1st Game Day 2010

Even though I haven't been posting I have been playing the ocassional game!  (Not as often as I'd like, but it's been better than not gaming!)

John and I are nearing the end of a Fun Song of Blades and Heroes Campaign.  His nasty human scums are pretty much beating the heck out of my glorious and Brave AElves . . .  I'm looking forward to rvenge in the next Campaign.  All in all it's a great system and the new Campaign rules in Song of Deeds and Glory, which are what we're using, truly are excellent!

Our first Game Day of 2010 was scheduled for last Saturday.  We were snowed out.  So we've re-scheduled for this weekend.  We'll be playing Wings of War, WW I biplanes.  And I'll be cooking ~ hopefully something similar to what pilots near the front would be able to eat in the Officers' Mess!

Tim the Elder has a "warm up" scenario set up for us.  After that we're getting into the day's main gaming.  He's bringing along his 6 mm terrain and figures!  So we have something a bit different to look forward to.

Here is the scenario he designed for us.

Depot Demolition Derby!

Wings of War

Depot Demolition Derby



The enemy has been observed investing in a new supply depot and bridgehead behind their lines. A surprise aerial assault has been ordered to destroy the base before its defenses can be completed. Success of the mission is determined per VPs awarded the Attacker at end of game. Attacker must return with at least 50% of assigned force to claim VPs. Play ends when Attackers are shot down or quit the field.



Attackers

Enemy troops and material are arriving daily by road and rail. Preliminary defenses include AA batteries with supporting infantry, and a landing field has been photographed nearby. Destruction of ammo bunkers and main bridge are Top Priority.

Forces available: Four to six planes total divided into two squadrons. Force may include 2 bombers and 2 fighters; or 1 bomber and 5 fighters. One fighter may be equipped with rockets. Bombs (“C”) and rockets (“D”) are limited to two rounds each.



Defenders

Alert! Enemy aircraft are en route. Retention of war materials and logistic infrastructure are Top Priority (i.e., men are expendable; supplies and bridges are not). Defend the supply base with all available resources to the last.

Forces available: Two planes at airfield. AA battalion in fort includes two AA MG and three AA artillery (see AA rules). Two infantry columns on road (see below).



Objectives

AA artillery (3): 3 VP each. 3 HP (Bombs or MG). Use AA artillery rules.

Ammo bunkers (9): 5 VP each. 10 HP (Bombs or rockets only). For each destroyed bunker, draw 2 “C” cards for adjacent bunker(s), etc.

Artillery park limbers (4): 3 VP each. 3 HP (Bombs, rockets or MG). For each destroyed limber, roll 1 die: odd means adjacent limber(s) explode, etc.

Balloon (1): per rules.

Enemy aircraft (2): per rules.

AA battalion in fortifications (2): 3 VP each. 5 HP (Bombs or MG). Units include AA MGs. Shoot as ground fire (per rules) and as MG (“B”).

Infantry columns on road (2): 2 VP each. 2 HP (Bombs or MG). “Short” movement off road, “long” on road. Cannot shoot while in column. Upgrade to 5HP in fort.

Rail bridge (1): 5 VP. 5 HP (Bombs or rockets only).

Main road bridge (1): 10 VP. 5 HP (Bombs or rockets only).

Side road bridge (1): 3 VP. 3 HP (Bombs or rockets only).



Mission Assessment (per Attacker)

00 – 20 Unsuccessful (complete Defender victory)

21 – 30 Indecisive (Both claim minimal success)

31 – 40 Marginal success (Defender down but not out)

41 + Decisive (complete Attacker victory)

SoDG

Oh Johnnie . . . ?

The classic, and vintage, Ral Partha Winged Serpent.

SoGD ???  Yep!  Song of Deeds and Glory.  Which is the name of the latest set of rules by Ganesh Games in the Song of Blades and Heroes rules series.  Brand spanking new campaign rules.  And they are a hoot too!

John and I are two games into our campaign now.  Technicaly speaking, he won the first game. Though I at least discovered a Watchtower (property) for my Mountain land after our first game.  That one was an 'assanation' scenario and I wasn't able to get to his cowardly Leader to kill him.

Our second game was a 'place of power' scenario.  So basically the AElves held their rough ground place of power through the battle ~ well, until it was time to come out and mop up the fleeing humans!  (That's my story and I'm sticking with it!)

The campaign system works very well.  We're playing with 600 point Warbands.  With the new campaign rules we're really only getting two games in an evening, rather than the three we had been able to play before.  But we always spend a good bit of time talking, harassing each other and just catching up.  And they are so much Fun it's well worth it!

If Daughter Duty doesn't get in his way, John's supposed to come over for the next installment in our campaign tomorrow night!  He's added a 'witch hunter' to his Warband, in hopes of going after my AElf Mage Cirdan.  Didn't do him any good in our last game . . . 

But, so he would have an apporpriate figure for me to kill off, here's his new 'witch hunter'!

Another classic Ral Partha figure.  This one's in John's livery of green and black.

I had to stop myself from painting a white and red circle on his back . . .  It would have made such a great heraldic charge for his troops and such a perfect target and mine!

Back Again . . .

Hmmm, once more out of the habit of posting and painting!  Then again, looking back it seems like last Fall was a neavy painting time for me.  And I've been painting again.  So, first up is a quickly painted Centaur that I did before our last Game Day for Tim the Younger to use.  I'm not sure who made this Centaur!

