Thursday, 27 August 2015
On a Hiding to Nothing
Saturday (22nd) - Cloudburst - large puddle in the kitchen and the water started to over-top the front door sill. I was lucky as one of my near neighbours had raw sewage flowing through his garden.
Monday (24th) - DBM scrap between Al's Later Crusaders and my Later Muslim Indians.
My able SG (Chris) did reasonably well in the centre and right flank. The Reg Bd(F) lost a few bases but caused quite a bit of damage in the process.
On the left flank yours truly had the C-in-C's command of Reg Cv(S) supported by Irr Bw(I) and a couple of Lh(O). My opposition didn't look too bad but then up popped some Reg Kn(S). I fared badly and blamed the match-up. I also thought that my Bw(I) might have done better.
Working out the tables, and allowing for 'superior' and 'inferior' status (plus 'quick kills') the results were not as I expected.
Bw(I) v Kn(S) = 58.33% Bw deaths / 27.78% Kn / 13.89% draws
Cv(S) v Kn(S) = 27.78% Cv deaths / 27.78% Kn / 44.44% draws
So, in theory, I had an equal chance! That's not accounting for the dice gods of course. Oh well - it's only a game!
Tuesday (25th) - taking cat to the vets - 6 teeth removed - £220 - eeeeeeek!
Wednesday (26th) - calling at Barnsley U3A Kitchen carpet finally drying out.
The trials and tribulations of a wargamer huh!
Thursday, 20 August 2015
Something to Show For It.....
For the first time of regular posting I have some pictures (scroll down).
Saturday - club meeting with a World War 2 game going on. Not my 'cup of tea' so I turned up around midday to do some stocktaking. Ended up doing precious little of that but did carry out a thorough tidy-up.
There was also a 'book-swap' going on in the church. I managed to pick up a Christian Jacq title that I didn't have in my collection - "Ramses: The Lady of Abu Simbel".
Monday - no club meet. I had planned to make my annual visit to the Wakefield Games club but my car had other ideas. The steering wheel was shaking when I applied the brakes. Booked in on Wednesday at the garage.
Wednesday - started reading this book:
I get the feeling that it's going to take a while - will review it properly in the fullness of time.
Thursday - photographed some figures that I finished the previous day
On the right - one more shot block for my European colonials. They will pass for Spanish, Portuguese, English or Dutch forces for my Irregular Wars scraps.
Thursday, 13 August 2015
Another Week Gone By
...and this time it really is Thursday (afternoon).
Monday - Irregular Wars - the first time played against a live opponent. Chris won convincingly with his Mesoamericans (versus my Conquistadores).
My crossbow & shot proved to be very weak in melee (1) and the artillery even worse (-1). The knights, on the other hand, were unkillable. 'Natives' out of command range were skittish and prone to run away. Suit-wearers & cuachic were made of a much harder material.
Setting up went more smoothly than expected although I pre-set the terrain but offered the choice of starting side to my opponent. Cards were drawn (but were largely forgotten about). Dicing for army composition gave the 'natives' plenty of troops and the Spanish precious few.
We soon fell into the rhythm of Initiative - Shooting - Movement - Melee. I'm sure we missed a lot of things in our 2 hours of play but there you go! Finding references in the rules section was far from easy (not happy with the layout/format). Didn't find the QRs very helpful either.
Looks like I am going to have to revise the rules layout. So far I have split them into sections - set up, main, campaigns, chance cards and QRs. Now I need to simplify and clarify.
An unforseen difficulty was that my opponent could not remember which figures represented what (he also had trouble with the facing of same). I will have to come up with some way of marking and/or numbering each base. Initial thoughts are for a 'rock' at the back of each base with a number painted on. Needs some thought.
All in all it was a useful exercise and thanks to Chris for indulging me.
Monday - Irregular Wars - the first time played against a live opponent. Chris won convincingly with his Mesoamericans (versus my Conquistadores).
