Friday, 15 September 2023

 Sunday's game


A reminder of the scenario for the game.

Apologies for the change of reporter. 

Our usual war correspondent has had his NUJ membership revoked
 as he has lost the ability to upload photographs onto his laptop. 

Such  a grievous offense is now punishable by being 
sentenced to breaking rock for weeks on end. 
More of that later.

Unfortunately we must pick up the battle after some preliminary movement and fighting.

The commands were as follows

Fort - A welcome return to non other than our Brian, full of confidence and bravado and thirsting to spill blood of any warriors daring to climb over his ramparts without paying for a ticket.


Legio Red - At the head of the relief column,  Graham is up for it. Into line and at them...anyone!
Who you looking at?

Legio Blue - Dawdling along without a care in the world Paul found he had thrust upon him orders to not only scribe the events of the next few hours but to swat away any beastly Brits who wished to spoil the march to the holiday camp. Woe, woe and thrice woe. 

Nasty Brits - well you didn't expect an unbiased account from the media did you? 
                John volunteered to command the lot. Yes the LOT, all of them , fffousandds.


Those woods look like there are lots of stick pickers about.


Graham leading from the front.
Paul feeling slightly alone and rather too close to those woods. 

Fighting with your back to the hills? Not the best position to be caught in... 
get a move on, I've spied a better position to choose to fight over.

 

Graham has formed his lines and marches towards them.
Don't those lads move fast through woods ... gulp.
The leading Roman cavalry crashes into their mounted opponents..   
only to find infantry swallow them up with a flank attack. Ouch.


There they go, battered but not out of it.
Meanwhile John launched his cavalry over the central hill 
against my screening cavalry with the same result. 


I had bought some time for my blue legion to reach its new position and form lines... 
beautifully if I may say so,

The lines crash and it was a bloody mauling for John's front lines.
Dice throwing to rival Dave even.. come on John .. roll them.


Look at his second line of Brits though!

John decides to move many of his left hand troops towards the central 
position with that cursed hill area and across the valley.


Lovely lines.... just saying.

And what of the camp Brian?  How fares thee?

Well John attacks ... Brian rolls, John can't find a higher number and repeat. 
A lil bit of two and frow pushing and at last John's in! Woohoo.

and then he's out again .. it's a cruel game.


He can even afford to have a drink .. cool hand Luke indeed.

Graham's red legion and John's right lines are exhausted.. back to the woods lad 


But what of that gap? Fear not ...time for les Blues.



Cavalry close the gap and push on


Up the hill and drive on. 


As all games should do it ends in smiles.
Great scenario John and a good game.

Oh, and what of the rocks......

 did you remember?

Personalised gifts for us from Blackpool



Thanks Brian have you shares in my dentist?

Wednesday, 6 September 2023

 Sri Lanka bound





Our latest order was carefully packaged and finally collected to go to Sri Lanka for the services offered by Fernando Enterprises.

Chris joined Dave and myself in the joint order..  a small affair involving over 1100 "pieces" or 20kg

The cost to paint an item is the same for a figure, rider or horse is really reasonable

At the moment they are checking out catalogue of bits for numbers and possible damage, which is rare fortunately.

Chris has sent Haitian rebels circa early 1800s...

Dave concentrating on Napoleonic Prussian and French inf and cavalry while I sent off 13 battalions of Frederic's finest as well as some cavalry.

Can't wait for the results


Tuesday, 5 September 2023

Preview Sunday's game.

Hopefully we will have a full turnout for this 25mm Ancients game,planned for this coming Sunday.


 This is the scenario and terrain map-Brian will be in charge of the Fort,whilst the rest of us will throw dice to see who commands what!



Top photo shows the table as the "boys" will see it on arrival,bottom photo shows Brian's command(the fort) being ferociously attacked-will he be able to hold his own(steady!)???

Relief is on its way-Legions and cavalry-don't like the look of those chaps in the woods!!


Of course they could just be enjoying a day out in the woods,or having a picnic!!!

Looking forward to this one.






















Monday, 28 August 2023

OCPD Scots!

