I have been filling in my time,in between gardening,tidying and queuing for food(which,in my book,includes RUM!!) by having a few solo wargames- I have mentioned before that I enjoy these games but miss the club games and the social contact,daft banter,devious tactics and,dare I say it, the "boys".
I am posting a selection of photo's from the last two games I have had,with just a minimal text(the noun not the verb!!)
These three photo's show the Colonial scenario,the British left and right flanks-quite a formidable force,but so was the opposition!!
Oh dear,there's quite a few of them! and they're getting closer!!!
Surely artillery fire and volley fire would stop them! My plan for the British depended on my Lancers beating the Haddendowah Camel unit-they didn't,and my whole battle plan fell apart!!
It would now depend on British "pluck" and some lucky dice throws!!
Dragoon Guards are seen beating the Dervish Cavalry-this put the enemy left flank in real trouble,and saved the game for the British-hurrah!
On the British left flank,even the Egyptians got involved(after the Gatling jammed!!)
Eventually the Bija/Haddendowah troops had to retire(it's good being retired!) and a British victory was declared(but really too close for comfort!)
"Dead" figures litter the ground,showing the high tide of the Haddendowah advance-this was another thrilling but mentally exhausting game.
The next game,Crusaders vs Saracens,employed virtually the same terrain and scenario-well,I was mentally exhausted!!!
Scenario,Crusaders leaving the Castle and Saracens advancing to form up.
All formed up,horse archers and crossbowmen skirmishing-this might be bloody!!
Top photo shows the view that the crossbowmen had,bottom photo shows the view the Mameluke contingent had-they had two units-both lost their officers in the first round of melee!!
With an almost audible "crash!" both flanks of heavy cavalry charged into each other-this looked spectacular!
For three rounds of melee,neither side could claim an outright advantage-then the dreaded morale test kicked in,and in proper wargaming twists and turns,units on both sides decided they had had enough..................................
Both lines have become fragmented,with units fleeing the field,being chased and chaos reigns!
It was now that the Saracen horse archers could decide the day-if they could break through the crossbowmen,they could swing left and right and destroy the Crusaders-but could they do it??
YES!!! they could and did,winning the game for the Saracens.
Another good game,full of twists and turns,good and bad dice throws-exactly what a wargame should be(?)
I haven't thought what my next game will be(I just wish it could be a club game!)
2019 got off to a cracking start last night,with a 100% turnout and a great game involving Spanish and Norman armies fighting to decide who would rule Spain!!
Top photo is the scenario,middle photo shows the Norman army commanded by Paul(on the right flank) and me(on the left flank),whilst the bottom photo shows the Spanish commanded by Brian(right) and Graham(left)-Dave had just come from work,so sat this one out!
In this shot I am moving forward against Brian's defensive position on the river bank-we were evenly matched,so this was always going to be a hard fight.On the other flank,Paul has crossed the river,and as Graham advanced ..............................
A resounding CRUNCH!! as two lines of heavily armoured cavalry charged into each other.
Our plan had been to involve the cavalry,hold up the Spanish,then move the infantry onto Graham's flank-this was working nicely!!
My light infantry are still moving forward,but my cavalry are now heading towards the bridge area,where,it was hoped, the final fight would be-Paul's heavy infantry are making a nuisance of themselves on Graham's flank-so far,hurrah!!-Brian looks grim(so what's new?)- and Dave is looking relaxed-get your hands out of your pockets,where do you think you are man!!!!
Paul's infantry are now in position,on Graham's flank,however the cavalry fight is not going too well!!-come on Paul,what's happened to your usual "in league with the devil" dice throwing????
This photo is taken from Brian's side of the table,and shows my infantry driving his back-is this the breakthrough we need??
On the other flank,Graham launched a counter attack on Paul's infantry,and drove him back-oh dear!!However the Paul "magic" kicked in and high dice score after high dice score followed,completely destroying the morale of the Spanish cavalry-hurrah!!-Victory is within our grasp.
As the infantry slog it out,Paul's cavalry ride rampant over Graham's cavalry-the flank is won!!
Brian's lights are beaten and are retiring,so he threw his heavies into the fray,as did I!!-my cavalry have crossed the river and are beating the Spanish cavalry,whilst my other cavalry unit is out-flanking Brian's line-all is lost, I fear, for the Spanish!!
One final shot,showing Paul's cavalry dominating the flank,and my cavalry about to administer the "coup de grace" on Brian's line.
