Well,the Government have asked me(being over 70) to self-violate,and avoid all forms of human contact for 3-4 months!!So that's put an end to club wargaming for a while,but there's still solo I suppose.What I can't understand is how this virus only effects people who own cars(that's a really funny joke that I made up)-car-owner virus,get it??-Hmm!
I have been working(?) on a top secret project for the past few months,and it is way beyond what I've ever done before,a sort of combination of role-play and skirmish,and I really don't know if the rest of the "boys" will take to it!-It is a "Treasure Island" game using figures from Warrior Miniatures catalogue....................
This is the complete list of figures,and as you can see it includes all the old favourites such as Ben Gunn,Long John Silver,squire Trelawney,Blind Pew,etc. etc.
I ordered two of everything on the list,painted them up,and started to think of rules,scenarios etc.........................
A box full of fun.Because I didn't have to stick to uniform colours,I actually enjoyed painting these little chaps,the detail is good,the animation is good,and you can clearly see who is who!
Israel Hands(Boooo!) and Long John Silver(sort of Boooo,but not as much as Israel Hands!)
I have worked out a points system,movement system,melee etc. and I've had a couple of trial games,which seem to work,but of course the real trial will be when I play against an opponent-so watch out "boys".-more to follow!!!!
I hit the stock-piling jackpot the other day(I know I shouldn't but the temptation was too great!) with this glorious purchase.............................
More string and magnets that you could shake a stick at!!
Please,please look after yourselves and keep safe during this most severe test of our spirit.
THE WIFE says it's a wonder I'm not blind,playing with myself in the garage!!
Any regular readers will know that WW2 is not my favourite period to play,however I do like the idea of tanks,but not the multiplicity of weapons,armour thicknesses,ranges etc.etc. so to that end I painted(in authentic colours-not!) 8 plastic tanks that my old mate Chris gave me a few months ago,and decided to have a "set-to" using a simple set of rules.
These two photo's show all I needed to keep myself occupied for a couple of hours-what a simple soul I am!!
We're off(what do I mean we?-there's only me playing!!)-tanks are easily identifiable by letters on their rears and the small plastic "flags" on their turrets.-Each tank had 5 red dots against them on my white-board,and each time a tank took a "hit" a dot was removed,until one dot remained,meaning the tank was knocked out!
The "opposition" creeps forward,using all cover it can-the initial red dots also represented the firing points for each tank,so that as a dot was removed the firing points were reduced also-simple!
Top photo shows a "hit" on the opposition tank,but only a two on the dice,however,the bottom photo shows that the opposition tank has thrown a "miss",consequently the top tank scores a hit on the bottom tank,whose firing points are reduced by one!!
These two tanks are engaging each other at short range(short stick!) so no need to throw hit/miss dice,highest dice score wins,and loser loses a dot!!
Fluorescent marker shows tank is destroyed,ie down to one red dot,or a combination of a 5 on the dice with a "hit" also being scored with the hit/miss dice.
As the game progresses,more and more "destroyed" markers are appearing!
The winner!!
Top photo shows white-board at start of game-each tank has 5 red dots,bottom photo shows the board at the end of the game.
I enjoy these simple solo games,but I'm sure the WW2 purists out there will be groaning at my feeble attempts,but "to each their own"
Now for some "proper" tanks......................
Top is 15mm WW2 support troops,painted by Graham,bottom are some A10's and some mark 6's painted by Paul(who told me what they were,'cos I didn't have a clue!)-well done to both of you,but when are we going to see them on the board????
Last night we fought this terrific battle/game which turned out to be the most emphatic win for one side that we've ever had!!
This is the scenario-Brian was in charge of the town and fleet,I commanded the centre of the Koreans,whilst Paul commanded the Korean right.Dave was in command of the Mongol right,and Graham commanded the Mongol left.
We came up with our plans,and away we went!
Top photo shows the Koreans,middle shows the Mongols and bottom shows the fleet,ably commanded by "Jolly" Kim Jong Tar(aka Brian!)
