Happy Halloween - A little something for Silver Bayonet - Zombie Camels.

What better timing to get these finished.

Napoleonic Dread - Zombie Camels by Koolkiwi Miniatures great 3D Prints for Silver Bayonet and adventures in the desert.

I love the detail of birds hanging off their decaying flesh and the skeleton sticking out of their rotting bodies, very spooky...

Fun to paint and very much in the spirit of getting stuff done in the month of October which is not core.

November is looming and back to the Crusades to try and break the last of them before the New Year.

Brigand Cages of Rincón del diablo

No serious gaming yet but another fun Silver Bayonet Battle in the hunt for the remains of El-Cid.

After the last encounter the local priest tells you of a potential lead in the hunt. Local Guerrilla’s and Brigands had raided the tomb of El Cid and it’s rumoured that they had taken several relics and body parts. In the ruins of a local hamlet is a cage containing the body of what could be El Cid? 

Four brigands will be positioned within 2” of the cage, any further brigands will be placed 8” away from the cage in random directions in cover.

Brigands will never make a random move during the game, instead they will end their activation. Once the relic is secured if called upon to make a random move they will pursue the relic pieces, if they recapture the relic they will move to return it to the cage.

In the centre of the table the Cage containing the potential cadaver must be opened using the key or a successful test of 15 or greater.

Surrounding the Cage are 5 treasure tokens - but watch out for the leader of the Brigands - A Demon!!!

A – The keys to the cage no test required to open the cage.

K – Ancient Scroll – Add 2 Monster Dice to the fate pool.

Q – 2 Brigands entering from the corner of a random corner, who will move towards the cage.

J – Leader of the Brigands in a random house – closest to the cage or relic (Demon)

10 – Book of Demonic sketches – Add one skill dice and one Monster dice to the fate pool

 

Experience Points available.

+1 For opening the cage.

+2 Taking the relic off board

+1 for each 2 Brigands killed

+3 Killing the Demon

Turn 1 - A common enemy and for once players unite French, Spanish and British each take the opportunity to thin the defenders in the square to open away to the Cage.

The Spanish make there way towards the cage clearing the house over looking the cage, could this be another win and a 3rd body part?

You have to watch your back as the player with the lowest initiative gets to place a further brigand usually behind the player making the most progress. Fortunately the Spanish had a marksman to suppress the sneaking outlaws.

 

War erupts yet again between the British and the French, The red coats could not resist a pot shot at the French in the open. Before the French fire a volley back.

As the Spanish rattle the cage unable to prise the lock, the doctor from the second British unit having grabbed the keys rushes towards the cage, only to be shot down by the French. Who in a moment of madness firer on every nationality in sight.

The Demon is discovered and rises up from the Crypt.

With blessed weapons the British fire on the Demon.

As the Demon chases down any character near the cage, the French rush in and crack open the cage before running for the table edge as musket balls whistle past their ears.

The Demon is felled by British musket fire, but spoils for all, the Spanish racked up plenty of brigand kills whilst the French now hold the 4th piece of El Cid. 

Next up the final piece is tracked down before the grand showdown.

Silver Bayonet - 4 way encounter - Bring out your dead.

A little behind on posts - The last game of 2023 and the usual skulduggery as the hunt for El-Cid's body parts continues.

This time 4 players and an additional British player.... unsurprisingly the Brits played nicely together whilst a cautious cease fire existed amongst the French and Spanish although to be fair everyone had their hands full with the undead and vampires to really focus on the living opponents.

The chapel surrounded by multiple grave stones together with plenty of dead to keep our parties happy, buried in the grounds under one of 4 clue markers was another bit of El-Cid

The British combine their efforts taking down several cadavers as the remainder of the Brits make there way through the gated cemetery.

The Brits were distracted by their mission by the arrival of a Vampire swooping in feast on the Brits, good job they had Abu all the way from India to save their skins.

With the church grounds full of undead, the French looked to lead them away by appearing at a hole in the wall, the undead only had one thing in mind human brains.... the sneaky French.

All way going to plan as Claude trudged off across the marsh with the undead shambling behind.

However the arrival of another Vampire ruined the French plans - Brother Bronte was left to face the foul creature, a holy symbol provided some protection - But he really needed a silver weapon.

As the Spanish contented themselves with dispatched zombies for point, the Brits ran in to unearth and grab El-Cid's body part, it was close as the French shot a a few of the Brits down as they fought off the returning horde. But the Brits carried the day.

3 of the 5 parts of El-Cid have now been found.

Spanish 2.

Brits 1.

If you want an unbiased view you can find the a view from the British lines - Silver Bayonet on a school night! | movealongnownothingtoseehere

Stay tuned for round 4 as the search continues.....  

Big Bashes.....

Sometimes you just want to line them up and knock them down....

A couple of big games, with plenty of toys on the table. First up a stand up fight between the Brits and French, the whistle of cannon ball and the clouds of black smoke as the French columns looked to break the British line.

In true French style the heavy cavalry charged down the meadow looking to break the thin red line.

Will the British line hold?

Should they have formed a square?

Will 3 rounds a minute put paid to the valiant French attack?

Several hundred years earlier and the Ancient Brits aim to hold back the Roman invaders.

