Flames of War – ETC 2025 – Debrief – Part 1
Hello Readers,
Fred here. Season 2024-2025 ended with the classical European Team Championship (ETC), this year in Leoben (Austria) – July 25th to 27th 2025. 22 Teams from all around the world, from Canada to New Zealand, attended a much-engaged MW 100 points edition. I was once again part of the friendly Team Switzerland and here is my debrief.
This will be a 2 parts article.
Wrapping up the 2024-2025 season
What an awkward FoW season for me. I entered it by discovering the “new” Mid War. I have to say the Dynamic Points system is quite nice to even the period a bit. It still feels frustrating from time to time as you can’t always have answers to opponents’ toys. But to be honest, it was less problematic than expected (also maybe ETC had pairs ups allowing to avoid critical games, or choose them but for the benefit of the team). Also, the inclusion of Pacific in April breathed fresh air on the period: I really like what the new Faction (Japanese) and options (UK (including Australia) and US) bring to this period.
From my end, I wanted to test MW way more than I actually could.
I did brainstormed a lot thou, helped in the process by the Team.
But theorycraft FoW is not real FoW.
I did a little bit of UK/GER remote gaming 1st quarter, US on 2nd quarter was only Italian GT (finishing 3rd), 3rd quarter was no MW, just the 5 LW game of Belgian GT (finishing 1st), and 4th quarter was basically brainstorming on the newly arrived Japanese, with only a couple of remote games with them.
Overall, I plaid 10 actual games before ETC, half being LW. And less than 5 MW games in remote, half being with the army I brought to ETC.
Not an extensive season of FoW thou, Real Life is tremendously demanding.
Setting up expectations
Entering ETC without much actual preparation was not a simple task.
Moreover, with Pacific dropping in April, we studied and decided it was good to include it in our roster. I was fairly tempted to play UK Pacific. The experience with the US in Milano was so-so: sure the US are a very nice balanced army, easy to play, but it wasn’t “calling me”. On the other hand, the concepts of Pacific really thrilled me up, and I was eager to go with a solid Indian Force (or “Makran Levy Corps” as I called them, as we are currently reading Blake & Mortimer with my 6-years old son).
I worked quite a bit on theory crafting those UK, but it was decided last minute the team needed me on another slot that no one else wanted.
With 1 month to go before lists submission, I thus worked extensively on the Japanese (JAP), the team wanted an army with high “Attack” possibilities. I would probably drop a pair of articles on this faction later on here on BTA. For now, let’s just say the list I work on was not exactly the ”classical” JAP force you would expect, especially not in ETC. In summary: it was built 100% with Team in mind. It won’t get much protection in the pair ups, will be used to have favorable match ups for other players and not her, will be somehow all-comers (so great nowhere, antithesis of an ETC list), yet still expected to score points despite the odds.
I believe what I brought is quite in line with my mindset for this 2025 edition.
With my interest to FoW fading, the actual true reason why I came was because of the friends of Team Switzerland: Stefano, Jeremi, Etienne, Raphael… those guys are dope and I love them. As such, it feels right to bring an army really suited for Team play, definitely focused in making the others shine.
From gaming perspective, albeit it felt hard not to have the tools to properly fight for myself, it equally felt good to be in the underdog position, meaning I would need to pull the finger out every game to achieve scoring. A challenge, definitely.
From personal expectations, I set them at 3 wins out of 6 games. I knew it would be hard to achieve considering the position of my JAP, but I didn’t want to settle lower than any other ETC I attended, despite me be all but in my prime. And I was still expected to contribute to the team’s score (these guys want bread, butter, and smile of the creamer…). As per the rest, I believe both the army and my level with it won’t allow me to be as confident as last year playing GER Mad Tracks, and thus I only expected not to lose all of the 3 other games. Studying all the possibilities (I played over 7.000 games in my head, matching every opponent army with mine, in all tags), I knew it would be complex.
