Ping Pong!

Today we have a parting gift to Fran (AKA the Angry Lurker). Postie has a nickname for Fran of the "Kung fu Panda". Ray also has a nickname for him and Fran for Ray. And neither of them are "Golden drop of sunshine!". They are of course FULL of swearing and extracting the urine! So with no further ado here is Ping the Panda by "Bombshell miniatures!" A very nice if small sculpt of the big guy. I hasten to add that this is not Kung fu Panda as Bombshell call him Ping and any similarity between the two are purely coincidental.





As you can see from the second picture Nothing like him despite my painting trying to make them twins.

So I shoved the figure in the post and sent it to "Postie, somewhere in Gravesend" And that should be enough of an address for the Royal mail to have no idea. Maybe some random "postie" will benefit from this  who can say.

Back in the painting challenge I have had a little upset. I spent2 days working on some (22) Sci Fi vehicles and when I looked at them this morning in the light I saw that I just could not be happy with them. So I have had to put them away for now, probably till next year as I sulk and brood about them. A word to the wise NEVER try to use an ORANGE wash on figures after 10pm. They really did look shite in the morning!

So here are a couple more shots of "Ping the panda" to be getting on with.

And now the 15mm Sci Fi is scrapped I will start some 28mm ACW in stead.  The first 12 are primed and with luck I shall have them done by Tuesday which is my next scheduled challenge day post.

Thanks for looking. I shall start the ACW figures later this morning  once the Primer is nice and dry!.

Hope you are having a good day. All the best Clint.

No picture of Postie

On Saturday I travelled up to Posties shed of war. I was not playing as I could not stay all day. Additionally they were playing 7 years war "Age of Reason" And to be honest I know NOTHING about either the rules or the period, even less than I know about Napoleonic. So nothing, not a thing. I also had something on in the afternoon and was at the wargames club on Sunday. But it was to be Fran's last game in this country. So It was worth going to make sure he got on the boat to enjoy his company one last time.

So no AAR as such, just some thoughts about the game. As usual there was some banter. Mostly about Ian this time and some outrageous manoeuvres he had carried out in the previous game and that "Postie" should go on the wall of SHAME. Well Postie should, but mostly for his private life and not he does in a wargames capacity. I am not saying he sexually interferes with hedgehogs I am not saying that at all. But now you have that thought in your head you will never look on him the same way again!

Unusually for Postie he had not set the figures out but allowed the defender (Fran) to set up first. and then the attacker (Ray) to set up in response. I am sure young Raymond will make much mileage out of the fact that he had 24 army points and was attacking while Francis had 28 army points and was defending. He certainly was vocal about it on the day. (Perhaps, I cannot say as I was not there at the end, getting his excuses in early). So then each of the other players was given their place at the table and the troops they would command.

Before I get into that. I suspect that you will read a TRUTHFULL account of the whole day here. From Tamsin.
AKA Wargames Girl. http://wargaminggirl.blogspot.co.uk/

A slightly less accurate account here by Big Lee http://www.blmablog.com/

And a load of scuttlebutt and disparaging remarks here by Fran http://theangrylurker.blogspot.co.uk/

And also here by Ray http://onelover-ray.blogspot.co.uk/

Now mostly they will take their time in posting any AAR as they all want to see what Tamsin writes first and then copy it while making their own exploits sound heroic and the opponents sound less so. Therefore you will have to wait a while for some I think.

 The Prussians attacking were (Left to right) Tamsin, Big Lee (No there is not a little lee as far as I know) Ray (Overall commander) and Surjit (The wild uncontrollable player but great fun because of it! Unless of course he's on your side and you need him to follow orders.)

The Austrians were Fran (He's not short, just sitting down) Mark (Smiffy) David (Izzy) John. Again from left to right. They were defending a small, (Very small) hill in front of Fran and open ground everywhere else.

 So the game started and tactics were not that widely employed as the number of troops on the table hindered movement as did the turn sequence as it is card driven with each unit having a card and being drawn from a shuffled deck.

 So cavalry generally moving faster than infantry the first clash happened there as all the Cavalry were set up opposite each other. (OK not all but MOST of the cavalry). John and Izzy had the Austrian cavalry and Tamsin most of the Prussian. So like two fright trains with drunken drivers they crashed into each other. Izzy is a player who much prefers to attack even while in defence. Which gave Tamsin little choice as the attacker so she also charged. Unfortunatley the dice gods (all praise the Dice gods!) were not in Tamsin's favour. John and Izzy did better than I was expecting.

