tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79888750423947163292024-03-18T11:54:06.837+00:00Musings on Wargaming and LifeGeorge Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.comBlogger1077125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-53782534292151604322024-03-15T16:09:00.002+00:002024-03-15T16:13:53.500+00:00View From The Window: Special Edition<p> "Let's go to Lancaster" says the missus as our house is again home to the builders, cue the rain. We can stop by Bathroom Supplies for a toilet roll holder, towel and soap holders, fairy snuff says I as I only have some details to put my latest, large, map project to bed. Enters what seems to be an empty shop, ten minutes later we form a search party for the owners and set off. Having at last succeeded in tracking someone down we swiftly wished we hadn't as the price for the three everyday items came to around £200. We left sharpish.<br /></p><p>We decided on lunch before some shopping, we normally go to a basic but excellent chinese restaurant, it must be because all the Chinese students eat there, but instead walked a bit further to 'German Doner Kebab' as we had been intrigued by the name. I looked at the professionaly taken photographs of what was on order and chose the Doner Quesadilla, the missus had a Doner burger, yep, seems you can put anything between a roll. My meal turned up minus the lovely looking pot of salsa on the photograph, I made my way to the counter, you forgot my salsa says I, there is no salsa with the Quesadilla she says, yes there is, there it is on the photograph, no, that's just a photograph she insists, yes but one with a pot of salsa on it. Does the Doner Burger come without the burger because it is just a photograph I enquire but watch my caustic remark fly over her head and disappear behind the drinks machine. I rarely complain about food, I leave that to my sons and my wife, but this time I am going all the way to Glasgow, yes, that's where the head offices of 'German Doner Kebab' are!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsULdcw1X7xzDQIlIbE2EA7X2-msxJVQvDVsIyXaIaV4WaVHckg-wM-S6YT9_MWGWjykZF6r7I0CPRAvwGBm19IC8mqdHA2tIDfLGRqbIdajwcCKFoU4yzClw61f75RpTCBr56r2uB0I1YnElnRtVOXIdEI5kORyQWRz3THt5lvXlMjUVTRstnrsIpYs/s4032/B6A35B4E-168B-4640-AEE4-B3C4D430039E.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsULdcw1X7xzDQIlIbE2EA7X2-msxJVQvDVsIyXaIaV4WaVHckg-wM-S6YT9_MWGWjykZF6r7I0CPRAvwGBm19IC8mqdHA2tIDfLGRqbIdajwcCKFoU4yzClw61f75RpTCBr56r2uB0I1YnElnRtVOXIdEI5kORyQWRz3THt5lvXlMjUVTRstnrsIpYs/s320/B6A35B4E-168B-4640-AEE4-B3C4D430039E.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What I got.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAcfL9-SyRURT6lXEF_daB_wLMH735lqxwhcFHR3cRlpRWNS749Ofh37AUBMiNtOxKCyhjn7t9SPF_9LhkhlanW2cU5oP2w1wQHTP264uT23YVHn_2TIBkLV2SZS8hzTSvQMLinbQ8rpdbVpKAzcQ7RAa4VqI6cP13yaJsAiUSUT-kdDH_4lmota-bkg/s4032/AC49C07F-242D-47DF-ABEC-D9E3AAC3307F.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAcfL9-SyRURT6lXEF_daB_wLMH735lqxwhcFHR3cRlpRWNS749Ofh37AUBMiNtOxKCyhjn7t9SPF_9LhkhlanW2cU5oP2w1wQHTP264uT23YVHn_2TIBkLV2SZS8hzTSvQMLinbQ8rpdbVpKAzcQ7RAa4VqI6cP13yaJsAiUSUT-kdDH_4lmota-bkg/s320/AC49C07F-242D-47DF-ABEC-D9E3AAC3307F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What was promised.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Then as we walked back to the city centre I ran the gauntlet of morons texting while expecting oncoming normal people to move aside, the sheer amount of these creatures leaves me without words, well I actually do have words but this is before 9 pm. I also do not move from my intended path.</p><p>Things were not improving, the wife bought one item in a store where only one of the six tills had a server at it, and who would be there at this till but a Gen Z'r texting while the assistant passed a large family's clothing allowance for the year through the zapper while her mother ran to and fro collecting even more clothing. I tried to get the missus to leave the growing queue on the basis they didn't really want money or there would be more people.</p><p>Coffee and a cake then home the Memsahib promised. We found a table, hunkered down and I waited to be served hand and foot while she went to get the drinks and eats, wait, on the opposite table sat a guy with a glass of water taking up a table of four seats piggy backing on the cafe's wifi while doing god knows what on his laptop for free. This annoyed me, I tried to appear interested in what the wife was saying but my eyes kept straying to the free loader next door, hoping someone would force him to buy something or move. That doesn't happen these days, I do remember when I had the paper shop and someone would blatently pick up a newspaper and leaf through it, I would quietly sneak up and whisper, this is not a library!</p><p>At last we headed home, I felt the urge for some beers, just bog standard British beer with an alcoholic kick as a change from zero as it might put a smile on my face, but mainly to sit and sup with some Walkers square crisps, cheese and onion while catching up on the latest episode of Shogun. The supermarket had every beer or lager from Paris to the Urals but no bog standard booze, the only square crisps they had were salt and vinegar, so back to zero alcohol for me. Then I tried to pay for it, the 'fast' checkout had a queue of 10 patiently and not so patiently waiting for the new assistant to speed up while, yes, only one of the six tills had someone in attendance.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOR_K10s2CfiS10KT2GyJzZ5CXKfaO8os7hKMph9yiixvPcULP7dz22O278pFIgO_EIS4FjPNFiDlT5LY9jojxThCfjs5po_v3GhoNi_7CZ_fcof-bnHCdi-ffj9lITFfKy3kaePOMQQSXvJX-UVg9xWyRc3Pu59rWOi7AXbpD7Zn3uqUx2KYJBXN0Lxw/s4032/C83DAD23-D7C4-499F-9691-92C0C5B50FF1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOR_K10s2CfiS10KT2GyJzZ5CXKfaO8os7hKMph9yiixvPcULP7dz22O278pFIgO_EIS4FjPNFiDlT5LY9jojxThCfjs5po_v3GhoNi_7CZ_fcof-bnHCdi-ffj9lITFfKy3kaePOMQQSXvJX-UVg9xWyRc3Pu59rWOi7AXbpD7Zn3uqUx2KYJBXN0Lxw/s320/C83DAD23-D7C4-499F-9691-92C0C5B50FF1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A poll this afternoon in Lancaster.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>So endeth the day.<br />George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-46372496888455667832024-03-14T17:28:00.005+00:002024-03-14T17:28:19.024+00:00Volksgrenadiers Again And Some Entertainment News.<p> Every now and again I get a run of decent TV and I seem to be hitting the mark at the moment. Still engrossed in Korean drama for my staple but recently came back to 'Fargo' (Prime) having caught up with Season 4 and started Season 5. Superb stuff, not a dud amongst them, I like to think of Fargo as TV for grown ups, rightly or wrongly. 'The Gentlemen' has kicked off on Netflix and the first episode was thoroughly enjoyable and is set to be a typical Guy Richie 'Allo Geezer' wheeze full of colourful, larger than life characters. I am still following 'Masters of the Air' (Apple) although it seems to have morphed into more of a POW drama and just by luck it would seem I will get all of it before I am cut off, with only a day or two to spare. Now, 'Shogun', (Disney+), I was determined not to like this from the trailers showing the woman slaying Ronin in droves but I was stuck one evening and gave in, so far so good, the whole Samurai vibe is hard to resist and it has been very well done. So there you go, for once the televisual famine has receded but the movie famine continues, but really with all the above, where would I have the time to watch one for more than the usual ten minutes before searching for the remote. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP31VLK6oKaCBPbObkwv79JSRBsDLHViPf26wBalbA1AqxVViuJs8hIinlA_gF2EK5Jrh1VbXeo7k_0R4fdu99hKi5qd9nD-sNRdBNKBI3vEGFy0Vin63T6sO93Ty64ajuQviWTA1IyODi4NCOq266DrrWIWDxMOLYp_4_JbOzEp0QQbeq4bbwF1PAM1U/s275/Sh%C5%8Dgun_(2024_miniseries)_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="220" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP31VLK6oKaCBPbObkwv79JSRBsDLHViPf26wBalbA1AqxVViuJs8hIinlA_gF2EK5Jrh1VbXeo7k_0R4fdu99hKi5qd9nD-sNRdBNKBI3vEGFy0Vin63T6sO93Ty64ajuQviWTA1IyODi4NCOq266DrrWIWDxMOLYp_4_JbOzEp0QQbeq4bbwF1PAM1U/s1600/Sh%C5%8Dgun_(2024_miniseries)_poster.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbajriqSsCrH2dYSjDqQJy030HRn9rfNsX8N5X-Hw4n3wcrU_ONWbfuYVCX-KQLP1Kg6jGdiaGkluzipcMhdKA3DikW6-SUuZhN7WgXUobXG9PSTAe-whjUzXiS0Gra98t1aUZqjYmY4aZ7_xFCS8Sc31KFFeNFV0YIoDqiLkK3zw5oOxMLRMmoaO2RkA/s1481/MV5BOGJjODQxYWUtYjlkOC00NzJiLTgyZjUtY2Q3Y2FhZGVlODEwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbajriqSsCrH2dYSjDqQJy030HRn9rfNsX8N5X-Hw4n3wcrU_ONWbfuYVCX-KQLP1Kg6jGdiaGkluzipcMhdKA3DikW6-SUuZhN7WgXUobXG9PSTAe-whjUzXiS0Gra98t1aUZqjYmY4aZ7_xFCS8Sc31KFFeNFV0YIoDqiLkK3zw5oOxMLRMmoaO2RkA/s320/MV5BOGJjODQxYWUtYjlkOC00NzJiLTgyZjUtY2Q3Y2FhZGVlODEwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0xHmcDY548016-Kq-Gm2oezn4nmsqMJCZkeECIKCKpfc4EOGdZrV4uwbetKIP3wnXlvJcIbzbbtp4OdxqnVccQGwkClZrx_6GS51JcR40Y3Q_8zVz-G07_6ZmBESqnoJkXSIKEdZC0MUyTMcsi_Pi2mLa9DacXT6b2VkAE6x45jOgjRS3nRsXuo-CgQ/s700/fargo.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0xHmcDY548016-Kq-Gm2oezn4nmsqMJCZkeECIKCKpfc4EOGdZrV4uwbetKIP3wnXlvJcIbzbbtp4OdxqnVccQGwkClZrx_6GS51JcR40Y3Q_8zVz-G07_6ZmBESqnoJkXSIKEdZC0MUyTMcsi_Pi2mLa9DacXT6b2VkAE6x45jOgjRS3nRsXuo-CgQ/s320/fargo.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkn927XPwiPiGIcHjCURPdbChkPBQ9nv1qSuUGTAYmFiDShoCrOWIM9cUiu43HbXBlL7yV47AMfHUfWnBGGmnGjk_ZUQgZB24ULk3sVOJW38yWAENZ7oKvHIogP6hCVGJQYxGmgRRTISRBHjf8oLV3rMQCcQPKob84MsvfJWHUv6bS4hJsTLA37NC897A/s980/120523_Masters_of_the_Air_Trailer_Post_Big_Image_01_big_image_post.jpg.large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="980" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkn927XPwiPiGIcHjCURPdbChkPBQ9nv1qSuUGTAYmFiDShoCrOWIM9cUiu43HbXBlL7yV47AMfHUfWnBGGmnGjk_ZUQgZB24ULk3sVOJW38yWAENZ7oKvHIogP6hCVGJQYxGmgRRTISRBHjf8oLV3rMQCcQPKob84MsvfJWHUv6bS4hJsTLA37NC897A/s320/120523_Masters_of_the_Air_Trailer_Post_Big_Image_01_big_image_post.jpg.large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Rob offered a game and we decided to go for the Ardenne 1944, I again brought my Volksgrenadiers, four squads, sniper, MMG, mortar, Sdkfz 222 and a Flakpanzer (38t), oh, and a panzerschrek, the full Monty for 1,000 points while Rob took three squads of American Paratroopers with two mortars, MMG, bazooka and an M5 Stuart, a total of 700 points. The Yanks were Green and in a quiet area and dug in when the Battle of the Bulge took place, they had to defend a small hamlet and stop the Germans taking it to facilitate their planned armoured breakthrough.<p></p><p>I sneaked through the wooded terrain keeping away from the edge and also brought on my armour taking care to keep it away from the M5 which although not a great tank it was better than mine with their 20mm cannon and paper armour. I had planned to hit both flanks but in the end attacked the centre and right of the American position, my armour managed despite the entrenchments to weaken a squad defending a hill and the road. While this was happening I lost my mortar spotter so the thing had to be run to the front so it could actually see something to shoot at (it's Bolt Action), my sniper who had been rushed to the front without doing the sniper course hit nothing all game and I was too frightened to move my MMG into the open.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZkznwdO8yGsYx7_F0WA-kLpJ8rv-mMFQqyVFQjXrV1NdkDlJ4mQyh0L9CARq1SYSIRyUcIYiAEKi74M3xGQCcFV5khLMuKF-h26NsUtecF_Q80banGJpGBOnN-2cnb4E9Qa8vQLRRl4ZiOsN2jkwMqJPM0Mff9DNkKzmPGDiqgHcyeoo-pWynsrJPHk/s4032/CF24FDBB-59D7-406D-A25E-6046C9137E80.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZkznwdO8yGsYx7_F0WA-kLpJ8rv-mMFQqyVFQjXrV1NdkDlJ4mQyh0L9CARq1SYSIRyUcIYiAEKi74M3xGQCcFV5khLMuKF-h26NsUtecF_Q80banGJpGBOnN-2cnb4E9Qa8vQLRRl4ZiOsN2jkwMqJPM0Mff9DNkKzmPGDiqgHcyeoo-pWynsrJPHk/s320/CF24FDBB-59D7-406D-A25E-6046C9137E80.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dug in Yanks.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fekPRK6zZCW7s_vm82fiGFq9vYeg9oMF5MijOhU18DsEdsrFLucoPruPTdZDU_n67NvoezyLPwdrL1wD3N3dOBLcwH3dS2XJZJsRECN_3-ODQ_IW8fhAQlBI1IwFc5ktw9JsnFZZO9jzKexokYjdHqQfPriyIpdbRMmwOQa6GCC7bR8c7D2eWHfxGPg/s4032/CF04D46A-A939-42A7-811C-2E2B4ECBC6B3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fekPRK6zZCW7s_vm82fiGFq9vYeg9oMF5MijOhU18DsEdsrFLucoPruPTdZDU_n67NvoezyLPwdrL1wD3N3dOBLcwH3dS2XJZJsRECN_3-ODQ_IW8fhAQlBI1IwFc5ktw9JsnFZZO9jzKexokYjdHqQfPriyIpdbRMmwOQa6GCC7bR8c7D2eWHfxGPg/s320/CF04D46A-A939-42A7-811C-2E2B4ECBC6B3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brave defenders of the Reich.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbAOE2bHj4RIxx_JuQSLN3GRco7577wOxswsVZo05NVMigbDgOtl5q2c5Rq1Tzb6TJa8L3LCkuMc61YSKEBhfLguLLhC4sWABhEVLCEiKxGzD7Q9J7ZJpGyzPNX6BaPl7NikwIVEzSocwS1-OAkB8-P4ifbe1jbDoeGzKEErQ7ATk2ht5ttl2g3xis3E/s4032/923C2705-6F1E-4649-AA51-2C9FB92BF784.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbAOE2bHj4RIxx_JuQSLN3GRco7577wOxswsVZo05NVMigbDgOtl5q2c5Rq1Tzb6TJa8L3LCkuMc61YSKEBhfLguLLhC4sWABhEVLCEiKxGzD7Q9J7ZJpGyzPNX6BaPl7NikwIVEzSocwS1-OAkB8-P4ifbe1jbDoeGzKEErQ7ATk2ht5ttl2g3xis3E/s320/923C2705-6F1E-4649-AA51-2C9FB92BF784.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lt. Gruber's little tank.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Nevertheless it was time to close the deal, my squads marched into assault rifle range of the American positions and casualties began to climb among the Ami's. Some of my squads took hits and although one stayed Green the other two turned into regulars, as I said, it's Bolt Action. The sheer volume of fire now hitting the Yanks brought down several squads and teams, enough for Rob to raise a white flag as the grenadiers got ever closer.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_HrWI8Z52t8uFwSlBnz6UAGShZYl6owWDAvfNzqvJ7q9PQq6li0zh3nVzI7Qzgdy_6pji_oxCYQFbc0LD5996aE2smmiuMmAZxLsrBh0SkMGdwvI_1gDeuMVq-5gIROg3QXQy90q7NPifxAN3KSnKFqZ2voINMJW-MWFKIAqEu2o48MowqYy1mVaF2c/s4032/524FBB05-9C9F-445F-8C8F-BC7843E19141.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_HrWI8Z52t8uFwSlBnz6UAGShZYl6owWDAvfNzqvJ7q9PQq6li0zh3nVzI7Qzgdy_6pji_oxCYQFbc0LD5996aE2smmiuMmAZxLsrBh0SkMGdwvI_1gDeuMVq-5gIROg3QXQy90q7NPifxAN3KSnKFqZ2voINMJW-MWFKIAqEu2o48MowqYy1mVaF2c/s320/524FBB05-9C9F-445F-8C8F-BC7843E19141.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob's little tank.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwU_7JHlWikgLGXlVbNyvpV_fwgpIzMXhRiMkReo82NU66EJ7RwHURd4cACy5YJVFBBcx_w1RKV33FhhmB3eKsFNd6PsDuJOT7uX_ItB1sT6oblPNhthMaGVEKt70kiwcwUzPe7R0l7rNaxqssICnYASvqzN71OAN0W0kSM46WhPmiD5Pvn9yzfdKSSAM/s4032/3A089B23-103F-4007-B0D2-D501944CF181.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwU_7JHlWikgLGXlVbNyvpV_fwgpIzMXhRiMkReo82NU66EJ7RwHURd4cACy5YJVFBBcx_w1RKV33FhhmB3eKsFNd6PsDuJOT7uX_ItB1sT6oblPNhthMaGVEKt70kiwcwUzPe7R0l7rNaxqssICnYASvqzN71OAN0W0kSM46WhPmiD5Pvn9yzfdKSSAM/s320/3A089B23-103F-4007-B0D2-D501944CF181.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flakpanzer in action at last, lovely 3D print.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWYT17l4f2SiE6vol_2iwHGgIf0oy3RLxbpuqTohm9Q_gz_sjTG5wvvK4kH0xP4XcgNzqVjV1DhoTYi3LpFnkpC_PYombEgmSDV1pFCUe0_aB9GJksGRVY0VPnpxeMDrOXR0WmKm4u09JKuVsxUJImb7mHkmLWICDQGIqiX8wLlYHRMk7HAHWCEQp9mA/s4032/CF897A7F-EB14-44F8-8241-35AFE0E4E9B9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWYT17l4f2SiE6vol_2iwHGgIf0oy3RLxbpuqTohm9Q_gz_sjTG5wvvK4kH0xP4XcgNzqVjV1DhoTYi3LpFnkpC_PYombEgmSDV1pFCUe0_aB9GJksGRVY0VPnpxeMDrOXR0WmKm4u09JKuVsxUJImb7mHkmLWICDQGIqiX8wLlYHRMk7HAHWCEQp9mA/s320/CF897A7F-EB14-44F8-8241-35AFE0E4E9B9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end as the Volksgrenadiers move in.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><p></p><p>The entrenchments were a real pain and I was having to throw a six then a second one to score a hit, thankfully my dodgy German themed dice for once did not let me down, and I slowly whittled down the opposition until I got closer. Rob may have been able to counter with his third squad and the M5 but his men were vulnerable to fire once they had left their defences, the M5 actually hit the Flakpanzer but only stunned the crew, a very lucky escape for me. So another agreeable game with Mr M.</p><p>Much like the richness of TV programmes above map work is now heading my way at a steady pace, I am finishing off a mini atlas type project and have some maps for French Armies of the Thirty Years War up next along with additions to Bloody Streets: The Battle for Berlin, concentrating this time on armour, artillery and assault groups and the flak towers, with a new series on the Eastern Front later in the year from the same author.</p><p>I almost forgot, a journalist is up in arms (of course he is) and asking why there are no black people in the TV series Shogun, set in Japan in 1600AD, one wag answered with "Because they were in Africa", it tickled me. </p><p>I have given in and ordered up some new figures, time to get the paints out again, nothing earth shattering, just some looters and villagers suitable for the Italian Wars to use as interesting vignettes and scatter.<br /></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-71110281525671574182024-03-06T10:06:00.003+00:002024-03-06T10:17:19.229+00:00Ein Volk, Ein Rubbish.<p> Bolt Action this week against Michael's Yanks, not an army I would use myself as I find rules make excuses for them, much like Romans and Normans as if they do not want to offend with an intimation they might not be as good as the general public and movie makers think. I had this mindset when I read my first set of rules back in the olden days, WRG 1925-1950, and could not understand, having been brought up with Hotspur, Valiant and Commando comics why the British would need to take a morale test, and horror of horrors even fail!</p><p>I digress as usual, I decided to do something different and took a Volksgrenadier platoon supported by a Brummbar, veteran squad (for which I used my Kriegsmarine in order to only take one box) and a panzerschreck. This was out of my comfort zone as Bolt Action does not do justice, in my opinion, to Volksgrenadiers and their organisation is not historical. They are green and of course carry a fair number of assault rifles whose range is much less than rifles and therefore need to be carefully husbanded yet manouvered close to the enemy. I have the figures so why not.</p><p>The scenario involved an aircraft about to crash on the battlefield with important papers aboard, whoever had the most troops closest to the plane at the end would win, where the plane crashed was unknown to both sides. I actually have a nice shot down FW190 but at the moment cannot get to it, a shame. I deployed troops at both ends of the table to use the available cover to get close to the enemy, completely forgetting the plane was likely to come down in the centre area. Michael was more spread out and covered the centre with two squads, he had an anti-tank gun opposite my left and a Sherman opposite my right. I was quite aggressive and moved my men up quickly deciding to take losses in order to hopefully take advantage of my assault rifles to even things up.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORvoqFWb0OPlyGjvN8C1V3Flr-tzKvXJkLCsOasnUqH-48PWNhaOmwIo9d9eYm9npnk-AZqMKhs-XytcCllWnCCTlnxyrgNAKPJvHU577zdmjPWZntiAeIZ8F1-bBn6t-Iqa_omL_r4kY_xmgyLa17GIZu2VcQGT-eiK9TCilJE_IMN_LQxHoDJl5V4o/s4032/35D5CC74-D78A-45C2-AA24-F4DA1D08F622.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORvoqFWb0OPlyGjvN8C1V3Flr-tzKvXJkLCsOasnUqH-48PWNhaOmwIo9d9eYm9npnk-AZqMKhs-XytcCllWnCCTlnxyrgNAKPJvHU577zdmjPWZntiAeIZ8F1-bBn6t-Iqa_omL_r4kY_xmgyLa17GIZu2VcQGT-eiK9TCilJE_IMN_LQxHoDJl5V4o/s320/35D5CC74-D78A-45C2-AA24-F4DA1D08F622.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My less than enthusiastic boys.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqKEHuXVIYv7lLX-2yrzgel1g9XTNbveRTl-DE1AUXeJUZpQrzOKK4oyIShBfXxjAAYbNnjONVXsFYdvXIe2fB6WrIWyK0D4xMkT9MurZGQJfe0-pxoYd9gfbkYPBqNucX4EH2Nbk36n0JkkQSSzeNRqtaX4miPUD-T3O07jerE8pApI4eAup84HKyec/s4032/5FA52974-3925-40A1-A419-51E4F272EF0D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqKEHuXVIYv7lLX-2yrzgel1g9XTNbveRTl-DE1AUXeJUZpQrzOKK4oyIShBfXxjAAYbNnjONVXsFYdvXIe2fB6WrIWyK0D4xMkT9MurZGQJfe0-pxoYd9gfbkYPBqNucX4EH2Nbk36n0JkkQSSzeNRqtaX4miPUD-T3O07jerE8pApI4eAup84HKyec/s320/5FA52974-3925-40A1-A419-51E4F272EF0D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yanks.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p> Bolt Action has this rule whereby troops which, although green, may contain more experienced men, so when a green squad loses a casualty you roll a die and they can suddenly turn to regulars or even veterans, they can also take more pins so it is not all good news, but the odds are you will suddenly have a regular squad at your disposal. Anyway as the bullets flew both my right flank squads became regular, I smirked inside.Then disaster struck, both those squads now failed morale tests and for two of the games' six turns did nothing, on the other flank my heavy assault gun opened on Michaels right hand squad and caught them all under the template, only throwing ones would save them, out of eight dice I got five ones! The scream of an aeroplane engine now rent the air and down came the wounded bird, almost right in the centre where I had nothing but close to several Yankee squads, I stared defeat in the eye.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzAByogyUcJJ-V4SLi2eh908z_axj0C2rVLJ6rAepWbFI5wstpgULY8UsbLaz4BtvFCUKABEobkr6f81kvYDnFH01vRgwxsKz5oJxB8sfl2aHedO3lpmJOIH3d7LmbgKT6_hW4h-pUj2AhmtTyc1dQu25799Ijpu6rrzOzALYYon-nnQKx8ln1hLvmDY/s4032/4485FEAF-FB95-4C8E-927A-CD2E9E8D050B.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzAByogyUcJJ-V4SLi2eh908z_axj0C2rVLJ6rAepWbFI5wstpgULY8UsbLaz4BtvFCUKABEobkr6f81kvYDnFH01vRgwxsKz5oJxB8sfl2aHedO3lpmJOIH3d7LmbgKT6_hW4h-pUj2AhmtTyc1dQu25799Ijpu6rrzOzALYYon-nnQKx8ln1hLvmDY/s320/4485FEAF-FB95-4C8E-927A-CD2E9E8D050B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volksgrenadiers.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKE6J0HS9DTKW5PJEVv7qwAvpVgCmIyFWPsBVQQhrrBGjytiGN0RqlGZhyYErYgmzVOksKwnZDn2_c-JFDUmZI9uz6hMOONEvbddMDHL9nlYQO11UiTAKkFvWMfhc2-p-Q2i6moNeP4VZlJHyQRyl4etH0hoAHf5dmEfqp06xJC_U1OC-0PEnq6sKWESM/s4032/5197D542-5FC4-46FB-AC7A-17940014EB06.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKE6J0HS9DTKW5PJEVv7qwAvpVgCmIyFWPsBVQQhrrBGjytiGN0RqlGZhyYErYgmzVOksKwnZDn2_c-JFDUmZI9uz6hMOONEvbddMDHL9nlYQO11UiTAKkFvWMfhc2-p-Q2i6moNeP4VZlJHyQRyl4etH0hoAHf5dmEfqp06xJC_U1OC-0PEnq6sKWESM/s320/5197D542-5FC4-46FB-AC7A-17940014EB06.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brummbar.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTk8tuM4-TPl26KfA7a9so4VuYVYXoSH92E2yHc2BKtdkA16-KQjv-cpxCXvb29AqlUR9OzuCF5q93AjkN1OqeOL9g05Rfmw-j5iJ1ga_G-U-6GSs1_-S6xXMunxtGC_N_557rMHACsQdkngKlw58FHaARM4CXtK8FPBMFCPk2qa2dJpDD9dkRVfbg3pw/s4032/D66B94F0-D584-4E13-802D-08F8B6BD3837.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTk8tuM4-TPl26KfA7a9so4VuYVYXoSH92E2yHc2BKtdkA16-KQjv-cpxCXvb29AqlUR9OzuCF5q93AjkN1OqeOL9g05Rfmw-j5iJ1ga_G-U-6GSs1_-S6xXMunxtGC_N_557rMHACsQdkngKlw58FHaARM4CXtK8FPBMFCPk2qa2dJpDD9dkRVfbg3pw/s320/D66B94F0-D584-4E13-802D-08F8B6BD3837.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very cautious Sherman.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9C2q64K88qeNMnRxlUnCh1NcMzJ2X7_mYQ1moB-0_qa5oS59bruTrAvWkE9KJ-iaozriC1rZILPSkllp_g1dB7Pf0a0EGryoIBiWraZ4ACRmXLzPNCj64JpLSXk5-MKamp3IXkXOJgDr2RZo8IE1PJw3HtTuTA6SQjIaNOY7Z_NYvR6nz_QKKjk_oMtw/s4032/FD1FDC29-0F79-40B0-8FCA-A484A957F98E.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9C2q64K88qeNMnRxlUnCh1NcMzJ2X7_mYQ1moB-0_qa5oS59bruTrAvWkE9KJ-iaozriC1rZILPSkllp_g1dB7Pf0a0EGryoIBiWraZ4ACRmXLzPNCj64JpLSXk5-MKamp3IXkXOJgDr2RZo8IE1PJw3HtTuTA6SQjIaNOY7Z_NYvR6nz_QKKjk_oMtw/s320/FD1FDC29-0F79-40B0-8FCA-A484A957F98E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Navy.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I now pushed the heavy tank along the road in order to wipe out any Americans near the crash site while attempting to move some men to the site despite their lousy morale. Twice the tank shrugged off hits from the anti-tank gun but just as I needed it to survive and move it succumbed. The game limped into one extra turn and this allowed me to get my panzerschreck team to dispute the objective, but only just, if Michael had assaulted them instead of trying to shoot them he would have wiped them out and won, instead I had managed to tip the scales to a draw, not a very satisfactory one for me though, my report card said 'should have tried harder'.</p><p>The Volksgrenadiers were very good and their firepower offset their inexperience, but if the enemy get a shot in first it can really hurt them as they die on a three, I was lucky to turn two squads to regulars but their failing their morale twice meant disaster for me, that and as usual trying to kill the enemy rather than taking note of what I had to do to win. <br /></p><p>Last week it was another miserable night and a swine to park for some reason with cars all over the place, we only have one back street at the club, by the time I got somewhere I thought it would have been easier to walk to Lancaster, I had thought of staying in with my feet up but I had told Rob I would take part in his Muskets and Tomahawks game so being a man of honour I drove into the dark to navigate the myriad roadworks affecting Lancashire at the moment. </p><p>I was British and in command of four units of irregulars two of which were Scots, I had to make my way to the opposite end of the table where some boats were being protected by a small force of Regulars and Milita and this would earn me points. In between were some American Militia and opposite me at my end of the table were some Indians and American irregulars. I decided to swamp the latter force with superior numbers then make my way to the boats, I was helped in this as Ed (seemingly bouyed up with enthusiasm by the Happy Fairy) split his forces, two units towards me and a couple towards the boats.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5cy4zPk4UH_HHsGvAzlu2-qsbZpGZltSJ1hbk4AyjlVESWdZKOAi9jVfapNo2gFy_D194zKbVKT7F1H_migUojLZyGcmB2D89kVvQkSeBZrVudeHkQmisx-TOU-09a4G80FHdAhC2s_vQq-cR1M0e90gz4vAVeer-rxE2Jz49zRFddmeBVU4gLz_2TM/s4032/C52DF0FB-181D-4B80-9D54-1AA00C4B773D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5cy4zPk4UH_HHsGvAzlu2-qsbZpGZltSJ1hbk4AyjlVESWdZKOAi9jVfapNo2gFy_D194zKbVKT7F1H_migUojLZyGcmB2D89kVvQkSeBZrVudeHkQmisx-TOU-09a4G80FHdAhC2s_vQq-cR1M0e90gz4vAVeer-rxE2Jz49zRFddmeBVU4gLz_2TM/s320/C52DF0FB-181D-4B80-9D54-1AA00C4B773D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scots wha hae!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvNvvHtJqME0XGI3Sy1q2OAkyDd87PimfjwIxIw8V3PSjisYXjYrKstvcKJ84Y1ce4HWKEUJecYD2MLxHmG7iY6T3Z6sObvA1ujyt37O-3_Pg0_lyr8QoYEkzcEUmL9_J9FpT2u7RA9yCJKx937TrHXv0sYix4CsPQYp1j-5iAx62iDSf4XOzZBs06Ts/s4032/A03B35E1-2E32-4D75-BAC7-57E5E4D874D6.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvNvvHtJqME0XGI3Sy1q2OAkyDd87PimfjwIxIw8V3PSjisYXjYrKstvcKJ84Y1ce4HWKEUJecYD2MLxHmG7iY6T3Z6sObvA1ujyt37O-3_Pg0_lyr8QoYEkzcEUmL9_J9FpT2u7RA9yCJKx937TrHXv0sYix4CsPQYp1j-5iAx62iDSf4XOzZBs06Ts/s320/A03B35E1-2E32-4D75-BAC7-57E5E4D874D6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Save the boats.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBY-IlckeGzXxmfPdNzc6E7K_odX9mwV64cWbcdzJLSF6ahCVcbUh9wUfkLQ5t31Gshs1xwqjfu2_DSK8at5qOJ0de2mbb3UfQQEs5hQhEznDwDZS1E9A2vPt5T9RO-ctDFH3dATGHJxWOUBZ5hyphenhyphenkOh8jLqH9-JC-0ct2sv_1vNKJuDddFMKmvrOuhjsE/s4032/1EECB3AF-83A1-4D12-9FB6-5482D59B9C96.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBY-IlckeGzXxmfPdNzc6E7K_odX9mwV64cWbcdzJLSF6ahCVcbUh9wUfkLQ5t31Gshs1xwqjfu2_DSK8at5qOJ0de2mbb3UfQQEs5hQhEznDwDZS1E9A2vPt5T9RO-ctDFH3dATGHJxWOUBZ5hyphenhyphenkOh8jLqH9-JC-0ct2sv_1vNKJuDddFMKmvrOuhjsE/s320/1EECB3AF-83A1-4D12-9FB6-5482D59B9C96.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ed's boys.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I was very aggressive and threw caution to the wind and it paid off, first the Indians were cut down followed by a colonial unit, I was decolonising you see. Michael, defending the boats was having a hard time and for a while it looked like the Americans were getting the upper hand. Somehow Ed's flank attack was held and pushed back, a boat which had been damaged by artillery was repaired and despite the loss of a couple of units Michael weathered the storm. Meanwhile I now pushed my men to attack the rear of the American Militia which had the added bonus of taking pressure off our stalwart boat defenders. The Happy Fairy had seen which way the wind was blowing, left Ed and settled on my shoulder as I gave a poor rendition of British Grenadiers as I finished off Rob's uppity Militia. A British win.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5cUlWp2O0upVLaBd5WmGUnjEB2m0Lhv-NMNwDJZ4bweWKgBG_-6ZRsu3pnq4myw8thtmghmE87Jo1CejbMikbaT6d34dsuZKRksLTm9zJ7ET9KeTl9_wEwiArzgd5n17i06NtzSo-psYu_wJ8vCVdBCLm0Osz3k6DOkODy8s5zDcqt8OH3Rv17ryHOU/s4032/C242332E-5641-4E5D-BB8D-742967674676.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5cUlWp2O0upVLaBd5WmGUnjEB2m0Lhv-NMNwDJZ4bweWKgBG_-6ZRsu3pnq4myw8thtmghmE87Jo1CejbMikbaT6d34dsuZKRksLTm9zJ7ET9KeTl9_wEwiArzgd5n17i06NtzSo-psYu_wJ8vCVdBCLm0Osz3k6DOkODy8s5zDcqt8OH3Rv17ryHOU/s320/C242332E-5641-4E5D-BB8D-742967674676.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we are off.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhsdHoQ3OMz9qWDmoN26EF7kAwqK_I_M8iRtDSMa_XG4CxsM6-SgJa4o4AggNruUhEqSWwa9xKcdwR_XqmOp4MAC0IzfFB8Iy1EoM1atoWFZbrMXmYcC84QIFJrGfnEZgFVASZAHWoqGbhnM4hObS4ol-weij9IRijed0Nmse3z4h878pPnxhg0hbe3w/s4032/B2BFBD3E-4D9A-494E-9069-B93EA8E0ED56.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhsdHoQ3OMz9qWDmoN26EF7kAwqK_I_M8iRtDSMa_XG4CxsM6-SgJa4o4AggNruUhEqSWwa9xKcdwR_XqmOp4MAC0IzfFB8Iy1EoM1atoWFZbrMXmYcC84QIFJrGfnEZgFVASZAHWoqGbhnM4hObS4ol-weij9IRijed0Nmse3z4h878pPnxhg0hbe3w/s320/B2BFBD3E-4D9A-494E-9069-B93EA8E0ED56.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scots on the other side.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>An excellent club game but very brutal and bloody, the sheer number of unique figures Rob can bring to the table always surprises me, especially the irregulars and indians, very impressive and fun to play with.</p><p>On the very quiet painting front I completed the final three artillery pieces which were given to me by Dan at the club, the crews are from Casting Room Miniatures as a change from my usual TAG gunners. Now thanks to Dan I have a very useful artillery train for the Italian Wars, I can also put a decent baggage train into the field as well, although I might get a few more wagons. Friend Charles Singleton is building a French army based on the battle of Bicocca 1522 and as he was in the area dropped in for a chat and to show me his Francis I command stand, almost a unit on its own it is very impressive, beautifully done.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge80-kGWsUZU6tk2dJGKbZwAYg6PEPv9OHjqcB8egjFBjKbR2zr1jGwEZJO8lD1Zl-geAwS8e-ei3v4AMcxCzkaqIYNGmNaZVH8CNnVjDZl9EW6PSC85ZYtPJqjjs6gj2VcCzRacpycwXjQZPEnR_OFr_vQFHRzHJxJW1ghDpiNBQ4USWOzqV6Rj9Lnoc/s4032/FE125A63-1D8F-4415-94BD-E3576868B544.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge80-kGWsUZU6tk2dJGKbZwAYg6PEPv9OHjqcB8egjFBjKbR2zr1jGwEZJO8lD1Zl-geAwS8e-ei3v4AMcxCzkaqIYNGmNaZVH8CNnVjDZl9EW6PSC85ZYtPJqjjs6gj2VcCzRacpycwXjQZPEnR_OFr_vQFHRzHJxJW1ghDpiNBQ4USWOzqV6Rj9Lnoc/s320/FE125A63-1D8F-4415-94BD-E3576868B544.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francis I.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLjmiZ0dN7WvsIcMOKS9I45GNifDuv9FbePA2jNfySHJH28jXl6TYHo1SO_I-HgwFijkgGkDTQ6L-o7XL6HAu-mRzLUXItluEPnMX3Ln6y-HCocP1CkH6l9hWrXD2pInEM6Z-2E9KLVzpuFd8qy5bd7-y-3GHne_H9WDqFVmsRirxj0RXjQazlRMQ_xA/s4032/6863783E-A754-4F43-9C1E-B63AEDDC699F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLjmiZ0dN7WvsIcMOKS9I45GNifDuv9FbePA2jNfySHJH28jXl6TYHo1SO_I-HgwFijkgGkDTQ6L-o7XL6HAu-mRzLUXItluEPnMX3Ln6y-HCocP1CkH6l9hWrXD2pInEM6Z-2E9KLVzpuFd8qy5bd7-y-3GHne_H9WDqFVmsRirxj0RXjQazlRMQ_xA/s320/6863783E-A754-4F43-9C1E-B63AEDDC699F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRgxpra4HKgGt6v5chtIEk3RflnSt3xZgv71b66jKj843HtBzPr6Aiq64mYjuk16sfGYqrqBgSzgRvadiGvvjcwbFV_B28ZCLuM0KZv0vMg1mGVF1mXrh_Xt9MwrlzCpKsoKKdCCWpqZm1F8rj9IN8q8hrYPngRgpzck99aw10Fn6uEk_9e3_NpXDaig/s4032/6A6A64E0-1248-4C0C-ADD0-63CFBF1FAA4C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRgxpra4HKgGt6v5chtIEk3RflnSt3xZgv71b66jKj843HtBzPr6Aiq64mYjuk16sfGYqrqBgSzgRvadiGvvjcwbFV_B28ZCLuM0KZv0vMg1mGVF1mXrh_Xt9MwrlzCpKsoKKdCCWpqZm1F8rj9IN8q8hrYPngRgpzck99aw10Fn6uEk_9e3_NpXDaig/s320/6A6A64E0-1248-4C0C-ADD0-63CFBF1FAA4C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwSyj0OCUO3BWBwHIjezp62oKfWmuwWKjsgCHX8Y5fspRE3YCvM4cOicSRcM-1xDeWxOdK35CcBmamOMnoch7_xn0AjVMlJb8gKhP0dHPNcvO5ZQULQX7pUoeLBc5kGtZuUXZecjPrB8kGGhOElVoW7JttPhXyO_HrcOUI_cZ53DE5Uk02jNN8PJrX5c/s3264/E5C71AE5-EC84-4D44-92D3-4E2A30923428.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwSyj0OCUO3BWBwHIjezp62oKfWmuwWKjsgCHX8Y5fspRE3YCvM4cOicSRcM-1xDeWxOdK35CcBmamOMnoch7_xn0AjVMlJb8gKhP0dHPNcvO5ZQULQX7pUoeLBc5kGtZuUXZecjPrB8kGGhOElVoW7JttPhXyO_HrcOUI_cZ53DE5Uk02jNN8PJrX5c/s320/E5C71AE5-EC84-4D44-92D3-4E2A30923428.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More artillery.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8B0zKcAq63p2tNxji9p54sHyeWbFI0bGfF7JcQC6IRf47vimyL17V-8hn4ud-x6_qjp-2wH6znwn1b8DouLgI6jEctE6g2S-yhF-WJypoOl6U3SLWOMQzoxUunZjC6tcuwr7zOl2uZlwZRvdP-iAcX4r5scR1Tn9FpMuZO52ssCo2UaXwxLbqtly4dvE/s3264/26DBFDBB-5ABF-4230-B954-02F897E4860B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8B0zKcAq63p2tNxji9p54sHyeWbFI0bGfF7JcQC6IRf47vimyL17V-8hn4ud-x6_qjp-2wH6znwn1b8DouLgI6jEctE6g2S-yhF-WJypoOl6U3SLWOMQzoxUunZjC6tcuwr7zOl2uZlwZRvdP-iAcX4r5scR1Tn9FpMuZO52ssCo2UaXwxLbqtly4dvE/s320/26DBFDBB-5ABF-4230-B954-02F897E4860B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Most of the heavy work is done on the War Room, it is now all the other jobs which have to be done and fall into place, electrics, bathroom, flooring and painting, also the old shop front is still there outside, I don't know when that is going. I suspect we might run into May before I am ready to get a game. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevEnMgWWBFG8tpNPpFWYx0uicUBTCHgIRzGxMEsjaCmk1vQFW_WpOagEKUDXX3X-8ZhGYEIJ9gsMdU4YbKXdrHomc1P8v9yaqXeEFUT0h2x5gUAOJ53v5BWGD8nBh-T0y5eoTiMY6VOFDPcHf5qFxBc4zIdOl11wW02NQiDpDfli5gXY2HqPAGD02Gtc/s4032/C5D92D53-07B9-4BA8-AB92-D35A9BE58556.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevEnMgWWBFG8tpNPpFWYx0uicUBTCHgIRzGxMEsjaCmk1vQFW_WpOagEKUDXX3X-8ZhGYEIJ9gsMdU4YbKXdrHomc1P8v9yaqXeEFUT0h2x5gUAOJ53v5BWGD8nBh-T0y5eoTiMY6VOFDPcHf5qFxBc4zIdOl11wW02NQiDpDfli5gXY2HqPAGD02Gtc/s320/C5D92D53-07B9-4BA8-AB92-D35A9BE58556.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6o8NSffoCMBqLBvLOPb8kLlxtjwWZydJne3kIUR-Ra1mKAR0Qj404NFpgaK7yLoWEUOkQpGJxTpZ2RkPV9UovriRiWAyuVLbgxMhRN1RA164yT9BbIUoOuKItjY41iCgBzURbfkw4ZiGMdJxko2dOoI8Z6uVf5jEkCruKGLmaASHIZejXZbk-0bO8djQ/s4032/10EBE309-1558-4778-AC0C-A6FF88AECE49.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6o8NSffoCMBqLBvLOPb8kLlxtjwWZydJne3kIUR-Ra1mKAR0Qj404NFpgaK7yLoWEUOkQpGJxTpZ2RkPV9UovriRiWAyuVLbgxMhRN1RA164yT9BbIUoOuKItjY41iCgBzURbfkw4ZiGMdJxko2dOoI8Z6uVf5jEkCruKGLmaASHIZejXZbk-0bO8djQ/s320/10EBE309-1558-4778-AC0C-A6FF88AECE49.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>My Apple TV subscription runs out a few days after the last episode of Masters of the Air thankfully, I have actually enjoyed this series and it has brought home the horror of flying heavy bombers during WWII whether RAF or USAAF. You know me, I could moan about some parts but have decided not to, I am keeping that for Shogun.</p><p></p>I see that Dr. Claire Millington, who? Has declared the new and popular Roman Legion exhibition at the British Museum fascist and sexist (of course it is) and, wait for it, "almost exclusively about the soldiers", who would have thought? Another university education not wasted.<br /><p></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-63724768002076834962024-02-21T20:36:00.002+00:002024-02-21T20:50:03.091+00:00All Things Come To An End<p> Well, a quiet week, still seems to be hurry up and wait here, hospital results, calls back, appointments and general real life issues non of which seem to be moving forward.</p><p>It was Chain of Command at the club and my Russians vs Rob's Germans, it was an attack and defend game, a misnomer actually as will be explained below. I had a normal Rifle Platoon and was lazy and took it straight from the rule book, I actually researched my own and there are quite a few more historical lists online, but hey, anyway I took a T70 light tank and a 45mm anti-tank gun as supports. Rob took the bog standard late German platoon also from the book and he spent money on an extra support squad one with two LMG's and an infantry gun. </p><p>I was defending a ford and the Jerries had to take it, or rely on the easier option of simply driving me from the table. Things got off to a shaky start as heavy rain turned up and reduced visibility to 18", I got two squads on, the right flank ensconced in a brick farmstead, I also later brought on my T70 and the 45mm gun, the latter was a bad move on my part. Somehow Rob miscalculated and one of his squads on my left came within 18", my tank and some infantry destroyed the enemy and things looked good, then the rain stopped. Rob had two more squads on the table, a huge firefight developed and it was here I now realise I made another mistake, I concentrated on his troops in a nearby wood which turned out pointless as he had a Senior Leader attached and despite his men being loaded with shock he always managed to reduce it, the fact I could not actually kill anyone helped his situation.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV5Lrsx32oVaxT_AE1l6FxVOsSokzrpolC4MyqmHsmHvNo3PrpKE-Sr2nv-vR41ofW1z5NWFRlQjy6UspyBOpvhNj8Oapdbaj-bN2gFz3103_X21jyrsreZYZysBnKjCXSlkwgCOWZ_wYFdBP4oMkbDfctdy2vcXNHAQaWZzcxHz9eyZkaEhzpNJUMEQ/s4032/E08E8A4D-F124-484D-8BDD-F498B09C8EE2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV5Lrsx32oVaxT_AE1l6FxVOsSokzrpolC4MyqmHsmHvNo3PrpKE-Sr2nv-vR41ofW1z5NWFRlQjy6UspyBOpvhNj8Oapdbaj-bN2gFz3103_X21jyrsreZYZysBnKjCXSlkwgCOWZ_wYFdBP4oMkbDfctdy2vcXNHAQaWZzcxHz9eyZkaEhzpNJUMEQ/s320/E08E8A4D-F124-484D-8BDD-F498B09C8EE2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0mwU3uZKV-ZLKhlLhkkZar_Mds9IGWlgm6fdqBcWSS-sJOS-VK1TGMxK2Fnr3FToquxCOGo3-xuTqYmTAf5sOS7elOrlck2ujWrEpx6v3B-PT5kP2duy97YhqqDp58cXYDNR3Fv6u7H8u2ljKNdCleSGSE49LztsAodfT7mcCRIY_K3-FxHcl2zlL58/s4032/D99D56B2-B387-4384-88FD-4FA89A00F55E.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0mwU3uZKV-ZLKhlLhkkZar_Mds9IGWlgm6fdqBcWSS-sJOS-VK1TGMxK2Fnr3FToquxCOGo3-xuTqYmTAf5sOS7elOrlck2ujWrEpx6v3B-PT5kP2duy97YhqqDp58cXYDNR3Fv6u7H8u2ljKNdCleSGSE49LztsAodfT7mcCRIY_K3-FxHcl2zlL58/s320/D99D56B2-B387-4384-88FD-4FA89A00F55E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little tank, T-70.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGm7P1H4q8OOr2NyMEMlkDPF12JA0Z7n0udcIlWFIPD65Tdhh1cDBHXhIycvCX4B7CFKEJ6xHzFXvtKLffm9Rjh4BVrYosoqEWMPHJFVBE90cR1bcS3TXX1XSnAh_wpZ6pqe-D2T_sgUI7zBb765tAD-WLTEgPT_U8xW5THPYYQuxMZxES6K6sRv_k-I/s4032/B239AFCD-9BFF-47BC-AC29-1BF361DAFB60.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGm7P1H4q8OOr2NyMEMlkDPF12JA0Z7n0udcIlWFIPD65Tdhh1cDBHXhIycvCX4B7CFKEJ6xHzFXvtKLffm9Rjh4BVrYosoqEWMPHJFVBE90cR1bcS3TXX1XSnAh_wpZ6pqe-D2T_sgUI7zBb765tAD-WLTEgPT_U8xW5THPYYQuxMZxES6K6sRv_k-I/s320/B239AFCD-9BFF-47BC-AC29-1BF361DAFB60.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old homestead is still standing.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUxILGCHYDxfgy319C9AZZF9cUAfzv2zBXU8ogBlxPiYjeiwg29c4cvT9BpjCTWR45cRNiqFM2GVhwUzQPON_u4JTso3BvaA8R-2z5cigrPQcaaF6fKYqVTikBuvggEE3e_6JhfXvO-qwILTIc3KiSJPeZ1BdlEMRveHlAngQQTj8QNcEd7AGIr4XqUQ/s4032/8A6AAA58-11D3-4B1A-904E-E430A0D8E0EF.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUxILGCHYDxfgy319C9AZZF9cUAfzv2zBXU8ogBlxPiYjeiwg29c4cvT9BpjCTWR45cRNiqFM2GVhwUzQPON_u4JTso3BvaA8R-2z5cigrPQcaaF6fKYqVTikBuvggEE3e_6JhfXvO-qwILTIc3KiSJPeZ1BdlEMRveHlAngQQTj8QNcEd7AGIr4XqUQ/s320/8A6AAA58-11D3-4B1A-904E-E430A0D8E0EF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wasted my time on these guys.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2Lcm79RyX_RLX2X7eOZvpQS7EQ4YX5EfSBCpahnaQxYkv5VW-onip0c2acSz31ZDHaQf-XvfCNbwNxk8T363228KeTqnEAgcFiIhZh0xRTyHxzCHxSwCaznhIIsoW4_lqT1CEiRe5HSzFXVqTWeFgqgVb6aEOyyHqlGP2qkxP-TnA7BUt76G-GweijM/s4032/5A653CE1-31EE-41BB-AF49-B05D276EAC15.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2Lcm79RyX_RLX2X7eOZvpQS7EQ4YX5EfSBCpahnaQxYkv5VW-onip0c2acSz31ZDHaQf-XvfCNbwNxk8T363228KeTqnEAgcFiIhZh0xRTyHxzCHxSwCaznhIIsoW4_lqT1CEiRe5HSzFXVqTWeFgqgVb6aEOyyHqlGP2qkxP-TnA7BUt76G-GweijM/s320/5A653CE1-31EE-41BB-AF49-B05D276EAC15.