Thursday 11th February 2016 (00.12 hrs)
This post should have been all about my visit to Vapnartak (York) on Sunday 7th for the best wargames show in the north (of England). Instead it's a tale of missed opportunities.
My Peugeot 406 decided to start flashing a STOP warning - Engine Coolant Temperature Too High - as I drove back from Wrenthorpe on Friday evening. Of course I wasn't able to get it repaired on a weekend and didn't dare risk an engine seizure.
It was not until yesterday (Wednesday) that it was sorted out - a broken sensor and a minor tweak to the engine management system - cost £40.
Getting to Vapnartak was still theoretically possible by public transport. First bus on a Sunday; having to go via Wakefield (as our direct link to Fitzwilliam has been cut) and arriving at York 5 minutes after the hourly bus has left for Knaresmire made the journey impractical.
At Monday's club meeting I was down to play an Anglo-Zulu game run by Bob. No doubt a sub was found.
Well.......I had been thinking about replacing my aging car for some time (as it is 15 years old) but I hadn't got around to it. Now I can hear the wrecking ball coming.
Wednesday, 10 February 2016
Thursday, 4 February 2016
Marston Moor et al
Marston Moor from the Royalist viewpoint.
Saturday 30th January 2016 - Horbury Library
Three of us turned up to put on a demonstration game starting at 09.30 hrs. The ECW battle of Marston Moor was played out five times with the Parliamentarians winning the majority. "One Hour Wargames" rules were used and progressively 'tweaked' over the morning session.
I thought that 6mm was maybe a little small for this battle but appreciate that scaling up to, say, 15mm would have meant taking up far more space in the library.
Monday 1st February 2016 - DBM: Leidang v Christian Nubian
Supporting Al on the right flank and holding on grimly. Having masses of slow moving Bd(I) means that you cannot get out of trouble easily. Still Chris was most helpful when I had a spate of throwing 2s on the dice - he was throwing 1s. My general managed to avoid being slaughtered this time but his command came within one element of collapse. Had our opponents' flank march come on it may have been another story. Ridiculously it turned out a 5:5 draw.
On the other tables - Ambush Z (zombie game); Onward to Venus (Boardgame).
Thursday, 28 January 2016
The Dwarves Are Back
Monday 25th January 2016
"Game of Thrones" boardgame with 5 players.
"Square Bashing" - 1915 - French v Germans
DBMM - Han Chinese v Later Achaemenid Persians - Tim struggled to get his Persian flank march to arrive but when it finally did the day was his (but only a 'marginal' victory to celebrate).
DBM - the 'usual suspects' fighting Chinese Northern Dynasties v Later Carthaginian. Andy and Chris faced each other on our left flank with Chris carrying out some quite impessive manoeuvring. On the right my Lh(S) fell upon Al's outnumbered cavalry and psiloi. In the centre my Kn(F) came out to face Al's Ax and Sp. I lost my centre general but carried the field breaking the enemy. A 6:4 win to us. Another hard battle!
Thursday 28th January 2016
Still no decent light - grey and miserable - for a marginally SAD person this is not good. Anyway.....I did what I could to photograph the Dwarves (see previous post for box).
"Game of Thrones" boardgame with 5 players.
"Square Bashing" - 1915 - French v Germans
DBMM - Han Chinese v Later Achaemenid Persians - Tim struggled to get his Persian flank march to arrive but when it finally did the day was his (but only a 'marginal' victory to celebrate).
DBM - the 'usual suspects' fighting Chinese Northern Dynasties v Later Carthaginian. Andy and Chris faced each other on our left flank with Chris carrying out some quite impessive manoeuvring. On the right my Lh(S) fell upon Al's outnumbered cavalry and psiloi. In the centre my Kn(F) came out to face Al's Ax and Sp. I lost my centre general but carried the field breaking the enemy. A 6:4 win to us. Another hard battle!
Thursday 28th January 2016
Still no decent light - grey and miserable - for a marginally SAD person this is not good. Anyway.....I did what I could to photograph the Dwarves (see previous post for box).
The thicker background lines are 10mm, 20mm & 30mm in height. Each set has 4 of these figures.
Again 4 of each of these per box.
Thursday, 21 January 2016
Winter Is Upon Us
Saturday 16th January - SNOW in the evening
I couldn't go to the club so I only have CJ's report:
"Ocana - Peninsular battle. French won, but got a mauling in the process. CJ (Spaniards) v Churm (French)." [Age of Eagles rules]
"Arras 1940. Andrew; can't remember who else;" [Andrew's rules - British & French v Germans]
"...and a big skirmish with Zombies game - I think Andy Gled organised it, and Mark; and the "new" Andy; and one other. Don't know who won either game." [Ambush Z rules]
Thursday 21st January - no sunshine this week.
