Schnitzel Smorgasbord

                Wednesday 11th April

"Who decided to play another game in this wretched snow?"

                                           
                                                       "Hey Tim"
                                                        "Yes David"
                                                        "How do you fancy a game from the 1864 war between Denmark and the Austro-Prussian alliance?"
                                                         "Sounds interesting,what rules are we using ?"
                                                         "Basically Necromunda rules!"

Rules from a long time ago.

Honest this was the play sheet.

                                           And so we gathered at Colin's country estate in downtown Garvald to play a game based around the battle of Overselk on the 3rd,February 1864.This evening's encounter involved the bullied Danes fighting the soon to be bullied Austro-Hungarians(this time by the Prussians).

The town (or city) of Schleswig

Meine galanten Jungen

Vorwahrts!

                                 Colin was taking the part of the picked on Danes as he wanted to get his newly bought and painted figs onto the playing field.Dave O'Brien in his infinite wisdom made me commander-in chief so that he would have somebody else to blame for his shortcomings and that he did.

The plucky Danes definitely in need of some Carlsberg.

Danes to the last.

                                                  The game apart from some plucky Danish hand to hand went just as the real battle did with the Danes being chased from the field but at least I had a chance to play with the very colourful Austrian figures.

My Jagers

Lining up the artillery.

Charge number 1-success!

Charge number 2 -not so successful.

                                                           The rules we used were Warhammer Blood and Iron rules from a long time ago in a galaxy far away,which were Games Workshop standard rules adapted for the 19th century.At least they were easy to comprehend and didn't really need any explaining as the mechanics were the same-Move,Shoot and hand to hand.

"Your facing the wrong way!"

                                                            In this game the overall commander writes down his orders so unless the aries are fired on they must keep to the original orders.To make it worse Dave had added a random weather rule as since at the real battle snow covered the ground.

More f'ng snow!

                                                         My valiant forces entered the field with the intention of taking the town and moving half of my forces round the town in order to capture our second objective mainly a hill.

At last my supporting cast arrives.

"Do you like my white jacket?"

                                   On arrival on to the board my infantry advanced towards the town only to be met with gunfire from Danes hiding in the buildings.My plucky Austrians just fixed bayonets and charged into the buildings eventually dislodging the defenders.The second part of my infantry didn't have it so lucky as after assaulting another building were forced to turn tail and head for the table edge.This also resulted in their supporting artillery following them.

About to be rebuffed.

Legging it Austrian style

                                             Once again Dave's forces were struggling to find room to maneuver as their orders were to bypass the town and head for the hills.When they eventually moved around the outskirts of the town they were blinded by snow and were prevented from seeing Colin's Danish guard approaching on their flank which was weird as his artillery were getting picked off and his infantry were turning a blind eye to their suffering.It was amazing as Colin was having some good random rolls of the dice meaning the snow was helping his lads but hindering ours.

Revenge!

And now Colin's defenders are off.

                                                    Our supreme commander Field Marshall Gablenz decided to pay us a visit to inspire his troops but found himself joining Dave's infantry in a retreat to the safety of the town.

The Field Marshall arrives.

Just in time to be shot at.

Colin's pretty ineffectual cavalry.

                                     Colin after charging Dave's artillery and decimating them found himself on a ever decreasing spiral as his forces one by one were finding themselves heading for the rear at a rapid rate of knots with having insult added to injury by the loss of one of his commanders.Ach well he was dressed in a ACW Union uniform anyway.

No its not a flamer just measuring the effect of canister.

Dave's forces eventually open their eyes.

"Should have gone to Specsavers."

                                               Just as I brought my cavalry on in their best finery ready to charge Colin in the back it was decided to call a halt to proceedings and prevent the Danes any further embarrassment.

A little bit of hard graft.

The glory boys arrive.

Saved by the end of the final whistle.

                                      A great game played in the best sporting manner apart from my subordinate who kept on whinging about snow and lack of movement by my infantry and even blaming bad dice rolls.I am sure he'll do better when Bismark comes a calling.
                                            The Danish figures were provided by Colin Jack and alll the Austrians were provided by Dave O'Brien.Scenery was all provided by Colin along with a delicious chilli once again from Nigella's cookbook.

Sick of the Sikh wars

                    Wednesday 28th March

The evil axis of Garvald

                                                            Driving out to sunny Garvald on a sunny spring evening this evening hoping to partake in an evening's gaming entertainment I found myself transported back into the days of the Indian Mutiny and faced with hundreds of revolting tribesmen backed up by their lackies under the watchful eye of the Khasi of North Berwick Mr David O'Brien who amongst other things is  the unscrupulous owner of that good for nothing rag the Dah-li Sun where the truth never gets in the way of a good story.Aiding and abetting him was our host for the evening our very own Colin Jack who had placated us with good food and therefore no blame for the Khasi's heinous actions against our Good Queen Victoria's humble people shall rest on his shoulders.

