Donnybrook GNW

 As part of trying rules and getting figures we own but haven't played with yet the last few game sessions have seen us playing Donnybrook and using my Great Northern War figures.

The first game was from the 4play scenario set #008: Poland & Ukraine 1708 / 1709. The Swedes tasked with getting their wounded General off the field. The Cossacks had to prevent this and eliminate as many Swedes s as possible.

The Swedes start moving.

The Cossacks prepare an attack.

The Master of hounds blocks the road.

After a loss of direction the Swedes carry their officer up along the river.

Swedish cavalry out flanks the Cossacks.

Our most recent outing was more of a straight up fight between a small force of Russians and similar sized force of Swedes. We played this twice, once with very open terrain and again with more terrain.

An officer directs his troops

Cavalry clash.

Russian cavalry intercept the Swedish Charge.

Firing before the advance.

The Swedish right flank.

With these games I've moved ahead with two goals set for this year. The first getting my GNW figures on the table and second playing some games of Donnybrook. I think we'll get more Donnybrook on the table.

First game of the Year

 As I was breaking down the Christmas Train table I decided I should try to get a game in One Hour Skirmish Wargames seemed to fit the bill. The first try was with the first scenario in the book, Capture the Cannon, using AWI figures. After two turns I realized I had made a few mistakes so decided to start over. 

For the second game I used GNW figures. 

The Swedes with their Cossack allies moved up to the cannon to keep the Russians from recovering it. The Russians quickly attacked with part of their cavalry while the infantry moved up on the left. The Russian cavalry overpowered the opposing Swedes but a well aimed shot from a Cossack Marksman killed the Russian leader and the rest of the force lost confidence and fled.

A fun little game. It probably lasted less than an hour but the scenario is only 5 turns long. 

Here's a couple reviews of the rules.

https://daleswargames.blogspot.com/2018/12/one-hour-skirmish-wargames-review-part-1.html

http://upthebluefow.blogspot.com/2022/01/play-thru-one-hour-skirmish-wargames.html

Next up, Captain Hunt goes hunting Boer.

Working on Painting, photography and hiking.

Since gaming has been ruled out as an activity other hobby activities have been budgeted more time.

My non gaming photos have never come out well so I tried a few other things still not great but I think they're a little better. Last nights test shots. Still getting some shadows.

War of 1812 Delewares by Conquest.

War of 1812 Kentucky Mounted Rifles by Old Glory

Boxers by Scruby

USMC & Boxers by Scruby

Here are a few GNW Figures I shot early one morning.

Karl XII by Holger Eriksson 

Russian Grenadiers by Andy Stadden

Swedish Cavalry by Holger Eriksson

The hiking trails are a little more crowded but there's plenty of space for all.

View of the Bear Mountain Bridge from the south.

Random stream.

I actually see more deer in by backyard but this one was about 15 feet away.

Water so clear in my younger days I would have drank it.

All in all things are good. I'm lucky to have hobbies and a spouse who shares one and has some of her own :-).  Thanks to all who stopped by for a read there's so many great blogs out there I'm having trouble keeping up with them all.

Closing in.

Rolling in to December always has it's challenges and traditions. Black Friday sales seem to be the biggest challenge. There's the sales for things that you had in the back of your mind but don't really fit in the plans you laid out for this year as well as the things you are willing to get to "help" a friend get free shipping and the biggest challenge those that you have plans for but could wait until next year to get. This last is my current dilemma. Warfare is having a 15% off sale and I could finish off my GNW project with it but I had hoped to wait until January. There's five more days to debate this.

Traditions involve recapping the year and setting plans for next year. Now is a little early for this but I've seen a few blogs that have discussed their current year or a system for keeping the lead pile and projects organized if not under control.

Here we have a plan to limit projects to a certain size.
http://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2019/11/my-new-pocket-armies-project.html

Here is a quarterly update on how the year is going.
https://blundersonthedanube.blogspot.com/2019/11/3rd-quarter-statistics.html

Here our blogger enters the Analoge Painting Challenge.
http://wargaminggirl.blogspot.com/2019/11/paint-table-saturday-ahpc-x-is-upon-us.html
Details of the challenge above.
http://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/

Part of the planning is the monthly tracking through The Pledge. This year is working out fairly well for me. Another unit of infantry for the GNW project and the start of another "no new periods" period. These put me at 304 figures painted. Fun fact, of those 16 were for an unplanned period and 56 were for periods that were technically finished.

GNW Vastmanland Regiment. Warfare Miniatures.

USMC Vietnam. Empress Miniatures