Another Walk in the Sun

Lots of real life has kept me from blogging my gaming, but I got to play again on Saturday. The Hamilton Road Games Club was a cool haven on a hot day and we ran a good sized War of 1812 skirmish using a slight variant on the Iron Ivan "This Very Ground" rules. I orginally laid out the game for 8 participants, but we doubled up and went with four. (Glenn, Andy, Robby, and I - I originally thought I'd be games-master, but I played.)
Each detatchment had a mission, so it was possible for every player to win. Here's the line-up:
         British line infantry - take and hold the bridge
         Canadian Fencible light infantry - attack and destroy/capture the supply train
         First Nations/Native war party with British Indian Department "advisors" - burn the farmstead
         Canadian Militia - take and handle the boats
         US infantry - capture the bridge and blow it up (an engineer officer and a cart of explosives
                              accompanied them
         US Rifles - find and harass the enemy
         US Volunteers - escort the supply train to the other end of the table
         US state militia - move to and protect the farmstead
Everybody jumped and started on their missions. The British line took the bridge and defended it from the woods on their side. (To be fair, the bridge was much too close to the Crown side.) The Native and the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles crossed the bridge to head for their objectives. The Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada headed for the docks. The US Rifles began to roam, spoiling for a fight. They fired on the IMUC and drove them from the docks into the woods behind them. The US Regulars headed for the bridge with a pioneer and an engineer officer in tow. The Volunteers moved the supply wagons until a group of brigands attacked them from a wooded area and pinned the column in the road. (This was one of 10 "Event sites" on the board. When a unit got within 6", the event sprung out. More on that later.) The State militia began to march to the farm.



The US Regulars -in summer jackets no less!- meet an insane man (an Event)
who screamed, giving away their position and grating on their nerves until
the mounted officer sworded him.




The IMUC, skilled boat handling in this scenario, take the boats.



The State Militia passes the Volunteer escorted supply train on their way
to the farm.

The Glengarries and the Native warband pass on either side of the skunk.
The polecat was an "event" that the Glennies encountered but scared off
without being gassed!



Eagle Eye view of the battlefield -- US Rifles skirmishing in left foreground,
US Regulars straddling the small path, The Glennies firing on them,
the Volunteers on the road near the T, the State Militia beyond them racing
to the farm, the Natives in the woods to their left (a whiskey still was found
there but the BID officer kept control), beef-on-the-hoof on the hill. That's
Robby's hand on the right.



More of the same - the IMUC recovering morale in the woods  near the
dock, the British Regulars covering the bridge from the near-by woods,
in the background, in the middle of the hidden ford (Event #10), a BID trooper
escorts a US deserter to Andy's root beer bottle and interrogation.

The game didn't go well for the US. The Regulars got nowhere near the bridge and couldn't fulfill their mission. The US Rifles did engage the enemy and were moving to pepper the bridge and its defenders with well-aimed rifle fire. The Volunteer saw the supply train to it's destination, and actually split off a group to help the Regulars, although it was too little, too late. The Militia never made it to the farm, having some morale failures while firing at the Natives. The Natives sent out scouts who did burn the farm. The British Line held the bridge and exchanged fire with the US Rifles. The Glengarries couldn't reach the supply train and opted to engage the US Regulars. As light infantry, their marksmanship was above average and they damaged the US Infantry badly. The IMUC recovered morale and were preparing to bring the boats down stream. The BID/Native warband captured a deserter which added to their victory point total. (+1) Each completed mission netted 2 Victory Points, so the Crown total was 7VP to the US total of 4VP.

My biggest mistake was to place the bridge and the dock too close to the crown start line and too far from the US. It was still fun. At one point, after Robby's US Regulars passed a wooded area, a bear charged out belatedly and had to be shot down by an infantryman, a sergeant, and the engineer's assisting pioneer. The Glennies encountered a gouvernment official who tried to take command... but failed. The Natives discovered the cattle, but both sides maintained a watchful peace. After attacking the wagon train and pinning the Volunteer for a turn, the brigands melted into the forest.

This sort of game has become a favourite of my son and I and everybody who plays finds it fun and challenging. We add a dash of "encountered events" from Iron Ivan's "Where Heroes Dare" and it's amazing what happens. Try it. Feel free to contact me for some ideas or procedures.


The farm in flames!




The bear! With one wound!




Andy's line infantry hold the bridge.




The Volunteers escort the wagons. Ammo? Salt pork? Whiskey?
Pickled eggs? PAPERWORK? No, pickled eggs.




The much-damaged US Regulars with the engineer's cart. The engineer is
behind the horse. The US Rifles skirmish just beyond them.



The Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles with the Lord Mayor of Where-ever
out front in brown. ("Get down, your Worship! Better yet, stay where you are!)

More later if time allows. My holidays are coming up. Fort Erie beckons!

10mm mayhem aka Warhamster!!!

