is just... WOW!: a beautifully designed hardboard map; a set of 124 large (12 cm long) events cards; and over 200 minis depicting the different armies from the Shadow Alliance (Orthanc, Mordor and the North & East peoples) and the Free Peoples (Rohan Gondor, Elves and Dwarves Kingdoms, and the Dunedain); and individual models of the main characters (all the Fellowship members, Gollum, the Witch King, Saruman the White, Mouth of Sauron and the nine Nazgul). </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaIU_nF43E9Ky5EL7Nn-4VGpY6uNdD9eNgZTWcRPCwD457Y4wuBa_yCww0hkjYNoC9fCONrkDfsJqQPh2GtNWZmuG2rthHwmJphU9VrfXk0hWEj7BUqNEO6yebE_3yNEbuUK6N5_fmtDFVx1gmtNGzBU5mDFxEOU7RC73S2iQiIk_ZTyS1t_NsMB33g/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.43.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaIU_nF43E9Ky5EL7Nn-4VGpY6uNdD9eNgZTWcRPCwD457Y4wuBa_yCww0hkjYNoC9fCONrkDfsJqQPh2GtNWZmuG2rthHwmJphU9VrfXk0hWEj7BUqNEO6yebE_3yNEbuUK6N5_fmtDFVx1gmtNGzBU5mDFxEOU7RC73S2iQiIk_ZTyS1t_NsMB33g/w400-h300/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.43.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Game display at turn 1: observe reds superiority (Shadow) vs blues (Free Peoples) <br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">In addition to the topic covered by this game, the rules design attracted all my attention. At high level, the Free Peoples players main objective is to destroy the Ring by taking it to Mount of Doom in Mordor, while resisting the military tide of Shadow Alliance. At the other side of the Hills, the players controlling the Shadow Alliance must fight, defeat and conquer the Free lands to achieve victory, the Ring playing only a secondary role (albeit still relevant) in the Shadow's plans. </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd2paBzhbQvAnp7iuXQTKTQAhbAwX_E9ybO_wMhW3xq6uMzjJu8kBjq9JssmQtghNuvyJl7nD-bxh2LRjsAGWZtGKR6xQ997OPtQbJayWxBpI12GxZl1w9gvOYBMfmaL6qeMMQ71vPL1RgCTSv2nGHZV_7nXLiv_4zvOth0FvjM7VMTlOjwu8gAwnyQ/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.39.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2048" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd2paBzhbQvAnp7iuXQTKTQAhbAwX_E9ybO_wMhW3xq6uMzjJu8kBjq9JssmQtghNuvyJl7nD-bxh2LRjsAGWZtGKR6xQ997OPtQbJayWxBpI12GxZl1w9gvOYBMfmaL6qeMMQ71vPL1RgCTSv2nGHZV_7nXLiv_4zvOth0FvjM7VMTlOjwu8gAwnyQ/w400-h338/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.39.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Witch King, Saruman and Mouth of Sauron </i></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">In this sense the game is very thematic and fits nicely with the Lord of the Rings book trilogy narrative: the Free Peoples start the game divided, un-alerted, and hardly aware of the threat rising in the East. Only Elves know about the Ring (the Fellowship starts the game at Rivendell) and are getting prepared for war. </p><p style="text-align: left;">As the Shadow grows and the threat become obvious, the Free Peoples must rush to build their armies... but maybe too late to defeat the might of the Shadow forces. Their only hope to win is buying time for Frodo and the Fellowship to reach Mount Doom and destroy the Ring.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LXp9gUynEn9ZTuuEoYeXwOcD92tO-X6EnbyX90zUB0Q_OamvnCrFGvsR7B8cXbbWFTM6m0sxwo0Rx_Zaxj8SY9EN5WCwxX6omLrZF8s_ijbxlcT6GSwDc9GqDnycgVFVNIZnoCBiP72f91MUJGk5kFX1OircBCJpcV_65rDY-m5ran035AAebtsBwA/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.40.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LXp9gUynEn9ZTuuEoYeXwOcD92tO-X6EnbyX90zUB0Q_OamvnCrFGvsR7B8cXbbWFTM6m0sxwo0Rx_Zaxj8SY9EN5WCwxX6omLrZF8s_ijbxlcT6GSwDc9GqDnycgVFVNIZnoCBiP72f91MUJGk5kFX1OircBCJpcV_65rDY-m5ran035AAebtsBwA/w400-h300/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.40.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Nazgul! Nazgul!</i></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Shadow starts the game with significant military forces and very close to reach a "state of war" level. Mighty armies of Orcs, Uruk Hais and men form the North & East will unleash shortly after the game starts, and will overrun Minas Tirith, Edoras, Hemlm's Deep and the main Elven and Dwarven realms. </p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #ffa400;">How the game works?</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Without entering into much detail, this is a game driven by a combination of action dice rolls and a hand of cards. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Dice have special symbols, and allow players to do different things: play event cards, move characters, move armies, lead attacks, move factions along a political track towards a "State of War" status (needed to recruit troops) or recruit armies.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRXjMRjMGzdbwZ3YuTuo1ac4_XWqzIkDtaCXIyYMVKkuua3ZdV1qDl6Xm20-BpGiOVxXvJSOw_To3xETUt_77enhztxvgAkUyWileCK45AJAq0vxYfq8myqUygkXkpZSuvrmO0Q5IGZLZG5kBKxb6sLJd22zOMa46DjhKpVjBQ-oNqcGLv9yq1gsjtQ/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.39%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRXjMRjMGzdbwZ3YuTuo1ac4_XWqzIkDtaCXIyYMVKkuua3ZdV1qDl6Xm20-BpGiOVxXvJSOw_To3xETUt_77enhztxvgAkUyWileCK45AJAq0vxYfq8myqUygkXkpZSuvrmO0Q5IGZLZG5kBKxb6sLJd22zOMa46DjhKpVjBQ-oNqcGLv9yq1gsjtQ/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.39%20(1).jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Action Dice for Free Peoples (blue) and The Shadow (red)</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Cards can be played either as "events" of many types; or in during the battle segment affecting in different way the combat die rolls.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7j7HjwwjCndq8o6FRdJzQgYPh9em3QcmAFm5ALglnZp4pOljSJM9cNqOmvQblBLBqkiGQmfbGBWsn9-tfnn_xTVI381IsRGJgZ3G6rDWLpcXdoVkPfP7hdfeb5HeuCF73V73v4whs1XeFnW8033cqLkEWtO7crgAgWxq3c-YPlOeF1XF8b34JK1k0w/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.37%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2048" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7j7HjwwjCndq8o6FRdJzQgYPh9em3QcmAFm5ALglnZp4pOljSJM9cNqOmvQblBLBqkiGQmfbGBWsn9-tfnn_xTVI381IsRGJgZ3G6rDWLpcXdoVkPfP7hdfeb5HeuCF73V73v4whs1XeFnW8033cqLkEWtO7crgAgWxq3c-YPlOeF1XF8b34JK1k0w/w400-h295/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.37%20(1).jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Add-on: A nice tin box to store the game cards </i><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">As commented before, for the Free World player is critical to race towards Mordor and Mount Doom. The designers have a created a very elegant and thematic mechanism to manage the Fellowship, and it's worth explaining with some detail: <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">In the case of the Free Peoples, a "sword" die roll allows moving the Fellowships towards Mordor and Mount Doom. The progress of the fellowship is shown in a track but only when discovered by the Shadow or declared by the Free Peoples player, it is placed in its actual position on the map.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9oSIupbGLTBffmbduafk2rCxJ4bdVyyON3AUMGvq5YGloedfk1pAp_eEHZSX9AJbW4CkJQvZoh7UpHL3UevthWZ3cOPcAp2eEbJIoZ8DcaJ4jCtbNREggUodZVRgjnO0vPy-_LGJYKKenwUNB3kXYDnB0omUTxG2X17wZiIbQKfFRFHM9K0ycI5AWw/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.38.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="2048" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9oSIupbGLTBffmbduafk2rCxJ4bdVyyON3AUMGvq5YGloedfk1pAp_eEHZSX9AJbW4CkJQvZoh7UpHL3UevthWZ3cOPcAp2eEbJIoZ8DcaJ4jCtbNREggUodZVRgjnO0vPy-_LGJYKKenwUNB3kXYDnB0omUTxG2X17wZiIbQKfFRFHM9K0ycI5AWw/w400-h326/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.38.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Gollum and the Ring Bearers at Mount Doom</b><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The Shadow player can allocate a number of action dice to detect the Fellowship each time it moves. If successfully detected, he will randomly select a chit from a bag. The chits may force openly revealing the Fellowships location and/or taking a number of hits (from zero to three) on it. </p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">How do you absorb these hits? Two different ways: either killing a member of the Fellowship (chosen randomly); or suffering "corruption points". If the Fellowship accumulates 12 corruption points, then Frodo have failed to complete the mission and the Ring is now controlled by Sauron... game over.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">There are ways to reduce the Fellowship's balance of accumulated corruption points, either through card events, or revealing the Fellowship in a realm of the Free Peoples at the end of each turn. The Free People player's dilemma is to decide between the corruption level he's willing to take, the speed toward Mordor (the fastest it goes, the easiest to be discovered) and how many companions he's willing to sacrifice on the way.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Finally, the Shadow can use one or more Nazguls to track the Fellowship, improving the chances of being discovered each time it moves. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Once in Mordor and climbing Mount Doom, the Fellowship runs much higher odds of being discovered and therefore "corrupted"; again a very thematic part of the game, reflecting Frodo's mental and physical exhaustion in the final lap of the trip. Noteworthy, Gollum leads the Fellowship once inside Mordor, providing some benefits to the Ring bearer. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-rM7dASk5n4sLAhNr58VCX8090uxgnLhcEXAjpS46wpV0lgoaNPmuZRswdCK0eSLMNKXluVpyrp00o9l1V-YneMKndYeQHRCxJTXFdnmFhMdlQtofLlzUsnjMXa-xt4Qf0Zy3Lt6lvJl1BDxGY5GAF6-sl0eDF4wrRbsqP0ZJ8V-2qxTftEPrFK-Zw/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.40%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-rM7dASk5n4sLAhNr58VCX8090uxgnLhcEXAjpS46wpV0lgoaNPmuZRswdCK0eSLMNKXluVpyrp00o9l1V-YneMKndYeQHRCxJTXFdnmFhMdlQtofLlzUsnjMXa-xt4Qf0Zy3Lt6lvJl1BDxGY5GAF6-sl0eDF4wrRbsqP0ZJ8V-2qxTftEPrFK-Zw/w400-h221/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.40%20(1).jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Fellowship Move and Corruption Track </i></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">While the central drama with the Fellowship unfolds, the Free Peoples player must buy time and defend the key locations in the map from the mighty armies of the Shadow. To achieve a military victory is almost impossible, as the Shadow have infinite resources and the Free Peoples player only a limited number of assets: Free Peoples battle casualties are lost for the rest of the game, while the Shadow's are recycled and can return as reinforcements.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">Finally, there is room also to play with the main characters during the game. For example, Aragorn starts the game as "Strider"; but if he leaves the Fellowship and emerges in Gondor, he'll declare as Isildur's heir and become "Aragorn", adding some special features for the Free Peoples players. Moving Aragorn to Helm's Deep or Minas Tirith substantially improves the defensive options of these two strongholds, denying the Shadow a significant number of victory points.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tE9Lxj12D9NjTbHDVvjrVTI7umMQ-N5xL_kmMHHtaXngJ0sbYBANde_jGypR7-QwOBQaKI5TJPm7a8mDVW7qo_Ku7CdOuBjaWvfbWPT9JCM7pqCH1lJeXXGD6RZ8AGDnTm68-bz9joCUav9RUHMB9w2dDT1fV2qkNe9w8SNGJdbc1fcnz-9viPh-Ug/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.38%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="2048" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tE9Lxj12D9NjTbHDVvjrVTI7umMQ-N5xL_kmMHHtaXngJ0sbYBANde_jGypR7-QwOBQaKI5TJPm7a8mDVW7qo_Ku7CdOuBjaWvfbWPT9JCM7pqCH1lJeXXGD6RZ8AGDnTm68-bz9joCUav9RUHMB9w2dDT1fV2qkNe9w8SNGJdbc1fcnz-9viPh-Ug/w400-h286/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.38%20(1).jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Fellowship</i></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Gandalf on the other hand, starts the game leading the Fellowship as "Gandalf the Grey". If he dies during the game, it can reappear as "Gandalf the White" with some special features as well.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPa-2gCGKijlJ3x3IBcaKQlzPYCPhWvPacJ_sm7TrYdblZCOHtwvKRjBv6RTccTRRXKQv-a6_OOAinw5fcEqB_anllNpaByVDmBkGI-A2NmMLosuE0uJjtFEmTjbmHC-VOvP3azmUSAH7ImMHQ9SJMRB9s1JyXTJGeuS_YtoLrF2E7R_yT-yqx5WxEw/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.37.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="2048" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPa-2gCGKijlJ3x3IBcaKQlzPYCPhWvPacJ_sm7TrYdblZCOHtwvKRjBv6RTccTRRXKQv-a6_OOAinw5fcEqB_anllNpaByVDmBkGI-A2NmMLosuE0uJjtFEmTjbmHC-VOvP3azmUSAH7ImMHQ9SJMRB9s1JyXTJGeuS_YtoLrF2E7R_yT-yqx5WxEw/w400-h329/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.37.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Main Characters Cards</i></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #ffa400;">First impressions of the game</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">I have played so far a solo game, and a couple games in my local club. These games were great: tense, funny, thematic. And it can be replayed as many times as you want: each side's the card deck helds 48 cards; and in the games that I have played so far we have never run out of cards.</p><p style="text-align: left;">My initial advice to a Shadow player is to early invest in building large armies (Sauron is a factory of mass-producing Ururk Hais) and therefore move quickly through the political track towards the "State of War" position (players can only recruit troops once reaching that box). Hit early and hit hard to accumulate as many victory points as possible.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNiTwWKLW9FN_F3NWU8gOnhypuuH-dwXrudN9hui6uLgT6HC76X6LP647xK6cp2_7lng1tFYoeEAkvJS7tqRxUOsYQ2DAHcOM_tctGrFkq-SbJVhs0NhzkGimOXFwhQC9JpTWOhwOaJljdEjfQCWShn19-2bSwv9ssArwxmP8iRM6kxfoCAHOSrtd4A/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.41.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1228" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNiTwWKLW9FN_F3NWU8gOnhypuuH-dwXrudN9hui6uLgT6HC76X6LP647xK6cp2_7lng1tFYoeEAkvJS7tqRxUOsYQ2DAHcOM_tctGrFkq-SbJVhs0NhzkGimOXFwhQC9JpTWOhwOaJljdEjfQCWShn19-2bSwv9ssArwxmP8iRM6kxfoCAHOSrtd4A/w240-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-11%20at%2020.23.41.