Here I Stand Again

In another mammoth effort at coordinating diaries of busy retirees we were again able to assemble, bar one, for a game of Here I Stand with Simon standing in for the Pope, Jeff as Francis I, Stephen as Sulieman the (mostly) Magnificent, Richard taking on the dual role of Henry VIII and Luther while I was the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V.

The situation after the first turn.

The Ottomans have knocked out Hungary, initiating a war with the Holy Roman Empire.

As presented the images look more like a game of spot the difference,

however...

A large part of Germany has been converted to Protestantism

or to be more accurate, lured away from the teachings of the Catholic Church.

More excitingly Sulieman has been captured as the HRE retake Buda.

Most other action has centred in the New World where explorers go to feed the natives.

At the end of the third turn we have a new pope 

who is trying to win back the doubters by burning books.

The dastardly British, after stopping Hungarians flocking to the HRE in the previous turn,

have seized Antwerp.  Methinks they are too close to the reformers...

The French and Spanish colonies pour in riches to their respective empires.

Even the Pope starts to build up in Italy, allying the Genoese.

After their set back at Buda the Ottomans are rebuilding.

However they suffered the loss of their corsairs off the Barbary coast,

when they lost the naval race (serious shipbuilding) to the HRE.

Additional Commentary from Richard

Turn 1

The Reformation started with more of a whimper than a bang, with the

just posted "Luther's 95 Theses" page failing to generate enough Likes

or subscriptions to spread much beyond Wittenberg. In fact after the

Diet of Worms the only thing"re-tweeting" in turn 1 was protestant spaces.

The Protestant was feeling generous to the Ottomans and decided not to

play "War In Persia" for the event. Surely this gesture would be repaid

in the future...

England and France agreed to a white peace. The Hapsburgs trapsed across

the Holy Roman Empire seizing the Independent Metz whilst France marched

into Italy for a Florentine gambit. The Papacy scored Genoa as an ally

and also started to prepare for a takeover in Florence. Who would get

there first? A Papal inspired Charles Bourbon lead a brief rebellion

outside Lyon, which was quickly crushed by France. A miffed Pope struck

back, excommunicating Francis.

England, with a hand of poor and few cards and powerful continental

rivals, slowly built up its forces in its European enclave Calais and

sent colonists to the New World.

Meanwhile, the Ottomans advanced into Hungary-Bohemia, seizing Belgrade

and then Buda and triggering a state of war with the Hapsburgs. In a

stroke of luck the Hapsburg explorer Narvaez with a negative exploration

modifier managed to discover the St Lawrence River whilst the

Conquistador Montejo with a plus 2 modifer was brutally killed by natives.

Turn 2 saw an undeterred Protestant continue to chip away and

protestantism went viral in German speaking areas as the Pope's

Indulgence Vending fund raiser, Eck ,failed to impress the judges enough

at the first theological debate with Tyndale in England. Putting their

differences aside, the Pope lifted the excommunication of Francis and it

looks like a deal has been done and France meekly allows Florence to

fall to the Papacy.

France contented themselves with building Chateaux and sending forth

colonists and explorers. Cartier discovered the Pacific Channel and made

an attempt at circumnavigation, but was roasted by cannibals en route.

Explorer for hire, Cabot, in French service discovered the Great Lakes.

Meanwhile Magellan was distracted by the Fountain of Youth, delaying his

expedition one turn. Not too bad really, what could possibly go wrong

for the highest rated (+4) explorer in the game....

The Barbary Pirates set up in Algiers and a despite almost no resistance

failed to gain anything from their attempted piracy. Elsewhere the

Ottomans made for Vienna to attack Charles V, but Suleiman was struck

with a bout of gout (Played by the Hapsburg) and was stuck in Buda for

the rest of the impulse. Seizing the opportunity. Charles V advanced to

Buda and following a field battle and in what can only be described as

an unexpected move, Suleiman, risking almost certain capture withdrew

behind the walls of Buda rather than retreat towards Belgrade and

safety. Without any prospect of relief and the Hapsburgs having at least

one shot at an assault in the remaining impulses before winter,

predictably, Buda fell to a Hapsburg assault and Suleiman was captured

and taken to Vienna.

