tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643990546344286582024-03-27T19:54:28.559-04:00Chain Link and ConcreteLost in SuburbiaMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.comBlogger267125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-82000607003041308802024-03-18T00:01:00.000-04:002024-03-18T12:50:29.742-04:00One Model, Two Purpose - British Air-deploy Infantry for Bolt Action<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGEklDKlXCYtAbRoXE-7uLr52xRUQRVNMRNNM0N-DHbTsRD6IzHztMHY_GsIZsqrw-layC7doeCWfrk19zOtwjW1wj6ALCI-s2Gj_BrRZO7wA0bhRWbWreCJVyopNQV7WwP36n27eKUvISA21b1aSctYkWgU4Yvl1jwDDQguYmkFioArFmwEenjypquno/s3757/PXL_20240312_050051383.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1603" data-original-width="3757" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGEklDKlXCYtAbRoXE-7uLr52xRUQRVNMRNNM0N-DHbTsRD6IzHztMHY_GsIZsqrw-layC7doeCWfrk19zOtwjW1wj6ALCI-s2Gj_BrRZO7wA0bhRWbWreCJVyopNQV7WwP36n27eKUvISA21b1aSctYkWgU4Yvl1jwDDQguYmkFioArFmwEenjypquno/s16000/PXL_20240312_050051383.jpg" /></a></div><p>When I started my <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/going-commando-my-new-army-for-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">collection of British Commandos</a>, I had decided that I would expand my collection to include Air-deployed forces to complement my Commandos. I picked up some Airborne kits to do so right around the time I was finishing the Commandos in question. As is usually the case with wargamers, the lot sat in my Backlog Bin for quite a while until I finally made a point to start working on something - <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2024/01/who-dares-wins.html" target="_blank">first some SAS</a>, then an <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2024/01/i-like-my-howitzers-raw.html" target="_blank">Airborne Howitzer</a>. Having wrapped up a bit of terrain making (show and tell for which I've still not actually finished) I was wanting to do some miniatures again. Having just tried my hand at some British camo, I decided to keep up the momentum by cracking open the <a href="https://store.warlordgames.com/products/british-airborne-starter-army" target="_blank">British Airborne starter set</a> I'd picked up from the LGS back over the summer of '23.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Go To It!</h1><p>As I've mentioned a few times before, I like air-deploy infantry. When I learned that the British Airborne and British Airlanding (Glider) units had basically the same uniforms and equipment, I decided building up some would be a fantastic means to add variety to my British collection - both visually and mechanically. More to it, because I am a visual gamer and love me some WYSIWYG, British Paratrooper models would allow me to field not only a variety of Paratrooper-type entries seen spread across a number of books, but lower-priced Infantry squads if the situation calls for it.</p><p>While I am not strictly trying to recreate a specific formation, I've started to draw some influence from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_Airborne_Division_(United_Kingdom)" target="_blank">British 6th Airborne</a>. This keeps with the idea of a very focused theme but permits a fair bit of variety on the table, all things considered - several Commando formations were even attached to the 6th, as were some Belgians and Dutch Motorized troops which may offer some interesting opportunities in the future.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Air-deploy Troops in Bolt Action</h2><p>There's two basic types of air-deploy forces in the Second World War - parachute infantry and glider infantry. Britain used both, and interestingly even integrated them into the same large formations.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFVh6SRA5gYHKGdqgnG8srMcmNzFvg1b9_FxIHgJNUC_jyRy8JLMvoUExgyFdTEs13pP0DTqOxhzVXvgae2QNf5yuE4QyugSaPICazdtZBw02datFYGHZPkU2ABmOBXwh36hhTa1mPO5wHSAYPowfEjqXFVP7Zw4cBG50vwmzQAdFzoVvlIeYRf2UY_uAR" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="258" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFVh6SRA5gYHKGdqgnG8srMcmNzFvg1b9_FxIHgJNUC_jyRy8JLMvoUExgyFdTEs13pP0DTqOxhzVXvgae2QNf5yuE4QyugSaPICazdtZBw02datFYGHZPkU2ABmOBXwh36hhTa1mPO5wHSAYPowfEjqXFVP7Zw4cBG50vwmzQAdFzoVvlIeYRf2UY_uAR=w139-h320" width="139" /></a></div>Parachute infantry - paratroopers - are strongly defined in Bolt Action - they are, as a rule, Veteran Infantry that has Stubborn. There are some exceptions - I believe Soviet paratroopers lack Stubborn and the Germans have some late war Inexperienced variations - but this package is well represented across the board. British Paratroopers also have specialized unit entries, such as the the basic "Paratroop Section" or "Paratrooper Special Assault Section" for Britain. They're typically seen in core army books to some extent, too, and seem to always be a unit available in a Generic Reinforced Platoon.<p></p><p>Glider troops are represented in Bolt Action, but only seem to turn up in a few Selectors - such as the British Airlanding Platoon from the Operation Market Garden book. As a general thing, it seems like Airlanding units are not available in the Generic Reinforced Platoon, at least not for the British. Fortunately, it's very easy to proxy this if one wants to run something similarly thematic in a situation where the selector is not allowed - they are simply Veteran Infantry without any special rules, and are given the option of an NCO SMG, one other SMG, and an LMG. Squad size is 4-8. </p><p>I am not 100% sure they <i>should </i>be exclusively Veteran, personally - while Glider troops were (evidently) all volunteers, other than glider-specific operations I haven't any proof they were given advanced infantry training. Perhaps it's to capture the higher morale value to represent improved motivation over typical infantry? Regular but Stubborn would have been interesting an given this troop type a posture not widely seen. Regardless, that's just how they are.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">My Airborne Force</h2><p>My primary goal was to continue the theme of my earlier British force, with everyone being based generally around the D-Day invasion and beyond. This means mid-1944 and onward styling, a North-West European look to the basing, and in this case only stuff relevant to the Airborne at large.</p><p>Originally, the idea was just to fix a few gaps in my extant Commando force, but I got caught up in it and ultimately wound up with what is basically a whole second British Army. Fortunately the two halves are readily intermixable and done so from the start, so it all self-reinforces while sticking to a single discreet theme. Between most (but not all) of the Airborne starter set and the partly-used box of plastic Airborne I'd used for the SAS, I was able to knock together what you see below.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Gallery</h3><p>This effort was something like 45 models - 4x Leaders with SMGs, 18 riflemen including 2 rifle-NCOs, 12x SMGmen including 2 SMG-NCOs, a 3-man mortar team, 2 spotter/observer types, a 2-man PIAT team, and a 2-man sniper team. Working in what I've already got for Airborne and I've got a considerable force going here now!</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Platoon Leadership Models</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3BbmXvK8VczTbVI-Kcrk8r8fNeXHA8J6J6DzzPmjPTvctcTS1zKPbP6i7RFXxNqpJaevbHTjZN-nUb0GuXQ9meKEvI5jtxkfosB5Z3LDthURqxKIW79Itz75irTmxfyqFCgEevGEJasLgm-413h5R5WAnFgvWijZ73Af-WS5IYlY4aIVm7OL5hCLFdOG/s3035/PXL_20240312_044412834.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="3035" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3BbmXvK8VczTbVI-Kcrk8r8fNeXHA8J6J6DzzPmjPTvctcTS1zKPbP6i7RFXxNqpJaevbHTjZN-nUb0GuXQ9meKEvI5jtxkfosB5Z3LDthURqxKIW79Itz75irTmxfyqFCgEevGEJasLgm-413h5R5WAnFgvWijZ73Af-WS5IYlY4aIVm7OL5hCLFdOG/s16000/PXL_20240312_044412834.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRknXS8aDn9Z6_4YxWzJcEMyX8o6QLoTN94UZvSQrRWGLJZ5EzXdLTh3pqXdoioFyiXZhZHSLF5SGTgjCH4ogPRCJHkIt7NiRVV6PMlp3NJu7axt5YnB2R_x17SNgqXYcv-T2CRyrfgyzT3gn_AO_I6FU8_jk4-DaKjnuy2BMtXmIroVhgULWCyXIYppmQ/s2755/PXL_20240312_044423393.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="2755" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRknXS8aDn9Z6_4YxWzJcEMyX8o6QLoTN94UZvSQrRWGLJZ5EzXdLTh3pqXdoioFyiXZhZHSLF5SGTgjCH4ogPRCJHkIt7NiRVV6PMlp3NJu7axt5YnB2R_x17SNgqXYcv-T2CRyrfgyzT3gn_AO_I6FU8_jk4-DaKjnuy2BMtXmIroVhgULWCyXIYppmQ/s16000/PXL_20240312_044423393.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6P1A6cZLVXBbqfodCmIilZYeqSUM9dhIyFY03yS2Oqr9_ZGWdhyphenhyphenBC7bPMcLzWSITxFP6jnjVY6f2vL2MatkVAcTshU6L9DHAJ1IgQoWK7tL7toD3SJ-vHAX_eNn4CCM8v0QO0YCMhq6as0DA2JdA4gXtCy_UhgQ0rTl3tgdPq0DUeHBSBY8Rcvnq2Ay2/s3227/PXL_20240312_044443755.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="3227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6P1A6cZLVXBbqfodCmIilZYeqSUM9dhIyFY03yS2Oqr9_ZGWdhyphenhyphenBC7bPMcLzWSITxFP6jnjVY6f2vL2MatkVAcTshU6L9DHAJ1IgQoWK7tL7toD3SJ-vHAX_eNn4CCM8v0QO0YCMhq6as0DA2JdA4gXtCy_UhgQ0rTl3tgdPq0DUeHBSBY8Rcvnq2Ay2/s16000/PXL_20240312_044443755.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoFI-44amp8TWhJUUANzq1cDCKudcBb_1ZyAkhksBZoLodtRGrKGek6iTeOOLGoVaHibEgt606n7mWq1Jpbad1PiwvqHLiR6Zft2IlplWTcalRDuETYaMRkhhUWT9c9thKbb5OeAV_cpTP3Ta1wrmsDDgB0oRVSICvNHMK5xKLJNkl_Cru9IXtbCySZP9/s3214/PXL_20240312_044453215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="3214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoFI-44amp8TWhJUUANzq1cDCKudcBb_1ZyAkhksBZoLodtRGrKGek6iTeOOLGoVaHibEgt606n7mWq1Jpbad1PiwvqHLiR6Zft2IlplWTcalRDuETYaMRkhhUWT9c9thKbb5OeAV_cpTP3Ta1wrmsDDgB0oRVSICvNHMK5xKLJNkl_Cru9IXtbCySZP9/s16000/PXL_20240312_044453215.jpg" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Rifle Lads</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuaC6-eIHO70VwQ4exE4POiEZhvZKgbT_xXwv-FCpZyg2N5w8vAcMd5i4krrPZjaN3lpoi2NvAk0Byh60QgSEHHz_znJaB5EWyqTv6KqqmTAYhPIrZFD-EzCXnddW7XbQnWUzp-CjYYC3ZZ_1di3MIjB0nQa8xgLAemCFK__dv8aaUSHNAYy5bsRSHkIY/s3256/PXL_20240312_045242821.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="3256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuaC6-eIHO70VwQ4exE4POiEZhvZKgbT_xXwv-FCpZyg2N5w8vAcMd5i4krrPZjaN3lpoi2NvAk0Byh60QgSEHHz_znJaB5EWyqTv6KqqmTAYhPIrZFD-EzCXnddW7XbQnWUzp-CjYYC3ZZ_1di3MIjB0nQa8xgLAemCFK__dv8aaUSHNAYy5bsRSHkIY/s16000/PXL_20240312_045242821.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfayA8ciWzg9eZtR3MVwRDDMTuaGetHmc_8SdiQV5-oXpjd9Ld8sLYabOXE9EoM7vCCJT4XuJUG4hxMDPSoEWBxBPVM-QqGPnwO1S_2Wz3-tWf6hNfpy1h8baZUYzS1sbIs2k6jw7mdqi3jsVRhRMI6TSKDT30XrHaASlIh4yK7wz570AijT-2Npi__cUf/s3026/PXL_20240312_045249350.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="3026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfayA8ciWzg9eZtR3MVwRDDMTuaGetHmc_8SdiQV5-oXpjd9Ld8sLYabOXE9EoM7vCCJT4XuJUG4hxMDPSoEWBxBPVM-QqGPnwO1S_2Wz3-tWf6hNfpy1h8baZUYzS1sbIs2k6jw7mdqi3jsVRhRMI6TSKDT30XrHaASlIh4yK7wz570AijT-2Npi__cUf/s16000/PXL_20240312_045249350.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjQsoloVKC5SSfWUWmBeHTmuAFv_EO-H-m2EG2s853bxDjMvUaLSP5SR_YbJQSy4XrwbGhQUvcam-UXeGXRjCNxdWEyj8pZVe8Vwm9L6HpcXP5B0N-WAxsJUSHspw-8lvsZGWtbs1admpw3rNeKPWEiOp_9Li7wgsJ8JPA1A2j27HsXiIIs_dZFHJMCOI/s3019/PXL_20240312_045502532.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="3019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjQsoloVKC5SSfWUWmBeHTmuAFv_EO-H-m2EG2s853bxDjMvUaLSP5SR_YbJQSy4XrwbGhQUvcam-UXeGXRjCNxdWEyj8pZVe8Vwm9L6HpcXP5B0N-WAxsJUSHspw-8lvsZGWtbs1admpw3rNeKPWEiOp_9Li7wgsJ8JPA1A2j27HsXiIIs_dZFHJMCOI/s16000/PXL_20240312_045502532.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJVRZBUVQ2vnOmM3n7jMhRFSoPFc0WyqAbxw5bcE0LuyfT2eqUILjeLILqDluaHvV667h0jctAnY1hUKcb0jG4Q2XBwBHKjx3f1CDigdm12f6zYHMbXgx2qgvNZQvL-7h-QR1SwZ1UP9IulHJqKD9ZPSxTWo0sVNf7n67q-rizmxwEDPCtYGaOOEOW8cA/s3076/PXL_20240312_045536867.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="3076" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJVRZBUVQ2vnOmM3n7jMhRFSoPFc0WyqAbxw5bcE0LuyfT2eqUILjeLILqDluaHvV667h0jctAnY1hUKcb0jG4Q2XBwBHKjx3f1CDigdm12f6zYHMbXgx2qgvNZQvL-7h-QR1SwZ1UP9IulHJqKD9ZPSxTWo0sVNf7n67q-rizmxwEDPCtYGaOOEOW8cA/s16000/PXL_20240312_045536867.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRSOZhWEzMxpCs_pi-8c9oSSunQVIlQE_Zhu70_ygl8o7zpAuAMH96KiUrvxgZFP7Y-yKcvpQAqHh193RTd7yxcB8kp3ZKsFlAYIvlrl6O3RsjTBQfLQcubZz8bdBR5TztZ2G8X2ZBXn3pkch9eDUzK3QkeSb5srv8rcfuY8YrpXLIYcfDRkBTsw-TEu-/s3674/PXL_20240312_045545365.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="3674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRSOZhWEzMxpCs_pi-8c9oSSunQVIlQE_Zhu70_ygl8o7zpAuAMH96KiUrvxgZFP7Y-yKcvpQAqHh193RTd7yxcB8kp3ZKsFlAYIvlrl6O3RsjTBQfLQcubZz8bdBR5TztZ2G8X2ZBXn3pkch9eDUzK3QkeSb5srv8rcfuY8YrpXLIYcfDRkBTsw-TEu-/s16000/PXL_20240312_045545365.jpg" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">SMG Lads</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktEYPxWUNox-jZDh7EBZhwB0zV6Gbwe4DgRuBbPlwMqWcqPCZn5hUJsQgxg-NPQhQdkPeQK7IK2pbSjaxge0BKTlgXXtxDKu81db-wskaTa7DJqjHx8C7_hcQzCFayNloer2b7Endgzd2vb1-bBxQgvuXGewlk95qtf_-46_b88zh-LtTsCvCjSuiCgI7/s3840/PXL_20240312_044646445.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktEYPxWUNox-jZDh7EBZhwB0zV6Gbwe4DgRuBbPlwMqWcqPCZn5hUJsQgxg-NPQhQdkPeQK7IK2pbSjaxge0BKTlgXXtxDKu81db-wskaTa7DJqjHx8C7_hcQzCFayNloer2b7Endgzd2vb1-bBxQgvuXGewlk95qtf_-46_b88zh-LtTsCvCjSuiCgI7/s16000/PXL_20240312_044646445.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TkCWIYmBgYHzdc-BDa_fo92Xxe40dvEwm7-46RWXrdnTddL2J93ZmIpeZN1oMpHPhcOI77laveRLMltsTVFopBhjUr5CfYW_Wi2AFWU_02qP7n-A4a4SVGZ0QZPrRIudhYPPjDCnnkk9WYIMHTvxs_I10VAh_9bT1EkSuUmE6f9CFEKd_hsh2vxMgeZI/s3397/PXL_20240312_044656697.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="3397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TkCWIYmBgYHzdc-BDa_fo92Xxe40dvEwm7-46RWXrdnTddL2J93ZmIpeZN1oMpHPhcOI77laveRLMltsTVFopBhjUr5CfYW_Wi2AFWU_02qP7n-A4a4SVGZ0QZPrRIudhYPPjDCnnkk9WYIMHTvxs_I10VAh_9bT1EkSuUmE6f9CFEKd_hsh2vxMgeZI/s16000/PXL_20240312_044656697.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkQmyzJlELmqave7SlFhVmKYes3luHZYb1Fmg8i9BoVEAaynCnFnmZ17LvLDiTDTbRx6C9xl7w_qg5dQwCkcopyDXZUiZQ219uypROdu-iFna6VmdNniQPIK1e2yYzEeIS4ukvtmlXMVeUNFjPv-MxdyweNHiHoyJ4xX30MzPwi4U6N25-hSck4mJkPZW/s3434/PXL_20240312_044741579.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="3434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkQmyzJlELmqave7SlFhVmKYes3luHZYb1Fmg8i9BoVEAaynCnFnmZ17LvLDiTDTbRx6C9xl7w_qg5dQwCkcopyDXZUiZQ219uypROdu-iFna6VmdNniQPIK1e2yYzEeIS4ukvtmlXMVeUNFjPv-MxdyweNHiHoyJ4xX30MzPwi4U6N25-hSck4mJkPZW/s16000/PXL_20240312_044741579.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tAtWL2aXPQL2f5tXxIznQWS77KEMp7NMb0yBB-2LQqMLy3TvBQNL7li7QWPKOa-tubaH1URbelQdAImLbZ4Z34df85oaFwl-jF6tH04PybSoLIjo_2mtywzWD7cvqwjwcUpyBKMON2SL8wJHJn4J3ZV67fajbbk2mkHA0Ckbp_ZiNO5SyCxmZ75FAC0V/s3840/PXL_20240312_044753445.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tAtWL2aXPQL2f5tXxIznQWS77KEMp7NMb0yBB-2LQqMLy3TvBQNL7li7QWPKOa-tubaH1URbelQdAImLbZ4Z34df85oaFwl-jF6tH04PybSoLIjo_2mtywzWD7cvqwjwcUpyBKMON2SL8wJHJn4J3ZV67fajbbk2mkHA0Ckbp_ZiNO5SyCxmZ75FAC0V/s16000/PXL_20240312_044753445.jpg" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Specialists</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yvwe7xZFVMVzSv_gvl4CmSVo8qgiX-EUe2KALTbZH1dotVMRWZf4-VViAm5N1KHIPqsTHL7np2BvDVbX6sZ5zLJRXfeTwvBJkzKF-3xyS0L9OpiAsm6tohcqZhqVn9padTe69tIBEpQQ-jQ37Rn1nWLwFJ3O7QsCFomePhcG0Qg4ek6s8miQdtz18q5X/s3089/PXL_20240312_044031341.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="3089" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yvwe7xZFVMVzSv_gvl4CmSVo8qgiX-EUe2KALTbZH1dotVMRWZf4-VViAm5N1KHIPqsTHL7np2BvDVbX6sZ5zLJRXfeTwvBJkzKF-3xyS0L9OpiAsm6tohcqZhqVn9padTe69tIBEpQQ-jQ37Rn1nWLwFJ3O7QsCFomePhcG0Qg4ek6s8miQdtz18q5X/s16000/PXL_20240312_044031341.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm61rDJhOSiSxDfoRtZo-yC8raPgDKtrWMDXWSVy9DHStUGXq5Jor-YSKKc2IFi3WWFO8CyrFhoit9P-ozoSfOihljBnnqAIWtKsiwlknnLLGfZfDvyIQaq-3G10S5iqSELwo5kHJRTAxVN6aDOjTsYdMIgZTKB9rildpa0a8KBJNy5Ib-leh8SA29-YRA/s3051/PXL_20240312_044037384.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="3051" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm61rDJhOSiSxDfoRtZo-yC8raPgDKtrWMDXWSVy9DHStUGXq5Jor-YSKKc2IFi3WWFO8CyrFhoit9P-ozoSfOihljBnnqAIWtKsiwlknnLLGfZfDvyIQaq-3G10S5iqSELwo5kHJRTAxVN6aDOjTsYdMIgZTKB9rildpa0a8KBJNy5Ib-leh8SA29-YRA/s16000/PXL_20240312_044037384.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZGjJPkFFSdH2JF8A8DN80iAzXCrKLFLixryAn4LcJvDsjDgiHIYkebR6_2gHpHNKTq-HRsArtONLgXM-2FxETqY-5WLQ_u-Nv_XmZsoJmsBy-Q0uXpxKQGcslVIDj-Ak8TaKcQbC-wzQQItv-kNVeyHAdEnRj0-OnUuSmvjDEpuJpAfPnDMPILO6SwS6/s3840/PXL_20240312_044113164.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZGjJPkFFSdH2JF8A8DN80iAzXCrKLFLixryAn4LcJvDsjDgiHIYkebR6_2gHpHNKTq-HRsArtONLgXM-2FxETqY-5WLQ_u-Nv_XmZsoJmsBy-Q0uXpxKQGcslVIDj-Ak8TaKcQbC-wzQQItv-kNVeyHAdEnRj0-OnUuSmvjDEpuJpAfPnDMPILO6SwS6/s16000/PXL_20240312_044113164.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Km4yoDiDeB8dHsFbQKQ7NbAgos_0Y5qIGTTZJ6Idhw_YwVp6xG_xgMUCppwnlMaHMLtSxpwx8Unv2ACReOh0FKbP7qkmny_VKfMVjgc6IbUNK76Lrp0iNSmpCoOrrsHv4DtDrVL6JvrhhVo0LhZDQIRqJ3hcC-DCbm41AAurdJIASeE1bAhwgmHGhVx9/s3503/PXL_20240312_044122974.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="3503" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Km4yoDiDeB8dHsFbQKQ7NbAgos_0Y5qIGTTZJ6Idhw_YwVp6xG_xgMUCppwnlMaHMLtSxpwx8Unv2ACReOh0FKbP7qkmny_VKfMVjgc6IbUNK76Lrp0iNSmpCoOrrsHv4DtDrVL6JvrhhVo0LhZDQIRqJ3hcC-DCbm41AAurdJIASeE1bAhwgmHGhVx9/s16000/PXL_20240312_044122974.MP.jpg" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Mortarmen</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQBwDD4um-oBRC2VBQPzgLcMShXYzLuJOvoSN75gtDugvabc7lun7goIlIKf69X2cc_Zxk1i-P7ND9pQigQxb0vOm2gZBCj-UCSBtESI4-kII9EKIAXK2xm78JFGcQ79IlraaR63tUbczz-yAzguy-uT7RkWsu-xj_kfi29LVAO9lL2LLG61lx9Xrehy4/s2645/PXL_20240312_043759025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="2645" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQBwDD4um-oBRC2VBQPzgLcMShXYzLuJOvoSN75gtDugvabc7lun7goIlIKf69X2cc_Zxk1i-P7ND9pQigQxb0vOm2gZBCj-UCSBtESI4-kII9EKIAXK2xm78JFGcQ79IlraaR63tUbczz-yAzguy-uT7RkWsu-xj_kfi29LVAO9lL2LLG61lx9Xrehy4/s16000/PXL_20240312_043759025.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_khNiwglNV9hbl3pJWC_kiangg106XsL9800-X1JduyhlIp9B77dNo18blAjY0usOmT8YlloUKiUzVxdpYelA7WlOizlVfO9IWxCBv8cXEQLPBPzaUPtJ8rM3ARDcAdahm-9uMsTEYvC0ks430B48LQpJjiublk1Fi6FwL_PjOnirM9_32IvRISxBHWn/s3001/PXL_20240312_043832651.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="3001" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_khNiwglNV9hbl3pJWC_kiangg106XsL9800-X1JduyhlIp9B77dNo18blAjY0usOmT8YlloUKiUzVxdpYelA7WlOizlVfO9IWxCBv8cXEQLPBPzaUPtJ8rM3ARDcAdahm-9uMsTEYvC0ks430B48LQpJjiublk1Fi6FwL_PjOnirM9_32IvRISxBHWn/s16000/PXL_20240312_043832651.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuzqlb0g5h92G56bGcwVTuKAFvjPSZdlIaLRbmY_QDTS0DWdwBJUkP-k02Eqj-wWXX07ZGXZQnx4oWJ03oBWkMUoNuQ1_GlBZBsf8lGJyKi-x7K9gatnvpRKpU2YkBIAGQi2u7lBHSqVyNNAspUi_ZR1m5-fRBWfilcdrnA9HAHWYssf6JuqqgzhVVhc_/s3193/PXL_20240312_043904464.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="3193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuzqlb0g5h92G56bGcwVTuKAFvjPSZdlIaLRbmY_QDTS0DWdwBJUkP-k02Eqj-wWXX07ZGXZQnx4oWJ03oBWkMUoNuQ1_GlBZBsf8lGJyKi-x7K9gatnvpRKpU2YkBIAGQi2u7lBHSqVyNNAspUi_ZR1m5-fRBWfilcdrnA9HAHWYssf6JuqqgzhVVhc_/s16000/PXL_20240312_043904464.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVDEaAwM8Ju_vboT4El1zO2c3pBQ8_wXvJ_Mg8k-BwA093KvYSunxA5escI0VGn5KdQLu-KVA5rkpzoV92NN-fXX5QWD-elKPYQkjOUDNUv19d1X_VyZXs0zYHuGgS8ixubFm-lH3cEjj0st2O2XxTAMJA_bGOtPU_EUTNQxdHuttqlw5IhsUNpaZzcXd/s3302/PXL_20240312_043925653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="3302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVDEaAwM8Ju_vboT4El1zO2c3pBQ8_wXvJ_Mg8k-BwA093KvYSunxA5escI0VGn5KdQLu-KVA5rkpzoV92NN-fXX5QWD-elKPYQkjOUDNUv19d1X_VyZXs0zYHuGgS8ixubFm-lH3cEjj0st2O2XxTAMJA_bGOtPU_EUTNQxdHuttqlw5IhsUNpaZzcXd/s16000/PXL_20240312_043925653.jpg" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Design Commentary</h3><p>I <strike>knocked these out over a weekend</strike> started these back in the middle of January, right on the heels of the howitzer team, and wrapped them up on 12 March. This, combined with schedule issues, is why it has been quiet here lately! Originally, I had planned to do only like two or three smaller squads of airborne - rifles and SMGs - plus the flamethrower team. This would have given me a pretty solid baseline to work into my existing British models without putting in a whole ton of work. However, one thing lead to another and before I knew it I had cranked out not only much larger squads than anticipated, but much more beyond.</p><p>Fortunately, a bunch of Rifles and SMG-toting guys (with spare NCOs floating about) unlocks a <i>lot</i> of options, from standard rifle squads to the ferociously-armed 591st Engineers, who are Stubborn Veterans armed with SMGs with the option of a Flamethrower. The Flamethrower and Mortar teams were direct improvements in capability over my Commandos, which had neither built up.</p><p>A Sniper team grew out of me fiddling with the carried sniper arm bit. There's no Airborne Exclusive sniper unit entry so it would just be a normal Sniper team - a bit cheaper to field than the Commando counterpart I already have, and probably run at Veteran when it turns up. It (like the PIAT below) was also a way to explore using kneeling poses I'd probably never have a lot of use for otherwise, while also giving me a slightly cheaper option than the Commando variants I already have.</p><p>As an aside, it is somewhat unfortunate that there are no "Airborne" variants of these team weapons. It's marginal, but there are a few times when Morale checks are taken where it would still be useful, but the closest we get is just running them as Veterans without the associated Stubborn rule.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStAw1MO1d56tPY5eMDoxyQXb2q6oYahyphenhyphen0RXgHg_KRG5MikL5vco24wTBBp4Hc6pZIt5InPQAQxOKPGLuxp2d1rAcT0_TYJNuaF3VXIqcUIAtycMmZDKLZAvQLlPTxWcuq6Qs7WiNnQ8gk1_tktfF9Zpq7IlRcOzaRuqD0AeaCai8JAUK8Bw15KxPvx-Nv/s2054/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2054" data-original-width="1768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStAw1MO1d56tPY5eMDoxyQXb2q6oYahyphenhyphen0RXgHg_KRG5MikL5vco24wTBBp4Hc6pZIt5InPQAQxOKPGLuxp2d1rAcT0_TYJNuaF3VXIqcUIAtycMmZDKLZAvQLlPTxWcuq6Qs7WiNnQ8gk1_tktfF9Zpq7IlRcOzaRuqD0AeaCai8JAUK8Bw15KxPvx-Nv/s320/1.png" width="275" /></a></div>After the above were settled, I figured at this point that I might as well just add an HQ choice and subsequently have what amounts to two separately playable British forces. It's also cheaper than Commando HQ units (even when run Veteran) because there are no special rules for Airborne Lieutenants. For this HQ choice I figured why not go the whole way and provide the Officer with some companions, giving him the full 3-man compliment plus one extra to serve as an Intelligence Officer if desired. These are kept distinct from all the rest by a variety of modeling choices - SMGs but a standing pose, off-hands carrying something other than their weapon, pistols (which I guess R.A.W. could actually be used if desired), and pouches not used on anyone else. No E-Tools though - these are proper lads who don't soil their hands like that.<p></p><p>Speaking of pouches and such, like the Commandos and SAS I decided to keep equipment extras simplified to ease painting - no extra bandoliers or backpacks. Frankly, at this scale and style it just makes them seem cluttered, and I consider the HQ squad to be really pushing it. The E-Tool/Canteen combo were separate pieces on these guys, and unlike the totally stripped-down SAS I decided to include them. It gives a little visual continuity with the Commandos (where it's modeled into the body) and also highlights them as a more sustained combat unit. Or something like that.</p><p>Disregarded from the box is the Paratrooper light mortar, which is a weapon type with little use and there being no Paratrooper variant of anyway (it makes more sense to pick the Commando variant if I really want a light mortar). The 6-pounder - a Medium AT gun - was also left in the box for now since I've already got the British Light Howitzer and it is a far better general-purpose weapon. Lastly, the MMG team sits unused as the MMG is a poor unit overall and I simply don't have any use for them until things improve. Similarly, no BREN LMGs were assembled out of the plastic infantry pieces, as they are similarly less than ideal choices most of the time.</p><p>Painting follows the scheme established already in the SAS and Howitzer - my attempt at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denison_smock" target="_blank">Denison Smock</a> patterns seems to have not been too horrible on those, so I used the same approach here...and that is a lot of camo! I will also say that the quality of sculpting on the Airborne faces is leaps and bounds better than what we see on the Commandos, too.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Next Steps</h3><p>By and large I think this is just about it for my British infantry. I'll probably squeeze in one or two more Commando squads eventually - SMG squad is probable, maybe another rifle, mostly to help the Commando segment stand up on its own better - and perhaps another SAS team, but other than <i>maybe </i>some one-off special purpose model set (backpack guy for a Demolitions team or something, or that Commando LMG team that the FAQ added back in February 2024). Perhaps another flamethrower to run a second. I'm not really sure I have much need for more boots at this stage, though. This may change a bit if I'm ever involved in theater selector campaigns or tournaments, but that's hard to predict. Actual play may reveal the way!</p><p>I suspect most future expansion is focused on vehicles - mostly transports, which I'm already working on. I might pick up an M22 Locust as a nice-to-have complement to the Tetrarch, but it is low priority overall. What this force really needs is mobility, though - it's all leg infantry. Thematically I'm kind of limited - pretty much the only transports that dropped into Europe were jeeps, motorcycles, and Universal Carriers. Fortunately jeeps and UCs are good in Bolt Action, UCs specifically are quite interesting to me - though the Warlord kit is going to need work to become a proper glider-modified carrier! </p><p>Several other elements of the Universal Carrier family are also in scope - the "Recce" carrier occupying the Armored Car slot with two MMGs and some useful mobility advantages, and the 3" mortar carrier which occupies the tank slot. All of these are pretty good, and I'll probably end up with a number of them at some point.</p><p>The downside to the Universal Carrier and the Jeep is small transport capacity - only five and three. Five SAS or a 5-man Engineer team can cause a lot of damage, but sustainability on the advance is suspect. Fortunately, the British have a number of trucks in their roster that are generic enough that I can meet with some European civilian vehicles - I've picked up a few close-enoughs that should turn up here sometime before the April tournament.</p><p>I also have the Paratrooper Jeep already in my workbench - it'll get built before long and will probably completely replace my (overloaded) SAS jeep, and debut alongside the transports.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><p>Enough of that - Para-stuff is done. On to the next thing...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXa1lpctR6AfoMFi71OQe8Y_vzJrD8NgcS477boD6_T780SEqv5hz4T0QXmzxWEb7Rz8bpqOrivz6a7bxg-gcTChlj8qlVD2yuhoU_uZ8bG4O2DwudE4Kap1XYoKE99NCFMNQicpPux0ToETJgtAknjCe0O9J8fklcOfo5mWthGQQTMAtisfRze_t8jpJy/s3840/PXL_20240312_050415199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXa1lpctR6AfoMFi71OQe8Y_vzJrD8NgcS477boD6_T780SEqv5hz4T0QXmzxWEb7Rz8bpqOrivz6a7bxg-gcTChlj8qlVD2yuhoU_uZ8bG4O2DwudE4Kap1XYoKE99NCFMNQicpPux0ToETJgtAknjCe0O9J8fklcOfo5mWthGQQTMAtisfRze_t8jpJy/s16000/PXL_20240312_050415199.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-3434768213961194662024-03-06T00:01:00.008-05:002024-03-06T09:08:36.765-05:00Farewell to High Tide Games<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq2dKgaqS5egiU46XM5aJQAwqPWXsTRvk1Kver_E4Ob4GS_kK-nmdDNBicg-fLGqm88dk608uQs0CKpRGiMQPAYQjMJkuFJVTey_RxzNMrwVJGgzLhyvkLhwY3I45WPdPj6kKuBKpsFOojaV2q4AxFgaN_V7oqSr3IGC744_vZsdPJnv1EtQHQO8l9VW-d" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="758" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq2dKgaqS5egiU46XM5aJQAwqPWXsTRvk1Kver_E4Ob4GS_kK-nmdDNBicg-fLGqm88dk608uQs0CKpRGiMQPAYQjMJkuFJVTey_RxzNMrwVJGgzLhyvkLhwY3I45WPdPj6kKuBKpsFOojaV2q4AxFgaN_V7oqSr3IGC744_vZsdPJnv1EtQHQO8l9VW-d=s16000" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/HighTideGames/" target="_blank">High Tide Games</a> - my Local Game Store and host of most Bolt Action (and all games of Infinity) I've played - will officially close on 9 March, 2024.<div><br /></div><div><h1 style="text-align: left;">End of an Era</h1><div>The place had a pretty good run, all things considered - it opened up on 2 March 2013, and so just barely made by the 11 year mark. In this time it outlasted a few competitors - the already-established <a href="https://www.facebook.com/biglarryseatery" target="_blank">Big Larry's Comic Book Cafe</a> in Leonardtown, and later the short-lived Helix Games in Hollywood. It ran parallel with the relatively wide-ranging Third Eye Comics, which itself <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thirdeyestmarys" target="_blank">opened a local spot in 2013</a>, though the latter never gained any gaming space even after their move to a larger storefront. I will say it outlasted my expectations as well - at the time, I think I gave High Tide about two years.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Something about Journeys and Single Steps</h2><div>High Tides was originally located <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B017'12.3%22N+76%C2%B029'06.9%22W/@38.2870832,-76.4861037,351m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d38.286743!4d-76.485238?entry=ttu" target="_blank">in a small unit in San Souci plaza</a>, tucked behind what was a Chinese restaurant and at the time a Subway, then a Jamaican place.</div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't really frequent this location all that often. At that time, I was usually running GURPS games at a player's house, and was mostly too busy getting a career off the ground to come by very often or to commit to any groups or events - didn't really have much money at the time, either. When I did attend, though, it was good times.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrY3X3w-nuvgQwPoF_gOX4nGdPAv9gVLikj1wqlgQjXkwMZlbTHWwr_jgGlUFmg2Z7exQ4HTgT3rkPeHiMZlCBxyD_VuXABpTEchDLqHkOFTeW1PpW3UUnkdjaBD_wRVrv5xEuod7aqXqnrwTzgUg4e0m5TU5hDqzcO_paD9cLxanOknILKtrMLjo8nrEs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrY3X3w-nuvgQwPoF_gOX4nGdPAv9gVLikj1wqlgQjXkwMZlbTHWwr_jgGlUFmg2Z7exQ4HTgT3rkPeHiMZlCBxyD_VuXABpTEchDLqHkOFTeW1PpW3UUnkdjaBD_wRVrv5xEuod7aqXqnrwTzgUg4e0m5TU5hDqzcO_paD9cLxanOknILKtrMLjo8nrEs=s16000" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgse0yzoVB0-UIWgKwO67BaGoRdBCjEBImOnRFfaJmbDCp2M980VDvLqzVE9462eAffqvrvi85IOtDdIgoouB-j5eCDpX8gQyR7nTKVDLXFiKYuWtu6V1qn-YK-gzbs5_r8wW1c6f3U_gEP_-S5JZLESR8Tw_UEsGUYB0rY8kxvoN0KOleXfyCUQXRFP1sr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgse0yzoVB0-UIWgKwO67BaGoRdBCjEBImOnRFfaJmbDCp2M980VDvLqzVE9462eAffqvrvi85IOtDdIgoouB-j5eCDpX8gQyR7nTKVDLXFiKYuWtu6V1qn-YK-gzbs5_r8wW1c6f3U_gEP_-S5JZLESR8Tw_UEsGUYB0rY8kxvoN0KOleXfyCUQXRFP1sr=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyV46RAd1v4roEQkHinumzUI8Qi0tkNcmm4dFmcu6aIWeAHKna91PQKOXkHGBzY9_rHPDAdiUckR99mnFNqohQOMXVB3EGCZM8QM2i1quhb0_Dfdqi4woGTBLl77ig9bmu4W1FQWWfEVDvkDgKafubPIaw7hFsz9VKITUivEclF4yrn1dcFjEgVcSaSH0B" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyV46RAd1v4roEQkHinumzUI8Qi0tkNcmm4dFmcu6aIWeAHKna91PQKOXkHGBzY9_rHPDAdiUckR99mnFNqohQOMXVB3EGCZM8QM2i1quhb0_Dfdqi4woGTBLl77ig9bmu4W1FQWWfEVDvkDgKafubPIaw7hFsz9VKITUivEclF4yrn1dcFjEgVcSaSH0B=s16000" /></a></div></div><br /></div><div>Back then, High Tides was run by a joint team - a financier/owner and what I guess was an events coordinator or "face man" - plus a few employees. Between the two the latter was much more prolific in the early days - I didn't even know he wasn't the owner himself until years later. The shop was a small but lively place, and though I didn't spend much time there in the grand scheme of things I did make use of it - I ran some GURPS games there, and dabbled in a bit of others (including my only campaign of "Star Wars Edge of the Empire"). Product support was pretty light then - just some table top games, card games, and Warhammer stuff - so my purchases were fairly limited in that regard as well. They also had periodic console game tournaments of some description that I was never involved in, but looked to be popular.</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all the location was popular enough that they rather quickly outgrew the space they had, and so moved up in the world a bit not long after they opened.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">A Hop, Skip, and a Jump...</h2><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiBPklLJ2lHr5OIB0Iqwa4jnWJVULlIX7CKV1x0KDQjzaT6lTlPwIjzrvbCcs8HC1SomPYJYPZlECuRrjBSh70hBGZtUoaIO-udJ-VgtIY8i0dg1lvg6x6Eh3vZjcjIntqpBDphmoHA-IESXCq8VCkNKCXOaknN82hL4I8sNBn8bGKGmJ6e5oNMRJCvA63" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="2030" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiBPklLJ2lHr5OIB0Iqwa4jnWJVULlIX7CKV1x0KDQjzaT6lTlPwIjzrvbCcs8HC1SomPYJYPZlECuRrjBSh70hBGZtUoaIO-udJ-VgtIY8i0dg1lvg6x6Eh3vZjcjIntqpBDphmoHA-IESXCq8VCkNKCXOaknN82hL4I8sNBn8bGKGmJ6e5oNMRJCvA63=s16000" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Sometime around July 2014 the shop moved across the plaza to what would become <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bard's+Bistro/@38.2877238,-76.4869013,351m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m12!1m5!3m4!2zMzjCsDE3JzEyLjMiTiA3NsKwMjknMDYuOSJX!8m2!3d38.28675!4d-76.48525!3m5!1s0x89b763e7c00e3ff1:0xb7dfbb140d9dee47!8m2!3d38.288407!4d-76.4868982!16s%2Fg%2F11t2sb39rt?entry=ttu" target="_blank">their final location</a>, located rather close to an <a href="https://www.moore-mays.org/blog/2010/11/15/san-souci-shopping-cemetery/" target="_blank">interesting old cemetery</a>. I helped with a small amount of the remodeling, even. This was a much larger unit, and allowed for a lot more play area. Said area was quickly filled, especially with Magic the Gathering players - a demographic which, based on my brief experience learning how to run a game store some years prior - is essentially a game shop's bread-and-butter. In time it would grow its product support and diversify its community, and branch out into myriad specialty games. Turnout for events - special and weekly - I remember being high and the place definitely did not wane in popularity a bit.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgK9fn8PKTiNsPdxSHmLmNO4CdnkvZ2ZaA1mhdDFue51QMKXjquW0sooBZXLEpUzhohO23rEbF67Atnh_uobcfNmSRWo0kBgl2mzCAJtSZlulpI9wrkcZfKSNfhApTiPsO3ENHEWBsNm7GS6JwYUO9JWZnUqhS6bqYjtU1-OMUaOWsv7bHSU3Ax9VxmqKhv" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgK9fn8PKTiNsPdxSHmLmNO4CdnkvZ2ZaA1mhdDFue51QMKXjquW0sooBZXLEpUzhohO23rEbF67Atnh_uobcfNmSRWo0kBgl2mzCAJtSZlulpI9wrkcZfKSNfhApTiPsO3ENHEWBsNm7GS6JwYUO9JWZnUqhS6bqYjtU1-OMUaOWsv7bHSU3Ax9VxmqKhv=s16000" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I was again a rare bird at the place, busy with a life that never seemed to give me a moment and lacking the connections to motivate me - I basically only dropped by every now and again to pick up some supplies for projects I messed around with at the time, or for things to gift other people. Other than an abortive attempt to get back into Magic around the Khans of Tarkir release in summer 2014 or the Warhammer 40k 8th Edition around August 2017, there wasn't really any motivation to visit the place often, however, even when my schedule started to open up more again.</div><div><br /></div><div>What gaming I did get in those days was actually well up the road with <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2018/03/and-i-feel-fine-commentary-on-tnt.html" target="_blank">an established group running games of This is Not a Test</a> - a group that itself I couldn't make regularly, and which eventually faded away towards the beginning of 2020. Ironically, I was actually introduced to that game <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2016/03/its-end-of-world-as-we-know-it.html" target="_blank">at High Tides</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Somewhere in those years the former "face man" left the business, I guess to pursue his own goals. In my experience his absence did show, especially over on their social media account, though I don't know how it impacted the regular scene. Console game tournaments seem to have gone with him, too, so I assume that was entirely his thing.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrmGX9-oVmFljnWtwXsvKx3O1JzEXMOns0hSel6OA6Sm5qsYlRhUKjyX9TJRAaljt8FR974py2N2oMmd6B2Ak4i4kRr4e4qYcsx2jO46Q1WYjFut_oCN75I7FJ6ZG-hVz40A9I5nYGd_oD7HoXuII5JpcJDQbP-ETmQPQ3dEKp8qEgm3ENDCgkcWeqO_rC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="1511" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrmGX9-oVmFljnWtwXsvKx3O1JzEXMOns0hSel6OA6Sm5qsYlRhUKjyX9TJRAaljt8FR974py2N2oMmd6B2Ak4i4kRr4e4qYcsx2jO46Q1WYjFut_oCN75I7FJ6ZG-hVz40A9I5nYGd_oD7HoXuII5JpcJDQbP-ETmQPQ3dEKp8qEgm3ENDCgkcWeqO_rC=s16000" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">You All Meet at an Inn...</h2><div>I'd start frequenting the place more often from 2021 on, as I started buying more wargaming stuff and my general availability to do things improved. During this time, I unsuccessfully tried to (re)cultivate a local This is Not a Test scene, did successfully kick start the local Bolt Action scene, and briefly fell in with the local Infinity crew. The place had renovated a bit and even began to add an attached restaurant - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BardsBistro" target="_blank">Bard's Bistro</a>, which opened on 20 May 2022. This was to be a D&D-themed restaurant that was largely based around a relatively small menu of (some) fairly creatively named items. Essentially bar food - and indeed they even got a license to serve alcohol there, as one must expect at an inn. I never partook in the latter but the selection appeared to be decent.</div><div><br /></div><div>While I can't speak about most of the menu myself - a lot of it was off limits to me personally - a lot of it was too greasy for me to eat while I'm touching models I put way too much time into. When I did eat there, though, the food I got was generally good, and I did rather like their waffle fries and various milkshakes (lavender honey pear was the clear winner of the lot). Their oatmeal-raisin cookies were also fantastic.</div><div><br /></div><div>I once again figured that operation (which took over a year from the sign going up to being opened to the public) would last about two years but I was ready to be surprised - after all the game shop had lasted this long in spite of varying challenges and seemed to mostly be doing well. Something similar was done with Big Larry's pretty much out of the gate, and it proved to be an effective model - it provided a consumable (and at times high margin) to a regular and otherwise occupied clientele while also offering some means of revenue off people who were otherwise uninterested in the main product. It was able to do this right up until it closed shortly after <a href="https://www.facebook.com/biglarryseatery/posts/2836623539691414/" target="_blank">the owner's death in 2019</a>, so the model had some legs behind it. </div><div><br /></div><div>While the shopping center in question had its ups-and-downs like any other generic exurban strip mall, the general area continued to grow due to the influence of the local military base that drove the whole local economy. Things were, all considered, looking alright.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVegqLzQ0m61cmHzlpsGts13d1VY3yDd6KEosV4Z4eLN4T8ArPl3jMJ2UVh31qRKxEPa0Bn8uAFp8BOnmj4hRi5rRImSxk_g_FbyeHIaQsC98guzP0sfgsL3MO2ORCNyzCW0HuMiH7YqZGzpz1qH9Lr-aKhFU_IwbU9ru565h8qGdst1asXandepevf2kf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVegqLzQ0m61cmHzlpsGts13d1VY3yDd6KEosV4Z4eLN4T8ArPl3jMJ2UVh31qRKxEPa0Bn8uAFp8BOnmj4hRi5rRImSxk_g_FbyeHIaQsC98guzP0sfgsL3MO2ORCNyzCW0HuMiH7YqZGzpz1qH9Lr-aKhFU_IwbU9ru565h8qGdst1asXandepevf2kf=s16000" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWOWRDtVg9Lvp0TKULadx_8GYh-oj-A-TPFozrpAMwEDfx3sGZMlAYtgLCzv6kvh7sk18xFhrjbDWjU0du5Vt7B6R8w0zPk2ryr5dR00yKUq7FFlZOoAYXfd6vTflin3Hi8O0tqH882lWSbykyTWTufy3p-j538diFBWtMc17HXaRlXBdekLMtEZ9dEihJ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWOWRDtVg9Lvp0TKULadx_8GYh-oj-A-TPFozrpAMwEDfx3sGZMlAYtgLCzv6kvh7sk18xFhrjbDWjU0du5Vt7B6R8w0zPk2ryr5dR00yKUq7FFlZOoAYXfd6vTflin3Hi8O0tqH882lWSbykyTWTufy3p-j538diFBWtMc17HXaRlXBdekLMtEZ9dEihJ=s16000" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi99z9xk2lF8ED1N-kxVdRuxV4jTtDI_hnBJKL-tCGi1MbhHrKgRcphwBT2jP5Ow8nqnGRdMcTk8Aul2yzeJvUdTwjSeg11-U8F7VnDjYY8prm-SYq0jzRvW4AQzxaMvDa_wsT6F8_4KIrdBgVdXHACDidk1Kr-2tkpnVnR7x8zEmbDO8hN5AQWwyXfuRh-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1751" data-original-width="1401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi99z9xk2lF8ED1N-kxVdRuxV4jTtDI_hnBJKL-tCGi1MbhHrKgRcphwBT2jP5Ow8nqnGRdMcTk8Aul2yzeJvUdTwjSeg11-U8F7VnDjYY8prm-SYq0jzRvW4AQzxaMvDa_wsT6F8_4KIrdBgVdXHACDidk1Kr-2tkpnVnR7x8zEmbDO8hN5AQWwyXfuRh-=s16000" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">An Albatross Wraps Around Your Neck...What Do You Do?</h2><div>While at first the game shop continued to be reasonably well stocked and staffed (long-running lack of Vallejo products aside), before long things began visibly not keep up. It wasn't long before the models in stock I and my compatriots wanted ran out, and we noticed that timelines for special orders were stretching into indefinite - not the lest bit helped by their supplier being often quite lean on variety themselves. Without local support, our respective gaming camps turned to ordering things online instead (which for the Infinity group alone I know amounted to over $1,000 a month between us). Staff started to come and go and overall numbers dropped.</div><div><br /></div><div>By summer 2023 a lot of product across the spectrum was gone and not replaced - all the non-GW miniatures stuff even entered a steep discount, which is how I picked up a lot of British Paratroopers you'll see turn up here later. By early November what product remained had been concentrated into the former Bistro seating section while what used to be the shop itself became a joint Bistro seating and play space area.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ1q0xVwzH1ZZbMSjfzK5QFqZL1xhCeia4EhOQue2-zXTwElt_MN5lVyYjueh_kjR_tyq6y5LcCh0xJpcMD_ydGa9erQcIw9E-zqOF9VddNEg9mEjR6WNhAeZKqu9xKC00cWbxqxLmwfgmPk5LudEt8_pa2EY7bACNyp5M0Ht9pLkK9wVu2ty9OAHJC19N" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1711" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ1q0xVwzH1ZZbMSjfzK5QFqZL1xhCeia4EhOQue2-zXTwElt_MN5lVyYjueh_kjR_tyq6y5LcCh0xJpcMD_ydGa9erQcIw9E-zqOF9VddNEg9mEjR6WNhAeZKqu9xKC00cWbxqxLmwfgmPk5LudEt8_pa2EY7bACNyp5M0Ht9pLkK9wVu2ty9OAHJC19N=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihaeCUUUen2zKzeRlWaoner0mMVDTnFc8IKGei8lUWxfY8NRf6TkTxzaOns-TsO1lsBIsKd2j5nI756hvO1CA0gnyELYcDPZKkHW6HcddF25DJFvwnmQJzjm4Q2YepnbKQgWyn7-AAFxsCjRBRpl2SkbuSW91BxWIDR985JLDKK9ztNljr71uFeCmq6l9G" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihaeCUUUen2zKzeRlWaoner0mMVDTnFc8IKGei8lUWxfY8NRf6TkTxzaOns-TsO1lsBIsKd2j5nI756hvO1CA0gnyELYcDPZKkHW6HcddF25DJFvwnmQJzjm4Q2YepnbKQgWyn7-AAFxsCjRBRpl2SkbuSW91BxWIDR985JLDKK9ztNljr71uFeCmq6l9G=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /></div></div><div>I had thought that maybe the restaurant was actually doing so well as to really require the extra seating - I rarely ate there personally, but on any given night the place was basically farming the gamers for money. I had some hope that they were going to better focus on fundamental hobby support going forward, as the owner had made some comments about restocking. The store's website even added support for reserving tables to game on in advance, shaking off the old day of the week system - an actual improvement for us Bolt Action players who found regular meets to be an issue for a while now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not long after this rearrangement, the owner indicated a desire to sell the whole setup to someone with experience in business management.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>In speaking with one of their longer-term employees, someone who had actually actually worked at Larry's years ago - they mentioned that the situation was not looking great. Evidently, Bard's Bistro and High Tide Games were being operated as a single company, and the company had taken on considerable debt to get the Bistro off the ground. This appears to mean they had to share cash flow, and the Bistro was evidently consuming the bulk of it. Why the two weren't run separate for risk mitigation is beyond me - restaurants have a pretty well known (if sometimes exaggerated) failure rate.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, no buyer was found.</div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Reflections</h2><div>Though I lived in the area just prior to their opening and am still in the area as they close, I can't really consider myself a long-timer or even a regular. My schedule and needs for a place like that just didn't really align until shortly before the end, unfortunately. If I needed supplies, I often found myself going up the road to a number of shops that had wider selections, or turning to the Internet. Gaming space wasn't really a concern of mine until basically the end of 2022, so I got maybe a year and a half out of it, all things considered. More to it, I probably visited more times in that year and a half than I did in the decade prior, or dang near equal at best.</div><div><br /></div><div>In a lot of ways, it's just another thing that just sort of slipped by.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJUbUoWHis9UrW2JmeHei6r7IVVxaIkHpTNjRvi914iZfSei8_0jyUr_tzzzy5e0Ob0n764dx2LvGC6LrRO2ElKS1FxstLw1Oi3IOgtprrhsa3gpeAGm3qAuKmEMe_ITSuaHLsqU_yYv5sfxRZnCRDEWJ-9hhI0nm8mm5KyShjI-YqxxCc1pZ8jshwN1Dx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJUbUoWHis9UrW2JmeHei6r7IVVxaIkHpTNjRvi914iZfSei8_0jyUr_tzzzy5e0Ob0n764dx2LvGC6LrRO2ElKS1FxstLw1Oi3IOgtprrhsa3gpeAGm3qAuKmEMe_ITSuaHLsqU_yYv5sfxRZnCRDEWJ-9hhI0nm8mm5KyShjI-YqxxCc1pZ8jshwN1Dx=s16000" /></a></div><br /></div><div>That said, it is a loss to the table top gaming community, as there are now no longer any dedicated places in the area for it. Some local product support can be found at Third Eye Comics, but the whole chain seems to have divested itself of any play space as even what the Annapolis location had is gone (and I can't speak to College Park). For actual floor space for games, one has to make the journey up to the new <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gamesandstuff" target="_blank">Games and Stuff</a> location further north in Glen Burnie. Speaking of, while their <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Games+and+Stuff/@39.1512935,-76.6179486,603m/data=!3m2!1e3!5s0x89b7fd2f3198671d:0xa8cd7899e6787857!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x89b7fcd8da1c7ae7:0xdfadf30f5557538f!2sGames+and+Stuff!8m2!3d39.1510749!4d-76.6155394!16s%2Fg%2F12cpjy03c!3m5!1s0x89b7fcd8da1c7ae7:0xdfadf30f5557538f!8m2!3d39.1510749!4d-76.6155394!16s%2Fg%2F12cpjy03c?entry=ttu" target="_blank">new location</a> is nice, I really miss when it was located at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/America's+Best+Wings/@39.1728438,-76.6318805,233m/data=!3m2!1e3!5s0x89b7fd2f3198671d:0xa8cd7899e6787857!4m9!1m2!2m1!1sCromwell+Station!3m5!1s0x89b7fdc5ed072e4d:0x6d12c23f410536d2!8m2!3d39.1733069!4d-76.6313385!16s%2Fg%2F11hdd3691c?entry=ttu" target="_blank">Cromwell station</a>. More on that another time, and I hope that the knock-on effects of moving such a large store don't eventually put them under.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is probably most unfortunate for the Magic the Gathering players - a group I haven't been too hooked into since about 2010 or so if ever to be honest - as the weekly Draft was a big part of the culture and now there is nothing in the area to host any of the major events anymore. To my understanding, anyone wanting to do their tournament circuit actually has to do it out of a certain tier of partnering store - but maybe that's changed in the last decade or so.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Onwards</h2><div>This isn't my first "Death of a Game Store". I was around this area when Bowes Books faded away and became a long-suffering, fly-by-night basement operation held together by a couple of locals who had been going there since at least the 1980s before eventually fading away. That was my first "LGS" experience, short as it was I guess. The beforementioned Big Larry's was also a place I went from time to time in years past. In a round-about way, the closure of the famous e-retailer/brick-and-mortar "TheWarStore" was a similar event from an internet perspective, though that was inherited by his wholly un-interested children much the same way Bowes Books seems to have gone. I guess it never occurred to me to comment on any of those before.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for the Helix Games I mentioned above, that was here and gone in a flash and I never even got a chance to check it out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Small business is a tough gig, especially in retail - doubly so in specialty retail like we have with game shops. It doesn't take a leap of the imagination to see how, though I have more insight than some - there was a brief period of time in 2010 where I worked at Big Larry's specifically to learn the ropes in the hopes of opening my own place some day.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpMF-qZXIwq1G3Y7UubrUdPP7ZQhjUNoEr32YYAXyF_NbqKNWjAZnbxxvkqRzFL_Zdm37-Fns9GYR4urSSsUqeV6MaRKySMG8sJ8DPUGKg1Jo8zVy-knDEVHheeHgamMsZST9nu1hY8mlIGerEhK0cPprbcQUdoohqjJ_8nisoUmhn0N03XmVP2RTU2ufC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="1204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpMF-qZXIwq1G3Y7UubrUdPP7ZQhjUNoEr32YYAXyF_NbqKNWjAZnbxxvkqRzFL_Zdm37-Fns9GYR4urSSsUqeV6MaRKySMG8sJ8DPUGKg1Jo8zVy-knDEVHheeHgamMsZST9nu1hY8mlIGerEhK0cPprbcQUdoohqjJ_8nisoUmhn0N03XmVP2RTU2ufC=s16000" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The lesson the owner taught me was "don't". That was probably some of the best advice I was ever given if I'm honest.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Bravo to the High Tide team for holding it together as long as they did.</div><div><br /></div><div>So what now? </div><div><br /></div><div>Impact for me is isn't enormous - while I am still involved with the local Bolt Action scene, we've had a backup location for a while. Unfortunately it is by reservation only and often pretty well occupied so opportunity to use the space is fleeting (and realistically limited to Saturday alone). An alternative is being explored for weekday gaming, but it's slim pickings in a place like this. Games and Stuff's old location had a few Bolt Action players willing to play there - <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2022/08/bolt-action-first-experience.html" target="_blank">indeed I've done that myself</a> - and the product support expansion I've seen at the new store leads me to believe this continues but I do not know for sure. Unfortunately, that's a two hour drive, one way, and I don't have a regular connect there personally. Titan Games - where I do tournament games - definitely has a large and active group that I am in contact with, but is <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Titan+Games+%26+Hobbies/@39.4310879,-76.6302163,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x7a36ee41d9207781?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi8z6P8x92EAxXCFmIAHb7aBL8Q_BJ6BAhWEAA" target="_blank">even further</a>. Neither are exactly places I can do a weekday at with any kind of regularity.</div><div><br /></div><div>This definitely means I will be playing much less Bolt Action, which is a bummer since I have a tournament coming up in April and I do like the game rather generally. Infinity is also completely out - I don't even know if they've got a backup location themselves, and I haven't really kept up with them since the <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/infinity-league-review.html" target="_blank">Grow League thing</a> ended. I also don't really have a great place to photograph some larger terrain projects that have been kicking around my desk for a while now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Certainly this isn't a hobby killer, but it will probably compound my already slow start to table top gaming this year. I hadn't played since <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2024/01/after-action-report-4-january-2024-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">early January</a>, and definitely didn't think it would have been my last. I will keep playing and posting here, but there definitely wont be much regularity to it. Even without a regular gaming group in the area I'd keep on building out the stuff that interests me anyway, as that is what I'd been doing before. I had <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2021/11/avanti-savoia.html" target="_blank">a full army of Italians</a> and (then some) before I even knew a single local player, after all. This means content will probably shift back more towards theoreticals and painting showcases while quantity lapses for a while. Not a big deal - as I said in <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2024/01/chain-link-and-concrete-2023-in-review.html" target="_blank">the 2023 review</a>, it's going to be a relatively light year, we're just getting a head start on it I guess!