FOW
Re: FOW
had a game last week vs yoof, we went with 150 points, which actually worked out decently and didn't leave the table looking like team yankee.. well not past the deployment phase at least. two formations minimum, we both had one infantry and one armour which seriously cut the spam down nicely and actually felt about right for combined arms.
My Soviets had the usual ragtag Strelkovy, two decent sized formations with the trimmings, a pair of 45mm ATG and some 120mm mortars, plus a T-35 (85mm) Tankovy - HQ & 2x8 tanks. Div support of 4x 76mm and 4x 122mm guns
Facing German paras (two platoons), a quartet of Stug IIIG and some attached HMG plus a Panzer IVG company, with two in the HQ nad two units of 4, plus a triplet of NW41 launchers as support.
suffice to say my Soviets learnt a frontal assault no longer works as one full infantry blob was deleted with hardly an eyebrow raised by the NW41 and one infantry unit.. ouch
also a T-34 company were wiped by the Stug IIIG without answer.. also ouch
nailed the Panzer IVG though with the other T-34, and murdificated the other infantry, then chased the Stugs back to win the objective on T6.
the V4 morale rules are still pants and Soviets having a 4+ save on the larger formations of infantry basically returns them to a shelf never to be used again, they just die far too fast now to artillery fire. Soviet artillery was ok but not amazing, the lack of an observer on both sides hurt the guns and rockets badly.
Otherwise actually a good game, close right to the end, never did get an infantry assault off but came close a few times, board felt about right and for once you had combined armour & infantry doing its thing properly with mutual support working (Alex's first lot and my second), while units unsupported died (my first lot and Alex's Panzer IVG).
150 feels nice, can actually see some stuff thats a liability in smaller games actually being useful - e.g. Tigers, as you finally have the stuff to support and make them work.
Rematch tomorrow with slightly different 150 point lists - my lot upgraded to Urdany and Alex's gaining Wermacht colours and half tracks
My Soviets had the usual ragtag Strelkovy, two decent sized formations with the trimmings, a pair of 45mm ATG and some 120mm mortars, plus a T-35 (85mm) Tankovy - HQ & 2x8 tanks. Div support of 4x 76mm and 4x 122mm guns
Facing German paras (two platoons), a quartet of Stug IIIG and some attached HMG plus a Panzer IVG company, with two in the HQ nad two units of 4, plus a triplet of NW41 launchers as support.
suffice to say my Soviets learnt a frontal assault no longer works as one full infantry blob was deleted with hardly an eyebrow raised by the NW41 and one infantry unit.. ouch
also a T-34 company were wiped by the Stug IIIG without answer.. also ouch
nailed the Panzer IVG though with the other T-34, and murdificated the other infantry, then chased the Stugs back to win the objective on T6.
the V4 morale rules are still pants and Soviets having a 4+ save on the larger formations of infantry basically returns them to a shelf never to be used again, they just die far too fast now to artillery fire. Soviet artillery was ok but not amazing, the lack of an observer on both sides hurt the guns and rockets badly.
Otherwise actually a good game, close right to the end, never did get an infantry assault off but came close a few times, board felt about right and for once you had combined armour & infantry doing its thing properly with mutual support working (Alex's first lot and my second), while units unsupported died (my first lot and Alex's Panzer IVG).
150 feels nice, can actually see some stuff thats a liability in smaller games actually being useful - e.g. Tigers, as you finally have the stuff to support and make them work.
Rematch tomorrow with slightly different 150 point lists - my lot upgraded to Urdany and Alex's gaining Wermacht colours and half tracks
Re: FOW
my Germans and Soviets were basically built around the old "Eastern Front" book, early period to allow the grey but it does look good. Mid war was a lot of fun as the lists were decent against each other