I find John to be extraordinarily knowledgeable of the material culture of the conflict and his personal reflection on how minor combatants in the war can get less attention in a wide range of aspects. Also, I agree with his critique that for new players a focus on combined arms is very insightful. How often does a new player not recognize an advantage and through lack of experience initiating an assault permit a winning position to become marginalized. Great video as always and thank you John for your ability to engage both new and experienced Wargamers. Well done!
I love that you guys are doing more Flames of War unboxing videos. Ive only played with the "Big Four"...never used Italians. This box might be a must for me
Thanks for helping me decide on buying Hit the Beach! Lol. I'm new so I was thinking the latest would be the greatest, but seems to be a resounding win for htb.
If the Italians had any regular infantry I would have wanted them in the starter, but in the desert war the brits in particular separated their infantry and tanks nearly completely, so forces probably shouldn't be quite so blended.
As much and all as I wouldn't mind some infantry in this set and the Kasserine set, I'd REALLY like it if they would put decals in the starter sets for the tanks! Hit the Beach, Fury, Kasserine, Tobruk...great starter sets that would be even better with decals.
Why is a boxed set called "Tobruk" about a armored engagement that never happened no where near it? None of the Allied tanks in the box were at the first attack by the Australian 6th Division/British 7th Armored or the Italian defence OR the Siege by Rommel (and 200+ day defence by Australian/British/Indian/Polish) OR Operation Crusader(which is on the sheets for some reason) OR the German and Italian re-capture following the Battle of Gazala and it barley had any combat after the Second Battle of El Alamein! The boxed set seems like it should have been called El Alamein instead. And Tobruk was famous because it was a siege, not a pure armored battle! Furthermore, trying to do a battle in the desert without infantry or artillery (on both sides) is like trying to fight the Battle of Waterloo without having any infantry or Napoleon's Grand Battery. I presume labeling it Second Battle of El Alamein doesn't roll off the tongue...quite so well.
They already have box set called El Alamein, also you're not fighting a desert war you're pushing little toy soldiers around a tabletop so lots and lots of little tanks is better
they're a nice way to tell your opponent to not deploy on that side of the table. Powerful ? Yes, but only if they hit ... with enough tanks you can swarm them before they' can do any real damage.
It’s mostly for Shermans. I’ve been playing Italians for about a year and without any Panzer 3/4s, 88s, or 90mm Lancias Shermans are nearly impossible to kill. It’s possible but with an AT of 6 on the M14/41s and 8 in direct fire with Semoventes I understand why they put the 88s in.
I can only think of two reason : - they're not easy to use in game as tanks are - they're not as fun to build & paint as tanks are It would be nice to have a infantry + support army box
1 sprue of infantry can be a platoon or two, you need 5 sprues of armor for a single full platoon. Second I think they have hopped the World of Tanks bandwagon and are pushing armored engagements. Third they are aiming for a younger player base so want to simplify the rules by going tanks only.
Oh by the way. I did by 3 of these to get my North Africa troops together. So enjoy better than 10 USD per model of platoon kits. Total gauging in my opinion.
I've always been a fan of the Italians during world war 2. Despite the meme they have become, they had some very good kit. The Semovente da 75/18 was surprisingly good. Being regarded as the only Italian tank the allies feared. During the battle of Gazala (10 June 1942) Semoventes, M13/14s and gun trucks faced Grants and Stuarts. The Italians lost 2 M13/14s but the allies lost 20 tanks (15 grants and 5 Stuarts) in total. So in many regards the Italian armour meme is deserved but when it comes to the Semovente it defiantly isn't.
A horrible game system. They keep reinventing rules and rule books to keep you buying more every 2 years. I stopped playing after version 3 rules. You have issues with air support and artillery on board.
I find John to be extraordinarily knowledgeable of the material culture of the conflict and his personal reflection on how minor combatants in the war can get less attention in a wide range of aspects. Also, I agree with his critique that for new players a focus on combined arms is very insightful. How often does a new player not recognize an advantage and through lack of experience initiating an assault permit a winning position to become marginalized. Great video as always and thank you John for your ability to engage both new and experienced Wargamers. Well done!
Almost all of these units can fit in my ANZAC force. As an Australian I agree with you on your opinion of infantry mate.
I love that you guys are doing more Flames of War unboxing videos. Ive only played with the "Big Four"...never used Italians. This box might be a must for me
I agree with you 💯 on infantry needing to be included more in these starters!
thanks for covering the Tobruk starter set , one I have been contemplating . Still no decals , oh well
Thanks for helping me decide on buying Hit the Beach! Lol. I'm new so I was thinking the latest would be the greatest, but seems to be a resounding win for htb.
