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Okay so I bought the pack of 2 and split it with a friend so we both walked away happy.



I'm going to give this 6.5 out of 10 and i'll justify it below. I'll try to be fair and objective throughout this, so if you want to issue with this feel free to do so.

First off, this is a high quality book, as you would expect and is exactly the same as all the other Battlefront Hardbacks. It will wear well, obviously the front artwork is an older picture so this is the same old Bridge too far artwork so it's been recycled which obviously keeps Battlefront costs down, but does make me wonder what am I paying for?

Into the meat of the book, there is alot more attention to the context of battles, units and relative strengths and it's actually much more detailed than previous books.



This is also reflected in the lists, which are much more numerous with each individual list (within an operation or battle) being subtle and nuanced and with the large number of lists this makes the book, from a lists perspective very good value for money. Many of the points values or the sizes of platoons have been tweaked slightly which will please and frustrate some, but overall the ability to take the same XXX Corps units, but at differing points values and different special rules is actually really good and offers us options.

Here are a few example pictures to give you a flavour:-





Now the book can broadly be broken into 3 sections:-

1. Market Forces - The battles of the British and US Airborne units (Arnhem / Hell's Highway / Nijmegen).
2. Garden Forces -XXX Corps (Hell's Highway)
3. The Scheldt - Canadian / Polish and Commando Forces. (Battle for the Scheldt, Operation Switchback, Operation Vitality).

All of these sections are well thought out and give lots of options and the Scheldt campaign in particular represents a good addition to the rest of the book which is predominently a "Bridge to Far" with "Hells Highway" bolted on with some changes, but to experienced players who owned those two previous books, 70% of the book is familiar/identical copy and paste from the original books.

There is a pointless 2 page painting section, which is directly lifted from the "Hells-highway" book with no changes. For me this really annoyed me, there are alot of lists in this book alot of different paint and Camo schemes, we know Battlefront have numerous painting tutorials why not included all of the ones relevant to this book? Such as the British Airborne, or US Airborne or maybe a British Commando one? This is pure laziness, because they Copy and pasted from "Hells Highway" how hard would it have been to copy and paste from "A bridge too far" or any other book or Tutorial they have produced?

I am paying for a revised book, so I expect at the price paid that the book has some new content, and the older content is revised and the scope of the book is comprehensive in content. This book whilst in many ways good, it could have been alot more, especially in the painting section at the rear and also the Scheldt section is only 42 pages of completely New Content in a book of 194 pages and one or two lists within that 42 pages were copy-paste from existing lists on the Website.

GOOD

1. Revised values/ points and platoons in some lists.
2. Scheldt Campaign.
3. Lots of Lists.

Bad

1. Not a lot that's new.
2. Poor painting section.
3. Too much Copy and Paste from other books.

6.5 out of 10, I'm keeping it because I want to play LW in this theatre, not because I'm overly happy, I was expecting a bit more and at 8/10 I would be happy.

See i've just got mine out.

I think that for me it has a lot of added value as I run canadian, armour, armoured cars and armoured recce, all of which have had good updates, i now can have them as Trained (TT) or now Vet, lots of new options for them and revised points costs.

My para's i'm more dubious about as whilst the majority of support has come down, (e.g glider pilots, 6pds - well they're the same cost, but improved anti tank) I've lost a lot of flexibility, such as no sporadic air support, no longer having frost in s normal para company, and the engineers are now very expensive.

There's also a couple of annoying bits like jeeps now being in platoons of 6/8 where as the box has 7!

Now onto bridge by bridge

I actually echo all of what you have put above, I was just annoyed that i've had to shell out money for more of what I already have it would have softened the blow if it had been really comprehensive, things like the painting guides etc are an easy addin and add further value.

Hm.... Jeeps now 8...Yup just seen that myself..

Do you think they will release a new boxed set of 8 of them?

Major Goughs Squadron force was not that large I think it was like 30 Jeeps max.

I don't know, I would hope so otherwise I'm after one more jeep!

My biggest issue is now trying to sort out my list(s) for corrivalry, as without frost in the main list i need to rethink my plans, but here goes!

