One Day Older and.....

Saturday 19th August 2017 - WDW

 Bolt Action (big game)

I was too bound up in my own game to do anything but take a few pictures.

 Quetcoatl Rampant (small game)

Chris offered to play with my South American stuff so I took along my Aztecs & colonial Spanish.  Decided to use small units (as my troop numbers are limited) with 6 hits per stand (reducing according to casualties)  Neither of us had much idea about the "Lion Rampant" rules but we struggled on.  Nigel turned up after the first game and became my opponent.

What we found out - it was impossible to kill certain Spanish units (horse and caballeros) and the artillery was deadly.  Both fights went to the Spanish. 

Using solid blocks (40mm x 40mm) was fine if a dice holder is on each base.  However...according to the rules...only skirmishers should have been in 'small' units AND dice should never have been reduced below 6.  That wpuld have made a big difference!  Thanks to Deany for his help and advice. 

Chris was not happy with the activation sequence so probably would not want to play theses rules again.  Well there is another set to try out...'DBA in the New World'.  Maybe next year!


Sunday 20th August 2017 - The 'Other' Partizan @ Newark

It took me 1hr 40 mins to get to Newark - roadworks, roadworks and more b*£%^* roadworks.  This time I knew how to negotiate the horrendous Newark roundabouts so getting to the showground was not so bad.

Fought an interesting little game 'Battle of Northampton' (7 turns only) - quite fun and educational.

On the way back I had to get off the A1 at Thaxted (interesting windmill), but was able to rejoined above the accident.  Luckily I took the Wakefield turnoff as there was standing traffic beyond that point.

My purchases were:

2 packs of 7mm dice squares (10 per pack)

1 x Aztec Warriors - Caesar H028
1 x Aztec Warriors - Mars 72018
1 x Conquistadors - Mars 72019 (the one with the war dogs)
1 x Chinese Han Dynasty Troopers - Caesar H043
(All of these are on PSR)

With so many reinforcements I can now sort out my SA figures and paint up some as dedicated Tlaxcaltecs.
The 4 war dogs mean that I can make an additional Wb base.

Not sure about the Han Chinese figures - another case of  'too many chiefs' I fear.  They might be of use as Imperial troops of the Taiping & Boxer rebellion period.


Tuesday 22nd August 2017

My Naismith order turned up today.  A few more conquistadores:

1 x CQ12 Mounted Conquistador with lance & shield (3 figs)
1 x CQ13 Mounted Conquistador - lance & shield at rest (3 figs)
1 x CQ14 Sword & Buckler man - standing (6 figs)
1 x CQ15 Sword & buckler man - attacking (6 figs)
1 x CQ16 Conquistador gun & crew  (1 gun & 3 crew)

These are destined for "Irregular Wars" usage.  Still need to source some other figures - seems that Grumpy & Eureka figures are no longer available in the UK!

Rorke's Drift in South America

Monday 6th March - WDW

"King of the Battlefield" - French v Prussians
"Baroque" - ECW
"Chain of Command" - WW2 - Germans v Russians
DBM - Tuareg v Welsh  - Andy's typically sneaky set up meant that our opponents could only see two full commands and part of a third.  Our fourth command came onto the flank almost immediately and the remainder of the third emerged from the dunes.  Poor Al was in the mire for another week.  At close of play the Welsh had one broken command and another getting close.


Thursday 9th March - Quetzalcoatl Rampant - first game:

I had already typed up the Lion Rampant additions and worked out a Tarascan army list.  All I needed to do now was a trial game using "The Pikeman's Lament" - easy!!!   Well maybe not.

 The initial set-up with the Aztecs on the left and the Tarascans to the right.  Here are the 'companies':

Aztecs (Ood general) with Eagle & Jaguar Warriors @ 4 pts; 1 x Veteran Warriors @ 4 pts; 4 x Warriors @ 3 pts; 2 x Skirmishers @ 2 pts.  Total = 24 pts

Tarascan (Judoon general) with Veteran Warriors @ 4 pts:  4 x Archers @ 4 pts; 1 x Warriors [+ Atlatl] @ 4 pts.  Total = 24 pts

The Aztecs advanced along the line until one unit decided not to join in.  The Tarascans were more cautious only advancing their archers.

At last the Aztec right began to move forward but only into the wood.  On the far left the skirmishers decided to have a rest.

Now it is getting nasty on the Tarascan right with enemy warriors bearing down on the archers.  Did I hear "Men of Harlech" being whistled?  Whatever it was it worked as the gods frowned upon the Aztec general whose unit took casualties from shooting and then he threw 'snakes eyes'.  The resulting morale tests meant two units retreated and one fled the field.  This is what it looked like:

The Aztecs never recovered.

I thought, when I started, that it would be a walkover for the Aztecs.  Serendipity wiped out the Aztec general on move 5 and a high failure rate to 'activate' units resulted in Aztec pin cushions.

I'm sure that I got many things wrong but managed to carry on.  Lion Rampant (and therefore QR) refer to 'Courage' and' Armour' whereas TPL likes 'Morale' and 'Stamina'.  I hope that I made the correct substitutions.

As you can see I used an 'occasional table' 40" x 24" with green A4 sheets of paper on it.  The three pieces of terrain I diced for.  A pretty primitive  set up but sufficient to try out the rules.  Think I need to play a game with some of the club experts before I go for a second attempt.  Also need to get a copy of Lion Rampant for myself.

Altogether an interesting experiment.