Spies, Medievals, and Vietnam

Hobby life is moving along. Painting has slowed down as I was able to get an extra weekend in at work but we've had two good nights of gaming. I didn't get a lot of photos for either game so not a picture heavy post.

First off was a spy game set in 1500's. Howard's paper city creates the scene. The objective of the game was for my spy to drop some documents off and then escape the city. Howard as the Cardinal's Guard was to try and catch me. The Guards spent much of their time challenging stand up citizens and I was just able to make the drop before having almost the entire Guard force descend on me luckily I was able to escape in the confusion and outrun my pursuers.

The City

The Friar looking to save souls.

A Henchman of the Spy accosted by one of the Cardinal's Guards

Next we did a city fight using A Nobleman's War. Matt 2.0 and I were the Swiss who were attempting to destroy the Burgundian guns at the center of town. Jonathan and Howard were the Burgundians and their English mercenaries protecting the city. The Swiss entered the town piecemeal giving the English time to form up and cut down the unorganized Swiss. The Swiss were able to spike three of the guns and cart off one but loss half their force.

Swiss pikeman advance into the city

The artillery park protected by English mercenaries.

I managed to finish a few more Vietnam figures. Here's my attempt at using computer photos as back drops. I've since learned that the figures should be a little closer to the screen and a bit more light in front would help.

USMC

NVA

So that's it.

More May games.

A fairly productive and fun filled month for the Wargaming hobby. I was able to get plenty of  painting done completing 60 figures. I had bought 54 and this may be the first time I was able to paint more than I bought in a month when the purchase was that high. The only picture I took of this months production was of six US Marines by Scruby now owned by Historifigs. Very nice figures and I'm looking forward to more from this line to be released.

The remainder that was painted covered many periods. 

 Vikings, TYW Cmd painted as Swashbucklers, AWI Hessian Art, GNW Russian Art, 1812 Kentucky Mtd, Serbian Art Officer, and Dutch Bicycle troops. This is keeping me well ahead for this years "The Pledge".

The fun part of the month involved three games the first I posted earlier. The second was another try of A Nobleman's War. A five player game involving besieging a castle and the relief forces. We were unable to complete the game so left it set up for another night. Dedicated man caves are great to have!

The besiegers move in towards the castle.

Crossbow men defend the ramparts.

A relief force moves up.  

A second relief force attacks the besiegers.

The second besieging force moves into the flank of the relief force.

A crushing flank attack.

Mounted Knights melee on the plain.

The last game was on a new game board Howard has built representing a Chinese Garden. The game was Chainmail Bikini with two groups of thieves attempting to steal an amulet and escape. 

the Koi pond

A great table and scenario as is to be expected at Howard's.

Next months plan is to finish off some GNW Swedish cavalry and finish some of the buildings and cars I have for Mad Dogs with Guns.

Thanks for reading.

.

Latest games

Gaming slowed a bit near the end of summer but now has picked up a little. Recently we've played Flint & Feather, En Guard, and A Nobleman's War, a work in progress based on A Gentleman's War.

Flint & Feather played quickly as most of us are familiar with the system. The other two moved a little slower as we discussed and clarified rules. Fun evenings all around.

Iroquois warriors spy the interloping Hurons

Warriors outflank the Hurons

Ensuing melee goes poorly for the Iroquois.

Bloody defeat for the Nation.

Trial game of A Nobleman's War. The English formed up on a hill and waited for the French attack. A group of English Knights grew impatient and charged into the advancing enemy. The game was played as much to see how the mechanics worked for this  era as for glory and plunder.  I think things worked well maybe a few tweaks will be needed but it looks like I'll be painting some Knights soon.

French Billmen and Sargents

The French Knights

English Knights charge the Sargents

Never good to be caught in the flank.

The impetuous Knights the charge the Crossbow men.

As a group we'd been looking for a set of rules for swashbuckling games. We gave Ganesha's Flashing Steel and Eureka's And One for All. Neither gave the game we were looking for. The other night Howard and I tried out Osprey's En Guard. As per usual we quickly scanned the rules and started off playing. After a couple of fights things didn't seem right so we gave the rules a more thorough reading. Yes there were some more modifiers, different level characters had better skills, there was more to it. The next round of combat was more interesting and provided the player with some decision points. We burned through our allotted game time  and finished one section of the planned game but did have a better grasp on the rules. This set definitely calls for a few more tries and may well offer what we're looking for.  

An argument in the Tavern spills out onto the street.

The discourse escalates from taunting to cold steel and warm blood.

Everyone as an opinion to express.

after the loss of so many comrades both sides are happy to pull back and end the fight.

It's been good to get back into the swing of gaming.