Hello all, this will be a ramble, I apologize in advance.
My wife thinks this album is showing its age, so rather appropriate at the mo!.
Well then, my lockdown was going pretty well, not to make light of the fact that we are in isolation due to a global pandemic but taking it from a personal perspective of being basically paid to do hobby stuff just to keep me off the streets. Kind of the making lemonade perspective if you will. I have plenty of hobby stuff planned and was well ahead of where I thought I would be at this time at the start of the year. Then my ageing body went and kicked me in the proverbial. I had one of those fun mornings where you wake up and get out of bed only to find that some part of you really, REALLY HURTS!!!!. So here I sit, my calf muscle swollen and no longer weight bearing robbing me of a golden opportunity to forge ahead with the good stuff!. I'm definitely off work for at least another three weeks and am now likely to be laid up for most of that time under the gaze of the Amazing one who must be listened to at a costs not doing the following fun stuff:
1) playing some more test games of my element based rules (I had my 2mm stuff written up and ready to go!).
2) testing and tinkering about with my latest hobby buy:
A ranky-flanky pile of goodness
It looks like it could be good fun and doesn't require frequently rolling and rerolling a wrist damaging amount of dice to run like other games of its ilk (cough* Warhammer* cough).
3) painting one of three planned fantasy armies or the two innital forces for a new and improved reimagined version of my old
Campaign, but this time set in a slightly different period that I think will better suit it.
Here's a clue.
So yeah, stuff went and got all slow!. I have my painting area gazing at me accusingly just inside my L.O.S wondering why I don't love it anymore!.
On another note I did manage to take some more pictures for my Stuff I want to get rid of page. This is a page that contains the minis I have admitted to myself I will never have the time to actually paint. Rather than have them gather dust it would be far better to move them on to someone that has a use for them. The last thing I want to do is have masses of unused minis that could be gracing a table somewhere. The point of the page is to move stuff to a good home not make money so please have a look and grab a proper bargain (honestly an absurdly low offer that will cover postage will be enough providing you have a proper use planned for them).
A couple of the lots on offer, pop along for a gander.
Hello all. I decided to grab a moment to play another test game for my new element based rules. This time i attempted to put the rules under the stress of a really big battle to see what happened. But first:
Their best album....fact!!.
As I was saying I decided to set up a game that would stretch the rule system. No fancy narrative here unfortunately as I set things up and went at it, I used my kallistra 12mm armies which I decided to split along the lines of goodly human forces (red/yellow and blue/white) Vs an unhinged necromancer and his minions and henchfolk (black/yellow and black/white). I have yet to work out either a magic or points system so the necromancer is classed as a regular commander and I have no idea if the forces are actually balanced in any way. It's also worth noting that I set up the table to be bloody awkward for both sides hence Stumpclaw Way and it's ruined watch tower was placed in such a way to create bottlenecks and force the units to 'clump' to put the rules for large combats with multiple units under strain.
Stumpclaw way by daylight, forces deployed ready for battle. The ultra evil Necromancers lot to the left and the goodly two daps to the right.
The main evil battle line is formed.
Spectres and Git Hounds on the right flank.
When horses go bad. Evil horse on the left.
Captain evil pants himself flanked by his risen minions!.
His opposite number, the high commander of the goodies has a similar but better tactic, he's surrounded by giants!.
The good Blokes battle line from the rear.
Their right also overloaded with horse riding types.
This is the first massive battle with these rules. One thing I wanted to stretch was the activation mechanics I am using. The rules use command dice to determine the number of activations each player has each turn. The players roll 1d6 per commander and then take turns to use one dice at a time, activating that number of units. Both forces in this battle started with 4 commanders which should show any major issues with the system. I have also been working on some reactions unactivated troops can utilize during the opponent's activation so even if you roll low on your command dice your troops can still react to the enemy. With that in mind I started the game.
The action begin with hidden scouts from both sides revealing themselves and engaging in an archery duel.
Which was won in short order by the baddies!.
More good guy scouts jumped out of the treeline over on their left, a decision that looked decidedly dodgy when they saw what was heading their way!.
In the centre both sides advanced their archers and had at it as the sound of twanging filled the air.
On the goodly right the horse advanced, Knights splitting off to cover the flank of the bow line.
The early stages of the battle.
Despite attempting to fire and fall back the scouts on the good folk left are pounced upon by the Git hounds.
Prompting the sending of fresh troops to make sure the flank would hold.
On the other flank the charge (and counter charge) was sounded.
The archery battle in the centre was not going the bad guys way as foot troops were ordered forward.
