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Hey, have any/many of you played Blood Red Skies? (Which I think they're totally ripping off the classic Crimson Skies, name-wise  ) Since I recently ordered the starter set and a box of Yaks, after hearing about it from a friend and reading about it online. Although what I'm wondering is, do you have any general suggestions or tips, to get me started? Whether it's about building a list, tactics, or what to get/avoid.Since, assuming I like the game (and during the last couple of years or so I've quite enjoyed playing X-Wing, and like the sound of a couple of the features in BRS) I'm thinking of making a very USSR-focused force, by eventually getting the Yak ace and perhaps also some I-16s. But also, I'm at work so I can't look through their Facebook page right now, but I remember reading something about an effect (I think it's an ace ability, or something? That boosts pilot skill/initiative IIRC) that affects planes within a certain distance - six inches, I think. So, will I need to actually keep a measuring tape on-hand, or is the firing-distance ruler (or whatever it's called) conveniently the correct length, for abilities like that?
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Dec 10, 2018 04:11
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Commissar Kip posted:I don't think anyone here has tried it. Cruel Seas also just launched and I'm waiting for my starter set to arrive. Ah, fair enough. Hopefully I remember to post here about BRS, once it eventually arrives. A friend of mine who I've played X-Wing with seems to love it though, so that's a good sign. I must admit that although I do like customization in games, I appreciate that BRS has done away with the sheer card bloat that X-Wing had. Making a list that could actually hold its own in XW could take at least twice as long as actually playing the game, which I fully understand isn't some peoples' cup of tea. And yeah, I'd quite like that too! Not sure how they'd go with having all the models/stands be on the same level, though. You'd have to have some rule about planes attempting to fly over units on the ground, but not quite moving far enough to get clear of it, etc. (Since you can hardly 'bump' them like in X-Wing, for instance!)
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Dec 12, 2018 23:20
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Very nice! I've always loved the look of the Chieftain, personally - and you've done a great job of it! EDIT: In other news, I'm starting to get edgy, dammit! It's been at least a couple of weeks now, and no sign of Blood Red Skies arriving yet... Major Isoor fucked around with this message at 23:11 on Dec 13, 2018 |
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Dec 13, 2018 22:59
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spectralent posted:Has anyone tried Blood Red Skies and in particular know if there's much depth to it? I played the demo and it was a fun time but it felt superficial. But, also, it was a demo. Were you using all the rules, or just the basic 'first game' rules, out of curiosity? I haven't played the game myself yet, although I have a copy en route to me. I know of some x-wing players who comverted to BRS though, so it does give me hope! I'll have to post about it, after I get to actually play it, since it doesn't seem like others here have tried it yet.
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Dec 16, 2018 00:49
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Class Warcraft posted:Finally finished my Japanese army and now onto my German Stalingrad force. Making custom rubble bases for my pioneers: cool but time-consuming. drat, those look very nice!
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Dec 16, 2018 07:02
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spectralent posted:I assume it was just the "First Game" rules. We had two tables of three vs three which seems like it was a split starter box. Well speaking of the devil, my BRS starter set + yaks arrived at my doorstep today - on a Sunday! I'll probably be able to give it a go on Friday or Saturday, so I'll see how that pans out 
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Dec 16, 2018 12:28
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Oh, and for those who were interested in Blood Red Skies, I got to try out the introduction scenario a couple of times. And although I don't think that intro scenario (recon plane trying to make it to the other side) is all that great/balanced -as it seems like the British pilot has it in the bag, unless the Germans get a lucky roll or something- I quite liked the actual combat mechanics of it. (I also looked at some of the other scenarios, which do seem better. Hopefully I'll be able to give them a go throughout next week. I can't be too hard on the intro scenario though, seeing as it is only meant to be an introduction!) I like how turning and some of the abilities work, as well as the general advantage system; all planes seem appropriately vulnerable, if someone manages to get on your tail, etc. My main criticism is that the basic rules aren't well written/positioned. Since we were having to go through quick reference cards, the basic instructions booklet, the scenarios booklet, as well as the advanced rules booklet for certain details. Once you get used to it though, (which will take less than a game) you're fine, though. And uh, I'm now thinking about getting more planes, after all this... Thinking about the Yak-1 and Bf-109 aces, as well as some Ju-52s and Li-2s for the escort scenarios. (Then maybe some I-16s, FW-190s and MiG-3s, later on down the track...)  EDIT: OH, one other thing though - I found out on their Facebook group that Warlord is apparently thinking about starting to release planes in metal, not plastic. I'm not sure how to feel about this, (only ever used plastic for models thus far, and the perfectionist in me doesn't really want to be fielding mixed plastic and metal models on the table) but I am aware that it can be a bit of a deal-killer, for some people. Major Isoor fucked around with this message at 05:53 on Dec 27, 2018 |
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Dec 27, 2018 05:50
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NTRabbit posted:Pretty sure metal planes would cause the tilting flight stands to fall over Yeah, that's what I was worried about. I mean, if they did that surely they'd have to provide a new set of those stands with weights or something, to counteract the added weight from the plane. Personally, just to keep things simple/easy I hope they change their minds about the whole situation, anyway.
