Pony Wars and Sands of Sudan - The luck of the cards.....

Sometimes its nice to play on the same side.... Two games in two weeks both along a similar theme with commanders all trying to play together for a common good. The Pony Wars games have a sense of fear as the soldiers in blue head off into the hinterland. Although I am beginning to really resent the homesteaders :-) 

Pony Wars

The cards fell well for the cavalry with limited Sioux appearing on the table, the federal forces were on the look out for gun runners looking to make a quick buck selling guns and whiskey to the Injuns.

Turn one and the Indians are already sending smoke signals to their buddies in the hills, we sent A troop up the high ground to drive them off as a wagon train enters the table and heads for the fort.

Meanwhile hearing that there was a clam bake sale at the church settlers head up the team only to be ambushed by the locals who were armed with bow and arrow, but then who should appear in the clearing but the flaming gun runners. Alas the settlers would not see another sun rise.

Having watched men, women and children butchered the cavalry retreated to one of the homesteads and awaiting reinforcements as the indians with their new repeating rifles took pot shots from afar.

But as luck would have it, the Masked Man and Tonto appeared to save the day, although he was ignored by several Indians which caused hoots of laugher from the rank and file.

Not everyone was laughing through as the Indian Scouts were cut down in the pass before they could get back to the main command.

Just as the cavalry plotted their revenge and drew their sabre's for a ferocious charge (Ok the might have been running low on ammunition) The Lone Ranger persuaded the Indians to leave the table and head back to the reservation. Spoil Sport - But we will take that as a win.

On the other side of the globe a similar encounter was unfolding.

Sands of the Sudan.

A week later and perhaps it was the fact we were British we entered the desert with a sense of purpose surely no savage could stand up to the might of the crown.

Unlike the Sioux the Dervish come on in huge numbers very often watching from afar awaiting for the Emir to give his signal. The occasional HE shell did nothing to change their mood.

Having watched plenty of movies like the Four Feathers the Brits new what was needed and kept a tight formation, the drums started beating and the natives charged getting pretty close to the British lines, with supplies close at hand the Brits and Egyptians poured fire into the Dervish and sent them packing.

With the Dervish attack shattered time to unleash the lancers.... It was a great plan sweep behind the natives and send the packing.....

Right plan but you need to know when to break off, the initial charge failed to break the Fuzzy Wuzzy and they were joined by friends keen to avenge their fallen comrades. The Lancers fled taking their wounded officer with them. That will take some explaining in the mess.

Time to head back to the steamer and the safety of the Nile.

Great games and both with a slightly different feel, you really have to plan ahead and balance you resources, the lancers head the oasis in sight but had to turn back when our of the heat haze came hundreds of Arab riders.... 

Looking forward to playing a few more of these games in the coming months and perhaps an adaption for Starship Troopers just for fun...

Dispatches from the Front XXXII - So Many Projects.

A bit of a mixed bag today, gaming has picked up of late with some great games and projects underway.

John over at the Wyre Forest club does put on a great game, I don't know where he stores it all or manages to produce so many fine figures and terrain pieces in such a short period of time. This is his Crete scenario using Rapid Fire rules as German Parachutist's defend the airfield against the British, Greek and Cretan civilians.  

Some great individual pieces from the weapon caches and empty chutes in trees.

The Crusader project continues to gather in number with several extra packs from Footsore and Perry's to bolster both side it has meant a whole new paint purchase of colours which I did not know I needed, plenty of pale blues, pinks and oranges. Not quite ready to dive in to the contrast process I am sure it is quicker but cant break the existing painting habits of undercoat, block painting, finer detail and washes.

Whilst the Standard Games boxed sets are long gone with them appearing on ebay for over a £100 there is a raft of resource available translated from French with loads of scenarios for both Outremer and Baron's War, I still fancy turning them to miniature either on the original hexes or converting to the tabletop proper.

Meanwhile the prep for the AWI Project is underway with the first few packs on the bases, Thanks to  Steve over at Wargames With Toy Soldiers: 1685 - 1985 (wargameswithtoysoldier1685-1985.blogspot.com) for his insight on rule suggestions I am going to give Rebels and Patriots a runout. Now the next quandary, I see lots of people painting them on coffee sticks rather than the bases but let's see. I have based the Infantry on Flames of War Bases with Command figures on circular bases this should give me the visual representation I was after. But more pressing issues before these start to take shape.

The Wyre Forest Club shall be on the road in March with a game at West Midlands Military Show I need a few more vehicles to bolster the forces for each side and it will be back 3D prints I found 3D Valley on E-Bay to be excellent value very cost effective with 28mm tanks coming in around £13.00 each and you don't have to glue them together.

We will be using a mash up of Bolt Action and Chain of Command and looking to play out the following scenario.

THE BATTLE FOR FORT NIBEIWA, 9 DECEMBER 1940

A portrayal of the Battle for Fort Nibeiwa part of the opening moves of Operation Compass, an attack of British & Commonwealth forces against Italian Positions in Western Egypt.  The Western Desert Force (Consisting of the 4^th Infantry Division & 7^th Armoured Division are tasked with an attack against Group Maletti

 

Under the cover of RAF Bombardments and Artillery. At 7.30am Matilda tanks flanked by Bren Carrier Platoons of  the 7^th Rajput Regiment attacked, Italian tanks and defenders were caught off guard with many of the crew asleep, as the crew scrambled for their vehicles they were overwhelmed by the Indian Infantry and lumbering Matildas.

 

By 10.40 the Fort was in British Hands in what one Italian described as “the nearest thing to hell he had ever seen.” Over 4000 Italians surrendered.

 

The Game.

Can the Italians slow the allied advance and destroy the Allied Armour before the Commonwealth forces capture the fort and the Italian Morale collapses?

Drop by and say hello.

Baron's War Outremer - Knights Templar

Next up the first of the Christian Forces in the shape of Knights Templar for the Baron's War Outremer project great castings from the Footsore Miniatures Team.

They need a varnish once the weather warms comes and the wind drops together with a few tufts and rocks etc.

I went for a grey and white mix with a light flesh wash to give that lived in campaign feel, enough for a couple of units within Baron's War - Really do need to read the rules.

If anyone is interested I am looking to sell on the Fortified Hospital, I was one of the early backers and only 50 were produced. However with a slight change in focus I need to scale back my plans... I am looking to recover my initial investment its not yet available from Footsore so get yourself a great piece of terrain before it goes on sale.

You can find it on e-bay running for the next few days - Footsore Miniatures Barons War Outremer Fortified Hospital Crusader Fort | eBay The Photo below is the completed view.

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.

Outremer - The first figures of 2024

The first output of 2024 and only a year behind schedule.

Having backed the Kickstarter over 12 months ago, finally time to bite the bullet and get some of the Footsore Miniatures on the paint table. For years I wanted to recreate the Standard Games Hex based game in miniature, but there was not a range of figures that I felt fitted the bill until now.

A great range of figures with lots of character and variety in the poses.

First up Islamic/Arab Archers.... 

Having only played one game of Baron's War last year I need to read the rules properly and match the units figures to units, but two units of 6 archers is a good start.

A cluster of archers - but will they be enough to stop the Crusader heavy horse?

I must be honest the colour combination goes against everything that I painted in recent years, the clash of colours gave me a headache, it matches a number of colour plates in the likes of Osprey and other sources, but initially they were rather garish however a flesh wash has dulled them down a little and the basing makes them feel a whole let better and they will be a real contrast to the Christian forces.

Not enough for a game yet, but a good start.....

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.