This was a fitting start to the 2019 wargaming season-a good game,lots of banter,colour and excitement-long may it continue.
At the end of the game,we discussed what we intended doing at Carronade(Falkirk) this May,and I revealed to the "boys" that I had been planning,painting and making a project based on the most famous battle in the history of the British army,which took place 140 years ago,and that I would be putting it on,just as I envisaged it,next week!!-any Guesses????
Yesterday Paul,Brian,Graham and I attended a re-fight of the above battle,staged by Charlie Wesencraft's group at Seaton Sluice.
As we arrived we were all allotted tasks-putting out terrain,getting figures into their commands etc.etc.-but Graham seems to have been "excused duties!"
Brian and Mike are setting out the "Rebels"-Paul,Dave,Mike and Brian were in command of these troops,whilst Charlie,Mel,Tony and I were the royalists opposing them.
The game has started,with Charlie already on the board,and Mel trying to deploy,my command was marching up the road(the only access to the battlefield!!) which held Tony's command up ,as he was behind me-this caused two things to happen-firstly,I was shot to bits by Paul and Graham,who had cannon and loads of archers,secondly,poor Tony(the King) didn't get into action the whole of the game!!!
Half time arrived,and so did Paul Kirby's wife(Sue)-she was delighted at such a good turnout,and hugged and kissed everyone-lovely lady!
While we were having lunch,there was the usual banter and tactical discussions,and then it was back to the battle/game.
As my command continued to get shot to bits,and Tony continued striving to get onto the board,the fighting was left to Mel and Charlie,who were both being "pressed" by Brian and Dave!
"When you're smiling,when you're smiling,the whole world smiles with you!!!!"
My command has eventually started to deploy,allowing Tony to get onto the board-but my casualties were 25%,and I had to take a command morale test-would I pass it????(answers on a post-card please!!)
Charlie's son,John, has joined us,and is being assailed by Brian's wild Irishmen,backed up by some Irish wolf hounds!!-John was beaten and driven back!
Mel 's command has decided they have had enough,and my command is fleeing(yes they failed their morale test!!),so it's the end of the game.
One final shot of the Royalists,in total dis-array-history turned on its head!!
I would liked to have played this game with both sides deployed at the start,and maybe it would have a different outcome!
Well next Saturday,we will be at Border Reiver Show at Gateshead Stadium,putting on a Napoleonic demo. game,arranged by Dave-looking forward to that.
Last night we had a most interesting and colourful encounter between Normans and Crusader-types,ie "elasticating" time! but very enjoyable nevertheless.
Top photo is the scenario,bottom is the table before any movement-Dave and Graham were in charge of the Normans,whilst Brian and Paul commanded the "Crusaders".
Despite the two heaters going full blast,the "snowy terrain" etc. gives an impression of cold!!
The Normans are moving quickly and aggressively against Brian's flank,whilst Graham is taking his time against Paul,who is cunningly moving troops around and through the village,hoping to get Graham in the flank!
Graham is hoping(in vain!) that a unit of crossbowmen will stop the heavy infantry moving through the village,meanwhile on Dave vs Brian's flank.............................
A mass melee is taking place,with neither side giving or asking quarter!-in this game a record 19 officers were killed!(well that's what you get for fighting in the front line!!!
In the background you can see the infantry approaching one another-this is going to be interesting.
It was!!-Brian has added some Knights into the calculation(just to spice things up a bit!) and the melee swayed back and forth for some time-great stuff!
On the far flank,Graham and Paul are still not in contact,but it won't be long!!!
Paul is still hanging back until his "village people" are in a position to affect the flank-you can just see the infantry approaching the flank,and being followed by two units of cavalry.
Who could ask for more action on a wargames table???
Paul and Graham have eventually clashed and Graham is being beaten,however his infantry is pushing Paul's infantry back,but Dave is saving the day by advancing his infantry against Brian's Cavalry-I'm worn out!!!!
Brian's flank eventually collapsed,and Dave was victorious,but Graham 's flank was about to collapse too!!wonderful wargaming,but who would be crowned the Victor??
A last ditch attempt by Brian to save his flank was thwarted by a combination of cavalry and light infantry,and that was the end of the game!-The Crusader's objective wasn't achieved,but they had given the Normans a right old "bloody nose"-great game and well played lads-roll on next Sunday,very likely Mongols vs Russians.
