Preparation for Triples 2016

Steve and I will be at Triples with a revised version of the Deepdale game which we played at the Phalanx show in 2013.  This time we will be using the Lion Rampant rules and reverting the to 'correct' unit sizes of 12 or 6 figures.  During the playtesting we found that the crucial element was the timing of the arrival of the various forces.  Historically, the Yorkshire contingent under Vavasour were driven from the field before the main body of the Earl of Lancaster's forces arrived.  To have any chance the rebels need to achieve this and also avoid heavy casualties, especially amongst their better units.

The Earl's forces.  Some of the figures have been drafted from the Teutonic army, so new flags are being made.

Archery plays far less of a role than it did in the Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses, so the Earl's better trained forces definitely have the edge.  In our trials the rebels were defeated each time, but after the first game, Banister (the rebel leader) was more circumspect.  His initial effort (under my command), resulted in his early demise at the hands of Vavasour's forces; so when the Earl's main force under Neville appeared the remaining rebels were simply overwhelmed.  In the second game he remained in reserve, only committed when Neville's own unit approached.

Strickland, a wing commander for the Earl's forces is cut down by Banister's men

We will try out the game again before Triples and hopefully we can manage to create a 'one hour' participation game as we did for the Phalanx show last year.

Computer rant and Triples May 2015

It has been a struggle posting battle reviews the last few months, our aging laptop cannot use the modern version of Internet Explorer and the version it can use is not compatible with the 'updated' version of Blogger.  (Don't you hate it when things are 'updated'?).  The recommended Google Chrome option slows things down so much that only divine providence has prevented the laptop sailing through the window.  Anyway, I eventually purchased a new laptop thinking that it would make things easier.  How naive can you get?  I now have to combat the vagaries of Windows 8, which a manual tells me means  " I have 15 years of catching up to do".  There is also the small matter of finding the updated (that word again!) drivers for the camera and printer.

Rant over, for the moment.

Steve and I headed across the Pennines yesterday towards Sheffield.  Quiet roads meant that we arrived early and had to join the queue of gamers awaiting the 10am opening time.  There seemed to be a good attendance and there was the usual good selection of traders offering a bewildering range of all the 'essential' wargaming paraphernalia.   The range and number of games on offer seemed slightly less than in previous years.  With the forthcoming 200th anniversary of Waterloo it was inevitable that this battle would feature prominently.  The Ilkley Old School went back in time in more senses than one with their sand table game based on Plancenoit

General view of the table

The Prussians attack

French defenders

L'Orde Mixte put on a game based on the struggle for Hougomont, using the General de Brigade rules.

TheMosborough Old Boys had a Sudan game, featuring some beautifully painted figures on well sculpted terrain.

Among the other game which caught my eye was the WWII game from the Barely Legal group which was based on the Scheldt offensive in 1944.

and the 40mm AWI game from the Penarth group

It was also good to see a good number of youngsters taking part in the pirates game.

Of course I came away with a 'few' more figures to add to the mountain waiting patiently to be painted, but nothing untoward.

Overall a good day out, with those putting on games welcoming a chance to chat about the hobby and pass on hints and tips that may well prove useful.

Triples

The sun shone as we crossed the Pennines and headed for the Triples show at Sheffield.  No problems unloading and setting up the game and by 10 am we were ready.   As mentioned in an earlier post the game was Bauge and I commanded the Franco-Scottish forces whilst Will took the role of Clarence, the English commander.  No doubt due to Will's influence, Clarence kept his composure and avoided charging off at the nearest enemy unit.  This enabled the combined English cavalry to act together and trample all over the French forces whilst the Scots looked on.

However, they (the Scots)  soon had problems of their own as the English archers advanced into range and targeted the Scots archers.  Douglas's archers were soon in disarray, (those that weren't casualties), and when the tardy Salisbury arrived with yet more archers, things were unlikely to improve for the Scots.  Buchan did bring on his reinforcements to help Douglas, but the pikes were unable to make an impact.

