Yesterday on tournament in Flames of War in Oleśnica also Bolt Action happend – with team composed of Daniel, Łukasz, Maxim and me we did historical recreation of battle which happend in Finland during 1944′ – fight for Portinhoikka-crossroads, part of battle of Tali-Ihantala.
We are from Wrocław, Poland – if you are interested in tabletop wargaming or demo game – let’s look HERE – ask questions, someone will answer!
Finnish troops realized that something is on the road.Keep control over crossroad was main task for Finnish soldiers. Russian scouts going in a column. Daniel idea was great and we tried to recreate historical struggle on one board 48 on 72Finnish flak 2 cm.All Finnish troops started as hidden. Part of our company, Maxim, Łukasz and Kamil.A lot of most popular Russian T-34-85.Finnish T-34 hidden and in ambush. Sturmi named Lea – officialy survived war and is in Finnish museum.Russian tanks in mass advance to take crossroads. T-70 meet ambush but survived shoot from Finnish T-34. Let it burn!IS-2 – tank painted many years ago with tactical number for famous IS-2 from Festung Breslau.Flamethrower team tried to stop T-34-85 – without success.Two panzerfausts stopped a tank.In hard situations desperate moves were done – Finnish Opel Blitz delivered troops to first line of fire. After several hours we were still alive – me was all around. Finally, reinforcements from flanks appeard.With molotovs in hands Finnish soldiers attempts to disable Russian T-34-85.Then run away.More Russian tanks advance.Bitter fight for crossroads.
Summary: – thank you Daniel for what you did – we managed to set up table for this event on Thursday evening in Bolter. – thank you Daniel, Łukasz, Maxim for surviving my sense of humour during going back to our homecity Wrocław. – many thanks to Rafał, who invited me and Daniel, to Adam – organiser and owner of Bolter, to Wiki for several small talks. – thanks to Oleśnica Castle for hospitality and greates place to play – a castle from times of Piast dynasty is greates place to be used – a little bit HERE.
Today with company of friends I was in Oleśnica, Lower Silesia, Poland. The main reason to go was to give a show in Bolt Action during Polish Championship in Flames of War – tabletop miniature game related to second world war. Both systems are related to that period of time – Bolt Action is generally created for smaller games on platoon level and Flames of War is related to company/batalion level.
We were there invited by our friend from Bolter – thank you Rafał! You have my sword, sabre or tanks in next events. I wish to be there again!
Me, myself and I 😉 .T-34-85 and Sturmi in the castle.
Summary: – thanks to Rafał– who invited us, to Adam – organiser of this event, to Wiki for small talk and to our car company – Daniel, Łukasz and Maxim, to Oleśnica Castle crew for being there! First time I was in the castle and love this place! Hope to be there again – maybe with WFB. – last time I was in Oleśnica few years ago, to be a company for my friend when he need someone to talk and then my brother and neighbours joined us, nothing changed, I love Oleśnica and still don’t know this city well. – I took 265 photos, some of them were deleted, as I’m not great photographer – without light I’m losed in twilight, jet there are around more than 100 of them, which I will publish – some of them are related to popular system in Wrocław – Conquest, several are related to Flames of War and most of them are related to Bolt Action – 1944′ struggle beetwen Finnland and Soviet Russia.
Yesterday in Bolterwe played with Daniel our early war disputes – a battle fought beetwen Finnland and Red Army during Winter War. Our game was classical meeting engagement when more numerous Red Army supported by armoured vehicles assaulted on Finnish platoon composed of many veteran soldiers.
We added possibility to ram fences with trucks – movement outside of village was possible for non tracked units only with Advance order. Of course Finns knowing terrain were able to Run. Our game was on 1,000 points per side.
Small settlement with railroad and supply depot.Beautiful buildings models created year and half ago for Winter War campaign.Red Army mortar spotter hidden behind building.Finnish sniper observing area from high church’s tower.Maxim machine gun going on position.BT-7 leading a way, behind it Russian conscripts.BA-3/6 supporting left flank.Finnish troops ready to repel invasion.Finnish ready to repel invaders from they soil.Bofors 37 mm stands ready to open fire.To avoid gun tank turned left and broke some fences.NKWD squad get out of truck.Bofors was moved by it’s crew to better position.Red Army squad took house.NKWD charged against Finnish veterans…and destroyed them as a unit.Bofors scored a hit on tank, but tank survived and it crew was stunned.Another charge on Finns inside charge and another losed unit.This time Finns charged.Another pointless charge happend.The End.
