tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79250109104455220002024-02-19T04:10:01.941-05:00TwoThreeSixMMTwoThreeSixMM is my home to one of my hobbies - miniatures gaming. The name comes from the three scales I'll be working in the most: 2mm, 3mm (aka 1/600), and 6mm (aka 1/285 or 1/300). I also monkey around in 1/72 (20mm) and 25/28mm for skirmishing, and 1/1200, 1/2400, and 1/6000 for naval adventures. I expect my main contributions to the hobby, other than pictures of pretty things, will be in my 2-6mm scratchbuilt terrain.CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-60589344512759601812023-04-14T12:11:00.017-04:002023-10-24T12:47:18.982-04:00LardEhs IV - October 28, 2023<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8jDNZ3d_Yc39OAIABRA3R6keM-4-eNrLWVzHObsqmtDdWs80nnYgQE8ZTr_UYKLCWPUm0AuUSAwBFB28oNpfu1tVFuF68b6pEff1frTaO9spsQe0G3oIeBgMmS_KCN5aCJ6khR8ddJZyxGa5Bu2JRV0G4R8UE0IF37TlTLqv8VUu2U9qfH4LxDkkU=s896" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="896" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8jDNZ3d_Yc39OAIABRA3R6keM-4-eNrLWVzHObsqmtDdWs80nnYgQE8ZTr_UYKLCWPUm0AuUSAwBFB28oNpfu1tVFuF68b6pEff1frTaO9spsQe0G3oIeBgMmS_KCN5aCJ6khR8ddJZyxGa5Bu2JRV0G4R8UE0IF37TlTLqv8VUu2U9qfH4LxDkkU=s320" width="320" /></a></p><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>When:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saturday, October 28, 2023 (~9:30am-7pm)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Where:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Hall, Hamilton (1353 Barton Street East)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>What:</b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two time slots of TooFatLardies Games<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Who (organizers):</b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chris Robinson and Barnaby Ore<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Who (attendees</b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>($15 for the day [two time slots] and there will NOT be pre-registration this year, <u>it will be first come, first served</u> for signing up for games)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Curry plans are now below!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Morning Session (9:30am-1:30pm)</u></b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>All Around the Old West with What a Cowboy</i></b> <br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rules:</b> What A Cowboy<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>GM:</b> Roger Chrysler<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Scale:</b> 28mm<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Players:</b> 2-6<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Description:</b> Several scenarios in a campaign will be run, including a Mexican village (GuadaLARDero), an abandoned fort, a mine, and finale showdown in the town of New Texaco. Games are fast and bloody. Each player can control two characters of goodies or baddies.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mater Tua Tam Pinguis Est...</span><br /></i></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rules:</b> Infamy, Infamy<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>GM: </b>Sean Malcolmson<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Scale: </b>28mm<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Players:</b> 6<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Description: </b> Tired of dealing with the Briton’s hit and run tactics that have plagued his scouting and foraging parties, the legate has ordered a tribune to take large force to a local village suspected supporting to rebellion. On approaching the village, scouts return with a report of a significant British force that was mustering near the village. Unfortunately, the Britons are aware of the Romans as well. Happy with the opportunity to find glory in crushing the rebels, the Roman tribune orders his centurions to prepare to meet the enemy. In this scenario, large forces of British and Roman armies will square off to control this tribal region. Victoria ad fortissimum!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Big Chain of Command Training Day - Operation Barbarossa</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rules:</b> Big Chain of Command<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>GM: </b>Howard Tulloch<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Scale: </b>15mm<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Players:</b> 4<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Description: </b> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Set on the early war eastern front, this game will be a chance </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">to learn the broad concepts of Chain of Command (CoC), based on the Big CoC expansion rules with each player having either a platoon of infantry or armour. The game will run continuously and be reset for another game allowing players to opt in/out, change sides, change force type. Observers and later participants are welcome.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>First Battle of the Odon</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Rules:</b> O Group (Normandy supplement)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>GM:</b> Brian Hall</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Scale:</b> 6mm</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Players:</b> 4</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Description:</b> Phase One of Operation Epsom assigned the 44th Lowland Division (15th Scottish Division) to take the villages of Saint Mauvieu and le Gaule with the support of the 9th Royal Tank Regiment. As the British believed this was "a lightly held crust" they anticipated that following on from this initial push with Phase Two would then clear the Odon Valley. Phases Three and Four would cross the Orne and Odon Rivers and successfully establish a bridgehead over the River Odon, thus completing the envelopment of Caen from the west. As a result, these engagements are also known as the First Battle of the Odon.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-size: large;"><u>Afternoon Session (3pm-7pm)</u></b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>All Around the Old West with What a Cowboy</i></b> <br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rules:</b> What A Cowboy<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>GM:</b> Roger Chrysler<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Scale:</b> 28mm<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Players:</b> 2-6<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Description:</b> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Several scenarios in a campaign will be run, including a Mexican village (GuadaLARDero), an abandoned fort, a mine, and finale showdown in the town of New Texaco. Games are fast and bloody. Each player can control two characters of goodies or baddies.</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Big Chain of Command Training Day - Operation Barbarossa</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rules:</b><span> Big Chain of Command</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>GM: </b>Howard Tulloch<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Scale: </b>15mm<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Players:</b> 4<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Description: </b> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Set on the early war eastern front, this game will be a chance </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">to learn the broad concepts of Chain of Command (CoC), based on the Big CoC expansion rules with each player having either a platoon of infantry or armour. The game will run continuously and be reset for another game allowing players to opt in/out, change sides, change force type. Observers and later participants are welcome.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Battle of Pharsalus</i></b></span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Rules:</b> Strength & Honour</span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>GM:</b> Chris Nokes</span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Scale:</b> 2mm</span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Players:</b> 4</span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Description:</b> Caesar is outnumbered against Pompey the Great. Will he deliver on his reputation and pull out a stunning victory or fade into history as another of Pompeys conquests? That’s up to you! </span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>France vs. Austria</i></b></span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Rules:</b> General d'Armee </span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>GM:</b> Mark Degner</span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Scale:</b> 15mm</span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Players:</b> 4</span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Description:</b> This will be an introductory game and scenario for those of you interested in giving these rules from Reisswitz Press a try! </span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>7pm Curry!</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In true Lardie fashion, at the conclusion of gaming we'll place a group (or individual) order in for curry and other Asian/Southeast Asian food. All are welcome to stay.</span></span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Refreshments and Lunch During the Day</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are many food establishments within a 5 minute drive / 15 minute walk of the hall. Beverages will be available from the main bar once it opens.</span></span></div></div></span></div></span></div></span></div>CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-37733660637337741092022-03-16T12:12:00.025-04:002022-10-20T17:40:22.326-04:00LardEhs Game Day III - October 2022<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8jDNZ3d_Yc39OAIABRA3R6keM-4-eNrLWVzHObsqmtDdWs80nnYgQE8ZTr_UYKLCWPUm0AuUSAwBFB28oNpfu1tVFuF68b6pEff1frTaO9spsQe0G3oIeBgMmS_KCN5aCJ6khR8ddJZyxGa5Bu2JRV0G4R8UE0IF37TlTLqv8VUu2U9qfH4LxDkkU=s896" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="896" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8jDNZ3d_Yc39OAIABRA3R6keM-4-eNrLWVzHObsqmtDdWs80nnYgQE8ZTr_UYKLCWPUm0AuUSAwBFB28oNpfu1tVFuF68b6pEff1frTaO9spsQe0G3oIeBgMmS_KCN5aCJ6khR8ddJZyxGa5Bu2JRV0G4R8UE0IF37TlTLqv8VUu2U9qfH4LxDkkU=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>When:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saturday, October 22, 2022<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Where:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Hall, Hamilton (1353 Barton Street East)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>What:</b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two time slots of TooFatLardies Games<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Who (organizers):</b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chris Robinson and Barnaby Ore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Who (attendees</b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pre-registration and payment will be required (details pending)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>GMs Wanted?</b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes please! We’re looking to have 6-8 games per time slot - <o:p></o:p></span>To contact me, please e-mail me at chrisrobinson AT nexicomDOTnet to sign up your game</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cost:</b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> $15 for the full day (two game slots). Complimentary admission for GMs. </span><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: red;">Please pre-register with payment to the Hamilton Tabletop Gaming Society account at htgsgroup AT(@) gmail.com - e-transfer or Paypal accepted.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Game Pre-Registration:</b> Once you've registered for the event, please either send your game choice (and a backup) for each timeslot you wish to play in with your payment as a note, or to Chris at: chrisrobinson AT nexicom.net. Your game choices will be confirmed with a reply.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-size: large;"><u>9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Games</u></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>A. Cook’s Mill - 28mm Sharp Practice - GM Roger Chrysler</b></i><i><b> - FULL</b></i><br />October 1814. Due to lack of supplies, the British Right Division has raised the siege of Fort Erie and retreated back to their strong lines at the Chippewa River. U.S. troops are attempting to flank them by crossing upriver. Cook’s Mill has been processing the harvest, so a secondary goal for the Americans is to burn the mill and seize the flour. They’ve thrown a small bridge across Lyon’s Creek but have been detected by scouting Glengarry Light Infantry. Whose reinforcements will get there “firstest with the mostest “? For four players. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strike><i><b>B. </b></i><i><b>Rescue the Colonel at Varaville! - 20mm Chain of Command - GM Thomas Sero<br /></b></i>D-Day 6th June 1944 - The invasion begins with massive, combined parachute and glider attacks by the allied forces across the battlefield. The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion's mission, part of 3rd Parachute Brigade of the 6th British Airborne Division, is centred north of Caen, on the eastern banks of the Orne. C Company’s mission is centred around the village of Varaville. In the middle of their mission, they receive a radio signal that Lieutenant-Colonel Bradbooke’s glider has crashed northwest of Varaville and needs to be rescued. The Colonel has with him the plans for D-Day and he and the documents must not fall into enemy hands. The mission for C company has changed the Colonel must be rescued. For four players.</strike> <span style="color: red;"><b>Canceled - Unfortunately Thomas has had to withdrawn his games.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>C. Beaches of Betio - 20mm What a Tanker - GM Howard Tulloch</b><br /></i>The beaches of Betio is our setting as the Honey and Sherman tanks stalk their Japanese foe. The vehicles had to be light and nimble. The stress of commanding is in managing what you have to do and what the dice say you can do. This will be a continuous demonstration game of up to three scenarios in rotation, games will be about 60 minutes each (allowing for rules overview and game time). </div><div style="text-align: left;">Scenarios: </div><div style="text-align: left;">1) Hit the Beach - all together now!</div><div style="text-align: left;">2) Weaseling Out the Foe - not so fast!</div><div style="text-align: left;">3) The Clean Up - yikes, that's a big un!</div><div style="text-align: left;">For four players.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>D. </b></i><b><i>Buon Natale a tutti! </i></b><i><b>- 15mm O Group - GM Sean Malcolmson - FULL<br /></b></i>In ‘Bloody December 1943’, Canadian forces came up against the fallschrimjagers of the 1st Parachute Division. Upon reaching the border of the town of Ortona, the Canadians expected the German paratroopers to fall back to a more defensible position. But the fallschirmjagers did not, instead digging in with deadly tenacity. What followed was deadly street to street, house to house & room to room fighting. This scenario tries to recreate a sense of battle that became known as ‘Little Stalingrad’. Using modified ‘O Group’ rules, players will see if the Germans can stand or if the Canadians can push them out. For four players.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>E. Strongpoint Hillman (WN17) - 6mm I Ain't Been Shot Mum! - GM Brian Hall</b></i><i><b> - FULL</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">The 1st Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment is trying to capture the Pt 61 before last light on June 6, 1944. The first attack failed, perhaps the second will carry the objective? For 4 or 5 players. </div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">1:30-3 p.m. LUNCH</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><b><span style="font-size: medium;">3 - 7 p.m. Games</span></b></u></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>AA. Cook’s Mill - 28mm Sharp Practice - GM Roger Chrysler</b><br /></i>October 1814. Due to lack of supplies, the British Right Division has raised the siege of Fort Erie and retreated back to their strong lines at the Chippewa River. U.S. troops are attempting to flank them by crossing upriver. Cook’s Mill has been processing the harvest, so a secondary goal for the Americans is to burn the mill and seize the flour. They’ve thrown a small bridge across Lyon’s Creek but have been detected by scouting Glengarry Light Infantry. Whose reinforcements will get there “firstest with the mostest “? For four players. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strike><i><b>BB. Rescue the Colonel at Varaville! - 20mm Chain of Command - GM Thomas Sero<br /></b></i>D-Day 6th June 1944 - The invasion begins with massive, combined parachute and glider attacks by the allied forces across the battlefield. The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion's mission, part of 3rd Parachute Brigade of the 6th British Airborne Division, is centred north of Caen, on the eastern banks of the Orne. C Company’s mission is centred around the village of Varaville. In the middle of their mission, they receive a radio signal that Lieutenant-Colonel Bradbooke’s glider has crashed northwest of Varaville and needs to be rescued. The Colonel has with him the plans for D-Day and he and the documents must not fall into enemy hands. The mission for C company has changed the Colonel must be rescued. For four players.</strike> <span style="color: red;"><b>Canceled - Unfortunately Thomas has had to withdrawn his games.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>CC. </b></i><i><b>Beaches of Betio</b></i><i><b> - 20mm What a Tanker - GM Howard Tulloch</b><br /></i>The beaches of Betio is our setting as the Honey and Sherman tanks stalk their Japanese foe. The vehicles had to be light and nimble. The stress of commanding is in managing what you have to do and what the dice say you can do. This will be a continuous demonstration game of up to three scenarios in rotation, games will be about 60 minutes each (allowing for rules overview and game time). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Scenarios: </div><div>1) Hit the Beach - all together now!</div><div>2) Weaseling Out the Foe - not so fast!</div><div>3) The Clean Up - yikes, that's a big un!</div><div>For four players.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>DD. Air Action over Guadalcanal - 1/600 Bag the Hun* - GM James Manto - FULL </b><br /></i>A strike force from Rabaul trues to finish off an American destroyer that was damaged in a skirmish in The Slot the night before. The Cactus Airforce sorties to provide air cover. For four players. </div><p class="MsoNormal">* An open game of Bag the Hun may be available in the morning too, and a second scenario with the Americans on the attack will be brought: A strike force from Guadalcanal seeks to finish off a Japanese destroyer that was damaged in a skirmish in The Slot the night before. </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>EE. Second Day at Gettysburg - 15mm ACW Sharp Practice - GM Chris Robinson - FULL<br /></i></b>Before the arrival of Sickles' 3rd Corps on the morning of July 2nd, skirmishing had already broken out. A small patrol of dismounted Union cavalry captured a Confederate prisoner but had to leave him behind with a small guard when CSA infantry pickets started probing the terrain around Pitzer's schoolhouse. Union pickets were also on their way to start the day's probing for the enemy's lines, and so as dawn breaks both sides are creeping onto the table for a sweep while a couple of troopers and a troublesome prisoner duck down...somewhere. For four players.</div><p class="MsoNormal"><u><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">7 p.m. Onwards - Curry!</span></b></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Prize Sponsors</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>We will once again have game prize support from <a href="https://www.cruciblecrush.com/" target="_blank">Crucible Crush Games</a>, a sponsor for LardEhs II, and joining them will be new sponsors, Red Goblin Printing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Game Sellers Table</span></u></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span>For those not able to make the Hamilton Tabletop Gaming Society's game bazaar, we'll have a table set up for a small bring and buy. Please label any items you bring with your name and price, and be prepared to make change or only take exact change.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Contact</span></u></b></p><div style="text-align: left;">To contact me with any questions or for more information, please e-mail me at chrisrobinson AT nexicomDOTnet</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div></div></div></div>CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-79157710340125933152022-03-16T12:10:00.040-04:002022-05-26T15:44:34.109-04:00LardEhs Game Day II<p>Updated May 16 with some news on which games are full and which have spaces (also one game has been cancelled).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8jDNZ3d_Yc39OAIABRA3R6keM-4-eNrLWVzHObsqmtDdWs80nnYgQE8ZTr_UYKLCWPUm0AuUSAwBFB28oNpfu1tVFuF68b6pEff1frTaO9spsQe0G3oIeBgMmS_KCN5aCJ6khR8ddJZyxGa5Bu2JRV0G4R8UE0IF37TlTLqv8VUu2U9qfH4LxDkkU=s896" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="896" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8jDNZ3d_Yc39OAIABRA3R6keM-4-eNrLWVzHObsqmtDdWs80nnYgQE8ZTr_UYKLCWPUm0AuUSAwBFB28oNpfu1tVFuF68b6pEff1frTaO9spsQe0G3oIeBgMmS_KCN5aCJ6khR8ddJZyxGa5Bu2JRV0G4R8UE0IF37TlTLqv8VUu2U9qfH4LxDkkU=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>When:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Saturday, May 28, 2022<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Where:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Veterans Association Hall,
Hamilton (1353 Barton Street East)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Two time slots of TooFatLardies Games<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Who
(organizers):</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chris Robinson and Barnaby Ore, with Mike Peterson helping with the fundraising for charity<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Who
(attendees</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pre-registration and payment will be required (<b>details below</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">GMs
Wanted?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes please! We’re looking to have 6-8 games
per time slot<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Cost:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>$15 (GMs receive complimentary<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>entry) <b><span style="color: red;">Please pre-register with payment to the Hamilton Tabletop Gaming Society account at htgsgroup AT(@) gmail.com - e-transfer or Paypal accepted.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Game Pre-Registration:</b> Once you've registered for the event, please either send your game choice (and a backup) for each timeslot you wish to play in with your payment as a note, or to Chris at: chrisrobinson AT nexicom.net. Your game choices will be confirmed with a reply.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Sponsors:</b></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://hobbydungeon.com/" target="_blank">Cardboard Dungeon Games</a></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://toofatlardies.co.uk/" target="_blank">TooFatLardies</a></span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://madpadre.podbean.com/" target="_blank">Canadian Wargamer Podcast</a></span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://danthediceguy.com/" target="_blank">Dan the Dice Guy</a></span></li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Vendors:</b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>5 Arrows Figures and Books</b> - 20mm WWII and Ospreys - at a minimum!</li><li><b><a href="https://www.hobbydungeon.com/" target="_blank">Cardboard Dungeon Games</a></b> - Won't have a table at the event, but will be able to bring anything ordered from their shop to the event - use the code LARDDAY to remove shipping from your online order! (Note: obviously you must actually be coming to LardEhs for this to work!)</li><li><b><a href="https://www.cruciblecrush.com/" target="_blank">Crucible Crush</a></b> - Lee will be there with an assortment of merch from CC and other companies.</li></ul></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Current Game Selection</b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><u><i>9:30am - 1:30pm</i></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>A. Counter Attack at Fontenay-Le-Pesnel (Big Chain of Command)</b><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Operation Martlet was part of a series of attacks to capture the French town of Caen after the D-Day invasion. XXX Corps was tasked to capture Raury 20km west of Caen. The 49th (West Riding) Division and the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division face 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend. The 49th has made progress by taking the village of Fontenay-Le-Pesnel just to the north of Raury. As was their tactic, the 12th SS counterattacked within days. Will the counterattack by 12th SS be successful or will the West Riding Division hold?</div><div><br /></div><div>20mm. 6 Players. GM Thomas Sero</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>B. Pennypacket Bridge Part I - The Confederate Morning Attack (1863 ACW Sharp Practice) - <span style="color: red;">FULL</span><br /></b>A fictional scenario by Nick Skinner from WSS #115 to look at cavalry in the American Civil War, this opening action sees a Confederate infantry column come up against US cavalry setting a defensive screen on the flank of a Union position. Can the smaller force in blue hold the river long enough for the flank to be covered? In the afternoon we'll flip the roles and on the same battlefield see if Confederate cavalry can do the same.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />15mm. 4 Players. GM Chris Robinson</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>C. What A Burmese Tanker! (What a Tanker)</b><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>The jungles of Burma were not tank friendly. The vehicles had to be light and nimble. The stress of commanding is in managing what you have to do and what the dice say you can do. Up to three scenarios in rotation in each time slot:</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1. Yikes that’s a big un!</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2. Not so fast!</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3. All together now!</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />20mm. 4 Players. GM Howard Tulloch</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>D. Parabellum! (Infamy Infamy)</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">It is 43 AD, and the forces of Caratacus are fighting the Claudian invasion of Britain, under the command of Aulus Plautius. After months of hit and run tactics by the Celtic tribes that have plagued the legions, the Romans have managed to bring a force of Celtic warriors to open battle. The legionaries are primed for the fight. The warriors of the Catuvellauni have driven themselves into a murderous frenzy at the chance to finally come out of the shadows and strike at Rome. Parabellum. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">28mm. 4 Players. GM Sean Malcolmson</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>E. </b><b>Frenchtown (1812 Sharp Practice) </b><b>- <span style="color: red;">FULL</span></b></div><div><div>An American force under Brigadier General Winchester have driven out a small force of Canadian militia and First Nations from Frenchtown, Michigan Territory, and occupied the village. </div><div><br /></div><div>The British forces under Colonel Procter have force marched from Amherstburg with their First Nation allies under Chief Roundhead to make a surprise "Dawn Attack” on the U.S. forces.</div><div><br /></div><div>From TFL Games' War of 1812 scenarios by Mike Hobbs. </div><div><br /></div><div>28mm. 4 Players. GM Roger Chrysler</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><u>1:30pm - 3:00pm</u></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><u><br /></u></i></div><div>Lunch - There are several locations for lunch within a short walk or drive of the RHLI Hall.</div><div><i><u><br /></u></i></div><div><i><u>3:00pm - 7pm</u></i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>AA. Frenchtown (1812 Sharp Practice) </b><b>- <span style="color: red;">FULL</span></b></div><div><div>An American force under Brigadier General Winchester have driven out a small force of Canadian militia and First Nations from Frenchtown, Michigan Territory, and occupied the village. </div><div><br /></div><div>The British forces under Colonel Procter have force marched from Amherstburg with their First Nation allies under Chief Roundhead to make a surprise "Dawn Attack” on the U.S. forces.</div><div><br /></div><div>From TFL Games' War of 1812 scenarios by Mike Hobbs. </div><div><br /></div><div>28mm. 4 Players. GM Roger Chrysler</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>BB. Pennypacket Bridge Part II - The Union's Afternoon Counterattack (1863 ACW Sharp Practice) </b><b>- <span style="color: red;">FULL</span></b></div><div>In the morning, Union cavalry had to screen a flank from a CSA probing attack, now after eventually taking the battlefield, Texan and Virginian cavalry are guarding the Confederate rear area when Union infantry reinforcements burst onto the scene. Without the breech-loading carbines of the north, can the greys come up with tactics to hold off this attack? Part Two of a a fictional scenario from WSS #115 by Nick Skinner to look at cavalry in the American Civil War. Playing in Part One not required!</div><div><br /></div><div>15mm. 4 Players. GM Chris Robinson</div><div><br /></div><div><b>CC. What A Burmese Tanker! (What a Tanker)</b><b> </b></div><div><div>The jungles of Burma were not tank friendly. The vehicles had to be light and nimble. The stress of commanding is in managing what you have to do and what the dice say you can do. Up to three scenarios in rotation in each time slot:</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1. Yikes that’s a big un!</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2. Not so fast!</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3. All together now!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>20mm. 4 Players. GM Howard Tulloch</div><div><br /></div><div><b style="text-decoration-line: line-through;">DD. 30K Ultramarines vs. Iron Warriors (Horus Heresy Chain of Command rules variant by Ioan Davies-John)</b><b> - <span style="color: red;">CANCELLED</span></b></div><div><strike><br /></strike></div><div><strike>As the Warmaster Horus musters his legions of traitors on Ullanor, the Iron Warriors are mired in brutal fighting on the planet of Krade. Originally tasked with preventing the Ultramarines from reaching the final battle on Terra, the Primarch Perturabo has now been ordered to withdraw and join up with the invasion forces. A small garrison lead by Lt. Soltarn Vull Bronn covers the evacuation in the face of the relentless advance… Can the brothers of iron hold out long enough against the onslaught of Guilliman’s finest?</strike></div><div><strike><br /></strike></div><div><strike>15mm. 4 Players. GM Anthony Watts</strike></div><div><br /></div><div><b>EE. Wertingen 1805 - On the Road to Austerlitz</b><b> - <span style="color: red;">FULL</span></b></div><div><div>8 October, 1805: after the Grande Armee crossed the Rhine to deal with the Austrian-Russian Third Coalition, Napoleon's advance guard under Murat caught one of General Mack's Austrian corps by surprise at Wertingen. The French force under the dashing Murat is heavy in cavalry, stiffened by Oudinot's grenadiers, and historically made short work of the Austrians, but the brave whitecoated infantry might make a better showing if ably led in this re-fight.</div><div><br /></div><div>This 6mm game is a chance to try General D'Armee, the large-battle Napoleonic rules by Dave Brown published by Reisswitz Press. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>6mm. 4 Players. GM Michael Peterson</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>FF. Parabellum! (Infamy Infamy)</b></div><div>It is 43 AD, and the forces of Caratacus are fighting the Claudian invasion of Britain, under the command of Aulus Plautius. After months of hit and run tactics by the Celtic tribes that have plagued the legions, the Romans have managed to bring a force of Celtic warriors to open battle. The legionaries are primed for the fight. The warriors of the Catuvellauni have driven themselves into a murderous frenzy at the chance to finally come out of the shadows and strike at Rome. Parabellum. </div><div><br /></div><div>28mm. 4 Players. GM Sean Malcolmson</div></div><div><br /></div><div><i><u>7:00pm+</u></i></div><div><i><u><br /></u></i></div><div>Curry! As with the first LardEhs Day in November, we'll look to order in curry (other options are available from the restaurant) for those who wish to stay and have a casual dinner and chat afterwards.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Charity Raffle & Dice:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>We'll be having a fundraiser (raffle, sale items) for the <a href="https://childrenshospitals.ca/childrens-hospitals/mcmaster-childrens-hospital-foundation/" target="_blank">McMaster Children's Hospital Foundation</a>, thanks to the help of Mike Peterson, aka the <a href="http://madpadrewargames.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mad Padre</a>. The fundraising will include:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>For sale on the day will be official <a href="https://toofatlardies.co.uk/product/big-red-lard-dice/" target="_blank">TooFatLardies dice</a> ($2 each), donated by TFL.</li><li>Raffle tickets ($5 each, 5 for $20) will be available and prizes include a 28mm MDF WWII terrain pack (pictured below) courtesy of Cardboard Dungeon Games once again, 12-packs of <a href="https://toofatlardies.co.uk/product/big-red-lard-dice/" target="_blank">TFL dice</a>, a set of <a href="https://pulpfigures.com/products/category/26" target="_blank">Zoporozhian Cossack figures from Pulp Figures</a> courtesy of the Canadian Wargamer Podcast, and yet more dice in TFL rule-sized packs of 24 supported by Dan the Dice Guy.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBiV0UmFk2CMTIQp4C1DAXnbLpJdz6465-zjF8K7EmvAzrN3wnRLjaWMi_w9RyWt93aw2ritvzyyQnR5CI7yjFQYw_dMrP5rcDQdnSHpVJy6CZRDV0_0Wzd7VQ0Y4caaIyVkIG1XFunUGd-YLMA6yhdd0nSzoVNT4rrS4z1UG44oBaJ_OQyX5Dm5s/s4032/279055612_1380765309090199_415715221630052394_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBiV0UmFk2CMTIQp4C1DAXnbLpJdz6465-zjF8K7EmvAzrN3wnRLjaWMi_w9RyWt93aw2ritvzyyQnR5CI7yjFQYw_dMrP5rcDQdnSHpVJy6CZRDV0_0Wzd7VQ0Y4caaIyVkIG1XFunUGd-YLMA6yhdd0nSzoVNT4rrS4z1UG44oBaJ_OQyX5Dm5s/s320/279055612_1380765309090199_415715221630052394_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Other News:</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>For those coming in from out of town and wanting to make a weekend out of it, on Friday night the Hamilton Tabletop Gaming Society is having their monthly game night at the same venue - you're welcome to join in.</li><li>Please bring cash for any purchases (dice, raffle tickets, entrance fee).</li><li>For our GMs (and to entice more GMs to come forward!), Cardboard Dungeon Games is also offering a set of weathering paints for our GM-only raffle.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNjZ1ox3qAP8WFnELzAG4wh36YbdJFsnIqdZ44CJ-ElKWDjlQYIYI1rFFkGenBBxMX1YnGvFsH_IORDXQD1MPyOSqovT20yd1toZjTvwJlWUGNlUOjH8XOdjty2KnDt2UGzo-SKt5Vro3xiDAJ0T3iaUOo37T-sH5WZBzNNPDM5cb97mlJ8OBSb-0/s4032/278852125_489918432858263_6753034594134292625_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNjZ1ox3qAP8WFnELzAG4wh36YbdJFsnIqdZ44CJ-ElKWDjlQYIYI1rFFkGenBBxMX1YnGvFsH_IORDXQD1MPyOSqovT20yd1toZjTvwJlWUGNlUOjH8XOdjty2KnDt2UGzo-SKt5Vro3xiDAJ0T3iaUOo37T-sH5WZBzNNPDM5cb97mlJ8OBSb-0/s320/278852125_489918432858263_6753034594134292625_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>To contact me, please e-mail chrisrobinson AT nexicom.net</div></div><p></p>CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-58392740650797699682021-09-30T19:36:00.015-04:002021-11-15T17:52:23.695-05:00Take 3 of the LardEhs Game Day in Hamilton - November 27, 2021!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzVGKaFWXn_s94LG5wn57qR0Z9bqKVesWQ5FAmbkHV2SNxFRiZTaDimFkeowROThlbLKx1Zb3o6ercrjNj1sY127TAPaMVc17nSuCLb3we5kRkmmCB0nyrFj1GGE4VopT92CA_k4Sy0I/s1600/LardEhs_Red_Red_Transparent.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzVGKaFWXn_s94LG5wn57qR0Z9bqKVesWQ5FAmbkHV2SNxFRiZTaDimFkeowROThlbLKx1Zb3o6ercrjNj1sY127TAPaMVc17nSuCLb3we5kRkmmCB0nyrFj1GGE4VopT92CA_k4Sy0I/s320/LardEhs_Red_Red_Transparent.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>Last Update: November 15, 2021</b></p><p>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 - <b>November 27, 2021</b>.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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. <b>NOTE - Pre-registration is now CLOSED - if you are interested in going on the waiting list, please contact me at the address below.</b></p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Schedule:</b></p><b><u>Satrday Morning Timeslot (9:30-1:30)</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Game A</span> - <i>After Fredericksburg</i> - 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. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Game B</b> - <i>Hard Brexit, or, Romani Ite Domun</i> - 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!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Game C</b> - <i>Frozen Hell</i> - 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! <i>(up to 5 players)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Game D</b> - <i>A Cold Day in Kharkov</i> - 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! <i>(up to 8 players)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Game FF</b> -<span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span><i>Showdown at Yartsevo 31 July 1941 </i>- 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? <i>(up to 5 players)</i> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b><b><u>Lunch (1:30-3:00)</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b><b><u>Saturday Afternoon Timeslot (3:00-7:00)</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Game E</b> - <i>Raid on McCrea’s House, or, The King’s Cowboys</i> - 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?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Game F</b> -<span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span><i>Showdown at Yartsevo 31 July 1941 </i>- 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? <i>(up to 5 players)</i> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Game G</b> - <i>Bounce the Seine – The Algonquins attack on Sottesville-Sous-Le-Val</i> <span style="font-family: inherit;">- GM Brian H. - 6mm - O Group - </span>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. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Game H</b> - <i>The Canadians Have an Ace Up Their Sleeve</i> - 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! <i>(up to 6 players)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Game AA</span> - <i>After Fredericksburg</i> - 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. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Game BB</b> - <i>Hard Brexit, or, Romani Ite Domun</i> - 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!</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b><b><u>Optional Dinner (7:30+)</u></b></div><p><b>Location?</b><br /><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Royal+Hamilton+Light+Infantry-Veterans/@43.2491649,-79.8070982,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x882c99382eb9fad1:0x466e193d90c28df5!8m2!3d43.2491649!4d-79.8049095">Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Veteran's Association on Barton Street in Hamilton </a><br /><b><br /></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Admission:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Play 2 Games - $10<br />Play 1 Game/GM 1 Game - $5</div><div style="text-align: left;">GM 2 Games - Free!</div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Accommodations?<br /></b>Here are a couple of suggestions from the HTGS:<br />Four Points By Sheraton Hamilton - Stoney Creek<br />49 Goderich Rd, Hamilton, ON L8E 4W8<br />905-578-1212</div><p>Sandman Hotel Hamilton<br />560 Centennial Pkwy N, Hamilton, ON L8E 0G2<br />289-389-7203<br /><br /><b>Do you still want GMs?</b><br />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.<br /><br /><b>Do you want players?</b><br />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.<br /><br /><b>Will there be curry?</b><br />Maybe! </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Will there be pints?</b><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, through the Association's bar downstairs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Will the pre-registration have to be pre-paid?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">No, we'll collect payment the day of (cash only please).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Can I pre-register for specific games?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>What will be the COVID-related requirements for attending?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">We'll be following all provincial and municipal requirements, as well as those of the hall. We currently expect those to include:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Self-screening prior to attending</li><li>An indoor mask requirement</li><li>Proof of vaccination (two doses plus 14 days since final dose)</li><li>Limited capacity (we'll be well under that for two rooms)</li></ul></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>What else will be happening as part of the LardEhs Day?</b></div><p></p><ul><li>We’ll have banners and signage up </li><li>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. </li><li>I’ll be doing some interviews with players and GMs to submit to TFL’s Oddcast podcast. </li><li>We plan on having some sort of raffle or draw for participants. </li><li>We’ll ask participants to fill out a survey to help guide us in future LardEhs Days.</li></ul><div><b>Raffle and Prize Info:</b></div><div><div>We're pleased to announce <a href="https://www.hobbydungeon.com" target="_blank">Cardboard Dungeon Games</a> 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 <a href="https://hobbydungeon.com/products/tank-manufacturing-warehouse?fbclid=IwAR2C4oO_xwmqEaebMCEGXSsOoVUCCSxC5INKku4Pm-nmO9SDMJiYW-9eMBE" target="_blank">TTCombat's Tank Manufacturing Warehouse</a> (retails for $119.95)!</div><div><br /></div><div>The Best Game / GM Prize will be the <a href="https://hobbydungeon.com/collections/paint" target="_blank">Cote D'arms WW2</a> paint set. That's 40 paints with a retail value over $200.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you Cardboard Dungeon Games for your generous support!</div></div><p><b>What if I’ve love to come but can’t make November 27?</b><br />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 (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/frozenlard/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/frozenlard/</a>) for fans of TFL in Canada, and we’ll always post any news there.<br /><br /><b>So what’s this all about really?</b><br />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: <i>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.</i><br /><br /><b>Links and Contacts:</b><br /><br /><a href="http://www.htgs.ca/">HTGS Website</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/245063982509671/">HTGS Facebook Page</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/frozenlard/">Frozen Lard on Facebook</a><br /><br /></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>To contact me, I can be reached at chrisrobinson AT nexicom DOT net or on the event FB page.</b></div>CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-13240801398896893312020-01-28T19:47:00.000-05:002020-05-08T19:24:56.953-04:00Details - True North LardEhs Game Day, May 30 2020 in Hamilton, Ontario<b><span style="font-size: large;">Updated 20-05-07 - Postponed! Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, we've had to postpone the LardEhs Game Day until probably the fall. More details on the new event will come in the future, for now though I'll leave most of this here so we can all remember how cool it was going to be... (and so I can re-purpose the information in the fall!)</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzVGKaFWXn_s94LG5wn57qR0Z9bqKVesWQ5FAmbkHV2SNxFRiZTaDimFkeowROThlbLKx1Zb3o6ercrjNj1sY127TAPaMVc17nSuCLb3we5kRkmmCB0nyrFj1GGE4VopT92CA_k4Sy0I/s1600/LardEhs_Red_Red_Transparent.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzVGKaFWXn_s94LG5wn57qR0Z9bqKVesWQ5FAmbkHV2SNxFRiZTaDimFkeowROThlbLKx1Zb3o6ercrjNj1sY127TAPaMVc17nSuCLb3we5kRkmmCB0nyrFj1GGE4VopT92CA_k4Sy0I/s320/LardEhs_Red_Red_Transparent.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My poor half-abandoned blog finally gets some attention as I’d like to provide a central place for details on a TooFatLardies Game Day Barnaby from the Hamilton Tabletop Gaming Society (HTGS) and I are organizing for this spring.<br />
<br />
I expect most coming to this page 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 curry. 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.<br />
<br />
We’re hedging our bets to start one up here in southern Ontario, so we’re starting with the LardAmerica model and our first True North LardEhs Game Day will be part of the Hamilton Tabletop Gaming Society’s Broadsword 10 convention, running over the weekend of May 29-31, with our LardEhs Day happening on the 30th (Saturday). Eventually we’d like to try a standalone LardEhs Day in the future, but we’re gauging interest with this first one.<br />
<br />
We’ve had great support from the <a href="https://toofatlardies.co.uk/">TooFatLardies</a> already, and our modest goals of two TFL games in each of the three Saturday timeslots has already been exceeded thanks to some great GMs stepping up as we covertly started talking to people about running games.<br />
<br />
So our initial schedule (subject to change and more specifics for all the games still to come) is:<br />
<b>Saturday Morning (9:30-1:30)</b><br />
What a Tanker (Howard T.)<br />
Chain of Command (Thomas S.)<br />
<br />
<b>Saturday Afternoon (2:00-6:00)</b><br />
I Ain’t Been Shot Mum! (Evan L.)<br />
They Couldn't Hit an Elephant [ACW big battle] (Brian H.)<br />
Dux Britanniarum (Cain C.)<br />
Sharp Practice or Chain of Command (Sean M.)<br />
They Don't Like It Up 'Em! (Lee v.S.)<br />
<br />
<b>Saturday Evening (7:00-11:00)</b><br />
Coastal Patrol (Howard T.)<br />
ACW Sharp Practice 2 (me!)<br />
<br />
There’s at least one more game we’re landing on the what and where for. Howard’s games will also be king of the hill/re-spawning type scenarios, so you’re never quite out and people can drop in throughout the timeslot.<br />
<br />
We’re still working on other details and a logo is in the works, but here’s a Q&A which will hopefully cover some of what you’ll want to know (and please contact me with any other questions you may have or to express interest in GMing or playing).<br />
<br />
<b>Cost?</b><br />
$15 for the Saturday at Broadsword, which also happens to be the cost for the whole convention, so feel free to come for the whole weekend! There isn’t a separate admission for the LardEhs Day, it’s all included with entry to Broadsword. (admission fee is waived for GMs)<br />
<br />
<b>Location?</b><br />
<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Royal+Hamilton+Light+Infantry-Veterans/@43.2491649,-79.8070982,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x882c99382eb9fad1:0x466e193d90c28df5!8m2!3d43.2491649!4d-79.8049095">Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Veteran's Association on Barton Street in Hamilton </a><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Accommodations?</b><br />
Here are a couple of suggestions from the HTGS:<br />
Four Points By Sheraton Hamilton - Stoney Creek<br />
49 Goderich Rd, Hamilton, ON L8E 4W8<br />
905-578-1212<br />
<br />
Sandman Hotel Hamilton<br />
560 Centennial Pkwy N, Hamilton, ON L8E 0G2<br />
289-389-7203<br />
<br />
<b>Do you still want GMs?</b><br />
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.<br />
<br />
<b>Do you want players?</b><br />
Yes! We’d love to meet TFL players, particularly new ones we haven’t crossed paths with before, or those who are coming in from further away to play TFL games. Please reach out to us if you are coming from further away and we’ll strive to make sure you get into the Lard. You’re also welcome to enjoy the other Broadsword games going on.<br />
<br />
<b>Will there be curry?</b><br />
Maybe! With the three-timeslot day planned and the apparent lack of a nearby curry house, having a group meal won’t work this time around BUT we might be able to get curry on the menu with the canteen's caterer.<br />
<br />
We do have plans though to make curry happen, even if we have to get it brought in, for a standalone Lard day.<br />
<br />
But in terms of food for Broadsword, the RHLI hall's canteen will have lots of hot food options throughout the weekend, and there is a nearby mall with other options if you’d like to get out for a bit between games. The RHLI is also licensed. So while curry is a bit up in the air at this time, you won’t starve or go dry (but please remember to be responsible if you are also driving).<br />
<br />
<b>What else will be happening as part of the LardEhs Day?</b><br />
<ul>
<li>We’ll have banners and signage up to identify our little section of Broadsword, feel free to hang around and chat about Lard! </li>
<li>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. </li>
<li>I’ll be doing some interviews with players and GMs to submit to TFL’s Oddcast podcast. </li>
<li>We plan on having some sort of raffle or draw for participants. </li>
<li>We’ll ask participants to fill out a survey to help guide us in future LardEhs Days.</li>
</ul>
<b>What if I’ve love to come but can’t make Broadsword?</b><br />
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 (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/frozenlard/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/frozenlard/</a>) for fans of TFL in Canada, and we’ll always post any news there.<br />
<br />
<b>So what’s this all about really?</b><br />
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:
<i>As part of Broadsword 2020, 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.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Links and Contacts:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.htgs.ca/">HTGS Website</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/245063982509671/">HTGS Facebook Page</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1376842829163718/">Broadsword 10 Facebook Page</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/frozenlard/">Frozen Lard on Facebook</a><br />
<br />
To contact me, I can be reached at chrisrobinson AT nexicom DOT net or on the event FB page once it’s up (or the Broadsword FB page).
CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-53498803806896854672019-02-25T11:28:00.001-05:002019-02-25T11:28:42.140-05:00Quick Post of Gundam WiPAs I prep for running these guys in a convention game at the end of March, here are some pics of the ready teams of Zeon Mobile Suits and their Earth Federation Forces opponents. With some WWII buildings and Brigade Models UK Martian buildings thrown in for scale. Also some 6mm (Z-scale?) model train figs I picked up ages ago. One group looks suspiciously like a bunch of meddling kids...<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-q_kYCOxRKvQMVrfgjS2MT7JYtj95Qwxv-Yy1d7auZ_CA-Nsr_E4FXojhJtrehQyHvas6Z_R-2LpNFyzRBdKSrMlFfKOlEykWDjDTVbcsT1gYj0VXUwAt-83XWqvZSl-3mEeZrvuSXw/s1600/20180815_222054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-q_kYCOxRKvQMVrfgjS2MT7JYtj95Qwxv-Yy1d7auZ_CA-Nsr_E4FXojhJtrehQyHvas6Z_R-2LpNFyzRBdKSrMlFfKOlEykWDjDTVbcsT1gYj0VXUwAt-83XWqvZSl-3mEeZrvuSXw/s320/20180815_222054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjN16aZzHcprjzui0xK4g-gBPUkjRx8ewU8RNyKI8wuGpdHnHCOTEFuM3eJPYBuSUTIklcvDlASxn3TNyy_Amt_C8Pzn30uVeVmVZTl-lpevQKVf7RXxU_py3kBKWdR2yjCDFXOFDsAE/s1600/20180815_222525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjN16aZzHcprjzui0xK4g-gBPUkjRx8ewU8RNyKI8wuGpdHnHCOTEFuM3eJPYBuSUTIklcvDlASxn3TNyy_Amt_C8Pzn30uVeVmVZTl-lpevQKVf7RXxU_py3kBKWdR2yjCDFXOFDsAE/s320/20180815_222525.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2VG1I3BrWdlOyQgPrr6kxjOQnugCVI4FJaPXRLwhkGjEklqZyEYUjt_uMgt9n29uk2rSaDoOpzxRorTJOk1yoa6eyXkQnwNj5nauyhi5J5myYilsHzcf3Lm2xIymvbn3Cp13kn1zlYA/s1600/20180815_223315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2VG1I3BrWdlOyQgPrr6kxjOQnugCVI4FJaPXRLwhkGjEklqZyEYUjt_uMgt9n29uk2rSaDoOpzxRorTJOk1yoa6eyXkQnwNj5nauyhi5J5myYilsHzcf3Lm2xIymvbn3Cp13kn1zlYA/s320/20180815_223315.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-18490159800191917132018-06-29T16:35:00.001-04:002018-06-29T16:35:02.925-04:00CanGames 2018<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ok, this is going to be a long one (albeit a late one) as last month I was in Ottawa for <a href="http://www.cangames.ca/" target="_blank">CanGames 2018</a> and played in 7 of the 8 timeslots, only skipping the last session Sunday evening for dinner with family. A very good dinner from the famous <i>So Good</i> Chinese restaurant.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I used a day and a half off work to get to Ottawa in good time Thursday so I could be bright and bushy-tailed Friday afternoon when things started.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbfxZhkP70sLOf5dXnIGvGqxLAMhncPVNYt3xodZLmuqMyFqxo5Cxgi6DKUYS073_zW5q3cHer_IdpHJDFWW6ovKePoOqFrlnn-97NpnCxhzGYJFoTliAKg47d8fiOfoYvjB5aIqYf6E/s1600/20180518_131902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbfxZhkP70sLOf5dXnIGvGqxLAMhncPVNYt3xodZLmuqMyFqxo5Cxgi6DKUYS073_zW5q3cHer_IdpHJDFWW6ovKePoOqFrlnn-97NpnCxhzGYJFoTliAKg47d8fiOfoYvjB5aIqYf6E/s320/20180518_131902.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">As in my recon run to last year's CanGames, I pre-registered for all my games, just to make sure I had a slot. It seems like only about 1/3 of the slots get filled that way, a lot of folks seem to wing it, but given I was coming in from Peterborough, I wanted to make sure I got into something. This year I met a fellow in from Saskatchewan who had the same philosophy, and I know one other gamer also pre-registers for one particular game.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
My first game was a old West skirmish using <i>Legends of the Old West</i> rules, each of us starting with 3-5 figures in a 4v4 game in a nicely set up 28mm town. Our host, Mike, has more up on his <a href="http://michaelswargames.blogspot.com/2018/05/cangames-part-1-2018.html" target="_blank">blog report</a>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnqx73TNnbLSOj7AMupVVSkUE3m9Fmm3bZBhXCyt6ES-WCZoWrL_sKTX93EubUS5-MX3uDpfr0rt8AWUIbqT-zW8pjTD7KKvwAv2lJWeTb0dwuFZNv5TzHQgjQ5jcmADHGTzAnKytme8/s1600/20180518_152623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnqx73TNnbLSOj7AMupVVSkUE3m9Fmm3bZBhXCyt6ES-WCZoWrL_sKTX93EubUS5-MX3uDpfr0rt8AWUIbqT-zW8pjTD7KKvwAv2lJWeTb0dwuFZNv5TzHQgjQ5jcmADHGTzAnKytme8/s320/20180518_152623.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
My dead pile, soon to be joined by the rest of my guys!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0RQuHImIGpdbFVz6ENYDRXmiqVQ_KqfMUPNPuZXG9fO6C7thUEq2_CXYMX42ccYU5PrhG1hLwhx2oBv6QHZ2LbIHOqIDy23xmOYpA3kJfItHS3gaoy6fNGJqVa7r47VNfHZFvWGtdVU/s1600/20180518_152639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0RQuHImIGpdbFVz6ENYDRXmiqVQ_KqfMUPNPuZXG9fO6C7thUEq2_CXYMX42ccYU5PrhG1hLwhx2oBv6QHZ2LbIHOqIDy23xmOYpA3kJfItHS3gaoy6fNGJqVa7r47VNfHZFvWGtdVU/s320/20180518_152639.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I don't really remember now what my objective was, we were the side of law and order, so it may have been to clear the town of the bad guys, dead or alive. But spiritually I feel my goal was to get to the other side of town to chase off the mariachi band.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSoD4LTFQNGuPLrex8TLYUzYJ4NXRd3O1_FZ2iJnTQGZto4VqX4zS1i92D-XJF_p5V7noPJSQnBNjiS2N2a3syiLqDD13lqLWzzbp78svAGR39Ult1MC06FK7QG_R-wtomJzWIgG9dGg/s1600/20180518_135803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSoD4LTFQNGuPLrex8TLYUzYJ4NXRd3O1_FZ2iJnTQGZto4VqX4zS1i92D-XJF_p5V7noPJSQnBNjiS2N2a3syiLqDD13lqLWzzbp78svAGR39Ult1MC06FK7QG_R-wtomJzWIgG9dGg/s320/20180518_135803.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">In between games I caught part of this sweet collection of chariots for a racing game that evening that used about 4 tables in a square:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7wLknYdhjkmUH6tbI0Fm5kr52K8R8f3tFzNITTB7PsoaZrgWe8TaAN2mm2RdYCsB8q53bR5oc0Icu5tKKqzD1eGgCg3eZ7XvGpA-NoGKN_Gx5P2xVaOFuTYyru0l2OEtRas-lUbEo6w/s1600/20180518_184649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7wLknYdhjkmUH6tbI0Fm5kr52K8R8f3tFzNITTB7PsoaZrgWe8TaAN2mm2RdYCsB8q53bR5oc0Icu5tKKqzD1eGgCg3eZ7XvGpA-NoGKN_Gx5P2xVaOFuTYyru0l2OEtRas-lUbEo6w/s320/20180518_184649.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I was playing a game of <i>Blucher</i>, which I'd had fun playing in Chatham with the KEGS guys a couple of years ago, this time re-fighting Quatre Bras, one of my favourite Napoleonic battles. Somehow this turned out to be the only photo I took, looking across the table at the dastardly French commanders.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhGFdEEw6xG3TUYtNcXOxCrMlTu1wN-nIqB-dmS3SOFPBj72AoiHQSD8QhvU9aBxtcjtMGAEd77g0UGKIRWzsABvKxdzWEW-Mtf5TRoHq1BkLFZYr5o58hajcdhT_cB8VIpX_orc6SMc/s1600/20180518_201542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhGFdEEw6xG3TUYtNcXOxCrMlTu1wN-nIqB-dmS3SOFPBj72AoiHQSD8QhvU9aBxtcjtMGAEd77g0UGKIRWzsABvKxdzWEW-Mtf5TRoHq1BkLFZYr5o58hajcdhT_cB8VIpX_orc6SMc/s320/20180518_201542.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
We won a razor thin victory, thanks to Bob holding onto that hill on the left of the pic. Pro Tip: Don't refight Quatre Bras based on what you remember from Sharpe's Waterloo.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
While hanging around Saturday morning, in between bouts of shopping, I got a few pics of Mike's great Helm's Deep set up:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDG17trc2K1b68fgWsPQ_GTDNiMzzyNfCthCthcH4GVAmDk70VOffy7sfb-DWnT67iCgeN7fqt2TGe3RMJsjgTlA1FLsCqAmIQPc-d1HDLVLDiuK674k9Pv6fKRROAIpbTz_J7enXRW8/s1600/20180519_083321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDG17trc2K1b68fgWsPQ_GTDNiMzzyNfCthCthcH4GVAmDk70VOffy7sfb-DWnT67iCgeN7fqt2TGe3RMJsjgTlA1FLsCqAmIQPc-d1HDLVLDiuK674k9Pv6fKRROAIpbTz_J7enXRW8/s320/20180519_083321.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1wdPqiigoyzI2shfy72uMB3kyo04eHRnxsBXVKWnmrcMdIbbOi9QC5frwjAKCLfRdmk3jybkZjMCO1n1BHsG2jeh_KDUWeanooFQxTvt6CYJmkqMdwyY4fLa20IZljGn6N0e83xwyHs/s1600/20180519_083327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1wdPqiigoyzI2shfy72uMB3kyo04eHRnxsBXVKWnmrcMdIbbOi9QC5frwjAKCLfRdmk3jybkZjMCO1n1BHsG2jeh_KDUWeanooFQxTvt6CYJmkqMdwyY4fLa20IZljGn6N0e83xwyHs/s320/20180519_083327.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
More pics and the game story are also up on his blog I linked to above.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I however had my eye on another prize, getting into Rex Brynen's Trump Tower Zombie Apocalypse game, which follows on last year's game (that I watched a bit of but didn't play in) where the Donald was bitten by a zombie and became the Zombie King. In this Saturday morning sequel, four factions - Team Mueller (Sean and I), Team Saunders, Team Clinton, and Team White House (who had a ridiculous amount of "Fake News!" cards to play and make us re-roll things) - fought over a zombie-ruled New York City.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN__qVTTOajPTSggVrL6c8yir3_ktlpOC0CP5tzNm0Ub_Ubgq8ep_up3CLQoTyYPON42wMwuECf17Fax_QW7JeIGp8pfdMi0Wtgk5RVcnRRYybtxupN3A3r0c-J8feJpdyFc1u8jok7wM/s1600/20180519_090041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN__qVTTOajPTSggVrL6c8yir3_ktlpOC0CP5tzNm0Ub_Ubgq8ep_up3CLQoTyYPON42wMwuECf17Fax_QW7JeIGp8pfdMi0Wtgk5RVcnRRYybtxupN3A3r0c-J8feJpdyFc1u8jok7wM/s320/20180519_090041.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My part of Team Mueller:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkD3CDfyQqFAEZseIWaAtmBhA8bDW6bKSLzivrUalf9phLEw9nCSeKyfHH2ort2B-hUIBzdcmYGWQLHN0iyeL4Lp0_IFE3kA0AGmlaBGqWScsUfgWGoDcy8g1Gd6917Df0dx4YkXzI98/s1600/20180519_085823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkD3CDfyQqFAEZseIWaAtmBhA8bDW6bKSLzivrUalf9phLEw9nCSeKyfHH2ort2B-hUIBzdcmYGWQLHN0iyeL4Lp0_IFE3kA0AGmlaBGqWScsUfgWGoDcy8g1Gd6917Df0dx4YkXzI98/s320/20180519_085823.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The Zombie King in his Tower at the start of the game:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRG235gTRrzC0GpcUbvwu8k5-Ata2o7fBMsregYs9cry_0FEXYT6xNwPf6jRqMoHXk6S31R6i1zBEXggNuF9TTJshFiE6iwUq1-LATykFXmix72P4YkFCduU1gdNm_fvpGB3qMXLTyZQ/s1600/20180519_090531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRG235gTRrzC0GpcUbvwu8k5-Ata2o7fBMsregYs9cry_0FEXYT6xNwPf6jRqMoHXk6S31R6i1zBEXggNuF9TTJshFiE6iwUq1-LATykFXmix72P4YkFCduU1gdNm_fvpGB3qMXLTyZQ/s320/20180519_090531.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
You know this showdown had to happen:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAlAS_n2trQGWR6kfUcbQrdsi65Civ1wqJdS3PPcbv0AuNpocUWGada0JT6v6x4ImSI4PIC9JcUIIqni1ZQiAKuuE07DzTess98KAzQZMM6QfggHFrawtpfM4_EhQKOQu8AfXrX5uPEE/s1600/20180519_110321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAlAS_n2trQGWR6kfUcbQrdsi65Civ1wqJdS3PPcbv0AuNpocUWGada0JT6v6x4ImSI4PIC9JcUIIqni1ZQiAKuuE07DzTess98KAzQZMM6QfggHFrawtpfM4_EhQKOQu8AfXrX5uPEE/s320/20180519_110321.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Things are hot all over the old town tonight:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIRS4WcUEBPeEmIs4fDYOTM2FXSa1cIiJ5dKp3Z0NBNDAi7Kwvbi7sMViIy8r7EuEgITidKm8X8Xz06qt5AhZqbqhcLmujM65VpRS4V_N0pgfaL4jY3z0rLXtpNLVNaaBbrnQtPftafw/s1600/20180519_110349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIRS4WcUEBPeEmIs4fDYOTM2FXSa1cIiJ5dKp3Z0NBNDAi7Kwvbi7sMViIy8r7EuEgITidKm8X8Xz06qt5AhZqbqhcLmujM65VpRS4V_N0pgfaL4jY3z0rLXtpNLVNaaBbrnQtPftafw/s320/20180519_110349.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Team Saunders had acquired an ambulance, and were using the speakers to promote free health care for all - including zombies!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpfaCkkC1RcFNNdpldBah7ydeXnAMBGYZXlXSthNeLy6nq12Gr0ViFfkwRcF4AJoeZkKAq81znh-u1bomImRTUQ8eDvcMH9HosnykjIg4xyXvRnHecCVhTQV1EKQJYW81fqaFdR2q2wQ/s1600/20180519_111323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpfaCkkC1RcFNNdpldBah7ydeXnAMBGYZXlXSthNeLy6nq12Gr0ViFfkwRcF4AJoeZkKAq81znh-u1bomImRTUQ8eDvcMH9HosnykjIg4xyXvRnHecCVhTQV1EKQJYW81fqaFdR2q2wQ/s320/20180519_111323.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The last stand of the FBI, as we kept drawing zombies from everywhere. Guess we should have been quieter. Our highlight was subpoenaing Sarah H. Sanders out of her barricaded hideout and into the waiting arms of the zombie horde.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtz92vbqDFBGvEp_cYKhVarz860_jBKNpqjLXAfXL6DOhhgUrUxid2YfQqIHVhqatiS316ngztGYWUNphs45OTHJsBVvHtwTb_tRL63vyaCPVAaZJIidKYFsmphE4ft-g0r_63tgTSBgo/s1600/20180519_112013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtz92vbqDFBGvEp_cYKhVarz860_jBKNpqjLXAfXL6DOhhgUrUxid2YfQqIHVhqatiS316ngztGYWUNphs45OTHJsBVvHtwTb_tRL63vyaCPVAaZJIidKYFsmphE4ft-g0r_63tgTSBgo/s320/20180519_112013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nearing the end of the game, with Team Saunders just hustling off the table with enough victory points to beat Team Clinton (Team Mueller finished last, for the record!). Unfortunately it was a bit of a pyrrhic victory for them, as a child zombie bit Bernie just as he was escaping.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg8nyD6l3-La6MRTVaEU7aq-UaJFT0wLkQIffi4NYsftbDBRiU1K5M2dfSLBwnEpI8qj8izGPZ6O3P0Wzn7I6svdV_r-ZpK6LyHhVbWcnUHUfNWCqYU3aDb2Wi1Fs1JzG5dRL2KL22OE/s1600/20180519_120849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg8nyD6l3-La6MRTVaEU7aq-UaJFT0wLkQIffi4NYsftbDBRiU1K5M2dfSLBwnEpI8qj8izGPZ6O3P0Wzn7I6svdV_r-ZpK6LyHhVbWcnUHUfNWCqYU3aDb2Wi1Fs1JzG5dRL2KL22OE/s320/20180519_120849.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The afternoon game, which I didn't play in but got an update on later, had four new teams, including North Korea and the Travel-Banned! My teammate Sean has his take on our game on his blog <a href="https://onseanstable.com/2018/05/25/cangames-ottawa-2018-show-highlights/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Saturday afternoon and I got back into the horse and musket period, and the 1762 Battle of Wilhelmstahl, in the Seven Years War, hosted by Nick and the Ottawa Miniature Gamers. I played in their WAS game last year and had a great time, one of the best tactical battles I've ever personally fought. This year I didn't fight nearly so well (who said I should be in the role of Frederick the Great!?!?), though things didn't go well for our side in many places on the table. I would also like to officially blame my dice rolls for slowing my troops down.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As always, the table was huge and impressive, these are my forces in the middle.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitggux386YN7NPbA_lbozWrZVyYGs-qiL0nXMrv3R5moes0tJpjZfCrV3BMHVMuS46V9Ukc1p1_PBvm3Ok_QH7IV_DvWZyU968LP45XwoDNkWtgFQzZ-ay5oA8Dz37YnMvAW5EXISyI5A/s1600/20180519_142604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitggux386YN7NPbA_lbozWrZVyYGs-qiL0nXMrv3R5moes0tJpjZfCrV3BMHVMuS46V9Ukc1p1_PBvm3Ok_QH7IV_DvWZyU968LP45XwoDNkWtgFQzZ-ay5oA8Dz37YnMvAW5EXISyI5A/s320/20180519_142604.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My opponents across the table (although Duncan on the far right was on our side):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cZ-U1bR0CX2G-fCEdFPBxXqOH7yeoKz4ZXUiaYAYsQpjSDD5CBtWSQ7Nb0PlBMP7-UPObaxyiR7RV5UyAjKdfLWqg2gi-gIiaPsP2rmWcfxAFUR92MvANKIP06PtH87gEVcsp7zJTM0/s1600/20180519_142609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cZ-U1bR0CX2G-fCEdFPBxXqOH7yeoKz4ZXUiaYAYsQpjSDD5CBtWSQ7Nb0PlBMP7-UPObaxyiR7RV5UyAjKdfLWqg2gi-gIiaPsP2rmWcfxAFUR92MvANKIP06PtH87gEVcsp7zJTM0/s320/20180519_142609.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our left - I was pretty busy with my guys in the middle, so it was hard to check in on this, it was basically a separate battle, but things didn't go well!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQL6IN5uNKsAYcBHxg_snZGBt_bCi0Wi7yCjdvbzIlKCMgv4rwQDlDfVpYiDq4sr_c6GwLqoDNdrX1hZ0zUenJBdHz9zZsGtHqMQljsTz_4Fo2vltlsc93Pv-kyhWrDVDofFeEtDJ2dw/s1600/20180519_142613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQL6IN5uNKsAYcBHxg_snZGBt_bCi0Wi7yCjdvbzIlKCMgv4rwQDlDfVpYiDq4sr_c6GwLqoDNdrX1hZ0zUenJBdHz9zZsGtHqMQljsTz_4Fo2vltlsc93Pv-kyhWrDVDofFeEtDJ2dw/s320/20180519_142613.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My lines are always beautiful and perpendicular.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzVhoYphiyCF8vhyphenhyphenaFAgl8nkCZXQv5CDHG0CZNHb6MBveNMcG-8DJCjblx4wkUNNw2bFcntZrEu4Qf3uJiZ6_UKn3UaF53I_pu-83TRXh-YvCJzeb5wxY3EElxAhNSKNBcY3SMbY3YUI/s1600/20180519_144658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzVhoYphiyCF8vhyphenhyphenaFAgl8nkCZXQv5CDHG0CZNHb6MBveNMcG-8DJCjblx4wkUNNw2bFcntZrEu4Qf3uJiZ6_UKn3UaF53I_pu-83TRXh-YvCJzeb5wxY3EElxAhNSKNBcY3SMbY3YUI/s320/20180519_144658.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Beautiful lines on the left, if not quite as straight as mine:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i59ZIEyIAlev0osjkhiNnSIipRWoW05fVzi_c_L810ekgMQzvONYIhyphenhyphenoNPDfDSBB-EKIqcJDyAKQWUOBPRUnF2Bzn6PwqnKA3k9LoY-utYc5qq_FiS1IM00LYpxzWciSTLrT3Y89gEE/s1600/20180519_144703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i59ZIEyIAlev0osjkhiNnSIipRWoW05fVzi_c_L810ekgMQzvONYIhyphenhyphenoNPDfDSBB-EKIqcJDyAKQWUOBPRUnF2Bzn6PwqnKA3k9LoY-utYc5qq_FiS1IM00LYpxzWciSTLrT3Y89gEE/s320/20180519_144703.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Just before our lines finally went head-to-head, as Bob's troops deployed to join Robert's against me. Meanwhile my guys in the centre are still trying to actually move forward!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixg59wmer6FpQ6p4s6JI74FhWpUZPUkBjyKl-7iPg4IaY9NRRw1CVOAPAXt1okQeQ43SvKqVqCQvKOlKDVCILbvI0qAjq09RQguQHNwJdaF0jQoDaCQ2dVwqDCkxa-J98b_u8npch8UA/s1600/20180519_171720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixg59wmer6FpQ6p4s6JI74FhWpUZPUkBjyKl-7iPg4IaY9NRRw1CVOAPAXt1okQeQ43SvKqVqCQvKOlKDVCILbvI0qAjq09RQguQHNwJdaF0jQoDaCQ2dVwqDCkxa-J98b_u8npch8UA/s320/20180519_171720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Saturday I got into a renaissance game of Lithuania/Poles vs. Russia, using the <i>Fire and Sword</i> rules, also hosted by OMG (Tod and Martin this time). Beautiful figures on a Cigar Box mat, poorly managed by my teammate and I. I lost control of the Winged Hussars, and hadn't quite figured out how the other troops played out, and my teammate somehow thought our artillery was better on the move than shooting at the stolen wagon train and Cossacks.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoSAeSRK49cU4R94I9w7ktTgVxCSOGuGzAJnR-ete8-gEk38MBJs27FKuE8WASWf36V5Yaii79K-z9dS7bw0s230DplR7dIZXXd3sAUCcfvs23iG4krJjvCh7eCCDCDCpupkPx14B7_Y/s1600/20180519_204726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoSAeSRK49cU4R94I9w7ktTgVxCSOGuGzAJnR-ete8-gEk38MBJs27FKuE8WASWf36V5Yaii79K-z9dS7bw0s230DplR7dIZXXd3sAUCcfvs23iG4krJjvCh7eCCDCDCpupkPx14B7_Y/s320/20180519_204726.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My Wing Hussars on the left, before they broke through the Cossacks and never really got under control again...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3LKp_sPSBcSlIgslG4GH675KEN7IPiU0Yr_30KMQzRcWwYEfFAHn6xK28tnQIKY5CrDs7lXRSm5RcWjYBgSMvNmEita46LhHzIlwStNRCBryPg3A37Oh51L1ZwxxrBmT_rFr8hVugJc/s1600/20180519_204734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3LKp_sPSBcSlIgslG4GH675KEN7IPiU0Yr_30KMQzRcWwYEfFAHn6xK28tnQIKY5CrDs7lXRSm5RcWjYBgSMvNmEita46LhHzIlwStNRCBryPg3A37Oh51L1ZwxxrBmT_rFr8hVugJc/s320/20180519_204734.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Sunday morning I brought my nephew Theo out for a game of <i>Mobile Frame Zero</i>, which uses Lego mecha and terrain. As you'd expect, Theo's first attacks were launched at me, until the rest of the sides got closer and things turned into a free-for-all. My guys are the two closer ones here:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPKV2KFYzodR2J37bp3KJbkWPcFvb1TKfAoy9NkcAI4pIveyLxQo8BHz4dKwJHnR-WIAveV3qX5gDZ-6l8XvLaxStbbwakcL1II60LZO6SU2iokzfSx2aGvoMjvELMmdoAeQZKckvCfs/s1600/20180520_094625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPKV2KFYzodR2J37bp3KJbkWPcFvb1TKfAoy9NkcAI4pIveyLxQo8BHz4dKwJHnR-WIAveV3qX5gDZ-6l8XvLaxStbbwakcL1II60LZO6SU2iokzfSx2aGvoMjvELMmdoAeQZKckvCfs/s320/20180520_094625.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Theo's mecha:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqqoSLBPlXKnCez_6L3EmIjLPZshs_5ju0I2Yv2Ts8B8YI291LW2tzFtMbB_lqGyTyjaEQ-lCrrRVk9uxcdD6ahnKGvZ17VI20cSw4S3yDbFxsbFcsgO5b8cJbZZV2OBvh1rnkxOiqRg/s1600/20180520_094700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqqoSLBPlXKnCez_6L3EmIjLPZshs_5ju0I2Yv2Ts8B8YI291LW2tzFtMbB_lqGyTyjaEQ-lCrrRVk9uxcdD6ahnKGvZ17VI20cSw4S3yDbFxsbFcsgO5b8cJbZZV2OBvh1rnkxOiqRg/s320/20180520_094700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Theo enjoying lunch! He also got engaged by a RPG GM and now he wants to try those out too, though I'm not sure how much he really understands about how the games are played!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yJdK0u0nc40h0MEKBVINJt5eo_llg_h2kCukfqQFEwau5vfBDLtLKTZf8Qzf7D-Fg1LQtA_l8ItNMv7hL2RE58q2EvRZj_pqkmgHf8LxDElW_qmhFdeYuGZArPvoaKuekTa6bDsHls8/s1600/20180520_111819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yJdK0u0nc40h0MEKBVINJt5eo_llg_h2kCukfqQFEwau5vfBDLtLKTZf8Qzf7D-Fg1LQtA_l8ItNMv7hL2RE58q2EvRZj_pqkmgHf8LxDElW_qmhFdeYuGZArPvoaKuekTa6bDsHls8/s320/20180520_111819.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Great looking pirate-ish game, possibly with monsters, in the Frostgrave: Ghost Archipelago setting:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1yaCpOoclItmKD1t47bOM10bkO7SiR0x9dc1b4aGumvhaSjai1dbKw0cYxXuXXJP_bYYRg0k41Y3J27d4eWJTEHkkJrgWaiuHlv2M9glDLyO8c8NNIpNZblgGN56EamJCpB3iz6cIIA/s1600/20180520_135113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1yaCpOoclItmKD1t47bOM10bkO7SiR0x9dc1b4aGumvhaSjai1dbKw0cYxXuXXJP_bYYRg0k41Y3J27d4eWJTEHkkJrgWaiuHlv2M9glDLyO8c8NNIpNZblgGN56EamJCpB3iz6cIIA/s320/20180520_135113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
After dropping Theo off, I got in one final game, the 1918 Battle of Megiddo using <i>Great War Spearhead</i> rules. Originally this was going to be played with TooFatLardies' <i>If the Lord Spares Us</i> rules, which I wanted to try, but as I also want to get into GWSH (more for early war or the eastern front), this worked too. Rex Brynen and I were the British, with Rex taking on the cavalry to be the hammer while my infantry was to be the anvil. Despite taking a beating to hold off the Germano-Turkish force while my second division got into position and across the river, we were able to win in the end. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The starting positions:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iGniuRqSk3yTs-fMFmdTWpR7vt-a4OoLDqmx81GiE_8Asd4f0dxIPr9Qy-1obez9cwAeRUimphuJYez5ffxteBBJ10eXskFxAQtdRLsFZBKy2rPbtHFqwMI2L_G_OQHESduquabQI4o/s1600/20180520_135133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iGniuRqSk3yTs-fMFmdTWpR7vt-a4OoLDqmx81GiE_8Asd4f0dxIPr9Qy-1obez9cwAeRUimphuJYez5ffxteBBJ10eXskFxAQtdRLsFZBKy2rPbtHFqwMI2L_G_OQHESduquabQI4o/s320/20180520_135133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The battle as the British lines get formed up - that's one of my divisions in a beautiful line between the river and hill, with Rex's cavalry going in on the attack on our left. Further to the left, on our side of the river, the New Zealanders (or Australians, or both) are attacking Turkish fortified positions. In the bottom centre is my second division, finally getting turned around as we realize where the Germans are coming from (the top right).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-s67XEYTZspkgsoAYwLCVzgiawsHVK1S9poIlxqOzZ8WNLe6u3zqiJbl5OrwQNa2eGYvR9GR2vmN6PhxkyH8EMttjnxzIKuHxzX4bN5k4h4Aa2RVknhlbNoR_YMmy_7POXvhkQmLS-FM/s1600/20180520_150003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-s67XEYTZspkgsoAYwLCVzgiawsHVK1S9poIlxqOzZ8WNLe6u3zqiJbl5OrwQNa2eGYvR9GR2vmN6PhxkyH8EMttjnxzIKuHxzX4bN5k4h4Aa2RVknhlbNoR_YMmy_7POXvhkQmLS-FM/s320/20180520_150003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Cavalry jumping barbed wire, what could go wrong?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHvK436PHu76sn3O-Gyk8N2ibFkFFKwd2GRmfJxn9BNq4PZs7jc8GFkE7zplgTnYRAh9SjUbR1Nl1bg2qYiATTMv1KGJNjGrji35SlUZVMkeD5K6sx5NKKXn4lKMMEDc2LrVgZu7AcoQ/s1600/20180520_150015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHvK436PHu76sn3O-Gyk8N2ibFkFFKwd2GRmfJxn9BNq4PZs7jc8GFkE7zplgTnYRAh9SjUbR1Nl1bg2qYiATTMv1KGJNjGrji35SlUZVMkeD5K6sx5NKKXn4lKMMEDc2LrVgZu7AcoQ/s320/20180520_150015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Finally getting ready to cross after most of the first division has evapourated.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ5oBA7HKcGzBtpgG1Wqick8QM1MRLYFBJzKxjfIBiighompGOzbgIuigdsYxfL5L3VCd4lAAyMdaAKeCTbNWiAJSg6SfLoW29fDSVIT-qqRkVoSNoYpTYyStoLvkeF2Yiff5fIDVifc/s1600/20180520_160756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ5oBA7HKcGzBtpgG1Wqick8QM1MRLYFBJzKxjfIBiighompGOzbgIuigdsYxfL5L3VCd4lAAyMdaAKeCTbNWiAJSg6SfLoW29fDSVIT-qqRkVoSNoYpTYyStoLvkeF2Yiff5fIDVifc/s320/20180520_160756.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQjX6BOH3wjIEdlSVGURzkXj2HzeZE-DIp1zCM9IHpLEz7MxVCApN8lfW10TQQn08SSgdZXZHNITawZAnfJqgQUI20et63781wjcaSv2r3ejwefQM8J2iVCeJfUe3N9wd_KT2nd8G3Y4/s1600/20180520_160805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQjX6BOH3wjIEdlSVGURzkXj2HzeZE-DIp1zCM9IHpLEz7MxVCApN8lfW10TQQn08SSgdZXZHNITawZAnfJqgQUI20et63781wjcaSv2r3ejwefQM8J2iVCeJfUe3N9wd_KT2nd8G3Y4/s320/20180520_160805.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
So that was it, a pretty intense seven games over 2+ days. I think next year I'll look at bringing a game for one of the less frantic timeslots. I'll also try to get Theo out for more than one timeslot, so he can enjoy a full kids' day on the Saturday.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
In terms of shopping, somehow I accidentally bought some stuff. Some fancy fiery-looking d6s, some 20mm odd tanks - Canadian Ram, some Ram Kangaroos, Dad's Army one-offs - for <i>Chain of Command</i> and/or <i>What a Tanker</i>. And some Ospreys. Like 8. They were on sale, it wasn't my fault. I also bought some Essex landknechts figures without really looking at them (they were like $7 for 7-8 packs) from the Crossed Swords mystery bins, but then when I checked out the codes I found out they were weirdly sculpted Mike's Models figures, which really only go with themselves. Guess I now have something for the Bring-and-Buy at Hotlead next year!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I've been a bit burnt out on prepping or painting miniatures through June, but now I'm looking at putting something together for Broadsword 6 in August, so I'm starting to get my mojo back. Will post pics as things develop.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-310086725421040882018-06-21T14:43:00.001-04:002018-06-21T14:43:29.367-04:0015mm Samurai KickstarterJust a heads up that a cool Kickstarter has launched recently for 15mm Samurai, sculpted by Chip Mann who has done a lot (maybe all) of the Battle Valor sculpting. There are a lot of figures in this KS that we don't have yet for 15mm, particularly the ronin (aka casually dressed samurai), bandits (haphazardly dressed samurai), and (wait for it) undead samurai!<br />
<br />
Make sure you scroll down to the add-ons too, as there's stuff available there (ninjas!) that isn't included in the four sets. And the stretch goals have some great potential too. I'm in for a few sets and a bunch of add-on packs.<br />
<br />
The KS is here, please think about checking it out:<br />
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/667107108/samurai-fantasy-skirmish-and-wargames" target="_blank">15mm Samurai Fantasy Skirmish</a><br />
<br />
My current 15mm samurai project has some Lancashire and Museum Miniatures, with some armed peasants and working peasants, but not much else for colour. These KS figs will be great for bringing some of the legendary samurai movies to life. <br />
<br />
My rules of choice are <i>Busho No Yume</i>, which uses the Song of Blades and Heroes rules system, but Ronin and Daisho and several others would also work, there's even been a variant for Sharp Practice set in Japan.CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-43143281132259338622018-05-07T18:44:00.002-04:002018-05-07T18:47:04.694-04:00Broadsword 5I hadn't realized it'd been so long since my last post, but I blame Twitter :-) Since I changed jobs at work in the new year, I haven't been responsible for a work Twitter account which has let me get my own personal one that I devote to hobbies (gaming and Canadian football), so my instant gratification for game reports, painting successes and mad purchases goes there. I'll try to catch up, though I see I still have photos from conventions in 2014 that haven't made it here!<br />
<br />
Anyway, this post is prompted by my attendance at Broadsword 5 in Hamilton last Saturday. I had committed to host a game in the afternoon, a new scenario for Song of Drums and Shakos, and then in my enthusiasm for Toofatlardies new What a Tanker rules, I convinced my friend Mike to bring his tanks and we'd use my terrain in the evening to put on a game and learn the game ourselves. So that left the morning for me to play in a game, more on that in a second.<br />
<br />
