Games Group Christmas Shenanigans

The Hamilton Road Games Group held its Christmas/Holiday party this past Saturday. Martin was flying home for Christmas later this week and we wanted to have our usual unusual games before he left. The festivities also included hot chocolate, cup cakes, cookies, and the like.

If I can dare call it a "tradition", we up held the tradition of the Wings of War Christmas Flight. All the players ran one WWI aircraft and the first player out returned as Snoopy in his Sopwith Camel. The Red Baron then makes an appearance and they go 'round and 'round. Santa arrives in his sleigh with a special twist. If you shoot and damage Santa's sleigh, YOU get the damage since you're now on the "Naughty List." This is always fun.

Ralph loaned us his "official" fly-over maps which added to the look of the game.

A bit further back - this shows that two battle mats were used so we could cover a whole table.

In her first outing, my daughter's friend Nia took to the air.
I don't know if she was victorious or not.

My daughter Katie uses the firing template to take a shot at Santa.
(Don't do it! It's too close to Christmas!)

All sort of aerial action.

The second game set up was a pulp fiction game (having nothing to do with the movie of the same name.) Here the Krampus and his associates have kidnapped Santa at the North Pole in order to destroy Christmas. The horror! A number of teams of adventurers responded to the call to help and rushed to the North Pole to free Kris Kringle and his work force. (Including Bernard the head elf, a few elves, Chris-moose [it is Canada after all], Chris-mouse [die Weihnachtsmaus who is to blame for anything and everything that might go wrong at Christmas], and Dominic the Christmas Donkey.)

The adventurer teams included:
                     Martin's Anti-Cthulhu academic and his soldier followers
                     Katie's SSR lead by Agent Peggy Carter
                     Nia's Star Wars crew
                     Kevin's team starring The Shadow
                     Bear's Sci-fi Highlanders
                     Derek's US Rocket Corps
                     The RCMP led by a new-comer whose name I never really got.
Opposing them;
                     Beth's Krampus with Chicago-style gangsters
                     Mark's team of 1920's brown-shirt stormtroopes led by Ebeneezer Scrooge
                     Matt's team of white-armoured stormtroopes led by the Grinch
The board was loaded with surprises. We used a variant of the 5-Core pulp adventure rules and they worked pretty well. Kevin knew the rules quite well and I relied on him to interpret many of the points of order. I recommend these rules and 5-Core has rules for just about every time period. (Five Men At Kursk, Five Men At Normandy, Chevauchee, On Samhain's Eve [fantasy skirmish})

I brought out my ancient and beloved castle model. Originally Rich was going to lend us his Wild West
Town houses, but the weather kept on his snow clearance job. His wife and daughters did come and they
helped captain at least one group.

Yes, it IS the North Pole.

Martin,, Katie, and Nia look something up on Katie's phone.

The game in progress with Nessie in play attacking the Anti-Cthulhu squad.

Bear's Sci-Fi Highlanders approach the Mystic Stone Circle with its stand of palm trees.
(Everything doesn't have to make sense, y'know.)

Kevin's Shadow team including Margo Lane, Moe Schrebnitz, The Thug, the Waiter, and the useless Physicist
move on after having chased away the Hippo You Want for Christmas.
The playing cards indicated the movement order. I had a deck and shuffled it each turn.

The US Rocket Corps look on as the Anti-Cthulhu team faces Nessie, the T-Rex
hidden in the mystical snows outside of Santa's castle.
Small coloured and numbered blocks indicate an encounter with the unknown
when the team came within 4 inches of the block.

Peggy Carter and Dum-Dum Dugan move toward the castle roadblock once
R2D2 roused them from unconsciousness and a stun that resulted from Mark
dropping grenades from the tower above them.

The Anti-Cthulhu squad took down Nessie with well place Lee-Enfield fire.

The Highlanders encountered the Toyland Fencibles and were troubled by the four-armed
ape who the Highlanders had chased off. They also discovered a hidden Zeppelin and used
it to get over the castle walls.

The US Rocket Corps successfully flew over the wall (whenever they flew, there was a chance
they'd blow up in mid-air) and skulk around trying to find the place where Santa was hidden.

Surprise! The Krampus' robot companion/bodyguard, Big Bob BSR faces down the Shadow.
Big Bob was immune to the Shadow's mysterious laugh, but not the Shadow's twin 45's.
That is, once the Shadow recovered from the surprise.
Oh, BSR means "Big Stompy Robot."

Peggy and Dum-Dum entered the castle and turned their Tommy Guns on Big Bob,

The RCMP led by Sgt. Preston and his dog King moved to the last encounter marker
and met with Dr. Who and his TARDIS who agreed to deliver them anywhere on
the board. They piled in and piled out to attack Big Bob.
The Commissioner - a beaver in uniform - wasn't really there.

