Monday, May 22, 2017

Special Board Game Session

I've had a loss in the family recently and my good friends Mike, Scott and Josh decided to come up to play some board games and visit. There was pizza, margaritas and root beer floats to help make the evening even better. Since it was a week night we chose two shorter games. We started off with a co-operative game, Dungeon Fighter. This is a fun beer-and-pretzels game of throwing dice onto a board, sometimes with unusual requirements, like doing it blind, or over the shoulder. The game came down to the last turn with the last roll only needing to hit the board. Mike, who had been fantastic all night blowing dice off his hand for extra damage, took the 'easy' shot of a normal roll......which didn't make it to the board! We all die! AIIEIEEEEEEEEEEeeeee...... Still very close to a win and good silly fun.









The second game was a more traditional competitive game, Explorers of the North Sea. A Viking themed ocean exploration game, this game to me is Carcassone, fixed and with more fun. Scott schooled us all with a 'collect all the livestock' strategy and judicious island control. I ended up a distant second with a less focused approach.



Saturday, May 20, 2017

Electronic Brigadier at Huzzah! 2017

This past Saturday, I hosted a game using Electronic Brigadier at Huzzah! 2017. The scenario was my Bemis Heights scenario, Gates Attacks! My previous play test report for the scenario can be found here.

I had several players return from previous EB convention games and a few new players. Everyone took to the rules and tablets quickly and seemed to have a fun time. The scenario was a close-fought affair with both sides losing units during the game. In the end, although the Americans were doing well, the British kept control of the redoubts and held the field for a marginal British victory.

The American commanders discuss their battle plan before the first turn.





The British commanders recording on the tablets while the Americans take their first turn.







Additional in-game photos below.













Final results at the end of the battle:

British Army
  • Army cohesion: 64.6%
  • Total Casualties: 577 / 4920 (11.7%)
  • 2 units dispersed
  • 1 routed units
  • 2 shaken units

  • Honors to: 104 - Rangers and Marksmen
American Army
  • Army cohesion: 66.1%
  • Total Casualties: 640 / 6800 (9.4%)
  • 1 units dispersed
  • 2 routed units
  • 1 shaken units

  • Honors to: 224 - 2nd New York

During the morning session I was also able to sneak out and get two photos of Earl's game. Apologies to Phil, as the photos I took of his game came out too blurry. 

Friday, May 12, 2017

Battle of Dybboll, 28 May, 1849

My friend Ed M. from Ed M's Wargames Meanderings Blog and fellow Northern Conspirator, invited several of us to his home last Friday to play test his game for he's hosting at this month's club game night. The game was a post-Napoleonic scenario from the 1st Schleswig-Holstein War (1848/49). Ed thinks this conflict is much more interesting for wargamers than the more well known and popular 2nd Schleswig-Holstein War due to the former having many more 'fair fights'. This scenario represented the Battle of Dybbol, 28 May, 1849 which featured Danish and Prussian forces in a back-and-forth battle over several days. The scenario represents the final phase of the conflict. For a more detailed report of the battle with additional annotated photographs, I cannot more highly recommend you read Ed's report over on his blog.




The figures, all painted by Ed recently for his upcoming 'Chocolate Box Wars' project were beautiful, and masterfully selected from many different lines from several manufacturers. I'm very much looking forward to more games with these figures and Ed's Chocolate Box Wars rules.



Bob and Ralph were on the attack as the Prussians, with George and I defending a line of three towns with the Danes. George's plan was for us to defend our right flank as heavily as possible as that's where we expected the main attack. Even with shifting right, Ralph and Bob did a great job of wearing both of our commands down eventually securing two of the three towns with the third sure to fall very soon when George and I capitulated. Well played by Bob and Ralph.

More eye candy below of the game in progress. Thanks to Ed for hosting such a fun and pretty game.






Friday, May 5, 2017

Greece vs Levant - HATG Campaign Game

Last Friday we got together to play another HATG game in our ongoing campaign. This battle pitted the often battled Greek and Levantine forces. Greece brought a Pyrrhic model army and Levant brought a middle Republican Roman model army. 

Mike's Pyrrhic army featured a heavy dose of Elephant terror units. On my right Earl used his effectively to flank the Romans, doing some damage, while also peeling off most of a Roman wing to deal with him. On the left Bob's elephants were less effective, being dealt with quickly by the Romans. In the Center Mike's two spear phalanx waited for our flank attacks to go in.






Levant was having none of the waiting game and charged in strong and fast....at my pike wing! The pike held up well for a couple of turns due to their deep ranks, but on the third turn of attacks, two of the pike dispersed along with some hypaspists who were assigned to guard their flank.

 My pike battle line before....
 During.....
and after. Great job by Charlie coordinating the attacks of two full legions on my one battle line, dismembering it in detail, sealing the victory.

Recently in HATG the Romans had suffered from some rule changes that reduced their power. Recent changes have adjusted things a bit more in the legion's favor. In this game Charlie proved if played well, the Romans can now be quite effective.