</div><div><br /></div><div>I do know there's now one less point of connection between me and this local area, that is for sure. More on that later...</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>Things come and go. That is life. We can only adapt to the times and make the best of what's before us. I hope everyone who was there at the end makes a soft landing in some new venture! I'm curious now to see how the environment reacts to this vacuum - will Third Eye move in on the territory and gain gaming space? Will someone in the area try and break into the market themselves? Time will tell, and the clock is always ticking. For those with a LGS of their own, appreciate what you've got, it could be gone all too soon!</div></div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-89806126088763485522024-01-22T00:01:00.009-05:002024-01-25T12:52:45.135-05:00I Like My Howitzers R.A.W.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjIAHtisSrBs5la4PWOemRrnnBcuOxX-goAzg30kcOvn6oDXoFZTLGZsKY66a2zjhszPf7Jc7GWcvm_QtTYRcF7LeILZxBaTJic24ABO9a0fN89-YJWE1nOQ9hm5D-PxKecMREamunBfrGhWRh4UNyC5BIT_NxFHKhgbJLqfgvbtlywXrJCX7AlEX5F6f/s1658/PXL_20240117_235635441.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjIAHtisSrBs5la4PWOemRrnnBcuOxX-goAzg30kcOvn6oDXoFZTLGZsKY66a2zjhszPf7Jc7GWcvm_QtTYRcF7LeILZxBaTJic24ABO9a0fN89-YJWE1nOQ9hm5D-PxKecMREamunBfrGhWRh4UNyC5BIT_NxFHKhgbJLqfgvbtlywXrJCX7AlEX5F6f/s16000/PXL_20240117_235635441.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Alright, I started my British collection for Bolt Action <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/going-commando-my-new-army-for-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">with some Commandos and such</a>, and had plans to expand it with a bunch of Airborne/Airlanding stuff. While I have this large starter box of Airborne, I wanted to get a little more test and evaluation on camo patterns before I tried to go "all in" with it. This first had me doing up <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2024/01/who-dares-wins.html" target="_blank">a set of SAS</a>, followed up on with by this light howitzer.<h1 style="text-align: left;">As it is Written, So Shall it be Done!</h1><div>The British used the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M116_howitzer" target="_blank">US M1 75mm "Pack" howitzer</a> to support airborne and Airlanding forces. It fits in the back of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airspeed_Horsa" target="_blank">Horsa Glider</a>, and apparently was later rigged up to directly air-drop from a plane. Since I don't currently have anything at hand that takes the Artillery slot and this fits my theme, I figured I'd pick it up and make it the follow-up to the SAS I'd just finished (indeed it was to be simultaneous, but a mispack shorted me a barrel so I had to wait on a replacement).</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">This 75mm Howitzer in Bolt Action</h2><div>There are no specific rules for this stripped-down airborne piece - it is instead, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/boltaction/comments/14mgvba/comment/jq4a1yd/?context=3" target="_blank">according to Warlord, just a regular British light howitzer</a>. This isn't surprising since every ~75mm howitzer is a light piece (such as <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2022/09/italian-army-update.html" target="_blank">the one I did for Italy a while back</a>). However, the British generic "Light Howitzer" - an 87.6mm "25 Pounder" - does stand above others in that it has an AT-shell option, essentially allowing it to fire as either a light howitzer with a 2" HE blast effect or a light AT gun with a +4 penetration. This is sort of a half-step approach to the "Versatile" rule, where an AT gun or Howitzer can fire as its opposite but one step lower (i.e. a Medium AT Gun becoming a Light Howitzer). This makes it 5 points more expensive than typical at Regular (making this a 66-point Veteran unit), but it's well worth it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Curiously, and in spite of the model, this unit also has the gun shield baked into the cost - without the option to downgrade - so Rules as Written this gun has it too. No backsies! (Not like they're putting out updated FAQs anymore anyway...)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Update 25 Jan:</b> Turns out there are some entries for the M1A1 - lacking the gun shield and AT shell - in some of the Airborne theater selectors. Why those aren't currently allowed in Generic Reinforced Platoons is beyond me, though.</div><div><br /></div><div>A spotter is an option, but I decided not to make one this go around - one's not included in the box and I don't anticipate using it anyway. Instead, I plan to run this as Veteran all the time, which compounds with the phantom gun shield to make it a 6+ wound for quite the majority of things on the battlefield. If I plonk it in hard cover, my opponent will be hard pressed to do anything about it. Plus, firing a 2" blast over open sights is just great.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Gallery</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv65Yr9l3GhZMViKylk-fIB12TRd-Lf5DEWR2emj9S4X-8ByL1lhgDj9EgnF1kBeN5fNsTI5Cftgb7UPUJY1B5PyiZyiLbFPTdD_aLChmwFKKJ0UrFSwZBi3GLdgGT2K0wm1XpF72Fv3q1m_L69vHiqYly9JNhjimvO7KX_tNihDftoos3Eo7B2S31fZJ/s3006/PXL_20240117_235503069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="3006" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv65Yr9l3GhZMViKylk-fIB12TRd-Lf5DEWR2emj9S4X-8ByL1lhgDj9EgnF1kBeN5fNsTI5Cftgb7UPUJY1B5PyiZyiLbFPTdD_aLChmwFKKJ0UrFSwZBi3GLdgGT2K0wm1XpF72Fv3q1m_L69vHiqYly9JNhjimvO7KX_tNihDftoos3Eo7B2S31fZJ/s16000/PXL_20240117_235503069.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtaYbGPRJfLYD0iitgE_l0JbDAdQeF97NWcQ-OsflprUbroMTgWML7blR6SF87JZ21e7CoHguo9BXJbSXX0szBwAD98JJcOElBS91iAsnt2X1YdXNsUxaqx6jcc_ZD1O4VMCb81XmRB63rjFiX13jOJve2yf3Wx9Wlg1Oi5v6Uje4sATKzlI4RuRZQBJh/s3655/PXL_20240117_235529136.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="3655" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtaYbGPRJfLYD0iitgE_l0JbDAdQeF97NWcQ-OsflprUbroMTgWML7blR6SF87JZ21e7CoHguo9BXJbSXX0szBwAD98JJcOElBS91iAsnt2X1YdXNsUxaqx6jcc_ZD1O4VMCb81XmRB63rjFiX13jOJve2yf3Wx9Wlg1Oi5v6Uje4sATKzlI4RuRZQBJh/s16000/PXL_20240117_235529136.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY20ZLWgXldOYpzHBTQ4qBuBJptxi67BwqXA4oTvtvf37MepNB3ZYDNBHEagANe8UYqqgvB5gwVdTaGe8Ws_v93jtZ6tXqa5z1j3Kq_lV7dm_DKRsYh4RwAZxlC8u41K-CJzuiKnOCDOHs9DOHSNw13Pzt_QWgGXcVwHTbbDC5fbrFhgeU5sVH0lH_MyX/s2893/PXL_20240117_235549859.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="2893" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY20ZLWgXldOYpzHBTQ4qBuBJptxi67BwqXA4oTvtvf37MepNB3ZYDNBHEagANe8UYqqgvB5gwVdTaGe8Ws_v93jtZ6tXqa5z1j3Kq_lV7dm_DKRsYh4RwAZxlC8u41K-CJzuiKnOCDOHs9DOHSNw13Pzt_QWgGXcVwHTbbDC5fbrFhgeU5sVH0lH_MyX/s16000/PXL_20240117_235549859.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JufYHO9-N8c-gj0fKHxl7ksI9DwR_lkRsDq6a3X7neZrNgV8ndJNDD5Zt15RauMh2JciZ2ApXoWzL_x0wbChbkvwWrSup3dytX8gRB3H9Hkq43hph5Q9hLnT1WNUcJiKVnvrG6GpbauojxdjK6nVvL8FpVVdByFegKDf19IICzXrtvvWbaACo6ADuRa9/s3621/PXL_20240117_235609153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="3621" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JufYHO9-N8c-gj0fKHxl7ksI9DwR_lkRsDq6a3X7neZrNgV8ndJNDD5Zt15RauMh2JciZ2ApXoWzL_x0wbChbkvwWrSup3dytX8gRB3H9Hkq43hph5Q9hLnT1WNUcJiKVnvrG6GpbauojxdjK6nVvL8FpVVdByFegKDf19IICzXrtvvWbaACo6ADuRa9/s16000/PXL_20240117_235609153.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApbGF7tio99jWjPEyUQjMxvz1gwBDBRZPfAqP6FGhJX9Hexzk2drFdw1K8mwZkgQirKAaoY6cXb0EGRJY-dSt8nC2UEa8yF-1-PjJb95Lh9hriowaNV08lmWZ6pIOcZRs7mHjUvlpOk7c6XFeopGzyPv6mr5MH8hQogcKkFf8yMijCxiD5sKNLi8kmUMu/s1801/PXL_20240117_235648409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1801" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApbGF7tio99jWjPEyUQjMxvz1gwBDBRZPfAqP6FGhJX9Hexzk2drFdw1K8mwZkgQirKAaoY6cXb0EGRJY-dSt8nC2UEa8yF-1-PjJb95Lh9hriowaNV08lmWZ6pIOcZRs7mHjUvlpOk7c6XFeopGzyPv6mr5MH8hQogcKkFf8yMijCxiD5sKNLi8kmUMu/s16000/PXL_20240117_235648409.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKjquaXMYySg7aRcHDh_pijXq73Fhd6eUEKUEULMPJGZjwc6ty_PicniGcH8J7Kzf_sAiUXErmgJw0et2u3pluykuZMPoS7ctz0_Lnkzs36Ztoqx5x0Q_urVq64EAsT9YTGP3z28U8p_BIxbJ_8Y9b8xoq11AoJmFGEC-F5J7Idyzag_4Z4sl9cEDhIH_/s1990/PXL_20240117_235720644.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1723" data-original-width="1990" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKjquaXMYySg7aRcHDh_pijXq73Fhd6eUEKUEULMPJGZjwc6ty_PicniGcH8J7Kzf_sAiUXErmgJw0et2u3pluykuZMPoS7ctz0_Lnkzs36Ztoqx5x0Q_urVq64EAsT9YTGP3z28U8p_BIxbJ_8Y9b8xoq11AoJmFGEC-F5J7Idyzag_4Z4sl9cEDhIH_/s16000/PXL_20240117_235720644.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Design Discussion</h2><div>Not a lot to talk about in a mono-pose metal kit but as you an see this follows more or less the same pattern seen before on the SAS. Difference here is that as Airborne, the regular crewmen just wear the airborne helmets. The latter are a little hard to make look OK since the camo strips get in the way of the mesh in a lot of places, making it difficult to highlight as well as I'd like. On the plus side, this did give me an opportunity to trial out a proper airborne unit!</div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>I see myself using this in most lists because it has a lot going for it - and a force with my theme could use the versatility. The British also air-deployed a 6-pounder (57mm) AT gun which Bolt Action treats as a typical Medium AT gun, but it is less useful overall than this piece. I have one that came in the Airborne starter box, but I am not giving it the highest priority.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of which, as of time of writing I have already decided to crack open said Airborne starter box and am working on some of it now. Having enough experience in Bolt Action to know what I want to build towards, I've decided against just building the suggested basic list and instead have started to knock together things that fit the plans I have in mind. It'll be a relatively large effort, so it may be some time before they turn up here on the blog, but turn up they will none the less.</div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-58417319187036354002024-01-19T00:01:00.008-05:002024-01-19T11:19:56.427-05:00A Recent Wreck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JuFDCfzVFS6bL5zrYcMEU9eHAQ-tYQUjY06wl4KlNRLQwqJayJ_VkQpYIkrGaB1ANYLuz93PKHBNjwFcFQc2Z8TYUH03fJY7Tz-fbWSHDHePC5vKjg6GCu9aqxd7srpWIQI3is_OMKSfYVOu8i2tYe1xgd4C-2mNxNPuW92TlHeXdd9uSh-NMORKIbMG/s2271/PXL_20240111_001942265.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="2271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JuFDCfzVFS6bL5zrYcMEU9eHAQ-tYQUjY06wl4KlNRLQwqJayJ_VkQpYIkrGaB1ANYLuz93PKHBNjwFcFQc2Z8TYUH03fJY7Tz-fbWSHDHePC5vKjg6GCu9aqxd7srpWIQI3is_OMKSfYVOu8i2tYe1xgd4C-2mNxNPuW92TlHeXdd9uSh-NMORKIbMG/s16000/PXL_20240111_001942265.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Shortly after I finished up <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/12/regarding-recent-ruins.html" target="_blank">the collection of ruined houses back in December</a>, I ended up with a single boxed set of Warlord's "<a href="https://us.warlordgames.com/products/wrecked-house" target="_blank">Wrecked House</a>". Since the ruins beforementioned played well and were popular, I decided to expedite this one and get it done sooner rather than later.<h1 style="text-align: left;">The C is Silent</h1><div>To make it blend in with my other pieces, I decided to base this one on ABS rather than the street-like platform it came with. A lot of the extra bits were avoided as well - downed poles, sandbags, etc. to maximize playability and minimize ambiguity. I did keep what was left of a second floor, however, just to add a little more rigidity and dimensionality to the piece - the space below scarcely was all that directly playable so it doesn't really get in the way I'd imagine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Coloring was with craft paints, though the exposed block walls were kept with just the grey primer I'd airbrushed on for quickness.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since I still had some of that thinned-out Minwax kicking about, I used that as a shader for continuity's sake. Speaking of continuity, this style of house is far and away more modern than the rest.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall a simple project, done over a few evenings alongside other projects - it'll turn up in future games I'd imagine.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGYVz_iruXz22_TZnmspigC2ccw92DxSP6xypf1QnY0O8VI5I66-lII4Pqga01weGCJk9R3tjLDY2BPbrdV9f0KL5YyH622m_5heORy-TZwKalV1q6pJO8VXbe4rN9HXodn2_6-WjshtHocfhGLOBsDmbjiy84BWWQaVU8KTS8GHQkLAdgVgjw1qWhW7O/s1847/PXL_20240111_001955075.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="1847" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGYVz_iruXz22_TZnmspigC2ccw92DxSP6xypf1QnY0O8VI5I66-lII4Pqga01weGCJk9R3tjLDY2BPbrdV9f0KL5YyH622m_5heORy-TZwKalV1q6pJO8VXbe4rN9HXodn2_6-WjshtHocfhGLOBsDmbjiy84BWWQaVU8KTS8GHQkLAdgVgjw1qWhW7O/s16000/PXL_20240111_001955075.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDg_g0Jkm1N2a7nGvthbEDWCtFN0PiX14fsymA2hKYcPE3KSrxF1BItqe29FvIakG6SyLvuSyGiHCsQxlY9Di9-SVZGLFKXj2xWzq9cOxC11_w43DVEO2w3O4rA6ioeNmiAGiu2mSLhNQleKOM2btGah5Hba62melkYqwiRsKl4nYcoY28X5R5n5eQRbh/s2126/PXL_20240111_002005032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="2126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDg_g0Jkm1N2a7nGvthbEDWCtFN0PiX14fsymA2hKYcPE3KSrxF1BItqe29FvIakG6SyLvuSyGiHCsQxlY9Di9-SVZGLFKXj2xWzq9cOxC11_w43DVEO2w3O4rA6ioeNmiAGiu2mSLhNQleKOM2btGah5Hba62melkYqwiRsKl4nYcoY28X5R5n5eQRbh/s16000/PXL_20240111_002005032.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ylzfkb8mDjXtzZ8rgQHm9wjESm5w18SfMxJvb9jsdCee0xsPgOdFSLdb8L_ZuJwwz8lJsRaa8wSCoHv_xCEhJ35gZc5tcm3Gb0OWJ2iLxfIark2Pa86h6EZmwKyCifHwoLJ2tJCJZ_L-e2ZbySIuaGO7AZi_9iafgJy_LzWaDiX4z4u-FHgpTZN5-LvE/s1824/PXL_20240111_002011944.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="1824" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ylzfkb8mDjXtzZ8rgQHm9wjESm5w18SfMxJvb9jsdCee0xsPgOdFSLdb8L_ZuJwwz8lJsRaa8wSCoHv_xCEhJ35gZc5tcm3Gb0OWJ2iLxfIark2Pa86h6EZmwKyCifHwoLJ2tJCJZ_L-e2ZbySIuaGO7AZi_9iafgJy_LzWaDiX4z4u-FHgpTZN5-LvE/s16000/PXL_20240111_002011944.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjT2LOBhNANwAYoTZo079iz_Tq72JR5gnYz0a_YlkWVC2jTwcA0WegjC32QAjivTc3j52UPdUur0gvFzZjO4hXP4SnmVfN1S7YH-aYudT_pgIXNCbsIHJW73jN3kX7OJIf3ehKMPIwiSjrgoxTK7Ma4_Px5VzmIeQiZDMALxRpNAnRf9wnpa3scxkISxN/s1996/PXL_20240111_002024242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1842" data-original-width="1996" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjT2LOBhNANwAYoTZo079iz_Tq72JR5gnYz0a_YlkWVC2jTwcA0WegjC32QAjivTc3j52UPdUur0gvFzZjO4hXP4SnmVfN1S7YH-aYudT_pgIXNCbsIHJW73jN3kX7OJIf3ehKMPIwiSjrgoxTK7Ma4_Px5VzmIeQiZDMALxRpNAnRf9wnpa3scxkISxN/s16000/PXL_20240111_002024242.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpxnxlnaJJJYMjno_53FntP6ijFvyTt0QlnpnZYTQ9-QUvc5QbIlptfSrp5MQDVNZAuuHR6c1Nvm66Xogl-OQci2ba3gF4KqYl7meW9B0aEJ-Fxg_StWOuluTpO95d18IFDRLR9zpBVeL5BGdQiVTxfc3O3iRcqg7dIkSF9y4IcS1Nll8yeTiONsrilYr/s2212/PXL_20240111_002034577.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1665" data-original-width="2212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpxnxlnaJJJYMjno_53FntP6ijFvyTt0QlnpnZYTQ9-QUvc5QbIlptfSrp5MQDVNZAuuHR6c1Nvm66Xogl-OQci2ba3gF4KqYl7meW9B0aEJ-Fxg_StWOuluTpO95d18IFDRLR9zpBVeL5BGdQiVTxfc3O3iRcqg7dIkSF9y4IcS1Nll8yeTiONsrilYr/s16000/PXL_20240111_002034577.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">This Wreck in Bolt Action</h2><div>As with the ruins, this is Dense, Area terrain that I'm liable to treat as Heavy Cover and Rough Ground. You cannot see through it from the outside, and units can only Advance across it (if their type allows). Units inside shot at do get targeted at -2, however. This is at least how we typically play these sorts of things.</div><div><br /></div><div>Given the style of the building I don't anticipate using it in anything else.</div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>Nice enough kit, but this really shows the relative undersize of 28mm buildings - the stairs are at best half as wide as would feel sensible for a model. Regardless, it'll do for our purposes and will probably be the last fully ruined kit I do for a while - I have other projects waiting in the queue both terrain and otherwise, and I'm starting to swing back towards prioritizing miniatures again.</div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-50791323594991041552024-01-17T00:01:00.005-05:002024-01-17T00:01:00.237-05:00Objectively Speaking...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IuuXEObD1XujJl_7Zs9jOOZH4R9bZGOCStYrTUZOctHRRjtCfnq3eRp2mtfZIcWEpXQAYb456upKJDfGDjrXrHoBaxmUl5HXVf-I0FplWe3Cx1mWa7fYqlDYwoqJOmuXSG2fBP0IUdF-MMVD4HbtTmG6gRet0CaACtqQ9D8xXggPEZppJR5BXVgiYWIz/s2763/PXL_20240111_001541047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="2763" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IuuXEObD1XujJl_7Zs9jOOZH4R9bZGOCStYrTUZOctHRRjtCfnq3eRp2mtfZIcWEpXQAYb456upKJDfGDjrXrHoBaxmUl5HXVf-I0FplWe3Cx1mWa7fYqlDYwoqJOmuXSG2fBP0IUdF-MMVD4HbtTmG6gRet0CaACtqQ9D8xXggPEZppJR5BXVgiYWIz/s16000/PXL_20240111_001541047.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>While pulling together resources to make a bunch of road blocks that I'll post some time in the future, I ended up with <a href="https://us.warlordgames.com/products/bolt-action-battlefield-accessories" target="_blank">a set of Warlord's "Battlefield Accessories"</a>. I did not end up liking the hedgehogs or wire mounts in there a whole lot, but the box did offer up a bunch of signs and do-dads that I <i>could</i> make use of.<h1 style="text-align: left;">Just So</h1><div>A lot of Bolt Action scenarios are Objectives-based - indeed, these seem to be the best regarded as a lot of tournaments use them and most of the third-party scenarios I'm aware of are based around Objectives.</div><div><br /></div><div>Generally speaking, objectives are highlighted with 40mm diameter markers, probably because poker chips exist and are close enough (39mm standard). A little while ago I had a local player filament print up a large number of 40mm circles for use in making said markers, so I decided to put these to work as a time-filler while I waited for other projects to dry or whatnot.</div><div><br /></div><div>For this batch, I basically made use of every sign post (plus the telegraph poles cut down to size), the barrels, and the ammo crates that the kit above had inside it. Slapping these together in various configurations, I gave them a very simple paint job and based them up with some of the leftover AK Interactive "Dark Earth" I have been trying to use up and replace lately. For simplicity's sake, I opted against using any tufting on these.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgExN4tRob-i4q9A4XlRegnLD258l45i-yu-_RcbZHL8oyKi6TWkggH-uVIWiq8oFMnBv_ya9MHG9tD8Ra8ljZCkvqVbhRSixA8Z6yc8XO1Yx2hwlkITap3LNmEwzsLH81NN3Iv3Dr5-hKFmP2C3LJJcm_CFvOCLIxaZLuM7cR542md7rxxLwAinMs9hgK/s3231/PXL_20240111_001609774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1940" data-original-width="3231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgExN4tRob-i4q9A4XlRegnLD258l45i-yu-_RcbZHL8oyKi6TWkggH-uVIWiq8oFMnBv_ya9MHG9tD8Ra8ljZCkvqVbhRSixA8Z6yc8XO1Yx2hwlkITap3LNmEwzsLH81NN3Iv3Dr5-hKFmP2C3LJJcm_CFvOCLIxaZLuM7cR542md7rxxLwAinMs9hgK/s16000/PXL_20240111_001609774.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EbPQgorSWlFgeQtfRLuWSSmIASOTjdaF_nEiaRdvCYmmMeIaLekvjORfPjjI3atFKnha-Zcug3pSRhSNGN-cSK4_ePTJ3PWpWxGUN0vKdFPum2UftUKxjMDWFybZc6lGTOVgR8Tx_9U1TOwxm40HTxXs6Fk0ggaYv2CoawoTfb0FwxJVwyK3Lh8z0OVj/s3480/PXL_20240111_001656749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="3480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EbPQgorSWlFgeQtfRLuWSSmIASOTjdaF_nEiaRdvCYmmMeIaLekvjORfPjjI3atFKnha-Zcug3pSRhSNGN-cSK4_ePTJ3PWpWxGUN0vKdFPum2UftUKxjMDWFybZc6lGTOVgR8Tx_9U1TOwxm40HTxXs6Fk0ggaYv2CoawoTfb0FwxJVwyK3Lh8z0OVj/s16000/PXL_20240111_001656749.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIgRTfrw4njPf7n3qUGXdWAlCf87pTzbg2HlHbYDQUAGX6ZyVGowOeq-JSH08fsuYCbAEU3GGG7qwkkdboqpPuW023-Ol3lvl47m1FPkzKXj7S2EBFxeIecTkYwryloU6aOmbwXG6o_ARBnFjLo0ewzNbmZVX6g5RLZNPBLL9sq5MvQ6aEVuip8dHlLap/s3066/PXL_20240111_001748388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="3066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIgRTfrw4njPf7n3qUGXdWAlCf87pTzbg2HlHbYDQUAGX6ZyVGowOeq-JSH08fsuYCbAEU3GGG7qwkkdboqpPuW023-Ol3lvl47m1FPkzKXj7S2EBFxeIecTkYwryloU6aOmbwXG6o_ARBnFjLo0ewzNbmZVX6g5RLZNPBLL9sq5MvQ6aEVuip8dHlLap/s16000/PXL_20240111_001748388.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWlGtjLx2dlcICYz438G8NgNx3ojnkE8McBn3vivdOULN5pboDFC8j1kr67HUN2aNKX1rKilztcXM03zjVe7ZTU1uSXpMqpsGp2IcyBWsZqb49Wmw4vlNUBh4WQyYlBKn5q_Zzu3JrMC0BTs4mVOceOwNQqtUI8CUdEhv7M0G5fYN0dXtTEUqOr52O9Cj/s2709/PXL_20240111_001846856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="2709" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWlGtjLx2dlcICYz438G8NgNx3ojnkE8McBn3vivdOULN5pboDFC8j1kr67HUN2aNKX1rKilztcXM03zjVe7ZTU1uSXpMqpsGp2IcyBWsZqb49Wmw4vlNUBh4WQyYlBKn5q_Zzu3JrMC0BTs4mVOceOwNQqtUI8CUdEhv7M0G5fYN0dXtTEUqOr52O9Cj/s16000/PXL_20240111_001846856.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The result was 11 simple but fitting objective tokens that could provide for two simultaneous games easily enough if needed. The durability of some of these is suspect, and during building I had the idea to reinforce the skinnier sign posts with some other battlefield-related bric-a-brac but I'd forgotten until it came time for painting. Oh well - if they break, I can always repurpose the thing somehow.</div><div><br /></div><div>These were varnished with Gen 2 AK Interactive Gloss Varnish, then their 3rd Generation Matte varnish, like the SAS. Similarly, these seem to have come out a little more glossy than previous projects that I used G3 Matte on - I do not know if this batch is just a bit different or if maybe the specific (Vallejo) airbrush thinner I used this time around caused it, as I had been using Army Painter's pretty much exclusively for a few years now.</div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>Short and sweet. I will eventually make use of the 20-odd other 40mm bases I have kicking about, but that is a while from now - eventually I think I want to make a set for some of the other local players to have on hand for their own collection, and may well give away some of these at some point too.</div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-9123966656499711712024-01-15T00:01:00.007-05:002024-01-19T11:28:53.025-05:00Who Dares, Wins!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVMPieNVjkmsLSQ2sdTXuTcnMN13zYNZqyqS2Q0P2eTPeA3BvbxtP9Ek3Ot_ypc3czNRnql-EfsY7It1EhqacO8fOCQvPAOEgMC3-Jgd0j_62hdReJ1k_BcPfxtiS8mUW-C0byqtmtAjfP1PCbaTGL0GBgiXXUrsKiu-Era4mT3JsQFAg5UpMwEJZrY-b/s3074/PXL_20240111_023034313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="3074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVMPieNVjkmsLSQ2sdTXuTcnMN13zYNZqyqS2Q0P2eTPeA3BvbxtP9Ek3Ot_ypc3czNRnql-EfsY7It1EhqacO8fOCQvPAOEgMC3-Jgd0j_62hdReJ1k_BcPfxtiS8mUW-C0byqtmtAjfP1PCbaTGL0GBgiXXUrsKiu-Era4mT3JsQFAg5UpMwEJZrY-b/s16000/PXL_20240111_023034313.jpg" /></a></div><p>I debuted my starting Commando team <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/going-commando-my-new-army-for-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">back in August 2023</a>, and to date have played precisely 0 games with them - instead continuing to mainline my Italians for a variety of reasons. That has not stopped me from expanding the lot slightly, though, by <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/ba-cromwell-ready-to-roll-out.html" target="_blank">working up a Cromwell tank</a> to support them in future sessions.</p><p>While I <i>do</i> have an entire starter box worth of British Paratroopers on hand - thanks mostly to the LGS steep discount when they decided to divest themselves of Bolt Action completely - I'm not really ready to commit to a long term project like that just yet. </p><p>Independent of that set however, I had a wholly separate, unopened, plastic box of British Paratroopers - bought cheaply off a player at <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/bolt-action-event-recap-operation-cobra.html" target="_blank">the September tournament</a> after they decided they weren't going to ever make use of them. I also have quite some leftover bits from my Commando box. Put them together and I have the foundation of some SAS troops!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">On His Majesty's Special Air Service</h1><p></p><p>Like a lot of things, I was only passingly familiar with the SAS in the Second World War - I knew they were (and still are) around, and were some kind of clandestine special operations force. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Special_Air_Service" target="_blank">Wikipedia will fill you in on the details of their history</a> way better than I, but these are basically the small-team, behind-the-lines raiding and sabotage guys that come to mind when I think of "special forces". They are, seemingly above all, most famous for their earlier-war exploits in North Africa alongside the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Range_Desert_Group" target="_blank">Long Range Desert Group</a>, but did quite a bit in Europe as well.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">The SAS in Bolt Action</h2><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBjve-hTPSfkA-WaTv4ARkxE5UiP6yFZnYgSKBlxFHWFH8_XdxI2CFDSN3BW5_CU76ze8VAaJzhBor4p08MRFdffb15nFU7BKdvzi7CChMDAvca3S5L-ftUnxEA6jGJkykRlbYqVVA0cotZJkdrGvhImIsPBrEQONR2ejKxD7GNPpORcDfLcASTX20pqc/s455/1.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="351" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBjve-hTPSfkA-WaTv4ARkxE5UiP6yFZnYgSKBlxFHWFH8_XdxI2CFDSN3BW5_CU76ze8VAaJzhBor4p08MRFdffb15nFU7BKdvzi7CChMDAvca3S5L-ftUnxEA6jGJkykRlbYqVVA0cotZJkdrGvhImIsPBrEQONR2ejKxD7GNPpORcDfLcASTX20pqc/s320/1.png" width="247" /></a></div>The guys were (apparently) first introduced in the Additional Units PDF and then were expanded on in the likes of Western Desert and the D-Day books. In terms of infantry in the Generic Reinforced Platoon structure I always stick to at the moment there are four selections - three typical squads and the Deception Team. All are Veteran, naturally.<p></p><p>Two of the rifle squads - the Additional Units and D-Day US Sectors variants - are basically interchangeable. Squads are 4-8 men armed with pistols and rifles, and are 18 (!) points per man. They have an improved Outflanking ability, and are Fanatics. Equipment options are AT Grenades, SMGs for all, and up to two LMGs (upgradable to Vickers K). Expensive, really, but cool.</p><p>The third is from Western Desert and is a bit different. They are armed with rifles and AT Grenades at the start, and priced at 19 (!) points per man. They have Tough Fighters, Stubborn, and Outflank better. Upgrades include SMGs for all, a single LMG (without Vickers K option) and the ability to take a Team Medic. There is also the option to add a 9th man in the form of a First or Second LT - <i>if</i> your platoon is "Lead by a Captain or Major". This is something seen in some of the Commando squad variants and is unlikely to be something I'd ever use.</p><p>SAS Deception Teams got touched on in my first Commando post, since I used a few spare guys to proxy up such a team. Those are 2-4 guys with SMGs only, and for 22 points per man (!!) have all the usual SAS benefits of Fanatic and Outflanking, and gain the Deception ability which imposes an additional -1 to enemy Reserve rolls. They can also pay 15 points per team to have a booby trap - something that is not all that impactful and given that the unit is unable to Forward Deploy almost completely useless.</p><p>I am actually somewhat surprised there aren't more SAS unit types - heavy weapons I'd imagine are out, even the PIAT, but I would have imagined a Sniper option or a platoon leader of some type to be a possibility.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Gallery</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwT-n_5CL0uyryjOCeGk8fv2tRWjW8eu938VTw172WgeNi3IsiWbEMoK6mHq9kDTESoUfhMU7OHnwXlKoY-lF0kHWOzUJZAAueHXHXACAGGsHUIm9ZyfX-pR40JPE_9iNmncB_s3ubL5CN_0fzucg7eWYjPHdzOjrN4-83Kli7MflBTTwDNbRFwfgT46-g/s3555/PXL_20240111_023923096.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1383" data-original-width="3555" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwT-n_5CL0uyryjOCeGk8fv2tRWjW8eu938VTw172WgeNi3IsiWbEMoK6mHq9kDTESoUfhMU7OHnwXlKoY-lF0kHWOzUJZAAueHXHXACAGGsHUIm9ZyfX-pR40JPE_9iNmncB_s3ubL5CN_0fzucg7eWYjPHdzOjrN4-83Kli7MflBTTwDNbRFwfgT46-g/s16000/PXL_20240111_023923096.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1685" data-original-width="2232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qKVQYT3kPDag3k-IXXGev-ayAAGDy1N_ZUGABBFmXAP1zHDpA8En6rYY3VSIEGBJ-Z6jJJaOHp1jJaobRtjSHeS9FxuTaz8naM0O2_dZ_k292jh9ynd_F3tVAeseJYNlk3iQ915E58ZuefrcARLOqxr2rK5f0LTGmBdN8UW6rd2t0nVc5TH58s6AnGiY/s16000/PXL_20240111_023810407.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFiKJIIbKk2CYnLfULMFr3VJmf2O5btx4t6MwjsdP3CP4sDBwLYfr7JirDMT89gi04ieFHEwhu8unyBJgu6xQfnf6asmJywHba4xnTnZSXuP_0-wEYvN6s2ahmXdbrxDU78wplOUVluyFWl3eF9vaJu6CbDQ0GG21nMTPEQLUEZDIox8rDs8kIL_-icM5/s2431/PXL_20240111_023825633.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1543" data-original-width="2431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFiKJIIbKk2CYnLfULMFr3VJmf2O5btx4t6MwjsdP3CP4sDBwLYfr7JirDMT89gi04ieFHEwhu8unyBJgu6xQfnf6asmJywHba4xnTnZSXuP_0-wEYvN6s2ahmXdbrxDU78wplOUVluyFWl3eF9vaJu6CbDQ0GG21nMTPEQLUEZDIox8rDs8kIL_-icM5/s16000/PXL_20240111_023825633.MP.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Design Commentary</h2><p>When looking at the remnants of my Commando box, I found I had ample heads and guns but only a combination of nine <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbairn%E2%80%93Sykes_fighting_knife" target="_blank">commando knives</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smatchet" target="_blank">smatchets</a>. Since I would be remiss to field such troops without these illustrious hand weapons, that set the upper limit more than anything - fortunately I only wanted a single squad for effort one, and the particular squad in question caps out at eight men. I decided to do the ninth as a second squad leader in the event I want to run two smaller squads instead of one large one (base size being four men for all variants).</p><p>For my first batch of proper SAS, I decided to create a full-sized SMG-armed squad, allowing them to fill a close-in firepower capability my larger Commando force currently lacks. Unlike my Tough Fighter Commandos, I'd use SAS as dedicated close quarters troops - whereas my Commandos are mostly an opportunistic melee unit used as "push" teams. In that sort of scenario, the loss of 12" of range between rifles and SMG is not all that big a deal I'd think, though I'd definitely need to find a way to get them up the board. Like all my other Brits, these are later-war, Northern European themed as my British collection is decidedly D-Day and Beyond oriented.</p><p>Each individual uses an Airborne torso - the running ones because it gives that "assault team" vibe - while everything else is from the Commando remnants. Like my Commandos, I wanted these to be built pretty lean - no extra bags or pouches or anything unless it was particularly relevant - these don't even have the e-tool setup that is molded into the Commando torsos. In this case, each man gets just a pistol holster and his close combat weapon - both using a mix of types to provide a little individuality. This simplifies building and painting to a degree, and gives them the image of a unit that has shed any extra dead weight for the immediate assault at hand.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFsrSEncTvTdTCS8aJhgnsDfjrDb1nceV-BvdhGvxun_ybW1N9UlhIFlgHPPhpmSaMqUkjoyzoWKiu9P37ippEsfELV0YZGe3qgQNi5NAgNz2cPeJUgAHomHT32ABs2RsuvY0uoruP1jQJMNstMrK8hIajYyCbgimUjtAABqJ3mzPJCMCAat5KK_EF5Do/s600/2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFsrSEncTvTdTCS8aJhgnsDfjrDb1nceV-BvdhGvxun_ybW1N9UlhIFlgHPPhpmSaMqUkjoyzoWKiu9P37ippEsfELV0YZGe3qgQNi5NAgNz2cPeJUgAHomHT32ABs2RsuvY0uoruP1jQJMNstMrK8hIajYyCbgimUjtAABqJ3mzPJCMCAat5KK_EF5Do/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>As for painting it follows much the same approach as the Commandos (even using the 70.924 Russian Uniform LBE which does not seem to be the norm for Paratroopers) except the Denison smock - for this I followed the same style I did on the SAS jeep, approximating a rather simple splotchy pattern using 70.984 Flat Brown and 70.888 Olive Green over the 70.921 English Uniform that was already airbrushed over the whole model. It'll do, and doesn't read <i>too</i> badly on the table-top I hope. Naturally, being Air Service these units have the red beret seen on the Paratroopers rather than the green of the Commando forces.</p><p>The final step I take with all of my game pieces is varnishing, and this time around I was never able to get a particularly good top coat with them. The vast majority of my prior Bolt Action pieces - including the Commandos - are done with AK Interactive products. A gloss base is done first, then a matte top coat. While these SAS and the Commandos both use Gen 3 Matte, I can't help but notice that these pieces (alongside a few terrain bits I varnished at the same time in the same way) ended up rather more gloss than desired. I even tried a second layer, but that did not help. Not sure if the batch is slightly off, the airbrush thinner is causing issues (as it is a different brand here), or if I'm just being exceptionally picky. Oh well, game pieces and all that.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Next Steps</h2><p>While I do not have plans to make a full SAS force, I am open to creating one or two more squads worth of these guys, whenever I get around to picking up another box of Commandos to raid for parts. Gotta have those knives, after all! It is probable that most would be the same SMG-armed type, though I <i>might</i> toss in one that is fully rifle-armed, perhaps to support a few Vickers K toting LMG teams - the latter being for variety and for some speculative point in the future where LMGs are worth taking. I <i>might</i> make a proper dedicated SAS Deception Team at some point, too. We'll see!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><p>These aren't the first SAS guys I've done, technically, as I did cobble together a few from spare Commando parts (though in retrospect that was kind of a waste). I also have that SAS Jeep. These made a decent practice for Paratrooper camo before I try my hand at an entire army's worth, plus will have more immediate use - dedicating myself to the Paratrooper box is still a way's out, as it is an entire army project that is liable to take months to complete at my pace.</p>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-51180316692024423602024-01-12T00:01:00.002-05:002024-01-12T08:48:27.470-05:00Hedging My Bets With Simple Bocage Sets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgqwE68-7q79zNl7UQW5rQU_cqzKW0HAnbfDE9J3_x1TzSxfQIcLs28yXYxxIykBXjP-JnW6FgtJo60_ooOkIu2PnfXtDCqRKXNdX2MAM4HcYcLMioVhQWk7iFNwAcrW3cE9Wn7b7iop5m7gjeMOYqVRumZBsKOPiZ9WlWFVMRgLi0hIc0d7dql_1kZEh/s3657/PXL_20240104_215822735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="3657" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgqwE68-7q79zNl7UQW5rQU_cqzKW0HAnbfDE9J3_x1TzSxfQIcLs28yXYxxIykBXjP-JnW6FgtJo60_ooOkIu2PnfXtDCqRKXNdX2MAM4HcYcLMioVhQWk7iFNwAcrW3cE9Wn7b7iop5m7gjeMOYqVRumZBsKOPiZ9WlWFVMRgLi0hIc0d7dql_1kZEh/s16000/PXL_20240104_215822735.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Since I have begun to deploy more of the terrain I have been churning out since the last quarter of 2023, I have been able to get some feedback from some of my players regarding the assortment. One of the suggestions was to increase the amount of "Linear Obstacles" we had at hand - things like fences, walls, etc. This is a pretty good idea, since that is a category of terrain that isn't represented at all in my current collection, as these devices have distinct rules from the Rough Ground or Buildings I have so far.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Who Knows the Hedgerows?</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha15GIAruK7raY4l_DbMPTaa4z3mUSv8nHFpgkTa0qrpW_BfqxRAg54fSpoGs0F-5Z-1nmE4KoJOhewpp4wepq_C_ouJskiEiQG90OhtDOw0PBlBSCi-fP49ZdCOPi4m4N61MnqP7nr82bcWG9vSV9Rvi06Y1FM5GUqIi0f3K_5nJ_O4r722JzqDJj2OEl/s3840/PXL_20240104_215951644.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha15GIAruK7raY4l_DbMPTaa4z3mUSv8nHFpgkTa0qrpW_BfqxRAg54fSpoGs0F-5Z-1nmE4KoJOhewpp4wepq_C_ouJskiEiQG90OhtDOw0PBlBSCi-fP49ZdCOPi4m4N61MnqP7nr82bcWG9vSV9Rvi06Y1FM5GUqIi0f3K_5nJ_O4r722JzqDJj2OEl/s16000/PXL_20240104_215951644.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnBENVHU0KnFu-OcaXWOkI6Ftsw4KgSvQ_4-TL9Ir0Ojolkruhj0BSbKgfmfGVqNol0D1aUEBOInQAYi7Ep7ELDnjKbtZEVj3PQ1t6bRSVPeoJkmUGpUmA12su0u4LVadFIR_V_-Sd8bnLRyiEwoG5TjbirDNqrQ-MTI4PZ6Ed47ZN9coUtWwn3uY2QYk/s3840/PXL_20240104_215931558.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnBENVHU0KnFu-OcaXWOkI6Ftsw4KgSvQ_4-TL9Ir0Ojolkruhj0BSbKgfmfGVqNol0D1aUEBOInQAYi7Ep7ELDnjKbtZEVj3PQ1t6bRSVPeoJkmUGpUmA12su0u4LVadFIR_V_-Sd8bnLRyiEwoG5TjbirDNqrQ-MTI4PZ6Ed47ZN9coUtWwn3uY2QYk/s16000/PXL_20240104_215931558.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2CI8Sf59KdILi5rtkhIuB6MCRCjbm9zvGCjNZqoTjYY2WhdVsZSIoSGQ4v1OCbn0N0uDDwBeNrY_8Ppd8ONI7alFe6ESa4cY_wCGzylpwAtJf-GsDrwx_qB8XaNLYsKrnSxN2plhgvdvf6VwuVmVKAoQIg_pdYnHxElVfB1WIFZG27sLXPd3qp84n0x_/s3840/PXL_20240104_215938612.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2CI8Sf59KdILi5rtkhIuB6MCRCjbm9zvGCjNZqoTjYY2WhdVsZSIoSGQ4v1OCbn0N0uDDwBeNrY_8Ppd8ONI7alFe6ESa4cY_wCGzylpwAtJf-GsDrwx_qB8XaNLYsKrnSxN2plhgvdvf6VwuVmVKAoQIg_pdYnHxElVfB1WIFZG27sLXPd3qp84n0x_/s16000/PXL_20240104_215938612.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgAtRX_mzpNiptSqmrcgMKwvt78sEF9I45sFIMER0aAUiGFU7uUCttf_ZU-2i707NFYz-6HX1JoVTn0B16sunvanUHDBCC0AkQMf7ZbIDNdKMgABF5cdNHexbQajKGmWgQw3xFKFBF31rF6VroqkLssJC2CgagYfawK9_KTS85fVUdECrM03dcfz5BN_B/s3840/PXL_20240104_215942750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgAtRX_mzpNiptSqmrcgMKwvt78sEF9I45sFIMER0aAUiGFU7uUCttf_ZU-2i707NFYz-6HX1JoVTn0B16sunvanUHDBCC0AkQMf7ZbIDNdKMgABF5cdNHexbQajKGmWgQw3xFKFBF31rF6VroqkLssJC2CgagYfawK9_KTS85fVUdECrM03dcfz5BN_B/s16000/PXL_20240104_215942750.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnQUJEDkLghmEGw73L6Ys1orIXscvik2eYmALV-xcb1qnDFDCpqDRO2bgVkzKYcbA4r2OgzdZXzsPIhaWX_Q7J1pib1p69CNH6PRTewLl63RWdRAysdqhyALyfQW-zrY5d4Rz39AnnH7MyEabzv9F1czqEcUgxVCxOYnIVdVxhY23bzgp_3zS-2ncJpaY/s3840/PXL_20240104_215925484.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnQUJEDkLghmEGw73L6Ys1orIXscvik2eYmALV-xcb1qnDFDCpqDRO2bgVkzKYcbA4r2OgzdZXzsPIhaWX_Q7J1pib1p69CNH6PRTewLl63RWdRAysdqhyALyfQW-zrY5d4Rz39AnnH7MyEabzv9F1czqEcUgxVCxOYnIVdVxhY23bzgp_3zS-2ncJpaY/s16000/PXL_20240104_215925484.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZ7jsvvhVKo82RmCrAzkRI3I0yFmYx3zlEq0FfQ86XNvWxTYWdEH8555HUQhhguGhNKqqcG3rFatxy-BO3LkzA-O8PRu6ho3S_RkliFHQmZG4_DG71Mia73jHP-3my5y7m0YR_LI6A3EZIrnFEjMKkl1Bss2PPFguadRScF_IZNvzQZBOMnE-t2gJqwsN/s3840/PXL_20240104_215923462.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZ7jsvvhVKo82RmCrAzkRI3I0yFmYx3zlEq0FfQ86XNvWxTYWdEH8555HUQhhguGhNKqqcG3rFatxy-BO3LkzA-O8PRu6ho3S_RkliFHQmZG4_DG71Mia73jHP-3my5y7m0YR_LI6A3EZIrnFEjMKkl1Bss2PPFguadRScF_IZNvzQZBOMnE-t2gJqwsN/s16000/PXL_20240104_215923462.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-F7AEVVXweNE5O6iCMAAhsprj0yPGUwTnyw8S6HFck4WjLHB-iYna4ygbmqTWmCo6GSVwGJU7gE0DHLUVgxEoVrKNjcZts0puhor6wRB1iP50pR4qSatKDsrk_Eb65amLR8db0xt3IXSutLKEI-kNlVtHL4YvjA4aIUT8mkJUc29gnGXvyWGHnZ_DU7v/s3840/PXL_20240104_215948995.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-F7AEVVXweNE5O6iCMAAhsprj0yPGUwTnyw8S6HFck4WjLHB-iYna4ygbmqTWmCo6GSVwGJU7gE0DHLUVgxEoVrKNjcZts0puhor6wRB1iP50pR4qSatKDsrk_Eb65amLR8db0xt3IXSutLKEI-kNlVtHL4YvjA4aIUT8mkJUc29gnGXvyWGHnZ_DU7v/s16000/PXL_20240104_215948995.jpg" /></a></div><p>One of the few efforts I made to address this issue was to knock together an iconic bit of WW2 terrain - a bunch of hedgerows.</p><p>For this project I wanted to make these simple, cheap, durable, playable, and quick - and I basically checked all five boxes here successfully. Note that a high degree of realism wasn't on the books this time around - such a project would be neat, but slow and fiddly - perhaps another time.</p><p>For these I reached back into an old school technique - kitchen scrubbers. These things are cheap, already green, pretty durable (especially if you work in a bit of scenic cement), and easy enough to work with. A super basic approach is basically just to cut these to size and glue them to some kind of base and call it done. You could drybrush in some other greens if desired, or if you wanted to get real fancy use the pad as a backbone to which you attach clump foliage. </p><p>All these techniques predate me existing on planet earth I'd imagine, but I'd never actually done any of them. For my own implementation, I decided to split the difference and created what you see below.</p><p>First, a cheap ($1.50 / 4pk) scrubber pad was cut in two - a 4" x 6" pad then gives you two 2" x 6" pieces, which in my case were hot glued together. These pieces were then hot glued to a 6" x 1" long piece of ABS from the same supply you've seen underlie various earlier (and future) terrain projects Makes a good fit with just enough base sticking out to texture up and make look decent.</p><p>I made something like 18 of these straight 6" long pieces - 9 linear feet worth. To this I added four L-shaped corner pieces that are 3" x 3" to allow boxes to be formed if desired, four "end pieces" that can serve as either a tapering end to a hedge or facing pieces of a particularly large gap, and two smaller dedicated "gap" pieces.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBC52GflQy0Ij_d-82Ew7_Gu5D5U8jzgu0AOCeCBpXh72mKIUVP0DiUhRt7m7UdOS8AAPuWqpy0KU8prpHs8d4bkwUsLgLmTT_-QAZAGyfGLY9oKUG8R8qXwEGBbhg0EF_g8qRm0QvdJ5DGbVsWsKw1BQCEPDP9cMuikXiFtE7RHLHPz77rFq1Y4olXZs/s3840/PXL_20231222_021518996.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBC52GflQy0Ij_d-82Ew7_Gu5D5U8jzgu0AOCeCBpXh72mKIUVP0DiUhRt7m7UdOS8AAPuWqpy0KU8prpHs8d4bkwUsLgLmTT_-QAZAGyfGLY9oKUG8R8qXwEGBbhg0EF_g8qRm0QvdJ5DGbVsWsKw1BQCEPDP9cMuikXiFtE7RHLHPz77rFq1Y4olXZs/s16000/PXL_20231222_021518996.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHArBl2nl7iXcqBhS4vmC28MmKnG6ds7iCllzTKqo4kVF99QWmtoaJ3qZDy1LTXus-wuJyVjgjsfpJ8SAUfRN3JjJx57Qjod06H0crY2KN3kCKBE_aMwHcAZAmt5uSe0gZMPrl3wK-97FkpZkZnbXM1Mc0oc0cLzDK5n5SFrrOb3Ot_8yVxnuz2CGSsNww/s3840/PXL_20231222_021549091.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHArBl2nl7iXcqBhS4vmC28MmKnG6ds7iCllzTKqo4kVF99QWmtoaJ3qZDy1LTXus-wuJyVjgjsfpJ8SAUfRN3JjJx57Qjod06H0crY2KN3kCKBE_aMwHcAZAmt5uSe0gZMPrl3wK-97FkpZkZnbXM1Mc0oc0cLzDK5n5SFrrOb3Ot_8yVxnuz2CGSsNww/s16000/PXL_20231222_021549091.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjH6poUi7INGo66zccF0YviInR9yPAU7l4XXNrissbTj5l7GcEslFeBP41gm9QSxDlSfVTT5hfCX4kI2eci6USl7TwDGTq8AHedHVrtyqziDST4niJqwugmqz3e3RAUG6Azz7Dup2GPVg-HlNujk7XDiRIsJWJE5tU7PBU8nRY7IurBqUSS0Mn6rLPgw8Z/s3840/PXL_20231223_050735649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjH6poUi7INGo66zccF0YviInR9yPAU7l4XXNrissbTj5l7GcEslFeBP41gm9QSxDlSfVTT5hfCX4kI2eci6USl7TwDGTq8AHedHVrtyqziDST4niJqwugmqz3e3RAUG6Azz7Dup2GPVg-HlNujk7XDiRIsJWJE5tU7PBU8nRY7IurBqUSS0Mn6rLPgw8Z/s16000/PXL_20231223_050735649.jpg" /></a></div><p>I could have stuck with this here, finished the bases and moved on, but I didn't.</p><p>Instead of just drybrushing on a bit of contrast, I decided to break out some of the flock I have kicking about for the last several years. In this case I went with <a href="https://mrmuffinstrains.com/products/ex880b" target="_blank">the "Green Blend" from Scenic Express</a>, since I knew I had enough supply and could re-up with the same blend if in the future I decided I wanted a ton more of these. Most importantly, I already had it on hand and I didn't have to dig around the studio for it. Since it was originally intended to be a sort of meadow-y mix, there's little flecks of reds and yellow in there that I assume are supposed to be wildflowers, and the green is fairly bright - in the future if I do a separate set of these from the ground up, I may well opt for something darker. To apply, the rows were brushed with straight ModPodge and sprinkled with flock. Not only does this get the flock on there, but it helps solidify the whole structure. The very tops, where the two pads form a bit of a gap, will generally seem to require a second go - as the glue dries, the flock seems to settle in to the groove. In my case, a second pass was all that was required for me to call it good. I also decided to keep the very end bits bare, since in theory these should be butted up against another piece and not seen.</p><p>For basing, I decided to use up some of the AK Interactive "Dark Earth" basing grit I've had on hand for years now - the same I've done all my Bolt Action and Pike and Shotte guys in thus far. There are cheaper ways to do this - sand being the obvious one - but I'd been wanting to run the supply down and replace it for a while now anyway, and I didn't feel like going out and buying finer sand than I had laying about already. I opted to do this step after the flocking so I could run some of the texture up and give it some of the the appearance of an embankment (something I mocked up on the interior facing portions as well but less successfully). Contrast was provided with some cheap craft paint (though was muted by the final sealing layer I think).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6Q20_QmgVvrPzaDzsot968p0BCW3RXNWiLDzx0Tgy53Eg1KcYoqluVahOBXqtuIyP7ySK-WSWGg0YEmaY_tPEM5OVOtXnS2yqsDuW6T22jSVMAiYPrNPoolArXLcUHQUVEWW8tB-hB9QskZmzjpC85nO_DTcb0Oq0EnSbIGqptWjp1ubrRfPcyL4xuF1/s3840/PXL_20231223_090635981.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6Q20_QmgVvrPzaDzsot968p0BCW3RXNWiLDzx0Tgy53Eg1KcYoqluVahOBXqtuIyP7ySK-WSWGg0YEmaY_tPEM5OVOtXnS2yqsDuW6T22jSVMAiYPrNPoolArXLcUHQUVEWW8tB-hB9QskZmzjpC85nO_DTcb0Oq0EnSbIGqptWjp1ubrRfPcyL4xuF1/s16000/PXL_20231223_090635981.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfWEMXMk1kl-X4tK9Zq-zYTD1RVHVfiKil-Fjgoi6dUAed2i9JSz5br7pfmKo5__qpWJG9wz_YW6Zry1tNB0HMy92FUwNWffV2k96zsY0pPLcCppGWczSq-Rg1-6RZHZUrUdb77r9EYgRwCRAEGxXm37AFFTZi-deAufW9dYectXV7ubSsy2gAJFb0qOD/s3840/PXL_20231223_090646366.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfWEMXMk1kl-X4tK9Zq-zYTD1RVHVfiKil-Fjgoi6dUAed2i9JSz5br7pfmKo5__qpWJG9wz_YW6Zry1tNB0HMy92FUwNWffV2k96zsY0pPLcCppGWczSq-Rg1-6RZHZUrUdb77r9EYgRwCRAEGxXm37AFFTZi-deAufW9dYectXV7ubSsy2gAJFb0qOD/s16000/PXL_20231223_090646366.jpg" /></a></div><p>Once everything was set and done, I sealed the whole thing with the last of the scenic cement I had laying about (and then some watered-down ModPodge when I ran out). I figured a brush would pull up more of the flock than I'd like so application was mostly via pipette. This gave a (mostly) matte and fairly solid coat, which should hold up to ordinary handling and storage without much issue.</p><p>I will probably do another set of these in the future if these prove acceptable to the group as they are, perhaps another set just as large (but with better-designed "end" pieces and some more fancy bits tossed in there) - this would allow me to line both sides of a road going the whole board length, which would be a pretty good thing to be able to do.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Hedgerows in Bolt Action</h2><p>At the most casual level, our group has played things like these as a linear obstacle of rough ground that blocks LOS and can be "manned" by infantry. It is typically impassible to vehicles unless it has some kind of hedge-cutter (wherein it is just rough ground). </p><p>What this means is that a unit cannot pass through it in one go but must Advance up to it (the linear obstacle part), can only Advance through it (the rough ground part) and cannot draw LOS through it if they are exterior to it (the blocks LOS part). Once a hedge has been approached, we have said that an infantry unit can occupy the hedge and treat it as some degree of cover - typically light, though those things could possible count as heavy when you get down to it.</p><p>Official rules probably exist in one or more of the D-Day books, but I haven't gotten to buying them yet.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Hedgerows in The Pikeman's Lament</h2><p>Hedges and such like this block LOS and are probably just Rough Ground when traversing. It's not really part of the rules but I would say a unit could "occupy" these for a cover bonus, just like in Bolt Action.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><p>This was a very simple project, and it probably was only a few hours of hands-on time when I get down to it. There were faster ways to do this for sure, and better-looking ways too, but this gets the point across without taking a whole load of extra time or material. Overall I think these will serve the group well, providing quite a lot of LOS-blocking, movement-restricting terrain that pairs well with the woods and farm-stuff I have done so far.</p>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-57785410648396127942024-01-10T00:01:00.001-05:002024-01-10T00:01:00.148-05:00Down on the Farm...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaq99ScS0cRrWIb4J4RNAgqJOcf8LshxQE23ZAknnYqnhnsU_L20TcJ8quE0fg6m8LIhf3H9BE3RAGjWTjfJ81NILWxfnlmqVIXxUwGD-MnERsQF-9Pz_VTZQBdTGQpRw1dGOE-nb5zT_wMO-ZSGVStrwdlbvkvdWWh-MmcPJ3easxBU0xQ-za3a734Mr/s3840/PXL_20240104_220228050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaq99ScS0cRrWIb4J4RNAgqJOcf8LshxQE23ZAknnYqnhnsU_L20TcJ8quE0fg6m8LIhf3H9BE3RAGjWTjfJ81NILWxfnlmqVIXxUwGD-MnERsQF-9Pz_VTZQBdTGQpRw1dGOE-nb5zT_wMO-ZSGVStrwdlbvkvdWWh-MmcPJ3easxBU0xQ-za3a734Mr/s16000/PXL_20240104_220228050.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>As yet another expansion of terrain, I am presenting a small collection of farm-things.<div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">I-E-A-I-A-I-O</h1></div><div>This little collection consists of a 3D-printed building, the contents of the "Russian Village - Farm Buildings" MDF kit, an outhouse MDF kit, a field made of the classic coir mat, and a few haybales made out of coir scraps.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The House</h2><div>This was yet another piece in the assorted collection of 3D prints a local Bolt Action player passed on to me over the summer of 2023 - <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2930342" target="_blank">a model by Pietia apparently intended to be a barracks</a>. Originally just the assembled but otherwise bare plastic, I did some finishing work and painted it up with some cheap craft paints (as I often do with terrain). Color choices were somewhat inspired by farm houses I've seen in the more Easterly parts of Europe, but I don't think it would stick out too badly just about anywhere north of the Alps (though northwestern Europe does seem to love its stone construction over the planking of this one).</div><div><br /></div><div>Like several other pieces in this recent terrain push, it got the MinWax treatment - shading and sealing with the same undiluted Antique Walnut. This one went pretty well, with the exterior looking somewhat grubby but not awful, and the floor (which was brown to start) didn't end up too bad either. Interior walls were kept clear of the stuff, however, as I figure the brightness would help things read better on the table, similar to the Church and other small buildings I did previously.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, like a few other pieces I've yet to post, I had some kind of bad reaction between the Minwax and the Rustoleum matte spray I went with as a topcoat here. Shortly after I'd sprayed the piece, every flat-ish surface the Minwax had touched began to wrinkle or bubble up. This was a surprise because the ruins I posted earlier had this same sort of arrangement but did not have such issues. My only guess is that I probably got a bit too close when I sprayed this, and the solvent in the can caused it, or perhaps there was something up with Rustoleum's spray that the Army Painter one I used previously didn't have. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wouldn't be daunted, though! I cleaned it off as best as I could, scraped down and sanded the worst of it, and simply repainted the best I could with the state it was in. I opted to forgo any additional Minwax on this one, and just hand-brushed on some acrylic varnish.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_woAHPVmloKC_VTs0Eqh1vjBjk5us0C6Jjoq6OKIKieKeJ30DJ73VaddFirsC9wCf4fi3EeLFIgXMoPJgpmJPkRTAK1I5FARcVnn4x71lA9zj2iKv4JPMWtkM45goOA8f9ArzAceo5AWzppinqwQhJzXkJdfrOD5hbfzzdrAOGsqqr8sdOb-x76CegTy3/s2875/PXL_20231130_214613936.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1659" data-original-width="2875" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_woAHPVmloKC_VTs0Eqh1vjBjk5us0C6Jjoq6OKIKieKeJ30DJ73VaddFirsC9wCf4fi3EeLFIgXMoPJgpmJPkRTAK1I5FARcVnn4x71lA9zj2iKv4JPMWtkM45goOA8f9ArzAceo5AWzppinqwQhJzXkJdfrOD5hbfzzdrAOGsqqr8sdOb-x76CegTy3/s16000/PXL_20231130_214613936.