A Preview of Boom and Zoom

Still busy with family issues but have played one game of Boom and Zoom and 1 game of WW III US defending a bridge.  I had told several people on TMP that I would post something about Boom and Zoom since the rules are finished.  I haven't been able to start shopping them around with all that is going on right now.  I want to be calm and collected and enjoy the process.  I thought I could at least post about the concepts of the game and why I think it is different from everything out there.  I was going to post a AAR but I think instead, I will use the pictures to illustrate the concepts.  Obvioulsly I have a biased opinion but the playtesters all enjoy it.  I really have to get back to Richmond and have another game at Waterloo.  

From the introduction to the rules:

  

The purpose of fighter aircraft is the destruction of enemy aircraft.   US navy fighter manual

I.                    Introduction

 Welcome to Boom and Zoom (B&Z), a set of rules designed to provide a quick moving game pitting hostile elements of aircraft against each other, though it could easily be called “The Thinking Man’s Guide to Aerial Combat,” as you’ll need to develop a strategy that plays to the strengths of your pilots and aircraft and, in the advanced game, attributes based on the doctrine and tactics of the countries represented.  Game play revolves around each player attempting to execute their strategy, seeking to gain the initiative and dictate the flow of the battle to their opponent by skillfully taking advantage of key moments of opportunity and risk!  The game is quick moving because, though the decisions are all yours, the actual execution of those decisions are somewhat abstracted.  

 

So that is what the game is about.  How do we do it?   To me there are three important things that set people up for success in air combat, the planes, the men, and their tactics.  Most games I have played focus on the planes, almost all give some attention to the men but few really make tactics important. 

I wanted a game that did all three but could be played in a hour. 

The planes are represented by cards or stat lines.  You see all the usual stuff here.  Planes are rated for performance and agility at four altitudes. But these differences are not always game changers.  Below 15K ft both sides will know that the ME 109E has the edge in turning while the Tomahawk just edges it out in performance.  Above 15K ft though the Allison engine has trouble keeping up.  

[ You can always argue stats; that is half the fun.  Change any stats you want.  I won't lose any sleep. : )]

Don't let the hexes fool you.  Boom and Zoom is played on a grid.   Here a Vic of Tomahawks have been strafing german positions while they have left a 2 ship to fly top cover.  The 2 ship, led by newly minted ace Flying Sgt Skinner has just spotted a schwarm of ME 109s coming to ruin the party.  The Tomahawks want to keep the battle low and avoid turning fights.  

 

The men are critical.  Initiative is a huge part of success in combat.  For solo games I use this chart to track initiative.  No surprise here, Skinner's 2 ship is going first!

Tactics: When planes are in the same square they can attempt to initiate combat.  There are definite advantages to fighting in formations.  Here a german 2 ship tackles a 3 ship Tomahawk Vic. A Vic is far less efficient that a 2 ship element but it is better than being by yourself!  

 

There are two types of attacks in Boom and Zoom, high speed and maneuvers.  There are advantages to both and unique opportunities may present themselves via die rolls where a less nimble aircraft should try a maneuver.  This maneuvering is abstracted to speed play and keep players focused on decision making and results.  Here the Tomahawks have thwarted the German attempts at maneuver and have succeeded in making a high speed attack on the German leaders tail.  As it is a high speed attack the opportunity is only fleeting.  

At the end of each turn you roll to see if you keep formations.  One of the big problems with the British Vic is it is very hard to maintain.  Here the Veteran British wingman manages to hang on while the green tomahawk has broken away.  More ominous for the German, his green wingman has also failed to keep up.  A lone German, of average skill, flying a plane not particularly superior to his opponent's who are veterans better get help fast or climb above 15K feet where he has the advantage. 

The vertical is very important in aerial combat.  The ME-109 can outclimb the Tomahawk.  The german pilot does right thing and climbs.  However, is it positioning, skill, gusts of wind who knows; he isn't able to shake the veteran Tomahawks.  His separated wingman comes in to help but he is blocked by the veteran British wingman.  

 

While the Tomahawk can't climb well it can dive.  Sgt Skinner executes a Boom and Zoom attack on the lone german wingman...