Summary: – thank you Daniel for great game! Your return to Bolt Action is one of the greatest thing of last weeks! – we played six turns and we rolled for turn seven, but without success. – victory belongs to Daniel and it was 6:3.
Daniel, I propose to play scenes from Talvisota movie – two tables, line of trenches, a lot of Russian tanks and infantry and on the other side Finns defending they own soil. I guess that Łukasz would like to join. We need more T-26 and more Red Army soldiers with rifles.
Today in Bolter with Daniel we played Continuation War 1944, when Soviet Union again attacked Finnland with powerful force after many years of skirmish in Karelia and on the border of both countries.
So it begun!
Scouts and few other units like artillery observer or snipers were placed on the board before battle begun. Opel Blitz – one of thousand delivered to Finnland by Germany. One of my favourite German truck.Remnant of Soviet recon force – T-34 with some important documents (worth 3 Victory Points for side controlling it at the end).Best infantry of Red Army – free unit.One of my T-34-85 named Moscow to honour home city of my friend Svetlana.On full speed Red Army advanced on right flank – engines of T-34-85 tanks working loudly.Finnish veterans move quickly thru the dense woodland area.For Mother Russia, forward comrades!Assault engineers, part of Red Army run after BA-64 scout car.Finns threw to action everything they had at hand.T-28, Sturmi and BA-10 arrived to stop Red Army advance.Tank on right has tankodesantniki squad – veterans of many fights.BA-64 crew realized what is going on.T-34-85 shoot down BA-10.BA-64 rushed and made panic in flamethrower team.Red Army advanced behind they T-34-85 tanks.Good shoot from panzerfaust eliminated T-34-85.Tankodesantniki dropped down when sniper shoot on they tank.Moscow pinned by enemy fire from many sources.Finnish infantry bravely charged on steel colosus…… and burned it with molotov coctails.To the ground said comrade seargant again.Close combat fight in the village on the right flank.Ivan one more bullet, hit that tank (Sturmi was tank destroyer – not a tank).Heavy wounded PTRD team wasn’t able to shoot once more.T-28 moved, but Soviet infantry layed down when it opened fire from all it mmg’s.At the end we counted points – it was a Draw.
Summary: – as documents in T-34 on crossroads counted as 3 VP – Daniel force took 7 of my order dices and I took 4 Daniel’s order dices. – this time we played Continuation War, but next time I hope to play with Red Army against Daniel’s Italian Army on the Eastern Front – maybe area around Stalingrad (befor Carycyn, now Wołgograd). – I play with Red Army – but Finns (which I own) and Daniel own’s them as well, Italians and few other ‚minor’ nation armies – like Bulgarians, Belgians, Early Germans, French, Hungarians, Poles1939‚ (need to paint my own), Norway, Romanians etc. are something nice to see on the table – not many people in Wrocław play with them – or no one. – about starting playing in Bolt Ation I wrote one small article in Polish – HERE. The best thing interested person can do to start is to find local group and ask about demo game, in Wrocław I can recommend several people playing in Bolter – it’s best to ask for it HERE. I know, that someone will answer 😉 . – thank you Daniel for great game, we should repeat it – maybe with your Italian Army?
I think that we should remember all fallen soldiers and tragedy of history behind what happend.
Today we tried to recreate Finnish ambush on Red Army columns attempting to breaktrough into the Finnland. There were two platoons per side, over Finnish troops control was taken by Maciej, with Łukasz we lead Soviet Russia.
About Motti tactic used by Finns you can read HERE.
We miss ppl who weren’t able to join, but at least they informed us, that it could happend.
