"A Hard Pounding Fight: The Battle for La Haye Sainte"

Yes, another small pocket game, this time it is Turning Point Simulations Pocket Battle Game #5 on the battle of La Haye Sainte during the Battle of Waterloo, 18 June 1815.

Title:  "A Hard Pounding Fight: The Battle for La Haye Sainte"
Price:  $ Free with an order or buy The Waterloo PBG Pack from ATO
Designer:  Paul Rohrbaugh
Graphics Designer:  Mark Mahaffey
Publisher: LPS, Inc 2019

Subject: This PBG concerns the fight for the small walled farmhouse that was very crucial to the battle of Waterloo as it was in the center of the battlefield. Both Napoleon and Wellington made mistakes about this farmhouse during the battle. Napoleon failed to supply enough men to take the farmhouse earlier in the day and Wellington did not realize the importance of the farmhouse until almost too late. 

Abbreviations used:  AF = Attack Factor, DF = Defense Factor,  MP = Movement Points, CD = Card Draw, ACT = Activations, PBG = Pocket Battle Game, "Allies" = British and KGL, FAm = French Artillery marker, and last the " > " is the Greater Than math symbol. 

Scale:  Honestly, this is not important for this game. But a quick guesstimate, if I may, considering that the infantry units can fire up to 2 hexes away, and they are using muskets (French), with the Allies using the Baker rifle, one could say that a hex is aprx 100 to 150 yards with the units representing from companies to possibly battalions.  But this is really not important.  Also note, no Cavalry.  Though the Allies do have the horse battery, commanded by Lt Col "Sir" Hew Dalrymple Ross on that fateful day. 

Complexity:  Introductory!!!

Description of Play:  Either player draws a card (CD). The color and type of card allows one player to activate up to 3 units. Once activated, the unit can either move 1 hex or preform fire combat or flip a unit over from a reduce state to full strength. 

Note: If  you have played ATO's pocket battle game #10 "La Garde, recule!", then you will know pretty much how to play this one.

Components and Physical Quality:  Standard 4" x 6" postcard cardboard that LPS, Inc uses. Printing is very good. The rules along with a small player's aid listing the terrain with it's corresponding card modifiers and unit breakdown are on the backside with the game map on the front. Counters need to be cut out for playing. 

Counters: The game only has 17 counters. Allies have eight and the French the same number and one game turn marker. Allied units are red with black lettering and the French are blue with white lettering. 

Game Map:  With the various shades of greens and browns used, my daughter said it looked surreal like a soft water colour painting, which means she likes it. I will take her word for it. On the game map are the setup and entry points for the units and the reinforcements, the terrain of  the walled farm house and the important "sand pit".  The game map also has the game turn track (down the left side for the French and the right side for the Allies).   

Player added Component:  Players will need a deck of cards, that is all that has to be provided.

Card Deck setup:   The card deck is setup with all 9's and 10's being removed and one Joker added to the deck. A CD is perform with the French using black cards and Allies using red cards.  An activation allows a unit to either move or perform fire combat. Each type of card does the following:

• An even card allows up to two units to activate.
• An odd card allows up to three units to activate.
• Face card allows any one unit to activate or to flip one unit from reduced to full strength.  And a black face card for the French allows (starting on game turn two) the French Artillery marker to be used in addition to moving 1 unit or flipping a reduce unit to full strength. 
• An ace is treated as a one or odd.
• For combat when a face card is drawn, it is an automatic "miss", exception is Major Baring. He can be eliminated on a black ace or king. See "Special Unit Counters" below).
• The Joker signals the end of the game turn when it is drawn for either activation or combat resolution, unless it is drawn before both sides have activated units. In this case, bury it and continue play until the end of the deck.

Note: Of course, High Flying Dice Games, has their own card set for this game, silly person for asking. Cost is $8 plus postage. Contact HFDG for further information.   Click here to go to HFDG for more info

Solitaire Playability (Scale 1 to 10):  This is like the Five for Fighting series of PBGs. I give it a 7 playing the French as the Allies can stay put and bring up more units to keep La Haye Sainte and the sand pit from falling to the French. Or play the French and take Haye Sainte from the KGL!

Versions/Scenarios:  Only one version, no extra rules or scenarios. At least not yet. I have learned one thing about LPS, Inc, they usually have something up their sleeves in regards as an extra "Black Swan" type add-on for their subscribers (including the PBGs) via their ATO magazine.  And no, not their armees!  

