Saturday, August 29, 2015

Bugs, thousands of em !!!!!!!

I've always wanted to play Epic, yet for some reason I never did. Of course now its all OOP I want to get it as I love playing scifi. I most play solo on at home as I build a backstory to it all as I find straight up shooting boring.

Of course all this ends up as is my muttering to myself at the Kitchen table over some toy soldiers but its entertainment. My new role at work is really draining at the moment and I'm overworked and overloaded. So I need to get back into some regular painting\planning to clear my mind.

So after I helped play Test 15mm.co.uk's rules Patrol Angis I've been playing with some new rules developed by a friend.

My initial game is Marines v Bugs - You can get much purer than that I guess !

I land my Space Wolves on the planet "ChipsenPies" to clear some bugs. I take several marine Squads, support weapons, artillery and some Assault Marines.


 My marines advance and hump it towards the high ground.

 While the bugs burst out of every nook and cranny.
 1st Company of Grey Wolves take the high ground and see the horizon is a sea of bugs. A quick radio check to the operator sees the Whirlwind support artillery blasting the masses from long distance.
 But on they come. The Marines brace themselves for the impact and soon are fighting at close quarters.
 However superior firepower and protections (Big guns and Big Armour) save the day and the bugs are stomped underfoot.
 Even their queen breaks out of her nest to show her displeasure but it is no use. Assault Marines surround here while Land Raiders suppress her.

Jolly good fun ! In a few days time it will be the real deal - Starship troopers. Not that Hollywood crap (Vietnam in space) but proper Starship troopers.

Guard Carnage


Today saw my 15mm French take the field in 2 games which ( for me at least) were very enjoyable.

Alas after talking about how great my phone is for taking photos I then proceeded to take an absolute lot of shockers - out of focus, shaky and generally poor.  I'm very annoyed as today was an excellent day to play Napoleonic's.  So apologies as the pictures are very very poor but I need to post them !

 My plan was simple - Don't stop and attack with cold steel - No musketry just cold steel at a brisk pace moving as fast as possible. While the infantry advanced the ample French cavalry would sweep the flank.  What occurred next I will talk about for a long time !

On the left flank two brigades of cavalry advance with Horse Artillery support.


The Veteran Infantry surge past the village of Oblaix with the Guard Chasseurs and Horse Grenadiers in support. My mission was to hold the village - The Guard does not "hold"  !!!
The Horse Artillery deploy and empty some saddles of the British horse opposite, meanwhile the infantry surge across the small stream eager for action.
 
 Insert crap photo here ! To the left of these images are 2 Heavy British Brigades of Dragoons. I send in several light cavalry regiments to disrupt their line and make small successes here and there.
A breakthough ! My Dragoons lose a melee but the British Cavalry pursue only be to launched upon by Veteran Cuirrassiers. The British are routed leaving some tasty looking gaps and unprotected artillery.
 Sensing glory the Guard Cavalry trot out to the flank. French Cavalry superiority starts to impose itself - The French cavalry overrun several batteries and the British forces are soon in peril. Meanwhile in the center French columns sweep all before them.
Not pictured.  In an epic charge the Guard Cavalry ride over everyone in their path. Guns, Dragoons, Light Dragoons. In 2 combats rolls all dice were magical 6's destroying British units before them. As a French Hussar unit routed the Horse Grenadiers then rolled 2 x 6's for Morale to see if that effected them. On they surged!

With all the British Artillery and Cavalry destroyed and the French forces charging literately everywhere Ross conceded defeat. Not a single musket was fired on the French side but the French swept all before them at such a pace the game only lasted 2.5 hours when they usually go for about 7.

So after lunch we start another one. Geoff commands the French right while I take the  Guard Cavalry on another Glory hunt. The British storm up the left flank and Geoff prepares a hasty defense - Immediately I sense an opportunity and a plan is hatched - The British advance has no flank protection so we plan to pressure the flank as they are overextended. The French forces march forward with Drums beating and bugles blaring.

