Saturday 4th April: World Cup, K2, Hobbit Green Dragon Inn    Leave a comment

We began with Mike’s innovative scenario for his World Cup game based on the CIS CUP.  Mike and Bruce fought it out to a close finish whilst Phil was left behind.  In the end Bruce won on points after grabbing first and second place.  Phil came a distant last consistently losing out in penalty shoot outs.  

Next up was another great game of K2 which Phil managed just to win with Mike second and Bruce last.  Bruce got a man to the highest point but could not get him home safely.

Finally Phil introduced Mike and Bruce to the storytelling The Hobbit green dragon inn card game.  Everyone had quite a tough time finishing their narrative successfully but had fun trying.  

Posted April 7, 2015 by wargamesdiary in Uncategorized

Saturday 28th March: Dungeon Saga Dwarf King’s Quest   Leave a comment

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1744629938/dungeon-saga-the-dwarf-kings-quest

Mike and Darryl took on Phil’s Necromancer in this playtest of the Beta rules for the above Kickstarter game.  We printed out the rules and cards and took on the introductory adventures A and B.  These are really designed to introduce new players to the basic mechanics against simple skeleton warriors.  For terrain we used our Dwarven Forge Dungeon and Cavern tiles and added some painted figures.

In adventure A the two Fighters raced through the corridor smashing skeletons.  As they were re-animated the players realised they could block the corridor very effectively with the dwarf’s Feat whilst the Barbarian headed towards the door.  The skeletons were thus trapped by the dwarf whilst the barbarian forced the door open and it was an easy victory.

In adventure B the players realised the mage and the archer were much more fragile.  Still once they had dealt with the initial wave of skeletons they soon had the sense to advance along to the main room.  This was in fact no problem for them and whilst the mage held up the skeletons with feat of stone spells the archer eventually was able to get the final door open and it was another victory for the players though perhaps a little harder this time.

Overall a promising game and once we have more variety with different monsters, characters and items I think this will be fun to play.  Works very well with the Dwarven Forge terrain to give a true 3D feel.  I’m not sure I would ever get round to painting the KS figures now though.  Have some  proxies ready painted (from LoTR, em4 and Dungeon Command) and the figures unpainted should do for the monsters.

Posted April 1, 2015 by wargamesdiary in Boardgames, Miniatures

Saturday 7th March: Legion of Honor   Leave a comment

Bruce introduced Mike, Phil and Darryl to his new game:

legion of honor

It is a bit like En Garde played with cards and d10 simulating the experience of raw recruits as they try to capture Napoleon’s notice and rise through the ranks without being killed, executed or captured.  Darryl was a lowly sergeant compared to the other sous-lieutenant’s but captured the notice of one of Napoleon’s relatives in an affair du Coeur.  He joined Phil in the Regicide and seemed to make lots of money.  Phil did quite well with experience, glory and money but had a bad campaign falling prisoner in the North which stalled his progress during the War in Italy.  He even got to meet a Lady who was quite out of his league.  Mike seemed to have the most fun; getting diseased, robbed, captured, wounded over and over and driving off hordes of Mafiosi; but was always where the main action was not.  He was volunteered for a dangerous mission by Bruce and came off very well.  Bruce was nearly always the senior officer with astounding success in capturing Napoleon’s notice, especially through his incredible bravery and valiant actions during the Italian Campaign.

Lot’s of fun and certainly one to play again.  The vagaries of fortune can be quite brutal.

After that we played Love Letter which was a clever little card game which Darryl won.

Posted March 11, 2015 by wargamesdiary in Boardgames

Saturday 28th February: Star Wars and Death Angel   Leave a comment

We played the next instalment in our campaign (see below).  Gaarkhan  purchased a new Ax and the Heroes set off to aid Mak Eshka Ray in his revenge in the Loose Cannon Scenario.  Upon entering the Imperial complex Mak leapt into the empty AT and began to wreak havoc.  Though the Imperials were able to wound both his comrades he proved to be invulnerable in the AT.  With all the Stormtroopers and Guards defeated the players gained Victory, claiming Mak Eshka Ray’s special Shadow Suit combat armour and a few credits.

Death Angel:  We tried this out for the first time and made it to the last room relatively unscathed only to realise we were completely overwhelmed and outmatched with no chance of victory at all!

Posted March 1, 2015 by wargamesdiary in Boardgames

Saturday 7th February: Star Wars Imperial Assault   Leave a comment

Tonight we are planning to play the next mission in our campaign.

 

So far Darryl ( Mak Eshka Ray), Mike (Ghaarkhan) and Bruce (Fenn Signis) have taken on Phil’s Imperial Military forces.

