Newbie Zone: Rotny's First Look at Flames of War

(Hey everyone, let's give a big round of applause to Rotny Vana for his first post!!)

Hello everyone, I’m Rotny Petr Vana and I’m happy to be able to join to small but growing crew of contributors on Throck’s excellent blog. I thought I would take some time to properly introduce myself and give a bit of insight into my decision to join Flames of War.

While I’m a total Newb to FoW, I have been gaming for over a decade now. I started with Warhammer Fantasy from GW before I was able to even grasp the rules much to the dismay of the veterans, I’m sure, but hey, we all have to be Miggins [ed note: miggins = local slang for very young wargamers] sometime right?. 

I used to summer in the Czech Republic, and when I arrived one year my friends had started this cool new hobby which involved painting fantasy miniatures. I was hooked immediately, and have since outlived them as the only remaining hobbyist from the group. But miniatures wargaming hit two chords for me simultaneously that has ensured a lifelong love. 

First, I grew up watching my grandfathers (on both sides) paint model airplanes and trains. I was always fascinated in how they managed to put these kits together, then meticulously paint and decal them, displaying them proudly.

Second, as probably most kids, growing up on Tolkien and other fantasy. To make a long story short, it was not long before I became an avid modeler/gamer, and now regularly play Warhammer of any stripe, Warmachine/Hordes and above all War of the Ring. But you don’t want hear me ramble about my childhood memories, so let’s get on with it.

Why Flames of War?

Flames of War is a game I’ve been eyeing for some time. I’d see people playing on elaborate tables with fantastically painted armies, and thought “this is something I could get into.” I have always been into historical wargaming (whether that be Warhammer Ancients or WWII based games), but never took the plunge because I never had opponents. Finally, when my gaming group started investing, I knew it was only a matter of time. Growing up on stories from WWII (my grandparents lived in Czechoslovakia during the war, and have some amazing tales to tell), and having a long time fascination with Tanks in general, I knew this would be a good fit. A reasonable start up cost, a few friendly gamers willing to grease the wheels and a read through the rulebook, and there’s no looking back now.

More after the break!

RotnyVana Vs. KG VonThrock in Bath

Hey all Rotny and Throck here with an Operation Sealion battle report. This will be Rotny's first go at a "live" campaign game. So let's see how it pans out

Rotny's first Sealion game! We're doing a 1500 point fighting withdrawal in Somerset. Rotny's got his Czech Guard tanks with some suspiciously british looking Motostrelkovy. And Throck's got Panthers, Gpz PanzerGrens and Anti-Tank guns to help secure an orderly retreat from the Czech onslaught.

Rotny's Czech Guards HQ: T-34/85 w/Cupola & Escort 105 Gds Tankovy Co. 1: 5x t-34/85 w/cupola & escorts 500 Gds. Tankovy Co. 2: 5x T-34-85 w/cupola & escorts 500 Motostrelk Company: 2xHMG 14XSMG 1xCMD 1xKomissar Total: 1460

VonThroks Panzer Grens HQ: Gpz Panzergrens 2xCmd w/Faust 1x Schrek team 125 Panzer Gren Platoon Left: 6x MG 1xCmd w/faust 230 Panzer Gren Platoon Right: 6x MG 1xCmd w/Faust 230 PAK 40 Plt: 2x PaK 40 105 Panthers: 3x Panther G 560 Heavy AT: 2x 88 PaK 43 with SdKfz 7's 220

SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

Soviet ready to step off just on the outskirts of Bath

Jerry Dug in, waiting for the assault to come.

UNITS IN RESERVE
Rotny's Czech Guards	VonThroks Panzer Grens 88's are hiding.

DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY

Rotny's Czech Guards: Seeing his relatively unsupported Panzer Grens on the german right objective I figured I'd go for a refused flant which also keeps me away from the Panthers. Both tankovy companies deployed one behind the other. And I sent the infantry down the middle so they could go either way so they could support if need be or push the center. VonThroks Panzer Grens: I hate tanks. Just straight up hate 'em. And that's why I always invest in shiny new 8.8's. That great German tank killing stand by. I had to deploy first, so I wasn't sure where his tanks were going to go, so I held those bad boys in reserve as my ambush platoon. Otherwise, my thought was to hold the line, especially on my right and center. That left objective on the slope of the hill looked less defensible so I through the Panthers over there hoping... I'm not sure. That they wouldn't die or something.

TURN 1

Ivan steps off from the line, ready to push the Krauts away from Bath.

Suprise! 8.8's pop out and...