First though, some photos of some of the new terrain and scenics I prepped for the SDS game, another 1812 in Russia scenario. These are 15mm MDF sleds from Things From the Basement:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3jH-i6AUItYtaloVADNZqYSzPBjv0lCw7aV4tY24dYp8tRBc2jAtZTTBSQgM2b79IfEL7nRg2FMp2I0oecWB1FAXnUudLUCAblFmj_huK6ss-LXHh4rikqpAyQ3IFuWUbICepE7t1hE/s1600/20180428_235627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3jH-i6AUItYtaloVADNZqYSzPBjv0lCw7aV4tY24dYp8tRBc2jAtZTTBSQgM2b79IfEL7nRg2FMp2I0oecWB1FAXnUudLUCAblFmj_huK6ss-LXHh4rikqpAyQ3IFuWUbICepE7t1hE/s320/20180428_235627.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Obviously the one on the bottom left will also be used for Christmas scenarios in Fear & Faith games (Monster Hunter International), when snowmen go bad!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Next up are some Novus Design Studios 15mm pieces, two livestock pens and a rickety wooden bridge. I did one pen for the winter (below), the other for the summer (still needs its flock), and the bridge in the middle is sort of generic, not committing itself to a season.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasiwpkySmSH0AUSw6HS_4IEUYPQD8qeHR-uv1vtmFlcwr_NjDU6vSvWDOx7KaO0j6Nq9PNtdXIFaCHB9IAvsL2t6vkBOchSPuRsjcwxokepBFViFTN3CRSdgrzKZiYhPaljlUGSFT8cM/s1600/20180428_235556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasiwpkySmSH0AUSw6HS_4IEUYPQD8qeHR-uv1vtmFlcwr_NjDU6vSvWDOx7KaO0j6Nq9PNtdXIFaCHB9IAvsL2t6vkBOchSPuRsjcwxokepBFViFTN3CRSdgrzKZiYhPaljlUGSFT8cM/s320/20180428_235556.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSJc2mtI9WR0ZFmL7TntNGJfgt0_L74_tj15RKaKQ3TwTI-KGxKiSD7EcDE3lI0H0evuXRftHMb29jhyphenhyphenis9kCrynJNvRNjlIW29m3cZKXx70EYTl5xwDsGSqRfK653mn2OXZHsK7W-Yc/s1600/20180428_235606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSJc2mtI9WR0ZFmL7TntNGJfgt0_L74_tj15RKaKQ3TwTI-KGxKiSD7EcDE3lI0H0evuXRftHMb29jhyphenhyphenis9kCrynJNvRNjlIW29m3cZKXx70EYTl5xwDsGSqRfK653mn2OXZHsK7W-Yc/s320/20180428_235606.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FPDbtXiAXNtJzHxcAJyCDvcc20DaM0uQhGgmT3grh4bYFYY0KtwKGdObvRrZ1DyTXr24Hi6tKMFbCCMvc07PmAMP4y33Rm2xx9nEgzJAVyfL9PkjjoPuPppk5TCC0-2EOQI2hf4K4S8/s1600/20180428_235613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FPDbtXiAXNtJzHxcAJyCDvcc20DaM0uQhGgmT3grh4bYFYY0KtwKGdObvRrZ1DyTXr24Hi6tKMFbCCMvc07PmAMP4y33Rm2xx9nEgzJAVyfL9PkjjoPuPppk5TCC0-2EOQI2hf4K4S8/s320/20180428_235613.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The night before the con all of southern Ontario was under a wicked wind storm - one brother in the eastern part of the province lost a good chunk of his roof, another in the same city had nothing happen. My mother lost a tree (actually her neighbour did, it landed on her property though!), and another brother in the western end of the province lost a few shingles but his neighbours got hammered). I kept my car far away from any trees till the winds blew down, and otherwise avoided any damage, though my town got beat up pretty good. The point of this aside is my gaming buddy Ron, who was going to come with me and run his own game in the evening, lost a chunk of roof and a 40' pine tree that landed in his neighbour's driveway (not sure if cars got crushed or not), and therefore had to bail on coming.<br />
<br />
So I had a solo drive from Peterborough to Hamilton and got there in plenty of time to kibbitz with the fellows. I also got a good parking spot to make my haulage distance bearable. The extra time did cost me though, as I ended up buying a couple of t-shirts on offer, one of the Hamilton Tabletop Gaming Society's flagship "Peace Through Superior Firepower" club shirts, and a cool faux "Drink Coca Cola" Cthulhu shirt.<br />
<br />
For the morning session I played Dux Bellorum by Dan Mersey (Osprey Games) for the first time, one of the few rulesets of his I don't have. Working from my 1/8th Welsh heritage, I chose to play Welsh raiders making their way back with some cattle liberated from those filthy Anglo-Saxons (possibly 1/8 to 1/4 of my other heritage though - these decisions are so complicated). The game was set up as basically two side-by-side battles, two of us Welsh (Howard and I), with Howard facing John and me up against Alex. It was a very congenial game, and the rules were pretty simple to pick up, though it took me a while to sort out a good use for the skirmishers.<br />
<br />
And we'd obviously forgotten to milk the cows before we made off with them, because they were bloody slow! I only got 2" of movement out of them on the last turn, otherwise it was 1", 1", 1", 1"...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some of the intense early fighting as the battlelines met:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6kyo7UGQDH-QuZYADIOUIvuX5tI8EiDLD_RK_kpx8SmZutT2JKCq-IWEdQBDB-XYoGNV3_nXmpz7FKU7fmCwCZd1DXl-VTg73bGfE5JAz1qyQiP3HU9Z7JdkAq8mr355dRRyWhKihhM/s1600/20180505_105527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6kyo7UGQDH-QuZYADIOUIvuX5tI8EiDLD_RK_kpx8SmZutT2JKCq-IWEdQBDB-XYoGNV3_nXmpz7FKU7fmCwCZd1DXl-VTg73bGfE5JAz1qyQiP3HU9Z7JdkAq8mr355dRRyWhKihhM/s320/20180505_105527.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Reinforcements for the Welsh! After about 500 messages begging for them...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtxfaAnjIKf8WjY6ZY5P8xcoTqyx94IvmdS_lIKEOyKhS_jBCAx3amiEcAjYeDwiwaK_W2uQSGlHMkHlgChwoixegHB072RG-5_vLgY0L79WTzOaE6UkRx7Th_kdmvjy5-Urx0bwmeeU/s1600/20180505_105538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtxfaAnjIKf8WjY6ZY5P8xcoTqyx94IvmdS_lIKEOyKhS_jBCAx3amiEcAjYeDwiwaK_W2uQSGlHMkHlgChwoixegHB072RG-5_vLgY0L79WTzOaE6UkRx7Th_kdmvjy5-Urx0bwmeeU/s320/20180505_105538.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Pretty fun game with good company. Not sure I have any ready projects that I could use the rules for, at least until maybe someone makes some 3mm Dark Ages (looking at you Magister Militum).<br />
<br />
Then it was a chicken salad sandwich and buying some MDF bases for my Anglo-Zulu Wars / The Men Who Would Be Kings project (Dan Mersey again) and possibly 3mm samurai (Chrysanthemum Throne / The Pikeman's Lament (uh, Dan Mersey) / Irregular Wars). I wasn't sure 3mm bases would work for 3mm figures, but since this will be truly big battles, with 30-64 figures per base, when I did a test set-up later they looked ok. I also picked up some resin craters, all from 6 Squared Studios.<br />
<br />
After the food, I set up my Song of Drums and Shakos game, this scenario being the "Thin Sled Line", where retreating French infantry have barricaded most of the table but Russian infantry have flanked them. Also playing a part are Cossacks and French Hussars. I'll do another post with my last playtest game later, as I only got this one shot of my game Saturday:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3l7kQp43I8QsUj9g7AFlBh6hhyvKv2-Qffuc-fYf9U_dvEFsLHCbqjwCofGP1Bj4gpw-kHbTDWChM3IPHt2GWH0C2eqGj4aBthOxu37v92bPX7sV-vN5auzP8FnmSSvfSKvcyee50Tw/s1600/20180505_151610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3l7kQp43I8QsUj9g7AFlBh6hhyvKv2-Qffuc-fYf9U_dvEFsLHCbqjwCofGP1Bj4gpw-kHbTDWChM3IPHt2GWH0C2eqGj4aBthOxu37v92bPX7sV-vN5auzP8FnmSSvfSKvcyee50Tw/s320/20180505_151610.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Not sure why it looks <u>snowy</u> maybe my phone's camera was suffering from condensation, the room was getting a bit muggy. Hopefully some of the other attendees with cameras will do a full recap for us, I'll post a link later.<br />
<br />
The game itself went ok, it ended with a fairly quick convincing French win, which I'd never seen in playtesting. Oddly the Russians had one returning player and the other has the rules and read them, and the newbies whipped them despite a suspect initial set-up that left potentially lots of gaps for the Cossacks if they'd been bolder. It was only an ok game for me as GM as I had one player struggling to get the rules; I was rushed at the start and didn't bring out my "So It's Your Turn" intro guide, and I think that was a mistake.<br />
<br />
For the evening timeslot, I'd asked my local friend Mike to bring out his HO scale-ish WWII tanks to go with my 15mm terrain for a game of the new Toofatlardies rules "What a Tanker!". Both of us were interested in them, but other than a few solo games by me in 6mm to get myself ready for Broadsword, neither of us had played.<br />
<br />
I set up a bigger 6x4 winter mat and brought out all of my Russian village and most of my road pieces and winter trees to fill the table. We opened it up to another four players to sign up for, for a full game of six (all I had the tokens for). It was a Long Ball/King of the Ring scenario, so no real objectives other than blowing the enemy up. Mike's tanks weren't really balanced, so we started with a Pz.IVB (me!), a IVG, and a StuG III on the German side, and two T-37/76s and a Lend Lease Sherman for the communists. As tanks died, better tanks could come up - Tigers, KV-1, SU-152. And tanks died...<br />
<br />
A few pictures to tell the story:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGYctLYZ6l2XjMvWsxOoZTPdQsH9QeJn26nSUCTDu8BhW3fBj3LZej0AIvbsveQuWfcgkXmxO5Dm8-4Wlzu7FIq__2uobkMEN5cDJqFNHYc0-AXSe6r1czLGZZyFvxciIvKNdjUrgELY/s1600/20180505_183020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGYctLYZ6l2XjMvWsxOoZTPdQsH9QeJn26nSUCTDu8BhW3fBj3LZej0AIvbsveQuWfcgkXmxO5Dm8-4Wlzu7FIq__2uobkMEN5cDJqFNHYc0-AXSe6r1czLGZZyFvxciIvKNdjUrgELY/s320/20180505_183020.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The long view of our table. The river was fordable, didn't want to make the Russians go over that bridge! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGnid405iGSjBq6leFr_L8ElGbypyxA31VICDFoR8caS65INijTok3bfKQ3GXXeUP4a27Ov8RdSWjvvKofZydOOo1GHevYVYINom4zj0GbEbOpO_Zsw9r5O55PT_WjmTrw4-MoPitMiU/s1600/20180505_183029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGnid405iGSjBq6leFr_L8ElGbypyxA31VICDFoR8caS65INijTok3bfKQ3GXXeUP4a27Ov8RdSWjvvKofZydOOo1GHevYVYINom4zj0GbEbOpO_Zsw9r5O55PT_WjmTrw4-MoPitMiU/s320/20180505_183029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The side view of the table, Germans coming from the left, Soviets from the right. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii41E9CU_eiNnLdwCqfIQ7SVzPDUWY4uHwqBmbjz-TtMo80dSrqgLBaQH-bTENKThQ6S5790pd9MTSOw_CXJpn_2BViat7BGlworz5_bZ8mX_OJJQ4xHyFMbw5coX8aVU8-DpF19T96wg/s1600/20180505_195554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii41E9CU_eiNnLdwCqfIQ7SVzPDUWY4uHwqBmbjz-TtMo80dSrqgLBaQH-bTENKThQ6S5790pd9MTSOw_CXJpn_2BViat7BGlworz5_bZ8mX_OJJQ4xHyFMbw5coX8aVU8-DpF19T96wg/s320/20180505_195554.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The first kill of the game, Brian in the StuG IIIG took out the Lend Lease Sherman - oddly it ended up being Brian's only kill, but then he was also the only player to survive the entire game in his original vehicle, so he claims to have been the biggest tanker. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaPGf-8hPCJErotuWhkekk2i6bJw4PWl_R-4UMbnLce_sdyDOdkQ7FKgeiqrF-8NSw8WqQOkBRTYj5iaIYTn3eN3-CmHb4i2O6zwdt8LQUYkcpwzlx2fSj5AYU-P_qj-aRW9asodUVNU/s1600/20180505_195611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaPGf-8hPCJErotuWhkekk2i6bJw4PWl_R-4UMbnLce_sdyDOdkQ7FKgeiqrF-8NSw8WqQOkBRTYj5iaIYTn3eN3-CmHb4i2O6zwdt8LQUYkcpwzlx2fSj5AYU-P_qj-aRW9asodUVNU/s320/20180505_195611.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The line-up of Brian's shot. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPuYFMfoyyUrVJgtlgWvioqHZxGe_TIGeGEYOkV9_GDsdNdQHNRD6uDWLdEI9A1aJBDVt8ieKzUcmU8dLttiTIb5cwZW4TUvNB_smPGtu37_B5uMYSReYMArMXYHeImkwDkGbIg1tN-Q/s1600/20180505_210027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPuYFMfoyyUrVJgtlgWvioqHZxGe_TIGeGEYOkV9_GDsdNdQHNRD6uDWLdEI9A1aJBDVt8ieKzUcmU8dLttiTIb5cwZW4TUvNB_smPGtu37_B5uMYSReYMArMXYHeImkwDkGbIg1tN-Q/s320/20180505_210027.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Alas, I was the second player to have his tank deaded, killed by a T-34. I almost had a wicked shot on one of the other T-34s, but after getting to rolling my damage dice with 3 sixes out of 4 dice, I realized I'd been buttoned and didn't have enough acquisition dice to walk through the acquire-aim-shoot sequence, so I had to take all that drama back! </div>
<br />
I did, however, eventually get one of T-34s when I came back as a Tiger (handy trick, that), and then as the game was winding down I got a second kill on the SU-152 when it kindly decided to stop facing me off and gave me a flank. Here's the view with my Tiger carefully concealed behind a shrubbery and the 152 in the distance.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYAbHGz5Y7tZXBrR4JmUFgfhd14MDAykMdF-p8j4rJ6sTlH0MY6d-HNB9mtVT3no5k29MjINSPkqT6uwo5XOnn44TC_OIASeu2R7DfgP7bNcm8jCFZPNM_CuREjNManNtVqmUdsAQnYQ/s1600/20180505_222852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYAbHGz5Y7tZXBrR4JmUFgfhd14MDAykMdF-p8j4rJ6sTlH0MY6d-HNB9mtVT3no5k29MjINSPkqT6uwo5XOnn44TC_OIASeu2R7DfgP7bNcm8jCFZPNM_CuREjNManNtVqmUdsAQnYQ/s320/20180505_222852.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
And here's the close-up from another side of the table, just so the reporters wouldn't miss this news:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcampw9kf_MvASYDsbWo9OVnvLDaoyPxvB3lkgTxLrO2qrBopp1NXacaP5QgRDabevFQf1Y-zAOEFS5yTBIm1Iac_DpdZCYe-bPvsuo5RNqsmLk0yjvUjIsbOiEIb97DQuCBvqtjRo7-o/s1600/20180505_222744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcampw9kf_MvASYDsbWo9OVnvLDaoyPxvB3lkgTxLrO2qrBopp1NXacaP5QgRDabevFQf1Y-zAOEFS5yTBIm1Iac_DpdZCYe-bPvsuo5RNqsmLk0yjvUjIsbOiEIb97DQuCBvqtjRo7-o/s320/20180505_222744.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In the end, two of us had two kills, but both of us lost tanks; Brian had one kill and no losses, and Keith (the other German) had one kill and one loss. Both Keith and I got our first kills by finishing off guys Brian had damaged, but that's the way the cookie crumbles...<br />
<br />
With that I attempted to escape Hamilton, which was harder than usual as the bridge over the harbour was closed for construction and I had to drive through most of the city to get out. Got back at a solid 2:30am and that wrote off most of Sunday for me...<br />
<br />
Broadsword 6 is in August and I'll be back with at least another SDS game. A few other things are in the near-done pile and we'll see how my focus holds up over the summer. I'm off to CanGames in Ottawa the weekend after next, just to play games though!CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-88188743814847841322017-10-03T23:06:00.000-04:002017-10-03T23:06:32.676-04:00KEGSCon VBack from my second trip to KEGSCon in Chatham, Ontario this past weekend, and it was another fun weekend of gaming, along with some treachery and betrayal in the Old West!<br />
<br />
If my bladder, stomach, and obsessive need to read work e-mails can be kept in check, it's a five hour trip to Chatham for me, but in practice it's about six hours, so I took Friday off to get down there to check into my hotel and be ready for Friday's 7pm start.<br />
<br />
Friday was in the backroom of the host hotel's pub, and was set to be a board and mat game night, so I'd volunteered to run a game of Ganesha Games' Galleys and Galleons (that's a lot of Gs) under the latter category - a flat mat game with miniatures. Other games run that night were Last Night on Earth, Imperial Assault, and Firefly.<br />
<br />
My G&G scenario was called "King of the Pyrate Atoll", in which four small squadrons from different nations/factions swarm to the Pyrate Atoll after Typhoon Mary destroys the Pyrate King's fleet and scatters his treasures over the bottom of the shallow atoll. Each player had a choice of nation/faction (British, Spanish, American, French, Pirate, Crimson Skull Pirate, Voodoo) and then a choice of squadron composition (three options, except for the Voodoo Nation which only had one). Once within the atoll they could choose to fight and earn VP by sinking/capturing ships or capturing the treasure others hauled up, or hauling it up themselves. Players rolled for each action spent trying to dredge up treasure to see what they got, which could range from the Peacock Throne (which was found!) or waking up the Kraken (which also happened!).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyZUVEEGJL_F9f_aPFwf3M4on17g8A0SlUl7d_RTUsHkuaLb9PGCX670f_Pveo-LrPfNOFGiWjZwOOqKVeeIxqDzmJ1XKGy3-t7F2KpmcutP7reOfMrTZgqxTtnr7I1dABL2D0GMWW8Q/s1600/20170929_185203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyZUVEEGJL_F9f_aPFwf3M4on17g8A0SlUl7d_RTUsHkuaLb9PGCX670f_Pveo-LrPfNOFGiWjZwOOqKVeeIxqDzmJ1XKGy3-t7F2KpmcutP7reOfMrTZgqxTtnr7I1dABL2D0GMWW8Q/s320/20170929_185203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The basic set-up for King of the Pyrate Atoll</i></div>
<br />
Unfortunately the scenario didn't quite work as planned or as I'd playtested. I had designed it for four players and got three, and that through things off balance, and all of them went treasure hunting with both ships, except Brian who went half and half and his one ship ended up in a bit of a cross-fire by Barry. His treasure-hunting ship was the one who awoke the kraken, and it ended up sinking him and then chasing down his badly damaged second ship. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I5cJa1Ryzajgt-aNMNzKi5sxAiRvb6zD8ylvtzlPHqsj4D1rAsT3aplbnfGPR2cboxAlCtxZ7Yo39f8BdZvkVeV8Fw6jdi6k5a9Nur_6iZ69OIGhJN5AzwtpBi2RViaZ7MiHPM6-bh8/s1600/20170929_201717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I5cJa1Ryzajgt-aNMNzKi5sxAiRvb6zD8ylvtzlPHqsj4D1rAsT3aplbnfGPR2cboxAlCtxZ7Yo39f8BdZvkVeV8Fw6jdi6k5a9Nur_6iZ69OIGhJN5AzwtpBi2RViaZ7MiHPM6-bh8/s320/20170929_201717.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>About mid-battle, the kraken has awoken! Brian's second ship is off to challenge the two British ones, while the Spanish in the back are anchoring to look for loot.</i></div>
<br />
Barry found the most treasure, and had a pretty large lead and the wind shifted in his favour, giving him an easy way off the board by the end. Tom was left alone because of the off-balance number, and while one his ships had trouble with the shallows and damaged its keel, his main trouble was lousy treasure rolls.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSumHv0C_12w1qDtF9i0TX7ii0uRlpwji_CbekRfuWCl7v5IvHGho6vmP2T31NT3_Rmg_7t0Cx80-vocaObjqaxeOCcV2vqq4UiH5HZuGGAxOljM5nv9HjGOvDVL6bpSpuS_r5FHbE43Y/s1600/20170929_211929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSumHv0C_12w1qDtF9i0TX7ii0uRlpwji_CbekRfuWCl7v5IvHGho6vmP2T31NT3_Rmg_7t0Cx80-vocaObjqaxeOCcV2vqq4UiH5HZuGGAxOljM5nv9HjGOvDVL6bpSpuS_r5FHbE43Y/s320/20170929_211929.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The end game, with two pirate ships at the bottom and two British ships laden with treasure trying to sail their way out of the atoll.</i></div>
<br />
I probably should have just adjusted things on the fly and let the guys fight it out on an open board with a few islands, but I though the scenario would work out still. Waking the kraken early also didn't help. I'd playtested the scenario with multiple strategies, but always with four squadrons and always with a mix of strategies, rather than all using generally similar strategies. So lesson learned, that scenario needs work and four players (or two).<br />
<br />
Saturday morning I was on call for another game, running a four-player Song of Drums and Shakos game set around Leipzig in October 1813. It was the first appearance of some more Russian card models, a "Prussian" church and a chateau, and a Miniature Building Authority town hall. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmDRn7KWzH_LiyAxr0U76oCSlQJxp5o-R-tqA6vBc8Pr6pEOQzx9nJ84W89CBiu6fN_xf2TLRhldrl7LMpiiU4e9qBKnbrywkF459JPg_Dvth5-Z7yZ-iFVCGcMlDm7k9PEbp8teNEn4/s1600/20170930_091031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmDRn7KWzH_LiyAxr0U76oCSlQJxp5o-R-tqA6vBc8Pr6pEOQzx9nJ84W89CBiu6fN_xf2TLRhldrl7LMpiiU4e9qBKnbrywkF459JPg_Dvth5-Z7yZ-iFVCGcMlDm7k9PEbp8teNEn4/s320/20170930_091031.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Shot from the Russian side of the table, though we turned it around 180 to make things easier for Andy, so he wouldn't have to stand as much.</i></div>
<br />
The scenario was the Polish had left behind some valuable plans and maps when they retreated from a village north of Leipzig (around Mockern), so a French force is sent back to find them while the Russians have just come across the remains of the Polish HQ while looking for valuables and other loot. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ0oyaZueftAcALky7Id9bPBAnWbeoBYIKhvANP8dlmt7JiTXuOL-_n3wGV_Xv5RqvclSYYWsOr1Tq8K8YBJgfQ24Oojn4ODOa1L8x6YIH1JTZ1XcXuWeI5eO48Ad5QeNgd9Tai8ggtc/s1600/20170930_091010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ0oyaZueftAcALky7Id9bPBAnWbeoBYIKhvANP8dlmt7JiTXuOL-_n3wGV_Xv5RqvclSYYWsOr1Tq8K8YBJgfQ24Oojn4ODOa1L8x6YIH1JTZ1XcXuWeI5eO48Ad5QeNgd9Tai8ggtc/s320/20170930_091010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Closer view of the Russian side of the table. See my beautiful autumn trees! Need to work a bit on more clutter for around the big buildings, or at least smaller stone mats.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I had five potential sites in my mind where the lost maps could be, and when anyone got within 1 Long measurement of the site, a marker was put on it as a potential location and would stay that way until someone got adjacent to it to check it out. That player would then draw a card (seven cards for five sites) to see what he'd found. Four were nothing, letters to mistresses or food wrappers, and three had some value, from 1 to 5 VP. Five VP was the big enchillada, the maps and orders of battle straight from Napoleon's headquarters. If after four sites were investigated the 5 VP maps weren't found, they'd automatically be at the fifth site, irrespective of the card draw.<br />
<br />
As it turned out, I had two players, Cain and Andy, from KEGS, and both were willing to play two forces, so Andy took the French and Cain the Russians. Andy had voltigeurs and carabiniers, Cain had musketeers (with drummer and standard) and jaegers.<br />
<br />
Andy had his carabiniers on his left and the voltigeurs on his right, with the church in front of them. Cain sent his jaegers down the road in the middle, and the musketeers on his right, around the town hall. Both sides raced forward in groups, Andy send a group of voltigeurs to the right of the church, and learned he had potential locations for the lost maps both ahead of him, at the base of a tree, and on the far side of the church, on a bench.<br />
<br />
Cain got tricky and ran his jaegers through a gap in the hedges into the back yard of the town hall, loading up that side of the table for him. His musketeers had some activation issues and were a bit slow getting into the game.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukNgspx4Dy_0h6m0aKV0wjhsE2ncgRITdDe_K6yuoNSm7T45SEkZfiyUR7DCLxUkdkP7h1SKHOitBCNWkLiGVmb4FeUTvayEU6NfOaS-nce6KKEhqKkk6-Vru8A6jPpu35REy7F4dZ_U/s1600/20170930_105008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukNgspx4Dy_0h6m0aKV0wjhsE2ncgRITdDe_K6yuoNSm7T45SEkZfiyUR7DCLxUkdkP7h1SKHOitBCNWkLiGVmb4FeUTvayEU6NfOaS-nce6KKEhqKkk6-Vru8A6jPpu35REy7F4dZ_U/s320/20170930_105008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The French have found some valuables, and are setting up in the graveyard, meanwhile the Russian jaegers are shooting through the hedges.</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUQ596dLmrm0D9fNci3sCTk0aqOY1WhnlJC8WHIdacYdpWoYQCD4EOWb1J55BUdDA54WCaDpLE2RlbZ19OHuvFAmNAR7bWitnfigkJDmCTZwJyl4QCicxRkBGDERkzQQAhNqvRo0ypcg/s1600/20170930_111815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUQ596dLmrm0D9fNci3sCTk0aqOY1WhnlJC8WHIdacYdpWoYQCD4EOWb1J55BUdDA54WCaDpLE2RlbZ19OHuvFAmNAR7bWitnfigkJDmCTZwJyl4QCicxRkBGDERkzQQAhNqvRo0ypcg/s320/20170930_111815.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The French carabiniers have made the fence line and are firing back; Russian shooting was pretty poor early, and the French wasn't, so some jaegers went down!</i></div>
<br />
The Russian jaegers got into a firefight with both some voltigeurs in the graveyard and the carabiniers behind the fence line (above), and lost a few early to Andy. When his musketeers finally got into the fray, they found amidst the abandoned Polish tents and gear, the maps! Cain assigned one guy to run them back to HQ while his musketeers hunkered down behind some soft cover (haystacks and tents) as the carabiniers tried to pick them off.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkrq-4O1tsVSGV1tSaYAna5Drh0NS7VT31ff9KDoAGKbO5MohGJndiIo3m9YEc580MAfgl3I-jQmQN0L32hhEdOYHoVnF5R3VQ2p7uJKLka-X6gIU5v0t81z9Cg4YeNZNjq02KIwBd2o/s1600/22046945_1984355668447130_3312851442760504162_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkrq-4O1tsVSGV1tSaYAna5Drh0NS7VT31ff9KDoAGKbO5MohGJndiIo3m9YEc580MAfgl3I-jQmQN0L32hhEdOYHoVnF5R3VQ2p7uJKLka-X6gIU5v0t81z9Cg4YeNZNjq02KIwBd2o/s320/22046945_1984355668447130_3312851442760504162_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>A view from the other side of the table (that's my hand posing) courtesy of Keith of KEGS.</i></div>
<br />
Then, however, despite my warnings, Andy moved his commanding carabinier sergeant into the firing line and got promptly picked off by a volley of rifle fire from the jaegers. This sent his force backwards, and eventually off the table, as he thought he'd had enough VP, between the dead Russians and the mid-level VP prize he'd found (3 VP). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE2Agc1B94rV7FQbfbAFCMXwAWchebi2gUQtHczdg6u6bvy8cfgadVSdSB_pnWCyDkTPQnf_OtF-jKz2-NzaYG1PncTdI8DeqGYvf_4TsLrAUQc2ti1SreJAboEch1mRndXyHnc1iayk/s1600/20170930_123019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE2Agc1B94rV7FQbfbAFCMXwAWchebi2gUQtHczdg6u6bvy8cfgadVSdSB_pnWCyDkTPQnf_OtF-jKz2-NzaYG1PncTdI8DeqGYvf_4TsLrAUQc2ti1SreJAboEch1mRndXyHnc1iayk/s320/20170930_123019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The endgame with the French falling back and the Russians come out from behind the hedges to take the fence and chase them off.</i></div>
<br />
Unfortunately this allowed the Russian musketeers to move up and start dropping more French figures from both forces, which eventually widened Cain's lead. And that's about where it ended, with the French leaving the table and the Russians holding the field and knowing Napoleon's plans for the day. I'm sure it changed the entire battle of Leipzig!<br />
<br />
The game went well, both players got into the Ganesha Games activation cycle easily enough, and it was pretty tense until Andy brought that sergeant up. Oddly, two of the five potential locations never even got spotted, one because Cain never went to his left, and the other because the chateau and town hall were never searched (Andy did search the church). It was nice getting my Russians out for a non-winter scenario, I do need to get some more French late-period voltigeurs painted so I don't need to mix in Spanish-era guys for these four player scenarios.<br />
<br />
Saturday afternoon I played in the Battle of Salem Church in 15mm with Carnage and Glory II rules. They're a computerized set of rules, where all the factors and unit names get inputed and then only a general sense of the outcome comes out to you as the brigade or divisional leader. It creates a unique fog of war; some people don't like not rolling dice but I didn't mind that. My biggest challenge was just making sp,e decisions without really knowing whether they were a good idea under these rules or not (e.g. attaching a leader).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiE9mObcGWlDy5wWAhG8Rx3rfGsRWBMpNITxJnNKqp-HbYBNt7b7JtpXMK6KgZ93Q-kjhL5O3_1vUFexROuouMAdelAdIYY7xOqX7MV3pPfSqLwUr5hUO3rOgl1WQYXRH9lnP2lF4QXKU/s1600/20170930_143708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiE9mObcGWlDy5wWAhG8Rx3rfGsRWBMpNITxJnNKqp-HbYBNt7b7JtpXMK6KgZ93Q-kjhL5O3_1vUFexROuouMAdelAdIYY7xOqX7MV3pPfSqLwUr5hUO3rOgl1WQYXRH9lnP2lF4QXKU/s320/20170930_143708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Big view of the Battle of Salem's Church, relatively early in the battle while the Rebels hold the middle of the table still.</i> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdjEopH-qfymKa3u9LJWRyge7govD53nZ4pEfMQR4nJC0AzAsLrvB1DTkQH0XHbm-7kYO-sMFRveuB_g2KJelN8JlLQd4oMYB1PgrGtV4XNOiwvUMAohTX71N-9P3ff7ECpQ-Js9hTYo/s1600/20170930_143701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdjEopH-qfymKa3u9LJWRyge7govD53nZ4pEfMQR4nJC0AzAsLrvB1DTkQH0XHbm-7kYO-sMFRveuB_g2KJelN8JlLQd4oMYB1PgrGtV4XNOiwvUMAohTX71N-9P3ff7ECpQ-Js9hTYo/s320/20170930_143701.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>My forces to the left of the road, just as we start to move forward.</i></div>
<br />
Well, to be honest, my bigger challenge was not expecting the Rebels to come off the hill and meet us Union types in the valley. They caught us a big off-footed, and my smaller, skirmish-y regiments were out in front and my heavyweights were further back and never got to be the hammer they were supposed to be. Meanwhile, our centre faced the weight of the Confederate push, and our reinforcements never got into the battle before the Union called a halt to the day and fell back, other than their battery got some shots off. The Rebel reinforcements didn't get into the fight much either, other than as targets for our guns. I suffered the shame of losing the battle standard of the 5th Maine...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRd_zvzajSu6GdMYMYIqqu2XYPgU0aNWXvUmtfktvPiTkc3FMwPe8GgrT4mHr5E3oHfp_NVdORDY2wvGzuJJHcJx9gwp3Jgrjk8733tVvHfDbBEKUQlWebFVuA5EiVl6QHFSQDfuW6Cp8/s1600/20170930_154323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRd_zvzajSu6GdMYMYIqqu2XYPgU0aNWXvUmtfktvPiTkc3FMwPe8GgrT4mHr5E3oHfp_NVdORDY2wvGzuJJHcJx9gwp3Jgrjk8733tVvHfDbBEKUQlWebFVuA5EiVl6QHFSQDfuW6Cp8/s320/20170930_154323.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>About mid-battle, we've seized the fence and my forces are swinging to our left to be the hammer. Unfortunately they couldn't even do the impression of a good anvil...</i></div>
