Dispatches from the front XXVIIII - Back to the Future.

Last post of the month, it been a while since the last dispatch from the front. With the weather being a touch on the hot side, it felt like the perfect time to play an Ardennes game - Andy does like a large game :-)

Played using Bolt Action with the US defending the town from a two sided German attack, great photo's from the clubs resident war photographer which puts my efforts to shame.

Medal of honor goes to this AT crew who inflicted 3 kills on the advancing Germans.

The Allied forces managed to blunt the Axis attack inflicting significant losses on the advancing infantry and armour, with the Germans only managing to secure a couple of buildings on the outskirts of town.

Jumping ahead a few weeks and it's back to the old west and 'What a Cowboy' cracking layout from my secret wargaming buddy, who has been busy adding to his collection, nice to get the Cinderella Cattle Company on to the table looking to stop the funeral cortege secure the map held in Stinky Pete's boot.

As the bullets fly, the civilians ran for cover, with henchmen taking pot shots at the opposing gangs as they looking to secure the body,

Great fun although that might be because the CCC got away with no wounds. It got me thinking about Simon Walkers idea to convert to the Zulu Wars and his Death of the Prince game that did the rounds of wargames shows last year, the Zulu's being henchmen - We did a variant to Sharpe Practice several years ago, it would be good to get the figures back out. One to think about in the months ahead.

Talking about Simon's adaptions looking forward to this supplement for Men Who Would be Kings. Simon and I have swapped e-mails on many occasions on various adaptions of rules for the Pony Wars, great to see this passion project reach a new audience and a published rule set.... 

Whilst waiting for this it's tempted me back to rollout the Pony Wars Games for my wargaming gang, the card system is fantastic but back in 1980 you needed a maths degree to work out casualties so I am borrowing the firing and melee mechanisms from MWTBK to hopefully reduce the time spent in the rule book.... stay tuned as the US Cavalry saddle up to rescue the homesteaders..

With e-bay funds burning a hole in my virtual pocket, I got thinking about how these rules could be adapted for Starship Troopers and some of the new STL prints... next thing you know these are on order. Whilst I own a bunch in 25mm - the mass in 6mm could be quite scary.... 

What you can get now in 3D Prints is fantastic and it should be a rather quick paint job and a project to chip away at over the winter months.

Not sure what the September paint queue looks like just yet, there are several small bits in the draw, so lets see what's sparked by forthcoming games.

No mini's left behind (1) - Starship Troopers

After a but of a tidy up in the gaming room, you come across a few more items from the cupboard of shame, I thought I had cleared many of these items during lockdown but clearly not.

So bare metal blisters went on e-bay and several others dropped into the painting queue - On the basis of ship in or ship out - No Mini's are left behind :-)

First up a 3D printed Brain Bug for Starship Troopers - The Mongoose variant sell for around £60.00 on E-bay but this proxy will do just fine... I seem to recall this one was purchased over 4 years ago - finally now table ready.

Perfect for raid scenarios and the like the Mobile Infantry will have their work cut out in the tunnels of Klandethu.

Might be even tempted to get a game in over the Christmas break now this is finished.

Right on to the next box and whatever is tucked away in there.

Dispatches from the front XXI - The Butterfly Awakes.

A few weeks since the end of the holiday period and a couple 'additional' purchases that did not appear from the Christmas wish list.

I am not sure if it's the time of year or the fact that I am coming to the end of the Pony Wars Project with all the metal based and undercoated if I get them complete and the buildings by April I will have completed the entire project in 12 months now that is a record for me.

I have been distracted by thoughts of several fresh projects...... Idle hands and a Paypal War chest? ;-)

It started with the unboxing and a couple of games Undaunted: North Africa a cracking game and really well balanced, you need to apply the specialists in the right roles to ensure proper tactics pay off. Unlike the Normandy version this one is based on single figures and of course it led to the inevitable conversation about converting it to miniatures, after all I was looking for an opportunity to use my desert terrain a little more and Perry Miniatures have some lovely castings.

