Scipio vs Hannibal 202BC

Well my IT Support Team have been to fix the computer,and apparently I'm to blame-I'm sure if I'd been born in 1939,I would have been blamed for the second world war!!
What can be said about last night's game?-Brilliant,fantastic,exciting,and a whole load more superlatives...Brian and I commanded three legions against Paul's excellent Carthaginian army.

Does anyone recognise the terrain??
I had contrived a simple battle plan,that involved the HASTATI and PRINCEPES,crossing the river and the TRIARII and CAVALRY staying on our side and awaiting the Carthaginians-a good plan that almost worked!!

First part of the plan-river crossing-Brian doesn't look convinced that this will work-Paul is creeping closer.

Much closer!!next move will see one hell of a clash,Paul had delayed his move forward so that all of his troops came into line at the same time-clever,but the Romans are up to it too-look at those lines-poetry in  motion!!

Paul's veteran African pikemen forming line,supported by the prolific pachyderms-what a chilling sight-his Celts are already starting to gather in the woods,ready to charge-ooh er!!

CRASH!! the whole line explodes!! Brian did particularly well on his flank,whilst in the centre and our right we "buckled" a bit,still though,there's time yet-we can do it!!!!

Part two of the master plan is working!-our Hastati and Princepes have been sent packing,except Brian's who are busy getting trampled by the Elephants-it's down to the Triarii-what will they say in Rome?(fall on your sword probably!!)-but it still is not over yet.

Both of our cavalry units and the central Triarii have charged into the Celts,and are giving them a damned good thrashing-hurrah!!-However Brian's Hastati and Princepes are being forced to give ground,and eventually they ran away,leaving the Triarii to take on and beat the Elephants-another hurrah!!-It must be said at this point that Paul's objective was to cross the river at any point to win the game,and his cavalry were poised to do just that!!

Oh no,it's my turn to face the Elephants now!!

GULP!!-but what of Paul's objective,has he been able to cross the river??

Yes!! he beat both of our cavalry units,so he was declared the worthy winner of this wonderful game-I promised Brian that I wouldn't mention that he lost two Legions,so I won't!!
well done lads great wargaming,roll on Sunday,could be a Napoleonic game,although the last time we had a Napoleonic game,we lost two members of our small(er) club!!

Caesar vs Germans.

Anyone would think I had shares in the German Tourist board!! but here we are again in Germany-this was a head to head battle between Paul and Brian,I was referee 'cos my old knees aren't working too well just now,and anyway I deserved a comfy seat!!

This scenario,once again was taken from Miniature Wargames-Paul was in charge of the Germans and Brian was in charge of the Romans-although the scenario was fairly simple,the game was thrilling and full of tense moments,and actually started with the Germans in contact with the Watchtower Romans!!

Brian's plan was to march forward,then "plant" his standards in a line from the watchtower to the town,thus presenting two fronts to Paul,however this meant that he had to win the cavalry battle on his left flank-this was going to be tense!!

The fight for the watchtower was an absolute wargaming joy to see-first Paul had the advantage,then Brian-at one point the Germans were in and causing mayhem,but Brian kept his cool and ejected them-great stuff!!

Brian's parallel columns marching into their places-Paul attacked the left flank cavalry and a battle "Royale" ensued,with Brian being pushed back for three rounds until his morale gave way,this presented him with a massive problem,but once again he rose to the job and sent skirmishers forward to meet the threat-hurrah!!

With stretcher bearers and Priests working overtime,we had a coffee break,nobody wanted to risk an Oxo!! can't think why!!!!!

The bloody computer won't let me access any more photo's!!
I really don't understand what is going on,so I'll just have to continue in text only!!
Paul attacked with great gusto all along the Roman line,which was just about holding on,then a cavalry battle took place on Brian's right,which he lost-oh dear-both of Paul's cavalry units now joined up in Brian's rear,ready to pounce-all was lost-EXCEPT,the watchtower was still in Roman hands.
Both Paul and Brian continued to struggle on with their infantry,but finally the Germans were successful,and Paul was declared the winner of this most exciting game-well done lads,it was a pleasure to watch..roll on Sunday,hopefully the computer thing will have righted itself by then.

Battlefield Accessories.

I wonder how many of you,like me,scour Charity shops and Pet Stores trying to find Battlefield Accessories,or "clutter" if you like.
Well today I found,in a pet store in Newcastle,what I consider to be a bargain,and perfect accessories for our Ancient Egyptian battles.......

