18th December Games

   Still down on numbers due to The Cold (get well soon Dave K and Matt!), but myself, Steves H &S, Eddie, Mark and Nigel (with pun support from Dave C ) ran the annual Lost World game with Steve S as games master and myself in my normal role as beast master. Most of the explorer teams were wiped out by the beasties or irritated natives, but Steve H as Alan Quartermain achieved his objective and survived. Great fun as always, thanks to Steve for running the game.

   With Christmas and the New Year nearly upon us, our next scheduled meeting will be on Wednesday 8^th January 2025. No firm plans for a game as yet, but I'll throw this open to suggestions in due course. In the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and may the former be whatever colour you deem appropriate.

See yer soon,

Neil

11th December Games

Still a bit light on numbers due to sickness and the 'festive' season last night; we were, however pleased to welcome an old SEEMS member and my predecessor as chairman,  Nick Huband as a guest. Nick has very generously gifted the club a very large collection of WW2 Axis and Allies models which I have yet to catalogue; thanks to Nigel for transporting the boxes and myself home as I was not driving last night! More on this anon, but many thanks to Nick for his kind generosity. Hope to see you again Nick.

Our game this week was one of Mark's infamous dungeon crawls, using a Tenfold dungeon, which has all the necessary passages and rooms contained in a single box. We were tasked with eradicating a cult of Satanists/Santaists (no one was really sure) which we proceeded to do in a rather laborious fashion. 

Next Wednesday will be our last game before Christmas (and indeed the last of 2024); the plan is to run Steve S' dinosaur hunt as is traditional at this time of year. See you then.

Neil 

4th December Games

Numbers were down this week, due to assorted lurgies doing the rounds (get well soon Matt, Paul and Eddie) so we ran a slightly smaller version of Andy P's Corespace game - same basic scenario as last time; rescue persons from cryosleep in a facility overrun by various unpleasant (and dangerous ) lifeforms. Said lifeforms were removed from their troubled existence as expeditiously as possible, and everyone retired for tea and medals.

Next week, Mark has offered to run a dungeon crawl game, plus we'll have a couple of board games as backup.

See yer soon,

Neil 

27th November Games

   Bit thin on the ground again on another bitterly cold night; Steves H and S, Eddie, Andy P, Nigel and I ran two games. The Saboteur card game (dwarven miners being stopped from reaching the lode by unidentified dwarves) ran as a three game sequence which Steve H won, and then we played Ludus Gladiatorus, which I umpired.

   Most chose one of the available gladiators, but Andy chose the Lion, and proceeded to cause hell and havoc on everyone else before his eventual (and messy) demise. Having brought along some recently acquired 54mm hard plastic figures in advance of a planned new show game, this game brought up some questions concerning said feline and how it should be used (recommended as a NPC character), and the manner in which the Bestiarius character should use his special action caused some little debate, which was eventually resolved. I've decided that as part of the game prep, I will write a summary of the rules for the use of players. 

Next week, we're planning to run Andy's Corespace SF game.

See yer soon,

Neil 

19th November Games

   Just the one game this week due in no small part to the bitter cold; Andy P ran the Corespace game originally scheduled for last week but delayed due to his absence. The game involves teams of troopers infiltrating a facility which is overrun by mutants which exude a poisonous gas when they are despatched - this can re-animate previously despatched muties, monsters and genetic horrors if it isn't cleared by the use of flamethrowers. Andy ran the greeblies, while Mark, Dave K, Eddie Steve S and I were the troopers. We eventually cleared the site and were able to release the characters held in the room with the cylinders in the pictures attached, but we ran out of time to complete the mission and get the hell out of Dodge. Thanks to Andy for a most entertaining game.

   We might be low on numbers again next week, so I'll bring Ludus Gladiatorus as usual. Details of any options would be appreciated.

