Note to Self: Game: Urban Operations - YouTube Walk Through

This is a game I have and so want to "get into". I have it from the first edition, already a second edition is out. I so want to transfer it to tabletop with miniatures (see below, the pedigree of the designer is incredible): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtlKZ6haJsQ

The above YouTube video will be a good starting point.

Interestingly a new game (noy yet attained by myself) but from the same stable of French School of Infantry Combat (three graduates rather than the teacher [Sebastien de Peyret]) called CO-OPS (see below, image and link below):

https://boardgamegeek.com/image/6939071/co-ops

One to put on the "For the Future" bucket list! 

Remote Gaming over Google Hangouts: Escape from The Dark Sector (Boardgame)

I have played a fantasy board game called "Escape From The Dark Castle" over Google Hangouts with friends several times with good fun results. There, each character's abilities was represented by a special RPC "dice" that scored a result appropriate to their class' abilities - basically their contribution to overcome the challenge card from the story deck. Remotely all the players needed to do was convert a normal d6 to their character dice, as in a simple lookup table (or let me roll the dice for them). I wanted to see if its sister sci-fi board game, "Escape from the Dark Sector" could also be played remotely as well (see below, instead of a castle you have done something wrong in space, and your spaceship is impounded, so you hatch a cunning plan and break out):   

"Dark Sector" is more complicated in that it allows two modes of combat, "ranged" and "close" combat, basically guns of various forms or stabby-spikey-shocky things picked up. This posed a problem as there were far more special dice involved in the range combat. Everybody had to trust me as I rolled the dice (I was also walking through teh rules in the first play but the players were good friends and very patient). It was engrossing and despite the odds our "first time playing the game" luck held (see below, the reverse of the box shows the various its components - notice lots more dice):   

It worked well "as a casual pick-up" game (we finished it over two sessions) and we definitely be planning another outing (a nice dark night sort of game).

Board Game Geek (see link below): 

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/280748/escape-the-dark-sector

Boardgame: By Stealth and By Sea - WW2 Italian Special Forces

I "finally" got round to playing this intriguing little game. A solo, or collaborative style game where each player is an Italian "pig" (SLC) Human Torpedo of the Decima Flottiglia MAS, tasked with destroying Allied warships in Mediterranean harbours (Gibraltar, Alexandria and Algiers). A  novel and beguiling game, against a British (RN) "Bot" defense. The players are endlessly frustrated with countless "faults" in their equipment, quite how the Italians ever got near their targets in real-life is quite beyond me (see below, the imagery gives an accurate impression of a "hard day in the office" - now imagine people dropping small depth charges near you and it you surface a searchlight and rifle fire await): 

Sadly (or rather unfortunately for the RN) HMS Sheffield is now lying at the bottom of Gibraltar harbour! Three "pigs" (SLC) attacked. One crew was killed. One crew was captured (but sank HMS Sheffield at berth). One crew escaped (but only after their "pig" SLC developed a fatal malfunction within sight of HMS Renown and had to be "scuttled")! 

It certainly has great replay value!

Snit's Revenge

I had never heard of this game before, published under Steve Jackson Games,  a "trippy" classic from Tom Wham (circa 1977). Amazing the amount of stuff you are still to discover

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/710/snits-revenge

Despite its age, I am really glad I played it. A treasure from a friend's attic so to speak, I found it great fun (see below, the game board is the anatomy of the terribe Snits predator. the Bolotomus, the idea being you steal the Bolotomus' spark of life [killing it] and escape as a Snit hero into legend): 

The game starts with British typical toilet humour. Gaining entry into the Bolotomos it either through the nose (which is a risky 50:50 "do-or-die" strategy, losers being decapitated, you need a very fast Snit to succeed) or try the "toilet parts" a safer entrance bar the fact you meet anti-bodies pretty quickly - yeah, kids [or adults who are big kids] love this game! Once inside the Bolotomus, red anti-bodies try to kill you as you try to "take out" the Bolotomus' organs one be one, as you are looking for the "spark of life". Lots of antibodies get generated and lots of Snits die but a "lucky" one can/will find the "spark" - instantly killing the Bolotomus (see below, an end game gambit of a successful Snit exiting a dying Bolotomus via the gut):   

