Its The End Of The Year As We Know It....

Happy New Year to all those visiting my blog, may the year ahead be a good one........

.......and may the games roll on! 

One New Year's Eve In a Snow Storm....

The town of Belmont has been under siege by the Origawn Rebels (or Patriots, depending on your POV) since the Autumn. It would be like the rebels to stage a surprise attack on New Year's Eve, especially if there is a snow storm, so the order has been issued to double the guards and have what reserves there are to be ready to turn out quickly if an alarm is sounded.  

"There'd better be a hot toddy waiting for us when our shift is over" 

What are the odds of such a surprise assault on New Year's Eve?

To be continued....

The Hurley Burly Has Been Done.....

"Which Gathering Host has lost or won ...."
"hmmmmm"

"Will be told to all upon the Mon....."   
"-day..hmmmmm"

"Constable! Where did you find this Bard?....."

Coming Soon to the Gathering of Hosts

 If all goes well, Boxing Day will be a Battle Game day on The Gathering of Hosts!

To be continued..

"Home Boys Home"

The English leaders were stirred to revenge the Scots ambush last summer (see Ambushed!)  and so sent out a force of cavalry backed by some bills and bows. After causing havoc and destruction, they turned to head back to Haddington but they were on the far bank of the Blutaip River. Scouts reported that there was a nearby village with two bridges and a small garrison. 

So it was that the English raiders sent a company of archers to make their way to a wood by the northern bridge during the night, ready to surprise the Scots at dawn.

Dawn breaks!

The English archers soon forced the Scots picquet from their post and the cavalry moved to cross the bridge. Alas for the English, the infantry commander missed the order to advance while the mounted arquebusiers were slow to finish their breakfast and join the column of cavalry. 

The archers' arrows were too much for the Scots pikes and they fell back. The Scots cavalry rode forward to repel the English cavalry but they were also forced back. The road over the bridge seemed open.

The English infantry was not as fast as the cavalry, and the eager Highlanders were soon locked in hand to hand contact with the Sassanach while Scots pikemen marched forward to block the English escape.

The fighting was fierce but the Bills & Bows did their work.

The Border Horse were first to cross the bridge while the rest of the English moved as swiftly as possible to cross the bridge and resume their march back to camp. It seemed to be all over until there came the roar of canon!  A battery of guns had been established on the river bank, pointing across the river, but the gunners had slowly dragged a gun through the streets of the village until they had a line of sight.
(Rumours that the Scots commander forgot about the artillery until the game was almost over, are firmly denied by the Scots commander.) 

The Scots were not strong enough to stop the remnant of the English raiders but they inflicted heavy enough casualties to dissuade their commander from trying it again. 
( The scenario was #35: "Surprise 2" from "Scenarios For All Ages" by Charles S Grant and Stuart Asquith.  The goal for the English was to escape without losing more than 3 stands, but they lost a 4th on the last turn!) 

Halfway To Home

 I managed to start the 1st game today......

Early in the day.....

and after nearly 2/3 of the 'day', the end is still undecided but we should know tomorrow.........  

Wrapping Up 2025

I've settled on three of my collections to take part in the last games of 2025. The first will be a 16thC  Red Book scenario with an English raid trying to get safely back to Haddington. 

Already laid out.....

The second will be another raid from the Midlands into Valdur, Hopefully, this time I will manage a report,  before a year goes by!

And for the final game...........wellll.....we'll see but it just might take place in the Days of King Arthur.

Stay tuned!

Rising From My Death Bed and Making Plans

 Alright!  We are back on our feet. (Me and the wee warriors surrounding me.) 

I haven't come up with the next game yet but I have a list of requests and some vague ideas for the last few games of 2025. 

Prince Valiant just might appear in a cameo in the last game of the 2025 but hopefully, there will be one or two more small games in other settings before then. 

Stay Away From My Cows! (2021)

For some reason, I have an urge to revisit the 16thC Rough Wooing collection, doubtless because of the recent additions and the last game, so some sort of answer to that last ambush is called for.  

Ambushed!

There were some requests for another visit to the Land of 4 Winds and while I had considered a return raid on the Wild Folk, the Midlands armies could use some exercise now that they have recovered. 

I'll work on a scenario......

Incident In Lurgy Valley

As the train slowed to allow the pioneers to dismount and clear the debris on the tracks, the woods exploded with rifle fire which was swiftly returned by the Dominion troops.

But suddenly, the fire stopped as a tall priest strode out of the woods to stand between the two sides and call for peace and a parley. Reluctantly, the firing stopped and the leaders on both sides stepped forward.  

"Major! The Dominion has promised supplies and medicines to these tribes to make up for the loss of so many of their hunting grounds which have been given to farmers, but these promises have not been fulfilled and the villages are hungry and are suffering from the Dreaded Lurgy!" "That is why these men are so angry." 

"Father, it is true that the supplies are late but we have the stores here and it was our mission to deliver them, They may take them now if they wish or come with us to the Station."  

And so a new rebellion was avoided. 

____________________

Gaming will resume when the bloody lurgy is overcome here as well!

 

  

Later.......

 "Well, all seems quiet so far, no sightings of hostiles." 

"hmm....", "Corporal, go enquire why the train is slowing down."

To be continued....

Annnnnnd I'm Back!

 Just back from my annual visit to my family, who have also settled in a Maritime province, a mere 500 km trip.  I used to drive it but these days I ride a bus and let someone else stay alert for 5 hours.

A shot taken while on an early morning walk. My brother lives in a city while his son, his daughter and their Aunt (my sister) live in the land of  farms, forests, cottages, and tourist attractions where they were born some 40± years ago.

The first snow of the year is falling prematurely but it should let me get a game set up, once I have shoveled the driveway...and steps...and....never mind, I have a general idea sparked by one of the recent suggestions. 

"Had any troubles from the natives Stationmaster?"  "None at all gentlemen, I think your railway patrols have helped" 

Meanwhile.....wait...did I see something move up in the hills? Maybe I will have a game soon!

Yup. Thought so.

I just need to clear the junk that collects on my table when there's no game set up, figure out the forces, the scenario and victory conditions, and get it set up for Friday or Saturday. (Last dog show of the year.)