Take the devil's due.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Rotny's Czech Guards T-34/85 Company: DESTROYED	VonThroks Panzer Grens Panzer Gren Right: 1xMG Stand

TURN 1 SUMMARY

Rotny's Czech Guards: Everything started off going according to plan. The Strelks ran up taking cover and getting into a good position without having to commit left or right. The Tanks rolled up, and unleashed killing one dug in PzGren troop. I though "Yeah, I could do this!" VonThroks Panzer Grens: Ok, so now I know where the tanks are, time to bring up the bad boys. Luckily that Panzer Gren troop was secretly hiding an 88 team! Time to do some killin'. I luck out and hit with three shots tanking out 3 T-34's. I take some shots with the PaK 40's and bail one as well. Cowardly Ivan needs to take a test and RUNS! (Rotny: Fearless indeed *facepalm*)Otherwise I hold... until relieved.

TURN 2

Soviets redeploy after the bloodbath on the German right

Germans shuffle about waiting for the next assault.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Rotny's Czech Guards T-34/85 Company: DESTROYED Strelk's on German Left: 2xSMG stands Strelk's on German Center/Right: 1xSMG stand	VonThroks Panzer Grens Panzer Gren Right: 1xMG Stand

TURN 2 SUMMARY

Rotny's Czech Guards: Well, then there's that. I regroup behind the woods trying to look strategic but really just thinking in my head, what the hell do I do now? Losing a third of my army on turn 1 put a damper on any plans to roll a flank. Moscow will not be happy... Defect? VonThroks Panzer Grens: Things are going well. I killed 500 points worth of tanks in 6 shots. That's a high rate of return in any game. His stelks moved up to the hedge rows and my grens on the right took out two, pinning them. The panthers on my left took out one team from the other strelk company pinning them as well. OKW should be pleased.

TURN 3

Strelks Assault grens on the German Right.

And suffer in a hail of MG-42 fire, getting wiped out.

End of Turn 3

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Rotny's Czech Guards T-34/85 Company: DESTROYED Strelk's on German Left: 2xSMG stands Strelk's on German right: DESTROYED T-34/85 Company: 1xT-34	VonThroks Panzer Grens Panzer Gren Right: 1xMG Stand PaK 40's: WITHDRAW

TURN 3 SUMMARY

Rotny's Czech Guards: INCOMING CARRIER PIGEON FROM HQ: "Meh... Life is Cheap, we make more tank. Just kill Germans." Ok... VonThroks Panzer Grens: So, yeah. He assulted my grens on the right and 25 MG hits later. They were gone. Wow, loves me some half tranks and MG teams. Now it was time to remove... something. I go for the PaK 40's and move the 88's into position. It's really just like the PaK 40's Leveled up and got leet gear. Panthers take some pot shots at the 84's in the town scoring one kill.

TURN 4

Motostrelks move in on the panthers

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Rotny's Czech Guards T-34/85 Company: DESTROYED Strelk's on German Left: 2xSMG stands Strelk's on German right: DESTROYED T-34/85 Company: 3xT-34	VonThroks Panzer Grens Panzer Gren Right: 1xMG Stand PaK 40's: WITHDRAW

TURN 4 SUMMARY

Rotny's Czech Guards: Just... Kill... Germans... Panthers were the only thing I could get to so, go for it! Motostrelks unpin and head towards the Panthers as the 34's take some shots at them. VonThroks Panzer Grens: I'm holding my ground, so I'll try to reduce those tanks some more. Between the Panthers and the 88's I kill 2 more 34's and bail one. Just have to keep holding.

TURN 5

T-34's move over to engage the Panthers and srelks think better of assaulting.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Rotny's Czech Guards T-34/85 Company: DESTROYED Strelk's on German Left: DESTROYED Strelk's on German right: DESTROYED T-34/85 Company: 4xT-34	VonThroks Panzer Grens Panzer Gren Right: WITHDRAW PaK 40's: WITHDRAW

TURN 5 SUMMARY

Rotny's Czech Guards: Strelks move up, ready to assult for the motherland! The T-34's unleash and bail two Panthers. NICE! Some lucky rolling and the strelks might actually get rid of those tanks. I give the order to assault. And my FEARLESS TRAINED heroes of the motherland duly fail their 3+ motivation check. Sigh... I think they actually want to get killed. Now I understand soviet casualties on the eastern front. VonThroks Panzer Grens: Well... that could have been worse. The strelks failed to assault and one of my panthers unbails at the top of the turn, Panzer Gren's on the right move back to the rear in good order. So, I open up and take out two more Strelks with their machine guns forcing them to make a check (CZECH?) and they flee! 88's bag another T-34.

