Monday 30 April 2018

Paytest of What a Tanker!

This weekend I finally had a chance to not only thoroughly read the What a Tanker! rules but also play my first game. This was a solo playtest featuring just two tanks and a lot of terrain. Despite selling most (but thankfully not all) of my 15mm WWII stuff a few years ago I kept a lot of the terrain that I had and, combined with my new mat from DeepCut Studios, I was able to quickly throw together an interesting scenario. 

For this initial test of the rules the game is set in 1944, deep in the Normandy bocage. The roads here are often hemmed in by steep banks crowned with ancient hedgerows making this terrible tank country. Through this nightmare environment a lone Cromwell tank stalks a Panzer Mk IV in the fields surrounding a deserted french farmhouse. 

Entering by opposite ends of the table the German Panzer IV H on the left and the British Cromwell entering on the right. The initiative and command system mean that each turn can progress very differently which keeps the game fresh and interesting. 

The Panzer IV gets to move first and having rolled three movement command dice quickly moves up to the cross roads and was able to take up a good position in partial cover. 

The Cromwell meanwhile moves slowly (rolling fewer movement dice) and has to cautiously edge forwards. 

The Panzer takes full advantage of the steep banks to gain partial cover and take up a commanding position dominating the road that the Cromwell is approaching. 

The Cromwell has better armour and under the rules doesn't suffer an armour penalty for being hut in the side armour. This means the Cromwell is able to edge forwards to get a clear line of sight on the Panzer. Like its target the British tank is taking advantage of the bocage to gain partial cover. 

Both tanks have acquired their targets and have aimed and begin shooting. Several rounds follow of near misses and deflected hits with both tanks taking minor damage. Damage reduces the number of command dice available making it more difficult for tank commanders to do what they want. Fortunately both tanks only suffer temporary damage and are able to recover and continue the gun battle. Then the Panzer IV is hit and although undamaged it is forced to pull back, giving the Cromwell an opportunity to change position.   

The Panzer has lost its good position and the Cromwell manages to dash forwards (with a very good movement roll) giving it a better attack position firing into the side of the German tank. Despite the disadvantage of firing through major terrain (the bocage hedge) hitting the side armour makes hits more effective. Taking damage and unable to turn around the Panzer decides to try and get back to the crossroads and around the corner in an attempt to get out of the danger zone. However a lucky set of command dice rolls mean the British tank is able to turn tightly and get behind the Panzer. 

The Perfect command dice at just the right moment. Once a tank has acquired its target and aimed if it can keep the enemy in its sights it can fire as many times as its command dice allow. Having got the Panzer in its sights the British tank rolls a fantastic set of command dice. 4's mean the tank can fire while fives are reloads so this turn the Cromwell can shoot three times into the rear armour of the Panzer. 

The Panzer commander has just enough time to exclaim "Mein gott!" when the first of three Armour Piercing shells slam into its thin rear armour. The third shot results in a catastrophic explosion destroying the Panzer and killing the crew instantly. 

The explosion blows the Panzer's turret completely off and it lands in an adjacent field. 

At first the game seemed to go quite slowly as each tank pounded away at the other with little effect. But as soon as one tank was able to get a side shot in the game changed completely and from that point onward the Panzer was hounded to its death. The rules are quick to understand and the game play was fast, varied and exciting. I can easily see how multi tank, multi player games could be great fun and I'd quite like to take this to the Shed-o-War to see what the other Rejects think of it. 

Saturday 28 April 2018

A Quick Cromwell

A couple of weeks ago, while at Salute, I picked up a copy of What a Tanker! by TooFatLardies. I had a long chat with the guys before the show opened and was impressed with the simplicity of the rules that conceal a whole sub level of subtlety and nuance that make this look like a very interesting and fun game to play. My initial intention was to play using my 6mm tanks (and I may still do that) but for a first play test I decided to break out some of my 15mm tanks and terrain. Unfortunately I sold most of my vehicle collection a few years ago, keeping back a selection of models for display... only one of which had a rotatable turret. After a bit of thought I found this Cromwell in my cupboard of shame and last night I gave it a very quick paint job.





The whole model took less than an hour to paint, with a little overnight drying and a quick coat of varnish this morning. The turret is magnetised so I can rotate it and I even added some textured 'mud' to the tracks and lower hull. 

Now it's ready for action against my only other 'game ready' tank, a Panzer IV H, so I had better finish reading the rules!

Thursday 26 April 2018

More casualty marker dice frames

Last year I made up a load of casualty markers for my games. I made several sets for single dice, sets of two and three, but I soon realised I needed a few more of the single frames. So while I was at Salute I picked up some more of the little MDF single's (made by Minibits) for a couple of quid. I've now expanded my existing set of single dice frames so I have more than enough for my own gaming needs. I also decided to make some extra frames for Postie, as a small thank you for all the games he runs for the Rejects

Plenty of dice frames to go around.