Meaning a conservative 3/2/1 (win/loss/draw).
Team’s expectations were quite the same as last year. Switzerland is a great team, with several strong individuals. It’s a very solid Tier 2 Team, with high potential to be Tier 1. However, the Team had been stuck to 18 points – Top 5 for years. Podium was still the goal this year, meaning it will need to go above the glass-ceiling of 18 wins and clinch more. Besides, we were super sad last year not to have matched all the Tier 1 Teams, so we were eager to be matched against the best this season.
Round 1 vs Canada
For the 1st round, we were drawn against the returning team of Canada, with a brand-new roster. We only knew Quentin, and hoped the rest of their guys were as gentleman as him (spoiler alert: they were!). Quite a complex 1st round as we were on different strategies, us attempting to score many points to start fast, and them to play safer to start positively, and they had 1 month to prepare the pair up.
I was paired with Jeff: starting the LeeTC against a US Lee army makes sense, right? The pairs ups (mine and the team’s) were not optimal (Canada used the preparation well, delivering a good pair up strategy, kudos to them), and it got worse with the draw of the scenario, number 5. I ended up Attacking in Probe.
The US Lee defending in Probe means I needed to be careful with my attack. Fielding Tanks was tempting as they would wreck anything that isn’t a Lee/Sherman, but they would suffer against the 4 medium tanks Units and won’t be able to defend my objectives. I thus went more conservative that I wanted, and got all my 75mm AA and 1 unit of 37mm ATG on board to field a decent ATG network, with 3 units of Infantry to both offend and defend. Jeff wisely decided to go for my advanced objective with his 7 Lee covered by his Artilleries, avoiding my Naval 75mm AA, and protected his Objectives with Infantry, with HMG in Ambush, delaying my advance until the reinforcements join the party and help him defend.
I gallantly advanced on the way too much open board with 2 Infantries, only keeping 1 to guard. No Reserves meant no Tanks to push. I missed a Turn 1 Assault, Recce allowing the Naval + HQ to be in range of the guarding US Riflemen, but a missed 3+ Follow Me prevent the action to be completed. Jeff responded with his Ambushing HMG; while I managed to control where they would arrive (long, conceal, not providing defensive fire on the threaten Riflemen), they went crazy on dicing, and despite protection, they wrecked 7 brave Naval Japanese stands! On the other flank, the Artillery started pounding my line, and the Lee started their advance, also scoring top damages on my Infantry, despite the hard cover.
I started receiving Tanks who rolled in to reinforce my push. Helped by Smoke B., I managed to clinch my Infantry on the Objective, with US Infantry barely hanging there. On the other flank, I started to turtle up to delay the advancing Lee. Jeff continued his wrecking party but my moves slowed down the killing rate. I’m in position to push and win, but unfortunately the remains of my Naval infantry remained pinned down, the Ka-Mi missed their Follow Me, the supporting shots were ineffective, and the sole charging Ka-Mi didn’t managed to push the Riflemen far enough.
Meanwhile Jeff pushed from his end, his artillery logically pounding my Aggressive JAP. He attempted an Assault with all his Lee, but he pushed his luck too far as this was definitely too bold to charge angry Japanese infantry with good numbers and nikuhaku: the Lees were pushed back. Jeff also obtained a very timely reinforcement of Sherman to block my rush. Right on time, right on spot. Sherman wrecked all but one Ka-Mi and decided it was a good idea to charge on my 2 remaining Naval stands despite he couldn’t kill them both in one sling. As expected, 1 Naval survived, counter-attacked, and pushed back the Sherman. This mistake allowed me to get with the surviving Ka-Mi into contact with the US Riflemen guarding the Objective without the defensive fire of the Sherman! In an epic moment, the brave Japanese Tank Commander charged on, the Bazooka held its position, fired and destroyed it. As time ran out, I missed all my shots at clinching the Objective. From his end, Jeff’s push on my flank was definitely stopped, his attempt to push for my Objective was quickly dispatched by the wandering Ha-Go on his infantry and gate-keeping Naval 75mm AA on their hill. With both our pushes blocked, the reserves anchored on the objectives, and time out, we ended up drawing.
