ACW test battle.

Last night Graham,Dave and I had a game with my Warlord Games figures ,and what a game it turned out to be-with 60 "regiments" per side it couldn't have been anything else!!

Top photo is the scenario and terrain map,bottom is the table before any troops were put on it.I commanded the Confederates,whilst Graham and Dave(who approached the game, and my solo rules with an open mind!) commanded the Union army.

For those of you who can't remember what Dave looks like,that's him on the right!!-The troops are moving into their respective positions,and the "ding-dong" game was about to start.

These two photo's show the relative positions of both armies-my attack against the "snake" fence and the walled farm came to a quick end,as the cover and poor dice throws saw two full brigades falter and retire(it's good being retired!)-the attack against the "cornfield" was a mixed bag,as both Dave's troops and mine suffered the same amount of casualties-thrilling and spectacular stuff!.

In this shot,Dave has launched a two brigade attack,intending to drive me from the hill-he succeded!!(in grand style!)

Gaps are starting to appear in my line,and Dave has now sent a brigade to contest the crossing,I was just about to stabilise the position with my reserve division,when............................

Graham launched his reserve division against my hard-pressed left flank!-I had to redeploy my reserves,to match him-by this time I was exhausted!!!

Top photo shows Dave's thrust up the hill,driving my shot-to-pieces brigade backwards!! Botttom photo shows the whole battlefield,and the sorry state of the Confederate army-a well deserved win for Graham and Dave.We discussed the game and the rules,and Dave said he enjoyed it,but I feel that he had "reservations",maybe another couple of games will sway him.

Roll on next Sunday,Brian is back from his holidays,and we will probably have an Ancients game,using my 15mm figures,and  my solo rules!

ACW epic Walord Games.

I now have 50 "regiments" per side painted up,so thought I would "roll out" the figures for the "boys" using my solo games rules-this we did last night.......................

Top photo shows the game set-up,with the Confederates on the left-Paul and Graham commanded the Union and I took on the roll of "Rebel" commander.I explained,very briefly, the rules(which are so simple!) and off we went!Bottom photo is a detail of a Union Brigade,5 regiments plus artillery and Brigadier figure.

We got stuck into it as soon as possible-red "pom-poms" denoting casualties! Paul decided to go for a manoeuvering game,and the simplicity of my rules became apparent-basically you can "elasticate" time and movement to produce a very realistic game-I was soon in trouble as I was attacked frontally by Graham and out-flanked by Paul-will I ever learn??

Two action shots-top is of Graham's frontal attack,bottom is Paul's double thrust against my left flank-thrilling stuff!

Paul is forcing my troops to retire(it's good being retired!)-the difference in numbers is very obvious!!

By some lucky dice throws from me,Graham's attack has crumbled,and he ordered a general retreat-I quickly follows up and the flank was mine-but with Paul winning the other flank,a draw was inevitable(well that's my take on the situation!)

As a test game this went very well,and both Graham and Paul liked the idea of Grand movement by Brigades and Divisions-I will get the other ten "regiments" painted this week,and will plan another game for next Sunday.I feel that the red "pom-poms" detract from the visual aspect of the game,so what to do?-change them to BLUE pom-poms-keep it simple stupid!!

 

Action in the Sudan.

Apologies for short delay in writing the battle/game report,but here goes...................

Top photo is scenario,bottom is table lay-out before any movement-Brian was in charge(?) of camp B,whilst Paul was in charge of camp A-Graham commanded the Haddendowah,and I commanded the Dervish.(Dave couldn't saw through his work ball and chain,so wasn't available!)

Top shows my furious attack on the fort,resulting in the fort troops abandoning it and racing in front of the advancing Bengal Lancers-this was a surprise to Paul who had to halt his advance onto Grahams flank(it's difficult refereeing and playing you know,I had various pieces of paper to give to both Paul and Brian,but as a player I had to give most of them up!!)

Having captured the fort,I am moving my troops against Paul's centre and the outpost-casualties from rifle fire is decimating my Ansars!!! But what of the Haddendowah???

