Thursday, 5 September 2013

The Spanish ulcer, well it gave me one anyway!

 For a change we had a Spanish v French game at the club the other night using Daves excellent collection of 15mm figures. The Spanish proved to be quite a challenge but not as great a one as that of the dice Gods.

Tom - French
Mick - Spanish
Dave - umpire
Rules - GdeB

Objectives- The Spanish to defend the gap between the high ground and the village and prevent the French from advancing off the table behind their set up positions. The French must leave the table in good order at any point between the high ground and the village behind the Spanish. 

Initial set up of the Spanish forces.



 The French set up with their infantry using their secret new teleportation machine to switch them from their right wing to the left without me noticing, a very cunning plan!


The opposing forces. 



The French advance begins as the Spanish move towards a a position threatening the artillery flank if they continue to advance.


The French head for the high ground planning to outflank the Spanish position. 


The French continue over the high ground as the Spanish respond to the threat by starting to switch their forces to their right flank.  Casualties were exchanged from artillery and musketry.


Order changes for the French. 


Spanish skirmishers engage their French counterparts.


French moves continue while the Spanish skirmishers charge  their counterparts.


The Spanish are forced to retreat. 



 Spanish columns consolidate their right flank.


As the French continue to flank their position. 


Spanish casualties mount. 


Finally a French casualty from Spanish musketry. 



The position doesn't look too bad for the Spanish but the quality of their troops is suspect being 2nd line. 


More casualties for the French. 


Spanish skirmishers return to the fray. 


While their opponents continue to harass the Spanish line. 


Spanish artillery continues to fire at the French but with limited success  


Spanish columns prepare to assault having succeeded in changing their orders. 


French artillery advance. 


The French prepare to receive their opponents charge. 


The Spanish hesitate! 


and open fire instead. 


A French line succeeds in charging their Spanish opponents 


Who retire leaving their adjacent colleagues  to take the brunt of the charge.


The Spanish finally attempt to charge their Gallic adversaries 


but they too fail to charge home. 


Pressure is building up with faltering and retiring Spanish units but a successful Brigade morale test steadies the line...... for the time being.


French artillery prepare to take up positions to the rear of the Spanish columns. 


Spanish resolve begins to wither... 



as the French prepare to administer the coup de gras.

An enjoyable game despite some abysmal luck with the dice and some inspired dice work by Tom who was happy to remind me of the two double one morale throws he got during a recent Wars of the Roses game which shattered his centre. As they say 'shit happens' but as long as it doesn't affect the enjoyment of the game that's all that matters.

Next week will be a debut outing for Carls 10mm Spartacus game using Hail Caesar. No doubt he will be doing the report on that one.

Thanks to Dave for putting the game on.

Mick



Sunday, 1 September 2013

Border Reiver Wargame Show 2013

It was up to the Gateshead International Stadium for the clubs annual show yesterday. I was up at 6:20 for Tom picking us up at 6:45 so we could help setting up. This was our second year at the stadium since moving from the metro radio arena. We arrived at 7:00 and managed to get all the tables set up by 9:00 which meant we had an hour before the show kicked off so i took the opportunity to have a scout around the traders.
We kicked off at 10:00 with people streaming through the door and the show seemed quite busy up till about 1:00 when it seemed to wind down. Unlike last year the canteen was open and people seemed quite happy about this! We started to pack up at around 3:00 and we left around 5:00 managing to just miss the football traffic.
This year we had a flea market in place of the usual bring and buy which i prefer and it wasn't as successful but despite this we managed about 500 through the door and the traders seemed to do well especially Lesley's Bits Box who got £70 from my own pocket.
What I Bought
I bought a box of imperial guard cadian shock troops to add to my 40k Rorke's Drift scenario.I also bought a box of Tau Pathfinders and one of the new Tau Riptide Battlesuits.I also bought a Wings of Glory Hanriot HD.1 from Northumbria games.
Now onto the pics. Because of my club duties on the door i wasn't able to get pics of all the games but here are the ones i was able to get.
15mm ACW



28mm WW2-Offensive Miniatures



15mm WW2



28mm Warhammer 40k Eldar vs Tyranids



Bloodbowl-Section 8 Gamers



Warhammer 40k Apocalypse-My favourite game of the day great game great figures and great homemade Titans and Rhinos.I really liked the Titans i might buy one the next time i see the guy who makes them. I didn't catch his name but he sells them for £180 and the models look just as good as the Forgeworld ones in my opinion which cost about £500.


Well another successful show over roll on next year.


Thanks For Reading


Carl

Spartacus-Rebel Update

Following on from the update on the Roman army its now the turn of the slave army. We now have enough troops to have a game of Hail Caesar although we still have a similar amount of unpainted stuff to increase the size of both armies. We have given the slave army some cavalry even though there were only small numbers of them in reality. Many of these figures can be used for the Romans in battles against other opponents but that's a project for the future. 

The slave army consists of 6 warbands, 2 cavalry units, 1 unit of archers, 1 light infantry unit ans 3 skirmisher bases.


Skirmishers


Archers


Skirmishers armed with slings and bows. 



Spartacus in captured Roman attire. 

  
Spartacus and his subordinates.



Warband using Pendraken old style figures


Another warband using mainly the excellent new style figures from Pendraken


Mixed old and new style figures make up this warband. 



 The two cavalry units.

Next on the painting table will be 120 Roman legionaries to complete a full Legion of Pendraken figures then more warbands and a couple of units of trained slaves.