Messages

16

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: JohnCon 2014 - After Action PbP

« on: November 21, 2014, 01:16:59 PM »

   Congratulations to the Axis players for a hard-won victory.

With the early invasion of France, and the loss of the DAK, I thought things were a bit dire.

But, of course, a delay in the Eastern Objectives can mean all the difference.

It just reaffirms how pivotal the fall of Leningrad to the Germans really is.  So much time, energy and manpower poured into cracking that very tough nut.

Kudos, gentleman.

17

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Astrakhan

« on: July 21, 2014, 06:06:20 AM »

One of the key mistakes I made, was to use the very precious Russian Armor to counter attack in Summer of 1942.  Dice went south, and the Russians withdrew, to preserve their armor.

BECAUSE they retreated from battle, they were not eligible to move during the Summer Mech Move.  This allowed the Germans to do all kinds of stupid things with their Mechanized units, without the threat of Russian Retaliation.

Also, if the Germans manage to take Moscow, the Russians can get it back, fairly easily.  Lots of places to bring up new units.

If they manage to take Leningrad, boy howdy is it hard to recapture...

18

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Astrakhan

« on: July 20, 2014, 06:57:43 AM »

Yes.

Also,

Do NOT miss your max build of Infantry.

Do NOT get cocky, and counter-attack too early..

19

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Astrakhan

« on: July 18, 2014, 06:48:47 AM »

   John,

If I wrote up the Eastern Front playtest I just finished (Not really finished, I think the Russians Rage Quit) I would have to title it "How NOT to play the Russians - A guide to losing the game in 10 Easy Steps!"

20

RULES (UPDATED APRIL 2018) / New Turn Cards

« on: July 14, 2014, 04:43:25 AM »

Hey Guys, 

Do you have the file for the cool new turn cards I saw in the Consimworld After-action?

I cannot tell you how useful the words "Check for German Leaders" or "Check for Russian Leaders" would be.

21

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Astrakhan

« on: July 12, 2014, 05:36:04 AM »

Map Clarification: The border between Astrakhan and the Kalmyk Steppe and Dagestan is drawn as if it is a coastline. (the end of the Volga River)

Is this intended to denote impassible terrain?

PS: I just did the Google Earth tour of that region, and OMG what swamps! Bleaah!  I would guess the answer to this question is yes.

PPS: and yes, I have Germans down there, so it is important. The double mech move for Summer 1942 is kinda scary...

22

RULES (UPDATED APRIL 2018) / Re: Battle Markers

« on: July 07, 2014, 03:25:27 AM »

Mark,

Yes, they are an interim step.  I usually do not have the room to lay out 8 battleboards, so these are a space saver.  It allows me to pull units from the map during movement, and have them ready when it is time to do battles.  I have them on a table, next to a set of Air/Naval/Ground battleboards.

That way I can fight through the battles pretty quickly, and not get lost.

23

RULES (UPDATED APRIL 2018) / Battle Markers

« on: July 06, 2014, 05:14:21 AM »

 

This is the first thing I had to make for this game.  Keeping track of all the battles can be quite a challenge.

So, I made really obnoxious standup markers that are impossible to miss, and matching off board pages to move combatants to.  I made different areas to keep track of who came in when, who was "Front Line" and who was "Reserve".

Yesterday, playing Russian Front, I decided I needed a way to separate who was attacking over a river, and what defensive terrain was in play.  When I sat down to do the battles, I did not want to jump up and run back to the map every 5 seconds...

24

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: July 03, 2014, 06:31:35 PM »

I have made it to the end game yet, but I do see substantial Axis airpower, both in Italy, and Northern Russia.  I can see the Allied airpower coming up, with lots of P-51's and Typhoons on the board, but all those Axis planes have to be giving the Allies fits.

I am thinking that may be one reason the Allies are a little "behind".

25

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: July 03, 2014, 04:44:15 AM »

Aha!

That explains a lot!  I was noticing the Italians were pretty air heavy, for Italians, and I was wondering how you were doing that.  The increased max builds help out a lot.

26

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: July 02, 2014, 07:08:10 AM »

Ack!

I have always thought of Southern France as a sincere weak spot in Fortress Europa, but ah, that stings!   Going to give the Germans a huge logistical headache getting any serious forces into France to slow up the Allies.  Two full turns early.  I would have needed a drink, after that.

Prediction: bypassing Italy, and leaving it in the game, bites you in the bum, later.

Wo ist Manstein?  He was hanging out in Southern Russian with his 50,000 closest friends, and now he's gone?

Reconn in force is correct. Two SS Tigers?  I would not want to tangle with that without at least 10 friends.  And still no armor in the south.

I bet this was one of those games where there was an open bottle of Tums near the table at all times...

Hey, I just noticed.  The u-boats are almost out of places to park...

27

RULES (UPDATED APRIL 2018) / Re: Corps markers for aircraft

« on: July 02, 2014, 06:49:50 AM »

  The Fw 190D-9 is my all time favorite warbird.

However, KISS, so I had to pick a distinctive sihouette.

28

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: June 30, 2014, 07:11:10 AM »

Crazy!

"Hollowed out" is how I would describe the German forces down in Southern Russia, although they are not kidding about Crimea.

Without seeing what the Germans have in their Armies in the North, I know from experience that Leningrad is a tough nut to crack, without giving them two years to build up their defences.  And attacking in the Winter...

Agreed, the Allies are really behind in their efforts to wrest VP away from the Germans.  The Germans might just be able to "run out the clock" on the Allies.  From the photos, it looks like their strategy might be to hold on to Italy at any cost.  That is an awful lot of Axis Airpower down there, I must say.

One of the big advantages that Russia has always had, in my opinion, is their ability to build new units right on the front.  The Germans get to deal with new Russian Armies simply appearing in their faces, and their own reinforcements have to travel all the way in from Germany.

I really do not envy the Germans on the Russian Front, but they have two major rivers to hide behind.  If they can just keep their northern flank from folding, they may be in a pretty good position.

I want to state that this after-action is ridiculously entertaining...

PS: 3 V-Weapons?  A little excessive, don't you think?

29

RULES (UPDATED APRIL 2018) / Re: Corps markers for aircraft

« on: June 30, 2014, 06:48:18 AM »

   Thanks Guys.

One of my (many) jobs in the company I work for is Graphic Layout and Design, so I have access to a really hot computer with the latest Adobe Creative Suite.  This is really useful in my hobbies.

Mark, I had not intended to put a colored background on the counters, although that would be easy to do.  The large German Cross was intended as the side identifier.  The Soviets will have a large, bright red star, and the allies will have US and UK airforce roundels, all designed to be large and distinguishing.

I will upload when I complete them.

30

RULES (UPDATED APRIL 2018) / Corps markers for aircraft

« on: June 27, 2014, 07:18:22 AM »

 

Hey guys,  I don't know if you have any need/use for such things, but I find basing air assets can sometimes get a little tight, especially on the Eastern Front, and in the UK.

The markers are designed to be printed on cardstock, cut out, and stuck together to make a double-sided standup. (I use double-stick tape, myself).

The cards are very similar to your corps marker cards, designed to be printed on cardstock, and cut.

This is just the German Set.  I will be making a Russian Set and a Western Allies set a little later.

Also, the designations (JG, KG, StG) are not designed to limit what kind of aircraft you have based where, but to offer some historical "flavor".