A busy club meeting saw three games to keep the Friends happy on an August Saturday afternoon.
28mm – Italian Wars – Warlord Games’ Pike & Shotte using Death & The Landsknecht supplement
Florentine and Swiss troops fought a defensive battle when attacked by French forces from all sides.
25mm – Italian Wars – Home Brew Renaissance Wargames Rules
A second Italian Wars game with the club obviously in the grips of anything lance and Landsknecht related! This game saw some lovely old Hinchliffe 25mm figures making a return to the table.
20mm – War in the Pacific – Rapid Fire
Continuing the nostalgic theme, the third game saw classic 20mm figures playing classic Rapid Fire! On a far flung Pacific island the US Marines were yet again tasked with storming the beaches against dug-in and determined Imperial Japanese resistance.
Fine summer weather, a Test match, and the Lions tour, were not enough to deter the band of doughty Friends who met on Saturday afternoon to enjoy three splendid games.
Epic Scale – Prussians v. French & Saxons 1813 – Warlord Games Black Powder
Epic scale troops, epic figure conversions, and epic numbers of troops all led to an epic looking Napoleonic struggle. The black and blue Prussian steam-roller tried to flatten a French force, with Saxon Allies, that was defending a strongly fortified position. The massed battalions from both sides boiled around the French redoubts, neither side seemingly willing to give way. Eventually the French managed to hang-on and kept the field, while the stalwart Prussians retired to plot their revenge.
20mm – WW2 Ostfront – WW2 Rules from PZ8
Massed German and Russian armour clashed, somewhere on the steppes. Despite Stukas screaming overhead, the mighty Wehrmacht were humbled by the tenacious Russians defence, and some may say their exceptional dice throwing!
28mm – Peninsula Skirmish – Sharpe Chosen Action
Another crack at this skirmish malarky, with a Frankenstein set of rules combining the favourite bits from number of other sets. Once again, Major Hogan, holed up in a Spanish village with only a few Spanish guerrillas to protect him, was needing to be rescued from capture by the French. The plucky chosen men of the 95th, supported by redoubtable 43rd Monmouthshires, were the just the chaps for the job. Musket and rifle shot flew across the Spanish countryside, while the French light troops from the 2ème Légère bravely attempted to break in to the enemy held village. The French almost managed to encircle the Spanish held buildings, but the British exploring officer was spirited away in the very nick of time!
A club meeting in flaming June with the weather, like the table top action, hot, hot, hot! Three varied games tempted a fair group of Friends in from the sunshine to roll some dice and shove some lead.
15mm WWII – Eastern Front – Blitzkrieg Commander
Yet another desperate attempt by Late-war German forces to hold back the Soviet forces’ superior numbers. A strong armed force of Soviet JS2 and T34-85s, supported by Tank riders and regular infantry threw themselves on to the German defences. After some stout resistance the German defences crumbled. Onward to Berlin!
28mm Dark Ages – Arthurian British v. Irish Raiders – Hail Caesar 2 by Warlord Games
A first run out of the recent Once & Future King supplement for Hail Caesar by Warlord Games. An advice scenario saw a force of Irish raiders being confronted by Arthur’s Britons. A very enjoyable game. The fierce-some Irish war bands, with their mighty heroic leaders, were able to smash the opposing Briton infantry. Arthur’s cavalry had some success but were cleverly side-lined by the Irish light troops. A resounding Irish victory although all of their leaders, constantly fighting at the front, were either captured, wounded or killed!
Monster Scale – The Pacific Rim – Pacific Monsters
As everyone knows, the Eastern Pacific Ocean is absolutely teaming with giant monsters, with fearsome powers, normally involving plasma. Luckily the people of the Pacific Rim have invented giant robots to defend their cities from attack. (The ensuing conflict seems to be bad for real estate!) The game saw the clash of cataclysmic forces under a set of home-brew rules. When giant monsters fight giant mechs, everybody loses, apparently.
28mm 19th Century Sci-Fi – Black Powder & Hot Plasma!