These Resin cast models are ideal in size and grandeur for our 25mm armies,and at an amazing price-the Sphinx cost £4.49 and the "Gods" cost £6.89 each!!

Using an existing piece of terrain,and a couple of palm trees,these two look  pretty good!!

The Sphinx looks pretty cool too!!-however we'll not be able to put them on the table 'til after Christmas!!
Comments would be nice!

Battle of the Toon 1757

The "fab four" were at it again last night,this time a spectacular Seven Years War battle involving the Prussians against the Russians with a brigade of Austrians thrown in for good measure.

The scenario and terrain map are taken,with a little "tweaking," from this month's Miniature Wargames magazine,and it worked fine.
Brian and I controlled the Russians,whilst Dave and Paul took on the role of Prussians.

Dave's out-flanking troops about to assault my poor Russians,who couldn't react to this move until move number two-we were trying some different movement rules for the Prussians,giving them a massive bonus,which was good for the Prussians,but not so good for the Russians-I was "swamped",but had to find a way out of the problem!!

I have finally turned my flank troops to meet Dave's grand attack,but he is moving troops through the woods,and I haven't got enough troops to match him,until the Austrian contingent arrive.

Meanwhile,on Brian's centre and flank,an almighty attack is developing!!-our artillery was worse than useless,so it was down to the infantry and masses of cuirassiers on the far flank,to win the day-Brian was severely "berated" for not leaving gaps between his regiments,but blamed the terrain!!

The Austrians have arrived,and the flank is,for the time being,fairly stable,but I have taken a  lot of casualties from the Prussians,and now Paul is adding to my discomfort,by bringing a brigade across to help Dave!In the centre Brian is holding his own(!!!!) and Paul is having to commit his reserve brigade of Hanoverians.

The "final straw"-Dave's cavalry are chasing mine off the table,leaving my Russian and Austrian infantry exposed-my flank is lost-woe is me!!
How's Brian doing???

Quite well actually!-he has stemmed Paul's forward movement in the woods,and his cavalry are winning melees on the far flank,but,with my flank gone,it can only be a matter of time before the weight of numbers begins to tell.

Brian's cavalry are doing brilliantly,and it was decided that the Prussians had won the battle,tactically,but that the Russian would be able to withdraw,protected by the cavalry-in any body's language,that's a draw-hurrah!!

This was a very enjoyable game,and after all we are still trying to get used to the tactics etc. of this fascinating period of history,roll on Thursday-an Ancients game being fought over the same terrain,but using Brian's Caesarian legion against his German tribes.

Brittania 60AD

Last night we had a classic Ancients game,involving a Roman Legion trying to capture a Homestead and Henge from the grips of the local British tribes-Brian and Paul were Romans and I was British-an accusation was hurled at me,that I had put mind altering drugs in the half time cups of Oxo and cheese scones..........read on!!!

This shows the table before any moves,with the Romans on the right,and their objectives clearly visible-Paul commanded the left and Brian the right-Paul was also CinC-more of that later!

Don't the Romans look smart?-you can just see the CinC tucked safely away on a small hill to the right of the line,he is surrounded by his bodyguard,and "safe as houses"

The Roman attack begins,all along the river bank they "plodged" (Geordie word") across and were met by my tribesmen,hurling javelins and insults!!-This particular shot shows Brian's newly painted Auxiliaries(who didn't perform very well as it happens!)

OMG!! can I hold them?-this attack is ferocious,but if you look carefully,you can see a gap in the Roman line,leading directly to the CinC!!-could I resist such an opportunity?????

NO was the answer,but,inexplicably,Paul chose to counter charge me!! and we clashed in mid stream-I won the melee,but failed to kill the Man-what would happen next turn?
meanwhile on my left flank,my chariots and three warbands were in position,and ready to do battle with Paul's cavalry and auxiliaries.

My chariots (or one hit wonders as we call them!) bounced off the Roman cavalry,but my clever plan of backing them up with tribesmen paid off,and a titanic struggle for the flank followed.

