8th January Games

   Apologies for the delay this week - real life got in the way. We had a decent turnout for the first meeting of 2025; a former member  of the club, Nick Huband has rejoined after many years' absence; good to have you back Nick! I ran a Wings of Glory WW1 aerial game for Nick, Nigel, Steve H and myself while Andy P ran a card cum board game called Mystic Vale for the rest of those present. Didn't get to see much of the game, but I gather that Dave K eventually won.

   My game saw two French marked Morane Saulnier N monoplanes (flown by Nigel and myself) go up against Steve H and Nick (playing the game for the first time) flying two Fokker Eindekkers. Nick didn't last too long as both Nigel and I took pot shots at him, my Morane caught fire and further damage took me out. There were numerous close passes when inventive invective alternated with barrages of stale baguettes and out of date bratwursts. We called it a draw in the end, but as always the game was great fun.

Next week, Mark will run his entertaining SWAT game, so remember the camo cream.

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     

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     

15th May Games

We were slightly down on numbers again last Wednesday; Rob, Alan and Andy P were playing Frostgrave with some nicely painted miniatures while I ran a Wings of Glory WW1 aerial combat game for Mark, Nigel and Steve S. I ran three Sopwith Triplanes myself (no mean feat I assure you!) whilst the others flew a mixture of Halberstadt DII and Albatross DII fighters. This was the first time we’d played the updated rules (supplied by Dave C, to whom thanks again) and the various aircraft were new to us all. I enjoyed the manoeuvrability of the Tripes, but in the end one succumbed to an explosion card while the other two both took engine damage and one was unable to manoeuvre due to rudder damage; suffice to say I conceded defeat with my customary (and much-practiced) grace...........

 
Next week, Nigel and I are planning another Space Wierdos SF skirmish game, and I understand t’others will be playing board games.
 
See yer soon,
Neil

3rd April Games

Another busy night for us yesterday. Dave K ran the planned Walking Dead campaign game for Mark, Steve S, Eddie, Paul and Andy P, Rob and   Alan were playing Marvel Protocol with an Asgardian vs. X-Men setup, while I ran another early WW1 Wings of Glory game for Nigel and Steve H.

 

I can only explain that in my game I set up the British on a reconnaissance mission with two DH2’s escorting an RE8 over the lines, while Steve and Nigel ran a pair of Fokker Eindekkers to prevent the mission being completed. A tangled affair left the Germans with both aircraft shot down – perhaps a further aircraft would have been useful, but given the RE8 dished out most of the damage, it’s fair to say that two seaters should not be treated lightly. 

 

Next week, Dave K will run another Walking Dead game, and Steve H has offered to a Zombiecide game for anyone else attending (could we play the medieval version if you still have it, please Steve?)

 

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       

21st June Games

We set out to play Wings of War WW1 aerial in a 'boisterous' Wayland Games Centre last night, using my collection. I felt it was time that the late war aircraft put in an appearance, so set up four Fokker DVII's against four Sopwith Snipes. Both types represent the best on offer in the closing months of the Great War. The ensuing fireball saw Steves S & H, Mark, Dave K, Eddie, Jack and myself suffer loss and inflict more of the same throughout, with the end result being a draw with four kills to each side. Great fun and good to see the game played again.

Next week Steve S will run a Mad Dogs with Guns game; I'd remind all members of Mike's planned ACW game on Saturday 1/7/23 from 11.00 am onwards. Those who have prepared troops for the game should contact Mike (by WhatsApp is best) with details so he can plan the scenario.

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

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

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

2rnd August Games

Greetings

I ran the planned Wings of War/Glory WW1 aerial game last night - this involved a hypothetical scenario where Gotha bombers attacked an English town, which was defended by SE5.a's and a Sopwith Camel. Losses were about even but the Gotha's were able to successfully bomb the town.

I won't be down next week, but I gather a game of Battlestar Galactica has been arranged. Would someone post a brief mail with details of game for the following week in my absence please?

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

13th August Games

Fair turnout this week; Steve S. ran a Doctor Who game for the benefit of the bulk of those present, whilst I spent a pleasant evening in Paul's company and ran a Wings of Glory WW1 air combat game for his benefit. Paul is considering joining the club, and I would like to thank those who made him welcome before I arrived.

Next week, a Western gunfight game has been arranged, while Chris has agreed to run a HoTTs game for the benefit of those interested.

See yer soon,
Neil.

12th Feb Games

My Angels 20 game featured two B-17F 1/144 scale models which were ably flown by Ed and James, with Steve H commanding the two P-38 escort fighters. Andy and Bob flew Me109 G's and Fw190A's to attack the formation, but did not fare terribly well! Picture attached showing part of the action.

Steve Slater ran a Wings of Glory WW1 game to complete the aviation theme. A mixture of aircraft types took part in the action, including a Fokker D7 in the all-white colour scheme used by one Hermann Goering during his period with Richtofen's Flying circus; it appears he did not last long, being shot down in flames in short order......Picture shows part of the game in full flow.

This seems an opportune moment to remind one and all that Cavalier 2014 is being held at Tonbridge next weekend Sunday 23rd February 2014. We are running the Table Top Teasers on Tour War of Spanish Succession game we last played at SELWG last October. It has been advised that there will NOT be a bring and buy stall at this year's show, so don't bring stuff to sell. The link to the TWWS website for further details is http://www.twws.org.uk/index.htm

This coming Wednesday we have a Star Trek Attack Wing game lined up, together with a Warhammer 40K game.

See yer soon,
Neil.

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