World War II City Fight w/ Neil Thomas' WWII Rules

 Everyone who reads this blog knows how much I like the World War II rules from "Wargaming: An Introduction."  (W:AI) Their simplicity and effectiveness just can't be beat, in my humble opinion.

  

So this weekend, while re-doing my actual gaming table surface, I had a go at a quick and brutal street fight using the WWII rules from W:AI.  I'm also using my modifications to these rules, which you can read about here.

New design for flock - I also repainted, re dry-brushed, and resealed the new flock.  Looks a bit better now - not so scattered and random.

Germans coming from lower left, Soviets from upper right.  Germans must hold the center building.  Soviets must capture it.

Pretty simple scenario - meeting engagement between German and Soviet forces in a ruined city, somewhere on the Eastern Front.  The Soviets are fielding almost 2 whole platoons and an HMG section.  The Germans have 3 squads and a Panzer IIIM in support.  That's it!  Can I get an action-packed game in on a 3' x 2' surface area?  I'll let you decide.  The Germans are making a stand in the small building in the middle of teh board.  The Soviets, naturally, must capture this important objective.

Panzer III takes up a firing position - perfect spot to use his 10D6 HE fire against Ivan's infantry squads!

Germans in the rubble defending the objective

Lots of shooting.  The great thing about these rules, like all of the Neil Thomas rules, is that the mechanics come back to you very quickly and soon you dont even need a QRS or the book.  I've always loved the rules from his WAI book and I want to play them alot this year, even if solo.  As Darren would also say - they're "infinitely hackable."  That's true, too, and as I played I thought of plenty of nice little add-ons that you could put into these rules to make them even better.

Soviets sending a squad to outflank the German position - but there is a flank-guard in the building on the right!

All of the table is "cover" due to the rubble.  The tank bogs on a roll of 1 or 2.  For my games, a stand is worth 7 "hits" and all of them fire 3D6 (the LMG's stats - much less fiddly for single based squads)

Soviet assault engineers make it to the building only to be cut down in close combat!

In the center, the Soviets use the building across the street as a jumping off point to launch an assault against hte objective.  They trade fire with the Germans every turn until they decide to break from cover.  Speaking of which, they've sent even more squads around the flank in an attempt to keep pressure on the building.

Firefight with the Germans!  BRING UP THE MAXIM!!

In my games, the HMGs are simply add-ons to a squad's personnel and firepower.  They fire separately, but when their "escort" squad is gone, they're gone!

meanwhile teh Panzer III is earning his pay.  I love the way HE fire is adjudicated in these rules.

Worth mentioning here that both sides have on-call mortars.  For next time, I'm going to limit the fire missions available to both sides.  in this game, both sides blasted the other at will with no ramification or ammo to worry about. 

I also played the morale rules "as-is" and if a squad took a casualty in one turn, they must pass a morale check at the beginning of their next turn, and if failed, suffer the results of that failure throughout their current turn.  That is either no move/reduced fire, or no move/no fire.  If you see a red die marking casualties that means that squad failed its morale for the turn.  I recover all squads at the end of the turn they're ""suppressed" (my terminology, not Neil's).

Soviets preparing to move forward in the building.  The HMG will occupy a firing position at the edge of the building and make the Germans lives miserable!

Although it's blurry, here 2 x Soviet squads bound around teh left the assault the tank.  Basically you roll a 6 for each figure (in my case, Strength Point) in the combat.  A "6" destroys the AFV - don't let your armor get into movement range of enemy infantry!  Deadly!

Soviet firing positions, covering their comrades who are advancing

One squad advances - the Germans pin them in their turn so a supporting squad behind them leapfrogs up.  It's a neat little tactic I discovered to move forward under fire.  

A pivotal turn - one of the defending squads in the building is suppressed!  They cant move or shoot.  The Soviets go for broke

The Soviets are able to destroy a German squad in the building one after the other with mortars, HMG fire, and their infantry.  The Germans push up their final reserve squad into the building but the math is telling!

Almost immediately after occupying their new real estate, the Germans come under heavy fire from mortars, MGs, and rifle fire.  Another morale failure at the crucial moment allows the Soviets to assault the building!  

The close combat is a bit odd but it works.  There is a bit of quick math involved but you can see how your current morale value (which becomes a multiplier in close combat) impacts your final tally and there is usually a clear winner and a loser.  In this case, the Germans are wiped out to a man as a fresh Soviet squad mops up.

New landlords, Comrade!

If you were wondering what happened to the Panzer III, it too was destroyed.  Knocked out in close combat by a 2 x point remaining Soviet squad rolling a 6.

This was a great opportunity to not only play one of my favorite WWII rules, but also to showcase that a great and exciting game can be played on a 3 x 2 surface.  I'm experimenting with creating a hexed 3 x 2 space for hex gaming and for nights when I could be bothered with setting up a large, more elaborate game.

So what have you all been up to?  I have to say, I've been sticking to "the plan" as far as gaming and painting are going.  I've been painting up my 10mm ACW figures, and also 15mm ACW figures in anticipation of "ACW Month" in February.  We have 10mm Altar of Freedom on tap to refight the battle of Shiloh, and I want to play both the Neil Thomas ACW rules from WAI, and also play some Black Powder, as well as TFON.  So many fun things to play - so little time!

For WWII, I've been finishing up my 15mm Soviet Sappers, and also making a concerted push to get all of my Soviet and German WWII Microarmor nicely painted and based and ready for a megagame???  I'll say no more on that front to keep you all guessing but suffice to say I think I have our MEGAGAME decided on for this year...and it'll be a big one for those of you who were disappointed with Germantown!