Category Archives: Miniatures

Underway

Ancients, Miniatures, Sessions

Finally have the WRG 6th edition armies discussed some time ago on the table. As usual, the process was not smooth.

I’ m older than when I first started playing this system, but not wiser when it comes to matching up figures and economically compiling an army list. Always was problem. Neat listings very quickly rendered illegible with cross outs and scribbled notes.  Thought I had these things worked out when I ordered the new figures. But, once based and consolidated into an army list using the finished painted figures, the results were less than optimal. Workable, not not approaching optimal.

 Of course, I had the immediate wargamer reaction that the solution was  buying more figures, expanding what I had. But, that was madness given cost and shipment time. Also, the thought of another larger scale painting project just makes me cringe. So, instead of that, it was back to rebasing and finagling the unit mix.

Fortunately, I came up with a very satisfactory mix for each army, minimal figure wastage (only 4 painted figures not used) and a workable 1,200 or so point total for each side. Just right for a game with each side commanded by a single general.

In between sessions of rebasing figures – which for me always includes the nerve wracking prospect of an Xacto knife blade snapping and flying into my eye – gluing and re-flocking, I found time to really dig into the rules.

When you Google up “WRG 6th Edition Rules” the narratives are not positive. There is some feeble recognition that this rule set was once state of the art but the emphasis is on complexity and the availability of newer rules.  However, I find the procedural nature and author Phil Barker’s mannered and arcane presentation (with critical elements of information sometimes taking the form of a single buried sentence) oddly soothing. These rules whisper “Take your time, there’s no hurry, this action doesn’t have to be ‘fast and furious’”.

My first walk through lasted 3 turns on a terrain-less surface. Lessons were learned, some figures rebased (again), lists reorganized and I re-set, again without terrain. I ginned up  army rosters to keep track of orders, casualties, and other miscellany.

Now, three turns into my second game, I’m impressed on how smoothly the system plays.  Especially when there are no Rules Lawyers to deal with – and in my distant memory this system was notorious for attracting/creating them.

Sure, the checklists of reasons to test Reaction, and those for Shooting and Combat modifiers are lengthy, but not so onerous that a quick glance through takes care of any adjustments that need to be made.

All in all, I’m glad to playing WRG 6th again. No need to find a “better hole”. For Now.

 

Finally

Ancients, Miniatures

Finished up the Wargames Research Group (WRG) Byzantines and Arabs, after way too much discussion and too little action.

Two different forces.  The List #117 Niekaphoron Byzantines with heavily armored cavalry, skirmishers and Pechneg light cavalry.  The List #100 Arab Conquest Army is  a more colorful group with cavalry, Russ, Sudanese and Arab infantry.

A fun match up.  But, like most armies, they go straight from the gloss coating to a storage drawer.  I think Fall will be a good time to get them out.

Here are some poor photos taken in the garage, site of organizing and basing.

Arab Army
Byzantine Army

Progress

Ancients, Miniatures

One of this summer’s ongoing projects is finishing up my 15mm ancients to use with Wargames Research Group’s (WRG) 6th Edition rules and Army Lists.  So retro.  The rules were published in 1980, and  used by the old Kansas City Society of Ancients group.

The figures are old Tabletop Miniatures figures, which became Alliance Miniatures, and are now marketed by Alternative Armies.  My collection started back in 1991 when Tabletop figures were cast in Des Moines, IA of all places.   I stumbled upon their small industrial space when I was living in Cedar Rapids, IA (of all places).

The initial plan was to use them for DBA.  And, they were.  But my interest in DBA has waned and I became interested in reviving the WRG rules.  So, some purchases had to be made at Alternative Armies to fill in the gaps for the Arab Empire (List #100) versus the Nikephorian Byzantines (List #117).  These two armies provide  options that fit what I had already painted, so the new purchases were – thankfully – limited.  Here’s a photo of the latest recruits.

I have nine figures left to paint.  Outside of refurbishing my Medieval 15mm figures, and supplementing my TSATF Boxers, this is the last painting project I have planned.  My limited skills have eroded and I have more than enough painted figures from more than enough periods to keep me more than enough busy.

Next  the necessary drudgery of basing/re-basing.  I hope to start  next week.

Always The Last To Know?

Aircraft & Vehicles, Miniatures, Skirmish, World War II

The good news is that this isn’t another relationship situation.  The bad news is that it looks like the Tanks! franchise has been discontinued.    No posts in quite a while and no merchandise in the store.

While I use the less expensive Zvezda models, I did enjoy checking out the site for scenarios and information.  I guess I will go over to Flames of War for news updates.

Meanwhile, I continue to build up my late war Germans in anticipation of creating some urban combat scenarios.  Here’s the latest additions.  One more traunch of kits to finish up for a representative set of both German and Soviet AFVs.

 

 

Rout At Kattego

East African Renaissance Campaign, Miniatures, Renaissance, Sessions

The short story is the Kattegoans routed Lord Renaldo’s Portuguese in a hard fought battle.