In the first scenario Aftermath the Rebels were victorious and followed this up with a victory in Spice Job thus gaining the Chewbacca ally.   Next up was Viper’s Den.  This proved unlucky for the Rebels who sent the wookie to try and decode a really complicated console and then were caught completely unawares by the sudden appearance of General Weiss.  A first Victory for the Empire!

The next side mission planned is Viper’s Den and the open Story Mission is Fly Solo.

So far the Rebels have 50 credits in the bank and Chewbacca is an Ally.  Mak has 1xp and Bruce 2.  They are well equipped though: with Mak holding Disengage and Supply Network; Mike has Combat Coat, Rampage and a balanced hilt; whilst Bruce has Take Cover and a Medi-Kit.

The Empire has 0xp and 0 influence but is holding: Combat Medic and some other good cards.

The open side missions are Viper’s Den or Loose Cannon (Mak Eshka Ray).

Will post the outcome later.

 

Outcome:  The Wookie Ghaarkhan raced through the bar to the door behind which Han Solo was being held prisoner.  He opened the door and took heavy fire.  Solo ran straight for the exit and the Imperials could not pursue him fast enough.  Though the players did not win outright by opening the door they had gained a partial victory.

Posted February 7, 2015 by wargamesdiary in Boardgames

Saturday 7th February: Catch up   Leave a comment

This is space for a catch up.

Posted February 7, 2015 by wargamesdiary in Uncategorized

Saturday 25th October: Lion Rampant: The Search for Brian   Leave a comment

More Lion Rampant Tonight.

Continuing on from our last scenario we will begin with “The Search for Brian”.

The redoubtable Sir Brian the Blessed has escaped from the English Castle and is making his way across the border to safety. Last episode he had been feared dead but in fact had been captured by the English Knights to be held for ransom.  No stronghold exists that could hold Sir Brian of course  and dressed as a chambermaid he has escaped into the night.

As dawn breaks across the rugged borderlands will his countrymen rescue him first or will he fall once again into the clutches of Sir John the Great?

Forces

Two large retinues with 2 leaders each to allow for  multiplayer (45 points a side).

Posted October 25, 2014 by wargamesdiary in Uncategorized

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Saturday 27th September: Lion Rampant   Leave a comment

Our first game of Lion Rampant the new medieval skirmish rules from Osprey.

Murder and Mayhem at the Market Fair

Northern England near the Scottish Border, Spring 1313

Two retinues have attended the May Fair at this sleepy northern village for generations. Sir John the Great and his men see themselves as English and hail from a nearby Castle, loyal to the Percy Family. Sir Brian the Blessed’s family come from North of the border, though with lands in both England and France, their loyalties lie closer to Scotland.

Tensions have been increasing between the two retinues over the last few years. Each year there is a tournament with a fairly brutal Melee at the May Fair. This is where each side has traditionally settled old grudges without recourse to all out conflict. This year however both sides have come prepared for more and tempers have flared after a Yeoman was killed in a tavern brawl the night before. Whilst the villagers and visiting merchants prepare for the annual market all out conflict begins between the two retinues.

Outcome
The story of our battle is retold in the gallery above. Eventually both sides reached a stalemate. The English ransomed Sir Brian and left the field of battle whilst the Scots held their ground and retired to the Inn to drown their sorrows but with much reduced funds to do so. So Honours even and both sides planning to restart hostilities at the earliest opportunity.

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Posted September 27, 2014 by wargamesdiary in Miniatures

Saturday 20th September: Hail Caesar (Romans vs Hunnic Subject Nations )   Leave a comment

Romans against the Hunnic Empire’s Subjects

It’s is the fifth century AD in the Western Roman Empire. A horde of raiding Huns and their Subject Gothic nations have been intercepted by a Roman Field Army and whatever local troops can be mustered. Elite Roman Cavalry and well trained infantry (don’t mention the militia) against a larger force of Barbarians. Gothic Heavy Cavalry are supported by Gothic Infantry and led by Hunnic generals with Hunnic light cavalry in a skirmish role.

The Roman’s claim victory as the Cataphracts successfully drive off the Gothic Cavalry.

Posted September 27, 2014 by wargamesdiary in Miniatures

Saturday 13th September: Hail Sauron   Leave a comment

We used the Hail Caesar rules to fight a clash between the forces of Gondor (with some High Elven Allies) against the forces of Harad (with some Orcish support).

The Steward of Gondor has sent his General to strike a blow against the forces of Harad and Umbar which have been raiding his coastline and southern provinces.  The Haradrim elect a mighty Chieftain and the Serpent Lord to lead their armies and Sauron sends his Orcs and Trolls in support.   The two forces meet at an oft fought battle ground where the river bordering their two nations can be crossed near its source.

 

Posted September 27, 2014 by wargamesdiary in Miniatures

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