Monday 15 July 2013

PBI Disaster

I played a game of PBI against Graham at the club yesterday. I am not going to make any excuses. I was completely outplayed. The dice gods were not kind, nor were they totally horrid. It was a combination of Graham playing very well and me playing badly.

My American Infantry company were in defence and his German Infantry company were attacking. Graham had a bit of luck with the set up and the terrain favoured him and moved 2 of the three game objectives to as close to his start line as it was possible to get. This was my first mistake. I should have anticipated and set up better. I then decided that I needed to get at least one objective back so set my troops up to counter attack one of the objectives. Then Graham unleashed his artillery and pinned all those troops. Unable to return fire he used his usual German MG rule and brought fire to bear on the defenders to the extent that I was both pinned and bearing casualty markers and my "Gifted" Platoon commander was also dead.
My turn came and I also used an artillery strike against a whole platoon of infantry moving in the open. It landed on target, so they would be pinned next turn, but despite the lack of cover only a single casualty. With all my infantry "pinned" and with casualties and without a leader they were all on one action pip so it was either try to remove casualties, try to remove the pin markers or get one shot back. The platoon did manage to remove 2 of the three pin markers which just set them up as target central on Graham next turn. I also had 2 Shermans on the board (66 points out of the 400 total force points so good value I think). The motivated badly and each was able to fire the main 75mm gun once and a Machine gun once. One tank had no effect, the other have very limited effect. I rolled for reinforcements. Each Platoon off table rolled 9 d6 and each platoon only scored 1 6 so those troops were not interested in coming to play just yet.
 On to turn 2.  Graham shoots the guys in the trenches and foxholes and that platoon drops to over half casualties, with no leader and parts of it "Pinned". So he rushes some troops forward and takes the trench, with 3 casualty markers in it so they would have to stay on the table and could not be removed unless I could retake the trench. My Pinned troops could not move so that would leave a tank to take a trench with Panserfausts and Panserschreks in it. So that was not going to happen! Given that Graham had free troops over the other side on the board he rolled high for the action pips and managed to get them adjacent to the last objective.

Ok I thought I'll see how the next turn plays out for me and take it from there. My Infantry did not break, but neither could they do anything so it was all down to the two medium tanks. on 2d6 they both managed to roll 5 each time. so I did my best, but they ended up doing "Diddly Squat!". So I thought I'd roll and see if I could get any reinforcements. As it happened 1/2 a support platoon did decide that they could arrive as did 2 pieces of artillery....... but at this time it was too little too late! I would only be able to put them on the table edge and Graham would get a free turn in effect. Then with far less troops I would need to take back all three objectives. So I conceded. I was totally out played, and I have to admit it was my fault. Nothing I can say will change that. So well done Graham, I have learnt a couple of valuable lessons so I should play better next time. (Yeah right!)

I am not going to say it was a good game for me it was a disaster! I don't even think Graham particularly enjoyed it as there was no real element of challenge in it. But sometime games play this way and we will play again as we both know the rules work really well most times. Oh well enough said, you can't win every time. And if I did wargaming only to win I would have given it up many years ago!

SO here is a quick heads up as well. These glass beads, very similar to those used by wargmers in certain games are available in TESCO's for a mere £2 a pack. The packs are considerably larger than those in wargames stores and at shows and for the price are a real bargain. The down side is that they only seem to do Black, White and Clear. However for the price it is a good set of game markers.

That's it for today, I must get painting as I want to show some TAR7AN figures on Wednesday. So until then "Keep Calm and roll the dice!" Best wishes Clint


18 comments:

  1. A win is a win for Graham regardless of the challenge.....all hail the dice gods!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a gift for Graham. All Hail the dice gods!

      Delete
  2. Ouch! 2 turns, right? Although it sounds as if all the real damage was done in turn 1...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah 2 turn. And Ouch is right. All the real damage was done in turn 1 and I had very little to fight back with and reienforcents reluctant to turn up. My fault I should have played a lot better. Can't and will not blame anyone else.

      Delete
  3. Bad luck with the game mate, Your turn will come where the boot will be on the other foot!

    Thanks for the heads up about the beads I'll have to pick some up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You will have to look in a big TESCO's small ones don't seem to stock them. But I suspect you already realised that..

      As for the game it happens.

      Delete
  4. It does sound like you were the maker of your own misfortune, but the fickle dice didn't help. A two-turn game (effectively), dosn't really sound that much fun for either of you so best put it down to experience and plot your revenge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Plotting revenge for a wargamer might involve buying new dice and figures. Another platoon of infantry would give me a few more options.

      But essentially you are right my mistakes lead to my downfall.

      Delete
  5. I guess sometimes things just don't go one's way; good spot on the beads though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yesterday the worst game I have played in a few years so I was due one. I made all the mistakes and Graham punished me suitably. I'll Chalk it up to experience!

      Delete
  6. It seems like it was a gaming weekend for all of you boys.

    I'm very much looking forward to seeing those Tarzan figures painted up Clint. And also to seeing the game board your going to design.

    I've been away for a few days and just got back in. I may not post this week, but I will be reading blogs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TAR7AN figures on Wednesday. Just the bases to finish, and "Cheetah" to do start to finish. Although comments are always welcome they are not nessercary so have a good few days away and whatever it is try to enjoy doing it!

      Delete
  7. PBI, Lazerburn, Battletech. Clint, you get to play all the best games, you jammy man you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the joy of a club, you get to find like minded people who like the same rules you do, or the same scale or period. But not played Laserburn at the club yet.

      Delete
  8. Damn those dice gods!!!!!! Good idea with the glass beads though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not the dice gods this time, I admit they did not help me but most of it was my fault and my set up. Which is better as I can learn from that!

      Delete
  9. My dice luck is just about the same and my grand tactics...lets just say I've lost a game (as per rules, so really, actually lost it) in my opponents 1st turn that happened to be 1st turn of the game. It took us about an hour to set up and we were done in what...5 minutes?

    We really need to get together for a game, I wonder who'd win that one...I can't decide if it would be the most boring or the most interesting game ever :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. First turn, that's harsh!

      I think a game between us would be jolly good. We could finish it quickly and go for a pint!

      Delete

Please feel free to leave a comment.