LnL Heroes of Stalingrad - Why Not?

Started by JudgeDredd, February 13, 2014, 04:47:06 PM

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Barthheart

Hey JD,

Low crawl: no one shot at Elana and here stack because she low crawled into terrain with a positive modifier and therefore was not spotted for moving. It's where you end up not where you start that matters.

You really need to not stand in the street and trade shots with the enemy.  ;)

JudgeDredd

Thanks Barthheart. I wasn't sure if it was the terrain you were moving from or two...I guessed it was to though,, which is why I took the chance on Low Crawl.

And yes...I think looking back I moved them there to pick up the support weapons dropped.

But sometimes I forget I only need to sit tight...the Germans are the ones that should be moving!
Alba gu' brath

JudgeDredd

Turn 5

Initiative
Turn 5 initiative roll...and it's the Partisans again


Rally Phase
Partisans
I select the hex with Elana in I4 and play the For The Motherland bonus again...which removes 1 from a 2D6 morale roll.

The 0-3-4 squad with the MG34 rallies - I presume there is no Leadership bonus because Elana is injured(?)

The other squad does not rally



Germans
The SD222 in D2 tries to rally - and fails



This is the map at the start of the Turn 5



Operations Phase

Phase 1 - Partisans
I activate Elana and move her and the shaken squad to I4
I don't know why the other units in H2 weren't activated - again I guess it's because she is wounded.

The half squad remaining in I4 fires it's MG34 into E4 where Hero Frei is located.

Damage check will be required

And he's wounded...and killed



Phase 2 - Germans
1 Squad of 1-4-4 moves from D4 to E4. Play stops for Op Fire...which the Scout in G2 takes...

Scout fires...

Defence roll is...

Damage check...

SHAKEN!


Phase 3 - Partisans
PASS #1


Phase 4 - Germans
A squad of 1-4-4 move from D4 to E4. Again play stops for Op Fire. The squad of 0-3-4 with the MG34 fires on the moving German squad

They open up...

It's a good roll

The roll results in CASUALTIES! They are reduced to a half squad

As there is another unit already in there, they are also attacked...as they were already shaken, this roll results in CASUALTIES! also

Good result.

NB - This is reasonable of the AI. I believe they are trying to get to the house in F4 which has 4 good reasons for doing so...
...for cover
...to get them closer to the objective
...to draw fire and also
...to eliminate the squad currently in the house



Phase 5 - Partisans
PASS #1


Phase 6 - Germans
The final squad of 1-4-4 move from D4 to E4. Again play stops for Op Fire.

The squad of 0-3-4 with the 14.5 PTRS fires on the moving German squad

And the defenders

They may just survive this

But not...SHAKEN!
The Half Squad is checked - and survives

And the other Half Squad - survives also

Because the roll was a 1, the check for a Hero is made...and fails



Phase 7 - Partisans
PASS #1


Phase 8 - Germans
The sIG 33B moves from A5 to D6, rotates and attacks the Partisans in H3...and misses

It then attacks with it's MG

And the Partisans survive



Phase 9 - Partisans
PASS #1


Phase 10 - Germans
The Medic and 3 1-6-4 squads with the MG34 in B4 fires on the Scout in G2

But the Scout survives...AGAIN!



Phase 11 - Partisans
PASS #1


Phase 12 - Germans
Pz IVF1 moves from D3 to E4 and attacks F4 and misses

It then opens up with it's MG

and hits...

but there's no damage...

As the Partisans rolled 1, a Hero is checked...and none are generated.


Phase 13 - Partisans
PASS #1


Phase 14 - Germans
A second Pz IVF1 moves from A5 to D6 and attacks the shaken squad in F4

It then attacks with it's MG

The defender roll...it's a miss!



Phase 15 - Partisans
PASS #1


Phase 16 - Germans
PASS #2


Phase 17 - Partisans
PASS #3


3 passes in a row ends the turn...and this is how it's looking at the end of Turn 5
Alba gu' brath

JudgeDredd

I think I might just win this one!

Time to remove two squads.
Alba gu' brath

Barthheart

Yes, wounded leaders lose their leadership value and the ability to activate adjacent hexes.

chemkid

thanks for the writeup. it's a cool read! - it's a shame the manual is so nicely done, but i won't need it... learning while playing is a real joy!

cheers!
chem!

Keunert

how do you guys like the game? Bison seems to be a little sceptical, Barthheart is biased without end (Mark H Walker being his stepfather!). How about you Judge?
Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
Oscar Wilde

Special K has too much class.
Windigo

JudgeDredd

Superb. Honestly superb.

I bought the LnL Band of Heroes boardgame some time ago and liked my outing with it, but the written rules were rather confusing and took some getting used to...but the computer version does everything for you. It takes all the confusing/complex bits away and allows you to play.

It's quite simplistic in a way...but there's more than enough uncertainty to keep you busy. I've played this scenario 5 times now and lost 4 of them. Some through mistakes I made, but also die rolls, hero creation etc make it quite random.

If you don't like the uncertainty of die rolls affecting your tactics and just enjoy tactics alone, then I could see why this wouldn't suit. For a start it gives you replayability. But I also like the uncertainty.

I love that he's been able to capture the essence of a boardgame...a great boardgame...convert it to PC and still keep that boardgame feel because alot of PC conversions of boardgames either lose the boardgame feel or lose the playability. He's managed to keep both.

I dabbled in the campaign last night and liked what I saw.
Alba gu' brath

JudgeDredd

#23
Turn 6

Initiative
Turn 6 initiative roll...and it's back to the Germans


Rally Phase
Germans
The SD222 in D2 tries to rally - and fails again



Partisans
I select Elana in I3 and play the For The Motherland bonus again...which removes 1 from a 2D6 morale roll.

