More of ongoing Pbem Vassal 'campaign' with Mike with the fun and very playable C&C Ancients
Umbria scenario completed in almost real time as Rome crushed again by Mike's Carthaginians with the 6:2 (then up to 4) card advantage really restricting Roman options.
Now we are onto a new scenario Agathocles's Tower 204BC with Scipio roaming about Africa, with Rome this time having a 2 card advantage and interestingly this is an all cavalry affair.
Club meeting today and I participated in a naval game run by Jeremy M and others using Ship Wreck rules.
The setting was 1991 with three naval squadrons each of three ships, of the Black Sea Fleet operating on said sea area under the overall Command of an Admiral (Charlie).
Each Squadron had a Commander and two other players commanding individual ships (to simplify matters no aircraft or submarines were available)
My ship (chosen randomly) was a Sovremenny Class Guided Missile Destroyer accompanied by another Sovremenny (Ian) and with our Commander (Ross) using an upgraded but vintage Nanuchta (I think) cruiser type.
Note my knowledge of Soviet ship names/classes from period/game is ropey at best
Here is the information sheet for my craft (note showing damage and weapon system losses)
The rub for each squadron was that each ship additionally had a note to the effect that the crews loyalty was either pro-Moscow or pro-Kiev (Ukraine having just recently separated from Soviet Bloc) but no players was initially aware of where any other ships loyalties lay.
Overall scenario was that the Kuznetzov Aircraft Carrier had set sail from Sevastopol on a 'special mission' and it was then revealed via fleet wide radio transmission that the crew of the carrier had mutinied and orders were to intercept and return the vessel to Sevastopol or for those of a Muscovite proclivity to assist its escape from Black Sea via Bosphorus Straits.
Plotting board for operational area with note of my Ukrainian loyalty at top, table area was 4' x '4' (or a 'fight in a phone box' as Ross termed it).
It should be noted that the three separate squadrons were set up on separate tables initially (although all part of same 4 x 4 operational area meaning no squadron had an exact location for the others until radar detection (Passive or active including some ship-borne helicopter activity) revealed locations.
Once the location of Kuznetzov was revealed all squadrons would transfer to a single table for shenanigans to proceed in full
Once the message re the mutiny by Russian scum was revealed then searching began by each squadron and individual ships.
In our squadron I was lead ship followed by commander with Ians to rear (both he and I had scouting Ka-25 helos) but not knowing the loyalty of my squadron pals I broke formation early trying to put some nautical miles between us.
My ship leads the Squadron with helos being launched (Black chips denote radars set to passive, Red was for active), I then headed to 12 o'clock as they continued towards 2 o'clock but only for 2 turns before the big target appeared in close proximity to my 11 o'clock and all went to master table.
After a couple of turns of movement and radar detection the Kuznetzov was soon revealed to be in the company (ie it was using them as a screen) of several merchant ships or tankers from various nationalities (Turkish, Iranian, Indian and Italian).
This lead to all ships being transferred to the master table and as it turned out my ship was almost on top of the traitorous carrier !
It seemed no-one was wanting to declare their loyalty too soon (ie no shooting) but I decided to instantly raise my flag by shooting a warning shot across the bow of the carrier hoping to divert its course or stop its progress, this was of course ignored and then suddenly several ships in the vicinity launched missiles and blasted away with guns after seeing my action.
Indeed one fellow Ukrainian crew (Dave P) managed to send a missile my way (diverted by a target decoy) which thankfully missed.
The fleet Admiral sent out urgent and vehement messages (from Kiev) to all ships to stop all firing upon the carrier or indeed each other despite firing of a few salvoes of his own.
I dutifully did so only using my ordnance defensively but not so other traitorous crews and commanders with my squadron mates showing their Commie credentials by hurling waves of missiles and guns rounds at my ship.
I soon took a ton of hits despite shooting down several SSMs and lost several weapon systems before damage was enough to send my heroic crew to the depths with their ship, Slava Ukraine !
Things then heated up for as players revealed (well mostly) their true colours with more exchanges of weaponry.