With Charles and his army in Buda, the Protestant played his home card

to retrieve "Cloth Prices Fluctuate" and targeted the Hapsburgs with

unrest in Vienna and surrounds and forcing him to discard his last

remaining card. Ironically this was "John Zapolya", which if played

would have allowed the Hapsburg to fully rebuild the Hungaro-Bohemian

Army to full strength. With unrest in Vienna, Charles' army was also cut

off from that wintering route and 2 mercenaries suffered attrition. With

Suleiman captured in Vienna and precious little Ottoman forces between

the Hapsburgs and Istanbul, this was an unexpected reprieve for the

Ottomans, although the real purpose was to hinder the Hapsburgs in

reacting to the possible formation of the Schmalkaldic League in the

next turn and other possibilities...

With the Hapsburgs busy crushing the pirate threat and on the guard

against Suleiman and unable to quickly get the Spanish Netherlands due

to unrest in the Holy Roman Empire, England, with only 4 cards in total

to play with, made a big call and rather than advance Henry's marital

status by using his home card for that event, instead took the other

option on that card and declared war (other than in the diplomacy

phase)on the Hapsburgs and besieged Antwerp. Playing another precious

card, "Unsanitary Camp", the Hapsburg garrison was cut down by half and

then succumbed to the English assault. A key captured and a precious

extra card for England next turn, or maybe not...

Meanwhile, with Francis I unable to attend Mass and with no more lego to

build another castle, explorers to send to their deaths, and unwilling

to fight anyone other than put down a rebellion, decided to poke the

Lion and played "Revolt in Ireland" late in the turn, guaranteeing that

England would have 1 less card  next turn. Venice might well have its

bridge of sighs, but in England its just sighs...

Turn 3

In England Henry VIII was feeling the itch and moves were made to ask

the Pope to grant a divorce, which were dismissed out of hand. The

Ottomans payed a Ransom and Suleiman was released. Meanwhile Magellan

decided to continue his quest for the Fountain of Youth. No-one knows

what happened to him, but he apparently had stunning complexion. The

English colonists failed to produce anything (sigh), whilst the Hapsburg

and French colonies generated bonus cards.

Down 2 cards for this turn, one for loss of Buda and one lost to

ransoming Suleiman, the Ottomans only had 4 cards including their Home

Card.  Careful play would be required to make the most them.

For reasons known only to the Ottoman, they decided to play one of their

cards,"Indulgence Vendor" a 3CP card, for the event, taking a random

card from the Protestant and having its CP value added to the Papal St

Peter's building fund. Clearly the gaming gods were as unimpressed by

this move as the aghast Protestant, but in a stroke of poetic justice,

the card selected was a 1CP response card which at most could have

bought a few more lines of a bible translation.

Another Ottoman attempt at piracy on the Barbary coast resulted in no

gains and the Hapsburg played "Shipbuilding" to bolster his fleet and

then sailed to confront the pirates resulting in the destruction of

Barbarossa's fleet and Algiers only saved from capture by winter

looming. (That prayer room at the Vatican is looking like a worthwhile

investment now isn't it?...just sayin')

The Pope, unimpressed by the inferior quality marble sent by Suleiman to

decorate St Peter's, reinforced the Adriatic against piracy (like that's

going to happen...) building a fortress with play of "Trace Italienne"

(and putting that marble to good use too!). Elsewhere Eck debated

Tyndale again, but due to an error by the timekeepers, Tyndale wasn't

allotted enough time to make his rebuttal (didn't roll the correct

number of dice) and was burnt at the stake.

France basking in cards to spare and peace all around built more

chateaux. sent forth colonists and Roberval (who was "sadly" lost at

sea), more military units, and interestingly claimed a space in a

curious part of Italy adjacent to Florence. With the threat of

excommunication gone. (Francis can't be excommunicated again) and with

the possibility of the "Master of Italy" card coming up, perhaps France

is leaving their options open for a strike against the Papacy.

Down a card, but with the German speaking zone essentially fully

converted, the Protestant contented himself with continuing translations

and with nothing attractive in the discard pile to retrieve, Luther

debated Teztzel for the recovery of one more space lost to book burning

earlier in the turn.