 The Guard sense glory awaits them..........will "lightening strike twice" ?
 The British left surges onwards while the raw Wurtenburgers get ready for a tough time.

Geoffs Veteran Cavalry see off the British Heavy cav and the line holds yet the British advance continues. Yet as they advance the serried ranks of French infantry move on their flank.

 On the left flank British squares form and cannon site themselves to reap carnage on any french that advance on the road between the woods. (Crap photo again)

What madmen would ride into such a killing field......who would do such a thing ?

The finest horsemen in Europe answer the call.

Sensing a decisive action the Guard Cavalry storm the gap. Taking grapeshot they overrun the guns and smash into the British Cavalry behind.

 Four sixes in 4 dice routs the British Cavalry and the Guard Chasseurs ride them down.
 The Horse Grenadiers destroy the rest of the British cavalry and surge into the British rear.
 The French infantry close their trap on the British left wing. Advancing into their flank while  Geoff's brave Germans repulse the redcoats with ease.

The Guard have punched through the British center and Cavalry reserves pour behind them. French infantry advance towards the remaining British as the falter and retreat. I left at this point while Geoff finished the last load of firing.

The Emperor expects nothing short of a famous victory!.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

28mm Napoleonic

I worked last night and only had about 4 hours sleep ! In my original post I got Dave and Chris completely mixed up.
Luckily a free afternoon appeared and Chris invited myself over for a game versus Rodger or Rebel Barracks and Mark of Chasseur. After Waterloo Chris wanted us to try General d Brigade Deluxe edition so I though it was worth a shot. Mark and I took the Russians while Chris and Rodger took the French.

All the figures were Chris and they are bloody nice !.

It was a small playtest game and I had a cold so I'm a bit hazy on the details apart from it was good fun and easy to grasp. Playing the game at the right size also helped.
 

Westfalians and the Young Guard.


The table.



The Russian Artillery blasting the columns

Mass cavalry on the flank

My Russian Line unit defending its ground with vigour.

The game took around 4 hours (Our 15mm games take all day so I guess we muck around a bit and have lunch)

Monday, August 17, 2015

15mm Madness


I've been painting a plethora of 15mm figures as thanks to Colin for his hosting of our after work games. I must say 15mm are my favourite scale to paint to be honest - large enough for great detail and shading but small enough not to drive you insane on detail. Of course this won't stop me painting stupid amounts of 28mm but dreams are free of course.
 
The figure below is a result but unfortunately the matt varnish (Humbrol) seems to have faded some of the detail and made it quite shiny.


 So onwards to Hordes of Things and the such. I've been finishing my fantasy armies and they are all contained in one box now as I need to take them to Archduke Piccilos to talk 15mm Byzantines for wargames.

 Plus the occasional large battle Hordes of Things which I often lose as I am still getting used to quick kill and melee combat.

Don't worry about the big blue guy in the pic - he was naff all.



Saturday, August 15, 2015

Quatre Bras

I have managed to play several games recently and they have been good fun. I should have probably rested as I am working around 50 hours a week and am quite tired but you can never say no to Napoleonics.  The first game was a re-fight of Quatre Bras but in this game the French did not know it was a re-fight.

Andrew and I commanded the Allies while Ross and Jim took the French.

 The game started with the 3 Dutch\Nassau\Belgian units being spread around the villages while hordes of French appeared. We were hidden of course so it was only when the French got near did they find out what was in front of them.

 As the french advanced the light artillery opened fire and knocked over a few stands of Frenchmen,.
 While the French got close to one of the farms and found it defended by a single battalion.
 They promptly threw this battalion out with ease and sent it swarming back over the stream. Luckily for the allies the reserve brigades were arriving on the field and Dutch managed to shore up the line.





Pretty soon it was red coat heaven as he main British forces arrived and saw off the French.

 The last moment of the game saw the French Cavalry charge British infantry - it did not end well. The Lancers did not charge home and the Cuirrassiers could not do much against the infantry.




Another enjoyable day. The scenario was quick and most likely should have let the French have some more time to get going. But alas British history will say otherwise !