My gaming buddies and I got together yesterday to give BF:Evolution a try. We did a 1000-point game with four players.
The scenario was a skirmish between patrols of USMC and PLA forces in the remote central asian country of Backthereistan. Both sides' local commanders had orders to recon a nearby mining facility. A rail line ran diagonally across the area, with a small rail yard and the mine entrance southeast of the railroad.
The USMC forces consisted of an M1 tank and three squads of Marines. The PLA had two Type 99 MBTs and two small infantry squads. The USMC won the initiative roll for set up and chose the north side of the table where the village would provide good cover. The US decided to let the PLA set up first and take the first turn. The PLA massed their forces on their left flank where some wooded areas would give cover. After seeing the PLA set-up, the USMC set their M1 tank on the opposite flank where the rail line entered the northeast corner of the table. A USMC squad accompanied the tank while the balance of the Marines set up in and around the village opposite the PLA forces.
On the first turn the PLA began advancing through the woods on the left towards the USMC-occupied village, while refusing their right flank to hold against the Marine armor. One of the PLA tanks took a move action to the edge of the woods and fired at the M1 in the open. Hoping for a kill result, all they managed was to inflict a failed armor save against the M1. At this point we did something very wrong by forgetting that tank main guns can't fire in reaction. The M1 reacted to the Type 99 by firing it's main gun, killing the PLA tank.
The second Type 99 had already taken two move actions to cross the RR line and now realized it was in big trouble.
On the USMC first turn, the M1 rolled onto the RR tracks where it had a clear flank shot at the second Type 99. As it happened, the weaker flank armor didn't matter because the M1 rolled a 10 and killed the 2nd PLA tank with one shot.
The Marines advanced into the rail yard to threaten the PLA right flank.
So at the conclusion of the first turn, both PLA tanks had been knocked out. We figured the PLA had just lost the game, but we continued playing for a second turns anyway. The PLA infantry near the railroad bridge decided not to engage the M1 and retreated deep into the woods, leaving the burning PLA tanks behind. The PLA squad on the far left advanced through the woods to engage a Marine fire team deployed in a building. The PLA killed most of the USMC fire team but was itself all but wiped out. Having suffered the loss of both tanks and about half of their infantry, the surviving PLA withdrew from the area and reported the established presence of the US forces at the mining facility.
Although we made a major mistake by allowing the M1 to fire it's main gun in reaction, we learned a lot of valuable lessons and look forward to playing BF:Evo again soon.
The scenario was a skirmish between patrols of USMC and PLA forces in the remote central asian country of Backthereistan. Both sides' local commanders had orders to recon a nearby mining facility. A rail line ran diagonally across the area, with a small rail yard and the mine entrance southeast of the railroad.
The USMC forces consisted of an M1 tank and three squads of Marines. The PLA had two Type 99 MBTs and two small infantry squads. The USMC won the initiative roll for set up and chose the north side of the table where the village would provide good cover. The US decided to let the PLA set up first and take the first turn. The PLA massed their forces on their left flank where some wooded areas would give cover. After seeing the PLA set-up, the USMC set their M1 tank on the opposite flank where the rail line entered the northeast corner of the table. A USMC squad accompanied the tank while the balance of the Marines set up in and around the village opposite the PLA forces.
On the first turn the PLA began advancing through the woods on the left towards the USMC-occupied village, while refusing their right flank to hold against the Marine armor. One of the PLA tanks took a move action to the edge of the woods and fired at the M1 in the open. Hoping for a kill result, all they managed was to inflict a failed armor save against the M1. At this point we did something very wrong by forgetting that tank main guns can't fire in reaction. The M1 reacted to the Type 99 by firing it's main gun, killing the PLA tank.
The second Type 99 had already taken two move actions to cross the RR line and now realized it was in big trouble.
On the USMC first turn, the M1 rolled onto the RR tracks where it had a clear flank shot at the second Type 99. As it happened, the weaker flank armor didn't matter because the M1 rolled a 10 and killed the 2nd PLA tank with one shot.
The Marines advanced into the rail yard to threaten the PLA right flank.
So at the conclusion of the first turn, both PLA tanks had been knocked out. We figured the PLA had just lost the game, but we continued playing for a second turns anyway. The PLA infantry near the railroad bridge decided not to engage the M1 and retreated deep into the woods, leaving the burning PLA tanks behind. The PLA squad on the far left advanced through the woods to engage a Marine fire team deployed in a building. The PLA killed most of the USMC fire team but was itself all but wiped out. Having suffered the loss of both tanks and about half of their infantry, the surviving PLA withdrew from the area and reported the established presence of the US forces at the mining facility.
Although we made a major mistake by allowing the M1 to fire it's main gun in reaction, we learned a lot of valuable lessons and look forward to playing BF:Evo again soon.
