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Saturday 26 May 2018

Trying the Solo protocol!

Today, we had a couple more games of 'What a Tanker' - to try the first draft of a solo protocol I have done for it.

We gave the Solo system a Jagdpanther, which in my new Points System is equal to 2 Churchill VI and a Sherman 75. I had misgivings about our chances as we were pitting 75mm guns alone against a very well armoured enemy!

Lawrence set up another lovely terrain to fight over.
Lawrence randomly got the Sherman M4A2 
Phil and my Churchills were to its left.
 The Jagdpanther set up opposite Phil's Churchill.
 Lawrence raced his Sherman down the road, but his dice failed to get him over the hedge...
 ...The Jagdpanther easily acquired him and pivoted to face the Sherman.  
Bang! 
 Boom!
As their vehicle burned, the crew managed to bail out! 
Phil and I had failed to move, in our turns!. 
 Next turn, I got into position to fire on the Jagdpanther.
The shot simply pinged off his armour! 
'Bugger!' 
The big Boche now looked for new targets... 
He saw Phil, who was manoeuvering forward. 
The shot damaged his optics, but luckily nothing worse! 
Phil had the same luck with his shot as I had - a bounce off the heavy frontal armour!
The Beast let off another 88mm round... 
 ...and missed!
 Phil decided to cross a gap in the wall he was hiding behind.
 2"! He ended in the gap!
 Fortunately, he got first activation next turn and got past the gap!!!
I was still firing as fast as my tank could... 
...I got a double 6, which made my gun as good as a yank 76mm! 
 ...same result though!
The German switched to shooting at me... 
My tank crew withdrew, as the shot shredded a tree! 
My commander steadied his crew, and pushed his tank back into position alongside Phil. 
 Phil got a good hit on the Jagdpanther!...
...non penetrating, but the Jagdpanther fell back! 
However, the Jagdpanther quickly regained his position... 
He hit me, 6 hit points, I only saved 1 out of 9 armour dice thrown!
 ...My tank burned...my poor crew with it.
Phil's damaged tank had no choice but to flee. 
 There were a couple of points came up with the solo system, which I will correct after doing this blog post!


We had time for one more game, I took the Sherman.
 I faced two Panzer IIs, so we could see how 'Rapid fire' worked.

 Phil rapidly advanced, trying to get round my flank.
Lawrence raced down a long road... 
...ending facing my Sherman's flank.
Phil managed to acquire me. 
My tank had reached a wall opposite him, but his fire drove me back, while another shot damaged my running gear! 
I was now bracketed between the 2 Germans. 
My dice never threw enough 2s to acquire the Panzer 2s, or move! 
Oh, to get a shot at one of them! 
 Lawrence moved further onto my flank, firing rapidly.
 Phil also had good luck with his shooting.
 My tank was down to 2 command dice, I was doomed, so abandoned my vehicle!
This was interesting, a lot of luck from the Germans, and bad luck for me!
The points were 16 to 12 for the Germans, so at least I had an excuse for losing!!

I am off with the family next week so no game then, and the next Saturday is the Durham show...already! Where is this year going?

Saturday 19 May 2018

Tanks for pointing that out!

Today, we returned to playing 'What a Tanker' - but this time balancing the forces with my new points system!

In all, I had 5 games! - the reason why is going to be apparent very soon!....




Once again, we were playing on Lawrences lovely terrain! He ran a StuG IIIg, I a Cromwell tank (on the left of this picture)
I began by racing across the table towards cover behind a field... 
....I got a shot off on my opponent... 
...I Missed!
He returned a brilliant shot!
...which I completely failed to counter! 
 My tank burst into flame, and the crew baled out!


Next game!

We re-ran it to see if different tactics would change the result?
 The StuG - like a spider in a web, awaiting new prey, or perhaps a second turret ring!
 I raced forward again, but this time into a walled enclosure...
The StuG fell back as my shot went near. 
 He traded shots with the Cromwell.
 Things were going better for my plucky Brits!
My fire went wide and he returned to the hedge, shooting! 
Another brilliant die roll! 
Ah well! - the poor crew didn't get out this time.


Phil joined us now, so we changed tanks, I had an M5 Stuart... 
...and Phil took the other. 
The terrain was the same, its funny with this game how different encounters on the same terrain can play so differently. 
My M5 raced forward to engage the enemy. 
 Phil moved to outflank the StuG while...
...I engaged it frontally. 
I closed the range...
The StuG engaged me with his big gun, but missed! 
 Phil had outflanked the StuG, and fired.
 3 Hits!...
...no saves! - the Stug burned with its crew. 


Phil and I stayed with our Stuarts.

...but Lawrence used a Panzer IV this time! 
I raced my M5 for the walled field... 
I acquired and fired at the Panzer.
1 hit! 
No saves! 
 I damaged his running gear...
 He managed to use his next activation to get into a good defensive position.
 My accurate fire drove him back though.
 Phil and I now had the Panzer bracketed.
Phil hit the Panzer, and it retired to try and recover!
Seeing my M5 coming round his flank, Lawrence now retired further, hoping to face my M5 alone. 
 Our fire had severely damaged the Panzer, as can be seen here.
 Before long, my M5 got a good flank shot in! 
 The Panzer crew bailed from their wrecked tank.

So, Game 5!


Phil decided to try a KV2!
A fierce beast, called Babushka (Yah Yah!) 
We use 2 later Panzer IIIjs. 
 These sported the 50mm L60 gun.

 The KV advanced, after seeing Lawrence's Panzer moving to outflank him.
 His fire, fortunately, missed me as I maneuvered. 
 Lawrence had a lot of 'Move' dice, and began to circumnavigate the table! 
 When he was able to see the KV, he fired.
 The KV, seemingly impervious to our fire, moved rapidly to close with me! I was lucky not to be hit! 
Lawrence continued his sojourn! 
Soon, he was able to join in with my assault on the behemoth! 
 I managed a flank shot, but failed to cause real damage.
 I continued to go round the rear of the KV, though this left me vulnerable with my flank to the enemy.
both Panzer III's now began to pummel the hapless Russians. 
 Finally, after a final damaging hit, the crew bailed.
I think our Germans were very lucky to have got away undamaged from this battle! I thought at least one of our tanks would have been swatted like a bug!

Overall, it seemed to the players that my points balance worked well, so far, which I am happy about.

 I am working on a proper solo system for the game at the moment, though this is taking a lot more analysis and effort than I first thought!