Americans for Chain of Command

In an attempt to escalate the arms race with General Ballroom I popped over to see nice Mr Nick at Northstar and got a few packs of Americans.
I wanted a sniper (after my Sergeant was on the receiving end in the Crete game) and an FOO team and I needed a few more riflemen to ensure I had enough crews for the support weapons (as they were originally intended for Bolt Action).

All were done in the same way as the previous ones basic block painting followed by an all over wash. This time, I used Army Painter Strong Tone wash, rather than the dip (mainly so they dried quicker and matt).

They need some static grass adding, but I rushed them in to battle before they got that treatment.

The riflemen are Crusader.
Sniper and FOO team are Artizan.

Of Gods and Mortals - Sacred Grove

Unwilling to play any more 40K for the time being (see previous post) the Gaming Heir decided that we should get the OGAM toys out.
He took Poseidon and I took Hermes.
We both had an assortment of mortals and heroes, I made sure to include the war sheep.

We decided to play the Sacred Grove scenario, mainly because the GH had set the table up with a grove in the centre.

I began by advancing my hoplites toward the grove.

The Sea God appeared behind my lines and decided to use his trident as a crook.

Hermes ran across to rescue his flock. The resultant draw left the sheep awed!

Meanwhile the Nemean Lion had wondered into the grove and was able to shrug off the attacking sprites due to being invulnerable.

At about this point Hermes was banished from the mortal realm and the sheep fled the scene.

The GH invoked furiously and used the resultant power to summon a Kraken - no doubt irate at being forced to dwell in a swamp.

Hermes was restored to the mortal realm and ran into the grove to see off the lion.

Poseidon and the Kraken decided to even the odds.

Finally the brass bull (slow) got moving and clanked toward the grove.

Where he joined up with the Spartans.

Seizing his chance the bull charged the Nemean Lion, who rolled a 1 and was vanquished!

But it was too little too late, the centaurs had by now sneaked into the grove and despite Hermes killing the Kraken the game belonged to Poseidon!

Another good fun game. I always enjoy games with the Song of.. engine. They're the right balance of choice (2 dice or 3?) and fun for me.
Predictably the two recently painted units, sheep and brass bull were largely terrible.

40K Campaign, game two

The second game in the campaign the Gaming Heir and I are fighting over the verdant and erstwhile peaceful planet of Turtus VII.
A force of mostly standard marines led by the Emperor's Champion has blundered into contact with my altogether clankier army, consisting of Dreadnaught, Kans and a Morkanaut.

Early shooting from the marines proved ineffectual and the Orks clanked merrily forward.

Despite a jet swooping overhead the bright red death machines were soon in amongst the marines.

Where their shiny metal fists wrought havoc.

It was soon all over and the Ork Death Machines were triumphant.
Turns out Emperor's Champions are prone to squishyness when confronted by a Morkanaut..

Oddly enough the Gaming Heir has refused my subsequent attempts to play the next campaign turn.

Dragon Rampant Kislev against Crocodiles

Down to the Lenton Gamers club again for my monthly fix of Dragon Rampant in the campaign.
This time I was to play Sam, who had an army of crocodiles. Handbags and Shoes for the Tzarina!

Sadly Sam knew what he was doing and I still don't.

 Forward the horse archers!

 The proud Lancers of Kislev

 Ungols advance

 Crazy Crocs

 More reptilian raiders

 Dead stuff too

We were playing the scenario where you have to collect up the gems.

The vagaries of the dice meant we were playing down the length of the table. A few fluffed activation roles meant the killer kroks were able to scoop up more than half of them quite quickly.

As we'd forgotten to do boasts or challenges that meant I was already unable to win. However neither of us felt like finishing soon (or starting again) so we just fought on. You know, for the lolz.

 Charge!

The yetis managed to drop rocks on the heads of some passing crocs, but this was the limit of my success.

Eventually a particularly animated and agitated alligator put paid to my wizard

And with that we called a halt to the slaughter.
I'm now played 3 lost 3 in the campaign.
But it's all good fun.

