Nadolig Llawen (Merry Christmas)

 

NADOLIG LLAWEN (MERRY CHRISTMAS)

I thought I would share the Government army progress for the Jacobite project in the main photo, not much more left to paint. I also plan to start tackling the basing. This last week has seen no painting, the first time in many months but I hope to rectify that over the holiday period. 

Below are a few pictures of a game played last week with my friend Peter. A Hoplite clash using his lovely collection with Lion Rampant rules. Incredibly both of us managed to maintain straight battle lines until contact, and then attrition won out. Unfortunately we didn't manage to come to a conclusion due to time constraints, and we both claiming that the other would have won. All in all a fun game that has seen me source some Spartans...no more projects!

Mortal Gods - Game

Managed to get Mortal Gods onto the table with my youngest Tilly. It was her first game of Mortal Gods, so I kept it simple, didn't use the phalanx formation, and didn't choose gifts. Two Lochos were selected from the figures provided in the starter set, each composed as follows: 

Lochagos

Promachos

Sphendonetai

Peltastes

Peltastai

Experienced 

Hoplites

Veteran Hoplite

The table was set, and Tilly was given the choice of side, a D6 was rolled, which I won, and we each placed an objective on the table. I placed mine on a Hill located on my left flank, and Tilly chose to place hers in the Temple (a wise choice as it happens, my attack on the Temple objective appeared to have offended the Gods and ill omens rained down on me as Tilly’s Lochos was clearly favoured with divine blessings). Unfortunately, we were unable to finish the game, but both were on course to seize an objective each. The game could have gone either way from then, but the dice and omens were starting to favour Tilly, maybe attacking a Temple isn't the wisest move!

The rules are straightforward and within a few turns we were pretty much into the flow of the game. On reflection I should have included the gifts and the phalanx formation. There are similarities with Test of Honour being from the same design stable. However, I found Mortal Gods to have a completely different feel, and there are enough differences in the game to make it a very different experience to Test of Honour. Additional flavour will be added by the phalanx rule and with the bestowing of gifts. I find that the Omens are a nice aspect and provide a little twist which we both enjoyed, despite Tilly being more favoured by the Gods than I! We are both looking forward to another game of Mortal Gods and having a bash at Mortal Gods Mythic once I get two forces painted. I also have Thracian and Persian forces to paint for Mortal Gods, which I think will add a nice change to the game, Tilly was especially interested in the Scythed Chariot of the Persians!

I didn't plan on a battle report, but rather took some photos during the game to send to Tilly, so I thought I'd include them here as a selection of moments from the game. 

Moments from the Game

Overhead view of game in progress

Tilly's Lochagos leading the
attack on my Hoplites

Defending the Hill Objective: my
Promachos and Sphendonetai
attempt to drive Tillys Hoplites back

My Sphendonetai sneak around the
vineyard to prepare a flank attack
on Tilly's Hoplites

My Veteran Hoplite leads the
attack on the Temple objective

Another view of the attack on the

Temple objective

First blood: Tilly's Lochagos kills one

Hoplite and drives them back

Veteran Hoplite kills the brave

Peltastes defending the Temple

Objective

Battle for the Hill objective

Hoplites drive off the Sphendonetai from the Hill objective, 

this felt like a temporary reprieve as Tilly had two units of Hoplites

preparing to assault the Hill

Another view of the attack on the

Temple objective, defending

Sphendonetai and Peltastes 

feeling exposed, Veteran Hoplite

and a unit of Hoplites

rushing out of shot to support

My Hoplites defending the Hill

objective take a casualty, things not 

looking good for the defenders

The relentless advance 

of Tilly's Lochagos

Another view of Tilly's attack

on the Hill  objective

Slingers breaking away from the Temple attack to support

the defence of the Hill objective

Sharp Practice 2 - First Game

Last night saw my first game of Sharp Practice 2, a French and Indian War clash of 50 points. I'm always late to party rules wise but have to mention that I was very impressed with SP2, extremely enjoyable... more of the same please! 

Pictures below show the main highlights of the French victory, aided by exceptional dice rolling on the French part and equally exceptionally bad luck with the dice on the British part. Once the Iroquois had killed the leader of the British Highland Light infantry it was only a matter of time before the leaderless remnant were wiped out. The French Regulars performed magnificently and with the support of the Canadien Milice halted the British Regulars advance, and with British Morale collapsing the game was concluded as a French Victory. 

Click on any pictures to enlarge

Iroquois rapidly advance on the British left

Canadien Milice move up in support of the Iroquois

Highland light infantry prepare to charge Iroquois warband

Iroquois prepare to receive the Highland charge!

Highlanders advance to the charge!

 Despite having advantages of tomahawks  in the charge, numbers and the dice gods conspired to deliver a crushing victory to the Iroquois in the ensuing fisticuffs

British regulars prepare to advance and present in preparation of delivering a withering fire into the Iroquois

Iroquois survive first fire from the British Regulars and advance to hunt down the survivors of the highland charge!

British Highlanders take up defensive positions in the face of the main French Regulars advance

French Regulars deliver a brutal first fire on the British Highlanders

Battlegroup Rules

Quite a lot has been happening in the real world lately, all good I may add. As a consequence my time to prepare material for the blog has reduced considerably. I am however, getting the opportunity to game regularly (never a bad thing) and am trying out lots of new rules systems. 

The latest game played was a 15mm WWII game using the Battlegroup rules. I took command of the American forces and my opponent was German; we were very fortunate to have an umpire which kept the game flowing as we were both new to the system. 

A disclaimer here: I'm not really a WWII gamer, and as a result my lack of tactical nouse and knowledge of the period was brutally exposed in the early rounds. However, I do have to say in my defence I managed to adapt to the challenges faced, although a little too late to be able to secure the objective; the game eventually ended up quite a close run thing, with a Germans victory.

I thoroughly enjoyed the game, and once I managed to grasp the nuances of placing units on reserve move, ambush etc, and coordinate my armour, artillery and infantry I actually started to see positive outcomes on the battlefield. Quite in contrast to the earlier rounds where I was taught a harsh lesson by a Tiger tank. I didn't quite managed to knock out the Tiger, though due to the fortuitous drawing of a breakdown token it was immobilised for the later stages of the game, and if it wasn't for some terrible dice throwing I might even have tamed the beast!

Due to my lack of WWII experience I don't feel able to comment on the historical accuracy of the game, however, from a WWII novice looking on from a purely gaming perspective I found the system fun and easy to grasp, and with my limited knowledge of the period rewarded historical play. Looking forward to more games of Battlegroup, and might even be tempted to get some Russians at some point in the future. 

Click on any picture to enlarge