Flames of War – Catch 22×2 (Flanders GT – Debrief) – Part 1
Hello Readers,
Fred here. This month, we are going back to Late War, with the Flanders GT – Diepenbeek – May 17th and 18th 2025, last round of the European Series 2025. Here are some insights of the preparation, debriefing of the competition, rounding up the Euro Series, and a little bit of discussion over Berlin. This will be a 2 parts article.
Pre-tournament analysis
The Flanders GT organized by the Belgian Team and our good friend Robby “Good Tastes” Notermans was a Late War tournament, with some spicy additions :
– 92 points (to force players in thinking again their well-rounded classical 100-105 points Builds ; also: only 55 points on table, and 37 points in Reserves)
– 1 Formation only
– 1 Book only (unless you take 1 Ally Unit, but it must be from the same “front” (so no D-Day UK with Bulge US))
– Limitation on Recce and Allies.
I found all the limitations manageable. At first sight, I would say 1 Formation is a little “counter-intuitive” with how FoW V4 works (especially LW), but as the goal is to force challenges and decisions, let’s go for it.
Deciding which Force I would pick to the tournament was based on several parameters and thinking axis.
1. Models’ collection: I’m lucky to have 2 LW armies, 1 very populous GER (which I can duplicate in ROM), 1 smaller US. I’m not practicing FoW enough recently to pretend I would play another Nation to a major LW event.
2. Metagame: I reckoned the LW meta is in the same shape as per Summer 2024. Not detailing again all the work done for ETC 2024 and its feedbacks, just summarizing in nothing had changed since. Available materials are the same, Missions didn’t change, no new LFTF. Besides, few LW tournaments were organized in that period. What worked/didn’t work then is much likely to deliver identically.
3. Rulespack: studying the constraints of the event, I forecasted they may take some Builds out of the equation:
– those which only properly works with 2 Formations (such as anything with Recce) or 3 Formations (such as ROM/USSR combo)
– those with Recce as Core (such as D-Day UK or anything Bulge Recon), unless you can max them in the Formation (such as Bulge KG Schnell or Berlin Sdkfz234 Glass Canon)
– those functioning with pairing books together (such as US Bulge with FE Sherman).
Managing games would be important, both considering the Reserves system, as well as the single Formation. On this last one, I thought it would lead to players being more careful in their games (for fear of losing their only 1 Formation and thus break). Timing is long, 3 hours per game, with less points, meaning decisions can be made for obtaining win/loss. How would it interact with the single Formation/risk of players playing conservatively not to lose? Hard to tell.
Last ruling parameter was the scoring, the BF 8-1 system favoring high wins/small losses, regardless of the actual games played. By now, you all know how I believe this system unfair…
4. Europeans Series: the tournament is part of a wider competition, which aggregates the points made on previous tournaments of the Series (Italian GT and German GT) and takes the 2 best. Long story short: if you want a good final ranking, you need to be consistent with the previous events, and roughly aim for 30 points out of 5 games to secure a podium spot.
Eventually, I concluded the best choice for this event would be to run either :
– an “Armored Fist” list, meaning a solid Tank Company with a strong Medium or Heavy Core, backed up by Utilities (Recce, Artillery, Infantry)
– or a “Wall of Bodies” list, meaning a solid Infantry Company with numerous Infantry/Gun stands, backed up by a pair of decisions makers (notably Tanks) and Utilities (notably Recce/Arti).
For me, it would be the former, meaning US Sherman, with a solid Bulge 3rd AD Build, a balanced list, with all the ingredients to perform.
Catch 22×2
I was confident this US Force would fit the requirements of the event. I knew it was likely not to win all games, but the majority if I piloted it well. As a balance list, there was no situation it would have let me down. I also forecasted its nature would allow me to have wins higher than the traditional 6-3, the extra points won compensating for the points probably lost due to Draw or Loss. Aiming for the 30 points is reasonable.
