Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge-First Entry

Like most things, I am running a little behind.  Here is my first entry for the Painting Challenge. This is to adding to my WWI collection.   These are 1916 German Stosstrupen.  There is a mix of riflemen with a few trench raider types scattered in. 
The figures are a mix of Old Glory and Great War Miniatures.  I am a long time Old Glory fan but this is not the strongest range they make.  Great War make some beautiful figures. They are a bit taller and much more well fed than the Old Glory.    

I love the Gas Mask look.  One of my favorite figures is the guy in a gas mask carrying the Spandau. Its a little Hollywood in my opinion but its so fun

I am still struggling with what the basing should look like.  I would love it to be dark and muddy but that really dulls down the already dull figures.   Its a work in progress and I would love any suggestions you have.


20 total 28mm figures =100points.   I think.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge:Prep work

The cleaning, basing and priming are complete.  Just a little more than 6 hours until the kick off the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge.  I am excited to get this going.  I had planned to paint Romans and Germans but I cant kick this WW I bug. 

I have 176 British to paint





97 French 



80 Germans




Armed with a huge pile of prepared lead, a 960 minute WW I documentary and a 6 pack of diet Pepsi I am about as ready for this challenge as I can be.    Off we go! 

Monday, December 14, 2015

Through the Mud and Blood

This past weekend the local Braintruster's along with some dragooned teenagers gathered to honor one of Ohio breathern.  After years of coercing, cajoling and convincing we finally got Craig to attempt the westward trek from Columbus to Indianapolis.


Knowing Craig enjoys the more esoteric wargamng periods I thought this get together would be a perfect time to inflict my new mania on the gang.  I am not sure why but World War One has taken over both my reading and gaming interest.  Its such an painful meeting point between the Victorian era and the Modern era.

We ran a scenerio from TFL's scenario book Stout Hearts and Iron Troopers.   As written the scenario takes place in 1914.  Unfortunately, the only troops we have painted are from 1916 so please pardon the Stalhelms and Poilu's in Horizon Blue.


Leutnant Erwin Rommel has been tasked with reconnoitering and if possible gain a foothold in the small Belgian village of Bleid. I have nothing but very high praise for the way the TFL Scenario is laid out and balanced.  


I think the Germans have a pretty significant edge in the game.  Rommel is a class VI leader so he is able to have a major impact on the game.  The blind where Rommel is deployed can be seen hiding behind the barn above. 











 The house to the left is the main objective of the German attack on the village.  They lose their advantage when French reinforcements arrive.


This was our groups first go around with Through the Mud and Blood.  On the whole we really enjoyed the flavor of the rule set.  The only downside I found was the card driven nature slows the game significantly.  In our game it was more than off set by the color and flavor the rules provided.

We learned the hard way that moving in the open is a bad idea. 








Rommel has made his way to the objective house and his men prepare to batter their way in.  One of the colorful additions in Mud and Blood is the Heroic Action Card.  This allows the activated leader to attempt an extraordinary action.  The heroic leader has to explain his action and intended results and gain the agreement of the opposing player(s).   Rommel being a man of action seized the initiative and burst though the window blazing away with his pistol.  


As a result of his heroic attack the depleted and leaderless French force fled in ignominy.



Here we see our befezed leaders.  Craig the French CNC on the left and Steve, Rummel...er I mean Rommel himself on the right.  

We played a follow on Scenario where the French tried to retake the house and the Germans tried to capitalize on their success by taking the cross roads.   We allowed limited reinforcement and consolidation of damaged units.  More details on Rommels Turkey Shoot to follow 



Overall a great day with a great bunch of guys.   

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Zulu!


Keith Sullivan's was kind enough to drive up and put on yet another extravaganza.  Over 2000 Zulu!  Despite the almost one full page of rules we were able to have a rip roaring time.  Very simple and very effective in creating an atmosphere of claustrophobia on the part of the British.

Below you see Keith setting up and about 1500 of the Zulu (40 Zulu regiments)






The British Camp with some NNC making sure the tents are ncie an

The false bravado of the British as they look over the waves of humanity about to crash into their lines
Arrogant Zulu Commanders
The British begin to feel the death by a thousand cuts.  2 casualties may not seem like a lot but...

The British trade time and distance for a chance to bring their superior fire power to bear. But firepower only helps if you have it.  To fire the Brits had to take an ammo test.  Guess who failed 6 our of 9 rolls!  In the bottom of the frame you can see a unit of NNC beginning to scout the hill east of the camp.    
The Zulu perspective of the noose tightening
Confidence oozes from the Zulu commanders and the British camp is breached and the slaughter begins
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The NNC investigates the hill.   Good idea? 

The Zulu perspective of the noose tightening.



The NNC scouting brings unwanted results.  Col Pulleine finds the other 500 Zulu 3 turns early.   Thanks boss!



The Zulu force the British back to the edge of the camp.
The beginning of the end.


British discipline still holds as reinforcements race to the the new threat



The Zulu over run the NNC and Durnfords horse leaving a gap in the line
Zulu in the camp










Monday, August 31, 2015

Great Italian Wars

These are from a Keith Sullivan extravaganza he ran for us in July.   Sorry to all for the delay posting.