The Hunters: German U-Boat at War, 39-43 AAR

[PanzersEast]

Hey PzE.

What are you using to track your patrols & tonnage in ZunTsu? 

I don't think the module comes with anything you can enter your info into.  I believe the vassal one does but I like the ZT version's ease of use and it looks better. 


You inspired me to set up and continue my patrol with my FKptn, who very nearly perished in his last patrol of '41 after being the focus of all the convoy escorts while in a Wolfpack.  I should've just aborted before attacking but there was a damn 14,700 ton merchant ripe for the picking.   :D

I had to look up the crew quality indicators on the general crew skill counters.  I now have 'Elite' crew since most of my previous crew skill increases rolls were for general crew quality increases.  I recalled seeing a description of what each letter was but it was not in the rulebook.  The damn thing just said, "DRMs are as shown on the tables".  Well.. I wanted to be sure it wasn't missing.  Sure enough I found out where I had seen the crew quality letter descriptions - on a web preview from pre-release quite awhile back! 

Here is the General Crew Skill counter indicator descriptions, in case you were wondering:

F= Flak Fire modifier
D= Diving modifier (on crash dive rolls for aircraft encounters)
A= Hit Probability DRM for All Weapons (aka 'Attack'.. this is the penalty for having a Green crew, which you can only get from having a regular 'Trained' crew skill and having three consecutive unsuccessful patrols)

I agree, I prefer the ZT implementation which is a better layout than Vassal.  I created a spreadsheet to track my careers with and calculates the tonnage for me (I think someone at BoardGameGeek made one for download).  I like keeping it digital and filling it away.... I used a typewriter font I had to make it look a little better.  I have also been Playing B-17 and will post an AAR soon.


Lol, thanks that is good to know, they where so general they could not be found lol.... I don't remember seeing them either.  I did receive addendum's to the game in the box, but I believe there were only 3 small corrections and can post them.

I have had bad luck in the Bay of Biscay, my last mission which I have not posted yet, I got attacked again and my LI got hit pretty bad..... I marked LW and forgot to flip the counter to SW....

Oh, and had a nice juicy target of 10.400 gwt and missed all three torpedoes..... think my crew is starting to think I am bad luck!



PE

[Nefaro]

I played two patrols now in late '41/early '42.  Damn brutal, the Escort Detection modifiers are becoming.  Nearly every time I attack an escorted group of ships, I get attacked and damaged multiple times before escaping by the skin of my teeth.  Then, on the way home, an air attack happens as much as not.  When you only have one diesel running and your dive planes are messed up, everything gets deadly.  :o

It really feels like it's only a matter of time before this commander's career is abruptly ended.



You mention getting ready to play B-17 QotS again...  I just punched the counters for B-29 Superfortress from Legion Wargames (which is a newer B-17 reportedly) and laid the goodies out on the table.  While the manual and especially the Charts Book look rather daunting, I think the sequence of play happens in such order that you can pretty much head straight through them both as you go.  I'm hoping to get in a few missions bombing Japan before I crack open the Hell Over Korea expansion which is supposedly more challenging for obvious MiG-related reasons.  I had read that one common complaint about the original B-29 was that the weather, navigation/fuel, and malfunctions could be more of a threat than Japanese defenses so the Korea one ramps that facet up.

I also read that they're working on a new one in the series that will be back in WW2 Europe (from Legion, again) which will have both B-17s and B-24s to choose from!  A new B-17 with more goodies! :D 

Dunno what the ETA on that one might be but I'm sure I'd be all over it.  I'm also gonna bust out their Picket Duty again once they put out the revised manual (this month?).  I was very impressed with the quality of the contents of Picket Duty and I actually kinda enjoyed playing that a bit more than The Hunters, despite having to wrestle with a couple things in the rules before figuring them out. 

As far as solitaire commander wargaming goes, I believe my others are just Thunderbolt Apache Leader (wonderful - not played it as much as I'd like yet), and Field  Commander Alexander (not finished reading the rules).   I suppose the latter don't necessarily fit into the more modern eras of the others, though.  Am I missing any others similar to the B-17/B-29/Hunters/TAL-DVG stuff that is pretty popular?

Edit:  Forgot to mention I also picked up RAF awhile back when JD first started posting pics of his.  Haven't played it yet, either.

[PanzersEast]

Funny you mention B-29 as I have had my eye on it and read a review.  Picket Duty is one I would like to pickup, however waiting on v2 Rules to come out before I do.... heard many say it should be revised and glad to see it is happening.

The Hunters has an expansion in the works, as well as a Pacific version of the game for the US.  I have been reading the rules to Steel Wolves to get a feel for the game.

I would really like to hear your feedback on B-29 and RAF.  RAF I heard was a little easy to win, however not sure if that is an consistent opinion or not. 

Picket Duty is really one I want next on my list and maybe B-29 if it delivers.


PE

[Nefaro]

Forgot to mention that I did run a couple single patrols to get a feel for Silent War.

I can tell that I'd enjoy that game if I could allot enough time to get a long campaign going in it.  I especially enjoy how the merchant and escort chits are drawn and placed, and the uncertainty of how close the escorts are to your point of attack.  My sub was sunk both times - I was evidentally being too aggressive when I flipped counters that showed them as being escorts nearby.  I should probably break it out on a folding table against a wall for a long war and see how it goes.   

I'd consider getting Steel Wolves too, but Silent War could keep me busy for ages as it is.  Plus it's pretty pricey.

I was initially pretty stoked when I first got RAF but not in a big hurry to get back to it right now.  I think the reason I was drawn to it was due to it's card mechanics.  I think games that combine both cards with dice rolls lend more variety & interesting situations than just one or the other.

[BanzaiCat]

I have Picket Duty as well, and agree the components are quite amazing. Also waiting on the v2 rules; hope those do come out this month.

I'd love B-29 and Hell Over Korea, too - both look great.

As for RAF: http://grogheads.com/?p=3569

[JudgeDredd]

Excellent stuff PanzersEast - looking forward to reading this. I can't for the life of me find the game in the UK.

[Barthheart]

Excellent stuff PanzersEast - looking forward to reading this. I can't for the life of me find the game in the UK.

Great AAR PE.

You might be SOL JD.... they sold out quickly.... it is a great game.
We need to get a flotilla campaign going with everyone on here that has the game.... Maybe in a few weeks I can try to organize something... work is just crazy right now...