Salute 52 : the Best One Yet?

Here are a random collection of photographs from Salute 52 in April, in some of the post show analysis the show was described as the best ones yet. Judging from the buzz around the show, the wide range of games on display and to participate in we are spoilt for choice when it comes to scratching that gaming itch. 

Although it should be noted that the demographic of the traders is changing  and it appears to be a younger crowd with a more eclectic mix of games ranging from skirmishes to games involving all manner of things.  I suspect some of the older traders  more established lead figure traders are heading toward retirement and doing less shows these days. Despite this, the vibrancy of younger traders brings new ideas into the hobby and this is without doubt a good thing.  I even ran into Dave from the Effekt Podcast,  running the Free League stand, which was great. Although it might be a stretch to describe him has young! (Sorry Dave.)

We were treated to a wide range of games from all sort of periods including Commando raids, Scandinavian 19th Century. Ken Reilly of Yarkshire Gamer fame and his Battle of Mentana game (below)  I am always drawn to the Papal States units with there splendid flags. 

  The Luftwaffe Airfield for the solo LRDG game DAK Attack. 

Sharp Practice : Rescuing Prudence

 

Dear Prudence and her sisters were kidnapped by a war-party of braves in this French & Indian War, Sharp Practice scenario. It was down to Colonial & Provincial Rangers to rescue them. Great fun evening at the Central London

 Wargames Club. 

I was truly inept as in attempting to get the Native American War Party across the table, being cut off at the pass by volleys of musket fire from Provincial Rangers attempting to rescue their women folk.

Even the intervention of French Marine Skirmishers and a large contingent of Coureures de Bois could save the day as the womenfolk were whisked away back to their farmstead. Good old Sharp Practice never fails to provide an entertaining evening of gaming. 

Sharp Practice : Farmstead Raid

 It was a blast, to have game of Sharp Practice once again. It always provides an entertaining evening of toy soldiers. 

The 28mm figures looks spectacular on the table, but carrying it all home on the train after a club night I was sorry I didn’t opt for 15mm , the actual ground scale of the game!! 

The idillic frontier farmstead, all set out for tonight’s game of SharpPractice down at Central London Wargames Club is about to disrupted by a raiding party from up the Ohio River. 

Before long Malice Canadien and a Native American war-party skirted the woods looking for weaknesses signalling the beginning of the encounter. 

In the nick of time Colonial Regulars supported by Militia showed up forcing the attackers to a more cautious approach down one of the flanks.

The writing was an the wall for the raiders, despite a successful charge, the Provincial Regulars funnelled them down one flank and pinned them back with volley fire. A most entertaining game of SharpPractice with lots of random events to keep it exciting. 

Strength & Honour Game Two.

While I am aware the designers had 2mm scale in mind when they were designing the big battle ancients game Strength and Honour.  We got  our   under used 15mm ancient armies out.  Giving them a dust off. They work really well. On my second outing of this ruleset down at the Central London Wargames Club. Dave was good enough to hold my hand all the way through the mechanisms. 

Tonight it was Romans verses Partians. I opted for the Romans on the bases I couldn't find Patria even if I wanted to, and I kind of know how Romans work.  

As is most important in ancients games I gave a little thought to the deployment before hand. Previously, when playing ancients I'd necessarily get this wrong, this would result in instant and catastrophic defeat during my foray in to Fields of Glory a number of years ago. This time it was different, more by luck than judgment if I'm honest. Although I did double check  where I to start my deployment.

Once deployed neatly in checker board legions I let loose with the cavalry on the flanks swooping deep into the flanks an drawing the Parthians out to cover their flanks. 

To be fair I did benefit for the struggles Dave had trying to cross the river bisected the table. While I confidently wedged my Legions betweena lake and some fields to protect their flanks.

I was delighted to see that my probing the flanks was working and I did benefit from so good dice roles, while Dave suffered so 'reversals of fortune' at key times. This is the mechanism, which  following a failed manoeuvre role  the initiative shifts back to the other player.

The skirmishers on the left flank was rolled up efficiently once my cavalry got around the woods and caused them to come out in to the open to protect the rear.  

But the real success was  to catch a unit of Dave's Cataphracts between my Roman Cavalry and a Legion causing them to ping back and forth until the broke and fled. 

The last act was concluded when, the right, a combination of Legion and Skirmishing flank attacks drove the second unit of Cataphracts from the table. 

Roma Victorinus!

I am sure we'll try some more of the Strength and Honour malarky.

