"Heavy Artillery in Bolt Action" Topic

How useful is heavy artillery in Bolt Action?

I have a WWII Greek army. The Greek army was designed to fight in the mountains along the northern borders, so most of their artillery was the various 16 to 22 75 mm guns (frequently mountain guns) at division level. Heavy artillery started with 85 mm guns and went up to 105 mm guns. These heavier guns were assigned at corps level or above.

Now, when I assembled my Greek army, I went historical and bought a 65 mm gun and a 75 mm howitzer to provide support. Corps level assets supporting a platoon seemed silly. Besides, it doesn't really matter how much you really, really want that 1925 Schneider 85 mm gun if nobody makes it for you to buy.

Now, however, somebody is selling some of the Greek heavy artillery, I see Bolt Action makes provision for heavy guns, and I have started to wonder if it would be useful enough to be worth buying (both in game points and American dollars). I am also painfully aware that, like many gamers, I read somewhere that my chosen army had one of some totally obscure and useless weapon, and I immediately find I have a great need to model that one weapon, just for completeness' sake.

Grelber

My experience has been not really. Serious damage potential but higher points investment. Lighter artillery and mortars seemed to be more efficient for the points. If you want to win I'd say no. If you want to have some fun I'd say yes

I agree with smithscco. History, which is always a mystery in game like bolt action vs. let's have a game. Good artillery can be a smashing good time but if they fall duds up then a waste of points. So, am I air and I not your huckleberry.

How badly do you want to add the models to your collection? Your answer is in there somewhere. Useful, mmm, that would depend on the dice gods. Practical, no. Fun, probably.

There were occasions when heavy artillery pieces were seen on the front lines. The Russians even had fortified units with lots of big guns dug in on the front. I have a few that make the occasional appearance in tactical games. So build them and use them but not in every game.

I think the heavy arty emplacements makes for an interesting objective in Bolt Action…

Maybe as an objective marker.

If you want it, that's all that matters.

If you get to use it on a game, even better.