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I lost my little gun and the firefight went on, I also lost a Junior Leader so my morale dropped, then perhaps frustrated, I moved my tank forward and it fell victim to a Panzerschrek team, of course it did. As the time flew past and I was at 4 for morale and Rob was still at 8 (I think) and my troops were holding on and the Jerries saw no need to come forward we wrapped the game up.</p><p>Skip this bit if you are not interested in Chain of Command. The 'attacker' has no need to attack, he also gets twice the number of support points as the defender so the smart thing to do is simply set up a firebase and plug away until the defender loses out to morale loss, objective, we don need no steenking objective. The downside is it makes for a very dull game. I fell victim to another annoying mechanic, my left hand squad were pinned, I got the shock down but they remain pinned until the turn ends, this can last all game. Despite the fact there was a lovely brick building within spitting distance my boys could not retreat to better cover, all they could do was sit and die, why?</p><p>Anyway when the War Room opens if I play CoC here I will sort out the nonesense above using house rules and, dare I say commonsense. No matter, the night put an end to my run of victories although my lawyers are appealing on the grounds I still held my defensive position when we packed away, kudos to Rob for the win nonetheless, always a pleasure.</p><p>I have completed at last the last cavalry unit which I am adding for now to the Italian Wars project, now I turn my attention to the three artillery pieces which have been receiving their Dettol dip for about a week, most of the paint had gone but a sticky residue was left, nail varnish remover really fixed that and left the metal like new. I bought some crews for the guns which I had got from Dan so will get them primed and sorted in the next couple of days. This gives me about 14/15 artillery pieces in all, a nice range from heavy to light.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfyslilw7pawMShpFtTtgPoU5G_KPDXRfHsq4go_JsbmHWXywZbHi76c9JNjdP0xsg2k1uvmP29N7kH6BEmcHeud2F_B_KjI6ene6LeXTK3380BfCiOCou7Q_p2C6h_y2MOHv6bNZxc3HUTypkmk7oQdHBcCFjt2EBekinx9xflMVHXkHTbrs45Vyzbk/s3264/D2A0AC88-9ECC-4E90-9893-A84A613827CB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfyslilw7pawMShpFtTtgPoU5G_KPDXRfHsq4go_JsbmHWXywZbHi76c9JNjdP0xsg2k1uvmP29N7kH6BEmcHeud2F_B_KjI6ene6LeXTK3380BfCiOCou7Q_p2C6h_y2MOHv6bNZxc3HUTypkmk7oQdHBcCFjt2EBekinx9xflMVHXkHTbrs45Vyzbk/s320/D2A0AC88-9ECC-4E90-9893-A84A613827CB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACyYmuUXkUXYmVtQxFh7kr6XUSo__IJ-5WNXix0kg3cM1vLgyRCqxDJ-0Ud9Wf1ltXxFV56ygjdEw_xmeL7AiRdLtKMtyR8w3Qge30WIzLFaWX5Lk-dbN_ygqIzGApz5RGGHOUCpF6cu73YzBajlSZHCFQYkHnggnCwClMLuuM1g8H-OJ0LwJLIXaIPY/s3264/736B28A0-1ABF-485C-87FC-3291969F3264.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACyYmuUXkUXYmVtQxFh7kr6XUSo__IJ-5WNXix0kg3cM1vLgyRCqxDJ-0Ud9Wf1ltXxFV56ygjdEw_xmeL7AiRdLtKMtyR8w3Qge30WIzLFaWX5Lk-dbN_ygqIzGApz5RGGHOUCpF6cu73YzBajlSZHCFQYkHnggnCwClMLuuM1g8H-OJ0LwJLIXaIPY/s320/736B28A0-1ABF-485C-87FC-3291969F3264.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlUVyf5sESOaoFUxiA2ieS68ohRJLXKTWw1QLIteSI5PE7IWMgtkGEfynm3eM57UGdNDecM7sO9RMCU0wysZVmFfW_Yy9e6F7FMnkr72BDy64EMeclZhrdGk4KcVTPaXQbEtdQaUskqNIBVJyJCkDf-oz5f_0nzHnLf3I0-LljD4Q8uS8UKraYwpksIw/s3264/3B363E05-1F76-475C-8D13-E2FC6F39CA58.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlUVyf5sESOaoFUxiA2ieS68ohRJLXKTWw1QLIteSI5PE7IWMgtkGEfynm3eM57UGdNDecM7sO9RMCU0wysZVmFfW_Yy9e6F7FMnkr72BDy64EMeclZhrdGk4KcVTPaXQbEtdQaUskqNIBVJyJCkDf-oz5f_0nzHnLf3I0-LljD4Q8uS8UKraYwpksIw/s320/3B363E05-1F76-475C-8D13-E2FC6F39CA58.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Keeping on the Italian Wars a new scenario book was being advertised on the Facebook page, the price initially put me off and I waited for someone to do a review as a couple of members had bought the book, but nothing concrete turned up. Despite this I bought it and received it today, it is printed by Amazon, hence the price tag I suspect, seemingly they print it for the author and print one when someone orders it, for a fee of course. I am sure with todays technology it could be done cheaper, but it has been at least 25 years since I printed my own scenario books, and I got the lions share of the profit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRDYgNrFADybHcYa11jcDvjWAO1qmw9r2_8W2b8Jh3w34pGFIPdGinPs2G-b7R8VLMEei1UqZ9TfPjQd4YSfAlsKrpTf4mbrocEMfSiry3Jy7jxBvYRZgzuViixkswszXOfkqpxmVD_T_umrxQI5U-78TcU9ktKIgr9snmuSc-cmu72sYql28Tc-eHQI/s3264/12D31CD6-467C-44E8-A522-3FB24870F41B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRDYgNrFADybHcYa11jcDvjWAO1qmw9r2_8W2b8Jh3w34pGFIPdGinPs2G-b7R8VLMEei1UqZ9TfPjQd4YSfAlsKrpTf4mbrocEMfSiry3Jy7jxBvYRZgzuViixkswszXOfkqpxmVD_T_umrxQI5U-78TcU9ktKIgr9snmuSc-cmu72sYql28Tc-eHQI/s320/12D31CD6-467C-44E8-A522-3FB24870F41B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I digress, the book is between A5 and A4, has 97 pages and 20 scenarios, the maps are basic and I suspect more for 15mm figures than 28's but I could be wrong there and will find out in due time. The author has done a lot of work on the scenarios and includes exceptional army lists for three rule sets for each battle; Furioso, Pike and Shotte and Impetus. These come with notes where needed to explain troops types and combat factors. I look forward to fighting all 20 battles and getting my monies worth. I am a happy bunny.</p><p>I wasted some time at Morecambe Library, very nice by the way, on Saturday at the Model Show. Not a great deal of warlike models but what there was was very nice, I also talked at length with one of the exhibitors, but declined to join in the end, it's a Tuesday and I have more than enough to keep me going with wargaming. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJLI-H-hoiT0ZGV5vOayi9i_0pbVkVrY2PPDW0qYqu_fhkU3-5HJnRrVHtN4MGeEAeFO9yqUrmGR43c0fjw6ErVQfDMpMB2AEdxhaXnlP19EjBUE9bcQqb52xKKdqh18RE2g_FS-G7g-gYVHU1mWppIZBP7QZl8KIsXkmE4nP9hbzH2M-ZElPVCevygg/s4032/4FF5F7C9-46E2-46B0-9192-1F7E7BD7DC42.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJLI-H-hoiT0ZGV5vOayi9i_0pbVkVrY2PPDW0qYqu_fhkU3-5HJnRrVHtN4MGeEAeFO9yqUrmGR43c0fjw6ErVQfDMpMB2AEdxhaXnlP19EjBUE9bcQqb52xKKdqh18RE2g_FS-G7g-gYVHU1mWppIZBP7QZl8KIsXkmE4nP9hbzH2M-ZElPVCevygg/s320/4FF5F7C9-46E2-46B0-9192-1F7E7BD7DC42.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even modellers have more Puma's than the German Army.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Plugging away at some WWI maps for the moment, second project almost done but I am getting combat fatigue.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcCToUPimWwgdDOHdSY6sVy5km3-W0kdIW2H8M1EIy4VgIl4u2Ss6VBxYa-Z4XC1AeRTjuy7eoiMesDWAEL0tONhFPPX7xM9kNCut_iiN8lkl1AXJ__mF6j4sSgB2hd3j4zC2GNXobRlEPmyFoRvrbeUl02Zg7BWsu6uREh4ylcyiPJUwg7iVYgEAPXI/s1663/Map%206%20Givenchy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1432" data-original-width="1663" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcCToUPimWwgdDOHdSY6sVy5km3-W0kdIW2H8M1EIy4VgIl4u2Ss6VBxYa-Z4XC1AeRTjuy7eoiMesDWAEL0tONhFPPX7xM9kNCut_iiN8lkl1AXJ__mF6j4sSgB2hd3j4zC2GNXobRlEPmyFoRvrbeUl02Zg7BWsu6uREh4ylcyiPJUwg7iVYgEAPXI/s320/Map%206%20Givenchy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">History of the Royal Fusiliers Brigade "Soldiers and Gentlemen".<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-11350159889326445352024-02-15T16:00:00.000+00:002024-02-15T16:00:17.342+00:00A Mixed Bag<p> I had my son and grandson over for a gaming weekend so that he could try out his new Underworlds figures and beat me at face to face Blood Bowl as he has tired of beating me online. He is ten years old and amazes me at how well he has picked up complicated rules for a series of games when all it does is make my head hurt and leave me with one strategy, to simply roll better dice. I think in the end I won two Underworlds games (see comment on dice), drew one half of an 11's Blood Bowl game, won a 7's match 2-0 then lost at Wings of War.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKyy86QNumYgQM3IXkGcQLhTE4gGphCO22MBhr6ZEBVwVuJEzSNO1vUSNJ_AIbh8FytlonZr7x0RDP0R19JUnqTmeCCdLsw9CI8EtO343kDcHv-QmPHCM15NQEOFYdxBz3cGf_Um0ycIkq4tG0WskZmmVA3JqkkuMWxn-sWzlWKziDPGg5eG3UPF5waE/s1200/warhammer-underworlds-gnarlwood-gameplay-layout.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKyy86QNumYgQM3IXkGcQLhTE4gGphCO22MBhr6ZEBVwVuJEzSNO1vUSNJ_AIbh8FytlonZr7x0RDP0R19JUnqTmeCCdLsw9CI8EtO343kDcHv-QmPHCM15NQEOFYdxBz3cGf_Um0ycIkq4tG0WskZmmVA3JqkkuMWxn-sWzlWKziDPGg5eG3UPF5waE/s320/warhammer-underworlds-gnarlwood-gameplay-layout.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underworlds.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxeNKCtga_Z0ErPehnJqJ5fH01DhiO5l3rxxP0PxCWBRW6nD0I32EF-vTw-RsF6znvSk5xdJaIojDaqvPIWNXtKv4ebQNpubEfEfibGK0qoBI_mMN5LAEKzKLkRYPensDMZvkkipiXC61YeA1cY9yr2Ip33JJiDVr3m2kd3qrJa8VPSji78om4oARqeM/s691/60010999005_ENGBloodBowlSeason2Lead.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="669" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxeNKCtga_Z0ErPehnJqJ5fH01DhiO5l3rxxP0PxCWBRW6nD0I32EF-vTw-RsF6znvSk5xdJaIojDaqvPIWNXtKv4ebQNpubEfEfibGK0qoBI_mMN5LAEKzKLkRYPensDMZvkkipiXC61YeA1cY9yr2Ip33JJiDVr3m2kd3qrJa8VPSji78om4oARqeM/s320/60010999005_ENGBloodBowlSeason2Lead.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><p>A couple of times I was left floundering and felt like I was being hustled, in James' defence he did tell me to "read the rules Papa" and, once I had made my mistake, was willing to point out what I should have done. What the weekend brought home to me at long last is that I am a wargamer, not a gamer, I am lost with games played on something not usually larger than a draughts board, or built as you proceed with colourful hexes. Three guys (or women Reg) are not armies or warbands, they are game pieces, I am also at a loss to the myriad cards involved in most of these types of games, in Underworlds you will have at least a dozen all with different abilities and rules which if there is an R in the month and it is past 1600 hrs and it is raining you cannot use on an opponent because the moon is in the wrong quadrant and he (or she Reg) has a magic glass slipper.</p><p>I have now had about six weeks of enforced non-wargaming here at me Casa, I have also had to abandon a few club nights as well due to circumtances beyond my control. A lot, no, most of my spare time revolves around wargaming, things like scenarios, buying figures, painting figures, researching and playing to name a few, meeting like minded people, finding new opponents and building new armies and entering a new period. I am beginning to get withdrawal symptoms and am desperate to spend money or lay on some games, but I still have maybe two months to go before the War Room is complete. In the meanwhile I am grateful to the guys at the club and Rob and Matt who take the time to set up some wonderful games which I can play in. I would also have to include the bloggers whom I follow, whose exploits I enjoy reading over a cup of good coffee.</p><p>I am still painting and am slowly, very slowly finishing off the last six heavy cavalry to add to my Italian Wars armies, I have a couple more bits and pieces but will again take my time. I have quite a lot of mapping to do and for now most of my time will be devoted to finishing these projects.</p><p>Dreadful weather this morning as I set off to Penrith for another rendezvous in Matt's dungeon. If you follow Matt's blog you will know he has painted up Tallarn figures of late and I noticed them the last time we played and they are lovely and full of character, so we agreed to play some Xeno Rampant the next time we met. So strap in for a Drop Ship ride to hell.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7OYEMpwhP7h3VeCIVZxrm5nGozyOr4e3OQrFvp7xHtGLM8ala7WeClCxD6oxH3R8E5B1Q7OsewgwKuo9XKqXUgTm2hqwSDqqUABCqxMsebDcg21sqvbcuRuqjYAb-wOZllUHw2_vDY1z48macsvf8zRwqoRf0CXVoFR0pcuUxWI1IfXFNtdqARdlv1s/s4032/376B88AA-7F61-4961-9ABE-64191C324136.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7OYEMpwhP7h3VeCIVZxrm5nGozyOr4e3OQrFvp7xHtGLM8ala7WeClCxD6oxH3R8E5B1Q7OsewgwKuo9XKqXUgTm2hqwSDqqUABCqxMsebDcg21sqvbcuRuqjYAb-wOZllUHw2_vDY1z48macsvf8zRwqoRf0CXVoFR0pcuUxWI1IfXFNtdqARdlv1s/s320/376B88AA-7F61-4961-9ABE-64191C324136.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Star Ship Troopers.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>My Tallarn troops dropped on a desert planet to claim it for the Empire and quickly ended up in a bug hunt, although my guys were actually the hunted and not the hunters. In a few turns I had suffered severe casualties and thought I would be heading back down the M6 tout suite, but just as things were darkest my remaining troops began to fight back and a lot of the bugs hit the deck in brutal hand to hand fighting. It was now time to hit the insects with my mech, this hero dealt out mayhem and the upper hand now lay with my boys, my one remaining squad had retreated in front of a huge monster and now their fire combined with shots from the war mech secured victory for the Empire.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRN-Cm9AU5QNFyV-qtyUXmEaq8BB0pXVyDnxBFh-xRHBfpL6jGxDBzUeiFJctstoXg4ZIJldCUKE4XILOd5tslPqS_qoxhBeOqAVdaPBUVDA4db4fDrYNvwftlA7oScSMDA4Lwyf7pOU3SkI4rSKdmZqW_ZaJ_iMx81wGbPQQytfrjHdvnI2CE5bny7s/s4032/8A07A11A-DC4F-4A01-B2CB-FBA0CBF1F3F5.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRN-Cm9AU5QNFyV-qtyUXmEaq8BB0pXVyDnxBFh-xRHBfpL6jGxDBzUeiFJctstoXg4ZIJldCUKE4XILOd5tslPqS_qoxhBeOqAVdaPBUVDA4db4fDrYNvwftlA7oScSMDA4Lwyf7pOU3SkI4rSKdmZqW_ZaJ_iMx81wGbPQQytfrjHdvnI2CE5bny7s/s320/8A07A11A-DC4F-4A01-B2CB-FBA0CBF1F3F5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LV-426.</td></tr></tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcyanstcp_CJuO6Z0Kor0LxTSF-RZChMkFArHrKlhBXFgmEFRVfhijx2wKgfJLYLsyTecHYq8OjCESXCAvovCLj_DgoXacYvl7I3Q2cxEkXGwkIidSZqg283HE7rDEULhEOuFEyuj4n3y4tGd9sP53vZ_2rv3EhyphenhyphenLGc-ICum6P2SDNEStMVi_yFf1Wgs/s4032/AA5182DB-3336-495D-9A06-10D539B94217.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcyanstcp_CJuO6Z0Kor0LxTSF-RZChMkFArHrKlhBXFgmEFRVfhijx2wKgfJLYLsyTecHYq8OjCESXCAvovCLj_DgoXacYvl7I3Q2cxEkXGwkIidSZqg283HE7rDEULhEOuFEyuj4n3y4tGd9sP53vZ_2rv3EhyphenhyphenLGc-ICum6P2SDNEStMVi_yFf1Wgs/s320/AA5182DB-3336-495D-9A06-10D539B94217.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This planet is ours.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdr1WgzQGCOyjzqxaGmfxCb7XC9iItGjsktwkidCktZPYJrR3xBzmESrkxD61Gjm6VpzkFMizbwvetnuMxF7ISPYp6CAl6N79rLKNKwHexXZHmZfYJE_6ysniaq3YQVJpQjK5TKElIGDoZwxaXW6A2_vCtunHDeIAeRKaVCK8tNs0OXCQ7zDbZc0clJY/s4032/9549B946-83CD-4E17-B928-012DFB00C39A.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdr1WgzQGCOyjzqxaGmfxCb7XC9iItGjsktwkidCktZPYJrR3xBzmESrkxD61Gjm6VpzkFMizbwvetnuMxF7ISPYp6CAl6N79rLKNKwHexXZHmZfYJE_6ysniaq3YQVJpQjK5TKElIGDoZwxaXW6A2_vCtunHDeIAeRKaVCK8tNs0OXCQ7zDbZc0clJY/s320/9549B946-83CD-4E17-B928-012DFB00C39A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The monster.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAmV4V-_iX8B4zAqbKqx5vddT5mGfgjVcFcBrYKFxDO_nKWwMX23z-ikR_YcbOXYTHxleELJns1ujtUo9QmuJ5FitWPF809w7vHjBrIcxYFvY7s4XEmfFUviSK3CRk4tAZw9Xpnv_N716NJIlvGfw7ANW4Dj5vUAyo0U-uO_oZjYNBlN931W7MNaprR0/s4032/37D526E8-2458-4598-AD71-420B31FFB383.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAmV4V-_iX8B4zAqbKqx5vddT5mGfgjVcFcBrYKFxDO_nKWwMX23z-ikR_YcbOXYTHxleELJns1ujtUo9QmuJ5FitWPF809w7vHjBrIcxYFvY7s4XEmfFUviSK3CRk4tAZw9Xpnv_N716NJIlvGfw7ANW4Dj5vUAyo0U-uO_oZjYNBlN931W7MNaprR0/s320/37D526E8-2458-4598-AD71-420B31FFB383.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here they come!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN-HUGTH5ovIpqIeJG3HL98uBA6D0BPQGIKgWaiN06Q47x3MLK20W3ohYoT_OJj3vuf1BVjEEE7-lkoRAiDH4eyvImZ0YaAtK7kUgKqGYGx-SBl0eyg_rcleQBad8FFXASRcaXxbHb28_D0IhJ48kjZ7Jct-m_jt0NGOnioThmO5-0w0zqyodr6NicpM/s4032/5CBF47FD-AF05-43D9-9518-5CDBB1BA35DA.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN-HUGTH5ovIpqIeJG3HL98uBA6D0BPQGIKgWaiN06Q47x3MLK20W3ohYoT_OJj3vuf1BVjEEE7-lkoRAiDH4eyvImZ0YaAtK7kUgKqGYGx-SBl0eyg_rcleQBad8FFXASRcaXxbHb28_D0IhJ48kjZ7Jct-m_jt0NGOnioThmO5-0w0zqyodr6NicpM/s320/5CBF47FD-AF05-43D9-9518-5CDBB1BA35DA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More bugs.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>As my exhausted troops reorganised and another drop ship brought reinforcements to boost my command back to normal a new threat appeared, a more sophisticated enemy (Tau) this time had landed to claim the planet for themselves. I drew my men into a defensive position and immediately suffered losses from long range fire, not again I thought. The Tau were being aggressive on my right flank and I concentrated all my fire on one enemy at a time, this was successful and enemy losses approached 50%. Things didn't go all my way and my squads began to lose soldiers, one heavy squad being completely wiped out. I moved all my men into cover and hid while I manouvered them to best bring overwhelming firepower on the remaining enemy. My mech with help from some infantry now brought down the Tau in power armour at which point with the Tallarn moving forward and only one and a half squads left Matt conceded.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8W4d3aEhYybGVi1IPRCOsXi6b6DAI7CQBLdo6W7cVR_tWUAUjjyottzLyYtqK3M2_4oJ3v1EQLZryE9p9LCmuHLQKqN2ZOEixYXnhzIf1y4jn4GJ2WgnmhdEIaOjQkoh8yLN0p2HHJBKv2hApEHe1ZeIt_c_bkayI2X_hpD461GmHj9bV1bcTnEOa6s/s4032/EBF41360-5CE8-4FDF-BA77-CECC4E66143D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8W4d3aEhYybGVi1IPRCOsXi6b6DAI7CQBLdo6W7cVR_tWUAUjjyottzLyYtqK3M2_4oJ3v1EQLZryE9p9LCmuHLQKqN2ZOEixYXnhzIf1y4jn4GJ2WgnmhdEIaOjQkoh8yLN0p2HHJBKv2hApEHe1ZeIt_c_bkayI2X_hpD461GmHj9bV1bcTnEOa6s/s320/EBF41360-5CE8-4FDF-BA77-CECC4E66143D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bad guys.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYvtX3j1vYKZUF_NIIoleKJ2Ds2JxWtu3UcldDJSEG3tEDt1H2n-dPKKX3mYP2kzBsE6LVcy11GRh3Otw4m5nKLJbGBD31LvDoNgHDkgHy-doC1q6eHpvoI4LNP-3V1y9HditGasv1216-J0dz8bzr5aB3MC81e-lDFqoGaEUIzbOczE7EawISgd42xk/s4032/A82082C0-6E8E-4423-858B-5AF913BE8B22.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYvtX3j1vYKZUF_NIIoleKJ2Ds2JxWtu3UcldDJSEG3tEDt1H2n-dPKKX3mYP2kzBsE6LVcy11GRh3Otw4m5nKLJbGBD31LvDoNgHDkgHy-doC1q6eHpvoI4LNP-3V1y9HditGasv1216-J0dz8bzr5aB3MC81e-lDFqoGaEUIzbOczE7EawISgd42xk/s320/A82082C0-6E8E-4423-858B-5AF913BE8B22.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steady boys.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMDsnbTcoFLJ1kJG7VVDt-UKa8HzdrUeIkMjaDSm0usNNlBnkPLYun_KDPx10ryq-apbRbpQIIYFu6VOTqDuGxyDwEh9PsIkltXnNo3IIJBk0IxnBeedT4HrWBNnPPihS9siCBIgvdAzfB2zjVpCjNnbY8DValwnPDrYnwxyL1snCNJ0ryzeodPOlqXc/s4032/93B339BE-73AC-45CD-A82A-99D6A1EA4B0F.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMDsnbTcoFLJ1kJG7VVDt-UKa8HzdrUeIkMjaDSm0usNNlBnkPLYun_KDPx10ryq-apbRbpQIIYFu6VOTqDuGxyDwEh9PsIkltXnNo3IIJBk0IxnBeedT4HrWBNnPPihS9siCBIgvdAzfB2zjVpCjNnbY8DValwnPDrYnwxyL1snCNJ0ryzeodPOlqXc/s320/93B339BE-73AC-45CD-A82A-99D6A1EA4B0F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More bad guys.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPkCXweft9nfl20KV0eVia8y4Zf45WNXzsBn7c5hR-VdzW72cH5EoDpw1d3jRJDtki_EBenKh11Pb32nfOZpoYuARqao2LQhttDDPxKf-2fpWO7CA1xdrONu93d8Jqfc79rnf95ZAWMUZdNxmth-qylCfbfWZCo6UOxxGpIPnWNMP4UcdOnp0rt4Uh08/s4032/BB79B242-E3F6-4EE2-B528-55114B1E1E2B.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPkCXweft9nfl20KV0eVia8y4Zf45WNXzsBn7c5hR-VdzW72cH5EoDpw1d3jRJDtki_EBenKh11Pb32nfOZpoYuARqao2LQhttDDPxKf-2fpWO7CA1xdrONu93d8Jqfc79rnf95ZAWMUZdNxmth-qylCfbfWZCo6UOxxGpIPnWNMP4UcdOnp0rt4Uh08/s320/BB79B242-E3F6-4EE2-B528-55114B1E1E2B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhuasted but victorious, say cheeeeese!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p>Xeno Rampant, a new one for me and not a game I would ever buy, I played Lion Rampant once at the club a long time ago. It is very fast and can be very bloody, the only mechanic I didn't like was where you have to get a certain number on two dice to shoot, and if you fail the initiative gets handed over, this can hamper your response to what is happening on the table quite significantly. Now I was pretty unlucky at this on several occasions so this might influence my feelings towards it. Overall it was a bit of fun with some lovely figures and as you can see we managed two games fairly quickly, almost too quickly in the first one. A perfect game for a club night. </p><p>If I get no interuptions next week I should be back at the club for a game with Rob, not sure yet what it will be.</p><p>The work on the War Room is advancing very quickly, not a good photo but the new wall is mostly up and blocking the light. Although the ceiling has been lowered and the walls brought in the space looks bigger. I think the table tennis table will be lost in there.<br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOHuJCLjMyenaGVNVrOmtveu3QD5MNkBgaLqQ1V3DTQ2b_d29p75Wzj_9xWiuntCi3360fv8CRW6eOlof7-ZLdS9V1EBrX1wUvXdT9JBwm6Uhyt0r0FoSkbNUi1n9ZP_CzW8WDi_urY2d7cqIuJUpmOtBlGowuQpVOfS0XVvWGODXeCZXte2fVmGC0p8/s3264/BBDE0024-48FF-4F31-8F4B-28BF54A83A33.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOHuJCLjMyenaGVNVrOmtveu3QD5MNkBgaLqQ1V3DTQ2b_d29p75Wzj_9xWiuntCi3360fv8CRW6eOlof7-ZLdS9V1EBrX1wUvXdT9JBwm6Uhyt0r0FoSkbNUi1n9ZP_CzW8WDi_urY2d7cqIuJUpmOtBlGowuQpVOfS0XVvWGODXeCZXte2fVmGC0p8/s320/BBDE0024-48FF-4F31-8F4B-28BF54A83A33.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-54877572795068964942024-02-07T19:43:00.000+00:002024-02-07T19:43:12.367+00:00Riding the crest.<p> Couple of games this week so far, last night it was Italian Wars at the club using Dan's 15mm figures. I organised two armies, the French had excellent cavalry and a large Swiss unit the rest of the army was underwhelming with Italian pike and Old Band pike, the Imperials had average infantry mainly Landsknechts, some average cavalry but more artillery and shot, Dan chose the Imperials.</p><p>I set up with my infantry in the centre, most of my cavalry on my right and the remainder including the outnumbered artillery on my left, my plan was to win the right flank while the Swiss hopefully crushed the Landsknechts opposite, my left would take an opportunity if offered. Dan set up with a heavy right flank, cavalry, artillery and Spanish pike, his centre was held by the Landsknechts with arquebusiers, cavalry and artillery in support and the remaining cavalry opposite my right.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIOe4GNoh9lq5UBlxMWUB0sozKpeGhuWT0-IK8F5plv8olhv8ANjFHMdUiS4jjcZVqm2yPPm4q3kIwpKTCpPwGKb6v2qPDr3LW3EctVQ3fnLbnR0ofZegUbwOcFwnfmGoWbVduAU62doQc1kEt-PxhHSs2Cd4UEbtUyuEPFX-S78v8Fp7u1k5tCYhH7c/s4032/223D8EF9-9B03-4012-9933-9AC42B460B16.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIOe4GNoh9lq5UBlxMWUB0sozKpeGhuWT0-IK8F5plv8olhv8ANjFHMdUiS4jjcZVqm2yPPm4q3kIwpKTCpPwGKb6v2qPDr3LW3EctVQ3fnLbnR0ofZegUbwOcFwnfmGoWbVduAU62doQc1kEt-PxhHSs2Cd4UEbtUyuEPFX-S78v8Fp7u1k5tCYhH7c/s320/223D8EF9-9B03-4012-9933-9AC42B460B16.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imperial centre and right.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsqPvoSsnM4oKo9eFF2JDYe0atW59oRyK6vBrgtJmiodhPTwlNXFqh7J3f4lJ7gig5CW8D8pdNYuQm65tAjq6a9-6bb1jktTlfHmYjptdaWS8tcnj3MCKWOuzzAwOl3GT1TNfR0edzLZkGCwit3gmjnl6Nly93npCAjprhQGuf-svETgOwAr-tmhA-5A/s4032/2C101759-9F58-411A-87CD-D4D675677D6A.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsqPvoSsnM4oKo9eFF2JDYe0atW59oRyK6vBrgtJmiodhPTwlNXFqh7J3f4lJ7gig5CW8D8pdNYuQm65tAjq6a9-6bb1jktTlfHmYjptdaWS8tcnj3MCKWOuzzAwOl3GT1TNfR0edzLZkGCwit3gmjnl6Nly93npCAjprhQGuf-svETgOwAr-tmhA-5A/s320/2C101759-9F58-411A-87CD-D4D675677D6A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French centre.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Because we were using 15mm figures we simply changed from inches to centimeters but it didn't really work, it took the infantry forever to close, especially as Dan held his Landsknechts back. I tried to make some headway on my left with a less than thoughtful advance and got cut up by the Imperial artillery, I made a mess of my attack and had to withdraw but not before a unit of Gendarmes had been crunched by the Spanish pikes. I had also decided to run some heavy cavalry into the approaching shot in order to sweep them away but my horse lost the melee and were pushed back, they recovered but only just. Over on my right my cavalry had clashed with the Imperials and, yes, lost again, thankfully I had support coming in and within a move had turned things around, but for a time I was very worried. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUScHfzT_eRY2Iowyn5PQZqn2p2iFYVmJ2PMk-RhZtmBOiP0AKI8AdyemG8wE8j72rKC-Ud3bJ798hN-h3z2qVAAVKFEAltsALLHJJKwzWlF0HIODPSPd7cBOO_IOeOTaJKuNhnQ1T1M4xlVTgB-GjXMuyGoXnwmYOQOQ393zXuxbi2_xA35ediv6EWA/s4032/D0EBE86D-1F44-4C66-A8D5-76E82BA44699.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUScHfzT_eRY2Iowyn5PQZqn2p2iFYVmJ2PMk-RhZtmBOiP0AKI8AdyemG8wE8j72rKC-Ud3bJ798hN-h3z2qVAAVKFEAltsALLHJJKwzWlF0HIODPSPd7cBOO_IOeOTaJKuNhnQ1T1M4xlVTgB-GjXMuyGoXnwmYOQOQ393zXuxbi2_xA35ediv6EWA/s320/D0EBE86D-1F44-4C66-A8D5-76E82BA44699.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French cavarly get the upper hand, eventually.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OEmVdwHZ8-uVU9UT8v-1jJcSJIyEyQ1YAOiDWOOodDLyGlbQghzHIbzA5wG-6J2LqI-RZb5Wfw7unO84KTfKo0QAZOpXnvgPKLRue3Qso148V9j2_xaxyEdNOPGIcyFvv_HTKu6mxFw57F1GgxQjO9OOFnFid1jqth6Uec-sqgPFTdP5EKU0jmpwkgE/s4032/EC5C97AE-1F81-4C7E-9BF7-DBD357061B40.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OEmVdwHZ8-uVU9UT8v-1jJcSJIyEyQ1YAOiDWOOodDLyGlbQghzHIbzA5wG-6J2LqI-RZb5Wfw7unO84KTfKo0QAZOpXnvgPKLRue3Qso148V9j2_xaxyEdNOPGIcyFvv_HTKu6mxFw57F1GgxQjO9OOFnFid1jqth6Uec-sqgPFTdP5EKU0jmpwkgE/s320/EC5C97AE-1F81-4C7E-9BF7-DBD357061B40.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swiss get into contact at last.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></div><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIK38U04Y3lZ-zS4uLyuP7bZi5Z7hLGI18_Ufv-PfBlolK9N1CPXfmXnOFXRgt4RD4jMdisWiPcJxZwlDmSEnjxSp9vGlggHQ7I7-yE0cbwytnghqQ1Redpm3I72lhNQjEF-Nlmle5wr-Ax8ZCWeEjtzHPHgAfwlItBkKpkKKVL370C9hgmGg4UJJQUE/s4032/C19D4BAB-948D-48B7-BF1E-50916B2BD43B.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIK38U04Y3lZ-zS4uLyuP7bZi5Z7hLGI18_Ufv-PfBlolK9N1CPXfmXnOFXRgt4RD4jMdisWiPcJxZwlDmSEnjxSp9vGlggHQ7I7-yE0cbwytnghqQ1Redpm3I72lhNQjEF-Nlmle5wr-Ax8ZCWeEjtzHPHgAfwlItBkKpkKKVL370C9hgmGg4UJJQUE/s320/C19D4BAB-948D-48B7-BF1E-50916B2BD43B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imperials win on their right.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>At last as the clock ticked down the Swiss and Landsknechts came to blows and although suffering heavy casualties initially the Swiss held and turned things around, we halted there and Dan kindly called a French victory although we could have fought for a bit more.</p><p>We had the movement all wrong and it took the infantry most of the game to march to contact, made worse by one side, quite wisely, sitting awaiting the onslaught of the Swiss. I know the Swiss were the premier infantry during the early to mid period of the Wars but they are too powerful in Furioso, I think I will drop their combat factor from 5 to 4. Another thing which needs looking at for battles of this size is the command mechanic, with 14+ units a side the game bogs down. I have no doubt you could zoom through it much faster but the game also has to be enjoyable and you have to have time to think, this is possible if you have all afternoon and a spare 4-5 hours but not on a club night or a multiplayer game. Anyway food for thought.</p><p>This morning I set off for Penrith and a game in the Dungeon with Matt Crump, we have not played in a while due to real life interfering for both of us so I was looking forward to it. I turned up and found a lovely table set up for an ACW clash, all the figures were lovely but a unit of Zouves caught my attention, beautiful. The Union (me) had to take a hill on the Confederate right, there was a stream fordable in front of the hill only, while the other half had to be crossed using a bridge, I had forces facing both. The Rebs had a couple of regiments and a gun on the hill and some more troops opposite the bridge on their side of the creek. I decided to force the bridge and then turn and assault the hill so my reserves came in on my right to help this attack. My main reason for this was that if I pushed regiments up to the creek they could bring a lot of muskets to bear on the enemy and force him back to enable the reserves to push across the bridge.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkX-xAz3p7Siw0PvI9TO2NQWSyzvEtQuFobwd0xGfNd-kqo_0_XOMSEmvJ7w_HWJxnU00UILyWLhZlKXU86ZHUYkbAIB0oI-yqNu2Cm5p3Cd3PAC_WHs-kQc77FDqEpqVE151pmxl665rJB7vg-MOFQ5ExKWYkFbu9_MEdxq7DVvjwT8rJFhT2v4f1aU/s4032/C53E9807-6469-480B-AAE7-3F9FBAD36FB5.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkX-xAz3p7Siw0PvI9TO2NQWSyzvEtQuFobwd0xGfNd-kqo_0_XOMSEmvJ7w_HWJxnU00UILyWLhZlKXU86ZHUYkbAIB0oI-yqNu2Cm5p3Cd3PAC_WHs-kQc77FDqEpqVE151pmxl665rJB7vg-MOFQ5ExKWYkFbu9_MEdxq7DVvjwT8rJFhT2v4f1aU/s320/C53E9807-6469-480B-AAE7-3F9FBAD36FB5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely table and figures.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKG-eQeTc_6i7Qrh5LwjGtKcRFZ2GRyE28JtA5s31QirqzRW95rgy-uGeZNXRYqiyX44c5biYc-L6EDg_BMbPUWU2tQ-dD33_tX2M8-bJIp29uk1IMB2HbhDxQFuXEQ3Ni470DKC715rdrt14fkkNfyXE7hA2FfwfyPRnRNnY3quuHnzWVG0Z43Yoyek/s4032/C42AC10D-BD79-4D18-9BA3-2AB50AF5746D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKG-eQeTc_6i7Qrh5LwjGtKcRFZ2GRyE28JtA5s31QirqzRW95rgy-uGeZNXRYqiyX44c5biYc-L6EDg_BMbPUWU2tQ-dD33_tX2M8-bJIp29uk1IMB2HbhDxQFuXEQ3Ni470DKC715rdrt14fkkNfyXE7hA2FfwfyPRnRNnY3quuHnzWVG0Z43Yoyek/s320/C42AC10D-BD79-4D18-9BA3-2AB50AF5746D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confederate left.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5crqIQ4fdDK_Vu5AhdCsLKTA-4KKMyZE8GCx5a6Voot2wEV5-Qx7gDIJOBubuQb7dUUcbTFNuYfFVxMINlRZtk1Avh2bGvETcQ28iqcNri-Wz9rRq3FdFc__cpoWd27IS073ZOYBRUjzooGv9EyDsRu9vgRiJ0IPQzvxPerXLX9VFQu_RUgPEi23vts/s4032/C0DDD7D7-6346-41CF-9B72-943868A083D9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5crqIQ4fdDK_Vu5AhdCsLKTA-4KKMyZE8GCx5a6Voot2wEV5-Qx7gDIJOBubuQb7dUUcbTFNuYfFVxMINlRZtk1Avh2bGvETcQ28iqcNri-Wz9rRq3FdFc__cpoWd27IS073ZOYBRUjzooGv9EyDsRu9vgRiJ0IPQzvxPerXLX9VFQu_RUgPEi23vts/s320/C0DDD7D7-6346-41CF-9B72-943868A083D9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hill's defenders open up.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFW-yzi0vWA6V0Y75HdApgHW3AgUeYfeWSUjrM5gaAChZNa9VI9J8DOeFkSkekZtG6wAd0qLjSN-D0WVmXGEGOsFjbxBd40Hb44cCuPDWJSVnv65D1IBNbPFu6d64KSLb85hc6o0y34HCSJplgRCnachzRbCtlR9q5RQNs9wopAP4Ufsux1C5ixra7qY/s4032/6F76876A-59E4-41DA-8711-2AC0FBD84AE2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFW-yzi0vWA6V0Y75HdApgHW3AgUeYfeWSUjrM5gaAChZNa9VI9J8DOeFkSkekZtG6wAd0qLjSN-D0WVmXGEGOsFjbxBd40Hb44cCuPDWJSVnv65D1IBNbPFu6d64KSLb85hc6o0y34HCSJplgRCnachzRbCtlR9q5RQNs9wopAP4Ufsux1C5ixra7qY/s320/6F76876A-59E4-41DA-8711-2AC0FBD84AE2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the bridge lads.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>As the battle opened I was a bit distraught at Matt's shooting as my men opposite the hill suffered heavy casualties as the plan to overwhelm the hills defenders with musketry went awry. However on the right the Rebs suffered from bad morale and the defenders were forced back, this allowed me to push the reserves up the road and onto the bridge covered by some skirmishing cavalry. Quite quickly it became obvious I was not going to win the fight on my left but the right held out some hope as Confederate units failed morale tests and skeddadled.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXYHnsu4kjxarOTSViK7_hN9fgTRQ4aubwIhxXuHdLc56x6bg-L8z-HoGw1akgrbEN7eR9eCgSKfeUOyFyraaUXKnq81yMPIcJ6mlVwihetX1_5U09p-7m_JZTmHKZtf4da-q_cjfElLTjb4XmjWX3_QILu6o4xbxFp7XBGP7qRDeYxGwSa6vgEpkk_c/s4032/3804309B-8B1B-48E1-A7C9-1CBC0B5F3BE7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXYHnsu4kjxarOTSViK7_hN9fgTRQ4aubwIhxXuHdLc56x6bg-L8z-HoGw1akgrbEN7eR9eCgSKfeUOyFyraaUXKnq81yMPIcJ6mlVwihetX1_5U09p-7m_JZTmHKZtf4da-q_cjfElLTjb4XmjWX3_QILu6o4xbxFp7XBGP7qRDeYxGwSa6vgEpkk_c/s320/3804309B-8B1B-48E1-A7C9-1CBC0B5F3BE7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The battle for the bridge begins.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzBBBfw-tHrraPTsQuVYcD4eBiy3aCiH3RV3iJNMhssfWUScxS7HTnm3gw5TbvmnVki1Jb5i_R8SeTD_dpza5m-nKvt-ZnDTJrFgEvm5e_AWGBXzTEPct9rjLmTz8H4aP7oNgxVDADzXXuwm41dw0t_hOKMAy0onCYljmyxB5TuRMVmKLHK64Y0tpoRo/s4032/052CBD4F-A954-4E40-8113-553A975836A3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzBBBfw-tHrraPTsQuVYcD4eBiy3aCiH3RV3iJNMhssfWUScxS7HTnm3gw5TbvmnVki1Jb5i_R8SeTD_dpza5m-nKvt-ZnDTJrFgEvm5e_AWGBXzTEPct9rjLmTz8H4aP7oNgxVDADzXXuwm41dw0t_hOKMAy0onCYljmyxB5TuRMVmKLHK64Y0tpoRo/s320/052CBD4F-A954-4E40-8113-553A975836A3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union reserves turn up.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I continued with my assault on the Reb left and managed to beat back the Confederate reserves quite comfortably, my boys on the left had been shot to pieces so I now took the chance to move troops from the right to the left in time to get a foothold on the hill after crossing the creek. As a tide of blue was now heading for the hill and hardly a speck of gray on the objective and with time to bring more muskets to bear Matt surrendered what forces he had left.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo4rPVvpA8FumCrigja6Euveg9nN9QkMFTlQ3bgPHW6xBJZQuUc9dQFl6uGtwsfzckg1CXXN0wY56z60oQkP6woj23sc5AzjggALbbMqI1gP1lF5oTs56FD4D21ZjHUH96oZIPEgSLCRT7XpSYK7oVn34-ro81uWKOJGNkUcUIBiQl0UYnwVmKs__emY/s4032/35554664-D6FF-4700-9DF7-3F0B0628C367.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo4rPVvpA8FumCrigja6Euveg9nN9QkMFTlQ3bgPHW6xBJZQuUc9dQFl6uGtwsfzckg1CXXN0wY56z60oQkP6woj23sc5AzjggALbbMqI1gP1lF5oTs56FD4D21ZjHUH96oZIPEgSLCRT7XpSYK7oVn34-ro81uWKOJGNkUcUIBiQl0UYnwVmKs__emY/s320/35554664-D6FF-4700-9DF7-3F0B0628C367.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union right does well while the left crumbles.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oJctYBVGmebK85_J5BgngbpFxTzKg2qVtNcYPYhvYLs_5sEAdV1fJ8_g7ZiZz8Fiycr-synx1t2b7MBbkxPG9ZbcAb0A-E7jSHhWeyee_zK6mkq6wm3xy3mw51bdog2wI2t7ztUSDey0P9v0dqfFFHWpcOieWAFTzluFroP5N4C5ebjnWIsMyBj5CKc/s4032/956C7FC9-ED9D-4787-941E-08327435174A.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oJctYBVGmebK85_J5BgngbpFxTzKg2qVtNcYPYhvYLs_5sEAdV1fJ8_g7ZiZz8Fiycr-synx1t2b7MBbkxPG9ZbcAb0A-E7jSHhWeyee_zK6mkq6wm3xy3mw51bdog2wI2t7ztUSDey0P9v0dqfFFHWpcOieWAFTzluFroP5N4C5ebjnWIsMyBj5CKc/s320/956C7FC9-ED9D-4787-941E-08327435174A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now boys!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3RLC5fahCdBiUFsqfUkyN2jn-rxszHF40fwVmmH5JF8Xvjfaq2knBDdpW7eu9hit_DaAE2Wt30l6K8_DRpUweRyiis2FAWaQ3LOdwKpfUH0IZn0Ys_PohZ0Wn_ZnDQgZBwHn0jTlwGVzptiq3FjvZNYa4swdzo18SsI7g8dNT8eKCXu9EWpPgl1GZQ8/s4032/8F9DA07E-9BC3-4734-A5E4-26AF25500881.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3RLC5fahCdBiUFsqfUkyN2jn-rxszHF40fwVmmH5JF8Xvjfaq2knBDdpW7eu9hit_DaAE2Wt30l6K8_DRpUweRyiis2FAWaQ3LOdwKpfUH0IZn0Ys_PohZ0Wn_ZnDQgZBwHn0jTlwGVzptiq3FjvZNYa4swdzo18SsI7g8dNT8eKCXu9EWpPgl1GZQ8/s320/8F9DA07E-9BC3-4734-A5E4-26AF25500881.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last of the Reb defenders.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The rules were Matt's house rules based on Bolt Action and they worked well, the Reb loss of command dice helped enormously in the Union victory. The table and set up was again a pleasure to fight over as ever in the Dungeon. Matt has all sorts spread around, Normans, Naps, 15mm and 28mm figures painted, half painted and some of his lovely Imperial Guard type sci-fi figures, so I mentioned I would be more than happy to play a game with them, so next time in a galaxy, far, far away.</p><p>Mapping has picked up now that we have started a New Year, although I did quite enjoy the break over the holidays and after. In the queue is Soviet Central Asian Airpower, Louis XIV Vol 7, two WWI projects, a wargaming guide to the Carlist War and the mini atlas which is 70% done but has now gone to the back of the queue.</p><p>I hesitate to post this but here is my take on the now sadly pitiful Senior Service. <br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rSpLtuMEujZ8-IRO0KepBUELraaJgJdbzt53xrQhpH9hwiAymIqfKeoLRD-C3mliFJ9KebDeO91Nr2Fcoto03PRuiSlNRX_Ewtp1cgnryYy1Zj9zNnOji4aY17eXVlfGVtmWJY8Xk8SwobWc2tXZZjZ8ZCyjI-Y8ZtXQcnqIQLi3Isy2p7hADhrnQek/s281/Untitled.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="281" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rSpLtuMEujZ8-IRO0KepBUELraaJgJdbzt53xrQhpH9hwiAymIqfKeoLRD-C3mliFJ9KebDeO91Nr2Fcoto03PRuiSlNRX_Ewtp1cgnryYy1Zj9zNnOji4aY17eXVlfGVtmWJY8Xk8SwobWc2tXZZjZ8ZCyjI-Y8ZtXQcnqIQLi3Isy2p7hADhrnQek/s1600/Untitled.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West Indies guardship, 1971. I'm on the bridge.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TECdC2wPr_Cm9dF0bh0ObPI3bK1vGrsEzhHSVHx_WBnZ_uGN9Njg6Mr6MS3xTrrrgl8T_Q5zXyFCT8wr98pSRveUrAOTh3bWT3gS88AB14d-ej0qQkT0I2RWpsrnskVAECN_m_5tHzAlMqD-Qz9VVAYgRBXdJSXkheA8nv9NmNSQxKrSOk7Zx3o0FcE/s300/navy%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TECdC2wPr_Cm9dF0bh0ObPI3bK1vGrsEzhHSVHx_WBnZ_uGN9Njg6Mr6MS3xTrrrgl8T_Q5zXyFCT8wr98pSRveUrAOTh3bWT3gS88AB14d-ej0qQkT0I2RWpsrnskVAECN_m_5tHzAlMqD-Qz9VVAYgRBXdJSXkheA8nv9NmNSQxKrSOk7Zx3o0FcE/s1600/navy%202.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Threat of WW3. Nato Exercise 2024, ah, but I here you say there were another three of them :(<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-66400712879141285332024-02-05T15:26:00.002+00:002024-02-05T15:26:55.039+00:00Somebody stop me.<p> Club night and Chain of Command, Rob was taking Germans and I British, I went into WWII wargaming with two feet quite some years ago and wanted to use the British as my patriotism increased the more old Blighty was denigrated. Due to circumstances beyond my control I usually had to play the baddies, so this was an opportunity for me, I also played the good guys last week if you remember.</p><p>I was the attacker and for a moment thought of bringing along a Crusader AA MkII as I knew Rob did not have the points for any armour and this machine was an infantry killer, but then my heritage of fair play came to the fore and instead I brought an extra infantry squad and an MMG. Rob had three squads and his support was a Panzerknacker squad, no I don't know either, unlucky for Rob I had no armour but the support also came with an LMG so not a total waste.</p><p>Rob deployed first and brought two squads to the front and immediately put them on overwatch, I therefore put men on my far right to avoid these with the intention of outflanking the Boche, my MMG covered the enemy Jump Off Point on that side so it would be a brave Jerry who turned up there. I wanted to win the firefight with sheer numbers, so deployed two squads in the centre, to aid me I also popped smoke down in front of the Jerry LMG squad. Rob countered my flanking move with his third squad in a large building protecting his exposed flank. As his casualties mounted in the centre he withdrew the rifle team into a nearby building leaving the poor LMG crew cowering behind the smoke. Rob then threw three sixes and the turn ended, so the overwatch markers
and smoke came off and I got my chance, I put two squads in the centre of my line
