Fort Devens Game Day October 16 2021

10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Fort Devens Museum
94 Jackson Road, #305
Devens, MA 01434

Game: Tiger Hunt
GM: Bob Rioux

Game system: Bolt Action

Description: A US infantry force is tasked with destroying a German Tiger tank.

Game: French and Indian War Skirmish
GM: Peter Lowitt
Game System: Musket and Tomahawks
Description: The war between England and France leads to conflict in North America

Game: A Clash in 1870
GM Arofan Gregory
Game System: La Guerre a Outrance
Description: German forces are rushing across the boarder can Napoleon III stem the tide of their advance.

Game: The Naval Battle of Georges Bank
GM Adam Carriere
Game System: Black Seas
Description: The USN squares off with a British Squadron south east of Nantucket in the early days of the War of 1812. Will Britannia Rule the waves or will the fledgling USN stun the world?

Game: Epic Armageddon
GM Dave Susco
Game system: Epic 40K
Description: Eldar Battle the Imperial Guard in dark future.

Black Seas: HMS Royal Sovereign

 My Royal Navy fleet for Black Seas has been lacking a Flag Ship.  I have the HMS Tonnant and as an 80 gun ship of the line she can fill that roll but she just isn't capable of taking on something like l'Orient well Evelyn and Ariana took care of that on Father's day when they got me HMS Royal Sovereign.  It took me a while to get her finished but at last she is ready. 

The Royal Sovereign was laid down in January 1774 but wasn't completed until September of 1786.  This seems odd as the Royal Navy spent this period needing every ship it could find to counter the French, Spanish and Dutch fleets During the American Revolution.   I have been unable to fined any reason for this slow construction (by comparison Victory was completed in six years) 

A little more gold might be in order on here stern but over all I am please with how she came out. 

Her Hundred Gun broadside is ready for action.  Royal Sovereign  took part in the 1st of June as well as her celebrated role in the Battle of Trafalgar.  I have painted her in a fashion typical of ships of her typical of type at the time of the 1st of June. 

Her Figurehead is an English king presumably King George III.  My Royal Navy ships of the line now have a hard hitting 1st rate to lead them against the French. 

New England Tabletop Gaming Flea Market

 

Last weekend I got to go to this excellent event at the Polish American Hall in Uxbridge I picked up this box for a very reasonable price. 

One frame of Rohirrim infantry 

Two frames of Rohirrim cavalry 

Two frames of the Forgotten People or Dead from return of the king

Three of large orcs 

Two frames of small orc/goblins these should be great fodder for Age of Magic armies.

I also made a trade for some an Essex Arab warband which should work nicely for some Historical or Magic armies for Saga.  

USS Essex

 

The USS Essex was one of the most famous ships of the Early American Navy. She was one of the subscription ships built by citizens from Essex county Massachusetts.

She had a interesting armament with 30 or more carronades and a handful of 12 pounder long guns. She could deliver a devistatting punch at short range but was helpless against an opponent who stayed out of range.

Essex is best known for her pacific cruise hunting British Whalers until she was caught and taken into the Royal Navy. Essex's exploits inspired Patrick O'Brian's novel The Far Side of the World. 

Age of Sail Merchants

 

The merchant set from Warlord Games features a large and a small merchant. 

Both are resin with metal masts stun plate and figure head for customization. 

The designs are a little anachronistic especially the lanteen sails off the mizen mast. I some how lost the part for the lanteen so I had to improvise. I modernized the small Merchant with mast prices from an unused brig. Overall nice models.

I also have three schooners printed by Bob Rioux. They wider in the beam than the Warlord schooners so I think I will use them as merchants.

I will probably give them speed and hull stats like a Brig but armed as schooners. The fore-aft rig will help them with tacking making them different from both regular schooners and Brig's. 

Game Day

 

Back in July I took part in the first maker space Game Day since 2019. We weren't back to our old haunts but Midgard was kind enough to host us. Above other climactic moment as the Cardinals guard over came the Musketeers.

Arofan had one of his great Franco-Prussian games.

I did The battle of Lisa 1811 which was a French victory unlike the historical battle. Lots of fun all around.

Church project

 

The church I attended St. Andrews Episcopal Church of Ayer has a collection of figure and models that it uses with it's youth program. I had offered my talents (such) as they are to the Minister hand she asked me to paint this set for the last supper.

Her only request was the the Jesus figure stand out and I think I managed this.

The figures were fairly easy to paint almost like a coloring book and I am glad to have been able to contribute to my religious community in a small way.