Messages

46

General Discussion / Re: CONVENTIONS

« on: October 13, 2013, 05:20:53 PM »

Running 1941 Scenario of Struggle for Europe at ConQuest Avalon, in Sacramento.  Nov 1-3 2013

Have a time slot for all day Saturday, November 2nd.

Don't know if anyone has signed up yet or not.

I will take a lot of pictures, and let you know how it went.

Wolf

47

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: August-Sept 2013 Europe Game

« on: September 23, 2013, 09:32:41 AM »

 

My apologies, I should have been clearer.

I am talking about the national markings on the wings of the planes.  The paint jobs on the miniatures are gorgeous.  I am hand painting my rondels (national markings) onto the wings.  At this scale, the best I can do is a rough approximation.

Yours look perfect.  Transfers?  A shrinking machine to take the artist down to 6" tall?

Enquiring minds want to know...

48

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: August-Sept 2013 Europe Game

« on: September 20, 2013, 10:35:03 AM »

Harsh!

The "thin grey line" begins to fold up.

The issue for the Germans, in my mind, is that once you have taken most of Europe, you have to defend it. EVERYWHERE.

I will be running a small 1941 Europe game here at a small local Con at the beginning of November, and I still have CR-42's,MC-202's and P-51's to paint.

WHERE do you guys get the small stickers for the rondels?  I have had some small luck painting Italian, German and British rondels, but there is no way I will able to do a passable US rondel. 

49

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Strategic Warfare and Lend-Lease

« on: August 19, 2013, 06:55:55 AM »

Thanks!

 

50

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Strategic Warfare and Lend-Lease

« on: August 18, 2013, 06:26:11 AM »

Here is a very specific question:

Prior to war with the US, may the Germans attack US Lend-Lease points?

51

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: 1941 Start

« on: August 13, 2013, 03:15:56 PM »

 

What Mark said.

Quick Question Mark.

Since the Collect Income is in the Initial Phase, right after builds, I have been taking Economic Damage from strategic Warfare out of Cash on Hand, which is what is spent on the following turn.

If German submarines do 10pts of Economic Damage to England in Summer 1940, the English feel the pinch on the Build Units phase of Autumn 1940, instead of Winter 1940.  Does that seem about right?

52

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Tank Destroyers and Tank Effects

« on: August 08, 2013, 10:38:50 AM »

 

Thanks Mark,

I agree with you. I think it is just best to give the Armor Effect to any armored unit.  Simple and Easy.  And we know for a fact the German StuG was used in an infantry support role.  The Tank Destroyers' lower offense balances out their not really being designed for the work, but they are still pretty immune to small arms fire.

Thanks again.

53

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Leaders

« on: August 05, 2013, 06:42:03 AM »

The minimum is always 6 units starting in the Front Line (even with NO leader).

IF you have the better Leader (Initiative + Strategic Leadership) you get 7.

After the first round of combat, you are only limited by how many you can call up from reserves, and your casualties.

54

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Tank Destroyers and Tank Effects

« on: August 02, 2013, 04:18:55 PM »

Hey Guys,

Setting up for another Europe Game.  Probably 1941.

Going back over the rules, I was wondering about Tank Effects. (Europa Speak: AECA)

The rules state that light armor, medium armor, and heavy armor may use Tank Effects if the defender has no Anti-Tank capable units.  Very Clear.  No problem there.

What about Tank Destroyers? (German StuG, JgPzr, Soviet SU-76)

I am real clear that they have Anti-Tank capability.  But do they also enjoy the +2 Armor Effect on the Attack?

My guess is no.  But I thought I would ask.

Wolf

55

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Amphibious Invasion Timing

« on: July 03, 2013, 04:01:32 PM »

Summer or Autumn of 1943.

I had been playtesting variations on the new Naval movement rules, and foolishly stuck the Shokaku/Zuikaku battle group where the Americans in Sydney could reach it.

One CV down without so much as scratching the paint on the 3 US Fleet Carriers.  (with 2 larger carriers making up a CV Group, it was really 6 or so).

The Japanese reacted with 2CV's, Yamato, BB, Cruiser, Destroyer, and some subs.  The Airbattle was disastrous / Glorious, depending on who you were, with the the loss of the 2 Japanese CV's to only damaging one US CV.  The surface combat was all Japanese, with the Yamato sinking the US BB, the Japanese BB sinking the US CA, and the Japanese CA sinking the US DD.  Not one hit on the Japanese Surface Fleet.

Retreating, the damaged US CV was hit by one of the Japanese Subs, sinking it.

Total Floating Assets at the end of that turn: 5 US CV (down from 6), 2 CVL  vs. 2 Japanese CV (down from 5) and 2 CVL.

