tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60155536973951745642024-03-15T18:10:19.797-07:00The Land of CounterpaneCounterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.comBlogger1047125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-55167836593466386862024-03-14T04:41:00.000-07:002024-03-14T04:41:15.624-07:00Stary Boleslav - plan of action<p>With less than a month to go before Crisis Point 2024 I'm well on the way to having everything in place to run my game <b>Stary Boleslav, 1948</b>. It's a game for 4 to 8 players set during a fictional Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1948. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Tzi2Fm87qI9Sxh1-DtjrtS7TBTdjHAxiGAxgAryI_9zxw-x04Puc2G9pflOzzDJJGhNe6FCNas-4H6EaYBch6mZs-Nox_ULm5lDgRlnJlhLRj5ApLKDXDLf3xOgOg5e1LItCCwJNIwbeo6BRIzr3RJKUUEeEbcu4BdcvHvkOHoAZoDK1s2sQeKwv2Cg/s2743/184AE461-FF36-4B38-8B12-E109305CB4E6_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2743" data-original-width="2334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Tzi2Fm87qI9Sxh1-DtjrtS7TBTdjHAxiGAxgAryI_9zxw-x04Puc2G9pflOzzDJJGhNe6FCNas-4H6EaYBch6mZs-Nox_ULm5lDgRlnJlhLRj5ApLKDXDLf3xOgOg5e1LItCCwJNIwbeo6BRIzr3RJKUUEeEbcu4BdcvHvkOHoAZoDK1s2sQeKwv2Cg/s320/184AE461-FF36-4B38-8B12-E109305CB4E6_1_201_a.jpeg" width="272" /></a></div><p>This game sees two Soviet command teams racing to be the first to reach the Czechoslovak city of Stary Boleslav. For the winner there’s the prospect of being awarded the Order of Suvorov (Second Class), while for the loser there’s the very real possibility of being appointed to command the security detachment of a chemical weapons research facility. In Kazakhstan!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuENYTypGkf66FSm6aS_DghyphenhyphenUwmUUoTdD6qL2BLxMqNsfLe6q8bSebAaWAzki8EmWO3oLqczjgISauYjEyIuRzgQFyKvgd1HKHoG8bhhYa9MgajrcHJWIN_5SnOaGnpxqg-EdEHGKOqwBainLre4BeRP-Pq9SZn1zi6PkGKmBNZRCZk3RSHy3y4-o9uc/s3013/B7D24BC8-96E0-414D-A71C-D41265B3ABAB_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2744" data-original-width="3013" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuENYTypGkf66FSm6aS_DghyphenhyphenUwmUUoTdD6qL2BLxMqNsfLe6q8bSebAaWAzki8EmWO3oLqczjgISauYjEyIuRzgQFyKvgd1HKHoG8bhhYa9MgajrcHJWIN_5SnOaGnpxqg-EdEHGKOqwBainLre4BeRP-Pq9SZn1zi6PkGKmBNZRCZk3RSHy3y4-o9uc/s320/B7D24BC8-96E0-414D-A71C-D41265B3ABAB_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Meanwhile the Czechoslovak command team will be tasked with defending two major highways converging on the city. But with what forces? The political situation is confused. Have pro-Soviet elements been successfully purged from the Czechoslovak Army? </p><p>We’ll be using the <i>TacWWII</i> fast play grand tactical rules. They are easy to learn - no previous experience necessary and put players firmly in the seat of the brigade commander while still giving a decent impression what’s happening right down to platoon level.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BWLDBj5XRryM1bJlg9rdQ84gaGpd7kyqg9YFnr9n5vGElscmlNAu1Mtb4r5h5ReQZPkTUHleRA0whadkBeLZE1R32_IsAA4W2CxaGro5IcOb25thGQTnQN-lu79-XfFcV5XzVU7ZFaVwiIVj1nK0iFw9A0awrG3rM-pT2MEITVqdlDSsbu6Tw9w2Do8/s1637/outline_map.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1637" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BWLDBj5XRryM1bJlg9rdQ84gaGpd7kyqg9YFnr9n5vGElscmlNAu1Mtb4r5h5ReQZPkTUHleRA0whadkBeLZE1R32_IsAA4W2CxaGro5IcOb25thGQTnQN-lu79-XfFcV5XzVU7ZFaVwiIVj1nK0iFw9A0awrG3rM-pT2MEITVqdlDSsbu6Tw9w2Do8/w640-h388/outline_map.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Having a whole weekend available should allow us to play the game properly. Too often with just a Saturday afternoon (or a club evening) available we rush to get a game set up and running. This inevitably means we skimp on things like writing orders, pre-plotting artillery targets or even having a proper plan of attack. We can also end up calling a halt when one or more players' time runs out rather than when we've reached a genuine conclusion to the battle.</p><p>This time I hope to fight the action to a conclusion. This means:</p><p><u>Preparation</u></p><p>I'm trying to cover as much as possible before Crisis Point weekend. This means getting the two sides (three really) to pick their optional supports in advance. emails are currently flying back and forth and it's interesting to see which choices are being made.</p><p>In addition, I set up a little pre-game political phase for the Czechoslovaks. I rolled three six-sided dice and told the Czechoslovak players the scores. They knew that 1 was bad and 6 good. I asked them to allocate the dice as "political effort" in three areas - "Intelligence", "Purging Communists from the military", and "Seeking Western support". I can't share the results at this stage but I can tell you that results have impacted things like troop quality, deployment and weapons availability.</p><p>When the weekend rolls around I hope to start early on Saturday with the tables laid out and mapped in detail and the forces laid out on unit sheets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVoDsv7mQQxzN4PQUJQZwZZbl035zHlMntddZhx2XdeoSHWzGmHiqXoIOmigfNfYB5HM3ysifC05rhpPMGsYEg8pk-2Ue4OleTJC6HINDY15Aua1BFfd1qy6g9kz0_eggG0DTIZlm82nxFvNAwU6o5fy0pf18UNvjxp9cv9ppROmntXYVMRaOjH8GIs0/s2888/547A903E-7D21-4140-BE5C-53909D86AE97_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2888" data-original-width="2496" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVoDsv7mQQxzN4PQUJQZwZZbl035zHlMntddZhx2XdeoSHWzGmHiqXoIOmigfNfYB5HM3ysifC05rhpPMGsYEg8pk-2Ue4OleTJC6HINDY15Aua1BFfd1qy6g9kz0_eggG0DTIZlm82nxFvNAwU6o5fy0pf18UNvjxp9cv9ppROmntXYVMRaOjH8GIs0/s320/547A903E-7D21-4140-BE5C-53909D86AE97_1_201_a.jpeg" width="277" /></a></div><br /><p><u>Scenario Balancing</u></p><p>Any attack-versus-defence scenario needs time pressure if it's not to degenerate into a static shooting match where the attacker tries to destroy any visible enemy units before daring to advance. But how much time should we allow the attackers? This is where the race-between-rival-attackers approach comes in. By awarding the win to the first Soviet brigade to reach the objective city of Stary Boleslav we set a time pressure that has nothing to do with the umpire's estimate of what constitutes "fast enough".</p><p>Where the umpire's estimate <b>does</b> become relevant is in the relative strength of attackers and defenders. If I make the Czechoslovak forces too strong, the race between Soviet detachments won't matter; they'll both be bogged down unable to break through the initial enemy line. </p><p>There's probably no substitute for experience and what the Germans call <i>Fingerspitzengefühl</i> in this case. All I can say is that every time I've thought to myself, "Maybe I've made the Czechoslovak forces too weak", I've stifled that thought. Far better to have the game end early and have to set up another game to fill time than to end the weekend with both Soviet teams frustrated by their inability to get close to victory and the Czechs bored by fighting a successful static defence.</p><p>Another way we'll balance attack and defence and encourage mobile warfare is is by restricting the defenders' deployment options. Details are still confidential, of course, but "political and logistic issues" mean that they won't be able to stack the front line with defending battalions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7ohO-rsqTpDzbJ72Ir7m5lcjLgatonGjOoTWYhC7qExkiFsXNsHgG1gOQ7PhTJdLwgpMF_L8rITDdfbKEIrCtLKUnLK7ZbaKtPT90nEUR19T_o1isjXkCVYqKcTFIEHUVYLX5zDHbA6RTsARlfe_d5m_62_YKEFKbuMVBDQySisa8pqigIPurPvNQcs/s1634/7A9C2517-8C47-4CA2-9F00-BDB717C5CCA5_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1634" data-original-width="1451" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7ohO-rsqTpDzbJ72Ir7m5lcjLgatonGjOoTWYhC7qExkiFsXNsHgG1gOQ7PhTJdLwgpMF_L8rITDdfbKEIrCtLKUnLK7ZbaKtPT90nEUR19T_o1isjXkCVYqKcTFIEHUVYLX5zDHbA6RTsARlfe_d5m_62_YKEFKbuMVBDQySisa8pqigIPurPvNQcs/s320/7A9C2517-8C47-4CA2-9F00-BDB717C5CCA5_1_201_a.jpeg" width="284" /></a></div><p><u>Managing the Battle</u></p><p>Experience shows that having two or more players sharing command of the same force slows play down. Neither player wants to be seen to dominate the decision-making process so every decision gets discussed in excruciating detail. </p><p>The obvious solution would be to divide the player teams such that one player runs the front-line battalions and the other looks after reserves, artillery assets and air support. I do plan to do that but it might not be much fun for the guy who gets to play staff officer. So that approach will be modified. </p><p>Firstly the roles of "staff officer" and "front-line commander" will swap as soon as the advancing forces move from the first table to the second. </p><p>Secondly, in addition to his administrative duties, the staff officer will be responsible for movement and die rolling for an element of the front-line force. This way when he takes over command he'll have a handle on the rules and a feel for the relative strengths of units. </p><p><u>Learning the Rules</u></p><p>This is a tricky aspect. Only I and one of the players have tried <i>TacWWII</i> previously. Fortunately I've been able to share my version 1.5 adaptation of the rules in advice. Depending on progress with the above we may be able to get in a little teach-in before we start the game proper.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-50110179068277283912024-03-11T15:23:00.000-07:002024-03-11T15:23:39.263-07:00New arrival<p>The stand-alone version of Shot, Steel and Stone arrived from Amazon today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwQCcuEx5f6noa2HsnpRf6Z6hJ5LqNqhYrBi9OmhlHIiAWR9xSiyAt7f72blXrdBZhoyy_wF6COxz3avPW5xrgL70EzrJmy_K_Zj2t0SvnvFKHGhHmGKD_mDuCxyukOFfn4GfVylWDLblx7MIF33VJ-lJQ4XFsVQLFe5tkzgOFeuQIRk2nup0fDAhUdg/s4032/1E3F306F-0E4D-47B0-A78C-E7752F3EEC40.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwQCcuEx5f6noa2HsnpRf6Z6hJ5LqNqhYrBi9OmhlHIiAWR9xSiyAt7f72blXrdBZhoyy_wF6COxz3avPW5xrgL70EzrJmy_K_Zj2t0SvnvFKHGhHmGKD_mDuCxyukOFfn4GfVylWDLblx7MIF33VJ-lJQ4XFsVQLFe5tkzgOFeuQIRk2nup0fDAhUdg/w300-h400/1E3F306F-0E4D-47B0-A78C-E7752F3EEC40.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>I've been experimenting with these rules for a few years, since they were first published as a chapter in Henry's <i>The Wargaming Compendium</i>. I hope they can become my rules of choice for using my 6mm scale Great Northern War collection.</p><p>Up to now usage has been limited because of (a) the inconvenience of using the rules from within Henry's brick-like book and (b) some uncertainty about the wording of the rules.</p><p>My considered assessment is that the rules will work fine if you get to learn them directly from Henry or from someone who's played with him at, say, the Ayton gaming weekends. Learning them in isolation from the rules-as-written is more of a challenge.</p><p>Fortunately, though, Henry has started a series of Youtube videos demonstrating the rules in use. Building on these, I've exchanged some messages with the author and taken on the unofficial role of "dumb user"; identifying confusing parts of the rules and trying to reword them as a way of resting my understanding. I figure if I can say "Here's an alternative wording, is that what you meant?" we might be able to arrive at a helpful FAQ document.</p><p>After we get Crisis Point out of the way I hope we can get the forces of Zheltarus, Yesilkara, Tservonsk, and Blåland onto the wargames table for a proper game.</p>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-90148636911145911042024-03-06T04:16:00.000-08:002024-03-06T04:16:40.327-08:00Czechoslovakia 1948 - HQ units<p>My game for Crisis Point this year needs two Czechoslovak tactical HQ units to represent the location of the two player teams' command posts.</p><p>I had a couple of spare OPp3Ns (or as you probably know them SdKfz251/1s) left over so I knocked up these yesterday. I cut down some <i>Heroics and Ros</i> gun crew and/or command figures to ride in the rear compartments and added a few Soviet infantry to decorate the bases.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_UBjAhSwtUgTw4DbLZbuTBx_Ht3TjYMH2_UmgZ38llvyPGhJkTheiqeBvjv_BfQFEr2BEHKi8xYjovzLzKfD8vFV9NwZZZxAhUSouQ1ERCWiGG16gggLmHtFLZuHAG_UY34-fQ5PKRyQDIyWuM3yGWiDbU6d3x288R4fH3Ubpx-32ahyphenhyphenliHMEzGhiYI/s2074/IMG_2491.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="2074" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_UBjAhSwtUgTw4DbLZbuTBx_Ht3TjYMH2_UmgZ38llvyPGhJkTheiqeBvjv_BfQFEr2BEHKi8xYjovzLzKfD8vFV9NwZZZxAhUSouQ1ERCWiGG16gggLmHtFLZuHAG_UY34-fQ5PKRyQDIyWuM3yGWiDbU6d3x288R4fH3Ubpx-32ahyphenhyphenliHMEzGhiYI/w400-h268/IMG_2491.heic" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7MVOghb2c7D4kF6lEtIlupcvdixY0kfj3kDhdMuW844LknedRoG0eRu1E70Lx32TylkRv-2-n500txV7LhsDDcrjQx44ZDiY7HAzjUEfzz2MmDDd0INGQrnz_95TGGfJFAMcw0SZYOakuBJ0pW8oMzIKlN5kT_crPSXWvayX-IvTKRS1tQT-Qw7bLnE/s2075/IMG_2492.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="2075" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7MVOghb2c7D4kF6lEtIlupcvdixY0kfj3kDhdMuW844LknedRoG0eRu1E70Lx32TylkRv-2-n500txV7LhsDDcrjQx44ZDiY7HAzjUEfzz2MmDDd0INGQrnz_95TGGfJFAMcw0SZYOakuBJ0pW8oMzIKlN5kT_crPSXWvayX-IvTKRS1tQT-Qw7bLnE/w400-h239/IMG_2492.heic" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Although I'll be using them with the <i>TacWWII</i> rules, the basing style is derived from, and will work well with, <i>Blitzkrieg Commander</i>. </p><p>My intention for TacWWII is to treat the HQ stands like Jeep-mounted infantry in the standard rules. When in Bold Attack or March Mode they are targeted as if the depicted vehicle. In other modes they are spotted and shot at as if infantry.</p>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-22064262210438006012024-03-04T02:39:00.000-08:002024-03-04T02:51:22.624-08:00TacWWII demo - Blatno<p>With a load of new players signed up to play <i>TacWWII</i> at <b>Crisis Point</b> in early April, I thought it might be useful to do a bit of a rules run though here.</p><p>I set up a table with some typical terrain.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiR-FEIq18xmIu9zliIVgVCmrMiY7m_pgw0OyVbMJHCG_Mh7_ntLTIpbtFpE8CHR6lMZfuAQBGqkZfeOohDRiaYoa0UuAvznMK-eUzGiFzKtITaQgbauOR_NG78qQWxzXW1q4RUvXS2g9sDHIZWXm0lx-ffdqrZGdD39j3xtnFfFocWP44NGdZZymPrs/s4032/474E386F-2865-4667-9D81-AAC8F60C9D41.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiR-FEIq18xmIu9zliIVgVCmrMiY7m_pgw0OyVbMJHCG_Mh7_ntLTIpbtFpE8CHR6lMZfuAQBGqkZfeOohDRiaYoa0UuAvznMK-eUzGiFzKtITaQgbauOR_NG78qQWxzXW1q4RUvXS2g9sDHIZWXm0lx-ffdqrZGdD39j3xtnFfFocWP44NGdZZymPrs/w300-h400/474E386F-2865-4667-9D81-AAC8F60C9D41.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>Seen above (from the western end of the table) we have the "main highway" running to the town of Blatno at the far end. At the end of a dirt road is the small settlement of Dobruska next to the yellow wheatfield. </p><p>Czechoslovak 11th Tank Battalion in Cromwell IVs with a couple of recce platoons in M5 Stuarts is attacking from the west. Meanwhile the headquarters unit of a Soviet Division's Forward Detachment in moving through Blatno.</p><p>The Soviet HQ starts off with the command platoon (represented by a T-34/85 on a 30mm square base and a ZIS-3 76mm gun towed by a truck. Attached is a company of engineers in trucks. </p><p>With the umpire's agreement the Soviet commander has attached his gun platoon to the engineer company. This serves two purposes. Firstly it gives the engineers some supporting firepower whilst allowing the HQ to manoeuvre freely and secondly a one-element HQ company doesn't need to take company morale tests. A bit game-y perhaps but there you have it.</p><p>Each battalion (and the Forward Detachment HQ is treated as one) needs orders. These can be simple enough to be written on the back of a business card.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuSpR5qoSksgeK4UqZAvZWw_qfcCim09IQO2wXvg0fK-aEHHgN4cIEKQAW-97QFUuyOJcC4WI50qPrlc0GI3VU73PkJNosvbeIeiXKT47RJDLe141ZVNT16fy1xtR8p54XxY_vULYY2t1nlqBIpJkQU1ZK78wrCh2ZX6ARyjQ1AwImyDTY_rv2BF83wg/s2971/D0B2B729-0911-4365-83E9-974AD32425D8_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2274" data-original-width="2971" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuSpR5qoSksgeK4UqZAvZWw_qfcCim09IQO2wXvg0fK-aEHHgN4cIEKQAW-97QFUuyOJcC4WI50qPrlc0GI3VU73PkJNosvbeIeiXKT47RJDLe141ZVNT16fy1xtR8p54XxY_vULYY2t1nlqBIpJkQU1ZK78wrCh2ZX6ARyjQ1AwImyDTY_rv2BF83wg/s320/D0B2B729-0911-4365-83E9-974AD32425D8_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rhdkhWbAm0jHJUquIv8z0M8K-Zk-VYRlyZrMtxVxYlNSotzZf5OrXP2XoGVl2i1der1M1JhJO-59KULMEUz86gj340e58UGGCztxQzeCOF2qAuJChUzpi_uBxPwPQ8udTALH5slXkBRZYotGwwQEBI6FIAv3feR-OAj_AZ5DIT9vdR9Y36ZDbEFhuf8/s2302/FA23E182-61CE-4BF6-9659-575DB9B4532E_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="2302" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rhdkhWbAm0jHJUquIv8z0M8K-Zk-VYRlyZrMtxVxYlNSotzZf5OrXP2XoGVl2i1der1M1JhJO-59KULMEUz86gj340e58UGGCztxQzeCOF2qAuJChUzpi_uBxPwPQ8udTALH5slXkBRZYotGwwQEBI6FIAv3feR-OAj_AZ5DIT9vdR9Y36ZDbEFhuf8/s320/FA23E182-61CE-4BF6-9659-575DB9B4532E_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Note that the orders <b>do not</b> need to specify the Mode(s) in which the battalion's companies are operating.</p><p>Our little game is very simple - no artillery or aircraft and all units are Tac 6, Normal Morale. Let's get on with...</p><p><b>Game turn 1</b></p><p>The Czechoslovak battalion starts with the recce company up front on the highway followed by the second tank company and the HQ, all in March Mode. The first company is on the left in Bold Attack Mode.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcbmLeUbGHicOAPNNiPQpfq1YL6UJj1lYF2K7BE4j1obKC_9WzShl8qA5kz7LIXjBFhZsDojR0UJ9QY5NfX_O848PoTssf096dF-qY08NhPZc4vxtFSFu52hN2Vftc9Tbad2Vu44k6SV8bDSG59Nmc2RjgjfqSdvWot_Gv744LR_l0RyzLCLDbRVvMGk/s3212/1A94AFE8-BC80-4D00-B6C4-14FB73A5BB86_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3212" data-original-width="2856" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcbmLeUbGHicOAPNNiPQpfq1YL6UJj1lYF2K7BE4j1obKC_9WzShl8qA5kz7LIXjBFhZsDojR0UJ9QY5NfX_O848PoTssf096dF-qY08NhPZc4vxtFSFu52hN2Vftc9Tbad2Vu44k6SV8bDSG59Nmc2RjgjfqSdvWot_Gv744LR_l0RyzLCLDbRVvMGk/s320/1A94AFE8-BC80-4D00-B6C4-14FB73A5BB86_1_201_a.jpeg" width="285" /></a></div><br /><p>The Stuarts (Fast Tracked) have an 11cm move increment on roads. In March Mode out of contact with the enemy (no one's in a position to shoot at them) they get five move increments giving them a total road move of 55cm!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz7QPjNRH_VfTgpPJd6fFpFp1IuJJ7W2Ypuo8nNiOwl6qwXYpNL3lURnyXFt_QMJ1_cAzwXdBpv1OMGQm5RCouzTe9yPCvblFIbDarX6T6Shzd15RYx3jCG3_PhWNp5vIsV2zIxmuRsK7TDrx6J-qgm4Mxvoe3EFJcnQE835jDcZVZWvi6ByByUkJYf4/s4032/52E53553-DCB8-47F8-BAE1-DE47DB232BAC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz7QPjNRH_VfTgpPJd6fFpFp1IuJJ7W2Ypuo8nNiOwl6qwXYpNL3lURnyXFt_QMJ1_cAzwXdBpv1OMGQm5RCouzTe9yPCvblFIbDarX6T6Shzd15RYx3jCG3_PhWNp5vIsV2zIxmuRsK7TDrx6J-qgm4Mxvoe3EFJcnQE835jDcZVZWvi6ByByUkJYf4/w300-h400/52E53553-DCB8-47F8-BAE1-DE47DB232BAC.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>The Cromwells of 1st company (also Fast Tracked) get <u>two</u> move increments of 8cm moving cross-country.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pl7_vH58Rm9-c-KUdP46LkSNArjKtBoAy3eRp-sc1Wrdebuehzp4Dxz9dAYz5yXMAM9iu6aDsFaizs97HHQeXadhy-lA4CtGVwBT0OYaJHzrI3r4jD92t2SNhBQkjqtVCdNN7bjEaPDJYi8-1DMZQJUR5syiTi5euCKUlgRngkntZ53GBOoqEieQr9c/s4032/C3450E7C-C0ED-4414-B5BB-9137CB6FFC48.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pl7_vH58Rm9-c-KUdP46LkSNArjKtBoAy3eRp-sc1Wrdebuehzp4Dxz9dAYz5yXMAM9iu6aDsFaizs97HHQeXadhy-lA4CtGVwBT0OYaJHzrI3r4jD92t2SNhBQkjqtVCdNN7bjEaPDJYi8-1DMZQJUR5syiTi5euCKUlgRngkntZ53GBOoqEieQr9c/w300-h400/C3450E7C-C0ED-4414-B5BB-9137CB6FFC48.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>Meanwhile in Blatno, the Soviet traffic jam encounters a demolished culvert over an impassible marshy area. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZhNZrTYbBFT1DTpQvAXTli7j-nJWt28hVmY1sPFiyAz2Ij5AcqNo9YHuYEyHaNqsS-1PDbk4v1wuqausZ7ZeuUO54baQDAt9-VpqpcTr7imNoBxR7AAm_C2VkpeBqyciXz2MLMUYd434mdF-r3GYWqyivo2iwuhMtlsfDd6FRSzl39icJdEgqYSYjXk/s4032/3E801C6A-8674-40B3-BF34-7B0B7DF0EF43.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZhNZrTYbBFT1DTpQvAXTli7j-nJWt28hVmY1sPFiyAz2Ij5AcqNo9YHuYEyHaNqsS-1PDbk4v1wuqausZ7ZeuUO54baQDAt9-VpqpcTr7imNoBxR7AAm_C2VkpeBqyciXz2MLMUYd434mdF-r3GYWqyivo2iwuhMtlsfDd6FRSzl39icJdEgqYSYjXk/w300-h400/3E801C6A-8674-40B3-BF34-7B0B7DF0EF43.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>Ordinarily the HQ, in March Mode, would have to make a minimum of two move increments. however, in this case it encounters the blockage after a single increment. With an unexpected change of direction required we make a Tac roll.</p><p>The HQ's Tac score is 6 so we need to roll 6 or higher on a D10. The result is a 2 so the HQ stops in place. Behind the HQ the engineer company also fails its Tac roll so a traffic jam forms behind the HQ.</p><p><b>Game turn 2</b></p><p>Both sides move, Tac rolls are failed all over the place, let's move on.</p><p><b>Game turn 3</b></p><p>Things don't get any better for the Soviets. The HQ unit tries to make a Tac roll to move into Bold Attack Mode. This roll would also cover the option to change direction. Unfortunately another roll of 2 means they automatically go into Confused Mode. Confused Mode allows movement of zero to one increment. This allows the HQ to stay in place in front of the broken culvert.</p><p>The engineers also try to go into Bold Attack. This would give them two move increments to move up to the culvert (dismounting from their trucks is free at the start of an increment). Of course the Soviets are unable to roll a six or higher and they go into Confused Mode instead. This gives them one increment. They dismount and start to move forward.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrbTvpKr8zO2HbwQK_WP2-wrTPhkhlw7jB40Po5un7slJ20LQeq5vv7u_HpeINvFxpRWKqwKANQ1fY9A0WWBKOFtqQiGYxkmKyNvpohyphenhyphenyYSC0koYFhJIus41zY7DM6NYbWSUPgn3zX0Npyh8uFNiCjrWmcidNiG-y4Mpp3WjYoiGyhibjskbchTdeZ1o/s4032/4EFC0C0A-7315-44E5-9D7D-893B0CCDA2C7.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrbTvpKr8zO2HbwQK_WP2-wrTPhkhlw7jB40Po5un7slJ20LQeq5vv7u_HpeINvFxpRWKqwKANQ1fY9A0WWBKOFtqQiGYxkmKyNvpohyphenhyphenyYSC0koYFhJIus41zY7DM6NYbWSUPgn3zX0Npyh8uFNiCjrWmcidNiG-y4Mpp3WjYoiGyhibjskbchTdeZ1o/w300-h400/4EFC0C0A-7315-44E5-9D7D-893B0CCDA2C7.heic" width="300" /></a></div><p>Meanwhile the Czechoslovaks continue to advance. The recce company fails its Tac roll to change mode and is forced into Confused Mode. The rest of the battalion is more fortunate however and starts to deploy either side of the road with the HQ swinging around to the right:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAdvTLvWrdm3pPf5Ye1jS20JdPtjHBe2aPP5d5bH4Gp1FvTTwdS8hct9ZpL8i9N6XKkZY90AeHyKjDnNN6F7g3LFKVdlcSSdJo2Qzb7-HuxExPUSX9doc_cIH50nJEUoMzgstQbjRB6IkGq1mVqMrkp3q1fGqhWBNOXLH3i0KT55UlDPIwbWARPtbdBc/s4032/F511AE4E-F89F-4331-836A-446C70C0DFB1.