El Cid-1098,Spain.

Last night we had a 100% turnout for a cracking El Cid game-it is a pity that,as my knowledge of technology,is so crap, I deleted most of the photographs taken,instead of photo's of the storm damage on the estate where I live ,but never mind I saved a few!

This is not El Cid,but El Tree which fell and blocked the only road in and out of our estate!

Top photo is the scenario and terrain map,bottom shows the table before any movement,Brian,Paul and Graham were the Spanish commanders,whilst Malcom,Myself and Dave were the Moorish commanders.

Graham is defending El Cid's camp-Dave is attacking with a considerable force-the open flank was looking very attractive to both sides!

Brian is looking on as Paul and I clash in the centre with all of our considerable cavalry-Malcom,in charge of the Black guard(defending the Moorish camp) is advancing,about to take on the Spanish heavy infantry,commanded by Brian.

Graham is laughing-but Dave's vigorous assault on his position wiped the smile from his face!!-the melee's were great to see,and both sides were hard pressed,until eventually Dave won the flank,and the game.I was severely slaughtered in the centre,by Paul's cavalry,and Malcom managed to keep hold of the Moorish camp-so we(the Moors) were declared the winners!This was a very colourful game,very fast moving,and actually went right down to the wire!-We won't be playing as a club next week,as Dave,Graham and Paul are going to York_Malcom,Brian and I may have a quiet game between us to get Malcom up to speed with our rules etc-it all depends on if I am up to it,as I haven't been too well for the past few days-Diverticulitus is a real pain(ha,ha did you see what I did there?)-Good luck to everyone who is venturing to York.

Baptism of Fire-Sudan.

 Last night we had a "typical" Colonial game-fast and furious,and good fun!

This was the table lay-out,Dervish/Haddendowah on the left,British and Egyptians on the right.The objective of the game was for the Dervish types to capture the two strongpoints and smash the Anglo/Egyptian forces-simple!!!

Top photo shows the British line,bottom shows the Egyptian square,with supporting cavalry.

Malcom can be seen in the top shot,attacking the strongpoint,manned by seamen of the Naval Brigade,bottom shot shows Paul's attack on my Egyptians-bloody stuff!!

As Brian hangs his head in shame at not attacking,Malcom's Haddendowah warriors charge at Graham's thin British line-bottom photo shows just how close they came to breaking it!!!

The Dervishers are getting too close for comfort now,but note that I am maintaining my square formation-well,at least for now!

These two shots show Malcom's victorious attack on the central position-he threw some magnificent dice to drive the Naval troops out of the position,gaining the only victory the Dervish/Haddendowah troops had the whole night!!

Brian,or "Tardy" as we now call him,at last decided to employ the best troops on the board,in a grand out-flanking move,only to be met by the Bengal Lancers and thwarted in the attempt-oh dear,how sad,never mind!!

British line intact,and Haddendowah retiring(it's good being retired!) so an emphatic Anglo/Egyptian win-hurrah!!

Another good game in an important week-end-Saturday(22nd)  was the anniversary of Rorke's Drift/Isandlhwana,and of course today(Monday) is the 24th,which means that it is only 11 months until Christmas Eve!!!

New solo situations!

THE WIFE keeps asking why I am constantly carrying boxes upstairs to my new wargames room .

I suppose I could tell her that I am expanding my range of solo games,but,being a woman, she wouldn't understand!! So what is in the said boxes?

Well,Sailing ships and WW2 aircraft that's what-and I have had a few excellent games,whilst trying out some very simple rules....................

You just couldn't get simpler than this!! but they produced great games........

English and French fleets in top photo,bottom showing the turning circle being used.

Action!! and sunken ships(orange card markers)

Must brush up on my seamanship skills-too many sunken vessels!!!

Now to the WW2 aircraft.................

Brian and I staged this Participation game at the last show run by Tom and Dave at Stockton-it was a great success,so why change a winning formula(which is very similar to the sailing ships method!)

Corsairs and P40's in top photo c/w Carrier,and Zero's in bottom photo.

