Sparta vs Athens-15mm solo game.

I have been playing a "cracking" solo game over the past two nights,and my interest is back to 100%-hurrah.

 Top photo is the terrain being used-bottom is the "scenario.

Troop in their places,with hills being attacked-Spartans on the right-all was set for a thrilling game.

Hills being hotly contested-the "southern" hill stayed in Athenian hands,whilst the "northern" hill was captured by the Spartan light troops-but now the "heavies" can begin to move-or can they?? Using my simple rules-an average dice is thrown for each unit with an order- 3 or 4,the order is obeyed,2 the order is dis-obeyed(no movement!) 5 the unit moves twice its normal move-this caused quite a bit of chaos!!

The Spartan cohesion is broken-some troops refusing to move,whilst others "gallop" ahead,eager to get stuck into the enemy!!

The Athenians are having the same problem!!-damn the dice!!

Both sides have sorted themselves out,and are marching forward determined to solve the battle one way or another-I am trying to transfer the Spartan,victorious light troops across the front of the Hoplite line to support the left flank-"stupid boy!"

Almost within "smelling distance"-the light troops have had to be transferred behind the hoplite line,and took no further part in the battle!!-heavy cavalry are engaged on the right flank.

CRASH!!!-I gave the Spartans a plus two onto their dice to portray their superior training etc. and you can see the immediate result in red "pom-poms"(indicating casualties) on the Athenians,although the Spartans didn't have it all their own way!

After a long and hard struggle,the Spartans have forced the Athenian centre back-this was the beginning of the end-the Athenian "Guard" was put into the melee,but they too were beaten-hurrah(if you are Spartan!)

Apart from the central success,the Athenian left flank unit was soundly beaten and had to leave the field-so the Spartan right flank unit,supported by heavy cavalry crashed into the unprotected flank of the main line-in my simple rules,any unit hit in the flank or rear is immediately lost!!-so as you can see the whole of the Athenian army would be lost in the following moves.

This was my first game/battle with these hoplites,and it proved to be both frustrating(movement) and exciting in equal measures-I'm sure the tussles will continue over the next few weeks!

Six Weeks!!

Strange title for a blog!!-During my "struggles" I still had the painting urge!-So I ordered "some" hoplites and associated troops from Lancashire Games on the 29th June,they arrived on the 11th July and I have them completely finished by 26th August-about 6 weeks,hence the strange title!

Total number of figures,so 538 painted (in my style!!) in 6 weeks,see what you think.............

All laid out in their "splendour"-Spartan types to the right,Athenians etc to the left.

Detail of "Spartans-I haven't put the inverted "V" on their shields,basically because I don't have that skill,so all red will have to do!

Close up of one unit-to represent a phalanx,I simply double them up-who's a clever boy then??

Spartan cinc-Leonidas??

Detail of Athenians/Thebans-call them what you will-shield "designs" are card "button covers" from a craft shop,bought about a thousand years ago,and kept,just in case they came in handy!!!

Close up of shields-only four colours and all same "flower" design but what the heck!

Athenian/Theban cinc-both Dave and Paul have offered to show me how to do bases to a professional standard,but until then a bit of flock and a couple of grass tufts will suffice!

All is set for a first game-I will keep you posted!

 

Getting back into it!

We have had a couple of good games over the past two weeks-one was a Roman vs Dacians-a very near run thing-but no photo's(I blame the cameraman!!) and one on this Sunday involving "El Cid" against a Moorish army-Dave couldn't make it,neither could Brian(it's his 70th Birthday today) so I commanded the Moors whilst Graham and Paul commanded the Spanish-only a few photo's but we had a great game-winner was "ME"-always a lift!!

The "citadel"-the objective of the game-defended by Moorish archers-who defended well and caused Paul a "bit of bother"

Top photo shows my "Black Guard" smashing the Spanish centre-hurrah!!-bottom photo shows the Spanish cavalry smashing my right flank Moorish cavalry!-swings and roundabouts???

