Much ado in the wargaming front...

It has been an active time wargaming wise thus far.

First, I ran my Russo-Polish 2018 micro armor game using FFT3 rules. The game ran well, though two small problems:

a) I forgot to get photos.

b) NLOS 3rd gen ATGM is really, really nasty. And the launchers are damned hard to deal with. The Poles are just proving on my gaming table that Spike-LR is truly the "Israeli Death Ray".

I am also coming along with a little project for Battlech Alpha Strike: It is a company of Robinson Rangers, ca. 3056. It is an eclectic group of mechs and I really am having fun with the project, though I will admit I am taking my time with it..but I do have some in progress pics to show off.

Also, in conjunction with the Russo-Polish project, I wanted to post this little future history....and see if it was worthy gaming fodder?

The Year is 2018

·         The Western nations of the EU have cut defense spending to dangerous levels, spending the money instead on increased social service transfer payments to a restive refugee population from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Afghanistan, and Pakistan or oil and gas purchases from any quarter available, including an increasingly aggressive Russia. Arguments on what to ultimately do with said refugee population has left an East-West split in the EU that is ever widening, only through American and British efforts has NATO not split irrevocably.

·         The Mideast is in near meltdown. No central government is extant in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, or Lebanon, with the Islamic State having collapsed after the death of its titular leader in a US drone strike. Kurdistan has declared independence, revolution is in the air in Iran and Egypt. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf nations have become fanatical garrison states, closing their borders except at the oil ports. Egypt is in the throes of civil war. Pakistan is in chaos, in the wake of a botched military coup, and the Indians are weighing their military options. Israel stands alone as a beacon of civilization in the Mideast, but is under siege by a very desperate Palestinian population.

·         Russia’s population crisis is beginning to bite, with analysts stating that she will go from 165 million people in 2015, to 130 million by 2030. Russia is desperate for a population base to help weather the storm. With fuel prices what they are, the Russians finally have the money to settle old scores with their former Cold War “allies”.

·         Oil and gas prices are at an all-time high, with spot shortages in Europe and Asia, China is especially feeling the pinch, and she has been reduced to selling her American debt holdings back to the US in an effort to stabilize her economy. North Korea is in chaos, with a five sided civil war breaking out in 2017.

·         The US is weathering the storm, with an energy fueled recovery, and a Republican presidential victory in 2016 opening up both the Keystone pipeline and ANWAR, the US now has more than enough fuel for its domestic needs. The US has accelerated its disengagement from the Mideast,  (with the exception of its support for Israel) and has begun to focus more on Europe, with a resurgent Russia replacing China as America’s new strategic challenge. The US has begun a moderate defense buildup, which has only now begun to take shape.

·         In early 2017, Belorussia announces that it has concluded an agreement with Russia to reunify. Many observers call the treaty the Second Anchluss. Before long, major elements of the Russian military are on the Polish border.

·         While this is occurring, the Polish government announces the discovery of major shale deposits in the Carpathian Mountains, south of Krakow. The find is big, enough to meet most of Poland’s energy needs, and make Poland a net energy exporter in three years. Russia cannot abide by this, and Russo-Polish relations go into a death spiral.

·         Before long, the Russians accuse Poland of having designs on the Kaliningrad Oblast. This is a charge Poland denies vociferously. After the Russians stage an incident along the border to the Oblast, they then make threats to end the “Nazi cabal in Warsaw”. Poland mobilizes, and asks NATO for assistance. Except for concrete aid from the US and the UK (a USMC Battalion is airlanded in Warsaw and married up with its pre-positioned equipment within 24 hours of the Polish request, and a UK Airmobile Brigade lands at Krakow airport, more is arriving by the hour), the NATO allies make a lot of tough talk and halfhearted speeches about “Alliance Unity”. Germany and France go so far as to declare their neutrality in the conflict, but stating they are still willing to remain in NATO.

