28th February Games

Better turnout than of late this week. Mark and Andy played a two handed Zombiecide, Alan and Rob were playing Marvel Protocol, Mike and Steve B played a Dark Ages Lion Rampant game and I ran an ECW game for Steve H, Nigel, Eddie and myself. The last was a further play test before I start trying scenarios for this DBA derived set of rules; the infantry fight in the centre was messy, while the flanking horse on both sides were happy to sit and watch (in fairness, Nigel and Eddie were getting to grips with the rules, neither being familiar with the DBA set from which they have been developed). 

Next week, Mark and Andy are running a Lord of the Rings game, which I’d like to try, so any other offers would be welcome. Andy says he needs to arrange temporary storage for the club trees and cloths for a month as he needs space in his flat; any offers direct to him please. We noted the absence of Steve S and Dave K, both of whom are apparently poorly, although Dave is currently recovering from somewhat more serious issues. Best wishes to both as ever.

 

See yer soon,

Neil

10th January Games

We had rather more activity this week; Steve S, Mark, Andy P and Dave K were playing a D&D game which developed as the players moved through the dungeon, meeting assorted gribblies on the way, Alan and Rob were playing a further game with the SF skirmish set used last week, while I set up my Anglo-Saxons and Norse collections for a Lion Rampant game which Steve H and Nigel took part in. Nigel’s track record was slightly better than last week’s Men Who Would Be Kings game in that he lost his leader, but was able to withdraw much of his Norsemen off table by game’s end.

 

Next week, Mark wants to run his ever popular SWAT game, Andy has a Dead Man’s Hand game lined up, while I intend to introduce Nigel to the delights of Napoleonic naval warfare.

 

See yer soon,

Neil   

15th November Games

Good turnout but we were spread around Wayland last night. Dave K, Steve S, Paul, Eddie Andy P and Mark played Here’s Negan; not sure of the outcome but it was probably messy and involved lots of zombies. Alan and Rob played Dystopian Wars naval; Alan’s dice were not his friends and it almost ended in tears. Steve H and I played a further Dark Ages Lion Rampant game, this time playing The Fugitive scenario. My Norse had to rescue a VIV (Very Important Viking) who had escaped Anglo-Saxon custody and was reported to be hiding in one of six different areas of rough terrain on the table. All I had to do was enter said areas, roll a d6 needing a score of 6 reducing by 1 for every area checked that was unoccupied. How hard could it be?

Very, as it turned out. My dice went on strike for searches and movement, combat rolls were ok but with time running out and the remaining areas behind Anglo-Saxon lines, I made one last all out attack with my leader’s unit against Steve’s commander; we both lost one figure in the combat....then I rolled a double one for the Courage test. The cloud of dust left by my leader ‘retiring’ is still settling. A deserved win for Steve, but great fun for both of us. 

Next week Dave K is hosting a Bolt Action game, and I’ll bring my WoFun ECW collection for a further test of the DBA derived rules I’ve been working on.

 

See yer soon,

Neil    

8th November Games

The Here’s Negan game was rescheduled to next week; Dave K, Paul, Mark and Steve S played a Cold War board game instead. I am not aware if anyone pressed The Button as there were no apparent thermonuclear blasts at Wayland last night. I hosted a trial game of the Lion Rampant 2^nd edition for Andy P and Eddie, commanding my Norse warband while Steve H commanded the Anglo-Saxon forces. I acted as umpire and assisted the Norse as neither player was familiar with the rules (and in fairness, neither Steve or I had played this variant of the rules recently). The pace of play was necessarily slow but by the close of play I think we’d got the measure of the basic rules. Alan and Rob were nearby playing a Dystopian Wars naval game; I’ve attached pictures of their game as well as the others.

 

As noted above, the Here’s Negan game will go ahead next week, subject of course to the usual strictures of life, the Universe and everything. In similar vein, Steve H and I will be running another Lion Rampant Norse vs. Saxons game for anyone else attending.

 

See yer soon,

Neil     

15th March Games

Good to be back after last week's meeting was cancelled due to bad weather and a variety of other reasons.

Busy last night, with three different games on the go. Alan and Rob were playing Stargrave on some spectacular new centre terrain. Dave K and Steve S ran their Mad Dogs with Guns game postponed from last week, while Mike, Steves B & H, Alex and I played Lion Rampant with Mike's and my Saxon and Norse forces. The amusing 'bloodbath' scenario was the basis for the game; as Alex was new to the rules I acted as umpire and technical advise, and he acquitted himself pretty well. No clear winner at the end, but great fun all the same.