But while looking for the army bag to prepare the toys, I accidentally pulled the one with my German LW… it hasn’t been touched since August 2024 and ETC 2024. Opening it was full of blood, sweat… and regrets.
https://breakthroughassault.co.uk/white-cross-over-red-flag-debriefing-etc-season-2023-2024-part-3/
Casting the sour away, promises shown. GER Mad Tracks are good. They were 9 months ago, they are still now. I’ve practiced them a lot, I really like the playstyle. I’ve identified the mistakes made previously, so, hopefully, I would have learnt from past experiences. Could they fit all the specifications? Not entirely, and bleeding points make them a strong “no-go” for the event.
But players are players right? This bad guys will definitely make several games really complex for all opponents, and they deserve another chance.
So I got back to the paperboard and start making lists again…
Reviewing my approach of Flanders GT:
– even if I don’t play FoW much recently, Italian GT and the current team practices for ETC 2025 brought me confidence in showing I still knew a bit about it. Besides, the other game I play consistently now (Star Wars Legion) is less time consuming than FoW so I have time with Real Life to perform at a decent competition level, keeping in shape for competitive play.
– the tournament is LW, a period I’m knowing well. I’m in my comfort zone.
– it’s a major event, with big shots (homeland Belgians, a rising ETC team, as well as players from Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom, France, and even Canada!), hard games are expected, and I’m definitely looking forward offering my mighty opponents though games. What’s best for this than bringing them what I’m mastering?
– it is part of the European Series, which aggregate the points made on several tournaments, and spice up the competition. Having made 30-points in Milan, I have my destiny in hands to clinch a podium for this competition. Sure, Mad Tracks are not the perfect list for this task, but I see it as another challenge.
– there is no link with ETC 2025, so no need to do a team-approach or MW practice. I can play the Build I’ve worked the most in FoW and suits me well.
After consulting with my Switzerland team-mates and setting expectations with them, I thus ended up with a quite strong list, offering significant challenges to opponents, mustering no less than 44 vehicles (hence the “catch 22×2” title). I also have 3 platoons of Infantry (2 reducing Reserves pool) and a Unit of heavy ATG to back them up, with all the tools to play all positional against anybody. Beware, the creepy swarm is back…
Setting up my expectations for the tournament, I decided to be ambitious:
– aiming for at least 3 wins and no losses
– aiming for a podium
– aiming for a Euro Series Top 3
Fairly complex… but challenging!
More nimble … more me.
A word on the meta
Here are the lists from the players for this tournament.
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.flames-of-flanders.be/fow-limburg/fow-limburg-tornooi-2025__;!!O7V3aRRsHkZJLA!BMJ_k6VqpgBl2WA1cFII90OLVgKQP5SiOPpt6jgCP5VS-V8jqA39ktymB7lILO0lKFOwh4TmFt6Iv4GSwR2r0yMTkHk$
Here is my take in explaining players’ armies selection:
– LW meta hasn’t changed much since 18 months: the 3 main archetypes and 3 major Nations are still on and hot. Meaning dominance from Wall of Bodies/Armored Fist/Mad Tracks, and supremacy of GER/US/UK. Combining both, no surprise we end up with multiple copies of GER Wall of Bodies or Mad Tracks, or US/UK Armored Fist. The “hit” is on UK Mad Tracks being here but scarce: this is due to both limitation on number of Formations allowed (1) and no Recce outside the Formation (otherwise we would have seen much more UK D-Day combined with UK Rifle or DR Rifle).
– tournament pack limits to 1 Formation + limitation on Allies: no surprise HUN/ROM/FIN are not taken as they basically function competitively almost exclusively with multiple Formations and/or Allies.
– format is 92 points: meaning more compacted Forces, with less spare points to spend on Utilities/Contingencies. D-Day UK, US Bulge, GER Berlin, those 3 Books pack Forces punching 5 to 15%+ above their weight (Daimler/Bren, M10 Achille, 3rdAD Sherman, RTC Infantry/ARP, Clausewitz, Berlin KG, Berlin Support…). No surprise they are favored.
– 92 points, using a single Book: meaning 55 points in, 37 points out. Any Force including means to mitigate number of Units on Board and Reserves is good. While Allies D-Day and Bulge, as well as Soviet Bagration, have access to Local Militia (FFI, FTP, Partisans…), one Book rules them all, Berlin. VolkS and HJ allow significant control on both areas (more troops starting on table, less troops in Reserves). Thus players’ favorite.
