Inspired by Norm at "Battlefields and Warrior" (see here Battlefields and Warriors: The Guards Counterattack ASL(SK) ish) I played this solo game about ten days ago but am only getting around to posting about it now - so details of what occurred may be a bit vague!
How Co Pilot suggested I arrange the table. The Soviets would attack from the bottom edge in the picture above, the left edge in the picture below
A view from where the Red Army Guards would start the attack.
German defenders in position
They had three squads, an HMG and two snipers
The Guards advance!
They had five squads, an HMG, a mortar and two snipers
On turn two, the Guards had already suffered two casualty hits
German snipers in action
Turn four, the Red Army has already picked up some significant hit markers, but have inflicted some hits on the defending Germans, too
The first Red Army assault goes in - but is pushed back
On turn five, the Germans succeeded in spotting and killing one of the Soviet snipers!
The Guards regroup in the rubble strewn street
A Red Army sniper gets a double hit!
The Guards put in another assault
Once again, the defending Germans prevail, this time causing casualties on the attacking Russians
Olga the sniper continues to support the attack as Irina keeps headquarters informed of progress!
The German defenders in the building on the right are forced to abandon their position, having accumulated 4 hits and failed to rally any off
But the other assault is again repulsed!
One of the Red Army units on four hits failed to rally and abandoned the fight, taking the HMG with them.
But another Guards unit has finally taken one of the buildings
The next turn, and another successful assault
The Guards now hold two of the three positions - URRAH!
But next turn, the Germans get off table artillery support - which adds three to the dice roll and ignores cover....
But who needs to add 3 to this score - two hits automatically on the unit that just seized the building!
Next turn, the Guards have one unit teetering on the edge on 4 hit points ....
.... and the unit that suffered the artillery strike abandoned the building and fell back!
But they got some handy rally rolls and managed to retain both units
Turns 14-16 I think were all German turns but with only one unit left, they could only try to use fire power to put hits on the Russian units and little was achieved. The Russians had taken quite a battering, but the last German unit was now on four hits
I am not sure on the significance of the dice rolls, they would indicate success for the Germans, but these are the last photos I have - maybe I accidentally deleted turns 18 or 19? Anyway, the outcome was, although they lost 2 of 5 units and had 3 hits on 2 of those remaining, the Guards of the Red Army succeeded in taking the three buildings off the Germans.
I had asked Co Pilot to create me a 28mm skirmish game referring to the Squad Leader "Guards Counterattack" boardgame scenario. I showed the results to Andrew, who said the only similarity with the original was it was based in Stalingrad and involved Germans and Russians! Notwithstanding this, I think the AI designed a nice little game, and it kept me amused for about 90 minutes.
I hope you have enjoyed the delayed and somewhat truncated AAR - I am pretty sure I got most of the details right!
No game at Julians OR Barrys this weekend, so I will likely indulge in another solo effort at some point in the next three evenings.
Well, the game may not have been the famous SL scenario but AI produced a good game for you. Your urban rubble table looks great!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jon, I had fun and I agree, the mdf ruined buildings looked nice!
DeleteGreat stuff, an evocative sense of street and block to block fighting. The buildings look great in this format as their small footprint hets them into the game and their height gives them presence, half the Stalingrad feel is gained just there.
ReplyDeleteI think the AI captured the sentiment of the scenario nicely, with the pressure being on the guards to get across open streets and take the buildings. The snipers are an important part of full ASL, especially in Stalingrad type scenarios because they get a high activation number.
it strikes me as a very re-playable scenario ... as is the original :-)
Thanks Norm - as the inspiration for the game, I am glad you thought it had the right look and feel. I like my sniper rule, it works really well in my opinion!
DeleteIt's definitely re-playable - or expandable to a multi-player game......
A good little game, I'm using AI more and more for scenario creation
ReplyDeleteThanks Scotty - apparently it didn't really do what I asked it to - but what it came up with was still an enjoyable scenario.
DeleteYou always make the most of the limited table space in these solo games Keith, and they produce entertaining games. As Norm says, you have managed to recreate a definite close quarter Stalingrad feel. Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lawrence, I appreciate you saying so. I find them a good way to spend an hour or two!
DeleteGood looking game Keith and it played out rather well, AI certainly has it;s uses even though it wasn't quite what you wanted still gave a good scenario, the table looks great, you certainly can fit a lot onto a small space.
ReplyDeleteCheers Donnie! The smaller table has some advantages...one being, my 8 or 10 ruined buildings can fill it up to make a convincing urban combat zone. If they were on a 4 by 6 table, I would need a lot more of them!
DeleteAI certainly came in handy here, what a great battle!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ray 👍 As in other applications, AI really only did what I could do myself...but it does it in 5 seconds! The few times I have used it, I don't take every detail 100% as suggested....but it gives me the bare bones of a scenario to build on very quickly.
DeleteYour buildings make for a great looking game, Keith.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Richard, I am very happy with how these have worked out
DeleteGreat to see the classic scenario transfered to the wargames table there Keith, and it certianly has the look and fell of close quarters urban combat:)!
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve - not blow my own trumpet, but I thought it had a very cinematic narrative, with the Russians attacking and being repulsed several times before they managed to overcome the stiff German resistance!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting scenario created by AI. The game reads as it was quite a slog for the Russians to take the 3 buildings. I may have missed it, but what rules did you use?
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter, yes, it was a tough battle for the Russians but they got there in the end. The rules were a home brew set created by my mate Andrew
DeleteThanks.
DeleteBrilliant battle in the ruins Keith. Those 'messed up' buildings came up a treat and look so good on the table with your fine figs.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, James
Thanks for your fulsome praise, James! I found using the brick paper on the exteriors and wallpaper on the interior of the mdf kits a bit of a chore - but it may have been worth the effort when I look at them in these images!
DeleteGreat looking game and terrain Keith.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a nicely balanced scenario ... whatever its relationship to the original ASL one. So a good use of AI.
Thanks Ben!
DeleteGreat looking game and terrain Keith.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a nicely balanced scenario ... whatever its relationship to the original ASL one. So a good use of AI.
Thanks for your stereophonic comment Ben!
Deletehow did that happen! ? Another blogger "feature" 😂
DeleteNo idea but I don't mind, it's put my comment count up!
DeleteA nice looking little skirmish Keith and the rubble of stalingrad seems a good option for such a game….in fact you’ve given me an idea for the future 👍
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt - I would like to do something similar on a larger scale for one of our Sunday games......
DeleteGood looking terrain and troops. The game interesting and the balance seemed to be there. Nice outing for the troops. Oh, it's always good to see snipers at work on the table le as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe - it was a fun little game, and I always like to the snipers in on the action too!
DeleteGreat looking urban warfare game, and interesting use of AI!
ReplyDeleteThank you Dean! Using AI saved a bit of time and brain power on coming up with an idea for the scenario!
DeleteAI produced rules look pretty effective Keith. Good looking game too - love to see all those high multi-leveled ruins.
ReplyDeleteCheers Dai, I like the look too! Just for clarity, the rules are the work of a friend but AI designed the scenario 😉
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