Napoleonic Sail Action

The Gentlemen of Leisure gathers for a small naval engagement using my 1/1200 Napoleonic era sailing ships using the venerable but still enjoyable Wooden Ships and Iron Men.  We were supposed to be six so the scenario I prepared had six British ships of the line and three frigates (one Razee) against a mixed force of French, Spanish and (Yes!) American ships.  The latter headed by the historically not-finished-in-time ship of the line USS Franklin.  I know, but I painted them and wanted to see them in use.  Unfortunately in the random draw of commands I didn't get them.

With only four players at game time we randomly left off the French and one group of British.  The allied fleet had the larger ships but the British had the quality edge, though all were determined by using a chart for each nationality so there were surprises.  Each fleet started with favorable wind.  Our regular haunt at Adventure Games played host.  Hex cloth was created ages ago with iron-on transfers.

British line with HMS Shannon 38, Powerful 84, Vanguard 74,
Royal Sovereign 98, Swiftsure 74 and off line HMS Pallas 32.

Front: USS Franklin 74, Santisima Trinidad 136,San Telmo 74.
Back row: USS President 44, USS United States 44, Artimise 40.

A signals snafu throws the British line into confusion.

The poor Shannon fouls the Franklin, breaks free and is pounded
by the allied fleet.

The fouling puts the allied fleet in some disarray, giving the
British a chance to reorder.

 An optional critical hit table was used that led to the early demise of several ship's officers.  Suffice to say the "Preble's Boys" would not be doing further service.

The Royal Sovereign deals some serious hurt to the Franklin.

A trio of French ships makes a belated appearance including
l'Orient 120.  The wind  keeps them from closing too fast.

The Shannon finally strikes, alone and battered.

The Americans and Spanish pull back a bit to join forces with
the French who ignore them a sail on.

The French ship Achilles is chastened for her boldness as the
British commander makes signals.

So in the face of the superior numbers (9 to 5) even the vaunted Royal Navy had to abandon the Shannon and retire.  Getting the jump on the allies by raising full sails there was no way they could be caught except by the American frigates who aren't that good.  If the third British group had been used it would have been a closer fight.  As it was only the generally poor crew quality of the Spanish kept the British in the fight.  Even so it was a fun engagement and a bit of a departure from our usual close and batter each other.

Battle of Middle Potsdorf

A Tundra Con tradition has become an invitational BAR game (Batailles de l'Ancien Regimes) on the Sunday after.  This year we played on an 18x5' main table with two back tables in play, each 18x2.5' in length.

Primarily featuring our Imagi-nation forces with a stiffening of French line, guards and heavy cavalry.  Around 1900 28mm infantry and 300 cavalry figures total with appropriate artillery.

All troops deployed on the back table, which was fully in play.
Representing Litharus and Rondovia.

The Franco-Latverian-Prockland-Odessenau side of things.

Thundering first move on one end...

And first move on the other.

The ridge dividing the table was considered impassable terrain except for the gap and road.  It also blocked line of sight to prevent any firing from one zone to another issues.

No one wasted any time coming to grips.  Match-ups are all
important, here we see Cossacks fighting dragoons.

At the other end the infantry tried to be prepared for any reverses.

Back and forth with superior numbers beginning to tell.

Twelve Litharusian squadrons against six, later eight squadrons.

The cavalry recover on the other end and withdraw to catch their
breathe and let the infantry duke it out.

la Gardes Francaise.

Prince Soubise (seated) has reason to look relaxed and confident.

Fresh troops are fed in.  Nothing like the look of a "big battalion."

Gaining a real advantage here, but French cavalry is on the move.

Some units are getting rather small.

Re-ordering behind the ridge, ready to renew the fight.  Things
are looking good here.

The Grassins move up to support the Guards.

Litharus marches to the aid of the Rondovian command.

High water point on the Rondovian side of the table.

Time and again the Rondovian cavalry are tested by the French heavies.

The victorious cavalry rally back to re-order and continue.

 Alas, once again Prince Soubise is victorious as the larger French units are able to roll over the Rondovians and Litharus brigade despite them getting a lot of first firing cards.  I'm beginning to believe I'm cursed by cards.  In my previous game all nine firing cards had gone against me.  In this game ten of eleven were for the other side.

The French Maison du Roi pursue the fleeing Rondovians.

A delegation from Middle Potsdorf awaits the victors with
open... "arms."

BAR is card-driven so one side moves or fires on black cards,
the other on red.  We used two decks, one for each side of the ridge.

The participants.  Left to right seated: Andrew, Khymanta, Bob,
Brent, Todd C., Bill (Marechal Soubise).  Standing: me (General
Ouromov), Todd P., Paul, Chuck, John and Dan.

So for the second year in a row Soubise has bested Ouromov.  But no matter for a good time was had and a close-fought engagement.  We started flipping cards at 10:30AM and had a clear result by 4:30PM with a lunch break added in.  I was on my way home shortly after 5:00.  Next year Soubise!  I'll have something tricky up my sleeve.  

Tundra Con IV

January 6th saw the 4th installment of Tundra Con at the American Legion Post in Appleton, WI.  We had a wide range of games and a few vendors.  Food and drink available on site too, so at just $10 for a day of gaming it seems a bargain and attracts around 50 players each year.  We have been lucky that in four years there has been bitter cold, but no severe storms.  Check out Tundra Con V on January 5th, 2019.

"Siege of the Lich King" on an adjustable table (for sale).
Bruce Laue GM

Setting up Memoir '44.  Todd Chirhart GM.

Battle of Culloden using Final Argument of Kings.  Todd
Prochniak GM.

54mm Greeks and Trojans for sale by Ken Ciak.
https://www.facebook.com/Lodtoysoldiers

Russo-Japanese War in 1/600 using Naval Thunder.  Dan
Wideman GM.

Pikemans' Lament set-up, "They Are Coming For Us" scenario
set in the colonies around the turn of the 17/18th century.
Mike Husky GM.

Something has gone wrong for Kyle apparently, Star Fleet Battles.
Eric Drumm GM.

Table detail and dice tower.

A 4x6' table that can be custom built.  Multi use item.

The undead hordes are shambling forward.

The invasion is on.

The "Lost Battalion" is lost, using 1916 as rules.  Paul Alaniz GM.

Lots of Bolt Action action.  Teddy Alecos and Kyle Bey GMs.

Check Your 6 being prepared over the Eastern Front.  Chuck
Seegert GM.

My own game, a pirate "Raid on Marquay". 

Pirates rowing ashore in the gloom.

The Free Men of Color company rushes to rescue the brig Electra.

We also had Hail Caesar (Paul Alaniz), Wings of Glory (Bob Rondou), modern micro-armor (Dan Wideman) and probably others I'm forgetting.  Some games ran multiple times.  In my own game the pirates cut out the Electra (4 guns) and a small craft but failed to take the shore battery or town, in part because of a warband of natives that showed up to investigate all the noise.  But the creepy Governor escaped with his entourage and most of his ill-gotten fortune, all while mentally wording his report to the King of Spain about how the pirates took everything and taxes would need to be doubled.

See you in 2019!