30th April Games

We were a bit thin on the ground last night. Local traffic conditions prevented some of us getting there, and Nick had asked me to run a pre-dreadnought game which also affected Nigel's proposed Swords Weirdos skirmish game. The Steves, Nigel, Mark and Andy P played Zombiecide as a game they could all join in with, while Nick and I set up a small scale action with my 1/3000 scale Italian and Austro-Hungarian fleets (picture attached). Lack of time prevented a full fleet action, but a squadron each of battleships, cruisers and destroyers provide enough to show Nick how the rules worked. Gunnery for both sides could have been better, but Nick made friends with my dice and got the better of some of the firing. Nice to see the ships out again after a long lay off due to our change of venue. Unfortunately there are no pictures of the Zombiecide game as this finished before I could take any. I was able to get a finished version of the encounter table for the Tanks game checked by Steve H, and a couple of corrections noted.

Current plans for next week include Nigel's Sword Weirdos game and a further run out for the Carnevale fantasy skirmish game.

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     

27th March Games

Another busy night for us yesterday at the Wayland Game centre in Hockley; Dave K ran another ‘Ruthless’ Old West gunfight game for Mark, Matt and Steve S, Alan and Rob were engaged in another Marvel Protocol game (no tuk-tuks were apparently injured this time!) and I ran a Wings of Glory WW1 aerial game for Nigel and Eddie.

Neither are particularly well acquainted with these rules, so I elected to control a Halberstadt fighter and a Roland two seater on a recce mission with the fighter as escort while Nigel and Eddie flew a Sopwith triplane apiece. We haven’t used the Sopwiths before so it was an interesting couple of games; the first ended early when the Roland took a hit, which I then drew an explosion card for! The second game went better now the Brits had sorted out their planes’ characteristics – the Halberstadt took a fire hit, but mercifully little damage (although I was able to cook a couple of bratwurst in the meantime.......) and eventually I wore down the Sopwiths and disposed of both for a German victory. I was surprised just how effective the Roland was, the Halberstadt is useful, but the Sopwiths are nippy blighters.

Next week, a number of people are engaged in a Walking Dead campaign game, so I’ve offered to run the Wings of Glory game again as a backup.

 

See yer soon,

Neil       

29th March Games

A busy evening again for the club. Dave K ran a Bolt Action WW2 game for various members who had no prior experience of the rules which they seemed to enjoy.

Rob and Alan were playing Stargrave in a scenario involving a maglev train which had elements of Firefly and the Han Solo movie in the plot.

Steve H and I tried out a set of WW1 vintage naval rules with my Italian and Austro-Hungarian fleets, but sadly these became a dice rolling exercise to see who could roll the highest dice to knock out the opposition. Won't use them again, but I have another set which offer more character, written by my old friend Bob Cordery.

Only game I'm aware of for next week is a further Bolt Action game, which I am tempted to try.

See yer soon

Neil

22rnd February Games

Good turnout last night, although we were spread out on a busy night. Rob and Alan were playing Marvel: Crisis Protocol in the bar area. Steve S hosted a WW1 aerial game using the Wings of Glory ruleset for the rest.

Steve H and I were left to play a small Battlefleet Gothic game on our own - my usual luck led to a losing draw/test game but great fun all the same. Lots of passing interest from other gamers who obviously had never seen the game or hadn't seen it for year.

Next week a Hordes of the Things game and Memoir 44 are on offer for those attending.

I would remind members that Steve H, Graham, Matt and I are running an ACW game at Cavalier this coming Sunday the 26th. If anyone feels like the run down to Tonbridge they'd be welcome to attend and help out.

See yer soon

Neil

30th November Games

Better turnout this week, although we were well spread out. I ran a Wings of Glory WW1 game for Steves H & S, Mark and Matt. The latter joined us briefly by left early due to a back injury which was causing him pain (hope you are feeling better Matt?). I joined in the game, which featured two British fighters against two German, each side having an additional two seater to protect and also to attempt to destroy the oppositions machine. Suffice to say the Germans lost, and while I was packing up, the others played the tastefully named card game Exploding Kittens.

Meanwhile, Mike and Steve B were playing a St Andrews themed game using the formers recently completed Scots Covenanters and Montrose Royalists. Mike (as a dour Covenantor) declared a test game as both flanks collapsed to a flurry of bare legs and faded tartan. Perhaps one day he'll have a proper game? . . .

