Lost in Bigbazangaistan!! Chapter 1

Lost in Bigbazangastan-Chapter 1!

Situation:
Her Majesty, the Queen, received correspondence from the British ambassador to Bigbazangastan via the wife of H.G. Wells; the distinguished Alexander of Macedoniaologist Emeritus telling her that Wells' head would be separated from his body if the Queen did not recognize the territory as a free and sovereign nation in one month.  You have received orders from the War Office to find and rescue Mr. Wells and his gifted sidekick, Jules Verne.  The Russians are quite interested in finding Mr. Wells as the continuing dispute between Britain and Russia over the source of the Bagwan River is a constant ulcer between the countries.  You've had a cold breakfast on the border between the Raj and Bigbazanagastan.  Time to move for glory, the Queen's favor and promotion. Or....not.

I played the mysterious opponent Mr. Babbage today. His forces moved as a programmed and random option.  This is a GREAT part of the rules set. I can actually finally play a solo campaign, keep good notes and Mr. Babbage will never play my forces the same way twice! 

Nogs from the Northern Star was present to record today's events. You will be reading from his dispatches and my game notes.  This game went FAST! It was quite bloody and decisive. Just don't roll low...

Turn 1 was uneventful for the British regulars as their leadership was suspect at best. No gallantry was to be found on this day.  Mr. Babbage immediately deploys a unit of "shooters" and a unit of "chargers outside of short rifle range in response to two British units moving forward.  The rules do have "free actions" (standing to and firing). Anything else takes a successful Leadership roll. The British started the game with a bit of a sour stomach.  Sour at where they were and why they were there.  The first sounds of musketry brought them to their senses.

Turn 2 was fairly routine for the British with Platoon A going into close order to face a unit of "shooters" and the Gatling successfully rolls to shoot the "chargers" in their front.  Mr. Babbage was no shrinking violet as he brings on two (2) units in the front of the main British force and charges the Gatling gun.  I allowed the Gatling gun to shoot defensive fire (experiment) and it pinned the chargers. The Black Flag spearmen charge at the double (random roll), lose badly and retreat.  Yellow flags fail to activate. 1 unit "slinks away" and another unit gains the "same idea/different place" option. This is a cool part of the game as well. 

Martini-Henry Fire

Turn 3:
One Bigbazangastani unit was destroyed by combined fire by two British platoons.  A platoon (British) lost 8 casualties and immediately was pinned.  This is not good as units get 1/2 dice for firing and fighting until unit is unpinned.  Mr. Babbage was in contemplation mode as no units showed up this turn.  The score was tied at this point. 2 units for each for both sides are gone or have "slunk away".

Turn 4:
Platoon A is shot away and is taken off the game table.  Platoon B fails their leadership roll and "Stands To",  the Depot Platoon C sees off some tribal cavalry and itself becomes pinned. 

Mr. Babbage is becoming rather petulant as another unit "slinks away" due to random action roll

Turn 5:
B Platoon fails leadership and stands to. The Gatling gun passes leadership, shoots and PROMPTLY jams. (One has to roll more 1s than number of figures shooting so do the math...I sucked at rolling).
Mr. Babbage continues to twist the knife; moving more units into charge range but suffering a major loss when General Jambox and his unit "slinks away".  The game is getting to a critical point. 

Turn 6:
Depot platoon is charged by Tribal Cavalry, pinned for a third time. The cavalry follows up and wipes out the depot battalion.  The Gatlling gun fails leadership and does not shoot. Mr. Babbage is becoming rather moody at this point as another unit "slinks away".

The sole remaining platoon and the temperamental Gatling gun moved forward toward the village.  Where is Mr. Wells? Our story continues at this point.

Lessons learned:
1. Smaller games of these rules are similar to Lion Rampant. They should be played on a smaller game table.  I put together an 8x6. It was way too large.  6x4 would have been just fine.