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Dec 27, 2018 06:16
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Yvonmukluk posted:I think they've already released the Wildcats in metal. drat! That means the upcoming FW-190s will almost certainly be metal, too. And the I-16s.  I was hoping I'd be able to hold off for a while on needing to pick a side regarding whether or not go for the metal models, but looks like I'm out of luck!
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Dec 27, 2018 12:51
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Alright well, I got to play a few proper games of Blood Red Skies today and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it! Big dogfight between my eight Yaks and my friend's six 109s - I like how it really becomes a semi-uncontrollable furball fast, once your planes meet. Especially how the turn order/initiative changes dynamically, depending on who happens to be better off at that point in time. I also like how everyone is very fragile, yet able to avoid being shot down at the same time. (Like, deflection shooting is hard. Maybe even a touch too hard?) It really promotes maneuvering behineld enemies a lot more than in x-wing, to guarantee devastating damage if you hit. Needless to say, I've ordered the Yak and 109 ace packs, as well as the Li-2 and Ju-52, for escort missions. EDIT: Here are a couple of photos, of my rookies getting lucky and downing a German ace and vet pilot, in one turn! My opponent wasn't thrilled...  
Major Isoor fucked around with this message at 14:11 on Jan 2, 2019 |
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Jan 2, 2019 14:02
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lilljonas posted:Looks like barrage balloons, which could be used as a defensive weapon. Yeah, the barrage balloons can cause disadvantaged planes flying through them to hit a wire and crash, unless they pass a test. I kinda prefer the clouds though, since that reverts gou to neutral state (regardless of whether you're advantaged/disadvantaged) and gives you concealment from anyone targeting you, which is a little more interesting.
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Jan 3, 2019 04:50
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I've always considered myself lucky that I have successfully avoided having a painting backlog. Before getting Blood Red Skies, I only had ten half-painted soldiers that needed finishing... Once my delivery arrives though, I'll have an additional twenty-six planes that need painting, in addition to those soldiers...
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Jan 5, 2019 04:26
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Cessna posted:Confession time: I have a couple of boxes of 28mm SS miniatures and a Panther tank. It's fine, it's fine - you've got decent minis, after all. If you were using a King Tiger and started harping on about how fantastic in every way it is, however... 
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Feb 8, 2019 03:26
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JcDent posted:My love for King Tiger, born out of Company of Heroes, died when I realized that it was not much bigger than Tiger I. Ah it's fine, I won't hold it against ya! Why, I must confess that I've got a secret admiration for it and its designers, due to it being too wide for most bridges.  Because of the fact that was overlooked, it'll always have a tiny place in my heart, no matter how much I'll vehemently deny it in person.
Major Isoor fucked around with this message at 12:33 on Feb 8, 2019 |
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Feb 8, 2019 12:30
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Yeah drat, you're really pushing for that "+1 to armour saves" bonus for well-painted minis, aren't you Sydney Bottocks? In other news, some paints I ordered have just arrived, so I'll be able to actually paint my Blood Red Skies planes in the next week or so!
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Feb 15, 2019 03:54
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Sydney Bottocks posted:I already want to get a couple more so it has friends to play with Well if/when you ever do get to play with them, you've gotta take some action photos! I just hope the terrain/mat holds a candle to the quality of your paintjob, for the armour!
