Northern Conspiracy February 2019 Game Night

Last Friday the club got together for it's February game night. I played in Ralph's 30 Years War Nexus game which I play tested previously. I chose to be on the opposite side to see how the other half lived.

This was a great game and went down to the wire ending up in virtually a draw. The Spanish tercios are juggernauts as they should be and the Imperialists played them very well. Our plan to hold in the center and win on the flanks, eventually started to work, but a touch late as the Spanish tercios mostly had their way with our new model pike blocks. Lucky for us Bob and Mark brought their flanks into order just in time. Fun game and the rules seem to be coming along nicely.

Phil ran a well attended and raucous WWII air-to-air game which everyone seemed to have fun playing.

Ed M. and Kevin had a couple of jousts using Ed's jousting rules.

A big thanks to all three game hosts.

Thirty Years War Play Test

Last week Rob, Charlie, Ralph and I visited my friend Ed's place to help him play test his game for our upcoming club game night. The rules are Ed's own design, a very interesting combination of miniatures with a board game area layout. The rules feature an interesting combination of combat and management of reserves. The game went well and the scenario seems well balanced. I was on the Imperialist side which at the time we called the game looked like it was going to be on the worse side of the affair, but with still plenty of game play left. The Protestants, Charlie and Rob played well and focused their force on our right and did well in their attacks. If it wasn't for some very fortunately rally rolls, the game could well have been concluded during our play test.

The Weekend - 2013

The last stop on my recent RV vacation in Pennsylvania was in Lancaster, PA where I spent a day and a half participating in "The Weekend". This event is more like spending the weekend gaming with 80 of your best friends than a standard convention. The event is run by Otto Schmidt with help from his wife Dot and some of his friends. The Weekend has a lot going for it: friendly atmosphere, relaxed environment, flexible game start times and GREAT games. In order to estimate space needs and costs Otto requires that you contact him if you're planning to attend. I found the easiest way to do this was to email him (sigurd@eclipse.net). The event features a bring and buy space, a snack sharing table and visitors can pre-order beer and soda prior to registering. Games are set up and when enough players are ready to play the game starts. There were mainly miniatures games, but a few board games were also played.  I was only able to attend Friday and the first half of Saturday, but the event runs through Saturday evening. I'm hoping to attend next year for the full two days. If a weekend of fun, casual wargaming in early July in Lancaster PA sounds fun to you, drop Otto an email.

Below are photos of a massive French & Indian war battle that was very beautiful and from the sounds coming from the players, a lot of fun.

Friday morning I played in a Roman civil war game hosted by Mark Zalasky (pictured left). The rules were "Classical Hack" - Ancient Rome variant. This battle featured many nicely painted figures in a head to head struggle for control of Rome. I played one of Pompey's sub-commanders and had a lot of fun. This rule system features lots of good old fashioned head to head smashing wearing down each other's units. Since I'm currently painting 28mm ancients I couldn't resist. I'd like to thank Mark for hosting a very enjoyable game.

 

Saturday afternoon and early evening I played in a MASSIVE Seven Year's war game hosted by Mike Lorenzo that used Black Powder rules. This was a close fought battle of Prussians against Austrians. I commanded a brigade that included two artillery pieces and two regiments of grenadiers. I was semi-successful in holding my flank, but at the end of the battle a decisive Austrian massed cavalry charge put the success of the Prussian efforts in question. Result was a minor Prussian victory...and another very enjoyable game.

Saturday morning I helped my friend and club mate Ed run his very fun 30 Years War game using his battlefield management rules "Armies at Lutzen". While Ed ran the game I helped players with rules questions on one end of the table while Ed did the same on his end. The more I get exposed to this system the more I like it. I may consider even trying it for Napoleonics using my 15mm Volley & Bayonet stands. The system features troop types unique to the 30 Years War, but with some small adjustments could be made to work with Napoleonics.

 

The photos below are of other games that were being played Saturday morning or set up to run Saturday afternoon. The close up photos of the Ancients game were of particular interest. Unfortunately I had to leave before the game was run. I believe it was called "A Pyrrhic Victory" and featured Roman and Pyrrhic armies that were very nicely painted.