As I haven't been able to take photographs here are two from Angelfire:
For those seeking further info on the Dark Alliance / Light Alliance sets here are some references:
Blogs with a few photos
http://meninboxes.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/wip-hott-orcs-goblins.html
http://meninboxes.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/wip-hott-orcs-goblins_13.html
http://slag-productions.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page_25.html
Boxes / Suppliers:
http://shop.1-72depot.com/category/miniatures/1-72/figures/dark-alliance/
http://theredbox.com.ua/alliance.htm
http://cherbourg-maquettes.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=12269
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/toysoldierhq/Russiano.html
When, and if, we ever see some of that bright yellow stuff again I will take some photos in the same style as PSR.
I couldn't go to the club so I only have CJ's report:
"Ocana - Peninsular battle. French won, but got a mauling in the process. CJ (Spaniards) v Churm (French)." [Age of Eagles rules]
"Arras 1940. Andrew; can't remember who else;" [Andrew's rules - British & French v Germans]
"...and a big skirmish with Zombies game - I think Andy Gled organised it, and Mark; and the "new" Andy; and one other. Don't know who won either game." [Ambush Z rules]
Thursday 21st January - no sunshine this week.
As I haven't been able to take photographs here are two from Angelfire:
For those seeking further info on the Dark Alliance / Light Alliance sets here are some references:
Blogs with a few photos
http://meninboxes.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/wip-hott-orcs-goblins.html
http://meninboxes.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/wip-hott-orcs-goblins_13.html
http://slag-productions.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page_25.html
Boxes / Suppliers:
http://shop.1-72depot.com/category/miniatures/1-72/figures/dark-alliance/
http://theredbox.com.ua/alliance.htm
http://cherbourg-maquettes.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=12269
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/toysoldierhq/Russiano.html
When, and if, we ever see some of that bright yellow stuff again I will take some photos in the same style as PSR.
Thursday, 14 January 2016
Floods & Fights
Sun 10th January 2016 - trip to the Calder valley.
Looking at the aftermath of the floods the damage wasn't obvious - until I saw the old travel agents on the Mytholmroyd main road. It is a long thin building in three sections that backs onto the river. One part had collapsed completely becoming nothing but rubble. The other two looked ok from the front but, like "Angry of Mayfair", the rear view was quite another story.
Halifax Model shop - not much for me to buy. All that I did purchase was:
Light Alliance - Dwarves set 1 - AL72007 - 44 foot figures in 11 poses.
As PSR doesn't have the Dark Alliance / Light Alliance figures in their fantasy section I will photograph my figures when the light is good enough.
Monday 11th January 2016 - DBM - Makkan v New Kingdom Egyptian.
Andy had re-jigged his Makkan army to put some Wb(F) into each command. This time the dice gods were kinder and we started off with middle-of-the-road numbers. Andy faced a load of Irr Bd(F) and Irr Wb(F) commanded by Chris's C-in-C. On my (left) flank I had 5 Reg Cv(S) chariots, some Reg Bw(O), Reg Bd(O) & Various Psiloi to contend with.
The movement dice were erratic and my fighting dice appalling. Al began to whittle down my 'central' command whilst I held off the chariots with a combination of Irr Bw(I), 3 x Ps and 2 x Cv(I). By the time my Wb(F) could get to the enemy in any numbers Andy had broken the enemy C-in-C's command. A 7:3 win to us.
On the other tables:
Onward to Venus (boardgame) - I really couldn't tell who was winning! Even at the end it was only by counting up the economic tokens that a champion emerged - the game's owner!
Square Bashing #1 - Mike's Russians versus Tim's Austro-Hungarians. It seemed to take ages to set up the game. Perhaps the Russian high command were pro population control!
Square Bashing #2 - Churmy's French versus Ian's Germans. I'm not certain who won that one as the battlefield seemed always to be in a state of confusion.
Saga - a 4-way battle featuring Vikings, Welsh, Strathclyde & Bretons.
I can't remember when I last saw five games going on simultaneously at the club - and on a really cold night too.
Looking at the aftermath of the floods the damage wasn't obvious - until I saw the old travel agents on the Mytholmroyd main road. It is a long thin building in three sections that backs onto the river. One part had collapsed completely becoming nothing but rubble. The other two looked ok from the front but, like "Angry of Mayfair", the rear view was quite another story.
Halifax Model shop - not much for me to buy. All that I did purchase was:
Light Alliance - Dwarves set 1 - AL72007 - 44 foot figures in 11 poses.
As PSR doesn't have the Dark Alliance / Light Alliance figures in their fantasy section I will photograph my figures when the light is good enough.
Monday 11th January 2016 - DBM - Makkan v New Kingdom Egyptian.
Andy had re-jigged his Makkan army to put some Wb(F) into each command. This time the dice gods were kinder and we started off with middle-of-the-road numbers. Andy faced a load of Irr Bd(F) and Irr Wb(F) commanded by Chris's C-in-C. On my (left) flank I had 5 Reg Cv(S) chariots, some Reg Bw(O), Reg Bd(O) & Various Psiloi to contend with.
The movement dice were erratic and my fighting dice appalling. Al began to whittle down my 'central' command whilst I held off the chariots with a combination of Irr Bw(I), 3 x Ps and 2 x Cv(I). By the time my Wb(F) could get to the enemy in any numbers Andy had broken the enemy C-in-C's command. A 7:3 win to us.
