[MarkDV]

Westons War SP 70

Played said same scenario against Tony Sella 25 March 2003. I led the Brits whilst he had the rice eaters. It’s a tough scenario to stomach as the Japanese b/c the Brit VCs are to get 14/16 bldgs n. of the canal on board 23. Tough to stomach b/c if the brits win—as I did—it means that the japanese force is going to brutalized in ways that are not polite to talk about in front of women, small children, and Darrel Anderson.

Having said that, the first two game turns, I did squat, nada, zero zip….and in turn had my face slapped up one side and down the other. Or so it seemed. I was nickel and diming his troops ie I reduced 3 squads from 447s to 347s. Also, we had a CC in which I killed a 9-0 and 447 in exchange for a 457 and 247HS. What was demoralizing to me, was that Tony rolled FOUR snakes on IFT shots…..and I in turn couldn’t seem to pass MCs….So, in aggravation, I moved my tanks into the brush area (created by overlays) that divide boards 22/23 and started pumping HE rounds into his positions. Well, Tony creates a THHero (aka human panzerfaust) who in turn eats MC4s, MC2s, MC1s, and destroys one tank. Ok, fine, my game turn 3. I shoot a WP round into the hex (stone bldg) that has his 10-1, 2 crews each with a MMG. CH! He eats the CH and laughs, rolling 4s and 5s on the MCs. Ok, fine, I try to bum rush some of his positions, and again, can’t pass a MC…..

His player turn, turn 3 is what turned it for me. I fire into the hex that has the 10-1. Base 8 to hit. I’m BU (+1), two brush hexes as LVs (+2), stone bldg (+3), and WP (+2). Net ZERO TO hit. I roll a SNAKES. I then roll a 2 NOT giving me a CH, but multiple hits (gotta love that Sherman). I then roll a 6 on the IFT (net 2MC). The jap 10-1 rolls a SNAKES! OY VEY! He then rolls on the HOB table—a 9. With mods, his 10-1 is now BEZERK. Teehee….he then passes the MCs with the crews, then take their TCs to go bezerk with the 10-1, rolling 7s and going bezerk (Tony pointed out to me that that is the only way a crew can go bezerk ie as the result of having to take a LTC in which the SMC is bezerk). So, these guys abandon their MMGs, charge across the street on his turn 4, and die the honorable deaths that the emperor meant them to….

After that, there was nothing left but for me to mop him up. The nickel and diming that I had done paid off, b/c when he conceded at the beginning of his player turn 6, he was left with a 347 2nd line squad, and a 347 (reduced) 1st line squad that was in CC with me. ALL other japanese units were KIA. I had 13bldg hexes (14 wins it). His one remaining unit had my 9-1heroic leader with a 457/LMG on one side and 247 and 8-0 on the other side. He could have tried to recapture bldg hexes, but I in turn would have brutalized him with fires and would have recaptured the bldgs that he had retaken. So, he conceded.

Lessons learned—just b/c the other guy rolls what seems like a lot of snake eyes ie 2s, don’t take a personal MC and quit. As long as you keep rallying your troops and putting them back into the firing line, you still have a game—anything can happen, this is ASL afterall….
And, when facing the japanese, nickel and dime shots ie in which squads become reduced can pay off ie be patient….