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAdvTLvWrdm3pPf5Ye1jS20JdPtjHBe2aPP5d5bH4Gp1FvTTwdS8hct9ZpL8i9N6XKkZY90AeHyKjDnNN6F7g3LFKVdlcSSdJo2Qzb7-HuxExPUSX9doc_cIH50nJEUoMzgstQbjRB6IkGq1mVqMrkp3q1fGqhWBNOXLH3i0KT55UlDPIwbWARPtbdBc/w300-h400/F511AE4E-F89F-4331-836A-446C70C0DFB1.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>At this point the Czechoslovak Cromwells of 2nd company on the road are about 50cm from the T-34/85 platoon that forms the Forward Detachment HQ. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_XIhZA6Jd6v5k49fZ88x4NYq-eXNVWk0hL-DQw77SpCSBG40T_BiFK4F3zB2oHBLFEv8PTfnTPygAvPNwU35BrOGLxa-OcLFnvFwKnw_3_rBlMjrDvxEoZx2GbN-T1DJNIaN8xokGcVk1YB4-76zT-gc9Nkk4oqQHFt0gDklQcEnidB5kPPeGkklLTw/s3845/A1AD6E0B-0F55-46AE-BBD7-F92DA39AF015_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="3845" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_XIhZA6Jd6v5k49fZ88x4NYq-eXNVWk0hL-DQw77SpCSBG40T_BiFK4F3zB2oHBLFEv8PTfnTPygAvPNwU35BrOGLxa-OcLFnvFwKnw_3_rBlMjrDvxEoZx2GbN-T1DJNIaN8xokGcVk1YB4-76zT-gc9Nkk4oqQHFt0gDklQcEnidB5kPPeGkklLTw/w640-h142/A1AD6E0B-0F55-46AE-BBD7-F92DA39AF015_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A 2nd company Cromwell on the road (far left) faces the T-34/85 platoon<br />of the Soviet Forward Detachment HQ (right)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Spotting a vehicle unit in the open in clear weather is listed as "80/40" in Section 10 of the rules - <b>Detection and Location</b>. In other words if you pass your Location Phase Tac roll you can spot an enemy vehicle unit up to 80cm range, if you fail you can only see it up to 40cm.</p><p>At this point the Tac rolls are crucial. The Czechoslovak company fails its Tac roll (rolling a five when it needed six or better) but the Soviet HQ succeeds (they actually rolled a seven this time)! The Soviets can see the Czechoslovaks but the reverse is not true.</p><p>The Soviet HQ is in Confused Mode (the spotting Tac roll was the first it's succeeded with all game!) so it shoots in Fire Phase C. At 50cm range an 85mm tank gun has stats of "10/6". The stats are expressed as "soft/hard" - the 10 is the factor against soft targets, the 6 against armoured targets. So the T-34 needs a 6+ to hit. However, we need to deduct the target's armour of 2 so the Soviets need an 8+ to affect the target. </p><p>The die roll is a 10! How the worm has turned! The target number (N) was 8 and the result is N+2. This gives a kill against an armoured unit. The Cromwell platoon is knocked out!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZAgHBFxNfWCtVdIKk9PK7M0XfoNCsMr9b7LdUGjqcXFD2a7dWssdiOYb_kyfzWquK4DuIfEuIpXGc0R1q4rxhVPhEJyF8ScdfwnkFEnAEXqBCIzV-ebjZ4VvMdjR0WLRHpdYUIPDT8Y3lae6SwQb9V7vRaSe-FCd9zh50Dv-Zv81DOuhkCNzmOcFbxs/s2453/C3064707-63D3-4CF6-8EB9-E6488DD10751_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2453" data-original-width="2170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZAgHBFxNfWCtVdIKk9PK7M0XfoNCsMr9b7LdUGjqcXFD2a7dWssdiOYb_kyfzWquK4DuIfEuIpXGc0R1q4rxhVPhEJyF8ScdfwnkFEnAEXqBCIzV-ebjZ4VvMdjR0WLRHpdYUIPDT8Y3lae6SwQb9V7vRaSe-FCd9zh50Dv-Zv81DOuhkCNzmOcFbxs/s320/C3064707-63D3-4CF6-8EB9-E6488DD10751_1_201_a.jpeg" width="283" /></a></div><p>To the left of the target unit is another platoon of Cromwells (by the point of the "BA" marker in the picture above). If they were able to fire in Fire Phase D they would get a return shot (firing units are visible at double range) but in Bold Attack Mode you only get to fire in Fire Phase B. There's therefore no more firing and we come to the Morale Phase.</p><p>Having taken a loss, the Czechoslovak second tank company needs to take a company morale test. The only relevant modifier is that the unit has lost one third of its elements: "If 21-40% of unit lost: -2"</p><p>The Czechoslovak player roll a d10 and, oh dear, gets a one! This gives a total of -1, which gives a "Retire" result. The second company will need to make a full March Mode move away from the enemy next turn. </p><p>In addition, because the Czechoslovak battalion has a company with a Retire result, they must take a Battalion Morale Test.</p><p>The only relevant modifier here is "-1 Company Retiring". A die roll of 8 means the battalion is OK to continue its attack.</p><p><b>Game turn 4</b></p><p>The Soviets continue to be unable to make Tac rolls when it comes to changing Mode! The engineers continue to edge forward in Confused Mode while the T-34 platoon continues to watch over the road.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENgfBgVoc4ofy9EiNN5mR6C5kpbs7HkHI7MkUkVErNLUeWa4m2t9Qdx2HFDuCYG1uy5XMOzo1oew0bOJCmFC8dITKp9zT8SrFJ7iuunUzsmBiOPkkBNSFsH_7aasmo4Umk-Ev61soS-ZuC2CzzB21QVN3SbkxNcofniA0Ms7pesxP8eV5JP5BF9-NIvY/s4032/2DF770A3-09D9-4703-A504-F152A5746668.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENgfBgVoc4ofy9EiNN5mR6C5kpbs7HkHI7MkUkVErNLUeWa4m2t9Qdx2HFDuCYG1uy5XMOzo1oew0bOJCmFC8dITKp9zT8SrFJ7iuunUzsmBiOPkkBNSFsH_7aasmo4Umk-Ev61soS-ZuC2CzzB21QVN3SbkxNcofniA0Ms7pesxP8eV5JP5BF9-NIvY/s320/2DF770A3-09D9-4703-A504-F152A5746668.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>In the background you can see that the engineers' trucks have pulled off the road to give room for the truck towing the 76mm gun to come through.</p><p>The remaining two platoons of the Czechoslovak 2nd tank company have pulled back three move increments as a result of the Retire morale result while 1st company has reached the road to Dobruska.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy8ROmBmfDaMVkCf3gpRzI4AEKEfajt6_-ICnpAJTF__NC15MtL892PENbt0luZ08Pu1xAnWuqh08KQ31oUr2jd60FA49gYgIZm9lJoz12oeojVSsp3ZULv2Ff7_qE7LmV7ybaBUeQcOErGwB5VCaH57laO6RLqtZd5av3hUw0eQNT6cHTXPH5e4R54U/s4032/6E50DFB4-2F3B-46DA-AD82-6D9BBAA78991.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy8ROmBmfDaMVkCf3gpRzI4AEKEfajt6_-ICnpAJTF__NC15MtL892PENbt0luZ08Pu1xAnWuqh08KQ31oUr2jd60FA49gYgIZm9lJoz12oeojVSsp3ZULv2Ff7_qE7LmV7ybaBUeQcOErGwB5VCaH57laO6RLqtZd5av3hUw0eQNT6cHTXPH5e4R54U/s320/6E50DFB4-2F3B-46DA-AD82-6D9BBAA78991.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The Czechoslovak recce company passed its Tac roll to move into Deliberate Attack Mode. This will enable them to make one move up to the hedge and then get off two shots.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaqJthNthRcppXsCJgYIJ71WPtQo2u4ij0z8VPx6cLiUCULpUoWNaBL_lfDVuRllBXSRGBKkMbiL9ylgFrz9flrDaTbN5gkCKtwpwJZktrURm11Cw5Pyze7su0NOwGx6kl8bCYGF0B0aTGQ3xl9xw6xXGeH9A1MNCTm44aynnDgc6fcwyumLRsWdXrgE/s4032/184AE461-FF36-4B38-8B12-E109305CB4E6.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaqJthNthRcppXsCJgYIJ71WPtQo2u4ij0z8VPx6cLiUCULpUoWNaBL_lfDVuRllBXSRGBKkMbiL9ylgFrz9flrDaTbN5gkCKtwpwJZktrURm11Cw5Pyze7su0NOwGx6kl8bCYGF0B0aTGQ3xl9xw6xXGeH9A1MNCTm44aynnDgc6fcwyumLRsWdXrgE/s320/184AE461-FF36-4B38-8B12-E109305CB4E6.heic" width="240" /></a></div><p>The single tree is just for decoration by the way - we ignore it for line-of-sight purposes.</p><p>Spotting time - the two M5s are 30cm away from the T-34/85. They see it automatically up to 40cm but being behind the hedge they are spotted as "Vehicle in cover = 40/20". Of course the Soviet commander rolls a 4 and fails but on this occasion it won't matter as I suddenly realise the fire factors of the 37mm gun at this range is "10/-" - it can't hurt an armoured target! They have however, located the enemy unit, which could be helpful next turn.</p><p>We now need to make another morale test for the retreating tank company. They're still at -2 for their percentage losses and a die roll of 7 gives a total of 5 = "OK". They will stop retiring and start the new turn in Confused Mode.</p><p><b>Game turn 5</b></p><p>We start off with the Order Transmission Phase and one of my version 1.5 additions to the TacWWII rules. The M5s having located the enemy can attempt to communicate with their headquarters. This takes a Tac roll and having two recce elements they get two rolls. They both pass but you only get one benefit - the tank battalion's HQ goes from Tac 6 to Tac 5 for this turn.</p><p>In the movement phase things at last begin to improve for the Soviets. Both mode change Tac rolls succeed. The HQ goes into Deliberate Attack and moves an increment to the right leaving room for the engineers to move onto the culvert. Having made it into Bold Attack Mode they do this with two move increments.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YufrJ5mO6tvClKT91awVTKKM-tEMA4i7h3D5ZxL6fwLI50G1rp6LkqGgCEtLOuP7djGoK2uMEickpkh4Qxf1KSKicMrCZQklFdU_nF4qGqiqRY6gIkcfCyQ_hySxtcaky1ROF9Odv7ZIiTS2bxgfKVumAK3YngU7JI-xACdw4OWm-4pQ_V7NFOUgVKo/s4032/FCBBC380-ED77-4729-812B-C29F891A7D77.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YufrJ5mO6tvClKT91awVTKKM-tEMA4i7h3D5ZxL6fwLI50G1rp6LkqGgCEtLOuP7djGoK2uMEickpkh4Qxf1KSKicMrCZQklFdU_nF4qGqiqRY6gIkcfCyQ_hySxtcaky1ROF9Odv7ZIiTS2bxgfKVumAK3YngU7JI-xACdw4OWm-4pQ_V7NFOUgVKo/s320/FCBBC380-ED77-4729-812B-C29F891A7D77.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>In addition, the 76mm gun is now deployed on the road.</p><p>The mode change Tac rolls continued with the recce company moving into Defence Mode.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViVX0GsIg6lHll-AnVtCQrxumIybY_2f_5D5kLLpO-bVgAtQk_8uXY9ATRzhnZcZ4VRIpRkBWYcSYDqGkLW1sd9BmLWVJS5dZRIm0_teWzSsRARIgtJJvnFcdxkTLXzxp9w5HBVerdeJ7m3LwNqIsMXh4LzIkAvMTlDDYaBRXhzpr0q3mKC50smEa4Yw/s4032/BD900288-CB68-4B3E-B23C-884578B9C800.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViVX0GsIg6lHll-AnVtCQrxumIybY_2f_5D5kLLpO-bVgAtQk_8uXY9ATRzhnZcZ4VRIpRkBWYcSYDqGkLW1sd9BmLWVJS5dZRIm0_teWzSsRARIgtJJvnFcdxkTLXzxp9w5HBVerdeJ7m3LwNqIsMXh4LzIkAvMTlDDYaBRXhzpr0q3mKC50smEa4Yw/s320/BD900288-CB68-4B3E-B23C-884578B9C800.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The recce company can see the Soviet field gun battery deployed in front of Blatno. It's the only unit they have any chance of damaging and even then it's slim chance. They get to shoot first as in Defence Mode they shoot in phases A and C. The target number is 10 vs a soft target so their results of 1 and 7 are ineffective in phase A.</p><p>In phase B the T-34/85 shoots. The firepower factor is "9/4" and as the M5 is an armoured target, the 4 applies. The dice roll will be modified by -1 for target in cover and -1 for the M5's armour rating. The T-34 therefore needs a 6 or better. The Soviet player rolls a 7. This "N+1" result means that the M5 is Neutralised. More on this later.</p><p>Meanwhile also in phase B the 76mm gun shoots at the other M5. It's rated "9/5" at this range so with the same modifiers it needs a 7. A 5 is rolled for a miss.</p><p>We now move on to phase C. In Defence Mode the M5s would be able to shoot again but one of them is Neutralised so doesn't. The remaining M5 rolls a 3 and misses.</p><p>In phase D the T-34 (in Deliberate Attack) can fire again, whereas the 76mm (in Bold Attack) can't. Targeting the other M5, the Soviet player rolls an 8 for N+2 and a kill!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMQaU-Ode-h8ToRX11_nfsBuwvfMBk5IZumvZv0PhyhSWzzlPRs38zmhd-Aqnp91enpweiP6p0fGodr1AxV5i3g_h_XetENWLOiCBDr3sd9F0UI0l2hzLUGkb8Kf6DmUgMVayJTcXPSk0sG7G8N5nr_7AVKcSjLRxCAuLiki7YYIeYT_JPTzD3kRiHoY/s4032/8CD7D647-0A56-4598-8579-8C509277B2E7.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMQaU-Ode-h8ToRX11_nfsBuwvfMBk5IZumvZv0PhyhSWzzlPRs38zmhd-Aqnp91enpweiP6p0fGodr1AxV5i3g_h_XetENWLOiCBDr3sd9F0UI0l2hzLUGkb8Kf6DmUgMVayJTcXPSk0sG7G8N5nr_7AVKcSjLRxCAuLiki7YYIeYT_JPTzD3kRiHoY/s320/8CD7D647-0A56-4598-8579-8C509277B2E7.heic" width="240" /></a></div><p>We'll now need to make a Company Morale Test for the recce company. The count as 100% lost as Neutralised elements are lost for Morale purposes. That gives a -6 modifier to the roll. The -1 for "in cover" helps slightly for a net -5 modifier. A roll of 6 gives a net result of 1 or "Halt". Could be worse; at least a Battalion Test isn't required as a result.</p><p>After the morale test there's a chance for the Neutralised platoon to recover. This requires a successful Tac roll. Sadly a 5 isn't enough so the surviving M5 platoon will remain inactive throughout the next turn.</p><p>And we'll stop it there. The Czechoslovak player needs to work out a way to concentrate the fire of his remaining Cromwells to even things up and perhaps get a lucky hit on the T-34.</p><p>I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-68846558407406092132024-02-26T15:13:00.000-08:002024-03-13T03:13:30.320-07:00Siege of Hachigata - part 3<p>Here are some pictures of the latest episode of our occasional campaign based on the Siege of Hachigata. This is a little delayed - we played on 10th February.</p><p>The scenario this time was based on my reading about Samurai-age sieges. A measure used successfully at one siege was to dig a trench that drained off the castle's only water supply. The issue with a four-player The Pikeman's Lament campaign is adapting the two-player scenarios in the rule book. In this case I wrote this introduction:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>The Takeda clan, under the famous warlord Takeda Shingen, are besieging the Hōjō clan’s castle at Hachigata in Musashi province.</i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Shingen has brought in miners from his home province and had them dig a trench through some woods near the castle. With a few more hours of digging they can connect the trench to the stream that runs under the castle walls. The trench will drain away the water and deprive the defenders of their main supply of drinking water.</i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Unfortunately this digging must take place in the open. Shingen has selected Honda Gozemon to lead a diversionary attack on an isolated yagura (tower or bastion). Hopefully this will distract the enemy while the miners complete their task. Just in case, Takeda Mochinaga is to wait in the woods and only intervene if the enemy menaces the miners.</i></p></blockquote><p>The <i>yagura</i> was a 3D print - my most ambitious so far; it took over 24 hours to print.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPPokjAWlBPcLavcP9LSbULPNueaDWPQlz73_faZANaD3FqhxpTpZ2t0cDizPLR8JP28PtTYEKpbwwYv3RJjmXHk41JvOZhcC2OSlL_FPPO5XrXAaNwr9H6RhMc-SKfrglMsmCbCzrZtdZz3I8ojdxtwdxBOVj-XjBJOLl_Lm1DzWfyQwrJ3YSm27Zuo/s4032/48E75913-98E8-42F8-98B5-02C801751F5C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPPokjAWlBPcLavcP9LSbULPNueaDWPQlz73_faZANaD3FqhxpTpZ2t0cDizPLR8JP28PtTYEKpbwwYv3RJjmXHk41JvOZhcC2OSlL_FPPO5XrXAaNwr9H6RhMc-SKfrglMsmCbCzrZtdZz3I8ojdxtwdxBOVj-XjBJOLl_Lm1DzWfyQwrJ3YSm27Zuo/w300-h400/48E75913-98E8-42F8-98B5-02C801751F5C.heic" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p>In fact the roof sections didn't print properly. I rebuilt them with cardboard.</p><p>Andy, as Honda Gozemon, was tasked with launching the attack on the outlying bastion. He would gain three points of Honour if he took it. He would gain one more point if the attack was successful in diverting enemy attention long enough to allow Shingen's miners to complete their task.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsd0-ZIJxlVOSG-wLM0XOj2Z_W9OVPO58EB4Ng0hxLsPkg5_fe-dAbawv3ev-N5bnP-QDQM8HmjxMIuyPQFyA5jT8F0z6By4pJfUOtpUNghROGKtq8NPfwlZhmLY4zJGYO5ITB1N7DLQRWxNms4wHJ6G9UihxILvLvSJXJULW5at7KPHGJuAHDrWmOK2s/s2159/1F45A52E-C102-4CF9-A2CE-27E12CEC119B_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2159" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsd0-ZIJxlVOSG-wLM0XOj2Z_W9OVPO58EB4Ng0hxLsPkg5_fe-dAbawv3ev-N5bnP-QDQM8HmjxMIuyPQFyA5jT8F0z6By4pJfUOtpUNghROGKtq8NPfwlZhmLY4zJGYO5ITB1N7DLQRWxNms4wHJ6G9UihxILvLvSJXJULW5at7KPHGJuAHDrWmOK2s/w400-h246/1F45A52E-C102-4CF9-A2CE-27E12CEC119B_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honda Gozemon's company - two units of samurai, one<br />of ashigaru with tempo (arquebus), and an artillery piece<br />among the trees.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Mark, as Takeda Mochinaga, was responsible for providing a close escort for the miners.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCyVuaSFu4muu8j1mbbWGJ0-IB1RzfDjKaf4yPGJ9XExw_UGaZkO_An0LVIBZ77wPXB1O57Asfk2gTaUcALXzOZlP7vM5sp5SRWOvpO9PFDhU4Da6O88wHbqUFLYtEtDvI7Pnz1RlnO5mstPuWtIivYIOA0QwGzIs3U8sBml_wjG1yn7SDcE3qTik7-k/s2795/C84F77BD-A7D6-469C-AEB1-54A7A27DBC7E_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2353" data-original-width="2795" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCyVuaSFu4muu8j1mbbWGJ0-IB1RzfDjKaf4yPGJ9XExw_UGaZkO_An0LVIBZ77wPXB1O57Asfk2gTaUcALXzOZlP7vM5sp5SRWOvpO9PFDhU4Da6O88wHbqUFLYtEtDvI7Pnz1RlnO5mstPuWtIivYIOA0QwGzIs3U8sBml_wjG1yn7SDcE3qTik7-k/w400-h336/C84F77BD-A7D6-469C-AEB1-54A7A27DBC7E_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new ditch approaches the stream <br />providing the castle with drinking water.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Phil, in the role of Hōjō Tsebedetsu, was tasked with defending the <i>yagura</i> with up to eight points worth of troops. He chose two units of ashigaru spearmen. Because the model is solid, we placed the defending units in contact with the base. This made it easier to determine which defending unit was being fired at or attacked in melee. <br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyynpCWxE76GBAQhAKXQ5M_3-C5ydFPZG4ozDJ4PxVrsErxK0rkYuZWjnRM0cbSf5zX_2gySBam-91nUaQiCz5uLONpj_QvuTiGL7NmSutLhCO-lEgxpAiNbS3IOdTYsLc0y1M8jCqh_R3Zx6HVB3yQmRtL0tCdx4ncjd6k-F7Ua175Uf4IFszVAYGvo/s1942/842BA3FD-DE9A-472A-83E5-749267D77ED3_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1610" data-original-width="1942" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyynpCWxE76GBAQhAKXQ5M_3-C5ydFPZG4ozDJ4PxVrsErxK0rkYuZWjnRM0cbSf5zX_2gySBam-91nUaQiCz5uLONpj_QvuTiGL7NmSutLhCO-lEgxpAiNbS3IOdTYsLc0y1M8jCqh_R3Zx6HVB3yQmRtL0tCdx4ncjd6k-F7Ua175Uf4IFszVAYGvo/w400-h330/842BA3FD-DE9A-472A-83E5-749267D77ED3_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Meanwhile Ron, who as usual was playing Date Masamune, was simply ordered to be on the lookout to oppose any enemy moves. This left him free to attack the miners when it became clear what they were up to.</div><div><br /></div><div>Without going into too much detail, it took a long time for the defenders to realise what was going on. by the time Date switched his attention to the ditch-diggers emerging from the woods, they had made significant progress. </div><div><br /></div><div>In addition, Hōjō Tsebedetsu seemed reluctant to fully commit to the defence of the outlying tower.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EwBfpDY6ZbMmSVyklgpbyOwkfYJqSLCidvdQL0MxOfT4UuBBumJIVC4f945sjK2aYmuG4C3BHxua7TEWiWf540ec-gEsQ7V4DGta81ICc6UZbvE4qIVIXrvi1ixIVVFelobifhWQGwrrsyTPyWU_395GoCJrOD9zuP826-krW9X4KMWptqjzl50CAbk/s4032/83970953-2E27-4129-B29A-B3832AF56271.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EwBfpDY6ZbMmSVyklgpbyOwkfYJqSLCidvdQL0MxOfT4UuBBumJIVC4f945sjK2aYmuG4C3BHxua7TEWiWf540ec-gEsQ7V4DGta81ICc6UZbvE4qIVIXrvi1ixIVVFelobifhWQGwrrsyTPyWU_395GoCJrOD9zuP826-krW9X4KMWptqjzl50CAbk/w300-h400/83970953-2E27-4129-B29A-B3832AF56271.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>In the end the bastion was captured and the ditch was completed to draw off the castle's water supply. Victory to the besiegers!</div><div><br /></div><div>Andy/Honda Gozemon, it emerged, had made the "Charge!" boast before the game. He succeeded in declaring the first Attack of the game thus gaining one point of Honour in addition to the three for capturing the bastion and one for the success of the main mission. This takes him to 32 points in total, which in turn saw him gain a new ability. He is now "Patient"- his unit is immune to the Wild Charge condition (sadly there are no units with Wild Charge in the campaign though).</div><div><br /></div><div>Mark/Takeda Mochinaga's 4 points of Honour (he didn't Boast) put him up to 21 points and he too got to roll for a new trait. He got "Favoured" giving him a fine gift from Takeda Shingen and five more points of Honour for a new total of 26!</div><div><br /></div><div>Ron/Date Masamune had failed to take advantage of the situation and had also failed in his Boast to "Beat the butcher's bill" by killing or routing more units than he lost. The resulting loss of one point of Honour sees him on a new total of 13.</div><div><br /></div><div>And finally we learned the reason for Hōjō Tsebedetsu's passivity. He had made the Boast "I shall brandish only my fan". By keeping his own unit out of the fight, he gained a very welcome three points of Honour, taking him up to a total of 10.</div><div><br /></div><div>I originally planned to follow history, having the Takeda abandon the siege, with later games in the campaign taking place during their withdrawal. However, with all of the games so far ending in victory for the besiegers, I wonder if I should diverge from the established course of things. What do you think?</div><div><p><br /></p></div></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-91851647633091547782024-02-17T06:42:00.000-08:002024-02-17T06:42:31.417-08:00Crisis Point, 6th and 7th April 2024<p>This year's Crisis Point wargaming weekend has the theme "Invasion". It will take place at a new venue, Dungworth Village Hall in Dungworth, and will feature three games set during the Cold War period.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><b>STARY BOLESLAV, 1948</b></p><p><i>Presented by Richard Crawley</i></p><p>4-8 players. <i>TacWWII</i> rules.</p><p>A game for 4 to 8 players set during a fictional Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1948. </p><p>This game sees two Soviet command teams racing to be the first to reach the Czechoslovak city of Stary Boleslav. For the winner there’s the prospect of being awarded the Order of Suvorov (Second Class), while for the loser there’s the very real possibility of being appointed to command the security detachment of a chemical weapons research facility. In Kazakhstan!</p><p>Meanwhile the Czechoslovak command team will be tasked with defending two major highways converging on the city. But with what forces? The political situation is confused. Have pro-Soviet elements been successfully purged from the Czechoslovak Army? </p><p>We’ll be using the TacWWII fast play grand tactical rules. They are easy to learn - no previous experience necessary and put players firmly in the seat of the brigade commander while still giving a decent impression what’s happening right down to platoon level.</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HcQIT43INThizUtIR3pzkWFaExKBBkGcAouaQQmovuLyL68MDZ7fSIrxNQ3cHhBqWkAOBPCpbb3Bp6JnU-hBMVs_Rry_R_BOdo655KDcnZgCjg3vCptlHCadcrt8WrVuSwvfDcG7q0h4bjCUwV3jzjxpjZxJGqDkkGjZV_P5bsiSx0Ve1IziK8dZRTk/s750/DB71F1E5-7C71-47D6-87C1-1C369D908542.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="750" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HcQIT43INThizUtIR3pzkWFaExKBBkGcAouaQQmovuLyL68MDZ7fSIrxNQ3cHhBqWkAOBPCpbb3Bp6JnU-hBMVs_Rry_R_BOdo655KDcnZgCjg3vCptlHCadcrt8WrVuSwvfDcG7q0h4bjCUwV3jzjxpjZxJGqDkkGjZV_P5bsiSx0Ve1IziK8dZRTk/w400-h229/DB71F1E5-7C71-47D6-87C1-1C369D908542.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p><b>ČESKE SKALICE, 1948</b></p><p><i>Presented by Andy Taylor and Neil McCusker</i></p><p>2-6 players. <i>Cold War Commander 2.0</i> rules.