A different view of the RCMP and their TARDIS ride.

Big Bob collapses under the fire of the SSR, the Shadow, and the Anti-Cthutlu squad.

The group between moves.

I know your favourite character is Nessie, so here's another view of the T-Rex
as he dukes it out with the Anti-Cthulhu squad.

Earlier in the game, the four-armed ape attacks the Sci-Fi Highlanders and the
Toyland Fencibles. Anything can happen in this sort of game.

In the end, time ran out before the adventurers could get Santa and his guys off the board although with one more turn of the cards, Santa would've been freed. As it was, the Star War's Crew did free Chris-moose, Chris-mouse, and Dominic the Donkey.

That was the bulk of the adventures this past weekend. A good way to prepare ourselves for the Christmas holiday. The library closes early on the next two Saturdays for Christmas and New Year's. If time permits, I may get some gaming and some blogging in.

I hope all you who take time to read this have an enjoyable Christmas and New Year holiday.

The Old School

On a rainy Saturday, quite a few people stopped in to see what we were doing at the Hamilton Road Games Group at the Crouch Branch Library in London, ON. Kevin and Martin were playing a version of the Sci-fi space ship battle game, A Sky Full of Ships II. Andy, Beth, and I played a Seven Years War game using Warfare in the Age of Reason rules. We were experimenting with the rules, and comparing them to the set of rules we had been using - Black Powder. Certain aspect of those rules were not satisfying, such as the command and control rules and the "binary" nature of melee, musketry, and a few other aspects. (By "binary" I mean that the results are either yes/no, live/die, stand/fall with no partial results. It's a personal thing and no one has to agree with me.)
     Anyway, Andy fielded Prussians (four infantry brigades, two cavalry brigades) while Beth and I fielded Russians (three infantry and two cavalry brigades) and Bavarians (one infantry brigade with attached hussars). Artillery was attached all around. The terrain was randomly ascertained according to the maps found in the rule book. (A system I heartily recommend.)

the starting positions - Prussians to the right, Russians and Bavarians to the left.
Eric oversees the entire set-up.

Andy's right wing beginning their march around the bend of the river
toward the single crossing... where the Bavarians waited.

The centre of Andy's line.
In the Seven Years War, it pays to keep your troops in line and tight to their neighbors.

Russian grenadier brigade.
The playing card is used to randomize the movement.

The Cossack cavalry brigade.
One regiment ran off under artillery fire, the other punched some Prussian
hussars in the nose and caused them to fall back.

The Russian heavy cavalry brigade - horse grenadiers, cuirassiers, and horse guards

The Bavarian brigade - 5 infantry battalions, 2 medium guns, and 1 hussar regiment

In short, the Prussians advanced to the bridge on their extreme right where the Bavarians waited. They sniped and stared at each other for the game. The two centres cautiously advanced and traded artillery shots. The cavalry on the Prussian left/Russian right eventually came to grips. The Russian horse grenadiers were roughly handled by Prussian cuirassiers, although the grenadiers had been mauled by the Prussian artillery. One unit of Russian cuirassiers fell back from the melee while the other remained in a prolonged combat with some Prussian cuirassiers. The remaining Cossack regiment smacked a unit of Prussian hussars and caused them to fall back. (Was it the lances or the smell? You decide!) The curfew fell about that time as the library prepared to close down.

Your humble blogger, Beth, Matt, and Eric look over the early movements of the game.

On the far left, the Bavarians hold the bridge. The Russians advance with varying success.

Russian heavy guns limbered.
Not so much a grand battery as an artillery reserve attached to the grenadier brigade.

Andy places the smoke markers showing that the heavy guns have fired.

 

The thunder of the Russian heavy cannon - can't you almost hear it?

The Bavarians fire their cannon as they hold the river line.
These are my wife's troops and she painted a lot of them...
... but not the flags; she leaves that insanity to me.

The Prussian's view of the Russian grenadiers

Russian Cuirassiers

The cavalry melee - the Russian took the worst of it although the Cossacks
proved their mettle.

Prussians advance toward a Russian brigade in their summer sleeved  waistcoats.

My brave Cossack cannon battery is cut to ribbons by the methodical Prussian musketry.

Actually, not a bad roll! I wish I'd had more of them.

I'm old and set in my ways. I think I prefer the "old school" wargames - Age of Reason, Johnney Reb, Shako, Battlefront WWII. They are more complex but they are somewhat more satisfying to my taste.

