While We Are Waiting

I was too busy today to write up the battle but here's an aerial view of the game in progress. 

The Dominion forces attack with the aim of clearing the road. 

On Friday, I'm off to visit family, to celebrate Canada Day on the 1st and then, since the three of us were all born in July, we'll celebrate our birthday month.  Not quite sure how it is that my sister who used to be only 3 years older than me will be 70 by the end of the weekend, but there we are.  

One More Before We Go.

A long while ago, I bought two of the Prince August mounted cowboy moulds but had never painted any up. As the Kapelle Rebellion has started coming together, I decided to do at least 1 of each. Its rather surprising how well shiny toy soldier semi-flat horsemen can mix in with fully round ones of a similar size and style. 

The PA cowboys are in front, in the rear are two Scruby ACW riders on Zinnbrigade horses.

The previous game had been the first Kapelle Rebellion game that hadn't been played with some version of the Square Brigadier. The game was so so at best, part of that was the particular OHW scenario I had chosen, but part of it was the first draft of a new set of rules for the off grid games. I let it sit for a few days and then started thinking about it. Eventually, I decided that since I was using neither grid nor multi-figure bases, I could do something a little more Old School. Once a set were quickly drawn up, I decided they needed to be tried while they were fresh, but with a simple, Old School scenario. 

The Rebel army stands to as Domion forces deploy on the horizon (aka the opposing table edge.).

Hopefully I can play this out on Thursday, otherwise it'll have to be next week. 

Another One Rides On Board

 This twice converted Scruby ACW 40mm cavalry unit is now ready to rumble and roll dice. 

Since this is minor sideshow, I've decided to limit the armies for the Kapelle Rebellion to what is needed for small scenarios such as the ones in  One Hour Wargames and various other sources. Just enough to make use of whats done for a quick game now and then, a game a bit different from my usual fare. 

Apart from moving some infantry and gunners from abandoned foamcore test company bases onto individual washer bases, the Faraway Expeditionary Force in Kapelle is now complete with 6 infantry companies, two squadrons of cavalry, one mountain and two field artillery guns plus an armoured car and various comandeered trucks. The rebels and their allies just need  two more mounted figures and a bit of basing and they'll be done as well. 

But, whats not done can wait for a while, its time to get back to the 1790's!

Intermission

The repulse of the Dominion column in April, due largely to the intervention of an Oerberg column, has stirred the nascent rebellion in Kapelle. In addition to the local defense forces which are being formed in many a village, the insurgent government has begun raising regular units, relying largely on contributions of arms, uniforms and instructors from Oerberg.

Fresh off the painting desk this morning.

I have a feeling that the question of a free and independant Republic of Kapelle is a long way from decided. 

_______________

Meanwhile, I took advantage of being home alone (human-wise) to spend a little extra hobby time this week. The OHW hadn't taken long to play, ending somewhere around turn 9 out of 15.  It was a little too quick with too few decisions to make for the game to be satisfying so I decided to try again, and again, fiddling with organization and rules in between each round. In the final game, the Oerberg force would have won by getting 2 units off somewhere around turn 9 out of 15, if they'd gone first on the next turn, but....... 

The final game,  just before Tin Lizzie's MG cuts down the remnant of the Oerberg Mounted Police by rolling 3x6's on 3!!!! dice, followed by the Lancers overrunning the Railway company and the Commander. 
Oh well. 

Like many One Hour Wargames, it only took about 20 minutes of actual playing time to play. As much time was spent taking pictures and at least that much again trying to figure out if a new or revised set of rules were working and why or why not.  For example,  which is better, more smaller units vs fewer larger ones, or the same number of larger units for that matter, die modifiers for cover vs Old School 1/2 casualties vs dropping dice ala Battlecry, and so on and on, orders dice vs command radius + activation roll vs....etc etc.  Then I thought about the scenario and wondered how it could possibly last more than 20 minutes. I'll have to try the rules with a different scenario, preferably not another OHW one, as handy as they are.

Now however, it's time to move on to the 1790's. I want to paint up at least one new unit, two if things go well, and then it'll be game time on Tuesday!  

Quick as a Mouse!

This week's game was Scenario 25, "Infiltration", from Thomas's One Hour Wargames.  The premise is that one side (Oerberg in this case)  has sent four units to raid an enemy supply depot which is just off the other side of the table. The other side (The Dominion of Faraway) has one unit on guard, two more approaching from the depot to block the way (turn 3), and finally, three units chasing the raiders (turn 6).

