Sunday 19 June 2016

THE VBCW BROADSIDE game!

Firstly sorry it has taken a week,. Secondly I may have gotten some of the facts wrong as while at the show I was both distracted by the lovely traders and members of the public and yes even some of the games and a few bloggers. But everyone was lovely and I regret no distractions.

The game was very similar to a practice game (Link ) but with a couple of differences, Most importantly the card activation was alternative forces which meant I was not forced to move a tank only twice in a game when the enemy were able to move one of their tanks 6 times and fire 3 time to my ZERO ) which did make it seem a lot fairer, I know It was just bad luck that made that happen BUT being on the receiving end of such bad luck was not pleasant. Also this time it was both Graham (who needed to leave early) and Tim against me on my own, I had Peter  last time which is always nice even if I do consider him reckless at times and I am sure he finds me cautious at time)

So On with the game and this time I "Knew" how the rules worked... OK I did not know them but I did have a clue This time (as did the other players.)

And Matt who ran and supplied the game did a great job!

My troops begin to arrive and move up the board. My objective being the pub at the end of the road (No one say, "Just like real life!")

 As we arrive I deploy as best as I am able. A long way short of my objective as I found the Battle-taxi's slightly too fragile last time!


 The Boys Antitank unit had been upgraded to Veteran status and were so much better this game. First hitting and casusing a morale check that pinned the enemy medium tank to stay in place and not shoot for a turn. I did fire everything I could at the enemy tank even things I knew would not penetrate in the hope of a second morale check. But no need as the Boys fired again this time for a kill shot and the crew bailed out! (well most of them)
 the Antitank gun had no targets so elected to fire at the BUF Battle-taxis with limited success.

Elsewhere on the board some Anglican league fellows left the church and uncontrolled by me started taking and returning fire on my left flank. They all died within 2 turns gunned down by the BUF and I only became aware of them and tried to support them with a light tank in the second turn.

 The Tank never quite reached them and had to withdraw once they were dead or be out flanked by a horde of infantry. (seen on the left of this Picture)
My Infantry were lorried forward and it turns out the random  event was that my army had caught a severe cold and I had to loose a figure each turn to illness from now on.  Random events were a LOT kinder to me in this game than in the previous one, but Tim did seem to get of lightly as the only random event I recall was a light shower which had no effect on the game.


 Along with the Anglican league a wandering band of Morris dancers turned up. Having just sat down from a quick shop at Colonel Bills I was aware they were not mine so gleefully opened up and inflicted 2 casualties. Graham played in his absence.

 More and More Fascists arrive behind the Pub (theoretically my objective but I was going no where near it,) Including a Heavy MG which set up on the top floor. My troops in the centre field took a beating from that gun as it was a short range and they only had a hedge to hide behind.
 Tim got back to the table after a LONGER walk (about 3/4 of an hour) realised that the Morris men were not his and let loose and after 3 turns on the table not a single  Morris man was alive. Like the Anglican league they acted as a good cushion for my troops and really were BULLET Magnets!

Overall a much better game and It did look spectacular on the table and had many pleasing comments from the public. Some of whom had not seen a VBCW game before and were interested in the background and setting, so maybe a couple more players converted to the cause.





The show ended before a game result was achieved but my troops in the field did not fair well and a unit of 12 was still passing morale checks when just 3 survived! 

From my point of view a good game at a good show and a good result.

Thanks for reading today. If you have sun where you are enjoy that this Sunday and if you have rain stay in doors and paint like billie-OH!

Cheers Clint (Warm but overcast here in Kent today). Another post on Tuesday>>>


 

22 comments:

  1. This was such a good looking game, lovely terrain and fine figs!

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    1. Thanks Gobbo. I am glad you saw it in real life.

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  2. Looking and sounding a hoot old boy!

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    1. Thank you Fran. VBCW is not everyone's cup of tea as it is in essence a Fantasy made up alternative history. But I for one do like it.

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  3. Great to see an overview of the game Clint and it looks wonderful, bravo Sir.

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    1. Thank you Michael. Very kind of you to say so.

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  4. Excellent stuff ....... Always interesting to see other options and variations. New things to try out.😀

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    1. Thanks Matt. We ALL like new things to try in wargaming. And Hopefully those that were less aware of VBCW will now look it up and take an interest.

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  5. Very cool and colorful game, Clint!

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    1. Thank you Dean. As mentioned above I do like VBCW for the background and diversity. Everyone can have the forces they want.

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    1. Thank you Rodger. I will post a few more VBCW figures tomorrow. And More Moderns on Thursday... well that is at least the plan, but we all know sometimes plans do not work the way we think they should.

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  7. The combination of the game mat and terrain really do work well together, I think. And together with the troops and vehicles used, it really all does look a good representation of what the VBCW in England would have looked like - To my mind, at least.

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    1. Thank you Roy. The terrain does look a little like some villages near here so I have to agree it does look like Kent some 70-80 years ago. I do like the look of the game.

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  8. Good looking fun game, as I knew it would be, but I think I'd hate some of the contrived random events!

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    1. Thanks Joe. Overall in BOTH games I think I have had the worst of the Random events, but overall I would keep them in the game. I cannot be sure how bad the oppositions random events were in this last game, but they were terrible in the first game. No set of rules agrees to every player every game, sometimes I moan about it other times I do not!

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    1. Thanks lee. I did find it hard to get my camera out and take pictures on the day. Or else there would have been many more

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  10. I very much enjoyed the report. (My wife would have been horrified at the Morris Dancer massacre :P )I must find out more about this interesting imagi-period.

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    1. Thanks David. I only shot at them because I Knew they were not mine. If I had known they were not actively hostile towards my troops I would have let them be. Tim and Graham may or may not have fired at the Morris dancers no matter what.

      I am glad you liked the game and I will Need to build a BEER tent for future games.... Just because life is better with a beer tent!

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    2. That sounds like a great idea Clint. And Tim and Graham sound like men after my own heart.

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    3. Both Tim and Graham are very nice chaps.
      And A beer tent over the Christmas period I think, or a beer wagon! But a beer something for the Morris men.

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