One Hour Skirmish Wargames Shootout with my wife!

 This was a replay of last week's game but with my wife.  The rules were a HUGE hit she likes them a lot and finds them very intuitive.  Her only complaints were my terrible QRS that only I can understand and "I really hate it when you just start making up rules."

She played the cops and I played the gangsters.  Ended in a resounding victory for law and order, although 2 police officers were killed in the action.

She is keen to play again, I am working on my next scenario, which may involve ships and Deep Ones.

Here are some poor quality pictures:

One Hour Skirmish Wargames: Wife Approved!

Trench Hammer German Assault

 I have not pulled Trench Hammer out in a while, and I had a brilliant idea for an alternative activation sequence, that did not pan out in actual use.  So, I played it again out of the box, but I am thinking about adding motivation rolls with a d6, from one of the Squad Hammer books.  Issue an order, roll > hits (I started calling it shock a la TFL) to execute an Engage or Redeploy.  If failed you can spend another order on the unit and try again.

Thinking of adding support rolls from Hammer of Democracy or something similar, as infantry can seem to prance around in front of a Vickers gun fairly easily...

Anyway, here is the short fight.  Spring 1918, a depleted British platoon holding a strongpoint based on 2 fortified ruined buildings with:

• Lewis Gun Section
• Rifle Grenade Section
• Vickers HMG
• Platoon Commander

The German assaulted with:

• 2 x Bombing squads
• 2 x MG08/15 squads
• Minenwerfer in direct support
• Platoon commander

Here is a brief summary of the fight...

Initial setup, one LMG squad at top to put down some covering fire.  At bottom, Platoon commander planning to lead bombing squads forward supported by LMG squad and minenwerfer.

One of the bombing squads was chewed up by the combined fore of the Vickers and Lewis Guns while hunkered down in a crater.

The Platoon Commander led the other bombing squads in a successful assault on the Vickers gun. The Vickers team scarpered down the trench while the bombers took a foothold in the ruins.  They were counterattacked by the rifle bombers and actually driven out.  A counter-counter attack drove the rifle bombers back to the communication trench.

The Lewis team was knocked out by a combination of minenwerfer shells and a volley of grenades from the bombers. A counter attack by the rallied rifle bombers failed and the British platoon commander decided enough was enough and the British continued retreating west...

A good game, even though the rules are simple, they feel like they give a good result.  I especially like the back and forth in assaults.

Next up, I am leavig the same table up and will try some WW1 Crossfire.  Take it up a notch scale wise, and will see a couple of German platoons with support against a British platoon.  Stay tuned!

(Trying out these rules posted to the Crossfire IO Group, you will not need to join to see them)

Chasing the Ripper with Tom

Yet another delayed post from before vacation last month, I finally got to go down to Om's house and play in the excellent game he hosted at Southern Front this year.  He adapted it from a board game and printed out the giant map.  The original game had you chasing the Ripper all over the British Isles, which is absurd, so we reset everything in Whitechapel as it should be.

Lots of running around trying to get the clues for each murder and avoid getting killed by Jack the Ripper.  What better way to spend and afternoon? 

I have another live gaming opportunity, as it is Tom's birthday coming up and he is hosting a game at the Military History Center of the Carolinas.  Alas it is the same day as I have a bounce house in the backyard for the oldest granddaughter's 4th birthday, so I will miss it.

Working out another date to get down there and I can push lead with an actual, live opponent!

Here are some pics:

Stab, stab stab...

Where have I been and what have I been doing?

 I am shocked to realize that I have not posted since the beginning of May, but I have a fairly decent excuse. Work. That terrible thing we must do to finance our hobby... in April my boss and my peer manager both left my company and I picked up both of their jobs.  Keeping the "grist mill" running., hiring new staff, and doing all that has kept me busy. 

I have gotten a few things done over the last few months hobby-wise, here is a montage.

