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.....
13 July 2021
29 June 2021
Stargrave - First Game in the 'Ravaged Galaxy'
This was our first attempt at playing 'Stargrave' - sci fi skirmish rules. It was set on some bleak, dark, post industrial futuristic world in which both gangs of intergalactic renegades had to collect loot, kill the opposition and avoid being killed.
The rules worked very well. The game mechanics are straightforward and we churned through the turns more quickly as we progressed, as we got used to the sequence. They are fun rules that enable you to develop an ongoing narrative which, in our game, included extreme cowardice, falling off buildings and extensive use of a flame-thrower!
The figures are from the excellent Games Workshop 'Necromunda' range, which can be used effectively for Stargrave. The terrain is also heavily influenced by the Necromunda setting, although it comprises of inexpensive MDP sci fi terrain and homemade pieces.
16 June 2021
Stargrave - Necromunda Project
Ok, first off, I’m an old ‘historical miniatures hand’. I’ve never done ‘fantasy’ wargaming, as it were.
My son has been interested in sci-fi and we have been working
together on a joint Stargrave/Necromunda project.
To this end, we have been creating some futuristic/sci-fi
terrain and building some ‘gangs’ (based on Games Workshop (GW) miniatures).
I have to say that I am completely blown away by the
quality of GM miniatures. They are SO good, I am almost lost for words (and I
have been wargaming for 35 years now!). The attention to detail, the consistent
aesthetics, the quality of the sprues, the imagination – just brilliant! I can’t
believe that I have ignored their products for all of these years, and the
Games Workshop HQ and factory is only a couple of miles from where I live here
in Nottingham (GW is over the Trent river there in Lenton).
The only criticisms would be around pricing – they aren’t cheap
- and customisation. You can’t really create your own figures. You have to
follow the GW templates in building the miniatures with little scope to be
creative, other than painting them.
Anyway, here are a few photos of our first attempts at this
new project. I will update with completed miniatures and terrain over the next
couple of weeks etc.
As for Stargrave – great. Elegant, yet sophisticated rules that allow your imagination to run wild.
My thought is - Some of us on the historical side of
wargaming have a lot to learn from the fantasy/sci-fi gamers….and probably vice
versa……
25 May 2021
ACW – Early Months of the War Scenario
This scenario is the first meeting of the forces that I have been working on to eventually refight the Battle of First Manassas at the Bull Run. The armies that met in the first few engagements – at Big Bethel and Bull Run – had some interesting uniforms and features for the wargamer. Colourful zouave and chasseur uniforms, some Northerners in grey and some Southerners in blue, Stars and bars flags only for the Confederates etc.
In this refight, the Union were successful on their left flank and the Confederacy on their left, leading to a ‘revolving door’ front line. The Confederates also had the better of the fighting in the centre and killed more enemy troops, so on balance the C.S.A had the better of the evening’s fighting.
Louisiana Tiger Zouaves |
Player View |
Battle of Bull Run Wargame |
14th Brooklyn Chasseurs ('Red Legged Devils') |
JEB Stuart and the Black Horse Cavalry |
33rd Virginia (on right) in blue coats |
NY Fire Zouaves |
79th NY Highlanders hit in the flank |
11 May 2021
Boeotian War 378-371 BC – Thebes vs Sparta
Sparta clashes with Thebes in this classic historical match-up. The game was another one of our online club games. This period has proved popular for online games as they are easy to set up and relatively straightforward for players to command their forces.
In this clash the Thebans made good use of marshy ground on
their right flank to slow the Peloponnesian advance down and massed their superior
cavalry on their left flank to sweep the Spartan cavalry from the field. The
centre was hotly contested but a stubborn unit of allied Boeotian hoplites
(despite being inferior and unreliable) held out long enough for the Sacred
Band to land the knock-out blow to the Lacedemonians.
Player View |
Cavalry Melee |
Peltasts |
The Theban Phalanx including the Sacred Band |
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Ok, first off, I’m an old ‘ historical miniatures hand’ . I’ve never done ‘fantasy’ wargaming, as it were. My son has been interested in s...
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In this interesting scenario, the Douglases and Hamiltons fought the length and breadth of Cowgate in Edinburgh for control of the city, the...
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A couple of games were hosted on Monday night, In a Napoleonics battle, a Prussian army narrowly defeated a French force by holding out agai...
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A brand new army graced the table - The Saxons - in this Napoleonics encounter. The Saxons, supported by some French heavy cavalry, went toe...
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A giant abandoned space hulk is fought over by roaming bands of scavenging bands of Dark Eldar and renegade teams of Space Marines. 40K Boar...
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1812 era Russians made their first appearance on the club battlefield last night. Unfortunately, they weren't successful. On their left...