Take 3 of the LardEhs Game Day in Hamilton - November 27, 2021!

Last Update:  November 15, 2021

I'm recycling a lot from my previous posting for the LardEhs game day Barnaby Ore and I planned for May 2020 (and November 2020) as some basic elements haven't changed as we've finally landed on a date for our third attempt at this inaugural event - November 27, 2021.

Many will already know what a TFL Game Day (aka Lard Day or Lardie Day) is, but it’s basically a game show/convention featuring TooFatLardies rules (and the affiliated Reisswitz Press), and a dash (or more) of adult beverages and hearty/spicy foood. Most (if not all) Lard Days in the UK are standalone events, in the US they’re a mix of standalone or affiliated with a larger convention.

With all the changes going on thanks to COVID, we're now trying this as a one-day standalone event, with two timeslots with a minimum of four games of four players plus a GM in each.  That may get tweaked a bit as we hear about games and GMs, but that's the basic idea.  We're also requiring pre-registration for the event by e-mailing me or contacting Barnaby O. of HTGS, both to get an idea of attendance and to help plan for the safety measures we'll need to have in place.  NOTE - Pre-registration is now CLOSED - if you are interested in going on the waiting list, please contact me at the address below.

We're looking at 20 attendees as our baseline, plus a few helpers, in both of the traditional Broadsword rooms at the hall.  As COVID restrictions ease or tighten we may have to tweak that, but we're working from what we know now.

We plan to have a long lunch break with some socially distanced schmoozing, there are a lot of food opportunities within walking distance of the hall.  If the situation permits, we're looking at a curry dinner too.

Schedule:

Satrday Morning Timeslot (9:30-1:30)

Game A - After Fredericksburg - GM Chris R. - 15mm ACW Sharp Practice - In late 1862, shortly after Fredericksburg, as the Confederates clear out the area around the city, they come across a rag-tag assortment of Union forces trying to keep them out of a small town so their colleagues could continue to withdraw.  Sensing an opportunity, the Confederates decide to drive into town to see if they could life a bit more miserable for the northerners.  

Game B - Hard Brexit, or, Romani Ite Domun - GM Sean M. - 28mm Infamy Infamy - Ancient Britain is overrun by bloody foreigners from Europe. Time to fight back. Chieftain Pidyn Meddal has had enough and has rallied his warriors to strike at the Roman troops under the command of Legatus Media Procuratio. The Romans have been rounding up cattle as 'tax' to feed the legion. Pidyn Meddal has set an ambush to jump the returning Roman troops to recover the cattle. Will the troops of the Roman Empire be able to move the herd back to the camp, thus reinforcing the might of Rome? Or will the warbands of Britain have the time and fury to strike a blow for freedom and independence? Tempus Fugit!

Game C - Frozen Hell - GM Dave L. - 15mm - I Ain't Been Shot Mum! - Christmas Eve, 1939. For more than two weeks, the 163rd Rifle Division of the Red Army has been mired on the frozen road into Suomussalmi. The lead elements captured the village weeks ago, finding only the burnt ruins left by the Finnish defenders. Blocked from progressing any further and starving on a sixteen kilometer long stretch of road, the haggard Red Army men have been subject to nightly terror raids by Finnish forces. On the night of Christmas Eve, the 6th Bicycle Battalion launches one of these now-routine raids, with the objective of carving the exposed column into disparate pockets. A night raid with Finns on skiis and Red Army pioneers with a motley array of vehicles and heavy weapons—come and refight the dynamic and infamous "motti" raids of the legendary battle for Suomussalmi! (up to 5 players)

Game D - A Cold Day in Kharkov - GM Keith B. - 1/56 What A Tanker - German and Soviet tanks hunt each other in the desolate streets of Kharkov.  T-34s and PzIVs and StuGs and KVs – oh my! (up to 8 players)

