tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88414682766670186312024-02-19T12:54:33.798+00:00The Conflict CornucopiaChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.comBlogger196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-42107886865976609272017-08-22T12:00:00.000+01:002017-08-22T13:00:29.146+01:00Von Mohnblume Line<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A package arrived from <a href="https://www.alternative-armies.com/" target="_blank">Alternative Armies</a> recently and I had the pleasure of being one of the first to see </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the <span style="color: black;"><b>Von Mohnblume Line </b></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">, due for release later in August. These are </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">some new sculpts</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> and a new type of Dogman infantry for Flintloque and Slaughterloo.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVaCv60GGTaye5lQchLFREE-6ujZqSHDAeVFnX3QVcqzepAywhHIExcGMkdbTC9rH_5NFxCzL5fC24lGcrVQnA1txxxA3eVb_O2e6UyNinLPjNNuHnA6LklkTitJ8qfFeYYgKiILB_sE/s1600/pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1600" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVaCv60GGTaye5lQchLFREE-6ujZqSHDAeVFnX3QVcqzepAywhHIExcGMkdbTC9rH_5NFxCzL5fC24lGcrVQnA1txxxA3eVb_O2e6UyNinLPjNNuHnA6LklkTitJ8qfFeYYgKiILB_sE/s640/pile.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pile of minis and bases</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">In my package was a set of 10 figures and bases. This is sold by Alternative Armies as a 'skirmish' pack, offering a discount over buying individual figures, making it ideal for starting a new Flintloque section or a small unit for Slaughterloo. A larger 'unit' pack of 20 figures for a full Slaughterloo unit is also available at additional discount.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Right from the start I was impressed by these sculpts. I was expecting something similar to other Dogmen packs such as the recent <a href="https://www.alternative-armies.com/collections/pudigrochumsberg-dogmen" target="_blank">Pudigrochumsburg </a>range, but was pleasantly surprised to find a packet of pugs! I have a curious soft spot for small dogs, so this new addition was an unexpected and pleasant surprise!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Skirmish packs typically contain 4 command figures and 6 infantry. The command figures in the Von Mohnblune pack include an Officer, Sergeant, Standard and Musician, all pictured below.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFCe4aGjni0EDNVcxb1m400W6CgKbO8iS0W_r2u3k-rmejDGJzL6Oh0RY8tOwZbTttM2PZZvsyOVmykD9KG0G7nf_FgHhTa7y7eRzgE94XMc5gZt-w3iU-lronKa4U2YF4n_Y2tt-5Vo/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1600" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFCe4aGjni0EDNVcxb1m400W6CgKbO8iS0W_r2u3k-rmejDGJzL6Oh0RY8tOwZbTttM2PZZvsyOVmykD9KG0G7nf_FgHhTa7y7eRzgE94XMc5gZt-w3iU-lronKa4U2YF4n_Y2tt-5Vo/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(L-R) Sergeant, Officer, Drummer, Standard</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">The remaining figures in the pack are a mix of models reasonably split over 4 various poses, which I think is a generous amount of different sculpts and means there is plenty of scope for differentiating between characters in skirmish games:</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxw_OvkyhEamLVjfEM-d6x_eGw7jmLHz2pa2D0qtGHVAm82NCtHMPv5b_xKii0ZXtbvJBJ7nPj8IHbimW-IQkrlJULlb3W0WRcuTrv2q9W-NvjOk1GFxMhoisZtToF21Gm5qpE8TWp5AU/s1600/FullSizeRender%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1600" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxw_OvkyhEamLVjfEM-d6x_eGw7jmLHz2pa2D0qtGHVAm82NCtHMPv5b_xKii0ZXtbvJBJ7nPj8IHbimW-IQkrlJULlb3W0WRcuTrv2q9W-NvjOk1GFxMhoisZtToF21Gm5qpE8TWp5AU/s640/FullSizeRender%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6 pugs in 4 poses</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">These sculpts are fantastic in terms of crispness and detail. The character really comes through even before painting. That said, u</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">npainted figures are all very well and good, but they won't be gracing my tabletop without seeing a brush! So what do they look like after I have applied my mediocre skills to them? Let's see, shall we?!:</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAfxyVGMkFBojXa5_FwsZtG-UcZLU7WRxth-5XTpZlUt3daeL_H3bu1OOUshGrrECe9rn163HQ1Udi90Uuq_9og4MuUZsKiELpk1M9reI9D7Kg0bCvkcpPe1tmV_O_U-8HyIf5AQVkFQ/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAfxyVGMkFBojXa5_FwsZtG-UcZLU7WRxth-5XTpZlUt3daeL_H3bu1OOUshGrrECe9rn163HQ1Udi90Uuq_9og4MuUZsKiELpk1M9reI9D7Kg0bCvkcpPe1tmV_O_U-8HyIf5AQVkFQ/s640/11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 10 figure unit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcUUcrzXNfEhnqL53d_gelrmSE9t2gyfqsJ51zp5CIudyg-1Z9mBlz9PV2ajbwhiY2EohXsB_DzBSC5iCV0ZWlHcSxWMzjcQXDYF9Bml2dKwManNy_P_NyM6eOyJcbvZCqQoyBewhHY4/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcUUcrzXNfEhnqL53d_gelrmSE9t2gyfqsJ51zp5CIudyg-1Z9mBlz9PV2ajbwhiY2EohXsB_DzBSC5iCV0ZWlHcSxWMzjcQXDYF9Bml2dKwManNy_P_NyM6eOyJcbvZCqQoyBewhHY4/s640/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From a higher angle.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">As with pretty much every model I've painted for Flintloque, I really enjoyed working on these. The sculpts were crisp and clear without being overburdened by unnecessary detail and I found I could paint them well enough (to my standards at least) at a fair pace.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Here are some pictures of the front rank figures:</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihorl7-CPNwppfNgw3XxseUHTo1taxDozjWXoGdoG7uNEFEcY-bPOGs5TJ6-stnHUx2ID0C52DV-UJJ2lVYD7U3tLZ72telc2_MHePNHk9SpdGi8KaXtX8Z-mk7ONTK1IgPh8fbiFvKtQ/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihorl7-CPNwppfNgw3XxseUHTo1taxDozjWXoGdoG7uNEFEcY-bPOGs5TJ6-stnHUx2ID0C52DV-UJJ2lVYD7U3tLZ72telc2_MHePNHk9SpdGi8KaXtX8Z-mk7ONTK1IgPh8fbiFvKtQ/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pug firing musket and Sergeant</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMA_DxlPB0ORkkvtmKXwIfre2s4TrW1mBfnuNyxdro2IPb1boLqs_vHlZNmM13ybGj1ldyWA_7BMbjuLE75h6jxOlNwwYf1t9O9GtBRdXcgoLftJNkd9Sh3l_J5zLAcLYV1N_Dkph0cj0/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMA_DxlPB0ORkkvtmKXwIfre2s4TrW1mBfnuNyxdro2IPb1boLqs_vHlZNmM13ybGj1ldyWA_7BMbjuLE75h6jxOlNwwYf1t9O9GtBRdXcgoLftJNkd9Sh3l_J5zLAcLYV1N_Dkph0cj0/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drummer and Officer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN9b7454EAM6V186q00Hs4TljcL8VvNfxVJQNay_h6EXfnBXyshe28qWHWc2A8AMjLrU-1Es89yutzYNcGlbAsNfBcUIWAAcVilmX0gCtg3ylRcCFO7h3HfOqoNC23hkGpOr0muHghwg/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN9b7454EAM6V186q00Hs4TljcL8VvNfxVJQNay_h6EXfnBXyshe28qWHWc2A8AMjLrU-1Es89yutzYNcGlbAsNfBcUIWAAcVilmX0gCtg3ylRcCFO7h3HfOqoNC23hkGpOr0muHghwg/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standard (with no flag yet!) and second pug firing</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> The rear rank consists of four pugs in two different poses.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMg_CdJHj_FPEyZeyjYBvPiO9zrnzWNfnP6TYPi0D5vrc8DdfIs4MCPobFdGLsSCmnvzWd18ZFyqnHOXXygJ8ioBdpIq1JjgQNGOOuHmi0msiTj2t35SzZmJF6dVbszNgPopUgKQdoSUM/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMg_CdJHj_FPEyZeyjYBvPiO9zrnzWNfnP6TYPi0D5vrc8DdfIs4MCPobFdGLsSCmnvzWd18ZFyqnHOXXygJ8ioBdpIq1JjgQNGOOuHmi0msiTj2t35SzZmJF6dVbszNgPopUgKQdoSUM/s640/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group shot of rear rank</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qFy4chCLW5yh51uzVt8SOQqbaspa-9SoUUrwoklaoQSAo-S5pdUo1aQicZaV3b7C58acZOdCmYkUwIHEpcd5qHlnDDIzBT1LJhSrPYmk4uM-2MTGvT60tvgeSvl02CSXvf4ah_vr2C8/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qFy4chCLW5yh51uzVt8SOQqbaspa-9SoUUrwoklaoQSAo-S5pdUo1aQicZaV3b7C58acZOdCmYkUwIHEpcd5qHlnDDIzBT1LJhSrPYmk4uM-2MTGvT60tvgeSvl02CSXvf4ah_vr2C8/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of examples of each pose.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Here's one picture of the command group all together:</span></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-FltbUP2OzDspTyN4N3QMM4EmKCp_IckjclmmrjbQXQvxYgqV5rcYMYjTxWWPg2zb5OwXO2PUCADtf9wgYVLhXMgR7mPOdP26kgM89A1LFnpJoeKog4gMlehgo6Eo9gaolqq0t81Mi0/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-FltbUP2OzDspTyN4N3QMM4EmKCp_IckjclmmrjbQXQvxYgqV5rcYMYjTxWWPg2zb5OwXO2PUCADtf9wgYVLhXMgR7mPOdP26kgM89A1LFnpJoeKog4gMlehgo6Eo9gaolqq0t81Mi0/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Von Montblume Line Command</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">I opted for a uniform (very) loosely based on Napoleonic soldiers from the Duchy of Nassau, part of the Confederation of the Rhine. As such, they will see action along side my Ferach elves, but it is worth noting that these figures are technically an addition to the Ostarian army and they will no doubt end up fighting alongside my other Dogmen! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">So all in all these would make a splendid addition to a Slaughterloo army or make a interesting new Flintloque section. Rules specific to these figures are available in a free PDF which is available for download from Alternative Armies. For my own project, they will be proudly forming a solid and reliable battalion in my games, fighting alongside whoever I see fit! One of the things I like about the 'animal' ranges in particular is that they work well for any anthropomorphic fantasy games, so can be enjoyed by anyone who likes the figures. In fact I plan on buying more of these figures for exactly this reason.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">In creating stats for Black Powder, I am looking to make a unit that is enthusiastic and dependable, while being less confident in melee due to their stature. This led me to an initial set of stats as below:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Unit</b>: </span><span style="color: black;">Von Mohnblume Line</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Type</b>: Regular Infantry</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Armament</b>: Smoothbore Muskets</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Hand-To Hand</b>: 4</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Shooting</b>: 3</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Morale</b>: 4+</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Stamina</b>: 3</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Special</b>: Reliable, Steady</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Here is one final picture as they will be used in my games. Great figures that I am proud to own and I am confident they will perform admirably on the field of battle.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iwxmeMkm9-WlcVYWSb7YvcdxEQLTMEGow-ZdTETERl6H5wgECvh3axBY1gyGU9_rYe-Im9ZT8tSBwzRmOks4Lk8bXbQDoOKRajEZawulPHn6UDB-G6VBYr6S9OzfuAO2kDC9PoTrKdk/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iwxmeMkm9-WlcVYWSb7YvcdxEQLTMEGow-ZdTETERl6H5wgECvh3axBY1gyGU9_rYe-Im9ZT8tSBwzRmOks4Lk8bXbQDoOKRajEZawulPHn6UDB-G6VBYr6S9OzfuAO2kDC9PoTrKdk/s640/9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Von Mountblume Line</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">(Reader note: I was provided with a sample pack for the purposes of review, but my enthusiasm is entirely my own!)</span></span></span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-25822543285938202392017-07-24T15:20:00.000+01:002017-07-24T15:34:40.260+01:00Black Powder SlaughterlooI've recently had the opportunity to reorganise my Flintloque collection, partly due to some nicely discounted plastic storage I was able to buy, and also because of a new 'do something with it or sell it' policy I've adopted. It has got to the point where I just don't have the space or time to devote to projects I am not really that interested in, so I have decided to be firmer with myself. I'm going to work through my projects and ask myself if I would be happy painting something for it right <i>now</i>. If I wouldn't then I clearly don't have much love for it and it needs to go. Fortunately, the Flintloque range doesn't fall into this category, so I have been able to paint a few more commanders to play a game or two of Black Powder.<br />
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As a big fan of the Flintloque miniatures and the Black Powder rules, I have wanted to combine the two for a while now and have been working on the stats for the various armies. As the setting is very similar to history, most troop types can be taken from the Albion Triumphant supplements, with a few adjustments to account for the more 'fantasy' elements. I plan to eventually put all of this together in a PDF, but it is still early days and I need to play a few games first.<br />
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I have put together two armies using what I have got painted at this time, with plans to add more to this when I can. Due to space, I am halving all measurements and the figures in each unit. As such, infantry will be 12 figures and cavalry 6 as standard. I am using sabot bases holding 4 infantry or 2 cavalry with 3 of these bases making up a unit.<br />
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<u>Ferach Army</u><br />
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For the Ferach army I was able to muster two brigades of elves and another of Todoroni.<br />
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<b>1st Ferach Brigade</b><br />
Line Infantry<br />
Line Infantry<br />
Light Infantry (small)<br />
Artillery<br />
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<b>2nd Ferach Brigade</b><br />
Line Infantry<br />
Line Infantry<br />
Light Infantry <br />
Heavy Cavalry<br />
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<b>Todoroni Brigade</b><br />
Militia (small)<br />
Artillery <br />
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All commanders had a rating of 8, except the Todoroni, who had a pitiful rating of 6. Moving unreliable militia would be a real challenge!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrblZhhUs4i68QIWpYpJ_Eng35sDm26_MZB_QPJtnOSQsOR-ruhE1DDYbleCoQuZXzoclRezt77zr6gebg7z4RaErKKcPayp6aVjaKjpSNX19EQrRd_QUkq3BCrLr-yLiop54iTm8-Q28/s1600/IMG_7843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrblZhhUs4i68QIWpYpJ_Eng35sDm26_MZB_QPJtnOSQsOR-ruhE1DDYbleCoQuZXzoclRezt77zr6gebg7z4RaErKKcPayp6aVjaKjpSNX19EQrRd_QUkq3BCrLr-yLiop54iTm8-Q28/s640/IMG_7843.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferach Deployment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<u>Albion Army</u><br />
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The Orcs can only muster two brigades, but they are hardy fellows and will no doubt be keen to test their mettle against their hated foes.<br />
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<b>1st Albion Brigade</b><br />
Orc Line<br />
Orc Line<br />
Goblin Line <br />
Orc Rifles (small) <br />
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<b>2nd Albion Brigade</b><br />
Joccian Lowland Rat Line<br />
Joccian Lowland Rat Line<br />
Ogre Line <br />
Artillery <br />
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The C-in-C had a rating of 8 and the Orc Battalion Commanders each had a rating of 8.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1U53-cYStDGsfaWBn4joSB8f-wNMe6D42jS9hZJh3w5q0Q6F6x0DQ1XZYZWHUbRCBrAv749XTO65jQEsMMMA5HBkzEbhXC6CZIf81ZRnnggH1gcsLNpL3cp0IgsMpGOLI3IehyqoaLrY/s1600/IMG_7844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1U53-cYStDGsfaWBn4joSB8f-wNMe6D42jS9hZJh3w5q0Q6F6x0DQ1XZYZWHUbRCBrAv749XTO65jQEsMMMA5HBkzEbhXC6CZIf81ZRnnggH1gcsLNpL3cp0IgsMpGOLI3IehyqoaLrY/s640/IMG_7844.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albion Deployment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<u>Scenario</u><br />
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For a first try I wanted to keep the scenario simple, so it was a simple case that the Albion brigades has become separated from the rest of the army and were awaiting a relief force. The Ferach General saw an opportunity to crush part of his hated enemy's force and dispatched a force to do so.<br />
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The Orcs have tried to find a defensive position and just need to hold tight while fending off the enemy.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNsh5qYpk5UENZ65-aCRYGUO8TyPOxNUjsujzTQhLRWzBAubbmQ7Uvt6PHgjyJQ6Icje8MSQ-95ELXlvqYDNR28Sf8AVzxdP6_jbRzM5VOYMO9gKGUlZvBXypo5fZ1bbrPGa7Nawrc3M/s1600/IMG_7845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNsh5qYpk5UENZ65-aCRYGUO8TyPOxNUjsujzTQhLRWzBAubbmQ7Uvt6PHgjyJQ6Icje8MSQ-95ELXlvqYDNR28Sf8AVzxdP6_jbRzM5VOYMO9gKGUlZvBXypo5fZ1bbrPGa7Nawrc3M/s640/IMG_7845.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An overview of the battlefield</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u>Early Game</u><br />
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The Ferach advanced steadily, the attack columns covered by skirmishers. On the right flank the Heavy cavalry were sent forward to outflank the artillery and distract the enemy. As was to be expected, the Todoroni Militia refused to move, so the C-in-C was forced to intervene. But by that point the attack columns had pushed forward, so the use of the Todoroni as a shield was basically negated!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6zezqHNZp4UqBbVWrLwCA4nHaVE1EiX-RoLfBTnYTROq0cOZpD0jDvcBzVt-IVbENNDX7I37P5LVOjfB59VWgcH9jLqSAyHhZCuIDG-23kU5f92KOu2rmxhWWi3JnBuGqLEHGj140gM/s1600/IMG_7846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6zezqHNZp4UqBbVWrLwCA4nHaVE1EiX-RoLfBTnYTROq0cOZpD0jDvcBzVt-IVbENNDX7I37P5LVOjfB59VWgcH9jLqSAyHhZCuIDG-23kU5f92KOu2rmxhWWi3JnBuGqLEHGj140gM/s640/IMG_7846.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ferach advance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Sensibly, the majority of the Albion force held their positions, although the Rifle Orcs were sent forward to harass the enemy and the Orc Line on the right flank edged forward to try and engage a little sooner.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFONNGlNXw3w9LA8ug9TRYooQnuxKu1i0lz8Jesm5mux3oPakudFabk1g1yavn_uOnkC8zwpehfoE0zBxSXeDe0_fydH_3_0CuLaSRwGqb9ISsy75Eqsc2O2coBm8z_X2xLIw0oCMLKQ/s1600/IMG_7847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFONNGlNXw3w9LA8ug9TRYooQnuxKu1i0lz8Jesm5mux3oPakudFabk1g1yavn_uOnkC8zwpehfoE0zBxSXeDe0_fydH_3_0CuLaSRwGqb9ISsy75Eqsc2O2coBm8z_X2xLIw0oCMLKQ/s640/IMG_7847.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staunch defenders ready to hold back the tide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd34t1Sg4BW4laOLYkD-7owADOYixY2dVAvQ0sSqaGoxt3aUC9BmW4-_sAxp0GO1ji_2q9mQX46_1VuAMposB3MqcFdb692SRnFXHnWiNBviqnQOTzj1dKszkIxqPG5muAWXbiznxsLII/s1600/IMG_7848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd34t1Sg4BW4laOLYkD-7owADOYixY2dVAvQ0sSqaGoxt3aUC9BmW4-_sAxp0GO1ji_2q9mQX46_1VuAMposB3MqcFdb692SRnFXHnWiNBviqnQOTzj1dKszkIxqPG5muAWXbiznxsLII/s640/IMG_7848.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the Ferach lines</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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On the right flank the Ogres tried to move to react to the cavalry, but all they managed to do was form a column. By that point the cavalry had reached the flank, so they reformed to face them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i6_calhnJKz0hM4U3EdiLec30Ox1eGVrPDa4QoeETrAxGEiF4PnmG6_mazTxJ94z-1HnGbOPP1ZSC6kzGM4xS_XnNBfbP75cMNFgFvMr5xxEJQWtJLHPXmdqq4AVhbfy123jyoj9ukM/s1600/IMG_7851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i6_calhnJKz0hM4U3EdiLec30Ox1eGVrPDa4QoeETrAxGEiF4PnmG6_mazTxJ94z-1HnGbOPP1ZSC6kzGM4xS_XnNBfbP75cMNFgFvMr5xxEJQWtJLHPXmdqq4AVhbfy123jyoj9ukM/s640/IMG_7851.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch out, lads!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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On the left one of the Ferach battalions formed line to open fire on the Rifle Orcs as Todoroni watched on... The other battalion continued to advance behind the light infantry.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_B-7V6uqqBd7SPhVQXvXvWf1o09T5U30hq87xQG5LEUTYEVCXk_hIHuqmV37cRICuOlyexxPnEFMbX2nzPZm_6nVNWxYI46NYmNM7Fzsn9gATF9EQO7SwrLDRF9owphyphenhyphenO8kkqauzKMA/s1600/IMG_7849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_B-7V6uqqBd7SPhVQXvXvWf1o09T5U30hq87xQG5LEUTYEVCXk_hIHuqmV37cRICuOlyexxPnEFMbX2nzPZm_6nVNWxYI46NYmNM7Fzsn9gATF9EQO7SwrLDRF9owphyphenhyphenO8kkqauzKMA/s640/IMG_7849.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting stuck in!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the right, the advance was more coherent! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhgZhC7SnqaaGYMQ_4peJCwDZD9NrIAvnUvaLQ-nwobujJV7DssPh3l4-Omj4EOeIt2cN-EAHa53_9d6J4YsSiTGHxwrZHP82jAWs8AAB_7YwsO5DGnGJ9R8SmSRaNAXFDVhjCe_pdVo/s1600/IMG_7850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhgZhC7SnqaaGYMQ_4peJCwDZD9NrIAvnUvaLQ-nwobujJV7DssPh3l4-Omj4EOeIt2cN-EAHa53_9d6J4YsSiTGHxwrZHP82jAWs8AAB_7YwsO5DGnGJ9R8SmSRaNAXFDVhjCe_pdVo/s640/IMG_7850.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forwards!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A little while later the Ferach on the left charged home and entered into a bloody melee with the Orcs. Unfortunately the line they contacted was not the one that had previously suffered under fire from the skirmishers and so was fresh! Both sides ended up being disordered and with two hits. The Orcs should really have been softened up a bit first, but you live and learn. It could still go either way.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLILFC-75JmZ-xxXYc8n5AmvyJXYm19osiXqULeOnPnRcVcVzuGWf3u9qOcf1KDFNGItinqMODWJbr2rVnz7Zb6mKJXzXUqyoIcP4WaOdHrv5rcTW8IHhlqeEs4EvfVxg-IOE4nPt1c0k/s1600/IMG_7877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLILFC-75JmZ-xxXYc8n5AmvyJXYm19osiXqULeOnPnRcVcVzuGWf3u9qOcf1KDFNGItinqMODWJbr2rVnz7Zb6mKJXzXUqyoIcP4WaOdHrv5rcTW8IHhlqeEs4EvfVxg-IOE4nPt1c0k/s640/IMG_7877.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charge!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Regrettably the C-in-C decided to try and move the Todoroni militia and failed. Unfortunately I made an error at this point and played as though a failed C-in-C order would end the turn. This only happens on a blunder. I think I confused this with the old Warmaster rules...<br />
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<u>Mid-Game</u><br />
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Following the first melee of the game, things started to pick up a little. On the left, the bloody combat ensued with no side gaining a clear advantage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0kt_fq7PxvcvzLnmzoCxA3FtqghsfFgkdaPXkUHt1Urf9c8xvGXmZtmnBpQrW7bfjEPpYVbA0zmuAAAmNtbVCJHW-VKNCd49XXljaGutIDNIVY4OD5pzc6D_s0GiXGtLmLGUwWJpfAI/s1600/IMG_7894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0kt_fq7PxvcvzLnmzoCxA3FtqghsfFgkdaPXkUHt1Urf9c8xvGXmZtmnBpQrW7bfjEPpYVbA0zmuAAAmNtbVCJHW-VKNCd49XXljaGutIDNIVY4OD5pzc6D_s0GiXGtLmLGUwWJpfAI/s640/IMG_7894.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lads get stuck in!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately, this led to a situation where both sides had to make a Break Test, which they both promptly failed, leaving a gaping hole in the battlefield! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQSDUmqo0zFI2EYF5qNQAOsdnTaTRGMp-05tVAxVOyB2pCXUHA6KeRpIJBEimN2QX58zOBVAmEMtREH4CcjrZNAKya8TXr2jpRhZDSa73RpaIp5kT5-f4Y1tadxra0vtoSS2aT73MTZ0/s1600/IMG_7895.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQSDUmqo0zFI2EYF5qNQAOsdnTaTRGMp-05tVAxVOyB2pCXUHA6KeRpIJBEimN2QX58zOBVAmEMtREH4CcjrZNAKya8TXr2jpRhZDSa73RpaIp5kT5-f4Y1tadxra0vtoSS2aT73MTZ0/s640/IMG_7895.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The next couple of turns also saw commanders do their best to rally worn battalions before throwing them back into the fray.<br />
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The first blunder of the game was unleashed when the Ferach C-in-C attempted to chivvy the Todoroni into the newly created gap. In typical fashion they interpreted this as an order to retreat! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJ4oN4JyHtGRLtBrwOniLuomZ-mukOwVsbT9mwxLYdgUn0t8bppIQ-M5FJj7xaKDmrH9jc-igeJnsacl8dgD4qU2eaJ_y8PzazCzRK9ZClTwzpQcMrlO_Idknu5sMVG6-VPFkZNhm1is/s1600/IMG_7896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJ4oN4JyHtGRLtBrwOniLuomZ-mukOwVsbT9mwxLYdgUn0t8bppIQ-M5FJj7xaKDmrH9jc-igeJnsacl8dgD4qU2eaJ_y8PzazCzRK9ZClTwzpQcMrlO_Idknu5sMVG6-VPFkZNhm1is/s640/IMG_7896.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Todoroni become confused in the heat of battle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the right of the battlefield the Ferach commander grows tired of waiting and throws his men forward into melee. Possibly not the wisest of decisions as the Joccians are well supported on each side and are also behind cover...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKv6d-p7TnAeUa-rt-m4eVg3TCqcQOfImD3Kp_JhtlmrVy4TrNNSGJgjGNMYg34KFbu3rWl4mG1hOyZjrwdcnDhR33tsO5YZZq-cYLju-6L4_2A25qjYGRhQsWTBrcmkVmz61MKMTyBI/s1600/IMG_7897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKv6d-p7TnAeUa-rt-m4eVg3TCqcQOfImD3Kp_JhtlmrVy4TrNNSGJgjGNMYg34KFbu3rWl4mG1hOyZjrwdcnDhR33tsO5YZZq-cYLju-6L4_2A25qjYGRhQsWTBrcmkVmz61MKMTyBI/s640/IMG_7897.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Advance!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Ferach Heavy Cavalry floundered about, mostly as they had really been given the job of Light Cavalry. Without the Marauder special rule it became much harder to get them to move in a timely fashion and it was a struggle to get them to even form line!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JumJC1tT17tqlXkzWy0HiQ92oVFFdQWeTNUEtek0ROke92NRZcgwFhgdzOyZeObetL4dafxQgeNUzp5-nHS0i4eEIjKoG8-gXPrqDJHJDev2w7nai9-cLivGRA-GXx93vKGJjI3rcZQ/s1600/IMG_7898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JumJC1tT17tqlXkzWy0HiQ92oVFFdQWeTNUEtek0ROke92NRZcgwFhgdzOyZeObetL4dafxQgeNUzp5-nHS0i4eEIjKoG8-gXPrqDJHJDev2w7nai9-cLivGRA-GXx93vKGJjI3rcZQ/s640/IMG_7898.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging around.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What's more, fire from the ogres caused disorder, delaying the cavalry even more. Fortunately, the melee against the Joccians proved decisive, and also eliminated an Orc commander, opening up a path to the Ogre's flank.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnhjKQM43hUPEIIIjqXhb08SJFJLDEmGoIJVWOxAczyQXWk7PcgS0QWAZ3bdkewEwP15baok4_gelqqIB0IrI3Lkf1jj9uKGb1gygxhQ_ujjf1-w8C9iRb3NYdvKj-C6jIAOdYo7Busg/s1600/IMG_7903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnhjKQM43hUPEIIIjqXhb08SJFJLDEmGoIJVWOxAczyQXWk7PcgS0QWAZ3bdkewEwP15baok4_gelqqIB0IrI3Lkf1jj9uKGb1gygxhQ_ujjf1-w8C9iRb3NYdvKj-C6jIAOdYo7Busg/s640/IMG_7903.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flee the pointy-eared ones!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The tall fellows stood firm despite the casualties. Unfortunately for the Elves, disorder counters were really hindering their opportunities to advance as they wished. I can see why some players might want to adjust that rule, but I think it does just add another layer of interesting difficulty!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiBTJdn2wxKcNTYiRHQKIMMcz6ExH5vRn-E9_80n-fUYNaVgaDd1k_l1_glSduKRAIEs0-e0cPD0QdhUJ6SRgBovK5cZ40u2vO1ejBHOYoEd9PFL5GEPXbQLvtRHsZKJnkZ3NcSeFoD8/s1600/IMG_7905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiBTJdn2wxKcNTYiRHQKIMMcz6ExH5vRn-E9_80n-fUYNaVgaDd1k_l1_glSduKRAIEs0-e0cPD0QdhUJ6SRgBovK5cZ40u2vO1ejBHOYoEd9PFL5GEPXbQLvtRHsZKJnkZ3NcSeFoD8/s640/IMG_7905.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bash!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>End Game</u><br />
<br />
Finally, after much cajoling, the Todoroni militia were coerced into forming a battle line alongside the elves, not that they would prove to be much use... But a gap filled is better than one left open!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrjdIpctQOPBt8bzFub7flTPZzz8AFfoVjZJBD10Rv-7EjP9UkcMtjHxsQM2M08kmHjw-7zeET2mI0MQ9zMt1qjzuc6CFbuvG4zm-IBIQ8qlhA_xWGmigqlBgn55q1ymF-Nthzy6Sj5I/s1600/IMG_7907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrjdIpctQOPBt8bzFub7flTPZzz8AFfoVjZJBD10Rv-7EjP9UkcMtjHxsQM2M08kmHjw-7zeET2mI0MQ9zMt1qjzuc6CFbuvG4zm-IBIQ8qlhA_xWGmigqlBgn55q1ymF-Nthzy6Sj5I/s640/IMG_7907.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most orderly of Todoroni</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the right, the Ogres were mercilessly crushed by the attack column at their front and the heavy cavalry to the rear. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIS9JZDmoIWMPf2bAxmP2Mn-a1QwESJR87giFfVgScScPb7JcCnYDmnBvEWOgPGyb7ufApmX2NxsTjcfqZkk9snjSmzDA7CrXM2LZ8WlhhSNr9GswkvDWw9iNUbW1BL_t-tZ_GZG1U70/s1600/IMG_7908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIS9JZDmoIWMPf2bAxmP2Mn-a1QwESJR87giFfVgScScPb7JcCnYDmnBvEWOgPGyb7ufApmX2NxsTjcfqZkk9snjSmzDA7CrXM2LZ8WlhhSNr9GswkvDWw9iNUbW1BL_t-tZ_GZG1U70/s640/IMG_7908.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A painful melee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Responding to the danger, the Goblins were ordered to protect the flank of the Joccians, but would it be too late?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuOooA98fQCDTGftoGnTgxZfaZpGjRXNwvYoBeKZbQIkG6TFNUbmzoQEcEgHZN7ittjEDx3HjZXI4ZN02iCo_mUJm4huPkWXpZ27DsNp-4RzLKRBWDsFysq6QAw-gSW6009J5CD0Y8Dw/s1600/IMG_7909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuOooA98fQCDTGftoGnTgxZfaZpGjRXNwvYoBeKZbQIkG6TFNUbmzoQEcEgHZN7ittjEDx3HjZXI4ZN02iCo_mUJm4huPkWXpZ27DsNp-4RzLKRBWDsFysq6QAw-gSW6009J5CD0Y8Dw/s640/IMG_7909.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
