Lack Of Reinforcements-AK 47 Style

 Dateline-September 6th 196odd!

Place -Somewhere in Sunny Africa.

                                                         

 

       Back to the sixties this evening with a four way indulgence in AK47-the most politically correct game around -not!El Presidente had decreed that this evening we should get back into a game of AK 47 and a chance to field some toys that we have been playing with since the late nineties.So we all turned up with said toys and got down and dirty in 1960’s Africa.Herr O’Brien is a past guru of the game so it was good to not need to check the rules every five minutes.

Trains and Planes.

Taking residence.

Andrew’s pre placed tanks.

      The table was set with the usual piles of scenery that we have all collected throughout the years and my own contribution were the airport buildings and some ethnic village buildings including a garage complete with old French cars and a village store.El Presidente chipped in with a few that he had picked up on line so the table was set.Herr O’Brien did complain that there was too much scenery and nobody would be able to see the bad guys.

Some African High Street.

How to hide two Pattons behind a catering truck.

Israelli’s mingling with the locals.

     El Presidente took on the mantle of a colonial settler army complete with Centurions, Panhard armoured cars and cavalry to complement them near the end of the game.Oor Andrew had also been given a colonial army this time of Israeli origin who proved to be of steady stock.Both myself and Herr O’Brien took charge of local dictator armies who were both to prove highly ineffectual.Two of Dave’s units couldn’t be bothered turning up.Such are the vagaries of AK47.

Israeli infantry hiding behind a dump truck.

El Presidente’s infantry stopping of at the garage .

The pride of my army.

Ju ju juice- the root of all evil.

Only for show.

           So the toys were laid out and the game kicked off.Once again my reluctance to choose a decent amount of armour was to be my undoing as my only pair of tanks engaged Andrew’s Ishermans and came out second best with the first blood going to Andrew.50% of my armour melted after the first hit.Hopefully it wasn’t going to be a long evening On the other side of the pitch my ally,El Presidente was having better luck with his Centurions and was holding Dave’s band of misfits at bay although one of Dave’s units always reminds me of a rag tag circus with a Bren carrier, a Ferret scout car and a Saladin-a pretty odd bunch.Herr O’Brien’s army is based on a Jordanian one and so had a couple of Patton tanks which actually looked good but were were soon percolating away nicely after being hit by El Presidente’s tanks.

El Presidente’s Centurions turning to scrap metal-again!

Herr O’Brien’s Pattons are heading the same way.

My boys-The Pirates of Prestonpans.

And my odds and sods militia making up the rear.

       My idea to pick lesser infantry was to be my undoing as my infantry were reluctant to move forward and their first casualty caused them to stagnate and stand still.Even their shots at the enemy proved to be worthless even with RPGs.As I said it was going to be a long evening.My colourful militia headed towards the airport buildings using for cover a couple of Dakotas that were just lying around but midway through their travels I noticed Herr O’Brien’s rabble ensconced in some nearby buildings so the militia changed tack and headed for this new bounty. I think this attack probably favoured El Presidente more as his colonial infantry were about to assault the same buildings using my lads as cannon fodder to help his devious intentions.Herr O’Brien was struggling as he couldn’t bring on any reinforcements for love nor African dollars.

Finally my Toyota tin pots arrive.

First kill to my tank boys.

Reconnaissance in strength.

Two of Herr O’Brien’s bits and bobs unit.

       My first reinforcements appeared in the form of a trio of Toyota technicals armed with heavy machine guns but this proved to be more worthwhile targets for Andrew’s Ishermans and so Japan’s finest lasted for only a couple of turns before they headed for the local scrapyard.To add insult to Herr O’Brien’s injury,El Presidente’s last reinforcements arrived in the form of a cavalry unit but they arrived just in time for a victory parade up the local High Street as they weren’t required to fight.My militia attacked Herr O’Brien’s last bastion but proved not to be up for the fight and although scored a couple of hits they didn’t shift him but they left plenty of room for our gallant ally to clear the buildings albeit with armoured car support.

“Well they lasted long”

Airport rush hour.

My last reinforcements.

       My last reinforcements arrived in the form of a couple of recoilless rifle armed trucks but too little too late as the final whistle was drawing near.Another revolution in Africa not to get off the ground but I’m sure one day all the wrongs will be righted.

Advancing to victory.

    Once again a great time was had by one and all and especially as tonight was a joint effort with everybody providing figures,vehicles and scenery.

Victory parade down the High Street 

      Next week we are indulging in MB’s Shogun so I would imagine we’ll be back to toy soldier gaming the following week.

       See You When I See You.

        This has been a Garvald Film Studios Production.

The Great Martian Eradication

 Stardate-189odd.

Place-The Great Martian Plains.

           One was invited out to the outback of Garvald for a delve into the realms of Victorian Sci-Fi where the European powers who have just finishing ravaging the planet earth for the benefit of their empires have set their sights on the planet Mars and their intended overlord of another not so technical species.Due to the vagaries of dog sitting I was left to organise the defence of Mars on my own meaning I didn’t have anybody else to blame for my mistakes.I was pitted against the demonic play of both El Presidente and Herr O’Brien.

A couple of non playing airships.

The Martian emperor surveys his realm.

            My forces were lined up and the first thing that struck me was that I had an awfy lot of half naked natives armed with bows and arrows and a shortage of decent firepower.Pitted against me was the European empires most modern equipment and some bizzare German machinery.

Graustarkian light armour.

Prussian wheeled artillery.

Prussian rocket truppen.