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Feb 20, 2019 12:57
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Does anyone here know what the current situation is, with regards to the Bolt Action+Blood Red Skies+Cruel Seas crossover? Since although I still need to paint approximately 100% of the BRS planes I've got (26 total, for the USSR and Germany. Should be getting painted in the next week couple of weeks), I'm awfully tempted to try Bolt Action or potentially Cruel Seas; especially once a crossover is possible. I ideally don't really want too many more models to paint though (I paint to play and not play to paint, unlike some of you guys! ) so I'm not sure how I'd go, with that. CS might be the better option in that regard I suppose, (black sea battles during the fighting around Crimea?) but I do like tanks...
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Feb 22, 2019 02:46
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LingcodKilla posted:Yeah he literally had a massive heart attack in the last minute of the set. Played through it. Finished. Took a swig of his beer, stood up, dropped dead. I mean, that's a horrible thing to have happened...but drat, what a guy!
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Feb 22, 2019 10:13
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Sydney Bottocks posted:Finished up the last Soviet tank from the FoW Stalingrad box, a Lend-Lease Valentine tank. Very nice! But urgh, stop making me want to paint things too - I'm just simply no good! (And probably won't be able to play, anyway!)
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Feb 26, 2019 03:20
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Ilor posted:Plenty of Chain of Command players in Oz, which is another great game for which you can use tiny mans/tanks. CoC is by Warlord, right? (At work, so I can't really check right now) If so, is it known if it will be part of the cross-over with Blood Red Skies and Cruel Seas? Since if so, I might need to get that. I wouldn't mind a game with tanks and planes, battling it out!
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Mar 5, 2019 03:37
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moths posted:Warlord did Bolt Action, CoC is Too Fat Lardies. BA is a more 40k-style game, while CoC is totally its own thing. Ahhh, right OK then, thanks for the clarification. Well in that case, how good is Bolt Action as a purely (or at least 'mostly', if that's not viable) tank-based game? Since as mentioned earlier, I wouldn't mind playing a 'tanks and planes' game with friends; like a mini-Kursk or something, I guess. (Well, I know that not just tanks were in use there, but you know what I mean)
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Mar 5, 2019 04:50
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Arquinsiel posted:Are MWG's WWII videos as bad as their X-Wing ones are for illegal lists and made up rules? Oh god, I'd forgotten about that! Some of those X-Wing videos were comedy gold!
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Mar 5, 2019 12:37
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drat, this just makes me want a squad-level/skirmish table-top game set in the STALKER universe
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Mar 31, 2019 11:14
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Very nice! You all make me quite tempted to try out CoC or BA, but I've been having enough trouble finding the time and motivation to paint my BRS planes, let alone buying more stuff!
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Jun 21, 2019 13:32
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Hey, just curious, but are there any good resources on the different Italian and Russian uniforms, during WW2? Since as I've been playing Blood Red Skies and have always considered getting either Bolt Action or potentially Cruel Seas too (partly due to the potential future 'combined arms' crossover they mentioned at some point), and now a couple of friends have gotten into BA, which is an incentive for me to join in, too. So, I've chosen Russian as a candidate because my BRS air forces are Germany and Russia, so potentially being able to use my yaks etc. too would be an incentive. But I'm also very tempted to use the Italians too, since my friends are using the British and Romanians - so I could potentially just use Italians to go against whoever, seeing as they of course turned against the axis later on in the war. As a side-note though, I'm definitely going to be lazy and contrast paint the uniforms, so like, plain brown, etc. is very much a bonus, haha
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Mar 10, 2020 04:24
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Thanks, all! So at this stage, after discussing it with my BA-playing friends, I'm pretty sure I'll use the Italians at this stage, to make things easier for everyone. However, I'm not sure about what's generally a good unit composition for Bolt Action. Like, would it be good for me to have a bunch of infantry and sink some points into bringing in a medium tank (like the M14/40 or whatever it is, if that's an option) or perhaps a couple of tankettes? Since yeah, I'm not sure if there are any real 'dud picks' for Italy, so I'm worried that merely dabbling in armour will mean that I've wasted points - since they won't have the firepower to take out a tank-heavy opponent, and I would instead be better served by getting transports and/or field guns. (Since if so, I think I'll theme my force after the Alpini, seeing as from memory they primarily stuck with regular infantry and field guns) EDIT: The infantry I'm thinking of using are these and [url=https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_74_76&products_id=2846&osCsid=35s6klti5ivs2sv7bdkficf4t3]these[url]. Probably a couple of each, so that I have two full platoons I can draw men from. (Also, it doesn't say, but I ASSUME they're plastic...since a tank they have specifies it's metal while these guys don't) Major Isoor fucked around with this message at 13:26 on Mar 10, 2020 |
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Mar 10, 2020 13:22
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Sorry if this kind of question isn't generally intended for this thread, has anyone bought from otpterrain.com ? Since I'm thinking of using an M15/42 as my primary tank (I might get a cutesy tankette to use too, for infantry support. Not sure yet, though) and they stock them for $24AUD. I've never heard of them before though, so I'm not sure if they're any good.