</p><p>Another game set during the fictional Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1948.</p><p>Soviet forces have have crossed the Czechoslovak border from eastern Germany and Poland. One of the main axes of attack is Wroclaw - Hradec Kralove - Prague. Czechoslovak army elements are defending at Česka Skalice on this route and something of a traffic jam has developed behind the Soviets’ Forward Detachment. The Forward Detachment is ordered to brush these defenders aside and push on towards Hradec Kralove.</p><p>Cold War Commander is another easy to learn set of rules, the new edition of which was recently published by Pendraken.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUqtcetIAtjiN220ltu92jsYYXRmrJyL88UBIHdKcCcA6enKtrjhcQlGJFu849BEGpq75_-IwdTFK9NQCCNexDJZedZ5xdITRgmICuGioWkB-u68ViZbTVDNmIgkC1vDlh__o0BFshPMC-NhD3shEYBTEychZQWl1Za6wZ6csa80Uu-bWJKXGz0DZGD0/s2630/44996DCF-D8E0-46FE-A948-96E61EEDD17A_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2630" data-original-width="1753" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUqtcetIAtjiN220ltu92jsYYXRmrJyL88UBIHdKcCcA6enKtrjhcQlGJFu849BEGpq75_-IwdTFK9NQCCNexDJZedZ5xdITRgmICuGioWkB-u68ViZbTVDNmIgkC1vDlh__o0BFshPMC-NhD3shEYBTEychZQWl1Za6wZ6csa80Uu-bWJKXGz0DZGD0/w265-h400/44996DCF-D8E0-46FE-A948-96E61EEDD17A_1_201_a.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><p></p></blockquote><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><b>A SHOT IN THE DARK, FALKLAND ISLANDS, 1982</b></p><p><i>Presented by Mark Kniveton</i></p><p>3-5 players. Modified <i>Chain of Command</i> rules.</p><p>D Company, 2 PARA launches a night assault on Argentinian 12th Infantry Regiment positions near Military Air Base Condor at Goose Green on East Falkland (Isla Soledad).</p><p>This games uses a Falklands War adaptation of the hugely popular Chain of Command platoon level skirmish rules by Too Fat Lardies and 20mm scale miniatures.</p></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutqr5bCxixBRZNhw76oT5ytYPd05a0cBuP2erDGh5ZvaZXQeyFfu8R9_JyCmnKs99g66xpcXC74dCQTGu236o8g8fkEWuNJl9UtiEp6O8TclHs__ur1hyP_muuwsRmbUBvtkYnHlanzNJJEFtX64NXlO9htdutQ98RMIrl5zDTVPriVmkEoU5mnaSzkk/s1692/05C5800C-532A-48D6-8BCB-9941247E06DD_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="1692" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutqr5bCxixBRZNhw76oT5ytYPd05a0cBuP2erDGh5ZvaZXQeyFfu8R9_JyCmnKs99g66xpcXC74dCQTGu236o8g8fkEWuNJl9UtiEp6O8TclHs__ur1hyP_muuwsRmbUBvtkYnHlanzNJJEFtX64NXlO9htdutQ98RMIrl5zDTVPriVmkEoU5mnaSzkk/s320/05C5800C-532A-48D6-8BCB-9941247E06DD_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The cost for the weekend is £15, which covers the cost of hiring the hall and lunch on each day. If you'd like to attend the event, please contact me by commenting below.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><br />Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-48913097020792318262024-02-09T01:25:00.000-08:002024-02-09T01:25:53.696-08:00Muddy River pics<p>I am able to confirm that my Muddy River Blues campaign exploring the operations of the Mississippi Marine Brigade is well under way and, indeed, has seen its first action on the tabletop.</p><p>To keep the players in the dark I can't share a full after action report here but I'll let you have a few atmospheric shots:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULa-H9-Zke1Y3PZSr6viXmyXky5TIo623x7F2BZNT7Os9CuSsczxTbAWxymFr9eeuxpYWJZyHgSg6y7MrHFaPALZDL5rLNWw6X-FRuijoNUaXdovsnbz53Jy5AE-NOGSL6FpTXFipVuopNa6q9H8vUklTIJ2vhi5ebs-fmLr3FGjJc1f18ekot5QtlFc/s1633/F8E22BC7-1F33-4078-85EF-11FAF255F37C_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="1633" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULa-H9-Zke1Y3PZSr6viXmyXky5TIo623x7F2BZNT7Os9CuSsczxTbAWxymFr9eeuxpYWJZyHgSg6y7MrHFaPALZDL5rLNWw6X-FRuijoNUaXdovsnbz53Jy5AE-NOGSL6FpTXFipVuopNa6q9H8vUklTIJ2vhi5ebs-fmLr3FGjJc1f18ekot5QtlFc/w640-h188/F8E22BC7-1F33-4078-85EF-11FAF255F37C_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Confederate column in the swamp land</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQMMFaR1SUwcYkCvoHrhKA5iQIakUGt3ZTTvMqbLnZDV1-KgYZbdgM5wBUFbK9uIrBG-9qsxFuu0A4qBUSnavcJ8Yx85hwpSqxJQ49qjY8Ey7eQ64U47XdhQ5XEZHA0lBrQ_-rcaU0obuCOYfckFe1XhcQRdxShN8Nz-Y6QIDgTt4ktHKN_wbsBcYGes/s2807/0698A6A3-E21B-499B-8B91-89D7106FC409_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2807" data-original-width="2520" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQMMFaR1SUwcYkCvoHrhKA5iQIakUGt3ZTTvMqbLnZDV1-KgYZbdgM5wBUFbK9uIrBG-9qsxFuu0A4qBUSnavcJ8Yx85hwpSqxJQ49qjY8Ey7eQ64U47XdhQ5XEZHA0lBrQ_-rcaU0obuCOYfckFe1XhcQRdxShN8Nz-Y6QIDgTt4ktHKN_wbsBcYGes/w359-h400/0698A6A3-E21B-499B-8B91-89D7106FC409_1_201_a.jpeg" width="359" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunsmoke along the Muddy River</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDjtvy9gXOZVTpalTWMRNjfandTLs5ZarUKRO5mKqTvf_JhXv9WMph_hdh7l1Ea83OqfcHsSVoCk8Cwbt7agJ5Ld-XOvUkhwPfLyrFYFIGCsxj1T4Bl8-_wYdkAOLIzC-F1C4bdTlxLFl45Ot7v1p4DEt2-YZkIMdflH0uUPsHVsGr0Rr6YCJJ2pj5pg/s2729/C868FCBE-70CA-464C-B184-724AA0FA5CAF_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2729" data-original-width="2463" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDjtvy9gXOZVTpalTWMRNjfandTLs5ZarUKRO5mKqTvf_JhXv9WMph_hdh7l1Ea83OqfcHsSVoCk8Cwbt7agJ5Ld-XOvUkhwPfLyrFYFIGCsxj1T4Bl8-_wYdkAOLIzC-F1C4bdTlxLFl45Ot7v1p4DEt2-YZkIMdflH0uUPsHVsGr0Rr6YCJJ2pj5pg/w361-h400/C868FCBE-70CA-464C-B184-724AA0FA5CAF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="361" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stand-in river boat model</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-17968251037720028242024-02-06T02:08:00.000-08:002024-02-06T02:08:06.234-08:00Vapnartak and storage<p>This last weekend was Vapnartak in York.As usual there were some nice games on display but mainly the York show for me is about catching up with fellow wargamers and doing a bit of shopping.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnESOpOupvc2smw0VqhqZKL7Y8hlH-XnyFiA8-Vvs81xFNlZnM0CRTIsciTYJK1gz1Gjk91IlI6WRjffGqhxk41oFogO4zV1OED6OSWR9bj51uBrMIdBSEmuVeIob29-yknmGV2x0n06voPDOFZS2O-TgfQAj4Jd0Pcq6KLO_8t5qCiU0HvuKhbYLegs/s2391/BA1D9471-5DD1-4BCC-AB19-C35D2D0E1596_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="2391" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnESOpOupvc2smw0VqhqZKL7Y8hlH-XnyFiA8-Vvs81xFNlZnM0CRTIsciTYJK1gz1Gjk91IlI6WRjffGqhxk41oFogO4zV1OED6OSWR9bj51uBrMIdBSEmuVeIob29-yknmGV2x0n06voPDOFZS2O-TgfQAj4Jd0Pcq6KLO_8t5qCiU0HvuKhbYLegs/w400-h294/BA1D9471-5DD1-4BCC-AB19-C35D2D0E1596_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As usual the show that roughly coincides with my birthday saw me making some fairly significant purchases. This year it's a big birthday and a couple of friends and son Jamie had offered to pay for some toys. With the plan to do a four-player Siege of Puebla game I need a few more Maximilian Adventure units so a visit to the <i>Foundry</i> stand seemed like a good way to pick up some stuff that friends could contribute to.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89DoeHoQcMp6UmZpe6xZp_YBIh3luWtd1VUJr79QDaCEWwGOotOD4VmfV5YInE41QPnSzLOYXmNJcgcu6M7VUrQ_qR_FnpVEKV0qg0SuuryuuHmGMYSgLPY_ru4PjP5QCc7xDKMgaWLYPo-2F8sgFVWqOLWuLJR0S2RwGvvWsnGYZTqtrB1L2n2LJH0w/s3383/AF188E23-D4A5-4243-BEED-488416038FC9_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1604" data-original-width="3383" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89DoeHoQcMp6UmZpe6xZp_YBIh3luWtd1VUJr79QDaCEWwGOotOD4VmfV5YInE41QPnSzLOYXmNJcgcu6M7VUrQ_qR_FnpVEKV0qg0SuuryuuHmGMYSgLPY_ru4PjP5QCc7xDKMgaWLYPo-2F8sgFVWqOLWuLJR0S2RwGvvWsnGYZTqtrB1L2n2LJH0w/w400-h189/AF188E23-D4A5-4243-BEED-488416038FC9_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Two units of "Foreign Legion or Filibusters" plus a personality pack will, added to a few similar models I already own, give me the basis of a French line infantry unit in campaign dress. They will fight alongside my existing Turcos in the streets of Puebla.<div><br /></div><div>I also got a pack of Mexican infantry and a Mexican personalities pack. These will serve alongside my existing red-jacketed state militia as an opposing player force. The personalities pack contains a nice general officer figure who will play a perhaps-important role in the game.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other purchases were:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QSiGQj0sZab-dd79ITPF4lPbgMT8omGxxsXUFoE9auZj8at_JE1yJwHHIWIWV6499XVReXo_0zfI_zATIGJRQ40NkbGK5vftJY5KK4ya-FDzMg5JpmY-BpvVIDRthPClYneDbZQwfYug3C2qLu-g9Z_vmcb1LZh7cPRXwqjB1WUyaFIN_1oMnVZda6Y/s3430/A44F0016-06B7-4102-AB85-385F91FDF757_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2358" data-original-width="3430" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QSiGQj0sZab-dd79ITPF4lPbgMT8omGxxsXUFoE9auZj8at_JE1yJwHHIWIWV6499XVReXo_0zfI_zATIGJRQ40NkbGK5vftJY5KK4ya-FDzMg5JpmY-BpvVIDRthPClYneDbZQwfYug3C2qLu-g9Z_vmcb1LZh7cPRXwqjB1WUyaFIN_1oMnVZda6Y/w400-h275/A44F0016-06B7-4102-AB85-385F91FDF757_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>A Venetian house kit that was only a tenner at the table-top sale. Being designed for big 32mm <i>Carnivale</i>-style miniatures the doors are huge but with a little converting I reckon I can adapt it for Puebla.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Irregular Miniatures</i> supplied some more Franco-Prussian War models so I can play <i>Bloody Big Battles</i> in 6mm. When I've painted them, Froeschwiller should be within my grasp.</div><div><br /></div><div>And finally I invested in some self-adhesive magnetic sheet from <i>Magnetic Displays</i>. These have already been added to my 6mm unit storage facility. For years I've been keeping my expanding 1/300th scale WWII and Moderns collection in two <i>Ikea</i> filing cabinets mounted on the workshop wall:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyAQXkm7bkQMJvn9Xl6kLWzUHB42hymFHIMDB6Lu8tkYoMer0PJIRjUCkDZLAzkFyrHQsE1waLOKWD8_bnTkzcSUAGVNW_cWiME-qP30J-2yMxiOiaXz42s9EV1A7i7utTSqPWOZMdxIWtBhxubStBKhY4wl0A5zPnYgOilpEZXrvLvUUWftgF3kdKkw/s4032/F61EA4C7-F831-4AD6-A927-1E7E15FABB1F.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyAQXkm7bkQMJvn9Xl6kLWzUHB42hymFHIMDB6Lu8tkYoMer0PJIRjUCkDZLAzkFyrHQsE1waLOKWD8_bnTkzcSUAGVNW_cWiME-qP30J-2yMxiOiaXz42s9EV1A7i7utTSqPWOZMdxIWtBhxubStBKhY4wl0A5zPnYgOilpEZXrvLvUUWftgF3kdKkw/w300-h400/F61EA4C7-F831-4AD6-A927-1E7E15FABB1F.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>The shallower drawers for the armies:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtefCuZ8o7E6xd9EaHDtIXKFwNO6G75l_Tx30NAhx25l0q-IdDHmpMCfFVT6Q9VYPSfu6_UZ6EQRuagOxnYyGdOUvZ5Ubbvn18pf0lhSBHALLNa2I04TWJ49jDv7gbXH2ojbaQtalzAhxybil2OyyV2CfWk8gRQr2quileYR4NKtOhqTfkBb-84cRKi5o/s4032/5AB07C46-65B2-4BD4-A138-CBA4C0134231.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtefCuZ8o7E6xd9EaHDtIXKFwNO6G75l_Tx30NAhx25l0q-IdDHmpMCfFVT6Q9VYPSfu6_UZ6EQRuagOxnYyGdOUvZ5Ubbvn18pf0lhSBHALLNa2I04TWJ49jDv7gbXH2ojbaQtalzAhxybil2OyyV2CfWk8gRQr2quileYR4NKtOhqTfkBb-84cRKi5o/w300-h400/5AB07C46-65B2-4BD4-A138-CBA4C0134231.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>And the deeper ones for terrain:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R0-f183-48QXbO7i_UXGuBuImLX3-7kATRX9NCfi4ReJXQquhxoNtqQD3jnWpL9o8bVxEtrkIQ_e2-b33t1mrtwPg2xrBxuDLzYkvgR3LAWi8ilNnJtKMiaNXVu4cZIodBZgoR_BUOLxEqW_lkw72CRL1d5Q06gQbOH_0-YpQbLR48jig1FRJPQCzgc/s4032/2C4CEC96-C9B0-481E-A6F9-1C7C44A047C1.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R0-f183-48QXbO7i_UXGuBuImLX3-7kATRX9NCfi4ReJXQquhxoNtqQD3jnWpL9o8bVxEtrkIQ_e2-b33t1mrtwPg2xrBxuDLzYkvgR3LAWi8ilNnJtKMiaNXVu4cZIodBZgoR_BUOLxEqW_lkw72CRL1d5Q06gQbOH_0-YpQbLR48jig1FRJPQCzgc/w300-h400/2C4CEC96-C9B0-481E-A6F9-1C7C44A047C1.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>The nice thing is that the drawers come out and can be used to transport stuff to games. However, I'm running out of space so with the aid of Lego bricks as spacers and PVC board or MDF off-cuts I've made some of my drawers double decker!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31aTVihNr_X4D3EZtwc4f13JgChxy1d-y0Ko7KnWAT2GNesyAEUbfNoqyZdO24y4R6yhKqkS9VgfPZkc3kh4Kmuc4jrqr8Vw2sfv4nBM5JQGnUcwdUeP8ctkSrduTPpN4OHSw1KcMEhWKVjCBZKalGwmHaGhThhjkGUgkGkgzYwBx5ZJJ-OGUTsfwqLw/s4032/BF8A872E-1483-48CA-86D7-4DE54F49B2AA.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31aTVihNr_X4D3EZtwc4f13JgChxy1d-y0Ko7KnWAT2GNesyAEUbfNoqyZdO24y4R6yhKqkS9VgfPZkc3kh4Kmuc4jrqr8Vw2sfv4nBM5JQGnUcwdUeP8ctkSrduTPpN4OHSw1KcMEhWKVjCBZKalGwmHaGhThhjkGUgkGkgzYwBx5ZJJ-OGUTsfwqLw/w300-h400/BF8A872E-1483-48CA-86D7-4DE54F49B2AA.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>A couple of loops of insulating tape let me lift the top layer out and the newly acquired magnetic sheets stop the models sliding off. My 1/300th units are based on artist's mounting board and many are backed with self-adhesive ferro sheet, also from <i>Magnetic Displays</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>As you can see below, the extra space is badly needed!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizv8-6SzYzBchhxOzI-gl4MDyffQRtbg-O4a7Hvj-DGxF58i3GXiljP1eyfb27_V0teM5pfonheW4YJwCVXW_l8Ghx5LDmaYo48cPKduBdjlCDtdtqXz0YcCO-SHdpNS9jL1GeCvLzZ68DsRCNzUCHCsrfWnf0lOv-ziAFXmIfTUiCECl17fjaDLzQ7c/s4032/1B7877A6-F3BA-4EAF-BAC3-EC4BBC4F0F58.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizv8-6SzYzBchhxOzI-gl4MDyffQRtbg-O4a7Hvj-DGxF58i3GXiljP1eyfb27_V0teM5pfonheW4YJwCVXW_l8Ghx5LDmaYo48cPKduBdjlCDtdtqXz0YcCO-SHdpNS9jL1GeCvLzZ68DsRCNzUCHCsrfWnf0lOv-ziAFXmIfTUiCECl17fjaDLzQ7c/w300-h400/1B7877A6-F3BA-4EAF-BAC3-EC4BBC4F0F58.heic" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New top layer - assorted Germans</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHgDS50_D8SQ4aACaivVcVLndQcibWD9fuzKYCMbQU7AdYzXMx9g830qJeOhJz3P20EYX0_luDwDwyRjH6ukq7d9kAs6_4rr8Hh0LfTo6dPRWAIdxn29F1r5NlDxk_TmOORorJk92UypsePlC6pTvNtSWQAPrxYMAWe2hIXaPmexhyphenhyphenarfZkBsvThTKnc/s4032/4BEC7C20-00D9-496F-B70C-B1749617E65C.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHgDS50_D8SQ4aACaivVcVLndQcibWD9fuzKYCMbQU7AdYzXMx9g830qJeOhJz3P20EYX0_luDwDwyRjH6ukq7d9kAs6_4rr8Hh0LfTo6dPRWAIdxn29F1r5NlDxk_TmOORorJk92UypsePlC6pTvNtSWQAPrxYMAWe2hIXaPmexhyphenhyphenarfZkBsvThTKnc/w300-h400/4BEC7C20-00D9-496F-B70C-B1749617E65C.heic" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In need of a new layer -<br />assorted 1940 French</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I also picked up some more ferro sheet so I'll be spending some time increasing the proportion of the forces that stick to the magnets!</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all I really enjoyed Vapnartak. It was great to catch up with so many wargaming friends and acquaintances. The only downside was that I didn't manage to off-load the old SOTCW banner. I really must get it to a current committee member somehow!<br /><p><br /></p></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-60571669273789956082024-01-31T14:35:00.000-08:002024-01-31T14:35:39.798-08:00Freebie sabot base<p>I noticed that a piece of laser-cut MDF in the collection of left-overs had five 30mm holes in it. I can't remember which kit it was from but I thought I might as well make use of it.</p><p>Trimmed to a 10cm frontage rectangle and with a thin card base added it makes a nice sabot base.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGeMvoCHyunV7OjCBR1Rbw-JkGnNcTK-tBUf0LCKAryKXvgemc94uGGiX7qdaXSPrF3xGXAsBZy2KBIwGbK-8k386n_9w_dbc4hS5uppHRPGlPYDRNatAWMKpFoiZfyvuDOdxtZQyBt9dTQgrgVY1zASnRmzir5enCfgFOwwTz_OsLRXVnnSa1ja-OvU/s1836/5B78058C-2B0D-4DD8-B422-55FEE04E7026_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="1836" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGeMvoCHyunV7OjCBR1Rbw-JkGnNcTK-tBUf0LCKAryKXvgemc94uGGiX7qdaXSPrF3xGXAsBZy2KBIwGbK-8k386n_9w_dbc4hS5uppHRPGlPYDRNatAWMKpFoiZfyvuDOdxtZQyBt9dTQgrgVY1zASnRmzir5enCfgFOwwTz_OsLRXVnnSa1ja-OvU/w400-h313/5B78058C-2B0D-4DD8-B422-55FEE04E7026_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I don't have much on 30mm round bases but it does give me the option of fielding these Picts as a <i>To The Strongest </i>unit.</p>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-50515722451487673002024-01-29T04:40:00.000-08:002024-01-29T04:40:58.578-08:00Workbench update<p>Looking back through recent blog posts I've noticed a few things that appeared here as work-in-progress but never got the final beauty shot.</p><p>First up there's the half-destroyed adobe building. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfJR_Eyu0WTk6R79sZv0vvCa4onGoFf49uBLoA7Qkmk6Q1Vo9epcWH_sn4Myvwo0Ot5tyWD_jxuQw2fm5lv4sve1KVkFi_xJpbKyGvGBwyKaY84rfQb7gKI4Xp03zi8Kb5da0dWl4PyrAjBsPBa61JJZ2rO7RnHSIplDzom30fyBvGrFS1LcjlBSx4eY/s2061/7F436A9F-EB2E-40A1-B533-8067E0BF3441_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2061" data-original-width="2007" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfJR_Eyu0WTk6R79sZv0vvCa4onGoFf49uBLoA7Qkmk6Q1Vo9epcWH_sn4Myvwo0Ot5tyWD_jxuQw2fm5lv4sve1KVkFi_xJpbKyGvGBwyKaY84rfQb7gKI4Xp03zi8Kb5da0dWl4PyrAjBsPBa61JJZ2rO7RnHSIplDzom30fyBvGrFS1LcjlBSx4eY/s320/7F436A9F-EB2E-40A1-B533-8067E0BF3441_1_201_a.jpeg" width="312" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Which now looks like this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5KRbwckl4EqtA8IUiLK1JXFaczoSCkFNurMJDpE8M-szr1JEt-DP_WrdKKosb-Nba5N6BBqeQM3QHnNlpWdIQmPaIsoQ4_h4Z2a6ADSFZC_VqIlbmmX61VbRxZDD_G3dLkNZA4GC4pTjnrdcqC3DT77ChJc9iGQIdFZ5hY7xwTcH75aZPLzgB3kLyno/s2756/02B89EDA-896A-4AB0-84A0-075B43EBDB72_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2031" data-original-width="2756" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5KRbwckl4EqtA8IUiLK1JXFaczoSCkFNurMJDpE8M-szr1JEt-DP_WrdKKosb-Nba5N6BBqeQM3QHnNlpWdIQmPaIsoQ4_h4Z2a6ADSFZC_VqIlbmmX61VbRxZDD_G3dLkNZA4GC4pTjnrdcqC3DT77ChJc9iGQIdFZ5hY7xwTcH75aZPLzgB3kLyno/s320/02B89EDA-896A-4AB0-84A0-075B43EBDB72_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeqWLoK4uZDTTPWfJcnV6KfTl7hqZixpMhDtW_DeLvih60587WvSmL4q7lwCJtgwGrn9n7MV4op-dBIS5mtdsMUqo8wgg2eDGzg5puAg8lPKR134vL7OyG_GxRYPsTdsHobKOZ_Bb7usjGUOy_tzTP8cO3WDhHMIm2tJaecVNwtXFfGEwizWi_xkZxTE/s2172/8EC1768E-EB34-405A-A4C4-DE5AAD3FDC53_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="2172" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeqWLoK4uZDTTPWfJcnV6KfTl7hqZixpMhDtW_DeLvih60587WvSmL4q7lwCJtgwGrn9n7MV4op-dBIS5mtdsMUqo8wgg2eDGzg5puAg8lPKR134vL7OyG_GxRYPsTdsHobKOZ_Bb7usjGUOy_tzTP8cO3WDhHMIm2tJaecVNwtXFfGEwizWi_xkZxTE/s320/8EC1768E-EB34-405A-A4C4-DE5AAD3FDC53_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkSY84nL43RWdV_WF99YADt2OeF0FlY1OcTARv4l5HM2ZMrv5218knUYh3b-DQCVBLpEiQPVvpEuBUPgfKKavZIELzrr1QHTANMg63zRB8qmSZ6NJd3vEcEbjMBSCAXa2slGjcmQ3bdHe0x_zNN3IafdXmPry9MYu4TUzZeQm_zHbIMGK8EbgECLoqio/s2504/6151BDE7-9FBD-46DE-B0D3-B5645936D9F7_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1699" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkSY84nL43RWdV_WF99YADt2OeF0FlY1OcTARv4l5HM2ZMrv5218knUYh3b-DQCVBLpEiQPVvpEuBUPgfKKavZIELzrr1QHTANMg63zRB8qmSZ6NJd3vEcEbjMBSCAXa2slGjcmQ3bdHe0x_zNN3IafdXmPry9MYu4TUzZeQm_zHbIMGK8EbgECLoqio/w270-h400/6151BDE7-9FBD-46DE-B0D3-B5645936D9F7_1_201_a.jpeg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p>This building has already seen action in the Christmas Pavis game but the obvious destination for it is Puebla 1863.</p><p>Then there was the 3D printed medieval tower and its destroyed version.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUVhYeAvHQaVVe1ZPeM2lf8xB-I2xAkHZezCKboqEJ_inkngswjYihJzzmjJHXORC_OWE8-0G5WD_ik6WKQ2C3DhDTG-85_3krv2D6woYZ0aEhW59b637evR8vX3-P4MPR3YVzgwsuIfbbw-HXvC0DIbh40JEM6t0-6VJ7DBaklyLDUAvOMFkLMH-ZxA/s1249/B9B9704B-65C6-4699-AFF1-F16E09CDAE5D_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUVhYeAvHQaVVe1ZPeM2lf8xB-I2xAkHZezCKboqEJ_inkngswjYihJzzmjJHXORC_OWE8-0G5WD_ik6WKQ2C3DhDTG-85_3krv2D6woYZ0aEhW59b637evR8vX3-P4MPR3YVzgwsuIfbbw-HXvC0DIbh40JEM6t0-6VJ7DBaklyLDUAvOMFkLMH-ZxA/w179-h400/B9B9704B-65C6-4699-AFF1-F16E09CDAE5D_1_201_a.jpeg" width="179" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a_P5W-zJWMssAc-kNGtoLLE5EugOwuyAz_rBG4jgVs-48rgAyQ0KuezhtuiY_q7m1rBm88oeEpW3ydw0SaYP0A6opdpohc2H-avIEokrqXtuZ23QEOGR_xPpFSkihUOVxL4OTqiClesU720R3Lu0i8wRtp012w-sec2uxCHT6qz0sQ70WdSa7ddzE5s/s1438/17F42521-FE7C-442C-A735-B067C8D629D7_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1438" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a_P5W-zJWMssAc-kNGtoLLE5EugOwuyAz_rBG4jgVs-48rgAyQ0KuezhtuiY_q7m1rBm88oeEpW3ydw0SaYP0A6opdpohc2H-avIEokrqXtuZ23QEOGR_xPpFSkihUOVxL4OTqiClesU720R3Lu0i8wRtp012w-sec2uxCHT6qz0sQ70WdSa7ddzE5s/s320/17F42521-FE7C-442C-A735-B067C8D629D7_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Finished and added to 60mm square urban bases we end up with a couple of nice additions to the Prague 1948 city options.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVT2t4WRb8qvgGuEsr1kCoVDhZxX0VCEA-P0qrEG07_jlZjjyJliYgSSxzZyhVGdYUhSW0x_U08mRYgggJsTGHPrvbV0YYnjOgcyN7uIiYXE73OYNMO97ouj2J5bEkbBI53pRUv6ynt21O1iEoQ1mhcH9a0Jcgz19do6PrQy2voXL8kAYGBzkkDgg3b_A/s1308/06E5FCBC-3806-4EA5-ADE1-BCCE6B38FDD3_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1308" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVT2t4WRb8qvgGuEsr1kCoVDhZxX0VCEA-P0qrEG07_jlZjjyJliYgSSxzZyhVGdYUhSW0x_U08mRYgggJsTGHPrvbV0YYnjOgcyN7uIiYXE73OYNMO97ouj2J5bEkbBI53pRUv6ynt21O1iEoQ1mhcH9a0Jcgz19do6PrQy2voXL8kAYGBzkkDgg3b_A/w400-h329/06E5FCBC-3806-4EA5-ADE1-BCCE6B38FDD3_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmF9dkY6LuzVFbj-N9m2YRgyBwMRPhurSbcHIAt_C52w0jJ2ZeuR9PdCPti7AN7SfK2KvouNMk3UCqT5y8A_QB5ncdQkvOUSDw3zilvIPguY6MaDk60BCNa_ytz7APRABV6rc6lX_vVgBIxBXouUoPoN7Cpy0jjA0DmZOwT1U8d6Podn1dOYDBgwE0ghE/s1540/1348A179-CA64-43BD-BFB2-9C44C70CB4F7_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="1540" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmF9dkY6LuzVFbj-N9m2YRgyBwMRPhurSbcHIAt_C52w0jJ2ZeuR9PdCPti7AN7SfK2KvouNMk3UCqT5y8A_QB5ncdQkvOUSDw3zilvIPguY6MaDk60BCNa_ytz7APRABV6rc6lX_vVgBIxBXouUoPoN7Cpy0jjA0DmZOwT1U8d6Podn1dOYDBgwE0ghE/w400-h294/1348A179-CA64-43BD-BFB2-9C44C70CB4F7_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUh2TwUrAqJi9_oHXDyRY6VAdtrfGeDCX-7M86_1DinXtvSnfC1k6vLkoMzIJB7d5kqQ00i4x-pnuQAayd1ysvdb4WxUhTDONCphBJ79jF6IBy7VYbggH3AtZsUsmFu0owS_aq86gvn5NUzVZZ0fkJCn8iHUO9G5_-XJo53zhZjkcoJoVE67oF13J9u8/s1852/E9ED7CA0-699E-417D-BA51-6DAED84B354F_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1852" data-original-width="1169" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUh2TwUrAqJi9_oHXDyRY6VAdtrfGeDCX-7M86_1DinXtvSnfC1k6vLkoMzIJB7d5kqQ00i4x-pnuQAayd1ysvdb4WxUhTDONCphBJ79jF6IBy7VYbggH3AtZsUsmFu0owS_aq86gvn5NUzVZZ0fkJCn8iHUO9G5_-XJo53zhZjkcoJoVE67oF13J9u8/w253-h400/E9ED7CA0-699E-417D-BA51-6DAED84B354F_1_201_a.jpeg" width="253" /></a></div><br /><div>And finally the Gauls:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FTK98f7sPR5gJL09mn_ZeSgTjIE7WwA8UMfFrtJw1-eYIZqUAkmIqL1pmKzdllb5jpaHVI4ypP9iiasOu2gYDmT3NtqnvEA6dDc4XrC3cAu-LKAQ1qhMx2GRCCBugAcjI4H1iDmSDVL6H1Grh_Urv7iTGjyyYoErx8iLCWM1Kf_kZmFB5HttDinPNfM/s2690/563C2D0A-9F30-4679-BB62-F4C26E3AEC45_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2572" data-original-width="2690" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FTK98f7sPR5gJL09mn_ZeSgTjIE7WwA8UMfFrtJw1-eYIZqUAkmIqL1pmKzdllb5jpaHVI4ypP9iiasOu2gYDmT3NtqnvEA6dDc4XrC3cAu-LKAQ1qhMx2GRCCBugAcjI4H1iDmSDVL6H1Grh_Urv7iTGjyyYoErx8iLCWM1Kf_kZmFB5HttDinPNfM/w400-h381/563C2D0A-9F30-4679-BB62-F4C26E3AEC45_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>These guys, intended for <i>Infamy Infamy</i>, now look like this:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMcFUSNVeWvqP3b5V8hjpSkgLPI4mpWbSjbHTWuDITWWi1mZXZufs96DZBgu28UhBeHrSlhsOfyxvQ3SVTsKbkIH6zvjwocqx2gtXeH0MZ9by4_XyT9z4WR3nOsSGxd7sxuvoGikVdyt5hhgx2y1S3qKTm3NEClvDbK4_rOfsVPU3JpCKqMeeU7jZ-Gs/s2429/4BDE7E81-F66A-4CC9-B36F-7688E9D89E7F_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="2429" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMcFUSNVeWvqP3b5V8hjpSkgLPI4mpWbSjbHTWuDITWWi1mZXZufs96DZBgu28UhBeHrSlhsOfyxvQ3SVTsKbkIH6zvjwocqx2gtXeH0MZ9by4_XyT9z4WR3nOsSGxd7sxuvoGikVdyt5hhgx2y1S3qKTm3NEClvDbK4_rOfsVPU3JpCKqMeeU7jZ-Gs/w640-h349/4BDE7E81-F66A-4CC9-B36F-7688E9D89E7F_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are <i>Victrix</i> apart from the guys at either end of the rear rank who are from <i>Warlord</i>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This leader is distinguished by his round base.