The Ferach line held firm and, although it took a couple of turns, the light cannon was brought forward in an attempt to add some additional firepower.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmGBmqcMFVigkYcBQr3qfj2neJEp5MpRRcXxy8t2a3yddC-2NbjJm_DNKzoNj7rJeRwoIkcGYcgqJSj1O6-uHldgUVXobbQ4ZAXfIdx-Cy__Xvc_5P0chZTRMttWwCFxi_eyMsSPozvY/s1600/IMG_7910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmGBmqcMFVigkYcBQr3qfj2neJEp5MpRRcXxy8t2a3yddC-2NbjJm_DNKzoNj7rJeRwoIkcGYcgqJSj1O6-uHldgUVXobbQ4ZAXfIdx-Cy__Xvc_5P0chZTRMttWwCFxi_eyMsSPozvY/s640/IMG_7910.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Unfortunately, between the melee with the Ogres and the pressure of fire from the Joccians and Goblins, the Ferach battalions found themselves shaken and vulnerable. It was deemed that a withdrawal was in order, although the cavalry did pause to ride down the Albion gun positioned on the hill.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNYsSp6D16m_IFtivnhE3FXLG9z3lJJc8QcJyYlBHUYbDPswzhQuyb_d8p2mPkXGN8Vb-t2RGtnIZnbCbGxYNLI_1yr-0Vypl-qQDl1_oxDpCbWfZgxyw_wRr06GdITeoEUX4TEcPZj8/s1600/IMG_7911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNYsSp6D16m_IFtivnhE3FXLG9z3lJJc8QcJyYlBHUYbDPswzhQuyb_d8p2mPkXGN8Vb-t2RGtnIZnbCbGxYNLI_1yr-0Vypl-qQDl1_oxDpCbWfZgxyw_wRr06GdITeoEUX4TEcPZj8/s640/IMG_7911.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall back!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the end of the turn the battlefield looked like the picture below. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkl-19Mnv837bW9UNUip2l1Bsg8G55CzAfDQd3balhkT6hA-ipjbhyphenhyphenMrVV2BX_mqvKBCXZ7iD-DSlicjCIiQ9C3Vv5V7qzfwilk0zXblv7fJUKVJ_MmgfswNUpqHwKDkz7MaKWIY_Qqqw/s1600/IMG_7912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkl-19Mnv837bW9UNUip2l1Bsg8G55CzAfDQd3balhkT6hA-ipjbhyphenhyphenMrVV2BX_mqvKBCXZ7iD-DSlicjCIiQ9C3Vv5V7qzfwilk0zXblv7fJUKVJ_MmgfswNUpqHwKDkz7MaKWIY_Qqqw/s640/IMG_7912.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Although the Ferach effort thus far had not left them positionally weak, all of their main fighting units were shaken and vulnerable to more fire. Meanwhile the Joccians and Goblins in the field were still fresh. As such, further melee would no doubt have been disastrous for the Elves.<br />
<br />
But then it all started to crumble. The Elves on the left were forced to withdraw from enemy fire and the Todoroni militia decided they didn't like being shot at at all and immediately scarpered. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RQ_hhFo_AQg1lHqDtNsDwVPctjAJ10Ibmhgl3XcHgp-Cfnb8EJJ2wuaQC1C-eXoIS4lfdL0bF7F2oVGhuOl5zJr5gO-Si56FW4c4X9C3oocSedK6JVRMGwy7OnwCfxD0zXQc1bCdPcQ/s1600/IMG_7913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RQ_hhFo_AQg1lHqDtNsDwVPctjAJ10Ibmhgl3XcHgp-Cfnb8EJJ2wuaQC1C-eXoIS4lfdL0bF7F2oVGhuOl5zJr5gO-Si56FW4c4X9C3oocSedK6JVRMGwy7OnwCfxD0zXQc1bCdPcQ/s640/IMG_7913.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Run, run!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As if to add insult to injury, the Elf C-in-C's second blunder of the game affected the Todoroni cannon and they found themselves marching even closer to the enemy than expected. A recipe for disaster if ever there was one!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cHmB71HM1b4-jcDoMagQqcx2avMNOYYrbQ_RUhJER8nJo5ZV6UPuhc47cRYXe8kny3TqRnBaNHI7q85Fk6kSGIi1OhPs1eufJWNjgxRCa_V3BEBXqGQlQQISKyacRyWgPHEYxOheOaE/s1600/IMG_7914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cHmB71HM1b4-jcDoMagQqcx2avMNOYYrbQ_RUhJER8nJo5ZV6UPuhc47cRYXe8kny3TqRnBaNHI7q85Fk6kSGIi1OhPs1eufJWNjgxRCa_V3BEBXqGQlQQISKyacRyWgPHEYxOheOaE/s640/IMG_7914.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lost froggies.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And thus the battle drew to a close. Although they had made a reasonably brave effort, the Elves had not managed to thoroughly dislodge the enemy from their defensive positions and were no longer in a state to continue the assault. I certainly learned a lot about attack columns, skirmish screens and the necessity of softening up the enemy a bit more before charging into melee.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx8MRFgPvI5p-ehes1zeZ5frQkLWZmhg9dCSJez54VMumbqeX5Go5_HRtcNPYeRMCHXZgxP4R-eOy63yIgm5vgxU7QomTPbsIgJr_7qiFd5Nfb29crCnVKaocTv1MQDcA_fSmdsuwBm8/s1600/IMG_7915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx8MRFgPvI5p-ehes1zeZ5frQkLWZmhg9dCSJez54VMumbqeX5Go5_HRtcNPYeRMCHXZgxP4R-eOy63yIgm5vgxU7QomTPbsIgJr_7qiFd5Nfb29crCnVKaocTv1MQDcA_fSmdsuwBm8/s640/IMG_7915.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Overall it was a thoroughly fun game. I used the rules as written, excluding my errors during play, and only added in minor changes to the statistics for Napoleonic troops where required. I have to say that, as far as I was concerned, it was a perfect blend between the 'whimsey' of the fantastical elements and the 'reality' of Napoleonic warfare.<br />
<br />
Some credit is certainly due to the fabulous MC Monkey-Dew (visit his blog <a href="http://mcmdgames.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">here</a>) , whose use of older wargame rules, such as 'Charge!', with the figures from Alternative Armies certainly inspired my own effort, right down to the use sabot bases!<br />
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For those wondering, all my MDF bases come from the ever-wonderful Warbases, including the nifty casualty marker bases, which I find indispensable and hugely preferable to counters. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7aWR64pzUNT_S1NfF7B8oZ2CWN4iyrSAK6bU3mNWnuF5I7PRiTNU8d2HAeIgiJEd4fqL0rCLRd1zWocz42SCcJ97dEQiVrqYUPXN_zbulegSHlnlzYZ8deGtBcaR3F5c_3QvdNYtgzw/s1600/IMG_7916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7aWR64pzUNT_S1NfF7B8oZ2CWN4iyrSAK6bU3mNWnuF5I7PRiTNU8d2HAeIgiJEd4fqL0rCLRd1zWocz42SCcJ97dEQiVrqYUPXN_zbulegSHlnlzYZ8deGtBcaR3F5c_3QvdNYtgzw/s640/IMG_7916.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only good Orc is a dead one!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The next steps in this endeavour are twofold. Firstly, paint more figures! I have a lot of unpainted miniatures from the range just waiting to be brought on the table. Dogmen and Werewolf divisions are waiting in the wings, as are some proper Todoroni forces.<br />
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Secondly, now my efforts have been successfully rewarded, I want to set about painting the sabots green, paint some more casualty markers and create some disorder counters. As you will see from the photos above, I did my best to remove counters from pictures and there is a massive visual impact on the final one were you can see red and yellow markers scattered around!<br />
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Thanks for reading and I hope to bring tales of more adventures in Valon using Black Powder in the not too distant future.<br />
<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-77561864027616647632016-09-07T14:00:00.000+01:002016-11-17T10:09:32.596+00:00Creating a Flintloque SectionFor some time now I've wanted to do a bit of a 'step-by-step' guide about how to create a section (i.e. force) for use in Flintloque. With actual gaming opportunities currently limited, I thought that now would be an ideal time!<br>
<div>
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<div>
The Flintloque game is currently divided across three core books (each of which contain the rules but are focused on a different theatre of the war) and Grapeshotte, an expansion which covers artillery and other special rules. For this example, I will use the War in Catalucia book, which covers what is roughly analogous to the Peninsular War in the Napoleonic period. This setting includes the Ferach Elves, Orcs of Albion, Goblins of Al-Garvy, Joccian Ratmen and much more besides.<br>
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There is a one page summary of how to assemble your section in the book, so I will largely follow this through so you have an idea what to expect.<br>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmB58DxAgRyEjhcIyyfgcq929pjRVx56n2Udb-PHEE4rErnl9oDnJCJBemFbtKFnyUxrn9Xu7TNZeibWITldAo9kahWutEgeb-lkm-OL13u9A4kUQ93g4jb2yYYcIBOWFPCG3Qj4sIrM/s640/blogger-image-1374171484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmB58DxAgRyEjhcIyyfgcq929pjRVx56n2Udb-PHEE4rErnl9oDnJCJBemFbtKFnyUxrn9Xu7TNZeibWITldAo9kahWutEgeb-lkm-OL13u9A4kUQ93g4jb2yYYcIBOWFPCG3Qj4sIrM/s640/blogger-image-1374171484.jpg"></a></div>
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<div>
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<div>
STEP 1 - The army:</div>
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<br></div>
<div>
Theatre of war and relevant rule book decided upon, the next step is to choose which army I want my section to come from. I always enjoyed the 'standard' Orcs vs Elves idea ever since I saw the cover of the first edition of Flintloque and, as I quite enjoy being the 'baddies' I'm going to decide on the Elves. Now, where other skirmish games might have picking a faction as the main decision, in Flintloque this is very much only the beginning I can now choose from a vast range of Napoleonic-style troop types. If it existed in history, it has an equivalent here. </div>
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<div>
STEP 2 - The type of section:</div>
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For this example, I'm going to imagine I have recently bought the Shilling Service Pack for War in Catalucia, which comes with Elf and Joccian figures. The elves you get are Chassuers of the Garde (and one mounted figure which I will not include in the example). Let's imagine that I had done my research and added in another pack of Chassuers with my order. That would give me a total of 8 Elves plus a leader for the section.</div>
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Each type of troop brings inherent advantages and disadvantages with it. As the Chassuers are Light troops I get a bonus to my initiative and accuracy and another bonus if I attempt to coordinate actions. Looking up the Ferach on the National Characteristics table, I find I get an additional bonus when shooting for fielding elves. Light Elf Sections are excellent at picking off the enemy from a distance!</div>
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STEP 3 - Experience Levels:<br>
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There are 5 experience levels to choose from for your characters and they have an impact on a figure's basic abilities and morale. The rules give different options, including just choosing yourself and picking at random, but I think I will go for the suggested method of having a fixed percentage of each in my new Section. For a section of 9 figures, that gives me 4 Raw, 4 Average and 1 Experienced character. I decide to give the leader the Experienced rating and have the other soldiers as a mix of Raw and Average.</div>
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STEP 4 - Skills, Traits and Flaws:<br>
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The rules come with a gernerous amount of Skills, Traits and Flaws with which to customise your section. Of course, you are free to ignore these if you want, but they add a great deal of flavour. They are divided into generic ones, which any figure can have, and Race specific ones, giving each nation access to abilities no other has.<br>
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Skills can be gained by characters when they gain experience during a campaign. Raw characters may not have any to start with, Average and Experienced characters may have one. I'm going to give my Section Leader Improved Command, which gives him an additional command point to use during a game, and opt to have one of my Average elves Improved Discipline. I think he is a trusted friend of the Leader and will rarely flee from battle.<br>
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Unlike Skills, Traits cannot be changed during a game and every starting character can have up to two. I'm going to make one of my soldiers a bit of an eagle-eyed sniper and give him the Good Shot Trait, yet another shooting bonus for this elf! Another can be a religious fellow and have the Prayer Trait, which may give the Leader an additional Command Point if the elevn deity hears the prayers at the start of the game. As I don't want my other Average elf to be left out, he can have the Steady Elf Hand Trait, allowable only to Ferach Elves and giving him a reduced penalty to shooting when moving quickly.<br>
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Flaws work the same as Traits, but obviously they are negative! To add a bit of character, I'm going to give one of my Raw soldiers the Coward Flaw and another can be Forgetful, meaning he has to roll a die to see if he can activate if more than 15cm away from the Section Leader!<br>
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STEP 5 - Weapons:<br>
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The final choice to make is what armaments my Elves carry into battle. To keep things simple, I decide that all of them are carrying a standard Ferach Elf Musket with the exception of the Leader, who can have a Ferach Duelling Pistol and a Sword.<br>
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STEP 6 - Points:<br>
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Now, Flintloque is a game for gentlemen and ladies and doesn't inherently enforce a points system, but it is often a good idea to know how balanced the forces are (even though most players know any given scenario can throw this balance to the wind!).<br>
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I can see from the charts that Raw Elves are worth 15, Average ones are 21 and Experienced cost 29. As they are all Light troops, my Elves add 3 to each of these basic values. All the Skills, Traits and Flaws have points associated with them, as do the various weapons. Totting everything up I get:<br>
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<li>Section Leader/Experienced/Ferach Pistol & Sword/Improved Command - 45pts</li>
<li>2nd in Command/Average/Ferach Musket/Improved Discipline - 32pts</li>
<li>Sniper/Average/Ferach Musket/Good Shot - 31pts</li>
<li>Chaplain/Average/Ferach Musket/Prayer - 34pts</li>
<li>Scout/Average/Ferach Musket/Steady Elf Hand - 31pts</li>
<li>Coward/Raw/Ferach Musket/Coward - 19pts</li>
<li>Absent Minded/Raw/Ferach Musket/Forgetful - 19pts</li>
<li>Cannon Fodder/Raw/Ferach Musket - 23pts </li>
<li>Cannon Fodder/Raw/Ferach Musket - 23pts </li>
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So my section comes to a total of 257 points. Many Flintloque games allow for 300 points for a starting sections, so I came prety close. Actually, although it is not strictly by the book, I could add in that cavalry trooper that I mentioned came in the starter set.<br>
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I'll call him Experienced (29pts) and he has the Cavalry type (+3pts). He is armed with a sword (+5pts) and his mount costs 15pts. This gives a total of 52, bringing my section up to a healthy 309 points in total. Great! Now all I need to do is write up the details on a roster sheet and my Section is good to go.</div>
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As you can hopefully see, creating a Section in Flintloque is detailed but not too arduous. In even adding just one skill, trait or flaw to a character the rules help to bring them alive and I do start to wonder how they will work as a team in battle. In fact I might have to try them out and report back on how they perform! Time to hunt some orcs!</div>
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[Note: I'd written up this post only to find that I hadn't painted enough of the appropriate figures, so I had to substitute some other light elves for the purposes of the pictures. Below is the contents of the War in Catalucia starter set all painted up. Sorry for the poor pictures, I haven't got the lighting in the new room sorted out yet...]</div>
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You can read more about the starter sets and other items available at: http://www.alternative-armies.com/collections/flintloque-game-system. All books in the range are available as print copies and PDFs. </div>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-90015692688779603612016-06-15T00:30:00.000+01:002016-06-15T00:30:04.534+01:00Happy Birthday, Dad!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">This is something of a special post, as my Dad has turned 70 today and I thought I would write something of a tribute to his influence on me as a gamer. Throughout my life I have always been surounded by games of all descriptions, whether they were the board games I got as presents when I was younger, or wargames, either playing them with Dad or seeing him playing with friends. This has <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">fostered an interest which has</span> continued to this day and is evidenced by a room in my home full of boardgames and miniatures.</span></div>
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Here is the earliest picture I have of us as 'hobbyists' together. I was allowed to paint one of Dad's figures for the first time, so here we are, hanging out together in the garden in summer. I'm not sure what happened to that particular model, but it was certainly the start of something!<br />
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Here's one of my Dad (left) and one of his best friends who he used to wargame with. Bill used to live in Southend and they would meet up a few times a year for a game. They played AWI and had an ongoing campaign in which they would play out some of the engagements solo and others face to face. I remember Dad's maps and little flags showing the position of various troops, but I also remember their splendid tables of figures and terrain. From my memories, I would say this was gentlemanly wargaming of the highest order!<br />
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I was far too young to really be able to play at this point, except for maybe occasionally rolling some of Dad's dice for him, but it wasn't too long before I was playing games myself.</div>
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The above picture is one of my earliest memories of wargaming and I remember the moments up to the picture especially well as my Tiger had just destroyed one of my Dad's tanks as it was crossing the bridge, leaving his other vehicles stranded on the other side of the river. Victory was mine that day!<br />
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Above is another battle from my childhood. I have no recollection of this at all, or even if I was actually playing or just 'posing' at the top of the photo. Not sure where the rest of my head went! Anyway, it just reminds me how interesting and exciting wargaming seemed to me when I was younger. All the figures and terrain looked splendid, plus they were actual games you played, not just something to look at.<br />
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Of course, an interest in historical wargames goes hand in hand with an interest in history, and my Dad took me to plenty of museums, fostering an interest in the subject which remains to this day.</div>
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And of course there is living history and reenactment. Below is a picture from when we went to see some jousting. As you can see, my Dad got roped in to helping out, and very good at it he was too!<br />
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I'm as much, if not more (depending on my mood), of a boardgamer as a wargamer and Dad has always been willing to give most things a go. Below is one of many intense games of Lost Cities we played one weekend about ten years ago.<br />
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My wife took the below picture of one of our many games of Battlestar Galactica and, before the birth of our son, it became a bit of a mini tradition for the three of us to play. I don't think I ever got to be a cylon though... <br />
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As fate would have it, my wife and I decided to settle in my old hometown, so I now have many more opportunities to play games with Dad. Here he is pondering how to get his heroes out of a tricky spot during a game of Imperial Assault.<br />
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So what I really want to do is just say thanks to my Dad. Thanks for introducing me to the hobby of wargaming, thanks for encouraging an interest in history, thanks for demonstrating the gentlemanly principles of fair play and fighting battles with honour and, most importantly, thank you for being an excellent Dad. I have always enjoyed the games we have played and look forward to many more in the future.<br />
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Happy Birthday, Dad!<br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-53364689349907776622016-02-22T18:57:00.001+00:002016-03-08T18:54:20.725+00:00Month 1 ProjectAs stated in a previous post, this year I'm picking a random project each month to work on and, as our house move is just round the corner now, I thought it was time to choose the first one, for the month of March. <div><br></div><div>I decided to list 6 potential projects and then let a die decide the outcome. The idea is that these will all be things I want to work on, but I can drop the one selected after it has been worked on and replace it with something new if I like. To start with I picked: </div><div><br></div><div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1 Judge Dredd</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">2 Rogue Trader</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3 Muskets and Tomahawks</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4 Flintloque </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5 Land Ironclads</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">6 Mars Attacks</span></div></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">One die roll later and my fate for March was decided: Mars Attacks!</span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqProPx0cyXUAQo7oQzBLaHcquLxVVWleSllMcLAL-0EzReQmNbyR63iE1WqH-2rIeqkyuaRSKE-Gx_DjDPoulsB27J-0i8ktGabXYVvsKSxPGOdDfNiDRUCpEfYZtvqw0fzjgoM48byk/s640/blogger-image-471041213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqProPx0cyXUAQo7oQzBLaHcquLxVVWleSllMcLAL-0EzReQmNbyR63iE1WqH-2rIeqkyuaRSKE-Gx_DjDPoulsB27J-0i8ktGabXYVvsKSxPGOdDfNiDRUCpEfYZtvqw0fzjgoM48byk/s640/blogger-image-471041213.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So the question is, what to paint! As the idea is to paint something new and play a game with the selected project, it seemed to make sense to paint the forces for the first scenario in the rule book. That would be 5 Martians and 8 U.S. Soldiers. As that leaves me not too short of a squad on each side, I decided to up this to 10 Martians and 10 Humans. So now I'm looking at:</span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraXEBIiqc4vhyphenhyphenDZMKxdyNKyhgU6w5ZrQTMvK0skDaD1ibdIlyxGQ3_nYA6g_yydxSUL2baaQdSngD5NXZUoYfBYiikSrMktJb47-Fs9mq8x31RkBeTAypbUw49xurHm0h-VCoiXNvAIY/s640/blogger-image--258170708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraXEBIiqc4vhyphenhyphenDZMKxdyNKyhgU6w5ZrQTMvK0skDaD1ibdIlyxGQ3_nYA6g_yydxSUL2baaQdSngD5NXZUoYfBYiikSrMktJb47-Fs9mq8x31RkBeTAypbUw49xurHm0h-VCoiXNvAIY/s640/blogger-image--258170708.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1cWHwrWLcakymcuYTtTJldVFFdodwoauX_szIiMPWnVgLXcTAcFsP5eb3fDiFx5deDxV7Y6ka_nD37nHMYrFV7RCvoSZrp15OYT-T1_dlbkAxsELy3wN-_frq0t7Y76ySJcCp_OBesE/s640/blogger-image-2106955837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1cWHwrWLcakymcuYTtTJldVFFdodwoauX_szIiMPWnVgLXcTAcFsP5eb3fDiFx5deDxV7Y6ka_nD37nHMYrFV7RCvoSZrp15OYT-T1_dlbkAxsELy3wN-_frq0t7Y76ySJcCp_OBesE/s640/blogger-image-2106955837.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As each squad has the same paint scheme, it should hopefully not be too tricky to paint these in a batch. Let's see how we go!</span></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-53879622404922407862016-01-19T22:19:00.001+00:002016-01-19T22:19:32.935+00:00"Sci-Fi Rules"<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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A bit of a random post this time. Recently I have had a fair bit of time to do what I should probably have done years ago, and have a good root through some of the things I left at my parents' house when I moved out, with a view to deciding what is worth keeping and what I can do with out.</div>
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As part of this process, I stumbled across some a small set of sci-fi rules, conveniently entitled: Sci-Fi Rules. Nothing quite like something saying what it does on the tin... What's more, the Alien on the front cover add to the reader's understanding of what he or she is getting, even before the cover is turned!</div>
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Strangely enough, there is no author or publisher information available anywhere in the book, but fear not, all will soon be revealed! Ah, okay then, I'll tell you now... To the best of my knowledge, these are a set of rules published by Warrior Miniatures to accompany their 10mm sci-fi range. The only reason I know this is that, about 15 years ago, I recall buying some of their figures and I am pretty sure I got a set of rules to go with them. Now, I could be wrong, but given they list a set of rules with the range of figures, I'm willing to bet that <a href="http://www.warrioronline.demon.co.uk/10mm/10sci-fi.htm" target="_blank">this is them</a>. Even more so when I see they are listed for the princely sum of £1.50.</div>
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£1.50??!! Yes, that is correct. One pound and fifty pence. But before we get too excited, a few things to bear in mind. The production quality is, errrm, let's call it 'quaint'. They could have been produced in the 70s. But I quite like them! Check out the staples holding them together! Secondly they are written in a 'typewriter' font, with some hand drawn tables for good measure. Thirdly, they are only 8 pages long (although they feel deceptively large as they are only printed single sided. And in case you are wondering, they are pretty much A5 size. So they basically fit on 4 sides of A4.</div>
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Here's a picture of the first page. I won't show any more as if I show you a second page I'd have just reproduced 25% of the whole book....</div>
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But on the plus side, whereas I might break down a review into sections based upon each chapter of some rules, here I can review each page! Let's do it!<br />
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Page 1: Pictured above, this gives the background and what is needed to play. Basically it is a simple recreation of an Aliens type scenario. Interestingly, it opts to scale the map at 1cm = 1m, but then overlay it with a 1 inch grid. Nothing like mixing imperial and metric measurements! I'm also not entirely sure where I would get a map of that scale to overlay with a inch grid in the first place... So ultimately, just do your own thing is what I'd suggest...<br />
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Page 2: This suggests a couple of objectives for the humans, such as locating colonists or defending an outpost. The rules to govern objectives are pretty loose. For example, under the 'Find a colonist' scenario, it merely says 'randomise level/room of objective.' So again, plenty of scope for adding more detail as desired! In fairness, the second half of the page does give an optional rule for rolling to see if the colonist is okay or impregnated by an alien, but the whole page seems unsure whether there is one colonist to be found or more, or exactly how you determine if they have been found.<br />
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Page 3: Outlines the order of play. Which is that Marines move and fire, then Aliens dice for their movement. Human organisation is also mentioned here. Marines are divided into fire teams of between 3 and 6 marines, one of whom is equipped with a flame thrower or heavy weapon. It also says that a command section 'can' be used, but given the bottom of the page describes how orders can be issued to fire teams under an officer's command, I'd say it was pretty important! It doesn't say what happens if all officers are killed though! What is interesting about these rules is the order system. Orders are issued at the start of a turn and then you roll to see what effect they have. Which brings me nicely to...<br />
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Page 4: Possibly my favourite page in the book! This page outlines what the 5 order types are and what might happen when they are issued. Basically they are: 'move toward objective', 'move towards the command section', 'disperse', 'fall back' and 'retreat to the exit'. They are given more interesting titles than that though. But what I really like is that, once an order is issued, you roll a d6 to see if it is followed. Most have a 50% chance of being followed, a 1 in 3 chance of being followed but not as effectively and a 1 in 6 chance of not being followed at all. This actually is an interesting approach and I'd be tempted to use something similar for other games, especially when human soldiers are facing a particularly brown-trouser inducing foe.<br />
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Page 5: This page introduces the Aliens. You roll to see how many are encountered, which is either 1x, 2x or 3x the number of Marines... This seems to make for quite varying difficulty so I'd probably stick with the 3x option! Aliens are placed randomly on squares at the edge of the map and this makes me think a smaller map might make for a more interesting game as there will be less option for the Marines to pick off the Aliens as random movement disperses the pack. On the other hand, Aliens have entirely free movement, unhindered by doors and walls, so the Marines may well be lucky to get many shots in before the Aliens are on top of them! Alien movement is determined by a d6 roll. The most likely (33%) result being a move directly toward the nearest marine and the others resulting in movement in other directions (never away), so there is the possibility of being outflanked.<br />
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Page 6: This page outlines shooting. Interestingly, it suggests you need a 1cm gap between friends to shoot between them. So although movement is on a grid, placement within the square has some importance. Although perhaps it is just a typo or a hang over from a previous version of the rules? Oddly, an assault rifle shoots 2 squares, giving it a whopping 5 meter range at the ground scale. And you remember the kick ass heavy weapons from the movie? Well they can blast aliens at a distance of 7.5 meters! I think it is probably best to either ignore the ground scale, or adjust the maps and ranges to something the player feels is right. A table gives a d6 score to hit depending on range and weapon used. The shooting section also mentions that Marines are placed to face the side of a square when firing. Now this has an impact on close combat, but I'd have thought it might be best decided during movement. But there you go.<br />