I think I'm going(gone?) mad,ever since I started painting my 15mm Jacobite Scots,I find I've changed my diet,and now will only eat porridge and deep fried Mars Bars,and not only that I've changed the way I talk-no more the genial Geordie Twang,now its "Hoots Man" and "Lang may your Lume Reek" interspersed with as many "Och Ayes" as you can shake a stick at!!!-However, I am getting on with them...................




 I am,as usual, painting over all the detail that I think is un-necessary(ie most of it!!) but as they are for my solo games,it doesn't matter-the figures are very good,and include officers,bag-pipers,swordsmen,lochaber axemen,musketeers and bowmen,all in various poses-really pleased with them,and it shouldn't take me too long to finish them.

I set myself a task of making some "step" hills for my Sudanese stuff,and again am quite pleased with the result.................




The hills are very simply made by cutting(using a jig saw-I've had the bloody thing for about a thousand years,and this is the first time I've used it!!) some MDF and filing the edges-how clever is that??? I'm planning a game for later on this week,so they'll see some action very soon.All is ready for Border Reiver show next Saturday-I will be demonstrating my Solo rules whilst the rest of the "boys" will be putting on a 40mm 7YW game.







Friday, 25 August 2023

Smoking the Hornets’ Nest

Finally another run out for my French Indian Wars figures!



Whoop! Whoop!

I presented an amended version of Scenario Five from the Sharp Practice rules



I would be the defender with 5 groups of Indians and the hope that support would come to my aid. Rick would be the attacker and was allowed to build his force:

2 groups of Regulars

1 group of Grenadier

1 group of Rangers

2 groups of Light Infantry skirmishers

1 group of Indians

All to destroy a village of poor, defenceless natives who never did any harm to anyone. Innocent I tells ya!




The table is covered in light woods which doesn’t do a great deal to movement, but restricts visibility to Close range. It’s going to be bloody!



I put out a group of warriors to screen the village. Rick uses his Indians as a blunt instrument and wielding their tomahawks they bettered my boys in Fisticuffs. Bruised, bloodied and carrying significant Shock, my group are forced back almost to the objective (my main Deployment Point; the base with the redcoat getting a haircut).



I move groups to either flanks of Rick’s friendly Indians to stop them advancing into the village.

I also get 3 Command Cards and roll for new arrivals.  Please let it be Coureurs de Bois, please let it be Coureurs de Bois. I roll a 3, nothing arrives. Damn it!



British “Light Bobs” move swiftly to support the allied Indians whilst a British line picks its way through the woods. Overkill or what?!


I decide to pull back with the heavily Shocked group. They were the only thing between the British and the objective. What was I thinking?!


Rick takes on the guise of a cat. And I’m the mouse!

Once again he launches his Indians forward. Their British officer has sprained his ankle but is still game to throw the natives under his command forward. Not sure they’d be 100% friendly if they heard their officer’s “expendable” comment!

They don’t win this fight, but it has weakened my warriors.


The Light Infantry, instead of pouncing on the object, finish the job. They attack my still recovering group and break them (imagine lots of dead and dying in the foreground above). Their officer is knocked out, but recovers almost immediately.

I’ve not had 3 Command Cards again to throw for new arrivals… Cruel Fate!!! (Shakes fist at the sky)


The cat stops toying with the mouse… with his second group of Light Infantry, Rick captures the objective! Resounding British victory!

So a couple of mistakes on my part and the cards weren’t kind to me, but undeniably outplayed by Rick. Next time, grrrr…

Thanks for reading!

Chris

WWG in exile









Monday, 21 August 2023

15mm Eastern Buildings.

I have finished,not without difficulty, my "Hovels" Eastern Buildings,and think they will do the trick on many a future game..................




 All eight buildings photographed back and front-I washed them first in hot soapy water,then scrubbed them with a nail brush,undercoated them,then painted them twice with an acrylic paint,then undercoated them again before I was happy!!!-adding the windows and doors etc,was the least of my efforts-however they look okay,so onto the table for an "in situ" couple of shots..........



I'm sure these two villages will be fought over vigorously within the very near future-the palm trees were Birthday Cake decorations!!-who would want palm trees on a cake???