June 2025 and mid-year review

I ran another game at the club this month, A Very British Civil War with the Combat Patrol rules. Sold off a bunch of things, a few more to go. Spending for the year to date has been more than expected, but I should cover a big portion with the sold items. 

3D printed and assembled the next batch of Quar. Such fun figures.

Registered for lots of games for Historicon, working on my shopping list. 

Started my Victorian Science Fiction project. Some great figures and the Wargames Atlantic plastic and 3D STL releases will help build out the forces. I have been having fun using ChatGPT to generate background for the fictional "lost world". 

A sample, I will start a separate post with the units. 

PAINTING 

106 foot and 16 mounted VSF figures: 138 points

Total: x

YTD: 574

GAMING 

1 x AVBCW game I ran at the club

YTD: 13

BUDGET

$31: $11 Quar subscription, $20 brushes

YTD:  $1633 (Sold: $1357)   = $276

Mid-year Review:

Plans for 2025

1) Next wave of Quar 

    - Complete

    - Printed next batch, ready to paint

2) Focus on some terrain upgrades: trees, rivers, roads

    - No progress

3) Host a club game in Feb

    - Complete, plus another in May

4) Work on 6mm sci fi home brew rules with 3D printed figures

    - Tinkering continues

5) Spending <$2000, sell $500

    - Spent more than planned, sold more than goal

6) Attend all 3 HMGS conventions

    Cold Wars (this one is a maybe): Complete

    Historicon: Registered

    Fall In

7) Complete on hand 28mm fantasy figures

    a. Plastics; Complete

    b. Metals: Complete

8) Add to 28mm sci fi by getting select sprues instead of full boxes

    - Nothing

Project Update: 10 projects

Victorian Science Fiction:

---Last Painted: June, 2025

---Last Gamed: not yet

Quar:

---Last Painted: Feb, 2025

---Last Gamed: Mar, 2025

Slaughterloo:

---Last Painted: Dec, 2023

---Last Gamed: Jan, 2024

28mm Fantasy:

---Last Painted: Apr, 2025

---Last Gamed: May, 2025

Burrows and Badgers:

---Last Painted: Sep, 2024

---Last Gamed: Jan, 2023

Pulp:

---Last Painted: Jan, 2023

---Last Gamed: Feb, 2025

A Very British Civil War:

---Last Painted: Oct, 2024

---Last Gamed: Dec, 2024

28mm Sci Fi:

---Last Painted: Jan, 2025

---Last Gamed: Jan, 2022

Fantasy 15mm:

---Last Painted: Jul, 2019

---Last Gamed: Jul, 2021

Kingdom of Katzenstein 15mm Imagi-nation:

---Last Painted: Dec, 2018

---Last Gamed: Nov, 2024

Grenades from Heaven at the Battle of Saint Leonard's Church

 A brief report of a Very British Civil War game at the South Jersey Gamers Association monthly club gameday. Six players with the card driven Combat Patrol rules. 

Many thanks to the players that embraced the quirkiness of AVBCW.

Battle of Saint Leonard’s Church

A fierce battle broke out in the River Otter Valley last month between the forces of King Edward and the rebel alliance. Lord Otterford had dispatched a ragtag band of his personal troops, Anglican League allies, and his sister’s (“Red” Kate) communist friends. The rebels were determined to seize valuable supplies before the reactionary forces could destroy them.

The high command of the British Union of Fascists (BUF) XI Legion dispatched their own troops to thwart the rebels. BUF regulars, Nazi German “advisors” and some of the local BUF thugs arrived just in time to contest the supplies.

Interrupting tea time, the BUF thugs were the first to open hostilities as the rebels were gathering key supplies. The combat became general as both forces took up positions in the town and surrounding fields and gardens. 

Although the Nazi advisors initially gained fire superiority in the center of town after some brutish treatment of the locals, the She-wolves paid a heavy price when faced with counter-fire from the Anglican troops delivering the near mythical “five rounds rapid” with typical English accuracy. This is only deserving since these same She-Wolves had forced themselves into the Dog and Pony Pub, rudely handling Professor Burns and his wife, and even spilling Colonel (Retired) Wellington’s (no relation to the famous Duke) second G&T. 

On the southern flank, Otterford’s home guard troops of the River Otter Valley Local Defense Brigade (ROVLDB) skirted both sides of Saint Leonard’s church to capture some supplies and put pressure on the BUF thugs. A daring run through the church cemetery turned into mayhem as the Vicar’s funeral party scattered and BUF grey shirts scaled the walls in a daring attack. 