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Page 7: Talking of close combat, it is covered on Page 7. It takes place after the Alien move and you basically roll a d6 on one table if the human is facing the Alien and a different table if the human is not. The 'Human facing the Alien' table is hugely generous in that it gives a 5 in 6 chance of the Alien being killed. There is a 1 in 6 chance of the human being killed and a 1 in 6 chance of the human being disabled, which unfortunately is an effect mentioned nowhere in the rules. If the human is not facing the Alien there is a 50% chance they are captured, which means the human is removed and the alien placed on the edge of the map. There is only a 1 in 6 chance of the Alien being killed in this situation. In fairness, I assume the odds of the Alien being killed during a frontal attack on a human represents the effects of shooting as they close. Indeed, there is a -3 modifier if the human is armed with improvised weapons (which I assume means a colonist). There is vague reference to a facehugger counting an Alien victory as an attachment and the human counts this as dead. Given that a 'victory' for the Alien in close combat pretty much means the human is out of the game anyway, this rule seems slightly redundant!<br />
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Page 8: For a very simple set of rules, Page 8 is dedicated to special rules, including stairs, lifts, the Alien queen, facehuggers and vehicles. As you might expect, none of these are covered in huge detail, but there is enough to go on.<br />
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Well, there you have it! A review of every page! I actually find these rules quite fascinating... They have a few good ideas and are suitably simple for a fun game. On the other hand, they are in pretty significant need of clarification and polishing, or perhaps just more rigorous playtesting. I kind of get the impression that they might have been written with a participation game at a convention in mind, one run by a GM who can adjudicate situations as and when they arise. Ultimately I think you will struggle to find a better set of rules for £1.50, but I would love to clean them up and rework parts of them. <br />
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As it is, I'm happy I own them and will probably play them in some form as a simple Alien skirmish. I really like the idea of the how Marines are ordered and how Aliens can use air ducts to avoid having to move normally like the humans do (just like the film). I imagine having Aliens moving closer to you while to try to dash to a larger room so you can get a good shot in would create quite a few tense moments.<br />
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Time to start a 15mm Aliens project...Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-28804423479396681812016-01-16T19:08:00.001+00:002016-01-19T20:46:20.822+00:00Plans for 2016I've been a bit in limbo over the past few months. We have moved down south, but it probably will be at least another month before we move into our new house. So rather than any actual painting and gaming, I've been trying to come up with a plan for the year.<br />
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What I've decided upon is to have a monthly focus. At the beginning of each month I will randomly pick one of my projects. Then I will paint something for it, perhaps a new regiment or character, and then play a game or two. This should be enough for my flitting attention to deal with, while knowing that in a few weeks I will be doing something fresh and new.</div>
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So, plan decided, what projects will be part of it? I'm thinking the following:</div>
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Judge Dredd</div>
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Rogue Trader</div>
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Muskets and Tomahawks</div>
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Zombies</div>
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Flintloque </div>
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Starship Troopers</div>
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Land Ironclads</div>
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Wild West</div>
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Greek Myth</div>
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Notable exceptions are Star Wars, because most of my figures are pre-painted for this, and my 15mm Warhammer Fantasy project, because that is a big enough thing to have its own blog. </div>
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Of course, my list might change as time goes by, I might add toand remove from what is 'in the hat' and I've got more than enough projects for one a month! But we shall see how it all pans out and hopefully it will make for some varied reading on my blog this year. Fingers crossed. </div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-90080417331456891992015-09-30T09:43:00.000+01:002015-09-30T20:34:51.632+01:00Patrol Angis Pro-Painted Set<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was hoping to bring you a Comic Life AAR to acompany the recent <a href="http://conflictcornucopia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/patrol-angis-aar.html" target="_blank">Patrol Angis report</a> I posted, but unfortunately I am having ongoing technical issues with the software which is preventing me from completing this. So, in the meantime, I thought I would give you a brief review of what you get when you order the painted version of the<a href="http://theionage.com/products/patrol-angis-15mm-skirmish-wargame-game-pack" target="_blank"> Patrol Angis Starter.</a><br />
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The starter comes with two complete sides for playing the three scenarios included in the rule book. As well as the figures, you get the rules, the monthly freebie miniature and an additional Patrol Angis Sculpt. The additional PA figure also come painted, but the freebie miniature does not (understandably).<br />
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So let's take a look at the sides. The Yordan side, painted in green, consists of a weapon platform, a Post (i.e. squad) of Retained Knights and 3 battle armour suits. Here are some pics:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L3WWscWNY37vq8CWK4cmvrgdfQ0NA2twm7BNN65GPSayOCrSqWU4WIIRqKhHymJr1-RDUlRL1ZQwNQoTVbVVtCpsm6imRFPFgFaJh8Sy8NKbUDHD8c_t1BCy7DggSOMKLaV-Khnutmw/s1600/IMG_3062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L3WWscWNY37vq8CWK4cmvrgdfQ0NA2twm7BNN65GPSayOCrSqWU4WIIRqKhHymJr1-RDUlRL1ZQwNQoTVbVVtCpsm6imRFPFgFaJh8Sy8NKbUDHD8c_t1BCy7DggSOMKLaV-Khnutmw/s400/IMG_3062.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yordan Post</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChAyPc0OSH8028ZxN-TVbfSD8ZlJ9UJHTdpa0jcybWnmHnRllm6iWYiVTNyI8E8QQzoPF7nEk0kW7k_1dZkv_uPL4d_Ri9T-f0Da7pVnurxXVw_uiRwA8yGQjfqJ9u3qJQO_TQlzD9Pw/s1600/IMG_3059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChAyPc0OSH8028ZxN-TVbfSD8ZlJ9UJHTdpa0jcybWnmHnRllm6iWYiVTNyI8E8QQzoPF7nEk0kW7k_1dZkv_uPL4d_Ri9T-f0Da7pVnurxXVw_uiRwA8yGQjfqJ9u3qJQO_TQlzD9Pw/s400/IMG_3059.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yordan Weapon Platform</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm45t2QeaWiLeuNhkBzHrDc_uX__w5ajidbfeGL3KQvVGgnF99QExKCkieBVgM5Hdv2K3u0qGN1IRiZPcKyK3s-jJPYTKg0GHX7xjl1BiVC0PhtopefTJd1kQWFQG3Bh8WbNjnRIqtCug/s1600/IMG_3060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm45t2QeaWiLeuNhkBzHrDc_uX__w5ajidbfeGL3KQvVGgnF99QExKCkieBVgM5Hdv2K3u0qGN1IRiZPcKyK3s-jJPYTKg0GHX7xjl1BiVC0PhtopefTJd1kQWFQG3Bh8WbNjnRIqtCug/s400/IMG_3060.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yordan Battlesuits</td></tr>
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Here is a close up of one of the suits (just to prove that sometimes I can focus my cheap, old camera!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHIQ1YnaZxqjJeHSzojexRKmeBuKMvTg7bXklFiA41I50w3_UqwG2khjDg1l4K5st0hw50mHW0pivU8-z5aQaQSRixQKZfUI9fdcUASVYMSl7NovjYD2BfxxbsMtRV17tkOUwPvdTRpU/s1600/IMG_3061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHIQ1YnaZxqjJeHSzojexRKmeBuKMvTg7bXklFiA41I50w3_UqwG2khjDg1l4K5st0hw50mHW0pivU8-z5aQaQSRixQKZfUI9fdcUASVYMSl7NovjYD2BfxxbsMtRV17tkOUwPvdTRpU/s400/IMG_3061.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppCIJZAS8FlztqFru8DVlC-gJ1XMvaGGv5LhXm7O61ElVUSl7fDJ_DbcmXXGxV0CjA-URCTty4hVHcZZf9ipoqgH6IGS_otGcU_kJ7LHBWV4M8qlSXe6C8qAPObxLWg3kwLS1mI-vnsk/s1600/IMG_3063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppCIJZAS8FlztqFru8DVlC-gJ1XMvaGGv5LhXm7O61ElVUSl7fDJ_DbcmXXGxV0CjA-URCTty4hVHcZZf9ipoqgH6IGS_otGcU_kJ7LHBWV4M8qlSXe6C8qAPObxLWg3kwLS1mI-vnsk/s400/IMG_3063.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yordan force assembled.</td></tr>
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I really like the green/yellow paint scheme on these guys and the folks at the Ion Age don't scrimp on the basing either.<br />
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The other force comes from the Prydian army and is comprised of two posts of Retained Knights and a command squad:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziDb_gCTGzf4S8rp_RaTltIKwfvidCeiTf1Z9DKW_wBhxci_HBF1aMYJ2fEebB8X3TX3Z2BEdNbX5jbF8SB5-p03x2RwS27cefctwsUpHHXNV6aVpY5PzTCvgGVoWNCIUUTgjt4mgAbE/s1600/IMG_3066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziDb_gCTGzf4S8rp_RaTltIKwfvidCeiTf1Z9DKW_wBhxci_HBF1aMYJ2fEebB8X3TX3Z2BEdNbX5jbF8SB5-p03x2RwS27cefctwsUpHHXNV6aVpY5PzTCvgGVoWNCIUUTgjt4mgAbE/s400/IMG_3066.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Retained Knights</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fGxnmgc11MxXztjiVBf4ULNUF5hdfM3WAgXo3C-Q7Hvr9VYMYQQ7TmmeYli9HXWJrVrLDfQZ7j3ahEcZs_wWFL44WVVlxVeilHuxeiMg6-P_gp99mJPoud1UZsJpDFH08MzRWAHGi7s/s1600/IMG_3064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fGxnmgc11MxXztjiVBf4ULNUF5hdfM3WAgXo3C-Q7Hvr9VYMYQQ7TmmeYli9HXWJrVrLDfQZ7j3ahEcZs_wWFL44WVVlxVeilHuxeiMg6-P_gp99mJPoud1UZsJpDFH08MzRWAHGi7s/s400/IMG_3064.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Retained Knights</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEign1gBNOvKPP1HaCFQoQ3oaUDrQHIK5r4NmbFRfdEl9_0g1hbW83E_x3Cq-CqPb7vdm4xlhOcsI41y77Z2TDkUlv7lC6HKphkLUmtj5e2s1rVZ-qIchTibCmNslM6ij33PLFFVq_PKXf0/s1600/IMG_3065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEign1gBNOvKPP1HaCFQoQ3oaUDrQHIK5r4NmbFRfdEl9_0g1hbW83E_x3Cq-CqPb7vdm4xlhOcsI41y77Z2TDkUlv7lC6HKphkLUmtj5e2s1rVZ-qIchTibCmNslM6ij33PLFFVq_PKXf0/s400/IMG_3065.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of one of the knights</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQH6rIdnt49cjfhMeG2R2jHT3ifub9CBg7KaC9WTvOySA4RYMuqsAKi868beMLi9CJl-Eje1NDnudSX7fPlYfkC11KmWztAe0bo4_TUQk8vi62WB2goM2XNs-9kkgT9SC6J9e2-zU4Z0/s1600/IMG_3067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQH6rIdnt49cjfhMeG2R2jHT3ifub9CBg7KaC9WTvOySA4RYMuqsAKi868beMLi9CJl-Eje1NDnudSX7fPlYfkC11KmWztAe0bo4_TUQk8vi62WB2goM2XNs-9kkgT9SC6J9e2-zU4Z0/s400/IMG_3067.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prydian characters</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUwFpVIFCwkQHo_mh6Rs5cLJVJf5-s3JsW_4VCZDx4swkpm_LLOLfX3i9RNSuIwBJicB3Wxm17oybpaFLyX2T_3N13nabqKNIFH0KWzacn57vxRbPLu5rM2zaWfD_Ksvj5svRrnnfkQo/s1600/IMG_3068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUwFpVIFCwkQHo_mh6Rs5cLJVJf5-s3JsW_4VCZDx4swkpm_LLOLfX3i9RNSuIwBJicB3Wxm17oybpaFLyX2T_3N13nabqKNIFH0KWzacn57vxRbPLu5rM2zaWfD_Ksvj5svRrnnfkQo/s400/IMG_3068.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group shot!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Again, I really like the paint scheme and basing. The figures are all painted with artist acrylics (available from The Ion Age <a href="http://theionage.com/collections/paints-range" target="_blank">here</a>) and the results have made me consider swapping to them as well as it works out much more cost effective than normal model paints.<br />
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This is the first time I have got figures that have been pro-painted in this way, and I am rather impressed. If I were to aim for a similar standard, either I would fail to achieve it, or it would take me so long that I'd give up. So in that regard they are excellent!<br />
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Here's a picture of the extra figure you get when you buy the set:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiE7fCioeE-jXgz5T3YoAIt1IfBuDCqA5XcP-FeOIx12ddkZWnXLzJ2fF-yLeBvpFoV4r5oY4nZ-kb42WFBntzbRHHeqaJZHPy6iy5NDK9j-IVq05C-SojN0H81HdlRjIJTXmubgbqHM/s1600/IMG_3070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiE7fCioeE-jXgz5T3YoAIt1IfBuDCqA5XcP-FeOIx12ddkZWnXLzJ2fF-yLeBvpFoV4r5oY4nZ-kb42WFBntzbRHHeqaJZHPy6iy5NDK9j-IVq05C-SojN0H81HdlRjIJTXmubgbqHM/s400/IMG_3070.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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To finish off, here is an 'action shot' of all the figures:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnzaJwwmof8rceo-LO1YQiI7B7pYPBvD7qN2ALSl0AvtVf0EwteoghDhLN8bVq9gda6IEat_lSnvdzFrfm0bbmv1dt7RYs4lYYhJxO4KzOsrokYzLA_5xsAH2lVq_VBvGti1pAdccZPg/s1600/IMG_3069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnzaJwwmof8rceo-LO1YQiI7B7pYPBvD7qN2ALSl0AvtVf0EwteoghDhLN8bVq9gda6IEat_lSnvdzFrfm0bbmv1dt7RYs4lYYhJxO4KzOsrokYzLA_5xsAH2lVq_VBvGti1pAdccZPg/s400/IMG_3069.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The pictures probably tell you more than words can, so I'll just reiterate that I am very pleased with them!<br />
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I should also mention that, as presented, the Female Retained Knights are usually painted in Yordan colours. As I prefer to mix up the male and female characters, I asked if they could be painted as Prydians so I had the two squads to play around with and the request was handled no problem. How accommodating of the chaps at The Ion Age!<br />
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If you are interested in buying painted figures, then you should check out the <a href="http://theionage.com/" target="_blank">Ion Age</a> site. As it is the same company as <a href="http://15mm.co.uk/">15mm.co.uk</a> and <a href="http://www.alternative-armies.com/" target="_blank">Alternative Armies</a>, you can check out painted options from those sites as well.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-55865479601418579512015-09-23T14:32:00.000+01:002015-09-24T15:55:01.452+01:00Zomtober 2015<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_WYvMDbySIs86yB-tQGQdMyqsve4goBRahOaU48jGZ9GdhNR_iRWXCQNrk-6QRN2jNnhO7kXXr6Ikf4FxHhDkZ9FsM2vzDbYZGlc6uzy_iT5dqhR1-IXpNSkqnhpoZeBbu1fP1j8pF8/s640/blogger-image-2134031836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_WYvMDbySIs86yB-tQGQdMyqsve4goBRahOaU48jGZ9GdhNR_iRWXCQNrk-6QRN2jNnhO7kXXr6Ikf4FxHhDkZ9FsM2vzDbYZGlc6uzy_iT5dqhR1-IXpNSkqnhpoZeBbu1fP1j8pF8/s320/blogger-image-2134031836.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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What, but it is only September?! Yes, but we are right at the end of it, which means Zomtober is only a few days away. As such, I thought it better to plan for some frantic painting. I've got a fair bit of zombie related lead in my pile so I've drawn up a list of some key things that could do with sorting out.<br />
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<u>HazMat Teams</u></div>
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I've wanted to paint some of these for a while, as there is a certain appeal in attempts to catch zombies rather than blow them away! Or is that just me?!</div>
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<u>Riot Police</u></div>
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These have plenty of utility in 'early days' scenarios when crowds of civilians are getting out of control. And later, when order needs to be maintained in the'safe' zones.</div>
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<u>U.S. Infantry</u></div>
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I have a woeful lack of military types available for my games. Something that would be good to sort out as automatic weapons are always the best solution to a zombie problem. Not. </div>
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Time is really at a premium at the moment, but I'll try and paint what I can and get at least one game report done for Halloween. </div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-4568348069277023112015-08-24T21:57:00.001+01:002015-08-25T13:46:09.606+01:00ATZ PEF resolution(Just to explain the title for those who are not familiar with the rules, it refers to the resolution of Potential Enemy Force counters in All Things Zombie!)<br>
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A while ago, I spoke at some length about my idea for a card deck to replace the tables in the ATZ book. My rules for this were covered <a href="http://conflictcornucopia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/customising-atz-encounters.html" target="_blank">here </a>and <a href="http://conflictcornucopia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/customising-atz-encounters-part-2.html" target="_blank">here </a>and a sample game was played <a href="http://conflictcornucopia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/30-days-later-atz-batrep-in-comic-life.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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The problem I've had, however, is that I don't get to play ATZ that often and I have ended up wanting something simpler. What's more simple than a deck of cards, you ask? Well, it isn't so much the deck of cards that's the problem, it's that every time I paint some figures I want to use, I have to pull out the laptop, design a new card, hope I'm not out of colour ink, print it on suitable paper and then sleeve it. Which is, I'm afraid, a bit too much work than I want to put into it. </div>
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So what about an alternative? It needs to have roughly the same effect as the deck of cards, but be a bit more than just pre-generating a handful of encounters. </div>
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After a bit of a think, I decided it had to do certain things. It had to allow for a decent chance of zombies being encountered. It had to provide a range of encounters of varying REP (this being the skill level of the forces encountered). It had to be easy to set up and need minimal bookkeeping. </div>
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In the end I opted for a partially completed encounter grid. Certain aspects, such as REP, were pre-defined, as were the odds of a zombie encounter. Other aspects were defined at the start of the game by the player and allowed for variation and flexibility between games. </div>
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I drew up a grid on a sheet of paper. Cell selection would be done by rolling d6 along each dimension. Obviously it is hard to fit a square grid on a rectangular piece of paper, so I decided that a roll of 1 along the horizontal axis would mean zombies had been encountered instead. This number could vary, but I think 1d6 would be a reasonable amount. (Personally I like to use a special die with a skull as a 1 for this axis. A nice little aide memoir!)</div>
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Next I populated each cell with the REP of the figures. Cells selected by higher d6 rolls corresponded to higher REPs and these are printed in the box as I don't expect these to change between games. Before playing, I place figures in each box, thereby pre-defining the type and quantity encountered. Going through my figures in this way takes almost no time at all and means it is easy to add in any new ones I've just painted. </div>
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If I want any special rules or skills to apply to the figures, I can just pencil these into the box as a reminder, or just decide to roll skills up as I go. Also, if I need more encounters to be zombies, I can just mark the box as such and if that one is rolled, I can just roll up a number of zombies. Or if I don't have enough human figures to fill out all the boxes (there are 30 after all!), I could just stick a zombie or two in any left over. </div>
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To make things more interesting, I can add a note in a few of the boxes to roll a second result and place that 1d6 inches from the first. With this additional mechanic I could stumble across a group of civilians being attacked by zombies or a pair of gangers engaging a SWAT team in a firefight. This adds an instant layer of narrative to the game. </div>
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So when I resolve a PEF, all it takes is a simple roll of two d6 and I know all I need. Plus I don't have to manage a deck of cards or even limit what the figures are. So what was defined as a REP 5 axe wielding hero by the cards could easily be a REP 3 civilian in another game, who happened to be chopping wood when the apocalypse happened!<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA__Oc8RjgJv944Hsz74XPle2sg4D2xipzulRWJ1vif1bjZ6EhnNPruAYrrfp48AcabJMkE-k1tpda8h8J5aKk1VbvEA7uxdPsYRgrb9LntOuMV71b8ifCJT662L58o2iiXYeICv5-4A/s1600/grid.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA__Oc8RjgJv944Hsz74XPle2sg4D2xipzulRWJ1vif1bjZ6EhnNPruAYrrfp48AcabJMkE-k1tpda8h8J5aKk1VbvEA7uxdPsYRgrb9LntOuMV71b8ifCJT662L58o2iiXYeICv5-4A/s320/grid.png" width="227"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple! (Click to enlarge)</td></tr>
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I could also happily laminate the sheet and use marker pens to note details or changes on it. And it is easy to refresh it or just print a new one for another game. Next up is a good test of the new 'system'. </div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-8598870718096381052015-08-02T14:51:00.001+01:002015-08-04T06:36:49.269+01:00Patrol Angis AAR<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I've been getting into Patrol Angis by <a href="http://theionage.com/">The Ion Age</a> a fair bit recently and thought it time I posted up a game report. This time I decided to do something a little different. I'm actually doing two reports of the same game. One is a normal report with pictures and details of what happens each turn. The other is going to be a 'comic book' style report which is more focused on the narrative of the game. The following report is the normal one.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The scenario is the second one from the rule book and involves the Prydian forces trying to take a hill which has a Yordan squad and some artillery on top of it. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am going to command the Prydian side and leave the Yordist one to the solo play mechanics included in the book. These are described in more detail during this report.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A quick note on terminology: I have tried to stick to the in-universe terminology for this report. A squad of 10 men (or women) is called a Post, a 4 man fire team is called a Demi, and a 2 man team is a Mina. Additionally, the forces on both sides are comprised of Retained Knights, warriors in powered armour. Their standard armament is the Angis Rifle and, among other support weapons, they also utilise the Anvil 888 missile launcher. Thought I'd mention this now in case it gets confusing later!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Finally, all die rolls are made using d8s, except for the initiative roll, which uses d6s.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Set up</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The terrain was set up as close to the scenario description as I could make it. The Prydians started at the edge of a forest and the trees thinned out as the ground level rose. At the other end of the table was the highest level of the hill, with no cover but a good view of slope. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Yordans set up on the hill. The artillery was placed slightly to the right of the peak and the Post was located to the left. After this, their actions will be left to the solo mechanics. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As for the Prydians I decided to keep one Post complete with the aim of charging it forward and overwhelming the enemy. The other Post I divided into two Demis (4 soldiers) and a Mina (2 soldiers) so they could approach on both flanks. One Demi would advance along the left flank, the other plus the Mina would do the same on the right. The Mina consisted of a missile launcher and loader. The idea was to see if the Demi on the right could cover the advance of the heavy weapons team and shield them from fire. My overall plan was all a little 'charge of the light brigade' for my taste, but it was all I had! I also only had 10 turns to achieve my objective, so I had to move fast!</span><br />
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<u><b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Turn 1</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Prydians won the initiative roll 3 to 1, so 3 order tokens were given to the loser and the same number with an additional one to the winner. The number of tokens is always based on the winning roll. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The basic turn structure, following the initiative roll, involves players alternating in placing activation tokens by the elements they wish to activate. You can place them as you wish, so feel free to put all of them on your best squad, just don't expect to win any games by doing this! In the main part of the turn, players take turns to remove a counter from a unit and carry out one of several possible actions with it. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The rules state how the AI's tokens should be distributed, basically as evenly as possible! Any left over are divided starting with the element closest the enemy. So the weapon platform was given 2 and the Post of Knights received 1.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Now my tough decisions started. I had 4 tokens and 5 groups of soldiers to split them between. I decided to focus on an advance in cover on the flanks and hold back in the centre for now. I gave two to the Demi on the right flank (to help speed their advance), one to the heavy weapons team with them and the last one to the Demi on the right flank. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is a tough part of the initial deployment to decide whether the flexibility from splitting squads is worth the potential of your force not having enough order tokens to activate everyone. Of course, you can join or split your elements during the game, but this does require an order and hence a valuable activation token!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When playing solo, the AI takes its turns by selecting the nearest element with an activation counter and drawing a coloured chit from a bag. Depending on the colour of the chit and the distance to the nearest enemy, the element takes an action. This is also affected by the overall stance taken by the AI during the scenario. In this case it was to play defensively. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On with the game!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On my left flank the Demi was commanded to dash for the edge of the forest. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The enemy responded to the advance by opening up with artillery fire. The weapon, a Moth 88 weapon platform, has an area effect and rolls 3 dice when it attacks. The area effect rules basically multiply the number of hits. For example, a area effect value of 3 would mean 2 hits are actually worth 6!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ranged fire in this game is brutal without cover or armour, and even armour isn't much use when a strong enough shot hits you!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">An attack rolls a number of dice depending on the type of weapon being used. The artillery has a value of 3 for this. The base to hit roll is 2+ on a d8 (yes, that is not a typo). The Demi being attacked rush-moved, so a +2 is applied in their favour. They get another +3 for being in the woods. The weapon platform took an Precise Shot, giving it a -1 bonus. So in this case the modified roll is a 6+. The squad had a special camouflage system installed in their armour, but this only has an effect when they are stationary (think Predator).</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A roll of 3, 5 and 8 resulted in 1 hit. Not so bad, you might think. But due to the area effect value of 4, it meant that the hit rolled actually resulted in 4 hits on my troops. Ouch!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The next step is to compare armour against the strength of the hit. My guys have an armour of 3 and the artillery attacks with strength 4. The difference is applied to a base number of 4. 4-3+4 equals 5, meaning each of the four hits needs a save roll of more than 5 on a d8. A handful of dice later and 2 warriors are blown to bits! Taking this hill is going to be tough!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The casualties mean the remaining two have to take a morale check. They fail, which normally means an element takes a marker that has to be removed by spending an activation before they do anything else. Fortunately, my Knights are all Veterans, allowing them to remove the first such marker taken in a turn.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Let's hope the right flank looks better...</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As the Rush Move gives a good modifier, I decided to repeat this over here. Nothing to shoot at yet and right now my plan is all about closing the distance. Retained Knights all have jump jets in their armour, but they can only be used twice in a game and I reason they are better spent later to close the last gap and get in some point blank fire. Hopefully! </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The weapon platform now takes another shot at the poor Knights on my left flank. By default, support weapons or those with an area effect can only fire once per turn, but if accompanied by a soldier with the Loader ability, they can fire twice per turn. At the time I decided to add this to give the AI more of a chance, but after the last shot only hit with one out of three dice and STILL took out half the Demi, I'm starting to regret it...</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I regret it even more when the weapon platform does the same again and kills the remaining two soldiers. It seems it isn't enough to dash for it and hope for the best. Troops in Patrol Angis can also take a Self-Preservation option and dig in to increase their armour value. I think I'll need to consider that option more closely in future!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Now it is my go again. I order the Knights on the right to move forward towards the next small wooded area. Luckily this is more than 10cm across, so as long as enemy LOS passes through it my guys can't be seen and shot at. A brief reprieve from the chaos of battle. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The final AI activation of the turn is for the Knights on the hill. The token I draw for them says they should move to the enemy and fire. However, as the scenario objective is to remain in control of the hill, they stay where they are and enter overwatch instead and receive a marker to show this. They will be able to discard the marker and fire during my future activations. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">My final activation is to move up the heavy weapon Mina into the forest behind the troops covering for them. And that ends the first turn. </span></div>
