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.....  

Dispatches from the Front XXXI - Welcome to 2024

Well here we are another New Year and the customary review of the past 12 months.

Considering the amount of real life distractions a rather productive year on the gaming front, taken up largely with WW2 and the Western Desert, quite surprising really as it was only meant to be a small project when a member of the club said did you fancy splitting a box, but it ended up turning into forces for both the Commonwealth, French and Germans, with plenty of gaming and a campaign to boot. 

We dabbled with Bolt Action and Chain of Command creating a couple of good house rules which have given us a good experience and a growing collection across several players.... Plenty more planned for 2024.

It was good to get in a couple of fun games of Silver Bayonet, with the return of Claude Canard although he does seem to get picked on in games..  The Hunt for the remaining parts of El-Cid is sure to continue into the new year, but we could see a return to the Middle East of Claude with the next campaign book set in Egypt. 

Our gaming group lost a good wargaming friend in November, Dane (on the left) no matter what we played he seemed to know every rule yet you never saw him read a rule book. He had not been well for several years, but you never saw him complain, in fact the more pain he was in the luckier he seemed to get. One of the founding members of the Wyverns Wargames Club, we had some great games including several all dayers at Salute helping Paul and Sally at Kallistra run their showcase games... Great times... I shall miss our tabletop dust ups.....

So what for 2024?

Well the Germans are in need of some armour if they are to turn the tide in the Tactics II campaign, I had a few pieces gifted over Christmas in the shape of plastic kits that will certainly help. The rise in quality of 3D prints makes the purchase of vehicles so much more affordable so quick order to 3D Valley on E-Bay should give me plenty of extra's for both sides.

The big projects are to finally get the Footsore Kickstarter off the ground and Outremer, it was a big purchase due to those weird days in lock down when I sold some collections for crazy money. I must be honest the weight and volume of shiny metal is a little bit off putting. But if I break them down into the various factions it should be fine.

Not quite sure of the rule set yet, Baron's War is the obvious choice but I am hoping to scratch an itch from over 30 years ago to turn Standard Games hex game into a mini version. With rumours of a new version coming out, it could be a sign of things to come.

I have a hankering for some BIG games with small figures and am leaning towards my first historical period of interest when I first got into gaming. The American War of Independence. A period I have read plenty on although surprising never owned, I have also never painted British Regulars in all my years of gaming.

I am thinking 10mm Pendragon to give me a comprise of a large table but with figures I can still make out the detail on.... Now for a set of rules, base and unit sizes?

I have several taster packs on order to see if I can paint them to a standard I am comfortable with, given the volumes involved.

What else?

Who knows the usual butterfly feeling may take hold, depending on what you watch and listen to, just finished a cracking pod cast on the Aztecs and the Spanish Conquistadors - Well I already have Spanish???

Happy New Year everyone.

No mini's left behind (3) Bolt Action Pin Markers - Western Desert.

Last post of the year before the customary review of 2023, a sweep of the spares box as the last of the Western Desert project enter the paint table together with a few left overs.

I found these hanging around as I was making room for new projects - Foundry BEF and a handful of Africa Korps casualties from Artisan these will be perfect for Pin Markers for Bolt Action or Chain of Command. 

The Brits are wearing the wrong kit but it clears a few more of the hidden lead.... 

Two dice sabots per base should be enough.

That's all folks.... See you next year......

Tactics II - Turn 2 Axis - Game 3 Ambush on the highway.

With the Axis forces pushing on the left flank pinning allied units, other Axis units were able to break the river line with a view to swing left into the allied defensive line, however the dice gods were against the Axis forces yet again.

Bad news it's a Patrol Game so they are unable to bring their larger forces to bear and also a defender ambush... They are really not having it their own way at the moment.

Lady luck is once again on the side of the allies the terrain is largely open with a wadi at the far end.... The defenders/ambushers have to engage the enemy for a minimum of 4 turns before they can choose to retire.... The winner being the side which inflict the most casualties.

With a good roll on the reinforcements chart, I opted for a number of light support weapons and a couple of Bren Carriers should I need to pull back quickly.

The Vichy forces came on, a number of light machines guns teams first followed by couple of sections and a truck...

Lying in Ambush the FAO, Mortars, Machine Guns awaited the order to fire.... The Fascists were starting to get strung out on the road. 

Shells ran down on the head of the column, pinning the Vichy forces and HMG fire sweeps the marching infantry.

The French start to get organised and break for cover on the left and right flanks rushing forward to get into small arms range. The column was perhaps larger than anticipated with more troops, lorries backing up behind the first units.

With Armour approaching time to get out of dodge.... whilst casualties were still light.

The allies disappeared into the desert as the axis forces picked up the pieces and were forces to regroup.

Allied losses - 70 Points

Axis losses - 220 Points.

No mini's left behind (2) - British Civil War

Several years ago, A Very British Civil War was all the rage at the Wyverns, with a great campaign set in Worcester and the surrounding area, we even got a mention in the source book.

Tucked away in cupboard of shame was a bunch of metal left over from the project a bunch of militia types, beret wearing troops and vicars... Just the job for the Anglican League - Defenders of the Cathedral.

Within the AVBCW universe the Anglican League were a collection of political groups opposed to the King. They were outspoken on the marriage of the King Edward VIII

The Leagues military wing is structured around the local diocese very often led by clergymen or in the case of Bath and Wells the Bishop himself.

In Worcester out number by the BEF garrison and the local Socialist groups they are content to protect Church property and College Yard. 

The final bare metal was a Vickers HMG team which is a useful support element for the The Severn Riverside Wharf Labours Federation (SRWLF) arch rivals of the BEF, Socialists looking to wrestle the city from the fascists. 

A fun distraction before the next major project in 2024.

Tactics II Game Turn 2 - The Axis forces Strike Back.

With the Allied forces turn over, initiative switches to the Axis Forces, their first move is to attempt to break across the river, pinning a number of infantry units as their more mobile units pushed forward to break across the wadi.

Playing the Allied defender, I opted for a Veteran unit, armed with Anti-Tank Grenades in the hope that their better defensive saves would keep them in the field longer, the terrain was favourable with high ground to the rear and the ability for troops to be dug in.

The fascist forces would be heading straight down the road, with the possibility of reinforcements forcing the left or right flank, so I had to be prepared for that possibility, with infantry dug in on across the front and a mobile reserve of a couple of light tanks to plug any gaps.

On the high ground a HMG and Spotters scan the possible entry routes of the Axis forces.

As the Vichy French appear they are hit by off table and on table mortars peppered their line, the French had deployed a mobile field gun and armour but they failed to hit their mark against the dug in Infantry.

The French struggled to get organised under the burst of HE rounds. The infantry went forward looking to close the ground between the attackers and defenders.

The British light armour advanced to counter the enemy treat and break up the infantry attack, the armour under took a long range dual took place with both sides taking several hits before the French lost a tank.

On the right flank Axis reinforcements turned up in the shape of the mighty Africa Korps, but they were few in number and lightly armoured.

But despite this they were making a nuisance of themselves breaking through the dug in Infantry into the soft under belly taking out a number of support sections, they were driven back by the allied light armour.

All the time the force morale of both sides dropped point by point the French infantry rallied and charged into the wadi and defeated the battered defenders, on the right flank the Germans infantry was routed as it attempted to clear the defenders from their fox holes.

Unbelievably both sides were left with one force morale point. The Allied sniper finally found his mark after missing all game killing the AT Rifle team which forced the axis forces to withdraw. 

The allies had held the river line but losses were heavy on both sides.

Axis - 519

Allied - 445

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.