Monthly Archives: March 2019

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Apocalypse Road: The Essendarium – Part 9, Start Me Up

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“If you start me up
If you start me up I’ll never stop
I’ve been running hot
You got me ticking gonna blow my top
If you start me up
If you start me up I’ll never stop
You make a grown man cry
Spread out the oil, the gasoline
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
Start it up
If you start it up
Kick on the starter give it all you got, you got, you got
I can’t compete with the riders in the other heats
If you rough it up
If you like it you can slide it up, slide it up
Don’t make a grown man cry
My eyes dilate, my lips go green
My hands are greasy
She’s a mean, mean machine
Start it up
If start me up
Give it all you got
You got to never, never, never stop
Never, never
Slide it up
You make a grown man cry
Ride like the wind at double speed
I’ll take you places that you’ve never, never seen
Start it up
Love the day when we will never stop, never stop
Never stop, never stop
Tough me up
Never stop, never stop, never stop
You, you, you make a grown man cry”

Song: Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones, 1981 (Condensed and edited for suitability)
Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
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Tank Duel Scenario 2: Hold the High Ground – Round 4

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The Commander’s heart rate quickens as he watches the Panther’s long gun barrel rotate past him and settle in on the T-34/85 on the hill. Unable to line up a shot on the Panther in time, he can only hope that the T-34/85 realizes the danger and moves, but they are too focused in on the PZ IV. The ground shakes as the Panther’s gun erupts in flame and smoke. The shot flies flat and hits the T-34/85 in its tracks. Smoke drifts out of the front hull from the impact. 

“Status T-34/85?”

“AD is KIA, we are on fire! Get that fire out before we burn up! Hurry! Hurry!”

From the front, the Stug and the PZ IV open up and two more rounds impact the T-34/85 nearly simultaneously! One appears to bounce off, while the other penetrates the hull.

“Get out of there!” The Commander shouts into his radio, though the words are hardly out of his mouth when he sees most of the crew bail out of the T-34/85 and take cover in the woods. Amazingly the T-34/85 doesn’t explode or erupt into flames, but it is out of the fight. Not good, we have lost 2 tanks already!

His SU-100 rocks backwards as the 100mm cannon fires – we finally have the Panther in sight! He watches the round hit the Panther in the turret! It appears the Panther Commander slumps over in his hatch but he’s still moving. Other than that he doesn’t see any other damage – “Reload, Fire!”

The air around him crackles and rumbles as a round roars past him – the T-34/76 behind him opens up and hits the PZ IV in the turret! Fire breaks out and the commander appears to be wounded… Finally, we inflict some damage! Hopefully that will knock the PZ IV out of the fight and off that hill.

“Where do you want us to go?” comes over the radio – another T-34/85 is joining the fight! The Commander thinks for a moment as he assesses the situation, trying to decide the best place for the new tank entering battle…

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Manoeuvre: Distant Lands Tournament Part 1 of 4: Sweden vs. Qing Dynasty

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As promised, here is the first article in the follow-up series to the Manoeuvre tournament I wrote a few months ago. I’m back now with the Distant Lands expansion, and I will pit those armies against each other in a series of elimination battles with the winner moving on to fight the French army (the champion of the base Manoeuvre tournament). 

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The Gandhi Chronicles Issue #4: Playing the British Raj in Gandhi — Operations and Special Activities

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The Raj Faction in Gandhi will feel familiar for those who have played any of the 20th century COIN games. Like many Government Factions, its forces are represented by two types of cubes; it has a limited budget to spend on its Operations; and it seeks Control over the populace as one of its victory goals. But like the Coalition in A Distant Plain or the U.S. in Fire in the Lake, the Raj also has forces that Operate for free as its seeks to build Support for the colonial government.

