The second Hakkaa Paale scenario we played last Friday was 170 11th Company Counterattack, designed by Tuomo Lukkari. This is one of the HP scenarios with a high ROAR record and inclusion in several tournament scenario lists. It features one of my favourite tanks of all times, the Finnish BT-42 (which we also used in Red Churchills).
We swapped sides and I was the defending Russians. Unfortunately, this scenario is ruined to some degree by the Victory Condition: The Finns win at game end if there are no unbroken Russian MMC on board. In other word: a bug hunt (although there are only 6 Russian MMCs and no HIP, so it is not the worst sort).
This turned out to be a really tight and fun game, within the limits of the VERY SMALL playing area and the VC. I had of course dug in several squads on the very board edge as far away from any Finns as possible, sitting concealed in a foxhole hoping to last the entire scenario. That was less easy than I had thought - with Finnish SAN of 6, 7.5 quality Finnish squads and the two Finnish tanks, they will be able to really push hard. Dave played a solid attack, using his Finns very agressively (which is the only right way in this game). A key moment was the first Finnish opportunity to take Russian prisoners, which he declined declaring No Quarter. A crucial error, which I see made more often also in tournaments. Many players overestimate the risks of holding prisoners and underestimate the huge routing advantage bestowed by No Quarter declaration.
A seemingly pivotal moment in mid-game was his Sniper taking out my 6-2-8 with an ATR, which is the only real threat to his armor. My 8-0 had already fallen victim to the same man with the scoped rifle, so my resources were dwindling. Dave then failed to enforce Failure to Rout against the same unit....but the area where my few Russians were holding out had become very small indeed. With 2 Game Turns left to go, it looked like the Finns were going to pull of a solid victory......TWICE the damn 114mm guns hit my MMC, needing low TH rolls, and the 20 flat shots were of course too much for my men. Then a crucial gap in his forces allowed a broken elite squad to rout away behind his forces - only possible due to No Quarter. In Russian Turn 5, this 6-2-8 rolled Snake Eyes as my MMC Self-Rally, creating a 8-0 and rallying in a great spot. All I had to do was keep this guy alive, which was really not hard - so Dave conceded the game. We both agreed this is a fun small scenario - although with some more troops, a bit more terrain to play in and a less-bug-hunting type of VC it could have been even better!
I have now played 4 Hakkaa Paale scenarios (and prepared for 2 others) - my favourite without doubt is 163 Stopped Cold - however at ASLOK Rob Loper and I will play Torment at Tormua, which I hope will be another good game.