Blast From the Past: Fearless Veteran 2017

The 2017 Fearless Veteran tournament trophy.

When Game Vault was still open, our club was predominantly a Flames of War 3rd edition club. At that time, the game was flying high, running large tournaments at games stores nation wide, as well as at conventions like Historicon. In fact, there were two Flames of War tournaments at Historicon in those days.  The 2 day Nationals tournament, and a single day I-95 tournament, often with teams.  

I enjoyed the game immensely, but the tournament scene not always so much. It felt repetitive and overly competitive at times, and didn't support historical simulation nor interesting "what if" scenarios.  

Many club members seemed to feel the way, and I thought it would be fun to establish an annual club tournament, where the winner would be declared the "Fearless Veteran", the highest troop rating available in Flames of War. I managed to run three Fearless Veteran Tournaments, in 2016, 2017, and 2018.  The majority of the clubs members didn't switch over to Flames of War 4th edition, and the Fearless Veteran tournaments died away.  But they were fun while they lasted!

I think 2017 was the most fun, I really got inventive with the tournament rules, the missions, and especially the terrain. The theme was 1942-43 amphibious warfare in the Mediterranean and the Pacific. Players were limited to running 1600 point Mid-War companies from the North Africa or Burning Empires books, or 1500 point Late War companies from the Banzai or Gung-ho books. the result was companies you never saw at the large convention tournaments.

Instead of doing missions by round, as was the norm for tournaments, they were assigned by table along with the terrain, which was unique and not standard for tournaments. There were six tables:

2 beach tables (1 Pacific, 1 Mediterranean) for the Island Landing mission (landing craft provided).

1 Jungle and 1 Desert table for the Fair Fight mission.

1 Matanikau (Jungle) River and 1 Italian Mountain table for the Blind Domination mission.

Ed and John ponder as Ed's Japanese fight
against John's LRDG in a jungle free for all.

Chris and Ken ponder over their round 1
blind domination mission on the jungle river.

In the first round, Allen's Canadians land against Wayne's Japanese.

Chris moves his Marines against Paul's Afrika Korps
Grenadiers in the Jungle free for all in round 2.

Allen and Ed fight Blind Domination
in the Italian mountains in round 2.

Ren's Marines face off against Wayne's Japanese
 in a free for all in the desert in round 2.

Ren's Marines launch an assault!

John's LRDG try to land on the Pacific Island
defended by Ken's Italian Bersaglieri in round 2.

John's LRDG storm ashore in round 2!

Wayne directs his Japanese against John's
Long Range Desert Group as they fight
a Blind domination mission on over a jungle river.

Ed takes a break from slaughtering Paul's Afrika Korps grenadiers
 in the 3rd round on the Pacific Island amphibious assault board.

Ren and Ken ponder their 3rd round
Blind Domination mission in the Italian mountains.

Allen and Chris debate the rules in their
desert board free for all. (3rd round game).

2016's "Fearless Veteran", Ken, passes on the trophy
to 2017's "Fearless Veteran", Wayne!

8 January 2017 Flames of War Tournament Final Rankings:

1. Wayne (Japanese),  3 wins, 0 losses, 22 points

2. Chris (US Marines), 3 wins, 0 losses, 16 points

3. Ken (Italian Bersaglieri), 2 wins, 1 loss, 16 points

4. Allen (Canadians), 1 win, 2 losses, 13 points

5. Ed (Japanese), 1 win, 2 losses, 11 points

5. Ren (US Marines), 1 win, 2 losses, 11 points

6. John (Long Range Desert Group),3 losses, 5 points

6. Paul (Afrika Korps Grenadiers), 3 losses, 5 points 

One of my favorite tournaments to run so far. I loved the variety of terrain and missions, I don't think it was quite like any other Flames of War tournament. 

Other Fearless Veteran tournaments are described here: 2021 & 2022

All views in this blog are my own and represent the views of no other person, organization, or institution.

Cultists, Zombies, and Vampires!

Back in October, Eric ran a Halloween quarantine game via Zoom, with 5 players. He set up the board and they told him where to move their figures and he rolled the dice. It was a cooperative game, as gamemaster, Eric played the bad guys while the players worked together. Eric used the Lord of the Rings: Battle Companies rules, due to familiarity with that system.  

Everything looks spookier in black & white...

The color text below is all by Eric.

Muhahah! Something has gone terribly wrong at the Austrian embassy! Cultists have taken the ambassador's daughter! Luckily there was dinner party for the military attachés and this multinational force of good gentleman are giving pursuit! Looks like the blood trails lead right to a nearby graveyard!

A few NPCs: the sea captain.

Colonel Higgins and his servant Gunga-Gin.

The curse throwing Gypsy.

The worst vampire ever. Rolled nothing but ones.

The good guys won but at great cost. All the Frenchmen were eaten by zombies. The British shot the Germans trying not too hard to save him from a vampire.