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

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

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

December 6th Games

Greetings

Bit thin on the ground again this week. Steve S ran the planned Wings of War game, followed by a session of Kill Doctor Lucky.

Nothing specific planned as yet for next week; I can bring th Hobbit game again if anyone has an idea or can run a game, PLEASE reply to see if anyone is interested.

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

13th January Games

Greetings

First, some sad news. Dave Knightly has advised me that his mother passed away recently; I have extended our sympathies prior to her funeral next week.

We were a bit thin on the ground this week. Steve S ran a Wings of War game for Mark and Andy, while I ran a playtest of a set of naval rules for pre-dreadnoughts which Alan and Steve H were kind enough to participate in. The rules are very basic but ran ok, some tweaks are required.

Next week, I've been asked to run a Space Hulk game and various people have agreed to bring some board games to provide further options as required.

See yer soo

Neil

29th July Games

Greetings

Pretty good turnout considering we're well into the holiday season this week; Dave Knightly ran a hordes of the Things game using Chris Hardman's collection of victorian policeman and naval landing pary against what I think was a Dracula-led Transylvanian army . . .

My contribution was to run a 1916 period Wings of War/Glory game, which gave an outing to the Fokker Eindekkers and Morane Saulnier monoplanes in my collection, along with a series of other period aircraft.

Next week; various members are running a Warhammer 40k game, while Steve H has offered to run an Incursion game.

See yer soon

Neil

13th May Games

We were a bit thin on the ground this week, so only Steve's Wings of War game went ahead as planned. This was  hugely enjoyable and we were able to run two games during the evening.

Next week; a Napoleonic naval game and a threatened western.

See yer soon

Neil

2nd October Games

The evening had a heavy air combat theme, with Steve Slater running a WW1 Wings of War game. I undertook a training game of Angels 20 for a newest members Mick, Ed and James (with welcome assistance from Rob) which everybody appeared to enjoy. Pictures of both games are attached; apologies to Bob and Andy for not including their Malifaux game.

Current offers for next week are a Lord of the Rings game from Bob and Andy; I hope to run an American Civil War naval game using an updated version of the rules tested recently.
See yer soon,
Neil.

5th September Games

Pretty good turnout last night. Thanks to Steve Slater for running a Wings of War game, and to Dave Kightly for a War at Sea game set in the Pacific. The WW1 aerial appeared to generate its usual level of mayhem, while Laurie in USN guise was victorious in a particularly bloody gun duel with the IJN.

Dave Crook and I played the inevitable Angels 20 game, this week involving P40's and Me109's in an African scenario. This was a surprisingly evenly-matched game given the Me109's manoeuvrability, and the gunnery dice were exceptionally unkind to both sides. I scraped a win, but Mr. Crook is vowing vengeance!

We also had a visit from Gary Moore, the Venue and Events Manager at the new Wayland Games wargames hall down the road. He has made some very attractive offers concerning table and venue use for the future. While I do not think this is something we should decide on without prior discussion, I would welcome feedback from anybody who has the time to visit the venue and take a look.

In show related news, I have just been informed that we are definitely in for SELWG on the 14th October. The organisers have accepted Dave K's zombie game as our entry, so work will now commence on the setup etc. for the game.

While I remember, other events coming up are the Milton Hundred club's open day over at Sittingbourne on the 15th September (NOT a wargames show I hasten to add), the Skirmish 2012 show over at Sidcup on the 23rd September (www.harfields.com/Skirmish.html for details), and the Essex Warriors open day on the 30th September - this will be an Angels 20 gamefest for those attending.

Think I covered everything...............

See yer soon
Neil

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.