and opened up on the enemy opposite and the LMG team headed for Berlin.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fa87ZLXkNYd1noe5V6ROOu3AJ6IpALxdxqmA9E0bq-rVb-mehX33nuwWOrACAssy1NfkldkAl7EB7iLAKvjnsvohOc1l7wJnykOQNWvKQ-Koe6ODZ0cE-f3oBD7hyphenhyphenrdOrUR-o-jMmnAl5fsP-MnGTe827M3yWvj7o2oZmyfAmu-4L_BU5Yx329BmKsc/s4032/A7138418-7F4A-41FC-9D10-DDE9D6636F1D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fa87ZLXkNYd1noe5V6ROOu3AJ6IpALxdxqmA9E0bq-rVb-mehX33nuwWOrACAssy1NfkldkAl7EB7iLAKvjnsvohOc1l7wJnykOQNWvKQ-Koe6ODZ0cE-f3oBD7hyphenhyphenrdOrUR-o-jMmnAl5fsP-MnGTe827M3yWvj7o2oZmyfAmu-4L_BU5Yx329BmKsc/s320/A7138418-7F4A-41FC-9D10-DDE9D6636F1D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">British build a firebase.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C1X3zi0m9hHZeXbh3VZpuyGZGo8rzzSVjjhxYSiDgOuAcYUaWOuKzoje7BURz848jg4wN0ENFEjmcs7QovgUHooYDb2oZ98YCaaqmJ45F9bzcteI4hhLn5bfxwJx-rl8PuiAyjxHGqRPfxJ-GlH_hvYnu3cJI7mQzevnGqixfaeARvxR_joNXjXqBPM/s4032/3E28F0EF-48EC-40BE-AF52-CC5165D76CCD.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C1X3zi0m9hHZeXbh3VZpuyGZGo8rzzSVjjhxYSiDgOuAcYUaWOuKzoje7BURz848jg4wN0ENFEjmcs7QovgUHooYDb2oZ98YCaaqmJ45F9bzcteI4hhLn5bfxwJx-rl8PuiAyjxHGqRPfxJ-GlH_hvYnu3cJI7mQzevnGqixfaeARvxR_joNXjXqBPM/s320/3E28F0EF-48EC-40BE-AF52-CC5165D76CCD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">British moving to outflank the German left.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>My left flank now looked very vulnerable as I concentrated on the right, I could see from Rob's face that he calculated that my three squads were now all engaged and because of this he could move on my left, kill off the annoying mortar team and capture one of my JOP's. As his men moved out I sprung my surprise and down went my fourth squad behind a stone wall, with the hard cover I began to get the upper hand in the firefight and the enemy suffered large quantities of shock. The German right and centre were in big trouble and were about to break as the plucky British became more daring and advanced to short range, Rob withdrew.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbs0slxs9d0d_OA_5DYEADQxEnpsMsC9qeU4NnZ98ZhaVLLJCa__QkYbNcrXX6LhDKz_dZrolqKes_d2XoaSkdExY3PAil8vXoz1dizFy1Wpdy-WhdONKHPq9njAsyUiXh4q2psm9fln1IxPfUO5AHZOi1tJ5dYUGEFPoMPrZetBQ60_-n15LgWRsR0E/s4032/A6BFC81B-70BC-4354-84E4-8204D40CA6D2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbs0slxs9d0d_OA_5DYEADQxEnpsMsC9qeU4NnZ98ZhaVLLJCa__QkYbNcrXX6LhDKz_dZrolqKes_d2XoaSkdExY3PAil8vXoz1dizFy1Wpdy-WhdONKHPq9njAsyUiXh4q2psm9fln1IxPfUO5AHZOi1tJ5dYUGEFPoMPrZetBQ60_-n15LgWRsR0E/s320/A6BFC81B-70BC-4354-84E4-8204D40CA6D2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">German left under pressure.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A good game and always a pleasure to fight against Rob. We fought across the long sides of the table and I prefer along the shorter sides when playing CoC it just seems to work better, once again I say if you play CoC I recommend you do a campaign. </p><p>Not a lot of other activity going on apart from mapping, all of a sudden I have half a dozen projects in the queue. I have managed to complete one of the two cavalry units I salvaged from Dan's old Wars of the Roses collection, these will do as second ranks for Gendarmes or as stand alone heavy/light cavalry for the Italian Wars, I have just primed the second unit after a Dettol dip, boy that stuff stinks. That leaves three artillery pieces and some intriguing figures including a lovely little Jester.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1s8VfiGwE_2PnQ0AA4ns_fWPqw60Jg7CPg-PTG_7tPtCbWoIDssYWEChqZzTwZzbZAUPoMct6ZJkHxs75bomSz7GFg88fBVI1hcGAc86qtlR-EmICbdz6DXa4B25ggsFwqe5zpGHKkPXT6_SZluumFjY5jib73S4kxAhCTn8O99yMfMWNQdTyBsf_x0/s3264/E9EA56A0-4E64-4C3A-835F-EF2DD41F7695.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1s8VfiGwE_2PnQ0AA4ns_fWPqw60Jg7CPg-PTG_7tPtCbWoIDssYWEChqZzTwZzbZAUPoMct6ZJkHxs75bomSz7GFg88fBVI1hcGAc86qtlR-EmICbdz6DXa4B25ggsFwqe5zpGHKkPXT6_SZluumFjY5jib73S4kxAhCTn8O99yMfMWNQdTyBsf_x0/s320/E9EA56A0-4E64-4C3A-835F-EF2DD41F7695.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDOvdMFDytC_cGYGNDz33p8hceL1wbYYuXGmmzKR462Ssqr30sQflZp951JtdI7NtKXIq_SMr4EA3k0Kg9HaU5ww_xDdzMcffhzWQrYVlDp_2cAntkEDKF6YN5XrzBWA-1sVIla1cTHNVXgbMROt0hUWD1I9HECTarrT_I2R_JfqypeilrxntwGCnR1M/s3264/2B5029EB-08ED-4FFD-BF20-864530DAFDA2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDOvdMFDytC_cGYGNDz33p8hceL1wbYYuXGmmzKR462Ssqr30sQflZp951JtdI7NtKXIq_SMr4EA3k0Kg9HaU5ww_xDdzMcffhzWQrYVlDp_2cAntkEDKF6YN5XrzBWA-1sVIla1cTHNVXgbMROt0hUWD1I9HECTarrT_I2R_JfqypeilrxntwGCnR1M/s320/2B5029EB-08ED-4FFD-BF20-864530DAFDA2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I have just finished the Silo trilogy after watching the excellent (so far) TV series as I could not wait a year or more for the second episode. The first book I already knew what was happening, the second was supposed to enlighten the reader as to why the human race were inside Silos, I am still not 100% sure I got that, but the third book was a very exciting read, I finished the lot in about three weeks, and that is quick going for me these days. I am now on to the Fall of Singapore, the author has made two mistakes in his history so far, one serious, so that puts a doubt in my mind as to whether I can rely on the story, we will see.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXppZQxJG3EcK34ReDiEyXXATQ4qojGewlxlwTpqqhoTOGIp7WHzATaUwUv38uDMCw3CS4G82Vg1PgV0yzq50y3vpbsTCnXv1JXgqXrAi1zc83xzw7JOr_99bybo8NumbKGxWb-xKaz8ngNIRWz5A_BOa4ArGmWkR4TZ96DgcN2qwk9C9zbQ-RIC8V16A/s3264/0E1FCA36-80B6-4663-8C87-B4A7355B2298.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXppZQxJG3EcK34ReDiEyXXATQ4qojGewlxlwTpqqhoTOGIp7WHzATaUwUv38uDMCw3CS4G82Vg1PgV0yzq50y3vpbsTCnXv1JXgqXrAi1zc83xzw7JOr_99bybo8NumbKGxWb-xKaz8ngNIRWz5A_BOa4ArGmWkR4TZ96DgcN2qwk9C9zbQ-RIC8V16A/s320/0E1FCA36-80B6-4663-8C87-B4A7355B2298.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>And talking of stories I have started watching Masters of the Air, I am usually unkind to historical dramas and documentaries but I watched a couple of Videos from Woody at WW2TV and have decided to try and not be critical but just enjoy the show, I have managed this so far. OK, yes, I pointed out to the missus that civilians and kids would not be allowed to run around a WW2 airfield but that is nit picking, and she didn't blink an eye anyway. The memsahib has expressed interest in Netflix's Alexander the Great so I recommended the Colin Farrell movie as being more realistic, yes, I suspect it is that bad.</p><p>So, Italian Wars at the club tomorrow in 15mm with Dan's armies and a visit to Matt in Penrith on Wednesday, its been awhile but we have both had things to sort out in Real Life, I am looking forward to it.</p><p>Oh, the work on the War Room continues, it has been emptied and the floor leveled.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PzjorP2NqRoyj1IQKlywThApfQ1kYy-eZNLeRsI0hdvcBqqOsaeMyXNiAbQy_Tgt9hFRFIOOyTroDWWn8fiNjBu1Lu10pF4vbIqnk2ju1K8JP-xYCdJsQV2ABBeoRs1uF04vDYlNZZN4AV8RtCxahywkOiWedUgysqHExhmSFBuk56FAIlh4O7p2-Yg/s3264/80730401-3C18-4CDE-9BA3-31F73C570869.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PzjorP2NqRoyj1IQKlywThApfQ1kYy-eZNLeRsI0hdvcBqqOsaeMyXNiAbQy_Tgt9hFRFIOOyTroDWWn8fiNjBu1Lu10pF4vbIqnk2ju1K8JP-xYCdJsQV2ABBeoRs1uF04vDYlNZZN4AV8RtCxahywkOiWedUgysqHExhmSFBuk56FAIlh4O7p2-Yg/s320/80730401-3C18-4CDE-9BA3-31F73C570869.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-5476667585831125672024-01-27T11:27:00.001+00:002024-01-27T11:27:26.006+00:00The builders are in<p> The miserable season continues with rain, wind and cold and the media ramping up the fear we are all doomed because of what used to be known as 'the weather' a few days of heavy gusts are now given names, well I think they are names when did you last bump into a Gerrit, Henk or Isha?</p><p>I digress, the builders are in. The Post Office is being stripped ready for the real work and the size of the room is immense, upstairs the same space has two bedrooms, a dining room, a corridor, and a large utility space, but the new space will have one big room for wargames basically. A veritable treasure trove of £11.11 and a halfpenny have been found, many of the coins no longer in circulation. When will I be able to host a game, who knows but Easter now seems to be beckoning, it depends on what they use for the new floor and how long it takes to dry out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25hqSTdHgHjAaPFqVfvc2ooI3Uay7mNczhgIu8UfnqIswFYN4xK0q_I_6Zi_e08BJ_Rxg6DAidq7jp5v33OflYD52vg2e51fP3LmknPViHQYos4DNrguXpTShiDM-pjpw_ooPuBkfvnifCOLqbiKIMZdYwXhdOO7wUxe-PySZ8o9T0dkzxFBdR6422n8/s4032/BB5A8281-A5AE-4BF3-9C98-1E4C52E1B82E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25hqSTdHgHjAaPFqVfvc2ooI3Uay7mNczhgIu8UfnqIswFYN4xK0q_I_6Zi_e08BJ_Rxg6DAidq7jp5v33OflYD52vg2e51fP3LmknPViHQYos4DNrguXpTShiDM-pjpw_ooPuBkfvnifCOLqbiKIMZdYwXhdOO7wUxe-PySZ8o9T0dkzxFBdR6422n8/s320/BB5A8281-A5AE-4BF3-9C98-1E4C52E1B82E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I managed to get to the club this week and faced 'Lucky' Jimi who took my Waffen SS for a spin while I at last got to use my British, we decided not to use any tanks but could choose armoured cars. The Jerries had three large squads with some heavy weapons support and a 231 heavy armoured car, I took four smaller squads, heavy weapons support and a Humber Mk4 armoured car and a bren carrier.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwjBP-5CmZgDd7Uitaqz30zoDDzI6kVg-xRwzLtz-0zvymF6Zkmzsy26FBXNBc8jX_lSP2ZfOK_SrdiVgwWzsu3IJKwrqC7qI6XxAj702-ZqenDkL6afpxNzGkFj4U4tm9fkZRIYUEf9R4wiZBq00LeohIoYVurlIPnQeiPMNeqiSmkz_zVEs4G-pcC0/s4032/EE2C5AEA-DC78-4121-8AE3-B17BFBCFB734.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwjBP-5CmZgDd7Uitaqz30zoDDzI6kVg-xRwzLtz-0zvymF6Zkmzsy26FBXNBc8jX_lSP2ZfOK_SrdiVgwWzsu3IJKwrqC7qI6XxAj702-ZqenDkL6afpxNzGkFj4U4tm9fkZRIYUEf9R4wiZBq00LeohIoYVurlIPnQeiPMNeqiSmkz_zVEs4G-pcC0/s320/EE2C5AEA-DC78-4121-8AE3-B17BFBCFB734.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HS5hxNnsYG7TYfpWiRWKIyD8VlAYkB9QII0XZXKbkSm82i5ERpCPxqzLNuyTR4KXjkKMb-N_RecSzH4Zii3PHpYtONgfW32VnYAcLeq0act9v-LkRdXpX92-m9WTeIdrWu2VCWF79iG3wvGxg-1980ekpr16QaUmYm-asJAbx5rQZDXjSEZUEZsSeKg/s4032/C61499F2-5948-49BB-9D18-5AF6B4713D7E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HS5hxNnsYG7TYfpWiRWKIyD8VlAYkB9QII0XZXKbkSm82i5ERpCPxqzLNuyTR4KXjkKMb-N_RecSzH4Zii3PHpYtONgfW32VnYAcLeq0act9v-LkRdXpX92-m9WTeIdrWu2VCWF79iG3wvGxg-1980ekpr16QaUmYm-asJAbx5rQZDXjSEZUEZsSeKg/s320/C61499F2-5948-49BB-9D18-5AF6B4713D7E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqiYr1X0ADmgNMuXg-gSJWJpkmhcwZDoC_iCTofdDVShb9YqfSsyJRoSDi3Y67UDhp571abuaOcbYjwrb827NeB1oEbe0TEkcTOWhBt5XJpe8Za3KvbHKdtvKXOBvgOXGyFPA5n69-QK4Ox8lUVwyzw6Df0R5mhlSkWwfCU_cQEhbOeDia3fxJS-H-FM/s4032/8B37DA7D-DE49-46F1-93D2-57C2EFD9877E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqiYr1X0ADmgNMuXg-gSJWJpkmhcwZDoC_iCTofdDVShb9YqfSsyJRoSDi3Y67UDhp571abuaOcbYjwrb827NeB1oEbe0TEkcTOWhBt5XJpe8Za3KvbHKdtvKXOBvgOXGyFPA5n69-QK4Ox8lUVwyzw6Df0R5mhlSkWwfCU_cQEhbOeDia3fxJS-H-FM/s320/8B37DA7D-DE49-46F1-93D2-57C2EFD9877E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>It was Normandy so there was plenty of hedgerows and we just set up and set off, continuing to keep things simple. The first moves were uneventful as both sides closed on each other, turn three however was a disaster for the Germans, nearly all the British dice came out the bag first and a wall of lead hit the SS. Unusually for me my dice were on fire, I could not lose, almost 50% of the enemy forces bit the dust as all my units managed to fire. Jimi's return fire was equally impressive but for the wrong reasons. As turn four ended we shook hands and called it a night, it had been a brutal game and too one sided.</p><p>I have stripped and primed the first of the cavalry figures I was gifted by Dan at the club, I dipped them in Dettol and boy does that stink but it does the job after 48 hours. I have another six being bathed as I type, this will leave me three more artillery pieces and a few odds and ends. The cavalry I intend to use as heavy/light cavalry and look on them as the tail end types of a typical Lance for the period. So my only purchase before I get my mojo back when the new room is finished will be gun crews for the artillery, although in the back of my mind is some early war British armour and maybe some heavy weapons teams for my various WW2 forces. After this I will have to make up my mind whether I am adding more to the Italian Wars or calling it a day.</p><p>I managed to finish my grandson's fantasy warbands, brownie points for Papa. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBoT3dNdPTndIvCWAZNcDeuPjigtCy-2SkvDL2Bgv_1S-DAoi1f9q9kWIeGO5rnwR6PCFM8JQdosDE1WDX2uXIwksXtvCtY3Ne-hOErtkcLbFD2lrFWNt-vm8UOJGmMDOEA2Q8H-wc2d1uU_NAcDLfYVZlfhdHTDu2xsZ4FanfbLWGsTi56xzuxffsL4/s3264/264D7547-2180-46EE-BC3B-E091699BAC81.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBoT3dNdPTndIvCWAZNcDeuPjigtCy-2SkvDL2Bgv_1S-DAoi1f9q9kWIeGO5rnwR6PCFM8JQdosDE1WDX2uXIwksXtvCtY3Ne-hOErtkcLbFD2lrFWNt-vm8UOJGmMDOEA2Q8H-wc2d1uU_NAcDLfYVZlfhdHTDu2xsZ4FanfbLWGsTi56xzuxffsL4/s320/264D7547-2180-46EE-BC3B-E091699BAC81.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I am continuing working on the mini atlas for Battles and Battlefields of the Peninsular War, I am halfway through but seem to be taking one step forward and two back.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrqYlr6jZkBZsCd-Wou2HoxzNSRfwdNVwcGGrMIB0sT7ds0K_o8aBGXyqd3R-AzlAT_BBQfLFUcbJRhyD7Sodws_ilwkwZ9a6JnNX6ieRCAVBE9CqkvTtoj4LOfeIFT7RxLs25PwaXzWQyOn22bJIpugxdNkB_XBoRLMqIXHo1KeW674yTotRyEWEcUw/s2694/Map%2013%20Fuentes%20de%20Onoro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2694" data-original-width="1814" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrqYlr6jZkBZsCd-Wou2HoxzNSRfwdNVwcGGrMIB0sT7ds0K_o8aBGXyqd3R-AzlAT_BBQfLFUcbJRhyD7Sodws_ilwkwZ9a6JnNX6ieRCAVBE9CqkvTtoj4LOfeIFT7RxLs25PwaXzWQyOn22bJIpugxdNkB_XBoRLMqIXHo1KeW674yTotRyEWEcUw/s320/Map%2013%20Fuentes%20de%20Onoro.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /> I mentioned the TV series Silo recently, I was so impressed and with no patience to wait for Season 2 I bought the trilogy. It has taken me just two weeks to read the first two volumes, that is how much I enjoyed them. I have a small amount of proper reading material, Rorke's Drift and the fall of Singapore in waiting but I need to finish the third Silo book. I am still slightly in the dark about one aspect of the sci-fi series but hoping all will be revealed.<p></p><p>I am hoping for a Chain of Command game this Tuesday at the club but apart from that, all quiet on the Lancashire front.<br /></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-68157352239918502522024-01-15T15:41:00.007+00:002024-01-15T17:15:38.981+00:00A good start to '24<p> It's been a wee while but the dust has now settled from the Festive Season, the New Year has begun and seems so far not very different to the old one, "quelle surprise" as the French say. I am expecting my builders to get in touch any day but radio silence so far apart from the new windows have been measured up. I have been dragged around bathroom and flooring showrooms, been asked my opinion then had it tossed aside to be told what I really want.</p><p>I was supposed to kick the new campaigning season off with an Eastern Front Chain of Command game but Simon took ill and it was cancelled, instead my first shots were fired in the Gin Pig yesterday in one of Rob's large Napoleonic games. It was an alternative history where the Prussians had been destroyed at Wavre and Ligny and Allied forces under the Prince of Orange moved towards the approaching Russians, during this both of these ran into the French flank guard somewhere south of Turnhout.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunY5AFfCT2RJ4c4KmH7Zu77qBmdJh6Cm6cLU9KbIsY9E59-3q48MiLOOmBwSIxwEZQsvm_pJukCGN01r6o0O0YSi3kfWl2AWoHey5wR2eKMJck87jJ0rsTN6K65DnkwQ8HyxSwaFC_DzPQvoi7SJbK8J6tEsyGjUNAk6o8F0j10m9R5nTnLuxuaCPVGs/s4032/75637EE1-11E7-4B2A-9C72-51810A4869E9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunY5AFfCT2RJ4c4KmH7Zu77qBmdJh6Cm6cLU9KbIsY9E59-3q48MiLOOmBwSIxwEZQsvm_pJukCGN01r6o0O0YSi3kfWl2AWoHey5wR2eKMJck87jJ0rsTN6K65DnkwQ8HyxSwaFC_DzPQvoi7SJbK8J6tEsyGjUNAk6o8F0j10m9R5nTnLuxuaCPVGs/s320/75637EE1-11E7-4B2A-9C72-51810A4869E9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russians in the village with some help from their friends.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I had control of two cavalry brigades and a Guard brigade in the left centre of the battlefield, I was offered the commanders baton and told Julian to hold our left flank and Rob to attack a small village full of Russians on our right, meanwhile myself and Ian to my right would advance for a couple of moves and then see if any opportunities came our way. As usual with Black Powder I found it very hard to get my cavalry moving, my guns managed to hair off and bring the enemy cavalry opposite under fire, Ian moved his cavalry to contact while wondering what had happened to his support.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBn2OemLQNO9xmkKwvj17L7U8wxWNzIAwUoPnloOcBucrKhcJaPufJShZwyAtzJJboKbhAsQhTeTejQODGKfGKtGHgyU5TDv8ntbrGZ1FCAQSRCLNoI-DtsW0JIXur0ZmBCXESTQN4TylwQNMm991GGXGi-G-Aqm5jElZ3fxbo_5jyvcdpd1NZe0cHrSU/s4032/FAB4E3BB-8EE4-4196-9DED-AD6E5046D203.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBn2OemLQNO9xmkKwvj17L7U8wxWNzIAwUoPnloOcBucrKhcJaPufJShZwyAtzJJboKbhAsQhTeTejQODGKfGKtGHgyU5TDv8ntbrGZ1FCAQSRCLNoI-DtsW0JIXur0ZmBCXESTQN4TylwQNMm991GGXGi-G-Aqm5jElZ3fxbo_5jyvcdpd1NZe0cHrSU/s320/FAB4E3BB-8EE4-4196-9DED-AD6E5046D203.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The table.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MJQbt5VYanP3Wau91hu2WbzBxRty2hDJNb3_EFqIS54MWUKoqpaT0gX4X6qP7PwUSC8B2YLfZrAzkuZmdKN6BGEHRKT133YNNXNsPoxdN3AXBHEvRnCCoLuOkD44CoBdoXJaY1Z8AKBS_c3GoWYA50woj-w6d7OZTjCaZTfBZ7fp0HayxkRgwanHUDw/s2048/419749007_2095576750775186_1495133572172341749_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MJQbt5VYanP3Wau91hu2WbzBxRty2hDJNb3_EFqIS54MWUKoqpaT0gX4X6qP7PwUSC8B2YLfZrAzkuZmdKN6BGEHRKT133YNNXNsPoxdN3AXBHEvRnCCoLuOkD44CoBdoXJaY1Z8AKBS_c3GoWYA50woj-w6d7OZTjCaZTfBZ7fp0HayxkRgwanHUDw/s320/419749007_2095576750775186_1495133572172341749_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qDqYjCMWnVUhyhJSBuOCnqgJj6YYYIVCFRBlugHtMzlWWLWVp0ceRHb5e2Y1rQtTw9MDM59zzR8B_PolSX1aQsdFVvwyKkR0VfGIC126qua1-r1s3AYyJba79YRXQ7Oy9PjnUGldm4YLykBhF1uGFqNSJpJrHOmDVM9QOrHzKWYIXEb5x2Ixyi69ETg/s4032/E7194AD6-A807-4140-9741-EF70F07A45D7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qDqYjCMWnVUhyhJSBuOCnqgJj6YYYIVCFRBlugHtMzlWWLWVp0ceRHb5e2Y1rQtTw9MDM59zzR8B_PolSX1aQsdFVvwyKkR0VfGIC126qua1-r1s3AYyJba79YRXQ7Oy9PjnUGldm4YLykBhF1uGFqNSJpJrHOmDVM9QOrHzKWYIXEb5x2Ixyi69ETg/s320/E7194AD6-A807-4140-9741-EF70F07A45D7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cavalry about to attack, while the Guard whistles.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8Qf9hqPahtIGQiepvyX6iDUd9DwhGj0OWX4uGlkXWSndOvecxdkYdTdwfUGovbQCjO-RwyVBuilRIl1mbjL713SvQor8IYha-AhGj4VuuErW-r67xip-8PXV57mSPabl9e_j3UietwWo1oidJsRMIJyH7bBtMtsyPi3LN1EsYWfHcLvjDrRd9MhChak/s4032/65FE8769-C8D4-44E9-8E5D-B5657379E974.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8Qf9hqPahtIGQiepvyX6iDUd9DwhGj0OWX4uGlkXWSndOvecxdkYdTdwfUGovbQCjO-RwyVBuilRIl1mbjL713SvQor8IYha-AhGj4VuuErW-r67xip-8PXV57mSPabl9e_j3UietwWo1oidJsRMIJyH7bBtMtsyPi3LN1EsYWfHcLvjDrRd9MhChak/s320/65FE8769-C8D4-44E9-8E5D-B5657379E974.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob lines up his assault.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Ian was pushed back but I had at last got my troopers moving and they smashed into the weakened enemy, it also helped that I had three squadrons of very tough Curassiers. The Allies lost a couple of squadrons while I followed up, more Allied cavalry were thrown into the melee but this did not help and soon the British heavy cavalry fled the field leaving the remaining horse in a very bad position. I took a bit of time to reorganise then went in again, while sending my second brigade to the right in the hope of destroying the Allied cavalry in reserve behind their left centre.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ExCN3uSIQmB4UtH1JqJx5AVvgfDsMt-4eMHDnCrbqgRV1imO1hSo99KB0PbgNIvGZ3LKiFt9DCZRh9BkCM8RcLIGWF0VeC-bm8fPunMrhGcJrqulTdt1eA38y7pnpx8BxQgArFh0WQSlXylVhDhLMoNDqLnvqZSDEg7XaMGipRmW4krANHykj7jD9go/s2048/419840172_2095581627441365_958431175457452567_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ExCN3uSIQmB4UtH1JqJx5AVvgfDsMt-4eMHDnCrbqgRV1imO1hSo99KB0PbgNIvGZ3LKiFt9DCZRh9BkCM8RcLIGWF0VeC-bm8fPunMrhGcJrqulTdt1eA38y7pnpx8BxQgArFh0WQSlXylVhDhLMoNDqLnvqZSDEg7XaMGipRmW4krANHykj7jD9go/s320/419840172_2095581627441365_958431175457452567_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3h9oAxgSwcVQNoTgelMRhe0B0KEqFzvqG51WOGoke2LehRHUG9tqFm6rSGKvZidwGTaiiuSPHNH072glMaj-HDA_mq15vnsrEMXbZEG-9oVcjwDBtGtko5Rc_5N3mRsILzFcSyKP5q3AdnOS2F-YcfVEtICzemmDU99pb9kYZhwSmCoH-qovtkUoc4L0/s4032/DCCC0949-6E2C-45B0-8FC0-7B49C74F907F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3h9oAxgSwcVQNoTgelMRhe0B0KEqFzvqG51WOGoke2LehRHUG9tqFm6rSGKvZidwGTaiiuSPHNH072glMaj-HDA_mq15vnsrEMXbZEG-9oVcjwDBtGtko5Rc_5N3mRsILzFcSyKP5q3AdnOS2F-YcfVEtICzemmDU99pb9kYZhwSmCoH-qovtkUoc4L0/s320/DCCC0949-6E2C-45B0-8FC0-7B49C74F907F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02gCXGcYRxx5Wm54RTiBrFjG7OkpvjaT-Zy6JGOkix9bfK6YUztAQ_yzBf-hicL-_vt5jqwDmTl0cJCaZEJy4Y0z1z5EbmmuiyJEFWZE-g9fDBEZA5E0IQOSjGZozFa_ACJ-q0oMsI2tu6-CqRaV612j5dVO2OvTDqHCH0bym0arpy8orI4KauLlNlUI/s4032/E33FD77A-F53E-4CD0-9837-24C8D3B25153.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02gCXGcYRxx5Wm54RTiBrFjG7OkpvjaT-Zy6JGOkix9bfK6YUztAQ_yzBf-hicL-_vt5jqwDmTl0cJCaZEJy4Y0z1z5EbmmuiyJEFWZE-g9fDBEZA5E0IQOSjGZozFa_ACJ-q0oMsI2tu6-CqRaV612j5dVO2OvTDqHCH0bym0arpy8orI4KauLlNlUI/s320/E33FD77A-F53E-4CD0-9837-24C8D3B25153.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of this cavalry are stunning.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>On my left Julian had been forced to withdraw his light cavalry and his lancers had been pushed back, however the Allies could not take advantage of this as most of their commands had a great reluctance to move forward and with the arrival of several infantry battalions were running out of room to manouvre. My Guard had arrived by now but again simply sat around for a couple of turns before decideding to obey orders. Rob was having a very hard time trying to oust the Russians from their defences. Ian managed to send his infantry into the attack but had been beaten back, but importantly not broken.</p><p></p><p>Two more players had turned up and were given a brigade each, Andy sadly now facing a large hole in the Allied centre and slowly being outnumbered as Peter with the French reserve now moved to hold the left of the breach with lots of French cavalry in reserve. This allowed me to move my Guard battalions to the right flank of the breach and threaten the Allied flank and rear, my cavalry had not managed to destroy the Allied cavalry reserve but they had weakened it and as my infantry now took up the ground things looked very bad for the Allied cause.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp3PK4vF8_CgzjIg5x2_1fThwdSzlBpfbthrOp1_VEVYtQCjqQ_-Tqx196su68YtdxPwLA8YlJqtaD5sTMZTZjfwWJKB0PJ8g0eZmraph3OwL_5j9t6CMAiCpNfEXgmDOip1j_ZZ_dN4JxNuE-qn6Gr5mwavPD6yqSZQECMRdk6hMAgXFt2l2jWD_mRE/s2048/418490840_2095581494108045_1997323005917062386_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp3PK4vF8_CgzjIg5x2_1fThwdSzlBpfbthrOp1_VEVYtQCjqQ_-Tqx196su68YtdxPwLA8YlJqtaD5sTMZTZjfwWJKB0PJ8g0eZmraph3OwL_5j9t6CMAiCpNfEXgmDOip1j_ZZ_dN4JxNuE-qn6Gr5mwavPD6yqSZQECMRdk6hMAgXFt2l2jWD_mRE/s320/418490840_2095581494108045_1997323005917062386_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hero, now Marshal, Georges on the left.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEsmzxmNiAwVxRijf3H8z9B7s0WUP5-cC5-qefsTpikXGoxIqDIZtvSJHjWYEnpv0m1xvyg4TitP23xaH1PehJ_kRMej1rYGwS4MI2rtAW615Khdy4sWcbMQksziwQ8cZDi3Ul94db9DryTj4oyvfyci_ofkGhFVAntaUHQX_MNKe0WQr-jCiB_R2ky0/s4032/BBB92618-C567-431C-89A5-3C554A5AD188.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEsmzxmNiAwVxRijf3H8z9B7s0WUP5-cC5-qefsTpikXGoxIqDIZtvSJHjWYEnpv0m1xvyg4TitP23xaH1PehJ_kRMej1rYGwS4MI2rtAW615Khdy4sWcbMQksziwQ8cZDi3Ul94db9DryTj4oyvfyci_ofkGhFVAntaUHQX_MNKe0WQr-jCiB_R2ky0/s320/BBB92618-C567-431C-89A5-3C554A5AD188.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul's traffic jam on the Allied right.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzr7RwLfMRuZGmaQXbq7T3OYiL_voql__m82Z51-O1nqHdigkf6sfAjY__QzpA4Oh-s2uJxDxup2WOLsHr6ef2wizWDlrlhaa_7QTWrQDqMIm_vRRCRn6gxadoGwPa2c9KWP3YGKWEPh4JQdYjVh5BnN0cN1VIZeZa-IMaHSsGOikOnHW-5zCENbECZXs/s4032/15B78A7B-D4C3-47C3-B73F-699C13622351.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzr7RwLfMRuZGmaQXbq7T3OYiL_voql__m82Z51-O1nqHdigkf6sfAjY__QzpA4Oh-s2uJxDxup2WOLsHr6ef2wizWDlrlhaa_7QTWrQDqMIm_vRRCRn6gxadoGwPa2c9KWP3YGKWEPh4JQdYjVh5BnN0cN1VIZeZa-IMaHSsGOikOnHW-5zCENbECZXs/s320/15B78A7B-D4C3-47C3-B73F-699C13622351.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French cavalry still a threat.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>We called it a day at this point, objectives were counted up and the French scraped a win on points, game wise the Allied right could not budge the French defence and the French right could not take the town, the Allied centre however had been crushed and the flanks of the Allied army on both sides of the breach were in great danger of collapsing. And so we were done, another great looking game with some beautiful figures moved around, Julian and Ed's cavalry are simply superb, if things keep going on like this we will need a larger venue.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLZVLW-q9tERYGD5qzzgkladJcYMT1JMQiYiq8vO1rPGHgz3YrMAEskmthclNFtsrw0AYlCuM2ikvg5zBgn1PCFMbtkDmFXjWimHikk9eSOfnKloooGoBirpl2ZmlqEfsy3GRusPKw2nhXf5dxt9AFwjiLjjuq8pTE40JlAXq9ugvNRsTTz4-2kIhaj8/s2048/415296662_795755559090166_5202617497575773459_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1596" data-original-width="2048" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLZVLW-q9tERYGD5qzzgkladJcYMT1JMQiYiq8vO1rPGHgz3YrMAEskmthclNFtsrw0AYlCuM2ikvg5zBgn1PCFMbtkDmFXjWimHikk9eSOfnKloooGoBirpl2ZmlqEfsy3GRusPKw2nhXf5dxt9AFwjiLjjuq8pTE40JlAXq9ugvNRsTTz4-2kIhaj8/s320/415296662_795755559090166_5202617497575773459_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nine of us, seemed like more.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>I have finished off the last of the figures in my lead pimple, some arquebusiers, this leaves some of the figures which Dan had offered me, these are some guns and heavy cavalry types, they need stripped, cleaned and primed before I move on them, but with the threat of builders arriving and my vast wargaming empire hidden under beds, in cupboards and taking up most of the study and shortly my living room I will not be adding troops for a while yet. I am also finding it difficult to find Dettol to strip the paint, is this now too dangerous for the public?</p><p>My grandson is a Blood Bowl and Underworlds player and received several teams and warbands (how can a warband be three figures?) for birthday and Christmas, as I have time I offered to paint some of the figures for him, something out of my comfort zone but hey a test of my brush skills. I have completed the first figure while watching a Games Workshop video, the host got to the eyes and recommended white and black of course, I couldn't actually see the eyes! Whither you like GW etc. or not some of these guys are fantastic painters, I can confirm I am average, maybe just a tad above that but no more.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uIlQB58UTi7I3MUWD1AEcixsRU-kosIHWKy0cUDYiOuXLmpvYQRh3ekTumhegp9P58uYRV4MexNSJvOkGBRDxvPpIP6dY3tRE1kJJL2PhB9go5P7cnN8ySYRVDnwjFcZr0hax1liANtHxibS9JxovkpEbidWWSavdwkpupIq3NN_vlWymmKLjeYcADg/s3264/E5663521-F333-4B44-A8DC-15E20714BF7D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uIlQB58UTi7I3MUWD1AEcixsRU-kosIHWKy0cUDYiOuXLmpvYQRh3ekTumhegp9P58uYRV4MexNSJvOkGBRDxvPpIP6dY3tRE1kJJL2PhB9go5P7cnN8ySYRVDnwjFcZr0hax1liANtHxibS9JxovkpEbidWWSavdwkpupIq3NN_vlWymmKLjeYcADg/s320/E5663521-F333-4B44-A8DC-15E20714BF7D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>To The Strongest author Simon Miller dropped me a line to inform me that the Montrose scenario book which I worked on will be out soon, I was quite chuffed if I say so myself with the maps for this publication. Years ago I covered the same ground in a book written by Charles Singleton. I have no priority map work on at the moment which again suits me fine, I have started the mini atlas however.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vio1ooI1QQvky-fK9XRDAehKbVCJje04PN9tfOmspur8irzkcsg4wwcn9onf_C4Sd-t7_6a6noTTVkSsp5Ot_ew9oAWXTCIzp5D8jUCPFbG4mvAS8V9bHPKSm_ZPaQVzRn1UgGEv4GMxCSKqTFmrMaXOZRERqkN37zkiGyIausjhDSIVXoY_PVNYSzQ/s2048/415005541_799131248895867_2417098402236258119_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="2048" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vio1ooI1QQvky-fK9XRDAehKbVCJje04PN9tfOmspur8irzkcsg4wwcn9onf_C4Sd-t7_6a6noTTVkSsp5Ot_ew9oAWXTCIzp5D8jUCPFbG4mvAS8V9bHPKSm_ZPaQVzRn1UgGEv4GMxCSKqTFmrMaXOZRERqkN37zkiGyIausjhDSIVXoY_PVNYSzQ/s320/415005541_799131248895867_2417098402236258119_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsP-Gfh9ewlayv67A_-KoCl3kDTFKTyXtxVGeUX0scuWIgu6jCLitMSTNjdrNJyYo-USa_PNtOaVDW9YKEyNluuC-RYB5-Zn6CLx4Ep5qy6njg9doRdpMXRSpH3JoBPQvtfY5tOIJlsz8WttCGZS3wIcgltdVdmyovMoqCW_mPpWQrtWS1_jIx7DW2jU/s2694/Map%201%20Madrid.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2694" data-original-width="1814" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsP-Gfh9ewlayv67A_-KoCl3kDTFKTyXtxVGeUX0scuWIgu6jCLitMSTNjdrNJyYo-USa_PNtOaVDW9YKEyNluuC-RYB5-Zn6CLx4Ep5qy6njg9doRdpMXRSpH3JoBPQvtfY5tOIJlsz8WttCGZS3wIcgltdVdmyovMoqCW_mPpWQrtWS1_jIx7DW2jU/s320/Map%201%20Madrid.jpg" width="215" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Madrid for the mini atlas.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> I saw something on FB the other day, a lovely camouflaged German truck, but it had bright blue windows, on my walk the other day I looked at all the cars jammed along the village main drag and did not see one with bright blue windows. Why do wargamers paint blue windows? <br /><p></p><p></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-50463048930514122812023-12-30T11:20:00.003+00:002023-12-30T11:20:50.711+00:00Review<p> I'm back! We survived our journey down South and actually made it there and back in 4.5 hours which is a minor miracle on our roads these days, we did encounter some push back from a 'smart' motorway on the way home which seemed to increase the congestion rather than reduce it. I was never one for conspiracy theories but I do wonder if the constant 40mph is more to cheese me off than continue the flow of traffic. We had a great week and were treated like royalty by my son and his partner, I didn't lift a finger for seven days. I also did well in the gifts department although nothing wargame related for the first time in decades, I did manage some nice books amongst other stuff.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocmlDJlE5Xo23TJyvhi7JXVzsrn65aa1Tf3Dtxnx3MTkh8C5f5kwE3XTVS7iT7T1dIuezBP8XkIO-SU1Ui6TYqc5dsb4XMSfS7ADqSBuLXcLsEF8rLbscA_uoS4fUD28B5tjMkHuJuwnV0Qhjh-b-RWyB3zIgfLhDRnXM3PLRzClWc-A4IlWn6OGthUE/s3264/F0BDEA2D-868F-4E76-B02C-1B3AFEFBD983.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocmlDJlE5Xo23TJyvhi7JXVzsrn65aa1Tf3Dtxnx3MTkh8C5f5kwE3XTVS7iT7T1dIuezBP8XkIO-SU1Ui6TYqc5dsb4XMSfS7ADqSBuLXcLsEF8rLbscA_uoS4fUD28B5tjMkHuJuwnV0Qhjh-b-RWyB3zIgfLhDRnXM3PLRzClWc-A4IlWn6OGthUE/s320/F0BDEA2D-868F-4E76-B02C-1B3AFEFBD983.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Cb5HzTZWSpSAjH3iqt3drjuNg0cvONVKnAmqk3XzZlX0IL3aMP3U9EJoppqPwZif4PbKHLbo-5uv7KGhemWplz0s-JpG3XfDDBnrsPYEjTxH2BMScXQWr46x5zT6p5S_6Yg10hfzTuirFB7VHpCrm0JhXS26eLOYvtUt2UmpHpCfG9JPvDts8L86Gjs/s3264/6E54C1C5-CE54-4398-ACB9-A1916A84FEF3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Cb5HzTZWSpSAjH3iqt3drjuNg0cvONVKnAmqk3XzZlX0IL3aMP3U9EJoppqPwZif4PbKHLbo-5uv7KGhemWplz0s-JpG3XfDDBnrsPYEjTxH2BMScXQWr46x5zT6p5S_6Yg10hfzTuirFB7VHpCrm0JhXS26eLOYvtUt2UmpHpCfG9JPvDts8L86Gjs/s320/6E54C1C5-CE54-4398-ACB9-A1916A84FEF3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p> I had thought my wargaming was over for this year but I received an invite to a SYW bash at Dans just before I flew south for Christmas. It was fought out today and was very enjoyable even though it was Black Powder (with a heavy load of commonsense from the regular players). I was in command of the Austrian centre with six battalions of infantry and three squadrons of curassiers. Dan had devised a small meta game which would or could have an effect on each armies deployment, Fran who was the Prussian CinC was cautious but Rob as our commander put a lot into the scouting beforehand, therefore some Prussian forces would be delayed arriving while another lot just wouldn't turn up, we also managed to deploy forward so got a jump on the Prussians.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWiOvFPNR_w74QytlDp3BbmYpbBDZUKT4Wss7zk3oCYVPcaTwec3cO9XfN9GAHGbjbbM2Ln5FP0ZvD2_Bg4X6UAKg48zMsjmqHyoDFa3Z1y7qDvj3WZjLY6jgH69EJm6VJS2LhL2ft9Xbtjeoay8HaOO5dfV5Cvq3is1M1ANBCg4Jade0ZQOwncT9eHQ/s4032/0357A29C-5382-4111-AB91-905B5DE9EDC4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWiOvFPNR_w74QytlDp3BbmYpbBDZUKT4Wss7zk3oCYVPcaTwec3cO9XfN9GAHGbjbbM2Ln5FP0ZvD2_Bg4X6UAKg48zMsjmqHyoDFa3Z1y7qDvj3WZjLY6jgH69EJm6VJS2LhL2ft9Xbtjeoay8HaOO5dfV5Cvq3is1M1ANBCg4Jade0ZQOwncT9eHQ/s320/0357A29C-5382-4111-AB91-905B5DE9EDC4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brigade and supports ready to rush forward.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKvdnD2F1o1V0fiqxFNvtz1D35PrwkVnolzuWOiVas_ORpDRI-C0PDuvrJmSWZGmJDKbYkmO044wj1x0V909QO1j7UtSaHjcg0mCGqi0OZVdkBpsgdW6Z0U8CZJsLnmDqoKqMGtZN86XSWw29r_mJA3WE1iCJ8LVU_2eLQQ0-5OmHrXo75CYWeEVu66A/s4032/54343C7B-8783-485C-BE10-946BD4E70005.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKvdnD2F1o1V0fiqxFNvtz1D35PrwkVnolzuWOiVas_ORpDRI-C0PDuvrJmSWZGmJDKbYkmO044wj1x0V909QO1j7UtSaHjcg0mCGqi0OZVdkBpsgdW6Z0U8CZJsLnmDqoKqMGtZN86XSWw29r_mJA3WE1iCJ8LVU_2eLQQ0-5OmHrXo75CYWeEVu66A/s320/54343C7B-8783-485C-BE10-946BD4E70005.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nervously looking around for the rest of the Austrians.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcPsKnqAzAaRWR-KYw_xuMf3NsnnzEydQzhYP7e0wa4yiWs532t9TYUNAmFKCc3XrEUKK_8D959o3d7tHLMYJx86uK7-0YywMz6y67dLpZLwVuoAHyR_WRNdqi1iSmIXbsszhA0MsqjYoTxrgYXBgwf0BCKU-h7w45HX0AnpXFsEu3E6db4ayLmvCC-k/s4032/F870B811-D7CC-4C2E-9C59-42F27B11FAD4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcPsKnqAzAaRWR-KYw_xuMf3NsnnzEydQzhYP7e0wa4yiWs532t9TYUNAmFKCc3XrEUKK_8D959o3d7tHLMYJx86uK7-0YywMz6y67dLpZLwVuoAHyR_WRNdqi1iSmIXbsszhA0MsqjYoTxrgYXBgwf0BCKU-h7w45HX0AnpXFsEu3E6db4ayLmvCC-k/s320/F870B811-D7CC-4C2E-9C59-42F27B11FAD4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The curassiers unleashed.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The plan was for our left and centre to move on the enemy while our right merely threatened the Prussians. On my first move my entire force went hell for leather against the enemy centre and found itself out on a limb in front of the entire Prussian army, Rob on the right would not subsequently move for several turns, Matt on my left got off to a slow start but eventually managed to move up to join me. I stood and took a lot of lead but weathered it well despite looking at one point as if my troops would retire. Matt now went against the Prussian right and somehow managed to be winning but lost all his cavalry and his infantry looked to be in trouble, it was now in desperation I brought my curassiers into the action, although they were never overly successful their continuous charges and support for Matt's Dragoons gradually wore down the Prussian line. Allied to the success at last of Matt's infantry these manouvres caused the Prussian right to retire from the field, a definition of victory from the jaws of defeat.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0HYg-4hmCnEZoR2JYrW4jkdfdXv6FLADdgg2uuzjcRR8pWTyO2g7LcCtXlpsdjCpNMDvpakTlgeHOe6L3BW81z6DaJO2ZFtypedyd3lOjp0m-GUG1aiPeacn0uL6uNU5tsK9AlYN5FHcfh5rw2ygr05ybUL4F-eBGB8Tbp7t_U2eB6Ti_wwoRcwvCOM/s4032/798C2627-7717-423A-9CA5-C77348002331.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0HYg-4hmCnEZoR2JYrW4jkdfdXv6FLADdgg2uuzjcRR8pWTyO2g7LcCtXlpsdjCpNMDvpakTlgeHOe6L3BW81z6DaJO2ZFtypedyd3lOjp0m-GUG1aiPeacn0uL6uNU5tsK9AlYN5FHcfh5rw2ygr05ybUL4F-eBGB8Tbp7t_U2eB6Ti_wwoRcwvCOM/s320/798C2627-7717-423A-9CA5-C77348002331.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Prussian centre folds<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>My men still stood in the midst of a hurricane of fire and despite everything thrown at them managed to hold their line. The Prussian left had now turned up and was trying to put pressure on Rob's small brigade but somehow Rob managed to hold them off. The pressure now built on the Prussian centre to finally try something to stabilise the situation but Fran failed to persuade his men to back him, instead they threw the towel in and retired. <br /></p><p>So that was the last game of 2023 and it finished the year off on a high, especially as at one point it had looked like both Matt and I would be overwhelmed and sent packing only for the dice gods to turn half way through the battle in our favour. A great afternoon of fun and laughter.</p><p>What about the rest of the year, well not a bad year wargaming wise, I started and finished the Imperial Army of 1525 to face my Pavia French, I have had a little break from painting and am now unsure whether to begin or delay Phase 3, this being the introduction of troops from various Italian States, if I do they might consist of a pike block, a gun and a couple of mounted units. I had a daft idea to build up some Peasant Bands for the German Peasants War but those poor guys in reality should never stand a chance in a pitched battle, my next daft idea is to add more Swiss, but earlier than 1525 with the upcoming Steel Fist figures. These would be Confederation Swiss and not mercenaries for the 2nd and 3rd Milan Wars period. It's still all up in the air.</p><p>The Italian Wars of course took up quite a bit of my wargaming time here at home, with several chaps coming to refight some of the battles with Julian and I. It would seem I am a poor commander (new dice needed) for this period and have yet to gain success on the battlefield, but this is offset by the sheer enjoyment of seeing massed pike blocks and swarms of cavalry face each other across the table and everyone having fun.<br /></p><p>I did at last manage to play a Chain of Command campaign thanks to Matt Crump who has valiantly fought the Hitlerites off as they attempt to kick in the rotten Soviet door around Smolensk and win Operation Barbarossa, something which now seems impossible to do, hopefully a full article on this later in the year. Is it getting colder?<br /></p><p>I have not played as many ACW games as I would have liked here at home, but I did manage to field my War and Conquest forces thanks to Stuart Smith and my Seven Years War troops thanks to Erik Faithfull who journeyed to Casa Anderson.</p><p>And on the subject of Casa Anderson the builders are due to arrive in the third week of January so my home games will be on hold until it is all finished, I expect this to take at least two months, maybe three. I am not looking forward to the upset but it will I hope be worth it when I open the 'War Room'. If you can think of a better name then suggestions on a postcard.</p><p>I have finished my last map of 2023 a private commission for my nephew of Rorke's Drift which is to be framed and presented to someone as a birthday present, I really enjoyed doing this one (see the books above). This year I have drawn 406 maps for 49 projects. I have two new projects in the wings but am determined to see the year out before starting, one is warfare in the Indian Ocean just after the American War of Independence and the other is entitled Battles and Battlefields of the Peninsular War.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMu4Q-5pVutZU0QFJGUtG7Xu6U2Y9lDmHEy41j8k0VcZoHMIZdaKh57VldpUyzFsOPbZRs59icP3Lv_rfamaBkn2ZJC0uAFVYh6fJKUYeI3RF6yDrpxPTLfxvHvnhELboASb8MQEbPnMVQkCFbFqBNdF4p5aGLwr2-iWS1HM1lKYOwrAnFOOkMEvO66CE/s4569/Rorkes%20Drift.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3216" data-original-width="4569" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMu4Q-5pVutZU0QFJGUtG7Xu6U2Y9lDmHEy41j8k0VcZoHMIZdaKh57VldpUyzFsOPbZRs59icP3Lv_rfamaBkn2ZJC0uAFVYh6fJKUYeI3RF6yDrpxPTLfxvHvnhELboASb8MQEbPnMVQkCFbFqBNdF4p5aGLwr2-iWS1HM1lKYOwrAnFOOkMEvO66CE/s320/Rorkes%20Drift.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>For a time there I had thought of stopping the blog or if not to simply cut down on the number of posts, I managed this for a few weeks then things ran away with me and there was a lot to say, also I do enjoy doing it so perhaps less posts in '24 but I should still be here.</p><p>I will finish with two recommendations to watch over the holidays, both on AppleTV, Slow Horses and Silo, the latter is an old one and one which I stayed away from as it didn't seem to be my cup of char, but I was wrong, so wrong I have even bought the books, I also intend at some point to buy the Slow Horses series as well. And I nearly forgot The Equalizer 3, bad guys get their just deserts, what's not to like.