Wily Tribesmen! Part two

Part two:- Wily Tribesmen The second with the "Lonely Gamers" was a larger 1000 point game, this also heralded the arrival of two other lonely Gamers, Victor and Brian. Nathan than set up the table, and briefed us on the game scenario. I commanded the Mahdists with my able sub commander Victor, our goal was to stop the British Relief column, and capture and destroy the supply column, Greg's and Brians goal was to relieve the besieged garrison. As I had selected Wily tribesmen as my army selection we could have hidden troops in the shrubbery in our deployment zones. Each army also had to keep a reserve off the table, plus a flank march so this made things interesting. As I had seen in the previous game the speed that Madhists moved, I set up the two wings at each edge of the table, the British mirrored my deployment my left and stayed in column on the right. Our goal was to capture the supply column so we decided to attack and pin the British left flank and send the rest through the middle to capture and destroy the supply column. Mahdist Left

 Turn One

The Mahdist’s won initiative and immediately headed off on the right flank, using push moves moving 18 inches in their first turn they also sprung two hidden units on the right flank, the British right stayed in column and seemed to be trying a flanking move on the left setting up their guns to cover the infantry


Turn Two
The British win the Initiative and continued movement, the Mahdist Infantry sets up for the assault on the British left flank, the British right advances down the flank, the guns manage to make some mahdists check thier movemnt, causing a rethink to the mahdist push in the centre and left, and the turing point of the game.... the Mahdist cavalry arrive in the rear of the british guns!


Turn Three
The Mahdist need and win the initiative charging the guns and the supply convoy some light infantry try to defend it and are beaten so they fall back the Mahdist cavalry start looting the supply coloumn, the British reform to meet and then repulse the Mahdist assault on the right, on the left however one British column is caught in the flank and retreats off the table!

Turn Four

The British win initiative (lucky rolling) and the British cavalry arrive to win the day (so they think) the Mahdists have now started the second turn of looting the supply wagons, the Mahdist left falters and starts retreating, the right also fails to charge home, failing push charge rolls.

 Turn Five

The Mahdists win initiative and try a all out assault on all fronts, the left and right falter after some cunning moves and excellent firing by the British regulars, the British cavalry cuts down the first Mahdists then over runs onto the flank of a second unit (damn thier eyes), the Egyptian Infantry charge the Mahdist cavalry looting the supply train but fall back in disorder and are all cut down by the other mahdist cavalry unit, the Egpytian infantry also fall back in the centre and Mahdist infantry are now in the rear of the British Regular troops

 Turn Six

The British win initiative and charge the cavalry into the rear of the mahdist infantry cutting them all down they fail to overrun to the baggage, allowing the Mahdist cavalry to complete the plundering and win the day for the mardists.


What a great victory for the Mahdists, looking forward to gaming some more Colonial games with the Lonely Gamers in the future!


I found Andrews rules very fast play, the ability for units to move very fast as long as they are in command actually makes commanders useful in a game, Initiative is all important failure to win can be devestating as both of us found out, the Mahdists probaly done the best they could with what they had, Gregs rolls saved the day for his British regulars on his left, as they were outnumbered by three to one. I failed to capitalize on my left when the british infantry were in coloumn a all out assault on them by four units would of convincingly won the day instead of a minor victory for the Mahdists.




Cheers Matt

These Rustics almost take the Honour from Victory .....Almost

Well Greg and I have always talked about a Boys weekend away gaming, drinking and yarning, and the opportunity came up last weekend, Greg needed to put some Klms on his car so we travelled up to visit Nathan and the boys from lonely gamers (a short 4 hour drive away). Nathan had kindly offered a weekend of colonial gaming something Greg and I have never played! The Friday night we arrived and after dinner sat around chatting and drinking some of Greg’s potent home brew, the next morning we set up for the first entre a quick 500 point game using Andrew Parr’s “Fortune and Glory” rules. I commanded the British and Greg commanded the Mahdists, within two hours we had a result with the British and allied Egyptians cleaning up after some amazing dice rolls on my behalf, I had captured three of the five victory locations and destroyed four of the six Mahdist units, the Egyptian troops performed like demons withdrawing then charging in to finish off two Mahdist units in the dying stages of the battle.

see Part two for Game two cheers matt

I'm Spartacus!

cheers
Matt

Roman markers

Imperial Roman Casualties

Some Roman Markers for my Imperial Roman army, as always an added addition to my Roman armies, I am yet to add shields to the bases I will do this at a later date!

cheers

Matt

King Kong!

