New Blood and Back On Track

 We had two of our grandchildren here last week, Gabrielle of course was not interested in wargaming but James was and the first words out of his mouth was "Papa can we have a wargame?" So in the interests of the hobby and bonding I set up a small introduction to the Seven Years War for him, nice colourful soldiers and flags a plenty. The game went well although it was technically a win for me, but who is counting. The next day found us on the plains of Northern Italy, my French took a pounding as James led the Imperials to a hard fought victory, but as I said, the result doesn't count. Tuesday was club night and I took him along to a game of Black Seas kindly set up by Rob, we were the British and although we did not manage to gain our objectives we did sink some Frenchies and took a prize back to old Blighty so Rob gave us the win. What was the downside to the visit, I had to sit through the latest Ghostbusters movie which was a traumatic experience, especially the £7 hotdog.

Italian Wars.

Seven Years War.

Rob with the patience of Job.

The new room is now done as you know and these will be the last photographs I shall bore you with, they are out with the old and look at the new. I should be able to give you a look at the outside in a couple of weeks, then you are free.

I organised a game of Bolt Action with 'Lucky' Jimi last night but first had to pick him up, I had offered as the wheel on his car fell off last week while he was driving and the result was a right off. Once again I decided to go outside my comfort zone with my forces and I took two halftracks and a truck along with a Marder III for support. Now the Panzer and Panzergrenadier divisions were the spearhead of the German Army and not a lot was ever successful without them, but on the wargame table you hardly ever see armoured infantry, especially in a points based system as you can get more bang for your buck elsewhere for the short duration of a typical wargame. Anyway, I had stolen a scenario idea from Matt Crump at Wargames in the Dungeon and decided this time to use transports, a first for me really in Bolt Action.

There were secret plans or some other special maguffin thing on the battlefield but neither player knew exactly where, there were three objectives but only one had the goods under it, I had let Jimi know about this beforehand. The game started well and I got my truck right up to the central objective while the two halftracks moved on the flank objectives, I added a supporting infantry squad on the right, Jimi was late to the deployment but the last die was mine and I took advantage as my Marder edged forward and took a long range shot at the British Sherman, a stunning shot took out Jimi's tank on turn one, things did not look good for the British.

The British attack.

As my troops debussed the British seemed to be drawn to the centre objective but they were advancing across open fields of fire and casualties mounted. My two squads on the right easily destroyed the enemy squad there and were preparing to mount up and continue to the centre. It was now with most of his veterans cut down and his remaining forces left with an uphill struggle 'Lucky' Jimi gave up. This left me in charge of the three objectives and the secret thingy was found on the right. Sadly Jimi's luck was diabolical during the game and using the transports certainly came as a surprise to him. I'm sure he will get his own back.

The Germans move on the centre.

Crippling fire mows down the Airborne.

But still they come.

A dying gasp from the British anti-tank gun.

The papers.

Whenever an opponent has the ill fortune to require a good throw and ends up with something bad I usually express my sorrow with false sincerity, "What a shame." This has caught on at the club and I have been a victim myself of this barb, so I got in touch with my inner artist and the result is down below.

 The club recently has taken an interest in Dark Age and Ancient battles and there is a large clash nearly every week now with some impressive armies. Now as you know this is right up my strasse and I have been looking for this for years, am I happy, no, not really. Hail Caesar has taken a hold and these mighty armies have either turned up or been built with this in mind, despite my joy for the lads who are obviously enjoying themselves I remain wedded to War and Conquest. Big Ed has decided to ensure I mend my ways and has got me to promise to join him in a game, it would be churlish of me to refuse but don't hold your breath.

Matt will be here tomorrow to continue with our Eastern Front 1941 campaign, it is game nine and if Matt succeeds in taking the village of Mikheykovo he gains a major victory. If I hold the hamlet we fight the last game as a German attack and I could, however doubtful, gain a minor victory, otherwise the laurels go to Matt. My main problem was that after being pushed back at the beginning I was too eager to cut the Russian supply line and forgot how to actually win the game, ouch. I have also managed to book some games here into May so Italian Wars, WWII, War and Conquest and some American Civil War are all on the cards.

The Sea Wolf lifts the curse

 I got the chance to play with Rob last night, the first in a while as I have been a wargaming butterfly playing quite a few different periods and people, the club is booming at the moment and we are now taking up two classrooms instead of one. Anyway, Rob had organised a game of Black Seas which I have not played for two years, that was a surprise to me when I looked it up, bloody Covid.

