Tuesday, March 14, 2017
If you want to start at the beginning, here's Part 1 A brief recap: I have succeeded in my first objective of supplying an existing F...
Early Access Preview: Afghanistan '11 - Part 2
For your Wargamer, Toy soldier collector, MiniFig collector, military history nut. Reviews, interviews, Model Making, AARs and books!
After Action Reports
If you want to start at the beginning, here's Part 1
A brief recap: I have succeeded in my first objective of supplying an existing FOB with two truckloads of supplies. I now need to push up my Hearts and Minds score while defending the FOB.
|
The FOB is loaded with troops and supplies, but is still quite isolated from HQ. |
After taking a few dings in recent turns, I'm in the negative on Political Points (PP) and can't do much. I figure I will slow things down for a few turns and try to consolidate my position.
|
Units can be sent back home to regain some PP. |
I'm forced to send home an Apache attack helicopter to shed some of my PP debt. I need to get back in the positive quickly in case an emergency crops up, and I have need of the special abilities like airstrikes or supply drops.
|
Some good news!
The coalition supported candidate wins the Afghan national elections, this means we get a few bonuses like reducing the number of Taliban missions. As you will see, this reduction was hardly felt...
|
|
Sending vehicles ahead without mine sweeper support is dangerous.
I send a transport loaded with some ANA soldiers down south to visit the friendly village there. Since it is far from the mountains, I decide to risk sending it racing ahead without mine sweeping operations going first. My Husky minesweeper was already damaged by some roaming Taliban. Unfortunately, the ANA troops hit an IED, which ruins their whole day. Now I have two vehicles damaged and exposed.
|
|
Heavy enemy presence detected! |
I can't risk sending the Husky back to base without scouting the area, so I launch my recon drone. It's not a pretty picture, a total of FIVE Taliban units are hanging around in the area.
|
Taliban sent packing. |
I hit the Taliban with artillery, airstrikes, an Apache, and mechanized infantry. My ground forces take a couple of hits, but the Taliban are either destroyed or on the run. Now to get everyone back to base to recover.
|
Uh-oh, that was just the beginning. |
Before my forces can get back inside the FOB, another swarm of Taliban units appear and surround the base. Artillery hits them again, and more coalition ground forces join the fight to hold the FOB.
|
Taliban defeated, but we have many wounded. |
I'm able to push the Taliban back again, but I have a lot of wounded soldiers. I use the engineers on hand to add a field hospital to the FOB so that my infantry can be healed up to full strength.
|
Here we go again. |
On the next turn I organize and dispatch a small convoy to head west across the river and build a new FOB. They leave just as another wave of Taliban fighters moves against the FOB.
|
Oh, come on. Right now? |
Congress, in its infinite wisdom, decides to cut off funds even as the fighting rages here on the front lines.
|
The area around the FOB is looking pretty scorched after constant battle. |
Once again, my forces are able to beat back the Taliban. My convoy sent west encounters no resistance and manages to set up a new FOB. Things are looking good!
|
I spoke too soon...
The enemy gives me a few turns of relative peace, and I use the opening to deploy some troops to the nearby villages, knock out a couple of opium fields, and fly in additional artillery ammo to the FOB. However, the relief does not last long, another large wave of Taliban insurgents appears around the FOB.
|
|
What a mess.
Although things had been going quite well at the western FOB, somehow an enemy group slipped in and planted an IED just outside the line-of-sight of my FOB. An already wounded infantry unit sent on a routine trip to the village was hit and destroyed.
|
|
When it rains, it pours. |
My recon drones will now be more expensive to deploy. I did not have much luck with events during this scenario.
|
The western FOB is now threatened as well.
Attacks on the central FOB continue, I lose another helicopter to RPG's, and now my western FOB is surrounded and has no infantry available to defend it. I also ran into several annoying bugs that I did not encounter during the first portion of this AAR.
As my score begins to slip further and further from reach, I decide to call it quits for now. I conceded defeat.
|
|
The final game state. |
I look forward to playing a more updated version of this game, and will give it an in depth review on or right after the March 23rd release. There are a lot of good things going on here, but as you can see, the very first scenario out the gate is quite difficult to even survive, much less win. The balance currently feels a bit off. I was hesitant to ever send my regular US infantry into combat with Taliban fighters, since they had an almost even chance of losing. The ANA infantry had even worse odds. This meant I only had a few options for attacking the enemy, and there were a LOT of enemies around. I'm still very much a novice at the game, so maybe the balance is fine and I'm just not approaching things correctly.
There were also more than a couple of bugs, but that's to be expected at this point. I imagine most have already been ironed out and will be patched soon. My favorite was a Taliban unit that survived being shot at by an Apache, ran around the perimeter of my FOB, shot an RPG at the helicopter, then teleported a half-dozen hexes away, turned and fired back at the FOB, blowing up a supply truck, then disappeared into the fog of war. Those guys were just a little over-powered, I have to say!
I anxiously await the final version of the game, and look forward to giving it a full review sometime next week. Although this match ended in a frustrating way, it still did a great job of capturing the frustrations of the real conflict. There is a constant struggle to achieve multiple goals at the same time with limited resources.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Combat Mission Road to Eindhoven Part 1 AAR by Ian Leslie
Combat Mission Road to Eindhoven Part 1 AAR by Ian Leslie
For your Wargamer, Toy soldier collector, MiniFig collector, military history nut. Reviews, interviews, Model Making, AARs and books!