With half my force lost (5 French units, 2 units of archers and a pike block) the day belonged to the English.  A most enjoyable game which flowed well.  There was plenty of opportunity to talk to visitors to the show and discuss the rule mechanisms.  Another review of the game can be found on Will's blog together with photos of the action and of other games on display.

Once again there was a good variety of games on offer and here are a few photos to give a flavour

Indian Mutiny

French & Indian Wars

Zorndorf

Stalingrad (in 54mm)

The photos don't really do the games justice and there were several more games where I didn't manage to get a decent photo.  I particularly liked the 1:300 scale (?) which was in the Kriegspiel tradition.  The Almanza game was also of interest.

The next "outing" is Phalanx in June and there is plenty to organise before then.
 

Triples 2013

Once more we ventured across the Pennines in search of wargames shows; the venue this time was Triples in Sheffield.  No Lance and Longbow game this year, so I had ample time to wander around the show to look at the games and trade stands.  The shopping list was fairly short as I had pre-ordered some medieval 'bits and pieces' from Essex, (many thanks for the excellent service, chaps).  These will aid the completion of the armies for the Deepdale game in June.  I also purchased some 15mm command figures to make up some more divisional command stands for the Napoleonic game at Gauntlet in July.

There was a strong Napoleonic emphasis amongst the demonstration games with a Peninsular skirmish, Ostrowono, Gross Beeren and Lutzen all making an appearance.   Gross Beeren was put on by the  'Like a Stone Wall' group;  who like most participants were happy to suspend the game to chat about the figures and rule mechanisms they used.

Lutzen was a 15mm game using the Age of Eagles rules put on by the 'Company of Veterans'.  Again they were happy to chat about the rules and their preference for that particular set over 'Shako'.



The Ilkley Lads had a very nice Cerignola game, with impressive scenery and Swiss pike blocks.

There was also an excellent 'Sudan' game with a railway train and steamer.

However, the game that really captured the imagination was 'Funny Little Wars' by the Mirfield Rifle Volunteers in aid of the British Legion.  This used 54mm figures in the tradition of H G Wells and even had participants firing cotton buds (matchsticks were a little too dangerous for the figures) from the field guns, any figures knocked down by the buds were casualties.  Edwardian costume and period German helmets completed the effect.

Triples 2012

It is May, so it must be time to trek over the Woodhead Pass for the Triples Show at Sheffield.  The game put on by the Lance and Longbow  Society was Grandson; a clash between the Swiss and Burgundians.  All the figures had been provided by Bob Metcalfe and were a mix of Perry Plastics and metal figures.

Historically, the advance guard of the Swiss army won the battle on its own.  Charles' plan of his missile troops withdrawing before the Swiss, drawing them forward to be attacked in flank by the heavy cavalry failed because the withdrawal was seen by the rest of the army as a sign that the battle was lost and a general retreat resulted.  Unfortunately, I as the Swiss commander was not so fortunate.  The advance was fairly swift, so casualties from missile fire were light.  However, the charge failed to fully contact the Burgundian line and two elements of the Swiss block were disrupted.  As they tried to recover the Burgundian cavalry, led by Charles moved forward around the flanks.

 Swinging round the Italian knights charged the flank of the Swiss, breaking into the formation.  Somehow, the Swiss managed to hold on; though their neighbouring unit of pikes were not so fortunate.  Requiring anything but a 10 on a d10 to stand, they of course rolled the required 10 and routed, pursued by Burgundian men at arms.

 In no time at all three of the four elements of the Swiss advance guard were broken and routing.  The fourth, which had managed to break the Burgundian line was isolated and in danger of being charged from the rear by the reserve heavy cavalry.  However, the day was saved by the arrival of the rest of the Swiss army which halted the advance of the Burgundian cavalry.

