North West Frontier, Brits with Grit!

These images, originally from my Shooting Leave Blog, but too evocative not to publish here again. So, a few snaps of the Renadra Mud Hut and my Artizan 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot.

Constructing the building was a simple process though there were quite a few gaps that needed filling. For some reason I chose to fill them with Milliput, which came away in places due to the tool I was using having to be dipped in water rather a lot. I wouldn't let this put you off putting the model as it is really nice and the very subtle detail really doesn't come across viewing it on the net. It beats getting out the filler and mixing it with sand which always produces a rather unrealistic effect IMHO.

Clubbing It! El Cid/Early Crusades Large WAB V.2 Game

Of late, our wee mini gaming group within the larger club have been playing a series of WAB games all of which were over 5000pts a side, usually two or three players a side. Players have been able to dip in and out as they are available taking one side only. We have been running these large games (Middle Imperial Roman, Early and Thematic Byzantines El Cid and Moors etc) for a while now and it seems to be a format we have settled on for WAB games. The larger format (points) and number of players largely manage to reduce the competitiveness that can sometimes sneak in with the WAB rules (they were written by GW after all!). This has proven to be huge boon as it reduced the ghastly over combativeness which can be aroused in some players using these rules.

Originally we were playing on a 10' x 6' table but decided to mark out the edge of the table six inches in and allow for deployment of up to 12" of the centre line of the table so's to allow for more aggressive tactics to be employed. For this we used Hidden Deployment rules as described in the rulebook. (If anyone wants to know more, please leave a comment below and I can answer any questions). Looking back at the games we could have done with reducing the width/depth of the tables to 4 fee; as the weeks have gone by it appears more and more obvious the rules were not designed for tables this deep. all a bit of a crying shame as these are the main Ancient rules used at the club.

We had previously played the El Cid lists (North African Moors/Medieval Spanish Christian) from WAB Armies of Antiquity V.2 but I found the Christian Spanish list very limited because the number of miniatures we had at our disposal for infantry didn't match the Moorish army at all leading to a huge infantry disparity so, bearing in mind I was overly endowed with Heavy Cavalry I decided to go for a hard hitting mostly if not reliable First Crusade list predominantly cavalry army. (Incidentally, most of our heaviest hitting cavalry and Abbysiya horse archers took very little part on the game leaving the right flank to fend for itself!)

The sides deployed as in the Hidden Deployment rules in the WAB V.2 rulebook. The Moors had the best of the luck when rolling for terrain with a nice square-ish defensive position that was very hard to attack or flank. Nevertheless, both sides made the best of the deployment around what terrain was most favourable. 

The Crusader Left Flank:

The Moorish Right Flank:

The cream of the Crusader army, all the character four in all (less the army general and army standard bearer needed to keep the flimsy infantry in check), plus the cream of the (First Charge/autobreak) Knights, the protective screen of Abbysiya Horse Archers and the extra unit of Naffatun (capable of making a unit panic if it takes one casualty- no armour save) move forward but do little damage with their shooting.

Another view of the Crusader Right flank as the opposing Knightly Allies sided with the Moors move forward at the far end of the table. The Moorish infantry also advance failing to cause any casualties to missile fire due to moving.

Another view as the Moorish army; this time Camel Riders take casualties. At this point the Abbysiya Horse Archers had proven to be quite disappointing in that they caused very little damage. 

A view from the Crusader Right flank; the Crusader Knights and Moorish Allied Knights face off. (The Crusader praying they would not fail a Warband test!)

Another view of the battlefield and the Crusader Left Flank. (And a box!) The Abbysiya Horse Archers are held in place by a unit of Infantry, a unit of Camel Riders and some hopeless skirmishers in the wood. Again, their shooting was disappointing. 

A serious volley of missile fire from the Crusader Crossbowmen, the Crusader Combined Formation units of spear and bow take a dent pout of one of the Moorish infantry units. What I have failed to mention, due to forgetting to take photo's, is the utter devastation of the Crusader Crossbowmen who were a temporary holding unit for the Crusader middle in the hope that the Crusader Heavies ands Abbysiya would come to the rescue.

Naffatum wielding nutters advance, take shots at the Cavalry but fail to do any damage. This was the last turn they would take part in the game. 

Embarrassed Naffatun wielding nutters just before the Moorish Knights charges and they fled!

At this point things began to get interesting on the Crusader Right flank as a failed warband test resulted in the Crusader Knights surge forward forcing the other unit of Knights to follow suit and move up to support. 