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<u><b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Turn 2</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The initiative roll was 2-1 in my favour, so it would be a quick turn. Not so good for me in terms of speeding to the hill! As I won, I received three activation markers. The enemy was given two and placed one on each of their elements as per the solo rules. I placed one on the Demi on the right flank and two on the heavy weapons team following them. Hopefully they will make progress there. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">My first activation was used to move the Demi round the trees, aiming to still keep enough cover between me and the artillery. This meant the Yordan Post was now the closest element to my forces, so I activated them next. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The Yordan Knights drew a token for their activation which meant they were to take a Precise Shot. With no targets in range, this converted to another overwatch counter. If these remained, the hill would be even more challenging to take!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">With my last two activations on the heavy weapons team, my choices are limited. But that was a fault in my original plan I guess! It's worth noting that any activation tokens placed on a commander figure can be 'transmitted' to another element, giving additional flexibility and therefore the ability to respond to enemy activity better. They may be 'lost in transit' though, so it is a bit of a risk. Perhaps I should have considered that option more closely. Anyhow, that's by the by right now, I need to get on with the advance!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">It is now that I realise a huge flaw in my plan. My distraction on the left has been taken out by the artillery. My 'cover' on the right has advanced to the woods and are out of sight. This means that any forward movement of my heavy weapon team will leave them visible to the weapon platform on the hill... and I have a suspicion how that will work out. I scan the available activation options in the rulebook, but none of them seem to help. Then I remember! Jet packs! Any other movement would be hindered by the forest the team are in and slow them significantly. But the jet packs would ignore the terrain penalty and double their normal move to 24cm. Perfect!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">So my first activation sends them scooting forward to join the other element hiding behind the trees. The last activation for the enemy is on the artillery and they still have no targets, so they enter overwatch. I made the advance forward just in time to avoid that! My final activation is for the weapon team to dig in, just in case...</span></div>
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<u><b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Turn 3</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Turn three starts with the initiative roll going 5-4 in my favour. The AI gives 3 markers to the squad and 2 to the artillery. I decide it is time to take more definite action and give 2 to the Demi on the flank, 1 to the heavy weapons team, 2 to the Post hiding in the woods in the centre and the last one to my commander. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">With the enemy at full strength and firmly defending the hill, ready to shoot at anything that pops into sight, I think the time for subtlety might have passed. The one thing in my favour right now is that, having won the initiative roll, I get to decide which figures are removed as casualties when hits are taken. This will allow me to prolong the life of any heavy weapons in an element. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">My other problem, however, is that the enemy have enough overwatch tokens to make even moving forward to fire a risky proposition.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The first activation I take, combines the elements on the right flank into one. The enemy responds by putting another overwatch counter on the Post of Knights on the hill.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Now for some action. The element in the centre Rapid Moves to the edge of the wood. This brings their missile launcher into range of the artillery, but the artillery can also overwatch fire at them, which it does. With a plus 2 for the Rapid Move and a plus 3 for cover added to the base To Hit value of 2, the artillery requires a 7 on each of its 3 dice for them to hit. Luckily it fails on all of them! The overwatch token is removed.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Next the artillery activates and takes a Precise Shot at the infantry in the woods. The modifers for Rapid Move and the cover remain, but Precise Shot gives the artillery a -1 to the target number, so it now needs 6s. A roll of 4, 6 and 8 gives 2 hits, quadrupled to 8 due to the area effect. Better hope their armour works! Unfortunately I only save 2, resulting in 6 casualties. Now I need to make a Morale check, requiring a 7+. I roll a 7! If I had failed, they would have lost their second activation token immediately in order to Re-Motivate themselves, and I need that one to fire at the artillery!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I take my next activation with the battered remains of my squad and prepare the Anvil 888 launcher to fire. The weapon platform is just within range. Alas, I am unable to take a Precise Shot in the same turn I have done a Rapid Move, so I'll just have to carry on with a normal shot. On the plus side, the artillery is in the open. There no to hit modifiers, so I roll two dice needing a 2+ on each to hit. I get my two hits and, as the Anvil has an Area Effect value of four, it is converted to 8 hits! Each hit is strength 4. The enemy are wearing the standard armour of the Retained Knights, the same as my troops, giving them an armour rating of 3. They get a +1 to this as the artillery piece offers some protection itself. So using these to modify the base save value of 4 gives a result of 4 (4 +3 +1 -4). Save rolls need to be higher than this, so I roll 8 dice and score 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8. Three saves and 5 hits gone through. The weapon team can discard their activation token to ignore 2 hits if they like, but that would still leave 3, so they are annihilated!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I'm starting to wonder why I didn't do that on my first turn!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The squad on the hill is probably feeling quite concerned at the destruction of the artillery. They take a Self-Preservation action (forfeiting their overwatch tokens) in order to gain a +2 to their armour rating until they move again. Fair enough.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I decide it is time to pile on the hurt and order my squad on the flank to move and fire. They use jump jets to leap over the woods and up to the edge of the hill. There is still some cover between them and the enemy in the form of a small copse. At least they don't recieve fire from overwatch! The missile launcher that the squad has can't fire as it moved, but the other 5 soldiers can attack with their Angis Rifles. In total they can roll 5 dice to hit. The cover gives a +2 modifier and a +1 for the Chameleon Circuits in the enemies' armour as they have not moved, so they end up needing 5+.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I score 4 hits, now for armour penetration.... The base save number is 4 (as always). I add 4 due to the strength value of my weapons, subtract 3 for the armour the enemy wears. They get an additional -2 from the self protection action bringing the total to 3. They need to exceed this on the dice to save and do so with two of them. I allocate one hit each to two of the support weapons they carry and the last one to one of the riflemen. Unfortunately they pass their morale test with no problems.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The rules allow for elements fired upon to shoot back after casualties have been determined (this should have been before the morale check, but I forgot!). Support weapons are not able to do this, so the squad is left with 5 weapons which can (all standard Angis Rifles). The target number is the same as when I fired upon them, but as I moved I don't get the benefit of the Chameleon Circuits, so they need a 4+ to hit. They only score two, thankfully. I don't save either of these, so I eliminate two riflemen. The morale check is passed.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The enemy now activates and uses its last token to fire on my squad again. The only weapons in range are the Angis Rifles. They also have a Plasma Rifle, but this is a hard-hitting short-range weapon. So 5 more dice rolled and they get 3 hits! With luck I save two of these and lose just one more rifleman. Casualties have mounted up, however, and I fail the morale check and am forced to discard their last activation marker.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">This is where the commander comes in handy. I put one token on him at the start of the turn. He can now take a Command and Control activation to 'transmit' his token to another element on the board. I do this and place the token by the remains of the force on the hill. On a roll of 8 the orders are lost in transit, but I score a 5, so all is well. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">As the enemy is out of activations, I now use this last token to take a Precise Shot. With this extra bonus, my guys need a 3+ to hit. All the dice are successful, meaning I get two hits from the rifle and 8 from the missile launcher. Nice! As all the hits are Strength 4 I may as well roll for the saves all at the same time. Each is saved on 4+. Three hits get through and the enemy fail their morale test meaning they lose the first activation token put on them next turn. Return fire takes out another of my men and I also fail the morale test, leaving me in the same situation as the enemy and needing to discard their first activation.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">That was certainly an eventful turn!</span><br />
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<u><b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Turn 4</span></b></u><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Initiative for this turn is 5-4 in my favour. I use one token to re-motivate the remaining soldiers on the hill and give them another one to shoot with. The other four go to the Post loitering in the woods. The enemy only has one element left in play, so they get all the tokens, minus the one required to re-motivate them.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I fear my guys on the hill would get wiped out this turn, so my first activation is for them to fire their missile launcher. I use the Precise Shot action and score one hit (converted to 4 due to the area effect of the weapon). Two of these get past the armour of the enemy, but, having so many activation tokens, they utilise a rule that allows them to discard a token to ignore two hits. They emerge unscathed! Their snap fire in return takes out one of my men and I fail the resulting morale check, therefore placing a Re-Motivate marker. It doesn't matter in the end, however, as fire from the enemy activation immediately after is enough to kill the last soldier.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">It's time to get sneaky! I move my last element so the enemy are in range of their missile launcher, but out of range of anything the enemy has. At least that way they will have to move and lose their self-preservation status if they want to return fire. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The chit draw for the Yordans indicates they go into overwatch, not that it will help them now! I open fire with my launcher... The enemy still haven't moved, but there is no cover between us, so I end up needing 2+ to hit (Base 2+, +1 for Chameleon Circuits, -1 for Precise Shot. Two hits later the enemy is having to roll 8 dice to save! They take two casualties and also fail their morale check, forcing them to remove an activation token.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Their final activation should see them remaining still, but I choose to overrule this as it is obvious in the current situation that they will just get whittled down from long range. So they move forward and take a shot (only one of them has a Angis Rifle now). The shot causes a casualty and I also fail morale and lose an activation token. I now have two left. Two of my infantry can return fire and I score two hits! There is now one enemy on the hill, but he his only armed with a close combat axe, so I can pick him off at my leisure.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The hill is mine!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I have to say I really enjoyed this game. It was a bit of a learning experience and there is a lot I would do differently if I played it again. But to my mind that is the sign of a good game, that it reveals itself to you when you play rather than just being obvious from a read of the rules. It provides some interesting challenges and choices during play and, as someone who often plays solo, I am looking forward to testing out the solo mechanics in other scenarios.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">All figures pictured are part of the <a href="http://theionage.com/products/patrol-angis-15mm-skirmish-wargame-game-pack">pro-painted starter set</a>, which you can buy from The Ion Age website. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">You can read more about the mechanics and why I like Patrol Angis in the review I posted on this blog and can find that <a href="http://conflictcornucopia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/a-look-at-patrol-angis.html">here .</a></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Soon I will be posting the 'comic style' report of this scenario and also a more detailed look at what you get in the pro-painted starter set. After that, some more reports hopefully!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I hope you enjoyed this AAR. Please feel free to post any comments and I will do my best to respond to any questions! </span><br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-54909001303524412492015-07-01T10:21:00.002+01:002015-07-02T16:43:11.853+01:0015mm.co.uk AutomataAs much as I expect the new Terminator film to be a disappointment, it has at least got me thinking about doing some Terminator gaming... Although I was tempted by the new game by River Horse, I ended up deciding that I really don't need to start another 28mm project (but I came very, very, close...)<br />
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Instead, I thought it was time to do something I've been meaning to do for a while and get hold of some of the <a href="http://www.15mm.co.uk/products/hof30-automata-infantry">Automata Infantry</a> from 15mm.co.uk.<br />
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I think these are some of the best out there for Terminator games in 15mm. Sure, they may not be 100% identical, but why would they be? What is important for me is that they look close enough from a distance and I think these do.<br />
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Here is the pack after a quick paint job:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3DFg7zMqsb40ov_Gf_Ke0pS2MLuOo_p739NiUG0jS6nf_y8P2iBtCPPvWrJ14nTsrYmcAW3h3S2IqwBdcx_CKFlyaB4NqyVVH_81pTKf9O8cU1XiMe1hC7yVy-mpxA6Bl5Rjk6yIpzI/s1600/IMG_2997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3DFg7zMqsb40ov_Gf_Ke0pS2MLuOo_p739NiUG0jS6nf_y8P2iBtCPPvWrJ14nTsrYmcAW3h3S2IqwBdcx_CKFlyaB4NqyVVH_81pTKf9O8cU1XiMe1hC7yVy-mpxA6Bl5Rjk6yIpzI/s400/IMG_2997.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really need to sort out the focus on my camera... :(</td></tr>
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As a bonus, they will work well in a number of 15mm projects I have in the pipeline, including Judge Dredd and Rogue Trader. So all in all I think they are well worth getting hold of and £4 for a pack of 10 isn't too bad a price.<br />
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To end, here's a better close up picture. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12IzFlPw-NTiqnis5VvkCQzr-DiBiy1ZpsUi9MTJuqAAGEEzkrjpx6PDoVuhdKZCpzmQPYDZOFHZf9cqaMVwQQvx5VJhZ68RqUyAEIeTH9Jf4G9ArtEd3Tua0fDrqXTu-uyoPjIiZTmc/s1600/IMG_2996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-71839119324485458442015-06-24T14:17:00.001+01:002015-06-24T14:17:10.060+01:00A look at: Patrol Angis<div style="text-align: justify;">
Recently I have been scouring the web for information on <a href="http://theionage.com/products/patrol-angis-15mm-skirmish-wargame-rules-book">Patrol Angis</a>, the new set of rules from Gavin and co at <a href="http://theionage.com/">The Ion Age</a>. I was intrigued by the description of the rules and the setting but could not find a great deal more than what was on the website. So naturally I thought 'what the heck, they are only £10' and bought a copy! To make up for the lack of information available, I thought I'd give my initial thoughts here.</div>
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<u>The Book</u></div>
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The book itself is a very well presented A5 size publication with full colour cover and black and white images inside. It has seriously started to make me wonder why more rules are not this size! It means they can easily be rested on the table during a game for quick reference and it also makes them easy to handle or hold in one hand while the other one is rolling dice or holding a refreshing beverage. Good thinking, chaps!</div>
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<u>The Background</u></div>
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The first 20 or so pages of the book deal with the background to the setting, which could be described in a nutshell as being the Wars of the Roses in a Space Opera setting. While the rules could be used with other miniatures, the setting and content of the book is obviously geared to the Ion Age range. What is different about this book is that, while my usual inclination is to discard the fluff and just play with my existing figures, reading this particular background has really got me wanting to play the rules with the Ion Age figures and in the Ion Age setting. I really wasn't expecting to feel that strongly, but the background in the book is highly interesting and different to other things I have read.</div>
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<u>Force Organisation </u></div>
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The rules say they are aimed at each player having a platoon sized force. This immediately made me think of three squads plus a command group on each side, but I was wrong! While this gives an idea of the number of figures you might expect to field, you actually have quite a lot of flexibility in how your force is organised. You can choose to deploy in squads, sure, but you can decide to split your squads into fire teams or even smaller units if you wish. So there is actually a good amount of decision making in terms of how you wish to deploy your platoon and you would want to think a bit about how you might use your options to achieve your objectives.</div>
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The elements you decide to deploy are organised in a fixed way, as shown by the picture of suggested movement trays:</div>
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It should be noted that this book contains rules for infantry, power armour and infantry-sized vehicles, such as bikes. Larger vehicles and how they fit into the force structure will be covered in a future book.</div>
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<u>Core Mechanics</u></div>
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Unusually for a game of this type, the core mechanic is an intriguing command and control mechanism. Initiative is a d6 roll, but the higher roll determines how many activation tokens are received by each side. The side which loses initiative gets the number shown on the die, the winning side gets that number plus one. So if the initiative roll was 3 and 5, the side which won gets 6 tokens and the side which lost gets 5. A good way to give a little edge to the winner without being overpowering. </div>
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Starting with the side that lost initiative, players then take it in turns to place an activation token next to an element in their force. Unless specified, an element can be assigned any number of tokens during this process. This is an interesting mechanic which leads to you trying to out guess and out plan your opponent before you have even touched a miniature!</div>
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During the main part of the turn, starting with the side with initiative, the player removes an activation token from an element and chooses what that element will do. There are no less than 11 (well, 10 and the option to pass!) choices to select from and these cover moving and firing, rapid moving, precise firing, overwatch, reorganisation, recovering morale, digging in for self protection and lots more. To add to this, elements which are fired upon can also use activation tokens to negate hits against them, so you may have to make a tough choice about taking casualties or keeping your head down for a turn, which in effect is a neat little pinning mechanic!</div>
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Now let's be clear, fire combat in this game can be pretty deadly! All rolls to hit are made with a d8 and have a basic target of 2+. That's right, there is only a 1 in 8 chance of missing a target in the open! Of course, terrain modifiers come into play and each item of terrain provides a bonus from +1 to +3 depending on how much of the LOS crosses it. If there is terrain along more than 10cm of the LOS then no fire is possible. The max terrain modifier is +4. So terrain starts to be rather important in this game! Any hit figures can make an armour save roll, which is a 4+ modified by the armour worn and the penetration of the weapon.</div>
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Taking casualties results in the need to make morale tests. Failing a test results in the loss of an activation token if the element has one, or the gain of a 're-motivation' token if they do not. The re-motivation token has to be removed with an activation before any other action can be taken.</div>
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Lets not forget that you only get between 1 and 7 activation markers each turn (skewed toward the high end as the winning roll determines the number). So if your force consists of smaller elements then you have some tough choices to make when allocating them. And it gets even harder when morale checks force you to remove them or waste one next turn to re-motivate an element.</div>
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<u>Other Rules</u></div>
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After the main rules section, there are a couple of pages outlining a series of special rules which may apply to units, covering things like jet packs, medics, snipers and special gear. There is also a section on solo play, which will be largely familiar to players of Flintloque. Then there are 10 pages of stats for the various forces available and some 'fluff' on the types of weapons and armour available. The book ends with some brief designer's notes and some additional background which outline the 'rules' of the setting in terms of why certain technology exists and why the universe works the way it does.</div>
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<u>My Thoughts</u></div>
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I have to say I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I was expecting something solid, fun and playable. What I found when I read the rules was all of those but arranged around a command and control system that I have not come across before in a sci-fi rule set and some nicely brutal combat rules that punish commanders who think acceptable battle strategy is advancing across open ground.</div>
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I also found myself really getting drawn into the background and enjoying it, it manages to feel 'fun' but also have a nice amount of detail to it.</div>
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My only slight criticism at this point would be that I found some of the rules sections to be a little unclear. My questions were answered by the examples, however, so there were no problems left after I had read them, although I prefer examples to be optional rather than required reading. But that is a minor point in an otherwise excellent looking set of rules.</div>
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There is a lot crammed into the 64 page book and the rules themselves do not take up a massive amount of it (about 17 pages for the core rules). But at the same time I am left with the feeling that they present a lot of tactical challenges in a deceptively simple package. </div>
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I have often described rules by this designer as being quite 'old-school'. In this case I don't think that is true at all. I think these are a modern set of rules which will let players fight 'old-school' type battles they way they <i>remember them</i> being rather than the way they actually were (i.e bogged down in loads of die rolls and endless charts and tables!).</div>
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I would highly recommend these rules to anyone who is either drawn to the accompanying miniatures range or interested in a more tactically challenging sci-fi game which is still simple to play.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvRUsH3HkwQbybbt2W0DM0sX-vp3Gd84R-Xoj2QNgyi1oD4gmGHRL9KImupdBC0Gqg4UUlk35Zg2hjxF4SrQalu02XiMfAKBXiOBvKgdMwqT3ATP6-xNnmlaAFIwrd2q8vUT_EgYd8NE/s640/blogger-image--587471135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvRUsH3HkwQbybbt2W0DM0sX-vp3Gd84R-Xoj2QNgyi1oD4gmGHRL9KImupdBC0Gqg4UUlk35Zg2hjxF4SrQalu02XiMfAKBXiOBvKgdMwqT3ATP6-xNnmlaAFIwrd2q8vUT_EgYd8NE/s640/blogger-image--587471135.jpg" /></a></div>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-27972165876566981552015-05-31T15:53:00.001+01:002015-05-31T15:53:31.711+01:00A look at: Typhon<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.alternative-armies.com/collections/typhon-game-of-greek-myth"><span style="color: blue;">Typhon </span></a>is <a href="http://www.alternative-armies.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Alternative
Armies</span></a>' game of skirmishes and heroism during the time of Greek
Myth. Players lead a band of Heroes, Shades of Hades or Mythical Monsters in
legendary battles, calling on their patron gods to aid them and hopefully
surviving enough encounters to grow into a hero worthy of being remembered for
generations to come!</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Overview</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Mechanically,
the rules are similar to the <a href="http://www.alternative-armies.com/products/darkestorme-fantasy-skirmish-wargame-rules"><span style="color: blue;">Darkestorme </span></a>fantasy skirmish rules (which I have
looked at <a href="http://conflictcornucopia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-look-at-darkestorme.html"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>), but are modified to both suit the period
and improve on the aforementioned publication.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The book
itself is an A4, spiral bound tome of 78 pages with clear plastic covers front
and back. It's actually quite nice to have a book that lies flat on the table
with no need to bend it back or break its spine!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Opening
the book, the reader is greeted by a map of Ancient Greece, a brief overview of
the game and a generous background of 12 pages outlining the myths and legends
of Greece. Useful if you are new to the period or want a quick overview.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Following
the introduction are the rules of play, how to create your hero and his
followers, advice on scenario creation, an extensive list of powers and gifts,
stats for warriors and the monsters they may face, a set of three scenarios and
finally record sheets for your heroic band.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Rules of
Combat</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The core
rules are relatively simple in their execution. Characters have two or three
actions per turn, which can be used to move, fight, use a god power or carry
out other tasks suitable to the scenario. To attack a foe requires a 2d6 roll
meeting or exceeding the attacker's 'To Wound' score (usually between 6 and 9).
