Blood on the Sands at MOAB!

Another year, another MOAB. Busy busy but not too busy for a couple of Horus Heresy purchases, and an opportunity to play this great Gladiator participation game!

Habet, hoc habet!

This game is a real labour of love by Frank, a MOAB legend for putting on amazing games including the fun Africa game that Reilly, Comrade James and I played in 2019 (see here).  He's been developing it for over a decade and its easy to learn, hard to master mechanics make for an excellent experience - see his Adventures in Lead blog here: 

https://adventuresinlead.blogspot.com/2023/10/blood-on-sands-at-moab-2023.html

Frank scratchbuilt this fabulous Arena

I also really liked the way the game reflects the differences in fighting styles and equipment of the different Gladiator types (through stats and special moves) as well as more generic skills and traits that personalise your Gladiator.

My first bout was as a net and trident armed Retiarius, trying to keep my Secutor opponent at bay and wear him down so I could entangle him. I enjoyed the dynamic movement the game allows - no boring locked in combat in the centre here, with thrusts, moves and rushes giving players many options and decisions.

My second bout saw me equipped as a Thraex to face off against the Lanista himself, Frank!  Aided by my ability to throw dice badly, he quickly schooled me in the mechanics of pushing back an opponent, trapping against the wall, disarming and falling prone.

You seem to have dropped something important there Paul...

I was clearly an apt pupil! Forced to concede and appeal for mercy, the crowd were in a bloodthirsty mood and I had proved a disappointment. 

The crowd were NOT entertained after all...

Frank administers the coup de grace demanded by the mob!

Overall a throughly in spiring gaming experience. I've tried many Gladiator games over the years and Frank's game was quick to play, had lots of depth, and stacks of character. There are also campaign rules for running a Ludus, but that was beyond the scope of the demo game.

And yes, I had a great time loosing and that says a lot about a game (and who you are playing with)!

Time to bust out some figures and add more fighters to my Ludus!  Thanks for all the fun mate :-)

For those who want to know more about Blood on the Sands you can visit the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/bloodonthesands

Or peruse the long yet awesome thread at the Lead Adventure Forum here (its been going for over 10 years!) https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=51608.0

Thanks to Alan for this pic - I wonder what I had just asked Frank! :-)

Edit: Alan posted his own great blog write up of this Blood on the Sands demo here:

https://hordesofthethings.blogspot.com/2023/10/gladiators-at-moab.html

MOAB Part 2

Usually, MOAB for me is a social and shopping experience with the odd game thrown in.  The last few years have changed that and this year Comrade James made the trek from Canberra for the whole weekend and stayed at mine.  That means lots of time for after hours games and beers also - excellent!

It was great to catch up with Millsy of Canister and Shot fame (http://canisterandgrape.blogspot.com/) albeit briefly, as well as Chris from the Maruya Marauders blog (from http://moruya-marauders.blogspot.com/)

Comrade James deep in concentration playing a demo of Song of Ice and Fire

After hours gaming included Blood Red Skies: 

A rare North Korean (or Russian?) victory over a USAF jet

What real man isnt stirred by the sight of a few vics of Spitfires?

A dogfight pitting Spits vs Zeros

Some introductory games of Kill Team, which has since become the Lad's game of choice (and thus my painting priority...)  The 3 player game was particularly chaotic and amusing!

The perils of true line of sight!

Chaos clash!

Beers, buddies and a brace of dice

 And rediscovering an old favourite - I got my first boxed set back in the early 80s

And of course purchases were made - enough said!

The loot pile of future shame

MOAB Part 1 - The Petite Race for Africa

Last month the Lad and I (and a few club lads) attended the local annual games convention, Mother of All Battles (MOAB).  It's a long weekend event, which allows a bunch of socials and shopping, as well as time to play in some games.  Last year it was Gaslands - this year we played in a more  narrative African adventure game, again put on by Frank and Sven.  And a cracking job they did.