 And the nice neat cavalry charge of the Prussians  was no more. Which is to say that most of the Prussian cavalry lost their individual battles and one unit was pushed from the board.

This is where I had to leave the game. So I will be interested to know how the game turns out. Will the Austrian cavalry continue to do well and eventually roll up the Prussian flank. Or will Tamsin get lucky with the dice and counterattack successfully.

And this still leaves the whole of the far end of the table with all the infantry. Would the Prussians take the high ground and what would Surgit do as that really could be anything!

That's it for today. Other than to say check the blogs listed above as sooner or later those good people will post a full game AAR. While mine takes us up to the end of turn 2.

Thanks for looking. I will post some more WW1 Germans next time. All the best Clint.

Reject Civil War

I woke up Sunday morning feeling lethargic, I did not want to put a game on. But I had arranged one with the Rejects and this time rather than Postie being the referee, I would! Anyway I had written the rules the day before and had very little sleep so I would look and feel my best.

The View from my Position at the door way.

What follows is not so much an AAR I will leave that to Big Lee and Ray and I am sure they will do a superb job, Much better than I will.

El Postie (Fascist Leader)'s Armoured car under artillery fire.

Customary Picture of Postie in Action,
While Ray leans on the table.

Posties Armoured Car again survive the barrage.

The last few moves of the game.

What follows is not so much an AAR I will leave that to Big Lee and Ray and I am sure they will do a superb job, Much better than I will.

Here's the Situation:

Second Battle of the Corunna Road. January 1937

The Battle of Madrid in November 1936 had been fought to a standstill, with the Nationalists under Franco failing to take the city. They then started to besiege it, aiming to cut its links to the rest of Spain. Franco decided to attack the city from the north-west in order to cut off water and electricity supplies from the Sierra de Guadarrama and encircle the city. After a failed offensive in November, the Nationalists summoned a force of 17,000 men, led by General Orgaz, with four mobile brigades (led by Garcia Escamez, Barron, Saenz de Buruaga and Monasterio), backed by heavy artillery and Ju-52 bombers. The Republican army had a few battalions led by Luis Barceló.

Towards the end of December, Orgaz received reinforcements and decided to relaunch the offensive on 3 January. This offensive became known as the Battle of the Fog. The Republican high command redeployed their units in the Pozuelo-Brunete sector. The Republicans had an army corps led by Miaja with five divisions (led by Nino Nanetti, Modesto, Colonels Perea, Adolfo Prada and Galan) but had little ammunition or supplies.

The Nationalists' offensive started with a heavy artillery bombardment on the 14 December and Franco's troops occupied the town of Boadilla del Monte. Now In January a second big push is underway.

We will only tackle a very small part of the battle as the whole battle was really quite large and lasted over 1 month.

Now I must say that while each side (Republican and Nationalists) each had a main objective that was Unknown to the other players. And just to make it interesting every player had an individual secondary or even tertiary objective that was only known to them. This would mean that according to Ray "Not only do I need to worry about the other side of the table but these two git as well" Indicating both Lee and John. Yes and it was the same for them as well.

It is worth noting that some BUT NOT all the secondary objectives were conflicting with other players, but not nessercarily those of the opposition.

I won't Go into too much more details but when the game ended some elements of both sides were convinced that they had won and others that they had lost. I really needed a clearer ending to the game however life and war is not always like that.

Victory Points

1st Surgit (Nationalist)  Managed to achieve both primary and secondary objectives.

2nd Smiffy (Nationalists/Anarchists) Managed to achieve Primary Objective

=3rd John (Republican/Poum Militia) Failed the Primary objective but managed his secondary and tertiary objectives.
=3rd Lee (Republican) Failed in the Primary Objective but also managed in his Secondary and tertiary objectives

5th Postie (Nationalist/ Guardia Assulto) Marginally succeeded in the Primary objective. But completely failed in his secondary objectives and lost additional Victory points for using his heavy artillery.

6th Ray (Republican) Failed in Both Primary and secondary objectives and also lost additional Victory points for calling for tank support which never actually arrived!

So Technically a Nationalist win. Although Ray was up against it from the start.

The Real winner was me though because it was a good day despite me not being in the mood and I learnt a lot that should the opportunity allow for another game I will be able to implement.

SO CHEERS GUYS I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP

Thanks for taking the time and effort of reading today. Take care of yourself (and those around you) and with a little luck some more in a few days.

Cheers Clint

Setting up Sunday's game.