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7qBsrtKoiYC9ge4x3nnv9IlWQDp2HfzKuk16T218PGjeob8m3-0aRSIAx6XmWbddrZb6xRkOdOr5h4oDglNOXm57mepurnmVWIWuDNGXddNnYuGPjTNmzxcw3vuAD7a0IXFwFqi6SEBFXtpTJ0pY-s8Ui3ampyZBL4lpXsOc4wBn6s-4OxRpVegffk2r/s3448/PXL_20231130_215607097.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7qBsrtKoiYC9ge4x3nnv9IlWQDp2HfzKuk16T218PGjeob8m3-0aRSIAx6XmWbddrZb6xRkOdOr5h4oDglNOXm57mepurnmVWIWuDNGXddNnYuGPjTNmzxcw3vuAD7a0IXFwFqi6SEBFXtpTJ0pY-s8Ui3ampyZBL4lpXsOc4wBn6s-4OxRpVegffk2r/s16000/PXL_20231130_215607097.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qqddhUVHIpIYMrYBqsruJBaoItQzUzkhN0jaw1Mpyaft7-wFRyxx38TsOcS64R-PNMaADC8wgckJgCdikaICax2xA-kM4mIQ5Cp5i_mwAJrLUBljYrDaoZteerIXQHUXuIu-6wV0BYF8nKfwTFNBTt9BxLhyphenhyphenHyu99ZMw413MLVi5cQVqc_iDEv7x_-xO/s3840/PXL_20231130_215611341.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qqddhUVHIpIYMrYBqsruJBaoItQzUzkhN0jaw1Mpyaft7-wFRyxx38TsOcS64R-PNMaADC8wgckJgCdikaICax2xA-kM4mIQ5Cp5i_mwAJrLUBljYrDaoZteerIXQHUXuIu-6wV0BYF8nKfwTFNBTt9BxLhyphenhyphenHyu99ZMw413MLVi5cQVqc_iDEv7x_-xO/s16000/PXL_20231130_215611341.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Xe7qvAuWs8cPh-LLT1lhciI3NIQmps6ExZhi7x7ODI1M_75RNcclStbQ8JEsTE7dgr8EElbYEKFul7DDAK-fB0LTWyeXAZNQULG4wjlQ4QoW0K0rTAsMTHLSLM3ISfjeMkV7F65nHWxZJbvC5sqlWMRH1rolvlNbPAu1ZXOUxhyphenhyphenV5pFUtBe8YOf8U38z/s3840/PXL_20240104_220241703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Xe7qvAuWs8cPh-LLT1lhciI3NIQmps6ExZhi7x7ODI1M_75RNcclStbQ8JEsTE7dgr8EElbYEKFul7DDAK-fB0LTWyeXAZNQULG4wjlQ4QoW0K0rTAsMTHLSLM3ISfjeMkV7F65nHWxZJbvC5sqlWMRH1rolvlNbPAu1ZXOUxhyphenhyphenV5pFUtBe8YOf8U38z/s16000/PXL_20240104_220241703.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUltCBd1-2hm8inTdxwmmcQAdNEB5jhk3R0DYzJxLW0_YBaqOHQO0gvr-9d5UMh8Ier8Z8Zz6XpaePYT35HM8KzQwsq8Hz8Z2cqPslM2Zn1AWThHiOEh_TTxmUzK2vA2ZqfGXtLBzH3Tg9abQoSocL0TqBynLprLd0kwoF4hUtxD6zT8PYS686CKaY6_d_/s3840/PXL_20240104_220334271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUltCBd1-2hm8inTdxwmmcQAdNEB5jhk3R0DYzJxLW0_YBaqOHQO0gvr-9d5UMh8Ier8Z8Zz6XpaePYT35HM8KzQwsq8Hz8Z2cqPslM2Zn1AWThHiOEh_TTxmUzK2vA2ZqfGXtLBzH3Tg9abQoSocL0TqBynLprLd0kwoF4hUtxD6zT8PYS686CKaY6_d_/s16000/PXL_20240104_220334271.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3BDlg3-z8sbbft2bxe7JS9i8Kz_Sw2ASrkVBV8FjvQfnXvOV0hp_ZRxAtuc2aQujdbwgprkc8H4pTcSURp06mtUKtHk6JEtkUsWPHSD5fQMDLPj4AnMZnRRXoz0rn5NfZYdYpdW27iPR1CideVHC7zsDHmH0-8ekhnuTqYjYNyE1bELQ0tTV-RO-a8cH/s3840/PXL_20240104_220330661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3BDlg3-z8sbbft2bxe7JS9i8Kz_Sw2ASrkVBV8FjvQfnXvOV0hp_ZRxAtuc2aQujdbwgprkc8H4pTcSURp06mtUKtHk6JEtkUsWPHSD5fQMDLPj4AnMZnRRXoz0rn5NfZYdYpdW27iPR1CideVHC7zsDHmH0-8ekhnuTqYjYNyE1bELQ0tTV-RO-a8cH/s16000/PXL_20240104_220330661.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Ah, well. Terrain pieces don't need to be perfect. It wasn't exactly an art piece from the start anyways - the original assembly I received was pretty rough and heavy on the glue, which you can see beaded up in the corners.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall this is a good model though lacks much interior detail. For a lark I painted some on this one but it's not great and I stopped doing that with other later prints. The roof is a bit weird though - my first guess was that this was intended to represent tin sheeting, but I ultimately went with a simple tar roof look or...something. Overall design of the roof is still a bit strange but at least it has a chimney hole I guess - no stove model though. Still not sure what those relief cuts are supposed to be for. </div><div><br /></div><div>Post spray incident the body is fine but the roof looks pretty rough, - oh well, I suppose if anyone really hated it I could just get it reprinted or even cover it up with some shingling. Right now I'm just trying to clear the queue I've got, so individual piece quality will suffer a bit.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The House in Bolt Action</h3><div>I figure Bolt Action is the only game I would use this in, as it is far too modern for any 17th century combat (for which I have plenty of building kits for, I assure you...). In game this is a Building, with very good support for firing out of - with five windows and a door, up to twelve models can lay fire out of this thing (though the lack of a window to the rear does restrict fire arcs a bit). Buildings provide extra protection (shifting the wound roll up one) and are typically considered Heavy Cover, among some other benefits and drawbacks.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Fields</h2><div>Typical coir "doormat" field, a technique which renders generic "ripe grain crop" fairly well, though I maintain it is too short to properly represent wheat from before the c. 1950s outside of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norin_10_wheat" target="_blank">Japan</a> or <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/96/4/455/2187931" target="_blank">Italy</a> <a href="https://honey-guide.com/2015/07/18/the-origins-of-semi-dwarf-wheat/" target="_blank">after the 1930s</a> (what's the agricultural equivalent for a rivet counter?). No matter. Wonder if I can get this in green...</div><div><br /></div><div>This was simply a strip of coir provided by one of my local Bolt Action players cut down roughly in thirds to ease transport. I was tempted to get fancy with it, cutting it into small sections and building it into a frame so chunks of it could be removed section-by-section as units moved through it (instead of being placed on top of the whole thing as we currently do) but I figured at this point it is probably better to keep it simple. Later editions may use this approach however!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7Rox9ij_9xEKaIRfqdbnRPA6jHWOFlweypwsttfPd_NdqN6Gv2mB2PDaQSaAc2gn2JIBdOao1EeC-an0V_Utob84dKhygpRlaFLNjzSgHQlV-CX-6si04C1zO0eUEPlqRFZ9Mg3CtLATSYuaH2hLQfXkIQTVfIe-hp6926QnHdgavyBTi25CmWmgxzhJ/s3840/PXL_20240104_220623004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7Rox9ij_9xEKaIRfqdbnRPA6jHWOFlweypwsttfPd_NdqN6Gv2mB2PDaQSaAc2gn2JIBdOao1EeC-an0V_Utob84dKhygpRlaFLNjzSgHQlV-CX-6si04C1zO0eUEPlqRFZ9Mg3CtLATSYuaH2hLQfXkIQTVfIe-hp6926QnHdgavyBTi25CmWmgxzhJ/s16000/PXL_20240104_220623004.jpg" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Field in Bolt Action</h3><div>Our group's approach has traditionally to run these as open ground that provides light cover, imparting a -1 to hit to an attacker shooting at someone within the field. Stalks wont stop bullets, but they can make it harder to see your target! Another group I'm aware of up the road seems to treat them as Rough Ground.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Field in The Pikeman's Lament</h3><div>Nothing explicit, and I would imagine it would just be open ground. I suppose a case could be made for considering it Cover, though the game tends to cite harder objects for that sort of thing. Obscuring Terrain would be out as you can still see over even vintage wheat cultivars!</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The MDF Building Sets</h2><div>Both the "Russian Farm Buildings" and "Outhouse" sets were MDF kits produced by the now-defunct 4Grounds, though evidently designed by (and still available from) <a href="https://www.thingsfromthebasement.com/store/c39/Russian_Village.html" target="_blank">Things from the Basement</a>. I picked these up well over a year ago in a large lot purchase of MDF buildings when 4Grounds was announcing their closure, probably mostly for use in Bolt Action - I don't believe outhouses or that style of chicken coops were much a thing at the time but the pigstye and fences are probably in.</div><div><br /></div><div>These are good MDF kits, though the buildings lacked the usual interior detailing I associated with 4Grounds. Sturdy, good-enough looking, and easy to assemble - easier than a typical 4Ground kit. My only complaint is the base, as they are quite thicker than I like them to be, but it is not any real issue beyond personal taste (I am picky). I thought about beveling them but ultimately decided it wouldn't be worth the hassle - I at least gave them all some dirt or muck texturing for a little visual appeal, though the glossy bits that are supposed to be particularly wet spots look really stark in some lighting (as you can see below).</div><div><br /></div><div>I also made it so that the roof of the stye and the outhouse were removable, mostly as a lark but you never know.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjleiOwAysE0YynIVdyHNWrlstkudeTM3Ss22g2oMNMIDVWEcMRg7HN0fEuhjVH0LiHWzcKB3I_XJD37-eub1kFp0So_ChCkdMLlnH-5nD6k-k1tPaBEr9WodIeVHlL-LdyNDeoZeTD3ChXuqIJkfOf5W4LGeEmvqvQ-uOode_CTN64jyaevjb1Jd8m7Vx/s3840/PXL_20240104_220233775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjleiOwAysE0YynIVdyHNWrlstkudeTM3Ss22g2oMNMIDVWEcMRg7HN0fEuhjVH0LiHWzcKB3I_XJD37-eub1kFp0So_ChCkdMLlnH-5nD6k-k1tPaBEr9WodIeVHlL-LdyNDeoZeTD3ChXuqIJkfOf5W4LGeEmvqvQ-uOode_CTN64jyaevjb1Jd8m7Vx/s16000/PXL_20240104_220233775.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xYDXucBVU2_10mJTVO09vRBFu1550K3p7wobTjQexpDBEeaWMDPclmPgSn4QeGzOfkDjZVVp4gpAPwEykssiXwXewrgQa9wtVsCZSjfIsixGZEzYNfc73KKuclLKpMZ-k7jy2QrnxfLvohi028ldTd6Y4ijYzXvxb9j6C3NP5-fWNKaogiTy6m6laSxX/s3840/PXL_20240104_220238115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xYDXucBVU2_10mJTVO09vRBFu1550K3p7wobTjQexpDBEeaWMDPclmPgSn4QeGzOfkDjZVVp4gpAPwEykssiXwXewrgQa9wtVsCZSjfIsixGZEzYNfc73KKuclLKpMZ-k7jy2QrnxfLvohi028ldTd6Y4ijYzXvxb9j6C3NP5-fWNKaogiTy6m6laSxX/s16000/PXL_20240104_220238115.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyIdaOfAhVupHC1024fekmY-l76WMfpqON7wWg55VfWfcRTrDRDsrYgH5gahHJgQyKMrnUFh6_mVqBqa5rKVfgzflYgLLm71DHWiDHLoUfJUd68Bek71SEOuysXI2K2iJgIfzxigOSQYpJjgnCi4cq7Nr9D2ACtGG81l6f9Bxt0ElHEeZt47EpqhS2om-/s3840/PXL_20240104_220336497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyIdaOfAhVupHC1024fekmY-l76WMfpqON7wWg55VfWfcRTrDRDsrYgH5gahHJgQyKMrnUFh6_mVqBqa5rKVfgzflYgLLm71DHWiDHLoUfJUd68Bek71SEOuysXI2K2iJgIfzxigOSQYpJjgnCi4cq7Nr9D2ACtGG81l6f9Bxt0ElHEeZt47EpqhS2om-/s16000/PXL_20240104_220336497.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihANKhLbfkL4SlbF2cDE2SkwgHuqXIThxZCEcPgZUiD18GAtOg41gkt2S1vhW6DIG-QvogJfTVwXJ7KlqLgXDUzgwM6HKwgoBMWXiBfia0QTy8WCX_2Lj82gOl1NWcIDKVQAlk2vswmN6lfErSqmPdHFqcdlDb6RAUbr7H_ftGRFOyQaPTpYAu6ABn62Yn/s3840/PXL_20240104_220338466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihANKhLbfkL4SlbF2cDE2SkwgHuqXIThxZCEcPgZUiD18GAtOg41gkt2S1vhW6DIG-QvogJfTVwXJ7KlqLgXDUzgwM6HKwgoBMWXiBfia0QTy8WCX_2Lj82gOl1NWcIDKVQAlk2vswmN6lfErSqmPdHFqcdlDb6RAUbr7H_ftGRFOyQaPTpYAu6ABn62Yn/s16000/PXL_20240104_220338466.jpg" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The MDF Buildings in Bolt Action</h3><div>Fences are Linear Obstacles, which means approaching units have to advance up to them and stop before they can hop over next turn. I'd be disinclined to give them any kind of Cover - too open to conceal, too flimsy to stop bullets (or tracked vehicles). That's my opinion, though.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wouldn't say the structures ever qualify as Buildings, but can be used as Cover - light cover - mostly on account of some degree of concealment. The styeground would definitely be Rough Ground because of general nastyness.</div><div><br /></div><div>As a general thing they're more scatter than real features.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The MDF Buildings in The Pikeman's Lament</h3><div>Fences are Obstacles, quite probably providing Cover, especially in melee.</div><div><br /></div><div>Buildings are Cover, perhaps becoming part of Concealing Terrain because the rule cites "villages" as a potential source of that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Styeground is Rough ground, as I'd imagine keeping your footing in the ick is difficult!</div><div><br /></div><div>As with Bolt Action, though, this is less proper features and more a bit of visual flair.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Haybales</h3><div>Bit of a bonus I created out of coir that came off in unpacking or cutting - these were simply the leavings swept up into a pile and then cemented onto some scrap ABS sheeting with repeated applications of scenic cement. Like most of this, it's just visual flair though I suppose they could provide light cover to a small team.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybl9qftGXgf2ILl3FFmWKLWNOnqVLfPUDjq7qUpaw51llbpQLwMuwj7ZIQkuQu-eQtAm4LRZml7hk_OjyR3PZf3kFoVtt95wT0QwSpEaeCDkrEZ8o6KrGVam2hT-dUIABrsb2YYWKID2FsdpF-S14bGzC42Lx2c8zVlLEH4uQ40WW0A85lLpHlMpBPtxJ/s3840/PXL_20240104_220636287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybl9qftGXgf2ILl3FFmWKLWNOnqVLfPUDjq7qUpaw51llbpQLwMuwj7ZIQkuQu-eQtAm4LRZml7hk_OjyR3PZf3kFoVtt95wT0QwSpEaeCDkrEZ8o6KrGVam2hT-dUIABrsb2YYWKID2FsdpF-S14bGzC42Lx2c8zVlLEH4uQ40WW0A85lLpHlMpBPtxJ/s16000/PXL_20240104_220636287.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>Another bundle of terrain down, and stuff I can definitely see using regularly - in fact, prior readers will recognize these <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/12/after-action-report-16-december-2023-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">from two games</a> I have already <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2024/01/after-action-report-4-january-2024-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">played with them</a>. These synergize pretty well with the woodlands I've done a few sets of to set up an isolated rural feel - something I plan to expand further with more similarly themed terrain at some point in the future.</div><div><br /></div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-17399658901844942232024-01-08T00:01:00.082-05:002024-01-08T14:02:12.558-05:00After Action Report: 4 January 2024 Bolt Action Engagement<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-si3f_VM7kQ-KmXXIGwCx1DT560w_iAD_12b6NGSKOpnAjX46ZnAO8YHNv169usc8x_63yFWlKRk3yC5FfcsQhUG4p6pS98PMgiXEKVT940mjcncnfBR1MGgbyWK26QjserfSInHMGc28NbfK8vKMVgjMGCw5hyqcG0hhrqcCq26B8KJa5TO2Bs-PtL3s/s3840/PXL_20240104_223908003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-si3f_VM7kQ-KmXXIGwCx1DT560w_iAD_12b6NGSKOpnAjX46ZnAO8YHNv169usc8x_63yFWlKRk3yC5FfcsQhUG4p6pS98PMgiXEKVT940mjcncnfBR1MGgbyWK26QjserfSInHMGc28NbfK8vKMVgjMGCw5hyqcG0hhrqcCq26B8KJa5TO2Bs-PtL3s/s16000/PXL_20240104_223908003.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>On 4 January 2024 I played a game of Bolt Action against our local Finnish expert.<div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Freccia Rotta!</h1><div>The scenario in question was one we have not played in a long time - perhaps ever now that I think about it - "Envelopment", an Attacker/Defender scenario. Here the goal for the Attacker is to get units either into the enemy Deployment Zone for two points per each or completely off the table for three points per each.</div><div><br /></div><div>As we decided the scenario in advance, I was able to get my list worked up to match it, which was also a scenario that <i>potentially </i>allowed me to use my "Defensive Strategy" army special rule. Said rule would <i>probably</i> result in me being the defender, but I wasn't going to be sure, and so put myself in a position to be able to flex into either role.</div><div><br /></div><div>To facilitate this I took an Inex 2LT by himself, my usual two SMG para teams (at 6 men just in case they had to fit into a truck together), a rifle para team, an Inex Rifle team (for the Auto Protetto), a Sniper team, a flamethrower team, an AB41, an M15 tank, an armed truck (for the SMG paras) and unarmed truck (for the rifle team and any tag-alongs), an armed S37, and a Fiat 508 car.</div><div><br /></div><div>Basic idea is that if I had to go on offense, theoretically my entire army could be motorized. Mostly the idea was to ball up and try to break through the enemy at one point, exploiting the first wave / reserve potential to poke in at the weakest point (leading with the armor, hopefully in a place away from the enemy armor if any). I don't really need to kill anything, just get off the board or into the enemy DZ at the end of the game, but in case there's a need to fight the troops are equipped for close-in engagements supported by some vehicle fire and a sniper.</div><div><br /></div><div>If I am on the defensive, I put as much as possible into Hidden and Ambush and wait for the enemy to come. If there's a tank, the vehicles get away from that - the flame thrower, Panzerfausts, and maybe my own AFVs can do something about it while I otherwise try and reduce his infantry. Since I know my opponent is a Fin, I at least can hope his Advance into Ambush technique is mitigated, helping to reduce how often he gets the bonus hit from shooting at ambush.</div><div><br /></div><div>I chose to forgo indirect fire - probably foolishly - in a bid to maximize what was able to get across the board. Mortars - both light and medium in their turn - were tempting to take but ultimately I decided on the offense I would have probably limited opportunity to make use of them and on the defense my enemy had to come to me anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>I won the roll off, and selected Defense and my table side.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Pre-Game and Deployment</h2><div>I have one in-game objective and one personal objective here. In-game, I must prevent as much of my opponent's stuff from getting off the table as possible. Out of game, I want to try out that much-forgotten "Hidden" mechanic.</div><div><br /></div><div>My Defensive Strategy gets me 1 hard point.</div><div><br /></div><div>To stop the opponent I deploy everything along a line, concentrating infantry with anti-tank nearest the road, backed up with my own tank - since the hedges are impassible to vehicles, my opponent's vehicles more or less have to come this way to score. Over on the right and center I concentrate the lighter, MMG-bearing vehicles, backed up by a bit of infantry, to catch his own foot troops. My flamethrower was deployed as far forward as possible with the idea of advancing up through the stye and Ambushing from there any infantry that encroach.</div><div><br /></div><div>As my opponent has 0 units on the board, he has no light of sight - subsequently I was able to deploy everything Hidden, and therefor in Ambush.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihHq5g_WnQAiaaglslkUinORvz43qUc-IfZlhtA64zj5DqkgKvC5NIYkbErgw8tLSwSLZ9qIB5vaCuv4-UNLAgcBQMbP39B4wp9V1kwQa_elgwjc0aM13UBX-pS9ivqcDvzyKeNyjuQPscXyAKSGIVbbMeFWGuppxcNj0PXIQOPEeD6U_PnWUap-U4eMK/s3840/PXL_20240104_223548896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihHq5g_WnQAiaaglslkUinORvz43qUc-IfZlhtA64zj5DqkgKvC5NIYkbErgw8tLSwSLZ9qIB5vaCuv4-UNLAgcBQMbP39B4wp9V1kwQa_elgwjc0aM13UBX-pS9ivqcDvzyKeNyjuQPscXyAKSGIVbbMeFWGuppxcNj0PXIQOPEeD6U_PnWUap-U4eMK/s16000/PXL_20240104_223548896.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFzVTbE1g5z-j1iH5EdUWLtj6QDRW8Heag8tUvY9uZMLE1A0if416j6s-4kJX5AQ220eal5Cha4OM9TzGipshbz70IS3pRBvyUl8hH3EPRY7F3bP9-ogprvdb1Z8ZaUWSRs0zaGgg8ck4ZSlTkwJR0jGEpBPHcVRRIP-GNDPkcqY7v_ZXK5XiM_MX4ZNF/s3840/PXL_20240104_223848071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFzVTbE1g5z-j1iH5EdUWLtj6QDRW8Heag8tUvY9uZMLE1A0if416j6s-4kJX5AQ220eal5Cha4OM9TzGipshbz70IS3pRBvyUl8hH3EPRY7F3bP9-ogprvdb1Z8ZaUWSRs0zaGgg8ck4ZSlTkwJR0jGEpBPHcVRRIP-GNDPkcqY7v_ZXK5XiM_MX4ZNF/s16000/PXL_20240104_223848071.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzECQq-jOVph-QoRFDXynywaCNmSksU2Nv_rXnlp2yJAOGYfq1ewewTcoTgFsry1cZehjaEXOLMA_ITYIGXjyKitS5LdnW_82qQYXiURFXgp2PJ_xLgsnR1l2fXE2zGPUNDLRo9zxed9pd0rmvCNfJhKQXojMcBmxeHD3hAOxRr437ZByfu0AdKDUGm7cA/s3840/PXL_20240104_224112780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzECQq-jOVph-QoRFDXynywaCNmSksU2Nv_rXnlp2yJAOGYfq1ewewTcoTgFsry1cZehjaEXOLMA_ITYIGXjyKitS5LdnW_82qQYXiURFXgp2PJ_xLgsnR1l2fXE2zGPUNDLRo9zxed9pd0rmvCNfJhKQXojMcBmxeHD3hAOxRr437ZByfu0AdKDUGm7cA/s16000/PXL_20240104_224112780.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpzlvCWGtwYAz3jF3wf1f3lOqPS7MLck1du8tecAlNaLYae0Qc5Cd9k6BGFHg-w5Fihq3FNdGGolRtsTmSb_ZqWBvq0gFIFgmnLgooTZdvln2idJTNO9J7TChKI1wfpgPZMPhEIaDBgsyhaP53H-_vJghyphenhyphennKvjJCyD8COLi687azRjkjGaRefD58xLtiW/s3840/PXL_20240104_225912618.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpzlvCWGtwYAz3jF3wf1f3lOqPS7MLck1du8tecAlNaLYae0Qc5Cd9k6BGFHg-w5Fihq3FNdGGolRtsTmSb_ZqWBvq0gFIFgmnLgooTZdvln2idJTNO9J7TChKI1wfpgPZMPhEIaDBgsyhaP53H-_vJghyphenhyphennKvjJCyD8COLi687azRjkjGaRefD58xLtiW/s16000/PXL_20240104_225912618.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 1</h2><div>My opponent brings on his first wave, which is everything - except the Howitzer, which cannot enter the board because he cannot Run on the first turn where I have Defensive Strategy in play.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRe4Lg7mVJPAX57a2v72TNN6a8lMTaeoxgPM-AgWw5bzobldDe6roMugJxbLUFY7SEvk9r6Gh6eVQBspPDLy3tXZlM0au2ztI-l5Susb7yWXNeiaT2grYdUWkunBUR44MdV00AVkthWy7U43N6szREBJPlNe4lSsneC5TkvEXtUNkghrvpOo1c0D0v5_g/s3840/PXL_20240104_231511082.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRe4Lg7mVJPAX57a2v72TNN6a8lMTaeoxgPM-AgWw5bzobldDe6roMugJxbLUFY7SEvk9r6Gh6eVQBspPDLy3tXZlM0au2ztI-l5Susb7yWXNeiaT2grYdUWkunBUR44MdV00AVkthWy7U43N6szREBJPlNe4lSsneC5TkvEXtUNkghrvpOo1c0D0v5_g/s16000/PXL_20240104_231511082.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8KxAJ0wJEYnsZ0k6COHTvr4t43Tjv5YtNB2KBOTkcH1SL94U7MlM9VjRzgnwNzXgyq3Es8OtYWQjfUFBrFMh8OgKZ5RLuhAxf_xU1rMOGrIQWP2O0tSCgc3WNyWUAUs3QBzh3ZURKIlL72xjP2T1XOVCbVMVWgSpqcBNKrCbS5_zwVcFH4bUBTVgmMwM/s3840/PXL_20240104_231517017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguRjvL2qBc7726q1p39nwzp0_2ttKUQPdKIpFNP_p18CJDUyWyS1SEJ5V-dX7-CiRy2hXjP9JXe0QBKrPv77L8fr5126IdwxF1F2GUYIA-_EBevjMyKqD6yH91qCLf3yFmzT9yrea1d9fz59R1LCwnY5mC3mF_N8AaHOyDzUSPE7cmdK8t_Cd80iZmwNf/s3840/PXL_20240104_231530658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguRjvL2qBc7726q1p39nwzp0_2ttKUQPdKIpFNP_p18CJDUyWyS1SEJ5V-dX7-CiRy2hXjP9JXe0QBKrPv77L8fr5126IdwxF1F2GUYIA-_EBevjMyKqD6yH91qCLf3yFmzT9yrea1d9fz59R1LCwnY5mC3mF_N8AaHOyDzUSPE7cmdK8t_Cd80iZmwNf/s16000/PXL_20240104_231530658.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 2</h2><div>Wait for it...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HCr4B6JBw3ZW5A2jgPRG3Wpm3qz4za_iKk_jqWUoh-WkOLFUGnZtA9GFSu_tQd2OEQkvGI6mTG5M2l9wRZ4v_5VPhVms56TUBxZfj8Wboiykm9vwayOQbYUdci-gKQm-ITRTq-dp8B8eSM7S9jFMiplMM09-v4LYwPCS2fO8hkiL2_OmpT6605ROaxkW/s3840/PXL_20240104_232653875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HCr4B6JBw3ZW5A2jgPRG3Wpm3qz4za_iKk_jqWUoh-WkOLFUGnZtA9GFSu_tQd2OEQkvGI6mTG5M2l9wRZ4v_5VPhVms56TUBxZfj8Wboiykm9vwayOQbYUdci-gKQm-ITRTq-dp8B8eSM7S9jFMiplMM09-v4LYwPCS2fO8hkiL2_OmpT6605ROaxkW/s16000/PXL_20240104_232653875.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxD0lgoG1tjWnhWsm-2fY8eWW2ONBZETyYY17JtcfU7hsPkWegIpgTtlckRlCXkoszCs25TVk7M2qAv2lq8L_CcobfrFoaRMmD0HuONuq6lVDjnMqEEUUpetwlK7ReaukxraosslAqK2BBU72ZrMSEGvTx1O77nMvzgbk8QDZFR9XQQj8HPxfwKXx4X17d/s3840/PXL_20240104_232700135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxD0lgoG1tjWnhWsm-2fY8eWW2ONBZETyYY17JtcfU7hsPkWegIpgTtlckRlCXkoszCs25TVk7M2qAv2lq8L_CcobfrFoaRMmD0HuONuq6lVDjnMqEEUUpetwlK7ReaukxraosslAqK2BBU72ZrMSEGvTx1O77nMvzgbk8QDZFR9XQQj8HPxfwKXx4X17d/s16000/PXL_20240104_232700135.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9L1r1sqPHMjTePH-kvDPeR6FWBFC8iZVujIz0RJBO-_dJEUtate-V3_n-krvgxonmoC8njEj1Vhyk3znfookCjom-LYbCtF_5QmpzmKqQhVHbuV6izZZ1bgNOvj19EgVGWbQgumdhhMm0Kxt3tuft9LnRzu0xBRTlijtKcPozcyi29t-nKT8xO-QQkhL/s3840/PXL_20240104_232707884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9L1r1sqPHMjTePH-kvDPeR6FWBFC8iZVujIz0RJBO-_dJEUtate-V3_n-krvgxonmoC8njEj1Vhyk3znfookCjom-LYbCtF_5QmpzmKqQhVHbuV6izZZ1bgNOvj19EgVGWbQgumdhhMm0Kxt3tuft9LnRzu0xBRTlijtKcPozcyi29t-nKT8xO-QQkhL/s16000/PXL_20240104_232707884.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXe2M8p54jZDZVdJ7Q25h-VEUhhNzge1DJNFC7YO2yf_bTHs3YIp1Qs4E6uZSphz07-LpS2_2qp7wB02UMIByH5nBp-RMMMOhULlJnAYG_-VZBl740kv6MOnJeW4AHsXAxKZpQhtACaBrnQjQqtkO40c60uX7N-tNCFmNZS7vo2gS_lid0VvOHAiXRYDb/s3840/PXL_20240104_232717555.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXe2M8p54jZDZVdJ7Q25h-VEUhhNzge1DJNFC7YO2yf_bTHs3YIp1Qs4E6uZSphz07-LpS2_2qp7wB02UMIByH5nBp-RMMMOhULlJnAYG_-VZBl740kv6MOnJeW4AHsXAxKZpQhtACaBrnQjQqtkO40c60uX7N-tNCFmNZS7vo2gS_lid0VvOHAiXRYDb/s16000/PXL_20240104_232717555.MP.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 3</h2><div>Wait for it...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0ISpvqkrGz8CdhGyfcf9sh9tWWxcQNjjFyjNNgCl23M5WPGla5eSsoPmgO_q8Fc4ZWVeaSZ3jmHAS9GQXf1E9i49ILXxIjr-eR4ziQdNGhlKKYmOhyivO-MTRfXkAY5MB3oCcK8ZzpQCHi_ik-rPcUzMijQEFtyjDTVqsjsoiAG65kfYqKkVyYeTgxn2/s3840/PXL_20240104_234216426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0ISpvqkrGz8CdhGyfcf9sh9tWWxcQNjjFyjNNgCl23M5WPGla5eSsoPmgO_q8Fc4ZWVeaSZ3jmHAS9GQXf1E9i49ILXxIjr-eR4ziQdNGhlKKYmOhyivO-MTRfXkAY5MB3oCcK8ZzpQCHi_ik-rPcUzMijQEFtyjDTVqsjsoiAG65kfYqKkVyYeTgxn2/s16000/PXL_20240104_234216426.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsOjH-gxNdPp4xtnF9YO2bXXhaaSR4DcXeJXlJTVu0-rwIPcfK2AgeAwe6NE6TDeBN6SJVw2_SByd3Ouj9hb9GSS-rlYZYwsUCvmjt0Rmea3WoaNFIbdiokiIvDiE-MZtLBxQjeYCbxy5ToWYNECeK7Pg2IIKfJp5J0UYolwoqHvz5w-lkM8od1M9ZVRW/s3840/PXL_20240104_234536527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsOjH-gxNdPp4xtnF9YO2bXXhaaSR4DcXeJXlJTVu0-rwIPcfK2AgeAwe6NE6TDeBN6SJVw2_SByd3Ouj9hb9GSS-rlYZYwsUCvmjt0Rmea3WoaNFIbdiokiIvDiE-MZtLBxQjeYCbxy5ToWYNECeK7Pg2IIKfJp5J0UYolwoqHvz5w-lkM8od1M9ZVRW/s16000/PXL_20240104_234536527.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_UHvw-3mi0PnLRZfMC1iPCRUw7alh7JtCEhUV9Wmqmle4eExHVvMH1TaYvNLR2KbfuqXwWIsHUvrxC5Co2N8S7FI3_2FsmBhRJo4BkRCE2i9kNDFW7fyBF5MV2r3mP1MBEIhiD6xJFEdRYOZ_AkNAeTv4IYhgN7m8ckCcTPVXs_-MZBB6LOApvbAPi7-/s3840/PXL_20240104_234541887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_UHvw-3mi0PnLRZfMC1iPCRUw7alh7JtCEhUV9Wmqmle4eExHVvMH1TaYvNLR2KbfuqXwWIsHUvrxC5Co2N8S7FI3_2FsmBhRJo4BkRCE2i9kNDFW7fyBF5MV2r3mP1MBEIhiD6xJFEdRYOZ_AkNAeTv4IYhgN7m8ckCcTPVXs_-MZBB6LOApvbAPi7-/s16000/PXL_20240104_234541887.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4mHeAfgUzp3_TzvtbnSAh2RTf-vG_i686sItpaLpQZq2GirBln2D8u5h3Ku6TJq7AV3uT1WBCS3OSHO7f08-uuuOmL5H8NGBF_APSkqjK-iqNZHlP-oiKZS4Bnw12JlqIq-EW1BzIArumdO8WQ-oOBg2mZ3cInFLPC5xyrvPHknKf-fkabJECd0W0f9C/s3840/PXL_20240104_234548174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4mHeAfgUzp3_TzvtbnSAh2RTf-vG_i686sItpaLpQZq2GirBln2D8u5h3Ku6TJq7AV3uT1WBCS3OSHO7f08-uuuOmL5H8NGBF_APSkqjK-iqNZHlP-oiKZS4Bnw12JlqIq-EW1BzIArumdO8WQ-oOBg2mZ3cInFLPC5xyrvPHknKf-fkabJECd0W0f9C/s16000/PXL_20240104_234548174.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDJJqes68I3-QwUiiIb1iK33aQkkNrl2bOXDdUH-H3ma6VNsu7ffWt1eK3z66wxvuCNndELRaVawxdnsFTS-RqjytOXLUrimvXFKxSmqWjxKDBU07aoqMwlXZ2L9XPfPcAd9QnZaAZJaPSIyEcAUH-xrCIZrHUUODvJy_q7MxOrs144nvEUNvnnOnKjDF/s3840/PXL_20240104_234555568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDJJqes68I3-QwUiiIb1iK33aQkkNrl2bOXDdUH-H3ma6VNsu7ffWt1eK3z66wxvuCNndELRaVawxdnsFTS-RqjytOXLUrimvXFKxSmqWjxKDBU07aoqMwlXZ2L9XPfPcAd9QnZaAZJaPSIyEcAUH-xrCIZrHUUODvJy_q7MxOrs144nvEUNvnnOnKjDF/s16000/PXL_20240104_234555568.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 4</h2><div>My opponent's armored car - which has Recce and thus can spot from 12" - drives through a gap in the woods and targets the exposed flank of my tank! Springing the ambush on both my Paratroopers and the tank itself, an exchange of fire leaves all involved unscathed in a very disappointing opening salvo.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Finnish infantry push through the dense hedges on my right flank, prompting the AS37 to open up on an AT rifle team - successfully eliminating them from the board. In response, my opponent's light mortar - which has managed to get itself <i>exactly </i>12" from the Flamethrower team I forgot to take off Ambush - drops a shell and dishes out two pins on said team.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoDUjVEJBYzZRo0ViP_zaxuTB9WvPXgLJfvZ2GyFM3A6lp6jw8P-XXvrQ_cg6ZUJ3W56xuf7V9myG4vkqRarsuOXFyVtf_kSKVZHLrMWYaZblOTvkkmAO2Y_dG_9VGFIkYO5YBNkOReVVGM0pl2z-IEd-5zBqy1A3yI4xcZbfvIm9ckkP66P9oTgeX9i4/s3840/PXL_20240104_234859588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoDUjVEJBYzZRo0ViP_zaxuTB9WvPXgLJfvZ2GyFM3A6lp6jw8P-XXvrQ_cg6ZUJ3W56xuf7V9myG4vkqRarsuOXFyVtf_kSKVZHLrMWYaZblOTvkkmAO2Y_dG_9VGFIkYO5YBNkOReVVGM0pl2z-IEd-5zBqy1A3yI4xcZbfvIm9ckkP66P9oTgeX9i4/s16000/PXL_20240104_234859588.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qu0Pd-C-F6ioTpCvVfv5k6AjTmI4m5FjxO1z2LPtQdlB2asNRLSBL1t48F8IUtPz6jVdrdaV6hqe_BW38CZnwaa0ySES6P9SMi13Tj0LC4nZkgEdXs-RVNyZ2HDRnWr_ArJGQhqEzfvzUiBW3DlLG5Wwg3L0O9RuhZ3RGDBNX-3wdUq8bTV1q1P03UDp/s3840/PXL_20240104_235516321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qu0Pd-C-F6ioTpCvVfv5k6AjTmI4m5FjxO1z2LPtQdlB2asNRLSBL1t48F8IUtPz6jVdrdaV6hqe_BW38CZnwaa0ySES6P9SMi13Tj0LC4nZkgEdXs-RVNyZ2HDRnWr_ArJGQhqEzfvzUiBW3DlLG5Wwg3L0O9RuhZ3RGDBNX-3wdUq8bTV1q1P03UDp/s16000/PXL_20240104_235516321.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQtb1YQyvBU8o_6yIkMYSnim6GaBP03KcHT3Mr7QXkBjyUAv_IIM2KDCQ6BEwiIG9w5yhi7Nv8Sy6Hq7WThQnNwR5pza8EYmbEp4KSWorksvDDSc_0Y9kMVmjyB9mWHZ-e7ogAK2xCvQBXQlYjj3gdoZCVd_O00lYTnU1a3nhhx_-txPID68wjqNfVR-1/s3840/PXL_20240105_000018214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQtb1YQyvBU8o_6yIkMYSnim6GaBP03KcHT3Mr7QXkBjyUAv_IIM2KDCQ6BEwiIG9w5yhi7Nv8Sy6Hq7WThQnNwR5pza8EYmbEp4KSWorksvDDSc_0Y9kMVmjyB9mWHZ-e7ogAK2xCvQBXQlYjj3gdoZCVd_O00lYTnU1a3nhhx_-txPID68wjqNfVR-1/s16000/PXL_20240105_000018214.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97ALQV7T8iiAhi3eff5xCfNtHGyb7PWph110IpSYIw9SSqmQjPPuHQHvSmQeyTew9zXU_aY2aMzztUXUpQbKAnMMNc6NzN7wFfcYL1DZE0WVysYt-yjq_t_XTT-kUSQ96Hbeu_4CjPPEoAB7TBtQTq8P03Xj8WGhoabOnT6_us7mHyU9uKfZ43Jk6m3DJ/s3840/PXL_20240105_000021593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97ALQV7T8iiAhi3eff5xCfNtHGyb7PWph110IpSYIw9SSqmQjPPuHQHvSmQeyTew9zXU_aY2aMzztUXUpQbKAnMMNc6NzN7wFfcYL1DZE0WVysYt-yjq_t_XTT-kUSQ96Hbeu_4CjPPEoAB7TBtQTq8P03Xj8WGhoabOnT6_us7mHyU9uKfZ43Jk6m3DJ/s16000/PXL_20240105_000021593.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhboQVYdZlWaKSIMHAMPndLtslYdVoOoezCiQJD7QnAw67HVwK1CO5WGJi1-WHqp49JabwCBLxtWAOvPlTZWNiOgguQXi_CD98QpqSG2PtH6Ojy5fzIM_MCebTos5C6i8MhkeTTW3qS-i61I8tYUHO4InWEaRXuWSQj25GF0WTrJUVUJRQuubpeaBqHOS/s3840/PXL_20240105_000249248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhboQVYdZlWaKSIMHAMPndLtslYdVoOoezCiQJD7QnAw67HVwK1CO5WGJi1-WHqp49JabwCBLxtWAOvPlTZWNiOgguQXi_CD98QpqSG2PtH6Ojy5fzIM_MCebTos5C6i8MhkeTTW3qS-i61I8tYUHO4InWEaRXuWSQj25GF0WTrJUVUJRQuubpeaBqHOS/s16000/PXL_20240105_000249248.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24mhQftds_BvtDphNtTU9BrNC9_pAuIwn_s0L4LEy6GRHLoGp10fpy3qCLsG_EVPYgwGVzrLV6gavfmd-gS9-gWHoQ3ImnDpH1ctUDxBRBaR77kcpahevYQyHZDXhdMDG9Ac3pPiq5awtDt29U0WMFiwx6YBSNvQvD4QXuVBtYdzUZRfzsaYdbN99TtAF/s3840/PXL_20240105_000254416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24mhQftds_BvtDphNtTU9BrNC9_pAuIwn_s0L4LEy6GRHLoGp10fpy3qCLsG_EVPYgwGVzrLV6gavfmd-gS9-gWHoQ3ImnDpH1ctUDxBRBaR77kcpahevYQyHZDXhdMDG9Ac3pPiq5awtDt29U0WMFiwx6YBSNvQvD4QXuVBtYdzUZRfzsaYdbN99TtAF/s16000/PXL_20240105_000254416.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKJbPFXo-FWFa6wpMPJF_cSqn3IV26bqG-WEyfvNn-CQPVRpteNZLScnpxljimRgtQSGdo0Faz0VcAtGbzg9YoCFKhDQyxdk9JNVwlql8AiFKXFLOGbUj4s53VtsSvqFN-HnbC9fXN0jxaYGVoVTWONUdYAVIR-Q-tPfNnIHdOGz9LpXAHb8o41t9bSnd/s3840/PXL_20240105_000301143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKJbPFXo-FWFa6wpMPJF_cSqn3IV26bqG-WEyfvNn-CQPVRpteNZLScnpxljimRgtQSGdo0Faz0VcAtGbzg9YoCFKhDQyxdk9JNVwlql8AiFKXFLOGbUj4s53VtsSvqFN-HnbC9fXN0jxaYGVoVTWONUdYAVIR-Q-tPfNnIHdOGz9LpXAHb8o41t9bSnd/s16000/PXL_20240105_000301143.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbjq6Rp5TahRlcJgKBwQL1o7pSS1yzwjOvCHcUQKg4yPVDeiJW9lO-O9JwHJ7BBK2m0b2TbmSQfBGW17agEAd67WFLh1zYgbt_V5QAyO9AWDRrtbDr58UMDLTkT2ApJhdL8eQG-rIQ5ju2Gb4UcqaLxRobnaeDpV-sbsjbXP7RUfEhcO-lZxObQ-HIA1-/s3840/PXL_20240105_000309411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1633" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbjq6Rp5TahRlcJgKBwQL1o7pSS1yzwjOvCHcUQKg4yPVDeiJW9lO-O9JwHJ7BBK2m0b2TbmSQfBGW17agEAd67WFLh1zYgbt_V5QAyO9AWDRrtbDr58UMDLTkT2ApJhdL8eQG-rIQ5ju2Gb4UcqaLxRobnaeDpV-sbsjbXP7RUfEhcO-lZxObQ-HIA1-/s16000/PXL_20240105_000309411.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 5</h2><div>Over on my left, some exchange of fire puts a pin on my SMG paras, while my tank surges forward in support - MMG fire hammers out from the bow while the main gun misses the armored car as it Recces away. Advancing this tank was a bit silly, as it allowed my opponent's SPG to advance up and (as I am no longer hidden) fire a shell at at - fortunately it misses wide.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over in the center, my Para-Rifles open up in support of the right flank, trying to cut down the oncoming infantry. They are joined by the S37 and AB41, and collectively inflict considerable casualties on the units moving through the wheat fields.</div><div><br /></div><div>My opponent was not helpless this round - his troops managed to put a pin on my S37 (which would become a Real Problem later), and the mortar a few more on the flamethrowers (who at this point I've given up on and am using specifically as bait to prevent him running the mortar team off).</div><div><br /></div><div>So far things look OK for Italy - some of his troops on my right are in range to make it to my DZ but are in a weak enough state that I may be able to mop up, while the center and right are unlikely to see him make any gains into what is likely to be the game's last turn.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf-u8zQQR4AIc3bodqEQGep_KkIhI01o8y35gh6eRPFI-oK3COU3G1jBA-YFWKtyR2_LG6zC3oZBW6kJUEXhEfhuNdMObS6tKBxgaPD8SUbWTir_ihwob7UtMhY0xfjARBOX5I1yi8YplO3pImWSTevp9ZUlyAZNJedGgDlmjHvYAxSXbO2xv1mlxk5Oj/s3840/PXL_20240105_003325736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3593" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3JfhXfVgFzgYMvpNqK-mwir7RahPiruZyCx1sshabo2mZF9YDqgyw0t099qCoQYerGmn63JYj8GXyVK-O8ZCXysYULvKbyekd1ZloJIiErLvrPlAe7uEAhVueF8bsRCi3BYsC_KsEQbkc-nYuMjDus7GvR1aE1ExtYH5hKXDmdhWBMXfznusbMABqs1n/s16000/PXL_20240105_004658363.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 6</h2><div>My tank gets up into the wooded area in an attempt to hose down his infantry while destroying his armored car - instead no one gets hurt, and my tank gets a pin for its troubles. It seems to be a recurring theme with my games where any "knife fight" between AFVs results in nothing ever happening!</div><div><br /></div><div>In support, the proximal SMG para squad advances up and dumps fire into the same unit, to little effect.</div><div><br /></div><div>My AB41 opens up on some of his troops pushing through the wheat, but is unable to stop them - a subsequently successful series of activations on his part gets two units into my DZ, giving him a 2-point winning lead over me. Alas the S37 had failed its Activation and could not help, and so the riders - Inexperienced Green Shirkers - successfully Activate and slip out of the transport to try and help - alas while they inflict a casualty, no units are removed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here I get The Big Dumb - I figure this is probably the last turn and so I should do something to at least try and even the score - one of his rifle units had occupied the farm house, within charge range of my Fanatic Para-Rifles. If I charge and wipe them out, the game will tie. If I don't, I lose anyway. Fighting simultaneously within the Building, turns out Veteran Tough Fighters just have that edge over Veteran Fanatics, and so I lose the unit. At least I inflicted a few casualties I guess. What I <i>should</i> have done was plonk them back on Ambush.</div><div><br /></div><div>A quick check of the Scenario reveals Turn 7 is an option and so we roll off - Turn 7 it is!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUu2cOn_4h4UdFYWU_7CIefTKxVu5zdJCdkw4Z0qcQ0kVf_ZtYpP7DVNO31HHaV6WFrrsHpjQaI85cKRc5XQeJsP1pcF9JYIEifwoKtPZ_4TjHC3Qxn9K0HPMnGOBFpUGERdE0OnWCyRATgK1A5JKNjFTS91kDuq9ls7gs9l9GsmOeygXhh_vWHzauksf/s3840/PXL_20240105_004828998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUu2cOn_4h4UdFYWU_7CIefTKxVu5zdJCdkw4Z0qcQ0kVf_ZtYpP7DVNO31HHaV6WFrrsHpjQaI85cKRc5XQeJsP1pcF9JYIEifwoKtPZ_4TjHC3Qxn9K0HPMnGOBFpUGERdE0OnWCyRATgK1A5JKNjFTS91kDuq9ls7gs9l9GsmOeygXhh_vWHzauksf/s16000/PXL_20240105_004828998.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1842" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAih2mZizpVXNQCacp9W70s_bBpcyHcUb3jf-A3TwMcoCW6LRv1YRsl59hOKJeidklNogtXv533qDsoEtEuIqynOr0Dy2fdqF45uCCQJ-pYTWByFH8wZhoeYb7w3afy4ta_XLsGQupuaslnewOU8jMoKm7fKZMVHRfqpwCSYglvGx9TLwA-q6VAI4iGtP/s16000/PXL_20240105_010829985.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 7</h2><div>This is basically my last chance to even things out, and at first it goes well! My SMG paras assault through the woods near the armored duel, and eliminate one of my opponent's rifle squads while said tank whips around the rear and finally pops off the armored car. My other SMG Para squad is not so lucky, however, as their Advance on the SPG sees the Panzerfaust shoot wide (though the SMGs manage a pin on it).</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately success my left sees the opponent accomplish much more on the right. The mortar, successfully focused on that flamethrower squad, manages to finally kill a member of the unit. With my rifle squad gone, my opponent is able to follow up and charge the flamethrower - with no Defensive Fire available because it is Down, it becomes a melee and the team is lost - but at least takes a Finn with him! Unfortunately their consolidation gets dangerously close to my transports... One of my opponent's units gets off the board, while the rest cement themselves into the DZ - any attempts to do anything about it are to no avail, as what little fire I can get on target fails to remove any completely. I pull my Green Shirkers back to protect the S37 from automatic removal, but the Finnish assaulters still nab the truck in the end.</div><div><br /></div><div>Game!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5K2yQpLcWiw2jaBPToroNmU0azwGv6qJ_DTQV_lif3lmsCjzWYX4mzhLMuoNgnxUrpxROmZmZQXyBAb7E5IFxhI7luq0C-NHy94DNTJxHIgNSPFmcJxT2WjSnUz31u3mobiCBHTP-MGoVAq7dEUsdW3fvTQweSVPvt9M5sJzCXQ5hfP8s659DaeH9PTp/s3840/PXL_20240105_011346340.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5K2yQpLcWiw2jaBPToroNmU0azwGv6qJ_DTQV_lif3lmsCjzWYX4mzhLMuoNgnxUrpxROmZmZQXyBAb7E5IFxhI7luq0C-NHy94DNTJxHIgNSPFmcJxT2WjSnUz31u3mobiCBHTP-MGoVAq7dEUsdW3fvTQweSVPvt9M5sJzCXQ5hfP8s659DaeH9PTp/s16000/PXL_20240105_011346340.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAwUlxz-p9Pct1nHCqlkvNcGuo9dB380-Sc47JeH0tcIDlVmVM-7DsVEm5M58PWoP29o50GfY20VoO_R_sBtgHOE0KSHZUPqgUABMxoHzC0jCDV9DfiLLm1zgea_7uqn24Q2n0J1hVYKibnh0_9AdNlGATi5CmDGDaHzlHUgn5081Ks4pgCqc3OA1x7qG/s3840/PXL_20240105_013348068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1793" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAwUlxz-p9Pct1nHCqlkvNcGuo9dB380-Sc47JeH0tcIDlVmVM-7DsVEm5M58PWoP29o50GfY20VoO_R_sBtgHOE0KSHZUPqgUABMxoHzC0jCDV9DfiLLm1zgea_7uqn24Q2n0J1hVYKibnh0_9AdNlGATi5CmDGDaHzlHUgn5081Ks4pgCqc3OA1x7qG/s16000/PXL_20240105_013348068.jpg" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Score</h2><div>14-6 Finland! </div><div><br /></div><div>From what I can tell he managed to get one unit off the board completely (+3 points), had four units in my DZ (+8 points), and killed three of my units (+3 points).</div><div><br /></div><div>In turn, I only killed three of his units (+6 points).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfNEvj3KmAbutOSquj6B0LQiTVgUaleJcKurniYVExljxMeYdjQMg7ragD4_HoR-4Sak3dFIg7R1-L7DWRACJNtLoAUt-3GAkl385AXH37Hi0ul9b06SWVJBjQ4bgbZlmjCflyeXiHcomP9_3B-6wVmImR-1BswladLdn5j53DDsZqlTkIQwzLkozmREi/s3840/PXL_20240105_013356889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfNEvj3KmAbutOSquj6B0LQiTVgUaleJcKurniYVExljxMeYdjQMg7ragD4_HoR-4Sak3dFIg7R1-L7DWRACJNtLoAUt-3GAkl385AXH37Hi0ul9b06SWVJBjQ4bgbZlmjCflyeXiHcomP9_3B-6wVmImR-1BswladLdn5j53DDsZqlTkIQwzLkozmREi/s16000/PXL_20240105_013356889.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Retrospectives</h2><div>My opponent did pretty well - cards were stacked against him at the start, and if I had placed my units better from the get go over on the right things may well have gone completely different. Fortunately, he saw the relative lack of firepower over on that side and made a dedicated push through which worked out in the end - if I hadn't managed to knick his AT rifle right off the bat it would have gone even better, too.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>My sniper team played no role - partly because he never had a great shot and partly because I forgot about him completely - I really should have deployed him somewhere over on the right, where I think it would have changed the game (if nothing else he would have dropped that medium mortar team!). That truck with the MMG should also have been oriented more usefully, too, behind the emplacement and angled at the fenced-in area. And, of course, I <i>really</i> should not have thrown away an entire para squad assaulting that farm house!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't think having an indirect weapon would have helped much here, especially since I wasn't sure if I was going to be attacker or not. </div><div><br /></div><div>Playing with Hidden was the real nugget here - these worked pretty well in my favor in this scenario, and helped temper my range disadvantage with SMGs. The ability to pre-empt things with an Ambush order was also great. Listening to various podcasts online it seems like even the more advanced players rarely take advantage of it, and I think from now on I am going to try and make use of it whenever possible (though by default I can only go into Ambush if I am triggering my Defensive Strategy or if a Scenario specifically allows).</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>Fun game! I like trying new mechanics so that was icing on the cake. This game was interspersed with a local film student's documentary project, wherein I definitely do not interview well, but it's great to help someone out with a school assignment when it intersects with some of my interests - a rare occasion for sure.</div><div><br /></div><div>Looking forward to getting some more games in when I can!</div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-33310902188688042332024-01-01T00:01:00.171-05:002024-01-04T14:22:05.139-05:00Chain Link and Concrete: 2023 in Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCWHwlT0TQbpV5i8IOyslxDaYVMv49s2WSdiRvpYdygo_U2m7niRGA3_iNfUk70mj9QP_QgW2DsLHLNdDcTBuGNl4fA7AI3tDAFArwlZ_i16UmWJx4Fr3u5cNP65oRSuvOd_kU_Esiu1B8XsDIrlBpc6kz1G5wje2LZnbez5MzoMWXWY3Qk1Mq9GB49Ue/s3840/PXL_20231001_195159310-EDIT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCWHwlT0TQbpV5i8IOyslxDaYVMv49s2WSdiRvpYdygo_U2m7niRGA3_iNfUk70mj9QP_QgW2DsLHLNdDcTBuGNl4fA7AI3tDAFArwlZ_i16UmWJx4Fr3u5cNP65oRSuvOd_kU_Esiu1B8XsDIrlBpc6kz1G5wje2LZnbez5MzoMWXWY3Qk1Mq9GB49Ue/s16000/PXL_20231001_195159310-EDIT.jpg" /></a></div><p>The year 2023 has concluded.</p><p>I have put out 65 posts over this year - the most <i>ever</i> put up here on this nearly 9-year-old Blog. In line with the established trend, the content is overwhelmingly focused on miniatures and miniature wargaming - including a lot of the content being made up of After Action Reports of varying descriptions. As I now have an established gaming scene, I've begun to focus more on content related to it rather than a lot of my old theoretical posts - that's not to say I don't still tinker with things in the background, though!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">To My Readers</h1><p>To all who've perused the blog over the last year (or more), thank you for keeping an eye about the place. It isn't as interactive now as it used to be - it's Blogging in 2023 - but I still find this a handy place to share out experiences and the occasional idea or three.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Things of Note in 2023</h1><p>Content is generally more focused this year, as though I've messed with some RPG world building <i>stuff</i> in the background, none of it has seeped to the surface yet and thus it's just been wargaming and miniature painting really.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Bolt Action</h2><p>Having started playing late last year, this title has definitely become my primary focus. Though I'm not exactly a WW2 aficionado, I've found the system appealing and I've been enjoying the chance to get games in whenever possible - and if my notes are anything to go by on this Blog, I've played some 26 games just this year - including <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/03/bolt-action-event-recap-operation-pugilist.html" target="_blank">not just one</a>, but <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/bolt-action-event-recap-operation-cobra.html" target="_blank">two different tournaments</a>. Indeed, I was even motivated to do <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/bolt-action-year-in-retrospect.html" target="_blank">a miniature "year in review" celebrating my one year mark as a Bolt Action player</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NJyYbqM5bUnQp31GcVTpToBrYX2SP_ls3tTXXitlqozWPtZo5xyqN12Dg4oJ__RK7RLH2wNjAr-040SGG-lSTjLaW4G_38Crc-q93UcvJ6pxJ5-uIr8Urz_QVyxTkh-lG162KxBpLhOppLAAgfW3RcJlQyG3m8sdmD7dFbRdmJ8-k1KohPsh2CO12n7n/s1303/1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="733" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NJyYbqM5bUnQp31GcVTpToBrYX2SP_ls3tTXXitlqozWPtZo5xyqN12Dg4oJ__RK7RLH2wNjAr-040SGG-lSTjLaW4G_38Crc-q93UcvJ6pxJ5-uIr8Urz_QVyxTkh-lG162KxBpLhOppLAAgfW3RcJlQyG3m8sdmD7dFbRdmJ8-k1KohPsh2CO12n7n/s320/1.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><p></p><p>Since 2023 began, I've expanded my collection of Italians considerably, adding things like <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/01/bringing-fire-to-firefight-new-bolt-action-italians.html" target="_blank">Engineers and Flame Tanks</a>, <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/02/paratroopers-heart-of-reinforcement.html" target="_blank">Paratroopers</a>, <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/06/converting-semovente-da-7518-to-7534.html" target="_blank">SPGs</a>, a <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/09/decided-by-fiat-car-for-my-ba-italian-forces.html" target="_blank">utility car</a>, and <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/09/in-preparazione-per-un-torneo.html" target="_blank">more</a> to keep things fresh and to introduce new capabilities to my overall European-theater-themed Italians. I have not had the opportunity to do <i>everything</i> I've wanted for Italy - there's plenty in my backlog bin and even more that I don't even own yet - but considerable progress was made.</p><p>Beyond Italy, I even started (but did not play) a second faction this year - British, first by way of <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/going-commando-my-new-army-for-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">some Commandos</a> and sundry - <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/ba-cromwell-ready-to-roll-out.html" target="_blank">then a proper tank</a>. This will probably be my main "Alternative" army so they'll definitely turn up again from time to time, especially if I start reaching out to introduce new players.</p><p>It wasn't just a year for practical stuff, either - I dabbled a bit in some vehicle design based off of a 3rd-party design ruleset, creating <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-panzer-i-ausf-f-in-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">a German tank</a> and <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-p2640-tank-in-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">an Italian Tank</a> not currently represented in the rules anywhere. I even engaged in a bit of armchair review of <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/more-dough-for-pasta-mill-italian-units-tough-gut.html" target="_blank">the Italian units within Tough Gut</a> and <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/italy-in-case-blue.html" target="_blank">Case Blue</a>!</p><p>Our group grew a little this year - there's just four of us you could call regular, with maybe two swing players, but while a number of people we've enticed over the last year haven't stick around we did get our fourth regular out of it - the very one I demo'd the game to <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/01/after-action-report-23-january-2023-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">back in January</a>. Glad to have them too - they play Finns.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Infinity</h2><p>I first started to play Infinity back at the end of 2021, but only put in a few games before stepping back to build out my collection over the winter - some of which were covered in <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/01/chain-link-and-concrete-2022-in-review.html" target="_blank">the 2022 year-end post</a>. I ended up doing a few batches here in 2023 - kicking off the near year with some <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/01/haqq-y-new-year.html" target="_blank">robots and hackers</a>, painting up some <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-sword-sharpens-more-models-for-haqqislam.html" target="_blank">Zhayedan</a>, <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/04/from-sands-and-shadows-my-haqqislam.html" target="_blank">Ghazi</a>, <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/05/five-pillars-more-new-ghulam-for-my-haqqislam.html" target="_blank">Ghulam</a>, <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/05/infinity-interlude-some-n2s-and-hvts.html" target="_blank">HVTs and SecDets</a>, more <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/06/cultivating-cult-more-hassassin-for-haqqislam.html" target="_blank">Hassassin</a>, my first <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/06/tag-youre-it-infinity-shakush.html" target="_blank">TAG</a>, and <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/knauf-outlaw-sniper.html" target="_blank">a proxy for Knauf</a>. I started playing again in late March, and eventually got involved in a local "grow league" <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/infinity-league-review.html" target="_blank">that I recapped here</a>.</p><p>I ended up playing 11 games in 2023, <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/09/infinity-first-anniversary-review.html" target="_blank">passing and reflecting on the one-year mark</a> like I did with Bolt Action, but didn't find the local scene to really hold me as well as the Bolt Action one - it's a close-knit group and I am very much the outsider there - this tempers hype since I am less engaged with them on a regular basis. The skill gap is also <i>enormous</i>. Once the league wrapped up, I shifted focus back over to Bolt Action and didn't really touch anything Infinity afterwards. With the LGS circling the drain, I don't believe the local group even has a regular day for me to drop in on anymore, either.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Wargames Terrain</h2><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OcWVQcUWB7ApAM3V_RG8Yrc1bjA1oYFvIGYMCCoBvE_K3xs5tWtKW5FARpFJTYviQvDBz1kNzG7xWDJaFqJYFF3O0FLsiOz_sSKdyGTVt2bmCw9I5CXsB43hipI-7WOr3uUEZNEe3zm5e7lCaAqI-cTbfPbSWyVl8Vf_PGHP-Zv8-0pPJCcO7213xiX6/s1303/2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="733" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OcWVQcUWB7ApAM3V_RG8Yrc1bjA1oYFvIGYMCCoBvE_K3xs5tWtKW5FARpFJTYviQvDBz1kNzG7xWDJaFqJYFF3O0FLsiOz_sSKdyGTVt2bmCw9I5CXsB43hipI-7WOr3uUEZNEe3zm5e7lCaAqI-cTbfPbSWyVl8Vf_PGHP-Zv8-0pPJCcO7213xiX6/s320/2.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>Towards the latter half of the year, <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/11/deo-gratias-wargame-terrain.html" target="_blank">I started</a> to <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/11/all-roads-lead-to-board-edge.html" target="_blank">churn out</a> terrain in <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/12/regarding-recent-ruins.html" target="_blank">a series</a> of <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/12/some-small-buildings.html" target="_blank">back-to-back</a> / intermingled <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/12/hunker-in-bunker.html" target="_blank">projects</a> - pretty much all focused on Bolt Action use. Since our LGS has a poor selection of suitable terrain, up until I got on it we've almost entirely relied on one guy for our battlefields (with my post-apoc stuff from the This is Not a Test days serving as a reserve). Some of it is things I've had in the backlog bin for a while, while others are novel creations or from an assortment of things passed on to me from another one of our local players.<p></p><p>Among these, <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/11/terrain-for-woodland-warfare.html" target="_blank">the particular style of trees</a> I do turned out to be surprisingly popular among the users of <a href="http://reddit.com/r/terrainBuilding" target="_blank">r/terrainbuilding</a> and my locals alike, encouraging me to make <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/12/more-woods-for-pile.html" target="_blank">more of the same</a>.</p><p>With winter making it a bit more difficult to do a good primer layer or large-scale varnishing with a rattle can, things have slowed down on this front but the effort I did put in netted me a solid collection - enough that I can readily fill a table (even if the theming is a touch skewed).