Sidi Rezegh with Rommel

Finally Simon and I got to play a game of Rommel.  I was delighted when I stumbled upon the scenario for the battle of Sidi Rezegh as it matched my 15mm collection quiet well.  This would be the first time I used the figures and models I purchased for my Tunisian project some time back.  Also only the second time I had used my new gaming mat which I had particularly acquired for use with Rommel.

Would I enjoy the rules?

Simon, being the experienced player (as in he had played a game before, although that was five months ago) went DAK.  I went 7th Armoured Division. 

 Set up.

 First combat.

 Panzers getting ready to attack.

 Clash of armour.

7th Armoured's  tanks got the worst of the fighting.

 Okay, they are Matildas, but they are representing Honeys.

 The DAK have captured one objective so far.

But still have plenty of fight in them, whereas the 7th Armoured is a bit run down.

 The final reinforcements have arrived, top of the picture.

Game over on the final turn.

DAK just manage to hold three objectives, 

or rather the 7th Armoured just fail to retake an objective.

So, what do I think of Rommel?

I like my wargames where I am an army commander and Rommel certainly gave me that feel.  Often with WW2 games you are not often in the role of a senior general.

The command, movement and combat systems all worked well and were quick to get the hang of.

Using a grid made things easy.  It is not something I have previously experienced.

The game, including set up took six hours and while we could have played a bit quicker, it is probably not suitable for a club night, which is a pity. (Club night's are only about three hours.)

Yes it did feel like a boardgame with figures, but I like board games so this wasn't an issue.

Have to remember that the bases represent companies, not individuals.  I'm used to that with Napoleon's Battles; Fire and Fury; and Impetus.

Labels... Well, same applies to Napoleon's Battles and Fire and Fury, two of my most favourite sets of wargame rules.  The labels could be changed and possibly even done away with, although some strength counters would be required or a good roster.

Tipping, while an essential mechanic, seems an odd term.  I'd prefer something like regrouping.  I don't like the idea of twisting the bases to show tipping and think I might make up some markers instead.  I need to do that to show suppression in Blitzkrieg Commander.  One simple option would be to use cotton wool.

More a concern for me, and this is nothing to do with the Rommel rules, is that some of my collection are based and some not.  There are pros and cons with both approaches.  Some of the plinth bases could be improved by painting the edges to match the gaming mat.  Rommel doesn't need standard base sizes (as long as three can fit in a grid square, so this is definitely an aesthetic issue for my collection.

I'm looking forward to my next game of Rommel.

Nikephorian Byzantines versus Spanish Imperial

My Byzantines are certainly getting around a bit.  Last night at the club they took on Richard's Spanish Imperials - 500 years later and they had gunpowder!  This was just a friendly game, but we are both in the club's Impetus League competition, details of which can be seen here.

 End of Turn 1.

I was the attacker which meant I deployed mostly after the Spanish.  

I chose not to align my infantry against his pike blocks.

 End of Turn 2 boths sides are advancing.

Each is promoting their left flanks.

 My light cavalry get a perfect charge in against their opposites.

The enemy should have routed, and to force the issue I used my Betrayal Ace in the Hole card.

Sadly it produced the same result.

 End of Turn 3.

My light cavalry that should have been victorious has now been badly mauled.

The enemy Harquebusiers are also making their presence felt.

 End of Turn 4

The enemy pike have carried all before them.

That enemy light cavalry, that should have been betrayed, is still hanging on.

Note the slingers fighting the Italian Harquebusiers on the far right of the picture.

They are off in world of their own.

 End of Turn 5.

There has been some success on the Byzantine left,

offsetting somewhat the disaster on the Byzantine right.

 In goes my general hitting the Italian Men-at-Arms in the flank.

 End of Turn 6.

Byzantine morale is almost broken.

The red legion needs to get away.

 The slings get a few hits on their foe, 

but cannot break their cohesion.

 End of Turn 7.

The red legion are doing their best to get out of the way.

 The Harquebusiers get to shoot back...

 End of Turn 8.

The Spanish pike just can't quite reach the red legion.