Game 1 - The scout was quick to clear the tiles ahead opening up the board for the demolition expert to destroy the plane and lorry before the Italians could stop them although there were some hairy moments when he was pinned on the open runway trying to plant the explosives.

Game 2 - The LRDG faced the might of the Italian Armour and the Boyes Rifle simply did not have the punch to kill the damn thing. The fascists were soon stripped of their supporting Infantry but the Allies had a risky time trying to dodge the mobile pill box as they attempted to destroy the fuel dump.

I could seriously be tempted in some figures for this especially as the figure count is rather low.

I picked up a copy of Silver Bayonet designed for Napoleonic monster hunting convincing myself that I would not any further figures (who am I trying to kid) as I have French for both Haiti and Egypt both regions lend themselves to monster folk lore. Could Claude Canard make a come back?

The rules are well produced and well polished in a format similar in style to Frost/Star Grave.

Next thing you know I am thinking about Russians and pinching some of the elements of the faction for the Russo Japanese War, which allow me to utilise some of my Water Margin collection besides who doesn't everyone need a hopping Vampire?

A restock from Foundry they were advertising a range of discounts on orders over £50 unfortunately paints were excluded which was a shame as I would have topped up the order to bring up to the first threshold so for once held back on knee jerk purchases :-)

Expensive postage and duty aside, I picked up an excellent Brain Bug for Starship Troopers. The Mongoose original has being going for in excess of £75.00 so this variant on Etsy was a great proxy. 

Good communication from AlieCatCraftsnStuff who scaled it down to 25mm scale.

Meanwhile as Covid starts to retreat again, it was nice to get some club time in.

I had an outing over to the Wyre Forest Club and had an excellent game of  Blucher, thanks to Neil for putting the game on and and Daniel my French opponent. A close run thing down to the very last turn.

On the right flank my Austrian Cavalry Corp ran into French Infantry which were surprisingly tough to drive from their defensive positions.

Meanwhile the French cavalry rode down the Austrian guns before exhausting themselves on the massed ranks of Austrian Line.

A great game mechanism and allows for some great master strokes across the table.

Over at the Wyverns another Arthurian outing using Song of Blades and Heroes this time Romano Britain's looking to turn back the Saxon raiders.

Quite the battle with a number of gory deaths messing up both sides formations and massed archery felling several of the armoured Britain's.

Until next time....

Stargrave - Starship Troopers - #3 Bug hole & #4 The Downed Ship

Real life seems to have gotten in the way of late, output on the blog has been slow and the warm and muggy weather has crippled the painting production line. However I have managed to cram in a few Stargrave games, simply by moving the terrain around from one week to next, I guess one of the benefits of having your own gaming space.

Good news... Patricia Leafy is still alive....

Adapting a couple of the scenario's from the Stargrave rule book to the Starship Troopers Universe, we carried on the linked encounters between the her crew and the Skinnies, who are amassing quite the arsenal of weaponry. 

Game 3 Bug Hole.

Squadron Leader Patricia Leafy of the Missile Ship William E Barber had a point to prove. Having taken over the crew from her sister killed in the first game she was keen to win this encounter and top up the crew's war chest.

The treasure and bug holes were spread across the table, you have to be careful as warrior bugs would occasionally pop up and drag off an unfortunate soul to the lower levels for who knows what...

This time around we opted for some undulating terrain, with rocky outcrops and bug eggs, littering the table.

When a loot token is unearthed a wandering creature is rolled for an what is now being standard the damn things made a bee line for my gang. Barely into the 3rd Round and a Hopper swoops in, Leafy crew waste their activation pouring fire into it.

Wilks with tech pad in hand, breaks the access code to reveal a data treasure, whilst Leafy holds off a Cliff Mite keen on taking a chunk out of the Captain.