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Mar 11, 2020 02:02
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Arquinsiel posted:Depends on how "accurate" you want to be, but the M15/42 was only used in combat against the Germans or then by the Germans in Yugoslavia and Italy. That site looks cool though, and crazy cheap. Ah, fair enough. Well, I'm not sure really - chances are I'll be playing against the axis most of the time anyway, so I think that should be fine, in the historical accuracy department. But also, what's everyone's opinion on flamethrowers? Since I just thought, I could have an L6/40 with a flamethrower instead of an autocannon. It might be worse overall due to the lack of range, but if there are gameplay mechanics that allow you to cook the crew of enemy tanks then that could be pretty useful. (As well as filling the anti-infantry role, of course)
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Mar 11, 2020 03:35
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Alright, so I've spent a bit of time building a list and looking at models to buy. (Seems like metal Alpini guys from greatescapegames is the way to go) This is the gist of what I'm using: - Vet first lieutenant (w/ one vet rifleman) - x3 vet Alpini infantry sections (NCO+9 men each. AT grenades, an MG each and the NCOs have SMGs) - x1 regular medium mortar team (w/ spotter) - x1 regular M15/42 tank - x1 regular L6/40 tankette/'armoured car' (w/ flamethrower) All in all this leaves me with 96pts left, I think. So yeah, I'm just wondering about what you all think. I need to add in another support option I feel (whether that's artillery or another mortar...or even another L6 or something) and I'm a bit unsure about the mortar I've selected - like, maybe I should have a sniper team or a field gun instead or something. No idea
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Mar 11, 2020 13:50
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Class Warcraft posted:AT grenades don't really work, drop them and use the 60 pts for something else. Mortars are pretty good, keep that. I'd use the remainder of your points on more infantry, transports for your men, or an artillery piece. Hmm, OK. So I think that (when I get home) I might see if I can shave off a couple of men per squad (8 instead of 10), add in another squad, and add the best artillery piece I can afford. That will probably be all I can do, within my 1000pts
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Mar 11, 2020 23:56
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Cessna posted:Italians! Ah, very nice! I'm going for the Alpini myself, so I'm having to look at greatescapegames at this point. (Only due to the fancy hats the Aplini have. Not as fancy as Bersaglieri hats, however) But yeah, it all looks good Also, here's my 988 list below: - Regular First Lieutenant +1 - Vet Alpini infantry section (NCO+7 men. SMG for the NCO and an LMG for the squad) - Vet Alpini infantry section (NCO+7 men. SMG for the NCO and an LMG for the squad) - Vet Alpini infantry section (NCO+7 men. SMG for the NCO and an LMG for the squad) - Vet Alpini infantry section (NCO+7 men. SMG for the NCO and an LMG for the squad) - Regular Medium mortar team +1 spotter - Regular Medium artillery +1 spotter - Regular L6/40 tankette (with flamethrower) - Regular M15/42 tank Not sure what I should do with the remaining 12 points, though. I mean, I COULD get a horse and limber for the artillery, but that would mean that I would then have to find+purchase a horse and limber, then paint it... (Another tempting aspect of that is the fact that I found that there was actually an insignia for the Alpini veterinarian! I'm tempted to have a shoddily-painted vet accompanying the horse, if I do that )
Major Isoor fucked around with this message at 06:20 on Mar 12, 2020 |
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Mar 12, 2020 05:40
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Class Warcraft posted:Any soldiers accompanying your Lt. have to be the same experience level he is. So you'll need to upgrade him to veteran or drop his escort down to regular. Oh, my mistake - sorry, the LT's bodyguard/porter was actually regular, I just thought he was a vet
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Mar 12, 2020 05:58
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Hey, quick question, but does anyone know what the Italian Alpini/mountaineers would've used to tow their artillery pieces? Like, would they have used a horse/mule and limber, or a tractor of some sort? (And if it's the latter...does anyone know what SORT of tractor? Since easyarmy.com only says 'tractor' in the list of tow options, and doesn't specify what model, etc) Thanks!