Start of game and action(smoke indicates plane is firing!)

Anti-aircraft fire from Carrier,and Zero taken lots of casualties,indicated by "smoke" streaming from tail!!

Top photo shows a Zero being shot up the "chuff"(technical flying term!) and bottom shows the end of the game-Americans won the day!These rules will not be to everyone's liking but for a fast and enjoyable afternoon/night they are ideal.

Solo Games "R" us!!

I have been indulging my need for games by spending a fair bit of time in my "new" games room.

I have been concentrating on ACW (two games played already) and today on ECW (also two games played)-I set challenges and objectives for both sides,and try whenever possible, to stick to them,letting the dice decide which side wins,within the realms of realism.

ACW game,the REBS had to hold their position,whilst the Union attacked via flanks and direct assault on the wall-very bloody affair!

The costly assault on the Reb-held wall is shown in top photo,a Reb counter attack on the Union centre is shown in the bottom photo.

These are the "casualties!-10 Union units against 4 Reb units-an emphatic win for the Confederate forces,and a very enjoyable afternoon.

ECW game played today-a straight forward "bash",the objective for both armies was to destroy the enemy!!!

Don't you just love huge cavalry battles and lots of artillery???-followed by line upon line of infantry  firing their muskets before getting stuck in with pike and musket butt!!

I'm thoroughly enjoying these small(no pun intended!) games,played in a comfortable room,with coffee etc. to hand and breaks taken when needed!-and of course,I get to win every time!!

Roll on Sunday,we hopefully will have a full turnout,and a cracking Colonial game:Paul hepled with the gas situation thismorning,so we will be warm again.

 

No Game and Preview "Tit-Bit".

We didn't play on Sunday,due to a distinct lack of gas!!-We ran out of Butane Gas for the heaters,on Friday,so I 'phoned Paul and asked him to give me a hand with the cylinders over to the Gas Suppliers  on Saturday morning-we got there and the place was shut!!!-they only open Mon.-Fri!!!! and because it is so cold at the moment we had to call the game off!-we are trying again on Tuesday to re-supply!

As the game was already set up,I thought a little preview may whet appetites.................

As you can see we are in the Sudan,a five-hander game with me as referee-Colonials are always fast and furious,so I'm looking forward to it.

Let there be light!my last solo game suffered from lack of light in my new games room,so a quick change of lampshade, and hey presto...................

Now that's better-this photo also shows the terrain for my next ACW game! Roll on Sunday.

ACW (epic) Indoors.

Over the past two nights I have been having a solo ACW game,in my "new" location,indoors,and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is the table before any movement-the dark photo's are because the lampshade we have in the room,at the moment, is an up-lighter,but this will be resolved by the week-end.The sides are equal,but the Union are at a bit of a disadvantage due to their position-the right flank has been deliberately left open so I can use my cavalry(for the first time!)

They're off! artillery are exchanging shots(and not doing much damage!) whilst the cavalry are heading towards a clash,as can be seen in the bottom photo-the Union won all three melee's.

This shows the Union left flank-although the numbers were equal,the Confederates eventually won the fire-fight and gained the flank in fine style.

Top photo shows the left flank still blazing away,and the Rebs,having charged the Union line,are engaged in a melee(as are the cavalry in the foreground!) Bottom photo shows the result of the melee-the Union Brigadier got himself killed and his whole brigade decided to retire(it's good being retired!) leaving a huge hole to fill-luckily another brigade was well placed to do the job!!

Union left flank-denuded!!! a new line was now formed,as shown,and brigades rushed to fill gaps.

Although the Rebs are taking casualties,they are pushing onwards,and with overwhelming numbers against the Union centre,look to be the victors.................

One final photograph-the Union had,at the end of the game,16 units left on the table,the Confederates had 21-so no doubt as to who had won! A very interesting game,played at a leisurely pace,with breaks for coffee etc-grand stuff-lots more games planned,using 15mm ECW and Ancients-long may it continue!