If hit, the defender can make a Resist Wound roll in a similar way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Where
these rules differ to Darkestorme (and are much better, in my opinion) are the
way shields, armour and wounds are handled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">If a
character carries a Hoplite Shield, he may use it to block the attack. This
requires a 2d6 roll and can result in the attack being negated or reduced in
strength, or the shield becoming damaged or broken. Other shields merely
provide a modifier to Resist Wound rolls and this provides a neat way to
differentiate Greek Heroes and their ability to shield against attacks. This is
also a more interesting roll to make than your typical d6 roll against a target number.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Armour
works in a similar way, with a 2d6 roll on a table. My favourite entry is the
roll of a 12 breaking the attacker's weapon! Other results allow various
degrees of stopping power or damage to the armour. Both this and the results of using a Hoplite Shield can give a range of modifiers to the defender's Resist
Wound roll.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In my
opinion this is more interesting to play out than the rules in
Darkestorme, but of course it is a little more time consuming. This level of
detail is a welcome addition to rules more geared towards skirmishes with only
a few figures on each side though. And from a game play perspective it is
enjoyable to have the excitement of these rules (usually accompanied by cheers
or groans depending on the outcome!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">If an
attack scores a wound a roll is required to find out the effect. Monsters just
have a flat number of wounds and are defeated if reduced to zero. Characters in
Typhon , however, have no such thing! Instead they might be killed outright,
mortally wounded and need the assistance of their fellows, avoid the wound
entirely, or receive a flesh wound which gives a penalty to future rolls on the
table. The table is weighted towards the character being out of the game, but
as two of these options allow for the character to return to future games if
his side wins, it greatly adds to the tension of the remaining battle!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Additional
rules for combat provide for the use of missile weapons, using two weapons at
once, having a terrain advantage and making sweeping attacks which can target
more than one foe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Your Hero
also has access to Fate points, which can be used to modify initiative rolls or
force re-rolls by your opponent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftl-F80g6L2rW8kU0x-YAVIbZqWMdfekf32tHQApHmzQPSKt5pBBN6hD-Y9NwruEjupb8qifzuGc1E8pX3C79PaKHqq2J4sqP0mIjMS0AMDIc1KUUlV8jQ4ujt7FYhh4wqBCHQ-q6Tpo/s640/blogger-image--302582443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftl-F80g6L2rW8kU0x-YAVIbZqWMdfekf32tHQApHmzQPSKt5pBBN6hD-Y9NwruEjupb8qifzuGc1E8pX3C79PaKHqq2J4sqP0mIjMS0AMDIc1KUUlV8jQ4ujt7FYhh4wqBCHQ-q6Tpo/s400/blogger-image--302582443.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">God
Powers</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">God
powers are a major part of the game, so I thought they deserved their own
section in this review! When you create a hero, you choose a patron god which
allows the hero to have access to that god's powers in addition to a
generic set of gifts that heroes can choose from. Six gods have powers listed
in the rule book (two more are available as free PDFs from the publisher). Each
god has seven powers of varying potency, reflected in the amount of fate points
required to 'buy' them. The generic list of gifts contains an additional 29
powers, for a total of 71! It is quite a list and very thematic compared to
your usual list of skills and abilities, serving to reflect how important the
gods and their patronage was to the Greek heroes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">All of
these gifts are classified as either Items, Powers or Creatures. Generally
speaking, Items have an ongoing effect for the whole game, Powers can be used
once per game for their effect and Creatures represent some kind of summoning
ability which results in the summoned entity coming into play for a certain
number of turns or for the whole scenario depending on how powerful they are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">All of
the powers really enhance the theme of the game and it add a great variety to
the Heroes in the game as well as an interesting decisions in campaigns about
whether to gather several minor powers or save up for some of the more powerful
ones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9a7mZD2UgbD1UTLlxcs81dvNbd1bZnaucZv5JZP5BdSvpAu0PgyCCMge_fjuxus3blOsXpfS-YGLOz0LuZ1xsuDFnrsPMMf-hZSoEsyhs_1eIlknui3EjbjF6Y2O-qlqMhk-XPgcCZw/s640/blogger-image-31533511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9a7mZD2UgbD1UTLlxcs81dvNbd1bZnaucZv5JZP5BdSvpAu0PgyCCMge_fjuxus3blOsXpfS-YGLOz0LuZ1xsuDFnrsPMMf-hZSoEsyhs_1eIlknui3EjbjF6Y2O-qlqMhk-XPgcCZw/s400/blogger-image-31533511.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Hero
Creation and Campaigns</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Before
playing, you need to create your band of Heroes, or if you are so inclined,
your drove of Shades from Hades. This is a pretty straight forward process. You
start with 50 fate points and with these you need to select your Hero and his
god powers. A minimum of 40% of your fate points also have to be spent on
Champions and Fighters to follow your hero. Costs for all characters vary
depending on if you choose Youth, Man, or Aged characters, each of which have a
different stat line and differing advantages and disadvantages along with it.
Shades are worked out similarly, but have a choice of being Lesser or Greater
rather than the three ages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Once you
have chosen your band, you receive a random number of coin with which to
purchase weapons and armour, as well as other useful items for campaign games.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The
campaign rules as presented in the book are quite a simple affair. Your Hero
and Champions gain Fate Points by defeating enemies, winning scenarios and so
forth. These can be kept to spend during the game, or used to buy new god
powers. You can buy new warriors to join your band or, if they have proven
themselves, advance a Champion to the class of Hero.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05lD5BDD187HPwYSt4EPMBCzg5_kwlchqOBwDvPvi2iQ7O2dJt8xDqSJd8rRwED_2SUn1ACNM1iAQF9ml7vZUkpLNzlj7wh3JLKG5Hxtj_BOnr0_HrAb3chXwTFZC9qO2-6YcR6BMQrs/s640/blogger-image--507552178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05lD5BDD187HPwYSt4EPMBCzg5_kwlchqOBwDvPvi2iQ7O2dJt8xDqSJd8rRwED_2SUn1ACNM1iAQF9ml7vZUkpLNzlj7wh3JLKG5Hxtj_BOnr0_HrAb3chXwTFZC9qO2-6YcR6BMQrs/s400/blogger-image--507552178.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Monsters</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A
selection of monsters, most well known from Greek Myths and some less well
known, have rules provided in the book. You can also get free PDFs of
additional ones from the publisher. These are fearsome foes indeed and suitably
challenging for experienced bands of warriors. As well as the kind of stats you
might expect from such monsters, they also come with unique abilities that
really capture their individual 'flavour'. In a very nice touch, defeating
certain monsters allows a Hero to benefit in some way, for example using the
teeth of the Cadmus Dragon to raise undead warriors, or the head of a Gorgon to
turn enemies to stone.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Miniatures</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This is a
review of the rules, not of figures, but it is worth pointing out that
Alternative Armies stock a range of 'Heroic Scale' figures to accompany these
rules, nominally 50mm but I think some 42mm ranges would be compatible
(although I have yet to verify this). Of course, you can use whatever range of
figures you want with the rules, but I find these have a certain charm about
them that I find very appealing. The picture below shows two Typhon figures next to the silhouette of a 28mm Flintloque miniature.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajuwdAevtw9GRwkWLdRnYjiJjIBhwIfB2JkeQqFLUdrFfZ_JUlHLE_MXi-ohyphenhyphen-5oclnyydBKk2UPK6VIhJJENIPQ7N1Xv46r5CdSdndf93tRZndKjuhjS9kMXI13yUVAjb4l8mnMVkM8/s640/blogger-image--570961614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajuwdAevtw9GRwkWLdRnYjiJjIBhwIfB2JkeQqFLUdrFfZ_JUlHLE_MXi-ohyphenhyphen-5oclnyydBKk2UPK6VIhJJENIPQ7N1Xv46r5CdSdndf93tRZndKjuhjS9kMXI13yUVAjb4l8mnMVkM8/s400/blogger-image--570961614.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Conclusion</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">These
rules take mechanics from a generic fantasy skirmish game and, with the odd tweak and adjustment, turn them into something that feels quite different. In fact I'd
have to say I prefer them to the set they were based on. At their core, the
mechanics are pretty simple, but there is so much flavour layered on top that
it doesn't feel this is detrimental when playing. I can't say I have played
other rule sets for the 'period', otherwise I could offer some kind of
comparison. But what I can say is that I don't feel the need to rush out and
buy any others! I would like to see the rules supported by a more comprehensive
figure range (there are some god powers that summon monsters not currently
available) and perhaps the main drawback is a lack of fully fledged campaign
rules, but these are not insurmountable problems.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I
thoroughly enjoy Typhon and would recommend it to people looking to recreate
Mythic skirmishes with a small number of figures. The rules are easy
to pick up and play or teach but with a good deal of variety and fun to be had.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">(All pictures are taken from the Typhon overview PDF, free from Alternative Armies). </span></div>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-13647682515598586372015-05-11T09:54:00.001+01:002015-05-11T21:21:57.747+01:00Battlegroup North (Yorkshire Air Museum)We were away visiting York for the last week and once of our scheduled visits was to the <a href="http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.org/">Yorkshire Air Museum</a>. This coincided with the <a href="http://www.wheelsandwings.co.uk/">Battlegroup North</a> exhibition which features a whole load of military vehicles, living history people, demonstrations and so forth. On of the features of the day is a mini wargames show, which I was very keen to have a nose at.<br />
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Here are some piccies:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyujQYf6Z7PG79ZB0FxloI0Wc5tOv-xZ5LB6ZoLLAXRcMuEpd_MVGmPMyd4wFf9TYUJSx3KQmANyerT4ka0gj31R0gN4Fh8Ol5GtVUP1rUZ7QMVQQHOlj3_xfPZ-ubeapDmWDRt6AqRDU/s1600/blogger-image-48105680.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view across the hanger</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNifayXAA2OWXMVWTcnNb4RdzkWfRfxFtaLRxXJRDffpYd-eV5ilp6WxCYJRGiM4oAhEdyHg0vygSvoIIiSDQLS6ptNl7-GciuTuJkaRIGECdd7QJdeeyz2-GwaOrN-VRmX1z9j8pxNU/s640/blogger-image-515195610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNifayXAA2OWXMVWTcnNb4RdzkWfRfxFtaLRxXJRDffpYd-eV5ilp6WxCYJRGiM4oAhEdyHg0vygSvoIIiSDQLS6ptNl7-GciuTuJkaRIGECdd7QJdeeyz2-GwaOrN-VRmX1z9j8pxNU/s640/blogger-image-515195610.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tank battle. Not sure what rules were used.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWoD3uZZ6-NYKGKmhuKh3M33eQFh6az2vg05ri7tQWpnwS-XWoD59Ags6mQ3H5cbMLaztCh1na7XFxRA23m7GXfRGXUE-DLEkuxeOw8Kjb2sCJFcy4TeevULn66mXryzBytZhBWd3XwQ/s640/blogger-image--568579174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWoD3uZZ6-NYKGKmhuKh3M33eQFh6az2vg05ri7tQWpnwS-XWoD59Ags6mQ3H5cbMLaztCh1na7XFxRA23m7GXfRGXUE-DLEkuxeOw8Kjb2sCJFcy4TeevULn66mXryzBytZhBWd3XwQ/s640/blogger-image--568579174.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View along the table of a Pegasus Bridge game. Using Bolt Action.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_NRGMPn6I_ELrbxJazreGTOsBznXFH4dWNi4po-RkI_9IE3tLO3w7mVZotWL22dvKCqkY3E-wWoEwBa6_pwiWZ4_0zwPoDoXTYwQhTR3HdZI1U1KO1zDZlmzNUsWUBX7zVa4_qvAVpw/s640/blogger-image-830303054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_NRGMPn6I_ELrbxJazreGTOsBznXFH4dWNi4po-RkI_9IE3tLO3w7mVZotWL22dvKCqkY3E-wWoEwBa6_pwiWZ4_0zwPoDoXTYwQhTR3HdZI1U1KO1zDZlmzNUsWUBX7zVa4_qvAVpw/s640/blogger-image-830303054.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were lots of military replicas on display as well as the games.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9kCCZ9fCXlRyYP6ANHf5-h1O91f8z0Gy2QjVmShbfGEJWIO3Rh9jzaW-ATLXfcFfFInSW7ELAGl37pbZZ0Se5MypNDyWhQgiybXiFgVznGX2SAlv7eU24K1pRgMCcWJ1Y_ZhRAL3C_s/s640/blogger-image--1757194618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9kCCZ9fCXlRyYP6ANHf5-h1O91f8z0Gy2QjVmShbfGEJWIO3Rh9jzaW-ATLXfcFfFInSW7ELAGl37pbZZ0Se5MypNDyWhQgiybXiFgVznGX2SAlv7eU24K1pRgMCcWJ1Y_ZhRAL3C_s/s1600/blogger-image--1757194618.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the games (as far as I could tell) were participation, which was great.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5QO756R8OJHJ3GsEH4wf94emnQSc8F6Zr0KTW-zKX0YFCOS6pUMfaWl1LS1xmK1fP9366ZcU4oEIzAmFW3_uv-OnROsHW0NRxSCqOIZINs4naEIJwlyFurkeXsBCQzNIWW-i8vs2VsM/s640/blogger-image-487028690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5QO756R8OJHJ3GsEH4wf94emnQSc8F6Zr0KTW-zKX0YFCOS6pUMfaWl1LS1xmK1fP9366ZcU4oEIzAmFW3_uv-OnROsHW0NRxSCqOIZINs4naEIJwlyFurkeXsBCQzNIWW-i8vs2VsM/s640/blogger-image-487028690.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A game of Rapid Fire</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQRLIa5iq3WNFE7y85k3J4e6Ch_dGCRiShwCZaLRmf7YGgeA-acosa64hy8uB4yP7_g2a0YHzaw9gjU4vQYXioE6aAZFcnrTUtSUKoMIrGzXYiqjswIHo4Lux_239XlLBi27qCWxsXnA/s640/blogger-image-2002193199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQRLIa5iq3WNFE7y85k3J4e6Ch_dGCRiShwCZaLRmf7YGgeA-acosa64hy8uB4yP7_g2a0YHzaw9gjU4vQYXioE6aAZFcnrTUtSUKoMIrGzXYiqjswIHo4Lux_239XlLBi27qCWxsXnA/s640/blogger-image-2002193199.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some decent ruined town terrain</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIyZEHdoroJKspURVVLbSiNzNSYETLz0MYD8-3_CcSEEpSO9pNVe0y6CKPeHbiHQe-K4zWXDXmOQPH0WKU-B64Yk60l6lsFczoTYOn4b8QmgK4YJUyq9qdhx2mvoQ_2_trsMriFUXxSY/s640/blogger-image--1523600306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIyZEHdoroJKspURVVLbSiNzNSYETLz0MYD8-3_CcSEEpSO9pNVe0y6CKPeHbiHQe-K4zWXDXmOQPH0WKU-B64Yk60l6lsFczoTYOn4b8QmgK4YJUyq9qdhx2mvoQ_2_trsMriFUXxSY/s640/blogger-image--1523600306.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attack on an airfield. Great blimps supported by wire poles which gave them a 'bobbing' effect! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZKNHkoMi4PpZ79wkWr0tZN7uhT5Q5y4p4UbNIh4dnB2cTBjqhJPRQ4paDASzANQrav6u8Xg40IpODGelkObdHwXEnnsdi9_VRnER2Zwh3-4XTmQz7n0so-8dOCESvirx-XLN5bTsL-c/s640/blogger-image-897493175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZKNHkoMi4PpZ79wkWr0tZN7uhT5Q5y4p4UbNIh4dnB2cTBjqhJPRQ4paDASzANQrav6u8Xg40IpODGelkObdHwXEnnsdi9_VRnER2Zwh3-4XTmQz7n0so-8dOCESvirx-XLN5bTsL-c/s640/blogger-image-897493175.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of the ruins mentioned previously</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrW4dTukrTgGXvro1nRgVuKXkcQUVhsowpNeeIBGT8W9yIjfxXreJDyb8tXUxzSBHRN7FNVbmGVArOQn2MFHC_3fIfeD75vL1SdLb-EDNule5AkyzyINbmyUuebaKDFoiMqOzRaG2DBs/s640/blogger-image-341907481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrW4dTukrTgGXvro1nRgVuKXkcQUVhsowpNeeIBGT8W9yIjfxXreJDyb8tXUxzSBHRN7FNVbmGVArOQn2MFHC_3fIfeD75vL1SdLb-EDNule5AkyzyINbmyUuebaKDFoiMqOzRaG2DBs/s640/blogger-image-341907481.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alas, I don't recall much about this game. Looked good though.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9O-Krr6A1aXKE6lmY_0kL2qUF5KSzCii3EKlTN1JKDr9qMqD1-sWjLdla1EPt12LI-5majuZdCxMHvm4BK0GszUF_3NuAfErXmCsNwIMaEcwrImuIecGBrQSptC0Sq_a34cqJOidUevY/s640/blogger-image-1620638029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9O-Krr6A1aXKE6lmY_0kL2qUF5KSzCii3EKlTN1JKDr9qMqD1-sWjLdla1EPt12LI-5majuZdCxMHvm4BK0GszUF_3NuAfErXmCsNwIMaEcwrImuIecGBrQSptC0Sq_a34cqJOidUevY/s640/blogger-image-1620638029.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The replica bomber.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, what you had was several good looking WW2 participation games. The exception was a WW1 skirmish dealing with Rommel's exploits in 1914. I'll have to read up on that! I wouldn't really call it a wargame show as we know it, but if you had a child who could participate in some of these games I think a lot of fun would have been had. Everyone seemed to be having a great time and the people putting on the games seemed to approach the whole thing with a smile and sense of fun.<br />
<br />
There were no real traders to speak of, but the one standout was partially captured in my last picture. MTFG Hobbies appear to have a very large range of unopened GW blisters and boxed games from the 90s! I searched the web for them when I got home, but they do not have a website and the only email address I found in an online directory didn't work. If anyone knows anything about them I would love to find out more!<br />
<br />
All in all it wasn't worth making a specific trip for (especially as entry to the whole day was £10 per adult), but if you had happened to be there it was worth a look.<br />
<br />
<i>EDIT: 'Fozman' was the chap running the 'airfield' game. He posted the description on TMP and I am duplicating it here:</i><br />
<br />
<i>"The Battle of Britain ran during the Summer & Autumn of 1940 and that is the setting for our game…</i><br />
<br />
<i>At
a remote airfield somewhere in Southern England new airplanes for the
RAF are being tested & evaluated as are captured German ones. In
addition, some light bombers are being converted into fighters to help
in the night war against the Luftwaffe, and, to help in the evaluation
of early radar, there's even a new advanced radar installation on site…
the German High command is aware of this and has decided to launch an
airborne assault to not only put the base and installations out of
commission, but also set back the development of new fighters for the
RAF.</i><br />
<br />
<i>You, the public will be playing the dastardly German Fallschirmjäger, whilst we will be taking the part of the plucky Brits. </i><br />
<br />
<i>Can
a motley assortment of Dad's Army, the Scouts, a local army detachment
recently returned from Dunkirk and Doris the NAFFI lady beat off the
best that the Luftwaffe can bring to bear? </i><br />
<i>Only time, lucky dice roles & us cheating unashamedly will tell!"</i><br />
<br />
