Warwell's Wargames

I recently received an order of 10mm 100 Year's War figures from Kallistra. Here is a bad photo of a strip of the spearmen (to the left is a 15mm Viking from Irregular).


My intention was to base each figure individually. I knew that some were based on strips but I planned to cut them apart. If the bases were too thick to cut then I'd consider multi-figure bases like my Francesia horse and musket armies (bases of 3 figures in 1 rank). However, I did not count on what I received. The men on the strips are not facing toward the long side of the strip but toward the short side. The metal thins near the middle so apparently the strips are supposed to be cut in the middle. It looks like it will be a difficult chore to separate the pairs of figures after making the cut in the middle. The upshot is that the figures probably should be based in 2 ranks, which is completely at odds with all my preferred methods of basing.

Thus my quandary. Do I try to separate all the figures and base them individually or do I bite the bullet and base them in 2 ranks, which seems like the easiest proposition. If I base them in 2 ranks, how many figures should be on a base, and how many should be in a unit? Decisions. Decisions.

Two Game Nights in the last two weeks!

My red empire rules the galaxy!

Some thoughts on random topics arising from the skirmish in the mountains, brought to you courtesy of my cool Hobbit journal.

Random Deployment
For this game, I tried a new random force composition process, using the Command & Colors dice. I mentally divided the board into 3 sectors. Each side rolled 3 dice per sector, with the results as follows:

• Infantry - 1 infantry unit (naturally)
• Cavalry - 1 cavalry unit
• Artillery - nothing. This scenario featured two scouting parties encountering each other so I thought it unlikely that they would have artillery.
• Flag - nothing.
• Crossed Swords - 1 elite infantry unit (rangers).

Special Units
Kaptain Kobold asked about the rangers and light cavalry. I must admit that the rules were not well thought out, but fortunately I forgot to use them as written.

1. Rangers - I figured I'd do them like Memoir '44 - move 2 and still fight. When I decided this I totally ignored that I pared down movement so cavalry only moved 2 and infantry 1. Thus, I think this rule makes the rangers too powerful. As I mentioned, though, I forgot to use the rule and used the rangers like regular infantry.In the future I may just have rangers move 1 but they can still battle after entering woods.
2. Light cavalry - Fight with 2 dice. I did not account for the -2 modifier that cavalry gets for attacking into woods, which would bring their attack to 0 dice. I mistakenly rolled 1 dice attacking into woods, which is a pleasant accident as light cavalry probably should not suffer as great a reduction in woods fighting as regular cavalry. In the future, I may make their mod -1 for woods.

It has been nearly a month since the last encounter of the Grayrock Revolution so I have been itching for action. I finally had the opportunity to run a game this morning.

This game provided an excellent opportunity for a little experimentation. This picture shows a couple of birthday gifts that I have pressed into service:

• On the far right is the dice tray that I got for my birthday. My Command & Colors dice are sitting in the tray.
• Next to the dice tray is a Hobbit themed journal. While I play games, I keep notes in a journal (actually a composition book like I used in grade school). My wife thought it would be nice if I had a better journal. I christened it with the battle notes from today's encounter.

This picture gives a somewhat better view of my other experiment:

• New trees made from a kitchen sponge (unused). The color is awful but I intend to paint them a darker green. I originally planned to use toothpicks for the trunks but I think I may forego that and just mount them on bases. I'll imagine that the lower branches are drooping down, thus obscuring the trunks. Hurrah for lazy rationalization!

 Before I get to the battle report, I have one last observation. The Command and Color rules system does not specify the scale of the battle so one can be flexible. For example, in one battle a unit may represent a company and in the next it represents a battalion. It may not be strictly realistic to use the same rules for each level, but it works from a game perspective. In today's battle, I imagined that each unit represented a company or squadron.

Now on to the fighting!

Ever since the Battle of Balderdash Pass, the Bluderians have sent scouts into the mountains looking for another way into Maraconi. The Grayrockian rebels have responded by sending their own parties to drive off the Bluderian scouts.

