With not being able to game for quite a while we “broke out” and decided to have a zoom game.

The information given to players was as follows:

The aerial photography you have been given is below. Unfortunately you have not been told which way is North!

The forces are :

Soviets: T34 M1941 – 42 Armour 6, Strike 6, Fast (May always convert one Command Dice to a drive dice), 13 pts

German: Stug IIIF, Armour 5, Strike 7, Low Profile (requires one additional dice to acquire), Tank Destroyer (Nay change any one of their command dice to an aim), 13 pts.

Missions:

Game 1: You are a forward patrol for your main force. You need to exit at least one tank of the opposite edge.

Game 2: The cross roads are a vital communication link. You need to have at least one mobile tank on the crossroads for at least two full turns. You automatically win if there are no surviving enemy tanks.

Game one began with the Soviets moving forward.

The first German Stug fails to move.

The second moves up to the tree line.

One of the T-34’s moves to behind a hedge to cover the crossroads.

The second T-34 moves up the road. With players only able to see what the web camera showed them unfortunately it was unaware of the proximity of the German Stug which moved into position on its flank and made short work of it.

The second German tank moves to outflank the surviving T-34.

Using it’s fast speed and and good roll of movement activation dice the T-34 crosses the road and moves through the trees. Wedged between its burning compatriot and a hill, it was out of sight for the moment.

The Stug fails to move.

The second Stug moves up to the road unaware that the soviet tanks was slipping through their line.

With a massive roll of box cars the T-34 moves to the base edge securing victory.

In a game where players do not have a helicopter view of the battlefield the Soviet T-34 was able to move between two German tanks without being seen. We were pleased with how just having the webcam view worked as it gave that “first person shooter” feel.

In the second game players had to secure and hold the crossroads for two turns. Players swapped sides using their opponents tanks.

The T-34’s close in on the crossroads.

The battle heats up as all four tanks converge on the crossroads.

The T-34 hits and rolls a staggering five out of six damage dice blowing up the Stug that only managed to save one. This proved crucial as the position of the burning Stug was obscuring the second German tank from getting a clear shot. This was fortunate as it was now down to only one command dice and was just hanging in there.

To make sure the Soviets placed the other T-34 in a position that totally blocked the Germans line of sight.

With the Russian tank at point blank range and with its side armour right in the cross hairs the German player failed to roll a single command dice that allowed it to shoot.

The turn ended with the Soviets in control (just) of the crossroads for the second turn that was required.

The night was successful with each player winning one game and the Soviet tanks winning both games.

This was a lot of fun and although it was only a substitute for face-to-face gaming we all enjoyed it immensely. With the limited view and being unable to see what was going on outside of your own tank commanders vision it created a more realistic and at times a more frustrating game for players.

We intend to try this with a modified Rebels and Patriots FIW game once we have a play test to see that it suits the period.

Postscript:

A fragment of a letter was found in the cell of a poor demented soul:

“Bucko Von Klutz

Herr Commandant Stalag 13.5 Mission debrief.   I’m afraid after a superb yet very unusual start, I have to report a stunning return to form in game two which saw me quickly obliterated from the face of the game table. After missing my target from point blank range I attempted to ram the enemy tank, only to find myself out of petrol at a miniscule distance from contact.   Suffice to say the dice gods again decided I wasn’t worthy of Asgard as the enemy got to shoot first next turn and my tank commander Brunhilda forgot to say “duck”. At that point I was falling asleep face first into my bratwurst, so gave a final gutteral “Heil Sieg”, mumbled a few bars of “Deutchland Uber Alles”, and wandered off to bed assure in the knowledge I would awake in a Gulag eating borsch for breakfast.   Herein endeth the epistle.”

Thanks Bucko – glad you enjoyed.