When trees start talking in Finish something will happen. Red Army column somewhere in Finnland. NKWD troops painted by Bonapartist Paint Studio.T-28 – suffered from lucky shoot from at rifle or not? It blocked road.Famous Finnish sniper – Simo Häyhä.Soviet column – this part belonged to comrade Łukasz.Finnish soldiers awaiting orders.Fubar. At least after raising with Łukasz Fubar Team we roll less fubars.Before tragedy started. Red Army soldiers looking nervously all around. Most of them are inexperienced troops. Comrade – I order you to check what is behind this rock – NOW!Lucky shoot from mortar and BA-3/6 almost destroyed Finnish Bofors. Finns with coctails came too close.Bayonnets fixed, charge!Soviet reconneisance by force found problems.Finns are everywhere.Another FUBAR belongs to Łukasz. One more FUBAR, great job comrade Łukasz!NKWD charged Finns in desperate attempt to clear area close to the road.Several coctails….… and BA-3/6 burned. Less and less Red Army soldiers on the table. Final countdown.
Summary: – great game played with scenario from Ostfront, it was 51 to 16 for Maciej, shattered remains of Red Army fled or surrender during this game. – thank you Łukasz and Maciej for great game, thank you Bolter for great place to play. – we have plans for more game on early war – Barbarossa, Japanese-Soviet war, September 1939′, more Winter War but also Continuation War, Festung Breslau and some more struggle in Eastern Asia.
Today we played some training game and first game for Max in Bolter – welcome! Lapland War – some kind of compromise beetwen Finland and Soviet Union to avoid occupation of Finland by bigger neighbour – so war beetwen Finland and Germany was effect of this compromise.
For me it was my third training/demo in Bolt Action – not sure if this system is not winning in case of such games over Warhammer Fantasy Battle, where I’m doing demo games as well – probably now is 3 to 3 beetwen them. It’s my second game in Bolt Action where I played using English – first one was with my friend from beautiful capital of Czech Republic – thank you Vladimir!
Crossroads – we struggle for it.Finnish Sissi squad make a way in German Opel Blitz.Finnish late war infantry advances off the board.Sniper team next to them.Germans also wanted to take control over crossroad to escape north.Another Finnish squad with comapny of mmg next to them.Germans behind fence and field.Finnish medium mortart.Both sides get closer, under mortar fire which was pretty aimed from both sides.German unit from penal battalion took position in the house.Truck driver said, truck is valuable, so I go behind cover.Aim and shoot.Good, safe place for Finnish Opel Blitz – Germany provided around 1,000 of they trucks to Finnland.Finnish infantry advance…Some received wounds, hopefully not mortals, the others took them and runned away.This time on turn 4th Finnland controlled crossroad, but we aggred to play another game soon.
Summary: – good game on 750 points, I know we will play more games soon. – in case of asking for players or for demo games it’s good to ask for it on KLUB BOLTER – Wargaming Community Center – Bolter is greatest community in Wrocław and many players play here in many different systems.
Today in Bolter we played with Łukasz Winter War – 1200 points per side. Both sides had to control important crossroad and roads to the west and east of it. A
Crossroad was worth 3 VP. End of road on left and right were worth 1 VP each.Sniper hidden on the roof.Finnish T-28.Finnish troops advance with Bofors 37 mm anti tank gun.Right Finnish flank.Left Finnish flank.Most of Soviet troops were in the middle.First lose of Soviet Union – BA destroyed by BA.Finns took position in some encampment.Soviet elite troops from NKVD border guards.T-28 advance and start shooting it’s weapons against border troops.Artillery barrage marked by dice with arrow was moved from initial position near Bofors.Border guards understand that they went in wrong place.Finns run to take control over road.Bum, artillery barrage arrived – BA got many pins.Long waited by everyone – FUBAR on veterans.Mass run shouting: Huraaah!Hand to hand combat – Finns took several prisoners of war.Hand to hand combat – again Finns took several prisoners of war.Keeping enemy heads down.Finns keep Soviet infantry busy.Most powerful tank in this battle make it – T-28 crew was to scary to come close to it.More and more enemies.Both roads ends secured.Finns got 2 VP for controling west and east sides of road, Soviets got 3 VP for taking control over crossroad. In case of units eliminated Finns got many VP, but Soviet Union have unlimited reserves.