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizNF0oRoVjtwiUhoiN7_mKhIc561HZMzC0SrGy6NVk43qTKaL9Cpv3YGhK8O1Z7PtBFag4uvJnHA8zk56iNAr60on5VmeQPi-Of1-1EW3kyjsJ77nW7FreMCJ7hiBGmU8Nm7SgKE6oFJUIED4GAs05gpYbdv4lm2Hx5urwG3MrDhi9Y7hOkndyU0YI_k/s1000/e19bd1890bb7975ce9aebc7d1550badf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizNF0oRoVjtwiUhoiN7_mKhIc561HZMzC0SrGy6NVk43qTKaL9Cpv3YGhK8O1Z7PtBFag4uvJnHA8zk56iNAr60on5VmeQPi-Of1-1EW3kyjsJ77nW7FreMCJ7hiBGmU8Nm7SgKE6oFJUIED4GAs05gpYbdv4lm2Hx5urwG3MrDhi9Y7hOkndyU0YI_k/s320/e19bd1890bb7975ce9aebc7d1550badf.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0ZUZnNfbTqHQ3L3S1KQGVNrlETMTyLgnGoaOKbkZGstWjXSkIz17YmpFly0-OIm1L6ankrpmRqJ4oSQJ5N07q-tyjDD1ZtETLe0pBqYGUGM7HMRNU2s3i6ZI-IznSv4MhXTEgYc3aLnY4eENF_CYN4PA5JqiWsLZG8pyZ-Xww2VGI10JmU9LL4dJovs/s1200/The_Equalizer_3-455060562-large.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="847" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0ZUZnNfbTqHQ3L3S1KQGVNrlETMTyLgnGoaOKbkZGstWjXSkIz17YmpFly0-OIm1L6ankrpmRqJ4oSQJ5N07q-tyjDD1ZtETLe0pBqYGUGM7HMRNU2s3i6ZI-IznSv4MhXTEgYc3aLnY4eENF_CYN4PA5JqiWsLZG8pyZ-Xww2VGI10JmU9LL4dJovs/s320/The_Equalizer_3-455060562-large.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJDgy75FpfOgNS6PQ_vhn5wS8JyMBJvoJpYJKcnfOHhn9I3dZYF8fAy5DWSd6FkrqM6lRpgTYLMe_GzfclODgv67apYDi_de5HGVEmZ2lF3Glls1U6A_xVU0Le_vPO1OAfiPHP57x4Q_jn0D2tH4rdiF81CrDNkw-ucAWyzust4UCq76k3ZnsotS34hk/s1536/YERbdANETkvTnT9yvj4TJR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1536" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJDgy75FpfOgNS6PQ_vhn5wS8JyMBJvoJpYJKcnfOHhn9I3dZYF8fAy5DWSd6FkrqM6lRpgTYLMe_GzfclODgv67apYDi_de5HGVEmZ2lF3Glls1U6A_xVU0Le_vPO1OAfiPHP57x4Q_jn0D2tH4rdiF81CrDNkw-ucAWyzust4UCq76k3ZnsotS34hk/s320/YERbdANETkvTnT9yvj4TJR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-48942789550504240972023-12-22T12:09:00.000+00:002023-12-22T12:09:01.943+00:00Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.<p> I am not at home and so unable to do a review of 2023 until I reconnect to the digital world, I can’t type more than a sentence on an iPad.</p><p>But I would like to wish everyone who reads my musings a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.</p><p>George</p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-31248902888040132222023-12-14T15:26:00.004+00:002023-12-14T15:27:35.951+00:00Last calls for 2023<p> After a bit of a break it was back to the Italian Wars this week at the club, using the now familiar battle of Ceresole as a base we used Dan's resurrected 15mm figures all newly based for Furioso. I took the French once again, and once again I despaired of the French deployment.</p><p>I held my Gendarmes back as I moved my pike blocks to the front, as the battle developed I sent a unit to each flank to back up my heavy cavalry. Before this I found my artillery and most of my skirmishers were not keen on moving or firing on the Imperials, on the other hand the Imperial guns and skirmish screens were causing my advancing infantry a lot of problems. I persisted though and my German/Swiss block hit the enemy Spaniards opposite, my Swiss pushed through the enemy screens, overran an artillery piece and then smashed into some Landsknechts, nearby my French moved on a smaller Landsknecht pike block supporting the larger one. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigijEDhiEURwWgaweQmlg0Dh4kglPAwXvh4d-pH7flS31US5W3dChcrOSwHX724GSq70ipn6Sq4VT6r_rman2oWGUmGNK7hFe4rK9M9W6T9aIbQsbdblOGIihq1ARdSGmTeTpzwFbhNCPfGzdaStZ0CboVyh6e2cYQpa45oJ5Z0b-KDNVV7d-FzSVBZEg/s4032/399BAB63-883B-4FAE-B5A0-B673511DBB87.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigijEDhiEURwWgaweQmlg0Dh4kglPAwXvh4d-pH7flS31US5W3dChcrOSwHX724GSq70ipn6Sq4VT6r_rman2oWGUmGNK7hFe4rK9M9W6T9aIbQsbdblOGIihq1ARdSGmTeTpzwFbhNCPfGzdaStZ0CboVyh6e2cYQpa45oJ5Z0b-KDNVV7d-FzSVBZEg/s320/399BAB63-883B-4FAE-B5A0-B673511DBB87.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsxxHQKkWlJYhksmrjs1LEX49NgwZf5UauHOtkGZyk32l9ShPYRQea_GaJZjBslkM_2D1K9RprP-A81whMRyospFtacyXXjb_hVPaKFjlKaxWtSYj2SGBck4eDuL5a8gJ23zsc3IXlE3dB0ha1XutaVWMzgwhaeyGx4Ga6l0OTsJYuo4Xv5wQEMJ5gss/s4032/6C9F6F0E-F2A9-4CF4-9163-927714D2E4CA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsxxHQKkWlJYhksmrjs1LEX49NgwZf5UauHOtkGZyk32l9ShPYRQea_GaJZjBslkM_2D1K9RprP-A81whMRyospFtacyXXjb_hVPaKFjlKaxWtSYj2SGBck4eDuL5a8gJ23zsc3IXlE3dB0ha1XutaVWMzgwhaeyGx4Ga6l0OTsJYuo4Xv5wQEMJ5gss/s320/6C9F6F0E-F2A9-4CF4-9163-927714D2E4CA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Then it all happened, my left flank heavy cavalry were ridden down by their Imperial counterparts, the Swiss were stopped and incredibly (to me) pushed back by the Landsknechts, the French infantry supporting them were also pushed back. The only bright spot was that the German/Swiss block hammered the Spanish and were within a whisker of destroying them but the enemy held on with grim determination. On the right flank it looked like I could possibly hold the Imperials with my Gendarmes and heavy cavalry but it was merely a hope as the battle came to an end.</p><p>Things were certainly going well for the Imperials at the end, I was only winning one combat and things looked very bad for the Swiss and French infantry. Once again my shooting was abysmal in this battle and I found it hard to get my skirmishers to move, even my Gendarmes lost a morale test at one point when my heavy cavalry dispersed, so much for French elan. The game itself played well in 15mm although it did take time for me to get used to the scale from my 28mm battles. The good news is Dan's men are far more easily transportable than mine for a club game and we can do a decent large battle within the club time limit.</p><p>That leaves this weeks home game, Erik was coming back for a second Seven Year War bash. The author of the AWI Atlas is now doing a wargamers guide for Helion and as I did the maps I took his battle of Camden as inspiration for yesterday's game. It is a simple get stuck in game with both sides lined up against each other, I of course do not have AWI troops so it was French and British, the French initially outflank the British line but the British have reserves arriving behind their main force and they have a cavalry unit.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHUdC6Y85xU8kzVahy8fy3uHe3ILMjdi5pQDdx9urmXUwHfbXGD14qyBNIc7QHRxIb_Y6hbQrFRfPPRhCPegh2JpeNmbYbW6Bx2MaCN5m-q39kndqDMCkleA5O7hpWqJCbDIGKTgib9NgwfUGuk2xVniTinQ0vOGlV7JwQZLUBKaGEvoUXvlhmQMyeMA/s2695/Map%2094%20Camden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2695" data-original-width="1814" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHUdC6Y85xU8kzVahy8fy3uHe3ILMjdi5pQDdx9urmXUwHfbXGD14qyBNIc7QHRxIb_Y6hbQrFRfPPRhCPegh2JpeNmbYbW6Bx2MaCN5m-q39kndqDMCkleA5O7hpWqJCbDIGKTgib9NgwfUGuk2xVniTinQ0vOGlV7JwQZLUBKaGEvoUXvlhmQMyeMA/s320/Map%2094%20Camden.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /> I was unlucky once again with commanders and got one Dashing and two Ditherers, Erik got a Dependable and two Ditherers, so the commander in chief would be up front in both armies inspiring one of the ditherers. I tried to advance quickly on the British right and hoped I would win the numbers game before the reserves arrived, I did not manage this before the enemy line was extended and the cavalry raced to turn my left flank, nevertheless I did manage to get within long range of the red line and deal out some pain on the serried ranks before me. I was worried about the British horse though and had to send a battalion to deal with them which meant I was now being outnumbered on my left, over on the right nothing was moving quickly and both sides remained staring at each other throughout the battle.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuKlrVHyU4sW6juEwcyqbp0MekC_i32K6InfOISwS-bfq1J1Pt7fnCvhBRK_ob2Tq68jDdw6uIgvNb5F3_SuX_jvNGa6MovAXvQrz0eINGU_P1uXR1m3C89wqbq71k3hWXwq1NAbQzqNtZ84wnKUYuewZ8hvvOYjrYq6aTPa6ZcAU8-lTGJGO6ueZwTY/s3264/22296A6D-7A2A-43AD-9065-11288DF197D1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuKlrVHyU4sW6juEwcyqbp0MekC_i32K6InfOISwS-bfq1J1Pt7fnCvhBRK_ob2Tq68jDdw6uIgvNb5F3_SuX_jvNGa6MovAXvQrz0eINGU_P1uXR1m3C89wqbq71k3hWXwq1NAbQzqNtZ84wnKUYuewZ8hvvOYjrYq6aTPa6ZcAU8-lTGJGO6ueZwTY/s320/22296A6D-7A2A-43AD-9065-11288DF197D1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzzmU2nObK6ertQtS_oufYBKwxqyPSFuSzvgiYDJ1JfpEQkSJE83B4umPQ0hEJ9-1LzXQEoz-3x2UioT9ljSL3ZsAWxnraJ1eeXS6rZCeWhEezzHraUlZfII52VVahq5PRt8SZlX-GE26D93tRXTTLH0RN9BapWVaI-8h9E8koCZoVfv98FaDgxS8jeo/s3264/5F230F91-E8BE-4175-AE1B-5EBC30426949.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzzmU2nObK6ertQtS_oufYBKwxqyPSFuSzvgiYDJ1JfpEQkSJE83B4umPQ0hEJ9-1LzXQEoz-3x2UioT9ljSL3ZsAWxnraJ1eeXS6rZCeWhEezzHraUlZfII52VVahq5PRt8SZlX-GE26D93tRXTTLH0RN9BapWVaI-8h9E8koCZoVfv98FaDgxS8jeo/s320/5F230F91-E8BE-4175-AE1B-5EBC30426949.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Erik must have felt pressured as I sent his cavalry packing and his battalions began to suffer losses so he surprised me by withdrawing his battle line, as I had moved to the centre of the table and suffered for it I was not going to continue to press him. Although he managed to rally off a lot of casualties so did I, I also managed to bring back two battalions which had had to retreat, with the threat of the cavalry now gone I felt a lot better. With darkness approaching, quite literally, Erik now tried to bring his line forward, this proved a struggle due to his less than enthusiastic commanders.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MzDa549x8lgKdh6v7xdEOJaWY_6wolSuPZVR-4hzh1tlz3phfi6NVSaRCO5HjbETaTmStPG9Iqy3w7ciIk3u2xAD17YAmwmpAyxd_llcrFekzvBWidqKjTp6dCcWmhFxiH3yHTnXcVBsR0bBdzrMxcYzvcues4xKXbVS5GNkA0ExLkmCQtcpm7x_GwA/s3264/EC8E371F-7E92-4077-AE9D-E4CE25341CA6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MzDa549x8lgKdh6v7xdEOJaWY_6wolSuPZVR-4hzh1tlz3phfi6NVSaRCO5HjbETaTmStPG9Iqy3w7ciIk3u2xAD17YAmwmpAyxd_llcrFekzvBWidqKjTp6dCcWmhFxiH3yHTnXcVBsR0bBdzrMxcYzvcues4xKXbVS5GNkA0ExLkmCQtcpm7x_GwA/s320/EC8E371F-7E92-4077-AE9D-E4CE25341CA6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDbwlz1QsgieaBrcfnjDY9__ycpU8d-7RwuH8Yp5iPbIFWYF6eE1D2bNedltT8hfTMvUSDoY86Fegpo7J6RxyuOVmO3rZ8nzghAv0XpEP8SreuWI5adjDK_NchBmSXckVaYkV1yY-pnivjYduZMP7DNCH5fbII6C19tE-958qDXQ3oyiwTDmDGDGRnRQ/s3264/67AD54E5-0910-4A94-9D5C-F585070C073E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDbwlz1QsgieaBrcfnjDY9__ycpU8d-7RwuH8Yp5iPbIFWYF6eE1D2bNedltT8hfTMvUSDoY86Fegpo7J6RxyuOVmO3rZ8nzghAv0XpEP8SreuWI5adjDK_NchBmSXckVaYkV1yY-pnivjYduZMP7DNCH5fbII6C19tE-958qDXQ3oyiwTDmDGDGRnRQ/s320/67AD54E5-0910-4A94-9D5C-F585070C073E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3ip8oezrdpZr6Cneb-z9BucYpEjtekyuwiHVaRjT4nN8A_J-feuvslGzeTQ_nh0bslYpf25P8CMOD1o04P3reR_glBC64YiwCIeP3f6Z12NW05C9DJ9EeTGUcV2VyzjeMh7rOHmzetb3SBZmEafPTAF0UqV3sqFlnPDMcNWkayUbUQl5GImOtl9H8OI/s3264/3B05C1DD-5241-4086-A533-A10F5CD35CB6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3ip8oezrdpZr6Cneb-z9BucYpEjtekyuwiHVaRjT4nN8A_J-feuvslGzeTQ_nh0bslYpf25P8CMOD1o04P3reR_glBC64YiwCIeP3f6Z12NW05C9DJ9EeTGUcV2VyzjeMh7rOHmzetb3SBZmEafPTAF0UqV3sqFlnPDMcNWkayUbUQl5GImOtl9H8OI/s320/3B05C1DD-5241-4086-A533-A10F5CD35CB6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>He did manage in the end but the shoe was on the other foot this time and my men were calmly standing waiting as he moved on them, volleys crashed out and British casualties mounted, the Redcoats came into close range and tried one magnificent but rash charge into some waiting French grenadiers, the return fire all along the line proved too much and the British centre and right disintigrated, the battle was over. Once again a nice little battle and a treat to get my SYW troops on the table, and a win this time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4d1YAPisS8FcJeq9K6bK2SPpTv5j42loej9MBolYI2FuLY1L9xQnDevhH19aAQOSJUpUJtMOgXxvM9nwcfVarU48m9k9Lr43urZAXRc5cv_w_UcjXtiPwk_NBN4OIWjjhVolH5T2YSOd8f6HgiUHZict86q9i6paEzfBV8a8ffoUZasOIsPfQEs_v1Y/s3264/5372F88B-88B7-48EE-A252-0B6A6593466B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4d1YAPisS8FcJeq9K6bK2SPpTv5j42loej9MBolYI2FuLY1L9xQnDevhH19aAQOSJUpUJtMOgXxvM9nwcfVarU48m9k9Lr43urZAXRc5cv_w_UcjXtiPwk_NBN4OIWjjhVolH5T2YSOd8f6HgiUHZict86q9i6paEzfBV8a8ffoUZasOIsPfQEs_v1Y/s320/5372F88B-88B7-48EE-A252-0B6A6593466B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtK7n5er2k1ewBCv6ZC7iIqv9YuTFqjLTuS-dF58Fqrw50FOrRujwWwqCge4_DZXtZENlMAwkvkoU4Q448Bw0xJTC22YuHsgwTnMa_VZyJUVnQKoff5EN9LytEpXzbspGcW5qJvx3AztnSHvMgbtNPRJxEcaabgka4ithOGyYQaNYaydRVjUK6wu0vjp0/s3264/10C9BD01-BA5B-40B9-85EF-3AB9EA5D9E4F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtK7n5er2k1ewBCv6ZC7iIqv9YuTFqjLTuS-dF58Fqrw50FOrRujwWwqCge4_DZXtZENlMAwkvkoU4Q448Bw0xJTC22YuHsgwTnMa_VZyJUVnQKoff5EN9LytEpXzbspGcW5qJvx3AztnSHvMgbtNPRJxEcaabgka4ithOGyYQaNYaydRVjUK6wu0vjp0/s320/10C9BD01-BA5B-40B9-85EF-3AB9EA5D9E4F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_W6Jd2FKLzHnwaH3bIRtHHb-s6EuV4UDsHdywKwFHXJhT4q3tSZ3CiC7A_c9vaNJTzTplchggkO6pyLHDat9Rffru66d3j4vSst-Tm8cEvg0vsQZaLtW_kKNsOR7bfpfevvPUl3fTbIZCocqm2iYCszNDFspgo2ZwZkHqhqlhBnHIpUshnM3IwO6JuI/s3264/4B66AC64-A87B-4563-AEAD-DB285D733597.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_W6Jd2FKLzHnwaH3bIRtHHb-s6EuV4UDsHdywKwFHXJhT4q3tSZ3CiC7A_c9vaNJTzTplchggkO6pyLHDat9Rffru66d3j4vSst-Tm8cEvg0vsQZaLtW_kKNsOR7bfpfevvPUl3fTbIZCocqm2iYCszNDFspgo2ZwZkHqhqlhBnHIpUshnM3IwO6JuI/s320/4B66AC64-A87B-4563-AEAD-DB285D733597.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapxFGSYCnMEnRmoaivegQ6yhtCFDQlWXQ4Znedejvf3zaqv7mgHowYa2BKGyBnnB5fxllQZkKR_H4TtptAafrrup8IVLi06w2yUPo_qN5UIxmXsU_5l88glQAzo7CJ19Rfzixf7wlqS4vzYvva-IeumoNHTMrXQvABsrh0ek9c_ykFI3Kuo8uccUJpwI/s3264/1D46004E-5FFB-43E1-9AD3-C5C44BDEBBC1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapxFGSYCnMEnRmoaivegQ6yhtCFDQlWXQ4Znedejvf3zaqv7mgHowYa2BKGyBnnB5fxllQZkKR_H4TtptAafrrup8IVLi06w2yUPo_qN5UIxmXsU_5l88glQAzo7CJ19Rfzixf7wlqS4vzYvva-IeumoNHTMrXQvABsrh0ek9c_ykFI3Kuo8uccUJpwI/s320/1D46004E-5FFB-43E1-9AD3-C5C44BDEBBC1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have the builders in around the third week of January and once the holidays are over I need to relocate all my wargaming paraphernalia elsewhere in the house for at least a couple of months, maybe even a friends house. So there will be no more games here for some time, a real shame as I have managed to get quite a few people to venture here over the year, Matt Crump, Stuart Smith and Erik Faithfull along with club members. My wargaming for now then will consist of club games and possibly the odd big bash in the Gin Pit. I must now think of what I will do for the grand opening.</p><p> I am finishing up my last Imperial cavalry unit of the year and have put some gun crews aside to work on, I am not at all fussed about these in that I don't feel in a rush to paint them, I feel a little painted out for now. Perhaps I just need a change, I have asked for a SdKfz 222 for Christmas as I want one in panzer grey for early war, I just could not use the late war one, I also offered to paint some of my grandsons fantasy characters for him as he has several sets coming for Christmas, this would simply be a painting exercise to prove to myself I can do it. I then have some cavalry and artillery to strip, clean up and paint.</p><p>I have sent away my last map projects for 2023 and put down my stylus until the new year. After the success of the AWI Atlas I believe Helion are looking at two more, that could prove interesting for 2024.<br /></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-75369917605563463222023-12-10T17:55:00.003+00:002023-12-10T21:42:06.265+00:00Old Dog, New Tricks?<p> I have one set of rules I have been playing since 1988, my second longest playing rule set is from 2014, these two continue to be my favourites although there are a couple of other sets/games I have played for some time or go back to now and again. I enjoy, in the main, what I play and am willing to try things outside my comfort zone, but suspect I would not pick up on a completely new set anymore.</p><p>This week I was introduced to 'O Group', a company level WW2 game with elements of Chain of Command in it, it has to be 'abstract' to a degree in order for the game not to bog down, all well and good but a lot of abstraction niggles me. I was the French and defending against a German assault in 1940, I had less numbers than Matt but was defending, I put two companies on the table and left one in reserve, Matt did basically the same thing. I got off to a decent start and wiped out his recce armoured cars and I think I got one of his Panzer II's later, while he got both my anti-tank portee units, by the end of the night he had not got very far and I still had a company in reserve.<br /></p><p>Can you make a call on a set of rules having played only one game with no clue as to what your are doing, probably not but I do know I would not hurry back for another game of 'O Group', despite Matt taking the time to explain everything for me.</p><p>My second foray into a new rule set was yesterday at the Gin Pit in Grange where Rob once again organised a large Napoleonic game to test them out, some small games had been played at the club but this was the big one, seven players and umpteen brigades on both sides using Valour and Fortitude from the Perry brothers, and they are free. Needless to say they are a fast play set for big battles and once again therefore with a fair bit of abstraction.</p><p>Basically the Russians and Austrians were holding ground to prevent a French withdrawal, the French I am told outnumbered the Allies but looking along the table I was not so sure about that. I held the French left and my three brigades were well outnumbered by the Russians opposite and they had much larger battalions to boot, this will no doubt not surprise Napoleonic players but it came as a shock to me. Anyway I had decided not to attack and simply hold the Russians, who duly forgot they were defending and instead launched an attack all along their line ably commanded by Stewart.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lDOWnuK4GSJgL1Atk_h7NwUrjsG8f3_WRlKaR1lm-oTMrwzUHRpsRvID2AIapmaEmz_h6fPxVQETz3XSUDWpB1RtXmwx03SmXkyoD6MGVaE6ygqdqMs3lRWbXu7RNg2MwkTBAXpQgHgdtdfeoaHp7vTgdO2rT27YIXTm4IjNUkGPSzEm1w1-syUOEEg/s4032/C0584CDA-1F0B-40B1-AE8C-0121DF2FB551.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lDOWnuK4GSJgL1Atk_h7NwUrjsG8f3_WRlKaR1lm-oTMrwzUHRpsRvID2AIapmaEmz_h6fPxVQETz3XSUDWpB1RtXmwx03SmXkyoD6MGVaE6ygqdqMs3lRWbXu7RNg2MwkTBAXpQgHgdtdfeoaHp7vTgdO2rT27YIXTm4IjNUkGPSzEm1w1-syUOEEg/s320/C0584CDA-1F0B-40B1-AE8C-0121DF2FB551.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French centre.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUThASAJp3MCRn1vNo370nGBKef3MB0xOh9HpzC57zJZMaBKYMTkxWYRgS7sXAGTvPWsTbT7GwT4RBHgfC5OPXRKyEoj5z-flwoJ3Z4P_5Hkjtz3DxYQJME0EgGkeM4cr0WdTY_RgSK3bKarJPOpkKE4_9dmMRt9vRZtnrHMVlm-AyqI460zzyxKqEwo/s4032/152519C5-5C41-4355-A5D5-BE3592A3011D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUThASAJp3MCRn1vNo370nGBKef3MB0xOh9HpzC57zJZMaBKYMTkxWYRgS7sXAGTvPWsTbT7GwT4RBHgfC5OPXRKyEoj5z-flwoJ3Z4P_5Hkjtz3DxYQJME0EgGkeM4cr0WdTY_RgSK3bKarJPOpkKE4_9dmMRt9vRZtnrHMVlm-AyqI460zzyxKqEwo/s320/152519C5-5C41-4355-A5D5-BE3592A3011D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French left, me.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX1luGfViTT6oQNZk6UR_yofdJEbfv3ef6hH6YRGoys9DpXPobzhFkUmTYF6cKNb3ul-QbbsUYJO0AXrB_PO2H8TcBRw9Q_uj5zXN9_dixor9GRmKMDlrjh2D0I0WvNj6PND8HNZlDGwXFNhSC298wjjpqq_pKwd6GEvfpYQGZlCzkb3ASNpEJ87TkUM/s2048/487BC615-2296-421C-B517-114C073C25C8.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1888" data-original-width="2048" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX1luGfViTT6oQNZk6UR_yofdJEbfv3ef6hH6YRGoys9DpXPobzhFkUmTYF6cKNb3ul-QbbsUYJO0AXrB_PO2H8TcBRw9Q_uj5zXN9_dixor9GRmKMDlrjh2D0I0WvNj6PND8HNZlDGwXFNhSC298wjjpqq_pKwd6GEvfpYQGZlCzkb3ASNpEJ87TkUM/s320/487BC615-2296-421C-B517-114C073C25C8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good looker third from right, me.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV0bwZzoj3knjRmihKez-4p5hC1s4ns30vDNK9UAyK9zZntfvblBbdAWhfuXt00cxc0ShUzR6pnshOM9cRzJlOY1Fa8AON-Q8kOI-j3y5_0-lNsaMJDnNyrWx4-B3SHvbRd82cDW8OAfg-dhpsPTVfagPk7jSn4kvQgHsKoQaF07vdkytDKjCMEdAQ1Q/s4032/79B003F1-440E-48C7-9205-63119767E01D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV0bwZzoj3knjRmihKez-4p5hC1s4ns30vDNK9UAyK9zZntfvblBbdAWhfuXt00cxc0ShUzR6pnshOM9cRzJlOY1Fa8AON-Q8kOI-j3y5_0-lNsaMJDnNyrWx4-B3SHvbRd82cDW8OAfg-dhpsPTVfagPk7jSn4kvQgHsKoQaF07vdkytDKjCMEdAQ1Q/s320/79B003F1-440E-48C7-9205-63119767E01D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My division.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>We learned that skirmishers were simply used as a suicide squad to soak up fire as your attack went in, there was no closing fire if you were charged and I was not convinced of many of the other mechanics, yes they were fast but did they feel like I had been commanding a Napoleonic division, nope, but then as I said, I do not know much about Napoleonic warfare despite being an admirer of the big man.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMymj9Gy7TPN7ZDh8O9UtPDtu40IRCRmQ5yvJeXDiJPMR_w49n2_q6GxBW2GYVgYHtbjrg2cVPft_aDVIbjCnKMr_OUmzfwjune7DWOj2gN4NLxTS_Dy1h9S9Df9GrdaIv64qMBXpwvRm5tvV2ZrLZvx_gAccEAKMoinwiDlE-ycglJVhbpsIeHmJI8yI/s4032/F7B4BB15-5DDD-4211-A1E8-F9B0ED52A9D1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMymj9Gy7TPN7ZDh8O9UtPDtu40IRCRmQ5yvJeXDiJPMR_w49n2_q6GxBW2GYVgYHtbjrg2cVPft_aDVIbjCnKMr_OUmzfwjune7DWOj2gN4NLxTS_Dy1h9S9Df9GrdaIv64qMBXpwvRm5tvV2ZrLZvx_gAccEAKMoinwiDlE-ycglJVhbpsIeHmJI8yI/s320/F7B4BB15-5DDD-4211-A1E8-F9B0ED52A9D1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erik moving on the Austrians.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyutZ7mZ2N6k5lBqYzLL12KzJF5onKmzdcCdoyXAQbiWF59xFer59OQ1PLGWSJ_2PpD8ng0g28V9qKhkF3noPMJWCvS-PPu0ORCYCB_mIeGxFoW7gFxLDoqIHWIFLpmAxeL8Z5QJAu4zRlpvqR0uo62Wl_WTIAMR3qpWc0-Oi98OGhyb-5p3q1PVf8X_8/s4032/3587C277-7D4B-471C-93C7-F61C039EBAB1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyutZ7mZ2N6k5lBqYzLL12KzJF5onKmzdcCdoyXAQbiWF59xFer59OQ1PLGWSJ_2PpD8ng0g28V9qKhkF3noPMJWCvS-PPu0ORCYCB_mIeGxFoW7gFxLDoqIHWIFLpmAxeL8Z5QJAu4zRlpvqR0uo62Wl_WTIAMR3qpWc0-Oi98OGhyb-5p3q1PVf8X_8/s320/3587C277-7D4B-471C-93C7-F61C039EBAB1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cavalry fight.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT7V5BAWzvgp0eVUsnvDwAKrig1qxD_xyGyfFOl9GhV8BSdU4jHTdb146skDEUKJzdwQmOaA-Mw4cDfNJQr88kIspPZjeMWBluaOeFHyptgDR7nqu5nFvw926pnrrFqkRq9zZubdX3ZfdSmw2HbEznGZVPq-CW8bw6zQqcaJHcQoIC0PD8QE7K9HW4Bs/s4032/59AC622F-CE26-4868-B03A-3C8EE06A0C18.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT7V5BAWzvgp0eVUsnvDwAKrig1qxD_xyGyfFOl9GhV8BSdU4jHTdb146skDEUKJzdwQmOaA-Mw4cDfNJQr88kIspPZjeMWBluaOeFHyptgDR7nqu5nFvw926pnrrFqkRq9zZubdX3ZfdSmw2HbEznGZVPq-CW8bw6zQqcaJHcQoIC0PD8QE7K9HW4Bs/s320/59AC622F-CE26-4868-B03A-3C8EE06A0C18.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I grab the village.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0TP9QaWMHkFE6Z4T5GHgtiRsYzZX562T6yqYAIAcGO1Pn0wuvrvC5hzFQKloIRwH5FB9Drp6XwEb88Pvz8YdAhLr4j4zsB9jxXZdXlGRVzcGfaxCGncGJdr8Di11nLHi29aqu97B6qlxr1Eckaxf8xjZNaR1I0L0ph1hI2bo0-M7LFr3OKOPeRDiDis/s4032/9EB440C5-7DAC-4964-887D-2EA7DA2ABE8F.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0TP9QaWMHkFE6Z4T5GHgtiRsYzZX562T6yqYAIAcGO1Pn0wuvrvC5hzFQKloIRwH5FB9Drp6XwEb88Pvz8YdAhLr4j4zsB9jxXZdXlGRVzcGfaxCGncGJdr8Di11nLHi29aqu97B6qlxr1Eckaxf8xjZNaR1I0L0ph1hI2bo0-M7LFr3OKOPeRDiDis/s320/9EB440C5-7DAC-4964-887D-2EA7DA2ABE8F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My right in trouble.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Anyway Stewart did launch a successful attack on my right and took out the brigade on that flank, I stopped going forward and reorganised my line to at least attempt a speed bump before the Russians steamrollered me. I did manage to build up an attack by my left hand brigade and it took an objective just as the shutters came down, so a win for me and an overwhelming win for the French as victory points were tallied up. As I waited patiently for my turn to move, a huge cavalry combat had occured way over on the French right between Rob and Paul which had destroyed the Austrian and Russian cavalry while Stuart and Erik managed to overwhelm Michael around the centre of the battlefield.</p><p>The rules certainly were quick and I think the consensus is that they will overtake Black Powder in the Gin Pit battles, personally these types of rules are simply not for me, I don't have massive Napoleonic armies and although I like big battles they are generally under the figure count of these games. I do very much enjoy spending the day with friends and moving wee sojers around however and as long as the lads keep me on the straight and narrow will continue to turn up, but I will never quite understand the rules.</p><p>Ah, now for the sting in the tail, Matt came around to play our latest game in the Smolensk Campaign, I felt fairly good about this meeting, my platoon was back to full strength and I took a PzII and in anticipation of Russian armour paid for a heavy anti-tank rifle, which should be enough to support my boys. This hope was kept alive until I heard the clank, clank of tank tracks and Matt drove a KV1 onto the field. I had also not done my homework and it transpired that the large area of scrub in the middle of the battlefield prevented me seeing anything behind it apart from the damn KV1.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXB4clftRtM5UFAELAfqJDxzoEZe9xbVFh1-enYKZ-sLmXX64eKWAC_zh6yXMZvkUqKcCDchH-4DvOEQ3MjudPgmQQ_tmL3CrXsYHDbStDs-ZhVh2YYEqbqYh7adJWbsH2S-fiKtqGbGvkPJ_OFXmC90IMXN-wCX81AhPyrVHScGkLjkjPSYgk79SGLQ/s3264/C0D824EA-29F3-4C4B-90C5-0E884E188A9B.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXB4clftRtM5UFAELAfqJDxzoEZe9xbVFh1-enYKZ-sLmXX64eKWAC_zh6yXMZvkUqKcCDchH-4DvOEQ3MjudPgmQQ_tmL3CrXsYHDbStDs-ZhVh2YYEqbqYh7adJWbsH2S-fiKtqGbGvkPJ_OFXmC90IMXN-wCX81AhPyrVHScGkLjkjPSYgk79SGLQ/s320/C0D824EA-29F3-4C4B-90C5-0E884E188A9B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panzer II arrives.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIF1V9YLOYHRtTU7GSs-yvWGdqyt8kF-merccZ3FbJpWhoesqAZIY1elb5jAa4xyyA96tvfP-r6IWZvaKRkdj93kb26xMs39GCVBNpDqJw8mncaL7YYauy6-vU3ItYTeuBUueYYgK2kHkUrYB7GS8pQYHrYPR9QbDM4fp9l1WyXOugW8GUqL8DtmeaAQ/s3264/86E67A88-8C87-42E1-B0F5-B64A34642DDF.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIF1V9YLOYHRtTU7GSs-yvWGdqyt8kF-merccZ3FbJpWhoesqAZIY1elb5jAa4xyyA96tvfP-r6IWZvaKRkdj93kb26xMs39GCVBNpDqJw8mncaL7YYauy6-vU3ItYTeuBUueYYgK2kHkUrYB7GS8pQYHrYPR9QbDM4fp9l1WyXOugW8GUqL8DtmeaAQ/s320/86E67A88-8C87-42E1-B0F5-B64A34642DDF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The monster and battle winner.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxf9FlpndZdEq3vcC-aLtZlbql0zR9f9Z3XqU9lNtY6uTCiq80-AEbUqSvTQFj0U-hqKyxJTBCwo1kSGkO4lZlgFNHbldho8fqShGLOnMlED_gnFlXRmwrN7-zcslb0S49e71H9RrvsmGDKXVp_sonjQIjAooVO272ScN5Iil4590GS91X5QeeeN5FVc/s3264/1F64410D-3020-47C4-863A-C194CA518F74.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxf9FlpndZdEq3vcC-aLtZlbql0zR9f9Z3XqU9lNtY6uTCiq80-AEbUqSvTQFj0U-hqKyxJTBCwo1kSGkO4lZlgFNHbldho8fqShGLOnMlED_gnFlXRmwrN7-zcslb0S49e71H9RrvsmGDKXVp_sonjQIjAooVO272ScN5Iil4590GS91X5QeeeN5FVc/s320/1F64410D-3020-47C4-863A-C194CA518F74.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soviets.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I hid my troops from the nosy Red monster and Matt set his in a corner on overwatch apart from a forlorn hope in the centre, the amount of firepower on the Russian left was against me quickly moving forward. I therefore moved my PzII on and took the Russian forlorn hope under fire as vehicles could see over the scrub, this was going nowhere fast so I decided to move the tank up at the same time as the heavy anti-tank rifle and hopefully kill or at least damage the KV. Twice the AT rifle failed to spot the thing, yes, a KV1 became invisible, gah, this also happened with the PzII, the return fire when it came brewed the panzer and routed the AT rifle. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tzUoR9PeBqj16h89MfyE2ZNEr1GvYjSe1X95hEUwyXM6my_Ztc0oWJMqX6SIpychNzU7gBVDiDcnr14cvCt0TEA6HT8Tvs3XXZSfKoVDOo3uBOyCkMWUkXjH9DubIeqxWTswxjSk13Nxl5qJYIwGQaeILJexBRHUFnEHMbRevL5P0lqf9uIPmKxd4mM/s3264/D75A6504-C05E-4B23-92E5-50718A5CDC34.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tzUoR9PeBqj16h89MfyE2ZNEr1GvYjSe1X95hEUwyXM6my_Ztc0oWJMqX6SIpychNzU7gBVDiDcnr14cvCt0TEA6HT8Tvs3XXZSfKoVDOo3uBOyCkMWUkXjH9DubIeqxWTswxjSk13Nxl5qJYIwGQaeILJexBRHUFnEHMbRevL5P0lqf9uIPmKxd4mM/s320/D75A6504-C05E-4B23-92E5-50718A5CDC34.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What if we go that way Hans?"<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OgGopxAlBA4PXxKkRuitNAqh-REzUTaQW1LjFQuLrfaWZzCVGxSm0e0J6AFRQQoysPJVLtK5R6NKtbITEb_jbgXUxK2S1d5NcnTPiQpgewZQ3WWDPECSdl1CTwbELVa6hnUhTQh4-PtOYaieTDISCURCTcNn5N1kVkfrk1tdk_YilZ49WMA-IpeDMfw/s3264/0949ACB3-2066-4479-8A31-030C2098ABED.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OgGopxAlBA4PXxKkRuitNAqh-REzUTaQW1LjFQuLrfaWZzCVGxSm0e0J6AFRQQoysPJVLtK5R6NKtbITEb_jbgXUxK2S1d5NcnTPiQpgewZQ3WWDPECSdl1CTwbELVa6hnUhTQh4-PtOYaieTDISCURCTcNn5N1kVkfrk1tdk_YilZ49WMA-IpeDMfw/s320/0949ACB3-2066-4479-8A31-030C2098ABED.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's all over.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I called a halt with two men dead and withdrew, I was not prepared to sacrifice a platoon to try and win an uphill struggle. I did think later that I could have just put everything on the front line and hope that Matt would take heavy losses and his morale dropped before mine, but as the KV was sitting waiting with two MG's supporting all the infantry on overwatch I simply despaired of winning anything. The initiative now belongs to Matt who can still win the game with two turns to go, he might even get a major win if he chooses the right tables, there is a very slim chance the Germans could cause both sides to lose but the ball is in the Russian court for now.</p><p>Alright I could have organised better and should have taken into account the terrain but this game threw up one of those Chain of Command regulars where the game is just no fun at all, and this effects both sides, Matt had travelled an hour to come and play a game and although we had a laugh and chewed the wargame fat, he deserved better for the effort, he did enjoy it though.</p><p>I recommended Vagabond on Netflix last post, if you do listen to me on these things stop watching at Episode 13, and consign the last three to the dustbin. I am still furious over the ending having enjoyed the series and spent hours watching it, it is as though they simply switched everything off and went home, completing nothing and leaving half a dozen plot lines to simply hit the buffers.</p><p> There are quite a few jokes (or are they memes now?) about Napoleon the movie, here is a sample.<br /></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyiHMd1tHy3UtAsS_Go-W_B1wc-8t32sBjJLgO7tKpBCngGV73wiVSwGVdO2wxLKPiEaH7cPn6ZGfq9o6ynYP7715K9v5ex3Hb0oJbfcFLPQQV8A0I1hqhAxSnLS-XwIgOn5w9VZB4zR7zFMkuNYgD7okiNc2pncLNZolINN32mXHm9QtQhlLJG3ilHY/s1077/77EB0E5A-73AE-46D6-B40E-34774A8C593D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1077" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyiHMd1tHy3UtAsS_Go-W_B1wc-8t32sBjJLgO7tKpBCngGV73wiVSwGVdO2wxLKPiEaH7cPn6ZGfq9o6ynYP7715K9v5ex3Hb0oJbfcFLPQQV8A0I1hqhAxSnLS-XwIgOn5w9VZB4zR7zFMkuNYgD7okiNc2pncLNZolINN32mXHm9QtQhlLJG3ilHY/s320/77EB0E5A-73AE-46D6-B40E-34774A8C593D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-5294839473462080252023-12-01T14:15:00.004+00:002023-12-02T05:12:57.432+00:00"Sheer ******* Hubris"<p> Some of you might recognise the title as a quote from one of the myriad Star Trek franchises this time starring Patrick Stewart, I only caught it because The Critical Drinker, my goto cinema/TV critic, uses it along with some other clips to show his displeasure at modern cinema. You will remember my crowing last post about my victories, what I had forgotten on my online Triumph was the slave at my back continually whispering "remember you are mortal, and don’t forget my reparations”.</p><p>I had vanquished the mighty Normans you might recall and chose to get another game of War and Conquest in at the club with Simon. I normally let 'newbies' take the Romano-British as they have a small advantage over the Saxons but this time Simon chose Saxons, so I was quite pleased to be in command once again of my first ever War and Conquest army and one of my favourites, it had been ages since I led them onto the field of battle.</p><p>I chose a balanced army with four infantry blocks and a cavalry unit supported by massed archers and skirmishers, once I had done this I checked Simon's list for the evening as I would have to bring his troops, it was a good list but lacked variety with no cavalry or skirmishers, just five large infantry blocks. It would be fair to say I was not unduly worried. On the night I deployed with my cavalry and skirmishers on the left and the other skirmishers and massed archers on my right, stretching between were my infantry, opposite the Saxons were simply lined up in a battle line.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNlkL0B8LIpoe1nCVgDxepf1MVmVwuk2Jag1UOIihBP5DnT5ZKKpHArAsKIHhrNaZ4Rdc90bDphd4ANNGOckq7boVmVP0XJaaLDZkHf6MrzcGqSCN-T83dJfABL9WUDLeWnvgpZdHAI6eJt-0BFWEOGaDETazl14WX3neUMCifwomDx5XURCkxSlsAu4/s2048/P1030070.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNlkL0B8LIpoe1nCVgDxepf1MVmVwuk2Jag1UOIihBP5DnT5ZKKpHArAsKIHhrNaZ4Rdc90bDphd4ANNGOckq7boVmVP0XJaaLDZkHf6MrzcGqSCN-T83dJfABL9WUDLeWnvgpZdHAI6eJt-0BFWEOGaDETazl14WX3neUMCifwomDx5XURCkxSlsAu4/s320/P1030070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> As we began I moved my cavalry out to threaten the Saxon right, this took care of one of the enemy blocks, so now it was four versus four, I raced two of my Milites to grab a nearby hill before Simon's mercenary Franks could get it. Showers of missiles darkened the sky but as the dust settled no Saxons were lying in the grass, again the light was blotted out as the enemy advanced and again nothing happened. My boys sat on their hill and awaited the Frankish onslaught, it was going to be touch and go but I had faith, wait, two men with headaches and the Milites run for the rear being cut down in the pursuit, their nearby friends deciding to run with them! OK not headaches but I had lost maybe three casualties overall in the two units, this doesn't happen to me, only my enemies. I thought perhaps I could advance and do the same to the Saxons opposite my non routing units, if I did this quickly I could be back in the game.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qVkoXT834HYSCCoA6mJDfjr6GeQaH96vrbp66CI3ZdtZtsyX0HX88oCKJPUm_fI3cN9_HI8urq-5ikdqMldkJ9WxfXh1Pdm4AS_JcCR7iHwcDiv1Cd17GlBTJZN5yFr008X53gTRZa_xrXWt0SLATxmhUd9pB59wYwXctnAga9vV6bsfssJdP0xgeao/s1063/P1030460.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1063" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qVkoXT834HYSCCoA6mJDfjr6GeQaH96vrbp66CI3ZdtZtsyX0HX88oCKJPUm_fI3cN9_HI8urq-5ikdqMldkJ9WxfXh1Pdm4AS_JcCR7iHwcDiv1Cd17GlBTJZN5yFr008X53gTRZa_xrXWt0SLATxmhUd9pB59wYwXctnAga9vV6bsfssJdP0xgeao/s320/P1030460.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> My elites failed miserably to go into shield wall and move, my remaining Milites were now attacked and again ran for the rear, what was going on. The Franks were now moving on my hearthguard and Dux, these stalwart men were now surrounded by Saxons and prepared to sell their lives dearly, no, wait, that is not what happened, they were crushed and wiped out. I didn't need to hand over my sword as it was picked up on the field amongst the wreckage of my army.<p></p><p>I think the fight lasted one and a half hours, I was slaughtered, no that's not true as no one had actually fought, I was gutted, a good army with their good dice (a set for everyone) and they had let me down. Were they taking their revenge on me for not being fielded, had the dice lost their edge, who knows. I have had one battle before like this where it took me longer to place the terrain than fight before being whipped. Well done to Simon.</p><p>I did not take photographs of this action, not because I did not want it recorded but I plan to leave my larger write ups for games here at home now, I was also expecting to be back to gaming the Smolensk Campaign and have a report for that but I got the dates mixed up so it has now been delayed for a week.</p><p>I am watching yet another excellent Korean series, I can recommend 'Vagabond', a thriller with constant action and myriad plots. I have been following the reviews of 'Napoleon' on YouTube and the overwhelming consensus seems to be Merde!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22OS-XfOg7YaHFZKO4LeWJVJ0wy-LO0GvRbn88uEVMcztgU_rJF5Aun5DELPI30ViRXOam5zWWgQ-5Hd9XUG8wiKLTS_wponkqHjcznSu9w9wRr8nk9WX2KMlkcio0UwAwaHXqye5k7R00MEg2XNN8l6GFOU0y-sd4CKYvOLTxOuoRtiF5RG2hu_Rplg/s900/vegabond-review-01.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22OS-XfOg7YaHFZKO4LeWJVJ0wy-LO0GvRbn88uEVMcztgU_rJF5Aun5DELPI30ViRXOam5zWWgQ-5Hd9XUG8wiKLTS_wponkqHjcznSu9w9wRr8nk9WX2KMlkcio0UwAwaHXqye5k7R00MEg2XNN8l6GFOU0y-sd4CKYvOLTxOuoRtiF5RG2hu_Rplg/s320/vegabond-review-01.webp" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwV2VdmDcBqTd5pUgayx0RJYY09TXLDQMvlJjh7aADqa4hRiLL9KwXbPLtTjollmYWAuwZaZT3IZ4IiwqkRnlBHIMakcPveVCBT-MT2CWXMHhNH226Llnrubdd81HkvjBAGiKx4HOIiSOF1S8h_cgYZ5RyH3twDy1CxJxXa0EWTHt_zRkmII0EZ7cp7w/s1200/share.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwV2VdmDcBqTd5pUgayx0RJYY09TXLDQMvlJjh7aADqa4hRiLL9KwXbPLtTjollmYWAuwZaZT3IZ4IiwqkRnlBHIMakcPveVCBT-MT2CWXMHhNH226Llnrubdd81HkvjBAGiKx4HOIiSOF1S8h_cgYZ5RyH3twDy1CxJxXa0EWTHt_zRkmII0EZ7cp7w/s320/share.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-39459550509553802952023-11-24T11:25:00.002+00:002023-11-24T22:04:34.600+00:00A Week of Victories<p> On Tuesday I managed my second Gazala Campaign game, this time against James and his New Zealanders as my DAK surged forward leaving my compatriots behind, is that Rommel I see with me? I had a lot more support points so as well as my normal four squads I again had an extra mortar, an extra command die, an adjutant so that I could bring my Senior Leader in quickly and a lovely little PzIIC as I was expecting an armoured car or Portee anti-tank gun from James. I had not really looked at the make up of my platoon when choosing but am now grateful it has four squads rather than three, a big advantage so far although I do give the enemy the difference in support points, you can't have everything. As it turned out James had had a bit of a mauling the turn before and all his squads were understrength while I had lost one man.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V5DuHqeFYa4cN0-GGX7vhGlWU1X5HFUQJcx0xTr5LDwO5tMoFadEU-1J61wwnNKAhAinIoeDMhjiOW8AEPoy75TA2zN53KgqvFSND_QruaWuNUtGe2e5rrG-MSVtsaawlT1KeoHlV5vQwvjv1aChBq00enOQvn_fBIOaU3JBJJXBWmWaeorqxi6Hr-Y/s4032/C0238711-B343-45CF-ACC3-E5AEAAB7DC0D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V5DuHqeFYa4cN0-GGX7vhGlWU1X5HFUQJcx0xTr5LDwO5tMoFadEU-1J61wwnNKAhAinIoeDMhjiOW8AEPoy75TA2zN53KgqvFSND_QruaWuNUtGe2e5rrG-MSVtsaawlT1KeoHlV5vQwvjv1aChBq00enOQvn_fBIOaU3JBJJXBWmWaeorqxi6Hr-Y/s320/C0238711-B343-45CF-ACC3-E5AEAAB7DC0D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51zLTYw2DOnwHaXvnhtantg6A4hLHEI_PE_ObTEPYSjefoJr21B7s-Fhv-vEKIbY74cnd5Td2atezIsIyvcm_cKhn4Ykgi2hZEyJplrCeRymZua4pcNJn3zS_ZkNiMPpe5XQpbyeaAigR1r8ty9o5vba0eo1z-6z_8qq-r3rbVdqDCaFNkLzHil4Kgik/s4032/34D91ECD-DEA9-42E5-BD93-D0353504B176.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51zLTYw2DOnwHaXvnhtantg6A4hLHEI_PE_ObTEPYSjefoJr21B7s-Fhv-vEKIbY74cnd5Td2atezIsIyvcm_cKhn4Ykgi2hZEyJplrCeRymZua4pcNJn3zS_ZkNiMPpe5XQpbyeaAigR1r8ty9o5vba0eo1z-6z_8qq-r3rbVdqDCaFNkLzHil4Kgik/s320/34D91ECD-DEA9-42E5-BD93-D0353504B176.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>James hunkered down a la Tobruk with a minefield and some wire defences, I soon surrounded these and poured fire into one unlucky squad sheltering in a crop field, the Kiwi's began to get nervous. On came a sniper who had apparently bluffed his exams at sniper school as he hit nothing and a Forward Observer for a mortar battery, this kind of frightened me this time, I think these barrages unhinge the game and never take one,but as thing turned out I was always able to move out of the danger zone and the first ranging shell landed miles away from its target. I now played my ace in the hole, the PzII rumbled on and added its automatic cannon to the hail of lead heading toward the enemy, as it turned out it was almost invulnerable to anything the Kiwis had, James had an anti-tank rifle but it never made the table</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6hGBB6VgChuJFkbFjGSnFAkwgUgxYbq9DAbftXTYPjEeWRVUuG_UwpNwt9I4ZUDZtLDRkYYiykuG84X8DYYHJP9WcEwgVbv0Ry28ouAS6H0Tm0tR-P80dyUxjinUmRnZ0J2UjO1tAjSZTSL67OTdT9m7u4XUW1P-G-tgfj86-C0AqwuXX4yX8JRdOwc/s4032/48BF9AEF-FFA5-4A51-9207-13CCEE27339D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6hGBB6VgChuJFkbFjGSnFAkwgUgxYbq9DAbftXTYPjEeWRVUuG_UwpNwt9I4ZUDZtLDRkYYiykuG84X8DYYHJP9WcEwgVbv0Ry28ouAS6H0Tm0tR-P80dyUxjinUmRnZ0J2UjO1tAjSZTSL67OTdT9m7u4XUW1P-G-tgfj86-C0AqwuXX4yX8JRdOwc/s320/48BF9AEF-FFA5-4A51-9207-13CCEE27339D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkG9SvPU0SOH0mpqm_3mjbU6h2DSHfyiWBdr6GrQ3xEgoEU0pCwpeeoRht92a9yT8fWtjdyhSzxtrXgrm639WPJvk7JWB3c1jFjnQUE2QGmfoPXfztWHXLmHBDpxQqOG_k718wULXqHG_9jzJJ1ilG0eODYmUDBdCOFFC2bJWsyqafmEicpstrRDI84hE/s4032/8B7924BE-AE93-43EB-81E0-D926008D727E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkG9SvPU0SOH0mpqm_3mjbU6h2DSHfyiWBdr6GrQ3xEgoEU0pCwpeeoRht92a9yT8fWtjdyhSzxtrXgrm639WPJvk7JWB3c1jFjnQUE2QGmfoPXfztWHXLmHBDpxQqOG_k718wULXqHG_9jzJJ1ilG0eODYmUDBdCOFFC2bJWsyqafmEicpstrRDI84hE/s320/8B7924BE-AE93-43EB-81E0-D926008D727E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />.As his casualties mounted and his morale fell with the Germans heading towards his rear James conceded defeat, he had lost 15 men to my 7, I look forward to the next game.