My night attack list 1750

Urquhart
HQ + 3 Piats
2 Full Para Platoons
Para Assault platoon with Piat and LM
Glider Pilot 3 sections
Recce 3 sections
Airlanding light battery (8 guns) with medium support
3 6Pdr's and transports

My defense list 1750

Urquhart
HQ with Piat * 3
2 Full Para Platoon
Airlanding light battery (8 guns) with medium support
4 6 Pdrs
4 17 Pdrs
Engineers (2 sections + cart)
1 section HMG's

Hmm... Methinks I'll be keeping this as a Easy Army-only purchase.

However, I'll certainly be grabbing a pair or more of those sawn-off Daimlers!

GLider Pilot units are quite impressive in terms of size and the amount of short range firepower they throw about, are they any good? I've never used them?

Well, I am currently re-organising my still in Box Commando's and trying to source some cheap Buffalo's because the Scheldt is definitely an interesting battle, and the Canadians add a bit of spice to the Commando DIV Support.

But for 440 pts the Commando Company is alot of Troops then add in the Buffalo's with their MG's, you've got a fairly potent anti-infantry unit. Running two of these as per Force Organisation Chart is certainly going to be a fairly hard hitting force.

They've served me well as my 3rd platoon in an assault, the 2 para platoons lead the way, and are backed up by the pilots who can pin most teams!

Now that they're bigger it should be more interesting, though I'm slightly annoyed as you're one stand short in the glider pilot blister for the new platoon size!

Oh and one now gets eyes and ears exciting


P.s I noticed that the Canadian armoured recce is now amazing!

Previously CT with cautious movement and no fireflies, now CV with cautious movement, eyes and ears, and up to 2 fireflies!

If you stay in cover and move you're a 5+ to hit minimum

I like the Inns of Court....looks like a giggle to play.

Would you say that it's worth it to pick up Market Garden if you don't play very often, or would it behoove someone to just pick up A Bridge Too Far?

Hmmm difficult call...I would just pay Gregg at Easy army.

Because you get the lists for like $2.

Old books never really fall out per-see, as you can still play them but if you are playing on the tournament circuit etc, it will state V3 late War the following books etc.

So for you as an occasional gamer I wouldn't bother. I don't play much Eastern Front, so I bought Grey Wolf and Red Bear off Easy Army for like $4.00 just for interest.

I'd agree of you don't play regularly then easy army, if you do or if you like nice easy history then get the books!

 Reaver83 wrote:
I'd agree of you don't play regularly then easy army, if you do or if you like nice easy history then get the books!

Or, go get the lists from Easy Army, and then pick up a copy of A Bridge Too Far!

 infinite_array wrote:

 Reaver83 wrote:
I'd agree of you don't play regularly then easy army, if you do or if you like nice easy history then get the books!

Or, go get the lists from Easy Army, and then pick up a copy of A Bridge Too Far!

But the points will be wrong won't they especially in a V3 game, you could be having a huge Advantage or Disadvantage. Plus if you bought the Market Garden Book, it wouldn't marry up with a Bridge too far. I would just buy Know your Enemy and unlock the book for $2, or am I missing something here?

Not sure how important it is for me to buy Market Garden as is, I've been using the 11th Armoured Division for the Brits.

Overall Impression

The layout of the book is what we've come to expect from battlfront, I especially liked the map showing the race to Berlin. They provided enough historical info for those of us with little knowledge about the operations - for example i knew nothing about the Scheldt until i heard it was in this book

The one thing that is dissapointing is how thin the book is, it's only 173 pages, whereas Turning Tide is over 240, and Cassino is 140ish!

British/Polish Paratroopers

So where to begin? Well lets start with the special characters, they're all back, but Frost is now only available i his perimeter force - well hopefully they'll stop some people having him and Urquhart in the same force!The polish also now have their new national rule which helps bring them in line, and makes them scarily hard to break!

We also now have a couple of new lists available, as well as our old favourites.

Frost's perimeter is unchanged, as is your normal Parachute and airlanding company!

The Polish though get some handy new options, with 2 slots now for Armour/Recon, I never liked the polish list due to it's lack of armour, but now being able to get 4 fireflies, they have enough! They also get access to lots of artillery including the lovely Medium battery.

The Recon list get's a slight improvement in it's access to anti tank, but is otherwise unchanged, though I think it's worth noting they now are recon not some almost recon, and the HQ gets access to a pair of Polsten's

The new lists are lead by the Glider pilot Squadron - now I love this! An entire army with access to SMG's I see this being a great list for night attacks, moving up over the first few turns unde cover of night before they assault guns blazing!