See yer soon,

Neil

13th November Games

Holidays, illness and work commitments reduced our numbers this week to myself, Dave K, Matt, Mark, Nigel and Steve S and we decided to re-run Dave's 'Last Night on Earth' zombie apocalypse game. Nigel and I ran the undead and the rest played characters whose task was to destroy the places where the zombies appeared from. We ran the game twice and the characters were able to destroy the 'nests' on both occasions, despite Nigel and I generating zombies at an alarming rate. Great fun all round, a good game that does require the character players to cooperate to survive.

The room we use was noticeably cooler than usual (keeps the zombies fresh I suppose); I've had a word with Scott and he's promised to put the heating for our next meeting.

Next week, I'm not sure if Andy P will be able to run either his Corespace or Dead Man's Hand games as originally planned for this week, so I'll bring Ludus Gladiatorus as backup.

See yer soon, Neil

6th November Games

Our numbers last night were increased by the welcome return of Dave K to the fold; he brought a zombie related board game 'Last Night on Earth' which involved survivors Andy P, Steve S, Eddie and Dave escaping from zombies run by Nigel and myself. Suffice to say that the survivors managed to fuel and start the truck in the middle of the table, albeit with a few tooth marks from the zombies. Paul and Steve H were trialling a new Dungeons and Dragons game, which was apparently fairly straightforward once they'd run through a few scenarios. Dave C popped in and spoke with Iveagh staff about the use of the other available room with a view to running an ACW naval game with his extensive collection of scratch built ships.

I've discussed the possibility of running Ludus Gladiatorius as a participation game for the show circuit with Steve H using the Italeri 54 mm figures I have in stock; this might take a while to bring to fruition but there is work to be done first....

Next week Andy P has offered either Dead Man's Hand or Corespace for our entertainment, and I've no doubt there are other plans afoot.

See yer soon,

Neil  

30th October Games

Greetings

We were reduced to myself, Andy P, Steve S, Eddie and Nigel for the bulk of the evening yesterday; Dave C visited to show and tell some of his scratch ACW ironclads. These are closer to the club  'purely representational' standard, but very well made and clearly identifiable as the originals. Dave has offered to run a game of his Portable Ironclads Gridded Wargame (think I got that right...) in the near future. Looking forward to that......

I ran a Ludis Gladiatorus game for those remaining; much blood covered the sands of the Iveaghan Amphitheatre before a lone survivor remained. I can reveal that it was not Maximus Decimus Merideus, but I can't  remember who it was. Will the hero not reveal himself? A quick game of Art of War (set in 16th century Japan) involving lots of dice rolls to gain control of provinces. Modesty does not prevent me from saying I won................

Next week, Andy has offered to run either Dead Man's Hand or Corespace next week. Any other offers? 

See yer soon,

Neil    

23rd October Games

Greetings

Gradually, more of the club membership are returning to the fold; Mark and Andy P attended this week, although Dave K hasn't been able to make it yet (best wishes to you and family Dave.) We played Andy's new edition of Zombiecide, which can safely be classed an non-survivor friendly. We were each tasked with collecting tokens representing 'pimp weapons' before exiting the table; whether the deck of zombie movement cards had just been shuffled to allow for high numbers appearing or that the new deck is more effective I'm not sure, but it seemed we had a zombie rush hour before long! The attached picture shows the situation towards the end of the game; two of the survivors had escaped with their weapons, one had been taken down by the zombies, and three of us (self included) were cut off mid table. The two other characters succumbed to the zombies; I was left lonely and VERY afraid, and decided to go down fighting - I actually maxed out the casualty count for my character, gained an additional skill and managed to hot foot it off board, albeit without pimp weapon. I think the zombies won.............

Next week, I'll bring Ludis Gladiatorus, while Paul and Steve H are looking at a new dungeon crawl game.  

See yer soon,

16th October Games

This was our first week at our new venue of the Iveagh Conservative Club in Southend (see bio for new club address).

Sorry not to see more of you last night, but given the volume of sickies involved I quite understand. Steve H, Matt and I were joined by Steve S and Dave C when I ran an Angels 20 scenario based on US Navy Wildcat fighters against Vichy French aircraft during the Torch landings in North Africa (based on a recent article in Flypast magazine). We ran the game twice in the evening, with honours mostly to the French at close of play.

