Matrix Games Forums

Posted: **Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:20 pm**

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Posted: **Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:43 pm**

I took my squad leader game with me to basic training in a microformat, just enough pieces, and a small hand-made limited board.

I had a chance to play my actual squad leader (in Canada it's not called a squad though).
My Sgt did NOT appreciate being 'schooled' by a low form of life.

I was told to store the game, and I could have it back when I left basic training.

The lesson learned, you don't know shit when in basic training. You might actually know, but you fake being stupid if needed

Posted: **Mon Mar 15, 2021 1:07 pm**

I was playing Panzer Blitz with my father for the first time. After setting up everything, I took the Germans with Tigers tanks against T-34 tanks i.e. my father. It was the last time I have played Panzer Blitz with my father.

Posted: **Mon Mar 15, 2021 1:46 pm**

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Posted: **Mon Mar 15, 2021 2:11 pm**

My most embarrassing wargaming moment. Long ago I tried to interest a girlfriend in wargaming. I asked her to at least try one game. It was the Waterloo board game, and if I recall properly, by Avalon Hill.

She would say, is this what I do, maybe I will move this here, this isn't very difficult...... as she easily won the battle. She wouldn't play afterwards claiming it was too easy............

Posted: **Mon Mar 15, 2021 5:19 pm**

Too many to tell.

The worst: someone feeding me orange Jello and beans to eat while playing ASL 33 The Cossacks Are Coming!

One of the best: In a 3 player ASL scenario, I took the SS and my two buddies Kurt and Mike to the Soviets. Kurt had his Soviet Armor leader (a 9-2) in a T-34/85 move in from off board and stopped CE, there was no Germans in LOS. On my turn I brought in my JagdPanzer with a 9-2 Armor Leader, moved full MP up a hill, stopped, was CE and fired at 17 hexes at Kurt's precious 9-2 Armor Leader sitting in that T-34/85. I rolled... 1,1 (snake eyes)! Kurt said OMG! Mike said don't worry he has to roll a couple of ones. Which I did, end result a burning wreck and on turn 2 Kurt just gave up, went and laid down on the couch and nothing Mike could do or say could get him off the couch. Mike was pissed off at him. I smoked 3 more T-34/85's before Mike killed that JagdPanzer...lol, we had a blast but not poor Kurt...lol

Posted: **Mon Mar 15, 2021 6:19 pm**

Some years ago I went on vacation in the wine country south of Pavia - a nice place of hills, old churches, food and wine. There I met this guy who had a strong interest in military history and in tank models (he created whole dioramas). He also owned this wargame, AH's Stalingrad, and asked me if I was interested in trying it.

Now, I don't know what went through my head. I knew and had played Stalingrad a lot in the past but, for some reason, I answered that, no, I never played a wargame and I was curious about trying one.

That evening the hotel owner told me how this guy was a friend of his and had tried to play "this damned game" with everybody, his girlfriend included. I was the first to say "yes"... in years!

The day after he arrives, explains to me the rules (which I knew better than him, but I kept nodding) and then we played - from 3PM to 7PM. I won keeping the Russians. I smiled meekly "You know... beginner's luck..."

Next day, re-match. I still won as the Russians. He stormed away.

Third day, and the wife started to be miffed. She was driving around with the daughters and enjoying the vacation but she couldn't understand how I could miss all the sun and the landscapes for a stupid game played in a hotel hall. Maybe she was right... Anyway...

So, third match. And, out of the gate, my opponent tried the "softening attack" tactic, an ugly bug in AH's early games. Basically, if you were defending an hex with both a strong unit and a weak one, the attacker could attack the weakest unit, kill it, and then force an unfavourable counter-attack - something that you simply don't want to do, but those were the rules.

I knew all about this "tactic" and how in those early AH games a single strong unit should never be paired with a weak one. Normally I never did that, but, remember "I didn't knew that game". To me, two units were better than one. Of course I was also waiting for my opponent to be tired of losing, go on the internet and learn about this little trick on BGG or such. I made a point anyway to make a scene and point out how the rules were broken. Then I repositioned my defense - which thus become better - and won again.

By then, desperation was thick among the Germans. I offered the hypothesis that maybe the game was unbalanced and favoured the Russians. I also said that I wanted to try the German side. Now, there was another tiny thing that I had kept hidden: In Stalingrad I always played with the Germans. But I had kept hidden that I was a wargamer in the first place, so one thing had led to the other. Anyway, to make a long story short, game four, and I almost cleaned up all the Russians from the map.

That evening I noticed the game box lying abandoned on a table. So I phoned this guy but he just said "keep it". We meet again but we never played Stalingrad again.

But I kept the game. I'm looking at that box right now, while I'm typing this [:D]

Posted: **Mon Mar 15, 2021 7:42 pm**

Afrika Corps had the same rule. It was a great way to steal supply units.

Posted: **Mon Mar 15, 2021 8:03 pm**

Early-80s and I was in my first tournament for 15mm Ancient miniatures.

I had scraped together enough money to buy a Gallic army from about 300 BC - very simple army, three large warbands of light-medium infantry, archers, some light cavalry, missile troops and some very expensive unreliable chariots.