Just a regular day out for Holmes and Watson. Train down to Reading, and then a cab through the summer countryside out to see the Armed Forces review. There was much excitement at the temporary military camp as Her Imperial Majesty, Victoria, was making a formal visit to see her brave boys. Holmes had an inkling he would we required and had told Watson to bring his revolver!
Security was tight at the event – there were rumours of a dastardly plot against the Queen. Probably anarchists, or even the Russians, thought Watson, although the chances of the Russians making it past the Royal Navy were a million-to-one they said. The day was to start with grand manoeuvres and the Earl of Cardigan was in command of the display – although he seemed to be issuing very strange orders. Holmes was suspicious of smoke in the sky some way off to the south. Probably just burning stubble, mused Watson. The manoeuvres were not going well, the Highland brigade struggling with the command “Prepare to receive bicycles!”. There were also casualties appearing in the camp – horribly burnt, not your typical parade ground accident!
Cardigan approached Her Royal Highness. He’ll have some explaining to do, thought Watson. Cardigan’s horse was not slowing as he approached the Queen – what was he at? All was confusion, but Holmes stepped forward in front of Her Majesty. Cardigan raised his sabre, and Holmes would have been sliced in two. A shot rang out, and Cardigan fell from his horse. Watson, smoking revolver in hand, approached Holmes. “By jingo, Holmes, what the devil is going on?” As several members of the Queen’s protection squad leapt on the fallen rider, Holmes lit his pipe and calmly replied “I think you’ll find that is not Cardigan, those machines are not Russian, and your million-to-one odds have just come up!” Watson turned to see where Holmes was gesturing to the South with his spent match. Eight gigantic, and otherworldly, three-legged machines were marching towards the camp!
So started the strangest Black Powder game ever played by the FOGH. Yes, it was a diabolical invasion of Earth by Martians, intent on probing to the very heart of the planet’s mightiest Empire, and capturing the Queen (gawd bless her!).
The British troops soon discovered that alien Tripods are nasty affairs, belching heat rays, and bristling with Gatling type weapons. They were pretty much immune to musketry, but could be damaged by artillery fire; the Royal Horse Artillery making some pretty daring attacks. However, the Tripods biggest weakness seemed to be getting mobbed by hundreds of British infantry who swarmed up their legs, and despite heavy losses to invidious probing, could eventually overcome the mighty titans. The Martians deployed their own foot troops in an effort to save the Tripods – strange purple, chitinous, six-limbed creatures. Quite nasty, but no match for Heavy Dragoons or Lancers it turned out!
After four of the mighty alien titans had been downed the Martians decided to retreat and re-group – there would be another day (mwah-ha-ha!). Holmes and Watson escorted the Queen back to Reading railway station where she boarded a train pulled by a new experimental locomotive. “No safer means of getting Her Majesty back to London” said Watson. Holmes looked unconvinced and pulled thoughtfully on his pipe as the GWR Thunder Child steamed out of the station.
Just another parade … so they thought!Those brave boys from the Light Brigade.“Prepare to receive bicycles!”The Guards forming skirmish line?Her Majesty in danger, but Holmes and Watson save the day.By jingo! A tripod!This is not in the regular bayonet drill.Canister fire will deal with them.What the devil are they?For Her Britannic Majesty – charge! Scotland for ever (and down with Mars)!
Back up to full strength this week and three cracking games enjoyed by the Friends in attendance.
28mm ACW – Encounter Battle – Black Powder with Glory Hallelujah! by Warlord Games
As both the Federals and Rebs fought for control of the boarder lands between Kansas and Missouri, the commanders of both armies had identified a key strategic road junction. Hoping to steel a march and take the cross roads first, both armies set off before first light. Marching alone the road in the pre dawn mist the young soldiers of both armies were keen to get to grips with the enemy. Waiting for the cavalry scouts to report contact, the troops could only be ordered along the road in column . At the end of each turn spotting distance was determined by 3D6 and only a March order was allowed if outside this distance. The scouting cavalry could be ordered forward and any subsequent orders having their movement direction determined by a scatter dice.
