New Year's Day Lunch and Game

L-R: Conscripts Indo, Dallas, Kevin, Dave V., Frederick, Mike F., Keegan. Greg had to duck out early :-(

This year we continued the tradition of a New Year's Day lunch and game hosted at my place. We had an excellent turnout of Conscripts and a fun game.

My wife Pam had prepared an amazing lunch as usual: pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, BBQ roasted carrots, dainties and pie. Best of all, Leanne and Robyn (wife and daughter of Mike) and Jen (wife of Dave) were able to make it for lunch as well. The tummies of all were filled with delicious food.

The table, with Mike F., Greg and Dave in contemplation

After lunch we repaired to the basement of Conscript HQ for a game of Otherworld Fantasy Skirmish. I'd prepared seven factions for the game was turned out to be perfect as there were seven other Conscripts in attendance.

As usual, we used the superb Games Workshop dungeon tiles and markers laser-cut by Conscript Byron. In the photo above we see Greg's murder-wizard roasting Mike F.'s vampires with a Pillar of Fire spell. Outstanding!

 

The treasure room at the centre of the dungeon held a nice surprise - an Eye Tyrant (Beholder!) that popped up to menace Dave V.'s pig-faced Orc warband. Although it was duly dispatched, I am told that its appearance did cause some consternation, which was what I was going for.

Players scored victory points for killing other players' minions (1 VP each) and characters (2VP) as well as for collecting treasure items.We counted up VPs at the end of the game and the winner (despite having to leave early) was GREG B. with 10VPs. Indo came a close second with 8VPs, while Mike, Dave and Keegan tied on 4VPs. Frederick scored 3 and Kevin scored... zero. Must've been the warband I reckon ;-)

Anyway, thanks as always to Pam for the wonderful food and to the guys for coming out to ring in the New Year!

New Year's Day in the Trenches - 28mm Battle Report

Yesterday, I hosted the annual New Year's Day Game and Lunch Extravaganza. We had a great turnout of Conscripts for the lunch and game - from left to right - yours truly, Conscripts John, Bill, Mike F., Byron, Greg, Brian, Frederick, Keegan, Kevin, and Hugh. Since the game will be set in the Great War, we're outfitted for the photo with some appropriate period headgear courtesy mostly of Conscript Frederick.
 

Of course, before the game we have to eat... Pam laid on a very nice spread of pork-and-apple pie, yam fries with cinnamon, and an orange vinaigrette salad. Carrot cake and dainties for dessert, too (thanks to Conscript Byron for the latter), with everything washed down with soda, and Rolling Rock beer courtesy of Conscript Mike.

The scenario was pretty straightforward - The Big Push. The Germans deployed using the trench map shown above, while British infantry and tanks attack frontally with a cavalry squadron ready to exploit the breakthrough (!)

Here's the ground to be fought over. I'm reminded of that scene in "Blackadder" where General Melchett tries to cheer up George by showing him a sand table at his HQ representing the ground captured in the last advance... George asks what scale it is and Melchett replies, "it's actual size."

The British deploy as Conscript Byron suggests a flanking maneuver? Sorry Byron, it's the Great War, frontal assaults only ;-)

We used the Warhammer Historical "Great War" rules for the game. The British had a battalion led by Major Graves, comprising two companies (three and two platoons led by Captain Blunden and Captain Sassoon respectively) with attached assault platoon and Highlanders platoon, three Vickers MGs, an 18-pounder gun and two MK IV male tanks. In reserve they held a cavalry squadron of two troops plus HQ element.
 

German head-scratching. The Huns deployed a battalion commanded by Major Junger, comprising two companies of two platoons each (led by Hauptmann Rosenberg and Hauptmann Remarque), two MG08s, a 77mm gun, and a medium trench mortar. In reserve they had an assault company of two platoons, an A7V tank, and a captured MK IV "Beutepanzer" (apparently NOT pronounced "booty-panzer" ;-)
 

The British advance. Their machineguns were pretty effective in suppressing Mike's platoons and a few defenders were killed.