TURN 6

T-34's score a kill on a Panther.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Rotny's Czech Guards T-34/85 Company: DESTROYED Strelk's on German Left: DESTROYED Strelk's on German right: DESTROYED T-34/85 Company: DESTROYED	VonThroks Panzer Grens Panzer Gren Right: WITHDRAW PaK 40's: WITHDRAW Panther Plt: 1xPanther G

TURN 6 SUMMARY

Rotny's Czech Guards: Get in his flank. Kill Panthers. Hey worked last game... VonThroks Panzer Grens: Sure did... He killed one. It's time to remove an objective, I remove the one closest to him and take out a T-34 and bail the commander. 88's suddenly become useless...

TURN 7

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Rotny's Czech Guards T-34/85 Company: DESTROYED Strelk's on German Left: DESTROYED Strelk's on German right: DESTROYED T-34/85 Company: DESTROYED HQ: TANK DESTROYED STAFF CAPT. JANKO HIDING IN WOODS PLOTTING REVENGE	VonThroks Panzer Grens Panzer Gren Right: WITHDRAW PaK 40's: WITHDRAW

TURN 7 SUMMARY

Rotny's Czech Guards: My HQ doesn't get back in his tank, but does make his Company motivation test. He's hiding behind the tank shooting pistols. Somebody get that guy an order of Lenin! VonThroks Panzer Grens: That crazy Ivan makes 4 epic saves against Panther shots at short range. Sadly, I summarily execute his commander with a well placed 88 shot. Natch.

Rotny: Yeaaaaaahhhhh.... Solution, more tanks! Really that was my impression from the game. The tnak companies were too small and the infantry was useless. So from here on out it's go big or go home with the tank companies. Infantry is good for holding but since my army always attacks "zen screw ze foot sloggers!" Throck: I think that was the appropriate amount of DAKKA. The 88's are rough to face... if anything I think I could find a better use for the points than the PaK 40's. Maybe some mortars or something similarly costed.

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This Is Stupid

That is all.

Rotny's First Game!

Throck: Hey everyone I'm here with Rotny Petr Vana, a soon to be contributor to the site. 

Rotny: Zdrasty Comrades!

Throck: Rotny here is about to play his first game of Flames of War. He's a huge Czech fan and so he's put together, well, why don't I let him tell you: 

Rotny: So basically, I wanted to represent my boys the Czech's fighting on the Eastern Front in Late War. Seeing as how there is no official Czech breifing yet, I decided to run them as a Guards Tankovy Army from Red Bear since they were equipped and armed with Soviet gear. I've been eyeing the beautiful games of Flames of War happening in my FLGS and so was pretty pumped when some of our group decided to take the plunge. I picked up a box of Plastic Soldier T-34's to get my feet wet and more money than I'm willing to reveal later, here I am ready to fall in love from dice roll one. Wish me luck!

Throck: Awesome. Weclome Rotny, without any further ado let's do this thing. (after the break!)

While I'm Away

So, maybe starting the blog three days before I leave on a week long trip to San Francisco wasn't the best idea ever. But, while I'm out here on the left coast, away from my minis, my gamers and my painting I thought I'd share with you some of my previous (mostly pre-FOW) painting. Always, when ever I post painted goodies, please feel free to give constructive criticism. So, without further ado, a picture show:

A finished storm strider from Cygnar. Stupid PP didn't give me the crew (grumble grumble)

My winter themed German Tanks and Panzer Grens.

More after the break!

Initial Thoughts on Throck of War

Alright, so now that I've got this thing up and running and a Bat Rep out of the way let me do a little bit more of an introduction.

Hi! I'm Throckmorton. I've been doing the miniature gaming thing for quite a long time, since 40k 2nd edition infact, which makes me old. Recently I've moved away from the Citadel/Games Workshop games and moved into what I like to think are greener pastures. Now, don't get me wrong, I'll still throw down some dice for 40K, Fantasy, BFG and War of the Rings but those systems have started to irk me more and more recently.

So I started to look around for something new to get my painting and gaming fix with. I landed, for some time on Warmahordes where I play Cygnar, Trollbloods and Mercenaries. And it's a good game, lots of interesting abilities and funky combos. But, when I started going to this new store I saw all these folks playing with WW2 miniatures. Now, I grew up on a healthy diet of WW2 movies, museums and books so, needless to say, my nerd-o-meter hit 12.

