Monday 11 January 2016

Assaye and "El Cid" game

On Saturday,Dave "popped" around to show me his Assaye collection,to date,with a view to putting them on the table so we could look at spacings etc.before the game,to be put on at "Carronade" in Falkirk on 7th May 2016.The collection is not complete yet,but is well in hand for the deadline of end of April.
Dave also brought along a most beautiful model fort/town which he bought on E-bay,which could fit into a dozen periods,but which he thought would look good in Sunday's game featuring the armies of "El Cid" and the Moors.


A map of the battle,a young Arthur Wellesley,commanding the "British" and Allied troops,achieved a great victory over the Indian army,but it was a costly victory,leading to Napoleon calling him the "Sepoy General".


Young Arthur with ADC,beautifully painted and based by Dave,with Sepoy troops in the background-strange pose!!





This shows the first completed Brigade of "British" troops c/w bullock drawn gun-very impressive,the figures are from Redoubt Miniatures,and are a "big" 28mm.The figures require basing with stones,flock etc. and flags,which Dave sources from America!!


This photo shows the Indian brigade fully painted,one of two to be done for the game,and a completed cavalry unit behind-this army is so colourful,especially the command figures.


Another "cracking" paint job by Dave,of an ADC-the whole project is going to be great to see.



How good is this model??-the detail is superb!!-the only draw back is that our bases wouldn't be able to stand on the narrow walkways,so I made a template to fit around the walkways!!
I believe that Dave paid a fair bit of cash for the model,but it was worth every penny!!

Now onto the battle we had last night,6 of us turned up,there should have been 7 but our old mate,Michael,who was down from Aberdeen for the week-end,had to go back home,as his wife had taken ill-we wish her well(and her Father,who was also taken ill!!)



The top photo is the scenario and the bottom photo is the table before any movement,featuring the Fort/Town.
Myself,Graham and Dave were the Spanish,whilst Brian,Richard and Paul were the Moors.

Paul was defending the Town against Dave's attacks-and as usual his "demon" dice throwing denuded Dave's infantry of Officers within three moves!!!-how does he do it??

The "Black Guard" have appeared on the ramparts to gloat at Dave's demise!!-doesn't the template work well?


Brian and I both commanded cavalry,on the flank,and clashed almost immediately-we fought several melees before he eventually won the flank,but my infantry did a bit better against Richard's posted on the hill in the background-hurrah!!


In this shot,Graham is advancing against Richard's Cavalry,which he managed to destroy after an exciting battle lasting most of the game-he then advanced his infantry against Paul's flank-great stuff!!

The "misery" continues on Dave's flank,as his infantry are being held by lighter types,and now Paul has brought the "Black Guard" out of the town to complete the victory!!-woe is Dave!!


Graham's cavalry are doing a grand job of driving Richard back,leaving the flank open for his infantry to march to victory(??)


Although my cavalry are heavier types,Brian has out-numbered me,and things are not looking good(again!)


My infantry are now fighting for their little tin lives-the flank is lost,our only hope is that Brian and Richard don't combine their forces and turn on our centre-they wouldn't,would they??


Yes,they bloody well would,and did!!! It will just take someone to point out that the Spanish are beaten......................


The job has fallen to Richard to do just that!!-It must be said at this point that I have never seen such blatant "gloating" as I saw in this game(by both sides,however!!)
A good game played in good spirit-well done lads.




































































11 comments:

  1. Cracking game...you certainly have a good variety of periods and figures amongst you.

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    1. Hi Springinsfeld,thanks for comment,yes we cover a wide variety of periods,and now the "lads" are talking about getting into WW2!!
      It's not my "thing" but I'll give it a try once they get things organised!
      johnc(william)

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    2. No, WW2 wargaming leaves me cold. I'm interested in the history, but there's no colour or splendour in the little soldiers.

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    3. Hi Springinsfeld,yeah,can't beat the Ancients and early horse and musket for colour-an so simple in their weaponry-no 75mm Pila or 2" swords to contend with!
      johnc(william)

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  2. John,
    Thats a very fine fort you've got there you lucky so and so's.

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    1. Hi Robbie,it's a good job Dave is filthy rich,and can afford these things-but yes it is rather spectacular,and will be put to good use over quite a few periods.
      johnc(william)

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  3. Another top game William. What a marvellous terrain feature that fort is!

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    1. Hi James,it is rather good is it not??-we are lucky that Dave browses the internet and E-bay,and comes up with bargains.(although this item was not cheap!)-look out for it in many games to come!
      cheers,johnc(william)

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    2. It looks like an Ian Weekly job to me...remember him?

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    3. Hi Sprinsfeld,the good old days,the good old days!!-it's not one of Ian's models,Dave did say who manufactured it,but I can't remember the name-one of the new kids on the block,I think.
      johnc(william)

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  4. I think Paul is looking towards my direction rather aggressively in that last photo. A bit like his dice throwing!

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