Big raw game 4th January 2024

[martin goddard]

Last night Stewart with raw Germans fought Big Mike with raw Americans.
The scenery made it bit of a town fight.

Both players had 5 foot platoons plus a vehicle unit.
This meant the game had access to a total of 13 foot platoons.
This really tested PBI/players in handling so many moving parts.

Raw companies are best only used by experienced players. This is because too many moving parts will cause decision overload for many players(?).

Assuming a platoon is made up of 3 moving parts.
Three average platoons  on table = 9 moving parts.
Five average platoons on table = 15 moving parts. Probably too much for newer players?

Hence the game last night went on a long time,(4 hours) even with two very experienced players who were rapid decision makers.

Conversely, veterans don't make the game much quicker unless they only field 2 platoons.

Overall, no problem with using raw but a player needs to be able to make a lot of decisions within each turn.


martin

[John Watson]

What happened Martin? Don't keep us in suspense.
John

[martin goddard]

Well......
The two companies smashed large amounts of each others infantry.
The game ended with the attacking Germans holding 2 objectives and the US  holding only 1.
The German attackers mostly only got to their 3rd row.
The tough US pinned and HE'd the Germans who were advancing in big clumps.

The Germans grabbed a 2nd objective and won the game on that basis.
The US morale went badly several times resulting in the removal of 3/4 bases.

The Us did very will indeed rolling for reinforcements. They had 2 units arrive in their entirety in their first turn.

We finished just before 11pm. Hence my comments about a lot of moving parts.

An enjoyable game.
Applying the 1/6 to tank MGs made the Raw German tanks more authentic.

Lots of foot AT used by both sides but nothing damaged.


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

That sounds like an action-packed game.

And all home in time for a nice cup of cocoa, I hope.

Simon

[martin goddard]

It was a good game.
My concern is about the number of moving parts in the game.


martin  

[Colonel Kilgore]

But as you say, with Raw being aimed at more experienced players (who may actually be hankering for more moving parts), it should not be a problem?

Simon

[Big Mike]

It was a very enjoyable game but it needed to go to the wire, hence why we stuck at it until well past Martin's bed time.
The US had half tracks (no MGs) so all the reinforcements came on and were effective (including the extra platoon for being Raw).
Raw on Raw is a bit unusual in PBI, but it's agood test of tactics and strategy.
Mike
 

[Colonel Kilgore]

Is there an emerging thought on "best" transports, Mike i.e. trucks / non-MG halftracks / MG-armed halftracks?

Simon

[martin goddard]

Transports are coming along well but need more play testing (as always).


4 raw platoons with 3 transports each = 12 x transports.
Total 48 points for half track no MG
Total 84 points for half track + MG
Total 36 points for trucks.

The revised architect will dictate which companies can and cannot have transports.
These companies can still choose not to use transports.

At the moment the key advantages of transports are
1.Double arrival chances.
2. +4 piggy chase

Disadvantages
1.Might get killed whilst in the transport. By guns or small arms.
2. Less useful for initial platoons if defending.

martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

I've been musing on how common it was in practice to have halftracks without a mounted MG. It could perhaps be considered that such transports are a relatively cheap increment to trucks.

Is there a case to remove the "halftrack with no MG" option, thus making the transport option binary?

Simon

[Nigel_s]

I love a 'raw' company. As you say Martin lots of moving parts for the player.

Played 'raw' a lot - 1941 Russian.

Can be a bit dull for the opponent, especially if they have veteran German platoon as their turn can be done in a lot less time than my RAW guys. But they do get the satisfaction of killing lots of things.

I wouldn't worry about all the moving parts Martin. But you may want to advise new players to stick with average until they have gained experience with the rules.

[martin goddard]

Simon. A good idea.
Nigel. Agreed

martin