Post by mcginn on Nov 27, 2009 0:21:47 GMT -5
Okay, the forums seem to be a little dead here, I see you floaters looking around, so let's introduce a new discussion howabouts?
Guards!
Okay so I don't actually posses the book yet but I have had the pleasure of having a look at it. I'll start by saying that I for one am pleased with the layout, things, from what I have seen, seem a lot more well thought out than they were with the east front books (though is it me or is the eastern front always a tad more grandiose than the veterans remember?). At any rate, focus! Guards!
Confident veteran British artillery that can get two fireflies in each sherman platoon. Hmm, seems goooood. In all seriousness the vet arty seems like a really sweet deal alone, one pays much more for the added cost but hey everything must have its disadvantages. A few options are lost in the new setup from the old British rifle list. No M10s and the loss of a couple of squads of universal carriers (exactly a couple, two squads IIRC). To make up the lost points going to vet I am also pretty sure the list can no longer afford the third platoon of rifles. The M10 loss is of little significance. Not that anything the western allies currently have is worth mentioning as far as armor is concerned but the M10 gets bullied around by shermans when it comes to armor (though certainly not armament especially given that 17 pdr). Add in semi-indirect fire and you have yourself a deal there sir. At a rate of two M10s lost for every firefly gained the numbers game is cut a little but the equipment is quality imho.
Does my theorycraft about the list sound oddly specific? It should.
The list is now considered mechanized I have been told, but this seems fair given the amount of treads this "infantry" company can bring to the table, historically accurate as well. The loss of a rifle platoon both offensively and defensively hurts a lot, you now have less to defend and attack with. The list has a platoon count of 8 for morale purposes (2 universal carriers, 2 rifle platoons, 2 sherman platoons and 2 artillery platoons) though only 6 for the deployment count. We've all seen how it plays as a confident list but veteran changes a bit more than platoon count. The units in the list are now harder to hit not only do the raw dice rolls require a higher number, but the army can spread out much better now. The artillery is now very difficult to catch with a counter artillery barrage, it has an enormous footprint now. Those beautiful fireflies and shermans will be spreading out a bit more too, taking advantage of sparse hill and house cover while maneuvering into position for their attack.
When playing against this list the player faces some interesting new problems on this new twist from and old list. The numbers are of course one factor, though perhaps not as big as it might first appear. This list is still very difficult to break with a platoon count of eight. The infantry player does catch one serious break however. Since the Guards list is mechanized, they will always attack infantry in defensive battle, and the loss of that rifle platoon hurts their ability to bleed for it and assault the defender off the objective. Things still won't be easy since you will be having veteran artillery (with British special rules no less) attempting to dig you out and pinning you down.
Well there it is, my preliminary opinions on the newest limey list. I find it a very solid list and a stable, and heck I'll say it, better alternative to the old rifle list we are so used to seeing. The list seems to be a tough opponent to face with its large footprints and even heavier hitting artillery. I'll hopefully have a few new insights to provide on playing against it as I get my sea legs back after my absence.
Next time I'll be bringing up my opinions on the new Fallschirmjaeger list, I really can't wait to try that list out since the good ol Fallschirm have always been appealing to me since my days as a lowly grenadier player. Until then Vivre la resistance!
Guards!
Okay so I don't actually posses the book yet but I have had the pleasure of having a look at it. I'll start by saying that I for one am pleased with the layout, things, from what I have seen, seem a lot more well thought out than they were with the east front books (though is it me or is the eastern front always a tad more grandiose than the veterans remember?). At any rate, focus! Guards!
Confident veteran British artillery that can get two fireflies in each sherman platoon. Hmm, seems goooood. In all seriousness the vet arty seems like a really sweet deal alone, one pays much more for the added cost but hey everything must have its disadvantages. A few options are lost in the new setup from the old British rifle list. No M10s and the loss of a couple of squads of universal carriers (exactly a couple, two squads IIRC). To make up the lost points going to vet I am also pretty sure the list can no longer afford the third platoon of rifles. The M10 loss is of little significance. Not that anything the western allies currently have is worth mentioning as far as armor is concerned but the M10 gets bullied around by shermans when it comes to armor (though certainly not armament especially given that 17 pdr). Add in semi-indirect fire and you have yourself a deal there sir. At a rate of two M10s lost for every firefly gained the numbers game is cut a little but the equipment is quality imho.
Does my theorycraft about the list sound oddly specific? It should.
The list is now considered mechanized I have been told, but this seems fair given the amount of treads this "infantry" company can bring to the table, historically accurate as well. The loss of a rifle platoon both offensively and defensively hurts a lot, you now have less to defend and attack with. The list has a platoon count of 8 for morale purposes (2 universal carriers, 2 rifle platoons, 2 sherman platoons and 2 artillery platoons) though only 6 for the deployment count. We've all seen how it plays as a confident list but veteran changes a bit more than platoon count. The units in the list are now harder to hit not only do the raw dice rolls require a higher number, but the army can spread out much better now. The artillery is now very difficult to catch with a counter artillery barrage, it has an enormous footprint now. Those beautiful fireflies and shermans will be spreading out a bit more too, taking advantage of sparse hill and house cover while maneuvering into position for their attack.
When playing against this list the player faces some interesting new problems on this new twist from and old list. The numbers are of course one factor, though perhaps not as big as it might first appear. This list is still very difficult to break with a platoon count of eight. The infantry player does catch one serious break however. Since the Guards list is mechanized, they will always attack infantry in defensive battle, and the loss of that rifle platoon hurts their ability to bleed for it and assault the defender off the objective. Things still won't be easy since you will be having veteran artillery (with British special rules no less) attempting to dig you out and pinning you down.
Well there it is, my preliminary opinions on the newest limey list. I find it a very solid list and a stable, and heck I'll say it, better alternative to the old rifle list we are so used to seeing. The list seems to be a tough opponent to face with its large footprints and even heavier hitting artillery. I'll hopefully have a few new insights to provide on playing against it as I get my sea legs back after my absence.
Next time I'll be bringing up my opinions on the new Fallschirmjaeger list, I really can't wait to try that list out since the good ol Fallschirm have always been appealing to me since my days as a lowly grenadier player. Until then Vivre la resistance!