Tankfest at the Hobby Shop

A big cat waits for prey...

We are off to enjoy Fall-In today!  While we are gone I'll leave you with these pics of a recent Tanktober celebration (well it could have been incidental, but professionals don't believe in coincidences now do they...)

Two weeks ago my local Hobby shop put on a six player FoW game which was rather an impressive setup.

It was a 1945/late war/Fall of the Reich style game played lengthways along a long 12 x 4 table, pitting 4k of advancing Soviets from one short send, 4k of advancing Americans from the opposite short side, and 6k of Germans sandwiched in a defensive position in a central city.

Each nation had 2 commanders to make it a 6 player game.  On top of that, the Russians and Americans weren't allowed to talk out loud to coordinate their actions (no common codes you see).

...while Ivan advances on the right...

...and on the left...

...supported by the big guns of the Red Army

Stalin's "God of War" looks impressive. I love the diorama effects with the spent shell casings but all that Arty should be off board!

Meanwhile on the other flank the Americans advanced more cautiously...

...with their own guns in support...

...to be met by some angry Panthers in defensive positions

The boys were clearly having fun and had made a few adjustments to the rules to make them work better in this fun setup.  The lead elements of both allied forces had taken a good blooding but the US and Soviet aircraft were getting into the fray and starting to pick off the big panzers.

The ruined city terrain is by Novis (the guy who used to own JR Miniatures) and is very, very nice even unpainted (it had arrived two days before the game) - I clearly need some.  So do you Alan.

Another gratuitous King Tiger shot, because it was Tanktober!

See you when we get back from Fall-In!

MOAB 2014

Comrade James Reporting: MOAB, the Mother of All Battles, is the annual gaming event held by Sydney gaming club Southern Battle Gamers. The convention has been growing in size over the years, and I myself have not been there for nearly 20 years, and was pleasantly surprised how big it has grown.

I managed to convince Significant Other at 430pm the day before to hop in the car with her kids and drive the 3 hours to Sydney so I could compete in the MOAB Bolt Action tournament. Significant brownie points spent believe me.......

I'll cover the tournament in a separate post, and will cover some of the action at MOAB here.....

Main hall, with traders along the walls and demo games and participation games in the middle.

Dropzone Commander...how good is that terrain ??

Cardboard never looked so good........

On the Seven Seas, by Osprey...

Jugula

Battletech, an oldie but a goodie....

Me old fave, Flames of War...

Obligatory Warhammer 40K tourney

One of the personalities in the Australian Bolt Action scene is David Bruggeman, or the Demo Gamer. Dave and his three teenage sons host massive demo/participation games of Bolt Action on amazing tables that they build specifically for cons. MOAB was no exception, and the following pics show their amazing multilevel table, built from 4Ground buildings and printed street textures glued to MDF panels.....

With the recent re-release of Space Hulk, I was pleased to see this amazing 3D version as a participation game....

Another fave of mine and Pauls, X-Wing, by FFG.....

Command and Colours:Napoleon board game converted into a miniatures version....

Overall the convention lasted three days, of which I saw the first two. As well as the main hall above there were several smaller rooms filled with gamers of all descriptions, including BloodBowl, 40K Apocalypse, Warmachine, Warhammer Fantasy and obscure historical games....
The traders seemed to be doing a ripping trade, and it was great to catch up with John of War and Peace games again (my opponent at Wintercon earlier this year)
Not sure if I'll get to MOAB next year, but I'm keen.....

Will be back shortly with the round up of my Bolt Action experience.....

Bumper crop of Christmas Goodies!

Santa (and his many helpers) were very kind to me this year.  Actually it was the being together with all the family and still feeling full 2 days later that was most awesome, but lets face it - our inner kid (and not so inner - we play with toy soldiers right?) still loves pressies right?

Cutting to the hobby related stuff, Santa got us a family ticket to see the Hobbit in 3D and we went yesterday at the first session of opening day.  We really enjoyed it, the departures from the book made sense to me and worked well, and it was done in a lighter tone than the Lord of the Rings.  Reminded me of an Indiana Jones movies actually.  Well done and highly recommended.

On the Dark Ages front my recent SAGA adventures saw me score very well: All three SAGA rulebooks, a box of Plastic Norman knights plus a set of crossbowmen to complete that army, and the newly released Irish Warband starter set from Gripping Beast.  Lovely Jubbly!