Maybe this includes the three "Low Ammo" counters included on the die-cut counters sheet, along with the KIA message on the back of Major Baring's counter? And it does make me wonder too.   However, for now, it is a mystery and shall remain as such until reveal sometime in the future by Steve, the LPS, Inc publisher.  

Setup Time:  Once everything is cut out, what, maybe 3 mins for setup? It will take longer to shuffle the card deck.

Playing Time:  This one is quick.  My games last 30 to 45 mins if that long. Maybe 45 mins to 1 hour to learn the game the first time, but after?

Rules:  The rules are simple and flow nicely from the various areas of "Setup" to "Play" to "Combat" and to "Reinforcements". This is imho, a very well written set of rules. I found these rules to be very logical, concise, and short.  Most important - NO ZONES OF CONTROL and combat is voluntary.  Oops, sorry, just not having a ZOC excites me to no end!  No stacking except for Major Baring. More on him, later.

Addenda:  There is a tiny bit of addenda and here it is:

• Under the Reinforcements section. It is mentioned that the French Artillery marker comes into play starting game turn "3".  Wrong, as it is turn "2" just as it says on the counter.  Easy fix, just "wite-out" and write in a "2".
• Just a misspelling - Under Combat, 3 line, should be (but not through).
  
• Infantry attacking 2 hexes away (non-adjacent) have a -2 CD modifier.
• The Allied artillery unit, "Ross", when attacking adjacent French units has a +1 CD. 
• Just as for the wrong turn entry for the FAm (above), wite-out the mistakes and correct with a pen.

Note: Canister and Grape shot does hurt!

There might be more addenda or not, however, I don't believe there will be. The above will help keep those pesky French at bay.

Play:  Play is very easy, almost as if the designer was using a formula that he perfected 20 years ago. :D  Sweet. This game has the following:

• Setup:
• No stacking, except for Major Baring.
• Play:
• a card draw activates units for either moving 1 hex or fire combat.
• and it doesn't matter who draws the card, as it is the color and type of card that depicts which unit(s) go.
• Combat:
• Units may fire up to 2 hexes away. 
• Inf have a -2 CD modifier if firing at an non-adjacent hex.
• Allied Arty (Ross) if firing at a French unit in an adjacent hex has a +1 CD modifier.
• French Arty marker adds +1 CD modifier to ALL French attacks for the turn.
• Allies Major Baring adds +1 CD modifier for attacking and +1 DF for any Allied unit he is stacked with. 
• Sandpit and Hill terrain have a -1 CD modifier.
• No firing thru other units, hills or La Haye Sainte, but can fire into such hexes.
• To perform a combat resolution, the attacker picks out the lucky defending target.
• A CD is performed, adding the card number to the AF of the firing unit. 
• Face cards are an outright miss (exception Major Baring and a black Ace or King, which eliminates him) 
• Ace is equal to 1.
• Subtract the target's DF and any CD modifiers for range or terrain the defender is in. 
• A hit is scored on the defender if the final modified value is greater than the target units DF. If the unit was full strength, it is flipped over to it's reduced side. If the unit was reduced from before, it is eliminated and removed from play.
• If the modified value is equal to or less than " < " the target's DF = No Effect. 
• Reinforcements:
• Only the French receives reinforcements. There is a number on the lower right side that indicates the earliest turn the French reinforcement can arrive. They can always enter on later game turns. French units also have a arrival hex that they enter on.
• The French Artillery marker enters play on turn 2, when a black face card is drawn. It will stay in use the entire turn and removed at the end of the turn. It can come back during the next turn when another black face card is drawn. 
• Game Length:
• The game last up to 5 turns of card deck shuffles. Victory is dependent on the French securing their victory conditions - all 3 hexes of La Haye Sainte and the Sand Pit being free of Allied units. Otherwise the Allies win.

Special Unit Counters:  There are two special units, the French Artillery marker (FAm) and  Major Baring. Each will affect the combat CD for their respected side.

• The FAm has been talked about to death above. Basically, I believe it represents Napoleon's "Grand Battery" of over 63+ artillery pieces he had at Waterloo. 

• Major Baring is the Allies special unit. He must always be in one of the three hexes that comprise La Haye Sainte.  He cannot leave them.  He confers a +1 CD to any unit he is stacked with when it fires and a +1 DF to the unit he is stacked with when defending. If the hex Major Baring occupies is fired upon, he is eliminated on a CD of either a black Ace or black King. Also, if there are no Allied units in one of the 3 hexes of La Haye Sainte, Major Baring is eliminated on any CD when fired upon.

