Some Face to Face Gaming Part 1 - SCW

Taking our lives in our hands, a small group of us met up again for some face to face gaming. Mrs T and I have been away for a few days over the weekend, and having survived that I felt confident to go ahead with a day of play. We would be making the most of the glorious August weather*, so Shedquarters would be hosting with the windows open. 

I was joined by Phil, Chris A and West Country Richard, together with the return of occasional gamer Gary.

Back due to popular demand was a game of "For Whom The Dice Rolls" (well, Richard asked for it). Due to a bit of time pressure on the organisation I chose to run the "Viva La Muerte" scenario from the resources pack. I played this game back in April, and there's a report here. 

The scenario is designed for two players, but it can stretch to four. Its main advantage is that it is a time limited game, and should run in three hours maximum. That fitted our morning session perfectly.

"VLM" is a historically based scenario set in 1936 during the drive on Madrid. It has a historical orbat for the Nationalists, used in a slightly fictionalised setting. The Nationalists have to capture the two villages and the bridge. Capture of the town at the far end earns extra credit. The Republicans have to stop them.

Phil and Richard were the Nationalists, Chris and Gary the Republicans. The Nationalists moved first, and were soon storming up the table, but also very aware that they wanted to get out of their trucks before the planes turned up.

At the far end of the table, the Republicans installed one militia unit in a village, and put one on the river line. Elsewhere they sent an anarchist group off to occupy the other village.

Richard brought his artillery on, and drove it aggressively up the road. Personally I'd have deployed it on the hill at their end of the table and started shelling asap.

You know. The hill where they deployed their Observer.

The Nationalists got the first bombing run of the game. It was largely ineffective, and the anarchists were fine with it all.

Phil had a legion battalion. He was advancing cautiously.

Then it was the turn of the Republic's bombers to fail to damage their target.

Richard had the Moroccans. He sent them out wide to their right, screeched to a halt and got out of the trucks.

He advanced confidently over open ground with no artillery support, and took some casualties.

The artillery was now in play, pinning down the anarchist village. This enabled Phil to move forwards unmolested.

Richard poured small arms fire into the village, and the defenders amassed a few casualties.

As the turn then passed to the Republicans, the village defenders reorganised. You can't see easily in the photo but the pile of white rings have converted to half their number and turned black to denote permanently damaged bases.

They have no respite, however, as a Nationalist bombing run zeroes in on them.

Richard takes the chance to record this moment for posterity.

The air attack isn't massively successful, but it pins the defenders.

Before he can attack, however, the Republican air force strafe the unit, pinning them.

Supported by their MG sections the Regulares charge home in a co-ordinated attack. The need to unpin costs them a round of softening up small arms fire.

It's a bloody fight, and the Moroccans are repulsed.

However, when the dust settles it transpires that the defenders feel like they've done enough for the day, and have retired from the field.

The focus switches to the other side of the table. The clock is ticking down, so Phil is obliged to launch his attack a move earlier than he'd like. Still he has enough commands to lift the artillery barrage and pile in with all his companies, supported by HMG fire. The chances of this not being an overwhelming success are slim.

However, it turns out to be a complete bust. His preparatory fire is ineffective, as was the artillery bombardment. He gets the wrong end of a 1:6 dice roll, and the Legion are bounced with a stack of casualty markers.

Undaunted by his colleague's failure to take his one objective Richard occupies the town with one unit of Moroccans, and pushes the others forwards to take the bridge.

Just as what might be claimed to be a draw looks in the bag, Gary and Chris counter attack with a battalion sized unit of Civil Guards. They storm the bridge, throwing back the Moroccans. Time's up. Night falls. A rare victory for the Republic.

A terrific replaying of this scenario that was nail biting for both sides. Some outrageous luck frustrated the Legion, and some tenacious fighting by a workers' militia battalion held on just long enough to grasp a victory.

Phew! Time to break for lunch and set up the afternoon's game.

* Joke. It was colder than the last attempt in May