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Political Tracker </b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>At the other side of the hill, the Free People player is in permanent tension between reinforcing armies and moving the Fellowship to Mordor. As the Free People factions are far up in the political track, it can be expensive to invest action dice in moving the factions towards the "State of War" box. <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Best strategy advice for the Free Peoples players: use as many event cards as possible in your hand to recruit troops, keeping a close eye on who (Suaron or Saruman) is likely to strike first: </p><p style="text-align: left;">Although Saruman shares border with Rohan, the wizard does not start the game deployed, he needs to be brought on the table. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Sauron on the other hand, starts with a fragmented army in diffrent locations within Mordor. Before striking Gondor, he needs to concentrate and reinforce his forces.</p><p style="text-align: left;">This can provide some initial relief to the Free Peoples player. But be wary, because a good hand of cards on either side can substantially change the opening moves of the players. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #ffa400;"><b> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>Wrapping up</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">The War of the Ring is great game in all dimensions: it perfectly captures the atmosphere of Tolkien's Lor fo The ring narrative; its extremely well balanced and both sides have options to win the game (albeit using different strategies, as commented above); the rules are complex-free and easy to play almost from the start; it is fun to play; and, finally, thanks to the dice-card driven engine, it is highly replayable. Cannot recommend more.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-69999276397062924482023-04-03T16:53:00.005+02:002023-04-04T10:13:53.706+02:00What Makes Operation Market Garden so Appealing?<p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/territorio-grognard/id1525419975">Territorio Grognard</a> is arguably one of the best hobby podcasts in Spanish dedicated to board wargaming. In late February, they recorded an episode on Operation Market Garden (Sept 17th-27th, 1944), coinciding with the release of a Spanish edition of GMT's Mark Simonitch Holland '44 game by <a href="https://www.masqueoca.com/tienda/producto.asp?item=8618">NAC Wargames</a>.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sYVmva00DUOU-mp9-bOjdsKr8042TfV9mBJgQpaYdKyiIi62YcQfMObO0F5Qh5Xw5Hx2FueJ8Gz6BUSqRbFd_0f9Lwqp_EhIqHPERHPYp1hh92RhPSMjem3ofMqYUWP-Jtf82KpgBdg6AOzO8CBJ-wngegCo83-05lkuAZlooCB2hXjpndOdXGgrTA/s800/IWM-MH-2061.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="800" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sYVmva00DUOU-mp9-bOjdsKr8042TfV9mBJgQpaYdKyiIi62YcQfMObO0F5Qh5Xw5Hx2FueJ8Gz6BUSqRbFd_0f9Lwqp_EhIqHPERHPYp1hh92RhPSMjem3ofMqYUWP-Jtf82KpgBdg6AOzO8CBJ-wngegCo83-05lkuAZlooCB2hXjpndOdXGgrTA/w400-h299/IWM-MH-2061.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Imperial War Museum</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>I know <a href="https://twitter.com/franjo_bf">Franjo</a> one of the podcast producers and, as I am a fan of all things Market Garden, he contacted me to make a short intervention in this episode explaining what makes this operation so appealing to me. </p><p>A simple question doesn't mean a simple answer. True, Maket Garden is one of my favourite Second World War operations; but I never structured my thoughts on why. It may be related to the fact that in the summer of 1977, I was studying English in London and had the opportunity to watch A Bridge Too Far in the theaters there. But I got really hooked on the topic more recently, after listening to <a href="https://twitter.com/Dozibugger">Nick Skinner </a>(founder partner of Too Fat Lardies with Richard Clarke) disucssing the operation in one of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@toofatlardies">Oddcasts</a>. </p><p>But returning to the original question, I think we should put it in a different way: what doesn't have Market Garden to be one of the most appealing moments in the 2WW?</p><p>Firstly, it is a <b>daring and very bold plan</b>, aiming to cut the war short. Intriguingly, the operation was proposed by Field Marshal Montgomery himself, usually considered (wrongly!?) one the most cautious Allied commanders.</p><p>Second, it is <b>one if not the most, epic operation of the whole war</b>. A thrust into Germany to build a bridgehead over the Rhine, outflanking the main defence lines at the Ruhr area ... and to Berlin and beyond. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVRGKgn-B0_4SD2fogtW1BiUOiNe8b6f7MKVGRLSlHK4YGwfXoQe-Rf1g1LuAngzTpMdwqPgBMtOijJhU6eMMKSvDMHxzksdZN3t83NWu4boFr8XgB9scz-1gD7ZhyQgOSgBLGIHASI-y2bDoNCGvbc7b_HDlaN-JRaWoWaqUsvUMN1Wg4RY0Oo8ATg/s1166/OperationMarketGardenAlliedPlan.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVRGKgn-B0_4SD2fogtW1BiUOiNe8b6f7MKVGRLSlHK4YGwfXoQe-Rf1g1LuAngzTpMdwqPgBMtOijJhU6eMMKSvDMHxzksdZN3t83NWu4boFr8XgB9scz-1gD7ZhyQgOSgBLGIHASI-y2bDoNCGvbc7b_HDlaN-JRaWoWaqUsvUMN1Wg4RY0Oo8ATg/w275-h400/OperationMarketGardenAlliedPlan.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Wikipedia</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>For this purpose, three airborne divisions (US 101st and 82nd, and British 1st) would jump in a corridor over 100km long behind the enemy lines, while a powerful armoured force (The British XXX Corps of the 21st Army Group) would advance and connect the three landing zones. </p><p>The task of the three airborne divisions was to capture and defend nine critical bridges, spanning over six major riveras and canals in The Netherlands, until being relieved by the land forces.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>For a wargamer, Operation Market Garden opens a wide array of gaming opportunities </b>at different levels, from high strategic-operational levels to very low tactical encounters. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Boardgames are probably best suited for the former. Historically, the airborne landings caught the Germans by surprise and were a total success. </p><p style="text-align: left;">However, these prompted a fast and violent reaction, completely unexpected by the Allied planners, who thought the Germans on the ground were just second rate units and demoralised beyond recovery.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The Germans counterattacks threatening the XXX Corps line of supply along route 69 (the famous "Hell's Highway"), and the fighting to control some of the key bridges along the route are a fantastic context for operational-level games (more on this later). In parallel to the XXX Corps thrust, the US airborne units must simultaneously take and control bridges, defend the landing zones (needed to bring supplies and reinforcements) and retain control of route 69.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrPwV_0x7lETAdpaFCfqAGyyEHgBh0t2D1b2P2odjB6wAkwoho3cJ3QEeAzG2bl86bEp9shqXEmSrNXQenTvYvFEH8fhpVRP0gde_YDLSbBB5gri8BOBo6E34FjG7ZDvHPJ3FRtnDurglJ9zZxSdSXjRLBPQXXYjmRukj-TtAidAEOeo-VDoRZPrARA/s820/kaartA.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="820" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrPwV_0x7lETAdpaFCfqAGyyEHgBh0t2D1b2P2odjB6wAkwoho3cJ3QEeAzG2bl86bEp9shqXEmSrNXQenTvYvFEH8fhpVRP0gde_YDLSbBB5gri8BOBo6E34FjG7ZDvHPJ3FRtnDurglJ9zZxSdSXjRLBPQXXYjmRukj-TtAidAEOeo-VDoRZPrARA/w320-h231/kaartA.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">British landing and Attacking Routes</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The 1st British Airborne Division jumped at the tipping point of the Market Garden plan. It went almost immediately on the defensive after landing due to the quick reaction of the local scattered German forces, initially forming around the so-called Kampfgruppe Krafft; but later in a more organised way around the assets of two SS divisions (9th and 10th) refitting in the area . <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Therefore, a high level game would see lots of action around the supply routes as the German pressure increases in the post-landing reaction, attacking even at very unfavourable odds. Allied players will have to assume two opposite roles: on the offensive in the south with the armoured corps to link with the different airborne divisions; and defensive in the north to defend any initial gains made in the Arnhem/Oosterbeek area. And players (or group of players) on both sides would have to run against the clock!</p><p style="text-align: left;">The possibilities for low level games using miniatures are also endless. Most wargamers have focused mainly in the desperate battles of the British Airborne Division in Arnhem and surroundings (see for example the <a href="https://youtu.be/gdP6jtUKEI4">event</a> last October at the Oosterbeek Museum organized by TooFatLardies). </p><p style="text-align: left;">While epic and heroic, there are many other alternative scenarios to be played at the scale of battalion or platoon with US Airborne division or with detachments of the XXX Corps: attacks and counterattacks around key bridges; contested epic river crossings; urban fighting (Nijmegen for example); ambush actions on British armoured vanguards... Also noteworthy the variety of army units and motorised hardware used by the Germans to create very attractive visual displays on the gaming tables.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Wargaming Market Garden</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">In the podcast commented above, I was also put a couple of follow up questions: my favourite wargames to play the operation and reading recommendations.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As for wargaming, my first time recreating market garden was with <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1423/storm-over-arnhem">Storm over Arnhem</a> (SOA), a venerable and iconic game released by the defunct Avalon Hill in the 1980s. This was one (if not the first) to use the area-impulse mechanism instead of the traditional hex-grid map, a revolutionary change at the time. As the title suggests, the game is focused on the British Airborne Division's desperate fight for the bridge at the Arnhem-Oosterbeek area. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikC_iyktRaU1SupGTlcESWR6WxxqX2e9RovJipFK-OKgQ696byQIBRGmJJuMmKeZB2diHlMezh9mvudwiEYbp__8p4LHcegURKr6GonV7Th_gxUGMHRKPqa4Gtqvj-0vWC7r40ONGCyMb-Ui6QV98AusLw7YTaYox0wO9pnzRgf3k1Bqk95YqIHNsOw/s3888/IMG_7809.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2696" data-original-width="3888" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikC_iyktRaU1SupGTlcESWR6WxxqX2e9RovJipFK-OKgQ696byQIBRGmJJuMmKeZB2diHlMezh9mvudwiEYbp__8p4LHcegURKr6GonV7Th_gxUGMHRKPqa4Gtqvj-0vWC7r40ONGCyMb-Ui6QV98AusLw7YTaYox0wO9pnzRgf3k1Bqk95YqIHNsOw/s320/IMG_7809.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The two more recent games I have been playing cover Market Garden fully at operational level: Monty's Gamble and Holland '44</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/290872/montys-gamble-market-garden-second-edition">Monty's Gamble </a>fom Multi Man Publishing is another area impulse based game but with a more sophisticated level of development than SOA. I own the second edition released in 2019 and still widely available in hobby shops. The rules are reasonably simple to learn and the game is highly replayable. </p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6b4UmDWKWEzCMdjhXE1rgi1SjNWEMY_p2hHr4X5eIcSMYpaaJ6U_g9d2v5xIjJPikq39rh8H_HzMOsrqrbtOguDaJ52exK4q85nZSBgMGYYPeXeIc8X1XvXOqRXRbYEHcOWeRCOPLfqqdpM9akc0aLxWW8zZJsaxXLqXFb_V0OnfQmSuNCoDLJ6qvOQ/s3867/IMG_7811.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2632" data-original-width="3867" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6b4UmDWKWEzCMdjhXE1rgi1SjNWEMY_p2hHr4X5eIcSMYpaaJ6U_g9d2v5xIjJPikq39rh8H_HzMOsrqrbtOguDaJ52exK4q85nZSBgMGYYPeXeIc8X1XvXOqRXRbYEHcOWeRCOPLfqqdpM9akc0aLxWW8zZJsaxXLqXFb_V0OnfQmSuNCoDLJ6qvOQ/w400-h272/IMG_7811.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Monty's Gamble Board</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOevq8VmSSFzNpMpporFpRQjDZayCxi9zwmk92yw2ko4FTNpqUMc-bXbfJo-C0XBkkLJhXNsCA4EAGvVZf1zB9ZQRASY-Z7fLSQHZlL70tc0_YGnwiZ3ykQl4mz2kDyp3lDmlA5_Pgn2BglsFbXvjxLMPkhVkg2uVvOHcUYIdhKhrrJ0ZRykUBuPlIA/s3905/IMG_7812.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3905" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOevq8VmSSFzNpMpporFpRQjDZayCxi9zwmk92yw2ko4FTNpqUMc-bXbfJo-C0XBkkLJhXNsCA4EAGvVZf1zB9ZQRASY-Z7fLSQHZlL70tc0_YGnwiZ3ykQl4mz2kDyp3lDmlA5_Pgn2BglsFbXvjxLMPkhVkg2uVvOHcUYIdhKhrrJ0ZRykUBuPlIA/w400-h310/IMG_7812.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">SOA Board</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/207572/holland-44-operation-market-garden">Holland '44 </a>form the GMT stable and designed by Mark Simonitch, is my number #1 game for Market Garden. Although more complex than Monty's Gamble, it is fairly accesible for anyone with some track record in playing wargames (but I wouldn't recommend to get anyone introduced to the hobby).</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht54XujxQ2ofwAlFScLCiJyf91eO4MLYO-1fCumTe1FfyeK1TMJIQ_fmQv7ohGbLInApWgUBb7ZNAvlQrlqSCo3AajDUO-IWMuBp9FVCkwx0jIog_ZcWloXPEKOigPeCmMKz5n2O_604kzEuk4LvTtFHHkFmkQBIXCG32ZXerHMJvp3ipbvgHoRcAtIw/s3773/IMG_7813.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3773" data-original-width="2833" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht54XujxQ2ofwAlFScLCiJyf91eO4MLYO-1fCumTe1FfyeK1TMJIQ_fmQv7ohGbLInApWgUBb7ZNAvlQrlqSCo3AajDUO-IWMuBp9FVCkwx0jIog_ZcWloXPEKOigPeCmMKz5n2O_604kzEuk4LvTtFHHkFmkQBIXCG32ZXerHMJvp3ipbvgHoRcAtIw/s320/IMG_7813.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> The game is a very realistic portray of the operation, offering both Allied and Germans opportunities to win based on the different victory conditions. I have played it several times; the game helps to understand the tough choices of the Allied forces (racing to the north but forced to keep the lines of supply open at the same time), and the problems faced to the Germans receiving piecemeal but increasingly larger reinforcements to defeat the Allies.