The Seven Years War Convention 2024

 

     About 10 days or so ago, Beth and I travelled to South Bend, Indiana, in the USA for this year's Seven Years War convention. Our friend, Andy convinced us to go as he and his wife were going as well as another friend, Glenn. I'd never been there before and since my present schedule at the church permitted me the time to be there, we went. Fortunately, I had received my Cortisone shots in both knees just prior to this event. Of course, I twisted my left knee before leaving which left me "less than optimal."

     Besides all that, we had an uneventful drive down and found ourselves at the Doubletree Hotel in South Bend. The place was connected to the convention centre by an overhead walk way, which was always dry if a touch chilly. 

     When we arrived Thursday evening, we went to our room and on Friday morning, took in the whole place, both games and vendors. In the afternoon, I played a game, "Fox Hunt on the Diemel" using Tricorne rules. This is a "classic style" set of rules, using d6s for everything. For some unknown and un-Godly reason I ended up as the commander of the Allied side. Yes, I was the Duke of Brunswick! Andy took the left flank and other gentleman gamers were the right and the right centre grenadier brigade. The French were opposing a river crossing by a mixed force of German troops allied to Prussia..(The following photos are a bit out of order and often somewhat blurry. Apologies.)

Swiss regiments in the service of France at the advance.

My Brunswick troops exchange fire with the French

More firing! Losses were recorded on separate sheets in a style reminiscent of WRG rules.

Hanoverians troops face French cavalry and Swiss Infantry. Tough going!

More of the same.

Out of order... the Allied right flank over the stream before the cavalry arrived.

Allied grenadiers and artillery advance.

The French at the stream.

Inspired by their brigadier, the French infantry hold the stream.

Out of order again... the Brunswick brigade moves to take position in the light woods.

French strongholds on either side of the stream.

Me! In all my plumbastic glory!

     Friday evening (after dinner) saw both Beth and I engaged in a "French & Indian War" scenario - "The Raid at Kittaning" using Muskets & Tomahawks II skirmish rules. The group graciously brought Beth into the game although she originally had not decided to play. Glenn, Beth, and I played the Lenni-Lenape ("Delaware") warriors in the village of Kittaning, set just north-east of Pittsburgh, PA. (Beth and I had moved from the eastern part of Pennsylvania about 16 years ago, but I had lived in Pittsburgh briefly and had a good idea of the area.) The game was a blast. The rangers and Pennsylvania Militia were to free captives, burn buildings, and capture livestock while battling the warriors of the Lenape Nation. The Colonials were able to free some of the captives, and either "liberated" or killed some of the livestock. They set fire to four dwellings, but only one collapsed so they were stimmied in that sense. As it got later and later, I remember calling out to the Militia: "Just kill a d**n chicken, get the point, and end the game!" It didn't work so Glenn, Beth, and I called it a winning draw among ourselves. I'm not sure the other players would see it the same way,

The battle in full swing. Beth held the left wing, Glenn's warriors arrived by
canoe on the right, and I held the centre with Captain Jacobs in the blockhouse,
firing while wife reloaded for him!

The birds atop the dwelling represented the presence of unactivated
warriors within. A chief/"sachem" had to run to the building to 
activate the warriors. The small boy running at left centre has a story
all his own!

Whoops! One dwelling is on fire while the French regulars arrive late in the game.
They were marching hard from Fort Dusquesne.

The French troops were originally going to be under the command of the gamesmaster.
However, he turned them over to the Lenape players and Beth took command.
It was frustrating for the Militia because the French chit was pulled -literally- four times
in a row!

Earlier in the game.

"Silverheels"
A young boy who moved only when the Militia's move came up.
He ran for the table edge and once he got there, the French came in
a turn later. Beth may have surprised the other gamers with her handling
of regular troops in linear tactics. "Make ready! Present! FIRE!"

     Lastly, Glenn and I played a very unusual game: "The Relief of Chernovtsky 1738" where we both played on the Ottoman side against the Russians. Chernovtsky was under siege by the Ottoman Turks and a large Russian relief force was sent to break the siege. For some unknown reason, a reason beyond comprehension, I was set up as the chief Ottoman Pasha. (Do I look that competent? Fooled you all!!) Glenn commanded the centre cavalry and the elite Janissaries. The game used 10mm figures and was played with For King or Empress rules using the War of the Austrian Succession Expansion. The field was impressive and looked great. There were a lot of figures!

The Ottoman left facing a HUGE number of Russian infantry

Elite Janissaries with artillery and other Ottoman troops to their left.

Glenn Pasha's cavalry and my Kapikulu guard cavalry

Russian cavalry - dragoons and hussars - facing Ottoman horse archers, Delis, and Sipihi lancers.

Kapikulu... as you can plainly see!
The colour-coded labeling made things much easier to know who was commanding who.

Sipihis move in support of the crazed horse archers.

Russians! Russians! Russians!

     We thoroughly enjoy the con, bought some fantastic figs, and found the flea market ("Bring-and-buy" if you're Canadian.) quite interesting. Some of my latest painting will reflect these purchases! Our thanks go out to all who hosted games and set up this con. Excellent work!

     Will we go back again? It depends on a number of things, to be honest - post-retirement finances, health, and border politics. As the Magic Eight-Ball says "Ask again later." Maybe there will be some naval games next time! (We had hoped to find some at this con, but alas!)

