Iron Cross - a solo practice

Quick solo practice with Iron Cross rules for upcoming game on Thursday with 15mm kit..

Been a wee bit since we used the rules so decided to give them a go to get back into brain.

Being a 'lite' set this was not hard to do and a nice quick playing system with fun activation and reaction system set at a sort of high level skirmish (infantry are squads/sections, AFVs are individuals).

Command and control is minimal/abstracted with a single overall 'CinC' stand (essentially a Company commander) allowing the action to flow fast and free limited by the available Command Chits (1 per on board unit with extra 2 for the CO).

Certainly much simpler than say IABSM (and much less 'historical' - no real indirect weapons bar mortars for instance) or Battlegroup but none the worse for that within its parameters and with a points system (Stephen likes these) which seems ok (200 pts for 2 Panthers or 177pts for 3 Stugs sort of thing), we will be using a modest 500 points each (12-15 units) in a simple encounter bash em up.

Set up terrain (we will dice for base edge) on a 6' x 4' table with vaguely NW Europe/Germany types which seemed reasonable for scale of game and fielded British versus Germans.. 

Regimental Fire & Fury game played - Olustee 20th February 1864

Game at Stephens today (our first in 5 weeks !!) using Rgt F&F and a scenario contained in main rules Olustee set in Florida in 1864.

I was attacking with Rebs against his Yanks in an area of mainly open woods and swamps but with central area of open (ie killing) ground.

After a long catch up session (I was in England and he in USA) we managed to play through 5 turns with minimal queries easily resolved with this well written set.

So did not complete game but Rebs going to be up against it as Union had managed to deploy all its artillery backed up by a deadly unit armed with repeating rifles (these get double fire factors and a +4 to shooting if fresh !!), was going to a bloody advance (ala Mr Pickett) into teeth of this.

Do like these rules as they generate a nice flavoursome game and was great to back to gaming.

All kit from Stephens 15mm collection (the area enclosed by string is the open sector)

Malburian game at Ulster Wargame Society

First post in a while after mate being off in USofA for 3 weeks (so selfish) and then hospitalisation of my Mum (thankfully back home).

Took part in a hugely enjoyable big game of Black Powder (its forte is quick play for large games) with a fictional encounter between French and Allies in War of Spanish Succession era at monthly UWS meeting.

Game was run by Bryn, Billy and Andy using their 28mm kit with Ian, Jeremy and I as willing participants. 

Super game with 9 brigades per side (mix of foot and cavalry with a few guns) which saw lots of action and events (not least an elite British Foot Brigade failing to move several times and failing to effect battle at all !) and was a win for French (Bryn, Billy and Jeremy) in the end.

A nice antidote after rather crappy week.

Also at club were a couple of FOGR games (Swedish vs French late 17th Century) with Dave T, Dave M and Dave B dont know how this turned out but I know Dave B managed to lose 4 generals in one session !

Phil, Leslie and Paddy had a game of On The Seven Seas (an Osprey set) which I saw very little of but looked interesting