Sorry I haven't posted anything in the last year plus. In my defence, its been a bit busy, some health issues, a retirement and a move from Chicago to basically Saint Louis so I have been busy. Hopefully I will post a little more regularly.
Since there should be something to comment on, a little bit of a sneak preview for the Little Wars 2014 convention. The Atlantic Gaming Commision will not be running a million games like last time, but we will be staging a large Black Powder game that will take place on the Saturday of the con. Not to give away too much, but it will be a War of 1812 game, only a hypothetical battle. This actually gives us the freedom to run a pretty big game, as most battles of that war were fairly small compared to what was going on in Europe at the time. I'll give a little bit of a teaser, since I doubt that many people will read this (outside of the AGC) and it's going to be in the PEL anyway. The background is that in the summer of 1814, instead of the British raiding in the Chesapeake and Prevost leading an invasion into upstate New York (the one that ended at Plattsburgh/Lake Champlain) the British make a play for New York City. Its going to be big, its going to be fun.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Sorry its been light
Funny how surgery on a toe can affect one's ability to type.
A little surgical procedure has kept me away from the keyboard, but now that its comfortable to sit at a desk, back to the grind.
We've had a couple of games in the last few weeks gentle readers, and things are coming along with the group project. The late medieval idea is developing, with some members of the AGC getting stuff done a lot faster than others, but everyone making progress. I'm waiting for some pavise transfers I ordered from Little Big Men Studios to arrive, and then will get cracking on my infantry, but the cavalry certainly looks nice. I must say that the Perry mounted crossbowman are a very nice addition to my mounted strike force.
In other periods, I've found myself drifting back to Vietnam, but an earlier version. I've been reading Logevall's "Embers of War" while lying with my foot in the air, an excellent account of the war in Indochina between the French and the Viet Minh. I've already got a considerable amount of Eureka 15mm figures for the period, with a mix of Quality Casting and Flames of War vehicles for the French. I had been contemplating using the ever excellent "I Ain't Been Shot Mum" rules from Too Fat Lardies, but I've shifted my thinking from company level actions to multi-battalion, so Battlefront WW2 might end up being used instead. Which isn't bad to think in both directions, as a company for Battlefront ends up being roughly a platoon in IABSM, the figures can multi-task. I just need more heavy weapons represented on the board for BFWW2.
Our War of 1812 stuff continues to move forward, another game is planned for this Monday. A couple of weeks ago we had a smashing game with a Britsh pre-emptative strike on an American army that was forming up to eventually invade Canada. Ended up being a bloody draw, but the Americans saw their invasion plans derailed. What was amazing was how a brigade of militia turned out to be a hard fighting force that blunted the Britsh drive. Mind you, they were eventually broken, but they did hold up the redcoats. Sometimes the dice gods smile upon you. The downside of this 1812 project is I have found myself painting 28mm Napoleonics as well, despite having what seems like millions of them in 15mm. Sucks being a wargamer, doesn't it?
Hopefully I will get some pictures posted from the upcoming game, and thanks for continuing to read this blog!
A little surgical procedure has kept me away from the keyboard, but now that its comfortable to sit at a desk, back to the grind.
We've had a couple of games in the last few weeks gentle readers, and things are coming along with the group project. The late medieval idea is developing, with some members of the AGC getting stuff done a lot faster than others, but everyone making progress. I'm waiting for some pavise transfers I ordered from Little Big Men Studios to arrive, and then will get cracking on my infantry, but the cavalry certainly looks nice. I must say that the Perry mounted crossbowman are a very nice addition to my mounted strike force.
In other periods, I've found myself drifting back to Vietnam, but an earlier version. I've been reading Logevall's "Embers of War" while lying with my foot in the air, an excellent account of the war in Indochina between the French and the Viet Minh. I've already got a considerable amount of Eureka 15mm figures for the period, with a mix of Quality Casting and Flames of War vehicles for the French. I had been contemplating using the ever excellent "I Ain't Been Shot Mum" rules from Too Fat Lardies, but I've shifted my thinking from company level actions to multi-battalion, so Battlefront WW2 might end up being used instead. Which isn't bad to think in both directions, as a company for Battlefront ends up being roughly a platoon in IABSM, the figures can multi-task. I just need more heavy weapons represented on the board for BFWW2.