I have had this chap for some time, when Daze miniatures released him I knew I had to have one (ooooh shiney thing) and he has been involved with one game so far "Up the Waazoo" .... so until we return to the tropics here are a few pics I have of him.....

Pulp Chinese Warlord

More Bob Murch figures this time Warlord Chinese, which have been used in all of our Clubs Pulp games thus far. Lovely figures with lots of variants to make any Pulp gamer happy!

cheers
matt

Pulp Japanese

Bob Murch continues to empty my wallet with some very fine miniatures to tempt any Pulp player out there, these figures were a breeze to paint and have plenty of character to add to your Pulp Madness!!

I originally bought these for our clubs very first pulp game and whilst under the command of Louis they were victorious, since then not so victorious!

Pulp Inuit Hunters

Another addition to my snow pulp figures, some fine Inuit Hunters from Copplestone, these figures will be used in a Christmas in July Game I am hosting!!!!!

I enjoyed painting these as I played around with the skin types a little, I was happy with the result but on further thought a bit more brown may of achieved a bit more of a weather beaten face, maybe next time........

cheers
matt

ACW Limber out of Ammo

These are actually repaints as they tend to get knocked about during our ACW games, in Jonny Reb double or tripple sixs result in a out of ammo marker being placed next to the . Boyd and I prefer these than simple cardboard cut pieces, they are available from Eureka miniatures, made for 15mm and 28mm Fire and Fury.

The two limbers are From redoubt I think

http://eurekamin.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=1359

cheers
matt

Pontic casualty markers

I decided last week to do my casualty markers for WAB. When units are all cut down you are supposed to leave markers so the ground becomes literally "dead ground", and I always forget about this rule so I plan to go back and do some markers for all of my armies (and I may actually use those dead elephants I have!) not that my Pontic army wants to be all ridden down! Off the table this weekend I expect to get my next Pike block and some other bits and pieces, a customers order, some more Sassanids, more Pulp and some late Romans. The next thing to be done is work out which list to use from the Alexander book(probaly Persian).

cheers
Matt

More Pulpy stuff :- Mad Edmund!!!

One of our clubs upcoming pulp games this year is a snow based game, so I toddled off to mainly medieval's store at Moab last year and bought a few pieces that I can use possibly for the game. I knew copplestone produced a few pieces in their High Adventure range and I was intrigued by some of the packs, so I bought some Frisky penguins, some Inuit hunters, evil snowmen (see previous post) some adventurers and this sled with huskys. I must say it was a lot easier to paint then i thought, as dogs can be tough to paint IMO, I basically just looked on the web for some huskys and tried to copy the facial patterns, as for the model easy, except I am missing the brake handle (which is somewher on my painting desk at the moment :0.

cheers
matt

Jäger Flieger Korps

As I was getting a little stressed by work earlier this week I decided to finish some Pulp figures off, so I felt that I was getting somewhere with painting at the moment. I picked these up in a job lot of second hand figures, I have been informed by Nic (thanks mate nice to see you are reading my blog!) that the figures are some of his WW1 science fiction Eureka miniatures, sculpted by Mike Broadbent!

