It seemed like a good idea at the time....

I started to sort my library out, beginning to wish I didn't.  So, so much I have found, so, so much I now have to put away.... somewhere.

Attempting to tidy the book shelves.

Giving it a go.  Just need more shelves or boxes.  Poor old history books off to storage I think (at least until more book cases appear).

Ork Gargants on the Stomp

Having finished off an old project of Chaos Titans I moved on to some Ork Gargants that have been sitting in the box for ages.  These are the blocky models which I confess I'm not a huge fan of, I prefer the first released Ork models, they seemed to have more character than the somewhat lifeless one released for EPIC Armageddon.  However that is my taste, and with the withering supply of product out there I take what I can.

I've about six Great Gargants still to do, though whether I will, time will tell.  There are a couple of the smaller Gargants to finished off, which I may post pictures of.  One day I must sit down and work out what sort of EPIC army I have in points.  My preference is for NetEPIC over the last released rules.

Till next time, STOMP loudly, and have fun.

The Gork and Mork Gargants.  Green and Red.

Bad Moons.

Group shot.

Included this with flash photography.

Tuesday Napoleonics - A Draw

With temperatures dropping to 3C in Brisbane Tuesday night it was with aching backs and old age that we set up to have our game.  Talking about advancing age it was with some lack of foresight that I recall saying that wargaming would be a game that you could easily play into your 80's.  I'm thinking that's well and good, but I'm finding the bending over the game table for any length of time straining the muscles of the back (if not the spine).  The lead miniatures are "rather weighty" (reference to The Mummy Returns)...

I think we were both happy with the terrain setup.  I think that with the way I play my Prussians I need to have a significant section of the table clear for my to deploy in such as way that I can get the best use of my troops.  I confess that I can't or don't get the best use of my cavalry, though I am using the lancers more as bait these days than hoping they may actually win engagements.  Must remember they only have 100mm final charge...

I'll only post a few pictures this time, as my capacity to produce consistent photo's does not appear to be... well.... consistent.  Time is always an issue for us, while I have the burden of being without time constraints, Andrew does work for a living, so late nights aren't always achievable.  Game was called at 10pm, after a 7pmish start, so a three hour game was good.  I am finding that I spend a bit of time weighing my options these days when committing my units.  So where I'm usually of the opinion to send them in they'll charge no problems, I have to work with the certain fact that they won't.

At the close of play it was decided it was a Draw, though Andrew seemed to be of the opinion I may very well of won had the game gone longer.  Maybe...

Here are some selected shots from the night with commentary.

Main french deployment.

Main Prussian deployment.

 

A staggered approach to engagement.  The lancers after taking an
initial casualty from artillery, survived to play a crucial role.

 

Repositioned the artillery on my right flank to touch up the
french advancing from the farm.

The pivotal engagement in the battle.  My Hussars and Andrews
Guard remained locked in combat until the arrival of the lancers.
Regardless that I was disadvantaged from the start I managed to
either claim a casualty and draw to keep the combat locked.

Lost real estate to the french.  Lancers should not charge square.

The dice that did not want to commit.  Cocked die indeed.

Lancer arrive to engage french hussars.  french adopt line.
Yes that combat is still going.

 

My lancers won the day against the french hussars.  Still engaged
with the other cavalry battle.  However here comes my Dragoons
to add to the battle outcome.

Meanwhile on my right flank my other squadron of hussars wait
for an opportunity to pounce.  Sadly they went to square before I
could deliver the charge.

 

This hamlet lost to french occupation.

End result of the cavalry engagement.  Guard fleeing.

Last turn, with the french elite about to charge in.

Zaragoz - book club - some background and a bit of a waffle from me.

As part of James Taylors bookclub I'm putting together some background notes as I slowly read through the book.  

My memory is really bad as I clearly must have read the book when it came out?  Normally once I pick up a book that I've not read in decades I start to slowly recall the plot and ending as I go.  I can normally be happy recalling or finding a paragraph I'd forgotten, or piece together another aspect of the world or characters.  

Recently I listened to the audio of Dragon Flight by Anne McCaffrey and was shocked to recall that it was written in 1968, was it truly that long ago.  I am fast finding that my taste in literature is taking a backwards plunge.  I'm going back to the authors I liked in my youth, including many that a viewed as politically incorrect in this modern day of giving no offense to anybody.

So here are a few pointers from the first 3 chapters I have read. 

Solkan

Solkan is the master of vengeance, an angry god who inflicts the retribution of the Gods of Law on those who offend them.  He is the most popular of the Gods of Law, and many Witch Hunters worship him.  His followers are held in general fear and mistrust by the bulk of Old Worlders, who find the absolutism and bigotry associated with his worship uncomfortable.

Warhammer Fantasy Role Play: A GrimWorkd of Perilous Adventure (1st edition), p210

Arianka

In the distant past, Arianka was defeated and imprisoned by an unnamed Chaos God, and it is said that she lies in a crystal coffin hidden somewhere in the Old World.  Many places have claimed to have found her coffin over the centuries, the most recent, according to rumour, being Praag (see World Guid - Kislev). It is also said that she can be freed from her coffin only be means of some crystal keys, whose location has never been found, it is not even known how many keys there are, and whether they are hidden together or seperately.

Warhammer Fantasy Role Play: A GrimWorkd of Perilous Adventure (1st edition), p210

See the link for James Taylors blog.

oldhammer-bookclub-re-reading-zaragoz

The Traitor Titans Walk

Some time ago I obtained a number of badly painted Warlord titans.  I think there are about 12 waiting some love and attention which I will get to eventually.