<p>The main event of the week for me was another War and Conquest clash against Stuart Smith's revitalised Normans, I have just finished a biography of my hero Harold Godwinson and now have even less time for the Normans. I used to have a Norman army believe it or not, they didn't like me and I didn't like them despite the lovely sculpts (Greenwood and Ball), so they were the first army I ever sold, I never got around to an Anglo-Saxon army, but I digress.</p><p>Stewart was happy to play against my Patrician Romans this time and it was good to get them back on the table. I decided against going for the elite troops apart from some Germanic Noble cavalry, the rest of the army was average, two warbands and four Legions two of which were Psuedo Comitatenses so were given officers to keep them in line. Support troops also consisted of skirmish archers and some Alan cavalry. My commander was also second tier as I could not afford Aetius and his bodyguard cavalry despite their fighting capability, I therefore had two Initiative(SIP) tokens to Stuart's five, perhaps I was taking a big chance with this force but the die was cast. The Normans had three units of cavalry with a fourth a tad lighter, a good mix of infantry, mercenaries, dismounted Milites, spearmen, archers and light crossbows and some skirmishers.<br /></p><p></p><p>The choice of terrain closed down one side of the table and luckily we both deployed on the opposite side, I put my cavalry on my right and was going to use the Alans to soften up the Norman cavalry while holding the Germans back until the time was right, all the Foederati units were on the right while the Legions held the centre and left, I would slowly advance the infantry hoping the right would strike first. Stuart put most of his cavalry on his left with one unit in reserve and his infantry in a battle line stretching to his right.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOajfiOCbySb8sH8X4WrbyAXQ3J7iviozqCaroymSw1ykBbxBJEnoiZlt_Yw-5bWYF4XC5IZswykaFtvvJToNXpJk63hX1y9PU0vueZ0oRGuloSgiu3HOkUcBAxY1MU09FrMDjALopDCg9l16X5O2pOi6G7pOguiS1jT7FZ5UH0diPZB2MWI4A-F3Pzso/s3264/1B194010-754B-4B89-9369-260A43E82084.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOajfiOCbySb8sH8X4WrbyAXQ3J7iviozqCaroymSw1ykBbxBJEnoiZlt_Yw-5bWYF4XC5IZswykaFtvvJToNXpJk63hX1y9PU0vueZ0oRGuloSgiu3HOkUcBAxY1MU09FrMDjALopDCg9l16X5O2pOi6G7pOguiS1jT7FZ5UH0diPZB2MWI4A-F3Pzso/s320/1B194010-754B-4B89-9369-260A43E82084.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patricians on the left, Normans on the right.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoejzVayc-QP5oyVxHiQMSb_kO2H7sUQah83xMH2f6mWxF2PzelsUkDs2ADbWNI5glRjFFb0I2Nzv5F_fQ-Hj1jUrI__rogeEf2lgESX3aqJj5vDnerUvG15LO9YEAUN_okYlU4_oSuFoLz8j7ZGcjL6E3acc0P-MXJoOdT69Moj3t5H0pYbZRq0ek4k/s1977/Yesterday%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1977" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoejzVayc-QP5oyVxHiQMSb_kO2H7sUQah83xMH2f6mWxF2PzelsUkDs2ADbWNI5glRjFFb0I2Nzv5F_fQ-Hj1jUrI__rogeEf2lgESX3aqJj5vDnerUvG15LO9YEAUN_okYlU4_oSuFoLz8j7ZGcjL6E3acc0P-MXJoOdT69Moj3t5H0pYbZRq0ek4k/s320/Yesterday%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I won the initiative for most of the first part of the game and allowed Stuart to go first twice, which is unusual for me, but I wanted him to come into range of my missiles, this worked fairly well and his light cavalry began to suffer, I lost a unit of skirmishers very quickly due to some excellent fire from the enemy, and although my other unit on that side held on they took far too long to kill off the opposing skirmishers on that side. Quite quickly the Normans lost all their light cavalry and were stung into charging the Alans, as it was long range the Alans shot and retreated behind the German cavalry, more Normans fell, meanwhile I had got a large warband up close to the other Milites unit and it decided to flee rather than take on the Germans. A move later my right was a shambles, the retiring Milites had come back and charged into the Foederati routing them in a surprise to both Stuart and I, I knew I would not likely win the first round but the subsequent rounds should have been a walkover, but no. The other Milites unit smashed into my German cavalry and they too routed, along with the skirmishing archers and the Alans who ran in support, my Tribune looked on aghast. Thankfully the Germans despite my howls of abuse outran their pursuers but had caused quite a few casualties which along with the arrows of the Alans would come back to haunt the victorious Milites.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7G26X7wyy2lUfOqXOGUqYUfBC4SjTumNdx8E-QNn_FzwXbpoEy3KUCyeZ9OiD6I9ZNRJp3uX2ptwL2hIKiuEdElTC06taPQseSQa-dbKcHXI8XswJ7LDX83drveshRXBk_IW533PxLB1ig89VK7vWruvOaGqEDN3m_TgSIf7_f8OwdeQbp-pRaS-pEwI/s3264/E42F8FC1-FE54-4849-8241-AF08ED0A9598.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7G26X7wyy2lUfOqXOGUqYUfBC4SjTumNdx8E-QNn_FzwXbpoEy3KUCyeZ9OiD6I9ZNRJp3uX2ptwL2hIKiuEdElTC06taPQseSQa-dbKcHXI8XswJ7LDX83drveshRXBk_IW533PxLB1ig89VK7vWruvOaGqEDN3m_TgSIf7_f8OwdeQbp-pRaS-pEwI/s320/E42F8FC1-FE54-4849-8241-AF08ED0A9598.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman cavalry.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbJkjQa51Ka_s_rF8kRWoMtyTP4Vt88qALuQH9l_tGqwffXXPEYmu2pDWvsKWLsOszLmgnXYlmGmyVtOj9feoYPc9SNzw-BlOBtLBVhIDRokOiTj2fo-mCyp5JQYHWy9OSevFNAFzMzozIkzfD9R2Tqwzd5M2ijRotDqpNRLgVHoUtNoTuI8yZ7AW5VA/s3264/5CA2558B-2DA7-41B8-8F96-ACBDFFC8426B.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbJkjQa51Ka_s_rF8kRWoMtyTP4Vt88qALuQH9l_tGqwffXXPEYmu2pDWvsKWLsOszLmgnXYlmGmyVtOj9feoYPc9SNzw-BlOBtLBVhIDRokOiTj2fo-mCyp5JQYHWy9OSevFNAFzMzozIkzfD9R2Tqwzd5M2ijRotDqpNRLgVHoUtNoTuI8yZ7AW5VA/s320/5CA2558B-2DA7-41B8-8F96-ACBDFFC8426B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Legions arrayed for battle.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx_gNu-MRX-pXk3nN7YH8xWS1ju9GYlrVBjLvV6TGnPTg_3HcT7aNDQtBwH1Oi95gzR7Ok9r9MnXU75d45Q_i-01XwYZvkhn1OLvXERZjQ7Hee5UV0NmvQyremyiESaoUonaIQRJCsBq8-C5LZnMrryHxB2v-a6B16WD3OE34DWJPgv2S3igsTFeJxaE/s1977/Yesterday%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1977" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx_gNu-MRX-pXk3nN7YH8xWS1ju9GYlrVBjLvV6TGnPTg_3HcT7aNDQtBwH1Oi95gzR7Ok9r9MnXU75d45Q_i-01XwYZvkhn1OLvXERZjQ7Hee5UV0NmvQyremyiESaoUonaIQRJCsBq8-C5LZnMrryHxB2v-a6B16WD3OE34DWJPgv2S3igsTFeJxaE/s320/Yesterday%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />My centre now assaulted the Norman infantry line, this quickly succumbed to the attacks and the Liberi and Stipendarii fled, sadly out running their pursuers but ruining the Norman defence. The German cavalry were now attacked again in an effort to destroy them but the Milites were now short of numbers and the Germans fought back so successfully the Miltes were routed and dispersed, this action saved my right flank. I now got to within charge reach of the crossbows and my men took their revenge and more Normans began to run, I was desperate to hit the archers as well but had to spend time manoeuvring so I did not hit the dismounted Milites, that would come later as my archers had now flanked them and were pouring fire into them from behind their shieldwall. The Quinta Macedonica had now taken on the Norman reserve cavalry and as they began to win Stuart handed over his sword as most of this army were running for the hills.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjvYEnmM0pzbQU-5g_zc4J94mW-PQvJbrstgAH4ZkzHtpgIMb8u3VfXKYf0PFuA7sA6UWkmhmHMJB8PRT_gTpauUe2cTn1RISRfm9gi0ZtSeIPge05LTjoMTUz5lM4eKY67SGkzGOkMmm1uMmuWyb35VxXihvSjfOVRztoGqx6bUAP-BLHNArlAvE4HU/s3264/BE4EAFDF-8FD0-49C4-9129-DAEA42C2FBA9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjvYEnmM0pzbQU-5g_zc4J94mW-PQvJbrstgAH4ZkzHtpgIMb8u3VfXKYf0PFuA7sA6UWkmhmHMJB8PRT_gTpauUe2cTn1RISRfm9gi0ZtSeIPge05LTjoMTUz5lM4eKY67SGkzGOkMmm1uMmuWyb35VxXihvSjfOVRztoGqx6bUAP-BLHNArlAvE4HU/s320/BE4EAFDF-8FD0-49C4-9129-DAEA42C2FBA9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My right about to take a beating.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl2KQRBUEmq2tHk4h4Z15rYA46e-6a2WPr6R9NYPTmpf9ww21McaYZECtP9FVqRl53dp5t_EcgcX5lc8agR_jMZtnbjQZEynnX8ZBNiV2GzpbtiIurQuIyRC9TEcE6zTGoxcQW-1179qN-LVwoU74efIiW6zuzUX1dYnxyqUZugbjcSA8ujPApb63fUM/s3264/00868404-3DB1-45E6-8572-B9B16DDFE095.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl2KQRBUEmq2tHk4h4Z15rYA46e-6a2WPr6R9NYPTmpf9ww21McaYZECtP9FVqRl53dp5t_EcgcX5lc8agR_jMZtnbjQZEynnX8ZBNiV2GzpbtiIurQuIyRC9TEcE6zTGoxcQW-1179qN-LVwoU74efIiW6zuzUX1dYnxyqUZugbjcSA8ujPApb63fUM/s320/00868404-3DB1-45E6-8572-B9B16DDFE095.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting revenge on the Liberi.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURm8jjWAq0hJzf8zYOH-omW-gmHqxp7B783WO_dNB9ErvXNeR8Q90V2kZdLwLVOASUxKo9N2PeOlJRz2zcuAOrXxc3LaSXwdctF56VQSPJIULSO71f0cAkxD8nnrBeJVoqtpgzf4GsoD2_xTc9Ukokt_Cp_FPOCxLTt3j0M0iszS0pA-a-EdlmgggalU/s3264/409064FB-D90E-40F8-83EA-24D6EC75B939.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURm8jjWAq0hJzf8zYOH-omW-gmHqxp7B783WO_dNB9ErvXNeR8Q90V2kZdLwLVOASUxKo9N2PeOlJRz2zcuAOrXxc3LaSXwdctF56VQSPJIULSO71f0cAkxD8nnrBeJVoqtpgzf4GsoD2_xTc9Ukokt_Cp_FPOCxLTt3j0M0iszS0pA-a-EdlmgggalU/s320/409064FB-D90E-40F8-83EA-24D6EC75B939.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My German Nobles run.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqj28De1P3pTJ65OSix6BNNC97vVq1kW2KplJqoa8Ye2kVeq5X96ukdZtPx6EFimXlBohZWTyWlJR7WoPANGLJfFYo2ibFIuGiZxOgVHkfbupc0Pnl8M-p4OA8JZEU-PIhyCIgUacx9O2jSwdstjwZklZnfq7x6wFzAYe-ptNRXvEaMxWs1AZ0Y5xN1aQ/s3264/747CA201-AEC6-48DB-ADB3-AD8F96F6B661.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqj28De1P3pTJ65OSix6BNNC97vVq1kW2KplJqoa8Ye2kVeq5X96ukdZtPx6EFimXlBohZWTyWlJR7WoPANGLJfFYo2ibFIuGiZxOgVHkfbupc0Pnl8M-p4OA8JZEU-PIhyCIgUacx9O2jSwdstjwZklZnfq7x6wFzAYe-ptNRXvEaMxWs1AZ0Y5xN1aQ/s320/747CA201-AEC6-48DB-ADB3-AD8F96F6B661.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just about to hit the Norman right.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpd4qNQggu7uFHvHJKQpNiag5NEecBcSlHFG2ADAN9dAJr3BmK3j8kooSC-hy5b9Zw9PPRxN2G9D5BNeXiHVThCGaNRzLSM5Q1v2ihITScjuWH3TM2ckIua9wYOldbYlGEcPdjjGUFiYfzV5S7aj-PznT71mBTOsn9JaNpqA9D6LCMbFJKUkZF15uGWI/s1977/Yesterday%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1977" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpd4qNQggu7uFHvHJKQpNiag5NEecBcSlHFG2ADAN9dAJr3BmK3j8kooSC-hy5b9Zw9PPRxN2G9D5BNeXiHVThCGaNRzLSM5Q1v2ihITScjuWH3TM2ckIua9wYOldbYlGEcPdjjGUFiYfzV5S7aj-PznT71mBTOsn9JaNpqA9D6LCMbFJKUkZF15uGWI/s320/Yesterday%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />A great game and at one moment it looked quite bad for the Romans, but the German Nobles' nerve held and they came good in the end despite or because of my curses and took a load of my shoulders, I am still unhappy about the warband running with nothing more than a headache. The Alan horse archers were a great boon to me in this battle, an expensive unit but more than worth the points. On reflection perhaps I should have sent my infantry in quicker but I wanted to use my missile troops to hit the enemy cavalry and drive away their skirmishers, it worked to a point, but it takes time, two of my Legions suffered casualties from the close order archers and crossbows, perhaps I should just have suffered the slings and arrows etc. and just mown them down in combat.<p></p><p>Dan at the club brought in a very large box of Wars of the Roses figures he has had in his loft to see if I could recover any for my Italian Wars, I have perused them and think I can get a couple of cavalry units and another half dozen artillery pieces from them. I still have no new figures to paint and finish the Imperials, my order from TAG has now been amiss for almost a month but I am expecting them today, I have been assured they are in the post.</p><p>I have turned my attention to streams, I am going to need a large amount of sections for the new 12' table I am planning to have built, I got in touch with Andy at The Last Valley and priced up some of his beautiful Trout Streams but a) I really cannot spend that amount on something which is only used now and again on a wargame table and b) the added expense of a divorce lawyer would cripple me. I am therefore going to go with his bog standard streams and maybe tart them up a bit more myself.</p><p>The roof has been fixed although I still want to check it when the rain comes back, the builders have also been in touch and will be starting mid January to turn the Post Office back into a big room with a shower and toilet and a wargame table, I will then leave my small, comfortable study for a large open space, not sure I am looking forward to being evicted.<br /></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-76745359619438447782023-11-18T15:09:00.000+00:002023-11-18T15:09:09.566+00:00From Flouncy Shirts to Lace<p> What a miserable month so far, and we have a leak in the roof, that is going to cost. Just as well I have my final Imperial troops on order, this along with the cutting down of the rottern cherry tree, the painting of the downstairs and hall along with modifications to the two outhouses leaves this old pensioner skint and despondent, what's it all about Alfie?</p><p>Oh, and that order is now almost three weeks late and no reply to two emails so far apart from the old 'your message is important to us......' guff.</p><p>I played Bolt Action at the club on Tuesday, it was against Joel who came along for the first time, he has only played Bolt Action at tournaments and travels quite a lot to fulfill his urge to play the game. It was American paratroopers vs Germans, I was the bad guys and took four squads along with a Marder III, a panzerschreck and a MMG, Joel had two jeeps, a Chaffee, mortar and four squads.</p><p>I was put on the back foot right away as Joel ran two jeeps straight up the centre of the table at me, something which has never happened in all my years at the club, the first jeep had a machine gun and was annoying to kill, the second had a flamethrower team, agh! I quickly lost most of a squad with one man remaining before I could kill the flamethrower. Joel calmed down after this and I took the lead having taken out three of his command dice. Near the end it was me who got carried away and I made some mistakes so the game ended in a draw. Joel was a pleasure to play against but his comments on his tournament games just confirmed I could never play in one. With the new Case Blue campaign book the Hungarians can have Tiger I's and, wait for it, their tanks can have Recce, which allows a 54 ton tank to back up out of danger, no, I don't get it either.</p><p>I have managed to set up a few home games of late and this week it was Seven Years War with another new wargamer, Erik has been out of the loop for a while and wanted to get back in and found me through the blog and Charles at Helion. I set up a small scenario from an article on the Honours of War website, the British rearguard was facing a French force and had to retreat their baggage train and a couple of their battalions off the table. Once I had the table and deployment set up it seemed like a very hard job for the French to win, their flanking force was up against the British main body and there was simply no way it could threaten them, apart from possibly being a nuisance. The main French force was shoehorned into one corner and had to make its way through a wood and past its own vanguard to get at the British defenders on a hill, meanwhile there was nothing to stop the wagons making a leisurely exit once across a nearby ford. A river flowed through the battlefield and the only way across was three fords.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUW_Xlmdo7mUIKlrxK0KgOm4ehDGadWdnR_1YU651GylfCpXRrSc0UEbzhbXwPFS94pEErFNc38Wg9EvHsGQCWyCDwCGdge38VYNm8IhIKwqXStoyvwzqN1d3LP0P4C7E171s-GWWdjESpx2bf7ckdvKASChFvNL4MS4_UX6oByPJuCSuDSEjGcg0xqpE/s3264/3CF04917-3FD9-4838-9311-4B35F96FBCF1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUW_Xlmdo7mUIKlrxK0KgOm4ehDGadWdnR_1YU651GylfCpXRrSc0UEbzhbXwPFS94pEErFNc38Wg9EvHsGQCWyCDwCGdge38VYNm8IhIKwqXStoyvwzqN1d3LP0P4C7E171s-GWWdjESpx2bf7ckdvKASChFvNL4MS4_UX6oByPJuCSuDSEjGcg0xqpE/s320/3CF04917-3FD9-4838-9311-4B35F96FBCF1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">British rearguard.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokxp8GlIEq0li72jxuxQg9KATgtSB6O6YCDjfSQnaiV24FAzMbdor6mRiXXzuN_g7x0uHrUZ7bijqh6HsaTJqurQSBA35c5F2tiUBqy2wgFwdZVJSYdONT6Cptk5_F9pNGuS6AhAGbIKZ2LUKk8oPrJSexl71JAkNBuBecM1ywu9LzBVIEs3N8x3skd4/s3264/012BBB33-F6B6-4307-BD4E-E2B5F10B5336.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokxp8GlIEq0li72jxuxQg9KATgtSB6O6YCDjfSQnaiV24FAzMbdor6mRiXXzuN_g7x0uHrUZ7bijqh6HsaTJqurQSBA35c5F2tiUBqy2wgFwdZVJSYdONT6Cptk5_F9pNGuS6AhAGbIKZ2LUKk8oPrJSexl71JAkNBuBecM1ywu9LzBVIEs3N8x3skd4/s320/012BBB33-F6B6-4307-BD4E-E2B5F10B5336.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from behind the British left.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-2v8SOvJCuovMRiSOUZOJGOwKjyKdtWAyYaFsIU4m5QVdP6Canx3zyEr9XeBl0-duyZ-YKu-4u10WkbQXMl_2lkk9mWl_8B7HinMdwI2ipv9UD3hdC7F5QGrGeveSY02Ktm0d_U2PsmgQhj4QhrqPLHwkK1p8Tbqs_GGypainCLls-tDVTn12lV4z0A/s3264/C59B4FB5-5757-4E5F-B0E8-C6CC9AFF7105.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-2v8SOvJCuovMRiSOUZOJGOwKjyKdtWAyYaFsIU4m5QVdP6Canx3zyEr9XeBl0-duyZ-YKu-4u10WkbQXMl_2lkk9mWl_8B7HinMdwI2ipv9UD3hdC7F5QGrGeveSY02Ktm0d_U2PsmgQhj4QhrqPLHwkK1p8Tbqs_GGypainCLls-tDVTn12lV4z0A/s320/C59B4FB5-5757-4E5F-B0E8-C6CC9AFF7105.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">British cavalry and baggage train.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwquD7eQwgYkv6hfDrapnxy6auOWQjmNzolwOIcpLnvjYh2WBYF56_5iE1XC8fc-e65RzjYRPlz5xfxG3MI4Ku0GmgWi_OXSiYuRZPsMgnUQBkLjiuHt5CWQRhMMEGDnI6TVRL3n7HoBVjBFfPW1EyCgqEZTpCK2RDybRliJguamfpoZtHKDLsGDfTHq0/s3264/CB930A0D-501D-49A1-A8A2-5087BCF34347.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwquD7eQwgYkv6hfDrapnxy6auOWQjmNzolwOIcpLnvjYh2WBYF56_5iE1XC8fc-e65RzjYRPlz5xfxG3MI4Ku0GmgWi_OXSiYuRZPsMgnUQBkLjiuHt5CWQRhMMEGDnI6TVRL3n7HoBVjBFfPW1EyCgqEZTpCK2RDybRliJguamfpoZtHKDLsGDfTHq0/s320/CB930A0D-501D-49A1-A8A2-5087BCF34347.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from behind the British right.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I ended up with two dithering commanders while Erik had one in charge of his cavalry. I got my flanking force, one cavalry regiment and one battalion of infantry, across before Erik moved on them. I had no option but to charge the cavalry in and hope for the best, they were wiped out, however the Bretagne battalion stood their ground magnificently and twice forced the British back, but numbers told in the end and they too dispersed.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_BwnBayvIcVGJK0iyFplvwoDNUv3Hnw44P2xUv2kCVg4a0I__tpn8wMi5i9J6pUCs5bi5wlj5ys9srorVUe0C9CL5GcLfG95qWdJXjx3zWvZOCal7Tum8wv3fdwjdnXctamnJRp0Zk_8ql1yF1YHBGVlWnSydkUSOnytRmAOCc2bTznQSLQaoFdU99A/s3264/46EAE34B-47EF-4718-8D8C-4BDE46108CD8.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_BwnBayvIcVGJK0iyFplvwoDNUv3Hnw44P2xUv2kCVg4a0I__tpn8wMi5i9J6pUCs5bi5wlj5ys9srorVUe0C9CL5GcLfG95qWdJXjx3zWvZOCal7Tum8wv3fdwjdnXctamnJRp0Zk_8ql1yF1YHBGVlWnSydkUSOnytRmAOCc2bTznQSLQaoFdU99A/s320/46EAE34B-47EF-4718-8D8C-4BDE46108CD8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French flanking force crosses the river.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YzP47azFIPmFiASEo2xm0wRja_vjOEvJ8rnCZ3Yy_x-iusehZ6pF2c22RdesiWl27C-Ls8MKnWgQvifOTznLAU3zN8lxcOSu2cuUcBaGI7toNbMWy2jmGbKovw9DjTku6KuL01kkpHPPv76Wb-UxEVAD7oXp7pSW5vBLCeYqjzmawBI1FXzZkASlqnA/s3264/9A10D85A-421D-4DA3-8D36-C93772BE5A41.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YzP47azFIPmFiASEo2xm0wRja_vjOEvJ8rnCZ3Yy_x-iusehZ6pF2c22RdesiWl27C-Ls8MKnWgQvifOTznLAU3zN8lxcOSu2cuUcBaGI7toNbMWy2jmGbKovw9DjTku6KuL01kkpHPPv76Wb-UxEVAD7oXp7pSW5vBLCeYqjzmawBI1FXzZkASlqnA/s320/9A10D85A-421D-4DA3-8D36-C93772BE5A41.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French main force arrives.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kKLuPwt3qFEK5H3QBwZ9lAU05zE54nzfT-9Pi3AGxqXyoSa8q06HKD1ZObRVhNAtTibSHow7tDoPTkvC1qE6-6a1NdBYQ7zTFxnEESTlv5Nok_VgpFPXL2KAQeTT1o1L7iWZ-GmQJTEImjVcsJ_ux_JKOugScu9X2d2D95po9CWh9jGAXoVxp7AUnYg/s3264/2A5B163E-F0F2-42C5-AC47-66B95B47ED8F.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kKLuPwt3qFEK5H3QBwZ9lAU05zE54nzfT-9Pi3AGxqXyoSa8q06HKD1ZObRVhNAtTibSHow7tDoPTkvC1qE6-6a1NdBYQ7zTFxnEESTlv5Nok_VgpFPXL2KAQeTT1o1L7iWZ-GmQJTEImjVcsJ_ux_JKOugScu9X2d2D95po9CWh9jGAXoVxp7AUnYg/s320/2A5B163E-F0F2-42C5-AC47-66B95B47ED8F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">British cavalry get brave.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcRLJ6fbRzUS-5d5bYnf8Zeewlt67jxnbfltWm3z19uhQYN9TSV-vkA1_s4ZiCWiVL-6y9a9kpjTbApKu9o1IntGC7YWWHR4CX-ZAQG_r33LXBgkEpOXuLHyN1skJ3vT3A7BJKP7bLrtixmKGK454WSPhExoHraMIHlu9RmsWDplx63KBFeRd5FJ4HK8/s3264/F1690570-6FB4-403D-A4EF-37BE4591AA09.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcRLJ6fbRzUS-5d5bYnf8Zeewlt67jxnbfltWm3z19uhQYN9TSV-vkA1_s4ZiCWiVL-6y9a9kpjTbApKu9o1IntGC7YWWHR4CX-ZAQG_r33LXBgkEpOXuLHyN1skJ3vT3A7BJKP7bLrtixmKGK454WSPhExoHraMIHlu9RmsWDplx63KBFeRd5FJ4HK8/s320/F1690570-6FB4-403D-A4EF-37BE4591AA09.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French in position to advance.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>On the other flank I spent a lot of time getting my infantry brigade up and into a position to make a move on the two enemy battalions blocking my way into the British rear, the British also had two cavalry regiments but as they neared my troops the musket volleys scared them away and they retired. My vanguard infantry traded shots with the British on the hill while I decided to send my seemingly useless cavalry to the left to possible help my flanking force, but it took all day and by the time it approached the ford there was no friendly troops left. <br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWfNbSStcAaWsZ_C5KGt53RbT_7BFwD-8z-M1jxBcsQ63kQ5V7NTHLFP18pwJKvCn4BMP3vrYQEg-wuObjhBFUds_kaPjaGRY5nuHmUaTGGLp4w9JDF4Ut0FYkWNOIQNNgyHEMD8xbYq2OCqBROE3tw435NC2YY-zCY1WxyvZhBAuKn30wUBXCyncguA/s3264/D679D724-FEF3-488A-8F64-1377AD92BD0D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWfNbSStcAaWsZ_C5KGt53RbT_7BFwD-8z-M1jxBcsQ63kQ5V7NTHLFP18pwJKvCn4BMP3vrYQEg-wuObjhBFUds_kaPjaGRY5nuHmUaTGGLp4w9JDF4Ut0FYkWNOIQNNgyHEMD8xbYq2OCqBROE3tw435NC2YY-zCY1WxyvZhBAuKn30wUBXCyncguA/s320/D679D724-FEF3-488A-8F64-1377AD92BD0D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More fragile cavalry.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieULv1dRVdY8oIGEEUU0AVvqGPTcp29i7HmKF5HlBqZWw0srs-nGSUYbVOJnJTi5Rq-uqrfzYbAq6NHCC3y5HKoZ2olXlsaKUT7ztaAagLay9tsiycq7NU5soXxFpGWHtr8aMamltPwDMdWdD3naEbb9e4lamI4a_gPLapWoWGdsBH4_jYgLzGJUliHlQ/s3264/FABA658D-EED6-4BF7-AA2A-81E3792977C3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieULv1dRVdY8oIGEEUU0AVvqGPTcp29i7HmKF5HlBqZWw0srs-nGSUYbVOJnJTi5Rq-uqrfzYbAq6NHCC3y5HKoZ2olXlsaKUT7ztaAagLay9tsiycq7NU5soXxFpGWHtr8aMamltPwDMdWdD3naEbb9e4lamI4a_gPLapWoWGdsBH4_jYgLzGJUliHlQ/s320/FABA658D-EED6-4BF7-AA2A-81E3792977C3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The French breakthrough.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The pressure began to mount on the enemy defenders and they retired from the crest of the hill only to be followed up by my infantry as their casualties built up, the French main body now seemed unstoppable and one Battalion routed while the other was left facing hordes of French infantry. The baggage train as we suspected trotted along unharmed with the French having no chance of catching them, so I would have had to break the British force to win, and this was not going to happen with a weak flanking force and the rest of the army hugging trees.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRn4HH6fOAbSJY0XNibaZCa3wnMhBn2xVTZ-3SICuVEhyphenhyphenrHjRr_3e85XFVlIMD9unTRbnB0Qv11mv9fTRKYwxI3qbNZelt_eZ9TTnSRA188B-ika9f5B83Ixz9PEumwHbrtUpxFocy_pylRzXPthQG9sQk_xBtlGEvqHZFFl45CacR14PdOczv0DdcI0/s3264/3404DBC7-CADC-48C2-BDE4-DDBDDE5315FF.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRn4HH6fOAbSJY0XNibaZCa3wnMhBn2xVTZ-3SICuVEhyphenhyphenrHjRr_3e85XFVlIMD9unTRbnB0Qv11mv9fTRKYwxI3qbNZelt_eZ9TTnSRA188B-ika9f5B83Ixz9PEumwHbrtUpxFocy_pylRzXPthQG9sQk_xBtlGEvqHZFFl45CacR14PdOczv0DdcI0/s320/3404DBC7-CADC-48C2-BDE4-DDBDDE5315FF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stirring sight.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijcn5_qEpttqLG6S80C9ugBPjjXgUNs-AmTffqVnr_PFWCBYfcpzu5lG64EVmrxPCVV3vKWnaJF8jitfIiPv7HkGJElFJxLq1zupdNAlLvXM00edMY_whGvxV-EexwQ-11qBmrbiLzThY8S3HLqZ-2X35s-dY2AI5y3UYZU2c-T1CylV1JM6Yp_n0w-M/s3264/41D6E4E9-A627-4DF4-B602-DA7D00101FA9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijcn5_qEpttqLG6S80C9ugBPjjXgUNs-AmTffqVnr_PFWCBYfcpzu5lG64EVmrxPCVV3vKWnaJF8jitfIiPv7HkGJElFJxLq1zupdNAlLvXM00edMY_whGvxV-EexwQ-11qBmrbiLzThY8S3HLqZ-2X35s-dY2AI5y3UYZU2c-T1CylV1JM6Yp_n0w-M/s320/41D6E4E9-A627-4DF4-B602-DA7D00101FA9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My own useless cavalry on a forlorn journey.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Still, it was a good game but needs some tweaks, it was also good to get these visually impressive troops back on the table, so more SYW in the future I hope.</p><p>Next week it is War and Conquest against Stuart Smith's Normans with reinforcements, I have to make my mind up which army to use, Romano-British or Patrician Roman, the latter army would be a real challenge against Normans, do I feel lucky? <br /></p><p>I have been very lax painting wise recently while waiting for my order to turn up, so I turned my attention to four tents given to me by Dan along with the three guns I recently painted up, nothing fancy but more than good enough for scatter terrain or to add depth to the camp I already have.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9QtSA1Q0mZ4_ulCwSpmsGPtEQvXo3p5r-RE5XwhBmoGTDUXLhws7KDA2IQ6rsyoliq3Zn3BexEUffX-kHdpTptKEXKXh0QXTU2Xo02vZRkmoVT8Khu_v0wI9Nbvj0LcESux-Qt0N5ffV15wydIr8ug1KKpln-iY1IRYdICNlaAsnKKd1D-y1LU8wYR8/s3264/BB14A1CE-67E3-42DE-94BA-79654EDFB1DB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9QtSA1Q0mZ4_ulCwSpmsGPtEQvXo3p5r-RE5XwhBmoGTDUXLhws7KDA2IQ6rsyoliq3Zn3BexEUffX-kHdpTptKEXKXh0QXTU2Xo02vZRkmoVT8Khu_v0wI9Nbvj0LcESux-Qt0N5ffV15wydIr8ug1KKpln-iY1IRYdICNlaAsnKKd1D-y1LU8wYR8/s320/BB14A1CE-67E3-42DE-94BA-79654EDFB1DB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have belatedly decided to get a bus pass as I get almost nothing else for my taxes, I found I had to alter the form, I am expecting it not to be approved or get a visit from the Old Bill to check my thinking.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXHh54E4H4YtwnC1ltIDIpO-TPyxs_amPo4o1iHrmtUIunST3dRvi5vUeLKXRAAFwh5ZbusVRV4NRsPKY7vKM3WbLQy_mzRobqvmiWHsI-Euv2w6MV4VO59AfPf3MTzQ1s-TWK-A6A9JrFVCdsFK8WKuldeXQsZMKl_y1uWmBJ0jVjSmw1mj_cbDMu8E/s3264/878E9956-2E0B-4EE6-BA33-7E351DECDDAA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXHh54E4H4YtwnC1ltIDIpO-TPyxs_amPo4o1iHrmtUIunST3dRvi5vUeLKXRAAFwh5ZbusVRV4NRsPKY7vKM3WbLQy_mzRobqvmiWHsI-Euv2w6MV4VO59AfPf3MTzQ1s-TWK-A6A9JrFVCdsFK8WKuldeXQsZMKl_y1uWmBJ0jVjSmw1mj_cbDMu8E/s320/878E9956-2E0B-4EE6-BA33-7E351DECDDAA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-79921369258091037702023-11-09T08:23:00.002+00:002023-11-09T08:34:52.216+00:00WWII and more flouncy shirts.<p> Very miserable weather now, as I look across at the newly cleaned up Washington House it is dark and wet, although I wake early I am not usually up early but am today as we are having the house painted and Steve arrives early, 8 am, probably have to do the same tomorrow, but far better than me doing it. <br /></p><p>Our Chain of Command Gazala campaign kicked off last week at the club, three games and everything to play for. I have a DAK Schuzen platoon which is four squads although only one LMG per squad and not two like the other two German players, but I do have the numbers.</p><p>I was up against a British platoon commanded by Stuart and we had both taken an extra light mortar for support as we had very little points to get anything really useful for this first game. It was the Probe scenario on a table with many small hills and ridges with a village almost in the centre, I had not got off to a good start with my Jump Off Points (JOP) being nearly all on the edge of my deployment. Stuart got off to a good start and managed to get to the village and take the largest house in it to set up a fire base. I got a couple of squads on and started to snipe at the troops on the roof of the building, this caused the British to retreat inside. It also spooked them as down came the first of many smoke bombs.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpPqLJ3MfYEzOwrNCkrx8KKxowsNQ8gVQ824A2SnvikLmw823rNwqwGTh42x0klgUdgykd_oqxZP8ggp5qJkevsmpV-uPwEdrTiuNBl5UWyZLKzFNpLVSrKFuV8qq_d8-fRA89W2vjv01NObdq1uzvLLWAVubcCFA8hxasIFzUnDS4dQQ-Aq34AURYPw/s4032/27E11482-2B43-467E-B06D-67D87004C0A8.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpPqLJ3MfYEzOwrNCkrx8KKxowsNQ8gVQ824A2SnvikLmw823rNwqwGTh42x0klgUdgykd_oqxZP8ggp5qJkevsmpV-uPwEdrTiuNBl5UWyZLKzFNpLVSrKFuV8qq_d8-fRA89W2vjv01NObdq1uzvLLWAVubcCFA8hxasIFzUnDS4dQQ-Aq34AURYPw/s320/27E11482-2B43-467E-B06D-67D87004C0A8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smoke now protects my guys.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKwMijSPV2n2DuAOSSoZxElwdS5WZHRmMfX0kWTP21a5OALLpfEWF-OBnXFmBBfRVR41n5k7H0Kdt4YutTlNy2O1G8mx3pJkqOdnMbjeKRypApPdnBr6fJ6mZuPQaZlnM2J1Add-mQMelPRZa6JOqIR94nwgUAKUYRbc8jXuGQPqkGc9wVyAJKqbSM7E/s4032/346AF3C8-0BD1-45E9-ACB0-7E3F52DB9DBA.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKwMijSPV2n2DuAOSSoZxElwdS5WZHRmMfX0kWTP21a5OALLpfEWF-OBnXFmBBfRVR41n5k7H0Kdt4YutTlNy2O1G8mx3pJkqOdnMbjeKRypApPdnBr6fJ6mZuPQaZlnM2J1Add-mQMelPRZa6JOqIR94nwgUAKUYRbc8jXuGQPqkGc9wVyAJKqbSM7E/s320/346AF3C8-0BD1-45E9-ACB0-7E3F52DB9DBA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting into position to give the British a surprise.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjGVv_km3ceb8kf5BbPKVIHTb_rl5RcmZyzFcCm8bA0IoIsQjCR_i9NOyYzwEhCqtOzlkYgDLcdG0fBrLZ-yS7uurH8xSakdCrKB0pmvLNcBlCthySwUJFYc1xYJF4jMekWzqhg61TZ7Lsdqgpm1TJ2r5N67qLv-jqO0SsxRInzfRJjgzN_j53uW2Vy8/s4032/CF176578-4B28-477C-A1F3-7C3077A5A2DE.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjGVv_km3ceb8kf5BbPKVIHTb_rl5RcmZyzFcCm8bA0IoIsQjCR_i9NOyYzwEhCqtOzlkYgDLcdG0fBrLZ-yS7uurH8xSakdCrKB0pmvLNcBlCthySwUJFYc1xYJF4jMekWzqhg61TZ7Lsdqgpm1TJ2r5N67qLv-jqO0SsxRInzfRJjgzN_j53uW2Vy8/s320/CF176578-4B28-477C-A1F3-7C3077A5A2DE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The terrain, quite nice as it turned out.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I then managed to deploy all my troops but kept getting command dice which were of no use to me, this and Stuart managing to get a double turn on a regular basis cramped my style. I did however maintain line of sight to the large building and started to plaster it with my mortars, Stuart now made a mistake and tried to run a team out towards another building close by, I hit them and his casualties began to climb. More smoke landed but I still managed to fire on the confused British, in return I lost a leader but now managed to catch a squad between two of mine, I now had all my squads in action or close to it. Time was running out and we gave the Germans a minor win as the writing was on the wall, the British had lost about a squads worth of troops while I had suffered three, having held the ground I suspect I actually lost 1 man dead. Sadly the other two German players were defeated and my men are alone as they head towards the British rear area.</p><p>I didn't get to the club last night as I did not push for a game and had a night off, besides I had a home game ready to go the next day. I chose the Battle of Ceresole 1544, a tad later than my armies but I would make it work. I had fought this action last year very loosely based on the battle as both Julian and I had only got half way through building our forces, I had to check and I think that might be the last time I actually won an Italian Wars game.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVpDhznG3CPWebdAm5keJpo7aqXweb3riuAZtSYr0jjKvH7v-DpadaBfKl1r0JzXBapAnfJNaplVw_rv4umQuMgFGg-atKYOW5M8IFKHeZSx2D8JSOKCwkeAya2KO07sOmxLs7KaC7dYFkPuuR2yn7yYVJVnfZ1TxiJl0sxCOX-j56bzOxp47rm30G_s/s2145/AHouse%20map%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="2145" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVpDhznG3CPWebdAm5keJpo7aqXweb3riuAZtSYr0jjKvH7v-DpadaBfKl1r0JzXBapAnfJNaplVw_rv4umQuMgFGg-atKYOW5M8IFKHeZSx2D8JSOKCwkeAya2KO07sOmxLs7KaC7dYFkPuuR2yn7yYVJVnfZ1TxiJl0sxCOX-j56bzOxp47rm30G_s/s320/AHouse%20map%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> No matter, this time the battle was more accurate re the numbers and I also tweaked the lists to reflect this, I had some misgivings about the terrain and decided not to put the shallow hill around the main building as it is comparitively flat, I also did not put the higher ground on behind the Imperial lines instead I decided those troops would be legitimate targets until they moved off the lower slopes. Why else would an eight gun battery be put behind its own troops and a hill if they couldn't see the enemy.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvJpBN1xxC4BP_TS8uRdKsG_tjIj_Ck5V_RFqp1KxhZfqC_7rXqGTVQNwDaukEq6lgON6R3ur5CWeiFCm_WRxMz9grSpxJnW8COEmZHmRzppytAYERrORAQ6YutTI-2ftS7si1g75c3BMfVTHprjJTaSOyl34FTNerPshMewyexQwTPfSJ9EOmbOUXP4/s3264/73DF1855-58A6-4FF5-96D2-93F6B9F599A5.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvJpBN1xxC4BP_TS8uRdKsG_tjIj_Ck5V_RFqp1KxhZfqC_7rXqGTVQNwDaukEq6lgON6R3ur5CWeiFCm_WRxMz9grSpxJnW8COEmZHmRzppytAYERrORAQ6YutTI-2ftS7si1g75c3BMfVTHprjJTaSOyl34FTNerPshMewyexQwTPfSJ9EOmbOUXP4/s320/73DF1855-58A6-4FF5-96D2-93F6B9F599A5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Imperials.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QsWHRELCizTFpUVXFt9YDG51V4V2ntafCzbE0wu7YdrMTFUgYhJ20o9Fa_L49hckRl746sMO3z_N-kgMQzdHo-2_J8ooqIDKMTJKMKTkXp_ruzDz-NIlc2_1EIlhdO9KI1_quD4QMgc7UAOI4C17BTUT_2XNA-XYftNRIaq2vQF-4cSnvCddBiMkcjU/s3264/9CACDF99-87A8-4FEA-BEF5-58DDA8E92912.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QsWHRELCizTFpUVXFt9YDG51V4V2ntafCzbE0wu7YdrMTFUgYhJ20o9Fa_L49hckRl746sMO3z_N-kgMQzdHo-2_J8ooqIDKMTJKMKTkXp_ruzDz-NIlc2_1EIlhdO9KI1_quD4QMgc7UAOI4C17BTUT_2XNA-XYftNRIaq2vQF-4cSnvCddBiMkcjU/s320/9CACDF99-87A8-4FEA-BEF5-58DDA8E92912.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The French.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I controlled the French left flank and Rob the right, we decided to wait a few moves before advancing, Julian and Stuart opposite had the same idea. Julian was opposite me and although his infantry stayed put he threw his light cavalry forward very quickly, too quickly as my useless artillery and arquebusiers could not hit a barn door. Once again my Plan A to shoot the enemy to pieces before I hit him went south, I have lost count of the times this has happened. Although Rob managed to get off some shots the war of missiles went against the French the effect of which was to goad us into advancing, Rob got off to a good start as did my cavalry, but my infantry dragged their feet despite my screaming at them.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37JnehiJIb2U3JTDOPl2yBj6gyW9NIoxWpmYK_FrPDolC6cxRyeygCiej61rnZL_3NCbE9RT6FxBdm2MuN5MP9dQhgfdFCR2wxeLaqcoc8Z8Gi_ZR0iDmg6n6rfSMAooXXiq71UKzaEJWDlcOZax8As6ebHNqnSLZCWIAahAq_u7jYTgvahH_kWS5CCQ/s2145/AHouse%20map%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="2145" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37JnehiJIb2U3JTDOPl2yBj6gyW9NIoxWpmYK_FrPDolC6cxRyeygCiej61rnZL_3NCbE9RT6FxBdm2MuN5MP9dQhgfdFCR2wxeLaqcoc8Z8Gi_ZR0iDmg6n6rfSMAooXXiq71UKzaEJWDlcOZax8As6ebHNqnSLZCWIAahAq_u7jYTgvahH_kWS5CCQ/s320/AHouse%20map%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIKhTJenczOAn4tTYX4UXFIPxvQzlrlbCFSsP-Tg7eegCkK4M7tYDq_1VmgGafXKKw9hwq1kDbamivLV5vZGHtZh8WFwVi9wh9u7W7JUr3cUeNFDAB2ZWDK6oPH1REr3EgHqIjwXGOOguSEei_5JDaB_u607cjj2jtin2L3vkDEUEBhPFFhAx6zuHI_Y/s3264/524460EF-079B-42D1-BB6D-2C5B44450167.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIKhTJenczOAn4tTYX4UXFIPxvQzlrlbCFSsP-Tg7eegCkK4M7tYDq_1VmgGafXKKw9hwq1kDbamivLV5vZGHtZh8WFwVi9wh9u7W7JUr3cUeNFDAB2ZWDK6oPH1REr3EgHqIjwXGOOguSEei_5JDaB_u607cjj2jtin2L3vkDEUEBhPFFhAx6zuHI_Y/s320/524460EF-079B-42D1-BB6D-2C5B44450167.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The French center advances.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40XIs3VQU8DClr8F69-mjGZJTLGCwDDAWZhPukk7OD78djqV_t3dXs8S9pnQC_7fjK3WpwVJ-jxGdViDjhNEefLWGiTcs8LSILSuBbCgtTmCm5MRXwj_WJ9Jpvr_iZXMcwNw7hkIGEU86Eg3v0d7dDvLCMBgsbTmgiGFD9a_IzGJNPJBfndp9manZGEw/s3264/05E5ABBB-9B03-422C-94C5-FC5333109480.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40XIs3VQU8DClr8F69-mjGZJTLGCwDDAWZhPukk7OD78djqV_t3dXs8S9pnQC_7fjK3WpwVJ-jxGdViDjhNEefLWGiTcs8LSILSuBbCgtTmCm5MRXwj_WJ9Jpvr_iZXMcwNw7hkIGEU86Eg3v0d7dDvLCMBgsbTmgiGFD9a_IzGJNPJBfndp9manZGEw/s320/05E5ABBB-9B03-422C-94C5-FC5333109480.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My movement challenged Swiss/Italians.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The cavalry battles at first went against me and I thought here we go again. However my Gendarmes managed in the end to defeat the Imperial Men-at-Arms and my light cavalry managed to hold on until the sun went down, a complete surprise to Julian and I. The focus of the battle now switched to the centre as the Swiss and French took on the Landsknechts, this should have almost been a foregone conclusion but the Swiss made a dogs dinner of marching through the fish pond while the Landsknechts kept their feet, a huge sigh came from the French commanders.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzNC9QYRbO0BgLb3SeaFvg-IH5HjF05P_aWaCGO8oA6tB8iv5Y5XnA552AHZYu0pSX1_cnVjicNwLloRbIonQgo7xMQ98iaL7werTiks8F7ScykR4pPc610Zp2vy6shav4B1msD3hJZTK2xhhLRhXbl2doYjU9NBZQqj-wvseuKWb-NSsTIXZUDNZuf0/s3264/A9E9201A-D02D-4321-89B3-F6C2871BA27D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzNC9QYRbO0BgLb3SeaFvg-IH5HjF05P_aWaCGO8oA6tB8iv5Y5XnA552AHZYu0pSX1_cnVjicNwLloRbIonQgo7xMQ98iaL7werTiks8F7ScykR4pPc610Zp2vy6shav4B1msD3hJZTK2xhhLRhXbl2doYjU9NBZQqj-wvseuKWb-NSsTIXZUDNZuf0/s320/A9E9201A-D02D-4321-89B3-F6C2871BA27D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French left flank.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQa5qICVzALoObHu9AJNdV4c2Y_HOJiJ3qd8sVbE3utiMj0L6JNBBjXQmEGyGCVg4pc_M0qiak9DUwDN5t_XH3RSwk1vne1F8yQ1lAiAJ_pvS9dyHS-Wppud22I2RiqZ8YKZk68bErbpNBbw7LQoSbAZHJAoiFiRRii4ZMzrkzhAextw7206gG8L6DFk/s3264/5E7AADAA-7D4D-4AD8-B0BB-3983A517A5BF.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQa5qICVzALoObHu9AJNdV4c2Y_HOJiJ3qd8sVbE3utiMj0L6JNBBjXQmEGyGCVg4pc_M0qiak9DUwDN5t_XH3RSwk1vne1F8yQ1lAiAJ_pvS9dyHS-Wppud22I2RiqZ8YKZk68bErbpNBbw7LQoSbAZHJAoiFiRRii4ZMzrkzhAextw7206gG8L6DFk/s320/5E7AADAA-7D4D-4AD8-B0BB-3983A517A5BF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still undecided in the center.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A few rounds of desperate fighting followed but eventually the Swiss and French were cut to pieces and as my own troops had been foiled by Julian's reluctance to fight and the slowness of my advance there was nothing left for the French but to admit defeat.</p><p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6wRMtaML2BExq11bY_YDiOv1QAm6PwE9NZYAV86siL95uzfHDLHKEOalgiEA7fdONXSogT6nHzvv5ZRvVChMDH01j_1cuVTHrLI41EalkrHjmZ0A51ErteeuyT4Xc3qbES87bG4M7tU82ofBHYnaDZOEeahc0musMxWxEcfUUEtRprJgSQb4pIIEuO8/s2145/AHouse%20map%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="2145" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6wRMtaML2BExq11bY_YDiOv1QAm6PwE9NZYAV86siL95uzfHDLHKEOalgiEA7fdONXSogT6nHzvv5ZRvVChMDH01j_1cuVTHrLI41EalkrHjmZ0A51ErteeuyT4Xc3qbES87bG4M7tU82ofBHYnaDZOEeahc0musMxWxEcfUUEtRprJgSQb4pIIEuO8/s320/AHouse%20map%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJ7Rbk7b7KbXhqTewLLVZHfjKbWcGR7hHmwDBpEKBOQLeGXbGWwIA0CBss7X4KcPb46lC_Exi1XOXhvfcHq82ZVN2zU3nQ_cu0E5U5yMOpi0hpMcj42GlZFE0dpTTWJcFOmpqrtxHBFwzpQ5YHG7SBjVulZkqpvMXQ2ckEAUrtU0OSsuuvp-HfiIDFVM/s3264/A90B5FA7-69DC-4E3A-A2DE-9D4766A07B73.