Thursday, September 8, 2016

Mustering for Barbarossa


Laying out the troops

Contrary to all expectation and thanks in no small part to the help of David Crook, Tim Gow and Old John, I've managed to get the Barbarossa campaign on track.  So much so in fact, we'll be playing it on Saturday. 

In advance of the game, I've been making sure that we've enough kit.   This included getting tanks from the aforementioned David Crook, Tim Gow and Old John, painting up seventeen Revell Cossacks and forty four Strelets RKKA infantry. The tanks are all base coated and will need detailing over the next two days.  There are a few other jobs that need doing, but honestly I surprised at how quickly this came together.  Having a list helped and being ruthless about the bare minimum that was required to get the campaign on the table was a big factor.

The other advantage of the Barbarossa campaign is that once we have the gear to do it - we can always play it again with very little prep required.  Laying everything out on the table certainly helped establish where the gaps are and made it easier to muster our forces.  It also prevented me from falling into a false sense of security and making simple errors like...

...the time Du Gourmand and I forgot that a Memoir board is nine hexes deep not eleven. 
...forgetting to print out any of the scenarios and trying to find a net cafe at 10am on a Sunday. 
...that I'd double counted the French infantry and had gotten too many.

We are not clever men sometimes. 

My apologies for the terrible picture. 


18 comments:

  1. Smashing venture! I admire the look of a project all laid out for battle.

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    1. Thank you Jonathan - it's mainly to ensure that we are not at home to Mr Cockup.

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  2. Looks like a great array of kit Conrad! We all have our moments. I like the saying that there are no mistakes, only lessons and some lessons need to be taken more than once.

    Enjoy the campaign
    Peter

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    1. Experience has a way of teaching us things - in my case in as embarrassing a fashion as possible usually.

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  3. I think this is about to become one of those wargame experiences that will stay with you forever.

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  4. You need a raised stage, and a complacently waving Uncle Joe.

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    1. He might get a little disconcerted at the approaching panzers.

      A small black and white furry uncle joe may have to suffice.

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  5. That's a nice array. Have fun with the campaign!

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  6. Looks like your set for a great game

    Ian

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    1. Shortly after I laid this out I realised I hadn't finished the beach mat...

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  7. Conrad Kinch,

    I am so pleased that you have made such excellent progress with this project. I bought the Campaign book as a result of your earlier post, and I am looking forward to following the campaign as it unfolds.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  8. Glad I could play a small part in this grand enterprise!

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    1. And very welcome they were too ! A full report to follow.

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