American Tank Ace 1944-1945: Campaign Part 1

First part of an initial attempt at a campaign in "American Tank Ace: 1944-1945" designed by Gregory M. Smith and published by Compass Games. This is a solitaire game of armored combat in Europe during and after the Normandy invasion in June of 1944.
The player controls a single tank, starting with a base model M4 Sherman and (hopefully) progressing through improved versions of the same with ultimately getting a shot at the M26 Pershing just before the war's end. It'll take a lot of skill - and even more luck - to make it to the campaign's end in April of 1945.
This is a narrative game, similar in concept to some of Gregory Smith's other games such as Silent Victory, The Hunters, Interceptor Ace, Nightfighter Ace, etc., but this is definitely not on rails - the player makes decisions on how to fight their tank against an enemy that is, in many cases, fighting with tanks that have bigger guns and thicker armor than the player's Sherman. An uphill battle to say the least.
The game's page on Boardgame Geek:
boardgamegeek....
For more information check out the game's page on the Compass Games site:
www.compassgam...
As always, thank you for watching. If you'd consider liking, sharing and/or subscribing that would be much appreciated. Happy Gaming!
Follow Hexed & Countered on Twitter: / handc_joe or check out the website at hexedandcountered.com

[@mtaran02]

Thank you for the video, very helpful!

[@HexedAndCountered]

Thanks for watching, glad it was helpful!

[@michaelstearnesstearnes1498]

Thanks for the interesting demonstration. I will always watch demos. when the physical game is used and not a computer version. Anxiously awaiting your next game. Thanks again.

[@HexedAndCountered]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Haven't quite decided what my next wargame will be but there will be something next week.

[@jaysturgell8055]

Thank you for the video Joe, it was quite helpful. I just for this game in the mail. Now it needs to hit my game table. Remember any landing you can walk away form is a good landing.

[@HexedAndCountered]

Very true. Thanks!

[@RiccardoMasiniWLOG]

Thanks for the video. Just got the game, I'll be trying it soon. BTW, in an early Sherman you really got lucky with that outcome!

[@HexedAndCountered]

Thanks! Yes, sometimes the dice give and sometimes they don't - got lucky this time. Those early Shermans were definitely far outclassed by the German panzers.

[@RiccardoMasiniWLOG]

@@HexedAndCountered I jokingly said to my fellow wargamers here that a real challenge would be an Italian Tank Ace title, with everybody on a M13/40 tin can in the desert. Now, surviving THAT would be something... 😄

[@johnnymustang760]

Initial ammo load, 4.3.4 (page 8). You get a full load and 1 in the chamber. You shorted yourself a round. Picture shows the initial load out also.

[@HexedAndCountered]

Thanks

[@ericq3066]

Tough first mission, shoot up that infantry first. Shoot at the armor when you can get two shots off and your hull down. Everyone out alive and lessons learned. Looking forward to you next mission

[@HexedAndCountered]

Yep, good advice. I really didn't take into account the simple fact that the StuG probably would not have engaged me so I should have tackled the infantry first. Lesson learned for sure. Thanks!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Ouch! Nice work with this. Really fun game, and an interesting mix of bad and good luck in this mission. Looking forward to the next mission. :)

[@HexedAndCountered]

Thanks Zilla! Definitely an apt description of the way things went down in this mission!

[@johnnymustang760]

Before 8:30 ended, you should have picked up 1 experience point for completing Fort Knox training.

[@HexedAndCountered]

Thanks

[@briandenison2325]

You forgot to roll for immobilization when angling your tank hull to fire on the Stug.

[@HexedAndCountered]

Thanks

[@iantaylor3393]

Thanks for the video. I may have missed something but oher than choosing stug over infantry, did you actually make any decisions in this game?

[@HexedAndCountered]

In that instance, IIRC, I turned my hull as my first command, not only to face the StuG but primarily to point my front armor at it (I could have turned the turret instead), risking immobilization (although I failed to roll for this because I forgot). I was killed so quickly that some of the other tactical options were never available to be shown. The mix of enemies in that one also wasn't particularly dangerous (despite the result). You do have a lot of options though, you can move for flanking, advance, retreat, turn your hull, turn your turret, decide whether to operate buttoned up or have 1 or more crewmen exposed (which impacts not only their chances of being wounded or killed but also the accuracy of your MG fire). You also can fire different types of ammo. The two commands you're given each round have a pretty wide variety (I didn't count them, but I think there are around 15 or so possible commands, some of which have elements of risk vs reward to them).

