Shug's Inaugural Memorial Game

Wednesday 27th April.
                                   

                This was the game that our good friend Hugh Wilson had planned,arranged and set out just before his tragic death earlier this month so in his honour Lady Suzanne decided that we should play it in his memory.The game was that enjoyable that we have decided to have a big game every April in his memory.The table and scenery in my mind had surpassed any of the tables he has set up on my previous visits to his house and all of these past ones had to be seen to be believed.

Shug's volcano between the hours of 9 and 5!

                   The game he had planned was a multi player pirate game involving at one time,11 participants and an umpire.I know Hugh has a pretty big games room but it was a tad hectic at times.Hugh had even written a set of house rules as he was fed up with rules that tended to be a wee bit full of themselves so it just involved moving,fighting and looting.What more do you need with pirates.So eventually after a spot of tea we ventured into the land of islands and jolly rogers.

             The game kicked off eventually with everybody heading for the nearest buildings looking for plunder as the person with the most money at the end of the game would be the winner.This meant for a mad scramble to loot all the buildings before turning on the other gangs in order to increase their wealth.

Some scurvy knaves!

My plan was to loot the nearby buildings then head for the French government buildings at the top of my islands to pick a fight with the garrison.Everybody else had their various plans for increasing their own wealth or else just causing mischief amongst other gangs.

My gang on their starting blocks with their little friend.

          Angus decided that after burning Bill's boat that trying to burn everybody else's boat sounded like good fun.Jim's plan was to prey on Mr Ray's gang who were just minding their own business.

Bill and Angus's difference of opinion.

          My own plan was bearing fruition as I managed to rustle a couple of cows from my first two raided buildings but only finding some smelly underwear in the third.Ach well one must take the rough with the smooth(and these were very rough).After this my gang came together again and headed up the hill towards the French garrison.

Figure of Anne Bonny-obviously the Hollywood version!

          All over the table skirmishes were going on between various factions although boats were becoming hard to find as Angus was on an arson spree.Bill had to consider making his men swim bearing in mind that not very many sailors could swim in these days.

Any sharks in there?-Nah! The crocodiles have ate them all!

'Get them Frenchies boys'

           Two late arrivals appeared in the form of Campbell Hardie( who took the part of the British garrison on one of the islands) and Dave O'Brien who waded in with his band of cutthroats much to Jim's dismay.

          The game carried on until a break for some hard tack but no grog.After the break my pirates finally came into contact with the French garrison whilst some of the stragglers after twice being distracted by local native woman found they were itching(and not just from the local women)to raid the government buildings.A skirmish of Hollywood proportion took place with Mr Ray rolling for the French and after a few turns the French legged it probably stopping off to visit the local ladies on the way.

            Dave Mitchell was showing us how much of a brilliant sailor he was by steering his boat along stretches of water that were narrower than his boat-amazing,especially as he didn't have any sails.

'Down a bit,right a bit and straight on till morning'

     

Shug's volcano night time view

 After what seemed a quick evening,10 o' clock appeared on the horizon and it was time to count up our ill gotten gains which we did.I was feeling chuffed as I thought I had quietly made my way to the top of the earnings list only to have defeat snatched from the jaws of victory by Ian Carter who was even more quietly collecting his evil gotten gains.

Oi! Where's me boat?

         Ian was the winner of this inaugural game which we hope to repeat at least once a year at various venues across the Spanish Main.

Lucky B!

          I must thank Lady Suzanne for one last use of the table and the marvellous scenery.It was a memorable evening and a fitting tribute to somebody I regard(no past tense) as a very good friend and the one chiefly responsible for getting me back into gaming even although it has cost me a fortune .I imagine he is upstairs planning another table and also doing some ducking and diving with the inhabitants.

     Farewell Shug!

  Just as a post note to the reasons surrounding the game are these photos I took of Hugh's painting room where you can plainly see the half painted models showing his intention of returning to finish them off and also showing the suddenness of his untimely demise.