The raiders managed to pass the Dominion outpost, but not without some losses. The PomPom crew seemed to be having engine problems (dice) so unlimbered and started putting shells into the sandbags. 

At the far end of the table, a company of  Ross's Rifles deployed, supported by a Mountain Gun. The raiders quickly debussed or dismounted and began shooting over their heads. 

The remnant of the outpost garrison cheered loudly as Larsen's Lancers and Tin Lizzy sped past in hot pursuit.

The Lancers caught up to the Pompom in good time then, rather than risk a charge, dismounted and finished off the crew with rifle fire. The infantry quickly debussed as they approached the enemy but the camp guard had stopped the raiders cold and Tin Lizzy's MG had finished the job on this end.
All in an hour's work.

Some people might have noticed that the table doesn't look as gridish as it did. I had suspected this was coming, and indeed, paiting the grid on  had been a last throw of the dice for using a grid for anything but small portable games. Its a lengthy explantion and maybe I'll write something on it eventually, but my main table is now grid free again, unless of course a gridded cloth is laid overtop of it when I get the urge.  

This means the rules of a few of my collections need a rewrite but, what doesn't really?  I'll want to play at least another game before I share these rather simple, nothing innovative, off-grid, rules but they are promising.

Halt! Who Goes.....ALARM!!!

Sometime, somewhere near the Kapelle/Oerburg border, there was a Dominion supply depot, and an outpost. Early one morning......

To be continued!

Right, Clear The Table, NEXT!!!!!

 Due to popular vote for a more modern game, aided by the itch to get recently refurbished figures on the table......

Larsen's Lancers in Khaki, now led by an NCO with pistol.

After the last outing for these lads (See Incident at Square Crossroad (16 Apr 22) ) I decided that I needed to refurnish/convert more figures. For example: Larsen's Lancers Khaki Squadron had a lame horse and a broken lance and the Dominion Forces no longer had a serious numbers advantage.  So I started by repairing the Lancers, then looked around for the optimum source of recruits.

Dominon Dragoons in Drab (work in progress) and the First Recruit for the Kapelle Rifles, looking suspiciously like a certain retired miniature......

The Dragoons were Historifig Scruby ACW figures, originally converted to Mexican-American War US Dragoons, a project long ago abandoned, now being re-converted to something more appropriate for the early 20thC. 

The Canadian militia private was part of a forlorn attempt a few years ago to replace my 54mm toy soldiers by 40mm figures as part of a standardization program. Predictably, it failed. Luckily, no new figures had been purchased. The armies were started with homecastings of a few orignal sculpts and various existing conversions of Zinnbrigade and Scruby castings. All have been or will be recucled...... in one way or another......  ("What'll be private? Volunteer for a new uniform and a bit of genetic modification? or go into the melting pot?" " Gulp? Anything for Her Majesty Sir! I'll volunteer please.")

There's a few busy days coming up, then some quiet ones. My current target to play the next game is Thursday. I've got the first few ideas for a scenario.........

And now it begins....

One might say that the assault had its ups and downs.

(But probably shouldn't.)

Battle Report tomorrow! 

Keeping The Watch Along The Borderline

 Spring is turning to summer and with it have come the Saxons! 

As always these days, there are not enough men to garrison the wall securely. The guards were sufficient to bar the gates and keep the first raiders at bay, but not enough to stem a full assault, especially as the Saxons seem to be led by an experienced Captain with an unusual power of command over his men. While the Saxon contingents continued to arrive, their leader set them to building siege engines and an assault tower.

The beacons had been lit to summon help, but who would answer and when?

(To be continued....)

And The Winner Is......

Thank you to all for the votes! If you haven't responded yet, fear not, leave a comment here and it will be added to the queue and could affect what the next game will be.

There were 16 votes by comment or message from 13 people so far. (Some people included a 2nd choice which is great.). A total of 6 periods were mentioned, and I will put all 6  in the queue, most requested first. 

The hands down winner was Prince Valiant and I'm working on scenario ideas. While doing so, it occurred to me that they would be perfect for an outdoor wilderness scenario, but I think I''ll save that for when I get some Algonquin warriors without muskets painted up and have read Prince Valiant's North American episodes. A good excuse for reading in the shade on a hot spring/summer day.