·         Three days later, after a Russian ultimatum runs out, the eastern Polish frontier lights up with the largest artillery barrage by the Russian Army since World War II. The Russian plan is simple, airmobile and airborne troops, backed by Spetsnaz, will seize all the major river crossings over the Bug, the Narew, the San, and most importantly, the Vistula. The Russians attempt to kill the Polish Prime Minister, and do kill quite a few members of Parliament, as well as the head of the Air Force in Spetsnaz raids. The Russian Air Force is playing hell with the roads and river traffic, delaying the Polish attempt to shift units from the West and South to the East. After that, some 15 Tank and Motor Rifle Brigades roll into Eastern Poland. The Russians have but one objective: Warsaw. All that Poland has to face the Russians is a few scratch brigades trading what space they have for time while the rest of the army shifts to the east.

·         In the rest of the world, Israel invades Syria to restore order after a warlord “accidentally” shells a kibbutz near the Golan. Iran invades Southern Iraq for much the same reasons, although they openly admit they want control of the long disputed Shat-al-Arab. In North Korea, a Chinese backed military coup partially succeeds, but winds up only controlling the Capitol, as the other Corps commanders in the North Korean People’s Army have their own ideas on who should be in charge, and a fratricidal 5 sided civil war breaks out, soon sparking Chinese and South Korean intervention, the two sides soon engaging in clashes as they both attempt to grab as much of North Korea’s arsenal of WMD before anyone else does.

·         Mexico after years of LIC between the government and the narcotraficantes, descends into civil war. When evidence of Russian arms and advisers show up in the hands of the “narcos”, the US intervenes.

·         The UN, ever a moribund organization, breaks up under the strain of at least three members of the permanent 5 in the Security Council shooting at each other in Poland.

Gave it a chance, didn't like it. And, I'm coming back from the hiatus

I gave 6sided.net a chance. Well, I can't say I liked getting my blog literally slammed by spam. I had to moderate a comment every other day from a spammer. So, we're moving back here. It did look clean and pretty though.

As for other matters, well, 2011 has been a tough year. Personal issues, work issues, money issues, I'm ready for 2012 and the year's barely half over. Missed H-Con but I heard about the rumors of moving to Frederickburg. Good choice IMHO. Honestly, the NE just is getting to expensive for the bigger cons. I know the folks there liked the closer drive PA afforded, but hotel rooms at the Host were starting to nudge up there for several years running.

To all the readers I didn't know I had, thanks for sticking with me. I promise I'll try to post more often. I tend to post as the whim strikes me, or that I actually have something to say.

But here's the status report on what's going on wargaming-wise:

Blood Upon the Risers: On hiatus, I have a paying gig with Ambush Alley Games that I can't get too much into, suffice to say, I think people will like it. So, Blood Upon The Risers will be on hiatus till then.

Unnamed Ambush Alley Project: Handed in the rough draft last month. I am seeking to get some playtests done soon. The early reports are positive, but first reports always are.

Pointman I am an Ambush Alley Pointman, though admittedly, I haven't really run anything, time and chaos being what it has been this year. I intend to change that very soon. Both Labryinth and Eagle and Empire will be seeing me run stuff...soon as I can figure out what...Probably some sci-fi with the Tomorrow's War light edition to drum up buzz for the main release coming out in October.

Fistful of Tows 3 Yet another new passion of mine. I am statting out the T2K vehicles for it. And, found a small rules flaw. As written, it makes M1s impervious to shots from all around, where we know if you get a rear shot on ANY tank, it should kill it. I know, this is a platoon of tanks it's representing, but there should be some benefit to getting into someone's rear. We're trying a house rule where you don't get your h-class protection if the shot is in the flank or rear, but on second thought, that seems a bit draconian? Perhaps you dice off instead? 1-4 you get the protection, 5-6 you don't?

Other than that, I have got a ton of personal stuff going on, not all bad, but it does mean I haven't gotten any painting or model making done.. (bummer).

Heck, perhaps some blogging will re-fire the old creative juices on that vein?

After a long slumber

It’s been a long slumber here at PF 150′s blog. I am currently kinda in a holding pattern game wise. Mainly, this is due to needing to find the wife a job. It’s been a real pain. Moreso then when I was out of work. Guess I am one of the lucky ones. So, not much time for gaming anything, though I did get in a delightful game of Fistful of Tows 3 at Eagle and Empire. Good fun was had by Dave Luff and I, though I think we may have to plan the logistics a lot better. It was your typical US/Soviet Sunday Drive to the Rhine game set in 1987. Not too much to tell, and silly me forgot to get photos, but the game played as well as I remembered FFT 2 played.