Things have gone from bad to worse for the two German pilots.  The wingman survived Skinner's attack but is now leaking fuel badly and must leave the battle.  Though the British Vic has collapsed, a Tomahawk has maneuvered on the German leader's tail and his plane is now severely damaged.  Since the Tomahawk used maneuvers rather than high speed attacks he has an advantage over the German which we call "the edge".  If someone has the edge on you you are not happy.  You can only try to break "the edge".

 One of the ways you can break the edge is to call for help if you have a two way radio.  Here the other German element executes a boom and zoom attack on the offending tomahawk.  It is successful and the edge is broken.  Teamwork!

 

I hope you have enjoyed this introduction to Boom and Zoom. This game, including taking pictures and notes, took me 67 minutes.  Obviously a lot more here and the devil is in the details but hopefully this gives you the philosophy behind the game.  Hopefully I will get the time to shop it around soon. 

 

Cheers

 

Joe

Guadacanal--- Back to "O group"

 Sorry for the long absence.  My 100 yo father in law is requiring more care from my wife and I which is making for long nights and less time and enthusiasm for gaming. Real life-- what are you going to do?

My tactical aircraft rules for WW II are just about done. Just Jack has turned into a great editor; who knew a Marine could even spell?   Tentatively called Boom and Zoom I will start shopping them.  I have a tomahawk v ME 109 battle set up that I am recording and will hopefully post which will give you all some idea of the mechanics now that the fighter vrs fighter rules are set.  

But for today we are posting a land battle on Guadalcanal.   Three things conspired for this battle.  First I read a blog from the Devon's wargaming group where they did a battle on just his using O group. 

https://devonwargames.blogspot.com/2024/02/guadalcanal-1942-ogroup.html

Second I had a long discussion about O group on TMP.

Third I finally started reading a book that my dad recommended to me about 15 years ago.

Now my dad rarely recommend books and I must say this is a good one so far.  It is about an army company on Guadacanal.  The author wrote from Here to Eternity for those of you who studied science. What I found out that impressed me was he was an infantry corporal on Guadacanal so he knows what he is talking about.  

You all know I love the combat routine for Battlefront.

 https://platoonforward.blogspot.com/2022/02/battlefront-review-of-rules.html

Now I have reviewed O group here before and like it.   

https://platoonforward.blogspot.com/2022/02/o-group-review-of-rules.html

But all the leaders are the same which bothers me ;still O group works best with infantry in lots of terrain.  Sounds like Guadacanal to me! 

I rolled up the board per Platoon Forward using "heavy terrain".  US will start at the bottom.  The first pipe cleaner is there start line.  Second pipe cleaner is Japanese defensive line.  Third pipe cleaner is the objective, Hill 100.  The left three hexes of the board are all heavy jungle signified by the mass of plastic palms.  Each hex is 80ish yards which works to O groups scale and is half Battlefronts. I forgot to mark it but the far side of the destroyed village is phase line smart where a third US company is available to finish up the attack.  

US view of the objective past the destroyed village.

One of the things I dislike about O group's novel set up is that is strains when the defender has been in place for a while.  You only place platoons on the board with 5s and 6s plus ATG and bunkers.  Fortunately it worked out here as each defending company wanted to place two platoons up. With the fifth die one company will place their HMG.   I guess one heavy machine gun decided to ignore the preparatory artillery and sleep in!  [ I would love to know I am doing this wrong.  If so someone please correct me.] 

Japanese positions.  The japanese decide to ignore the heavy jungle on their right but do place a combat patrol in there just in case the US get's sneaky.  [ In close terrain the concept of combat patrols is brilliant!] All japanese are in ambush.  Since this is solo no need to be off table. 

The US rolls for their deployment.  The three "1s" signify their bombardment took out a Japanese platoon plus a squad.  No 5s or 6s so only the company CCs start on the board with some combat patrols.  

I convert two CPs to deploy a platoon from A company.  My plan is to make a push down the road with armor and have Bravo company support my right flank.  Bravo company rests by the river while the scouts look for the Japanese.