I haven't been blogging a lot lately. I've been quite busy. Because of a few complexities I won't go into here, I'm now pastoring two churches in the same small town, one Evangelical Lutheran and one Anglican. Both are in "full communion" and can exchange clergy. The hope is this arrangement will allow both congregations to continue and to thrive. Both are in similar situations because of finances and the age of the congregation members. Time will tell. But... it's good to be "back in the saddle again" as far as blogging goes!

Fort Erie 2017

I haven't been blogging much of late. Too many other things - both personal and work related - have been occupying my time. I've also been lazy.

About two weeks ago, our dog of eleven years - Pooka - died. It appears he was suffering from cancer of major internal organs and we couldn't let him suffer any longer. Pooka used to go to the Fort Erie reenactment with us, but we had decided to leave him at home with some dog sitters this year; he was getting miserable with the heat. Now he is already sorely missed.

"... and in the Resurrection, little dog, you too shall have a golden tail."
- Martin Luther to his own dog.

Last weekend was the annual Siege of Fort Erie held at the Old Fort Erie site. This was our eighth time to attend and it was a great one. Our unit - Croghan's Company, 17th US Infantry - fielded 5 muskets, with three women and one young man attending as well. We ate like kings, thanks to my wife's forethought and planning. We arrived and set up camp on Friday just before the festivities began on Saturday morning. We like to arrive early and set up in a more leisurely fashion in the daylight. BBQ chicken was on the menu for the evening meal and our squad-mate, Tyler shared some of his home-made mead. (I'm not a great lover of mead, but I found it flavourful and enjoyable.)
{Photos are courtesy of Laughing Devil Photography, Deb Lewis Brown, Lisa Brown, John Stephens, Steve Zronik, Rolf Gollin, Holly Brennemen, and my wife. If I have forgotten any photographer or mis-labeled anything, please contact me and I'll make proper corrections.}

Croghan's Company, 17th US - Kevin, Rob, your humble blogger, Tyler, and Nick
It was hot and a bit humid so we turned out in our white hunting shirts, work frocks, or roundabout jackets,
which are proper uniforms for the 17th. Cooler than wool and quite destinctive.

Croghan's Company, US 17th, but not often on the field - Beth Nia, Katie, and Tyler's son, Thomas.

Later, our friend, Mark of the 16th joined us with his wife, Carey, and their son, Caleb.

Carey and Caleb and a cup of water.

Drinkin' him some water.

Thomas took a liking to Caleb and they napped.

Friday night, it poured rain. Saturday morning, The Royal Scots Grenadier company consecrated and received new colours. I was not present for this; The US forces are often not invited, but this time we were. I simply didn't go.

The new colours on the altar of drums.

Following that ceremony, the first field exercise took place - Major Buck's surrender and the fort exchanged hands. I served off the field as safety-and-side-rope person, allowing the smooth flow of the column onto the field. Following that, our company went to the vendor's area for some fun and games. First, Nick read Hull's proclamation, outlining the reasons for the US invasion in 1812. We incited the crowd and then tried to arrest a "deserter."

Nick reads while we watch the amusingly hostile crowd.
Helmut the blacksmith provided constant heckling as did a few of the other watchers.
The sutlers and vendors told us they enjoy this since they never get to see the battles or field exercises.
They like it when groups include them in the fun.

"Huzzah!" (Steve Z. said I was yelling "Go, Jays!")
(Well, I would... if I were at the ball game!)

John of the Royal Scots light company was our "victim."
We called him a deserter and gave him the choice of rejoining the US Army or being hanged.
He responded "Ummm..." and took off, stage left!
(John turns out with the 17th on occasion, by the way.)

Tyler and Rob are like gazelles and caught John S quickly. Nick and Kevin provided some musket butt "persuasion."
John returned the favour and had a few of his guys run down Rob minutes later.
They called HIM a deserter and "cut off his toes."

Watching the crowd. Somehow I appear to be gripping my musket SOOOOO tightly,
but I'm really not. I don't understand.

Rob takes in the crowd as well. He changed jobs recently and began to reenact with us again.
He's told us a few times how much he enjoys it.

The afternoon battle recreates the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane, both of which took place after the US took over Fort Erie. The US forces moved north along the Niagara River in a attempt to reach Burlington Heights, the Crown forces HQ. Chippewa was fought just above Niagara Falls and was a costly American victory. Lundy's Lane was almost a bloody night battle and was a strategic Crown win, with the American forces falling back to Fort Erie. The Crown forces followed up and besieged the fort. Many of the First Nations' warriors went home after these battles, appalled by the casualties and the savage nature of war in the field at this time. Our company garrisoned the fort during this battle reenactment.