            In the best native stereotype fashion my plan was to charge in and hopefully get to grips with the invaders before they could shoot off their big guns but in true stereotypically native fashion they were wasted as especially Herr O’Brien acted as though he wanted the game over as soon as possible in typically overlord way.We were using Xenos Rampant rules which usually give units either a shoot or move action unless off course you are armour when you can indulge in both and off course the Empires had the biggest guns.These rules have been used by El Presidente on numerous occasions and for different time eras including Arab-Israeli modern battles but personally I find them a bit frustrating especially when you want to get down and dirty.There is also the point that if you have to dice for activation and fail your turn is over so you have to choose wisely.

Forward to glory!

Forward to doom!

Ma best guys!

       So off my men trotted up the playing field hoping to inflict defeat on the interlopers but it was soon obvious that they weren’t going to get very far but as the object of the game was for the Europeans to capture the palace. My plan was to sell the defenders lives dearly whilst watching the clock tick down. My armour(very light)were to the forefront but were soon heading for the start line once El Presidente’s big guns started showing off their wares.My only initial success was the German jet troopers being stopped in their tracks by my artillery and the eventual destruction of this German unit which was to be the highlight of my evening.

The European armoured fist.

Mounted dragon cavalry.

              My second armoured unit moved forward but were eradicated by the combination of El Presidente’s big guns so it looked like the fate of Mars was in the hands of my hordes of infantry-Fat chance!Herr O’Brien was moving his Prussian cycle artillery forward in support of his British infantry who themselves were supported by their Martian minions but they were brought to a stuttering halt by the brave actions of my regular infantry although not without a few casualties themselves.These were the lads who themselves were backed up by the palace guard whom I believed were going to be the saviours of Mars.Not for long though.

The Empires’ big guns.

    My first armoured unit headed forward but soon met the fate of it’s colleagues and evaporated.The only good thing was that it’s destruction was waylaying the invader’s plans as the more they shot at my forces the less movement they could make.The clock was ticking rapidly to full time.Herr O’Brien hed ensconced his American???(must have been mercenaries)in an oriental building so I decided to rush them with my mob of militia but they were successfully repulsed and with the demise of the other half naked infantry the  writing was on the wall for my masses of Martian infantry but the clock was ticking.

Flying the Flag.

      My artillery then successfully repulsed a flanking manoeuvre by the El Presidente’s light tanks crewed by some Graustarkian females(Welcome to El Presidente’s world) but we had arrived at the last phase with my regulars taking up residence in the gap leading to the palace uttering a “They shall not pass!”ultimatum.Herr O’Brien had moved his yankee rocketeers on to the outer walls of the palace just as the final whistle blew so the evil empire builders didn’t quite make it.Hurrah for the Martians!Boo!to the evil colonists!

A ton of scrap metal.

   Another great game played out in the usual carefree way-not! My thanks to El Presidente for putting on the game and supplying all the wonderful toys.Next week I’m led to believe is AK 47 so hopefully we’ll have a “hot of the press “news report!Watch this space!

This has been a Garvald Film Studios Production.

Mobs Rule!

 Date-29th April 1800 & odd.

Place-Transylvanian Garvald.

       Tonight was a first delve into 7TV’s Dracula with a recreation of Jonathan Harker’s stagger through the village to safety with the friendly villagers running interference for him and this they basically they did in fine style.Obviously young Andrew has watched the films.

My main girl before the split.

Jonathan about to do the High Hurdles.

       I was in charge of the undead and I thought I was in for a shoe in victory.Nope Andrew came in mob handed and thwarted my plans.My plan was to split my forces up as I was assuming they would be unbeatable but no.Let’s just say I’ll be better prepared the next time.

“The Moon Shone On The Village Green!”

The mob comeths!

The plot was to get Jonathan Harker through the village and over the wooden bridge.He actually came out of the starting blocks like a hurdler and vaulted the first wall with ease.So much for him being under the weather.

My miles away villagers.

“Hey Presto!”The dead coachmaster appears.

        I had placed my Evil star complete with a couple of wolves at her side ready to pounce on the unsuspecting Harker but for some reason,must have been the pint of foaming ale,I split them up making them easy pickings for the village mob.I had also placed my villagers about a thousand miles away across the other side of the table so they by the time they arrived they’d be knackered.

And another mob!

The second mob sideways for some reason.

       I set two of my wolves at the baying mob but they tended to be a bit toothless when they indulged in hand to hand or should I say fangs to body so they were unceremoniously cudgelled to death by the torch and pitchfork armed villagers.First blood to the mob!

The Vampiress splits from the wolves.

The villagers dispatching the wolves.

       My vampiress looked to seek revenge but was taking potshots from more of the ungrateful rabble.This I thought was a bit iffy as normal bullets seemed to be doing her damage but alas that be the rules. My reinforcements came in the form of the dead coachmaster  aided by another couple of wolves.Trailing behind the a long way off were thr my village mob from afar but my initial placement of them meant they were only going to be in at the death which actually meant their death as the local burgermeister had the ability to command an awful lot of the rabble to be freely commanded.

Making way for Harker.

“And Voila!A red triangle.”

     I sent the wolves charging in but apart from biting the local priest on the bum proved to be rather toothless yet again giving time for the rabble to dispatch them with aplomb.The coachmaster tried to seek revenge as he had just witnessed his mistress dissolve into goo and his pets done away with but alas the burgermeaister done away with him.Game 

Callous Villagers.

And he’s made it.

    This was game over as Harker had made the bridge with little real effort.

       A very good game although a bit one sided.I think I’m going to have to stop being nice.Comme Ci Comme Ca!

         Next week sees the second scenario being played this time taking place in Whitby but alas I have to indulge in the workie thing.

     All figs,scenery and scenario brought to you all from the collection of El Presidente.

          This has been a Garvald Film Studios Production.