<br />
In the evening was the traditional free-for-all western gunfight with everybody left at the convention (about 16 or so this year). I did better this year, lasting until about the middle of the game, waxing a couple of scoundrels before Brian (the guy who got sunk by the kraken Friday night!) came after me, and after we both did little damage to each other at close range, he ran up to me and from point blank range, also did little damage, but it was enough to finish me off. I do hold grudges :-)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdV4_4IbCtRJnsxL2fGbt3oBIGMli8vqB7AMt70wcgqBE37ykf4Lh2qR7KrYwBZieVDOPkFUDCFSS_rGKE53KmzxEvEEYcUZZyDOVlbQWhoeubwNpZIFfbXCNplJJ2OsMaNFRvthY_yQ/s1600/20170930_201040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdV4_4IbCtRJnsxL2fGbt3oBIGMli8vqB7AMt70wcgqBE37ykf4Lh2qR7KrYwBZieVDOPkFUDCFSS_rGKE53KmzxEvEEYcUZZyDOVlbQWhoeubwNpZIFfbXCNplJJ2OsMaNFRvthY_yQ/s320/20170930_201040.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Wild west town!</i> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5TRVJZxZasyTrM5TH4YR00Q2Xt9CHo6miW879g-PQ-lNeoG9vDa2yLr866nPdjGlYG7UXNPONolE1Y37GuEpDq59HZmLhnvtBTrbikLPIKeyLucpTDYa7xAaZ11OQcLXCM6QKFT8DDo/s1600/20170930_205348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5TRVJZxZasyTrM5TH4YR00Q2Xt9CHo6miW879g-PQ-lNeoG9vDa2yLr866nPdjGlYG7UXNPONolE1Y37GuEpDq59HZmLhnvtBTrbikLPIKeyLucpTDYa7xAaZ11OQcLXCM6QKFT8DDo/s320/20170930_205348.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Me skulking around the building like the coward Robert Ford. I would eventually shoot down Barry, who's figure is behind the sandbags, but only after he'd massacred some gunslingers in and around the buildings to the top left.</i> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnmN8sBupgCHpD8wLQ3cO8MDs1uR-zWyjHRax1E-5aSI7Bc9ADoQUPz7HXWJrPHJwCmKPcSK5oC5ViZT5OxCfMY_5tsSBp8LHLBLm6PhrRDw0l4EkKoNPh89FtmUmbmI4LKFNQxq5Gls/s1600/20170930_211026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnmN8sBupgCHpD8wLQ3cO8MDs1uR-zWyjHRax1E-5aSI7Bc9ADoQUPz7HXWJrPHJwCmKPcSK5oC5ViZT5OxCfMY_5tsSBp8LHLBLm6PhrRDw0l4EkKoNPh89FtmUmbmI4LKFNQxq5Gls/s320/20170930_211026.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>My final moment, as Brian manages to Light Wound me to death. I did actually go elsewhere in town, I just ended up back here to meet my maker.</i></div>
<br />
Enough of us were willing to stick around for another game that we were able to have a five-on-five gang battle for the western town, fighting over the train. I was the last guy standing from our gang, unfortunately I was up against four survivors from the opposing gang. Well, I briefly faced four opponents, as one had broken his leg falling off the flatbed train car, and his "buddy" finished him off to save splinting the loot. The same player had just shot his father in the head to eliminate my last teammate! It's a hard life in the old west! In the end it was Andy shooting me in the stomach to finish me off and make me dramatically fall off the train engine I was on, Jackie Chan-style.<br />
<br />
So those were my games, either hosting or playing. Elsewhere at the con there was a lot of Hobbit Strategy Battle Game action, some Friday night in a separate room, and then a day-long tournament in the main room, with eight (by my count) tables, plus a regular Middle Earth convention battle. Both the morning and afternoon sessions had a lot of high quality games, when I had to choose for Saturday afternoon, it was tough between Carnage and Glory, Big Chain of Command, Sharp Practice 2 (though I think it was full by the time I made it to the sign-up table), and a homebrew modern Afghanistan game with Canadian forces vs. Taliban (presumably). There was also an all-day X-Wing tournament going on, and open board gaming tables. There's probably more I missed too, and several good looking games in the morning.<br />
<br />
The Ontario Hobbit Adventure/SBG tables were specactual, this series of photos captures the eight tournament tables, unfortunately I didn't get a shot of the bigger battle one.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_tK22Y6Vj6pvabRXnSs4doewb77cBNAMgUh9ksd0XS84L0S4u8Quasm7kkV03BxW3LDH8w585bR1mEvlmr1rGyl110r5vuyEdj_e3NQO8KFWWEqUdeUEEP6-VOEcuzF-D0RF_LOfxdY/s1600/20170930_080453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_tK22Y6Vj6pvabRXnSs4doewb77cBNAMgUh9ksd0XS84L0S4u8Quasm7kkV03BxW3LDH8w585bR1mEvlmr1rGyl110r5vuyEdj_e3NQO8KFWWEqUdeUEEP6-VOEcuzF-D0RF_LOfxdY/s320/20170930_080453.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1nb8aNEXe97Unda8kopcqlH-LQkiKHeGjRftm2k43fO0_1mCzounFCiPdIhwrc1y9xzTKYhXxpMMVGsdJrkbOjAmReGHcisAsrirMV2eg-DdHIrlgJen3rBEjvCWQstKIu_j-L-Iu4E/s1600/20170930_080459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1nb8aNEXe97Unda8kopcqlH-LQkiKHeGjRftm2k43fO0_1mCzounFCiPdIhwrc1y9xzTKYhXxpMMVGsdJrkbOjAmReGHcisAsrirMV2eg-DdHIrlgJen3rBEjvCWQstKIu_j-L-Iu4E/s320/20170930_080459.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_Y7SlmJGykiqLDdLRRb0vqIL7hsxKlQ_ZjvvNz79ZU02ipiahi2O28P6xBkGIfJvnjN4mFbzhMU9Eh-OTIGjAEup-XBno_HWorL7RjNYtTDcUAkeGTflqYMFujt9hGAGCA6dPcORQ2E/s1600/20170930_080519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_Y7SlmJGykiqLDdLRRb0vqIL7hsxKlQ_ZjvvNz79ZU02ipiahi2O28P6xBkGIfJvnjN4mFbzhMU9Eh-OTIGjAEup-XBno_HWorL7RjNYtTDcUAkeGTflqYMFujt9hGAGCA6dPcORQ2E/s320/20170930_080519.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPYDhvgAsOXxWRs7wivOI9L5U2wHrZEdNUvqz4NDVPOSN4lFu-mpy2gde8nJ5gFluGSFcndRmHx-nQf4hoOqB5zBJKOViXhauAVulMb3Dh2cWWzt_ZrUAYVtygcg2RhJxAHOwaa1Q0Qw/s1600/20170930_080415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPYDhvgAsOXxWRs7wivOI9L5U2wHrZEdNUvqz4NDVPOSN4lFu-mpy2gde8nJ5gFluGSFcndRmHx-nQf4hoOqB5zBJKOViXhauAVulMb3Dh2cWWzt_ZrUAYVtygcg2RhJxAHOwaa1Q0Qw/s320/20170930_080415.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfYKfyoFq0dSdCt26Q0dIAmGPR42Zp89fkwiWJrwCgVpPsjROSNH1GWW-RrCkEqEWcmmdCV2QaLBs7CsKTLxLbp_Kv1lhQDo2WIyjDYVLRAloNRJNY4Hjil94Kn7nh8NPbnWblkDSBu0/s1600/20170930_080422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfYKfyoFq0dSdCt26Q0dIAmGPR42Zp89fkwiWJrwCgVpPsjROSNH1GWW-RrCkEqEWcmmdCV2QaLBs7CsKTLxLbp_Kv1lhQDo2WIyjDYVLRAloNRJNY4Hjil94Kn7nh8NPbnWblkDSBu0/s320/20170930_080422.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCYgpzmosohUnFDnqhIWy8W8AodhtDKW8pD_gaPxAi2BGk-l7HkdFp6bmHM-hGriCa91S7SZXxNGkFb7cG1F_15whcomb9EQtdk6MbmDk5fhcaVjKMdnOCQE9UrWnzuWiwwLgNSREa_I/s1600/20170930_080446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCYgpzmosohUnFDnqhIWy8W8AodhtDKW8pD_gaPxAi2BGk-l7HkdFp6bmHM-hGriCa91S7SZXxNGkFb7cG1F_15whcomb9EQtdk6MbmDk5fhcaVjKMdnOCQE9UrWnzuWiwwLgNSREa_I/s320/20170930_080446.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcX2S8t8a_g0q7TxkJWqyxsL3UIFJbS-2O-c5p-hcxZI1sNlkEpHTM8-IYl1agpnnDHpnWPv02QVM-bJbTMuTiXSxN08RffusTZui_AG7kdu9qUo4ReqCkcYkuC9QfLJlLmLN_ytGrkdc/s1600/20170930_080429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcX2S8t8a_g0q7TxkJWqyxsL3UIFJbS-2O-c5p-hcxZI1sNlkEpHTM8-IYl1agpnnDHpnWPv02QVM-bJbTMuTiXSxN08RffusTZui_AG7kdu9qUo4ReqCkcYkuC9QfLJlLmLN_ytGrkdc/s320/20170930_080429.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryZAcRvEV_bNtyx5ruBeDwC3AWt1j7QpyAuahMtvu4H4RUoC1HefX1inrSeq8zmIeTflRbpVMDBX-VQuB1rCmzZIyU1s8nPamZJNjtfOLlr_weTuCLrUc2IOzHLn54xQ9LTd6S7FOhqc/s1600/20170930_080407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryZAcRvEV_bNtyx5ruBeDwC3AWt1j7QpyAuahMtvu4H4RUoC1HefX1inrSeq8zmIeTflRbpVMDBX-VQuB1rCmzZIyU1s8nPamZJNjtfOLlr_weTuCLrUc2IOzHLn54xQ9LTd6S7FOhqc/s320/20170930_080407.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
KEGSCon wraps up my convention attendance for the year, there's one left this fall but I have a football conflict. I'm also going to miss Hotlead next March, so Broadsword V in May is probably my next one. I'll really miss Hotlead, but I am looking forward to a bit of a break from needing to get stuff done for a convention and I can meander between projects and work (again/still) on 6mm WWII and Kaiju City terrain - which are supposed to be my main projects at the moment!CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-86508347902899912842017-08-29T21:25:00.002-04:002017-08-29T21:27:43.155-04:00No Sword Like a BroadswordAs my last few posts should have made clear, I was down in Hamilton this past Saturday for Broadsword 4, put on by the <a href="http://www.htgs.ca/" target="_blank">Hamilton Tabletop Gaming Society</a> at the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Veterans Association. It's a one day convention with a mix of miniatures and boardgames, and some that blur the line between the two, like my friend Mike's game of Conan. <br />
<br />
After an early start, I picked my friend Ron up along the way, he was putting on a game of his homebrew 6mm operational level WWII rules (which I played, so more below), and we had a fairly decent drive into Hamilton. Much better than the drive home!<br />
<br />
Getting there we hobnobbed a bit with some of the other early arrivals that we knew and ran into Robert who we'd met at Hotlead in March. I later learned Robert had built his own 1:1 scale Dalek and I'd probably seen it at the Ottawa Comic-Con last year!<br />
<br />
I'll start with the games I played in, which were the morning and evening sessions, before I get to the game I ran in the afternoon.<br />
<br />
First up was a game of Might of Arms with Mike M., set in the Northern Crusades circa 1197, which the Danes coming to civilize the poor, pagan (yet heroic) Estonians. As you can probably tell, I was an Estonian, holding the right flank with Ralph on my left. Mike and Dan were against us. We had a stream with a lot of woods and rough round around it to use as our defensive line, and we made use of it, only our left flank had a gap in it between the wall of our village and the stream.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiI21Kq_0HHR_-VdqLJjIJ3mPDIyI7J98LzShmQJOjG9jBHArZCqnJ-m10NtC7YncP7ep-46EbcPgQRGsFlCFmPoBOHz0bHk_GGwgIq4FvMdQN04w3Sq550NqXjVQ37HH9nwc1jSGWRXk/s1600/20170826_100255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiI21Kq_0HHR_-VdqLJjIJ3mPDIyI7J98LzShmQJOjG9jBHArZCqnJ-m10NtC7YncP7ep-46EbcPgQRGsFlCFmPoBOHz0bHk_GGwgIq4FvMdQN04w3Sq550NqXjVQ37HH9nwc1jSGWRXk/s320/20170826_100255.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My part of our line, before we actually put our troops into position. I had a five medium infantry units, three went to defend the river line, two on the hill as reserve. My five or six skirmish units either went in front of the mediums to chip away at the incoming Danes, or on a wide right flanking maneuver, eventually coming at the Danish subheavy foot from the flank and rear.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVsbx3QDSVg3RL8hXCWqV47LnpzTzJnoFIZulsajnVjpBVeNfPKwgF6-OfUnz4NrgHSWVmvIja1F0keZ35nVCFraq7rtJsnMQQXjRWjK0BgODyAbbOy56u7-rKHZD670l1BjV0r0HbFY/s1600/20170826_100307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVsbx3QDSVg3RL8hXCWqV47LnpzTzJnoFIZulsajnVjpBVeNfPKwgF6-OfUnz4NrgHSWVmvIja1F0keZ35nVCFraq7rtJsnMQQXjRWjK0BgODyAbbOy56u7-rKHZD670l1BjV0r0HbFY/s320/20170826_100307.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The view toward's Ralph's side of the table, again before our final set-up.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Jis2Q4R0dhNI7T5l7363EV_RiSIiugKLzErsb7AWZGRZnN9H3-zgMYQT0PTwzu-YHPlirr-8586Sfp7OzDQDYiFhyphenhyphen4pROrIsUl6D7-myGMuPiEiXb4w5qxhXz9uFoTYcrXe_bvPTysk/s1600/20170826_110923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1436" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Jis2Q4R0dhNI7T5l7363EV_RiSIiugKLzErsb7AWZGRZnN9H3-zgMYQT0PTwzu-YHPlirr-8586Sfp7OzDQDYiFhyphenhyphen4pROrIsUl6D7-myGMuPiEiXb4w5qxhXz9uFoTYcrXe_bvPTysk/s320/20170826_110923.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The lines are starting to meet, with the Danish mounted knights coming up against Ralph's heavy and light horse. Mike is bringing his infantry in behind, and Dan (the Danish left) is angling some of his infantry to the right to hit our entire line.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21R_Ykacq2FHZA_0FA-uUaeXyEVW5ffN_shZGrYhC86Jrpmbdu2iGQDDJtNce3AHKD7XrSyNILYwwYlvyOEAimBh-YmTtOg0cvytUqOHKnWlfzAH54CZ90tcxJpnFGYw9eqNWFuyixcA/s1600/20170826_110806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21R_Ykacq2FHZA_0FA-uUaeXyEVW5ffN_shZGrYhC86Jrpmbdu2iGQDDJtNce3AHKD7XrSyNILYwwYlvyOEAimBh-YmTtOg0cvytUqOHKnWlfzAH54CZ90tcxJpnFGYw9eqNWFuyixcA/s320/20170826_110806.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dan's subheavy foot have gotten through my skirmishers, though some are still behind, firing into them when they can, and Dan's trailing unit is about to have guys on three sides firing at him.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTOvLJ6yge5zF1BacZ61eMH2vqrf9udSj1Y4Akh8RsdC1by6Uyq19gAMCNqGIR7AfL7d62KDxnfQ7SIESP3wG9SDdNXgketCQSdG1AwFid44xoAor8N9JvkF1CCCvG_PZnpqWnrfuSr8/s1600/20170826_120846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTOvLJ6yge5zF1BacZ61eMH2vqrf9udSj1Y4Akh8RsdC1by6Uyq19gAMCNqGIR7AfL7d62KDxnfQ7SIESP3wG9SDdNXgketCQSdG1AwFid44xoAor8N9JvkF1CCCvG_PZnpqWnrfuSr8/s320/20170826_120846.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Estonian left at the end of the game. A hole was punched into our line and the knights were a-coming in against our rear, but their right had totally fled the field and we had our whole reserve to deal with them if we hadn't called the game at the point (an Estonian win!).<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jQHb6YE5ap0Hb2aViEgyBN7XU4cR_CUu3mYrEyp-4mJH774mPFgc3n-tOqevcIJl4chLIw19RY10e8qzZIgaLLLSnp9xIzezF7p7TKkautxA4uxIYdCXNhBrQ1pnk2ZHlamhnkZk8bs/s1600/20170826_120840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jQHb6YE5ap0Hb2aViEgyBN7XU4cR_CUu3mYrEyp-4mJH774mPFgc3n-tOqevcIJl4chLIw19RY10e8qzZIgaLLLSnp9xIzezF7p7TKkautxA4uxIYdCXNhBrQ1pnk2ZHlamhnkZk8bs/s320/20170826_120840.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My side of the battlefield at the end of the game, after the Danes had routed away. My skirmishers nickle and diming them on their way in, plus the defensive advantages of the stream and rough ground were more than the attackers could bear.</div>
<br />
After that game, I checked out <a href="http://www.rafm.com/" target="_blank">RAFM</a> and <a href="http://www.6squaredstudios.ca/" target="_blank">6 Squared Studios</a>, who were there as vendors. I didn't need any bases from 6SS this time, after making that buy in May, but from RAFM I was able to pick the two packs of Crucible Crush Pulp Figures (sculpted by Pulp Figures' Bob Murch), which included a guy who looks an awful lot like Silver John, from the awesome series of stories by Manley Wade Wellman (greatest name in the history of names) and another guy who looks like he should be a night stalker in 1970s Chicago, if you know what I'm saying... I also picked up an old west store which will be perfect for my 1885 Riel Rebellion project, it looks a lot like one of the (or the only) store in the old pictures of Batoche.<br />
<br />
Blackfyre Productions also had a great-looking table (I think they had two) as they're part of the Ontario Hobbit Adventures society (?) / collective (?) that plays Middle Earth SBG: Ents vs. Uruk Hai:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cIsYwMtPp_Cv15dZlhv_xrNAKPUZ3A2tE2bTQNIJBomCsRU_Pw7nTpC1_j7XLl3-R2wZzXG4IUCr2JWolwgO1mboRahETn7gpOUQbdHEXMFoyc7Yosos_rilUhqdiUM-Cv58z6jsG3o/s1600/20170826_122814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cIsYwMtPp_Cv15dZlhv_xrNAKPUZ3A2tE2bTQNIJBomCsRU_Pw7nTpC1_j7XLl3-R2wZzXG4IUCr2JWolwgO1mboRahETn7gpOUQbdHEXMFoyc7Yosos_rilUhqdiUM-Cv58z6jsG3o/s320/20170826_122814.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Jumping ahead to my evening game, I played in Ron's WWII game against Robert, this one generically representing part of Gazala in 1942. I was the defending British, Robert was the attacking Italians (it was his choice!). Ron's game is area-movement and card-driven, the cards letting you move and shoot, or use artillery/air power, or some special events (like engineers putting down minefields).<br />
<br />
I only got a couple of shots of the game, here's things near the beginning:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUKIFsZHaJO2CqS1uyG4UYYRB0YDvcgkG65VAjyJHypsYhCbZEmH-xYZ-k7_IOa5XFfarW-m1V_ftWbrWYp64iBq-GJjtEpBra-_E23ivzJAQXFgXva0qGJ7cpSeX6Jm0xaF_E97pKVE/s1600/20170826_191721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUKIFsZHaJO2CqS1uyG4UYYRB0YDvcgkG65VAjyJHypsYhCbZEmH-xYZ-k7_IOa5XFfarW-m1V_ftWbrWYp64iBq-GJjtEpBra-_E23ivzJAQXFgXva0qGJ7cpSeX6Jm0xaF_E97pKVE/s320/20170826_191721.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The town and entrenchments are under my control, I've already lost a truck to long-range fire. The Italians are in the distance, trying to spot my weak point.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7Q3Nf9RNr2qjHobbdyfOsF9Eh-snpQIH2PKzwpDf2t6pX8DVu7lKba2HV7X4q9OLGqdb-ukHngjiukHF0rBZMzAx7iT_gMeBcXq1MoYlI7-lnlk_xNHxrNACfp9-OCvmBKNnGitL-vY/s1600/20170826_212648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7Q3Nf9RNr2qjHobbdyfOsF9Eh-snpQIH2PKzwpDf2t6pX8DVu7lKba2HV7X4q9OLGqdb-ukHngjiukHF0rBZMzAx7iT_gMeBcXq1MoYlI7-lnlk_xNHxrNACfp9-OCvmBKNnGitL-vY/s320/20170826_212648.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is at or near the end of the game, as the Italians ran out of time (cards) without taking any part of the town. They'd done a good job of swinging around my left (the red smoke markers are where their vehicles died; yellow are my dead vehicles), but a carefully placed anti-tank minefield made them take the long way, and a spoiling attack I made with my Bren carriers really distracted them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Now back to the afternoon, where I ran a game of <i>Song of Drums and Shakos</i>, "Out of La Marisma". A squad of French hussars and a full squad of French carabiniers tried to seize a crossroads and road exit from British rifles and light dragoons in 1813. There was a lot of rough terrain on the board, which channeled things a bit, but it was also the debut of a few buildings I've bought/built/painted over the last while, including a Spanish windmill only finished the Thursday before!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Robert played in this as well, commanding the French hussars, and also on his side was Harry (with the carabiniers). The British rifles were under the command of Dan S., and my friend Brian from KEGS had the light dragoons, who had to wait a couple of turns to saddle up before they got into action. The French victory conditions were to either take the crossroads by clearing the mill and granary of the British, or get a certain number/type of troops off the western exits, or just drive the British off the field completely. The British had to stop all of that from happening.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The British rifles set up with their marksman hidden in the windmill, three riflemen in the mill on the second floor, and Lieutenant Lovecraft (it was a Mythos themed convention!) and three more riflemen were around the bridge. The light dragoons, under Sergeant Reilly were saddling up behind the granary.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The French hussars decided to ride along the small trail to the main bridge, while the carabiniers would take the southern road towards the windmill. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKCPnuQ2nuUeO-SokDtdpJpkXy0WMCi9EsTMnKUQtPCy0p6YDtrInfMGq8YELeFLFemcv7A4eK7X08aHfOCcNLYsKGvMGwA7EMhmB74fQSi0nvxrFTMKXRKMATeRINFjahVEF3EkrB5Q/s1600/20170826_150442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1026" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKCPnuQ2nuUeO-SokDtdpJpkXy0WMCi9EsTMnKUQtPCy0p6YDtrInfMGq8YELeFLFemcv7A4eK7X08aHfOCcNLYsKGvMGwA7EMhmB74fQSi0nvxrFTMKXRKMATeRINFjahVEF3EkrB5Q/s320/20170826_150442.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is about where things turned really wrong for the French, the riflemen in the open had moved into the swamp (good protection against cavalry!) and the riflemen in the mill had clear targets. Also, the French carabiniers were rolling terribly! About four turns in a row either the officer or the group he was ordering rolled a turnover. They barely budged and the hussars were hung out to dry.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDrQ2tAnqoAwmSWifG0siyMRYC26TIXBfIakcyozzwWNE4lJgA6MefZrKhBw9pZfuZJYnivMd0P_4dGzqzyv0fZMNisjAa16pNep3yQoI2cqGVzAWYvfgIJzBFbzOdG3jFcpRvuSuWVQ/s1600/20170826_150434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDrQ2tAnqoAwmSWifG0siyMRYC26TIXBfIakcyozzwWNE4lJgA6MefZrKhBw9pZfuZJYnivMd0P_4dGzqzyv0fZMNisjAa16pNep3yQoI2cqGVzAWYvfgIJzBFbzOdG3jFcpRvuSuWVQ/s320/20170826_150434.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
More from that moment, you can see the smoke coming out of the mill. And things get worse for the French as the light dragoons are up and on their mounts. I really wanted this shot though to show off the windmill!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4AMTqTUs7Xe6oFf6_ytiW1U45zkJYFFeXyjVQPzoVHqLq5Jtn9VENQHHVS2-OOhkHYXIUR8ndy6mMHpFmrKoaxvmiRZAmM6_FcV9GQ_rXd-YHCVwtMUEfDV2edWE0LIxtaJZh9aGDtI/s1600/20170826_161452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="1600" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4AMTqTUs7Xe6oFf6_ytiW1U45zkJYFFeXyjVQPzoVHqLq5Jtn9VENQHHVS2-OOhkHYXIUR8ndy6mMHpFmrKoaxvmiRZAmM6_FcV9GQ_rXd-YHCVwtMUEfDV2edWE0LIxtaJZh9aGDtI/s320/20170826_161452.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Near the mid-point of the game, despite the near-destruction of the hussars (4 out of 5, including Lieutenant Tindalos), the carabiniers are opening fire on the combined light dragoons and riflemen who are still out on the field. Everyone's trying to hide behind shrubberies! The riflemen soon retreated to the granary, and the light dragoons behind it to regroup and await the French moving towards the road edge. One trait I gave the light dragoons to help balance things was Individualistic, meaning they couldn't be activated as a group. It worked pretty well (and is pretty historic), though it frustrated Brian!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4XCuAU6RMQfjGjCooljvW34lw5mQdU4tLW1MXIxUpw1r85T8uYooSWHkpWUhwV5fWRdEfkUvR0JPhNX5RqKWCOciZZHUHMIGaL72byroTsfMOdtIb5B6ehg3dmgPIEGd5aqhFVCuLF4/s1600/20170826_161502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4XCuAU6RMQfjGjCooljvW34lw5mQdU4tLW1MXIxUpw1r85T8uYooSWHkpWUhwV5fWRdEfkUvR0JPhNX5RqKWCOciZZHUHMIGaL72byroTsfMOdtIb5B6ehg3dmgPIEGd5aqhFVCuLF4/s320/20170826_161502.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Another shot from that moment in time. The French were still rolling some really ill-timed turnovers! The British had a couple, but nowhere near the frequency of the French - and all pretty troops had Elan, which with an officer or NCO meant they only needed to NOT roll a 1! I'm also showing off my new roadside cross here, from Hovels.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0lLZ3YKzCoajjK_b_9gul12Sw8zwituM4FgXMbyY0mbCuujXUlfQ1hyphenhyphenHjvrSBL7TRiAoqDqLVP66BWRR2eWFUQfwdbUW_r9jvTZ5sgQGL4jh5FXIfaPe_g2l5mQqb_2_fDatzlmWF8w/s1600/20170826_174909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0lLZ3YKzCoajjK_b_9gul12Sw8zwituM4FgXMbyY0mbCuujXUlfQ1hyphenhyphenHjvrSBL7TRiAoqDqLVP66BWRR2eWFUQfwdbUW_r9jvTZ5sgQGL4jh5FXIfaPe_g2l5mQqb_2_fDatzlmWF8w/s320/20170826_174909.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The end game for the French - they've gotten close, but between some fire coming from the granary and their decision to tackle the light dragoons hand to hand, their end was nigh.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And that's a wrap for me at Broadsword 4 - a lot of fun at my second time at that convention, it was good to see a lot of friends again, and make some new ones. I think my game went well, probably one of my best jobs at GMing, and SDS seemed to be popular. A couple of the guys in the game had really wanted to play some Ganesha Games live and this was their first chance.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A few other AARs from Broadsword have shown up already too:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.mustcontainminis.com/2017/08/frostgrave-at-broadsword-4.html" target="_blank">Must Contain Minis</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://rabbitsinmybasement.blogspot.ca/2017/08/spanking-powder-monkey-at-broadsword-4.html" target="_blank">Rabbits in My Basement</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
and on Facebook, the KEGS <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KEGSCON/posts/1970468326502531" target="_blank">page</a>.</div>
CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-58898126220669833152017-08-25T17:55:00.001-04:002017-08-25T17:55:08.138-04:00D-1 for Broadsword 4Did a last playtest last night of my <i>Song of Drums and Shakos</i> "Out of La Marisma" scenario for Broadsword 4 tomorrow in Hamilton. I didn't pull out my mat as I was using my small 32x32 table (everything else is packed with projects!) and so some roads and rivers don't fit on like they will at 36x36. But it looked good with my recent terrain finishes - grain sacks, roadside cross, gravestones, and windmill (minus the sweeps - since attached).<br />
<br />
The French tried a new tactic, and lost - running off the hussars and letting the carabiniers fight through both the British rifles and light dragoons, specially when a marksman kills your hussar lieutenant at the table edge and routs the whole force!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyB9yrgr4sgaU5IOIfAWwOJK7EHit4ZuFhyphenhyphenDc-tUp4qWiI_ShPiZqMEkoOC4uA0c9aHBXjwkJf0bkfSBGLKi4J2LkI2x2EUD89YbEyulUHAJhGZWUUkcAHHUb7c0c0T8Hk6CLPbvbGiE/s1600/20170824_193448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyB9yrgr4sgaU5IOIfAWwOJK7EHit4ZuFhyphenhyphenDc-tUp4qWiI_ShPiZqMEkoOC4uA0c9aHBXjwkJf0bkfSBGLKi4J2LkI2x2EUD89YbEyulUHAJhGZWUUkcAHHUb7c0c0T8Hk6CLPbvbGiE/s320/20170824_193448.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The French marching on the table - so orderly! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKjsmOr5QRLm8Sxw0_bz4VfBJRqHMRIHH1vNgmzFfxvjIABLQgMjtyedKMwdHTPWPagWNuOxvu024dfJoWKDUHgR43AvZKb27D5fW6WP4l_-ZIjsegsbms9Xok821kZVLGoExvTB0rFc/s1600/20170824_193455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKjsmOr5QRLm8Sxw0_bz4VfBJRqHMRIHH1vNgmzFfxvjIABLQgMjtyedKMwdHTPWPagWNuOxvu024dfJoWKDUHgR43AvZKb27D5fW6WP4l_-ZIjsegsbms9Xok821kZVLGoExvTB0rFc/s320/20170824_193455.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Shot of the British set-up, guarding the crossroads at the edge of the swamp. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4-QOHHuFVmaA_XemKAsfVPVeEzJXBKtEf0BFG-ujC3o6cATkuJYh4YOt3sAmw-FeuesDrMjJ-5XZOGlb_9LFAdS-LamzDi8N_fKY0SEwxlK4S9jrkukY3lU3fOuLkVKL00ouw4C23E0/s1600/20170824_193502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4-QOHHuFVmaA_XemKAsfVPVeEzJXBKtEf0BFG-ujC3o6cATkuJYh4YOt3sAmw-FeuesDrMjJ-5XZOGlb_9LFAdS-LamzDi8N_fKY0SEwxlK4S9jrkukY3lU3fOuLkVKL00ouw4C23E0/s320/20170824_193502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Overhead view of the British - the cavalry are actually behind the (yellow) granary, I just put them on the road to avoid messing things up. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0oi1-HcRr2BFH7oqQtxtLH7_QsNUzmknBJqLS344iK2MWo4TWCuSI5Lwm9a4UiHm3nJXHPDszac8R5xv0MNlNhgcvYgj1ZXfL4L7b3cps4kj7Nx-sXwdT1GnuRVWFcN4m41AytLHmbk/s1600/20170824_230751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0oi1-HcRr2BFH7oqQtxtLH7_QsNUzmknBJqLS344iK2MWo4TWCuSI5Lwm9a4UiHm3nJXHPDszac8R5xv0MNlNhgcvYgj1ZXfL4L7b3cps4kj7Nx-sXwdT1GnuRVWFcN4m41AytLHmbk/s320/20170824_230751.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Near the game's end, a detachment of carabiniers work to force a bridge crossing against the last of the riflemen. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2L23pemicG_vUX5KoB06qUAq4TLnvQ0y14DeiaFnR9zKw_5bQaj7wKzoJofp2HmR96hYU5sjoX1UyzAutuybyn62suh8VMsXQ0-COJ2xWl-3KE75nBFpJITzwYmf1_qv2QWW71XcNzM4/s1600/20170824_230758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2L23pemicG_vUX5KoB06qUAq4TLnvQ0y14DeiaFnR9zKw_5bQaj7wKzoJofp2HmR96hYU5sjoX1UyzAutuybyn62suh8VMsXQ0-COJ2xWl-3KE75nBFpJITzwYmf1_qv2QWW71XcNzM4/s320/20170824_230758.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pretty much the end for the French - three light dragoons still left vs. a couple of carabiniers and Captain Dagon. The turn after this another carabinier was killed and the officer was about to be charged. The guys in the river are just my dead pile!</div>
<br />