The town square in front of the church entrance was pure chaos. Red Kate’s heathen commie red beret’s stormed the church but were rebuffed at the church doors and caught outside in a murderous fusilade. Soon a hail of grandes descended causing casualties to her troops and several townsfolk. It was worse than Luthor’s 95 being nailed to the door. These dastardly bombers were BUF thugs throwing their grenades from the second floor windows. In a peculiar incident, all are reminded to open the window BEFORE throwing out a grenade. Young Sammy Atkins has earned a medal from the King for selflessly throwing himself on a grenade to save his BUF colleagues. The fact that it was his own grenade was not recorded on the medal citation. Young Sammy has now been seen showing off his battle wounds arm in arm with Fraulein Helga from the She-Wolf advisors. Helga sports her own wounds courtesy of Anglican marksmanship. Bandages are all now the rage with the youngsters, as is courting foreign women just like the King. This leaves fine young English lasses like Kate to have to look into the communist dating pool or even, heaven forbid, date a Frenchman!

Sensing an opportunity for a major victory, Lord Otterford dispatched one of his precious makeshift armored lorries to add some firepower to the attack. Despite this heavy armor rolling in, the Anglican attack seemed to lack the usual verve so the Lord also sent his personal assistant, Miss Martha, to harangue the Anglican League to close with and destroy the BUF oppressors. This proved futile as the Anglican and BUF regulars would not come to grips and warily side stepped each other rather than cause more damage in town. Were it not for this impromptu cease fire, casualties would certainly have been heavier. Was it all a ruse to negate the superior BUF firepower, a true attempt at peace, or just the fog of war, we may never know. Rumors of an armistice conference between the BUF and Anglican League to be held at the seaside in Sanditon are pure speculation. I am sure Ms.Austen would have turned it into quite a novel. 

As the sun dipped, a quiet fell over the battlefield as both sides withdrew with the supply they could carry. Lord Otterford could claim a hard won victory despite the casualties. His troops lost five brave souls killed, and three wounded. BUF losses were limited to one brave lad killed and four wounded., and young Michael Thatcher taken hostage by Red Kate’s troops. He has reportedly been released in exchange for a basket of fish and chips. Three townsfolk also died in the scuffle, recriminations about who is to blame will likely lead to feuds and retribution.

The battle came down to the last few cards in a melee over the final supply crate.

A mix of pictures below…I forgot to take any good shots so the players have sent me a bunch. 

Quiet village

Red Kate's troops move up

Very orderly Nazi advisors

Sneaking in the back door

BUF troops in a perfect wedge formation

Good firing position

Captured the supplies in the garage

First casualty of the game 

Grenade!

Chaos at the church door...perfect picture

Grenades just kept coming. 

Cease fire! An armistice, or a nasty ruse?

Thugs getting ready for some Grenade-Chucking-Thuggery (TM)

Sharp dressed men.

Telling the to behave. 

A text book base of fire position at the hedgerow. 

It all came down to the fight at the church for the last supply point. 

Traffic jam.

May 2025

Another month in the books. Some great club games...we have grown and now need three games going at once to accommodate ethe members. 

Tried to keep my spending under control this month with some success. 

Registered for Historicon in July...packed full of games.

I have started painting my Victorian Science Fiction imagi-nation forces. I am using ChatGPT to generate the story line. Very interesting so far. 

I also printed/built and prepped the next phase of the Quar project. Every new release is just fantastic. 

Zombiecide

Blood and Plunder

General d' Armee 2

Fist Full of Lead-Bigger Battles

PAINTING 

69 foot and 2 mounted VSF figures: 73 points

Total: 73

YTD: 436

GAMING 

1 x Club: Zombiecide

1 x Fist Full of Lead bigger battles at home

YTD: 13

BUDGET

$149: $11 Quar subscription, $45 rules, $75 Historicon and HMGS registration, $18 paint

YTD:  $1602 (Sold: $0)

Defending the village

Sir Miroslav continues his campaign to reclaim his ancestorial lands. After weeks of negotiations, a local village has come under his protection. Not long after, a rival warlord sends a raiding force that is initially met by the local all women militia. 

Played this game with the Fist Full of Lead- Bigger Battles rules. 