Our gallant defenders getting ready

                                                                    Bill Gilchrist was my partner in crime for the evening and we took on the role of the oft picked on British forces of righteousness and fair game.Actually the forces seemed very Scottish inclined with names like Gough,Pennycuick and Hoggan whereas the dastardly enemy sounded like a church choir as they were all named Singh.Talk about keeping it in the family.

The evil Khasi using his drone to spy.

Elephants are never in a hurry

The nefarious rebels without a clue

                                          The actual battle fought was the battle Of Chillianwala in 1849 during the second Sikh war.I would imagine that they were sikh of the first war so they decided to have a second.

And their evil companions.

Intelligent to the top of his cavalry boots

                          Both sides lined up facing each other among the palm trees and also standing on Colin's oft used bear skin which has been used for many a battle from Italy to 19th century Japan.
                                      When the game started Bill's and I had planned to move swiftly across the board and engage the forces of the usurpers and after showing them good old British steel put them to flight and be home in time for tea.

I hope that second elephant hasn't had too much curry.

The forces of right.

Even more forces of right.

                                    The diabolical Khasi of North Berwick had other nefarious ideas that I'm still working out.His forces decided not to play cricket and held my forces charge and even had the audacity to send his Akali fanatics around my flank to engage my already shaken infantry.Not the act of a gentleman.My valiant cause was hindered by the fact that my supporting cavalry and artillery decided to moveum my arseum and stood and watched as my infantry charged in with nothing behind them except thin air.

My cavalry and artillery having a natter.

                                           Bill's gallant lads had decided to advance all asunder and was having a better time of keeping his forces together and actually doing some damage to Colin's bad guys whereas mine where all spread out in a bunch.

Whilst the evil artillery prepare their salvos of doom!

Backed up by some lackies.

                                                    The evil Khasi of North Berwick sneered and continued the deadly hail of fire on my innocent and unsuspecting lads who only thought that they were coming to watch a cricket match and found themselves confronted by the most evil man this side of Santa Claus.

"Will we or will we not?"

                                                                On eventually moving my cavalry out of way of my artillery they found themselves under fire from cowardly forces who had made their way into the nearby village and after evicting the innocent locals took possession of their humble abodes.Never the less they held their ground and after dusting down their beautiful blue coats proceeded to charge the Khasi's marauding Akali forcing them to retire to the hole from which they had emerged from.This did little to avenge the fallen comrades who had given their lives in order to rid the world of these evil Khasis.

Altogether now.

                                                            Bill and Colin meanwhile were going for the last man standing routine with Colin's forces dropping like flies-that's what comes of too much curry-whilst after seeing his proud cavalry decimated by some very irregular cavalry and finding himself severely depleted forces wise  Bill decided on a consultation with myself and we decided to advance to the rear,lick our wounds and prepare for some revenge of biblical standard.

Whereas mine's are at sixes and sevens

                                                               A great game played out in the best gentlemanly fashion of our proud East India company members even although we were goaded by the Khasi and his minions.Revenge will be swift mark my words or something along these lines.

Dusted down and ready for revenge!

                                               Thanks to Colin for putting on the game and also providing us with an excellent repast.He's making his way through Nigella's latest book and I'm extremely happy being a guinea pig.Next week's game is called off because of what is becoming a very usual occurence-snow in April so I'll see you when I see you.

Morning has Broken-Regicide in Kirriemuir part 2

Sunday 18th March

"Ma baby loves lovin!"

                               

Some memorabilia from the struggle

 Morning broke on a snowy Kirriemuir morning which is as good as an excuse for a full Scottish breakfast preceded of course by a mound of fresh fruit ladled with healthy yoghurt.Well that's me until tea time.Joining me at the breakfast table was one of her majesty's serving army officers and by looking at the way he put his sausages laced with ketchup on a sandwich it told me that there has been many a time in his career when he didn't know when his next meal was going to be.I bade farewell to the hotel and trudged up the hill towards the Guide Hall looking forward to another day of my forces being berated by all in sunder.  

The Royal Train crosses the border.

The protection detail moves out.

                                                      We all arrived and were waiting on the Gothenburg Gamers El Presidenti for life as he had the key.We eventually entered the hall and were immediately informed the plan of action for today's game.Unfortunately it was to be curtailed early due to trains that had to be caught by some of our motley band so we got straight into action.

Bill keeping an eye on his resources.

                                                     

Bill finally gets his way.

    Colin informed us that random characters were still a begging and that airpower would be available to all factions albeit one plane per faction.

Airpower over Preston.

Albertine armoured advances.

                                                             We were all still mourning the passing of King Edward the previous day apart from Dale(the murderer)and the characters of Prince Albert(the real George VI) and Albert's daughter Princess Lizzie who was to spend her day hunting for an Archbishop to crown her before daddy arrived.

"Chocks away!"

First of the very few!