I liked the fact the Soviet tanks were tougher and T-80s are now a very scary thing, especially to US Dragon armed infantry. TOW armed Brads have a lot of trouble with them too, but not as much. M1s…well, M1s are still playing “pull” with just about any Soviet tank out there.

We didn’t finish, but it looked as if the US was going to win (played by your humble blogger) as I’d only lost a pair of Brad Stands to watching the heart ripped out of at least a regiment’s worth of Soviet tanks. He still had at least two fresh battalions and some motor rifle troops, but I didn’t think it was enough support to get a win of exploiting off the table.

As for other news. Well, it’s almost here. Amazon has informed me that Force On Force is on it’s way to my humble home. I don’t have the wargaming dollars I used to, so this is a BIG deal for me. Early reports from the UK state this is a match of Osprey eye candy, good print quality and a darn good editorial standard. All of this is good for AAG, as I think this will be a very fruitful partnership for both sides. I am looking forward to this and their new Cold War Hot supplement….and some more has been released on the contents:

1) Cold War Fears…this is a collection of essays, scenarios and stats for what we thought was going to happen. E.g., Fulda Gap, Soviet breakthroughs, etc. The main thrust of these scenarios is getting back into the mindset that existed during the 1980s when NATO and the US were trying to figure out a way to survive the Soviet/Pact superiority in numbers.

2) Cold War Realities…this section will focus on what we know today about the 1980s. The declassification of documents on both sides shows that the Soviet Union was a lot tougher on paper than in reality. Think, The Bear Went Over the Mountain applied to all the likely theaters of conflict. Would the Soviets have been able to achieve a breakthrough? How would the Warsaw Pact forces handle a major slugfest with NATO?

3) Cold War Hollywood. We all have our favorite movies and books…we’re taking it one step further and writing scenarios in that vein. If you’re a fan of fictional encounters like Ice Station Zebra and Red Storm Rising, you won’t be disappointed.


All I can say is I can’t wait for November. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

Two Game AARs and a lot of pictures!

Gane 1: A FFT AAR, Germany, 1987.

The game was a Czech and a Soviet Tank Regiment against a US Army Armored Cav Squadron. The game didn't last too long, even with Hinds in support (they were remarkably ineffective, one being shot down and the other doing little more than killing a Brad with an AT-6 shot).

The Soviets and Czechs advanced on a broad front on either side of the road running the length of the table (we played on a 4 x 4 ft space, it was the only table Jage and I could get at E and E that day). The Soviets did well initially, losing a battalion in exchange for killing most of a US Cav troop. A early T-80 does have a shot of killing an M1 front on. Not a great chance, but better than nothing.

The Czechs on the other hand? They basically melted away. Their T-72s were little more than target practice for the US M1s. Most of the Czech platoons ran away from failed QCs rather than dying outright, by the time the regiment tested, there was barely a battalion's worth of T-72s left.

The Russians kept on, and tried to flank the US position in the center, but lateral movement by the Americans on my flanks pretty much put paid to the Soviet advance. The game was over in three turns.

Here are some pics. Yes, Virginia, the Soviets need artillery. They really shouldn't leave home without it.



A really bad pic of the hapless Czechs!



A pregame pic of the Soviets



The Hind after it ate a Stinger (Hey, it's semi-historical!)

Game two was an FoF game set loosely in East Prussia in late 1944/early 1945. I let Jage use his newly painted Handschar (I said they were a late personnel draft that never got to the division). They were part of a weak platoon rearguard along with two understrength squads of regulars, and a small anti-tank team from the Volkssturm.

They faced a Soviet force of 7 T-34s (Mix of 76 and 85, I know it's not historical but I couldn't get all my 85's done in time!) Also, they were backed up by a platoon of Tank Riders, and some scouts in a Scout Car and on horse (I never used the latter, they'd have been cut down, as you'll see later).

I was playing the Soviets against my Stepfather Lou, and Jage again. Needless to say, I made a crucial mistake early, I played the Soviets cautious. To be fair, I was running the game more than I was playing tactical, but they beat me good. But let's describe the game. I moved up a T-34/76 on my left, and lost it to Panzerfaust fire from the Volkssturm, who promptly got the heck out of there. I didn't blame them with what was to come.

