Games for Historicon 2017

Which way to Historicon?

The countdown to Historicon continues and I’m still painting 3mm guys at every opportunity.  Stay tuned for more photos of the latest progress.

In the meantime, below are the blurbs for my games from the PEL, as well as those of some buddies of mine.  Online registration for Historicon continues through June 16, so you still have time to get signed up for any of these great games or others.

Friday, 6 PM, F-541

Saturday, 9 AM, S-542

Today Capuzzo, Tomorrow Tobruk. Operation Battleaxe , June 1941

Theme World War II; 6 PM; Length: 4 hrs; Hosted by: Brian Cantwell; Scale: 1/600; Rules: Field of Battle World War II; Sponsor: Picoarmor; Prize: Prizes provided by Picoarmor (www.picoarmor.com); No. of Players: 6. With the disappointment of Operation Brevity and the arrival of the Tiger convoy, Churchill has pressured Wavell to launch his next offensive, despite minimal time for the crews to train on their newly arrived tanks. Can superior numbers, British spirit, and the Queen of the Desert carry the day and open the way to Tobruk or will the Desert Fox once again steal victory using daring and his last fuel reserve? Maneuver battalions and brigades in this division scale game of Operation Battleaxe. No experience needed, rules will be taught. Young gamers welcome with supervising adult.

Saturday, 1 PM, S-499

Operation Brevity: May, 1941

Theme World War II; 1 PM; Length: 4 hrs; Hosted by: Brian Lipscomb; Scale: 15mm; Rules: Battlegroup; No. of Players: 6. With Tobruk besieged, the British plan to push across the Libyan border and seize key positions in preparation for larger operations meant to relieve the port. This game focuses on the British drive against “weak” Axis forces holding Halfaya Pass and Fort Capuzzo. For the Axis, surprisingly determined Italians and ample Panzers mean that British hopes for a decisive victory may be overly optimistic. The new Battlegroup: Tobruk rules will be used. Experienced or new Battlegroup players welcome.

I’ll be on hand to help out with Brian’s game as soon as I can get my own morning game packed up and put away.

Friday, 2 PM, F-234

CY6! – Marianas Turkey Shoot over Guam – June 19, 1944

World War II; 2 PM; Length: 4 hrs; Hosted by: Rob Wubbenhorst; Scale: 1/285; Rules: Check Your 6!; Sponsor: Fight’s On! & I-94 Enterprises; Prize: Fight’s On! goodies & Raiden 1/300 aircraft; No. of Players: 8. After a morning that witnessed the largest air battle in history, the surviving air groups of Ozawa’s airfleet head toward Guam and the safe haven of Orote Airfield. Will the afternoon sun help them to safely reach the airfield and re-group for another strike against the Saipan invasion fleet, or will the fighter directors of TF58 and the combat air patrol of Fighting Aces VF-15 pluck some more feathers in the Marianas Turkey Shoot?

Hope to see you there.

 

Vyazma or Bust with Battlegroup: Barbarossa

“You can take a picture of it [the dead KV-2] if you put it on your blog.  You haven’t put anything there in years”

The picture was snapped and so the challenge accepted.  After a 3-ish year hiatus, I am back with some accounts of our latest game.

Last year at Historicon I  got a chance to try out the Battlegroup series of WWII rules from Ironfist Publishing.  I enjoyed the games a lot and so brought the rules home for the group to try, where they have also been a hit.  I’ll let others provide a review, but we have really enjoyed these as they move fast, have enough command uncertainty, and create historically reasonable outcomes.

For our latest venture we have been playing the Vyazma or Bust campaign written for IABSM and converting the scenarios to use with the Battlegroup: Barbarossa rules.  This campaign is set during the fall of 1941 as a part of the Barbarossa campaign.