"Hail Decius Mus"

We played "Hail Caesar," but since he wasn't alive yet we went with the Roman commander at the Battle of Asculum.  This post will also act as a review of sorts for the game system.

The premise for the game was that Alexander hadn't died and somehow was still around to take on the Roman Republic.  This allowed us to flesh out the painted Macedonians with Persian allies.  The Romans had some Numidians and perhaps other mercenaries.

Behold!  The Legions of Rome (and friends).

And the Macedonians with Persian allies.

And for me, something special.

As is fashionable in today's gaming world, this is a dice-activated game.  Unlike Black Powder you always get a base move and it is very easy to get multiple movement phases.  It is an IGO-UGO game which also has: I move, I shoot (you don't), we melee, you move, you shoot, we melee.  Units are assigned an impact dice value, a 2nd round of combat and beyond value, and stamina.  In an effort to eliminate all book-keeping a unit accrues hits until is passes its stamina level and then is picked up.  As part of the "dumbed down" approach (my opinion, you don't have to agree) a unit can be down to their last hit before being picked up, but still fight at full effectiveness. 

Macedonian left of Persian Immortals.

The phalanx barely moved while the Romans raced forward.

The Macedonian right, who feel they have the advantage.

Since it is IGO-UGO the rules allow you to turn and face charges, even from behind.  Unless of course you are pinned to the front by another unit.  Melee results tally the hits given vs. taken and the difference determines the result.  The loser tests and can carry on, fall back in good order, fall back disordered, fall back shaken, or even rout.  Seemed pretty reasonable way of doing things.

Rumble, rumble, moving slow and trying to protect our flanks.

Major cavalry and infantry scrum develops on the right.

Legionnaires and phalangites clash with a slight edge to the pikers.

Missile armed troops get a defensive volley when charged.  Usually not too many dice but if they roll a "6" then the charger has to pass a morale test.  Since I was 0-2 on tests I think its a silly rule.  Flippant attitude aside, it does seem strange that since they were usually rolling 2 or 3 dice that so many results occurred.  I always try to visualize what could have "really" happened to give the result and I'm having a hard time rationalizing this one.

One pike block went away, but Legionnaires are down and
elephants scattered in disorder.

After a hard fight the left is victorious.

Likewise the right is ready to sweep.

The Pente stones represent hits, which can be removed (mostly) with rally orders.  We had the luxury of doing so during the game and it really made a difference in the outcome.  Both sides were hitting their "stamina" levels and were being picked up, but more from the Roman side than the Macedonian.

Shortly after these pictures were taken the Romans conceded.  It would be interesting to see how it would have played out with another set of rules.  All figures hit got a saving throw which ranged from a 6+ for light infantry to a 4+ on d6 for the Legionnaires.  Why they got a better saving throw as armored close order infantry over the pikes (5+), armored close order infantry is beyond me. 

So pros: pretty easy to pick the basic rules; variable movement keeps you for perfectly coordinating your army; plays to a conclusion fast; and the army lists seem pretty detailed.

Cons: Fight like you are fresh even if eliminated on the next hit; missile troops are very powerful; units just teleport away when they exceed their stamina level; and very high risk to leaders if they fight which seems contrary to historic examples.

At first as we played I was thinking, "it's nice to be playing ancients again" and started flipping through the army list books to see what it would take to recreate one of my old armies.  By the end of the game I had dismissed the idea.  I'd play it again, but I'm not building an army for Hail Caesar.





 

Carnage in the South China Sea

"Admiral Ozawa, your force must protect at all costs the troop convoy.  You are to consider your force expendable."  Such dire orders were received on the bridge of the heavy cruiser Chokai which along with the Ashigaru, Kumano, Suyuza, Mogami and Mikima were part of the escort and support force covering a troop convoy in the early days of December, 1941.

Earlier, Admiral Tom Phillips had told the crews of HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Repulse that "We are going looking for a bit of trouble."  The words would prove prophetic. 

The game was played in 2+ hours using Naval Thunder and 1/2400 models.  Ozawa chose a night engagement, despite the British reputation, so several special rules were in effect.  Both British capital ships sported a radar array, though it proved to matter little, even on the rainy and moonless night.

HMS Prince of Wales, Repulse and four destroyers steering course 300.

IJN Chokai leads Ashigaru, Mogami, Mikuma, Kumano, Suzuya,
and three Fubuki class destroyers steering 155.