</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Other Stuff</h2><p>Wrote a bit more about cycling late in the year, doing a two-year review of <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-montague-navigator-two-years-in-the-saddle.html" target="_blank">my commuter bike</a> and talking a bit about some of the modifications I'd made to it.</p><p>Back in February, I had an opportunity to try out Pathfinder 2.0, when a local established D&D 5.0 group hosted an open-invite adventure to explore the (then recently released) boxed set to anyone interested. I was only able to make their second and third (final) session, but it was worthwhile. Based on my limited exposure to the system I'd say it was OK, but a marked departure from Pathfinder's 3.x roots. The GM had floated the idea of establishing a campaign of some sort - I was interested (as I have not been a <i>player</i> in one of these kinds of games in over a decade at that point), but it does not seem to have come to fruition - the Discord channel they were using to organize it suddenly vanished and I haven't seen any of them around the LGS in quite some time now.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Background Noise</h2><p>The HEMA group I started last year did not survive the winter, and attempts to revive it in the spring were not especially fortunate. I had been attending an Italian dueling sabre group weekly up the road a ways but I wasn't really getting much out of it - especially not enough to justify 3-4 hours on the road every Sunday - so I faded off sometime in the late Spring. I suspect that chapter of my life is coming to a close, as it was never that realistic a thing to undertake in my present location.</p><p>I also returned to omnivory in mid 2023, making it 2.5 years without any meat in my diet.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">My Impression of 2023 at CL&CC</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqQitsPcTLRGsUvlU4dXFH6OH0TFAl6PkkjyChvqPWx-ezQOek-fymdz-GlopCpD1XuFPbe3pMHdjQujRAi8HWp-0zMOMnZ9hO4YSxNnPhSmfDxt5AInpwYAdKrBdfENvibENYEN3J2gwm4K_M2zFKDv4NoQUjnCyXDeWcVrPADOO61djcpNmqkYlRyes/s1303/3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqQitsPcTLRGsUvlU4dXFH6OH0TFAl6PkkjyChvqPWx-ezQOek-fymdz-GlopCpD1XuFPbe3pMHdjQujRAi8HWp-0zMOMnZ9hO4YSxNnPhSmfDxt5AInpwYAdKrBdfENvibENYEN3J2gwm4K_M2zFKDv4NoQUjnCyXDeWcVrPADOO61djcpNmqkYlRyes/s320/3.jpg" width="128" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'd say it's a pretty successful year, in the context of this site. I have certainly advanced the ball quite far in terms of the hobby stuff that this blog generally revolves around. Some of it, anyway. Over the last few years I've started to really get into the swing of things, making modeling a regular part of my week, which has been a great all-around boost. Though I've been in the scene on-and-off for about 20 years now the last two or three have really felt the most productive.</p><p>I did not meet any of the well-defined goals from last year, it looks like. I definitely did not clear out any of the article backlog that wasn't just drafts-in-waiting at the end of the year. I also did not field any of my English Civil War figs for The Pikeman's Lament, nor did I really get around to building much of any of the substantial amount of terrain I bought for it towards the end of last year. More to it, I haven't even done the usual show-and-tell on these figures, even though they were varnished (but not flocked) between 2022 and 2023...kept waiting for total completion and I just never quite got there.</p><p>I think my favorite article this year is my breakdown of Operation Pugilist - inspired by Bo Mortensen's YouTube channel, I decided to try my hand at analyzing events for fun. I'm certainly not at the level of analysis that Bo & Co. are capable of but I find them to be a fun mental exercise backed up by practical experience (even if I lack key details like the actual lists themselves). My most popular post from this year - in terms of views - strangely seems to be the Case Blue review I did for Bolt Action - made it up over 1000 views and I haven't a clue why. The <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2015/05/getting-stabbed-in-throat-is-very-bad.html" target="_blank">throat-stabbing article</a> from my GURPS days remains the all-time champion, at over 29,500 views - that'll never be beat, and I'll never understand its popularity.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">CL&CC Goals for 2024</h1><p>OK! Let's say I aim to get those pike and shotte figs out on the blog - if not the table - by Summer 2024. At time of writing I have two full bands painted and sealed, just waiting for base magnetization and flocking / tufting before I show them off. They're not abandoned - I do have plans to get <i>some</i> use out of these - but I think it's going to be pretty low priority as I don't really have anyone I can say will play this game for sure.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXycxJLL64aTpIvleQZXmvcZf5IEAWWV_jJzkuepvShHuY9VqtEbu-pXSVVEjZss5F7_tj2bA9Gh9cpYMNva9qNDVfROm0er-ZZdwQLpaEMx6mjBN9au2r9eGlh52Bpa0c2h0XbVfeVACfh6I6FamVLuKblc1nLq3qWX6q5z-cwccJCXCixcnkhs9Z-MX/s1303/4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="483" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXycxJLL64aTpIvleQZXmvcZf5IEAWWV_jJzkuepvShHuY9VqtEbu-pXSVVEjZss5F7_tj2bA9Gh9cpYMNva9qNDVfROm0er-ZZdwQLpaEMx6mjBN9au2r9eGlh52Bpa0c2h0XbVfeVACfh6I6FamVLuKblc1nLq3qWX6q5z-cwccJCXCixcnkhs9Z-MX/s320/4.jpg" width="119" /></a></div>Otherwise I think the realistic goal is going to be focusing on the modeling and wargaming stuff I have in mind. I do not have <i>very </i>strong plans as to what needs done, but the focus is going to be on Bolt Action stuff for sure. Naturally I'll be expanding my Italians out further, especially in the wake of Case Blue, reinforcing some existing units I want to use more of as well as introducing whole new ones. Really the goal is to draw down the backlog bin, and I will probably look to addressing models in there before even considering buying more models. Same goes for my side factions. Infinity wont be a stranger either, though I suspect I will be playing much less of it this year than before. I will still continue to collect and paint Haqq, however!<p></p><p>As for any RPG-oriented projects, I have no real plans to finish any because there's just no audience for any of that. Time is better spent on something I can get use out of these days - which increasingly is miniature game related things. I'll still tinker here and there, though, as I still enjoy it as a mental exercise in its own right, so some of it might make it out more on accident than anything purposeful. With the release of <i>Everyday Heroes</i> becoming known to me, I also think there's even less likelihood I'd run a d20 Modern based game, so the content-in-waiting for the d20 HL2 project I'd been messing with for a while is even less a priority (though I might wrap up what's in waiting eventually just to get it "done").</p><p>I may be working on some changes to post layouts this year, as I've lately become quite aware of just how <i>bad</i> this place renders on mobile devices. I do most of my blog work on a PC of some form - but it being the year it is I suspect a minority of my audience is actually visiting from a proper browser. Uncertain what the approach will be at this point, however, and it may prompt me to make a move away from Blogger (something that has been considered in the past but never acted on).</p><p>Independent of this all, sometime in the latter half of the year I expect output to decline or stall out completely - at least for a while - as I have some plans that will keep me away from much of my hobby stuff. Uncertain about dates, but probably later in the summer, and I am unsure when I will be settled enough to get back to things. We might see a return of creative writing projects in lieu of the more resource-intensive modeling stuff if I'm up for it, but that may also be a stretch. If nothing else I will definitely make a point to do the year-in-review for 2024 if I'm at all able, as I still will be putting out stuff between the new year and whenever things get busy.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><p>Busy year, and I'm hoping the next one stays just so. If everything goes to plan, I may have some other big shakeups coming that may have some impact on the blog - we'll have to see how it goes before I speak to it though!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00zZNAsY4mz-F2OHFO07uZUzblQ0TI3c9JEfG0eB8mHNGcsRkrO4wJl2ZFvHBJh0cBik1Ch0FlTfnWS5_5zJRuO6LcfWZYcclKgGpL9JzqNnD8F3FCUDiP85zr2uophVwxgWUno2qVuP9w2TJJ678O6JrX9GIZstPO1tgQuQHiViZV8zEevEvkMmRR1iS/s3840/PXL_20230929_214822465-EDIT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00zZNAsY4mz-F2OHFO07uZUzblQ0TI3c9JEfG0eB8mHNGcsRkrO4wJl2ZFvHBJh0cBik1Ch0FlTfnWS5_5zJRuO6LcfWZYcclKgGpL9JzqNnD8F3FCUDiP85zr2uophVwxgWUno2qVuP9w2TJJ678O6JrX9GIZstPO1tgQuQHiViZV8zEevEvkMmRR1iS/s16000/PXL_20230929_214822465-EDIT.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-50765775920510118322023-12-25T00:01:00.002-05:002023-12-25T00:01:00.134-05:00Hunker in the Bunker!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiFTLfCEYxVUI9AdUhiGBIBmgIzFCCphbnzkntmuda-gpdsMCDf8kJ48kR_4NRRWFHsHyXje8kJZjQ8Dkb9pm2FzEG5WMPJYTAxwnoUtEgKgcnJ9hTriqUUarXf8v2r0P4VVbz7aMjMLY8i0TQWFakpdisIy20p9mBnDsei7SonOZo7S-vlbaz8fvCxhSY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="1088" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiFTLfCEYxVUI9AdUhiGBIBmgIzFCCphbnzkntmuda-gpdsMCDf8kJ48kR_4NRRWFHsHyXje8kJZjQ8Dkb9pm2FzEG5WMPJYTAxwnoUtEgKgcnJ9hTriqUUarXf8v2r0P4VVbz7aMjMLY8i0TQWFakpdisIy20p9mBnDsei7SonOZo7S-vlbaz8fvCxhSY=s16000" /></a></div><p></p><p>With all of the roads, buildings, and ruins I've put together recently, it seems only reasonable that I deploy a few things to protect them!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">This is Where I Keep my Pervitin</h1><div>This post is dedicated to four bunkers I have added to the collection here recently - three plastic bunkers Warlord markets as an Italari production, and one MDF from Sarissa.</div><div><br /></div><div>These first two plastic bunkers are presented as "<a href="https://us.warlordgames.com/products/flak-bunker?_pos=2&_sid=14803962e&_ss=r" target="_blank">Anti-Tank/Flak</a>" bunkers. One - the one without ladder rung nubs - was sourced from the lot of terrain a local player sloughed off on me to get table-ready some months back now. This was already built up - sans base - so I just needed to give it a base and paint. Why the kit itself doesn't provide a base is a mystery to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other was given to me by the same player NIB - they had won it in a raffle at <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/bolt-action-event-recap-operation-cobra.html" target="_blank">the September 2023 Tournament</a> we attended but since he had no <a href="https://hoi4.paradoxwikis.com/Production" target="_blank">IC</a> to complete it and I'd not won anything myself, passed it on to me. I built it up back at the end of October, though it didn't get a floor until the end of November (along with the other two).</div><div><br /></div><div>This last one is a "<a href="https://store.warlordgames.com/products/coastal-defence-bunker" target="_blank">Coastal Defense</a>" bunker. It is the same setup except has a flat, earthy roof rather than a concrete fighting position. It also has a stepped slope up to the firing port for whatever reason.</div><div><br /></div><div>This last piece is a small machine-gun bunker <a href="https://us.warlordgames.com/products/ww-europe-machine-gun-bunker?_pos=1&_sid=a843cb2d7&_ss=r" target="_blank">sourced from Sarissa via Warlord</a> as part of an online group order I did back in October. Like all Sarissa products it is laser-cut MDF, and it ended up in my hands basically as a means to get over the free shipping threshold. It's a very simple kit which I decided to do up as-is and keep on its own base (with some slight modification). If I could suggest a design improvement, it would be to extend the tabs on the roof out somewhat further to make removal in game much easier!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMM66rh73FqyBhwhdjDVr8EUFjs-s6eE79FUgqBXDZHfcQaA-UDf_5ALXGcceZYaWfdXJGRPqlHqkLDVF5mijSuB_JnFkwx9CtRMr-AmyNDGTgyyw4gWwd7kVLfJeKCPUl4b_7qGzNJYMUUR8w64TnWRd6M5xjaZ0uxt6YX0YnzgQDtReWbCp-qTQDykZ-/s3840/PXL_20231221_034521501.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMM66rh73FqyBhwhdjDVr8EUFjs-s6eE79FUgqBXDZHfcQaA-UDf_5ALXGcceZYaWfdXJGRPqlHqkLDVF5mijSuB_JnFkwx9CtRMr-AmyNDGTgyyw4gWwd7kVLfJeKCPUl4b_7qGzNJYMUUR8w64TnWRd6M5xjaZ0uxt6YX0YnzgQDtReWbCp-qTQDykZ-/s16000/PXL_20231221_034521501.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSyqnKWL5uwoeuiwwF0vW_cVfUtjTNxY4QqJ44oGmWEH5b_Lfu1QNvQ7_6TF89OxFk1a9MohUY4Uck330UbIs0X7cnlDE4tDgSYROCGZMVeWgYqkIquwiX0LW6LhyDhdDHSiUWuT3oupEKnfoOk7lqDV_f_uQcoQaokaBv01qYRTjDlmMtignwOOr33WK/s3840/PXL_20231221_034533718.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFNhzLWZazjYaMrOxSu-9Dm43M-41SAsObyTdDNW9HFyDjGxFQyt6KpKMuxLtFwQI5uBMS9mjnnzSQMzo6iUMTNPV-NtV2TgLSFgH98unUy6UFWt6AC_VKXMf0l5KdbMbsX7F1q-MvI1_q3rvONsTNsFj7mr9t6efBy6kglzHYx2zfu37DLiCrkovMgRg/s16000/PXL_20231221_035543341.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrjsxHWYoJxQ_Yyly1nBGig7ickZ6sN7082U_uFpYDpUEdmzZIGHYE80o2fGqx9qt_Y80QNpciGNdxPRVA9fCgD2RCiiCNt8wFkMqxfGEORIiwBxbBLWxhFNit2f1HIk1AqR73FnYEMvXrYuZLlqncdP_OzBL7hmOiENvmZQowKTLY33Y5T6XP0UaoxWL/s3840/PXL_20231221_035601394.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrjsxHWYoJxQ_Yyly1nBGig7ickZ6sN7082U_uFpYDpUEdmzZIGHYE80o2fGqx9qt_Y80QNpciGNdxPRVA9fCgD2RCiiCNt8wFkMqxfGEORIiwBxbBLWxhFNit2f1HIk1AqR73FnYEMvXrYuZLlqncdP_OzBL7hmOiENvmZQowKTLY33Y5T6XP0UaoxWL/s16000/PXL_20231221_035601394.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As you can see, I changed out that filter finally!</div><div><br /></div><div>All of these were given an airbrush coat of Vallejo 70.986 "Deck Tan" - a paint I've discovered seems to separate <i>very</i> quickly and turn into a weird mottled mess when mixed with Army Painter airbrush thinner. This forms an approximation of concrete color well enough - and with the weather turning towards cooler and damper doing this way is much more reliable than with spray cans.</div><div><br /></div><div>By this stage in my terrain onslaught I'd already run through a lot of the Minwax <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/12/regarding-recent-ruins.html" target="_blank">I had started using to shade my ruins</a> and a few other yet-unposted pieces a while back, and thinned it down with some non-toxic thinner. I'd used this thinned down version on a few other things in this spat of projects, but these were the largest. Like on some other pieces, I opted to leave the interior "bright" just so things read a little better across the board (if that's a thing). </div><div><br /></div><div>Honestly, I can't say I liked how it turned out overall - I should have opted for something darker and gone for a more "grey" concrete direction, vs the beige or tan of this one. I have seen concrete in the latter - think old sidewalks and kerbs - but I think for relatively recent construction a grey (perhaps shaded with a blacker but thinned version of this MinWax) would have been a better choice. I have some "Dragon's Teeth" that need finished, so that may well be the direction I go with those at least.</div><div><br /></div><div>Such is life - as long as the local group likes it it will do and future ones may be improvements - if nothing else these can get donated or passed on to others - certainly none of my players have complained.</div><div><br /></div><div>The thinner Minwax also predictably has a less solid feeling "shell" effect than I experienced with <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/12/regarding-recent-ruins.html" target="_blank">the ruins I did previously</a>, and so I'd suspect these to be a bit less enduring than those items that got the full strength stuff, but I am not sure the difference is enough to matter - plus these are getting an acrylic matte top coat anyway.</div><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Bunkers in Bolt Action</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GfQbcTv8yGZRx8IyLrIuiEY_3whkBnHZsEnKSsO5uutlvXgsHT41vesKfePlVbvSYAZli_Dd3J8twAPIQ7Q0vueYm9m5bBLfRKySqqPHvQKRV1oMB1dSw-1-yhgdtdLlvBYJMi_oHdIUObH2zgMCk1Vev_5EOOyub_ap-Y5hgIHGpJkmNIUkD6Y-Gy1s/s1280/1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="866" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GfQbcTv8yGZRx8IyLrIuiEY_3whkBnHZsEnKSsO5uutlvXgsHT41vesKfePlVbvSYAZli_Dd3J8twAPIQ7Q0vueYm9m5bBLfRKySqqPHvQKRV1oMB1dSw-1-yhgdtdLlvBYJMi_oHdIUObH2zgMCk1Vev_5EOOyub_ap-Y5hgIHGpJkmNIUkD6Y-Gy1s/s320/1.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><p></p><div>Bunkers are a subset of Buildings, having some special rules to their own. Unlike Buildings, Bunkers can <i>only</i> be accessed through doors, and the purpose-built nature of the structure makes it even stronger cover for those within - a whopping -4 to hit, vs the -2 of normal Heavy Cover. It's also much more resilient to HE attacks - it takes two more "hits" to demolish the building, any all indirect fire that lands on it simply causes 0 hits to the occupants (though the Bunker itself does count as taking hits). It isn't explicit but there is nothing to contradict the Extra Protection rules a Building typically provides, so anyone who does get hit is tougher for it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Given the rooftop of the Flak bunker is literally set up to be a fighting position in its own right, I'd definitely count this as its own separate structure so that more than one squad can occupy the lot.</div><div><br /></div><div>In games I've played, we have only used Bunkers I think once, <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2022/11/after-action-report-3-november-2022-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">over a year ago</a>. It didn't have the largest impact on that specific game but I know that structure has cropped up a few other times and then just kind of stopped hitting the board for whatever reason. For sure, a bunker in the right place could allow a squad inside to absolutely dominate - a typical squad only hits on 3+ within Long Range, so right away they're only hitting on "super sixes" or "sevens" - that is, a 6 followed by another 6, or 1/36 of the time per die. Plus, the unit inside is another level tougher to wound, so you could be looking at 5+ to wound common Regular troops - and 6+ for Veterans!</div><div><br /></div><div>Bolt Action did offer up a mechanic in one of the D-Day books that allowed a user to take a bunker as part of a Generic Reinforced Platoon, pricing them at 50 points per each. With these on hand, we might actually make use out of them in role sometime in the future.</div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>I plan to pick up (or craft) some more pillbox type things in the future, both in the form of the one seen here as well as some others I've seen available - they're good enhancements along roadways and pair well with other obstacles - such as those I am soon to set to work on! Hopefully however I do up the next set is more appealing to me, but at least these are functional in the mean time.</div><div><br /></div><div>And of course - Merry Christmas!</div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-43402540113918168932023-12-22T00:01:00.000-05:002023-12-22T00:01:00.137-05:00Some Small Buildings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHHI3fWeL-WD8vNFBDHwxROODS7D4fXdMqR5qcW-j-kVLN2GPB4EXnGE802TX35lntgbmnglM07Q9XZ8ySWI3SB8RinVp_eNG8A9QNVtijOEP0omOum7fUyqi1mkShhoXazbP1F1pE6Ja4bCvTgPamMQ1Uy0rWm5MuW_C04y3L7GVy2OlrWNJ2hp30OCO/s3550/PXL_20231220_030409705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="3550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHHI3fWeL-WD8vNFBDHwxROODS7D4fXdMqR5qcW-j-kVLN2GPB4EXnGE802TX35lntgbmnglM07Q9XZ8ySWI3SB8RinVp_eNG8A9QNVtijOEP0omOum7fUyqi1mkShhoXazbP1F1pE6Ja4bCvTgPamMQ1Uy0rWm5MuW_C04y3L7GVy2OlrWNJ2hp30OCO/s16000/PXL_20231220_030409705.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>For this next terrain showcase I have another a one - a few tiny buildings.<div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Ticket Please!</h1><div>Here are three little hutches, which I believe are actually supposed to represent ticket offices, guard shacks, food stalls, or other such walk-up kiosks. These were from the collection of myriad 3D printed things passed on to me by one of our local players, which I built up from printing frame. These are quite small, but serviceable to add a little life to some types of board. <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5411924" target="_blank">Models</a> are <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5447785" target="_blank">both</a> from Pietia.</div><div><br /></div><div>These were given the same ABS sheeting for a base as some of the other projects showcased already, and I added a tab made of out scrap sprue to the ceilings of the matching two to allow the roof to be removable for play but stay put when in place. They also all came with window shutters that were intended to be modeled open, but I figured those would probably not survive handling/storage terribly well and so I omitted them.</div><div><br /></div><div>The two smaller ones I figured to paint in brighter colors than the norm thus far, giving it a bit of flair to contrast with the usual drab tones I've been working in as late. Maybe these are kiosks for something fun? As for the other, I went with a more stately look - or as stately as I can get cheap craft paint and 10 minutes of effort, anyway. This stands in for more mundane uses - train ticket booths, guard shacks, that kind of thing.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIJFb1NhJsJ8_UmaGr5WMxeoU0LcbWdeahz4hj6Er1fSnNlpy3HhXzdn5tlzOlDsfo1ZB0sRrbNU3-gtDmZofJC9tmYK1HzxoXlBBq3svYhAgk_S4v3Tn-L6dwv9sYO-WXifmzFnk8wiy4_RIa91vh-pb6zRPa2bR0I1WfkiGOCepYvkcWCAaVXhIw5C4/s2334/PXL_20231220_025101982.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIJFb1NhJsJ8_UmaGr5WMxeoU0LcbWdeahz4hj6Er1fSnNlpy3HhXzdn5tlzOlDsfo1ZB0sRrbNU3-gtDmZofJC9tmYK1HzxoXlBBq3svYhAgk_S4v3Tn-L6dwv9sYO-WXifmzFnk8wiy4_RIa91vh-pb6zRPa2bR0I1WfkiGOCepYvkcWCAaVXhIw5C4/s16000/PXL_20231220_025101982.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIaUBnjnXHP_Qt6tk7yoV1p60M-oDPhb4u5YH9H0rrTGWyK52a1FbtpJhkOwr7v5h-cTupdn7b8WT9_YDipWDe3vlra0gxBHJaAjvmLcUXpSAUGn3LZhDMUIivAJr2LHl7jsGLCx5ONlO3N0cPmrce76bLKIskxhW2E1OoN18mDRpiklEdHkhapQCukGT/s2013/PXL_20231220_025112820.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2013" data-original-width="1866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIaUBnjnXHP_Qt6tk7yoV1p60M-oDPhb4u5YH9H0rrTGWyK52a1FbtpJhkOwr7v5h-cTupdn7b8WT9_YDipWDe3vlra0gxBHJaAjvmLcUXpSAUGn3LZhDMUIivAJr2LHl7jsGLCx5ONlO3N0cPmrce76bLKIskxhW2E1OoN18mDRpiklEdHkhapQCukGT/s16000/PXL_20231220_025112820.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5e-nu-uOgw49xYsXpchG1TaESyvqNOx4qelk7FlSHyzjEQTKLqULWoyrboCxNC-blGe-ZQyMOc7-q4c7VKnkvCYh9sjNawmU4anEz5_4vRSFqML2PgiHKRcCJk4xNuYJanqFQpkxY8HIo_5Nfx6XeqI_tb-NMfD0IFsr4kz00-pP_DobGN6CEcOY_Bkn/s2198/PXL_20231220_025124120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1899" data-original-width="2198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5e-nu-uOgw49xYsXpchG1TaESyvqNOx4qelk7FlSHyzjEQTKLqULWoyrboCxNC-blGe-ZQyMOc7-q4c7VKnkvCYh9sjNawmU4anEz5_4vRSFqML2PgiHKRcCJk4xNuYJanqFQpkxY8HIo_5Nfx6XeqI_tb-NMfD0IFsr4kz00-pP_DobGN6CEcOY_Bkn/s16000/PXL_20231220_025124120.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSyrM6Iy7R8yrIAPc042vXjFQi1YxI13yu7gW_pwZ5YgSoFoWLNqjI_fEUj3NVVRJcnz1nuKiuUUTXEGQQ4K9W0bZk4emR4mi7VM6E5MY5wdbuNp4nE5MzOLAH5SttT2ehh508nkWbtWgk0FpqvTPYxkOveqNxNYf0igToLLWto50Vje6nGlKpn-1vY7T/s2214/PXL_20231220_025452716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1573" data-original-width="2214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSyrM6Iy7R8yrIAPc042vXjFQi1YxI13yu7gW_pwZ5YgSoFoWLNqjI_fEUj3NVVRJcnz1nuKiuUUTXEGQQ4K9W0bZk4emR4mi7VM6E5MY5wdbuNp4nE5MzOLAH5SttT2ehh508nkWbtWgk0FpqvTPYxkOveqNxNYf0igToLLWto50Vje6nGlKpn-1vY7T/s16000/PXL_20231220_025452716.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZHRc2xI6D9RNogRTxNODQiG1cwqHmlDcFqOVmaMIvQaGKAF_IBqY8aUPTbcSzBDZnJhgmBUpwCGgbWx8W42m-Kfk5pZ2DFmOYns-N6gxqhXxz3LUYGVT3SSI4cVQ7sW5QRE4hnBIJ2_Pd3-XXrP35tAkErwh6sUbpJ1MoxIv5rLmDHGQEYls8-bmrFlE/s1774/PXL_20231220_025503166.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1640" data-original-width="1774" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZHRc2xI6D9RNogRTxNODQiG1cwqHmlDcFqOVmaMIvQaGKAF_IBqY8aUPTbcSzBDZnJhgmBUpwCGgbWx8W42m-Kfk5pZ2DFmOYns-N6gxqhXxz3LUYGVT3SSI4cVQ7sW5QRE4hnBIJ2_Pd3-XXrP35tAkErwh6sUbpJ1MoxIv5rLmDHGQEYls8-bmrFlE/s16000/PXL_20231220_025503166.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzkxmzyLHPsZpolOvLKrGWVPfsr4Mzjf9FpwTQ9siUknAMuM8DITfXVJ6QQfsVLuymgUQ-wrW2HbN9fjh-z3p6LVlD4VoeVbtvwmYOcV71YCzh3zLdY0iUnpgRaJa4Wvjk3he4nTgt5SZzWv_Tny6CK9f2kWfRyQrGJUoH9KvmXhGqVuUURnXdjlBzgB2/s3027/PXL_20231220_025539517.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="3027" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzkxmzyLHPsZpolOvLKrGWVPfsr4Mzjf9FpwTQ9siUknAMuM8DITfXVJ6QQfsVLuymgUQ-wrW2HbN9fjh-z3p6LVlD4VoeVbtvwmYOcV71YCzh3zLdY0iUnpgRaJa4Wvjk3he4nTgt5SZzWv_Tny6CK9f2kWfRyQrGJUoH9KvmXhGqVuUURnXdjlBzgB2/s16000/PXL_20231220_025539517.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I really need to change that filter...</div><div><br /></div><div>I finished these after some other, larger pieces had been MinWax'd, and used them as an experimental piece in thinning that substance down - after taking the ~1/4 of a can left and mixing in some 1/2 can worth of thinner/cleaner, I gave it a shot and washed the whole exterior with this combination. No damage to the paint or plastic was seen, and the combination definitely had better flow - perhaps too much, though it didn't pool terribly on account of more careful application. </div><div><br /></div><div>Once dry, it seemed quite unlike what I had experienced with previous use cases - it lacked the gloss and general hard-coat feel of polyurethane. While the thinning accounts for some of this, I suspect I simply went too light with the filler-primer on the exterior so as to avoid losing fidelity on the exterior details, and subsequently a lot of the shade soaked into the numerous holes and gaps between layers of filament - I had experienced something similar way back <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2022/09/italian-army-update.html?q=Fiat+3000" target="_blank">when I did up my L5 tanks</a> - not having used filler primer at all there, properly thinned paint and wash just kept soaking into the interior of the model. A subsequent coat was more productive, sticking to the surface more readily probably because the polyurethane from the first coat had sealed away most of the problem.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I try to do with buildings, the interior was kept bright and plain for just simple ease of reading what's inside it - no need to make it all grubby, and there's no detail in there anyway - heck, I didn't even bother mocking up an interior door or window in retrospect, something I've done with an earlier building I've yet to showcase (and which actually looks a bit silly). It's so plain inside I didn't even bother taking a picture. Doesn't matter with minor pieces like this, though!</div><div><br /></div><div>Similar to some of the other pieces I will showcase later, I did experience some minor damage to these from the Rustoleum matte spray I tried to finish these off with. Comparatively minimal, however, as the Minwax was far more diluted and there were few flat surfaces coated in it with this model.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Kisosks in Bolt Action</h2><div>Buildings, in the proper sense, though I'd be hard-pressed to say these gave the usual Heavy Cover. Utility in a firefight is limited - other than serving as a LoS blocker and perhaps offering cover to vehicles, the small size and very restricted angles of fire makes it rather undesirable as a fighting position I'd imagine.</div><div><br /></div><div>These don't really fit in with my current collection, either, so it may be some time before they ever see the table (assuming I don't just give them away in the meantime!).</div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>Not every piece needs to be a big one - even small locations only capable of holding a small team can be absolute game-changers if it is in the right spot! With these out of the way, we're on to the next.</div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-54178367403551459422023-12-20T00:01:00.016-05:002023-12-20T00:01:00.132-05:00Regarding Recent Ruins<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOUNs7f0ZPDZwrFRFWb0DBrU5ZQJZbrwCOLATWV-NQ9cipz3sdO7sJrS00jikEAPH_SUYqN4l4hVI_Ce8xwv5auye5z-bdxcn9T2pFi81d1aGn5CyHTYW5f0_H8XstmpbQKNPJoUtYMB96d9VbvjDE6-h9nx4gmH_Xx8m52oQBcH06pgc0Rv87ksYleDC/s3562/PXL_20231207_221244435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="3562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOUNs7f0ZPDZwrFRFWb0DBrU5ZQJZbrwCOLATWV-NQ9cipz3sdO7sJrS00jikEAPH_SUYqN4l4hVI_Ce8xwv5auye5z-bdxcn9T2pFi81d1aGn5CyHTYW5f0_H8XstmpbQKNPJoUtYMB96d9VbvjDE6-h9nx4gmH_Xx8m52oQBcH06pgc0Rv87ksYleDC/s16000/PXL_20231207_221244435.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Rounding the corner into another completed batch of terrain-things, behold these busted buildings.<h1 style="text-align: left;">Rubble, Ruin, Repetition, etc.</h1><div>In late August, right on the heels of <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/going-commando-my-new-army-for-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">the British Commando force I knocked together</a> (and <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/11/deo-gratias-wargame-terrain.html" target="_blank">some</a> <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/11/terrain-for-woodland-warfare.html" target="_blank">other</a> <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/11/all-roads-lead-to-board-edge.html" target="_blank">projects</a>), I started to assemble the <i>three</i> boxes of the "<a href="https://store.warlordgames.com/products/ruined-hamlet-1" target="_blank">Ruined Hamlet</a>" kits I've had kicking around in my backlog bin for quite a while - and from all the pieces knocked together something like fourteen sets of ruins in varying configurations and to varying points of sensibility. It took me until 13 October to get them onto their bases (and the first round of paint wasn't done until the start of November), but steady progress was made throughout!</div><div><br /></div><div>I had three simple rules guiding the build - the finished pieces had to be durable, playable, and not utterly boring to look at. Nothing special - that's just what makes good terrain - but it's a good idea to set one's expectations. These were assembled with the idea of mainly using them for Bolt Action, though with the possibility of them being used for basically any game setting between the Middle Ages and, frankly, today. </div><div><br /></div><div>While the kit comes with a bunch of pieces to make second stories and somewhat more comprehensive roofs (and some rubble piles) I decided to use these sparingly - or in the case of the floors, not at all. Skipping the floors reduces some verticality, but eases play overall - verticality is poorly expressed in Bolt Action as it pertains to stuff like ruins, and if I wanted to stash pikemen, large tanks, or something inside a ruin a floor would probably be unhelpful. Similarly a lot of fallen timbers, big stones, rubble piles, etc. were kept to a minimum to make the most of playable area - what few there are mostly served as a brace to some more marginal pieces before I had basing fully worked out. Less realistic and visually captivating, but here's always that middle ground between looks and playability that governs wargames terrain. </div><div><br /></div><div>Gluing the buildings together actually had me pulling out my old supply of <a href="https://www.testors.com/product-catalog/testors-brands/testors/adhesive/cement" target="_blank">Testors Plastic Cement</a> - gaps from the stone pattern were such that the <a href="https://www.tamiyausa.com/shop/finishing/extra-thin-cement/" target="_blank">Tamiya Extra Thin</a> I'd long since abandoned the former for had a hard time really forming a strong bond. These were then glued to the base material with various types of non-foaming Gorilla Glue - I'm partial to the blue-cap type, but they're all pretty great.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of base material, these were all built on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R9W4NZW/?th=1" target="_blank">1.5mm thick ABS sheeting I found online</a>, to which I applied builder's sand - first with a layer of brushed-on ModPodge to which sand was poured or sprinkled, then sealed with a watered-down layer of the same after a day or so of drying. If I'd been smarter I would have put a larger footprint on some of these, but early on I hadn't really thought though the piece as well as I could have, which lead to me cutting many of the bases as flush on these as I did for more intact Buildings I was working on around the same time. I guess a lot of these can be butted up directly against a road with no issue at least, and the big open areas on some can be home to enhancements like sandbags to provide a little more visual customization if desired.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ84FifP9EVVYfoGlLtJ8o8XV2h33jWCy0ylXk2GA0kSsQJlu0K77gv2vXFMgcEd8A00Vx1fZ8NXxrk6unrEJUvyQXPPamsXS44ZHb8j1v5pSS6Dq-WP_L362DEEtlfwpVpWyjcMo82rnF59ztnVz-mOAVfc5q5DfmgJXvDTkjizzezHiFhU_tUs5Ca2Xz/s3840/PXL_20231207_221206136.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ84FifP9EVVYfoGlLtJ8o8XV2h33jWCy0ylXk2GA0kSsQJlu0K77gv2vXFMgcEd8A00Vx1fZ8NXxrk6unrEJUvyQXPPamsXS44ZHb8j1v5pSS6Dq-WP_L362DEEtlfwpVpWyjcMo82rnF59ztnVz-mOAVfc5q5DfmgJXvDTkjizzezHiFhU_tUs5Ca2Xz/s16000/PXL_20231207_221206136.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAA8Lm-0UF5ayA4A9JQrSeazSF07-91nHvYLzZtusiUJPw-23GtPQ6iEu3oiK8eh9flfGJSuPp_cl2kgbbr3MGVsDg38-UH0hzssxUCkkRq28LYupqHcPO7IvC6mEf5gwpIdjcuNUmxkstJToYwXOk-5KMMAjWFeKwH6Ip4Dhzt6VCBwncEuEaskdmSET/s2160/PXL_20231207_221214997.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAA8Lm-0UF5ayA4A9JQrSeazSF07-91nHvYLzZtusiUJPw-23GtPQ6iEu3oiK8eh9flfGJSuPp_cl2kgbbr3MGVsDg38-UH0hzssxUCkkRq28LYupqHcPO7IvC6mEf5gwpIdjcuNUmxkstJToYwXOk-5KMMAjWFeKwH6Ip4Dhzt6VCBwncEuEaskdmSET/s16000/PXL_20231207_221214997.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIG0meeOP11DGjCAxAWA9e1nXE3UymgOgNO3xyuwgdIwymK4MAi8SMQZ5Rl712xHPixZfS7NCFxgLxdTmB7qOya1QOl7eFZ3BcCT9o0trbMmyWSDgd_TfI1EDnUXwPv77VHDQGuX9paQrX-gykuX3c9zMcg8nPauBYR9gnkVzWXd744rxCHa7cxIZjbkL/s3840/PXL_20231207_221233084.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIG0meeOP11DGjCAxAWA9e1nXE3UymgOgNO3xyuwgdIwymK4MAi8SMQZ5Rl712xHPixZfS7NCFxgLxdTmB7qOya1QOl7eFZ3BcCT9o0trbMmyWSDgd_TfI1EDnUXwPv77VHDQGuX9paQrX-gykuX3c9zMcg8nPauBYR9gnkVzWXd744rxCHa7cxIZjbkL/s16000/PXL_20231207_221233084.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Construction Examples</h2><div>Unfortunately not the greatest shots - my studio is currently also the staging ground for stuff around the house while we repaint and refurbish things - plus these were mostly quick shots for the folk on the local Bolt Action Discord without intent to share it elsewhere. At least it's free!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqhX8NNTLJahPK6ozCooRVTgOpRyAe_vTlH2RijuBdW1eR30p0JemDlGYTCBxPTDtjggCiW41JjQx3ClhfpkxIjX8clkr3uUe00C_Ybq42U2_84jFuVg-FHRogf30uFhtTgIVx3gb6eAixGjRRZpPGXwEnL0nJxkCS3wzL1KcTooDftIa0pIJww1A9IzV/s3840/PXL_20231008_040923430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqhX8NNTLJahPK6ozCooRVTgOpRyAe_vTlH2RijuBdW1eR30p0JemDlGYTCBxPTDtjggCiW41JjQx3ClhfpkxIjX8clkr3uUe00C_Ybq42U2_84jFuVg-FHRogf30uFhtTgIVx3gb6eAixGjRRZpPGXwEnL0nJxkCS3wzL1KcTooDftIa0pIJww1A9IzV/s16000/PXL_20231008_040923430.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopFzwTmpp_ismN2AJ3jikT3asrl8Ove0haj0F0uj_f9-PtT8k4elcVn-NehRv3NkccnQvKRZtJEJtxLMf00d4UYqpPZNcmaYGz00Y_MH5Tj2foMFkc0R73dTbccNiLAEHMhqbnF_f6famPfVMCMtiOfBCcndaFM4THCrXvj8rv96dXuUsDXML7PSvDhpK/s3840/PXL_20231008_040418086.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopFzwTmpp_ismN2AJ3jikT3asrl8Ove0haj0F0uj_f9-PtT8k4elcVn-NehRv3NkccnQvKRZtJEJtxLMf00d4UYqpPZNcmaYGz00Y_MH5Tj2foMFkc0R73dTbccNiLAEHMhqbnF_f6famPfVMCMtiOfBCcndaFM4THCrXvj8rv96dXuUsDXML7PSvDhpK/s16000/PXL_20231008_040418086.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uzpnHbFsfW5RV-HplEj1iqfKkhj4qmSwO_5QsF4epSzPQinTdffQHVP963Op8owGnprDQnBkD2EBF0G1UxqxDsTZhOkazIaUtyII4X9UACUCARwbct8s5bSZbEBwUC9eB5NYJ4E1O3-kgQX6YFRnXUzszi3OyfgtAQm6kiA_zetyxmbCDgcHnSUKzJ9A/s3840/PXL_20231008_040427840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uzpnHbFsfW5RV-HplEj1iqfKkhj4qmSwO_5QsF4epSzPQinTdffQHVP963Op8owGnprDQnBkD2EBF0G1UxqxDsTZhOkazIaUtyII4X9UACUCARwbct8s5bSZbEBwUC9eB5NYJ4E1O3-kgQX6YFRnXUzszi3OyfgtAQm6kiA_zetyxmbCDgcHnSUKzJ9A/s16000/PXL_20231008_040427840.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3606" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ig3MnCG0ZJiBIH6PnhxeE6lUqXHFVxx_LY89q678CPXFysyeUZABu6XrXxcpVSCsS9-9DJ6GmujsvO3l_TpoXDtBFJkdWr2cXLh3RqX1FELTse3ahnuBBVRX5NgK8MTFproanz-0-aP6hGfQE_JttJwIXgHw3opgyofAgr2RDb6a8SOdjseyx9BGgoEM/s16000/PXL_20231022_230925047.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg791HlFcqgkTcuMGwr17-lKD0Lrs7Xl6ZqP0uU0TEVTbj8R0IyADNFVMuLY6XEXWuUOgVQG4R1_UDbHDFQiO5QFQE0myptQO11qot7MhmV9HyK-vZl7HV-QR2cxoGJMOIV9c5njPP-5wAuAspgk2zn9uZYdo4EeI-FJsHPhgZX3IAN7mdCfnMAi1KT1UqE/s3840/PXL_20231023_220117583.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg791HlFcqgkTcuMGwr17-lKD0Lrs7Xl6ZqP0uU0TEVTbj8R0IyADNFVMuLY6XEXWuUOgVQG4R1_UDbHDFQiO5QFQE0myptQO11qot7MhmV9HyK-vZl7HV-QR2cxoGJMOIV9c5njPP-5wAuAspgk2zn9uZYdo4EeI-FJsHPhgZX3IAN7mdCfnMAi1KT1UqE/s16000/PXL_20231023_220117583.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7_K7uPiZFLJyOLfV3AVHDEIMz5JwMpW5WG2DCHxGBDhfOJ3X5qBIivCwInGkvwr01gq_z4FUQl6ikuu9-5vOHPnb6NSveejaILW-65n_za2BbARQ01a78zg4dnOh5-PeQ9N5HW25GV6LqwwKW_63jmIQYmDJVL4pUiQXEJkz0tVNDwn6ftJfU4Ui7UcN/s3840/PXL_20231023_220122758.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7_K7uPiZFLJyOLfV3AVHDEIMz5JwMpW5WG2DCHxGBDhfOJ3X5qBIivCwInGkvwr01gq_z4FUQl6ikuu9-5vOHPnb6NSveejaILW-65n_za2BbARQ01a78zg4dnOh5-PeQ9N5HW25GV6LqwwKW_63jmIQYmDJVL4pUiQXEJkz0tVNDwn6ftJfU4Ui7UcN/s16000/PXL_20231023_220122758.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pypijqIs5VSjZ-IpQtj6ezys8FqGdl5mNRCo9_Kx815dQGEjNStnygBiYcqoIye6PY3WqwiH0KphRnDV5vX0U_WT0OHRzczbt67vdn3_LF5QCln3xPuGgXF_d83V3zDqSk8OAazFfgSF_bGDE1JKZU9VOlh9CrFV1aZkmHCLc-E5pjP1IJO_f1MPSnld/s3840/PXL_20231023_220127988.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pypijqIs5VSjZ-IpQtj6ezys8FqGdl5mNRCo9_Kx815dQGEjNStnygBiYcqoIye6PY3WqwiH0KphRnDV5vX0U_WT0OHRzczbt67vdn3_LF5QCln3xPuGgXF_d83V3zDqSk8OAazFfgSF_bGDE1JKZU9VOlh9CrFV1aZkmHCLc-E5pjP1IJO_f1MPSnld/s16000/PXL_20231023_220127988.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As a general thing, my visual goal was to try and mock these up as buildings that had recently been shelled, burned, pulled down, or the like. First, the ruins were painted up in their "in use" colors - mostly earth tones with a few brighter shades used sparingly for the more well-to-do homes - using cheap craft paints (which in turn was an excellent reminder as to why those are such a pain to work with). Bases were kept stark, representing an area of char, rubble, and suchlike around the building - by avoiding grasses and the like, this should fit in with any kind of mat (and if my mind changes later it would be easy to retroactively flock).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBwlibJcXCtcnUQACCQZb3hfbcbr-n4NzOg0YMtr9azgMotfOGl5CT-5K7OUvAcdnqVHymWhXh-pmBZDYUu7pmyq6ymkSj1nVhUkqUmBGI03gf_uleQrnjs37mpIMo5ElFzTp4imo9z8qWgjnmzMuABx9iK74cLyikVkXc0xnK2PG8bu7ZCXWSbnBvCpy/s3840/PXL_20231104_200427552.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBwlibJcXCtcnUQACCQZb3hfbcbr-n4NzOg0YMtr9azgMotfOGl5CT-5K7OUvAcdnqVHymWhXh-pmBZDYUu7pmyq6ymkSj1nVhUkqUmBGI03gf_uleQrnjs37mpIMo5ElFzTp4imo9z8qWgjnmzMuABx9iK74cLyikVkXc0xnK2PG8bu7ZCXWSbnBvCpy/s16000/PXL_20231104_200427552.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenS7_S1vCbkySjS6fghgVVptZcfl6HF_kbofoilmPfkJTwHfEjG6eGgipq1fbGoleyQkGqTDxwU4qd5VwgZLOZL5_IYXMn2cKdi-Ue05_iOJrKT02crRjeViN5hkQ8X2HxCiXLckeDrFFfDGnl0oGq2FepR1b-MUlUr_okxl32k_L_siDvSQN-X1BOwFk/s3140/PXL_20231104_200436929.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1977" data-original-width="3140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenS7_S1vCbkySjS6fghgVVptZcfl6HF_kbofoilmPfkJTwHfEjG6eGgipq1fbGoleyQkGqTDxwU4qd5VwgZLOZL5_IYXMn2cKdi-Ue05_iOJrKT02crRjeViN5hkQ8X2HxCiXLckeDrFFfDGnl0oGq2FepR1b-MUlUr_okxl32k_L_siDvSQN-X1BOwFk/s16000/PXL_20231104_200436929.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5vXHZw2KGNOiTWfKxLyNc0B_3W_4-NCsapsXOd5EsnT0gTnIXQfBXFFHnW18A8KhrTJ_qfm2iBwJ0-uBsI3h5XKPaoNQdkvXLl8-xNMt7Wm5cPfXSRpIKFitXo-DfR9ucEE-fvvSix5LkGMOWZy3N6cXn8yx2-MrIExLUTvnAKrSz00ryrUA4BijT9DK/s3840/PXL_20231104_200505938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5vXHZw2KGNOiTWfKxLyNc0B_3W_4-NCsapsXOd5EsnT0gTnIXQfBXFFHnW18A8KhrTJ_qfm2iBwJ0-uBsI3h5XKPaoNQdkvXLl8-xNMt7Wm5cPfXSRpIKFitXo-DfR9ucEE-fvvSix5LkGMOWZy3N6cXn8yx2-MrIExLUTvnAKrSz00ryrUA4BijT9DK/s16000/PXL_20231104_200505938.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Once I got everything painted up, the ruins were shaded down using brushed-on polyurethane floor polish - a take on the old "dip" method used for miniatures back before more dedicated products were available. In this case, I used <a href="https://www.minwax.com/en/products/one-step-stain-finish/polyshades" target="_blank">MinWax Polyshades Satin "Antique Walnut"</a> - mostly at the suggestion of <a href="https://chicagoskirmish.blogspot.com/2012/01/with-liberty-and-brush-dipping-for-all.html" target="_blank">Chicago Skirmish</a>. It required about 4oz neat to do all of these buildings and their bases, so a small can of it goes surprisingly far. In addition to adding a rather solid layer of protection to the paint, it easily enough sets up a dingy look that, with the rubbly base devoid of any plant life, snow, etc. sells these as ruins that have yet to be reclaimed by nature. This was my first time using this technique in spite of its age and I have mixed opinions on how it came out. On one hand it was pretty quick and inexpensive to pull off - and the durability I'm sure is fantastic on this layer. On the other, flow of the substance was less than ideal and it managed to pool even when brushed fairly thin on otherwise flat surfaces, even if I kept an eye on it a bit before jumping to another piece. I suppose I can only ask for so much on a low effort approach. </div><div><br /></div><div>I took a bunch of pics in this phase for the Discord group but here's the handful that best get the points across.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1Maunx7YrYnorKFomSKzbXdOd0AJd25qtF8SLcMdpZ-IGsr01HUgCyDe-WlecDXZIzi9OydWofQ0eu4NVOaNxM_i8AZhWgi8F3AXsDVmUuAZYonznLVUC8nNYbeUANXW7dEjgCRf5dVyUdV0Anj33A2sS829urpI3umC6wqutJfAIIuAkBKspkmhUZgj/s3840/PXL_20231114_045958029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1Maunx7YrYnorKFomSKzbXdOd0AJd25qtF8SLcMdpZ-IGsr01HUgCyDe-WlecDXZIzi9OydWofQ0eu4NVOaNxM_i8AZhWgi8F3AXsDVmUuAZYonznLVUC8nNYbeUANXW7dEjgCRf5dVyUdV0Anj33A2sS829urpI3umC6wqutJfAIIuAkBKspkmhUZgj/s16000/PXL_20231114_045958029.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyaxvmxZZYW8PLa5WwpZnL4xzvXwB0x-jOEEa8S29PjBtwhRaJkDCwmCinM-6-6-O4D6CnhkZ6KYJTdWv2p1Rltbym4wnT53p2Hbr9dWaouxDTbmyLJztw-vLExxX5h2RzjBsZ0l5Gb4okw5yIhvuMF7AiMxryuRWcZjq_fS2-3eVTehe72BMDwpcg0XU/s2917/PXL_20231114_052151063.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2917" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyaxvmxZZYW8PLa5WwpZnL4xzvXwB0x-jOEEa8S29PjBtwhRaJkDCwmCinM-6-6-O4D6CnhkZ6KYJTdWv2p1Rltbym4wnT53p2Hbr9dWaouxDTbmyLJztw-vLExxX5h2RzjBsZ0l5Gb4okw5yIhvuMF7AiMxryuRWcZjq_fS2-3eVTehe72BMDwpcg0XU/s16000/PXL_20231114_052151063.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoGi1ZXCD95Py18BSKctNdloazBUmmP3MyUoylt3xdq6xuuOmV-tYqxbgl3nR78qcZGem2SwUOO3maZbntcCyPIJLCx2BepeDGU8s7n2Nt1of6OZYKX67VqPxNnaszhOFP2cahmzVGVPuqfZ7QHxULDbdVLPpMerlVHdtxJnUcJyU8AAuYcDzSF7lDTml/s3840/PXL_20231115_031411991.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoGi1ZXCD95Py18BSKctNdloazBUmmP3MyUoylt3xdq6xuuOmV-tYqxbgl3nR78qcZGem2SwUOO3maZbntcCyPIJLCx2BepeDGU8s7n2Nt1of6OZYKX67VqPxNnaszhOFP2cahmzVGVPuqfZ7QHxULDbdVLPpMerlVHdtxJnUcJyU8AAuYcDzSF7lDTml/s16000/PXL_20231115_031411991.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQp1EsZ94qJnFz4ousBfEiyfHyY1D5iva4aNyjHcswxRKIDtTBGk5JFVeBNI5C7VJcb-zD8M2cmn35WYUnBjgqH240WqVP8nzBVylZRt_5kxJqWjkOi9BKx4Om_meXywDQ9RPkWB_x6JJgBPxtUpnAYuSpQOadfLwREmw0i63id5FuKFPwdct-fxW5SHyX/s2347/PXL_20231115_050531005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1670" data-original-width="2347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQp1EsZ94qJnFz4ousBfEiyfHyY1D5iva4aNyjHcswxRKIDtTBGk5JFVeBNI5C7VJcb-zD8M2cmn35WYUnBjgqH240WqVP8nzBVylZRt_5kxJqWjkOi9BKx4Om_meXywDQ9RPkWB_x6JJgBPxtUpnAYuSpQOadfLwREmw0i63id5FuKFPwdct-fxW5SHyX/s16000/PXL_20231115_050531005.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Top layer was spray on <a href="https://www.thearmypainter.com/shop/us/cp3003s" target="_blank">Matte Varnish by Army Painter</a>, mostly as I was looking to use up the myriad cans of the stuff I still had kicking about from earlier projects, but also because it would be way quicker than the airbrush approach. I seem to have gotten lucky and avoided any frosting in spite of the cool evening and lack of any special prep, and with the shine knocked down the paint job looks a bit better overall to my eye.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall it's a nice kit, with a fair bit of variety possible from the two frames duplicated throughout. Curiously, there's no fire place element to go along with the chimney pieces - bit weird, and is why I didn't use any more than one. I wish Warlord also had a line of in-tact versions of these same style houses, as they do look pretty nice.</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, these pieces came out OK. I think I probably overused those corner stone facade things going up the sides, and probably should have tried filling the gaps with other stuff instead. At the time, I'd thought to knock these out quickly, but as a lot of projects do it kind of got away from me and I lost the plot there for a minute - I sank a bunch of time picking out individual stones or doing off-set colors for door frames and window frames. I should have splashed some varied color on the ash and rubble beyond picking out a few stones here and there, too. They'll do, though, and none of my players have complained <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/12/after-action-report-7-december-2023-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">in either of the games</a> we've <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/12/after-action-report-16-december-2023-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">used them in so far</a>!</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Ruins in Bolt Action</h3><div>Bolt Action does not have a "ruin" terrain type per se, and so convention is to categorize these things as a combination of "Rough Ground" and "Hard Cover" - put together, this gives you a piece that can only be crossed by tracked vehicles or infantry at an Advance, can't be navigated by Artillery or Wheeled Vehicles, and provides a substantial -2 to incoming fire for anything sheltering in it or behind it.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Ruins in The Pikeman's Lament</h3><div>Like some of the previous terrain posts, I slide this in as a second example since this is the only title in scope. Ruins are basically just Rough Terrain, though it isn't spelled out as such - though mind the game considers "villages" to be rough terrain as well!</div><div><br /></div><div>This should also be the case for anything else in the same family of games, such as Rebels and Patriots, Lion Rampant, and so forth.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgReZw15WrOHFBvAtCsmmlH6D9tAYYousZIp_eth1WGU8YSUR02-yOoSfyS_JE3jOIaAOfADQLKq7eqhCKMBPFb1K9DTDDPTP_w4xcFBllABj-cmtuBjXarbS8MGaJ8jeGi63O8wMdFm0frCKO4LCGEcBgVNGfTe96Q5ItBTL5ZnIbogbD1PawhXdkXWbjZ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="505" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgReZw15WrOHFBvAtCsmmlH6D9tAYYousZIp_eth1WGU8YSUR02-yOoSfyS_JE3jOIaAOfADQLKq7eqhCKMBPFb1K9DTDDPTP_w4xcFBllABj-cmtuBjXarbS8MGaJ8jeGi63O8wMdFm0frCKO4LCGEcBgVNGfTe96Q5ItBTL5ZnIbogbD1PawhXdkXWbjZ=w168-h320" width="168" /></a></div>This was a somewhat involved project, and the first time I used floor polish to do anything miniatures related. I remember the substance becoming a popular way to shade minis way back in my 40k days - especially among Tyranid players - but never made use of it myself until just now. I decided to go this route over the more modern oil wash as I anticipate these being used a lot (either on my part or because I've donated them to a LGS). While I seal my pieces with a varnish anyway, I have been told that the polyurethane in the polish is itself a pretty durable protective layer. Art pieces they are <i>definitely not</i> - but they don't have to be!</div><div><br /></div><div>Took quite some weeks from start to finish as well, not helped by the fact that I am doing multiple things in parallel. Also unhelpful is this studio room pulling double duty as a staging place for house-stuff while we work on various home improvement projects!</div><div><br /></div><div>I actually kind of liked these kits and might pick up another couple in the future to expand this collection, and perhaps use it to assemble a massive ruined manor house of some description - <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/12/after-action-report-7-december-2023-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">I used these in a game already</a> and definitely want more table space turned over to stuff like this. The remnant pieces from this effort I've not used up may also turn up in something eventually, too. I am also contemplating making a few intact analogues to these buildings based around foam core and some of the leftover bits I still have for it - that's further down the road, however.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will be rolling out some more terrain pieces here and there as time goes on. As of time of writing, a lot more things are in the queue existing at varying levels of completion. Once I have enough stuff to saturate a table or two I suspect I will chill on terrain for a while and hop back over to miniatures themselves - or more realistically, eventually work on a bit of each in tandem...</div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-22848376314411797592023-12-18T00:01:00.003-05:002023-12-19T14:21:27.915-05:00After Action Report: 16 December 2023 Bolt Action Engagement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg-NpYAT8bCJ5r7cVieMpYmnahg1STfT6ucg_wZz-7BPrfhQyBD5Ok1oR4qGAW5VIx6LevpLN98ua2i6Ypfcj7KkSymCw2h9MvB6buKsHJphpfUo4a1seYB9-dh-RC9_yeDhb9K9KRLkC_DLYHtQPsIwZktunejYIfy0NeW7eRD9Ks7wviXCfgWAoQfVQ/s3840/PXL_20231216_162653331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg-NpYAT8bCJ5r7cVieMpYmnahg1STfT6ucg_wZz-7BPrfhQyBD5Ok1oR4qGAW5VIx6LevpLN98ua2i6Ypfcj7KkSymCw2h9MvB6buKsHJphpfUo4a1seYB9-dh-RC9_yeDhb9K9KRLkC_DLYHtQPsIwZktunejYIfy0NeW7eRD9Ks7wviXCfgWAoQfVQ/s16000/PXL_20231216_162653331.jpg" /></a></div><p>On 16 December I got another game of Bolt Action in!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Avanti, SAVOIA!</h1><p>Here we have another 1,000 point game based around a Generic Reinforced Platoon, being played adjacent to another game of the same at our local "alternative site". Faced against Americans in a game of Sectors, I took a somewhat modified list from what I brought last time, based as I lately am around Paratroopers, an M15 tank, and an AB-41 backed up with some artillery and some Inexperienced Green Shirker troops in an S37.</p><p>This game was a resounding Italian victory, the likes of which I've scarcely seen for myself, so read through and see how it all unfolded!</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Pre-game and Deployment</h2><p>Quarters were decided, and we set up in turn via die-draw. My opponent deployed everything en-masse, while I reserved my vehicles and that green squad. My opponent deployed a sniper into the neutral quarter on my flank, while my observer went towards his, and a few of his own observers were sprinkled about.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUROKg1Gj8ZOrGoSfwe3ajCx_uVN14n3LCESyDPnw7a-a90RMvQU3CKzJVFY6n8DbD0wlhRbz6acxXFBgfcj7wIINXl_kk1SnuiIotxVAuRwXbj1-rMiUjbtbOs3kk8-vlEgechK7G-tPSmwGWXQ07soq9pu2Nq5ksOOaxSlOPdAMD2RNSRiRomJcq4Uc/s3840/PXL_20231216_165754038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUROKg1Gj8ZOrGoSfwe3ajCx_uVN14n3LCESyDPnw7a-a90RMvQU3CKzJVFY6n8DbD0wlhRbz6acxXFBgfcj7wIINXl_kk1SnuiIotxVAuRwXbj1-rMiUjbtbOs3kk8-vlEgechK7G-tPSmwGWXQ07soq9pu2Nq5ksOOaxSlOPdAMD2RNSRiRomJcq4Uc/s16000/PXL_20231216_165754038.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSkpBqQgBsbkTGthzTCm5qRGIPSbrg6wZSmFp5OEGOxMF7dyjSsfdcpTiblxFiWP4c7Og4-zCRe-GJRIgaglc3Fl82pCUxNbr4vLehPFuESCifdO5EDXCQ2oge14KeZHy6tGkdsA_5VDcVIfAlAfo8_Am21DNZk1gu3hnZ4eOyxiLdgDj3xrAQBldid6-/s3840/PXL_20231216_165800515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSkpBqQgBsbkTGthzTCm5qRGIPSbrg6wZSmFp5OEGOxMF7dyjSsfdcpTiblxFiWP4c7Og4-zCRe-GJRIgaglc3Fl82pCUxNbr4vLehPFuESCifdO5EDXCQ2oge14KeZHy6tGkdsA_5VDcVIfAlAfo8_Am21DNZk1gu3hnZ4eOyxiLdgDj3xrAQBldid6-/s16000/PXL_20231216_165800515.