Our War of 1812 stuff continues to move forward, another game is planned for this Monday. A couple of weeks ago we had a smashing game with a Britsh pre-emptative strike on an American army that was forming up to eventually invade Canada. Ended up being a bloody draw, but the Americans saw their invasion plans derailed. What was amazing was how a brigade of militia turned out to be a hard fighting force that blunted the Britsh drive. Mind you, they were eventually broken, but they did hold up the redcoats. Sometimes the dice gods smile upon you. The downside of this 1812 project is I have found myself painting 28mm Napoleonics as well, despite having what seems like millions of them in 15mm. Sucks being a wargamer, doesn't it?
Hopefully I will get some pictures posted from the upcoming game, and thanks for continuing to read this blog!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
White Armor
Well, the crew at the AGC are embarking on a new project, late medieval. When I originally broached the idea I had visions of Italy in the second half of the 15th century. Everyone raises their own condotterei band and we have swirling battles of shifting alliances.
No plan ever survives first contact with the enemy.
Which is cool. We're all painting in roughly the same time period, some people are sticking to Italy and others...well, lets just say both the houses of York and Lancaster are making appearances. And I really can't complain much. Turns out my own army is slowly morphing into that of Charles the Bold of Burgundy. Which is an army I already have in 15mm but this is a 28mm effort. But hey, already did the research! (who says historians can't be lazy) I have a feeling at some point I'll be doing some Swiss, but most likely I will end up doing French troops for the era as well. At some point, hopefully within a month or so, we'll get a game going and I'll post some pics.
No worries though...we are still doing the 1812 thing as well.
Is it possible for a whole gaming club to suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder?
No plan ever survives first contact with the enemy.
Which is cool. We're all painting in roughly the same time period, some people are sticking to Italy and others...well, lets just say both the houses of York and Lancaster are making appearances. And I really can't complain much. Turns out my own army is slowly morphing into that of Charles the Bold of Burgundy. Which is an army I already have in 15mm but this is a 28mm effort. But hey, already did the research! (who says historians can't be lazy) I have a feeling at some point I'll be doing some Swiss, but most likely I will end up doing French troops for the era as well. At some point, hopefully within a month or so, we'll get a game going and I'll post some pics.
No worries though...we are still doing the 1812 thing as well.
Is it possible for a whole gaming club to suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder?
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Updated ramblings
After a couple of weeks of WW2 games, back to the north woods next Monday. Got a couple of tricks up my sleeves, we'll see how it works. On the upside, the 28mm War of 1812 thing is providing unexpected fallout. One of the other members of the AGC mentioned that he had just bought a bunch of Victrix Napoleonics...
This is good, I have been slowly, very, very slowly, painting a brigade of 28mm Perry French infantry, and I have four regiments of French cuirassier to do as well (hey! there was a sale!) and some hussars....and three battalions of Prussian regulars and three of Prussian landwehr....and...dear lord, its a sickness isn't it?
So I am glad someone else is kicking in for Napoleonics.
We won't talk about the 15th century Italy project right now....
This is good, I have been slowly, very, very slowly, painting a brigade of 28mm Perry French infantry, and I have four regiments of French cuirassier to do as well (hey! there was a sale!) and some hussars....and three battalions of Prussian regulars and three of Prussian landwehr....and...dear lord, its a sickness isn't it?
So I am glad someone else is kicking in for Napoleonics.
We won't talk about the 15th century Italy project right now....
Monday, July 16, 2012
Nature resumes its balance
Well, we got in another War of 1812 game, and this time it was a bit more predictable. The Americans, despite overwhelming numbers had.....issues.
