23rd November Games

Low numbers onsite again this Wednesday - Steves S & H, Mark and I played Zombicide again, and this time we actually won!

Rob and Alan were playing WarCry with two of their friends (hence the two separate pictures); we also had a brief visit from Dave C who was buying PAINT BRUSHES!! I believe he'd bought the last one from Eric Knowles given Dave's known dislike of painting, but I assume it was for his ongoing ACW naval project.

I'm planning something a little more photogenic next week with a Wings of War/Glory game probably set in 1916-17. Details of any other planned games would be welcomed, as would a few more members present.

See yer soon

Neil 

31st August Games

Reduced numbers again last night - with a welcome visit from Dave C - left me with enough players to run the WW2 Eastern Front Angels 20 game planned. Dave K, Steve S and Bob flew Bf 109 F's against Steve H and Matt in Soviet La5-FN's. Some of those present had not played the games before, so a briefing on movement and manoeuvring was necessary before play commenced.

Matt promptly shot down Dave K's 109 and had to leave as he had an early working start on Thursday, but handed his La5 to Dave, who took to the aircraft like a duck to water. Suffice to say the Luftwaffe did not fare well, as by the game's end only Bob was left and was advised to head for home.

Rob was playing Warcry as usual, and when I saw him had been trounced by a dwarvern warband. No sizeist jokes.

Table space is short at Wayland next week, so we are playing Battlemech in the bar area. What could possibly go wrong?

See yer soon

Neil

17th August Games

We were all in the main hall last night; quite a communal really. Steves H & S, Mark, Andy P and Dave K played Aliens again, I didn't have a lot of time to follow the action as Mike, Steve B, Bob and I were set to try out the Wars of the Roses forces in Lion Rampant prior to a game at my place this weekend. Rob was playing Warcry but I didn't have a chance to see him - sorry Rob.

   The Wars of the Roses game was loosely based on the deployments at Towton on the 28th March 1461; the weather was lousy on the day, hence the snow cloth. Mike was running the Lancastrians with Steve B as Sir Anthony Trollope and Mike as the Duke of Somerset. I ran the Yorkists as Edward IV/Lords Hastings and Howard, and Bob played Viscount Bourchier. This was his first game of LR so the command was small but important, fighting off Mike's flank attack so effectively that Somerset fled the field! I was left to wear down the advancing Lancastrians - difficult as they consisted almost entirely of dismounted men at arms and lesser gentry, who were well protected and played an upgrade that effectively meant they never tested for morale despite taking some casualties. The fight was going reasonably well up until my last move - the dice Gods deserted me for three consecutive morale tests which all rolled a double 1 . . .

That said the game was fun; we were using a mix of the original rules plus some of the new bits from the 2rnd edition which is now available, and in my view, much enhanced. We'll know after Sunday's game.

Next week; I've been asked to run a WW1 aerial game using Wings of Glory.

See yer soon

Neil

10th August Games

We were spread far and wide last night; Bob ran a boardgame based on the Aliens movie for the benefit of Steve S, Andy P, Dave K and Steve H; I believe it didn't go well for the Marines . . . 

Rob and Alan were engaged in Warcry games with varying degrees of success.

I had a chance to join Mike and Steve B in a Lion Rampant game, but using Mike's collection of Late Roman and Goths in a game based loosely on the Battle of Adrianople which the original Roman Commander lost in spectacular style. I was offered command of the Roman forces and discovered that after last week's dice disaster my mojo put in an appearance again. Suffice to say the legions and their auxilia moved forward in impressive style, holding off Gothic cavalry attacks on both wings and pushing their infantry back by the time that time ran out. I was impressed by the way massed 15mm figures on a single base add to the impression of unit size; I'm considering changing my name to Marcus Decimus Meridius in the meantime.