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2K38inwFDLDC4ioOkcD5503RXbIAGncjcSPib8cQ0DQXw-hmkKGSB1ASokw6E-bCW8Kx6u6uDPqo60vCbCpsHndpa3jz9zntOZy1s4zMWCB0jPa6YZL6oFyD8JWkN4grGFqWUw70nIGKB0rwle894FtPk0gLIdNFZz_Ov7c0crCy0_oNbAGHmsmDgtWHT/s3840/PXL_20231216_165806904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2K38inwFDLDC4ioOkcD5503RXbIAGncjcSPib8cQ0DQXw-hmkKGSB1ASokw6E-bCW8Kx6u6uDPqo60vCbCpsHndpa3jz9zntOZy1s4zMWCB0jPa6YZL6oFyD8JWkN4grGFqWUw70nIGKB0rwle894FtPk0gLIdNFZz_Ov7c0crCy0_oNbAGHmsmDgtWHT/s16000/PXL_20231216_165806904.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 1</h2><p>I open with a Snap To and move up some of my paratrooper SMG units with the LT - the rough terrain they're within hampers movement, however, and one squad is left in the open! Covering their advance, however, is my medium howitzer, which immediately ranges in on my opponent's -howitzer-bearing Sherman tank. It fails to do much but provide a few pins, however.</p><p>Immediate retaliation on the American's part came in the form of their Howitzer-Sherman smacking right down on my exposed paratroopers, killing several and setting up the squad to be trapped there for some time. What's worse, the other SMG Paratrooper squad is homed in on by the American sniper and the NCO is removed immediately. His advance covered, several infantry squads begin their maneuver forwards, while my lone para-rifle squad makes a similar advance towards the neutral zone in front of my DZ - learning from last time, I want to make sure his troops cannot walk in unimpeded!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-B-3HtpQoWVaizTF4rwp-QhflrOFgD-2tlwMu8Arll7Rfhjz_rZ5GWyYepHutaV0b1hFR-Q2VuUjxmJuuOfNbmSl9CbOoAlp9EyRUqOHTyWu5tcbeXxr7x7kFrK9s5f5jMGtJVWDy68x6CRq3uRWMG37iHRc7ZgqXBS8heQ9YgiGMDSZOgqN1RxKy11R/s3840/PXL_20231216_170235744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-B-3HtpQoWVaizTF4rwp-QhflrOFgD-2tlwMu8Arll7Rfhjz_rZ5GWyYepHutaV0b1hFR-Q2VuUjxmJuuOfNbmSl9CbOoAlp9EyRUqOHTyWu5tcbeXxr7x7kFrK9s5f5jMGtJVWDy68x6CRq3uRWMG37iHRc7ZgqXBS8heQ9YgiGMDSZOgqN1RxKy11R/s16000/PXL_20231216_170235744.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mTEmMSAqjBZZx5afwTR20HUsFX_LkwUG5JyNlgB_SnEnxZ3I68pAtS5hunTodLQv_bGtiYnBV5v5e7HxlBrWFOa3bJ-P5XdwxjudFf4L-elTBmflvTNlwRf1vg11mCqudjLryyn7GwwKH0HHjL-Sw3KQHMoI5aBj0DR6UNzK-mZ-S1fo7hcorCwblO8g/s3840/PXL_20231216_170513855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mTEmMSAqjBZZx5afwTR20HUsFX_LkwUG5JyNlgB_SnEnxZ3I68pAtS5hunTodLQv_bGtiYnBV5v5e7HxlBrWFOa3bJ-P5XdwxjudFf4L-elTBmflvTNlwRf1vg11mCqudjLryyn7GwwKH0HHjL-Sw3KQHMoI5aBj0DR6UNzK-mZ-S1fo7hcorCwblO8g/s16000/PXL_20231216_170513855.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TO_bGgf432gGUNeEofJgEk_gCcnwTU3gx8VO2gveQWcN2Qr8akG2IXkBe7hgCASlU5yBqChiuElkMcsf574AN2gNyuEupkTrwxcQpBnc91QdRBk2wqVENdK0Zd7DMxIfqewf37vyYzvawIAk20iX4Wa1EPTMOpo1zlL0ehMrWmwMJTy6FsdhpKaWKthq/s3840/PXL_20231216_170516130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYLX9mZSt__JEljpy2-j10JPVvBRnE7yORbTiUDkCJc_c2fmVsogdqneYRY2EIxQkJsviork_BECE7DXj0UiUFuP8VzYdT43q-6N_IjgOgSV-zazt9g_j0UKFR9ozRkDz1ybUx14WkS0qQkwErOF8fZTusqMrG0Pjwj_WYAtL18bCNSTKV8b85akKnuRX/s3840/PXL_20231216_172703736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYLX9mZSt__JEljpy2-j10JPVvBRnE7yORbTiUDkCJc_c2fmVsogdqneYRY2EIxQkJsviork_BECE7DXj0UiUFuP8VzYdT43q-6N_IjgOgSV-zazt9g_j0UKFR9ozRkDz1ybUx14WkS0qQkwErOF8fZTusqMrG0Pjwj_WYAtL18bCNSTKV8b85akKnuRX/s16000/PXL_20231216_172703736.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgzwanTaDiEixyZ3tfyoZcApCPNUf0DhWMoU2QYobNbcLQACuH7IZP157pF2e9ciYJqvOLvbIvtToCoujJSutVZyAaVL7P8coyP8A8Pxbwrze6Scn4lNaATHD5LKFwnKzeF-3iJqtev9FR6sfirS5iMe76-L113srBV27eZqigCkHk3ZRW0yleL-eT89D/s3840/PXL_20231216_173037915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgzwanTaDiEixyZ3tfyoZcApCPNUf0DhWMoU2QYobNbcLQACuH7IZP157pF2e9ciYJqvOLvbIvtToCoujJSutVZyAaVL7P8coyP8A8Pxbwrze6Scn4lNaATHD5LKFwnKzeF-3iJqtev9FR6sfirS5iMe76-L113srBV27eZqigCkHk3ZRW0yleL-eT89D/s16000/PXL_20231216_173037915.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD3ay9sCWUT9O1KcqZn5VF8c1qZCM8FG86zxQc4gnivHgY6zvpwLD2HgqkfY74FX6HMcgoE16_HEIyxOSShiFXv1w5HtEzXkn6cTCgxh4LVMkresisd9CP9J_TwSC_6YHx-e1NL_lW7mdrVg-ckE7DhtlVzVA6xooF8zQzb-75CSrjgusaJK7731t5LbN/s3840/PXL_20231216_173045033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD3ay9sCWUT9O1KcqZn5VF8c1qZCM8FG86zxQc4gnivHgY6zvpwLD2HgqkfY74FX6HMcgoE16_HEIyxOSShiFXv1w5HtEzXkn6cTCgxh4LVMkresisd9CP9J_TwSC_6YHx-e1NL_lW7mdrVg-ckE7DhtlVzVA6xooF8zQzb-75CSrjgusaJK7731t5LbN/s16000/PXL_20231216_173045033.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzp18-KeBeOivF91PfKbnkvkVl2WIZxrr6QGwnqBIwXU0DNNfMtoBeaNfB1MnGZARv2xE5Xin81bhUj-d0mrQpMrlTVcaVGLCu8IvWH8zmGqisFNr2aU0kenVrc1Ag-lf2wGUnEkdYAXYUidWvlXW5ELNrSGDMc-RDwXzMBVG_H7B3oq0txg3Of26Aaq9X/s3840/PXL_20231216_173054801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzp18-KeBeOivF91PfKbnkvkVl2WIZxrr6QGwnqBIwXU0DNNfMtoBeaNfB1MnGZARv2xE5Xin81bhUj-d0mrQpMrlTVcaVGLCu8IvWH8zmGqisFNr2aU0kenVrc1Ag-lf2wGUnEkdYAXYUidWvlXW5ELNrSGDMc-RDwXzMBVG_H7B3oq0txg3Of26Aaq9X/s16000/PXL_20231216_173054801.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 2</h2><p>My reserves are now in play, and with my first die I bring out that AB-41. Driving backwards, I split some fire and put some pins down range with the MMG while the autocannon removes the American sniper team. A fierce exchange of fire erupts as my M15 grinds on to the field, my Howitzer smacks their Sherman again, and the American howitzer (mortar?) finds mark on my NCO-less Paratroopers (laying down a lot of pins and basically trapping the unit). My push up on the left flank is going well, however, though I manage to get my Para-rifle squad stuck in the open. </p><p>Worryingly, my opponent has brought up a Bazooka team, angling to find a mark on my AB-41 but as yet unable. In support, American infantry pour through the town square, claiming the space and putting increasing pressure on that now combat-ineffective Paratrooper squad.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAqbY1C0WfUqCI-95oPVcE3bY-kOXZ9YrvRCWLbpGZVr77k1_fuLBw_Tqm6cb0vXxOyJkgYP78RZdnlzcgDte5K5XlC333LYtankJ-BURcZ63XFb4eAPNVPy3OxILKSutdWoq-rISlnLM8Qiv6K0vgTzrOH4OTubPTcRzQEF9xWnVw5k4ft5WR6a6TthY/s3840/PXL_20231216_174104092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAqbY1C0WfUqCI-95oPVcE3bY-kOXZ9YrvRCWLbpGZVr77k1_fuLBw_Tqm6cb0vXxOyJkgYP78RZdnlzcgDte5K5XlC333LYtankJ-BURcZ63XFb4eAPNVPy3OxILKSutdWoq-rISlnLM8Qiv6K0vgTzrOH4OTubPTcRzQEF9xWnVw5k4ft5WR6a6TthY/s16000/PXL_20231216_174104092.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaHTfdyStJ7RPLVLqYCc60VUozjTQuKDr5Lhlgl2XlblfhrnM2NPlJ7KYDnNquml7s-Z2fBMV8PZRA6pbm6H1ZhqflGE4ao_vytYnxfxaIRbWr8S9V8MNhb4NamiRqM1bEULaMxzfG4ltaengwVeTRiKVMCXvSbJeF8PGPzlonCpnGFyQPSSNGK2AiHoo/s3840/PXL_20231216_175932759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaHTfdyStJ7RPLVLqYCc60VUozjTQuKDr5Lhlgl2XlblfhrnM2NPlJ7KYDnNquml7s-Z2fBMV8PZRA6pbm6H1ZhqflGE4ao_vytYnxfxaIRbWr8S9V8MNhb4NamiRqM1bEULaMxzfG4ltaengwVeTRiKVMCXvSbJeF8PGPzlonCpnGFyQPSSNGK2AiHoo/s16000/PXL_20231216_175932759.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKJO1ydiXhyphenhyphenTlzz15omuIfAOHHG71yHpo-6P4-MDg4jMyI9krmfNYS7iV1NfQsdJ1NaE_tqfQpVNYC5SUZ5e_UGQREAwVhqoxleHV3jNJChNFmX4JWiRHqEmEEbbvK8ZrcnutaOdflEuQ7033ZwtCSQin274967fzWiktyHDmO7ZNO4bw7d2xjTf8jaGf/s3840/PXL_20231216_175941306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKJO1ydiXhyphenhyphenTlzz15omuIfAOHHG71yHpo-6P4-MDg4jMyI9krmfNYS7iV1NfQsdJ1NaE_tqfQpVNYC5SUZ5e_UGQREAwVhqoxleHV3jNJChNFmX4JWiRHqEmEEbbvK8ZrcnutaOdflEuQ7033ZwtCSQin274967fzWiktyHDmO7ZNO4bw7d2xjTf8jaGf/s16000/PXL_20231216_175941306.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhIS9ga3LybYI1AY_nutoqt8D6OcieKz9BXrreF9che64jmb8HMD3JFkxNni5LubHT0jOw7u8xq6R32UCD6u1Wnntpblw8CTECH6EkKbfou-WVxQVZfSiOBSAQnVD0eZvsF9dhBFSA4wPjPzGP_6Ca-gv5ImuYmENOsVAw1FbBgmdo-_VpCzD9xeNdKYe/s3840/PXL_20231216_175954475.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhIS9ga3LybYI1AY_nutoqt8D6OcieKz9BXrreF9che64jmb8HMD3JFkxNni5LubHT0jOw7u8xq6R32UCD6u1Wnntpblw8CTECH6EkKbfou-WVxQVZfSiOBSAQnVD0eZvsF9dhBFSA4wPjPzGP_6Ca-gv5ImuYmENOsVAw1FbBgmdo-_VpCzD9xeNdKYe/s16000/PXL_20231216_175954475.MP.jpg" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 3</h2><p>First die goes to my opponent and here comes the Bazooka team! Fortunately my AB-41 has Recce and did exactly that - ending its turn Down behind some nearby ruins. Not to be daunted, that Sherman shook off a few more pins and the ranging-in of my howitzer to drive forward and punish my Para-rifles - a large blast kills several and halts their advance.</p><p>This was not all America's turn, however - my flamethrower team picked its way through some ruins to start torching an exposed American infantry squad while my M15 scoots forward to hose down more of the same (to little effect, unfortunately). My S37 comes on successfully this round and its MMG starts to provide its own opinion on the matter, reinforcing the beleaguered Para-SMGs near by.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUxtqxmT_r3Zt1MEZRFlJec_pwmE9MQSEy1_XyObldnq3uZYOeA_EM8Vxa8zJajPYmyPm-lrRMCgXv0nlMcEcUKu1_WIt68YO_2RWCcuEhPhlHGOINCFAxEjebUm5EvYoOeulP8pn1L_pynlUWsVkvf0WgdYlmgYAe4c3NvTH_CINRSvrC7jCjsa1h-GE/s3840/PXL_20231216_180143197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUxtqxmT_r3Zt1MEZRFlJec_pwmE9MQSEy1_XyObldnq3uZYOeA_EM8Vxa8zJajPYmyPm-lrRMCgXv0nlMcEcUKu1_WIt68YO_2RWCcuEhPhlHGOINCFAxEjebUm5EvYoOeulP8pn1L_pynlUWsVkvf0WgdYlmgYAe4c3NvTH_CINRSvrC7jCjsa1h-GE/s16000/PXL_20231216_180143197.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPbMD5z_36q121VDLa4_ozu7VslnCy3A_yos2127gM8Jj2gckioDTJiPnDnKg8moX4PKGoTPeYHtWzLyidHbSYHwK4L7FpDQLCIP-uyjv32RYjZ4RhaY7VzgQEvebhcMRj3Bd1pkvUjMm9BGshTMcE5iE4Gpfy1Uy0c05HkIzEnkN-gJjpBgLl22bkpKn/s3840/PXL_20231216_180200549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq46-Jdcf6KVZab1r1KUHeyE6f7i9yKTKTUSYYxejW6SBBQHNvbdIqMubf7OGnRnCwOiRKC5ETC6ePxsUtGKxLm_Qkuid0jmcriZua9MRbNj2Xx19WNSc1oU9moPFEM1flcctQhhwJY6ZE84DJnaFXkvg-fh7aqw9Q88DetgbPp8TgaYxgO8_8734GHhJ/s3840/PXL_20231216_181304726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq46-Jdcf6KVZab1r1KUHeyE6f7i9yKTKTUSYYxejW6SBBQHNvbdIqMubf7OGnRnCwOiRKC5ETC6ePxsUtGKxLm_Qkuid0jmcriZua9MRbNj2Xx19WNSc1oU9moPFEM1flcctQhhwJY6ZE84DJnaFXkvg-fh7aqw9Q88DetgbPp8TgaYxgO8_8734GHhJ/s16000/PXL_20231216_181304726.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPG2NY_V5tXtvdXBhfnTDc5jn0bCzoj0Ky3sMjuNPKIQwZ0LMMic_r3SDYncj78v_FNGEAJfwMIB2eIT2EZR8uKUSUyxefD75EtuUiaRul25FVuahhw86c6-g3dCVt_PE0KZfpoTIZSK4oMLAjN8_wVJr8WqC4tRJ6Z9SnYSJgHaxM15DmrYe46sfykCX/s3840/PXL_20231216_181701752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM5okMBHCM-RXYqqMrXReMVer1MkJfzCZCzVwG4gNDXpvyLhsVrdIosFSApRjysmhdVslZv7AUaogXbc16F18gtAHG8_zXvujDyz85ye87pE4ZQH6N72CSljmMb0BWw1L4QixDHqbsmXiFYpdoTwR3nbHKALi6JySZ_ayByRv40yUTCxw53DXWJosuqjV/s3840/PXL_20231216_183441576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM5okMBHCM-RXYqqMrXReMVer1MkJfzCZCzVwG4gNDXpvyLhsVrdIosFSApRjysmhdVslZv7AUaogXbc16F18gtAHG8_zXvujDyz85ye87pE4ZQH6N72CSljmMb0BWw1L4QixDHqbsmXiFYpdoTwR3nbHKALi6JySZ_ayByRv40yUTCxw53DXWJosuqjV/s16000/PXL_20231216_183441576.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjig12PK8UURIlxKtPLCXYJMlzWSWVQiXkNV2qsp5rdMnSzaBEe3vfSyD4bMGXIqEjZcH6Xd3inITTQ4zJqtWuHdz7IYDOnZKmgKrm5AWwLZwDSyPPf1cXprB7eXI3yIBFC2fqkV76iS7t1V4Q4VMPfxgbviUEv3mb0N243z_T7raBDMhm6IgvBFnE9PVqg/s3840/PXL_20231216_183448727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjig12PK8UURIlxKtPLCXYJMlzWSWVQiXkNV2qsp5rdMnSzaBEe3vfSyD4bMGXIqEjZcH6Xd3inITTQ4zJqtWuHdz7IYDOnZKmgKrm5AWwLZwDSyPPf1cXprB7eXI3yIBFC2fqkV76iS7t1V4Q4VMPfxgbviUEv3mb0N243z_T7raBDMhm6IgvBFnE9PVqg/s16000/PXL_20231216_183448727.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 4</h2><p>Things start to turn down for the Americans this turn. Firstly, my AB-41 rolls forward and demolishes the Bazooka team that assaulted it earlier, claiming a second die for Italy and basically removing any immediate anti-armor threat in the area - and an American rifle squad's attempt to assault the vehicle only sees them fail and go down. Secondly, my M15 tank performs a tank assault against the ever-so-lucky infantry before it that survived two rounds of 20 MMG shots so handily already. This squad fails its morale and completely breaks, claiming a crucial third die for Italy and removing a unit that was set to score for USA. To try and counter my lead, the US player sends a squad of infantry in an assault against my exposed flamethrower team - being too close for defensive fire, it seems like it was curtains for the squad when luck intervened and saw the Americans kill 0 for 2 of their own - an immediate route of the assaulting squad!</p><p>A final bout of good fortune for Italy saw the two survivors of my shattered SMG-Para squad successfully pull it together and Advance into the ruin it was heading for in the first place...and put its Panzerfaust into the flank of the enemy Sherman. Though it does not destroy the vehicle, it stuns the crew and provided some pins that would become crucial next round.</p><p>The Americans were not completely unsuccessful, however - in spite of losses they continued to pressure my center and even pin the S37 supporting the remnants there, putting themselves in a better position to score substantially in subsequent rounds unless they are checked, and my Para-rifle squad is cut down to the last man (who holds against all odds).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrZxDKeUtyUshKz_b6-iov4aGQbbN0moQ1xF_kK15CnsmgBlZyf7uy6r3BemURwFE7Pd5h_25GucMfmZH0OriWUBPK1-bx-VlQWu09sfR5is8bav20RD5bdvtBCUb1rJ0W0Qq46a3OfhXtwA0NLq_hd3NX4l1KreHm6KwJvgdOr1-f5zRRTNhCOpLf9bR/s3840/PXL_20231216_184217937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrZxDKeUtyUshKz_b6-iov4aGQbbN0moQ1xF_kK15CnsmgBlZyf7uy6r3BemURwFE7Pd5h_25GucMfmZH0OriWUBPK1-bx-VlQWu09sfR5is8bav20RD5bdvtBCUb1rJ0W0Qq46a3OfhXtwA0NLq_hd3NX4l1KreHm6KwJvgdOr1-f5zRRTNhCOpLf9bR/s16000/PXL_20231216_184217937.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheakj0BKWaO-InT4RRWL-iDKjUzka5uWDFPxH9xusHwviOnjjaUyw3-mDq1Jb67I92Y2fN-8JedozJ7CLEgx3Tx5W47T8ME3YrZyU6Gr3rf7Qswe6_OGghqB3hkYs_SLVTcFDNY7lLd_1Taoz2s26GwifAqcEqyZlQ8bKOXWRJv6cQBcgwMRW29EhA2Pd/s3840/PXL_20231216_185019867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheakj0BKWaO-InT4RRWL-iDKjUzka5uWDFPxH9xusHwviOnjjaUyw3-mDq1Jb67I92Y2fN-8JedozJ7CLEgx3Tx5W47T8ME3YrZyU6Gr3rf7Qswe6_OGghqB3hkYs_SLVTcFDNY7lLd_1Taoz2s26GwifAqcEqyZlQ8bKOXWRJv6cQBcgwMRW29EhA2Pd/s16000/PXL_20231216_185019867.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrf4MFZz0rPTWnHCKXdkpBs7u4QhNYMiT713tlf5mMRLkrgBPqdBwadXtzXxFEogGGJkVDR6zbaeOGrOQeculGX5oJ-Opfbhshfxz74kO2xDKtHno0CGKLUtBPAe110_OqVpGnr_GCg96LCZx92giiQX18vBZHFoxHMYhLStJme9Blq5aAcvOkIrAC_qu/s3840/PXL_20231216_185442803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPMp8NygdhcxvUNK7wpY3VojfEkmOG1rga8pcS8Uc22RmZ2cUBGysotrH24bLaSCLePH_eGxLfaQk3kWrLqg8eQKkU0xcLDDZzq9_nuChwgARTq8WuOCWggaodkd1lB9p4uOTxPl-96AfL7FQz8x-zA1x6zal0JETqRrELpbc-I5-Gisec1T5Q02osq6B/s3840/PXL_20231216_191220695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPMp8NygdhcxvUNK7wpY3VojfEkmOG1rga8pcS8Uc22RmZ2cUBGysotrH24bLaSCLePH_eGxLfaQk3kWrLqg8eQKkU0xcLDDZzq9_nuChwgARTq8WuOCWggaodkd1lB9p4uOTxPl-96AfL7FQz8x-zA1x6zal0JETqRrELpbc-I5-Gisec1T5Q02osq6B/s16000/PXL_20231216_191220695.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxMt1TcmqbO7bD553MzgqgId2aMXGmDDNWoccreFI0vrA6Xe8Ylm_59Nyt29sHrozXjb9025Zg3yCWW1_0wgrkuM_xhYu0ToSiRxsvbCWnqzYuXJoRoJPAraKpOtng7IV8WOrTC5BBg-kHXF_BWsh7u1iMSMw8PDs1rwLoj2SKVFJTSd1CnPNazdp12Ti/s3840/PXL_20231216_191228890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxMt1TcmqbO7bD553MzgqgId2aMXGmDDNWoccreFI0vrA6Xe8Ylm_59Nyt29sHrozXjb9025Zg3yCWW1_0wgrkuM_xhYu0ToSiRxsvbCWnqzYuXJoRoJPAraKpOtng7IV8WOrTC5BBg-kHXF_BWsh7u1iMSMw8PDs1rwLoj2SKVFJTSd1CnPNazdp12Ti/s16000/PXL_20231216_191228890.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 5</h2><p>I am now in Avanti Savoia - the positive one!</p><p>My AB-41 continues its success and moves itself up into the enemy DZ - cutting down the mortar team before it and killing some of the howitzer crew. That M15 is hot in its heels, grinding through the woodland to finish the job on the Howitzer and turn fire on some of the infantry behind it. Meanwhile, that Sherman has failed an order test and gone Down, setting it up for my flamethrower team to rock up and conflagrate the thing. Doing a quick bit of mental math I decide to dart my S37 forward to the enemy DZ - the 6 points this would be worth likely at least mitigating the US squads in a position to do the same to me.</p><p>It is looking very bad for the US right now - they are down to only something like four units, and while some are in a position to get into my DZ they still have to actually get there...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCUFzBfwFeNJ9i6TkaNl3huetRNASPZpr19cDPS-TucUmkgSWk3fcqJwySU2TuZhmxFxowi_XpXQXNaGeuPqCYyDN6OLUyk1yYMhSDlVWrcTYmE0Xmw8Wx5HqHe4TjWS5u79PJcp3cNCzCPXp_KwQKLsJY_6WZtFQ2OdOErntvz8KoEePvJqvJkHUbAX9/s3840/PXL_20231216_191629942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCUFzBfwFeNJ9i6TkaNl3huetRNASPZpr19cDPS-TucUmkgSWk3fcqJwySU2TuZhmxFxowi_XpXQXNaGeuPqCYyDN6OLUyk1yYMhSDlVWrcTYmE0Xmw8Wx5HqHe4TjWS5u79PJcp3cNCzCPXp_KwQKLsJY_6WZtFQ2OdOErntvz8KoEePvJqvJkHUbAX9/s16000/PXL_20231216_191629942.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiWADC6wkbuPuE_FEpWL33vc-vSa7t702YtpUIluHvhjRqSS1KFTx72SuQGr-Zd4JHP3bx2lCRizwTEfmo9IA8-bPzqowmBcZjlMOzTYW3DC1kKs_7u1pPaO1JIMLlK9F0_nyxwogfR52UTD6JQEeExvW0_i0kNdaOh_4QU3N96Oaj66EsZZUcmdeLRpt/s16000/PXL_20231216_193356675.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb0wf2WV0ajESi3AmLYawlY1QgGCck67hyphenhyphenLDOty2F6N-7ZbHkh2WTG8u85M_p7QmDpr_BCZgs0qRFl8CiAwiOjVcoyvyLh3A2NtFKWyFR9ZhZ3Jrj7I_eqfWGBOiOSvs1tTdHRN1Gy27LdjB5fHJlD3hVgl_yBuFvP6OUGhyphenhyphen6R19ac2y1G1LzgApAAleH/s3840/PXL_20231216_193739847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb0wf2WV0ajESi3AmLYawlY1QgGCck67hyphenhyphenLDOty2F6N-7ZbHkh2WTG8u85M_p7QmDpr_BCZgs0qRFl8CiAwiOjVcoyvyLh3A2NtFKWyFR9ZhZ3Jrj7I_eqfWGBOiOSvs1tTdHRN1Gy27LdjB5fHJlD3hVgl_yBuFvP6OUGhyphenhyphen6R19ac2y1G1LzgApAAleH/s16000/PXL_20231216_193739847.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgackHmVyziCJcSoDjdtOGfVA9u57-5NhyVCb-dfRrgY1zkMMoCCLPCjC9MMWQG3eaihdZfhwaoaBBIhDydi3CdkKuZlvESui1mxULbSPMexez2vqW8uNahFFyP2ZFWCuSnEXHhaJfDTVK6owMJehDMLIM6YaJYkRBVotBQZRIz4VD4LkF0frBB2QyhWzBR/s3840/PXL_20231216_193747190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgackHmVyziCJcSoDjdtOGfVA9u57-5NhyVCb-dfRrgY1zkMMoCCLPCjC9MMWQG3eaihdZfhwaoaBBIhDydi3CdkKuZlvESui1mxULbSPMexez2vqW8uNahFFyP2ZFWCuSnEXHhaJfDTVK6owMJehDMLIM6YaJYkRBVotBQZRIz4VD4LkF0frBB2QyhWzBR/s16000/PXL_20231216_193747190.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE5idUfRB3VgMrajgn6owvp_4mNCmqBFS1jDZ8U1kT_A-Wknodwp7hXfW8OSMJWJs0G6JqO_D9-Ppj-N9uNZ63zE4U78aOVGI-Wzg_EuGla7XBXRP_yaMWAV3wSP632UTlfQ3NQ6qslR2fHp-kG2cCM8U-YJ9Ga2mwPrkQP0eWXJHDHAsrWALcERe17PB/s3840/PXL_20231216_193753276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE5idUfRB3VgMrajgn6owvp_4mNCmqBFS1jDZ8U1kT_A-Wknodwp7hXfW8OSMJWJs0G6JqO_D9-Ppj-N9uNZ63zE4U78aOVGI-Wzg_EuGla7XBXRP_yaMWAV3wSP632UTlfQ3NQ6qslR2fHp-kG2cCM8U-YJ9Ga2mwPrkQP0eWXJHDHAsrWALcERe17PB/s16000/PXL_20231216_193753276.jpg" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 6</h2><p>I try and run up the score by Advancing my flamethrower towards my enemy's LT, but unfortunately the squad does not hit their mark, falling just short. The remnants of the SMG-paras who Panzerfausted the tank even tried to help but was unsuccessful. To add insult to injury the American LT moves forward a bit to shoot at a totally different squad to no avail.</p><p>My opponent tries to regain some momentum, advancing some rifle infantry forward - but instead of trying for an Assault or just a Run past the woods, the squad stops and lays fire down on my LT - killing the remaining assistant and leaving him alone. His last remaining squads either fail to activate, hunker down, or make their last dash with MMG fire hot on their heels...and that is that! No Turn 7 on this one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfS54zYi1RWj0s60GhcpNT6xczQkVJhQDrAWIlIUUSdDm1I1J6tovNid0ju8ZA4MstkZmre5GJcm18M6ykUbQYSGtxCrxnTu6lmeIQb82P1A_1UU3E7zORqwAc5NjBiqv3UJ9SlXmkxQCuZS0yPRzyzl4k5Ggr-rvL9LmZsMwgyYuOfnrNvgHntTsmcRQs/s3840/PXL_20231216_195417582.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfS54zYi1RWj0s60GhcpNT6xczQkVJhQDrAWIlIUUSdDm1I1J6tovNid0ju8ZA4MstkZmre5GJcm18M6ykUbQYSGtxCrxnTu6lmeIQb82P1A_1UU3E7zORqwAc5NjBiqv3UJ9SlXmkxQCuZS0yPRzyzl4k5Ggr-rvL9LmZsMwgyYuOfnrNvgHntTsmcRQs/s16000/PXL_20231216_195417582.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM9-NUDFCY2CrvpWyHJvrOgSgUWVnc5KxKh-82M_KqzgDRkNOujeAI7uide2P1H8Td_0mZUrbttUePUeSireP2H1jrnFteFUCCelvqJ_01yH11P4UOEUMqkA2OInk0GhKVJkGW23qAGLCYXrU9L2ap8_rbtji1MRNGdFlMDej8QY4jw9BW_fTjte0H9m_/s3840/PXL_20231216_195423461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM9-NUDFCY2CrvpWyHJvrOgSgUWVnc5KxKh-82M_KqzgDRkNOujeAI7uide2P1H8Td_0mZUrbttUePUeSireP2H1jrnFteFUCCelvqJ_01yH11P4UOEUMqkA2OInk0GhKVJkGW23qAGLCYXrU9L2ap8_rbtji1MRNGdFlMDej8QY4jw9BW_fTjte0H9m_/s16000/PXL_20231216_195423461.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhw3ku_U2Il-LHinUK3eJwNGxFMWIICXdo7Peh46KknvYOJZ7ue6nC1ymdAZ582tBcm45Gif0J0E3MJ-WkhJdkcqLRcYF6CeIIB8w-44JNKTCGmLxSUOHcwcF8rXAhEgAb7NVTlQxhId5PsZVobu7cesDRXUoSB8JHLqZiKuHZQcxBtZTECKAC_fVdyK-/s3840/PXL_20231216_195447252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhw3ku_U2Il-LHinUK3eJwNGxFMWIICXdo7Peh46KknvYOJZ7ue6nC1ymdAZ582tBcm45Gif0J0E3MJ-WkhJdkcqLRcYF6CeIIB8w-44JNKTCGmLxSUOHcwcF8rXAhEgAb7NVTlQxhId5PsZVobu7cesDRXUoSB8JHLqZiKuHZQcxBtZTECKAC_fVdyK-/s16000/PXL_20231216_195447252.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KiE0CWHwKv3EQmcwbWRWoM_lNo80D6A97utBGZQFv83yKkmEPKoeRKSlZIjUpTORn5H__Sf8mX6ZqPIm8KMVFcylmw6EwcRMeKB5jTzUoArpmlsKh6EGXjI6kXhbZ8A72qgDLWUGJezgmHd2H4Zoi1SQuWxcIJbXPd5kXJLGS2NQcg7S9VnR2rUEq7je/s3840/PXL_20231216_195454205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KiE0CWHwKv3EQmcwbWRWoM_lNo80D6A97utBGZQFv83yKkmEPKoeRKSlZIjUpTORn5H__Sf8mX6ZqPIm8KMVFcylmw6EwcRMeKB5jTzUoArpmlsKh6EGXjI6kXhbZ8A72qgDLWUGJezgmHd2H4Zoi1SQuWxcIJbXPd5kXJLGS2NQcg7S9VnR2rUEq7je/s16000/PXL_20231216_195454205.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtPjOovyh-vdaOGOVhWyOJ3zoefohI4qGreYgkSLJUgHyafQkJerxVIPkafbsfqJLagQwEBdVZhzgPsKyEbzDoF06Au-WZutsd3gIxlzyqcNhcbClIY_UsIAtBF6doyC6DVDq0JBQEgIN94FCjSXb263qPN3BE7q-SKt7BZzEIGdgGetQAm9jqZvoQSyk/s3840/PXL_20231216_195502779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtPjOovyh-vdaOGOVhWyOJ3zoefohI4qGreYgkSLJUgHyafQkJerxVIPkafbsfqJLagQwEBdVZhzgPsKyEbzDoF06Au-WZutsd3gIxlzyqcNhcbClIY_UsIAtBF6doyC6DVDq0JBQEgIN94FCjSXb263qPN3BE7q-SKt7BZzEIGdgGetQAm9jqZvoQSyk/s16000/PXL_20231216_195502779.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Results</h2><p>23-3 - crushing Italian victory over the US!</p><p>Against all odds, I took 8 dice off my opponent, but did not lose a single one of my own.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvg2n9EAKXtTRAkJHE1W60907P-RA8ZAKJxqUrhcO3aTOOaCVSqUd5ZS-nhRqZNjGsakHJRWRNSgmYurdouMY6KxL4K-aUlIBeexbzDu49tHV92Ckm_XeZzIkJjEbbsj15cV9H1V6sfbb6ef5SfgQs-Z24NtRWEuMo4OqRLBOVwOotOxYMKt85XNja7-a/s3840/PXL_20231216_195512309.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvg2n9EAKXtTRAkJHE1W60907P-RA8ZAKJxqUrhcO3aTOOaCVSqUd5ZS-nhRqZNjGsakHJRWRNSgmYurdouMY6KxL4K-aUlIBeexbzDu49tHV92Ckm_XeZzIkJjEbbsj15cV9H1V6sfbb6ef5SfgQs-Z24NtRWEuMo4OqRLBOVwOotOxYMKt85XNja7-a/s16000/PXL_20231216_195512309.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAmtlX5p2-bwvOp8D2cy_iVl32MlX4qu03ZMCrIZVa5AlYpg1jrLOmzUBtXtqQODHfPVF81-KyjJq6inQaMiDMPiCzB85l5He8LmjzFvOlp_1mpWlgUmUaHTHvhwnEdV4wS5cKyqIZHE5WtO6i4nJAUPCRP8p7DMkiTv0RQujfCIz0WB1iv4k1aU-wl6Z/s3840/PXL_20231216_195523760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAmtlX5p2-bwvOp8D2cy_iVl32MlX4qu03ZMCrIZVa5AlYpg1jrLOmzUBtXtqQODHfPVF81-KyjJq6inQaMiDMPiCzB85l5He8LmjzFvOlp_1mpWlgUmUaHTHvhwnEdV4wS5cKyqIZHE5WtO6i4nJAUPCRP8p7DMkiTv0RQujfCIz0WB1iv4k1aU-wl6Z/s16000/PXL_20231216_195523760.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Retrospectives</h2><p>I've got a bad habit of rushing forward when I shouldn't. Out of the gate I took some pretty bad hits because I pushed up a bunch of infantry almost completely unsupported and ended up leaving them in the open. Part of this is because I deployed in terrain which slowed me down, and another is because I don't think of getting myself in a position to "leapfrog" between cover by simply stopping short one turn before the other.</p><p>Regardless I seem to do pretty OK at Sectors as late, and certainly bringing vehicles is a big help. Unlike my last list I throttled back on the transport/gun platform and reinvested that in my troops, and that seems to have paid off. While the S37 "Spam" approach may be viable, I don't think it's worth risking it with trucks in a situation like this.</p><p>I think what really cinched this for me was really just a small number of outcomes - my opponent losing his Bazooka team meant my whole armored push up the right had a lot it could do before it would encounter the next credible threat (howitzer), and my opponent losing the Order Test to move that Sherman kept it from scoring triple in my DZ as well as setting it up for destruction by a flamethrower.</p><p>On my opponent's part, I think he probably could have pushed through the rightmost intersection and into the woods beyond, which would have let him destroy probably two units and score at least two squads in my DZ - it would not have leveled the field much but it would have been less lopsided. I am unsure if the AB-41 and S37 scared him (and pinned him) enough to stay put until it was too late, or if he had lost sight of the bigger picture.</p><p>Either way I think a big contributor was dice - I simply had a hot couple of rolls at opportune moments while my opponent did not. Biggest contributors on his part were probably the failed charge against my flamethrower, the Sherman going Down, and losing out against Tank Shock (which is something I have got to use more often).</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><p>That's probably the last one for the year, but we'll see if I can't sneak one more in before the end. Not sure what's up with the lighting in that room, as like last time I posted from there it seems like my phone really struggles to take reasonable photos (even considering its age).</p><p>It has been a heck of a year for Bolt Action, so with any luck I will keep on keeping on with it in the next - in the mean time I've got more terrain to showcase and get boxed away off my desk...</p>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-33333157887381321012023-12-15T00:01:00.002-05:002023-12-15T00:01:00.141-05:00More Woods for the Pile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfQDt8qRSv9Bg1UHeE4n72pbjtGGzViq2iJeve069TpceSF9ARPKXuiX0IJ6cxkwMV-zgG0gieSqO-7UebCJksGlaYbhorrAMK6vKS1_aH7L-FOZ1FD6yz4LTprI9FE-HePTV3DxqzH1fGCuN-tbOAc_fVxw6Cfnv74VrAbO61REfjbNBX_P7xpcT2KZO/s3840/PXL_20231207_220751250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1569" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfQDt8qRSv9Bg1UHeE4n72pbjtGGzViq2iJeve069TpceSF9ARPKXuiX0IJ6cxkwMV-zgG0gieSqO-7UebCJksGlaYbhorrAMK6vKS1_aH7L-FOZ1FD6yz4LTprI9FE-HePTV3DxqzH1fGCuN-tbOAc_fVxw6Cfnv74VrAbO61REfjbNBX_P7xpcT2KZO/s16000/PXL_20231207_220751250.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/11/terrain-for-woodland-warfare.html" target="_blank">My previous post on woodland terrain</a> was (surprisingly) well received in some online circles, so I figure I would continue to host up some more as I produce them. <h1 style="text-align: left;">The Trees Are Alive With the Sound of Warfare</h1><div>Always best to lead with the finished product!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fm1QmxaGKgwebDgZmEoc78iOpWg2JircyeDowyrs4p5xXgUs4FoS2DIEqBOIYrgzIMgmHpWjrtpU4h44s4a4NilTD4KRSdogeB4Mly6-GKHZ8kEOnDEWmhDIXluAYstq3MV1L65wjW04MoNFbhovJVR3GY2AWz6bAQ0ZRC7-ebSljmExUwig6Y1ie1ax/s16000/PXL_20231207_220900224.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Building the Base Layer</h2><div>While the previous few were based on small, 3D-printed forms or cut out of XPS foam, this one was built on ABS sheeting. I have been working on a variety of different terrain projects lately - mostly buildings - which have made use of 1.5mm thick ABS as a base material, and ended up with a number of off-cuts that were usefully sized but not quite large enough for other things still in the queue. To form up the base later on this I basically cobbled together a few of the larger scraps, glued them together with some braces, and tried to give it a little more "organic" shape.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next came the nails, which are the same ones as on previous iterations with the tips ground off. I had a few of these left over and wanted to use them up - future iterations will probably switch to using wood dowels. A good dollup of Gorilla Glue - the blue-capped stuff, not the foaming sort - does the trick there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall this was sturdy if a little plain and thin, so the whole thing was reinforced with a healthy layer of wood filler, primed, then given a coat of primer and a base coat of brown. Krylon Satin Coffee to be exact. For whatever reason I did not get a shot of anything done before this step, but suffice to say it's a mess of spare parts under there.</div><div><br /></div><div>In an attempt to make the trunks look a touch more appealing than just flat brown, I brushed on a few cheap craft paint colors real quick and approximated a few different types, and even picked out some errant bits of wood filler on the trunks as being pieces of lichen (which showed up way bright here).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEb5ODGV0K1LkeZKakIbv16tydVFyMsPOgfAFsgG7HqvuKNHMUFCdIqqO4KlFy6B-2P0rKDeQ9JDchZLZ98JzyVBYeTBeE_h57sGVBi3x18l5-OkxfrkkgsCf13N0j52igGzf5htdtyG8gpJV0R0_w4PVZW823QpQx_jtt1NdDyWLv8gpi6N3iiwm1Y6u/s2465/PXL_20231125_030356060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEb5ODGV0K1LkeZKakIbv16tydVFyMsPOgfAFsgG7HqvuKNHMUFCdIqqO4KlFy6B-2P0rKDeQ9JDchZLZ98JzyVBYeTBeE_h57sGVBi3x18l5-OkxfrkkgsCf13N0j52igGzf5htdtyG8gpJV0R0_w4PVZW823QpQx_jtt1NdDyWLv8gpi6N3iiwm1Y6u/s16000/PXL_20231125_030356060.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGCdvaxBNabpTUsGwcODlSxb89lfJw0fHEcH487HJiNvECG5vNXSB1tcKJ0ss6JolzKzEYpXuE_sEdaVXkCXMalXpWAh_V2SQDv0BCTxTM7jV09fNcLtQ0aECgEWL0WkCUtsICWCfbWsQWwgjhg4F9-PL5OY-9UQIq2uVAMPTsIZnfmCurVnTBI7GhgAv/s2675/PXL_20231125_031702773.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1899" data-original-width="2675" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGCdvaxBNabpTUsGwcODlSxb89lfJw0fHEcH487HJiNvECG5vNXSB1tcKJ0ss6JolzKzEYpXuE_sEdaVXkCXMalXpWAh_V2SQDv0BCTxTM7jV09fNcLtQ0aECgEWL0WkCUtsICWCfbWsQWwgjhg4F9-PL5OY-9UQIq2uVAMPTsIZnfmCurVnTBI7GhgAv/s16000/PXL_20231125_031702773.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z_sVY1QqBZfe2yZdAyT4JD5S71hpDATP9t2r69vZFmT-VNKw-ToO-SB6ly3nsqM9vc7P7MNaJnYPYQ461Yn2_gppL-G4l170et1KHsEazeFK60WPpYOckaHm2GikaXL0YsoTAFjhyMTETfIOe9eyXwa9v-9VzsXWP-ma_XGLFYawxthEk6HScvmyDgXl/s2694/PXL_20231125_031711757.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="2694" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z_sVY1QqBZfe2yZdAyT4JD5S71hpDATP9t2r69vZFmT-VNKw-ToO-SB6ly3nsqM9vc7P7MNaJnYPYQ461Yn2_gppL-G4l170et1KHsEazeFK60WPpYOckaHm2GikaXL0YsoTAFjhyMTETfIOe9eyXwa9v-9VzsXWP-ma_XGLFYawxthEk6HScvmyDgXl/s16000/PXL_20231125_031711757.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVYYuQHSAsZcNAZizXqoJaIKahtvmtDDaxTh2dgAv4Mg5YYpmGjzRAhvGisnInbdn2QzYnnSMgJY7ahcnZU9fYpEfGxIIk4ArgeUSd7srVBMOVFvWH8X4w6uzUtQ8CRXddNMbZI8IadNwMfhWy15NYDgrEtbggmGJkOuzI2t45UmytcTnxG9ggQi3SqUo/s3840/PXL_20231125_032243891.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVYYuQHSAsZcNAZizXqoJaIKahtvmtDDaxTh2dgAv4Mg5YYpmGjzRAhvGisnInbdn2QzYnnSMgJY7ahcnZU9fYpEfGxIIk4ArgeUSd7srVBMOVFvWH8X4w6uzUtQ8CRXddNMbZI8IadNwMfhWy15NYDgrEtbggmGJkOuzI2t45UmytcTnxG9ggQi3SqUo/s16000/PXL_20231125_032243891.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Flocking used much the same approach as before - a coat of Modpodge was used to hold down an interior layer of (used) tea leaves, then the outer was ringed with some grassy flock - this one being from a container I use to store mixed leftovers from earlier projects. Once that layer had a chance to dry, it was then glued from above via saturation with Scenic Cement - really just heavily watered-down PVA, but I had a bottle of it in the studio I'm trying to burn through anyway. Once dry, it provided a pretty hard and still interesting base layer, though the glue does mute the colors quite a bit.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvvGIeUIdgeQse5_Rs_5sC-Vmu7BKjLEaCElLNWBflC0njE5nc82qfFR05RUEDPFzbmQvq4hqibvjThurcMZGa9D5IL9PB61iB9EjwuiOgKsDjox0RnAdKRTK13wVfAVV3C3C6kKJ54qvrLqxYUVV9vNcvtJKzGntz_49UYjiUj_DbmxgHfPPjjxtSWGN/s2457/PXL_20231126_203316027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2457" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvvGIeUIdgeQse5_Rs_5sC-Vmu7BKjLEaCElLNWBflC0njE5nc82qfFR05RUEDPFzbmQvq4hqibvjThurcMZGa9D5IL9PB61iB9EjwuiOgKsDjox0RnAdKRTK13wVfAVV3C3C6kKJ54qvrLqxYUVV9vNcvtJKzGntz_49UYjiUj_DbmxgHfPPjjxtSWGN/s16000/PXL_20231126_203316027.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjF0nHTuBXXmew0dLH23eXqv0-fA771d53w_O7sbHWU4zukjW0JmDFHSY4QVqJHcnS9OQ1q63tDvLlvN-RFqD3lL1nudVQtiDjoMehKKx0o8_ItDKOeLnWsKw7mpzy_tz7e4BsEqlMkTNRgg7WW-Pi5K1amrJxbzlkWFyj-oF_YlfQHVpzgQvm3VdcS4OE/s2860/PXL_20231127_005959684.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2860" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjF0nHTuBXXmew0dLH23eXqv0-fA771d53w_O7sbHWU4zukjW0JmDFHSY4QVqJHcnS9OQ1q63tDvLlvN-RFqD3lL1nudVQtiDjoMehKKx0o8_ItDKOeLnWsKw7mpzy_tz7e4BsEqlMkTNRgg7WW-Pi5K1amrJxbzlkWFyj-oF_YlfQHVpzgQvm3VdcS4OE/s16000/PXL_20231127_005959684.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJBzSJ1SDOyo5wtXzhHUR515BlkHwlQfsg9U9fBdeO2_-fQHU3huHiiLntQKvUMssqWR8EHQo4wJdXi2yhzG3b7pb6kvpcKdg8rMxN7AmYJCGjQH1hfhe7gNBNDvBrH3YgRaKNa-y9vpEGH_wewKQkjCpyFhbgTKg4ne0zr8htAdXXD8jNZJbGqzZcnO2/s2239/PXL_20231127_055550430.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="2239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJBzSJ1SDOyo5wtXzhHUR515BlkHwlQfsg9U9fBdeO2_-fQHU3huHiiLntQKvUMssqWR8EHQo4wJdXi2yhzG3b7pb6kvpcKdg8rMxN7AmYJCGjQH1hfhe7gNBNDvBrH3YgRaKNa-y9vpEGH_wewKQkjCpyFhbgTKg4ne0zr8htAdXXD8jNZJbGqzZcnO2/s16000/PXL_20231127_055550430.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgyZaLC2uV5r0nCLKfA3wwRvQxI5CWagwckDBqMY4ZxN2lO634DLjmA_SKj2Vc9upTWVZC2bQ5ufVt20D4GwWhtR6SRttqeVKRjcOZ7A-S9nZ_o1JKpz3USIQ1SwqwM9JdrTbmsg3Fi9XOLz-n2ibWrnDXqQvkounyxgxDkGg9ntuHUp54RDGW4Xcjbjt/s2148/PXL_20231127_055541030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1950" data-original-width="2148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgyZaLC2uV5r0nCLKfA3wwRvQxI5CWagwckDBqMY4ZxN2lO634DLjmA_SKj2Vc9upTWVZC2bQ5ufVt20D4GwWhtR6SRttqeVKRjcOZ7A-S9nZ_o1JKpz3USIQ1SwqwM9JdrTbmsg3Fi9XOLz-n2ibWrnDXqQvkounyxgxDkGg9ntuHUp54RDGW4Xcjbjt/s16000/PXL_20231127_055541030.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Final result is solid, makes use of scrap material that would otherwise end up as waste, and doesn't look too terrible. It's something like 11" across at the widest points, so approach from that direction in a game of Bolt Action would likely prove a considerable impediment - we tend to run these as Rough Ground and thus infantry only get 6" of movement through it (9" for Tracked vehicles like the Cromwell above).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Building the Canopy Layer</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got almost no WIP shots of this one, for whatever reason. It was build just like the previous ones were, however - a lump of scrap foam was piled up in the middle-ish of a lid made out of foam core poster board, then the whole thing given some Modpodge and lots of clump foliage on top. Unfortunately when this got sprayed down the hump in the middle became much more pronounced and, well, "wizard-hat" like. I'll puff it back out with more stuff eventually but it was kind of funny for a minute so I left it as is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The edges - and a few troublesome spots throughout that just wouldn't accept PVA glue for whatever reason - got foliage attached with some black hot glue instead. Once that was done the top was saturated in Scenic Cement - as before I do plan to experiment with other adhesives, but in the meantime I'm working through materials I have hanging around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6b4I-oYEW9CgoyqelglpFlgvJqBOwIqAWxfkYznmgrxjJ0HkHxxI74OiyXE1Og40isaeEZCwWKfrcvHqBeMa9qV-xShQf7keyvxsq9bS7Q7AeIFPocnKHkgS3XQaphLPjKMxE-UwqGt3Q0-veWkjghOl8uoeDkRjpnWbSnX65lPFak60CcVY84BtG_DJU/s2123/PXL_20231125_044608051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2123" data-original-width="2097" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6b4I-oYEW9CgoyqelglpFlgvJqBOwIqAWxfkYznmgrxjJ0HkHxxI74OiyXE1Og40isaeEZCwWKfrcvHqBeMa9qV-xShQf7keyvxsq9bS7Q7AeIFPocnKHkgS3XQaphLPjKMxE-UwqGt3Q0-veWkjghOl8uoeDkRjpnWbSnX65lPFak60CcVY84BtG_DJU/s16000/PXL_20231125_044608051.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYGK_w9snchVCBc4LiV3IKFglYavGtR8Ve9XWERQ9TTqDzOL-sFtSNE0yGS75pFR2Pkz4FpINKw1wxINTwl7U1XWxHfRkXmscmm6MP54_SvFJJryfNilz3E3uaMLyanbGvBUU9ikhkAAFLn5PS15n5OvZ8wMWqaRVyCMHAZXLPpdSCNn3Z84KaMcm92bG/s2866/PXL_20231127_055519599.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1720" data-original-width="2866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYGK_w9snchVCBc4LiV3IKFglYavGtR8Ve9XWERQ9TTqDzOL-sFtSNE0yGS75pFR2Pkz4FpINKw1wxINTwl7U1XWxHfRkXmscmm6MP54_SvFJJryfNilz3E3uaMLyanbGvBUU9ikhkAAFLn5PS15n5OvZ8wMWqaRVyCMHAZXLPpdSCNn3Z84KaMcm92bG/s16000/PXL_20231127_055519599.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluRZ0EQTbOcFSmK4-JkZqtU5Oq6m3ggUlWFcI3yR5WWQR1xkQKKfyj5RX-TLf2h03z7aF8QW-uVhxrt_XyZc8qAME-n64sTLI6ZPsCZA5yCda9IgSYXvcX3fwBYT5ndwtC8Arm8xCbrM7KhAQXfoLefBBWRR5y8NK0jPsOmxsDV0tfsw4OqqNTjSvS719/s3840/PXL_20231127_055514779.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluRZ0EQTbOcFSmK4-JkZqtU5Oq6m3ggUlWFcI3yR5WWQR1xkQKKfyj5RX-TLf2h03z7aF8QW-uVhxrt_XyZc8qAME-n64sTLI6ZPsCZA5yCda9IgSYXvcX3fwBYT5ndwtC8Arm8xCbrM7KhAQXfoLefBBWRR5y8NK0jPsOmxsDV0tfsw4OqqNTjSvS719/s16000/PXL_20231127_055514779.MP.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>This is the largest one of these I have done to date, and I plan to do at least a few more around this size (and possibly a bit larger) eventually. Practical limit is just the size of the transport box I haul these around in, and the one I've already been using has a fair bit of room yet still. Both online and in person I have actually been told a few people liked this idea enough that they wish to copy it - this is great, and means I should probably do a few more iterations of this.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/12/after-action-report-7-december-2023-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">This got used in a game already</a>, and it played well.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I eluded to above (and you might have seen in the background) I have several other terrain projects in the works that will eventually find their way here when they're complete, as several of them are steadily becoming.</div></div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-21753087795710901092023-12-13T00:01:00.002-05:002023-12-19T14:22:07.506-05:00After Action Report: 7 December 2023 Bolt Action Engagement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2boHFGgVbAfQn-PfcM0jYq3uQGYKGPDuzMPCDcKDPgqqhkBVAyVW9QAgQANMSEdN8FU_VVJKr01XLvquYwFP_KOIdESPGUgACs2nhCOUGA6yNqy7qXqFrCL6lz2kvnpdBzplWbKbm4ZC2eHhIBIF8HahDKn0wnDZTjMH7yED6TNuS_9VremjTLkGaK_7_/s3678/PXL_20231207_223255232.MP-EDIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="3678" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2boHFGgVbAfQn-PfcM0jYq3uQGYKGPDuzMPCDcKDPgqqhkBVAyVW9QAgQANMSEdN8FU_VVJKr01XLvquYwFP_KOIdESPGUgACs2nhCOUGA6yNqy7qXqFrCL6lz2kvnpdBzplWbKbm4ZC2eHhIBIF8HahDKn0wnDZTjMH7yED6TNuS_9VremjTLkGaK_7_/s16000/PXL_20231207_223255232.MP-EDIT.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>On 7 December 2023 I finally had an opportunity to return to playing Bolt Action, facing off against our local Finnish player.<div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Sweeping Through</h1><div>In this game, I deployed a full 1,000 point platoon that features a number of the usual suspects - the M15 tank, paratroopers, my AB41, and a medium howitzer. Even took a Flamethrower team - Veterans - though I typically shy away from small teams as late. This time around though I took some advice from one of the members of the Juggernauts and deployed a few transports - occupied by some very cheap Inexperienced Shirker infantry - as gun platforms.</div><div><br /></div><div>My opponent brought a lot of his usual stuff - lots of rifle infantry, an artillery piece, sniper, and worryingly a StuG.</div><div><br /></div><div>We played Sectors, on a board I had set up in advance, using only my own terrain - slowly these projects are paying dividends!</div><div><br /></div><div>The battle went on for five turns before we decided to call it as my opponent was no longer really in a position to change his fortunes and time was running short.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Pre-game and Deployment</h2><div>My opponent won the roll-off and gave himself his choice of table edge, relegating me (fortunately) to a pretty strong one across the board from it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I decided to keep half of my force in reserve, including all of the vehicles. Everything else deployed, mostly with an eye for hooking through the neighboring and densely-terrained area across from my DZ with most of my forces while defending my DZ with mostly vehicles and some rifle squad.</div><div><br /></div><div>My opponent deployed everything en-masse, taking advantage of tree-cover and putting his tank quite close to the limit..</div><div><br /></div><div>My opponent won the forward deployment roll-off, setting up his spotter (though not his sniper, as that was in a quarter) - naturally he chose the belltower. My spotter followed behind.</div><div><br /></div><div>No prep-bombardment for us this time around.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SHV74XiDeXLXOMDjlzS6xtTTUrocGwU9EX62IA_PPQ9kNxuufa6DJtBgpnfV2ev_ut-UrTMNtDNXhna24tMyMQsPnuPvNHeYyf1QIRz0fVA_KU-7xcidiuiHUN9v271AwwPlq6vYgsLgYE-gpeSAIKQkvXLa2hZWX4tjm-kPE2HP_dmpVFsDIU1LX0AT/s3840/PXL_20231207_223242862.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SHV74XiDeXLXOMDjlzS6xtTTUrocGwU9EX62IA_PPQ9kNxuufa6DJtBgpnfV2ev_ut-UrTMNtDNXhna24tMyMQsPnuPvNHeYyf1QIRz0fVA_KU-7xcidiuiHUN9v271AwwPlq6vYgsLgYE-gpeSAIKQkvXLa2hZWX4tjm-kPE2HP_dmpVFsDIU1LX0AT/s16000/PXL_20231207_223242862.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilt3u7fuOVT_c3ctWkMEVXnZoT83ttpNReCsKtHlz1aI5ilEVEAXhRPB1nAGFGQjZSXpk73c5qdbw5e9utdh8Ge1ctLq2UosyLoyflR7eLtCfuoQGyZpPLBOMDp2HS051xibtXhyphenhyphenle9RJnkVCGbUNANFl4RX5-ZC30SBYtxMvfSoReBj2BABsk39WKBzlP/s3840/PXL_20231207_223255232.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilt3u7fuOVT_c3ctWkMEVXnZoT83ttpNReCsKtHlz1aI5ilEVEAXhRPB1nAGFGQjZSXpk73c5qdbw5e9utdh8Ge1ctLq2UosyLoyflR7eLtCfuoQGyZpPLBOMDp2HS051xibtXhyphenhyphenle9RJnkVCGbUNANFl4RX5-ZC30SBYtxMvfSoReBj2BABsk39WKBzlP/s16000/PXL_20231207_223255232.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbWrsqb6LVopUXBUekI5ZK_aLtbdRJWzJzuNoih6iZj9HiGkLG9UVXhyphenhyphen3hhHQfCDkzW1A5X5j4qQ0nHZ0f4ASYeiUCJ-ptVA1tdgglZTiahpRzldP0zbt7OCfbBg6tkHBfqrcc6h35DdEgltn15lPniIBlembM0aGZ-YiGNAKLWA30hDeQr40qLKPPrIe/s3840/PXL_20231207_223310344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbWrsqb6LVopUXBUekI5ZK_aLtbdRJWzJzuNoih6iZj9HiGkLG9UVXhyphenhyphen3hhHQfCDkzW1A5X5j4qQ0nHZ0f4ASYeiUCJ-ptVA1tdgglZTiahpRzldP0zbt7OCfbBg6tkHBfqrcc6h35DdEgltn15lPniIBlembM0aGZ-YiGNAKLWA30hDeQr40qLKPPrIe/s16000/PXL_20231207_223310344.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZP1pIywXFb-g0XEBaU0dD7X8CstPT1EYK6PiacRjdrvK8NeN3QxA7W4gpl0Sf-UzBqC4oIYNNg64xDCvwC4qCt6aOVu_KO9UWQORJ1aK-jXBz8yj7OQ8bhrwzuZh4i_Qx7hCWRc7Ph93RUtCnXoZhsMlxHCOKt1oum2asudHDfZvPPUBhPbKv-A0OJ4F/s16000/PXL_20231207_224533448.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlfIlSPNBzxmq26S85kjbKyJ03tYZyS48qcaO6Q6KOcE6BeHCg9BMkwdmDsbsBNGRm01Ega5A-kjsJ2bhXFD4ac1u_gtBUtfUIEG0P4btftu7Ov86O9mkhP13r_llgtyp-SmmiJGnAtRJxP3wvQXNwrHr1YmL9HXUI9Urexd364x8iwmzhf_lO_czq2j1/s3840/PXL_20231207_232841658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlfIlSPNBzxmq26S85kjbKyJ03tYZyS48qcaO6Q6KOcE6BeHCg9BMkwdmDsbsBNGRm01Ega5A-kjsJ2bhXFD4ac1u_gtBUtfUIEG0P4btftu7Ov86O9mkhP13r_llgtyp-SmmiJGnAtRJxP3wvQXNwrHr1YmL9HXUI9Urexd364x8iwmzhf_lO_czq2j1/s16000/PXL_20231207_232841658.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNnGo5Nwc_97pRbWA3mwvX33KZzztyRhr5fECciFo7Yd7NDUGvC9TULwMbirwqBi4dtjVJgbdBHqFplrGKiyXKmWZwF6kyvsEyyeVYSi2ZKXjFMLqk39NjwEGlwHfdG16Hdopd_fNpGJAaZNhqOum5EOU3cq9Psgb2MuPcaU0MvyfPyyD2p5J71Gzihnv/s16000/PXL_20231207_232856345.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75CYkWPfibFldSiH_ABYRgCQ7PBvPP69ibY4ngHyKXeUXJSNvQOiwCBJ2uG4hTWlTftbdLgluIJCy6Bq81R50VYdX_T0zpJoYzOmU6AoYe-BuK0QF7gzW-LqJZSvrYUWnWxF6SfFmtcnuTlLPi6a3HpQFJN-Ine70r8MH-PzexSjlTLdSEcH32YibN-Ov/s3840/PXL_20231207_232905881.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75CYkWPfibFldSiH_ABYRgCQ7PBvPP69ibY4ngHyKXeUXJSNvQOiwCBJ2uG4hTWlTftbdLgluIJCy6Bq81R50VYdX_T0zpJoYzOmU6AoYe-BuK0QF7gzW-LqJZSvrYUWnWxF6SfFmtcnuTlLPi6a3HpQFJN-Ine70r8MH-PzexSjlTLdSEcH32YibN-Ov/s16000/PXL_20231207_232905881.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNVLIrBXQTdJhvvuwioWMWWb_zb-FVrRtSS9l1twlKml3mZdFW98UA8efvkTVpMmsCDTzO9eDuuJh63BA5rnPcmUqDrDgaRSH5cqh8fdbBrNGaBFWV7UFX4zBN1qamjBsea1RCxqu7QQDfuzXJspm8JsMFWDErb_7tPekuE7CSzKxQtgU2PdHrB2nLisl/s3840/PXL_20231207_233021283.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNVLIrBXQTdJhvvuwioWMWWb_zb-FVrRtSS9l1twlKml3mZdFW98UA8efvkTVpMmsCDTzO9eDuuJh63BA5rnPcmUqDrDgaRSH5cqh8fdbBrNGaBFWV7UFX4zBN1qamjBsea1RCxqu7QQDfuzXJspm8JsMFWDErb_7tPekuE7CSzKxQtgU2PdHrB2nLisl/s16000/PXL_20231207_233021283.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 1</h2><div>As forces started close, there was some action right out of the gate here. By and large my opponent seems to have had the same idea I had - focus on taking the ruined village area, then hook into my DZ. Thus most of his infantry quickly came into close order with mine, though line of sight was an issue for both of us. His numerical superiority at this phase did give him an advantage, though, in that he was able to send a squad unopposed into the mostly empty quarter next to the church and a squad over towards the church itself - a move that would ultimately bring his score up substantially at the end.</div><div><br /></div><div>I did make one clever move here - my goal was to bring some vehicles in near the road, naturally to take advantage of the movement boost. My howitzer was able to draw line of sight on his StuG, and with my tanks in reserve I had the idea to bait the StuG over closer to my DZ (something he was probably already planning on doing but still). Dropping a howitzer shot indirect on him did the trick, and it did lumber a bit closer to put MMG fire down (which did result in a pin).</div><div><br /></div><div>My own opponent's guns weren't silent either, and they began ranging in on my vanguard squad of SMG paratroopers hotfooting it up the road through the village - this was an error on both our parts as the squad was out of his angle of fire and I did not realize (something that would have a knock-on effect later). His mortar also joined in for a minute here, too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTFUozjAgpmzBXw6tUt8JCLLCYO2LiScDOmtUaAb4Ne9GKcYHbCsO6i141lhGQm3Do7E-hDZK1gDos-UAXwDnSR9hW1L3oVRdJPELWR_lzmzVgFnZMFj9Lxb9aC8yJcH6cJeOM3Xin_hv_HuXR9FKdgNa1ymhNQlKJbnAcxxNEbswerAS1b7bunXNW6Qw/s3840/PXL_20231207_235414168.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1523" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTFUozjAgpmzBXw6tUt8JCLLCYO2LiScDOmtUaAb4Ne9GKcYHbCsO6i141lhGQm3Do7E-hDZK1gDos-UAXwDnSR9hW1L3oVRdJPELWR_lzmzVgFnZMFj9Lxb9aC8yJcH6cJeOM3Xin_hv_HuXR9FKdgNa1ymhNQlKJbnAcxxNEbswerAS1b7bunXNW6Qw/s16000/PXL_20231207_235414168.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQwehNJeFlTCvfvsA7ZE_BlkNTb7NOT6gnFmQSCU0KN6OSFTTPY6cv2_mve_7dRayK9e8Qxhyphenhyphen4O3Ra3zZBVwcYF63ZUkJA4k6mo-PlSrpDmCfZW3wazTGXnnQ9fphvF9fyMH2oow0X-zOGgXbGUMTZYcKLkapLmRW3Tq06_IymmYIgFPovGfUwjT_TUo3/s3840/PXL_20231207_235421133.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQwehNJeFlTCvfvsA7ZE_BlkNTb7NOT6gnFmQSCU0KN6OSFTTPY6cv2_mve_7dRayK9e8Qxhyphenhyphen4O3Ra3zZBVwcYF63ZUkJA4k6mo-PlSrpDmCfZW3wazTGXnnQ9fphvF9fyMH2oow0X-zOGgXbGUMTZYcKLkapLmRW3Tq06_IymmYIgFPovGfUwjT_TUo3/s16000/PXL_20231207_235421133.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkJjKGHMQXk-L7s-qs8YPdRY7xRl-vXFhqHACuc8m05jFy_839vV8XG1mBQGm5tlskrgxZ4Us1J4ZnxFWgpEn5wOv0qREnAgbNiwxYB6FCI2aeuZQwGbfsm2U82Oc9zkTqA_t7tQQGXyRZbba8Rcs3TGRSV7DhLpNEkVCBtGoI7-b026GO3oHZc1Q6LdV/s3840/PXL_20231207_235429510.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkJjKGHMQXk-L7s-qs8YPdRY7xRl-vXFhqHACuc8m05jFy_839vV8XG1mBQGm5tlskrgxZ4Us1J4ZnxFWgpEn5wOv0qREnAgbNiwxYB6FCI2aeuZQwGbfsm2U82Oc9zkTqA_t7tQQGXyRZbba8Rcs3TGRSV7DhLpNEkVCBtGoI7-b026GO3oHZc1Q6LdV/s16000/PXL_20231207_235429510.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU47JeEoFXxdlbvZoRbq6bmHvpuefrQJACGnsISFXkeEbifq4kbMN4fqy0qogjZoyXo_z-rHL0N_8eDpxkJQbO49bUAzB3e0QSzNcUGzPolO2t-MG1ohYv0fgyLkypC-c-3M4TJAgQEXF1qRnC2haIoW00TuOv5jjgfPndUvkV0CxXT9Od-CnO5r8HukhQ/s3840/PXL_20231207_235449228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU47JeEoFXxdlbvZoRbq6bmHvpuefrQJACGnsISFXkeEbifq4kbMN4fqy0qogjZoyXo_z-rHL0N_8eDpxkJQbO49bUAzB3e0QSzNcUGzPolO2t-MG1ohYv0fgyLkypC-c-3M4TJAgQEXF1qRnC2haIoW00TuOv5jjgfPndUvkV0CxXT9Od-CnO5r8HukhQ/s16000/PXL_20231207_235449228.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 2</h2><div>First dice was mine and that very naturally saw that M15 of mine come onto the board, aiming right at the exposed flank of my opponent's StuG. It did not penetrate, but it did land a pin on the vehicle, and the bow MMGs were able to start peppering a squad just beyond it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Less disappointingly I was able to get my LT squad to run into an assault on his mortar's spotter, putting that thing out of the game and thus rendering his mortar almost completely useless.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most of the other action in the background was some maneuvering and small exchanges of fire where targets presented themselves, but nothing major until his howitzer landed a shot on my vanguard squad of SMG paras, killing several and dishing out hefty pins. Also of not ewas my opponent taking control of the Church with a squad that had some panzerfaust in it.</div><div><br /></div><div>With only a few dice left to my name I put the transports Down - road not being clear enough - but my armored car I had plans for. At first I'd wanted to roll it onto the board in the neutral quarter my opponent was unopposed in, but the mal-oriented howitzer of my opponent gave me pause and I decided against it. With that in mind I opted to use it as high-price bait! With the Para-rifle squad with Panzerfausts I had watching the T-junction in Ambush, I chose to roll the AB-41 up the road in my DZ and hammer some rounds into the Finnish rifle squad nearby (something which had a moderate effect). My opponent took the bait and brought that StuG right around the corner to get a firing angle on that AB41, and out comes the panzerfaust shots! One misses, the other hits...and fails to penetrate. For what it's worth, my opponent's StuG then misses its shot at my AB41, creating a reputation for this spot of the board as the "No Fun Zone".</div><div><br /></div><div>On the bright side, my medium howitzer now has a fire angle on my opponent's tank's flank...</div><div><br /></div><div>At the end I chose to bring my truck on, driving up and actually inflicting a casualty on the nearby Finnish rifle squad (which I <i>think</i> also caused them to become Veterans).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESAFAcstzoe53LNBWoDXssX9JgS3ApkW8LRz7EfHyvtd9xFHAhEc99a1nday9QzdyLVs7IFU0xmsZdQliKQp63NM2-33Bk-alBDEdCByPO-vp1XJu8Xw658GRBOhB41kqI-Hp3i49DZPfXrP0PEMzdE2KOKBpAWtDlSRtPp_q2xJs6EVJLsScJCbjSNvz/s3840/PXL_20231207_235917186.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESAFAcstzoe53LNBWoDXssX9JgS3ApkW8LRz7EfHyvtd9xFHAhEc99a1nday9QzdyLVs7IFU0xmsZdQliKQp63NM2-33Bk-alBDEdCByPO-vp1XJu8Xw658GRBOhB41kqI-Hp3i49DZPfXrP0PEMzdE2KOKBpAWtDlSRtPp_q2xJs6EVJLsScJCbjSNvz/s16000/PXL_20231207_235917186.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJU4OEf5h-Ao3CNEt_w86kNR7AWKy9wy_0Jgls4BXLclIidiE5QRccSGVbzNBQUHbqZN-isu92SwlOrOolpHzVQQgQgIW4YqtO9vDe6cWOgwlCZvcz9dxEfnYXVSP5ecTcxm-4wCwD9ABY5fALl_o56d2qcuQNeIBOpVSpLutg7aOPx1MlmclayVIFvmD/s16000/PXL_20231208_002352298.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7Z4xZfEfth3RxsBdkfQuhpr-q1ndXCldf5-cl_PwUOj7PLr_ZD4AvqntVc6b5C4o_23Z7rovt6ZG1TwjtlWIQHxERBfP7rvh80TACag-GCm2ZtC4PZoQxPiAZ-YtCU2JJ6mQh46MpGMBp3tFEhAEckKIvS8HHBIY69HV2PWb-IhT5ZAfHtDsq6XLjN1G/s3840/PXL_20231208_002515581.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7Z4xZfEfth3RxsBdkfQuhpr-q1ndXCldf5-cl_PwUOj7PLr_ZD4AvqntVc6b5C4o_23Z7rovt6ZG1TwjtlWIQHxERBfP7rvh80TACag-GCm2ZtC4PZoQxPiAZ-YtCU2JJ6mQh46MpGMBp3tFEhAEckKIvS8HHBIY69HV2PWb-IhT5ZAfHtDsq6XLjN1G/s16000/PXL_20231208_002515581.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvx0NLCzU78z4sQmrpHoEzSuxQzUGOOdC3Eq8NrY40qTxTe7U-2e57qzNYELp9_o-h9piCUmRGlzSzW20m8U2fmYPeoN7M3FaK9mU9InkPdb3c8F0QY3cgtRVKuVl_M08KZ_RGhn5Pg4JucDuIGflwVZlJ3kmkJy0PUgmSKN0u373TrfRsmhnxFSUba27/s3840/PXL_20231208_003016217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvx0NLCzU78z4sQmrpHoEzSuxQzUGOOdC3Eq8NrY40qTxTe7U-2e57qzNYELp9_o-h9piCUmRGlzSzW20m8U2fmYPeoN7M3FaK9mU9InkPdb3c8F0QY3cgtRVKuVl_M08KZ_RGhn5Pg4JucDuIGflwVZlJ3kmkJy0PUgmSKN0u373TrfRsmhnxFSUba27/s16000/PXL_20231208_003016217.