A FEW FRIENDLY GAMES.

Neil was back from UAE for a couple of weeks. We were able to squeeze in a few games over a few  days.

 On the Saturday, as we only had a short time, I introduced Neil to the basics of Heroes of Normandie. We played the first scenario, which involved recovering documents from a dead spy. This ended as an entertaining draw, as neither side was able to get the documents off the table.

 On the Monday morning, we played the first scenario in the Commands & Colors Samurai Battles, which is a straight up battle. I won  a close fought battle. http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/122913/samurai-battles

In the Afternoon, after a bit of a false start due to a misreading of a crucial rule, we played Conflict of Heroes. The scenario was a recreation of the engagement between Polish Cavalry and German infantry which was halted, historically, by the apperance of German armoured cars. This engagement is the source of the myth of Polish cavalry charging tanks. The back and forth nature of activation in the game system kept it interesting. The Polish Cavalry wiped out the German forces: victory to Neil.  http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/45132/conflict-heroes-price-honour-poland-1939

 On Wednesday, we had a larger game of Heroes of Normandie. This was a cut down version of one of the scenarios in the book. It was a race to have an infantry unit take the objective by being in one of the adjacent squares by the supply phase of turn 6.

Once again, a close run thing, but a draw. The US forces tried an all out attack, but lost their M5 at the last gasp.

An intense but enjoyable few days of gaming. Hopefully it won't be too long before we can do it again.

HEROES OF NORMANDY.

This past Thursday our chosen game was a first try of Heroes of Normandie.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/53093/heroes-normandie

Rick had put together a series of scenarios, of which we managed to play two, to introduce us to the rules and gameplay.

 

The first scenario saw my Germans set up as an ambushing force that was itself surprised by a returning US patrol. The above is mid game when the US forces at the top have forced the Germans back from their original line.

Each side has a number of orders, based on unit and character selection, these determine the number of units that can fie or move. Both sides had 3 plus a bluff. Each side has a number of cards that can be played to effect the course of the game. Rick played a card that gave him an extra order.

Units not ordered are allowed to move during the supply phase. That is all they can do. This photo is from the end of the first game. Only three German units surviving (one concealed). US victory. 

The second game brought in vehicles and other upgrades, such as grenades, panzerfausts and panzerschreks. A US column is ambushed by the Germans.

 

After initial German success: destroying the vehicles thus showing the effectiveness of the fausts and schreks, the surviving US infantry counter-attacked , driving the Germans back.

The game plays well. The fact that you may have 10 units but only orders for 3 or 4 of them does focus the mind on having a plan and moving the important units. It also encourages use of supports. The cards add that bit of fog of war that can disrupt the opponent's well laid plans.

The game tends to the cartoony side, a bit like Nuts, and will not be everyone's cup of tea.

We already have two other scenarios planned.