Copyright © 2024, Philip Robinson. All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced, in whole or in part without prior permission of the creator

Monday 6 February 2017

Hybrid Espana

For today's Spanish Civil War affray I used a Bolt Action/Battlegroup/Chain of Command rules mash up. The main working bits are Battlegroup, the game used Bolt Action order dice and I worked out a Force Morale from Chain of Command and used a modified bad things happen morale reduction chart. I decided not to add any SCW peculiarities for this game, with the exception that if the anarchists were given a "snap to it" order dice and wanted to move they would have to take an experience test, should we decide to give the creation another go I will start to add things then.
The scenario is a slightly modified one from the Battlegroup rule book.
Dave elected to bring units on from the bottom right hand corner in the photo, we diced to see how units could be deployed on the table for turn one, the Republicans, Dave, got 2, whilst the Nationalists, me, got three. These could be deployed ten inches from the diagonal centre line, running from the top left to the bottom right in the photo. One objective was placed in the road, in the board centre and a further one each could be placed by each player.
Turn one saw both sides moving their on table units into firing positions and in the Republican case one on ambush fire, duly shooting up one of the Carlist militia squads on their way to man the wall opposite the olive press, this resulted in pinning them, so they would have to rally next turn.
Turn two, both sides diced for their reserves, Republication four and, wait for it Nationalists, one! I bought on the other Carlist  squad who rushed to support their comrades who were now coming under intense fire from the Republican forces, if they could just hold on until La Legion arrived. Alas things were looking grim, the other squad was pinned and another destroyed.
Turn three, maybe things would improve for the Nationalists, dicing for reserves, yes you guessed, another roll of one, while the Republic rolled a six enabling them to bring on their remaining men. Not to worry I bought on the Legion Panzer I and put it in position to stop the Republican forces gaining the central objective, the Republications bought up their 45mm anti-tank gun to counter the Panzer I threat, whose order dice would come out first in turn four? In the meantime another Carlist squad was destroyed, further reducing the Nationalist force morale.The remaining Carlist squad moved to fill the void but failed to spot the approaching Republicans, who in their turn were able to fire on them, they not being so myopic fired causing casualties, incensed by the demise of their comrades the Carlist squad held firm, the platoon commander not been made of such stern stuff took refuge in the building.
Turn four at last the Nationalists got three units on, but it was a case of too little too late, the first order dice belonged to the Republicans who duly took out the Panzer I, on the other side with no support the other Carlist squad was lost to a man. the platoon commander with two Republican units close enough to fire pin and close assault him took to his heels hoping the cover of the walls and building would be enough to obscure him from Republican fire.
Turn five, all was up for the Nationalist cause, the Republic took the central objective, with no hope of getting it back this turn another roll on the chart reduced their force morale to one. The Carlist platoon leader did not quite have enough movement to get out of line of sight and was spotted and took down, another throw for the Nationalist force morale took them down to zero, addios Pedro.
Emboldened Republican Troops Advance

The 45mm A/T Gun  Is Brought Up

Look Out! To Late, KABOOM!

The Recklessly Brave Carlists Advance Into A Hail Of Fire

With The Threat From The Panzer I Gone The Republicans Seize The Central Objective


Their Comrades On The Left Surge Forward
    
La Legion, Too Little Too La Late 
All in all the various bits of the rules meshed well, I cannot see that they added much to the game either way though, I think it could have been played equally as well with Bolt Action as is, in fact with the small squad modifications we use the small Carlist squads would not have been so brittle. Something to mull over for next time anyway.

TTFN

18 comments:

  1. Splendid stuff. I need to get my SCW collection out again. Actually I need to start gaming more than twice per month :)

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    1. Thank you Paul. Yes indeed you must, I hope to see your wonderful collection out on the table again soon.

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  2. Lovely looking game Phil! Currently painting up some SCW so this was a welcome sight.

    Christopher

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    1. Thank you Christopher. Glad to be an encouragement too.

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    1. Thank you George, I do my best to make it not too boring.

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  4. Love the idea of the rules mash-up, the Order Dice is a system that is too good not to use elsewhere.

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    1. Thank you Norm, have to agree on the OD, the tension it can bring waiting to see if the crucial draw in your favour comes out is great.

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  5. Really splendid....I love your SCW set up.....very atmospheric and a nice looking scale. Interesting thoughts on the rules as well. I can see us using bolt action for the core rules for our Back of Beyond project but then modifying to create some balance between regular and irregular troops.

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  6. Thank you Matt, most kind. We are starting to use BA for our Rhanzlistan games now as well, they are an ideal tool box for BoB in my opinion.

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  7. It may have been a bit one-sided but it certainly looks superb! Lovely table and figs!

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    1. Thank you Gordon, it is a tad painful when half your force gets lost enroute, telle est la guerre.

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  8. A splendid game, enhanced by your wonderful scenery and figure collection! I could sit and look at it for ages, as you know.

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  9. Glad you enjoyed it, hope to put up a better fight next time, troops permitting of course :~)

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  10. Nice works, many different characters, which are well managed
    In situations almost feel the authentic atmosphere ...

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    1. Thank you, glad you though it gave the correct flavour.

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