Chain of Command US v German Flank Attack (2)

Read the previous part of this game here before continuing

The US troops behind the fence continued to exchange fire with the beleaguered Germans in the woods.
Despite the arrival of their commanding officer the Germans proved inaccurate with their fire, whilst the Americans were having one of those days when they just couldn't miss.

Eventually the Germans pulled back and the Americans were able to switch their fire to the squad approaching their left flank.

Meanwhile behind on the outskirts of the village the US troops continued to pour fire into the fallschirmjagers in the building, eventually wiping them out.

By this time additional German troops were deploying into the nearby building and so the US section pulled into cover behind one of the larger buildings.

The Germans attempted to push up on the American squad in the centre, however the assaulting infantry were caught in the open and the fire of their MG42 squad was ineffective.

Judicious use of Turn Ending CoC dice at this point pushed the Germans close to the Force Morale of 3 that would hand victory to the US and so, in desperation the remaining undamaged squad left their building and moved to out flank the Americans.

They were met by a hail of fire from the US troops

Despite some dodgy moments the American firepower proved (just) too much for the Germans who broke and (with the aid of another Turn Ending dice) took Force Morale down to zero, leaving the Americans in charge of Tromnee-sur-Ilq.

Another good fun game that had plenty of swings and changes of fortune.
General B had a poor day with the dice whilst mine ran hot all evening.
At least until the end when I couldn't roll a four to save my life and the shock began to pile up on the American squad in the open.

I'm enjoying Chain of Command, though it does feel a bit like the game breaks down into a series of long ranged firefights where the decision making is about who you activate, rather than what they do. You know they're going to carry on firing, and if possible removing shock - the only question is what dice you get to do that.
Maybe this is an accurate recreation of war, or maybe we're just not very good at playing the game well but it does feel as if the game is a bit static for long periods.

Next week I'm on the attack, pursuing the fleeing Germans.

Warhammer - the Good Friday Massacre

For the last few years Stephen and I have got together at Easter for drinking sessions punctuated by games of the finest of all wargames Warhammer.
Usually we have roped our chum Spandex in to remain a bastion of bemused sobriety as we attempted to move soldiers in a state of advanced drunkenness. Sadly he wasn't available this year. But, undaunted Steve and I pressed on with the whole thing.

So, big game of Warhammer. I had 3,000 points - 2,000 Orcs and Goblins and 1,000 Ogres. Opposing me was a slightly smaller alliance of Skaven and Undead.
All I had to do was knock down a bunch of buildings (and avoid being butchered by the Vampire).

 The field of WAR!

 I painted these. They are horrible models

 Boar Boys are Aces!

 Giant. Ideal for smashing buildings

 Da Gobbos

The battle began with the horrid dogs charging the boarboys.  Meanwhile repulsive, rotting leathery things devoid of emotion and empathy (no, not Theresa May) were flapping around.

Stephen got his ghoulies out. They're a peculiar shade of purple are Stephen's ghoulies.
They formed up in a horde in the graveyard, with the vampire ordering them about.

The Boarboys took their sweet time killing the dogs.

Fortunately I had some things to deal with leathery flappers.

On the left flank a Doomwheel was fizzing about randomly, which caused my own randomly fizzing things to come shooting out. Dealing a fair bit of damage to the electrified hamster wheel.

The Vampire got his ghoulies out to play with. The Bulls charged them. And then were slaughtered.

The boarboys, finally free of the dogs made for the skaven

As the bulls were dying the Ironguts and Orcs pushed up

Having gorged on dead flying beasties the Squigs went to munch on the tower.

 Bulls struggle gamely on

Eventually the Ironguts ploughed into the tower and hacked it to the ground.

Meanwhile out of sight (i.e. I forgot to take pictures) the Orc warboss cut down the Vampire and some serious crumbling began.
Victory to the Orc and Ogre alliance!

Splendid game. Steve was a bit hampered by deployment (his super hard graveguard were out of command range of the vampire, so struggled to get anywhere) but my big lads performed admirably.

Then we went for a curry.