<i>I didn't explain at the start that my wife actually took these pictures. I didn't intend to blog about this, but she expected I would so took photos! That's why I didn't make note of who the games belonged to or details of what they all were about. If anyone else wants a description added to any of these photos, please let me know!</i><br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-13784668656532693902015-04-22T12:22:00.001+01:002015-04-22T14:37:11.594+01:00Battle at the Farm (Darkestorme skirmish)I managed to fit in a game of Darkestorme recently and was able to take a few pictures so I thought I'd write up a quick report. <div><br></div><div>In this scenario, Skaven have overrun a small farm in the wilds of the Empire. A Warrior Priest and his retinue have been dispatched to reclaim it!</div><div><br></div><div>On one side were two units of Skaven. One was of Clanrats led by an Assasin and the other was of Stormvermin led by a Champion. </div><div><br></div><div>Facing them were the Warrior Priest, his second in command and a mix of handgunners and spearmen. Darkestorme doesn't actually have rules for black powder weapons, but it was easy to come up with something. </div><div><br></div><div>Here is the Skaven set up:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQreBHfmqnUt73Z96ExRKPBCamu9d_NUwZWxymBMytKmX9tUehcCkjbIgTEUeM1loR-FCJHPHl_K5NnQCI1SbTX0MBv5PoczYziJqPFegjBbWup3712zyqYcdiZCJnG2Zb-YdsRiZZQ8w/s640/blogger-image--1176188542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQreBHfmqnUt73Z96ExRKPBCamu9d_NUwZWxymBMytKmX9tUehcCkjbIgTEUeM1loR-FCJHPHl_K5NnQCI1SbTX0MBv5PoczYziJqPFegjBbWup3712zyqYcdiZCJnG2Zb-YdsRiZZQ8w/s640/blogger-image--1176188542.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>The Clanrats are occupying a defensive position in the farm:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9D2fiGEChETSnZXkFMOahk6tXTn7MLieQNqUkCVG4JObI69ZpoNuVL5k-EFlTlSSbJdvdwFihZmJqmrL9al8By-CLzaB5iNzDJBUIBTdvb2AwLVXM4cUQG75HZcQSs64pAnjK522yMA/s640/blogger-image-1692854148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9D2fiGEChETSnZXkFMOahk6tXTn7MLieQNqUkCVG4JObI69ZpoNuVL5k-EFlTlSSbJdvdwFihZmJqmrL9al8By-CLzaB5iNzDJBUIBTdvb2AwLVXM4cUQG75HZcQSs64pAnjK522yMA/s640/blogger-image-1692854148.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Meanwhile, the Stormvermin plan on outflanking the Empire troops:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjyG9kB16IBrETcU2-PW5Usashpw5A8x65wPJz7zTKViQY0tjGotZ07QtBGPMSsy6isysEf_wcJo-_jHYMKPnMY0nhaXuVHYqC9E6IiawXOXg138hTCZuP6CQvxntYWmhXL-9zCwpKWk/s640/blogger-image-92950334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjyG9kB16IBrETcU2-PW5Usashpw5A8x65wPJz7zTKViQY0tjGotZ07QtBGPMSsy6isysEf_wcJo-_jHYMKPnMY0nhaXuVHYqC9E6IiawXOXg138hTCZuP6CQvxntYWmhXL-9zCwpKWk/s640/blogger-image-92950334.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>The Empire unit advances cautiously towards the farm:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPKS6KwVjH1VRuTx1zmVl-VDlVb7eyzfv3VcJpMHicu1l4-FiJtHAMJrnE22tQAhllAKjbrPMt7DJybDsFQ4AHzXRwMOZQlqMSem4t8_wilit9sOokYrLWWpu9ewI532Yz4qAstqVgwk/s640/blogger-image--1371563751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPKS6KwVjH1VRuTx1zmVl-VDlVb7eyzfv3VcJpMHicu1l4-FiJtHAMJrnE22tQAhllAKjbrPMt7DJybDsFQ4AHzXRwMOZQlqMSem4t8_wilit9sOokYrLWWpu9ewI532Yz4qAstqVgwk/s640/blogger-image--1371563751.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>The Stormvermin split into two. One advances round the other side of the forest in the top left of the picture. The other part attempts to attack the handgunners before they do too much damage. Meanwhile the other Skaven wait behind the farm wall: </div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBWxq4SaLh4hm5Na3STpg6zGxXm7tJhNfMDW72f16eZ6sbBkYvQHhQ5RfwAer1jIi0q9q5EZCjyPQ9xacl2bfvcCfNL24q8ziLaX8NNKUalZoFc6c45SYg8urR9bQo-9EuBmeY5JxoNk/s640/blogger-image-730423588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBWxq4SaLh4hm5Na3STpg6zGxXm7tJhNfMDW72f16eZ6sbBkYvQHhQ5RfwAer1jIi0q9q5EZCjyPQ9xacl2bfvcCfNL24q8ziLaX8NNKUalZoFc6c45SYg8urR9bQo-9EuBmeY5JxoNk/s640/blogger-image-730423588.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Once the handgunners were engaged, the other Skaven launched an attack. At this point the Empire force was also fighting an action to their rear against the Stormvermin who had circled the forest. The Clanrats only advanced because they felt they now outnumbered their opponents enough!:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkJr-su6OaOigWA4akmOQj_LgOBsiY7S7J2ZIy3Yy4yVnqSjcf_Bk3W4EJpdyEW4pt_vO21kFLZs5On1ynkq-l6UYmajxV6C7LxDXK_Qdc048A0gycm786MArg-1T9NzCvVjNskoMSas/s640/blogger-image-730369878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkJr-su6OaOigWA4akmOQj_LgOBsiY7S7J2ZIy3Yy4yVnqSjcf_Bk3W4EJpdyEW4pt_vO21kFLZs5On1ynkq-l6UYmajxV6C7LxDXK_Qdc048A0gycm786MArg-1T9NzCvVjNskoMSas/s640/blogger-image-730369878.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Here's a picture of the outflanking action. The Empire was hard pushed to withstand it:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7REf6Njv6JnLd9IZoaTGU3Oq0_Nq0gApn1rNYpn15lQJe3SpjfN5ZiVCKwE8tfBczmkM5hkic7hEOi4lxmHNFRn50Mdo0wZp3EM89-JXXkoNPjPvn3Z16TDbot_4Xi7e8SmMazrv5rN8/s640/blogger-image-1216975103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7REf6Njv6JnLd9IZoaTGU3Oq0_Nq0gApn1rNYpn15lQJe3SpjfN5ZiVCKwE8tfBczmkM5hkic7hEOi4lxmHNFRn50Mdo0wZp3EM89-JXXkoNPjPvn3Z16TDbot_4Xi7e8SmMazrv5rN8/s640/blogger-image-1216975103.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Finally more Imperial troops were able to respond to the Stormvermin attack, which left the Warrior Priest free to seek out the Skaven Heroes:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmClSKsiFmAJzB_OVOMwHb9TeYNdK20WxfE90ARQ21j6ytPXhoXddKWyK4CCLgfgAL26EqVCJJ1cPOwpeE7hIAjFDYdOuAqIP-1IALOyCK5A9cqxC-V46NJkVKN7Mhsw7UgghW7i4LwiA/s640/blogger-image-185890079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmClSKsiFmAJzB_OVOMwHb9TeYNdK20WxfE90ARQ21j6ytPXhoXddKWyK4CCLgfgAL26EqVCJJ1cPOwpeE7hIAjFDYdOuAqIP-1IALOyCK5A9cqxC-V46NJkVKN7Mhsw7UgghW7i4LwiA/s640/blogger-image-185890079.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>A 'thin red line' holds back the first wave of Skaven:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9qT7_tWLGjDIun_JwWsV5CfiVIsYAx8ixqrsOP8w7V7er1bbPBxlY2wnY7UNiiwURj07cq8Vg4xmmQ7DVMwroyNTOpXYFWmZFp3_jovuWMrdOfIBAl0fYASk5QlzkpMaKaBMD58uHug/s640/blogger-image--1845994290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9qT7_tWLGjDIun_JwWsV5CfiVIsYAx8ixqrsOP8w7V7er1bbPBxlY2wnY7UNiiwURj07cq8Vg4xmmQ7DVMwroyNTOpXYFWmZFp3_jovuWMrdOfIBAl0fYASk5QlzkpMaKaBMD58uHug/s640/blogger-image--1845994290.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>The Empire Champion gets stuck in and Skaven fall all around:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFs8BDxkBHoCL32nyqshy56pyn7a8HFaey_HT9MC3VKD25TB74-rLWCKkQdQFqPiV9JFNis2sqEr9vxUSjBwIofXolG0tLxmkQgRdA4bkWu2Hvtn2eHq-9qtWZibWljQwr-NH5uMeXdww/s640/blogger-image-1894327949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFs8BDxkBHoCL32nyqshy56pyn7a8HFaey_HT9MC3VKD25TB74-rLWCKkQdQFqPiV9JFNis2sqEr9vxUSjBwIofXolG0tLxmkQgRdA4bkWu2Hvtn2eHq-9qtWZibWljQwr-NH5uMeXdww/s640/blogger-image-1894327949.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Meanwhile, the Warrior Priest is locked in combat with the Stormvermin:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDDfFNgUOyNKis31zVjnMKugOwF1qCGqa_5O5TFAaEB6XbYfpvJmLTjpO5V_8dOWjuR1GQLFHmiYbpg4G5xBA-037oTRqDYIugE_NxlcoJqbKP7qrBjmky8H4CbMGpR6zCsqkOfQcGZ4/s640/blogger-image-2121453574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDDfFNgUOyNKis31zVjnMKugOwF1qCGqa_5O5TFAaEB6XbYfpvJmLTjpO5V_8dOWjuR1GQLFHmiYbpg4G5xBA-037oTRqDYIugE_NxlcoJqbKP7qrBjmky8H4CbMGpR6zCsqkOfQcGZ4/s640/blogger-image-2121453574.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>The fighting gets desperate at the field as the second wave of Skaven join the fray! At this point there are a lot of dead rats compared to humans, but it didn't stop it from feeling a bit overwhelming!:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnlXwj4ZCEwbm5X3k0OHoIerdADfhgrmWgLYN4vGjfGBTkmHs0ZthTPEDEmosZCAM8U-XU5DwsL6qBIeemKkKr24iKAuXaSbFi40Xln2AkrCGGkeqaG1EfNApNWXVkrz26Sai1srAa8o/s640/blogger-image--892000598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnlXwj4ZCEwbm5X3k0OHoIerdADfhgrmWgLYN4vGjfGBTkmHs0ZthTPEDEmosZCAM8U-XU5DwsL6qBIeemKkKr24iKAuXaSbFi40Xln2AkrCGGkeqaG1EfNApNWXVkrz26Sai1srAa8o/s640/blogger-image--892000598.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>The rats try and break through, but the Empire stands firm!:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLM3tCpo0hyuDC5rgmj8ccPJOzlgNFIL68dWQGtJuyeqdO-kOLP4YPcQizO14vEU7JDIUrvPcMogIn5A6xBe1v0k4jy9qwvWlEqRjU7r6BDe5vRmwSY0zLNa4PBzlGNbiznyDP0lCWrc8/s640/blogger-image--692253995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLM3tCpo0hyuDC5rgmj8ccPJOzlgNFIL68dWQGtJuyeqdO-kOLP4YPcQizO14vEU7JDIUrvPcMogIn5A6xBe1v0k4jy9qwvWlEqRjU7r6BDe5vRmwSY0zLNa4PBzlGNbiznyDP0lCWrc8/s640/blogger-image--692253995.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Finally, the assassin who had been biding his time leaps into combat against the Warrior Priest:</div><div> <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcRqirrt4HdanTCWgVuKl0zlrSpc5sVipX7pCHOe-NVblyKcdagYle_7kS_QKg6YoNifk2vT25___WpGQkWaqgxe4JuJrnOtx9LpPz0TMIJH0mWw_BeFxOxpJRkNlv_F4jC4_reoSXNw/s640/blogger-image-1230046755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcRqirrt4HdanTCWgVuKl0zlrSpc5sVipX7pCHOe-NVblyKcdagYle_7kS_QKg6YoNifk2vT25___WpGQkWaqgxe4JuJrnOtx9LpPz0TMIJH0mWw_BeFxOxpJRkNlv_F4jC4_reoSXNw/s640/blogger-image-1230046755.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>A view from the Skaven lines. At this point the outflanking party had all been killed, leaving the Imperial troops to join the main battle. Lots of casualties on both sides at this point!:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRSquYLctSU8BoYOJPAsEdNctOVw14u1V-Jb0b0VvPAkU3sPtOUMhHFSZkofzOYPMocW5zSZDpPXvC4kj8DJN4eS1u3LnhMZZG7ekcLtJMBRNxsvRY9GAYfsr11XQibGUcUprb6xqkyQ/s640/blogger-image--1234695130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRSquYLctSU8BoYOJPAsEdNctOVw14u1V-Jb0b0VvPAkU3sPtOUMhHFSZkofzOYPMocW5zSZDpPXvC4kj8DJN4eS1u3LnhMZZG7ekcLtJMBRNxsvRY9GAYfsr11XQibGUcUprb6xqkyQ/s640/blogger-image--1234695130.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>The heroes are still locked in battle, but the Warrior Priest is wounded by the Assassin:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvBOYcr3hc07ITGKmPsfAK1YADqPSOQz3T8I5MRJtaMueexjtMd2zr5iVqpRVbnlEeAhtBWwp2hrpc7ctwWp4ORO2wekIpJqGH45c321slg0ZosiFmOl0YJSojn_9d1QZC7gJE625uEw/s640/blogger-image--118479483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvBOYcr3hc07ITGKmPsfAK1YADqPSOQz3T8I5MRJtaMueexjtMd2zr5iVqpRVbnlEeAhtBWwp2hrpc7ctwWp4ORO2wekIpJqGH45c321slg0ZosiFmOl0YJSojn_9d1QZC7gJE625uEw/s640/blogger-image--118479483.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>A second wound causes him to fall to the ground! Things do not look good for the Empire:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLERy9U32wonLUjp16ysvNWgrU3iasdN2RRGm3o3HvOb5eWXimDzvIqVE1iG6ZFlZNbOx7cInbp1N_hs68ORez7uo2FEijWirdgOqNMD32kq2yG86VfPSj2QhgnJA0DgvISd3UJc7Nds/s640/blogger-image-18007920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLERy9U32wonLUjp16ysvNWgrU3iasdN2RRGm3o3HvOb5eWXimDzvIqVE1iG6ZFlZNbOx7cInbp1N_hs68ORez7uo2FEijWirdgOqNMD32kq2yG86VfPSj2QhgnJA0DgvISd3UJc7Nds/s640/blogger-image-18007920.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>And in the same turn, the Empire Champion is also killed by a lucky blow from a Clanrat! With no more leaders, the Imperial troops are forced to withdraw...:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8S8PV1YMe2UWxC0KXuQSl8NKPAXQpthxcvIhjJ0diKIpS0ghbUQjd3DO9pVViWsHg-qzFhXkKivH2CxmNPgIpVkL3ROmCzHdeoQEHg5AKlNH2stv3xuKlAJUCKqrBdIOaf8gfLm01mY/s640/blogger-image--1029273324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8S8PV1YMe2UWxC0KXuQSl8NKPAXQpthxcvIhjJ0diKIpS0ghbUQjd3DO9pVViWsHg-qzFhXkKivH2CxmNPgIpVkL3ROmCzHdeoQEHg5AKlNH2stv3xuKlAJUCKqrBdIOaf8gfLm01mY/s640/blogger-image--1029273324.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Victory for the Skaven! It was a fun and brutal game! The Darkstorme rules worked well for this kind of skirmish, with very little need to refer to the rules during play. I look forward to fighting more battles in the future (and maybe finding out if the Empire can retake that farm!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Do you play Darkestorme or other skirmish games with Warhammer figures? I'd like this hear about your experiences. Comments are welcome as always!</div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-51740118239322774672015-04-22T12:20:00.000+01:002015-04-22T14:34:52.315+01:00A look at: DarkestormeDarkestorme is the name of <a href="http://www.alternative-armies.com/">Alternative Armies</a>' high fantasy skirmish game (although it is also supported by their sister company <a href="http://www.15mm.co.uk/">15mm.co.uk</a>). The back of the A5 book promises a pretty comprehensive ruleset for 60 pages and says it is for those who like a more traditional high fantasy feel in their miniature gaming. So does it deliver?<br>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQL8JKs-Cv8a6xAXs-JNokrN9TysB9x2R-HMrMimEGBzezkCLSpOz03TGdQSEys1pJmDgtbBaAyQvcGsg-zf7xPMXVxKSFo8xoM-G3xAi2wl7tX5-sqRPcaPeO-FkoU-8DIGWTRJeGp9s/s640/blogger-image-1620273145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQL8JKs-Cv8a6xAXs-JNokrN9TysB9x2R-HMrMimEGBzezkCLSpOz03TGdQSEys1pJmDgtbBaAyQvcGsg-zf7xPMXVxKSFo8xoM-G3xAi2wl7tX5-sqRPcaPeO-FkoU-8DIGWTRJeGp9s/s640/blogger-image-1620273145.jpg"></a></div><br>
<br>
<b>Whats in the book?</b><br>
<br>
The book starts off with a contents page and a decent map of Valon. This is the nominal setting of the game, but not one enforced by the rules as such. Players are free to use whatever figures they want and in fact the figure ranges by AA and 15mm.co.uk are pretty generic high fantasy (and certainly worth a look if you are in to old-school type games).<br>
<br>
Let's take a look at the various sections in the book before moving on to how the game plays.<br>
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<u>The History of Valon in the Darke Age </u><br>
The title sums up the contents of the first section! As with other AA products, this is a detailed background and interesting to read. For anyone who plays Slaughterloo or Flintloque, it is worth a read to find out about Valon before the advent of black powder weapons. In fact much of it is more 'serious' in tone than those other games, with much less of the tongue in cheek place names and such. Worth a read even for those who normally skip the fluff!<br>
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<u>Darkestorme: The Rules of Warfayre</u><br>
This section presents the bulk of the rules. Here is information on the basics of combat, terrain, weather, monsters and so forth. Terrain generation consists of rolls on two tables, one for the general terrain type and then one for terrain features. A roll for a more wild general terrain will give more rolls on the second table. The third table is the most interesting, however. Not technically terrain set up, it involves rolling for each unit to determine when they make contact with the enemy. This can range from being caught in a trap to spotting the enemy from a distance. In practice this means your opponent may be able to set up your unit, or you might be able to choose an initial placement, but your enemy can move your figures a certain number of inches. This is an interesting method and could yield some chaotic set ups!<br>
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After set up, a roll for weather is made, with the usual range of effects (plus the chance of a magic storm making wizards more powerful!). Finally a check can be made for special terrain. This brings to mind early (and I think one of the more recent) versions of Warhammer where not all terrain is your standard forest or scrub. Some of the 'terrain' is truly special and can include magic creature which attack players, or a giant poisonous mushroom! It certainly is good inspiration if players want to expand on this and make up their own special terrain as well.<br>
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The rest of this section covers the turn structure and combat, which I shall return to in a bit.<br>
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<u>Other things in Warfayre</u><br>
After the main bulk of the rules, there is an additional section covering cavalry, artillery and chariots, should players wish to include these in their games. A generous list of spells is also located here, divided across 10 levels of power, most of which contain around 7 or 8 spells. This gives lots of variation for people who like their wizards!<br>
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<u>Creating Characters and Units</u> <br>
This covers the creation of warbands and heroes (or villains!) and includes lists of weapons, armour, magic items and skills.<br>
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<u>Scenarios and Campaigns </u><br>
Possibly the weakest section in the book. This is a simple introduction to creating your own scenarios and a list of how experience points and money is gained. The implication seems to be that an Umpire would be governing how a campaign is run, so there is no real detail on this, which is a shame.<br>
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<u>The Races and Bestiary</u><br>
The final section in the book gives a decent list of stats for the different races in Valon, but also a comprehensive points system allowing you to create game information for any figures in your collection. There are also special rules for larger monsters, such as Trolls, Giants and Dragons.<div>
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<b>How does the game play?</b><br>
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Characters in the game have scores they need to achieve on 2d6 in order to cause a wound, resist a wound caused to them and resist magic powers. In addition to this they have a move and run rate in inches. So a basic human might walk 6 inches, run 9 inches, cause a wound on 9+, resist a wound on 8+ and resist magic on a 5+.<br>
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Characters are grouped into Units and lead by a Leader and a Sub-Leader. If the leader falls, the Sub-Leader can take command. It is usually worth having both as a Unit with no leaders will flee the battle!<br>
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Initiative is an opposed 2d6 roll, with the winner deciding the order in which Units will activate. When a Unit activates, its members can act in turn taking up to two actions to move, attack etc. If you are within the 'Reach' score of your weapon you can make an attack. Ranged attacks also roll against the 'Cause Wound' score but have an additional range modifier (-1 per 6" distance) and usually require an action to reload. Mages usually cast magic successfully (with a small chance of failure or a backfire), but the target gets a chance to resist. Armour gives the wearer a save roll and may break in the process, and the same is true of shields. There are also a handful of special rules and abilities which can be used to spice up your heroes and leaders.<br>
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All in all it is a pretty simple game, or perhaps I should call it straightforward as too many people seem to take 'simple' as being a negative thing. It is similar to games like G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. in that the mechanics are straightforward and give a relatively quick, fun game.</div><div>
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I'll have to say straight up that I quite enjoy these rules! They fill a certain gap for me in that they have a real 'old-school' feel to them and I can plonk a handful of figures on my table and play a game in an hour or so without having to think too hard about the rules. This is ideal for the times when I don't want to fight a large battle or play a game that is highly detailed or complex.<br>
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In the interest of fairness, I have to say that they are not without flaws (which rules aren't?!). Most oddly, the points calculation seems to result in characters costing more if they are <i>less</i> able to resist magic! There a few ways to correct this, but I opt for changing Resist Magic rolls so they need to score equal or lower, rather than equal or higher. <br>
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I also prefer to ignore the chance of armour breaking. Take, for example, 'Acceptable' armour with a rating of 2. This means you can prevent a wound on a roll of 1 or 2. But all armour breaks if you roll equal to the armour rating. So while it has a 1 in 3 chance of stopping a wound, it also has a 50% chance of breaking when it does so! I'd have a right go at the blacksmith for calling that 'acceptable'! If I was using the rules for armour breaking, I'd probably just have it break on a 6, or require a separate roll to see if it broke.<br>
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But neither of the above are major things that stop me enjoying the rules. For a mere £8 I consider them to be well worth the money and they are now my fantasy skirmish rules of choice. You can buy them from Alternative Armies <a href="http://www.alternative-armies.com/products/darkestorme-fantasy-skirmish-wargame-rules">here</a> and AA also provide free PDF documents in support of the system if you drop them an email.<div><br></div><div>Check out these rules if you want an old-school style fantasy skirmish game that is easy to expand with your own special rules and adapt to your own collection of figures. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwVt-IXs1e87AIJ5V36ARzpeOvVehYqrFiQhqWKAHuQeahApqkMA4XIa063xFHgeH4s2O6sWfbT1NkCFPPAyptzFsluy6cRA_8F5YWgBE4aZ3pDHgKzdrTZLENalk7rwB-PO8zUZbR_Y/s640/blogger-image--1247424954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwVt-IXs1e87AIJ5V36ARzpeOvVehYqrFiQhqWKAHuQeahApqkMA4XIa063xFHgeH4s2O6sWfbT1NkCFPPAyptzFsluy6cRA_8F5YWgBE4aZ3pDHgKzdrTZLENalk7rwB-PO8zUZbR_Y/s640/blogger-image--1247424954.jpg"></a></div><br>