</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/AVvXsEjQnhyphenhyphen0ybL8_Z53udz3_qo7jjfGP3wUB4ieHFIf1ypMswyNzfxlmBIZ82sIAU-KK3ytzB1CpvuJusE3XdOh3l2ZuQDMOmpryLpbZbLhHf_0KiKzHpljcLNxZAScol4av1qrucfi7lSz9aWQ2MlCTOGrCmpdWONIbhhE0lZQFylPXPYTvjUuuElkIGW8IXE/s1505/5FF77A3D-5293-4F72-834C-5FFA75E5D221_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="967" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnhyphenhyphen0ybL8_Z53udz3_qo7jjfGP3wUB4ieHFIf1ypMswyNzfxlmBIZ82sIAU-KK3ytzB1CpvuJusE3XdOh3l2ZuQDMOmpryLpbZbLhHf_0KiKzHpljcLNxZAScol4av1qrucfi7lSz9aWQ2MlCTOGrCmpdWONIbhhE0lZQFylPXPYTvjUuuElkIGW8IXE/w256-h400/5FF77A3D-5293-4F72-834C-5FFA75E5D221_1_201_a.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, Gaullish cavalry in <i>Infamy Infamy</i> come with a free base of stewards; servants holding spare horses who can act as a rallying point for the horsemen if they need it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Y5_J9e1Rm8PkRZ4T4VLwEmFHW0LH8FiZlR9DrM_ZdBaDQ-YDVCFEKOM_dCxmpOc6FAFcuZye6CBNFffjbYcLxGaVf0s7QFUCZI6V_7_Jq7TZqu3Y5F2yXoawBwx_hYtrxIUwj9bD8Aiy0IFvWu0b1JZdPNoBbWsZeUdMGD4GNP7cGR0aTpPyORs5WFk/s1483/6C2A72F0-F039-4397-8808-8C8F1807708A_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1483" data-original-width="1415" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Y5_J9e1Rm8PkRZ4T4VLwEmFHW0LH8FiZlR9DrM_ZdBaDQ-YDVCFEKOM_dCxmpOc6FAFcuZye6CBNFffjbYcLxGaVf0s7QFUCZI6V_7_Jq7TZqu3Y5F2yXoawBwx_hYtrxIUwj9bD8Aiy0IFvWu0b1JZdPNoBbWsZeUdMGD4GNP7cGR0aTpPyORs5WFk/w380-h400/6C2A72F0-F039-4397-8808-8C8F1807708A_1_201_a.jpeg" width="380" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The chap with the oval shield is an old white metal 25mm model, manufacturer unknown. The horse-holder is cobbled together model with legs from Warlord, Green Stuff torso and other parts from the spares box. The horse is, I think, Gripping Beast with a Green Stuff saddle.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHgGuWpw7s-ZA-pvGxE-rs73TpV5fDp1qD5xoMG8olzO1yPM6JIoOE7PNHvda5hk6aMrvHYqmdUPCnYMTvDqM2ppDtNSnCxU9eAdXCwxMwa4-f5sHILd8DhshgX-h__ry36VORIojt8oEPBtsPnL2AnR5f7n-PPw4yu2tLRMXS63PWOEC7FJs-BxRil0/s1512/DC8804A0-8665-4883-946B-72F3C65D94FF_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHgGuWpw7s-ZA-pvGxE-rs73TpV5fDp1qD5xoMG8olzO1yPM6JIoOE7PNHvda5hk6aMrvHYqmdUPCnYMTvDqM2ppDtNSnCxU9eAdXCwxMwa4-f5sHILd8DhshgX-h__ry36VORIojt8oEPBtsPnL2AnR5f7n-PPw4yu2tLRMXS63PWOEC7FJs-BxRil0/w338-h400/DC8804A0-8665-4883-946B-72F3C65D94FF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="338" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-46027999605784673452024-01-22T07:05:00.000-08:002024-01-22T07:05:55.139-08:00Caravansarai or Penitentiary?<p>A few years ago I received an extremely kind birthday present from Richard Phillips. It was this MDF model; the Large Caravanserai from <i>Empires at War</i>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58VyzMlv_TxdKP4ji5B0QgPWlT17hpA1E08n2QVqlEJ5FeQDCALeCK21m88T0oMitOpuqtXGcOGGAVgQxnW-IX8szJN0EXSsxb_KuRsg_18B44YAqo_dvMkbEjSLOsz10RZ_sICZ9ypXMKlmaeTgu2Iz9VBmN0NjCsgpbuRLDPDIL3jYugXSY3bkyUd4/s2256/361E2355-FC8E-4C86-8951-B72944C07DDF_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2155" data-original-width="2256" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58VyzMlv_TxdKP4ji5B0QgPWlT17hpA1E08n2QVqlEJ5FeQDCALeCK21m88T0oMitOpuqtXGcOGGAVgQxnW-IX8szJN0EXSsxb_KuRsg_18B44YAqo_dvMkbEjSLOsz10RZ_sICZ9ypXMKlmaeTgu2Iz9VBmN0NjCsgpbuRLDPDIL3jYugXSY3bkyUd4/w400-h381/361E2355-FC8E-4C86-8951-B72944C07DDF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It's a real beast! It played the part of the Wali of Smut's palace in our big Woebetides game and the side modules recently saw action as part of the walls of New Pavis in <a href="https://thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com/2024/01/christmas-games-part-two.html">a recent Christmas game</a>.</p><p>It occurred to me, though, that it could also be of some use if I go ahead and do a <i>Sharp Practice</i> game based on the Siege of Puebla, 1863.</p><p>One of the large buildings in Puebla that the French are forced to assault is described as "the Penitentiary". I haven't yet researched it properly but a large structure of this type would make a great centre-piece for an urban game.</p><p>One of the factors I need to take into account is that the buildings of Puebla were heavily shelled during the siege and street-to-street fighting. There's also some indication of mines being dug by the French. It seemed like a good idea, then, to have the option of partly demolishing my Penitentiary.</p><p>Given the modular design of the model, I could build a destroyed replacement section out of foam-core and cardboard.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3jfYFeNszs8CkbFxvFlFCUBB8k8hUMGny-i12IPLrXQ4uwvom5a9KFEAkbIdabcnJdBqZ44A-OFEIHcIPd4byLFBlcT7l21rbH3NRg_VVMm8X2bF0N54bLCGEGVsQ5x1enC8_pqlR-lQNtX0iao3RegLtFt4ihdCf7sa1Mm9W_UZsDjzCBceK3AXwKs/s2818/46B08900-4179-47A5-A72F-BDADB9F3C024_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2374" data-original-width="2818" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3jfYFeNszs8CkbFxvFlFCUBB8k8hUMGny-i12IPLrXQ4uwvom5a9KFEAkbIdabcnJdBqZ44A-OFEIHcIPd4byLFBlcT7l21rbH3NRg_VVMm8X2bF0N54bLCGEGVsQ5x1enC8_pqlR-lQNtX0iao3RegLtFt4ihdCf7sa1Mm9W_UZsDjzCBceK3AXwKs/w400-h338/46B08900-4179-47A5-A72F-BDADB9F3C024_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I needed to build a destroyed corner section too. </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/AVvXsEjrNU91KIGJGo49-3t37YKO2YDQDAYIFt48NnUXXDTG26cb0MoewSU68p53m5mNKQJ4JrHQHNn_siyFI_qzcDpIuVssfFnqkyHqizpHmFMQAo7uYbbrKmON4PWZecHXd1zIjeChxU5s-mtvhWWdiSjQsddKuR89PNYsWp9yES3Hw3aUgUatS_R3Q88apEk/s4032/9461303F-B519-48A3-B717-09A7459055D0.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNU91KIGJGo49-3t37YKO2YDQDAYIFt48NnUXXDTG26cb0MoewSU68p53m5mNKQJ4JrHQHNn_siyFI_qzcDpIuVssfFnqkyHqizpHmFMQAo7uYbbrKmON4PWZecHXd1zIjeChxU5s-mtvhWWdiSjQsddKuR89PNYsWp9yES3Hw3aUgUatS_R3Q88apEk/w300-h400/9461303F-B519-48A3-B717-09A7459055D0.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Sadly, at the first attempt I built the corner section the wrong way round - with the parapet wall on the inside! I had to do a quick bit of surgery to fix it - something I couldn't do when I made a similar mistake in my O-Level Woodwork practical in 1980!<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOLz1mcb-u7ErkaTv1ki3g01dBroWSWxRR1ficjFBZ-juC7O1tR015nNjkAgqZA-EJoeZLmOrMmpEVQWpb05-xvD9tJ1Qa6ndhkWQ_2fDcR4ndMj1Zqs2Dv6wvxFe8LYeazxcGpQGE5mtQ2jk73B2xs5NeE9TclW2RXaTjcWbiKudaEz03CDgk2aKFMk/s3013/B90773B4-519A-449D-9699-2CFA813E10E0_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2623" data-original-width="3013" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOLz1mcb-u7ErkaTv1ki3g01dBroWSWxRR1ficjFBZ-juC7O1tR015nNjkAgqZA-EJoeZLmOrMmpEVQWpb05-xvD9tJ1Qa6ndhkWQ_2fDcR4ndMj1Zqs2Dv6wvxFe8LYeazxcGpQGE5mtQ2jk73B2xs5NeE9TclW2RXaTjcWbiKudaEz03CDgk2aKFMk/w400-h348/B90773B4-519A-449D-9699-2CFA813E10E0_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The colour matching isn't perfect and I haven't attempted to do the jointed stonework on the interior walls. We'll have to see whether I decide to repaint the whole thing as Puebla planning proceeds.<br /><p>The next plan is to produce a 270-degree rubble-and-crater base to go outside the collapsed bit of wall and maybe a 90-degree bit to go inside too.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-54028943387627425082024-01-20T04:10:00.000-08:002024-01-20T07:03:39.355-08:00Coulmiers, 1870<p>It's too early to report on progress with the<b> Muddy River Blues</b> campaign but in between adjudicating on map moves I've been trying out <i>Bloody Big Battles. </i> I've been playing, solo, the Coulmiers 1870 scenario available from the BBB community at Groups.io</p><p>Coulmiers is a smaller battle featuring inexperienced Republican French against poorly motivated Bavarians. I've had to use virtually every vaguely in-period village or town base to get the terrain required.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6qZZvYlfTI5AAjdxHrjLp2wIu1sTDAG7wHPP0bakD2xNU5IFtOAIE03mM6QdRMVn6TNvCAh4KKsmpRrEHol8IOVm0cVXT3YWOLm9yJOiMRErDt_84tYHKJSOCF46jzF7Rny69F6EUZMrB76CPgkX3WrJhiBkcxVs2OIDFMlHFJgYXHdqvrrqFiVj7xs/s3264/2BB86310-665A-434E-A455-AD565D5919FC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6qZZvYlfTI5AAjdxHrjLp2wIu1sTDAG7wHPP0bakD2xNU5IFtOAIE03mM6QdRMVn6TNvCAh4KKsmpRrEHol8IOVm0cVXT3YWOLm9yJOiMRErDt_84tYHKJSOCF46jzF7Rny69F6EUZMrB76CPgkX3WrJhiBkcxVs2OIDFMlHFJgYXHdqvrrqFiVj7xs/w300-h400/2BB86310-665A-434E-A455-AD565D5919FC.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The French were attacking from the west (left in the picture above) and trying to force the Bavarians back far enough to capture five out of eight objectives in the eastern third of the table.<br /><p>To make things interesting I diced on some home-made tables to decide on the tactics (or is it strategy at this scale; one 30mmx30mm base is about 1000 men?) to be used by the two sides. I ended with the French launching a concerted attack aimed a Coulmiers with the plan to fan out from there to capture nearby objectives. The Bavarians would counter this by centring their defence on Coulmiers and using their meagre cavalry force to screen the flanks.</p><p>A keystone of the Bavarian defence was the village of Baccon. This was partly fortified and occupied by a small brigade from 1st Bavarian Division backed up the divisional artillery.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjLQexLH2ASDXD2tiPImzylAyAAJsYFmATRBVtOGBX15c_MNUzDYgzdhv6YVhoZziuhbAc3dIewrU-_Qbcoq8KnReeihTFMsJlQISBbdnug2RSJljhDIt-fJJmUpDmwF59oBmqj4ECXNH9yVw-ICfH1Y8vpezsEm1S19I4ny-KdvDqfQkEW-wxaIcVck/s3264/88E3777E-F0DA-4E57-BF74-CCDB32C1DC06.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjLQexLH2ASDXD2tiPImzylAyAAJsYFmATRBVtOGBX15c_MNUzDYgzdhv6YVhoZziuhbAc3dIewrU-_Qbcoq8KnReeihTFMsJlQISBbdnug2RSJljhDIt-fJJmUpDmwF59oBmqj4ECXNH9yVw-ICfH1Y8vpezsEm1S19I4ny-KdvDqfQkEW-wxaIcVck/w300-h400/88E3777E-F0DA-4E57-BF74-CCDB32C1DC06.heic" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baccon in the grey square in the centre.<br />I've removed the buildings to give the<br />Bavarians room to deploy.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Bavarian infantry holding Baccon would hold on until game turn three, significantly disrupting the French timetable (seven turns allowed for the scenario).</p><p>BBB in 6mm doesn't really support taking gorgeous game-in-progress photographs (there are lots of markers on the table) but it does give a good impression of really large battles swaying to and fro.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaK5CkYbJx1JfDX2rmN0-m8bYoK1EvGyjybnltsMkh1ogerQbhwgwRX3MMwZONJ2e7jZSsQkYVBr6byQ1ehs6qlI70lvseychKXehDgVVWecQV_7MiicQMKazjtdj5tUbiJLqu4MVZ1yFR6RKTeo8ia3or11Ksi7k__E9nUXnPdpzU9UG9z_MGRa5mzp0/s3225/4F3A49CB-5D14-4AB7-9658-337A1BCBE3FC_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3225" data-original-width="3018" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaK5CkYbJx1JfDX2rmN0-m8bYoK1EvGyjybnltsMkh1ogerQbhwgwRX3MMwZONJ2e7jZSsQkYVBr6byQ1ehs6qlI70lvseychKXehDgVVWecQV_7MiicQMKazjtdj5tUbiJLqu4MVZ1yFR6RKTeo8ia3or11Ksi7k__E9nUXnPdpzU9UG9z_MGRa5mzp0/w595-h640/4F3A49CB-5D14-4AB7-9658-337A1BCBE3FC_1_201_a.jpeg" width="595" /></a></div><p>In the pic above we can see the French army converging on Coulmiers. The Bavarian infantry have been driven from Baccon and only the dug-in artillery remain. They will soon be over run.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7cVi_iz1nrCNLkbstWwh_CArC1AbX7YE1RUMRP8fgUuEaV8fkZNhxfPEiKcoCLXLvdEFfQD2Bt3Ee2GEz2KmLOiSCfJhDurAJItlIdJnWN-qx-nCLMEplmAWz8lzGWySgtQnZmi9H98ypkLASOwl0aH2XomKhX_-znihWu4_icCQVoxA4RO4qhVnXOI/s2417/084A3D72-2895-4D2A-9E76-EF47B2BF73C8_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="2417" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7cVi_iz1nrCNLkbstWwh_CArC1AbX7YE1RUMRP8fgUuEaV8fkZNhxfPEiKcoCLXLvdEFfQD2Bt3Ee2GEz2KmLOiSCfJhDurAJItlIdJnWN-qx-nCLMEplmAWz8lzGWySgtQnZmi9H98ypkLASOwl0aH2XomKhX_-znihWu4_icCQVoxA4RO4qhVnXOI/w400-h270/084A3D72-2895-4D2A-9E76-EF47B2BF73C8_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Above we see a typical BBB unit - the Regiments de Marche forming half of the 1st Brigade of the French 16th Corps. They previously lost a base and because they had skirmishers, the base removed was that representing them. As a result of losing that base and of being Raw troops, they are now Spent and will be both harder to activate and less effective in combat. <div><br /></div><div>Their firepower is further reduced because, last turn, they rolled 11 or 12 when firing. This had a significant impact on the enemy but meant that the firers become low on ammunition. </div><div><br /></div><div>Finally we can also see that the unit is Disrupted. We can think of this as meaning that at least some of the companies and battalions making up the unit at pinned down by enemy fire. They will be harder to get moving and less effective when firing. They may even break and run!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lohfm18Veyz6N_olIWgnzBKrj-1AaPzcmpTgJe9LD3H6mVTnyCC3QhyMCsV_kDTDgZNIG6t37gfVkGqcJTLsaduvv7jX0GKdu2zw0tsZRt9jpX0Qh1OVjBmbO3O1xMVEzVsx6vPyLr4D60hJ1A_428mA44UFpFu2bxAqPNTqteqwY4Kh4UHJP6gh0Xk/s4032/8FC82C70-9EC6-437B-BB2B-F85698A3D56C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lohfm18Veyz6N_olIWgnzBKrj-1AaPzcmpTgJe9LD3H6mVTnyCC3QhyMCsV_kDTDgZNIG6t37gfVkGqcJTLsaduvv7jX0GKdu2zw0tsZRt9jpX0Qh1OVjBmbO3O1xMVEzVsx6vPyLr4D60hJ1A_428mA44UFpFu2bxAqPNTqteqwY4Kh4UHJP6gh0Xk/w300-h400/8FC82C70-9EC6-437B-BB2B-F85698A3D56C.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The battle went as far as game turn 6 before I called it a day as the French had no possibility of reaching the required number of objectives.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe-S3u-efuujo2M_7uhruDgXpWmPZ5qKeFzwpaMXUnMQwNAHkPTaQySID7g0Ytqdlo_sbMQV9PFpKDR73vSD4VYIydJBfXO94T-TSsB_su3loUeM6kuUebW-4kSJ311x8fQPm-iMSypc5hp0XUsvqz7FFw_PMFdQFW1EEJmBaEciRwSxFD5r2X-JzIZQ/s4032/49FDEFC0-F51A-4227-93D7-FC3944970C20.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe-S3u-efuujo2M_7uhruDgXpWmPZ5qKeFzwpaMXUnMQwNAHkPTaQySID7g0Ytqdlo_sbMQV9PFpKDR73vSD4VYIydJBfXO94T-TSsB_su3loUeM6kuUebW-4kSJ311x8fQPm-iMSypc5hp0XUsvqz7FFw_PMFdQFW1EEJmBaEciRwSxFD5r2X-JzIZQ/w480-h640/49FDEFC0-F51A-4227-93D7-FC3944970C20.heic" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The French in Coulmiers - the red marker indicates one of the two <br />objectives the town represents.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>My first impression of BBB is very favourable. The rules are superbly laid out; not with gorgeous colour photos but with clear rules, helpful examples, and a minimum of extraneous verbiage. It's really easy to find what you need to know and a double sided QR sheet (included at the back of the book or available to download) gave all I needed to run the game.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's so clever how by using a few statuses for any given unit (Disrupted, Silenced, Low Ammunition, Spent and a couple of others) we get a clear mental picture of a brigade's current combat status). The rules around these statuses (and how to get rid of them) encourage realistic employment of your troops. </div><div><br /></div><div>All this is done without adding complexity. For example the system for Movement manages to combine movement distance, command and control, and morale into a single 2D6 dice roll! Fire combat is equally simple, also using a single 2D6 roll, and manages to factor in casualties, disorganisation and morale effects. Finally The Assault (short range fire and hand-to-hand combat) is done with simple opposed die rolls and reflects all of the factors you'd expect.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think the best praise I can give to the rules is that in playing them I felt like I was commanding an army of several divisions and not a brigade pretending to be an army.<br /><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-7100043061045513902024-01-14T11:48:00.000-08:002024-01-14T11:48:00.715-08:00Just arrived...<p> ... from Caliver Books.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHioR5gZQBY1Yj1h3jvHf0Ys-K9itNM63Ck22P-2qYxi-SQQZufvtz_VKbBAU4VV01amQObk-DYkz0SUpa7agqHaZfsQLrQkuH7ne_v9VaVhWwDUgKsDVYL_ILEyKxBm2hOqyK00ySrHVpg-HD1tKJ5Zn5wIbGgPmxC8Ht40b9OLAxSmzvN_vp_Y6-IW8/s3539/FA0338B5-4450-43CE-8494-0613A1602E53_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3539" data-original-width="2767" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHioR5gZQBY1Yj1h3jvHf0Ys-K9itNM63Ck22P-2qYxi-SQQZufvtz_VKbBAU4VV01amQObk-DYkz0SUpa7agqHaZfsQLrQkuH7ne_v9VaVhWwDUgKsDVYL_ILEyKxBm2hOqyK00ySrHVpg-HD1tKJ5Zn5wIbGgPmxC8Ht40b9OLAxSmzvN_vp_Y6-IW8/s320/FA0338B5-4450-43CE-8494-0613A1602E53_1_201_a.jpeg" width="250" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>In line with this year's plan to make better use of existing toys, I've gone back to the search for a set of rules that will encourage me to get the <i>Irregular Miniatures</i> Franco-Prussian War models back out of storage. I wondered if <i>Bloody Big Battles</i> might do the job.</p><p>I quite enjoyed <i>Principles of War</i> but it doesn't really cover whole battles in a war as big as the FPW. I suppose you can squint a bit and say a single POW unit is a brigade or a division but... nah, not really.</p><p>Having looked at one of the scenarios available on line (a draft version of Spicheren) I think I have enough toys to do it with BBB. A brief flick through the rules suggests that maybe I need to add a few more to do the larger battles but that can be left for a later date if I decide these are the rules for me.</p><p>As I'm still waiting for one of the players to provide orders for the Muddy River Blues campaign, I thought I'd have a quick go at trying out BBB. I picked a couple of the grid squares from the Froeschwiller scenario.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmhgH9_8DzQx6vJmE9t-8HyVh8SjdFRtQlYEmB4KZgDxDmoGjEqqVeflt-OEtAgglV-isPOhxDRgIZRPSLdSucJ9Hpz1XhnlpzADPgQl3cIEd3dG3BMYbVdyxXezoY-sVHj9drLhQbyQMvUYyAHn0AWHaTUPR1B_iboMPB7MoZqt4v9DivgbizfnE04c/s2680/81DE7CE9-7F38-4E67-8DF1-2793E080DD7B_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2680" data-original-width="2437" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmhgH9_8DzQx6vJmE9t-8HyVh8SjdFRtQlYEmB4KZgDxDmoGjEqqVeflt-OEtAgglV-isPOhxDRgIZRPSLdSucJ9Hpz1XhnlpzADPgQl3cIEd3dG3BMYbVdyxXezoY-sVHj9drLhQbyQMvUYyAHn0AWHaTUPR1B_iboMPB7MoZqt4v9DivgbizfnE04c/w363-h400/81DE7CE9-7F38-4E67-8DF1-2793E080DD7B_1_201_a.jpeg" width="363" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This sees the 7th and 8th Brigades from 4th Division of II Bavarian Korps attacking Ducrot's 1st Division around Nehwiller.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The game started with 8th Brigade marching in column into the woods west of Langensulzbach. No problem, though they were slowed down by the woods and by having to cross the Sulzbach stream.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7th Brigade, however, were more problematic. Despite the presence of General von Hartmann, they failed to get moving thanks to a lousy die roll. Units in BBB have to dice to see if they get a full move, a half move or no move at all, or maybe even a retreat or rout (if they're already disrupted).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To make things worse, the Bavarian Korps artillery came under fire from their French counterparts and were "silenced". This would men that they'd have to withdraw on the following turn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n6t4oKWJwGFahP-_HVMWM9iEyjIIgW_fsbUPgVFyHWGPZ758r5udPtaYy344yLm5KV3rNCH5jIBKEHi53gQzTXYBZz_DP6HM3byov6wawCnz0k7t_DLPt72YQFA-QtdJ4bLJTRGTNV81zXr4H3ThjN7wzuLYyEXeACZCFy0Hoo0h_AwGBca-V5Rbkg4/s2255/02F60454-8EDD-4A34-B3AB-E1365885EA9A_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1521" data-original-width="2255" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n6t4oKWJwGFahP-_HVMWM9iEyjIIgW_fsbUPgVFyHWGPZ758r5udPtaYy344yLm5KV3rNCH5jIBKEHi53gQzTXYBZz_DP6HM3byov6wawCnz0k7t_DLPt72YQFA-QtdJ4bLJTRGTNV81zXr4H3ThjN7wzuLYyEXeACZCFy0Hoo0h_AwGBca-V5Rbkg4/w400-h270/02F60454-8EDD-4A34-B3AB-E1365885EA9A_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />On the French turn, I restricted myself to pivoting Ducrot's Zouaves to be in position to fire at the Bavarians when they emerged from the woods. I replaced the village base with a Post-It note because a unit's facing is crucial.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFF7BgW_nEBBdEP0Q1YoCXliLXb3r0Ju7rruV1ExC6-PFeAoEXQsfaMA3Omwl3VOfW5_ZKTHBUewGjuxyEugHDFTjtUBO98FgrC8nfGvjvWxYtbKPiuX6BVqf1f5RSQt4wKE8SJ_ImkKwWNrUJbkWXoVNXe5s11WDJCZXouSPP1DKpjpQiIU_mgpOyfo/s2415/045634EA-E146-47A5-A32B-C4041979C8D6_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2294" data-original-width="2415" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFF7BgW_nEBBdEP0Q1YoCXliLXb3r0Ju7rruV1ExC6-PFeAoEXQsfaMA3Omwl3VOfW5_ZKTHBUewGjuxyEugHDFTjtUBO98FgrC8nfGvjvWxYtbKPiuX6BVqf1f5RSQt4wKE8SJ_ImkKwWNrUJbkWXoVNXe5s11WDJCZXouSPP1DKpjpQiIU_mgpOyfo/s320/045634EA-E146-47A5-A32B-C4041979C8D6_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>On game turn 2 the roles were reversed for the Bavarians. 8th Brigade's column got lost in the woods and didn't move at all, while 7th Brigade trundled forward across the Sulzbach and onto the Woerth-Langensulzbach road.<div><br /><div>Having got there they came under withering Chassepot and artillery fire from the French. The result on the Firefight Table was "1" - this saw them lose a base (one of their original five) and become <i>Disrupted</i> and, because they are classified as "raw" troops, all <i>Spent</i>. This would make them harder to move forward in future and less effective if they ever got to assault the enemy. In addition, the lost base is automatically their "skirmisher" base so they become marginally less effective in fire combat.