tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post7497796008983781519..comments2024-03-27T20:12:05.513-04:00Comments on SOUND OFFICERS CALL!: Tigers at Minsk Playtest 1Disgruntled Fusilierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-79643352445276749692017-09-15T17:11:31.955-04:002017-09-15T17:11:31.955-04:00Return fire from a Marine? No thanks. Ill be in ...Return fire from a Marine? No thanks. Ill be in turret defilade with my head down. They call that "suppressed".Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-3787653952539552652017-09-15T08:29:16.372-04:002017-09-15T08:29:16.372-04:00"Subtle" indeed ;)
Make all the jokes y..."Subtle" indeed ;)<br /><br />Make all the jokes you want, IF you think you can handle the return fire! ;)<br /><br />I'm not going to be able to try these this weekend, I've already got some other stuff on the table (using Ben Lacy's "SOF Warrior" rules), but maybe next?<br /><br />V/R,<br />JackJust Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03552962741823929433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-27332659936555660292017-09-14T11:39:07.196-04:002017-09-14T11:39:07.196-04:00Hahahaha i laughed out loud (at a work meeting) wh...Hahahaha i laughed out loud (at a work meeting) when i read that. Jack you gotta work with me here im resisting the urge to make Marine jokes but even i have my limits! <br /><br />The rules are pretty solid but i had to read through a few times ro get everything. I will say 90 percent of my questions were answered by me looking up the answers in the rules.<br /><br />Norm mentioned below having some key pages ready when playing. Definitely the command rules page in regards to what actions you can take when you activate units.<br />Also the tables pages 25 through 27 or something like that.<br /><br />I am totally a big SL dork. And my NCOs told me in more "subtle" terms :)Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-81238268121798447162017-09-14T11:26:43.325-04:002017-09-14T11:26:43.325-04:00Unlike most WWII gamers, I never did play SL/ASL o...Unlike most WWII gamers, I never did play SL/ASL or any of the board games. I used to make fun of dorks that played with stuff like this ;) It wasn't until I got married and had kids that I figured I needed to change my heathen ways, settle down and find more gentlemanly hobbies ;)<br /><br />I downloaded the rules last night; when I saw 47 pages I nearly fainted! But upon further review, I see it's not that bad. Some of it scenario stuff and Designer's Notes (which I always appreciate), and a lot of the rules portion is actually just Norm giving some great examples of gameplay to keep them tight, so good to go.<br /><br />V/R,<br />Jack<br />Just Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03552962741823929433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-1552784016826549482017-09-13T18:49:13.400-04:002017-09-13T18:49:13.400-04:00Thanks for the thumbs up. I know there is a gamer ...Thanks for the thumbs up. I know there is a gamer who uses them to play one of his tactical boardgames. He has just adjusted the ranges and movement allowances and he says it is fine, which is interesting.<br /><br />I printed out pages 25 - 28 onto heavy paper and sleeved them and I use them as my quick reference sheets.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-32611911461265088422017-09-13T18:28:32.964-04:002017-09-13T18:28:32.964-04:00If you ever played squad leader or any game like i...If you ever played squad leader or any game like it (lock and load?) chances are you'll like this. Then again I could be wrong. I really like the alternating in-command hex, the way the turn clock moves with dice, the small arms fire method, and the way you are constantly making decisions. I feel like I'm making decisions as a platoon leader or company commander and I like that. Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-58307827158525596292017-09-13T18:18:46.505-04:002017-09-13T18:18:46.505-04:00Thanks for commenting, Norm! I will most certainl...Thanks for commenting, Norm! I will most certainly be playing them again, probably with more toys on the table and more "stuff" (artillery, mines and wire, etc). I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions and thank you for following my humble blog.<br />This morning I actually found the answer to a couple of them clearly written in the rules.<br />One thing that would be nice for TaM would be a quick reference sheet, but it's not necessary to play the game. <br /><br />These rules really are something special. As I said in my post - being able to effectively model the relationship between fire and movement is not easy but you have done so here in an elegant way and my next few games I hope to really push the rules farther.Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-12505774694432692802017-09-13T18:14:12.146-04:002017-09-13T18:14:12.146-04:00They took a few turns for me to shake out all of t...They took a few turns for me to shake out all of the concepts but once I got most of my questions answered the turns started flying by. (you have to carefully read some of the rules' paragraphs and you'll find your answer is usually clearly spelled out<br />These would work with squad leader scenarios I think. Looking forward to you giving them a go!Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-56600292572386161702017-09-13T17:25:56.969-04:002017-09-13T17:25:56.969-04:00These look like a modern day rethink of Squad Lead...These look like a modern day rethink of Squad Leader - with a streamlined and original system working there. Great stuff - I must try this weekend.<br /><br />By the way - there is a podcast here you will like. (Link is on Doug's blog - he is on the podcast too). They talk about real time military operational scenarios and training. There were bits I didn't quite grasp but it was very interesting. You'll understand the bits I missed, I think.<br />https://panzerde.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/grogcast-season-5-episode-9-lessons.html#gpluscomments<br />Duc de Gobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10668407600014604176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-67474797222994141542017-09-13T17:00:39.174-04:002017-09-13T17:00:39.174-04:00Steve,
