29, Let's Go Campaign: Home Run at Osmanville

Despite the Germans having soundly trounced the US forces in the campaign we played through to the last scenario.

It's been a few weeks now, so my memories are dim, but here anyway are the pictures.

I took a mortar to help shoot in my forces. It was, as far as I recall pretty ineffective.

My boys were soon jumping off and taking up positions.

The Shermans were soon trundling toward the objective.

One along each approach road.

Providing encouragement for the infantry.

Who themselves were soon fanning out along the road.

However inevitably a German with a Panzerschreck popped up!

As did another, and my  Heavy Metal support was soon all ablaze!

Bravely the troops pressed on to assault the objective.

Whilst their fellows provided covering fire.

With the objective in US hands and German morale tumbling, Ballzimmer launched a desperate assault.

 

A fierce firefight broke out in the orchard.

Fortunately my troops weathered the storm and as the smoke cleared the last few Germans unfurled their white flags.

Another cracking game. Chain of Command is *hard* to play well and really makes you think. We've enjoyed the campaign, despite it being a comprehensive German victory (the last three games were played even though they had already won the campaign).

We're looking now at another PSC for 2025 - perhaps Old Hickory to give me a chance to see if I can do better with Americans on the defensive.

Lord of the Rings: Battle of Pelennor Fields

 A Christmas game of MESBG with NSYN and his dad with special guest appearance from his brother.

I dug out an old Pelennor Fields scenario (from the original Return of the King book I think) and between NSYN and I we had all the forces needed. Except a second Fellbeast.

I took the forces of evil against the combined forces of the family.

Behold my mighty force of Orcs, Trolls, Easterlings and Ringwraiths

NSYN took the defenders of Minas Tirith (we didn't have Gandalf in his White Away Kit, so stuck with his grey strip)

NSYN's Dad had the Army of the Dead, along with Legolas (!) Gimli (!!) AND Aragorn (!!!)

NSYN's elder brother took command of the Rohan forces.

The Ghosts were soon woo-woo-ing their way onto the battlefield.

The Orcs bought the pain to the Riders of Rohan.

A mixed force, including a Troll headed for the spectral forces.

They were unafraid, what with being dead and everything.

The other Troll went hunting Minas Tirith men.

Orcs and Riders were soon knocking eight bells out of one another.

An Easterling Conga line took on a ghost.

The Troll, somewhat unwisely found himself facing the King of the Dead. Who, it turns out is rather good at killing large monsters with a single blow.

Flappy the Fell Beast narrowly failed to do away with Gandalf the White Grey

Orcs were falling, but so were horsemen.

So good, we shared it twice.

Soon the evil forces were testing their courage, which saw the second troll take to his heels.

 

The Ghosts and their alive chums soon cleared the forces facing them.

A few more casualties and failed courage tests and the servants of Sauron left the field to the forces of Good.

A very jolly game, I probably should have used Orcs to tie up the Ghosts and the Trolls to murder more of the squishy humans. As it was they weren't far from having to take courage tests themselves and victory could have been mine!

Midgard Heroic Battles: The Battle of Wakefield

At Parizan in October we bumped in to chum Chris who we'd not seen much of since he hosted us for a very jolly ECW game last December. He revealed he was in a bit of a "hobby funk" and so after a bit of a chat we hatched a plan for a pre-Christmas Midgard War of the Roses game (Chris' first love is WotR and he contributed a heap of figures for our Mortimers Cross game). Nearest big battle to the day we could convene was the Battle of Wakefield which took place on December 30th so we decided that's what we'd re-fight.

I cobbled together a scenario, based on the Freezywater Battles book and a looking at the fantastic scenario and lists from Eric the Shed's refight using Hail Caesar Rules.  

The Lancastrians would deploy a smaller force in front of the castle, which we assumed was a trap to lure Richard of York from the security of the castle. Reinforcements would arrive on the flanks in turns two and three. This would give the forces of Lancaster overwhelming numbers, however to guarantee victory they'd need to gain vengeance on the Yorkist commanders and prevent York's son from escaping the slaughter.  The Lancastrians would gain extra Reputation for killing York and Salisbury, whilst York could salvage additional Reputation if his son Rutland could ride away to Wakefield. As the notorious coward Wiltshire was present we came up with a special Trait that made him reluctant to get involved and "Butcher" Clifford also had a unique trait making it more likely he'd kill an opposing leader.

Reports of the battle make no mention of snow, but it took place in December and James has a lovely snow mat and we had some wintry trees so why not?

 

The small Lancastrian force taunts York to attack.

York wastes no time in advancing to meet them.

Margaret of Anjou looks on, bottom right. (In reality she was in Scotland at the time, but "print the legend" and all that).

The Blue and White Lancastrian forces unleash their arrow storm.

York's men return with interest.

With little time to waste York orders the advance.

Though some of his flank holds back.

With loud cries Wiltshire's men emerge from the woodland, though they make slow going - the effect of the woods, or their leader not urging them on?

Somerset's men prepare to meet the Yorkist attack.

Clifford's archers continue to shoot.

The Yorkist left hasn't yet responded to the sudden arrival to their flank.

Worse news for the house of York as Roos arrives with Lancastrian horse.

Rutland, held in reserve, finds his way to Wakefield blocked.

York urges his men to close with the enemy.

The view from the castle walls.

Still the lines remain apart.

Though the cavalry are closing the gap.

Clifford taunts his foe.

Finally the Yorkist left reacts to Butler's arrival.

Somerset leads the way.

Butler has his men make complicated manoeuvres that fail to bring them closer to the foe for some reason.

Finally men charge home.

Roos leads the charge.

York likewise takes his men into the heart of the Lancastrian line.

The combat is fierce and bloody.

No quarter shown on either side.

The Yorkist right is under pressure, but Roos' men are taking casualties too.

In the centre York is cutting his way through the Lancastrian lines.

On the Lancastrian right Exeter has seized the initiative and is cutting down Yorkists.

Butler himself seems happy to let Exeter take the glory (and the risks)

The press of bill in the middle/

York's men try to stem Roos' charge.

Rutland charges home in an attempt to cut his way to Wakefield.

Men at Arms are too much for mere billmen to cope with.

The cavalry battle is joined.

York is punching through in the centre.

Elsewhere however the Yorkist forces are overwhelmed by the weight of Lancastrian numbers.

At the point the Yorkist reputation ran out and Lancaster could claim the field.

For those of you seeking modern day, hi-tech thrills here's a video version of the game.

What a great game that played out a historical result but never felt like a complete walkover for the Red Roses. Rutland should maybe have had more cavalry and a few extra Reputation in the Yorkist pot at the start would have made it even closer and maybe a little fairer, but the scenario seemed to work really well.

The most important thing though was a great day of gaming with great company. We've plans to do it again in February - St Albans may be the refight...