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqskwUYyLTzgJbo78qhzWkZX2BttVdewM3jpQiANk2zGijNr8zjdQs9WLP2z3SsX6Tyq21OBG38vUw5GEFyc5zPhB0Z5EB21xeyBTDj2FgqzBUmokFmL62u2zvoypEQi1o-mfdTgMCYcEncF1ALNoeNNpJzyDxwmXlN4ZS18SzzoSwgN4jOghyS1_uT8/s3264/A521FE92-AA1A-4B9E-ABD9-DB34757A238F.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqskwUYyLTzgJbo78qhzWkZX2BttVdewM3jpQiANk2zGijNr8zjdQs9WLP2z3SsX6Tyq21OBG38vUw5GEFyc5zPhB0Z5EB21xeyBTDj2FgqzBUmokFmL62u2zvoypEQi1o-mfdTgMCYcEncF1ALNoeNNpJzyDxwmXlN4ZS18SzzoSwgN4jOghyS1_uT8/w300-h400/A521FE92-AA1A-4B9E-ABD9-DB34757A238F.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>The French had clearly found a <i>position magnifique</i> and they decided to remain in place.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the third turn the Bavarian 7th Brigade failed the movement roll that could have seen them rally off their Disrupted status. They didn't fall back but they remained on the road under that galling Chassepot fire. This would see them lose another base by the end of the turn.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile the 8th Brigade managed to sort themselves out into line of battle and make some progress towards the Zouaves' line at Nehwiller. Sadly for the boys in pale blue, the enemy's fire was enough to Disrupt them and force them to halt (actually pushed back slightly into the woods). With both Bavarian brigades effectively pinned down by the murderous fire of the Chassepot I decided that we'd seen enough. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Bloody Big Battles</i> has a fine pedigree in Chris Pringle's previous games <i>TacWWII</i> and <i>Arc of Fire</i> and I think it's going to repay further investigation. I just need to find some Franco-Prussian War scenarios I can manage with the current forces here at Stately Counterpane Manor.<br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-87519268527315460062024-01-10T12:03:00.000-08:002024-01-12T03:24:14.219-08:00Muddy River Blues part one<p>My 2024 gaming year is kicking off with a short <i>Sharp Practice</i> campaign called <b>Muddy River Blues</b>.</p><p>Set in April-May 1863, it's an exploration of Mississippi Marine Brigade operations against Confederate raiders in the swamplands of western Mississippi. Richard Phillips and Ron Pearce are signed up to play, respectively, Union and Confederate commanders.</p><p>I don't want to share too much information at present as we're only just getting started and hidden movement is going to be a major factor but here's the campaign map. If you were around in the 1970s I trust you will be able to detect the nominative theme.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo79kPDdcFhnTcYR9vosKIjNt7hyphenhyphengu3JgZhX-Duj_7CvgXjFdqjY3MktKVYDXP3_novJIq0paEX_hEzGzxbuQQZbMmxvzeq-8W830x9D3URlWn2YSdK10D4HCt2SMnvoSDr9YAM36rXFqDtNMohbEJC4d-rqkVJBcsHxGt2UzSsiIUtGQ8a05W6m_G4Q/s900/Muddy%20River%20Map%205.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo79kPDdcFhnTcYR9vosKIjNt7hyphenhyphengu3JgZhX-Duj_7CvgXjFdqjY3MktKVYDXP3_novJIq0paEX_hEzGzxbuQQZbMmxvzeq-8W830x9D3URlWn2YSdK10D4HCt2SMnvoSDr9YAM36rXFqDtNMohbEJC4d-rqkVJBcsHxGt2UzSsiIUtGQ8a05W6m_G4Q/w640-h640/Muddy%20River%20Map%205.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>Each of the grey-outline rectangles is a 6'x4' Sharp Practice tabletop. I'll be adding more details of each of them as the players visit them. The blue strip down the western edge of the map is the Mississippi River. The Union troops begin based at Hendricks and the Confederates at Badfinger.</p><p>I'll provide some updates as the campaign proceeds.</p><p>Now to check if I have enough in the way of wide river sections!</p><p></p>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-32468189052078656962024-01-09T06:57:00.000-08:002024-01-09T06:57:26.717-08:00Penkridge Purchases<p>I was in Staffordshire (land of the speed camera) at the Penkridge Wargames Sale on Sunday morning. It's a bit of a trek over the Peak District, always foggy of an early January morning, but worth it to see friends and pick up some bargains.</p><p>In a <a href="https://thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com/2023/12/new-year-plans.html">previous post on plans for 2024</a>, I kind of hinted to something that's now firmed up in my mind. I want 2024, hobby-wise, to be a year in which I concentrate on making the most of collections I've already put together. That doesn't mean I won't buy new stuff but it's fair to say that pretty much everything I got at Penkridge was aimed at encouraging the use of existing toys.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1VCSe_JfAppWSDHA_2roaAK54HrJqX0IFJ_FeOGHnKOtNtNVDpWIKeUeGL8WX08uYHH47o1X0tR_OBp2ugz5sNFUXZIxVpScFmOhOpPB9Go1W30gNPaP62CgkaGfWmgB6thkpuySKJFI8BiW_w5MzOmvOCOhX6EIr7XTZ4CvfLxth7k658-B3PQFAJA/s2725/94ADDC92-B7D2-4DB2-8753-46A984884B25_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="2725" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1VCSe_JfAppWSDHA_2roaAK54HrJqX0IFJ_FeOGHnKOtNtNVDpWIKeUeGL8WX08uYHH47o1X0tR_OBp2ugz5sNFUXZIxVpScFmOhOpPB9Go1W30gNPaP62CgkaGfWmgB6thkpuySKJFI8BiW_w5MzOmvOCOhX6EIr7XTZ4CvfLxth7k658-B3PQFAJA/w400-h179/94ADDC92-B7D2-4DB2-8753-46A984884B25_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>These 28mm pack mules came from the Tiger Miniatures stand. They're pretty flexible - I can see them being used in a range of 19th (and possibly 18th) century settings. Their first use will likely be in an ACW <i>Sharp Practice</i> campaign that I'm just getting underway. (More on that in future posts - it's definitely using existing toys!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpwKupEUAouilsPCEZYWrzZK-aKYVv3XUCZw1vQnYbFl5Y6lLfdC9BuH2Dr4-EWjL4lW-vxQ76XDsbvqv_YMMpTZExyjZ78zWib0_SHhvve9tXq9iX0hVOEfBBFFTNORzx4AOQGgZkZdaZsJulqGauic59KV55ZPofAjFAwYKNegaS1tg49hgvX-ciSs/s1070/1F06D3DD-57EB-47DA-B7E5-B1817B6527C8_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="582" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpwKupEUAouilsPCEZYWrzZK-aKYVv3XUCZw1vQnYbFl5Y6lLfdC9BuH2Dr4-EWjL4lW-vxQ76XDsbvqv_YMMpTZExyjZ78zWib0_SHhvve9tXq9iX0hVOEfBBFFTNORzx4AOQGgZkZdaZsJulqGauic59KV55ZPofAjFAwYKNegaS1tg49hgvX-ciSs/s320/1F06D3DD-57EB-47DA-B7E5-B1817B6527C8_1_201_a.jpeg" width="174" /></a></div><br /><p>Also from Tiger Miniatures was this statue. I previously bought a Ganesh statue from the same "50p any figure" box at Penkridge and it served well in the Hindu temple at Pandigore in the Woebetide Islands. I thought this god looked rather more suitable for turning the temple into a Gloranthan structure. Shame it was just a little late for the Christmas game!</p><p>I bought a couple of books.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtq9TtfmKlZPTF3EbnvSuivR7gTEPAib6ns6Klxi28sYh6pmK5sMx1qT00iEBY1cD-G_UDcrbhE5NbK_Zf8PrM0Nx87GS4gdf5kWVgJjIO02JEDYlaI7BwEY7CY9nFlLV9rVlX00blDQg8eS6UcEhIOboDdZPMGdDmRnNBH91l46REf6Tifvh_JmETbE/s4032/0ECF9DE5-A169-482B-96CA-C4E531118632.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtq9TtfmKlZPTF3EbnvSuivR7gTEPAib6ns6Klxi28sYh6pmK5sMx1qT00iEBY1cD-G_UDcrbhE5NbK_Zf8PrM0Nx87GS4gdf5kWVgJjIO02JEDYlaI7BwEY7CY9nFlLV9rVlX00blDQg8eS6UcEhIOboDdZPMGdDmRnNBH91l46REf6Tifvh_JmETbE/s320/0ECF9DE5-A169-482B-96CA-C4E531118632.heic" width="240" /></a></div><p>I have a quite a library of Operation Sealion books and I hadn't seen this one before so it made sense to pick it up.</p><p>The book below is from the Osprey History range and it's badly mis-titled. Far from being a detailed look at the Huns at the time of Atilla, it covers Asian nomadic horsemen of many cultures from the first emergence of the Hsiung-Nu on the edge of China to the birth of Ghengis Khan! Still, it was only a fiver and it has some nice colour plates. I just need to avoid being dragged into wargaming 11th century Finno-Ugrians!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMqUQGTQzL9mEch_m5-AHzYCTpbGz8-OT-rVnSDlgiTE5STigbP9f_7PmEZj74jXr4YBN-E7eM5ydjcvYe33npTVJTD8YofENL3bBLjdEy4Ph-GkgdTWF43Ae7eIcea3gl4Q14GjXKl1XULjBKClHIwdP5M0nkzbTHEcKTYc-CKRwjjEJdQbsXImR5VA/s4032/88289926-8DB6-4D2B-8915-23C454094747.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMqUQGTQzL9mEch_m5-AHzYCTpbGz8-OT-rVnSDlgiTE5STigbP9f_7PmEZj74jXr4YBN-E7eM5ydjcvYe33npTVJTD8YofENL3bBLjdEy4Ph-GkgdTWF43Ae7eIcea3gl4Q14GjXKl1XULjBKClHIwdP5M0nkzbTHEcKTYc-CKRwjjEJdQbsXImR5VA/s320/88289926-8DB6-4D2B-8915-23C454094747.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br />One of my plans was to seek out cheap 6mm models. A couple of packs really hit the spot.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgK3ME9JbsEaZcmG9kjzuBPnVyZoglIN-XmfEh3JusAZXf7o0qHIRlhSd3DR4c1cCcOsALhflmN7cDLbDxnnOCzbbFEtj3e-o-z3TxC_axCXq3Lkp7gwW4skmQkFOLlZoahpYXiJ4Es4PZ_aqs9Xk2fLufzoXajg9Ccrwb3C2nFmXGlH6CiqYCXkGMmg/s3081/75283B86-4481-488C-AB26-7412EA8751B7_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3081" data-original-width="2488" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgK3ME9JbsEaZcmG9kjzuBPnVyZoglIN-XmfEh3JusAZXf7o0qHIRlhSd3DR4c1cCcOsALhflmN7cDLbDxnnOCzbbFEtj3e-o-z3TxC_axCXq3Lkp7gwW4skmQkFOLlZoahpYXiJ4Es4PZ_aqs9Xk2fLufzoXajg9Ccrwb3C2nFmXGlH6CiqYCXkGMmg/w321-h400/75283B86-4481-488C-AB26-7412EA8751B7_1_201_a.jpeg" width="321" /></a></div><p>This bubble pack contains a substantial number of GHQ modern US infantry. There's enough in there to put together a reinforced battalion for <i>Cold War Commander</i>. Possibly a few too many mortars and a little short on M47 Dragon ATGWs but they're painted to a reasonable standard. If, as I suspect, that's a whole pack, there's over £11-worth of metal in the pack. Cost me a fiver!</p>Another bargain (at £3) was this bag of Bacchus "Grenadiers-in-tall-mitre-caps". This is just the right quantity to allow me to add a converged grenadier battalion to my Great Northern War Russian army (who more often see the light of day as the forces of the imagi-nation of Zheltarus).<p></p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LU3QaWGvqLJNVi4vkv93raKIyuxXGRI24xT-jI4_k0D_02vrvnjQPbEliqzh3HZ3yfc3MK_SQTphDqJx67BUWHr7nOr3tyVmh5Eru3EAb-4ecf80MCawnAvs0Yt9iI6I9YRpVYJFSai72zpVeCxMNsiBHtPmAQ09-4z-gSQ-i0lmCpT1gODoX9yPJ5w/s4032/A36901D1-ED66-4D12-A063-0140B7954C47.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LU3QaWGvqLJNVi4vkv93raKIyuxXGRI24xT-jI4_k0D_02vrvnjQPbEliqzh3HZ3yfc3MK_SQTphDqJx67BUWHr7nOr3tyVmh5Eru3EAb-4ecf80MCawnAvs0Yt9iI6I9YRpVYJFSai72zpVeCxMNsiBHtPmAQ09-4z-gSQ-i0lmCpT1gODoX9yPJ5w/w300-h400/A36901D1-ED66-4D12-A063-0140B7954C47.heic" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Yet more 6mm goodness in the form of a load of Battlescale resin buildings bought from Richard Phillips. I've painted a few previous buildings from this company and I have to say they're very nice castings. These ones were chosen to add to the terrain for this Spring's big Stary Boleslav game. I'm not sure they were intended to represent rural Czechoslovakia in 1948 but I'm sure I can make they look believable in that role.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBOT1Fe6c4jOfqw8XDYvdOUkPxmVVvMjJ8KtSbiT5Q68_5f970LSHjDGEWiwyu3ozjnc9H6lhoUbp7iFaWrU-86-_91n92ZZWxdEdjyC1eYaVZKe-oiZQD9hfSuBBJ3osbTKKBZbwwqwofqCrK_IFINzPB0rOclpPs5FDOk2cGGgXn5qhazO8ytriRb4/s2897/FB9E1F65-85D4-4A17-B0E2-DF27D04E03D7_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2565" data-original-width="2897" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBOT1Fe6c4jOfqw8XDYvdOUkPxmVVvMjJ8KtSbiT5Q68_5f970LSHjDGEWiwyu3ozjnc9H6lhoUbp7iFaWrU-86-_91n92ZZWxdEdjyC1eYaVZKe-oiZQD9hfSuBBJ3osbTKKBZbwwqwofqCrK_IFINzPB0rOclpPs5FDOk2cGGgXn5qhazO8ytriRb4/s320/FB9E1F65-85D4-4A17-B0E2-DF27D04E03D7_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Thanks are also due to Richard for handing me a pack of 28mm Grendel fuel drums. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHnmsmNJv7VG6k37sJk1zJs7qTehLVepVBlCjo2qUtU6FmvxxoBmMQrtr-WSIktPsmwgD41SkvrrGdDX0PLMVdLSPnf9BZfi78o28q0GkJFaEzzIiLVscVuz6PT0TxtmY1bkq2VIWSmtuGRj0PeUhIj9TidiFfMK-9WJgZNWMdu0_0gDkPcyAsYJ8rfk/s4032/F4B82A11-BC9C-4B1E-A9E9-C62AE0829C72.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHnmsmNJv7VG6k37sJk1zJs7qTehLVepVBlCjo2qUtU6FmvxxoBmMQrtr-WSIktPsmwgD41SkvrrGdDX0PLMVdLSPnf9BZfi78o28q0GkJFaEzzIiLVscVuz6PT0TxtmY1bkq2VIWSmtuGRj0PeUhIj9TidiFfMK-9WJgZNWMdu0_0gDkPcyAsYJ8rfk/s320/F4B82A11-BC9C-4B1E-A9E9-C62AE0829C72.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I'm under strict instructions to paint them up and use them when running some more <i>Rogue Stars </i>for Richard!<br /> </p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-9627077246199644042024-01-02T09:13:00.000-08:002024-01-02T09:13:12.743-08:00Christmas Games part two<p>On the 29th we had a substantial gathering of gamers at Stately Counterpane Manor to play out <b>The Liberation of Pavis</b> - a multi-player <i>Song of Blades and Heroes</i> game. Regular attendees Jamie, Ron, Gus, Sam and Josh were joined by old friends Tom and Matt whom it was lovely to see after far too many years.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDPI3rzYolvOi9ACCJYyPOh5TNcQYuqDeeVShgTHIUzywdM_vBfyfiE_F35rfMPCF5kstr5WdUCBOMPYorNZwz5OaTYRZreXK2BJ1FprJIcqTqSjOulk7gVEj2CIB8TC0YJG4vFcKegqJzCsXEGL2p26v26wDPxcsj77IMvNOKgAGdzQ_UiUNd7eGOSE/s2342/8B863043-72F9-452E-AE1E-5E89AE87229C_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2342" data-original-width="2116" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDPI3rzYolvOi9ACCJYyPOh5TNcQYuqDeeVShgTHIUzywdM_vBfyfiE_F35rfMPCF5kstr5WdUCBOMPYorNZwz5OaTYRZreXK2BJ1FprJIcqTqSjOulk7gVEj2CIB8TC0YJG4vFcKegqJzCsXEGL2p26v26wDPxcsj77IMvNOKgAGdzQ_UiUNd7eGOSE/s320/8B863043-72F9-452E-AE1E-5E89AE87229C_1_201_a.jpeg" width="289" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>The Liberation of Pavis</b> was the latest of a series of games set in and around that Gloranthan city. The players were read the following introductory text:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-family: Baskerville; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>For those of you who aren’t Glorantha fans, a little back story.</i></p><p style="font-family: Baskerville; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Baskerville; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Glorantha is a fictional world invented by the late Greg Stafford. At the time of our game, the history of Glorantha will turn upon the battle for dominance between the followers of two gods; Orlanth the storm god and The Red Goddess of the Moon. The storm-worshipping barbarians and the Lunar empire cannot co-exist peacefully and the long-foretold Hero Wars seem to be upon us.</i></p><p style="font-family: Baskerville; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Baskerville; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>The Hero Argrath Whitebull has emerged as a leader of the fight against the Lunar Empire and it seems his first act will be to capture the frontier city of Pavis. </i></p><p style="font-family: Baskerville; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Baskerville; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>For weeks his motley army of nomads and Wolf Pirates has besieged the city but now they have broken in. How? Surely they know nothing of siegecraft? Afterwards some will say that the city was betrayed from within, others that magical plants, grown overnight, pulled down the city walls and yet others that the Sun Dome templars turned against their former Lunar allies.</i></p><p style="font-family: Baskerville; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Baskerville; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Whatever the story, Argrath’s fighters are flooding into the streets of Pavis…</i></p></blockquote><p>Those of you familiar with the setting may like to know that I based my scenario on the book <i>King of Sartar</i>, on the Chaosium website <i>The Well of Daliath</i>, and on Jeff Richard's Chaosium house <i>Runequest</i> campaign on Youtube.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqSyHrvQEeffdzYeupyT8x5U_N83uvEZnqL0KiZwqGZEYyVgeJNqihGMSQNiEVRtK_5fkxN7XDd96vWv_9qwwzVWC14eadvXlftBh_-lvKIuyIcUA4A7UrYFMS57fBQFqIpvEV7gO93Mhg29AjN2jlg3Ozy0QA-f1fPgs1WPIiR5L3n3iGzPPTFMlFhk/s3966/57DD16E7-47CD-41FB-8B60-A95C10E8B2B8_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2134" data-original-width="3966" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqSyHrvQEeffdzYeupyT8x5U_N83uvEZnqL0KiZwqGZEYyVgeJNqihGMSQNiEVRtK_5fkxN7XDd96vWv_9qwwzVWC14eadvXlftBh_-lvKIuyIcUA4A7UrYFMS57fBQFqIpvEV7gO93Mhg29AjN2jlg3Ozy0QA-f1fPgs1WPIiR5L3n3iGzPPTFMlFhk/w640-h342/57DD16E7-47CD-41FB-8B60-A95C10E8B2B8_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>In the game, Tom took the rôle of Halcyon var Enkorth, the Lunar Governor of Pavis. I knew that Tom was familiar with this character, who in our youth was the Provincial Overseer's representative in Balazar (from the Runequest campaign pack <i>Griffin Mountain</i>). I guessed that Tom hadn't kept up with the latest in Gloranthan lore and that Halcyon turning up in Pavis would be an amusing surprise for him. And so it turned out.<div><br /></div><div>Ron would play Jaxarte Whyded, a recurring character in my Pavis games. By the time of the fall of Pavis he should have been at home in the Lunar heartland but I couldn't resist bringing him back to the city for one more fight (fatal as it turned out). Jaxarte's ticket out of the city (potentially) was the Lady Jezra who, it was hoped, could parlay a connection with the Eiskoli family into a safe place to hide from the invading nomads.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally on the Lunar side, Josh would play an isolated group of Lunar peltasts. They hoped the higher-ups would come up with some wonder weapon to save them but they were prepared to sell themselves dearly if need be!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqrxplrPqepuqyJHUhjqjgvbvoOObwOhueXSzB3jlRH7nAozAhropXWcvBVbJAy68OZe32-gkWzO8mYw7a1L1wzwuRIc5ss-b8bjP_cNCOYEWOGiqBXEJkek8LHhUDQtCu3dYX7-G8Tq6BvZvmQ-9-r_BHZ4b1WdAkDHUD3qi7xJgJ39Wde3NY_2XVYM/s2167/4817AD57-8F93-4D35-9459-24FBA0F9D240_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1826" data-original-width="2167" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqrxplrPqepuqyJHUhjqjgvbvoOObwOhueXSzB3jlRH7nAozAhropXWcvBVbJAy68OZe32-gkWzO8mYw7a1L1wzwuRIc5ss-b8bjP_cNCOYEWOGiqBXEJkek8LHhUDQtCu3dYX7-G8Tq6BvZvmQ-9-r_BHZ4b1WdAkDHUD3qi7xJgJ39Wde3NY_2XVYM/s320/4817AD57-8F93-4D35-9459-24FBA0F9D240_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The opposition was also in three groups. Gus was to play Rurik Runespear, well-known to Glorantha fans as the original RQ2 example character and now a Runelord of Yelmalio sworn to kill the Lunar Governor in single combat. I knew that Gus, as an old RQ player who ran up against Halcyon back in Balazar decades ago, would appreciate this task.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jamie led a group of mounted Praxian nomads of the White Bull Society. I gave him the task of riding around the city carrying out rituals that were needed to bring the city under the control of the warlord Argrath Whitebull.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, Sam ran an assorted group of Wolf Pirates who just wanted to loot the city and slaughter its inhabitants.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MEQvm0wOH3UgGZLddVlPRHNY7kNSlFu4tvVmFT2epfynSUF-lutqUDc2eHD92llfGyf7PcDb6qERn834hyELQIt5lyicN98jpH2hFxlUAyZyuOK_lBgY3ALmJePl8nMMOtsOrGNABk4EoNOIT1raJuehVH4wGxqD_st5Ki8Y0P4BolJ8cgGPb7WENMU/s2908/8E980917-4A37-4266-ACD9-1F3710B23318_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2204" data-original-width="2908" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MEQvm0wOH3UgGZLddVlPRHNY7kNSlFu4tvVmFT2epfynSUF-lutqUDc2eHD92llfGyf7PcDb6qERn834hyELQIt5lyicN98jpH2hFxlUAyZyuOK_lBgY3ALmJePl8nMMOtsOrGNABk4EoNOIT1raJuehVH4wGxqD_st5Ki8Y0P4BolJ8cgGPb7WENMU/w400-h304/8E980917-4A37-4266-ACD9-1F3710B23318_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wolf Pirates versus Lunar Hoplites</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>A confused melée developed in the streets made all the more so by the intervention of assorted non-player characters. I ran some of these but Matt was the main embodiment of the Disorder rune in this regard.</div><div><br /></div><div>I invented a house rule whereby a gaming gem was placed in a mug every time a player rolled a failure on their activation dice. Each gem could then be spent my Matt or me to attempt an activation by a non-player character. These might be rampaging nomads or Wolf Pirates, additional isolated Lunar defenders or martially minded citizens of the city. We allowed the umpire team to spend these at any time, even if it meant interrupting a player's turn.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZ8wsrudhbOP5aQHd1Oyjh5Ta-g8SXF1Gw_PKK-Ai1fU3BSY7VB8sg_EsxkhzzsPsF5lnfGQFUfu5IIR177cfXf5rOfmqG6P0oCxUFnoipsG9dEMAGC3z_KW1kipUPfiVrsfRivhG240R6uPbypDufva47005BalA4GYODbbWERm1L7EH39wKMRWxq7c/s4032/CA9F18DC-89BA-4B13-A193-686A66CA359F.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZ8wsrudhbOP5aQHd1Oyjh5Ta-g8SXF1Gw_PKK-Ai1fU3BSY7VB8sg_EsxkhzzsPsF5lnfGQFUfu5IIR177cfXf5rOfmqG6P0oCxUFnoipsG9dEMAGC3z_KW1kipUPfiVrsfRivhG240R6uPbypDufva47005BalA4GYODbbWERm1L7EH39wKMRWxq7c/w300-h400/CA9F18DC-89BA-4B13-A193-686A66CA359F.heic" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunars, Sun Dome militia, Praxians and<br />Wolf Pirates - a confused melée indeed!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVj2iXmvkD9eYl-R5zH1lH12YORRPeDm42bRu5eRa9NWRnxGlLq78rP_iIgeQ34IY5Ni92PomdfkmHAgmChgfb3lA0OcDgUFsS8eyOqz_RsQEKr-gfTbiBYo71zylPWDoI7FNXjw4CU6Yrup0tLtd-Mi1uHpQDG9oeNqyn_bTB83y6fOqkh2JePjqxJTc/s2393/409D8BBD-C80F-4BF8-8D7B-32927EF793DF_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2082" data-original-width="2393" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVj2iXmvkD9eYl-R5zH1lH12YORRPeDm42bRu5eRa9NWRnxGlLq78rP_iIgeQ34IY5Ni92PomdfkmHAgmChgfb3lA0OcDgUFsS8eyOqz_RsQEKr-gfTbiBYo71zylPWDoI7FNXjw4CU6Yrup0tLtd-Mi1uHpQDG9oeNqyn_bTB83y6fOqkh2JePjqxJTc/w400-h346/409D8BBD-C80F-4BF8-8D7B-32927EF793DF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osrtrich Riders threaten fleeing Lunars</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>At the end of the game nearly all of the Lunars remaining in the streets were corpses. </p><p>Jamie had completed the objective of the White Bull Society and activated a ritual coving about a third of the table. The ritual was deemed to have some greater significance to be discovered later but an immediate side-effect was to give all invaders within its area the special rule Hate Lunars!</p><p>Gus-as-Rurik managed to catch and kill Halcyon var Enkorth. Or so he thought! In reality, and in line with events described in <i>King of Sartar</i>, Halcyon and his lover Marusa the Shrew escaped the city. It turned out that Rurik had killed Halcyon's look-alike! Never mind though, both Gus and Rurik are still claiming the credit for victory.</p><p>The Lady Jezra eventually reached the Eiskoli house to claim sanctuary. She did so, however, without the company of Jaxarte Whyded. His promising career was brought to an end by a nomad javelin on the dusty streets of Pavis.