Later Visigoths versus Old Saxons

They actually overlap in time (around the 8th Century) and this battle demonstrates why the Saxons failed to settle in Spain (until modern times).

Mostly very new troops on my part making their debut versus some very old figures making up Dave's Saxons.

Not surprising the Visigoths out scouted the Saxons

who deployed between two lakes.

The Saxons advanced while the Visigoths waited,

content to send their skirmishers forward.

The Saxons held back their wings which were now threatened by the Visigoth scouts.

The main body of Visigoth cavalry shuffled to their right.

A skirmish starts to develop on the Saxon's flanks,

as the bulk of their infantry head towards the enemy. 

The Visigoths have success on their left but are mired on their right.

There has been a clash between some of the Saxon foot and Visigoth horse,

with the later coming off the worse.

There has been a very mixed outcome with the infantry.

Meanwhile the Visigoth horse is now in position.

Will the Saxon foot catch the Visigoth mounted?

Will that skirmish on the right ever get resolved?

And is that victory of the Saxon infantry on the left somewhat Pyrrhic

given their commander has perished?

The Visigoth mounted make a lucky escape.

The Visigoth scouts are still battling away,

but the charge up the rear of the Saxons has failed.

The infantry fight on.

Finally victory to the Visigoths!

The large Saxon warbands are tough,

but the Visigoths were able to use their better mobility

to get around them (just).

Even More Dark Age Reinforcements

Too many is not enough, more are required!

This is a real mix of figures some of whom have been painted for a while

and were just waiting for some similar types to join them.

Tin Soldier mostly DVA6 Bondi

Tin Soldier DSA2 Fyrd

Heading to the tabletop now.

Union Stockyards

This game came highly recommended, but it is not a subject I care for being a vegetarian.

I was the Swift meat packing company and muddled through with poor brand reputation, but a healthy slice of Packingtown.

Here is some commentary from Richard:

Union Stockyards

Well, we certainly learned what to do in the last turn if you're in a positive margin on your products. Russell selling three times in the last round pocketed a whole bunch of cash. Everything else kind of evened out, but Russell's cash holdings tipped things in his favour. Russell is 3 wins from 3 games. (I'll make sure the board is upside down when facing him next time).

Mark's product prices suffered from poor brand development, but he streaked ahead with buildings. Perhaps choosing different ones which also boosted brand might have helped.

My buildings suffered from poor synergies only getting a few late game points for those and I didn't get the most out of my railroad connections only getting one double location which I chose to develop instead of slaughtering like Russell.

It would be interesting to see how this game played with 4 or 5 players as that would cut down opportunities to acquire so many buildings each and you also get far more limited numbers of trade houses (although we didn't lean heavily into that in this game).

This game is really great I think and it plays so fast once you understand how it works.

Francis Drake Sails Again

Happy to get my second go at this game.  Much better when you have a feel for what to do, however it's a tricky game, especially when trying to outfit one's voyage.

Final scores top left corner.  Richard in yellow. I'm blue and Russell was red.

Back to Stalingrad

Andrew and Stefan successfully take a block of the ruins of Stalingrad from Karl and Stephen.

Clearing one building and getting ready to dash to another.

While the other Germans hold on in the factory.

More Dark Age reinforcements

These are very much intended to be generic Dark Age figures, but also, I just painted what felt right.

DNA6 Heavy archer form the Tin Soldier Norman Range.

DSA4 Select Fryd from their Saxon range.

Pretty sure these are Old Glory.

I was inspired by a mannequin I saw in the Army Museum in Toledo of a Visigoth knight.

One Sided Miniature Wargaming Discourse: Museum of the Army Toledo Spain

Tobago and Francis Drake

Two new and to me unknown games played in a few hours with Richard and Stefan (who had put in the effort to guess the game based on clues provided).

First there was treasure hunting on Tobago.  Fun and easy to pick up (the rules that is, not so much the treasure).  Both Stefan and I suffered from cursed treasure which impacted Stefan particularly badly.  

Then there was Francis Drake.  A more challenging game and it took me a while to figure out what to do.  As there are only three voyages this made it hard to catch up especially with some bastard moves that blocked me from getting indigo.  As it was Stefan (blue) and myself (green) finished very close together in terms of VPs.  Richard had romped home to win this game as well the previous one.

This game had some nice player aids, like the little treasure chests in which to store any gems that had been looted from the Spanish colonies.  Although a few things were rather dull in comparison (gun and crew markers for example).  But with this game it certainly helped to know the rules. 

Charming games.  Played quickly although not without lots of thought.