Alan, Rob and friends were engaged in a blast from the past when they played Heroquest in the bar area. I only had a chance to visit briefly but they all appeared to be enjoying things.

Next week, Paul has offered to run a Cthulhu based game, I have found a copy of the board game Terminator: Rise of the Resistance which I'll try to have ready as backup.

See yer soon

Neil

24th August Games

 It was a dark and stormy night - so nobody turned up!

Actually, I was able to run the planned Wings of War WW1 aerial game for Steves S & H, Bob and myself, and Rob was also playing a smaller than planned game of Necromunda a few tables away, so I was able to have a quick chat with him. Mark wasn't with us as his wife (Rob's mum) is in hospital following planned surgery. I'm sure all members will join me in wishing her a speedy recovery.

The WW1 game involved a pair of Fokker EIII against a pair of Morane Saulnier N, so it was unusually for the period a totally monoplane affair. Honours were about even over the two games we played (I won the first and was shot down in the second) and a good time was had by all.

Next week, I'll run a WW2 aerial game using the Angel's 20 rules. Not sure what else might be on offer due to low turnout this week, but at least the weather is a bit cooler after the rain today.

See yer soon

Neil

6th July Games

A busy evening yesterday; Andy P ran his Core Space sci-fi game for Dave K, Mark, Bob and Steve S, Mike was playing Warhammer 30k in a Heresy era game, Alan and Rob played Necromunda, while Steve H and I played WW1 Wings of Glory.

No details as to victory/defeat with the Core Space game (although I don't think it went well), Mike's WH30K game looked iffy for Mike last time I looked (I can confirm iffy was the right word - Mike), while Alan beat Rob's House Escher forces in the Necromunda game - Rob took the rare loss very well (could barely see his bottom lip wobble).

I set up the Wings of Glory game using aircraft which are surprisingly well matched; Sopwith Camels against Austrian built Albatros D111's using the fighting in Italy in late 1917 as a basis, mat supplied by Tiny Wargames. I lost one of the Camels early on, while another had directional difficulties (due in no small part to my selecting the wrong movement cards). Advantage Austria at game's end although their aircraft were carrying more damage than mine. Probably best to call it a test game. . .

Next week I'll run a Battlefield Gothic game, I gather that Zombicide is another game under consideration.

See yer soon

Neil

15th June Games

 As ever, we were split into distinct groups over the Waylands site last night; Steve S, Mark, Paul, Andy P and Dave K were playing The Walking Dead in the bar area, along with Alan and Rob who were involved in a Necromunda game (I'm tempted to do an Imperial Guard team for this), I ran a WW1 naval game using my Italian and Austro-Hungarian fleets for Steve H and Mike.

The scenario involved the Italians in pursuit of an Austrian squadron which had been engaged in bombardment duties, which were then to be covered by a squadron of Austrian dreadnought battleships. Bear in mind that until 1918 the Austro-Hungarian empire held land at the top of the Adriatic where its navy was based. The bombardment squadron duly escaped and the two battle squadrons were engaged; the Italians lost two battleships in short order to the combined fire of the Austrian battle squadron and a magazine explosion and duly retired. The rules used were a set I found online and translated from Italian a few years back and not having used them for some time I pleased that they worked well.

Next week, Mike is running a 15mm Napoleonic game using Rebels and Patriots, which I am tempted to take part in, and I believer The Walking Dead group are playing Mad Dogs with Guns  and the Necromunda group will continue their deliberations.

See yer soon

Neil

6th November Games

Greetings




This will probably be the last email to the Yahoo group due to the changes proposed; in future I'll post directly to the facebook group SEEMS WARGAMES CLUB, so if you haven't joined the group yet, please do so and I'll approve the application (this won't affect the blog).




We were able to run three games last night - Dave K ran a Mad Dogs with Guns gangster game for Mark, Andy P and Steve S. Rob and Alan played Aeronautica Imperialis (nice models btw), whilst I introduced Paul to my WW1 naval rules together with the Austro-Hungarian and Italian fleets. The game was kept fairly small as a teaching scenario, but suffice to say the Austrian gunnery dice were poor and the Italians were able to more or less cripple one of the Austrian dreadnoughts. I'm, working up the fleet lists for the pre-dreadnought fleets of both sides but this might take a while.