– BF scoring: the 8-1 system incentive to mitigate losses and maximize profits. Meaning when facing with hard match up (opponent, Force, Missions…), go for a 3-3 Draw. On the opposite, go for a 8-1 Win. This transcripts into having to choose between hard straightforward attacking punching lists (all the US/UK/USSR Armored First) and hard to break defending anchoring lists (all the GER Mad Tracks and Wall of Bodies).
– Event and stakes: the Flanders GT is a Major, which also count for the Euro Series. Such prestigious tournament transcripts in both attracting talented players (locally but also internationally), with players brainstorming on how to perform decently against them, and both a fierce competition and stakes, with players bringing hard armies to perform.
– Players’ philosophy: FoW players (and perhaps even more in Europe), tend to play not to lose before playing to win. To that extent, hard to beat Builds (such as Berlin WoB/MT) are players’ favorite.
In conclusion, the dispatch of Forces being fair in all 3 main archetypes (around 1/3 each), with predominance of GER (~60%), and limited presence or absence of Concepts/Nations, is not surprising. To me, it is the combination of the state of LW meta, tournament constraints, and players mindsets for it.
Round 1 vs Alex
For the 1st round, I was paired with Alex, who brought a cute Berlin Battle Group list. While the base is standard, the 2 catches are the single Tiger Reserve (4 cats!) and the excellent Stuka-Rudel. We played Encounter.
This game was all about timing. Alex deployed conservatively over his Objectives, and his Reserve could reinforce any Objective I would threaten (albeit randomly); looming over the field, the Stuka is stellar in crippling vulnerable Units (pretty much all my Armored Teams). If I wait for the Tigers to show up and dive the other way, I risk losing platoons (and points) to the Aircraft. Decision was thus to seize the initiative, and launch full force on one Objective before the Tigers’ show, limiting the impact of Rudel, and controlling the other side to prevent Alex’s grabbing my base. I advanced relentlessly for 2 Turns on the left flank, blasting the PanzerGrenadier in the process, and assaulting them to clinch the Objective. Rudel arrived and bagged my StuH promptly, allowing Alex to be more daring on my right flank. Alex managed to squeeze a very bold charge from his HQ on my PanzerGrenadier, pushing them from the Objective, delaying them 1 Turn. On Turn 3, I destroyed his Infantries and HQ, leaving me on top of the Objective which his remaining forces can’t contest. However, in an epic move, Tigers came in, right where they needed to be, preventing me to clinch the Objective with their massive hulls. I thus decided to chase Alex’s Formation remains. A hail of shells and bullets, and final Assault on the Pak40 made the Formation defeated, granting me the win Turn 4.
Victory / 8-1
I really like this type of mission where commitment and control are key. Alex’s list put the unvoluntary pressure it needs for me to rush in hard and fast, more than he could swallow. Should I hadn’t, it would have come to an attrition battle where I would have lost more than a single Unit. While the game was over fast, we spent a fair amount of time with Alex to support him bettering his list and its practice, which helps him finish 6th despite another 1-8 loss in the hands of Master Etienne. Well done!
Round 2 vs Tobias
2nd game saw me paired up with Tobias. I was super happy as Tobias improved a lot his gaming skills, won German GT, is a solid member of Team Belgium, and was one of the targets we needed to bring down for the Series. On top, this game was a rematch from last year ETC. Both our Clausewitz Forces clashed in Cornered, with mine in Defense.
I built up my defensive network so as for the mission to be a little bit like No Retreat, expanding in the No Man’s Land opposite to my deployment area. I used HJ and Volsk as front liners, while the Mad Tracks take position behind to secure them. My Objective was guarded by the 8.8 and the StuH. Stummels in Ambush allowed flexibility in my Defense, while Panzer and PanzerGrenadiers would reinforce the line in due time. Tobias had less Infantry and Half Tracks, but far more Real Tanks, including a pair of Tiger II, allowing him to advance solidly toward my line. This game was all about the handling of a treeline. In effect, the player who will control it would have a significant advance on the battlefield, as this position was a direct speedway to the close Objective. We thus spent our game turning around this position, me denying it from Tobias and him concentrating efforts to seize it. The game changed Turn 2 when Tobias managed to remove my FlakTrack guarding it with good 6+/7+ shots, while his FlakTracks break through the far flung Objective. This is when I decided to stop bleeding and counterpunch: my Stummels and Panzer IV started blazing the opposing Triple, while the rest of my force turtled up the close Objective. Despite the retaliation, my Force kept on counterpunching, leaving the fate of the battle into the hands of the treeline, my German daring Tobias’ to cross it while started to threaten on his side. Well anchored, my Force proved too strong to break. Ultimately, Tobias concentrated his energy on the secured end of it, and blasted a 2nd Unit from me to call it.