The remaining Byzantine foot have turned around to face their pursuers.

The Byzantine cavalry is trying to come around.

But the Byzantine slingers have been routed.

 End of Turn 9.

The Byzantines feel they are very much on borrowed time.

End of Turn 10 and end of the battle.

The Byzantine foot had fought surprising well against the pike,

one more causality might have produced a draw.

The Spanish missile fire had been poor, but their pike blocks were just about unstoppable,

Nikephorian Byzantines versus Early Fatimid Egyptians

In a close to historical matchup, my Byzantines fought Mark Woods' Fatimid Egyptians.  It was his first Basic Impetus game.  It was a bloody encounter.

 End of the first turn as seen from the Byzantine left flank.

The Byzantine Tagmatic Kavallaroi are disordered after leaving the fields.

 By Turn Two things have developed quickly with the Byzantines getting in some long range shots.

 Turn 3 and the infantry are getting close, 

while skirmishing continues on the left.

 First contact.

Byzantine slingers hold their own... Briefly.

 The infantry clash.

 The Arabs get the advantage.

 Some excellent Byzantine bow work.

 End of Turn Four.

Byzantine foot have withstood the Arab onslaught.

 Finally I win an initiative only to have Mark reroll and move first again.

 Victory for the Byzantine Commander.

 But by the end of Turn 5 the Byzantine Commander was sent packing.

 The crows start circling over head.

 End of Turn 6 and the Arabs have staged a comeback,

the Byzantine Commander is lost and the infantry pushed back (mostly).

 Last Turns and both armies break...

Crows have a feast.

And if you would like to see the battle in a single frame, here you go...

Nikephorian Byzantine versus 100 Years War English

My second league game and I am happy to say the dice were with me.  Dave's 100 year old English were a bit tired I think...

 End of turn 1 and I send my light cavalry off on the flanks.

 End of turn 2 from the English side and my cavalry are nicely round the flanks.

The terrain throws had three "nothing"results.

 End of Turn 3 and the English are trying to engage the Byzantine light cavalry.

The Byzantine foot are trying to keep away from the English longbow.

 Turn 4 and the Byzantine foot start moving up.

 Turn 5 and the Byzantine foot keep advancing,

while the Byzantine cavalry surrounds the English knights.

 Turn 6 and the English knights have been routed,

the rest of the English line has become entangled with the Byzantines.

 Turn 6 and the English are broken.

And just for emphasis, a shot from the English side.

They have one unit of billmen still fresh, the remaining units are very worn.

The Byzantines had only lost one unit.

Three Bren Carriers, two 25pdrs and an A13 Mk II

More kit for my Western Desert Force that has been at the 99% complete stage for a while and now finally reached tipping point.

These have the same paint scheme as the cruiser tanks with comparable lack of markings.

I'm still not totally happy with the basing 

and might add a tuft or two and maybe some more sandy texture.

This guy is as light as a feather compared to the other tanks I have just finished.  

The Zvezda A13 is a simple kit, and in that lies its elegance.  

Just wish I'd added in some weight.

One, Two, Three, Four Cruiser Tanks

These chaps have been at the almost finished stage for a while, after their acquisition noted in this post back in April 2017.  I hit a major hurdle in the choice of yellow and in the end went with Vallejo Dark Sand over Desert Yellow (the colour I had initially settled on painting them).  The downside is that my partner now thinks they are unpainted!  But that is just maybe a combination of her eyesight and that my other recent completions have been the Byzantines which are very colourful in comparison. 

 One Crusader Mark II Command Tank

 Two Crusader Close Support Tanks with 3-inch Howitzers

 Three Cruiser Mk IV A13 tanks (1940 vintage)

Four Crusader Mark II Tanks in skirts

The other reason it has taken me so long to complete these is I haven't been able to decide on unit markings.  At this stage they are left blank and are therefore rather generic.  Perhaps with further more research I might settle on some designations.  As my 15mm allied army started out as Australians for Crete (really Western Desert) I haven't got a good sense of what I should do for the armour (and other gear I have now collected).  I'm also yet to varnish these models.