Top photo shows my troops trying to get into some sort of line to combat Dave's Mongols,bottom photo shows the same for Paul against Graham!-the movement proved to be a bit of a problem,as did the "laser" shooting of the Mongols-never mind we can rely on "Jolly" Kim Jong Tar to help us out-couldn't we????
Top photo shows Paul being "pressed" by Graham(well,they can't touch you for it!) and bottom photo shows my Troops being "harassed" to hell by Dave-never mind,we can still rely on "Jolly" Kim Jong Tar to get us out of this mess-can't we?????
I am done for in the top photo,and Paul is done for in the bottom photo-never mind we can rely on "Jolly" Kim Jong Tar to help us out,can't we?????
Hurrah! the sailors have landed,however by the time they'd dried their sandals,combed their hair and put their make-up on,it was too bloody late!!!!!!!!(see next photo for full explanation)
Anyway,Paul and I wouldn't stoop so low as to blame "Jolly" Kim Jong Tar,it was probably our fault(yeah, right!!)
Brian took this rather unflattering photo of me whilst I was having something to eat at half time.................................
Hmm,good likeness,but I didn't realise I had that much hair!!
Now I know the Government has said we shouldn't "stock-pile" essential items,but I have to admit that at the week-end I bought extra magnets and string(just in case!)-you are now wondering "what does he know that we don't?"
Roll on next week,possibly playing at Dave's house.
Last night we had a 100% turnout for a most colourful and interesting game.
Top photo is scenario,bottom is the table layout.Myself,Paul and Brian were the Moors,whilst Dave and Graham were the Spaniards.I had two units of Camels "hidden" behind the palms beside the river fort-Dave didn't know this for sure but "suspected" it!!
We're off! The initial manoeuvering was a sight to behold-Cavalry and Infantry going all over the place,hoping to throw the opponents off balance-look at the concentration!!!
Top shows Dave's first attack against the fort,and his light cavalry moving towards the "palms" where my camels are hidden,the cavalry in the centre are both attacking-great stuff!!
Bottom photo shows Brian and Graham about to make contact with the infantry,whilst the cavalry are doing the same.
A general view down the table,showing mayhem and slaughter going on-at this stage in the game,the melees were even,neither side gaining any real advantage-this was end-to-end stuff.(you can see my camels have "exposed" themselves,oh dear,oh dear,oh dear!! and are attacking Dave's light infantry on the hill).
Brian and Graham's infantry battle on the left of our position-a long-lasting affair,with Graham losing out eventually-he retired(it's good being retired!) his troops,just as Brian moved his reserves into the village,leaving a "tumbleweed" situation!!!
Brian and Graham's cavalry are still at it,but the infantry are just about to go!
As the song goes-"Tumbling by like the tumbling tumbleweed"-however there was still hot work to be done in the centre and on our right flank...........................
With officers falling like nine-pins and units routing off the board,it was begining to lok like a "draw" on this flank,although Dave's position was precarious,it was not lost-look at those two in the background-not a care in the world!-Brian kept insisting he wanted a "selfie" but I wouldn't give him the camera,so when I went to make the coffee,he obviously snatched the camera,and...................................
Hmm.not a bad likeness-could have smiled a bit more though!!
We enjoyed the tussle of this game,and it certainly didn't lack colour or banter,roll on next week,don't know what we'll be playing!
I mentioned in my last blog that I was going to "construct" a Castle using the paper towers and walls from the E.C.W. book of paper figures,well,I am not the one to let the grass grow under my feet,so today the project took shape............................
Working on a factory-type production line,and with the experience of making the towers before,I quickly cut,scored and glued 6 towers and 9 wall sections,as well as some doors for the towers.
A selection of doors-the card squares are for the tower floor to be stuck to,to give them rigidity.
Completed tower above and below just one of the many configurations I can use with towers and walls I have made!-they need some figures to show scale.................................
Not too bad,I can see some "lively" encounters against these walls!!
What next?????-I must be able to think of something!!
