This month we will be mainly playing 10mm

 By sheer coincidence, this month was to be devoted to 10mm figures. We had 2 really good games and it was great to see some old collections on the table once again.

First off was a game of O Group; Normandy 1944, pitting a US battalion against a German battalion.

The Normandy battlefield 

This was the example scenario, from the rules, but swapping a US battalion for the British.

The game had a great feel and I liked the pre game planning aspect. The US plan was for Baker company to put in a spoiling attack right of the road, whilst Able company advanced onto the line of the farmhouse. Charlie company would then consolidate on that position, followed by an advance on the objective (the town), while Able company swept around from the flank.

Amazingly, the plan worked despite a mid game set back from a well placed artillery stonk.

Unfortunately, although successful, the Americans took too long about it, so we gave the win to the Germans. (We were so immersed in the game that we forgot about the 16 turn limit.) Sadly, I also forgot to take any photos of the second half of the game.

 

A platoon of Able company comes under mortar fire

Able company advance from the phase line.

Charlie Company consolidates

I'm not sure about all the players but I thought it was a cracking game and was enthused enough to send off to Pendraken for a British battalion.

Game two was Bloody Barons 2. This was only its second outing, at the club, and a test case for my alternative pre game set up. The game played really well with 2 players per side and was in my view our best game, using the version 2 rules, so far.

I was also really pleased that, unless you were in the know, you couldn't really tell that this is a grid based game.

The armies deploy

Seeing a Yorkist unit, apparently exposed, the Lancastrians launch a disastrous cavalry charge.

Leading the mercenary centre, Lord Whippersnapper smashes the Yorkist line

On the Lancastrian right, the unreliable Count Catchmole flees before the Yorkist advance.

The remnants of the Yorkist centre are penned into Pogle's Wood. Lord Pea leads a frontal assault whilst Lord Whippersnapper takes the Yorkists in the flank. What could possibly go wrong?

Lord Whippersnapper gets lost in the wood and fails to attack, that's what could go wrong! 

After a hard fight, with both Lord Pea and the Earl of Dawlish falling in combat, it's a draw. Unfortunately, the defender wins draws - Lord Pea's ward is thrown back.

A well timed counter attack by Yorkist cavalry - unfortunately it was as successful as the earlier disastrous Lancastrian cavalry charge.

Lancastrian left flank collapses

Lancastrian centre pushed back, after the death of Lord Pea.

At that point the battle clock ran out but it was obvious, that with  Whippersnapper lost in the woods, the Yorkists had won the day. A great game, played in great spirit - we shall have to do it again sometime.

The Anglo Saxon Chronicles card game

This is a simple idea for generating games.  Not a campaign in the traditional sense, but it does compile a narrative.  

Each player takes the role of a Saxon King, but that King may not be directly involved in a battlefield any given year.  Each battle will have four participants, but these may be Scots or Welsh raiders, or even separate Saxon groups so that a player may control a different force for that battle.  I have attempted to make each battle card different with shifting allies.

The Aim of The Game is to earn the title "The Great." The first King who wins three battles (with his own kingdom'a troops, not playing as a mercenary) will earn the title.  During the game however there will be opportunities to earn other titles awarded by another player with a "Name Won in Battle" card.

Each player is dealt one card per turn.  Some cards may be retained but most are played immediately in precedence of the earliest year plays first.

When a battle card is played the normal game rules are followed, but participating players may add cards such as terrain or an additional warband to give themselves a better chance in the battle.


4 Player controlled Saxon Kings
Northumbria
Wessex
Mercia
East Anglia

Scots
Welsh
Irish

Men of Kent
South Saxons
East Saxons

Middle Saxons

Requirements:
4 Saxon forces
1 Scots/Pict
1 Welsh

Names
Angelthew son of Anal, son of Arsewynd son of Aaaaa.
Brand, son of of Balday, son of Barry, son of Burt
Ceolwulf son of Cutha, Cyril son of Cecil son of Colin.
Elesa son of Ella, son of Edric, son of Elliot, son of Everrard
Gewis, son of Gary, son of Gordon, son of Geddy
Frewin, son of Freddy son of Floppy son of  Flip
Knobba son of Knob, son of Kevin son of Keith

The cards (A work very much in progress)

A.D. 601.  This year Pope Gregory sent the pall to Archbishop
Quincy in Britain, with very many learned doctors to assist
him; and the Archbishop  converted the king of the Northumbrians, by bathing with him.

A.D. 603. This year King of the Scots, fought with the Dalreathians, and with the, king of the Northumbrians supported by the Mercians, at the brewery of Theakstone.