Game FF - Showdown at Yartsevo 31 July 1941 - GM Thomas S. - 20mm - Chain of Command - It is a little over a month since the beginning of “Operation Barbarossa” and the German Army group centre has almost encircled the city of Smolensk.  The Russian army is doing everything possible to keep the salient open but it does not look very good for them. Zaborye is an important railhead not only for attacking Russian forces but also as a supply depot. Will the Red Army be able to hold this strategic position or will the German Army group centre continue its drive to Moscow? (up to 5 players) 

Lunch (1:30-3:00)

Saturday Afternoon Timeslot (3:00-7:00)

Game E - Raid on McCrea’s House, or, The King’s Cowboys - GM Roger C. - 28mm Sharp Practice - December 1813, Western Ontario is No-Man’s Land after the Battle of the Thames. Local settlers attempt to get the harvest in despite the depredations of U.S. troops from Detroit. A mixed complement of soldiers under Lt Joseph H Larwill have occupied several houses at Chatham, Upper Canada. Meanwhile, Lt Henry Medcalf of the Norfolk Militia Regiment has been given orders to proceed to the Rondeau area to round up stray, abandoned livestock to supply the British forces. To accomplish this he is given flankers from the Norfolks and a small troop of eight Provincial Dragoons. Travelling overland to the Talbot settlement he gains intelligence and allies from the Middlesex, Kent and Essex militias. His informants tell him there are no cattle at Rondeau, but these U.S. ruffians are causing hell at Chatham. He decides to intervene. Will Lt. Medcalf be able to save the day? The U.S. Regulars have been sampling the local hooch, will they respond to discipline? Will the U.S. Cavalry interrupt on time?

Game F - Showdown at Yartsevo 31 July 1941 - GM Thomas S. - 20mm - Chain of Command - It is a little over a month since the beginning of “Operation Barbarossa” and the German Army group centre has almost encircled the city of Smolensk.  The Russian army is doing everything possible to keep the salient open but it does not look very good for them. Zaborye is an important railhead not only for attacking Russian forces but also as a supply depot. Will the Red Army be able to hold this strategic position or will the German Army group centre continue its drive to Moscow? (up to 5 players) 

Game G - Bounce the Seine – The Algonquins attack on Sottesville-Sous-Le-Val - GM Brian H. - 6mm - O Group - The Lincoln and Welland Regiment have created a bridgehead at Criquebeuf, and the Algonquins will attack out of the bridgehead on the morning of the 27th of August. Their task is to capture Sotteville and then exploit NE to Point 88. The Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders will attack on the right and take Igoville, exploiting on to Point 95. The Germans are using both of these heights to direct artillery fire on the Criquebeuf crossing preventing bridging efforts. 

Game H - The Canadians Have an Ace Up Their Sleeve - GM Keith B. - 1/144 Algy Pulls a Fast One - Barker, Bishop, and Collishaw take on a horde of Huns.  Sopwith Camel, RAF SE5a and Sopwith Triplane, Albatros D.Vs, Fokker Dr.Is, Siemens-Schuckerts and more! (up to 6 players)

Game AA - After Fredericksburg - GM Chris R. - 15mm ACW Sharp Practice - In late 1862, shortly after Fredericksburg, as the Confederates clear out the area around the city, they come across a rag-tag assortment of Union forces trying to keep them out of a small town so their colleagues could continue to withdraw.  Sensing an opportunity, the Confederates decide to drive into town to see if they could life a bit more miserable for the northerners.  

Game BB - Hard Brexit, or, Romani Ite Domun - GM Sean M. - 28mm Infamy Infamy - Ancient Britain is overrun by bloody foreigners from Europe. Time to fight back. Chieftain Pidyn Meddal has had enough and has rallied his warriors to strike at the Roman troops under the command of Legatus Media Procuratio. The Romans have been rounding up cattle as 'tax' to feed the legion. Pidyn Meddal has set an ambush to jump the returning Roman troops to recover the cattle. Will the troops of the Roman Empire be able to move the herd back to the camp, thus reinforcing the might of Rome? Or will the warbands of Britain have the time and fury to strike a blow for freedom and independence? Tempus Fugit!

Optional Dinner (7:30+)

Location?
Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Veteran's Association on Barton Street in Hamilton 

Admission:

Play 2 Games - $10
Play 1 Game/GM 1 Game - $5

GM 2 Games - Free!