Nothing fixed for next week as yet, but Steve, Matt and I are off to the Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham for the RE Play show organised by the Milton Hundred Wargames Club. More details anon; if anyone is thinking of going let me know, and I'll supply details but a search for 'RE Play show' will probably give enough details.

See yer soon,

Neil   

4th September Games

We ran two games last night; Steve S put on a Terminator game at the request of Andy P for the bulk of those present, whilst I ran a pre-dreadnought naval game for Nigel using the DBA based De Bellis Navalis rules. I haven't used these for some time as different  systems have been under investigation, but as a starter set for the period allowing players to manoeuvre squadrons of warships they have merit. I'd made a few changes to the rules and cleaned up the layout so we could field my Italian and Austro-Hungarian fleets for the first time in a while. All ships are Navwar, as produced by the late and much lamented Tony Anderson.

So far as the game went, Humanity had a very thin time of the Terminator game (and need a different script writer) while Nigel and I steered our fleets in a vaguely professional fashion; there was a lot of action with the destroyer flotillas but the big guns had little influence on the game before time was called. I have a couple more ideas about damage inflicted on ships but these are for consideration only.

I won't be down next week, but I gather another Here's Negan campaign game is planned. I've booked a table for a Wings of Glory WW1 aerial game for the following week, so hopefully I'll see more of you then.

See yer soon,

Neil

28th August Games

Still down on numbers due to holidays etc., but we had three games to hand last night. Steve S, Eddie and Dave K played Fallout (SF post nuclear Armageddon type board game), Alan and Rob ran a Stargrave skirmish and I put on my Angels 20 game for Nigel and myself. This had been planned for a larger number of players around an encounter during the Allied invasion of Vichy French controlled Syria in 1941 using Curtiss P40 Tomahawks against Dewoitine 520s - based on an actual event.

I took the opportunity to let Nigel take a Dewoitine while I handled two P40's; the French fighter had the 'bounce' on the P40s, but had to survive after the first pass. I flew the P40s as a pair and tried to give Nigel the chance to manoeuvre his fighter and explain how to get into a firing position. As expected, numbers counted in the end and the Dewoitine was duly despatched, but there had been a lot of manouevring before hand. An enjoyable game overall, and I think Nigel has a better idea of the game mechanics now ; I'll keep this scenario in hand as a training game. 

Next week, I've arranged a predreadnought game, and there is a Terminator game booked for Andy P's benefit.

See yer soon,

Neil

21st August Games

The holiday season reduced attendance again last night, so my planned Angels 20 WW2 aerial game didn't go ahead. Andy P ran one of the Zombiecide variants for Eddie, Mark ,Nigel and Steve S; Andy's friend Rose (who has been visiting from the Philippines) graced our gathering with her presence and also took part. She is returning home shortly, and we hope her visit to the UK has been a pleasant one. I've attached a picture of the game early on when the various characters are hoping to avoid zombie contact; it was necessary to attain certain objectives along the way, but I don't think they were able to reach all of them.

I've offered to run Angels 20 next week with a scenario set in Vichy French-controlled Syria when a patrol of British Curtiss P40's were bounced by French Dewoitine 520's. They appear to be fairly closely matched aircraft and it should prove interesting. We've also booked a table for another game if numbers warrant this.

See yer soon,

Neil

14th August Games

Reduced numbers this Wednesday still allowed us to run two games; Alan and Rob set up a Star Wars: Legion game with Separatist forces against Republic clone troopers and Mandalorian forces, while Steve H ran a new game called Dungeon Karting for myself, Eddie, Mark and Nigel. As the name implies, players drive karts around a track strewn with hazards - there were a few errors in play due to a first time out, but great fun and the opportunity to do unto others before they do unto you is always enjoyable. Nigel and I have had a chat about some tweaks to Space Weirdos which I'll take a look at asap. 

Next week, Andy P has offered to run an (as yet unspecified) game, and I'll bring Angels 20 as backup.

