Edit: I’ve updated the file attached to this post to be the actual painting scheme used instead of a house rule set for WAT.
As a large part of this hobby involves miniatures, we’re going to add a category of posts called, “Ready for Battle.” These posts are going to display some of the miniatures that are ready for the table top, (showing the way to the hundreds of miniatures that are languishing unpainted in ever-growing battalions).
At the bottom of each of the “Ready for Battle” posts, we’ll try to put down the paints and paint scheme used.
First up are some WW2 Brits painted by Lucius. The infantry have section markings on the back of their base to make it easier to figure out who belongs where.
Lucius and I played a quick game of Wings of Glory. It’s a short one, but was fun to play. I’m thinking of getting some more Wings of Glory planes to expand the range of missions we can run. The rules are simple and fun, and for a pick-up game are just the thing. The set-up we used was simple. It was 1940. A JU-87B had to make it across the 6′ table, escorted by 2 x BF109s. The opposition was made up of 2 x Spits from 610 Sqn. We laid out my Cigar Box Ocean Battle mat (which looks great in my humble opinion) and started to move. The battle is described in the pictures below! If you are reading this blog on email, this is pretty picture heavy and depending on your data plan I recommended going to the site itself :
610 Squadron’s Spits come out to play
The Little Stuka that Could (and supporting cast)
The Spits veer to the west, so the 109s move to meet them. The Little Stuka that Could keeps steady on course
Almost in gun range. What are the Brits thinking?
My 109s catch the closest Spit. While I tried to concentrate firepower here, sadly I only got half of my guns in. Still, a smoking, damaged enemy is a good start. The other Spit, named “Tapey” for the bit of tape on its base has broken off, probably to get behind the escort and attack the Stuka (that could)
The melee that followed was intense. The smoking Spit got behind Yellow 5 and hammered him hard. White 13 immelmanned and went to engage the other Spit that wasn’t able to get behind the Little Stuka that Could without presenting a juicy target to White 13. I had considered the strengths of the Stuka, and had decided that the best place for a Stuka to be was BEHIND a Spit – it would be very hard to shoot down. The Spit wouldn’t be able to out turn a slower aircraft, and who knows, the Stuka might do significant damage! As long as my escort downed 1 Spit, I figured I’d win. But then something bad happened.
The air became filled with a swirling fight. White 13 misjudged his pass and got hit and drew 2 damage markers. 6, ouch… and explode. The first kill and my undamaged escort is blown up. Yellow 5 has 14 damage (and only 17 health to draw down). Luckily, you can see the Little Stuka that Could hanging on behind that smoking Spit and pouring what little fire it could into her as the Spit hung on to Yellow 5 like a bulldog. Tapey Spit was having a hard time turning to get behind the Little Stuka that Could but I knew that it wouldn’t be long…
The smoking Spit stopped smoking and tailed Yellow 5, jinking with him and doing a lot of hurt. But the plucky Stuka that Could didn’t miss and shot down Spit! Turning tightly together towards Britain, the Luftwaffe outraced the remaining Tapey Spit to the table edge and victory!
MVP: The Stuka’s rear gun did some damage, but its forward facing armament hit many times. With only A category damage it didn’t do much, but over time it made all the difference in the world: 8 of the 18 damage that the Spit took was from the Stuka. Lesson learned – slow aircraft are not as vulnerable as we may think, and used in combination with other assets can really punch above their weight!
Like most gamers, I often tinker with rule sets. I’ve played around with various RPGs and Wargames. I’ll be using the House Rules category to share the modifications that I’ve come up with. If I have adopted a rule from another blogger, I’ll link back to them.
If you have comments on these rules, or have suggestions, please comment or email.
Here is the first of the house rules I’m putting up:
SPQVI’s Modifications for What a Tanker! version 1.0
Note: for those reading this blog on email, the pictures are a little large. It may be easier to see this on the site itself: Croup
So it is well and truly the wet season on the island. A week of fog broken by endless rain. Some clearing in strong winds. Repeat.
7am in my neighbourhood, no murderers lurking but lots of foghorns going in the distance
The trees are turning and the temperature slowly cooling. My hobby room is poorly insulated, and though it has an electric heater, has been less welcoming. This has been compounded by the croup. Parenting isn’t something I mention much on this blog as I intend to keep the media presence of my family as low as possible until everyone is of age to make their own (responsible) choices. So you won’t see photos or hear much about the clan. Bellyaching, however, is fair game.
Misery loves company, and let me tell you, croup is misery. For those who haven’t experienced it, croup is an upper respiratory tract infection that in kids causes coughing attacks. It is worse at night and well, the coughing can be brutal as it is continuous and impairs getting oxygen into little bodies. As a parent, this means little sleep and much stress. I haven’t been able to do much game-related in a week of sickness. It seems as if we have turned a corner so there should be more posting shortly. Next up will be another RPG play report followed by some AARs.
I shall leave you with week-old pictures of a WAT action that Lucius and I played. The first few fights were Soviets vs Germans. Then we switched up and did Brits vs the same King Tiger and Panther combo. Note: A King Tiger and Panther vs 3 Achillies is a really fast, fun match, though Lucius may disagree. He had recently painted up the King Tiger and I don’t think it lasted longer than 3 rounds in any of the 4 games we played. After the first match my fingers failed and I have sadly no good pictures. So enjoy the first fatal outing of the King Tiger below:
The first battle – 2 x T34/85s, and lend lease Sherman vs a King Tiger and Panther
The battlefield (same as last week). Once again the Cigar Box Battle Mat looks more brown and grey than in real life. The tank tracks from the previous battles show up quite well. Lucius is grabbing dice that will fail him utterly. I liked those dice that day.
Lend-lease Sherman moving up
King Tiger from a T34. That is a big beast…
The lead T34/85 opens fire at the big German tank
And a second T34/85 joins in and ends it, firing past the Biergarten
The end of an unlucky cat
T34/85 tries to surprise the Panther. Great positioning but I had forgotten that the main gun was unloaded. The cat got away and…
Blew up my Sherman, which burns as the Panther races to a better position. My T34/85s are in the distance. One is behind the house line in the top of the picture
Checking sight lines – you can see the laser from the Panther trying to get a bead on one of my tanks
The end for the Panther. A great fun, and fast game using our house rules for WAT.
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