A star shell illuminates the Chokai.

The British TF adjusts course to 255 and sets a screen.

Things quickly go bad for the Japanese flagship right away.  Here
sporting two fires and a flooding result.

Two British and all three Japanese destroyers are down or mission
kills.  Now the cruisers move in through the darkness.

It becomes a knife fight at point-blank range.  The golf tees
represent targeting to determine over-concentration modifiers.

Prince of Wales has taken two "Long Lance" torpedoes.  One
was defeated by the torpedo bulge, the other started a flood effect.

Surrounded, or lambs to the slaughter?

In the end we had the worst result possible for the Japanese.  All six cruisers and three destroyers were sunk or became mission kills.  Although the Prince of Wale's superstructure was a wreck, her engines and main guns were intact and the Repulse just needed some paint touched up.  Speed was particularly important since players were told any allied ships reduced to half speed or worse were automatically sunk the next day by Japanese air power.

Around two dozen torpedoes were launched by the Japanese with only two hits.  The allies did slightly better, putting a torpedo into the Kumano with far fewer launches.  This really hurt the Japanese chances.  More important, a mistake in communication led to the Japanese exclusively concentrating on the Prince of Walls, whereas they actually could have penetrated the Repulse's weak armor.

We didn't decide whether the British would risk going after the convoy or just retire, satisfied with the cruiser kills.  Of course what they could not know was that there were still nine Japanese destroyers available.  I kept the ship sheets so perhaps one day we'll see if they can improve upon the historic results vs. the bombers.

2016 Seven Years War Association Convention

The weekend of April 1-2 in South Bend, IN I got to enjoy the company of famous gamers, designers and authors at the Seven Years War Association Convention.  A Friday-Saturday event, it features games full of eye candy and scenarios ranging from the Great Northern War to the French Republic.

Besides the vendors and the keynote talk from Professor Christopher Duffy, the con offers the opportunity to try out rules and periods.  I played in three games over the weekend and watched many more.  Some pictures, click to big-up.

First game: Plains of Abraham by Michael Wedding, Final Argument
of Kings.  In the unusual position of playing British.

Near the end.  Nouvelle France will now be known as Canada.

 

My second game, part of Jim Purky's Battle of Kolin pre-fight.

Looking over my command, with Jim seated in the background.

We arrived Thursday night and chatted with old friends and did some pre-shopping.  Friday the vendors got set up with a good selection of painted and unpainted figures, paints, books and pretties for the tabletop.

Lynn Langer brought some spectacular 15mm ships with crews.

Some had been kit-bashed, others were as cast.  All were awesome!

I should have done this sooner.  I forget the battle or GM.

Friday night and the wife and I were able to eat in the hotel (Waterford Estates).  Not a big menu, but with enough choice to make for good eating.  The Waterford was really nice and great value for the price of a room.

Great Northern War Swedes and Russians.  I believe for Under
the Lily Banner.

Wonderful Purky painting.  Austrian Hussars from his Saturday
Battle of Kolin game.

I want it!!  However I couldn't get any reliable information about
where to get my own, or how to make it.

Sunday I got into Dean West's game of Final Argument of Kings.  A historic battle from 1762 between the Prussians and Austrians.  I commanded the Prussian left and had a most unusual game experience.  Usually the dice are kind to me, or at least not "bad."  This day however, I had on 2d6 exactly three rolls higher than "five."  One seven, one ten and one eleven.  The latter two at the end of the game.  In a game where most rolls need to be high, this was very annoying.  I think I tried every pair of dice in Dean's box by the end of the game.

Turn 0 table view.  Dean always sets a gorgeous table.

My valiant command.  Note the "dial-up" order chits.

Both sides marched on large numbers and the table quickly filled.

In the end we mauled the Austrians enough to achieve a tactical draw which was a strategic victory.

Jim Mitchell winner for best game, Fort Carillon (Ticonderoga).

Somehow the British got inside the works.

 

Saturday was Dr. Duffy's 80th birthday which was celebrated
in style.

Part of Juregen Olk's yearly game set in India.

Juergen setting the table and hiding the objective.

And we think the western theatres are colorful!

Some of Jeff Knutson's amazing 1/900 paper ships.

After a good night's sleep and complimentary breakfast we undertook the leisurely trip back to Appleton.  This was probably Dr. Duffy's last trip to the convention so I'm doubly glad to see him again and hear his talk.  Tough act to follow for next year.