</p><p style="text-align: center;">-o0o-</p><p>The game worked well despite having eight people around the table with varying levels of familiarity with the rules. We started off with one player at a time activating figures but after just one turn everyone was sufficiently<i> au fait</i> with things to allow us to run all three players on one side simultaneously. Having experienced SOBH player Matt on board (he was volunteered into the umpire team on his arrival) helped enormously when it came to keeping things moving.</p><p>The system of activating NPCs worked fine. I think I'll keep it in my arsenal of techniques for future SOBH games where a third force needs to be represented.</p><p>All in all I was very pleased with the day. It was great fun to bring to the table top characters many of the players had previously met in classic RPG adventures like <i>Griffin Mountain, Sun County</i>, and <i>Borderlands</i>. </p><p>Thanks to all who came along to play in the game and chat afterwards. A Happy New Year to all and to those of you reading this!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-42185496866280229002024-01-01T07:05:00.000-08:002024-01-01T07:05:26.194-08:00Christmas Games part oneI always try to get in a couple of games over the Christmas-New Year period. By the nature of things these have to be (a) multi-player, (b) capable of adjustment for last-minute drop-outs or arrivals, and (c) easy to pick up. <div><br /></div><div>On Wednesday 27th I arranged for two games; <b>What A Cyberman</b> (using an adaptation of the <i>What A Cowboy</i> rules) and <b>Action on the Rippach</b> (a semi-historical Thirty Years War fight using <i>The Pikeman's Lament</i>). Both games played quickly enough that we were able to play them through and then swap around so that everyone (except Jamie and I) got to play both games.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxry8mEGcWzxDSu7D8CQE1Qq7At1R9-lP589sShKbWbSIs8g5pCWRYzlweaBFiMVQmlZ0eevQU7BQ_HNmRUCMccbwa3Yu7bDsLgdA3hJev-vsy74j-k3pIWhyphenhyphengC-nWwkhyo1zWvxrM2wUNprVifztWbVP6rNtpTSF6JNSfBd_WFmF6seMoSvGVvNML7g/s2936/A02DADBC-7A4F-4AAF-B6D7-F9460DA9FC62_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2494" data-original-width="2936" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxry8mEGcWzxDSu7D8CQE1Qq7At1R9-lP589sShKbWbSIs8g5pCWRYzlweaBFiMVQmlZ0eevQU7BQ_HNmRUCMccbwa3Yu7bDsLgdA3hJev-vsy74j-k3pIWhyphenhyphengC-nWwkhyo1zWvxrM2wUNprVifztWbVP6rNtpTSF6JNSfBd_WFmF6seMoSvGVvNML7g/w400-h339/A02DADBC-7A4F-4AAF-B6D7-F9460DA9FC62_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>What A Cyberman</b> is, of course, a Doctor Who themed game. In it 1920s Torchwood soldiers fight Cybermen in a tunnel complex while the Doctor goes about a mission of his own. First time around I refereed the game for Stuart, Matt, and John. It looked like the Cybermen were going to successfully kidnap the Doctor when, at the very last moment, one of the players managed to roll three sixes with their Action Dice and the Doctor escaped! As the first <i>Pikeman's Lament</i> game had just finished, we decided to call it a draw.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCHRaIxq5kd24jGZvFc3gfd3TF5ApoSIj6Jz7bxKXufnqxpKwNJX2EnUMmikzqeemrKzljETw9AXj1aBQDFLgiHOkelPtcp0D_wmnizoQ3-X6LJ9Vds87wOMm8qojiTe1kr1oU12XehjHogZeoiCZ4XXnTmicvmVReVn3-I0FaH_2aVBRy3O5UsCSW5E/s4032/01A6D75A-BF62-4D65-AE9C-B51C9ABA3D26.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCHRaIxq5kd24jGZvFc3gfd3TF5ApoSIj6Jz7bxKXufnqxpKwNJX2EnUMmikzqeemrKzljETw9AXj1aBQDFLgiHOkelPtcp0D_wmnizoQ3-X6LJ9Vds87wOMm8qojiTe1kr1oU12XehjHogZeoiCZ4XXnTmicvmVReVn3-I0FaH_2aVBRy3O5UsCSW5E/w300-h400/01A6D75A-BF62-4D65-AE9C-B51C9ABA3D26.heic" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Cybermat menaces the Doctor</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbvr1OenNLjWZ3Eu-BH1FpIaVt9BMeraSKS2dMKUH7tfPr5h-cXeecO07VHRwKZCUZK1byzjJF1s_oHoVF5TMOKdWphKSbigGdCYqjNjGcmUwEY1WL-ZhNf7P7D5bVfG6ZBEfewf1bElIYnFEk9ZCIFii87iGUe1AtEg8LsNm38j-Qz3SFt-9eV4IhEc/s4032/1C9E2B96-93E2-4B1D-823F-77286E05E0B4.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbvr1OenNLjWZ3Eu-BH1FpIaVt9BMeraSKS2dMKUH7tfPr5h-cXeecO07VHRwKZCUZK1byzjJF1s_oHoVF5TMOKdWphKSbigGdCYqjNjGcmUwEY1WL-ZhNf7P7D5bVfG6ZBEfewf1bElIYnFEk9ZCIFii87iGUe1AtEg8LsNm38j-Qz3SFt-9eV4IhEc/w300-h400/1C9E2B96-93E2-4B1D-823F-77286E05E0B4.heic" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New cave entrance bottom left</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The new cave entrance (brown in the picture above) was added to give an alternative route into the heart of the tunnel system. It meant that it was harder for the Cybermen to bottle Torchwood up in the corridor leading from the rope bridge.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the afternoon I played the role of Torchwood commander against Andy. My ability to resist was hampered by Andy's skilful deployment of his Cybermats and my inability to roll decent numbers on a die. Despite the new route through the cave, Andy managed to restrict my movement significantly. His Cybermen successfully kidnapped the Doctor.</div><div><br /></div><div>The scenario has the Doctor moving to a new location the moment anyone throws three or more sixes to activate. The first time I playtested the scenario this happened four times, which rather gave me a false impression of how the scenario typically plays out. I think next time I'll try it with the option to spend two Bonanza tokens to move the Doctor. This should see the Doctor move more frequently and allow for a bit more tactical decision-making by the players.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the other end of the kitchen table we had a couple of games of The Pikeman's Lament based very loosely upon the fighting across the Rippach stream on the eve of the battle of Lützen.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the morning session Andy's Swedes sought to cross the stream in the face of Jamie's Catholic trotters and Croat horse. This was the first time Andy had played the Swedes without the Wild Charge special rule and I believe he was much happier with at least a modicum of control over what his forces would try to do!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmg7lKP_fng-oy61dX9cKHXmfS8DenGhxzSsaUdT9n5pl5kyG1DNfUR5BW8e1poP5eoLz6u13_dP_TRTwzslW_0CspB5OSpXz-5oflmwsO5dRpOQxH47gNHYP6CycXw_RsYUxtunH2cXHVerlOYGST3cSa53QuR_1654JvukpQvdI5mXEg5InrMdfI_-c/s2788/6A068748-7864-4523-999B-A5E9603219D1_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2590" data-original-width="2788" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmg7lKP_fng-oy61dX9cKHXmfS8DenGhxzSsaUdT9n5pl5kyG1DNfUR5BW8e1poP5eoLz6u13_dP_TRTwzslW_0CspB5OSpXz-5oflmwsO5dRpOQxH47gNHYP6CycXw_RsYUxtunH2cXHVerlOYGST3cSa53QuR_1654JvukpQvdI5mXEg5InrMdfI_-c/w400-h370/6A068748-7864-4523-999B-A5E9603219D1_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I always like to have a new terrain piece in any game I run and this was no exception. The river board (top, above and below) features a nice resin watermill by Baccus 6mm.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cUQGseyrB_PXD9MccYbjpucROa7CNDzzCZTjclHEGe2I0ngmrm-C4u4zTd4wCSQ5fmrGrb7soQuHj5fo1uSEw6Q02tHI9LhafrJdKcXZ0z6q3jcoSxQl-9bOrHigVoyiW4IrJ6fAEhDsYa8OAFxChGQ_r-ZJnSqdKfCwfOMWxLt_bBMIbzYxf_EdvEk/s3009/AC990C87-65EE-4B80-90A0-CD2191BDCF75_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="3009" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cUQGseyrB_PXD9MccYbjpucROa7CNDzzCZTjclHEGe2I0ngmrm-C4u4zTd4wCSQ5fmrGrb7soQuHj5fo1uSEw6Q02tHI9LhafrJdKcXZ0z6q3jcoSxQl-9bOrHigVoyiW4IrJ6fAEhDsYa8OAFxChGQ_r-ZJnSqdKfCwfOMWxLt_bBMIbzYxf_EdvEk/w400-h303/AC990C87-65EE-4B80-90A0-CD2191BDCF75_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Jamie's Catholics were hampered in the first game when, shortly after the photograph below was taken, a random event meant that a quarter of their force was called away for other duties by the General.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSAI-t7hgZQxN2z2PBpBA4uiBctIsFZXfqZumFftDzbkPmeWbZMKm4kJFPLJxufynsjZj74tOcxYAvT_ipXmDtnoDvieclgBOAv8pWnM2W_3rGhRqap1pyZgI1nQXpOlBrOyaMQwg7URHFcaKksDSqk5_72XlgD1wlvWIUnUdwvJRrmHpb5VJI9mOWFg/s2624/7A1C6DAC-7B20-4832-ADF4-DA5485339085_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2196" data-original-width="2624" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSAI-t7hgZQxN2z2PBpBA4uiBctIsFZXfqZumFftDzbkPmeWbZMKm4kJFPLJxufynsjZj74tOcxYAvT_ipXmDtnoDvieclgBOAv8pWnM2W_3rGhRqap1pyZgI1nQXpOlBrOyaMQwg7URHFcaKksDSqk5_72XlgD1wlvWIUnUdwvJRrmHpb5VJI9mOWFg/w400-h335/7A1C6DAC-7B20-4832-ADF4-DA5485339085_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />In the afternoon we added a third board and additional forces to allow Jamie, Stuart, John and Matt to play a four-handed game.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtn4-C-1ggpjmYvVT4d3ehbTymYbIe4mFFzEaF1Y8lKi5zjOUfztPU2WbpyZ0wTo-_oX7CpQpzJS4zmSiVLv2hGVYdfCD7t1YRu1JlTvI3xXrDrmnvDLjQssPMUOO-SvqueEKwy18s1rG4j14Z3gVwNbx-vlJ30RG1r5gVscDpM67BZgONJR8aUgTw22o/s2190/1238309E-9529-41BC-A3A3-393D9CE50B02_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="2190" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtn4-C-1ggpjmYvVT4d3ehbTymYbIe4mFFzEaF1Y8lKi5zjOUfztPU2WbpyZ0wTo-_oX7CpQpzJS4zmSiVLv2hGVYdfCD7t1YRu1JlTvI3xXrDrmnvDLjQssPMUOO-SvqueEKwy18s1rG4j14Z3gVwNbx-vlJ30RG1r5gVscDpM67BZgONJR8aUgTw22o/w400-h255/1238309E-9529-41BC-A3A3-393D9CE50B02_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>For a set-up that was conceived as a portable option to allow play "down-the-pub", the Thirty Years War toys have proven very useful, albeit they are yet to see action in their intended environment.<br /><div><br /><div>More to follow later when I write up Friday's game.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-53614297519745845272023-12-28T03:23:00.000-08:002023-12-28T03:23:29.272-08:00New Year Plans<p>I hope you had a good Christmas. If you didn't because you or your spouse (Hi Odette!) was poorly, I hope you have a better New Year.</p><p>For me, this year was dominated, hobby-wise, by the preparations to run Harpers Ferry at Steel Lard and Posh Lard. </p><p>Having spent so much time building the terrain and researching the history, it feels like I got in less gaming than usual this year. Looking back at the records, though, I find that I played in or ran 19 gaming sessions using six different sets of rules (<i>The Pikeman's Lament, What A Cowboy, HOTT, TacWWII, Chain of Command</i>, and <i>Rogue Stars</i>). And I'll be running <i>Song of Blades and Heroes</i> tomorrow so make that seven. That's actually right up there with the last few years.</p><p>Anyway, now I've been thinking about wargaming plans for 2024. I'm sure my priorities will change as the year goes on but it won't do any harm to put down some markers now.</p><p>I would like to run some more games at Lardy Days next year but I'd like a project that doesn't dominate as much as Harpers Ferry did this time around. As I've said previously, I'm tempted to go back to the Maximilian Adventure and run a participation game based on the siege of Puebla. I already have a lot of suitable figures and a combination of existing adobe buildings with some from the Woebetides I reckon I'm close to being able to field a 6'x4' urban board.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4tF68f7e8bGZZJc50g4BmnMYmtSjWFJkRIX-BSdnIHuFpE6uITcdXTInlnsvRxHETJHcAZLXHYq185Qj_j6HXLu793sROobZ75NM1crMftDZSx-ThyphenhyphentPT4DrhD6CfJo6ux5rsRu7_jHA9XE8RDX9oTCExFYcZnOLy3uJvmrwnKU9z8GCl9C6P2h-o6w/s3024/09798ECD-5AEA-4751-BFA3-8B0BB559663F_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2704" data-original-width="3024" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4tF68f7e8bGZZJc50g4BmnMYmtSjWFJkRIX-BSdnIHuFpE6uITcdXTInlnsvRxHETJHcAZLXHYq185Qj_j6HXLu793sROobZ75NM1crMftDZSx-ThyphenhyphentPT4DrhD6CfJo6ux5rsRu7_jHA9XE8RDX9oTCExFYcZnOLy3uJvmrwnKU9z8GCl9C6P2h-o6w/w400-h356/09798ECD-5AEA-4751-BFA3-8B0BB559663F_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wali of Smut's palace may find a new role<br />as the penitentiary in Puebla</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Speaking of the Woebetides, I put a lot of work put into the setting in preparation for Crisis Point back in September 2021. The event didn't really work as well as I would have liked because I took on too much of a burden as the sole umpire. Disappointed, I put the toys away and largely went on to other things afterwards. </p><p>As a result I don't feel like I've properly got value-for-effort out of the Woebetides toys. I'd like to put that right and maybe run a small (possibly solo?) campaign inspired by one of my Christmas presents...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgHS3RR5J6gBa582xyTZwQmJFIxO6QKY-lhwU-EtMypff5SoCtYi-UPumfEkWmHN6r2AIUbas-ajs0V2UG9FSF8b7vLuiZ5ZOCgMh4ToiT1Kym3L2S1-Sjdc0s6vAe4GflUaNd8rR8r2OsargEDpK0a5CU5TpA-o-vluXpUHOPa9Rsk1ZMwRBmbmJ1ts/s2843/20169E38-3A85-4572-A9BC-229281D60724_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2843" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgHS3RR5J6gBa582xyTZwQmJFIxO6QKY-lhwU-EtMypff5SoCtYi-UPumfEkWmHN6r2AIUbas-ajs0V2UG9FSF8b7vLuiZ5ZOCgMh4ToiT1Kym3L2S1-Sjdc0s6vAe4GflUaNd8rR8r2OsargEDpK0a5CU5TpA-o-vluXpUHOPa9Rsk1ZMwRBmbmJ1ts/s320/20169E38-3A85-4572-A9BC-229281D60724_1_201_a.jpeg" width="223" /></a></div><br /><p>My previous approach to campaigns has been quite freeform. I've tended to avoid detailing too much in advance and instead allowed events to develop organically. The Woebetides might be a good place to try out Henry's more prescriptive approach and specify the populations and military forces of the islands in frankly excessive detail! </p><p>Finally on the <i>Sharp Practice</i> front, Richard Phillips and I have been threatening to explore Marshal Macdonald's advance to Riga during the summer and autumn of 1812. Family matters have kept getting in the way this year but I'm hopeful we can get something going in 2024.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfSU0hFXZ5x3j8yqhhc6xY4lUH7Wq3WfIiWbsvsOH7tcW7R9QLjf4XCPaUR6fSQssfqoixrL3FNyZJUP3wE9-OBVIUvFV7G04pkZystV0KKx-OPa7KqiRdz4-hl_cAY4NxBLGcgUW5OYRet12b2kK0i1wD-dBsafRmfQMO6w6FDS6X3sfzZ-7CGL-NwU/s2825/00C37BB0-B456-4F67-A5CC-7198E48BD99F_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="2825" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfSU0hFXZ5x3j8yqhhc6xY4lUH7Wq3WfIiWbsvsOH7tcW7R9QLjf4XCPaUR6fSQssfqoixrL3FNyZJUP3wE9-OBVIUvFV7G04pkZystV0KKx-OPa7KqiRdz4-hl_cAY4NxBLGcgUW5OYRet12b2kK0i1wD-dBsafRmfQMO6w6FDS6X3sfzZ-7CGL-NwU/s320/00C37BB0-B456-4F67-A5CC-7198E48BD99F_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Away from the horse and musket era, I am keen to play some more <i>TacWWII</i> this year. At the moment the plan is to hold a Crisis Point event in Dungworth this spring. If it goes ahead I intend that one of the games on offer be my <i>Prague Summer 1948 - The Race to Stary Boleslav</i>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8o7x4eA42PPyDqtKmp1URsU41Yq6wugBhRrGygW7KNgPFi-NmfERdYs0zNMLpAjQOMQKyFf6YjqkyB4ZLwyNKKekXh8QS1hjTee3e-RUt3SKQiqoHaa1JLIoUYR951TF8-_O8_pPxfUi4Mnz5-DXvmSACua9ghB8Gu-IPjLcJN6L6qpcydMeBX-m69g/s2273/4629243F-A54A-486F-A205-202236CE9B6D_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2273" data-original-width="2104" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8o7x4eA42PPyDqtKmp1URsU41Yq6wugBhRrGygW7KNgPFi-NmfERdYs0zNMLpAjQOMQKyFf6YjqkyB4ZLwyNKKekXh8QS1hjTee3e-RUt3SKQiqoHaa1JLIoUYR951TF8-_O8_pPxfUi4Mnz5-DXvmSACua9ghB8Gu-IPjLcJN6L6qpcydMeBX-m69g/s320/4629243F-A54A-486F-A205-202236CE9B6D_1_201_a.jpeg" width="296" /></a></div><p>I say "if it goes ahead" as initial response to the idea of another Crisis Point was a little muted. Early in the New Year I plan to raise the proposal once more and find out whether there's sufficient enthusiasm to justify going ahead. If there isn't I may switch to just running my own game at some point during the year, probably at the village hall instead. Either way I'll need to get in some practice games to make sure I have the rules down and to test some of the house rules I've included in my version 1.5.</p><p>That aside there's a good chance I'll get <i>Chain of Command</i> to the table at some point; old mate Stuart and new acquaintance Matt have asked to have a session to help them learn the rules. I'd also like to have some more games of <i>Rogue Stars</i> and <i>Shot, Steel and Stone</i> before too long.</p><p>Doubtless other things will come up during the year and who knows, maybe some or all of the above will still be on the To Do List in December 2024?</p>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-34928349988548143152023-12-20T01:49:00.000-08:002023-12-20T01:49:55.644-08:00Adobe Dobe Doo<p>The new cluster of adobe buildings for Pavis is now complete. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsDiGnX1tgweBIlZr34PKNG-w4mEzmSvrtny_gQExvV5VGCnCwn8jhTRMD2Ymw0tJT6gt7ZvimoeTRpSUS8YuIJG47RTOkqg-90Ff_Cr1PTDoqZ_tyZ0xVq4CnSGBhgE4veK3FnMgOb1zLG3HnkcfUvkUpEJbOmH-Cr2MJvkiCXwqhVIuJBxmatOPdYs/s2328/8B063241-C293-419B-86D3-6D4D54E2B93A_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2328" data-original-width="2095" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsDiGnX1tgweBIlZr34PKNG-w4mEzmSvrtny_gQExvV5VGCnCwn8jhTRMD2Ymw0tJT6gt7ZvimoeTRpSUS8YuIJG47RTOkqg-90Ff_Cr1PTDoqZ_tyZ0xVq4CnSGBhgE4veK3FnMgOb1zLG3HnkcfUvkUpEJbOmH-Cr2MJvkiCXwqhVIuJBxmatOPdYs/w360-h400/8B063241-C293-419B-86D3-6D4D54E2B93A_1_201_a.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In the end I didn't go over the top with the fantasy elements; just the little statue (probably containing the family's guardian spirit) over one of the doorways.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokSY50BPUoNDVzfcyAVP3TXQqCx56JEvQNF-IzcMfBsq-mgPsFzXQzoZLOEtEw8Bfndkhpmkv_ACcaZ8GuycUtu_ObhnrPg0_BigE1K_THy_TqbfS7VGHYDjmZkjTUYFrl_0Uj8kosqpiQ1OimlP3EyPZxJFBOlPx5RnYxBlwvFGF5Q3XGhXOHR0uFso/s2533/B6209DD1-AD79-43F5-B373-4D789060F545_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1660" data-original-width="2533" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokSY50BPUoNDVzfcyAVP3TXQqCx56JEvQNF-IzcMfBsq-mgPsFzXQzoZLOEtEw8Bfndkhpmkv_ACcaZ8GuycUtu_ObhnrPg0_BigE1K_THy_TqbfS7VGHYDjmZkjTUYFrl_0Uj8kosqpiQ1OimlP3EyPZxJFBOlPx5RnYxBlwvFGF5Q3XGhXOHR0uFso/w400-h263/B6209DD1-AD79-43F5-B373-4D789060F545_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After photographing the piece I realised I'd neglected to add any roof hatches. I'll probably put some on later along with a little burnt-grass flock.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6pon3z-hQflwkihCex_QUmoM6oHAF6UFcSxp8lvCeVZq0k4WKo75913vVZgMJ3Ui614iyLfW-oOVEKyEhj2LDFtOmEw3LEYhAaLP9FzOBkpg2-8QG3grI36Pw4Al8Jc63bInHvp3pA5AjIYwg6K9ipSIy1HPRsAdfuJDFfd60EVLyhrL-u08lnT9CJs/s2423/E14A12FC-3673-4E6C-A667-2F09BEB10C1B_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1699" data-original-width="2423" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6pon3z-hQflwkihCex_QUmoM6oHAF6UFcSxp8lvCeVZq0k4WKo75913vVZgMJ3Ui614iyLfW-oOVEKyEhj2LDFtOmEw3LEYhAaLP9FzOBkpg2-8QG3grI36Pw4Al8Jc63bInHvp3pA5AjIYwg6K9ipSIy1HPRsAdfuJDFfd60EVLyhrL-u08lnT9CJs/w400-h279/E14A12FC-3673-4E6C-A667-2F09BEB10C1B_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrmxBnqWWlsT1tCJ0_qPTzJYjDUyC14RGnd9yCVfnhzbK1XQ3IoIis7Ja2_8fAegBRdToD3-0SJ_9Oe-0CMiICzq4Tx2lgRuWntPBZL02UdpZ1FzM9-mohFUSFD9z94uekZorLVBgUyPcflRRmuouyTT2YoRFlqMXKoAqg3hxLHhhxhof75EhWbXmp8o/s2087/F4C998FA-F6C8-4BAC-9982-2CCC84B88BA0_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1806" data-original-width="2087" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrmxBnqWWlsT1tCJ0_qPTzJYjDUyC14RGnd9yCVfnhzbK1XQ3IoIis7Ja2_8fAegBRdToD3-0SJ_9Oe-0CMiICzq4Tx2lgRuWntPBZL02UdpZ1FzM9-mohFUSFD9z94uekZorLVBgUyPcflRRmuouyTT2YoRFlqMXKoAqg3hxLHhhxhof75EhWbXmp8o/w400-h345/F4C998FA-F6C8-4BAC-9982-2CCC84B88BA0_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>One of my thoughts about next year is to run some more Maximilian Adventure <i>Sharp Practice</i>. Focussing on the 1863 siege of Puebla would make use of existing models - both 28mm soldiers and suitable buildings.</p><p>The completed building below was a quick project earlier this year to fit a suitable storage box that came my way. Now I'm working on a destroyed version.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y4nuYggNhhg7OAwYKGOVWCIB03qKdKLeKY4-CDkhEn16h3z1SNlUowr6Ess9evyzMQ1YQNHeAfPRj-kf6B4_TZQbsJ-1n4y3mqNHomkarG-YUiRZd_ZCerIDJIs40Uc13_uatD38BhkIaAIn1r4-N4MvmgN2KiG7BzRq63WpB9XoqrbXMwSTN8vd8gE/s2061/7F436A9F-EB2E-40A1-B533-8067E0BF3441_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2061" data-original-width="2007" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y4nuYggNhhg7OAwYKGOVWCIB03qKdKLeKY4-CDkhEn16h3z1SNlUowr6Ess9evyzMQ1YQNHeAfPRj-kf6B4_TZQbsJ-1n4y3mqNHomkarG-YUiRZd_ZCerIDJIs40Uc13_uatD38BhkIaAIn1r4-N4MvmgN2KiG7BzRq63WpB9XoqrbXMwSTN8vd8gE/w389-h400/7F436A9F-EB2E-40A1-B533-8067E0BF3441_1_201_a.jpeg" width="389" /></a></div><br /><p>The 1863 Siege of Puebla has long interested me. During the Crimean War the French had taken Sevastopol as soon as they captured the Malakoff fortress. They assumed the convent of San Javier was likewise the key to Puebla. They were wrong and the subsequent fight for the city itself threatened to become a nineteenth century Stalingrad.</p><p>I wonder if I can create a game for the coming year's Lardy Days that sees the French attacking from block to block while the Mexicans scurry from rooftop to fortified rooftop via improvised bridges?</p><p>Some degree of mashing up <i>Sharp Practice</i> and <i>Chain of Command</i> may be called for, as will a lot of play-testing.</p><p><br /></p></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-30576039271946292722023-12-08T03:10:00.000-08:002023-12-08T03:10:08.455-08:00On the workbench<p>I was putting in a <i>Victrix</i> order while they had their Black Friday sale running and was just short of the total needed to to get free shipping so I added in a pack of Gallic cavalry. I figure I may one day use them to play<i> Infamy Infamy</i>.</p><p>Feeling the urge to paint something just for the hell of it I made a start. Adding in a couple of existing <i>Warlord</i> Gauls I'm not far off a six-man unit with Leader.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpLaOQxrQ7pMX2xE5vkQeMXp5QoCy-_tVGdPdRvu1Xya_0Ix5rbp7ijZh_q63ZKc_UufaiNzXI_Oa5XgRrW_Pkquw_SjVQMj9_r7wXkhAi-VYwODaEIYKkjh1ftA82GHnXMBjXsTaK3tmiSYc0urUrADZ2a3x5phdUupUyyySuY_fzcvetbu_3b2MM8A/s2690/563C2D0A-9F30-4679-BB62-F4C26E3AEC45_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2572" data-original-width="2690" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpLaOQxrQ7pMX2xE5vkQeMXp5QoCy-_tVGdPdRvu1Xya_0Ix5rbp7ijZh_q63ZKc_UufaiNzXI_Oa5XgRrW_Pkquw_SjVQMj9_r7wXkhAi-VYwODaEIYKkjh1ftA82GHnXMBjXsTaK3tmiSYc0urUrADZ2a3x5phdUupUyyySuY_fzcvetbu_3b2MM8A/w400-h381/563C2D0A-9F30-4679-BB62-F4C26E3AEC45_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There are only three horse sculpts - it doesn't look line the halves are interchangeable to give more variety in poses. I'm therefore working on using Green Stuff to vary the harness decoration. I'll share comparison pics when they're done.