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJ7Rbk7b7KbXhqTewLLVZHfjKbWcGR7hHmwDBpEKBOQLeGXbGWwIA0CBss7X4KcPb46lC_Exi1XOXhvfcHq82ZVN2zU3nQ_cu0E5U5yMOpi0hpMcj42GlZFE0dpTTWJcFOmpqrtxHBFwzpQ5YHG7SBjVulZkqpvMXQ2ckEAUrtU0OSsuuvp-HfiIDFVM/s320/A90B5FA7-69DC-4E3A-A2DE-9D4766A07B73.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Imperial left.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsbqJ338BxyNudFe27meroq9xE8GDczGDjfX__OpSld2xBebzOhvrm6jR1uk7dkY_MmUnAKNFsp4J_mMpQc90_vju_sPaVkpULSyptXM4_mdxm0k3OgFmg_YYR-KKK1QSHZ_XeaGUG2aNqDWKYtbveGc4RwQkF5HK_6qMKvoXtUd6VK6m0lLCMSAc63w/s3264/D61B7861-C580-4BF4-B079-597B4F1F6BCB.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsbqJ338BxyNudFe27meroq9xE8GDczGDjfX__OpSld2xBebzOhvrm6jR1uk7dkY_MmUnAKNFsp4J_mMpQc90_vju_sPaVkpULSyptXM4_mdxm0k3OgFmg_YYR-KKK1QSHZ_XeaGUG2aNqDWKYtbveGc4RwQkF5HK_6qMKvoXtUd6VK6m0lLCMSAc63w/s320/D61B7861-C580-4BF4-B079-597B4F1F6BCB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Swiss make a hash of it.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdESjcs17nl9eRpJU-W9Kz5Izal_EnUff0asKRZ_7N7vpzuPKUOUNrqsRLbVJnHyz0E0Sq_lTUMdUveImBjShW78yGwXLaZtEUNx6IAZ_TiZ1LXIJaKH7Qsy5MPX6Bkx0M_LXKxTgJpRBLUlO2IgeBfFfT4mLzEwA_nZLpfzml1vKQSAZ_srIxK2E1Tg/s3264/45F9EA93-77E4-4433-93E9-D6EE0E5F2BA2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdESjcs17nl9eRpJU-W9Kz5Izal_EnUff0asKRZ_7N7vpzuPKUOUNrqsRLbVJnHyz0E0Sq_lTUMdUveImBjShW78yGwXLaZtEUNx6IAZ_TiZ1LXIJaKH7Qsy5MPX6Bkx0M_LXKxTgJpRBLUlO2IgeBfFfT4mLzEwA_nZLpfzml1vKQSAZ_srIxK2E1Tg/s320/45F9EA93-77E4-4433-93E9-D6EE0E5F2BA2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The French commander tries to bolster his troops.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I had had high hopes for the French in this fight, yes they were outnumbered by the enemy foot but they were ahead in quality and their cavalry were superior, against this the deployment was a mess for a wargamer to make sense of. My command rolls for my pikes were dire and stopped them from getting to grips with Julian's men before the curtain came down. Also I could not win a die roll against the Posh Chef, he beat me with casualties and saves at every turn, only my winning the combat morale most of the time kept my cavalry in the fight. I now think of course that keeping our men back was a mistake, certainly on my flank I should have had that large pike block bounding across the fields and into the reluctant Spanish opposite from the get go. But them's the breaks, a good day of fun and laughter with some friends.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeO10foQEZ6iVcic0CcnA4TFNV8Z6bzBvF5LbVEGpjOH9vBQ8Upg1jGU4VfQ8fl7x5O1UdCGyqEfxR1vE-jxWwLiXPxqaw43-O5KFNy_db_1cFwm3MLr8K2JFY2fpEdtHQba9p7sJLeULhi3rdwXYDl6z4ghPkq_wE0LY0d28T3_vpMnXN_nYN7y7kCA/s3264/B01DBF6C-73D6-4A3A-8011-2EC7B88A6AAB.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeO10foQEZ6iVcic0CcnA4TFNV8Z6bzBvF5LbVEGpjOH9vBQ8Upg1jGU4VfQ8fl7x5O1UdCGyqEfxR1vE-jxWwLiXPxqaw43-O5KFNy_db_1cFwm3MLr8K2JFY2fpEdtHQba9p7sJLeULhi3rdwXYDl6z4ghPkq_wE0LY0d28T3_vpMnXN_nYN7y7kCA/s320/B01DBF6C-73D6-4A3A-8011-2EC7B88A6AAB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob, Julian and Stuart.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Oh, and I have now finished all the Imperial pike blocks, really pleased with this last one and love the flags. I now have two more units to finish the army completely, these are ordered and I just await their arrival. There is no rush as I have games here at the War Room for the next two weeks, one Seven Year War and one War and Conquest, I might manage to sneak one more in before the end of the year but December is filling up very quickly. Hopefully the building work will start in January so with this and getting the room and table set up afterwards it might be Easter before the grand opening.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3ctazvtDJGLHjgI8ZCmMQ05pQL83JBfAYltCsT2_bAEo_UYdOjD3qqUSRPqhnpKTa4i0pTBF5Q1zAyR6JPF9vnH0J-g1gX7KsQR8t9hXhFv2An543_Q-kKu3nkkZto9H_Lz5aOKH6NuLuvTtPKxyj7x7gFchb3DuNZ638XjtblmFO28x2b6ZKombqIE/s3264/F438F977-7CC3-4F18-BE95-3CA6294F6BC7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3ctazvtDJGLHjgI8ZCmMQ05pQL83JBfAYltCsT2_bAEo_UYdOjD3qqUSRPqhnpKTa4i0pTBF5Q1zAyR6JPF9vnH0J-g1gX7KsQR8t9hXhFv2An543_Q-kKu3nkkZto9H_Lz5aOKH6NuLuvTtPKxyj7x7gFchb3DuNZ638XjtblmFO28x2b6ZKombqIE/s320/F438F977-7CC3-4F18-BE95-3CA6294F6BC7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9WEK3NcQ20wRCavJY10qpVYb-6j3NBFpIx_nd4K4a0bCzVkMqFz8G1PqmpuMb4FFAhx30uo7bcNoN7XcfVxA1MoHxlwfrv1HtjD08LWBV5LRjVD5p6Bd-CUB2PLotwRvJ1RIiXVMtmObtSG8fpg1Bg2CuloABmUTAk9CpJmvzzcE8LvfQy4GDXsK8oc/s3264/17D19459-4D2B-4984-B33C-2CD5852B64F4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9WEK3NcQ20wRCavJY10qpVYb-6j3NBFpIx_nd4K4a0bCzVkMqFz8G1PqmpuMb4FFAhx30uo7bcNoN7XcfVxA1MoHxlwfrv1HtjD08LWBV5LRjVD5p6Bd-CUB2PLotwRvJ1RIiXVMtmObtSG8fpg1Bg2CuloABmUTAk9CpJmvzzcE8LvfQy4GDXsK8oc/s320/17D19459-4D2B-4984-B33C-2CD5852B64F4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOzplqQb51lfkaW8qiTRh1rQ68tH-BNoZzNjp3PXKuW1Dlhd-8erO-hAWl9qBqciglvz_u_cOpm-i3PtdXdMcRG8Lj8OTDoJZ0czi2qCm0S1T5GcZBfSHY4hhgnpuCyW3kLVMz4dvjtlhAWWQl4QIF0Ws5pbxCmd-SxCKxT7gUMF_MPZEMFOsnzkChXc/s3264/BFC934F7-1CDA-4057-8497-DB94CD37FEC8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOzplqQb51lfkaW8qiTRh1rQ68tH-BNoZzNjp3PXKuW1Dlhd-8erO-hAWl9qBqciglvz_u_cOpm-i3PtdXdMcRG8Lj8OTDoJZ0czi2qCm0S1T5GcZBfSHY4hhgnpuCyW3kLVMz4dvjtlhAWWQl4QIF0Ws5pbxCmd-SxCKxT7gUMF_MPZEMFOsnzkChXc/s320/BFC934F7-1CDA-4057-8497-DB94CD37FEC8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>You have probably seen this picture but I got a chuckle out of it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuBjGvPmd4uQ0N20-hZMR30T4tf0vH47FFS5R_h2o-JiKtzGS0pY7K8D-GNQDpG0Jb4GVqF6irQ1Tv7xAtdNNhDtokjSA4Vg8HqBCfAkeX-YQArir58VW76cQSPZjdFPS0Pvl3Dny3YoF4RvHdJKzjRNJv62hEx5s7SoHubn_q254tlgBlNUmjnqADn0/s1532/03186FF1-54F9-4D09-B08B-4E14441D6A51.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1242" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuBjGvPmd4uQ0N20-hZMR30T4tf0vH47FFS5R_h2o-JiKtzGS0pY7K8D-GNQDpG0Jb4GVqF6irQ1Tv7xAtdNNhDtokjSA4Vg8HqBCfAkeX-YQArir58VW76cQSPZjdFPS0Pvl3Dny3YoF4RvHdJKzjRNJv62hEx5s7SoHubn_q254tlgBlNUmjnqADn0/s320/03186FF1-54F9-4D09-B08B-4E14441D6A51.jpeg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><p>I am still lost for something decent to watch on TV apart from some excellent Korean crime dramas. I watched that latest drama on the Yorkshire Ripper and found it to be quite dull despite having many fine actors in it. I have also came late to Top Boy and am unsure, it shows a side of the UK (London) which is completely alien to me and my upbringing, I also at times would have been pleased to have seen subtitles "innit fam, yo bro" whatever that means. I did find that grizzled old detective Harry Bosch is back but having seen the first two episodes in Bosch Legacy, where he is now a private detective, I fear his daughter is now going to take the spotlight and poor Harry will be relegated to a bit part in his own show.<br /></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-56778010900657665272023-10-28T14:45:00.000+01:002023-10-28T14:45:18.217+01:00Winter is Coming<p> The miserable season is rapidly approaching, it is now dark on the way to the club and on my return, it becomes a bit of a chore to muster the enthusiasm to leave the comfort of my living room and a lovely wood burning fire to venture into the cold, usually wet, darkness. Made easier no doubt in the future when the stove is banned and my heat pump barely raises the temperture inside as we huddle around home made sustainable candles.</p><p>I was at the club this week to play our delayed English Civil War game with Stewart Simon's beautiful figures, I know I have said this before but they are a joy to look at and play with. We fought the Battle of Ormskirk where a large Parliamentarian force should have rode down the meagre collection of Royalists outside the town but of course this was Pike and Shotte. Simon and Henry suffered very badly trying to encourage their men to move swiftly forward, the Royalists also had problems but as the defenders the dire command rolls did not have as serious an effect on things. The Royalist reinforcements turned up and some furious cavalry action put the lid on Parliamentarian hopes of winning.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VwINrpWyjZmHhRmxelJIDXv1F5wJQcnjLTMIlRioBzO1peuPIXRVKMZXsautjYoDum5oEsIPF9XWclBtKnRbYH1AXKZtB43RMi1ghn-zMKLe0sksgWa6XqP2pFyzrip1ZaJhHHQkgl7VO7vHZV-cNsWrhZfslsrfxawQpGg2pInC8w8vIUKwDZk2N6U/s4032/6313D39F-8948-4249-B496-133857CD3A5F.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VwINrpWyjZmHhRmxelJIDXv1F5wJQcnjLTMIlRioBzO1peuPIXRVKMZXsautjYoDum5oEsIPF9XWclBtKnRbYH1AXKZtB43RMi1ghn-zMKLe0sksgWa6XqP2pFyzrip1ZaJhHHQkgl7VO7vHZV-cNsWrhZfslsrfxawQpGg2pInC8w8vIUKwDZk2N6U/s320/6313D39F-8948-4249-B496-133857CD3A5F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ormskirk and the Parliamentarians.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mr96KVLxU8H1TvTw33RHvGRAQsT8JaCelLWWLFpKSGF6VWEIMOWmrl8BU7fDwqQ3Yi_LdfOwQjOHWSxmxyQG2hE1uRbqcYcOE6kGCsMdCr5OLGB3_vHPj_Gz1hwdVCgiupnbnThfprTgZb2VtqwUBedlBJWXjqVkhnG4pDpeJK5-Zm_-s8yLRoXdF_8/s4032/5CC30657-9C4A-481C-97F2-082012EE3CBF.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mr96KVLxU8H1TvTw33RHvGRAQsT8JaCelLWWLFpKSGF6VWEIMOWmrl8BU7fDwqQ3Yi_LdfOwQjOHWSxmxyQG2hE1uRbqcYcOE6kGCsMdCr5OLGB3_vHPj_Gz1hwdVCgiupnbnThfprTgZb2VtqwUBedlBJWXjqVkhnG4pDpeJK5-Zm_-s8yLRoXdF_8/s320/5CC30657-9C4A-481C-97F2-082012EE3CBF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Royalists.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Despite trying to slow down I have finished another unit of mounted arquebusiers, well it is no big deal to paint up six men and horses, but I also put together my casualty wagon from Perrys, they have a nice collection of small and large wagons perfect for a baggage train, I plan to get a few more later. I have now moved on to another Landsknecht pike block, Wargames Foundry figures this time, I find Foundry expensive but there is no doubt of the quality of these pieces, they are lovely and so easy to paint. The front ranks have been started so give it another few weeks and they should join the army.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-pIywyqnP7d_wFX-JlmU2jTwyBttluI4w56q27zGdnE7FkjJlWi4wf7sSiUGLiZj4Z5DPcAlmjIK2IA3mR9KuxgjSDqFPDnpVrejixH7D5Lpxm0_7VMepOx2N_knphR-komrdobiFN78EDSLGo3ZafUkOcE1it0ixBsFtQreOfg6Uq0TQIkQLfe1bUA/s3264/E64773A6-5AD0-4E71-96DD-AD2BD7BD8303.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-pIywyqnP7d_wFX-JlmU2jTwyBttluI4w56q27zGdnE7FkjJlWi4wf7sSiUGLiZj4Z5DPcAlmjIK2IA3mR9KuxgjSDqFPDnpVrejixH7D5Lpxm0_7VMepOx2N_knphR-komrdobiFN78EDSLGo3ZafUkOcE1it0ixBsFtQreOfg6Uq0TQIkQLfe1bUA/s320/E64773A6-5AD0-4E71-96DD-AD2BD7BD8303.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpMWbNz3nDIqxEnxpQFr3SPBo3t93kBYRL1bMU_z5CHA4i-4ENaMwMfRE-9GH13GqK7TkMqAW4o2UZ4tHd3Os_0pkwQXN0e6djY7ivnnqCRshmSDo6yK0NZBZk5YiYlxTdOQ1DA5yp59gldk5XJh_7GhjTEU-qQ2CZOwKqkjuf8glekIQVATqEZjSOmg/s3264/D99E0E42-C89F-456D-BF39-ACE875B20E70.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpMWbNz3nDIqxEnxpQFr3SPBo3t93kBYRL1bMU_z5CHA4i-4ENaMwMfRE-9GH13GqK7TkMqAW4o2UZ4tHd3Os_0pkwQXN0e6djY7ivnnqCRshmSDo6yK0NZBZk5YiYlxTdOQ1DA5yp59gldk5XJh_7GhjTEU-qQ2CZOwKqkjuf8glekIQVATqEZjSOmg/s320/D99E0E42-C89F-456D-BF39-ACE875B20E70.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgS2Fo1llf6xidU4FhzAE7fANp7CwtLUlPKNYaE64npYbKCjKpnsQ-F_urSuJUHFev_U4W4qK3exQX-FsEDXzuZ9KBoE-CsV0DCri7Boyo9OsN1qmBw_XpZMwm1dZVs7ytek64xSUJbn4vtD0po9DOhUwOalIZand38FLGbcmhu_WeeaLiFpY5kSEN-Y/s3264/A76E4E66-790E-4027-AE13-0CADAEC27FC8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgS2Fo1llf6xidU4FhzAE7fANp7CwtLUlPKNYaE64npYbKCjKpnsQ-F_urSuJUHFev_U4W4qK3exQX-FsEDXzuZ9KBoE-CsV0DCri7Boyo9OsN1qmBw_XpZMwm1dZVs7ytek64xSUJbn4vtD0po9DOhUwOalIZand38FLGbcmhu_WeeaLiFpY5kSEN-Y/s320/A76E4E66-790E-4027-AE13-0CADAEC27FC8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rdHaXo3u5Mnnh29OxfChwKU4jq3E6VUwV1anm_W2rRHz5GG9S26zb_6-kiQvrh5rPZK7kH0zgNZvScJsbtA2-5wuIYvBKyasNachK-o7-K1P5WrcgV8-poRcBKJ41vYheks3ChXn6RYnzmiEamiktpc6IBpnzTmflpNzWXK15b2xr-a-Nm3bw8AAZbc/s3264/0078D36F-D257-40AC-BD39-42103F8C8D4C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rdHaXo3u5Mnnh29OxfChwKU4jq3E6VUwV1anm_W2rRHz5GG9S26zb_6-kiQvrh5rPZK7kH0zgNZvScJsbtA2-5wuIYvBKyasNachK-o7-K1P5WrcgV8-poRcBKJ41vYheks3ChXn6RYnzmiEamiktpc6IBpnzTmflpNzWXK15b2xr-a-Nm3bw8AAZbc/s320/0078D36F-D257-40AC-BD39-42103F8C8D4C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I was given some tents and three artillery pieces by Dan at the club, his renaissance forces are 15mm (or 10) and he had no use for these anymore. I have still to work on the tents but right away dipped the guns into a jar of Dettol, after two days I fished them out and brushed the old paint off, just as new, these will be a welcome addition to the artillery trains of both armies. I bit the bullet and ordered up the remainder of my Imperial forces, these consist of another unit of heavy cavalry and some foot arquebusiers, and of course crews for the above guns. That should be it for 2023 and both my planned armies will be finished by the end of the year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHijqW8lZ-xb3NVEbZIx2w6o8t2qJG9s-xnNIXAqxDLzO3HQrv5W8NqwohlCnFpqiUNyO9cEGgdJWleJn11JnB_xFStKjTku6QGJcVe22a3Gcf6MpQrl3JrjbziDYFkqxs9TTeYn8_QGBxeqT_ksXAkI7BTnNYUSWM6GJHnawsAWFM6mBvPCm0S5aDpc/s3264/670EC8D1-148F-42C3-8FC7-E9440D125FA3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHijqW8lZ-xb3NVEbZIx2w6o8t2qJG9s-xnNIXAqxDLzO3HQrv5W8NqwohlCnFpqiUNyO9cEGgdJWleJn11JnB_xFStKjTku6QGJcVe22a3Gcf6MpQrl3JrjbziDYFkqxs9TTeYn8_QGBxeqT_ksXAkI7BTnNYUSWM6GJHnawsAWFM6mBvPCm0S5aDpc/s320/670EC8D1-148F-42C3-8FC7-E9440D125FA3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>What will be next you ask, well some wagons explained above and then four small contingents covering Venice, Florence, Milan and the Papal States, I am thinking of a pike block and two cavalry, maybe one heavy and one light along with a commander. My pike blocks are six stands I am toying with the idea of making these four. I had decided to stick with my ping pong table once the new room is ready but add another one, in reality half of one to give me 13.5 x 5 feet. I saw a nice build on Facebook which would allow me to keep a ton of stuff underneath, so might therefore go for a bespoke table of 12x5, I am not going six as that is a foot too far, this size is more than enough for a home table and my particular needs.</p><p>As I mentioned before The Atlas of Battles and Campaigns of the American Revolution 1775-1783 has now been published and I have received my complimentary copies, two of which I have given to my sons, maybe they will get around to reading them one day. My name was added to the title by Helion and approved by the author David Bonk, that was a nice surprise. I have read one review by Colin Ashton over at <a href="https://www.carryingsonupthedale.com/2023/10/atlas-of-battles-and-campaigns-of.html" target="_blank">Carryings on up the Dale</a>, I could hardly get my head through the door afterwards. No sooner had I digested this than I was contacted to provide the maps for a two volume authorised history of The Army Air Corps funded by the Ministry of Defence (me in other words, albeit in a small way), this to is in full colour so I am looking forward to starting this.</p><p>I am taking part in another Chain of Command campaign being fought at the club based on the Gazala battle in the Western Desert, I command a German Schutzen platoon and my and the campaign's first game will be on Tuesday night. I do not have anything for the Western Desert so Rob and Stuart will be providing everything, I only need to turn up. I don't have anything planned at Casa Anderson yet for November so might start thinking about that in the next couple of days.<br /></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-47711198569289094642023-10-16T16:40:00.003+01:002023-10-16T17:33:06.629+01:00Tempting the Fates<p> After my less than sterling performance at Ravenna last week I felt I was on safer ground yesterday with the Battle of Olustee February 20, 1864. I have a high opinion of my skills with Johnny Reb II and I have fought this scenario a lot as both the Union and Confederates and have usually won or be on the way to winning as night falls. To counter-balance my boast I am usually pretty clueless at any WWII game and pretty average with most others.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3hXD9LAGokXYNZh_Iq5wkQy0ME-7lsqNZrI9aYxOtVoLsXWkNg0Y-fipEr4cGqgxI1krkaxLljBNCLI8hg_donJLtXYmqyNjzHTD6GoO1HKkG5wBVPCUz13d_sKJhUx2EZye64eudKCGpsMo1XeMvTXbQ08E2uZB0Y5qyx9loCQCxTqEVcPcHulC2lc/s2051/ADSOlustee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2051" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3hXD9LAGokXYNZh_Iq5wkQy0ME-7lsqNZrI9aYxOtVoLsXWkNg0Y-fipEr4cGqgxI1krkaxLljBNCLI8hg_donJLtXYmqyNjzHTD6GoO1HKkG5wBVPCUz13d_sKJhUx2EZye64eudKCGpsMo1XeMvTXbQ08E2uZB0Y5qyx9loCQCxTqEVcPcHulC2lc/s320/ADSOlustee.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Anyway, Fran turned up on time and we set to, I was the Federals and Fran was the Rebs (are we the bad guys?), he immediately tried to stretch my line by moving his right flank cavalry along the edge of the board, but a good volley from the defending US cavalry gave him pause and he quickly dismounted. On my right the same things was tried and I moved the 13th Ky. against the small Confederate cavalry unit to its front seeking a quick victory, to my chagrin the 13th had not brought enough ammunition and ran out, back they went. I got the green 63rd Pa. up and into line and felt fairly confident that I could hold out until the rest of my forces arrived.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTNyWeVed4lsKLbbr3iVHFVALcwwv_CkTzulcJFPa6qFKoMSi_3v-Q4XBg6L36yzMStOdA2I6NJq1jJh9aHWzib57hTRTzWRlkpbRQrGFMe80Qj5H24kyoPW7mWWG9v8hZ2s6drwtS_cx8u-lWgcs74K9qWzJ7fXVCPuP_P0CM7VfY4k_Cj7J-H3UrPk/s3264/190F448A-8A92-494F-9636-201108EA2032.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTNyWeVed4lsKLbbr3iVHFVALcwwv_CkTzulcJFPa6qFKoMSi_3v-Q4XBg6L36yzMStOdA2I6NJq1jJh9aHWzib57hTRTzWRlkpbRQrGFMe80Qj5H24kyoPW7mWWG9v8hZ2s6drwtS_cx8u-lWgcs74K9qWzJ7fXVCPuP_P0CM7VfY4k_Cj7J-H3UrPk/s320/190F448A-8A92-494F-9636-201108EA2032.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The game begins.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI-zE8ZH57uH0N3L0-VqV5kIsaWqXUtuQ2xgPr1cEZvjB0PvZ3_Q9P7NzFYHBj_qADYylgJ2HVxSGr4GeTduAFSpHTKnvDsxxFMTWO-Xz-4txt_LqBROLsYSrq-qXEy3yZpYtarIBYkdVm_0UljLFUCfGZx2ipaJDXasdxXmFMDBz7kO1hyGAEp716Fg/s3264/2F73DDDC-3E57-4FE3-AB20-785A4D2F97F7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI-zE8ZH57uH0N3L0-VqV5kIsaWqXUtuQ2xgPr1cEZvjB0PvZ3_Q9P7NzFYHBj_qADYylgJ2HVxSGr4GeTduAFSpHTKnvDsxxFMTWO-Xz-4txt_LqBROLsYSrq-qXEy3yZpYtarIBYkdVm_0UljLFUCfGZx2ipaJDXasdxXmFMDBz7kO1hyGAEp716Fg/s320/2F73DDDC-3E57-4FE3-AB20-785A4D2F97F7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rebs start arriving.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPrhyzQJvj55Ano9H2qqUxJ1JKPiZwsV8PfgLcROAhGo7LYNmEI9tCAAiu-fG-13m5DkQAEg92jfIc8uVB1vgOXKceauCzO4fe29bdJ4kxsvVw3bDwGO1JxW-x8A9wKpVUXMmAbvTn_49Hm9tY29uqLgacFQf7k0I79JyVTDOTZ6embQcATJeTcchsl8/s3264/E47EBACE-A4AE-4D98-BA81-C8DAAC1A03C8.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPrhyzQJvj55Ano9H2qqUxJ1JKPiZwsV8PfgLcROAhGo7LYNmEI9tCAAiu-fG-13m5DkQAEg92jfIc8uVB1vgOXKceauCzO4fe29bdJ4kxsvVw3bDwGO1JxW-x8A9wKpVUXMmAbvTn_49Hm9tY29uqLgacFQf7k0I79JyVTDOTZ6embQcATJeTcchsl8/s320/E47EBACE-A4AE-4D98-BA81-C8DAAC1A03C8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same view.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Rebel reinforcements started arriving and shook out into a firing line, muskets rattled and a firefight began, the 54th Mass. and a battery had arrived, the guns went into the front line while I sent the 54th to my left where I hoped they would swiftly destroy the Confederate cavalry holding their right and sweep in and roll up the Rebels, or at least force them to send valuable reserves that way. Meanwhile I had more regiments running to the front but so had the Rebs and they concentrated on my centre and right, it was at this moment that the 63rd had had enough and ran for the rear, luckily I had men arriving and the dangerous gap was plugged, but only just. I breathed a sigh of relief.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FZ34E6DErvZRwl68oA8YolD6wH650f0Xzt2oC4DNa2TC5luLgQmagFKps0Rl-XJPU5Oc-Qdjl09-ByiaAV4xWk0V36mUwWYi8AVOBHkJrMw7pHwaLCLvpNzWY61XdFMICDsK-ICl4F-fWyC4h76_pWCTbn_HB5GSQXlcmYcoIBuH72Eg_OAkqa8lmIk/s3264/F7C22875-0348-4FBC-A29E-36BD28EE632B.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FZ34E6DErvZRwl68oA8YolD6wH650f0Xzt2oC4DNa2TC5luLgQmagFKps0Rl-XJPU5Oc-Qdjl09-ByiaAV4xWk0V36mUwWYi8AVOBHkJrMw7pHwaLCLvpNzWY61XdFMICDsK-ICl4F-fWyC4h76_pWCTbn_HB5GSQXlcmYcoIBuH72Eg_OAkqa8lmIk/s320/F7C22875-0348-4FBC-A29E-36BD28EE632B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come on boys!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtGNW_VHWTX6zUl00W5t7oGqDdKSewMAM5oB1dUG8SjYhJGenu4yhtqgYcde5aMeDE2vz1XDgj6Gt3rzNMFdT8Lb1Zo4bay7iYLj5q1sosfs_elXnc6OOfnIZOSuItuctLEvDj6W6t4fgzFDzncpJMUxxf3bb1VlRuMMpl0yWjgx43_RSx9AuLnLQYcw/s3264/D4FF6D1F-71BA-4C4F-A786-A0C2838BD780.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtGNW_VHWTX6zUl00W5t7oGqDdKSewMAM5oB1dUG8SjYhJGenu4yhtqgYcde5aMeDE2vz1XDgj6Gt3rzNMFdT8Lb1Zo4bay7iYLj5q1sosfs_elXnc6OOfnIZOSuItuctLEvDj6W6t4fgzFDzncpJMUxxf3bb1VlRuMMpl0yWjgx43_RSx9AuLnLQYcw/s320/D4FF6D1F-71BA-4C4F-A786-A0C2838BD780.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big hole in the centre and a battery gone.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAtcwk1lwieaxz57O20N39tc9PTOO8X5MUfn7lZeKKO_a5VWh2Iop0omnzftMUqg-3QEDbCuaMQBY0WHx5KnG2c6kY19R5kR51yL5EkwhjRKm3GWzwgcLRlempxe_WIKp53uEJtOhEgspdFy108hkriTKLWA5P_s5hZT0UaFHD9SqctvwZHq0WSKQB-k/s3264/28055564-F71A-4870-8F30-E8042508DA08.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAtcwk1lwieaxz57O20N39tc9PTOO8X5MUfn7lZeKKO_a5VWh2Iop0omnzftMUqg-3QEDbCuaMQBY0WHx5KnG2c6kY19R5kR51yL5EkwhjRKm3GWzwgcLRlempxe_WIKp53uEJtOhEgspdFy108hkriTKLWA5P_s5hZT0UaFHD9SqctvwZHq0WSKQB-k/s320/28055564-F71A-4870-8F30-E8042508DA08.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rebs close in.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Confederate pressure mounted and it was now time to reform the 54th back into line from skirmish and sort out that Reb cavalry, no it didn't happen as the 54th milled about failing to build a line, they now became the target of a Reb battery and casualties mounted. I still felt that I could push on here but next the Massachusetts men refused to charge! The hope I had had of turning the Confederate right evaporated, elsewhere in the centre the 20th New York skeddaled to the rear, another hole to plug. I was quickly running out of units.</p><p>The Rebs now closed in on my right, the 9th NY Heavy Artillery just shaking into line now ran for the rear, again just as I was starting to form a second line of defence. In desperation I threw two charges in against the enemy, I caught them offguard, the 20th NY failed their charge but the 11th Mass. went in and in a bitter melee captured the 2nd Mo. We only had a few moves left and as I surveyed the scene I was going to lose my left flank, mainly due to the lacklustre performance of the 54th, and a build up of Confederate forces, my charges on my right had only been partially successful and it did not look like they could hold off a Rebel counterattack, my centre was still fairly intact but would soon be outflanked or forced to retire, I called it a day.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SIwU2QopJ-LWmhDv5n3hvHy2gjb7VEwx2Y4yXukPxRTGCQAmhJulYdI6yx08f9VJp-8869Yih1GdVlmrKVwdar10l-OWYDL8-mN-ZkWLOfH9l47HMSW8OdTFTnY1IdrJABIQAC9s_gCD_d7naKlo21D619Ob5Ve2gPME-tvqrSZqcXwAdo0RaiMJ-4c/s3264/65511B0D-B7DA-4A1F-9807-6B7F39E23631.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SIwU2QopJ-LWmhDv5n3hvHy2gjb7VEwx2Y4yXukPxRTGCQAmhJulYdI6yx08f9VJp-8869Yih1GdVlmrKVwdar10l-OWYDL8-mN-ZkWLOfH9l47HMSW8OdTFTnY1IdrJABIQAC9s_gCD_d7naKlo21D619Ob5Ve2gPME-tvqrSZqcXwAdo0RaiMJ-4c/s320/65511B0D-B7DA-4A1F-9807-6B7F39E23631.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Rebs.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The Rebs might have got their objective if we had played another three turns as my army was in a precarious position, so in all fairness they were on their way to victory, the victory conditions need amending but no matter by the end of sixteen turns you can usually tell who will eventually win, and this time despite my boast it would not be me. The 13th Ky. despite losing its ammunition fought like Trojans against a tidal wave of gray, so no shame there, even the 39th NY who always give me pause when taking a morale check also stood their ground, but enough of my regiments ran to ensure I could never build a decent defence. The Rebs were ably led by Fran and took suprisingly little casualties for what seemed a hard fought battle to me. The regiments used are from my own forces, not the ones at the battle, apart from the 54th Mass. so don't get confused.<br /></p><p> Once again Johnny Reb II and Olustee had delivered a great game, it remains one of my favourites. Tomorrow it is English Civil War with Stewart Simon's beautiful figures at the club, I must be due for a change of luck, it doesn't matter, everyone is down with the lurgy, night off.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlj0gR9bqk7UhJ8zPrYTI5_P6Emk7Nex0ETNSZVT2umndjRmU89Y_43Nxxi-fczq6Nc1t51f4wuS1y97GzmaQDiToQEtVykHOBa79icRdN_GkilzH1zWutCs3cF3vFgHR6UE3_RRD37mt1k7jfoFpozD4c7HPWnhqI1zzSbRYjzETuT_IAbBj0-kAOeM8/s3264/6D0FF97A-6F76-4870-BD16-B9AF0ED7A104.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlj0gR9bqk7UhJ8zPrYTI5_P6Emk7Nex0ETNSZVT2umndjRmU89Y_43Nxxi-fczq6Nc1t51f4wuS1y97GzmaQDiToQEtVykHOBa79icRdN_GkilzH1zWutCs3cF3vFgHR6UE3_RRD37mt1k7jfoFpozD4c7HPWnhqI1zzSbRYjzETuT_IAbBj0-kAOeM8/s320/6D0FF97A-6F76-4870-BD16-B9AF0ED7A104.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end, the Reb left.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30gYBcTiIIk-5g1JxricCbDUCH7OZ2z3Uorv5Y0HS5-SxMph0UDV0kmZ3f7VtOcOn4hyphenhypheneSh7xlKDDDwTPp6AOadCfdh3w87ih1SsBXoC-Bw280HjrYycke_VTDHaMhrUIMDURkqmiA2IF-dcvGW0QATFasN39pRJJbqfc5su3AekPfJT9zufdBKIQ_ZY/s3264/4CE2E779-CEFC-4F68-873A-6B98357F6C4C.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30gYBcTiIIk-5g1JxricCbDUCH7OZ2z3Uorv5Y0HS5-SxMph0UDV0kmZ3f7VtOcOn4hyphenhypheneSh7xlKDDDwTPp6AOadCfdh3w87ih1SsBXoC-Bw280HjrYycke_VTDHaMhrUIMDURkqmiA2IF-dcvGW0QATFasN39pRJJbqfc5su3AekPfJT9zufdBKIQ_ZY/s320/4CE2E779-CEFC-4F68-873A-6B98357F6C4C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end, the Reb right.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-16098010322327173142023-10-12T10:46:00.005+01:002023-10-12T17:23:44.139+01:00'Lucky' George<p> I was going to keep this back and add on the upcoming game battle of Olustee (ACW) on Sunday but I have an odd hour so why not. I have not only played Italian Wars this week, I let the Dark Side take over on Tuesday and played a game of Blood Bowl with 'Lucky Jim' Clarkson, I will not bore you with the details but suffice to say Jimi's reputation remains intact.</p><p>Yesterday, after missing last month due to being a very busy man Julian came along to join myself, Dan and Stewart to fight a game loosely based on the battle of Ravenna 1512AD, the original scenario was drawn up by James Leach at <a href="https://olicanalad.blogspot.com/2018/10/ravenna-1512-scenario-for-fiasco-2018.html" target="_blank">Olicanalad Blog</a> and my version was based on <a href="https://blundersonthedanube.blogspot.com/2017/07/historicon-2-battle-of-ravenna-april-11.html" target="_blank">Blunders on the Danube's</a> version of that, so thanks to those guys.</p><p>I as CinC commanded the French left while Dan took the right, my plan was to bombard and shoot at the Spaniards behind their defences and soften them up before we attacked, we also had a good opportunity to use our firepower to weaken the Spanish cavalry wings giving us even more advantage. The pre-battle roll delivered an 'Act of God' which would strike at some point in the game.</p><p>As the battle started my whole left flank was almost reluctant to advance or shoot at the enemy except my Gendarmes who rode off heading for the Spanish works in glorious isolation. Dan moved up his skirmish units and fired off his guns, the Landsknechts waited patiently. Sure enough the Spanish cavalry started to advance, on my flank without hinderance and cautiously on Dan's. My artillery remained eerily silent while half of my cavalry remained rooted to the spot.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMozORBJjcEsVu4t-mN6nM1uAlAhpSP0QnMvAyDfBEF1d3al5BUvyLuPjLo7mb8uou3hvSrpKpECuCAlJGun_U_3z1IpQmUcnsaaoJj_JJ7qrao7ASXZEqvKbrV61mGz9yBqFp5R2KBODbH7RFQ4tBxTMb9e7e0RgFBI6wACgTHv462Mtw_5A8gK79NHY/s2145/AHouse%20map%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="2145" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMozORBJjcEsVu4t-mN6nM1uAlAhpSP0QnMvAyDfBEF1d3al5BUvyLuPjLo7mb8uou3hvSrpKpECuCAlJGun_U_3z1IpQmUcnsaaoJj_JJ7qrao7ASXZEqvKbrV61mGz9yBqFp5R2KBODbH7RFQ4tBxTMb9e7e0RgFBI6wACgTHv462Mtw_5A8gK79NHY/s320/AHouse%20map%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakKOKdXHRZEwV5UW6aNTDHWPru5O9-WpHENFSZVNqhJ_YC7Sm4Onyb-mFdgPfmqbbZIJ8Zp8RkiX48WMjr5fcIuMbPdhji-cai0wUP-Kk8Kb7Op2e-VMHLdblqRq489cXS2jbyneXomf1l7AUuf18C_UVxALt6HoEUGhrb58AwjjQ9BFJrXHxFKeBoRE/s3264/7900A237-921A-431B-AFED-69B6C0E2977A.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakKOKdXHRZEwV5UW6aNTDHWPru5O9-WpHENFSZVNqhJ_YC7Sm4Onyb-mFdgPfmqbbZIJ8Zp8RkiX48WMjr5fcIuMbPdhji-cai0wUP-Kk8Kb7Op2e-VMHLdblqRq489cXS2jbyneXomf1l7AUuf18C_UVxALt6HoEUGhrb58AwjjQ9BFJrXHxFKeBoRE/s320/7900A237-921A-431B-AFED-69B6C0E2977A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The battlefield.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9_qOS2eXW9ZGJhE6qpdMJdITX_Ze9_MiQ9Cmxqf21iXKGv27FR24-wp1um5a1zmn-rYlqIhnrPnLmZzWJ2y6VLwwmJmgdjIKG0C3n35nYgiLuc15nXv68xS7LQuspw1FLIpGUrnoq9Nc7O8PulbsCCbHncnCJBGUWUh6YiWC4w5TlvA6Fb8nIqjAYaI/s3264/2A692A51-845D-4100-B03F-F97256193277.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9_qOS2eXW9ZGJhE6qpdMJdITX_Ze9_MiQ9Cmxqf21iXKGv27FR24-wp1um5a1zmn-rYlqIhnrPnLmZzWJ2y6VLwwmJmgdjIKG0C3n35nYgiLuc15nXv68xS7LQuspw1FLIpGUrnoq9Nc7O8PulbsCCbHncnCJBGUWUh6YiWC4w5TlvA6Fb8nIqjAYaI/s320/2A692A51-845D-4100-B03F-F97256193277.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spanish positions.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A lacklustre fight ensued on our left and I lost several units being unable to coordinate an effective counter to the enemy cavalry advance. I saw the danger and turned my pike blocks towards my left but it was slow going. The Gendarmes smashed into the breastworks and almost, in my mind, broke through but it was not to be and they were hurled back, the second unit when it hit again tantalyzingly came close but it too was sent packing, I moved up a pike block in the hope they would be more succesful, but as they were already outclassed by their opponents this really was wishful thinking. On Dan's front the cavalry fight went too and fro and the Landsknechts reached and climbed the defences, sadly the huge pike block had been disordered and it was thrown back to recover but it would take time.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGNqMVN9nw4B8pYU1CdmhF7H2KAr3DHyWd9yVNbmoxmLw0jfF3iQ1eU5Z_UbMhS6pBKtlcZYLPi2S8zWBMRqlxcB6okqN-fFq_KZ3r3eF7x3sVEj6XeL1x3rmsCMRnG-8xYDCgOBE52DLbinCKy9xeJpLnL87wlrxcvaz56mBF35ip9UGgFMqJ-USAVc/s2145/AHouse%20map%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="2145" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGNqMVN9nw4B8pYU1CdmhF7H2KAr3DHyWd9yVNbmoxmLw0jfF3iQ1eU5Z_UbMhS6pBKtlcZYLPi2S8zWBMRqlxcB6okqN-fFq_KZ3r3eF7x3sVEj6XeL1x3rmsCMRnG-8xYDCgOBE52DLbinCKy9xeJpLnL87wlrxcvaz56mBF35ip9UGgFMqJ-USAVc/s320/AHouse%20map%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQcNsNAsSJg5hWK2-FtDgNLF7-XKLVrF4Eg4K2a5Tqy12kmDQNcIiCAx0XvC7AySMWKQHCzzYPpRTxPCG-7GM6gPl2unRnyiNt9uohqMeNL1YNGfeXpR4Ad3YUTUx4Mt4n9Wg1UyHUgQBmWVr2bwyPUyp2G1Z6DczkNZ753jHis47HjUjM-MLFssagT4/s3264/E0C6FA83-063E-4377-81E2-95B12E63ECCF.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQcNsNAsSJg5hWK2-FtDgNLF7-XKLVrF4Eg4K2a5Tqy12kmDQNcIiCAx0XvC7AySMWKQHCzzYPpRTxPCG-7GM6gPl2unRnyiNt9uohqMeNL1YNGfeXpR4Ad3YUTUx4Mt4n9Wg1UyHUgQBmWVr2bwyPUyp2G1Z6DczkNZ753jHis47HjUjM-MLFssagT4/s320/E0C6FA83-063E-4377-81E2-95B12E63ECCF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The battle opens.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6tR-sEpojxWhSSS946mtmNrs2tjr7-JVr1qIO6N9DKENNC04btOxqmAbTGK0qREo1xeFgy-Yi_0_UNfRmAPcI5tCkLtfASiB88TYkdpAteWJf-Catz4hrKOpOkw272g0zePalyfV4fPsNz7-FFmaCaGyPAOBp6dvWhDTnhk6nltGvrtCX7P6NjT7SI8/s3264/D0D9233F-D5B1-496D-88BC-E35255D32AF9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6tR-sEpojxWhSSS946mtmNrs2tjr7-JVr1qIO6N9DKENNC04btOxqmAbTGK0qREo1xeFgy-Yi_0_UNfRmAPcI5tCkLtfASiB88TYkdpAteWJf-Catz4hrKOpOkw272g0zePalyfV4fPsNz7-FFmaCaGyPAOBp6dvWhDTnhk6nltGvrtCX7P6NjT7SI8/s320/D0D9233F-D5B1-496D-88BC-E35255D32AF9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gendarmes charge.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbo0t_Cp2AIOamoJ9UMbHYalobfDR_PIWiz8hlkQ9V2Z9qV64E1JGn-Siia8aG4BEbdDjQ2ZvEtvgqYPDfYVLhKI0obY-xrexIUrH2jFUJwauFoZisLXoISEtii97dSBNRaTrvvwEf89Sg0ztVkW9c6VVE8YDb77alQ5FHtTdo6Y-wGl4WkCyZZGy9lCw/s3264/9E0D7C1F-C197-4395-B840-22EF9BFB15B7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbo0t_Cp2AIOamoJ9UMbHYalobfDR_PIWiz8hlkQ9V2Z9qV64E1JGn-Siia8aG4BEbdDjQ2ZvEtvgqYPDfYVLhKI0obY-xrexIUrH2jFUJwauFoZisLXoISEtii97dSBNRaTrvvwEf89Sg0ztVkW9c6VVE8YDb77alQ5FHtTdo6Y-wGl4WkCyZZGy9lCw/s320/9E0D7C1F-C197-4395-B840-22EF9BFB15B7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gendarmes pushed back.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Looking at ruin on my flank Julian attacked my one remaining cavalry unit with his German men-at-arms, in a total suprise to everyone the Stradiots met the attack and destroyed the Germans, maybe our luck had turned, there was sighs of disbelief from the Spanish lines. On the enemy side a unit of Jinettes had been forced to hurl themselves onto some Italian pikes, again it was an upset as the horsemen cut down the Italians, our bad luck was back.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIpkpN19B65wHMe85_IbDXE7Gs3oX0Te7gCizne6gsgRqJvDCS4pR2FZBwtzkDUyBRzhfb7ZjUjmPy7Qdx7qJgSV0g1oip_4UTBscpVrQFPIfvaQrgeCfdUJbFJB829tR0IABi_sOGZ1GNlvhkIfqsnOs5i_IvgkD8SvBAJivP4V-LapUgtTQPlKeNiE/s3264/03C69331-552E-43F2-8897-DBF023FB0548.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIpkpN19B65wHMe85_IbDXE7Gs3oX0Te7gCizne6gsgRqJvDCS4pR2FZBwtzkDUyBRzhfb7ZjUjmPy7Qdx7qJgSV0g1oip_4UTBscpVrQFPIfvaQrgeCfdUJbFJB829tR0IABi_sOGZ1GNlvhkIfqsnOs5i_IvgkD8SvBAJivP4V-LapUgtTQPlKeNiE/s320/03C69331-552E-43F2-8897-DBF023FB0548.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spanish lines.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqGHcH4N_4AxsQla36BCdbIFDz6m2KrOP4gE5fEWvU7yvzjr9RrzX2v-w-8gDSJMkb9Gyvz9mgH9OKOuokDqffh09P9KR80QkTeQYl6sOXmtYhyphenhyphengqiuT6FmquEYVEFjniBJR49eAZa07kyvvqnmgnKL1lZepamzfeCMfcqymqBFOYlOgWgW8d0ByNRh8/s3264/60A8FCF8-04A5-4B84-ADBA-D52AC30DC478.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqGHcH4N_4AxsQla36BCdbIFDz6m2KrOP4gE5fEWvU7yvzjr9RrzX2v-w-8gDSJMkb9Gyvz9mgH9OKOuokDqffh09P9KR80QkTeQYl6sOXmtYhyphenhyphengqiuT6FmquEYVEFjniBJR49eAZa07kyvvqnmgnKL1lZepamzfeCMfcqymqBFOYlOgWgW8d0ByNRh8/s320/60A8FCF8-04A5-4B84-ADBA-D52AC30DC478.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf-W9mUUq7udYDnEbsZzIki47kDeARGADkNjAhIgGjDlH4BbSn1ZiNZPFO6MpNx4DGv7JNF0fYMCRJCyyU7egzPUKwvcuTcW0x3w2bFgr_fas4hyphenhyphenr-6pbzCL-NBT-Q9KVe4nmMSVnxPuEyxfJTMiiIG42OT0rDOhI_sNeSD8EPVf_NDQifXxy_0wQjB8/s3264/F4855517-ABC6-41D2-89CE-4347748D4A69.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf-W9mUUq7udYDnEbsZzIki47kDeARGADkNjAhIgGjDlH4BbSn1ZiNZPFO6MpNx4DGv7JNF0fYMCRJCyyU7egzPUKwvcuTcW0x3w2bFgr_fas4hyphenhyphenr-6pbzCL-NBT-Q9KVe4nmMSVnxPuEyxfJTMiiIG42OT0rDOhI_sNeSD8EPVf_NDQifXxy_0wQjB8/s320/F4855517-ABC6-41D2-89CE-4347748D4A69.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landsknechts reorganise.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>We had been fighting since about 10am with a break for lunch, provided by our master chef Julian, and it was now approaching 4pm. It had become obvious we were not going to breach the Spanish defences and didn't have time to throw in another assault by the Landsknechts, which I am sure would have been succesful this time, and I will hold that thought. My left flank might have held off the remainder of the enemy light cavalry but not the infantry which were now free to advance on me, Dan had held his own and reinforcements had at last turned up but then the Italians promptly refused to move and blocked the bridge and anyone else from turning up.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvTK2kcfKrsKJkSfMa9n0Fve9Obh-WHcHN_yTl9vZ3FgSNpJKtGAR7Q-tVqDTsPQQkukvHE9hPcSpttzxTUqVZwGEyGp0WDfgANVTFYvmV89vJU4FzErWCkJavAIN-AAX3UAF7h-2TdzBSqcHX3RBZSuYfzu4XbVdPc9OgggxofmcRWxbt3vCBZKJmD0/s2145/AHouse%20map%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="2145" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvTK2kcfKrsKJkSfMa9n0Fve9Obh-WHcHN_yTl9vZ3FgSNpJKtGAR7Q-tVqDTsPQQkukvHE9hPcSpttzxTUqVZwGEyGp0WDfgANVTFYvmV89vJU4FzErWCkJavAIN-AAX3UAF7h-2TdzBSqcHX3RBZSuYfzu4XbVdPc9OgggxofmcRWxbt3vCBZKJmD0/s320/AHouse%20map%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTcjT689RDrpY-ozMpKzI_8cZvUQBqgA6fUmnnbOfS5ndtIrwHHMVAz108Epvu9q_XHjLLhcAE5gEi4poiVuwneq34xCg33bEQ9zGlj4yfVfUgLYQWXEb9sfiw6bEZuvrdV8AOTR5-LWF3Hw-vZq3GV35A-owwHReMJGzTmSFWy_76m5ns3MEIi9wJjM/s3264/CB3AD6E5-3F58-4B5D-AE82-C637E6200935.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTcjT689RDrpY-ozMpKzI_8cZvUQBqgA6fUmnnbOfS5ndtIrwHHMVAz108Epvu9q_XHjLLhcAE5gEi4poiVuwneq34xCg33bEQ9zGlj4yfVfUgLYQWXEb9sfiw6bEZuvrdV8AOTR5-LWF3Hw-vZq3GV35A-owwHReMJGzTmSFWy_76m5ns3MEIi9wJjM/s320/CB3AD6E5-3F58-4B5D-AE82-C637E6200935.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end is nigh.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p> What about the 'Act of God' I hear you cry, well it was 'Grim Reaper' and it hit me and caused me to lose a cavalry unit, we had a couple of Hazards, one would have been disaster had one of the armies had Swiss and the other caused one of my skirmish cavalry units to change sides. All this had a dire effect on my plans married to the moan below. <br /></p><p>I had a dig at 'Lucky Jim' above but my own die luck was abysmal and Dan's I think was not much better, my gun which was to enfilade the enemy cavalry fired on the last turn of the game and.... missed!</p><p>It was good to have more players and the 'new' guys brought up a couple of points in the rules which had been missed by Julian and I, a case of more cooks didn't spoil the broth. I think that the size of the game was about as much as Furioso could handle if everyone knows the rules, they would struggle with anything larger, having said that my table probably would not handle anything larger comfortably. I also do not think it would work well with more than four players, it could possibly be done if one side moved all its sixes first then the other etc. But we are nowhere near that stage yet.</p><p>A good day helped by the company, Julian's posh soup, Stewart's lager, Dan's forebearance and my wifes patience.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOumhly98dNdQiq1-B8IY-EIwXUTJ7OHB1TmdUaH2amp88mrkvhMatfFGadNlRnsBFhqivOsBLaeRBZK4s5mJ9xXEe6NwNgT5ebUfZXFJMI8Mq60PSsJOHMQgtn6XG-W_nI4W3OCgM5ozhkDcbLGC8v-x5G2TA3HX9Zbu54O0tUBNkTaQRiNSWnzL7Ks/s390/49bd4e_f7382f874cdd477992883f10a674fd26~mv2.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="390" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOumhly98dNdQiq1-B8IY-EIwXUTJ7OHB1TmdUaH2amp88mrkvhMatfFGadNlRnsBFhqivOsBLaeRBZK4s5mJ9xXEe6NwNgT5ebUfZXFJMI8Mq60PSsJOHMQgtn6XG-W_nI4W3OCgM5ozhkDcbLGC8v-x5G2TA3HX9Zbu54O0tUBNkTaQRiNSWnzL7Ks/s320/49bd4e_f7382f874cdd477992883f10a674fd26~mv2.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br />George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-55537014677359784282023-10-04T21:07:00.002+01:002023-10-04T21:07:55.974+01:00There's thousands of 'em.