So this is the last scenario for the Storming the Citadel Mini-Campaign. Since this is a play test using Bolt Action as the game system and Chain of Command for the campaign, so far this has been a success. The similarities between the two system is close enough that with the minor adjustments we have been able to play the CoC mini-campaign with Bolt Action.
So the last game. Below is the map and the table:
This game as the Russian, I start with a fresh platoon of 4 squads. Since we didn't play Scenario 5 because I didn't have any troops left from the previous game, this is all I start with. We had rolled for the reinforcements and I received 7 and Phil received 14. For my 7 points I took 2 entrenchments, a ATR team and a 45mm ATG. I figured Phil would take 2-3 251 Haltracks and the PZIII from the previous game . I Bolt Action the 45 gains a +1 to its penatration die roll if the target is within close range, so wit the +4 and +1 I was hoping I could take out a couple 251's and maybe the PZIII .
My Force:
Here is what Phil took:
Yep, a 251 HT and a TigerI ...sigh. didn't plan on that one. His comment was he had never used his Tiger before and with 14 points this gave him a chance to bring it out.
So I had to put up to half of my force on the table in Hidden Setup, at least I had that. I setup the 2 Rifle Squads, one behind the fence on the left side and one behind the hill. The 45mm ATG, I setup behind the building in the hopes that anything that came that way I could Ambush and maybe get a flank shot.:
Look at the Russian setup.
So turn one Phil moves on the table with everything and he moved the 251 HT on his right. I didn't plan on that move.
Turn 1 I didn't move anything on the table. Figured I better wiat for things to develop
Turn 2 saw Phil advance slowly this time so seeing how his attack was developing I moved on my 2 LMG squads, using cover to move them on:
Phil's advance:
Turn 3 Phil advanced his HT further past the house and dismounted the squad inside. I brought out my Rifle squad in the entrenchment and fired at the squad, with no hits. The return fire from the Tiger caused a pin and couple hits on the squad.
I advanced my other Rifle Squad up the hill and fired at his 2 squads int he open and caused a couple hits, but the Medic saved one.I did not get a pic of this action.
Turn 4 Phil got the first die, which I really needed and fired at the Rifle Squad in the entrenchment. end result was they took enough hits that caused a Morale check and they failed. This dropped my FM down 2 to 7.
I brought out the 45mm ATG and fired at the squad and put a 2 pins and causality on it. Pic shows Turn 5 when I rotated this and fired at another squad in the center. I had brought my ATR rifle on just out of the picture and hit the 251 HT and caused it to be immobilized. small victory.
So my turn of bad luck continued. Phil put heavy fire on the squad on the hill and forced a Morale Check, which they failed:
This dropped my Force Morale down to 6.
Phil then fired the Tiger at the LMG squad in the Building and got a Critical hit. he took the Squad Leader out and this dropped my Force Morale down to 5:
That was pretty much the end of the game. the Tiger was just too much as he could sit back and put down heavy fire. I guess I should have put 2 squad on my left in entrenchments as that would have forced Phil to direct another squad that way and weakened his left.
Well Phil won the campaign, and his CO and men like him very much. Me, I guess I will be sent to the front without a weapon lol.
Since this was test to see if we could make this work, we both agreed it was big success. There are a few minor tweaks, one which was since in this campaign, the Germans Roll their FM as Elites but are Regulars, in the game itself, play them as Regulars, but roll their Order Test and Morale as Veterans.
We talked to a couple other gamer's that have been following this and we have bounced ideas off of and we think this is ready to roll out to the local group for further playing. One of the things we talked about was if we get together as a group is to all play the same game at the same time. So we might have 3 games of scenario 3 being played. but we take the results of the 3 games to determine who the winner is. So on table 1 and 3 the Germans win, but the Russian win on table 2 then the overall results is the Germans win Scenario 1. Terrain shouldn't be an issue as only Scenario 4 has a lot of buildings.
As to additional rules, we discussed the changes to MMG and Mortar Teams, and Sniper Fire. For Snipers firing they do not take the Mortar or MMG team completely out. These teams were trained to fire an done shot should not take them out.
As to MMG's we agreed to try a rule that has been discussed on the Bolt Action Forums in that MMGs cause D2 Pins. This makes MMGs usable again since no one takes them in a list.
I through out a rule i would like to try which is AFV Hull and Turret mount MG reduce the range form 36" to 24". These weapons have a reduced barrel length and the sighting for this is also reduce. Some said to reduce the angle of fire, but reducing the range is the simpler move, so we will give this one a couple test.
We will try to start this the end of the month
