"'O' Group - Battleground Breville (game prep and eye candy)" Topic

Guys,

I've been sticking terrain bits onto my WW2 fur mat like a glue-fume-infused fiend (no joke – needing a real breather now). :)))

Before I get out and catch some needed fresh air, I wanted to post some pics of a game mockup here, testing a plan to try out on some 'O' Group scenarios (sometime in the safe future ahead)…..

So the historical background concept -

On the left flank of the Allied Invasion lodgement in Normandy sat a town on a ridge that overlooked the Orne river valley, along which the town of Ranville and the bridges just-seized by the British 6th Airborne Division could be observed. This highground became the scene of brutal fighting for days, as the Red Devils, Commandos, and reinforcing Highlanders battled Grenadiers of the German 346th Infantry Division for control of Breville, and the Chateau St. Come just to the north.

Here's a couple pictures of this game mat now, testing out the possibility of using the battle over this vital ground for a few campaign scenarios.

(the "general" lay of the land – the model buildings are 10mm – more Normandy-style ones coming)

From the German players perspective here (this would be looking southwestward just beyond the area of the flooded River Dives)

Looking from the opposite side, back NE for the British players viewpoint (thinking the buds should enjoy this as an intro to 'O' Group!).

Nice! I'm looking forward to receiving the pdf tomorrow.

Advocate, thanks for that heads-up!

I was bumming with the rules combo package including the markers being held up from shipping – I'd forgotten about the PDF.

To correct my directions above (oops) – the Chateau St. Come was to the south, 'below' Breville.

… And here!

What's O Group like?

Is it worth getting?

That looks fantastic, Dave! Absolutely beautiful.

V/R,
Jack

Jack, coming from you that's very appreciated – thanks bud!

BattlerB has asked if 'O' Group is worth getting. We're just now getting the rules ourselves, but I think the game looks pretty amazing as a design and in its concept, and this gathered from watching the play-through videos and listening to the podcasts that Rich Clarke and Dave Brown, and his son Chris have prepared as introduction to the rules (plenty here for someone to be able to form their own impressions from) -

YouTube link

Just a general/contrasting, and obvious impression – 'O' Group isn't World Of Tanks – it's about decision-making and coordination of fighting from the Infantry Battalion's point of view (field combat which characterised the majority of it during WWII). Supporting artillery and armor assets are subordinated to the infantry battalion's mission tasks, and how players coordinate these supports to bolster their fighting chances looks like the [I think interesting] grist presented by 'O' Group.

I'm looking forward to testing my mettle on the game field from this command POV (or more likely – presenting scenarios where I watch others enjoy matching their wits within 'O' Group….and I'll enjoy that too!).

Ooh nice one!

Thanks for that, I'll have a look through those tonight.

Based on the videos and my solo learning games I totally back the OP on the potential of O Group.
This rule set feels like the difference between trench warfare (with visible units starting on their own baselines) and the free-wheeling mobility of a blitzkrieg.
You get scout markers that move fast and may or may not be platoons, ability to place units forward, lots of fog of war, lots of decisions – plus combat resolution is fast and easily memorized (although you get the bonus of 4 laminated QRS pages with all the tables.)
Mr Brown appears to have raised the bar with these rules.

Battlescale buildings for the bocage games here – I was needing a few more.

These are 10mm game size, and just nice, solid resin models (resin is something I'll always buy 1st if I have the chance).

The timbered ones in the first photos above can be relegated to farmsteads now.

I agree, resin building can looks great, as you 10mm building do, this video shows some 6mm building. youtu.be/wgl9NsD_wqA
The only minor issue are the fumes, make sure when you paint them you have good air flow. I did also find some nice 1/1000 building from Brigade, which look good with 6mm figures. For those interested this provides an overview of the range, which i find useful anyway. youtu.be/457I-i19790

Peter, thanks for mentioning the smaller scale buildings too (and linking your discussion videos about conceiving BUAs).

Having sold off my 3mm WW2 kit (and the 6mm collection too), there's times I kick myself for not having these scales anymore. This 'loss' is especially hard knowing that buildings and scenic tile sets like the following are available from Total Battle Miniatures –

link

link

These scenics are 'game-ready', for use with area-based systems – those more the realm of board game mechanics, than as used by most miniatures rules, but……

Don't these little beauties deserve more attention – as examples (and again, these are 3mm scale) -

IMO, in a perfect world, someone would be selling a WW2 gaming kit that includes a roll-out game mat, mated rule system, and scenics like these from TBM, in one integrated package.

A BTW….one wouldn't even need infantry stands to populate much of these 3mm entrenched positions (the infantry is assumed in occupation). An infantry battalion with supports on the tabletop! – just configure the defensive network on the board, and have some spare infantry stands for any needed, moving troops.

I agree. It is interesting that terrain is so ad-hoc in this hobby. FoW gives you some packs of formations to use, but when it comes to terrain its all ad-hoc.