Feeling the urge to write again. So a little of cross promotion of a little campaign that I ran last year. It was a lot of fun while it lasted Unfortunately the Soviets were unable to get off the beach leading to their defeat.
http://blackseablackdeath.blogspot.com.au/
Hopefully more sooner rather than later.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Friday, November 9, 2012
I'm back
So just when you had though you had almost forgotten me I return. Alas real life does get in the way of the important things such as gaming but for the moment I have some free time to both game and to update this blog.
Now in the many months since the last update there has been changes of interest as new toys are released and distract those of us with small attention spans and an attraction to shiny metal objects onto to new and wonderful toys. Perhaps the biggest is addition of plastics to the pile of unpainted figures that threatens to bury me. The first to attract my attention were the Victrix announcement of their intention to produce some plastic Greek Hoplites. So here was a chance to launch my long thought about Peloponnesian wars project though I still need some naval rules and boats before I get to carried away.. Alas they seemed to be stuck in development hell and were delayed for a long time. To console myself a purchase of some Warlord games ECW plastics was organised as a friend was playing Very Civile Actions by the Perfect Captain which was providing many entertaining games. But like many fads it came and went quickly. Though there is a hope of them returning to the paint desk sooner or later as there is talk of trying out Pike & Shotte.
Finally the hoplites are released and a box procured, so they are now awaiting a slot in the painting queue. But they have been bumped down the list by some plastic Vikings as I discovered SAGA. Still have not played a game yet but I do love its core mechanism with the dice. So hopefully by the end of the year I will have a small Viking and Anglo-Saxon army to try it out.
The plastics are all 25mm which is a lot of fun but there are still 15mm to be painted, I am still collecting and painting WWII for command decision. I was going to stop in the desert but I did some Americans for Tunisia and they are suitable for late war actions with only a few additions. They naturally need an opponent and before I new it a Soviet Rifle Regiment has magically appeared. So my 5mm microarmour collection is becoming a 15mm one as well.
Painting for the Renaissance continues with more Italian wars troops being procured. I have being using a combination of Venexia and Mitliton for new units, Now I had heard that Venexia had been sold to another company and that the moulds were therefore being remastered. Panic at this threat to my supply lines I contacted the local distributor with the hope of acquiring just a few packets of figures to keep me going in the interim. Alas they had more than a few packets, they had almost everything that I wanted. They don't now, I do, so 2013 will see more gendarmes and landsheckts appearing.
So now we get to the end of my travels and what of the future especially of this blog. I still intend to keep to writing the blog and chronicling my solo games and campaigns. Now the War of 1812 will continue but I need to get the booms out and do some reading for the Detroit sector. Plans for the Turkish invasion of Italy are on hold as I need to do some works on converting my Arabs into a Turkish army. With the Americans for WW2 done, I am interested in doing something with them. My first though was the first battle if Aachen but I still need to do some vehicles. The Bulge is a bit to obvious and too big. But Nordwind isn't and looks well documented so it looks I have a winner. So stay tuned for more excitement in the future.
Now in the many months since the last update there has been changes of interest as new toys are released and distract those of us with small attention spans and an attraction to shiny metal objects onto to new and wonderful toys. Perhaps the biggest is addition of plastics to the pile of unpainted figures that threatens to bury me. The first to attract my attention were the Victrix announcement of their intention to produce some plastic Greek Hoplites. So here was a chance to launch my long thought about Peloponnesian wars project though I still need some naval rules and boats before I get to carried away.. Alas they seemed to be stuck in development hell and were delayed for a long time. To console myself a purchase of some Warlord games ECW plastics was organised as a friend was playing Very Civile Actions by the Perfect Captain which was providing many entertaining games. But like many fads it came and went quickly. Though there is a hope of them returning to the paint desk sooner or later as there is talk of trying out Pike & Shotte.
 |
| Firelock storming party |
The plastics are all 25mm which is a lot of fun but there are still 15mm to be painted, I am still collecting and painting WWII for command decision. I was going to stop in the desert but I did some Americans for Tunisia and they are suitable for late war actions with only a few additions. They naturally need an opponent and before I new it a Soviet Rifle Regiment has magically appeared. So my 5mm microarmour collection is becoming a 15mm one as well.
 |
| Panthers on the prowl |
Painting for the Renaissance continues with more Italian wars troops being procured. I have being using a combination of Venexia and Mitliton for new units, Now I had heard that Venexia had been sold to another company and that the moulds were therefore being remastered. Panic at this threat to my supply lines I contacted the local distributor with the hope of acquiring just a few packets of figures to keep me going in the interim. Alas they had more than a few packets, they had almost everything that I wanted. They don't now, I do, so 2013 will see more gendarmes and landsheckts appearing.
 |
| Ginetes on patrol |
Sunday, January 22, 2012
First unit/post of the year
Well first post of the new year, to show off my first new unit of the year.