Lost my first two games, not too badly, I managed to take most of the time allotted and achieve honourable defeats.

Day 2 and my third and last game was against a 100 Year War English army - right at the later end of the Ancients period, with super heavy knights, longbowmen and pole armed heavy infantry. I was absolutely smashed - I think it was all over in about 15 minutes with the entire Gallic army in rout after having been hit by the longbowmen and then charged by super heavy knights.

It was the quickest defeat in the history of the tournament!

Cheers

Posted: **Mon Mar 15, 2021 8:35 pm**

When I was around 10 a local museum had model dioramas of World War II battles setup (1:32 scale) and some of the modelers were going to play a battle around a factory with Germans vs. Russians in 1943. I still have a photo copy of part of the rules they passed out.
As they were setting up, I was standing near one of their display cases with extra pieces (soldiers, tanks, trucks, etc.) in them when one of the players walks up to it. I pointed to a model (I think it was a Russian JS) and said "wasn't that tank not available until 1944 so you can't select it can you?" The player looked at me dumb struck and said "correct." He then offered me to help him play the Russians by moving pieces for him as I was light weight and could stand on the "board" and move them easily for him.
One of my fondest war game memories.

Posted: **Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:26 pm**

A friend of mine and I were playing a demonstration game of WW2 AFV combat at a local model show: I had a few Marders and 75mm PaK guns hidden in ambush ans some infantry, the other player had a 1944 squadron of British Shermans and some infantry as well.

An Army colonel, with a pair of subordinates in tow, observed the table, then told to the British player (who was being quite cautious, sending his infantry to scout before the tanks) "Be aggressive, aggression is the key to victory!!". My friend was a bit puzzled but then he thought "He's a professional, he must know what he says" and charged forward and produced a very convincing representation of a mechanized Balaklava... [:D]

Posted: **Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:45 pm**

Very enjoyable (and quite humorous) memories, and without a doubt, absolutely true!

Posted: **Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:07 am**

ORIGINAL: MrsWargamer

I took my squad leader game with me to basic training in a microformat, just enough pieces, and a small hand-made limited board.

I had a chance to play my actual squad leader (in Canada it's not called a squad though).
My Sgt did NOT appreciate being 'schooled' by a low form of life.

I was told to store the game, and I could have it back when I left basic training.

The lesson learned, you don't know shit when in basic training. You might actually know, but you fake being stupid if needed

Interesting. You already played wargames when you joined the army?

The most striking thing that wargaming showed me, is that a soldier's function is to be put into the grinder, which is nice in a simulation, but a shitty position for a real person.

(Maybe that was why your Sqt wanted you to put the game away?)

Posted: **Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:18 am**

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

Some years ago I went on vacation in the wine country south of Pavia - a nice place of hills, old churches, food and wine. There I met this guy who had a strong interest in military history and in tank models (he created whole dioramas). He also owned this wargame, AH's Stalingrad, and asked me if I was interested in trying it.

Now, I don't know what went through my head. I knew and had played Stalingrad a lot in the past but, for some reason, I answered that, no, I never played a wargame and I was curious about trying one.

That evening the hotel owner told me how this guy was a friend of his and had tried to play "this damned game" with everybody, his girlfriend included. I was the first to say "yes"... in years!

The day after he arrives, explains to me the rules (which I knew better than him, but I kept nodding) and then we played - from 3PM to 7PM. I won keeping the Russians. I smiled meekly "You know... beginner's luck..."

Next day, re-match. I still won as the Russians. He stormed away.

Third day, and the wife started to be miffed. She was driving around with the daughters and enjoying the vacation but she couldn't understand how I could miss all the sun and the landscapes for a stupid game played in a hotel hall. Maybe she was right... Anyway...

So, third match. And, out of the gate, my opponent tried the "softening attack" tactic, an ugly bug in AH's early games. Basically, if you were defending an hex with both a strong unit and a weak one, the attacker could attack the weakest unit, kill it, and then force an unfavourable counter-attack - something that you simply don't want to do, but those were the rules.

I knew all about this "tactic" and how in those early AH games a single strong unit should never be paired with a weak one. Normally I never did that, but, remember "I didn't knew that game". To me, two units were better than one. Of course I was also waiting for my opponent to be tired of losing, go on the internet and learn about this little trick on BGG or such. I made a point anyway to make a scene and point out how the rules were broken. Then I repositioned my defense - which thus become better - and won again.

By then, desperation was thick among the Germans. I offered the hypothesis that maybe the game was unbalanced and favoured the Russians. I also said that I wanted to try the German side. Now, there was another tiny thing that I had kept hidden: In Stalingrad I always played with the Germans. But I had kept hidden that I was a wargamer in the first place, so one thing had led to the other. Anyway, to make a long story short, game four, and I almost cleaned up all the Russians from the map.

That evening I noticed the game box lying abandoned on a table. So I phoned this guy but he just said "keep it". We meet again but we never played Stalingrad again.

But I kept the game. I'm looking at that box right now, while I'm typing this [:D]

I offered the hy

Brilliant! Classic! Oh that was awesome! lol

Your evil.

