Well the 28mm VSF action has begun! Dave and I broke out the FUBAR VSF rule set (with a few subtle changes) and we hit the gaming table running…
Both the British (cheers!) and the Russian's (Boo Hiss!) had balanced forces and the objective of the game was to have the most (alive) figures within 8 inches of the centre of the board after 12 turns, each of these model Armoured Steam Wagons has a crew of three counting toward this total. So let's cross to Wednesday August 15th 1877 to the picturesque rolling fields just north of the quiet Norfolk town of Knob End on Gaywood...
Both sides made a beeline to the objective using their Armoured Steam Wagons as the centre of their thrust! The initiative on turn two gave the Russian Armoured Steam Wagon first shot in the armoured duel and it used it well causing its British counterpart to burst into flames and then brew up! The crew survived to scamper from the board! The Russian armoured infantry then occupied the brush near the objective while their infantry unit after taking a few casualties fled from the board! The Russian robot unit was slow to move up as it failed its activation roll again and again early in the game! The British may have lost their armour support but consistently successful activation rolls kept them in the game. A hail of accurate fire from their robots and armoured infantry first suppressed, then immobilised and then damaged one of its two cannons of the Russian Armoured Steam Wagon leaving it virtually out of action for the rest of the game!
After six turns the game was anyone's then the British infantry unit after suffering a single casualty failed their morale and fled toward the edge of the table! The British armoured infantry after effectively reducing their Russian opposites in number who survived all their morale rolls were in turn decimated by the Russian robots then broke and fled from the game! At this point all that stood against the Russians were four British robots who survived a hail of fire (but not without a breakdown and a few other failures!). Then with the thin red line reduced to this thin metallic grey one the British infantry unit rallied and hurled themselves forward with gusto! The chances of a glorious British victory For Queen Vic were buoyed...that is until the British infantry were mown down by a storm of fire from the Russian robots, the survivors broke on turn eleven just inches from the victory area and failed to rally on turn 12 fleeing.
The Russians won a narrow victory!
Turn one gave the initiative to the Russian 2nd Imperial Steam Division and they raced at full speed toward the centre of the gaming area.
A good shot on turn two gave the Russians the armoured edge!
The situation around the objective mid game, the blue coated mercenary troops fighting for the Russians hold the brush near the objective despite heavy losses...Hurrah!
The red coated infantry flee after taking a single casualty!!!!!
Only to re-enter the fray a turn later! Hurrah again!
Only to be slaughtered the very next turn and flee again!
Russian robots surveying the battlefied! is that a glow in their eyes or just a bit of red eye from flash photography?
The table at game end, the only troops within 8 inches of the centre of the table were the Russian armoured infantry! The only effective British unit in action still is the robots of the Knob End Engineer Company!
This game was great! We learned a lot about the FUBAR VSF rule set from this session! We swapped sides and played the game again but with a great British victory second time around. The rules are easy, fun, out there and created two close games! To list where we went awry: we didn't value the 'duck & weave' and 'aimed fire' units actions, we undervalued the armour we deployed and we had either to many robots, not enough infantry or not enough Armoured Steam Wagons or guns that could deal with robots but all that aside we will being continuing our VSF games with these rules! I'll put up a separate post on the FUBAR VSF rule set with our thoughts soon!
Next time: more on VSF figures or rules, or maybe I'll finally write up the AAR for the Stanley's Redoubt scenario of the Russian are Coming campaign!
Splendid, Sir! Absolutely Splendid!
ReplyDeleteMight I ask, have you considered G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. for your VSF delectations? Though far from perfect and perhaps a little past its glory days now, it's still my #1 choice for the sort of games you're playing.
Morning Doc!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments.
I went with FUBAR rules as I have used them for WW II games also being 'brief' they are quick to teach people and they play fast, that said I'm broadminded I'll do a search for some reviews on G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. (crikey that was hard to type at 8am...).
Great stuff. Those Activation rolls can be a cause for frustration. I thoroughly endorse your positive comments about FUBAR VSF, simple, quirky, fast play and fun. Looking forward to more AAR's.
ReplyDelete