Yes I know its cheesy to provide photographic evidence of your painting progress but I feel the urge celebrate the return of painting mojo. It will also hopefully prompt me to keep up the painting during the course of the year and by default the blog updates. Though hopefully I will have more to say than just flash pictures of my new toys.
Now for the dull bit, some information. The figures are 15mm sword and bucklermen from Venexia. They are part of the expansion of my old Burgundian Ordonnance army into Italian Condotta both for FoG & FoG:R. Hence the earlier post about the Renaissance, so there will ve more of those to come, not just at the moment. More painting is requirred.
As for the photo. The wife got a new camera for Christmas and they are truly idiot proof as witnessed by my photo above.
Yes I know its cheesy to provide photographic evidence of your painting progress but I feel the urge celebrate the return of painting mojo. It will also hopefully prompt me to keep up the painting during the course of the year and by default the blog updates. Though hopefully I will have more to say than just flash pictures of my new toys.
As for the photo. The wife got a new camera for Christmas and they are truly idiot proof as witnessed by my photo above.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Fort Mackinac - July 1812
Now that naval operations for the year are over it is time to begin the land campaign. So we will go as far from the sea as possible to Fort Mackinac.
Now historically the British commander, Captain Charles Roberts received news that war had been declared. Promptly taking advantage of threat advantage he gathered his forces to quickly deliver the news of the outbreak of hostilities to the American commander a Lieutenant Porter Hanks.
If only it was so simple, there would be point in recreating it. There are a number of points in the narrative of this story that give us the chance to play with history.
The first are British intentions. Captain Roberts immediate superior, General Isaac Brock wrote three letters dated the 26th, 27th and 28th of June ordering him to attack, not attack and attack the Americans. General Sir George Prevost also wrote ordering Roberts to defend his Post. Finally Brock wrote to Roberts authorizing him to use his discretion. So there is a chance that Roberts is a little confused over what his commanders expect of him. So, there will a 1 in 6 chance of command confusion but throwing a five means that I don't have to figure it out.
Second is British mobilization. Fortunately Roberts was kept well informed about the approach of war if not the plans of his commanders. There is a chance that all the confusion will adversely affect mobilization in the area but with a 1 in 6 chance of having a smaller force and throwing a 5 means that the British are fully mobilized.
Third is the Americans tell Hanks that war has been declared and giving him a chance to be prepared. Another 1 in 6 chance of this happening but another five means that this does not happen.
The end result is that Fort Mackinac surrenders to Captain Roberts on schedule.
Now historically the British commander, Captain Charles Roberts received news that war had been declared. Promptly taking advantage of threat advantage he gathered his forces to quickly deliver the news of the outbreak of hostilities to the American commander a Lieutenant Porter Hanks.
If only it was so simple, there would be point in recreating it. There are a number of points in the narrative of this story that give us the chance to play with history.
The first are British intentions. Captain Roberts immediate superior, General Isaac Brock wrote three letters dated the 26th, 27th and 28th of June ordering him to attack, not attack and attack the Americans. General Sir George Prevost also wrote ordering Roberts to defend his Post. Finally Brock wrote to Roberts authorizing him to use his discretion. So there is a chance that Roberts is a little confused over what his commanders expect of him. So, there will a 1 in 6 chance of command confusion but throwing a five means that I don't have to figure it out.
Second is British mobilization. Fortunately Roberts was kept well informed about the approach of war if not the plans of his commanders. There is a chance that all the confusion will adversely affect mobilization in the area but with a 1 in 6 chance of having a smaller force and throwing a 5 means that the British are fully mobilized.
Third is the Americans tell Hanks that war has been declared and giving him a chance to be prepared. Another 1 in 6 chance of this happening but another five means that this does not happen.
