April 14th Postgame: 'Conflict of Heroes' or 'Chomping of Gyros'

I dragged out a boardgame for tonight's session to give the toy soldiers a bit of R n' R. We played two games of Academy Games' 'Conflict of Heroes' (COH) which is basically an very inspired re-imagining of Avalon Hill's classic 'Squad Leader'. All four of us are Old Salts of boardgaming from the early 80s and we clearly remember the heady days of 'Advanced Squad Leader' (ASL) with its binders of rules and wavering towers of chits. COH distills much of what is great about ASL to provide a nice, espresso shot of WWII ultra-violence without the required lifestyle commitment.

Dan and Sylvain cut their teeth with a small scenario before the Main Event.

The first game was just a small infantry-only primer to get Sylvain up to speed and to reaquaint the rest of us to the rules' mechanisms (though a big thanks to Stacy for shouldering the burden of the rules lawyering). The games typically last only around 45-90 minutes so its quite feasible to get in two or three games in a night. 

Dan nervously nibbling his fingers to the quick contemplating the onslaught of Soviet zombies...

The second game was a 4-player scenario with a silly twist. It had the Germans set up in a village in what was thought to be a quiet sector of the eastern front. Nonetheless, out of the mists emerge hordes of Soviet Zombies wanting to feast on the flesh of the Hitlerites. Really, who can not have fun playing a scenario with zombies? The Germans had to exit 7 squads off the map using the halftracks whereas the zombies had to devour at least 7 German squads. It was great fun with the Germans managing to evacuate 4 squads out of the village before being overrun by the undead. Lots of laughs and a great scenario!

The mapboard very near the end. The brown chits are the zombies. Not much German gray out there as they had become lunch.

Next week we're back to our 'Wings of War' WWI campaign with the Germans choosing the flight mission...

April 7th Postgame: Wings of War Campaign

Well, we played our Wings of War campaign last night to determine who would be going forward as the attacker for Mission 2 (1916). Dan sent up his fresh British pilots and Stacy met him with his German lads. One balloon, Allied, was on the table near the British lines. I spent the night doling out damage cards to both players, drinking beer, giving useless advise and well, drank more beer.

In about a turn or two the balloon will go thermal. With the Roland above it.

 Stacy's single seater (Albatros DIII) managed to claim both Allied aircraft as victories but was shot down in the last moments of the game by the rear gunner of his last victim (an RE 8). His Roland two-seater tore into the British balloon causing it to explode (right underneath him)! His damaged plane managed to sputter home with engine damage.

The combatants, sans balloon, jockeying for the next run at each other.

 Dan's two-seater (RE 8) took an amazing amount of punishment before being shot down, but the observer did his country proud by shooting down the perfidious Albatros. His Sopwith went down in flames as it was too close to the exploding balloon... Luckily all the downed pilots/observers managed to survive and escape to their respective lines. Back in time for tea and medals, eh?!

This sortie, the third of the set, gave the overall Mission Victory to the Central Powers who will choose the next scenario and will be the attackers in the next game.

Thursday April 7th: Warhammer Fantasy and Wings of War

 Hi Guys!

This week we are double booked with games. I know, when it rains... First up is a Warhammer Fantasy game at Sylvain's, with his Wood Elves going against Dana's, what, High Elves? Well, I hope its Elves that Sylvain is up against as it would be nice for him to get a dose of his own 'arrow-storm' medicine. ;)

The other game is going to be a continuation of our 'Wings of War' campaign. This will be the third sortie for the 1916 'Battle Over the Trenches' mission. Dan and Stacy will be over at Curt's for this scrum. This sortie will break the tie on this Mission and we will proceed to the next in the 1916 year.

If our game is done early then I hope to head over to Sylvain to see his crushing defeat...

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Thanks!!