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Apocalypse Road: The Essendarium – Part 8, Ready to Explode

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Commentator:
Hello and welcome to what looks like being a very exciting race today
Among the top drivers are Noddy Holder of the Brahms and Lizst Cup
His team mate is one of Britain’s wildest fellows, James Lea. Let’s hope his accident record can be overcome today. And now, just coming down the straight in the all familiar black and gold colours, Dave Hill, one of motor racing’s true Super Yob’s. His team mate is Don Powell. And my goodness me from where I’m sitting it looks as though they’re ready to explode!

Driver:
Sitting here in my mean machine – I’m ready to explode
Looking out of my helmet at the faces
I been wondering all night long, if I will live or die…yeah
It’s always the same before the races

Commentator:
I got some hot line information about the man who’s occupation
Is driving the cars. Standing out there on the grid
And it’s a kind of fascination and it demands full concentration
The kind of a job we all dreamed of as a kid

Driver:
I can see on the track ahead, the heat is rising high
Gotta win for the team and it’s never easy
I been feeling the butterflies, strapped into my seat…yeah
And already the tension’s getting to me

Commentator:
We’re waiting in anticipation for some official indication
They’re ready to go. Revving up and hit the road
Cos it’s another big occasion and there won’t be no relaxation
They’re ready to go and they’re Ready to Explode

Driver:
You’re gonna drive ’em round the bend
Have a go on the chicane
Gonna drive ’em round the bend
Without a warning…
Ready now to explode

Commentator:
And now the cars are on the grid and it looks like today’s conditions
Couldn’t be better for a great race. We’re just waiting for the starter
Mister Slade to give the O.K. There goes the green light and they’re off!

Who’s gonna be the big sensation. Who’ll be the champion of the nation
In one of them cars standing out there on the grid
He’s gonna get a big ovation. Be the champion of the nation
The kind of a thrill we all dreamed of as a kid

I don’t wanna break down and I wanna explode
Don’t lemme break down, don’t lemme break down
Don’t lemme break down
I wanna explode – I wanna explode – I wanna explode – I wanna explode

Driver:
Ever since I was just thirteen I had a crazy reoccurring dream
To be faster than the speed of sound
It was the only way to get around…oh yeah
Speeding in my dreams – Speeding in my dreams
Seventeen and I passed my test, never settling for second best
I knew right away what I’d like – It was a 750 motorbike…oh yeah
Speeding in my dreams – Speeding in my dreams
Oh yeah…Oh yeah…Oh yeah
I was living for speed
L..L..L..Living for speed
I was living for
I was living for speed…
Explode…explode….

Song: Ready to Explode by Slade, 1984
Written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea
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The Last Hundred Yards – 22.2 Armor Example of Play (Part 1)

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The following example of play not only demonstrates how the armor system works in the LHY but also how the system models actual armor tactics used during WW2. These include tactical concepts such as Enfilade Fire, Fire and Maneuver (i.e., leap frogging), Halt & Fire, Shoot & Scoot and Reverse maneuvers to avoid enemy fire.

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Tank Duel Scenario 2: Hold the High Ground – Round 3

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Round 3

“We are too exposed! Look for cover or a place we can go hull down!” the SU-100 Commander shouts to his driver as the battle rages on. The Panther is on the move making it nearly impossible to hit. He flinches as the T-34/85 hidden in the woods on the hill opens up, firing at the PZ IV on the opposing hill – looks like a HIT! But his elation quickly wanes as the PZ IV returns fire at the T-34/85. A near miss, lucky. Looking back to the Panther, he is pleased to see it hit a patch of mud and come to a quick stop. Now’s our chance! 

“Gunner – Panther, 11 O’clock –fire at will!” The SU-100 slowly rotates to get the Panther in sight.

A T-34/76 moves up behind him and tries to conceal behind a small building but grinds to halt while still exposed to the enemy.

BAM! The T-34/85 on the hill rocks as a shell impacts it – that Stug has found the range!

“We’re ok, failed to penetrate. Reload! Hurry!”

The Stug moves further into the rubble – there isn’t much there to shoot at now. And the Commander notices the Panther’s turret turning towards him… can we get him in our sights before he has us in his?