<p></p><p>The recently released Spanish version of the game by <a href="https://www.masqueoca.com/tienda/producto.asp?item=8618">NAC Wargames</a> is a work of love: incredible high-quality components (pre-cut counters, mounted and paper maps, support tables...), a new scenario published in C3i and a new revised and upgraded edited version of the rules. In fact (confession time) I sold my original GMT English copy to acquire the new NAC edition after watching an unboxing video...and no regrets so far.</p><p>On the miniature gaming side (see my <a href="https://mylardiesgames.blogspot.com/2023/03/board-games-vs-miniature-wargames-there.html">previous post</a> discussing board vs miniature gaming), <a href="https://toofatlardies.co.uk/product-category/chain-of-command/">Chain of Command</a> is my best option to play skirmish level actions, as explained before. Too Fat Lardies co-founder <a href="https://twitter.com/Dozibugger">Nick Skinner</a> has been working and testing extensively a supplement or handbook focused on Market Garden, that we expect to see released sometime in 2023. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe39_kiPwtBH2XjhqZ6RZuwZYTjUC5yMXL1YrUTOziL742dxJIYjFFBuq_uFqmMSJdjb0fXW2_WSqSVSGHN5i4sabLat_KOpmyLyzawsHSV6osDuOqQxyCoGqF44EZy7Zx8cxZLnxFC-g9cvQe5yImxaAb4bTNF27IIePGRdMXbejh1VLuWqM0jpFjRQ/s400/Foto%2021-12-18%209%2030%2008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="400" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe39_kiPwtBH2XjhqZ6RZuwZYTjUC5yMXL1YrUTOziL742dxJIYjFFBuq_uFqmMSJdjb0fXW2_WSqSVSGHN5i4sabLat_KOpmyLyzawsHSV6osDuOqQxyCoGqF44EZy7Zx8cxZLnxFC-g9cvQe5yImxaAb4bTNF27IIePGRdMXbejh1VLuWqM0jpFjRQ/w400-h350/Foto%2021-12-18%209%2030%2008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Notably, TFL organised a game day at the <a href="https://www.airbornemuseum.nl/en/home">Airborne Museum</a> in Oosterbeek in October 2022 and I have just heard the news in a recent <a href="https://youtu.be/Ix4mzfr0Rww">Oddcast </a>that a new event is scheduled at the museum premises by the end of October 2023. </p><p><b style="color: #b45f06;">Operation Market Garden: What to read?</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixkDoi3EMhQHnQqUXgfbe2YHQLwMQC4-hdahWiWfr4brxB4f16dOHoeNuWOZraTIWdUTDTt8F0YUnAjyefmSRgRoVrnq3Mv4Og6oSYepU6h2G0YxqEhN7W2iWlWthHNUzER1qiuw34KjgAgM8VZofNvkCfi2WsXlm2L3mdt6EB_KFkH0rNJZfYu3A3w/s1532/MV5BNWRjZmZmYmItYzczOS00NjY4LTk3ODItNGU3ZDQ2ZGJkYmZiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjUzOTY1NTc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixkDoi3EMhQHnQqUXgfbe2YHQLwMQC4-hdahWiWfr4brxB4f16dOHoeNuWOZraTIWdUTDTt8F0YUnAjyefmSRgRoVrnq3Mv4Og6oSYepU6h2G0YxqEhN7W2iWlWthHNUzER1qiuw34KjgAgM8VZofNvkCfi2WsXlm2L3mdt6EB_KFkH0rNJZfYu3A3w/w210-h320/MV5BNWRjZmZmYmItYzczOS00NjY4LTk3ODItNGU3ZDQ2ZGJkYmZiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjUzOTY1NTc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br />Cornelius Ryan <a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Cornelius-Ryan-ebook/dp/B000S1LX2U/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_es_US=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=6H0RLMBI7LNP&keywords=a+bridge+too+far&qid=1680528715&s=digital-text&sprefix=a+bridge+too+far%2Cdigital-text%2C195&sr=1-1">"A Bridge Too Far"</a> is the early, and now classical work on Operation market garden, that supported the script of the epic film with the same title.<p></p><p>Unfortunately, the book (unlike the film) has not aged well, and some key wrong ideas and facts about the operation have become undisputed myths over time.</p><p>More modern works and research are removing some of these myths or questioning decisions taken by some Allied leaders on the ground, like Gavin of the US 82nd Airborne.</p><p>For an overview of the whole operation, I recommend "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Antony-Beevor-ebook/dp/B078H4RMXP/ref=sr_1_8?__mk_es_US=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=MCC0UODP8812&keywords=the+battle+for+the+bridges&qid=1680527917&s=digital-text&sprefix=the+battle+for+the+bridges%2Cdigital-text%2C164&sr=1-8">The Battle for the Bridges" </a>by Anthony Beevor, released in 2018. Note: I'm not a devoted fan of this military historian and has found his books to be quite irregular. </p><p>But this is a good book to start, despite that some of the myths commented above still survive in his work (for example, the famous "stop to brew tea" of the Guards tanks in Nijmegen after taking the bridge over the Waal).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6NM04uQms2Z4a9A2VRN7b7MLARIhYdfgAZqGWx7g9IqzCociapR3fynuUh1D5gJG0X5ULuL_5WJJ-IzVqsETOMB1mk_V41rYQhI5jzWhZF1H5C1Yf8i_kpWWmt1RPvRYQ6OEYPrPvFiVkrGdmLPZf5VgoY11rgTwF2BR6skHF-j9pUz7mqC0ZWCfpg/s500/51f5dA1rNyL.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6NM04uQms2Z4a9A2VRN7b7MLARIhYdfgAZqGWx7g9IqzCociapR3fynuUh1D5gJG0X5ULuL_5WJJ-IzVqsETOMB1mk_V41rYQhI5jzWhZF1H5C1Yf8i_kpWWmt1RPvRYQ6OEYPrPvFiVkrGdmLPZf5VgoY11rgTwF2BR6skHF-j9pUz7mqC0ZWCfpg/s320/51f5dA1rNyL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Robin Neilland's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Robin-Neillands-ebook/dp/B016AABMF0?ref_=ast_author_dp">"The Battle for the Rhine 1944"</a> covers the battles from the Normandy breakouts to the Ardennes, and helps put in context the two landmark operations of this period (Market Garden and Watch Am Rhine). This late British historian reviews in depth and makes a strong case in favour of the odds of success of Market Garden. <br /><p></p><p>I have two favourite books that usually I read every year. The first is Martin Middlebrook's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Martin-Middlebrook-ebook/dp/B00911OR1W/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1680528118&sr=1-1-fkmr0">"Arnhem the Airborne Battle"</a> dealing with the fight of the British Airborne Division. It is a book rich in details, using first hand views based on veterans' personal letters, diaries and interviews, and extremely well written and documented.</p><p>The second is focused on the other side of the hill: Robert Kershaw's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Robert-Kershaw-ebook/dp/B005JZ6T3I/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_es_US=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=X32TW73K2V14&keywords=it+never+snows+in+september&qid=1680528449&s=digital-text&sprefix=it+never+snows+in+septetmber%2Cdigital-text%2C177&sr=1-1">"It Never Snows in September"</a>. This book tells the story from the German point of view and it is the perfect complement when you read Middlebrook's for example. Also extremely well written and documented, provides a detail review on how and why the German reacted so fast to the landings, as well as a critical view of some of the Allied actions and decisions. A must-have. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKwZWj9fdDUODwoWVYNvzo10HksmupH8G_a8FfX0prpwcfpsgiVrcAPd5VhGEX67hYcKgPf9-_UKkD7dr6uMMOASBnZhpzojQVEQZ8djU9zZN_iOaBgxXei23v_XvnlR8lPCtdkxRPd4qBixg-0AjrZ8fOqBcP41vPpySqE8CpdMAVVA41Xlrn5sKQA/s3468/IMG_7814.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKwZWj9fdDUODwoWVYNvzo10HksmupH8G_a8FfX0prpwcfpsgiVrcAPd5VhGEX67hYcKgPf9-_UKkD7dr6uMMOASBnZhpzojQVEQZ8djU9zZN_iOaBgxXei23v_XvnlR8lPCtdkxRPd4qBixg-0AjrZ8fOqBcP41vPpySqE8CpdMAVVA41Xlrn5sKQA/s320/IMG_7814.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><p>Finally, I'd like to bring your attention to a short, widely unknown but intriguing and interesting research study written by Dutch military historian R.G. Poulussen and titled <a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/R-G-Poulussen-ebook/dp/B005EH7CIW/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_es_US=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=EMHRBLEZ4B28&keywords=Lost+at+Nijmegen&qid=1680528806&s=digital-text&sprefix=lost+at+nijmegen%2Cdigital-text%2C168&sr=1-1">"Lost at Nijmegen: A Rethink on Operation Market Garden"</a>.</p><p>As the title suggest, the author's argue that Market Garden's main fault was Gavin's procrastinating to take and secure the bridges over the Waal river. The XXX Corps' armoured spear points actually arrived to Nijmegen within schedule despite the problems faced earlier in the operation, only to find the bridges still under German control. </p><p>This had a twofold impact: it forced the British units allocated to reach Arnhem to fight a battle to control the bridges; and for the Germans, once Frost's resistance crumbled at the Arnhem bridge, the delay allowed them to fortify and reinforce the section between Nijmegen and Arnhem (The "Island") forfeiting any possibility of the Allies to reach and capture the bridge over the Rhine.</p><p> <br /></p><p>Thank you for reading this. Do you have any special operation or battle close to your heart? Feel free to leave your comments <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-59653847589823496302023-03-23T15:04:00.000+01:002023-03-23T15:04:07.778+01:00Board Games vs Miniature Wargames: There and Back Again<p>Wargame boardgamers and miniature gamers are usually seen as sitting in opposing fields. The former are apparently driven by their interest in realistic simulations while the latter by the visual pleasure of deploying their creations on a table. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4ILLNCaMJO_DOVN7P_FSH12MP8e8yR1G_V76x2h2GmNEglngIDJZTq4x6Buh0trkJCai_PIbDRCOo3g7TGwMzFxyQRUqKOYTmH7RreogDEnFbYxyU9h8ysBM9wiBqyAr_hsMiVartpi4qK_5f9v7Ji5SSdUoDZxlV9-4f5njf7YASIBfO9IDW4Ifrw/s960/IMG_0593.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4ILLNCaMJO_DOVN7P_FSH12MP8e8yR1G_V76x2h2GmNEglngIDJZTq4x6Buh0trkJCai_PIbDRCOo3g7TGwMzFxyQRUqKOYTmH7RreogDEnFbYxyU9h8ysBM9wiBqyAr_hsMiVartpi4qK_5f9v7Ji5SSdUoDZxlV9-4f5njf7YASIBfO9IDW4Ifrw/s320/IMG_0593.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>My first wargame dates back to 1980, Avalon Hill's Panzerblitz, a Christmas gift from my father. Soon after, I met a group of local wargamers in Madrid and in 1983 we launched <a href="https://www.clubdragon.com/">Club Dragón</a>. Over 40 years has passed, and I continue heavily interested in our hobby. </p><p>However I have gone through different phases, shifting my focus of interest each time: </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Only boardgames initially; </li><li>Fantasy miniatures (Warhammer Fantasy) and RPG (Dungeons & Dragons, LOTR or Cthulhu) in the late 80s;</li><li>Entering the 90s, I turned to historical miniature gaming mostly, with Warhammer Ancients Battles, Command Decision, Fire & Fury Napoleonic, Volley & Bayonet, Crossfire and Blitzkrieg Commander); </li><li>Lately (2010s) abandoned most the previous sets and got immersed in many of the Too Fat Lardies sets (Through the Mud & the Blood, Charlie don't Surf, Troops Weapons and Tactics, Chain of Command, O'Group, Infamy!Infamy!, Sharp practice);</li><li>And very recently (2022) I added <a href="https://mylardiesgames.blogspot.com/2022/12/thoughts-about-saga-rules.html">Saga</a> to my list of most played games.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aolnIenAXQfldTt3kusnXdhHKEUehgENmmLug3fT0N_uprB9opYCNmsastqmIvCfMHbiIBv0YfDBE0QarmHnbAq2fwUpc_b_mdMmeGUCKSB-595PQTk3ZXr6-aHozNJ5QfhjkSmI3B7wCAcKY3c1oVs27nQNtCtdDsijgYPu32oTd9eraTjhdwwYdA/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-12%20at%2021.35.13.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1024" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aolnIenAXQfldTt3kusnXdhHKEUehgENmmLug3fT0N_uprB9opYCNmsastqmIvCfMHbiIBv0YfDBE0QarmHnbAq2fwUpc_b_mdMmeGUCKSB-595PQTk3ZXr6-aHozNJ5QfhjkSmI3B7wCAcKY3c1oVs27nQNtCtdDsijgYPu32oTd9eraTjhdwwYdA/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-12%20at%2021.35.13.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br /><div><p>As you see boardgaming went out of scope in the 90s mainly.... until COVID and the mandatory lockdowns in 2020. First I discovered <a href="https://vassalengine.org/">VASSAL</a> and then I joined a group in my club that net daily to play ASL online after work. </p><p>This represented my return to boardgaming. I have expanded my interest from ASL to the Simonitchs' "194x" series, GBOH (<a href="https://mylardiesgames.blogspot.com/2023/01/why-spqr-dissecting-of-ancient-era.html">SPQR</a>, Caesar, Cataphract...) and a few other selected names (Pacific War, Vietnam or Almoravid) since March 2020. </p><p>Back to in-person gaming at the club in early 2021, I have being combining both board and miniature games. These are not at all incompatible, but probably unconsciously I was approaching each type of game in a different way. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr805YyX_ozcKFO-lZjUwf5s8H2IIJStYAaJuSHCpFvvMcjD6gogceSCBIivqF8fZEkNe0reSmm9xqrTO_wYLxVvecs54bWIzvSQA8VhAXBsOqH0KE4Is_D0mK4BtpDaRTep3wxtLPaePZTwI5pM7hw0XEQHoLQJdZ-J9p6i6xtOad_TV65KeNzoDhcA/s1600/Foto%2014-4-19%2011%2002%2059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr805YyX_ozcKFO-lZjUwf5s8H2IIJStYAaJuSHCpFvvMcjD6gogceSCBIivqF8fZEkNe0reSmm9xqrTO_wYLxVvecs54bWIzvSQA8VhAXBsOqH0KE4Is_D0mK4BtpDaRTep3wxtLPaePZTwI5pM7hw0XEQHoLQJdZ-J9p6i6xtOad_TV65KeNzoDhcA/s320/Foto%2014-4-19%2011%2002%2059.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <b>Board wargames </b><p></p><p>These are an excellent and efficient means to recreate large battles, campaigns, and generally speaking major operations or extended conflicts. Logistics, forward planning, coordination of resources in the right place and time, the consideration of social and political events, high to medium level strategy... all are key drivers in these games. Board games are great to simulate, study or consider alternative approaches to these high level operations.</p><p></p><p><b>Miniature games</b> </p><p>On the other hand, miniatures are great to play low-level and skirmish-type actions (and visually are unrivalled). The focus of these games are on formations, tactics, mostly junior commanders abilities, training, short range weapons and supports (mortars, small caliber guns) capabilities, use of terrain, etc. Logistics or strategy are less of an issue at this level, although can be inserted as part of a game context (specially in campaign formats).</p><p></p><p>Summarising, I'm not one of those wargamers to pitch board versus miniatures. Each type of game offers advantages and over time I've found boardgames more interesting for large scale operations and miniature games for low-scale actions.</p><p>Do you play exclusively board or miniatures games, or you play both? What motivates you to play one or the other? Interested in your views.