4th September Games

Firstly, I would like to welcome Mike after his visit last night; I hope you enjoyed the ACW naval game. This was a trial for the Portable Naval Wargame variant covering the ACW written by an old mate, Bob Cordery. The game went OK (even Laurie enjoyed himself!) but the general opinion was the rules were basic (which Bob himself admits) and a number of amendments (solely for our use, Bob) have been considered; an amended version of the rules will follow in due course.

Thanks also to Dave Kightly for running the Battlestar Galactic game again; I didn't get a chance to look in on this game but hopefully Humanity did better on this occasion....

Some of you may already be aware (following reports on the wargaming blogosphere) about the passing of Don Featherstone; details of the cause of death are vague but it appears to be due to a fall. Don has been described as the Father of Wargaming, and his books have been an inspiration to generations of wargamers. We will not see his like again.

Next week - on a brighter note - I will run an Angels 20 game (theatre to be decided). There is also a 40k game on offer if you prefer your mayhem to include thermal weapons!

See yer soon,
Neil.

21st August Games

Bit thin on the ground again this week, but we managed to have two games last night. Dave Kightly ran a Battlestar Galactica board game - I gather Humanity lost (much to the disgust of the Lords of Kobol I imagine). It fell to me to entertain Laurie and Ernie with three quick games of Ludis Glatiatorus, using some revised character cards. We all managed to win one game apiece, so all were happy.

There are also cards available for a further range of gladiator figures which were released by Crusader Miniatures a while back (which I have in stock pending painting) which will appear on a wargames table near you sometime in the next year with luck. I also have some 54mm plastic figures which would work under these rules. Hmm.....

Next week will see a rerun of the Battlestar Galactica game. I haven't decided whether to run an Angels 20 game or to try a set of ACW naval rules originally written by Bob Cordery, using my 1/600 models. If anybody has a preference, please let me know.

See yer soon,
Neil.

14th August Games

A reasonable turnout this week; Chris was kind enough to run a Hordes of the Things game to allow Alan the chance to use his Romano-British army against Chris' Dark Ages Irish. This game went to the wire and was the cause of some spirited discussion concerning rules interpretation along the way. Steve Slater ran a Fury of Dracula game, while Bob and Andy played a Malifaux scenario. Pictures of the general mayhem and the climax of the Hotts game are attached. Apologies to Chris for the inadvertent lemonade flood; I think I managed to sponge it all out....

I am currently unaware of any arrangements for next week's games other than to suggest that I shall bring Ludis Gladiatorus along as there were no spare bodies to play this week. Could those organising additional games please notify their nature via this email please?

See yer soon,
Neil.

7th August Games

Better turnout this week. Steve ran Fury of Dracula for the benefit of Messrs. Hardman and Kightly, Mark and co. ran a Lord of the Rings game (picture attached), and I was able to run the second trial for the Napoleonic naval action - this seems to be OK now and will go on record as a useful game for a small show. A picture of the early stages of the game is also attached.

I am advised that Alan and Chris are planning a DBA/HOTTS game so Alan's Romano-British can have an outing. Steve Slater has agreed to bring a selection of board games; I would be prepared to run either Angels 20 (Malta RAF vs. Italians) or by way of a change Ludis Gladiatorus. I would ask interested parties to advise which game they wish to take part in.

See yer soon,
Neil.

31st July Games

Another quiet night for attendance this week; given this is the height of the holiday season this is to be expected, I suppose. Bob's Dark Eldar took on Andy's Chaos forces and gave them another thumping!

I have been working on another Napoleonic naval scenario based in an action in November 1805, which the Steves, John and Laurie took part in. The victory went to the French on this occasion, but I expected the scenario to require revision and will be undertaking this with a view to a refight.

Next week, therefore, I will re-run this scenario with the revisions suggested by those who played - for which many thanks. A Lord of the Rings game has also been arranged, and as ever I would welcome any further game offers.

I would also remind members about the Military and Flying Machines display which is held this coming Friday to Sunday 2nd to 4th August. Full details can be found at www.militaryandflyingmachines.org.uk and if the weather holds, this should be worth a visit.

See yer soon,
Neil.

24th July Games

Bit thin on the ground last night; I shall be expecting sick notes or postcards from holidays from the missing parties in due course...

Bob, Andy and Mark ran what appeared to be a pretty short Warhammer 40K game - short due to Mark's troops being annihilated in two moves!

I ran the Eastern Front Angels 20 scenario as arranged, using a selection of recently obtained Romanian and Russian aircraft for the first time. It is fair to say the Romanian IAR 80 and Bf 109 E were outclassed by the Russian La 5 and P39, as was witnessed by two games with each side swapping round. It is of interest to note that Tovarich Bryson scored his first kill in the second game using a P39 to obliterate an IAR 80, throwing THREE sixes with my SELWG dice in the process. A picture of the dice roll is attached for those who would doubt that the dice in question actually have sixes engraved on them.

Plans for next week currently centre on a further Warhammer 40K game and an idea I have for a Napoleonic naval game; thought it was about time the 1/1200 ships came out again....

See yer soon,
Neil.

17th July Games

A reasonable turnout last night, in spite of the current hot weather. I didn't get much of a look at the impressive French and Indian Wars game that Steve and Laurie were running, but given the number of comments about whinging French colonial troops, I gather that the British had the upper hand by game's end. Similarly, Bob and Andy's Malifaux game appeared to proceed to their satisfaction. I ran a second playtest of the naval rules originally written by Bob Cordery with a couple of tweaks. These played out OK, but the rules are not best suited to the level of fleet action we favour; I intend to use these in a modified form for the smaller fleet actions of the earlier Ironclad era in due course, but the rules are going to need some work for this to be achieved. 

Next week I understand that a Warhammer 40K game is scheduled, and Steve has agreed to bring some board games as well. I hope to return to Angels 20, having taken delivery of the last of my current batch of Eastern European Axis aircraft last night. No prizes for which theatre of operations is likely to be featured in the game....

See yer soon,
Neil.