My crossbow & shot proved to be very weak in melee (1) and the artillery even worse (-1). The knights, on the other hand, were unkillable. 'Natives' out of command range were skittish and prone to run away. Suit-wearers & cuachic were made of a much harder material.
Setting up went more smoothly than expected although I pre-set the terrain but offered the choice of starting side to my opponent. Cards were drawn (but were largely forgotten about). Dicing for army composition gave the 'natives' plenty of troops and the Spanish precious few.
We soon fell into the rhythm of Initiative - Shooting - Movement - Melee. I'm sure we missed a lot of things in our 2 hours of play but there you go! Finding references in the rules section was far from easy (not happy with the layout/format). Didn't find the QRs very helpful either.
Looks like I am going to have to revise the rules layout. So far I have split them into sections - set up, main, campaigns, chance cards and QRs. Now I need to simplify and clarify.
An unforseen difficulty was that my opponent could not remember which figures represented what (he also had trouble with the facing of same). I will have to come up with some way of marking and/or numbering each base. Initial thoughts are for a 'rock' at the back of each base with a number painted on. Needs some thought.
All in all it was a useful exercise and thanks to Chris for indulging me.
Thursday, 6 August 2015
Weakly Posting
One of my readers suggested that I post every week. I decided upon Thursdays. Well it's 0049 Friday but that's close enough:
Monday - DBM - Chris put up Fanatic Berber versus Andy's Western Sudanese. A slow business with both sides playing cagey. Chris was waiting for his Spanish flank march to arrive (he's still waiting). The game ended in a draw with the Berbers being close to a broken command.
Tuesday - turned out my Renaissance boxes to see what forces I could field for" Irregular Wars - Conflict at the World's End". Looks like I have enough for an 'Aztec' type army or a Mayan one. The Europeans can be fielded as Conquistadores, Colonial Spanish or Colonial Portuguese. A few more bases of general-purpose 'natives' would be useful so I based up & flocked some slingers & warriors.
Wednesday - woken up at an ungodly hour so decided to get my computers sorted out. A whole day to install Win7. Reminded me of a poem called "Reinstalling Windows" by Les Barker.
Thursday - so I got on with my painting didn't I? Had a surprise visit from a friend with accompanying mutt. Spent the day walking around the local reservoir and socialising. The best laid plans............
Monday - DBM - Chris put up Fanatic Berber versus Andy's Western Sudanese. A slow business with both sides playing cagey. Chris was waiting for his Spanish flank march to arrive (he's still waiting). The game ended in a draw with the Berbers being close to a broken command.
Tuesday - turned out my Renaissance boxes to see what forces I could field for" Irregular Wars - Conflict at the World's End". Looks like I have enough for an 'Aztec' type army or a Mayan one. The Europeans can be fielded as Conquistadores, Colonial Spanish or Colonial Portuguese. A few more bases of general-purpose 'natives' would be useful so I based up & flocked some slingers & warriors.
Wednesday - woken up at an ungodly hour so decided to get my computers sorted out. A whole day to install Win7. Reminded me of a poem called "Reinstalling Windows" by Les Barker.
Thursday - so I got on with my painting didn't I? Had a surprise visit from a friend with accompanying mutt. Spent the day walking around the local reservoir and socialising. The best laid plans............
Saturday, 25 July 2015
I Have Been To....
OK I pinched the title from another blogger....
No painting this week as I have been dog-sitting for a week "in foreign parts". This does not, however, mean that I have been idle on the wargaming front.
Saturday 18th July - Halifax shop where I purchased:
The box art shows zoaves & other light troops in equal numbers. Inside were 9 of the former and 35 of the latter - this will teach me to check the PSR site before buying. The lights will, no doubt, be given to Ian.
Another contribution to my growing Assyrian army.
Wednesday 22nd July - Burnley Wargames Club:
Not that easy to find but worth the effort. A friendly group where I got roped into playing a Napoleonic scenario using a modified version of "Fire & Fury" rules. Thanks for the warm welcome lads and hope to see you at Recon.