<div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile I continue to persevere with the 3D printer despite problems with build plate adhesion. Successfully printed was this medieval tower. Yet another addition to the Eastern European 6mm urban terrain.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHrK_4gnty4g5BFVyBwo7R_N7T2IuMZLNFu5V82Op0GYwaqRtIsh11mnXbJRqCyTnbjutl4tFU-8ajqnhFDHSsV4uDC8Jy-yPjrQwnGrfQwXdPbDi35xEalPXE7CtYSdDEkSAOoGeHifVhSYAornorlgthEZkdshGal-XoymR8hgfHKMI7AX7F8QdJd0/s1249/B9B9704B-65C6-4699-AFF1-F16E09CDAE5D_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHrK_4gnty4g5BFVyBwo7R_N7T2IuMZLNFu5V82Op0GYwaqRtIsh11mnXbJRqCyTnbjutl4tFU-8ajqnhFDHSsV4uDC8Jy-yPjrQwnGrfQwXdPbDi35xEalPXE7CtYSdDEkSAOoGeHifVhSYAornorlgthEZkdshGal-XoymR8hgfHKMI7AX7F8QdJd0/s320/B9B9704B-65C6-4699-AFF1-F16E09CDAE5D_1_201_a.jpeg" width="144" /></a></div><br /><div>An earlier version of the print failed part way through so I'm working on a ruined version using quick-drying Polyfilla, grit, and slices of wooden coffee stirrer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHy6oVpYwQwNbrCQ0eR7vLGrR7l-vx2Z7tyO9tWe2vmmtZ3Wg8vtvBf9e1_JtQq0ldYQwqi2OCAa4yY4eEKzo1BJNkU9aKLJBlO4370-wL6UoibyoQG1I3z5Iijo1h62PnNmVT8TW9o1AoYrQKwEn8LM9b9sMB6GdQdL57dkVnciCdw_EMqOa2shgQ1c/s1438/17F42521-FE7C-442C-A735-B067C8D629D7_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1438" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHy6oVpYwQwNbrCQ0eR7vLGrR7l-vx2Z7tyO9tWe2vmmtZ3Wg8vtvBf9e1_JtQq0ldYQwqi2OCAa4yY4eEKzo1BJNkU9aKLJBlO4370-wL6UoibyoQG1I3z5Iijo1h62PnNmVT8TW9o1AoYrQKwEn8LM9b9sMB6GdQdL57dkVnciCdw_EMqOa2shgQ1c/s320/17F42521-FE7C-442C-A735-B067C8D629D7_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I've used a 6cm base, which I'll paint to resemble a paved square. 6cm happens to be twice my standard road width.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, one of my planned Christmas games is another <i>Song of Blades and Heroes</i> skirmish set in Pavis. I wanted to reflect the fact that Pavis isn't depicted as all right angles so I've knocked up this cluster of buildings.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nUo8YAFlto9z_GrJMiaFpAoA7JpxcZjNGkG6dYeJVBgiiB8jy7xFZ5kZuFG7E7kUGrCo2lvVEpyhVqTxoKt1tsN_j4P9AuVTeoKGk8eORPojv4Y7sl3T0mUvQyxHsNsUu7euz9fgDeaWqF_BV9XDp1aRRsLkpFGfbwVCLUKj7Zuboe6bwyYzO-eUOco/s2845/6E3CD1F7-CED3-4629-9950-F371DCF81BEE_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2806" data-original-width="2845" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nUo8YAFlto9z_GrJMiaFpAoA7JpxcZjNGkG6dYeJVBgiiB8jy7xFZ5kZuFG7E7kUGrCo2lvVEpyhVqTxoKt1tsN_j4P9AuVTeoKGk8eORPojv4Y7sl3T0mUvQyxHsNsUu7euz9fgDeaWqF_BV9XDp1aRRsLkpFGfbwVCLUKj7Zuboe6bwyYzO-eUOco/w400-h395/6E3CD1F7-CED3-4629-9950-F371DCF81BEE_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Very much made up as I went along, this one. The long balcony has been in my terrain bits box for years and the length of that side of the building was determined by the desire to use it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I even broke my usual rule of designing the building to fit an existing storage box but fortunately a new pair of walking boots provided exactly the size box I needed.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOiOgFy0QNOREtckfMFWdb-YADH2GUCY2zAvLepHi7oPIQpscnRWm4tv6x4P20FHIwI4J5rqYXjho1UDz-XmZtjrFh4zeq1Jv8L5zeWrnLe0910cVoc6O6nXxO6KCb1DmIwear5YYxk1kzbVdY9a-8vvUtvHmZyt9UvLzYhhyphenhypheny5qM26o1I81BYITE7hc/s2637/CD6DF568-2598-4C9E-904F-7893DFE3A71B_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2577" data-original-width="2637" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOiOgFy0QNOREtckfMFWdb-YADH2GUCY2zAvLepHi7oPIQpscnRWm4tv6x4P20FHIwI4J5rqYXjho1UDz-XmZtjrFh4zeq1Jv8L5zeWrnLe0910cVoc6O6nXxO6KCb1DmIwear5YYxk1kzbVdY9a-8vvUtvHmZyt9UvLzYhhyphenhypheny5qM26o1I81BYITE7hc/w400-h390/CD6DF568-2598-4C9E-904F-7893DFE3A71B_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I generally make adobe buildings generic enough to pass for Pavis or Mexico but this time I'm thinking of going all-out fantasy with a statue in a niche above one of the doors and maybe painted runes on one of the walls.<div><br /></div><div>Well that's it for now. I'll share finished pics when done.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-88058906912777073212023-11-28T07:13:00.000-08:002023-11-28T07:13:54.952-08:00Posh Lard 2023 Report<p>Far too early on Saturday morning I set out to drive down the A1 to Peterborough for the latest Posh Lard. Peterborough being roughly southeast of Sheffield and this being November I was driving with the morning sun in my eyes virtually the whole way. Still that was better than the lunatics in SUVs on the same road going back in the dark!</p><p>The George Alcock centre at Fletton is a nice venue. For those of you who've attended Ebor Lard, it's very similar to Green Hammerton Village Hall. It wins on having on-site caterers but loses in that we weren't able to take in the closing stages of a village cricket match at the end the gaming session!</p><p>Wanting to get back to Sheffield before it was too late, I didn't stick around for the traditional post-event curry but it was pleasant to chat with like-minded gamers throughout the day.</p><p>I again ran my Harpers Ferry game and the players (Pippa, Carl, Lewis, Peter, Kevin and Chris) were great. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YqNPItFnFRgXCVwgtmMEi9zUvD59Uggxw5pi5PUyXoT4OYwL-XrhwYD35XshgT4et2V1Deg88hdZWPbNapjkqEj_VLTbVhsOHXwQbHXHJE1SSZVKHiP02fWB5nnDiXYhD5JqLVc_xMvFr8jnWEE-l4NZ4bb6mDyqWcLWUrWoa8JlSXvxiYM0SaO6BzA/s3580/3AD48AF0-2FFB-485E-87B8-D9EE2003FA91_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2103" data-original-width="3580" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YqNPItFnFRgXCVwgtmMEi9zUvD59Uggxw5pi5PUyXoT4OYwL-XrhwYD35XshgT4et2V1Deg88hdZWPbNapjkqEj_VLTbVhsOHXwQbHXHJE1SSZVKHiP02fWB5nnDiXYhD5JqLVc_xMvFr8jnWEE-l4NZ4bb6mDyqWcLWUrWoa8JlSXvxiYM0SaO6BzA/w400-h235/3AD48AF0-2FFB-485E-87B8-D9EE2003FA91_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LAfGl5IBNtsIOL7SeflW3tHy09lHBZTKZp45MvxHOm0uaKcyr1NW05MPcJI08tyIQqpTXCbAjNLz8-jNn5iTHm7IKxx7IxuQpHk3mFNTxptb5BCCypp-bgJW13vcNGV0onDCTxU14ntYDOmwA1smdwfHOzrcP0Mui6SbAh4KTb0kaY-yvMIQdq8x2DI/s3212/A44193C6-0E02-4E0F-BF48-3DBE39296B67_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2299" data-original-width="3212" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LAfGl5IBNtsIOL7SeflW3tHy09lHBZTKZp45MvxHOm0uaKcyr1NW05MPcJI08tyIQqpTXCbAjNLz8-jNn5iTHm7IKxx7IxuQpHk3mFNTxptb5BCCypp-bgJW13vcNGV0onDCTxU14ntYDOmwA1smdwfHOzrcP0Mui6SbAh4KTb0kaY-yvMIQdq8x2DI/w400-h286/A44193C6-0E02-4E0F-BF48-3DBE39296B67_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Surprisingly the first game progressed so quickly, with the insurrectionist players taking about an hour to get the hostages from the paymaster's office to the engine house, we had time to go on and play Act Two.</p><p>The Federal forces managed to get into the engine house led by Marines Luke Quinn and Matthew Ruppert, with Lt Israel Green close behind. Eventually Green found himself face to face with John Brown and attacked with his sword. </p><p>Historically Green had brought his light-weight dress sword in the haste of leaving Washington. His initially thrust at Brown's torso was ineffective as the sword bent after hitting Brown's belt buckle. Green then beat Brown unconscious with the hilt of the sword. In our miniature version the same thing happened - I'd decided in advance that Green would be treated as if trying to capture his opponent in terms of the Brawlin' rules. This worked really well.</p><p>After the first Harpers Ferry run-through, I had a chance to take some quick pictures of the other games.</p><p><b>New Tribes Beyond Us</b> was a <i>Strength and Honour</i> battle put on by a couple of members of the Peterborough club. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZy1hxx2WlKgJKuEHYTYjekGi4_5vl01O94I1cJaeys5_Mt8cLj1uYe4vA4JbL0geRGbakGU9dh5D3XKY1b_ISBh0yQei0dSU2eUdiCMOEW-s9pqCoSWWN2HGjg6mkdrMPO8eXQl1BvX-MVrE5lvP0F9odi6e46uzmjrGDJjUzTqy61p3A_8cThWgBMI/s4032/BD3937F3-2AEB-4490-A8B8-AA09A729A39F.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZy1hxx2WlKgJKuEHYTYjekGi4_5vl01O94I1cJaeys5_Mt8cLj1uYe4vA4JbL0geRGbakGU9dh5D3XKY1b_ISBh0yQei0dSU2eUdiCMOEW-s9pqCoSWWN2HGjg6mkdrMPO8eXQl1BvX-MVrE5lvP0F9odi6e46uzmjrGDJjUzTqy61p3A_8cThWgBMI/w300-h400/BD3937F3-2AEB-4490-A8B8-AA09A729A39F.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Nice tiny (2mm) units.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePRNDV0p2J8m12tebLnldWgzagWnBM6nauoUa2en-adSvj6GtcSF55Ne-V-OPq8k9o7cBqKR40ubWO1OoUJ1Z0xeVGWMrd3Y83p_1jtbStBhWgxFqCTPOqBkIUPLd7Qu-rSyuEehDvO7urJ-J-taEnT5pWSlAF2W9Y4bKT1G_D_W0cH6jtPb4_LYSzvw/s4032/CB5D172A-0958-4A20-BAFE-EDAAE5330289.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePRNDV0p2J8m12tebLnldWgzagWnBM6nauoUa2en-adSvj6GtcSF55Ne-V-OPq8k9o7cBqKR40ubWO1OoUJ1Z0xeVGWMrd3Y83p_1jtbStBhWgxFqCTPOqBkIUPLd7Qu-rSyuEehDvO7urJ-J-taEnT5pWSlAF2W9Y4bKT1G_D_W0cH6jtPb4_LYSzvw/w300-h400/CB5D172A-0958-4A20-BAFE-EDAAE5330289.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvFnUpFjZaBM24jThALqcltbi-QQtny0Y7TPEQz_o5DvyT2OZ_3NoqH7A0um20Ulc8tvXms2f-NoiQU0juxpqxVWN__QFAPVK2z1w2J_stNscB2nbgNGG0gs2lDk5R_GQ9siTv1XRYbNb7zh91cKP6P5uN61lUedXyCQP9rdWhqL1i08wEIGQlc9Kp8M/s1660/DEE15BE8-F4F3-4C6E-8A0E-D5C2A0923581_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1613" data-original-width="1660" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvFnUpFjZaBM24jThALqcltbi-QQtny0Y7TPEQz_o5DvyT2OZ_3NoqH7A0um20Ulc8tvXms2f-NoiQU0juxpqxVWN__QFAPVK2z1w2J_stNscB2nbgNGG0gs2lDk5R_GQ9siTv1XRYbNb7zh91cKP6P5uN61lUedXyCQP9rdWhqL1i08wEIGQlc9Kp8M/w400-h388/DEE15BE8-F4F3-4C6E-8A0E-D5C2A0923581_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>On the next table was a <i>Sharp Practice</i> Peninsular War game called <b>Ducrot's Day Out</b>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQUkaJa7jysZv_BRDRClZz8sD58mLsWwU6KBBU5pc-gBg0Fx54RSkanEQx-O9l6pM_w6Dw-l-x01dQuZMYqBCsVuDjQQhSqWc2J1OdZRIzOfoXVk36_w629VPSoBGWrmPg7we30_HrkO9IX22OXxi78bdTbs-0MT82xpBlS5NdJkw0cncEMJBhhI4QqI/s4032/73E5E4A2-282D-4C65-B90E-98F7771E2D0F.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQUkaJa7jysZv_BRDRClZz8sD58mLsWwU6KBBU5pc-gBg0Fx54RSkanEQx-O9l6pM_w6Dw-l-x01dQuZMYqBCsVuDjQQhSqWc2J1OdZRIzOfoXVk36_w629VPSoBGWrmPg7we30_HrkO9IX22OXxi78bdTbs-0MT82xpBlS5NdJkw0cncEMJBhhI4QqI/w300-h400/73E5E4A2-282D-4C65-B90E-98F7771E2D0F.heic" width="300" /></a></div><p>I liked the models for this game...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12MWaq2oBv2JUZYF33-PxAp5PxiPlN8to9SDBm4zmnkNZ1ui4Ukz89KXbxNhE13Ex9Tm5O1_cZlgqcEAumK5z8g7dqEt4eZzq3o9qUAx1WJ41qF1DeQ3VtknplW4D0l-X9GGYmbllSYM4mOQUVrFN5AsxvXNpPhQmHIrS-KIFXFdVq23gEBvnjS9wXKc/s2058/2F3FD6D9-4C67-4DC7-A835-C6E439D22EAC_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2058" data-original-width="1735" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12MWaq2oBv2JUZYF33-PxAp5PxiPlN8to9SDBm4zmnkNZ1ui4Ukz89KXbxNhE13Ex9Tm5O1_cZlgqcEAumK5z8g7dqEt4eZzq3o9qUAx1WJ41qF1DeQ3VtknplW4D0l-X9GGYmbllSYM4mOQUVrFN5AsxvXNpPhQmHIrS-KIFXFdVq23gEBvnjS9wXKc/w338-h400/2F3FD6D9-4C67-4DC7-A835-C6E439D22EAC_1_201_a.jpeg" width="338" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUKcmbzqtnq9x-c8C5lCjGuhPPXmw1OSFR9sccNDGY1x7A3SJe65Vh_WKGt-yWlr07NCZsmpECQ3wkh8tSh_mY0WG0Ok-bTb7thr_LflSoU_DZFPTfTDv2v_3frK2rT0qVLeSsOif0XoWbQ25MldU0qi4xtWf_2NVfQvcZ614rpiCSEkfrpVln12jIYE/s3739/99B68C67-EBE0-484A-840A-42E8FB749F03_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3739" data-original-width="2389" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUKcmbzqtnq9x-c8C5lCjGuhPPXmw1OSFR9sccNDGY1x7A3SJe65Vh_WKGt-yWlr07NCZsmpECQ3wkh8tSh_mY0WG0Ok-bTb7thr_LflSoU_DZFPTfTDv2v_3frK2rT0qVLeSsOif0XoWbQ25MldU0qi4xtWf_2NVfQvcZ614rpiCSEkfrpVln12jIYE/w254-h400/99B68C67-EBE0-484A-840A-42E8FB749F03_1_201_a.jpeg" width="254" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaE98W0P0J1oMfgikz5fF5v1zN2uKPjZk1ZjIIY3U7TjAncb4Fb0aSdQ6iYcQsQN_6RGW1AsZKmMuCCSp3eLKnfuXg7QXafej-kvd5BQwRe_G5TuGPOM91ApE2LQ4K6BNjU8sqtC-bEhv-UTs6p-GqDAqEY83Q2avfwNH_xaI9IsiVPDwPKH7FG7iVg70/s1176/AEFE320D-9028-48A3-AB58-EEFC7CCD90F0_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1176" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaE98W0P0J1oMfgikz5fF5v1zN2uKPjZk1ZjIIY3U7TjAncb4Fb0aSdQ6iYcQsQN_6RGW1AsZKmMuCCSp3eLKnfuXg7QXafej-kvd5BQwRe_G5TuGPOM91ApE2LQ4K6BNjU8sqtC-bEhv-UTs6p-GqDAqEY83Q2avfwNH_xaI9IsiVPDwPKH7FG7iVg70/w400-h384/AEFE320D-9028-48A3-AB58-EEFC7CCD90F0_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Another good looking game was this, using the What A Cowboy engine to run a pirate skirmish action.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZooyi7OtTdHTZFqpPnKTsDVd4lyn88uz8cfpNUDaQ4QaOKGRZ6Tysfu-UflP6mA988e2u2u4Npi3EswzUprCHP91hnz9A2ZGcm3_8d70xInbuG-93yx2SR26emnjio5kZs2LxIJ9twlpxSJzz-kNnQQVZxglKl1sO7GydEolkiNZyJFVybYmlqXdrxHc/s2521/B37F489B-C5FC-4D3F-83A7-0F7D73E222CF_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2358" data-original-width="2521" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZooyi7OtTdHTZFqpPnKTsDVd4lyn88uz8cfpNUDaQ4QaOKGRZ6Tysfu-UflP6mA988e2u2u4Npi3EswzUprCHP91hnz9A2ZGcm3_8d70xInbuG-93yx2SR26emnjio5kZs2LxIJ9twlpxSJzz-kNnQQVZxglKl1sO7GydEolkiNZyJFVybYmlqXdrxHc/w400-h373/B37F489B-C5FC-4D3F-83A7-0F7D73E222CF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I liked the cliffs and the ship, which was obviously based on Gary Chalk's templates in Wargames Illustrated years ago.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQU4Cj9Dxmqh5Bp__0Eo7EVvWqu8dzsm1ZlkdiAaDVUoQPFkW4AKBN1v6qxqIgzH3mNH-Nx-hQ27iXZDic2NbyHSw4tSQBwXmniCcoqISm1RqVMlxmEzzBkvd48NyWEKl08meHk47h8BxSe3jlRZvpNTpiwm_22F20FAiTjDPv5tQ8wf-ptPTA4fjowY/s2382/2EC83185-8236-4DDA-8F8E-578D7F044C38_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="2382" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQU4Cj9Dxmqh5Bp__0Eo7EVvWqu8dzsm1ZlkdiAaDVUoQPFkW4AKBN1v6qxqIgzH3mNH-Nx-hQ27iXZDic2NbyHSw4tSQBwXmniCcoqISm1RqVMlxmEzzBkvd48NyWEKl08meHk47h8BxSe3jlRZvpNTpiwm_22F20FAiTjDPv5tQ8wf-ptPTA4fjowY/s320/2EC83185-8236-4DDA-8F8E-578D7F044C38_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally we had the Peterborough club's Chef du Pont game covering the hinterland of Utah Beach in June 1944. This game was previously seen at the Joy of Six in the Spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fS93aNdScKXQxnaq06rVgFhpKbHU9y5JhUI0ttG4IZ2g8QRI0duaaSt-Ea7itv99pPMHP7tptvB96-ALZPp3HSCX5PejPwm3btRqJ9eJM9ThoVlHTsYcyDprucxIgXM1863RmHtBMlugj4c4vBOIXwpJBaHYAPAQz-mpNeJ3Gn_DgmrvSwzW9_lXKpo/s4032/32769D39-AE9C-424B-A6BD-AEBD9F5FEE07.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fS93aNdScKXQxnaq06rVgFhpKbHU9y5JhUI0ttG4IZ2g8QRI0duaaSt-Ea7itv99pPMHP7tptvB96-ALZPp3HSCX5PejPwm3btRqJ9eJM9ThoVlHTsYcyDprucxIgXM1863RmHtBMlugj4c4vBOIXwpJBaHYAPAQz-mpNeJ3Gn_DgmrvSwzW9_lXKpo/w300-h400/32769D39-AE9C-424B-A6BD-AEBD9F5FEE07.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmD1u9Nb0NNk1Z8VRLn4Ianl4n8sGj_McAiKGpIWKM9cN0XYHWndxsfDfZfPIOc1Cie_zXzDiJdCfy5PLBD_GJ76u1L_W0b3kEjEqmfWijFyClMLXNu3Ql5yVFW6VFuuW_tEu9n6EBplFeJGGpvymbJyoJU-KM4lxZ_W_W6zuaZKokgfh3_Y-u6lMvoo/s4032/D9485E9E-8FAD-4DB4-BB89-DAF9889B506A.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmD1u9Nb0NNk1Z8VRLn4Ianl4n8sGj_McAiKGpIWKM9cN0XYHWndxsfDfZfPIOc1Cie_zXzDiJdCfy5PLBD_GJ76u1L_W0b3kEjEqmfWijFyClMLXNu3Ql5yVFW6VFuuW_tEu9n6EBplFeJGGpvymbJyoJU-KM4lxZ_W_W6zuaZKokgfh3_Y-u6lMvoo/w300-h400/D9485E9E-8FAD-4DB4-BB89-DAF9889B506A.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Posh Lard is a nice event that should really be better attended. I think there were fifteen players but it could have easily have accommodated another half dozen even with just the games we had and I reckon there was room for at least another game, probably two. If you can come to a future Posh Lard, I'd recommend it.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-11459984457479531432023-11-26T08:35:00.000-08:002023-11-26T08:35:55.122-08:00City Planning<p>I want some substantial 1/300th scale built-up areas to represent Stary Boleslav and its surrounding towns for this coming year's Prague Summer extravaganza. By using my 3D printer, rebasing some existing suitable buildings, and adding some homemade ruins, I'm on the way to a reasonable Central European cityscape.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk4eakcTybnNcjJS8OyWePZQYz4WXsMoMmIzhiYBBlIXUMOiHHJ5ibrHUnm2X52PuFDGuMplRfNdMZzO3z09VznI8rovferCDezvtlfN88omnGqAlDoAE776c36xvA7yrEn1jtBHM3Uil2Nr9GV02pgMkf_KuUhfgrdOOlTNGE1eBWP-l0vnVNgoQlz0/s3258/F1D9A606-AC16-422A-BD93-8096D2576C19_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="3258" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk4eakcTybnNcjJS8OyWePZQYz4WXsMoMmIzhiYBBlIXUMOiHHJ5ibrHUnm2X52PuFDGuMplRfNdMZzO3z09VznI8rovferCDezvtlfN88omnGqAlDoAE776c36xvA7yrEn1jtBHM3Uil2Nr9GV02pgMkf_KuUhfgrdOOlTNGE1eBWP-l0vnVNgoQlz0/w640-h240/F1D9A606-AC16-422A-BD93-8096D2576C19_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My city units are a mixture of sizes as dictated by the footprint of the available building models. However, two sizes predominate; I tend to have bases for which at least one dimension is either 9cm or 10cm. The advantage of this is that an entire block of buildings modules can sit between two parallel roads. The first row of modules below, although they vary in width, are all 10cm deep.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mdsh4XFOD-Nw60nIFTyHvDtK9I7xis8PRhG3pluVL8pYL5-SkTCC9JRebvUmPQK3nv3ByYurkTkGWTLS4azX2mOz_HkvaVuusQSI7nbujO-9A3Dc3hvD51XNK2iw5Okik-P3iCegZpTlJ2ea-KMqKk3gZrDVJKoCbkv0VMnwgL7Dk2wbKFR0IE-ViAo/s3037/67E71170-BDF7-43B0-9812-D7A7B6FD637E_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="3037" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mdsh4XFOD-Nw60nIFTyHvDtK9I7xis8PRhG3pluVL8pYL5-SkTCC9JRebvUmPQK3nv3ByYurkTkGWTLS4azX2mOz_HkvaVuusQSI7nbujO-9A3Dc3hvD51XNK2iw5Okik-P3iCegZpTlJ2ea-KMqKk3gZrDVJKoCbkv0VMnwgL7Dk2wbKFR0IE-ViAo/w400-h205/67E71170-BDF7-43B0-9812-D7A7B6FD637E_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The second row, including the small city park below, are on 9cm deep (and often 9cm wide) bases. The mix of depths avoids the whole city looking too obviously grid-based.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdG4EWg4EnGBcZsXs2YTbHo-0BvPvOXkdZQsbpCDSlvH5nunyBXxui8r1y7SBCiM7vfOU4u2VZNOuUcF9RTXunLH90QY8XlUZtTkW7taF-3oF3zvAW_L6uK9d-KGu191VG7Uqzldx0Vf4G2u2QTYuB9zJFrDE28opkIipIpetKX55vOmxNoUkdCmytyCk/s2887/89F38983-64CB-462E-8897-04C484216179_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1802" data-original-width="2887" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdG4EWg4EnGBcZsXs2YTbHo-0BvPvOXkdZQsbpCDSlvH5nunyBXxui8r1y7SBCiM7vfOU4u2VZNOuUcF9RTXunLH90QY8XlUZtTkW7taF-3oF3zvAW_L6uK9d-KGu191VG7Uqzldx0Vf4G2u2QTYuB9zJFrDE28opkIipIpetKX55vOmxNoUkdCmytyCk/w400-h250/89F38983-64CB-462E-8897-04C484216179_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In the picture below you can see some pieces added to bring three differently-sized bases up to a common 10cm depth. The strip of pavement in front of the half-timbered house, the strip of bare earth with trees in front of the flats, and the shrubbery in front of the red-roofed building all serve this purpose.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsXtTBblSbflTtBzJfaU2AuJpNh-hLZLFE4u-mIIfKm-RXDT8EQx4UgDDudAiylR_Y4fpiqIWrjAFicl2xB-AeVFhb31bVj2MI_m_TyQ-kZfnHlBfNYg1TZLoBqTK5GhsT8Czc8J1YHW3bGbIIXwM1V6Y-gbilcbdFQ1N2COvJaIUnALHy0GuEdChWwE/s3037/0ECB7AAB-17F1-4112-BCA0-A15E0162D556_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="3037" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsXtTBblSbflTtBzJfaU2AuJpNh-hLZLFE4u-mIIfKm-RXDT8EQx4UgDDudAiylR_Y4fpiqIWrjAFicl2xB-AeVFhb31bVj2MI_m_TyQ-kZfnHlBfNYg1TZLoBqTK5GhsT8Czc8J1YHW3bGbIIXwM1V6Y-gbilcbdFQ1N2COvJaIUnALHy0GuEdChWwE/w640-h230/0ECB7AAB-17F1-4112-BCA0-A15E0162D556_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div>The next plan is to add some triangular modules to allow for some roads going off at angles other than 90 degrees.<br /><p><br /></p>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-49770650286015430252023-11-21T07:02:00.000-08:002023-11-21T07:02:50.460-08:00Steel Lard 2023 report<p>This Saturday saw fans of the <i>Too Fat Lardies</i> rules at <i>Patriot Games</i> in Sheffield for the annual Steel Lard gathering. Across the day we had 46 people each playing two games across nine beautifully turned out tables.</p><p>Matt Slade brought along <b>The Spy Who Larded Me</b>, a <i>Sharp Practice</i> game set during the American Civil War. I know Jamie greatly enjoyed it and one of the players reported that he now, at last, understood how Sharp Practice scenarios are supposed to be designed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnJRl5koOw1AyuJHbCaLP8FXg5quq4DrF2OZF8F-hb3utpwNFqRR0AgWiqLGV9vT519_O14FjmXaduPkcjtc6J-P_WEPWgkDxBJkJv3noHn9TAtOPaIqHh99Gy0yhWvcEbdJWvCPCjYH2qaEf8nGQwmcU0SFluybR7OfAbN8214EVB2aBztC-oYFKXNA/s3142/4FCF2683-2F2E-4C48-9903-1C24EB881C88_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3142" data-original-width="2604" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnJRl5koOw1AyuJHbCaLP8FXg5quq4DrF2OZF8F-hb3utpwNFqRR0AgWiqLGV9vT519_O14FjmXaduPkcjtc6J-P_WEPWgkDxBJkJv3noHn9TAtOPaIqHh99Gy0yhWvcEbdJWvCPCjYH2qaEf8nGQwmcU0SFluybR7OfAbN8214EVB2aBztC-oYFKXNA/w330-h400/4FCF2683-2F2E-4C48-9903-1C24EB881C88_1_201_a.jpeg" width="330" /></a></div><br /><p>Also Sharp Practice and also ACW was Ken Welsh's <b>Morning Glory on the Combahee</b>. I'd have loved to see more of this game as integrating infantry action with ACW gunboats is something I'd like to explore with my Mississippi Marine Brigade chaps. Sadly I was too busy to get much of a look at events as they progressed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbJcYQC19MFZFcQDqmmateC-0W7R6jsecCBbkkspkMc0q6-bYcOLYQORwTqUU8VZyiOYU5vP5iUBp1DTVhWDs2mzp7nuuZVx1ZKmHpfVI2PpbWz7-UQK0KjEoE9hng7X0-yQ9oNwNakhaUphAMyawMIWIFovs34djT5OkjqS1P-frQzVP1kiNTTz3DbU/s4032/667D0363-4F1F-416C-9EF0-41B98AF22E36.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbJcYQC19MFZFcQDqmmateC-0W7R6jsecCBbkkspkMc0q6-bYcOLYQORwTqUU8VZyiOYU5vP5iUBp1DTVhWDs2mzp7nuuZVx1ZKmHpfVI2PpbWz7-UQK0KjEoE9hng7X0-yQ9oNwNakhaUphAMyawMIWIFovs34djT5OkjqS1P-frQzVP1kiNTTz3DbU/w300-h400/667D0363-4F1F-416C-9EF0-41B98AF22E36.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJb3_SysovRYLOk3Np-nKYtW7Ep7MVIoPot8FX72eZYVh9rwU6uEiy56-JbSNSu0WhATJLAFbvwGrZV2pjFQqDOwzGRhJ08sh5o6SjDvqWR9-x2bOj-35UjuxP0-z3ScLteC7flP8QH49ysmdXmivzFl1EfLYFNzmZ2I3OwW-CoXNHxmJDZgPdm5W60X8/s4032/01107AF5-DFA9-4D88-BDD4-D53782E2BAB2.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJb3_SysovRYLOk3Np-nKYtW7Ep7MVIoPot8FX72eZYVh9rwU6uEiy56-JbSNSu0WhATJLAFbvwGrZV2pjFQqDOwzGRhJ08sh5o6SjDvqWR9-x2bOj-35UjuxP0-z3ScLteC7flP8QH49ysmdXmivzFl1EfLYFNzmZ2I3OwW-CoXNHxmJDZgPdm5W60X8/w300-h400/01107AF5-DFA9-4D88-BDD4-D53782E2BAB2.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>While we're in mid-19th century America, it probably makes sense to mention that Steel Lard saw the first public outing of my own <b>Harpers Ferry</b> game. As we've seen here during its development, this covered the events of John Brown's 1859 insurrection at the Virginia town's Federal Armoury.