In one of these encounters, young Lord Heddybottom, in command of 3 companies of infantry (one of them being "rangers") and 3 squadrons of light cavalry, had been tasked with scouting out possible trails into Maraconi. While scouting, he ran into a defending force of 3 companies of Grayrock infantry (1 being a "ranger" unit) a 2 squadrons of light cavalry.

Notes:

• Rangers can move 2 spaces and still fight
• Light cavalry only battles with 2 dice

Opening positions. Both sides are strongest on the Grayrock left

 Heddybottom's troops reacted immediately. One of his cavalry squadrons charged a unit of Grayrock rangers (in white), causing serious casualties.

Charge!

 The remaining rangers regrouped. Their disciplined fire disordered the cavalry but Bluderian infantry came to the cavalry's support and drove the rangers away.

The rangers repulsed (left). Meanwhile, Grayrock infantry advances in the center.

 But the Bluderian infantry would pay for its aggressiveness. Grayrock cavalry counterattacked and the surprised infantry fled to the trees. Meanwhile, battle began raging for "Heddybottom's Hill."

Heddybottom (green cavalry figure) holds his hill while Grayrock cavalry runs amok.

 Heddybottom would not hold his hill for long as 2 Grayrock companies stormed the hill

Grayrockians take the hill.

 Pounded by heavy musketry, the central Bluderian infantry fled, leaving Heddybottom by himself in the open. He quickly rode to join the cavalry on the hill.

Heddybottom joins with the cavalry. Note the damaged Grayrock infantry (center with casualty marker) retreating.

 The action quickly grew intense. The center Grayrock cavalry charged and wiped out the Bluderian cavalry on the (Grayrock) left. They in turn were wiped out by the cavalry squadron led by Heddybottom himself.

After the cavalry clash. Only Heddybottom remains on the left. Meanwhile, the cavalry squadrons on the right begin to make their way to the battle.

Heddybottom then tangled with the Grayrock infantry on the hill only to be forced back.

The aftermath of Heddybottom's Charge.

 The Grayrock infantry on Heddybottom's Hill proved to be a major nuisance. Its musketry driving the Bluderian rangers (green infantry) out of the woods. To address this threat, Heddybottom launched a major cavalry assault on the Hill.

The cavalry assault.

 Although bloodied, the Grayrock infantry retreated in good order off the hill. They were met and supported by another infantry unit that had previously retreated. The pursuing cavalry squadrons were met with a blaze of musketry from the 2 Grayrock companies, which forced them to retreat.

At that moment, the remaining Grayrock cavalry charged the Bluderian rangers who had taken the hill. The rangers broke and fled. Seeing the victorious Grayrockian bearing toward them was too much for Heddybottom. He called for the retreat.

The final position. Grayrock cavalry on the hill, threatening Heddybottom. The Grayrock infantry companies are all intact but heavily damaged.

Although I did not play any wargames this weekend, I did manage to get some gaming in. For game night on Saturday we pulled out a game we hadn't played in a while - Carcassonne.

The board at game's end

Although I forget the final points tally, I remember that Elizabeth absolutely destroyed us in this game. She built the big city (center left) and racked up 24 points for it alone. A well deserved victory on her part.

Busy weekend so I was not able to run any Francesia scenarios. Today was my birthday and I received a couple of gaming related gifts.

1, Star Trek Catan
 I did a quick read-through of the rules and it is basically Settlers of Catan in space. There is only one addition - support cards featuring characters from the ST: TOS. I think this will be the choice for the next game night.

2. Wood Dice Tray

I was up early this morning and felt like rolling some dice, but I did not feel like setting up a game. Therefore, I decided to run a Space Templars RPG adventure.

I created an adventure a few months ago but never got in the mood to play until today. The first part of my game report is on my Tales of the Templars blog. I'll be adding new scenes over the next several days.

Enjoy!