Fireball Forward - Round 2

Dave once again brought out Fireball Forward for us to play. This time around it was a larger  battle

We played a scenario pitting elements of the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division squaring off against the 12 SS in the town of Rots. Scott & I played the Canadians, while Chen supported by Dave played the Germans.

The Canadians had 4 troops (squads) of 46th Royal Marine Commandoes with a Sqn of Sherman's from the Fort Garry Horse'. As well we had support from 3 Centaurs.

The Germans consisted of a troop of Panthers, 2 squads of infantry with MG's and a support unit with a mortar, infantry gun & AT gun.

All the forces began under blinds. The 3 objectives were the bridge, church & farmhouse (single building) at the top of the image. Needless to say from the deployment, the battle would be fought at the one side of the field.

Our tank Squadron took a battering from the Panthers, & although hitting several times in return, failed to penetrate the frontal armour of the Panthers. They eventually supported the assault on the church by hammering it with HE, driving out several of the German defenders.

 



 

Having learned the lessons of the first running of Fireball Forward, we had hoped to get the infantry more involved. Unfortunately, we spent several turns of no one being able to spot anyone. Something else that occurred much to Chen's chagrin, is having many of the tanks run out of ammo! In order for this to occur, one of the dice rolled when firing is the designated ammo dice. If it rolls a 1, a reroll is made with a 1 or 2 putting the weapon out of ammo.

 

 

The Canadians did get into the church & engaged the single German Rifle element on the upper floor.  After the rest of the Canadians were again pushed out of the lower floor, we managed to just have a leader holding the ground floor. The platoon you see outside the church was unable to 'go the distance' to make it into the church.

 

 

The Germans also got a single leader figure make it into the ground floor & we had the 2 leaders square off in a Webley vs Luger slugfest. Meanwhile a Panther made a rush for the bridge to contest the objective & although its main gun was without ammo, it still had some MG's. The Marines surged forward and had 2 rifle teams swarm the tank.

 

Alas, Chen rolled a 6, which repulsed the infantry...what a shame after such a glorious surge.

With the Canadians holding 1 of the 3 objectives & the second 2 remaining contested, it was deemed a draw. I think we had 4 of the tanks on the battlefield sitting ammo less by the battles end.

We continue to learn the nuances of this system, one such is using leaders to rally & then move with other troops at key moments. This is very similar to the power of leaders in the Lardie's systems. Thanks again to Dave for bringing this out & I am sure we will see more of it in club nights to come.

Spartacus - Serpents and the Wolf Gladiators

I've been working on several projects, hence why no real updates & then had my friend I do painting for ask if I had the expansion for Spartacus yet.

Once he discovered I did, he asked that I get the 2 figures painted for him. So here they are completed this morning

I particularly like the fella with the mattock.

I am currently working on the 4 figures from the latest Descent expansion for my friend as well.

 Also I have been sorting out my Pirate figures to make sure I have enough for the crews. After sorting out crews with a Captain, Navigator & Marines it leaves the crew, which I luckily have a great many plastic ones from the Weapons & Warriors game to fill them out. Of course as things are around here, I am continually being drawn to start other projects for IHMN, WW2, Zombicide etc....must stay focussed. So I guess we shall see how this turns out.

Fireball Forward - Battle of St. Lambert-sur-dives 1944

Last night at the club, Dave brought out a WW2 game using Fireball Forward. We refought the Battle of St. Lambert-sur-dives where Currie won his Victoria Cross




The battlefield was quite small compared to many we have played at the club. I played the German force with Jonathon, while Chen & Scott played the Canadian force. Dave ran the game as none of us had played these rules

The Canadians started under blinds, with 3 of them being dummies. After the fact I wish I had snagged  a copy of the scenario to better describe the forces. The Germans had 4 turns to achieve 2 of 3 objectives, which would prove to be somewhat difficult

We advanced our first infantry squad from out of the woods & proceeded to the edge of some ruined buildings.

Right smack dab into a pair of Canadian Sherman's.

We then ran our Panzerfaust armed teams up into the building beside the Shermans. One thing we learned quick is that any movement opens you up to Opportunity Fire from whatever elements can see you. Not good for the attacker at all, as every time you moved a unit, it was hit with fire. My personal thought is that a unit should only be allowed one opportunity fire rather than at everything, this is way too powerful.

