This isn’t about a game I played in, rather it’s one that I refereed. My son had a friend over this past weekend and invariably my miniatures and the game room comes up because well a whole room devoted to war gaming isn’t something you see every day. In the eyes of two boys, or not so young boys, it’s gamer heaven.
I more or less got into miniatures and war gaming about the age that Ian is now. I’d been introduced to AD&D about the time I was in 3rd or 4th grade via one of my friends Matt Flom who lived across town and I only saw once in a blue moon. That cause me to buy the rules and start to visit various sections of the hobby stores in town that I wouldn’t normally.
Then at some point my best friend for many years Patrick Mahoney bought GI Anvil of Victory and I picked up Squad Leader by Avalon Hill. Both great games that we played together often. RIP John Hill. We had a lot of fun over the years and do wish at some point we’d meet up again sometime.
Ian and his friend decided that they wanted to play a game against each other so I proposed we would do it Saturday morning.
Saturday morning rolls around and I ask them what countries they wanted to be. Ian wanted to be American and Damien wanted to be German, so a ’44 winter battle it would be. Great timing too as recently I’d received some white felt from the Mrs for Christmas.
I cleaned off the table rolled out the felt and at which point the boys invaded and helped setup the terrain. I just picked out various pieces and left it entirely up to them to decide where to put it. Ian was keen on who would start on what side. I mentioned to him that would be something he and his friend would dice for so it would be possible he might be coming from a variety of directions.
Given a small stream, a little town, some woods here and there and they were ready to pick out their forces. Ian had played Flames of War before so he was off pulling 1500 points worth while I helped Damien make some choices.
He put together a formation of Panthers & Pz IV with a platoon of Panzer Grenadiers and 4 105s.
Ian picked up two M-18 tank destroyers, a platoon of Shermans, Artillery and some Infantry.
They rolled up a dust up scenario with Ian as the attacker. Damien in one corner and Ian in the other, with Ian going first.
Then they each had the touch decision of what to start the game with since they would only get half their forces to start with the rest coming on as possible reserves. Damien choose his Pz IVs and his artillery, strongly influenced by Ian who chose his artillery and his tank destroyers. I think Ian thought his tank destroyers will going to instantly take care of anything and by rights they should … but the best laid plans ….
Ian starts rolling down the road, having a good shot at Damien’s lead Pz IV. Quick shot, scores a hit and boom, one less tank for Damien.
Not to be deterred Damien moves up and fires back, knocking out one of the tank destroyers. having company command in Panthers sure helped.
Turn 2, Ian moves up and through the town with his remaining tank destroyer but misses. Retreat? No!
Damien goes, pressing forward. He fires and knocks out the last tank destroyer.
Turn 3, Ian rolls for reinforcements, alas, no one coming. Down to just his artillery he tries to call down on the Germans tanks but is unsuccessful.
Damien rolls down his left flank getting closer to the objective. O the shame, playing with unpainted and still not quite assembled Panthers. Ian and Damien totally didn’t mind they were having fun. That’s what counts.
Turn 4, Ian again rolls for reinforcements…. hello? hello? Hey Mack! Anyone there? Again Ian tries to rain down artillery but with no results.
Damien now moves up onto the objective. he successfully gets this Panther platoon and they start to move up just in case there are Americans to deal with.
Turn 5, Ian again rolls for reinforcements, and again no 5s or 6s are rolled and thus his artillery is all by itself. It’s game since he can’t force the Germans off the objective.
The boys both had fun and that’s what counts.