<br />CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-87209626436034586292017-08-21T17:19:00.002-04:002017-08-21T17:19:33.196-04:00Getting closer to Broadsword 4Continuing to get stuff ready for Broadsword 4 on Saturday, I finished (except for sealing) the bridge, and the windmill, roadside cross, and gravestones are all nearing completion, hopefully tonight.<div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJPvIP1jar5xBccpyqxvyXUPxL4avL_xn1RL4gz666g9BgvP5MBJa-iWzLZZwxuUr7IEYTnP1eKV-Rh979wZLE2Y81xXLh0bJ-tR7EO69M_qVRgsEBBi9rE325_6EQuO0VE-HDTOHJG4/s1600/20170821_012434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJPvIP1jar5xBccpyqxvyXUPxL4avL_xn1RL4gz666g9BgvP5MBJa-iWzLZZwxuUr7IEYTnP1eKV-Rh979wZLE2Y81xXLh0bJ-tR7EO69M_qVRgsEBBi9rE325_6EQuO0VE-HDTOHJG4/s320/20170821_012434.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZfbY1nQGfVMe8BrHT0N0ywR4Q5E9BPf1MbPyJTIpNZRdusbBVRokGG-PwzjGnsgeUaVej6c4RC4JIGk-VXSElgla2hUyAA8_pFzpBb8A-HB8x3kxpiIAnKihZZ19CL9CgRG4w1XxhBA/s1600/20170821_012409B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1179" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZfbY1nQGfVMe8BrHT0N0ywR4Q5E9BPf1MbPyJTIpNZRdusbBVRokGG-PwzjGnsgeUaVej6c4RC4JIGk-VXSElgla2hUyAA8_pFzpBb8A-HB8x3kxpiIAnKihZZ19CL9CgRG4w1XxhBA/s320/20170821_012409B.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-48138309271372155962017-08-16T18:18:00.001-04:002017-08-16T18:18:15.398-04:006mm Espinosa de los Monteros AAR (of sorts)In today's blitz of posts, I'm also taking a stab at working through my backlog of in-game pictures from our club games in Scarborough using the Ruse de Guerre rules our host Glenn wrote for Polemos. The rules have been out since the winter, and for a variety of reasons, including the publication of the rules, we've been having very busy game days recently. This is from July, and as it was a heroic French victory, and I was on the French side, I'll post it first as I catch up on AARs. The text of the AAR (below) itself is from Glenn.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1n8WimxguznihDyaez3L8cWxpHnMrhq0DxlDPgomqoK4kLiP8F-2hR4EZ4FYB0UKbvfM5wtcdDc2T4XGR460sqAZmPUbCY5w7_TWu0VSAJaBAw2om-Qwlhcg4htssYRY0olCSOrR0Nc/s1600/20170716_115309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1n8WimxguznihDyaez3L8cWxpHnMrhq0DxlDPgomqoK4kLiP8F-2hR4EZ4FYB0UKbvfM5wtcdDc2T4XGR460sqAZmPUbCY5w7_TWu0VSAJaBAw2om-Qwlhcg4htssYRY0olCSOrR0Nc/s320/20170716_115309.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Probably about mid-game, from the Spanish end of the table, the force on the hill is Spanish and is holding the dominant hill on the table, with its artillery having double the normal firing range and being blocked by nothing. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcH5Kc0RbMdZ2CBW9LANKVcWeLbr7sF_mJUIi1dG1imxgACCvng69db0cG4JIpiGWPOhzeyVFqWzGV_9pGGrjIJuZD4juO_99zg50Oa0vj7ksNOZOkzJ5YrAzVh6Ps3YoLVUR11-wjG8/s1600/20170716_115338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcH5Kc0RbMdZ2CBW9LANKVcWeLbr7sF_mJUIi1dG1imxgACCvng69db0cG4JIpiGWPOhzeyVFqWzGV_9pGGrjIJuZD4juO_99zg50Oa0vj7ksNOZOkzJ5YrAzVh6Ps3YoLVUR11-wjG8/s320/20170716_115338.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Same time in the game (at least according to the photo time stamp), but without arms in the way and a slightly different view, this time being able to see over that big damn hill.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkL3vnkaGKg0kM8vljLfBZKs-B2kPT_j_0TgUCy7V-Yz0ootri0Jv0_zEfoXV5srfjMQlMJ4pCEXjVk8ZcrBAQ9S7cf0mVmU0VTI4-ybo9e0OpzKbYtiZJ_TLwFdyvIoVchtngI6UINU/s1600/20170716_141039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkL3vnkaGKg0kM8vljLfBZKs-B2kPT_j_0TgUCy7V-Yz0ootri0Jv0_zEfoXV5srfjMQlMJ4pCEXjVk8ZcrBAQ9S7cf0mVmU0VTI4-ybo9e0OpzKbYtiZJ_TLwFdyvIoVchtngI6UINU/s320/20170716_141039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The end of the game - the hill on the left has been taken by the French, with the elite Spanish division there having routed off the table. With the other two Spanish-held hills unable to support each other, they decided to withdraw across the river, surrendering the field to the French.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Glenn's report (he was umpiring) [also note I'm Chris, Christopher is another player who's been coming out lately]:</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Blake (Bruce) was informed by his rear guard commander Romana (Dave) that unless the army offered battle his force would be overrun by the French. Blake decided to make his stand at Espinosa de los Monteros. After holding a council of war with his Divisional commanders the following battle plan was agreed upon. Martinengo & Mahy (Tish) would hold the high ground on the right flank. Riquelme & Mendizabal (Jason) would control the main road into Espinosa. Figueroa & Carbajal & Reyna (Doug) would control the high ground in front of Espinosa. They would also form a Grand Battery that could fire over most of the area to their front. Romana would take his crack Division to the high ground on the left flank. Once the French approached his position he would withdraw his men back behind the stream where the Grand Battery could destroy his pursuers.<br />
<br />
Upon receiving word that the Spanish were deploying for battle Victor (Greg) developed his plan of action. Ruffin (Greg) would seize the high ground facing the Spanish right and hold them in place. Villatte (Christopher) would attack the Spanish left from the front while Lapisse (Chris) would attack them from the flank.<br />
<br />
Ruffin exchanged artillery fire with the Spanish and took some heavy casualties. Two battalions were forced to retire due to their losses which greatly thinned the French line. At one point Martinengo & Mahy contemplated attacking the French but Blake refused to give that order.<br />
<br />
Both Villatte and Lapisse pushed their men forward as fast as they could which gave Romana very little time to withdraw. Although he knew his position was precarious he was confident that his crack troops could handle the French. Today, however, Villattes men were ready for a good fight. Every volley brought death and destruction to the Spanish. Coupled with the pressure from Lapisse, Romana took personal command of his lead units only to be cut down in an attack.<br />
<br />
Romanas second in command tried to pull the Division back together but it was too late. The force was too badly shaken from the loss of their leader and the never ending firing from all sides. The Division broke and fled.<br />
<br />
Seeing the pressure that Romana was under Blake started to ride over to him, but it was too late. He could clearly see that without his crack Division his army could not stand against the French and he immediately ordered a withdrawal.<br />
<br />
The "Honours of War" for this battle go to Christopher for taking down Romanas Division of 10 blocks.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-33357702834961070952017-08-16T18:00:00.001-04:002017-08-16T18:00:16.626-04:00Bus Fleet ArrivesThese have been sitting around for a couple of weeks, but recently I picked up some buses off of Ebay for 15mm gaming. Can't remember off the top of my head if they're true 15mm (1:100) or HO now, I think HO, but they look pretty good with my standard spare figure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN3FLD67qIjkbovMC_6pf25u1YfanXpY4J2sJcXez-DhXqu_uBI6MTzzNq0_KSN0sZP8VbwRMbhS35blNHQs445iPbMrvCfirn09TM84JMw2pJd1gtooh9Pa0iaH2WOy70DQa9Ie64Ek/s1600/20170729_212810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN3FLD67qIjkbovMC_6pf25u1YfanXpY4J2sJcXez-DhXqu_uBI6MTzzNq0_KSN0sZP8VbwRMbhS35blNHQs445iPbMrvCfirn09TM84JMw2pJd1gtooh9Pa0iaH2WOy70DQa9Ie64Ek/s320/20170729_212810.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6FNjKupz_XfWmVwAc_OhkzmfaQMmaw1dYh-7Tzti_4r-6N7JWr1lT6d9xg_yud55Q7CtfwA_spxFtf9Am3sIerJIUYofndDe1IKhFrvdEBXkmxXDS9orOCKVi-M43x6rn0k4y00-Qm8/s1600/20170729_212836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6FNjKupz_XfWmVwAc_OhkzmfaQMmaw1dYh-7Tzti_4r-6N7JWr1lT6d9xg_yud55Q7CtfwA_spxFtf9Am3sIerJIUYofndDe1IKhFrvdEBXkmxXDS9orOCKVi-M43x6rn0k4y00-Qm8/s320/20170729_212836.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They'll be used in my Monster Hunter International (Horror) project, and any modern gaming I do. Three are airport buses, the fourth is a police one, perfect for driving around prisoners that are being busted out by their buddies, or when you need to escape the zombie apocalypse by driving over the zombies.</div>
CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-14695312637267226242017-08-16T17:53:00.002-04:002017-08-16T17:53:53.524-04:00Works in Progress for Broadsword 4In a week and a half I'm running a four-player game of Gamesha Games' <i>Song of Drums and Shakos</i> in Hamilton (Ontario) for Broadsword 4, the local one-day game con. I'm going to try out a new scenario, based in Spain still, that at least pulls in a bit of the con's theme for this go-round: celebrating H.P. Lovecraft's birthday with Cthulhu-themed games/scenarios. I'm not bringing the Mythos into the game, but it's set in an isolated, supposedly haunted, part of Spain, and you might recognize a few names in the scenario description:<br />
<br />
"<b><i>Out of La Marisma -</i> Spain, July 1813. </b>Deep in the Irati Forest of the Pyrenees Mountains, near the Roncesvalle Pass, Lieutenant Lovecraft of the Rifles and Sergeant Reilly of the Light Dragoons have been keeping a piquet astride some swampy, well-nigh impassable, trails. However, the trails were less impassable than the British believed, and after days of scouting Captain Dagon of the Carabiniers and Lieutenant Tindalos of the Hussars now lead their French forces out of the morning mist to do an end run on the British defences in Spain. Each player will control 8-15 figures in a short, sharp cinematic skirmish."<br />
<br />
This has necessitated (and thus got me to do something) some new terrain pieces, including a stone bridge, some gravestones, and a Spanish windmill (not pictured): <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfAaWDRVO6S6Hmc3zTVzUU0VzLiBLOYUhvG4LN4vSyZnQvNSIwjm6FAP4QVgwWVUfnGMBHF_tdd3aQu1S47ciPANlacOYDFDYxFCshIw5taxXuRdmusdZCZHE4kFRNIeJYaA40pmcSpM/s1600/20170816_003017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfAaWDRVO6S6Hmc3zTVzUU0VzLiBLOYUhvG4LN4vSyZnQvNSIwjm6FAP4QVgwWVUfnGMBHF_tdd3aQu1S47ciPANlacOYDFDYxFCshIw5taxXuRdmusdZCZHE4kFRNIeJYaA40pmcSpM/s320/20170816_003017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKaklM18w4QItvdLfBL9yAKDW56RduliB97n6Tbppv4F7YTewYSTmWxB6aLdqEIwvjJBTTNv3gAl6ARBoBtWbISBxUqgfwhx0ZWNbbeorA4xhYg6mtqZKnjVCx4cMbB9REscoimntFOA/s1600/20170816_003039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKaklM18w4QItvdLfBL9yAKDW56RduliB97n6Tbppv4F7YTewYSTmWxB6aLdqEIwvjJBTTNv3gAl6ARBoBtWbISBxUqgfwhx0ZWNbbeorA4xhYg6mtqZKnjVCx4cMbB9REscoimntFOA/s320/20170816_003039.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
All still need some/lots work still. The bridge (old JR Miniatures) needs the side stones and gravel to be drybrushed, and then some touch-ups before a white wash is used to wear down the red stones further. The gravestones and roadside cross (Hovels) are just primed so far.CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-47726788536667014682017-07-07T15:24:00.003-04:002017-07-07T15:29:32.007-04:00The True Story of the Bowling Green MassacreWith a title like that, I'm guaranteed to get tons (and even tonnes) of Google hits... :-)<br />
<br />
Anyway, this past long weekend at a family gathering I played another game of Mighty Monsters with my nephew, getting some of the buildings I've used in other games onto the table again, but this time finally glued to their sidewalk bases. Out for the first time was a new building (the "Time Warp Movie Theatre"), my nuclear reactor cooling towers (eventually to be based), some small-scale felt roads and rivers I've had from Gamecraft for a while, my scratchbuilt forests, and a bunch of scenics and vehicles/figures from my 3mm Vietnam project.<br />
<br />
I've also put some more thought into running MM at a convention, so I bought some cheap plastic shot glasses from a dollar store and labelled them for each monster (over 70 glasses!). If I was smart, I would have bought clear plastic glasses so everyone could see what colours of dice each monster has, but I didn't (and I'm not relabeling 70+ glasses!). To offset that, but also because I can see a use for them, I'm looking at Litko now about markers and tokens to get for the game. I also have now printed and laminated my monster sheets, though I may have a few tweaks to make for some of them.<br />
<br />
The premise for the game is that the evil and/or alien kaiju have decided to prepare Earth for invasion from space by polluting the environment, including releasing radiation. So they've come to a certain American city to do so, while heroic monsters and the army have come out to defend the planet. The scenario takes its basis from the Stomp City Blues scenario in the rulebook, with each building (or block) being worth just half a VP to the bad guys (I had to ban my nephew from blowing up farmhouses - the schoolhouse was the minimum!), the reactors worth one apiece, and if a third went up then the whole plant melted down and a huge swath of land become alien-friendly - an automatic major victory. For the good guys, only a body count of bad guys could get them VPs.<br />
<br />
A long tweet (or game convention blurb) about the subject might just look like this: <i>Main-stream media won't report it, but through careful digging up of alternative facts, we present you with the mostly true made-up story of the Bowling Green Massacre! Bad monster hombres, probably coming up through Mexico or blue states have attacked Bowling Green's coal, or maybe nuclear, or one of those powers, plants, bigly! Only Godzilla can fix things!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
My nephew had Destroyah and a Ultraman monster that I call and statted up as the Avatar of the Volcano God, I had an equivalent number of points in Godzilla, Mothra (1960s version), and four tanks and an infantry platoon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N0nB7nfBxxGWS9ocFE0wnAWxt67JZDZw-mUeWzSJ_U5LBszpvQoUZJzloaFUtD7TK64JS2srowXF-aQ8UKlIJvU42-nHUQcjwv3sif0khxUJAaDoEO6jOdln5G8iRt2-2YSx6IVwN_k/s1600/20170703_111939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N0nB7nfBxxGWS9ocFE0wnAWxt67JZDZw-mUeWzSJ_U5LBszpvQoUZJzloaFUtD7TK64JS2srowXF-aQ8UKlIJvU42-nHUQcjwv3sif0khxUJAaDoEO6jOdln5G8iRt2-2YSx6IVwN_k/s320/20170703_111939.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The basic table layout, the nuclear plant and its four cooling towers are in the upper left, surrounded by a 15mm wall (proper chainlink fence still coming). </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGlIe6fLZfv7dhbueImJflznuNLQj3a9xnnX0lSGwVUKfTzUsdz6K8KQd1pWDynGxtZgb87d8ZhfBsckV439QryEer7imIzE1CviIeUqIS9IMc4JSj-7OsuZUXovCcfrV7M-VrV3H1wk/s1600/20170703_111952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGlIe6fLZfv7dhbueImJflznuNLQj3a9xnnX0lSGwVUKfTzUsdz6K8KQd1pWDynGxtZgb87d8ZhfBsckV439QryEer7imIzE1CviIeUqIS9IMc4JSj-7OsuZUXovCcfrV7M-VrV3H1wk/s320/20170703_111952.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sideview of the table, and my nephew going through the monster cards to pick who he wanted. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYknvRFBfWDDs79GkBzW675Rth1oi4orNezPHxWCVrjK4E-2z41mmdq7VanUtK8iNyYT3FsNBvJBahCrnAu5Gm0vejR7AJrGxR9fx5lUU0tWAesQFQNbVKL9_Y3KN_2FDhAsarhz0R8Q/s1600/20170703_112001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYknvRFBfWDDs79GkBzW675Rth1oi4orNezPHxWCVrjK4E-2z41mmdq7VanUtK8iNyYT3FsNBvJBahCrnAu5Gm0vejR7AJrGxR9fx5lUU0tWAesQFQNbVKL9_Y3KN_2FDhAsarhz0R8Q/s320/20170703_112001.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Close up of Bowling Green itself, with my buildings on their new bases, and the round building to the mid-left is the the Time Warp Movie Theatre (it has classic action movie posters up on its walls).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLM35pZz6oW4Psn4AF98XD7bKFWTIbJ5qb7nTNtH6cckhEhoUwppj2hVz9Vd2cUzfK8Y_sAc1WpoM1x4iQO9dmp1NnYAvYGnLvmphhmaKFqvrsNodK5MJWDYfkNDGPR_VV7FBI7B2TXaA/s1600/20170703_115438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLM35pZz6oW4Psn4AF98XD7bKFWTIbJ5qb7nTNtH6cckhEhoUwppj2hVz9Vd2cUzfK8Y_sAc1WpoM1x4iQO9dmp1NnYAvYGnLvmphhmaKFqvrsNodK5MJWDYfkNDGPR_VV7FBI7B2TXaA/s320/20170703_115438.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Destroyah flew onto the board, the slower moving (Avatar of the...) Volcano God behind. Destroyah has already done a number on the only working bridge across the river with his Oxygen-Destroyah (area effect) breath. The schoolhouse is next.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1650rmG_eKZe3rkLFEq6GtbcKutJDOnZ7Q3BC6vUrkcZPKX4L5RbL9K7sTbepoZW1LrIjmZTjI_8eGrSqvaTWt2OJfRKCVHBmAP8RRTcUJLRItFDapqVkDuXDnX-JA4SVfieY2lRB2Y0/s1600/20170703_121323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1424" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1650rmG_eKZe3rkLFEq6GtbcKutJDOnZ7Q3BC6vUrkcZPKX4L5RbL9K7sTbepoZW1LrIjmZTjI_8eGrSqvaTWt2OJfRKCVHBmAP8RRTcUJLRItFDapqVkDuXDnX-JA4SVfieY2lRB2Y0/s320/20170703_121323.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Destroyah keeps flying, for some reason still far away from the nuke plant. Godzilla and Mothra go out to meet the monsters, the army meanwhile tries to find a good blocking point. At the bottom you can see my monster dice cups! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zSWqXj30gi6bh0-lZ-0xKpR2fAM8IKk-aCb13nkHVLRz5GCkzAeLibVQOmJrIK4xJfaUtx1b2gzYm3ysR7P8ZmjPOzmdc8fHaepLhQiSkEkyFn2gFpevctA1PfHLbcj9T47K6eahnmg/s1600/20170703_121338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zSWqXj30gi6bh0-lZ-0xKpR2fAM8IKk-aCb13nkHVLRz5GCkzAeLibVQOmJrIK4xJfaUtx1b2gzYm3ysR7P8ZmjPOzmdc8fHaepLhQiSkEkyFn2gFpevctA1PfHLbcj9T47K6eahnmg/s320/20170703_121338.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It wasn't intentional, but I really like this and the next shots of Destroyah as a silhouette in the background. May try to sepia tone this. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOLVAZ-7C8MuVOHtNolMDZWaHqH4ARdfp2fg_O_UVh8aqq9cg0e-GNlySaIL4ByW05jyhgSt6pbCdAzQRrp4HxzQs5baOwktzImHwUQ6eJNVRJgEXrWaJP_rnYO9uuCvJ8ib4v0XTxRs/s1600/20170703_121342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOLVAZ-7C8MuVOHtNolMDZWaHqH4ARdfp2fg_O_UVh8aqq9cg0e-GNlySaIL4ByW05jyhgSt6pbCdAzQRrp4HxzQs5baOwktzImHwUQ6eJNVRJgEXrWaJP_rnYO9uuCvJ8ib4v0XTxRs/s320/20170703_121342.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Turns out Destroyah was really on an end-run through the city, destroying buildings with his breath weapon or his fists! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23UEv1aai8HVAtr8OvkW8lZ94EZRBKcfOIIFnz5dOqgHocOFfDNmo0hPDCWMtCk2xOW3fYfH-LA2tOJqctnI2FYab1gY-lVa3fZd7flYiXhF77Ds5u0ZI96UPKVs5w7dGdtS3iMF3LLg/s1600/20170704_093849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23UEv1aai8HVAtr8OvkW8lZ94EZRBKcfOIIFnz5dOqgHocOFfDNmo0hPDCWMtCk2xOW3fYfH-LA2tOJqctnI2FYab1gY-lVa3fZd7flYiXhF77Ds5u0ZI96UPKVs5w7dGdtS3iMF3LLg/s320/20170704_093849.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My nephew knew the Time Warp Movie Theatre was special too me, so he made sure to blow it up! (I still need to make ruined versions of the building bases, so smoke would had to do). But Mothra has swept in behind Destroyah now! The Volcano God is still plodding along, he's paused at the river now.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKNclw2B9tIckXpTOCrLeWtTuKzdhUDFBUvFGAtKiwpEb6vrovcZB8FjV-MPo2TfNdedw7seaMK79DFquEQA11EcekTGliBiBKCfbtvvsLGNLVui4KopcXDT-ah43PqrDUCZJlcyU67g/s1600/20170704_093856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKNclw2B9tIckXpTOCrLeWtTuKzdhUDFBUvFGAtKiwpEb6vrovcZB8FjV-MPo2TfNdedw7seaMK79DFquEQA11EcekTGliBiBKCfbtvvsLGNLVui4KopcXDT-ah43PqrDUCZJlcyU67g/s320/20170704_093856.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Godzilla had to do a bit of a two-step peek-a-boo game with Destroyah, but now we had him trapped! Unfortunately on Godzilla's first radioactive breath attack I rolled a 1, so no more juice until a reactor went up!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xbV6sVRSoXw6yDyVQcv9Bzsrjh_-MFHYMe-N_rndBr5Hz_v6w9ZJDRxqQ5QUjkVM1K5P2EcifaG1-AuXKJDI6yuvil-WdSL0lg6pF3g6uh9JvKshoHGlTo_NhsN9GSi2rhQSpda3riU/s1600/20170704_093910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xbV6sVRSoXw6yDyVQcv9Bzsrjh_-MFHYMe-N_rndBr5Hz_v6w9ZJDRxqQ5QUjkVM1K5P2EcifaG1-AuXKJDI6yuvil-WdSL0lg6pF3g6uh9JvKshoHGlTo_NhsN9GSi2rhQSpda3riU/s320/20170704_093910.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was playing some kaiju music I bought off WarGame Vault or RPGNow (Bailey Records), but here I wish I had the Flight of Valkyries going! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYj4fjaWosd0ml-l3urFZIs5HoChCn-QtzyEKrPo1RM1XTJCRnmk2Jtk0fFpxKlVGehqyhL55vE14MAlzhn1LrZLtcEM2BWADi1dBPAD0fKdYfQ5Xt24raZ-0KZhNwiL4-uRO6jSp_kI/s1600/20170704_094536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYj4fjaWosd0ml-l3urFZIs5HoChCn-QtzyEKrPo1RM1XTJCRnmk2Jtk0fFpxKlVGehqyhL55vE14MAlzhn1LrZLtcEM2BWADi1dBPAD0fKdYfQ5Xt24raZ-0KZhNwiL4-uRO6jSp_kI/s320/20170704_094536.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A close up of Destroyah at NOE height. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2zGVFBJgL03wkbbWuGaMOq47miqXRdjkoO3-S63TIqQM3O8GEFXo4SlXBWG9gatYJiY1nS7bsNw7tmLrSwtmmraE0AMSQm8CFlNTzEH5yLNiC6gr0n8M6Zz7qHCxElg-PeLe1wks47U/s1600/20170704_105345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2zGVFBJgL03wkbbWuGaMOq47miqXRdjkoO3-S63TIqQM3O8GEFXo4SlXBWG9gatYJiY1nS7bsNw7tmLrSwtmmraE0AMSQm8CFlNTzEH5yLNiC6gr0n8M6Zz7qHCxElg-PeLe1wks47U/s320/20170704_105345.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Things are going to hell in a handbasket now in Bowling Green. Godzilla and Mothra are beating on Destroyah, but the Volcano God's gotten into the city and has the nuclear plant in his (fortunately short-ranged) sights. The army forces are trying to shoot him, but he is pretty well armoured, and one of the tanks also forgot to bring its ammunition... However, Bowling Green was saved from radioactive disaster when the Volcano God's first (and only) shot at the cooling tower missed. And then...</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6KgsefQht2Oa5_Ko_s0AD9w155kaMFprdW_yNmOnn9VgATOYxrgmNOl7ozQFd9FuD10XLN5mIdk8ksXiKJeo6HWkdlDA0YKRZd6xm6MypdZK6fspPp18-asFnaxZsrMU7a6VYyLuJr8/s1600/20170704_111815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6KgsefQht2Oa5_Ko_s0AD9w155kaMFprdW_yNmOnn9VgATOYxrgmNOl7ozQFd9FuD10XLN5mIdk8ksXiKJeo6HWkdlDA0YKRZd6xm6MypdZK6fspPp18-asFnaxZsrMU7a6VYyLuJr8/s320/20170704_111815.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Big G showed up to fight him. Meanwhile Mothra had released a poison gas cloud that was putting some hurt on Destroyah. For some reason in his next turn my nephew decided to try to activate the Volcano God first AND chose to roll three dice, getting three failures, so Destroyah was stuck in the poisonous cloud of moth wing dust for another turn.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
At that point though real life intervened - we'd played this over two mornings, avoiding my younger (2yo) nephews and their real life monster rampages, and it was a nice weekend so we packed up and spent the rest of it outside, doing proper summery things.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
All told, I hadn't killed any monsters, so no VP for me; Destroyah was Stunned, almost Wounded, but nowhere near deaded. I'd only taken one Wound for Mothra's use of the poisonous cloud. Theo, however, had 3 VP for all of his rampaging destruction, so a Minor Victory to him. Again!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-26151188194113859992017-07-06T19:16:00.001-04:002017-07-17T14:05:11.267-04:00CanGames VisitOn the Canadian Victoria Day long weekend in May (yes, I know, another late report!) I made the trek to Ottawa for my first visit to CanGames, the major local games convention. The games started Friday afternoon/evening, but there was no way to get out of my work schedule in order to make it for those sessions, so I drove up to Ottawa on the Friday, planning to get an early start Saturday.<br />
<br />
I had pre-registered for four specific games, Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons. I had plans for dinner with my brothers and family Saturday night, and planned on driving home Sunday evening so I could get at least one full day of "rest" at home on Monday. <br />
<br />
Having a couple of nephews in Ottawa, I was able to take the older one (my opponent in a few game reports here) to the con Saturday to browse the vendors and see the early morning action before my mid-morning session started. He was technically too young to register and play this year, though next year he should be good to go, given he's already a veteran of a couple of Ganesha Games rulesets and Silent Death, and a few GMs as we were browsing the games offered to let him in. He was pretty impressed with all that was going on (despite not getting indulged in everything he wanted to buy!) and has an idea of what games he wants to get into next year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2PwKriBg3E_cd4LTLOAnVR3-HqMuoUlhmr-Zdk0wkkKFEXmGRwI3ylhzcXQaRURqAErtNeJE3_Z3AkeoSAyHqWDVc3A6dRv6oUHwoiP2idqS_cd4VcMX8P0vTbZzIQcCM9h5nIA3U88/s1600/20170520_095353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2PwKriBg3E_cd4LTLOAnVR3-HqMuoUlhmr-Zdk0wkkKFEXmGRwI3ylhzcXQaRURqAErtNeJE3_Z3AkeoSAyHqWDVc3A6dRv6oUHwoiP2idqS_cd4VcMX8P0vTbZzIQcCM9h5nIA3U88/s320/20170520_095353.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A shot from the back of the hall (a local curling rink), with some open tables in the front of the shot, miniatures back towards the windows, and the RPGers and board gamers behind the glass, in the lobby area and upper eating area. CanGames hosts all three types of games - RPGs, boardgames, and miniatures. Word on the street is it's more of the former than the latter, but there seemed to be at least a half dozen miniatures games going on in every slot.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTRUL9kXg2fVQg520U0TKpkV8O4Uk0FoVgCr7kVvkXm3s1xK85j-Kf-pJCd9MKCn-S-DOXkthvMTEocy7KlFGm3c-Y9aldr7yF5IafQReNWzaHLtN_J8c9uvgK4MICqumMtcHiQ_7Qg0/s1600/20170520_095408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTRUL9kXg2fVQg520U0TKpkV8O4Uk0FoVgCr7kVvkXm3s1xK85j-Kf-pJCd9MKCn-S-DOXkthvMTEocy7KlFGm3c-Y9aldr7yF5IafQReNWzaHLtN_J8c9uvgK4MICqumMtcHiQ_7Qg0/s320/20170520_095408.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
Theo with his free comic book from registration, he also picked up some Pokemon packs and a bead do-hickey from a craft vendor.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E5gSrZnhqrV6AulIVle6IY30nATUzcEGgkUJasdFR0-0Bo73yQEdrOBN8DZBBX5PwymLbGbMxol3yLSwrC4PpqRv-evDZxf0r9HV74VmenarDISH20qpYbr6I9c_qOwODYnClJ_pu9s/s1600/20170520_095804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E5gSrZnhqrV6AulIVle6IY30nATUzcEGgkUJasdFR0-0Bo73yQEdrOBN8DZBBX5PwymLbGbMxol3yLSwrC4PpqRv-evDZxf0r9HV74VmenarDISH20qpYbr6I9c_qOwODYnClJ_pu9s/s320/20170520_095804.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
One of several books Theo wanted me to buy, without knowing what it was for or what type of game it represented. I held him off, though I sort of regret not indulging him in the old Citadel how-to paint guide for miniatures - so I'll have to point him to Youtube.<br />
<br />
Now onto my game sessions:<br />
<br />
<b><u>Ogre - the Modern Version</u></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5mmP0rSNJYDT6gkB2c9dUTYDfGnPU-wpitKE3e4tV5kZwlp9yomKb1AZ0goWIGvinXMG0eQ10TaE7KWDY9CQe6HeYZh-RzpT-Vhq4w4VMpX1MACfuG922wsD7IlEBcGlKOWuE97ssOw/s1600/20170520_115516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5mmP0rSNJYDT6gkB2c9dUTYDfGnPU-wpitKE3e4tV5kZwlp9yomKb1AZ0goWIGvinXMG0eQ10TaE7KWDY9CQe6HeYZh-RzpT-Vhq4w4VMpX1MACfuG922wsD7IlEBcGlKOWuE97ssOw/s320/20170520_115516.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
Only one (in-focus) photo from this game, but this was just a quick basic battle with the new Kickstarter powered big box version of the game, a fair sight different than my 1983 pocket game from Steve Jackson Games. Garth had a few games running, and my opponent, Bryan, and I played the traditional intro scenario of an Ogre coming out of the seas to attack a headquarters. It'd been a long time since I played Ogre, but I picked it up pretty quickly, it was interesting how the rules came flooding out of my memory once I saw the data sheet for my Ogre. <br />
<br />
Funny thing was I just started the Ogre from where Gareth had placed it on the board, to the left in the picture above. My opponent had set up his defending forces as speed bumps in front of the command post, in the top right above. When I started rolling up straight ahead, sticking to the left, his forces risked being outflanked and he had to move them over, which messed up his plans and he was never really able to gang up on me with everything he had. I eventually broke through before losing my treads, and hammered the CP with my last missile. Yay me!<br />
<br />
When I was asked about my unusual starting set-up, I thought about claiming it was strategic and tactical genius, but I owned up that I was just too lazy to move the Ogre.<br />
<br />
This is one of the games Theo wants to try next year.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Fort William Henry</u></b><br />
Saturday afternoon I got into a six player 28mm game assaulting Fort William Henry, brought up from Kingston I believe by Ed. This is the awesome fort itself, in a slightly out of focus photo:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgS_oZj_wemZLlhkHgncpOxoi6Yyt-0ugO_7k0ylpsv1pMJ6OVdKbv9d-HB2lgF_uGqIOLJjgWE_8HyYTuZZaGoi2XByAncJgBXaotVD5asoR7aForeCes-CXKrhG9flKcUtEuQiOkxo/s1600/20170520_135556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgS_oZj_wemZLlhkHgncpOxoi6Yyt-0ugO_7k0ylpsv1pMJ6OVdKbv9d-HB2lgF_uGqIOLJjgWE_8HyYTuZZaGoi2XByAncJgBXaotVD5asoR7aForeCes-CXKrhG9flKcUtEuQiOkxo/s320/20170520_135556.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
