This AAR is from round 16 of the Last Hundred Yards Ladder playoff by Marc Rivet. The Americans were played by Marc Rivet and the Germans by Jason Martin.
Do I enjoy Falling Sky? Very much indeed! What is the reason? First and foremost the theme, with Ancient Rome, Caesar, Gauls as main actors in this story. I love that part of human history and you do not have to convince me to play the game connected with that epoch. Then, we have a very fitting – for COIN system – situation, with all-mighty Rome, pretty powerful Arverni and Belgae and nimble Aedui. The interactions and connections between factions can become very complex and intriguing, making each game a completely different experience.
So whenever the occasion occurs – like recently – to organize another Play By Email game with my online friends, I am immediately open to join such initiative!
December 1944: Corporal Cecil Hannaford was not happy. As the assistant squad leader in the 3rd Platoon, A Company, 110th Infantry Regiment, he had just learned that his platoon had been ordered to leave the warm, safe shelter of their buildings in Heinerscheid to set up a roadblock nearly a mile away in Kalborn. Reluctantly, Hannaford and the others moved out into the cold night. “We ran a phone line to our outpost as our only communication with the company HQ” in Heinerscheid. When they got to their OP position, Hannaford was dismayed to see that it was “in plain view of the road on the next hill.” As he and his foxhole buddy dug in and set up their position, Corporal Hannaford could only think of the rest of the company, cozy and dry back in Heinerscheid. They finished digging in, and Hannaford took the first watch. Oh well, he thought, at least it’s quiet here.
Mission Objective: The mission ends if at the end of the game turn there are no American undisrupted combat units within two hexes and LOS of the Church, or either side exceeds their Casualty Differential Limit, or the Final Score is ≥ 46.
Playing the Commands & Colors games with a consecutive, chronologically or geographically connected set of scenarios is what I love! And this is exactly what I am doing with Samurai Battles – the latest installment in the series. Today I will have a very interesting battle – Anegawa 1570 AD – which features 3 set-ups:
It is really great to play an overview version, and then zoom on some aspects of this clash. Enjoy the picture-rich session report plus historical background!
If there was a lull during the first day at Shiloh, it occurred between 11 AM and noon. The Army of Mississippi, led by Albert Sidney Johnston and Pierre Beauregard, had dislodged the Army of the Tennessee’s three forward divisions that morning, seizing their camps and sending thousands of blue-clads running for the safety of Pittsburg Landing. Prentiss’s 6th Division had been especially hard hit.
Almost everywhere the Confederates had gained or crossed the line of the Hamburg-Purdy Road. The cost was high, however, and not only a question of casualties. The exigencies of battle unraveled Confederate command and control to the point where not a single division or corps fought as a unified formation. Indeed, in many cases individual regiments found themselves fighting alongside troops from other brigades, even brigades of divisions other than their own. Both losses and the need to reform the troops brought the Rebel advance to a halt. For almost an hour the artillery did most of the fighting.
The Federals, too, used the lull to reform their troops, while reinforcements arrived from the rear. As a new line took shape south of Jones Field, William Sherman and John McClernand realized their divisions still retained a measure of fighting spirit. Both men had reason to consider taking the initiative. Earlier in the morning Sherman had ridiculed subordinates who warned of a Confederate attack. Perhaps he could now atone for his error. McClernand was an Illinois politician who was well aware that here, as at Fort Donelson, it would be best for his career to turn a morning defeat into an afternoon victory. The two assembled their most battle-worthy regiments and led them forward about noon.
The Last Hundred Yards (LHY) Vassal Ladder is an ongoing monthly tournament in which players are matched up roughly by skill rating. As players win or lose, they move up and down on the ladder. There is nothing particularly “official” about the ratings and we welcome players of all skill levels. We currently have about 20 -22 regular participants. Players can join, leave, and re-enter the ladder each round as they have available time. The LHY Ladder players are located around the world in many different time zones. A small subset of the players competes by Play by Email only (PBEM). Everyone from the game’s designer to brand new players participate in the ladder. Players of all skill levels are welcome. The Ladder is a great place to learn the game and to improve your play. A typical ladder mission should last between 90-120 minutes. Players should be familiar with the rules but can certainly discuss and help one another learn them better. A typical ladder round lasts for about four weeks so there should be plenty of time to schedule and play a match. Once the mission is completed, players are responsible for providing mission results and a short After-Action Report (AAR).
In addition to becoming more familiar with the game and improving your play, players can expect to meet a variety of friendly competitors from around the world! If you would like to participate in the LHY ladder, you contact Mark Buetow at buetowmt@gmail.com.
The following three AARs are from the most recent ladder mission played, Mission 1.0 Own Their Own.
Ace Levy & Campaign testers Christophe Correia and John Campbell face off in a run through the full-length scenario of Volume II, Almoravid. The scenario covers the Reconquista years 1085 to 1086 that historically saw Christian conquest of Toledo and a major Almoravid intervention from Africa in response. Christophe played the Muslims and John the Christians, all on Brian Reynolds’ beautiful production Vassal module, play-time for this epic scenario 7-8 hours. Cristophe gives us the blow by blow, including a climactic Battle of Toledo that will decide the conflict, while Volko adds rules orientation and historical comparisons. Enjoy this trip to medieval Spain!
Below you will find another fantastic article from David Waldorf, one of our InsideGMT contributors. If you would like to read his previous articles on InsideGMT, you can find those here. Enjoy! -Rachel
I love coming back to C&C Ancients from time to time – that game really gives me a lot of fun. Some weeks ago I played with Marcin couple of Civil War battles (Caesar vs Pompey) and we decided to continue. These are some of the largest and pretty balanced struggles so it was obvious we will have a great time. What we decided to bring to the table was:
Without further delay, let me invite you to the session report! Enjoy!
1st Marine Division, 5th Regt.:
On or about 1400 hrs. August 10th contact was lost with 1st Battalions’ LRRP[2]. Their last contact indicated they were eluding one or more Japanese patrols about a half click[3] from the shoreline. Their last reported position on the island was 502143[4]. Our regimental Top, Col. William Philips, has ordered Capt. Kirk (Baker 6)[5] to insert a group near the lost patrol’s last known location and conduct a search and rescue operation. The objectives are to ascertain the LRRP’s situation and, if possible, arrange an extraction of all personnel by PT boats. Baker 6 formed a search group consisting of 1st Plt., under the command of Lt. Dan Gaston (1-6), and the remaining elements of 2nd Plt., commanded by Lt. Bill Lewis (2-6), from which the LRRP personnel originated.
