Odin's Ravens - quick review

Well I managed to get the better half to play Odin's Ravens (2 games in fact!). 

Well I think is a a really good little game - Osprey have done well with the book style box and the quality of the components is very good. 

The idea is that the Ravens Huginn and Muninn fly in opposite directions around the world gathering information. The winner is the one who gets back to Odin first.

 

The game play is simple - play cards to move through the different areas of the world - line up matching areas and move further. Use your Loki cards for advantage or to sabotage, but think about where to play them because they might impact you as you go back around the world!

The game and winning strategies will improve with playing. 

Explained the rules and played two games in under an hour!

The better half described the game as "alright" and she would play it again ..... 

So a 5* game!! Recommended.

I also have to admit that she right royally thrashed me in both games! But I will have my revenge!

Morts

Norse times .......

Well I have managed to finish a Viking unit for SAGA.

This is a mixture of old and new painting, metal and plastic figures (Citadel, Ral Partha and Gripping Beast). 

I have tried to make a clear base colour scheme for the unit (and probably the whole Viking force) - hopefully it works and will look ok on the table. 

The metals

The plastics 

Together 

The basing should finish them off nicely.

Also arrived and looking good - with clear rules. 

Hopefully to a table soon ....

Morts

The battle of Dini'Tabal - Kings of War play through

I pointed out two 2000 point armies for a Kings of War first play through with Snake-eyes and Steedo.

Steedo took command of the Hobgoblins (Orcs) and Ogres, while Snake-eyes lead the Elves and Men. 

The scenario was Invade from the rule book.

Initial deployments - below. 

Steedo moved first and fast! Had too really as only 2 troops of archers and one wizard!

Snake-eyes unleashed an arrow storm ..... We'll sort of and charged the Orc horde in the centre!

The elven light cavalry were unable to destroy the Orc wizard. 

The Hobgoblins put many hits on an Elf spear unit only to see it hold wavering (double 6!) on the re-roll due to the inspiring rule! It got worse for Steedo when after inflicting 16 hits on the Elf artillery he rolled double 1 - steady! Much amusement was had!

However the Elven Knights did have to withdraw wavering....

Then shock horror for the hobgoblins - now up to 28 hits on the Elf spear unit and Steedo roles double 1 and they are steady and can attack on Snake-eyes turn! This unit eventually took 41 hits before being routed!

Mean while over on the other side of the battlefield the humans are making steady progress to invade the Hobgoblins' side of the board ....

Turn 7 and the Elven left flank and centre has creased to exist! Only the Prince and Mage are on the table!

The Hobgoblins are closing in .....

In a final flurry the Elf Prince sees off the Hobgoblin horde, human Knights ride down a unit of Ogres and the Ogre Captain. 

At this point time was called (although Snake-eyes had roll a 6 so we could/should have played another 2 turns) - 8 turns played in about 2.5 hours - not bad considering this was the first time any of us had played Kings of War. 

According to the victory conditions - basically have 200 more points on your opponents side of the board than they have in yours - meant that Steedo and the Hobgoblins were the winners!

So what did I think of Kings of War?

It was a fast playing game with lots of dice rolling. The different traits for the races were interesting and added to the fun. The horde units are tough to kill and the flank attacks were generally lethal. The rolling of double 1 or 6 caused some interesting situations - but created the cinematic fighting to the last man against hopeless odds! And much laughter as Steedo managed a double 6 then a double 1!

Although Snake-eyes managed snake-eyes in the horde which meant they were able to destroy his Knights. 

All in all Kings of Wars if a fast and fun game - will have to work out a set of games to play and get it to the table again. 

Other games we managed to squeeze in - 

Codename - a nice little word association game. Will consider getting this as the Better-half and Things might play it! Win to Morts and Steedo

Dead of Winter - a cooperative game about surviving a zombie attack in the Winfer. This was a tough game, where we lost due to the order I did things in the last turn! Lots of things to do without enough resources or actions to it!

And we played a couple of rounds of a dungeon builder game - lots of bluffing. Cant remember what it was called. Anyway Steedo won, so a good night for him 3 out of 4 wins!

Morts

3 hours and 5 games*

*Well 2 games played 3 and 2 times respectively. 

