BATTLEFRONT: The Ridge (Playtest)

[MAGNA]

BRITISH turn three.

Artillery.

The infantry and Armoured car on the left of the ridge have been it by some larger type shells as well as some mortar fire. This has resulted in the first casualties of the game - one German section is suppressed and the other closest to the centre of the ridge is completely wiped out.

A lot of smaller shells fell in the area of the 88. It was plastered. Both the 88 and the Sdkfz 7 are now disordered - the commander of the 88 crew has his Luger out again and is desperately trying to get his men out from under the Sd.

Next comes the British movement. This could be an interesting time.

Close combat could be a factor in the near future. For close combat a unit must be within one inch of an enemy unit at the end of it's move.

We will find out what happens soon I think.

Good shooting by the Pommies too.

Forgot - offensive fire phase for the British before movement - sorry.

[lufttiger]

Geez those guys hit everything they see, yet our squirt guns just get the
sand wet. Obvisouly were not using Vets here, but a bunch Hitler youth kids.

Tell the Brits to stop using real ammo, cuz it appears were not

Vell any moment my King Tiger will show up in there rear

[Whiterook]

Oh, OK, we'll drop some candy out to your H-Youth....oh drat, we're completely out Old Chap...we'll just have to drop somemore shells your way, Old Bean!

[TRDG]

Follow on orders are in.

Cheers

Tommy!!

[MAGNA]

OK. Things are definitely hotting up now.

British offensive fire.

Only the six pounder fires this time at the Panzer IV. It was a damn good shot and only a whisker off destroying the tank. As it is the Panzer IV is disordered.

British movement.

The Dingo is becoming a real worry for the Germans. It has made it's way to the back left of the ridge and can see right along the rear side.

The British infantry has moved forward again and most are trying to dig in. The rear dug in positions are taken over by troops moving onto the board.

CHARGE!!

The infantry on the left has moved past the wadi and streamed down the flank. They are still a reasonable distance from the ridge and have disregarded dig in orders (charge of the light brigade or will cooler heads slow them down again ?).

Speaking of The charge of the light brigade - the Crusader has reordered and was told to move towards the back of the ridge to force the 88 to target it. The commander of the Crusader took this to mean 'right up to the 88' which is disordered. On the way there it has exposed two sections of German troops who were moving up the ridge and has run over the flank of another, scattering and disordering them. Another two sections are exposed as well. These are dug in.

The Crusader is now within an inch of the 88 so if it survives the German defensive fire we will have a close combat situation.

Have good look at the pictures as things have changed a fair bit. The British infantry is getting a lot closer now. The Crusader is a real problem.

It is now the German defensive fire phase.

If the DAK would like to let me know who to fire at with what we can see what happens.

[TRDG]

Good stuff MAGNA, but.....

The "charge of the Light Brigade? Was that how it was rolled, as to intended orders??

Same thing for the Crusader rolling within an inch of and about to take VERY direct 88 rounds, as well as placing itself sideways to infrantry for an easy assault.......?

I'm not being critical here, but these things are rolled , as to order "misdirection" in the game?

Thanks

Cheers, a fairly confused Tea drinker Commander here.

[lufttiger]

Love those pics Magna, it really helps, Although i don't see a Dingo in our rear?
Boy you Brits are Gutsy to run right up to our 88 with your Crusader, this
could actually work out for you. If you had stayed where you were, i
think that 88 would have finally got you. But now you have a chance to
take out our 88. My gunner is panicing, but then why not he's only 14, so
i think i'll slap him on the helmut and take over for him, ya!

And ver is my Luftwaffe?, Bring in the big gun Dora, launch the U-boats!

Oh ya were in the desert

[TRDG]

Good one lufttiger, are you guys having fun with this yet? This is only a basic test game, but I see many more here to come!!

Cheers, I'm not looking forward to trying to defend against Tigers and Panthers, oh my... When we get to that in a game, but I plan on doing many countries in the future as well!


TOMMY Tom

[lufttiger]

Yeah this is pretty cool, cuz all we have to do is call in the orders. This is
my first board game in 20 years, so i'm winging this, but what the hell its all
for fun

[MAGNA]

The Crusader has taken an 'opportunity' option to do some extra damage if possible. I added this myself in these games to simulate troops taking a chance that is not really more dangerous than what was intended. In this case, the Crusader could have stopped at the right rear of the ridge but could have copped it from a reordered 88. The other option was to use it's speed to get to grips with the 88. It did the second and exposed some infantry along the way.

I WILL NOT be doing this with all units in every move. It can only happen if I notice that there is another option after orders are given and while I am doing the movement phase. So no stupid moves will come out of the blue - if you order tanks onto the board at your baseline and want them to go hull down that is what they do - I will not be rolling to see if they disobey orders and roar onto the table towards a forest.

Tigers and Panthers - Panthers have been toned down in these rules for some reason. I think the gun options are hard. It was either similar performance to a Tiger I or same as a Pak 43. Still, Panthers are not to be sneezed at in these rules. We have a lot of everything now so if you people want to come up with a specific theatre I will be happy to come up with something nasty for it - er .. nice I mean.

We also have plenty of nice new Shermans, Panzer IV's, and T34's. Let me know if you have a preference.