</p></div>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-31871163909042217282023-03-21T10:12:00.001+01:002023-03-21T10:12:10.201+01:00Painting Challenge Report: The Last Salvo <p>On midnight Sunday, the 13th edition of the Painting Challenge closed. The two days over the last weekend were declared "free fire zone", in other words, challengers could post freely at any time. Because coinciding with Father's Day in Spain on Sunday, family engagements and celebrations limited my availability to paint.</p><p>Nonetheless I could finished painting both, an LMG team for my Early War German Fallschirmjager project and an individual ammo carrier model.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCA_wEzB9I0ajb4RKuzkoZCKX1wpN5s1jjYgEozdz9vOg1Dj0OTLlaKCTaIhP8o2m3PfWez1CzEEi7W5Zw9p8VSzSLn7nOslxjyIig020C-XmbzIZpLXT3ApSztxUgYPxXtK7501dXxy5gx-mA42HoH7i3dY5ca9qbFiPhZcq-m3ckjQ23eLtQ5LvMFg/s2520/IMG_7742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2422" data-original-width="2520" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCA_wEzB9I0ajb4RKuzkoZCKX1wpN5s1jjYgEozdz9vOg1Dj0OTLlaKCTaIhP8o2m3PfWez1CzEEi7W5Zw9p8VSzSLn7nOslxjyIig020C-XmbzIZpLXT3ApSztxUgYPxXtK7501dXxy5gx-mA42HoH7i3dY5ca9qbFiPhZcq-m3ckjQ23eLtQ5LvMFg/w400-h385/IMG_7742.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The LMG is 3D printed model sold by <a href="http://www.eskiceminiature3d.fr/">Eskice Miniatures</a> and it comes in one block (including the tree trunk). Eskice designs are somewhat irregular, and as commented in previous posts, the German paratroopers are probably among the lowest quality in the range: uniforms are not 100% historical (the jumping boots for example, they look more American than German), the gear pieces are inaccurate (they never jumped with the gas mask canisters or the trench tools) or created out of the designer's imagination.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJU5hDooppQFZqRbfZFpZ-ZGPpJsM6nzaZ4NfwWKlGVmvmGTFCwQAfxfAgFhhHlI8VMsIGh3emDyXb6JmSOIgJ834jypc7DAZQg0uqSGh-mOKg4Wkz6nD92QrFGhEJulGJL7XlyVB4IrGm_ogw0AFegT02nTbycGDFO8cuy9KdtJ7Zn8Xjkl-f8CygsQ/s2293/IMG_7744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2052" data-original-width="2293" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJU5hDooppQFZqRbfZFpZ-ZGPpJsM6nzaZ4NfwWKlGVmvmGTFCwQAfxfAgFhhHlI8VMsIGh3emDyXb6JmSOIgJ834jypc7DAZQg0uqSGh-mOKg4Wkz6nD92QrFGhEJulGJL7XlyVB4IrGm_ogw0AFegT02nTbycGDFO8cuy9KdtJ7Zn8Xjkl-f8CygsQ/w400-h358/IMG_7744.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>In any case, I like this specific piece due to the poses and sense of action, and that's why I decided to print and paint.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHhRSZ9eDt73eZgPWRK_2mAbxEheIWXf-WONCkjq8H6iVVmqxsAF00MKXvN8Dxm1huKP8IxqseNYHa1ZPXF2GRhtFuqVRJnWbctqvx1YcVYOFBemGQ518rD8G05XxEF13-mPAwFZTK7F6eHxJk9Y4SF_1iUJUda8rWShf0I2qDMo5YLvr9rZKzcLtIw/s2827/IMG_7745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2222" data-original-width="2827" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHhRSZ9eDt73eZgPWRK_2mAbxEheIWXf-WONCkjq8H6iVVmqxsAF00MKXvN8Dxm1huKP8IxqseNYHa1ZPXF2GRhtFuqVRJnWbctqvx1YcVYOFBemGQ518rD8G05XxEF13-mPAwFZTK7F6eHxJk9Y4SF_1iUJUda8rWShf0I2qDMo5YLvr9rZKzcLtIw/w400-h315/IMG_7745.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>At the conclusion of the Challenge, my accumulated points scoring reached 709 points, which exceeds by 9 points my 700 points goal. Very happy with the output this year, I think it's the first time in eight editions that I have hit the target.<p></p><p>It's been a great edition this year, lots of high quality submissions and I encourage my readers to take a look to the <a href="https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/">Challenge's blog</a> and get some inspiration for your own painting projects. I hope to participate again next December, but I'm planning now to take a more or less long break from the brushes, and focus my hobby time in playing both boardgames and miniature games.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-14692755369106455262023-03-15T10:03:00.009+01:002023-03-15T10:03:50.746+01:00Painting Challenge Report #12<p>All good things must end, and the Painting Challenge too. The last three months went away incredibly fast, an coinciding with the start of Spring the Challenge concludes. My latest Tuesday submission is a second German motorbike with sidecar (an Eskice brand 3d printed model) and a few German Fallschirmjager from Warlord in the early war jump suit.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZq49Wm8Sz3id9JEf-6mXHE_NkjFJWrEDmkNOpqVufvZPTS69ChPjV9Yar0Zo_tsCiw2nUGOUg__d18uwGGnnSueUwKVX4U73Ed5-r0GSPSadyQAIqfuqks-RwkhFFWbK3pb9CgZ4SgwS5HcZ-YyJ3SjqhsHGb2yjqzvrulrH1a6c_44jrPc4JcG0vA/s2287/IMG_7708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1893" data-original-width="2287" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZq49Wm8Sz3id9JEf-6mXHE_NkjFJWrEDmkNOpqVufvZPTS69ChPjV9Yar0Zo_tsCiw2nUGOUg__d18uwGGnnSueUwKVX4U73Ed5-r0GSPSadyQAIqfuqks-RwkhFFWbK3pb9CgZ4SgwS5HcZ-YyJ3SjqhsHGb2yjqzvrulrH1a6c_44jrPc4JcG0vA/w400-h331/IMG_7708.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_XQfRJBhaLh5uAMU9i6rUtMUp7R94hnoK2RNDbnAskSzNpzJJv2Hdp7gT-qwY7Py54TNHa0D0G5ufdYRKizQQ-a_s6-remVX2hlOZhrxph_zdqipRe0rM0uY3TqxxkNY88a7whj3J03ObGokuxnN4jmeZbCbWQ9P20ppodxz7vYTe_Jt-kDpQ9WdMQ/s3020/IMG_7713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1995" data-original-width="3020" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_XQfRJBhaLh5uAMU9i6rUtMUp7R94hnoK2RNDbnAskSzNpzJJv2Hdp7gT-qwY7Py54TNHa0D0G5ufdYRKizQQ-a_s6-remVX2hlOZhrxph_zdqipRe0rM0uY3TqxxkNY88a7whj3J03ObGokuxnN4jmeZbCbWQ9P20ppodxz7vYTe_Jt-kDpQ9WdMQ/w400-h264/IMG_7713.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>The veteran wargamers looking at the photos may have realised a terrible and unforgivable historical mistake in one of the German paratroopers models: one is carrying a MG42 LMG model!!! These only went into service from mid to late 1943, unlikely any jumped into France or Crete </p><p> The Warlord plastic German paratroopers box mixes both early and late war models. When I assembled the models, I classified in two different trays, but it seems that I mistakenly put this mini in the wrong tray, only realizing only when finished painting and basing the model. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic60qrDKUuaU2R0nX5k5YopnqItd5qEdu5JC9zdDJ9DvIHS1vOMvaZIzgpPPXoFCg2r7a81AK6hWeM8OwCs_hz8uN00Q2ZS-QnD4uk8HfJd8Hq662OyW4T7z1i32MQdUY-EBgHCj55HWAuu1pGWiU3MPya3pCJRPmQB5uZ32an-tij0xqlQWceD0B_8g/s2986/IMG_7712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2733" data-original-width="2986" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic60qrDKUuaU2R0nX5k5YopnqItd5qEdu5JC9zdDJ9DvIHS1vOMvaZIzgpPPXoFCg2r7a81AK6hWeM8OwCs_hz8uN00Q2ZS-QnD4uk8HfJd8Hq662OyW4T7z1i32MQdUY-EBgHCj55HWAuu1pGWiU3MPya3pCJRPmQB5uZ32an-tij0xqlQWceD0B_8g/w400-h366/IMG_7712.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p> My score after this submission is 689 points, or just an inch away from the 700 points target set for this year's Challenge. Luckily, this weekend will have a "free fire" slot, in which challengers shall be allowed to post at any time until Sunday at midnight in Canada. Already working on some late minute contrbutions to be posted over the weekend. <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-42661917683960839022023-03-07T09:24:00.009+01:002023-03-08T13:43:04.889+01:00Painting Challenge Report # 11<p>This week my paint work slowed drmatically for many different reasons, and I could only finish one motorbike with sidecar model for my motorized early war German unit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLD80xgEkrUGlL4bu8-vL4yNu4tsv3ieAf_xXLr_svRdWSxL3S_MNu8_lVhUm3CBG6VDHOGhno51Rd3oCguHWWI02lrmE3TjN-KaOX-ssB8fJahhUiZfSFH95jgTOcNlkv4WiDdvbxIhfNDA2VG7_yQJJNsnUnI9I0CMBnj_LxmvWcFhouWDqSkvWEg/s2787/IMG_7673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2444" data-original-width="2787" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLD80xgEkrUGlL4bu8-vL4yNu4tsv3ieAf_xXLr_svRdWSxL3S_MNu8_lVhUm3CBG6VDHOGhno51Rd3oCguHWWI02lrmE3TjN-KaOX-ssB8fJahhUiZfSFH95jgTOcNlkv4WiDdvbxIhfNDA2VG7_yQJJNsnUnI9I0CMBnj_LxmvWcFhouWDqSkvWEg/w400-h351/IMG_7673.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBvhRxqYKsq06nxmg71dmUPq12cNlrb7E0uHUGWBCj37fmbcAFTRG1qBNvfbm2BKPllq9xNaAlfpoX3Nlse9uv6RHqUs456nKIC7cV5SqY2G-uMgCh_Vv-6SIpJNSmZzQMJLK1m9uewExiVvdaH0T1pFrztHo5LgSnwLB_24zlxC8stjfDtsXhrQ9Jg/s2497/IMG_7674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2426" data-original-width="2497" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBvhRxqYKsq06nxmg71dmUPq12cNlrb7E0uHUGWBCj37fmbcAFTRG1qBNvfbm2BKPllq9xNaAlfpoX3Nlse9uv6RHqUs456nKIC7cV5SqY2G-uMgCh_Vv-6SIpJNSmZzQMJLK1m9uewExiVvdaH0T1pFrztHo5LgSnwLB_24zlxC8stjfDtsXhrQ9Jg/w400-h389/IMG_7674.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>My initial plan was to have the three Eskice models painted this week, but it was derailed because I procrastinated for too lomng and also because I forgot to print the third model (unfortunately, the printer is stored in my parents summer house, that will remain shut down until Spring)</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wJJ7zbeJGLxppGv2nnlDxAYL4LF6kYF67kOBP7cXfRtJ0GgP66NNNl3O-bzc9s8ECNgQ8xd78ogz6DOSiie-DhjpsL2Wtk4U0cWp5GJRLTcbnjXzEmia1CVe6EiS1Wc-FRPj4wJT_ltYzmueE6EiO2dxC0UOgGgHHnOLX5OECX2zwKmhcMOp_AmCbA/s2526/IMG_7676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wJJ7zbeJGLxppGv2nnlDxAYL4LF6kYF67kOBP7cXfRtJ0GgP66NNNl3O-bzc9s8ECNgQ8xd78ogz6DOSiie-DhjpsL2Wtk4U0cWp5GJRLTcbnjXzEmia1CVe6EiS1Wc-FRPj4wJT_ltYzmueE6EiO2dxC0UOgGgHHnOLX5OECX2zwKmhcMOp_AmCbA/s2526/IMG_7676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVX1uM66aCwE-MVzqXOzYDTEyQn5OYtW3uUdvW8tP7500qWcsCu3lbL2k0O36Uuvj7XuxLA_zYru4nsvMBRwmFiOCP3BszFZV8lEUj3pTHo2ptYLp6e4e6PrCLAovaH2VZFx6Sa0BhtztreKh48WteAUdN2TUnB8r62GZV-RjqUo0hf_iAZHCh-_M2w/s2350/IMG_7675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2035" data-original-width="2350" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVX1uM66aCwE-MVzqXOzYDTEyQn5OYtW3uUdvW8tP7500qWcsCu3lbL2k0O36Uuvj7XuxLA_zYru4nsvMBRwmFiOCP3BszFZV8lEUj3pTHo2ptYLp6e4e6PrCLAovaH2VZFx6Sa0BhtztreKh48WteAUdN2TUnB8r62GZV-RjqUo0hf_iAZHCh-_M2w/w400-h346/IMG_7675.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><img border="0" data-original-height="2381" data-original-width="2526" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wJJ7zbeJGLxppGv2nnlDxAYL4LF6kYF67kOBP7cXfRtJ0GgP66NNNl3O-bzc9s8ECNgQ8xd78ogz6DOSiie-DhjpsL2Wtk4U0cWp5GJRLTcbnjXzEmia1CVe6EiS1Wc-FRPj4wJT_ltYzmueE6EiO2dxC0UOgGgHHnOLX5OECX2zwKmhcMOp_AmCbA/w400-h378/IMG_7676.jpg" width="400" /></div><p></p><p>I could only add 20 points to the scoring this week. The accumulated figure now is 654 points. I have exactly two week to hit the 700 points target mark. Except for some unexpected event, I hope to reach it in time. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikL7T_5syfF8arQV9C2k7PnbYlm55rStQGX8FBOEzwlkWcjOg-UjDmUve4FTgogwDKZUAotfiB8JLovrGt-ddOEA_EfC-NgPXcVnZNYdpjcLvalqOHkFGNC7Jh6uCZniCbvXEoidLVAskD48SPw8dmu9prNkgXKaJXEQm7O7XAd3HYUeDe9MDHLobhEA/s3031/IMG_7677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2506" data-original-width="3031" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikL7T_5syfF8arQV9C2k7PnbYlm55rStQGX8FBOEzwlkWcjOg-UjDmUve4FTgogwDKZUAotfiB8JLovrGt-ddOEA_EfC-NgPXcVnZNYdpjcLvalqOHkFGNC7Jh6uCZniCbvXEoidLVAskD48SPw8dmu9prNkgXKaJXEQm7O7XAd3HYUeDe9MDHLobhEA/w400-h331/IMG_7677.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-44631573906312849122023-03-01T11:02:00.000+01:002023-03-01T11:02:30.979+01:00Painting Challenge Report #10<p>As commented last week, I'm taking a few weeks of the Challenge now to break away from my core Saga projects and capture some bonus points from the Challenge Studios, painting some minis on the side. Last week it was all fantasy and the Lord of the Rings, this week is Second World War.</p><p>I have an old German early war project for Chain of Command half finished. It was initially planned for the 2019 Challenge but other projects stepped in the way (ah! the wargame butterfly inside of me). Having in 2022 jumped into the 3D printing activity, the project was rekindled last summer after printing a set of German motorbike riders from Eskice Miniatures.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaYf1O8hDPW_5_67VnCO3eus8SJ8JekmYHDAF3cSF807Tfwvo71UUkOQJeWmNX85Kpnq-ptHfNVLptFllhLidB3p2d3Ez8n9D6byaVKk1bhdS9X2FKdi7neFu4_OwCANlmMGRRKQ6JkweSDKYl4EglouZY8YfEIaBWsDnUJAJkFXXGP7iccOAxL9NXw/s3803/IMG_7645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2659" data-original-width="3803" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaYf1O8hDPW_5_67VnCO3eus8SJ8JekmYHDAF3cSF807Tfwvo71UUkOQJeWmNX85Kpnq-ptHfNVLptFllhLidB3p2d3Ez8n9D6byaVKk1bhdS9X2FKdi7neFu4_OwCANlmMGRRKQ6JkweSDKYl4EglouZY8YfEIaBWsDnUJAJkFXXGP7iccOAxL9NXw/w400-h280/IMG_7645.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>These are going to work as a motorized infantry squad support unit or as part of a recon group. I still have pending a couple of motorbikes with sidecars that will provide the LMG tgeams to the squads. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgwtlyiDP9vF9IvJeF_O5upVEAv-QgnX76ENUl0sEV2uUPjXJYJPmdrSd2q-sJHvShnrvL1jQGAlLM3leAemph0kg78aqSVpIDu742ofOcBtEXH8Q4Z9DyQ-kShbhjpYpOxqtZF5_AGL4gE0-FPh0nYDkGljBioaPS-5yzF3fvOT07_NZHB9KzrEBjA/s3726/IMG_7646.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="3726" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgwtlyiDP9vF9IvJeF_O5upVEAv-QgnX76ENUl0sEV2uUPjXJYJPmdrSd2q-sJHvShnrvL1jQGAlLM3leAemph0kg78aqSVpIDu742ofOcBtEXH8Q4Z9DyQ-kShbhjpYpOxqtZF5_AGL4gE0-FPh0nYDkGljBioaPS-5yzF3fvOT07_NZHB9KzrEBjA/w400-h241/IMG_7646.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Painting filed grey and panzaerr grey is not very exciting but it is fast; and despite being very dull colours, I'm noy unhappy with the final results.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0wHDmIAB6ZGtfwGvIGz0oRDDzAXKgZ4QZqKFhggyrU1DPg7lRsnrK9QYDA5tX93DvoEML0yxhn_QZLPR05G37TSMCGxmFENhzTYk9_J0CJPAlZbL6zhKj7WzW7jLfmegBNdqQaQNu0uKTuP6LMMBkPZI0SDD4otRSRqYVwO6OoeYZ_-w9xWWjXNPQw/s3882/IMG_7647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2364" data-original-width="3882" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0wHDmIAB6ZGtfwGvIGz0oRDDzAXKgZ4QZqKFhggyrU1DPg7lRsnrK9QYDA5tX93DvoEML0yxhn_QZLPR05G37TSMCGxmFENhzTYk9_J0CJPAlZbL6zhKj7WzW7jLfmegBNdqQaQNu0uKTuP6LMMBkPZI0SDD4otRSRqYVwO6OoeYZ_-w9xWWjXNPQw/w400-h244/IMG_7647.