The half squad remains shaken



This is the map at the start of the Turn 6



Operations Phase

Phase 1 - Germans
The sIG 33B moves from D6 to E6 and fires on the shaken squad in F4

It's a good roll!

Oh dear...

3xthe defensive roll means 3 hits and eliminated!



Phase 2 - Partisans
The Scout in G2 attacks the shaken units in E4

And it's a hit...

One of the German squads takes some casualties - reduced to half squad

One of the other squads is eliminated

As is the last squad



Phase 3 - Germans
The soldires in B4 attacks the Scout in G2 now he's revealed his position

And the scout is off the hook



Phase 4 - Partisans
They're running for cover. The shaken Partisan half squad in I3 moves to exit the map
bugger....I just moved Elana also!



Phase 5 - Germans
The shaken half squad in E4 moves to D4



Phase 6 - Partisans
The squad in H3 fires at the Pz IVF1 in [/b]E4[/b] with it's 14.5 PTRS
First with it's inherent firepower

And the Panzer is safe

They then fire their 14.5 PTRS...and it's a hit

Check for penetration

And check armour...no penetration

Morale check



Phase 7 - Germans
The Pz IVF1 in D6 fires on H3 and misses

And attacks with it's MG

But the squads survive



Phase 8 - Partisans
PASS #1


Phase 9 - Germans
PASS #2


Phase 10 - Partisans
PASS #3


3 passes in a row ends the turn...and this is how it's looking at the end of Turn 6



Almost there...one squad out and I'm home free...well, as long as I hold on to the two objective hexes, but I can't see,  given the German dispositions, how they will wrestle them from my hands
Alba gu' brath

KyzBP

Quote from: Keunert on February 17, 2014, 11:30:16 AM
how do you guys like the game? Bison seems to be a little sceptical, Barthheart is biased without end (Mark H Walker being his stepfather!). How about you Judge?
Quote from: JudgeDredd on February 17, 2014, 11:40:12 AM
Superb. Honestly superb.

I bought the LnL Band of Heroes boardgame some time ago and liked my outing with it, but the written rules were rather confusing and took some getting used to...but the computer version does everything for you. It takes all the confusing/complex bits away and allows you to play.

It's quite simplistic in a way...but there's more than enough uncertainty to keep you busy. I've played this scenario 5 times now and lost 4 of them. Some through mistakes I made, but also die rolls, hero creation etc make it quite random.

If you don't like the uncertainty of die rolls affecting your tactics and just enjoy tactics alone, then I could see why this wouldn't suit. For a start it gives you replayability. But I also like the uncertainty.

I love that he's been able to capture the essence of a boardgame...a great boardgame...convert it to PC and still keep that boardgame feel because alot of PC conversions of boardgames either lose the boardgame feel or lose the playability. He's managed to keep both.

I dabbled in the campaign last night and liked what I saw.

+1 word for word.

JudgeDredd

Turn 7

Initiative
Turn 7 initiative roll...well...this is the save initiative bug showing up again. As the initiative is a draw, it should go to the side that had initiative last - which was the Germans...but this has been awarded to the Partisans...so I'll just skip the first turn


Rally Phase
Partisans
Nothing to rally or weapons to pick up or deploy/pack up

Germans
The Pz IVF1 in E4 tries to rally and fails

The SD222 in D2 tries to rally - and succeeds this time



This is the map at the start of the Turn 7



Operations Phase

Phase 1 - Germans
The units in A4 moves to E4. Several times play stops to offer Op Fire...but the Partisans keep their heads down



Phase 2 - Partisans
The Scout in G2 moves off the battlefield. Unfortunately, the scout is not classed as a squad and does not contribute to the victory conditions



Phase 3 - Germans
The sIG 33B fires on the shaken half squad in G4 and hits

Attacker...

Defender...

...damage is being inflicted
Half Squad is eliminated

Check for a hero...and one is created...

A hero is created with the Dead Eye skill card

The sIG 33B fires it's MG into the same hex

Is it a hit?

No...



Phase 4 - Partisans
The squad in H3 attempts to exit the battle...

and manages to - and I have met all criteria so far


Phase 5 - Germans
The SD222 moves from D2 to E3 and attacks the hero Morosov in G4 and misses

It then opens up with it's MG

and misses



Phase 6 - Partisans
The squad in H3 fires at the SD 222 in [/b]E3[/b] with it's 14.5 PTRS
First with it's inherent firepower

And the Scout car is safe

They then fire their 14.5 PTRS...and misses again



Phase 7 - Germans
The Sd 222 in E3 fires on G4 again and misses



Phase 8 - Partisans
PASS #1


Phase 9 - Germans
The Pz IVF1 opens up with it's main gun on H3 and misses

Then it fires it's MG

And hits

And the unit is SHAKEN!



Phase 10 - Partisans
PASS #1


Phase 11 - Germans
PASS #2


Phase 12 - Partisans
PASS #3


3 passes in a row ends the turn...and this is how it's looking at the end of Turn 7


It's a Partisan victory - the first time in 5 plays

And the Partisan results by Squad...





And the German results by Squad



Alba gu' brath

JudgeDredd

I absolutely love this game. As I said earlier, he's managed to take a great boardgame and make it a computer game without losing the appeal of the boardgame.

A lot of the things you miss from a boardgame (setting up, counters, dice rolls)...all the physical attributes of a boardgame are often the things missed in a computerised version, but the game is done in such a way that the loss of those physical attributes are not really missed.

Superb game. Huge thumbs up from me and what's more is I'll be looking forward to getting the boardgame out again. The computerised version has helped me understand some mechanics that seemed really difficult to pick up from the manual.
Alba gu' brath