<p> I have noticed several pieces recently on just how many historical wargamers there are, personally I am surrounded by quite a few, always have been so I have never given it much thought as long as I can find someone to play the odd game. Things also seem fairly healthy by the amount of stuff I can buy for the troops, from dinner plates and tankards to a scaled down copy of the Reichstag circa Berlin 1945. New ranges abound along with a boom in 3D printing which I think is the future despite being wedded to metal. The figure arrived at was around 50,000, which may seem like a lot but up against 900,000 anglers pales into insignificance, even the train spotters are in six figures despite the things being characterless these days. Does it really matter, not really, I file it under the same guff that we need to grow the hobby or get more females interested, or more diversity etc. you are either a wargamer or you are not that's the only thing that matters.</p><p>The big news of course is that the Atlas I have worked on for the last three or more years has at last been published and I have recieved several complimentary copies as my name appears on the cover. I had finished the maps a long time ago so apart from tweaking my job was done. The book looks very good, a coffee table tome to adorne any bijou reading room, which of course we all have. You can find details <a href="https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/atlas-of-the-battles-and-campaigns-of-the-american-revolution-1775-1783-.php" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Fi6b2XQI2Y_U7Gx-Zm4fJmgZdxWAhI50tbSY_a3kMRRLQO2ftrGYdvWxQ2RcIrZ5XkIFpQFIs-x_4CF4AcgClmHZ5dGgtg6xLru1Je80pOUQQW0T_auzC6I9p4JAoF2eDmBSJus3LUaiS59_Jc8LewUklIWDAtITDaRaLMY9VV7Noumvrf_lA5DLRJQ/s3264/60F605B9-DC7F-43EC-BAE8-C2E8E134687B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Fi6b2XQI2Y_U7Gx-Zm4fJmgZdxWAhI50tbSY_a3kMRRLQO2ftrGYdvWxQ2RcIrZ5XkIFpQFIs-x_4CF4AcgClmHZ5dGgtg6xLru1Je80pOUQQW0T_auzC6I9p4JAoF2eDmBSJus3LUaiS59_Jc8LewUklIWDAtITDaRaLMY9VV7Noumvrf_lA5DLRJQ/s320/60F605B9-DC7F-43EC-BAE8-C2E8E134687B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I had another Italian Wars game at the club this week, I will not wax lyrical as you will no doubt be fed up of Italian Wars, also it was only an introductory game for Simon, the period does not play well on a typical 6x4 with only a fraction of the forces sitting in reserve in the War Room. Anyway I was the Imperials and although the cavalry action on the wings was inconclusive I lost my two pike blocks so was on a hiding to nowhere.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ltO6HRrAus-exHMbX7ipLEFV5DQYjGord0_6I6shyphenhyphenO6L6RCWWybaJ2mcInyGe3AOxiHOqrLsASjyU9q1_M5YBgetu46x83bumhR3gqcapITiTJFNsHW0iyZJa01c3wYLAc7wo5Q79u_OSxSHBGDO937pt5DNAOHHFqx-JR9GyN_hdip8EUj7j9jzT2o/s4032/CEDE4151-1E91-463D-B70B-7C9774EEA7B9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ltO6HRrAus-exHMbX7ipLEFV5DQYjGord0_6I6shyphenhyphenO6L6RCWWybaJ2mcInyGe3AOxiHOqrLsASjyU9q1_M5YBgetu46x83bumhR3gqcapITiTJFNsHW0iyZJa01c3wYLAc7wo5Q79u_OSxSHBGDO937pt5DNAOHHFqx-JR9GyN_hdip8EUj7j9jzT2o/s320/CEDE4151-1E91-463D-B70B-7C9774EEA7B9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I have managed once again to add more troops to the Imperial army, a unit of German men-at-arms and have taken delivery of more cavalry and the last pike block to keep me going now the nights are fair closing in. This leaves a couple of cavalry units still to get but they can wait.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvBu4ynSGnRzY4MII4pAXSN09PwdRjag6dTgsBJ0leLzZcdUtcoXCrJpJKWwbZ_ShDAlXW8Y_vAawBvO7siDbnnRlpiTFFtYxvaXN_cPzM5y9o3hirKrW-mqPYRP9qrOiN_1fsQcTbSwwXyoUnY4kux7bX2IeY8uyzxqDLz-HH5epRiPEcbmKXDszc9Q/s3264/1D5F9F3E-5D4E-4420-93F7-76EEF2307489.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvBu4ynSGnRzY4MII4pAXSN09PwdRjag6dTgsBJ0leLzZcdUtcoXCrJpJKWwbZ_ShDAlXW8Y_vAawBvO7siDbnnRlpiTFFtYxvaXN_cPzM5y9o3hirKrW-mqPYRP9qrOiN_1fsQcTbSwwXyoUnY4kux7bX2IeY8uyzxqDLz-HH5epRiPEcbmKXDszc9Q/s320/1D5F9F3E-5D4E-4420-93F7-76EEF2307489.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhopx8cY5NmOaFhpsdsTA7vGDythyea5DwGuWZ-wyOaEwKnpbDgbQiKCHDzh1QzPKotnpebPdLcBrDz3mLw_tOTKNha9SqDvPRVXgAaQpR_QZGShr_ILxj7aFm2uZNT0KWJZ_iaCY9-PReDq9805CElBtFMSxi23rGNNGivh6-cEuoDYnzeqI8UCpITM/s3264/A9397091-1F2F-4014-AB8E-B084D04FD480.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhopx8cY5NmOaFhpsdsTA7vGDythyea5DwGuWZ-wyOaEwKnpbDgbQiKCHDzh1QzPKotnpebPdLcBrDz3mLw_tOTKNha9SqDvPRVXgAaQpR_QZGShr_ILxj7aFm2uZNT0KWJZ_iaCY9-PReDq9805CElBtFMSxi23rGNNGivh6-cEuoDYnzeqI8UCpITM/s320/A9397091-1F2F-4014-AB8E-B084D04FD480.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Apart from that everything is fairly quiet as winter approaches, I am ticking over with map projects and have finished several commissions outwith my work for Helion.</p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-2450234913141589672023-09-27T11:09:00.006+01:002023-09-27T11:09:40.937+01:00The Lilies Triumphant<p> A quiet day ahead, no large map projects, some tweaking to do with a couple but nothing else except wait for Storm Agnes, what used to be known as bad weather, at least it will keep the weathermen happy while BBC reporters don wellies and look for puddles to stand in and 16 year old females howl that the end is nigh.<br /></p><p>No club last night, the school was having a sixth form meet for parents or some such and therefore parking was going to be at a premium, so we decided to give it a miss, I therefore offered a game here in the even more spacious budding War Room. It was going to be Italian Wars as I missed last months game with Julian due to his work schedule, it was a four player battle French vs Imperial/Spanish, Jimi and I were Imperials and Dan and Fran were the French. The sides were equal in units but quite different in the make up of the forces, the French infantry was slightly inferior to the Imperial foot but they had a Swiss pike block to make up for it, their cavalry was superior to the Imperial horse but with a little bit of luck that could be handled. It was a simple game as Dan had not played before and Jimi and Fran had had only one small introductory game at the club, there was a crossroads in the centre of the open battlefield which one side or the other had to capture.</p><p>We split the armies into two divisions each, I was opposite Dan while Jimi held our right flank, Dan had held back his Italian pike so I saw an opportunity to race forward and assault his Landsknechts before the cautious Italians could intervene, he also left one of his gendarme units in the rear mistakenly taking them for less armoured Archers, so I also felt that as I had the one elite cavalry unit in our army I could take on and beat his advanced cavalry. On my right Jimi also advanced quickly with his infantry while his cavalry were slowed down due to an annoying hill to their front.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gw4BuEiWYJCHtxE459y1gR5zkNAPfqYiwmTol6-iW3dTAcX_u-nrqrwzDyK3fa1s7Z-6mC3CBLUl-oL0i-OJZQYwue-F3GJ3pVQSKX0wupyGtjUjZStKb2N1UixuTpmnvTxOHafbKGoJDMil9H_mOksNZLO_1yAhjlksF0vksZnInvhLCQHV4tr6MAQ/s2145/AHouse%20map%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="2145" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gw4BuEiWYJCHtxE459y1gR5zkNAPfqYiwmTol6-iW3dTAcX_u-nrqrwzDyK3fa1s7Z-6mC3CBLUl-oL0i-OJZQYwue-F3GJ3pVQSKX0wupyGtjUjZStKb2N1UixuTpmnvTxOHafbKGoJDMil9H_mOksNZLO_1yAhjlksF0vksZnInvhLCQHV4tr6MAQ/s320/AHouse%20map%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv67AvU2BE8-t3Cb6hqyt4OXTdvDmRhieaSfaZKWA1wMv0y583DChF9QdrKR9esngIVAnVlwltD9WQ2_ks1gVGad3_OUbLJxFdngIDpllhtaECMjgqrpK-878OnUjduhzSoNFRuBUiXFWcPuJ2DMi9msnWR01yyz4nY53j0BEt27kRnlPmZzoG1bBPwE/s3264/8866D372-A2BD-4C0E-875B-FDC9B6BC8DEA.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv67AvU2BE8-t3Cb6hqyt4OXTdvDmRhieaSfaZKWA1wMv0y583DChF9QdrKR9esngIVAnVlwltD9WQ2_ks1gVGad3_OUbLJxFdngIDpllhtaECMjgqrpK-878OnUjduhzSoNFRuBUiXFWcPuJ2DMi9msnWR01yyz4nY53j0BEt27kRnlPmZzoG1bBPwE/s320/8866D372-A2BD-4C0E-875B-FDC9B6BC8DEA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimi's infantry.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-EJ7Nt2laobXKcexGDXG2iOe0G4Wqg2Gf7Aey6ThExgVqF1AqGNAdix3YLWtoZ5q-4Tv-B2HJ6BZc8sE7nXwscmfAWx_rLIDTorFirP377BSeRegJy6PkvtQb7Wl2TZTSrNSIFSsAdavkA4kqK7KTJaUPcjldkURjJ-JFNudoB7xDMJjzMKUOLOnsM0/s3264/52B3C411-DD73-43F3-92DE-09C629A6A506.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-EJ7Nt2laobXKcexGDXG2iOe0G4Wqg2Gf7Aey6ThExgVqF1AqGNAdix3YLWtoZ5q-4Tv-B2HJ6BZc8sE7nXwscmfAWx_rLIDTorFirP377BSeRegJy6PkvtQb7Wl2TZTSrNSIFSsAdavkA4kqK7KTJaUPcjldkURjJ-JFNudoB7xDMJjzMKUOLOnsM0/s320/52B3C411-DD73-43F3-92DE-09C629A6A506.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imperial left flank.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oG3czdDH4TNnrNnMmINcpjdKwkjXx7wqunXp4GUtS3loFfi0fNYHTZ21jWdy-qYC6Qss4CazjrTV4099XHPl35-eITylKG6wBIOOw_cvNt8qQHG5ijQQd_cP7xRnHHbyRKOqo5JwE3OdGGCGWsLNNgyp_LkIdHGa3iNUYFg8-XILqcGvZ3Ntn_R6wwg/s3264/36B40DD9-BFBE-420B-9D1A-1201082ED562.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oG3czdDH4TNnrNnMmINcpjdKwkjXx7wqunXp4GUtS3loFfi0fNYHTZ21jWdy-qYC6Qss4CazjrTV4099XHPl35-eITylKG6wBIOOw_cvNt8qQHG5ijQQd_cP7xRnHHbyRKOqo5JwE3OdGGCGWsLNNgyp_LkIdHGa3iNUYFg8-XILqcGvZ3Ntn_R6wwg/s320/36B40DD9-BFBE-420B-9D1A-1201082ED562.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swiss advance while Old Band wait.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The Imperial army received a Papal blessing so advanced confidently as the battle opened, the French artillery opened up and handed out some heavy losses to Jimi's Landsknechts, a bad start, nonetheless his men drove on. My cavalry were soon in action against Dan's gendarmes and for a moment, just a moment it looked like things were going to plan, then disaster struck and my elite cavalry were destroyed while the others were held up and losing the fight. On the right our plan to put some hurt into the Swiss before they came to blows was in disarray, Jimi's artillery, skirmish screens and Spanish shot failed miserably to inflict casualties on the burghers from the mountains. The best mercenaries in Europe smashed into the Spanish pike block and quickly routed it, this loss caused the nearby Landsknechts to stop their advance and retire, Plan A had failed. Nearby Fran and Jimi's cavalry now clashed and this went too and fro but eventually the French won the upper hand.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiLOmqMA4wDrwsWj6tOtaCl6FkBJFipwT4x2ciSXfw21GzORYLQ6ZpYiEPOxy9J-_dz4YaI7HwgiXvo-0JxCX2FAbZ3UT0MKljA-C7FuBlV6-DZDlPH2n4eup-PNRdBqs2xt87JhpoG_BJ0lYUQJo892QJPoO7Dw7wckwWyXqLBZaxKCLc4Cq8Ah-hM8/s3264/AC4B5EDC-C9CD-4886-9265-072809EEDA52.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiLOmqMA4wDrwsWj6tOtaCl6FkBJFipwT4x2ciSXfw21GzORYLQ6ZpYiEPOxy9J-_dz4YaI7HwgiXvo-0JxCX2FAbZ3UT0MKljA-C7FuBlV6-DZDlPH2n4eup-PNRdBqs2xt87JhpoG_BJ0lYUQJo892QJPoO7Dw7wckwWyXqLBZaxKCLc4Cq8Ah-hM8/s320/AC4B5EDC-C9CD-4886-9265-072809EEDA52.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French and Imperial Landsknechts clash.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSrI5c0M6MGaHJMWjXubtjXlfukOVdUdUVqwjmw6r_Cjd8Oqa7UxZ-VzZMCIR2VhBbd36b1OPG6x5Mlj3ATekPug5xG0l7tQ7PTrgslrfooMUKtqPbTZZjClfSM6ViOuVxgwUdye7QAATvu9q1oyJfO7YbtXjVpRMaMM51SWm2dC6d36n3jFxzjzDzL0/s3264/753BD0A5-C79D-46BA-BF25-8262DFE07FC4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSrI5c0M6MGaHJMWjXubtjXlfukOVdUdUVqwjmw6r_Cjd8Oqa7UxZ-VzZMCIR2VhBbd36b1OPG6x5Mlj3ATekPug5xG0l7tQ7PTrgslrfooMUKtqPbTZZjClfSM6ViOuVxgwUdye7QAATvu9q1oyJfO7YbtXjVpRMaMM51SWm2dC6d36n3jFxzjzDzL0/s320/753BD0A5-C79D-46BA-BF25-8262DFE07FC4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Band still skulking.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYgdfDN_pel8VdUdYC5R4f2NnDqhV8zKuh277H2pZiGE6v61SxKZSD-LBG_hqwl3Ti80z0dwLrMEFGyN-mI2g5lnrj2w56RSOUgOjla2xPNfADqXrbI_cdgBp19z7xoQ89vowyfOcecdsS7iUn653-a1roTxbMnUrYAzWhAED7LxSvLUZSf_DhoxnXs0/s3264/B094A144-48EB-4595-B62E-2A6D50D7F8FB.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYgdfDN_pel8VdUdYC5R4f2NnDqhV8zKuh277H2pZiGE6v61SxKZSD-LBG_hqwl3Ti80z0dwLrMEFGyN-mI2g5lnrj2w56RSOUgOjla2xPNfADqXrbI_cdgBp19z7xoQ89vowyfOcecdsS7iUn653-a1roTxbMnUrYAzWhAED7LxSvLUZSf_DhoxnXs0/s320/B094A144-48EB-4595-B62E-2A6D50D7F8FB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just before the end.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><p></p><p>I had now managed get one of my pike formations into action but it was a hard slog, my cavalry were in a mess and then the hard fighting pikes were hit in the flank by cavalry sent over by Fran, this was the death knell of the army, the Imperials had shot their bolt and could now only react as the still largely untouched French army swamped the battlefield.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QjKO5LW986hPjVdnoCwkOYenBe_J57rB_ophE5EnEeP8oNHAdfY_v4Ac1FTX0-56jgf1rDc_KnCQt0X3PgxQhvMF2_fLMSrAGJsam08JQv8QU1lJLKaHzReHjD_jIp3T6DgSGOWRdeN2sFuyas43Dql43ur0YTWcWUhBTtP7BrGGvA5BBsZe55oIkEA/s3264/CF5EBFA1-3490-487E-8568-BF0DD2C9CA11.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QjKO5LW986hPjVdnoCwkOYenBe_J57rB_ophE5EnEeP8oNHAdfY_v4Ac1FTX0-56jgf1rDc_KnCQt0X3PgxQhvMF2_fLMSrAGJsam08JQv8QU1lJLKaHzReHjD_jIp3T6DgSGOWRdeN2sFuyas43Dql43ur0YTWcWUhBTtP7BrGGvA5BBsZe55oIkEA/s320/CF5EBFA1-3490-487E-8568-BF0DD2C9CA11.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Useless French artillery (Jimi's)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmlT4QGKuGJG-X1wqFNRF34jhwyPxelFOR0tsjKLwo_tHxzMom9SJ9sE7S9t8c7G5Au0b0ltjB0j64zBDO4Zb9dkrJR_pXzV81EJ0GXkpwowDh6wMC7yvzuXHnbFVRBjMMLaV085At18D8HHM-N7JnvmGeKq-06M0M8VFk0mr01nRft6EjzOVvPDuHhE/s3264/3CDB4BA8-44B1-4021-B4AA-6872826B6ACC.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmlT4QGKuGJG-X1wqFNRF34jhwyPxelFOR0tsjKLwo_tHxzMom9SJ9sE7S9t8c7G5Au0b0ltjB0j64zBDO4Zb9dkrJR_pXzV81EJ0GXkpwowDh6wMC7yvzuXHnbFVRBjMMLaV085At18D8HHM-N7JnvmGeKq-06M0M8VFk0mr01nRft6EjzOVvPDuHhE/s320/3CDB4BA8-44B1-4021-B4AA-6872826B6ACC.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triumphant Swiss.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>And there you have it, a great game and a lovely wargaming spectacle. I had been hoping for a little luck for my cavalry and didn't get it, on my other flank Fran's incredible die luck was the complete opposite of Jimi's. Our plan to shoot up the Swiss as they advanced was a disaster while the French artillery in contrast knocked lumps out of our infantry. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvJXlsh6cYyaovqSZwU23sd8jlUkmq5HmnKxe304G0vT5hx2TGb37bHf1nbCBEPecPzYGXGHNCGO9s8vCZmHpJasFY4789Y3TrO8fj_KoJTikWPV1TOVg2jrj8U_61LSDcdOSxKBRm6sn8DehoZPSGDjveNZ5WvlnxSEdTGHvSe4_vpXhzcAdOAVqtnk/s2145/AHouse%20map%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2145" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvJXlsh6cYyaovqSZwU23sd8jlUkmq5HmnKxe304G0vT5hx2TGb37bHf1nbCBEPecPzYGXGHNCGO9s8vCZmHpJasFY4789Y3TrO8fj_KoJTikWPV1TOVg2jrj8U_61LSDcdOSxKBRm6sn8DehoZPSGDjveNZ5WvlnxSEdTGHvSe4_vpXhzcAdOAVqtnk/s320/AHouse%20map%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>In other news I finished a second unit of Jinettes/Ginets for the Imperials, light cavalry have still to make their mark on my battlefields and I am not sure they ever will in stand up fights. I also took stock of where I am with the Imperial army, I needed one more pike block and quite a few cavalry units so these were ordered and are on their way, the pikes arrived from Wargames Foundry yesterday. My favourite heavy cavalry types from Steel Fist are out of stock and Simon is unwell so I turned to the Perry's for these, I have went for the metal Scurrours from their Wars of the Roses range which I think will do, I have one unit on the way and if they are OK I will get some more to finish the army off. Casting Room Miniatures do a heavy cavalry type figure but it is not up to standard and is quite wooden and mainly unarmoured. The use of plastic even jumped into my mind, but thankfully only for a few nanoseconds, although I suppose I could drill out the plastic lance and replace with metal, but only in the most dire of cirumstances.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDSxZ5H875z0VNEdKmHDOiR-JUHUTXLsSQwXVxfWXyKuZQ_4NWYc3F1DM71IybqIG34-N9cRAftx1_g11OoBnbkzYiUn4idLAbm-v1rGe9B3KcXIq0NaedFsF4sruFTnqk1eRvcMMcrvAxerux_VABNNXa3hc7u7ZY0mCdup2Qf6vouE5FbUcqRpd9I8/s3264/F8B3C619-2286-4728-BBA6-C3755688ABD2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDSxZ5H875z0VNEdKmHDOiR-JUHUTXLsSQwXVxfWXyKuZQ_4NWYc3F1DM71IybqIG34-N9cRAftx1_g11OoBnbkzYiUn4idLAbm-v1rGe9B3KcXIq0NaedFsF4sruFTnqk1eRvcMMcrvAxerux_VABNNXa3hc7u7ZY0mCdup2Qf6vouE5FbUcqRpd9I8/s320/F8B3C619-2286-4728-BBA6-C3755688ABD2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRv9wSdkOcrnhVMCQDAYlRMhrZAxuyECygqmFJlCBrw2UpmSAqF3R9bkn6A6QM_sv8jbzHndnbWVSIukoUVS5wBl40TFzh0BrBslAMPc4vWGAOsVNNAzoHwXUKl8cnsDE6oFbPq8qCKynzUJZGAOxr0R-On0iDQBEGrvYKZlly7GrzyCpAT3uo6E2duxM/s3264/0863A9DD-A167-4EF8-A72F-553E7EDF4001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRv9wSdkOcrnhVMCQDAYlRMhrZAxuyECygqmFJlCBrw2UpmSAqF3R9bkn6A6QM_sv8jbzHndnbWVSIukoUVS5wBl40TFzh0BrBslAMPc4vWGAOsVNNAzoHwXUKl8cnsDE6oFbPq8qCKynzUJZGAOxr0R-On0iDQBEGrvYKZlly7GrzyCpAT3uo6E2duxM/s320/0863A9DD-A167-4EF8-A72F-553E7EDF4001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Not a lot on the cards at the moment, mate Matt Crump is recovering so no games here or in Penrith for the moment, nothing else planned for the war room for now and I have guests over the next couple of weekends (I think) so only weekdays are free for now. Italian Wars albeit much smaller will be at the club next week against Simon.<br /></p><p>The dice below were left behind as Jimi left last night, they are for sale although the 1, 2 and 3 facings will need refurbished while the 4, 5 and 6 facings are like new.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsxK9_x9s9DjSSp0SjrxOBffxcNW0RSoLppRRI4wtTtcklPrJYgEOwl7Aob5n4fiPAxyZj_jcmJkEBzolEwmcQaNuPuNKWxKhY4mI5wm2yguw5GpV_hVAi8qceI0DSgxrniTkAg4i4CPWq_y2tAm19JzKIk4Td0SFeUjDYGrQ_pETaWPDFGPhame23zc/s3264/5E0C8AD2-C448-4332-88A6-EBDB0648309C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsxK9_x9s9DjSSp0SjrxOBffxcNW0RSoLppRRI4wtTtcklPrJYgEOwl7Aob5n4fiPAxyZj_jcmJkEBzolEwmcQaNuPuNKWxKhY4mI5wm2yguw5GpV_hVAi8qceI0DSgxrniTkAg4i4CPWq_y2tAm19JzKIk4Td0SFeUjDYGrQ_pETaWPDFGPhame23zc/s320/5E0C8AD2-C448-4332-88A6-EBDB0648309C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-77152922416519409742023-09-20T11:03:00.002+01:002023-09-20T11:03:42.569+01:00Up Against it.<p> Bolt Action last week, it was supposed to be Dux Britaniarrum, and I wanted to try something new, I am trying to get all my WWII stuff on the table at least once, so I decided to take my Volksgrenadiers, beautiful figures from Empress Miniatures. I did some research into these guys and you can field an Assault Platoon or a Rifle Platoon for Chain of Command or the same in Bolt Action with a bit of jigging about, BA only gives them as inexperienced, this is not quite right but I went that route anyway.<br /><br />My whole force was inexperienced, I took four squads all armed with assault rifles apart from the LMG team, I also gave two of the squads a halftrack. Neither CoC or Bolt Action seem to know what to do with these vehicles and the rules are pants, but I wanted to get my men into action quickly and with added support from the LMG in the 251, and no, I don't allow a transport to get lifted simply because someone unfriendly is close by. I was playing 'Bad Luck' Jimi with British, he had an elite Commando squad and three others supported by a sniper, mortar (no FOO), an AT gun and a Sherman. Did I mention my support was a Hetzer?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0xgouhpw4Sg728WsE_9_lefcEQ-mK5txbvF5bF0_4FbDOKVa_z3twRSbRjWLaaAIaXzlU4uKYAA0b71EhLqd3q-MjcdS_j8Z4OZSz7NTFug0YPjd94cHBG6ZtDSRBwNadTO1vVTMWQjMg6KL6CBLUewtb6F2dY98qWuyzriylMMqDAWWOs_DZC8WIAA/s4032/363C55AC-7431-4553-AD99-B96AF2F6E2CD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0xgouhpw4Sg728WsE_9_lefcEQ-mK5txbvF5bF0_4FbDOKVa_z3twRSbRjWLaaAIaXzlU4uKYAA0b71EhLqd3q-MjcdS_j8Z4OZSz7NTFug0YPjd94cHBG6ZtDSRBwNadTO1vVTMWQjMg6KL6CBLUewtb6F2dY98qWuyzriylMMqDAWWOs_DZC8WIAA/s320/363C55AC-7431-4553-AD99-B96AF2F6E2CD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQW8FWyTJUA5VkP08f1VUEb0s4AdC75KeVoRpqW4DsVVknxLx7Mo9Srs8zrJRYvODt7rjQ-N9aF0UeKOFIswzpFNTGKHgH_XBa63J2cAJ6oazwMk6sgLnKqCiCZr5W7zR-1pyq3bI3j1RSm8gY8_PBDTBz9-SKqvd_PJ5ngi2RM7joXSe0CL60Frc4Wuc/s4032/4A75A9C3-ADB6-43E9-879E-2293688DAABD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQW8FWyTJUA5VkP08f1VUEb0s4AdC75KeVoRpqW4DsVVknxLx7Mo9Srs8zrJRYvODt7rjQ-N9aF0UeKOFIswzpFNTGKHgH_XBa63J2cAJ6oazwMk6sgLnKqCiCZr5W7zR-1pyq3bI3j1RSm8gY8_PBDTBz9-SKqvd_PJ5ngi2RM7joXSe0CL60Frc4Wuc/s320/4A75A9C3-ADB6-43E9-879E-2293688DAABD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>There were five objectives roughly along the centre line, two of which were very close to our own table edge so there would be a fight for the remaining three. I quickly deployed my halftrack and ran my intial troops forward as fast as I could to narrow the range to the enemy, I had warned Jimi that I was taking Volksgrenadiers but he hadn't done his homework and on he came. I opened up and the British began to take horrendous casualties from the assault rifles, I suffered the odd hit from the sniper and thankfully the mortar began a trek across the battlefield to get a shot in, not having an observer. The Sherman and the anti-tank gun turned up, I managed to keep away from the AT gun but the Sherman started lobbing shells at my boys in the centre, not very well as it turned out, sadly it was approaching the squad which had lost its panzerfaust, "Hans, don't touch it, it is dangerous and Herman ist kaput" (no one picks it up in BA of course, yet children and old women could use one). I digress, my Hetzer crew had decided not to turn up until turn four and duly missed with their first shot, in return they were stunned by a reply from the Sherman. Having got the range they did not miss with their second shot and the Sherman went up in flames.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHbj5B6GJZYqpz2DK9GILt4sk7xxJxHjcJthzrhDMJCj-FjvY-cavsSnzAurID7lBmGkJs-2hoNSkObtjtAKmGfUmIIwLUgmHcWVH_gBWxkWGmyIxLfYhJ_2qsVHnmfd_AkmtRRRq5rv4WY_HhVTvTKL7EZtpI3PYn1EaAKON2WSm6rPTPn3oA2cU_3Q/s4032/5821CDCB-5A6D-46E5-9906-94CC8AF2935D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHbj5B6GJZYqpz2DK9GILt4sk7xxJxHjcJthzrhDMJCj-FjvY-cavsSnzAurID7lBmGkJs-2hoNSkObtjtAKmGfUmIIwLUgmHcWVH_gBWxkWGmyIxLfYhJ_2qsVHnmfd_AkmtRRRq5rv4WY_HhVTvTKL7EZtpI3PYn1EaAKON2WSm6rPTPn3oA2cU_3Q/s320/5821CDCB-5A6D-46E5-9906-94CC8AF2935D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYo1yfuwNSJaEQTkgNiZZiVv9YBu5NHT8faS2bzrXOxyrfqKWLEsg33jK3DIaSlAPSJE2aZWpCUphXPsL8kGqafOcFqQVa2ClJPK33UsA8ufVYbodXeijuPXXUklgxb3NEr5i1sOCxhsg7lLnmJhOZHoJX1wpB4P2XaMLHmRsId-3jctPSn8XPiCqZYk/s4032/210C8D27-D1A2-4284-A12B-DA332FACDDC5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYo1yfuwNSJaEQTkgNiZZiVv9YBu5NHT8faS2bzrXOxyrfqKWLEsg33jK3DIaSlAPSJE2aZWpCUphXPsL8kGqafOcFqQVa2ClJPK33UsA8ufVYbodXeijuPXXUklgxb3NEr5i1sOCxhsg7lLnmJhOZHoJX1wpB4P2XaMLHmRsId-3jctPSn8XPiCqZYk/s320/210C8D27-D1A2-4284-A12B-DA332FACDDC5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbiBL8DAKhzgxOGF_ympCRrDA7XNp1DZne_WpwAu85pnkzum7JYc9vMCJr9lleUQW9J2Lxmqse_7H66mspZAvSzg1Op6aAX6U4bbrbmgDUrTQZ0tAhYdeAzy6G70Ufvcqngci_fJzULR8hrYdQNaVOKt2p0v0Vo5wYquHMzb6nS1nSeJ1lF5-3qBw4uY/s4032/68BDC97A-DD8B-4AE2-BD56-14402489C324.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbiBL8DAKhzgxOGF_ympCRrDA7XNp1DZne_WpwAu85pnkzum7JYc9vMCJr9lleUQW9J2Lxmqse_7H66mspZAvSzg1Op6aAX6U4bbrbmgDUrTQZ0tAhYdeAzy6G70Ufvcqngci_fJzULR8hrYdQNaVOKt2p0v0Vo5wYquHMzb6nS1nSeJ1lF5-3qBw4uY/s320/68BDC97A-DD8B-4AE2-BD56-14402489C324.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>By this time I was doing very well on my left and Jimi was losing units at an alarming rate, in the centre I rushed for the mid objective past the flaming tank so that we both contested it. It was turn five and the British were suffering at least 60% casualties as the Volksgrenadiers turned their right flank and the Hetzer was about to run amok on the left. We shook hands and called it a day, true to form Jimi had some bad dice luck on several occasions while I was fairly average. I had managed to keep my infantry in cover until they could use their assault rifles to overwhelm the smaller British squads and teams, despite them being easier to kill Jimi did not have a great deal of success in that endeavour.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzibioFg6Vqad3BKxuiwz8sgwln-JcQ-JgaaR60EMnFbn9Nkv5rt3AstPBf_OreRNkqOMu1jgAhMZfMgh_BiSKyVmZNjTzNyffftw1SPiocTVLu3LuyhglJdEYS6saQ4Rzm9GbsEtlMvRRvkttf64hX3g2j-Fng1a6GD_sJ41oPiTt61LbtSLMjs-kkQ/s4032/CF4426AD-1FD3-4EFF-8CDA-F767A3A25E3C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzibioFg6Vqad3BKxuiwz8sgwln-JcQ-JgaaR60EMnFbn9Nkv5rt3AstPBf_OreRNkqOMu1jgAhMZfMgh_BiSKyVmZNjTzNyffftw1SPiocTVLu3LuyhglJdEYS6saQ4Rzm9GbsEtlMvRRvkttf64hX3g2j-Fng1a6GD_sJ41oPiTt61LbtSLMjs-kkQ/s320/CF4426AD-1FD3-4EFF-8CDA-F767A3A25E3C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-2fbWjv8wX8r9GgmR2bbLNjQv7DfkeCbnmEAcQwhEvZras4PhXoycdGZoOWAIGgJUyN3wlkX6I23u4EssNux9ac4a7hygUtsMcvLMQ8G-Gva0kG_d3Csw_FnAZWixiHgDbCc8NwKXv3Guf983quOneNbfZP-IWC40Sy70dcN48lAVXsM5wTR31kh05E/s4032/CAA9FEF1-2A76-4086-A6C3-C0E35F76238B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-2fbWjv8wX8r9GgmR2bbLNjQv7DfkeCbnmEAcQwhEvZras4PhXoycdGZoOWAIGgJUyN3wlkX6I23u4EssNux9ac4a7hygUtsMcvLMQ8G-Gva0kG_d3Csw_FnAZWixiHgDbCc8NwKXv3Guf983quOneNbfZP-IWC40Sy70dcN48lAVXsM5wTR31kh05E/s320/CAA9FEF1-2A76-4086-A6C3-C0E35F76238B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I took a break from painting Italian Wars and built my new Rubicon kits. I managed to get two versions of the T-26 by not sticking the top deck with the turret on to the hull, I can now have it as the twin turret MG version or another 45mm single turret, I have one already, there is a bit of a bad fit with the vision plate on the front left, I noticed this on my original tank as well, it is a bit more pronounced on this model as I wanted the decks to be swopped, I will live with it, just. The 250/7 mortar carrier is a lovely little model, you also get a spare mortar and crew to dismount, but I didn't want them, the whole point was to have it mobile. When I questioned its use in Chain of Command I was told because of the scale it would be off table, damn, money down the drain I thought, but then a nice gentleman put up the ranges for the 80mm mortar from a manual he had and the minimum was 65 yards, and this meant around 18" in Chain of Command. It came to light that other medium mortars had pretty much the same minimum ranges. Yes it would be desperate to fire the mortar at that range but it could be done, it can be used on a 6x4 table, the muffled cries were silenced by "play the period, not the rules", that gave me a smile. I might only bring it in on a table larger than 6x4 but then again.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHGprG3H7xI-mn5QOoYwCHTruAu4hFSIt5Zk1O_hc8MGbJ7hJ7swqLSguSAs7up5k9fKL63iOqwT7MQ8b_Kv-nIXyepRsyNA-1LfixymDwyYcy7N8slhxRIX2pwHHV8mB0JdWrxI3IvgBxrTNWxs7gwfA4WLgr1efHPVdPglFGiXMP0U3sqA-IzBnCtQ/s3264/CD2477CD-4F3B-411B-8DB6-D5FF61198A4B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHGprG3H7xI-mn5QOoYwCHTruAu4hFSIt5Zk1O_hc8MGbJ7hJ7swqLSguSAs7up5k9fKL63iOqwT7MQ8b_Kv-nIXyepRsyNA-1LfixymDwyYcy7N8slhxRIX2pwHHV8mB0JdWrxI3IvgBxrTNWxs7gwfA4WLgr1efHPVdPglFGiXMP0U3sqA-IzBnCtQ/s320/CD2477CD-4F3B-411B-8DB6-D5FF61198A4B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuFgo2rc8VuHXmR8DvSVwKQia0NVzRvz-y4wBb83IZ3R3cHG4NBHCV15DW6hIM9y1XHjqZbnNGPUxR1-777irC-2f3ou-JkmGeawwqlXjdC8xopsTKOQUFlsr6eXSRvKG9vWBF61TSexAWgZMhiVFFWkCguR-YOLcF5Xggq1JxFZd8mb4trotQnQldDs/s3264/567B9472-9057-405E-A0D7-33A5C22C01BE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuFgo2rc8VuHXmR8DvSVwKQia0NVzRvz-y4wBb83IZ3R3cHG4NBHCV15DW6hIM9y1XHjqZbnNGPUxR1-777irC-2f3ou-JkmGeawwqlXjdC8xopsTKOQUFlsr6eXSRvKG9vWBF61TSexAWgZMhiVFFWkCguR-YOLcF5Xggq1JxFZd8mb4trotQnQldDs/s320/567B9472-9057-405E-A0D7-33A5C22C01BE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4Fq16Qoz8qTU_hAXZTcvrAFCDzf4YKmbWP6XlCzHnEJ45yP1Q1u6a5JwJz5GJDt4GkbSzhQ5AVHA3Jgo12-NOZyvqP5ugha_uvUuY1bDpYg9alFtAxKgaVLDMwJBNEMIoPvcYBA9CEIySeY_-SZytAUovuDX9rHpR-T5JvbuamoErr3hItUzAF40ghw/s3264/77E5536D-80FA-49A7-9163-2FD66015582B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4Fq16Qoz8qTU_hAXZTcvrAFCDzf4YKmbWP6XlCzHnEJ45yP1Q1u6a5JwJz5GJDt4GkbSzhQ5AVHA3Jgo12-NOZyvqP5ugha_uvUuY1bDpYg9alFtAxKgaVLDMwJBNEMIoPvcYBA9CEIySeY_-SZytAUovuDX9rHpR-T5JvbuamoErr3hItUzAF40ghw/s320/77E5536D-80FA-49A7-9163-2FD66015582B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUQMExkEih1IqF-JbBMVHvWfHB4AXgNO5UPYXXGJkgB5DW_MMVQjyQfnKrlqnO58S6NGXY-u5UbT9vBOLp-Rq7dFA2ppDo5GbfMfpqdJWCrz1pjxp1LeQS4-WkQUiaoK4GAmJK51YS0jRmWJ2c7q0odEJAb0zuRMjxg092LDmL9-hG0ZtuVJmmoi6ftU/s3264/1B66E757-69C7-43C4-84C7-647BBEB6F051.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUQMExkEih1IqF-JbBMVHvWfHB4AXgNO5UPYXXGJkgB5DW_MMVQjyQfnKrlqnO58S6NGXY-u5UbT9vBOLp-Rq7dFA2ppDo5GbfMfpqdJWCrz1pjxp1LeQS4-WkQUiaoK4GAmJK51YS0jRmWJ2c7q0odEJAb0zuRMjxg092LDmL9-hG0ZtuVJmmoi6ftU/s320/1B66E757-69C7-43C4-84C7-647BBEB6F051.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>We have been slowly emptying the shop of all the junk that has built up over the years and managed to sell the last of the actual shop fittings, and last weekend they were collected. I now have a really large space to play in until the builders turn up hopefully early next year, it really is a large space, upstairs the same area has two bedrooms, a corridor, walk in cupboards and a dining room.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPllmSOZuloPN_D1GFxStdYq0w3E-RkMzELD3aasAjev-tCgEc1U2ad8dkmOMzst3MRbfKwW8BaDZiwJ92hB7Y9tx4oB6346DVZ0yVH6-oYwy6hGr6PijMgwZSrC73CTDEi8bCFx16SA2CD4hkWkSDLkvrz3LGc8ks8_v4IsnNVHufm8232eHsOEdg5eA/s3264/310B990C-411E-4D04-9947-A9538997F00F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPllmSOZuloPN_D1GFxStdYq0w3E-RkMzELD3aasAjev-tCgEc1U2ad8dkmOMzst3MRbfKwW8BaDZiwJ92hB7Y9tx4oB6346DVZ0yVH6-oYwy6hGr6PijMgwZSrC73CTDEi8bCFx16SA2CD4hkWkSDLkvrz3LGc8ks8_v4IsnNVHufm8232eHsOEdg5eA/s320/310B990C-411E-4D04-9947-A9538997F00F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsstQx33lzfh6fBp1C9fme4iS_iWvfVaRi0fk9lEwJxLw_jrpOHLx1z0nb8rgCqzCYcl7O1Ly2zBcecdjOrWxfVBizfEWHb-GTk0WkgqMQdyyDW-yvpZyOvTzYPOK-mlkCOAhoC-kJZNiFEmJ8cs2WsBqSbcsfBlV-Pas0o7LXNg2LEsEh8py2nRcrAs/s3264/4AFF4901-CD0E-4ED7-969E-EBE1D40D3548.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsstQx33lzfh6fBp1C9fme4iS_iWvfVaRi0fk9lEwJxLw_jrpOHLx1z0nb8rgCqzCYcl7O1Ly2zBcecdjOrWxfVBizfEWHb-GTk0WkgqMQdyyDW-yvpZyOvTzYPOK-mlkCOAhoC-kJZNiFEmJ8cs2WsBqSbcsfBlV-Pas0o7LXNg2LEsEh8py2nRcrAs/s320/4AFF4901-CD0E-4ED7-969E-EBE1D40D3548.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>As I said above I put the Italian Wars to the side building the kits, I have only just finished cleaning and priming some Spanish Jinettes and have yet to pick up a brush, I have some map projects which I might concentrate on this week and do some extra time on them, so you won't see them for a bit yet.</p><p>The dreaded Black Powder last night, ACW this time with Fran's amendments. The scenario was loosely based on the arrival of the 1st Division at Gettysburg fighting against Heth so it was an outnumbered Union force against a gray tsunami intent on clearing McPherson's Ridge. I was on table awaiting the arrival of the Iron Brigade, I had small regiments in my brigade against two very large Confederate brigades on my flank, the Rebs had to break both Federal brigades to win, how successful they would be would in a large part be down to Lady Luck despite their numbers.</p><p>Fran had for added flavour given me a small skirmish unit of dismounted cavalry, a left over from Buford's force, by the end he wished he hadn't bothered. These men were way out in front of my line and for a moment held up the Confederate advance then fell back behind the thin blue line. As the enemy approached I unleashed hell in a cloud of musket smoke and the Rebs shuddered to a halt their leading regiments taking heavy casualties, but the brigade to my immediate right still managed to struggle up the hill.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEzu-grWC6llMFt5hJJI_3x0fr_O8rWCUiVOxPBJdiGJ4VOyMNeqhqig8kKaUmj0B6kG7dqx4l0Up-xderngDruWRrT_uUeOdWr6BxvwA6rmU-WKUrSK0ZLcx4olME2DV3n6TUjdjt6FX_cbkv1C6hvJP7ljUPdA83nIZTf_WtwAHIlDcbCGFUltxWO4/s4032/DFFDCAEC-2215-4FD9-AE74-FF7F813454D3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEzu-grWC6llMFt5hJJI_3x0fr_O8rWCUiVOxPBJdiGJ4VOyMNeqhqig8kKaUmj0B6kG7dqx4l0Up-xderngDruWRrT_uUeOdWr6BxvwA6rmU-WKUrSK0ZLcx4olME2DV3n6TUjdjt6FX_cbkv1C6hvJP7ljUPdA83nIZTf_WtwAHIlDcbCGFUltxWO4/s320/DFFDCAEC-2215-4FD9-AE74-FF7F813454D3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The massed gray ranks.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfphRczifEUCXaf3A7mHBnsRUF2gpWhz0UsLgUTLKL_WnvJgvmiFYHmIrWxf4yUIoCfJdA4fkBVKrTt2dnwRvp_uEPeeaA6TzfwTqGiDvvezHD_AoqeDqC9Mk9KHEpsIeVw-hw2bu0xb5Qq9oKc_6w4k4Ai-9mMOyftzBCsbeGwyz9RZxNpmLE7MIBU9g/s4032/625B4429-FC93-4B83-A564-F46AAD12828A.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfphRczifEUCXaf3A7mHBnsRUF2gpWhz0UsLgUTLKL_WnvJgvmiFYHmIrWxf4yUIoCfJdA4fkBVKrTt2dnwRvp_uEPeeaA6TzfwTqGiDvvezHD_AoqeDqC9Mk9KHEpsIeVw-hw2bu0xb5Qq9oKc_6w4k4Ai-9mMOyftzBCsbeGwyz9RZxNpmLE7MIBU9g/s320/625B4429-FC93-4B83-A564-F46AAD12828A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steady boys.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGpeouPUdrf8LDzwH4fZGKSN95rlmD3tyvabz6C15EEbvUaRmYaV6826KjKRFyLsGjD0TVf-UlQLa7qsuE9i8CIlIakQeA5uLIPsO1UVuBrrsza_agse4O-gH3WlaZPCL75lZvDbn0CLLoa_MbOQ_uuCRwnQp-fpAIE-qvdL-ViHD9FlXp9rH6xe5qI0/s4032/DE42C84C-25CB-471C-9884-92D112E91C84.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGpeouPUdrf8LDzwH4fZGKSN95rlmD3tyvabz6C15EEbvUaRmYaV6826KjKRFyLsGjD0TVf-UlQLa7qsuE9i8CIlIakQeA5uLIPsO1UVuBrrsza_agse4O-gH3WlaZPCL75lZvDbn0CLLoa_MbOQ_uuCRwnQp-fpAIE-qvdL-ViHD9FlXp9rH6xe5qI0/s320/DE42C84C-25CB-471C-9884-92D112E91C84.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><p></p><p>The first charge hit my boys but to everyones surprise was repulsed and caused some disorganisation in the ranks following, just as I was feeling superior my centre regiment broke and the reserve had to make its way forward. Another Rebel assault went in and this time my boys narrowly failed to stand but had stopped the victorious Sesech from advancing further, my second and last reserve regiment now took its place in the line and the Rebs went back again. I had also managed to stabilise my centre and some bad command rolls stopped Fran from taking advantage of my weakness. Time and again despite my best efforts Fran managed to make saving rolls only one failure of which would have spelt doom for his regiments. Eventually however I was forced to withdraw, my men could look the Iron Brigade now arriving in the eye and in my mind had saved the day.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tlM6cK8XEkyzaF_3HuyL2nvOpWF1tMg3eWZCYg7sA4TiFiwGCKgXOOo6r-7Yq6EhwCTeNsk2IkhsvUGMHv-4vabrU0KwPHiRVM6W818RiFrRWQ2tc2l2spWKioAWDg4PA_SZuz0Ar6yqRpqgBdi52__h2QK9VlhtkHQeLmT-0LEZ_bzaHFA8OygcTyc/s4032/B03ACE93-D8B6-411E-9C13-72B272AC2CC9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tlM6cK8XEkyzaF_3HuyL2nvOpWF1tMg3eWZCYg7sA4TiFiwGCKgXOOo6r-7Yq6EhwCTeNsk2IkhsvUGMHv-4vabrU0KwPHiRVM6W818RiFrRWQ2tc2l2spWKioAWDg4PA_SZuz0Ar6yqRpqgBdi52__h2QK9VlhtkHQeLmT-0LEZ_bzaHFA8OygcTyc/s320/B03ACE93-D8B6-411E-9C13-72B272AC2CC9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edward's mass undone by their slowness.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWpoFHL083NNb0zQm2oP6cpTh9ns6fjpiAS8ZPlfqxbLtLTuOrV71lhe0zh-4cHn2n8WM5PKL0Wvn5wuD1v6B8W-gkBp2P9LoQ5jvLsASBQn-iG1DjBf33hHVZwBE41D4cbYbMTlMtqZUePum2AbX0VVFZejs3HeYoQQU_wegQ7RnvWO00dPXH0zXo8c/s4032/0AA2A9AA-0850-4A8B-849C-9B4A992EF3D0.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWpoFHL083NNb0zQm2oP6cpTh9ns6fjpiAS8ZPlfqxbLtLTuOrV71lhe0zh-4cHn2n8WM5PKL0Wvn5wuD1v6B8W-gkBp2P9LoQ5jvLsASBQn-iG1DjBf33hHVZwBE41D4cbYbMTlMtqZUePum2AbX0VVFZejs3HeYoQQU_wegQ7RnvWO00dPXH0zXo8c/s320/0AA2A9AA-0850-4A8B-849C-9B4A992EF3D0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Iron Brigade sets up just in time.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>On my left things had gone awry for both sides, Edward's two brigades due to a combination of horrendous die rolls and terrain took almost two hours of the evening to get into action, Alex's Iron Brigade also had problems turning up from turn 2. This meant that as the sun set these two forces eventually got to hand to hand combat in the woods and the Union line held, helped by the death of one of the enemy brigade commanders and the fact they were elite. Despite my brigade having broke the Rebs had failed to break both Federal brigades.</p><p>Fran and I had enjoyed some desperate fighting on our part of the battlefield and his tremendous luck at saving rolls had frustrated my efforts time and time again but I was eventually pushed back. On the other flank command rolls ruled the action, Edward took the whole evening to advance to contact and Alex also suffered but not as badly in bringing the Iron Brigade to the front line. I find this and the disorder rules the most frustrating part of Black Powder, Fran had sorted the disorder thing out but failing to move turn after turn is a nightmare, a bit like not getting the right command dice in Chain of Command, there is nothing you can do.<br /></p><p>I am taking part in another Chain of Command campaign run by the lads from Grange-over-Sands based on the battle of Gazala, I am commanding a German platoon, their are six of us and we should be kicking off in a few weeks. The club may be closed next week so we are unsure what will be happening next week.<br /></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-4869195939530977892023-09-07T15:54:00.002+01:002023-09-07T18:39:38.544+01:00Normans again!<p> What a fantastic spell of warm weather we are having, almost like a late summer, a tad uncomfortable at night but I can live with that as no doubt 'Person who gives birth' Nature will get her/its/whatever own back later.</p><p>On a more serious note it was Chain of Command at the club this week, we took a scenario from the 1940 Blitzkrieg book with the Italians riding on the back of German good fortune and invading the south of France. I was the French and took a Motorised Platoon with a Panhard armoured car and a Renault R35 tank along with an extra infantry squad and mortar as back up, you get a lot more support points in this book. Rob had added an extra section to his platoon along with a couple of tankettes and an anti-tank gun, there may have been more but that is all I saw or knew about.</p><p>The Italian squads are huge, 16 or so men with two LMG teams, so able to throw out a lot of firepower, hence why I had taken two vehicles, anyway the Italians turned up, orgainised themselves and then slowly advanced. I brought on one squad on my right but kept them out of LOS until such time as I needed them, Rob had to capture all my Jump Off Points to win, a huge ask to be honest. Not such a great ask after all it would seem as I realised, courtesy of Rob, that my support would only arrive on Turn Two, in Chain of Command many times you never get to Turn Two, so as a little tankette turned up to support the Italians and I had no anti-tank it looked like game over, no matter how silly the little vehicle looked, if you don't have anything to kill it, it suddenly looks very frightening.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq_sKfsLaekVk8ms_TYGmHcK59CuLHM1LRwz39NtT8b0580vMlZrOlFjktsMvQyIoPDEJ-s2pUZjcqUcXRsrAU-h_6cBrfBSRFH9fxaHM4jIJiewnHzaA1XmSTZ671ROyKLMoxW64NxyNWM878PS-0finE9FKCVDGWbZmtWR7F64am9UPKAE8BzfnNgM/s4032/C0993399-16D7-4256-BF80-C84E886CB4D0.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq_sKfsLaekVk8ms_TYGmHcK59CuLHM1LRwz39NtT8b0580vMlZrOlFjktsMvQyIoPDEJ-s2pUZjcqUcXRsrAU-h_6cBrfBSRFH9fxaHM4jIJiewnHzaA1XmSTZ671ROyKLMoxW64NxyNWM878PS-0finE9FKCVDGWbZmtWR7F64am9UPKAE8BzfnNgM/s320/C0993399-16D7-4256-BF80-C84E886CB4D0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My grenade launchers who never fired once.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEODM6CswqEIwED950rUwRNalVxO0hR54OflisH5cabJHG9nf9zMFbbBduNu1aoxyJpoIRsLw2kS8i8CXCw9o4FrQ3UCo9-xsIm7NpBg6bITtGzN2nlXWBxAKTN6ahYkpg9NS8fl4JsEkRHnrEMBXVt1rv9eRZnhCKs6LWppgmo6JuE_MZuwTPxHsYfDk/s4032/C2EE962A-328A-48EB-AA48-94B407FE035A.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEODM6CswqEIwED950rUwRNalVxO0hR54OflisH5cabJHG9nf9zMFbbBduNu1aoxyJpoIRsLw2kS8i8CXCw9o4FrQ3UCo9-xsIm7NpBg6bITtGzN2nlXWBxAKTN6ahYkpg9NS8fl4JsEkRHnrEMBXVt1rv9eRZnhCKs6LWppgmo6JuE_MZuwTPxHsYfDk/s320/C2EE962A-328A-48EB-AA48-94B407FE035A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That damn tankette.