Welcome one and all to the grand adventure of tabletop gaming! This week I completely ignore all the hobby work I need to do, play tons of witcher 3 (omfg so good), and meet a new gaming group to play bolt action, with everyone's favorite blogger, John Stiening from 40k Hobby Blog!
This table is so friggin amazing.
You might be thinking...BAH bolt action, I'm here for sci fi mini destruction Greg! But this post is more then just about Bolt action, it's about applying a new type of gaming style to table top in general, a new narrative driven battle which brings everyone to the yard for a fantastic game, where each side sets their own objectives, and the battles are balanced and controlled by game masters. Interested? Prepare for some amazing fun! (Special Note: This game deals with World War 2, which means that models painted to represent nazi germany may feature swastikas. I've blurred out the generally apparent ones, (to prevent random internet stuff) but may miss a few. No offense is meant! )
Quick recap: John and I know each other from Nova, and from chatting with each other via the blogs. This past week John invited me to check out a bolt action game with his local gaming group, so I went down to see what it was all about. He wanted to showcase a new style of narrative that he really wants to apply to 40k. I was intrigued, so brought my camera and traveled into the depths of DC!
First off...lets talk about this table. It is absolutely incredible. Steve (from cheatin steves) and John from the 40k blog have been working on this magnificent display. It's a massive 6x8 feet and to call it detailed is an understatement. I tried to capture the absolute beauty of this table (themed for battles on the African front in WW2, this particular battle was the south africans attacking, and the germans defending), but even these photos don't do it justice. You can read more about the tables construction at Cheatin Steve's.
Moving onto the actual game. This is a four on four battle, with one side taking control of the defending germans, and the other taking control of the assaulting south african force. This is based on the actual battle of the Sollum Garrison from Nov 1941 to Jan 1942 during operation crusader. For more information, I've attached the GM packet for this battle that John provided me.
| Sollum GM Packet |
Now how this game was played out is really interesting. First off, the two teams had a planning stage, prior to meeting up for the game, where each side was able to plan and pick where they would deploy, how they would aim to get objectives, where they would put tank traps, etc. (Check the ppt packet!). Each team also had their own dedicated GM. John was GM for the attacking South Africans, Steve the defending Germans. The German movement was even hidden! (it was insanely well organized).
Prior to the start of the game, there was a final meeting, and the british/africian forces all enjoyed some Gin and Tonics outside :) I was made tank commander, and was given "full" control of all the allied tanks. For a detailed battle report from someone who actually knows bolt action, check out steve's report. My report will mainly be a bunch of photos with me moving tanks around. The main goal of the Africans was capture of the roads, and removal of the roadblocks. The main objective of the Germans was to prevent them from doing that (and holding them off till reinforcements game in via a frigate in 3 hours) [John actually had a timer, and they weren't told of the time limit till the game started!]
Prior to the start of the game, there was a final meeting, and the british/africian forces all enjoyed some Gin and Tonics outside :) I was made tank commander, and was given "full" control of all the allied tanks. For a detailed battle report from someone who actually knows bolt action, check out steve's report. My report will mainly be a bunch of photos with me moving tanks around. The main goal of the Africans was capture of the roads, and removal of the roadblocks. The main objective of the Germans was to prevent them from doing that (and holding them off till reinforcements game in via a frigate in 3 hours) [John actually had a timer, and they weren't told of the time limit till the game started!]
The assault begins! I was secretly told that I wasn't actually allowed to help the invading force...because I had a different commanding officer. As such, they would ask for tank support constantly, and I'd give them excuses like "Changing to HE ammo" "Waiting for confirmation from HQ"...the idea was based on the A Bridge Too Far.
I moved the tanks around to act like I was doing something. Mike Brandt from Whiskey and 40k was a bit perturbed that a noobie would given full control of an entire tank company :) (sorry Mike!)...especially because his guys were in front, and getting zero support from the tanks. Before long the invading force came under sniper fire, and the first casualty was the lieutenant (oh oh!). The Germans split into tiny groups, all set to ambush the invading force with sniper fire.
The forces moved up. I drank some more gin (I'm a tank commander!). The first sniper squad was taken out, but then the invading force came under machine fire. Models being removed from the table like orks!
Once the SA forces hit the buildings, it became a lot easier for them (now they had cover). They also smartly deployed smoke, which let the engineers have cover to remove the road blocks. The second the road blocks were removed, I started moving the tanks to "pretend" support the troops. I also blew up a palm tree. (Actually I rolled to hit a random unit, to which I accidentally rolled to annihilate it, so john said I just blew up a palm tree and quickly swept up the dice). Mike got extremely aggressive with his troops, and assaulted into the town. He heard they had gin, and he needed a refill!
Fighting becomes fierce once in the town. The SA forces push in deep, and the DAK (german defenders) counter assault and hold the line. It's a desperate battle building to building, and the germans seem to have the edge.
As the game continues, the SA forces reach the hotel, and take the cross roads! They also break up the remaining frontal road blocks. The tanks are coming! (or I'm at least pretending they do). But in a last ditch attempt, the DAK force pushes hard, and whittles the SA down to just two effective remaining squads. The cost is high, and the game results in an overall tie. (Though steve was saying that the SA force technically won, considering how awful they did in history)..
I figured you all would enjoy the photos more then me trying to figure out what was actually happening in terms of dice and such. From a first time observer of bolt action, this game was much more about the planning and execution of a mission, then the actual rolling of dice. In this way, the dice just added to the excitement, instead of being the main star (like they are in 40k min/maxing sometimes)
It was wonderful to meet everyone and make a bunch of new friends. I can't wait till the next time, and hopefully my tanks can actually fire for once! (note these are not my tanks. I did not paint them!)
I figured you all would enjoy the photos more then me trying to figure out what was actually happening in terms of dice and such. From a first time observer of bolt action, this game was much more about the planning and execution of a mission, then the actual rolling of dice. In this way, the dice just added to the excitement, instead of being the main star (like they are in 40k min/maxing sometimes)
It was wonderful to meet everyone and make a bunch of new friends. I can't wait till the next time, and hopefully my tanks can actually fire for once! (note these are not my tanks. I did not paint them!)
Next week I'll be doing some videos to try and expand on my hobbying goodness. Hope you all enjoyed this break from 40k. I know you all love miniatures and gaming as much as I do (regardless of the game!). Have a good one guys!