Draw / 3-3
I expected Game 1 would be the worth, and it didn’t disappoint. Facing the Lee, defending again the army I’ve just discovered for the first time, wasn’t exactly ideal. I may have been more successful in my push to the Objective, but success was on Jeff’ side and it’s part of the game. Fine. I may also have been bolder in my attempts, but I feared the risk of being counterpunched by Jeff’ mobile force, and dicing proved the fear was founded. Jeff is a lovely gentleman and we had a very fair game.
Switzerland won the Round 3/1/2 (Win/Loss/Draw). Considering the scenario was n°5, overall the result is fine, not a bad start.
Round 2 vs Denmark
After this decent start, 2nd round saw us paired up with Denmark, another solid Tier 2 Team. A good test to see where we fair in the hierarchy. The pair ups were quite good, mainly because we play team above individuals, and we knew we had to transform the try to score high.
I was paired up with Benjamin, for an historical Pacific round, UK vs JAP. I attacked in Outmanoeuvred.
Ben set up his massive gunline, covering both Objectives, with mixture of infantry, ATG and dual-purpose artillery, ready to take on my charging Japanese, while his Tanks lurked in Reserves. I decided to crescent attack, threatening the left objective with the regular Infantry formation backed up by Ka-Mi and 75mm AA, with the Naval formation and Ha-Go centered, having the opportunity to reinforce the push or launch several units on the right to keep Ben occupied.
Defender having the first turn meant Sherman started rolling Turn 1 to reinforce the line, HMG set up positions, and first shots saw the support unit of 75mm AA being removed. I retaliated pounding the line and moved on my Force to pressure Turn 2. Grant also started to arrive and Ben anchored in, damaging my advancing line, ready to absorb the push. My Turn 2 saw the Japanese turning into tsunami-mode: while the Tanks and the Artillery damaged the British troops, I launched no less than 3 Assaults, obliterating the Indian Infantry advanced to counter the right flank, and the Indian Infantry guarding the left objective. Many brave Japanese soldiers die to achieve that, but by the end of Turn 2, I was solidly anchored on the left Objective and control the center field.
Ben turtled up the best he could, with his Tanks acting at firefighters to stop the bleeding. While his left flank still holds, his center and right were in pretty bad shape. I keep on pushing to accentuate the advantage: while his Tanks survived the onslaught, his guns were taken one by one, and we really don’t see the Japanese moving anywhere away from the taken Objective. Ultimately, on Turn 4, Ben withdrew from the front line his exposed remaining sole survivor Infantry and 1iC. But my remaining Ha-Go dive-bombed to take them out with their MG. With Formation broken, game was called.
Victory / 7-2
It was the first game I could unleash the full power of the JAP army. While Ben’s army was perfectly fine defending and had many ways to damage me by shooting (direct or artillery), having the full force on table, in attack, meant I was fully in control of the tempo of the game. I methodically damaged the UK troops and sent my Infantry in rampaging banzai mode, clinching key positions in the field and taking out any Units preventing the win.
I was very happy for the result, both because it proved the time spent in analyzing paid off and because I filled the mission devoted by the Team, for the army and me.
Switzerland won the Round 5/1/0. At the end of the 1st day, we were exactly where we wanted, having scored 8 wins and pushing a direct opponent from the same Tier off.
Round 3 vs Poland
We entered Day 2 ready to now face the top of the class Teams. We were matched against Poland, an always dreadful opponent: the guys are good, fully committed, they play team-events supremely well, and but for last year, they were always ETC-podiumed. Very solid Tier 1.
