Trafalgar The Biography of a Battle by Roy Adkins

I held off reading this until we had finished the game.  It also continues my Peninsula themed reading at the moment.

I enjoyed this book.  The background to the battle and particularly the conditions at sea were most interesting.  It was fascinating to find that being a seaman, as horrid as it was, was in some cases a better life than being a farm labourer.  Officers were very much in a class of their own, both in dress, life on board and what was expected of them (for example not laying down when under fire unlike the rest of the crew were ordered to do).  Once combat was engaged command would be extremely difficult, even assuming you still had a mast to run up some flags and the smoke cleared so your order could be seen by its intended target.

A large number of first-hand accounts were quoted in the book giving it an authentic voice.  Maybe this accounted for a bit of the pro-British bias I detected.  This battle is credited with cementing the British Empire, disrupting trade with which was very much one of Napoleon's strategic objectives.  After the battle there was a subsequent shift to harassing trade, possibly akin to piracy, by the French and what the British had done so successfully to hasten the end of the Spanish and Portuguese empires (my opinion).

The impact of the death of Nelson on the British public is covered in detail (maybe a bit too much).  It was interesting to read about how the other participants fared.  For instance, the Spanish officers were all promoted, and the sailors given triple pay for the battle.  The French admiral on the other hand met with a suspicious death...

One thing I really did like was how I could relate to this book having recently refought the battle

More Wildcatters

The VPs for collecting Wildcatters in this game seems to be a sound strategy for winning, but that said, it is a tricky thing to achieve.  Excellent game.

Richard was yellow, I was blue, Jeff was green and Russell red.

Pre-Islamic Arabs versus New Kingdom Egyptians

It was to be camels versus chariots as my Arabs (Yemenites to be precise) take on Dave's Egyptians.

The Egyptians out scouted the Arabs and deployed on a hill with woods on a flank.

The Arabs surge forward.

The Arabs have the upper hand and feel confident.

The Egyptians use Decisive Initiative and destroy the Arab centre.

It's all over.

Only as their morale broke were the Arabs finally able to rout two of the Egyptian units.

As they say:

A Quick Game
Is
 A Good Game

Shanghai Trader

Classic game first released in 1986.

Richard had the British concession, Russell Japan, Jeff Germany, Stefan US, Simon Russia and I had the French concession (or should I say French Connection).

Naturally I secured the French Club with the nice little earner in the Bastille Day Bash, but with little else.  Simon embarked on a Customs Swindle as well as running the Lido Nightclub.  Richard had the Currency trader but ran into trouble with some Russian thugs.  Jeff had control of the racetrack, which was a good earner for him, although I did win twice.  Russell had control of significant infrastructure and Stefan had the shipping company.

I had a lucky escape from the brothels of Old China Town, but Simon fell victim to the Terror of the Tongs who fleeced him for $100,000!

Stefan made an early escape pursed by the Lido courtesan, quickly followed by Jeff and Russell.  All were well supported by bodyguards and survived a few assassination attempts.  I then got to the airport but had to wait till the very last turn to get a flight out, just as the little red books were being printed. While at the airport I dodged a few bullets but thought best to hire some assassins to remove the remaining competition.  That put paid to Simon and Richard but left blood on my hands which I quickly washed off.

On the surviving concession holders checking their International Bank Accounts, Jeff had $250,000, Russell $350,000, I had $400,000 and Stefan $450,000.

The Almeria Infantry Regiment

Somehow, I had these figures and needing some Spanish infantry I thought it would be good to paint them up.  Rather than create a "perfect" unit, I decided to paint all the figures I had (hence two command stands, one of which is configured for taking a casualty marker).

It is amazing what you can do with a wash.  It has really brought out the detail and given these figures life.

Puerto Rico - twice

Last week I was fortunate to play the deluxe version of this game with Richard.

First game (and very first game for Richard).

I scored 55 (17 in tokens, 23 for buildings and 15 in bonuses).

Richard scored 40 (22 for tokens, 13 for buildings and 5 bonuses)

Second game and I scored 58.

(22 for tokens, 28 in buildings and 8 for bonuses).

Richard amassed an impressive 62,

mainly in tokens (40) but with 12 for buildings and 10 for bonuses.

Napoleon's Grand Armee of 1813 by Scott Bowden

Not really a book, more a collection or roll call of facts and figures, still it did make an interesting read and reference source.

I did learn the important term: Strategic Consumption. The losses an army takes outside battle, just from being there, marching about and going hungry.