Not that the American plan was inherently flawed. I over-tweaked them for the game, so it was hard to find a unit that didn't have something wrong with it, although most were reasonably benign issues like "freshly raised" status. The Brits also got a bit tweaked as well, mostly more super-power things like "brave" and "crack" although their militia had their faults.
Clearly, there is some more thought to be applied to balance, but the period is picking up with the Atlantic Gaming Commision, two members are working on British troops for the Chesapeake Campaign of 1814, and with Knuckleduster releasing US naval personnel from Barney's Flotilla, the Battle of Bladesnburg will be a reality.
Soon!
Not that the American plan was inherently flawed. I over-tweaked them for the game, so it was hard to find a unit that didn't have something wrong with it, although most were reasonably benign issues like "freshly raised" status. The Brits also got a bit tweaked as well, mostly more super-power things like "brave" and "crack" although their militia had their faults.
Clearly, there is some more thought to be applied to balance, but the period is picking up with the Atlantic Gaming Commision, two members are working on British troops for the Chesapeake Campaign of 1814, and with Knuckleduster releasing US naval personnel from Barney's Flotilla, the Battle of Bladesnburg will be a reality.
Soon!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Well, that was a surprise.
The Americans won!
Two brigades of American regulars, one of which was freshly raised and of dubious ability, supported by a mixed brigade of regulars and militia faced off against a British army based around two regular battalions supported by various militia units and Indians.
I got of expected it to be a Chrysler's Farm refight, but fate conspired against the British.
Well, that and their choice of tactics.
On the first turn the British center brigade composed of the 41st Foot, supported by Upper Canadian militia, charged the American militia brigade in the Yankee right flank. The British commander rolled a triple move, which brought them crashing through an evading line of American riflemen and into contact with a militia battalion and a converged battalion of regulars. The American militia, being freshly raised, rolled to see their reaction, their fire was panicked. The regulars inflicted on hit on a Canadian militia unit, but the melee was on. And on. And on. By the miracle of rolling box cars for their morale, the American militia held on to the hill. Eventually, after about three turns, they broke, and the provisional battalion was forced to fall back, but the British were at Stamina and not going anywhere. A charge at one point by a small unit of American Light Dragoons put the wind up the British players, but did not accomplish anything. The two militia units flanking the 41st were broken by the Americans, and eventually the regular battalion had to retire, followed up by American lights.
As for the other flanks, the poor player commanding the British right never made a command roll. His force of Indians and Canadian Voltiguers sulked in a wooded area for most of the game, and a detachment of Glengarry Light Infantry that was in the open simply got destroyed by American artillery fire.
Not that the Americans facing him accomplished much, again due to bad die rolls. The 22nd Infantry eventually advanced on the British, but the supporting 17th Infantry veered off to the left. Which, consdiering they were freshly raised and wavering may have been for the best. But it was their artillery section which doomed the Glengarrys.
The British left wing also played a minimal role in the battle. Deployed way off to the left to counter an imaginary American move, the 8th Foot and its accompaning artillery section needed to make a huge shift to get into action. Considering that the British were informed that these were their heavy hitters, I have no idea why they were deployed the way they were. Eventually the center companies and Armstrong's guns got into action, with the flank companys lagging behind. It was pretty obvious once they got into action how deadly they were, Armstrong blasted the 1st Infantry with cannister, forcing a break test. The Americans survived but fell back, and the 13th Infantry ended up in a firefight with the center companies of the 8th Foot. However, since the British right was not moving, American riflemen worked around the flank of the gun and US artillery provided counter battery fire. With Armstrong disrupted, the center companies disrupted, the left brigade shattered and the right brigade soon shattered after the Voltigeurs finally moved, only to take the place of the Glengarry's and suffer the same fate, it was decreed an American victory.
Looking back on the battle, the Americans didn't do anything spectacularly right, but they didn't do anything to screw up. The British on the other hand... Their best brigade was deployed to far to the flank, with their only artillery. If the artillery had been centered it could have taken the advancing Americans under fire and possibly broken a battalion or two before contact, as the US army was pretty freshly raised. Likewise, the firepower of the 8th would have been awesome. Additionally, the charge by the center brigade was questionable at best. I understand the thinking that a quick bayonet charge would overwhelm the militia, but they could have used a softening up.
