A couple of week ago I played Guards Counterattack as the Germans. I'm still learning a lot of the details of the rules so I looked at is as a chance to try to excercise some of them.
It was my first attempt at using fire lanes. I had a German LMG firing down the street where the Russians attempted to cross (on the German side of the board this would be the left-flank or the Soviet right). He had reduced my defenders in the building across the street and the only hope I had to slow down the wave of Guards coming across the street was a pitiful 1FP fire lane from my LMG.
His first Guard's squad stepped out into the street - BAM! - failed a morale check. The next squad stepped out into the street - BAM! - same deal. The 10-2 leader stepped out into the street - you guessed it - KIA! Three incredibly low rolls in a row on my part. My opponent, who was/is teaching me the game, took it in stride (much to his credit - I don't think I would have taken it as well). He looked at the board, looked at the dice, looked at me, and quietly removed the leader. Definite sportsmanship points on his part! :cheeky:
Anyway the fire lane completely turned things around for me. With no leader on that side of the board to rally his troops, I was able to go on to win.
The scenario introduced me to the powerful ASL concepts of fire lanes and dicing your opponent (I really do give credit to the dice for that win, not my skill). Now I use firelanes every chance I get (and those same dice too by the way
).
- Rick