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Miniature Wargames 373 – Threat Generation

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Miniature Wargames 373 – Threat Generation Editorial News/Events Column Feature Profile Scenario Painting Modelling Reviews Advertising Threat generation Active opposition for tabletop wargaming Stymied by the inability of tabletop wargames to Panthers, Panzer General and the Close Combat series all do this provide the immediacy and tension of computer and provide a game impossible to recreate with miniatures. This wargames, Martin England was close to is a great shame, because although I really enjoy my computer giving up – until one day, he had his “Eureka!” games, they just do not provide the visual and tactile pleasure of a tabletop game, with good scenery and the satisfaction of seeing moment, which he shares here with us now. the hours of effort put in to building and painting both scenery and forces translated into actual combat. I have always enjoyed regular wargaming against a live n almighty, deafening clang and the tank shuddered opponent, and although often outwitted, out-thought and to a halt as the engine stalled. “Reverse! Reverse!” thoroughly beaten, I have never managed to achieve that level screamed the tank commander, choking on the of tension and complete surprise that you get in a computer smoke and dust. The driver frantically tried to restart game, that results from fighting a totally hidden enemy. We Athe engine, knowing full well that another round would be on have tried ‘dummy’ units, ‘event’ cards and even ‘programmed its way in seconds. The engine turned and coughed but would scenarios’, but they have always only been partially successful – not start. “Abandon now?”, thought the tank commander – and ‘dummy’ units are still reacted to, as they cannot be ignored and then he remembered – smoke! He reached down and triggered may be real; and event cards are okay, but as my opponent and the smoke dischargers on both sides of the turret. As he did so, I have written them, we know what to expect, if not when! And the engine sprang into life, the driver hit reverse and, just as the programmed scenarios inevitably follow a script. white smoke started to thicken around the tank, they lurched It appeared to be an impossible dream: to create a mechanism backwards, crashing through the undergrowth and back down whereby I could recreate the advantages of a computer game the slope they had just climbed. on the tabletop, with this mechanism able to be used either “Anybody see anything?” asked the tank commander. in a solo game or with an opponent to provide totally hidden “Nothing,” reported both the other units and recreate a level of tension tanks in the troop that had been Although often outwitted, out- and surprise as intense as a good providing overwatch. The only computer wargame. I just never had thing they had seen were the troop thought and thoroughly beaten, the time to devote to the problem commander’s smoke dischargers – and anyway, I thought, it is going off and then they watched I had never managed probably not achievable and will be as his tank reversed past them at a a waste of time. speed they would have sworn was to achieve that level of Enjoying now a thoroughly impossible going forwards, let alone deserved retirement from the backwards. tension and complete military, it is only in the last few “Now what?” thought the months that I have found the time tank commander. “No idea what surprise. to really think about the problem fired on us or what it was. Where again, and at long last, I believe are the bloody infantry? Lagging behind as usual.” To be fair, I have found a mechanism that works: the Threat Generation he had been urged to press on, ‘at best speed’, by the CO at System or TGS. the O Group. Should he wait for the infantry to catch up? Or, I began by breaking the problem down into its simplest sneak forward slowly, hoping to spot the gun this time, before it components. As a ‘commander’ in the field with a task to carry spotted them? Call for artillery support? But with no target to out – be it ‘advance to contact’, ‘defend a location’ or any other give them... He needs to make a decision fast – there are only a mission – there are really only three basic things I need to know couple of game turns left. about the enemy, or the ‘threat’ in military speak: This description is why I play computer wargames. I really • What is it? (Tanks or infantry, A/T gun etc) enjoy small-scale, tactical level, turn-based wargames, and it is • Where is it? (In what direction and at what distance) only computer games that can provide a decent ‘hidden’ enemy • What is it doing? (Moving in the open, dug in, retreating etc) and deliver that feeling of tension and sudden shock when the It is then up to me as the commander to deal with this unexpected happens. The classic computer games such as Steel perceived ‘threat’. MINIATURE WARGAMES 21 Editorial News/Events Column Feature Profile Scenario Painting Modelling Reviews Advertising ground to the south west of the village and provide cover for the infantry as they entered the village, as well as providing covering fire to the west. At the same time, my recce infantry in the Bren carriers would advance up the hill to their front and, on reaching the summit, observe the village, radio back if clear, and I would then send in the lorry-borne infantry to occupy the village. The Crusaders could then advance to the end of the table. Game over. Superb plan, what could possibly go wrong? Game turn 1: nothing to report, both Crusaders and Recce Infantry advancing. Game turn 2: the Crusaders spot a German infantry platoon advancing towards them at a distance of about 750 metres. The German infantry have not spotted the Crusaders. The Crusaders watch and wait to see what the Germans are doing, hoping they will get just a little closer. Game turn 3: the German infantry continue to advance An overview impression of the battle area. towards the Crusaders, who open fire and, taking the Germans completely by surprise, inflict some serious casualties. The Put in these simplistic terms, I thought it should be possible German platoon goes to ground. On reaching the crest of the to come up with a mechanism to ‘trigger’ the appearance of hill, my recce troop in the Bren carriers is spotted by another enemy forces and answer each of these questions. Any standard German infantry platoon which is dug in on the hill to the set of wargame rules could then be used to play out dealing with north of the village. A firefight starts between the Bren carriers the ‘threat’. and this platoon, with little effect on either side. The recce After some error and a lot of trial, I believe I have come up platoon dismounts and moves into good firing positions with with something that is not too complicated, requiring only one the carriers providing cover fire. chart and one tabletop ‘device’ – again very simple, but it really Game turn 4: the first German infantry platoon caught in does work! How do I know? Because this happened. the open by the Crusaders continues to take casualties and stays I decided to test my TGS with a typical tabletop wargame down and pinned. The second German platoon takes some scenario, set in the Western Desert, 1942. The British were casualties from the recce platoon, which is on higher ground. advancing to the west along the coast road, on one of their Game turn 5: I now decide to bring on my lorried ‘trips’ up and down the North African coastal path. The map infantry, with me leading the way in my Jeep. It is now that was as shown. There was an Arab village and oasis to the centre the Germans spring their ambush – another German infantry right of the map, several low hills and plenty of soft going. I platoon is dug in, in good cover, just 300 metres to the north of played an advance element of the attacking British, operating on where my convoy enters the game board. I don’t even see the the left flank of the main force. My orders were to: Germans, but they pour fire into my lorries, setting two on fire • Occupy the village and the oasis, which will be utilised as a immediately. My survivors abandon the remaining vehicles and supply base as our forces advance. dive into the ditch to the left of the road. My radio, of course, • Recce to the end of the game board to ensure no enemy remains in the by now burning Jeep! forces remain in the area. In the distance, the Crusaders keep inflicting casualties on • Report when the village was occupied and could confirm their pinned German platoon. The recce troop are now locked the area is clear of enemy. in a firefight with the German platoon to their north, and I am The game lasted only five game turns. By the end of game unable to contact either them or my artillery support. turn 5, I was cowering in the bottom of a ditch with the few End of game turn 5, the map situation was as in Map 2. survivors of my infantry platoon waiting to be rescued, if Unable to contact either the Crusaders or the Bren carriers, I possible, by my other surviving forces – or more likely having to just had to hope they would spot the burning lorries and Jeep to surrender next game turn.
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