At the end, few of either side’s companies (units) were capable of movement to contact since their Resolve had dropped to one, as both leaders were either involved in melee or too far away to effectively rally the affected companies.  With low Resolve, a company cannot enter into melee, but can still shoot.

This problem was mitigated by my failure to role for Impetuous Actions for those units outside of command radius.  However, I can partially rationalize this oversight because each company kept to their original plan.  An exception was the Kattegoan leader taking his company on a wide envelopment.  While in the short term this placed him out of touch with his companies, the end result was to flank and scatter (rout) Lord Renaldo’s company, putting an end to the battle.

I can’t rationalize my failure to use a leader’s +2 die roll modification in all but the last round of melee.  This had a significant effect on the Portuguese, as Renaldo’s company was in a melee marked by a series of Inconclusive Draws (no effect on either side) for almost the entire battle.

Only the dogged Pikemen and a lone Crossbow company remained cohesive enough to cover the Portuguese withdrawal to Ekene, where they will remain for some time after this failure and accompanying loss of prestige.  While Lord Renaldo will remain in command for the time being, that may change after word of the debacle reaches Lisbon.

Oumar, the Kattegoan leader, proved to be a somewhat unorthodox commander, leaving his companies to flank the Portuguese force.  While aided by my rules omission, this tactic proved decisive.  He is now considered an Experienced Lord ( proven leader)and will now receive a +1 die roll modification for Initiative.

Here’s a series of poor battle narrative photographs.  I also need to figure out how to change the font/size for the captions.

End Turn 6. Looking West. Note the number of “1” Resolves for the Portuguese. Pikemen on left. Lord Renaldo’s melee in center. Oumar’s company at the upper right behind archers.
End Turn 7. Looking North.
End Turn 8. Looking North. Oumar’s company moving towards contact with Renaldo’s Company. Kattegoans now with low Resolve.
End Turn 9. Looking North. Carnage in center. Both sides’ companies scatter. Renaldo’s company scatters, also.

 

Ambush At Kattego

East African Renaissance Campaign, Miniatures, Renaissance, Sessions

Remembered that I needed to role for Disease and Mishaps before starting play.  The dice were not kind to Lord Renaldo.  One of his two Targeteer units thought better of the whole proposition and deserted.

The Portuguese reacted well to the ambush, forming a defensive line.  The Kattegoan warriors were too far away to make contact on their first move.  View for the following photo is to the West.

By the end of Turn 3, the Portuguese right wing units had moved up  to support  units in melee.  The Kattegoan archers focused their efforts on the Portuguese right, but with little effect.  The Portuguese musketeers struggled to attain good lines of fire.  The following photos are looking North and West, respectively.

During Turn 4, the Portuguese line stabilized.   Lord Renaldo’s Targetters anchored their center. The Kattegoan archers flanking fire was still ineffective.  Here’s another view looking North.

By the end of Turn 5, the Portuguese musketeers were firing with some effect.  One melee has ended in a “Bloody Draw”, with both sides recoiling due to Resolve of only “1”.  Neither unit can be rallied because Lord Renaldo is in melee, and the Kattegoan leader has somewhat inexplicably moved off some distance to  the left (North) apparently to support the archers.

 

Renaldo’s Approach March

East African Renaissance Campaign, Miniatures, Renaissance, Sessions

I set up the initial dispositions using  the die rolls described in the previous post.

The Portuguese are disorganized,  with Lord Renaldo near the front of his faction.  The bulk of his companies are East and some distance from him.  Only the grenadiers proceed him.  His force is close enough to Kattego to trigger an immediate ambush.

The Kattegoans rolled for two ambush groups with forty percent of the force West of, and three units distance from the Portuguese.  The larger group is to the Southwest and five units distance from the invadiers.

After a series of failed photographs last night, I changed the overhead light and saw the chance for a striking aerial shot of the battlefield.  It is shown below.  That orb is the reflection of a task lamp bouncing off my brand new plexiglass map cover.  If it isn’t one thing…..

No, That Isn’t The Moon

 

Expedition to Kattego

East African Renaissance Campaign, Miniatures

Working on parameters for Lord Renaldo’s grand foraging expedition to the village of Kattego.  This is an ambush scenario, with special rules.  By the way, the leader of the Kattegoans is Oumar, of whom little is known.

First a quick primer on Irregular Wars rules terminology.

Distances are based on multiples of unit base widths, or “units”, abbreviated as “u”.   In my games the base widths are 40mm.  So 1u equals 40mm.  A unit is referred to as a “Company”.  The force commander is “The Lord”.  A force or army is referred to as a “Faction”.

The Kattegoans  will be concealed .  Their attack will be triggered by a Yes/No die roll beginning each turn the Portuguese are  9u or closer to the village.

A directional die will determine the location of the tribal faction(s), with Kattego being North.

A Yes/No die will determine if there are one or two ambushing groups.   If “Yes”, a percentile die will determine the allocation of companies.  A d6 will determine the ambushing force(s)’ distance  from the Portuguese.