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>After this week submission, my accumulated scoring has reached 634 points or 91% of my 700 points target. With a little bit of effort I may reach the finish line next week, let's now pray that any unexpected professional o personal committments don't come in the way. <br /></p><p> <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-6735355676871479262023-02-21T14:34:00.004+01:002023-02-22T10:37:18.727+01:00Painting Challenge Report #9<p>We are entering the last lap of The Painting Challenge, and decided to takea break from my Saga projects to explore some of the Blue Pass Studios sites and earn some bonus points on the way. For this purpose. I dug the deepest layers of my lead mountain and found these jewels in the 1980's layers (still wrapped in the original blisters)</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZmtkyCtWk0i-Mz_JyGLnTJzMQ_eIEP0u2AIBVhhjL2BKHpmu8_HUjvFJM768D0DwKNdLFW4BiM8cw6ObinUVb4oAQ1NDmDQvdIjrsxJJXfVBLJnTUYKY7XZ-sGkalCg-O35mRKDEOUwnghGoFxP0zGeUfma__fJlnANIlso0luBDKmVGf6u0PcohrQ/s4032/IMG_7591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZmtkyCtWk0i-Mz_JyGLnTJzMQ_eIEP0u2AIBVhhjL2BKHpmu8_HUjvFJM768D0DwKNdLFW4BiM8cw6ObinUVb4oAQ1NDmDQvdIjrsxJJXfVBLJnTUYKY7XZ-sGkalCg-O35mRKDEOUwnghGoFxP0zGeUfma__fJlnANIlso0luBDKmVGf6u0PcohrQ/s320/IMG_7591.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA6taMTHG2fuXh78mxWhJBLqObpcGr6kQp1OLpqSVxqBRbHkzduqfSs5-JKzL73IanzP09D8D0qZjmanco2zNX1qoNaNydWAoMhD9-eIrejGrL7qNKT6HsUnlvxBjjKa_BrGjV-A9qTPWpvPY8-h38pec20yVFfoS_Q4wvM9u-6IGc7M2p2npcGhXbA/s4032/IMG_7590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA6taMTHG2fuXh78mxWhJBLqObpcGr6kQp1OLpqSVxqBRbHkzduqfSs5-JKzL73IanzP09D8D0qZjmanco2zNX1qoNaNydWAoMhD9-eIrejGrL7qNKT6HsUnlvxBjjKa_BrGjV-A9qTPWpvPY8-h38pec20yVFfoS_Q4wvM9u-6IGc7M2p2npcGhXbA/s320/IMG_7590.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeLkfcBNVUDL7gaOYKpuUiQ5L8Oip6lqG2-HcKz3txcCEv9ueeE6TxJAr8LihyZTI7GjV-sC7WiBJfbywEEfaTKzkAV7WuloDM9YFP0LWKuQuUCS6c2ua5HoTl_VDTJKExV7f7ZQg3TwniUlGK45AmUHiC92D2XwM4XN_cy9voiFnbe9YFY0thl2Mtg/s4032/IMG_7564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeLkfcBNVUDL7gaOYKpuUiQ5L8Oip6lqG2-HcKz3txcCEv9ueeE6TxJAr8LihyZTI7GjV-sC7WiBJfbywEEfaTKzkAV7WuloDM9YFP0LWKuQuUCS6c2ua5HoTl_VDTJKExV7f7ZQg3TwniUlGK45AmUHiC92D2XwM4XN_cy9voiFnbe9YFY0thl2Mtg/s320/IMG_7564.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Galadriel and her mirror plus the four most famous hobbits of The Shire</p><p>These were designed and sold by Mithril miniatures in the early 1980s, heavily based in the descriptions provided by Tolkien in the Lord of the Rings. Nothing to do with thee most familiar images emerging from the Peter Jackson's films (and the Warlord miniatores ranges)</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wcwMCRVQHJEBj-24m4f5ZjJJK373E_K8C0rB-AOPlSk4WhBqYq92oKi2gMq-RCnk0xlfboWG-X7aa4j3iiLCxdcGDhbapHmvI5GV-283KWBChMKWGEYychHAfoWYc3xBQGcZ6hOBgccRqNs2GEk-FZdyfNRwqbUsXXZDE4g1HlqvgRkK-xmP_sgr4g/s3338/IMG_7618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2586" data-original-width="3338" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wcwMCRVQHJEBj-24m4f5ZjJJK373E_K8C0rB-AOPlSk4WhBqYq92oKi2gMq-RCnk0xlfboWG-X7aa4j3iiLCxdcGDhbapHmvI5GV-283KWBChMKWGEYychHAfoWYc3xBQGcZ6hOBgccRqNs2GEk-FZdyfNRwqbUsXXZDE4g1HlqvgRkK-xmP_sgr4g/w400-h310/IMG_7618.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnh8M13Y5hyp1hzP-IDxoViZRGenF2hnk7eMzUtriFsnvQpWB8SI2M6N_tuLVRkUu-AHG8yzVlnA5-kR7xHAR6p1SljLueUZ_OwMPFIuyYgTyrViUep-Uuqs2W99MvC7vf-jd5MNexiGkqlh_6JRDkWqUMz-zWcPsIXPzqkHsW78Tne0fzzfwxn_GDg/s2659/IMG_7614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2659" data-original-width="2531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnh8M13Y5hyp1hzP-IDxoViZRGenF2hnk7eMzUtriFsnvQpWB8SI2M6N_tuLVRkUu-AHG8yzVlnA5-kR7xHAR6p1SljLueUZ_OwMPFIuyYgTyrViUep-Uuqs2W99MvC7vf-jd5MNexiGkqlh_6JRDkWqUMz-zWcPsIXPzqkHsW78Tne0fzzfwxn_GDg/w381-h400/IMG_7614.jpg" width="381" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>After this week's submission my current Challenge score has reached 549 points, representing 78% of my Challenge's 700 points target for this year. Veery much on track to reach the target.<br /></p><p> </p><p> <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-53186791227663567702023-02-20T12:15:00.002+01:002023-02-22T10:36:28.216+01:00The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy 1943-44 by Rick Atkinson<p>As <a href="https://mylardiesgames.blogspot.com/2023/01/sicily-43-by-james-holland.html">commented</a> in a previous post, this year I planned to do some research and to read on the Italian Campaign during the Second World War. I firstly reviewed James Holland's Sicily 1943 book and in this post I'll do the same with a second book: <strike>Roy</strike> Rick Atkinson's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Rick-Atkinson-ebook/dp/B00CEGTUUY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TIGX1P27AMP4&keywords=the+day+of+battle+rick+atkinson&qid=1675954696&sprefix=atkinson+day+of+battle%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1">The Day of Battle</a>.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OGxflYwCWmiZGIeH8ZeAw6_JNeNBA0Q6IR_qbqE_vgyMXB2YxZCy_HRaue7O8fsshJVZcqhYfvo7hdRhzXd-ok20hnXLAZ4AO1zsLVuf4WMrXcD8_ezVCJSNQ2_o3ZkIxGCcpZ-uZdX5KEWYRJBtWoeV1ShAodtwfsCJixlLvm7RRAB95X6h1uJ--g/s2048/FodugE2WIAA4xkR.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OGxflYwCWmiZGIeH8ZeAw6_JNeNBA0Q6IR_qbqE_vgyMXB2YxZCy_HRaue7O8fsshJVZcqhYfvo7hdRhzXd-ok20hnXLAZ4AO1zsLVuf4WMrXcD8_ezVCJSNQ2_o3ZkIxGCcpZ-uZdX5KEWYRJBtWoeV1ShAodtwfsCJixlLvm7RRAB95X6h1uJ--g/s320/FodugE2WIAA4xkR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The book is part two of The Liberation Trilogy covering the Western Front campaigns: Torch and Tunisia in 1942/43, the Italian front 1943-44; and the Normandy campaign until the final surrender in May 45.<p></p><p>The Day of Battle focuses on Sicily and Italy until the fall of Rome. Therefore it covers Operation Husky, Salerno, Montecassino, Rome and the battles to break the different German defensive lines across the south half of the Italic Peninsula. </p><p>The campaign had a promising start with the Sicily invasion (Operation Husky) as described in a previous <a href="https://mylardiesgames.blogspot.com/2023/01/sicily-43-by-james-holland.html">blog post </a>commenting James Holland's book.</p><p>However, the following operations were mired with a lot of problems, including the differing strategic views of the main Allied partners about where to start the conquest of Continental Europe (the Americans were committed to a full effort in France, the British to the Mediterranean). This differeing views resulted in total a lack of clarity of the main objectives and golas for the Allied forces arriving to Italy's continental soil.</p><p>Add to this an ill-planned landing operation at Salerno (operation Avalanche in September 1943) in which the Allied army was in the verge of being defeated and to cnduct a potentially catastrophic reembarking operation; the great defending opportunities offered to the Germans by the terrain (numerous river lines, mountainous landscape unsuitable for amour), lack of good metalled roads (or just lack of roads) and finally the terrible weather from October onwards.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDJKdIFM8n9VD0NDuiX1wRmHc39irpd2KEeoOE__1yX6sbkkYwOqwaOn9YCZdIsIDDCuo1RbITPEmcB8Bw160-r2x7QSSQEWJNW2xmNEhsXpaDMoRvBtZs9umaSqODXIwkUWizu7kx6Pd6civmvywOjppVNTSXvRCx5CzqjiOMba-K7rIqG32ileK0A/s1280/ItalyDefenseLinesSouthofRome1943_4.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="1280" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDJKdIFM8n9VD0NDuiX1wRmHc39irpd2KEeoOE__1yX6sbkkYwOqwaOn9YCZdIsIDDCuo1RbITPEmcB8Bw160-r2x7QSSQEWJNW2xmNEhsXpaDMoRvBtZs9umaSqODXIwkUWizu7kx6Pd6civmvywOjppVNTSXvRCx5CzqjiOMba-K7rIqG32ileK0A/w400-h272/ItalyDefenseLinesSouthofRome1943_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: Wikipedia</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p>The Allied forces in Italy were also continously shrinked, as many divisions were transfered to England for Overlord (initially planned for April/May 44) in addition to the natural manpower wastage caused by the campaign and the weather. </p><p>At the end of the day, the Germans fought a series of successful delaying actions, retreating from one fortified line to another, using the rivers crossing east-west and finally consolidating an d area in the north of Italy, occupied until the German surrender in May 1945.</p><p><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">The Book</span></b></p><p>The Day of Battle is another thick 850 pages book of the trilogy. It covers the period between the end of the Tunis Campaign, Husky and then all the way to the liberation of Rome. <br /></p><p>But to make the story short, I'll start by the end: I did not like the book and hinestly I cannot recommend it.</p><p>For a start, the book could have been 30% (+/-) shorter by just the author being more focused. He spent a lot of space rambling about superflous stories, many times unconnected with the main topic. In addition, he adds all types of small details in the descriptions and instead of making them more realistic and credible, the achieve the opposite: I got bored and many times impatient to know where the author is heading to. </p><p>Atkinson also loves gossip, a lot actually: Churchill and Roosevelt meets? You'll learn the detailed menus, where many of the dishes were flown from, the color of the pyjamas used by the British premier, a thorough description of how much Churchill liked to take baths or the amount (and type) of drinks consumed in some these wild parties. </p><p>Montgomery crosses the Messina Strait and meets the press? You'll learn that he sipped three coffees with cookies while addressing the journalists. And also that Monty always travelled with his collection of parakeets and canaries in cages.<br /></p><p>When describing the operations, Atkinson goes in many places the "James Holland" way: using the personal "voice" of the people involved and from there build up the chapter to describe the actions at a higher altitude. However I thinks he fails in the way he "zooms out" the action, but also in lacking to provide enough good operational detail.</p><p>And finally, the book (the electronic version) lacks any maps (!!) I have checked and the printed edition actually DO have maps, so this is negligence on the part of the editor, not the author. In any case this forcved me to navigate continously in Google maps, not the most efficient solution at times specially if reading offline.</p><p>In summary, I had a very frustrating experience with this book and the author. I honestly did not enjoyed the reading, skipping significant portions that did not provide any real added value. I did klearn <br /></p><p><b style="color: #ffa400;">What's Next?</b><br /></p><p>I'll jump now to James Holland's <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/James-Holland-ebook/dp/B002RI9OOQ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1673878147&sr=8-1">Italy's Sorrow: A Year of War 1944-45</a></b> to cover the final lap of the Italian operations and with this I will conclude my readings on the campaign, at least for the moment. </p><p>To note that over the past recent weeks, James Holland has released a few episodes on Italy 1943-44 in his co-hosted podcast channel "<a href="https://play.acast.com/s/wehaveways">We have ways to Make you Talk</a>". It looks like this will be the topic of his his next book; and I guess it will be released by the summer (no later) ready for the annual We Have Ways festival in September, dedicated this year to "1943" a decisive year in the Second World War. </p><br />Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-9452940000542528162023-02-15T09:22:00.000+01:002023-02-15T09:22:09.114+01:00Painting Challenge Report #8<p>A milestone achieved in my Saga project, as last week I finished the last two units of guards for my Dark Ages warband</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRPZQaHrwvKF-nJk_LScJ8UVCvqETEmUfczCb0w6m4rcUCn7Gm_Ci5uFjjjDVn9onUHFCfmFE04KnVRWvKbOAopsOssplyY0hJAUbThBL5TMGNep3hmTgzVYaEY1Q6e5NVCw22rUkVe8V-BMYpXKMqEsrkCwR1hQB5EiKgRxi5jrAt2Dje1IfwjPwwQ/s3678/IMG_7592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2966" data-original-width="3678" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRPZQaHrwvKF-nJk_LScJ8UVCvqETEmUfczCb0w6m4rcUCn7Gm_Ci5uFjjjDVn9onUHFCfmFE04KnVRWvKbOAopsOssplyY0hJAUbThBL5TMGNep3hmTgzVYaEY1Q6e5NVCw22rUkVe8V-BMYpXKMqEsrkCwR1hQB5EiKgRxi5jrAt2Dje1IfwjPwwQ/w400-h323/IMG_7592.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Guards units have 4 men, representing 1 point in terms of the Saga point system. Together with the previously painted models, I have now a total of 6 points (1 levy. 2 warriors, 2 guards and the warband leader) to deploy a warband on the table. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu9Nqqu8X2rycwxoG3UWbdQrf8gctDaMb0QHBY6H-oEsckMHbUZGPM1Htm-GCEao3udnjqY0OUlOpVC5SnKRvjv0DRLXMlLAnzVhysEGM8KbIi6mGTzQSs4TisGYtrdbg5Y8Rxs7qdMIgLa2SV8Pi9IINluP-zurjoHqfRCuT56iu5I7vbY7D7QZ-8Q/s3633/IMG_7594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2563" data-original-width="3633" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu9Nqqu8X2rycwxoG3UWbdQrf8gctDaMb0QHBY6H-oEsckMHbUZGPM1Htm-GCEao3udnjqY0OUlOpVC5SnKRvjv0DRLXMlLAnzVhysEGM8KbIi6mGTzQSs4TisGYtrdbg5Y8Rxs7qdMIgLa2SV8Pi9IINluP-zurjoHqfRCuT56iu5I7vbY7D7QZ-8Q/w400-h283/IMG_7594.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Given the generic design of most of these models, they can be used for any army list between the period of the Late Roman Empire to the beginning of the first Millenium. So any list with the terms "Anglo", "Saxon", Danish", even Vikings can be used with the mdels al ready painted.</p><p>My plan now is to start painting some cavalry units which a re featured in many of the Age of Invasion lists like the different "Goths" (Otrogoths, Visigoths,etc), Franks and other horse mounted peoples beyond the Rhine and the Danube rivers.</p><p>As of today, my total points score on the Challenge has reached 482 points or 69% of my 700 points target. <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-89357932685748529162023-02-08T13:18:00.001+01:002023-02-08T13:18:31.532+01:00Painting Challenge Report #7<p> Unfortunately, nothing to report this week :-(</p><p>I had a spike of workload at the office last week; and coupled with some family commitments over the weekend, made it impossible to have anything material ready to submitt to the Painting Challenge on Tuesday (my allocated day of the week).