THE EMPIRE STRIKES OUT

 This weeks Wednesday's we played a learning game of Sword and Spear Ancients and Medieval rules. This matched the Imperial Romans against the Celts. The rules threw a lot of new concepts at the group, and it took a bit of time for us to catch on. First is the Activation Systems that uses player specific colored dice randomly drawn in batches. In our case this was 11 dice at a time with 36 dice available. The side that gets the most dice in a draw has the initiative during the phase and goes first. Dice are then rolled and assigned to individual units to activate. Dice rolls too low to work, typically 1s and 2s are discard and 6s give a benefit to movement, or to combat, with the option being up to the player at the time of use. Units are then moved from lowest value up, so 3s, followed by 4, etc., initiative players first. Combat, be it shooting or close combat is resolved immediately. A unit in close combat without an activation die forfeits its activation options and receives an undrawn die from the bag to note this. There are plenty of details I left out, but this was a real key to game play. 

The second concept was all combat is using opposing die rolls. You create a die pool from your base combat ability, any movement and terrain effects, and any skills that the unit's possess. These are rolled and match up in descending order. Any unequal dice are match to a virtual 2 that can cause no damage to the opponent but can prevent damage to the shortfall side. An equal roll is no effect. A higher roll causes a check to see if it caused damage, this is typically a 4+ save, A roll that is double or better automatically causes damage. There are a number of skills that can modify dice rolls and effects, but this is the basics. 

Once we got the hang of how all this worked the game moved along at a fairly quick pace. The final outcome was a draw, and everyone seemed to have a good time. I am sure these rules will be played again in the near future. I was rather involved in the learning process, so I nearly forgot to take pictures. Here are the few I did take. 

The Game in Action About Mid Battle. Celts on the Left, Romans on the Right. The Blue Dice You See are the Activation Dice for that Contingent of Romans. 

My Celtic Cavalry Pouring in on the Roman Rear. Entering the Table was as Far as I got Before Real-World Issues Required me to Leave. 

TILLY'S VERY GOOD DAY

 On Wednesday, we played another game of Tilly's Very Bad Day Rules. This pitted the Catholics Lead by Tilly and the Protestants lead by the Duke of Brunswick. I find the game leads to some very quick and bloody results, having had my head handed to me in one game and fighting tooth and claw in another. If things start to go bad you need to fix them quickly or be overwhelmed by cascade effects. 

Catholics on the Left, Protestants to the Right. The Limited Time the Catholics have to Break Their Opponents has put Them on a Hell For Leather Attack. On the Left the Cavalry is Keeping the Protestant Infantry in Check from Maneuvering While in the Center and Right Infantry and Cavalry Press the Enemy.

With Infantry Support on Their Left the Catholic's Cuirassier Smash into the Protestant Cavalry. Even with the River Reducing Their Effectiveness the Pulmonary Artillery and Musket Fire has Softened up the Protestants. In the Center the Catholic Infantry is being Held, but at Significant Cost.     

And as Quickly as it Starts it is Over. With the Death of the Protestant General and the Loss of a Few Squadrons of Cavalry, the Protestants Remaining Cavalry is Reduced to Ineffectiveness and is Quickly Swept from the Field. 

Overall, this was a very interesting game where along most of the battlefield things were a true tug-of-war. The Protestants did very well along the center, and there was little action on the left. The right cavalry battle proved decisive, where the Protestants lost twelve of the ten units they needed to break. 

There is a refight scheduled for Saturday where I will be given the Protestant Left Wing Cavalry. This will defiantly be a challenge. 

WEDNESDAY HMGS MIDWEST - BLUCHER & WWI

Since once again I have been locked out of my Eccentric blog I am switching Dog Wars to Cover all my gaming. First up this week HMGS Midwest at Games Plus are two games, Napoleonic's using Blutcher in 6mm run by Steve, and WWI Trench Raid in 28mm using home grown rules written and run by Mitch.

Opening of the Battle of Aspern-Essling. French Left Flank (Center Right) on the Interior Lines Holding Against the Austrian's Assault. 

French IV Corp Holding Aspern. The Austrians have Begun Bombarding the Town and Working to Evict the French from the Nearby Woods. 

The Guards Artillery and the Cavalry Corp Holding the Central Dike Position, While II Corp is Seen in Control of Essling.   

Near Games End and the Austrian's Control the Woods Outside Aspern. Despite Continuous Bombardment the French Still Retain full Control of the Town. In the Center an Entire Austrian Corp has Been Repulsed.   

On the Essling Front II Corp Reinforcements are Coming Across the River, while on the Flank the Cavalry Corp has Succeeded in Holding off the Austrian Infantry and Repulsed Their Cavalry. The Center is Firmly Held and the Austrian Corp Opposite is in a Highly Weakened State.  

At this point the game was only in its sixth turn of thirteen when we had to call it because of time. It was a draw with both sides having lost three units of the near dozen both sides needed before their respective collapse. By games end turns were going much faster as all the players had a better understanding of the rules. 

Yet again Steve put on another fantastic looking and fun to play game. 

Overview of the Trenches and No Mans Land of the WWI Battle. The British and French on the Right Supported by Tanks. The Germans Waiting in Their Trench Line to the Left. 

British Advancing Steadily Against the German Line. In the Background can be Seen One of the Tanks and a Gas Attack Underway. 

German Lines Under an Allied Gas Attack as a Tank Nears the Wire. It is being Supported by French Infantry Who are Taking Shelter in the Nearby Craters. 

The game was still going on when I left but the Allies forces had started the assaults into the German trenches. The final outcome was unknown, but everyone seemed to be having a good time, so a victory to all the players. 

Games are hosted at Games Plus every Wednesday around fifty weeks a year. There is typically one large game on the 6x10 table and one small game on the standard 4x6 table. On occasion when turnout demands it a third game is also available.