I had a bit of a rubbish day today but this was cheered up by a visit to the club for an excellent skirmish level game of Bolt Action. This used my new snowy terrain cloth and involved an attempt by my regular US infantry platoon with tank support to capture a bridge over a river, opposed by Mike's veteran SS platoon. The scenario was Hold Until Relieved from the rulebook, so we diced for defenders and attackers first, with Mike taking up his positions in a ruined village adjacent to the bridge and my attacking force advancing into cover behind some entrenchments.
This was a really tactical game with both sides trading long range fire in an attempt to neutralise their respective heavy weapons, prior to an assault going in by the Yanks. In he end, the game was a draw with virtually even losses on both sides and neither platoon occupying the objective, although my brave bazooka team almost made it in the last turn. I lost my MMG team very early on but took out Mike's equivalent team mid-game, only to lose my mortar team to counter battery fire. I knocked out Mike's half track to even the score, even though it tried to hide behind a convenient Xmas tree.
I still have to get my head around some of the mechanisms but Bolt Action does work well at this 700 point squad skirmish level. If I re-played the scenario I'd definitely leave at least one of the bazooka teams out, as they're pretty useless without any armour to target. I'd also pack a Forward Observer for off table fire support, as this would have been really useful if only to lay down some smoke to cover my assault. I was glad that I included the Sherman though, as it was a real headache for the defenders as it trundled up the flank blasting away with HE and MMG fire.
A good game!
Really nice looking terrain & miniatures. Makes me feel chilly just looking at it.
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Pawn Cocktail, a great looking game. I keep dreaming of some snowy games myself, but don't have anything ready.
Regarding the bazooka team and no enemy armor, couldn't it have been used against prepared enemy emplacements?
V/R,
Jack
Hi Jack,
ReplyDeleteNo apparently not, at least in Bolt Action. I wanted to punch holes in the buildings and sandbag positions to pin down the enemy, but the rules don't let you do this.
:O(
Wow, that kind of stinks. Certainly bunkers were used in real life to pop bunkers and buildings. Nothing a quick house rule couldn't fix ;)
DeleteV/R,
Jack
I think you can technically direct fire at prepared positions but as there's a -1 on firing at long range, -2 for the cover plus the -1 for firing a shaped charge which means it becomes an 'impossible' shot! You'd have to get within less than half range (12") to avoid the -1 and it would still be a 6 to hit. Better still close to point blank for a 5 to hit? Not easy! Check the near suicidal casualty rates for bazooka teams in WW2...
ReplyDeleteForgot to add: the weapon has a +5 pen which means anyone hit by it doesn't have a chance. You just need to get close enough to actually hit with it!
Delete...and great game, by the way :) The plan all came together at the end and honours were even! Wasn't it the bazooka team that saved the day...?
ReplyDeleteLooks very effective Jim. Who makes the trench system?
ReplyDeleteThe trench sections are from the old Snapdragon range, now long out of production (I wish I'd bought some more way back when!)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jim. They sold some excellent terrain, seems strange that they jacked it in.
DeleteThanks for the number crunching Mike...I'll have to try that out next time.
ReplyDelete