Black Seas and Naval Theatre

 

Saturday Dave hosted a game day at the Amherst Maker Space.  I ran game for the Hold Fast supplement of Black Seas called raise the Black Flag. When had three pirates Roberts, Blood and Barbarossa 

We all attacked the merchants Roberts got the first ship but then attacked Captain Blood and me (Barbarossa) 

I got a little of my own back raking Roberts 

I took two merchant then decided it was time run.

Frank play Captain Blood got a capture on the last turn a fun game. 

In the afternoon I played if Frank's Battle of the Philippine Sea (Abridged)

I commanded half of the American task force the Bunker Hill and Wasp.

I had responsibility for CAP while Oliver was supposed to handle stile escort and launch the initial strip while I would follow up with a second strike.

My young co-admiral sent out a rather disorganized strike 

Destroyers race toward each other (if I find out who put my carriers in gun range of Japanese Destroyers I'll shoot him LOL) 

My second strike is headed out just ahead of the Japanese attack.

My CAP gets tied up battling the zeros and Wasp takes multiple bomb hits. Oliver's strike also got through and did seriously damage one of the Japanese carriers.

My second strike 4 squadrons of avengers and 8 of helldiver's/ and SBDs with two squads of Hellcats ridding shotgun (taken from the CAP) since Oliver didn't leave any to escort my attack aircraft. 

Sadly the game had to end before the game could really come to a conclusion.  This was the first live play test of Frank's Naval Theatre rules and they played well though naturally we found a few issues.

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.

Maker Space Game Day March 30th.

Last Saturday was the Amherst Maker Space Game day.  I got my Mother-in-Law to watch Evelyn so I was able get in a game and run a game. 

I the morning I got to play a game of GQ3(corrected) run by Frank.  It was an encounter between his two favorite navies the Royal Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy cruisers who encounter each other on a sweep.  I had the IJN.

Turn one saw ranging shots and HMS Belfast landed a bulkhead hit on Noshiro putting her in serious trouble.

Turn two saw a massive exchange of Torpedoes including an extraordinary effort by Shigure landing 8 out 8 hits with her tubes.  As the smoke cleared the Royal Navy was down three Cruisers and two destroyers.  The Japanese fleet had one Destroyer setting to the bottom and serious damage done to both Agano and Noshiro (both light cruisers) and minor damage to two other Destroyers.

In the after noon I run a game with Mark and I taking command of the forces of the Grand Duchy of D'Argent attempting to relive the siege conducted by the Draconian Empire commanded by Kelly.  The Duchy's light forces striking from the woods to strike at the rear of the Besiegers had initial success but were largely check by the arrival of Imperial Grenadiers.

The more tradition relief force struck at the main body of the imperial covering force.  The battle was hard fought but the Empires force of Cavalry was not able to arrive in time.

Kelly fought a good fight given he had no one to help him watch the various sectors of the battle field. I didn't quit get the balance right but it was still an enjoyable game.  There were many other excellent games you can check out some pictures here: Maker Space Game Day 3/30/2019

Makerspace Game Day: Crossing at St Ulrich

I used the St. Ulrich scenario in the Honors of war book as a starting point but made significant changes. The Grand Duchy of D'Argent is the defender with a brigade of two infantry and one light artillery battery. They also have 3 independent units Two light infantry and one heavy artillery battery. The attackers are the Draconian Empire:  They have one independent light infantry unit, a brigade of two cavalry units and an infantry brigade of 3 regiments and a field gun.

The Chasers de Montana made quick first turn ambush before the Darconian Boarder regiment turned their flanks and drove them away from the main column.  A running battle between the two units of light troops would continue for many turns.

The main lines closed in on each other the D'Argent brigade having elected to advance forward a bit while their Jager battalion has come up on their left to slow down the enemy cavalry.

The Dragonian Cavalry quickly send the quick footed Jagers running. The manage to make it back across the river with but was a near thing.

Both lines of infantry open fire the initial exchange works to D'Argents advantage as the Sheppard regiment is hit hard by musketry and grape break for the rear.

D'Argent regiment L'Rock charged agaist the Draconian battery while Regiment Marini exchanged fire with Draconian regiment Haydenburg and Pain. Draconian hussars just fall short of catching the quick stepping Jagers D'Argent

Rock and the Artillery unit batter each other resulting in both units falling back.  The Haydenberg regiment is scattered by musketry and grape... while the Draconian cavalry cross the rive.

Both units take fire from the Jagers in passing but one of the units of Sappers working to demolish the bridge panics and runs.

Regiment Pain of Daconnia charges into regiment Marini driving it back in disorder but at the cost of its own cohesion as its devastated ranks break up.

Artillery fire shatters the Draconian Hussars as the second unit of Sappers blows the bridge ending the game.  The D'Argent Jagers scramble through the vineyards ahead of the Draconian Dragoons and hold out in the village until the rest of the D'Argent boarder guards can get organized, cross by the fords and drive the dragoons off.  The Draconian main body comes up latter that day and crosses except for the heavy baggage which must wait for a new bridge to be built.

Nuts! Makerspace Game day

During the afternoon of the Maker Space Game day I was able to play in John Paul's game of Nuts.  I've read about Nuts but never had a chance to play.

I had on infantry section (4 men under a corporal) and a light tank under may command.  While troops are fairly basic they are each unique making the game a bit like an RPG.

My fellow players and I are trying to get information on the local defences.  John Paul is running the Germans in a game master role.

We push in dismounting from the jeeps as German's are spotted and shots ring out.

We do pretty well winning a lot of early "draws" against the German armored cars and killing several Germans.

A fair number of German vehicles are soon burning as infantry covers the buildings.

Then the Germans get our lead tank (mine).

We are pressing ahead.  HMG fire is keeping a sniper down in the tower and and we've killed a number of Germans in the fire fight while losing only the one tank (and one Infantry man).  the game moved reasonably well once all 4 of us understood what was going on.  I like the game. Minor differences between troops can make a big difference.  Mike Pain's troops entered  building with Italian civilians he didn't have anyone who spoke Italian, I did if I had entered I could have probably gotten lots of useful information.  We had to call the game before we had a true decision but we enjoyed it.

The Dragon's Army

On June 23rd and intrepid band of players face off at the Amherst Makers Space game day.  Lex and Amon run and army of monsters (lead by a Dragon) facing William and Patric with an army of humans.

The Monsters were quick to advance the Werebat striking pose on the old stone circle.

The humans moved up quickly in the center the Militia (who mus not have know better) leading the way.

Amroth the Dragon took a place in the ruins (I gave him cover but shouldn't have opus)

He's flanked by werewolves...

Who quickly charge the pike men but then fall back

Orcs, Gnolls and Giants advance on the far side...

The Orcs charge in on the pike men before they can close up but are driving back in disorder.

Cavalry begin to duel with the Gnoll leadership who didn't know that infantry isn't supposed to charge cavalry.

Amroth dives among the militia and mane fall in bunches...

but a stinging hit gets through and Lex rolls snake eye on the moral check as Amroth recoils while the militia hold firm!  Nobody so that coming!!!

The Duel ends in mutual annihilation...

The bats strike the swords men but with out effect.

The Giants follow Up (after several times refusing to charge the pike men because "they have pointy sticks").  Swordmastes and Giants both recoil after.

Ogres and Pike men battle it out.  Both sides score hits and...

Both sides fall back battered.  At this point a few more shots from both sides missile troops are exchanged but no further combat occurs.  The humans have one more unit in fighting shape (not battered with more than half its troops) than the monsters gaining a squeaker of a victory.  We'll have to try this one again.