See yer soon,

Neil  

7th August Games

We were down to two games this week; I ran a Wings of Glory WW1 aerial games for Steve H and Andy P, and Nigel umpired a Space Weirdos game for Steve S, Mark, Dave K and Eddie. Nigel was umpiring a four way skirmish with players not entirely familiar with the rules and therefore liable to 'creative' interpretation thereof. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and I think Nigel will be off the medication by next week with luck........

My game which I set in 1916, pitted two French Nieuport 11 scouts against two German Halberstadt DII scouts. I 'flew' the Nieuports while Andy and Steve took the Halberstadts. This was the first game I'd used the former and I found them to be very nippy and manoeuvrable but less durable than the German fighters. The end result was one aircraft each shot down (soz again Steve!), the remaining aircraft both damaged but mine carrying more damage and therefore heading for home. A good game with lots of manoeuvring, more to come.

Next week Steve H has offered to run a new fantasy car racing game he's just received, and I'll bring some backup for good measure.

See yer soon,

Neil     

31st July Games

Another unpleasantly warm evening at Wayland (not their fault, I hasten to add!) but we had two games up and running last night. Rob, Alan and Andy P were playing Star Wars: Legion with a Clone Wars vintage scenario. The clankers/droids took a hammering as usual, and I left Anakin Skywalker and Count Dooku going at it hammer and tongs - Anakin still had both arms at that point.

Steve S ran a Zombiecide derived Marvel game wherein certain of the Avengers and other assorted characters were infected by a 'zombie mosquito' and went forth to satisfy their need for blood and brains. They were opposed by various members of SHIELD, and other superhero types. I wasn't able to play due to the game limitations, but there are lots more photos and it was interesting to watch. 

Next week I'll run a WW1 aerial game, and Nigel has offered a Space Weirdos game as backup.

See yer soon,

Neil  

24th July Games

We had two games on the go last night; Rob, Alan and Andy P were playing Marvel Crisis Protocol, while Dave K ran a WW2 themed zombie game featuring British commandos storming a Nazi stronghold teeming with zombies and sundry monsters created by Josef Mengele - the mission for myself, Eddie, Mark, Steves H and S and Nigel was to recover secret plans and remove said Dr. Mengele from this life of turmoil and trouble. We used the same terrain as last week's dungeon crawl (thanks again to Wayland for the loan) and were able to complete the mission in time to return home for tea and medals. 

Next week, Steve S will run Marvel Zombies as our game of choice; I'll have a look for a backup game just in case. 

See yer soon,

Neil  

17th July Games

A very hot and sticky night at Wayland last night saw two games involving club members. Rob, Alan and Andy P played a further Marvel Crisis Protocol game, while Mark ran his ever -popular dungeon crawl for myself, Steves S & H, Eddie, Dave K and Nigel. This involved the usual levels of mayhem but we fell short of stopping the Lords of Evil disappearing to an alternate dimension.

Next week, Dave K will run a version of his Zombie apocalypse game. 

See yer soon,

Neil 

10th July Games

We were a bit thinner on the ground last night than usual (something to do with a football match, I believe) but there were enough of us for two games. Rob, Alan and Andy P were playing Marvel Crisis Protocol again, while I ran an Angels 20 WW2 aerial game for Steves S & H, Eddie, Mark, Nigel and myself; aircraft in use were Fw190's for the Luftwaffe (Steve S, Mark and Eddie) and Spitfire IX's for the RAF (Steve H, Nigel and myself). Lousy dice rolling by the RAF saw Steve shot down, Nigel blown from the skies by hits exceeding the armour value of his aircraft, and myself barely escaping with three 190's after me.

Thankfully we had better news from Germany, and England are through to the finals of Euro 2024; best wishes to the squad for Sunday (I'm sure Gareth and the team will be thrilled to know this........). Next week I've prevailed on Mark to Run his Dungeon Crawl game, and Steve S will bring a boardgame

See yer soon, 

Neil 

3rd July Games

A quiet evening for us last night (albeit not quite as peaceful elsewhere onsite!). Dave K, Nigel, Eddie, Steves S & H and I played a selection of games during the evening by way of a change from our usual multi-player affairs. Alan and Rob were playing Marvel Protocol in the main hall (Guardians of the Galaxy vs. Spiderverse if I understood correctly).