The Germans deployed their 77mm gun on "Der Pickel" (the pimple) and it commanded an excellent field of fire. Kevin was pretty deadly with it throughout the game.

The Germans emerged from their bunkers and manned the front line trenches.

One poor fellow had to stand knee-deep in a flooded shell hole. Unit coherency can be a bitch!

One shot from the 77mm knocks out the luckless MK IV tank.

Anticipating an imminent breakthrough the cavalry appeared to exploit it.

Keegan's tank had broken down but he still worked the guns as the cavalry advanced.

Late in the game the German MK IV appeared. The A7V never showed up as apparently it must've broken down on the way to the start line.

The lads ponder the progress of the British attack.

Another good shot from Kevins "77" knocks out Keegan's tank for good. Iron Crosses all around for that crew!

The cavalry surges bravely forward towards the wire.

German fire has weeded out their ranks though...

Beute MK IV angles for a firing position.

Fokker circles the battlefield, high above the death and destruction.
 

The leading cavalry troop just made it to the edge of the front line trenches. Some of their infantry comrades occupied the trench line just in front of them as the game was ending.

Men of the match - Kevin's 77mm gun crew.
 

A proud fighting machine is reduced to battlefield debris.

Well, the game ended as expected - the British had made a minor gain on their right flank but the Germans reinforced their supports so the Brits would be in for a fight to hold on. I think when we play this game again I'll start the British a bit farther onto the table - maybe 12" in rather than the 3" or so in this game. It just gives a bit less ground for them to cover. Of course, starting in closer can be a slight disadvantage for them too, as their MGs have fewer turns with clear fields of fire, so that's a nice tradeoff. I'd tweak the rules slightly as well, to allow a "run" move of d6" in the Close Assault phase for troops who didn't shoot.

All in all I think a very successful and enjoyable lunch and game. The terrain sure looks great and I think everyone had a good time and enough fine food to eat - which is the whole point of the New Year's game.

All the best to you and yours for the New Year, and roll on 2015!

Cheers,

Dallas

New Year's Day Game - Mordheim!

In accordance with ancient custom, once again this year I hosted a game on New Year's Day, accompanied by a delicious lunch prepared by my wonderful wife. One of my recent obsessions has been old-school fantasy gaming a la "Oldhammer", so for New Year's 2014 I decided to run a fantasy game. I wanted to run a multi-player game that would get everybody involved, so I picked GW's "Mordheim" for the rules, and set about designing a basic scenario and some 500gc warbands for the boys to push around.
   

The backstory to the game was this: on New Year's Day, the magical energies of the Old World are at their peak. At the edge of the Chaos Wastes, warbands of adventurers gather to tap the mystical energies of the ancient standing stones. The table is laid out with three such stones. Each turn that a Hero is in base contact with a stone during the combat phase (and is not involved in combat), the warband adds d6 power points to its stock. If the warband's leader is in contact with a stone, the number of points added is 2d6. The game lasts for 8 turns; the warband with the most power points at the end of the game, wins!
  

Stinky the Troll gets ionto it with the Chaos Warriors

Conscripts Greg, Frederick, John, Dave and Kevin came out for the game. Greg brought a Marienburger warband and Dave brought a really cool gang composed of old Talisman figures. John ran a gang of Orcs and their pet troll, Frederick took an Undead gang, Kevin selected Chaos Warriors, and I ran my newly painted Oldhammer Skaven - no model newer than 1987! 

