The last few months have seen plenty of gaming, including a number of Hail Caesar games (as previously mentioned a couple of posts ago), and a rather enjoyable weekend in Salford playing Italian Wars using Pike & Shotte rules with David S (Wargames Amateur blogger), Alasdair Jameson, and hosted by Steve Ayers. We also managed a game of Lion Rampant over the weekend too, and I rather enjoyed that game as well.
OK, so some photos:
Old Berks games first (that's myself, Andy M, John K, and Steve G) hosted here in Berkswell (hence the name of our group).
Successors v Successors.
My imaginary Successor armies (Macadamians and Antithesids) came to blows...
The rather nice buildings on the table were made by the enormously talented John Boadle.
Whilst the details of the game are now shrouded in the mists of time (I didn't take blow-by-blow notes), one thing is for sure, the small unit of Skythian horse archers are gaining a reputation for throwing double 6 when firing, and even sending much more powerful enemy units heading to their baselines. It's happened in a few games now. Their reputation is growing, as is the ongoing discussion of how "Skythian"/"Scythian" should be spelt and pronounced!
The next game we had was Successors v Andy's Indians
This game featured a full on back and forward melee all along the centre. The Successor pikes proved too much and the death (two or three times) of the Indian commander in chief and his various re-incarnations in subsequent turns, heralded the end of the game.
For those on Facebook, Andy is running the "Flaming Pig" page and doing regular updates on our ancients games there.
The Salford Italian Wars game:
As I mentioned, a weekend away in Salford was a very enjoyable one; and thanks to Steve and Gwen for hosting and putting us all up in their wonderful home.
The chat and hobby companionship was a real tonic, and I returned home full of ideas for new projects. More of which when I get round to it!
For now, here are a few pictures of the Italian Wars game where Steve and I (as Imperialists) took on David and Alasdair (as French).
I was appointed to command the Imperialist left and faced David on the French right. meanwhile Steve took charge of the Imperialist right and faced Alasdair on the French left. This made a lot of sense as it meantg that both David and Steve who were experienced with the rules could play against Alasdair and I, the novices. The nature of the games with these fellows is always relaxed and definitely not competitive at all, and the spirit of the game trumps everything.
It was a thrilling game, lots of stubborn infantry pike blocks, nuisance arquebusiers and crossbowmen, and sweeping Gendarme attacks, ebbing and flowing. The convent in the centre was particularly keenly fought over, and David and I had a real to-ing and fro-ing with the cavalry on our extreme flanks.
In the end, the Imperialists prevailed, aided considerably by David living up to his nickname of "Low Roller", proving that the dice were on the side of the goodies (the Imperialists!) this time.
This was my first game of Pike & Shotte, although my recent experiences with Hail Caesar helped. Like all experienced wargamers, the lads have produced some in-house amendments that they have been using for a while and these also helped with the flow of the game.
Finally...
Another Old Berks Successors game with all four of us present:
For the game, I had finally got round to painting Antithesis II, commander of the Antithesids.
The Thracians don't often get on the tabletop. They always look like they've just raided a carpet warehouse, but... they are a bit different!
Apologies for the lengthy post and the far too many photos. But at least we're up to date now, which is good because there's another Old Berks gathering this coming weekend. We'll be playing more Hail Caesar, with some new armies we have only recently painted...
Thanks to all readers and visitors to the blog for sticking with it!
