Another Terrain Update... and more!

The upgrading of my terrain collection continues! This week I have been basing some HO/20mm scale rail road tracks for use in my games. Good enough for my 15mm collection of minis for the time being (although... see below for more on 20mm/HO scale). These are raised tracks so they are realistic as well. I managed to base them on card and added some texturing as would be appropriate. They are coming along nice. Hope to have these done in time for some gaming later next week.

Some based rail road tracks for use in my 15/20mm battles.

Speaking of 20mm scale, I have decided to get back into collecting 20mm miniatures as well! I have been debating this for some time now as the quality and availability of this scale is soo much better these days. In particular are the ranges provided by Eureka (AB Miniatures). Their 20mm WWII line is amazing! I am hoping these guys will fit well with the PSC tanks and vehicles (which I also really like). Not a big fan of the PSC infantry (they look too damn stiff, imo). But yeah... these AB miniatures are just so damn tempting. I think as far as scale the AB minis are just a titch smaller than the PSC inf. Heh... but even then it is minor.




20mm AB Miniatures! Just look at that detail!

                                       Eureka's 20mm WWII Web Site




More AB 20mm. These guys look awesome and the
price is perfect; not too damn expensive.

I'll gave more updates on this as I collect the models. Should be fun. I imagine they will be perfect for Squad/platoon sized games; I don't want to have to play company level games on a HUGE table, so yeah. Of course that won't change my devotion to the ultimate scale: 15mm! :)

Hmmm... some of my brother's High Elves some
how found their way on my table!

NEW Terrain and Bases!

School has kept me pretty busy past few days. So our Battlegroup Overlord campaign (and game four in fact) has kind of taken a back seat till later this week. I did manage to finish up some new trees (thanks to the trusty glue gun!). So I may actually throw down the new trees on the table for turn two of our BG game this week.

Some of the NEW trees displayed around the bridge. So much
better than the lichen covered trees.



Another pic; this time of a small wood. Still have to clean  them
up a bit as you can see some glue. All in due time.

On the Panzer Grenadier Deluxe front, just bought a ton of LITKO FoW bases (small). I will be mounting my infantry on these sized bases (with two - three models per base as recommended by the PG rules). They are perfect size and I will be able to use them with other rules as well (such as BG). For FoW I will be placing the small bases on the larger med. size bases with a figure or two already mounted.; kind of like a base on a base type deal. Works great really. I'll post some pics of what I mean below. I use celu-clay tp build up the med. size bases edge for a nice snug fit when I place the small sized bases on them.

The FoW med. base is on the left. I used Celu-Clay to build-up
the edges around it to hold a small FoW base within it.

 

Here is what it will look like with a FoW small base set within it.

 

I could also put single mounted models on the base as well
(although not as snug a fit of course).

Here I placed a FoW small base with models facing the short side
within the med. base. Works great!

Finally got around to figuring out how I will be mounting my 15mm figs for use in my Horse & Musket games (check out my link to my Project for 2015 above). I REALLY want to focus on the look of units so I am opting for the large 30mm square bases for my infantry. These will be mounted with five - six inf. in close formation. I wont go into too much detail here on that. I'll have more details in the future as I get the project underway later this spring.

Anyway, stay tuned. I have a BatRep going up soon of Battle four in our BG Overlord campaign (both a video AND a proper write up).

Overlord Campaign Upcoming Battle

Well, after yesterdays BG Overlord loss I am on the ropes! Battle four is this week. I get to choose the scenario type (Meeting Engagement or Attack/Defense). I chose Attack Defense and we ended up with the "Hold the Line" scenario. Not bad at all. I don't get any FREE Defenses however (and I don't have any in my list.

I got to set up the board (again a 4' x 4' layout since it's a Squad level battle). I think it looks pretty good and will definitely be fun. Since I was the defender I chose to make it somewhat dense. Lots of Hard cover, a stream running along the center (counts as Dangerous Terrain), and lots of woods to hamper movement and provide Soft cover.

A look at the table layout for the upcoming battle.
Which edge should I take?

The forces for the battle are pretty much the same as the last battle (outside of some depleted units). Only difference is my FHQ is now Veteran (as is his), and the Americans will be getting an extra 25 points to spend on a new temporary (this battle only) unit from his list. Regardless, the Americans have the advantage in Recon/Scout units, as well as number of tanks (my two to his three). I have more infantry however (good in this scenario).