Here's a side view of the Centaurs that Tim commanded with one of his Giant Wolves keeping pace witht he Centaur charge!  Very old Games Workshop wolves/wargs, originally given to me by Brent G. many years ago.

We had a great time playing our first group games of Song of Blades and Heroes!  We were very Old Skool; using some of my finally painted favorite old Ral Partha figures, Tim the Elder's 30 year old painted Ral PArtha figures and a set of rules that were just a hoot to play!

And yes, the AElves (aka The Good Guys) won!  At one point Tim the E even fielded a large Orc and Goblin Warband along with his ally Poppa John's human warband.  It looked like they were about to take the day when TtE's Leader crooked, PJ's Dragon got shot out of the sky and TtY's Centaurs ran down fleeing orcs with abandon.

All in all it was a great day with great Friends!

Centaurs and Wolves ~ Oh My !

Here's a quick snap of the Centaurs and (Giant) Wolves that I have finished now.

Since The Valiant Tim the Younger is coming to aid the AEves of the Citadel of the Evening Star with his Centaurs and (Giant) Wolves I painted up a few more Wolves for him to choose from . . .

Yep!  I got four more (Giant) Wolves painted tonight!  Sure their base colors and inkings were done years ago . . .  So what?!?  Except for their eyes and bases I (almost!) finished them tonight!

And that's what counts!

The Sides are Drawn & More Trash Talk

This was found in the Letters to the Editor pages of Ye Olde Weird Herald today.

Greetings to All Good Folk of the Wold ~

A detachment of the Iron Hooves answers the call of their AElvish Allies! We shall arrive shortly.

All Humans and Other Good Folk of the Light are reminded that the AElves of the Citadel of the Evening Star have long nurtured and warded them from all manner of ill. Now that their border is being encroached upon by ill-mannered nasty land-grubbing tree-cutting treasure-seeking uncouth and just plain stupid men it is time for all of us all to send them aid! So that all may know . . .

The Centaurs are coming! The Centaurs are coming!!!
 ~ Long Mane of the Iron Hooves

As soon as Tim the Younger heard that I had Centaurs ready he just had to be on my side (also known as the Good Guys)!!!

He also sent us yet more proof of Tim the Elder's consistent, er, "luck" at rolling ones from their last game a couple of months ago . . .

All rolled at once ?!!

TtE YAHTZEE ??? !!! ???

Another Game Day Coming Up!

We've got another Game Day coming up pretty soon!  Neither of the Tims have played Song of Blades and Heroes ~ yet.  It looks like (appropriately enough) PJ and I will be on opposite sides.

Years ago Tim the Elder ran a really great long running play by mail Kingmaker campaign.  His periodic newletter was called Ye Olde Weird Herald.  It was so hilarious I still have every issue he put out.

This morning I just had to e-mail the guys:

Found in the Help Wanted ads in the current issue of Ye Olde Weird Herald:


Wanted: Brave Allies to share the Field of Glory and Fame with a Renowned Warband of AElves!  Humans, Dwarves and most others welcome. Orcs and Goblins need not apply.  Contact AEthelaxe for details.


Not long after we all recieved Poppa John's note:

Full page ad found in Ye Olde Weird Herald......somewhere between the Chariot Race results and the classifieds.


HERE YE! HERE YE! HERE YE!

ELF HUNT! KICK-OFF LESS THAN A FORTNIGHT AWAY!

Cum one, Cum all (well, not elves of course)! The KING has decreed that the time has cum to clear his royal forests, hills, dales, draws, fields, ale houses and out houses from the persistent and pernicious elvish infestation that has plagued the kingdom for so many years. Some elf named Exlax or something has been poaching the King's elk, and that was the straw that broke the regal back (so to speak).

So bring all manner of pointy things, snarly things, gigantic flying things, or things that go BOOM to the Castle on the morn of September 12th, and jolly good fun will be had by all (except the elves, of course, who shall all DIE). Elf hunting licenses will be provided, and the loyal subject with the most pointy ears at the end of the day gets a Groat and a free magic scroll to take home to the missus.

SO CUM ON DOWN!

Whineous Maximus Erectus
High Sheriff, Master of the Lists, and all-around good guy

Disclaimer: The KING, the Queen, the entire royal family, all royal retainers, any member of the peerage, specifically renounce and disclaim any responsibility for any injury or death to any participant in the above event that may occur by accident or design.

Undead need not apply.

Wowza . . . ! ? !

The Last Turn . . .

A quick shot of the last turn of the last game of Song of Blades and Heroes that John and I played.  The AElves have all died and the last Centaur is shouting his defiance and promising revenge against the forces of nastiness and Dragon-friends!

I haven't posted in how long now ??? !!! ???

But, but, but . . .  I have gotten to Game and have some Fun with my Friends!  So I'm way overdue to get back into the groove and start posting again.  (I'm going to totally ignore all of the Good Work that we've been doing in the last few months ~ after all, that's "work", not Gaming Goodnes!)

The Seasons are turning and we're looking Fall in the Face.

I have been getting some painting done !  I'll take some pics and upload 'em when I can take the time!

Poppa John came over tonight.

Fortunately he likes Song of Blades and Heroes as much as I do!!!

It's such a cool set of (fantasy skirmish) rules.  And someone else likes it as much as I do ?!?  Oh yeah, lets play a Game (or three)!  [This is coming rom someone that hasn't won a single freakin' game since we began playing!!!)