There were two teams of Snits (the Green Clan (me) and the Pink Clan [Renko]) and one Bolotomus defender (aka the gamesmaster). At the start there is a brief semblance of teamwork as the Snits scatter to all four corners of the Bolotomus in search of the "spark of life" - fighting anti-bodies (sometimes together) along the way. Once the Bolotomus is dead though, then it is Snit-eat-Snit. Both Clans wanting to be the one with "the spark" and hailed winner (see below, a close up of the winning Snit [a Pink Snit who had killed the Green Snit carrying "the spark" - sniff, yes it was me] looking for the exit [OK let's call it what it is - the anus]): 

A fun game with great replay value. Not chess but cerebral in parts. Best played with alcohol to aid the narrative!

Tunnel Rats - Purple Haze, Stand Alone Game

I was so glad that I snapped up the Purple Haze Vietnam boardgame (I got it from Zatu Games as I was too late for the Kickstarter) as it appears to be now sold out everywhere. There is a queue of people waiting around the block for the second print run to come in. On hearing this, on impulse I looked around for the four extensions, but the only one I found still available was "Tunnel Rats". This a more stand alone game based around the US efforts against the likes of The Tunnels of Chu Chi. It appealed (see below, it is as "good" as it "looks"): 

On a "whim" (shiny thing) I got it and I am so glad I did. Atmospheric Vietnam, excellent, but with the format of a Dungeon Hack in cooperative play. Three "rats" explore the complex and for once there is not the overwhelming potential of US firepower to get you out of jail, but rather both sides are armed with knife and pistol - but even using the latter pistol is very dangerous underground (see below, the byzantine tunnel complex unfolds as the "rats" explore): 

Please see: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/431208/purple-haze-tunnel-rats for more game mechanism details.

I my eyes the game is designed to play on your nerves, as in jangle them, it builds up tension. It is not so much the dangers of combat but rather the thought of ending your days entombed under the Vietnam soil because "you never got out" in time. You play against a diminishing deck that represents your mental stamina, being a "Though bastard" (TB). The TB cards are spent as you progress down and backout of the complex. Complete your mission before the claustrophobic horror gets you! Clever mechanisms abound.

Highly recommended. There are three missions in teh game, but you will play each numerous times before they "dry out" and there is much scope to design your own or run as the DM with "rat" friends searching the complex. 

Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) Start Kit #2 has arrived!

Even though I am only seven pages through the twelve pages of ASL SK#1 rules, I decided that I really needed the indirect and artillery rules from the second starter kit too to do "infantry attacks" properly, so I was lucky enough to find it through Board Game Geek (see below, the prized parcel has arrived): 

The simplified ASL rules have now grown to twenty pages (and some interesting new nationalities in the mix), admittedly a lot of repeats from the first set, so not at all bad from teh learning perspective!

Not sure I will rush forwards for the ASL Starter Kit #3 as it seems a very expensive and "hard find for what it is! The alternative rout is the "Full ASL manual" (about the same price), but without counters. That would mean joining the ASL Modules hunt on eBay and the likes, something I don't think my wallet could afford! 

Note to Self: ASL Resource Link(s) and Third Time Lucky [Updated]?

Superb ASL Resource Link:

https://www.desperationmorale.com/

I know, it is like Groundhog Day, or a scratched record (again and again). Yes, I am going in again. Wish me luck or pass me the bottle of Jack Daniels, and yes I mix it with coke and ice. The ASL Starter Kit #1 is my way in (again). I have also ordered ASL Starter Kit #2 as well, because "you do need indirect fire" in WWII infantry combat. I was also looking (too much looking) at ASL Starter Kit #3, which brings in tanks, but the prices were/are just too crazy. ASL, sigh, like an attractive mysterious woman, perplexing. It seems so right until you start dating! It is not that the "sound of" the rules doesn't feel right - even "good" (when [or rather if] you managed to cram them all into your head), but it is that there seems so much to learn and options (edge cases) to remember, so you are left with the feeling of "have I missed something"! Which - is frustrating, but in the end for ASL - is that a bad thing, if it gets you there? 