</p><p>Several half finished projects are currently on the table, all related to my Saga warbands. I hope to recoup part of the lost time next weekend and exceed the average weekly points achieved so far. Stay tuned. <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-79064322761009217552023-02-01T08:37:00.001+01:002023-02-01T08:37:37.545+01:00Painting Challenge Report #6<p> January is gone and I'm happy with my progress so far in the Painting Challenge. Usually, by this time in the competition my painting mojo suffers; but not this year. I think the Saga project is keeping me engaged and committed. <br /></p><p>The <a href="http://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/01/from-benitov-more-dark-age-warriors-and.html">past week</a> I finished a second unit of 8 warriors (1 Saga Warband point equivalent). The minis are from the Gripping Beast plastic Dark Age Warriors box, straight from the sprues. Shileds as usual from the superb Little Big Men Studios range.<br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5QIQ3C6abbLhiCiKwtfzWn7Qwqu9XWiBEnkszS_jRPEE_WMG45XOFYLrBeCpzpsKGXsg7kkh6LmTW27GfCcWMatLtONJGTQAN6I64A4ZyUvejaI5uvmkox0Yhg_MWvk3At1lOt2b-YMnovt7a2xgKmSqrTPedVD6B5wqaMeJCE6QVXNQK_p04fB9lQ/s400/IMG_7554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="400" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5QIQ3C6abbLhiCiKwtfzWn7Qwqu9XWiBEnkszS_jRPEE_WMG45XOFYLrBeCpzpsKGXsg7kkh6LmTW27GfCcWMatLtONJGTQAN6I64A4ZyUvejaI5uvmkox0Yhg_MWvk3At1lOt2b-YMnovt7a2xgKmSqrTPedVD6B5wqaMeJCE6QVXNQK_p04fB9lQ/w400-h295/IMG_7554.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The unit is generic enough to play a rol in any Dark Age warband and even later periods, like for example acting as light infantry for an El Cid/Reconquista army. I'm now close to conclude a 4-point starter warband: I already painted one levies (1 point) and the two warriors (2 points) units. I only need now to paint the Guards, which hopefully should be ready next week.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTrv1w1sp7u25u66NIJvaOP87ZNGW-LnCRKSI6Bu0ldMr2P_lFLsnNqqWxin0-V84cO7vl7Ze2c_FBUCvt3jl627rLoexAf49FLDjhcSkuIrJHlVdlyBOrOcToKpPxmXc375Mg__pKYXn5OMgkXqszVrXfLgq5meyC-IE_7UXGuI5IIZzwADiSPhn0g/s399/IMG_7555.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="399" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTrv1w1sp7u25u66NIJvaOP87ZNGW-LnCRKSI6Bu0ldMr2P_lFLsnNqqWxin0-V84cO7vl7Ze2c_FBUCvt3jl627rLoexAf49FLDjhcSkuIrJHlVdlyBOrOcToKpPxmXc375Mg__pKYXn5OMgkXqszVrXfLgq5meyC-IE_7UXGuI5IIZzwADiSPhn0g/w400-h271/IMG_7555.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have also started looking for a suitable warband leader.For a cavalry-free army, I have already prepared this chief standing on a boulder. Happy with the final work but I may add in the future a stardard bearer. I'm planning in any case to paint some other warband leaders, and at least one riding a horse.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOd4zEBYhxOjFrwap0RpgouEdNxO527xK5vKeY4LXTX0DunLaXapaPY4vKrzJxbYWWXtkye8yv7tte5-Jn6mH9ud2DyHVyRHf_DlASBc8zzeipdqA2kJIOJrHtIew8xInBTKmVVi4XCkvJID_VKOorK-Jd8ozI5wNiohtPULbUuMIRg0J9u-AEFdpOww/s2282/IMG_7561.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2222" data-original-width="2282" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOd4zEBYhxOjFrwap0RpgouEdNxO527xK5vKeY4LXTX0DunLaXapaPY4vKrzJxbYWWXtkye8yv7tte5-Jn6mH9ud2DyHVyRHf_DlASBc8zzeipdqA2kJIOJrHtIew8xInBTKmVVi4XCkvJID_VKOorK-Jd8ozI5wNiohtPULbUuMIRg0J9u-AEFdpOww/w400-h390/IMG_7561.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_9HWXATSL10v94qoDbVaNm4QCsB7StmVmV2vCc_lgPMgluKk_1hiwR7v2HFo3OuEjE3QX70Sf635CpWmYM5NnhXdVoksMk78gPil_ayGfF_LWHLyfwqbL_7ZvQ3h9CVCwktL9qyP76YYN-pV7FtJTdDWoI7MzjQZRk6ucJNYkCGTUk-zUqqYD06evg/s2529/IMG_7559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2529" data-original-width="2520" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_9HWXATSL10v94qoDbVaNm4QCsB7StmVmV2vCc_lgPMgluKk_1hiwR7v2HFo3OuEjE3QX70Sf635CpWmYM5NnhXdVoksMk78gPil_ayGfF_LWHLyfwqbL_7ZvQ3h9CVCwktL9qyP76YYN-pV7FtJTdDWoI7MzjQZRk6ucJNYkCGTUk-zUqqYD06evg/w399-h400/IMG_7559.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Following this week's submission my accumulated scoring has reached 442 points, representing 63% of my 700 points target for this year's Challenge. <br /></p><p> <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-530644216770132912023-01-25T09:13:00.001+01:002023-01-25T09:14:30.354+01:00Painting Challenge Report #5<p> Time flies, I can't believe that 5 weeks are already gone since the beginning of the Challenge (and the winter period)</p><p>Very satisfactory progress this week. Despite having less time available for painting, I managed to finish another 8-men Warrior unit for my Saga warband. These were initially to be part of an Anglo-Danish warband, bu the models are so generic that can be part of any Saxon, Viking, etc unit in the Dark Age period.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKG81KunlMNMgmXHyd6t9nrXFjJsebLud1Rc1eaBOeGucsFRdFA_99PUeTSjlJUG4Or8lF7krqSd1zPTgLy5sk998cYmu4IxdCo3KdRt-ApxamSoct-MEEUn-8fSwBKBhySvUAz_EbMIsdDGUJeuj7Yr5DKmBYDwni5ACBald9o7H1iI0MW_UrBGiGA/s3779/IMG_7535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2301" data-original-width="3779" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKG81KunlMNMgmXHyd6t9nrXFjJsebLud1Rc1eaBOeGucsFRdFA_99PUeTSjlJUG4Or8lF7krqSd1zPTgLy5sk998cYmu4IxdCo3KdRt-ApxamSoct-MEEUn-8fSwBKBhySvUAz_EbMIsdDGUJeuj7Yr5DKmBYDwni5ACBald9o7H1iI0MW_UrBGiGA/w400-h244/IMG_7535.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p> <br /></p><p>The second part of the entry are Saruman and the Palanthir. These were painted to win some bonus points by visiting the 80s Studio site of the Challenge Studios. The model is from an (very) old Mithril range bought in the 80s literally (it was even in the sealed original blister pack!)</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2AA83A2QGqQz4Oh1ipDUCz0XsMSGUWU02uiICBmJYKBoU7jNDkit5cpxk-V38nmyZPZ3Fyj9de0pPWBlyaXHuVDko-Cnit5iJtEdETJr3M8hkqVTairtgaGt0IhWgc0Wu3kxEbdY2daF3AQYTvTi4KQ0FcZcFg4QCbEgAZIhxxg5KGBRAzM0jEzANw/s3037/IMG_7532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3037" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2AA83A2QGqQz4Oh1ipDUCz0XsMSGUWU02uiICBmJYKBoU7jNDkit5cpxk-V38nmyZPZ3Fyj9de0pPWBlyaXHuVDko-Cnit5iJtEdETJr3M8hkqVTairtgaGt0IhWgc0Wu3kxEbdY2daF3AQYTvTi4KQ0FcZcFg4QCbEgAZIhxxg5KGBRAzM0jEzANw/w400-h399/IMG_7532.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Quite happy with the painting work, depicting Saruman in the act of conjuring Sauron's Eye in the Palanthir.</p><p>This week I scored 67 points, taking my Challenge's accumulated to 377 points. I have already covered 54% of my March 21st deadline target of 700 points, so not bad at all. Now I need to keep the momentum. <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-48521880412331411692023-01-18T11:32:00.004+01:002023-01-25T09:14:09.995+01:00Painting Challenge Report #4<p>As expected, the end of the Christmas holidays has reduced my total paint time and slowed the output. In any case I have been able to produce one new 12-men levy unit for my <a href="https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/SAGA_Age_of_Invasions_Books_Dice--category--573.html">Saga Late Roman Army</a> warband.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3un1CuESO2NJJ_NB-yRr1xvLXk5-Gge1sqtaglkE0Khui54zWO6XHGjbrds6UDPqqjQ0bWycnk1piaDSXj_cLYV4VbASMLmAnCR2XsxjHdCD87Fat7PLgT_rCYrST95wTvF3vxDBxEHEGPgua-_NLO-yZ9siavjD0RpYcO1JPkK6TCpE7YawhB0FcQg/s3996/IMG_7484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2194" data-original-width="3996" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3un1CuESO2NJJ_NB-yRr1xvLXk5-Gge1sqtaglkE0Khui54zWO6XHGjbrds6UDPqqjQ0bWycnk1piaDSXj_cLYV4VbASMLmAnCR2XsxjHdCD87Fat7PLgT_rCYrST95wTvF3vxDBxEHEGPgua-_NLO-yZ9siavjD0RpYcO1JPkK6TCpE7YawhB0FcQg/w400-h220/IMG_7484.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Being levies I wanted the unit to lack uniformity. So instead of using the Gripping Beast <a href="https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/GBP09_Late_Roman_Infantry--product--5328.html">Late Roman Infantry</a> box, I decided to scavange different pieces from the <a href="https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/GBP03_Dark_Age_Warriors--product--3276.html">Dark Age Warriors </a>box and spare heads with helmets from other different boxes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34Zu7KXm5g5gXqxNJQy_R452kI9AHkqvTvV8eIm_TSCk-RD32Q5dzaK0hlXrYEiZGY-t66T-CLLDoqAuFuXlsaUE0g0tV_5V21oHzcEH0CVgSTryFJNPMydZmr_tZ4_NS7gD0TkN5zvTZi373Pg9JD0VXK-vk6VwnbPhkZenC4mUYPPq_TQa75nHqPw/s3809/IMG_7485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2444" data-original-width="3809" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34Zu7KXm5g5gXqxNJQy_R452kI9AHkqvTvV8eIm_TSCk-RD32Q5dzaK0hlXrYEiZGY-t66T-CLLDoqAuFuXlsaUE0g0tV_5V21oHzcEH0CVgSTryFJNPMydZmr_tZ4_NS7gD0TkN5zvTZi373Pg9JD0VXK-vk6VwnbPhkZenC4mUYPPq_TQa75nHqPw/w400-h256/IMG_7485.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>My idea was that likely they were supplied with helmets, Roman army tunics and shields when called for service. But being conscripted, some may be have been arriving late or the army's depot may have been depleted, and therefore they had to provide their own clothing and weapons.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoWGv0eBJOVmLqNpcNS3SZUClXknF0Ssgz8MgfUJCRNWUZQj_vDs39Da7EVavgVVZ6mvCOv-VWKRuFDbRnztaROTqiV0AEf5adlW_lp1EG2kcI26i-IfiUAlTz_2fKkpr02baaT2Yka_mdzbIB2lcekFUeDb_eisZ5_GHPhR7S0bhDkcf6H-tsfrMxQ/s3519/IMG_7486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2699" data-original-width="3519" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoWGv0eBJOVmLqNpcNS3SZUClXknF0Ssgz8MgfUJCRNWUZQj_vDs39Da7EVavgVVZ6mvCOv-VWKRuFDbRnztaROTqiV0AEf5adlW_lp1EG2kcI26i-IfiUAlTz_2fKkpr02baaT2Yka_mdzbIB2lcekFUeDb_eisZ5_GHPhR7S0bhDkcf6H-tsfrMxQ/w400-h306/IMG_7486.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Another example of the flexibility allowed by the Gripping Beast plastic boxes, many of whose parts can be interchanged, providing endless configuration options. The shields are transfers from <a href="https://www.littlebigmenstudios.com/">Little Big Men</a> studios. I went for a similar pattern to give the unit some uniformity.</p><p>With this entry, my scoring stands now at 310 points, representing 44% of my Challenge's 700 points target this year. <br /></p><p> <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-84915676113800913012023-01-16T12:29:00.368+01:002023-01-17T09:53:42.144+01:00Sicily '43 by James Holland<p>After many decades reading about the Second World War, I realized that I had some major gaps in other many "secondary" (or not) theaters, like for example the Italian campaign; or in main War theaters like the Pacific (covered last year with the excellent trilogy written by <a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/dp/B084SRTBJC?binding=kindle_edition&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt_tkin&qid=1673879152&sr=8-1">Ian W. Toll)</a>; or most of the Eastern Front battles.</p><p>Following a visit to Montecassino and Anzio in late April 2022, I made a firm self-committment to start filling those gaps inmediately. Over the late summer and the autumn 2022, I focused my attention in the "other" 1944 Western Europe battles (= excluding Normandy, Arnhem and The Ardennes) and in the 1945 campaign. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aoT0N78GEtrsQEeVrEX8VjTj5iSrbtKrSmN0yw4tzU_2yzI8PMbxnw3xlvaAWN4Zwxjea60f_KpFomHUlCrGaaL2jjwYyJYb6ROeIuhVoOl4ROdYlilMnrUSIiYIzJ8Z3_7bmlwsnJ4lD9YVEIODLQ1EyUq5H7c6lOGqZiTSIyx4R64R1gf_mkrCKw/s445/51f5dA1rNyL._SX342_SY445_QL70_ML2_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="279" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aoT0N78GEtrsQEeVrEX8VjTj5iSrbtKrSmN0yw4tzU_2yzI8PMbxnw3xlvaAWN4Zwxjea60f_KpFomHUlCrGaaL2jjwYyJYb6ROeIuhVoOl4ROdYlilMnrUSIiYIzJ8Z3_7bmlwsnJ4lD9YVEIODLQ1EyUq5H7c6lOGqZiTSIyx4R64R1gf_mkrCKw/w126-h200/51f5dA1rNyL._SX342_SY445_QL70_ML2_.jpg" width="126" /></a></div><p></p><p>Not an easy task, as surprisingly there are not many published works. Luckily I found a couple of superb books to fill this gap: the late Robin Neillands´ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Robin-Neillands-ebook/dp/B016AABMF0/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_es_US=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3QL7SQ6KUCT2W&keywords=the+battle+for+the+Rhine+1944&qid=1673855359&sprefix=the+battle+for+the+rhine+1944%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1">"The Battle for the Rhine 1944"</a>, covering from just after the Falaise pocket in August 1944 to the end of The Bulge in very early 1945.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VgQssYNhlQTWUWqoszu6yTx7a6XMjVpAYFmW70Uq23v0fDr8LGKgt38ifayJE9EHSevk-6QMpycZHQm8R85pow21V0dxoxxttK97-r0LahDB4BYrM5cA8kNbZLTR2aM37jlwfg-qyvl65qrK-VNFi-ZmloRzYcFNCXBwWI7TljuqPBjqco0gKJjA9g/s500/9781529152579-jacket-large.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VgQssYNhlQTWUWqoszu6yTx7a6XMjVpAYFmW70Uq23v0fDr8LGKgt38ifayJE9EHSevk-6QMpycZHQm8R85pow21V0dxoxxttK97-r0LahDB4BYrM5cA8kNbZLTR2aM37jlwfg-qyvl65qrK-VNFi-ZmloRzYcFNCXBwWI7TljuqPBjqco0gKJjA9g/w200-h200/9781529152579-jacket-large.jpg" width="200" /></a>And followed byPeter Caddick-Adams' <a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Peter-Caddick-Adams-ebook/dp/B09N6WYXZ4/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2HQDE61X5ELPL&keywords=peter+caddick+adams+1945+victory+in+the+west&qid=1673855437&sprefix=peter+caddick%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-2">1945: Victory in The West</a> which seamlessly continued the narrative at the point where Neillands book concluded (just after The Ardennes) and until the capitulation of Nazi Germany in May 1945.</p><p>For 2023 I planned to research two very different topics: the 1943-45 Italian Campaign and the whole of the Eastern Front (from Barbarossa to Berlin). Being undecided about which I should go first, I arranged a poll in Twitter, and (surprisingly ) the majority opted for the Italian Campaign (3 to 1). </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0_F9bBFsXa23fGxeADT5oWCJQGInfpe4WqEH0Qo-SzhADP3-y1GPR-6tltcrs6mYLC4JLNo2GyTjVp7gQ7vd8pVk6wGHybqAJ_eoIPyLNBQZ8xKiJFCwUokkf4hHoWKXEoFfTtWHkpKA4zf5zddoP9eE0375iBpGWRi-NfJ_yOTNEwGfFnyABWzzhQ/s500/51XkJBVoH5S.