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 3</h2><div>Things really heat up here. My truck makes a dash across the road to start putting fire into the enemy closing in on my weakened SMG squad, while my tank grinds forward to try and get into some cover against the Panzerfausts and still put fire out - things hit, but nothing massive changes and that StuG just shrugs off another AP shell...but not a howitzer strike, which hands out a sizable number of pins and sets the stage for how things are going to go over here from then on!</div><div><br /></div><div>In retaliation, my opponent gets a squad out of the Church and right into the tailpipe of my M15...and proceeds to miss with his Panzerfaust and point-blank. No Fun Zone indeed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over in the village ruins I start to pull it together - my SMG squad gets out of the howitzer's line of fire with the LT's help, and their backup arrives and lays down an absolute deluge of SMG fire against one of the Finnish rifle squads - which, with the truck's help, brings it down to a single man.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also begin a push up out of my DZ and towards what I hope will become a drive into my opponent's DZ (as units there are worth 3 times the points) - my armored car pushes past the tank (which is now stuck Rallying) to put fire on enemy units, my para-rifle team begins to push up on a Finnish rifle team and put fire on them (wherein they go Down), and my S37 transport rolls on up the road, squeezing by the StuG, and darts through the ruins to become a mobile base of fire.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EOO7ld9oFx4rJGs2g0HMJU0FzKe-SVt3Y6wmJ0t5Mj7yupT8opS6JVH1GC0y1I8Iy-Um4gPK4bx9qIAvG0AYiU_aCubqtTUu5QrdaNqOFGSkB81h3xe8oU1A6GWF1wMbHQOw9VhZsTm4Qb1yIJScl9fAFVaEcp6I-kbdCvvj-MaufZTeWKKdjpAfCnYQ/s3840/PXL_20231208_003754706.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EOO7ld9oFx4rJGs2g0HMJU0FzKe-SVt3Y6wmJ0t5Mj7yupT8opS6JVH1GC0y1I8Iy-Um4gPK4bx9qIAvG0AYiU_aCubqtTUu5QrdaNqOFGSkB81h3xe8oU1A6GWF1wMbHQOw9VhZsTm4Qb1yIJScl9fAFVaEcp6I-kbdCvvj-MaufZTeWKKdjpAfCnYQ/s16000/PXL_20231208_003754706.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiul3MrYYuyiKgzaCYyIIudU0efExr5fOqDQ1nlVOlEsv9l1E7tbAmNvXw7h7VRxhtqU0NbSJcnw2r1k9DUkdY5CxtSOcD2Hc87_9RBzhb6AH6EAwqIPpovFjIfVJNML_gaehnF2C3ly3sTu9nB5rv_AvMTjT2pnJjpt1EhfED6lsU05F4YxUbifaH0ygKU/s3840/PXL_20231208_004153987.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiul3MrYYuyiKgzaCYyIIudU0efExr5fOqDQ1nlVOlEsv9l1E7tbAmNvXw7h7VRxhtqU0NbSJcnw2r1k9DUkdY5CxtSOcD2Hc87_9RBzhb6AH6EAwqIPpovFjIfVJNML_gaehnF2C3ly3sTu9nB5rv_AvMTjT2pnJjpt1EhfED6lsU05F4YxUbifaH0ygKU/s16000/PXL_20231208_004153987.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUn9cDVhpRq7Q3fm6EhAz6tdLQvTM-V35NRcmatjW2eHt_xYDxZtHiS_saXywsQc6EwEQXlDmXLBUJPz_fOW99lXHTuSex_6-dcZlJqFXnF6eyw18Cqc1u37sl6RTTLHuHGNqK5rayh53l3uU37qic82ePDElr3Zm2dpTmTNIGYiRAVKugvAHUrMUmsUz/s16000/PXL_20231208_004950649.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEYjyj88P9ahrwJMtRtynhOhbzlpqbQnItUgChMwWX-7PXEz68x2O4L3-KDMBaJFJU8KjsvhRq5raL4SlfN99YZWJhidnLxI-X523Me1JOkGEehGlctNcHyCIbm0ziUjsV7QrYOtXgqUHjPgAd8B0Odq1Fujl9CnNrw10flIsUF79Iz2dN6-dYPmMDDC5/s3840/PXL_20231208_010517376.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1497" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEYjyj88P9ahrwJMtRtynhOhbzlpqbQnItUgChMwWX-7PXEz68x2O4L3-KDMBaJFJU8KjsvhRq5raL4SlfN99YZWJhidnLxI-X523Me1JOkGEehGlctNcHyCIbm0ziUjsV7QrYOtXgqUHjPgAd8B0Odq1Fujl9CnNrw10flIsUF79Iz2dN6-dYPmMDDC5/s16000/PXL_20231208_010517376.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUxuD-3da2CBwHTWNCd961PnotwI_3G9qLDiF5DwMPd7geuXHOje3Af5FHC-8NnylA39weVooPDNNLxbCy5BfipX8UNWDt3UUrFXpYB5it3z9dEFzo0TiPZuQ-I9_VNx997nWUPWWeI9LAsT9U2nUd0OM5biA3NAkY-R9bA988GPECZjou3oMKB7opCgD/s16000/PXL_20231208_010531643.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDCmW39ZK88pAsCld5PxvUKZsSUMyUSUUMrPzLzoaskp7tpf07J8H3MyKlLwj-R7fThUlQBt-bhCPNpnWfhKv4jGaB0AlvnXiX2xo67t6mLGWcHrpBK60gL77wvisMOitcntsO8qJUNmgu40PE0gio5uT2E_h7Zv24gV3AkYa-XJwc9qnjVVdfbraebRq/s3840/PXL_20231208_010537353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDCmW39ZK88pAsCld5PxvUKZsSUMyUSUUMrPzLzoaskp7tpf07J8H3MyKlLwj-R7fThUlQBt-bhCPNpnWfhKv4jGaB0AlvnXiX2xo67t6mLGWcHrpBK60gL77wvisMOitcntsO8qJUNmgu40PE0gio5uT2E_h7Zv24gV3AkYa-XJwc9qnjVVdfbraebRq/s16000/PXL_20231208_010537353.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 4</h2><div>I finally manage to get a shot through the side of that StuG, evidently busting through the engine and rendering it Immobile!</div><div><br /></div><div>The opponent gets his due though - one of his rifle squads charges into my own, setting up a melee right behind said tank. These ended up being Tough Fighters, and mine were not - I am cut down completely and the enemy loses but two. Following up on this with another squad he does the very same to my largest and strongest SMG squad, odds be damned - and loses just <i>none</i>. Here it's clear things have shifted in my opponent's favor - a lot of my offensive power is cut at this point, and it isn't clear that I will hold this quarter let alone make any progress forward.</div><div><br /></div><div>What's worse, I'm down two dice, dangerously close to Avanti Savoia territory.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not to be daunted, however, I keep up pressure, moving the flamethrower up to what's left of the rifle squad before it - only one hit, but it is a casualty and several pins. Both my transports roll up further into the quarter, dishing out fire to some effect, but most importantly taking dominance of the road. My remaining SMG paras, however, fail to successfully activate and go Down - FUBAR, even!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAPpf9bYS3_X4yibHtIspsbKKFDtuaSaOR-578P7wGnDHzzxwragRqInhjJ6hFNTqVfLYlehmadj9WJ3gZBZx8QL1ZGsfibFXdMmQ5icpC_M7cKgoV5QWFsalv-xTcYXoLPVIZ3RwEcvPBpiiSfCO2c0oOi-xFW77Cy8tAx8YK-i5yctw8dTFowimhQAt/s3840/PXL_20231208_010833259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAPpf9bYS3_X4yibHtIspsbKKFDtuaSaOR-578P7wGnDHzzxwragRqInhjJ6hFNTqVfLYlehmadj9WJ3gZBZx8QL1ZGsfibFXdMmQ5icpC_M7cKgoV5QWFsalv-xTcYXoLPVIZ3RwEcvPBpiiSfCO2c0oOi-xFW77Cy8tAx8YK-i5yctw8dTFowimhQAt/s16000/PXL_20231208_010833259.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0huJI3JJKum6Jw1yEaPuvGHE1poGoiMHeV2e8qyXs2uJs7rU1YhuTZaZYVUA1IuQ-N9fOWCcctEdiIfiRHN5_IqnmoQCtyLDk-6E4qf96CGe1spFC1AMZJf4qC2Wz6h_5ZifD4W0ARvFDPh5jjGtNYsD4RZHjyRpbEqmdOPcyYoxU8E2T7timM75Ok3N/s3840/PXL_20231208_011217150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0huJI3JJKum6Jw1yEaPuvGHE1poGoiMHeV2e8qyXs2uJs7rU1YhuTZaZYVUA1IuQ-N9fOWCcctEdiIfiRHN5_IqnmoQCtyLDk-6E4qf96CGe1spFC1AMZJf4qC2Wz6h_5ZifD4W0ARvFDPh5jjGtNYsD4RZHjyRpbEqmdOPcyYoxU8E2T7timM75Ok3N/s16000/PXL_20231208_011217150.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mJE1tMW08agyQd0EkTa4D95quSXZk7x8gRqu1KaANuQp9Vns8BQMyTmpSvX-_gBdkNb9gcL66Bi_UTIpU4lvZ8EE4ax1vyQAIpqvILe60cLvR6LnWcV3_OtcFMr4WcL3p7RwrpQXscCDEtlYa0o3CE5mPqCBsPR8gZiSCtp4NVnyvADvuQL2MFPxRadY/s3840/PXL_20231208_011427591.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mJE1tMW08agyQd0EkTa4D95quSXZk7x8gRqu1KaANuQp9Vns8BQMyTmpSvX-_gBdkNb9gcL66Bi_UTIpU4lvZ8EE4ax1vyQAIpqvILe60cLvR6LnWcV3_OtcFMr4WcL3p7RwrpQXscCDEtlYa0o3CE5mPqCBsPR8gZiSCtp4NVnyvADvuQL2MFPxRadY/s16000/PXL_20231208_011427591.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WXWT1y4-b7daBb4X-SJWIQ9y2iJ4Dzwc2pYOL5cDT0zTPXic0ZFI2uD1jpYPh3bfmc0aZHPH-EBVMlHJ2D0tFplu91yMwgs2aKzmmde_z8UP5R-cc2Wd0mjivuLkcXdRap_2iVi_l-2iSbfN67ofFHyXamJ1W77_BwuNcl8EGB59BWiFlr17s0I8afe9/s3840/PXL_20231208_011536074.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WXWT1y4-b7daBb4X-SJWIQ9y2iJ4Dzwc2pYOL5cDT0zTPXic0ZFI2uD1jpYPh3bfmc0aZHPH-EBVMlHJ2D0tFplu91yMwgs2aKzmmde_z8UP5R-cc2Wd0mjivuLkcXdRap_2iVi_l-2iSbfN67ofFHyXamJ1W77_BwuNcl8EGB59BWiFlr17s0I8afe9/s16000/PXL_20231208_011536074.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwGnOIb0fQlZ3RCz4umJhnuI08p4X4RtsY_4Q7ua9G-WsgUE8eZKLdOtyMjvVq1OIKQIxgCl9d-WPGDaBJh_e0vvttqZOQUwRLEdNjy6MOIouKNAIDBZS_FbG7XtoUXQD_uapgH4ndaDz-ho7MSLqLd4FaAjiFtCwLevc-75YLdfXDDrQCYRfUlsPXWhr/s3840/PXL_20231208_012247329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwGnOIb0fQlZ3RCz4umJhnuI08p4X4RtsY_4Q7ua9G-WsgUE8eZKLdOtyMjvVq1OIKQIxgCl9d-WPGDaBJh_e0vvttqZOQUwRLEdNjy6MOIouKNAIDBZS_FbG7XtoUXQD_uapgH4ndaDz-ho7MSLqLd4FaAjiFtCwLevc-75YLdfXDDrQCYRfUlsPXWhr/s16000/PXL_20231208_012247329.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-XObSjvrfFjYiQlQt9c5CkOzbLxS4mPQn3rGD36OvIqd8yYWMzlrGESq34GEkAx3LkIkjeSXcz9TRHTiLPgMhiC3PcB9agh0LsaMgeuk22hCaGzgBeAlxYeu0fOa9tISRZkRBAxyQu-0rkf4ER-F_sUOWo8NNnwITcVNTO13a9Bw0i_ew7-dNMxAGT3x/s3840/PXL_20231208_012826771.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-XObSjvrfFjYiQlQt9c5CkOzbLxS4mPQn3rGD36OvIqd8yYWMzlrGESq34GEkAx3LkIkjeSXcz9TRHTiLPgMhiC3PcB9agh0LsaMgeuk22hCaGzgBeAlxYeu0fOa9tISRZkRBAxyQu-0rkf4ER-F_sUOWo8NNnwITcVNTO13a9Bw0i_ew7-dNMxAGT3x/s16000/PXL_20231208_012826771.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyzskIrw6fSXF4Z7pDALieh8HE-2Phrd2e40AndEJIHlCOyv9Tg1obN3V16f-gn-j4Q9XYQtwjCA1bkrL16_6uaIZ4mu07QpC3ydeWW747Z46vSauVKtnFJQqMueYcCA86PcnflagpTzZcMEyNYEiy0vmA2Yj6mnnUjRrN7gak_s3qXX-sEP5saSXqquz/s16000/PXL_20231208_012841545.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-N4gRgWNVKfNxp4d9tP5kX1v-OP6vTH1yfUA9-5AwRQJjqnyK_Cat3TQGsAxqvyEkNYlzLQY8JB8IPhE5Xag3OP8zPzx4or7W3hc1bW36ecJPlSL6062UtFMOfP525yftyGPNCgsChQlXxyU1l7DFaFKKzk1J5wz4ks7gX_iL8YKCapXkJw_7vYCCVCx/s3840/PXL_20231208_012847375.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-N4gRgWNVKfNxp4d9tP5kX1v-OP6vTH1yfUA9-5AwRQJjqnyK_Cat3TQGsAxqvyEkNYlzLQY8JB8IPhE5Xag3OP8zPzx4or7W3hc1bW36ecJPlSL6062UtFMOfP525yftyGPNCgsChQlXxyU1l7DFaFKKzk1J5wz4ks7gX_iL8YKCapXkJw_7vYCCVCx/s16000/PXL_20231208_012847375.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 5</h2><div>Final turn - though we did not know it at the start - and here the fate of the game is cinched.</div><div><br /></div><div>My Flamethrower wipes out that squad it had begun to torment last round, removing the first die for me and taking an enemy squad out of my home DZ. My armored car, S37, and transport truck zip forward, with the former two establishing themselves inside the opponent's DZ, while the latter holds just outside, gunning down that one-man Finnish squad on the way by. Lastly, my tank drives forward for one last unsuccessful attempt at a shot to the StuG's rear.</div><div><br /></div><div>My opponent rushes himself forward, getting a squad squarely into my DZ with another following not far behind but too far afield for the bonus points.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the end of this turn my opponent decided to call it, as it was clear that there was no real chance the outcome would change (though I did offer a turn 6).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDkpA9hDBLhSitEEU8wyjdGfrQNgtjZ3SsZjS1tg2U7-gbtGhkWSwh9Rw3XNnS4_TvCqRI7QQJb46MAPE4q1c0HX-TGPGbDRAS2dC4MXA3eA4s7BJVBHF5K3haPc_lmDmb5EW618H8z5YZ28iEUKWuIuxi4djf8Gs8piBURR_has-T0BLqXSk_VvM1l5E/s3840/PXL_20231208_014742332.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDkpA9hDBLhSitEEU8wyjdGfrQNgtjZ3SsZjS1tg2U7-gbtGhkWSwh9Rw3XNnS4_TvCqRI7QQJb46MAPE4q1c0HX-TGPGbDRAS2dC4MXA3eA4s7BJVBHF5K3haPc_lmDmb5EW618H8z5YZ28iEUKWuIuxi4djf8Gs8piBURR_has-T0BLqXSk_VvM1l5E/s16000/PXL_20231208_014742332.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmNjs57u465DuUja3719a8sri8oZ29dzJ4U98c6swaQHDr2ApGYUqxfltkGshmIflO_viFy0FtPkx1uAkDKfYFbbPL0dTWV18p8tho2ekU2zrEawUguJx5F7g04saJ-k5PZ1_iLo3tQzSjpyXoxEVV9bNY0otqtHwIr-OckE5q28wBWuXUYHy7iull_NH/s16000/PXL_20231208_015114952.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsucyueTf3XZvQ8SHDwATsi7x312tq5rLV8fP47G6E8gNNbQjzy38S7VRlZtRx58IIB3WE4oHsbsEHZ2MM9zRhsgdRIrLJ2_a3wSYfyFg_bWz-pKuMCckocbV1jVhg5e8SB3KYbYI_EDR4m453kV4R0HnXlbbhjvDek-02U73YcpVo8rjCu38bhFi6kxr/s3840/PXL_20231208_015120692.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsucyueTf3XZvQ8SHDwATsi7x312tq5rLV8fP47G6E8gNNbQjzy38S7VRlZtRx58IIB3WE4oHsbsEHZ2MM9zRhsgdRIrLJ2_a3wSYfyFg_bWz-pKuMCckocbV1jVhg5e8SB3KYbYI_EDR4m453kV4R0HnXlbbhjvDek-02U73YcpVo8rjCu38bhFi6kxr/s16000/PXL_20231208_015120692.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmrE3nqIKnkWwrpKIZ7teJBCXZtkOYDvyLY3PplxadgxG8tCRxvaWXvwYM0pS6Dm_5dnU2zXLq673PKOAjE77b2kfaPr0cA60fwtFtzVzkO0nvHkRB2JUifpqEDwAvmPDxXuWCr2H0aJuf0mWkAQ-YE2BNE_vtn7om4xRpVupE9gLSIsRSrEcgzXKSeI-/s3840/PXL_20231208_015128934.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmrE3nqIKnkWwrpKIZ7teJBCXZtkOYDvyLY3PplxadgxG8tCRxvaWXvwYM0pS6Dm_5dnU2zXLq673PKOAjE77b2kfaPr0cA60fwtFtzVzkO0nvHkRB2JUifpqEDwAvmPDxXuWCr2H0aJuf0mWkAQ-YE2BNE_vtn7om4xRpVupE9gLSIsRSrEcgzXKSeI-/s16000/PXL_20231208_015128934.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFVb9A8nVeVAFhMvRIrZPnBABWqFCY8ct-FC8H0-PnDN-T48MCqok1y8RlruktwtTn9LXQWqbgOrlYeUKFHtvkGDF0dEl_Eo1LZ3BFcbL-vIkyUUkJzEEijA91dvOK37RbnXhgX_Zy6TbxtgX-Is1-gilfy-DVUY6X8QgFdhfbNDe8TFWO4TKgrcGEdVu/s3840/PXL_20231208_015140595.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFVb9A8nVeVAFhMvRIrZPnBABWqFCY8ct-FC8H0-PnDN-T48MCqok1y8RlruktwtTn9LXQWqbgOrlYeUKFHtvkGDF0dEl_Eo1LZ3BFcbL-vIkyUUkJzEEijA91dvOK37RbnXhgX_Zy6TbxtgX-Is1-gilfy-DVUY6X8QgFdhfbNDe8TFWO4TKgrcGEdVu/s16000/PXL_20231208_015140595.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Scoring</h2><div>15-11 Italian Victory!</div><div><br /></div><div>I had three units in the opposing DZ, four units in a neutral quarter, and took two dice off my opponent.</div><div><br /></div><div>My opponent had two units in my DZ, three units in a neutral, and also took two dice off me.</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Retrospectives</h2><div>Well, the terrain plays well enough so far, though I <i>probably</i> should have split the village into two distinct chunks. Regardless, this is a pretty dense table and that's how I like it. I will say that during construction, though, it felt like I had a lot more ruins than I really did. Speaking of which an official debut post for those will be coming before much longer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Generally, the guidance I've been given is to not have straight, unobstructed roads on tables, and I sort of didn't here on account of the curves and junctions, but had it not been for that StuG I probably could have zipped a LOT of stuff into his DZ real fast and caused a real mess. I'll be working on road barriers eventually, though.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for the game I think I played it pretty well - road was covered to thwart his tank, though I didn't have real success on it. My maneuver through the village did beat up enough room to run trucks, though the sudden loss of several squads was a setback. My armored car and tank at least threw out some pins though I probably should have just zipped to his DZ earlier and started ripping up his artillery park. I'd have liked to been more aggressive but that one Para-SMG squad taking a hit gave me some pause and my opponent took the lead on it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of the trucks, this was gleaned off an idea one of the Juggernauts had called "S37 Spam". In his implementation, he was using a double platoon and costal defense teams to field something like four or five S37 armored transports as mobile bases of fire with the goal of just throwing out so much MMG fire that the enemy can't do anything successfully owing to the pins. Coastal defense teams (really cheap infantry - I used the slightly more expensive Inexperienced Shirkers) hunker down inside just to prevent the whole "transport runs off the board" issue since no enemy unit can be closer than the friendly one inside. Given that an S37 with one MMG is 76 points alone I suspect he isn't doing this in 1k games but I may be wrong - regardless I only have one armed S37 model at the moment and so subbed in a truck. I think this approach works alright, though it's not like my opponent had an opportunity to shoot at them - even the S37 would have taken pins on a hit due to the Open Topped attribute, so this is something that requires a bit of finesse if you're not spoiled for cover. I do wonder, though, if Shirkers take double pins and can bugger off from inside a transport, though...</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>I'd not played in over a month so made a point to get it on. I was out of town for some four days immediately after, though, so I'm just getting this up now. I've some more arrows in the quiver before the year's out - some terrain show and tell, and at least one other game set for this coming Saturday, so keep an eye out for all that!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-73383260170762315772023-11-17T00:01:00.015-05:002023-11-17T00:01:00.167-05:00All Roads Lead to the Board Edge<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlbRWkXolxjFebCbZSoUgC3wF5yLI9KFdy5_Gy3Y0eYL96t_EN68x2jXnL4rLwYhjtIgUlCVOFiLg9MOxaJZK4uPKzS3BrJ3AwIHtC8COskxp8fkR6m7ooy8qpbmn4fs-wQi2xduZ98nGu77PIqeia3vClWt69vHIiC6RyLOI9asPNIR0jEd-iRRnc6jH/s3840/PXL_20231021_144022659.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlbRWkXolxjFebCbZSoUgC3wF5yLI9KFdy5_Gy3Y0eYL96t_EN68x2jXnL4rLwYhjtIgUlCVOFiLg9MOxaJZK4uPKzS3BrJ3AwIHtC8COskxp8fkR6m7ooy8qpbmn4fs-wQi2xduZ98nGu77PIqeia3vClWt69vHIiC6RyLOI9asPNIR0jEd-iRRnc6jH/s16000/PXL_20231021_144022659.MP.jpg" /></a></div><p>Keeping on with the wargame terrain share-outs, here's a simple set of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sett_(paving)" target="_blank">Sett-stone</a> roads.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Cobbling Together Some Terrain</h1><p>This assortment of stone roads was donated to me as part of a sizable assortment of odds-and-ends a local player had printed off but was not in a position to finish up in anything close to a realistic time table. Since I had spare <a href="https://hoi4.paradoxwikis.com/Production" target="_blank">industrial capacity</a> for finishing work, it all ended up in my possession around the time I was <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/09/in-preparazione-per-un-torneo.html" target="_blank">prepping models for a tournament last summer</a>. I did a small test on the first week or so of September, but I didn't really start work on these at the end of the month - right around the time I was wrapping up <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/11/deo-gratias-wargame-terrain.html" target="_blank">that church</a>. Deciding to make this as little hands-on as possible, the basic approach was a flat grey primer, a very basic shade wash mixed out of brown craft paint and water, a drybrush of flat grey, and a final drybrush of a lighter grey. This was then varnished with a spray can sometime before October 20th and called good (though I did end up with a bit of frosting/hazing).</p><p>This is a pretty limited set, all things considered, so if you want to see some of these in actual use, check out a battle report that they appeared in <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/after-action-report-21-october-2023-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">back at the end of October</a>. I am pretty sure<a href="https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-cobble-stone-road-low-profile-202525" target="_blank"> this is the source of the STL files</a> the donor used.</p><p>Overall these aren't bad looking roads, though as you can see there's a bit of fragility along some of the edge pieces (and I did not bother with the dovetails as they proved to be a royal pain to get to fit properly). The stones are <i>huge</i> though, especially in comparison to the models. Not impossibly large, but definitely way bigger than what one usually associates with cobblestone or sett-stone roads in real life. Regardless, they'd look alright in just about any genre of wargame from Ancient Rome onwards.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HSyODMkeiC-UPc6kK_0-Nr3iEkUKG5iZqO6iunH666E39GrAnpZrgSJvCrPbEqGJjs_zLpxTM554VzulmxZJEA1NQbkcA8gVebcVkV6tQfumYNsBoub-_ksX8of-E8hKGK_yWeMtyLkJ9JbHrt2P88C1bnjT40joleQRlC0RNJr1JOjB6HEz7mPuGY9S/s2206/PXL_20231110_202802799.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2206" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HSyODMkeiC-UPc6kK_0-Nr3iEkUKG5iZqO6iunH666E39GrAnpZrgSJvCrPbEqGJjs_zLpxTM554VzulmxZJEA1NQbkcA8gVebcVkV6tQfumYNsBoub-_ksX8of-E8hKGK_yWeMtyLkJ9JbHrt2P88C1bnjT40joleQRlC0RNJr1JOjB6HEz7mPuGY9S/s16000/PXL_20231110_202802799.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcZGt6X90tBd8-7aQiZtIHT13_xRvLFENFI4soj7aoh3QqWuAZAiHDY2sV9hWn62wBTH_PwoJaBgn5Q-biiPG70jNbVOb6b-GwvAY7l6MBYy3LJJqKjewjPaHvms3iBzAUGBE215cLVnfzJJYjQidwJJ2i_rPkMYYab6-H0kPgQ7F5b-EhDnZfwSwT3Cn/s2618/PXL_20231110_202825968.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcZGt6X90tBd8-7aQiZtIHT13_xRvLFENFI4soj7aoh3QqWuAZAiHDY2sV9hWn62wBTH_PwoJaBgn5Q-biiPG70jNbVOb6b-GwvAY7l6MBYy3LJJqKjewjPaHvms3iBzAUGBE215cLVnfzJJYjQidwJJ2i_rPkMYYab6-H0kPgQ7F5b-EhDnZfwSwT3Cn/s16000/PXL_20231110_202825968.jpg" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Roads in Bolt Action</h2><p>To pad this out a bit more I'll put a bit of context to these alongside, focused naturally on the title I actually play regularly - and actually the only game on my radar which gives roads rules at all. In Bolt Action, roads have a niche use where if a vehicle (wheeled, tracked, or otherwise) moves along it for its entire movement, it gets to double its range - this means a wheeled vehicle can book it some 48" across the board if the conditions are right!</p><p>Note, however, this requires the <i>entire</i> move to be done on-road - you don't double so much as an inch if you leave it at any point, including the parts otherwise travelled along the road (because Warlord Logic). Vehicles also have limits on how they can turn about, so curves in the road may hamper things as well. Either way, keep some kind of obstacles on hand to break it up!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><p>Not a whole lot to show off with these but I am trying to make a habit of sharing out terrain I finish as a way to catalogue progress and keep the churnalism alive here at CL&CC. As before, more terrain is coming but as of time of writing none more are <i>quite</i> done yet, so it may be a bit quiet for a while before I get another one up here. As for roads, I may do another batch of these if the local printer wants to bust out a few more - it would be nice to go end-to-end with straight sections in multiple directions - but I am otherwise experimenting with a few things of my own to fulfil this role.</p>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-10659376941686265502023-11-15T00:01:00.033-05:002023-11-15T00:01:00.152-05:00Terrain for Woodland Warfare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeN8NXJSuUSltAE7Fz0flTEz0R_rRllCkY_LTJMDfOko1X3Y0tz-as1CF8heSX529wfXIqez6R18XX2Wk9OQ3JaRgRnRYk-zJs4greeCsjRiBWK0N8po1DheOUB5SLSqEWU5c-QjijFVNGkhXe64J6mzsKauMiEN777bilTuobfAD_7cm4_3lZlqO6138/s3840/PXL_20231110_204421355.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeN8NXJSuUSltAE7Fz0flTEz0R_rRllCkY_LTJMDfOko1X3Y0tz-as1CF8heSX529wfXIqez6R18XX2Wk9OQ3JaRgRnRYk-zJs4greeCsjRiBWK0N8po1DheOUB5SLSqEWU5c-QjijFVNGkhXe64J6mzsKauMiEN777bilTuobfAD_7cm4_3lZlqO6138/s16000/PXL_20231110_204421355.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Since early June of 2023, I have been dedicating more time into expanding my terrain collection, mostly with an eye towards stuff to use when playing Bolt Action.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">They Say Medals Grow on the Trees - Right Where They Bury Heroes...</h1>Long-time readers (or archive deep-divers) may remember that back in 2015 I had <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2015/05/some-old-terrain-projects.html" target="_blank">two different posts</a> about <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2015/07/cant-see-forest-for-trees.html" target="_blank">woodland terrain</a> I had originally knocked together for 15mm wargames that never got played some time in the past. It used a technique I have called "lidded canopies" or "container trees" or "big clump foliage sinks" at varying times, and is basically a way to have large, dense areas of trees on your board that don't fall over super easily when you're moving things about. It's basically a visual upgrade over just throwing down some felt on the board (which those who've read my AARs know we definitely do) and a functional upgrade over individually based trees.<div><br /></div><div>I had originally picked up the concept way back around 2008 or so, I believe, from someone who used it for 10mm historical wargaming - unfortunately I cannot find the original source anymore. This approach makes a lot of sense at that scale, and continues to work just fine when you bump measurements up a bit for use at 15mm.. Those never made it to a game table, and for a long time after my last batch in 2015 I didn't do anything with the concept, instead using some of the individually based pine trees you've seen in a bunch of AARs since. With the recent push towards expanding our Bolt Action group's terrain access, though, I decided to dust the technique off again and try to scale it up for use in 28mm games.</div><div><br /></div><div>For those unfamiliar with the approach, it's actually pretty simple at its core - you need some kind of base that forms your forest floor, some kind of stick-like object that forms the trunks of the trees, and some kind of lid that represents your canopy. You glue the trunk bits to the floor piece, and then in game you place the canopy "lid" on top. This gives you a clearly-defined area for your "forest", and this can be as big or small as you feel like making it - formerly I based these on CDs. You can even cluster individual pieces together, if desired, in order to increase the overall area without having to build a single enormous piece.</div><div><br /></div><div>Your end result can be as fancy as you feel like - I like to use clump foliage on the lid, flock the base with myriad materials, and even sometimes texture the trunks (though the latter not so much as durability is somewhat suspect). I typically only see the need to use "trunk bits" around the perimeter, as well, giving you a large open space within to maximize playability.</div><div><br /></div><div>Much thanks to our local Soviet champion, who loaned me some models for scale!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfde8DU85IvIgFaxZclMqg2Ji4V_m7hgZvDZB4kJbLG7e6lYHhA-Gs-kP_3Vj6ajoq9vMOtAFJlMC8CcgqwXgWIRl6AErkvPWrhRyopavgt1-Z2tNQCpgAW6Vf1L5B0DU2LKWFFCMxap4tJtYF07hhkayW90wdEVKMksFrMNYvjnuLjnXe6lXEZodj-SY5/s2909/PXL_20231110_203554121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2909" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfde8DU85IvIgFaxZclMqg2Ji4V_m7hgZvDZB4kJbLG7e6lYHhA-Gs-kP_3Vj6ajoq9vMOtAFJlMC8CcgqwXgWIRl6AErkvPWrhRyopavgt1-Z2tNQCpgAW6Vf1L5B0DU2LKWFFCMxap4tJtYF07hhkayW90wdEVKMksFrMNYvjnuLjnXe6lXEZodj-SY5/s16000/PXL_20231110_203554121.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEGCS7WMTdwhcrxN4LlGck7ReUrrjqfoq3mfvnqJ5WcvF4Ew5JBXwHm0tjskRCYZo6GaRppn0viLF3rnddGrmE3R9OevfCQ5yrKPyY3oK86d5crX4mbHF_9GBRqPHWwQ4Qkyq29CfXzG8aGOk4whPqRVPdNesL0bHesK8F7_svmNNA8RwllFntuiEYYar/s2013/PXL_20231110_203601920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="2013" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEGCS7WMTdwhcrxN4LlGck7ReUrrjqfoq3mfvnqJ5WcvF4Ew5JBXwHm0tjskRCYZo6GaRppn0viLF3rnddGrmE3R9OevfCQ5yrKPyY3oK86d5crX4mbHF_9GBRqPHWwQ4Qkyq29CfXzG8aGOk4whPqRVPdNesL0bHesK8F7_svmNNA8RwllFntuiEYYar/s16000/PXL_20231110_203601920.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUY9lz_P5BkBWCBISMh8Qp1HTHDsR5yw1La436_9oWe3qVC5FcodNIq3myFHvsuRLE_mp3AUMge1fg2DPDsE_CqmzBRIpV5S12nETI1BkoFtUI8dKu7GJL5GGeP49jXVmJ3YJaEmOH8P3qGBT0b1XnUgCS1CpLfWeCa1hFR51e5PFjjbHCuJoFUFWMsBe/s1523/PXL_20231110_203608884.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1883" data-original-width="2913" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty9y6syiULmWvoHvMFRgLpdLAB83DEF1WP8p2roD_AuHYDrJDPZUmh_OGFPd8tM0GINcg8fNs_9KZB-QJCD6XStUSQ69IWBUkyvRrvyQ_452Dgf998e3-QZTC-Er2F27EACNYKc_2jx37sxxYpxhkahAnJINvEzRLtTh-YuFHDSZf3mQ6_-dVZGRXP3Vf/s16000/PXL_20231110_204413131.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwccy_XLQuUaT0qtpKXj0Z_-818GA8HDM5FIvzeBMjM_mq38Xola_IQ-9NnWQ1XU5XQIiEnHqNEV4wrhy05osjdQzk1Qq0DKUSvbL94cPE5FFJWu2qOGxgpHx4x21HFALZsHSoJm0QA-XISVlRbJWdvCSXGC2bDR_IsqUHWkRxm8XAUt1MzZMs3dCu2n-3/s2727/PXL_20231110_204450821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="2727" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwccy_XLQuUaT0qtpKXj0Z_-818GA8HDM5FIvzeBMjM_mq38Xola_IQ-9NnWQ1XU5XQIiEnHqNEV4wrhy05osjdQzk1Qq0DKUSvbL94cPE5FFJWu2qOGxgpHx4x21HFALZsHSoJm0QA-XISVlRbJWdvCSXGC2bDR_IsqUHWkRxm8XAUt1MzZMs3dCu2n-3/s16000/PXL_20231110_204450821.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawIgYE0YnfUyI58JNlAuHO58nppoKRub2VEUBt2kWjyzIkB7ITkDqEULR_X8ZFZl8sKlt1x-uKmLvGnxjuxS8O2cISziTEpOrysissGG4mAX3NKsVKFjHv5uncmANV1EpF3SOzUDTi-s3CvjwWVV8Y3uFEqZuW2kKSFiNSgoMi4Stei9WPjYR3HUbpKqu/s3840/PXL_20231110_204455872.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawIgYE0YnfUyI58JNlAuHO58nppoKRub2VEUBt2kWjyzIkB7ITkDqEULR_X8ZFZl8sKlt1x-uKmLvGnxjuxS8O2cISziTEpOrysissGG4mAX3NKsVKFjHv5uncmANV1EpF3SOzUDTi-s3CvjwWVV8Y3uFEqZuW2kKSFiNSgoMi4Stei9WPjYR3HUbpKqu/s16000/PXL_20231110_204455872.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Building - Base and Trunk Layers</h2><div>In this push I built up five bases - four were smaller, 3D-printed examples furnished by a local player who wanted to experiment in warp-resistance, while the fifth larger example was some XPS foam I sourced online to test out. The trunks - common 2" long nails with the tips ground off - were Gorilla-glued around the perimeter of these, then the whole base was coated with some wood filler I had laying about to create a solid "soil layer".</div><div><br /></div><div>The whole thing was rattle-can primed out doors - since there's not a lot of fine detail, any concerns about gritty primer were not in play, and thus I could get these knocked out pretty quick. I don't think I took any special steps to protect the XPS foam, either, and it did not seem to melt when I hit it with the primer (like Styrofoam typically does).</div><div><br /></div><div>A simple brown spray paint was applied to set a base tone for the soil, and a mix of browns and greys sort of simply worked up the trunks with a brush or my fingers. Finesse not required, unless you really want to. </div><div><br /></div><div>All that settled, I hit it with matte spray varnish - again, as there wasn't a lot of fine detail or anything to fret about, I can deal with any grittyness or frosting that sometimes happens with spray cans when the environment isn't quite right for it. Way cheaper, faster, and easier than using my airbrush for it, as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a while, flocking was applied - this was a combination of the usual fine flock you see at train shops to represent grass or flowers, and some dried-out tealeaves I made myself for (wait for it) fallen leaves. This was a cheap and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XAJOQM6/" target="_blank">not very good Turkish tea</a> that I just really wanted to use up and get out of my tea cabinet, but it works OK-ish for this - future iterations might see my grind them up a bit finer. A couple clumps were added for undergrowth as well, but I mostly aimed to keep this clear and playable. Application of all this stuff was with watered down craft glue (because I seem to have forgotten ModPodge already existed). Once that had dried up, I hit the whole thing with Scenic Cement (which is <i>really</i> watered-down craft glue). Done and done.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can tell I started this effort in late May, on account of <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/06/cultivating-cult-more-hassassin-for-haqqislam.html" target="_blank">the Hassassins</a> existing in my booth at the time!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx1PGkXNKUtWfWFFEFRnrnAqqsn8t6naKOhbF3saht2N2A22Suiaam27fhCPbGqNFvtOUxvVyMUk0NS3UVo2Ouy_qSMFfbUvJHqciGyRPFf4PgdhkDqOQxdLBEU2MGXiS0b79zY4GPgT0NMA5xwEG1i0JgujVQO4Qk6c7o6N0xEU6Awgf0yCHE5r6tf7o/s3840/PXL_20230521_041229245.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx1PGkXNKUtWfWFFEFRnrnAqqsn8t6naKOhbF3saht2N2A22Suiaam27fhCPbGqNFvtOUxvVyMUk0NS3UVo2Ouy_qSMFfbUvJHqciGyRPFf4PgdhkDqOQxdLBEU2MGXiS0b79zY4GPgT0NMA5xwEG1i0JgujVQO4Qk6c7o6N0xEU6Awgf0yCHE5r6tf7o/s16000/PXL_20230521_041229245.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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I traced out the bases onto the material beforehand, and a single sheet let me readily do four of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>The poster board was built up with chunks of blister foam - that is, those chunks of grey foam you get in model blister packs. I tend to hang on to these as they're useful for various craft things like exactly this. Basically they're just glued up in stacks, and this lets me get a little bit more 3D effect in the canopy without having to just keep piling the comparatively more expensive clump foliage on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Said clump foliage was done in two stages - stuff on the bottom and edges were hot-glued into place using black hot glue and what has to be the world's worst hot glue gun. The rest was put in with craft glue, which is slow and kind of a pain but works - more on that later. Color choice was governed by what I had available more than anything, and a conscious decision to avoid having the canopies be a single unbroken slab of the same tone of green. Generally, darker stuff towards the bottom bits and lighter stuff up higher. Not sure how realistic it actually is, but so far nobody is complaining.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once everything was glued up, I absolutely soaked the canopy with scenic cement in a bid to make the thing more durable. I've since learned of a better method, but this one was known to be at the time and is plenty serviceable - if expensive, since you really do have to soak the thing. FYI - if you go this route, do not touch, poke, prod, look at, or think about the foliage as it dries. The clumps soak up a lot of moisture and become quite soft for a long time, so give these things several days to dry. Yes, days. Trust the process. It didn't help that I was doing this at the height of summer with an AC on the fritz, but I'm still inclined to give it more time than you'd think it would need at first.</div><div><br /></div><div>That fifth canopy - the one that mated to the XPS foam base - was done the same way back in 2017 or 2018 for a now long-abandoned modular board project - it used the same approach albeit without any special bulking material and it used thin plywood instead of poster board for the lid. It was done a bit later, as the previous four were already complete before I started work on the base to this one in mid September.</div><div><br /></div><div>At this point the whole thing is done - get it to the table and you now have a nice looking copse of trees that aren't prone to tipping over. Transport is also pretty simple - you can nest these things inside each other depending on diameter, or flip some of them over so they nest top to bottom. I have only used them in a game day once, but a $20 clear tote carried all five of mine with lots of room to spare.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkc0aaZ4YbaWMksymo7Ua-MRlVmTw3OMA65ECQeVzlv95mnfBo062VWv9Nww0U95caBVsywx2CX2mvWAAZab6hAuUd4KmxjXn8YxZYKRtjbyUysWsRFfSOQgwySK9rGvI1MP8tvZ4tz60nj1X0YpZ3PN83GCCayvlK1ATFrpGV5NuNgw5WMnEliSj4hm3/s3840/PXL_20230809_005102489.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkc0aaZ4YbaWMksymo7Ua-MRlVmTw3OMA65ECQeVzlv95mnfBo062VWv9Nww0U95caBVsywx2CX2mvWAAZab6hAuUd4KmxjXn8YxZYKRtjbyUysWsRFfSOQgwySK9rGvI1MP8tvZ4tz60nj1X0YpZ3PN83GCCayvlK1ATFrpGV5NuNgw5WMnEliSj4hm3/s16000/PXL_20230809_005102489.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0i_THJWVtXI2mSj1ia3K0QyYsv6OBvb9NkWVBjtKslKRpCrBVHLR_4hu8cvV-L-nz0yFyl3zbzyV45a0XwNEzLp8OpAzR02YVq74sddv943cYzzPNkE8X20f06juZ3UEMGGG2Q0rRZivIwcO_y44ZRCsMogr4UTwlHaAZBvsYbtR0aCxNYB4wOo0W81pH/s3840/PXL_20230809_015000420.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0i_THJWVtXI2mSj1ia3K0QyYsv6OBvb9NkWVBjtKslKRpCrBVHLR_4hu8cvV-L-nz0yFyl3zbzyV45a0XwNEzLp8OpAzR02YVq74sddv943cYzzPNkE8X20f06juZ3UEMGGG2Q0rRZivIwcO_y44ZRCsMogr4UTwlHaAZBvsYbtR0aCxNYB4wOo0W81pH/s16000/PXL_20230809_015000420.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GMTj278G4WtpnMPI2PPg3HnOnUYn_mq1h9SRT7RYXAYGNtIrALjqxofLUO0zwVJz990QSkpRTaYaF1GQD-6mii7NKXh-IQjopP3Q-1-17Lom8YX1NOGiNLTaktwQaIdjw4rS4MDmzEoAhauM5WXgZhIIEUvdqg1E5yUX2gu9Vb_73vpKLdshzdvdtmnp/s3840/PXL_20230809_015010722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GMTj278G4WtpnMPI2PPg3HnOnUYn_mq1h9SRT7RYXAYGNtIrALjqxofLUO0zwVJz990QSkpRTaYaF1GQD-6mii7NKXh-IQjopP3Q-1-17Lom8YX1NOGiNLTaktwQaIdjw4rS4MDmzEoAhauM5WXgZhIIEUvdqg1E5yUX2gu9Vb_73vpKLdshzdvdtmnp/s16000/PXL_20230809_015010722.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv1Jiznanzj_rGzMWcvvB4kddc1PVOzrq7KJ3u37OWU9oOjK1wXtddkAwFEt9j_zED23wG7zpSf6A67ChW5XAbjYKcRolX_VY3IAwMDN1_Zai3QUijAkkBrF0fwY49dC9uyVuXMgCUqPcQD-O9a7YiJY67-1n5kV9CQRUlP1T2Q45P3yD8V4qNAS6Yh7s/s16000/PXL_20230821_014641513.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nsUxa0aArQsCgTVsQegUW_nlx6yx8PcXfCs945lII0jEIUpMVv7jrtbp2VeObYYGGnCg0lwqR2vHEw0nUVItm7ioojWWY9C9k6oEgwU5iUuw4F-orUBsv5CR-ZoAVp1xYaiYY-n6n0Bsa_wsKJm7hUOZvY7KE9PTClx2FHTUBjEWZUdaOG_A3zlK8b-7/s3840/PXL_20230916_030404720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nsUxa0aArQsCgTVsQegUW_nlx6yx8PcXfCs945lII0jEIUpMVv7jrtbp2VeObYYGGnCg0lwqR2vHEw0nUVItm7ioojWWY9C9k6oEgwU5iUuw4F-orUBsv5CR-ZoAVp1xYaiYY-n6n0Bsa_wsKJm7hUOZvY7KE9PTClx2FHTUBjEWZUdaOG_A3zlK8b-7/s16000/PXL_20230916_030404720.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXyblYVsCyQOpUQoeyHCWQYeU_VxvCJE5VMIGSjG-wuC6n6qFX-H2ptzSLyAErZgxVLqBnHg1L4K5fgX87R3uw_nC_xx3kgO8RPQxLkIDGjF1KHBZbIOYKKLNlFLakKLhSRjNom_8FTx2okkGrk3AVCwC85qR3Elp01A7w_tjecAaNUYCvCzgs1xjs73x/s3840/PXL_20230822_025347401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXyblYVsCyQOpUQoeyHCWQYeU_VxvCJE5VMIGSjG-wuC6n6qFX-H2ptzSLyAErZgxVLqBnHg1L4K5fgX87R3uw_nC_xx3kgO8RPQxLkIDGjF1KHBZbIOYKKLNlFLakKLhSRjNom_8FTx2okkGrk3AVCwC85qR3Elp01A7w_tjecAaNUYCvCzgs1xjs73x/s16000/PXL_20230822_025347401.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Future Editions</h2><div>I definitely plan to do more of this in the future - as part of my modular board project that I started and abandoned years back, I accumulated quite a lot of clump foliage and flock. I doubt I'll ever draw down the flock in its entirety (I'll have to start giving it away eventually) but I do plan to burn through my stores of clump foliage in various terrain projects over the next <???>. More of these forests - including some much larger ones - will be part of the plan (in fact I already have one in work that sets out to use up a bunch of scrap material I have kicking about).</div><div><br /></div><div>That said, since I finished the above I did learn of a quicker and perhaps easier approach - instead of individually gluing clumps and then cementing them, I have seen a suggestion to mix a bunch of clumps into some thinned-out but still-spreadable ModPodge, and then basically applying it all with a spatula or a spoon or something. Since ModPodge dries clear, this basically merges two steps and is probably (?) less fiddly overall. I'm not sure how edging works out using this approach, but I'm interested in trying it out eventually.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also plan to replace the tip-less nails in some future iterations, when my current supply runs out - the original technique in 10mm used this and so that is where I started, but it isn't the only thing that will ever work. Short wooden pegs are just as serviceable, and in the age of the Internet not terribly difficult to find - or you could cut down some cheap dowels. About the only advantage a nail has in reality is that the head provides a very broad purchase.</div><div><br /></div><div>I may also experiment in a version that doesn't use clumps at all - perhaps just felt or terrycloth that I spray paint - as part of a heavily simplified approach that can be built out somewhat quickly as bulk "club terrain". That's a ways down the line now, though.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Woods in Bolt Action</h2><div>Woods are not actually a strictly-defined thing in Bolt Action - they don't have specific rules. Instead, custom is to treat them as Light Cover and as "Rough Ground" and/or "Dense Terrain" as the players decide between them - in our group it's typically both, but not always. One of the stronger points of Bolt Action's terrain system is this more modular approach to how you want to define things - heck, you could even make woods Impassible if you wanted to say the undergrowth was too thick / interior too hazard-laden to traverse in the scale of operations being undertaken in this particular clash.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Woods in The Pikeman's Lament</h2><div>Though I don't actually play I figure it's worth mentioning as that's the only other game in scope right now where this could be used. The Pikeman's Lament actually strictly defines woods as "Cover", "Rough Terrain", and "Obscuring Terrain", playing out a lot like it could in Bolt Action if your group so decides.</div><div><br /></div><div>This should also be the case for anything else in the same family of games, such as Rebels and Patriots, Lion Rampant, and so forth.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>All this was done as something of a side project, woven between phases of my <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/going-commando-my-new-army-for-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">British Commando force project</a>, <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/09/in-preparazione-per-un-torneo.html" target="_blank">Italian tournament add-ons</a>, first <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/ba-cromwell-ready-to-roll-out.html" target="_blank">British expansion</a>, a couple <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/11/deo-gratias-wargame-terrain.html" target="_blank">other terrain projects</a>, and <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/09/decided-by-fiat-car-for-my-ba-italian-forces.html" target="_blank">others</a> - plus more that's <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/11/all-roads-lead-to-board-edge.html" target="_blank">not even</a> up <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/11/some-recent-ruins.html" target="_blank">here yet</a>. As I'd hit certain milestones in these projects, I'd fill the extra time in the studio plugging away at these, which truth be told aren't especially hands-on if you don't want them to be.</div><div><br /></div><div>Far more words - and pictures - than needed but I like this approach and wanted to share out an updated version of it. <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/after-action-report-21-october-2023-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">In the one game I have actually used these</a>, the players seemed to like them well enough - the concept went over well and nobody seemed to have any direct complaints. Time will tell, however!</div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-88421721783349869102023-11-13T00:01:00.010-05:002023-11-13T13:04:48.557-05:00Deo Gratias!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKW4CAHqKQsnRbcpet00SdmVG9UN6GwmykgLWuPFVgG0GrCL9VtJmc-XE6nDpPvuebIIaaudMPRVkq-w9pSUJU9jg0jb3YYPq3Nci-67Y041dStWuRellP_Mj7-r1pENEIaKpTuIsWb_I0h98scSYHFbwO5uelCsDOwysqyWuLopFPArTHvw6Of73izzwd/s3840/PXL_20231110_202101586.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1844" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKW4CAHqKQsnRbcpet00SdmVG9UN6GwmykgLWuPFVgG0GrCL9VtJmc-XE6nDpPvuebIIaaudMPRVkq-w9pSUJU9jg0jb3YYPq3Nci-67Y041dStWuRellP_Mj7-r1pENEIaKpTuIsWb_I0h98scSYHFbwO5uelCsDOwysqyWuLopFPArTHvw6Of73izzwd/s16000/PXL_20231110_202101586.MP.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Some time in Spring 2023 I picked up one of Warlord's plastic Church kits and proceeded to not look at it for months after. As part of my effort to begin supplying terrain to my local Bolt Action group, I started working on a variety of terrain projects that I thought would be suitable, and by late August I'd built up this thing - right after <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/going-commando-my-new-army-for-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">the Commandos</a> and alongside <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/09/in-preparazione-per-un-torneo.html" target="_blank">wrapping up stuff I needed</a> for the tournament coming up at the end of September or <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/09/decided-by-fiat-car-for-my-ba-italian-forces.html" target="_blank">just wanted</a> out of <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/ba-cromwell-ready-to-roll-out.html" target="_blank">my queue</a>. Busy couple of months there, and results will still be coming here as I wrap them up.</div><h1 style="text-align: left;">That's where I'd be...</h1><div>The goal with this kit was to try and keep it simple, and I built it up in one possible configuration using all of the pieces supplied. A grey primer done out of a spray can doubled as the base color, and from here I used cheap craft paints to shoot for what I thought gave a "Late Medieval Chapel" vibe, suitable for use in a broad variety of time periods (mostly Bolt Action, since that's what I actually play with any regularity).</div><div><br /></div><div>As it happens, picking out individual corner stones, windowsills, and such is pretty time consuming and cheap craft paint has awful coverage, so this did take a fair bit longer to complete than I'd have liked. Shading was done by thinned out Army Painter "Mid Brown" as I recall, one of the various acrylic Quickshades I had spare dropper bottles of since I don't ever really use it - that got done right at the start of October. Actual varnishing - also rattle cans - didn't come for a while after - early November - for basically no good reason other than not making time for it before then. Fortunately weather was good enough not to give this the pronounced frosting I sometimes encounter with rattle cans.</div><div><br /></div><div>A game last weekend fell through after I'd already arrived, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to get some shots of this piece in better lighting than my current studio setup affords me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall it's a neat kit though I wish I'd based it on something more universal than the little footprint of cobblestone it comes with, but that'll be for the next one (and there probably will be a next one). I do wish interior surfaces were more interesting - I kept it all pretty light colored inside (except the bell tower which I'd somehow missed with the primer and forgot to paint) just to make things inside stand out a bit more. Speaking of the bell tower, it is a bit of a shame you can't fit a standard two-man sniper team up there - standard 25mm bases are too large for two. I have mixed opinions on the outcome, but the guys at the game club liked it and that is what counts.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bHcVtUrI4ysTlrjP5l_GlrXDdgXDqkpIOdQTV2FiMCiC8O7JwU2Ohdx4w242LgIWhaCw5O3DiVL6jXKVmH_epAqZRg_O4Ne-gsw9lhGUT4iIJcMiWG_23blNJOQTfOyhtBaQuMonpTBF8sP3Tw6YqDvicWnx3ekEqtTmvaOuwXHK9OFFEY3xWDv6Wc0U/s2011/PXL_20231110_201818041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1467" data-original-width="2011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bHcVtUrI4ysTlrjP5l_GlrXDdgXDqkpIOdQTV2FiMCiC8O7JwU2Ohdx4w242LgIWhaCw5O3DiVL6jXKVmH_epAqZRg_O4Ne-gsw9lhGUT4iIJcMiWG_23blNJOQTfOyhtBaQuMonpTBF8sP3Tw6YqDvicWnx3ekEqtTmvaOuwXHK9OFFEY3xWDv6Wc0U/s16000/PXL_20231110_201818041.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oX7MR0IMNUYeepcq7wbk_zV9iNcnVbFi_plYjmSsjEhLLLvgCk4d0XMg2Zp0V3UIE0PMCFA_uylWu3P_gZm8c8NPCyPbsmHIPQjYZQxjGXLbBlbVaLiw-X04DMbhWaFZ5nMyCMcZgPVRfEdqs8v9_qruFMS6BqucUvS-fulwisEm5R_jQMFlg6e_-DLD/s1745/PXL_20231110_201837520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1551" data-original-width="1745" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oX7MR0IMNUYeepcq7wbk_zV9iNcnVbFi_plYjmSsjEhLLLvgCk4d0XMg2Zp0V3UIE0PMCFA_uylWu3P_gZm8c8NPCyPbsmHIPQjYZQxjGXLbBlbVaLiw-X04DMbhWaFZ5nMyCMcZgPVRfEdqs8v9_qruFMS6BqucUvS-fulwisEm5R_jQMFlg6e_-DLD/s16000/PXL_20231110_201837520.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZywmmqFSLSgkSnq_U0ApF-FKXywfGfqn8-ZKnm3KbUsZjlknhvJ1MpooJ8o4md6HytHAIzl1UAxgD8mE8hXYh4_x2bQYZhlmoN_tF6ksNMEm3EV_dDET0gJLWW5eaJvFc2NBJGn5qNHTdFVXZzu1HT2JdoPeyiGtroXHJD799EPZ9AvWXxZ5Or68uEcC/s1984/PXL_20231110_201856633.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="1984" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZywmmqFSLSgkSnq_U0ApF-FKXywfGfqn8-ZKnm3KbUsZjlknhvJ1MpooJ8o4md6HytHAIzl1UAxgD8mE8hXYh4_x2bQYZhlmoN_tF6ksNMEm3EV_dDET0gJLWW5eaJvFc2NBJGn5qNHTdFVXZzu1HT2JdoPeyiGtroXHJD799EPZ9AvWXxZ5Or68uEcC/s16000/PXL_20231110_201856633.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsO5yRFiJO0ExWy6XMGNUZhs7LVTuZglC8hD14IFBxkeZwzBO9pzzcCoKjxA-CpUerGbrrA2nWs6jvk0CwXCly9rJXNWZ6L8ix-JTCdzQqrpY5dfdCDDRO7REOb08SgYYd_XayCcd9BoCggJzpMMf0auwfFUgTb37oEnoWEGW3ITNz3GxLaGHcp6whl9P/s1420/PXL_20231110_201935804.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="1075" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsO5yRFiJO0ExWy6XMGNUZhs7LVTuZglC8hD14IFBxkeZwzBO9pzzcCoKjxA-CpUerGbrrA2nWs6jvk0CwXCly9rJXNWZ6L8ix-JTCdzQqrpY5dfdCDDRO7REOb08SgYYd_XayCcd9BoCggJzpMMf0auwfFUgTb37oEnoWEGW3ITNz3GxLaGHcp6whl9P/s16000/PXL_20231110_201935804.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XYLX8b9BgvJcJEetJmKpo0gRcXZuwPGga50_h4Qt0vXMq1Hm4irwgK3BigEP0CvKAkX-gQ6zJSO08xp-rs1tdOc1bNCB0bFhqYwDyvV_yTLlwm3DQ2C1FYcn1JlnaXK_Bds8C4GXNg1igNplF9TiJ7s39NqgHjgqpn3svKFrnwmyBHT7YazsaJ9NzHqg/s2168/PXL_20231110_201949872.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="2168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XYLX8b9BgvJcJEetJmKpo0gRcXZuwPGga50_h4Qt0vXMq1Hm4irwgK3BigEP0CvKAkX-gQ6zJSO08xp-rs1tdOc1bNCB0bFhqYwDyvV_yTLlwm3DQ2C1FYcn1JlnaXK_Bds8C4GXNg1igNplF9TiJ7s39NqgHjgqpn3svKFrnwmyBHT7YazsaJ9NzHqg/s16000/PXL_20231110_201949872.MP.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Church in Bolt Action</h2><div>In Bolt Action this would <i>definitely</i> qualify as a Building. That is a category of terrain that has a number of rules to their own, distinct from just being "rough ground" or "heavy cover" though it is still the latter. Buildings offer a few pros and cons, such as only being able to be occupied by a single squad at a time, the allowance of a squad to "split fire" out of doors, windows, and other openings, the bestowal of Extra Protection (shifting wound rolls up one level like body armor or gun shields do), the ability to shield units on lower floors from plunging fire, allowance for defenders to strike simultaneous with the attackers in an Assault, and the conversion of templates into straight dice of hits. They can also be targeted by multi-launchers such as the Nebelwefer and be dealt enough damage in their own right to simply collapse and kill all those inside - these latter three facts making Buildings somewhat maligned.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, this building as-is, assuming you play it straight, is actually not great to fight out of. The large central hall actually only has <i>one</i> legal fire-lane - the front door. The windows high up have no accessibility, so you can't fire out of the long edges as-is - this configuration <i>does</i> seem to be in line with medieval churches I have seen the interior of, however, and makes it easier to move about stuff inside. The tower and adjunct building, however, offer up some greater lines of fire, and I'd personally be somewhat inclined to consider them separate "Buildings" in the rules sense.</div><div><br /></div><div>As of time of post, I've yet to actually table this piece so future use may be more enlightening.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, that spindly little cross is definitely not long for this world - it can be detached, and so I probably wont bother affixing it most of the time, since it is <i>quite</i> fragile. I suppose that's a valid criticism.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Church in The Pikeman's Lament</h2><div>Since it's the only other title I can imagine this getting used in right now, why not add this? In TPL, all Buildings are Cover and Obscuring Terrain. Unlike in Bolt Action, there's no special rules for buildings per se.</div><div><br /></div><div>This should also be the case for anything else in the same family of games, such as Rebels and Patriots, Lion Rampant, and so forth.</div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>(Hopefully the post title was <a href="https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Church_(WC1_Human)" target="_blank">an obscure enough reference</a> to not date me too badly...)</div><div><br /></div><div>That'll do. Nice kit, not so great paint job but I'm one for thinking big flat surfaces like this are a separate skill set and need their own practice. I will probably pick up a few other churches in the future - maybe another one of these to make a little more rural looking, or perhaps some other church kit that strikes my fancy. It's 1940s Europe (or 17th Century Europe) and churches are kind of important there, so they should feature prominently on boards.</div><div><br /></div><div>More terrain to come; I have a few things done and ready to share out, and lots of other stuff still in the works. Stay tuned!