A.D. 604.  This year Archbishop Quincy consecrated two brothers as  bishops, Barrius and Paullus Chucklus.   He sent them to preach baptism to the East- Saxons.  The

Terrain card.  Retain this card for one use in battle.  You may set out three hills and three woods in any single battle of your choice.

Terrain card.  Retain this card for one use in battle.  You may set out one hills one wood and a village in any single battle of your choice.

A.D. 607.  This year the East Angles fought with the South-Saxons.  And the King led his army to Chester; where he fought against an innumerable host of the Welsh lead by Brocmail son of Bromance.

A.D. 614.  This year the West Saxons and the Men of Kent lead by Cwichelm fought at Bamp's Cross, against the Mercian King and the East Angles. 

A.D. 617.  This year the King of the East-Angles allied with Redwald of the men of Kent and fought the Mercians and Northumbrians.  Great was the slaughter of the Ethelings, the sons of Ethelfrith, namely, Enfrid. Oswald, Oswy, Oslac, Oswood, Oslaf, and Offa.

A.D. 625.  This year Paulinus was invested bishop of the
Northumbrians, by Archbishop Justus, on the twelfth day before
the calends of August.  He received his crook and portrayed the dance of Macarena.

A.D. 626.  This year came Eamer from Cwichelm, with a design to assassinate the King of the Mercians; but he killed two Thanes and wounded the king.  The King gathered his men and with the Northumbrians he advanced against the West-Saxons and the East Angles. 

A.D. 627.  This year was the King baptized at Easter, with all
his people, by Archbishop Quincy, who also preached the baptism for many many hours, so that Aldorman Bleek, in the front pew departed this life before the Archbishop concluded his sermon.  Always was not to be the last.

A.D. 628.  This year the Northumbrians and Scots fought with the Mercians and a band of West Saxons at Cirencester, and afterwards entered into a treaty there. 

A.D. 633.  Cadwalla of Wales and the King of the Mercians met the Northumbrians and Scots on Hatfield moor, on the fourteenth of October.  The warband of Osfrid, the Kings son also fought there.

A.D. 636.  This year King Cwichelm was baptized by Archbiiship Quincy at Dorchester, but died after an accidental the font.  The same year.  Bishop Felix also preached to the East-Angles the belief of Christ, but they remained dubious.

A.D. 640.  This year Archbishop Quincy chose the abbess Sexburga, the daughter of Anna of the East-Angles, as his piece of stuff, forsaking the lady Ermintrude who had begat him five sons.

A.D. 642.  This year the King of the Northumbrians, met the Mercian King, and the Southumbrians, at Mirfield, on the fifth day of August; Miracles were afterwards displayed on manifold occasions
throughout this battlefield, a cow was seen praying, and a sheep begat a small cat. 

A.D. 643 "In this year the King of Mercia did gather his men , and joining with the King of The East Angles he gave battle against the Men of Kent and the West Saxons at London... "

A.D. 628. This year the Northumbrians and Scots and fought with the Mercians at Cirencester, and afterwards entered into a treaty there.

A.D. 629  Terrain card:  three hills three woods and a palisaded village.  May be played as the terrain choice in any battle.

A.D. 630 The thegn Eadda joins you, a hero who leads one of your armoured warrior bands at 6BR due to his heroism.  Try not to get him killed.

A.D. 630 This year did Bishop Quincy celebrate Mass, stark naked and staff of office out, as God intended.

A.D. 631 In the summer of this year the Nonne, Lady Heddabanger of the Mercians rode through Cirencester, drunk as Goddes Bride."

A.D. 632. My Lord Bishop, Godde has given you The right to donate a title upon one of our Saxon Kings.  Judge well their behaviour in battle and bestow a fitting sobriquet upon them based upon their performance of His Work."

A.D. 633 A Name Won in Battle.  You may give a battle name to another player at the end of todays fighting.  Making up your own is good form but you may, At a pinch, choose from...
 "The unlucky"
 "The vicious bastard"
 "The fruit bag"

A sample card draw

The First Year of the Game

Card 

Player 1

614.  The battle of Bamp's Cross.  West Saxons & Men of Kent, against the Mercian King and the East Angles. 

Player 2

629  Terrain card

Player 3

627.  Religious drivel about a Bishop.

Player 4

630 A thegn B6 warriors unit can be added to your forces.

Player 1s battle is fought, with the East Angle, West Saxon and Mercian Kings leading their own men and the other player taking the leadership  of the Men of Kent for the game.