I took the British, James the French and Rob the Spanish. My small squadron of the frigates Achilles (flagship), Ajax and HM Bark Sheraton were sailing to intercept a wrecked vessel loaded with supplies of gunpowder while a French squadron of the same make up were bent on destroying the beached vessel, two small Spanish privateers had also heard of the booty and wanted a share. The French and Spanish made straight for the wreck amongst the shoals while I sent Ajax ahead and turned Achilles and Sheraton to port with the hope of raking the sterns of the French as they manoeuvred to come upon the wreck. The French flagship managed to reach the wreck at the same time as the Spanish and both fired on the beached vessel starting a raging fire, Ajax could do nothing to help but in the true traditions of the Senior Service set battle ensigns and charged into the fray. A deadly broadside caused one privateer to strike her colours, the French flagship having completed her task now turned for the open sea, Ajax now took aim at the second privateer and sent her to the bottom, it would now take time to tack and pursue the enemy.

 Meanwhile the other two French ships seeing the flaming wreck now turned to confront the Sea Wolf and Sheraton in an effort to escape, broadsides crashed out from all vessels but the British gunnery won the day and soon both French ships had struck. Ajax gamely tried to catch the French flagship and managed a few long range shots before her superior speed took her out of harms way. Although the French had completed their objective the British had claimed three prizes and one vessel sunk, the supplies aboard these would more than make up for the loss of powder on the blazing wreck. The captain of the Ajax and the British squadron are building up a terrifying reputation amongst their enemies. There is a rumour of an Earldom in the passages of Whitehall. The engagement had not lasted long so Rob and I took a frigate and bark each for another tussle, once again the Royal Navy won the day as the French bark escaped and the frigate struck.

There was a moment there as Ajax took on three of the enemy and the Achilles seemed to be facing an empty sea where I thought once again this year a defeat was staring me in the face, not that I believe in superstition. But somehow the pendulum swung in my direction and the curse was lifted, the rest of the year now holds no fear win or lose.

 There was a big Napoleonic game organised in Grange last Sunday but I could not attend being away in sunny Darlington for a delayed birthday dinner with my son and his family. I did however manage to get a game of Blood Bowl in, my third since spending the GDP of a small country on it. 

The Coach of the local team was taking no prisoners having lost the last two games to the Lanark Lemmings and brought his first team, the Swamp Boys, to the pitch, the home fans were of course delighted. The Lemmings received the ball in the first half and instead of taking advantage while half the Lizards were on the ground the Lemmings played a cautious game and then lost the ball. The home crowd went wild as their team broke through and made a run for the touchline with nothing to stop them. The applause turned to anger and boos as the Croc played to the crowd instead of scoring, Karma bit him on the tail and the Lemmings managed to foil the scoring attempt in the closing minutes of the first half. As the teams lined up for the second half the Lemmings were down four players, three knocked out and one fatality, the writing was on the wall, the Lizards crashed through in the opening turns and this time took no chances and smashed a touchdown, the fans forgave them, there were several fracas in the crowd between home and away fans. Time however was against us and we had to call a halt early, which is just as well as the Lemmings were heading for a fate far worse than 1-0.

 No matter when I have a coffee break a bus load of customers turns up, it has ever been thus and needless to say it annoys me, it is also never someone wanting a stamp, it is always a problem customer who doesn't know what's in the parcel or it has to go to Camp Polar Bear in the Arctic and will it need a customs label or is hand gel really a liquid while my coffee freezes. I had a bit of a moan, in a friendly way, with Ben who banks the cash from the Old School Brewery in the village and now when they turn up they bring me a lovely cup of Mocha just in case it is coffee break, how nice is that.

 I have had a quiet time with maps over the festive season and what I have worked on were not complex and involved only a few maps, the English in Tangiers in the 17C, battles in India in the 18C and the Jacobites at Preston in 1715. I received two new projects just yesterday, Jagdgeschwader 52 in Hungary 1944-1945 and the Battle of Rossbach 1757.

India.

Preston.

Almost forgot, I am off to Vapnartak in York on Sunday, I have a small shopping list and some figures to pick up from Gripping Beast. I will also take the opportunity to have a look at some Italian Wars bits and pieces. Helion have also managed to get a stand this year so I will be popping in there to have a word with the editors and maybe spend my fiver.