My Jäger Flieger Korps will be used in one of our upcoming Pulp games, and will be a great asset to the Kaiser's plans, I think I need a further four for a full Zug!!!!!

cheers
Matt

Arteshtâr-î Zhayedan Sassanid Gaurd Infantry

Sassanid Guard Infantry

Arteshtâr-î Zhayedan were the Guard foot Infantry of the Sassanid Kings, again A & A infantry, I would like to have had them all in scale armour but I am yet to find a suitable figure that can be used if I do these troops will step down to standard infantry. I have given them Phil Hendry's large shields to hide behind! My last Sassanid infantry unit is on the table and should be done by the weekend.

cheers
Matt

Payâhdag-î Nîzagân Sassanid Levy Spear

Sassanid Levy Spear

Kamândâr-î Payâhdag or Sassanid levy spear, apparently they performed badly against the Romans, but I think it may of been propaganda, I will be using this unit as more of a warband type rather than drilled. I think I may also leave these with the smaller shield instead of adding Phil Hendry's shields to them.

cheers
Matt

Pontic Greek Mercenaries

Pontic Greek mercenary slingers

Cheers
Matt

Leucosyri skirmishers

Also off the table this week are some Leucosyri hill tribesmen, the Leucosyri were termed White Syrians, and possibly settled in the Paphlagonia region by Alexander particularly around the Halys river, they were conquered by Pontus under Mithridates Ctistes (302–266 BC). I also have a spear block to do which will be an allied contingent of my Pontic army, I am yet to decide if i will issue them sparra, or a small sqaure sheild or perhaps even a round one. The Miniatures are from the Crusader Persian range and I hope I have done them justice.

cheers
matt

Pontic Pike

Well finally finished my first block of Pontic pike, only two more to go, I continued with the mythical beast theme adding Ceberus to the units banner, not 100% happy with the result as I tried to copy a ancient Greek vase of Hercules capturing the beast, it was depicted with one red, one white and one black head and body, as my feild was alradyred I decided to paint a yellow head instead. I probaly would of been better off just depicting the head instead of the whole body, at this stage it will stay as it is, I may revisit at some stage though.

All of my pike are with charged pikes so fitting them has proved a challenge, I have decided to add small rank numbers on the back in rank numbers and colours for each rank so placing them down come game time will be easier.

cheers
Matt

Pontic sythed chariot

Latest off the table is my Pontic four horsed sythed chariot, I can see it running down Romans, Celts and Greeks causing mayhem amoung undrilled troops at least! Although a one hit wonder in WAB I still had to have one! This is a lovely First Corps model which came out last year, somewhere at the back of my table is the yoke, when I find it I will attach the reins at some stage to finish it off, I also did think about adding some victims but decided against it. Some pike and more light infantry to come, later this week.

cheers
Matt

Sugar and Spice and all things nice Ticonderoga Moab

Well Australia's largest Sydney wargames convention MOAB (Mother Of All Battles Convention) has come and gone and its time to take stock of the purchases and sales.

I thought it was busier than most years on Saturday and Sunday, however Monday was quiter, talking to the trader the buyers seemed to have stayed away or kept thier money in thier pockets. I still however manged to pick up a few bargains, on the bring and buy I picked up the score of the show IMO 120 Perry and Foundry AWI figures for $65 I am still amazed by this now! I also picked up some 28mm Gripping Beast cathaginians and some A and A Late Roman infantry. On the Retail front I bought a bunch of Crusader Macedonians figs to flesh out some units I already have and add to some armies for variation, and a ECW building to add to my collection.

Between Scott, Nathan, Louis and myself we run a Ticonderoga participantion game, figs from Scots and my collection. We played the game each day to completion using British Grenadier rules. Enjoy the pics from Nathan. A mix of Front Rank, First Corps, Eureka and Conquest figures, terrain and table and barricades by me.

2011 expectations

As usual I make a list of projects that I would like to complete at the beginning of the year, as always I shoot for the stars and use the club calendar to prioritize my list. My list always needs to pared back a little, so I list all of my periods, then look at what can be completed before certain events.

Ancients
Romans
My Roman armies include Republican, middle and late, all have units to complete. The republicans require 12 cavalry and four maniples of Hastati and some artillery to finish them off, I have also toyed with adding more allied contingents. My Imperials have almost a whole legion in chainmail (all foundry) for the invasion of Britain to be completed, I am thinking of selling my warlord plastics romans (in segemtata)even though I like them and they fit my foundry figures for size, artillery and more cavalry to be painted for these also. After selling my Late Romans last year I have decided to rebuild another this year with A and A miniatures.

