CoC things go smoother.

It was a hot night at Hobby Town and family commitments left it to Nate and I to keep the gaming going. We decided to play a game of Chain of Command. Nate picked the last scenario from the 29 Let's Go book. Me as the Americans had to capture the farmhouse or break the Germans. This scenario seemed to favor the Americans a bit or at least not have it so difficult for them as some of the earlier scenarios.

We laid out our patrol markers and pretty much all the jump off points reached the center of the table. I was able to deploy my 50cal and two squads right off  but one was with out it's Jr leader. Nate put on a squad and his HMG. My next rolls didn't help me with more troops and I put down my Platoon Sgt with hops of getting the attack going.

Things moved a little slow as I wasn't able to get two of my junior leaders on table. I was able to break one squad of Germans and fend off an assault by another.

My tanks came up in support and was able to knock out Nate's pak 38 before being stopped by the panzer schreck. I ended up bring on my other senior leader and was then able to apply more pressure to the Germans.

We stopped the game after about 2.5 hours of playing. Another round or two would have seen me play a CoC die to force a Morale check and perhaps break Nate's force.

I think the game went well. Very little looking up things in the rule book. Placement of leaders is important and remembering command ranges helps in maximizing their value. I'm still somewhat on the fence with how much I like the rules after six games. They do give a good result, reward correct tactics and all that but it seems that games take about 3 hours to play out to a firm conclusion. I guess I looking for a game that can be played out in the 1,1/2-2 hour range for nights at Hobby Town when 2,1/2 hours is what you have all together with set up and breakdown.

Check out Nate's report at addicted to lead

The Way Out!

We met this week to finish out our game on Matt's excellent table. Last week left us with Howard attempting to escape from Balin's Tomb and not lose any more men and my Dwarfs preparing for an assault from a Cave Troll and more Goblins.

We send in the Gollem to do battle with the Troll and Goblins. He makes quick work of the Goblins but the Troll proves a powerful adversary. After several rounds of combat the Troll is put down.

Meanwhile Howard's troop comes across a strange creature who advises them on the direction of the exit. Un-trusting fellows they head off in the opposite direction. Good idea as I was to later discover.

Seeing a build up of Goblins at the far end of the corridor my Prince seeks a hidden passage out. He finds a likely spot and with the help of the Gollem but through into the caverns. The Dwarfs split up again and send the Stone Gollem to fight off the Goblins.

We encounter Howard's troop in the hallway and let them pass. Thinking they had missed the easy way out of the Mines we head off in the direction they had come with all of my band back together.

We meet the creature who gives us directions which we foolishly follow.

Howard's troop continues on and stumbles into a room loaded with treasure and Goblins. He gathers what he can and fights his way out of the mines.

His King and a companion are all that are left as the cross out of the deadly mines.

I had been sent off on a circular path by the creature but in the end found a door out and exited the mines the way we had entered. None to soon as more Goblins and another Cave Troll awaited us.

Lot's of fun and just spectacular terrain. More photos here

Pretenders enter Moria.

Another game night at Matt's. This time our host decided to umpire the game. I should remember some more of the details of the scenario, like my characters name but I was anxious to get gaming in the fantastic terrain that had been laid out before us.

The scenario had to Dwarven Kings who wished to become the High King venture into Moria with he who returns with the most treasure given the crown. The two groups enter the Mines while the Goblins await.

My King enters Balin's Tomb.

Howard's King is attacked by Goblins in the Armoury while mine falls into a trap and is attacked. A Cave troll moves down the corridors to feast on dwarven meat.

My Prince moves into another chamber and are surprised by a another group of Goblins.

The other King forms a line inside the tomb to fend off the attacking Goblins and the assault the Cave Troll. In the other room my Prince's group prepares to defend against another Cave Troll and Goblins.

We called the game because of time but decided that we would like to continue next week so Matt graciously said he would leave things set up and we will play again. The game was loads of fun. I hadn't played the rules in quite a few years and then only once or twice but really liked them. Dragon Rampant were the rules I was thinking of using for LOTR battles but I may have to rethink that. 

Here's the link to Matt's blog with more pictures of his great terrain.

Back in the red.

Things looked to be going well. The boys were loading the truck with several barrels of whiskey and we had a rivals moll stashed away hoping to gain some cash from the ransom. That's as good as it got. No one was paying attention except maybe the cops and who would have expected that.

The town was quite as two cars pulled in and parked unnoticed along Main st. The cops were out on patrol. With the truck loaded the Boss lead the way across town hoping to sell the liquor for a tidy sum.

Then it happened. Out of nowhere a bast of tommy gun fire ripped through the vehicles. The rival gang in town to get their boss's gal back recognized the Boss and opened fire. An unplanned ambush that went surprisingly well. They killed both drivers and set both vehicles on fire. 

The cops moved in to question the gunmen about their activities and a brisk scuffle ensued. Down on the other side of town the out of towners were questioning the local reporter on the whereabouts of  the girl. They got the information they needed and headed back up town to retrieve her.

One of the boys seeing what was happening rushed over to stop them but went down in a hail of bullets.

We met at Hobby Town were Howard, Nate, Zev and I played the game despite the lack of air conditioning.  Mad Dogs with Guns is released this week by Osprey. The game comes as a hardback and the production quality is very good. We've. played several games in the past and each has been packed with action .  Though I lost badly this was still a fun game.

Death of the Warlord Again

Halvar and his band of men went a viking into the Normans land. After a meager campaign season last month they hoped to gain some riches from the men of the west. Things looked good as the stumbled across two separate wagon trains of goods led by Rogbert a wealthy but crafty Norman Lord.

Halvar sent one group of Hirdmen and Bondi to wait in the broken ground for a wagon and it escort to approach. Mean while he and the rest of the Hirdmen and Bondi moved up the center hoping to out flank the other group of wagons. Immediately the Norman cavalry attacked the Bondi.

After a fierce combat with some back and forth the Bondi were beat and forced back. Then the Hirdmen realized the wagons were escaping and raced across the open fields to catch up. One wagon escaped but the other fell to the raiders. Halvar remained behind to hold up the cavalry. He slowed their movement but fell to the overwhelming numbers.

Over on the left the northmen advanced into combat with the Norman crossbows unfamiliar with the power of the weapons they rushed across the open ground their numbers dwindling with each step. Then the Norman cavalry arrived to assist the foot troops. 

Having seen the Bondi ridden down and getting  no help from their fellows the Hirdman retired off the board.

A fun game. I'm still not sure of some of the rules and have to develop some better tactics but I have enjoyed Saga at each outing.

Some more pictures are here on Saltflats1929

Attack on the Fort

This week saw the Colonial variant of A Gentleman's War. Still in play test the differences were that most all Moroccan  infantry were six figure skirmish units and on the first Ace the native force was able to bring on units anywhere on the table.

The scenario, the French forces are attacking the local stronghold and then moving onto relieve the garrison at the village.

The French moved up to engage the fort. The Sphais moved around around the flank and engaged some local mounted troops. The infantry and artillery fired upon the fort with little effect.

Suddenly the Moroccan infantry popped up on both sides of the French force. the Turcos moved to engage the Moroccans while the French line continued the assault.

The Chasseurs move back to chase off some enemy skirmishers and the returns to charge the cavalry moving up to relieve the fort.

More native foot move on board and the the Sultan arrive with his guard and charges up the wadi.

The Turcos hold against the Sultans force as the French line bust into the fort and melee the defenders. 

After a bloody fight the Moroccans are cleared from the fort.

The celebrating that followed last for days.