The Great War Mini Tournament 5 - French

247 - Verdun (Fort Vaux) - 7-8 March 1916

Pickelhaube (Germans): 7 medals 23 figures lost
mk20336 (French): 6 medals 28 figures lost

Lots of casualties in this game. The French ended with 7 figures remaining. The turning point in the game came with the Germans playing Rush & Rotation while having one unit in the French trench. All of a sudden the village of Vaux was swarming with Germans. The French kept resisting and in the last turn almost took the win but they rolled badly. One German unit was able to hold one of the fort hexes and so securing the victory.

245 - Verdun (Across the Meuse) - 6-9 March 1916

toganalper (Germans): four medals, 26 figures lost
Pickelhaube (French): seven medals, 15 figures lost.

The French won this one manly by drawing four (!) recon cards during the game. Over half of the medals needed. The French retreated after some initial losses to the trench near their baseline. From there they kept the Germans at bay with cards like Field of Fire (twice) and Big show.

247 - Verdun (Fort Vaux) - 7-8 March 1916

gotigerssc (Germans): 7 medals 18 figures lost
Pickelhaube (French): 3 medals 20 figures lost

This one started with the a German mortar barrage that rolled a lot of bursts in what would amount to the MG unit on the German left being reduced to 1 unit and a French infantry unit in the village being destroyed. More bursts followed and, with the help of a gas attack, the village fell to the Germans. Most of the fighting was in and around the village. The crucial blow came from the rush and rotation card as I slowly crept a officer unit into a crater only three hexes from the fort. Then the rush card was played and it put a full strength unit in the fort. I was able to survive the following attack on it for the win. Two of the French medals came from recons and two of mine came from holding the village and one hex of the fort. Best of luck to Twan the rest of the way!

243 - Verdun

theiman (Germans) 1 medal, 22 Figures lost
toganalper (French) 7 medals, 10 Figures lost


The Germans first tried to attack the Hill 344, the units never made it to the Fortified positions, under the heavy fire from the French. The Germans got two of their units destroyed during this attempt. The Germans then decided to push into Samogneux. Under heavy machine gun fire after the first unit got destroyed the second unit just had enough umpf to kill the bunch inn one of the houses and took shelter in the house. The French just used one recon until that point, and they were keeping their next one to finish the game just to learn that you can not finish on a recon card. So using that mistake the Germans tried one last big forward move to get some units. Where they were greeted with some surprise ambush. Finally the French got their orders from the HQ regrouped their defensive positions, concentrated on the lonely German unit in the house. Before ant close combat as the officer was running towards the house with his group. The Machine gun killed the last survivors in the house to finish the game.




Thanks to theiman for enduring, while I had some very lucky rolls.

248 - Verdun (Malancourt) - 20-22 March 1916

Mark McG (Germans) 6 medal, 30 Figures lost
toganalper (French) 5 medals, 26 Figures lost

Tense game going back and forth.

German trench mortars performed their historical role with 2 successive Mortar Barrages. A real building clearing experience!

German had a lot of centre cards, which was good for the mortars, but not for the assault elements. Eventually the French fled Malancourt, giving it up, whilst playing 2 Recon cards.

Germans squeaked home on a Counterattack card.

Tournament finale

Traditionally Round Robins finish with the highest score being the winner
However, what is the opinion on have the top 4 advance to a Semi-Finals play off?
Plenty of scenarios to play

I admit I had so much fun playing TGW that I would opt for finishing MT05 as it is and starting a new one, maybe in standard format, playing for example "Nivelle Offensive" scenarios. More games that way! But that is my take, I would gladly conform to what others will say.

It's difficult to say what to do right now, as the tournament has already run a lot of its way. As far as it regards my taste, I always prefer the playoff formula, though this time I would be hardly able to make the 4th place. We have still plenty of scenarios to play and no one prevents us to replay battles from the base game or the tank expansion even after an eventual Nivelle Offensive-themed MT.

We should also not forget Tricorne. Although the theme might not appeal too much non-American players (but it is to be proved), its mechanisms are definitely worth a try for a future tournament

I like the idea of doing a small playoff. Shouldn't take long to get through and then we can start up a regular tournament.

Doing a playoff is very appealing. I really enjoyed the TGW. I also would like to see another Medieval Tournament, if anybody is interested. I do agree with Viridovilas , that Tricolore does not appeal to me personally but I would give it a try if that is the common choice.