Village being raided

The militia causes some casualties but they are outclassed

Enemy warriors move in to burn the village

The slingers face off vs spearmen

Casualties on both sides are heavy when Miroslav arrives with reinforcements

Building on fire

Melee in the center is very bloody

The raiders flee, having fired one building

A costly defense

April 2025

The club attended a local gaming/hobby/art convention at the library. We had a display table and three games in action. Hoping this gives us some exposure and new members.

I continue to break my budget...retirement is expensive! Should cool off until Historicon in July.

Finished the on hand fantasy figures except for a few left overs from plastic sets that I will keep for future kitbashing.

Started a new project- Victorian Science Fiction in a "lost world/continent" setting I am developing using ChatGPT. Big 28mm units of 24 figures. I was inspired by the Hinterland woman soldier figures, and some blogs I found. 

Club members at CapeCon in Cape May NJ

Shield Maidens

More

Konflict '47 game at the club

Men of Company B- Vietnam game at the club

PAINTING 

86 x 28mm fantasy figures and 14 mounted: 114

Total: 144

YTD: 363

GAMING 

1 x Club: K'47

YTD: 11

BUDGET

$300: $11 Quar subscription, $117 bases, $115 storage, $5 cutters, $15 glue, $37 figures Quar

YTD:  $1453 (Sold: $0)

March 2025

I went off the rails on spending by starting a new project...Victorian Science Fiction. Add in some more 3D print file subscriptions and I have broken my plan for the year already. 

Good things going on at the club...we now have enough club members that we can have two games going. 

I will finish painting the big batch of Bad Squido Shield Maidens in April. That will finish the bulk of the on hand figures for that 28mm project. I have a few scattered remnants for kitbashing.

GDA2 Napoleonic gam eat the club I played in.

Club Bolt Action- Pacific game

Next up...Shieldmaidens

More generic fantasy 28mm figures

PAINTING 

61 x 28mm fantasy figures: 61

Total: 61

YTD: 249

GAMING 

1 x Club: GDA2 Napoleonics

1 x Chain of Command-Quar at home

YTD: 10

BUDGET

$892: $11 Quar subscription, $191 Wargames Atlantic 3D tribe year subscription, $50 rules, $640 figures

YTD:  $1453 (Sold: $0)

Quar Border Battle

Cowardly Crusaders broke the recent holiday cease fire by launching an attack to to destroy a Coftyran border outpost garrisoned by the colonial militia. The valiant defenders held off four times there number for as long as they could while reinforcements were called up. Crusader saboteurs planted explosive charges and destroyed the border tower with great loss of life to both sides, callously ignoring the cries of the wounded.

This dastardly act would not go unpunished. Coftyran reinforcements arrived in time to shoot up the raiders, and even destroyed an enemy light tractor. 

A great solo game using modified Chain of Command with lots of troops. The Crusaders had to blow up the tower and get troops back to within 12" of their baseline jump off points. They did blow up the tower, but suffered heavily while pulling back after losing their tractor to a lucky shot. They finally lost all their morale points...so I call it a draw. 

 Casualties----

Crusader:

13- KIA (including 1 NCO)

3- WIA (including 1 officer and 1 NCO)

11- POW (6- wounded) (including 1 officer and 1 NCO)

Tractor destroyed

Coftyran:

13- KIA [9 from the militia]

6- WIA

Tower destroyed

The battlefield looking towards the Crusader start line.

Militia in the border outpost.

Very effective suppressing fire to start the attack.

Tower defenders were slaughtered.

Reinforcements arrive.

1st tractor on the table!

Demo team gets into position. These guys would take casualties but get the job done. 

Last two militia troops fall back. 

Crusader mortar team tries to lay down smoke.

Adjust fire!

Demo team makes a run for the tower door, losing men on the way. 

Boom! Scratch one Crusader Tractor!

Reinforcements move up under the commander. 

Two sections on line, pouring out the firepower. 

Flanking force moves up. 

Crusaders advanced to far and pay the price.

A Coftyran section makes a dash to try to retake the tower.

A second Crusader section tries to support the demo team, but they are getting cut up by long range fire. 

Demo team runs from the tower...

While the tractor burns in the distance.

Crusaders are ordered to fall back.

Running for the gap in the wire.

BOOM! the tower explodes!

Despite the destruction of the tower, the Coftyrans are determined to make the enemy pay.

A Crusader section is cut down just short of safety. 

Coftyrans continue to advance to keep up the pressure...and take prisoners.

Crusader CO orders his troops to fall back, abandoning those too far forward to reach cover.