To War!!! Well to practice war!!

 Today I went over to my mate Daves house and we played 2 games of Bolt Action. Just to remember the rules and test our lists. And instead of our usual kill everything scenario we rolled each one. The first one we rolled Take and Hold then proceeded to read the wrong scenario rules (good start I know!). So we started Dave and his Germans defending all hidden and I had to come onto the board and secure upto 3 objectives. I had some luck with my artillery and not such in the way of armour. Both tank and armoured car dead on 2 turns but I managed to grab 2 out of 3 objectives and took the win.

Next up we tried actual hold until relieved scenario, I opted to defend as that seemed harder. One squad set up on the objective (a very snazzy looking V2 rocket)   and my sniper team providing over watch. The sneaky Germans were all hidden away. My relief force entered and a frantic battle occurred. I had some supreme look with my mortar and artillery barrage but my squad were forced off the objective and 

 The Germans took it, I held it for a brief moment but lost most of my infantry trying to capture it. Both armoured vehicles survived this battle but it was a loss. 

Really good games. I'm glad I took the 8 man squads instead of one or two big squads. Gave me a bit more flexibility. I need to keep my armoured car on anti infantry and not use it on a tank fight (this seems obvious in hind sight).  My sas should make a good shock squad but I need to pick my moment to use them.  

Anyway all good fun was had and that's the main thing isn't it. 

Chaos reigns around the objective! 

 

I Gather the troops for the Upcoming Tournament

 As I've mentioned I've entered a tournament so I thought I would do a post about what forces I will take. I would love for this to be an in depth choice but a lot of my choice is necessitated by the fact that's the only models I have.  It's mid war so 42 to 43 ish. Which straight away is a problem as my army is mainly late war (no firefly for me) but I have used the Tunisia selector on easy army. I chose Tunisia as my guys are late war European so have the the khaki battle dress and wouldn't fit a desert rat 8th Army type selector but on a quick Google I found some pics of British soldiers in Tunisia who looked similar to my guys so that will do.

So here we go

HQ Choice

Regular First Lieutenant with one guy as a bodyguard. The lieutenant has a pistol and his bodyguard an SMG. 

Infantry 

8 man squad featuring 2 SMGs and an LMG. 

8 man squad featuring 1 SMG and an LMG

7 man squad featuring 1 SMG and an LMG

5 man SAS squad featuring 4 SMGs and an LMG

Team Weapons 

Sniper team

Medium Mortar with spotter  

Vehicles 

Sherman 2

Dainler Mk 1 Armoured Car

Bren carrier

National Characteristics 

Rapid Fire

Free Artillery Observer

That's it 995pts and 11 order dice.  I have a few infantry squads to give me a bit flexibility, the SAS to provide some punch in assault. The armoured car is purely as I want to play it. The sherman is in as its the only tank I have that fits the mid war.  The spotter with medium mortar is a new thing for me so I have to learn the spotter rules! The sniper team to take out weapons teams, officers and enemy snipers. The Bren carrier well I love Bren carriers and will always have one. Either the SAS will use it or my free observer after he's dropped his artillery can jump in to provide a mobile gun platform.

What does everyone think? I never was good at min maxing or finding the exact right mix of units. I've font with what I have and what I think is cool as that what I always do! 

Of course this is all bound to go quite wrong but hey it will be fun!! 

I enter a tournament and paint some minis!

Since my last post I have played a 40k game. Just a 3 way battle to get an idea for the rules suffice to say my guard got absolutely pummelled (I had a whole squad wiped out and all they did was walk 12" across the board and Bam dead) !!! Was good fun but I struggled with doing everything in one turn. So I have to learn to switch my brain between the bolt action system where you can react to an opponents move very quickly and the 40k way of having a whole turn to yourself. I prefer the bolt action style system I have to admit and it would be cool to see 40k using an I go you go system instead of the whole try and wipe out as much of the enemy on turn 1. My highlight of the battle was my commander, commissar and 4 remaining guard charging a ghost keel and managing a wound with a bayonet!! I mean they all died but that's not the point.

Fot the Emperor!!! 

I had a good time and enjoyed the game though and am looking forward to the crusade type thing. I've painted up my first squad. I thought they looked a bit like starship troopers so I went with that style

Was a bit awkward as I had undercoated the models grey, then had to paint the armour and clothes grey as well. Next time undercoat white!

Next up was my veteran squad (Otherwise known as Schaeffer’s Last Chancers)

My motley band of vets

These were an interesting mix of characters. Finished in the last few days was my take on the militarium Tempestus Scions. In the GCPS Mantic set I brought there was options for some different looking troops with heavier Las guns so I made these into my Scions. They do have a Halo look to them I think? 

I have bought a leman russ of my friend Matt who also gave me a Sentinel as well which was super nice of him! So on the painting tray at the moment are my heavy weapons team, a leman russ and my Daimler armoured car. 

Which is a lovely segway into Bolt Action. I noticed one of my local gaming shops advertised a bolt action tournament and I was off work so decided to give it a bash. Its 1000pt mid war, should be fun. My 2 friends who I got into Bolt Action are going as well. Matt will be bringing his Soviet horde and Dave will be bringing his Germans. 

I'll do another post on my list and stuff later. Well that's all for now!