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Mar 16, 2020 02:47
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Endman posted:I don't know if they used it up mountains, but you should get one of these because it owns: hahaha ok, now THAT is pretty great! I just found this bad boy earlier, but I think the one you linked to makes more sense, seeing as the one I found is technically a light truck, and I can only afford a tractor. That's amazing though - assuming shipping isn't insane, that's way more hilarious!EDIT: haha to make things better, it's probably barely smaller than my L6/40 flamer tankette! No doubt more comfortable for the driver too, although that's not saying much, I'm sure EDIT EDIT: Yep, I'm sold. Ordering that li'l beaut now, hahah Major Isoor fucked around with this message at 08:35 on Mar 16, 2020 |
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Mar 16, 2020 06:46
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Arquinsiel posted:Out-pedant them and point out that the early war equipment was re-issued to late war Festungsdivisions and Krankenbattalion units when they were scraping the bottom of the barrel for whatever troops they could throw into the grinder. Yeah, I was just thinking this! hahahIn any case, a friend of mine just played a game of Bolt Action, and sent me a message afterwards that he's found that apparently it's best (from a gameplay/mechanics perspective) to base artillery and its crew separately, so that you can spread them out a little more -while still remaining within 1" of the gun- so that they can't all be killed by a single HE shell. So, is this correct? I imagine it's a lot easier to simply have everything on a large base (and probably looks better, seeing as you can have everyone clustered around the gun in their intended positions) but I'm also curious to know if this is true for anything else too, like mortars.
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Mar 17, 2020 05:25
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Springfield Fatts posted:I mean RAW your friend has a point, but I think this is the wrong reason to do so. If anything I would base the minimum with the gun which is 3 guys in Bolt Action and then you can individually base a few more and add as needed to count-as if you went medium or heavy for a game. Or you play rulesets that let you attach additional crew to guns like I think Chain of Command does. Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Like, have the standard three-man crew on one base with the gun, then just have the spotter separate. My aforementioned friend has his arty set up in this way, so I think I'll do the same so that I don't have a slight gamey edge over him. (Speaking of spotters, does the spotter need to be within x inches of the gun, to provide his bonus? Or is it assumed that he has a radio and can bugger off to the other side of the map?)
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Mar 17, 2020 06:24
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Hey, quick BA question: Are spotters for arty able to shoot, if they have a gun on the model? I'd assume not, since I don't recall weapons being mentioned for them anywhere, but my infantry order arrived and I found that one of my guys with binoculars is holding a pistol with one hand, so I thought I'd check
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Mar 18, 2020 13:44
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My order for two tanks from Warlord hasn't shipped in the last two weeks since placing the order, and now they're all on lockdown in the UK....I'm never gonna get them, aren't I?  (Oh well, I suppose they are Italian tanks, so it's not like they would've done me much good anyway, right? )EDIT: OK nevermind, I actually got it in the mail just then...they simply sent it to me without any notifications, unlike all my other orders from them. Thanks for responding so quickly to my post here, Warlord! Once I'm no longer essential at work, I'll happily smash out these soldiers and tanks!
Major Isoor fucked around with this message at 13:27 on Mar 25, 2020 |
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Mar 25, 2020 02:30
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Hey, just wondering, but would any of you be able to give paint suggestions, for my BA Italians? I've got basically everything else underway, but skin is the one thing I'm not sure about. I know you end up doing like, 2-3 coats and a wash, but I don't know what paints to get, what order to apply them in, etc etc
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Mar 31, 2020 04:58
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| # ¿ May 10, 2024 01:42 |
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Speaking of which, who was that goon who went to fight in Libya ages ago? If I ever play a modern warfare tabletop game, I'm going to have to see if I can include him in my force
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Jun 9, 2020 03:13
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