I brought in another T-34 and more Panzerfaust fire killed the crew. Two T-34s down and I tried a new tack, bringing in the scout car on the right, using some elevation to gain some cover. I forced the Handachar back with some machine gun fire and brought in the rest of the T-34s.

Here's where I made my mistake. Instead of rolling the T-34s right up on the woods and debussing next turn, accepting the risk, I debarked as soon as I got the vehicles into the woodline, and advanced the infantry over a bit of open space. I decreed all the Soviets had SMGs...and they paid for it...with the Germans cutting them down at ranges the Soviets couldn't do a thing about. Morale rolls began to tell, and soon the attack bogged down.

By this point, I'd gotten a few "1s" on my reaction rolls, and one FoW card I pulled was a very lucky "Fire, Fire" card. I used to promptly set the stone ruins on fire in the center. I began to get hope again and tried to get the infantry moving again, but the Handchar returned, and they cut down the remaining Soviets. To make matters worse? The Germans panzerfausted ANOTHER T-34. They only needed to kill one more and I was toast. Needless to say, this is when their reinforcements, a Mk IV and a JgPz IV showed up...and roasted another T-34. Game over. It was hard fought, and though the Germans took light casualties, they didn't get off scott free.

We had a lot of fun, and my stepfather had some good ideas for my storage sitrep and seemed to be interested in the hobby.

Anyhow, that's it for now. Here are some pics, Jage took some more, and those can be seen here



The Soviet high water mark



A shot of the Soviets before the game



The German VS anti-tank team.

Other wargaming ramblings from the weekend.

Well, I sent along some of my 6mm Sci-fi to Jage. He wanted stuff to paint, and it's sitting around waiting to be painted. I figure I give him a slow drip of stuff. Keeps him busy and us playing (and easier on the wallet). My limited amount of GZG stuff is next, then it's going to be the Stan Johansen and mix of old GHQ. Then, the rest of the Ogre and Classic Battletech stuff. Once all that's done? We organize it into some units. Probably will supplement it with my moderns and 'Mechs so we can get some games of FWC in.

The Slammers are all painted, I need to get them flocked, 4 figures are already done, and I figure at the rate of four a night...I can have the lot done in 8 days or so. I'll probably do it sooner I suspect. As for what's next? I think getting started on my Caliph's army for Djazlah, which are going to double as French Militia for Aurore. After that, probably the Terminator Humans, then the Colonial Marines. I kinda need the militia done soon as it would be useful for the TW playtest that's coming on the 26th. Shame Jage won't be there, but I hope others will make it. Heck, I even got some work done on Blood Upon the Risers.

I am going to pick up The Crucible book that's come out for the Slammers. It looks like a fine work from the PDF previews I've seen and paradoxically, it's cheaper to get from the publisher than from OMM? Um, huh? I want to get some more done on the 15mm side before I go and work on any of my other stuff, mostly getting my 6mm moderns closer to done and get my Germans out there and played with! I also want to look at what I'm going to need to do US Light and Medium weight forces for FFT (Think USMC, 82nd and 101st, and the sadly lamented 9th Light Division). I already have a regimental sized formation for my Soviet Paras, wouldn't take much to build that into a full division, and frankly, I may at some point do it. As for the Iranians? Probably a brigade is all I intend to build, with another brigade of Pasdaran. (Three-four bags from Hallmark should do the trick).

All in all, I think things are going swimmingly. I've made a real dent in the painting pile, and by end of summer, Djazlah might be well on it's way. I am rather happy about that, and there might be some 15mm vehicles from Old Crow I want to grab, along with some more IF types. I think that might wait a bit, but hey, I've got some time.

Micro Armor Game this weekend

Hey all,
I didn't expect to get a game in this weekend, but Jage and I ran a FFT micro armor game at Eagle and Empire. It was again, Brits and Soviets. Jage played the Brits and I played the Soviets. The Brits had a slightly understrength brigade group (1 understrength squadron of Chieftains, another of Challys and a Warrior Company, backed up by a small recon squadron of Scimitars, 3 batteries of 155 and a pair of Javelin Stands). The Soviets were two regiments, one BMP-1 and 1 Tank Regiment of T-80 (the tank regiment didn't have their RAG, but I put some off-table 180mm at the disposal of the Soviets, along with a pair of Hinds and a couple of MiG-27 airstrikes). Victory conditions were to get a regiment off the table.