My Shermans and M3´s in the box are dark olive greyish, interesting.
I wish they came painted. I just dont have the time to invest in getting paints, getting good and then time to play.
I really like these sets, I will be getting the Tobruk set for my first foray into FOW.
good value box set, though I agree some infantry would be nice
Great video, i would love to see a demo game with this set. The set looks great.
If the Italians had any regular infantry I would have wanted them in the starter, but in the desert war the brits in particular separated their infantry and tanks nearly completely, so forces probably shouldn't be quite so blended.
Please do talk about the Battle
Love to hear more about the Italians in a VLOG!
As much and all as I wouldn't mind some infantry in this set and the Kasserine set, I'd REALLY like it if they would put decals in the starter sets for the tanks! Hit the Beach, Fury, Kasserine, Tobruk...great starter sets that would be even better with decals.
M13/41 had a 47mm gun-good when initially employed.
I hope you guys do the bolt action M14 41
Also Italian stuff in flames is pretty decent not too expensive and M14 41s are a fun kit to build
Like the Kasserine pass set I was quite interested but seeing as it’s armoured only I’ll pass.
Hopefully you guys can do the BA M14-41
Why is a boxed set called "Tobruk" about a armored engagement that never happened no where near it? None of the Allied tanks in the box were at the first attack by the Australian 6th Division/British 7th Armored or the Italian defence OR the Siege by Rommel (and 200+ day defence by Australian/British/Indian/Polish) OR Operation Crusader(which is on the sheets for some reason) OR the German and Italian re-capture following the Battle of Gazala and it barley had any combat after the Second Battle of El Alamein!
The boxed set seems like it should have been called El Alamein instead. And Tobruk was famous because it was a siege, not a pure armored battle!
Furthermore, trying to do a battle in the desert without infantry or artillery (on both sides) is like trying to fight the Battle of Waterloo without having any infantry or Napoleon's Grand Battery.
I presume labeling it Second Battle of El Alamein doesn't roll off the tongue...quite so well.
They already have box set called El Alamein, also you're not fighting a desert war you're pushing little toy soldiers around a tabletop so lots and lots of little tanks is better
Didnt they do that with the Stalingrad box as well?
That 88 seems almost like overkill against Grants and Crusaders.
To be fair it's overkill for most tanks until the end of the war.
they're a nice way to tell your opponent to not deploy on that side of the table.
Powerful ? Yes, but only if they hit ...
with enough tanks you can swarm them before they' can do any real damage.
It’s mostly for Shermans. I’ve been playing Italians for about a year and without any Panzer 3/4s, 88s, or 90mm Lancias Shermans are nearly impossible to kill. It’s possible but with an AT of 6 on the M14/41s and 8 in direct fire with Semoventes I understand why they put the 88s in.
do you have to make a tank platoon with all of the variants or can you build what you want?
Yes. Give it to us.
I 100% agree about the lack of infantry. I do not understand why the company seems to hate them
I can only think of two reason :
- they're not easy to use in game as tanks are
- they're not as fun to build & paint as tanks are
It would be nice to have a infantry + support army box
1 sprue of infantry can be a platoon or two, you need 5 sprues of armor for a single full platoon. Second I think they have hopped the World of Tanks bandwagon and are pushing armored engagements. Third they are aiming for a younger player base so want to simplify the rules by going tanks only.
The italian tank on the box is a M15/42 yet the miniatures are M14/41 ?
Were are the Markers? You need Markers to Play the Game.
thank you yes show on Italy
I've always liked the design of the Italian vehicles, it's a shame that the armor (metal) was so brittle.
Oh by the way. I did by 3 of these to get my North Africa troops together. So enjoy better than 10 USD per model of platoon kits. Total gauging in my opinion.
Needs to have some infantry
How do you get the 88 to have artillery?
There’s a command card in the D Day German pack to have 88s firing as Artillery, but not an option in mid war,.
I've always been a fan of the Italians during world war 2. Despite the meme they have become, they had some very good kit. The Semovente da 75/18 was surprisingly good. Being regarded as the only Italian tank the allies feared. During the battle of Gazala (10 June 1942) Semoventes, M13/14s and gun trucks faced Grants and Stuarts. The Italians lost 2 M13/14s but the allies lost 20 tanks (15 grants and 5 Stuarts) in total. So in many regards the Italian armour meme is deserved but when it comes to the Semovente it defiantly isn't.
A horrible game system. They keep reinventing rules and rule books to keep you buying more every 2 years. I stopped playing after version 3 rules. You have issues with air support and artillery on board.