One of the spectres couldn't resist a quick haunting in the ruined tower.
The necromancer ordered some of his horse to break off from the left through the pass to bolster the main attack.
Having polished off the scouts the Git hounds faced some stiffer opposition.
The necromancer ordered his probing foot troops into combat to end the enemy ranged threat.
Leaving one of the commanders exposed!. An opportunity the goodies were keen to exploit.
Some really very evil horse charged in to help their stranded superior.
Both sides commit troops to try to swing the combat on the arrow line.
Which ended badly for the baddies!.
The Git hounds were also having a hard time over on the right and would soon be routed.
In the center fresh troops were committed.
Having claimed the flank a unit of good Blokes push on to threaten the enemy rear.
The situation as it stands.
The bad folk send in the main attack.
Which successfully breaks the enemy archers.
However the good guys send in their best in response.
Which has an immediate impact, turning the enemy troops.
The one bright spot for the not nice force is the breaking of the enemy cavalry over on the left. The horse on horse action had been in the Ballance all game but due to the narrow space had forced a string of really boring stalemates.
With the situation looking grim the chief evil dooer charged along with his reserves.
Which ended in a bad guy flavoured collapse.
Come on guys we can take 'em....guys?.....
This seemed like a good place to call it. Aside from a few cavalry units over on the right the evil lot were done as an effective fighting force. The whole game lasted about 5 turns and took an hour and a half to play to a conclusion so I'm taking that as a win. I still need to play another big game as neither side lost any commanders until really late in the day so I will need to try it with less command dice for one side. All told it was lots of fun and gave a real 'fantasy battle' feel which is good. You never know, I may be ready to type these up soon......
Just a very quick update to point you fine people in the direction of my new Stuff I don't need anymore page . Feel free to have a gander, as stated on the page its not about trying to make a ton of cash but to move on minis i have always told myself i will find a use for but never have that others will actually use.
Also i had a fun few hours playing a game set up and run by Sprinkling three: the Revenge!. He used all his own minis and came up with the rules himself. It was loads of fun and very encouraging to see him getting so stuck in to it!. Heres the only photo i remembered to take:
Another game report....i know, i'm as amazed as you guys!. But first:
Lets all have some noisy punk shall we?.
I decided to give the new rules another try but this time to use them for a narrative scenario. While i was setting up Sprinkling three: the revenge stuck his head around the corner with the immortal phrase 'Daddy can i play?'. Ah i thought, an excuse to introduce him to the wonderful world of narrative gaming! (since he kicked my behind last time!). So yes, yes he could indeed play. We had loads of fun developing characters and a story as the game went on, not playing one side to win but playing both sides to see what happens. It was great and judging by his ideas and reaction to the game i think he might fancy another go. But enough blathering from me, On with the story!.
AN AMBUSH AT KEEPITTA WAY, or the timely interception of Lord Nesway Coddestrappe.
Lord Arbour was sweating, panic written large on his face. He hated dealing with this class of 'people', he hated the thought of the noose more.'So you see my problem Sir, and the need for haste' he asked the grim faced scarred individuals seated across the vast polished oak table. 'If that report reaches the King my goose and the geese of my whole estate will be well and truly plucked, stuffed and burnt to a bloody crisp!' he finished, dabbing his sodden silk handkerchief across his face for the upteenth time since lord Coddestrappe, the kings auditeer had left that morning. The large grey haired man in the middle of the three sat opposite exhaled loudly and relaxed in his chair with his arms folded. 'We can help' he boomed, 'But you will need to understand this service wont come cheep'. 'Yes yes' replied Arbour 'we need to hurry this along they will be miles from here by now'. 'Thats why i insist on the gold package for this particular task. I assume you want no one left alive?' He gestured to the young man at his left who grabbed a slate and started to write notes and figures. 'You also need to get the job done before they can get to the castle. You need this to be done with no evidence to link this to you and you need a 'report' is it?' he looked to Arbour for conformation 'Yes, a tax audit he called it' the Lord replied. 'And you want that brought back here not burned or destroyed in the battle?'. 'Yes i wont rest until it is in my hand'. 'Right well that will be extra...with manpower required, wear and tear on the horses, upkeep of weapons, miles covered and an assurance of our silence that will be....oh....he looked at the slate that was now filled with a dizzying amount of figures...say with a this day discount its one thousand gold coins. In advance'. Lord Arbour turned a special shade of purple 'A THOUSAND GOLD PIECES....ONE THOUSAND ARE YOU...' he trailed off as the two younger men flanking the grizzled mercenary bristled and made to stand up with malice of forethought. 