Next week, Steve S is running a Firefly based board game, while I will host my much delayed Angels 20 game set on the Russian front.

See yer soon

Neil

4th January Games

A welcome return to wargaming after seasonal gluttony and various lurgies amongst the membership took place last night. Mark, Steves S & H and Dave K played Cold War , Dave C also paid a visit after his debut as a published author (shameless plug for 'The Portable Naval Wargame').

Mike and I settled down to some serious early medieval mayhem with a Lion Rampant game featuring two Anglo-Norman forces. The game was bloody even by our standards, but despite heavy losses on both sides mostly due to missile fire, we agreed the game would be a test draw.

Next week, a trial game of Star Wars: Legion has been arranged. I'll bring a backup game too.

See yer soon

Neil

14th December Games

A decent turnout on a very cold evening; Rob, Andy P and Alan were playing a famtasy adventure game called Dark Soul, while Steve S, Mark and Dave K kept the happy theme going by playing a Cold War game (the Russians were winning when last I checked). 

Mike ran a Lion Rampant game using his collection of British Celts and Early Imperial Romans for myself, Matt and another friend of his who we refer to as New Matt to avoid confusion . . . New Matt and I commanded the Romans with Mike and Matt playing the Britons. The Romans won, but it was a close call as I lost a couple of auxiliary units, but New Matt (playing for the first time) held the ring wing and between us we ground the Britons down.

Next week will be the last before Christmas, so whatever we play will depend on those attending. Matt and I will probably discuss the details for the Franco-Prussian game we're planning for next years shows in addition to the above.

See yer soon

Neil

26th October Games

A varied selections of games last night. Steve S and Mark played Pandemic and a couple of other board games, Rob was involved in a Necromunda bust-up, and Mike, Steves S and H and myself settled for a Lion Rampant version of Agincourt - it having been the anniversary on Tuesday. Mike has painted over forty French Knights to bolster their forces, and this time allowed for the terrain being saturated after heavy rain over the days preceding the battle (having walked the ground back in 1996, I can well believe this). The cavalry charged - slowly - and died - slowly. Elite heavy cavalry require 4 hits to remove a figure, and although Steve H and I (playing the English) took them under archery volleys as soon as possible, were not able to stop them until at least one unit reached the English lines and promptly routed a unit of foot sergeants on my flank (the curse of a double 1!) before being destroyed by close range archery.

Mike decided the test game had been successful with the elimination of half his French forces. I'm still pondering this comment. . . .

I've offered to run a Napoleonic naval game next week, details of any other games welcomed.

See yer soon

Neil

17th August Games

We were all in the main hall last night; quite a communal really. Steves H & S, Mark, Andy P and Dave K played Aliens again, I didn't have a lot of time to follow the action as Mike, Steve B, Bob and I were set to try out the Wars of the Roses forces in Lion Rampant prior to a game at my place this weekend. Rob was playing Warcry but I didn't have a chance to see him - sorry Rob.

   The Wars of the Roses game was loosely based on the deployments at Towton on the 28th March 1461; the weather was lousy on the day, hence the snow cloth. Mike was running the Lancastrians with Steve B as Sir Anthony Trollope and Mike as the Duke of Somerset. I ran the Yorkists as Edward IV/Lords Hastings and Howard, and Bob played Viscount Bourchier. This was his first game of LR so the command was small but important, fighting off Mike's flank attack so effectively that Somerset fled the field! I was left to wear down the advancing Lancastrians - difficult as they consisted almost entirely of dismounted men at arms and lesser gentry, who were well protected and played an upgrade that effectively meant they never tested for morale despite taking some casualties. The fight was going reasonably well up until my last move - the dice Gods deserted me for three consecutive morale tests which all rolled a double 1 . . .

That said the game was fun; we were using a mix of the original rules plus some of the new bits from the 2rnd edition which is now available, and in my view, much enhanced. We'll know after Sunday's game.

Next week; I've been asked to run a WW1 aerial game using Wings of Glory.

See yer soon

Neil

10th August Games

We were spread far and wide last night; Bob ran a boardgame based on the Aliens movie for the benefit of Steve S, Andy P, Dave K and Steve H; I believe it didn't go well for the Marines . . . 

Rob and Alan were engaged in Warcry games with varying degrees of success.