The second runner up was early 20thC and I resumed working on  bringing a couple of the units up to scratch yesterday, and thinking about a follow up scenario to the last game. 

Third runner up was the French Revolution so they will be back ere long, hopefully with at least 1 new unit, a proper naval landing party (instead of Pirates) and some, not yet royal, Marines. A raid on the coast is in my mind.

There was one vote for tricornes and since I'm not keen on trying to squeeze my Not Quite The Seven Years War Charge! armies onto my little table, I hope that an Anglo-French scrap in North America will do.  

Lastly, there were votes for 16thC and my not even vaguely historical Medieval/Fantasy collection from my Gathering of Hosts blog. Once I get a stand or two of my new Scots pikemen painted up, the 16thC will make an overdue reappearance, while I consider what the story line for The Gathering of Hosts suggests next. We'll be well into July by then!

Now, time for more coffee while I come up with a story line and scenario for Prince Micheal in the Age of King Arthur!

Where Away?

There are a lot worse crises in this world than "Which of my toys shall I play with?"  but here I am. 

I'm not in the mood to do more conversions and painting of Turkish reinforcements, not to mention terrain all of which I want to add before they take to the table again. A look through what I've played over the last year showed that every one of my current collections has been on the table in the last year, even if for one small game, so its down to what I'm inspired to do. 

When I'm not inspired,  I sometimes call on the bolder of my helpful and appreciated readers for suggestions and requests! 

So any preferences?  Anything in my current collections is fair ball. (See My Current Collections page if wondering what those are. There are 7 current "Active" ones and 3 "Semi-retired" ones to choose from.) 

Prince Valiant perhaps?

or Blue vs Grey:

Maybe something slightly more modern? 

Or??? 

What would you like to see?   To have your say, please leave a comment or drop me an email at rmacfa@gmail.com

Our operators are standing by! 

 

Seizing a Base

Bonaparte's Egyptian adventure is well known but not many are familiar with some of the smaller expeditions that did not directly involve the future Emperor. 

This incident was the start of the forgotten expedition to seize the minor port of Demiacre. Under the command of General St. Michel, 2 battalions of infantry (4 Stands each) , a squadron of cavalry (2 stands) and a section of artillery were ordered to secure a village which controlled both a good supply of fresh water and the exit of a pass through the Syrian hills which would lay to the rear of the besieging force. 

The Turkish garrison consisted of 4 companies of infantry and a gun. 

As the French closed in and stormed the battery, dust clouds announced the arrival of reinforcements for the defenders. 

The fighting was fierce.

The 3rd French Battalion was forced to form square as the Mamlukes raced towards them and it was left to the 1st Battalion to seize the village with the support of the artillery. 

A Mamluke charge against the French Hussars was repulsed as was the first charge against the square while the defenders of the village fought stubbornly.

The sun was setting (turn 14 of 15) when finally the Turks gave way after heavy losses and the remnants of their force faded away towards the hills leaving the French to secure the town and wells, and see to their many wounded. 

Game Notes

I'll skip the long rambling bit and just say that I wasn't in the mood for either a few bigger units or the grid so fell back on old habits where each stand is a unit but can be grouped into formations, basically a simplified version of Hearts of Tin. I enjoyed the game enough that I'll write them up and post them once I've played a few more games. 

The scenario itself was improvised as I laid out the table but did draw on my experiences with the scenarios in One Hour Wargames. 

Mid-Day At The Oasis

Let's slip off to a sand dune, real soon and kick up a little dust.......

(with apologies to Maria Muldaur -  ahh 70's music! Good memories....)

The Initial French Assault near mid-day. 

Now the battle is lost and won. Tomorrow a battle report should appear!

Somewhere in Syria, 1799

Down on the coast, Acre was under siege. In the hills, the Turkish forces gathered and sought to deny supplies to the Infidel invaders.

Excitement ripples through the town as dust clouds are seen. The Franks are here!

To be continued.

Sometimes Things Go Smooth

 Other times, not so much.

Sometimes, its a matter of unrelated distraction, like a ton of yardwork etc, or  just being tired, or the continuing decline of my eyes and of my steadiness of hand leading to slips that need touch ups, again, and again.......  

Still, the first 4 figure Squadron (or Troop) is done. 

Between the new additions and some reasonable stand-ins, I have enough for a first little action this weekend, just to give it a whirl before moving on to something else for a bit.