The Hapsburgs and France send more colonists across the seas and they

along with England hope to reap a rich harvest of extra cards come turn 4.

Turn 4

With colonies maxed out, hopes are high for a return, the sighs of Henry

are drowned out by the guffawing of France and the Hapsburgs as all

their colonies produce cards and the English get nothing.

With the game now paused at the start of turn 4, just before cards are

dealt. The Hapsburgs will have 12 cards, France 7, Ottomans 5, Papacy 7,

Protestants 4 and England 3 cards).

Barring a co-ordinated Hapsburg pile on, the game isn't expected to last

past this turn or the next.

The Ottomans are in a very weak position with a small army camped

outside Prague their pirate fleets gone and Algiers ripe for invasion.

England is going to have to use one of its only 3 cards to move on Anne

Boleyn and try and produce a male heir, and with the reformation not

having touched its shores yet and having to put down the Irish revolt

and try and hold on to Antwerp and Calais all with the other 2 cards,

it's a tough ask!

With an unmolested Pope (now there's an oxymoron) the Papacy is well

placed and currently leading the VP total at 19, having secured an

enviable position in Italy picking up Genoa in the first turn and

striking a deal with France to get Florence and with the promise of

Jesuit Universities to come and even better debaters. If Master of Italy

comes up (a potential 2 VP based on current situation) and one or two

debate wins/building St Peters and more counter reformation, they are

poised to win at this stage if it comes down to VP. They need to buy time.

The Protestants are up against it, with the reformation yet to start in

England or France and the timing of the Schmalkaldic League card

uncertain, there doesn't seem to be a path to victory at this stage.

The Hapsburgs are spoilt for choice. Being 4 keys away from a military

victory and with a cornucopia of cards they have the most options. They

will easily secure Algiers and Prague this turn and the decision will be

whether to go for low hanging fruit in Italy and Southern France for a

win or press on crusader like to Istanbul and become master of Europe in

a military victory. A VP win is most definitely also an option, although

this will mean cutting down the front runners, France and the Papacy

just in case they sneak over the line before the necessary VPs can be

amassed.

How the game ends, depends on France. Being 5 keys away from a military

victory, and with 17 VP they have two good complimentary paths to victory.

An exciting finish ahead, and I expect another game started before lunch

next session!

Moet and Chandon Man, eh Person, eh Thing

This is what happens when an acquaintance with an artistic bent wants to contribute to the hobby over dinner and a bottle of wine.

Shiny things can be hard to photograph,

but I hope some features are obvious.

And here they are with their paraphernalia

or if you prefer

here it is with its bits and bobs.

Most unlikely to reach the table top (again).

But you never know...

Tiny Arnhem Campaign Turn 1 Second Battle

The battle of the tiny trees.

This is on the north edge of the map (see earlier post for full map)

Arnhem is a few hexes from the bottom of the image. 

Simon was horrified to find he did not have enough tiny trees to fill the table.

We would have to use our imaginations.

Arnhem (and the drop zone) is off to the left of the image.

This is my command, 2nd Battalion Kampfgruppe "Von Tettau".

Mark Woods commanded the 1st Battalion.

Brad commanded the paratroops who were somewhere in the woods

Found them!

But they pull back.

We advance, attempting to work around their flanks and cut them off from the drop zone.

The full weight of Kampfgruppe "Von Tettau" now comes into force

and we have them almost surrounded. 

But it was not to be, they find a gap in our lines and beat a speedy withdraw.

However we inflicted serious damage.

The paras were reduced from 11 platoons to just 3.

German losses were light with each battalion losing just one platoon.

A very exciting game, well constructed and umpired by Simon.

The final battle in Turn 1 is for Arnhem itself.

Stolberg Corridor - 15 September 1944

At this month's NWS Games Day we thought we'd have another game of Rommel.  This would be Senno again, unless I could find some time (which is a rare commodity in these days of retirement).  

Time is need to find a scenario (as that is what we like playing) and the fabulous HexesandMiniatures website provides an abundance of scenarios for Rommel.  Of course this means having to make a choice, but luckily after only short browse, I hit upon Stolberg Corridor.  This has long been of interest to me having been included as a short campaign subject in the Command Decision rules.