Accommodations?
Here are a couple of suggestions from the HTGS:
Four Points By Sheraton Hamilton - Stoney Creek
49 Goderich Rd, Hamilton, ON L8E 4W8
905-578-1212

Sandman Hotel Hamilton
560 Centennial Pkwy N, Hamilton, ON L8E 0G2
289-389-7203

Do you still want GMs?
Yes! Please reach out to me (e-mail below) and we’ll chat. Anything from the TFL and Reisswitz Press libraries, or anything from the TFL Specials and Lard Magazine is welcome. If you’ve home-brewed a variant period for one of the TFL systems, that’s welcome too.

Do you want players?
We’d love to meet TFL players, particularly new ones we haven’t crossed paths with before.  However, we are now at our limit of players unless we get some new games offered.

Will there be curry?
Maybe!  

Will there be pints?

Yes, through the Association's bar downstairs.

Will the pre-registration have to be pre-paid?

No, we'll collect payment the day of (cash only please).

Can I pre-register for specific games?

With all the changes going on with COVID, we're expecting the unexpected and may have to have some back-up plans in place to deal with last minute changes in games and GMs.  Currently what we're proposing to do is ask attendees list their favourite TFL rule sets (say a top 3 or 5) and then we'll match folks up on a first-registered, first-served basis as best we can.  We can't promise anything, but we hope this will come close to getting people into the games they like.

What will be the COVID-related requirements for attending?

We'll be following all provincial and municipal requirements, as well as those of the hall.  We currently expect those to include:

• Self-screening prior to attending
• An indoor mask requirement
• Proof of vaccination (two doses plus 14 days since final dose)
• Limited capacity (we'll be well under that for two rooms)

What else will be happening as part of the LardEhs Day?

• We’ll have banners and signage up 
• I’ll be doing photos and social media on the day, feel free to join in, or if you can’t make it, follow along! I’ll be using #lardehs and #spreadthelard on Twitter, and posting on the Frozen Lard FB page. 
• I’ll be doing some interviews with players and GMs to submit to TFL’s Oddcast podcast. 
• We plan on having some sort of raffle or draw for participants. 
• We’ll ask participants to fill out a survey to help guide us in future LardEhs Days.

Raffle and Prize Info:

We're pleased to announce Cardboard Dungeon Games is confirmed as our first sponsor.  Nick W. of CDG has generously provided both GM and raffle prizes, with the proceeds of the raffle going directly to the RHLI Veteran's Association.  We hope your respect for our veterans will have you digging deep for the TTCombat's Tank Manufacturing Warehouse (retails for $119.95)!

The Best Game / GM Prize will be the Cote D'arms WW2 paint set. That's 40 paints with a retail value over $200.

Cardboard Dungeon Games will also be giving us a free shipping code shortly, so attendees can order product and pick it up at the event.

Thank you Cardboard Dungeon Games for your generous support!

What if I’ve love to come but can’t make November 27?
Please reach out (e-mail below) and I’ll let you know what our plans are post-LardEhs Day #1. Barnaby is also available through the HTGS Facebook page. If you’d like to help us craft what future LardEhs Days look like, I can send you the survey for your input. There’s also the Frozen Lard Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/frozenlard/) for fans of TFL in Canada, and we’ll always post any news there.

So what’s this all about really?
Because I’m anal about these things, and sometimes have to write minute-by-minute agendas for media and VIP events, Barnaby and I came up with a mission statement: We are looking to put together a one-day TooFatLardies (TFL) themed event, using TFL rules in games by and for old and new fans of the systems. We are also using this first small event to gauge interest in a future standalone annual Lardie game day based on the UK model for Lard days. We’re encouraging the breadth of the TFL catalogue be brought out as games and welcome forays into a diversity of periods using those rules, including games/variants published in TFL Specials and Lard Magazine.

Links and Contacts:

HTGS Website

HTGS Facebook Page

Frozen Lard on Facebook

To contact me, I can be reached at chrisrobinson AT nexicom DOT net or on the event FB page.