The Hunnic Empire and their Subject Gepid allies have crossed the Danube and are raiding and pillaging as they go into Roman territory. A relief force of Roman Field Army troops have mobilised in defence. Intercepting the invaders at a river crossing guarded by a watch tower along a Roman road the Romans prepare for battle. A Church burns already looted by advancing raiders whilst the forces deploy for battle. The Romans deploy first with Cataphracts and light horse to their left flank and infantry cantre and right. The Huns deploy cavalry on their own right flank with infantry centre and left. The Gepid shock cavalry deploy to the rear left flank awaiting a gap in the line to smash through.
Mike’s Romans certainly had the better of the action dice. However they rolled badly when saving against being hit in combat. In the end we decided it was a very close barbarian victory. The Hunnic cavalry advanced rapidly and even charged the Cataphracts deployed to shore up the gap on the Roman left. They charged whilst the Romans had no action die but lost one unit of horse archers who had strayed too close in the process. The Cataphracts however held their ground whilst more huns attempted to encircle them. In the centre both infantry lines eventually clashed with no real winners on either side. Roman cavalry moved towards their left of centre but in this time the Gepid cavalry were eventually moved round to oppose them. The force of the barbarian attack had been blunted across the line as the Romans held but numbers were beginning to tell and the Cataphracts did appear exposed on the Roman left wing.
Phil, Mike, Darryl and Bruce played into the Pit, the Khazad Dum first scenario for LoTR LCG. After an initially difficult start where Mike’s Aragorn was defeated by a lucky strike from an Orc Patrol Leader (an extra plus one Shadow Card bonus as he was the last player) the players managed to defeat the scenario. In just 4-5 turns they scored about 205 points between them which is not so bad. This is the first Multiplayer Scenario the team have won. As Darryl pointed out the new cards and decks really made a difference as now the team where able to actually do things with the cards. The Decks used were Dain and Thorin’s Company, Elrond and Vilya, Legolas and Eowyn, with Aragorn as Sentinel. They worked very well together with Aragorn as Defender, Legolas as Destroyer plus Dain and Elrond as multi-purpose.
Next we started but did not finish a game of Star Wars were Bruce played Darth on the first turn and then quickly destroyed any Jedi including Luke who left the academy. However the Rebels did manage to destroy 1 base so it was not all bad for them.
A Two Handed Solo game using the all new Decks: Thalin’s Company and Elrond with Vilya the Ring of Air. These two decks did seem to work well together with the doughty dwarves creating a good party of fellows and Elrond and Glorfindel proving mighty powerful themselves. Success with an Old Score of 60.
Have also created another deck for a better three player game with Legolas and then two more decks for a fourth player: one themed on Aragorn, Gondor and Rohan and a second around Creatures (Eagles) led by Beorn with support from Imrahil and Brand son of Bain.
Finally, created a LoTR LCG page with the scores from my games. Obviously not included the multiple defeats!
Mike, Phil and Darryl took on the Seventh Level. Phil had made some thematic mono-sphere Dwarf decks as Darryl and Mike had not played many games before (Darryl just once and Mike never). Needless to say the Seventh Level was very tough for these rather weak decks. The players did actually get to the final stage but when Phil’s support/ quest deck hit 50 Threat it was all over for the Heroes.
Clearly better decks were needed. So our players have hit the boards and internet sites and created much better decks with some astute purchases.
Star Wars Imperial Assault.
We continued our campaign with our heroes being tempted onto the Luxury Cruise side mission. Who could resist a Luxury Cruise? They decided to leave Chewbacca at home again.
Phil played the Imperials and upgraded the Elite Stormtroopers with his new Combat Veteran Card. The Heroes with Mike’s Gharkan killed a few but Phil re-deployed and they dealt a lot of damage wounding the Wookie. Darryl’s Scout took a nasty hit from the Interrogation Protocol Droid (single use card) that left him stunned and weakened. In this state he was easy prey for more Droids and Basic Stormtroopers. The Players took out two Consoles before the Royal Guard arrived in force (Elites and Standards) who finished off Mike’s Gharkan and Bruce’s Soldier in short order.
This was a nasty scenario for the players who suffered against the upgraded and re-inforced Elite Stormtroopers especially. Despite being able to do a lot of damage they were vulnerable to sheer numbers.
So far we have 4 Rebel and 3 Imperial Victories. Close.
Read the Campaign Page Here
Star Wars the LCG by FFG.
Darryl introduced us to this new game. Bruce played a Rancor so no one did much to start with and we did not get very far. However we did learn the rules for next time.
Updated the Painting Backlog (Lead Mountain) page
Brooklyn Wargaming
Photography has been a personal and professional interest of mine for more than twenty years. One particular area of photography that has long fascinated me is frontier photography of the United States. I was turned on to the period in the 1973 classic Wisconsin Death Trip by Michael Lesy which frames a late 19th-century town’s life in photos ranging from the deeply personal to the macabre. Given the complexity and expense of early photography, I’ve always thought of the personal, logistical and financial choices made in people capturing images in the late 19th through early 20th century.
Photographs of American frontier people and their possessions have always held a big pull for me. In the photo at top (from the Nebraska State Historical Society’s Prairie Settlement collection) a family has chosen to hire a photographer to document them on the new frontier. Aside from the family in the foreground…
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The Second part of Barbarian Conspiracy campaign using the excellent Sword and Spear Rules! Will the Barbarians be able to hold off the Romans and defend their ill gotten gains? This time the Picts have been upgraded to mighty Attecotti Warriors but the Romans have brought real soldiers led by the Elder Theodosius himself. You can read about the game and see the photos of the battle by clicking the link.
Magnus leads the cavalry forward
Aelle, the Saxon High King and Barbarian General
The battle field with the Romans deployed in front of their watch tower.
The Barbarian Conspiracy of 367AD: First Scenario. River Crossing.
You can read all about the Battle here complete with Gallery images of the Battle itself.
Octha on the Barbarian left wing
Fullofaudes in the Roman Centre defending the ford
The view down river from the Roman right.
Planning for a Sword and Spear game, depicting the barbarian conspiracy of 367 AD.
Details can be found in the Barbarian Conspiracy page.
wargamesdiary 