Skrimish Ragers Solo Game 8th May 2020

After a long hiatus from blogging I have been inspired to pen report of occasional Skrimish Ragers games which I have been playing  recently. Skrimish Ragers in a zombie apocalypse game which the player(s) take on a group of survivors fro a Zombie Apocalypse and endeavour  to survive by completing missions and acquiring resources to further develop their characters.  Although  it is a tabletop game it does have roleplaying game elements. 

Approaching the farm through a cornfield  Beau stepped up with the aid of his crossbow dispatched two Zombies in the cornfield. By the time the group had reached boundary of the farm and crossed the sty they were attracting the attention of the Zombies milling around the farm yard.  Florence wanders in to the field and dispatched an approaching Zed with her Mag-lite. Beau missed a the second zombie twice then Michelle tried to shoot the zombie also missing, by this time it was on the group.  

It was Nammie’s turn and she missed too,  swinging her club wildly,  but successfully dodged the  zombie’s free attack, getting out of the way. This left  Beau in the the path of the attacking Zombie. He was not so lucky, The Zombie bit Beau directly on the neck causing him to get infected and turn immediately in to a Rager. (This is not a good thing in these rules.)

The group scattered Nammie being the closest was followed by the Rager, who was once Beau  and miraculously managed to wiggle free  from his grip and  as escape  to the shelter of a farm building.  this resulted in the Rager his turning his attention to  Florence   they fought  Struggling on the floor  with a supreme effort  after   being wounded with an non-infectious wound  she  dispatcher her former friend with an  massive blow to the head. but wounded now, unable to run  and in the centre of the farmyard  there was no guarantee  to she would be able to escape.  

Searching the farm building Nammie found 50 Points of resources and a zombie, she managed to grab the resources  and move before the zombie. escaping the  building just ahead of them.  

Now can they get off the board back in the direction the came? Michelle had shot a zombie and hopped over the fence on to the drive   two more  where approaching her,  she  raised  her revolver and fired stopping another and growing tof the rating zombie  on to her  allowing Nammie and Florence keep just a head of the  shambling zombies. Backing up Michelle fired again   an took out another zombie as  it lurched toward her. This shot again  drew  the other zombie toward her allowing Nammie to get out of the Farm with the all important resources.  

Florence limped toward a zombie moving in her direction,  in an effort to get through the  gate.  Michelle took a bead on the Zombie , but “click…”  she was out our ammunition. Time to run!  Florence swings, connects, knocking the zombie off it’s feet…  She moves away, dragging her leg behind her at just over walking pace.

With Nammie and the supplies almost clear Michelle decided  discretion is the better part of valour and also beat a hasty retreat.  

The Shooting and movement on the road to the farm had draw all the zombies on the table toward the road so still limping Florence had to throw herself over the picket fence and head back at a limp to the sty, where she had the presence of mind to pick up Beau’s crossbow and to made her escape. Through the cornfield with  every turn the zombies pursuing on her but only after two successful dodges she just got off the board before the horde caught up with her. 

Beau: Average Joe  

Cross bow/  knife. 

Kills. Two Zeds 

Then turned into a Rager. 

Florence: Average  Joe 

Baton 

Kills 1 Zed 1 Rager. 

Wounded -4 to all skills 

Recovered Beau’s crossbow. 

Michelle: Civilian 

Revolver 

Kills:  3 Zeds 

Nammie : Civilian 

stick 

Recovered 50 points worth of resources 

So the first solo game of Skirmish Ragers went very will. I have been very much enjoying our Skirmish Ragers campaign games at Central London prior to lockdown.  I though this would  a good opportunity  for some solo gaming. This is the first of a series of solo games I played of the past couple of years.

Chasseur à Pied Completed.

Well here is my completed Chasseur à pied. He is depicted  has the  Jon Smith Modellbau instructions suggest waiting an early version  of the horizon blue greatcoat.  I did contemplate  painting it French blue as per the early pattern greatcoat. In the end I opted to go with the horizon blue option because it offers a contract to the kepi.

The horizon blue was mixed in with grey, black, French blue and Prussian blue was mixed in varying amounts to represent dirt and grime engrained into the greatcoat.  The buttons  where painted  in U.S. grey and then high-lighted with pencil lead.  I feel the general look of the uniform is a bit too Confederate grey. I will come back to it later see if it blue is glaze would help it.

The kepi got the French blue treatment with shadow layered with a  touch of black. the piping was  painted with lemon yellow and then highland with pale sand with a touch of sand mixed in. Lots of patience and a fine rigger brush.  Knowing when to stop was a key in painting the piping.

Thanks for taking the time to look at this post I do hope you like the almost finished result. Please feel free to add your comments below.