OGRE IN ITALY

[Leonidas]

Leonidas reporting

It has been a while since my last post. This happened for two reasons.

I have been really busy at work. So I dedicated my free time to gaming, instead of writing.

I also started to use FB rather than these forums. I am also mentioning the Ogre game in FB Italian board gaming groups on FB. Some people tell me “Finally, someone who know the classics !”. Still no players yet besides a bunch of buddies of mine.

Anyway, the game is great.

Yesterday, I tried “Storming the Castle” with a friend. We used counters instead of minis, and instead of starting with the canonic 12 GEVs, we decided our both starting forces as follows.

2 MSL Tanks
2 GEV - PCs
6 Squads of Marines
5 GEVs
2 LGEVs

We wanted a narrative game.

We visualised the Marines dropping into the water, after having reacher the shores of the big central lake on board of GEV-PCs. Then, the Marines would have moved to the center, protected by the water (double defence), taking 1/1 shots from the Castle’s Defences, and finally claim the AI. Meanwhile, the GEV should have taken the Castle’s defences out, escorting the mission.
On their way back, the MSL tanks would have protected the retreat of the squads, firing long range missiles to any hostile units pursing the Marines.

This was the plan, but it did not turn out his way, quite clearly.

The Missiles Tanks were too slow to reach any useful position on the shores in time. Additionally on the West side, there is a river which slows down everything except infantry. So, my friend starting from the East side, as far as I can tell, reached the AI earlier than me.

As my troops could not keep up with the advance of the enemy, I decided to move my GEVs into the City south of the lake getting bonus cover. The GEVs disregarded the AI, and than advanced to the city to the East, so that enemy MSL tanks could could take a strategic position and fire to any pursuer.

So, his Marines got the AI and started to escape, but my GEVs were behind his front lines ready to intercept.

It was quick, it was fast, it was deadly (I managed to destroy all of his units, while my Marines destroyed the second gun emplacement of the castle, as he destroyed the first defence in previous turns).

Request for rule clarification here: the scenario says that a unit treats “X as “D” results while carrying the AI token, and such unit can be destroyed only in overrun combat. So as to infantry, I used my D or X results to reduce the number of squads until the 1/1 stats. The next turn, I engaged in overrun. I think we did it right, but please advise me if not so.

Fun game. It is a steal the flag and escape as quick as you can type of thing.

We are planning to play the “Two nations, one war”.

Leonidas out for now.

[Leonidas]

Leonidas incoming.

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Weather report from CGC (Combine General Channel): Good morning Soldiers: This is your friendly voice announcing the weather forecast for today. We have pretty intense radioactive showers all day long for you. Chemical ponds will be increasingly toxic due to lightings and random electromagnetic activity in the wasteland. Refer to your Battle Manual and take all precautions as per section 208 for operating under EVWC (Extremely Violent Weather Conditions). For all those, out there…good luck boys, stay sharp, aim well and save your ammo.

++++++++++

Intercepted transmission form MK III BK- Serial n. SJGTFT-1977 and Combine Outpost KN-03

CP: MK III BK- Serial n. SJGTFT-1977 please report. What is your status?
BK: No target in sight, Commander. My sensor array is at 80% efficiency.
CP: Ok, BK. The weather conditions will be extremely bad tonight. I know there is no shelter out there at the pass. However, run your diagnostic routine and increase your sensory awareness. The enemy might use the storm to sneak into the pass. This must not happen.
BK: Sir, but my sensor array is still at 80% efficiency. It got hit during the last assault. I need a reparation routine to perform the tasks you required. I have located an Autofactory in Sector Epsilon, Quadrant A21, coordinates X:03 Y:07.
CP: We are sorry MK III BK- Serial n. SJGTFT-1977, but you must hold your ground at all cost. We cannot let the Pannies pass. Our Intelligence reported Leonidas leading a significant force of armor in the area. He might try to push in. We will deploy an armored detachment to escort you.