Graham's objective was to attack the town,and he advanced in grand style,however he failed to notice the magnificent firing line being put in place by Brian(how???) being shot at frontally and in the flank,there was only going to be one outcome!!

Top photo shows the Haddendowah's brave charge,but still ignoring the flanking firing line,being shot to pieces! Bottom photo shows the same action from inside the town-a melee did take place against the town walls,but casualties from the rifle fire had taken its toll,and the Haddendowah were beaten!!

Top photo shows my only success in the game-I have over-run Paul's battery,but the rest of my attack has stalled due to clever fire and retire tactics from Paul-you can see in the background that Graham's troops have retired(it's good being retired!) and the game is over-we asked for a draw but the British commanders said NO!!!!

Another good game,laughter abounded,as did the banter,rude jokes and filthy language-nothing ever changes!!!

I have enough of the Warlord Games ACW figures painted now to put on a game,using my "Solo" rules,so roll on next Sunday.

)

Game preview for Sunday 15th August.

When the "boys" come along on Sunday they had better be wearing their sunglasses and desert boots,because we are in the Sudan!

Top photo is the terrain map and objectives,bottom shows the table as the "boys" will see it as they arrive.

The "Hill Fort" plus one or two Haddendowah and Dervish infantry and cavalry looking to attack it!!!

The Outpost,and both British camps-all looks too quiet and peaceful to me!

On your marks,get set..................................

I always enjoy Colonial games,they are fast and furious,provoke lots of banter, but above all they are always fun-roll on Sunday.

 

The radio truck, dragon and a ferret!

 My Western desert collection marches onwards.

This 3D printed radio truck comes with a canopy roof and detachable radio set.

A crewman from a tank kit will sit with it.

I used some Bf109 decal dashboard dials to add a touch of detail to the radio set

Drilled for the twin aerials and wires fitted

The dragon was a pre war carrier used for artillery and supplies. It was used into WW2 and until I received this was unaware of it's existence, many thanks for the model courtesy of Chris

I decided to add a homemade cammo net canopy fitted to compete the model,  as per the WW2 photo.

Finally the ferret recce car is on the table too! Just a driver and some radio mast & baggage to add

Battle of Fort Despair 1758.

Last night,Paul,Graham,Brian and I had an interesting and unusual game,played out in the wilds of Canada,involving French,British,Rangers,Courer de Bois and Indians !!

Top photo shows the scenario,botom shows the table before any movement.Brian and I took command of the Regular French troops and Indians,whilst Paul and Graham commanded the relief column and fort troops plus some "friendlies"

My Indians begin their attack!-I was hoping to stop the column,giving Brian time to either storm the fort,or turn to face the British threat.

With a "whoop" and a "holler" my Indians gave one blast of muskets,then in with the tomahawk and knife-the British responded with a tremendous volley,then fought for their tiny lead lives!! The British "friendlies" attacked my left hand village,and by the rules of the night,I had to defend it-and so I did-however not very well!!!!!

Brian's troops(all the regulars!) seem not to have noticed the masses of red-coated figures bearing down on his position-surely he must have a "master plan" up his sleeve?????

My Indians,everywhere, are facing shit,shot and shell,and being forced to retire(it's good being retired!) some from the table-this is not looking good!-Brian's troops will be facing the same very soon,is he prepared?

Well,he has turned one regiment to face the British and moved two regiments against the "intact" fort walls!! What will he do next?(not even Brian knows the answer to that question!!!!)

After getting his a--e kicked at the fort walls,he is being assailed by the bulk of the British,whilst his other two regulars are admiring the view over the lake-it was all over-the Indians have fled,and Paul's out-flanking manoeuvre is being put into practice-the fort is still in British hands,so the game was declared for Paul and Graham.-another laugh and banter game!

Roll on next week!

As an up-date to my "Epic" project,I have completed 40 "regiments (20 per side) and I think they look good "en masse".......................

I am really enjoying painting these little beauties,and have adopted a fast-painting method,which I am calling "essential painting"-I am only painting the essential parts of the figures,which involves NO DETAIL whatsoever-and from three feet away,you can't tell-simple but effective!