The terrain looked straightforward.

I quickly determined that I had suitable figures and models.

All I had to do was redraw the map for hexes.

That just left the labels, a more labour intensive job, with most of the effort going into finding suitable unit logos and fiddling with Microsoft Word to get everything aligned,

Simon declared he had a cunning plan and went the Germans.

Stephen took on the roll of commander 9th Panzer Division.

(Roll is the correct term as the job involved mainly rolling the dice)

For the US forces, Olivier commanded the 16th RCT

and I took the two Combat Commands of the 3rd Armoured Division.

The US forces as seen from the German lines.

Fighting commenced immediately for (left to right)

Brand, Kornelmunster and Zweital

The fight for Kornelmunster is turning out to be a real killing ground.

The US will prevail, but it will exhaust one of the Combat Commands.

Meanwhile the other Combat Command of the 3rd Armoured,

is trying to get round the flank of Ellensdorf.

The 16th RCT have worked round behind Vicht 

and have started to attack the panzers

3rd Armoured is nearly exhausted, but must press on.

In a surprise move, the panzers breakout of Vicht and head for Zweital.

To win the US need to hold five victory locations.

They hold four.

They stand a chance of taking Bausback in the centre,

but must somehow get troops back to Zweital.

The attack on Bausbach is proving hard work.

16th RCT keep busy with a belated attack on Mausbach

As the sun starts to set the 16th RCT make a desperate attack to remove the panzers from Zweital.

They succeed.

A decent attack is made on Ellensdorf,

but the defenders are too strong.

And the final attack on Bausbach pitters out...

It could have gone either way.

The game proved more balanced and intriguing than I expected (I was just happy to get my kit on the table).  Now I am really inspired to progress the Stolberg corridor mini campaign for Rommel.  Can I find the time?

Here are two supplementary images, close ups, from Stephen.

Additional supplementary photos from Stephen:

Snappy Practice

Getting ready for another mega Snappy Nappy game, a system that focuses on the campaign issues of Napoleonic warfare rather than the tactical.

We started off with a Darren innovation for SN - some fog of war.

Which cards represent troops and which are bluffs?

The Russians I am commanding were able to get nice and close before being revealed.

The action developed quickly

There was a bit of a prolonged fight...

But the Russians prevailed 

(on my part of the field at any rate).

Barbarossa - Turn Sixteen

 Actually got a full turn completed in a four hour (or so) session.

AGN starts its assault on Talin.

But Pskov must remain the immediate focus 

if AGN are going to make it to Leningrad.

AGC attacks everywhere.

But AGS contents itself securing the pockets and bringing up supply.

The big picture for AGN

The situation south of Pskov

Somewhere in the centre...

A crisis is approaching as the map edge is coming up soon.

AGS still have a way to go before they reach Kiev

Rumania is massing on the border.

On this part of the map roads are few

and railroad conversion progress will be critical.

Barbarossa - Vassal - Madness - Turn 9

The storms in the north develop into rain producing mud, but in the centre the weather clears to a nice dry July 8/9.  Will the rain be too late to save Daugavpils?  Conversely will the dry weather allow the Axis to cut off the Soviets as they escape from Minsk?

AGC sends six Luftwaffe units to AGN.  This will take a few days, but there seemed to be an imbalance in air asset allocation between the Army Groups.

AGN struggle in the mud to try and capture Daugavpils ,

they failed this time.

AGC tries to surround Minsk as the Soviets slip away.

Situation at the end of the turn.

It is hard to tell from these images, but the Soviets are strong in the north around Pskov, but weak in the centre.  However significant reinforcements are on their way.

Barbarossa - Vassal - Madness - Turn 8

And the weather is... Storms,  which is not so bad.

AGN mopping up in Courland

AGN starting the assault on Daugavpils

AGC northern Minsk pincer.

AGC southern Minsk pincer

AGN and the Baltic theatre.

Pskov seems to be the target,

but there is a good way still to go to get there.

Soviet Belorussian front sees the danger and orders a withdrawal from Minsk.

It will be a race to the Dnepr.