Mech Mayhem!

For the pas few years the kids next door had been standing with their noses against the glass of the showcase drooling over my toys and games. So finally they had me promise them a game. With Robots! Being 6 and 8 years old, I had to adapt the rules somewhat and so they had a lot of fun destroying my giant robots with their giant robots. Twice.

Here are some pictures:

High noon in Robotown!

The models used were Arii plastic kits (the Glaug/Marauder still has to receive its decals) and Revell 20mm moderns, reinforced with some plastic toys. 

The Great War: 100 Days Offensive

Last night we revisited The Great War rules. Of course I forgot my camera so I´ll make do with some older pictures of games long past ;o)

A Canadian attack group supported by Whippet infantry tanks attacked a German trench battallion during their retreat to the Hindenburg Line in the summer of 1918.

The Germans had entrenched themselves in a ruined village and had covered the road with medium field guns. The Canadians attacked on the German left flank but their concentrated formations suffered heavily from German HMGs and was slowed down signficantly. Despite losing their frontline platoons the Germans managed to stall the Canadians, knock out one tank and call in a Stormtrooper group as reinforcements. The game remained unfinished due to our late start but the Germans were still firmly entrenched at the end of it.

GASLIGHT and Victorian SF

For my coming GASLIGHT VSF games I painted a number of Steampunk figures that had been gathering dust for the last few years. Most of them are made by Steve Jackson Games and a few of unknown (or forgotten by me) manufacturers.

First some of the old Warzone plastics. I went for a more late Victorian VSF feel with swapping some weapons or adapting them. I am not happy about the shoulder pads (but they won´t come off in a pretty way) and I think that the head of the blue "German" officer would be better if I used a British head with a peaked cap.

Then the Masters of Mekaniks! Victorian scientists (not looking all too stable in some cases) and their humanoid contraptions. The guy on the far right even worked on himself!

Then some stylish gents and Ladies (well, women anyway). Note the female trooper of Flashman´s hussar regiment and the Clockwork Cat.

And finally some stalwart Defenders of the Realm; Wargames Factory Zulu war British converted to Home Service dress.

Post Apocalyptic survivors

Some of my painting of the last few weeks. Be it the nuclear winter or World War Z, these people have survived it! But will they survive the next game....?

EM4 Scavengers bought at Crisis last year and already they have been painted! I am so proud of myself. I especially like the stylish gent in the far right of the top picture.

THIS IS CARTHAGE!!

Last week we played Hail Caesar at the club and while it was not a particularly enjoyable game it did present me with the opportunity to field ALL my Carthaginian troops. And then some, since Evert brought his as well.

 Here are the impressive battle lines.

And our line of 8(!) elephants!

It did also make me realize that Hail Caesar is either not for me or must be played with a significantly lower number of players. It took us over 2 hours of playing time to just get into some serious contact with the enemy.  

Noteably a Carthaginian army under the Hail Caesar rules, like in WAB, is also an army not to play against out-of-period opponents. It did not stand a single chance against the outnumbering EIR army consisting of heavy infantry, archers, artillery and heavy and superheavy cavalry we encountered instead of the Republicans I more or less expected.

The diceroll of my wargaming career!

Last night we played Black Powder and I commanded the French Cavalry division. My Cuirassiers were given the perfect opportunity when a British unit attacked a French attack column in the flank and, in turn, exposed its own flank to my heavy horse.

So I ordered the charge, rolled up three actions and onward thundered my glittering line of steel-clad horsemen! I crashed full tilt into the British flank! They could not even form square! 9 Attack dice plus 1D3 combat result and any 3+ was a hit.

So I rolled my bucket of 9 dice and this was the result:

The one Hit was saved......
It ended in a draw....
Everybody came to watch....

Thank God the dice weren´t mine :o)

Free online sample of Miniature Wargames

For everyone who wants to sample a free and online copy of Miniature Wargames, the link below should be a welcome surprise.

http://www.exacteditions.com/miniaturewargames

Garden Battle 2011!! G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T.

Last weekend we played our annual garden battle in Luc´s back yard. Words would not do justice to the hilarious chaos that was the scenario. 12 players wielding teams of Royal Navy, vampires, London gangs, zombies and Deep Ones, the Spanish Inquisition and suffragettes battled it out in Victorian London to gain their insidious and oftentimes diffuse goals.

Building up the tablewhile the rainclouds slowly receded:

London City, 1888

 Zombie Central:

 The Royal Navy

 The Royal Navy in strategic retreat while contemplating what to do with a horde of zombies and Deep Ones

 A Steam Walker of unclear affilliation

 Some recently deceased Londoners looking for a second chance

 The Steam Walker disrupting a Cthuloid ritual

 Deep Ones looking for the Royal Navy

A steam-powered Marine (or something)

 The Spanish inquisition (Cardinals Jimenez, Biggles and Feng) battling the evil minions of Dracula

 The Cray gang breaking into Cthulhu´s statue to capture the Catorlite using a scorpion robot

 Steam walker and Suffragette tank battling it out in a climactic showdown

All in all a hilarious and chaotic day with traditional last-minute good weather and enjoyment all around! Many, many thanks to Luc and Lex for organizing the whole shebang!

Holiday paint jobs

No, not the front door or anything useful, but Hasslefree´s Libby on her faithful tiger and two limited edition figures.

As promised, Libby on her tiger

The Glory or Dishonour 2011 participation figure. I got truly clobbered in most battles, but I got this miniature anyway!

And finally the "Bokkerijder"  given out at Crisis 2010. 

Libby had to wait for two years as I was a bit intimidated by the unbelievably good jobs some other people had done on her, but now I had gathered enough courage to start and I think I did not put her to shame. Since I don´t play anything Fantasy she will now spend her days in the showcase, but the two LE figures will join my Dark Age Saxons and Border Reivers respectively.

TSATF North West Frontier game

Last monday we played my first game with The Sword and The Flame since a long time. A late 19th century British column went in to "pacify" a Afghan valley and was ambushed by hordes of wiley Pathans.

The Valley floor before the battle: ominously quiet

Guides ambushed while crossing the southern pass

Imperial Infantry fighting its way through the northern pass

Mounted guides breaking through into the valley (never to be seen again...)

My Redbox Gurkhas and HaT Guides who received their baptism-of-fire in this game.

All in all it was a fun game in which the British managed to push through the northern pass but their southern column was well and truly massacred by Pathan ambushes. Eventually the British were compelled to retreat. In retrospect the Afghans were a tad too numerous and the Gurkhas should have had some enhanced combat capabilities.