Thursday 23rd July - Pennine Raiders (Halifax):
Seems that the wargames club had been taken in by the Raiders after they lost their former premises. The Working Mens Club soon filled up with a variety of games including Fog Renaissance, Warhammer Ancient Battles & 40k.
Saturday 25th July - "The First Colonial Soldiers"
My neighbour had taken in three weighty volume by authors Weiner Drenth & Jonathon Riley. Haven't had time for more than a quick flip through - bit disappointed that there are no colour plates but you can't have everything I suppose.
Subtitled "A survey of British overseas territories and their garrisons, 1650-1714" they should provide plenty of information about the Renaissance period.
Volume 1: the British Isles, Europe, Asia and Africa covers - the Channel Isles, Isle of Man, Dunkirk, Tangier, Gibraltar, Minorca, West Africa, East India and the Spice Islands.
Volume 2: the Americas and the Caribbean part 1: New England and the Middle Colonies.
Volume 2: the Americas and the Caribbean part 2: the Southern Colonies and the West Indies.
I have another book to read first before I can get down to a serious look-see but in due course dear reader..........
No painting this week as I have been dog-sitting for a week "in foreign parts". This does not, however, mean that I have been idle on the wargaming front.
Saturday 18th July - Halifax shop where I purchased:
Caesar 105 - Goblins
The 'strap-line' is "You could resist Goblins no longer!" I cannot deny it. Will be added to my growing Fantasy collection.
Strelets 0024 - French Light Infantry (Crimean War)
Caesar 011 - Assyrian Chariot
Another contribution to my growing Assyrian army.
Wednesday 22nd July - Burnley Wargames Club:
Not that easy to find but worth the effort. A friendly group where I got roped into playing a Napoleonic scenario using a modified version of "Fire & Fury" rules. Thanks for the warm welcome lads and hope to see you at Recon.
Thursday 23rd July - Pennine Raiders (Halifax):
Seems that the wargames club had been taken in by the Raiders after they lost their former premises. The Working Mens Club soon filled up with a variety of games including Fog Renaissance, Warhammer Ancient Battles & 40k.
Saturday 25th July - "The First Colonial Soldiers"
My neighbour had taken in three weighty volume by authors Weiner Drenth & Jonathon Riley. Haven't had time for more than a quick flip through - bit disappointed that there are no colour plates but you can't have everything I suppose.
Subtitled "A survey of British overseas territories and their garrisons, 1650-1714" they should provide plenty of information about the Renaissance period.
Volume 1: the British Isles, Europe, Asia and Africa covers - the Channel Isles, Isle of Man, Dunkirk, Tangier, Gibraltar, Minorca, West Africa, East India and the Spice Islands.
Volume 2: the Americas and the Caribbean part 1: New England and the Middle Colonies.
Volume 2: the Americas and the Caribbean part 2: the Southern Colonies and the West Indies.
I have another book to read first before I can get down to a serious look-see but in due course dear reader..........
Thursday, 16 July 2015
Mae Cymraeg yw dod
The Welsh Are Coming!
Renaissance progress
On the left - mercenary pikes
On the right - Wallachian or Moldavian warband
Whilst sorting out a box of items I came across some 3/4 painted DBA-RRR figures. Unfortunately the explanatory note was missing - so an hour was wasted working out what these figures were. Seems that I had planned 'Dutch Rebellion' and 'Transylvanian, Moldavian & Wallachian' armies. Missing units are - 1 x Cv (Dutch) plus 2 x Lh (TMW). Luckily I can make them up from my supply box.
Hopefully, when time permits, I will finish the painting and start on the missing units.
7 Years War
No DBM this week as we were on our second 7YW period scrap using 'Age of Reason' rules. This time it was American War of Independence. The battle turned on a charge by American dragoons on a line of Legion skirmishers - said skirmishers fled along with their supporting dragoons. From that point on the British side collapsed. As a re-fight of Camden it was not historical.