Me 109 wining away

                                 Albert was in the hands of Scots controlled by Charles senior so there was at least going to be a chance of Albert being crowned.The Royal Train began its epic journey from Berwick Upon Tweed with Charles's other units paving the way.

Safe passage past Alnmouth

                                     Personally speaking I think his chances were some and none as from not only my experience of the east coast network other factions were intent on stopping him fulfilling his destiny.

At last my Charadon Granite Blackshorts make an appearance.

                                   Meanwhile my forces in Carlisle had brought their numbers up to scratch albeit with inexperienced troops but at least I had numbers.My artillery piece opened up on Dale's forces entrenched behind a stone wall and destroyed a machine gun.Was my luck changing-not really. Airpower arrived and James had the honour of piloting our Fiat aircraft only to be attacked by a marauding Me 109.Peter took control of obviously a very early Hawker Hurricane and proceeded to strafe the whole of southern Scotland and a fair bit of Northern England.He decided to shoot at some of Colin's girls who were mearly picking daisies first before hunting targets in England.

Leave my butt alone.

My moneys on the Me 109

Target of oppurtunity

Just picking daisies.

                                                    In the south Chris had decided to face the onslaught coming from his southern and western flank.Obviously the communists were now being picked on by middle England.Steve had just vacated Preston but not through choice and he finally came tome to say that the Albertines had given him a chance to vacate the premises unharmed and head for a Fascist enclave of his choice.So his remaining forces sailed from Preston up to sunny Carlisle where they were welcomed with open arms.The fact that Albertine airpower and armoured were bearing down on him went a long way to convincing him.

Anglican firepower.

That was close.

Albertine advances

                                                       The Royal Train meanwhile had passed Alnwick with immunity.Obviously Percy had done a deal and was wishing him Bon Voyage.No such luck on approaching as the passing of the train was a mere sideshow to the fighting that was going on in Newcastle where Black Angus was pressing hard and James was down to his last Morris Dancer.Who were the bells tolling for,definitely the last Morris Dancer.This was definitely a day for being a Fascist.

Down to the last Morris dancer.

James feeling the heat

Guards and gardens

                             Charles forces who had went in front of the train to clear the way ended up squaring up to James's reformed Grenadier guards who were taking cover in the gardens of Newcastle.Eventually the train passed this inconvenience and headed south reaching a part of the railway I know as Ferryhill which is north of Darlington.

Just about to become a cropper.

Journey's end.

Albert out for a smoke break

                                        This is where the Royal Train came to its final stop as it was attacked by forces who didn't want it to reach its destination of York.
                                                 The reason that Prince Albert was heading to York was due to the fact that Peter was flying his Hurricane over Northern England shooting at everything that came into his sights and it just so happenedv that when he was strafing Bill Gilchrist's Albertines on the outskirts of Penrith he happened ,very luckily to do away with the Archbishop of Canterbury who was giving communion in an open field.Shame on him.He is now on a wanted poster beside Dale for warcrimes.
                                             

My matelots come through.

The shortened day was drawing to a close but not before my naval landing party had rushed and succeeded in destroying Dale's tank.Sweet revenge but a little too late.Charle's train as I said came to grief north of Darlington and the royal party had to vacate the premises.I think Albert would have been very perturbed if he had known that his daughter Lizzie had been pestering the Archbishop of York,who had now become the highest ranking Archbishop due to Canterbury's demise,to crown her queen of Britain.Alas she was too late as he was still waiting on his coffee at the phone box.

James's wee tank getting a kicking from the bishop.

Scots clearing the way for the Royal train

                                            Steve's forces had meanwhile landed on the shores of the Solway Firth ready to defend the last bastion of Fascism in the north as James had succumbed to the might of Black Angus ,the pious bishop of Durham.

Social interaction between allies.

My allies arrive.

                                                     There was still some sparring down south but the game played out to a victory for the forces of Kieron and his Anglican cohorts.

Colin's forces ducking from Peter's plane.

Dale heading for some revenge on Bill for firing on his troops.

                           A fantastic day had by one and  all and I must apologise for the lack of photos and information about the struggle south of Darlington but I was too busy defending Carlisle for the cause with next to no resources.Thankfully the wounded rule meant that I could bring back squads for free albeit very green.

Red advance

"Who so pulleth out this stone from this anvil will be the true born king of all Britain"

Peter's Female Hussars or Hussies.

Whitby Fisherman's friends

Still waiting on his latte.

                                         Once again I must thank the group for the invite and it was great to meet some more VBCW players.

"The Cheviots are alive with the clink of G & T"

                                            The vast majority of figures,models,scenery and of course the organisation of the game were courtesy of ColinJack with everybody chipping in with extras
to make for a great day and of course to Dale Smith and Steve Rimmer of the Kirriemuir Wargames club for their organisation of our playing venue.
                                                 I'm taking a few days break from gaming and figs as I am heading for Escher and my other great love_Volkswagen Campervans.Hopefully I'll be able to post a few photos of things I cannot afford.