For this round, I was thrown under the bus for the sake of the Team, in order to clinch favorable match ups but for mine. It worked well, but for my sacrificed game, the Team had the pairs ups it wanted. I thus ended facing Adam with his Soviets, the list specially designed to break JAP, a one that I should never face but for the team strategy (which was the case here). I attacked in Counterstrike.
Adam defended his quarter table objective with his Hero Infantry Formation, 9 HMG in Ambush, IL2 lurking above, and no less than 5 KV8 which will side-sweep both quarters. Guards KVs were in Reserves with heavy mortars.
I orientated my Naval Formation to the USSR quarter table objective and set up my trap to meet Adam’s reserves with my Infantry Formation and 75mm AA. Unfortunately, my Recon unit didn’t allow to set the trap as far as I wanted, and there was a room for Adam’s KVs to exploit should they come first turn… which they did. While the KVs evaded the trap, I had to rush the Infantry Formation after them, delaying the big tanks advance on the far-flung Objective, while the Naval start moving carefully forward, the table having many no-man-land’s areas. I managed to punch through the 1st unit of Hero Rifle with my Ha-Go.
On Turn 2, Adam revealed the dreaded 9 HMG Ambush, which did expected damages on the Naval (not much due to positioning, but at least HMG were set on their position, a superb roadblock). However, the IL2 came and boldly Rocketed on a 6+ my Naval, claiming many Japanese troopers’ life. It happens. I kept on chasing the KVs to the far-flung Objective, relentlessly advancing despite the predicted losses. My artillery and 37mm were pretty bad in damaging the HMG, preventing my Naval to push. Ha-Go started their slingshot to the quarter table objective, but Soviet resilience prevent it from being fully effective.
Turn 3 was the continuation of Turn 2’s actions, Adam playing well the careful retreat from the KVs and solid defense with HMG and Infantry, backed up by 2 KV8, with my troops gallantly moving forward but unable to break the lock, while Ka-Mi destroyed the 120mm mortars coming from Reserve.
By later turns, I finally managed to break through on the Soviet quarter table with the Ha-Go, but Naval were unable to follow due to HMG and KV8 resilience. Ha-Go had their shot on either claiming the Objective or breaking the Formation, but didn’t have the steam left to do it. Soviet Formation escaped with only 2 Units left. Meanwhile, the remains of the Naval Formation came to a stalemate with the pair of KV8 and HMG (ultimately shut down but too late). On the far-flung Objective, I sacrificed all my Infantry Formation and Recon just to keep the objective live for several turns. I had the chance to clinch it but 75mm AA disappointed, despite Lucky. With Ka-Mi also able to contest the Objective, Adam tried to remove everything but I was too numerous, and he wasn’t able to repel me there. With my last infantry failing to unpin, I won’t even have the last (very bold) attempt at pushing him away. The game ended in a Draw.
Draw / 3-3
This was hard. This Soviets army was 100% the best list to tackle JAP, the sole of the whole tournament I really didn’t want to play against, and the board/mission gave it the tools to be in perfect position. But team matters more than individuals. I plaid consequently. I think I missed a 1st chance when Adam got KVs popping from Reserves Turn 1 (that’s a dice game after all) and prevented me from closing my trap which would have definitely changed the physiognomy of the match. I wasn’t unable to push through on the Soviets quarter-table Objective, and missed my 2nd chance of breaking the Formation, I could have put more protection on my Ha-Go, and the resilience of the HMG to my Artillery and extreme success from KV8 prevented my Naval to support. I fought that uphill battle until the end and kept on being focused, despite tremendous losses. Draw was a fine result considering the match up, and I was happy to have done the job expected by the Team.
Poland however ended up winning the round 3/2/1. A sour feeling considering the efforts, but the reality of team gaming is what it is. Congratulations to Poland for this win.
That’s it for our 1st part of the debrief.
Stay tunned for the 2nd half coming very soon.
Knowledge is power: share it well.
Fred