It took several volleys of back & forth fire before the Panzerfausts destroyed both Shermans in the same turn, but by this time it was a deadlock.

The Germans were able to achieve 1 of the 3 objectives at games end, having driven 2 vehicles off the roads on the opposite side of the battlefield.

The sun was wreaking havoc on the photos, spoofing the Camera, though it did give me this rather interesting shot, which almost looks like a spotlight lighting up the Sherman's ablaze.

Post battle it was realized that the Germans have to go full bore & I already have a good idea of what I would do different as the Germans next time we play this scenario.

Thanks again to Dave for bringing out his well painted miniatures & running the game.

Mice & Mystics Round 2

The last 3 Mice characters are now completed.

First up is a female mouse Archer/Hunter type

Next up is another Warrior type Mouse

And lastly a female mouse Healer/Cleric.

This completes my current consignment & now my focus will switch to painting more Pirates. Tomorrow night is EWG Club night where I hope to play in a game of Fireball Forward.

Thus ends the HOTT Campaign.

We arrived to play what would be our last night of this HOTT campaign, mainly due to us losing one of our players to a posting in Wainwright. So with that in mind it was decided that the highest points at the end of this evening would be declared the winner.

So we started the night completing the Autumn turn from the previous night. Chen's Stronghold fell to the siege of my Goblin Hordes thus making him a Vassal. Meanwhile Stu marched against Chris, forgetting that he had lost quite a few elements from the previous turn. Oh well, that didn't stop him

Stu had Dennis send a contingent, while Dave, Chen & I were sending support to Chris. Oddly enough, with the orientation to the map, both Chen & Dennis arrived along the same edge, but were however on opposing sides. Chen had a spate of 1's and lost most of his command.

Neither Dave's nor my contingents made it to the field.

The battle ended with the death of Chris's General

Winter found all the armies rebuilt & war was waged by Stu & Dennis against Dave. I myself was still at war with Dave which also prompted my vassal to oppose him also. Chris allied himself with Dave.

Stu took the opportunity to quickly move & lock Dave's field army down. Although close, Dennis was unable to march his field army to assist, so had to settle for a contingent. Chen also sent a contingent, however I was too far away to join in. Chris sent a contingent to support Dave.

Both Chen & Dennis arrived to help Stu, however Dennis was smashed by the combined might of a  Hero, Paladin mix. Stu lost his General & it was battle over. It was getting late by this time, so it was decided to tally the scores & see who was the Overlord.

Final standings were;

Dave          94
Terry          88
Chen          63
Dennis       56
Chris          55
Stu             47

We are now in the preliminary planning of doing a War of the Roses campaign based on Kingmaker, however the next while will be spent just having some open gaming.

Mice & Mystics

I am now working on painting up these character...err mice figures from the game Mice & Mystics.



I do not own this game myself, & am painting these as part of the consignment. As such I am not sure of what the mice names are, but here are the first 3 of six.

This first one is obviously a fighter type

This next appears to be a mage or wizard.

The last of the three is the rogue.

Tomorrow night is the HOTT Campaign, so I will post images from that likely Wednesday.

Last of the Last Night on Earth, another Scurvy Fella & Command & Colours Ancients at EWG

Well this post really is a mixed bag of tricks. To start off I am now done the Last Night on Earth character consignment.

Here we have a Hippy Chic & a College Jock.

I am also beginning to get back to my pirate figures which are cluttering up my paint table. This fella was near done before the consignment came, so got sidelined.

Last night was a Command & Colours Night at the club. Dave brought out an Ancients battle.

We played 2 rounds of the Battle of Ilipa, pitting the Romans against the Carthaginians.

In both battles things did not go well for the Carthaginians who lost in both.

Sadly the Elephants never really got off the ground & indeed proved much more advantageous for the Romans who just peppered them with missiles hoping they would trample adjacent units (namely their own).

Thanks to Dave for bringing out his miniatures for what turned out the be the Hottest Day in the History of Edmonton...a scorching 43C which was thanks to a high humidity.