I was inspired,by Sunday's game, to play a solo game this afternoon(Wimbledon is really to blame!) and I chose ACW.
I have developed a very simple and fast set of rules,based on the number of regiments in a brigade,times an average dice-loser gets to "sport" an orange pom-pom-when two pom-poms are picked up,a regiment is removed,thus reducing the fire power and melee power.Artillery fire is done by throwing a hit/miss dice,if a hit is recorded,the target receives an orange pom-pom!!! simple but good fun(I think)
This shows the table at move number one- I am using Kallistra terrain pieces,having given up on the hex pieces(but that's a different story!)-the Union army is on the left-all figures are from Warrior's 15mm range.
The Confederate artillery opens up,however the gunners must have gone to the "Blind Pew school of gunnery",and the Union gunners must have had laser-guided ammunition!!
The Union left flank-too crowded for effective movement,a change of plan is needed!
An overall view of the table about move number 4- The "Rebs" are advancing towards the river,where the "Yanks" are waiting for them!!
Fire-fights on the river bank,and a cavalry melee on the Union right flank.
Because of the damage done in the first few moves,by the artillery,the Confederates are suffering!!
Top photo shows the Confederate infantry taken a good old beating,and being out-flanked,bottom photo shows their cavalry being pushed back,and on the verge of retiring(it's good being retired!)
One final shot showing the sorry state of the Confederate army!
I find these solo games quite "taxing" in a funny sort of way,and very enjoyable,but won't replace our club games-however a good way to spend a couple of hours,apart from eventually coming back into the house to the WIFE'S hilarious,and now well-used, but boring, saying-"Have you been playing with yourself in the garage?"
Roll on Sunday-hopefully the boys will be coming up with a game.
Last night's game wasn't good-it was AWESOME!!
Because Dave and Graham couldn't make it,it fell to Paul,Brian and myself to get to grips with an exciting scenario,which proved tricky(to say the least!) to both sides.
Because this was originally made as a 5 hander game,we had to mess about a bit,but as usual,we solved the problem!-Paul commanded the British square and the compound,Brian commanded the Zariba troops,and I had to command both the Haddendowah and Dervish troops!!
On move one,Paul "flashed" a message to Brian to come out of the Zariba,and join the British in rescuing Kitchener.What Paul didn't know was that Brian's troops only had 2 shots left and their morale was "rock-bottom"-however!!!!!!! for some strange reason(known only to Brian) the Zariba troops left the safety of the defensive position,and moved to join the British...............
Here they come-with their morale lower than a snake's goolies,and hardly any ammo.Where do you think the Dervish hordes are??-in the best tradition of pantomime-They're behind you!!!!
It's just as well that we don't have a swear box in the garage!!!-Brian was not a happy bunny!
As a prelude to attacking the square with my Haddendowah infantry,I unleashed my camel units against Paul's Lancers-this tussle went on for a few moves,until I killed his Brigadier,and he lost the melee-hurrah!!
As my dervish hordes swoop down on Brian,and the camel/lancer melee continues,Paul is shooting into the flank of the Dervish back line infantry-this would greatly tell later on in the game!-It's about time I set loose my Haddendowah infantry(I had quite a few of them!)
Here they come!-Brian had now turned his troops around to face the threat to his rear,but now had a new threat to his new rear!!!-thrilling stuff(if only we had a swear box!!) But what of the compound and Kitchener??
Well,it was under attack from rifles and artillery fire,plus a couple of warbands "lurking" in the sand dunes,just waiting for the right moment to attack!!
My infantry attack against the square is being shot to pieces,but the Dervish hordes are making "mince-meat" of Brian's Egyptians.
Paul's Naval brigade are using their Gardiner and Gatling guns to very good effect-if only they would jam...........................................
They did!!-allowing my black tsunami of hairy warriors to get into hand-to-hand combat!
The square is broken,and I am sending my other infantry(by now they have mopped up Brian's whole command!) to attack the other sides of the square-another loud hurrah!!
Brian's command!!!
With a "gulp" Paul prepares his square for one last effort-to no avail!!!
But what of the compound I hear you ask???
