Battletech - Alpha Strike

I doubt very much that wars in 1,000 year's time war will be fought by giant prowling robots, but who cares? - Battletech is first and foremost a lot of fun.

We were using the streamlined, simplified 'Alpha Strike' version of the rules. The original Battletech is really quite complex and in-depth, whereas 'Alpha Strike' simplifies the game play, statistics and damage mechanisms. It also allows for aircraft and infantry, although we like to stick to the 'Battle 'Mechs' (giant war robots). It is also a really nice rule book with lost of scenario ideas and great visuals.

On this futuristic city battlefield, some incredibly powerful 'mechs' went head-to-head in what became a giant sci-fi slug-fest. In the end, the battlefield was covered in vast piles of steaming, exploding, burning, KO'd mechs.

French & Indian Wars

Two games were hosted at this week's club night, the first of which being a French & Indian Wars game, using the Second Edition of the 'Muskets & Tomahawks' Rules.

This was the first game with the updated edition of M&T, and feedback from the players was they were quite impressed with the set and that the game started to flow nicely after they had got used to the sequence following the first couple of turns.

The Second Edition is also designed to cover skirmish games set in conflicts right throughout the Black powder period. That means they could come in handy for a number of other periods and might suit the Maori Wars well.

Nottingham Wargames Club - Back up and Running at our usual venue

Just a quick note to say that we are running normal face-to-face club nights from The Queens Walk Community Centre as usual.

The room is large and enables a certain degree of social distancing, which is great!

See 'Club Details' for information.

Every Monday evening from 6:30 onwards, save Bank Holidays.

See you there!

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