This shot was taken just before the Roman commander decided to charge into my cavalry,but shows the action along the whole front-I am not doing too well at this point-Brian has crossed the river on his flank,and Paul is winning in the centre-oh dear me!!-what would happen,do you think,if the CinC were to be killed??
Well,he was killed-hurrah!! and the whole of the Roman army had to take morale,at a minus two from their existing points-the result was that most of them either retired or ran away!!-leading to the accusation,that,no man in his right mind would have put the CinC into a position of peril,unless the cups of Oxo and cheese scones were "laced" with mind altering drugs!!-I have sent the offending objects away for analysis,just to appease the sore losers!!

This shows the table after the Romans had taken morale tests-not many of them left!! and so the Druids can get on with their sacrifice-actually he is only going to cut her hair,nothing sinister!!

This was an all action,fun game,enjoyed by all-it was Paul's 59th birthday on Wednesday,so we forgave his little indiscretion of getting the Roman CinC killed-and of course that is the end of the matter,it will never be mentioned again(Hmmmm.)
Roll on Sunday,don't know what kind of game yet,but it will involve a couple of CinC's.

Painting update.Nov. 2014

I promised Dave that I would do a painting update for him,to show that he has not been "idle" whilst moving house,gaining promotion etc. so here goes.......

These are "enormous" figures(standing at almost 40mm) painted very well,but not yet based to Dave's exacting standards-they are from Dave's Tippoo Sultan collection,which he is building up nicely,ready to fight Assaye,when he has enough.

Another view,showing the command group-very nice!!

A unit of Hittite archers,Dave now has enough,when added to Brian's Egyptians,to take my Pa'Arasites on-bring it on boys,bring it on!!

Dave bought a bag of these "Sea People" at Shildon show,and has painted these three up just to see how they look-well they look great to me-I can see my Pa'Arasites getting a good beating if this build up goes on!!

I am getting on well,but slowly with my restoration of the Spanish Galleon I bought at auction,I have restored the rigging where I could,and have put on the basic colours(first coats-it will need two at least!) and it is looking ok(Ithink!!)

The masts are going to be a bit of a problem-on the main mast is a "cartouche" with,I think, a painting of the Maddona and Child-too much for my limited artistic ability,but no doubt I'll think of something-the forward mast has a black cross,and banner-I may be able to manage that!!

Trois Ponts"-Marlburian battle

Last night the "Fab Four" had a fabulous game,based around an Allied Army trying to get across three bridges with some wagons,and an Irish/Spanish force trying to stop them.

These two photo's show the scenario and initial troop layouts-Brian was in charge of the Danes,Dave the British,Paul the Irish and me the Spanish.

Brian was faced with fording the river,reforming himself,and being met with cannister and volley fire-but he did it in great form-no fear for steady men!!-In the background the British attack is starting,and Paul is "observing" his movement to counter it when the time was right.

To try and stop Dave's infantry from coming across the central bridge,I moved my cavalry forward-this worked,but a well placed cannon shot prevented me from risking any further forward movement-where are the Irish??

Brian has managed to get some troops across the river,and is pressing my very thin line,and the British are moving through the "crops" to threaten the flank of my cavalry-what I need is some Irish troops to take the pressure off me-where are the Irish??-Dave and Brian are conferring,and planning in this shot-actually working together,I wish I had someone to work together with!!

Hurrah,the Irish have deployed-it must be said,a long way from the British,who are now shooting at the Spanish!!-Infamy,infamy,they've all got it in for me!!!!!

The Spanish guns have been silenced,by a grand attack by Brian's Hesse Grenadiers-never mind,the Irish will soon be here to help me.

This shot shows the cavalry melee developing at the central bridge-Brian reinforced Dave's cavalry just in time and stopped me from gaining a glorious victory-Paul then helped me out by sending his cavalry -this was always going to be tricky-if it came down to dice throws,I would lose!!!-Note British Guardsmen lining the "crop field" ready to blast any troops who come near.

This is almost the end of the game-most of the Spanish troops are shot to pieces and are retiring,we are losing the cavalry melee,and are being pushed back-however,on a more positive note,the Irish have decided to test their muskets,just to make sure they work properly-in the background,next to Paul,his Irish artillery can be seen-they couldn't hit the proverbial cow's "arse" with a banjo-see next photo..........

Should have gone to "Specsavers!!"

My flank has totally gone,Brian is across the river in force,with his wagon,Dave is piling the pressure on the Irish-he also has got his two wagons across the river-we are beaten!!
This was a great tense and tactical game,played with great aplomb by both sides-well done us!!
I will do a "Painting Update" later on today-showing what Dave has been up to whilst he's been away from us.