Flames of War was love at first dice roll. The scale felt right for WW2, the miniatures look great (I like the over large heads and mis sized gear, it gives the models the opportunity to pop on the table), and the rules are good. Sure they have their flaws like other games but all in all, there some of the best I've played with.

Three months later here I am with a full, and almost fully painted, Gepanzerte Panzer Grenadier army and enough extras to run either a Panzer or Scwhere panzer company from the Grey Wolf book. As the blog rolls on, if I can keep up with it, you'll see bat reps between me and my friends (and maybe some from Historicon and NOVA Open), painting, terrain building and other general thoughts on the game.

As I'm still a fan of the PP and GW games I'm sure they'll creep in on occasion as well so keep an eye for those.

Finally, if anyone has some helpful tips to get my first post fixed up, I'm an HTML newb and it would be much appreciated.

Thanks, I look forward to blogging as much as I hope you all look forward to reading.

Start with a Bang. First Post, First Bat Rep!

Hey all, this is my shiny new Flames of War blog. I'm new to the game (about three months in) and I and my friends decided to chronicle our journey through the hobby. I'm a long time hobbiest playing both Citadel and Privateer Press games. I imagine as time goes on some of that will leak in along with painting stuff and other thoughts. But for now, I give you our first Bat Rep. Between me, Throckmorton, and Brit loving rommie, CrazedLoon.

Racing in from the eastern front with no time to change their kit or repaint their tanks Kampfgruppe VonThrock is thrown into the cauldron around Somerset. Forward elements of the Kampfgruppe had just raced to their positions late in the evening when, unbeknownst to them, a crack team of commandos lead by none other than Col. "Cornstalks Stop Bullets" Peter Young. Can the commandos break through under the cover of darkness before critical German reserves arrive? Will the Germans be taken unawares or will Fritz stand his ground on British soil? Read on to find out. This is a 2000 point Hold the Line night fight, with Commando's attacking

Kampfgruppe VonThrock PnzerGren HQ with Fausts 85 Full Panzergren Platoon w/Faust & 3.7cm Halftrack 230 Full Panzergren Platoon w/Faust & 3.7cm Halftrack 230 Panzergren Heavy mortars 165 5 PZ IV's 450 3 Panther G's 560 4 Panzerwerfer 42's w/extra crew 230 Total: 1935 6 platoons

CrazedLoon Commandos Commando HQ 2 PIAT 1 Sniper 110 Full Commando Company 2 PIAT 390 Full Commando Company 2 PIAT 390 Full Commando Company 2 PIAT 390 8x 25 pdr Corps Artillery 250 Naval Gun Support (4 guns) 200 Priority Air Support 220 Lt. Col. Peter Young 50

SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

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The Brits in Detail before Deployment

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Brit Close Up

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Jerry in Detail before Deployment

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Jerry Close Up

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Jerry Deployment in a small Somerset town.

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UNITS IN RESERVE
Kampfgruppe VonThrock Platoon of Panzergrens Panzerwerfers	CrazedLoon Commandos

DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY

Kampfgruppe VonThrock: My hope was to use the few assets I had on the board to hold my ground, pin the Brits and hope for reinforcements to arrive quickly. The PZ IV's held the left (bottom) and one squad of Grens held the right (top of images). CrazedLoon Commandos: The Brits deployed the majority of their PIAT's on the German left to deal with the Panzers in order to break through and make a run on the mortars and the weaker of the two elements. A small team of commandos was deployed on the German right to keep the Grenadiers pinned and unable to support the tanks and Mortars. Arty spotters were split in the hopes of getting a clear shot on any would be reinforcements.

TURN 1

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COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Kampfgruppe VonThrock	CrazedLoon Commandos

TURN 1 SUMMARY

Kampfgruppe VonThrock: I waited, my Jerries peacfully sleeping in their fox holes. CrazedLoon Commandos: Brits step off and not bloody much happens due to slow movement on the night turns

TURN 2

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COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Kampfgruppe VonThrock	CrazedLoon Commandos

TURN 2 SUMMARY

Kampfgruppe VonThrock: FIRST BLOOD! My tanks saw something move in the night and took some pot shots, taking out one stand of commandos. Not much, but a start. CrazedLoon Commandos: More advancing.

TURN 3

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COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Kampfgruppe VonThrock	CrazedLoon Commandos 4 Commando Teams in Lead Platoon on Left 2 Teams

TURN 3 SUMMARY

Kampfgruppe VonThrock: Fritzie is fully awake and the zipper sound of machine guns can be heard across the line. We hold and call for reinfocements and dawn has not yet come. Despite intese fire the PIAT's live. CrazedLoon Commandos: Commandos start after the mortar observer in the (weirdly gothic) church tower and take some pot shots at the PZ IV's while continuing the general advance.

