Tag Archives: Konarmiya

Update

Boardgames,

Noted wargame designer Brian Train was kind enough to post up with a rules clarification.  He also provided an update on the new and improved versions of Konarmiya and Freikorps.  Here’s what he said.

“…updated and significantly revised and overhauled versions of both games are available, or available soon.
Konarmiya was revised as Red Horde 1920, and it’s available from Tiny Battle Publishing.  Freikorps has been revised as Strike for Berlin, and will be the magazine game in Yaah! magazine #11 (February or March 2018).  There are rules for linking the two (updated) games in Strike for Berlin.”

I plan on picking them both up later this Winter.

 

 

 

Time Won’t Let Me

Boardgames, Sessions,

Great song……where is the horn section?

My attempt to combine Konarmiya and Freikorps can now be considered a failure. But, not from a lack of trying, no matter how misguided my obstinance was. In Freikorps, the game begins on the August 1 weekly turn and assumes Warsaw has fallen, with only scattered remnants of the Polish national army still fighting

The problem was Warsaw. Never captured it. The Poles held out, and with only four turns to take Germany, it was just too much. I did advance the Konarmiya Cavalry to the German border, but it wasn’t going to be enough.

There were Spartacist uprisings, and the French forces were withdrawn by a skittish government. A German advance into Poland was forbidden as a condition of Entente involvement. Despite these favorable outcomes, the Soviets just didn’t have the time.

Too many Soviet units were still falling back from the North, and also trying to hold off desperate bypassed Poles trying to get to Warsaw, or just west of it.

Their one excuse is that the Polish units, though out of supply, retained their full defensive factors. There offensive strength was halved. As long as they didn’t attack, remained stacked and were able to skirt Soviet units, the Poles had a good chance of making their way west. With the bulk of the Soviet army surrounding Moscow, the outliers just didn’t have the strength for attacks greater than 2:1, and lacked the number of units to surround and prevent retreats.

Still, an interesting exercise and one that I will try again.

Freikorps Map is the “inset” bottom left. Used Warsaw as common point of entry, along with hexes to the North. Konarmiya units advancing to Posen. Warsaw holds out, and stragglers head West.

More Russo-Polish

Boardgames, Sessions

Finished up Konarmiya.  Was playing for an intended outcome, because I want to play Freikorps, Konarmiya’s sequel.  Decided to focus on attacking from south, with forces in the northern portion of the map tying down Polish units around Minsk.  Result was a marginal Soviet victory.

Freikorps assumes Warsaw has fallen, and the Soviets invade Germany.  Well, Warsaw didn’t fall, but it is under siege, and that’s a good enough place to start.

The rationale for continuing play is a situation so dire the victorious Entente Powers will ask for German help in stopping the Godless Red Hordes,  and the Soviets have enough troops and material to mount an invasion while besieging Warsaw.  Why Not?

Basic rules are the same for both games, with slightly different chrome.

I have to pay more attention to the reinforcement rules.  I allowed Polish National Army brigades to arrive next to a headquarters.  Wrong, only Polish Legion units can do that.  The former must arrive in cities/towns.  This helped the Poles recover from continuous Soviet attacks.

Also messed up the retreat rules.  Had periodic lapses where retreating units were not disrupted.  Disruption is nasty (cannot attack or move and defend at 1/2 strength), and hard to  shrug off (die roll of 6 with minimal mods).  Again, this oversight benefited the Poles.

Here’s two afterthought photos.

Soviet Offensive Develops Turn 6
Warsaw Besieged. Polish Units In North Pull Back. Northern Soviets Stare Slack-Jawed.

Russo-Polish

Boardgames, Review

Have been playing Konarmiya (Kon). Russo-Polish War game on a smaller scale than Red Star, White Eagle (RSWE).

Same topic, but different games. RSWE is classic GDW using a basic Europa-Type-System. You can read about Tim and My adventures playing this fun game here.

Kon starts the action somewhat (chronologically) later than RSWE, and interjects generic aircraft, armor and artillery units, random political events, as well as variable reinforcements and replacements into the game mix.

However, at the heart of Brian Train’s system is the interaction of a lack of ZOCs, voluntary combat, a limited radius for command and control, defensive counterattacks, as well as the ability of “shock” units to continue successful attacks.

Quite a mix.

While RSWE allowed special units the ability to exploit attacks, the rest of Kon’s – can I use the term “Fundamental Chrome” – makes this a game with different feel and approach.

Part of the feel is the smaller scale and accompanying higher counter density. Movement rates are not as dramatic, especially after successful combat, but still significant. The lack of ZOCs allows operational mobility, but that mobility is restrained by the limited command radius of the headquarters units, and, by extension, supply effects.

The generic artillery and armor units provide combat die modifiers and in no way detract from game-play due to a lack of historical designation.

I’m enjoying this game. While RSWE is an old, old friend; this game seems like a new friend.