Footnote: I have a theory. A lot of the ASL rules seem to stem from misuse of Squad Leader rules or dissatisfaction with unintended game effects. In the same way that the follow on versions of DBA (or its more complex cousins DBM, DBMM etc) were aimed at stopping "competition gamers" distorting the historical principle of the game, winning in "unhistorical" ways. Trying to maintain the historical realism and avoiding clever mathematical twists that inevitably snag rules.

Please see Bob Corderey's Blog Home Page (Wargaming Miscellany) - The First Rule and The Spirit of the Game on https://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.com/ - top right hand side! I also want to run ASL with miniatures, 1:1 (they are company sized battles). Does that make me "mad and bad"? Because otherwise you forget what you are trying to model in the real world. I have a friend who invested heavily in 2mm blocks of troops and literally said it makes you stop trying to "wibble" when you realise the number of men you are trying to control!

Update I: Found this interesting blog/website as it describes ASL SK#1 - Simple Equation Scenario 3 was thinking of transferring to the tabletop (spoiler alert the attack was bounced and ran out of turns):

https://www.stallardhonour.com/a-journey-into-advanced-squad-leader/

Update II: Board Game Geek tutorial support (thanks to "John Y", see comments):

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/157922/an-aslsk-tutorial-part-1

The Internet is a rabbit hole of ASL resources!

Overflight: A Solitaire Cold War Game

I can neither confirm or deny the existence of this "book game" to be in my possession, or then again not in my possession. The administration does not offer any comment on rumour or conjecture, nor does it use Signal messaging app for important communications. That said, the U2 spy plane is as an iconic piece of Cold War spy-craft technology and is still being used today (see below, another information packed book game from Historic Wings, to join my growing collection): 

Would readers kindly "not look to the skies" as a large dark object takes to the skies and flies off to mysterious places (or not as the case may be).

Map of Ukraine 1943/44: Strategy and Tactics 118 - The Tigers are Burning

Although this is an old S&T Ziplock game from way back when (in 1988, when I had stopped wargaming, RPG's and the like, foolish child that I was, instead my head was full of  busy computer science undergraduate stuff). The territory and the underlying terrain are now all too familiar subject matter for students of the 2022 to 2025+ Russo-Ukrainian "Continuation War" (see below, since 2014 this has been fought over between these two protagonists, before that there was the Second World War, before that the Russian Civil War, before that the First World War, before that the Russo-Turkish War, before that the Crimean War and it goes on and on): 

Not sure at all how history will play this one out!

Board Game Geek Link: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameversion/28271/strategy-and-tactics-magazine-edition

BattleTech: Missed It First Time Round .. so .. Got It On Re-launch

Sad fact, I never grew up, so when the opportunity come along to get something that I missed when I was a kid - I find it hard to refuse (see below, Sci-Fi "mech war" that is looking increasingly viable in the not too distant future): 

I really got it for the miniatures that remind me of the RoboCop bad police robot!

Late Review of some Xmas Presents - Family Games

The Reign of the Cthulhu board game is now fixed as a family favourite, however the family was gifted two additional games "Taskmaster: The Board Game" and a story card game called Odyssey (see below, a trio of charmers):  

Taskmaster is a hoot, but like the series of the name, you would not want it played in your house - too much danger of collateral damage (and lateral thinking wins in spades). 

Odyssey looks the more intriguing game, despite being the simplest. You have to weave a Greek Tragedy through twenty "flipped" story cards (a few variations on how to draw the cards and use them) - perfect to be mixed with alcohol in a suitably inspiring setting. I think it needs careful cast selection and people to be in a certain storytelling frame of mind, the creative juices flowing, less of the analytical to the forefront and more emotion.

Trying to learn "Root"

Darn if the US Marine Corp use it in their training, then I have "got to" take a look at it. Now from what I thought was going to be a straightforward A4 booklet of rules to read say in 45-60 mins, I was a little taken aback with the wealth of rule related material. It was all beautifully produced, engaging and rich in "pleasant" detail - but I have to "get my head round it" so I can explain it to others. It is a competitive faction (players v players) game, most play is not collaborative (although there can be moments of alliance [that also could lead to betrayal]) so it is important to get the "rules right" (see below, three instruction manuals - a light introduction, example of play booklet [a run through of a few turns], then the "Lore of Root" which is the definitive guide which looks "medium to heavy"):

It is beautiful and I am keen to play.