First contact was made by the brave cavalry troop in blue, but the young troopers failed the order roll to inform their infantry of the Confederates on the road. This gave Johnny Reb the advantage and with a successful order their front brigade deployed and charged. Taking supports with them, and the advantage of Rebel Yell, everything was looking good until the dice gods played their part and the two front Reb regiments lost their combats, one of them having to pull back.
With their ganders up, the Federals tried to press their advantage, moving their Artillery up and a 2nd brigade forward. This brigade moved forward but had failed to deploy into line from column. The artillery fared no better moving forward but they remained deployed. The union army was in a mess, largely in column and in sight of the Rebs.
The Rebs charged again including a long charge by their cavalry against the limbered Federal guns. The Federal guns were destroyed the Rebel cavalry swept forward into the flank of a Federal infantry regiment. This was the beginning of the end for Billy Yank and it was only a matter of time before John Reb took the day.
28mm Napoleonic – Somewhere in the Peninsula – Valour & Fortitude v3.1 by Jervis Johnson
Following on from last club’s scenario, while the rules were still fresh in our minds (!), this engagement saw the British force continue their pursuit of the French. The French had been reinforced and turned to hopefully give Les rosbifs a bloody nose. A close engagement with both sides’ infantry taking the lead in attack. After a run of lucky dice for the French, and some appalling luck for the British, Napoleon’s boys brought home the bacon!
28mm Fantasy – Ogres v. Savage Orcs – Kings of War by Mantic Games
The battle was fought over the ruins of an ancient city. For the savage orcs it was their first time out but they were confident of success especially as they had a secret weapon in the form of the ‘fight wagons’ drawn by tamed trolls.
Initially the two sides move forward cautiously, each trying to get the measure of the other, however early shooting from the ogres stunned a troll unit. In the centre an elite ogre units stormed forward felling everything in their path. The orcs struggled to hold them.
On the flanks, where the orcs had concentrated their boar riders, the conflict was more evenly matched. Flanking manoeuvre by the orcs through some woods destabilised the ogre left flank as the orc ‘fight wagons’ stormed forward and wiped out a unit of red goblins who were fighting for the ogres.
On the other flank the orc cavalry launched a charge against the ogres, but the ogres stopped them dead. In the centre the mutual destruction continued, until both sides had passed their break point. The orcs had lost by a higher margin so the game was declared an ogre victory.
With the many temptations available on a May Bank holiday weekend it was a small, but elite group of Friends that gathered for club. Two games this week, both of classic periods, and in the classic scale.
28mm Italian Wars – Pike & Shotte by Warlord Games
This year’s most popular period at the club is certainly Italian Wars. The game saw two large forces facing off in a classic Italian Wars battle. Many newly painted figures were making their debut, and despite the general curse of the newly painted figure, they did rather well. Many pikes were pushed, lances charged and mercenary contracts renegotiated!
28mm Peninsula Napoleonic – Valour & Fortitude (v3.1) by Jervis Johnson (on Perry Miniatures site)
Despite V&F seeming to ‘up-version’ more often than Warhammer 40k (!), we thought we’d have another go while the previous game was relatively fresh in our minds. Two cavalry heavy forces, British and French, clashed on the plains of Spain. Memories were jogged, and much fun was had. The cavalry of both sides pretty much fought each other to a standstill, while the British infantry managed to out shoot their Gallic enemies, leading to a British victory. Hopefully we can get another game in before a new version comes out!
April sunshine greeted the Friends at club for a Pike-pocalypse meeting. Two 28mm games set in the pike and shot era provided an entertaining day of gaming, and surprisingly few stabbed fingers!
28mm Italian Wars – Warlord Games Pike & Shotte
A clash of mighty armies with the French meeting the Imperial forces in a game loosely based on the clash at Pavia 1525. The Imperial army was well supplied with Landsknecht pike blocks but its cavalry did not quite match up to the chivalry of France in the enemy army. The French also boasted the irresistible Swiss infantry as well as more Landsknechts, and poorer quality French foot. There game fell into three parts. On the French left both forces’ Landsknecht mercenaries met in a bloody ‘Bad War’ match up that saw both side annihilate the other in a gruesome stalemate. On the opposite flank the French infantry bucked the odds and managed to beat the Imperial Landsknechts facing them due to some deadly rounds of shooting. In the centre the French gendarmes demonstrated why they were the noblest cavalry in the conflict by riding down their opponents and then turning on the flank of the Imperial centre’s infantry, giving the Swiss an easy victory. With the centre and right sewn up, the French were declared victors!