At this point it's down to me to choose my table edge (and the Attacker gets the opposite). I will then be deploying my initial defense units in the central third of the board. The Attacker will deploy his initial forces 10" from his table edge. So units will be getting to grips fairly soon. He gets the rest of his forces from Turn three on. I on the other hand have to wait until turn 5! On top of all this, D3 of my units will be "pinned" at the start (although I can also put D3 on Ambush as well).

So, it's going to be one helluva battle. Again, keep in mind that I HAVE TO WIN THIS BATTLE! Otherwise all is lost.

As far as campaign VP, I won the first battle (Recce Screen), and the Americans went on to win the next two (High Ground and Flanking Attack). I have 7 VP and the Americans have 14! So yeah, they are winning on that front as well. Regardless, this battle will be the turning point (and possibly the end) of the campaign.

For those interested, the campaign rules we are using have been in development for quite a while now (since the release of BG: Overlord). They are still being playtested. If interested, join The Guild forums for Battle Group (see my links on the right of the screen). Easy to find as they are located under the Battlegroup Overlord section of the forum, at the very top.


If you follow my YouTube channel (see the links above) I am posting a short video on the layout of the table. Might want to check that out if interested. A BatRep will follow later this week. A good look at the layout! Video.

BG Overlord BatRep Posted... and some thoughts

Just updated the Battle Reports section of my blog today to include a game we played last night (Battlegroup Overlord). This was part of our campaign we have been playing, so it's pretty interesting. really fun game, even if a bit short. So, have a look in my Battle Reports section (link above), or click the link here... MEIN GOTT! to go directly to the BatRep.

Take note that I also did a video BatRep of this battle. So check that link out in the BatRep description, or just check out my YouTube channel (again, link above).

In other news, been pretty busy with school. I should be done tomorrow and will have more FREE time through Monday. Awesomeness! A good thing cause I want to start getting deeper into the Panzer Grenadier rules next week. Already planning a review and a battle report for these rules, stay tuned for that.

Overlord Campaign Playtesting

Last week we started a Normandy campaign with the Battlegroup Overlord rules. Been playing BG for over a year now and all I can say is I LOVE it. It's an easy game to learn, you can fight squad, platoon, company or even larger battles with NO problems. After being out of the loop for several months, slipping back into the system was a breeze; once aspect I really appreciate about BG.

StuG III advances over an objective supported by a squad of
Panzer Grenadiers.

Anyway, we are in the midst of playing battle three of a five battle campaign. The rules are in play test by the Battlegroup guys and I thought having a go with them would be pretty fun; like the BG rules, the campaign rules are very easy to learn. My German Panzer battlegroup won the initial battle, but failed in the second (the Americans putting up a really good defense in the High Ground scenario). Gained some interesting benefits like an Elite PG squad, who after the second battle also gained the Scout ability!

This third battle we will finish sometime today. Turns out to be the Flanking Attack scenario which is pretty fun in my opinion; random number of objectives, more forces deployed on-table, and some pretty variable deployment zones. Very interesting the situations that develop from deployment.

A Sherman Platoon supported by a squad of inf. in an M3
move out to capture an objective.

So far, after a single turn I already lost my Stug III G to a breakdown (was immobilized) followed by being BLOWN all to hell by a M4 76! Also lost my entire PG Foot Patrol and their 250/1 halftrack hiding behind a wood (I thought it would be out of site) to another M4 Sherman ripping up the road. Oh well. I did manage to grab three of the four objectives however. After one turn both sides are about equal in the BR department (we are both about half-way to exceeding our forces Battle Ratings).

I am doing a quick video of this third battle and I should have that posted on my YouTube channel shortly. I may do a pictorial BatRep as well and post that here in the Battle Reports section. We shall see.

Later next week I am hoping to not only finish this campaign, but get some Panzer Grenadier games in as well. More on that later.

Battlegroup PanzerGrenadier Forum

Battlegroup PanzerGrenadier Forum



For anyone interested in a fantastic forum for the Panzer Grenadier rules... check this link out. You NEEEEED to be on here.