Summary: – thank you Łukasz for great game. – today it was my second game with Łukasz, first one was another attempt to correct Ambush scenario. – we should remember story beyond and soldiers of both sides.
On last Saturday I had a pleasure to make demo game in Bolt Action for Jarek. We played in Bolter, where I managed to find table for teaching. The most part of this article will be in Polish. Everything about starting playing it is on Warlord Gamespage.
W ostatnią sobotę miałem przyjemność zrobić grę demonstracyjną w Bolt Action dla Jarka. Zagraliśmy w Bolterze, w którym udało mi się znaleźć stół do nauki. Większa część tego artykułu będzie po polsku.
A teraz trochę o tym świetnym systemie pozwalającym graczom na odtwarzanie starć w czasach drugiej wojny światowej. System został wydany przez Warlord Games, a wśród jego twórców byli tacy twórcy jak Alessio Cavatore czy Rick Priestley – obaj niegdyś związani z firmą Games Workshop.
Obecnie na rynku gier bitewnych jest to jeden z tańszych systemów – koszt rozpoczęcia swojej przygody to koszt zakupu zestawu startowego (obecnie koszt między 256 do 500 PLN), zestawu kości rozkazów (Order Dice), księgi armii oraz podręcznika z zasadami – alternatywą dla księgi armii jest aplikacja do budowy armii – easyarmy.com na której można budować swoje plutony. Tak – gra przedstawia starcie wzmocnionych plutonów piechoty lub plutonów pojazdów pancernych.
Zestaw startowy zawiera wszystko co jest potrzebne do rozpoczęcia przygody z tym systemem: – wystarczającą ilość modeli by złożyć dowódcę i jego adiutanta, medyka, snajpera z pomocnikiem, kilka drużyn piechoty, ciężki karabin maszynowy, moździerz z obserwatorem, a także czołg/działo pancerne – oczywiście są tu drobne różnice – np. amerykańscy spadochroniarze w zestawie nie posiadają pojazdów, za to posiadają armatę przeciwpancerną, niemieccy spadochroniarze mają prócz Stuga także działo przeciwpancerne i transporter oraz specjalistyczne drużyny z miotaczem ognia i pancerzownicą. Poza zestawami startowymi są także zestawy zawierające dwie armie, np. „Band of Brothers” z Amerykanami i Niemcami, „Island Assault” z amerykańską piechotą morską i Japończykami oraz zestaw który nadejdzie „Gentleman War” z Brytyjczykami i Niemcami toczącymi boje w Afryce Północnej.
Armie różnią się między sobą i tak np. Armia Czerwona ma na przykład zasady takie jak The Great Patriotic War (Wielka Wojna Ojczyźniana – przerzut nieudanego testu morale gdyby niezdający oddział piechoty lub artylerii miał zostać zniszczony), Quantity has a quality all of its own (Ilość ma swoją własną jakość – darmowy oddział niedoświadczonej piechoty), Not one step back (Ani kroku w tył, rozkaz 227 – komisarz czuwa by nikt się nie cofał, choćby oznaczało to rozstrzelanie dla przykładu), Massed batteries (Zmasowane baterie – ogień sowieckiej artylerii jest bardziej efektywny). Oczywiście każda armia różni się między sobą. Armia Czerwona posłużyła za przykład.
Przykładowa rozpiska którą grałem na 1250 punktów – przydałoby się ją przepisać i znaleźć miejsce dla jednej drużyny piechoty więcej.
Bolt Action wyróżnia się na tle innych gier systemem aktywacji oddziałów – każda drużyna, pojazd czy broń wsparcia ma przypisaną do siebie kość – kości reprezentujące oddziały obu graczy są umieszczane w worku, z którego następnie są losowane i wręczane następnie graczowi którego kolor został wylosowany. I tak w sobotniej rozgrywce kości czerwone przynależały do Armii Czerwonej, kości oliwkowe zaś Finom.