</div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-74717779528081563802023-11-03T00:01:00.003-04:002023-11-03T13:32:34.748-04:00After Action Report: 2 November Bolt Action Engagement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3xjx7Qr8qD_jqcNP3IAZgOGmW4rW7K45CAmSVga1NwwA0nUwvGDiddgavz8Gb7-wzqREqXscvzwZBo4aCuj0n1NRnr2Vhw40Oya1Nm3orhhpjcfBgYymM6siJqGnVDDI8aNAcJDXZQjEQ4CVKOzrMGnYHBt1oI4_XHcDld456cqGEv12W5d3gjJO3V-V/s3840/PXL_20231102_213911401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3xjx7Qr8qD_jqcNP3IAZgOGmW4rW7K45CAmSVga1NwwA0nUwvGDiddgavz8Gb7-wzqREqXscvzwZBo4aCuj0n1NRnr2Vhw40Oya1Nm3orhhpjcfBgYymM6siJqGnVDDI8aNAcJDXZQjEQ4CVKOzrMGnYHBt1oI4_XHcDld456cqGEv12W5d3gjJO3V-V/s16000/PXL_20231102_213911401.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>On 2 November 2023 I played a "Doubles" game in Bolt Action, where four of us went head-to-head in teams with 750-point lists.<h1 style="text-align: left;">Wonder Twins, Unite! Form of...DNF!</h1><div><div>This time around I had <i>some</i> idea of what might be in store - the local Soviet Champion mentioned wanting to run a scenario he had found in the Bolt Action Korea core book which involved things like bunkers, fox-holes, and trenches. With this in mind I created a close-assault style force, using two squads of SMG-armed Paratroopers (Fanatics!), two squads of dual-flamethrower Guastatori, a flame tank I'd had kicking around <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/01/bringing-fire-to-firefight-new-bolt-action-italians.html" target="_blank">for a while now</a> but had never used, and a light mortar. I also brought a truck just in case I needed to move a lot of guys up the board real fast.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had no idea who I'd be paired up with, or who was attacker or defender, or any of that at this stage - we really should get a bit better at such a thing.</div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Pre-game and Deployment</h2><div>Turns out we ended up playing Key Positions from the core book on an ordinary table. Four objectives were rolled and we each got to place one. I was teamed up with an American player, and set opposed to the Soviets and Finns. The Soviet player donates his free squad to the Finnish player to give them some experience running an Inexperienced Green troop like that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Reserves were up to half, and I opted to keep four in reserve - including my flame tank, which was in Outflank from my right. The rest of everyone's forces were in First Wave, so all dice in the bag and we're off.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzprhcilj_iHNum6HgZLIcm5TEHO3mF7D4LdsSej8CmNHa1WhOlXULLB4y1PkuRyOu5DvYmhAyo6C8cXOY29_lJXbjMKaEBsZaJ8WTrqJGozBFIVAYRc8ODZ4SkY6dsci48i28DYOEccW4nYxbHCiHhNjdnzKDP0nkpF4vjJ-vUFr7zSCqvRUngYyJALv/s3840/PXL_20231102_213330525.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzprhcilj_iHNum6HgZLIcm5TEHO3mF7D4LdsSej8CmNHa1WhOlXULLB4y1PkuRyOu5DvYmhAyo6C8cXOY29_lJXbjMKaEBsZaJ8WTrqJGozBFIVAYRc8ODZ4SkY6dsci48i28DYOEccW4nYxbHCiHhNjdnzKDP0nkpF4vjJ-vUFr7zSCqvRUngYyJALv/s16000/PXL_20231102_213330525.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYP6e2qOPlq17bNYNsfl_Z5IAHPNH2B4cenFX6lijQ3cQ59mrOYbUQgLKScp0b0YXaI24vwZ_Ll29M2hflY7RP7IScRU4qmof388wmjNplvIZDQUBujUYd7KRRkHL3xN08Zpg53sN69yPKcUoiiPxqOyKKX4TSpwxDAo_rME5MLn7_Xqz-WhIJnQTOOSB_/s3840/PXL_20231102_215953691.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYP6e2qOPlq17bNYNsfl_Z5IAHPNH2B4cenFX6lijQ3cQ59mrOYbUQgLKScp0b0YXaI24vwZ_Ll29M2hflY7RP7IScRU4qmof388wmjNplvIZDQUBujUYd7KRRkHL3xN08Zpg53sN69yPKcUoiiPxqOyKKX4TSpwxDAo_rME5MLn7_Xqz-WhIJnQTOOSB_/s16000/PXL_20231102_215953691.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb-5OdcVvb1jBi4BfeavXbbTDD-OMr_YMKsVDue8yUcDFW8lnmPwa4Pe2N006Yn81YM8JIcIKf0Az03zl741Do82U8HwFLUPzLtq-KgO2Q1uNAb4k9IRB1nCnouwozW6dD-Zg3NKVrNW1I_BMwIQm5kMV5I9_-_X3arBBaJjL0vh_LMKnW8fJzZ8IYGL4/s3840/PXL_20231102_220003469.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb-5OdcVvb1jBi4BfeavXbbTDD-OMr_YMKsVDue8yUcDFW8lnmPwa4Pe2N006Yn81YM8JIcIKf0Az03zl741Do82U8HwFLUPzLtq-KgO2Q1uNAb4k9IRB1nCnouwozW6dD-Zg3NKVrNW1I_BMwIQm5kMV5I9_-_X3arBBaJjL0vh_LMKnW8fJzZ8IYGL4/s16000/PXL_20231102_220003469.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QgWJ9psDevbl3Uj_AdrppNqeC_gJqYqkrHJywdD351qktaWmL8Tf_tMqQtklLVH9TWO2GND21nnjXYBpEhyphenhyphen3AN2bEc53tW_YvENbpKW_QD9tqGxSgTTHLKxN-egbWQTrEDN4QY3zPBeL5IhaqBcMBLspa1D67UVpjyT6dDfGQySyPv5lxMSYWva4K2wE/s3840/PXL_20231102_220012593.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QgWJ9psDevbl3Uj_AdrppNqeC_gJqYqkrHJywdD351qktaWmL8Tf_tMqQtklLVH9TWO2GND21nnjXYBpEhyphenhyphen3AN2bEc53tW_YvENbpKW_QD9tqGxSgTTHLKxN-egbWQTrEDN4QY3zPBeL5IhaqBcMBLspa1D67UVpjyT6dDfGQySyPv5lxMSYWva4K2wE/s16000/PXL_20231102_220012593.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 1</h2><div>General advance! Both forces deploy across a wide front, with my own forces concentrating on the left. Action is relatively limited as neither force was quite in range yet, and the Allied tank was unsuccessful in hitting the Soviet one.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnisdBLAf_4w5SPwvNulSId7p0kBJ7ZNQCHaSTDqSWyi0gZH_mc4e4OhzgfKoK2JXU53oWu4GOLC1cz2LNZgMmnepVZoNOlZ_13FynTwaZzAPz1ZEwc9dgJCVRrC01NGuPq-DwI5xIpeoEBPJzVhLvKpsttQtR_aribMXcLGlH23_YnruZbfqUkc3AhNL/s3840/PXL_20231102_224733834.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnisdBLAf_4w5SPwvNulSId7p0kBJ7ZNQCHaSTDqSWyi0gZH_mc4e4OhzgfKoK2JXU53oWu4GOLC1cz2LNZgMmnepVZoNOlZ_13FynTwaZzAPz1ZEwc9dgJCVRrC01NGuPq-DwI5xIpeoEBPJzVhLvKpsttQtR_aribMXcLGlH23_YnruZbfqUkc3AhNL/s16000/PXL_20231102_224733834.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOEGcV1QhWcRN4SpYJITrwQ-Lm9Z_LzqAlwbHgqAo_zBg1y_ohIwEejePi19jZD2LLfvlY-PYyNy60PbRKAcUwld69XZVJsd4lxWf4H2Klqc6nKTSfZLOQBlzWBxWzU3sEjUNq6uJn6n0UZi9qwNAXeUPdNCpnChPje7Kj3CTA3x_V2ko2IXFN53Zgwul/s3840/PXL_20231102_224738904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOEGcV1QhWcRN4SpYJITrwQ-Lm9Z_LzqAlwbHgqAo_zBg1y_ohIwEejePi19jZD2LLfvlY-PYyNy60PbRKAcUwld69XZVJsd4lxWf4H2Klqc6nKTSfZLOQBlzWBxWzU3sEjUNq6uJn6n0UZi9qwNAXeUPdNCpnChPje7Kj3CTA3x_V2ko2IXFN53Zgwul/s16000/PXL_20231102_224738904.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOdxcj9bX8xNCNcUZTm9kFmXEhofudizhjFaWrbUUPXfGZ6fewTsRo-7AZtyBqOah1p1gYjMMI8aYfAND-VoW3HedMzC8O1NEBOG1IDVPgkjA5_GXFf2hByHplEbOSBFhdoFu1M9Y9JrMRJu2hz9xxAW_A6QO8rgqOU2XZLpyGaFB64KiGu1GvnWReWuk/s3840/PXL_20231102_224750795.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOdxcj9bX8xNCNcUZTm9kFmXEhofudizhjFaWrbUUPXfGZ6fewTsRo-7AZtyBqOah1p1gYjMMI8aYfAND-VoW3HedMzC8O1NEBOG1IDVPgkjA5_GXFf2hByHplEbOSBFhdoFu1M9Y9JrMRJu2hz9xxAW_A6QO8rgqOU2XZLpyGaFB64KiGu1GvnWReWuk/s16000/PXL_20231102_224750795.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 2</h2><div>Action heats up as both forces close in - Soviet tank-descent infantry pick a few of my Paracadutisti off, blunting their advance, but my Guastatori flame teams are carried onto the board successfully! After a tense few draws of dice that were <i>not</i> mine, the first flame team slips off the truck and lays into the Soviet tank-riders...and amazingly, both flamethrowers not only miss, but they both run out of fuel. To add insult to injury, the two riflemen in the squad make their marks, even dropping the NCO for my trouble. My other Para SMG team was less successful in their advance, eating a sniper shot from the Finn and losing an NCO.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nearby, the tanks continue to duke it out and things go wrong for the American - an over-penetrating hit jams the turret, blows the engine, and sets the thing on fire! By some small miracle the crew clings on, snuffs out the flames, and carries on. The player gets some small vengeance when an MMG belted out four sixes at a Finnish rifle team, dropping I believe three of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over on the right flank forces close in on each other as the Soviets begin to lay down a base of fire, and the free squad enters the wheat field right in that center-line...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBDmUgW3BRkXrH77-nv3kXoGx9VDjQV6Lj4avEynfqpe03DipDEDnvNOjmqA14mvbtbqkWkpG0NQFow4yp5zrQPbe8Ee0qCjASq5NHCK720fiveZhwQyArfkp_mL1u95zU9cOLftVkqfW_JBT9QsdVANhNgtRftRagKoxjNO4ABLhewJSr4gqISE1Sbvb/s3840/PXL_20231102_233044821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBDmUgW3BRkXrH77-nv3kXoGx9VDjQV6Lj4avEynfqpe03DipDEDnvNOjmqA14mvbtbqkWkpG0NQFow4yp5zrQPbe8Ee0qCjASq5NHCK720fiveZhwQyArfkp_mL1u95zU9cOLftVkqfW_JBT9QsdVANhNgtRftRagKoxjNO4ABLhewJSr4gqISE1Sbvb/s16000/PXL_20231102_233044821.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59aqLMSDEXVNVsjcl1obKv76qyMIbhwjGj1jhcc5d1er01f84Mn2enUb96QgZOqisEcnwa7Aq0as37hU6HW7NXBezyau0ICzo0KXUonFFatFsqkTFFJJbGHzKB_KrwPCNiPSMtHUNLvgx6k-Bhu_ex_Z24kBwYtQgjtbHTL_hZ5_T9BaT9nKjqEN7jjEt/s3840/PXL_20231102_233054090.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59aqLMSDEXVNVsjcl1obKv76qyMIbhwjGj1jhcc5d1er01f84Mn2enUb96QgZOqisEcnwa7Aq0as37hU6HW7NXBezyau0ICzo0KXUonFFatFsqkTFFJJbGHzKB_KrwPCNiPSMtHUNLvgx6k-Bhu_ex_Z24kBwYtQgjtbHTL_hZ5_T9BaT9nKjqEN7jjEt/s16000/PXL_20231102_233054090.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia-aENS9ly-q135GdgNic8fUKzkyyDp_AXEi2-BoFZEB6frkZ1w5Gojt1ppxefeDCQ-0UTGbXcT1e3w9uX3vGxGjlyZGcZMQm5OQr6-bHKzYzLWJsu_Sjn2w9xA9C5sIijGgyeZFZo4z_UMbaXWvu3-93hyphenhyphenFhjyMgNEkCYGq6JLyZx_KrZQi4-NMkixfg/s3840/PXL_20231102_233143383.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia-aENS9ly-q135GdgNic8fUKzkyyDp_AXEi2-BoFZEB6frkZ1w5Gojt1ppxefeDCQ-0UTGbXcT1e3w9uX3vGxGjlyZGcZMQm5OQr6-bHKzYzLWJsu_Sjn2w9xA9C5sIijGgyeZFZo4z_UMbaXWvu3-93hyphenhyphenFhjyMgNEkCYGq6JLyZx_KrZQi4-NMkixfg/s16000/PXL_20231102_233143383.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaeppT-pAgpS0w50PqmIpnal_WGObPKwtbkpDQ6Q1RfsDf-bcFE0GUawYP3YPqNCKJ3qvd_nwYfPTrXne8rt80DrGecpD7_gg76nYYkpoq667pnL8bWn3zUcwBWM3LtdiFVbDNpKGafDa3MsROE-Q3w6HuzYA8J5rpdtMhSjy2gws45Md_nTyp3tGKXc2/s3840/PXL_20231102_233757585.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaeppT-pAgpS0w50PqmIpnal_WGObPKwtbkpDQ6Q1RfsDf-bcFE0GUawYP3YPqNCKJ3qvd_nwYfPTrXne8rt80DrGecpD7_gg76nYYkpoq667pnL8bWn3zUcwBWM3LtdiFVbDNpKGafDa3MsROE-Q3w6HuzYA8J5rpdtMhSjy2gws45Md_nTyp3tGKXc2/s16000/PXL_20231102_233757585.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWsRH0s8lfXNgoDFzgK4hofq6WQAb4mIYr_BbhFTrEi_UIIAo7gYeBsDUFG6yIYsCmB6VR0-lJurDUTTKKLqPO6tmdoHcE7W2-Vp-RF3OF0hnlZHElA0XztBjZgMenur-PJ9fgDh5o7CVv5BVEnMnr342OzVgKF5ntJviZi6Wt8TIJzovH9y_cLKgB6PS/s16000/PXL_20231102_234214085.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrBbE6Q7QyOxgW8TB5ZtGERE3FH4dtOarQcUbmA4DSyUZ1tIjcb7_bT1bhKkD5KElHruSytH4YE_9NkKJcDNEUBlTayis2bTOJzPJqFK6x964SpSlfxFRDapbHoVi2M6IM_gVcJPQSqA5_SlCiyfWZ7lmkN_UM2K3HIQK_jgctHl7NLrXzH-eUbI2O0rw/s3840/PXL_20231102_234219340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrBbE6Q7QyOxgW8TB5ZtGERE3FH4dtOarQcUbmA4DSyUZ1tIjcb7_bT1bhKkD5KElHruSytH4YE_9NkKJcDNEUBlTayis2bTOJzPJqFK6x964SpSlfxFRDapbHoVi2M6IM_gVcJPQSqA5_SlCiyfWZ7lmkN_UM2K3HIQK_jgctHl7NLrXzH-eUbI2O0rw/s16000/PXL_20231102_234219340.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 3</h2><div>Early on my flame tank rolls on - grinding in to point blank range it successfully misses the large mass of Soviet infantry straight in front of it. They reprise this with an unsuccessful assault on the tank, their bombs failing to penetrate even the thin armor plating on this tank.</div><div><br /></div><div>I tried to move my light mortar up again, but that triggered the Sniper I'd forgotten was on Ambush and the team was lost. My counter-attack with those Paratroopers got a few SMGs on a few shots on the sniper but that extra protection on the Building saved them from any harm. On the bright side, my other flame team manages to slip out of the truck and amble up to the Finnish squad that had just tried to Panzerfaust the truck - both flamethrowers hit and collectively kill half the squad (triggering that Super Veteran rule, unfortunately for me).</div><div><br /></div><div>The opposing team continues their advance up on the right, concentrating their force into an attack that will certainly take the Hill objective...if we got a turn 4. Alas, time ran short and the store was closing, so we had to call it here.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzy6BDSksj7IoJOxlVRp1ajbZNSTyf6fEU9iz8E_9QTi9F6hEBPn2nZVmFaJS1MgNzn49gUCnhSMjnPVB7reVQFCeg_gcQF67-RgkO20zBQlhPYDFf2303m5DkCtlDCpgo5Noj9MVc2-XbEe-3gWuHgZ0hyPNgBHkEzM062I-ZTcExYM8SDpfffX9P4T5b/s3840/PXL_20231102_235127094.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzy6BDSksj7IoJOxlVRp1ajbZNSTyf6fEU9iz8E_9QTi9F6hEBPn2nZVmFaJS1MgNzn49gUCnhSMjnPVB7reVQFCeg_gcQF67-RgkO20zBQlhPYDFf2303m5DkCtlDCpgo5Noj9MVc2-XbEe-3gWuHgZ0hyPNgBHkEzM062I-ZTcExYM8SDpfffX9P4T5b/s16000/PXL_20231102_235127094.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzObZRLJDePm881fNx-gVtgRj9WuvLDS9bNLgIBTraAKqSz_3zCPX_lhRU6EDhoIw-XdUww6gRC9OpPNwVU0k2HF_v1TNpkmGHJCOFIyhgLV6tfLBxkwfCMCLCC2LToG4NO9qWNZhkmXQnRxQZ5zgKLbEJNhVIvCS7O6dbsrYZeOELCNkYAgzphfu12dl4/s3840/PXL_20231102_235211528.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9BYY_vEqdF3FAA_FtdFnKlVN8jro4HX5dS917ww_IQDJM90rl7plAtcOEO1KhxnGPwG61Spl6aRmKahFfLDdOv1fWdwFJWG9hq6kQbhv9UWuhz0fMY9Sn1Aq8JAqtR9zZ6lCUKRBLBpU008MO3H7B84v2LjIHGXArb2tc42KzVnhRbKDQExIIj-ulg2Z/s3840/PXL_20231103_003932422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9BYY_vEqdF3FAA_FtdFnKlVN8jro4HX5dS917ww_IQDJM90rl7plAtcOEO1KhxnGPwG61Spl6aRmKahFfLDdOv1fWdwFJWG9hq6kQbhv9UWuhz0fMY9Sn1Aq8JAqtR9zZ6lCUKRBLBpU008MO3H7B84v2LjIHGXArb2tc42KzVnhRbKDQExIIj-ulg2Z/s16000/PXL_20231103_003932422.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKx9osDdRmf9yna0XM3xpLn5D756sALPe5mhIanx8JyMRiynrPltK0GMt-rhNCVG_KtHk6kXIG6bSmUe1ONSvRrwnj6NwqqpKAaAOGR_XuDrNmV75yiRc1SxY70LEodRaE4REWPP3Mga5oBMp_ELo65-1UZMbZYhDhdomU2YnfagpIiRhhjPPYFkl703t/s3840/PXL_20231103_003947935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKx9osDdRmf9yna0XM3xpLn5D756sALPe5mhIanx8JyMRiynrPltK0GMt-rhNCVG_KtHk6kXIG6bSmUe1ONSvRrwnj6NwqqpKAaAOGR_XuDrNmV75yiRc1SxY70LEodRaE4REWPP3Mga5oBMp_ELo65-1UZMbZYhDhdomU2YnfagpIiRhhjPPYFkl703t/s16000/PXL_20231103_003947935.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Scoring</h2><div>We just called it a draw.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Retrospectives</h2><div>As a group we play pretty slow, and making it 750 points each effectively makes it a 1500 point game in some ways.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't <i>really </i>judge this list, I built it for an environment we didn't get. I think the units are fine, but I made a terrible gamble with that truck-based Death Star - four flamers <i>could</i> have just lain waste to my opponents there, but it was not to be. I think probably a more intelligent thing to do in the future would be to either put one Guastatori in an armored transport by itself (or with the LT), or alternatively pair it up with another squad. The light mortar was kind of a joke unit - cheap enough order die to pad it out a bit but I didn't expect it to do much. The tank sadly had no chance to redeem itself - I'm not a huge fan of how I built that model, but I do like the concept well enough - I might field it again in the future.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>Good game, I think the group should do Doubles more often when we have the opportunity, but for the evening games at the LGS I think we should throttle down the point limit - 450-500 is probably the limit. Larger games, however, are fine for days when we have more time, so I'd try that again for sure. I will say that deploying a flametank, even disappointingly as this one performed, has me thinking it might be time to dust off and paint that L6/40 Flamethrower variant I have in the backlog bin...</div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-21975143044287097302023-10-25T00:01:00.003-04:002023-10-25T12:31:41.426-04:00Cromwell, ready to roll out!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjf8RKNLgxDqHRluTQcsDZzr8FFQBCYLLFiZ7CpY017Kj3UqtZ0DwFeMv5eyCBLm4VdUrpqe96iag-rwyZ-TRxFhUUcoS59mKfx5N6KWrGg73XN2yZwq66t-v_uXmMI3ctVGYaQF3AK5gOUUEoA0bXdXYIWqY69PVkW3N1AoEGqZUtwLCQS0_xy32naPv/s3500/banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2012" data-original-width="3500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjf8RKNLgxDqHRluTQcsDZzr8FFQBCYLLFiZ7CpY017Kj3UqtZ0DwFeMv5eyCBLm4VdUrpqe96iag-rwyZ-TRxFhUUcoS59mKfx5N6KWrGg73XN2yZwq66t-v_uXmMI3ctVGYaQF3AK5gOUUEoA0bXdXYIWqY69PVkW3N1AoEGqZUtwLCQS0_xy32naPv/s16000/banner.png" /></a></div><p>While I eluded to starting another army project entirely before expanding <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/going-commando-my-new-army-for-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">my British commando force</a>, I've yet to <i>actually</i> get around to doing so - a fair bit of hobby time has been instead dedicated towards improving the local terrain supply (examples of which have <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/after-action-report-21-october-2023-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">already started to pop up in AARs</a>), and I've also decided to start clearing out my backlog of existing factions before starting yet another.</p><p>Anyway, between phases of terrain work and <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/09/in-preparazione-per-un-torneo.html" target="_blank">other things</a> needing my attention, I dug out a Cromwell tank I had purchased on considerable discount at the LGS some time in August. Turned out this Cromwell box actually housed the sprues to an M3 Stuart (the infamous "Dakka Stuart"), so a week or so later the replacement sprues arrived and I could actually get to this.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Cromwell Cruiser Tank</h1><p>I had mentioned in the Commando debut post that my British collection was going to be strongly themed around D-day operations, with the Commandos being the start of a broader assortment that would be focused on Airbore and Airlanding troops to sort of loosely build something patterned after the link-up between beach-assaulting Commandos and air-deployed troops of the 6th Airborne Division. This would make the Cromwell out to be an odd choice at first glance because it is clearly not something dropped from the sky with WW2-era technology. However, a month or two after the D-day landings, the 6th Airborne Division's armored recon element was pulled back and had some of their "Tetrarch" glider-tanks replaced with Cromwells, which stayed in operation alongside Tetrarchs and later the M22 Locust glider tank until February 1945. You can find more info on this at a nifty site <a href="https://www.paradata.org.uk/unit/6th-airborne-armoured-recce-regiment-rac" target="_blank">about the 6th Airbore</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cromwell_tank" target="_blank">this Wikiped article about the tank</a> - no need to rehash things better said elsewhere.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85DvjES_twI0q8jyx64n22xyFnDRG_kwEdKgNqLYzSSPLCunAyRHLNwWJAgrXWusC6C0eW_tqGzmtR2Zf0tvmxICpKsR30539LZAuZRRe20Zuv7hwLXtRWwwPHcItulLe0R7175qWYaEjp_E3yXJJ8S-9_yV0opTfBvUqOlNDA0XCIy0w4pHTPv6EzULT/s1416/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="1040" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85DvjES_twI0q8jyx64n22xyFnDRG_kwEdKgNqLYzSSPLCunAyRHLNwWJAgrXWusC6C0eW_tqGzmtR2Zf0tvmxICpKsR30539LZAuZRRe20Zuv7hwLXtRWwwPHcItulLe0R7175qWYaEjp_E3yXJJ8S-9_yV0opTfBvUqOlNDA0XCIy0w4pHTPv6EzULT/s320/1.png" width="235" /></a></div>Thus, a perfectly <strike>Cromwellent</strike> cromulent choice for my collection and definitely a way for me to have more substantial armored support in future games!<p></p><p>I decided against using the bush-cutter on this one, since it wasn't a standard part and I don't have any evidence that the 6th were using it. Plus, long-term plan is to store this in a carry case with foam and that would probably be kind of a pain. It's not like Bolt Action gives you a bonus for using them the way some old Warhammer 40k editions did for dozer blades.</p><p>The antenna were magnetized, which was a pain and probably wont get used anyway. Future tanks with these kind of things sticking out probably wont get them at all - there's always that practicality balance you've got to strike in wargames.</p><p>I opted to keep this one flat OD green, and did some similar procedures to my second Semovente 75/34 - base coat with an airbrush, then some very basic highlights and details (if any), followed by a gloss acrylic varnish. After said varnish, I panel-lined the tank (also called pin-wash) instead of the usual all-over wash I've done previously. This avoids much of the staining and darkening issues I've had previously without requiring me to go and re-baseline everything that shouldn't be dark. This is especially great on a tank like this, which has frankly huge flat surfaces. Indeed this is by far the largest tank I've built for Bolt Action. On a bit of a roll with the truck and <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/09/decided-by-fiat-car-for-my-ba-italian-forces.html" target="_blank">car</a> I did for Italy around the same time, I tried that chipping and weathering thing, but it definitely does <i>not</i> stand out well against the green (and probably did more harm than good). I suppose it looks more seasoned this way?</p><p>I guess the speed of which it was painted by air brush is balanced by these more manual processes.</p><p>At this point in time I've not added any decals, as I'm actually not super fond of them and Warlord doesn't seem to have any 6th Airborne Armoured Recon variants in their lineup. At some point I might add an allied white star to the top to break up that sea of green but that's low priority. Some 6th Airborne decals wouldn't be bad either.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Cromwell in Bolt Action</h2><p>This is as standard Medium Tank as it gets - tracked AV9 with a turret housing a medium AT gun and coaxial MMG, and a bow MMG. It has a 75mm gun so Bolt Acton's rules give it an outsized blast of 2". It costs 205 points regular.</p><p>Not terrible but it isn't an especially competitive tank - but it adds in some variety to my collection considering Italy has nothing that compares to it. I can see myself fielding it on occasion, as I've typically not had great luck just ignoring the tanks of my typical opponents!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NkKgmvc5wuFAJOBs5uMG4gAWGdGZAQU13c4p8kiOztTVZ1OhRmQ7J_hQgZUds7QYswzDBzIrTuLpTspbyd8JOxMA5frx50dTAYOL-kIP3Gvc8PWNe2EanU-Jrs_NolZ-113LDoy9tMLuHZpI1HynoomxtFS4tQqyeMLBpWGiqfq9jGnTyfpo0hyphenhyphen7xA9m/s1561/PXL_20231025_005628073.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="1525" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NkKgmvc5wuFAJOBs5uMG4gAWGdGZAQU13c4p8kiOztTVZ1OhRmQ7J_hQgZUds7QYswzDBzIrTuLpTspbyd8JOxMA5frx50dTAYOL-kIP3Gvc8PWNe2EanU-Jrs_NolZ-113LDoy9tMLuHZpI1HynoomxtFS4tQqyeMLBpWGiqfq9jGnTyfpo0hyphenhyphen7xA9m/s16000/PXL_20231025_005628073.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZnGiG9pr3k27WYuITnq00YAghvOXOnoGIM8KbRz_zGM6sgsHGEo2yUONWd-fzD-D2L_BW3wS6nKx2o6lClWxizJrlR0W0ej77KMS3dvMiwSf1Posh0ljTJuE_Ep9MG4guAfVH7QuqJxjyYdSkK65ZfibPSZK2X5qEKK2PdBtbCYwNudhpQkSVHQmVXud/s2902/PXL_20231025_005644985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="2902" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZnGiG9pr3k27WYuITnq00YAghvOXOnoGIM8KbRz_zGM6sgsHGEo2yUONWd-fzD-D2L_BW3wS6nKx2o6lClWxizJrlR0W0ej77KMS3dvMiwSf1Posh0ljTJuE_Ep9MG4guAfVH7QuqJxjyYdSkK65ZfibPSZK2X5qEKK2PdBtbCYwNudhpQkSVHQmVXud/s16000/PXL_20231025_005644985.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQogp1yI4FCqLNos5FWFE-032gd7NhhOD_q7j0OIZwsdBwpJIS-5jZusscMF6wdWcV7N3uwQiN_lLZxJUY9chA65hIj4m6peWU1H102RAWZ0VmG-4EwXJnLW9Zr7vFoPWOHS3_y3DG0FeUHeBV5MCWzyjMz1yWq9nd_aAOTyGD7Sr74K1qV3PSnGQzrDvM/s1595/PXL_20231025_005715044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="1542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQogp1yI4FCqLNos5FWFE-032gd7NhhOD_q7j0OIZwsdBwpJIS-5jZusscMF6wdWcV7N3uwQiN_lLZxJUY9chA65hIj4m6peWU1H102RAWZ0VmG-4EwXJnLW9Zr7vFoPWOHS3_y3DG0FeUHeBV5MCWzyjMz1yWq9nd_aAOTyGD7Sr74K1qV3PSnGQzrDvM/s16000/PXL_20231025_005715044.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykg5nos7BnhX5Cqw-iZ0Xb077pNtE19X6MvhjcM_PfHLGHIDn8-CGcM0p7F2IrITRzXTYFa3fQdBCmK3P9KKasHIyQoSACqMji27t9zJJfVuVmC8iMprgIRdFM5XW7sOi5-nYmU-JqROaJ41gUWSl72aOvl7zs9X7-9GZkFytJkxvJz4YH06dtkgGL6nP/s2848/PXL_20231025_005728804.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="2848" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykg5nos7BnhX5Cqw-iZ0Xb077pNtE19X6MvhjcM_PfHLGHIDn8-CGcM0p7F2IrITRzXTYFa3fQdBCmK3P9KKasHIyQoSACqMji27t9zJJfVuVmC8iMprgIRdFM5XW7sOi5-nYmU-JqROaJ41gUWSl72aOvl7zs9X7-9GZkFytJkxvJz4YH06dtkgGL6nP/s16000/PXL_20231025_005728804.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRdIhbYbu-gyKV4lJ0fadpL2Ufpcg1c9aWwQ-cbg0eRaMpZcOVQQjsO953GCVCF-wGIWOCRCZDwp9tcqiVA4LEZiEJmEJRsBmHTfcUHmK6Je0vU63CrRYBnxS60yE2Xj3JSj8u5PVTmKG7lQWz1n5N5Iy0inFEW-Wcypy88Q72weUf5Rnrbx9Xb1M6HPL/s2810/PXL_20231025_005804925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2810" data-original-width="1774" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRdIhbYbu-gyKV4lJ0fadpL2Ufpcg1c9aWwQ-cbg0eRaMpZcOVQQjsO953GCVCF-wGIWOCRCZDwp9tcqiVA4LEZiEJmEJRsBmHTfcUHmK6Je0vU63CrRYBnxS60yE2Xj3JSj8u5PVTmKG7lQWz1n5N5Iy0inFEW-Wcypy88Q72weUf5Rnrbx9Xb1M6HPL/s16000/PXL_20231025_005804925.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHE7qcoCZ1vEU9BJv3FkcdMNKewoaJk1SVfAxuzZaTwMb7mUdK2d6YaF5_Su_KtQvMBuXhl5RxcqsKUPzbXnGGI7_QpTm1ZTg-bhgFg3gwEfq1TQ4K06YEn3JFToXMTFmAsWNvZ4gHmTVoB388zBitqaJuVV4-QGYBk5htZT5jHwIa44aidRNh7-ViW8m5/s3388/PXL_20231025_005825860.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3388" data-original-width="1860" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHE7qcoCZ1vEU9BJv3FkcdMNKewoaJk1SVfAxuzZaTwMb7mUdK2d6YaF5_Su_KtQvMBuXhl5RxcqsKUPzbXnGGI7_QpTm1ZTg-bhgFg3gwEfq1TQ4K06YEn3JFToXMTFmAsWNvZ4gHmTVoB388zBitqaJuVV4-QGYBk5htZT5jHwIa44aidRNh7-ViW8m5/s16000/PXL_20231025_005825860.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><p>I started this back in early September, but it was just a few days ago I got to finishing up and taking some shots - it sat around gloss varnished for ages while I worked on other things. It's not like my Commandos have made it to the table, either! I might actually build up another one of these eventually, and try my hand again to make something a little less dingy looking - 70.888 "Olive Grey" always seems so dark, too...</p><p>This is my first step towards expanding my British collection, but certainly not the last. As before I still intend to stick to Airborne and Airlanding units, and adjacent ones like the SAS, more Commandos, and perhaps more "Native Irregulars" or similarly themed pattern-breakers. All that's a bit later down the line, as focus is currently on terrain and that will definitely take a while. We'll see what I'm in the mood for come sometime in November!</p>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-73663483983593573492023-10-23T00:01:00.003-04:002023-10-23T12:06:16.164-04:00After Action Report: 21 October 2023 Bolt Action Engagement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ9th4Zkz3gJsMxNPtqWFeAsjuK-Bf-RlKbqtYevZ_t6T3xnYqSrbDKCPYE1JcTdT4RIKehEveR7DzDiwvZ9UPfmleRksrQlmuNy7SBcehouUPr-loUSPPDDuN1VBiYl2-RVYleGKq10QR50D4wwpnb31kklbOiGAf8jKBTpnf3-Er324KzF4bIECIzWT/s3840/PXL_20231021_144058179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ9th4Zkz3gJsMxNPtqWFeAsjuK-Bf-RlKbqtYevZ_t6T3xnYqSrbDKCPYE1JcTdT4RIKehEveR7DzDiwvZ9UPfmleRksrQlmuNy7SBcehouUPr-loUSPPDDuN1VBiYl2-RVYleGKq10QR50D4wwpnb31kklbOiGAf8jKBTpnf3-Er324KzF4bIECIzWT/s16000/PXL_20231021_144058179.jpg" /></a></div><p>On 21 October I played a game of Bolt Action against our local Soviet Champion. I was unfortunately called away mid-game and could not complete, but I figured to write it up anyway. Photography seems a little worse than usual - something wasn't quite right with the lighting in that room, as some of us noted during the game.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Hop To!</h1><p>For this game I deployed an evolution of <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/after-action-report-5-october-2023-bolt-action.html" target="_blank">the one I had last time</a>, wherein I focused heavily on Veteran troops, particularly Paratroopers. I took more of those this time, dropping the devastating and expensive group of Guastatori in favor of more Para-rifles. Armor was also modified, as I actively wanted to dust off a few vehicles I haven't used much or in a while - the L6/40 and the L5/21, both Veteran to sort of counteract their "One Man Turret" rules. I decided to go for Spotters this time on the mortar and howitzer, something that would be quite handy in the board they'd deploy to. I also opted for a 1LT - theory being that I could Snap To Action two units at a time and get a coordinated assault team going with the two Para-SMGs. 12 dice total.</p><p>My opponent brought a very interesting, infantry-centric list that invested heavily in forward deployment - something that would turn out to be <i>very</i> useful in the sort of game we were about to play. Armor was light for him - a single armored car with a flamethrower. 16 dice as I recall.</p><p>We built our lists in advance of the game, and on the day of we decided to try a completely new mission - "Jump to Action" from the <a href="https://boltactionalliance.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-bolt-action-alliance-2023-mission.html" target="_blank">Bolt Action Alliance 2023 Mission Pack</a>.</p><p>In short, it's an objective mission with a side of kill points - spots near your deployment edge are worth 1, the center objective is worth 2, and the objectives along your opponent's quarter edge is also worth 2. Five objectives total, forming a cross.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Pre-Game and Deployment</h2><p>We had reserved a room at a local place with the expectation that there would be 4 players - thus we set up two tables without any idea who would be playing where. Unfortunately player 4 never arrived, so when it became clear we needed to get a game going it was decided that the Soviet player and I would clash and we'd use the board I'd set up to do it.</p><p>Said table is a mix of his terrain and some of mine - mostly some projects that I've been mentioning for a while but had yet to show off on a post here - I guess this is something of a sneak preview! Particularly, these will be the copse of "container" trees in the center and the flagstone roads throughout (plus the pines I've had kicking about for ages).</p><p>In spite of Italy's Defensive Strategy rule, my opponent won the Defender roll and thus got to set up first, sans Forward Deployment and Reserves (of which he kept 3 units). I set up second with no reserves (silly in retrospect), after which we put down our Forward deployers - my sniper checking his AT gun, his sniper checking my sniper, his AT-tank hunters threatening my L6, and his Scouts threatening my Para-SMG team at the crossroads.</p><p>My vague idea is to wheel my right flank around, sweeping through the empty quarter and pressuring one of the objectives on his quarter edge while also keeping the center at least contested.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVMhAvQxcM6JBpeh6SBaZr7REUpBL9E0Zrhxeqw4nVaQAYncjfXKXCbw25IPeTJtEf0bJXVyiKEQ00louk8nt4cQ4a81vdlhR9RRNZQide7Mf2RRSk-8cZXSLIddeI3ZlbROQdLRUVg82w4oO6hExEH_oXptH8QZcM5GPRh07XZDd0LED5NxGZ1S6unTU/s3840/PXL_20231021_154813046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVMhAvQxcM6JBpeh6SBaZr7REUpBL9E0Zrhxeqw4nVaQAYncjfXKXCbw25IPeTJtEf0bJXVyiKEQ00louk8nt4cQ4a81vdlhR9RRNZQide7Mf2RRSk-8cZXSLIddeI3ZlbROQdLRUVg82w4oO6hExEH_oXptH8QZcM5GPRh07XZDd0LED5NxGZ1S6unTU/s16000/PXL_20231021_154813046.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvbVT9x9xNnrA_fD2pe-bcHpUMJKkp7EdcvNAisL6f_H6BG_VlFzlrEqBwzV6WqTygk2T8X3l8LXmr1JDD86x7OEFHmuqrJI0lT7am3l2xxn9wRLX2QquqzQwKj5OYWeOP65migOY99gVIbtjt6a24ejkEyfKvxOvfZs0a1OfGyUQtzdpHWVyzobP78mp/s3840/PXL_20231021_154818828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvbVT9x9xNnrA_fD2pe-bcHpUMJKkp7EdcvNAisL6f_H6BG_VlFzlrEqBwzV6WqTygk2T8X3l8LXmr1JDD86x7OEFHmuqrJI0lT7am3l2xxn9wRLX2QquqzQwKj5OYWeOP65migOY99gVIbtjt6a24ejkEyfKvxOvfZs0a1OfGyUQtzdpHWVyzobP78mp/s16000/PXL_20231021_154818828.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV86biv9bE_vKpeQ8_QMlz-kXl_bTwbj4BLvTrPk0kfetH7yqXu7S4CK51QkV62dcXNBZgC-zZo_ZByodosADFrBkFO_RKuP2FM3JkT6bXeQZkVuCGWA0kZOOQi7ZcmvYFXhl_SeVGvGn7FV9WyxH9FKEbnXYgkJcPFUS-d1g9YW1ZkVvwECpBStNmSfQF/s3840/PXL_20231021_154825028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV86biv9bE_vKpeQ8_QMlz-kXl_bTwbj4BLvTrPk0kfetH7yqXu7S4CK51QkV62dcXNBZgC-zZo_ZByodosADFrBkFO_RKuP2FM3JkT6bXeQZkVuCGWA0kZOOQi7ZcmvYFXhl_SeVGvGn7FV9WyxH9FKEbnXYgkJcPFUS-d1g9YW1ZkVvwECpBStNmSfQF/s16000/PXL_20231021_154825028.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 1</h2><p>Firefights erupt immediately as the Soviet forward teams are in range immediately - my LT gets two units going, one SMG team into the trees by the crossroads to engage the Soviet Scouts and a rifle squad hurtling towards the stone wall near by. The other SMG and Rifle team begin an advance across the road, in line with the goal of turning his flank. My L6 gets lucky, getting away from the Anti-Tank team a bit and dropping a few of them in the process. My lead SMG team was not so lucky, however - in its first batch of casualties, the NCO is one.</p><p>Of note, my opponent gets his Forward Observer into a very nice spot to call in a strike into the midst of my forces - surely, though, this will just be delayed away until I've cleared the worst of it, right?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9yHFBJqP51Us8Lf8-KE8McfgU9JCF2L-uFhJqAN9W3tzkRtVEZD6kx0WwWtOLn4A3ajGFEjBTIdGneudl-Ze_-rWhdvpb6piEXiLECrv4DyhpQj0OFFx03vImwAO8DoSviZ2OT1VlReROKDIaaIVhNu1IPWd_biw0w_yePdYehgEOKlhW4h7NBFlm75j/s3840/PXL_20231021_163937404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9yHFBJqP51Us8Lf8-KE8McfgU9JCF2L-uFhJqAN9W3tzkRtVEZD6kx0WwWtOLn4A3ajGFEjBTIdGneudl-Ze_-rWhdvpb6piEXiLECrv4DyhpQj0OFFx03vImwAO8DoSviZ2OT1VlReROKDIaaIVhNu1IPWd_biw0w_yePdYehgEOKlhW4h7NBFlm75j/s16000/PXL_20231021_163937404.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCoaOV6eedaXqcpG5GB_9lrCXD5JVuNKvw9VSMkMdrP6OvdtGwOz9-CSq_PJrOlfduhyG-cEqosX8OGaSgjpVd5efXwbn484-0AjNAUfMGrdngcUpzBlUJIxxnxonrvdhG3iSCieyVyw5RS5G8WcpVT0_4cqdx5c-UkP_jARJTh8aDEfqeVuT7iJgl9Vq/s3840/PXL_20231021_163949643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCoaOV6eedaXqcpG5GB_9lrCXD5JVuNKvw9VSMkMdrP6OvdtGwOz9-CSq_PJrOlfduhyG-cEqosX8OGaSgjpVd5efXwbn484-0AjNAUfMGrdngcUpzBlUJIxxnxonrvdhG3iSCieyVyw5RS5G8WcpVT0_4cqdx5c-UkP_jARJTh8aDEfqeVuT7iJgl9Vq/s16000/PXL_20231021_163949643.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvStc-muerDBM2zLCjBIcD_v70sucfZWR5RGHVj1I2lN8Etjg53ElZPiaD2Q5SK20Pf2Ph9oATZ295rDUJwT1ZFwRKjXojFAIoiTkbSTu1nNpgsqdtn1O4HNsNNo-9NWF8z3g3n7Pz0yu_jyxVsVTmCI9_KAuFXmqjG1VDwusyzghctPGa9GgnqM55m9d/s3840/PXL_20231021_164002303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvStc-muerDBM2zLCjBIcD_v70sucfZWR5RGHVj1I2lN8Etjg53ElZPiaD2Q5SK20Pf2Ph9oATZ295rDUJwT1ZFwRKjXojFAIoiTkbSTu1nNpgsqdtn1O4HNsNNo-9NWF8z3g3n7Pz0yu_jyxVsVTmCI9_KAuFXmqjG1VDwusyzghctPGa9GgnqM55m9d/s16000/PXL_20231021_164002303.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 2</h2><p>Yeah, nah - that strike comes in with a 12" radius and lays down the hate - most of my squads take at least 3 pins, and my LT squad is completely evaporated. Few of my units managed to escape at least a few pins, but at least the remnants of my opponent's scout squad were destroyed...</p><p>As for the actual action, I naturally spent most of the time either Rallying or going Down (to save on casualties and to clear pins later). My L6 is attacked by the Soviet Bomb unit, but manages to Recce away into the trees and out of their reach. Not all was on the back-heel though - my L5 managed to rumble forward along the road, and my artillery continued to try and range in on targets afield. My opponent definitely had the initiative here though, pushing forward towards the middle and even bringing on his reserve armored car.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUH-BsBXyTBHAgrqLro5aIYTd1HmOAHBRaX9h7M9OkW1x6VyzOYSqnOhjHy7rgfUu69nnzSlgLoXtFVcD3ek2nBrCTpWy9hetGHpIDEfJ1Bqt6oq6P-sy8lAqYGNjI9F91_1iqehdwwYdvsXw1wHN0-e8cdv3IxAhmrzELIBnISmtUs4b2NSyheOyUbo0/s3840/PXL_20231021_164339095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUH-BsBXyTBHAgrqLro5aIYTd1HmOAHBRaX9h7M9OkW1x6VyzOYSqnOhjHy7rgfUu69nnzSlgLoXtFVcD3ek2nBrCTpWy9hetGHpIDEfJ1Bqt6oq6P-sy8lAqYGNjI9F91_1iqehdwwYdvsXw1wHN0-e8cdv3IxAhmrzELIBnISmtUs4b2NSyheOyUbo0/s16000/PXL_20231021_164339095.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjdvsSk3OFBd7Yn8QppEBR4o5fIJmx0irQPOcZChMv4ouv3X6admwxkIMnRYsb73dGDY7-FKe6He71LHW7qUiENdr2gNWjehfkpC8o4tNzipd4LoaKhIPqoXaxIcECzmV9VhXlfGW3vb9dH3TLbNT-vydWBU2ANZE3aDv2OzfEg_7bc_wYgb6mfu3ETo4/s3840/PXL_20231021_164343062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjdvsSk3OFBd7Yn8QppEBR4o5fIJmx0irQPOcZChMv4ouv3X6admwxkIMnRYsb73dGDY7-FKe6He71LHW7qUiENdr2gNWjehfkpC8o4tNzipd4LoaKhIPqoXaxIcECzmV9VhXlfGW3vb9dH3TLbNT-vydWBU2ANZE3aDv2OzfEg_7bc_wYgb6mfu3ETo4/s16000/PXL_20231021_164343062.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FQEHpVcGOCxW-1ZG_Iqt04L4IIXwhjd9B_jpdI-2vbqM9vgSqnmbN_lGQGQHNBcloVBsCM4TtxRtM8PY3Bnlhn8eAETyk5FCEF6PxYnTEfDo1_VbIXRobw_rNuwcFgrmwicJGMGj7xmv74Jsn3KZp8Cj4m2wL-YNGzFqPn4stTKtpJRFRg75l66AfWKV/s3840/PXL_20231021_164442952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FQEHpVcGOCxW-1ZG_Iqt04L4IIXwhjd9B_jpdI-2vbqM9vgSqnmbN_lGQGQHNBcloVBsCM4TtxRtM8PY3Bnlhn8eAETyk5FCEF6PxYnTEfDo1_VbIXRobw_rNuwcFgrmwicJGMGj7xmv74Jsn3KZp8Cj4m2wL-YNGzFqPn4stTKtpJRFRg75l66AfWKV/s16000/PXL_20231021_164442952.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKg9RQw9cHioUatyLTYrQKc5_NBb6ozwa7pKPne8PERXJ_6u9ENpDqSFIlQuan4Pzqg-RNct6BaKZhcMZhe8A7eMrOAkj1p-iafC3Woh2BPozw0iS1vlCT-xX7vNEQdly61bbwxB9OokhJUZZ32ZUUXvV4uON4pQ-jGAfpubg1A6wF1l__s7-QxG_gYTd/s3840/PXL_20231021_164914289.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKg9RQw9cHioUatyLTYrQKc5_NBb6ozwa7pKPne8PERXJ_6u9ENpDqSFIlQuan4Pzqg-RNct6BaKZhcMZhe8A7eMrOAkj1p-iafC3Woh2BPozw0iS1vlCT-xX7vNEQdly61bbwxB9OokhJUZZ32ZUUXvV4uON4pQ-jGAfpubg1A6wF1l__s7-QxG_gYTd/s16000/PXL_20231021_164914289.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgMuLs41TKU8KpzmVyBP7kyApqgBz1hbWZLREzTwyJ3nkVYP5JMD1R444GIsCzyBpSueja5H9AFvZ-f4ImQw0xHE6KpXXJ6ObixQpLh7r0j8cvSXVDW2AILTBkB_HEYMXvVZM2n25164cAxYS60Hg211sPdR16tALdlTbfFP2OdQOiKDJa3yU0Xe8oJIs/s3840/PXL_20231021_164922732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-OWSthQ_fXwx6i5jEYXh7Gwko91LAryspG_GzxwOy3WWBLkaTEQ0ls3OmdGeK5YaSsyTeA2cp6f-RyUjR8258TbhnW5JJHLuWvNX_wt80RmiEjMp0PTGJeV9l67lcqiGenJ_SrDkcEHRMK5gCtAOeppJIF22g-UAzxszTZ3TKuYUqs5h9HC7Csg2G6KC/s16000/PXL_20231021_172637647.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYby85pUvF8Zo-QGuRUe6BZVXm1asBCTP1n_tzZxosmBNKv_BvtWTckUy0qn5luFvU3l0Gpape5SJNUa9sL79DWgmcAfR1-Yhw6UYIAovuajU_nhpYc1WyczgYskog265NI9zBhRvJWvHAeR9XSHLSboxzFn5cfu0Kfo9YWjI89ROAMxgP76_OeAZOlYU/s3840/PXL_20231021_172819691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYby85pUvF8Zo-QGuRUe6BZVXm1asBCTP1n_tzZxosmBNKv_BvtWTckUy0qn5luFvU3l0Gpape5SJNUa9sL79DWgmcAfR1-Yhw6UYIAovuajU_nhpYc1WyczgYskog265NI9zBhRvJWvHAeR9XSHLSboxzFn5cfu0Kfo9YWjI89ROAMxgP76_OeAZOlYU/s16000/PXL_20231021_172819691.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 3</h2><div>With pins being cleared and troops rallying, action picks up again! Unfortunately it starts out badly for me - that armored flamethrower car rolls up and torches half of the SMG para team pushing forward on my right. They don't flee, but they're heavily pinned. Fortunately the sole survivor of the anti-tank team right in front of them manages to FUBAR and scamper off instead of putting shots into the unit! My L6 makes it pay, however, by pumping two light auto-cannon shots into it and rendering it Immobile. My opponent isn't completely collapsed on my right, however - out comes my opponent's (proxy) Universal Carrier, dropping a flamethrower team and an Officer team near by, sheltering in the wheat fields.</div><div><p>Meanwhile over in the center action has increased as the Soviets push in and I attempt to push back with rifle fire and that L5 tank - I made a poor decision <i>not</i> to advance the rifle paratroopers at this stage, I think. Meanwhile my opponent's mortars and AT/Arty are ranging in on my troops ever closer (though frustratingly for him just out of his reach).</p><p>By this point my sniper had realized discretion was the better part of valor and had scampered off into cover, firing ineffectively.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-93g19bl4WdIbkF41dm6w7kDDVfSZfQ4xbqZ-6TkxTapFg6NR2uocD1ENxUfRRJ5CCDYzGbRfqbWt-jrXqUA0dMV1o2n8O9b6pHsX56rBUIcZQFvsOqhzq4594g0OzZAVUUf8qDifGmdaBmYvKMKsx3k-MoynUpJc-EzxoOXXnm3FDciK7pxIBUUQnVAi/s3840/PXL_20231021_173505708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-93g19bl4WdIbkF41dm6w7kDDVfSZfQ4xbqZ-6TkxTapFg6NR2uocD1ENxUfRRJ5CCDYzGbRfqbWt-jrXqUA0dMV1o2n8O9b6pHsX56rBUIcZQFvsOqhzq4594g0OzZAVUUf8qDifGmdaBmYvKMKsx3k-MoynUpJc-EzxoOXXnm3FDciK7pxIBUUQnVAi/s16000/PXL_20231021_173505708.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6f_6EA63TlsosZ8qO0ffrfP-iJ9Oz1zXDU6OaB8eI7X5Yc7vva7_fNOnrqSBVndeAIYnG-HkrJBEsmkVsnKQlIyyhPn1xszPr_302eutu3Qg02sXU0kyG3q3EyWVN5LKwqUAyrdPa9IQIUGLgDAk_yKBuOoTpYXyJZi2QasNotxoTxWP43W33bZJxg5O/s3840/PXL_20231021_180444638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6f_6EA63TlsosZ8qO0ffrfP-iJ9Oz1zXDU6OaB8eI7X5Yc7vva7_fNOnrqSBVndeAIYnG-HkrJBEsmkVsnKQlIyyhPn1xszPr_302eutu3Qg02sXU0kyG3q3EyWVN5LKwqUAyrdPa9IQIUGLgDAk_yKBuOoTpYXyJZi2QasNotxoTxWP43W33bZJxg5O/s16000/PXL_20231021_180444638.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpK5M-783iaV08v2NV3Uumii4Q-h7yGqSCEchelrbN8iWVntecH0q-VJhZpHVOUg4RHiLsA9LIaDFcEgfpvwyzXc5boOi4T0bsiTgETDKdLLcO3jnAYYix5QzwdE637aD9iByv7-K8bsMT6Y4B5eBaUvo4JDG94x66J1wK7DmAZ_4Fxd2R-FPLUuXW2y3q/s3840/PXL_20231021_180506164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpK5M-783iaV08v2NV3Uumii4Q-h7yGqSCEchelrbN8iWVntecH0q-VJhZpHVOUg4RHiLsA9LIaDFcEgfpvwyzXc5boOi4T0bsiTgETDKdLLcO3jnAYYix5QzwdE637aD9iByv7-K8bsMT6Y4B5eBaUvo4JDG94x66J1wK7DmAZ_4Fxd2R-FPLUuXW2y3q/s16000/PXL_20231021_180506164.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9nxxIMHZcpPus87u6Tw12MV0kgw7RwFnLAKb5c_hZnkfZvVaxMBndcIJLlQAmh8lNZsegedUPKyTIoG8-7g_Bob-RaPtkfANBhpoDoqqVmDGB38lgiWLKuJGcQjmcJQ3fSdQzr58-Ri8YpPBw19xpNhruHQNFBDEzYL_lW9w3rOTU_XdJs2niL8aiUyG/s3840/PXL_20231021_180555804.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9nxxIMHZcpPus87u6Tw12MV0kgw7RwFnLAKb5c_hZnkfZvVaxMBndcIJLlQAmh8lNZsegedUPKyTIoG8-7g_Bob-RaPtkfANBhpoDoqqVmDGB38lgiWLKuJGcQjmcJQ3fSdQzr58-Ri8YpPBw19xpNhruHQNFBDEzYL_lW9w3rOTU_XdJs2niL8aiUyG/s16000/PXL_20231021_180555804.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERd2X71VVlfzRsqgQxBanvI2MM84NuIumZYV871kr_OqTHEfdbrGigTeULRqi-khssPMpVyz2y9_TOj6t7eMHbTKMPS7sS_yFLrz5xfxvHtb9UHUBRjPcYR-1kq75kGRa4tMx6CCkeu6UfQju-_MB6OEZSmhk_UydBJu-Zt4AIbPPwoHlg-RtSXcKn54X/s3840/PXL_20231021_180602321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERd2X71VVlfzRsqgQxBanvI2MM84NuIumZYV871kr_OqTHEfdbrGigTeULRqi-khssPMpVyz2y9_TOj6t7eMHbTKMPS7sS_yFLrz5xfxvHtb9UHUBRjPcYR-1kq75kGRa4tMx6CCkeu6UfQju-_MB6OEZSmhk_UydBJu-Zt4AIbPPwoHlg-RtSXcKn54X/s16000/PXL_20231021_180602321.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nAiFITvKSkQ0T5Ott4O6tmwvNuP0ZTPN4m6zhvVjfRNgKfucoMjKtqmNl01F2Q2qMRVTnLIAlSETtp-76eBwZWflfRDHggC_S9uSBOY-y8C2gegz_JM5hJrzylQNBhulhqucIoIKLaKSx3tpmN527u0jXiINXZyFulS0Te5cC821Y0_JqEOEelf-RlXj/s3840/PXL_20231021_180607674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nAiFITvKSkQ0T5Ott4O6tmwvNuP0ZTPN4m6zhvVjfRNgKfucoMjKtqmNl01F2Q2qMRVTnLIAlSETtp-76eBwZWflfRDHggC_S9uSBOY-y8C2gegz_JM5hJrzylQNBhulhqucIoIKLaKSx3tpmN527u0jXiINXZyFulS0Te5cC821Y0_JqEOEelf-RlXj/s16000/PXL_20231021_180607674.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Turn 4</h2></div><div><p>A critical point has been reached - my forces are holding but beginning to dwindle! Fortunately my turn starts on a good note - my opponent's immobilized armored car fails to torch my L6 and runs out of fuel, leaving it an unarmed obstacle. Said L6 then surges forward and puts some fire on my opponents flamethrower team, forcing it Down (smart money would have been to use the autocannon to splash both units but oh well). Unfortunately that nearby LT team runs up and drops the NCO of my gutted Para-SMG team...but shortly after my mortar and light howitzer finally hone in on the infantry squad holding down the crossroads, dishing out casualties and pins in plenty! I finally advance my rifle infantry into the woods while my rifle squad and L5 hammer the troops ahead, intensifying the pressure on the crossroads in setup for what will eventually be a mad dash to hold the center objective and perhaps eeke out a win by Turn 6.</p><p>ALAS, it was not to be - I was called away right at the close of Turn 4, and we had to call it quits there, Bummer!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGnr-IiF7IbOOg0jqhnozsWaOwHsdzU7CyZXi8dVQpBgEnFrGKt0C0nLwQYTbyQCnoB13QkOHv2E5d3BNpeaqiEWjnzzCvARdJFwaOXei2LFZa3nB0mGa9CtMt6Yl8BEf2RynDy-0L_qC1OgNsl-oBQd0ZLokQaVPN8Sy39Rr36BzAJjrKgrqgjJrFK1Y/s3840/PXL_20231021_183947761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGnr-IiF7IbOOg0jqhnozsWaOwHsdzU7CyZXi8dVQpBgEnFrGKt0C0nLwQYTbyQCnoB13QkOHv2E5d3BNpeaqiEWjnzzCvARdJFwaOXei2LFZa3nB0mGa9CtMt6Yl8BEf2RynDy-0L_qC1OgNsl-oBQd0ZLokQaVPN8Sy39Rr36BzAJjrKgrqgjJrFK1Y/s16000/PXL_20231021_183947761.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgx4yMR9vv60jJiYI3MUN6XQhY2l1uIIej8z2fYtmjbwg5D1nrerR9hi63RzxfmTxlOnlsaz1H94AVvDFg0geQx-TYlBhWwhnrbRaXe9tb14ZNKvEaIUFlYrubHRREUEnkRa8g2UGU397s6IgVrddpGyWgaNh2vfazDObSdQcUG47L3C5IJvJxgZMy5dd/s3840/PXL_20231021_183953587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgx4yMR9vv60jJiYI3MUN6XQhY2l1uIIej8z2fYtmjbwg5D1nrerR9hi63RzxfmTxlOnlsaz1H94AVvDFg0geQx-TYlBhWwhnrbRaXe9tb14ZNKvEaIUFlYrubHRREUEnkRa8g2UGU397s6IgVrddpGyWgaNh2vfazDObSdQcUG47L3C5IJvJxgZMy5dd/s16000/PXL_20231021_183953587.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClDaelTsd5n8lKTa0YdoRznnlWwZBWAgBiWCtxmfy9gzMzW0TT2DIyHut7SSFphs-A9yzQm8jrzVuy9-9SIWhR2Qyd0TQnW-NNhDaMN7NaeKe_RDEwgA9CFeTAjPYTAgY9RZdT13vDbA78lRS-I5RU5zz5O9iPEVN4ea3OTqrVNYRcT3VVcWCjNZF22N0/s3840/PXL_20231021_183958663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClDaelTsd5n8lKTa0YdoRznnlWwZBWAgBiWCtxmfy9gzMzW0TT2DIyHut7SSFphs-A9yzQm8jrzVuy9-9SIWhR2Qyd0TQnW-NNhDaMN7NaeKe_RDEwgA9CFeTAjPYTAgY9RZdT13vDbA78lRS-I5RU5zz5O9iPEVN4ea3OTqrVNYRcT3VVcWCjNZF22N0/s16000/PXL_20231021_183958663.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Scoring</h2></div><div>4-2 Soviets! He held his rear two objectives (though one just barely) and the center while I held only my rear two. Interestingly, neither of us successfully killed any enemy units by the end of Turn 4 - we were both down one die, but that was entirely due to the artillery he called in off-board. As the scenario only awards one point per <i>three</i> dice, neither of us got any points there.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiw4v1mq4QcyYW9yI_1ls3rXEWLej-2AAQJ8dZtTQCDMejHr0a8iJjNRJ6mwxYTnL9TQAyW52_GOeIL4FbPxoGe2GH5wGCZmcDncH4Pq45wVp7GeHyaTdwEWasNIm4P-WPHD-papA3VSreh8PoFkQs4M4y95hOPBWq9MPsOL5eX5qJRAVi72u_BWeQAvJg/s3840/PXL_20231021_184048114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiw4v1mq4QcyYW9yI_1ls3rXEWLej-2AAQJ8dZtTQCDMejHr0a8iJjNRJ6mwxYTnL9TQAyW52_GOeIL4FbPxoGe2GH5wGCZmcDncH4Pq45wVp7GeHyaTdwEWasNIm4P-WPHD-papA3VSreh8PoFkQs4M4y95hOPBWq9MPsOL5eX5qJRAVi72u_BWeQAvJg/s16000/PXL_20231021_184048114.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismhBjdo1alTSyYX7QIMq_UBW3cavDVLN48_Solz6YMK9pHOee4h9Ni1RLP2mF01sz2hyphenhyphenoS-DLmFuqeW4zad3o4KIngqIxEXYkpJC4NLJJd2ezZq8kY6uPDsiro9oqMjPnWqtFVwkSXR_zM2KLunQc118UXdS4SYrAQ15iqD-gfoCJ_1UNb5X8qp5gcwfZ/s3840/PXL_20231021_184052379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismhBjdo1alTSyYX7QIMq_UBW3cavDVLN48_Solz6YMK9pHOee4h9Ni1RLP2mF01sz2hyphenhyphenoS-DLmFuqeW4zad3o4KIngqIxEXYkpJC4NLJJd2ezZq8kY6uPDsiro9oqMjPnWqtFVwkSXR_zM2KLunQc118UXdS4SYrAQ15iqD-gfoCJ_1UNb5X8qp5gcwfZ/s16000/PXL_20231021_184052379.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W4sptIdQVECNHmknnnaCUXMlovpla2X-ur_0rHz8WV1NzQ1_oQMIwk522NnLvH8kIY78H7ipsDUt9DZ3H8mcOEC-b0i1t25Al6uhYpz2bblAwsi4OKLjrfYRFJhgAooxlF6FY0n4L1_Xkibs-0ZMKpQJi9wDtf5TxgMf3ClkhoaeLpeY4Q-2swsedwMJ/s3840/PXL_20231021_184056973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W4sptIdQVECNHmknnnaCUXMlovpla2X-ur_0rHz8WV1NzQ1_oQMIwk522NnLvH8kIY78H7ipsDUt9DZ3H8mcOEC-b0i1t25Al6uhYpz2bblAwsi4OKLjrfYRFJhgAooxlF6FY0n4L1_Xkibs-0ZMKpQJi9wDtf5TxgMf3ClkhoaeLpeY4Q-2swsedwMJ/s16000/PXL_20231021_184056973.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAOKktT4EN9h78XlV_qL7nWbUHbUMiJ8lNK44b87RMtcSfCNguTYgCSSMrICOlEgG1lxGVaiu2-s_HpVLNGE_rGsaJhZSaAU1sTmzyTHtMuckhCnZvcBxPheJ74pJgLPNqJpdt7Y7ViGEXDdKIXGligbrLKWxvmLCzZqbGWust21g38Op4fxdHXQT6c0U/s3840/PXL_20231021_184059330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAOKktT4EN9h78XlV_qL7nWbUHbUMiJ8lNK44b87RMtcSfCNguTYgCSSMrICOlEgG1lxGVaiu2-s_HpVLNGE_rGsaJhZSaAU1sTmzyTHtMuckhCnZvcBxPheJ74pJgLPNqJpdt7Y7ViGEXDdKIXGligbrLKWxvmLCzZqbGWust21g38Op4fxdHXQT6c0U/s16000/PXL_20231021_184059330.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Retrospectives</h3><p>In spite of the truncation, the game was quite enjoyable. I think this was going to be a firm Soviet victory regardless, as even if I'd cleared out the intersection successfully I think he had the reserves to take it back - and I'm skeptical as to how well I could have held my right home objective in later turns against the forces he had there. My center-home objective was definitely secure, though - the light forces he had over on my left were never going to be able to hold up to my rifles and the L5. Honestly I felt the game was decided when that artillery hit - not only did I lose a lot of initiative but I'd lost the LT that was supposed to be the driving force behind my advance.</p><p>I think this list did OK. I am definitely liking to lean into more Veteran troops, as seen in these last two games. I'll continue to try various setups of course, try new things and all, but I think I'm going to hone in on a solid 1k "Vet List" for generic pickup games and ordinary tournaments in the future. I might run this list again in a future game just to give it another shot, though I'm tempted to drop that sniper in favor of a flamethrower or something (which, naturally, means that next game will have beautiful open fields). Those tanks will probably not show up very often, at least not the L6, but we'll see as time goes on - a 50-60 point dual MMG is great, especially when I'm leaning into a lot of expensive infantry.</p><p>I rather liked my opponent's list - he typically runs tough assault style forces but rarely anything that forward deploys - having to set up with those in mind was difficult, and I seem to have done a decent job even if I left one of my tanks as bait. Thank goodness for Recce!</p><p>The board itself I rather liked - I had been wanting to toy with denser setups for a while now, and this was my first foray into it. The other two players that were there liked the way I had set up the copse of trees, which is great as I fully intend to continue on with doing those - short-term goal being to be able to cover roughly half a board with them. More on that in some later post I guess. The roads - 3D prints cast off to me by another local player - were also well received though I think they came out too bright. I rather like how the board tied into the mission too - this was completely unintentional, as we didn't have a clue what we'd be playing until both boards were set up and we'd already selected the one. We also just said the first mission in the new pack without even knowing what it was about per se - and the table sort of naturally leant itself to the mission with the crossroad and all.</p><p>Speaking of the mission, I liked it and would play it again sometime - Objective missions are fun, and I like that kill points mattered but were buffered in a way as to not be straight dice. That quarters-based deployment was rough when the artillery strike came in, though!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><p>Another game under the belt! Behind the scenes I've been continuing to work on terrain, efforts of which are already making it to the table now. On the current stretch are some buildings - factories and a house - and some ruins that I hope to have done up completely by the end of November - hopefully sooner. A few small projects are scattered in there as well, like some of my own "door mat wheat fields". After that I'll probably switch to doing miniatures again in some form before breaking out the second chunk of terrain I've inherited. Ultimate goal with all this is to be able to field at least one solidly filled table, with extras, with a vague "Europe" theme to it. More on that in the future!</p></div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-85728296541514283092023-10-18T00:01:00.011-04:002023-10-18T15:15:53.715-04:00Operation Cobra Event Recap Part II: Force Distribution and Outcomes<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqmB_dz9OSGjE-i1yWxHriYt4Zr0t4hqm6fJeeqYlqX1tSFJ_8ytHsYfeyiem-JxRbp8HiiYfyH_2zLDVHlcPSEUd5--Q-ptGB6LTsg_KftmsTHJUh5a2utXyMwKrEqv6I9HYNJw3uzj2a52j7P7i3vFGmdXyOtFKQuTBq88g4XZ5o_uB1YYrzGg5pGwbT" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqmB_dz9OSGjE-i1yWxHriYt4Zr0t4hqm6fJeeqYlqX1tSFJ_8ytHsYfeyiem-JxRbp8HiiYfyH_2zLDVHlcPSEUd5--Q-ptGB6LTsg_KftmsTHJUh5a2utXyMwKrEqv6I9HYNJw3uzj2a52j7P7i3vFGmdXyOtFKQuTBq88g4XZ5o_uB1YYrzGg5pGwbT=s16000" /></a></div><br /></div>Back in September I attended the rather engaging "Operation Cobra", an experience <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/10/bolt-action-event-recap-operation-cobra.html" target="_blank">I recapped in this post here</a>. I didn't walk away from that one with any metrics other than having done pretty bad, but recently I was able to get some of the metrics from the Tournament Organizer and I thought I'd give Cobra the same post-hoc analysis as I gave <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/04/operation-pugilist-event-recap-part-ii.html" target="_blank">Operation Pugilist</a> from back in March. Much like Pugilist the event was very go-go-go so I had only a vague grasp on what was going out outside of my particular games and from a bit of after-event follow-up with a few players I came up with.