September 2011

No figures painted this month. Had a hard time getting motivated and was distracted by playing a few computer wargames.

I did get some painting in a large batch (about 150 figures) I am finishing up for modern skirmish use. They can also double for use in sci-fi.

On that note, I am planning on starting 15mm sci-fi for use with Tomorrow's War. I have some figures on hand, and will pick up more in the next few months.

I played a big Field of Battle game with my Katzenstein forces and a few small Krasnovia skirmishes including some with my son.

I am attending the Fall In convention next month and will play in my first convention games. Signed up for two and plan on trying to get in two more when I get there. I don't expect to buy many figures, but I do have some books/rules on my list and I am going to get one of each of the 15mm JR Miniatures Middle East buildings.

For the second month I did not add to the mead mountain. My stock is actually under control. I have a small amount of sci-fi miniatures (and expect some more from Khurasan for my birthday this month), 18/19th century civilians, pirates, and my ancients. I will do the ancients and sci-fi in 2012. Trying to keep the mountain to a mole hill.

Comments: my apologies for not answering the comments...problem with blogger. Trying to resolve it now.

Rules

I made a post a few months ago about the rules I use. I am still checking out new systems.

I used Carnage and Glory II computer moderated rules for my last Katzenstein Campaign battle. I liked that they provided the exact #s of casualties and tracked morale.

They will still be a contender, but Field of Battle holds the lead. There is a new FOB2 being published that I will pick up at Fall In.

I am going to try the Die Fighting rules for a game as well. I like the concepts such as use of resource dice.

I have Black Powder and have not played them but I think I will like FOB better. I do like the special rules that can be used to make units more period specific...would like to see that in FOB.

I was listening to the Meeples and Miniatures Podcast and heard more about the Too Fat Lardies rules. I will investigate them further.

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Original post

I have been collecting and reading lots of rules the past few years but I think I am settling into what I want for each period/genre. I originally thought I wanted lots of detail, but in practical application, it just does not seem feasible.




ImagiNation (Horse and Musket): Field of Battle

---Blackpowder and Carnage and Glory II are contenders.



Individual Skirmish: Flying Lead and the rest of the Songs of Blades and Hereos series



Squad/Team Skirmish: Force on Force and Tomorrow's War for Sci Fi



WWII: Flames of War



Ancients: Clash of Empires

---Hail Ceasar and Piquet are options



Space Ships: Starmada



Pirates: TBD (most likely SOBH variant)



Wild West: TBD (most likely SOBH variant)

Father and Son gaming

My son wanted to do a similar battle to my last Krasnovia battle on the same small board with the MBA Italian Village buildings.

He fielded a dozen soldiers in a three way battle with some law enforcement and masked gunmen.

He played well until risking a helo landing in the courtyard after I gave him repeated warnings. I commended his desire to not want to leave any soldiers behind. I did not get a good picture of the crash site!

Picking up supplies in the truck.

An aerial view of the battle zone.

1st box of supplies loaded.

Still doing well, but casualties starting to mount.

One of the cops takes down a soldier before getting hit in return.

The final butcher's bill...only two soldiers made it out in the HMMWV.

A very fun game. He has the Flying Lead rules down...just needs to exercise some judgement on when to risk it all.

Battle of Mario's Ridge

We last left the weary armies fighting in the North entering Winter quarters with the lines stabalized. The Poo-Boochen victory at the second battle of Farthing Ford left a sour taste in LTG Von Struddel's mouth and some changes were in order for the Katzain forces.

The quiet Winter soon gave way to a pleseant Spring. In the far North, the Hippo-Heimer forces protect the line along the canal while the rebels and their Schlupp allies bivouac further West. In the Southern part of the Duchy, a Katzian division under the command of MG Van Fleck, the victor of the campaign in Doft two year ago, advances to find the Poo-Boochen forces.

21 April- Van Fleck's large division contains two advanced guard brigades, three infantry brigades, a brigade of dragoons, and a brigade of heavy cavalry. The division soon runs into a Poo-Boochen advanced guard division as both forces race for the dominant terrain along Mario's Ridge.

The Poo-Boochen force is of overall better quality, but is outnumbered especially in cavalry. This proves telling as Van Fleck aggressively moves his cavalry forward to seize the ridge and five brigades of cavary clash in the morning sun.

Cavalry advance to the ridge...Katzian's on the right of the picture.

Light cavalry initially seize the ridge but are soon forced back.

Poo-Boochen heavy dragoons are outnumbered but fight fiercely.

Katzian heavy cavalry crash into the Poo-Boochen forces driving away a dragoon brigade and over-running a battery.

The advantage in sabres takes its toll.

Katzain dragoons hold the ridge while the infantry advance.

The Poo-Boochen commander attempts to break the center while the cavalry clash on the wings.

Many saddles are emptied in an ill advised charge.

The attack in the center crubmles before superior musketry.

While the loss of the guns on the Poo-Boochen left leaves the infantry brigade totally unsupported.

The remaining dragoons try to stem any Katzian pursuit as the Poo-Boochen forces prepare to retreat.

The rear guard takes up position. The tired Katzian cavalry fail to pursue with vigor.

A stream of broken Poo-Boochen units head for the rear.

MG Van Fleck settles for a solid victory at Mario's Ridge. The cavalry performed adequately but missed some opportunities to finish off the defeat Poo-Boochen forces.


I played this game with the Carnage and Glory II computer moderated rules. More on that in a future post.
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Katzain Losses
 [ 7%] 1113 men of all arms incl.[ 1%] 177 prisoners of all arms


[ 3%] 365 bayonets [ 15%] 748 sabres [ 0%] 0 artillerists
Honors: [ 162] Krupp Kurassiers

Losses include 1 General[s]: [ 112] Bart Cubbins - Lightly wounded


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Poo-Boochen losses
 [ 44%] 4570 men of all arms incl.[ 9%] 1020 prisoners of all arms

[ 37%] 2715 bayonets [ 61%] 1655 sabres [ 50%] 200 artillerists 11 cannon[s] lost
Honors: [ 516] 13th Dragoons
Losses include 2 standard[s]: [ 518] 29th  Dragons [1], [ 506] 1/33rd Line [1]

Losses include 1 General[s]: [ 506] Lanner - Lightly wounded