Off t'Club: Bolt Action - Quick and Dirty Batrep

I’ve played this game since it was released last year and was the champion of it at our club so I thought it high time that documented a little of our adventures. In a club of roughly 40 members we’ve now got 8 regular(ish) players of BA, admittedly these are mainly my Flames of War brethren so it’s a logical progression one way or another.

My regular opponent, Andy loves his German armour (his FoW forces include pretty much every variant of an AFV that saw action in WW2) and so naturally chose Waffen SS for his main force to allow him to complete the required minimum platoon so he could “buy the good stuff” as he puts it. This really doesn’t bother me as he’s a good sport and most of our games involve lots of banter and some pretty good historical game play.

I on the other hand have a load of good old Tommies (50th Northumbrian) and quite often field them as regular or inexperienced depending on the scenario and mood.

We played the demolition scenario at 600pts. Both sides must defend their objective whilst trying to destroy the opponents. Forces were as follows

Brits

1st Lt & Batman (regular)

FOO & assistant (free regular)

Rifle Section - Regular x10, LMG, 2x SMG

Rifle Section - Veteran x8, LMG, 1x SMG, tank bombs

MMG - Regular

Medium Mortar w/spotter - Regular

Germans

Oberleutnant (veteran)

Waffen SS - Veteran x10, LMG, 2x SMG, 1x Assault Rifle

SdKFZ 234 Puma - Veteran

We both deployed half our forces, placed our objectives opposite each other in our deployment zones and got cracking. The scenario uses the reserves rule so we kept half our forces off board.

I deployed to the bottom of the map, placing one of my regular sections to defend the objective behind the hedge, MMG on the road facing NE, my mortar on the eastern side of the North/South road with spotter in the fields to the north of them. My FOO was on the western side of the board behind the large wood.

Andy placed his unit of Waffen directly opposite mine behind the large wood at the northern side of the table next to his objective. His Oberleutnant went with them (naturally).

Turn 1

Uneventful other than Andy advancing towards the wood in front of him and my FOO looking for a better line of sight for his strike..

Turn 2

Bring on the reserves. My other regular section joined the first as a mobile fire unit to defend the objective. The veterans came on to the east of the mortar, using a run order to get as far as possible. Fire order for the Mortar and……Blam! HE firey death on his Waffen SS who had moved up close to the trees (5 kills, 2 pins.). Ouch! However the Puma blew my mortar spotter away (that’ll teach him for being too effective!).

However Andy’s second unit comes on and promptly guns down my FOO and assistant. Argh, I hadn’t called in his fire order. I guess that’s how it goes in a game of random activations.

Turn 3

So all our forces are on table. Andy continues his run down my western flank although chooses to go through the woods rather than into the fire zone of my MMG who I had lefty on ambush along with 1 rifle section. On the eastern flank my veterans played cat and mouse with the Puma (no pun intended), advancing and threatening whilst my mortar kept calling in fire to trigger the recce! Andy’s other unit of SS regroup in the woods and consider advancing into sight of my rifle section taking cover behind the woods but decide better of it. Obviously the thought of a bayonet charge across open ground directly in front of a full strength British rifle section seemed like too much of a risk.

Turn 4

More cat and mouse on the eastern flank as my vets advance under cover of the mortar and the Puma dances around like only a recce vehicle can.

I manage to redeploy my remaining assets to cover the road and woods, putting the MMG and both rifle sections on ambush. Andy advances into the woods a little more.

Turn 5

This is the first turn for infantry fire. My Vets assault the Puma but cause no damage, Andy’s under strength SS squad fire a few token shots at the rifle section directly opposite them causing no casualties. They promptly return the favour with equal results. The SS squad flanking open fire on the section sheltering behind the wall and cause 4 casualties, they promptly fire back causing 3 in return.

Turn 6

Andy is playing fro the draw and pulls his understrength squad back to the objective as my Vets dodge the assault of the Puma in preparation for assaulting the objective.

My rifle section on the western flank exchanges fire with the SS in the woods, 1 casualty each side. My 1st Lt joins the fight to provide a much needed morale boost along with the MMG and second rifle section, who now have nobody to cover with the departure of the SS squad back to their objective.

Turn 7 (we rolled to play one last turn).

The SS squad in the woods are now pinned into uselessness, their Oberleutnant protecting their objective with the under strength squad. My Veterans take a pummelling from close range fire, they then assault but the SS are just too darn tough.

End game!

Review

I enjoy this game at platoon level, I have played a number of Bolt Action games that came closer to company size and the mechanics just don’t feel right. Also it begins to lack the same urgency and risk that smaller games give. Andy had two squads and vehicle vs my three squads and support teams. In the end we both agreed that it was timing of activations and along with me having more options (i.e more dice) that resulted in a draw.

The game felt tactical, with the threat of action (units in ambush, covering arcs of fire) being more of a factor than actual casualties. I personally don’t want this game to be any larger than platoon level, for that kind of play I’m happy with Flames of War.

Anyway here’s a few pics that outline the key action, next time I'll take more.