Turn One, Week One- It Begins

 Infantry Aces begins

 So, this past Tuesday saw the start of the Infantry Aces campaign at Glasgow Games Group. This was following up from the successful Tank Aces campaign run a few months back. With a dozen sign-ups and yet more showing interest but lacking forces or time, this one was looking to be more successful, and on the first evening I wasn't disappointed.

A full looking sign-up list, just the ticket

 The Dirty Half-dozen

 Well, maybe not dirty, but certainly half a dozen. There were actually eight players turned up on the night (myself included). But alas space restraints meant we could only cater for six of them. This was even after 'liberating' another gaming table for our use.

 The players on the first night were:

• Murray Anderson, using a US Paratrooper force
• Iain Cameron, fielding German Grenadiers
• Norman MacLean, using US Armored Rifles (Spelling deliberate here)
• Gordon Hamilton, commanding the 90th Sardinian Grenadiers
• Robert McLennan, also using a standard Grenadier list
• Brian Walker, taking American Rifles
• Grace Bommer, using Grenadiers and sitting this one out to be a monkey on Murray's back
• Myself, using a lorried Rifle Platoon from the 11th Armoured Division, sitting out to oversee

 With each pair matched up as the colours indicate above, mission was rolled and came up as 'Hasty Attack'. A good meat-grinder mission to get the players moving.

The Game of Novices

 With both Murray and Iain being novice players, I elected to sit in with them to oversee their game, but still be on hand to answer rules queries, armed with my trusty rulebook, for the other games.

 Since almost all players are using basic infantry lists (Aside from those with transports), attacker and defender must be rolled for.
 Unfortunately for Iain, he rolled to attack, meaning that his Grenadiers would be assaulting the prepared position of the American Paras. Not quite the perfect start. But regardless, the forces were set up and the game begun.

Halfway through the game and the Paras are unflinching under the hail of MG fire

 A small change: For such a small game, the 'Delayed Reserves' rule was waived and made the normal reserves rule, meaning that players wouldn't be left high and dry by essentially missing one of their platoons for half the game, and with bad luck maybe missing them completely. The reserves rule means they are at least guaranteed to show on turn 3.

 Another small change: With time restraints the reserves rule was changed slightly from 'At least half...', as with only 3 platoons in the biggest force, this could seriously hamper any hope a player has. Instead a player must put 'Half rounding down'. 

 The table for the game had a focal point of a village in the middle, with walls and vineyards providing cover for any infantry advances. Murray elected to take the side with the vineyards and spread his Para platoon across them, covering the objective. Iain, with supporting mortars, HMGs and two platoons of Grenadiers had a very intimidating force. This soon proved to not be the case as the game ran through.

 Firstly, the disadvantage to only having two mortars hit hard as five hits became three after re-rolls, coupled with the poor firepower of them meant that the mortars were hardly effective. A good pinning weapon when coupled with an infantry charge though; something Iain learned a little too late.

The dug-in Paras making life a misery for Iain

 Lessons were learned when Iain left some Grenadier teams high and dry on the main advance road, as the rest dug into safety the hapless souls were shot down by some well placed LMG fire from the Paras. In return shots were hitting, but the bulletproof cover meant the Paras were a tough nut to crack. Even the arrival of the other Grenadier platoon did little to chip the rock-hard defence.

 With an 'All or nothing' attitude the Grenadiers advanced into the open between the town and the Vineyard, where one of the platoons were cut down. This though cleared the way for an assault. The Grenadiers hit hard, taking out quite a few teams, but were beaten down and the remaining base ran. The subsequent turn meant the victory conditions were live and with no Germans in the American half of the table, the Yanks were victorious.

The Other Games (aka half tracks are tough)

 My allowance of half-tracks into the starting forces was down to the thought that the mechanised forces with them wouldn't have much else, and the others would have something to deal with them, be it bazookas, PIATS, Panzerschrecks or Panzerfausts. This proved not to be the case as Norman's US Armored Rifles swept onto the objectives against Gordon and proved difficult to shift.

Breaking through that lot would take a miracle

 I might look into imposing some sort of rule to make them less of a juggernaut. Watch this space.

 The last, but not least, game was between Robert and Brian on a rather more open 'Steppe' table. But once again, the Americans proved difficult to shift and the victory went to the allies. Apologies to them both for not having much to write about, but their game was at the other end of the table from where I had planted myself. I'll be sure to get a more in depth look at one of their games another time.

Edit: Robert has his own blogspot, where he'll be keeping tabs on his games. Find him over here:

Oooooh shiny!! Adventures in Gaming

Robert's Grenadiers advance from their starting position in some poor farmer's field

 Outcome of Turn One, Week One

 With all three victories going to the Allies this puts them in control of Castle Hill and The Rapido on the Cassino campaign map. Though this is the first few exchanges and everything could change later on.

So, that wraps up this week of this month, be sure to watch here for more updates. That's all for now, over and out.

Additional: They always say lead by example, and in this case the example is a painted force. So, I pledged to have my force painted by campaign start, and even though I didn't play, I still kept my promise.