The Irony was that the 2 other Japanese CV's were not in combat due to a lack of Aircraft, and were able to be brought to combat readiness by the surviving planes.

I know the Japanese suffered historically from a lack of replacement aircraft and crews, and this sure shows up in the game.

It was a real embarrassment to have that damn British Gladiator shoot down a Zero, though.

I will be putting together some after actions, and my thoughts on the new Naval Rules, as they pertain to the Pacific, in a little while.

I really enjoy this game.  Currently working on subverting a whole group of A&A players <evil laughter>

Later...

56

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Amphibious Invasion Timing

« on: June 27, 2013, 04:32:47 PM »

Aha!

So, no battle means not waiting for the combat phase.  Functionally, the Allies would be counter-attacking, trying to throw the invaders back into the sea.

Excellent!  That was how I was hoping it would work.  I just had a poor understanding of this particular rule.

Thanks for clearing that up.

PS: a later turn saw a nasty battle in the Soloman Sea, in which 3 of the 5 Japanese Fleet carrier groups were sunk.  The Yamato and Escorts got in some good licks, sinking a US BB, CA, and DD.  Just nothing to be done with 2 CV and 2 CVL staring down 5 US Fleet Carriers and 2 Escort Carriers.

 

57

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Amphibious Invasion Timing

« on: June 18, 2013, 10:01:45 AM »

So,

Admiral Mikawa and his fleet roll up to Brisbane in Australia, and unload several divisions of hardened Japanese Infantry.  Unopposed landing.  This happened on an early chit draw.

Two American Infantry and one Australian Infantry want to move in on a later chit draw, to oppose the invaders.

So, in my understanding of combat and timing, because they arrive at the battle on a later chit draw, they have to begin in reserves.

HAD there been even one infantry in Brisbane at the time, they could have possibly aided in the battle, providing the defending infantry was not eliminated in the first round of combat.

SINCE there was NO defending infantry, there is no front-line, anyone arriving late (and starting in reserves) would just have to retreat, anyway, because the battle would be over before they arrived.

Is this correct?

58

After action reports from first edition / Re: Third time may be the charm

« on: May 15, 2013, 04:24:08 PM »

 

I also read the V-2 as being the production/launch facility, which is static.  The actual rockets just represent the "ammo".

Still, you would need a couple of good rolls to make it worth it, which you might not get, especially with the Allies looking for some new vacation homes in France.

59

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Updated British ETO Build Chart?

« on: April 18, 2013, 08:22:15 AM »

Mark,

My apologies.  You are correct, there are 18 factories, not 16, for a 1941 start.  That is 116 total production for the Soviets in Spring 1941 (again, not counting production in captured territories). 72 on-map, 8 off-map for 80 + 36 in factories, for 116.

This is a big map (not a complaint.  I love this map), and difficult to accurately count.  I had to lay it out flat and empty, and use poker chips to correctly count the 36 1pt production centers the Soviets own.

When I started my playtest, I just glanced at the production printed in that upper box, assumed it was for 1941, and assumed it was correct.  This is an easy mistake to make.  It could trip up others, quite easily.

Then again, maybe I have an older file, and you are not seeing what I am seeing.  Mine clearly states "68 on board, 8 Soviet Far East, 16 at start factories, 90 total".

John,

No, thank you.  I do not need another map file.  I have printed mine on high quality outdoor banner material, and will be playing on it until it is quite ragged and worn out.  (It will take some time for that to happen, I think)

60

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Updated British ETO Build Chart?

« on: April 06, 2013, 07:34:53 AM »

 

Okay, now I am just being a pill.

I had to stop my Barbarossa test game because I discovered I had been shorting the Soviets IP.  A LOT of IP.

The production totals printed on the map are incorrect.

Russia has 36pts in 1pt on-map production areas, 36pts in 2+  on-map production areas, 8pts in off-map production areas, and 16 factories to start.

That is 36 + 36 + 8 + 32 = 112 production.  (this does NOT count anything in Poland, the Baltic States, or Finland).  I am going to make a Card to place over the map, where it says "68 on board, 8 Soviet Far East, 16 at start factories, 90 total".  (Not only is this wrong, it is not even internally consistent).

That is shorting the Soviets 22 production a turn!  Wow!  This is especially important when the Germans begin grabbing so much of the front-line production centers.  I was down to 40 production for the Soviets in 1942 (or so I thought), not realizing it should have been 62 instead.

If a lot of the other play-testers on this forum have been doing it wrong, as I have been, NO WONDER the Russians fold up like a house of cards.

If it is too difficult to actually change the map file, then I would put a PROMINENT errata listing under the Soviet portion of the rules.

Just sayin'...