PIC HEAVY! Sinister Events in a French Forest

[muddypaw]

I just finished a fun game of AEWWII. It was the first game played against my partner, who is new to tabletop gaming though has played RPG's in the past. After introducing my son to Bounty I thought what the hell, go all out and get the whole familoy playing


I will post photos tomorrow, but as a brief summary....

I put together two forces, a Veteran British Airborne Detatchment led by SoE agent Lara Willoughby, and a sinister MoAA Command Detatchment led by a Black Front Vril Hero Frau Bitterlich. The two were fighting over the capture of a ruined shrine containing the rumoured remains of Joan of Arc.
These were the orders for the British Airborne.

"A rogue Ministry of Arcane Armaments agent, Frau Bitterlich, has discovered the resting place of the bones of French heroine, Joan of Arc. This agent, a German defector, is ruthless and cunning, willing to go to any ends to win the war and defeat Nazi Germany. British astrologers have divined she will use the holy relics to evil ends, corrupting the fighting heart of France and corrupting it into something savage and depraved. It might help win the war but it will wreck relations with the Free French and the resistance.

You have beaten the enemy to the ruined shrine that contains the bones of the Saint. You have only minutes to set up defenses’ before the MoAA agent and her team arrive. Hold the shrine at all costs. You might be working for the same side, but for now treat her and her team as hostile"

My other half chose to play the British Airborne, I took the part of Frau Bitterlich and her MoAA henchmen.

The game was fast and fun, fuelled by a bottle of champagne left over from New Year, which made for some rather rash but bloody play!

Speeding jeeps in the open are deadly! Windscreen wipers broke down removing dead Airborne troops from the glass.

Green Men are a great surprise but rather fragile.

Vril Hero Black Hand Agents dont last long when charging a defended location guarded by several squads and a heavy machine gun....We salute your sacrifice Frau Bitterlich!

Elite SoE (OSS) Agents can churn out a horrifying amount of flying lead while charging towards you at high speed.

Drive losses win the game.

A great battle, fun for both sides, with lots of wounded and drive loss counters littering the table, and some swinging "I can win the game! Oh crap no I can't...." moments ;D

[muddypaw]

As promised some pictures from the game.

Frau Bitterlich and her rogue MoAA team



SoE Agent Lara Willoughby and British Airborne.



MoAA Table edge



SoE and para table edge.



Leaping from hiding, Frau Bitterlich and the Counter Cultists swiftly take down the sniper, but not before the Black Front agent takes a bullet.



A risky charge on the shrine by the Frau results in a hail of bullets from the Airborne officer, angry at having his tea break disturbed.



The car, with MoAA agent and Druid, roars up along the edge of the forest.



Diving into the trees, the druid spills blood into the earth and summons the spirits of the forest.



Lara mows down the counter cultists in a withering hail of running gun fire.



The car roars along the trees, narrowly missing one airborne trooper. The other isn't so lucky and he falls under the wheels of the speeding vehicle.



Machine gun blazing, the MoAA agent charges the shrine hoping to take down the Bren Gunner, but bullets ricochet off the ancient stone leaving him unharmed. The car runs foul of the rough ground and grinds to a halt (failed Handling check).



The MoAA agent dies in a hail of bren gun fire as the Green (wo)man leaves the cover of the trees. The bren gunner crumples under flailing branches and his team mate flees (Drive 0).



The cool headed airborne officer one handedly machine guns the tree spirit into wood chips while sipping his tea.



The end was nigh for the rogue MoAA team. The car was quickly filled with bullet holes, wrecking it and the driver. The druid melted back into the forest to fight another day leaving the shrine and the martyrs bones in the hands of SoE Agent Lara Willoughby.

[silentbob27]

Very cool!

[CmdrKiley]

I have been looking forward to this.

You did not disapoint sir!

[muddypaw]

Jan 13, 2011 15:11:26 GMT -5 CmdrKiley said:

I have been looking forward to this.

You did not disapoint sir!

It's madam, but thanks anyway

Glad you enjoyed it. We had a blast playing. I'm working on Part 2, where Agent Willoughby must meet the French resistance at a remote rendevous and hand over the relics. Unfortunately, the recent fighting has alerted SS units in the area to the Allies presence. And of course, resourceful Black Front agents never really die.....

[varagon]

You have access to some great looking terrain. Did you make it yourself? Great presentation. The narrative is also nice.

This is an excellent example of what I'd like see more of, AARs like this.

Thanks for sharing.

[muddypaw]

Thanks, it was fun to play and to write up. I hope to get part 2 played and documented next week.

The two buildings were not made by me, they are both by a German company called Gelaendestuecke who do some lovely stuff.

I do make most of my own buildings but most is currently only Sci-Fi. The buildings and fortifications in the Bounty write up I did over Christmas were all made by me

[abbysdad]

Thank you very much for posting this. What other scenario and campaign ideas do you have for using that great terrain?

[muddypaw]

The next battle will be on the edge of a small French village for a more urban feel then back to the shrine for a battle with the SS.
The final confrontation will take place in the crypt beneath the chapel.

I find short, 3 or 4 battle campaigns work really well for keeping peoples interest keen

After that we will be digging out the desert terrain board for some Basra action. Long Range Desert Group recon and veteran British forces with Arab cavalry in hit and run skirmishes with SD tanks and recon forces.

Both are searching for a lost archaeological dig site from the 1930's, which stumbled across evidence of Xenephons army and a chilling discovery.

Beyond that, maybe some action closer to home with Elite German special forces up to no good in the green fields of Albion. Red phone boxes, quiet village pubs and Dads Army vs the twisted horrors of the SS and SD.