Baron's War Outremer - Knights Templar - Foot

Crickey a month has passed since the first Crusaders cleared the paint table. Now time for the foot knights to enter the fray.

Lovely castings from Footsore Miniatures a mix of their knights and Templars

They still need a varnish and a standard adding along with a few bits of scrub, but largely finished. The transfers for the shields saves a load of time, I could not achieve this free hand.

Next up Muslim Cavalry as the forces start to take shape.

Rebels and Patriots - First outing.

Whilst the AWI 10mm project starts to take shape, an opportunity to give Rebels and Patriots a run out using the Spanish and Haitian forces.

I modified the native list for Haitian escaped slaves making them large units and aggressive but removing there firing ability, the total points were 29 vs 24.

The Haitian regulars were complimented by a couple of regular line units and skirmishers, whilst the Spanish were held the defences of the plantation with a veteran regular unit, a light cannon and a number of militia units.

The Haitian sweep through the fields and advance on the militia who were guarding the fence line of the plantation they were disordered from the fire from the skirmishers, the militia attempted to rally off the marker but failed their orders and charged the advancing Haitians before being soundly beaten and send packing.

Not the best start for the Spanish, but their skirmish units were starting to inflict a number of casualties on the advancing regulars who were hindered by the fence line and slave living quarters and could not bring enough of their fire power to bear.

The light cannon and the mass ranks of defenders disrupted the advancing Haitians who spent a number of turns Rallying their troops for fear of the disruption driving them from the table.

The Regulars drove back the skirmish units but unfortunately brought them into range of the defenders who send them running.

Lacking to sufficient units to clear the defences the Haitian were forced to withdraw.

A good outcome in about 2 hours, not bad at all for the first outing the rules were quick to learn and had some nice touches I like the jeopardy of rolling double 1 or 6 - we had there fair share of those.

We had a couple of discussions around the range of skirmishers vs formed ranks, who out range regulars. We quickly learnt the importance of cleaning up the disruption markers, on one occasion the slave unit charged a skirmish unit but being disordered the loss dice was a real issue.

The formed close formations seems to be a good choice if you can get in a position to make it count, for the Haitian's though don't do it in front of an artillery unit it can be a painful experience.

A quicker game than Sharp Practice so perfect for evening games and will be a good fit for the 10mm project especially where the game might call for 2 or 3 companies per side with a couple of commanders each.

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.....