Pontus
My latest project and I am enjoying it emmensly, three pike blocks and a tonne of irregulars and lights to be completed for our Clubs annual WAB tourney in March.

Successor
I have a number of pike blocks to do and I will be able to use my pontic cavalry and light infantry for support.

Sassanids
Another half finished Army all A and A cavalry to be done along with two units of spear and two elephants and it will be finished!

Celts
A large amount of warlord plastics to be done at some stage, no great rush this year.

Medievals
Baron Wars

Greg and I are doing a demo game next year at Cancon and Moab so a lot of painting and buying to be done this year I have 134 cavalry and around 480 infantry to paint in the next 12 months! Research done just need to get stuck in! A lot of these will be able to double up for a crusader army as a boonus.

WOTR
not High on the list still have a bunch of infantry to do though!

Samauri
not high on the list as they are such a pain to paint!

Rennasaince
Italian wars
A few of the lads are getting into this period I have purchased a lot of figs just need to get cracking

ECW
A bit of cavalry and some more scot Infantry will finish of this four year old project, not high on the list though

Horse and musket
Jacobites
A project close to my heart, but way down the priority list at the moment, maybe a late in the year project, this is a 1 figure represents 10 so a huge number of kilts to be done, not my favourite thing to paint.

WSS and WAS
Greg and I have also started at 1 fig represnts 20 scale, this is for another demo game in 2013.

7YW
Our clubs main focus this year so we can all use our half finished armies and complete new ones. Again at 1 to 20 scale so regt from 24 to 32 strong.
French
My French will be my main focus this year, followed by my English and
Hanoverians.

AWI
Not high on the list but another 1 to 20 scale 28mm< i have always loved this period, some years ago I painted a yankee army and sold them this time I am doing
British and Germans!

Napoleonic
A main focus also for this year as our clubs Bi annual event the Australian Napoleonic Congress will be on again. My French need a serious boost and I will continue my german states with a two battalion strong Nassau contingent.

ACW
My Confederates are almost complete, another regiment of cavalry along with a dismounted contingent ,some guns, command figures and some wagons etc is all that remains to be painted.

WW1
I bought a lot of aircraft last year to play blue Max all assembled but yet to be painted.

Pulp
My Pulp adventiure this year will be a Snow adventure, so terrain and figures to be done, also maybe a aircraft of some sort.

WW2
A lot of work needed here including a tonne of vehicles and a lot of German 1944 infantry, a lot of Brits and american airbourne and complete some 1940 French and buildings.

Modern
A new project that is not very high on my list at the moment my Americans are awaiting Wartime minis new figs and someone to do a decent M60!

Fantasy
My two sons play warhammer and 40k so I have a Empire army to paint along with Elves, they paint thier own 40k figs. I also have two Bloodbowl teams to do, so we can play a leauge at home during winter.


Terrain
28mm ACW/AWI/FIW fences and buildings
28mm Napoleonic buildings and hedges
20mm buildings and pieces
28mm Pulp as required
28mm ancients buildings

Well quite a list, and it may need some paring down and to add to the list I have not mentioned my sculpting and commercial projects at all!

cheers
Matt



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GW Galloper Gun

Although Games Workshop comes in for a lot of bashing amoung historical gamers it does make some very fine models, every now and then I splash cash on some of thier kit, although these days mostly second hand items at bring and buys or on fleabay. Back in the late eighties and nineties I regulary played competition Warhammer on the Sydney circuit, before GW even had a shopfront in the country. I regulary placed in the top five with my Empire army, and played just about every month at my local club (Western Wargamers). I have had several armies during the years, Empire (some of the older metals are still in my Renn collection), Bretonian (some of the older metal commands are in my norman army and baron wars armies), Undead, and wood elves.
My painting style really developed during this time and still in some ways reflects the early GW style or base, wash, highlight. Late last year I purchased from a bring and buy, an Empire army and more recently High Elves which my two sons play with .....honestly :). I plan to paint both of these armies for them during the year fro them, so every now and then I will post them up here.

cheers
matt