Just a few Portuguese Light Cavalry

Not much you can do with just four figures except paint them. It's been a while since I've painted Napoleonic's although these figures had been prepped for a long time.  I'm pretty sure they were spares that Dave was giving away and my inner Yorkshireman couldn't resist free figures. The brand appears to be Battle Honours, but I could be wrong.  One reason I had been slow to paint them was in finding a blue I was happy with.  I used Jo Sonja's Cobalt Blue with a black wash that toned it down delightfully.  I photographed them indoors late in the day and ended up with too many photos, but I like the various effects that occurred as I fiddled around with my camera (phone) settings.

Wobbly swords and a chest belt that was a bugger to paint.

What is happening?

In order to provide flexibility, I based them in pairs,

rather than one 2x2 base.

At this stage I decide my camera lens was smudged.

But it does give them a nice dusk vibe.

Wow!  Full flash!

Much better with the other flash setting.

Most importantly I am very pleased and relieved at how they have turned out.

Torpedoes and Tides - Making a Beginning with actual model boats this time

Third play through of the Making a Beginning scenario, but with enhanced playing pieces.  Mark B again commanded the British flotilla.

The two German S-Boots are heading home after an incursion into British home waters

when they are intercepted by three British MGBs.

Action commences immediately with the lead German boat taking two hits 

and one of the British boats receiving a single hit.

The lead German boat takes more hits and wisely decides to flee.

The remaining German boat tries to hold off the enemy so its compatriot can make good its escape.

The fighting is intense with the already damaged British boat taking another hit,

but the German boat now also has two hits and is also supressed (the white marker)

The British boats need to turn to pursue the Germans.

But the now battered German boat is caught.

And sunk.

Very happy with the visuals.  A quick, exciting game that was over in 45 minutes of play time.  Next task is to perfect the QRS and move on to trying a different scenario.  I'm also tempted to get a few more boats and I am checking where James has sourced his 1/700th models from.

The author of the rules has an excellent blog: The Raft – Wargaming Adventures

Imperial Elegy - No Bots

 Six players: Jeff Prussia/Germany, Richard Great Britain, myself as France, Simon Austria-Hungry. Stefan Russia and Russell as the Ottomans.

Richard has provided this AAR on the first four turns.

Turn 1

Metternich plots to take over Italy and ally The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Meanwhile a Nationalist Wave immediately unifies Italy, scuppering Metternich's cunning plans. Austria has to re-calibrate and looks to the Balkans.

Britain puts down the Sepoy Revolt and moves to absorb Afghanistan.

Britain acquires Shanghai from the Qing.

The Second Opium War sees Britain gain Guangzhou and France Indochina from the Qing.

Britain ally Egypt.

Prussia absorbs Hanover and Saxony after a War of Unification.

Everyone industrialises.

Prussia invokes German Unification as a National Goal.

Turn 2

Prussia ally Bavaria.

Prussia declares a War of Unification but does not use the Bismarck card meaning other powers can come to the aid of the attacked power. Prussia absorbs Schleswig-Holstein after France, Britain and Russia ignore the pleas of the Danes. Bavaria joins to Prussia and the Prussians take control of the Germany flashpoint with a +1 Card marker.

A diplomatic war rages over Persia between Russia and Britain. Russia wins for now but burns up a lot of cards to do it.

Austria becomes Austria-Hungary and Hungarians are granted full citizenship.

Russia completes the Trans-Siberian Railroad.

Britain conquers Baluchistan.

Britain ally Greece after play of Powder Keg.

The Ottomans move into the Triple Entente everyone else is neutral.

The Liberals are up to their old tricks, and reserve armies are scaled back across the continent.

Everyone industrialises except the Prussians and Austrians.

Turn 3

Prussia attacks France to liberate Alsace-Lorraine. The French surprise the Prussians by playing a 4 card for war budget (Austrian Military advisers are suspected of meddling on behalf of the French) which gives them a total war budget of 8 including 3 for industry level and 1 for 2nd Empire

The Prussians mobilise their reserves, France reinforces the frontier and then Prussia wins a decisive victory, but then halts their offensive. They had the opportunity to press on. Would they rue this decision?

France with their superior war budget regroups and counterattacks. The causes casualties, but attack fails, but they press on. This time causing the Prussians to retreat from Alsace Lorraine. France wins a defensive victory and with their defeat of the Prussian Naval squadron imposes a blockade on Prussia in addition to demanding reparations.

Prussia will be -2 cards for next turn.

The dream of German Unification looks to be snuffed out? Or maybe there will be a comeback?

Austria grants rights to Serbs, Bosnians and Italians.

Austria sees a Second Industrial Revolution and all powers benefit from a +2 DRM to their industrialisation rolls this turn.

