After still not feeling the love from Chain of Command in 28mm, both Ed and I had a rethink. The scenery just didn't feel right in the two games which we had already played. There was certainly a good game to be had lurking in the rule book, we just hadn't found it.
As I had already a large collection of 15mm WWII kit ready to go, we decided to try the game in the smaller scale. Ed had suggested that the rules were designed in 15mm to be 'true scale' when viewed on the tabletop. For a small fee, Ed bought some Flames of War plastic panzergrenadiers (very nicely posed), and I used my Christmas bought Brits...apologies for the unfinished figures. Here's my standard list, supplemented with a M5 Stauart light tank.
I have to say, the game played much better in this scale. Just by looking at the terrain layout alone, we felt it was 'right'.
In terms of the game, the British patrolled up to the centre of the board (just shy of the green houses), with a slight flanking to the left. Ed's panzergrenadiers prepared their attack from behind the two houses.
From the Brits perspective the battle unfolded with the Stuart entering the central road, with a section to it's left. The Germans took a central position and set up their MG34s ready to stop any forward momentum. The Brits matched this move by placing a section behind the Green houses. A contest between the opposing MGs began, with the Germans getting the better of the fight.
To try and gain some momentum, the Brits deployed their last section on the forward left flank, with the tank switching flanks to lay down some fire on the central German MG strongpoint. The Germans rapidly responded by moving a section into opposing woods, bringing forward the jump off point, and deploying a panzerschreck team...a single shot...which missed the tank. The tank began to exchange fire with this group and the MGs.
The finale to the game came with a German close assault on the British left flank. A decisive engagement which sapped the will power of the troops to carry on..a wiped out section and two wounded leaders which routed from the table.
All told, a fun and interesting game. On reflection, it struck me that Chain of Command, whilst close, is not a true skirmish game; but rather a small action game of little 'groups' of troops. Therefore the use of the terrain in a slightly less cluttered fashion still provided enough opportunities and challenges to make the game interesting. What is certain is that it has provided the incentive to finish painting the British company, build some universal carriers and construct an anti-tank gun!
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As you say, I think that we had too much scenery kicking around for our first games using 28mm figures, it slowed down what I think is a really well paced game. As it was we got through our first game in two hours and we found that we were referring to the rules less and less.
ReplyDeleteGood fun. Now to get those Panzer Grenadiers painted.