Call of the Cthulhu - Pandemic Style (Collaborative Game)

I can highly recommend this game that was a Xmas present purchase that went down a storm with friends and family (see below, a Pandemic style collaborative game, where the investigators try and stop the sprawling tentacles of doom engulfing humanity): 

 

So far it has been played twice, not with a great success rate for the investigators to date, but they were up against the A-Team of Elder Gods. The board game comes with some lovely miniatures that obviously will need painting in the due course of time. 

Board Game Geek reference: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/192153/pandemic-reign-cthulhu

I actually enjoyed it much more than a 7.4 rating, my rating would be a 9.0!

Exploring WWII with an Old Friend: Panzer Leader

Back in 2019, yes pre-Covid, and a memory dredged up from the "Draft" folder. I was looking at Panzer Leader with a friend (see below, I think this is the first Panzer Leader scenario, US Paras dropping behind the lines in Normandy 1944 to grab a vital road junction - but which one?):

The set-up suggests a "gang up" action by teh Allied Player of one of three defended villages (see below, the German player has to hedge his bets and guess "where" the US Paras will drop in on him - teh German seems to have thirded his forces, with his mobile element in the middle [sensible as he can easily go East - West to teh rescue or stand and fight with his "best"]):   

In this case it was the central town teh Allied player opted for (see below, teh Germans are being hit North and South, in a concerted concentric attack): 

It is one of those games where it is advisable always to roll high (see below, rolling a six is a precious commodity in this game): 

A five is not bad either (see below, grinding attrition is a key element of the game, where patience is a learnt skill, as the old axiom says - "fools rush in where angels fear to tread"): 

One feature of Panzer Blitz is the continual flipping over of counters to mark that they have been hit, and/or are ineligible for a move on the Phasing Players turn (see below, a counter face up means the unit can spend an action, blank side means either disruption through combat or an action has been performed - it is a neat way of ensuring "units don't go twice" [by sneaky purpose or by accident mistake] - Oh for gentlemanly gamers!):

Many rounds of combat and not a lot seems to be happening (see below, however in reality the Germans are being ground down - just a case of can they hold on to the\key town terrain to see the German reinforcements arrive in time?):

The wider scenario picture (see below, relief columns have been sent East and West from the Towns the Germans now know are safe): 

However the German relief columns are a mixture or horse drawn, motorised and light wheeled armour (see below, so even with road movement bonuses it will take time and arrive disjointed - meanwhile the US Paras need to keep rolling sixes): 

The "German Dead Pile" is mounting (see below,  a mortar, a Security Infantry and quite a valuable unit - an armoured car squadron; each Panzer Leader counter is approximately a platoon strength):

The US Paras are hammering away at the town [rolling sixes] and the Germans are down to the last of defenders (see below, the Germans are also finding out how hard it is in generating the 3:1 odds needed for attacks with a half decent chance of success): 

A major moment in the conflict, a town sector devoid of Germans and US Paras who simply won't budge (see below, you know it is significant as there are two Generals pointing fingers at it):  

Negotiating your way round the Panzer Leader CRT was a vital but a dark art in itself - especially as Avalon Hill games designers did not necessarily go for historical orders of battle [and overwhelming 3:1 odds for one side] but rather hinged the scenarios around delicately nuanced "Maths-like Operation Research" equations (see below, or was that merely my imagination[?] or excuse for losing[?])