Ship's Company, 17th US out of Erie, PA lined up.
The colours are part of the 22nd US contingent.

Major Phil, commanding the US militia and volunteers urges his men forward.

Two men of the 1st Volunteers come up on the flank of the Canadian Volunteers.

The Crown forces on the march, led by a combined section of the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles
(green with black facings) and the 60th Foot, the Royal Americans (green with red facings)

Henry, the US surgeon, pulls a wounded volunteer out of the line.

The massive turnout of the 1st Kentucky Volunteer Rifles (blue hunting shirts with red trim) flanked
by Asquith's Rifles (green hunting frocks with red trim) of the Maryland Militia. These folks travelled
all the way from Maryland!

The Crown fife and drum corps plays the lament for the dead at the end of the battle.

Yes, that is a B-17.
It buzzed the fort a number of times on Saturday and Sunday and caused a bit of a stir.

Saturday evening, Beth heated up a version of Cornish pasties which were made at home. We all enjoyed them so much. I'm looking forward to the next time we serve them!

They may not have been exact, but they were delicious.

The highlight of the reenactment is always the evening battle, reenacting the Crown forces night assault on the fort. During the actual battle, the powder magazine blew up and killed as many as 250 men of the storming force. Now, we don't actually blow up the place again, but impressive pyrotechnics are used and the battle is great fun. I sat it out; when I kitted up, I found I had trouble breathing. This disappointed me and my wife as well, since she had kitted up and was going in to defend the fort. Captain James and Mark of the 16th, Major Marty of the 2nd Artillery, and the guys of Croghan's company took care of her.  And she loved it.

The battle begins with US light troops defending the field while the Crown forces advance.

The 17th on the inner wall with Captain James' arm in the foreground,

US Artillery on the terre-plain

The 6-pound field gun from Fort Meigs, OH, manned by the Cushing's Battery, 2nd Artillery

Major Marty ambles off to a safe place.

The inner wall above the terre-plain.
Croghan's company is in white on the left, the 16th is on the right.
Beth is in the middle in the shako without plate with Holly next to her,
in the light hunting frock.

Beth and Holly "manning" the defences.
When in uniform, all reenactors can be addressed as male.

The Crown forces begin their advance.

The pyrotechnics begin!
Charges are planted around the fort walls, covered in peat moss to make an appropriate "explosion"
... and mess.

And the magazine goes up!

A "lantern tour" of the fort followed, raising some money to cover the expenses of the fort. Sunday morning saw a memorial service which is done every year. It includes a First Nations tobacco ceremony, remembering those who died on this land from all nations.

Sunday afternoon saw a reenactment of a sally from the fort by the US forces. Guns are taken, but are left behind and a lot of fire is exchanged. Someone had taken down the safety line on the one side of the battlefield so I stayed there to keep the public out of harm's way. No one tired anything stupid. During the afternoon battle on Saturday, a member of the public decided to walk across the battlefield during the battle... right in front of loaded cannon. We only fire blanks, but they can be dangerous as well. A 6-pound field gun uses a pound (500 grams) of coarse black powder every time it fires. The concussion could hurt you or even kill you if you were too close. (Another safety tip: Never mix alcohol with black powder, that is, don't drink and shoot. It's a recipe for disaster and personal damage.)

The 49th Foot and a green-coated Canadian militia unit advance.

This is how all of the guns are moved.

Major Marty and Captain Ollie lead the line infantry into battle.
Croghan's company is in the second rank.

The 2nd Artillery doffs caps for the lament at the end of the battle.

 

At one point, Major Marty wanted the combined 17ths to fall back to where the field gun was.
"Fall back to the gun! We need to fire it and you're in the cone!"
"To the gun?"
"Yes! RUN!"
Croghan's company, following orders, took off at a run while Ship' s company followed at a marching pace.
Here's Nick moving fast and swearing never to run again.

Ship's company and Croghan's company 17th US as well as some of the 19th US
on Saturday morning.

Croghan's company enters the field followed by the men of the 22nd led by Captain Ollie.

After that battle, things got quiet and we soon packed up to go home. It was a good weekend, even with the rain. I disappointed myself by not taking part in the battles but I served by keeping people safe and explaining some things to the public.

Now... extraneous photos.

Ah, girls...

Kevin, back from sniping in the fort.

Caleb in Thomas' hat climbing on Thomas

John S. looking very serious as a member of the Royal Scots lights.
Next time...

Thomas stoking the fire.

Major Marty and Colonel Rob taking a break.

Major Marty and Sergeant Major Dan between battles.

Life is too short to be serious all the time.