I once joked at a Friday game, while waiting for someone with the keys to the store room to arrive, that we were all 'Wargamers Anonymous'. Sitting there in a circle around the wargames table, that altar of our hobby, we seemed to be wargaming junkies in need of therapy, or at least the next fix!
And that's the thing about wargaming: it can be both an addiction and a form of therapy all in one.
Recently, I hosted a test game of Osprey's Honours of War rules. This has been designed for Seven Years War with rules emphasising fast playing and easy to grasp concepts. The game is focused on the ability of the individual brigade commanders whose command performance will affect the overall performance of the brigade and the modifiers that will be added or subtracted for the units in combat. To allow the game to last for the duration of the session, there is breaking point that requires taking the total number of troops and dividing them by two and rounding to the nearest whole number.
The game was set up using Noel's 15mm War Spanish of the Spanish Succession range we set up basic game that everyone could get an idea of how the rules worked. The game pitted the French at against the slightly outnumbered allies. As this game was a test I did not include any National differences that would give additional benefits or disadvantages. With this introductory game started with both infantry and cavalry respectively engage each other with brutal results. As the evening progressed the Allies held out against the French who eventually reached their breaking point.
Everyone enjoyed the system although there are some qualms about whether this plays more as game rather than as a historical simulation. The former is probably true however the game works perfectly for three hour evening session and can be easy for anyone to pick up quickly. For the next game I will be having the game set around a specific scenario with some specific advantages and disadvantages for both sides. There are also optional rules that can be implemented into the game such as weather
On 21.1.18 Rob Hosted a Marlburian Battle at his War Room. Noal provided the figures and rules and acted as Umpire
The French were defending and a British army with allies was attacking.
The French deployed their Infantry behind a stream across the centre of the battlefield and on each flank they deployed roughly an equal number of Cavalry Regiments.
The British Cavalry advanced forward across the stream. The French forces facing the German Infantry fell back to form a new line protecting the right flank of the French army. The German Infantry advanced to the stream line and then across the stream. The British Cavalry engaged the right flank French cavalry and were initially held buying time for the French Infantry to reform. Some French Infantry launched a spoiling attack across the stream in the centre and threatening the right flank of the German Infantry.Meanwhile the French left Flank Cavalry moved forward -moving through and around the woods on the Allied right flank.
The British Cavalry after heavy fighting defeated the French right Flank Cavalry and started to move towards the new French Infantry line. The German infantry having crossed the stream came under heavy infantry and artillery fire and two battalions were broken and a third retired . The German Infantry nearest the French line halted awaiting the rest of the German line to wheel round and face the French Infantry.( Once halted the German Infantry would need fresh orders to advance).
Meanwhile half the French left Flank cavalry having moved through ther woods on the British right flank launched a series of unsuccesful charges on the Austrian Infantry protecting the British right flank. The other half of the Left Flank French cavalry manouvered to attack the end of the British Infantry line - the French Cavalry took heavy casualties but did manage to break one British Battalion .
The French centre pushed forward two regiments of audacious dismounted Dragoons through the gap in the line between the German and British Infantry moving them close to the British rallying point in the centre were they broke two rallying German infantry Battalions.
The British General in Command of all the Allied Infantry was so busy issuing orders to counter the French cavalry attack on the British infantry and the French Dragoons raiding the Centre he could not issue orders to the German infantry to resume there attack on the French right flank Infantry Line and so the British left flank Cavalry launched an attack by themselves without success.
The battle came to an end here- the French right flank came close to breaking due to the heavy losses sustained by there cavalry at the hands of the British Cavalry but it held and as the British were attacking and had failed to break the French Army the French won the battle.
I took part in a Blood Bowl League at a Local Games shop The Missing Geek in Staines.
This was the third season for my Human team The Altdorf Palace Eagles.
I started playing Blood Bowl for the first time as a board game when Games Workshop rereleased it after a long absence. The game itself had kept a fan base through independent companies making their own teams and a series of PC and console games.
After the 7 league games my team was in the playoffs against the League leader Craig and his team Khazad Boom (Dwarfs). We played on Craig’s pitch which he had made himself it looked good.
We played our game in the week before Christmas it was an exciting game and ended 1—1. One of my players could have scored a winning goal in my last turn of the game if only he had managed to pick up a loose ball but he failed and I had no rerolls left.
This meant we had to play extra time which we did in another session after Christmas.
My opponent had run out of bribes and so could no longer field the Dwarf Death Roller and both teams had no rerolls left. Extra time ends as soon as one team scores. My opponent won the toss and would be the attacking team. My opponent’s team had the ball but I managed to get a player next to the ball carrier but an attempted blitz on the ball carrier failed as the blitzer fell on his face when going for it(moving an extra space to carry out the Blitz). The Dwarf carrying the ball then failed a dodge out move (needing anything but a one due to his player’s skills) and then failed a reroll and fell over dropping the ball which my player picked up and ran across the line scoring the winning goal.
Overall a 2-1 victory for Altdorf Palace Eagles who were though to the final against Charlies Da Gobstppaz (Orcs)
Some pictures of the semi final
In the final I played against Charlie’s Orc Team Da Gobstoppaz – I don’t like playing Orcs as it was an Orc team that reduced my team to 3 players on the pitch in my first season of Blood Bowl.
It was a good game both of us were playing to win the Orcs were in front 2-1 in the second half and with one turn to go I had to pull of a series of moves/actions to tie the game but unfortunately my dice rolling let me down with the first action in the sequence and I had no rerolls left - the Orcs won the game 2-1.
After nine games I came second after losing in the Final it had been a good run. I think Blood Bowl it at its best when you are in a League managing your team ,developing and improving your palyers skills hoping a key player does not get injured or killed .
Some pictures of the final game with the last picture showing the winning Orc goal.