The Meiji Restoration brings Japan into the game and the Russians sneakily ally them after a to and fro sleight of hand with placing their diplomacy markers in various locations.

Russia ally Ethiopia.

Italy expands its influence and establishes a naval base in New Guinea.

Russia moves into the Triple Entente, joining the Ottomans. Strange bedfellows indeed.

The Liberals have been at it again and more reserve armies are disbanded. (Ed this was actually before the Franco-Prussian War, but as we have seen failed to stop the conflict.

Everyone Industrialises.

Turn 4

Prussia licks their wounds and only have two cards to play plus their home card. They build up their army and industrialise.

The Scramble for Africa sees the Ottomans seize East Africa and Britain and France continue the carve up. It's nearly all gone by the end of the turn.

Britain plays Urabi Revolt and seizes control of Egypt and the Suez Canal. This gives them control of the Africa flashpoint.

Austria grants Romanians full citizenship and then engages in a diplomatic offensive in Romania. Russia looks on passively. Austria then ally Romania and then incorporates them into the Empire. Russia is now cut off from the Balkans.

Italy establishes a naval base in Aden and adds influence in Madagascar.

France takes control of Mexico.

France, Russia and Ottomans are in a fully committed Triple Alliance, with lonely Prussia in the Entente. (Ed: France was forced into this by the aggression of Prussia).

With variable National Goals, it's unclear which power is doing the best. It's virtually certain that Russia will not gain bonus VP for controlling Istanbul with Russia and the Ottomans in an apostatic alliance. Prussia has a difficult road ahead in trying to unify as Germany. It will take another war with France and they now have powerful allies to Prussia's East. Any chance of bonus VPs for Prussian Colonial Spaces looks virtually impossible with Britain and France claiming almost everything on offer. So it will be a very tight race assuming a Great War doesn't break out.

Play adjourned with turns 5-7 to come.

Classical Indians versus Late Imperial Eastern Romans

A friendly game against John's Romans.  It took a while for the Indians to get their act together and evict the invaders.

The Romans out scouted the Indians and deployed on a hill with a wood on the right flank.

The Roman cavalry advances, as do the Indians who try some shooting as well.

Everyone starts advancing now.  The Indians can still not hit their target, 

but the Romans land a devastating volley on the Indian light cavalry.

Getting close now and the Indians finally land some shots but of limited effect.

But they had been saving themselves for the Roman heavy cavalry that has just been obliterated

after it made a desperate charge to avoid missile fire and was then pursed by elephants. 

The Roman light cavalry is not proving very effective.

Indian archers have repulsed one legion,

but the other is making headway against the Indian foot.

Brave Indian chaps holding up those Romans.

PSC Romans and Tin Soldier Indians.

The Indian general is slowly returning to the fray.

(It's hard work turning those elephants around)

With half their army destroyed the Roman morale collapses.

Before and After Dark Ages

 I was gifted these figures on the understanding that they might benefit from a bit of re-lifing.

This is the "before" shot.

And now the "after" shot.

I am so pleased with these chaps that I've taken a whole lot more photos to share.

I rebased as light foot rather than skirmishers as it made two Basic Impetus units.

However, I did keep them on the WRG bases.

I don't know who the figure manufacturer was.

Some spares remained as skirmishers.

A random collection making up a base of heavy infantry.

The flag was "found" on the Internet.

Two randoms became generals.

Busy pointing the finger.

Some surplus Tin Soldier cavalry.

Wildcatters

A second chance to play this excellent game with Richard, Russell and Simon.

The situation at the end of seven rounds.

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

Final scores:

The conversion of shares during game play is interesting.  A Wildcatter would cost at least 4 shares, a VP from a Consolidation Chip would be 8 shares for 1 VP up to 20 shares for 10 VP.  With exception of VP on Area Cards everything is on a sliding scale, generally 16 VP if you have the most, then 8 VP for second and 4 VP for third.  Refineries are different again and require a significant investment in workers but potentially providing 20 shares.  

The main aim in this game is to piggyback on other players and not try and develop a whole region yourself.  Tankers are a prize asset for targeting oil deliveries to continents.

Fascinating game and I'm looking forward to playing again.

Boats for Torpedoes and Tides

After my two games with Cardboard Standees, Simon gave me a present of some model MTBs for me to construct.  Much appreciated as I was undecided about my next step, particularly scale.

This is the first one made up.

Very fiddly, but I was happy with the results.

1/700th.

Four S-Boats

ID is discreet but yet to be tested.

Four Vospers

The box art

Did I say fiddly? 

 These are two PT boats still on their sprues.

The box contained four of each type.

Luckily, I did the S-Boat first as it had the fewest pieces. If I'd tackled the Vosper first or heaven forbid the PT Boats, I might not have continued.  

Next task is to schedule another game.