[@iantaylor3393]

@@HexedAndCountered Thanks for clarifying that.

[@davidpeters3137]

How are you storing your counters?

[@HexedAndCountered]

I use small baggies. I sort the counters out and put them in stacked four high so they lie flat. It takes more time than using a tray for sure but is about as close to the flatness of the countersheets as I can get. I'm a little OCD about having a "tidy" box, lol.

[@Demy1970]

Good idea, I have counters in dvg tray and hard to find

[@Demy1970]

Hi Hex, I like the way you present the game by using the overhead view and explain some of the moves. A lot of small rules in this game with modifiers, it might take a while to get this all down. Do you ever play on vassal?

[@HexedAndCountered]

Thanks - glad you're enjoying the videos! Yes, this game does have a lot of rules to remember. I don't typically play on Vassal. I am a programmer and spend all my work days staring at computer screens so I enjoy my tabletop time!

[@earlofdoncaster5018]

Hilarious, I spent days playing Patton's Best and got shot at once then you roll up and get knocked out minutes into the first mission. Yet I feel this is the better game.

[@HexedAndCountered]

Yeah, that mission was short, but not so sweet. Haven't played Patton's Best so I can't compare the two but I know some people feel it's overly complex while others love it. I do think American Tank Ace is a lot of fun.

[@earlofdoncaster5018]

@@HexedAndCountered The big flaw of PB is there is no incentive to take risks, thus leading to pretty dull game play with (very) occasional moments of terror. ATA it would seem just goes for the latter.

[@WW2SolitaireBoardGameChannel]

Nice video Joe! Cool to see how the SOP works. Question: When you rolled to identify infantry, you only rolled once. Is it like that also for tanks, SPG and AT-huns? If there is more than 1, are they always the same type?

[@HexedAndCountered]

Thanks Daniel. To answer your question, yes. There's a small notation beside the charts for rolling the enemy types and it says roll once for each type and all units of that type are the same.

[@jumpmaster82nd.]

Seems that you would roll the wound results before the bailout. Serious wounds should lower the odds of a bailout. Regardless, looks like it can become an engaging game. Wonder if its still in stock anywhere...

[@HexedAndCountered]

Thanks for watching - yes, that's a valid point. It's possible the bailout is also a potential wounding action so maybe that's why it's designed the way it is. The game is available from Compass itself. They're having a sale right now, looks like it's currently $60. www.compassgames.com/product/american-tank-ace-europe-1944-45/

[@joelcole161]

Compass Games has it for $54 as I write this (Nov 28th, 2023).

[@jumpmaster82nd.]

@@joelcole161 I have it and dont play it. It still seems good but the rules were a gigantic cluster " you know what". Errata out the butt! They even messed up the turn order and messed it up badly! I think I've printed 2 pages of errata and a turn order. I just soured on it and have never put it back on the table. That simple. No company should let a product through like that. I was in printing/publishing for years and can say with fairness that that is, was and will always be unacceptable. Hopefully, they thought enough of their consumer that the rules in that 54 dollar game are revised...

[@joelcole161]

@@jumpmaster82nd. Ah, sorry to hear that! I just ordered it this morning (before reading your warning - whoops...). Compass Games has it down as a pre-order at this stage, so maybe they addressed/are addressing some of the rules issues this time around - unless it is a direct re-print, of course.

[@jumpmaster82nd.]

@@joelcole161 I would think they would have to fix that. Dont fret though! The changes are out there and you can play the game and it still looks and from what I hear is fun and engaging. This is MY issue and had just decided to shelve it and play something else. Time's precious and figuring out a puzzle of a rulebook wasn't sitting well with me! Best wishes!!

[@flipsutter1]

I just put the game up. I give up. Until someone creates a flow I won’t play it. The rule book is crap and has no flow to it. And so many mistakes.

[@HexedAndCountered]

Sorry to hear that, but I get it. There is a Sequence of Battle on the back which helps, but there is definite vagueness to some of the rules. Gregory Smith has posted errata (and updated it), and that helps.

[@thestormtrooper1594]

Where can I find the updated rules? I too am struggling to understand some details. Like machine guns, whats the point of counting ammo if they can reload without having to give a command??

[@Demy1970]

Some flow charts on bgg and sequence of play stuff, I always have questions