Battleground 2017-show report.

What can you say about Battleground 2017?-the organisation,planning and execution were all magnificent,and a big thank-you must go to Leon and his "crew" at Pendraken for a fabulous day-Free admission,free parking and free coffee-what was there not to like??

The  show had a plethora of traders,and games galore,the "footfall" was good and everyone (except the Ainsty's stand!!) said they had done well,and were looking forward to next year!!!

The doors have just opened,and the spending starts-talk about Black Friday-this was Hyper Saturday!

The "bring and Buy" stall was doing great trade-reasonable and realistic prices-I even paid a guy full price for a couple of plastic kits!!

Who's that in the "geranium red" shirt,marked Westerhope Wargames Groupie??

It's our old mate Chris from a land far,far away called Yorkshire!!-he popped up to see us at the show,and to spend,spend,spend!!

Robbie was there(of course) as enthusiastic as ever-good man!!

Charlie Wesencraft was there,talking to Paul and Brian.

There were a variety of clubs from all over the country putting on demo. and participation games.One in particular seems to have caught Brian's eye...........................

What is he looking at??-the group calling themselves the "Old Guard Wargamers" were on the next table to us,so we had to look at this almost the whole day-look away now if you are of a nervous disposition(you have been warned!!)

For God's sake man,buy a pair of trousers that fit!!-If you can't afford a pair,why don't you make some money by hiring yourself out as a"bike rack"-dirty bugger!!!!!!The Old guard isn't all it's "cracked up" to be!!

This is the display at the end of our table-it drew alot of attention from other gamers and the general punters-a good talking point.

This is Graham and Brian "guarding" the table very early on during the day-the game went well and the interest in the period seems to be growing-well done us!!

All in all a great day.

Wellington in India 1805.

Last night we had a 100% turnout(plus Charlie Wesencraft "popped" in to say hello and invite us to his club's Xmas game!) so we ran through the game we are putting on at Stockton on Saturday.
It has been pointed out,by some "knob" that strictly, Wellington in India is incorrect,and that it should be Wellesley in India!!-we know,but it is accepted in Historical circles that Wellington is the name to use!!!!!!!
Not wanting to spoil the visual treat too much,I'll just print a few photo's so you can see what we are hoping to represent.

Most of the table can be seen in this shot-Dave is advising us on tactics-all of the figures are from his expanding collection.

Native troops attacking the village-spectacular!

One of the many gun batteries in action.

Brian's medication seems to be wearing off quicker and quicker these days-worrying!

A view from the village,as the second attack is about to start.

One final shot of the action around the Fort.
Roll on Saturday.

No Game Sunday!

Due to an unfortunate set of circumstances on Sunday,the great-looking game I had planned,couldn't take place,so I have re-scheduled it for next Sunday,when,hopefully,we will have a full turn out!
The week after that will be a no-gamer also,as we will have been down to the Stockton Show,putting on either a "Wellington in India" game or a Participation game,based on Zero fighters attacking an American Aircraft Carrier.

Game Preview. Ancients.

Even by my standards,Sunday's game scenario is a bit "tricky",and will test the command decisions of all players-see what you think...........................

A bit complex,but realistic and interesting.

The Gallic attack on Cicero's 7th Legion-contact has been made!!

The Gallic attack on the 7th's Camp-contact has been made!

Caesar leads the 10th Legion to the rescue.

Hmmmmm,that looks tempting!!!!

The Roman Generals will,in particular,have to have their wits about them!-Caesar's Camp must not fall into Gallic hands,but he must help Cicero.
All terrain features will halve movement.

Old Age Kicks in!!!

As per usual on a Monday morning,I took my trusty camera,and a head full of ideas for an amusing and informative blog, into my "computer room"(back bedroom!) only to find that,although I had taken the usual amount of photographs,none could be published because my memory stick thingy had been left in my adaptor in the computer.In other words I had been taking photographs (about 20) which I could never put on the blog!!
The game we had last night had to be ammended because Dave couldn't attend,and was still a Marlburian feast for the eyes-the only thing I can say is that Graham and I were "trounced" by Paul and Brian!!
Roll on next Sunday,when,hopefully, I will have remembered how to operate my camera properly!!-we will/might have an ancients game,but who knows?

7YW Solo Game.

The Wife has just cracked her hilarious joke(which she does every time I play a solo game) asking if I've been in the garage "playing with myself!!"-no,I've been in the garage playing by myself-a subtle but significant difference!!
I decided to play a 7YW game with my Prussians and Russians this afternoon,and set the game up as shown...........................

This is the game set-up,with the Russians on the left,and Prussians on the right.I use a simplified version of our "house" rules,relying purely on Morale to decide who wins and who loses,subject to the usual dice throws.

The Russian infantry opened the show by advancing on the farm house,stoutly defended by some Prussian Grenadiers!

The Prussian cavalry are advancing towards the Russian cavalry-I've a feeling that this is going to be bloody!!

As the action around the farmhouse "hots up" the Russian Hussars have charged the Prussian Dragoons-was this a wise move???-if the Hussars are beaten,the whole of the Russian infantry line would be in danger!!!

The heavy cavalry from both sides are moving into contact,with the Russian Dragoons "shadowing the right flank-however a well placed gun battery and some infantry support,knocked them about a bit!!!

The right flank,Prussian Dragoons are also taking a bit of a battering from a well-placed Russian gun-this is going to be tight!

Due to a "shocking" set of dice throws,the Russian Hussars have taken off back to Moscow,leaving one unit of Dragoons to chase them,whilst the other unit crashes into the static Russian infantry!!!!

The heavy cavalry battle is raging,whilst the Russian Dragoons are being subjected to volley and gun fire-they did not like it,and turned tail and fled!!!!

I wonder what the Russian is for "woe is me"-the whole of the flank has collapsed,again,due to some horrendous dice throws,but exhilarating stuff!!

This shot is taken from the Russian side of the board,and shows the "hammered " dragoons being chased by some Prussian cuirassiers-the other cavalry melees went on for some time with neither side gaining any advantage-that is until a morale throw was called for!!!!!!!!!

The whole bloody lot went!!-what a shambles-the reserve Prussian infantry now formed line and advanced,and the Russians had nothing left!
What a game,thoroughly enjoyable.Under normal circumstances I am not a great fan of Solo games,but every now and then it is a wonderful experience-I would recommend it.