The game hosted 8 players, each playing different factions and each with specific primary and secondary objectives.  Some of these objectives were mutually exclusive, many were not. But all were secret and nobody knew what anybody else wanted - which made for some great interaction and, inevitably, double crossing!

The British, French, German and Belgian players had colonial style aims, the local tribes were trying to rescue their Princess from the vile Zanzibari slavers.  Another Slaver faction wanted to maintain the slave trade but also replace the Zanzibari as the cartel leaders, and the Ruga-Ruga were essentially mercenaries for hire.  Comrade James was Ze Jermens, Reilly was the Ruga-Ruga and I went with the universally hated Zanzibari.

What a cracking game - there was mystery, intrigue, politics and backstabbing: everything necessary for a fun afternoon gaming!  Sven and Frank kept everything flowing very well, giving everyone the latitude to play they wanted while also guiding the narrative.  A superb job and 4 hours flew by very quickly.

Ze magnificent German Riverboat flotilla

The bow gun on the riverboat

Blundering British explorers in the Jungle

The Ruga-Ruga push forward

The Belgians advance from their encampment

Le Francais Pas de Charge

Fierce local Tribesmen, determined to get their Princess Back

My peaceful Zanzibari relaxing in their Tembe - no bother to anyone and only interested in advancing commerce

Highlights included the Hunt for the Pink Zebra, Germany "accidentally" triggering a European War, Goats on the roof of the Tembe, rampaging Rhinos, and explosive baggage that Wile E. Coyote would have been proud of. What a hoot!

Trouble: British and Ruga-Ruga commander plotting and pointing at my Tembe!

More Trouble at both front and back doors to my Tembe!

Comrade James demonstrates his fine abilities at Naval Gunfire Support!

Ze Jermans advance from the River - the Tembe is getting very popular!

Is he laughing at my burning Tembe? I shall be revenged!

Sometimes, a slaver just has to know when the jig is up and beat a hasty retreat

Making my escape as the wolves close in from all directions

What pink Zebra?

Frank and Sven brought all the figures and scratch built all the terrain and tokens - a really great job and you can see some more at their great Adventures in Lead blog: http://adventuresinlead.blogspot.com/

Thanks again for a great game guys! Classic gaming and good times with my son, my mate, and new friends.

The post-game Ruga-Ruga commander declares his aims and objectives

MOAB 2018

Comrade James, The Lad and Slowpainter John

Over the last few years, MOAB for me has gone from ‘Meh’ to my favourite Con, and not just because its less than hrs drive away. Its really because it’s a great social day out with the club lads and hobby friends of games and conventions past.   This year was no exception particularly with my Lad Reilly AKA "Magnet" emerging from his HSC/Yr 12/A Level/ SAT exam preparations for a mental health day away the books and Comrade James drove 3 hrs from Canberra for the day too - awesome

Not a huge Con, but a fun one

After a great preparatory brekkie at a cafe to plan our assault on the trade stalls, we got into some nice table wandering followed by the finding totally unnecessary random treasures at the Bring and Buy.  Some nice looking tables too, including this awesome Star Wars demo game, played in and around this 3D printed Quasar Class Carrier with LED lights!

I also really liked this terrain, which I need to copy for my FIW table:

We then invested the afternoon enjoying an epic intro game of Gaslands - gorgeous table, total mayhem and you could tell by the cheering (and complaints from the DBAers!) which was the most fun game. Highlight- Reilly’s inevitable betrayal, this time of his godfather Comrade James! 

Mayhem at the 10 car start line!

James cant see this smile but I know what it usually portends...

The plan unleashed!

You're doing what to me now?

Yep, crash and burn dude!

Thats me crashed and burned on the gate pylon, with James burning on the track ahead of me

In the end all 10 cars were destroyed on the track, and there was much rejoicing by everyone.
A really, really well run Demo game with a friendly bunch of gamers - thanks guys!

And naturally, here is my pile of shame from the bring and buy- a bit of everything and all of them a bargain!

Which includes a new and fully pained (!) mid WW1 army of German Jagers for some skirmish gaming.