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

100 Game objective achieved

My second game of DBA with Mark at the Falkirk club last night got me over the line.  I will post more details of games played in a review of the year at some point over the Christmas break


Thanks to all my opponents in 2016.


Can I do even better in 2017?

My Claymore Challenge

Off to Claymore tomorrow (Sat).


I have set myself the challenge of playing 7 games, to help me get closer to 100 this year.


I will report back

Mid July - games played to date

Up to 62 so not too bad.  Helped a lot by playing shorter games such as DBA.  Lets see if I can keep on track.  The list is: 

DBA 3.0	24
Lion Rampant	5
Wings of War	4
Dragon Rampant	3
Saga	3
Blood Eagle	2
Chain of Command	2
Hordes of the Things	2
Mordhiem	2
Star Wars Attack Wing	2
Algernon Gets it Off 2nd ed	1
Beyond the Gates of Antates	1
Blood & Faith	1
Bolt Action	1
Check your 6 Jet Age	1
Custers Last Stand	1
DBR	1
Frostgrave	1
Hail Caeser	1
Hammerin Iron	1
Irregular Wars:Conflict at the World's End	1
Otherworld	1
Renaissance Warfare	1
Team Yankee	1
War of the Ring	1

Mid Year update

Against my annual target of 100 games I have managed 59 so broadly on track but still pretty challenging as December is usually a write off and I have (non wargaming) holiday weeks to take yet.

What has helped has been a playing much more DBA – Monday saw another 3 games.  It was my regular last Monday in the month DBA/HotT  event but this time we down to just myself and Dave P.  No matter as we had 3 interesting games with me using Romans against his recently acquired Cartheginians.  It ended up 2 -1 to myself – I was a bit reckless with my general in the last game.

Last Saturday I attended the Lakeland Phoenix show event at Penrith.  Not a bad start for a new show – I am sure it has the potential to grow in future years.  I had a quick run through with Beyond the Gates of Atares – think SF Bolt Action.  I don’t think I was in the target audience as we ran through it all in not much more than 10 minutes – I would have appreciated more of a game.  I then played an absolutely excellent Lion Rampant Lord of the Rings game recreating the final scene before the Fellowship went their different ways.  The aim was to get the Hobbits to the boats and thanks to some good rolls I managed to get them all away.  Great fun – well done to Matt who played it through 9 times on the day – I have suggested that he might like to bring a game to Carronade.

Onwards and upwards – just another 41 games to play this year!

2016 plan

Simply put get more done!  So (a) more time on the enjoyable stuff, (b) do the necessary but less enjoyable stuff quicker and (c) do a lot less of the time wasting stuff.

In the wargaming context this means (a) play more games, (b) finally get the attic fully organised so I know what I have got and can find it quickly and (c) cut down internet browsing significantly.

On the games front my aim is to hit the magic 100 games played this year.  This basically means taking every opportunity to get games in.  For instance in 2015 I attended 6 shows and played 4 games.  I could probably have played 14 and certainly at least 12.  Fit another couple of shows in and I could get close to 20.

It is not all about games at shows of course.  Applying the get more done principles to my non wargaming life should free up time to look for other opportunities without unduly impacting my family life – my wife is very understanding about my hobby time but I certainly don’t want to take that for granted. 

It is not all about quantity of course – quality is just as important.  I hope to get involved in more campaigns at the club (Falkirk and District) and perhaps even run one myself.   Also a good number of historical refights.   I am running a DBA competition for the first time (April 24^th) which I am looking forward to and expect to run 100 Years of War again in September.

More blogging would also be good and I want to write an article or two for the publications of the various societies of which I am a member.

So here is looking forward to a good (perhaps very good) year.  I hope all the readers of the blog are able to do all they set out to do in 2016 as well.   Happy New Year!