Thanks for the explanation. Glad it took ...Steve,<br /><br />Thanks for the explanation. Glad it took you a few reads, it's not just me being a Marine then ;) Sounds cool, I'll definitely have to give it a try.<br /><br />V/R,<br />Jack<br />Just Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03552962741823929433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-60876760983778640612017-09-13T16:16:55.628-04:002017-09-13T16:16:55.628-04:00Steve thanks so much for giving these a go, there ...Steve thanks so much for giving these a go, there is a lot to take in on a first playing, so I was pleased to see how well it went for you.<br /><br />Your questions - <br /><br />Q. Can you combine firing? I assumed no since units activate individually.<br />A. No<br /><br />Q. If a unit has both a PIN marker and an OPPORTUNITY FIRE marker, does one take precedence over the other to remove? I assumed no but rolled to remove the PIN marker first. Then the next turn I removed the OPP FIRE marker next. They're both actions so you cant do both.<br />A. You are quite right in all aspects. For any unit in danger of getting a second pin, losing the first is a priority, but of course it is a test and it might not come off, while the removal of the Opp Fire marker, would give the unit a fire capability back - although with pin penalties ... Decisions, Decisions :-)<br /><br />Q. Do I roll variable for Line of Sight EACH time I fire into scrub, or only once?<br />A. INTO scrub is not a Line of Sight problem. THROUGH scrub is. Yes each time you fire through scrub, you must test to see whether you got one of those 'fleeting glimpses'.<br /> <br />Q. Does an AFV have to be In Command to rally from Stun? (I know an infantry squad does have to be in command to be given a rally action).<br />A. No - The attempted recovery from STUN happens in the End Phase. Command only matters in the Action Phase. Since a unit can never do anything in the action phase, it never needs to be in command. You will have already felt the pain of a tank trying to recover from stun whilst out in the open - its vulnerability can add some tension to the game.<br /><br />Q. If I have 2 infantry squads in a hex that are farther than 2 hexes from their Platoon Leader's "in command" marker, do I have to roll them both separately for being "In Command" or just roll once for both squads in the hex?<br />A. The player chooses the group of 3 hexes that will automatically be in command, Every other HEX must test. The test is a single test per hex and if passed, all occupants are in command.<br /><br />Q.Can stunned AFV's shoot?<br />A. No, A stunned vehicle cannot do anything, other than attempt recovery in the End Phase. Note page 14 on close assault - a vehicle that goes into a hex to assault and gets a stun result .... is stuck there in that hex (very vulnerable).<br /><br />thanks for the questions - I will look at the rules with a view to making sure your points raised are properly integrated.<br /><br />By the way, just wanted to make sure that you knew the HMG (and anti-tank guns) do have a chance of retaining their fire capability when doing OPP FIRE and so not pick up an Op Fire marker (a 50 / 50 chance). So for them, there might be good reason to use them for opportunity fire.<br /><br />Anyway, again, thanks for taking them for a spin. they were initially designed to be played on a pinboard on an 8 x 6 grid, which is largely the reason why movement rates are so curtailed ( I treated everything as cautious movement, though things can move a second hex if he first hex was open and out of enemy sight). But I do like to play on a bigger space. In one of the scenarios, I have a special rule that allows the German armoured Puma car to travel two hexes, variations on that could be brought into your game. Cheers Norm.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-2205487843815994202017-09-13T15:20:55.040-04:002017-09-13T15:20:55.040-04:00Darren,
I wrote it down as much as for me to remem...Darren,<br />I wrote it down as much as for me to remember! The rules are solid. Youre constantly making decisions and there is no shortage of tension.<br />Youll love the turn sequence too. There are so many novel concepts in the rules theyre refreshing to play.Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-39416495092357781662017-09-13T15:12:25.815-04:002017-09-13T15:12:25.815-04:00Jack,
The rules took me a few reads to get through...Jack,<br />The rules took me a few reads to get through and each time i read through i learn something new.<br /><br />Actually with 6 units per side the game played pretty well. I could have used some more cowbell. And by that i mean probably incorporate artillery and more armor but i figured the system was best tried out with smaller forces.<br /><br />The game takes some getting used to but i love it. Reminds me of a quicker, more modern version of squad leader.Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-36373974101673326702017-09-13T14:04:19.202-04:002017-09-13T14:04:19.202-04:00Excellent playtest Steve. I got a lot of informati...Excellent playtest Steve. I got a lot of information on the rules just reading through your commentary. Some great stuff, almost 'roleplay' in there too, as you can see the squads making decisions on the basis of where you place command. I had always assumed effects by hex in the rules - since it stops you bunching up, but I could be wrong on that.<br />I MUST try these rules.Duc de Gobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10668407600014604176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-23128652310635463572017-09-13T11:29:39.514-04:002017-09-13T11:29:39.514-04:00Steve,
Wow, thanks for posting, that's very i...Steve,<br /><br />Wow, thanks for posting, that's very interesting. I've followed Norm's blog for several years now and read his various posts associated with Tigers at Minsk, but I hadn't had (made?) time to play them. They looked pretty cool and, nothing against Norm, but you put a lot of things in perspective that I didn't understand from reading the rules.<br /><br />One question: how did it feel/work out with such small opposing forces on the table? I'm intrigued as I've had problems finding a good set of platoon-level rules.<br /><br />I hope you get another fight in this weekend, can't wait for the batrep.<br /><br />V/R,<br />Jack<br /><br />Just Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03552962741823929433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-11712717845206365772017-09-13T05:49:18.156-04:002017-09-13T05:49:18.156-04:00Cheers Jonathan. It was a very fun little dust-up...Cheers Jonathan. It was a very fun little dust-up. There is much, much more also that im only scratching the surface of like close combat, armored combat, and more of the optional rules. <br /><br /> I may get time for one game this weekend. Hopefully Norm has some western desert stats up his sleeve! Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-2663751665281580412017-09-12T21:59:03.460-04:002017-09-12T21:59:03.460-04:00An informative replay, Steven. Really provide a go...An informative replay, Steven. Really provide a good sense of what is what in the rules. If I had some Eastern Front troops and a larger hexmat, I would be giving this a try sooner rather than later.Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.com