Woking 54mm Games Day

 An excellent day was had gaming with 54 mm figures on Saturday. I had got the train down the day before and due to signalling problems arrived 66 minutes late into London. A foray through the Underground led me to Waterloo where l caught my next train. After checking in there was an opportunity to catch up with one of the participants over coffee which was great.

Saturday dawned and after a hearty breakfast I was picked up and whisked to the venue, the organiser’s house as Christ Church was available this year. We played three games. Battle Masters using 54mm LOTR  figures, Songs of Blades and Heroes using Irregular Miniatures early medieval figures and Battle of The Little Big Horn on a mat which was the game board blown up to 54 mm , using Deetail figures. Now for some photos-

I had forgotten what a fun game this Waddington classic was. Lots of tactical choices and luck too!

Battle Masters was completely new to me. For some reason it had slipped completely under my radar. It is an excellent system, easy to pick up and crying out for variants and different applications in gaming terms.

A magnificent cat!

Songs of Blades and Heroes was played on a table groaning under the weight of magnificent hand made, from wood , buildings and charming toy soldier Normans. We had either to get animals and treasure off the table or prevent this happening, depending on what side you were on.

Roof made of towelling, fence from plaited wire and note hand to show the scale of the thing.

Exciting skirmish action all the way.

Lunch was taken in the garden prepared by our hosts who really made us welcome.

All in all a terrific and inspiring day of gaming, catching up and exchanging ideas. The evening rounded off with a superb meal here-

https://www.mokkabistro.co.uk/

Thanks to everyone for a great day, for bringing their figures and especially to Sarah and Mike for hospitality, food and for making it all possible! A memorable day indeed.

Sixty five not out

 Thursday saw my 65th Birthday. Sixty four was fun being a “ Beatles “ or “Zoo Lane “ one but Sixty five seemed more serious in a way.

The weather was sunny and warm so l headed over to Edinburgh for a wander-

An early morning gift found on rising , a new lamp for my room.

An interesting free library and the shadow of the photographer.

Walking down the steps towards Stockbridge with Fettes in the background.

Excellent signage at the Botanics.

I sat out for lunch and to read it was lovely.

My first sight of the damage caused by the storm.

Further shots of storm damage above and below.

When in town l met my daughters after their work and they took me out for a meal, which was fun.

The following day would have been Jan’s 63rd birthday. A day for us all to remember her and the good times together.

Street life

 Figures for Song of Shadows and Dust-

Let the children dance…and joust

Children at play.

Noresmian traders and Magnates.

Let me entertain you, with puppets, hawk and more…

On the workbench

 I’m currently working on civilians and characters for this game -

It is a fascinating set of rules with many interesting ideas. The blurb mentioned it was suitable for games set in any pre modern setting from Babylon to Bruges. The word “Bruges” was enough for me and set me off imagining urban adventures in the late 15th/early 16th century. Another great encouragement was the availability at the time of Ratnik figures of children on hobby horses, street sellers , exotic merchants etc. These were purchased and got “lost” in the shed. I’ve tried on and off to find them but to no avail.

Anyway a chance encounter with a bag whilst preparing the cardboard recycling recently ended up in finding the civilians! I was delighted to see them again. 

So along with more recent purchases ( Bruegel bee keepers, dancing bear, puppeteers etc) I have been working on these. The armed night watch and other armed figures were done a while ago and completed. Now , along with animals, baskets etc , I feel I am getting there. The rule have quirky aspects like your gang can have geese which act as watchmen, if you know what l mean. Also there can be distracting figures, be they a local beauty, jester performance or puppeteers, which grab the attention of your opponents and distract them from their tasks. Civilians can remain neutral or get involved. Lots of gaming potential which I have not done justice to.

Finally a big thank you to DB who passed onto me a sprue of German paratroopers. These new recruits are on the workbench too and waiting to take part in my ongoing Bolt Action games.

Bigger Bolt Action etc

 Yesterday we played a Bolt Action game on a bigger table with about the same amount of troops. We wanted to see how a larger area would work as we continue to learn the rules.

German mountain troops use a steam lorry as transport.

German paratroopers at start of game

A view of table from my perspective. It was good to more manoeuvring space.

They enemy cross the bridge on the offensive.

German paratroopers took heavy casualties from enemy fire from across the river.

Having disembarked from the steam lorry the German mountain troops come under sustained fire.

The enemy across the river bank about to ford the river. At that point l surrendered as I had taken a high number of casualties and most of my units were untenable. An enjoyable game.

Earlier in the week in Glasgow l came across this interesting exhibition of art from prisons-

It was in the university building near where l go for my course and l found it most interesting, a lucky chance encounter.

I also noticed these buildings which are now part of the university but were once part of the now demolished hospital l referred to in a previous post-