Chaos is one of the few armies that I have not spent any time preparing as an EPIC collection.  I did pick up some in a rather one sided deal (no in my favour), but nevertheless I was happy with the little I had.  I'm wanting to build my EPIC for the Horus Heresy period, with few mutations and overly recognised betrayal.  I see the initial battles as between very similar troops and equipment, with only visibile corruption after exposure to the warp - long term.  But that's my interpretation.

Here are the titans I have painted using the second hand titans from ages ago.  (Many thanks to those people who helped me build my collection, Bruce, Glen, Simon and a chap from down South who I can't recall at the moment.)

Sadly I can't afford colour ink for my printer so the banners are hand painted and decals applied.  In the end they don't look too bad.

No name for the Titan Legion yet, will have to think about it.
I run them in threes. Banners have skulls which denote number.

Titan 3

Leading Titan (#1)

Titan 2

Superseded Rule Sets

The Warhammer Fantasy Battles latest edition (8th) has been superseded by Age of Sigmar.

So what!

What people need to realise is that just because a new set of rules has been released or one set has literally dropped off the face of the planet doesn't mean that the game is over.  That's right people you can continue to play your favourite edition of whatever game system you have, all you need are like minded individuals to game with you.

For instance WRG had a set of Ancient Rules which "evolved" into DBM, DBMM and the "simplified" set of DBA.  The popular 6th (and 7th) are still being played in tournaments (primarily in the UK from my knowledge).  The surge of people playing 3rd/4th edition WFB continues, although most seem to be collectors of miniatures of the period.

Immediately disliking the next incarnation of your rule set is not the end of the world.  Play what you want to play, if your "friends" or opponents jump the fence to stay with the more recent and "popular" movement, then let them.  The miniatures will continue to exist, there are many companies that produce alternative range of figures to meet your "last unit" needed category.

Don't be one of the sheep!  If the community are unhappy with changes band together and continue to support the rule set you like.  Develop it into what you want.  But don't think that it no longer has any value as a game or a way to have fun.

Napoleonic Night

Had one of the longest games (turn wise) of Napoleonics in a long time.

The first table we rolled up I refused to enter the battlefield.  It was similar to the last game where I'd have been screwed over by the finger hill and other terrain features.  Normally I would live with the terrain created but I was tired of being shafted by terrain.  So the first game was a win to Andrew as I conceded the battlefield without a shot being fired.

The second table was not as kind to me either.  The majority of the terrain minus a crooked creek and hamlet were all on my side of the table.  Again I was severely restricted with choice of deployment.  This time I elected to go with reserves, though I ran the ploy of flank march by asking to dice for generals ability.  However under the rules this is only diced for when the first opportunity for flanking is to occur (need to check that properly in the rules though).  The major cock up was that I could not deloy more than half my points in reserve.  I placed my 2nd Brigade and Cavalry in reserve as I had no idea where Andrew was going to deploy (neither of us out-scouted the other).  Choosing reserves worked for me, even though my main body of infantry was delayed to turn 4, the cavalry did arrive on time.

I was not aggressive in this battle.  I waited and weathered the storm of highly accurate french artillery that mauled my columns as they waited the french advance.  I set on fire one of the buildings the french had chased one of my battalions out of.  While Andrew conceded the game to me I believe it was more a draw, and would likely have been a loss for me had the game played out to the end.

Below the battle in pictures with some explanations of what was happening.  Sorry for the quality, my tablet seems to be degrading in quality of taken photographs.  Maybe one day I might own a decent camera capable of taking the photo's I want to take.

Initial french deloyment.  Heavy artillery that was surprisingly accurate.

The square-ish tablet cloud of photography shadow!
The rest of the french deployment (less their reserve).

My on table deployment.

Another look of my initial deployment on table.

Things are heating up.  My artillery was less than satisfactory.
french artillery was picking off fighting capacity with ease, as
can be seen with the gapes in my battalions.

My Hussars hiding in the lee of the building (which was eventually
set on fire later in the game). One understrength battalion took up
position in said building (but were chased out in the end).

The french cavalry were confused and wondered what my army was
up to?  Were we arriving as flank marches?  

My 2nd Brigade arrive and bolster up the slowly dying battlions
of the 1st Brigade.

My artillery in the reserve could really only be deployed on the left
flank as the right was crawling with french cavalry.

As can be seen the cavalry were stymied at bit. I sacrificed a
unit of lancers to pull the french hussars off the field, but was
hampered by the terrain to place myself in a position to engage the
french on favourable terms.

 

Where all the actual action occurred.  In the background you can
see the french reserves arriving.  Some Guard elite in there.
Two french battalions engaged the guns, on was routed, the other
engaged and eventually routed the crew a turn later.

 

Holding our ground.

Continuing to hold.

Holding by the skin of our teeth.

The Twenty Return

As part of a 40K RPG revival, and to suppliment my vision of the 40K universe I have almost completed the "Twenty".  Yes 2nd Legion and 11th Legion live on, as do their Primarchs.  Lots of cloak and dagger, destruction of the Imperium, Chaos rampant - but not the end of worlds (like Age of Sigmar).  Will in due course post more narrative as I develop it.

I've been looting my old Rogue Trader marines to build up this eclectic force of heroes and rogues.  Still sourcing something suitable for the 2 Primarchs, but they won't be giants, perhaps a head taller than a standard marine.