Not far away from the our game were the Company of Veterans, who were putting on a brigade level  game of game  of Borodino.  This is a project I am working on, hoping to do a Shako large battles version in July.  The Company were very friendly and happy to chat about how they had constructed the scenario and the Age of Eagles rules which they used.  This photo shows the Imperial Guard

Another game which caught my eye was Chotusitz by the Ilkley Old School.  Although the terrain was basic (in keeping with Old School philosophy), the game was very eye-catching and the figures were a delight.

Altogether different was "Assault on the Mons Salient' by 'Like a Stone Wall'.  This group are well known for their demonstration games and this one was to their usual high standard.

Altogether a very good day out; an enjoyable game, a chance to chat and also add to the growing lead mountain.  The only downside was the introduction of parking charges.

Triples 2011

Last Sunday I went to the Triples show at Sheffield. There was the usual good selection of games to look at and the following particularly caught my eye:


Grimsby Wargames Club with their War of Spanish Succession scenario, using their home-grown rules Corporal John and the Sun King. The fortifications and entrenchments were very impressive.
































There were two Lutzen games. Nice John and Evil Trev depicted the Thirty years war encounter












and Bramley Barn the napoelonic version.














I was helping out on the Lance & Longbow Society stand with their "Raid on Croix Saint" game. Bob Metcalfe provided some excellent ships, figures and buildings for the game which generated interest from visitors.















I was in command of the English fleet with the task of landing the raiding force. Light (or at times non existent) winds made manoeuvring difficult for both sides. Things were not helped by a certain laxity in the terminology used by the commanders. Too late we discovered that by saying our ships had collided we automatically ran the risk of sinking. After losing 5 ships we realised our mistake and began to claim that we were "coming alongside to grapple". By mid-afternoon I managed to land some troops and set fire to the village.
















But by this time the 'locals' had raised the alarm and Breton troops were on their way.

Triples

The visit to Triples has been one of the regular trips of my wargaming year for some time. I must admit to a feeling of relief that the organisers had decided to change the venue; parking near the University was getting increasingly difficult and once in the main hall ,space around the dealers' stalls was very limited. Making the circuit around there you always seemed to be 'swimming against the tide'. Not only that, a group of three friends who stopped to chat could block progress for everyone. As the show grew more rooms were opened up often on different floors and it became quite a challenge to track down a specific game or dealer.



These shortcomings have been addressed by the new venue at the English Institute of Sport. Plenty of parking, all facilities on one level and once in the main halls, plenty of space to move around. There seemed to be plenty of attendees yesterday and most importantly, quite a few youngsters who will hopefully be the ones to take up the torch in the years ahead.



There is still one thing that needs attention - the Bring and Buy. At the old venue this was always cramped and in warm weather quite uncomfortable. The plan issued to those visiting showed that a room had been set aside for the B & B, but this was not the case. Itwas tucked away around a corner and the usual ducking and diving was needed to get in a position to see any of the goods on offer.



That being said I think that the move is one that will prove a success. Look how the York show has come on in leaps and bounds now that it has moved to the Racecourse. The organisers hope to be in the new venue for the 'forseeable future'. On the evidence of yesterday that future should be successful.



As a final note I should own up to further investment in figures, yet more 15mm Napoleonics,mainly Austrians, as I move towards my target of 24 line battalions. One indulgence was a unit of Marines of the Guard. I know it is foolish, their appearances on the battlefield were few and far between. Digby Smith in his "Napoleon's Regiments" lists only Austerlitz (1 casualty), the Madrid Riots and Baylen (11 wounded) and the crossing of the Beresina (4 casualties). My interest lies in the 1809 danube campaign, 1812 Russian campaign and the 1813 campaign in Germany, so to use them I am going to have to be fairly creative.



This week's battle was an ECW encounter using the Warhammer ECW Rules. I hope to report more over the coming days but here is the high point (from my perspective !) as my raw 'gallopers' see off the Parliamentarian trotters and secure my right flank.