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnijXY28tp-s4hbGr7EM0kPuj6LwEuWnWUCtsYtG5dU7ghNpH9jgUjRoJMw5iufulWEGiodmX7eUAGyKhRwWpk624w6NcrS3FEET-AwyPLy9JOAQte9kGRinZrRmK6TZpLuxDfsayPwxamPaeIzh9Idj1M26fGtVp1dxpCtUOyqPBW938vbGvh_GDyoJ8/s4032/09488068-755F-45EA-9AC3-C5455CBE5184.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnijXY28tp-s4hbGr7EM0kPuj6LwEuWnWUCtsYtG5dU7ghNpH9jgUjRoJMw5iufulWEGiodmX7eUAGyKhRwWpk624w6NcrS3FEET-AwyPLy9JOAQte9kGRinZrRmK6TZpLuxDfsayPwxamPaeIzh9Idj1M26fGtVp1dxpCtUOyqPBW938vbGvh_GDyoJ8/s320/09488068-755F-45EA-9AC3-C5455CBE5184.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Italians arrive.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>As I contemplated an early night Rob brought me back into the game by throwing three sixes and ending the turn! It was now Rob that looked like he was going nowhere as my armour and mortar turned up, as did another squad to hold my left. I got lucky and chalked up a couple of wounds on NCO's and wiped out at least one squad as Italian morale fell and they went to ground.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNV75aRBp1kN4xSYoUNdjNphw19TCtlJb-FnxblXwtrollkztaFtz9dUxuQLo_yuwdXqsE9__djsOJu57CtihJxx1iYUl-glp5DtMjbbfI37vDlykEvIHLKiLkqtXykV0i1zX1S6fv61xmwbphqVMVRUhOtAR0nqC1RWO9sZVM_fRY8VAaNcp0BMbfTXE/s4032/A0EF0A97-DE10-480F-BC8C-C1AA2C98DE20.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNV75aRBp1kN4xSYoUNdjNphw19TCtlJb-FnxblXwtrollkztaFtz9dUxuQLo_yuwdXqsE9__djsOJu57CtihJxx1iYUl-glp5DtMjbbfI37vDlykEvIHLKiLkqtXykV0i1zX1S6fv61xmwbphqVMVRUhOtAR0nqC1RWO9sZVM_fRY8VAaNcp0BMbfTXE/s320/A0EF0A97-DE10-480F-BC8C-C1AA2C98DE20.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My armour.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgdTw7cfVnMjY0ASEYYnGBZN9DYrX1LVCuGjP21avHMTGuwvIX1zfObTpoqJxxjpYiPe6lNa2-Z1E47d5UHw7PnB1DJj0tvRTcwYXKD679jI9E5t6jsmW21EBtYbIDgRJS3kxcpGd1rU9Z3EjSpga0r6NvHgSCc2yCMmQv3SdAW5ZCwEXXPXiJ_EGnCU/s4032/9792DB5E-0E80-4E76-9336-397F9838EA5A.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgdTw7cfVnMjY0ASEYYnGBZN9DYrX1LVCuGjP21avHMTGuwvIX1zfObTpoqJxxjpYiPe6lNa2-Z1E47d5UHw7PnB1DJj0tvRTcwYXKD679jI9E5t6jsmW21EBtYbIDgRJS3kxcpGd1rU9Z3EjSpga0r6NvHgSCc2yCMmQv3SdAW5ZCwEXXPXiJ_EGnCU/s320/9792DB5E-0E80-4E76-9336-397F9838EA5A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob tries an advance.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdjldYtnH6Or23ioGQJj7ijU_wp0QQ8ElFQno9bdbupWLtbTfNSY9sIaDpGTq9866UBOsv9awkz4VkxZuQAuADoifLu2zIDS4aX_8cax-qxCY2-QnI7bhng_ufXxHf2PW0LH2e11dZNhVqrd2cI7SSCsCfTLYmAEBsHKBnmeE-dCgGFZDiPBYNTY54Kw/s4032/10C63054-C7E4-4F7C-8671-390F83004A24.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdjldYtnH6Or23ioGQJj7ijU_wp0QQ8ElFQno9bdbupWLtbTfNSY9sIaDpGTq9866UBOsv9awkz4VkxZuQAuADoifLu2zIDS4aX_8cax-qxCY2-QnI7bhng_ufXxHf2PW0LH2e11dZNhVqrd2cI7SSCsCfTLYmAEBsHKBnmeE-dCgGFZDiPBYNTY54Kw/s320/10C63054-C7E4-4F7C-8671-390F83004A24.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To enable my Panhard crew to see the enemy.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The little tankette had to be destroyed, time after time my armour either did not see it or did see it but couldn't hit it, it was sent backwards a couple of times but was never in danger of brewing up, luckily for me its firing on my infantry was abysmal. I got kind of fixated on the damn thing and kept thinking one good shot will get rid of it but it never did. He had another in the box even if I had killed it.With my armour at last pushing forward and Rob's anti-tank gun being as effective as my gunners and mortar rounds falling with impunity he decided to withdraw.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagDzRhi17RX5xPT-bKKjctJySMmjgPa8DLUji9xhsJpJNw8OtZcRTS8b7018RQbecF5k51tW9OeY9zePsTEEfXIwdvXk6iBbYR-_-F-95-aXVMLbOoyIdzxMGKOz0NJW5qMQzR1myEaZVI_hQQhyWEosoEQMux5aw9nIku97xR83SzAX20Vv4Q2EUcoE/s4032/48391EAA-7BB9-47CC-BCEE-9065F3D098FD.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagDzRhi17RX5xPT-bKKjctJySMmjgPa8DLUji9xhsJpJNw8OtZcRTS8b7018RQbecF5k51tW9OeY9zePsTEEfXIwdvXk6iBbYR-_-F-95-aXVMLbOoyIdzxMGKOz0NJW5qMQzR1myEaZVI_hQQhyWEosoEQMux5aw9nIku97xR83SzAX20Vv4Q2EUcoE/s320/48391EAA-7BB9-47CC-BCEE-9065F3D098FD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grrrr.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrIIVB9MxupyI5_e88iq-FJMixk6siZ53df1kvyGho3TFkNMUvejvV7pQQ1Nocudo1XzB10i6wwpMkrd78SWoJk2KvSfz9YT4gfX6W7zk5HwXE255WEnmyeye3AiSZDxjbIEyINnb16RbdKmmdm1uRPq5KtGbnrzJIoHeykxghsfVa6HlyLNMli7pwAs/s4032/2653DA69-543B-476E-B714-3E2469A0FBB9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrIIVB9MxupyI5_e88iq-FJMixk6siZ53df1kvyGho3TFkNMUvejvV7pQQ1Nocudo1XzB10i6wwpMkrd78SWoJk2KvSfz9YT4gfX6W7zk5HwXE255WEnmyeye3AiSZDxjbIEyINnb16RbdKmmdm1uRPq5KtGbnrzJIoHeykxghsfVa6HlyLNMli7pwAs/s320/2653DA69-543B-476E-B714-3E2469A0FBB9.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Italians on the back foot.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A good game as always with Rob, but the scenario is a bit loaded, if the French do not get their supports on quickly then they may as well look for a white flag, OK it would still take time to capture the JOP's but there would be no doubting the outcome. On the other hand once the French do get their support their defence hardens and I would think it impossible for the Italians to get all the JOP's. This means then that part is out the window and the winner is whose Force Morale can hold out best.</p><p>The very next day I had a game of War and Conquest organised with new player Stuart who lives only 45 minutes away, I got in touch with Stuart by chance on Facebook as he had posted a game with a friend of mine. I love War and Conquest, it is my second favourite rule set and I don't get nearly enough games so I jumped at the chance when Stuart said he was available. He was bringing, yes, Normans! You know I have no time for William and his usurpers and they are very tough in WAC, I was going to face them with my Saxon Heptarchy, I would therefore be low on armour and elite fighting units but my Saxons are veterans of many successful battles against Normans.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWboTRMLStfWnVUNGncWm8KUmgiotg8bE1vJ0NFh-tR0XnOJrA5o7X9j2PoLtM0pwxTwEIQaBKQCMskaEbxNBhtRqo31UJPJJmSPuuaUlGouOtoZ40Jv9EATuKfErWBMzMbaPNvZjCinSGBl9S_TgQtC30kv4LwwqNpPdZvZ6Fzd0HKQCpYt87mP99Zc8/s1905/Stuart%20Geo%202a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="1905" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWboTRMLStfWnVUNGncWm8KUmgiotg8bE1vJ0NFh-tR0XnOJrA5o7X9j2PoLtM0pwxTwEIQaBKQCMskaEbxNBhtRqo31UJPJJmSPuuaUlGouOtoZ40Jv9EATuKfErWBMzMbaPNvZjCinSGBl9S_TgQtC30kv4LwwqNpPdZvZ6Fzd0HKQCpYt87mP99Zc8/s320/Stuart%20Geo%202a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> On the day we faced off and I put my elite Gedriht on my right and then expanded my line to the left where my cavalry sat, I also had four groups of skirmishers to the front, hoping to quickly finish off any Norman missile troops before the lines clashed. Stuart put most of his cavalry on his right and one skirmish unit on his left, the Norman infantry held the centre while allied Anglo-Danes were on his left (Stuart had to make up the 3,000 points).<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrSRj7eRX6KR_KT3DQJwckIoBbAjgSErKjQjOkMUDjtkXbf0c3YA3lFw6_5btVAeM5qKhlVFo1po3crMGqjHSz65y-7LD24MgZZKKNkDmGk1SC5zHWI_DgPlbcH15-isdDc-VXPcRSOTW9dIc23LboDnyxCjItP3MJtNMRVY7tJNhbUMI6BnhbBG5a90/s4032/5E92F9D6-391E-4EEF-B4A7-BACFCA92272E.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrSRj7eRX6KR_KT3DQJwckIoBbAjgSErKjQjOkMUDjtkXbf0c3YA3lFw6_5btVAeM5qKhlVFo1po3crMGqjHSz65y-7LD24MgZZKKNkDmGk1SC5zHWI_DgPlbcH15-isdDc-VXPcRSOTW9dIc23LboDnyxCjItP3MJtNMRVY7tJNhbUMI6BnhbBG5a90/s320/5E92F9D6-391E-4EEF-B4A7-BACFCA92272E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saxons on the left, Normans on the right.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCWXtCl_TuH9uWlHFdqvHoB43TCdm9fSmHFIk9yjSfY2SgZ2zaJ7tBSBQ1Jc-Jm4-G0dsZoxwqoxeO6Yyavm2TUAY3M0w_dvHxL0Us-8M2Lv9Ocy9-qrUWnUxrUfdb6OxoeF7tmbEsuGqhDELPZ-cGRghCRFk2zZNXeXxbubPYsvPe2OOM4tt7QSRQHY/s4032/4C4987F0-9900-4884-AFE1-4B9E9CFA1BE7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCWXtCl_TuH9uWlHFdqvHoB43TCdm9fSmHFIk9yjSfY2SgZ2zaJ7tBSBQ1Jc-Jm4-G0dsZoxwqoxeO6Yyavm2TUAY3M0w_dvHxL0Us-8M2Lv9Ocy9-qrUWnUxrUfdb6OxoeF7tmbEsuGqhDELPZ-cGRghCRFk2zZNXeXxbubPYsvPe2OOM4tt7QSRQHY/s320/4C4987F0-9900-4884-AFE1-4B9E9CFA1BE7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saxon King.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGwoU9a2n2SacAP712jSSxmHwF72sPlPjOduSuAnvLzGqZZhTq0mDYI1d-9FiLYobXqhASMpi18BpP12i4JkFUAU--FCwiCNlcC1bs7FEeJMGsps5QF6zlr6QvK-Agq9fX_mLz992rOJUpNrJsAys7TghBrWDfo5iR2fMpxwgEvTEe4XQDDBJfcsmVn4/s4032/85AF4A41-1E17-4344-836C-690CAECA2689.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGwoU9a2n2SacAP712jSSxmHwF72sPlPjOduSuAnvLzGqZZhTq0mDYI1d-9FiLYobXqhASMpi18BpP12i4JkFUAU--FCwiCNlcC1bs7FEeJMGsps5QF6zlr6QvK-Agq9fX_mLz992rOJUpNrJsAys7TghBrWDfo5iR2fMpxwgEvTEe4XQDDBJfcsmVn4/s320/85AF4A41-1E17-4344-836C-690CAECA2689.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anglo-Danes and Norman army.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT__T1kSvBp7qDTJAUKm6GdB6jzAN-hRKIkvG-CTIm3elg2UULXDrHy6uc9FBkj17q92BYOSbv3IDATc8jAr6MeUiiGtVAzahwUApRpJWGVtyqQK8c08ZKjXYtDGYOv45CFypebTs1rV-Y1YXPnNool4PxJ5LWLJuYvowWNjod-uGy89bnIOeGeaDpMI/s4032/CB31E460-BF70-4343-AC9B-67A090ABD6DB.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT__T1kSvBp7qDTJAUKm6GdB6jzAN-hRKIkvG-CTIm3elg2UULXDrHy6uc9FBkj17q92BYOSbv3IDATc8jAr6MeUiiGtVAzahwUApRpJWGVtyqQK8c08ZKjXYtDGYOv45CFypebTs1rV-Y1YXPnNool4PxJ5LWLJuYvowWNjod-uGy89bnIOeGeaDpMI/s320/CB31E460-BF70-4343-AC9B-67A090ABD6DB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both sides advance.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />Plan A did not work well and my skirmishers were nearly all forced back while causing less than a nuisance to the Normans. I pushed my Ceorls and the young Warriors to the left to close down the area in front of the enemy cavalry and make them have no choice but to attack my infantry. I advanced my Gedriht quite quickly into javelin range of the Anglo-Danes while on their left my Franks slowly advanced, these were quickly picked on by the Norman archers and began to lose quite a lot of men giving me a bit of a fright.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDKagF8dkKQlMuf8m-70JnRta7fPjr6nx5x9NwsC8yPb-qBUbz_hY1iQV5IWjB1GGnoYAR6nq1n_wSFUVMleP82s3CRVXUmwsFoW-L6YHiRkTl1Z_WXVlHYMV-7ENvyKEtu5N0trea27G1A6eFTYORmDnX5embRGwIeV_-5qNWxvX42D3QF0-CH7SaHI/s1905/Stuart%20Geo%203a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="1905" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDKagF8dkKQlMuf8m-70JnRta7fPjr6nx5x9NwsC8yPb-qBUbz_hY1iQV5IWjB1GGnoYAR6nq1n_wSFUVMleP82s3CRVXUmwsFoW-L6YHiRkTl1Z_WXVlHYMV-7ENvyKEtu5N0trea27G1A6eFTYORmDnX5embRGwIeV_-5qNWxvX42D3QF0-CH7SaHI/s320/Stuart%20Geo%203a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNR0GrYAbrIKtUthiCMISxW6FDx0hAcadvSxVpgZQ3IBIOBH7j_-SDs8Ugntxwu6gMpxqWJrG5yQTnIXBcTr-BcO2XwsjY5NPC2NUU-DqrF5ogNiNz9Mx7JkkpF7_9eN8afSMysQZfRffoNcyNJGRtE5St9yvS-qirRDczRM6xL4gu9fKCOUttmkPa_0/s4032/E5F2DF63-E444-4817-AF5A-901E6B96BF51.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNR0GrYAbrIKtUthiCMISxW6FDx0hAcadvSxVpgZQ3IBIOBH7j_-SDs8Ugntxwu6gMpxqWJrG5yQTnIXBcTr-BcO2XwsjY5NPC2NUU-DqrF5ogNiNz9Mx7JkkpF7_9eN8afSMysQZfRffoNcyNJGRtE5St9yvS-qirRDczRM6xL4gu9fKCOUttmkPa_0/s320/E5F2DF63-E444-4817-AF5A-901E6B96BF51.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Action in the centre.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yKQksIhFLTMYx-15laBARDnCsRARBq-gHE_624qxxpuHfMQx1lczkhcRxzWPzDD1SW-R5tLEnAyWKHAb0EMnagdGeYbFaM9lrztPrrb9vohZ12XsqEoedn2nTlIJoNmsiupngbqRY3WOr-OfUBlLxjFkgfUoaQg1IItnnc2ZGFksX_MsO3KEGnlGuKE/s4032/C2C6BDD9-4C46-4598-B5FF-DD67D7200F8E.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yKQksIhFLTMYx-15laBARDnCsRARBq-gHE_624qxxpuHfMQx1lczkhcRxzWPzDD1SW-R5tLEnAyWKHAb0EMnagdGeYbFaM9lrztPrrb9vohZ12XsqEoedn2nTlIJoNmsiupngbqRY3WOr-OfUBlLxjFkgfUoaQg1IItnnc2ZGFksX_MsO3KEGnlGuKE/s320/C2C6BDD9-4C46-4598-B5FF-DD67D7200F8E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman shock cavalry.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_04tAIt8grgDgX9KYB7ln5ZRsuu1T5qamrv1Mdt5ujtXgLgAAJi9x1n7NGzsF22CksONg9Vnvqx7yHJQnRSwEvEpUX4yaEJf5gmlLPgytGwO89z7ZupqE_TglKS4xKkeqIsrhq4yJMGIfMVmKR2sfZ_2d8mSmIk3Amt91lUmtRMLiNxwnD0McrHMHzY/s4032/84694057-C8AF-4533-9058-BA037334D513.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_04tAIt8grgDgX9KYB7ln5ZRsuu1T5qamrv1Mdt5ujtXgLgAAJi9x1n7NGzsF22CksONg9Vnvqx7yHJQnRSwEvEpUX4yaEJf5gmlLPgytGwO89z7ZupqE_TglKS4xKkeqIsrhq4yJMGIfMVmKR2sfZ_2d8mSmIk3Amt91lUmtRMLiNxwnD0McrHMHzY/s320/84694057-C8AF-4533-9058-BA037334D513.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Saxon left.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>It was now that the main lines clashed, the Franks hit the Norman crossbows who despite everything managed to stand and hold them, I looked skyward, the Franks were back to normal. The Gedriht on the other hand slaughtered the Anglo-Danes and sent them packing, sadly however their pursuit moves were lacking and the enemy escaped. On my left the Norman cavalry had charged in, my Ceorls held magnificently despite their leader being killed and along with the young Geoguth soon turned the tables on the cavalry. The Norman centre now found itself in trouble as the Franks had heard my whinging and routed the annoying crossbows and slammed into the Liberi behind and also vanquished them, well done lads, the other Liberi unit was taken out by some Duguth. As things turned sour one Norman cavalry unit hurled itself at my mounted Duguth and swept them away, but it was too little too late. Stuart handed over his sword.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgmhrF_oTtqikjurpthEgYS9qXEn13SpXgvnVyNTsKzalwm93xwby1GEsl61Gs3u9po7LG27GrneMPLnGjvhS6JxBGQs_J0pXz-lRHUOEm5McmvqtFjlVSAXn6bc4XlAnBG7BdJJeAn6bQXctHaXCgqjfXF4OVb01-CxYogiOE75i8KAG15OZRrdyHoQ/s4032/F3A7AEDD-84A5-48D3-80F1-056492BE2DF1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgmhrF_oTtqikjurpthEgYS9qXEn13SpXgvnVyNTsKzalwm93xwby1GEsl61Gs3u9po7LG27GrneMPLnGjvhS6JxBGQs_J0pXz-lRHUOEm5McmvqtFjlVSAXn6bc4XlAnBG7BdJJeAn6bQXctHaXCgqjfXF4OVb01-CxYogiOE75i8KAG15OZRrdyHoQ/s320/F3A7AEDD-84A5-48D3-80F1-056492BE2DF1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Norman centre under pressure.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAmuavGzui3P8FuUvthDIek1TkEoC9JEtxX868fZ2KlTv42r2Az-91-GjiJOj663VY_8-HfrMK34fpEro1llMO2a8MnB_7iC0aGF-66LudqKyxOe7FBvKL1EvqPqlhX85CvM7TKgx-4AeDlcN6JGFwNughJ3sKEMip7fn1e4gr-6MFLL6ZO5IGqZpsvk/s4032/BF584FF4-0E73-4633-93EE-E39D5865D007.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAmuavGzui3P8FuUvthDIek1TkEoC9JEtxX868fZ2KlTv42r2Az-91-GjiJOj663VY_8-HfrMK34fpEro1llMO2a8MnB_7iC0aGF-66LudqKyxOe7FBvKL1EvqPqlhX85CvM7TKgx-4AeDlcN6JGFwNughJ3sKEMip7fn1e4gr-6MFLL6ZO5IGqZpsvk/s320/BF584FF4-0E73-4633-93EE-E39D5865D007.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close up.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHSUuogjwIg0pt7UStg2dXxoOQexUwLc-Yy8NFzaV384Z8K2Iaa-15MB8r3hbFLx1LL6PwB2-zHawAjbdc4Xa6ZgRzJYNbLaRFb8hfrjCyp2TMiNH2WGUU23JPSOH-6lmTLf2UYEQN5WAzvYFNWH8aiNMYAjnPXM6PR7Rn1QbN0gbpHAYM0k-n2_p9uc/s4032/AB61065C-95E2-4138-89AF-8B8EE113B5AE.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHSUuogjwIg0pt7UStg2dXxoOQexUwLc-Yy8NFzaV384Z8K2Iaa-15MB8r3hbFLx1LL6PwB2-zHawAjbdc4Xa6ZgRzJYNbLaRFb8hfrjCyp2TMiNH2WGUU23JPSOH-6lmTLf2UYEQN5WAzvYFNWH8aiNMYAjnPXM6PR7Rn1QbN0gbpHAYM0k-n2_p9uc/s320/AB61065C-95E2-4138-89AF-8B8EE113B5AE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My hardy Ceorls.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8KXqhgbggjxrRP__DzFZc1c2UBSGYzGJ88C4cg2tWTgY--E7zmX-Wz5AT2yOUr6VBvAK2e_sjFSRL6OWQddYvSfLP6wsG3Zm-YeB18QO2SWyJeWc_zREiLp2-OpXwHzbDjjeGSASVknaZrKEQ5-uXc-03bdJaKrMCsPSJvBzD9Vw-UPOQlDVBflxQE0/s1905/Stuart%20Geo%204a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1905" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8KXqhgbggjxrRP__DzFZc1c2UBSGYzGJ88C4cg2tWTgY--E7zmX-Wz5AT2yOUr6VBvAK2e_sjFSRL6OWQddYvSfLP6wsG3Zm-YeB18QO2SWyJeWc_zREiLp2-OpXwHzbDjjeGSASVknaZrKEQ5-uXc-03bdJaKrMCsPSJvBzD9Vw-UPOQlDVBflxQE0/s320/Stuart%20Geo%204a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Almost five hours of combat and it was like five minutes, an exciting battle. I made a mistake with my skirmishers expecting too much from them, I should also have covered the frontage of the Franks, no wonder they were cheesed off with me. I did have an opportunity to wipe out the Huscarls but thought no, you impetuous fool, do not grab defeat from victory, I would instead let my javelins wear them down as there were only a few left around their leader. Stuart went away with thoughts of reorganising his army for the next clash, I think then I shall bring my Romano-British to the fight, you can find Stuart's report <a href="https://thewarcrow.blogspot.com/2023/09/more-28mm-dark-ages.html?sc=1694108239627#c847753122839376882" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><p></p><p>I wanted a bit of a break from Italian Wars painting or at least fighting units, so I put together a couple of stands for Imperial generals, Charles of Bourbon and Georg von Frundsberg from Pavia. I continue to have a bit of a break and am doing some artillery at the moment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoOGYjy6RWouiAQIni5FFCyEibJFom1Ie4cYzt5W3EiR4ob2382x5RJfiKspDNuVgSEkrHOudRv2oEPwDF4ObdiO59owxzeH4uhYpjx91fN8Rf-m3r_L7K5u-hzvCMUjiUgQMiyp-jHoYVTl2nh9GcppewF9sWoEv8gpcmU2VHF5eCdiighi_d4KaFKU/s3264/743BF4A5-BDB3-43CC-A064-444114098109.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoOGYjy6RWouiAQIni5FFCyEibJFom1Ie4cYzt5W3EiR4ob2382x5RJfiKspDNuVgSEkrHOudRv2oEPwDF4ObdiO59owxzeH4uhYpjx91fN8Rf-m3r_L7K5u-hzvCMUjiUgQMiyp-jHoYVTl2nh9GcppewF9sWoEv8gpcmU2VHF5eCdiighi_d4KaFKU/s320/743BF4A5-BDB3-43CC-A064-444114098109.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGeYU68hKu_vZLJDvzSk_78yzaYCb_FwQpt5NhESeWy5xmpwVOOeSIkwTEYQEJVpitbm5voSDvoB72StO6cJUFiLod59rAAaSK4y3EbdT_rUuNiNHnsZThw9KdwuEAiwWv5kOtUq0tTQ8AC1sNh8VswI96F5oYE7bVl1XbuoCsFgMHRrtW1zhfgpVE8c/s3264/80D2E6FF-4AAB-421C-B3B0-A9CF3082F548.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGeYU68hKu_vZLJDvzSk_78yzaYCb_FwQpt5NhESeWy5xmpwVOOeSIkwTEYQEJVpitbm5voSDvoB72StO6cJUFiLod59rAAaSK4y3EbdT_rUuNiNHnsZThw9KdwuEAiwWv5kOtUq0tTQ8AC1sNh8VswI96F5oYE7bVl1XbuoCsFgMHRrtW1zhfgpVE8c/s320/80D2E6FF-4AAB-421C-B3B0-A9CF3082F548.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwmmyWg60ZyFX6XHVyfYwEJx7itZBx3sMfPnM5mjIfu4O1wWNs0LAS8gmWncx3x9jMv_MISlO7iJZOqSN1nG8wdF0DBdECMe2usjwmNij5-pzcc5XCA-nuSKiXokxeVMYkZuQ7Fd-ZfpzTQNeoWFMKcMgDEaYi14Y8mOCOIx1OB39LE6IRSYrcszFRDo/s3264/7A38C97A-316D-48E4-8E12-F7A19A3DBCE6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwmmyWg60ZyFX6XHVyfYwEJx7itZBx3sMfPnM5mjIfu4O1wWNs0LAS8gmWncx3x9jMv_MISlO7iJZOqSN1nG8wdF0DBdECMe2usjwmNij5-pzcc5XCA-nuSKiXokxeVMYkZuQ7Fd-ZfpzTQNeoWFMKcMgDEaYi14Y8mOCOIx1OB39LE6IRSYrcszFRDo/s320/7A38C97A-316D-48E4-8E12-F7A19A3DBCE6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have not spent a lot of money on myself this year as was the plan drawn up with the suits at the LMF, but decided I deserved something, a couple of somethings actually. I got another Soviet T-26 for my early war Russians, this will be built with two MG turrets, there are actually 10 variations in the Rubicon kit. I also got a SdKfz 250/7 which is a mortar carrier, I just liked the idea of it and I suspect it would be a dangerous opponent in Chain of Command. NO, it would have to be off table cried the regulars on Facebook, damn thought I, have I wasted my hard earned cash. Coming to the rescue was George Kettler with the German 80mm mortar manual, 60 meters (65.4 yards) is the minimum range for this mortar, so about 18" in CoC speak, take that! Others are similar ranges, the American and Russian 'medium' mortars for instance were mooted. These vehicles will be in the queue after the Imperial cannons.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKMXo_JhWpDgVbH1jLTf0x865mue5tFXZhuBtxN7pNYE3KefH4uvTXDm6c6AGdS2JIoZ_I8rAYndPJDPKdIH4P-9XknbikGNJu2t03GbZyXnl89v_0oyc8t1808WgD0EnFWDzLeLak9jMKoTOD0PVR0iQVqwAg7livXLdbBz0TnO2_luzT9UZQn00hJ0/s3264/B76749CC-BB67-46FC-ABC2-976C3D27D1AB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKMXo_JhWpDgVbH1jLTf0x865mue5tFXZhuBtxN7pNYE3KefH4uvTXDm6c6AGdS2JIoZ_I8rAYndPJDPKdIH4P-9XknbikGNJu2t03GbZyXnl89v_0oyc8t1808WgD0EnFWDzLeLak9jMKoTOD0PVR0iQVqwAg7livXLdbBz0TnO2_luzT9UZQn00hJ0/s320/B76749CC-BB67-46FC-ABC2-976C3D27D1AB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I am returning to Dux Britanniarum on Tuesday, well that's the plan, I really enjoyed this game so thought why not.<br /></p><p><br /></p><br />George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988875042394716329.post-82521005574108873752023-08-31T19:56:00.001+01:002023-08-31T21:39:24.709+01:00SYW Edition<p> I was supposed to be playing Cruel Seas but Rob was unwell so Mike and I managed to get shoehorned into Dan's large 10mm Seven Years War game which was planned to last two club nights before we needed to pack everything away as the school would once again be open to educate Generation Z, or try.<br /></p><p>So, Prussians vs Austrians, four infantry brigades a side well supported by cavalry and artillery, there were four players a side, I was a Prussian and had a large infantry and cavalry force on the left flank. The rules were Black Powder with amendments and tweaks for the period, as you know not my favourite set. Anyway the game kicked off and I, being schooled in the Prussian manner went forward with elan to tackle my opponent, this was spectacularly successful and the enemy lost several cavalry units while their infantry were brought to a halt. There were shouts of foul play as the prevailing impression is that I am a very unlucky die roller, this is wrong and it is usually me just being unhappy that I didn't roll better than rolling badly. No matter as the sun set on the first half of the game I had forced the enemy right to withdraw and it tottered on the edge of being broken. Next to me Ed's men had been forced back but not broken while Paul and Mike on the far right seemed to be close to destroying the Austrian left.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-hormcG7odLVL1VkRpU5wSPLu-deoXhjucK2ZOZHKc9RXoR8E8xUWAK2hyiBtTDxM_WkKCzz5jVkFDM5pMV-klXO7Wd235RmwKr9ssdGolNkS3W6a-naaxJuMTcWtHbC5r5p_EL8bXT7PQoF2UO7ssyyMcWpbjYIuvNGZIvwPWChtiLDhfB5lwChzNI/s4032/0C0F677A-68AC-4F69-9215-7EF0C2DDC67E.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-hormcG7odLVL1VkRpU5wSPLu-deoXhjucK2ZOZHKc9RXoR8E8xUWAK2hyiBtTDxM_WkKCzz5jVkFDM5pMV-klXO7Wd235RmwKr9ssdGolNkS3W6a-naaxJuMTcWtHbC5r5p_EL8bXT7PQoF2UO7ssyyMcWpbjYIuvNGZIvwPWChtiLDhfB5lwChzNI/s320/0C0F677A-68AC-4F69-9215-7EF0C2DDC67E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Prussian centre.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf5hC786tEkrgZZxEQ45KLGb9spuRqkry0KUk1fuQeXUUYxNSOx51ub6ocePHHQRq5Qz2mAf0GJbcAktjsfEsPSH7Nq76Z3HJu6yBnKu8Go0sZHAZtb3vUlv64Utc-WUmt94WVDgpYJ9nbJm6iy8cPLn7u6jcRl4ovs0HwBkV9qgPwvNkd170aOW5buE/s4032/50170877-05B5-43C4-BFA7-041FFBA1AEFD.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf5hC786tEkrgZZxEQ45KLGb9spuRqkry0KUk1fuQeXUUYxNSOx51ub6ocePHHQRq5Qz2mAf0GJbcAktjsfEsPSH7Nq76Z3HJu6yBnKu8Go0sZHAZtb3vUlv64Utc-WUmt94WVDgpYJ9nbJm6iy8cPLn7u6jcRl4ovs0HwBkV9qgPwvNkd170aOW5buE/s320/50170877-05B5-43C4-BFA7-041FFBA1AEFD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My troops advance confidently.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFR-6ae862J-AO92BFf2NJakMWOxHEcXsgnrZUYyB58PaKb5m-1v4FfifNerNfvaCRyzHx4ft-gfiJAFJUlXnmHYW9z2-g2NWJLRoTF3NGnsMwv9OBam-4-dfKHk3fWL2vE6OsxZKlrlHGgQAZKRYZWFGldNfJtBnHEFN9hgbzIYo2PtNRKOv1jeOzWtk/s4032/3EE6E06F-B923-43C1-A4EB-D912B69B84D9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFR-6ae862J-AO92BFf2NJakMWOxHEcXsgnrZUYyB58PaKb5m-1v4FfifNerNfvaCRyzHx4ft-gfiJAFJUlXnmHYW9z2-g2NWJLRoTF3NGnsMwv9OBam-4-dfKHk3fWL2vE6OsxZKlrlHGgQAZKRYZWFGldNfJtBnHEFN9hgbzIYo2PtNRKOv1jeOzWtk/s320/3EE6E06F-B923-43C1-A4EB-D912B69B84D9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The enemy fall back and I turn on Dan.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> Round 2 and sure enough Ian did not manage to save his forces and as I kept the pressure up he had to withdraw, I was now beginning to bring fire against Dan's brigade which had had a lot of success in causing poor Ed a lot of damage. As I slowly reorganised my cavalry for a sweeping advance on the Austrian centre things went awry on the right, the Austrians recovered and Mike's advance had been stopped, Paul on the other hand was dealt a number of hard blows by Austrain cavalry and his men were in disarray. Just as I was feeling good about my movements the Prussian centre collapsed and fled, with the army broken I could do nothing but retreat with my banners flying and my honour intact, I had won my bit!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rHJbkIop3rUkRpSiGexUCU3-SCV_dtlVnXAM0U9uufd1GcqbpnmNlj9cdN4_8a_rK5uGclbubpL5qTuRKAlkge8p6qV82rrEW3k3ieJ9Mf1YfeINt0340Q_j0WUyy7Y7AHRGqNHfCkk8mKsOwlnFjvzlvOqrXacES6PGfq7YIvnqBh9DWv7azInS0eE/s4032/2B944538-9438-4A5A-9669-B409849437FA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rHJbkIop3rUkRpSiGexUCU3-SCV_dtlVnXAM0U9uufd1GcqbpnmNlj9cdN4_8a_rK5uGclbubpL5qTuRKAlkge8p6qV82rrEW3k3ieJ9Mf1YfeINt0340Q_j0WUyy7Y7AHRGqNHfCkk8mKsOwlnFjvzlvOqrXacES6PGfq7YIvnqBh9DWv7azInS0eE/s320/2B944538-9438-4A5A-9669-B409849437FA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjJ11EVVb_Si0do5-iTCUSU4c3HQLxmefJE_-4TSIU62SwTOqxdPkw-5lc2n1uru1RXH_8Uk2RyzFD7mmkPEP_AWnVK_etFHgIsu1SIyVgNLMc4s4u81fFVOvTnZAT8eZlOoSwNIgWgQ1PmEX9UneQupgvnx_uVDs78PdBuEeiS3_hnPPE7vI7hBEFQQ/s4032/A9EF5012-93F9-4ADC-A05E-C3428D82B32F.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjJ11EVVb_Si0do5-iTCUSU4c3HQLxmefJE_-4TSIU62SwTOqxdPkw-5lc2n1uru1RXH_8Uk2RyzFD7mmkPEP_AWnVK_etFHgIsu1SIyVgNLMc4s4u81fFVOvTnZAT8eZlOoSwNIgWgQ1PmEX9UneQupgvnx_uVDs78PdBuEeiS3_hnPPE7vI7hBEFQQ/s320/A9EF5012-93F9-4ADC-A05E-C3428D82B32F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just before our centre went south.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> A good game and everyone had a good time, even me apart from what I considered a bad rule that although their brigade was leaving the battlefield being broken some skirmishers in a wood could ignore this and continue to be a pain to my brigade and my men were unable to enter the wood to despatch these stalwarts.</p><p></p><p>I was at a loose end and decided to set up a solo Italian Wars game based on the battle of Marignano, I thought it would be simple but it is not a simple battle, no matter I had started to deploy troops when I got an email from Matt offering a game, he was coming to me and was happy to play, yes, Seven Years War.</p><p>I found a scenario on the Honours of War website where Red (British/Matt) force were retreating and Blue (French/me) on a parallel road were attempting to intercept, it was basically a meeting engagement. Although the French had the edge on troop numbers they had two cavalry units which I knew were not going to be of much use in this affray.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65N_j_2jFTx3blgT2Juz_tumQJhi34vQapoASGBgT_wIz7BHydOIB04RDdMypmVdmEHO07X6G46eE-4Pl90qoPe4uUmDnalkbuMtV_heis6L4IGaqccYZAPYEvPwY-0lv4oQd4E6SvzOawbZVEThhgRa0KFv-g70y8e1d6505iOvllQrucJ9UAIX_cdQ/s3264/D36DD6EA-4A51-4963-807B-5B71D2E6A8AB.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65N_j_2jFTx3blgT2Juz_tumQJhi34vQapoASGBgT_wIz7BHydOIB04RDdMypmVdmEHO07X6G46eE-4Pl90qoPe4uUmDnalkbuMtV_heis6L4IGaqccYZAPYEvPwY-0lv4oQd4E6SvzOawbZVEThhgRa0KFv-g70y8e1d6505iOvllQrucJ9UAIX_cdQ/s320/D36DD6EA-4A51-4963-807B-5B71D2E6A8AB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The British on the march.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vXVdaUwVsIfnB9nlqMedlu4w9LuEM7hvLRbIqvHKcvPrw1Uc17LWBDaHCjIQNfE-ID9kisPJXB6b-I84c9Hd_zGTJ4EIePpBivGczE7a-aDtU7vI1s1jiOGnJbH-v2HKr4IkivFx1zKzCynM8t9psg1Yk3tFEv4VD09msWbcgXqKsGrFK0ICyKYp_w0/s3264/86B71743-870B-4D29-9A33-50DDE4FE3759.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vXVdaUwVsIfnB9nlqMedlu4w9LuEM7hvLRbIqvHKcvPrw1Uc17LWBDaHCjIQNfE-ID9kisPJXB6b-I84c9Hd_zGTJ4EIePpBivGczE7a-aDtU7vI1s1jiOGnJbH-v2HKr4IkivFx1zKzCynM8t9psg1Yk3tFEv4VD09msWbcgXqKsGrFK0ICyKYp_w0/s320/86B71743-870B-4D29-9A33-50DDE4FE3759.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The French opposite.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRuzEUE_Hywtlg8QSaUhbwuDrhuI1ose7nsE68wysMD81qdobGgiUlneckBU7MCUGHxKTQ7uJkxLGudejgMzVprglRTaabTYuLaSLZB6UJRFPtzb25MhO-k6wvWhXFU03nGgLcBe76aEhoKaQF4q4Pk19WfSAlZS1AApjcWYNR1iSf3NXlcH0w4NsBT8/s3264/04E7431A-1D88-425C-977D-D1656230FBB1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRuzEUE_Hywtlg8QSaUhbwuDrhuI1ose7nsE68wysMD81qdobGgiUlneckBU7MCUGHxKTQ7uJkxLGudejgMzVprglRTaabTYuLaSLZB6UJRFPtzb25MhO-k6wvWhXFU03nGgLcBe76aEhoKaQF4q4Pk19WfSAlZS1AApjcWYNR1iSf3NXlcH0w4NsBT8/s320/04E7431A-1D88-425C-977D-D1656230FBB1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The French move on the British left.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8C872lPOHDc_DRccPH6JvBODRcV-Gp_Xyg-zPXt4D4o7OAvunQ3kOFg-xywhX5QeuTp_3GIE9ysDR0znZUE6_nrcOWWJxfHi_TCeoqfVCXcMx9qWiipVB1w4dJmRrrs7a2-zpQZSNyeLD3RGu-gvmwqGpOAeTSYDWs-hZ25QB3DvO0O3m5d2Ht-kQgw/s3264/7BF292D4-C4C4-46D4-816F-82983263F5B7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8C872lPOHDc_DRccPH6JvBODRcV-Gp_Xyg-zPXt4D4o7OAvunQ3kOFg-xywhX5QeuTp_3GIE9ysDR0znZUE6_nrcOWWJxfHi_TCeoqfVCXcMx9qWiipVB1w4dJmRrrs7a2-zpQZSNyeLD3RGu-gvmwqGpOAeTSYDWs-hZ25QB3DvO0O3m5d2Ht-kQgw/s320/7BF292D4-C4C4-46D4-816F-82983263F5B7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The French right crests the heights.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>All the French troops were on the table and one small mixed Legion were already on the flank of the British column, the rest of the British would turn up later. I set my forward brigade to move and take a position to block the British retreat route, this was not an objective but it might allow me to turn their flank. My second brigade of Scots, Germans and Irish simply turned off the road and advanced towards the enemy on the other side of a ridge which spanned the centre of the battlefield. Matt's forward brigade was led by a 'Ditherer' and several times he failed to move his men, I had the same problem with my lead force and had to send my Commander along to ensure they did their duty.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptBu93Fn3zKAoyESAHRIEhvQXcTooBkM4HK63giliSPscT5JxHGajPG5j9zCSbGDp2pVNrF2JSiIVNpg9nFMKd-1ItD8gj5mmqulac2h_IDcsopK0ZoOKv7C4EcpIzc0-UXIMInVmf5wcmIOECCXoCKlED9L-C8zqvjydiVcelCYo6GUndXAL34tJxzI/s3264/991C7164-F3C0-48F3-8074-A58A604999F7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptBu93Fn3zKAoyESAHRIEhvQXcTooBkM4HK63giliSPscT5JxHGajPG5j9zCSbGDp2pVNrF2JSiIVNpg9nFMKd-1ItD8gj5mmqulac2h_IDcsopK0ZoOKv7C4EcpIzc0-UXIMInVmf5wcmIOECCXoCKlED9L-C8zqvjydiVcelCYo6GUndXAL34tJxzI/s320/991C7164-F3C0-48F3-8074-A58A604999F7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scots and Germans on my left.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Tkx21_v1QtZh5ND8RW5UFvOI3uECQNljgADSjmv5BCWsKU-m-SWTx7Xgg5w64FVTzVscojaU534vNMUi-ZnW5PuNWHqkDS4PQ7Y35U-TGa9hxIHiOwShga_wC3swiXsc8A36AnZJqpVSGBNunVWWe7qfAnqF3Q37kCgN-y-WliZbBV3FZESbGMqLX80/s3264/559EFAB9-2ECB-4654-8ABD-E8C186DC6B06.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Tkx21_v1QtZh5ND8RW5UFvOI3uECQNljgADSjmv5BCWsKU-m-SWTx7Xgg5w64FVTzVscojaU534vNMUi-ZnW5PuNWHqkDS4PQ7Y35U-TGa9hxIHiOwShga_wC3swiXsc8A36AnZJqpVSGBNunVWWe7qfAnqF3Q37kCgN-y-WliZbBV3FZESbGMqLX80/s320/559EFAB9-2ECB-4654-8ABD-E8C186DC6B06.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Irish about to advance on the thin red line.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVLjgZRHTBhcj01Cfj1PrT8MlRrzw6u-KhBkZhoVb3ngLhSVsG1WH0VyWWVGt7R5pE2QyhlQPysknr9P9QEYhyF_5pVH0fkWEFzh-V8PENc31TdI_34Kit3Z2M5kMggRgKYxs3IA8pTZdu6I9VL7f3xHAji-Vf1TpCbLntd8gbBYyPrpBh1ZapTQHPlA/s3264/5F02C1ED-B36D-4DA1-8162-9D2F882DA778.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVLjgZRHTBhcj01Cfj1PrT8MlRrzw6u-KhBkZhoVb3ngLhSVsG1WH0VyWWVGt7R5pE2QyhlQPysknr9P9QEYhyF_5pVH0fkWEFzh-V8PENc31TdI_34Kit3Z2M5kMggRgKYxs3IA8pTZdu6I9VL7f3xHAji-Vf1TpCbLntd8gbBYyPrpBh1ZapTQHPlA/s320/5F02C1ED-B36D-4DA1-8162-9D2F882DA778.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The British in confusion.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The British got into a line on my right and a firefight ensued, much to my surprise I lost a regiment very quickly as the superior British shooting got the drop on me and I suffered, so much so that it took me quite a while to begin to get the upperhand helped enormously by my attached artillery. Meanwhile the British main force had arrived and confusion reigned, Matt kept two regiments and a gun back to protect his right while the rest of the brigade moved to help the hard pressed left, this caused many to become uncommanded and played havoc with his reorganisation. At the same time my boys eventually started to hit the British hard and several units fled for the rear adding to the confusion.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2QQDzmwMEhEuByLbPsHXdmkIe_ypz0llJa0fc9qy2aurLGmOmyBi3JM_o7IjXv4aJqIkGv00_seXEgrJLkn5BU6SyrvX6Nmym2mvUvM55DOmvnmx-AuDXtKdx68dV8IGr2X0eBA2KNOmpXuGR9L8nq5rVh6Kx1NhDcfHEhiweS6G93qWMa96VdsC3BY/s3264/A1FA48E6-E2A4-4791-B1E2-BA88762B78FF.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2QQDzmwMEhEuByLbPsHXdmkIe_ypz0llJa0fc9qy2aurLGmOmyBi3JM_o7IjXv4aJqIkGv00_seXEgrJLkn5BU6SyrvX6Nmym2mvUvM55DOmvnmx-AuDXtKdx68dV8IGr2X0eBA2KNOmpXuGR9L8nq5rVh6Kx1NhDcfHEhiweS6G93qWMa96VdsC3BY/s320/A1FA48E6-E2A4-4791-B1E2-BA88762B78FF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The French centre.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N4RWm34PaBbDuXngN09QZvcE3WwJ1wHYclG2m-CznfyAWXwlShB0hR8h3t4G_lOSvQOsRHRUszk0yn8857bxJOFGWvRIOYMWpiOKeFIBgre4Fmf2mheomF2BgAoFI0hrhXCeGUFlb2spMOhP7dS9PDxtVNgvg1aYiG192w1ChTjx-QJZHNPg7G5N58Y/s3264/76E84091-7B2C-4D88-99D8-EB993A97750E.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N4RWm34PaBbDuXngN09QZvcE3WwJ1wHYclG2m-CznfyAWXwlShB0hR8h3t4G_lOSvQOsRHRUszk0yn8857bxJOFGWvRIOYMWpiOKeFIBgre4Fmf2mheomF2BgAoFI0hrhXCeGUFlb2spMOhP7dS9PDxtVNgvg1aYiG192w1ChTjx-QJZHNPg7G5N58Y/s320/76E84091-7B2C-4D88-99D8-EB993A97750E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Scots try to escape.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Q3WQrJMiTyrUjs-2LUqCuT1wup2Zc8109nHl9G73QeqdBikaVkPRJio0PfnV3rLSqBy0mwdm1-FiGVHEmRho-WfqTxUozV2aAGjMXUEiQxEivnAeCOoWyPSKQWyMB_qVlXMH8shEI60pN1KLWdF_UgpLbV9vogRMGCL5cryB_j_XB2ar8sIzLf_FIXg/s3264/0A1D496E-56D7-4DD0-BFBA-0EEDDC740995.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Q3WQrJMiTyrUjs-2LUqCuT1wup2Zc8109nHl9G73QeqdBikaVkPRJio0PfnV3rLSqBy0mwdm1-FiGVHEmRho-WfqTxUozV2aAGjMXUEiQxEivnAeCOoWyPSKQWyMB_qVlXMH8shEI60pN1KLWdF_UgpLbV9vogRMGCL5cryB_j_XB2ar8sIzLf_FIXg/s320/0A1D496E-56D7-4DD0-BFBA-0EEDDC740995.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>It was now that Matt attempted a charge against the Irish holding my left, it turned out to be a bad move and the charging regiment melted in the face of Irish lead. British losses were climbing and the French were closing in, with only one loss to go before breaking Matt handed over his sword.</p><p>A good game and one I at first thought was going to go badly for me, I was the first to lose a battalion, the British held a village in the centre of their line and their reinforcements were an even match for my left, it was only the disastrous charge which opened this up for me. On my right I had a frustrating time getting a good firing line deployed and it was stopped a couple of times as battalions were forced back, but it managed in the end. I could not get the cavalry into action and hoped at one point to be able to ride down some unformed troops but it was not to be. The French artillery played a large part in reducing British strength and supporting my right. A good days wargaming.</p><p>It was time for another Italian Wars order, it has been a while and I have kept up till now on my drive not to spend as much as last year. I got figures for two Imperial generals and followers, one unit of Ginettes and one of Italian Elmeti along with two artillery pieces and crews, this will leave maybe another couple of heavy cavalry units and one pike block to finish the army, I am on track for around Christmas. Hot off the tray is a Neapolitian pike block, they do look good.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUpcNQomZatlMQUQlQcjV-ZzGiGFZRcGEFu8E24l0zhuRcPzN9H0A_5O3UvUe5xCEnHOtFkhCDUmHDGwdXANQLelmTEDq1jR0dURAVff3BDU0KrCjW9tRUAWNTvNt8yEKAVS8WXdBgNLt3sSahWThTPvLANjVgZct5HCeoZSXxi_V1a5GN65vZfhYTXg/s3264/E4975052-7478-431B-BE89-1E53CD6D2758.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUpcNQomZatlMQUQlQcjV-ZzGiGFZRcGEFu8E24l0zhuRcPzN9H0A_5O3UvUe5xCEnHOtFkhCDUmHDGwdXANQLelmTEDq1jR0dURAVff3BDU0KrCjW9tRUAWNTvNt8yEKAVS8WXdBgNLt3sSahWThTPvLANjVgZct5HCeoZSXxi_V1a5GN65vZfhYTXg/s320/E4975052-7478-431B-BE89-1E53CD6D2758.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt41whgwf2wISfI3DBxpTSKOuh0AXP5dknbecVBZ0k5tCci0UbENxFRL2AjwBq7JyjE-R0z1VczWHSAiC0YAOKUo0KHk07FW7Is64LV0hxuMl6qC3m617iflHFrxpO3FI_8hn-tY84WrNp3NT84sTlNA4IPQ7ioWeMv1QY_YigAMH3byal-zFq0n2Tl4M/s3264/2617BEED-4642-4BC8-A3D4-C56908E7B6C3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt41whgwf2wISfI3DBxpTSKOuh0AXP5dknbecVBZ0k5tCci0UbENxFRL2AjwBq7JyjE-R0z1VczWHSAiC0YAOKUo0KHk07FW7Is64LV0hxuMl6qC3m617iflHFrxpO3FI_8hn-tY84WrNp3NT84sTlNA4IPQ7ioWeMv1QY_YigAMH3byal-zFq0n2Tl4M/s320/2617BEED-4642-4BC8-A3D4-C56908E7B6C3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuurCdDNeWW1L0Pqsp2IkTF6nk-p-10KrNYg-R3mOQi7lV9psuZ0tDmP1hVyFGYpIgAWN9Rv3hrF2lJuwYdzpcpLUtoldOaHIC4oZjsERkKvdqIceBfCeo9BZhXdEC6HYUwR61pWmg0IM109c2Swy1QpQ1xzivpbqzXiEPqI8yfaOIQVuBaA0Qc4J1D7s/s3264/A9994112-5D0E-41D1-929B-C1402956EE28.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuurCdDNeWW1L0Pqsp2IkTF6nk-p-10KrNYg-R3mOQi7lV9psuZ0tDmP1hVyFGYpIgAWN9Rv3hrF2lJuwYdzpcpLUtoldOaHIC4oZjsERkKvdqIceBfCeo9BZhXdEC6HYUwR61pWmg0IM109c2Swy1QpQ1xzivpbqzXiEPqI8yfaOIQVuBaA0Qc4J1D7s/s320/A9994112-5D0E-41D1-929B-C1402956EE28.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br />Talking of Christmas I am now on the second last book I received, and while I was in Morecambe at the weekend popping into a pathetic 'Comic Con' I popped into the second hand bookshop on the front. I treated myself to three large tomes for a measly £17, I had a nice chat with the owner and might drop these back when I am done and give him some I have lying about. The mortar book was a little dig at Matt and his mortars in the Smolensk campaign, albeit they are not Russian.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Vd-Ya5B3-VnDuwBJTrtIdkG_o2zP4SNfNgXcclcU1UXdh0lafe2fp2MAvIjm1FhDjU2c35SgXgdiQGWYPqYOj7JVL_MqTnVi_Pq3pFgNcShUcy6Hr5IzAPQDP9HwK990hdKw9EXTYA79hoxPYeN8eT3VcKiFpccfBgY_N7pdVRdPR-sw0Bsl770M8OI/s3264/E89B2011-F2F2-49E8-9436-6488398FF6F3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Vd-Ya5B3-VnDuwBJTrtIdkG_o2zP4SNfNgXcclcU1UXdh0lafe2fp2MAvIjm1FhDjU2c35SgXgdiQGWYPqYOj7JVL_MqTnVi_Pq3pFgNcShUcy6Hr5IzAPQDP9HwK990hdKw9EXTYA79hoxPYeN8eT3VcKiFpccfBgY_N7pdVRdPR-sw0Bsl770M8OI/s320/E89B2011-F2F2-49E8-9436-6488398FF6F3.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>Although Farcebook has been a pain for me lately with tons of rubbish I do not want to see I did manage to track down another War and Conquest player 45 minutes away, a quick chat and we have a game organised for next week, Normans vs Saxon Heptarchy. Rob and I are on Chain of Command on Tuesday, Early War French vs Italians, he does like his Ice Cream makers, oops, is that the Old Bill at the door.<br /></p><p>I am stuck in TV limbo again, I just finished the excellent Queenmaker on Netflix, OK it kind of slowed in the middle a tad but overall I love revenge series/movies when the baddies get sorted.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhL6Nyq2qpIAxT6p0SL7saAqltjeJohMa0NJ5Efafsxevm0sYKY8wuDrPbD74CItVWaQjfH5dcPNjESkrocKzJ_KfWUrvFkGuk5MVfzw2_7NdlD1K3q0QDR6nDlllydW-4Anoh8dCA5TaHo97RMgLR25I-HGNtRm3PTM3WomholxVlQmOyt8KAVzdGNI/s630/MV5BYjM5ZTk2YzItMWUxYS00ODRiLWE3YzYtYjMwZWQ4ZjRiODNjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTUzOTczNzYx._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhL6Nyq2qpIAxT6p0SL7saAqltjeJohMa0NJ5Efafsxevm0sYKY8wuDrPbD74CItVWaQjfH5dcPNjESkrocKzJ_KfWUrvFkGuk5MVfzw2_7NdlD1K3q0QDR6nDlllydW-4Anoh8dCA5TaHo97RMgLR25I-HGNtRm3PTM3WomholxVlQmOyt8KAVzdGNI/s320/MV5BYjM5ZTk2YzItMWUxYS00ODRiLWE3YzYtYjMwZWQ4ZjRiODNjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTUzOTczNzYx._V1_.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p> <br /></p>George Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02622222875110390888noreply@blogger.com14