I have been playing a bit of Bolt Action lately. The rules are the new wargaming hotness from Warlord Games. Godders came over for his first go at the rules and we set up the desert board for a round of Australians v the Afrika Korps. Pictured above is the table. I took control of the Australians as the attackers, Godders commanded the Afrika Korps as the defenders. We played Scenario 4: Hold Until Relieved. Basically, defender has two units on board holding the centre objective which was a water well. The defender can bring on his remaining forces from turn 1. The attacker starts on board and can deploy anywhere 18" away from the objective or any enemy unit. As this was Godders first game, I came from one side only to keep it simple. The game goes for 6 turns.
Three Australian units on the hill. Above consist of a 10 man squad, 3 man command team, and a medium mortar team. We gave units on a rocky hill +1 cover save.
Medium Mortars. The best killing unit available in Bolt Action. If you can range in on an enemy unit they will be in all sorts of pain. My mortar team took a direct hit from the Germans and was wiped out in turn 4.
Godders has a squad of Afrika Korps infantry in the centre guarding the well and a HMG on the small hill to the left. He has a squad just forward of the centre which in this photo has been whittled down to three men from my fire. This squad was later charged and wiped out in close combat. His command team is behind the olive bushes and he has a mortar team on the hill in the lower left corner.
The Australian 1st Lieutenant lost his two offsiders and has a pin marker but he still functions. He was mowed down shortly after this picture was taken.
The most heroic moment of the game. Last turn. Australian squad has 6 pin markers. I had to roll a 3 or under on a 2D6 command roll to issue a run order. If successful I have a chance to contest the objective and force a draw in the game. I roll and get 3!. Unit runs forward, but just short of the objective. And I loose the game.
Godders successfully holds the well. The Afrika Korps are victorious for today.
I am really enjoying Bolt Action as a game. Its fairly simple to play. You don't need many figures. The missions in the rule book are excellent. The game has a definite ending at about a 2hr mark, theres no all night gaming required. The rule book is full colour. Great game.
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