26th March Games

Reasonable turnout last night; Steve S, Dave K, Mark and Andy P ran a more detailed game of Carnevale (a skirmish game set in a alternative version of Venice). The rules can cause issues of interpretation; it was apparent from conversation this was an issue, but apparently it all ended well.

I ran Ludis Gladiatorus for myself, Eddie, Nigel and Steve H, which proved as predictably messy as ever; Steve and I ended up slogging it out at the end, with Steve coming out with the Maximus award for the evening.

Next week, Andy P will be running an Dead Man's Hand game, and Dave C is hosting a further Portable ACW Ironclad game for myself, Nick, Steve S and Dave K. 

See yer soon,

Neil 

19th March Games

Bit quiet this week; I ran a Ludo style boardgame 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' based on the characters in the first of the Hobbit film trilogy. Steve S & H, Nick, Andy P, Mark and myself played various of the members of the party, gathering skills and equipment before challenging the monsters in each second. A fast paced game led to Steve S as Gandalf wining by completing the sectors first. Just the one image taken at the start of the game for flavour. As far as I can recall, we haven't played this since before the pandemic, so it was nice to give the game another runout.

Next week, a further game of Carnevale has been scheduled and we'll organise some backup games.

See yer soon,

Neil

12th March Games

We ran two games last night; Steve S ran a Heroquest game for the bulk of those present; this is the recently re-released version of the classic dungeon crawl game from waaaaaay back when. There are substantial differences between the two, and the game was essentially a trial run for a further game which would then hopefully run better.

Dave C, Nick and I played out a further Portable ACW naval game, based on the action in Hampton Roads between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia. Monitor was tasked with protecting the grounded USS Minnesota (a wooden frigate which had run aground during the Virginia's first sort the previous day). Virginia was tasked with destroying the Minnesota and surviving to exit the table from her point of entry. Nick ran the Union ships, while I (predictably) commanded the Virginia. 

For once, my plan worked, and I was able to destroy the Minnesota and execute a ram on the stern of the Monitor; admittedly the ram was ineffective, but so VERY satisfying! Virginia was adjudged by Dave to have exited the table in time for tea and medals.

Next week, we have a further Heroquest game planned, and I'll bring a couple of games along as backup.

See yer soon,

Neil 

5th March Games

Enough on hand last night to run two games. Dave K ran Flashpoint (the firefighting game we ran a few weeks back) for the bulk of those present. Steve H and I trialled a card-based game I'd acquired a while back set during the Trojan War. 

Achilles and Hector allows two players to fight over a series of turns, playing unit cards and optional Hero cards, the object being for one player to lose all cards in a particular deck on the front of his board, or the Home deck behind. The rules need careful study (or a YouTube video) so we only got a few rounds in before time called. The game appears to require bluffing which I have yet to get the hang of. Interesting game though.

Next week it is planned to run Heroquest; Dave C's follow up ACW Ironclad game has been postponed for a couple of weeks, so I'll bring backup.

See yer soon,

Neil  

26th February Games

  We ran two very different games last night; most of those present were involved in a variant of Zombiecide I never thought I'd see, based on the TV series of Monty Python's Flying Circus, which included all the best known characters from the Ministry of Silly Walks, the Gumbies and the giant foot! It looked like great fun except for the zombies wanting to nosh on the characters, but that's zombies for you.

   In a slightly saner corner, Dave C, Nick and myself ran the much delayed play test of Dave's Gridded ACW Naval Wargame, using two small forces for the Union and the Confederacy. This was the game's first outing and as such was umpired by Dave. I ran a Confederate squadron with a broadside ironclad ram and a gunboat, while Nick had a shallow draught monitor and a gunboat. I drew first blood, hitting the monitor with fire from the gunboat. This was promptly bracketed by both Union vessels and reduced to matchwood in short order. My ram hit the Union gunboat with closed range gunfire but took damage in return, at which point we ran out of time. In all likelihood, I'd have been outmanoeuvred by the faster Union vessels and pounded into submission, but the point was to test the rules ahead of a much larger game which will be covered in a revised edition of Dave's rules for future publication. Great fun all the same.

No firm decision on next week's games as yet. Flashpoint seems to be one option, others are under consideration.

See yer soon,

Neil

Cavalier 2025

Steve H, Graham and I (with assistance from Nick on his arrival) ran 'An affair of Outposts' which is a Peninsular War based game of two linked scenarios with the French trying to break a British outpost line, leading to a larger scale encounter as the outposts fall back on their supports. The French (commanded by Graham and Nick) suffered truly appalling dice rolls (since they used my dice AGAIN!) and failed in their objectives. It is said that dice have no memory, but boy do they have malice......

That said, the game was well received by the visiting public and there was a lot of interest in the Rebels and Patriots rules and the Flags and Eagles Napoleonic module published online, which forms the basis of our version of the rules played. My thanks as ever to Steve, Graham and Nick for attending and making the game work as well as it did. The scenarios played out well, so this game is one for another outing in the future.

Neil

19th February Games

Slightly down on numbers last night; Steve S, Mark, Dave K and Andy were trialling a new game called Carnevale (set in a fantasy version of 18^th Century Venice I believe). I was using an adjacent room whence Steve S, Eddie, Nigel and I settled down to a game of Ludis Gladiatorus as Dave C's ACW naval game had been postponed (see below). We were thus able to hear some.....spirited discussion, shall we say?.......concerning interpretation of the rules in use next door. My game proceeded to its usual messy end, with Nigel taking the victor's palm in spite of having chosen the slowest gladiator on the board! Seems that Aesop chappie might have been right about the tortoise and the hare. 

Next week, Dave C's ACW naval game has been rescheduled, while Dave K has offered to run Flashpoint again (the firefighting game played recently).

In the meantime, Steve S, Graham and I are off to Tonbridge on Sunday to run my Peninsular War game this coming Sunday 23/2/25; I believe we may have a couple of other members attending separately but more details will follow after the event.

See yer soon,

Neil