I'm running a participation game based on the Battle of St Julien, one of the most dramatic actions of the Second Battle of Ypres, using the All Hell Let Loose: Great War rules. The game will be appearing at Phalanx in St Helens on June 20th, Joy of Six in Sheffield on June 28th and Claymore in Edinburgh on 1st August, giving players the chance to command either the attacking Germans or the defending Canadians.
The Road to St Julien
By the spring of 1915 the Western Front had become deadlocked. Months of fighting had created continuous trench systems stretching across France and Belgium. Machine guns, artillery and barbed wire had made manoeuvre increasingly difficult, and both sides searched for a way to break the stalemate.
On 22 April 1915 the Germans introduced a terrifying new weapon. Along the northern edge of the Ypres Salient they released thousands of cylinders of chlorine gas against French Territorial and Algerian troops. The gas cloud created a gap several miles wide in the Allied line and threatened the capture of Ypres itself.
The Germans had achieved a remarkable breakthrough, but they lacked the reserves needed to fully exploit it. As Allied commanders scrambled to plug the gap, the Canadian Division found itself thrust into the centre of the crisis. Over the following days the Canadians would be called upon to hold an increasingly fragile front under artillery bombardment, repeated infantry attacks and further gas assaults.
The battle around the village of St Julien on 24 April would become one of the most famous actions fought by the Canadian Corps during the war.
The Challenge for the Canadians
The Canadian player begins the battle in a difficult position.
The front line is thinly held and under intense pressure. German artillery pounds the defences while poison gas drifts across the battlefield. Front-line units must somehow continue fighting despite mounting casualties and deteriorating conditions.
Simply holding the existing trenches is not enough. Reinforcements must be rushed forward from the rear, gaps in the line identified and plugged, and a second defensive position established before the situation becomes critical. The Canadian commander must balance immediate crises against the need to preserve a coherent defence.
The Challenge for the Germans
The German player enjoys the initiative but faces problems of their own. The gas attack and artillery preparation create opportunities, but victory is far from guaranteed. The attackers must cross No Man's Land under fire, assault trenches defended by determined opponents and maintain momentum throughout the battle.
Success depends upon identifying weak points in the Canadian line and exploiting them quickly. Local gains must be converted into wider opportunities before the defenders can establish a new position. Concentrating force at the right point, maintaining pressure and recognising when an opportunity has appeared are all vital to success.
Rules
The All Hell Let Loose: Great War ruleset has been written by myself and David Wasilewski following on from the success of the original World War Two ruleset. Using 6mm figures players will be able to take on the roles of the Divisional and Brigade commanders committing troops to battle, co-ordinating artillery and gas barrages, allocating reinforcements and judging the right time to strike or pull back.
The rules use a dice-out-of-the-bag activation system so every turn is unique and players never have initiative for long. A variable activation mechanic means that players can never be sure how well, or badly, troops will perform. The three core mechanics are easy to learn and keep the game moving quickly. The plug-in options for barrages let players control large amounts of artillery in a simple, quick way that doesn't dominate the game. Trenches and fortifications ensure that a small number of defenders can delay or hold even determined attackers. Armies lose momentum as their casualties mount. The rules are designed to present command challenges every turn, tactical opportunities for each formation and the scenario offers tricky strategic choices that players must evaluate several turns before their impact will be felt.
If this sounds like the game for you why not register interest in the rules here,
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