The Sea Wolf contemplates Hampshire

Simon had asked Rob to organise a Black Seas game and I decided to join in as the club seems to be exceptionally busy at the moment with full tables every week. This time we were back in the Caribbean as the Sea Wolf's small flotilla having repaired in Jamaica were on the lookout for a notorious French privateer/pirate (Rob), this rascal had lately captured a large merchantman reputed to be carrying gold bullion and was enroute to Port Royal. A small Spanish fleet (Simon) were also at sea looking for the same ship.

The Sea Wolf arrives.

We came upon the Frenchie sailing close to shore, sadly the weather gauge was against me and it was taking a long time to catch up with the prey, the Spaniards on the other hand closed quickly, I at first thought I would let them engage the pirates while I would sail to cut them off and pick up the pieces as we were not yet at war with Spain. Rob then decided to sail through the sandbanks to throw off pursuit, I therefore turned Achilles and Ajax towards the rear of the French while Nubian and Tartar continued with the intention of getting ahead of everybody.

I move towards the rear of the pirates.

 Simon now sent his brigs into the fray while his frigate stood off and pounded a large privateer, this ship was losing the fight and grounded on a nearby sandbank where her captain surrendered, very shortly after a pirate brig also ran aground and struck her colours. I meanwhile was still fighting the wind. The Spanish attack now broke up, but had another success on boarding the remaining ship escorting the large merchant, now however Ajax entered the battle, aggressive as ever she began to pound both the Spaniard and the pirate while Achilles fired at long range into the merchant.

Ajax delivers her devastating and winning broadside.

More confusion in the sandbanks followed as the merchant could not clear the two brigs and the three ships now sat entwined giving one large target, as the fire from Ajax continued the Spanish brig went to the bottom, a devastating broadside from close range into the rear of the merchant caused chaos and mayhem, the privateer's flag came down. Ajax was now too close to the stuck ships and she too now found herself locked to the merchant, a fortuitous move as it turned out as her crew now began to transfer the gold to the holds of Ajax.

The end is nigh.

 Elsewhere the Achilles had sunk another Spanish brig but their flagship, the frigate, now moved on Tartar and Nubian and managed to sink Tartar, she then turned back towards the melee in the sandbanks and kept a weather eye on the Achilles bearing down towards her. This was a dangerous moment for the Sea Wolf, neither Ajax nor Achilles by now could probably withstand a successful broadside, if Ajax went down so did the gold, if Achilles my reputation. The Spaniard was in the same boat so to speak but did manage to get a broadside off as she closed with my flagship, it was weathered by Achilles (Simon threw terrible dice) and the return fire sent the last Spaniard to Davy Jones' Locker. Nubian meanwhile had won her fight but too successfully, the enemy first caught fire then blew up spectacularly causing damage to the Nubian, which she thankfully weathered.

Although I had caused an international incident by firing on my Spanish 'allies' I had sunk them all so hopefully no word would seep through to Whitehall or the Palacio Real Madrid before the real war started, and besides who is going to turn down a ship full of gold. I must mention the Captain of Ajax who in the last two battles has shown incredible aggression in the face of overwhelming odds and been quite instrumental in the British victories, well done that man. As for the Sea Wolf, although his ships were battered once again and Tartar had been lost the rewards are enough to contemplate a new estate in Hampshire, now where did I put that latest copy of Country Life

As I said we had a full house, Age of Sigmar, several LoTR games, Chain of Command and Black Seas. Not sure about next week, Dan wants to delve once more into IABSM but I cannot remember which Tuesday. On the home front I am nearing the end of my second Volksgrenadier squad and have started the third and last. I looked at my Waffen-SS and only need two more LMG's for a full platoon, for some reason Offensive Miniatures only include LMG's in with full squads, so I shall have to look elsewhere.

And the Prize goes to .....

Black Seas last night, as it transpired only Rob and I were playing, the club had a full house, some kind of Lord of the Rings tourney, Battlemech and Age of Sigmar, one small table with an historical connection but a room full of satisfied gamers.

Back in the Caribbean near the Sugar Islands Fort George was under threat from a French fleet, just in time from over the horizon a small British squadron under the command of the Honorable Viscount Anderson "The Sea Wolf" hove in to view. Commodore Robere Martineux had three frigates and three brigs loaded with soldiers to take Fort George, I had two frigates (Achilles (flag), Ajax) and two brigs (Tartar and Nubian) with which to destroy the French navy and hopefully save the fort.

The Sea Wolf arrives.

Make all speed boys, England expects.......

