A Return to Military Boardgames

The Friday before returning to work after the long summer education break I eventually met up with my Wargaming opponent Mark who is also lucky/unlucky (delete as appropriate) enough to be in the secondary education sector. To cheer ourselves up we had a game of Memoir '44 a game by Richard Berg. Now I haven't played 'Wargame Boardgames' since the 1980's when it was Advanced Squad Leader, Cry Havoc (would love a copy of that fun game again), Storm Over Arnhem, Third Reich  and the massive 'Europa' series of games which if I remember correctly had different WW2 campaigns. Case White the invasion of Russia had maps big enough to cover a ping pong table and 3,000 card pieces denoting Russian and German units...mind blowing stuff in my late teenage years.

Now Memoir '44 is a stylised game with very easy to learn rules and scenarios based on simplified major engagements in WW2  from D Day onwards. Mark had been playing his son over the summer and recommended this game for light entertainment although it is surprisingly strategic and you need to time the playing of key  command cards to achieve your objectives and wiping out enemy units to earn yourself  'medals', Huzzah!

We played the first scenario, Pegasus Bridge which just involved infantry units enabling me to learn the basic rules quickly. As you can see in the pictures (although others will be more acquainted with this game I'm sure)it is a very basic representation of the terrain encountered with the two objectives the famous Pegasus Canal Bridge on the left and the Orne River Bridge on the right.

Initially I tried to attack Pegasus Bridge head on dashing like the glider troops did straight up to the bridge....this resulted in many casualties and my Paras took a real hiding, however the Orne Bridge was simpler and taken relatively quickly. Mark is a superb defensive wargamer and usually enjoys many wins against my more headstrong attacking mentality.....however eventually I outflanked the German  defenders and with a few fortuitous attack cards turning up from the deck giving me heavy weapons support bonuses and a change in my dice rolling luck led to final victory for the plucky Paras after being behind for most of the game.

The playing pieces again are stylised representations of Weapons/Tanks & Infantry but with Marks superb painting skills they end up looking brilliant and much more inspiring.

The smug look of Victory for Fraxinus or was it the happy consumption of Jam doughnuts during the game! After an enjoyable mornings play we had to visit one of Dovers micro pubs the 'Rack of Ale' for an enlightening tour of the tap room & quafing of Firkin summer ale.