Storm Over Dien Bien Phu - Boardgame time...

 I recently played this boardgame with John, and a great game it was. Originally published by Multi-Man publishing (who also published the excellent 'Force Eagle's War') and I think based on the rules originally appearing in 'Storm Over Arnhem', there are some great mechanics at work here.

• A great set of period rules and mechanics for the 1954 siege, with the French on the back foot initially, but able to plug the holes in the line if they act at the right time...while the Viet-Minh have limited resource, but the element of surprise
  
• Actions are alternate
• Card activities can help attacks and/or hinder the enemy
• The Viet-Minh are trying to do as much damage in early turns, and prevent French holding ground (and thereby reducing their number of action cards), whilst enabling their taking more and more real estate.

A very nice game, and although the rules were very interesting, I am also becoming intrigued in the Indo-China / French period in the 1950s - John is an expert in this regard and knows the details of the siege inside out, together with reference to the more notable books (Street Without Joy) and a collection of the less well known references for the period.

We always consider the 1960s as the Vietnam Wargaming period - the '50s have a lot to offer in terms of gaming too.

Game map at start - with French units about to be surprised.

Cards are an intrinsic part of the game in terms of support/resources/and benefits

Early Viet Minh assaults on the flanks

Damage points are allocated in terms of either retreats, steps lost or units lost. The 'hit' player decides how to allocate - but this resource management type decision can be absolutely pivotal to holding ground or keeping units alive - a very nice mechanic, which should really be hacked for other games.

French reinforcements at 'Opera', which was probably the wrong place to put them :(

Cards can influence attack / defend options

'2' would be a bad roll... it wasn't going well for my French forces at all...

All in all, a great game - and had got me very interested in the period in general.

'Hyboria Now' - Episode #3: 'Vampire Lake'

 Since her rescue from the hands of the 'Children of Doom' during Operation Valerius, Princess Zenobia has been a little under the weather. Of course, that didn't stop the Princess going out to her usual parties with her over-privaleged mates, especially those held at the Royal Estate at 'Vampire Lake' near the capital, Tarantia. Her doctors have of course advised against it, lest she suffers from a horrible virus, and might infect some of the young people ...   hmmm, I hope it's not a zombie infection :O

(Rules used are the sublime 'Squad Hammer: Peoples Edition' by Ivan Sorenson. Zeds get extra hits (head shots only), and no morale considerations, but only engage in close combat.)

The capital of Aquilonia isTarantia, an ancient city, lying on the Road of Kings, and the main east-west trade route of the Hyborian world. Ancient Aquilonia was well drained by the rivers Shirki, Khorotas, Ossar, Fury, and the Valkia. East of the Shirki and extending nearly to the foothills of the Border Range of Nemedia lay fertile plains interspersed with "tame" woodlands, and the grand houses of the Royal family. Built on the same lands as black structures of ancient Acheron, many modern scientists claim that the right assemblage of ancient curse and horrible magics, might create the seeds of the empire's own destruction.

 

Davide Dimblebus: Documentary Maker to the King

Those crazy kidz...

'BlackThorn 1, BlackThorn 1, We've received an emergency call from the Royal Country House...can you respond?'

'Roger ...on the way'

 

BlackThorne Response - Royal Aquilonian Police Force, drive past the Mitran Temple on the edge of the estate.

Handy that they have a sniper team on 'Barbarian Hill'

All is quiet ...

Detective Belit Crassus and Vera Ness are also on site ...of course, Vera just happens to be the ex-girfriend of Sgt Cal - the hero of Operation Valerius...

'it's too quiet - i can't even hear dance music...'

'Wait..HALT!..HALT!...'

Vast groups of ...undead?!? (and these ones at the back of the house have clearly eaten all the pies).

'Engage! Engage! They aren't human anymore!'  'REMEMBER - SHORT CONTROLLED BURSTS ...oh and head-shots.'

'What the hell is going on BlackThorne ..BlackThorne!!!'

Police units have lost the initiative, and are isolated from their transport. (rules dictate that the Zeds attack nearest unit - which inevitably means that some police units are surrounded).

Ness & Crassus use cover to slow down the Zeds...also making a call to Sgt Cal, who is getting drunk with Nemedian Bob at a local airbase.

Other Police units are not so fortunate...

The Mitran Temple becomes a focus for ...lunch.

...as does the bridge.

Ness & Crassus - and one (infected) Police Unit...move back toward the hill, and the sniper team...

...but the police unit won't last long.

...Cal & Bob, still pissed, arrive in a 'borrowed' chopper

'Hey Vera...how's tricks! ...Bob brought an MG.'

It's a tight call - but the Detectives & Sniper team get away - uninfected...but the virus is spreading now...

...and was that an undead Princess Valeria directing operations from the temple...was her time with the 'Children of Doom' more dangerous than we thought...

 

 

 

 

'Reaver, this is Maverick ...dropping package...over'

 

 

 

 

Operation Greenline / Hill 112 / 2nd Battle of the Odon ...with PzGr Deluxe

 As teased yesterday, the Normandy game with Panzergrenadier Deluxe went ahead today.

 Though seemingly heavy going - the rules actually play seamlessly with players who know which buttons to push, and make a lot of sense. In fact, some early teasers for what might follow in 'O-Group' (also by Dave Brown) in there?

  

A lot of the pics below speak for themselves and the models and terrain look super with the guys' hard work clearly evident.

 'Operation Greenline' is part of the hill 112 battles, involving units of 21st ss PzGr regt. See more here. ...but a ready excuse to get a great game in Normandy, with fantastic terrain and superbly painted minis and fine hospitality (from the Steves), should never be turned down.

The game was a tightly matched face-off, with British attacks with armour bogged down on the left, with considerable gains made on the right and one objective seized. Although unfinished, the call was made for a draw, as the Germans still have a few units with which to defend their right flank, and British armour, though led by stalwart Churchills and a few 'plucky' Shermans, could still be stymied on the flank. ...and there was still at least one Tiger I meandering about the table...

British troops on the start-line

Early Fire Mission

Pop smoke

British infantry making its way through the corn

Esquay on the British left - heavily defended with German armour later

Attacks toward the objective on British right

...then the Pak 43 showed up on the hill

...and did I mention the Tiger?

Well defended by Jerry

The 17 pounder would make a good account of itself vs the Tiger, before running low on ammo

A lot of allied armour - would fare ok, but would face significant losses during the day

There seem to be a lot of defenders sir!!!

1st brew up

Looking north to south (left to right)

Churchills get damaged, pushed back, but it becomes an infantry action in the centre

...with a few successful fire missions

The threat of flame-throwing rapidly turns the Crocodile into a target

Tiger vs M10 - only ends 1 way

Stymied on the left - making good progress with street fighting on the right

...pushed too far...

The town taken - one objective down

A great game with the guys. Some great action with these rules once more.