Went around DK's yesterday and played W1815 (3 times!)

This is a cracking little game - where you have to decide which card to use - if you should counter attack. The dice gods need to be favouring you but there are lots of tactical decisions to make - leave in square and roll for Prussians or get them back in line so the Grand Battery don't get bonuses. 

And when to use the  Allied reserve ...... Should you let Hougomont fail?

Basically you decide what to do - roll a dice and see how this effects both sides with morale and or casualties losses. The higher the roll the better. The Allies can use reserves or put troops back into line. 

Anyway we played 3 games - in the first one I was Napoleon and upset history - persistently attacking on the Allied right.

For the next 2 games I was Wellington holding on the the Prussians - who are lethal once you take Plancenoit which I did one the 2nd of these.

 The dice gods were with me 3 wins! Go Morts ....

Then we had a go at the intro scenario in Dungeon Saga .....

This was a disaster for me as the Overlord as DK smashed up all the skeleton warriors without taking a single wound! The dice gods were laughing at me now!

As DK has the Dwarf Kings Hold games which Dungeon Saga was developed from this went fairly quickly, so we played again swapping Overlord for Heroes! 

To be honest this game didn't go much better for me - I did open the door but DK did injury the Barbarian. We then played out the rest of the game and continued poor dice rolling meant that the Barabarian died! Arrrrggghhh!

DK wanted a picture..... As there is a rumour that I only post pictures and report games when they go my way! Lies I say! Lies!

Morts

3 Boromirs .....

Well finally finished off 3 Boromirs - why 3? DK asked that as well.

Because it seemed like a good idea.

Fellowship foot and mounted and White Tower on foot!

Hopefully they will see use with Dragon Rampant forces and Lord of the Rings games (obviously). Might even make a frostgrave Warband....

Morts

What I have been faffing about with .....

Been a bit busy with work so I haven't done a lot.

Need to get the painting mojo back - plans are out stripping the ability to complete those plans!

Such is the curse of the gamer!

Managed to put together the Ogre hero that me bro got me for my birthday - got to pause him (circle or square?). Answers on a postcard. 

Then some Chaos Maurader Viking mash ups - DK give me some spare parts and I had 6 Saxon/Vikings spare from the SAGA build. 

The heads are a little big but nevermind - evil Viking Reavers ..... And cheap!

All I need to do is paint the little Bast*#ds!

And the others ..........

Must stop buying stuff!

Morts

Plymouth Wargames Show 2016

Yesterday DK and I ventured down to Plymouth for the Annual wargames show.

It is the first time I have been down in about 3 years due to other commitments - but the camping and walking on the moor had been cancelled due to a severe weather warning.

I have to say I was impressed with the show. Plenty of traders and a massive bring and buy table - very well run by the members of the Plymouth club. There were a number of quality games on display and people to talk to! No pictures of the event too busy and too much to see!

Spoke to Modiphius about airfix battles which looks and sounds very intriguing- see link

http://www.modiphius.com/airfix.html

We (well DK mainly) also spoke to River Horse Games about the Terminator game - plans and future models and the Waterloo board game (similar games for the future... Agincourt was mentioned) and their planned Labyrinth family game. All sounding very interesting. 

http://riverhorse.eu

We had a play through of the Halo fleet game with the very friendly Dan from Spartan games - seemed to play smoothly. The 15mm Halo ground game sounds promising - will look out for it when it goes out. 

http://www.spartangames.co.uk

Having seen Pendraken's Warband Rules in use with some very nicely painted and based 28s - I would like to try out those rules.

http://www.pendraken.co.uk/Warband-Fantasy-NEW-c36/

As stated earlier the bring and buy was very good - I didn't buy but I did sell!

A few magazines, Armati rules and Sedition Wars starter set still factory sealed!

So this is what I bought - the booty!

Got some bargains at the show - thank you troll trader and Lesley's bitz box!

Looking forward to playing Dungeon Saga - probably won't paint before playing- sorry DK!

Got some Mantic undead for Frostgrave, Dragon Rampant and anything else I can think of!

A couple more ships for Attack Wing - must finish the Apnex conversion!

RRP for this lot for in excess of £90 - for less than £50! Result!

So very happy with this lot!