One more, a village shop

The last thing I can think of to complete the English village is the village shop. So I present to you, Messrs Congreve & Shrapnel's shoppe.

You can get the full-sized version here

This one is a slight variation using the pub as a base. In this one, you're going to cut slightly above the doorway (there's a line there) on the front face to make a 45 degree angled entryway. Also, this one has a thatched roof texture.

If you have any questions on it's construction let me know. Also, I have run out of ideas for new papercraft buildings for the English country village, so if you can think of something and have an example let me know and I'll see if I can't put it together.

-OvC out

Pub Papercraft

So I've decided to make another building for an English village for Sealion. This time it's a two storey building with a pub on the 1st floor. It's the Rorke's Draft pub (get it?). I also added a blank sign for you to use GIMP/Photoshop/MS Paint to add your own name. Here you go:

Full copy at: Rorke's Draft Pub. As before, print it out on the heaviest cardstock you can use. I've been doubling them up on 110# stock.

Let me know what you think.

-OvC out

Three Storey Row House

All the 15mm buildings I have are North Africa themed, so in gearing up for Sealion I decided to do a bit of papercraft. I photoshopped this three storey row house, and I figured others might be interested in using it as well. Here you all go!

The full sized file is here: Three Storey English Row House

Just print it on a full sized 8.5" * 11" and go to town. I recommend putting it on the thickest cardstock you can, I ended up doubling up 110#.

EDIT: I have added a bay window and four of whatever the hell you call those windows that stick out of the roof that you can add if you want but aren't required. This way you can have a bit of variety to your buildings. 

-OvC out

Christmas Objective

Hundreds will give their lives to take the most important winter objective for both the Axis and the Allies:

SdKfz in plastic, comparison by manufacturer

Being the cheapest man alive (Hey, I have a kid so I have to be cheap!), I have extensively explored all plastic options to feed my FoW habit. Call me crazy, but I like my models like I like my women; small, easy to manage, and all the best bits made of plastic. I have recently purchased SdKfz 251s from Plastic Soldier Company, Point of Contact , and Zvezda . Without further adieu, pics of the models in comparison (from left to right in all pictures: Zvezda 251/1B, PoC 251/1C, and PSC 251/D):

Please note that the rider and the gas can on the zvezda model are bits from the PSC box.

As you can see, the Zvezda model is a bit smaller than the other two, while the PoC model is roughly the same length as the PoC model but quite a bit stockier. I didn't have a BF model to add as a comparison. Detail-wise, PSC takes the prize, however the Zvezda model isn't bad either. The PoC model is functional, and has fair detail, but all the weapon bits inside the vehicle look like sausages, especially the mortar. No joke, exactly like a pair of hot dogs holding up a shnitzel. Now granted, each one is representing a different variant of the 251, however I *believe* (tell me if I'm wrong) that the major differences were on the rear doors and angle of the armor, not on the dimensions of the vehicle as a whole.

-OvC out

Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf has some great lists. I've been itching to play a Wiking army. I had a chance to play two games yesterday against a Russian armor list. The first one I had my chance to play a Wiking army. It was something like this:

HQ
2x PZiv

Platoon 1
4x PZiv + Kanone

Platoon 2
5x PZiv + Kanone

Platoon 3
3x Panther + Kanone

Some thoughts on the Wiking list:

- If you screw up your use of cover you will die in droves. If you bog you die. That's the nature of being trained. A shot outside 16" while you're in cover is a 5+, which is a 33% chance.
- I don't think Kanones are worth their points. The randomness is the main part of this deficiency. I can get 5 PZiv that are CV under the Panzerkompanie for 450, or 5 FT PZiv incl the Kanone under the Wiking list for 455.  You have a 33% chance of just getting the re-roll to skill tests, anything else you get that + the Kanones themselves get a bit better. That's great but they're still trained which means they are easy to hit, and with only a 6 front 3 side it's not so awesome. Panthers are a better choice for the higher armor, but you are dangerously close to having issues with being overwhelmed by targets.

I got steam-rolled by my opponent on the first game. Let's face it, I'm just not good enough to confidently run a FT armored list. My second game I played as the Panzerkompanie and pulled out a big win. 

I'm going to throw some Math of War at you. Let's say you have 5 PZiv with Kanones against 5 PZiv under the Panzerkompanie fighting each other at long range. No cover. We will be generous and say the Kanone rolled a 6 on their Kanone roll.

Wiking:
8 shots at 5+ = 2.667 hits
2 shots at 5+ re-rollable = .667+.444 =1.111 hits
= 3.778 hits
3.778 hits * (2/3 chance for destroying) = 2.519 chance of destroying (doesn't include bails)
2.519 chances * (2/3 chance to confirm kill) = 1.679 kills

Panzerkompanie:
10 shots at 4+= 5 hits
= 5 hits
5 hits * (2/3 chance for destroying) = 3.333 chance of destroying (doesn't include bails)
3.333 chances * (2/3 chance for destroying) = 2.222 kills

So Panzerkompanie holds their own with .543 more kills. How about at close range?

Wiking:
8 shots at 4+ = 4 hits
2 shots at 4+ re-rollable = .5 + .25 = .75 hits
= 4.75 hits
4.75 hits * (2/3 chance for destroying) = 3.167 chance of destroying (doesn't include bails)
3.167 chances * (2/3 chance to confirm kill) = 2.111 kills

Panzerkompanie:
10 shots at 3+= 6.667 hits
= 6.667 hits
6.667 hits * (2/3 chance for destroying) = 4.445 chance of destroying (doesn't include bails)

4.445 chances * (2/3 chance for destroying) = 2.963 kills

The Panzerkompanie is even better with  .852 more kills than the SS Wiking.

Let me know if I mathfailed on my calculations, but it looks like a Panzerkompanie is statistically superior to the Wiking company.

Now granted, this does not include any value added by the re-rolls the Kanones provide, which can get you out of trouble on a stormtrooper like nobody's business. However, that re-roll's value isn't quantifiable as every table's terrain set up is different.

-OvC out

Little Wars

The crew and I went to Little Wars over the weekend for some gaming fun. We played a Napoleonics game. Most of the guys playing seemed friendly enough, except one of the guys on my team.

Here's a pro-tip for running a game at a con: I know you have to balance time constraints against explaining a game to new players, but don't just say 'hey you need to roll a 5,' explain why so that the new players understand how modifiers are applied and can adjust their plans accordingly. Being the one bro with an understanding of the rules and how to game them makes it seem like you're just cheating. Also playing to win at all costs against people who don't know the rules is just childish.

OvC out.