I don't have the Battlefront Japanese cards as I don't know if I would use them enough to justify the purchase.  So for today I have substituted french for the infantry/MMG and knee mortars and Italian for the 60 Mtr and ATG.  For the Japanese I am making them "veteran" and they ignore negative modifiers for company losses.  They will also win ties in melee.  Otherwise there are no other special rules.

 Scouts make contact all along the line!

1st platoon Bravo company deploys 80 yards from gunfire under the watchful eye of Capt Stein.  All US troops are experienced except 2 platoons trained/1 alpha CO vets.  [ I roll up quality before hand.  To make it simple the platoon leader's quality is the same as his men.]

Stuart tanks are ordered forward as Japanese dispositions are still unclear. 

1st platoon B Co comes to grips with the enemy.  Third squad on the left is hit badly and their SL falls. 

Capt Stein deploys 2nd platoon on the far right to try to bring more firepower down on the Japanese.  A company can't seem to get artillery support!

The artillery finally arrives!  Capt Holt, behind on his timetable sends Lt Woodcheck's 2nd platoon forward. [ they are only trained not experienced/ yellow marker].  There is miscommunication and the Stuart doesn't move up. [ Ran out of orders!] A hidden MMG opens up. Needless to say 2nd platoon is thrown back. 

 On the right flank, with excellent MMG support, 1st platoon B Co advances 80 yards into enemy territory! 

After 4 turns (40 minutes) into the battle.  Alpha company on the left is going nowhere.  Bravo Co under Capt Stein, on the right has a small foothold in the Japanese line held by 1st platoon.  He has ordered 2nd platoon to advance to take the pressure off 1st platoon but they has to cross open ground...

Lt Elson duly orders the dogfaces forward.  2nd squad of 1st platoon can be seen holding their forward position in the light jungle just past 2nd platoon.  Sgt Carver's squad breaks but the rest of the platoon, though pinned remain.  

Lt Elson orders the LMGs up.  3rd squad rallies from 1st platoon and strengthens their gains there.  Suddenly it is the Japanese, holding this part of the line with only 2 platoons [ third wiped out in the pre attack barrage] who are pressed.  

Capt Holt finally has everything in place to once again mount an assault.  He now has artillery, re formed 2nd platoon and armor now leading Lt Ocha and the crack 3rd platoon into the fray!  [ Needed to save up enough battalion orders to move all this at once.] 

Meanwhile Bravo Co continues to grind away.

About 90 minutes into the attack.  Battle line running north to south in the photo taken by a PBY. 

Alpha company still shelling the village and MMG position.  60mm MTR also laying down smoke.  2nd and 3rd platoons advancing towards the ruins.  Japanese casualties mounting secondary to 105 shelling.  Bravo Co: 1st platoon has gained another 80 yards of jungle just below center of photo.  3rd platoon deployed to their left trying to find a gap.  2nd platoon still stuck but taking the heat off 1st platoon.  1st platoon down to 14 effective though.  However, as you can see the Japanese are down to 3 squads left from their 2 platoons.  Far right Japanese have deployed their only reserve platoon [ which is elite] to hold the line in front of hill 100.  

Actual combat photo of some of Lt Ocho's men during the assault on the ruins.

1st platoon holding the far left flank in background.

110 minutes into the battle.  The japanese front line withers away!  Lt Ocho captures the ruins.  The Japanese on their right pivot to protect the road.  There basically is no Japanese left on the left flank...

As the Japanese Company Commander faces 2nd squad, 2nd platoon of Bravo Co.  [ He actually won!]

As the US forces have reached phase line smart I could now bring in a fresh company to face an elite platoon of the Japanese to defend the hill.  The battle, having taken me 2 1/2 hours solo I decided to end it.  Well fought and exciting.  Pacific land combat is hard to game but I enjoyed this a lot. I really liked my use of O group combined with Battlegroup.  I only used 8 dice instead of 9 for both sides as I only had 2 companies on the board and that created enough tension with the orders mechanic.  I really did feel like I was in a Battalion/Company commander moving around units, cursing the artillery I couldn't get.  Now I will work on how to differentiate different platoon leaders.

Enjoy

Joe