28mm Thirty Years War – Warlord Games Pike & Shotte
This time it was the indomitable Gustav II Adolph, King of Sweden, taking on the Imperial army, this time under Wallenstein. The scenario was loosely based on Alte Veste 1632, with the Swedish king leading an assault against Imperial earthworks.
The Swedes had a 3:1 advantage in numbers that should give them a chance against the heavily dug-in Imperial foot. The Imperial forces were due to be reinforced so the Swedes could not hang about and had limited time for preliminary preparations for their assault.
The Swedes were not to be hurried and advanced steadily against the Imperial earthworks. Much black powder was expended by both sides, with both sides taking a steady stream of casualties. After three assaults the outer-ravelin was taken by dismounted Swedish horse, who also managed to hold these outer works against an Imperial counter-attack. The Swede’s Old Blue Regiment then pushed on to the main fortifications trading shots with the Imperial defenders. The Swedish king brought up his Household troops, the Yellow regiment to lead an assault. The Household troops were met with a withering defensive fire and the first wave was decimated.
At this point a strong force of Imperial horse appeared, galloping to support their comrades. Gustav Adolph wasted no time and sent the next wave of his proud Yellow regiment into the assault. The Imperial fire was again horribly effective, but the Imperial troops were tiring. Spearheaded by the Swedish king’s life company, and after some bloody hand-to-hand combat across the fortifications, the Yellow regiment finally broke into the earthworks. An unexpected win for the Swedes!
A definite hint of spring was in the air as a good number of Friends gathered for their regular table top shenanigans. Club featured two smaller scale games, both set in the 20th century.
10mm Great War – August 1914 – Black Powder (with Club adaptions ‘Sheffield Steel’)
A run out for the ever popular club 10mm WW1 collection that is currently focused on the early days of the conflict in August and September 1914. In this period the warfare was very open and fluid, and all the combatants were still getting used to the realities of modern industrialised mass warfare.
The scenario saw a defeated and demoralised French force, of two infantry brigades and a battery of artillery, retreating from the Germans, and intent on getting off the board. The French retreat was being covered by a brigade of British cavalry with horse artillery. Set against the allies was a veritable horde of ‘Hun’ infantry. As the Germans pressed their advantage, a rapid pursuit meant they entered the battlefield piece-meal.
It was an exciting game – the Germans pressed on with vigour and were soon snapping up any French units that fell behind in their retreat. The allies managed to set up a holding position with their artillery and the British dismounted cavalry. The lead German formations were given a bloody nose that slackened their advance a little, along with some valiant last stands of plucky French infantry companies. As the German numbers built up, they pressed on fearlessly and the British and French guns were soon forced to flee for safety, covered by mounted charges from the British cavalry.
Another great adventure in 1914 gaming and a few more Friends were introduced to Black Powder and Sheffield Steel.
15mm Modern – Iran-Iraq War – Sand, Missiles and Helicopters(Home grown rules)
A little gamed, but fascinating conflict from the 1980s. The scenario was based on an Iraqi counter-attack to gain back land lost as part of the Iranian offensive in the Faw Peninsular. In the game the various Iraqi attacks struggled to coordinate and the Iranians expertly blocked the attempts. The plucky Iranian militia were even up for stopping T72s with infantry assaults!
The rules used were Sand, Missiles and Helicopters, a fast play set of modern rules loosely based on Flames of War and Black Powder, put together by one of the Friends.
If you are intrigued by the period, amazed by the lovely terrain and models, or want to find out more about the rules, then you can checkout a fuller version of this game at Salute next month! (Just ask for ‘Bruce’.)
A sunny spring day and what better way to spend it than in a village hall, shoving lead and rolling dice!