Victory / 7-2
A very nice mind game, where a single portion of the battlefield concentrated the attention. While Tobias’ efforts put me out of my comfort zone, I quickly recovered with counterpunching and turtling. IMHO, the prudent approach from the Attacker should have been mixed with a more daring jump in, especially with the unexpected loss of my Triple guarding the treeline early. I shut the window of opportunity and as soon as I did what Defenders must always do in FoW (threaten Attacker’s advance by forcing them to defend themselves instead of running for the prize), I took control of the game tempo and closed it.
Round 3 vs Steven
Closing Day 1, I faced Steven, with his UK Churchill Italy. Before everybody gets jumpy, this list is a very good counter to the Berlin Mad Tracks. Granted, their 25pdr are way too expensive, and they would have appreciated a 2nd Formation for more Infantry, Artillery and WASP, but this is good match up for Steven. It was also the pattern seek by Rob P. with his not understood yet very well-suited for the event KV Guard Force. I defended in Covering Force.
The battlefield was a mix between countryside on the left, and city on the right. Steven put an Objective in both areas, and I divided my Forces. Annoyed by the presence of the Panzer IV and 8.8 with good lines of sight, Steven decided to go for the Objective in town, guarded by my PanzerGre, Stummels and Triple, concentrating all his Force on my right flank, leaving both Recce and Infantry moving in the middle. I quickly redeployed my left flank aggressively, PzIV, Triple, Recce and StuH charging head on to tackle the fast moving Stuart, Daimler and Infantry. My right flank troopers keep their head down while the British shells started smashing them to piece, an apparently very valid tactic of the Brits vs my Germans as already demonstrated 1 year ago in German GT. I started losing troops at an alarming rate, with limited possibility to retaliation. By Turn 3, I started to evacuate in good order, and managed to secure the center, stopping cold the Infantry and Recce. However, the Churchill advanced relentlessly, and I had to pull battered Formations Units out. However, by turn 5, Steven had very limited capacities to claim any of my Objectives, and I got cooky in sending my StuH in a delaying tactic, which obviously totally failed. The StuH were promptly dispatched as expected, and this is when I realized I wasn’t playing my traditional 2 Formations Force, and thus Steven can win by destroying my remaining PanzerGrenadier and HQ, which will break my sole Formation! Up to his surprise, I told him as he didn’t see it, and the game became crazy, Steven committing everything to kill my guys. I had to reveal my HJ ambush to stop the onslaught, and the turbulent kids went angry, removing a Churchill battered unit, followed by the remaining Stuart in the following turn. I used my tracks to cover the areas and force the British solely in blasting position and not Assault. My Infantry held, while my PzIV kept on sucking, missing their shots and dying stupidly, eventually running away to grant Steven a much deserved extra point.
Victory / 6-3
This game was ton of fun. Steven made the mistake of running for the town Objective, which I was super confident I would keep given the resources I had, combined with the turbulent kids Ambush. However, it is both a game of players and dices, and it could have turned into a Victory should he had managed to remove my Infantry and HQ. The game was great from Turn 2, when we made jokes about crazy hits by the Brits and dismal losses from the Germans, and I started rolling Steven’s side of the board to mitigate that, to the Turn 5 where I revealed my mistake, until the end and the crazy race for annihilation/survival, mixing in blazing British Tank, angry kids from the block, and catastrophic “elite” panzers. Thank you Steven for this great moment of FoW.
End of the first day, I had 3 wins, a decent 21 points score, on par with Etienne, with less platoons destroyed than him, winning a big box for the kid. The fate of the tournament and Euro Series would be decided on Sunday!
Knowledge is power: share it widely!
Fred