Another Post. so early what's going on! Well that I just don't know. here however are a few scenery bits and bobs for my upcoming game at the Reject "Shed of War" more of that later. Here I have 5 generic explosion markers as well as 10 craters. (I cropped the picture so you'll have to take my word!) They are from frontline wargaming and are very simple to paint. I did look on google for explosions then went and did my own thing anyway so this is not what explosions actually look like. I did my own thing just because I wanted them to look like this and not like the explosions on google. But if you get some feel free to make them more realistic. As for the Craters just brown and drybrushed with a lighter shade of brown and then an even lighter one! Not a lot m,ore to say about them at all.

The Main reason for the post today is that I will be playing a game in Posties Shed of war using my 10mm Spanish Civil War figures when I arrived the table was NAKID! As you can see which gives a different view of the shed of war to any I had seen before. So I set up a 6 foot by 8 foot board!

When I left though I had all the terrain set up and Postie had positioned his first few figures. So I thought it was worth a look at what the table would look like prior to the game starting and the hordes mucking the game up erhm I mean carefully considering actions and reaction in a wargames environment! (Yeah mucking it UP!)

The left hand side of the Picture is North West and the Right is south east. The Nationalist will be on the left and the Republicans will be on the right.

Ray, Lee and John will have the job of defending the road and farms on the Republican side right side of the picture. While Postie (everyone said he had to be a Fascist so I put him in charge of the right wing Nationalists), Surgit and Smiffy will be attacking from the left! Postie has already started setting up his starting positions and allocated where his "subordinates" will be. Ray has yet to do this but will do so either this anytime between now and Sunday morning. I have left him a brief note on a scrap of paper and while this is not sufficient to warrant a detailed objective I will (eventually) email him more instructions. (Maybe Saturday Morning at 3am hee hee..... can't give him too long to plan!)

Final thought

Seb has kindly volunteered to take over "San Francis" in the PBB game and will do so with immediate effect! So can you all kindly get your turns in (those yet to do so) by 9am GMT on Saturday. That way I can post an update on Saturday morning!

All the best folks take care and roll some dice... but roll high! "Anything but a One!"

Cheers Clint

 

Vietnam Play-test rules at the Rejects.

View of the battle field from Smiffys position

 
 
It was a long day. We started playing at 10am and finished at 9pm. OK so the first hour was all admin and learning the rules but then at least 10 hours at the table. So Like I said it was a long day.

WE were of course playing in Posties Shed of war with Smiffy acting as referee and Postie and Surjit taking the role of the Viet Mihn while Big (Lucky) Lee and MY self were the forces of the "Free world". But Lee was in charge of our forces and Surgit was in charge of the enemy with Postie saying things like "I love you long time GI" as the second in command for the communist backed Viet Mihn.

All the movement was hidden set up and movement until the unit either fired or were spotted so we had a little game of hide and seek with machine guns to start with but finally they started to appear. As we were defending the village/town/base/who cares we were a reactive force and not the aggressive force. We were also told that we were low on ammunition so Commander Lee wisely did not want to waste any with wild long range shooting.

First sight of the black PJ men!
Yes that's right those 4 black dots were the enemy!

Surgit Reinforces the black dots with 4 more Black dots

Eventually they got close enough for us to make our shots count.

The rules did not allow for suppressive fire from our one and only .5 Browning Heavy machine gun.
Which meant that the crew became vulnerable after shooting. Hence the smoke, but it did us no good.

I scatter my troops to avoid the Enemy mortar.
and RE-crew the machine gun.

But they just had too many and I could not contend with the number
of shots. Which meant I lost my first Squad, and the Viet Mihn took the wire.

Contractual shot of Postie.
 ( the smaller Goblin Like Creature stood next to Surgit!)

WE were drip fed reinforcements.
These Being Arvn and nicely clustered ready for the mortar strike.

Both sides had a single artillery strike.
Despite me getting on the radio and calling for "Snake and Nape!
Smiffy would not let me have any. The rotter!

The Australian reinforcements arrive. All nicely bunched up as the deployment zone was cramped.
I also had some LRRP guys but they were mercilessly targeted By Postie and Surgit and did last very long at all.

The Viet Mihn Mortar and they also got reinforcements
You can just see them if you look closely.
But don't get eyestrain looking for them.

The wire and a bunker is recaptured as Lee was giving Postie some grief by now.
(Cheers Mate)

Most of Lee's troops are now out of ammo.
But he gets an unarmed ammunition carrier.
So He car resupply his men
. I did ask if we could mount the .50 HMG on it and Smiffy said NO!
I did ask if we could use it to run over Viet Mihn, But Smiffy said NO!
WHat a buzz kill!
 