    'Til later enjoy this pastoral scene:

Seven Years War again

    Andy and I have been trying to up our game for the Seven Years War in 15mm. We've also been using a slight variant of the Honours of War rules on the company lever for the so-called "French & Indian Wars" in North America. (That's for another blog later.) Personally, I've found these rules quite playable and I think they have the "feel" of the period, although that's a judgement call since I didn't live in central Europe in the 1750's. I'd recommend them.

    This past Saturday, I unlimbered my Austrians to face Andy's Prussians. In games prior to this, I had fielded my Russian army, an old favourite. We'd also used Andy's French troops. My Swedes are still on the painting table. Andy and Glenn faced Dave and I over the table. We fought to a draw... which I considered a "win" considering my abysmal luck and field general skills. Some photos follow, courtesy of Andy and of Dave.

From the Prussian perspective; the advance to the town of Neues Unbenannt.
The large blue dice show the status of the brigadier, since that officer could be
Dashing, Competent, or "Dithering" for that turn. The rules set that up. It has
a lot to do with historical aggressiveness and staff work.

Dave stares down Glenn.
The cotton balls denote the unit has fired.

Austrian Kurassier and Prussian Kurassier prepare to go sword to sword.
The Prussian heavies (elite) are a "large" unit with some extra troops and a +1 in melee.
They were brigaded with a dragoon regiment.(regular)
The Austrian had a regiment of Kurassiers and a combined unit of Kurassier Carabiniers
and dragoon horse grenadiers, all elite.

The Austrian advance over grain fields.
Rifle armed Jager (small unit of skirmishers) precede the one brigade of line infantry.
A brigade of elite grenadiers goes into the village.

Some photos of previous games where the French took a strong punch in the nose.   

French vs. Prussians - fighting over an open field

The French advance.
The red bead denotes a casualty. We've gone to a better system now.

The French right flank

We're still learning the rules and are using the 20mm distances for our 15mm armies.

     I like these rules and I hope to continue to used them. In the SYW period, I cut my teeth on KoenigKrieg and there's still a few things I really like about those rules. I've also played Warfare in the Age of Reason and found them fine as well. I'll stick with HoW for a good long while, I think.

It's Been a While

Yes, it has been a while since I blogged. Any number of things have been going on and I've been distracted. I'd like to say "busy", but "distracted" would be more honest. Changes in household, changes in work and ministry, and changes in the other things I do are all there.

For instance, in my reenacting, I've been made "Battalion Adjutant." Sounds like a promotion, and I suppose it is. It has a lot to do with where to place people for parade and keeping some records. The Colonel asked me to do this partially because I don't move so well with the arthritis in my knees and this would keep me in the hobby. I kiddingly tell people that I was made an officer in my unit because I can cause less damage that way. Who knows?

My dear wife cracked a rib at a reenactment a few weeks ago. I was not present because I was officiating at a wedding. She's doing better, but is still sore at times.

My ministry continues and some changes might be in the offing. I cannot be sure and I'll keep all that to myself for the time being.

Painting? Yes, I have been painting and I enjoy it! Here are some selections.

Based on the videos from "Black Magic Craft", I did a spike trap
for possible use in D&D games.
I recommend you look up and watch BMC's videos on YouTube.

An odd-looking altar set for the Service.
I'll add it to a ruined church Andy gifted me with.

Barrels of stuff - Silver Bayonet table clutter

Adding some colour to my French troop for Silver Bayonet -
men of two of the Swiss Regiments in the Grand Armee.

Nosferatu-style vampires for Silver Bayonet.
I suppose these are vampires whose investment never paid out.

From a Silver Bayonet game with my friend, Mark - 
the leader and the supernatural investigator from my Irish rebel warband,
based on the '98 rebellion. 

The Table for Silver Bayonet
My Irish vs. Mark's Scottish warband

Some of the Irish
The Mayo-man (using Highlander stats), the leader, a deserter
from the Crown infantry, and the friar/investigator

The Mayo-man with his two-handed axe faces off the Scots leader.

The rest of the Irish - 
Insurgent rifleman, Junior officer, and rebel infantryman

I'd been wanting to do a naval warband for a while.
My local store just started to carry "Blood & Plunder" from
Firelock Games. I bought a box of the ship's crew which
included 16 multi-pose figures. Just the thing for Silver Bayonet!

A few more naval types including a junior officer in a bicorne head
that was left over from some British infantry officer in the bits-box.

From a recent game at the Hamilton Road Games Group in London
A game using A Fistful of Lead rules for the Wild West.
Beth ran an all-female gunslinger gang, but ended up losing to two other gangs.
A great set of rules that I'd recommend to anyone!

Things can get busy around the corral.

Some T'au "Pathfinders" with plasma carbines
A while back, my son and I played a game using the FFoL Sci-fi rules
for the 'Grimdark' setting. I wanted to make up my own SF warband and
since I like the T'au, there you have it. More on this later.

Andy and I continue our foray into the Seven Years War using Osprey's Honours of War rules.
We're still learning and it gives me a chance to unlimber my Russian army for the period.

A brigade of Cossacks
WARNING: Don't EVER do this! Cossacks are too brittle to stand alone as a brigade.
Individual regiments dancing around, messing with people's heads is great...
But a brigade of them is not a good idea!