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<b> </b></div></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-60921254540380759682015-04-08T11:52:00.001+01:002015-04-08T11:52:18.946+01:00My thoughts on Hordes of the ThingsToday I was asked on Twitter whether Hordes of the Things was any good or worth getting into. Needless to say, Twitter's limit on characters means I can't give a full reply there (unless you count 'Yes' as a full reply, so I thought I'd write a brief blog post on the subject!<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVYxIE5NTPXXWkDqcFHniWv06Gmob3i6dvpTspRAEJATZnZzoM8kx8BJEty6tB5AoICB0fBuUhaJfOx-7h2xw6pifecuVpnAyJoCjRfvq60xpFl9tp-p5lbUvYP6S1cydm2-SE-z2kDQ/s640/blogger-image-343421170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVYxIE5NTPXXWkDqcFHniWv06Gmob3i6dvpTspRAEJATZnZzoM8kx8BJEty6tB5AoICB0fBuUhaJfOx-7h2xw6pifecuVpnAyJoCjRfvq60xpFl9tp-p5lbUvYP6S1cydm2-SE-z2kDQ/s640/blogger-image-343421170.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br><div><br></div><div>For me, HotT fulfils a specific niche in my collection. I'll outline and explain the reasons for this below:</div><div><br></div><div><u>Simple yet effective rules</u></div><div><br></div><div>Although sometimes not written in the clearest way, the rules are really quite simple. However, they do lead to some tough decision making during games. Drawing an analogy with chess would be unfair to both games, but it gives you an idea of how these rules are very much simple to learn but hard to master. </div><div><br></div><div>The combat system is a d6 roll off with modifiers for the troop type and terrain etc. The winning side will usually push back the other on a higher score, but the enemy is destroyed if their score is doubled. Variations on this reflect the effectiveness of certain elements against others. </div><div><br></div><div><u>Doesn't cost the Earth to get into</u></div><div><u><br></u></div><div>The cost of a typical army for HotT is less than that of a regiment for most other games. The system follows a fairly normal basing convention of 2-4 figures per base (on a 40mm frontage for 15mm figures). Each base represents several hundred troops. </div><div><br></div><div><u>Flexible army lists</u></div><div><br></div><div>The army lists in the rule book are suggestions of how the system can cover different types of fantasy armies. From traditional fantasy, to mythic fantasy, to the settings of various authors. There are no hard and fast rules though. Typically you field a 24 point army, with most bases costing 2 points. When you get over the fact that there are no fixed lists to 'have fun with' you suddenly realise how liberating it is to choose any army you want! This invariably leads down the route of wanting 'just one more army', usually after reading a book or watching a film! It's great for wargamers who want to try something different and not min/max a force for tournament play!</div><div><br></div><div><u>Quick to play</u></div><div><u><br></u></div><div>Games of HotT don't usually last more than an hour and it is possible to play a best of three or five in one sitting. The game is addictive in that way and I often find myself wanting 'just one more'. There are rules for playing with multiple armies on each side and a simple campaign system. Both of these add to the length of a game, but even a campaign can be played in a whole afternoon. </div><div><br></div><div><u>Why might I not like it?</u></div><div><u><br></u></div><div>This is as important as the reasons I've listed above. A guess in a nutshell it is as far from games like Warhammer as you can get. There are no buckets of dice, no multitude of special rules and no amazing magic powers or spells (in fact magic is basically powerful artillery). I play the occasional game of Warhammer hammer when I want a zany, anything goes fantasy experience. The rest of the time I play HotT as it is more suited to battles you might get in Lord of The Rings, Game of Thrones or even Narnia: any kind of more 'grounded' fantasy setting. </div><div><br></div><div>I'd probably say to you, do a Google search for the rules and take a look at the vast range of armies people play using these rules. If any of them look like fun to you, then HotT is probably a game you'd like. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-64866061247029556552015-04-08T10:08:00.001+01:002015-04-13T15:17:13.633+01:00Big HotT game<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Fa1Fscx6hgJZRxTIHMv9MArzvmlJKA5Xn_3kZqGdDAnpnNOBcOm2M6-1AGlPfl5eKzmEO293LDPILCBlxYrED1LWVW397KL1iQSiW33rckVekHLMNFXrqWlxZJ47-AQdh9SVft2XJ24/s640/blogger-image-303848527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Utilising the impetus I gained during my last two Hordes of the Things games, I decided to go all out and try a big game with almost everything I have painted hitting the table! I'm not following the rules in the book precisely for this, just having fun and seeing what happens. <div><br></div><div>Here's the initial set up. At the top of the table are two evil armies, at the bottom to three human ones. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HwNb_gJHFAm_uxp6w2OACbsh3oBFnWxC1rjmzqhMx5mNubcCK7WcJxNP56JPCqvsrAnR-IZ2dddwG_lywvnSCKbq7mBovZCkHxEMd4cmvk7zkhH3GDjwX9dCpNqdRcw9t8RK_R3vf10/s640/blogger-image-507382073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HwNb_gJHFAm_uxp6w2OACbsh3oBFnWxC1rjmzqhMx5mNubcCK7WcJxNP56JPCqvsrAnR-IZ2dddwG_lywvnSCKbq7mBovZCkHxEMd4cmvk7zkhH3GDjwX9dCpNqdRcw9t8RK_R3vf10/s640/blogger-image-507382073.jpg"></a></div><br><div>Clockwise from top left these are:</div><div><br></div><div>Ratmen: mostly Warband with some Shooters and a smattering of Beasts, Riders and Heros. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lU2IQMKnju70WYwcMmMqzQV-T3G4NhIzjNd9n-VUc3s_Wk1bCSw-TRrPtaxajqoG3QbMWeALHoGp_0TONR4q5ZOlZ9pNBz3Ebq-NiotCxkPnzHpSiSGb4FysOTntOA1xAQkPunyjXuE/s640/blogger-image-1987877611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lU2IQMKnju70WYwcMmMqzQV-T3G4NhIzjNd9n-VUc3s_Wk1bCSw-TRrPtaxajqoG3QbMWeALHoGp_0TONR4q5ZOlZ9pNBz3Ebq-NiotCxkPnzHpSiSGb4FysOTntOA1xAQkPunyjXuE/s640/blogger-image-1987877611.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The rats are allied with a mixed force. Chaos Dwarfs, Chaos and Undead knights, a wizard, a skeleton giant and some wolves, led by a wraith on a winged mount. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2F9a-EtKrqQJkSNwcUMs9BAzbhUPWY-YqjnvtjRz0JrnxiiSD2tSqyN_CBW5hXLnlHOUW6oU5DUsjfwCe7qQFtvX9-X6XdrXH3jxrdk0WhwruKl8DW2ifUd4Ph2vt_-WatVsd0v5npw/s640/blogger-image--1960482973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2F9a-EtKrqQJkSNwcUMs9BAzbhUPWY-YqjnvtjRz0JrnxiiSD2tSqyN_CBW5hXLnlHOUW6oU5DUsjfwCe7qQFtvX9-X6XdrXH3jxrdk0WhwruKl8DW2ifUd4Ph2vt_-WatVsd0v5npw/s640/blogger-image--1960482973.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Facing this tide of evil are (from right to left): </div><div><br></div><div>A band of human archers and riders led by a mounted hero (These are from my Wallachian army for DBA):</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1jN_VWEyRNt6e5-tEQbsF0XJURC24bGlDFBgyxJMur7kxqDwnjueHWDwce4rO5nOIaDwj1LOktdvwaoUfol6lBf4NxXQ4gcJH8o018L9_a8PbhPP2Y_wxylqUbH2THOgasRFgYCy7T4/s640/blogger-image--8557005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1jN_VWEyRNt6e5-tEQbsF0XJURC24bGlDFBgyxJMur7kxqDwnjueHWDwce4rO5nOIaDwj1LOktdvwaoUfol6lBf4NxXQ4gcJH8o018L9_a8PbhPP2Y_wxylqUbH2THOgasRFgYCy7T4/s640/blogger-image--8557005.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Human Riders and Knights, along with a cannon and peasant rabble. These are most of a Ottoman Turk army for DBA: </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOOo5e_RoyEOZAvcmP5nO1CJzTh-ewzpVPWRo8PkPuyFBe9MexSrJQu5hw1pamtKfymSudkCWKQaCMbfmLDhCjImxqBAsjabHwjr4bt1sJBAXJCU4wTF1IpWy4AjMuP0LkkCwhi4oDIc/s640/blogger-image-397718544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOOo5e_RoyEOZAvcmP5nO1CJzTh-ewzpVPWRo8PkPuyFBe9MexSrJQu5hw1pamtKfymSudkCWKQaCMbfmLDhCjImxqBAsjabHwjr4bt1sJBAXJCU4wTF1IpWy4AjMuP0LkkCwhi4oDIc/s640/blogger-image-397718544.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div>And a selection of Blade and Spear elements, a Northman contingient. And yes, you guessed it, they are incomplete Viking and Saxon DBA armies!:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqx8TT4En7VOX0qE-01vTtsKzGL5W6VDwEEvR_LyZBIEmhjIhkK_t4aprUMG3o6-O-SKmrQcLMHBEvn8rM5ILUNZDkI6tBJXcO85eIZ988Qifw_UB_J9KelTf8rAtGg4XJpqLLpAm71LI/s640/blogger-image-1951751832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqx8TT4En7VOX0qE-01vTtsKzGL5W6VDwEEvR_LyZBIEmhjIhkK_t4aprUMG3o6-O-SKmrQcLMHBEvn8rM5ILUNZDkI6tBJXcO85eIZ988Qifw_UB_J9KelTf8rAtGg4XJpqLLpAm71LI/s640/blogger-image-1951751832.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>After a few turns, the battle proper is starting. On the right, the evil army is holding the hill while the wolves try to flank the horsemen:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivYHH2KqanBxNbX1k8Eg2h554ugSrJffdFa0xfQayYBy0dhosSTQP75NT1uxJoSr6W6bCCGOfZrKP2NZCvN0tZJitVOW5jpeBO5-WYkamZVFKWnHpBXJ8Y2irrS-gyBneEtnuP7j_V1M/s640/blogger-image-616068201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivYHH2KqanBxNbX1k8Eg2h554ugSrJffdFa0xfQayYBy0dhosSTQP75NT1uxJoSr6W6bCCGOfZrKP2NZCvN0tZJitVOW5jpeBO5-WYkamZVFKWnHpBXJ8Y2irrS-gyBneEtnuP7j_V1M/s640/blogger-image-616068201.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the centre (on the right of the pic below), evil knights have moved round the other side of the woods the wolves are in to exploit a gap. The human knights are moving to meet them. On the left the Ratmen are moving slowly forward, as are the Northmen:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BogBAoVAO7AHhMiVFFDJYP6QgrW6yL-B1LFJwigfugFePWXm4Ik-aBdlmgnM8dELkHV68RFDbAgFR1ua9ob1LzhAiH1TohEJ8xdgX_q1kf6IKZij3C7dQq55R3zfQO6Qpbgk0oGJmPs/s640/blogger-image--1041841381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BogBAoVAO7AHhMiVFFDJYP6QgrW6yL-B1LFJwigfugFePWXm4Ik-aBdlmgnM8dELkHV68RFDbAgFR1ua9ob1LzhAiH1TohEJ8xdgX_q1kf6IKZij3C7dQq55R3zfQO6Qpbgk0oGJmPs/s640/blogger-image--1041841381.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Unfortunately an error was made which lead to some human cavalry being pushed back into their allies by bow fire and destroyed! First blood to the evil army! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOril2JnPsCr5EdeUiEQ5Tuarn2rI9C_0ubq9JW5e7VYrR_arVgTU0X51CLTYNN3ht6cvK7yszethra2DuOuxKpzfePvUnSJwzdr7lkla3YdwDRIUnjMRcAm8ZlkwartGBi-XQz2RNU4/s640/blogger-image-1037511644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOril2JnPsCr5EdeUiEQ5Tuarn2rI9C_0ubq9JW5e7VYrR_arVgTU0X51CLTYNN3ht6cvK7yszethra2DuOuxKpzfePvUnSJwzdr7lkla3YdwDRIUnjMRcAm8ZlkwartGBi-XQz2RNU4/s640/blogger-image-1037511644.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Battle is joined in ernest in the centre as the knights on both sides charge in. The result was indecisive, but the evil side were pushed back, with the humans following up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrm8ti1_rZa8DZMw5rc-iCStd5eO7e8OjSKX6bQsxZ1yGyykj11vBmLIUMNlxjlM600LoeUIBgtScOjo2AeDmf8_016t2Fp2cLQhC8TkEVnhL_HSCKvTie6rov7OtFRWse9Yy4nyrYos/s640/blogger-image--126544103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrm8ti1_rZa8DZMw5rc-iCStd5eO7e8OjSKX6bQsxZ1yGyykj11vBmLIUMNlxjlM600LoeUIBgtScOjo2AeDmf8_016t2Fp2cLQhC8TkEVnhL_HSCKvTie6rov7OtFRWse9Yy4nyrYos/s640/blogger-image--126544103.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Casualties start to mount on both sides:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6y5mYh9LczWxIR6sBSP1WZipaPGQlw5A6CZ7F67ple5Qs7qg7pDZpRSd4LLuU7NHBNcCv9Nw4JCmUS3wAAdSgocrN5-bqTiipMgYlnEa_c4N4jvAawz0K3_oKxQkqejv_GdpVt-cM2LI/s640/blogger-image-1950985851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6y5mYh9LczWxIR6sBSP1WZipaPGQlw5A6CZ7F67ple5Qs7qg7pDZpRSd4LLuU7NHBNcCv9Nw4JCmUS3wAAdSgocrN5-bqTiipMgYlnEa_c4N4jvAawz0K3_oKxQkqejv_GdpVt-cM2LI/s640/blogger-image-1950985851.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>On the left flank the humans reform against the rats while knights from both sides remain locked in battle:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZJ_Lc1Vic66-2gvtqQnMrW1QaX6TrcHiyHWPBz98e5hlHBs4OFjxO1RshhP0auLAsDdsLAdA4kjCqjGQMY38mapo7QSXoot_id3ObTuw_rqGlSvcnaWAqLMWREAoV0GXNcLU8NrSGik/s640/blogger-image-481270278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZJ_Lc1Vic66-2gvtqQnMrW1QaX6TrcHiyHWPBz98e5hlHBs4OFjxO1RshhP0auLAsDdsLAdA4kjCqjGQMY38mapo7QSXoot_id3ObTuw_rqGlSvcnaWAqLMWREAoV0GXNcLU8NrSGik/s640/blogger-image-481270278.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cavalry try to outflank the Ratman archers:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJU4YA4jHxwq2N0HNSJ8DW64i5ajEe5MVU6aD3Ep3xxMd3r4nqgpk1ZoC63WZgcC4OVFPCqQWI9axOLDELe9Q827LT5COJqe73FF_Tva-sZb-jjhUmVxf5iei_tMWHRV7jDZa-qpvnssQ/s640/blogger-image--1538745117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJU4YA4jHxwq2N0HNSJ8DW64i5ajEe5MVU6aD3Ep3xxMd3r4nqgpk1ZoC63WZgcC4OVFPCqQWI9axOLDELe9Q827LT5COJqe73FF_Tva-sZb-jjhUmVxf5iei_tMWHRV7jDZa-qpvnssQ/s640/blogger-image--1538745117.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As the last of the wolves is defeated, the Ratman hero joins the fray:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCY3YznCx7Q0gwneRSUj6LwJQCnakl910ano2Vbqd4qe_t7bHI_PZy2bGNpOtLHa4j00xZTJuFeN7g11HXBdNmTi_WlcfQs-u7MXUtrY9BlD5KZxXfA9Z8EEGr4RG_C7DBPjD9DmOZr8U/s640/blogger-image-149201171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCY3YznCx7Q0gwneRSUj6LwJQCnakl910ano2Vbqd4qe_t7bHI_PZy2bGNpOtLHa4j00xZTJuFeN7g11HXBdNmTi_WlcfQs-u7MXUtrY9BlD5KZxXfA9Z8EEGr4RG_C7DBPjD9DmOZr8U/s640/blogger-image-149201171.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ratman archers are eliminated as the human cavalry continue to harass the flank and face the hero:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4P18zHRBxVXTR7CWmxef9on2qpUglBotnjnRMA6Mo96K754klwRXQj-Y_YnErhpxi5vnHhPNqL3Rl3Whf1I_yl27SQeeW9wh9c_WYnESWtMohZe6Mh9us0VGfpdMdZ-MR9ZRy5kfty0/s640/blogger-image--1388313908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4P18zHRBxVXTR7CWmxef9on2qpUglBotnjnRMA6Mo96K754klwRXQj-Y_YnErhpxi5vnHhPNqL3Rl3Whf1I_yl27SQeeW9wh9c_WYnESWtMohZe6Mh9us0VGfpdMdZ-MR9ZRy5kfty0/s640/blogger-image--1388313908.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">An element of human knights falls:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrcSXn7-usSugp2pjRjAbghLBtzTcjT82L8qPE7AmHgfv7Cfph83a_6A8pB0-SGAFkfLwGVNZdmQMgYS2rSvTf_ZSxMj6cHUHMpTq-I8VUox6cxKPSIixUY75_-Fdyuds3WO7zawsrmk/s640/blogger-image--967743944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrcSXn7-usSugp2pjRjAbghLBtzTcjT82L8qPE7AmHgfv7Cfph83a_6A8pB0-SGAFkfLwGVNZdmQMgYS2rSvTf_ZSxMj6cHUHMpTq-I8VUox6cxKPSIixUY75_-Fdyuds3WO7zawsrmk/s640/blogger-image--967743944.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The humans try to reform their line as casualties mount on both sides:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TVfWjKDMqv0B7uN3ikfTH_C2-zpezyTR-Z_nNW9VW-QKScOVmH9k_1a6cqLNDfSPtyzrr88dVC8s0qWx1HbcDDSRhbblHUPhdWfgKY611YJ4foyr3mXnRoY2-kWDxeotmwSA7fbElPQ/s640/blogger-image-741194658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TVfWjKDMqv0B7uN3ikfTH_C2-zpezyTR-Z_nNW9VW-QKScOVmH9k_1a6cqLNDfSPtyzrr88dVC8s0qWx1HbcDDSRhbblHUPhdWfgKY611YJ4foyr3mXnRoY2-kWDxeotmwSA7fbElPQ/s640/blogger-image-741194658.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ratmen wolf riders were slain, shortly followed by two elements of warband as the humans cheer:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOQFpajlEAXGPzkIiMRMmq3JdcpOLkSPJymz_ClBi3qlMg0rKmNNcx4gnJkyHvTfM2rmr7gVuxEaSYkEDCcNlUuopIwbrcqfCaeMTl-8fWnBtmsAMYKUF5FYSDmeSXt2NsdzJDS4ISyM/s640/blogger-image-1900131777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOQFpajlEAXGPzkIiMRMmq3JdcpOLkSPJymz_ClBi3qlMg0rKmNNcx4gnJkyHvTfM2rmr7gVuxEaSYkEDCcNlUuopIwbrcqfCaeMTl-8fWnBtmsAMYKUF5FYSDmeSXt2NsdzJDS4ISyM/s640/blogger-image-1900131777.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The level of casualties mean it is now hard for either side to maintain an effective battle line:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-byy4rOYiPRgbWKgl1YEqzcvQya7TNjcrqiMWgxFY3x2sMC14dVu9G8u4EH5IWK9kCgCL1EBn62ijZ4mr0fl00wnADeNaqYJASCRltqL_bkxnBsHOhRBqlGxPWwONBLYE2TU8Y8QYj8/s640/blogger-image-1951104641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-byy4rOYiPRgbWKgl1YEqzcvQya7TNjcrqiMWgxFY3x2sMC14dVu9G8u4EH5IWK9kCgCL1EBn62ijZ4mr0fl00wnADeNaqYJASCRltqL_bkxnBsHOhRBqlGxPWwONBLYE2TU8Y8QYj8/s640/blogger-image-1951104641.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Human spearmen fall to the rats:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfAOLoGtrhJyKNpwINYD2ak_6uW2w8bZsBI9er8jDkv57_xxROIz3Cla8PF3SIQAMEK__JOErfUj9HpnZByTM2TNvhSywmt2Fjh3bNE1JiLPrWUqy90G9kzg5lE_DDsnGuBgpkN-Ugg8/s640/blogger-image--1444913721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfAOLoGtrhJyKNpwINYD2ak_6uW2w8bZsBI9er8jDkv57_xxROIz3Cla8PF3SIQAMEK__JOErfUj9HpnZByTM2TNvhSywmt2Fjh3bNE1JiLPrWUqy90G9kzg5lE_DDsnGuBgpkN-Ugg8/s640/blogger-image--1444913721.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>At this point the battle was almost over on the left. Both sides had taken enough casualties for their forces to be demoralised, but all of them clung on until the bitter end. </div><div><br></div><div>The right flank was not as exciting. Human forces advanced against the Evil army's line while wolves lurked in the woods, ready to pounce. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcfnCXAvILPaNRRzHyE4bmEmOw1ljUPNW0_CNl1h949CEGYGTmDZeTK5DgTw0t-Kq8YvB9s0Wtw8bjkZ4itTSkWps-RFB6-od_rP34tqOUHYzBA5FX6bmx472JZNJYRzv0c9aQSEvZog/s640/blogger-image-603186764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcfnCXAvILPaNRRzHyE4bmEmOw1ljUPNW0_CNl1h949CEGYGTmDZeTK5DgTw0t-Kq8YvB9s0Wtw8bjkZ4itTSkWps-RFB6-od_rP34tqOUHYzBA5FX6bmx472JZNJYRzv0c9aQSEvZog/s640/blogger-image-603186764.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The wolves were eventually beaten offbu the human riders and hero, while the Chaos Dwarf bowmen were slowly ground down. Soon it reached a bit of a stalemate between the hero and the bone giant, with neither able to achieve a decisive advantage. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHnWbwfCpRaSS7r3lAXog6-GZEslEttOfymyjPDhmRysDkUeOuavzexbPcAVul4HoXVzT9fIpFcKSIC_tWflXZsom3RPOQTQXy4xJtcvEHSUUAI9JewxAdOVM-KRh-dJbTzgMokHC4E0/s640/blogger-image-267285088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHnWbwfCpRaSS7r3lAXog6-GZEslEttOfymyjPDhmRysDkUeOuavzexbPcAVul4HoXVzT9fIpFcKSIC_tWflXZsom3RPOQTQXy4xJtcvEHSUUAI9JewxAdOVM-KRh-dJbTzgMokHC4E0/s640/blogger-image-267285088.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Final casualties (% of points fielded):</div><div><br></div><div>Humans:</div><div>Northmen: 88%</div><div>'Turks': 72%</div><div>'Wallachians': 38%</div><div>TOTAL: 66%</div><div><br></div><div>Evil Armies:</div><div>Ratmen: 69%</div><div>Generic evil: 47%</div><div>TOTAL: 60%</div><div><br></div><div>So it was a very close run battle. I think out of the remaining forces, the Wallachians were best placed to regroup and continue. I'm not sure the unbroken evil army would have lasted long against them. So I am declaring this a marginal human victory, and a very fun game!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-42672794581577237402015-04-05T09:58:00.001+01:002015-04-08T08:57:23.258+01:00Xmas HotT: 2nd GameAfter the victory against the Ratmen, it was time for a more challenging foe. The next battle for the Xmas army would be against an amalgamation of half finished forces, chaos dwarves, chaos and undead. This army is more heavy on elements that either quick kill or get higher combat modifiers against beasts or mounted, which is half the Xmas army!<div><br></div><div>The full list is:</div><div><br></div><div>Chaos Knights (Gen Kn): 2pts</div><div>Chaos Dwarf hero (Hero): 4pts</div><div>2x Chaos Knights (Knights): 4pts</div><div>3x Chaos Dwarf Xbows (Shooter): 6pts</div><div>2x Ratmen (Warband): 4pts</div><div>Skeleton Giant (Behemoth): 4pts</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeyJTVUNEaUezpi4u4FhCGPj781lN-Yo-2T59sqcEhDZ8t8FTyC3DPA-DZyTy-qgcVVNqWUj5Ru9ReB4dZiaidUccCmqfYpiVpbw1k-g-Uwu5HIBxxtrsfUP32gHbcdSMziSmUiBw_JQ/s640/blogger-image--1827164906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeyJTVUNEaUezpi4u4FhCGPj781lN-Yo-2T59sqcEhDZ8t8FTyC3DPA-DZyTy-qgcVVNqWUj5Ru9ReB4dZiaidUccCmqfYpiVpbw1k-g-Uwu5HIBxxtrsfUP32gHbcdSMziSmUiBw_JQ/s640/blogger-image--1827164906.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The armies lined up and ready. Seeing all the enemy elements that are good at killing Beasts is a bit daunting: </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlz2QZ6wZM4B4Sg0dV3DHGg5AzsF8rPzYXwkJfVKeSyvvLW9zmG2G-oTRkUchcYLnMcHcS09qT7GL7ts9HU3pWOQruGAj4uYtRXIMDKxBy3_lZSybvCXD74MdU1_8qzRIXcRQZ3bzCcg/s640/blogger-image-530296314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlz2QZ6wZM4B4Sg0dV3DHGg5AzsF8rPzYXwkJfVKeSyvvLW9zmG2G-oTRkUchcYLnMcHcS09qT7GL7ts9HU3pWOQruGAj4uYtRXIMDKxBy3_lZSybvCXD74MdU1_8qzRIXcRQZ3bzCcg/s640/blogger-image-530296314.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Battle is joined in the centre:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliVi5VoFSDhfb5qsQqZWguWz3hyphenhyphencDTQTvNGDBKnxfkzukh5o9lxzeLZSxSruy4-Spr08sO6ksgZfMWUj6qjoEleuzUnbcr67nRcZ4oDEgAd9jGgvs4azPmy_OUrGTwk7tQReLSj9A4vY/s640/blogger-image-799305476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliVi5VoFSDhfb5qsQqZWguWz3hyphenhyphencDTQTvNGDBKnxfkzukh5o9lxzeLZSxSruy4-Spr08sO6ksgZfMWUj6qjoEleuzUnbcr67nRcZ4oDEgAd9jGgvs4azPmy_OUrGTwk7tQReLSj9A4vY/s640/blogger-image-799305476.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Given that Beasts, Warband, and Knights all follow up after winning melee, it was never going to be a static battle line!: </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWYc8a4I4werZAVL0N3xsAwsFgT3_7qXzxsRIt_jOVTypTajG-9Phto9-lTJDI9BhX_TdzjGWbRNHBUyOr20OuRiwzveGFFhunmRTriA22Kkm5L9xTT8yZ7YMuRR3Xhl56oal3Tveysc/s640/blogger-image-1022616261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWYc8a4I4werZAVL0N3xsAwsFgT3_7qXzxsRIt_jOVTypTajG-9Phto9-lTJDI9BhX_TdzjGWbRNHBUyOr20OuRiwzveGFFhunmRTriA22Kkm5L9xTT8yZ7YMuRR3Xhl56oal3Tveysc/s640/blogger-image-1022616261.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The Wraith moves over from the left flank to prevent the Knights from breaking through. The rightmost pair of Warband use the hight advantage from the hill to force the other Knights back:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5Zt8rdBPe5hLCVyovJsPVkMaspXmfcBrdCqTj5VF6rkvA6GEpwH4V5iZscZPtdTmcQlskKko2DCJuk9Dgooz85zwE3c80BtXXCa4Zy0qLDTcWbzp7HkI72Jgf7h-wIqveNmKogBAtT8/s640/blogger-image--194004659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5Zt8rdBPe5hLCVyovJsPVkMaspXmfcBrdCqTj5VF6rkvA6GEpwH4V5iZscZPtdTmcQlskKko2DCJuk9Dgooz85zwE3c80BtXXCa4Zy0qLDTcWbzp7HkI72Jgf7h-wIqveNmKogBAtT8/s640/blogger-image--194004659.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>A change in the enemy's plan. The general withdraws and the crossbows start to pick off the Christmas trees:</div><div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixynOuDwFtOkvN_cdAqMid6POaso5NdbV6LrWkW8r4HrMsexxE4a_TKLqkrPMoCN5aHq73nFpIY5Ij6ikh17j1oktEmwZzuucrIcaS8Woa9TXqIArdjSq_Wpfskmk6DxAnorSd6S1xChI/s640/blogger-image-1638377411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixynOuDwFtOkvN_cdAqMid6POaso5NdbV6LrWkW8r4HrMsexxE4a_TKLqkrPMoCN5aHq73nFpIY5Ij6ikh17j1oktEmwZzuucrIcaS8Woa9TXqIArdjSq_Wpfskmk6DxAnorSd6S1xChI/s640/blogger-image-1638377411.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Wraith follows up the enemy general. The Chaos Dwarf hero on the left holds off the snowmen and the crossbows on the right advance to maximise their shooting against the trees:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AQmnzOY1OYB2Vm3HQALqB3v7hYYteMqUFaqFU3wu2lw1brF_8dXvYrghvhbT0Kba34T81qGttvjVpBkw9bcioV4sedMlCwLLVLFtnGCv51wEu-WpIXWbz9_le6z6NTw54CC_HhhYYIU/s640/blogger-image--107818824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AQmnzOY1OYB2Vm3HQALqB3v7hYYteMqUFaqFU3wu2lw1brF_8dXvYrghvhbT0Kba34T81qGttvjVpBkw9bcioV4sedMlCwLLVLFtnGCv51wEu-WpIXWbz9_le6z6NTw54CC_HhhYYIU/s640/blogger-image--107818824.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Things are looking desperate now. The bone giant and Ratmen have advanced off the hill and the crossbows have done their worst. The hero and general are holding the enemy's centre against all my efforts:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FiDJBxZi_e99TtuOg1nXGRPlMOo_3imn00SvZuuMxi_C_jDhS73Qq70tdtwyj948BWeAMUJ3B5eSum_VndyvgoLhRd8LgqK1njypupxVNkr-gmlt3Dx6F4uOyZgbhCQomovHe_cLfOQ/s640/blogger-image--62966276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FiDJBxZi_e99TtuOg1nXGRPlMOo_3imn00SvZuuMxi_C_jDhS73Qq70tdtwyj948BWeAMUJ3B5eSum_VndyvgoLhRd8LgqK1njypupxVNkr-gmlt3Dx6F4uOyZgbhCQomovHe_cLfOQ/s640/blogger-image--62966276.