The end result is that Fort Mackinac surrenders to Captain Roberts on schedule.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
A New history of the Italian Renaisance
Wargaming is a hobby about history and wargame campaign is a chance to write or rewrite history. Usually we start we start with known battle or war as a starting point. But history is also about what could have been and this is one of those stories,
In July 1480 a Turkish fleet unable to take Rhodes descends upon the Italian port of Otranto. After a siege of about three weeks the city fell to the Turkish forces. For the rest of that summer various coastal communities along the coast of Italy were raided by the Turks. When Winter arrived it was difficult to supply such a large force so they returned to Turkish territory leaving behind a small garrison to defend their new conquest.
In 1481 a Neapolitan army gathered to retake Otranto, this included Hungarians sent by the King Ferdinand's son in law, King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary. The Turks were presumably awaiting a relief force to arrive so as to continue their advance. But the Neapolitan army arrived first. Then three days after the arrival of the Neapolitan force at Otranto, the Sultan died plunging the ottoman empire into a civil war. With no relief coming the garrison surrendered and left Italy.
The attraction for me is that I can put both sides into field, though of course I can always do with a few more troops to do it properly :-). So let us see what sort of alternative history can be written as the Turks attempt to push into Italy.
Forces involved - 1480
Otranto garrison
Turkish forces
Forces involved - 1481
Otranto garrison
In July 1480 a Turkish fleet unable to take Rhodes descends upon the Italian port of Otranto. After a siege of about three weeks the city fell to the Turkish forces. For the rest of that summer various coastal communities along the coast of Italy were raided by the Turks. When Winter arrived it was difficult to supply such a large force so they returned to Turkish territory leaving behind a small garrison to defend their new conquest.
In 1481 a Neapolitan army gathered to retake Otranto, this included Hungarians sent by the King Ferdinand's son in law, King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary. The Turks were presumably awaiting a relief force to arrive so as to continue their advance. But the Neapolitan army arrived first. Then three days after the arrival of the Neapolitan force at Otranto, the Sultan died plunging the ottoman empire into a civil war. With no relief coming the garrison surrendered and left Italy.
The attraction for me is that I can put both sides into field, though of course I can always do with a few more troops to do it properly :-). So let us see what sort of alternative history can be written as the Turks attempt to push into Italy.
Forces involved - 1480
Otranto garrison
- 400 men
- 800+ civic militia
Turkish forces
- 700 cavalry
- 18,000 infantry
Forces involved - 1481
Otranto garrison
- 500 cavalry
- 800 infantry
- Unknown at this stage but over a thousand Hungarians.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
USS Essex versus HMS Guerriere
And now we come to the closing act of the year 1812 at sea. The encounter between the USS Essex and HMS Guerriere.
Now to the set-up. As the Essex is armed with carronades she will want to start the action at close range. If the Guerriere knows about the Essex and her armament then she will not want to close. The Guerriere will be given three chances to detect the Essex's carronades but only has a 1 in 6 chance of success. The Guerriere has overall an approximately 40% chance of success which feels about right, each individual chance represents the closing of the range until if she has failed all three she has entered the range of Essex and her carronades.
The Guerriere is either confident in her abilities or ignorant about the Essex's as she failed every chance given to respond. A couple more die rolls and Essex is placed directly astern of the Guerriere at close range with the wind directly behind them. So naturally the bow chasers of the Essex anounce that battle has commenced and misses.
Positioning Essex behind Guerriere means that their is no reason to fight instead it just remains a chase. Time for take 2, I will reposition the Essex a little bit off to starboard.
Now Guerriere turns to starboard and rakes Essex's bow causing damage and crew losses.
Essex turns to Port and rakes the stern of Guerriere causing damage but more importantly damaging her rudder. Unable to turn Guerriere must sail straight until she rolls a six. Essex caught on a different tack drops out of artillery range.
Then the fog rolls in ending the battle.
Well that was short and downright inconclusive.
Now to the set-up. As the Essex is armed with carronades she will want to start the action at close range. If the Guerriere knows about the Essex and her armament then she will not want to close. The Guerriere will be given three chances to detect the Essex's carronades but only has a 1 in 6 chance of success. The Guerriere has overall an approximately 40% chance of success which feels about right, each individual chance represents the closing of the range until if she has failed all three she has entered the range of Essex and her carronades.
The Guerriere is either confident in her abilities or ignorant about the Essex's as she failed every chance given to respond. A couple more die rolls and Essex is placed directly astern of the Guerriere at close range with the wind directly behind them. So naturally the bow chasers of the Essex anounce that battle has commenced and misses.