Darkest Africa with Smooth and Rifled

Just a short game, worked pretty well but I think I am doing it wrong.  I think it might work well for Darkest Africa, reminds me of the Mark Copplestone rules from Wargames Illustrated in the 90's (I have a copy on my shelf) with leaders running around motivating troops.

Or I need to just accept it and use Sharp Practice 2.  Too bust to follow up right now, but will come back to this. 

Making a Hex Sheet

I made a hex play mat for my long planned WW2 Eastern Front Double Blind game I want to run at a convention. (See labels to right.)  I created and 3d printed a template I could use to mark out a 100mm / ~4 inch hex grid. 

You can find it HERE

Played some Pulp Alley

A couple of weeks ago, I got some Pulp Alley in with my wife's nephew.  Lots of fun, I ran Dr. Nefario, he had his cult.  We played Hidalgo fire and I lost two of my minions to snake bite trying to riffle through Lady Elaine's tent.  He won.  I need to play more though as rules were slipping my mind.

Printed Tanks and Played What A Tanker!

There will be more of this, I have printed up some 1/150 scale tanks (more on the painting table) to play What A Tanker!.  Played a game with the wife, it was a hit, you will see more of this...

Painted 10mm Korean War

More pictures coming, here is a preview.  I have a nice force of US Army and NKPA / CVF troops, time to start playing.  I am leaning towards Crossfire, I have not played in years.

Went on a cruise

Despite the global pandemic, we worked in our first cruise in over a year.  Mostly visited private cruise ship islands or stayed on the ship and took the steam in the spa. Did see this neat thing on the beach at St., Augustine, evidence of sea turtles...

Ok, I am going to try to get on at least a monthly update schedule.  I hope everyone in our community is doing well, stay healthy and roll dice!

"Somme Enchanted Evening", Trench Hammer 1916

 I am working with Ivan on version 2 of Trench Hammer to bring it more in line with the current evolution of the Hammer system.  I am doing this VERY slowly, but I am plugging away.

Here is a game I played using the scenario "Somme Enchanted Evening" from Too Fat Lardies Play the Game Great War Compendium.  I cannot over-praise this tome, it is an invaluable resource, go but it now!

See the details of the historical action in Play the Game, but the basic scenario is this.  Ferocious French-Canadian troops attacking a village and a German support trench.  The terrain is no too badly cut up by artillery.  Germans start in dugouts in the trench except for a unit in the village.  French-Canadians need to clear the village and the trench.

The French-Canadians had:

• 3 x Assault Squads (based on the description of the historical events the scenario is based on)
• 1 x Lewis Gun Squad
• 1 x extra Assault Squad as mopper-uppers
• Plus 1 leader

Then Huns had:

• 1 x Rifle Squad in the Village
• 2 x Bombing squads and a Maxim gun in the trench in dugouts
• Plus 1 leader in a dugout

As there had been some bombardment, I decided each german unit would have to roll a 4+ to exit its dugout after it had been issued an order point.

Here we see the German defenses, the French Canadians are jumping off from the wood in the lower right-hand corner. 

The end of turn 1 sees the Canadians caught in the open, every dies roll seemed to go against them.  They tried to Move Out with the assault squads to make it to the cover of the village, but only 1 squad made it. The Lewis Gun squad was left in the woodline to provide covering fire. On the German turn, every single unit exited the dugouts and took up firing positions... it was an uncomfortable turn for the Canadians.

The next turn was evenly split, the Canadians drove the rifle squad in the village back to the trench line to lick its wounds, and one of the squads that had been caught in the open successfully forced its way into the trench.  But was so badly battered by crossing the open in front of the Maxim gun and the assault, that the hun sat back and threw grenades over the traverse, knocking them out

The following turn, another squad gets ready to try to force itself into the trench.

And is driven back

Here is the final Canadian push, with the platoon leader leading the charge. Only to be met by a flurry of grenades from 2 sides, knocking them out.  By this time the Canadians did not have enough combat power to win so I called the game.

