Trip to the Army Museum in Stockholm, Sweden

I was in Stockholm earlier this month for a family event and had the chance to visit the Army Museum. We saw plenty of other things but there but for the purpose of this blog this was it.

I went to the Museum twice. The first time I got the times mixed up and after getting about half way through the 3rd floor heard the announcement that the museum was closing in five minutes. There were some great exhibits on the Thirty Years War and the Great Northern War. I'll need to go back to this section.

I went back a couple of days later and this time went right to the Wargame exhibit that was on. This was an excellent exhibit which did a great job of explaining the history of wargaming and then relating it to use by the military and then showing how the hobby developed and the different types of games that reflect military histories of battles and the adventures of men during wartime.

It took me a bit to figure out how to capture the experience with my camera and these photos don't do it justice but here they are.

So there it is. There were many other games from Chess to War Hammer. You can check out the facebook pages for the exhibit and the museum. If your visiting Stockholm I would highly recommend going to the museum.

https://www.facebook.com/armemuseum/

https://www.facebook.com/krigsspel/

Lawmen prevail

We got together for a game of Mad Dogs with Guns the other night. Howard wasn't with us but Matt stepped up and designed a scenario for us. Nate and I each had a gang with a primary and secondary objective, Matt played the Cops. As usual the town appeared quiet but soon  the action started.

Dan's headquarters in the factory

Nate's hangout in town boldly placed across from the police station.

I sent the Moll along with an armed escort over to the church to bring the Priest out of town as he had been threatened. The rest of the gang piled in the car and headed down Main St. Meanwhile Nate's crew accosted a beat cop and a gun battle ensued. In the midst of the battle Nate's boss jumped out of his car and grabbed the Accountant out of the Town Hall.

Ignoring the gunfight my gang headed to Nate's hangout and attempted to rob his stash. We had to kill off a few of his men and women but entered the building and busted into the safe. As we were leaving the cops opened up taking down two of my men. the Boss wisely grabbed what he could and exited out the back door.

Nate's second objective was to break in to my headquarters and steal my stash. Although I had left my Torpedo to guard the place his man came in with guns blazing and kill my guy and stole my stuff.

It was a fun game with lots of action. Matt published an AAR on his blog with some great photos.

http://saltflats1929again.blogspot.com/2017/05/mad-dogs-with-guns-eastenders-vs-westies.html?m=1

The rules are being released next month by Osprey.

https://ospreypublishing.com/mad-dogs-with-guns

April recap

So April ends with a slow down in gaming. Only two games this month one AGW with 28mm AWI figures and one F&F. Both fun games with lots of action. AARs are the two previous blog posts.

On the painting front I finish off the last unit of cavalry for my Shiny Toy Soldier project. I'll need to take some photos of the completed troops. I also painted some Vikings for SAGA and more Gangsters. I still need more levy troops for Saga and would like a few more policemen for the gangster project. I only took photos of the Vikings

I've managed to keep my buying down so only seven figures were bought this month and I was able to paint thirty one giving me a plus forty figures painted to bought for The Pledge on The Miniatures Page. Over all a successful month on the hobby front. 

Ambush on the river

The sun glistened off the water as the Iroquois canoes glided along the river laden with furs from another successful expedition. All looked well as they clear the narrows by the bend in the river. They had two more narrows to navigate before they entered the lake and would be safe in their own territory.

The appearance of two young Hurons on the east bank caused more annoyance than alarm as the Iroquois paddlers moved along.

Everything changed with the whizzing of arrows from both banks as more of the Huron warparty disclosed their positions and found their marks in the canoes. The paddlers dug into the water with renewed vigor to escape the torrent.

As the Iroquois approach the second narrows Moon Belly and his warriors attack the canoe with a long pole and after several attempts are able to upset the canoe and wound all it's occupants save a young stripling. 

From the west bank Pieskaret leads his band along the banks hoping to catch the fleeing Hurons. Much to his surprise the Hurons paddle to the riverbank and taunt the fast moving Hurons. Both warbands enter into a furious melee.

The battle is quick and bloody with most all the Iroquois taking wounds. They realize that today is for the Hurons and attempt to escape but are hotly pursued along the rivers edge. In the end a few make their way back to their village but all the furs are lost and two warriors will honor the tribe by singing their death songs as the Hurons torture them.

It's been awhile since we played Flint & Feather but as always it produces a good game with lots of action. I think the introduction of canoes into the scenarios has added to the atomosphere of the game. There has been extensive play testing of the rules and a campaign system has been added. I'm looking forward to the release of the book.

Foraging in the Hudson Valley

We played the 18th century variant for AGW last night but rather than using Howard's charming flats Matt pulled out his collection of 28mm figures. He had just finished a  unit of Tarleton's dragoons and wanted to use them. The scenario was of a combined British and Hessian force advancing through the valley and a hastily formed group of Militia and Continentals come out to oppose them.

Howard played the Americans, Matt the Hessians and I the British. Matt and I divided the cards by suit he being diamonds and me hearts. This caused us to have some challenges in cycling through our units but reflected the disjointed command.

The Rebels occupied a stone wall section in the center and pushed out their riflemen on the left and secured the right with a gun and continental regiment. The Hessians pushed up through the center whilst the British came in on the American left.

The Jagers attached to the British quickly came into contact and a brisk fire fight occurred. This lasted most of the game as the German fire was not accurate enough to dislodge the Americans from the flank. Tarleton and the Queens Rangers milled around wondering how to attack the Militia behind the wall. 

The Heassians had no such dilemma. They steadily advanced and assaulted the Rebels the first regiment being pushed back but the second group of Hessians were able to destroy the artillery and push back the first line of militia.

The third regiment of Germans moved to flank the Americans and engaged in a bloody fight in the woods pushing back the Continentals. Back in the center the second line of Militia went toe to toe with the Hessians and pushed them back. 

The hour was late and all commanders decided to fall back and regroup. The game was a success and although I had felt that much of my enjoyment of these rules was that the figures we used had so much character using the current standard of well painted and accurate miniatures still provided a great game with plausible results. Yes I'm a fanboy.