Lees thinks we can't win and wants to concede!
It's like Having Ray on your side!

The communist mortar must run out of ammo soon I hope.
WE have a mortar as well but it was destroyed in the artillery strike from Postie and Surgit!

Lee holds the line.
But the ARVN take a bit of a beating and fail a morale check and fall back.
Lee want's to jack the game in.
I still think we can win.

Look Lee they only have 2 men left!
I have cleared the northern wire and am
coming towards him
(Despite very heavy Casualties)

Only one left now.
Lee thinks we have a chance now!

The wind changes and the smoke moves stopping me from firing at him.

But eventually both Lee and myself manage to kill him.

Conclusion: With the exception of the Viet Mihn Mortar crew we killed all the enemy sent against us. And if we had had gotten them we would have scored an extra 20 Victory points for wiping everything out! But we didn't so the final victory point score was 57 to Lee and myself and 44 to Surgit and Postie. Losses were very heavy on both sides. Un realistically heavy really, but it did make for a fun and exciting game where it swung from one side to the other. Yes there are things I would change in the rules, but I can say that with most commercially written set and not just a play test of a "homebrew" set. So overall I would say it was a very enjoyable game and the rules did work mostly.

So thank you Smiffy for putting the game on.

That's it for today expect some more soon.

All the Best Clint

Napoleonic AAR

Me and Napoleonic battles are not the best of friends. Anyway I had a Napoleonic battle at Posties Shed of war last weekend. It was a fun time and I learnt a few things and here is how the battle went.

Introduction:
The !809 Campaign has started. French and Austrian armies are all advancing towards Various objectives and positions, with both sides awaiting the show down that would soon erupt. Further North two reconassance forces one French one Austrian are out looking for any sign of the enemy forces, as they stumble upon each other the scene is set for a clash of empires.

The introduction was read out by Postie. A Curtain was put between the French and the Austrians so we could not see what the opposing forces were doing. Lee and Myself took the French part and Smiffy and Surgit took the Austrians. WE had to start the game in march columns and advance the way we were going. I guess they had to as well so no whining but as we had cavalry I do wonder why they were not sent to scout and the Infantry to slowly creep forward. But Postie said we couldn't and As I know very little of this period am not in a position to discuss the tactics.



The screen goes up and Both me and Smiffy charge with our light cavalry.

I win with the first cavalry charge and am out of position.n

Despite being in a better position I loose the Second Light Cavalry charge
And Smiffy is then out of position.

Postie explaining something.... No Idea what it was!

My Heavy Cavalry at the far left wing! A lot of moving and squeezing Past Lee to get to them.

Smiffys cavalry so far out of position that he has busted through the French line and now faces 2 more Cavalry units of mine.

All Three Cavalry units charge
His One Light Cavalry against my two medium cavalry
Including one hitting his flank.

Bye Bye all smiffy's Light Cavalry.

My Heavy Cavlry Clash with Surgit's Heavy Guard Cavalry.
It works out about even on the dice rolls
 

Then the dice are rolled
My heavy cavalry are forced Back and with 2d6 needing as high as possible
 

I roll a 4.
Which means they all flee.
DRAT!

Lee poor chap had his left wing hanging in the air so formed squares.

The most of front line is forced to form squares

I was able to use my remaining cavalry to hold Of Smiffy

Lee had to Hang on the best he could

The last of My Cavalry on the left flank charged by two Guard Cavalry.
Opps!
Predictable result!

Lee by the only ventilation. In the shed.

Ray turned up and put clothes pegs on Posties Ears
No Idea why it must be a
Kentish man thing
Their weird that side of the river.

Deadlock on the left flank as Smiffy refused to get in charge range
And I was not willing to charge formed Infantry!
In Retrospect I should have just tried it!

With No cavalry due to my poor morale check from earlier
Lees infantry which did not form squares are
Charged by cavalry and cut to pieces.

Postie Declares Surgit man of the match and the Austrians deserved winners.

 

Conclusion: I Take responsibility for the French loss this time. Poor Lee just had to suffer my misfortune! Generally Lee did roll well and has lifted his dice curse. Overall I just have to say we were out played. and took the beating I deserved. Yes lots I would have done differently and a few lessons learned the hard way.

No complaints I was due a Loss at the shed of war. And this time I got a thumping.

I return to the shed of war next weekend and will probably get another thrashing ...... Ooh err!

Thanks for reading guys and more again on Tuesday.