Another day in the garden.

There had been some rumors and gnashing of teeth that the local game store would be closing fortunately for the people who game there it hasn't happened and the plan is to keep the Brick & Mortar part of the business open. I understand that most of their business is online. I understand the challenges they face keeping the B&M part open. It can't be easy and I have tried to support them by purchasing supplies and things when I can. Lately they've increased Historicals so it's been easier to do this. The club that meets at the store seems to be good at supporting the store as well which only makes sense. The store staying open gives gamers a place to meet, keep terrain and play. The allocated table space may get smaller but Vets Night is still being held and this is good for us gamers.

All that brings us to last weeks game of Chainmail Bikini. Once again Howard broke out his Chinese garden. We each had a group of three heroes this time looking for treasure held in the garden as well as controlling six guards. This time we placed the guards on the opposite side from our heroes to make them more threatening. In all the photos I tried to get in close to show off Howard's well made table.

Monks prepare to cross the stream.

The monks get their first treasure.

My guards attack the other group of thieves.

The other monk engages a guard.

Bloodied from the fight the monks are still able to find more of the valuables.

All the guards are alert now.

The monks are clearing away unseen.

This month also saw a visit to NJCON. My schedule that day was a little tight but I was able to get down there for a few hours. First stop upon arriving  was the flea market. I had a few things to sell and wanted a look at what was available. Plenty of good deals could be found but I was able to keep my focus. Next stop was the vendor area. Lot's of temptation here. Next was the gaming area. I hit this in between sessions so not many games were being played. I did see a  Third World War Micro Armor, 28mm AWI, 28mm Viking Siege of Paris and set up for a few tournaments.

So in the end. I sold enough to cover the LOTR figures, WWII vehicles and Osprey book. In the dealer area I picked up some of the new Empress Vietnam US Marines. Very nice figures.

I was able to play a few turns of the AGW game before I had to leave.

The French center.

The Chasseurs prepare to engage the Britons.

The Suffragettes bicycle troop.

Thin red line.

The French advance.

The British center prepares for the enemies attack.

The French left.

June has proven to be a good gaming month but Women's World Cup will be cutting in to some of the hobby time.

Thanks.

No gaming tonight

A week into March finds the weather too cold to get out and seal coat painted figures or prime new figures. Fortunately I've enough primed and half painted figures to keep me busy. Fifty three figures need coating showing a productive painting month. We squeezed a game in on the 31st and gamed three of the four Thursdays in February. Three games of A Gentleman's War and one of Chainmail Bikini.

The first AGW game takes place in the foothills of the Khyber Pass. Matt held the fort as the British with a relief column arriving from the south. A good run of cards brought the cavalry into the fort reinforcing the garrison but the infantry were held up by the Pathans. Despite gaining a foothold in the fort the Pathans were pushed back and a forey by the Gurkhas pushed the enemy  cannon off the hill ending the attack.

i

The Pathans fire on the fort

The Relief force breaks through the pass. 

The Pathans swarm over the hills.

Reinforcements make it into the fort

The remainder of the relief column fight off the Pathans.

The Gurkhas push the natives out of the fort.

A rearrangement of the fort and replacing Pathans with Madists brings A Gentleman's War to the Sudan. Here Nate defended against the attacking Madists. The cards worked for the natives with Howards troops moving as a group on a facecard and getting in close with out being shot up. I was able to move up a unit and get into the fort but was not strong enough to hold on. Outside Nate's men made short work of my cavalry but were held off long enough that the garrison was overrun.

The gallant defenders await the attack.

A horde of camelry threaten from afar.

Despite heavy losses the Madists gain entry into the fort.

Across the parade ground the British and Egyptian troops are over run.

Making off with a captured British officer.

The last game was an 18th Century AGW  game loosely based on the battle of White Plains played at Toywiz. Howard commanded the Patriots and I the Crowns troops. My artillery opened fire doing little damage. I was then able to bring up both my brigades easily chasing off the skirmishes on my flanks. On the left the Hessians underestimated the Continentals and were quickly dispatched. On the right the British with the aid of Green apples ( a card which causes a negative effect on a unit drawn at the turn of a joker) pushed back the militia defending the fence line.

American militia defending.

Third NY hold the hill.

the British brigade form up for the assault.

The German brigade.

The British move up to the fence line.

Heavy firing on the British right 

The British persevere despite mounting casualties.

The Militia hold as reinforcements move up.

The firefight heats up.

More Americans enter on the left.

Things get tense.

Finally the Americans are pushed off the fence.

The Hessians move up against the Continentals.

More Americans show up.

The Hessians take casualties while closing in and then are crushed in close combat.

A playtest of Chainmail Bikini finishes out the games. Matt set up the table and the scenario. Three groups of Heros set out to find and rescue the Hobbits. Combat began right away and remained steady throughout the game.

Legolas, Gimli and their kinsman prepare to rescue the Hobbits.

Fighting around a pool results in the rescue of Sam.

Goblins appear behind our Heros.

Down in the tombs Gimli fights off a Wraith.

Gandalf & Aragorn are attacked by Warg Riders.

The men of Gondor battle in the tombs and find another of the Hobbits.

A good month for hobby pursuits.

 

More on the last game 

http://saltflats1929again.blogspot.com/2019/02/hobbit-hunt.html

Matt's Colonial game reports

http://saltflats1929again.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-great-game-part-2.html

http://saltflats1929again.blogspot.com/2019/02/once-more-into-desert.html

More on the AWI game on Howard's blog

https://thegatlingsjammedandthecolonelsdead.wordpress.com/2019/02/22/back-to-the-revolution/ 

The Highjacking.

We met at Toy Wiz in Nanuet for a game of Mad Dogs with Guns. On the first Thursday of the month Toy Wiz and the Club Ordo Malleus hold what they call Vets Night and the store stays open late for gamers to come in to play. It was pretty crowded with about 30 people or so playing when I arrived at 7:45. The crowd had thinned down some by 10:00 but still several games were going strong. WWII and various SiFi games were being played. Two of the guys who run the club came over and welcomed us and chatted a bit about gaming. Several others came by during the night to check out the game. A nice group of people and a great place to play with plenty of tables and light.

So on to the game. Neal "Shoes" and the boys are trying to get a load of whiskey out of town before their rivals can steal it or the Feds confiscate it. Trying not to draw attention they roll down the streets of town. As they reach the center of town guns start blazing.

Despite taking several hits to the car and truck of "Shoes" gang step on the gas and head out in different directions. Neal and his gal jump out of the lead car under the hail of bullets and try to get to the last truck. 

His rival has come into the street and jumped in the truck. Four slugs in chest leaves Neal laying on the pavement wearing his last pair of shoes.

  

The moll jumps on the truck and everyone in the gang speeds out of town.

Another fun game of MDwG. It took about an hour and a half to play and we were both engaged throughout the game. This completes my 6x6 challenge for the game but I'm sure we'll be playing again. I'd like to get a few more buildings, enough to have two parallel main streets and several side street. I'm thinking a 4'x4' or 4'x6' area. A campaign may also be in the future maybe 3-5 games long.