On the other tables:
Onward to Venus (boardgame) - I really couldn't tell who was winning! Even at the end it was only by counting up the economic tokens that a champion emerged - the game's owner!
Square Bashing #1 - Mike's Russians versus Tim's Austro-Hungarians. It seemed to take ages to set up the game. Perhaps the Russian high command were pro population control!
Square Bashing #2 - Churmy's French versus Ian's Germans. I'm not certain who won that one as the battlefield seemed always to be in a state of confusion.
Saga - a 4-way battle featuring Vikings, Welsh, Strathclyde & Bretons.
I can't remember when I last saw five games going on simultaneously at the club - and on a really cold night too.
Thursday, 7 January 2016
A Day Late
(It's actually 02.21 on Friday 8th Jan)
Monday 4th January 2016:
DBM - Makkan v Sea Peoples. The first throw on our side was 1 - 1 - 1 - 3. One of the ones was for the central allied command. For the entire game this pacifist group did sweet FA. So 4 enemy commands took on 3 of ours. Our C-in-C's command eventually broke swiftly followed by one of the enemies' junior commands. A 6:4 defeat for the Makkan.
On the other tables:
Star Wars Imperial Command (25mm skirmish/board game). Daft Ada was killed by Luke Skywalker in the final showdown.
WW2 in the Bocage - Germans v Brits. The Brits initially fought well against the central enemy group then a crack Panzer unit turned up on their right flank. Ian's fate was sealed!
Well......seems that the new commander had been watching too much Allo! Allo! A series of inept dice rolls meant Ian snatched victory from the jaws of (probable) defeat. Now who has the painting of "the fallen madonna with the big boobies"?
Thursday, 31 December 2015
Happy New Year
Monday 28th December - DBM - Patrician Romans v Late Romans
I was given the left 'forlorn hope' command comprising of 8 Cv(O), 8 Ax(S), 2 Kn(F) & 2 Lh(F). I was facing off against 1 'pip sink' command of 4 Lh(S) plus another 'real' command of Kn(F), Lh(S) and a few Kn(X). I was reminded of Corporal Jones.
My C-in-C was trying to battle his way through opposition Wb, Bw & Camels. At the end of the day it was a draw (5:5).
On the only other table: Square Bashing with Churmy's French versus Ian's Austro-Hungarians. All went well for the French at the start but in the last two bounds the AH gas barrage had a devastating effect. The fact that the AH figures were 12mm and the French 10mm had nothing to do with it!
Tuesday 29th December - actually got some painting done (for the second day running).
As usual it's a mixed bag of a certain DBA variant (that I have been asked not to mention in polite company); 15mm camp elements; plus some War of the Roses horse. The last includes 2 elements of Currours that I am re-painting as Welsh uchelwyr.
No....I am not going to build a Welsh army but am considering a Welsh ally. Wars of the Roses armies are usually quite small because of the number of expensive troops involved - Reg Bw(S), Reg Bd(O) and....worst of all...compulsory Reg Kn(I).
As I already have around 13 elements of Irr Bw(O) I have the core of an allied contingent. Hopefully by Vapnartak I would have worked out what else I might require!
Thursday 31st December - the end of a rough year 'health-wise' and 'weather-wise'.
Since my decision to blog every Thursday I have only missed one posting (in spite of the date often showing Wednesday). Hopefully I will keep this up. Any comments are gratefully received.
I was given the left 'forlorn hope' command comprising of 8 Cv(O), 8 Ax(S), 2 Kn(F) & 2 Lh(F). I was facing off against 1 'pip sink' command of 4 Lh(S) plus another 'real' command of Kn(F), Lh(S) and a few Kn(X). I was reminded of Corporal Jones.
My C-in-C was trying to battle his way through opposition Wb, Bw & Camels. At the end of the day it was a draw (5:5).
On the only other table: Square Bashing with Churmy's French versus Ian's Austro-Hungarians. All went well for the French at the start but in the last two bounds the AH gas barrage had a devastating effect. The fact that the AH figures were 12mm and the French 10mm had nothing to do with it!
Tuesday 29th December - actually got some painting done (for the second day running).
As usual it's a mixed bag of a certain DBA variant (that I have been asked not to mention in polite company); 15mm camp elements; plus some War of the Roses horse. The last includes 2 elements of Currours that I am re-painting as Welsh uchelwyr.
No....I am not going to build a Welsh army but am considering a Welsh ally. Wars of the Roses armies are usually quite small because of the number of expensive troops involved - Reg Bw(S), Reg Bd(O) and....worst of all...compulsory Reg Kn(I).
As I already have around 13 elements of Irr Bw(O) I have the core of an allied contingent. Hopefully by Vapnartak I would have worked out what else I might require!
Thursday 31st December - the end of a rough year 'health-wise' and 'weather-wise'.
Since my decision to blog every Thursday I have only missed one posting (in spite of the date often showing Wednesday). Hopefully I will keep this up. Any comments are gratefully received.
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