NorCal D-Day Firestorm Event- pt. 1

I flew back to California last weekend to host a Flames of War event for my old crew at Gamescape North in San Rafael.  It was a strict Red v Blue event that drew 22 players from all over the area.  We played three rounds at 1500 points with lists only from the D-Day period but each table was themed around a specific battle and both sides received unique bonus troops tied historically to that battlefield.  Balance was a major consideration as was historical accuracy.  Prizes were awarded for Best US, Best British, and Best German Generals, as well as Sportsmanship and Presentation.  All of the Firestorm units were also raffled off at the end of the event!  We played Hold the Line, Counterattack and Free For All.  Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen!

Pegasus Bridge- John's Panzer Lehr Panzergrenadiers counterattacking Dai's 4th Armoured Canadians.

Utah Beach- Mike's 7th Armoured Cromwells attacking John's 17. SS Panzergrenadiers.

Omaha Beach- Russ' 6th Guards Churchills assaulting Richard's 711. Infanterie Grenadiers.

Juno Beach- Bill's 2nd Armored Stuarts assaulting Brad's 21. Panzerdivision Beutestugs.

Carentan- Dave's Task Force A attacking Luke's 9. Panzerdivision Panzerspäh.

Escaping the Noose- Damon's 2nd Armored Shermans attacking Dave's 352. Infanterie Grenadiers. 

Cherbourg- Kevin's 2nd Armored Division Armored Rifles attacking Josh's 1. SS Panzergrenadiers.

Haute Vents- Sarah's 7th Armoured Cromwells attacking Nick's 9. Panzerdivision Panzers.

Operation Stack- Martin's 50th Infantry Division attacking Wyn's 9. Panzerdivision Panzergrenadiers.

Cagny- Marco's 1st Infantry Rifles attacking Pablo's 9. Panzerdivision Panzergrenadiers.

Mortain- Sam's 100. Panzer Abt. Beutepanzers counterattacking Reno's 1st Infantry Rifles.

Battlefront Early War Sale

I'm a sucker for a good deal, especially on Flames of War stuff so I went ahead and grabbed a pile of new minis.  I'm not a huge fan of Early War and the local group won't even consider playing it until an American list comes out (maybe in a year or two?) but I couldn't pass on the sale.  I've wanted to build a Japanese force since they were announced but couldn't logically buy into it until now.  For just over $200 I bought every blister and box I might ever need for any list I'd want to run. This will be the first non-German army I own, mostly because it's too large an investment to own more than one, but luckily these troops will be usable in any future Japanese list as well.

Late War Tournament in ABQ

Made a drive up to Albuquerque last weekend for a quick two-round event hosted by Active Imagination.  The group up there has been rebuilding after experiencing a drop-off in FoW players recently but the guys that do play are great.  It was Late War 1650 with a June-October 1944 restriction.  All of the tables were themed bridge-crossings.  I had no idea what to take so I just threw a 26. Panzerdivision list together from Fortress Italy.  My list had: Panzer IV Hs in the HQ and a platoon of four more, three Panther As, four StuG M42s (semoventes) four 8-rads in two patrols and a platoon of Grenadiers.

My first game was against Jeff and an Irish Guards list with Cromwells and Challengers in Surrounded.  I won the roll to attack.

Weak-side deployment.  Grenadiers and the 2iC.  This would at least keep some of the tanks on this side of the river, which was Impassable for the tournament.

The rest of my force deployed on this side since all of Jeff's tanks were on the other side of the river.  His Immediate Ambush dropped next to the bridge but my Panzer IVs rushed him Turn One and killed both.  Panthers would work up the left side taking long-range shots at the tanks on the far side of the river.  M42s would engage the Stuart platoon while my Recon worked through the trees to close with the Infantry dug in by the bridge.

Working up the flank!

M42s are more than a match for the Stuarts but my 1iC left himself exposed!

The Challenger bagged a Panther but my Panzer IVs were able to assault the infantry, clearing this side of the river of Allies.  With the only way accross the river blocked, nothing could get close enough to contest.  6-1 victory for me.

My second game was against Derrick and a King Tiger company in Dust Up and I barely came away with a victory there.  A failed Stormtrooper prevented his 1iC King Tiger from rotating his turret and my Panthers arrived that turn from reserve and snuck a round into his rear.  The M42s blasted a trained 88 platoon out of it's foxholes and my Panzer IVs killed some infantry before dying during a brutal assault.  5-2 win for me but it was much closer.  Phone died so no pics!

Had a great time and Active Imagination provided at least a blister to all five players, plus gift cards to the top three.  Thanks again to Keith for running it!

Historicon Painting Competition - 2014

There were some excellent entries this year and they just posted the winners up on the WI website.  Some of the pictures don't do the entries justice.  The Mounted Tournament Knight by Jessica Rich was beautiful, with a white embroidered overlay on top of the light blue caparison.  Simply amazing the amount of detail on that mini.  James Brown's 28mm 8th Army troops were some of the most life-like figures I've ever seen and deservedly won Best of Theme.  His Ratling Snipers have digital camo and won Best of Show.  My Marder IIs won first in the FoW Platoon category and also won the Iron Cross award for Best Flames of War entry, a huge surprise to me.  There was an awesome Monuments Men Objective piece that I loved and several excellent armor entries and the Horton 347 alt-history jet from Ed Kee was super cool.

Link to WI website: http://www.wargamesillustrated.net/hobby.aspx?art_id=4557

Here are some of my favorites, pictures from Wargames Illustrated.

Mounted Tournament Knight from Jessica Rich

8th Army Section from James Brown- Best of Theme

Ratling Snipers from James Brown - Best of Show

Horton 347 from Ed Kee

My Fallschirmjäger Marder IIs - Best Flames of War (Iron Cross)

Jagdtiger from Steve Kee

Panther Gs from Michael Jaques

Monuments Men objective from Ed Kee