Tactics - Flames of War - Battle Plans

One of my favourite things about Flames of War V4 is Battle Plans in the More Missions Pack.

In my humble opinion, it allows players to build a force that can suit there play style. Best example I can think of is taking a fortification formation and it not be a complete waste in a scenario where they need to attack an objective.

Though the Image in the More Missions Pack is a useful reference I found it hard to plan from. So I came up with this to focus what my army would have to face depending on the Battle Plan I chose, then build my lists acordingly.

I am not a maths expert

Using this we can come up with an idea of what our armies will have to achieve in each mission they are likely to face.

Battle Plan - Attack

With this Battle Plan you will be the attacker in every mission against a different Battle Plan. Also, if you face another Attack Plan, you and your opponent will roll of for attacker, if you lose you are the defender. Except for 2 missions (attacker on Breakthrough or Counterattack) you will have to defend 2 objectives in these missions, if you are attacker or defender, so plan accordingly.

Against any other Battle Plan you will attack. Against a Manoeuver Battle Plan you have a 50/50 on missions whether you need to defend objectives or if you are going all out attack.

Against a Defend Battle Plan there is no objectives to defend.

In short on Attack Battle Plans you are free to spend more points on attacking units than defending. If I am going to write an attacking list I will buy an infantry unit and a gun unit to defend one objective and maybe put artillery on the other. Then have my attack force attack from the weaker defended objective, thus hoping to defend both.

PowerPoint isn't just for presentations

I would also like my defensive units to be mobile. I wont always need to defend an objective so the units need to be able to support the attack if required.

Battle Plan - Defend

Before the beard!

With this Battle Plan you will always be the defender unless you play another Defend Battle Plan. You are most likely to play the 3 Defensive Battles, 100% of the time against an Attack Battle Plan and 2/3 against a Manoeuver Battle Plan. You could also, have to play as the defender in Breakthrough against a Manoeuver Battle Plan, so build your list to defend these missions.

Now what can catch you out is a 1 in 6 chance to have to play Contact against a Manoeuver Battle Plan, or against another Defend Battle Plan. In your list building you will have to mitigate that you may have to reach out and actually take an objective. This is a lot less likely than a standard Tournament without Battle Plans, but the situation could still occur.

In essence I would say the reverse is true of the Attack Battle Plan. Put most of your points into gun and infantry units to defend objectives, but throw a Recce unit in for Spearhead move in Breakthrough if you can. Also, make sure you have something that can leap forward and take an objective after blunting your opponents attack, or even sneak an objective if your opponent has put to much into an attack in another location. Whether that be a cheeky tank unit (accounting for missions with Deep reserves) or an infantry unit (maybe with transports).

Battle Plan - Manoeuver

Definitely not a flimsy link to Manoeuver

This is an awkward Battle Plan to write about, though it is the Plan I favour to use, mainly because my list is British Rifle Company than can do a bit of attack and a bit of defend but isn't an expert at either. If that is were your list ends up this is most likely the plan you should use. 

You will always defend against an Attack Battle Plan, you will always attack a Defend Battle Plan. It has the widest range of missions you will likely play. It also has the most chance of playing an Attack or Defend Battle Plan in missions that are not their preferred missions, but not every time. You wont need to defend objectives against a Defend Plan so everything needs to be able to attack, but you will have to defend 2 objectives against an Attack Plan. You are also likely to be playing a game of reserves so you will need to be able to do one of these things with 60% of your force.

This Plan best suits a toolbox list that has a bit of everything and can do anything.

In my next article I will go through my list and use that to highlight more on what a Manoeuver Battle Plan needs, as it is a bit more complex.

Conclusion

I'm enjoying Memes today

The more missions pack greatly changes the way lists are written if used. For example Germans can throw more points into those Big Cats knowing they can put less points into defending objectives and still carry the victory. Fortification formations aren't going to be wasted in Fair Fight Missions they aren't designed to play in. Or players can write a fluffy (historical) list and then play to to that by picking the right Battle Plan and know they are playing the right type of engagement for their history. It also means players can specialise there lists to how they like to play.

After playing Battle Plans I would never even think of just going back to just rolling for a mission, it just enhances the game so much.

BOBW - Jacko

Team Yankee Begins

So the group has been playing Flames of War V4 for a year or more now and we have been loving it. But as any Wargamer knows there is always a new toy that needs to be bought. Thus we have been distracted by Battlefronts Team Yankee. Basically because its Flames of War, but with Helicopters. And who doesn't like Helicopters?

I tend to like to do an army with a theme. Not always but it is preferred. My friend Sam came up with doing a UN force in Team Yankee and after seeing it I was so jealous! That was a great idea and he had shotgunned it. But that did give me the realisation that I could have UN forces too and claim its fluffy and thematic and keep the moral high ground while I do it.

This was it! Desert coloured US Vehicles, mix in some UN coloured vehicles because they come in and save the day and I am sticking to theme. Plus loads of Helicopters. And it would be unique. Plus desert brown colours seemed easier to paint than camo. All the Wins!

So I have done a few bits before this blog was set up but here is my latest additions:

4 Humvee Tows - ready to one shot a tank then die!

Super close up - so you can see all my painting mistakes :-)

I am quite happy the way these turned out. 2 of these models I got from the Ryan's Leathernecks starter box, the ones with the blokes out the top, the other 2 are from Butlers Printed Models.

I like both models very much. Battlefront have been doing an amazing job with their plastics. Butlers models are just so good for the price. Honestly on the table you cannot notice the difference at all between them, not at what I call "gaming length"

When you put them side by side you can see that the Butlers models are smaller, or Battlefronts bigger? And it is definitely more noticeable from the top, lined up, when I specifically take photos to show the size difference. During a game I have never noticed the difference and neither has anyone else until I pointed it out.

Drive-by side shots

Gamers Length - Cannot see the difference in size now or makes.

A worthy addition to the force and it's starting to grow.

I'm currently working on some Black Hawks that I intend to use instead of Huey's and some Little Birds I'm going to use instead of Cobra's. Updates to come.

If you haven't checked out Butler's Printed Models and you're a hobbyist on a budget I suggest you check them out.

https://www.butlersprintedmodels.co.uk/

BOBW - Jacko