23rd April Games

Attendance was down last night; myself, Steves H & S, Dave K, Andy P and Nigel were involved in a play test of a scenario I'd prepared ahead of running a TANKS participation game at the Broadside show in June. TANKS was originally devised as a purely armour based game for WW2, but I wanted to try and bring in some infantry action in a limited anti tank role without over complicating the game for the public. I devised an encounter table whereby a troop of Sherman tanks were tasked with exiting the far end of the table, with scattered but significant German opposition ranging from an individual landser (German squaddie) armed with a one shot panzerfaust up to armour including the inevitable Tiger tank. The Allied tanks could spot these forces and then attempt to remove them from play while completing their mission. 

The first game was predictably a bit of a mess, and following discussion some changes were made and the second affair made the Allied advance more of a challenge. Some work on the encounter table and the terrain remains, and a further play test before the show will be required, but I'm pleased with the overall result, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

Nigel's offered to run a Swords Weirdos skirmish next week, details of any other games awaited.

See yer soon,

Neil

2rnd April Games

We had two decent sized games running last night; Andy P ran Dead Man's Hand Western Gunfight for Mark, Nigel, Steve H and Paul which eventually ran out as a very bloody draw, while Dave C ran a larger test game for his ACW Ironclad rules for myself and Dave K as the Confederacy and Nick and Steve S commanding for the Union. 

The Union were tasked with forcing the passage past Fort Unately into Static Bay (names provided by Dave C....), and the Confederates with preventing this, having the fort and two gunboats, an immobilised ironclad and a smaller ironclad ram to do so.

As commanding officer Confederacy, the initial dispositions of my ships were not of my choosing (blame the umpire as usual), so I put Dave in command of the fort and the immobilised ironclad which was moored directly below it, and I proceeded to launch what could only be called a death ride with the gunboats into the heart of the Union fleet in the hope of inflicting sufficient damage to deter their attack, or by sinking a vessel in the middle of the passage and blocking entry to Static Bay. The fort was able to sink a large Union vessel, and I was able to inflict sufficient damage before one of the gunboats was sunk to decide the action in our favour. It appears my dice have Secesh tendencies as I rolled more 6's than was healthy and much to the dismay of the Yankees! Thanks to Dave for setting things up for a most enjoyable game.

Next week, a further game of Carnevale has been planned. I've something in mind but this will depend on who is available.

See yer soon,

Neil        

26th March Games

Reasonable turnout last night; Steve S, Dave K, Mark and Andy P ran a more detailed game of Carnevale (a skirmish game set in a alternative version of Venice). The rules can cause issues of interpretation; it was apparent from conversation this was an issue, but apparently it all ended well.

I ran Ludis Gladiatorus for myself, Eddie, Nigel and Steve H, which proved as predictably messy as ever; Steve and I ended up slogging it out at the end, with Steve coming out with the Maximus award for the evening.

Next week, Andy P will be running an Dead Man's Hand game, and Dave C is hosting a further Portable ACW Ironclad game for myself, Nick, Steve S and Dave K. 

See yer soon,

Neil 

19th March Games

Bit quiet this week; I ran a Ludo style boardgame 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' based on the characters in the first of the Hobbit film trilogy. Steve S & H, Nick, Andy P, Mark and myself played various of the members of the party, gathering skills and equipment before challenging the monsters in each second. A fast paced game led to Steve S as Gandalf wining by completing the sectors first. Just the one image taken at the start of the game for flavour. As far as I can recall, we haven't played this since before the pandemic, so it was nice to give the game another runout.

Next week, a further game of Carnevale has been scheduled and we'll organise some backup games.

See yer soon,

Neil

12th March Games

We ran two games last night; Steve S ran a Heroquest game for the bulk of those present; this is the recently re-released version of the classic dungeon crawl game from waaaaaay back when. There are substantial differences between the two, and the game was essentially a trial run for a further game which would then hopefully run better.

Dave C, Nick and I played out a further Portable ACW naval game, based on the action in Hampton Roads between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia. Monitor was tasked with protecting the grounded USS Minnesota (a wooden frigate which had run aground during the Virginia's first sort the previous day). Virginia was tasked with destroying the Minnesota and surviving to exit the table from her point of entry. Nick ran the Union ships, while I (predictably) commanded the Virginia. 

For once, my plan worked, and I was able to destroy the Minnesota and execute a ram on the stern of the Monitor; admittedly the ram was ineffective, but so VERY satisfying! Virginia was adjudged by Dave to have exited the table in time for tea and medals.

Next week, we have a further Heroquest game planned, and I'll bring a couple of games along as backup.

See yer soon,

Neil 

5th March Games

Enough on hand last night to run two games. Dave K ran Flashpoint (the firefighting game we ran a few weeks back) for the bulk of those present. Steve H and I trialled a card-based game I'd acquired a while back set during the Trojan War. 

Achilles and Hector allows two players to fight over a series of turns, playing unit cards and optional Hero cards, the object being for one player to lose all cards in a particular deck on the front of his board, or the Home deck behind. The rules need careful study (or a YouTube video) so we only got a few rounds in before time called. The game appears to require bluffing which I have yet to get the hang of. Interesting game though.

Next week it is planned to run Heroquest; Dave C's follow up ACW Ironclad game has been postponed for a couple of weeks, so I'll bring backup.

See yer soon,

Neil  

26th February Games

  We ran two very different games last night; most of those present were involved in a variant of Zombiecide I never thought I'd see, based on the TV series of Monty Python's Flying Circus, which included all the best known characters from the Ministry of Silly Walks, the Gumbies and the giant foot! It looked like great fun except for the zombies wanting to nosh on the characters, but that's zombies for you.

   In a slightly saner corner, Dave C, Nick and myself ran the much delayed play test of Dave's Gridded ACW Naval Wargame, using two small forces for the Union and the Confederacy. This was the game's first outing and as such was umpired by Dave. I ran a Confederate squadron with a broadside ironclad ram and a gunboat, while Nick had a shallow draught monitor and a gunboat. I drew first blood, hitting the monitor with fire from the gunboat. This was promptly bracketed by both Union vessels and reduced to matchwood in short order. My ram hit the Union gunboat with closed range gunfire but took damage in return, at which point we ran out of time. In all likelihood, I'd have been outmanoeuvred by the faster Union vessels and pounded into submission, but the point was to test the rules ahead of a much larger game which will be covered in a revised edition of Dave's rules for future publication. Great fun all the same.

No firm decision on next week's games as yet. Flashpoint seems to be one option, others are under consideration.

See yer soon,

Neil