Another view of then inaction of the Crusader right flank. (I know not why the Naffatun loonies are hiding behind the knights with a nice juicy wood they could be hiding in causing mischief to their flank.

A battle won and the game lost! Crusader Knights charged the Moorish Allied Knights, did very little damage and lost the combat to First charge (auto broken). The other Crusader Knightly charge broke the other unit of Moorish Allied Knights (again, First charge and auto broken). Panic ensued all around. Literally everyone within 12" of the four units of Knights shared by both sides. Auto broken troops to one side, the Moorish troops were largely saved by their Ld 10 general (more than 90% chance of passing) and the Crusader let down by a lower leadership of 9. 

It was on this flank that the game was won as i/ rescue with the cream of the Crusader army was nowhere in sight and ii/ the Crusader infantry were left floating on the tabletop and a large unit of Moorish Allied Knights about to wheel into their rear and finish them.

Still, the cream of the Crusader army take pot shots at units which matter not and do nothing to rescue the Crusader Right flank. Most unlike the player who usually plays a very tight game (I was beginning to think my fellow Crusading compatriot was a Moorish plant!)

More of the same.

The Moorish infantry advance into a commanding position in the centre of the battlefield. 

Yep, if you hadn't noticed my frustration by now! LOL

Congratulations to the Moorish army who fought cleverly and valiantly. I'm not sure I can say the same for the Crusader army. "We" wer lacklustre in the extreme LOL

And a game of Impetus, run by Conrad Cairns (in as far as I know)

Un-Typical Night at the Club. Clubbing it!

First off a big "Duh!" to me for not taking any pictures of our large WAB game, which saw the Early "Justinian" Byzantines hook up with the Kushans (I know!) and take on Jim's charming Middle Imperial Romans (I know! I know!). It was a great game, quite tense in places, funny ion others; all that one might want. But, alas, no pictures! As I say, duh!

There's been  a bit of a DBA league, tournament type event happening at the club for a while now, so....

Post Partem DBA

DBA

Napoleonic-y Things Happening!

More Nappyness:

Too The Strongest

The Men Who Would Be Kings

More DBA!

I don't know if it was because folk were more spread out last evening or whether there were less people at the club but it did seem quite spacious! I'll be back with more when/if I get a chance between pauses in out own games; also back with some pictures of our actual games! Duh!

John Hodgson Design Dark Ages/Early Medieval Background Experiments

Having purchased Jon Hodgson, Fantasy Ruins and Tunnels backdrop (A3) from the man himself at Carronade Wargame show 2025 I thought I'd have a go at attempting to take a few snaps of some old Dark Ages/Early Medieval miniatures against the  purchased  Sadly the battery on my camera died, following much use over last weekend and after taking a host of images of painted mini's. The battery strained then died whilst I attempted to use the last morsel of life leaving me with only two pictures. Well, it's a start!

The images have not been Photoshopped except in reducing the size of the files.

I think with a little with enough shuffling, wiggling and fiddling (ooh err!) with the juxtaposition of the miniatures and background there is great scope for bringing the miniatures alive! Now, all I need is a selection of arid and desert type backgrounds and I am going to be in the "zone" as they say. (Maybe I could paint them myself? I am trained in that manner, but I do know that in order to produce the quality Jon Hodgson's little masterpieces, it would take me an awfully long time!)

A couple of images for now:

Carronade Wargame Show, Falkirk, 2025- Part 2- Painting Comp

This is a mini article for Part 2 to the Carronade Wargames show, Falkirk, UK and really all a chance to bask in my own glory for a little while! 

I entered the painting competition run every year at Carronade, Falkirk and entered three entries (all below) which, in the end, all ended up in the same category (a bit weird given the variation in my entries). I can only assume that given to the preponderance of Sci-fi and Fantasy miniatures in the comp (90-95% Sci-fi and Fantasy) not much thought had been given to any potential historical categories. Or perhaps there simply was no need for such categories due to the relative lack of historical entries(?). Maybe this will change by next year. I'm certainly going to have a polite chat and make a few suggestions to the organisers. BTW, I love painting miniatures, and this is a subject is I would feel just as strong about had I come last. 

So, my unit of 12 Early Byzantine (Belisarius, Narses era) won first prize in the Group or Regiment category. at the time of painting I did in fact lavish some time on as, being the Boukellaroi, they were one of the centrepieces of the army. As it happens, they haven't seen the tabletop yet as the rules we play place unrealistic/ahistorical restrictions on the Early Byzantine Boukallaroi! 

Anyway, I was so I was more than happy to have won a prize at all, let alone first prize. 

Well, apart from the piccies, that's it for Carronade 2025. 

