All Quiet on The MArtian Front 2

For those that haven't yet checked this out follow the ling to this blog to see some table top play ------- Those tanks are huge ---- Soooo excited
http://goo.gl/9FOA0

Musket and Tomahawks day

Quite a few people have been asking me for more pictures and more detail of the games played on our Musket and Tomahawk day so I thought time permitting over the next few days I would give details of each scenario together with some more pictures kingly sent to me by the Galloping Major himself.
The games lent themselves to a lot of inspiration to the recent articles which appeared in Wargames Illustrated.

Scenario 1 – Wood Cutters.

This scenario takes place a mile or so from the main supply camp in a clearing being worked by colonial militia cutting suitable logs to build the emplacement for the artillery and a watch tower at Forest Bay. To support the militia are some Rangers who are currently scouting the surrounding area.

The Colonial camp is deployed within 8” of table centre and there are a number of barricades of cut logs surrounding the camp together with a couple of wagons, the militia deploy within the camp.

The Rescuers start off table and are in two groups.

The French & Hurons deploy in three groups on three table sides within 6” of the table edge.

Sub plots for one officer on each side are in play.

Objectives;

The militia need to hold out until the Rangers arrive and rescue them. If all the Rangers are killed before the rescue the militia the Colonials will surrender.

If the Colonial Militia surrender or flee before the Rangers arrive all they will find are the scalped bodies of those left behind.

Starting on turn 3 roll a D6 for the Rangers, on a 5 or a 6 they will arrive at the centre of two adjoining table edges.. If they fail to arrive throw again on turn 4, needing a 4, 5 or 6. On turn 5 a 3,4,5 or 6 and so on.

This scenario counts as Slaughter. 

Forces-

FRENCH FORCES:

Scenario 1

1 Canadian Officer

1 militia unit 8 figures

1 militia unit 6 figures

Huron Leader

1 Indian Unit 6 figures armed with musket

British Forces

Scenario 1

Ranger Officer with Rifle

2 units of 6 Rangers

Militia Officer

3 units of 5 militia 

The Colonial Militia are alerted as one of their number staggers from the woods shot! The Officer orders his man to stand to and pray the Rangers return shortly.

 Already under pressure from the Canadian Militia and their Indian Allies (superb dice throwing by Bob) the Colonials start to give ground and are forced back from cover.

 As the Colonials take casualties the French forces feel brave and strong enough to advance over the open ground to close in - still no Rangers!!

 The Colonials are driven from the camp and the following bound its all over as they are wiped out to a man.!!!!

Thoughts on this scenario - I should have let the British player roll for  the Rangers from bound one or two at the latest. In the first bound every card in the pack was played as the last event card was the last card in the deck and that put a lot of pressure on the British Player coupled with some excellent shooting from the French Player.
Graham who played the English did say that next time he would run for the woods on the one side the French didn't arrive. However that may not be so easy if hidden movement is used!! As both players were new to the system we didn't use that in this game.

I will hopefully upload the other scenarios and pictures this week.

I'm doomed

Just when I thought I was starting to get on top of things, along came this game- All Quiet on the Martian Front-
Lots of H.G. Wells goodness - tripods and WW1 type humans but with tesla technology and some 'great weapons.

A kickstarter project I think is worth selling one's soul for
 http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1117201778/all-quiet-on-the-martian-front-miniature-tanks-vs?ref=activity

A Christmas present to myself!!! now to start looking for HO American buildings, woe is me 'I'm doomed'

Musket and Tomahawk day

I've been planning, painting and building for  this event at the gaming centre for some time. It also marked the attendance of Lance from Galloping Major and the centre starting to stock his figures.

A couple of issues of Wargames Illustrated had a good article on French Indian Wars and linked scenarios which I shamelessly worked on and adapted for Musket and Toamahawks.

The background for the day was as follows;

'1756 Fort William Henry  is complete and garrisoned by men of the 44^th foot under the command of Lieutenant  Col William Eyre.

He has received instruction to push North and build a series of fortifications and artillery positions to threaten the French access and control of Lake George and establish a strong position for an attack on the French and prevent their completion of Fort Carrilon.

He has ordered Captain Cawkwell to take what Provincials he could muster together with a small contingent of Rangers and their Mowhawk allies to probe North. They have established a supply depot at Camp Serenity and have started to start build an artillery emplacement overlooking Forest Bay . Colonel Eyre has promised the support of a small contingent of regular infantry if they can be spared.

The French General Dieskau received report from his Indian scouts of the British movement North. As a result he ordered Colonel Depardieu to strike South with his Canadian Militia and Huron allies and to cause as much disruption as possible to prevent the British from achieving their objectives and to gain time For General Dieskau to prepare for a major counter attack at Oswego.'

In effect three linked scenarios which fed into a final game.

Some pics of the day;-

 The British Colonial Militia 'Woodcutters' being over run by the Canadian Militia and Indians, British Rangers failed to arrive!

 The attack on camp Serenity saw a bloody draw with the French only managing to destroy some British supplies and the British holding on by the skin of their teeth.

 The British Column forced their way through the dense forest to get the 6 pounder to Captain Cawkwell at Forest Bay on Lake George.

 The main French attack after initial success ground to a halt through casualties but not without causing the British major losses and setting back their advance North. All ready for another mini campaign.

A few pics of the Galloping Major figures - first class-

More pictures and a more in depth review to follow,

Winter is coming!!

Just a short post - painted up the command figures from Claymore castings for their Islesmen, superb.!!!!!!

April update

Apologies for not updating the blog on a more regular basis just been heavily involved with the gaming centre and painting commissions.

I've managed to get some more of Galloping Majors FIW figures done, Canadian Militia and some more civilians.

Apologies for the pictures as I've had to use a flash as its rather overcast on this beautiful!! Spring day (as usual).

Also painted a Norse Gael force as a commission

All the figures are Gripping Beast, the 'big' Warlord is their Brodir of Man who came to a rather sticky end at the Battle of Clontarf.

Birthday next weekend and I'm popping through to see Lance but hopefully after that thing will start to settle down (not).

Time for a tipple.