The Portuguese will have already rolled for their formation used approaching the village.  The formation will be tactical on a d6 roll of 1-2; column if 3-4; and disorganized with a 5-6.

Determining the positions of each company in the disorganized formation will be fun.  Each company will be placed using a d6 roll for distance from their Lord.  The Lord’s  position will have already been  determined by a d6 roll, with 1-2 being forward; 3-4 being in the center; and 5-6 in the rear.

When ambushed, each Portuguese company will make a reaction die roll if  beyond 2u from the Lord.  The Impetuous Actions table will be used.  Units with a d61 will not only “Run Away”, but will also lose one resolve.  Note:  I decided not to use the ambush rules that call for an automatic -1 resolve when contact with the enemy is made.

The villagers will be considered a company with a resolve of 4, melee strength of 2, and a short range shooting rating of 5+.

The Army rosters are finished and the table is set.  The game will start after my return from a bikepacking overnighter.  It’s a fun way to maintain social distance.

 

Irregular Wars- Re-Boot

East African Renaissance Campaign, Miniatures, Renaissance

Well, the breather has taken a few years. After completing the last of my Irregular Wars forces, the East African campaign had to be re-booted. Here is the updated situation.

After defeating the Portuguese, Bey Imen Mahir established a semi-automonus sultanate in Behefe. He pays annual tribute to Sultan Efe, but controls the city and the surrounding area. The Bey’s relationship with the natives in Neo is good, as he is a benevolent ruler, requiring only minimal tribute. The locals hold him in high regard, and will eagerly  fight for him if the Portuguese or other aggressors appear. He is now an experienced leader, and while not a heroic leader, is no longer considered “shy” by his followers.

Sultan Jabir Efe maintains in control of Meheyne, and has convinced the Ming Chinese leader in Aden, Lei Qiu, to establish a stronger trading presence at his port city.  Efe’s relationship with the natives in Sanwa is still good, but they are leery of any formal alliance, content to take advantage of the increased trade at Meheyne.  Sultan Efe is content to increase his wealth through trade and taxation, and has no immediate plans for military adventures. He is an experienced, but cautious, leader.

Lord Riccardo Nicholau Renaldo still has overall command of the Portuguese forces in Ekene. However, his reverses have not endeared him to Portuguese leadership in Lisbon. He is on a short leash, receiving minimal government support.  Future failure will not be tolerated. Still, his confidence remains high. Lord Renaldo commands the loyalty of his small army, which has been reorganized after the retreat from the outskirts of Behefe. His relationship with the natives in Kattego is not good. The Portuguese have undertaken a number of “foraging” sorties, and has taken, not paid, for livestock and crops. Monsoon season is coming and his Lordship is contemplating an expedition to subjugate Kattego, taking direct control of the village and its resources. Still a bold leader, Renaldo is anxious to re-establish his prestige, and is planning to seize Mwenye in the near future.

A new development is  rumors that an Imam has emerged in the interior preaching opposition to Zanj domination of the region. His message has an appeal to both Muslim and long-standing Akamaba and Massai beliefs. However, little is known about him or his exact whereabouts.

In addition to these shenanigans, a “Northern Area of Operations” will open using the historical 16th century regimes of Medri-Bahri (Eriteria), Ajuran Sultanate (Somalia), Adal Sultanate (Somalia) and the Kingdom of Abyssinia. The Ottomans will be an active presence, as will, to a lesser extent, the Ming Chinese and Portuguese. The latter two will continue to be active in the “Southern Area of Operations”.

Lord Renaldo’s expedition against Kattego will reopen the campaign. His sortie from Ekene will serve as a rules refresher, with the outcome prompting reactions in the South.

 

And Another…..Another

Colonials, Miniatures

OK, this is small and pathetic….but it’s the last piece for my 15mm British colonial forces.

15mm

This particular group goes back to my Kansas City days, and the great, unrealized, World At War 1898 project.  I sold off my French figures, but kept one large unit of Highlanders.  Sometime last year, I re-discovered a cache of unpainted Sikh, British and miscellaneous Minifigs, and decided to paint them up.  The plan is to use them in a campaign against my Arab hordes (what a versatile force….good for late Ancients through the 19th Century).   The idea of a campaign also provided the motivation to order and paint baggage camels, and other domesticated animals for proper camps and baggage trains.

After some research using the usual resources,  I decided to use a couple of rule. The first is Soldiers of the Queen.

Soldiers of the queen

 

I have a weakness for Tabletop Games figures and rules.  Don’t know why.  This a fairly straight-ahead 19th century colonial proposition, but livened up with event cards, and a number of army lists for various sized forces.  This flexibility in army size is a very good thing for a campaign game.

The other is Science vs. Pluck.

science

This not just a set of rules, but also compendium of ideas, a character creation resource and source of general information.  It is designed for the Sudan, and to be played  with an umpire.  I think it’s more versatile than that.  Long out of print, it is available for download at The Wargamevault.

Don’t know when I’ll get the figures out on the table, but it is nice to have the painting finished.