Next week, Andy P wants to run a play test of his sci-fi game, so I'll bring some figures and also bring along a backup game.




See yer soon




Neil

14th August Games

Greetings

We were rather split up this week; Mike, Steve B and Gary were playing a card game, and Eamon and Finn were playing Battle Cry in the bar area. Andy P ran his play test for a new sci-fi game (which I gather went well and only requires some minor tweaks to the rules at this stage) whilst Steve H and I were trialling his recently received Triplanes and Tripods game at the opposite end of the main hall.

This last game has been developed from the popular Wings of Glory WW1 and WW2 aerial game to permit the war planes of the period to combat various Martian fighting machines. The base game comes with WW1 aircraft so I took a rocket armed Nieuport 16 (used for observation balloon busting in WW1) against one of the 'smaller' tripods. We got in two games = in the first I was 'crispy crittered' by the heat ray, and took significant damage whilst trying to bring the rockets to bear in the second game. Great fun and I look forward to playing this again.

 

Next week Andy will run a further play test of his new game, and I'll run the ACW naval game which I've held over from this week as Matt couldn't get down.

See yer soon

Neil

7th August Games

Greetings

Numbers down again due to holidays etc but we were able to put on two games this week. Mark ran his Lord of the Rings game with his Rohirrim and Rob's Wildlings (from another more recent TV series involving games and thrones), masquerading as Dunlanders on this occasion. I am unable to report on this game as I was introducing Matt to the joys of World War 1 naval combat, using the Line Ahead rules I found a few years back. My Austro-Hungarian and Italian dreadnought fleets clashed for the first time in a looooong while and it seems the work paid off as Matt enjoyed the game and picked up the rules very quickly. We inflicted damage to each other's fleets but there was no outright victor at close of play, rather like the real thing.

Next week, Andy P has asked if we could play test a set of sci-fi rules he is working on. I've agreed to bring along my 1/600 ACW naval ships for some water-based dodgems mayhem.

See yer soon

Neil

29th May Games

Greetings

Down on numbers again this week, so I ran a Wings of War game for Mark, Andy P, Steve S, Mike and Steve B. Based around a bombing raid by a French Breguet bomber escorted by Spad XIII's and SE5a's against Fokker D VII's, the action was suitably fast and furious.
 

Next week Dave K has already arranged a Mad Dogs with Guns game, whilst I propose a Lion Rampant game using the available Dark Ages figures.

See yer soon

Neil

29th August Games

Greetings

I managed to lug the Wings of War/Glory collection of WW1 aircraft over to Hockley this week (if you have ever tried to lift this box, you'd know what I mean). I ran a late war scenario with three DH 4 bombers, escorted by 3 Sopworth Snipes to bomb a German held town covered by 4 Fokker D7's. Kudos to Mark for managing to hit three out of four designated targets albeit with heavy losses to the bombers and escorted commanded by Andy P. Nice to see all the toys in action again, I might run an earlier war scenario again sometime soon.
 

Dave K has offered to run Bolt Action WW2 game next week; I'll look out some scenery and bring along a backup game - not sure what yet. Colonial action with The Men Who Would Be Kings in the near future and given I've booked a Naopleonic naval game for SELWG in October, I'll run a game as a refresher as well soon.

See yer soon

Neil

1st February Games

Greetings

Bit quiet last night:

Steve S ran a Wings of Glory WW1 air combat game.

Whilst I inveigled Steve H and Josh into trying out my new Cold War naval game 'They Come Unseen', purchased from Osprey games recently.

I got chatting in the bar at the end of the evening, and thus remain unaware of any games organised for next week; can some kind soul please confirm the details?

See yer soon

Neil

WW1 Bus

A resin WW1 transport bus together with metal passengers painted by Dave, and bought down the club this week.

25th May Games

Last night we had a Wings of War game, run by Neil, with three Albatross against 3 Sopwiths. The superior skill and cunning of the Hun (including me) easily dispatch 2 of the three Sopwith (2 Kills to Herr Chris), with the 3^rd running away with its tail firmly between it legs. The British press of were later claiming a moral victory.

The second game was 40k with Orks vs Eldar  vs Space Marines, with the Marines winning at the death obtaining the objective in the final turn of the game.