All images are "clickable". Just right click then click "Open Image in New Tab" and voilà.

The first three pictures are screenshot from the The Lead Pile YouTube channel. 

My Three Entries All in the Same Category:

Ta Da!The Winning Unit- Belisarius Boukallaroi:

Carronade Wargame Show, Falkirk, 2025- Part 1

It's been well over ten years since I last visited Carronade wargames show at Falkirk of which I have many fond memories including winning a painting comp or two. Or at least getting prizes, as I say, it's been a while. It was my mate who suggested that we go, make a weekend of it and see how things are nowadays- we were not to be disappointed.

In an era, post pandemic, it is seemingly the small and middle shows who seem to have suffered the most. People are less likely to make the trip to a show post SARS CoV 2, a fact we can't ignore, but I think there is more to it and I will touch on that in the following article/stream of wargaming consciousness! 

As a wee note, please forgive me but I cannot names all the games and clubs responsible for putting them on. This is just not as easy as it used to be back in the day when my energy levels were bursting through my skin! Where I could I have taken the time to take a picture of the name of the club so I could cross reference it with the list of games on the Carronade website. any mistakes or omissions are entirely my own fault and do not reflect on the clubs who put these great games together. Rather, look at it as the beginning of my dodderiness! 

NB. All the images are clickable, simply right click then "Open in New tab" and you will get them full file. They have been edited down, mostly to 1600 pixels wide or high, just to keep things from getting silly with loading times etc. 

Years ago I was lucky enough to witness Colin's highly creative "imaginations" wargames at SESWC (Edinburgh Wargames Club). Very "Boys Own" in style with the same fun ethos of the comics. Overall, quite quirky and "out there". This game was no different and was a real treat as well as a being wee burst of nostalgia. I believe Colin, Dave, Andrew and Bill (plus others) now game on their own away from SESWC under the banner of the Gothenburg Gamers. I'll leave out the part where my backpack took out the artists easel displaying the game info! Embarrassing, it was! 

Gothenburg Gamers:

Victorian Undersea Adventure 28mm PP Game

Tyneside Wargames Club:

1st Battle of Polotsk 1812, Russians v Franco Bavarian 15mm Demo Game.

Supreme Littleness Designs:

I did have a rather long conversation with Michael regarding his designs and business, bought  his Desert For Ruins kit for £15 which I am still waiting to appear in the hands of the postman. more on that when I get the model.

Claymore Castings:

Hands down the best Early Hundred Years War miniatures by a royal mile. David and co are also working on expanding their ranges which is fantastic news for me- for so many years I wrote letters, then emails begging my favourite sculptors to produce such and such a Late Medieval range, always to be disappointed. Not so now! I'm going to be working on some Italians or Poles (Bohemians) very soon- I cannot quite make up my mind as to what exactly as I feel spoiled for choice and that is quite rare in Late Medieval wargaming!

Battle of Tewkesbury, The Immortals:

As you might have gleaned form my last words this game was a huge hit for me. It was not just the size, (which was huge!) but the attention to detail, the scope of trying to define the battle etc and, of course, there is the fun of playing in such a beautiful game! One day! "A York! A York!"

Glasgow Games Group

Just seeing the banner let loose a lot of emotion on my part. My very sadly departed mate, Spencer, had a great influence on the G3 Group of gamers. He will always be missed and always in my heart. 

The Grumpy Goblin Wargames Club

What a Wastelander Post Apocolyptic PP Game

Aberdeen Wargames Club:

Sengoku Jidai! What is not to like. I feel Warlord's Hail Caesar's supplements are getting very popular. They stand a good chance of getting more folk into the hobby, so as much as I have a love/hate relationship with Warlord, it's great to see the company influencing folk to try new things. not that for one moment I'm saying Aberdeen Wargames Club are new to the hobby! Far from it!

The Alamo

Targe, Kirriemuie Wargames show, Saturday 1st November:

28mm Samurai Demo Game

When living in Edinburgh, I used to visit this show religiously. It was always great and always a very social event. Yep, I really miss this one too. 

Glasgow and District Wargames Society:

Russo Ottoman War 1768, 28mm PP Game

I did not have time to take pictures of all the games, sorry guys, it's hard to do so and catch up with folk after not seeing some for over a decade!

And finally, one humungous apology to my good friend Colin Spiers who I walked past a few times, didn't recognise him. In the words of Shakespeare, "Shame, shame, and unperdable shame!". I hope you can forgive me Colin, there is nothing i would have liked more than to catch up! If it ever happens again, please poke me in the ribs!