Well,top photo shows the Black Watch being soundly beaten in a furious melee,and the bottom photo shows the Haddendowah warriors doing a sort of "Hokey-Cokey" around Kitchener!!
You put your left spear in,you put your left spear out..................................
This was another great game full of good humour,banter and foul and abusive language!! what more could you ask for??
Roll on next Sunday-I will be encouraging the boys to come up with a game!!
On the 24th June 2013,our old mate and fellow wargamer Tommy Mclelland died,and I promised his daughter that every year,as close to the 24th as possible,we would hold a game in his memory-last night was Tommy's game.
I chose an English Civil War game,and with 4 of us present,we chose sides and away we went!
I was Essex,Brian was Charles,Graham was Cromwell,and Paul was Rupert.
I had instructed everyone to observe the troops they commanded,formulate a proper plan,move their troops to their positions,and way we would go!!-the only exception to this was Brian/Charles command who could be in position,within the town,to start the game.
My attack on the town(and the King!) commences-I noticed that Brian's support troops were very close to his front line troops,and gambled that if I could get him to melee,and beat him,His supports would be "compromised"-this actually worked(there's always a first for everything!)
We have all wargamed together for hundreds of years,and you get to know what some people will do when faced with a certain situation and certain troop types-Graham will always attempt to charge as soon as possible,when commanding Cavalry,and this he did last night!!-two things resulted:-1) he stopped Paul in his tracks-hurrah!
2) he lost his cavalry!!!-not hurrah!
But the main result was that the whole centre was held up and no infantry actually got into melee or a fire-fight!!!
Meanwhile,back in the town,I have instigated a "push of pike",and won the ensuing melee,pushing Brian back on his support troops-hurrah!!
Back in the centre,the cavalry "slugfest" is still going on,and on and on!!!!
In the town,things a looking desperate!-Brian now unleashed his elite cavalry across the stream and bridge-was this the master stroke,was he going to roll Graham's flank up??-NO!! he turned them a against my advancing infantry and cavalry!!-a furious melee developed,but that gave Graham time to bring his "Ironsides" troopers onto Brian's flank-hurrah,again!!
That says it all!!-what do you mean,you've lost your cavalry??-they're not lost-I know where they are-lying in heaps in front of your un-used infantry!!!!-Paul appears to have gone AWOL!!
One last shot(which is more than the Infantry did!!) showing the centre.Brian had capitulated in the town(well,they can't touch you for it!),and as that was the whole objective of the game,the Parliamentarians were declared the winners!!
This was another good game,full of banter,colour and foul language!
Roll on next Sunday,probably a Dervish game,incorporating Brian's newly painted Medical vignette,and his newly painted commanders!
Not feeling too grand today,so will make this blog shortish!
Graham,Brian and I played this Greek vs Greek game last night,which resulted in a resounding defeat for the Spartans(ME!!)
Scenario and table lay-out,I was Spartans,Graham was Thebans and Plateans,whilst Brian was Athenians.
Attack and counter-attack across the stream!!
Top photo shows the struggle in the centre,bottom photo shows the struggle on the Spartan right flank(including a cavalry battle!)
My Corinthian allies retiring(it's good being retired!!)-an omen of doom!
Fragmented lines in the centre and right flank-methinks it's all over!!
All is lost for the Spartan cause!!
Despite the brevity of this blog,this was a good game(lasting 13 moves!) and my brilliant plan was thwarted by some terrible dice throws-there's always a next time!!
roll on next Sunday.
As there will be only three of us on Sunday,I thought I would put on a simple "kick and rush" Ancients game,featuring Spartans and Athenians and their respective Allies.
Scenario,with in-built objectives!-there will be one Spartan commander,and two Athenian commanders(to be picked on the night).
The table as Graham and Brian will see it on Sunday night.-Spartans on the left,and Athenians on the right.
Spartan allies facing Athenian allies across the Lokis stream.
The Spartan army,split into two distinct sections due to terrain features.
Two views of the Athenian column "snaking" its way towards the far hill.
The Spartan King and his bodyguard-with your shield or on it,old chap!!
Roll on Sunday!!
