My wife's ....

.... evil HotT army has been sitting partly complete for quite some time. Her plan was to have an evil army to match her 'good' Angel army. They have been awaiting basing, and here is the first batch.

A magician (well an evil witch actually), and a Heroine start the army.

Then there are the 5 bases of beasts, GW Dire Wolves in fact. I had fun painting these for her. The exposed flesh was finished with a purple wash, giving it a nicely cold raw effect.

Still to come are two bases of bat flyers (GW Fell bats, and another very nice evil vampire  witch ... mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha ..... )

Spearhead, it's 1944

Played a 1944 Spearhead game last night against Keith. We didn't record is photographically, too busy talking, catching up and generally enjoying  the evening. It's been far too long since I played WW2 Spearhead at all (over the last 6  months I think I've managed a couple of Moderns games and maybe two WW1 games), so there was much to remember.

The constant in the 'Spearhead Universe' though is the fantastically multi-dimensional nature of the game that the SH rules system produces. These dimensions range from the issues of planning for time, space and forces at one end, to the layers of weaponry and their capabilities at the other. This latter means that the rules system puts different weapons into their appropriate tasks or functions. A player who fails to understand this, and to think 'multi-dimensionally', is punished while a player who does so is generally rewarded. This makes for one of the most fascinating games I know.

I appreciate that this rules system isn't everyone's 'cup of tea', far be it for me to criticise others' preferences.

For my money that's a fantastic aspect of wargaming; it's a hobby that can be many things to many people, or all things to all people perhaps. There are many rules systems out there in the market place that I dislike, but what I think matters for nothing, all that matters is that those rules systems get more people playing their games, painting miniatures of any kind, and using them on the table while they interact with others. After all, I don't have to like a rules system before it is validated and others can play it. This also means that it's not my place to publicly criticise others' rules preferences. There are others around who might even more positively contribute to our hobby if they adopted that philosophy too in my opinion.

'Live and let live', possibly an odd sentiment for a hobby that is fundamentally about conflict and destruction??? Ah yes, this is a great hobby!!!

Some 1859 action... 15mm style

Another Volley and Bayonet action, this time set during the Austrian wars of 1859, since Adrian had just finished painting the Italian troops. The battle was fictional, pitting Austrians against a French/Italian force. The figures are 15mm, all painted by Adrian, and the buildings are scratch built by Adrian. This isn't a battle report, just a chance to show off some of Adrian's beautifully painted 15mm armies.

Austrians advancing, with sharp shooters in front.

French waiting, dug in in and around a town.

Austrian artillery masses to begin a bombardment.

Italians, with artillery, in some  prepared field defences.

French Hussars enter the battle.

And... French lancers....

Hot action around a town as the French attack defending Austrians. The town changed hands several times.

Austrian cavalry abut to go into action.

More WW2 British for Spearhead...

With the term break pressing on I am working at completing some additional parts of several armies, before work presses back on my time. I've had these 6mm British infantry painted up for some time, but on bases that were designed for an old set of rules (that didn't really care about basing, in fact). I've also got my first WW2 game for some time organised for next week, and the forces aren't quite up to strength for that, so what better excuse.

Even though re-basing is the bane of the war gamer's life, I set out to re-base them to expand the Late War British force for Spearhead. I've also added the anti tank component of the force with 17 pounder and 6 pounder anti tank guns. These troops will form the Lorried Infantry battalion  for the armoured division, or a part of a full infantry regiment for an infantry division.

The battalion completed, with an HQ stand to be added (it was sitting in its box when I took the photo)/.

Now to get them onto the table. Sadly, the fact that I have more troops probably won't improve the quality of the tactics I use. It's a good job that our metal and plastic figures are pretty forgiving really, otherwise I'd have suffered a few mutinies in my time.

"On my command unleash hell.."

It was certainly one of those nights as we fought the second of the battles of Roman conquest of the Germanic tribes. The battlefield this time was divided by a river, with the bulk of the German tribesmen deployed waiting in a large forest area.

The Romans pushed their cavalry forward to try to cross the river and threaten the German flank. A '6', damn.. a very difficult river to cross.. a torrent after sudden summer rainstorms perhaps.

As the Romans attempted to work a crossing, the Germans pushed a line of warriors forward to defend the river bank.

The Roman cavalry pushed around the flank, having finally managed a crossing of the river. The Roman ballista poured fire into the warriors in support of their cavalry.

One unit of cavalry was caught by the German war band. A 1 to a 5, and it was 'night night nurse' for the cavalry as they were pushed off the table edge, first blood to the Germans.

The Romans then started to push auxilia across the river on the opposite flank.

Meanwhile a unit of legionaries had also managed to cross on the Roman right, probably saving the remaining unit of Roman cavalry.

The auxilia were held by the German psiloi as their general rushed up to support them.

However the Roman ballista struck twice in succession, destroying two units of war band, while the legionaries that had crossed the river accounted for another. The Roman artillery crew had taken their Emperor at his word, and had certainly unleashed hell.

The Roman subjugation of the Germanic tribes was looking much more certain, although there was something about the spirit of these tribesmen that worried the Roman commander!!!

A night of DBA...

A night of DBA 'gaming with Nick, a fine opponent and good company. We dragged out two 20mm armies: Early Imperial Roman, and Early german - Trajan perhaps attempting to subdue the German tribes.

The first game saw the action take p;lace alongside the Rhine. The German tribes held their right flank back to protect themselves form the Roman cavalry, while pushing forward on their left to attack the legionaries. Light troops had raced on ahead to pin the legionaries, preventing them from taking up position on some high ground.

The Roman cavalry, lead by the Emperor, moved along the banks of the Rhine to attack the German flank.

The Germans had taken up their camp in some ruins.

The first wave of war band attacked the legionaries on the hill, but the legionaries held against the first charge. One unit of legionaries ran, but there was a second reserve line behind to hold the war band.

Meanwhile the Roman cavalry had moved onto the German flank.

However some deft fighting by the legionaries cut holes in the German line.

And the first German tribes were subdued.

Wargaming Butterfly? Me? NEVER!!!!!

I am truly a wargaming 'social butterfly. Last week it was a 28mm Warmachine Steam Robot, and the week before 20mm British colonial infantry, both for the VSF HotT army.

Now it's 6mm German mid war armoured infantry for the mid war Spearhead armies. These Ros Heroics Sdkfz 251 and infantry will supplement the infantry and armour that already sit in their draws waiting expectantly for action. Their Russian opposition are also getting a little jumpy with lack of action.

Still to come are a couple of battalions of PzIV F2, and some Flak.

Also on the paint board are the 17pdr and 6pdr AT supplement for the late war British, and infantry for another infantry battalion. Looking forward to some action with these guys.