2.  Playing Mr. Babbage was a blast! I will do this again. Highly recommended.

3. Know the game gets into high gear on at least turn 2 when the opponent is Mr. Babbage.  

4. Increase minimum size of games to 48 points when playing human opponents.  24 points just is not large enough.  

5. Would I play it again? H-2-the yes!

28mm Napoleonic Battle at Chateau Mouton

We finally dusted off some of our 28mm Napoleonic collections today.  Had a great game! We used Clay Smith's homeconstructed rules called "Le Baton". (available on his website).  The rules are short, sweet and pretty much devoid of ancillary bs.  They follow a "step by step" system much like Died For Glory.  I like these rules because they're easy to learn, easy to play and very difficult to master.

We decided on playing French vs. Russians. Why? I guess because my Russians were in the display case and Clay didn't bring his Austrians.  That's how our group rolls.  We don't take much seriously.

The objective was the farm of Chateau Mouton.
It is the larger building on the bottom of the photo.  It was an older farm with outbuildings you can see on the top of this photo.  The French were on the attack.  The Russians on the counterattack and/or holding their position in true Russian fashion.

The French began the battle with an artillery bombardment of the Russian heavy batteries sited in the walled yard of Chateau Mouton.  This game thrives upon historical tactics. One must reduce unit efficiency and/or put gun batteries out of commission to even think of a successful assault.  Combined arms attacks are definitely encouraged as well as aggressive play.  The first phase of the battle revolved around the French assault of the Chateau. and the tough body blows given by both sides in "the farmyard".  The assault chewed through multiple French and Russian units and did not succeed until the latter stages of the game.
The Russian commander continued local counter attacks across the battlefield in an effort to stem the French advance.  The Russian flank commander succeeded in not only stopping the French but pushing their forces nearly to their initial deployment zone.  The Russians did not get to dice on their Heavy Cavalry Kurassier Brigade as their dice rolls were "run of the mill" (per Jack Young-old DFW Irregular gamer).
The right flank (from French perspective) was turned and swept by a Light Cavalry Brigade and associated Horse Artillery.  These figures are from the Limited Edition Dave Alsop box sets from Old Glory.

We ended the game as "generals" needed to depart. The Russians left the field in good order to the French.

This is just one of the many periods and collections owned by team members in our group.  If you would like be a part, drop me a line by clicking pilum40@sbcglobalnet

Here's a gallery of today's game.  You will see many manufacturers and some old friends such as Hinchcliffe, Foundry, Old Glory, Minifig and Front Rank.  You will also see some minitures painted by the late, great Peter Guilder.  This is our favorite period as a group. 28mm just rocks for scenic appeal, eye candy and pure "sex appeal".  Come join us and let's throw some dice!

French Heavy Battery in action

French Chasseurs ride through Russian Arty. The Arty did manage to get away
by rolling a 4+ on "The Heroic Action Card"

Hinchcliffe French Officer painted by either Peter Guilder
or Ed Phillips 

Dave Alsop Limited Edition French Light Cavalry Brigade 

Limited Edition Dave Alsop French Light Cavalry 2

Hard action at Chateau Mouton Grenadiers are vintage
Hinchcliffe painted by Peter Guilder or Ed Phillips

Heavy action in the farmyard

Classic Hinchcliffe French Lanciers riding to their doom up the road

French Brigade advancing on the Chateau Mouton farmyard

Russians stop the French cold at the old chapel

Second shot of French Lanciers. I really LIKE these miniatures!
Exquisitely painted and sculpted way back in the late 1970s-early 1980s

French Brigade wearing out some shoe leather 

French Artillery in action

Steve's Light Cavalry Brigade finally gets onto the table. Must
have been the Blue Moon!!!

Second shot...yep...it definitely was the Blue Moon! My gaming
priorities are in the RIGHT place!

Clay, Justo, Rusty "into the fight"

Preston and Justo organize the French

Classic Hinchcliffe French Line Infantry-late 1970s-early 80s

pre-game 1

pre-game 2

pre game table for Battle of Chateau Mouton

My table doesn't use felt nor wedding cake hills. No doubts
where the crests of hills are or are not 

Steve's Russian Dragoon Brigade

Steve's Kurassier and "Crabs" Hussar Brigade...ok sue me...that
didn't come out right did it?