The Skinnies rush forwards. quickly grabbing two tokens and heading for the centre of the table.

Their experience is being to tell as the rushed for centre of the table, the crew of the William E Barber struggle to hold them back and watch for wildlife which seems to follow their every move.

But the Skinnies were not having it all their own way, a Warrior Bug pops up and attacks one of the Skinnies just has they broke into one of the last remaining data pods.

The battle for the last token was an all action affair, Leafy had bribed one of the Skinnies who missed from close range, while Boltz II raced forwards sinking his metal teeth into another causing him to miss.

As things looked like both waring gangs could lose 2 or 3 members, the dust storm picked up and the win blew several combatants across the table, both sides retired to count their winnings.

Another win to the skinnies 3:2 but on a Positive note all of the crew of the missile ship had survived.

Game 4 The Downed Ship

With both crew lost in the dust storm, they came across a crashed dropship in the centre of the table. It's weapon systems operation, firing on any target in range.

The key to this encounter was activations with the lowest odd initiative triggering the potential for warrior bugs. Low and behold the game is barely underway and the bugs are chasing Leafy and her team around the table.

As the Arachnid race forwards, Boltz II went into the attack buying time for the crew to get into position, Boltz with put down by one of the Bugs razor sharp claws, he would need some time in the workshop after that foolish attack.

The Skinnies unhindered by Leafy team popped smoke to cover their actions, but the bugs were massing to their rear.

One of the Skinnies fell back from an approaching bug only to be zapped by the dropship who gained a line of sight through the billowing smoke.

One of the Skinnies fell back from an approaching bug only to be zapped by the dropship.

The Skinnies were happy with their loot and left the table unwilling to risk an exchange with the encroaching bugs, leaving Leafy to disable the ships weapon system and escape with the central loot before the bugs could get too close. 

A valiant draw but with the exception of Boltz another round with no losses.

Things are looking up.

A couple of fun encounters, hopefully the next update will have the first of the Pony Wars stuff clear the paint queue.

Stargrave - Starship Troopers - #2 Bugs!!!.

Back to that damn rock and another outing for Stargrave.

Hired by an old mining buddy of Gregson Industries to re-start the oxygen plant which had been overrun bugs. Squadron Leader Patricia Leafy of the Missile Ship William E Barber had appoint to prove. Having taken over the crew from her sister killed in the first game she was keen to win this encounter and top up the crew's war chest.

The plant was surrounded by an electric fence which could be turned off by a central control panel, but first the bugs needed to be dealt with. They were contained in the compound but would react to anyone breaking through the fence.

Looking across the valley another crew was also on scene - those flaming skinnies again. They were quick out of the blocks bolstered by their first success and were already making headway through the wire having shot down the Arachnid's on their side of the fence.

The crew of the William E Barber fired several rounds at the Skinnies as they attempted to break through the fence line, but tucked away in the rocks with Scarad a stone cold killer, armed with a sniper rifle he took aim.

Blam......Bloody Hell !!!!

Patricia Leafy took a round straight to the chest, I am running out of Leafy sisters... :-(

One of us was laughing as yet again in the first round my captain is out of the fight. I am beginning to think I might have to paint up a new Captain after all. 

The Skinnies started to unlock the loot tokens barely troubled by Leafy's crew, even poor old Boltz was knocked off his feet running across the compound.

As various loot boxes were opened the local wildlife got involved swooping down on anyone who happened to be near them.

As the fire fight raged both crews attempted to gain the last loot goals, but the day was the Skinnies who scurried away with 3 of the 5 tokens. Still having a Captain gave them that first move advantage which is so critical in these games.

The crew of William E Barber spent their loot on the services of the Medical Core returning the Captain to active duty. 2 Games in, the crew had a total of 35 Credits to their name, whilst the Skinnies continued to expand their armoury and technology. 

Life in the Quarantine Zone can be tough.....