Wargamer

Not sure why the layout is so bad on the Rome post but despite editing it several times it still comes out looking crap. Sorry about that.

Today I went down to the 'Wargamer' show in Great Barr. This use to be held in Aston a few years ago, in September if I recall. Back then it rivalled Alumwell for number of traders and demo games. Now though it is showing its age. The number of traders is reduced with no big figure manufacturers there. The games ranged from quite nice to pretty poor efforts.

Nicest game was by the 'Cobridge Old Contemptibles', playing out a Penninsular encounter in 28mm using 'Carnage and Glory' computer moderated rules. A handful of units a side with lots of character and Spanish.

Really nice to catch up with Jon Murphy and Jeff Davies. Jeff was playing for a change as he normally organises and umpires ACW games. I hadn't seen Jeff for some time and it was nice to see him. He continues his enthusiasm for the hobby and he is probably the major reason I am a wargamer and ACW nut to this day. We had a good chat about all things wargaming and beyond.

I also spoke to Jon Murphy about

http://www.stoke-challenge.co.uk/

which is a small event run in Stoke on Trent every year involving numerous wargames competitions. Along with Keith, we may look at expandingay into the an 'open day' with some participation games and demos. I also discussed the possibility of putting on a Peter Pig competition, probably PBI but maybe AK47 as well, with upto 16 or so players. I'll keep you posted.

Keith was there wih Ade and Martin. Especially good to see Martyn for reasons I wont go into, but if by any chance your reading this mate, Lisa and me are thinking of you. Keep rolling those 6's old lad.

Paint Fest

Last night Keith came around to see for himself the wonders of''Army Painter' (AP). We sat and shot the breeze for around four hours talking wargaming, films, wargaming, figures, painting,wargaming....you get the idea!

Anyway, I demonstrated the effect by slapping a bit of paint straight onto some Peter Pig Roman Legionairies. No undercoat, a bit of red on the shield and tunic, a brown strap, gold on the shield boss, flesh.....then slap pn Army Painter. After around 10 minutes of painting I had done 8 of these.

So, no undercoat. No basecoat. The metal bits on the figure are the bare metal covered in AP. Keith nearly fell off his chair. "Its the future and I have tasted it!" he said.

So he got to work on some Warhamster High Elves. Although I grew a beard in the time it took him to paint two bases including the command base below, I think he was please with the result.

Meanwhile I had painted a whole Viet Cong army for 'Men of Company B' (ok only 36 figures, but not bad!).

To finish the night Keith got to work on a High Elf General on warhawk.

Which I think you will agree turned out nice! I painted a unit of 18 Confederates for 'Civil War Battles'.

The end result for me for the evening was :

8 Roman Legionaires

3 Ancient Germans

18 Confederate infantry

1 boar (!)

36 Viet Cong.

Keith did a unit of archers, along with what you see above. Later today we are going along to Stafford Games to buy some more of this mystical product. I still have about half a tin left, but it wont hurt to stock up!

No bids on the Orcs yet!

AK47 and bits

No pictures, but Keith, Ade and Mark had their baptism with AK47 last night. Ade and Mark were the Peoples Popular Front with Keith being the Dictatorship.

Peoples Popular Front

1. Militia
2 x Tanks (standard)
120 pts
2. Militia
2 x Tanks (standard)
120 pts
3. Militia
8 x S/A bases (56), 2 x RPG’s bases (14), 1 x Hmg base (14)
84 pts
4. Militia
4 x S/Abases (28), 1 x Hmg base (14), 2 x Mortar bases (40)
82 pts
5. Regular
6 x S/A bases (60), 2 x RPG’s bases (20), 2 x Trucks (20)
100 pts

Popular Leader
25 pts

Political manoeuvre
69 pts

The Dictatorship

1. Militia
5 x S/A bases (35), 1 x Hmg base (14), 1 x Mortar base (20)
69 pts
2. Militia
5 x S/A bases (35), 1 x Hmg base (14), 1 x Mortar base (20)
69 pts
3. Regular
4 x Toyotas with Hmg’s (100), 2 x Toyotas with RCL Gun’s (40)
140 pts
4. Regular
2 x A/Cars with Hmg’s (60), 6 x S/A bases (60), 2 x RPG’s bases (20), 2 x Trucks (20)
160 pts
5, Regular
2 x A/Cars with Tank Gun (80)
80 pts

Dictator Leader
25 pts

Political Manoeuvre
57 pts


Following th Politcal Flow charts, the game was probably won! Keith upgraded unit 1 from militia to regular and managed to arm all but 1 of the small arms bases with HMG's. Then with typical luck, during Ade's politcal manouvre, he upgraded one of Keiths units by one level and Keith rightly chose unit 1 who were now Professional! With 5 HMG's!

To be honest the army lists I used were the stock arnies from the Peter Pig ready made armies. In hindsight, they aren't very good with lots of militia as units 1 and 2 (which are generally the first units on the table. Common convention in most AK armies is to have professional or Regular troops on first to take a foothold and follow that up with militia. Oh well!

Ade won the dice off for attacker (using the optional rule of roll 1 dice for every 5 political points, most 5's or 6's becomes the attacker). Then with more typical luck Ade only got on 2 units of militia to attack Keiths 2 units, one of which was the professionals, who occupied the shanty town and were never going to be shifted. Keiths other unit was the Toyota technicals.

When Ade lost one of his T55's to HMG fire in turn 1 or 2, we knew this game was going only one way. Even when turn 4 came around and Ade and Mark got on all of their off table units, it was a touugh ask. Ade managed to occupy a jungle template where he had put his 10pt objective, but the 20pt and 30pt objective were in one of the shanty town templates and at the road crossroads that dissected the shantys and they were guarded by Keiths pros.

Mark made a valiant attempt with 2 more militia tanks and a large unit of militia foot troops, but Keiths technicals played a blinder and took both out.

In the end it was a massacre to Keith, who went away writing the histroy books. The game was part of a small solo campaign I am running. The narrative being that despite free election in umBongo, a central west African state formally colonised by Belguim, no clear winner emerged following allegations of vote rigging. The town of Mumptu was one of many where re counts were ordered. Keiths army led by General Chumbawumbo got their first and held off the PPF who were looking to balance the ballot some what. Chumbawumbo is now off counting the votes for himself....

On another note, Jase Hurst of 'the Bunker13' painting service and a member of my club has finished the first unit of Levy Ashigaru for my Battles in the Age of War samurai game. And they are fantastic. Pictures will e forthcoming but you can find his link at...
http://www.jasonhurstthebunker13.tk/

At £1 for a 15mm figure including basing, he offers excellent value for money. He is very busy however! Highly recommended.