I chose a simple scenario from the rule book where a briefcase full of important papers had been left in a jeep in no mans land and both sides wanted to retrieve them. I haven't played BA for a while, maybe since last year so might have got some rules wrong but I made a mental not to look them up later as I didn't want to spend most of the game buried in the rulebook and put Duncan off. I decided to take things easy and then about mid game make a run for the jeep from an orchard I had been hiding behind, I made a small foray on my far left with one squad and a Sherman, to find myself in a duel with a Puma and a Marder IIIM, as usually happens with my armour the Sherman came off worse and duly exploded after initially having the turret jam. Duncan meanwhile had taken possession of a large building directly overlooking the jeep, he was a bit cautious of trying to get to the jeep and the squad he did send was none too keen and even less keen as casualties and pin markers climbed.
I now advanced all my troops and was getting close to the objective, however time was up and as the Puma ran riot in my rear area and the Marder moved to cover the jeep it was obvious I was not going to get the papers back, but also the Germans despite their armour also would not be able to reach the jeep, a draw.
We also managed a lot of chatting while playing the game and one of Duncan's friends turned up to tell him he was going to work on an engine recovered from a Russian BRDM personnel carrier, I think I have that right. He is perhaps going to replace the engine with an electric one and then hire it out as an eco friendly war machine. Thankfully the wargame did not put him off and he will be back at Casa Anderson for more games in the future, his mate also promised to get the Kettenkrad up to Duncan's so I can have a spin in it at some point, result!
I had a really good day yesterday, mate Julian came all the way from Kendal to bring me a pot of white paint which I am in danger of running out of, so he gave me the paint and I gave him eight Perry Highlanders which he wanted to paint up, Julian is an excellent painter and I did not need the figures having ordered too many. We had a coffee and a chat over the table for the afternoons game while customers came in and stared. I then had the game and in the evening I had a Zoom 'Show and Tell' with the guys from the club for an hour or so which was good fun, a lot of busy wargamers and a lot of enthusiasm for various projects when this nonsense is done with.
If we do get down to a 1m social distance I would like to do more games here as my table is 9'x5' and Duncan and I were on opposite sides all afternoon so there would be no problem in upsetting anyone.
I am back to normal hours from Monday, a real shame as I have been enjoying my afternoons off due to the lockdown, every cloud etc. I have had my first map commission in since lockdown, the book is about the rebellions against Henry VIII in the West Country, there are 11 maps to be rendered. On the tray are the 88th Foot to be based so they should be complete tomorrow, then I have a SYW limber to do, a few hours worth and then some scatter terrain, an oil tank, water tank and a fountain. I also have on order a beautiful Russian Church from Scenic World and a small round, brick well, I don't need them but with a full Russian village why not a church?
Just had Rob from the club pop in to post a parcel from a PO with no queue, I gave him a discount and put the secret Postman's mark on his parcel.
Looks like your game provided a good intro to BA. Too bad the Sherman went up so early I to the contest. Sounds like you remain busy during lockdown but life may be soon returning to normal.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jonathan, yes, back to normalish on Monday as far as my solo gaming goes anyway. I have decided to leave the table up as it does not infringe on the shop side and also cuts that part of the room off from muddy feet, should have got dark brown carpet tiles.
DeleteYou have been busy there George, nice looking set as is usual and fine pics of the game.
ReplyDeleteI think it was a good intro Phil, and my usual bad luck with armour helped.
DeleteLooked and sounded like a fab game George. Think I'll gave to ask Pistie about this secret mark on parcels?
ReplyDeleteDamn, careful Ray, you could get me drummed out :)
DeleteSecret mark? Are you a Mason then? Or the PO equivalent? Nice intro game, you don't have much joy of hardware though do you?
ReplyDeleteEver wondered why some parcels get there quicker than others David, shhh. No, I don't seem to have much luck with armour.
Delete"Lockdown Week......whatever" very aptly sums up the past 3 months. I presume the "secret Postman's mark" means "Deliver it in less a fortnight" - unlike the rest of the mail during the "crisis"?
ReplyDeleteI am now firmly in the anti lockdown camp and pretty much anti everything else which is going on, perhaps Post Office Limited (very limited) will sack me for having the wrong thoughts. On the other hand I have not had a problem with mail here, orders for wargaming (what else) come fairly quickly.
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