After Action Review

My biggest mistake with playing the Canadians was not coordinating attacks and sending the assault squads in one at a time to be eaten piecemeal.  That would have mitigated the ability of Bombing squads to attack enemies down a trench with no immediate risk to themselves.  The game lasted 4 turns and gave I think a realistic result.

I am still tinkering some expect more of these battle reports!

Reflecting on 2020 and Trench Hammer German Assault, 1917

First I want to thank my wife for giving me a wonderful 2020.  The current pandemic has really forced us to slow down and enjoy the important things in life.  We took up gardening, traveled on one of the last non-quarantined cruises in March, and visited 2 new favorite places, St. Simon's Island in Georgia and Key West.  If pressed by any supernatural (or Q-like) entity, I also have an answer, if pressed, for my favorite day ever. Answer: The day we went to the Dry Tortugas / Ft. Jefferson National Park.

Globally it has been a rough year, but personally, it was very fulfilling.  We also started exercising and eating a LOT better and I have managed to shave off 40 pounds or 2.85 stone for my UK friends.

Christmas was great, we had the kids and grandkids over and I even 3d printed some of the presents.  I will dig up some pictures, but for our oldest, I printed and pained a model of Hogwarts, I made snowglobes for the grandkids, and I 3d printed a Spirograph art set for the 3-year-old.

My wife gave me an amazing gift, helping (and guiding me) in rearranging and straightening up the Library / Gaming Room.  I had let the clutter start to build up and covered the gaming table with projects that were in progress. Here are the results, and I can start 2021 with space to push troops around.

It is a rather oddly shaped narrow room, but perfect for me.

I keep the 3D Printer there as well

And of course, a small "I Love Me" wall

I hope 2021 brings you peace and happiness. I heard someone say recently that what you do in your home is vastly more important to your success and happiness than what is happening in politics or the news. Plus you have full control over it.  

Now on to gaming...

Last week I was able to get in another solo game of Trench Hammer.  I used almost exactly the same scenario as in my last post (take a look at it for details) except I switch the sides about.  This tome it was a German assault to remove a pesky British machine-gun bunker.

I don't have a blow by blow, but some highlights include:

• The first three turns I gave the British poor command and control (roll 2d6, pick lowest for activations), this was to simulate the short preparatory bombardment. Starting turn 4 they went to Standard
• The British had a TOE 1917 platoon with the Rifle and Lewis Sections in the front trench and the Rifle Bombers and Bombers in the second line with the Platoon leader.
• The Germans had two identical platoons, each with 1 leader, 2 Bombing squads, and an MG 08/15 squad.
• I gave the Germans superior command and control (roll 2d6, pick highest +1) to reflect motivation and prep for the raid.

The German plan was simple, rapidly break into the British Trenches, have one platoon stay in the front trench to support by fire or act as a reserve, and the other platoon bomb it's way down the communication trench and assault the bunker form the rear.  The plan did not play out like that though.

I did use the Hammer of Democracy assault and damage rules, here are some fo the new unit cards I have printed up.  I will get them posted soon to share.

The initial German rush to the trenches was not as rapid as it should have been, although they managed to bomb their way into the forward sap that held a small sentry unit

On the left flank, the hun managed to assault his way in to the trench, forcing the rifle squad back with a flurry of grenades. 

Trying to do the same on the right flank resulted in a Grenadier Gruppe being wiped out by the Lewis Gun squad before it could get in to the trenches. 

A change of plan was called for and the Huns launched a direct assault on the bunker, hoping to use craters as cover and getting around it to the rear.  They suffered heavy casualties on the way in, as the British had managed to keep most of their force intact by falling back and regrouping as needed.

The finale.  The Germans managed to get around and knock out the Vickers Machine gun but left the bunker itself undamaged.  The British were able to pepper the surviving Germans with Rifle Grenades and Mills Bombs.  In the end, the Germans took 50% casualties while only eliminating the Machine gun (until another could be brought forward.)  The British took far fewer casualties, losing only the Rifle section as combat ineffective, as they judiciously fell back when pressed and regrouped.