I would like to say "hours of fun" - but sometimes it was a glorious "At last it is THE END, we can all go home now". I think this one was an Allied victory! Panzer Leader was a (classic Avalon Hill) game, but very much a game of its time and getting to the end of a scenario in one night (without proceedings breaking down into a mild [understatement] argument over the "interpretation of rules" (and their correct context) could be quite an achievement in itself IIRC. Avalon Hill did produce a game called Diplomacy [which was renown for rupturing long lasting friendships]

1/300 Battle of Britain Planes: PSC

I found these lurking in the PSC Battle of Britain Game Box when I was looking for a 1/300 Stuka of all things (yes, I was doing another random loft traverse). I do like them, or rather the way they have turned out [I painted the roundels free hand - but squadron "lettering" has so far has defeated me] .. and I need to finish off the German 1/300 kit that came in the box, Spitfires and Hurricanes being long "done" (see below, the RAF lesser known and unappreciated "odd ball" fighters of the Battle of Britain: Gloster Gladiator Boulton Paul Defiant and Bristol Blenheim Mk I Fighter version): 

Note: I also have this "collection" to make in 1/72 .. which as you may guess is a longer term item on teh wargaming "bucket list".

To Clip or Not To Clip .. Board Game Counters .. That is the Question!

Although I do like my modelling (ahem, understatement) and my table top wargaming - along with plenty of models, even better when serendipity strikes and I get my to play with my painted toys on table too - I also enjoy SPI, Avalon Hill and GMT board gaming. I think it's that formative teenage Squad Leader experience coming back to me. Counters in place of figures is one thing (and sometimes a tactical board game gets brought to life on a table top), but it then begs an awkward question If you go all-in on models and bother to shade/highlight them and then lovingly flock your bases (and what is not to like about a good flocked base). Should you not really go the extra step in board game world and clip your counters too? (see below, the raw tatty square look fresh from the counter sheet that we all know and love):  

But look, a small matter of a clipper and a bit bit of counter TLC - a few (four in fact) corner snips and the ugly ducklings are transformed into deluxe state-of-the-art swan (or "melee markers" in my case)  that could be auctioned off at Christie's or proudly used at a convention (see below, what a change, smooth in the hand): 

Half tongue in cheek perhaps, but well why the hell not - apart from the thousands in my combined board game collection. Does it also remove the need for tweezers? [I am not going there!] I await for the Internet to speak back to me in due course .. "profanity filter now engaged"! I also believe there is already a high quality You Tube Channel devoted to this subject ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pho7cql_H0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyjGxdp4Z4U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJY2MJRj2V8

Thank you Ardwulf!

Note to Self: Naval Kindle(?) Books - Russo Japanese War

I have a strange (hot and cold) interest in the Russo-Jap war (as in I am trying to justify a large collection of 1/3000 Navwar ships of the period). So I was thinking to myself, maybe I should re-kindle it ("Gedit", ok corny joke) with some background reading. An Amazon scan revealed: 

Russo Japanese War Titles:

• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maritime-Operations-Russo-Japanese-War-1904-1905/dp/1591141974  
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maritime-Operations-Russo-Japanese-1904-1905-ebook/dp/B00PSSK61W/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1697060788&refinements=p_27%3ASir+Julian+S.+Corbett&s=books&sr=1-2&text=Sir+Julian+S.+Corbett
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Russo-Japanese-Naval-1905-Vol-Maritime-ebook/dp/B007PS9CFO/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=xAgvB&content-id=amzn1.sym.3413293e-3815-4359-96ba-1ec5110e0b30&pf_rd_p=3413293e-3815-4359-96ba-1ec5110e0b30&pf_rd_r=257-4679612-4309404&pd_rd_wg=Np39d&pd_rd_r=e23957dd-e77f-4a2f-b07a-d33a4e35a167&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Russo-Japanese-Naval-War-1905-Vol-ebook/dp/B007PS9CTU/ref=d_pd_sbs_sccl_1_1/257-4679612-4309404?pd_rd_w=wE0Ig&content-id=amzn1.sym.35f2c042-27ab-4aa8-8df6-255fec069b2b&pf_rd_p=35f2c042-27ab-4aa8-8df6-255fec069b2b&pf_rd_r=HVT7DGNDQ3Q7W0KGPMY2&pd_rd_wg=O2N9h&pd_rd_r=d735b6d5-e8ff-4267-a830-d35553e430a7&pd_rd_i=B007PS9CTU&psc=1
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Imperial-Japanese-Navy-Russo-Japanese-Vanguard/dp/1472811194#:~:text=Book%20Description,in%20Asia%20and%20the%20Pacific.
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Russian-Battleships-Cruisers-Russo-Japanese-Vanguard/dp/1472835085/ref=pd_bxgy_img_sccl_1/257-4679612-4309404?pd_rd_w=GXXZQ&content-id=amzn1.sym.40f919ed-e530-4b1a-8d7e-39de6587208d&pf_rd_p=40f919ed-e530-4b1a-8d7e-39de6587208d&pf_rd_r=FZYWPR69M0T1R6J7H7GH&pd_rd_wg=akY3A&pd_rd_r=c74aab2b-56ca-4ec8-bfff-6f15dae30360&pd_rd_i=1472835085&psc=1
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tsushima-1905-Death-Russian-Campaign/dp/1472826833/ref=pd_bxgy_img_sccl_2/257-4679612-4309404?pd_rd_w=0gV2P&content-id=amzn1.sym.40f919ed-e530-4b1a-8d7e-39de6587208d&pf_rd_p=40f919ed-e530-4b1a-8d7e-39de6587208d&pf_rd_r=M3KFVA2DVGKCEJMAZW4W&pd_rd_wg=iQ5PY&pd_rd_r=6201f873-7c82-45bb-bbf9-34295464d57c&pd_rd_i=1472826833&psc=1