Next week Bob has been asked to run the Aliens game again. Mike and I intend to run a Wars of the Roses game loosely based on Towton 1461 ahead of a weekend game at my place shortly thereafter. I've finished a massive refurbishment of my old collection in advance of this game and am looking forward to seeing them on the table again.

See yer soon

Neil

3rd August Games

 'Twas a hot, sticky and noisy night at Wayland yesterday. Andy P, Mark, Paul, Dave K, Steve S and Bob played Zombicide and were mostly killed. Alan and Rob were playing in separate Warcry games, and were both alive when I checked in. 

Steve H and I settled in for some Angels 20 action, this time over Northern France in 1944. I took two Spitfire Mk IX and two Typhoons on a ground strafing mission, while Steve took four Fw190's to prevent this. I lost the lot in about three moves. We started again with two Spitfires and two 190's apiece; I lost the pair of them in equally short order. I then decided that a losing streak should not be indulged and generously granted Steve the victory.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Next week, Bob has offered to run an Aliens game. Mike has a Lion Rampant game planned around his Late Roman forces which I fancy a go at. I'll bring a couple of board games as backup; BattleCry seems like a good idea.

See yer soon

Neil

27th July Games

 A very active night yesterday; Steve S, Mark, Andy P and Dave K played Mars Attacks! (I believe the Martians lost).

Mike and Steve B took Lion Rampant to the Holy Land for a Crusader based game. Mike's Saracens went up against a force of Knights Templar and St. Lazarus (the latter formed from members of the Military Orders who had developed leprosy but were still capable of active service before the symptoms got too debilitating) both with supporting serjeants and promptly lost two games - standard really.

Steve H and I played Battletech as a three hander with each attempting to collect a data crystal. I came a poor third as my mech took so much damage it exploded, but Paul retried the crystal.

Rob was playing Warcry but I wasn't able to spend much time with this game.

Next week, I'll run another Angels 20 with the new mat; debating whether to continue the Eastern Front theme or try something over France.

Other options currently include Zombicide or The Walking Dead . . . do I sense a theme here?

See yer soon

Neil

20th July Games

 We were a bit scattered last night. Steve S, Mark, Andy P and Dave K played Zombicide, and Rob was involved with a Warcry game in the bar area.

Whilst I ran an Angels 20 game for Steve H, Matt and myself in the main hall. Having recently recieved a new dedicated cloth with the correct hex grid for the game from Tiny Wargames, it seemed appropriate to christen the cloth with an Eastern Front scenario. Steve and Matt 'flew' a bf109-E apiece while I ran a brace of Yak 1's. Losses mounted fairly quickly for both sides (sorry Matt!), then Steve and I settled to a real dogfight, with lots of manoeuvring and snap shots - most of which missed. Eventually we found ourselves in a head on pass and my dice finally came good and Steve was shot down. Brilliant game and the new cloth really added a dimension to the game.

Next week, we're planning a Battletech game and Steve S wants to run a Mars Attacks! game.

See yer soon

Neil

11th May Games

We are operating in different parts of Wayland from one another last night; Alan and Rob were involved in a Warcry game in the bar area, while Steve H ran his new boardgame based on the movie 'The Thing' (John Carpenter version for those in the know) for myself, Paul, Steve S, Mark, Dave K and Andy P, in the main area. 

This was a first outing for the game and understandably things (pun intended) took a while to get going. I suspect this will run better on another occasion, but the paranoia levels were VERY high by the time we finished!

Next week, Dave K is running a Mad Dog with Guns gangster game; I wouldn't mind trying the 'Waterloo - Quelle Affair!" board game I picked up a while back as I've only played it once to date.

