HOB Opperation Kreta Counters

[custardpie]

OK I bought Opperation Kreta this weekend gone.

Not really happy about having to shell out a further £15 on a replacement map as the original is clearly a bit of a problem. Usable yes but not up to the standard required, but at the end of the day I made the choice to buy the map upgrade.

BUT on opening it for a better look I take a close look at the counters. These make wild Bill seem the top of the game with counters!!! I don't think two of the smaller counters are the same size or shape. I have never bought an ASL item that has counters this bad. The leaders and hero's I can use the normal ones but the German Para's are going to have to be used but whilst some are to thin others make up for it by being way to wide. Is this normal and if so have replacement counters been issued and if that is the case are we expected to pay for them as well. At the moment the £65 ($90+) price tag for a group of scenario's and 5 pages of rules seem way to steep and some guys complain about B&J.

Intrested in what others have to say about this

Cheers
Ian

 

[Morbii]

I didn't like the counters either, TBH. However, I don't think mine were really oddly shaped. They WERE difficult to punch and I don't like the material.

 

[swellington]

I also had problems with Kreta's counters being badly die cut, but ive seen worse on occasion from Avalon Hill and CH's products in the past but i think in those cases it was a rare bad countersheet. But all the Kreta's ive seen have the same bad die cutting issue. Not horrible just a little off center/sized.

 

[SamB]

Wow... I didn't notice any problem with the counters at all.

but then, I didn't think there was a problem with the map, either.

 

[custardpie]

I also had problems with Kreta's counters being badly die cut, but ive seen worse on occasion from Avalon Hill and CH's products in the past but i think in those cases it was a rare bad countersheet. But all the Kreta's ive seen have the same bad die cutting issue. Not horrible just a little off center/sized.

I'd say mine are out by about a mm or slightly more, which in my book is a lot especially when the counter next to it has that mm tagged on!!! No not playable but certanly has taken the sheen off having a new product and I am suprised it happened given the long time production of HOB. I will not buy anything else without first checking it. Guess I was spoilt by OtO. Lets hope the scenario's are good quality which is the crux but £50 just for scenarios and 5 pages of rules is high priced! Paying another £15 for the map and then finding the counters are this poor is a real shame. I may as well saved the money on the new map.

Sure others make mistakes but they don't expect top $ for making it right. Not major upset but would have it different if I had known.

Cheers
Ian

 

[Morbii]

Is it the cutting that's off or just the ink?

My AoO is absurdly off ink-wise, but the counters are all square.

 

[custardpie]

Is it the cutting that's off or just the ink?

My AoO is absurdly off ink-wise, but the counters are all square.

The Ink is perfect and so is the graffic's. Very nice looking counters right up to the die cutting then oooops.

Strangly the larger counters all look OK and are lovely transport planes, old Iron annie being my favorite WWII plane.

 

[Martin Mayers]

The scenarios are superb Ian (well...the four I've played have been anyway)
I don't mind the map much but mine will be laminated and split onto A3 sheets anyway.
The counters....mine seem ok but I haven't punched them as yet so no doubt I'll have the same issue as you.
I like the pack actually....it's a battle which fascinates me (ever since I read Antony Beevor's book about it).

 

[Vinnie]

I had no problem with the cut of the counters. It sounds ad if you have a bad sheet. Try contacting HoB direct and theyay be able to help.
I did not like the look of the counters but that is a personal feeling and does not detract from the pack which I bought for the sceario.

 

[custardpie]

I had no problem with the cut of the counters. It sounds ad if you have a bad sheet. Try contacting HoB direct and theyay be able to help.
I did not like the look of the counters but that is a personal feeling and does not detract from the pack which I bought for the sceario.

I like the look of the counters and will do as you suggest. I am looking to play the campaign at some point and am sure I will get my monies worth just the map and counters really take some of the shine away. In fact looking through the scenario cards you see all sorts of typo's which is a shame.

 

[custardpie]

The scenarios are superb Ian (well...the four I've played have been anyway)
I don't mind the map much but mine will be laminated and split onto A3 sheets anyway.
The counters....mine seem ok but I haven't punched them as yet so no doubt I'll have the same issue as you.
I like the pack actually....it's a battle which fascinates me (ever since I read Antony Beevor's book about it).

Yep the scenario's do look intresting. Will be starting one of the Geo one's in the next week. I was trying to get Martin to play through the campign (or the big scenario) starting at out next con but he's gone shy on the subject, guess his eating of all my sweets put him off!!!

 

[Vinnie]

Remember the CG is just a series of scenarios rather than a "standard" CG.

 

[custardpie]

Remember the CG is just a series of scenarios rather than a "standard" CG.

Yep it's not a real campaign so you still get to do all the murderous things from standard scenario's BUT that still can cost you the campaign as the VP's tot up.

I don't understand the first scenario not being part of the campaign. Guess it's a training session in landing gliders?

Cheers
Ian

 

[custardpie]

I had no problem with the cut of the counters. It sounds ad if you have a bad sheet. Try contacting HoB direct and theyay be able to help.
I did not like the look of the counters but that is a personal feeling and does not detract from the pack which I bought for the sceario.

Thanks for that Vinnie. E-0mailed Steve last night got up this morning and he is sending a replacement out when he is back home. So it seems the problem is a off sheet rather than the run. Just shows 2+2 is 4 not 6.5 as I came up with!!!

Faith restored etc.

Cheers
Ian

 

[Vinnie]

HoB are justifiably proud of their products. Look ar how they reacted to the "map issues". This replacing of your counters is another example of good customer service from a small company that looks after it's customer base. I'd say most TPPs are like that. They are not making any real money and will bend over backwards to help. Maybe the wild bills of this world are rarer than we think.

 

[custardpie]

HoB are justifiably proud of their products. Look ar how they reacted to the "map issues". This replacing of your counters is another example of good customer service from a small company that looks after it's customer base. I'd say most TPPs are like that. They are not making any real money and will bend over backwards to help. Maybe the wild bills of this world are rarer than we think.

Yep a good act from a company who produces good stuff. Wild Bill, not sure they deserve the flak to be honest. It's not like you don't know what your getting. Some of it may work with the re-tooling but they are not coming across as being the dogs daglies. On the other hand HOB have a reputation for good quality and great scenario's so have something to uphold. I will say though if at £55 they make little profit then they need to look at printer options etc. I am sure the profit to material layout is high, just when you add the creative time to the mix it looks worse but given so much paytesting is done for free then you have a good level of clawback!!

Cheers
Ian

 

[applecatcher4]

Ian

I am happy to play something or even a series of scenarios from Kreta next time we meet up at a tournament I cannot enter. When I get home tonight, I'll email you a list of scenarios I fancy. However, I am hoping to compete in DoubleOne and Intensive Fire. Can you wait for Heroes?
Martin

 

[custardpie]

Of couse I can, I am even thinking of getting you a whole parachute rig to get in the way of your game as the Russian Marrine hat did not have enough of an effect on you LOL

Ian

 

[Martin Mayers]

Do you ever receive the amended Kreta counters Ian??

I didn't...wondering whether to pursue

 

[custardpie]

Hi Martin

I was sent the wrong ones so the intent was certainly there but given the cost of sending them to me felt it not fair to persue. Looks like I may well be playing the big scenario from the pack next hero's so will have to use the other Martin's counters rather than mine!!!!