Note: I did have the two Corbett titles but my interest in the period waned and I passed them on (mostly unread, that was the problem - I just could not get into them, unlike the WWI books by the same author, which I devoured). Also for Corbett's books it seems strange how the Kindle version is the same price as the paperback one - at least the one that is currently available!

For my reference material on this period I fell back on a game (see above), the Russo-Jap 1904-05 Avalanche Press naval campaign game and David Manley's "White Bear Red Sun" naval wargame rules. A game and a set of wargame rules instead of books, crazy but true!  

Cool Maths Lecture on Games - Professor Sarah Hart

Well worth registering and logging in to see this (and best of all it is free). Mathematics for Board Games - a very interesting topic and non-trivial but presented in a easy to digest way (see below, and tell me why was Maths not this interesting at school for me?): 

https://www.gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/maths-games

Lots more interesting stuff on the site too!

PS: Hope for humans playing Go against AI too:

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/02/man-beats-machine-at-go-in-human-victory-over-ai/

Avalon Hill Games - Raid on St Nazaire Solo Games

I managed to get my hands on this classic little number from Avalon Hill, The Raid on St Nazaire, which will become part of an ongoing WWII Commando project (see below, an evocative piece of cover art - not sure if I agree with the spanking "blanko" webbing though!):  

Review from Board Game Geek: 

• https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1425/raid-st-nazaire

Helpful Tutorials: 

• https://boardgamegeek.com/video/456895/raid-st-nazaire/raid-st-nazaire-part-1
• https://boardgamegeek.com/video/443891/raid-st-nazaire/raid-st-nazaire-french-partisans
• https://boardgamegeek.com/video/365610/raid-st-nazaire/raid-st-nazaire-vassal-content-review-gameplay-dar

Time to push some counters around!

Battle of Britain 1940: Remembering the Battle through a Board Game

When considering the Battle of Britain I am always thrown back to the epic 1969 film which captures the mood perfectly, the authentic (well near enough) actual flying machines (pre-dating CGI with scale models when they had to blown up) and the sheer scale of the battle for me - including the bombing of Duxford aerodrome (see below, "Repeat Please" as the Polish pilots unofficially join the fight and thank God they did): 

The Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) did a revamp of the (Airfix?) boardgame and I even managed to paint most of the planes for the board game (see below, the start of the campaign, Kanalkampf - I still have a few German planes still to paint!):  

We managed to stumble through a turn, with heavy attractional losses for the Luftwaffe and big recovery problems for the RAF (see below, damaged RAF planes radar stations and an airfield, but a mass of Luftwaffe planes did not make it back to France):  

Definitely needs a longer revisit [probably three hours+ to do it justice]/ I think the key to a successful game is playing following the German historical sequence of attack by arranging the Mission Cards - historically, rather than drawn semi-randomly as suggested by the rules. In its purest form it needs to be played double blind with a White Control Room and added atmosphere!