I was one of four French players vs. two British players. We had two forces of top-notch regular troops, one force of suspect regulars and naval marines (my guys), and a force of natives. The British had a bunch of forces inside the fort, and as it turned out, some within hailing distance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWVMBPCZWSVO9l_m6cYGuM3KoKWYwN0W1rMg8VZmLze6LEZa56XKPz1mT8Vmiui_UlCWsatjXWqszzAbNAZfUCWdW4rplcjQNUadSCy1IJH40QPOXk_YBYb7WIcgohCqnzM552GND7Co/s1600/20170520_143515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWVMBPCZWSVO9l_m6cYGuM3KoKWYwN0W1rMg8VZmLze6LEZa56XKPz1mT8Vmiui_UlCWsatjXWqszzAbNAZfUCWdW4rplcjQNUadSCy1IJH40QPOXk_YBYb7WIcgohCqnzM552GND7Co/s320/20170520_143515.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A view from the French lines and our central gun battery, with the fort in the distance. Ed's homebrew rules play the game at three levels, very high level strategic turns (so trenches can be dug, reinforcements sent for, etc.), more operation turns, and then tactical turns once the fighting gets into people's faces. There were a lot of events in the game as well - small pox broke out in the fort, British reinforcements showed up before we could seal off the fort from all sides, etc.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIjInj17tOte6jirk9XWwXgCIlgs_LvqPKE-v7YOpAXshIe-moxF9VFrBxX6_3s-k33oQokqWXPTx1_90WGZWg0Q-HEcVztpcki-fWdHqD4PEYCpDxIDfTlo-sQqyhEOUmLVU0MTAdA0/s1600/20170520_145437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIjInj17tOte6jirk9XWwXgCIlgs_LvqPKE-v7YOpAXshIe-moxF9VFrBxX6_3s-k33oQokqWXPTx1_90WGZWg0Q-HEcVztpcki-fWdHqD4PEYCpDxIDfTlo-sQqyhEOUmLVU0MTAdA0/s320/20170520_145437.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I did that! I controlled one French gun battery, and some good rolls blew up part of the British gun line in the fort.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TcSiuu39KqjneAGIquNA28C03nLZ29e1ooiyOTOLUYX8CcEcqX6vsuzwaXWljUDPMpn4szy6562lJWU2mW6gNRwPLDLLG079kubcuHNIBPwuoiGxT32vVuic3qplX1UByEv-p8og9F8/s1600/20170520_145457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TcSiuu39KqjneAGIquNA28C03nLZ29e1ooiyOTOLUYX8CcEcqX6vsuzwaXWljUDPMpn4szy6562lJWU2mW6gNRwPLDLLG079kubcuHNIBPwuoiGxT32vVuic3qplX1UByEv-p8og9F8/s320/20170520_145457.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My troops eventually setting up in the French trench supporting the guns. A long way from the fort.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFa-EdpXS881-Srfkp0H-lAdlIa6TSSNrY0Cgo-B3qRe6yLuzlvAzhHytpuAWw5ipZ1Gi9qzVZbogLav4JffYNCZ0TdQAjSgx3ipLDRmOU1gS1P1RFM13MmpUDpv2fpJBfWBCpXQVJdM/s1600/20170520_145520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFa-EdpXS881-Srfkp0H-lAdlIa6TSSNrY0Cgo-B3qRe6yLuzlvAzhHytpuAWw5ipZ1Gi9qzVZbogLav4JffYNCZ0TdQAjSgx3ipLDRmOU1gS1P1RFM13MmpUDpv2fpJBfWBCpXQVJdM/s320/20170520_145520.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Me, in a totally accurate portrayal. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TNBUS6-GpY2VDuTNLYGiYiClTdd12Bl3ftw-wQEA09SMihZ-C_NB9_V9F67uEUOm5zhjQbj4mgNIF93j-pMXy2A7peMsAz3IntONkrzI9Q613H8n-h0u7lx0weG5opXH1lubBCuGOrk/s1600/20170520_153659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TNBUS6-GpY2VDuTNLYGiYiClTdd12Bl3ftw-wQEA09SMihZ-C_NB9_V9F67uEUOm5zhjQbj4mgNIF93j-pMXy2A7peMsAz3IntONkrzI9Q613H8n-h0u7lx0weG5opXH1lubBCuGOrk/s320/20170520_153659.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We've dug our trenches in front of the fort and blown a breach (at last!) in it; unfortunately our heavy mortars got blown up pretty much right away, so there wasn't much left to do but finally charge in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeckwkH7PZf1ESeMlGAl0bgm3vSCPCkn-ry2IRpn6Eg6TXHhmAQGHig8dtp71-LSTIiU5Gm3wPBg3Fptw_qPP1zkHI04OBVQOUFmvGb7xa1tZc3eRwyH6uwKBuB7lZun_zuyJnbQBmNA/s1600/20170520_161413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeckwkH7PZf1ESeMlGAl0bgm3vSCPCkn-ry2IRpn6Eg6TXHhmAQGHig8dtp71-LSTIiU5Gm3wPBg3Fptw_qPP1zkHI04OBVQOUFmvGb7xa1tZc3eRwyH6uwKBuB7lZun_zuyJnbQBmNA/s320/20170520_161413.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The first force got into the fort, but wasn't able to hold anything and got shot up pretty badly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc5ZX3NZ65P_uCPAn47e6T5O2g4S2wNEAhwXGFT5W4vEycNgr0-e00_hFHyM0f18XEbVxjbNgftPxCbj8ex0CiMb6c12Y7ESHvTA-8p_pVBtG58mD_LH0FZxDeh8VZIr8Vxc7HPKAUPA/s1600/20170520_161420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc5ZX3NZ65P_uCPAn47e6T5O2g4S2wNEAhwXGFT5W4vEycNgr0-e00_hFHyM0f18XEbVxjbNgftPxCbj8ex0CiMb6c12Y7ESHvTA-8p_pVBtG58mD_LH0FZxDeh8VZIr8Vxc7HPKAUPA/s320/20170520_161420.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My guys in the trench on the left, waiting there turn for death or glory (never both).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-Z214xOObO7Y87v6zWJE7MbbJbDBoNUubxaYnse4knxz-qQ8fT0dWGHR3YDm4YxYDsKnT0Yrs-L7vcC11yeTSaE1twoRN3imzGcg7rVXMlyBlhmJXImZnVzvX-aYaxmVQPx9dH4HPHQ/s1600/20170520_164458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-Z214xOObO7Y87v6zWJE7MbbJbDBoNUubxaYnse4knxz-qQ8fT0dWGHR3YDm4YxYDsKnT0Yrs-L7vcC11yeTSaE1twoRN3imzGcg7rVXMlyBlhmJXImZnVzvX-aYaxmVQPx9dH4HPHQ/s320/20170520_164458.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Some of our native help - they were off to the side of the fort, trying to climb over one wall and assault a rear gate, more to distract the British than really with the hope of taking the fort that way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sQpJqHiVsupyoFj3k99MfTtgsSo9PeytvgeLEGGx8hQxA1GSB0goD70Jp-miZ_Onx7LaX9jihVQajJYvmDLce1MEkSt8v-Qee6V5lUPmZhcfT2MQV_tzeH4Y8gn9HVcuWWTU4oZF9Og/s1600/20170520_173128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sQpJqHiVsupyoFj3k99MfTtgsSo9PeytvgeLEGGx8hQxA1GSB0goD70Jp-miZ_Onx7LaX9jihVQajJYvmDLce1MEkSt8v-Qee6V5lUPmZhcfT2MQV_tzeH4Y8gn9HVcuWWTU4oZF9Og/s320/20170520_173128.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My guys coming out of the trench and (once more) into the breach. They fought well and some were still there at the end, but our attack had petered out and the British weren't going anywhere with their reinforcements in place.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Samurai Battle - Battle of Azukizaka</u></b><br />
From the convention schedule: "The Battle of Azukizaka took place in 1564, Tokugawa Ieyasu sought to destroy the growing threat of the Ikkō-ikki, a league of monks, samurai and peasants who were strongly against samurai rule." This was a six player (a seventh player got squeezed in on the samurai side) game using Pike and Shotte rules modified for the samurai period and 15mm figures.<br />
<br />
I'll start with some nice shots of the figures, buildings, and great terrain mat Mike had:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_AkfyCchh53G3Gjo-zWhvSysEvQrrhVQth3tOLiaFCPcUI72s44_akV8D97Q2TDcO1WWSL5xtfkgjHjA6fW2eyfghzvgmkGEGwReYISMlJpxThZmINqOkRNBUCGVCje3MMM3M53Slls/s1600/20170521_085212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_AkfyCchh53G3Gjo-zWhvSysEvQrrhVQth3tOLiaFCPcUI72s44_akV8D97Q2TDcO1WWSL5xtfkgjHjA6fW2eyfghzvgmkGEGwReYISMlJpxThZmINqOkRNBUCGVCje3MMM3M53Slls/s320/20170521_085212.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-qGlP5dO7yVbYVpvGV6zdKzR4VWkowFYX8rZIUt4ZFV9DEoygMESMyr18-IHdW0V9Cjf3wcFx5mnSxVI0Fat6AeBZXJQn6HfDhRtmMFKqPKeqlSJUED6wzX7rN_3vurhToOYagnK08c/s1600/20170521_085249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-qGlP5dO7yVbYVpvGV6zdKzR4VWkowFYX8rZIUt4ZFV9DEoygMESMyr18-IHdW0V9Cjf3wcFx5mnSxVI0Fat6AeBZXJQn6HfDhRtmMFKqPKeqlSJUED6wzX7rN_3vurhToOYagnK08c/s320/20170521_085249.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXOEaqcCc4QHrSiBz7cJic2GzpO1yQZ_whh4cfIGNm76de783l4YDCAFgTtqKiMRgCXPulGmpaANj9VJNlKWMXQxNrMANyEMBVUXAoO0e1EiMV9eoGAMazQXvnlgbl9Tq_QXYH6MM7xA/s1600/20170521_085315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXOEaqcCc4QHrSiBz7cJic2GzpO1yQZ_whh4cfIGNm76de783l4YDCAFgTtqKiMRgCXPulGmpaANj9VJNlKWMXQxNrMANyEMBVUXAoO0e1EiMV9eoGAMazQXvnlgbl9Tq_QXYH6MM7xA/s320/20170521_085315.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0fwc37GeSTVe7dtPx_ID6OPkTapl3M1zsdwocpIfVBcIsmCc5XCti7f3WRXUKZQtLFx306upzknzlUG7_6t6fTWf1MdcTdm3ZDsMMTHcbkD4tCyifNDOKeGDIfbXfBG_tAJwioDOyhw/s1600/20170521_091600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0fwc37GeSTVe7dtPx_ID6OPkTapl3M1zsdwocpIfVBcIsmCc5XCti7f3WRXUKZQtLFx306upzknzlUG7_6t6fTWf1MdcTdm3ZDsMMTHcbkD4tCyifNDOKeGDIfbXfBG_tAJwioDOyhw/s320/20170521_091600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My guys - I had the left flank on the side of the monks. However my commander and forces were all samurai, who had recently left the Tokugawa side over a dispute on how the samurai were treating the monks. However, my loyalty to the monks wasn't that solid, and I had a secret objective (all players had one) to be on the winning side and respect bravery, and if I saw our commander killed in personal combat with Tokugawa, then I'd switch back to the samurai. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEklzneixyn_pdkW8Yru_uR3MmCm2jsCR-w4GCoxepsPjSuq0HOTUZkLxVH96fROrpBMco5Wfei9UQSN1PzHer51XpamA81dte92qrrfMiUKvTS6aPwCjilwAp5VmysgBZP4hpqnQRzzk/s1600/20170521_105246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEklzneixyn_pdkW8Yru_uR3MmCm2jsCR-w4GCoxepsPjSuq0HOTUZkLxVH96fROrpBMco5Wfei9UQSN1PzHer51XpamA81dte92qrrfMiUKvTS6aPwCjilwAp5VmysgBZP4hpqnQRzzk/s320/20170521_105246.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And even though I tried to attack the samurai opposing me, between the three of us (two samurai players and me), we couldn't get anything going thanks to crappy activation rolls. On the far right, it seemed back and forth, but ultimately I believe the monks had routed the samurai cavalry, but not permanently routed them, and now they were coming back with a vengeance. The centre of the table was a bloodbath, but ultimately the monks appeared to be prevailing. However, that turned out to be a trap, as the photo above sort of shows. Tokugawa had indeed challenged and killed the monk leader, and I promptly betrayed my allies and turned my force to come at the monks' in the centre from behind. The samurai I'd been facing were now free to turn and take the monks in the flank, and meanwhile the monks in the centre were busily running forwards to chase down the fleeing samurai, leaving themselves open to our attacks in the flank and rear. At that point we called the game as being ultimately a samurai victory - giving me my objective!<br />
<br />
<b><u>Battle of Hohenfriedberg</u></b><br />
Again from the CanGames schedule: "Frederick the Great's defence of his conquest of Silesia against the Austrians and Saxons during the War of Austrian Succession, 4 June 1745" in 15mm using a homebrew variant of the Warmaster rules. <br />
<br />
Although up to twelve spots were available we ended up with seven players and that still worked out well. There were four on the Austrian/Saxon side, and three of us gentlemanly Prussian types. The actual battle (as explained to us) was adjusted a bit for this scenario, combing what was in reality two separate battles on one day into one rolling battle.<br />
<br />
As you can see, the table was huge and filled with figures!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXwNx0ceqnZlvvNqU6CwLlbKyIV7kcOp8FuPV0i-CiOU8jbZrGiYvirqgC_dnZ0IqtUr4ckSyMbQ8oTUnnZlnnuk6JX6oq5tHjaDMZGrOM3BnmNhkGDn4HOagPFx8dAcEO_CHCtQk8pg/s1600/20170521_140408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXwNx0ceqnZlvvNqU6CwLlbKyIV7kcOp8FuPV0i-CiOU8jbZrGiYvirqgC_dnZ0IqtUr4ckSyMbQ8oTUnnZlnnuk6JX6oq5tHjaDMZGrOM3BnmNhkGDn4HOagPFx8dAcEO_CHCtQk8pg/s320/20170521_140408.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQYa23AiWFpdiGLF4Elb7sNLlcK2SLgR5AtdEXWmDvN7za4oTS05x0jS7TPM1vN3G8-pwBHgYDpWhCy94JkhoUw1IWEo6IStV1V9tk4nt9RZ6LldwRFQ-6q8mReuek8VYQIxb92DIGyU/s1600/20170521_145601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQYa23AiWFpdiGLF4Elb7sNLlcK2SLgR5AtdEXWmDvN7za4oTS05x0jS7TPM1vN3G8-pwBHgYDpWhCy94JkhoUw1IWEo6IStV1V9tk4nt9RZ6LldwRFQ-6q8mReuek8VYQIxb92DIGyU/s320/20170521_145601.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
These are my guys on the Prussian left - two and half cavalry brigades and four infantry brigades. Our plan was to follow the rough outline of the actual battle - hammer the Austrians on our right and centre, with more emphasis on the right (the centre had to keep the Austrian left from being reinforced). Then we could roll up the evil Austrians and Saxons from one flank to the other. My job on our left was to not lose the battle before that happened, despite being outnumbered about 3:2.5 in cavalry (not much of a difference) and at least 14:4 in infantry (I think it was really into the 20s:4).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5xkfDYHH-1h6XOfuJdu05K9JVc6UDF1MG1XG3EDfM019Irek1RcDJB5UKsJShpt-uoHzpvPZ21RvMa0APAKEuWs64sFphOHyUEN4zhZYV4wROPiW_coN283GhwpiOY0zygEb4cKNPSc/s1600/20170521_152502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5xkfDYHH-1h6XOfuJdu05K9JVc6UDF1MG1XG3EDfM019Irek1RcDJB5UKsJShpt-uoHzpvPZ21RvMa0APAKEuWs64sFphOHyUEN4zhZYV4wROPiW_coN283GhwpiOY0zygEb4cKNPSc/s320/20170521_152502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Some of the action on the Prussian right - the Austrians were on the ball and blunted the first attacks, both on the right (their left) and the centre. Eventually though they fell to the continuous attacks we were inflicting upon them. The turmoil on that side of the table did help as it pulled some of the infantry on my side of the table over there (hence why I think it was about 14:4 on my side by the end).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWGa9ca6ukYUfuposIGDcC-7nMCazaoXyeFiBNLg1SMvPEx0JzepklIdJ04uAnlydqfSs7HO5Nr1BzMlYiWSADUSJxjyc-SpLsspDZd0RUL4qN4yFpnXS2iqwSumOfkv3vyNVFgQXm3g/s1600/20170521_171535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWGa9ca6ukYUfuposIGDcC-7nMCazaoXyeFiBNLg1SMvPEx0JzepklIdJ04uAnlydqfSs7HO5Nr1BzMlYiWSADUSJxjyc-SpLsspDZd0RUL4qN4yFpnXS2iqwSumOfkv3vyNVFgQXm3g/s320/20170521_171535.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My side near the end game, well into the battle. My infantry is formed in a bend, with the cavalry on my left still and our centre forces joined up with mine. My role in this battle, fighting a delaying action, actually played to my strength as a gamer, as I like to think I'm pretty good as a spoiler, keeping an attacker from getting a good grip with me.<br />
<br />
So in this battle I sent my cavalry strongly and quickly off to my left to face off the Saxons, but then halted, leaving the Saxons with the choice of chugging through a stream to get to me or waiting for their infantry to threaten my cavalry's right flank, and they choose to sit and wait, which played into my game.<br />
<br />
My infantry also moved up quickly, looking to grab some swampy terrain to anchor a flank on and occupy table space so I'd have lots of space to retreat back through if I needed to, keeping the Saxons from getting me into a decisive fight. That mostly worked for my infantry, I made a mistake and didn't get to anchor my right flank like I'd wished, mainly because I was thinking with a Napoleonic mindset and not an 18th century one, and I blinked thinking I was going to get hammered in a close assault. Otherwise though, my quick move and deployment into wide lines had the Saxons do the same on their side, which took time they didn't have.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7w11k1MoogKw5pPSfUpADasa0XE5W_yaZ8hiH7rz1kgH_OmOdFNYYqUD4iZz-LYJsk3G32uuXWyvplO28xRDlfJoI8EC-BySj4671vU_kS1wc_oWArWoanpc8efLBk68R0HuB5yM4Ao/s1600/20170521_180102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7w11k1MoogKw5pPSfUpADasa0XE5W_yaZ8hiH7rz1kgH_OmOdFNYYqUD4iZz-LYJsk3G32uuXWyvplO28xRDlfJoI8EC-BySj4671vU_kS1wc_oWArWoanpc8efLBk68R0HuB5yM4Ao/s320/20170521_180102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The end of the game, declared a narrow Prussian victory as the Austrian centre and left had collapsed and they didn't break through on their right (our left - my side!). My cavalry had taken a beating once the Saxons started coming at me, but I gave back better. My lines of infantry held and were in no risk, again giving as good as they got, and our centre was now able to start moving infantry over to help if I'd needed it.<br />
<br />
It was a really fun, tense game, given my objectives and the razor's edge the game ended on. I think it was one of my better games ever as a player, really satisfying and rewarding. My colleagues on the centre and right played really well and also seemed to enjoy the game, hopefully the Austrians and Saxons did too!<br />
<br />
<b><u>Odds and Ends</u></b><br />
A few random photos and final thoughts:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkYgDb2NK93ZYpzzikT8B2zT8svkIbp3MJB_w3R_Ihw8rXqfEpkH3pE_4tRpGcr5_DUZWYR9fIWMQheh_4JFCbEC1kj-DMGndkVC0XRrnHqh0VhICwhreyiWH8OSSAempQzhUkv_X610/s1600/20170521_102010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkYgDb2NK93ZYpzzikT8B2zT8svkIbp3MJB_w3R_Ihw8rXqfEpkH3pE_4tRpGcr5_DUZWYR9fIWMQheh_4JFCbEC1kj-DMGndkVC0XRrnHqh0VhICwhreyiWH8OSSAempQzhUkv_X610/s320/20170521_102010.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
This was a game of Modern Naval Battles with miniatures called "Trump's Folly" - China vs. the USA.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjHpkj5J3MS7wyoUrsKYe3qRxY0ktX6KEiN16BBQgv2VGRnbO4ws3mPbArI_J_vbhtu5isrRmsrDrnOaXyyVrHUw-VJN0DzG13dI8E59JVH8QFL7bYoz-N-QY5T5BlXHkN8mUgvbkBbo/s1600/20170521_134359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjHpkj5J3MS7wyoUrsKYe3qRxY0ktX6KEiN16BBQgv2VGRnbO4ws3mPbArI_J_vbhtu5isrRmsrDrnOaXyyVrHUw-VJN0DzG13dI8E59JVH8QFL7bYoz-N-QY5T5BlXHkN8mUgvbkBbo/s320/20170521_134359.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A cool game of Lego mecha, using Mobile Frame Zero: Rapid Attack - Theo and I plan to play in this next year!<br />
<br />
I also had a pretty good haul at the vendors and the CanGames equivalent of the Bring-and-Buy (I only did the Buy part). Between the BnB and the Crossed Swords booth I got about 12 1/72 WWII vehicle kits (probably about 15 vehicles total) for about $60 Cdn. A few were for the hell of it, others filled in some needs for my Chain of Command project(s), ever useful T-34s, Soviet trucks, different Shermans, etc. I also got three old GW Warhammer faction books (codexes I guess) to use as painting guides for my 6mm Warhammer world project, I think two were $2, one was all of $3!<br />
<br />
I scored some Ospreys as well, and again from Crossed Swords, TWO (yes two) of Essex's 15mm carriages for use in my Song of Drums and Shakos skirmish gaming (and SDS in non-Napoleonic periods, like the ECW).<br />
<br />
My main brag though was finding a copy of SPI's Musket and Pike boardgame for $12. Yes, $12. Canadian. I've seen it on ebay and online used game stores for $85 to $115, and I got this copy in decent shape (minus one counter that isn't mission critical) for $12. Did I mention that? M&P isn't a perfect game, but for the moment it's the closest we have to a pike and shot version of Commands and Colors, letting you play out historical battles, or imagi-nation ones, as you will. The Consimworld forum also has a bunch more fan-made scenarios, should I ever run out of the ones in the box. With a little effort one could even upscale the counters and play it out on C&C boards.<br />
<br />
So all in all I had a good time, met some really nice people and played in some fun games. As long as work allows it, I look forward to being back next year, particularly since I don't think I'll be able to make Hotlead in March. I may run a game, and certainly plan on playing in a few with my nephew, and maybe setting him loose on the kids games too.<br />
<br />
It was my first experience with a system for pre-registering for games, and although I didn't do so until about two weeks before the con (missing the early bird discount - I ain't always so smart), I got into all of my games. At the con, I sort of found out why - for many games I was the only, or maybe only one of two, person to pre-register. Everyone else were sign-ups once the sheets go down half an hour before the time slot. I'm not sure why more people don't pre-register; I was kind of paranoid that I wouldn't get any slots I wanted so I did it, and I still think I will so I can have some control over what I (and Theo) play in. I also don't like jostling to fight over a sheet. So my tip to give you the edge would be to do so too.<br />
<br />
That's all on CanGames 2017 from me, next up is "The True Story of the Bowling Green Massacre" (hint - it involves Godzilla!).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-69464364449991629372017-05-31T17:17:00.001-04:002017-05-31T17:17:20.971-04:00Empires at War 15mm BuildingsRecently these Empires at War 15mm timber-framed ECW-ish buildings came to my attention, so I ordered the three available thinking they were DIY kits, like most mdf buildings are. Imagine my surprise to find out that EAW assembles them for you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3rraJ-6xwY4jkKMVkSz-mptpsB3F-O-9IpLdgUrxgESrZk4cg1RrYmlPbgzRfStp_JHXZf0xfodh6OPJd0COnn-3I7DleTqM_wJ_vn0kY_CXeHEYDIHpGS0YTTmCQIlbiloBxYA1M_s/s1600/20170523_195322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3rraJ-6xwY4jkKMVkSz-mptpsB3F-O-9IpLdgUrxgESrZk4cg1RrYmlPbgzRfStp_JHXZf0xfodh6OPJd0COnn-3I7DleTqM_wJ_vn0kY_CXeHEYDIHpGS0YTTmCQIlbiloBxYA1M_s/s320/20170523_195322.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<div>
They came super-quick from the UK, and thanks to Mick at EAW asking at the post office about economy postage, super cheaply for shipping.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I did have to use a bit of brush-on matte varnish to take away the shine of some glue stains, and I also used brown and black markers to cover up some spots where the originally tan-ish mdf shows through (most mdf kits have this issue, and I usually do the same thing to them too). But otherwise they're great, and I've talked to Mick about some colour variation in the roof and/or chimney location, so I can get a few more to serve as part of my urban table for ECW skirmish gaming with Song of Drums and Shakos (my self-titled Song of Pikes and Matches variant).</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So the short version is "very recommended!".</div>
CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-89507344508366029922017-05-31T16:42:00.000-04:002017-05-31T16:47:16.997-04:00Broadsword 3 Game Convention in HamiltonBack on May 6th I travelled through flooded southern Ontario to get to Hamilton for the third installment of the <a href="http://www.htgs.ca/">Hamilton Tabletop Gaming Society's</a> one-day Broadsword gaming con. They started this last year and aim to have a couple per year, held at the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Veterans Hall. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This was my first time there, I'd tried to go last year but football conflicted with it - I have seasons tickets to the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, coincidentally their arch-rivals are the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, so I decided NOT to wear my Argos gear while wandering the streets of Hamilton.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This year though, I'd promised Barnaby, who major-domos the HTGS, that I'd try to come and I'd run a game if I did so. So I went to play in the morning and evening, and host a game of <i>Song of Drums and Shakos</i> in the afternoon session.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Getting there was easy enough early on a weekend morning, and I was very happy to find out the hall serves HOT FOOD ALL DAY LONG RIGHT IN THE GAMING AREA!!!! No cold sandwiches for lunch and dinner because I can't slip away from games starting or finishing or need to get my stuff set up. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The hall is nicely set up, though admittedly I have a certain fondness for legion halls, with two rooms for gaming during Broadsword, each with its own washroom (which I should probably put in all caps - more washroom space than Hotlead!). The crowd was friendly, there were a few vendors there, and it was well lit too.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the morning session I got in a game of <i>Might of Arms</i>, hosted as always by Mike Manning and his incredible collection of 1/72 plastic figures. This was a generic Thirty Years War battle using his mods to take MOA into the early horse and musket period.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Three of us served as loyal Catholic Imperialists, while another three players served as those terrible protesting Protestant Swedes with their new-fangled battle formations. In the picture below, the Imperialists are on the left, the Swedes on the right.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6YM2TjV0U5UF7NtOyJNSRefgohp1Otux5CTPN0LkCnR3xrNUsgb2_MGV6ZShWolPT-cdTYtzPlb7L7E2YP8lU5vL9nb07-MgZBhrQkmlug9f3pFP-WOaIMIaOILX3OdjemtQdtreXAI/s1600/20170506_092521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6YM2TjV0U5UF7NtOyJNSRefgohp1Otux5CTPN0LkCnR3xrNUsgb2_MGV6ZShWolPT-cdTYtzPlb7L7E2YP8lU5vL9nb07-MgZBhrQkmlug9f3pFP-WOaIMIaOILX3OdjemtQdtreXAI/s320/20170506_092521.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
The view from behind the Swedish lines (no useful intelligence was gained by my efforts to spy...). Each side had a wing of cavalry on each side, with Imperial tercios and Swedish brigades in the middle. The Swedes also had a force of commanded shot on their left and dragoons on their right, which seems a bit dirty...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTVcSzanYwEYjYI95A0bpyosEwMXz3T5tz3xm6oFGe7NTVcWf95rtrPsZ_NHLiA0AO9IMHtP85hHK73zC8RAe9ebcw4fOXMOKTth7dR3l8yav67otu1n5sYPEDczdsoDHJpyfph7uQiM/s1600/20170506_092535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTVcSzanYwEYjYI95A0bpyosEwMXz3T5tz3xm6oFGe7NTVcWf95rtrPsZ_NHLiA0AO9IMHtP85hHK73zC8RAe9ebcw4fOXMOKTth7dR3l8yav67otu1n5sYPEDczdsoDHJpyfph7uQiM/s320/20170506_092535.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My heroic tercios!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQ1UYmPBqRq8hswZP44K6JzaSZodqj9qAF6HBaN-X_mqpOHhxFARlZd3-edxHTudqrBXGfO2Gi0JYmZglPGXchKDmQPskM1lb91xyNukT1nX_0fFn4ZBJt96xAFfum5-APM_Odmw0vxg/s1600/20170506_100635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQ1UYmPBqRq8hswZP44K6JzaSZodqj9qAF6HBaN-X_mqpOHhxFARlZd3-edxHTudqrBXGfO2Gi0JYmZglPGXchKDmQPskM1lb91xyNukT1nX_0fFn4ZBJt96xAFfum5-APM_Odmw0vxg/s320/20170506_100635.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The heart of the battle...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IMrYFwkiYbDmp2lq9NC9pHMQVWv5QCxGh3nGlenvLFuEThoqlbQthkr8y4F9PNrvs6aJVbDqlixnrAFYzArY0n8fkqKB6T5i_2sJaBMls4jpaw3H_VEfnqglN4DO9TelM6lZLPl-3Rc/s1600/20170506_111455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IMrYFwkiYbDmp2lq9NC9pHMQVWv5QCxGh3nGlenvLFuEThoqlbQthkr8y4F9PNrvs6aJVbDqlixnrAFYzArY0n8fkqKB6T5i_2sJaBMls4jpaw3H_VEfnqglN4DO9TelM6lZLPl-3Rc/s320/20170506_111455.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