The other list is the Airbourne Field engineer company, now to start with I think this is an interesting army, especially on defense, the basic unit has gone up significantly in price from ABTF, but they re now rifle/mg, and have a PIAT in built!

As for the units available, well obviously the first thing is the upgunning of the 6 and 17Pdr guns. The points for the 6Pdr's has stayed the same, but they now gain the ability to have half the unit combat attached, I'm thinking that using this + Frost's reinforcement platoon could create one evil platoon! The 17Pdr's have gone up quite significantly in price, but I'm less sold on them, as they can still be ignored, but the threat is brilliant.

The mortars and HMG's have all had a reduction in line with TT, I've mentioned the engineers, but the Glider pilot platoon has had a significant upgrade! For a start they now can be another 3 stands big, you can also add in an MG and if needed have some rifle/MG teams, but it's the new rules are the interesting, firstly the platoon commander gaining 'eye's and ears' and being able to combat attach them out to some other platoons to bolster their defensive/offensive capabilities - well worth the slight points increase!

The other big unit change is Recon platoon, having gone from being almost recon to full recon is an answer to all my prayers! and also being able to dismount them with all MG's is an interesting option in some defensive missions I think.

My one massive gripe with both the pilots and the Recon is that the blisters are now out of date! and have a stand too few - but I will learn to get over this!

The airlanding light battery keeps the same rules, but drops significantly in points which is very welcome, but the one change I really dislike is the 'improvement' in air support, you now get limited and priority but no access to sporadic, and frankly I liked the limited amount, it felt worth the points unlike the new options.

Canadians

Now I don't have as much experience with canadian's as para's; but even I can see some huge changes!

Firstly they're now Veteran's this I think is excellent as you can play both trained and have a campaign where they gain experience. You can also now give some vehicles duckbills which is nice. Oh and you now get higher anti tank on some vehicles, has anyone mentioned that?

There are some returning lists from TT, Canadian Armoured Squadron, this has a lot of new options, with multiple motor platoons, and rocket launchers being the stand out units to me.

The other big change here is that the Shermans can now have 2 Fireflies, which is lots of fun!

The next list is the Canadian Armoured Recon Squadron, now I'd tried this once previously from TT as it has a couple fun rules, cautious movement and always attack. But lacked any fireflies.

But now they've had a huge upgrade, they've lost always attack, but now have cautious movement AND eyes and ears! as well as this they have access for up to 2 fireflies, that's just insane in some ways they really should get nice and close quite safely I think. Strangely though compared to TT they have lost quite a few support options.

The motor company have also had a bit of an upgrade with access to RAM Kangaroos which is going to keep them safer on the move. They also now have access to the Churchill crocodile which is a god option too. It also has the scout platoon, with the ability to take the ingenious PIAT battery!

There are also of course the might Manitoba Dragoons, this time they're even more hardcore due to their veteran nature! I'm really looking forward to trying them out again, as they will be smaller, but should have even better ant tank thanks to the more fireflies! The one thing which does annoy me from my old list is that they've changed the Bofors to 2 a section not 3, meaning with one is redundant or I need a 4th!

The rifle platoon also get access to lots of new transports, and the usual plethora of support options that the brits infantry are used too.

In summary

So there it is, the new MG book part done, I hope that you've enjoyed my write up, I'm now looking forward to trying the forces out, and trying some of the new special rules some of the units have picked up.

 mwnciboo wrote:

 infinite_array wrote:

 Reaver83 wrote:
I'd agree of you don't play regularly then easy army, if you do or if you like nice easy history then get the books!

Or, go get the lists from Easy Army, and then pick up a copy of A Bridge Too Far!

But the points will be wrong won't they especially in a V3 game, you could be having a huge Advantage or Disadvantage. Plus if you bought the Market Garden Book, it wouldn't marry up with a Bridge too far. I would just buy Know your Enemy and unlock the book for $2, or am I missing something here?

I meant the book by Cornelius Ryan.

Oh sorry completely got the wrong end of the stick lol....



My apologies...