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="321" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0_F9bBFsXa23fGxeADT5oWCJQGInfpe4WqEH0Qo-SzhADP3-y1GPR-6tltcrs6mYLC4JLNo2GyTjVp7gQ7vd8pVk6wGHybqAJ_eoIPyLNBQZ8xKiJFCwUokkf4hHoWKXEoFfTtWHkpKA4zf5zddoP9eE0375iBpGWRi-NfJ_yOTNEwGfFnyABWzzhQ/w128-h200/51XkJBVoH5S.jpg" width="128" /></a></div><p>My reading open shot for this theater has been <a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/James-Holland-ebook/dp/B084HLK2H3/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_es_US=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=IHE2TSSKM70K&keywords=sicily+43+james+holland&qid=1673856586&sprefix=sicily+43+james+holland%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-1">Sicily '43: The First Assault on Fortress Europe </a> written by James Holland. He's one of may favorite military history writers of whom I had already read his two tomes on the War in the West, Normandy and Arnhem.</p><p> </p><p></p><p><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Brief summary of the campaign</span></b> <br /></p><p>The Sicily campaign extended between July 9th and August 17th 1943 and was the Allies' first step into Continental Western Europe. The operation had four distinctives phases: </p><p>1. Before the invasion, the aerial campaign in Sicily and South Italy to gain control the skies before the actual landings. This campaign was a complete success. Bombers protected by fighter screens flying from Malta and North Africa, rendered destroyed the Axis airfields and many of the enemy planes operating in the island, forcing the Italian and German air forces to pull back to continental Italy and Sardinia. For most of the campaign, Allied forces enjoyed full air supremacy.</p><p>2. The landings and consolidation of the beachheads: previous to the major landings, commando and US Ranger forces successfully crippled many of the critical coastal defences; the naval and air bombadment during the sea assault made the rest. Unlike in Normandy almost a year later, landings were generally very sucessful and with little effective opposition. The major Allied disaster in this phase were the airborne operation, very badly executed due to the inexperience of the transport crews.</p><p>3. The fight inland. After a successful landing, the Germans and Italians counterattacked aiming to force a reembarking of the Allied troops. With the exception of the attack led by the Hermann Goering division in the US sector at Gela, these counterattacks were ineffective and costly to the Axis forces. </p><p>With the Italian resistance weakening, the Germans took full control of the island operations. Reinforcements were sent across Messina and the units pulled back to a main defence line around Mount Etna, a rough and easily defendible area with few access roads. The Allied advance slowed in that difficult terraind and casualties increased significantly. <br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WdwB5mwnRDlvKRv-VsTrDjW704pHyykAsHagWErqMeFugXjvpV-Reyhq65EJjLh32wRsRbAif90kChlONpx1K-tr77ej_c2oQ9YVRhMXAVx4CckRjPQi9TaPMCf4ZaDqdABhLwNbUWibT-L66B_tkNllMWOrXA4j_2lm36ik_hfVe3OxWecIwLVgWg/s956/Sicilymap2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="956" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WdwB5mwnRDlvKRv-VsTrDjW704pHyykAsHagWErqMeFugXjvpV-Reyhq65EJjLh32wRsRbAif90kChlONpx1K-tr77ej_c2oQ9YVRhMXAVx4CckRjPQi9TaPMCf4ZaDqdABhLwNbUWibT-L66B_tkNllMWOrXA4j_2lm36ik_hfVe3OxWecIwLVgWg/w400-h281/Sicilymap2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Wikipedia</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>4. Evacuation: by the end of July, and with Mussolini ousted, the German command saw no reason to continue in the Island and planned an evacuation through the Messina Strait. The goal was to avoid another "Tunisgrad" and to save as many troops and weapons as possible. The evacuation was successfully executed between August 11th and 17th. Despite the overwhelming Allied air and naval superiority, a concentration of naval and flak guns in the narrrow strait made impossible for the Allies to interfere with the evacuation to the continent.</p><p><span style="color: #ffa400;">The Book</span></p><p>Sicily 43 is a thick 600 pages detailed book, with abundance of maps, photos and annexes. <br /></p><p>This books fills a major publishing gap around this operation. As in other previous works, Holland relied on diaries, interviews, letters and other materilas from the people involved, not only combatants but also civilians victims of the terrible consequences of the war.</p><p>The structure of each chapter is similar: start with "the voice" of an individual witness involved in the specific event of the chapter and from there zooming out to have a panoramic view of the situation. The using these personal voices helps the reader to get inmersed into the situation, sometimes in a very dramatic way: the Italian officer that found a naked Italian young woman on her bed killed by the shrapnel of Allied naval guns while sleeping; or the frequent comments on the thirst, flies and stench of dead affecting both sides.</p><p>The book is written in a very engaging style. In addition, chapters have the right length for me (around 15 pages) perfect to spend 20 minutes reading in bed before sleeping. The number of maps is right and the level of detail enough to follow the narrative, including all the main locations and geographical features mentioned in each chapter.</p><p>There is a lot of useful material in the book for wargamers, given the detailed description made of some of the encounters. On a more general level, there are three issues that attracted my attention specially:</p><p>The technical weakness of the Tiger I tanks. The HG division had a battalion with 17 of these monsters and almost all were lost due to techncial glitches or breakdowns. The lack of a transport (rail) forced the tanks to move via dusty roads to the front line, losing many in the way due to engine failures (one even caught fire in a retreat, blocking the road to the rest of the columns)</p><p>The myth of the race to Messina. Using available documentation, the author busts this long-time standing myth (nurtured with the Patton film) about the competition between the American commander and Montgomery to be the first in the city. Neither Alexander (the C-in-C) directed or favoured the in any way the English Army corps, nor Monty obstructed the communication lines to gain an advantage over Patton's forces.</p><p>The disastrous execution of the airborne operations. Firstly, these troops were superbly trained but nobody seemed to worry about putting on equal foot of excellency the transport crews in charge of taking the paratroopers to their objectives. Second, despite the disaster with the first wave (night jump with inexperienced air crews), the Allied command attempted a second wave that was even worse: where to the the previously mentioned factors, you have to add that the element of surprise was already lost and the enemy was ready to confront an airborne assault; and on top of that, the route to the LZs crossed the area of the Allied fleet, with many losses caused by friendly AA fire.</p><p>The disaster of the airborne contrast with the effeciency (both in terms of resultsaand limited casualties) of the raids executed by the Rangers and British commandoes attracking their objectives landing from the sea. The Allied command seems not to have taken stock or learned almost mothing in following operations.</p><p>And a final note: did the Italian-American maffia have a rol in the massive surrendering of Italian tropps in the island? There is an interesting tale in the book of yellow pennants in Sherman tanks, maffia leaders and active OSS personnel but without a clear conclusion. <br /></p><p><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>Conclusions</b></span></p><p>Sicily was a clear Allied victory, controlling the island in 5 weeks albeit with a high cost in casualties. It is estimated that Allied suffered 24,000 casualties of which 4,800 were KIA. German forces suffered around 28,000 casualties of which 4,300 were KIA and around 10,000 POWs. Italians had the highest casualties, 37,000 in total of which 4,800 were KIA and the rest wounded. </p><p>Strategically, Italy was ousted the Axis forces lossing several hundreds of thousands of men from the Italian army as a result (only in Sicily surrendered over 100,000 Italians); German divisions had to be transferred from the Eastern front and from Western Europe to defend the South; and logistically speaking the operation was a feat and a success for the Allies.</p><p>Was it a complete victory? To some extent the victory was tarnished by the ability of the German army to pull out in the face of overwhelming odds, extracting close to 60,00 men and many thousands of vehicles, guns and tanks that were later used in the defensive battles of the Italian campaign, until the unconditional surrender in May 1945.</p><p> </p><p><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">What's next?</span></b></p><p>My next goal is the campaign in the Italian penninsula, and I have two books in sight:</p><p>1. Rick Atkinson's <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Rick-Atkinson-ebook/dp/B00CEGTUUY/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2Z0UNS0CF2ZZ5&keywords=an+army+at+dawn&qid=1673877816&sprefix=an+army+a%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-6">The Day of Battle</a>: The War is Sicily and Italy 1943-1944</b> (second book of the Liberation trilogy). On this I have second thoughts, as I liked the book on Torch and Tunisia (An Army at Dawn) but didn't like much the third dealing with Normandy to Germany (The Guns of Last Light) </p><p>2. James Holland's <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/James-Holland-ebook/dp/B002RI9OOQ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1673878147&sr=8-1">Italy's Sorrow: A Year of War 1944-45</a></b>. The main drawbak of this book is covering the period from Montecassino to the end of the war, thefore Salerno, the drive to Rome and Anzio are excluded. On the positive side, I already covered Cassino/Anzio with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Peter-Caddick-Adams-ebook/dp/B008674IPW/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1673878426&sr=8-1">Peter Caddick-Adams</a> book, used to prepare my battlefield visit on April 2022.</p><p>Other potential interesting readings, but exclusively focused on the Canadian armies, are the excellent series written byCanadian military hostrian <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=mark+zuehlke&crid=A2OD35MDFXQT&sprefix=Zuehlke%2Caps%2C168&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_7">Mark Zuehlke</a>: Ortona, Forgotten Victory, The Gothic Line, The Liri Valley, and The River Battles.</p><p style="text-align: center;">----------------------------------------------</p><p></p><p>You can follow James Holland in his <a href="https://www.griffonmerlin.com/">website</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/James1940">Twitter account</a> or by listening to his podcast channel "<a href="https://play.acast.com/s/wehaveways">We have ways to Make you Talk</a>" in collaboration with Al Murray. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p><p> <br /> <br /></p><p> <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541855965348525624.post-20092854772934924122023-01-12T15:42:00.002+01:002023-01-13T09:37:09.926+01:00Why SPQR? Dissecting of the Ancient-era Wargame <p>In previous posts, I commented my growing interest in board wargaming. In fact, this is a return to my origins, as I seriously started playing wargames with <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2238/panzerblitz">Panzerblitz</a>, a Christmas present from my father to both, my broher and me in 1980.</p><p>The shift to tabletop games with minis came later around 1983-84, when we founded <a href="https://www.clubdragon.com/">Club Dragon</a> in Madrid and got in contact with that world. Fast forward to early 2019: I approached a group of boardgamers in the club playing Simonitch's <a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/p-938-holland-44-2nd-printing.aspx">Holland 44</a>: being a Market Garden related game, I couldn't resist giving it a try. The lockdown in 2020 and <a href="https://vassalengine.org/">VASSAL</a> (an Internet based application to play boardgames live) explains the rest.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPztQNxf7EByfq3KiA6EGePi6ihRPVua7zVhNlMGX1bQ6L81awnhqOB9sZEOlgva__gZb1afw9Hjs8uKuwHDBsNMNElEQ6EKIRvhR1iaRP3-oCPuMrOPqIM5IqUq5CaJ7xmpXE8-fTtLUuFPoIIUwHakvQtiD3ANuddR2Rr9fSsKpPnE2xk3UUGy_9nQ/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPztQNxf7EByfq3KiA6EGePi6ihRPVua7zVhNlMGX1bQ6L81awnhqOB9sZEOlgva__gZb1afw9Hjs8uKuwHDBsNMNElEQ6EKIRvhR1iaRP3-oCPuMrOPqIM5IqUq5CaJ7xmpXE8-fTtLUuFPoIIUwHakvQtiD3ANuddR2Rr9fSsKpPnE2xk3UUGy_9nQ/w400-h225/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>What is SPQR</b></span> <br /></p><p><a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/p-446-spqr-deluxe-edition-2nd-printing.aspx">SPQR </a>is one of the titles in which I'm investing more playing time (and money) since early last year. The game is part of a series called <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/GBoH">The Great Battles of History</a> (GBoH) produced by GMT Games, focused in the Ancient period (from Late Bronze to the early Dark Age). The series was designed by two heavyweights of the industry: Mark Hermann and the late Richard Berg. I currently own four titles of this series (SPQR, Caesar Deluxe, Cataphract and Chariots of Fire) but there's a fifth title looming in the horizon for me in 2023 (<a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/p-770-great-battles-of-alexander-expanded-deluxe-ed-2nd-printing.aspx">Great Battles of Alexander Deluxe</a> currently in P500 "made to cut" phase) <br /></p><p>SPQR is the module focused in the emergence of the Roman Republic. The game covers the Punic Wars and the wars with other Macedonian-style armies, until Mario's reforms. SPQR enable players to fight two classical tactical visions: the Roman flexible manipular armies vs. the combined-arms phalanx-based used by Carthage and Greek peoples in the Mediterranean.