In the end, the Imperial cavalry on both sides was defeated, and while I'd driven off two-thirds of the Swedish front line, my tercios were too degraded to beat through the second line, and in fact one of my tercios was hung up by a small commanded shot force and couldn't even reach the Swedish second line by the time we called the game. It was like terriers nipping at the knees of a Great Dane.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the afternoon slot I ran <i>Songs of Drums and Shako</i><u>s</u> again, this time the "Troubles with the Ladies of Spain" scenario I haven't gotten to at other cons. In this, a French general was liaising with his Spanish mistress at one of her family estate's farmhouses when the two of them have a spat. She runs off to tell the British where he is, meanwhile her maid narcs on her to the French, who send off for reinforcements.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So we have a very small force of French voltigeurs in a walled farm enclosure protecting a general who's decided the fuss isn't worth worrying about and has gone back to bed, needing five turns to get himself up, dressed, and mounted to make his escape when the British DO arrive.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The British have forces of lights and the 95th coming to apprehend (or shoot, the troops don't have a preference) the general. At some point the French reinforcements - a small squad of mounted dragoons - will arrive. As a four player game, versus its original two player incarnation, I just bulked up each of the four forces so they were worth about 350-400 points apiece.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For Broadsword, I finally (after about 8 years!) got some big bases of wooded terrain on the table, to go with my Dollar Store conifers; so that was my big reveal for the game. We'll see those in the background shortly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I had four players sign up but unfortunately one had to drop out just before the game started due to a work emergency, so the French player got to control both his starting force and his reinforcements. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Naturally, I forgot to take pictures through most of the game, so what you'll see are just a couple of in-game shots, but more are <a href="https://pictr.io/a/cas">here</a> (about halfway down) from another attendee who documented much of what was going on there.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuItFQrISBPqnqx_OwIqsaAoem_cuDBmyEIH4oCyYsab2EARLO2pJXA0aHDtrqe-DqIpP5efO8wTDxtxuTTjRwQB6bFXVpUvAFEi63QEPmpGGq7xaKBsJ1gBsupU7KJIFbZ6ohf_yQyI/s1600/20170506_150919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuItFQrISBPqnqx_OwIqsaAoem_cuDBmyEIH4oCyYsab2EARLO2pJXA0aHDtrqe-DqIpP5efO8wTDxtxuTTjRwQB6bFXVpUvAFEi63QEPmpGGq7xaKBsJ1gBsupU7KJIFbZ6ohf_yQyI/s320/20170506_150919.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Midway through the game, before the dragoons came on and while the British have the upper hand. The Lights are behind the fence in the upper right of the mat, and the Rifles are just coming out of the woods and charging towards the walled farm enclosure.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The game ended in a last-minute French victory, though it looked through must of the first two-thirds of the game like it'd be a quick romp for the British. The French player I think was a bit overwhelmed by the rules, and I found out later (after the game!) that he couldn't reach the large QRS I had on the table, and I hadn't bothered to hand out the small one page QRS like I normally do (lesson learned!). So he was a bit behind the others in picking up the nuances and coming up with a plan that worked within the rules system and took advantage of his troops. The British also picked up that his reinforcements wouldn't come on the table if they didn't roll turnovers, so they worked to minimize those early in the game, but eventually the dice turned on them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Eventually though he made a great dragoon charge against the British lights defending a livestock fence and took out most of them in the hand-to-hand combat, including their officer (who got a bit cocky and left himself at risk), and then the voltigeurs did a number of the Rifles as the general escaped behind the few surviving Frenchmen.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is from the game end, when we called it a French victory (not many British left!):</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPumwVvOBRcXZQzVGHXgjaeiWK0SYryoQVE-UqSyq3rhjkaXOuzxStOEohxDz1A0Tm67AiUmSubVGyMe-oolV8j4MKmpBhxQ4ZGbHcH3opJFjqBiZZWzgIB6wzLe8hyTZOkAR4YkgAces/s1600/20170506_164442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPumwVvOBRcXZQzVGHXgjaeiWK0SYryoQVE-UqSyq3rhjkaXOuzxStOEohxDz1A0Tm67AiUmSubVGyMe-oolV8j4MKmpBhxQ4ZGbHcH3opJFjqBiZZWzgIB6wzLe8hyTZOkAR4YkgAces/s320/20170506_164442.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
In the evening I played a game of house-modified DBM (I think, maybe DBA!) for conventions, run by Howard who is a regular organized of DBx tournaments and gaming at southern Ontario conventions. It was a fun game, basically three one-on-one battles side by side. My opponent and I were really into it, with no one really ahead, when we looked up to find the game over because the Spartans (my side) had lost on the centre and right! No pics of that unfortunately (not sure how that happened.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I do have one more pic of a great-looking Gotham table at the con:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPDAz1MrlRSvLPFJPNOuYmvt73mSovAzSioaoMm4767UgVfMUOia1bPjX1pc3AbO5UdoBnS7hxoluPqTq-k7si9wIDaaMUDAM0j4h9zd_uvjnQtp2f6LnSQMxZbf0sZAEZMwEU8HET-A/s1600/20170506_121443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPDAz1MrlRSvLPFJPNOuYmvt73mSovAzSioaoMm4767UgVfMUOia1bPjX1pc3AbO5UdoBnS7hxoluPqTq-k7si9wIDaaMUDAM0j4h9zd_uvjnQtp2f6LnSQMxZbf0sZAEZMwEU8HET-A/s320/20170506_121443.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
More pics of what was going on at the con are at the link I posted above, next one is August 26th, and I don't have a football conflict this year with that weekend, so I hope to be back!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-16354736085555840502017-05-30T19:03:00.001-04:002017-05-30T19:06:03.772-04:00Vimy Ridge Centenary Demonstration at the Canadian War MuseumBack in April, for the centenary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, I had the privilege helping put on a wargaming display of the battle at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Shawn Taylor, designer of the Great War Spearhead rules, and Robert Dunlop, one of the other GWSH gurus had arranged with the museum to put on the display in their front foyer on both the Saturday and Sunday (the anniversary of the start of the battle).<br />
<br />
Shawn had flown in from Victoria BC with the figures, and Robert flew in from the UK with most of the terrain; in the days leading up to the event they carved out the underlying hills from foamboard, which they bought locally rather than fly in. All told, it was a 10' x 6' table, representing 10km x 6km of the battlefield at GWSH's ground scale.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6gMC0pnN9RuOcfnRuZE9J0DO3OqMwvt82MALVMOzezrCrhkpLslh3RLdlQohmF4oLEozNRSE-jvUi4N9JFgOsUvJWOwEXxnfH5msePQP2ugUPNQMYM7jm5uRFhyRfaPRpR-bkKux7Wg/s1600/20170408_152218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6gMC0pnN9RuOcfnRuZE9J0DO3OqMwvt82MALVMOzezrCrhkpLslh3RLdlQohmF4oLEozNRSE-jvUi4N9JFgOsUvJWOwEXxnfH5msePQP2ugUPNQMYM7jm5uRFhyRfaPRpR-bkKux7Wg/s320/20170408_152218.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I showed up Saturday morning and helped set the table up, it took us most of the morning, in part because we had a fairly constant stream of visitors stopping by to take a look and ask questions. We finally had things finished around noon, and then the visitors really started to come by. We estimated we had 3-400 anyway just that day.<br />
<br />
For Sunday we were able to leave every set up overnight, but by the time I arrived that morning, about 45 minutes before the museum opened, I found Shawn and Robert already swarmed by visitors. In the end we estimated a few thousand came by to chat that day. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17xMm0y_4qohNJQFiFp2hol3yw-Xl3E4rRJnavXxc1mcSxgoNRLZYECt7WQjrL6aXUgFgK6fWziQoxs6tXCXVkETxJ7LzCwjvo95qSdabpf2pVsDvzzO45Dy19MLG2P9v3H1VMXhHo5o/s1600/20170409_133605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17xMm0y_4qohNJQFiFp2hol3yw-Xl3E4rRJnavXxc1mcSxgoNRLZYECt7WQjrL6aXUgFgK6fWziQoxs6tXCXVkETxJ7LzCwjvo95qSdabpf2pVsDvzzO45Dy19MLG2P9v3H1VMXhHo5o/s320/20170409_133605.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Funny thing is we never ended up moving any troops on the table; as originally planned we were going to step through the battle, but instead just left it set up to show the bombardment that opened the assault and the Canadians leaving their lines and tunnels.<br />
<br />
It was a really special experience for me to help out, with some very moving moments as we met people who's great and great-great grandfathers fought there, in some cases were wounded or killed there. We met two people, rather elderly, who's father's had fought, and one person who's uncle was killed there. We also met one gentleman who's grandfather had fought there, in the German artillery. In most cases we were able to find where on the battlefield they had been and show the path of their ancestor's unit. One of my great-grandfathers was there, and I was able to do that for myself thanks to Shawn's notes.<br />
<br />
What I found most interesting is how many people came prepared to talk about their family's involvement at Vimy with their military records on their phones, tablets, or hardcopy. I saw several who stayed at the table for an hour or more, many came back later to see it again after being to the museum displays, from what I heard they really appreciated being able to see the entire layout and being able to pull back for a larger view after the more focused perspectives inside the museum.<br />
<br />
I feel a bit bad for Shawn and Robert, as they would often get swarmed as the visitors realized how much knowledge they had, and they had trouble getting breaks in over the course of the days. I, on the other hand, had the luxury of being able to answer what I could and then pointing to one of them and saying "and there's the real expert if you want to know more."<br />
<br />
Perhaps the most sobering conversation I had over the weekend was with a middle-aged man who'd grown up in Vietnam during that war, with his father and older brothers serving and his village being on the front lines (such as they were) often. He said he always brought his Vietnamese-Canadian children to events like this to remind them war is terrible and many had made sacrifices on their behalf for their freedom and opportunities.<br />
<br />
Some photos from the weekend, mainly of the great table Shawn and Robert put together (6mm figures):<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQpXrPSWs_AyiS3q4j63hIJCwfl_7eMKqeBncv2_wiXQBP5MIviIpE8n53kj37w6z-cKidj4ipySL7RDSH0Ar1dihFVk_W4R0-793XDhoLpjFX_94fFEx5Pf8qZVmuRxNOZ_NlyoIswE/s1600/P4080001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQpXrPSWs_AyiS3q4j63hIJCwfl_7eMKqeBncv2_wiXQBP5MIviIpE8n53kj37w6z-cKidj4ipySL7RDSH0Ar1dihFVk_W4R0-793XDhoLpjFX_94fFEx5Pf8qZVmuRxNOZ_NlyoIswE/s320/P4080001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Side view of the table layout, Canadian attack coming out of the left-most trench line (each "trench line" really represents about 200 yards of interwoven defensive terrain, not just a single trench).</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWE93LsW_EOH6bIPMaFw2B-e-AB9zYFfJXbw2pxbomVN9s1pJ7Xvhg1GgwL2g5_mcHyVrOS6c5iUfStl3MejDSlZIk4RLtCzm1gJ1kKMxGegeIa6rioNkQnyMcE01-aADQtTCZ9hls-w/s1600/P4080002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWE93LsW_EOH6bIPMaFw2B-e-AB9zYFfJXbw2pxbomVN9s1pJ7Xvhg1GgwL2g5_mcHyVrOS6c5iUfStl3MejDSlZIk4RLtCzm1gJ1kKMxGegeIa6rioNkQnyMcE01-aADQtTCZ9hls-w/s320/P4080002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Close up of some of the Canadian forces, each stand is a company of 200 men (in theory).</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhVPpRD89S8keSuflrNlYmA-J4GST6kJ6YbQCXQmsRPH8yOEOiSfaWGvvSS0EAVfW8eyrkCAcynPD614knzkXWnMrTEZ35civtWFC0c6RfHhiAVQMgcsPClbl4UrAad7vZWTVhn7yfj8/s1600/P4080003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhVPpRD89S8keSuflrNlYmA-J4GST6kJ6YbQCXQmsRPH8yOEOiSfaWGvvSS0EAVfW8eyrkCAcynPD614knzkXWnMrTEZ35civtWFC0c6RfHhiAVQMgcsPClbl4UrAad7vZWTVhn7yfj8/s320/P4080003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae58lURLOCVGXWfHAXUO-AP1JRkAZmbTTw2KpVlPYbV5Sov9hhrDsXdZr3mmRhJ8bD9YtAmRDgjRIgmKrvzJ-66hNbtOrULuwsnTnlar9VWMn2Joh8X6Jf7dCjwdNbCDE0yXQA3ynvYw/s1600/P4080004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae58lURLOCVGXWfHAXUO-AP1JRkAZmbTTw2KpVlPYbV5Sov9hhrDsXdZr3mmRhJ8bD9YtAmRDgjRIgmKrvzJ-66hNbtOrULuwsnTnlar9VWMn2Joh8X6Jf7dCjwdNbCDE0yXQA3ynvYw/s320/P4080004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The German gun line, under bombardment.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbGmAvdzWh6Lfv09KiKpzHfVIYFiN16RvBUbSMUYH9ou0qZQk6ARroEPZYa9q6e70i7RxqLcOhmfY2K4Ap54gfhiL8FW82B33o2hSDvZ432jiyWXAO0KFb_bDy76PAafL7VRLBwKUc8U/s1600/P4080005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbGmAvdzWh6Lfv09KiKpzHfVIYFiN16RvBUbSMUYH9ou0qZQk6ARroEPZYa9q6e70i7RxqLcOhmfY2K4Ap54gfhiL8FW82B33o2hSDvZ432jiyWXAO0KFb_bDy76PAafL7VRLBwKUc8U/s320/P4080005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Place names on the table, to help people identify landmarks.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnq6kbdNwHQZ4l7l18jofftLapz239gV2VKJJBb9wEjxP4c106v9hpiYRnTIeSHHYzJsBmEhbsGkZe5lZb5AGPMlnfNBByLgiPwmSn57kdFghYr-qlQMU1U8BBh_uSrnvhECGrsMpL7BM/s1600/P4080006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnq6kbdNwHQZ4l7l18jofftLapz239gV2VKJJBb9wEjxP4c106v9hpiYRnTIeSHHYzJsBmEhbsGkZe5lZb5AGPMlnfNBByLgiPwmSn57kdFghYr-qlQMU1U8BBh_uSrnvhECGrsMpL7BM/s320/P4080006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0NlUxIe9d8kEV8XXtqAb3kPTlEObrokNgWiFYquEdxUbhokd_8jOtKfaw8NAgmOBH2Ryw2RLQ8khehqvaQZy6HtH4FdT6a6OkLXmERwCKE-noSTr-xKxJoSukOhd4vD4IPA7Rq4brsc/s1600/20170408_111849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0NlUxIe9d8kEV8XXtqAb3kPTlEObrokNgWiFYquEdxUbhokd_8jOtKfaw8NAgmOBH2Ryw2RLQ8khehqvaQZy6HtH4FdT6a6OkLXmERwCKE-noSTr-xKxJoSukOhd4vD4IPA7Rq4brsc/s320/20170408_111849.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The "clean" table, before we started placing troops on it Saturday morning.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VKi56ufpO8-rPkG982NR-2rv4nXhc-FK2TV4PTjZIhwIlWrZNIh5dTS1er_WLqDoWPywewACIQywb54hZquKIIZ5XphvXcPk2cBQE1YaDKuiBp3L6erNHFcigC584OgwIJ2CBb3MLdM/s1600/20170408_111915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VKi56ufpO8-rPkG982NR-2rv4nXhc-FK2TV4PTjZIhwIlWrZNIh5dTS1er_WLqDoWPywewACIQywb54hZquKIIZ5XphvXcPk2cBQE1YaDKuiBp3L6erNHFcigC584OgwIJ2CBb3MLdM/s320/20170408_111915.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRj2Kll9MHATOXHYAbmlc0thP6pjgrdeZy4zAcL4xq5wAVi4N3PInC29zDdE4W3lnsWRb22C24yvy3m0yWsXvDF1BulLp0S4Dc-CGwdH5x3ksNtk69jXBbP6Crpzf5IkyXVvzAsUlJSBg/s1600/20170408_130702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRj2Kll9MHATOXHYAbmlc0thP6pjgrdeZy4zAcL4xq5wAVi4N3PInC29zDdE4W3lnsWRb22C24yvy3m0yWsXvDF1BulLp0S4Dc-CGwdH5x3ksNtk69jXBbP6Crpzf5IkyXVvzAsUlJSBg/s320/20170408_130702.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Another side view of the action.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMM55UfV4wBx8GWHmn5e0LJzVdZFLsjHXXjQIpO9GVoXIkks60HqU8XhGxIW4nz44gtFrTc5_uGvfoeNTysQuuCGV-jZcfxgVd9pfKgacM9UFoWy0cjWzrGoSad_ZG1bkKTgssxOWS8g/s1600/20170409_104210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMM55UfV4wBx8GWHmn5e0LJzVdZFLsjHXXjQIpO9GVoXIkks60HqU8XhGxIW4nz44gtFrTc5_uGvfoeNTysQuuCGV-jZcfxgVd9pfKgacM9UFoWy0cjWzrGoSad_ZG1bkKTgssxOWS8g/s320/20170409_104210.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The "light" crowd.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbNclA_2ZIInaLt4v-JQdazRmCXxgh-r0mFREcG8XgQD2DKgEQcg5VbHFA015eM_EY0gni_8XNiZi_3H1yLAvqaZawfnsTAJ4Cprgaze1iS2tNf7ojK3JoRN1AVFZ0ZIytTDfESLG18Y/s1600/20170409_133523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbNclA_2ZIInaLt4v-JQdazRmCXxgh-r0mFREcG8XgQD2DKgEQcg5VbHFA015eM_EY0gni_8XNiZi_3H1yLAvqaZawfnsTAJ4Cprgaze1iS2tNf7ojK3JoRN1AVFZ0ZIytTDfESLG18Y/s320/20170409_133523.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The "heavy" crowd.</div>
<br />
I also got to meet some Ottawa-area gamers who were also out helping for the weekend, which was great as I'd been planning to come to Cangames this year, and as you'll see in a couple of blog posts, I made it!CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-38604363628732016682017-03-30T17:51:00.002-04:002017-03-30T17:56:13.159-04:00Hotlead 2017 Part II - My Part In Its DownfallFirst, for all you kids out there, the title is a riff on the title of Spike Milligan's seven-part war memoir trilogy. In actuality Hotlead is going strong and survived me, but below are the stories and hindsight from my two gaming sessions last weekend. <br />
<br />
I put in to run two games, <i>Silent Death</i> Star Wars in The Force Awakens (Ep. VII) setting Friday night, and <i>Song of Drums and Shakos</i> (SDS) cinematic skirmish Sunday morning. I chose those two timeslots in part because they're a more casual time to game during the weekend, unlike the hot and heavy (in all senses of those words) Saturday sessions. And the SDS games in particular only take four players, and I didn't want to take up a whole table for a relatively small game.<br />
<br />
For both games, my plan was to run multiple scenarios - for Silent Death so as not to overwhelm the players with handling multiple ships, and for SDS because I expected each game to be relatively short. So I had three scenarios ready for Silent Death, expecting to get through two, and two ready for SDS, with the plan to have the players swap sides and play them again if the games went super-fast.<br />
<br />
In the end, in both timeslots we played...one scenario. For Silent Death, though the one played quickly, that seemed to be all the appetite people had, getting up to speed and re-setting for another game was more than they wanted to do on a Friday night with all the shopping potential in the hall. I can dig that, and it wasn't like they didn't enjoy the game (more details below).<br />
<br />
For SDS, the one scenario we had lasted almost three hours, so everyone got their fill and was ready to check out and head home. <br />
<br />
So after this and my KEGSCon experience with SDS (which was like the Silent Death experience this time), I'm surrendering on the multiple scenarios in a timeslot idea. I'm not sure what I'll do for Silent Death, as the problem of overwhelming players is still there, but it could be something like a scenario where you get reinforcements as the game progresses, so you start with one or two ships, but get more later.<br />
<br />
For SDS, it's simpler, the four-player scenarios work well to fill a timeslot. That also means less to pack!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
😣😣😣</div>
<br />
Getting into each of my games in more detail, I'll have to be the first to admit (because I can't really hide this below) that I forgot to take any pictures of my Star Wars game, and only a few mid-game and end-game of my Napoleonics skirmish. GMing is a busy time! If you want to see a pic of the Star Wars table, either check out the Friday night pics in the Hotlead Facebook group, or look at my pre-Hotlead post where I had a photo of a playtest game.<br />
<br />
But despite the lack of visual documentation, I did indeed host a Silent Death game on Friday, for a full allocation of six players, though my buddy Ron helped fill in the last slot. As mentioned, we only played the intro scenario "Last of the Red Hot Y-Wings", which has three TIE/sf fighters entering a system just behind a beat-up Rebellion-era Y-Wing (the only one that survived the first Death Star) piloted by a teenaged girl who's escaped in grandpa's Y-Wing with her boyfriend in the back seat and some secret First Order documents. As it turns out, the system she's entered has a Resistance base, and three X-Wings rise to meet the challenge.<br />
<br />
The game starts with the TIEs and X-Wings at either end of the map, and the Y-Wing just ahead of the TIEs (and their heavy weapons). Each player has a TIE or X-Wing, and I controlled the Y-Wing, which only had to race ahead in a straight line. The TIEs initially have to destroy or cripple the Y-Wing, but their orders change when they realize there's a Resistance base here. The X-Wings initially have to save the Y-Wing, but that also changes when they see the TIEs trying to escape to report back to First Order HQ.<br />
<br />
In this game, the Y-Wing got crippled pretty early, and then destroyed while limping along. Much faster than anticipated, two TIEs also got blown up (on critical hits to their still unprotected reactors), and at that point we called it a game. The First Order side, in their rush to retreat with the news of the Resistance base, didn't follow Boelcke's Dicta and gave the Resistance some easy flank or rear shots; they should have flown through the X-Wings and then come back out. One X-Wing got beat up pretty badly in the exchange, but all in all the good guys had an easy time of it.<br />
<br />
I had a good group of players, a father and two teenage boys, another boy (maybe 12) and two other adults. Everyone seemed to have fun in the brief game, one of the teenagers downloaded the free classic-era Star Wars Silent Death rules that were in a magazine 20 odd years ago and are available online, so maybe they'll check that out and use their X-Wing (the game) ships for it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
😣😣😣</div>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Sunday I set up a four-player version of "The Last Pig in Russia", which has very hungry French forces trying to round up some bacon (in the form of a live pig) in a Russian village in late 1812. The Russians, of course, want to protect their holy Russian bacon.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">I had a full table again, my friend Mike took on the French hussars with Roger running the French voltigeurs against young Roy (Russian infantry) and Dave (Cossacks). The game got off to a pretty furious start, with Roger shooting the pig on turn two, but Roy - who rolled hot all game - getting troops to the wounded animal first and starting to haul it off the table their way.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">The French suffered from some terrible rolling, and it looked like I was going to need the second scenario, when all of a sudden the tide turned a bit as the French got their act together. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Here's a shot of just before that happened, with two Russian infantrymen hauling the pig away in the middle-right of the picture (clicking on the picture will bring up a larger view):</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lNWxhiLjxjBe_HGNeO6xDBnSZ56fgy0OFTP0mr1Hgv1-6LQy1rTt2DDjz2Ga3QhGzQ0muxejumHSvQyBgztqPLIMBEuhowEERRFXAyvEoBT0LOs3RjVblDW-yE7ipU4Dw7jnzwQnQYw/s1600/20170326_104156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lNWxhiLjxjBe_HGNeO6xDBnSZ56fgy0OFTP0mr1Hgv1-6LQy1rTt2DDjz2Ga3QhGzQ0muxejumHSvQyBgztqPLIMBEuhowEERRFXAyvEoBT0LOs3RjVblDW-yE7ipU4Dw7jnzwQnQYw/s320/20170326_104156.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">The Cossacks turned around from their sweep to the Russian right to come back to help and engage the hussars on their left, but the French broke through and some volley fire and sabre action lead to the poor Russian pair hauling the pig falling dead with the pig ON the table edge, as you see below in this photo from the end of the game (the pig was never picked up again):</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqScwM0aNBwBMLegf6Z0Pkw7Pd7lJElkmKMNn-AtaWrgr7wc-xaN5v1JZ-iWKRinr6I_rIGnnTtghcZX1OTpVkNxz-MkB6yEqujMQyEbF5ydbPYXRWm8d1Yrli6t9XLPXWG6oBiYT58k/s1600/20170326_115445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqScwM0aNBwBMLegf6Z0Pkw7Pd7lJElkmKMNn-AtaWrgr7wc-xaN5v1JZ-iWKRinr6I_rIGnnTtghcZX1OTpVkNxz-MkB6yEqujMQyEbF5ydbPYXRWm8d1Yrli6t9XLPXWG6oBiYT58k/s320/20170326_115445.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It looked like maybe the tide had permanently turned, but the lone surviving hussar charged into the fray rather than grabbing the pig and riding off, and melee broke out everywhere amongst the survivors, and when the French NCO was killed, the game was over. Just a lone Cossack and a half dozen Russian infantry were left, but that was enough. The Russian infantry NCO was pretty heroic, beating off all sorts of melee attacks and cavalry charges against him.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's another shot of the table at the end of the game from the French side:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLOerzOsB61_Ua3-hb9WbbRJUj-6Oji3bprjcAEYvWMME9AaI0Ml8NhYDZivBgA6BRr5rLeJR86dJ_ot_VXu5HElRM4Iq9qn9GTQgh_Pb34MC2dMmUAlhup1skoVpHp_K3r1qkv2cH1s/s1600/20170326_115503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLOerzOsB61_Ua3-hb9WbbRJUj-6Oji3bprjcAEYvWMME9AaI0Ml8NhYDZivBgA6BRr5rLeJR86dJ_ot_VXu5HElRM4Iq9qn9GTQgh_Pb34MC2dMmUAlhup1skoVpHp_K3r1qkv2cH1s/s320/20170326_115503.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">It was a fun game to GM and watch, the guys picked up most of the rules really quickly, and watching the tide of the game turn this way and that was great and got some attention from passersby and other tables. Without really thinking about it, at one point in the game I referred to a wounded figure (wounded figures are removed as being out of action unless you're playing a campaign game) as being "functionally dead", and that became the catchphrase of the game. Except when someone was tripled in a combat roll, which led to the catchphrase of "really dead dead".</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">So my first lesson learned was that a four player game is more than enough to fill a timeslot. Secondly, my new player aid of "It's Your Turn" with the basics on it seemed to help, but I still was doing too much helicopter parenting of the players, rather than stepping them through the QRS' combat modifiers and results and letting them do the work. It had nothing to do with the game system or the players, just me "hovering" a bit too much.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">To help with that, for next time I think I'll come up with a new set of scenario sheets for the players that has just a very, very basic scenario into, simple victory conditions, and their figure stats, and then the "It's Your Turn" piece on the same sheet. That plus the QRS with all the combat modifiers should help me (or at least remind me) to let them learn the game. My big QRS on an easel will still be there to help too.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">I also forgot the first time it came up to make a player check for morale because his force had hit 50% of its starting strength, but in the end I decided on the fly to overlook that for everybody. This was a convention game, not a campaign game or a game between two experienced players, and it wouldn't have been fun for anyone to lose their force in the middle of the game. Plus, a fight to the death made the game the drama that it was, and in this particular scenario, wasn't an unreasonable situation, particularly for the French.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">So I think I'll ignore that 50% rule at conventions from now on - all the other reasons to check morale will still be there (leader death, cavalry charges, Green troops etc.), just not this one. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
😣😣😣</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the end then, I was pretty happy with the two games - full games, happy players, learned some things about GMing at a convention, and no disasters and no one flipped a table on me. Next up will be Broadsword 3 in Hamilton in May, then maybe Cangames in Ottawa, and I'll look to run a game of something at each.</div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-9414023366736155662017-03-28T17:42:00.000-04:002017-03-28T18:01:20.379-04:00Hotlead 2017I've run out of cute titles for this report on Hotlead 2017, probably because I'm still suffering from sleepiness and random napping episodes after another fun-filled weekend in Stratford. I'm just going to cover the games I played, other games around me, and my selling and shopping experiences in this post, then I'll cover my two (yes, two!) sessions as game host in a follow-up report.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My buddy Ron and I drove up together, so my Friday started with a mid-afternoon departure from Peterborough to meet Ron after he finished his afternoon shift as a crossing-guard in Pickering. We hit the road ahead of schedule from his place, and despite some iffy predictions in the days leading up to the weekend, the weather was great. Traffic was pretty good until we hit Cambridge, and then there was a lot of swearing in the car as traffic slowed to a crawl for no apparent reason (all the construction is off to the side of the highway) and turned our arrival into a bit of a scramble to eat, check in, and set up my Friday game. I basically ended up doing all three at once.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'll cover the game in another post, but here are some shots of what was going on <b>Friday</b>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XXhvpqsHQ4wQJyy6RMlCZzqC2Lz0a1pI4iCPnu3LnEQzepXtnJ2HBuHbm5pgnazjCe7BwkhyphenhyphenG8cTdY-vit0ltorI31_JOT_9Quvj_a6rzjDoeXqLhWr7BJsULjxM9LXiuezeHTWGTk0/s1600/20170324_204705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XXhvpqsHQ4wQJyy6RMlCZzqC2Lz0a1pI4iCPnu3LnEQzepXtnJ2HBuHbm5pgnazjCe7BwkhyphenhyphenG8cTdY-vit0ltorI31_JOT_9Quvj_a6rzjDoeXqLhWr7BJsULjxM9LXiuezeHTWGTk0/s320/20170324_204705.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The shots above and below are general views of the crowd that night, folks were saying there was a lot going on for a Friday. They're taken from my table, which was very conveniently right beside the bar :-)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0omZrNkEAqRLqwhnvbrFksESmODnV_bA4C2cMym3TCeP09hCVpz5ZwbMH8e5-qOt24SLotzCWToUrqket2daHqiIlVEKM9N0c073vybn47geNuEMfI7sLsAa46gy7VFdMk7mBxtakGk/s1600/20170324_204708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0omZrNkEAqRLqwhnvbrFksESmODnV_bA4C2cMym3TCeP09hCVpz5ZwbMH8e5-qOt24SLotzCWToUrqket2daHqiIlVEKM9N0c073vybn47geNuEMfI7sLsAa46gy7VFdMk7mBxtakGk/s320/20170324_204708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm going through the schedule for the night to figure out which game is which, this is "Send Pirates, Guns & Money!" by the fellow who brings us "Mongols and Mausers" every year. You didn't hear it from me, but word on the street was the Thai Rangers ended up with the drug cache.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YMDj_jNVw-sFmAxBPEHViZWMTsLeqVKBIMi2RLww0hh0sujhSmiElsXDY9OPEN65YeaL8je5RC0GkNl_-2V_zTT0YVUs5CxvTdS2UPW84eKxe9fFFK2npTxISIvrANgQtUHBxbfqmOQ/s1600/20170324_210655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YMDj_jNVw-sFmAxBPEHViZWMTsLeqVKBIMi2RLww0hh0sujhSmiElsXDY9OPEN65YeaL8je5RC0GkNl_-2V_zTT0YVUs5CxvTdS2UPW84eKxe9fFFK2npTxISIvrANgQtUHBxbfqmOQ/s320/20170324_210655.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Mark's "Battle of Slovchenko, Russo-Polish War 1920" game with TooFatLardies' <i>Triumph of the Will</i> rules, I heard this year the armoured train was captured!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsndGdXsuv36cekNkOvROO3GW-7lCJ83ydul_v1aFMDlCXRG_Js7KJvU1lcKhFFq470WEolTZzvvLDXICnfDaE5FF1dTMNoEmYvSenB2qgwZrG0bDIUZlepJtNpr1Hztlpc4PaejRy8U/s1600/20170324_210747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsndGdXsuv36cekNkOvROO3GW-7lCJ83ydul_v1aFMDlCXRG_Js7KJvU1lcKhFFq470WEolTZzvvLDXICnfDaE5FF1dTMNoEmYvSenB2qgwZrG0bDIUZlepJtNpr1Hztlpc4PaejRy8U/s320/20170324_210747.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