A blood soaked field.

But the Romans hold the line, drill and training beating naked (literally) aggression.

Next up back to the desert.

Silver Bayonet - Will the real Claude please step forward.

Rejoice, rejoice Claude has been found.

How the gang is all here let's see if they can do any better than the stunt double.

Now on with the mission, The Tomb of El Cid was raided by an unknown party and the Hispanic hero’s bones, Crucifix and Sword  have disappeared, spread across Spain, each waring faction is on a quest for the various artefacts.

If they can be recovered this will give a massive boost for the various nations, the Spanish can clear there lands of foreign influence, the Brits can defeat the French, the French can defeat the British… EL Cid’s influence is significant for all.

After the first encounter the Spanish are in procession of part of El Cid’s skeleton and are making their way to the Monastery of San Pedro de Cardena when a messenger reaches the parties that some of the Cid’s bones are hoarded by a monstrous troll who lives underneath a nearby bridge.

 

Everyone rushes to hunt down the beast and secure the second part of the puzzle.

You have to say that for the Spanish they do like to get stuck in... heading straight for the bridge.

The Brits and the French unimpressed with the aggressive Spaniards poured fire into the attackers but under a hail of shot the Spanish reached the bridge. 

On the bridge the troll surfaced throwing boulders at the Spanish, but a blunderbuss round caught him squarely in the chest, followed swiftly by a musket round which finished him off... some much for the terror of San Pedro de Cardena.

The Spanish had the second part of the puzzle and were running for the road, Claude waded across the river as the Brits headed for the row boat, but despite killing a number of the Spanish the remainder escaped the table.

Two nil to the men from Spain...

Another fun encounter players are finding there feet and understanding the limitations of some of the creatures that stalk the land.... Let's see how they get on with a Church Yard full of Zombies...

Silver Bayonet - Dead Man's Farm.

How annoying.... Claude has gone AWOL.... 

Somewhere in one of the numerous boxes is a French faction for Silver Bayonet now I will have to send a day hunting down these lead warriors. Like many a wargamer high time I reorganised the boxes to ensure 'stuff' does not go missing again. Fortunately the body doubles will be a suitable stand in.... 

Dead Man's farm.. Hidden amongst the 5 markers is an artefact, standing in the way is a bunch of Revenants... The mission - Get in, find it and escape off table..... simple.

The problem, both the English, French and Spanish all wanted it.... The Spanish tried the direct approach taking an axe to the courtyard door.

The British readied themselves for action, despite all the dead around them they came looking for a fight.... 

The French took up a defensive posture watching the Spanish knock on the door. 

Without warning the British attackers fired on the French, forcing them to fire back in self defence. 

Meanwhile the Spanish had under estimated the cadavers charging in they took down several of the undead but they lost half their number, but on the turn of the first card found the artefact and only had to make it off the table.

To late the French and British realised they had a more important goal and chased after the men of Spain.. but the Spanish nipped through the main gate, side stepped a couple more dead soldiers and were away...

My apologies to the British commander for the bias within the report.... But you did fire first... :-)

A fun encounter with three waring parties, the rain storm mid-game made shooting less effective forcing everyone to use steel...

Next up the Troll Bridge......

Sharp Practice in the desert.

The wargaming gods definitely sent a message this week.

Just when the thought I might move this lot on, to make way for other projects, the Perry Twins drop the start of a new line of Mini's for the Ottomans - Category: Ottoman Army 1790-1815 - Perry Miniatures (perry-miniatures.com)

Curses now it looks like they might be reinforced...

On with the game..... A clash between the French looking to hold the town until reinforcements join the fight whilst the Ottoman's look to break the line and reach the main compound.

The French skirmishers fill every window, door and roof top as they await the the first wave of Ottoman attackers.

The Ottomans advance on mass, many armed only with hand to hand weapons, but mass has it's own quality. French Artillery pepper the line as they advance towards the defenders.

The Arab forces rush the defenders, beat them back.

Yet more Ottomans fill the open ground in front of the village. This time better quality European trained troops.

The French slowly give ground as more Ottomans arrive including heavy artillery, which would turn the brick buildings to rubble in short order.

Help is on hand as the French column enter the table to support the hard pressed defenders.

The French fall back into the town, closely followed by the Ottoman Infantry who line out to assault hard pressed defenders.

The main French force prepares to meet the attack, Ottoman cavalry is attempts to flank the French line but is countered by Dragoons.

The Ottoman's mass for yet another attack, with further cavalry on the left flank.

The Ottoman cavalry finally finds a gap in the defences and look to encircle the defenders, they beat back a group of Coptic Infantry but are sent packing by a round of cannister.

A crashing volley shatters the Ottoman column as they advance down the main street, as smoke from the from volley clears the Ottoman force morale drops to zero. The French had held on.

A great encounter touch and go for both sides. The Ottoman cavalry was a constant threat but could not find the space to exploit the wider space. the French skirmishers were surprisingly resilient and dealt a number of blows on the Ottomans as they attempted to assault the buildings. By the time the Ottoman heavy guns were in position to fire the French had fallen back into the rear of the village.

Perhaps the Ottomans do need some extra reinforcements from the the Perry Twins after all.