An example of our use of dice as casualty markers.

We often use rule-sets that employ small 5 mm dice as casualty counters and they are forever being knocked over (sometimes even accidentally!) when we move units around. I've done a set of 50 for the shed-o-war which should be ample for pretty much any size game we play in future. 

Monday 23 April 2018

The Wrong Brush

Painting with Custard...
I was smiling when I started! 
I need to cheer myself up and paint something that isn't large, flat and vertical. The much promised Post-Challenge decorating spree continues and I'm starting to get a little tired of the mess the house is in. I can barely see my painting desk behind the piles of furniture, boxes and coats that belong in the hall. And as for finding time to 'play' with my Salute purchases, they are still in the shopping bag I brought back with me.

I'm putting a brave face on it for the wife (I do owe her for her patience during the Challenge) but I definitely need to wield a smaller brush, and soon. One more room needs my tender attention before I'm home free, although I suspect my household DIY 'to-do' list is covertly being added too whenever I'm not looking.




Sunday 15 April 2018

Salute 2018 Photo Review

Another huge success is the only way I can describe Salute 2018. This is the biggest one day wargames event in the UK and its hard not to be impressed by the size, diversity and shear 'buzz' of this annual wargame show. It may lack the personal touch of smaller local shows, but as a showcase of new products and innovations and for sheer eye candy it is, IMHO, unsurpassed. In short Salute is best described as a wargaming extravaganza and one that I think every hobbyist should visit at least once in their lifetime. There will be more commentary on the show at the end of this post but for now lets see some pictures!

This year Ray and I were given a 'Press Pass' to enter early. This meant we were inside by 8:30 and were able to observe the last preparations by traders and clubs setting u for a 10 am opening. 



Many traders were fully ready by 9am and the last few tables and public seating were being put in position. 

Shortly after 10am the doors opened and the 'horde' rushed in!

I usually approach Salute with a clear plan of action and this year was no exception. I always get myself a large map of the show layout and highlight the stands and games that I simply must visit. Combined with a well defined shopping list this plan never stands up to its first contact with the enemy; that widespread gamer malady known as 'shinyitus'. This year was no exception and my swag bag was full of unplanned purchases by the end of the day. 

One of my main delights in a show as large as Salute is exploring the many display and demo games. Don't get me wrong its good to explore the traders but its the eye-candy that really draws me to this event year after year. My camera gets a proper work out every year and this time I seemed to have been in a bit of a frenzy shooting over 600 pictures before the day had ended. I've now edited and trimmed as much as possible and begun the massive task of labelling every picture. As usual some tables were better labelled than others and there were a lot of Trader demo games that I struggled to identify in my pictures. If there are any errors please let me know.

Wyverns Wargames Club - Battle of Varna 1444 - I always like the look of hex terrain. 

Wyverns Wargames Club - Battle of Varna 1444

Wyverns Wargames Club - Battle of Varna 1444

Chelmsford Bunker - Invasion of Copenhagen - Not a lot had happened when I saw this game and I fully intended on returning later to see the action...but like so many things I forgot. Sorry guys, this looked interesting!

Chelmsford Bunker - Invasion of Copenhagen

Society of Ancients - Battle of Paraitacene - Some stunning minis on display.

Society of Ancients - Battle of Paraitacene -  Pikes and Elephants, a winner all round. 

General d Armee - Waterloo 1815

General d Armee - Waterloo 1815

One of my favourite display games of the day... Ironfist Publishing - Battlegroup Torch - Medjez Valley, Tunisia 1943

Ironfist Publishing - Battlegroup Torch - Medjez Valley, Tunisia 1943

Ironfist Publishing - Battlegroup Torch - Medjez Valley, Tunisia 1943

Plastic Soldier Company - Red Alert (Kickstarter)

Bexley Reapers Wargaming Club - Dead Show (Zombies invade Salute!) - Every games table depicted is different and covers the full range of periods. A very creative idea and a pleasure to explore. 

Bexley Reapers Wargaming Club - Dead Show

Bexley Reapers Wargaming Club - Dead Show

Crawley Wargames - Tiger Tiger!

Crawley Wargames - Tiger Tiger!

Great Escape Games - 1914

Great Escape Games - 1914

Dalauppror - Baggenstaket 1719 - The Great Northern War

Dalauppror - Baggenstaket 1719 - The Great Northern War

A Star Wars game by 4Ground (I think)

A Star Wars game by 4Ground

A Star Wars game by 4Ground - Love the figures...I may have to get me some of these!