 As the enemy made for the fort two of the frigates and a brig turned to confront my force while the rest made for the island, a shadow of doubt flashed across my brain and I wondered what kind of state would my little fleet be in after confronting the blocking force. I decided therefore to gang up on this force and then make for the fort. As it turned out my brigs were left to their own devices and made a mess of their manoeuvres as did one of the French frigates so Ajax and Achilles took on the nearest frigate and the brig. This turned into a dogs dinner the upshot of which was no one really took a lot of hits and the fight broke up as both sides sailed to avoid some rocks around a lighthouse and moved closer to the action around the fort.

Ajax puts herself in harms way.

 Near the fort Rob had anchored one frigate and got his brigs into good positions to drop their longboats and head for the shore, a steady bombardment slowly reduced the defences, one longboat was lost but the others arrived safely and stormed the walls, the brave but futile defence was soon holed up in the main barracks.

Meanwhile at sea things began to turn in the Sea Wolf's favour, the captain of Ajax was very aggressive and his action saw the first French frigate strike her colours, this was followed shortly after by Achilles also getting a prize, the combination of Royal Navy seamanship and gunnery (good dice) was more than a match for the invaders. The third enemy frigate now arrived to bolster her companions but it was too late, Achilles and Ajax pounded her and Tartar moved in for a stern rake to finish her off, she too struck. Tartar however was only just afloat and her crew were given over to repairs for the rest of the action.

A perfect rake for both ships.

Achilles puts paid to another Frenchie.

The fort had now fallen and the Tricolour flew from the bastion, however the remaining French vessels were now in trouble as the larger British ships closed in, one brig was sent to the bottom while another was boarded as she lay stuck on a sandbank, a second prize for Ajax. The remaining Frenchman, actually a Spanish mercenary, took to the open seas and limped off. The victorious troops in the Fort now sent a deputation to the Sea Wolf to open negotiations for a surrender having no means of holding off the Royal Navy. or the Royal Marines landing from Tartar.

Mayhem around Fort George

The End.

The lone Spaniard slips away.

Once again a great game and narrative, I was actually quite lucky not to lose Ajax and Tartar as both had received a lot of damage, especially the latter, I was also able to benefit from taking the enemy frigates on one at a time while Rob was focusing on taking the fort. With four prizes in the net the Sea Wolf and his men can look forward to a rewarding bounty, perhaps I should sell that tavern in Portsmouth and get an estate in Kent?

The Sea Wolf Returns

Fairly quiet at the club last night, a Saga game, Age of Sigmar with some very strange figures but all beautifully painted, real works of art, a WWII boardgame which I think concentrated on logistics as the title was Quartermaster General and my own game with Black Seas.

Andy couldn't make it so there were three of us, the first scenario had a frigate and two brigs of the Royal Navy and La Royale (the Frenchies) bearing down on a Spanish treasure ship watering at an island. The Spaniard quickly recovered her crew and set sail with the weather gauge which meant she was coming straight at me, the French were struggling against the wind so I thought I would get in quickly, board and seize the filthy lucre, to this end I laid my two brigs alongside after first giving her several broadsides. The French now turned up and dealt out a lot of punishment to my starboard brig while most of her crew were in combat on the Spaniards deck, in the confusion the brig struck her colours but the Spaniards could not take advantage as my other brig now sent across her boarders. Within minutes the Spaniard was captured and the White Duster again run up on my second brig.

The Spaniard up anchors and I prepare to engage.

Gotcha!

La Royale arrive.

 My frigate attempted to join the fray but the wind was against her and the rocky outcrops and sandbars of the island were too close and had to be avoided, she did manage to get hits on the French but nothing serious. The Spaniard manged to ungrapple and I decided discretion was the better part of valour and put a final broadside into her and sent her and the treasure to Davy Jones' locker, I then sped away as fast as I could as the wind had at last turned in my favour. Could have been better but one Spaniard down and no gold for Napoleon (spin is not new).

The second game had four Royal Navy brigs against two La Royale frigates, an interesting little battle. The Frenchies this time struggled to get around the island while we, with full sails closed the gap, paraphrasing Lord Nelson I could not go wrong if I put my ships to the Frenchies, Ian meanwhile wandered off to clear the rocks and sandbars. In a 'Nelson Touch' I ran my brigs through the French line and let off broadsides which raked the stem and sterns of both frigates, my shooting was spectacular as my veterans rained death and destruction on the French ships. I then received a reply and the French pounded one of my brigs mercilessly and she slipped beneath the waves, it was time for the Sea Wolf to 'leg it' in naval parlance.

Easy does it.

Now that's sailing.