After Action Reports
Combat Mission Road to Eindhoven Part 1 AAR by Ian Leslie
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Part 2 of Road to Eindhoven Combat Mission AAR by Ian Leslie. Enjoy.
Combat Mission Allied AAR Road to Eindhoven Part 2
For your Wargamer, Toy soldier collector, MiniFig collector, military history nut. Reviews, interviews, Model Making, AARs and books!
After Action Reports
Part 2 of Road to Eindhoven Combat Mission AAR by Ian Leslie. Enjoy.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Allied AAR of Battlefronts superb Combat Mission Beyond Normandy game. AAR by Ian Leslie
Buying the Farm Combat Mission Allied AAR
For your Wargamer, Toy soldier collector, MiniFig collector, military history nut. Reviews, interviews, Model Making, AARs and books!
After Action Reports
Allied AAR of Battlefronts superb Combat Mission Beyond Normandy game. AAR by Ian Leslie
Thursday, November 03, 2016
Warbirds: Canvas Falcons AAR No Parachute! By Albert Campisto Mas
Warbirds AAR!
For your Wargamer, Toy soldier collector, MiniFig collector, military history nut. Reviews, interviews, Model Making, AARs and books!
After Action Reports
Warbirds: Canvas Falcons AAR
No Parachute!
By Albert Campisto Mas
Tuesday, August 02, 2016
Flashpoint Campaigns: Red Storm AAR by Michael Capobianco
Flashpoint Campaigns: Red Storm AAR
For your Wargamer, Toy soldier collector, MiniFig collector, military history nut. Reviews, interviews, Model Making, AARs and books!
After Action Reports
Flashpoint Campaigns: Red Storm AAR by Michael Capobianco
Tuesday, August 02, 2016
AAR by J Petho
Campaign Series: Middle East AAR
For your Wargamer, Toy soldier collector, MiniFig collector, military history nut. Reviews, interviews, Model Making, AARs and books!
After Action Reports
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
The Singularity Trap AAR UPDATED 13thJune 2017 This AAR will be published over time so keep checking back as more turns...
The Singularity Trap AAR
For your Wargamer, Toy soldier collector, MiniFig collector, military history nut. Reviews, interviews, Model Making, AARs and books!
After Action Reports
The Singularity Trap AAR
UPDATED 13thJune 2017
This AAR will be published over time so keep checking back as more turns get added!
Link to game rules.
Friday, May 13, 2016
Blocks in the East AAR Follow Chris Buhl as he battles across Russia in Vento Nuovos well received BLOCKS IN THE EAST BLOC...
Blocks in the East AAR by Chris Buhl
For your Wargamer, Toy soldier collector, MiniFig collector, military history nut. Reviews, interviews, Model Making, AARs and books!
After Action Reports
Follow Chris Buhl as he battles across Russia in Vento Nuovos well received BLOCKS IN THE EAST
BLOCKS IN THE EAST is a game of World War II conflict simulation at the strategic level.
It recalls the most decisive battles fought on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the invasion in summer '41 until the dramatic end in Berlin in spring 1945.
Although based on historical events, players can modify the evolution of World War II on the Eastern Front.
The AAR consists of 17 parts. I shall publish them in three goes. Enjoy the read!
Friday, May 13, 2016
Warbirds: Canvas Falcons is superb print and play, WWI tactical air warfare, game really deserves a full boxed version. The designer...
Warbirds: Canvas Falcons AAR's
For your Wargamer, Toy soldier collector, MiniFig collector, military history nut. Reviews, interviews, Model Making, AARs and books!
After Action Reports
Warbirds: Canvas Falcons is superb print and play, WWI tactical air warfare, game really deserves a full boxed version. The designer spent over ten years creating it, and it shows. Please take a look at the AAR's to see what we mean.
He is currently working on the WWII module and is also looking for someone to develop a digital version, preferably on the PC, with AI and using the PC to enhance the game all around. There still is a definite gap in the market for a developer/publisher to focus on conversions and use the power of the PC to enhance them (not change them though). For instance, add squadron management and some RPG elements to this particular game.
Scenario 1 - First Attempt : France - 29th September 1914
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Bil Hardenberger is doing a series called "Bils Vignettes". I think the best thing to do is for you to have a read. I can'...
Bils' Combat Mission Vignettes
For your Wargamer, Toy soldier collector, MiniFig collector, military history nut. Reviews, interviews, Model Making, AARs and books!
After Action Reports
Bil Hardenberger is doing a series called "Bils Vignettes". I think the best thing to do is for you to have a read. I can't wait for further installments.
So click the link below to take you to the first installment.
Bils First Vignette
CMBF game website
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Combat Leader AAR Combat Leader is a wargame designed and published by Minden Games. The scale is individual soldiers, which is pret...
Combat Leader AAR
For your Wargamer, Toy soldier collector, MiniFig collector, military history nut. Reviews, interviews, Model Making, AARs and books!
After Action Reports
Combat Leader AAR
Combat Leader is a wargame designed and published by Minden Games. The scale is individual soldiers, which is pretty rare and a scale I love. It's had several expansions including a solo expansion rule set which works really well. So far the game is set on the East front WWII, though there is an expansion that covers the Winter War.
I currently have all the expansions except the Volksturm one and the Winter War one. The game is highly recommended.
Art Bennett is the man behind this AAR, Tactical Wargames hope this isn't the last AAR we receive from him. Anyway, a big thank you Art!
So click the AAR link below, I hope you enjoy it!
Combat Leader - AAR
Game website link
Follow Us