afilter
04-05-2007, 08:41 PM
For those that have not followed along I recently built a 4'x8' board w/ 3-D islands for larger scale action.
Initial scenario w/ house rules:
http://boards.avalonhill.com/showthread.php?t=19240
Making 3-D Islands:
http://boards.avalonhill.com/showthread.php?t=19274
Anyway tonight I had the opportunity to take the show on the road to the LGS for some large fleet action.
We ended up doing a modified scenario with miltiple players (6). We divided up into 2 teams axis and allies and picked 600pt fleets with each player contolling roughly 200pts.
We played a capture the enemy air base(island) with an island air base at each end of the map board 4 sectors form the edge. Same house rules as before on leveling the island air field and aircraft ranged movement. Only thing we added was that as aircraft pass over enemy ships the ships get an AA opportunity attack. This makes the air think a bit more and allows for better protection of transports which are required to take the island once it is leveled by air and naval bombardment. We also limited each airfield to a basing capacity of 4 and reduced the airfield armor to 4 with 6 hit points(use to be 6 and 6, but now fighters have a chance to straf).
It took a while to set up but once we got moving it went smoothly. We used multiplayer initiative with a d20 and no flagship bonuses to determine the random order each turn (all 6 players rolled and went in order from lowest to highest).
It took awhile for surface ships to get into range, but had some interesting air action early on. Axis players failed to coordinate and escort early long range stikes and they were chewed up by long range cap(Allowing aircraft to stay airborne really changes things for the better IMO. You can see the enemy bombers coming, but which way will they go next turn).
The Kongo was sunk by wave of Dauntless that the axis team was positive was headed to reduce their airfield. A couple of time wildcats were allowed to jump unescorted bombers and lone zekes, but could only pull out several aborts and one kill.
Once surface units did come in range the allies made a critical error and allowed the HMS Ark Royal to fall under Bismarks guns. She was lost with 2 Sworfish squadrons re-arming on board. Half the anti sub assets lost in one salvo.
Unfortunately in the end we just ran out of time before the LGS had to close. I will call it a draw as even blood on capital ships had been drawn. Axis air power had been sqaundered early and had to regroup. There only hope was a drawn out surface engagement. The Axis transports were lagging way behind as the allied air arm had them all confused and actually retreating to provide AA cover (this is when Kongo was left alone and jumped).
Allied air power had scored a couple of critical hits and started to reduce the airfield, but the axis had a huge wolf pack methodically advancing screening the surface force.
Next time when time is limited we will reduce the fleet sizes and allow inital set up further out from the edge. Tonight it was 4 sectors from the edge and sub screen 8 sectors.
Anyway here are some pics:
Allied jugernaugt advancing:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r159/afilter/DSCN1121.jpg
Allied transport task force:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r159/afilter/DSCN1122.jpg
Axis threat looms on the horizon:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r159/afilter/DSCN1120.jpg
Allied wave of dive bombers, which way will they go, Darnit where is our CAP...who sent them that far out?
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r159/afilter/DSCN1123.jpg
The transports are safe, but where did the Kongo go...anyone see my Kongo?
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r159/afilter/DSCN1124.jpg
Hope you enjoyed, :)
Initial scenario w/ house rules:
http://boards.avalonhill.com/showthread.php?t=19240
Making 3-D Islands:
http://boards.avalonhill.com/showthread.php?t=19274
Anyway tonight I had the opportunity to take the show on the road to the LGS for some large fleet action.
We ended up doing a modified scenario with miltiple players (6). We divided up into 2 teams axis and allies and picked 600pt fleets with each player contolling roughly 200pts.
We played a capture the enemy air base(island) with an island air base at each end of the map board 4 sectors form the edge. Same house rules as before on leveling the island air field and aircraft ranged movement. Only thing we added was that as aircraft pass over enemy ships the ships get an AA opportunity attack. This makes the air think a bit more and allows for better protection of transports which are required to take the island once it is leveled by air and naval bombardment. We also limited each airfield to a basing capacity of 4 and reduced the airfield armor to 4 with 6 hit points(use to be 6 and 6, but now fighters have a chance to straf).
It took a while to set up but once we got moving it went smoothly. We used multiplayer initiative with a d20 and no flagship bonuses to determine the random order each turn (all 6 players rolled and went in order from lowest to highest).
It took awhile for surface ships to get into range, but had some interesting air action early on. Axis players failed to coordinate and escort early long range stikes and they were chewed up by long range cap(Allowing aircraft to stay airborne really changes things for the better IMO. You can see the enemy bombers coming, but which way will they go next turn).
The Kongo was sunk by wave of Dauntless that the axis team was positive was headed to reduce their airfield. A couple of time wildcats were allowed to jump unescorted bombers and lone zekes, but could only pull out several aborts and one kill.
Once surface units did come in range the allies made a critical error and allowed the HMS Ark Royal to fall under Bismarks guns. She was lost with 2 Sworfish squadrons re-arming on board. Half the anti sub assets lost in one salvo.
Unfortunately in the end we just ran out of time before the LGS had to close. I will call it a draw as even blood on capital ships had been drawn. Axis air power had been sqaundered early and had to regroup. There only hope was a drawn out surface engagement. The Axis transports were lagging way behind as the allied air arm had them all confused and actually retreating to provide AA cover (this is when Kongo was left alone and jumped).
Allied air power had scored a couple of critical hits and started to reduce the airfield, but the axis had a huge wolf pack methodically advancing screening the surface force.
Next time when time is limited we will reduce the fleet sizes and allow inital set up further out from the edge. Tonight it was 4 sectors from the edge and sub screen 8 sectors.
Anyway here are some pics:
Allied jugernaugt advancing:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r159/afilter/DSCN1121.jpg
Allied transport task force:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r159/afilter/DSCN1122.jpg
Axis threat looms on the horizon:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r159/afilter/DSCN1120.jpg
Allied wave of dive bombers, which way will they go, Darnit where is our CAP...who sent them that far out?
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r159/afilter/DSCN1123.jpg
The transports are safe, but where did the Kongo go...anyone see my Kongo?
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r159/afilter/DSCN1124.jpg
Hope you enjoyed, :)