 La Royale did not seem to want to put up a fight as they limped to the south, Ian had now tacked and caught up with them, cannonballs flew and destroyed bulkheads and crew, the captains of both French ships were killed along with a replacement officer as the veteran gunners of the Royal Navy found the range. The brigs like terriers continued to close with their wounded prey, one Frenchman had had enough and struck her colours, the other continued to fight. The Sea Wolf had now rejoined the battle, having cleared the decks of dead and wounded gunners, delivering several broadsides along with Ian's ships which sent the second frigate to a watery grave.

So there we go, two excellent little games, fast and furious, I had also worked out the wind rules which helped me enjoy the game more. This is far better than the WWII version for me and has an almost cinematic feel to it, we added one of the advanced rules this time where you could fire as you passed a ship rather than fire at the end of your movement, a very good rule. I don't know how a game with a full battlefleet will work but these small engagements typical of many during the wars are great fun.

I almost forgot, if you like to paint near your PC, as I think most of us do, and you like some mindless background try Strike Back, I am on Season 7 now and have enjoyed each one immensely. It must be targeted at young lads but it matures as it goes along and the story lines and twists and turns are first class. Warning, there are women in the team and you know how I normally feel about this, but hats off, these girls really look like they know their business for a change. Yes it's daft but it is great entertainment, well I enjoyed it, one word of warning, the first series is just OK, the rest are top notch.

Hearts of Oak.

Rob has went overboard (forgive the pun) and bought Black Seas from Warlord Games, a game based during the Age of Sail, a follow up from their WWII Cruel Seas, I was invited to take part and dutifully braved a cold, dark night and headed off to Lancaster.

I am unsure what comes in the starter box but Rob had six brigs, the rules, lots of rulers, turn thingies, wind direction and tokens, all very nicely done with the rule book looking very nice with lots of eye candy. It did have an index but again the typical Warlord Games Index Light, maybe I am wrong but that's what it looked like to me. The little ships arrive unpainted but there is a guide in the rules, these are very nice and Rob had done an excellent paint job on them and even managed rigging on most of them. Like Cruel Seas the ships will be a big attraction for wargamers and do seem to be reasonably priced.

How does it play, it is quick and enjoyable and just the ticket for a club night, granted we only had six small ships with only a couple of guns for a broadside, how you would get on with a squadron of 74's has yet to be seen. Everything is fairly simple and as long as you understand the weather gauge (wind) then you can be off to a flying start, depending which way the wind blows of course, I struggled a bit with this but caught on better during the second game. In order to deal out damage you have to get in close and personal and the best way to injure the enemy is to cross the T and rake the bow or stern.

I expected an upgrade or extra dice due to my service under the White Duster but I was howled down by the other players. The first game found the British and French escorting a merchantman which had to get off the opposite side of the table, the wind was against us (British) so the French came on very quickly, I think we had decided to sail up the right flank but the wind forced us to divert to the left, this meant an uneven fight with the three British ships against the two French brigs while the merchantman used her speed to sail off into the wild blue yonder. My hearty gun crews dealt out death and destruction to one Frenchman at close range so much so that she struck her colours, this little victory of mine was marred with my sister ships almost ramming me and one getting stuck alongside which despite hacking at spars and rigging remained an impediment as the game ended. Nonetheless I had earned a prize, my crew were very pleased.

I rake the bows of my first victim.

As the Frenchie strikes Cap'n Rob entangles me.

 The second game involved two French brigs and two British both trying to root out a nest of Spanish privateers sheltering under a fort, so in effect two vs four. Again the wind favoured the enemy however I managed to use it to my advantage and as a Frenchie hove into sight I opened up on her as the privateers sailed past, I then managed to sail past her stern and delivered a devastating broadside into her. This killed most of the officers and shattered the command and control along with starting a fire. With typical Gallic flair the French put out the fire and sailed off as fast as they could for home as I tried desperately to turn and catch up. My efforts however put me in an excellent position to take on the second French brig "Marines at the ready, make fast the enemy lads!" I laid my little ship alongside and in my minds eye I saw myself leap on to her mainsail, stick my cutlass in and glide to the deck as it shredded on my way down, eat your heart out Douglas Fairbanks. Back in reality my dice beat the French dice and she struck her colours while I magnanimously accepted her captains sword. Two prizes for Captain Anderson, the Sea Wolf, move over Horatio.

The Spaniards and a nice little fort.

I rake the stern of my second victim.

Boarders Away! A second Frenchie strikes to the Sea Wolf.

 There you go, a good evenings entertainment and I have to say a fine game to play of an evening. The mat is from Deep Cut, it is cloth and worked very well with these ships.