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The bitter end. Although my final element of Trees destroyed an element of crossbows, my Warband were defeated by the enemy general and the Christmas army lost:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHQbFahl1UBqHSDaZYtuE4YRfTZjSr2AztJHooVOwifxWzHBGGNqQ-CxfoQZQ9_lannwl8Xz2kPzwmjO9JbTeg3-LBXjIogxkWpB7cxIL5sWkoRJMoONVXqHMUcoUBlyST-zzf45a-Rg/s640/blogger-image-1766283391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHQbFahl1UBqHSDaZYtuE4YRfTZjSr2AztJHooVOwifxWzHBGGNqQ-CxfoQZQ9_lannwl8Xz2kPzwmjO9JbTeg3-LBXjIogxkWpB7cxIL5sWkoRJMoONVXqHMUcoUBlyST-zzf45a-Rg/s640/blogger-image-1766283391.jpg"></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div>With gaps appearing in the line, the Wraith and Warband were hard pressed to stop the enemy taking advantage of the opportunities this presented. It didn't help that they were badly matched. The enemy were defending so there was very little bad going terrain for my army to take advantage of. That was a huge factor against the Knights. Also, needing to double up Warband elements to get their bonus and having a hero worth 3 times a normal unit meant the Xmas army is reliant on beasts to form the main width of their battle line. This is not a good proposition against an army like the one they faced. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So the Christmas Wraith returns to the Winterlands to lick his wounds and see what next Christmas will bring his growing army. I'm looking forward to developing this army with the next release from 15mm.co.uk. No idea what it will be at the moment, but some kind of mounted troops or missile armed ones would be nice!</span></div><div><br></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-89330014308587896052015-04-05T09:08:00.001+01:002015-04-05T16:24:01.865+01:00Easter DiversionMany years ago (and by that I mean 15-20) I received a Lego X-Wing for Easter. It was a pretty awesome Easter gift then and is even more awesome now! Better yet, I still own the kit so thought what better to blog about today than a Lego-building trip back to my youth?<div><br></div><div>Here's the box:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnE6PAGTQE262UaHoKUnyELhghI32IGA7xCFlK42cbpR-cpuqA3Ok0ubZ9yZX7jeQ2WTV5K41GJL83rppCf0WZD7smrlTvu9nNEJqP3tSB47-Iwjb5obR-SiHEp8n1_XxEduArEyQiGU/s640/blogger-image--2110923955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnE6PAGTQE262UaHoKUnyELhghI32IGA7xCFlK42cbpR-cpuqA3Ok0ubZ9yZX7jeQ2WTV5K41GJL83rppCf0WZD7smrlTvu9nNEJqP3tSB47-Iwjb5obR-SiHEp8n1_XxEduArEyQiGU/s640/blogger-image--2110923955.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>And the bits (hope they are all there!):</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShDSOJizeFTWzLKToDscoMO7Pw2pnN9DWC4dtIqaFFr4Cka_b8r5-LPw7Vzch8OPHHcsUhNB2kZcHDnefY_tkMK0wInDeSoH2x7IbSv7vhYV30unL7fB4LHsiVoyx2MXK-2oNDXJJhhQ/s640/blogger-image-1136323769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShDSOJizeFTWzLKToDscoMO7Pw2pnN9DWC4dtIqaFFr4Cka_b8r5-LPw7Vzch8OPHHcsUhNB2kZcHDnefY_tkMK0wInDeSoH2x7IbSv7vhYV30unL7fB4LHsiVoyx2MXK-2oNDXJJhhQ/s640/blogger-image-1136323769.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>After a few minutes of work I have assembled the maintenance vehicle:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsgTAUD7yaqUcmbVEG5ppmNDNpeIABMmtEi_SduBLapByNeiITKre5zEgHH8kLTkvXp24lt8EFcyJEWwVE_nevUBG4fNq9lIQe0otzAKCDNFW4jgQ2csLsEFe75KHBPOzglwZL2M_UEI/s640/blogger-image-623527839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsgTAUD7yaqUcmbVEG5ppmNDNpeIABMmtEi_SduBLapByNeiITKre5zEgHH8kLTkvXp24lt8EFcyJEWwVE_nevUBG4fNq9lIQe0otzAKCDNFW4jgQ2csLsEFe75KHBPOzglwZL2M_UEI/s640/blogger-image-623527839.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I imagine when I was younger I would have balked at the idea of having to complete this vehicle first, before the 'main event'!</div><div><br></div><div>And here's the X-Wing!:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrjeRk01uVeGIXR-4dVzE_GeCurGDVrToJ-RyaRez5WAZk78NN7n27d-EiqCVZBV0jYum1UQojOaQPBNwiy3igeyKhtDYKS71ZW87I2XASneu70n4WMuVpzv7Q2OXbxImblBqLnRdwL4/s640/blogger-image--740866153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrjeRk01uVeGIXR-4dVzE_GeCurGDVrToJ-RyaRez5WAZk78NN7n27d-EiqCVZBV0jYum1UQojOaQPBNwiy3igeyKhtDYKS71ZW87I2XASneu70n4WMuVpzv7Q2OXbxImblBqLnRdwL4/s640/blogger-image--740866153.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div>It's a very cool model and only took 20 mins to half an hour to build. Luckily all the bits were there! Now I have built it again, I think I'll have to find somewhere suitable to display it. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikL1NLI6mHpkmHLbjWQ7a45AVqqRaDGdbgPA0d0gnobWcDf6Iepk7KS_yp67Ii9lGakxMu4w9AZBJlsIhkVGK4zvo8IKFOom_mO5ej3vL8OFFJcdVxuHJMIueHgt3SVhF9rG2Us7EZQHU/s640/blogger-image--728876770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikL1NLI6mHpkmHLbjWQ7a45AVqqRaDGdbgPA0d0gnobWcDf6Iepk7KS_yp67Ii9lGakxMu4w9AZBJlsIhkVGK4zvo8IKFOom_mO5ej3vL8OFFJcdVxuHJMIueHgt3SVhF9rG2Us7EZQHU/s640/blogger-image--728876770.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>So thanks to my parents for getting this for me all those years ago, and happy Easter!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-82464072177026770452015-04-04T17:38:00.001+01:002015-04-04T17:38:03.632+01:00Christmas Project Complete!It's been a while since I've been able to post much of anything on my blog. The demands of fatherhood are many and varied so much of my energy over the last 6 months has been exerted elsewhere. But I've been making the most of minutes snatched here and there to progress my various projects. It's just that this level of activity doesn't lend itself to being posted about on a blog!<br />
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However, this week I am happy to say I have managed to compete my 2014 Christmas project, and only 4 months late!</div>
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<a href="http://www.15mm.co.uk/">15mm.co.uk</a> do an excellent seasonal range of figures, only available over the festive period. Last year they added evil snowmen to the killer Christmas Trees from 2013 and I ended up deciding that I could use these as a decent basis for a Hordes of the Things army. So I bought a pack of each of them plus a Wraith on winged mount ( It's a bad pun you see... Christmas Wraith... Christmas Wreath... Never mind...). </div>
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The pack of Christmas Trees gave me 5 elements of Beasts:</div>
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The snowmen pack provided 4 bases of Warband (you get some rifle-armed snowmen, but these I kept for modern horror games):</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I picked the Wraith as it made up the points required for a typical HotT army and it fitted in okay with the theme:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Here's the army assembled and ready for battle:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">One thing I like about the way 15mm.co.uk sell these packs is that each year I'll get a surprise new type of element to add to the army! </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">So, having assembled the various elements it was time to test them on battle! Emerging from the winter wastes, the army first encountered the ratmen of the highland regions. This was a similar match up, with both sides having several stands of beasts and warband. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The armies arrayed for battle!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fierce melee in the centre of the table.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ratman line begins to break, leaving their general vulnerable.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ratman general falls just before his beasts can make contact</td></tr>
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All in all it was a good little game. The main conflict was in the centre, with much to-ing and fro-ing between the warbands. The Wraith was able to fly behind the Ratman lines and pick off the odd exposed element, which helped. On the Ratman army's left flank the wolves managed to drive off the Xmas Trees, leaving them in a position to move to the centre and confront the snowmen, but it was too late by that point.<br />
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I'm loving these new figures and I look forward to finding out in Autumn what will be the next release!<br />
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More battles in posts to follow this one.<br />
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Thanks for reading. Comments welcome as always.</div>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-9680462075232219492015-03-07T19:01:00.001+00:002015-03-07T19:01:53.928+00:00The Conflict Cornucopia on TwitterI In a seemingly half-baked idea to promote my blog, The Conflict Cornucopia has taken to Twitter!<div><br></div><div><div>Follow @concornblog for updates, if you are into that kind of thing. </div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0qKxam51bRTXm_wLjskurq4Xb_cy_9Wq5G-jk1IYY6uy7UVJNtuKnd5dV2V73LwDR9OaIve9UGKNtS4I14phvKmkdwUfrNpjV5HCAZZA6GndfH1FIQw7ORYuRS2jPA6Nh8rVZpfyKSo/s640/blogger-image-1902981822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0qKxam51bRTXm_wLjskurq4Xb_cy_9Wq5G-jk1IYY6uy7UVJNtuKnd5dV2V73LwDR9OaIve9UGKNtS4I14phvKmkdwUfrNpjV5HCAZZA6GndfH1FIQw7ORYuRS2jPA6Nh8rVZpfyKSo/s640/blogger-image-1902981822.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-15650995752297434142015-03-06T11:31:00.001+00:002015-03-06T11:34:13.199+00:00A VSF DiversionI'm making some progress with my four assigned projects for the year. But not a lot. Actually, it's more like very little progress. It's been a busy few months and I didn't really believe te warnings that new parents pick up <i>every</i> illness their baby brings home. <div><br></div><div>Here's a quick summary of where I am at:<div><br></div><div><u>Judge Dredd</u></div><div>No progress</div><div><br></div><div><u>Slaughterloo</u></div><div>No progress</div><div><br></div><div><u>Muskets and Tomahawks</u></div><div>No progress</div><div><br></div><div><u>Star Wars</u></div><div>No progress (well, I bought lots more figures and organised my collection...)</div><div><br></div><div>So, yeah, not the greatest of starts to the year! And to compound it all I've been circling the idea of 2mm VSF using Areonef, Land Ironclads and the hex based Space 1889 skyship rules. Of course, the plus side is that it isn't necessarily an expensive diversion!</div><div><br></div><div>I ended up buying PDF versions of all the above rules and printed off Aeronef and Land Ironclads. I don't know why, but I have never used the booklet printing option on my printer before. So I tried it out and ended up with some nifty A5 rule booklets. Much better than a pile of A4 printed on one side. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then, with the aid of a Battletech map and some home-made counters, I was ready to give Land Ironclads a go. True, the rules are not written for hex maps, but it was easy to convert them. I set a 200 point British force against a pair of Martian Tripods. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFz66lb0ehZZKYgGAM9QelpYFXNBwivWusEnlyXH6uD1L4cY_9doGWM9tZ3Oc5UQBJizowgVPpKBax8-4YiSg0y6Ah_30sYNNksBzNeYOj_hiVUdoYPFgO8RlyRljkExDfj1CMPG44w8/s640/blogger-image--1435769189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFz66lb0ehZZKYgGAM9QelpYFXNBwivWusEnlyXH6uD1L4cY_9doGWM9tZ3Oc5UQBJizowgVPpKBax8-4YiSg0y6Ah_30sYNNksBzNeYOj_hiVUdoYPFgO8RlyRljkExDfj1CMPG44w8/s640/blogger-image--1435769189.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Above is the initial set up. Two tripods are at the top. The British have two lines of infantry and then three artillery batteries and a unit of tank contraptions. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4zlkiLp68P8_vamwKCAsp2GrzDrE9tH6jk2KQfzrRR92I-36EGPuthHR6Yb4YwI10ZJ1Vk184RzMocAiWJ1rZwHZ1gSxmeGaAeO97qaaeymOXi_t4qfTFcfbooDxpZkjtcuoCIKgJWI/s640/blogger-image--1748370014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4zlkiLp68P8_vamwKCAsp2GrzDrE9tH6jk2KQfzrRR92I-36EGPuthHR6Yb4YwI10ZJ1Vk184RzMocAiWJ1rZwHZ1gSxmeGaAeO97qaaeymOXi_t4qfTFcfbooDxpZkjtcuoCIKgJWI/s640/blogger-image--1748370014.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>A turn into the game and the Martians have eliminated one artillery battery. They have chosen to ignore the infantry entirely as they can pass through them and are almost impervious to their fire. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEwK-cDhHZSsLd-_m_mSHYc0V7FTz2wpR2S4gIZ3_9hOilz3hhDHRovlisy6uadqgj9UI5ciauKlZu6_OFOvZYALb9MZvBJH2wE2HGHuGNMYJq_78W9FrV-5OErvokDX_D8FFA17SFH8/s640/blogger-image--1658596257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEwK-cDhHZSsLd-_m_mSHYc0V7FTz2wpR2S4gIZ3_9hOilz3hhDHRovlisy6uadqgj9UI5ciauKlZu6_OFOvZYALb9MZvBJH2wE2HGHuGNMYJq_78W9FrV-5OErvokDX_D8FFA17SFH8/s640/blogger-image--1658596257.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>During the following turn, the Martians eliminate the tank contraptions. The human infantry have tried to wheel round and face their foes, but it has not helped much. Artillery fire was moderately successful, but only inflicted a couple of points of damage. </div><div><br></div><div>Unfortunately I caught a stomach bug soon after this point, so I have not continued. That said, I think it would have been a clear Martian victory. The cannon would have been next to feel the heat rays and the infantry really weren't up to much. </div><div><br></div><div>In the plus side, I think the rules worked very well and gave a game with a good feel to it. I think I might have to pick up a few bits and play with proper miniatures. I can see myself playing alternate history games, using Land Ironclads during the ACW or staging a joint French/German invasion of Britain. But also I like the background of All Quiet On The Martian Front, which sees a second Martian invasion take place in 1910, so I'd like to develop some good Martian and Human forces for that. Then, of course, there is the option for Space 1889 type adventures with skyships flying across Mars. So lots of potential!</div></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841468276667018631.post-50166377459994237922015-01-04T17:21:00.004+00:002015-01-04T17:30:28.471+00:00WEG Star Wars Figures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Part of the reason I have selected Star Wars for one of my four 2015 projects is the fact that I was recently able to retrieve my old metal figures from my parent's place. That, combined with a sense of nostalgia after reading the original rules again, has really made me want to play more SW games this year (and I have an overview for a campaign that I am working on too! ).</div>
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For those who don't know, before WotC produced the collectible miniatures game, West End Games had a license to produce a range of metal Star Wars Miniatures back in the early 90s. The first edition of the game won an Origins Award in 1991 and was followed by a 2nd Edition in 1993. I started with the second edition, so must have been no younger than 13 at the time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A classic set of rules</td></tr>
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Before I go on to the pictures, please remember this was probably my first effort at painting, in my early teens, and at that point I didn't even have my own paints. I was using my Dad's Humbrol acrylics I believe! I'm planning on re-painting most of them, but I thought I'd post some pictures of the figures in their current state before I do. Also, I took the rules very seriously when they specified the angles for line-of-sight, to the extent that I spent ages cutting out one inch discs of card and making the appropriate markings on them! Apparently I hadn't heard about basing materials at that time either!<br />
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Right, on with the show!:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wookies</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rebel Commandos</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobba Fett, IG-88 and Zuckuss</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 characters from the Darkstryder RPG campaign. Useful in a variety of roles in the miniatures game</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 more Darkstryder characters. The Rodian with the repeating blaster was always one of my favourites.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge95IYEY_wH55yyKm9pYTPhZWNSLAnp2Bb1MSMOwrTKprGAmkboXOj9QVPtjUt5ZwWLIeMZaVZ1pZGreXhxcQBzHK4UNI_dQKldTlR21bSkkkhlXyR53-5P-11uNjX95JnIVpcKqbZ-Ik/s1600/IMG_2937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge95IYEY_wH55yyKm9pYTPhZWNSLAnp2Bb1MSMOwrTKprGAmkboXOj9QVPtjUt5ZwWLIeMZaVZ1pZGreXhxcQBzHK4UNI_dQKldTlR21bSkkkhlXyR53-5P-11uNjX95JnIVpcKqbZ-Ik/s1600/IMG_2937.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stormtroopers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScRplIPErN93Vz3qxrXysXCdI_8jH_HgyWtUwcG_AHYlA82PGXzD2aWclZqM5U3FTqO8EnydnxoahZGe3Z4thULk3O4QBGas7pv8QUgy27CfeLUQ85pQEpI-s4tHVnr91rNlfV-zS0aY/s1600/IMG_2938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScRplIPErN93Vz3qxrXysXCdI_8jH_HgyWtUwcG_AHYlA82PGXzD2aWclZqM5U3FTqO8EnydnxoahZGe3Z4thULk3O4QBGas7pv8QUgy27CfeLUQ85pQEpI-s4tHVnr91rNlfV-zS0aY/s1600/IMG_2938.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imperial commanders</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSg2mT0wFeVA-6_dEnqosqgTF2muEcAG78boJyN9AGQii1X-j_RJYYP2CAXCL4i6p5c4jNTZzKKye79740_GTSb4puBC_bQppSslAF7rHfzarhPJ6fBjXXE_ir75RLHRK-XkK6htq3N0/s1600/IMG_2939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSg2mT0wFeVA-6_dEnqosqgTF2muEcAG78boJyN9AGQii1X-j_RJYYP2CAXCL4i6p5c4jNTZzKKye79740_GTSb4puBC_bQppSslAF7rHfzarhPJ6fBjXXE_ir75RLHRK-XkK6htq3N0/s1600/IMG_2939.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imperial Navy Troopers with an E-Web Heavy Blaster</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRFTGVIpDDScj-UiPtChlOcnRypjOiFmzAHDq2Fw8I9Si5xcVdh901P9U9ISg9LESdWdT0LvKOeTmrBMWMVCVtxrZHtzPrtAJmQbRZu_RNJ2_-p7M8MOgquREF-wP7C0Ds-8cUVBrYP0/s1600/IMG_2940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRFTGVIpDDScj-UiPtChlOcnRypjOiFmzAHDq2Fw8I9Si5xcVdh901P9U9ISg9LESdWdT0LvKOeTmrBMWMVCVtxrZHtzPrtAJmQbRZu_RNJ2_-p7M8MOgquREF-wP7C0Ds-8cUVBrYP0/s1600/IMG_2940.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Navy Troopers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRpNizPgfIh0ly1pgGNzGrMECotLc0GdXvTv7f3S1o0XXNoNPVATj4SD_ENfM597601S99LlPS-cONEmsODfF1MnK6zGuO6fbxllPAJ3WWV4l0Z-YlH06gS0_SLB_EsL23g9_UsZUUF0/s1600/IMG_2941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRpNizPgfIh0ly1pgGNzGrMECotLc0GdXvTv7f3S1o0XXNoNPVATj4SD_ENfM597601S99LlPS-cONEmsODfF1MnK6zGuO6fbxllPAJ3WWV4l0Z-YlH06gS0_SLB_EsL23g9_UsZUUF0/s1600/IMG_2941.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rebels with blaster rifles and one with a repeating blaster</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4IHIexpJ2TzSinxSw14biE2qVTZAIyIGQnxL1XziAVE4gY6CJfJaaic9ytDoMxg7w41Xs21B9toH0RMqFbYWMDG-Nv16tWuFmpL3z07GhcXP0U9OKCJ4lIVpxP8MpffsPTqvYLn_W3I/s1600/IMG_2942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4IHIexpJ2TzSinxSw14biE2qVTZAIyIGQnxL1XziAVE4gY6CJfJaaic9ytDoMxg7w41Xs21B9toH0RMqFbYWMDG-Nv16tWuFmpL3z07GhcXP0U9OKCJ4lIVpxP8MpffsPTqvYLn_W3I/s1600/IMG_2942.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More rebels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSK-9OHOVSiXGUO07iogE2rN6i7gV56yJI88TRWBfO-Gep9PnDx14cU-Z2Epy1qcyl5wWsYOwt2gGyBdnhAwLVLXPnj7TGEOICmb2L8hAR8qbKqbjF77ctVFrSI51XVwsR1o7QEfoo73w/s1600/IMG_2943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSK-9OHOVSiXGUO07iogE2rN6i7gV56yJI88TRWBfO-Gep9PnDx14cU-Z2Epy1qcyl5wWsYOwt2gGyBdnhAwLVLXPnj7TGEOICmb2L8hAR8qbKqbjF77ctVFrSI51XVwsR1o7QEfoo73w/s1600/IMG_2943.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a few more Rebels with blaster pistols</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIkebYwzeTGTtpun_J8GlNQjeGxTdaLKWR1AZOgwchyphenhyphenUPbAQCPkHEfihXbAvoFIDQIlWaKcOMoz7AFGt7hD_cF40dblFXEhwYcWGV5vcuae3Gbg_g4lB26JsVdtQPOGCaEXMyd5_ugYM/s1600/IMG_2944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIkebYwzeTGTtpun_J8GlNQjeGxTdaLKWR1AZOgwchyphenhyphenUPbAQCPkHEfihXbAvoFIDQIlWaKcOMoz7AFGt7hD_cF40dblFXEhwYcWGV5vcuae3Gbg_g4lB26JsVdtQPOGCaEXMyd5_ugYM/s1600/IMG_2944.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are nice. Mon Calamari Rebel Troopers and a commander</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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And to finish the pictures on a humorous note, this photo is of my first ever 'conversion'... I wanted to have the Emperor in my games and so got hold of a model of a lich, which I superglued a pin to (painted it red) to represent a lightsaber. I have many memories of pricking myself on the end of the thing!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi181yxdYnIChTcxbfsRiyGM43E8R5hq1Bdwe8B-l10AGTYSF1C3e9WBu4I_TIceHQWSWk4VrLH9vZix9ejjVupe9To5TO_4M_-w5bbLI66thxPafB_dgsiKI0TR48OQ5jzVQGW72wTpeo/s1600/IMG_2945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi181yxdYnIChTcxbfsRiyGM43E8R5hq1Bdwe8B-l10AGTYSF1C3e9WBu4I_TIceHQWSWk4VrLH9vZix9ejjVupe9To5TO_4M_-w5bbLI66thxPafB_dgsiKI0TR48OQ5jzVQGW72wTpeo/s1600/IMG_2945.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Emperor'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So what have I learnt about my teenage gaming from this nostalgia trip?<br />
<br />
1) I seem to have gravitated towards figures with repeating blasters! Nothing like a bit of firepower!<br />
2) I clearly didn't have a concept of planning an army and then buying the figures for it. 3 Mon-Calamari?! Surely 6 minimum for a squad? Still, they can be mixed in to my regular rebels for some variation.<br />
3) It seems I only had access to gloss versions of green and black paints! <br />
4) It doesn't look like I had much disposable income to spend on this collection! Probably explains why I never took up Warhammer 40K!<br />
5) I really, really wish someone made metal Star Wars Figures again....<br />
<br />
I'm now feeling really torn about repainting these. I know I could do better now, but there is something about having these figures in the same state they were in 20 years ago that appeals to me. Maybe I could just dip them and redo the bases?<br />
<br />
What would you do in this situation? And do you have any old collections of figures from when you were young and first getting interested in wargaming? These are some figures I will never be putting on eBay!<br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00603532357518350194noreply@blogger.com9