Once I get some pictures uploaded to my computer, I'll post!
Two brigades of American regulars, one of which was freshly raised and of dubious ability, supported by a mixed brigade of regulars and militia faced off against a British army based around two regular battalions supported by various militia units and Indians.
I got of expected it to be a Chrysler's Farm refight, but fate conspired against the British.
Well, that and their choice of tactics.
On the first turn the British center brigade composed of the 41st Foot, supported by Upper Canadian militia, charged the American militia brigade in the Yankee right flank. The British commander rolled a triple move, which brought them crashing through an evading line of American riflemen and into contact with a militia battalion and a converged battalion of regulars. The American militia, being freshly raised, rolled to see their reaction, their fire was panicked. The regulars inflicted on hit on a Canadian militia unit, but the melee was on. And on. And on. By the miracle of rolling box cars for their morale, the American militia held on to the hill. Eventually, after about three turns, they broke, and the provisional battalion was forced to fall back, but the British were at Stamina and not going anywhere. A charge at one point by a small unit of American Light Dragoons put the wind up the British players, but did not accomplish anything. The two militia units flanking the 41st were broken by the Americans, and eventually the regular battalion had to retire, followed up by American lights.
As for the other flanks, the poor player commanding the British right never made a command roll. His force of Indians and Canadian Voltiguers sulked in a wooded area for most of the game, and a detachment of Glengarry Light Infantry that was in the open simply got destroyed by American artillery fire.
Not that the Americans facing him accomplished much, again due to bad die rolls. The 22nd Infantry eventually advanced on the British, but the supporting 17th Infantry veered off to the left. Which, consdiering they were freshly raised and wavering may have been for the best. But it was their artillery section which doomed the Glengarrys.
The British left wing also played a minimal role in the battle. Deployed way off to the left to counter an imaginary American move, the 8th Foot and its accompaning artillery section needed to make a huge shift to get into action. Considering that the British were informed that these were their heavy hitters, I have no idea why they were deployed the way they were. Eventually the center companies and Armstrong's guns got into action, with the flank companys lagging behind. It was pretty obvious once they got into action how deadly they were, Armstrong blasted the 1st Infantry with cannister, forcing a break test. The Americans survived but fell back, and the 13th Infantry ended up in a firefight with the center companies of the 8th Foot. However, since the British right was not moving, American riflemen worked around the flank of the gun and US artillery provided counter battery fire. With Armstrong disrupted, the center companies disrupted, the left brigade shattered and the right brigade soon shattered after the Voltigeurs finally moved, only to take the place of the Glengarry's and suffer the same fate, it was decreed an American victory.
Looking back on the battle, the Americans didn't do anything spectacularly right, but they didn't do anything to screw up. The British on the other hand... Their best brigade was deployed to far to the flank, with their only artillery. If the artillery had been centered it could have taken the advancing Americans under fire and possibly broken a battalion or two before contact, as the US army was pretty freshly raised. Likewise, the firepower of the 8th would have been awesome. Additionally, the charge by the center brigade was questionable at best. I understand the thinking that a quick bayonet charge would overwhelm the militia, but they could have used a softening up.
Monday, June 18, 2012
200 Tonight
Well, tonight is our first War of 1812 game, and the first time we are playing Black Powder in 25mm. Should be interesting to see how the crew reacts with longer ranges and movement. The table is going to shrink considerably. (in fact I am thinking of going to 2/3rds distance instead of the half we use with 15s.) And it was a weekend of disaster getting ready. I had a bad dullcoat event that not fogged up figures, but actually sprayed a battalion white. (well, from the front) I know not to use the stuff in high humidity, so I sprayed in an air conditioned area and it still went wrong.
Updates later this week!
Updates later this week!
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