WWII Burma - "It Ain't Half Hot Mum"

Another romp around Burma in which British Empire troops perform a classic close support operation between infantry, armour and artillery, to winkle out some stubborn Japanese defenders. All undertaken effectively, before everyone returned to camp to enjoy some light entertainment and comedy 'skits', admirably performed by the Royal Artillery Concert Party.

Once again we see the Queen of the Battlefield - General Lee tanks - take centre stage, along with some useful recce provided with Indian Pattern Wheeled Carriers. 

Return to face-to-face club night - Napoleonics

We ran our first face-to-face club night, kicking things off with a classic French vs Austrian Napoleonics game, using some new experimental rules, and a WWII Burma clash (see next post).

It was good to get things back to normal again after 18 months of running games online.

Also, our venue is ideally suited for this sort of thing as we have a large room to move around in, so we continue to have social distancing of sorts.

Infinity - Style Over Substance?

For something different, I thought that I would try a system that I have seen in the past that looks visually, very interesting - "Infinity". These are some thoughts on these products:-

First off, you can purchase a 'starter set', which is an all-in-one battle system. It includes figures, tokens, dice, starter booklet, buildings and battle mats etc. Impressive! (It cost £84 inc. P&P). Actually, good value.

The other great thing is that the rules are hosted for FREE online. A big bonus, in my opinion.

That said, I have some thoughts:

1. Figures - Corvus Belli - excellent, extremely highly detailed, beautiful metal models, but the design fault is that they are 'top heavy'. The bases they come with are plastic, so they tend to fall over easily and don't take to transportation in a box very well. Hence, the need to make a container box for them (see below). Also, they are EXPENSIVE.

2. Rules - free online. Great. However, these are very detailed SLOW skirmish rules. Not my thing. I haven't got the time to spend hours on working out the finer points of these rules, nor would any of my potential opponents, I suspect.

3. Scenery - This is the best part of Infinity, I think. The scenery is made from 3mm printed cardboard and is easy to assemble and very atmospheric. Near future/cyberpunky.... Highly recommended.

4. Dice, templates, booklets - Not my thing. The templates, for instance, could be just downloaded and printed off online and believe me, I don't need any more dice.

Overall, some great ideas here and this is a highly sophisticated concept. That said, it won't be something that I will be getting into, although the buildings/terrain should come in useful for other sci-fi projects!

Top heavy figures need a 'transporter'

Is this guy from the crusades???

Bad. Ass.

Really? A sword on the 3000s? Unlikely.

"Where's the frickin' space bar on this keyboard thingy?"

Looks like the .UN special forces., or something...

Anyway...give Infinity a go! Great figures, super scenery and in-depth rules.

Maori Wars - Empress Miniatures Review

These are the first completions for my Maori Wars Project. I've completed the forces for the First Maori War of the 1840s, which sees British infantry in red coats. I have about 50 Maoris, with similar numbers of British, comprising infantry, sailors and militia.

Empress Miniatures run a fantastic line, predominantly covering the earlier conflict. I really can't fault these figures. As with all Empress Miniatures, the attention to historic detail is impressive. They are extremely well detailed, full of character, perfectly proportioned, and come without anything in the way of flashing or excess prep work. They are also a joy to paint. 

I have started putting together some British for the second Maori Wars of the 1860s, in which the British all wore blue coats. Perry Miniatures run line of 1860s 'British Intervention force' (for a hypothetical involvement the ACW), which work perfectly, and are fully compatible with Empress.

I've also constructed a Maori defensive 'Pa' and have some bell tents for the British camp.

Unfortunately this lot hasn't seen action yet. Hopefully, as restrictions are gradually ended, they will see action as the club reconvenes in our usual venue.

Perry Miniatures artillery for the later wars

Stargrave - Second Game in the Ravaged Galaxy

In this episode, the 'Palanite Enforcers' (forces of 'lawlessness and disorder', more like) took on the gun-slinging, high-rolling 'Orlock Gang' in a hell for leather, smash and grab of some loot, which had been deposited around this God forsaken industrial complex, located on some frontier planet in a distant galaxy, far, far away.....