Friday night gaming at my place, and after a pretty tough week I wanted something that was easy to set up, quick to play, and something which copious quantities of alcohol would improve my skill  (happy to pass on the skill not the quantity).

I planned to get out the old dinosaurs and “refight” a “Villers Bretonneux” scenario with German A7’s and British Mk VI male tanks. A toy T-Rex was supplied for Steve to run around the table yelling munch munch munch.

I opted for “What a Tanker” WW1 that meant all I had to do was roll out the mat, randomly scatter a few shell holes around and if I really wanted to throw out some trench lines for interest and cover.

I found a simple set of What A Tanker modifications for WW1 on the WWW– thanks guys.

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=489953

Rules modifications

• All tanks are always buttoned up;
• If you Roll a 6 during activation this is rolled again – if you roll 1-5 treat as the base rule, if a 6 is rolled the tank breaks down (can’t move and takes a temp. hit . It takes another 6 to repair;
• Tanks have limited sighting based on designs. AV7 Have Copula so spot as if unbuttoned;
• Movement a maximum of 2 activation die;
• It takes a full movement activation die to pivot 90 degrees;
• If a tank moves onto a terrain piece – Roll a d6.

British Tank

1-4 fine,

5 stop movement you are bogged, takes a

6 to clear. 6 Breakdown (can’t move and takes a temp. hit .

It takes another 6 to repair.

If a German AV7

1-3 fine,

4 stop movement you are bogged, takes a 6 to clear.

5 Breakdown ( can’t move and takes a temp. hit . It takes another 6 to repair.

6 tank flips and is destroyed.

• British Male tanks (with 6 pounder guns) reload is for both sides, but each fires separately.

The game began with the dance of the elephants as the lumbering giants tried to out maneuver each other with little success. The first shot of the game was by newbie, Mark  M that destroyed the AT7 of David S with three unsaved hits.

The A7 doesn’t survive first contact.

Much was expected of the German Tank Ace Blake M – could he live up to these expectations?

A Third A7 joins the fight to replace the damaged vehicle.

British tanks were being peppered by German shells, but their armour seemed invincible. British tanker Steve N seemed half asleep as his initiative was extremely slow going last turn after turn.

Trying to show off his expert driving skills Blake M drove into a crater and promptly overturned his vehicle causing it to explode. Unfortunately for the Germans he survived and took over another tank.

Finally after several turns of trying to finish off the crippled British tank of Mark M the German tank of David S tasted success.

Trying to execute some fancy flanking maneuvers Blake’s driving skills were again evident. Yep – flipped it again much to everyone’s merriment.

A great evening that had us all in fits of laughter.

Comments abounded that the British should save their ammunition and just wait for Blake to crash…………AGAIN.

For the competitive minded the results were Germans 1, British 1, and Blake 2!!!!

A clear victory to BLAKE.

John, it was good to see you have a successor in the making!

Steve N was the only player still in the same tank he started with.