Skaven surround a standing stone

Harry the Hammer about to hammer on an Orc

Pet Blue Horror lets the Orcs know what he thinks of 'em

Looking good for John's Orcs but looks were deceiving

Frederick's shambling zombies shamble forward

Marienburger captian confronts Vampire and attendant dregs

Marienburger wizard and master of the flaming balls

L to R: Dallas (in Reimer jersey), Kevin, John, Dave, Frederick, Greg

Frederick jumped out to an early lead that was unassailable - his Vampire moved very fast and his die rolling once in contact with the stone was astounding. He ended up with 30 points. His opposite number, Greg, had to leave early so we ruled that their stone had run out of power points ;-) I totally forgot my Skaven boss's "infiltrate" ability but our fast moving got a few models in contact early and garnered me 19 points. Although I whittled away enough of Dave's warband to force a bottle check, he passed the Rout test (with the help of a Bard re-roll at +1) and inflicted enough damage on the rats to force us to check... which I of course blew. Dave ended up scoring 8 points. On the far side, John and Kevin waged a see-saw battle that saw John's Orcs finally crack under the pressure of Kev's elite Chaos Warriors. Kevin scored 8 points and John made off with 5. 

Thanks to the guys for coming out, it was a great afternoon spent watching the Winter Classic on TV and playing a fun game. But especially, thanks to Pam for making our amazing "pub lunch" of meat pie, BBQ potatoes and carrots, yam soup and apple peach cobbler. So yummy! And lastly, thanks to everybody who reads and follows our ramblings. It wouldn't make a lot of sense to do this blog if it weren't for you. Have a peaceful and happy 2014!

New Year's Day, 1920s style

For several years now, I've hosted a New Year's Day game. Taking a cue from our founding Conscript, Curt, my amazing wife Pam also prepares a meal themed to the game. This year I decided to run a 1920s gangster game, so the meal of course had to be "Chicago-style" deep dish pizza! Thanks Pam!

Anyway the scenario was pretty straightforward. I created four gangs with pretty much identical composition - a boss, two toughs, two hitmen, and two mobsters. I placed an objective (the accountant who knows far too much) in the middle of the table, guarded by three cops. They are keeping him safe and awaiting the arrival of police reinforcements (i.e. the end of the game). The mob gangs each start equidistant from the centre - their goals are to pump the accountant for information. Each turn with a model spent in contact with the accountant will gain 1 VP for the mob in question. All VPs count no matter whether your gang is around at the end of the game or not - so no "camping" and waiting till the last turn to swoop in and capture the potato!

Of course, before the game, we first had some lunch! Conscripts Kev, Bill, Greg, Brian, Hugh, Mike F., Dave V., Perry and Frederick made it out - an excellent showing.

Partaking of some excellent food and beverages...

The game begins with the gangs edging towards the centre and the objective. We used the rules mod for "Legends of the Old West" from Wargames Soldiers and Strategies magazine, with weapons ranges standardized and "to hit" rolls improved by one pip, most models hit on a 4+, some on a 3+ (the hitmen).

Gangsters advance cautiously...

Another group gathers by the bank...

Sharp-eyed readers will note that many of the buildings used in this Chicago waterfront table have also appeared in other games - notably our Stalingrad games. I'm all about terrain amortization, but try to make things reasonably accurate too.... hence I printed out a "Chicago Meat Packing Co. Ltd." sign to go over the Russian "Tractor Factory" sign, and some "Missing Lindbergh Baby" posters to cover up the inspirational (but anachronistic) Red Army poster on the side of the building.

(Accountant and police handlers in the foreground)

Gangsters take aim at the police...

...who return fire!

The gangs exchanges fire as they got closer, moving inexorably toward a climactic showdown!

Things are shaping up in the middle as the Southside O'Donnells shake out into a gun line...

While nearby other rival gangs exchange fire through the wire fence.

Some enterprising gangsters snuck along the edge of the pier, hoping to get the drop.

In the middle, one of the Bosses makes the accountant "an offer he can't refuse."

Chaos as the final fight shapes up.

The game ended in a bloodbath, of course, as two gangs bottled out and the two remaining groups went at it until one's morale broke, and they fled.

Had a great time as usual, with fine food, beverages and fellowship. Thanks to the guys for coming out and to those who brought snacks and beverages, an extra thanks. And a very big thank you to Pam for making us all the delicious food! (Dave - I know you took some food pics with your phone - could you post them here if you get a chance?)

Cheers and happy 2013!