And the big surprise this year was my combined 40th Birthday and Christmas present from Comrade James: Battlefront's 'Open Fire' Flames of War starter set and the new book 'Normandy Battles'

He is a sneaky one that Comrade James, knowing that I have secretly wanted to do 15mm for years but with no opponent and an aversion to collecting terrain in a new scale.  Now that he is coming back to live down the road, we can get a good campaign going.  I will be very interested to see how the lad goes with this - I have no doubt he will play it but think his heart will be with Blood Bowl and games like that for awhile yet.  Still, he has already claimed the German force (grrr...) and having watched 'Kelly's Heroes' and the like, I think he'll enjoy it. Thanks James - awesome pressie!

Hoping your Christmases were just as great! Back to playing our in house Blood Bowl competition: "Santabowl"!

FoW 1944 German Army

No not mine (unfortunately), by my e-friend Luis.
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=18183

Just need a few zombie hordes in my opinion...!

Panzer Claus

Just in case you missed this great bit of festive modelling from the guys at Battlefront - I particulalrly like the red-nosed driver and the present stowages! This gives new meaning to the consequences of being on the 'naughty' list :-) Personally, I would have named this tank "Blitzen!"
Modelled and painted by James Brown.Text by Blake Coster

T‘was the night before Christmas, when all through the wood
Not a soldier was moving, and none of them should.
Huddled in foxholes, around a small fire,
Spirits were high though conditions were dire.

With the officer’s tucked up all snug in their beds,
The Sergeants made sure the men kept their heads.
Rifles were ready in case of attack,
Two men a foxhole, to cover one’s back.

When off in the distance there arose such a clutter,
“Tanks on the way.” One man muttered.
Grasping their rifles close to their chests,
Each man could only hope for the best.

With the chatter of tracks drawing ever so near,
It was the pending attack the battalion had feared.
Preparing to fire, the soldiers gave pause,
As though the woods emerged Panzer Claus

http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=1724

Soviets Victorious, German tide stemmed

News from the Front indicates that Comrade-Marshall James has smashed the German spearhead causing much damage to the Motherland. They have been thrown back wth heavy casualties and many villiages (and lovely Soviet ladies) have been liberated - urrah Stalino!

Comrade Jame's recent tactical victories have reversed his initial setbacks to pull off a campaign draw overall - well done mate, cheers!

Well Done Comrade!

A heroic HUZZAH to Comrade James for his stoic Victory this week against the fascist invaders!

News from the Russian Front

I sent Paul a quick After Action Report of this Flames of War battle, and thought I'd post a pic of the Russian hordes I used. 42 stands of infantry representing two companies, supported by 6 T-34 tanks on the left flank, some BM-13 rocket launchers (Stalins Organs) ,a platoon of 120mm heavy mortars, and covered by Limited IL-2 air support.(See below)

Turnerquade I

"Turnerquade" was a gaming weekend held in the Man Cave's nearby Annex, colloquially referred to as "the House", in July 2008 (the Man Cave Annex is situated in the Canberra suburb of Tuner, hence the name). Lucky attended from interstate and for two days the women folk allowed the three lads to play as much as possible. Accordingly, the objective was to play as many games, using as many different game systems as possible, in the allocated time. Needless to say, it was AWESOME.

So awesome in fact, that it was followed recently by Turnerquade II, with Turnerquade III now in planning. Here are some highlights of last July's games:
Space Marine Commanders consider the tactical options for a Difficult mission in Space Hulk (arguably GW's best ever game)

Success!

Lucky laments the appearance of the 'Fuel tank hit - target destroyed!" card, while Reilly's lone surviving fighter goes in for the kill on a Jap fighter (GMT's Down in Flames - Zero!) "Arrrggghhhh...Ahoy me me hearties!" Two scallywag Captains in a game of "Pirate's Cove" "Take that Vile Hun!" says Biggles, in a WW1 aerial game (using "Algy pulls it off" by Too Fat Lardies)
The Man Cave in action - an eager subordinate begs his Commander to engage the enemy, in a late war FoW US vs Germans game
Appropriate winter headwear was the key to Russian Victory over the Finns in the Memoir 44 game.

Germans triumph over the US in this North African encounter (Memoir 44) - a protest regarding the possible luck granted by my coffee mug's slogan is still pending resolution.