A week of Memoir '44 with Hilary

Memoir '44 recreates several battles during and in the months following the Allied Normandy landing in June of 1944. As wargames go, it is very simple - so simple in fact that there are those who would argue that it isn't really a wargame at all, and if your context is something like Advanced Squad Leader, it's easy to see their point.

The game uses Richard Borg's "Command and Colors" system - players get a hand of cards which dictate what units they may activate and these units can move and fire according to their unit type (infantry, tanks, or artillery). Combat is resolved by rolling dice (the number determined by the unit type, the distance to the target, and any terrain modifiers) to see how many members of the enemy unit are removed and whether they must retreat.

The base game comes with a 2-sided board (one for beach landings and once with an open field) and several dozen terrain markers (forest, hills, towns, etc.), and a scenario booklet with 16 scenarios (many more are available as free online downloads and in the many expansions). Each scenario is quick to play, taking only 30-40 minutes. Battles are played to a certain number of points (called "stars" here because, I don't know, stars are cool?). Each enemy unit eliminated is a star, and some scenarios also have special objectives (usually towns) that grant stars as well.

Hilary and I have been slowly working our way through the scenario book, playing each scenario once from each side (they are not all evenly balanced). This week we played 2 scenarios once from each side.

Vassieux, Vercours

The first scenario we played through recreated a battle between the German occupiers and the French resistance who had stepped up their insurgency following the Normandy invasion. In this scenario, the allied units are French resistance who can take less damage, but who can more effectively battle in terrain. The allies need to play very conservatively in this scenario because getting caught out in the open can go badly for them quickly. Neither Hilary nor I like to play the waiting game, so unsurprisingly the Axis secured a narrow victory in both games.

Game 1: Chris (Axis) def. Hilary (Allies) 4-3
Game 2: Hilary (Axis) def. Chris (Allies) 4-3

Operation Cobra

Where Vassieux, Vercours was an all infantry scenario, Operation Cobra adds tanks to the mix on both sides.The Allied tanks are in a much better position at the beginning of the scenario, and due to a combination this, good cards, and incredible dice rolling, Hilary quickly cleaned my clock as the Axis the first time through Operation Cobra. I think the Axis have a slight advantage in this scenario, so I figured I'd have my revenge when we switched sides.

At first it seemed like that would indeed be the case as I jumped out to a 3-1, then 4-2 lead in a game that would be played to 5 points. Hilary, who often takes winning and losing these games we play a little harder than I do, was pretty despondent, as you can see in the picture.

However, more or less right after that picture was taken, the game shifted dramatically. I was unable to draw the right cards I needed to eliminate her last unit and she began coming back. Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a "happy" picture after she made her improbable comeback. I did probably move a little too aggressively at the end of the game, assuming I had the victory in hand and leaving a few units exposed, but she took advantage of my mistakes and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Game 1: Hilary (Axis) def. Chris (Allies) 5-1
Game 2: Hilary (Allies) def Chris (Axis) 5-4

Game Time: ~40 minutes per game