<div><br /></div><div>With only three hours per session, I was unable to fit in the original plan of running the Martinsburg Militia's attack <b>and</b> the later U.S. Marines assault on the engine house. We stuck with the former and it went successfully on both run-throughs.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnIRIaUgAWV4PIuBJFviEkOsPX_PPaQ3BznraYfl5585a7bnvw-tyYp5-R3PwWV4dUstMCLqFsMOzpzQt_iXcg4wXd1JRIx6JePrWLnZChpthyphenhyphenzynwA2-j_t5E0CFsuB-0ejPXcKun20xXLd27ooNPwlByxPeUPEbzH6sUeLsGJVzKmjSfoeiyMHCwKI/s3344/405F43F4-CB7F-4120-A120-88BD3C79F0F5_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="3344" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnIRIaUgAWV4PIuBJFviEkOsPX_PPaQ3BznraYfl5585a7bnvw-tyYp5-R3PwWV4dUstMCLqFsMOzpzQt_iXcg4wXd1JRIx6JePrWLnZChpthyphenhyphenzynwA2-j_t5E0CFsuB-0ejPXcKun20xXLd27ooNPwlByxPeUPEbzH6sUeLsGJVzKmjSfoeiyMHCwKI/w400-h295/405F43F4-CB7F-4120-A120-88BD3C79F0F5_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnMcrke3QNIxOldM_JFR4H_dpYvmHWJTk0ikEP3iawiOTxYoR_8oK82m-g04dNRizjf-84ExEdXAfyQsrC9l3aqZ1iKs_-Bch0bzl8pXOcz6JCS7sEATPr798V-6s7JAsOZSX6eANUZo33xY7NbCju0Rjc1vHOTRrH-wUyrzdMjr8OmdD0QVCFJQz7Uc/s4032/035768A4-928A-4E8A-97C7-88B7A9CE7289.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnMcrke3QNIxOldM_JFR4H_dpYvmHWJTk0ikEP3iawiOTxYoR_8oK82m-g04dNRizjf-84ExEdXAfyQsrC9l3aqZ1iKs_-Bch0bzl8pXOcz6JCS7sEATPr798V-6s7JAsOZSX6eANUZo33xY7NbCju0Rjc1vHOTRrH-wUyrzdMjr8OmdD0QVCFJQz7Uc/w300-h400/035768A4-928A-4E8A-97C7-88B7A9CE7289.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another game using the <i>What A Cowboy</i> rules engine was Simon Walker's <b>Death in the Donga</b>. This took the Wild West-themed rules to Zululand and to the events that, historically, saw the death of the Prince Imperial, the son of the deposed Emperor Napoleon III, whilst serving with the British Army.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_76kW-75eHV5JX3mYLzwx66rlRwJZHskzW-D_ED7x9lP8zp3KAtwY57VMT2ZS01wV8OJ870hJIhQMDvu1NKXHUmfy0kHHCFhVBdOiVAeqJjE90Z_qgJFUtckDCETVfAAnIH0BtVVng5L4LAaLl50I0ysd_wtF2P0d6UU6-RskZIFCEim-FCXKGAaeHuE/s4032/DF22ABDC-2522-4139-9AEF-4DE1F44A0403.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_76kW-75eHV5JX3mYLzwx66rlRwJZHskzW-D_ED7x9lP8zp3KAtwY57VMT2ZS01wV8OJ870hJIhQMDvu1NKXHUmfy0kHHCFhVBdOiVAeqJjE90Z_qgJFUtckDCETVfAAnIH0BtVVng5L4LAaLl50I0ysd_wtF2P0d6UU6-RskZIFCEim-FCXKGAaeHuE/w300-h400/DF22ABDC-2522-4139-9AEF-4DE1F44A0403.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><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: left;">Jamie played in this game and managed to ensure the Prince Imperial's escape but had his other character slaughtered about halfway through the action.</div><div><br /></div><i>Chain of Command</i> was, as always, popular with game-runners and players alike. Alex Sotheran ran <b>Oh Sugar</b>, his WW1 adaptation covering the attack on the ruined sugar factory at Courcelette by Canadian troops. In 15mm scale th ground scale and figure scale match perfectly and really give the impression of the relative emptiness of the battlefield.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpl_icY3NpAs3nT3KjCxbR61MGqlSQ54RyizTYKYwpAdN_9Lde2jnvmw-1xK-eiHIVzCSp6x1QVwSYYUZToUn1pK8ieKVNSMRWU4ION1teq98Ar4JGNMo-Nbhst7h_K7SwCoggWeuNQ99G5_LChIhSidIUNUjkm6_2OKgMSEskzJcg8evjcAjz91U71c/s4032/DD6F3736-47F3-4E23-9FA7-692F02458BB7.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpl_icY3NpAs3nT3KjCxbR61MGqlSQ54RyizTYKYwpAdN_9Lde2jnvmw-1xK-eiHIVzCSp6x1QVwSYYUZToUn1pK8ieKVNSMRWU4ION1teq98Ar4JGNMo-Nbhst7h_K7SwCoggWeuNQ99G5_LChIhSidIUNUjkm6_2OKgMSEskzJcg8evjcAjz91U71c/w300-h400/DD6F3736-47F3-4E23-9FA7-692F02458BB7.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>John Savage also adapted Chain of Command, this time taking it to the Vietnam war with his scenario <b>Walk this Hue</b>. John is a skilled designer and presenter of scenarios and his players were noisily engaged throughout.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKanMt9MqoKA69UDhSSJinDtg-Dr4jim2ggh3JMgok2dfOcIT-dcA4XMYAk8-KrBLF3vxRRS1ETTjTPFndqRs-GPctj0hSa53UoxDc9zu2TxN-Mn4Xu-g8LIQfUG13PLelZOXnTa1oGcMr6ndvSadLYuy0ObyzVB3XHKi6Q2ZOjpd4GCO97OfjrFPDaLI/s3124/0629CE55-7C7E-449C-B65B-783F03481D4F_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3124" data-original-width="2877" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKanMt9MqoKA69UDhSSJinDtg-Dr4jim2ggh3JMgok2dfOcIT-dcA4XMYAk8-KrBLF3vxRRS1ETTjTPFndqRs-GPctj0hSa53UoxDc9zu2TxN-Mn4Xu-g8LIQfUG13PLelZOXnTa1oGcMr6ndvSadLYuy0ObyzVB3XHKi6Q2ZOjpd4GCO97OfjrFPDaLI/w369-h400/0629CE55-7C7E-449C-B65B-783F03481D4F_1_201_a.jpeg" width="369" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A welcome return to Steel Lard this year was Graeme Atkinson's <b>A Rock and a Hard Place</b>, a <i>Chain of Command</i> representation of the Fallschirmjäger attack on Tavronitis Bridge during WW2's Crete campaign.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0kQEDTLCeNYjgo8it-M_Lkqn-2kT5i9ir5XogHpvviuKMwVpEn24v92O3muwDJE0A_ErJq-PamoF8vafbz1lRYi6PrPl4CQg8kP99-Kj-anduxEm1xxJ7L2s3Q_vmpUmGn-FHNA1QAXJJ7Nl3mQduBYP9RuGOoaT74oVeWgx0lOIDcLjz-fKqfIjx-Y/s4032/9C33DD94-EF7F-40EF-A3AE-05A897212D9F.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0kQEDTLCeNYjgo8it-M_Lkqn-2kT5i9ir5XogHpvviuKMwVpEn24v92O3muwDJE0A_ErJq-PamoF8vafbz1lRYi6PrPl4CQg8kP99-Kj-anduxEm1xxJ7L2s3Q_vmpUmGn-FHNA1QAXJJ7Nl3mQduBYP9RuGOoaT74oVeWgx0lOIDcLjz-fKqfIjx-Y/w300-h400/9C33DD94-EF7F-40EF-A3AE-05A897212D9F.heic" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>This game was seen at Steel Lard a few years ago and it was good to see it one last time before it makes its way to Crete where it will be displayed in a museum close to the battlefield.</div><div><br /></div><div>An always welcome visitor to Lardy Days is Charley Walker. The charming Borders farmer can always be relied upon to bring a game that has the players enthusiastically engaged throughout. This time it was <b>Mayhem in the Med</b>, a Napoleonic naval battle using a streamlined adaptation of the <i>Kiss Me Hardy</i> rules.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpp85phaZiEly2P0qnVAnQ9VfBz6uc__GFoBTmI-w12aFYNfNxzw4qak3Q7nzCiiIca_2Gq2DUmLfLwmQozXS82DyJSnzjWR3uPlEMW0IsR5MteccQI4d7bP_WNf6TLMQVgF8PK3a9ZPUNjJnQLBErjEkFqXIi-7J9aMshqJZT3DQP9T_meQgQ3XXW0A/s3024/92E1A87F-C387-40FA-A153-2AE7DDDBBFD7_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2088" data-original-width="3024" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpp85phaZiEly2P0qnVAnQ9VfBz6uc__GFoBTmI-w12aFYNfNxzw4qak3Q7nzCiiIca_2Gq2DUmLfLwmQozXS82DyJSnzjWR3uPlEMW0IsR5MteccQI4d7bP_WNf6TLMQVgF8PK3a9ZPUNjJnQLBErjEkFqXIi-7J9aMshqJZT3DQP9T_meQgQ3XXW0A/w400-h276/92E1A87F-C387-40FA-A153-2AE7DDDBBFD7_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Finally we had Ken (Yorkshire Gamer) Reilly with <b>Rome Or Death</b>. Ken needed reassuring that this was allowable as a Lardy game, the <i>Pickett's Charge</i> rules being published by sister company Reisswitz Press. I figured that if people can run Lard-inspired systems of their own, an official Lard-adjacent game must be OK.</div><div><br /></div><div>The scenario is set during the Risorgimento - the nineteenth century wars culminating in the unification of Italy. It's always good to have Ken at Steel Lard as his penchant for big games contrasts nicely with the skirmishes we usually see from others.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpftBXxg7aYMUl6y_ilLfYf1f3ryy6NcEqQGE0QO0wlD5HR574sKpkcx_MdpFwV9GP21nCwg6TNF6KgMfb8AOoxiX6F0vxh8W7pFOIYHhKKNWxPt9LViQKIQFOu0ukveRb7Rv61j049I-osS5EzDvAJ8Dt1dZaFS7gImk2j00mCRKsrLvSX2z8CmdcmCA/s3495/C2428045-4E8E-4831-8BCD-053F7C201F5D_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3495" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpftBXxg7aYMUl6y_ilLfYf1f3ryy6NcEqQGE0QO0wlD5HR574sKpkcx_MdpFwV9GP21nCwg6TNF6KgMfb8AOoxiX6F0vxh8W7pFOIYHhKKNWxPt9LViQKIQFOu0ukveRb7Rv61j049I-osS5EzDvAJ8Dt1dZaFS7gImk2j00mCRKsrLvSX2z8CmdcmCA/w345-h400/C2428045-4E8E-4831-8BCD-053F7C201F5D_1_201_a.jpeg" width="345" /></a></div><br /><div>I'm sorry I haven't been able to present more photos here. I was so busy running Harpers Ferry or dealing with administrative matters that I had no time to do a proper photoshoot. </div><div><br /></div><div>For some lovely coverage of the Combahee game visit Ken's blog<a href="https://blackshawgaming.wordpress.com/2023/11/19/sharp-practice-acw-along-the-combahee/?fbclid=IwAR2-JT3y6TCSpt00UqtpDuDMK0dfw8E2NbLiQJe94ncDxeSgyRzEJnQy-Og"> here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also Alex has a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7WYizXZdpY">video of the tables</a> on Youtube.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-7392252349537288792023-11-10T03:33:00.000-08:002023-11-10T03:33:02.163-08:00What A Cyberman!<p>It occurred to me that I should have an emergency game to take along to Steel Lard in case one of the scheduled game-runners has a last-minute problem attending.</p><p>For a non-Lardy event I'd happily bring along my portable <i><a href="https://thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com/2023/07/portable-wargaming.html">Death of Gustavus Adolphus</a></i> game or the figures and models to play one of my <a href="https://thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.com/2023/01/christmas-games-2022-part-two.html">Pavis skirmishes</a> but these both use non-TFL rules sets (<i>The Pikeman's Lament</i> and <i>Song of Blades and Heroes</i> respectively). I need something that can be set up quickly, understood by at least one of the likely players, and that comes from the Lardy stable. <i>What A Cowboy</i> seems the best bet.</p><p>I had an errand to run down in Birmingham this week so five hours in the car gave me plenty of time to plan something using figures I already had to hand and a setting that most people could grasp quickly. The idea for <i>What A Cyberman</i> was born, and yesterday I got to play test it.</p><p>The scenario involves the Doctor arriving on Earth in the 1930s to find UNIT involved in a confrontation with Cybermen. Any terrain could be used but I used my existing dungeon modules as they can be taken to the event just by throwing one additional box into the car.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEy_e_mxQy2_blmsEtg2dBMOADFvG1UE-4_yseLJo87FuSxH1jgN5bAh4Iv9KcVrOt5O6bjiIBirv1Ue8GKnZ21Y3oh8Qjn7yeslqEdfvEyR18fmwc1-0DDdjFvqVznz-ujNFSZDmXMjQy9i4QGzIOXheWi_JsT9o6Seg8IWjvltHEQVjEo6sbowzl2Y/s3867/ACECBD37-95B6-466B-80E1-14568AE90EBF_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1699" data-original-width="3867" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEy_e_mxQy2_blmsEtg2dBMOADFvG1UE-4_yseLJo87FuSxH1jgN5bAh4Iv9KcVrOt5O6bjiIBirv1Ue8GKnZ21Y3oh8Qjn7yeslqEdfvEyR18fmwc1-0DDdjFvqVznz-ujNFSZDmXMjQy9i4QGzIOXheWi_JsT9o6Seg8IWjvltHEQVjEo6sbowzl2Y/w640-h282/ACECBD37-95B6-466B-80E1-14568AE90EBF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>The scenario has a few special rules. </p><p>The Doctor cannot be activated normally, doesn't fight and cannot be attacked. He is pursuing his own agenda. He moves whenever a player rolls three or more sixes on their Action Dice. There are six pre-determined, numbered "Important Locations"on the board. The Doctor starts on Location 4 and moves 4>5>6>1>2>3 etc. If the next Location is blocked by another character being on it or in contact with it, the Doctor moves to the next available numbered Location. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax0Ebw3_cqY_TU61YcbV97ajOLnwWpjV1MgqabhYWk4fnVLlcBj6azqZjPBAlWGDVo1VkTPUmhIqilot2FDZ55EAOpRfPRxMe4SxqfGdOde-3GMIG44Vdwwx-xtVDzGpHTYLBKmjSbnBi3WQ8q8eHbJSZp7-IP3YNa8kVg5jZrtAuVa93SXSTc11Ce6M/s4032/81990E54-23DF-4FA7-8A54-79C98028B7AA.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax0Ebw3_cqY_TU61YcbV97ajOLnwWpjV1MgqabhYWk4fnVLlcBj6azqZjPBAlWGDVo1VkTPUmhIqilot2FDZ55EAOpRfPRxMe4SxqfGdOde-3GMIG44Vdwwx-xtVDzGpHTYLBKmjSbnBi3WQ8q8eHbJSZp7-IP3YNa8kVg5jZrtAuVa93SXSTc11Ce6M/w300-h400/81990E54-23DF-4FA7-8A54-79C98028B7AA.heic" width="300" /></a></div><p>Initially the Cybermen are hard to kill. They treat all Wounds and Critical Wounds as Shock results. This persists until one of the UNIT figures moves into contact with the Doctor. At this point, UNIT learns of the Cybermen's secret weakness and they can be targeted normally.</p><p>In addition, Cybermen don't dodge but any Cyberman can move up to three Action Dice from any Cyberman's Shock Pool by spending a Bonanza Token. They can do this even if the Cyberman in question has been put out of action.</p><p>The Cybermen aim to capture the Doctor and take him to the <i>transmat</i> platform from which they can beam him up to their control ship. UNIT (led by Lieutenant Lethbridge-Stewart) hope to prevent this.</p><p>The game looks to have some interesting tactical challenges. The Cybermen can use their fast-moving Cybermats to block off some Important Locations, thus steering the Doctor closer to the <i>transmat</i> platform.</p><p>In my solo playtest the Doctor was fairly mobile, briefly being captured before escaping (he continues to move, even if captured, when three or more sixes are rolled.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-RX9afPPyE3vwZUPRWIfWSRUY02mQOZnPuVqj396nYoCOPnidQ6WnFpfxM5tk8QfRqbk3Gh5QCeHnEehi7WKmZT7GQsW1m0OCvNGEiRVqkN84vq9ia_tKgyhNfxMFtEZqmktOAKIB9H0om1gYKsfFB0bNOmEZmkSboH2vGhf8GusBIvuQyZAwB1pw6Y/s4032/AADFEA8B-7CE2-44D0-857F-DB514F822F69.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-RX9afPPyE3vwZUPRWIfWSRUY02mQOZnPuVqj396nYoCOPnidQ6WnFpfxM5tk8QfRqbk3Gh5QCeHnEehi7WKmZT7GQsW1m0OCvNGEiRVqkN84vq9ia_tKgyhNfxMFtEZqmktOAKIB9H0om1gYKsfFB0bNOmEZmkSboH2vGhf8GusBIvuQyZAwB1pw6Y/w300-h400/AADFEA8B-7CE2-44D0-857F-DB514F822F69.heic" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Doctor is captured whilst exploring<br />the torture chamber</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Lieutenant Lethbridge-Stewart played a key role in UNIT's eventual victory. Firstly it was he who managed to reach the Doctor and discover the Cybermen's secret weakness. Some time later his action dice gave him four threes and two fives. He diced to use all four Aim dice to put a single shot into the Cyberman that was menacing the Doctor. A roll of six gave him a Critical Hit and this was followed by another six - instant death!</p><p>Later still a roll of five fours by Private Anderson gave the lieutenant the chance to deliver the classic line, "Anderson, silver chap next to the statue, five rounds rapid!"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBksB7IE9G2TKwt6GuSz1CclnccWw7X5Z9PVXxZ9qsgL63CcX8ocMC9BoW8buYHGdWJk-UsAXjvIEUPRxErczTacZjpYwII6SEGywIYjKFHH91LsUOPkxbhzsqZ8eLw6p51snksYr5aBr5Ykja0QXzbflaCKKjE-DoumDuOvVqOwC9rrGQ6Ixq4D0ktxU/s2758/IMG_2133.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="2216" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBksB7IE9G2TKwt6GuSz1CclnccWw7X5Z9PVXxZ9qsgL63CcX8ocMC9BoW8buYHGdWJk-UsAXjvIEUPRxErczTacZjpYwII6SEGywIYjKFHH91LsUOPkxbhzsqZ8eLw6p51snksYr5aBr5Ykja0QXzbflaCKKjE-DoumDuOvVqOwC9rrGQ6Ixq4D0ktxU/w320-h400/IMG_2133.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In the end the Cybermen were forced to withdraw and Earth was once again safe from the alien menace!<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015553697395174564.post-62845045320692016782023-11-07T08:10:00.000-08:002023-11-07T08:10:30.374-08:00Rogue Stars solo<p>Having printed and painted some marker trays for Rogue Stars I thought I'd have a go at the game to remind myself of how the rules work.</p><p>I decided on a starport setting (so didn't roll for terrain) but rolled up the "Rescue" mission profile. The roll for complications gave me "Space Demon", which I decided to ignore while I got back to remembering how to play!</p><p>It seemed like a good idea to baptise my starport security building. This suggested a mission by the crew of the free trader Gilgamesh to rescue a crew member held in the cell. The Okh security team would be holding the fort.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFm-dV2xuTEWE35QwYd418HwPyRNVPuE8xxyF7248wUCglUFwPKBIuANmmWRRVkVsSHnsoz6gNdCPl2Z9WtO7uQzFHOBAZOT-_ULs5y7v0nMSdDZoI6OxIqel8Xk4C251U6b3d3NdEzs-ygmmXhEOFrkDetkXanY7d7kcz-PC08pyUWiVi4WJ2ha25Pw/s3449/IMG_2115.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2947" data-original-width="3449" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFm-dV2xuTEWE35QwYd418HwPyRNVPuE8xxyF7248wUCglUFwPKBIuANmmWRRVkVsSHnsoz6gNdCPl2Z9WtO7uQzFHOBAZOT-_ULs5y7v0nMSdDZoI6OxIqel8Xk4C251U6b3d3NdEzs-ygmmXhEOFrkDetkXanY7d7kcz-PC08pyUWiVi4WJ2ha25Pw/w400-h340/IMG_2115.heic" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I deployed the Okh inside the security building (green with the dark grey roof) apart from one constable standing guard on the door. Roslyn, the free trader's engineer, was in the cell inside.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi1fmgt61IxqDLIqYAiw9ielC_Lv4FExdLp_FCeXzYfeuVKDEeogVxHN3JwibnGbjZw2MHL_JGDZhG9YgT25rEdO4SOTxqHvYFgnYHATMsXlBkv32CI6clnv_te458bX_06EEpab8WWzFHTXy40F6KpsXPncm4zjekWjQ9LzIde3I2AtV4LCWFPVWkJw/s2536/90E45FB1-9DCC-48D1-9D61-9C2827589FC7_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2536" data-original-width="1524" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi1fmgt61IxqDLIqYAiw9ielC_Lv4FExdLp_FCeXzYfeuVKDEeogVxHN3JwibnGbjZw2MHL_JGDZhG9YgT25rEdO4SOTxqHvYFgnYHATMsXlBkv32CI6clnv_te458bX_06EEpab8WWzFHTXy40F6KpsXPncm4zjekWjQ9LzIde3I2AtV4LCWFPVWkJw/s320/90E45FB1-9DCC-48D1-9D61-9C2827589FC7_1_201_a.jpeg" width="192" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roslyn in her cell</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>The game began with the Okh having the initiative thanks to a roll of 1 by the free trader's crew. Constable Zok moved from his position guarding the door to a location from which he could see black-clad Iklwa approaching with drawn vibro-sword.<div><br /></div><div>Three failures to activate gave Iklwa three reaction chances. He succeeded with all three, sprinting six inches then jumping eight thanks to his bionic legs before striking a blow that immediately put Zok out of the action!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrXwNm7q7RSD5T4HiTXVFdZk5lQdVlPFYMQ-uJYkC05gFk0wX5XCdQA9A-bIBU7Oe25umDeFFtA1eL3-LbYNCOoHhKmpPegjQL2NpC96fl1IfpPF0LpVFYH-0z72hK4ScJuFwkKEMER1YKn569CiZosAsFG-glAH2y-U7i_kGW5IFiy9eGf9vDfV-4Fg/s1688/3A676616-8D6B-4B89-A350-314DA1BE3051_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="1314" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrXwNm7q7RSD5T4HiTXVFdZk5lQdVlPFYMQ-uJYkC05gFk0wX5XCdQA9A-bIBU7Oe25umDeFFtA1eL3-LbYNCOoHhKmpPegjQL2NpC96fl1IfpPF0LpVFYH-0z72hK4ScJuFwkKEMER1YKn569CiZosAsFG-glAH2y-U7i_kGW5IFiy9eGf9vDfV-4Fg/w311-h400/3A676616-8D6B-4B89-A350-314DA1BE3051_1_201_a.jpeg" width="311" /></a></div><br /><div>Meanwhile, the robotic member of the Gilgamesh crew, D4QP, approached the door to the security building. It came under fire from Sergeant Gnaar from the roof and replied causing one Pin to the sergeant.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGGCJytH_Gtdez4gFTPNYTvK3AAuaUwtEK9SJoLlP1dd2VGJtst2zDdPi5qHuQ8oLG4BM0oJUqvwjdXVQPDPIpbNXFosNiMLwMsFz9ZJ6yFrfHT7YQsD1PDpIY18pj4bsO5vMlCVNMy9gUiWTHtl1tLmRlPKpe_sBndLOR78eAnpi42-BIodnlZY8CRI/s1574/B36D8C6C-6A89-4FEE-B0C3-FE5CC97335E1_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="1425" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGGCJytH_Gtdez4gFTPNYTvK3AAuaUwtEK9SJoLlP1dd2VGJtst2zDdPi5qHuQ8oLG4BM0oJUqvwjdXVQPDPIpbNXFosNiMLwMsFz9ZJ6yFrfHT7YQsD1PDpIY18pj4bsO5vMlCVNMy9gUiWTHtl1tLmRlPKpe_sBndLOR78eAnpi42-BIodnlZY8CRI/w363-h400/B36D8C6C-6A89-4FEE-B0C3-FE5CC97335E1_1_201_a.jpeg" width="363" /></a></div><br /><div>I assumed that, at least initially, the door to the building was in automatic opening mode <i>à la</i> Star Trek. Later the Okh inside would lock it. This resulted in some exchanges of point blank fire through the doorway. Eventually D4QP was put out of action.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeRtHifltCvBw6qX2cRteZj42zrNYakDLmgDvhjXK8ihj64064KIrqqjJFE7G-z3ZQyBOf7_swcR0B_CMeT25wvfV05GXGQc9YCJ9vFP_t5PaDnt42OTaj9sIsLsRuBTYwTid5x36Y3X8QrsqC6d6CMC-IV-S5hIgCibohd5TKql6MaZpGCXTcykTI0Y/s2440/2C7D53A3-6C09-48C6-A780-C76533010DFF_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1405" data-original-width="2440" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeRtHifltCvBw6qX2cRteZj42zrNYakDLmgDvhjXK8ihj64064KIrqqjJFE7G-z3ZQyBOf7_swcR0B_CMeT25wvfV05GXGQc9YCJ9vFP_t5PaDnt42OTaj9sIsLsRuBTYwTid5x36Y3X8QrsqC6d6CMC-IV-S5hIgCibohd5TKql6MaZpGCXTcykTI0Y/s320/2C7D53A3-6C09-48C6-A780-C76533010DFF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>By this time insectoid crewman Kekkex and Captain Sabrina had approached the building and started to engage those within in a close-range firefight.</div><div><br /></div><div>Eventually we ended up with a situation where only three figures remained active! Constable Glyke took a critical hit to the head before spectacularly failing his Endure roll. Dead!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqdJrVZgyQm_UFcIITbYbsvejwX_VCJIiunhU8k5hM8O1-W8-yHl8fzfPEKWDirUP4c1QGeJWyZbE2BV0gJxoV8rbhXuAyKC_DaH4xxpNXIgk9L9K-CX0FABm5IYz1UaYrKGkDFJl6hk-k35kkWsDEnXBzAYNbRqM3sf0hyphenhyphen0pI__dgJk5GJrqhmXxKoU/s2741/IMG_2111.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="2741" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqdJrVZgyQm_UFcIITbYbsvejwX_VCJIiunhU8k5hM8O1-W8-yHl8fzfPEKWDirUP4c1QGeJWyZbE2BV0gJxoV8rbhXuAyKC_DaH4xxpNXIgk9L9K-CX0FABm5IYz1UaYrKGkDFJl6hk-k35kkWsDEnXBzAYNbRqM3sf0hyphenhyphen0pI__dgJk5GJrqhmXxKoU/s320/IMG_2111.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Kekkex and Sabrina broke in through the windows of the office while Sergeant Gnaar waited around the corner within. </div><div><br /></div><div>Briefly both sides yielded the initiative to reduce their Stress counters and there was a period of rolling dice but not taking actions until the ideal combination of dice rolls came up. Eventually Sergeant Gnaar rolled two successes and a critical success to activate. This gave him the chance to roll another activation and this too was successful. The resulting four actions allowed him to dodge around the corner and gun down Sabrina before dodging back out of the line of fire.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16a0X6mYcTwRHXjP96fPek7RNHEdFfJZ-rDvK4MTlROvpTAIbbSTpHyPl86L-r-guZZ_0Z3kF3iwI-k_xvHJ655PEgCZqpfx1zMpFKzDf24CZCMeqwiHVUxMFI-t5fqdZ8hVJBblOPTHBndIk-5opxb8hbLNDCSRyx-U8RpLVXlHZnyQqSzGO6B9wpjw/s4032/IMG_2113.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16a0X6mYcTwRHXjP96fPek7RNHEdFfJZ-rDvK4MTlROvpTAIbbSTpHyPl86L-r-guZZ_0Z3kF3iwI-k_xvHJ655PEgCZqpfx1zMpFKzDf24CZCMeqwiHVUxMFI-t5fqdZ8hVJBblOPTHBndIk-5opxb8hbLNDCSRyx-U8RpLVXlHZnyQqSzGO6B9wpjw/w300-h400/IMG_2113.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>Another decent set of dice rolls saw him also finish off Kekkex.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the crew of the free trader Gilgamesh are all captured. Perhaps a prison planet breakout is called for?</div><div><p><br /></p></div>Counterpanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02553996687667995394noreply@blogger.com4