Look at the top of the picture in the background, thats the copy from my Grandad who served in 1st Airborne, he got it from Cornelius Ryan after being interviewed and it's signed. It's my most treasured possession he left to me.....Technically to my Dad, but Dad gave it straight to me because he knew I was much more fascinated by this than he was at my Age, I suppose growing up in the 1960's it was all still a bit raw.

A more full review of the allied book!

http://breakthroughassault.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/market-garden-compilation-review-allies.html?m=1

I have not gotten theese books yet.Can anyone tell me if their is any decent SS lists?

 Reaver83 wrote:


The Polish though get some handy new options, with 2 slots now for Armour/Recon, I never liked the polish list due to it's lack of armour, but now being able to get 4 fireflies, they have enough! They also get access to lots of artillery including the lovely Medium battery.

Re: the Polish -

The problem is, in order to take the Medium Battery you must also take a Royal Artillery Battery. I it seems like that vastly reduces the usefulness of that entry - too much artillery at that point?

What do you think?

I agree the four Fireflies are nice. Now I need to just get two more (another Open Fire box or Ebay?). Decisions, decisions....

Also, Priority Air is nice.

Mez

The rule to get the medium support battery has always been you need some 25pdrs's first.

I don't think it's too bad as you can get the 25's dropping smoke, and the 5.5 dropping pain!

Priority air I'm not a fan of, in fact I'm pretty annoyed that sporadic went! Due to needing to be 16inches away for air to work, if you are assaulting by turn 4 at the latest you'll probably be too close for it to be effective, and on defence it depends how quickly the enemy close in on you! I'd think about limited though

 Reaver83 wrote:

Priority air I'm not a fan of, in fact I'm pretty annoyed that sporadic went! Due to needing to be 16inches away for air to work, if you are assaulting by turn 4 at the latest you'll probably be too close for it to be effective, and on defence it depends how quickly the enemy close in on you! I'd think about limited though

Yeah, I think Limited is probably the best. That gives you a 87%, 80%, and 70% the first three turns of getting air.

Sporatic was just annoying for me - 70% the first turn, but then drops to 55% and 33%. And for some reason it always seemed like I would miss on that first turn when I really needed it.

Priority gives you 94%, 91%, and 87% the first three turns, almost ensuring it comes in. But I think the points might be better spent elsewhere. But without artillery, that was pretty much my only way of taking out tanks in my old list, (I also had one Firefly). Now with four Fireflies, Limited will probably be the perfect choice.

As for artillery - never used the big guns before. I like the idea of one for smoking, and one for destruction. I'll have to try that out. Are two batteries enough for the 5.5"? Or is it "go big, or go home" for that stuff?

Mez

 col. krazy kenny wrote:
I have not gotten theese books yet.Can anyone tell me if their is any decent SS lists?

These books only have Allied lists in them, Bridge by Bridge (wish they'd kept German names for Axis intel books) will have SS for Market Garden. Whether those lists fit into your definition of 'decent' only you can answer.

@Col Kenny there are some awesome lists in "Bridge by Bridge" for all the Kampfgruppe that the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and SS threw into the defence of Holland. I grabbed my friends book for a 10 minute peruse and I think it's a damn good book, and there is alot more in it.

 mwnciboo wrote:
@Col Kenny there are some awesome lists in "Bridge by Bridge" for all the Kampfgruppe that the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and SS threw into the defence of Holland. I grabbed my friends book for a 10 minute peruse and I think it's a damn good book, and there is alot more in it.

Sounds like i may pick up the seperate book next month.I would get the two book set.but for now i do not need it and i would be tempted to start my Brit. Commando raiding force.I do not think the wife would be to happy with me buying a another army at the moment.

The axis book, is a bit thinner, but I think there are more new lists, ranging from SS fortified to CT tigers, CV Jagpanthers and flak88 battery's

CT tigers.......With Panzer Ace Skills? That could make them a bit more hardcore for the points price. I'll have to have another leaf through the "Axis book" on Thursday.

The CT tiger list has no tiger skills, no wide tracks and is unreliable!

as for good SS lists, the SS fortified company looks really good!
you still get SS brinkman and graebner, oh and spindler.

Well that makes that tiger list, nothing more than glorified AT Guns/ random-movable pillboxes, unreliable is crippling. Is this to simulate the wehrmacht sacraficing their normal high engineering standards in the rush to get "Anything" to the front?

Less points and less petrol maybe?