Because of schedule difficulties, no big games were planned for me at the Hamilton Road Games Club last Saturday. Andy brought a game called "Admirals" which was a naval version of Stratego. I'd neve played it before, so I was promptly trounced by Andy.  Then it was Robby's turn to be sunk.
After that Robby and I laid out the old Warmaster figures. He played High Elves (his sister's figures) while I played Arthurians (my wife's figures of a makey-uppy army; I usually play Empire while Robby pushes Dwarfs.) He beat me and really beat up my center with a brigade of chariots. My barbarian horse cracked his left but the chariots swept the center and some of my right. A revoltin' development, as has been said.
Now to the photos! (Thanks to Glenn who lent me his camera and forwarded the photos.)


Elven Chariots and Silver Helm heavy cavalry (GW figs)





Arthurian Heavy Cavalry (Pendragon & Copplestone figs)




Arthurian cavalry again




The Chariot brigade takes an objective and prepares to massacre by bowmen
(Just out of frame). The Elven mage rides a Slinky in the background.




This is how we depict the Elven Dragon Riders. I wish I knew what make
the dragon was. I think it was picked up at a flea market/Bring&Buy.





the right flank of the Elvenhost... facing late Romans (peeking out of the
left of frame.) Not too effective but they didn't have to be.





Since I had Dogs of War mercenaries added to the Arthurians, the paychest
was required! Yes, it looks like a strong box on a flatcar, but the Dog Brothers
get paid.



A Dragon Rider faces down mercenary barbarian cavalry (GW Chaos
Marauders - one of my favourite figures)



The Chariots begin to slaughter the late Roman bowmen. Messy...
and it got messier.





















Warmaster has to be my favourite GW game (up there with Man O' War). It sad it never got the support it deserved. Maybe it has a larger following than I know. I haven't tried the Ancient or Medieval versions (too much money to buy too many new armies) although I've amassed a considerable ECW/TYW collection in 10mm for a variant on Warmaster I found on-line from a Pittsburgh games club. That'll show up here someday. Whatever the case, I'll continue to enjoy the game. After all, I bought it; It's MY game now!

Summer is the time for 1/1 scale gaming!

Last Saturday, my family and I took part in the Port Dover Marine Heritage Festival in Port Dover, ON. There were three reenactment of a battle that never took place, although US Forces burned the port and areas around sometime in 1814. It was hot as all get out, but it was fun. Late morning - Skirmish; midafternoon - battle on the field; evening - Battle on the beach... with a ship and boats!
(All photos of the evening battle courtesy of my wife, Beth and my daughter, Katie.)


The Badger and the Pandora supporting the "landing".
The brigantine, St. Lawrence II is in the background.




The St. Lawrence II, which packs a cannon for the reenactment, sits
a bit off shore in Lake Erie.




The 17th US Infantry (myself, Robby, and Lyle) prepares to advance.
We were the rear guard and last to leave the field... with empty cartridge boxes.
We were the only Regular US Army unit reenactors present, although the
US Marines made a good showing, as always.




The Kentucky Volunteer Rifles serve as light infantry - blue hunting frocks
with red trim and slouch hats. A good crowd!



The 17th held the left of the US line. The Incorporated Militia of Upper
Canada Connecticut are to our right. There's always a suplus of British/
Canadian/Crown forces and some get "drafted" into the forces of the Republic!



The mighty fortifications of Port Dover. They didn't survive the battle...
especially since Robby and Lyle stomped them down!




The 17th... after action and before ice cream!




"Sand??" he said. Robby expresses an opinion.



Yes, they really fire. Just powder, no ball. Still,
a .75 calibre musket makes a noise and has to be
respected. Never point one at anybody.

Not much reenacting now until the Siege of Fort Erie, ON in early August. THAT's the one to see. We reenact in and around the actual battlefield of Fort Erie. It's quite a privilege. Maybe Fort Meigs/2nd US Artillery from Ohio will bring their 6-pounder again. In October, the Fanshawe Pioneer Village in London, ON will host the 1812 Grand Tactical for the Battle of Upper Canada. It should be huge. 

Meanwhile back in New France

Once more the Games Club went into the French & Indian War for our inspiration. The British were attacking French and Native settlements with objectives known only to them. Before the game, 3 objectives were diced for out of six possible. Meeting one objective meant a draw, two - a marginal victory, three - a crushing victory for the British. Three on a side, and off we went. We used Iron Ivan's "This Very Ground" rules with so me minor house adjustment, the biggest of which was to allow the regular units to fire in a triple line, as was done historically, so I'm told. Provincials, Militia, and Natives cannot do this. In fact, the Natives cannot even form up and spend the entire game in skirmish order. We also permit all disrupted units a free attempt at recovering morale at the end of each full turn. (Thanks to Andy for all the photos.)


The French - 3 line companies and 1 grenadier company - await orders at the beginning of the game.





The First Nations warriors move to defend their settlement - Andy's new long house.




 The British line advances on the cattle while the Independant Companies
of the Ministry of Marine watch from across the stream.