Positioning Essex behind Guerriere means that their is no reason to fight instead it just remains a chase. Time for take 2, I will reposition the Essex a little bit off to starboard.
Now Guerriere turns to starboard and rakes Essex's bow causing damage and crew losses.
Essex turns to Port and rakes the stern of Guerriere causing damage but more importantly damaging her rudder. Unable to turn Guerriere must sail straight until she rolls a six. Essex caught on a different tack drops out of artillery range.
Then the fog rolls in ending the battle.
Well that was short and downright inconclusive.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Cambra1 1917 - Planning the campaign
Okay now I have my organizations mapped how man troops do I need? The following order of battle focuses on troops involved in the initial assault.
Order of Battle
Germans
Group Caudry
9th Reserve Division
British
IIIrd Corp
51st Division
Commentary
If the Germans are deployed according to doctrine elements of 5 regiments each with a battalion in the front line are caught up in the attack, possibly closer to four if you consider that not not all units are being hit equally. The British are attacking with 11 brigades. It does quite match up for an easy game.
On the British left flank, the attack of the 109th brigade is almost entirely against the the 384th Landwehr. So we can reduce it to 4 versus 10. On the right the 19th Reserve is only partially engaged by the 35th brigade attacks it. This makes it 3 versus 9. That's the flanks taken care of.
In the centre each German battalion is attacked by three brigades, odds of six to one, just in the first wave with another six following up and that’s just the assault brigades. It might be easier to do them half scale. So three British battalions versus a half battalion of Germans. That’s possible with the troops I have got painted at the moment. So what more do I need to get and paint.
Now for tanks. Most assault battalions have a company of 12 tanks attached organized into 4 platoons. This could be upto four models, but for the moment both for aesthetic and financial reasons each company will be represented by two models.
So on that basis I will need the following reinforcements.
British
5x Tanks
1x British battalion
1x Trench Mortar company
1x MMG company
Germans
2x battalions
MMG
mortars
artillery
Damn it, I am not even half way. May need a simpler battle or to get my painting mojo back.
Order of Battle
Germans
Group Caudry
9th Reserve Division
- 395th Regiment – Not engaged
- 6th Reserve Regiment – Not engaged
- 19th Reserve Regiment
- 27th Reserve regiment – Not engaged, Group Reserve
- 84th Infantry regiment
- 90th Reserve regiment
- 387th Landwehr regiment – from 20th Landwehr
- 384th Landwehr regiment
- 386th Landwehr regiment – not engaged
British
IIIrd Corp
- 12th Division
- 35th brigade
- C battalion
- 36th Brigade
- F battalion
- 37th Brigade - 2nd echelon
- 59th Brigade - 2nd echelon
- 60th Brigade
- A battalion – less 1 company
- 61st Brigade
- I battalion
- B & H battalions
- 16th brigade
- 18th brigade - 2nd echelon
- 71st brigade
51st Division
- D & E battalions – less 1 company
- 152nd brigade
- 153rd brigade
- 154th brigade - 2nd echelon
- G Battalion + 1 company
- 36th Division
- 107th brigade – not participating
- 108th brigade – not participating
- 109th brigade
Commentary
If the Germans are deployed according to doctrine elements of 5 regiments each with a battalion in the front line are caught up in the attack, possibly closer to four if you consider that not not all units are being hit equally. The British are attacking with 11 brigades. It does quite match up for an easy game.
On the British left flank, the attack of the 109th brigade is almost entirely against the the 384th Landwehr. So we can reduce it to 4 versus 10. On the right the 19th Reserve is only partially engaged by the 35th brigade attacks it. This makes it 3 versus 9. That's the flanks taken care of.
In the centre each German battalion is attacked by three brigades, odds of six to one, just in the first wave with another six following up and that’s just the assault brigades. It might be easier to do them half scale. So three British battalions versus a half battalion of Germans. That’s possible with the troops I have got painted at the moment. So what more do I need to get and paint.
Now for tanks. Most assault battalions have a company of 12 tanks attached organized into 4 platoons. This could be upto four models, but for the moment both for aesthetic and financial reasons each company will be represented by two models.
So on that basis I will need the following reinforcements.
British
5x Tanks
1x British battalion
1x Trench Mortar company
1x MMG company
Germans
2x battalions
MMG
mortars
artillery
Damn it, I am not even half way. May need a simpler battle or to get my painting mojo back.
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