BattleFront Games

At the high school where I teach, they offer a number of electives.  About seven years ago, they solicited ideas for things they thought students would enjoy working on and learning about, and I offered up a proposal for military history. While it has changed in scope and shape over the years it has remained a popular class. This year we had a wait list to get in.  

students help setup

I’ve incorporated wargaming into the class on occasion and held some small-scale demonstrations for students after school, but I had not held a large scale battle for them yet.  That changed this year. I also had many moments where I realized that the fact I could set this all up using only my minis was proof I don’t need more models to paint. I probably need an intervention. Still, it was nice to be able to do this.

By Scott Grasse

Editor’s Note: No Dice No Glory is pleased to host a global Flames of War V4 campaign designed by Scott Grasse. Follow along, post your results, check for the latest updates on

Pre Campaign Battles to get you started,

The terrain in Tunisia is rugged, unique, and had a major influence on the battles fought there.  Several new terrain features are introduced for Firestorm Tunisia.  Get ready to encounter vast Salt Beds otherwise known as tank death traps; Rocky Ground that makes it impossible to dig in; Heavy Scrub that is perfect for hiding an ambush; and entrenched, dry water-ways called Wadis that form a natural and formidable defense.  Heavy spring rains would then transform these difficult terrains to nearly impassable.

By Tom Burgess

Excited to try out the new ‘Nam rules, my primary opponent for jungle rumbles, Charles Christy, and I were able to coordinate a test game. We immediately went to our old “go to’s.” For Charles, this would be his ARVN Cavalry Squadron, decked out with more M113s than anybody I know has. Due to the lower unit costs and new formation rules he was also bringing an M41 Walker Bulldog Tank Battalion. He had an amazing amount of tracks for just 50 points.

The new ‘Nam points levels and multi formation rules benefited my forces, as well as I, was able to get both a PAVN Battalion and a Local Forces Battalion in at 50 pts along with battalion weapons units like Recoilless Rifles and Anti-air machineguns.

Iron Tom Burgess, Chairborne Tom Mullane, and (no nickname) Troy take a look back at the past year since BattleFront premiered Version 4 rules.

What did they like, and not so much? What works? What do they want to see tweaked?

Listen now for commentary on Version 4, a year later.

 By Scott Grasse

NDNG will host Firestorm Tunisia, a global Flames of War campaign beginning on April 14th.  The campaign will run through June and will give players the chance to fight the battles during the last remaining months of Axis occupation in North Africa.

If you are not familiar, a Firestorm Campaign is a series of linked battles that tie to a larger campaign map. Players engage in standard Flames of War battles at their regular gaming venue to represent the engagements that are occurring on the campaign map.

Discuss the campaign on

By No_Dice_Dane

In January, NDNG looked at the “equalization” of the US Air Defense Artillery protective umbrella resulting from the release of Stripes. That Article :

Stripes has provided the US player with the agile M551 Sheridan. Not realized in the game, the Sheridan was actually deployable by parachute airdrop.

Background:- Post-Vietnam Era

The military had just been through a complete withdrawal from Viet Nam. In the late 70s, Military tacticians went down many dark paths and “learned” wrong lessons from its experience in South East Asia.

In the air, Operation Rolling Thunder bombing Campaign started in March 1965 was supposed to bring the North Vietnamese to the peace talks table.

Instead, it strengthened the resolve of the NVA. North Vietnam did not have much of an air force. As a result of Rolling Thunder, the NVA was able to mount an effective defense against the bombing raids. Using surface-to-air missiles and radar-controlled anti-aircraft artillery, the NVA shot down hundreds of American planes over the course of the bombing campaign. As a result, pilots and aircraft weapon systems operators accounted for the majority of the American prisoners of war who were captured and held by NVA.

 

By Dennis Campbell AKA Matt Varnish

Photos by the Author

Check out the Podcast from Mitch, Glenn and Dennis .

Hey guys, No Dice, No Glory hosted this year’s Cold Wars 2018 Team Yankee tournament.  Mitch ably organized the event, with generous support from Battlefront (and lovely scenery from them as well)   I was the ringer, and while we were able to fill the 14th slot with various players, it meant I could take lots of pictures and video (at the end of article) as well.   Enjoy!

No Dice, No Glory’s own Glenn Goddard getting flanked by Pete’s Spearheading East German BMPs

By Dennis Campbell AKA Matt Varnish

Photos by the Author

Hey guys, now I go through my step-by-step for painting vehicles. You need a good drybrush, and optionally, these :

 

After getting a good dark tan spray down, get your vehicles up to Vallejo (VJ) 879 Green Brown

By: Benny Christiansen

In the Danish FOW Community, we have a tradition of playing historic events. Once a year, I participate in the event called “Østerskov”. This year it was in a simplified version. I hope to give you an insight into the event by providing you with information about my lists and why I chose them, as well as brief reports of the battles I played.

The event had around 26 players. As a typical historical event, we play Axis vs Allied and we had to make two lists; one from Overlord/Atlantic Wall for the game Friday night, and then for Saturday’s games, you can choose to play a list from one of these books: Atlantik wall, Overlord, Bridge by Bridge, Market Garden, Battle for the Bulge, the Ardennes Offensive, Bridge at Remagen or Nachtjäger. Lists were set at 1400. We had to note, in advance, which units we wanted in reserves.

The Release of Armoured Fist has given the British player a wide array of options.  A quick glance through the book gives a lot to be excited about. I found myself making list after list in an effort to see what was the most cost-effective use of points. This piece will analyze the tactical uses for each of the British tanks. I expect some readers will disagree with me on some of these, and only playtesting will bear it out what works in the long run (I’m looking at you Matt Varnish), but these are my first impressions. I will also analyze the tanks based on the 71 point MidWar Standard for tournament play this year.

Some other notes on force construction.  One of the changes to the Force Organization diagram allows you to mix and match tanks to a larger degree than you could in Desert Rats. Grants can replace a Sherman platoon in their formation for example.  The Death or Glory Boys list is also cheaper (due to it being easier to hit) and requires different, more aggressive tactics for that list to work as intended. For purposes of this analysis, I’ll use the Crusaders and Valentines from their standard formations (instead of the DoGB list) when discussing points.

The DoGB list is excellent in my opinion, using Valentines 2 pdr platoon and combining them with 6pdr Crusaders for firepower. Combined, they’re an excellent combination. My concern with that list has a weakness. The Crusaders are easy to kill off, which would leave the well armoured, but somewhat limited, Valentines to fend for themselves. Playtesting will bear that out, and I am sure many folks will want to give this list a try.