Flames of War: SeerK's Thoughts 12 Games In

SeerK here. So I have been going through some hobby and 40k blahs as of late. I am in the thick of building an Iron Warriors army for the GT at Adepticon this year. I have not been able to play as much as I would like due to work, moving and not being in the mood to play. So what have I come up with to help mix it up and alleviate this situation? I have been delving into a new game.

Flames Of War peaked my interest so I did some research and split an “Open Fire!” starter box with Inquisitor Vogrin. I got in a couple games and the game felt eerily like one I have played in the past. Mind you Flames is more complex and a richer game, but it reminded me of my days playing Epic.

The game is 1/100 scale or 15mm. You have single square bases of 4 to 5 men which make up a single team. The game is platoon based though. Platoons are made up of a command team and several infantry teams, for infantry. Tanks and other vehicles are also made up of teams, but in this case a team is a single vehicle. As an example I took the Germans from the starter box. It has 2 platoons of Grenadiers. Each Platoon is made up of 6 rifle/MG teams and a command team. The platoon of Stug G assault guns is made up of 3 tanks.

So each platoon has a points value. Games are typically between 1000 and 1500 points with 1500 points being the equal of an 1850 point game of 40k. Like 40k its turn based. You have a movement, shooting and assault phase. The game mechanics are what really caught me though. The whole game, to hit rolls, morale and skill tests are based on two ratings. Every unit has a skill and motivation rating. Skill rating goes conscript, trained and veteran and motivation goes reluctant, confident and fearless.

The roll needed to hit goes 5+, 4+, 3+ respectively for skill tests and 2+, 3+ and 4+ for shooting. The thing I like is that the target number to hit a unit is based on what its skill is. So its harder to hit veteran units than it is to hit trained units. For example, my grenadier kompanie is rated as confident Veterans. This means that units shooting at a platoon need a base of 4+ to hit them. This is further modified by range and any concealment.

Its different than pretty much any game I have played in my 20 plus years of being a gamer. I am starting to get a real grasp of the game now that I have half a dozen games under my belt. I even played in a small tournament at the local FLGS. I learned one harsh lesson though. The game seems to be very tank based. As I do not own a lot of tanks, my infantry was literally run down. I did manage a win though. You will be seeing more Flames Of War on DFG as I am hooked and it seems we have a small dedicated group of players forming at the FLGS.

Every other Saturday, in the late morning and early afternoon we will be playing Flames of War at Evolution Games in Lansing if anybody wants to learn or even share their experience.

More to come. Also I am going to be starting a new series over at Craftworld Lansing. I am going to take another look at Aspect Warriors. Although I sense an Eldar codex coming in the fall. I think The Eldar players of the world need to unlearn the traditional methods and army lists and start fresh. Daemons in Late march followed by Tau in late May and then maybe Eldar by Christmas is what I am calling. Seems fitting the Eldar would be unleashed during the Fall.........

Well off to the Daemon Forges, my Mauler Fiends need to be fed

Until next time.....

Blood Runs, Anger Rises, Death Wakes, War Calls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DEATH TO THE FALSE EMPEROR!!!!!!!!!!!