How went 2017??

2017 was an excellent year for gaming.  110 games are the most yet since I got married (back in 1982) and probably more than I ever managed when I was single. A highlight was taking part in 3 Iron Man competitions where all armies are provided and all opponents are historical. Thanks to Whitley Bay 3D gamers, Darley Dale WRG and Glasgow and District Wargames Society for hosting.  All excellent games.

Many grat games were played under the auspices of Falkirk and District Wargames Club – too many to mention individually I am afraid.  Our Carronade show was an outstanding success again.

I set myself a painting target of 100 and managed…..4….. However this only includes those started as bare metal.  I have a substantial stash of pre-loved figures and including those that I got into full table ready condition the total rises to 269 so that is not so bad

Thoughts on 2018 to follow in a couple of days.

List of games played:

Saga	19
Dragon Rampant	9
Wings of War	8
DBA 3.0	7
Hordes of the Things	6
Wargaming 19th Century Europe 1815 - 1878	5
Ludus Gladitorious	4
East Neuk Irregulars 20th Century	4
In Her Majesty's Name	4
Mordhiem	4
Field of Battle	3
Chain of Command	3
Coastal Patrol	3
Check your 6 Jet Age	3
Pulse of Battle	2
Check Your 6!	2
Jump or Burn	2
Broken Legions	2
Malifaux	2
Lord of the Rings	2
Lion Rampant	1
WRG 6th	1
Chain Reaction	1
Pikeman's Lament	1
The Kingdom is Ours	1
Hell Broke Loose	1
Band of Brothers	1
General d'Armee	1
General de Brigade	1
The Men Who Would be Kings	1
Picketts Charge	1
Bolt Action	1
Fury	1
Rogue Stars	1
Full Thrust	1
Battle Havoc	1

Blockade runner

A multiplayer game of Coastal Patrol at the Falkirk club tonight.  The Germans were attempting to guide a blockade runner and a damaged U Boat into Brest under the escort of a couple of S boats and a minesweeper.


Two pairs of British boats, one pair MTBs and one MGBs waited with their main engines off trying to spot the incoming German ships.  The S Boats charged at full speed at the MTBs scoring a number of hits (on low probabilities) but nothing fatal and as they got very close both were sunk by accurate British fire. 


The merchant ship, U Boat and minesweeper all made fairly sedate progress and initially engaged the MGBs giving and receiving minor damage.


As the night drew to a close a number of torpedoes were launched resulting in evasive manoeuvers.  The merchant ship took the opportunity to ram an sink and MGB that got too close but ended up in the path of two torpedoes one of which sent it to the bottom.


A good game which confirmed my enjoyment of these rules which I hope to play again quite often.  Sorry no photos tonight

Viking Raid

My annual visit to Washington Wargames Club coincided with their Christmas game.  I number of Viking warbands had got wind of a treasure trove being stored in a Saxon church and were all bent on claiming it for themselves

The Saxons proved tougher opponents than expected and none of the Vikings managed to reach the church.  I was the last to arrive and decided to take advantage of the earlier arivals and relieve them of some of their booty.  Great fun

Jump or Burn first games

Another new set of rules from the Piquet stable.  Tried a couple of games on Thursday night with Doug and Tim.  Card driven and roll offs using D4 to D12.


In the first game my Fokker was ignominiously set on fire by the rear gunner of a RE8 but managed, in true wargamer style, to fly off the table before it proved fatal.  In the second game I took the RE8 but got nowhere near the action as the scouts battled it out.


Definitely worth another go and the rules are on order from Lancashire games.  Unfortunately they had a sale on so I ended up ordering Pulse of Battle, Archon and the Fantasy version of Piquet as well.  I blame Tim...

Raid on a Pakistani airfield

Apologies for another poor photo - I will try harder in future!


Check Your 6 Jet Age  game at the Falkirk club.  I was helping defend an airfield from an Indian raid.  Tim managed to knock down a couple in his first game but I lost one of my Sabres.   Always a fun game

Second game of Pulse of Battle

Apologies for forgetting to take a photograph until the figures were just about put away again!


