Thursday 25 April 2019

Kings of War - Herd vs Orcs & Undead

A game of Kings of War using my Herd vs Nick's Greenskin and Undead combo. 
Loot scenario  - three loot tokens (green circles), whoever has the most at the end of the game wins!

I go first and advance the Herd! Grabbing Loot tokens, one on the right (in forest) is easier to guard for me.  

But this one on the left and the centre one will be tougher.

Lines meeting...
 
My Longhorn regiment in the middle ends up smashed by the Orc Horde, which turns to flank my Tribal Warrior Horde.

My Tribal Warriors don't have the power to smash through the Skeletons in time before they are flanked, and the Mummies with regenerate and life leech smash away at my other Longhorn regiment.

But my Harpies have the loot tokens and are dragging them back towards me... as my front line disintegrates!

Normally Harpies can fly up to 20", but while dragging the loot tokens they only move 5". Will they get away?! Gobbos in hot pursuit!



 I fly in my Chimera to slow try and give my chariots a chance...

But not enough damage done, and the Orc Horde kills the Chimera, and the other units my chariots.  Only the Harpies left here, who decide to drop their Loot token...

...and charge the rear of the Gobbos who are pursuing my other Harpies!

The Gobbos are wounded but get away and charge my Shaman, if they kill him they will be able to stop my other Harpies.


But my Shaman holds...

And in his turn gets lucky smashing the wounded Gobbos and dispersing them!

The game ends turn six. Despite most of my army being destroyed while only knocking out two enemy units in return, I have two of the three loot tokens and so win the game! The loot must have been as valuable as the one true ring or something!

A fun game with close result. One more turn or better roll against my Shaman it would have been game over for the Herd. Also reminded me what an elegant system Kings of War is, must play some more games of it.

Saturday 20 April 2019

Early Imperial Roman vs Pergamon - ADLG 28mm

Pergamon rebels against the cruel dominion of Rome! Ancients ADLG in 28mm.


Roman left wing  - Cataphracti, Cavalry and Numidian Light Horse under an Ally general.

Roman centre, Elite Legionnaires under a Strategist General, and some skirmishers.

Roman right wing - Auxiliaries and bowmen.



In lower half of photo below, Pergamon army from left to right, Heavy Spearmen, Pike,  Mercenary Galatians (6 of the 8 units being under the command of an Ally General), and then Lancers and Light Horse.  The Roman left cavalry wing (right in photo), is unreliable and won't advance, so my Pergamon army advances to crush the remainder of the Roman army while they hesitate.

The Lines close.

With Roman Cavalry still not committing, my CinC charges the weak point of the Roman line in heroic Alexandrian fashion!

Legionary on the end of the line waving a Galatian head around re-thinks his life choices.

Last survivors of a bloody skirmisher battle between the lines!

But then with perfect timing (and threats from the Roman CinC) the Roman cavalry suddenly decides to commit to the battle, flanking my cavalry charge! Just in time to save the Legion.

And on my left, the Roman Auxiliaries have managed to flank my spearmen too.

Legionnaires now feeling more confident, having tempted in my cavalry!



The lines crash.

And carnage ensues! The Legionnaires with their Strategist General rallying them to renewed effort time and again, cut through the Galatians and only lose one unit.

On my left my spear is decimated by the flanking attack, but manages to rout the bowmen. 

I had spent my points on more troops rather than good generals! I can neither rally my troops nor send in reserves - especially with my generals all fighting in combat and distracted! The Pergamon army breaks, but the Roman army is also only one unit off breaking. A close run thing indeed.

(Incidentally, yes there was some terrain, some rough ground left flank that both sides ignored!)

Tuesday 9 April 2019

Cannon, Cross and Crescent - Renaissance Naval

Something a bit different, some Renaissance naval combat tonight.


Andrew has made many beautiful models of Renaissance era galleys, lasercut for the most part, and with pretty painting, banners, rigging etc.


We lined up a Turkish vs Venetian fleet.


We played using this fast play set of rules, which produce a very fast game. They have some loosely DBX inspired mechanics.

In addition to some limited but still useful gunnery, boarding is the main way of disabling enemy ships.

Victory to the Turks in this game, with the Venetians being somewhat outmatched. Incredibly brutal with masses of wrecked and tangled ships everywhere blocking movement and fire, which seems pretty historical. We will give the rules a try again next week.