</p><p><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>Content</b></span></p><p>SPQR was initially launched in 1992. The SPQR Deluxe is the latest release (2018), including a an in-depth revision of the original rules (4th edition updtaed in october 2022) and a large number of the scenarios published since 1990 in different publications (mostly in <a href="https://c3iopscenter.com/">C3i magazine issues</a>) </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7VTj_eA8jW5xVoU5YevCHDd-wcJyUJGcggqEy-bN3gl-h-eQXwphhEbSvoJzDQWhMYYfiFWvwlkPyRRUZh7-WPl3n0j1rA75ZCD0WHP3S9ZzYax0KR4AaHq37L7et2nJz3lqCTvm_JicZH1rdiMMiEkgRjqtvfOEhNph7ETBqHnsji7FNV31YZVt2g/s4032/IMG_7394.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7VTj_eA8jW5xVoU5YevCHDd-wcJyUJGcggqEy-bN3gl-h-eQXwphhEbSvoJzDQWhMYYfiFWvwlkPyRRUZh7-WPl3n0j1rA75ZCD0WHP3S9ZzYax0KR4AaHq37L7et2nJz3lqCTvm_JicZH1rdiMMiEkgRjqtvfOEhNph7ETBqHnsji7FNV31YZVt2g/s320/IMG_7394.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>SPQR cames in a HUGE heavy box, that contains 3 scenario booklets, 6 two-sided large unmounted maps, two sets of 3 player-aid cards, five and a half counter sheets with units and different playing-aid counters, and two 10-sided dice (note: there are several <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=SPQR+GMT+unboxing">"unboxing" videos</a> in YouTube, should you be interested in taking a closer look to the materials). <br /></p><p><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>The Playing System Described<br /></b></span></p><p>Armies have two type of counters: commanders and fighting unit (see illustration below). Commanders are critical to the game as they enable activation of units, either in groups ("line commands") or in a case-by-case basis ("individual orders"). </p><p>Armies have army commanders ("overall commanders"), the most experienced and with better attributes; and "subordinated commanders", leading groups of units on differents parts of the battlefield line. Within a range, the commanders have the ability to active units. The number of possible sequential activations with the same commander is variable, depending on his level of seniority, and the ability to react of the enemy commanders, that can potentially interfere in thise subsequent activations, stealing the initiative to the enemy. </p><p>Units are of many different types: slingers, light/medium/heavy infantry and cavalry, elephants and phalanxes, with also different abilities and attributes aligned with their hisorical roles in the battlefield.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UvgUavbGW2r2fwhf1l0xPW-czk4r6kyTNSZHwMfDuShOmdNYMJl4kk6ix12Rd7Vy3q7ni6DydJWvEw22CZSwd3VHDFlwAQkyuQxdVq1M2E6jDw_j4o0dgB-gUbDV3eAsmqVYbs9txr0Dq2KSQyw-sZpHdKcrjufKuJhh7NYUoIT_5689A_dNyiZx0A/s702/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-01-12%20a%20las%2013.47.22.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="418" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UvgUavbGW2r2fwhf1l0xPW-czk4r6kyTNSZHwMfDuShOmdNYMJl4kk6ix12Rd7Vy3q7ni6DydJWvEw22CZSwd3VHDFlwAQkyuQxdVq1M2E6jDw_j4o0dgB-gUbDV3eAsmqVYbs9txr0Dq2KSQyw-sZpHdKcrjufKuJhh7NYUoIT_5689A_dNyiZx0A/w239-h400/Captura%20de%20pantalla%202023-01-12%20a%20las%2013.47.22.png" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p>The sequence of play of a typical game is organized in turns that are subdivided in phases. </p><p>In each phase, a commander is activated (based on their rating, first the lowest rated and then sequentially from low to the highest rated leader) enabling them to order troops to move, fire and finally undertake the close combat fighting. </p><p>As a result of fire or melee, units accumulate "cohesion points" equivalent to shocks; when these cohesion points equal or exceed the unit's cohesion level (<i>= moral</i>), that unit breaks. When all the melees are over, broken units retreat 2 hexes and the winners move forward to ocuppy the position. </p><p>In their activation phase, commanders can also attempt to rally broken units or to reduce the cohesion or shock points accumulated of good-order units but in risk of breaking in subsequent turns. <br /></p><p>Once all commanders have been activated, the turn moves in another phase where non-rallied routed units must expend their full movement allowance towards their tactical edge. If leaving the board, then they are considered destroyed. </p><p>This is followed by an administrative phase in which units low on missiles (archers, slingers or javeliniers) can resupply; commander counters are returned to their active side and some markerts ("moved" for example) are also removed. Victory points are accounted, and if both sides remain undefeated, a new turn is played.</p><p>This is a basic explanation of how the game develops. There is a lot of additional aspects to consider in each phase of a turn that exceeds the scope of this post: for example missile units can use harrassment and dispersal tactics instead of clashing in close combat; routing elephants can create havoc both among friends and foes; light units can refuse combat and retreat when heavier units approach; cavalry winning melees can go out of control, etc <br /></p><p>Games are won by forcing the enemy to withdraw from the battlefield. This is achieved by causing the enemy enough "cohesion points" to erode the overall army's morale. It is possible that both sides reach their own break point levels simultaneously, in which case the game is a draw.</p><p><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>What I Like the Most of SPQR</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b>First and more important</b></span>, it's an Ancients era game which is a period I love. Each unit has its own features and arguably you can (and actually must!) use historical tactics in order to have a chance to win. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUi3_sCsgn9fBytHYpMPHS37TF4gh1ZOViKipnJEaTMPvL67zFqxXNtVyZb2yUzSJZUdxtP-ICYI8jhPymkKnz6ej-e9gTzGw-etu3RY3GsEF0koOYZj6HMalChK8ilSpo3aB4mlCtVdIhm9JqbFEerqeRutXe0ZAgIHdfa12UvP8sFLq9GHXPd4mXA/s3680/IMG_7402.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2663" data-original-width="3680" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUi3_sCsgn9fBytHYpMPHS37TF4gh1ZOViKipnJEaTMPvL67zFqxXNtVyZb2yUzSJZUdxtP-ICYI8jhPymkKnz6ej-e9gTzGw-etu3RY3GsEF0koOYZj6HMalChK8ilSpo3aB4mlCtVdIhm9JqbFEerqeRutXe0ZAgIHdfa12UvP8sFLq9GHXPd4mXA/s320/IMG_7402.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>For example: Cartaghinian tactics should rely on the mobility and quality of its cavalry to outflank the Romans and to disorganize their lines, while the phlanxes in the centre should be used to fix the Roman front. The cavalry and the light infantry are the hammer, the phalanxes are the anvil in the Carthaginian tactics book.</p><p>Romans on the other hand. must attempt to move fast into close combat along all the line to avoid the outflanking of the cavalry, to leverage on their superior close combat ability.</p><p> </p><p></p><p><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b>Second, the importance of command</b> </span>in this game. In this sense the game is not just line your troops, activate leaders and ordering charge forward, losing control of the battle, but significantly more subtle: through the command mechanics, players can shift reserves between flanks, take advantage of gaps in the enemy line to explot a penetration, control the cavalry, assess the best timing and place to hit the enemy, arrange a tactical retreat to reorganize your lines, etc</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekuVs5C8Jh_S5NsIlvfxD6oihI7Mz725j05XNrkRTDSBCk67yHl7iS39gKSn3jUG_ehA0QYnvFLGEMfiUqSZkZckeZWH57zuZpkBrAhMDEN-A1Q4xPnMVcCmjbk0OTkB3m-_jOJ0QtRD4PTCz-M8r2ArWaseqjCBtAm1zvkcChStPlCfCoRgqgMVn9Q/s3980/IMG_7397.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3980" data-original-width="2536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekuVs5C8Jh_S5NsIlvfxD6oihI7Mz725j05XNrkRTDSBCk67yHl7iS39gKSn3jUG_ehA0QYnvFLGEMfiUqSZkZckeZWH57zuZpkBrAhMDEN-A1Q4xPnMVcCmjbk0OTkB3m-_jOJ0QtRD4PTCz-M8r2ArWaseqjCBtAm1zvkcChStPlCfCoRgqgMVn9Q/s320/IMG_7397.jpg" width="204" /></a>In this sense, it draws paralells with the approach to design of Too Fat Lardies rulesets, that stresses the importance of command in the battle and how to make the best use of the available assets, over the pure technical aspects of the hardware (weapons) or software (men) in combat. </p><p>Two important notes: </p><p>1. The players do not have infinite command resources. A general plan for the battle must be drawn before the game begins; but players will need to make decisions, assess alternatives and decide between different options at each turn, based on the prevailing conditions in the battlefield. </p><p>2. Friction is fully embedded in the game mechanics, of course through the combat and moral checking resolution die rolls; but also on the fact that leaders activations not always succed and enemy leaders have the option to "trump" (literal rules terminology) your own activation, but also with risks if failing to do so. The leader activation phases create a very dynamic game environment, distancing SPQR from the old traditional IGYG designs. </p><p>Again, this draws significant paralells with the design philosophy of Richard Clarke and Nick Skinner at Too Fat Lardies.</p><p><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b>Finally, the importance of morale in the games</b></span>. As explained above, units have morale levels (called "Troop Quality"), accumulate "Cohesion Hits" (equivalent to shock points) and when are equal or higher than its TQ, the units break and rout.</p><p>In each game, armies are assigned an overall force morale level or "army withdrawal" threshold. When the sum of accumulated cohesion hits (from individual units routed out of the map or destroyed in combat) reach this threshold, the army is considered demoralized and must abandon the battlefield.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lnDQAyYPYw-hKVWb9df0l_sCbTChEgd1tFEHGWJuyyq9F-f27dlpvIpDmDVmZRKoGB0jVCejLNfOKmZqBta_jMouJmJMh-cf-jA0K6VhLbDFF8uwWI3PBYuClHiF8v4nnVQCMt0xpc-MJQWdBvmMW0CQyH40_SyDjPDpXG2cpOJS_kjyUuEsmECIPw/s4030/IMG_7400.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2622" data-original-width="4030" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lnDQAyYPYw-hKVWb9df0l_sCbTChEgd1tFEHGWJuyyq9F-f27dlpvIpDmDVmZRKoGB0jVCejLNfOKmZqBta_jMouJmJMh-cf-jA0K6VhLbDFF8uwWI3PBYuClHiF8v4nnVQCMt0xpc-MJQWdBvmMW0CQyH40_SyDjPDpXG2cpOJS_kjyUuEsmECIPw/w400-h260/IMG_7400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This has important implications for players. Commanders have the ability to rally units, therefore stopping them from routing out of the table and enabling returning to fight, albeit with a lower combat efficiency. As the battle progresses, casualties mount and the number of broken units increases. <p></p><p>There's a point in which commanders must take decisions: should they keep control of the battle front to cause cohesion hits and break the enemy's army morale? Or alternatively, should they move to the rearguard, to regroup and rally fleeing units to avoid their own army collapsing? </p><p>Again, remember you have finite command resources, and decisions are not easy. The calculus should be based on the likelihood to cause more cohesion hits to the enemy relative to your own potential casualties; and if these will be enough to reach the army withdrawal threshold.</p><p>This is another paralell design development to that used by Too Fat Lardies with the concepts of "shock" and "Force Moral", introduced in many of their more recent rulesets, like Chain of Command, Sharp Practice, Infamy! Infamy! or O'Group (the latter authored by Dave Brown).</p><p>The goal to win a game is not the physical destruction of the enemy forces, but to cause enough erosion in their overall morale level, as to force abandoning the battlefield.</p><p><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>Conclusions </b> </span><br /></p><p>A well designed game recreating the environment of the Ancient 300-200 BC period battles in a very efficient way. The games are very dynamic, and as commented above, introduced a series of design elements (command control, morale, friction) particularly nice to my taste after many years playing with Too Fat Lardies rulesets.</p><p>It is not a very complex set of rules at all, but I won't use SPQR to introduce someone new to the hobby. The reason is the amount of small details (like special rules for specific units or exceptions) that you need to be aware of and need to learn to play the scenarios. <br /></p><p>Another positive aspect is that, although the GBoH system covers a wide historical period, each volume of the series focuses on a subperiod. All games share the general mechanics but with significant changes and adaptations to the specific aspects of the covered subperiod. <br /></p><p>Many may wonder if I did not find any negative aspects in the rules. I'd say that the main "con" is the structure and writing of the manual, not a best-practice at all. It's gone throiugh several updates (the 4th edition is the latest release) but the potential to improve is still substantial. In any case, Mark Hermann and particularly the late Richard Berg both had a reputation among aficionados, so no surprise here.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>Useful Resources</b> </span> <br /></p><p>The official <a href="https://www.gmtgames.com/p-446-spqr-deluxe-edition-2nd-printing.aspx">GMT SPQR page</a> where you can download the lastes revised version of the rules, tables and errata documents. It is also a gateway to other interesting links (articles, videos, etc) <br /></p><p>The <a href="https://c3iopscenter.com/the-rbm-studio-library/summaries-and-back-issue-articles/great-battles-of-history-gboh-articles/">C3i GOBH Center </a>is a trove af articles on tactcis, scenarios and other related materials covering the whole GBOH series (not only SPQR)</p><p>The <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/21551/spqr-deluxe-edition">SPQR Boardgame Geek</a> page is anogther must-have bookmark. Lots of videos, files to download, and critcial, a forum to clarify any type of questions curated by a lot of nice knowledgeable participants.</p><p>Finally, the site to download the <a href="https://vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:S.P.Q.R._Deluxe">VASSAL</a> file if you fancy to play live online with international gamers. <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> <br /></p>Anibal Invictushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00574972963418062956noreply@blogger.com2