Another rout - appalling luck.  My opponent went first every time and I am sure that I managed to throw a 1 in combat on a D4, D6, D8, D10 & D12!  I may be exaggerating but if so not by much.


Still it looks as if the system may provide at least a few games next year and may stimulate some painting which is always a good thing

Picketts charge via the Underground

I have been down in London for a couple of days and on Tuesday night visited the very hospitable Loughton Strike Force for a game of Picketts Charge.  My 2 brigades of Confederates made good if slow progress down the right flank but unfortunately my brother in arms had a tougher time of it on the left and the final result was a Union Victory.  We forgot to put any troops in the middle!


Earlier in the day I took the opportunity to visit the Scythian exhibition at the British Museum.  Some beautiful objects well presented and set in context.

A Lament for Pikeman's Lament

Both myself and Richard wanted to try the rules but our only compatible figures were early Renaissance so I ended up taking Swiss v Burgundian.


The rules are designed for ECW and similar period with Pike used much more in defence than attack so the experiment was a little unsatisfactory.  Definitely worth another go with in period armies.


I forgot to take a photo until the very end so the only unit left on the table were the above!

Empire of the Dead has arrived

The plan is to try and get the models painted up quickly and get a game in

IHMN - the abandoned town square

Monday night at FDWC saw myself with Cossacks, Richard (Lord Curr's company) Andy (The Servants of Ra) and Jeremy (Okrana) searching the town square for items of value. With there being 2 Russian forces on the board the speculation was that there were bottles of vodka!


I foolishly split my forces and lost 3 men to Cur (2 with 1 grenade) and another 3 to the Egyptians.  Still great fun as IHMN usually is.


I have Empires of the Dead on order thanks to a good Black Friday sale so I will soon also have a vampire force for that system and potentially for IHMN as well

Test game of Pulse of Battle

My successors got a run out this week with me taking Lysimacids against Tim with Seleucids.  It was a run through the Pulse of Battle rules.  The photo shows a Thracian warband running away- soon to be followed by a number of other units.


I managed to kill an elephant but that was about it!

100 games up

100 games played by 13th November - a new record for me.


More SAGA than anything else but a good mix of gaming systems - Dragon Rampant has also been a favourite with my Wood Elves.

Lack of 2017 Plan - or not!

My first thought was no plan for 2017 - just enjoy my gaming, attend the usual shows and events (but not York unfortunately).


Then I thought
           I really want to get the attic sorted any everything properly boxed and labelled


And then
          I definitely want to get the Argonauts painted and have at least one game


I was then challenged on a painting target
         I must be able to get 100 figures painted


So time to stop before the list continues to grow
         I do intend to get to Con-Accord in Aberdeen though

How went 2016??

Highlights included 4 trips to Glasgow Phoenix playing DBA and HOTT


2 new shows - Prestonpans and at the Rheged centre in the Lake District


Carronade went very well.  I ran Antonine's Folly as a DBA comp for the first time and also 100 Years of War.


The target of 100 games was achieved.  Thanks to all my opponents

DBA 3.0	35
Hordes of the Things	7
Mordhiem	6
Lion Rampant	5
Saga	5
Wings of War	4
Chain of Command	3
Dragon Rampant	3
War of the Ring	3
Blood Eagle	2
Custers Last Stand	2
Frostgrave	2
Otherworld	2
Star Wars Attack Wing	2
Algernon Gets it Off 2nd ed	1
Beyond the Gates of Antares	1
Blood & Faith	1
Bolt Action	1
Check your 6 Jet Age	1
DBR	1
Firefly	1
Force on Force	1
Hail Caesar	1
Hammerin Iron	1
If the Lord Spares Us	1
Irregular Wars:Conflict at the World's End	1
Piquet Field of Battle	1
Rapid Fire	1
Regimental Fire & Fury	1
Renaissance Warfare	1
Songs of Blades and Heroes	1
Team Yankee	1
Warmachine Prime III	1
Warpack	1
TOTAL	101