War With A Mate

Breakdowns, bayonets and battle planning. The guys wave goodbye to Operation Stage 2 and buckle up for the final Operation Stage of Turn One. All eyes are on the centre of the map for the upcoming engagement that is set to end the turn. The mailbag sheds new light on the Heathcliff mystery and the alternative roles within the game. Stick around to the end if YOU are a rental tenant in need of some vindication.

Tactical cunning is in the air, and Andy has been breathing in an unhealthy level of it, call a doctor, quick! Upon their return from the War With A Mate company retreat, the guys are tackling the twilight portions of Operation Stage 2. Combat comes to a tense halt, with truck movement on the horizon. Another Māori centric history segment vows to showcase some of the most intimidating folks in the desert, and James tries to tackle the desert heat with more lateral-thinking Common Ground.

Decisive assault in Operation Stage Two has left James reeling from some very heavy losses on the ground, leaving Andy braced for what could be a disproportionate response. Looking at some of the more formidable units in the history segment, Andy treats us to some information on the 28th Māori Battalion. An episode that…wait, what is this? Who did this?!

Batten down the hatches friends, it’s time for the guys to unfurl the battle plans and look at the current state of play. Quite the different approach this week as Andy and James reflect on 100 days of playing The Campaign For North Africa, what they’ve experienced and what the future holds.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s actually 48 planes to be precise, and they’re blowing each other out of the sky! Andy and James tackle their first bit of air combat as James’ bombing run hangs on the line. Amongst this high octane action, we also travel back in time to the conclusive history segment focused on the Long Range Desert Group.

We have liftoff! The planes are finally in the air, and making an impact! Look at them go, glorious flight. From up here, the guys can get a good view of meaty history segment about the Long Range Desert Group's activities, some mail that walks the line between praise and penalising, as well as a Common Ground segment that is primed to save British entertainment.

It’s official - the first Operation Stage (of 351 admittedly) is finally OVER. The guys make steady progress with the second Op Stage, and begin ramping up the realisation that this is a competitive game. A radically changed landscape for the second Op Stage spells trouble. What is the weather? Who goes first? And most importantly, do you remember when Olly Murs wore a hat?

Oh this is quintessential War With A Mate. The trucks are out in storm here, they are making their way across the deserts and our hearts. Touching on the logistics of trucking is this week’s history segment, wherein Andy covers some much more capable “truckers”. A Common Ground segment that is focused on taking things back to basics, as well as a reflection on what makes the guys tick.

What better way to look forward than by looking back? This week the guys are joined by Kam, whose video on the game helped sculpt this twisted ordeal. From perspective on the game, to the paranormal spectre hanging above the trio, to an emotionally charged Common Ground, the message is there in a roundabout way.

And that’s a wrap folks, the first chunk of movement is officially over! With the lion’s share of the first operation stage in the rear view mirror, Andy tries to psychoanalyse some questionable tactical choices made by James - who appears to have cracked under the pressure. An extra-chunky history segment covers the scariest adventure-bros of their time and a Common Ground poised to save the world comes about - with some strings attached.