Napoleonics Tuesday Report

A loss after a few weeks of no gaming (in Napoleonic's that is).

I struggle sometimes to find the enthusiasm to play at times.  Being constantly flogged can really affect your capacity to think you can win.  It seems to be a factor that once I start to lose my whole outlook changes, I never seem to get the die rolls I need, my troops never seem to be in the right place and position as my opponent.  It's almost as though I inflict misfortune and depression on my game.

Here are some photos of the night with some commentary to go with it.

One day I may even know what it is to be a good player.

The Prussian line up.  Board was very open on my side. 

The french line up.

Right flank advancing. My artillery was more effective than expected.

Left flank responding to advancing french.  Skirmishers deployed.

Hussars advancing. Lancers in reserve for the inevitable rout.

Right flank continues to advance.

Oddly enough my cavalry fought on for two bounds before fleeing.

Dragoons ready to charge/receive charge.

Lancers now engaging french hussars (after mine were destroyed).

Right flank continues to push ahead.

Dragoons engage but fail due to being lower quality to french.

Dragoons flee.

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3 battalions chasing one french. 2 battalions fleeing cavalry.

french burst through the artillery, destroying them.

Lancers chasing french hussars.

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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