Aliens

Just a quick post to say that a few chums were round this evening and we had an impromptu game of Aliens.

Here's a quick pic from my new phone, not brilliant but adequate.

The rules we use are homegrown and we think they are rather good!

Lump of Rock

Yes, but a big lump of rock!

How many are out to look for it tonight?

For those baffled so far.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21442863

Vapnartak 2013 - Goodies

Todays trip, 4 hours by car including a meal break at Washington service station saw us arrive at York Racecourse very slightly after 10am to find no entry queue at Vapnartak 2013. It was already quite busy inside with just enough room to squeeze by and find the traders on my target list.

http://www.yorkwargames.org/Vapnartak.htm

First up was Irregular Miniatures for a few more gladiators. I was served by a very sprightly Ron Kay, a veteran in many respects who quickly brought me a tray of goodies from which I selected the figures below.

http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk/

The nearer figure represents a Secutor with big shield and armour and the other is a Contra-Retarius complete with cone and hook in an attempt to thwart the deadly Retarius.

The second pair (boobies forgive me) represent an Amazon in minimalist costume, I'll need to make a spear to arm the young lady, and a Sagittarius (on foot) who obviously hopes to shoot down any opponents before close range is reached.

Next, to beef up my Big Board Portable Wargame WW2 10mm Pendraken collection I got:

Some Sherman Fireflys. I only really needed one but you can never have too many Shermans (models of any type). I think I have spotted a small error on the Firefly model. I'm no expert but I'm led to believe that the hull machinegun was plated over for the Firefly. In 10mm that is easily fixed.

Some Panthers (common or garden variety). I resisted the urge to get some Tigers, maybe next time.

Bren carriers to improve the mobility of my British Infantry sections.

Scout Cars to improve the British Command and Scouting units.

http://www.pendraken.co.uk/World-War-II-c19/

Peter Pig ACW Union infantry to expand my rapidly growing (but small) 15mm collection based for 'On To Richmond', a fairly old ruleset which was very popular in my club a few decades ago.

http://www.peterpig.co.uk/Range2.htm

Tufts from Mutineer Miniatures.

http://www.mutineerminiatures.com/

Magnetic tape from Magnetic Displays.

http://www.magneticdisplays.co.uk/

Paints and Washes made by Coat d'arms from a trader I have forgotten to note.

And finally twelve packs of 12mm Teutonic Order and Normans from Kallistras Hordes and Heroes range.

http://www.kallistra.co.uk/?page=18

Once these are painted and based I will have enough units to represent every variant of the army lists detailed in Neil Thomas book 'Ancient and Medieval Wargaming'.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ancient-Medieval-Wargaming-Neil-Thomas/dp/0750945729/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1359928033&sr=8-3

So, all in all it was a pleasant day out for the boys. Vapnartak is a show we will probably visit again.

What, No Blood and Guts!!

I've had a chance with a chum to play some gladiator games using the 'Munera Sine Missione' ruleset downloaded from:

http://hordesofthethings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/munera-sine-missione-version-20.html

We choose random fighters from my collection and set about exploring the rules.

 

The first pairing was a Velite versus a Samnite, a fast spearman with a small shield versus a slower swordsman with a big shield. An early special event made the Samnite drop his shield which made him less slow. Both fighters were slightly Fatigued but the Velite had to appeal to crowd after being Knocked Down for a second time which he got away with.

 

The second contest threw up a Gaul, big sword, big shield, no clothes versus a Dimachaerus, leather clad all over and a jaggy bit in each hand. Both fighters nibbled a bit off each other before the Gaul had to appeal to the crowd after a second Knock Down. He too got away with it.

Then the 'real' gladiators turned up. The Myrmillion with lots of armour, big helmet and a sword lumbered in against a Thracian with much the same less the armour. The Myrmillion was very slow but very tough whereas the Thracian was fairly tough but much faster.

This was a ding dong of a fight with both gladiators succumbing to increasing Fatigue followed by Injury and Tiredness. The Thracian had even lost his sword but fought on gallantly with his shield. The Myrmillion was at a sheer standstill some of the time but Fatigue finally got the better of the Thracian who successfully appealed to the crowd.

So, at the end of the games no fighter was killed, or even seriously injured and the only evident damage, apart from a lost sword was to various 'ego's.

We liked the gladiator classification, the movement (Action Points) and the Saving Throws. We were a little bit disappointed with the combat sequence which we will rewrite and hope to add some 'gore' to the game.

Seconds Out, Round Two: ... ... ...

... On the way to the Forum ...

Guess what I found on my way to the Forum, well actually I was rummaging through some boxes looking for 15mm ACW figures when I found these lying unpainted and unloved.

Some, if not all of them are 54mm by Irregular Miniatures, and just asked to be painted up, so I did.

This is, supposedly, a Myrmillion, but I am far from being an expert in this period.

A Thracian

I am told this is a Velites although it reminds me of a peltast.

A Samnite, said to be lucky fighters perhaps because they got a big shield.

The Retarius or net thrower.

The Gaul, most likely a war captive.

The Dimachaerus, daggers in both hands.

I have made up a simple arena using sand coloured Heroscape tiles, giving a total of 61 hexes in a super-hex with 5 hexes per face.

The rules I intend to use are 'Munera Sine Missione' which I got online from:

http://hordesofthethings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/munera-sine-missione-version-20.html

I'll perhaps let you know how we got on, thumbs up or thumbs down!!

Vapnartak 2013

Anyone going to Vapnartak 2013?

http://www.yorkwargames.org/Vapnartak.htm

I don't expect to see many of these fine chaps!

 

I suspect we will see some of these though!

 

This will probably be a shopping trip for me, I don't have enough figures yet!!

 

I may well get some of the fine Pendraken WW2 range or maybe some Kallistra Medievals.

 

Will you be going and what will you do when you get there?

 

 



General Winter Invades

Some lightly equipped troops have been observed in the neighbourhood.