'I mean...its a little outside the figure i was thinking' he finished meekly. 'Thats fine sir' laughed the older man in an alarmingly friendly manor 'there will always be room for negotiation'. Lord Arbour relaxed 'oh good, how about..' 'fifteen hundred' interrupted the mercenary. 'wha..fift..err..wha...' stumbled Arbour. 'It was a thousand a moment ago'. 'Yes sir that was our introductory offer, that has expired and now we are on to the normal pricing plan'. He smiled at Arbour with a shark like grin. 'Arbour began sweating again. Well cant we negotiate downwards?, is'nt that how it works?' 'The young man with the slate lent over to the older man a whispered in his ear, the older mans grin widened. 'Always room for movement sir, always room'. he stated in a calm manor 'for example it has been brought to my attention that we are being asked to deal with a royal agent...the errr...auditeer you called him, thats an extra five hundred and now we have more ground to make up as they are further away than when we started this meeting so we need to chuck in another two hundred for that'. Lord Arbour sprang to his feet 'Now you just look here my good man, i am employing you to..' The mercenary also stood and leaned towards Arbour, his knuckles planted on the table. ''You are employing us to murder an entire party of royal troops and a royal official and to make sure it never gets back to you correct?' he demanded through gritted teeth. Arbour cowered before him 'yes' he managed. 'And we are the only men close enough beside your own, who you cant use in case they bollocks it up and let survivors get back to the king that can get to the target within the time am i right?'. 'Well yes' managed Arbour. 'And we know all about your plan to kill this Auditeer and cover up your years of tax avoidance and can just as well take your miserable hide to the palace and claim whatever bounty the King deems your sorry sniveling behind to be worth'. The mercenary let the last statement hang in the air before he continued 'so that will be an even four thousand in advance if you please sir'. He spat on his hand and offered it to Arbour who had now turned white and shrunk into his chair. He spat weakly on his own hand and slowly gripped the offered hand. 'With of course five hundred extra for admin costs, pleasure doing business with you sir, just leave it to us, we will leave not a single witness or my names not C.C.Bathion'.
The battle takes place along the secluded road of Keepitta Way, Lord Nesway Coddestrappe, high Auditeer of the king is making his way back to the castle having gone through the records of the Arbour estate with a fine tooth comb and found some very interesting evidence of tax avoidance. Little does he know that the infamous Black Rats mercenary company (royal tax operative interception task force) lay in ambush....
A nice tranquil picture of the royal tax auditeer and his company of royal bodyguards making their way along the road ay Keepitta Way. Suddenly the trap is sprung!.
From the rear of the line skirmishers burst forth from the trees arrows flying!.
The dread mercenary captain C.C Bathion leads his knights and horsemen on the attack.
Bow armed mercs block the road to close the trap!.
Royal horse archers spring into action, sniping from the saddle at a group of brigands.
Wiping them out to a man!.
Further up the road at the head of the column the horse charge headlong at the emerging crossbows.
While a force is dispatched to intercept the charge of the ambushing horse.
At the rear of the royal position the horse archers continue to snipe at the skirmishers, who loose their cool and charge headlong into combat!.
Operation 'contain the ambushing horsemen' begins as it all kicks off!.
But more mercenary horsemen enter from the opposite side, was the first attack just a rouse?.
The charge of the Black Rats lancers breaks the royal foot.
While the giant has more luck in forcing the enemy horse to retire.
However the royal line of defense has been broken and the Black rats form up for the charge!.
The royal troops prepare to face the charge, will they stand?.
The first charge hits home...
Followed by the rest of the horse roaring in!.
Lord Coddestrappe sees a chance to turn the tide and charges into a distracted C.C.Bathion!.
The effects of the charge begin to be felt as the royal foot break.
And the royal taxation office foot Knights retire to lick their wounds.
Leading to a massed mele kicking off lead by the forces leaders!.
Who will loose their nerve first?.
Victory!, Lord Coddestrappe turns to run and is cut down by the evil Bathion!.
Sprinkling three: The revenge gives his opinion of the game.
Well that was fun, the story really came through while we played and both of us had fun trying to roll play the opposing forces. The rules also kept things nice and smooth, one thing that stood out is that Sprinkling three: the revenge remembered most of them from last time out which is one of my 'design objectives' (to coin a very wanky phrase) well and truly met, which is to make them quick to learn. Will we be doing this again?, i think so, he is even taking about setting up his own game with his troops (he always comes and begs any spare minis i may have left over from various projects) which sounds like fun......