That is it.  Pretty much everything one would want to know about this game.  

Play-Balance: The game is well, pretty darn even. Remarkable.   

Summary:  This is a "sister" pbg game to "La Garde, recule". There is only one difference and that is in the setup of the cards used for the card draw.  This game shows how well the pocket battle game series are coming along. I believe that Paul just keeps honing his designer skills on each game he comes out with. Whether it is a big game like Vicksburg or a small pocket battle game like this one, his games just seem to get better.

It's the little things about these games, that Paul is including, such how in this case, the Grand Battery is depicted and used.  Also, how Major Baring rallied and held his troops together to be a thorn in the side of the French (+1 CD and +1 DF). He started with aprx 400 men and by the time he was able to leave, he was down to aprx 42 men. (He would have won the MoH if he was an American for his actions at La Haye Sainte). 

Graphic Designer Mark is showing good progress in his art skills, too. I still believe his graphic design on "Five for Fighting" series of PBGs is the cat's meow, especially the counters.

This game is fun. It is not a walk over for the French and can go either way, down to the end of game turn 5. The French have a tough job ahead of them to clear out all 4 hexes, the three of La Haye Sainte and the sand pit for victory by the end of turn 5.  But it can be done.  Wise use and a little luck with getting that French Artillery marker will make it a whole lot easier than without. 

The Allies have to be careful not to let the French chew up too many of their units in the walled farm house. Major Baring is the key here, as he was in the real battle. Watch out that you don't leave him by his lonesome, as he will surely perish.

It is said that Wellington was not the hero he has been made out to be for winning Waterloo. Considering that British troops only comprised about 35% of his forces and more than 65% of his troops spoke some type of German, that it is actually Germans who won this battle. I know that there were several important small battles that comprised the entire battle field (I was able to visit most back in the early 80's when stationed in West Germany), at least to me and a few others, the battle for La Haye Sainte has always been the most important. It was the center of the battlefield. If Napoleon had held it before the Prussians arrived on the field, he would have been able to take the Allied center.  As it was, the King's German Legion commanded by Major Baring held the farm long enough to keep that from being a reality.

All in all, good gaming to you. I hope you will grab this little game and play it. If so, let me know what you think about it, as I am interested in hearing how you fare.
-ab

This blog is considered to be a living blog. Changes will be made to it as needed to clarify, correct errors or update with new information.

Clash of Lions, Battle of Jiradi Pass: 6th June, 1967

This review has been ongoing for a few months now. Different things keep jumping up and say "hey work on me now", so without any further excuses, on to this review.

Title:  Clash of Lions, Battle of Jiradi Pass: 6th June, 1967
Price:  $* plus shipping
Designer:  Paul Rohrbaugh
Graphics Designer:  Bruce Yearian
Publisher:  High Flying Dice Games
Published Date:  2011

Subject:  The battle of Jiradi Pass at the beginning of the 6th Day War between Egypt and Israel on 6th June 1967 fought in the Sinai Desert between the remnants of the Egyptian 7th Infantry Division and Israel's Tal Armored Division.

Scale:  Each hex is 500 meters across with each unit representing either a company (Egyptian) or a platoon (Israeli).  Armor units are company in size (both sides).  Note that since the game is on the 3rd battle for the Pass, most of the Egyptians were possible at platoon size due to the attrition from the previous Israeli attacks. I would consider this to be tactical, maybe grand-tactical in scope.

Game Area:  The game map represents the desert terrain of the Jiradi Pass.

Player Supplied Components:
The only thing a player needs to supply is 2 dice, one for each player.  That's it. Unlike many of High Flying Dice Games, no cards are used for activating units for movement or combat. It took me a few tries to get use to this, as I like the card activation.

Components and Physical Quality:  Graphics are "old school", however, I like old school. It sure beats this avant garde, new way of using the NATO symbols a lot of game graphic designers are doing these days. Easier to see for one thing.  And for that reason, this game to me from the graphics to the game map, to the player's aid, and to the counters are top notch.

Everything is printed on stiff 11"x17" paper with the counters and player's aid on one side and the "8.5" x 11") game map on the other. 56 total counters that need to be mounted, cut out and the game map to be separate from the counters. You can leave the player's aid attached or cut it from the game map, your choice (I left mine attached).  And of course if you prefer, when you purchase the game, you can have HFDG mount your counters for a small charge.    

