Titus Thwarted in Games Day Shocker

Well I was on holiday and the weather was naff, so what was I to do? Get the toys out of course. 

I managed to get 3 games in; two solo and one at the club. The latter being the culmination of this season's Infamy campaign.

But first off, it was Blood and Plunder; a personal favourite and one that I don't get to play enough. This was my first attempt at an amphibious scenario and, as I was playing solo, I used the solo 'AI' system, available, as a free download, from Firelock Games.

This game saw an English Buccaneer force attempt a landing, against a Spanish militia force, in the 'Breakthrough' scenario.

English holiday makers approach the Spanish resort

Last one off the boat gets the drinks in!

Spanish employ pointed sticks

English militia, out in the midday sun, foolishly start a firefight in the open 

Lucky Jack Quilp and his Freebooters clear the woods for an English win.

A great game and a lot of fun, but wait there's more........

I recently bought into another Firelock games system - Blood and Steel; a skirmish level game set in the Victorian era.

This was only my second game with the rules and was more a test of the mechanisms than a proper game. I played with my 20mm Sudan collection - although I can see the temptation to get some 28mm figures is going to be strong.

Sudan playtest with Blood and Steel

Mounted Infantry about to meet their maker

The Mahdists swarm forward in game two

The British firing line holds firm

After only two games I'm still learning the subtleties, but the two games gave completely opposite results. In game one, the British were massacred on their baseline. In game two successive waves of Mahdist attacks were beaten back by disciplined fire. 

I wasn't sure about the rules, at first. These are much simpler than Blood and Plunder (although some might say more streamlined) and I thought I'd miss some of the nuances of the original game. However, after 2 games I'm well impressed and can see these being my rules of choice for colonial skirmish gaming.

And finally, it was off to the club to play out the next scenario in our Infamy campaign.

This time the Romans were 'attacking' and were tasked with escorting a cartload of wine through German territory. 

The route. Romans enter top right. Germans enter centre left - plus their 6 Ambush points of course. 

A spot of luck for the Romans and they get to remove the nearest German Ambush point.

Vorsprung deploys to block the Roman's passage. Auxilia archers protect the flank
while skirmishers race for the nearest Ambush point. Meanwhile Sextus' legionaries plod on.

Furius Tempor and his group of Auxiliary skirmishers run to close down the German Ambush point.

But Curius Decurius and his cavalry aim to get there first.

Sextus stays with the wine

More Germans appear ahead and on the flank and the Romans are now surrounded.
Titus' boys are bothered by slingers, archers and javelineers.

Titus forms up whilst Sextus hides in the woods

Titus protects the cart, Furius deploys to protect the flank and Sextus is still hiding in the woods. 

Vorsprung skulks in the marsh and gets all fervoured up

Titus is attacked by javelineers - what can 6 blokes with sticks do? 3 dead and a shock - are you kidding!!

The Germans close in.

Furius falls.

Titus fills ranks in a vain attempt to postpone the inevitable - and is wounded in the process.

Sextus finally gets his arse into gear.

But cannot prevail against Vorsprung's mighty dice.

With Furius dead and both Titus and Sextus wounded, the Romans were pushed back on all fronts. As Force Morale was down to 4 we called it a day and conceded a defeat.

However, in the campaign events, Vorsprung failed to rise further up the wall and Sextus also remained in his current position. As for Titus - well I drew one of  those bloody Infamy cards again didn't I. Someone in Rome really has it in for Titus and back down the wall he goes!

There's probably another 2 or 3 games left, this campaign season, but real life means we won't be able to finish the campaign this time. Nevermind, we can resume at a later date and I have a few ideas to streamline the campaign games a bit next time. Anyway, at this rate, I may need the time to paint up some Germans!