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 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

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 

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    

20th September Games

It was a dark and stormy night. This might explain why only four of us were present at Wayland last night..........

 

Steves H & S, Eddie and myself played a two on two Ludis Gladiatorius game, each fielding two heavy gladiators and two lightweights. Steve S, who was my partner, died messily and fairly quickly, leaving my retiarius to face Eddie’s heavyweight and Steve H’s Amazon gladiatrix. Although I ended up as an extremely messy hamburger, this was one of the best games of LG I’ve ever played, and despite my failure to land any killing blows, I find the retiarius an enjoyable character to play.

 

Next week, I understand that Dave K has planned a Bolt Action WW2 game; I’ll bring Angels 20 as a themed backup.

 

See yer soon,

Neil

26th July Games

It had been decided that the planned AWI game would not proceed, due to insufficient space and that Dave K wasn't quite ready to proceed - we've put this on hold for a little while. We ended up with Mark, Alan and Andy P playing Dead Man's Hand, while I ran a Ludis Gladiatorus arena fight for Steves H & S, Dave K and myself. We haven't played this for a while so we were a bit rusty, but I took the retiarius for a change, and found him very effective. Dave K had the Lion and spent his game chasing around trying to chomp people! Steve S ran out as winner and last man standing, while Mark and Alan pounded Andy P into submission in the Old West. A fun evening in spite of everything.

Next week, Mark has offered to run his SWAT team game. I'll bring Ludis Gladiatorus again; there's talk of running the game with 54 mm figures as a show game, which I hope to develop further.

See yer soon,

Neil

17th July Games

Greetings

Pretty good turnout last night - Mike was playing Battlefleet Gothic with Dan in an Eldar vs Imperial Navy clash and apparently got a hiding, whilst Dave K ran the first test of his new Batman skirmish game for Steve S and H and Mark. I ran another Ludis Gladiatorus game for Andy's P and H and Rob as previously agreed. Another fun, messy game as ever with some discussion concerning the up scaling of the game to 54mm for show purposes, it looks like this might actually go ahead . . .

Next week, Dave K wants to run the Batman game again, while Andy P has offered to run his Wildlands game. I'll bring along something as backup.

See yer soon

Neil

10th July Games

Greetings

Fair turnout last night. Steve S ran a new Viking Raid board game for Mark and Andy P, whilst I ran Ludis Gladiatorus after a very long layoff for Matt, Rob and Paul. We got in two games despite some truly dismal attack dice, but great fun all the same.

Discussion turned to the possibility of running the game on the show circuit using some 54mm plastic figures I've had for some time. The hex mat and the figures aren't a problem, but preparing new character cards and the arena walls have proven something of a stumbling block to date. Rob tells me he could make the walls relatively easily, so I've agreed to rough out a design for consideration. The character cards are more of a matter of design but not insuperable.

I've agreed to run Ludis Gladiatorus again next week to try out some other Gladiator types and I understand Dave K has a new Batman game he wants to try.

See yer soon

Neil

22rnd November Games

Greetings

Steve S and I ran Ludis Gladiatorus games last night. Didn't see much of the former but my game ran out with Dave C as last man standing (having dispatched my Thracian). I think that it's been so long since DC rolled a dice on a club night that the Dark Gods of the Dice have forgotten to rain misfortune upon him; I, on the other hand, have been a favoured target for many years!

Steve S also ran quick games of Kill Doctor Lucky and Carcassonne to finish off the evening.

The two Steves want to try Warmachine next week, but at present we don't have anything else planned. I can run a Dark Ages Lion Rampant or perhaps a test game for Terminator Genesys - let me know which appeals or if anyone has any other ideas.

See yer soon

Neil

8th June Games

Greetings

Very thin on the ground this week.

I was able to supply Ludis Gladiatorus for those present, while Steve S ran a short game of Carcassonne to finish up the evening. Hope to see more of you next week?

Steve H and I are off to Sittingbourne this Sunday for the Broadside show; not sure if anyone will be following us but details are at Broadside. If you are and are planning to stay more than a short while, contact me direct as we have two all day parking spaces allocated.

Next week, Mark will run his Victorian Gothic Horror game, and I'll run a playtest for the revised pre-WW1 naval rules.

See yer soon

Neil

23rd April Games

Slightly better turnout this week. Thanks to Dave Kightly for running what I think was a World War Z - inspired game (well it involved Nazi zombies and Commandos, so I think I have it right!) while I ran a small Ludus Gladiatorius game for Rob and Mark.

Next week, Mark L. has offered to run his Victorian Gothic Horror game while I will bring the ACW ironclads for a run out prior to their debut as a show game at Broadside in June.

See yer soon,
Neil.

9th April Games

Pretty busy last night with three games on the go. Mark and co. ran a Lord of the Rings game, the two Steves were trying out War Machine, and my Ludis Gladiatorius setup made a return as part of the projected upgrade of the game to a 54mm participation game for 2015. 

Next week we have an offer of Mark's SWAT game and I have been requested to run Angels 20 by Mr. Crook who assures me he will be in attendance.

Salute is this Saturday at ExCel, when the Frantic Four will present a 1914 Race to the Sea game. This will be their final game for the club after many years of work, so please turn out to support them if you can.

See you in the queue...
Neil.

Recent Games

Last two weeks games have included Border Reivers, ACW navel, WHFB and Ludis Gladiatorius which as always was good fun. Did surprise myself by letting myself drift within distance of 1 hit point Laurie to enable him to ‘savage attack’ me when my back was turned. And that was after he had tried to get me to team up with him. Some people you just can not trust.

Ludis Gladiatorius is a good little game and it is tempting to use this as a basis for fantasy arena skirmish. My otherworld figures are just screaming to be used. Need to give this one some though.

A picture from a Z game I ran last year.