Counters:  As mentioned before, I like the way Bruce used tank silhouettes for the armor and NATO symbols for the others - Infantry, Heavy Weapons, AT guns, and Artillery. 

The colors used for the counters are very good with light green for the Egyptians and medium blue for the Israelis.  Each counter except for the Egyptian Artillery (1) and the Israeli Aircraft (3) markers have their unit number on the upper right side of their symbols with an attack factor (aka the "fire combat factor"), range, and movement allowance.  What's nice is the range factor is outline in white.

There are 17 Egyptian units and 19 Israeli units for play. Four infantry units of the 19 Israeli counters are for the "what if" scenario. One game turn counter and 19 "Disrupted" counters are also provided. All of the counters are single sided and .5" square in size.

Game Map:  Small at 8.5" x 11", it is compact, but highly functional.  Terrain is composed of sand, level 2 elevations, entrenchments (only Egyptians can use), crest hex-sides and roads.

Each different type of  terrain affects movement, fire combat, close assault combat, and sight if using the advance rules.  

Complexity (1 to 10):  "1-3" introductory rated, but normal for High Flying Dice Games, complexity can be added via the optional advance rules.  These optional rules can also be used to "even out" between the players different abilities. Very nice.

Gamer Versions/Scenarios:  Clash of Lions has two scenarios - the historical battle and a "what if" that adds more Israeli units, a different victory point/win and boosting the complexity level up to a "3". 

Setup Time:  With such a low density of counters, about 5 mins. Grabbing a beer out of the fridge would take longer.

Playing Time:  30 mins to 60 mins for basic game. With advance rules, add 30 mins. And with the "what if" scenario add about 30 mins to 1 hour. 

Solitaire Playability (Scale 1 to 10):   8. Due to the low amount of counters involve in the game,  no special rules are needed,  just common sense. I also tend to use the Egyptians as the non-player as they don't really need to move (everything was well dug in, including the IS-3M (JS-3M's.)).

Rules:  3 freaking pages!  That's right, just 3, not counting the cover. Actually it is 2.5 pages, but hey, who is counting! Well written. Everything is there, maybe not in a crazy bunny order, but they are there... 

Addenda:  Yes, we do have addenda...

Note: Though this is very moot, but to keep history correct the Israeli armor counters should be labled as M-48s, instead of M-60's as there were no M-60's used by Israel in the Six Day War.  All, but one company of M-48's, were armed with a 90mm gun. This company was armed with the British 105mm and had a better chance (though not great) at damaging the flank or rear of the IS-3M but not the front (122mm of armor).  For more information, please click here. It will take you to an excellent article written by a tanker, Major Warford, US Army, retired.

Description of Play (a.k.a 4.0 Sequence of Play): There are 10 turns to the game. Each turn is composed of the following- 

• Random Event Determination (see 4.1) - Both players roll 1D6 and add the numbers together to get the random event (see 9.0) number.  This is where UAR Artillery and Israeli Air Support comes into play (sorry, bad pun).
• Initiative Determination (see 4.2) - Both players roll 1D6 and add their morale number (see 6.0) to each roll. The player with the highest total wins the initiative and performs the first set of operations for the turn. (Note: On the 1st game turn, the Israeli player gets the initiative).
• Operations Phase (see 4.3) - Players move and fight their units by performing alternating sets of "impulses".  
• The player with the initiative rolls 1D6 and that is the number of units that can either move (see 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3) and perform "Close Assault Combat" (CAC) (see 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) since CAC is part of movement or  perform "Fire Combat" (see 7.0, 7.1, 7.3, 7.4) for the first impulse.  
• After the player has moved or attacked, then the second player rolls 1D6 and performs the same as above. If any player has any remaining units that have not moved or fired, the first player rolls 1D6 for the second impulse or next set of units to move or fire, etc. 
• The Operations Phase ends when both players have moved or fired their units or both pass.   
• To recap, a unit can either move or fire, not both unless it is performing a CAC as part of it's movement.
  
  
• End Phase (see 4.4) - Following the conclusion of the Operations Phase, 
• all units with a "Disrupted Marker" can attempt to "Rally" to recover to normal status (see 8.0). 
• If this is not the last turn of the game, advance the Game Turn marker one space and repeat Random Event Determination (see 4.1).
• If it is the last turn of the game, players calculate the number of Victory Points they have earned to determine who has won the game (see 10.0, 10.1).