Oddziały mogą otrzymać następujące rozkazy: Advance (natarcie) – oddział może się ruszyć i otworzyć ogień, Ambush (zasadzka) – oddział czeka i może otworzyć ogień gdy zobaczy ruch przeciwnika, Down (padnij) – oddział może w odpowiedzi na ogień przeciwnika paść na ziemię, Fire (ognia) – oddział stoi w miejscu i strzela, Rally (zbieraj się) – dowódca oddziału może zebrać swój oddział, Run (biegnij) – oddział porusza się z dwukrotnością ruchu, może też wejść do walki wręcz.
Przed pierwszą grą dobrze jest spojrzeć na Podsumowanie Zasad które udostępnił Warlord, oczywiście tą tabelkę warto mieć pod ręką w każdej kolejnej rozgrywce – dla wygody udostępniłem ją także tutaj. Oczywiście to podsumowanie to nie wszystko, ale powinno ułatwić życie na początku przygody z Bolt Action – docelowo warto mieć podręcznik w którym jest mnóstwo różnych zasad których siłą rzeczy nie może być na kilku stronach tej tabelki.
Pierwsze kroki najłatwiej zacząć od znalezienia kogoś w okolicy, kto może pokazać na czym polega rozgrywka, zwłaszcza jeśli nigdy się nie grało w żadną grę bitewną, godną polecenia jest ogólno-polska grupa: Bolt Action PL. Z lokalnych grup funkcjonujących we Wrocławiu godny polecenia jest Klub Bolter związany z sklepem Bolter.pl czy Bolt Action / Konflikt 47′ Wrocław.
Obie posiadane przeze mnie armie gotowe do gry demonstracyjnej.Zagraliśmy typowy bój spotkaniowy o skrzyżowanie.Ciężarówka wykonała Advance, po czym chwilę później wyskoczyła z niej piechota oraz pancerzownica.T-34-85 wystrzelił w stronę Sturmiego i chybił.Chwilę później padł ofiarą armaty 7,5 cm zamontowanej na Sturmim.Walka wręcz między niedobitkami drużyn piechoty.Strona Fińska zajęła skrzyżowanie.
Podsumowanie: – była to druga gra demo jaką prowadziłem. Dziękuję Jarku, mam nadzieję, że pomalujesz grenadierów. – ten artykuł jest zaledwie minimum o czym trzeba wiedzieć i wielu rzeczy tutaj nie ma.
Today we played in Bolter our first one on one game with Franek. Scenario was invented at place by me – there were two farm building with supplies – holding each of them at the end was counted as three victory points, plus every destroyed enemy unit was worth one dice each. Each of us has reinforced platoon of 1500 points.
It happend somewhere in Finland, during continuation war with Soviet Union.
I was a little bit late, so Franek started with setting up terrains.
Ruins and farm in the middle were objectives.Sisi run forward.Sturmi took position to keep crossroad safe.Another Sisi squad advance from Opel.Artillery ready to start fire.Soviet troops advance.IS-2 emerged from the forest.Last three of Soviet submachine gun squad.Advance toward the ruins of farm.Brave BA-6 in Finnish service.Finnish troops try to take better position.Assault Engineers advance in the center.BA-6 destroyed by heavy mortar.Artillery and mortar destroyed engineers.
Summary: – thank you Franek for a game! – artillery and mortars did many casultaties on both sides. – I charged with sniper team and then panzerschreck and was defeated in close combat, – at the end, when we counted points Franek was winner – his 7 against my 5.
Today we played a game where were two sides – attackers and defenders and convoy of truck which was main objective – for one side to defend it and to the other to destroy. Each truck was worth four order dices in case of counting victory – for attacking side for destroying each, for defenders side for moving them from one side of board to another,
On attacker side were my Finns and Franek’s Soviet Union, on defenders side were Kriss Australians and Karol’s Germans. Each player had 750 points platoon.
Some wrecks of scouting party.First truck arrived – visibility on the right side of the road was limited.First truck crossed the bridge and heads to the town.Artillery started shooting.
Summary: – the Australians and Germans won this battle, all trucks survived but non left the road. – I losed my Sturmi antitank gun when it started duel with German Panther. – the bravest man was from Kriss scouts, fighting bravely in bulding in the middle.
tancreddebeauville
Mirek Space 