With certain football results occuring in mid week, there was a need to change the game that was scheduled for this week, perfect excuse to break out the latest set of rules “What a Tanker” from Too Fat Lardies which is basically a skirmish game with tanks, who could resist that!!
We decided to play a 1944 scenario in Normandy where the a British Tank Platoon of 2 Sherman M4 (Dave and myself) and a Sherman Firefly (Paul) would take on a German platoon of 3 Pzkw IV H (Julian, Alan and Nigel).
The actions of an individual tank is controlled by a number of six sided “command dice” and depending on their values dictates what actions you can complete that turn. So you may be able to see the enemy, you may be able to aim at the enemy but if you have not thrown the right numbers you cannot shoot at the enemy!!
A relatively open battlefield with a ruined farmhouse made up the battlefield. The British deployed with the Firefly in the centre flanked by the other Shermans.
While the Germans were deployed across their end of the table.
A multitude of 1’s thrown for one Panzer made sure he raced forward
While a similar number of movement dice produced a more sedate advance for my Sherman but I was still covered by multiple hedges so no one could see me.
The fast move of the PSKW IV and a good throw of the command dice meant that Julian could acquire, aim and shoot at Dave’s Sherman.
After hitting the Sherman damage is determined by throwing a number of D6 governed by a tanks “strike” value. The Pzkw IV has a strike value of 7 and Julian produced the following dice roll.
The Sherman only has 6 defence dice and let us just say that Dave did not manage to throw enough saves with the result of:
In the meantime the most powerful gun on the table rolls forward and demonstrates that it cannot hit a barn door at 20 paces.
But not to worry as seen in the distance another Sherman rolls onto the table and Dave this time decides that sneaking up the edge of the board may be safer.
But eagle eyed Julian spots the movement with his Pzkw IV and takes aim.
And produces a similar result (hard luck Dave)
In the meantime Alan has maneuvered his Pzkw IV into a position to fire on my Sherman.
But after trading a couple of ineffective shots I manage to get the initiative and the right dice and manage a “kill” of my own.
While this is going on Paul’s Firefly and Nigel’s Pzkw IV have been trading shots which either produced ineffective hits (I mean throwing 9 D6 and only getting 2 hits, come on that man) or missing entirely.
But then Nigel manages to hit and does 4 damage and Paul finally proves he can throw a 6, in this case 6 or them on 6 dice to negate any damage.
On my flank Alan rolls into action with his new tank and moves to support Julian’s tank.
But at this stage with 2 kills to his name Julian starts to play “peek a boo” using the farmhouse for cover.
Dave now on his third tank comes up with a new tactic, moves up and tries to use my tank as cover!!!
But showing the spirit of British cooperation and also having a kill to protect myself I point out to the Germans that he is easier to acquire and hit!!
And as for Paul and his Firefly he is still trying to locate never mind hit that barndoor
We called the game at that point with 2 kills to the Germans (both to Julian) and 1 to the Brits a victory to the Germans, drat it.
The rules are sold as “a challenging and fun game” and after this first game I have to agree, fast paced once you pick up the basics and a complete laugh.
The Uncivil Servant 