Bottom photo shows my Left flank cavalry beating Graham's elite Andalusians-hurrah again-top photo shows abject misery on Paul's face as he admits defeat!!!!

This was another good game,played in good spirit-did they let me win?-of course not!!

Mid week,Dave is trying out our Demo game for Border Reiver-7YW,and then we will all participate on the day.

Back!!

For the past few months I have been "wrestling" with the idea of giving up wargaming,a hobby which I have stuck to for more than 50 years, I lost interest for some reason,but with the help and support of the "boys"-Graham,Paul,Dave and Brian ,plus family,I have come back into the fray!(not to mention the "happy pills" prescribed by the doctor!)

So on Sunday I put on a game,very simple,of Greeks versus Persians,unfortnately Brian couldn't make it so the "fab four" had a good game,with usual mix of bad jokes,silly banter and a good deal of laughter.

The Persians on the left,commanded by Dave and myself,the Greeks on the right commanded by Graham and Paul-I had interspersed Elephants inbetween the groups of infantry on both sides to make the game more exciting-what a move that turned out to be!!!!!

They're off!! Elephants trumpeting and Dave and I hoping to stick to our plan,meanwhile the Greeks stood firm under a tremendous attack(I won't mention the disastrous cavalry battle on my right flank!)-so far so good.

My cavalry being "routed" by Paul's cavalry!!

Dave's attack seems to be going well,putting Graham under pressure-Elephants still in combat,but the infantry are a wee bit too close for my liking!!

HMMM!-it had to happen-a melee loss and morale taken on my Elephants and look what happens-mayhem-luckily they "rampaged" on to Dave's troops and not mine!!!!-what a disaster.

Do the Persian Axemen look scared?-YES!!!!-my flanks was looking bleak-however Dave was doing okay-hurrah!!

Just as I was about to take the photo-bloody great hairy hands!!!-Dave did well,and at the end of the game a "draw" was called for,and graciously given by the Greeks.This was a good tonic for me and I said I will try and put on another game next week,We are  putting on a demo game at Border Reiver, 7th September-possibly 7YW.

Carronade 2024

 You will have noticed a Kambula Hill theme to some of John’s posts lately…

Off we toddled to Falkirk for the Carronade 2024 show. Our game was the Battle of Kambula Hill, 1879! Two months after the disaster at Isandlwana (and the day after the minor debacle at Hlobane) this was to be a turning point in the Anglo-Zulu War.

The “boys” had put a massive amount of effort into putting on this demo game. Carronade is easily the highlight of our wargaming year, so the effort is justified (I just needed to turn up!).

The above photos show the table being set up on the eve of the show.

Show time! The table looks great. 900 figures represent the Zulu army!

The right horn of the Zulu army is goaded into attacking by Buller’s irregular horse. Look at them surging forward!

Whilst the chest looks on and the left horn struggles through difficult terrain, the right horn is being hammered by volley fire and artillery.

The left horn struggling manfully with the terrain.

The left horn comes under fire as the right horn comes apart. The survivors of the right horn retire to a nearby hill. Apparently it’s good being retired; I’ll never know!

Speaking of pensioners, Dave demonstrates the reach of his weapon in the above photos. Our number one priority for demo games is talking to folk. We tend to bring along a bunch of books and paraphernalia to entertain the nice folk that stop to chat. The Martini-Henry rifle and carbine were big hits.

As the left horn closes on the Imperial defences, the chest charges forward as well.

With the right horn reduced to spectating, the left horn is causing the British problems. The cattle kraal is taken!

The British infantry are pursued from the cattle kraal while the chest also closes. Two companies of British sally out to clear warriors of the left horn amassing in dead ground below the main laager.

Like the historical counterpart, the officer leading this bayonet charge becomes a casualty (denoted by the little skull token).

The Zulu attack loses its impetus and warriors are now streaming away. It’s all over for the Zulu army!

But not for us! We win best demonstration game. Again!

It was great to hear that the voting was by straw poll of people in the canteen (the Falkirk club members usually score the games). That made it extra special!

We really need to replace our “sky blue” club shirts…