In this game, all are engaged. No waiting around for anyone
any time!

Russian Heavy Battery at Chateau Mouton

Grenadier Brigade, Light infantry, Heavy Gun
Steve's Russians

More Russians...they still keep on coming forward!

Maybe I should cut a base to make it easier to make a "square"
Nah...I'm a triangular player

Russians spread out to minimize effects of pass through fire.
You can't clump up in this game. Do it at your own peril!

Hero Russian unit smacked down the French at the windmill

Heavy action in the farmyard

Moutons! Why we fight!

Steve's Russian (I think Tsarina's) "Crabs" Hussars Old Glory figures

Russian Infantry.  Can't believe I was painting all these guys
with two cataracts.....guess they'd look better if I took more time right?

Overview of Russian initial position at Chateau Mouton

54mm AWI Game at Texicon 6/28/2014

I put on two All the King's Men AWI game at Texicon 2014 (Grapevine, Texas) on Saturday, June 28.   Kudos to Karl and Kevin Pajak for having a great venue for the mini-con. The venue was clean, open, COOOL in the Tejas summer, family friendly and war gamer friendly.  It was predominantly a fantasy and RPG type of con with a strong board gaming element. I felt a bit out of place as a historical miniatures gamer but KBO anyway.  The spread out game area was refreshing as most game cons are elbow-to a-hole gaming areas. As I get older, I appreciate it.  The majority of the games being played were played with painted miniatures although there was a sizable tournament (Warmachine..whatever that is) that just didn't require painted figures.  That's a rant I won't go into. Just leave it at I don't play nor would I ever take to a public venue miniatures that were not painted. Personal bias. Personal rant. I won't change. I am a paint Nazi!

On to the ATKM games.  I was able to put on two games. Both games were well attended with enthusiastic players.  ATKM rules are simple to learn, fun to play but subtle. The rules don't suffer poor decisions gladly.  I was able to bring on several units of Native Americans (Woodland Indians to we older folks). Magwa was the war band chief. Ken's rules give Indians some awesome abilities.  I want to play them in a FIW style scenario ala "Last of the Mohicans".

The games were played on an 8x6 game table. I got to put out all my collection to date. That's 28 units total.  Doesn't sound like a lot? Infantry consists of 14 figures, cavalry 8 figures, Indians were painted in 16 figure units as that's how the came in the box set.  I was stoked.

The first game went to the British, the second went to the Patriots. Both games went about 1.5 hours with teaching time/rules clarifications included.    If you are considering any rules for American Revolution, like to play in a "toy soldier" style, want something simple to learn but hard to master; these rules are for you.   Here's a gallery of the games. Pictures do better than my pedantic style anyway:

British right flank-Hessian wing

"Fearsome Tarleton and his Green Dragoons"

Not so fearsome Tarleton and his Green Dragoons meet Patriot riflemen

2nd Mass. supporting the U.S. Marines

Patriot center

Two good shots are all I shall ask of the militia!

Right flank of Patriot side. Magwa's full side

The Anhalt battalion didn't sign up for THIS!

British center-Lobsterbacks!

New players-game 2

New player-game 1

Patriot commanders Game 2

General Hard Knox urges on the U.S. Marines...Semper Fi!!!

Germans advance

Knyphausen Fusiliers advance

Light Horse Harry Lee's in column...oops...where's that British arty?

Lord Fop would rather be relaxing with a bottle of Port!

Magwa's full side.  Thanks Steve Bidwell for the units!

Cowering militia

Not bad shooting for militia-can only hit with a 5-6 on a yellow dice.

British look pretty tough...pretty...but are they tough?

General Hard Knox "recommends" that Magwa move his arse and get into the battle

U.S. Marines!  Urrrraah...

Frasiers Highlanders "in trews" oust Magwa with a gift of lead

Pre-Game 1

Pre-Game 2

Pre-Game 3

Pre-Game 4

Seriously? LOL