<h1 style="text-align: left;">Dati, metriche e così via...</h1><div>No names required, but here t'is:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8tmHhZGqyt0En48rHw6pTH-d9nC1jKmSl7fWPo38arwNMYKFTS4FTX3cHOJK9aChWdbEydmSrFmM-gS6S4-UkJBjTf_lX-rV_zY5DLojldRltVxWh_yp80smr7Hm7Tus_tSR4yeAN10V4VcOAh2g3X1HAZXXwzS_HOLVkl3_Gqz5wP8C-4LU5D1ZrXhB/s840/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="774" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8tmHhZGqyt0En48rHw6pTH-d9nC1jKmSl7fWPo38arwNMYKFTS4FTX3cHOJK9aChWdbEydmSrFmM-gS6S4-UkJBjTf_lX-rV_zY5DLojldRltVxWh_yp80smr7Hm7Tus_tSR4yeAN10V4VcOAh2g3X1HAZXXwzS_HOLVkl3_Gqz5wP8C-4LU5D1ZrXhB/s16000/1.png" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Keep in mind that the "free" die, if opted for, is included in this, so it skews a little higher than what was paid for in the list. If you skipped the event post or the pre-event post, the idea is that anyone taking an AV9+ tank can get a second one of equal or lesser value (but still AV9+) for free.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's also a nice and even split between Allies and Axis, where in my Italians were considered to be Allied. Speaking of which, here's the force distribution:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByE9SYrC4jaocg3L_fpl2j2P-OXqtoLwujmJm58Tdz4sEL59TCKNEOkBp9nRgWTIq9GbUZ5NKgqpQIZEdj-25P75nD4fj2uTQJI2z9O4_Fg0RQdXknRoTr1D_fh6CcI_PytiUSh0j-myXOvzCuDwybk65bTURtenrPmKQDMZ9o7J1T9Dg818lJ6GQMQ7r/s925/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="925" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByE9SYrC4jaocg3L_fpl2j2P-OXqtoLwujmJm58Tdz4sEL59TCKNEOkBp9nRgWTIq9GbUZ5NKgqpQIZEdj-25P75nD4fj2uTQJI2z9O4_Fg0RQdXknRoTr1D_fh6CcI_PytiUSh0j-myXOvzCuDwybk65bTURtenrPmKQDMZ9o7J1T9Dg818lJ6GQMQ7r/s16000/2.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Amateur Analysis</h2><div>Germany unsurprisingly takes top spot in quantity of Axis and any one faction - the event makes taking big tanks easier and Germany's famous for having big tanks! This was followed by the US for probably much the same reasons - Shermans mostly, I'd imagine. A scattering of other factions are in there, with shockingly few British and Soviets overall - they don't lack for tanks, and definitely have some great infantry choices, too - wonder what happened there? There were four "Minor Faction" players, including yours truly, and one even placed top 3!</div><div><br /></div><div>Order dice average was higher in Cobra than Pugilist, as anyone who wanted one could get a free tank and thus a free order die. Even discounting the tank it is ~12.3125, versus the 11.8675 of Pugilist. Not a huge change but skewing <i>slightly</i> higher. I do see a slightly larger range than previous as well - the peak in Pugilist was 15, and this time around we're at 16 without the free tank. Bottom was 8 last time, which is also what we see sans tank here.</div><div><br /></div><div>Regardless, not a massive shift in any respect - we see that our meta matches the general US style, that of lower order dice.</div><div><br /></div><div>Scoring appears simpler than last time - we're just given Win / Loss / Draw and I'd assume any tie breakers revolved around % order dice retained, which was something we tracked.</div><div><br /></div><div>Circling back around the the lack of Soviets and British, we do see that two of the top three were those factions regardless, and indeed the #1 spot even belongs to the Soviet player that features in so many of my AARs. The bottom ranking player, the Finn, is also a local. As for 2nd and 3rd place, I was unfortunately unfamiliar with them - a British faction ranking high doesn't surprise me at all, but Romania is a new one! I wonder if the extra artillery helped - if he took it. Given that he has an implied 10 dice of units he paid for, I'm curious to see what he list looked like!</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of, unlike with Pugilist, I might actually be able to do list analysis as the TO still has access to them and should be sending them may way soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>I placed pretty low there - doing better than only one other player and tying with another. Far cry from the "finish in the top half" goal I had for myself! No matter, fun was had regardless, and I'd do this again in a heartbeat (even with Italy, though I might try something different for variety).</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><div>Well that's that for Cobra's placing and outcome analysis. If we're blessed with the lists I will put together as much sense as I can out of it and put something together in reflection. Personally I'm curious to see what the average tank AV selected was - my guess is around 10. At a minimum I'll try and shoot for a review of the Top 3, maybe a few honorable mentions - we'll see what I can wring out when the time comes.</div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-5372149319626188632023-10-16T00:01:00.006-04:002023-10-16T13:34:22.672-04:00A Fine Grind: Italy in Case Blue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaxA6RRgXQzJoVGNOuJPz1Ki0stISXRhJoEQTzBZtWPsx_J9nD8xrnj-oKCXV7ZCAVS29U1XVqo-7I663qjIxlJ1V6ufIi0GgXYP3YLjEh8mwpLPTRUoU_nNWvgSSJOjewSpg1UaJ9x4wawd8qqNNMRo6s0IFz0dTwRyz9xUu2F1Pb44mOOn9_erRNrKc/s2318/banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="2318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaxA6RRgXQzJoVGNOuJPz1Ki0stISXRhJoEQTzBZtWPsx_J9nD8xrnj-oKCXV7ZCAVS29U1XVqo-7I663qjIxlJ1V6ufIi0GgXYP3YLjEh8mwpLPTRUoU_nNWvgSSJOjewSpg1UaJ9x4wawd8qqNNMRo6s0IFz0dTwRyz9xUu2F1Pb44mOOn9_erRNrKc/s16000/banner.png" /></a></div><p>Bolt Action's "Case Blue" has fallen into my grasp, and with it a number of new Italian things for me to opine loudly on!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">A Case of the Blues</h1><p>"Case Blue" is Bolt Action's latest campaign book, which takes a look at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_Blue" target="_blank">the Axis 1942 summer offensive in Soviet territory</a>. This operation had the overall goal of attacking strategic Eastern European oil fields so that the Axis could have access to them for their war effort and to deprive the Soviets the oil for their own - allegedly this would have collapsed the whole Soviet war machine, but as the Axis basically lost this one we'll never really know how that would play out in real life. This operation book covers various battles between late June and late November on the eastern front, putting it in parallel with (starting prior and terminating before) the infamous Battle of Stalingrad, covered in another campaign book.</p><p>Like all campaign books this introduces new units, theater selectors, scenarios, and special rules. Since the only army I currently play that is covered in this book is Italy, this post is going to be dedicated entirely to Italian matters as they pertain to Case Blue - <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/08/more-dough-for-pasta-mill-italian-units-tough-gut.html" target="_blank">much as I had done with the previous campaign book "Tough Gut"</a>. </p><p>This will focus on units and special rules - things with more general use cases in the sort of games I actually play with any regularity. Scenarios and Selectors are far more specific, and would have to be covered case by case.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Italy in Case Blue</h2><p>Italy actually gets a fair bit of stuff in Case Blue, with a surprising expansion in overall capability between the units and the soft-replacement for our army special rules - the latter of which being where we will start.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Italian Army Special Rules in Case Blue</h3><p>Typically the campaign books that Warlord puts out offer Army Special Rules that are only intended to be used with the selectors included in the same book. Since campaigns hone in on specific formations and operations, it makes sense to tailor rules a bit closer than the broad-strokes generic ones the core army books present.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKBJHbfA0oo-6oXWcyNlZ6nqqTJ0nenS28cF35ipjqQbvd2kgnAmUAevSagvPDaNjsgThLCEdVZHogD-_DsUFyByx_-xpLZbVU-ET9LY3-tMCXj9LGj-BqGLoXmz5HdKA0evJ31SiZGFdLUqMTZM33DGQrEtH_A9mivSDi1zxAxZ9B9hV1Tsg4y0N3pL5/s793/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="484" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKBJHbfA0oo-6oXWcyNlZ6nqqTJ0nenS28cF35ipjqQbvd2kgnAmUAevSagvPDaNjsgThLCEdVZHogD-_DsUFyByx_-xpLZbVU-ET9LY3-tMCXj9LGj-BqGLoXmz5HdKA0evJ31SiZGFdLUqMTZM33DGQrEtH_A9mivSDi1zxAxZ9B9hV1Tsg4y0N3pL5/s320/4.JPG" width="195" /></a></div>Case Blue's p. 130 puts up replacement rules for all factions in "Italy and the Axis", and provides three new ones for Italy that can be used with the scenarios and selectors in the book or to replace the two special rules we have in our core book <u>with the permission of the opponent or tournament organizer</u>. Thus they're not really drop-in replacements, but I thought I'd opine anyway.<p></p><p><i>"Improvised AT"</i> - this one lets Italians re-roll penetration check with any AT grenades or with AT weapons with PEN +1 or PEN +2 (HMGs and Autocannons basically). That is to say, if you hit with one of these weapons but fail to penetrate, you can re-roll that penetration chance to see if it gets through. I would assume the second result stands but it actually is not explicit. </p><p>Overall this one is nice as it makes our lower-end AT options a little more useful. I don't think I'd normally buy AT grenades even with this rule (and our +1 PEN weapon options are very rare) but I <i>do</i> tend to run autocannons in my armored car slot so it buffs that a bit. I wouldn't go replacing my usual M14/41 or M15/42 tank with an AA gun truck, but I <i>might</i> be slightly more inclined to maybe try running an AA unit in my artillery slot with this rule in place.</p><p><i>"Large Squads"</i> - If any Italian squad has 14 or more guys in it, they actually produce D2 pins when they hit a target instead of a flat 1 pin. If you drop to 13 men or below, you lose this ability.</p><p>Not horrible but I wouldn't consider this very useful. The book does go on to offer up squads that do go higher than 13 men (core book and basically all campaigns only goes up to about 11 in any given squad) so this rule does have a place in that context. Unfortunately, big squads like that are generally poor utilization of points because these large units become difficult to keep in cover and represent a large amount of your force budget that will get locked down once the pins start to rack up. It's why I basically don't run anything more than about 7 guys per team, maybe 9 at the most in certain niche situations. I'm not opposed to the idea of a given rifle squad putting out more than one pin, though, and frankly I'm one for thinking that LMGs should be dispensing their own independent of the squad anyway. More on that some other time maybe.</p><p><i>"Credere, Obbedire, Combattere"</i> - this is "Belive, Obey, Fight", one of Mousolini's creedos. This is actually three sub-rules, having effects on specific types of units in certain configurations. <i>Credere</i> makes Blackshirt squads and Regular-grade HQ units "Fantatics" as a special rule. <i>Obbedire</i> gives Alpini the "Stubborn" special rule, and gives Veteran HQ modeled as Alpini both "Stubborn" and "Mountaineers", which Alpini have by default. <i>Combattere</i> give Bersaglieri and Veteran HQ modeled as such the "Fire and Maneuver" rule, like the Americans have. Only one can be in effect in a given list, however.</p><p>This is clearly the best overall rule(s) offered in this book (to me, anyway). It's similar to the British variable special rule in a way, and helps you tailor your specific platoon a little more to the theme you have in play. </p><p>Credere - Giving HQ units "Fanatics" is...basically useless...but the book does offer some interesting Blackshirt units that we'll discuss later on and they would definitely make great use of the rule when given for free.</p><p>Obbedire - "Stubborn" is nice to have, and is actually useful on HQ units that you plan to stick in harm's way. Putting it on Alpini gives you units that can handle rough terrain and are Stubborn at the same time, which is nice if you have very dense boards in your games. I'm not sure this would entice me to run Alpini units over, say, Late War Paratroopers otherwise, though.</p><p>Combattere - Giving Bersaglieri "Fire and Maneuver" is great, and this would actually stack pretty well with the "Avanti Avanti" rules you get from the CIL Bersaglieri in "Tough Gut" - if you were in some way allowed to stack the two. Indeed, the 300-odd readers of my "Tough Gut" unit analysis may recall that I believed the "Fire and Maneuver" rule to have been quite apt for Bersaglier and I was disappointed to see they did not get it as a core option. This somewhat addresses the issue, and would make running even the Army book's basic Bersaglieri more appealing if I was allowed to leverage this rule sometime.</p><p>On the whole, there's some interesting if often quite niche stuff here, but with it only being optionally a part of the army in a given game (as theoretically the opponent or TO can just say no), I wouldn't really rate them particularly high.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Italian Units in Case Blue</h3><p>Case Blue has a fair bit to offer up for Italy, though a lot of it is essentially revisions of units we've already seen many times. Let's delve into them one by one.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><u>Infantry Slot Units</u></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;">Fuicilieri Squad</h4><p>This is a permutation of the basic Rifle Squad, starting at 10 figures at 100 points for regular or 130 for Veteran - and it can be grown with up to an additional 10 men at the usual points cost. Options are typical - NCO SMG, up to two LMG teams, and anti-tank grenades. No special rules outside tank hunters if you take those grenades.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUzbFHAO8AbmMeYr7_9_EEcp_5_wXvgVG1TszFCztIb2fWfSy8HPjs6rOw72cQV93zlzMP9Aegqf2n4c0fIBKchyphenhyphenSUBmMf9uhvMa1ZEEDWmP0R9IUvzcO3lFLj1UkgLAzkS6sOp1GEd1iUr2sergHNK4qAuxKe-Yri8yre27VyB3F0esooWf9FslA4Kbt/s794/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="565" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUzbFHAO8AbmMeYr7_9_EEcp_5_wXvgVG1TszFCztIb2fWfSy8HPjs6rOw72cQV93zlzMP9Aegqf2n4c0fIBKchyphenhyphenSUBmMf9uhvMa1ZEEDWmP0R9IUvzcO3lFLj1UkgLAzkS6sOp1GEd1iUr2sergHNK4qAuxKe-Yri8yre27VyB3F0esooWf9FslA4Kbt/s320/3.JPG" width="228" /></a></div><p></p><p>It can be taken in a Generic platoon.</p><p>As I said above, this book leans into Italy fielding larger squads as a way to highlight their "Binary" unit configuration in which a given HQ typically only had two sub-units under it - be it a Platoon or Division of troops. It's interesting, and it lets you leverage that D2 pins rule if you're allowed to use it at all, but it's generally not all that useful in a typical game I'd imagine. Firstly, the base size of 10 men and 100 points is a lot to get locked up if pins start to mount, and it only gets worse as you go beyond that - doubly so when you consider these squads don't have anything special going for them. The dual LMG option would be interesting, but LMGs are generally considered more expensive than they're worth as is, and saddling it to a minimum of 100 points worth of manpower isn't helping. I will say, though, that the idea of a 20-man unit penetrating with a (statistical) +13 to its roll with anti-tank grenades is humorous to me. Doubly so with that penetration reroll rule above!</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Alpini Squad</h4><p>This is a Case Blue specific implementation of a squad we've seen in some prior books - Italy's mountain troops. This squad is veran only and starts out at 7 men for 98 points. It can be expanded by up to 8 more guys for 14 points per man. Options are the traditional NCO SMG, an LMG team, and anti-tank grenades. Their specialrules are Mountaineers and tank hunters if you take those grenades.</p><p>This is a more attractive option to me, as a 7-man Veteran squad is a pretty good size to run a unit at. Mountaineers - that which allows a unit to cross rough ground as if it was open - is quite handy especially if you plan to run very dense boards. Mind that "Mountaineers" as defined in the book on p. 166 says that the opponent has an out to say that terrain that doesn't make sense for them to have a bonus for (water features being the given example) simply don't apply. This is different from the "Mountain Warriors" ability we saw in Tough Gut, as the unit cannot do anything with Impassible terrain now, but it does have the ability to run at a full 12" if need be through rough ground (whereas a Mountain Warrior can only run 9" through it). The abilities cost the same, though I think I prefer this version of the unit (and I'd definitely prefer this over the basic one which was just a standard Veteran infantryman). Note that skis seen as a 1-point option on the original remain MIA, as they were in Tough Gut. I see myself picking some of these up eventually, I think, though it remains to be seen if the plastics will be integrated fully into my current "Europe" scheme or if it would be forked off into its own wintery-themed collection.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Monte Cervino Ski Squad</h4><p>Ah, so that's where the skis got off to. Lore-wise these are a unit spun out of the Alpini but given more training in snow-bound operations and small-unit raids. They start at 7 men and can be grown up by an additional 8 if desired (at 15 points each). Upgrades include the traditional NCO SMG, one other SMG - a rarity for Italy - an LMG team, and nati-tank grenades. Skis are apparently not an option on the ski troops. As for abilities, there's "Exceptional Training", which means the unit will always use their unmodified morale value for all morale-based tests (orders, morale, tank fear, etc), Mountaineers, and tank-hunters if you wasted the points for grenades.</p><p><i>ONE</i> unit of these, specifically, may be taken in a Generic platoon. I think this is the first time I've come across a unit limited specifically by name rather than slot.</p><p>Another interesting unit! They're spendy, but that Exceptional Training option has my attention. Technically these wouldn't get a boost from officers and Avanti Savoia, but since Veterans are Morale 10 and rolls of 11 and 12 are always failures it doesn't matter. This would probably be <i>the</i> place to try out larger-than-normal squads if desired, since 10 on 2d6 is pretty good odds to keep chugging through order checks (though they still take hit penalties if any pins remain).</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Bersaglieri Squad</h4><p>Another Case Blue reskin of a squad we've seen before, the famed Bersaglieri! These are Italy's advanced light infantry, a formation famous for their marksmanship, stamina, and grit under fire. Starting at 8 men, this Vet-only squad can be expanded by up to 8 more guys at 13 points per man. Their upgrades are sparse (and actually less than on previous iterations) in that they can have the typical NCO SMG, only one LMG team, anti-tank grenades, and motorcycles (at +5 points per man if you're unfamiliar). They don't really get any special rules unless you buy those motorcycles or grenades.</p><p>Unsurprisingly these can be taken in a generic reinforced platoon.</p><p>Not a terribly inspiring selection unfortunately. As I mentioned before, I had wished Bersaglieri to get the "Fire and Maneuver" rule natively, but this is just not to be...unless you are allowed to leverage that National Special Rule for it above. While I've had Bersaglieri troops in my backlog bin for...years...I can't say this entry inspires me to go and toss them up onto the bench in its own right.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECEXW7nT9LZRlzmyZzwSmj8kzJSR2JKStsw5CpoJF8hOSZ_YEw9roJvOPjKnN1-LpzqLHNBuVjdC8-HhHychqqqQ9Auy1kTlcIeOaUFcz9xG2NI8-rMG418qrDrjk_q_npXJrzR-2PGQVKnQE4TwEl6LzcejQN9RUd9jpRzodldF8QOcE-N4cJsNyBavw/s1072/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECEXW7nT9LZRlzmyZzwSmj8kzJSR2JKStsw5CpoJF8hOSZ_YEw9roJvOPjKnN1-LpzqLHNBuVjdC8-HhHychqqqQ9Auy1kTlcIeOaUFcz9xG2NI8-rMG418qrDrjk_q_npXJrzR-2PGQVKnQE4TwEl6LzcejQN9RUd9jpRzodldF8QOcE-N4cJsNyBavw/s320/1.JPG" width="201" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Blackshirt 'M' Battalion Squad</h4><p></p><p>This is a reformed version of the basic Blackshirts we see in some of the earlier war campaign books (and I suppose the army book itself for that matter). These formations were, from late 1941, apparently assembled out of the best the Blackshirts had to offer, given special equipment allotments, and attached to regular army formations as crack assault units. This apparently worked pretty well, and they were proven to be capable formations on the Eastern Front. As a unit, we're looking at 9 men, expandable by up to another 9 guys if desired. These can be done as Regular 11 points per man or Veteran for 14 points per man. Expansion options are limited - NCO SMG, up to two LMG teams, and anti-tank grenades. They are Tough Fighters by default, and tank hunters if you buy the grenades.</p><p>Generic reinforced is a go.</p><p>I've not taken - or even created - Blackshirts before as they were of questionable value in most of their prior iterations. In the basic army book they were Regular troops with the chance of gaining Shirkers or Fanatics, which wasn't terribly appealing, and no other iteration even comes directly to mind if I'm honest. This permutation might actually entice me to get some onto the board, though, as the ability to take a 9-man unit of Regular Tough Fighters for just under 100 points is attractive, especially as they can still skirmish at range when required (and the Veteran option is also viable to me). Possibly a good push unit. I've had my eye on using some third-party Italian riflemen as Blackshirts so they'd stick out a bit more, so I might have to take the plunge on those sooner rather than later. I am curious where the "tough fighters" angle comes from though - I've not actually so much as come across a formal bayonet system for Italy in WW2, let alone anything particularly advanced.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Savoia Cavalleria Squad</h4><p>Italy's had Cavalry options since the Army book, but I do believe this is the only time another has been added to their army specifically, and the first time a specific kind of cavalry has been called out. This is a 6-man cavalry squad with carbines that are Veteran only. It can be expanded by up to another 6 for 16 points per each. Upgrades are very sparse - the NCO can have an SMG (specifically a "captured Soviet machine gun"), and an LMG team can be formed. Other than being Cavalry and having Carbines, they have the "Carica!" ability, which interestingly lets them assault a target after winning another assault (for up to two total assaults per turn) - that is, if they win the first.</p><p>It is allowed in a Generic platoon.</p><p>Here's a unit that's had my attention since they were eluded to in a Warlord pre-release post a few months ago! A large group of veterans on horseback is pretty threatening, especially if a successful strike on their part potentially puts another unit in harm's way immediately. I think I'd model up a squad or two of these sometime when I figure out how I want to go about it! The assault-after-assault rule is unique to these guys, I think, which is a plus, and could definitely put an opponent's artillery park (or transport park) at severe risk.</p><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Croatian Legion</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXU3Q52eD433Eb7TlDKORL1toEYP5_OXGAscVxXH8RXHkHaqLmwcy_oJ96H6HolY0QHtZJhpHeu_vCyjaica0vwuGztEItImIuFXhpgpUUJGDcm7RUBU0eNuFUCbKRXkPr3kg513ry9Rm7kpTbsalkPl4a54R6HaPEF_plfqNjEvHCq79lGsXfb5HwG3A/s715/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="381" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXU3Q52eD433Eb7TlDKORL1toEYP5_OXGAscVxXH8RXHkHaqLmwcy_oJ96H6HolY0QHtZJhpHeu_vCyjaica0vwuGztEItImIuFXhpgpUUJGDcm7RUBU0eNuFUCbKRXkPr3kg513ry9Rm7kpTbsalkPl4a54R6HaPEF_plfqNjEvHCq79lGsXfb5HwG3A/s320/5.JPG" width="171" /></a></div><p></p><p>Apparently these guys were put together in '41 and put under the supervision of the Blackshirts. They were, according to this book, good fighters but got anhialated during a last stand during Operation Little Saturn. For game purposes we're looking at Veterans only, starting at 9 men and being expandable up to another 9 for 14 points each. Equipment choices are sparse - the standard NCO SMG, LMG team, and AT grenades. Special abilities are seen with Croatian Pride - a "Snap To" that requires an Order Test means they remove a flat 2 pins instead of one when they pass.</p><p>These are allowed in a Generic platoon.</p><p>Not the most enticing unit option - I don't use Snap very often, though removing two flat pins is nice and probably would see he use the ability more just to leverage such a thing when required...which would mean my officer would always have to stick with the Croatian squad(s). I'm not terribly sure if that's worth 1 full point, but Veteran troops are always nice. I'll have to read a little more into these guys - maybe they'd have interesting models?</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Cossak Squad</h4><p>This is not actually Italian <i>per se</i>, but rather a unit available to Italy, the Soviets, and Germany. Evidently Cossaks as a people splintered between the Axis invaders and the Soviets they theoretically belonged to - not terribly surprising as the Soviets didn't really treat Cossasks particularly well.</p><p>Unit starts out as a 5 man Regular infantry squad with rifles for 50 points. It has no options for experience, but can be expanded up to 5 more men with rifles. As for options, there's the traditional NCO SMG, an LMG team option, the widely seen anti-tank grenades, and as one would expect to see next to the word "Cossak", the option to mount them on horses for 3-points per man.</p><p>For special rules we have actually a fair bit going on. They have this "Born in the saddle" ability which lets them fire their rifles <i>as rifles</i> when mounted - contrast with the generic "carbine" we see on some mounted units that can only be fired as a "pistol" (i.e. 6" with Assault) when mounted, and as rifles only when the squad is on foot. They have "Cossak Spirit", which prohibits officer morale bonuses or the use of Snap To to get them to activate (and offers no bonuses in return). They are automatically Tough Fighters, and this does not appear to be linked to their being mounted or not (as many Cav units or units that can become Cav gain Tough Fighters on their own). They also gain Tank Hunters with anti-tank grenades and become Cavalry while mounted but that's typical of the equipment in question.</p><p>This is an interesting unit! On foot they're not especially unique other than being a source of Tough Fighters (for free, effectively), but mounted is a different story with the ability to Advance 9" and fire another 24" off with rifles - or Charge 18" to really make use of that Tough Fighters rule. For a while now I had planned to add Cavalry - something we have a few types of in the army book - to my Italian forces collection, but I kept putting it off because there was no native model support for it, nor had I found any 3rd party sources. There are third-party models for mounted Cossaks, though, which is how I'd use them every time - and I might just pick a unit or two of them up sometime in the future.</p><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Stragglers</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITuhT_fHyfFD8YOpo8SRi780KcV8DH4071Anv48ox_6S7moyzJGd-aVKwwJXsuStRp1HiJqGqmfh9sQ3xO4uybZlJcNF6p311eYmyj7zX2zFpN4Kh_WxLuZJ-JSPRnxRz7gA4i2y3JPi5bpQeaijmOhlNMsk7-eIbSJoU0azqhLTf4qh_OOvGeEQlJvDB/s458/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITuhT_fHyfFD8YOpo8SRi780KcV8DH4071Anv48ox_6S7moyzJGd-aVKwwJXsuStRp1HiJqGqmfh9sQ3xO4uybZlJcNF6p311eYmyj7zX2zFpN4Kh_WxLuZJ-JSPRnxRz7gA4i2y3JPi5bpQeaijmOhlNMsk7-eIbSJoU0azqhLTf4qh_OOvGeEQlJvDB/s320/6.JPG" width="221" /></a></div><p></p><p>Like the Cossak squad, this one is a generic unit. It represents, as the name implies, units that are caught behind the heels of the main body of troops they overwise belong to.</p><p>This unit starts out as a 5-man unit for either 30 points Inexperienced or 45 points Regular. They are armed with rifles. The unit can be expanded by another 5 men at either 3 points or 6 points, but they are Unarmed. Squad upgrades include giving rifles to Unarmed men for +3 each, or anti-tank grenades for +2 points each. Special abilities are seen in "Malnourished and Frostbitten", which gives the unit a PIN marker when they Run. There's also tank-hunters if you want to buy the bombs.</p><p>These are not explicitly allowed in a Generic Reinforced Platoon, though platoons that do use this unit can take <i>three</i> of them for <i>one</i> infantry slot.</p><p>This one is interesting for scenario play, though I can see how it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense in the sort of Generic platoon driven games I'm currently mainlining. The ability to take three of these in a single slot is actually pretty interesting, even with the whole Run = PIN thing they have to deal with. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><u>Artillery Slot Units</u></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;">75/32 Modello 37</h4><p>Thie one's interesting! Apparently this was Italy's attempt to move past their lackluster 47mm "Elefantino" without having to rely on the German 75mm AT guns they'd been able to get imported to some degree. Like a lot of Italian equipment designs, this gun appears to have actually been pretty good, just not produced remotely in enough numbers to matter. If you remember <a href="https://chainlinkandconcrete.blogspot.com/2023/09/in-preparazione-per-un-torneo.html" target="_blank">my post about one of my recent Semovente kitbashes</a>, this is actually a gun that was slid as-is into some Semovente 75/18s in an attempt to up-gun those before the 75/34 was fully formalized. Anyway, this is a medium AT gun with a gun shield - and a Fixed Team Weapon as one would expect. Most interestingly the gun is Versatile - allowing it to shoot as a light howitzer if desired. It costs 64 points Inexperienced, 80 points regular, and 96 points as Veteran for the gun and its 4-man crew.</p><p>Generic Reinforced Platoons can take this.</p><p>This is actually something I can see myself taking! My local meta has always tended to have a fair bit of armor floating around, and I have not always had the best experience with trying to smack tanks around with mortars and howitzers. AT guns are generally not great takes, but this one has the potential for a 2" blast when opportunity arises, on top of a pretty nice +5 PEN against armor if I need it. Just need to find a model source and make time to paint it...</p><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Voloire Horse Artillery</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gNV1AhF1o4W0VIL-Tl7Mx10n9eqL0g7nv1I2xOMYW4sx5myW9M2WKav0Y2X6h8_BR2is2TWPc8tZsV3Zy8ry3llUFykAPeDjoUOQe01Tgr7brcBsHBzRIQksNpV0qbcRO2Cr1u9uz5WrqRPNrzJnZQWDtqEMzp2BB7RKSG47f7o3FRHvEoYFNsLhLx2U/s1024/7.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1024" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gNV1AhF1o4W0VIL-Tl7Mx10n9eqL0g7nv1I2xOMYW4sx5myW9M2WKav0Y2X6h8_BR2is2TWPc8tZsV3Zy8ry3llUFykAPeDjoUOQe01Tgr7brcBsHBzRIQksNpV0qbcRO2Cr1u9uz5WrqRPNrzJnZQWDtqEMzp2BB7RKSG47f7o3FRHvEoYFNsLhLx2U/s320/7.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>This is a more specific horse gun team, manifesting as a light howitzer of fixed team-weapon fame with a gunshield. It is a 65-point Veteran only, but this device has the option to actually Run a full 12" instead of 6" - basically meaning this thing has a built-in tow for 5 points, but is not required to do anything with the Limber rules at all. Still only one order dice, though. Interestingly the composition is just "3" without any requirement to account for a horse or anything like that.</p><p>Generic Platoons can take this.</p><p>This is a pretty interesting unit, though I'm not sure how inclined I am to take it. There's value in being able to Run artillery since they can seize objectives (or whip about the flanks of things more readily), but a small 3-man unit is typically best kept away from the action. That said, Veterans with a Gun Shield are a tough nut to crack without a lot of firepower or FIRE power.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><p>That's enough chatter. Overall some more interesting options in this one than Tough Gut, and from the perspective of someone who really just plays Generic platoons in scenarios that are typically randomly decided just after tables are setup, there is some interesting choices I actually want to field from this one - that AT gun would probably be Priority 1 once I figure out a model for it.</p><p>I have not put a ton of time into wargame projects over the last few weeks, though I continue to plug away at terrain projects of varying - some are even even complete or nearly so, and may find themselves turning up in AARs sometime over the next few months. I will <i>probably</i> take an interlude from the current effort - various buildings for the most part - to finish up a tank and probably a squad of (British) infantry, however.</p>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2664399054634428658.post-36153464901641570682023-10-07T00:01:00.001-04:002023-10-07T00:01:00.130-04:00After Action Report: 5 October 2023 Bolt Action Engagement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJlv_rF0_kABh8qjzvhbIn9f4SFbitmCrQuLJCiNZOR5BwUhWn8h6n8GcU8-2ztL9xfT8v_8mCFZVNji5rrGumsLw6VqjHZkRRNg-0aV5QzdqGB84GgBBx420q-sad61zkr5x52iBzwXHmwUgbUzcuYs26-FZ4zZ3fVE5oZ2ul9ReewFRZ3zb0AXDxbgI/s3840/PXL_20231005_213522796.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1788" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJlv_rF0_kABh8qjzvhbIn9f4SFbitmCrQuLJCiNZOR5BwUhWn8h6n8GcU8-2ztL9xfT8v_8mCFZVNji5rrGumsLw6VqjHZkRRNg-0aV5QzdqGB84GgBBx420q-sad61zkr5x52iBzwXHmwUgbUzcuYs26-FZ4zZ3fVE5oZ2ul9ReewFRZ3zb0AXDxbgI/s16000/PXL_20231005_213522796.MP.jpg" /></a></div><p>On 5 October 2023 I played a game of Bolt Action against the local Finnish player.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">A New Approach</h1><p>Inspired by some of my experiences with <a href="after-action-report-5-october-2023-bolt" target="_blank">Operation Cobra</a>, I wanted to try a somewhat different approach to my Italian list building and used this game as an opportunity. In this list, I decided to focus heavily on Veterancy, taking vet troops whenever practical within the 1,000 point budget while not dropping too low in overall order dice. As this is an experimental list and I'm trying to head off cluttering my EasyArmy page, I will summarize: </p><p></p><blockquote>2-man Reg 2LT, 2x Rifle-paras with Panzerfausts, 2x SMG Paras, 1x Vet Guastatori with two flamethrowers, Vet Flamethrower team, Inex Medium Mortar, Reg Light Howitzer (no spotter), M15/42 Tank, Fiat 508 Car. That's 11 order dice and exactly 1,000 points.</blockquote><p></p><p>I'll be tweaking from here, trying to settle in on a list where the vets take up most of it.</p><p>My opponent brought a list I wasn't directly familiar with, proxying several vehicles he hasn't yet come to own - the larger tank proxies a T-28 light tank, the smaller without a turret proxies a Komsolet transport, and the armored car without a turret represents one with an LMG (can't remember the type).</p><p>Terrain was supplied by our local Soviet champion.</p><p>My opponent and I decided on a classic game of No Man's Land, sans the pre-bombardment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63V5UjSXHPJNtXIWuBUpXFjZZA-OizptwfqdLmft2gEcmN3pJRleMDNCZpM6vn8TKEk4lkbRbkN6uUn-FXl5DTSBVKkQto-X-iXKlcc24198cJ9UaF05pxUohCYKh0JpI0z2rvPzhOX5xqB0bl3FYoPscbl4P2TQdApcbXesxKQ0tA98sFPr94ZtYhlIU/s3840/PXL_20231005_215919639.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63V5UjSXHPJNtXIWuBUpXFjZZA-OizptwfqdLmft2gEcmN3pJRleMDNCZpM6vn8TKEk4lkbRbkN6uUn-FXl5DTSBVKkQto-X-iXKlcc24198cJ9UaF05pxUohCYKh0JpI0z2rvPzhOX5xqB0bl3FYoPscbl4P2TQdApcbXesxKQ0tA98sFPr94ZtYhlIU/s16000/PXL_20231005_215919639.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8vTnGz1q3f-b0uIj7JPD7lPJyxQVGhsriFB7HlbhKrcgOw8oMn2daLgnoqsgDcBcKCl7VIuclxIL1CgBC135wQyPlN1N6-D3Vhu8JM_dWdZ4-RDf3Nw6FDWdVPFvmeRaMr92j_3szxOg5JFQd-lgSmmz0lZL9JouH6GksW4_SzU28fqDwMILNPF2UwK5/s3840/PXL_20231005_222246137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8vTnGz1q3f-b0uIj7JPD7lPJyxQVGhsriFB7HlbhKrcgOw8oMn2daLgnoqsgDcBcKCl7VIuclxIL1CgBC135wQyPlN1N6-D3Vhu8JM_dWdZ4-RDf3Nw6FDWdVPFvmeRaMr92j_3szxOg5JFQd-lgSmmz0lZL9JouH6GksW4_SzU28fqDwMILNPF2UwK5/s16000/PXL_20231005_222246137.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC-8n8tXFSTvHRYExva8mh1hHCxEipyORMrmMXrQjrSgyt2mKGckiqVgyqpr3w3D7lVlrscj0CdTWEKvz3MXb7f1kO5XmqE92UGiFhPELu_YeYinAyAAX05mQEsch48-1Eg5SfSxXUrfapJ_qn3bKcwKQa2ZkGooodNJ_y-euCGr-KXi6Jnihk1_OKLrV/s3840/PXL_20231005_222250464.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC-8n8tXFSTvHRYExva8mh1hHCxEipyORMrmMXrQjrSgyt2mKGckiqVgyqpr3w3D7lVlrscj0CdTWEKvz3MXb7f1kO5XmqE92UGiFhPELu_YeYinAyAAX05mQEsch48-1Eg5SfSxXUrfapJ_qn3bKcwKQa2ZkGooodNJ_y-euCGr-KXi6Jnihk1_OKLrV/s16000/PXL_20231005_222250464.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YqI1dM5lIiSRcMAPz_plGomiB-dbY-SjpJORBmkan_SIJ_4Thhc2_skyV5Fg-lKCRMKCicyHJGKMKo1DXaefHPj8T3NLmFpps8j9OOQF3gP6fjOqa4C7HT9vDetubnpXU0YkHZ3rYPw003TH2v3hOqft2zZzGC6wDUmumn6Mpfkw0XpxiSvOMxv4Swgu/s3840/PXL_20231005_222256715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YqI1dM5lIiSRcMAPz_plGomiB-dbY-SjpJORBmkan_SIJ_4Thhc2_skyV5Fg-lKCRMKCicyHJGKMKo1DXaefHPj8T3NLmFpps8j9OOQF3gP6fjOqa4C7HT9vDetubnpXU0YkHZ3rYPw003TH2v3hOqft2zZzGC6wDUmumn6Mpfkw0XpxiSvOMxv4Swgu/s16000/PXL_20231005_222256715.jpg" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Pre-game and Deployment</h2><p>We both chose to keep some Reserves - for my opponent, that transport carrying some flamethrowers and a Panzershrek team, while for me it was my M15 and the car with the LT and Flamethrower team - the car and riders even being in Outflank.</p><p>We otherwise set up with the traditional die draw - one forward deployer with my opponent's sniper - and the game began.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Turn 1</h3><p>Not a whole lot of action - the first turn is limited to 24" sight range and thus basically nobody was doing any shooting, so we just did our preliminary maneuvers. I played somewhat cautiously, though I got bold with my Guastatori and probably moved them up somewhere far too exposed in a bid to discourage tanks and infantry from coming into my right flank (as you can see I am concentrated on the left).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpfO9KK0IB-YqptF3Bhyphenhyphenw_QXdP56DdJrsDQi5YoN2Z-1nft81CYE1Fds_HctrusH8czteSL2Z2dM-TU-wmGON2OALDs8XFf_jEBADpeaHSeb-67Z56RmN5IQOhmTZgkmJa_hD32gy5UfFhfnKGfHUimX-LwiII2gvmLhI0ITSEE0dppwUtBc-a3k5JSoA/s3840/PXL_20231005_223903004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpfO9KK0IB-YqptF3Bhyphenhyphenw_QXdP56DdJrsDQi5YoN2Z-1nft81CYE1Fds_HctrusH8czteSL2Z2dM-TU-wmGON2OALDs8XFf_jEBADpeaHSeb-67Z56RmN5IQOhmTZgkmJa_hD32gy5UfFhfnKGfHUimX-LwiII2gvmLhI0ITSEE0dppwUtBc-a3k5JSoA/s16000/PXL_20231005_223903004.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F4Smf-F33GK_QZUBc1OE5gEhZHz-MExi13_wY-_IDR1NQYNx3GafWwAfQt3VC2E0Szx8Zmu9NZzQResufHS8fBMIbs3FUqayY_JPevNNF1-0xwcArbLZYiJFn0eZiI8-4HQtLylPlJWwCZZixXEHbRuac5kZYYAQQBbTssibkgcT0DGnNHzGSwCVviLE/s3840/PXL_20231005_223907520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F4Smf-F33GK_QZUBc1OE5gEhZHz-MExi13_wY-_IDR1NQYNx3GafWwAfQt3VC2E0Szx8Zmu9NZzQResufHS8fBMIbs3FUqayY_JPevNNF1-0xwcArbLZYiJFn0eZiI8-4HQtLylPlJWwCZZixXEHbRuac5kZYYAQQBbTssibkgcT0DGnNHzGSwCVviLE/s16000/PXL_20231005_223907520.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpDwJYRw_-YAUEndZehWZDMP2zawWDgYmLXCwGh3pBROMz1HUlJnpx4EiPIg2YbS_tcUIS5w-yvDHX_YwnqR1ki-4EAQc-ySk57-Vg1ALUQPmafGCYnLrRFPNMI8O__dAo_SQvd7eccd55D-iUyuNnt8AeiX-XBdMSCaHlvOA0pefWZFHIxE0mGPYLfqE/s3840/PXL_20231005_223912753.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpDwJYRw_-YAUEndZehWZDMP2zawWDgYmLXCwGh3pBROMz1HUlJnpx4EiPIg2YbS_tcUIS5w-yvDHX_YwnqR1ki-4EAQc-ySk57-Vg1ALUQPmafGCYnLrRFPNMI8O__dAo_SQvd7eccd55D-iUyuNnt8AeiX-XBdMSCaHlvOA0pefWZFHIxE0mGPYLfqE/s16000/PXL_20231005_223912753.MP.jpg" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Turn 2</h3><p>I got off to a great success here, as right out of the gate my mortar dropped a shell into a group of his Veteran "Sisi" infantry, killing a fair number of them and handing out a lot of pins. My opponent gets a touch of vengence though - in a turn otherwise characterized by low-risk play on Ambush and going Down, his sniper picks off one of my flamethrowers and the squad, which had advanced on his approaching tank, failed to hit it with the other - this left my very expensive team here in a bad way!</p><p>Unfortunately for me, my tank failed to find its way to the field, blunting hopes to use it to cover my paratrooper's advance - unfortunately my opponent's reserves had no such problem and ambled on unopposed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaJ_WzolJocOYy3h2sRAkVABSr2VkgjmoQqGKTJZwY8kqsREqTaO-dLyHsKp4L02zxAROs1jGZvNyhkDp40QAgCE-MTv9eoks-VQuBZeNnJqAGoaNhsvpqIvkC8hhvziyE_cEEMFU827Sp2xd8siMsqKkMrBpb54hqnNTXZfuLszdl7vzgLRyjRnWhlIg/s3840/PXL_20231005_224130039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaJ_WzolJocOYy3h2sRAkVABSr2VkgjmoQqGKTJZwY8kqsREqTaO-dLyHsKp4L02zxAROs1jGZvNyhkDp40QAgCE-MTv9eoks-VQuBZeNnJqAGoaNhsvpqIvkC8hhvziyE_cEEMFU827Sp2xd8siMsqKkMrBpb54hqnNTXZfuLszdl7vzgLRyjRnWhlIg/s16000/PXL_20231005_224130039.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHbMfXhwdYqWG__ypSUhYeexXmOoHAkF5oFWsZaW8ctBTkJjLanT6dvXp7sD2nW8ZazVOLKW8cq9hdJwtSfzDoqc7_thRwLUkAbWUL0jj2Z1Df_zvaj1FUzd2wxLdurnWQ6jTTDQ6ZdbrDh98N4zlCK9nFmC8uTOdI06XbIrIeZpGoSXq3TljCes8Uyz0/s3840/PXL_20231005_230311660.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHbMfXhwdYqWG__ypSUhYeexXmOoHAkF5oFWsZaW8ctBTkJjLanT6dvXp7sD2nW8ZazVOLKW8cq9hdJwtSfzDoqc7_thRwLUkAbWUL0jj2Z1Df_zvaj1FUzd2wxLdurnWQ6jTTDQ6ZdbrDh98N4zlCK9nFmC8uTOdI06XbIrIeZpGoSXq3TljCes8Uyz0/s16000/PXL_20231005_230311660.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6lESjwkMTo2ZOrhZC1CYyU4mqpmIu7re3Ilm-BHfmhgr_JwG3vVgt_StuNUzh8OxLDqPYjH8DtE3D4ya1WHMJnKnLMtWHn48ft-xYJrj9bX-65qJx_JZkl4xGZZ1KvIl8ybaXuho5qCqlaRpd-Zq741exTjxloEl331z9UADRA19HtpWBo9oybBpyq_Z/s3840/PXL_20231005_230316941.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6lESjwkMTo2ZOrhZC1CYyU4mqpmIu7re3Ilm-BHfmhgr_JwG3vVgt_StuNUzh8OxLDqPYjH8DtE3D4ya1WHMJnKnLMtWHn48ft-xYJrj9bX-65qJx_JZkl4xGZZ1KvIl8ybaXuho5qCqlaRpd-Zq741exTjxloEl331z9UADRA19HtpWBo9oybBpyq_Z/s16000/PXL_20231005_230316941.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNQ0LdLA3JnmWr0XiYPdrhRwbOE69FvzYPeZE9uwQ63PC6eJSuXWa_d4cKYRclzqkASJxOJgY-JK9U9gsO5t7YLHmmtPdJoLwT-duvblh99IQZGL09PNqp2_b8xANW-7muay9euIhLAYU3JOGiyuvuciRapHXsHFdK51WssETmXthLAHTfAPXmacNdowc/s3840/PXL_20231005_230323874.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNQ0LdLA3JnmWr0XiYPdrhRwbOE69FvzYPeZE9uwQ63PC6eJSuXWa_d4cKYRclzqkASJxOJgY-JK9U9gsO5t7YLHmmtPdJoLwT-duvblh99IQZGL09PNqp2_b8xANW-7muay9euIhLAYU3JOGiyuvuciRapHXsHFdK51WssETmXthLAHTfAPXmacNdowc/s16000/PXL_20231005_230323874.jpg" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Turn 3</h3><p>Not being one to waste a mortar shot, I lob another shell into those Sisi and knock the squad down to just two men - maybe I have been too bearish on indirect weapons...</p><p>Such success was followed by another success - my Guastatori absolutely roasts his T-28, sending it driving off the field in panic! Unfortunately the flamethrower runs out of fuel and the man quits the field, basically leaving this squad without purpose (because who uses demolition charges...).</p><p>Some rifle-fire is exchanged between our units, and I make my first silly mistake of the game - my opponent deployed a panzershrek team to the other side of the enclosure from my Paratroopers. Instead of doing the smart thing of either A) Assaulting around the walls or B) putting the team on Ambush, I chose to advance forward and dump fire into them...achieving nothing, whatever the odds of that was (an action not helped by the fact that I triggered an Ambush and took a pin). This was silly because the very next die had him deploy his flamethrower team - the one I'd forgotten about - from the transport right into the midst of those very paras. This cost me three guys and four more pins! Fortunately they were tough enough to stay on the field I guess.</p><p>But Italy was not about to take it on the chin here - my tank grinds onto the field and starts laying pin markers out on the infantry directly in front of it - this forces them to go Down, paving the way for my next trick - the outflankers!</p><p>Slipping onto the field successfully, the Fiat lets off the vet FT team...which proceeds to miss at point blank. Fortunately my opponent is otherwise all played out on that side so they don't immediately die, and I felt comfortable enough to bring my 2LT on to the field and at least put a casualty and a pin marker on that lucky Finnish squad.</p><p>Some other skirmishing between units gets pins and casualties sprinkled, including the rifle-paras on my right flank as we'll see next turn...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdt61zBPVdspeAFPTwbLQIGqKhXYrNPTYxHt5_WyRFfaI_DgjdYVXvupKnPZbpfsNB-XMUJlJfaGIb9AoUPD3hE8zuR2bYp8njUEAwuP_H6iRta2YCRS3uVY2ghryjIjpI8YnKJn0mCJIfclg-W9qPKLrU4_Jmej2acVlTHHBimwCqNSa9BDFkDONwob_J/s3840/PXL_20231005_230750828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdt61zBPVdspeAFPTwbLQIGqKhXYrNPTYxHt5_WyRFfaI_DgjdYVXvupKnPZbpfsNB-XMUJlJfaGIb9AoUPD3hE8zuR2bYp8njUEAwuP_H6iRta2YCRS3uVY2ghryjIjpI8YnKJn0mCJIfclg-W9qPKLrU4_Jmej2acVlTHHBimwCqNSa9BDFkDONwob_J/s16000/PXL_20231005_230750828.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjw2MZ310uLk3pREu5rrX9W6Pt5lWV96nY0mV6p91A6U-hxKzyzUpUhRRLEIYEajqUemwVjsrKshWYAtlmSlzdqqDKqcQ7YKjmvAjj659b1TpOrwxk5onWYD_RZ1OndUEMsdYkFlclZodkUbsDmPzBPrAODSM7OipNtquoAXn7AstUs2yK65aPqUNIkPKg/s16000/PXL_20231005_235542545.jpg" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Turn 4</h3><p>Suspense rises for the first die...which is mine! Naturally this goes right to the FT team, which absolutely roasts its target squad. I follow this up by advancing my other SMG para squad and putting a deluge of fire into the Finnish FT team ahead of them - dropping only one man, unfortunately.</p><p>Finland gets vengeance though - the Shrek puts a right right into my tank, and it goes up in flames - probably should have parked that thing <i>in</i> the woods...</p><p>My LT gets payback though - running into an Assault, the LT squad gets in on the Shreks and kills them - consolidating around to threaten the remaining flamethrower man, too! Said flamerman tried to save himself but failed to activate and went Down.</p><p>The para-rifles on my left, holding along the road, slip forward to start engaging my opponent's riflemen but also slip a Panzerfaust shot over towards the Finnish transport, obliterating it in what's probably first successful Panzerfaust shot ever.</p><p>This run of success comes up short with my other paratrooper rifle squad, though - they FUBAR and slink back into the woods...unlike the battered Guastatori, who successfully pass an order test to Run on snake eyes and book it to the rear!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVtWmiBIh18gamUtX3JfqRVkBtVbRfEfcar-HEjMhsfb0B0tAlhTxsJBfJ3zf3bjeQC7BpaOtnPjq84QZgpa5o78ure5Z8Y2VxWvJ88kBfz6_48QKgbHwatUt4KNQfG-F5KDql0bRI8e8r-07VJnf6fiTEmtZR3j8WQ1QkcA2U7CUVKAiBtqTL_jWdhze/s3840/PXL_20231005_235707444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVtWmiBIh18gamUtX3JfqRVkBtVbRfEfcar-HEjMhsfb0B0tAlhTxsJBfJ3zf3bjeQC7BpaOtnPjq84QZgpa5o78ure5Z8Y2VxWvJ88kBfz6_48QKgbHwatUt4KNQfG-F5KDql0bRI8e8r-07VJnf6fiTEmtZR3j8WQ1QkcA2U7CUVKAiBtqTL_jWdhze/s16000/PXL_20231005_235707444.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bAukwBn7PJzQ1pHBE18oykB-bTPaJjLt6SAnuce6rhS8Zf38q5WCQ6jqJFOMhk9zERschIv4Nq5D6mfYGEUdCsUHim8HU_tQZmoiNGOUxYYnIPH1bDuLu9arKTLzxSNqxEod1l_Gxd0Bj6uX5sSM9M8mPfMZV-H4gDitb6wtuyakvy2pXCUihREi984v/s3840/PXL_20231006_002743031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bAukwBn7PJzQ1pHBE18oykB-bTPaJjLt6SAnuce6rhS8Zf38q5WCQ6jqJFOMhk9zERschIv4Nq5D6mfYGEUdCsUHim8HU_tQZmoiNGOUxYYnIPH1bDuLu9arKTLzxSNqxEod1l_Gxd0Bj6uX5sSM9M8mPfMZV-H4gDitb6wtuyakvy2pXCUihREi984v/s16000/PXL_20231006_002743031.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Z3R_m8YgO7E6itRfuiu3TPKcFgyhkQYqmOinQwTDD50GNaj0NuW0LszMXiHDi04Dp8YDR9C4VkDLnZipwmJO3ZVpYcXYzWjPXWJaWwIIHGN5Mzodm9XQ0yyhuuN6Xrkn-0hjbD-bbdNaGVUjDeMfNasYIxwxtFNnRQVeVw32H6cQSYdbQ5SWWANwl3jc/s3840/PXL_20231006_002750689.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Z3R_m8YgO7E6itRfuiu3TPKcFgyhkQYqmOinQwTDD50GNaj0NuW0LszMXiHDi04Dp8YDR9C4VkDLnZipwmJO3ZVpYcXYzWjPXWJaWwIIHGN5Mzodm9XQ0yyhuuN6Xrkn-0hjbD-bbdNaGVUjDeMfNasYIxwxtFNnRQVeVw32H6cQSYdbQ5SWWANwl3jc/s16000/PXL_20231006_002750689.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Turn 5</h3><p>I am in Avanti Savoia...<i>positively</i>! I'm now getting +2 on Morale across the board.</p><p>My right-flank paratroopers, eager to redeem themselves, hustle up the the edge of the woods and put some fire out - including another successful Panzerfaust shot!</p><p>My opponent, though, can't let me have two unchecked and hustles a squad into melee with my left-most para-rifles squad - winning handily and wiping the squad out entirely!</p><p>In revenge I take out those two stragglers that survived multiple mortar strikes in turns prior with my Flamethrower team, to which his LT responds by charging...to his death.</p><p>And that was game, as we were short on time and needed to get packing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlQ7Mj4VRm_QkeIgRl34mfgxsXPyYHQi4RkUYN-mrrST4QoTfqOCugwKS4E3R2-ZMWSlNJzSNXvnA1HxK914-nr1R3lN1Oh0-QKMALrNEFb8n82AoymTsyG7n2OUYdi9YoOejK5grCUzkJcaM_XOWAiZtvL92AuQMvwCmYYAr0eYBB3CgUGOOp9cxY37_/s3840/PXL_20231006_002757943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrEXNJsqOJHMZhb3Jw-ZVcvwn8Tmkzb4FQtzyX9loqyqurbrWPai9Paj1YMiTFOz3EYegUujPWcvxce-BrEHrxOLtdplC6IjklmsGSSCl55gv4n1i49YzcXrrpvZ-mRwlNv2JUd4XVDuAHMc8Ym470X9Lbrcqo7HZuSw506ijXWSjdUx_8916r48McYFC/s3840/PXL_20231006_005343087.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrEXNJsqOJHMZhb3Jw-ZVcvwn8Tmkzb4FQtzyX9loqyqurbrWPai9Paj1YMiTFOz3EYegUujPWcvxce-BrEHrxOLtdplC6IjklmsGSSCl55gv4n1i49YzcXrrpvZ-mRwlNv2JUd4XVDuAHMc8Ym470X9Lbrcqo7HZuSw506ijXWSjdUx_8916r48McYFC/s16000/PXL_20231006_005343087.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>7-2 Italy!</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Retrospectives</h2><p>The list performed pretty well - these tougher units hold on and often turn incoming fire into just a pin marker rather than a pin marker <i>and</i> a casualty. Plenty of silly decisions were made - and unfortunate rolls had - but I don't think the base bones of this list is all that bad. My howitzer greatly underperformed, though.</p><p>I'm still sort of iffy on the Guastatori - they're expensive, especially at veteran (16 points per man!), and lack any backup close quarters support beyond that flamethrower option, but it's really the only way I can get flamethrowers in an infantry slot. I may keep running these but pair them down and use the savings on a transport, though I find I am pretty bad at keeping transports alive and getting them to go where they need to go.</p><p>Order dice are low, but that's all but inevitable with tough unit lists. I may need a way to bump that up to about 12 however. A subsequent review of this list may see that be the primary focus - trimming what can be trimmed to get another die or two in. Again my general philosophy is that since the flat 3 dice trail doesn't change based on anything in my army, then clearly my dice should be as tough as possible. With that in mind, though, it makes that soft car, small LT team, and little flamethrower team a bit...out of place.</p><p>I think overall the clearest weakness in this list - or just about any Italian list I've fielded outside of the tournaments - is the lack of good anti-tank. My one somewhat viable medium tank (the 75/34) is too expensive for this list, and flamethrowers (or Panzerfaust) only get you so far. Frankly I find howitzers too swingly to rely on for the whole "pin them out" approach, so maybe it's time to learn how to simply ignore tanks like people have told me. A light AT gun only gets me so far in my local meta...</p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Closing</h1><p>Well this was a fun list, and I think most of my victory was luck. That said I think I have a solid base to build from, so future Italian expansions are probably going to be along these lines - Bersaglieri will probably turn up on the bench after I'm done with all this terrain, in spite of suggestions for Army #3. They lack Stubbron and Panzerfausts, but they're just a touch cheaper than the Paratroopers and that might add up in certain list configurations. We'll see how things work out going forward!</p>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08086901374821838288noreply@blogger.com0