{"id":4544,"date":"2015-11-09T15:03:52","date_gmt":"2015-11-09T15:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=4544"},"modified":"2015-11-09T15:45:28","modified_gmt":"2015-11-09T15:45:28","slug":"combat-patrol-debuts-at-fall-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=4544","title":{"rendered":"Combat Patrol debuts at Fall In"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Me<\/a>
Me explaining a rule during the Fall In Combat Patrol debut game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Combat Patrol was released las week (see previous post and information here: \u00a0http:\/\/www.bucksurdu.com\/Buck_Surdu\/Combat_Patrol.html). \u00a0I ran two games featuring the rules at Fall In this weekend, and Eric Schlegel ran another. \u00a0There was to be a fourth game using Combat Patrol for the Napoleonic Wars, but the game was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances by the GM.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A view of a German halftrack and infantry working their way around the American left during the Fall In debut of Combat Patrol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Both games went extremely well. \u00a0The first game was over full, but I managed to cram everyone into the game. \u00a0I had a couple of players from the first game come back to play again in the second game — including a small child who was able to control his own forces and work the rules without assistance.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A view of a German halftrack and infantry working their way around the American left during the Fall In debut of Combat Patrol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two scenarios were linked. \u00a0The ending positions from the first scenario were the starting positions for the second scenario. \u00a0The first scenario involved a German platoon and an American platoon bumping into each other in a small village at an important crossroads. \u00a0Both sides had the objective of gaining and maintaining an advantageous position before reinforcements arrived (the second scenario).<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A machine-gun opens fire from a window during the Fall In debut of Combat Patrol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Between the scenarios I reconstituted some of the squads the had been badly shot up, but mostly I left the forces where they were at the end of the first scenario. \u00a0I think this worked really well. \u00a0The starting positions for this second scenario were in better and more interesting positions than I probably would have put them if I was running the second scenario without the benefit of the first scenario.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The call before the storm: The setup of the French village for the Fall In debut of Combat Patrol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This picture (above) shows the general layout of the table before the fighting began. \u00a0This is from the perspective of the Americans.<\/p>\n

\"Dave<\/a>
Dave Wood helping explain the rules during the Fall In debut of Combat Patrol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Both scenarios were closely run affairs, with neither side having a significant advantage until toward the end of the second scenario.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
An American squad on patrol during the Fall In debut of Combat Patrol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the picture (above) you can see the command dice next to the three elements that make up the US squad. \u00a0This was their starting position for the first scenario. \u00a0This squad was patrolling up the road when the fun began.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The roof of one of the buildings is removed to show the Americans occupying firing positions inside during the Fall In debut of Combat Patrol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the picture (above) you can see that part of a US squad was in the woods on the left, and the other half of that squad, including a bazooka team had the up position in the building. \u00a0The player thought he had a great position for his bazooka. \u00a0When the German halftrack rushed past the opening, the bazooka team passed its Reaction roll to fire, but THEN the player realized there was no window on that side of the building! \u00a0We had a lot of fun at his expense after that.<\/p>\n

\"Germans<\/a>
Germans and Americans toss grenades at each other over an immobile halftrack.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since his bazooka as ineffective, the team in the woods hit the halftrack with a captured Panzerfaust, knocking out the driver and the forward machine-gun. \u00a0Then the Americans assaulted it. \u00a0The Germans had dismounted, so for a while the two groups tossed grenades over the vehicle at each other.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A German squad works their way up their left flank through some hedge-lined fields during the Fall In Debut of Combat Patrol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Everyone seemed to grasp the rules quick, and they all seemed to have a good time. \u00a0There were no glaring issues — which would have been disappointing after three and a half years of development. \u00a0All in all, I was very satisfied with the results.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A Pz. IV works its way toward a squad of Americans taking cover behind a brick wall during the Fall In Debut of Combat Patrol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There were some die-hard fans of other rules in the the two games, but I didn’t hear any of the “in rules ___, they do this…” types of comments, which I thought was a good sign. \u00a0A number of folks asked how they could get the rules, and I had some prepared flyers with QR codes that they could scan to go straight to the rules. \u00a0I did not see a bump in sales over the weekend, but most of the flyers I posted around the conventions kept disappearing. \u00a0Presumable they were taken by folks interested in the rules and not by competitors.<\/p>\n

\"Me<\/a>
Me explaining a combat results during the Fall In debut of Combat Patrol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A Sherman sneaks up behind a Pz IV that had gotten stuck on a brick wall and brews it up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There was a lot of dancing around between the German Pz. IV, the US Sherman, and the US Stuart. \u00a0The Pz. IV got stuck trying to climb over this brick wall. \u00a0Then the Sherman pulled up behind it, put a round through the engine, and knocked it out. \u00a0The smoke shown is scary painted cotton batting glued to battery-operated tea lights with black bases.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A German squad moving into position during the Fall In debut of Combat Patrol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A German fire team advances to take up a position inside a building during the Fall In debut of Combat Patrol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I probably lost a few sales by not having decks of cards in the dealer area. \u00a0I also got some complaints over the weekend from someone who thought the game was too expensive in England with shipping costs. \u00a0Still, I want to let this electronic-only distribution run its course for a little while.<\/p>\n

We pay as much for rules shipped to the US, and it’s unlikely Brits will buy a set of rules written by a Yank anyway. \u00a0(That’s meant to be a joke!) \u00a0I have attempted to reduce the risk by providing the YouTube how-to video and by making the basic rules free so that prospective customers can read them before<\/em> purchasing the cards. \u00a0The rules are available worldwide without having to find a local stockist or distributor. \u00a0That’s the best I can do.<\/p>\n

In addition to my two Combat Patrol games, Eric Schlegel ran a game with the rules as well. \u00a0Several of the HAWKs ran a series of games on the same town table all weekend, including Battleground, Dr. Who, and others.<\/p>\n

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