Other Parts of the Rules:  There are Zones of Control (see 5.2) and stacking (see 5.3) is allowed.  Morale (see 6.0) plays a huge part in the game.  Units can become "Disrupted" (see 7.3) due to combat (highly important). Units can retreat (see 7.4) and don't forget about rally (8.0).

Combat (see 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 12.1, 12.2):  There are two types of combat, Fire Combat and Close Assault Combat that occurs during movement.

• Fire Combat (FC) (see 7.1 & 12.1): 
  
• If a unit is undistrupted, it may fire upon an enemy combat unit when activated. 
• Fire Combat can only be used by units that do not move. 
• Enemy units must be within range and have a clear "line of sight" (LOS). 
• The attacking player rolls 1D6 and modifies the roll for each of the following:
• +1 modifier if defending unit is on higher elevation.
• +1 if defending unit is behind a crest hex side.
• +1 if defending unit is in an entrenchment hex (Egyptian Only).
• -1 if defending unit is in an adjacent hex.
• If using optional rule 12.1: +1 if Israeli unit moved and fired (this optional rule supersedes 7.1).
• If using optional rule 12.2: -1 if firing unit qualifies for a flank shot. 
• If the modified DR is less than or equal ( < ) to the Attacking units Fire Combat Factor, the defending unit (target) is hit. A non-disrupted unit (i.e. normal status) becomes "Disrupted" and receives a Disruption marker.  A disrupted unit must make a Morale check (see 6.3. See I said that is important  :P  ).
  
  
• Close Assault Combat (CAC)(see 7.2, 7.4): 
• Friendly undisrupted units may enter an enemy-occupied to engage in Close Assault Combat. 
• Since this is part of movement, CAC can only be initiated by units that have not engaged in fire combat, earlier in the turn. 
• Disrupted units may defend in CAC, but at a disadvantage. 
• To resolve CAC, both players total the combat factor of their units in the hex and each roll 1D6 (note - Egyptian AT have a combat factor of 1 during CAC):
• The attacker modifies the DR for each of the following: 
• +1 if ALL of the attackers morale level is higher than the defenders.
• -1 if any of the attackers morale level is lower than the defender's.
• -1 if the attacking units moved from a level 1 hex to a level 2 (i.e. attacked uphill).
• The defender modifies their DR for each of the following:
• +1 if the defender's units morale level are higher than the attackers.
• -1 if any of the defender's morale level is lower than the attacker's.
• +1 if the defender is occupying an entrenchment hex.
• The player with the highest total wins and
• the losing side's units are retreated 1 hex (see 7.4) 
• and once a CAC is resolved, those activated units used for this are finished for the turn.

Whew, that's it for combat! 

Play-Balance:  This is a tricky question. Is the game a walk over for the Israeli's or not. In the actual battle, the training, knowledge of the land, knowing one's equipment, and one's belief in what one is doing, allowed the Israelis an edge to win a battle against a foe who had modern equipment, dug in and fortified, but poorly lead.  The game is close. It is not an easy walk over for Israel and a victory can be so easily snatched away.  When a game is like this, I would say that the play balance is spot on. 

Summary:  Highly recommended. Great for a fast playing game. I like this game. It isn't perfect, no game is, but it is very, very, good. It has a small game map, low amount of counters, sensible short rules. Graphics are in a style I like.

One will have to pay attention and not play haphazardly as the Israeli. The use of die rolls to see who and how many units can activate is different (for me) from using cards for activation and it did take me a few turns to get use to this new fangled approach to gaming (lol, just joking). The "what if" scenario adds more infantry to the Israeli side to show what would have happened if Israel had delayed their attack to wait for the  infantry.  Optional rules are common sense that can add to the game, while not increasing the time for play and the added complexity is just a little bit more. These optional rules are also good to handicap a veteran player against a less experience player.

Well, that's about it. Grab the game, it is a keeper! For such a small game I find  it is fun, heart stopping and made me think - I had to plan before the game started. As mentioned before, the game is not a snoozer and one has to pay attention to their game play. Otherwise, unlike Israel, you may lose this important battle to open up a supply line and the northern road, which in all likelihood, may lose the whole war.  Yes, that is how important this one battle was.

-ab out

This blog is considered to be a living blog. Changes will be made to it as needed to clarify, correct errors or update with new information.