Next time if I ever get to sit down face to face with a fellow I'll ask "Your not that RFalvo69 guy are you?" lol

Posted: **Tue Mar 16, 2021 9:44 am**

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

Some years ago I went on vacation in the wine country south of Pavia - a nice place of hills, old churches, food and wine. There I met this guy who had a strong interest in military history and in tank models (he created whole dioramas). He also owned this wargame, AH's Stalingrad, and asked me if I was interested in trying it.

Now, I don't know what went through my head. I knew and had played Stalingrad a lot in the past but, for some reason, I answered that, no, I never played a wargame and I was curious about trying one.

That evening the hotel owner told me how this guy was a friend of his and had tried to play "this damned game" with everybody, his girlfriend included. I was the first to say "yes"... in years!

The day after he arrives, explains to me the rules (which I knew better than him, but I kept nodding) and then we played - from 3PM to 7PM. I won keeping the Russians. I smiled meekly "You know... beginner's luck..."

Next day, re-match. I still won as the Russians. He stormed away.

Third day, and the wife started to be miffed. She was driving around with the daughters and enjoying the vacation but she couldn't understand how I could miss all the sun and the landscapes for a stupid game played in a hotel hall. Maybe she was right... Anyway...

So, third match. And, out of the gate, my opponent tried the "softening attack" tactic, an ugly bug in AH's early games. Basically, if you were defending an hex with both a strong unit and a weak one, the attacker could attack the weakest unit, kill it, and then force an unfavourable counter-attack - something that you simply don't want to do, but those were the rules.

I knew all about this "tactic" and how in those early AH games a single strong unit should never be paired with a weak one. Normally I never did that, but, remember "I didn't knew that game". To me, two units were better than one. Of course I was also waiting for my opponent to be tired of losing, go on the internet and learn about this little trick on BGG or such. I made a point anyway to make a scene and point out how the rules were broken. Then I repositioned my defense - which thus become better - and won again.

By then, desperation was thick among the Germans. I offered the hypothesis that maybe the game was unbalanced and favoured the Russians. I also said that I wanted to try the German side. Now, there was another tiny thing that I had kept hidden: In Stalingrad I always played with the Germans. But I had kept hidden that I was a wargamer in the first place, so one thing had led to the other. Anyway, to make a long story short, game four, and I almost cleaned up all the Russians from the map.

That evening I noticed the game box lying abandoned on a table. So I phoned this guy but he just said "keep it". We meet again but we never played Stalingrad again.

But I kept the game. I'm looking at that box right now, while I'm typing this [:D]

Excellent, thanks [:)]

Posted: **Tue Mar 16, 2021 12:07 pm**

ORIGINAL: springel

ORIGINAL: MrsWargamer

I took my squad leader game with me to basic training in a microformat, just enough pieces, and a small hand-made limited board.

I had a chance to play my actual squad leader (in Canada it's not called a squad though).
My Sgt did NOT appreciate being 'schooled' by a low form of life.

I was told to store the game, and I could have it back when I left basic training.

The lesson learned, you don't know shit when in basic training. You might actually know, but you fake being stupid if needed

Interesting. You already played wargames when you joined the army?

The most striking thing that wargaming showed me, is that a soldier's function is to be put into the grinder, which is nice in a simulation, but a shitty position for a real person.

(Maybe that was why your Sqt wanted you to put the game away?)

I blame my father

He was a fan of trains. That led to models, which made me interested in the early wargames of the time. I think. The 70s were a long time ago. I sometimes wonder, what interested me first. Military history, models, or wargames.

Posted: **Tue Mar 16, 2021 3:12 pm**

1973 or 74.

I responded to an ad in the AH General for a gaming meet up with a college student. He became a close friend and we played for years. He was married with kids and cats so we would play at his parents house. I lived about 25 miles away and if a game went long we would put it up with all positions noted on paper.

We were playing Third Reich, a game which always captivated me. It was a good session, very tense, but it was getting late, so we broke the board down and waited to continue it the next weekend.

After a week of thinking about the positions and strategies I arrived, and we began to set up the pieces. As the situation was recreated on the map excitement increased. Man we loved that game.

He had the initiative and went first.

He dropped Fallschirmjäger on London.

I lost.

We did not even have the heart to play more that day.

Posted: **Tue Mar 16, 2021 3:58 pm**

One time, a Western Allied player invaded France. As the Axis, I did not try to contest the invasion with my fleet nor my air power. When it was my turn, I counter invaded and wiped out his invasion with a 2 to 1 attack, using my four fleets with one 1-3 counter.[:D] The opponent could not even try to to intercept my fleets since his were used during his turn.

Posted: **Tue Mar 16, 2021 4:32 pm**

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Posted: **Tue Mar 16, 2021 5:52 pm**

Was playing Close Combat II against someone on
the old MSN GameZone maybe 23-ish years ago.

I had to leave the match to help unload groceries.
I did not tell my opponent since I thought it would
take just five minutes or so.

I forget all about it for hours! and came back
to my room to find the same match still going on
with the same guy.

Oh I felt so bad that the guy had been playing against
a ghost for hours. I apologized and reported the loss.
He must have thought I was the worst camper ever.

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