Barbarians - Finished .....

Another months (possibly years) of hanging around the painting tray I have finally finished the sodding barbarians (apart from basing). They are a mash up of Frostgrave barbarians and GW Chaos bits. The plan was to get them as an additional unit for a Dragon Rampant/SAGA forces with the Gripping Beas Viking/GW mash-ups I did a while ago. Unfortunately I am not happy with then at all.

Group shot and then some close up pictures.

I have to say that like the Skitarii Vanguard, these were not the painting experience I hoped for - in fact they were a chore to paint. Oh well will try something else to paint.

Morts

A Game of Maurice - First game time in a while

Steedo and I had a quick game of Maurice in the afternoon (with copious cups of tea, rather than the copious amounts of alcohol). As it was the first game in a while, we played with identical armies (no special abilities) and mirrored terrain on each side of the river. The objective was to control both bridges - this was going to be a tough game for both of us.
The game started with the myself setting up first as the defender and Steedo as the attacker. I had set most of my army in column formation (Steedo had set up his whole army at one bridge) - but I didn't have any march cards to change formation or move, so I had to pass on the first few turns.
Steedo managed to get his cavalry across the bridge on my right flank while I still had my troops in column - and fortunately his attack was held off.

Meanwhile I had managed to get my cavalry across the other bridge and held off Steedo's cavalry (having almost been caught in the flank!). Steedo then resumed his attack on my right flank, which eventually led to the the loss of two cavalry regiments each and neither of us holding the bridge. We then returned to my left flank - where I managed to get both my cavalry units into an attack - one slightly disadvantaged my a ploughed field, however I had used the "Confusion" card to drag in one of Steedo's units to equal out the mud. This engagement was a win for my forces! Unfortunately for me we had ran out of cards and the game was called.

The final tallies were Steedo - 4 units lost, one objective held, 7 on the army morale. For myself 2 units lost, one objective held, 5 on army morale (but this was down to Steedo playing "Death of a Hero" twice, for 4 morale off me and later playing "Rousing Speech" to put 2 back on his!). In th spirit of the enlightenment we called it a draw and discussed who might win if we continued - possibly me as I might have be able to get around the back of Steedo's artillery, but the infantry fight would have been very attritional. In retrospect the capture of both bridges without any other way of get across the river made this a challenging battle in which the infantry played little part. Although I think the game played in a very historical way.
It was  really good to get Maurice back to the table - will need to get an Imagi-nations campaign sorted....... Too much to do and too little time .....

Morts

Kill Team - Skitarii Vanguard

Well after a month or two I have finished painting the Skitarii Vanguard for my kill team (not finished basing them, but that might take a couple more days). I was really looking forward to painting these, more than the Rangers, but I found them a real pain to paint - lots of fiddly details. I couldn't seem to get their overcoats highlights right (this is the second attempt on those). Not a joy to paint - hopefully they look ok and when the basing is done, they'll pass muster. No doubt when I'll spot some mistakes and details I've missed.

I went for a soviet style colour scheme - which I think works well as they work as cogs in the great machine. When the basing is done I will get a full shot of the complete kill team.
Of course now I don't have a reason not to finish the barbarians who have been haunting my desk for a year or so ..... They have not quite been the painting experience I hoped or assumed they would be. - perhaps I need at paint so individuals for a bit to get the paint vibe going again. This has been quite a frustrating time at the painting table.

Morts

A Half Century for DK

The collective gathered to celebrate DK's 50th birthday, in a surprise gaming day organised by DK's better half. The day started with myself, Sylon, Steedo and Snake-eyes heading up the 'Shill to watch England beat the Aussies in the rugby World Cup quarter final - a cracking start the the day!
Then off to DK's to secretly set up a game of Tzolk'in - the Mayan Calendar.  Then we waited for the birthday boy!
DK's wife duped him in to the Annex and he was duly surprised and equally disappointed by the lack of bacon sandwich and the fact that his "planned" birthday game session for a fortnights time was just a ruse ......
Then we started drinking ..... Well DK started on the 6 1.5 litre bottles of Lambrini we had got for him  and a game of .... Umm I can't remember but I think it was a pirate themed game sourced by Snake.
Then we started playing Tzolk'in. We had watch some play throughs, but the rules appear rather daunting. The game is a rather clever placement and the retrieval game. With moving cogs too make the placement and retrieval even move challenging. The objective was to collect corn, climb up the temple hierarchy, collect gold, stone, wood, crystal skulls and build stuff with the resources......
As implied by the name of the game (well the calendar part anyway), timing and planning is everything in this game. I have to say I had little of either in this game. I was briefly second, but this tragically didn't last, as I didn't have a clear way forward and ended up not being able to feed my workers so lost my victory points. However Sylon was on top form as the picture of the final standings on the board.

DK had done a top job of doing up the cogs, as always.

Tzolk'in had taken about 3 and a hall hours and a whole bottle of Lambrini by DK - after packingWe then started the second game - Quartermaster General: 1914.
This a area control, card management game for 5 player (which was convenient), which 2 players (myself and Snake-eyes) representing the Central powers and 3 (DK, Steedo and Sylon) representing the Entente powers. Again DK had done a nice job of the playing pieces - although the base colours were a little difficult to spot and differentiate. This is a really clever game with all the major events of the Great War covered - the cards could be used for attack and defence bonuses. I did struggle with which cards I needed to "prepare", so they can be used in battle and attrition. Especially as the Austro-Hungarian had a number of cards which only provided defence in certain areas - so when I thought I had defence cards they couldn't be used due to location limitations. DK was well oiled with Lambrini by this point and had a rather assuming turn, where he forgot what he had done and Snake-eyes trying unsuccessfully explain what he'd done, only to then run through the turn again ... We had a break for a pub tea and more beer!

On our return we concluded QM: 1914, with a result a repreat of the real war. Overall a really smart game, with many challenges. You really need to know the deck you are playing with and consider the areas you are going to focus on or that the cards direct you towards.

After a brief discussion we played a game of Skulls - which again I took an early lead only for Sylon to win in the end.

A cracking days gaming to celebrate DK's half century and an impressive amount of alcohol consumed by all but especially DK - about 3.5 litres of Lambrini and a larger top!

Morts