L'Art De La Guerre - two games

Another double bash with LADG (really good for quick playing points based gaming) as Stephen has newly painted a Thematic Byzantine army and thought we should give them an outing. 

I tried Central Asian Turks (Uyghur version with Tibetan ally) who had an initial tremendous round of shooting where I inflicted 9 hits and only received 2 back !! 

However as ever when it came to combats things were much less positive and again the heavy spear with support troop type proved very tough (we both fielded 4 units) and Thematics prevailed but not without loss.

Second game I fielded Central Asian City States (Sogdian version with Ummyyad Arab ally ie more of the supported spear type) which was change from first game as now a core of impetuous charging cavalry rather than 'shooty' type.

Another win for Thematics but again not without losses.

Thenatic are another pretty army from Stephen which are mostly Forged In Battle figures with a couple of Essex and others in mix.

L'Art De La Guerre - Norman vs Berbers

Game at Stephens with LADG (I am a glutton for punishment) wherein I tried using Normans in Sicily against his Berber force.

An army of Elite Knights (they are Normans after all) with some spear and bow in support but rather impotent against a wall of supported spearmen (some of whom were Elite) and some mounted types.

The support cancels the knights Furious Charge and the Spearmen out factor the knights so an uphill struggle for Normans and when combined with an smaller (25 to 21) army that does not manouvre very well its a tough ask for them even as 'Barker intended'.

I did manage to kill 4 blocks of spear (mainly due to them charging) but own losses in knights (7 lost) and other types was dreadful and Normans quit the field.

We set up a second game where I used an early Kingdom of Sicily army which has some Saracens in place of reduced number of knights.

However this one ended abruptly (ie I threw in towel and any thing else I had to hand) after an initial clash of 13 combats saw me win a mere 2 (with Generals) and lose other 11 with some Knights taking 2 hits. 

No real way back from that.

My Normans are fairly venerable (my first ever 'Ancients' army) being a mix of early Essex and Minifigs originally used for WRG 7th Edition and painted in enamels (remember those ?) and whilst figures are fine they could do with re-basing to freshen them up. 

 

Ulster Wargames Society monthly meeting and a busy wee one at that.

Ulster Wargames Society meet up today which saw four large games in action and about 20 attendees which is very good for club.

The brothers Brittain put on a Regimental Fire and Fury bash 'Battle of Iuka 1862' in 15mm which was umpired by Stephen and played by John and the 3 Daves (B, S and T) which sounds like a singing group but definitely isn't ! Game ended as a bloody draw as night fell although Rebs had heavier casualties overall. Mat and trees supplied by moi everything else the brothers stuff.

At start 

John and Dave T plan Reb moves

Initial clash in center

Union Reserves arriving along road

Rebs defending around a ravine

Union trying to outflank Reb right

Dismounted Reb cavalry shore up their right

Daves B and S the Union commanders

Action intensifies in center

Jeremy and Andy (aided by the other Jeremy) played a General D'Armee game in 28mm French versus British, think this finished as French win ? Lots of Perry metals and Warlord plastics in use and a rather nice mat.

Mike and Simon had a 6mm game using Blucher to refight Battle of Freidland which saw Russians bloody French but yield the field just before  French Old Guard appeared. Adler on French side, not sure about Russians maybe Heroics and Ros (?), on Mikes very nice plush style mats.

Phil and son who put on a 25mm Sudan big skirmish game with a home brew set (?) played along with Billy and Leslie. Not sure how this turned out but looked as if Fuzzy Wuzzies had hard time advancing against British/Egyptian force ? Some very nice old Ral Partha figures on display in this one.

Not quite sure but I think Dave B showing Dave S how he shot down an Me109 before it could intervene in the battle ??

WWII: Barbarossa To Berlin game on table and some interesting Piquet news..............

Got WW2BTB on to table for a solo play.

Been awhile and struggled a bit remembering some of the special (chrome) rules but still a very fun game to play even solo.

Barbarossa was a bit of a damp squib for Germans but now threatening Moscow (with Taifun card in hands) but only just as winter draws in, Allies got both Soviet Reinforcement cards early so looking pretty strong on Ost front.

In other news Brent Oman has a new rule set in progress (due out late August early September) from the Piquet stable entitled 'Battle Command' (not being touted as replacement for Field of Battle just an alternative covering same period ie 1700-1900AD).

Details somewhat sparse but seems it will retain the combat and move systems of Field of Battle but with new reduced card deck but with each card offering possible multiple actions and no 'dud' cards as such. Apparently the CinC quality has more effect on proceedings.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Brent designs over the years so looking forward to this one.

Cover 

Sample card (interesting)

L'Art De La Guerre - two games with Punic Romans

Couple of games of LADG with Stephen using my Punic Roman against Carthaginians and Pyrrhic forces.

First game against Hannibal's lot saw one of my traditional horror dice rolling 'events' across a couple of turns with my Legionaries.........so many ones all at once...........

Against Pyrrhus dice much more forgiving except at set up which despite my choosing Mountain terrain left me bereft of all but one central steep hill.

I always find it a struggle with Romans to protect army flanks (especially if terrain placement unkind) as enemy usually has just sufficient superiority in mounted types to cause major problems.

One of these days....................

On the plains against Carthage

And against Pyrrhic at the 'Lonely Mountain' (steep hill)