A view down the "spine" of the table - Regulars and other cattle.



The British - Regulars, Provincials, and Militia - stealin' cattle.



More rustling, or I should say, "requsitioning of beef" by the militia
as the Redcoat Regulars engage the Whitecoat Regulars over the rail fences.




British Provicial troops move toward the Native warriors in the left center of the photo.
The Natives stayed in the forest and smashed the Provincials... this time.



Musket and bayonet vs, tomahawk and warclub in the forested area. Messy.



In the foreground, the British Light Infantry exchange shots with the French Light
Infantry and the Independant Company in a village across the stream.
The British got the worst of it.



At the end, we discovered the British  objectives were to:

1. Steal/requisition all the cattle
2. Burn the boats at the villiage dock
3. Burn the village

The boats were too far away and the bridge crossing was much too hot, so the Redcoats only achieved one goal and there was plenty of beef for all in this drawn game.

Games with objectives make for good, solid, entertaining games. Large, slash-and-burn games are fine for ancients, but 18th Century on seems to go better with goals and objectives rather than "kill me all of them."

Greetings from Sick Bay

Not really. I've been suffering from a nasty respiratory malady for a few days, and I'm done no gaming and very little painting. (I almost lost my voice which is a real  problem in my line of work.) So I'm going down "Memory Lane" and sharing some old painting I enjoyed doing.


From Copplestone Castings, Captain Spaulding and Alan Quartermain.
The Quartermain fig was a special one year at Historicon.
The Captain is always a favourite!





The Gentleman's cyber-Gentleman... in brown shoes. (Copplestone)




Pulp Miniatures' "The Shadowy Avenger" (*wink, wink*)
Knowing what evil lurks in the hearts of men and that the weed of crime
bears bitter fruit.



When I played WFB, I tried to run the Black Company as a mercenary regiment.
Lots of simple head swops

Arthur, King of the Britons for my wife's Arthurian Warmaster army.
(Copplestone and Pendragon minis)



My "Mercenary Brigade" for an Empire Warmaster army -
the Red Death Legion, the Wild Geese, the Hochmeister Regiment, and...
The Black Company. (GW Warmaster figs)




Some ECW/TYW regiments using a variation on GW's Warmaster
(Pendragon and Old Glory 10's mixed)



Grenadier Barbarians working as Chaos Marauders with a sprinkling of
GW Chaos Marauders as "advisors".  I was always impressed with 
Grenadier Models product. I think they are still moulded in Italy.




Napoleonics! My wife's Italians face my Austrians. A mixed bag of figures
on both sides.



A horrible "phone photo" of part of my Gallic army for WAB. Talk about
Chaos! But they're SO much fun!




A brigade of my SYW Russians face down my wife's Bavarian hussars.
The Cossacks will probably not do much to help. (Freikorp 15's and Essex)



More 1/1 gaming, Part 2

Somehow this photo didn't make it into the previous post!



Robby cuts loose with Brown Bess. He's dressed in the uniform of the Royal
Newfoundland Regiment and was told he wears it well!

I just wanted to add this photo since it's a good one.



More 1/1 gaming

No miniature gaming lately, but more reenacting. The King's Company assisted at the education day at Backus-Page House, Wallacetown, ON, last weekend. On Friday, Robby and I and two other members ambushed the grade 8 students who had been drilled as American raiders. We set a roadblock and held them off with very little success. We did defeat the slugs in the woods, although we were heavily out-numbered. On Saturday, we took part in a "raid" on the Talbot settlement for the public to see.

Many Strings (Kim L., professor of music at the University of Western Ontario), Robby, and myself at the question period. I portrayed a Canadian local militiaman and Robby, a member of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

 

The US raiders at the house. Jonathan, our first sergeant, Lyle, and Owen.





The raiders take the house after "shooting" the farmer. Lyle's son, in red, was sort of a junior militiaman.




The Crown forces counterattack.




Kim/Many Strings awaits his moment to charge with his deadly "foam-ahawk."
He took down Lyle in the afternoon raid and scalped Owen in the morning show.





Nick from our group portraying Colonel Talbot.
The Colonel was a major factor in the settling of this part of Ontario.



Jeff, Robby, Owen, and Lyle drill the "Mini-militia." All the boys and girls present are 'conscripted' to
learn drill with wooden muskets. Always fun to see. Jeff does a great job and parents take lots of photos.





Robby cuts loose with Brown Bess. He's dressed in the uniform of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment
and was told that he wears it well.

  

In answer to a boy's question, Jeff shows how a Native warrior could defeat a bayonet with a knife and tomahawk... providing the soldier was alone. I joined Robby a few minutes later and showed the youngster how the line defeats the single warrior.

Part of our reenacting is education of the public and even that can be a load of fun. So is explaining why your musket didn't go off despite 3 reloadings! There will be more reenacting in the summer and more in 2012, the bicentennial of the War of 1812.