75mm LITTLE BIG HORN

This Wednesday at home I staged another Playmobil Wild West game.  After a few successful test games at the Falkirk club with Dave Paterson I changed to using the Legends of the Old West Rules.

The gallant band on Custer Hill - the great man end of 2nd row right

Having added more figures to my collection I decided to try the Little Big Horn scenario from the Death on the Plains supplement.  I umpired the game, Colin Jack played Crazy Horse, Donald Adamson Lame White Man, Tim Watson George Armstrong Custer and Ray Neal Captain Benteen.

Crazy Horse's warband - first wave - another 6 mounted braves to arrive

Lame White Man's mounted force - foot warriors moving in background

The scenario starts with Col Custer’s command dismounted on Custer Hill facing attack from Crazy Horse’s huge warband.  Lame White Man’s warband is deployed to either engage Custer or move to intercept the approaching relief column under Benteen.  In our game Donald sent his mounted warriors to engage Benteen who arrived on turn 2 whilst his foot warriors moved to support the attack on Custer. 

Capt Benteen's column - scout on foot

Benteen’s cavalry moved slowly, held up by the brave but ineffective mounted attacks of the Indians.  Eventually his column killed Lame White Man and 5 of his warriors – the way to Custer was open – but it was too late.  Crazy Horse’s mounted warriors swept up Custer hill ignoring the carbine fire and engaged in hand to hand fights with the dismounted cavalry.  Crazy Horse himself charged thru their line and cut down the guidon bearer.  The guidon was raised aloft in triumph by one of Lame white Man’s foot braves.  After this loss the cavalry were swept away quickly until only Custer fought on against a sea of foes.  He fell heroically under the lances of 4 warriors including Crazy Horse.

First attack on the hill - it was beaten off.

Great fun and history was repeated.  The rules work well even with nearly 60 figures engaged.  The US cavalry need lots of good dice throws and luck to win this.  This is my 300th post on blogspot.

Tim has posted a Custer viewpoint report on his blog at 

https://moth107.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/they-died-with-their-plastic-boots-on.html?spref=fb

All my photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHsksh42k7

Benteen attempts to break thru.....Injuns sell their lives dearly

Further mass mounted  attacks on the hill - Crazy Horse preparing his run on the Guidon

Almost the end - Custer fights on alone - Crazy Horse calls for final charge

LOGW ITALIAN WARS WEEKEND

I was away at the weekend at Kirriemuir in Angus for a 28mm Italian Wars event.  Over the 2 days 14 gamers attended.  The concept which was based on the classic game Kingmaker was developed by James Roach who along with Steve Rimmer supplied the bulk of figures.  Most of the terrain came from Steve’s collection.  The game was set up over 5 12ft to 20ft long tables 6 feet wide representing all of Italy.

Venice the Serene Republic with a secret weapon

I played the King of France and Chris Henry was the King of Spain we each had a subordinate player of our nationality.  The other players represented the various Italian states and at the start of each session of play they had to declare as allies of France or Spain.  You could only fight someone in the rival alliance. This led to much Machiavellian plotting and changing of allegiances over the weekend.  Towns and cities provided revenue to their occupiers at the end of each turn.  This was used to buy new units, rebuild under-strength units and for general corrupt acts.  The winning player was the one who had the most cash in their bank at the end of game.

 Da Vinci's mobile artillery fort - it was transported by sea to southern Italy to strike terror into the Doge's enemies

The tactical part of the game was based on a simplified version of Pike and Shot which James developed.  The biggest change to the rules was that he did away with the P&S command system so that units could always move but they only could make 1 move a turn with a dice bonus.  All units had some chance of rolling of disorder at the start of the turn based on their quality.

Mighty push of pike - it was ended by a bribe to the commander of the Swiss

It was a truly enjoyable colourful weekend and the rules developed by James worked well and were easily picked up by all the players.   My thanks to James who acted as the hard working rules umpire and provided the inspiration,  organisation and lots resources for the very enjoyable game.  The winner was the wily Doge of Venice, Angus Konstam, who convinced the other Venetian player to meet most of the military costs of their campaign.

Colin Jack - Spanish No 2 - demonstrating how not to roll saving throws - ouch!

All my 42 photos from the weekend are on Flickr at

https://flic.kr/s/aHskxtuTAH

Girolamo Savonarola burning - watched by amused Lutheran pikemen

The successful Doge has added a full report from his viewpoint on his blog at
http://www.edinburghwargames.com/the-italian-job-1506/

TARGE 2017 KIRRIEMUIR

This weekend I travelled to the Targe 2017 show held at Webster’s High School Kirriemuir by the Kirriemuir Wargames club.  As for the past 2 years I was one of the judges for the display games and the painting competition.

The best display game was the Contemptible B’s First Carlist War game with its great looking terrain and figures and the best PP game was East Neuk’s unusual Iraq 1941 game.  Overall it was an enjoyable show and my only buy was 2 unpainted Spanish Battalions from Eagle figures for my Napoleonic Peninsular War collection.  A few of my show photos are below.  All of them are on Flickr at:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsm7NcAbR

Battle of Falkirk by oddly enough Falkirk and District Wargames club

The Photo say it all - Leuchars Wargamers Fury PP game

East Neuk club - Iraq 1941- Best PP game

28mm M4 from the Fury game

Carlist War by the Contemptible B's - Best display

Huge 6mm Battle of Ramilles

Action in the 28mm Ruhr pocket - the ruins of Essen

Iron Brigades - Back of Beyond game - "Mom look at that rocket"

Martian war machines bestride the earthling defences

NAPOLEONIC REINFORCEMENTS

In the past month I have added more troops to my Napoleonic collection.  These include a battalion of Russian infantry plus some Spanish Light infantry and Guerillas.  The Spanish were painted by my friend Kevin Bowman.  The Russians came painted from South Africa and I added some minor shading and rebased them.  This is my last unit of them as Richard who supplies them has finally run out of figures.  

The bases are from Martin at Warbases - the light troops are on 3mm thick 40mm circles the Russians on 2mm thick 40mm squares.  I use Javis static grass and Silflor tufts on top of model railway ballast.

Spanish Guerilla set from Eagle Figures

Eagle Figures early Spanish Light infantry set - one of 2 detachments

Russian line infantry - Rava figures.

Another angle - standard is from the Napoleon flag download