Not a good showing or the Germans, a high casualty raid that maybe netted 2 or 3 prisoners and did not really eliminate the bunker as a threat.

Next up, I am going to play a scenario from Too Fat Lardie's Play the Game supplement, so stay tuned.  Until then, goo gaming!

Trench Hammer: Platoon Attack between Trenches 1917

 I got in a quick solo game of Trench Hammer last week, and it holds up nicely.  I played the second training Scenario from Stout Hearts and Iron Troopers from Too Fat Lardies, involving a British attack on a German machine-gun bunker located in a trench system (provided by my 3D printed trenches)

The British mission is to eliminate a Hun machine gun bunker enfilading part of the line and pick up some prisoners if possible.  This will be a daytime attack supported by a box barrage that will isolate the bunker and prevent the Germans from sending in reinforcements or a counter-attack.   Lanes have already been cut in the German wire over the previous few nights by patrols.

For this mission Lt. Barnaby will lead his own platoon, consisting of:

• Rifle Section
• Bombing Section
• Lewis Gun Section
• Rifle Bombing Section
• And extra Section of bombers to act a "mopper uppers"

The German mission is to keep the machine gun bunker in action.  Besides the Maxim Gun, the defenders available to Feldwebel Shutlz consist of 2 rifle squads.

The game opens with the British through the wire and picking their way through craters to the forward German trench when they are spotted.  Click photos to enlarge.

Here is the first turn of British movement.  I tried to follow the "book" tactical solution, using the Lewis and Rifle Bombing sections to cover the movement of the rest of the platoon as they break in to the trench and maneuver to take the bunker in the rear. 

Here is the situation after a couple of turns. The British have managed to get into the trenches, but the rifle squad has been driven back by the Hun defenders in the front trench.  The mopper uppers are stuck in a crater just short of the trench as well.

A turn or so later, the British have bombed their way along the trench, driving the defenders back.  Meanwhile the Maxim gun brings the Lewis and Rifle Bombers under effective fire.  Felwebel Shutlz knows that time is not on his side and personally leads his reserve squad over the the top from the communication trench in a desperate close assault... and it pays off!  See the die rolls below, the British lead squad doesn't like Teutonic cold steel and is rendered combat ineffective, the survivors stumbling back.

The other British squad in the front trench is still regrouping from the damage it sustained previously and the Feldwebel knows the best defense is a good offense and launches another bayonet charge, this time against the crater sheltering the mopping up section right over the top.  Once again, the Hun's audacity pays off, here are the die rolls...

While this is going on, a the Maxim gun cuts down several members of the British Rifle Bombing section off camera to the right, including the corporal.  The rest of the section have had enough and start crawling back to the gaps in the wire.

At this point Lt. Barnaby decides the mission is compromised and blows his whistle signaling the platoon to fall back.  He has lost 3 sections as combat ineffective and does not have enough strength to take out the bunker.

As usual Trench Hammer gave a nice, fast, cinematic game with a believable narrative.  I hope to get it back on the table soon.

Meanwhile to all of my wargaming comrades the world over, Merry Christmas and with good fortune we will all be rolling dice face to face again in 2021.

Southern Front Report 2019

We are back from vacation and I finally have time to report on my visit to the Southern Front Wargaming Convention in Raliegh, North Carolina.


First off, I cannot praise the organizers enough.  It is a small but very well run event.  I vastly prefer attending small conventions as compared to my last visit to Historicon a few years ago.  I suspect I am getting cranky in my old age, but crowds and noise are not my favorites anymore!

There were only 8 games running at once, in a single room, but they were all high quality and the ratios of games to players were good.  There were plenty of vendors (I will show off my loot in another post)

Saturday morning, I played in a game that was one of the peak wargaming experiences of my career (tm) and Saturday evening I ran a game of Astounding Tales 2!  Here is a summary:

Random Shots

Here are a few random pics of other games going on, it is NOT representative.  There were some really great looking games.  I missed Saturday afternoon (the missus and I went to lunch), but here are some from the other 2 Saturday slots.

