Wow what a game!!!!! Please don’t expect an exhaustive run through of the new version meta! Unfortunately this is Cardiff Dice Studz and we had not played a game of Bolt Action for literally years. So here we were with two small, newly dusted down armies set to do battle on a Friday afternoon.

We went for two quite similar forces of around 750 points. Already we were making it up on the spot: in version three you buy “ platoons” and the minimum is two vehicles in an armoured platoon. Today it would be an armoured car each.

In earlier versions, I remembered that Bolt Action was a platoon level game but no more. Players now combine platoons to make a company sized formation. I dearly loved v2 bolt action but a platoon and a field gun set up was more Commando comics.

The United States reinforced platoon was similar in size, again two rifle sections, heavy weapons and a recce car.

I’d quite forgotten I’d even bought a greyhound armoured car. I did feel bad when Dave immobilised my car with his Puma on turn two.

We lurched towards each other from opposing sides of the board. Not dismayed by the fate of the greyhound, GIs crossed the fields surrounding the ville.

The SS advanced more slowly, taking up position in the gardens and houses.

If you are in the open in V3 you are going to get hit! We really liked the simpler “to hit” rolls. Cover is now a saving throw and seemed to work. No more measuring long range or accounting for small teams.

Many things have stayed the same; simple and fast paced. I very much look forward to more, bigger games.

The close combat rules however are so blood thirsty! Assaults take simultaneously now. In the picture above the brave GI’s skillfully avoided defensive fire by being within six inches. However, the SS automatic weapons tore through the Americans.

The game closed and the US were several dice ahead. It had been a bloody and exciting fight for this particular patch of soil. I would heartily recommend the system and we will be definately revisiting ww2 at Firestorm Games in God’s own scale!