Ah Crete, that sunny island in the Mediterranean where 76 years ago, two very different but motivated armies, faced each other in a fight that was nothing short of brutal.
I played a game at Tom's house last night, as he is experimenting with Bolt Action, 2nd Ed. We used a scenario from Skirmish Campaign's book on Crete, it was based on the fight for the northern end of Herklion Airfield, which historically, ended badly for the Germans, with an entire FJ Regiment being slaughtered in and around the airfield.
I played British, one, because I loved the idea of using a 40mm Bofors in a game, and two? I didn't fancy the German chances at all. They were dropping onto a wide open runway surrounded by low hills, where a dug in British infantry platoon (from the 2nd Bn, Black Watch) awaited.
Boy was I wrong.
My co-players, John, who was an experienced wargamer, but new to Bolt Action, and Glen, who is new to wargaming, were a good mix of players, and the good thing about Bolt Action is that it is beginner freindly. Now I had an opportunity through variable attachment rolls to get some armor, or perhaps more infantry, or maybe a FO team...nope, I got a 3" mortar that did little during the game but miss a lot.
The Germans took some flak on the way in from the Bofors and some Bren guns, but little damage was done due to our collective bad dice luck, and only one German squad suffered the fate of most accounts of the battle, where they were cut down scrambling to get to the weapons containers. Instead, most German squads landed easily and proceeded to grab their weapons with little trouble, then hightailed it for the nearest cover, daring the British to come after them.
So, of course, we did, but with only 10 turns, and the Germans having a hell of a head start on us, it proved to be a task too far for us to kill all the Germans. The one assault the Germans launched on British positions was broken up with some casualties on our side, but all in all, it soon became a cat and mouse game with the Germans, one that they played to run out the clock and win the game.
I liked the scenario, but the game illustrated my concerns about Bolt Action. It's kinda gimmicky and it seems that actually killing anyone as opposed to endless pins is more likely. Not that I am objecting, but it in this case, served to slow the game down.
I would probably have to play it again, but hey, I have another shot at another Crete game next week!
And wouldn't you know it, but I didn't get any photos! AARGH!!!
I played a game at Tom's house last night, as he is experimenting with Bolt Action, 2nd Ed. We used a scenario from Skirmish Campaign's book on Crete, it was based on the fight for the northern end of Herklion Airfield, which historically, ended badly for the Germans, with an entire FJ Regiment being slaughtered in and around the airfield.
I played British, one, because I loved the idea of using a 40mm Bofors in a game, and two? I didn't fancy the German chances at all. They were dropping onto a wide open runway surrounded by low hills, where a dug in British infantry platoon (from the 2nd Bn, Black Watch) awaited.
Boy was I wrong.
My co-players, John, who was an experienced wargamer, but new to Bolt Action, and Glen, who is new to wargaming, were a good mix of players, and the good thing about Bolt Action is that it is beginner freindly. Now I had an opportunity through variable attachment rolls to get some armor, or perhaps more infantry, or maybe a FO team...nope, I got a 3" mortar that did little during the game but miss a lot.
The Germans took some flak on the way in from the Bofors and some Bren guns, but little damage was done due to our collective bad dice luck, and only one German squad suffered the fate of most accounts of the battle, where they were cut down scrambling to get to the weapons containers. Instead, most German squads landed easily and proceeded to grab their weapons with little trouble, then hightailed it for the nearest cover, daring the British to come after them.
So, of course, we did, but with only 10 turns, and the Germans having a hell of a head start on us, it proved to be a task too far for us to kill all the Germans. The one assault the Germans launched on British positions was broken up with some casualties on our side, but all in all, it soon became a cat and mouse game with the Germans, one that they played to run out the clock and win the game.
I liked the scenario, but the game illustrated my concerns about Bolt Action. It's kinda gimmicky and it seems that actually killing anyone as opposed to endless pins is more likely. Not that I am objecting, but it in this case, served to slow the game down.
I would probably have to play it again, but hey, I have another shot at another Crete game next week!
And wouldn't you know it, but I didn't get any photos! AARGH!!!
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