As you can see, we are pretty vigorously continuing the learning process of the Last Hundred Yards with Dave. Already three scenarios were played by us asynchronously within three month – which, taking into account that we are learning a new system, is a good result.

Each new scenario brings some new mechanics or elements of the system to the palette of possibilities. In #1 On Their Own we just learned how to lead a single platoon, in #2 The Dark Woods we had whole company under our command. What new mechanics will #3 At Least It’s Quiet bring? Let us see!

Our Combat Commander camping with Dave:
Mission #1 On Their Own
Mission #2 The Dark Woods

The Game

Couple of words as an introduction to the system and game game. The Last Hundred Yards is definitely unique in comparison with other tactical wargame published to date. It introduces innovative system of action-reaction, intended to model Small Unit Behavior in Combat during WW2. It is pretty fun, really fast-paced, and provides a very good simulation of what it was like to command combat units at the platoon or company level – both infantry and vehicular units.

The game is purposely designed to deliver a brisk yet intensive gaming experience that forces many decisions upon you as you take command of an infantry company in Western Europe after the D-Day landings. On top of this, it is marvelously published with one of the most beautiful maps I have seen so far.

The Mission

Mission 3 Scenario briefing

So what new mechanics are we getting in the #3 At Least It’s Quiet Here? Here come the Mortars! Now we will have possibility to lay Smoke or use High Explosives on ranges far longer than small arms. We might then risk to extend mortar fire or simply allow it to “rest” and try to recover. This is definitely not a tool which is available always.

Sides: this will be a standard attacker vs. defender type of scenario. Set-up is more or less straightforward. We decided that Dave will be leading German Platoons (third time in a row 🙂 ) entering from off-map and I will have possibility to command the US forces grouped around the Church in the middle of the map.

Goal of the scenario: as usually, you can win LHY battle in at least couple of ways. The ones for this engagement are as follow:

  • One of the sides sustained enough losses to reach its Casualty Limit (here it was only one for US and three for Germans). The other side wins.
  • The Final Time score (which counts elapsed minutes and additional points for casualties) reached at least 46. That pretty abstract number only means, that there is a time pressure and time limit.
  • There is possibility for another Sudden Death victory – if there are no un-disrupted American combat units within 2 hexes of Church, the Axis win.

Let us see how it went!

The Session

That was pretty action-packed session – well, you would expect exactly this from short-range, intense infantry and small units engagements. I will use the stills from the VASSAL module depicting what happened, axis of attack and comment on some key developments. Enough to say, it was brutal. This time for US forces…

You can click on every image and enlarge it for better visibility.

Set-up of our Mission 3 – US troops are positioned in the center, around the Church, having some good vantage points on nearby hills. Germans will enter from off-map and will have to approach the defenders before inevitable close-quarter combat.
It took some time for Germans to get within Line Of Sight and then mutual fire started. There were many disrupted units – especially on German side – but I was not able to score any casualties on my opponent.
At Turn 5 things started to look grim, as my main force was being surrounded and shoot at from various directions. I re-positioned two of my sections in hope to create more resilient defense points.
Well, it had to come. A multi-prong small arms fire decimated my poor defenders (squad, MG and Leader). I knew what was coming next…
…but could not do anything about it! I lost initiative, did not have a chance to recover my units and Dave assaulted at my weakened troops. Everybody died in the process. Literally. And my last effort attack in the southern part of the map was a debacle.
I significantly crossed my Casualty Threshold (see above). My leader was also off map so my ability to react / move was significantly hindered in case game would continue.
Causalities from the game – three, only on Allied side.

Summary

That was much quicker scenario than I anticipated – and hoped for! My initial fire – both Small Arms and Mortar – was effective, but only to the level of disrupting but not killing the approaching Germans. And when they closed on my defending position, fired from like six units plus mortar at a time, there was nothing I could do. The final assault was simply a coup de grâce.

More reports to come!