The game started slow, with me dropping smoke and the AT battery of the MRR scaring off a Chieftain along the open flank (most of the river was unfordable), Jage quickly took out both launchers but the smoke landed and helped screen my movements a bit (they've got thermals, so there was a limit to that), but the T-64 battalion soon died in exchanges with the Brits in the woods, with little to show for it. The Chieftains were really taking their toll, and the Challys were backing them up as well. I was holding my Tank Regiment back as the town right in front of the bridge had the other Chally squadron and the other Chieftain unit there, with the Warrior company in the woods overwatching the bridge, and an FO also in attendance. All in all, straight in wasn't the way to go, I brought the Hinds in, and though there was some Blowpipe fire, it was rather desultory, and as such, I lucked out and got them into position with the BMP Regiment trying to turn the flank...needless to say, other than firing their rockets and missiles, they did little more than scare off a single Chally. My artillery even got wacked Turn 2 as I rolled horribly for counter battery, with the MRR RAG losing four of it's six batteries and the other two fleeing. The 180mm lost two batteries as well.

I then figured, the direct approach was best as I had laid smoke to cover the bridge, knowing I wanted to set up for the one-two punch. Well, it soon became my only option, as the BMP regiment had lost a third of it's numbers, and the Tank battalion was dead. I tried calling in air..nada, so a battalion of T-80s, already depleted from 155mm fire, charged across the bridge, pushing a wrecked BRM out of the way, another battalion turned off the road to cover the flank, the British having shot their bolt this turn. Lo and behold, I got some flank shots on those hated Challys, and fireballed two of them, the last one fleeing. The Hinds finally scored as well, forcing both surviving Chieftains off as well. At that point, British 155mm fire landed on the road junction short of the bridge, and forced two T-80 battalions to test, those two ran for it. My remaining battalions wouldn't have been enough to decide the issue in the town beyond, but my BMPs would have taken the flank woods, and Jage was moving a Chieftain company to reinforce the woods position. We agreed it was probably a British Marginal Victory. The Brits stopped the Russian advance, but at a pretty high cost, over half their armor either failed QCs or was outright left burning. I taught Jage, the real arm of decision for the Soviets in FFT is artillery. Your tanks aren't good enough to beat NATO one-on-one, and BMP/BTR are bullet magnets. Artillery forces NATO off your objectives, smoke buys you that extra -1 against thermal and no Soviet Commander should leave home without it. All in all, much better than last time.

Here some pictures! (All taken by Jage and used with his permission)

Our First DC Gamer meeting

Attendance was good, with three out of our six members being in attendance, myself, Jage, and an old friend of mine, Chris Hyland. I decided to run Fistful of TOWs because I had a lot less painted 6mm than I thought I'd had (With the exception of Battletech 'Mechs). So, onward and upward!

The game was a British Armor Battalion with elements of another one, plus some scratch Brit and German forces against a Soviet Regiment of T-64 and BTR-70, I had a shot up Polish Regiment backing them up (T-72 and BMP-1). Well, I led off with the T-64s on the right, and the Brits opened up at long range. Forced a platoon to run. I returned fire with AT-8 (Only thing that would scratch the paint on a Challenger), didn't even manage that...then the slaughter really began. In the next turn, the T-64 Battalion evaporated under 120mm fire. So, I brought in the Polish T-72s....they didn't even last that long. So, I tried to get the Infantry forward under cover of the hills...no dice, the Brits hung back, and shelled the Soviet infantry into submission. That battalion broke, then the regiment failed it's quality check, at that point, the Polish battalion wasn't going to go forward alone, so it was game over. Only Brit casualties was some Challengers forced off with 120mm Mortar fire. My one airstrike bombed the wrong target.

There was some thought about modifying the scenario, reducing the brits, which I think would have worked, or starting them further back, also a good suggestion, both from Jage, incidentally. I think I probably also should have had more Soviets. Probably two full regiments, or perhaps three. FFT eats battalions, especially Soviet ones like popcorn. Then again, that's not totally unrealistic.

Sadly, I forgot a camera. Do'h! Next time, I will remember!