Chain of Command.  There were many games run in various theaters, I wish I had been able to work it in.  Looked great! 

Wings of War, with honking great German Bombers

Little Round Top

A really nice Napoleonics game in 28mm.  I love the ground cloth and I think they were using the Blucher computer moderated rules. 

WW2 Double-Blind Crossfire

I may exaggerate occasionally, but this was one of the peak gaming experiences of my tabletop career!  It was a double-blind game of Crossfire run by Mike Tyson (Thank you Mike, if you read this!) 

He had two identical tables set up next to each other divided by a clever curtain on a PVC pipe frame.

This is all I saw of the opposition...

The scenario was early war Eastern Front, and I draw the Russian straw.  As I was the only player who had and Crossfire experience, I was nominated to be the COmpany commander.  Or else, per the Commisar.

Each side had a company plus some armor support in a meeting engagement.  I cannot give a blow by blow as I was completely engaged in the game, but a few observations:

• The rules worked well.  Mike also had an assistant umpire on each table, which helped greatly.  Crossfire was a great choice of rules as it flowed well, he kept the tables roughly in synch.  The rules are simple enough that they were almost transparent to the experience of "where the heck is he? Should I try to cross that open ground? Where the hell did those guys come from ?!?!?!"  He made some mods to allow continuous fire until you failed, and I have to say they worked well.  We came to a decision in 2 hours and even the guys who had their platoons wiped out enjoyed it.
• We lost, but barely.  each player took a platoon, and I also had the company commander and a T-26's and SU-76. But my master plan of ordering one of the platoon leaders to retreat across an open field to "draw in" the Panzer 38T to the muzzle of my SU-76 ended in lots of dead Russians shot in the back in the above-mentioned field.
• I spent 4 turns firing into what turned out to be an empty wood because I thought Germans might be in there and ammo is cheaper than bodies, even for Russians.  When does that happen in a normal game? 

It really is the best way to wargame, suddenly recon becomes vital as it is in real life and fire and movement really becomes viable and overwatch comes into its own at the tactical level.  The fog of war was heavy too, with a lot of command friction and uncertainty. 

I am so inspired, I am working on my own double-blind game, but on a different scale. Stay tuned for details.

I will leave you with this quote of the game:"Umpire: You just got shot at by a machine gun.  Player: Crap, what machine gun ?!?!?!"

Here are some snaps.

My fellow Soviet players

Movement to contact, Two Russian platoons advance in line at the top, my guys are at the bottom

My Comrade's platoon in the center, getting ready to peek through the hedge...

The endgame, where my SU-76 waited in ambush for a target that never showed up.  I did not know that he had spotted me and knew I was there.  That is an important thing about double-blind, you not only don't know where the other guys are all the time, but you don't know what he knows about you!

Kudos to John Acar, the German player opposite me, who also played it slow and used lots of recon and bounding overwatch.  As a result, he easily avoided my ambush It was good to roll dice with you again.

Astounding Tales 2!

Saturday Evening, I ran my Death Temple of Sarnath game, with a full crew of 8 players! Here is the background information and the last couple of times I ran the game:

• Canadian Heiress Kidnapped!!!!
• Battle report from Southern Front 2017, Game 2
• Battle Report from Siege of Augusta 2018
• Scenario and player aids

I was busy running around GM-ing the game but, fun was had by all!  It ended with the Nazis winning and making off with the Eye of Azathoth, the Gangsters recapturing Shirley Uoff after she had been rescued by the RCMP just before she could get on the plane, and the Zanzibar Slavers deciding the kidnapping Miss Lemon would do and hauling her off for shipment to the slave markets of Istanbul.

Here are a few snaps from the game.

Everyone fully engaged!

Hercule Poirot ponders his next move

Doc Savage prepares to punch out a few robots.  Supreme Subjicator Zenobia of the Radon Zombies of the Ionosphere had also crash-landed in the jungle.

That is all for now, next time I will recap our vacation, which does almost have some wargaming content!