Next week, I've arranged to run an Angels 20 WW2 aerial game, not sure if anything else has been fixed. Any details would be welcomed.

See yer soon, 

Neil  

26th June Games

A fair turnout on a very hot and sticky evening; Rob, Andy P and a friend were playing Lost Souls again following last week's trial game, while I ran a Wings of Glory WW1 aerial game for Mark, Steves H & S, Eddie and Nigel. Having recently been reading up on the air combats in 1917 featuring more advanced aircraft, I gave the Steves and Mark two Albatross DIII fighters and an Albatross CIII two-seater reconnaissance aircraft tasked with a photo sortie over Allied lines, the fighters there to provide an escort. Eddie, Nigel and myself took three SPAD VII fighters to prevent this, possibly destroying the two-seater in the process. The ensuing fight went to the wire, with Nigel's SPAD catching fire and destroyed in the process, while Steve H's DIII fell to my guns (soz mate). The two-seater completed its mission, and escaped with some damage, having dished out some considerable damage in its own right; proof indeed that the two-seaters were formidable opponents in the own right by this time in the Great War. 

We've an evening of small scale games scheduled for next week by way of a change.

See yer soon, 

Neil     

19th June Games

We were down on numbers due to holidays and sickness (best wishes to Steve S) but we still ran two games last night. Alan, Rob and Andy P were playing a new fantasy game called Dark Souls which featured some very nice painting by Rob, while Dave K set up a Ruthless Old West gunfight game for myself, Mark, Steve H and Eddie. Steve and I ran a gang of bank robbers who eventually fought off the forces of law and order as played by Mark and Eddie, although not without casualties.

I’ve offered a Wings of Glory WW1 aerial game for next week, having recently read up on Bloody April 1917; this will bring in some later aircraft than the 1916 models we’ve been playing. Any news on other games would be appreciated.
 
See yer soon,
Neil    

12th June Games

A lower than expected turnout meant my Angels 20 game didn’t go ahead; this was more than compensated for by the chance to distribute the ACW and FPW collections of the late Jack Alexander. Jack was better known as the designer of Jacklex 20mm figures for many years (and the range continues in production under new management) but we were offered a great deal of figures, building and rules so long as the figures would be used. Most will need refurbishment but I’m sure we can deal with this. I’d offer Jack’s family our sympathy at their loss, together with our profound thanks for their generosity.
Game wise we saw Alan, Rob and Steve H settle to a Frostgrave game (Steve had a bit of a bad time I gather), while Andy P, Paul, Mark, Eddie, Dave K and myself played Zombiecide to a successful conclusion – no-one got bitten!

Next week, we have a distinctly Old West flavour to games, with Dead Man’s Hand and Dave K’s Western Gunfight rules.
 
See yer soon,
Neil

5th June Games

We were a bit spread out but busy last night; Dave K ran a further ‘Here’s Negan’ game for Steve S, Mark, Eddie, Andy P and Paul, Rob and Alan were engaged in a Frostgrave game, a welcome appearance by Mike and Steve B with a Warhammer 40K game, while, Nigel, Steve H and myself settled down to a further Space Weirdos game.

This involved three groups (terrorists, mercenaries and a SWAT team) attempting to gain control of an object resembling a sword in a stone (which of course was purely representational), which led to serious amounts of firefights, casualties and general mayhem associated with these simple but very entertaining rules. Steve came out on top in his first game.

Next week, I’ve offered to run an Angels 20 game, Dave K is running another ‘Here’s Negan’ game, and there is some further Frostgrave action.

A reminder that Matt, Steve H and I are running an ACW game at the Broadside show this Saturday at the Medway Park Sports Centre, Mill Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1HF. Hopefully we’ll see some of you on the day at this entertaining event.

 

See yer soon,

Neil