These next two pictures must have been a late arrival to the schedule, unless I seriously misunderstood the Battle of Crysler's Farm in high school.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSNhiJlCcIKxGxNG8IufFhO-kdIVvWObGl8AhUwtyAeDMsyCWryQZafcNcBhUXFc6Yi_OS-VlDkNoWTRbmK1lp-c12_QG8gbEdCApIuHwn_l06ymMV9QVLeOkYvVMyLf7wYyqQW16MUo/s1600/20170324_212437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSNhiJlCcIKxGxNG8IufFhO-kdIVvWObGl8AhUwtyAeDMsyCWryQZafcNcBhUXFc6Yi_OS-VlDkNoWTRbmK1lp-c12_QG8gbEdCApIuHwn_l06ymMV9QVLeOkYvVMyLf7wYyqQW16MUo/s320/20170324_212437.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUNNGhGg_MeNny3wEIn49gMUlVxqyue24_mtb5-olRH0-ZZY6QKgNDF1tOm3N901As6lg-aSDulL40_bxU1m_lcm2fJ4eyehiYmRdoZ2X_muNKIPfAiMOBBJDISVPvAzd6PXnmSCUyOM/s1600/20170324_212502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUNNGhGg_MeNny3wEIn49gMUlVxqyue24_mtb5-olRH0-ZZY6QKgNDF1tOm3N901As6lg-aSDulL40_bxU1m_lcm2fJ4eyehiYmRdoZ2X_muNKIPfAiMOBBJDISVPvAzd6PXnmSCUyOM/s320/20170324_212502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Charlie Company Vietnam game:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7ht7okxOpiw13oHHrloWLgxchD33VDirVWaEa2bUadu74qP6U0sNyJ4FKBtCo6ykTRCcaSNzFpd41qMrcvFHqagCWDUoB31xqCtWgWCF1kZp97jHolRH64RS5hPJbWq1Kgha_cCCGpU/s1600/20170324_212516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7ht7okxOpiw13oHHrloWLgxchD33VDirVWaEa2bUadu74qP6U0sNyJ4FKBtCo6ykTRCcaSNzFpd41qMrcvFHqagCWDUoB31xqCtWgWCF1kZp97jHolRH64RS5hPJbWq1Kgha_cCCGpU/s320/20170324_212516.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Frank from KEGS ran TooFatLardies' <i>Dux Britanniarium</i> games all weekend! This Friday night one ended in a Saxon loss.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-orVcQbkKmyAxIOEHbLmuCnAtaT7MYrEIWZOXfsaMJonPDwBktpIxTgf2zhiC4SAN6kTWUoy7L4qWLMhuWSE-pKep1m0py4z4Fm55sE2sVCPCgwH4h3hV4BJhn82KJpAFjEc5JyACbQ/s1600/20170324_213254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-orVcQbkKmyAxIOEHbLmuCnAtaT7MYrEIWZOXfsaMJonPDwBktpIxTgf2zhiC4SAN6kTWUoy7L4qWLMhuWSE-pKep1m0py4z4Fm55sE2sVCPCgwH4h3hV4BJhn82KJpAFjEc5JyACbQ/s320/20170324_213254.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Brian's "Island in the Sun" Napoleonic naval game in a close-up view of the ships.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjp_XWx1QDm8-KHX1ABbZCPd2Ii4SFW7CSEP8eF5U-jsMArlCePCjH9x3bTlT-hHv-9KYH5cM720YDfmqN8ygb4xXonXGfLzsbQns4uRPn_aDtoehqWdVOd3Sv78fsxJCkpukv6WRkJk/s1600/20170324_213631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjp_XWx1QDm8-KHX1ABbZCPd2Ii4SFW7CSEP8eF5U-jsMArlCePCjH9x3bTlT-hHv-9KYH5cM720YDfmqN8ygb4xXonXGfLzsbQns4uRPn_aDtoehqWdVOd3Sv78fsxJCkpukv6WRkJk/s320/20170324_213631.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
One of the set-ups at the Ontario Hobbit Adventures booth (they were selling terrain and bits too), a very, very, awesome Goblintown!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGsL2YRUmAn_NHBCUZWVUOMIa_C1Vqc49DmPiacHvubkEFoxD5q7BV9p8B2mOiO-Br5K5P12c9813dBFVg5T_Pu3LtPjlfMD0iuVy1c4u64G1n6C81HVoqKKzGrb_lh-L3HV94cjxaxw/s1600/20170324_213836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGsL2YRUmAn_NHBCUZWVUOMIa_C1Vqc49DmPiacHvubkEFoxD5q7BV9p8B2mOiO-Br5K5P12c9813dBFVg5T_Pu3LtPjlfMD0iuVy1c4u64G1n6C81HVoqKKzGrb_lh-L3HV94cjxaxw/s320/20170324_213836.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8O3LHHui63-HNCFbR4EhLFsEN1KGg7kf1H2MVOnZP23rNEtw0rjXRPa0UhdAS5ufsYbq5HaOlN00Zx7ClEnnrkIEnIJGmj2Fd73uozQWpTmwCfbBwJm6nKEagZiXC_Od4G7hP-CHJtw8/s1600/20170324_213847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8O3LHHui63-HNCFbR4EhLFsEN1KGg7kf1H2MVOnZP23rNEtw0rjXRPa0UhdAS5ufsYbq5HaOlN00Zx7ClEnnrkIEnIJGmj2Fd73uozQWpTmwCfbBwJm6nKEagZiXC_Od4G7hP-CHJtw8/s320/20170324_213847.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
I also did almost all of my shopping that night, some PSC 1/72 Universal Carriers for <i>Chain of Command</i>, <i>The Men Who Would Be Kings</i> rules from Osprey, and some terrain bits and bobs. After the gaming and shopping, many of us ended up in the bar for a few drinks and multiple wide-ranging discussions, and it was about 1 or 1:30 before I headed up to bed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Saturday</b> started with a run to get some fresh air and breakfast, then I was back to help Ron set up his operational-scale 6mm Kursk game, which he ran in the morning and afternoon Saturday (with an impromptu repeat Sunday morning) and get my stuff into the bring and buy. I had some 15mm sci-fi, the bleeping 28mm not-Star Trek figures I've been unable to unload for about four years, some rulebooks, and one lone Osprey (that I'd accidentally bought two copies of) for sale. All but the Osprey sold, so that was good and I basically ended up dead even for buys vs. sells over the course of the weekend.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While doing that, I also ran into Ontario Hobbit Adventures' other awesome set-up:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgf-ajV4yuyHV816pi0x74LGEUkFrvk-YbtnqdE89saZSeyzZGc2kvVv7xkZUoJgs-oKBsvUOq1QBvQP6iMqKsQSAGP4Ol-Enu3-eiRVIcMGS6-SSKR3Dp3oO0FgEuP49PsARfG557OM/s1600/20170325_091415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgf-ajV4yuyHV816pi0x74LGEUkFrvk-YbtnqdE89saZSeyzZGc2kvVv7xkZUoJgs-oKBsvUOq1QBvQP6iMqKsQSAGP4Ol-Enu3-eiRVIcMGS6-SSKR3Dp3oO0FgEuP49PsARfG557OM/s320/20170325_091415.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
Before the morning's gaming started, I also did a bit of shopping at one booth (I'm guessing it was Empire and Eagle) and got some German and American WWII trucks, and Pz IIC's, all for <i>Chain of Command</i>. And that was it for my shopping. I've sort of run out of things to buy, there's a lot of 28mm pulp or VSF stuff from the vendors, but those projects are sort of on hold because I'm about 100 years behind on them; ditto for RAFM's 15mm sci-fi - and in that case I basically have everything. So terrain, buildings, and 1/72 <i>Chain of Command</i> stuff made up almost all of my shopping list. I did a couple of casual sweeps by the bring-n-buy table, but I wasn't committed enough to dive into the crowd.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway, for Saturday morning I got into Brian's "Bloody Buron" battle with TooFatLardies' <i>I Ain't Been Shot Mum</i> rules, my first choice for the timeslot. IABSM is my preferred set for whichever century I finally get my 6mm WWII stuff finished, and I love to play it. In this scenario, three of us Germans defended a town in Normandy from a couple of Canadian companies. It was a pretty bloody battle, like the name says, with a lot of artillery hits and burning Shermans, and was a marginal Canadian victory in the end, the Germans still held the town but were running out of resources to do so.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The table as the forces were setting themselves up:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfaA8_BL2qgltNpTmHZ2_ZovXHJjearqDwniIouJjmFz6f_bo9k6Q0fMhKOF_PM2eSbsxakzf1Sm6YhqYhIMM8TVG3x3-C-lmHjwrPF1_uIMK6GeE7fG9ljLp_pfb4r7HJj1Qk-9a2to/s1600/20170325_100421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfaA8_BL2qgltNpTmHZ2_ZovXHJjearqDwniIouJjmFz6f_bo9k6Q0fMhKOF_PM2eSbsxakzf1Sm6YhqYhIMM8TVG3x3-C-lmHjwrPF1_uIMK6GeE7fG9ljLp_pfb4r7HJj1Qk-9a2to/s320/20170325_100421.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My half-section of Pz IVH's, hiding. I had a full platoon as reinforcements, but the game ended before they did more than race up the road. These two guys did do a bit of damage, including later firing HE into those two buildings on the right.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoghyphenhyphenv9f9rgicuZWL-4nE0drlCN7d8tyh-3gUzCuA7aH-CrOMFHOEXl7rcEi_BsB4cFTrbovexP6b5jEXghVuTUvgNQuvtGkARjPb669OZZ5V1eXK0QUzRcG-PCb5dOoo31dOBmtcsRdw/s1600/20170325_104356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoghyphenhyphenv9f9rgicuZWL-4nE0drlCN7d8tyh-3gUzCuA7aH-CrOMFHOEXl7rcEi_BsB4cFTrbovexP6b5jEXghVuTUvgNQuvtGkARjPb669OZZ5V1eXK0QUzRcG-PCb5dOoo31dOBmtcsRdw/s320/20170325_104356.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is probably about mid-game, before the German ATGs got revealed but after the Canadians dumped all sorts of smoke onto it. The red-roofed buildings on the left are now occupied by Canadians, and you can see a couple of TDs following along.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MATfDjKgJyMouzZoWJte_H5Cj785CR3IWYI6hMltGsQdaqsGaBezMSM6uhokEjjbw8ckBpsqwmZ3D3vQyVdTm-EUUzATwMhCsiqKGoVPs2seTUj26nPTvmIIE7S7Ewanf8RiEvkLcbQ/s1600/20170325_105631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MATfDjKgJyMouzZoWJte_H5Cj785CR3IWYI6hMltGsQdaqsGaBezMSM6uhokEjjbw8ckBpsqwmZ3D3vQyVdTm-EUUzATwMhCsiqKGoVPs2seTUj26nPTvmIIE7S7Ewanf8RiEvkLcbQ/s320/20170325_105631.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Saturday afternoon I played in a six-player game of <i>Frostgrave</i>. To avoid it turning into a deathmatch, the victory conditions encouraged us to do things other than kill each other's wizards, but that didn't last long and my magic-flamethrower-armed dwarves got into a drag-out battle with the wizard across from us (he started it, I swear!). I think I killed more of his guys, but he killed the important guys in my warband. Anyway, the terrain was spectacular and the GM did a good job of getting us all up to speed on the rules and magic; four of us hadn't played Frostgrave before.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0hasvYvpTGBagBw3X_IlQP_SlWVbAaq8aELib6jd1C7KU7zobJBgtcBSsn7089hdCYsfDaMraHJZ_sFSJqD3dd7O5dfo6YSARV9ibl40Q0v5B46GcErH0NVwWaBAEM5I8u-bhnYRP-8/s1600/20170325_135215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0hasvYvpTGBagBw3X_IlQP_SlWVbAaq8aELib6jd1C7KU7zobJBgtcBSsn7089hdCYsfDaMraHJZ_sFSJqD3dd7O5dfo6YSARV9ibl40Q0v5B46GcErH0NVwWaBAEM5I8u-bhnYRP-8/s320/20170325_135215.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is just a plain awesome observatory. I magically leaped one of my guys up there, and he did pick off some opposition but eventually got nailed himself.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KINiapWjKW3MOlFOjMqZMs8tLJW1qTprKk0h_p08wiETv-M3mVMA1rgVoaH0AnU7dv6-FlrrRzNDCVLHq0DLJYpqkVG9_0_nsrB5l7my7CXQ7uL-O5cEa5LSTYy1H0xtmuZfPlPE2vE/s1600/20170325_135219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KINiapWjKW3MOlFOjMqZMs8tLJW1qTprKk0h_p08wiETv-M3mVMA1rgVoaH0AnU7dv6-FlrrRzNDCVLHq0DLJYpqkVG9_0_nsrB5l7my7CXQ7uL-O5cEa5LSTYy1H0xtmuZfPlPE2vE/s320/20170325_135219.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My warband, pre-battle:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g0fUmcMSb7cxfWA0rjd1M3Zyd2q9-PIBOGtwEIN7Poi8p5JLPyRt9sx3ewyxmL6dm-8pp6SPDd18zt8UC3uHCAf8xmaUh1X0q3ZQDO2fG6DQnN-mUJWKTKBS3MxeMEg7ZFOvonVGhTs/s1600/20170325_135154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g0fUmcMSb7cxfWA0rjd1M3Zyd2q9-PIBOGtwEIN7Poi8p5JLPyRt9sx3ewyxmL6dm-8pp6SPDd18zt8UC3uHCAf8xmaUh1X0q3ZQDO2fG6DQnN-mUJWKTKBS3MxeMEg7ZFOvonVGhTs/s320/20170325_135154.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: left;">.</span></div>
The later stages of the game, an icewall has been thrown up and I've got some opposition interfering with my attempt to read the ancient writing on the walls of the ruins at the centre of the table.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqCblGTZJTRDpNu22dL_TAk1_s_LQlp21pdVl1yaaKOgg_k8A8c0gLA1ZnQr8Huv3lzF2Nzve7XIFAbYL5qWV0KsSrvFR3qaawWmIMAGuC5T-otVAYQagZBXe5KOIBXW8F3WBq7HCQ8I/s1600/20170325_171352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqCblGTZJTRDpNu22dL_TAk1_s_LQlp21pdVl1yaaKOgg_k8A8c0gLA1ZnQr8Huv3lzF2Nzve7XIFAbYL5qWV0KsSrvFR3qaawWmIMAGuC5T-otVAYQagZBXe5KOIBXW8F3WBq7HCQ8I/s320/20170325_171352.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
For Saturday night I had a crazy number of games I wanted to try and get into, in the end I had two that I agonized over, One was a big samurai battle using Chipco's <i>Chrysanthemum Throne</i> rules, which I have and have thought may be the best solution for middle-ground samurai rules and the other was an ECW big skirmish game using the new <i>The Pikeman's Lament</i> rules from Osprey. I went with the latter and it was superb, a lot of fun and I ended up earning the most Honour by achieving my major and minor victory conditions (perhaps the only time in the history of the world that's happened to me).<br />
<br />
The scenario had three Scottish forces and a Parliamentarian one (I think, it was at the other end of the table) vs. four Royalist forces. The game was set up through so it was basically four two-player games, though with a bit of side to side action. I think that was a good call, as it let the game flow and my opponent and I just had to worry about each other and we could work our way through the rules on our own. Our main challenge was figuring out how hits turned into figure losses (it wasn't on the QRS) and after reading the rules again when I got home, I realized we'd been doing it wrong. Luckily we kept turning to our host Mark to solve things for us and that didn't affect the game.<br />
<br />
From left to right on the Scottish side, there was a battle over the body of a martyr who'd been tossed from the tower of a church, a battle over that same church, a village battle to find the guy who'd tossed the guy from the church tower, and then a fight over the high ground to see the town, church, and martyr. I was the immortal Donald McHaggis, hero of the Covenant, fighting over the churchyard. Here are my guys early into the battle, having not moved far because three of my first four activation rolls were 3s (and I needed 5s or higher on 2d6):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwqjKTGG59x3-9Yd2FXVhsbnkIjfamkzVMam9T661e6p3TnTt-2gFEZctp7ic06a5V7C_cBw3ivGxqBVoGbwNwKzM-2LisjTp3qgLys9Wvi8jTMRBvIPt0IUrT89PAt8GYzBK_-EUcNE/s1600/20170325_193955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwqjKTGG59x3-9Yd2FXVhsbnkIjfamkzVMam9T661e6p3TnTt-2gFEZctp7ic06a5V7C_cBw3ivGxqBVoGbwNwKzM-2LisjTp3qgLys9Wvi8jTMRBvIPt0IUrT89PAt8GYzBK_-EUcNE/s320/20170325_193955.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I had two shot units, a pike unit, a Scottish forlorn hope of crazies, and two Scottish trotter units, who were a bit handy with the pistol, but not up to fighting off a Royalist charge. The photo below is mid-battle, the Royalists had seized the church and churchyard first because of my crappy rolls, but now I was fighting back. I've driving off their pike in the centre (they're way behind the churchyard now) and my shot is working over the Royalist shot, with my forlorn hope ready to charge the church. My cavalry on the left are protecting that flank (the Royalist horse never came after me in the end) and my pike block is doing the same on the right. My other trotter unit has been drive back through a random event, they had been shooting at the Royalist shot unit in amongst the graveyard. They did return though. Shortly after this, the forlorn hope took the church, my shot took the churchyard, and though things got a bit crazy when some Royalist horse jumped over the wall and into the fray, ultimately things weren't sustainable for them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaudt0j60J45mZBFA60TTRx2pfhi0bV7jvdTWU-KkUEFEdRybIDtH-4wXGE-QxBobb-AsRK16UMxYq9MSG2WDLthE0dKi19JWV_pdFPB9t3sSQzxOqY2Ldra_yyC16d1lxgx7DT-PyDc/s1600/20170325_204603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaudt0j60J45mZBFA60TTRx2pfhi0bV7jvdTWU-KkUEFEdRybIDtH-4wXGE-QxBobb-AsRK16UMxYq9MSG2WDLthE0dKi19JWV_pdFPB9t3sSQzxOqY2Ldra_yyC16d1lxgx7DT-PyDc/s320/20170325_204603.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
I'm now super excited to get a TPL project underway. Well, probably a few projects, you could do the ECW, TYW, WSS...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So that was my personal Saturday, here are some shots of the rest of the day:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRo9LPyLUEQg-hcf4TsoJPCbXrgz6NBDrM26Np5KIR1-9Z0fEMiN4i42RAo29Zrr22BDso2ydLH9Ia_JsCewWGNOBW_Bdlq_IvaIiUE2q5sQvilHMGrQIY8mjfJNNPcf6n6oE-6GUkGk/s1600/20170325_131941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRo9LPyLUEQg-hcf4TsoJPCbXrgz6NBDrM26Np5KIR1-9Z0fEMiN4i42RAo29Zrr22BDso2ydLH9Ia_JsCewWGNOBW_Bdlq_IvaIiUE2q5sQvilHMGrQIY8mjfJNNPcf6n6oE-6GUkGk/s320/20170325_131941.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Above and below are some more crowd shots, this must be from before the BnB opened.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHggNpoPrxIt5m-3o7F5q-sNgN2LdVMVjYZN6xEfQWbBFChlbaltshccClRRjSfjEVDKfvDHSQLtbRqWUoAehDjLWtSe_H95nLSznGi4UyDPwsPk-q-UA0JZ-fcDM5g9acxop3qbAing/s1600/20170325_131945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHggNpoPrxIt5m-3o7F5q-sNgN2LdVMVjYZN6xEfQWbBFChlbaltshccClRRjSfjEVDKfvDHSQLtbRqWUoAehDjLWtSe_H95nLSznGi4UyDPwsPk-q-UA0JZ-fcDM5g9acxop3qbAing/s320/20170325_131945.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A great Death Star set-up for <i>X-Wing</i>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0w5weIhbpQaL53lezFYweK9AB5oG05wiZaO7HOd_mVX28NnQo5k4fZZWXUXrGkihlG_DbaqT6hS685v9AWvLLyo0X2_jgXfg8YiyDWNAhT6K1UbklLsKEZvkle5BQhJ0rEPazXzvhiJ0/s1600/20170325_131957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0w5weIhbpQaL53lezFYweK9AB5oG05wiZaO7HOd_mVX28NnQo5k4fZZWXUXrGkihlG_DbaqT6hS685v9AWvLLyo0X2_jgXfg8YiyDWNAhT6K1UbklLsKEZvkle5BQhJ0rEPazXzvhiJ0/s320/20170325_131957.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OFaEov8Lq0yy0qf_gZReEf8GbkJ2vRaBPeEOWC1_ngp8XhIySUfIsb8Umy3dsxxi8XtWCjkgZ8gwJ1IQyVmANZFI3EiJzTXHGImLOw54z4pwkHTBJBiyxbngh3TTEpgLieZQDiamtjQ/s1600/20170325_132009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OFaEov8Lq0yy0qf_gZReEf8GbkJ2vRaBPeEOWC1_ngp8XhIySUfIsb8Umy3dsxxi8XtWCjkgZ8gwJ1IQyVmANZFI3EiJzTXHGImLOw54z4pwkHTBJBiyxbngh3TTEpgLieZQDiamtjQ/s320/20170325_132009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Beside the <i>Frostgrave</i> table was this <i>Metaverse</i> game that lived up to its name, Star Wars vs. Star Trek vs. Battlestar Galactica vs. Babylon 5!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuxkHgqcoDrkfM4pP69GsIh7Ee_GVxPOtDc9bqRJdvxQildunGNA-GwOF90wivnM9bPWb9LImq5BPRHNdHoUpTFPJaa77Cbt99uKvLtwt0XIjtdUcQD9zTWG7u2oGNSL6ZOCcTLLoanQ/s1600/20170325_151037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuxkHgqcoDrkfM4pP69GsIh7Ee_GVxPOtDc9bqRJdvxQildunGNA-GwOF90wivnM9bPWb9LImq5BPRHNdHoUpTFPJaa77Cbt99uKvLtwt0XIjtdUcQD9zTWG7u2oGNSL6ZOCcTLLoanQ/s320/20170325_151037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
That's alotta space ships!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMYycrLoNrRHTDJuEVsY1G23G-CGwT3HV_Z-XUvILeXRaFIthkKaru5SuiTJe0aVbxA-RWVwBuQtSH-najDsca06feqJh1C-Iz_8PeHlJj00bAtwqUvqPJkOq21N7zKB-XB2DOtGN-9I/s1600/20170325_151051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMYycrLoNrRHTDJuEVsY1G23G-CGwT3HV_Z-XUvILeXRaFIthkKaru5SuiTJe0aVbxA-RWVwBuQtSH-najDsca06feqJh1C-Iz_8PeHlJj00bAtwqUvqPJkOq21N7zKB-XB2DOtGN-9I/s320/20170325_151051.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
An awesome village (Huron or Iroquois?) for <i>Flint and Feather</i>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtY1bRhfzN0u52KTKReiP_AwnWggElzraLGnt6ssMcGPSJL2IaybcwlmFIFDcHEvKtIMloqjYLpqoljr_7szCJDPZ_cgR0KpkP91Fg9kw85FeawexVVwF9L3vehHhePNp3GTugJeh6Mw/s1600/20170325_181303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtY1bRhfzN0u52KTKReiP_AwnWggElzraLGnt6ssMcGPSJL2IaybcwlmFIFDcHEvKtIMloqjYLpqoljr_7szCJDPZ_cgR0KpkP91Fg9kw85FeawexVVwF9L3vehHhePNp3GTugJeh6Mw/s320/20170325_181303.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And of course <i>Mongols and Mausers</i>, as I said in a text with this photo I sent to my nephew: "Rule #1 is wear an awesome hat!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMPzjql-fnl-ABydvx_oqHWZqy-n_bAQFcbZgiHBsmrhxc2xPX7JT3S5S5claxEMjnIuJxC_X0s0fIV_VWEEBU5t0ERF1SfjQ-YgU8ZuGKcZC2jGp_Y14ZknTYwyTQuYRsfHCKKBFjXU/s1600/20170325_213421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMPzjql-fnl-ABydvx_oqHWZqy-n_bAQFcbZgiHBsmrhxc2xPX7JT3S5S5claxEMjnIuJxC_X0s0fIV_VWEEBU5t0ERF1SfjQ-YgU8ZuGKcZC2jGp_Y14ZknTYwyTQuYRsfHCKKBFjXU/s320/20170325_213421.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The big "Fenian Raids 1866" game run by Pete and Keith:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMbS7Q5QViihcjKmGIUodJqfLtJKcLncvT5AifhPl9tMEEANwWCpNxp6Y4vN4AjwzEXQ3G8HiZOllS3oknATrbEkHLiD6ANWjSzn89TA21pHRDhyphenhyphendHhLWGrFJC8-7QQb1FMImysT2xM0/s1600/20170325_213637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMbS7Q5QViihcjKmGIUodJqfLtJKcLncvT5AifhPl9tMEEANwWCpNxp6Y4vN4AjwzEXQ3G8HiZOllS3oknATrbEkHLiD6ANWjSzn89TA21pHRDhyphenhyphendHhLWGrFJC8-7QQb1FMImysT2xM0/s320/20170325_213637.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div>
Saturday ended with some chats with friends, another drink, and then a run to A&W to get a second dinner, things had been pretty hectic helping Ron take down his game, getting signed up for the evening game, so I just had another sandwich for dinner, which is about 1.5 sandwiches too many for me. Not sure A&W counts as real food, but it hit the spot at 11pm. After that I hit the sack as I had to get breakfast, check out, and set up my <i>Songs of Drums and Shakos</i> game all before 9 on Sunday morning.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
So that wraps things up until my post of my own game hosting experiences, it was another great year of Hotlead, lots of familiar faces and friends and new ones as well. Clearly the social event of the season!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-6763250002613077862017-03-23T17:10:00.000-04:002017-03-23T17:10:43.040-04:00Hotleading Part TwoHere's the set-up for my second four-player Song of Drums and Shakos scenario, <i>Troubles with the Ladies of Spain</i>. An escort of French Voltigeurs guarding their General has to hold off squads of the 95th Rifles and British Lights until French Dragoons can (hopefully) ride to their rescue.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq7I_08LtWPWAj1sl9gQETcDZaVwTHk1zcCpn15tymJX1KFR3DTGcOeIIDoPsfcx_irNXwfJ59kFS9Dfki4TRqPMdHbhz5mlGp1CQ5_2A8r7PaVFUoSyAYNUgn_Tectow1BYHRdS96X0/s1600/20170322_233646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq7I_08LtWPWAj1sl9gQETcDZaVwTHk1zcCpn15tymJX1KFR3DTGcOeIIDoPsfcx_irNXwfJ59kFS9Dfki4TRqPMdHbhz5mlGp1CQ5_2A8r7PaVFUoSyAYNUgn_Tectow1BYHRdS96X0/s320/20170322_233646.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The British get to choose which side they come in on, then the Dragoons are random arrivals.<br />
<br />
I just have to pack everything back up tonight then I'm ready to go to Stratford tomorrow. Guess I should stop in at the bank machine as well, the shopping list was the first thing I packed!CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925010910445522000.post-39506570986230731692017-03-22T18:26:00.001-04:002017-03-22T18:32:11.888-04:00Hotleading! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hotlead 2017 is only two days away and while I'm still three years behind on posting pictures from past Hotleads, here's a scoop on my games for this year's convention. I have two game sessions planned, one Friday night, one Sunday morning, and this is the first time I'm running games at Hotlead.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
First up Friday is a set of scenarios using the Silent Death space fighter rules in the Star Wars: The Force Awakens setting. The ship designs are in their own little universe here, not balanced with the classic period SW ship designs I've had done for years (just waiting for me to finish painting the bleeping ships). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The ships themselves are Titanium Black Series prepainted "diecasts" (if diescast = largely plastic) plus a couple of Hot Wheels ones thrown in. A Rogue One ship slipped in, as before the movie came out I just thought it was a background SW:TFA ship, as did The Ghost from one of the animated series.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's a group shot of most ships (more TIEs have been added since):</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAd0Bq7c4-dW2f0DpuoF__KrRpmzehKtED0Cerq-9Ih84A_KrFQAuVUdNPkE5RlM0hl0jznfGEjqOH7T7qfGJrf45vs-0VZc-TCCGSbmWdYd9J0XvrCUGzfAHFknqPPpHX8I8LwwKUH0/s1600/20170209_231158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAd0Bq7c4-dW2f0DpuoF__KrRpmzehKtED0Cerq-9Ih84A_KrFQAuVUdNPkE5RlM0hl0jznfGEjqOH7T7qfGJrf45vs-0VZc-TCCGSbmWdYd9J0XvrCUGzfAHFknqPPpHX8I8LwwKUH0/s320/20170209_231158.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Below are the Hot Wheels additions after a wash to dirty them up and a starry paint job on their bases. The Corellian Corvette is actually going to be used in the classic period, I have a newfangled type I bought off Shapeways ages ago that will work better as a modern incarnation of the Corvette - once I paint the thing up! The Y-Wing is too big to fit in with my classic-era Y-Wings from Studio Bergstrom, so it's here for the first scenario I'll be running Friday - <i>Last of the Red Hot Y-Wings</i>. The granddaughter of the one surviving Y-Wing pilot from the attack on the first Death Star escapes from the First Order with grandpa's ship (and her boyfriend in the back), and X-Wings and TIE/sf ships get to fight over her.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kY0PIju5RJu2vJMvd5i5kPPfe9ehyphenhyphen10C1eF5xdiDeNvvbV4D5LMZvxzs-ga1Zg5vv8-ejSNo9mhFKEMqVWmiGrf_swmRR0VzecaTk3fEqWWGfXsmzF4yLoEGh6JqZzkSpGWQeRmYyTo/s1600/20170210_081003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kY0PIju5RJu2vJMvd5i5kPPfe9ehyphenhyphen10C1eF5xdiDeNvvbV4D5LMZvxzs-ga1Zg5vv8-ejSNo9mhFKEMqVWmiGrf_swmRR0VzecaTk3fEqWWGfXsmzF4yLoEGh6JqZzkSpGWQeRmYyTo/s320/20170210_081003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Next, a shot partway through a playtest game of the second scenario, <i>Knives to a Gunfight</i>, that I played with my 6yo nephew last month. I learned a few things (even the new First Order TIEs need help against X-Wings) as my nephew cleaned my clock!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsabOnaR2bfXojvjP9MvtGfuSVfvvDDniJrQrRnscHVUPHKrzTvGNlPP0RYZVJ6SL4QW63DIGHwvYaCthOjDsYZJ_SPbPQ4IL87VemPloqykgwmsdvpi7wABhIJk2oTaaeR5p4pZ1gUg/s1600/20170219_090737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsabOnaR2bfXojvjP9MvtGfuSVfvvDDniJrQrRnscHVUPHKrzTvGNlPP0RYZVJ6SL4QW63DIGHwvYaCthOjDsYZJ_SPbPQ4IL87VemPloqykgwmsdvpi7wABhIJk2oTaaeR5p4pZ1gUg/s320/20170219_090737.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The third scenario Friday, if we have time to get to it, will see the Resistance trying to shoot down Kylo Ren's shuttle as he escapes a planet after another fruitless search for clues as to Luke Skywalker's whereabouts. It's entitled <i>Fly Kylo Fly!</i><br />
<br />
Then Sunday I'm going to run some 4-player Song of Drums and Shakos Napoleonics skirmish scenarios. Learning from KEGSCon, I'm just putting on two scenarios, upscaled variants of <i>The Last Pig in Russia</i> and <i>Troubles with the Ladies of Spain</i>.<br />
<br />
I cut off the top of the playing area, but here's the 3'x3' version of <i>The Last Pig in Russia</i>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyxEfaO0KwFbwfQUp06vZaVZ85dOg_inZC-mR1PmTEz0KDwlswaUEndueqP8ULA96fZjoswv22qXmxXsu36GH0ykY0wdB93CtMr4YrYyqrF2BtctTq4redgyAgPqkgh-BeyvFzFWTaxs/s1600/20170321_232754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyxEfaO0KwFbwfQUp06vZaVZ85dOg_inZC-mR1PmTEz0KDwlswaUEndueqP8ULA96fZjoswv22qXmxXsu36GH0ykY0wdB93CtMr4YrYyqrF2BtctTq4redgyAgPqkgh-BeyvFzFWTaxs/s320/20170321_232754.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And I gamed it out one last time as I was packing it up, using the "set everything up and pack it up straight away" approach to making sure I didn't forget anything.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8B-xIBcYGbJdP9PTad81X14VXmSUvpLZm2Yx21sdyhdBQgYwLUH5kzLty04F9ZTinVgVuAn7EoWwafdiC3XmsY6fqIXYlkAXc-VySkvMXrsS1GPdS5PNkwKXhIASuGNnpp1-RW2Via0/s1600/20170322_010042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8B-xIBcYGbJdP9PTad81X14VXmSUvpLZm2Yx21sdyhdBQgYwLUH5kzLty04F9ZTinVgVuAn7EoWwafdiC3XmsY6fqIXYlkAXc-VySkvMXrsS1GPdS5PNkwKXhIASuGNnpp1-RW2Via0/s320/20170322_010042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm free to game Saturday, so I hope to get into a 6mm I Ain't Been Shot Mum game, maybe some ancients, and then I have a plethora of options Saturday night, including more ancients, samurai with rules I really want to try, and a game of The Pikeman's Lament, for which I already have a project planned and purchased!<br />
<br />
I also hope to pick up some more 15mm 4Ground terrain and vehicles and bits and pieces for 20mm Chain of Command.CJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030780615753744132noreply@blogger.com0