The previous week my right-wing cavalry were destroyed by the enemy horse with the infantry on both sides doing little.
Chris & Al seem to like these rules and for infantry they are fine giving a reasonable result. For cavalry it's another story - very lengthy procedures plus a dominence of the battlefield. I don't know enough about the general period to say if this is historical or not but certainly in the American theatre cavalry were not usually very effective.
On the other table was an interesting board/miniature game - Spartacus. Four players took the part of Lanistra (gladiator school proprieters). Everybody seemed to enjoy it, even the spectators.
Sunday, 28 June 2015
More Purchases
I have been to Halifax again - always a pleasure to burrow through the boxes of 1/72 plastic figures. These are my purchases:
The Assyrians add to my limited army that started after the demise of the Wakefield shop. Strange title "Assyrian Army" as it is entirely of infantry!
Also of note are the ridiculously thin chariot wheels - I cannot believe they are up to the task of carrying four crew without breaking. Two of the model wheels were badly warped and will require pressing (if you look carefully at the PSV photo you can see the problem).
Along with my other 'chariot' armies (New Kingdom Egyptian, Sea Peoples, Medes & Trojans) they will languish for a while until I find a suitable set of rules.
My initial plan to convert the Egyptians and Trojans from Armati to Impetus have taken a jolt. Looking at the rules for handling chariots under Impetus resulted in a headache. Even one of the Impetus mags I read said that handling chariots was difficult under these rules.
I have played 'Pharoh Goes to War' and liked the way it handled chariots. Problem is they were designed to use the author's Assyrians & Egyptians and have never been developed since.
Somewhere in 'Slingshot' was a short series on the usage of chariots in warfare outlining their various roles according to type and period. Sadly I cannot find them - can anybody point me in the right direction?
Roger's Rangers will add to my small collection of French-Indian skirmish figures. The fourth figure on row 3 is shooting from a semi-prone position - which to me is completely useless. A dead figure could have been used as a marker - these 4 will go into the spares box.
Maybe - some day - I will get my hands on the BUM Roger's Rangers figures. I live in hope!
Caesar 007 - Assyrian Army
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=842
Caesar 010 - Assyrian Cavalry
Caesar 010 - Assyrian Cavalry
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=943
Caesar 011 - Assyrian Chariot
Caesar 011 - Assyrian Chariot
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=949
The Assyrians add to my limited army that started after the demise of the Wakefield shop. Strange title "Assyrian Army" as it is entirely of infantry!
Also of note are the ridiculously thin chariot wheels - I cannot believe they are up to the task of carrying four crew without breaking. Two of the model wheels were badly warped and will require pressing (if you look carefully at the PSV photo you can see the problem).
Along with my other 'chariot' armies (New Kingdom Egyptian, Sea Peoples, Medes & Trojans) they will languish for a while until I find a suitable set of rules.
My initial plan to convert the Egyptians and Trojans from Armati to Impetus have taken a jolt. Looking at the rules for handling chariots under Impetus resulted in a headache. Even one of the Impetus mags I read said that handling chariots was difficult under these rules.
I have played 'Pharoh Goes to War' and liked the way it handled chariots. Problem is they were designed to use the author's Assyrians & Egyptians and have never been developed since.
Somewhere in 'Slingshot' was a short series on the usage of chariots in warfare outlining their various roles according to type and period. Sadly I cannot find them - can anybody point me in the right direction?
Waterloo 1815 AP 035 - Roger's Rangers
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=2047
Roger's Rangers will add to my small collection of French-Indian skirmish figures. The fourth figure on row 3 is shooting from a semi-prone position - which to me is completely useless. A dead figure could have been used as a marker - these 4 will go into the spares box.
Maybe - some day - I will get my hands on the BUM Roger's Rangers figures. I live in hope!
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