Several ships were hit with some damaged including critically whilst the Carrier and Merchants steamed south (before having to turn SSW toward straits).
Dave T (hero) did mange to impede the Kuznetzov forcing it to stop for one turn but at cost of his ship as pummeled by various traitors.
Fleet flagship (Charlie) was then set upon by his other Squadron mate (Mr B) whom he thought was Kiev friendly.
As these exchanges of fire occurred time had to be called and with Ukrainian losses (3 of 4 ?) and Carriers progress (still well short of Straits but unlikely to be thwarted) it was declared a Russian success.
Just what the rest of world would think of this was a matter of much debate.
A lot of work put into setting up and running the game (10 players involved) and was good fun with an interesting scenario and period.
Rules being new to most of us Jeremy had a lot of queries to sort but it seemed to go well overall.
I found the sorting of available weapon systems and firing arcs, ammo usage the most confusing to comprehend initially.
It is a D10 system with missiles firing first which can be intercepted or decoyed then guns/cannons open up in 6 possible sub-phases so a lot of shells can be fired depending on gun types, ranges and arcs.
Not a lot of pics as not much to see initially and busy playing.
The initial maneuvering tables the wall being North for plotting purposes
Also at club (usual proviso I know not what occurred)
A 6mm WW2 game set in Normandy 1944 with British vs Germans run by Mike and co (4 players ?) using Combat HQ rules.
A 28mm Sharps Practice game run by Jeremy D set (I think) during America Revolution (again 4 players ?)
End of the Castrum Album scenario with Mike and what a absolute wipe out for my Romans who just never got going although I did kill Hasdrubal just at end.
The 6 cards for Carthaginians vs Roman 4 proved to be a major advantage
Next up is Umbria and this one looks like another potential nightmare for Romans as well, as I start with just 2 Cards to Carthage with 6 (I do get 1 extra per turn but only up to 4 again).
Another couple of LADG practice games for Stephen today at his gaff with only next weeks practice scheduled before he attends Cork competition.
I tried Catalan and Free Company forces against his tricksy Ottomans and two very fun games they were.
Highlight in second game was my Turk light horse losing 3 of 5 units only for the last 2 (one with included General) to sweep all before them, didn't stop loss but was fun to watch.
Another of couple of game of LADG played to day with Stephen as he practices with his Ottoman army for Cork.
I stuck with Order Of St John (as Stephen had to brig figures for both sides)
Another two fun games.
First game the Turk shooting was simply awesome and I had 10 hits inflicted on my ranks in short order which with a few losses saw Turks victorious.
Second game I tried a flank march on my right which came on on first turn and caused Turks a lot of problems especially as their shooting a tad less stellar.
We failed to finish this one but my left flank was in real danger of being overrun
Having completed the C&C Punic War play through with Mike on Vassal we have just completed the first of our C3i scenarios with a Roman victory at Argigentum (1st Punic War) and now started a new scenario entitled Castrum Album set in 214BC with what seems to amount to an ambush on a Roman force.
End at Agrigentum
And start up for Castrum Album
Managed to finish off play through of Blenheim game with a crushing Allied victory.
French left never fully recovered from incapacitation of commander and Allies totally routed French right at Blenheim.
Allies ended with 7 of original morale left and additional 5 for capture of town with a further boost of 6 cards from French.
Overview of game end
More practice for Stephen with LADG today.
I used Catalan Company against his Ottomans (his likely army to use at Cork) and then Medieval Teutonic against his 100 Years War English
Two excellent games that were hard fought
With the Catalans I done an outflank with a Corps of elite Turkish light horse which did give Ottomans a lot of problems but was spoilt by my General dying !!
My right flank was defeated and so game lost.
Then it was the Teutons and this was a very bloody game with some really weird dice exchanges.
I seem unable to do wring with my right wing command which carried all before it but conversely and strangely the exact opposite occurred on my left with English rolling stellar whilst I rolled pants.
Things were much more even in center although I did kill an enemy General which stymied his command
Ultimately whilst I only lost 7 elements to enemy 9 his shooting hits from English longbows tipped my army to defeat, so near yet so far..............