The Sons of Simon de Montford - Indian Mutiny Escape

The Sons of Simon de Montford - Indian Mutiny Escape

Real Time Wargamers

Real Time Wargamers

Another stunning display - Ian Smith and Friends - Glory from the Halls of Montezuma - And ACW what-if battle.

 Ian Smith and Friends - Glory from the Halls of Montezuma 

 Ian Smith and Friends - Glory from the Halls of Montezuma 

 Ian Smith and Friends - Glory from the Halls of Montezuma 

The Old Guard - Battle of Aspern-Essling 1809

The Old Guard - Battle of Aspern-Essling 1809

Bill Gaskin & Friends - Battle of Gaskins Plantation (AWI)

Bill Gaskin & Friends - Battle of Gaskins Plantation (AWI)

Bill Gaskin & Friends - Battle of Gaskins Plantation (AWI)

The Painting Competition

Simon Millers "For King and Pariament" - The Battle of Soggy Bottom 

Simon Millers "For King and Pariament" - The Battle of Soggy Bottom 

Simon Millers "For King and Pariament" - The Battle of Soggy Bottom again... the same battle in two scales! 

Peter Dennis Paper Armies

Peter Dennis Paper Armies

South London Warlords - In the name of God

South London Warlords - In the name of God

Scarab Pals - Amiens 1918 - Zero Hour, the Big Push

Scarab Pals - Amiens 1918 - Zero Hour, the Big Push

Essex Warriors - Battle of Freeman's Farm - AWI Batlle of 1777

Essex Warriors - Battle of Freeman's Farm - AWI Batlle of 1777

Warlords Games - The Battle of Foy 1945 - A beautiful table with lots of interesting details and even some background music from the Band of Brothers HBO series. 

Warlords Games - The Battle of Foy 1945

Warlords Games - The Battle of Foy 1945

Warlord Games - Blood Red Skies - Sing the Hornet

A Few Brits and the Hobby - Operation Taifun - The Battle for Leros 1943 - I loved the colour of the water on this table and all the models were excellently painted. 

A Few Brits and the Hobby - Operation Taifun - The Battle for Leros 1943

Loughton Strike Force - Battle of Kawanakajima 1561 - A shed load of models!!!

Loughton Strike Force - Battle of Kawanakajima 1561

Maidstone Wargames Society -Twisting the Dragon's Tail - Zeebrugge 1918 -  I saw this game earlier in the year and its still lovely to look at. 

League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists - The Biscotti War 1860

League of Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists - The Biscotti War 1860

The Blogger Meet up took place as usual near the centre of the hall. Its always god to see people again and meet a few new ones. I'm not going to embarrass myself by trying to label everyone in the picture...I'll leave that to more knowledgeable (and braver) bloggers. Feel free to nick the picture for your own blog if you want it.

My Salute Loot - What a Tanker! rules and tokens; new modelling tools including a nice model saw; more Vallejo paint; some grass tufts and scatter; clear bases; and the big purchase, a 6x4 Deep Cut Studios wargames mat.

Salute has changed a lot over the years, growing to be the biggest one day wargames event in the UK. This gives it a unique audience and appeal that makes this very different from other events (or so I'm told, I haven't visited them all...yet!). I know Salute divides opinion with plenty of wargamers who either love it or loath it - sort of like Marmite! Personally I love it but I think the key to my appreciation is that I attend knowing full well that its not like any other UK show. The size of the event does mean that "gamer's of a certain age" (or build) struggle to get around. I spoke to several people who agreed with me that to a large extent the show is more of a 'games expo' than a true wargames show. There are more companies running demo's of new games or kickstarters than there are clubs these days (or so it felt). I enjoy this aspect but I do recognise that it makes the show feel very different from its smaller cousins.

The lighting is without question pretty bad. I think it was worse than last year but maybe its just my dodgy eyesight. It certainly felt very dim inside the hall and it made taking pictures without a flash very hard. Having said that I have attended plenty of smaller shows where the lighting is just as poor so its not unique. It has to be said though that considering how expensive it is to attend the show (especially if you have to park a car) it would be nice if the illumination was better.

One of the things I notes this year was the proliferation of MDF and 3D printed models available to wargamers. These technologies have come on leaps and bounds in recent years and every season I am amazed at what is possible. Having said that the selection of 3D printed models is also increasingly impressive and it is only a matter of time before the costs of this option bring the technology into the hands of more and more wargamers.

I spoke to several traders about how the day was proceeding and got mixed messages. Some felt they were having a poor day while others were clearly overrun with customers. The show certainly felt as busy as usual and my 'impression' was of a lot of trading taking place, but that's just my sense of the day.

I'd love to hear your own views on the show so please leave some comments below.