TURN 4

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Heart breaking (and now broken) loss of the PZ IV's

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Kampfgruppe VonThrock	CrazedLoon Commandos 5 Commando Teams & 1 PIAT in Lead Platoon on Left 1 P 2 Teams

TURN 4 SUMMARY

Kampfgruppe VonThrock: Gak! Where are those reinforcements. It's two turns of failed rolls and my left is melting under commando skill and piat fire. The 2iC decides to get VonRambo on the Red Devils and takes out a Piat team but I'm forced to move the mortars back while using sustained fire from my grens on the right to pin the incoming brits. CrazedLoon Commandos: Dawn breaks at the top of the turn and the air support starts to come in. The Red Devils up the action on the PZ IV's, and after sustained Naval and Local artillery support, assult and drive them from the Field. A crushing Blow for the Germans. The commando's on the right get all WW1 and dig in to keep the jeery Grenadiers busy.

TURN 5

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COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Kampfgruppe VonThrock Pz IV's Command and 1 Stand in the Mortar Platoon.	CrazedLoon Commandos 1 Commando Platoon 2 Teams in Second Commando Platoon on Left

TURN 5 SUMMARY

Kampfgruppe VonThrock: Panthers finally make it onto the field! And with no time to loose. The left is looking beyond shaky so I start to send them over there to help shore it up. Mortars simply shouldn't be front line troops against killer Brit commandos. Things are starting to not look great on the right either. I'm holding, but for how long? CrazedLoon Commandos: I hold on the right taking out two teams from the dug in Grenadiers while pushing with an extremely understrength Commando team against the mortars on the left. Despite taking out the spotter my bloodied commandos were run off the Field.

TURN 6

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COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Kampfgruppe VonThrock Pz IV's Command and 1 Stand in the Mortar Platoon. 3 Troops from Grenadiers.	CrazedLoon Commandos 1 Commando Platoon 2 Teams in Second Commando Platoon on Left

TURN 6 SUMMARY

Kampfgruppe VonThrock: Finally my other platoon of Grenadiers come in, but I don't think they'll get where their needed in time. Things are starting to get very shaky all around and I need a game changer. I push my Panthers up, risking the bogging checks on the hedgerows and started to lay fire into the Commando's in the hopes of pinning them or doing some damage. Critically, I failed my storm trooper move with my Panthers and couldn't get back to safety. CrazedLoon Commandos: I move hard up the center in order to try and take the objective behind the Panthers. I was hoping to push on the infantry where I had the advantage and set a trap for the Panthers. I'm thinking assult on Turn 7 vs. the tanks and the Grenadiers. In a show of overwheming force I assult the church and take out the other mortar observer while keeping the pressure up on the Grenadiers.

TURN 7

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Panthers bite it under attack from the Red Devils.

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COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Kampfgruppe VonThrock Pz IV's Command and 1 Stand in the Mortar Platoon. 3 Troops from Grenadiers. Panthers	CrazedLoon Commandos 1 Commando Platoon 2 Teams in Second Commando Platoon on Left 1 Commando Platoon

TURN 7 SUMMARY

Kampfgruppe VonThrock: A morale test I fail. You win this time Brits!!! CrazedLoon Commandos: The final assault. I push in against the Panthers with a couple of platoons of commandos and send three platoons against the weakly defended Grenadiers and 1IC on the right. I'm able to knock out the Panthers and run the Grenadiers off the table, leaving no one but Red Devils in 4 inches of the Right (top) objective and forcing Throck into making a Company Morale test.

Throckmorton: I hate delayed reserves. What do I hate more than delayed reserves? Delayed reserves during a night fight. I made some big mistakes here and they cost me the game. I should have started with two Grenadier teams and the Panzerwerfers on the table. Those wide templates would have been great against the clumps of British infantry and my grenadiers don't really care wether they are shot with a gun or a PIAT, unlike the tanks. Good show to the Brits and many lessons learned for this FOW newbie. CrazedLoon: I'm starting to learn how critical it is to bring the proper tools to the job (PIATS anyone?) and when I should attack and defend. This was clearly an attack fight and Throck let me know where his tanks were going to be, letting me put my AT right where it was needed. I find the sniper unimpressive against mechanized infantry and I need to learn proper placement and target priority with it. Air Support against dug in infantry in terrains was kind of a wash this game. I'm not sold on priority air support being worth while, especially during a night fight.

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