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Data collected of Extraction from an MK III BK- Serial n. SJGTFT-1977

Communication closed with Combine Outpost KN-03 - running diagnostic routine - Sensor Array efficiency at 75% - Visual obstructed by radioactive rain - calculating weather for the next 3 hours - Storm predicted - chance to be hit by lighting is at 0,3 % and increasing- calculating- chance to be hit by lighting is at 0,9 % and increasing - recalculating- chance to be hit by lighting is at 18 % - activate evasion manoeuvres - increase speed to full maximum - maximum speed level reached - scattered hazards sighted - speed reduction of 5% due to chemical ponds formations - Lighting hit to the sensor array - Multiple lighting hits to the sensor array - rebooting - rebooting - rebooting - override - shutting down - sleeping mode.

SYSTEM REBOOT

I am the Black Night, my Princess. The enemy shall not pass. I am here to protect you from all hideous villains which infest the land.
I am the Black Night, my Princess. The enemy shall not pass. I am here to protect you from all hideous villains which infest the land.
I see orcs and elves trying to pass. I see elven archers and orchis stone throwers
My lance will not flail, my aim shall not falter.
Thou shall die tonight, orcish scum, thou shall perish sneaky elves! Thou shall not pass!


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Intercepted transmission form Combine Outpost KN-03

- Sir, what is the matter with that Ogre? Is it talking about swords and medieval chivalry?
- It looks like he thinks to be a Black Knight. It must have suffered major damages during the storm.
- But why it is talking about monsters?
- It must have exchanged us for orcs, and probably the Pannies are the elves, lucky them!
- And what we do know? The Pannies are taking advantage, and our detachment is suffering heavy losses due to the fire form BK and elves,…ehm…Paneuropeans units as well. Damn it! Leonidas must be back in action.
- Well. Send in an MK V, and terminate the Black Night. Tell Lisa, the daughter of Doc. Simmons, to immediately remove her blasted fantasy book collection from the base. She must have talked to the Ogre somehow.
- Sure thing. What will be the codename for the MK V mission?
- Isn’t obvious? Red Dragon.

[Leonidas]

Ok. I lost again to my father in our Ogre summer game. We played the basic Mk III scenario. Bad dice rolls, and that’s it. I lost. I could not stop the Ogre. It was quite a narrative game, as always Ogre is. Leonidas last stand with a bunch of troops, protecting the CP.

We tried, we failed.

Leonidas out.

[Leonidas]

I think that each time I introduce Ogre to new players, the Illuminati grant me the power to roll 1 like there is no tomorrow. Thank you Illuminati, thank you. I know I am your favorite Ogre player, but I do not deserve such power! Great game I had tonight, though. It is always a pleasure. I had an Italian barbecue, sided with local specialities. We had superfood and a supergame.

Leonidas out for now.

[Leonidas]

Leonidas reporting,

The HQ sent us a neoprene map to simulate actual warfare in the safety of our bunkers while the rad level cools off. I stll have to decide whether is beter to use miniatures or counters on it. However, it is a great addiction to my collection of gadgets.

Leonidas out

[Leonidas]

The battlebox has arrived. I repeat, the battlebox has arrived. Gen. Leonidas instruct the engineers to start the assembing procedues.

All marked Ogres, counters and overlays, abandon Garage 001 and please report to Garages 0002 and 0003. Take your parking spot for manteinance, and await instructions!

This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.

Gen. Leonidas, report immediately to HQ.

[ColBosch]

Originally Posted by Leonidas

This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.

Don't say "repeat" on an open radio! You'll confuse the artillery wonks. :D

[Leonidas]

Originally Posted by ColBosch

Don't say "repeat" on an open radio! You'll confuse the artillery wonks. :D

That’s a good one! Ehm...Wilco roger, Sir!

[ColBosch]

Originally Posted by Leonidas

That’s a good one! Ehm...Wilco roger, Sir!

In the US Army, at least, "repeat" means "fire again the last mission," which could be inconvenient. So we use "say again," to prevent confusion. :D

[dwalend]

Originally Posted by ColBosch

In the US Army, at least, "repeat" means "fire again the last mission," which could be inconvenient. So we use "say again," to prevent confusion. :D

That might explain some of how my grandfathers and great uncles talked. Is it as old as WWII?