I had a chance to join Mike and Steve B in a Lion Rampant game, but using Mike's collection of Late Roman and Goths in a game based loosely on the Battle of Adrianople which the original Roman Commander lost in spectacular style. I was offered command of the Roman forces and discovered that after last week's dice disaster my mojo put in an appearance again. Suffice to say the legions and their auxilia moved forward in impressive style, holding off Gothic cavalry attacks on both wings and pushing their infantry back by the time that time ran out. I was impressed by the way massed 15mm figures on a single base add to the impression of unit size; I'm considering changing my name to Marcus Decimus Meridius in the meantime.

Next week Bob has been asked to run the Aliens game again. Mike and I intend to run a Wars of the Roses game loosely based on Towton 1461 ahead of a weekend game at my place shortly thereafter. I've finished a massive refurbishment of my old collection in advance of this game and am looking forward to seeing them on the table again.

See yer soon

Neil

27th July Games

 A very active night yesterday; Steve S, Mark, Andy P and Dave K played Mars Attacks! (I believe the Martians lost).

Mike and Steve B took Lion Rampant to the Holy Land for a Crusader based game. Mike's Saracens went up against a force of Knights Templar and St. Lazarus (the latter formed from members of the Military Orders who had developed leprosy but were still capable of active service before the symptoms got too debilitating) both with supporting serjeants and promptly lost two games - standard really.

Steve H and I played Battletech as a three hander with each attempting to collect a data crystal. I came a poor third as my mech took so much damage it exploded, but Paul retried the crystal.

Rob was playing Warcry but I wasn't able to spend much time with this game.

Next week, I'll run another Angels 20 with the new mat; debating whether to continue the Eastern Front theme or try something over France.

Other options currently include Zombicide or The Walking Dead . . . do I sense a theme here?

See yer soon

Neil

29th June Games

 We were mostly together this week. Dave K ran the Mad Dos with Guns game for Bob from the Friday group, Paul, Steve S and Andy P. 

While Mike and I pitted our respective Wars of the Roses forces against one another with the assistance of Steves B and H. Mike's Lancastrians were tasked with escorting a convoy across the table* while my Yorkists had to stop them. The usual problem with failed activation rolls in a Lion Rampant game meant that both sides struggled to get into contact, although things did hot up on the Yorkist left flank just as time beat us. Both sides have since claimed victory.

*I believe there were two different versions of this scenario being played depending which side of the table you were on - Mike

Alan was seen to be playing Blood Bowl, not sure what Rob was playing though.

Next week Andy P will run his Core Sci-Fi game; I've booked a table but no decision has been made as to the game yet.

See yer soon

Neil

26th May Games

Busy last night; Andy P ran a Core Space game for Mark, Steve S and Bob (one of our Friday night gamers who put in an appearance); I gather the body count was high and consisted mostly of players!

Rob ran a sci-fi skirmish using the house 'dungeon' system - might try using that with a Space Hulk game some time.

Mike had the idea to refight the battle of Hastings to the East of the Abbey site, where the road to London follows a ridge through marshy terrain (confirmed by archeological survey some years back). If this is correct, then King Harold Godwinson was killed on a mini roundabout . . . I provided the Norman forces and commanded the cavalry, while Steve H took the assault infantry and missile troops. Long story short, after some missile fire, infantry melees and a brace of successful cavalry charges, the English forces were reduced to a shadow of their former selves. Seems as though Duke William may be due for a promotion.

Next week a board game session is planned. I'd like to run a final familiarisation game for the Battle of Britain game which will be presented at the Broadside show on the 4th June.

See yer soon

Neil

2rnd March Games

We were a bit spread out this week; Steve S, Mark and Dave K were playing The Walking Dead board game, while Rob and Andy were engaged in a Warcry game, all in the bar area.

I ran a Dark Ages Lion Rampant game for Steve H and Matt in the main hall. The Norse had to push through a blocking force before reinforcements for the Anglo-Saxons arrived on either flank. Despite losing their baggage and plunder the Norse held on; I called it a draw as it appeared likely that the Norse would exit three units from the table and the Anglo-Saxons in the area would have difficulty in stopping them despite recovering the plunder and destroying two Norse units. A game which would benefit from a replay? Absolutely.

Next week, we're all board games with a rerun of The Walking Dead. Steve has a dungeon crawl game he wants to try, and I'll bring something as backup.

See yer soon

Neil

23rd February Games

Hi everyone

Rob and Alan played a couple of games of Warcry. Mark, Dave K and Steve's H & S played Mad Dogs with Guns. While I played Lion Rampant using 15mm 3rd century Romans with two more Steve's, this time B & B.

I didn't stay late enough to be able to say what was planned for next week, although Neil has mentioned his Dark Age Lion Rampant.

Thanks for Reading

Mike