See yer soon

Neil

27th April Games

A lively atmosphere at Waylands last night! For our part, Dave K ran a game of The Walking Dead for Steve S, Paul, Mark and Andy P. Alan and Rob were engaged in their customary Warcry Session, and Steve H and I played a Memoir 44 Eastern Front scenario. As is the custom with Richard Borg games, your actions are governed by the hand of ards you hold which in turn permit actions in the three areas of the board. The Soviets are hampered still further by the use of the Commissar card which forces the Soviet player to select his next action card at the end of his previous move! I played the Soviets and was lucky enough to cover all the German actions and in doing so won the scenario (even I get lucky some times. . .). Mike C was also onsite with Steve's B & B playing Lords of Waterdeep, so we had a chat.

Next week, we are playing Steve H's new board game based on the horro movie "The Thing" and I'll bring along my Napoleonic naval ships.

See yer soon

Neil

20th April Games

Thanks to Mark for hosting a dungeon crawl for myself, Dave K, the Steves, Matt, Paul and Andy P last night to 'christen' his new dungeon system. Mark also kindly worked out stats for my personal character Ser Guillaume (Simon de Montfort figure painted as William Marshall) and a very useful man in hand to hand combat he turned out to be! The mission wasn't a total success as the hostage princess was bumped off before we could rescue her, but there was loads of lovely loot to compensate.

Alan and Rob plated Blood Bowl and Warcry.

Next week there is a Walking Dead game planned, and I've agreed to bring Memoir 44 for some WW2 action.

See yer soon

Neil

13th April Games

 Bit spread out again last night; Andy P and Mark played a couple of Dead Man's Hands games in the main hall, Alan and Rob fought out a Warcry bloodbath for a Cadbury's Crème Egg (TM?) - don't know who got to scoff same - while Steve S hosted a Firefly board game for myself, Steve H and Dave K. This last was a first game with all the usual trials and tribulations, but has some interesting mechanics and a nice feel for what was a very good series at the time of its release. I believe that there may be a reboot of the series in hand but don't have any definite news on this.

Next week, Mark has a brand new dungeon system to christen (probably with buckets of gore if past games are anything to go by!). I'll dust off the figures I have for this in anticipation.

See yer soon

Neil

6th April Games

This week we had three games on the go; Andy P ran Dead Man's Hand for Mark, Dave K and Steve S, Rob was playing Warcry as usual, while Steve H and I played Battle Cry. For those unfamiliar with the game, it uses figures as counters with command actions driven by tactical cards defining areas of action etc. Usually, one's hand is not ideal for the plan and last night was no exception for both of us. I just scrapped a win for the Confederacy when the right cards finally came up.

Next week, Andy P has offered to run Dead Man's Hand for Rob and one of his friends, Steve S has a game based on the Firefly TV series and I'll look out something as backup.

See yer soon

Neil 

30th March Games

Reasonable turnout last night. Rob and Alan had their usual Warcry session, Steve S, Dave K, Paul and Mark played Zombicide and Steve H and I played a Space Hulk scenario requiring the Astartes to recover a CAT scanner; this last one was a close call and will be one to play again with more players next time.

Next week, Andy P has offered to run a Dead Man's Hand game and I'll bring Battle Cry for an American themed evening.

See yer soon

Neil

23rd March Games

 Alan, Rob and their Warcry mates were in action again last night with a few new figures on display. Andy P ran a play test of his sci-fi game involving the 'neutralisation' of a research site where experiments had gone wrong for myself, Steve S, Mark and Dave K. The Alien/Aliens quotes were flying thick and fast by mid game and some useful work was done in streamlining the initial draft of the rules.

Next week, I hope to run a Space Hulk game and there are other games proposed in addition.

See yer soon

Neil

16th March Games

 Apologies for the absence of a report for last week, due to my presence elsewhere on family matters. I was able to check in this week on Alan and Rob's continuing Warcry campaign, Dave K, Mark and Andy P's Mad Dogs with Guns gangster gam and to play Tiny Epic Dungeon (think that's the title) with Steve H. A visit from Dave C who hasn't been around much of late was a pleasant surprise.

Next week, Andy P has offered to run a sci-fi skirmish; other options yet to be advised.

See yer soon

Neil