Going Postal

A bit of a strange game tonight as we do a mini-campaign based upon the book\film 'The Postman' - Putting the 'Post' into post apocalypse. Matt plays Kevin Costner, aided by Tel and Tony. Paul was the General ordering Dave M and Mark around.

From Furness Wargamers in the Future

Baby Blitz

Didn't feel like gaming at the club so watched a 6mm high level game of the German Blitzkrieg into Northern France in 1940. Hexed based with two players on each side, homebrew rules that had previously been used for Eastern front games.

The French inexplicably left their fortifications on their right and centre. The position was doomed but the voluntary vacation allowed the Germans to push forward quicker and prevented the slow moving French reinforcements (including Char B's) from reaching a defensible position.

On the French Left it was stalemate as the Germans continued to bounce off the defences that were constantly being repopulated by the French. To try and break the stand off, the Germans decided to push some units through a minefield as, too quote the German commander 'it's quicker', the results were as predictable as they were explosive.
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Dinos vs Aliens

A Mini-campaign, organised by Paul, inspired by the Comic (and potential film) Dinosaurs vs Aliens.

Six players each running a unique race of Aliens who happen to invade pre-historic Earth at the same time. They are not that unique as all races have the telepathic ability to control the native species of Dinosaurs. The Dinosaurs are also split into types, and sub divided by size. In any given encounter between Alien forces the type of Dinos available to a side is randomly determined.

DreadBall

Not taken part in any 'fantasy' sport boardgames since 1st edition Bloodbowl. Since it's the week before the Super Bowl, which seems to based in a fantasy world all of it's own, I decided to give it a try at the club.

I watched on for the first game, looking at the Crib Sheet and trying to work out what was going on.

I then took part in a tryout against Tristan. Being late in the night it was probably never going to get finished.

The games got a lot in common with Bloodbowl, in that they are both games where the competitors are trying to violently eliminate the opposition from the game.

Weather violent sports games will be en-vogue in the future could depend upon how the 'concussion scandal' plays out in the US and whether it spreads to over here to other contact sports like the two Rugby's.
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Great Hex War

The homebrew hex based micro-scale rules, that are currently being bashed around by the historical gamers at the club, now take their turn at representing World War One.

The British Expeditionary force takes on the Germans in some Early War action. Each unit represented an Infantry Battalion or equivalent, with around 16 units in a division\force including cavalry and artillery. The sides consisted of 2 forces each.

The Germans edged the battle through casualties inflicted, but on the field the position was fairly static as the forces got pushed back and forth between defensive positions, with alternating periods of offence and defense.

I'm not sure that the decision to switch certain units, infantry in particular, to a 6 to hit, rather than the formally universal 5+ from the WW2 games, was a good idea. It makes things rather labourious to try damage the enemy sufficiently so that the free 'regroup' replacement per turn does not automatically bring them back to full strength. The fact that the 'regrouped' unit can be placed immediately in the front line and then moved freely makes the casulty taken redundant.

The lack of casualties also make difficult to change the tactical situation on the field, and apply localised pressure on positions. This might be appropriate for the static mid-war actions but not really for the earlier period.

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When doing photographs of Great War based games I tend to tweak them to a Sepia tone to give them a faux period feel; Here is a link to someone who's achieving a similar effect but by a radical different method. Great War Greyscale
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Fast Patrol Boats

A mini campaign based on the naval action of the Arab-Israeli War, with the original Yaquinto Fast Attack Boats rules converted from hex based to 'tabletop'

The tabletop in question being a partition of the floor of the church hall.

From Furness Wargamers at Sea

Colonial Mars. pt 3

Unfortunately I was ill this week, but the campaign carried on to it inevitable end.

With the Americans being in thier own little section of the map, and with their strongest assets being conventional Naval, and so slow and canal bound, there was nothing much they could do to intefer in the main theatre of action anyway.

An Email explains the conclusion as follows...


Rear Admirals,

The struggle for control of the great Coprates valley on Mars is over for the year 1889.

The gallant High Martian enclave surrendered in similar fashion as the Japanese to the advancing might of the British aerial steam navy, ensuring the British achieved overall single nation control of the valley.

The superior tactics of the British commander, backed by highly efficient crews and the awesome aerial steam gunboat squadrons carried the day.

The (apparently) free availability of massive French funding and constant aid (meddling) from Belgian sabotage (including seemingly Belgian controlled sandstorms) both served to ease the British victory.

Commiserations to the losing nations who did the best they could with the increasingly meagre resources available.

Peace descends on Mars again, for the time being...

Thanks to all for a fun mini campaign.

regards,

Paul

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