28mm WW2 North Africa 1940 – Warlord Games Bolt Action
A chance for a newly painted Italian army to have its first run out against the British in North Africa. The game was set in 1940, on the boarder between British and Italian controlled Somaliland. The main road to the coast went through a small village in a valley and was deemed to be important to both forces.
The British had control of the high ground to the North with a small tank platoon cautiously advancing down a side road. With the help of a small Italian Somalian platoon the Italians attacked from the South.
The Italians got the drop on the British taking out the boys anti-tank rifle and a light anti-tank gun during the first engagement. They also managed to range in with their mortars reducing the effectiveness of the British 25 pdr. With the early success the hot blooded Italians and their local troops advanced toward the village while the British command had a brew delaying over half the infantry from entering the fray.
The British command called in an artillery bombardment pinning the Italian support section and a veteran Italian Bersgileri platoon on the flank. In the British centre the Matilda moved to its right to take on the Italian armour. As she moved slowly across the field she presented her flank and the Italian gunners took advantage with a penetrating hit. As always it was left to the poor bloody infantry to take the village with close quarter fire fights and hand to hand combat.
Despite getting the better of the hand to hand engagements the British did not have enough troops to hold the village eventually gave ground to the Italians. In summary the Italian army not only destroyed the British army on the day but also the myth that newly painted troops die early.
28mm Sci-Fi – Home Brew Rules
The very fabric of reality was rent asunder by the massed energy weapons unleashed by unspeakable aliens on a strange planet. Or something like that!
On a fine February afternoon the Friends met to play a couple of good old favourites – comfort gaming you could call it!
28mm Italian Wars – Battle of Ravenna 1512 – Warlord Games Pike & Shotte
The French and allies were pitted against the Spanish and allies, behind fortifications, in this classic Italian Wars refight.
The French commander, Gaston de Foix, arrived to see the Spanish and their Italian allies dug-in behind a defensive ditch. He had a trick up his sleeve as, unknown to the Spanish, he had an artillery position set up overlooking the Spanish left flank.
The French gendarmes attacked on their right wing while their pike in the centre and the gendarmes and lighter cavalry of the left moved forward more cautiously. The French attack on their right saw the proud French Gendarmes, supported by some plucky Italian pike, smash through the opposing Spanish cavalry whose defeat caused panic through the remaining Spanish left flank who also fled the field.
In the centre French pike blocks continued to move forward while on the French left a game of cat and mouse ensued. For the rest of the game every time the French Gendarmes charged the Spanish lights successfully evaded them.
However, with the French victorious Gendarmes sweeping around behind the earthworks on the right flank it was just a matter of time. They soon rolled up Spanish artillery and a disordered pike block for no loss. A brave rearguard by the Spanish commander, turning his remaining pike to face-off against the gendarmes, was in vain. This allowed the French Landsknecht pike to finally cross the earth works and the Spanish will was broken.
The game featured a classic Blunder-Comedy moment. Some French crossbows were commanded forward to lend support to a pike block. The French rolled a blunder and a resulting charge saw the light crossbow unit clatter into an enemy pike block – ouch! Predictably the crossbows lost the fight and routed. The panic of the rout spread to a nearby unit of French Gendarmes and the French commander was horrified to see the cream of French nobility leaving the field with their tails between their legs. Sacre-bleu!
28mm Napoleonic Peninsula – Perry Miniatures Valor & Fortitude
More classic wargaming action saw a French force attacking a British force with Portuguese allies. Unfortunately it had been sometime since V&F had a run out at club and the players were all a bit rusty with the rules. After a few strong cups of Yorkshire Tea (and biscuits!) things were coming back to mind. By the end of the game we had remembered why we liked the rules.
The French sent a strong force of two brigades of infantry, supported a brigade of dragoons, against the British left that was held by a brigade of Portuguese. The French then attempted to demonstrate against the centre and British right. The French advanced into withering, heavy fire and the French left and centre were easily held off. The main French attack on their right made some good progress with the KGL hussars who were sent in to support the Portugueses being seen off with short shrift by the French dragoons. The plucky Portuguese buckled but did not break, and were able to pull back in good order. Sadly darkness (and lack of tea!) meant the game came to an end before a full decision had been made.
