HAPPY NEW YEAR

To all and sundry, near and far, I wish a very Happy New Year.

I will spend it with my wife and children, playing a few games and eating too much (I think my epitaph will say something akin to "Show me the buffet"! Does anyone know what that is in Latin?).

Have a great 2012 and I will be posting a few pics of samples for my next "great" thing soon. Steam tanks? Williamite war in Ireland? Arthurians? Knowing how easily distracted I am, it will probably be all of the above and a few more bits besides!!!!!!!

G

Wargamer Show, 11th Dec, 2012 - Terrain

Hello followers and passers by!

It has been a while since I posted, but the past five weeks have been a hive of activity as I have pushed to get ready for taking my 30 Years' War collection out to meet the public at the Wargamer Show. Well, that day was today, and the tiny band of brothers (metaphorically, of course, as it is actually just me and Nick [aka Beithir], although he is my nephew.)

A good game was had by all, with sundry members of the Stafford Gamers coming along to take part. A very close run game, based on Steenkerke (1692) and called Steinkirche (1632), was finally won by the Swedes. The men of the match were the Yellow Regiment I only finished painting yesterday!!! They took on and beat all comers.The event of the match was Baner's Lifeguard cavalry, at 67% strength, charging uphill at a full strength, veteran kurassier unit (Pappenheim's) and routing them!

The lighting in the hall was not great, so I hope the pictures are reasonable given my limited skill with the camera, but, as we wlaked away with BEST DEMO GAME (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), I can live with that.

Now for 2012, some tweaks to improve the game and the terrain and more fun to be had. As I probably spend more if I am allowed to wander round at a show, I have convinced my wife that the expense and effort were worth it! Bonus!!!!!

G




The entire 8 x 6, laid out on my barely large enough kitchen floor.




Me, chasing my little sister with a wooden sword - ah, such a wonderful childhood!



"It's a bit early, but just the one won't hurt."

One of Ignacius Loyola's finest eyes the young lovers somewhat icily

One of the redoubts made specially for the game (but they are sure to get another outing.

The siege redoubt, again built specially, set against Nick's first ever attempt at a backscene.



The table in it's entirety and largely ready to use.



The Swedish objective - the Imperialst siege camp (the game was based on Steenkerke, 1692, backdated to 1632).

Conflix building with my cornfield.

The river bend cliff face, made from cork bark and a polystyrene sub-base.

More 30 Years' War

Some more shots from the demo game at Wargamer.

G



First turn, first arrivals - the Swedish Yellow regiment and, further back, the Red




The Red regiment




Hepburn's Scots may just feel at home advancing through the wet, marshy ground




Gustavus Adolphus jumping a random fence (shame about the shadow...)




Schlammersdorf's moving up



Turn 2 - the first wave and first reinforcements move forwards



The first defence - Munich-Ebersberg and Nuremberg leave camp




The Swedish Blue regiment marches down the road, flanked by Baner's Lifeguard




Holtzmuller's dragoons arrive belatedly




Baner's Lifeguard, led by Baner himself




The Imperialist Aldringen regiment were early arrivals but were doomed to face the Yellow regiment later on...



The Battle of Steinkirche, 1632.

As some of you may already have realised, G has been busy building a demo game for today's Wargamer Show in Birmingham. The scenario was based on Steenkerke, 1692, as depicted in the second edition of the excellent Beneath Lily Banners rules by the League of Augsburg group. We backdated it 60 years to allow my 30 Years' War collection to take to the field, the French became Imperialists and the Anglo-Dutch became the Swedes. A close-fought game saw the Swedes home.

I hope the photos tell the story of a great day out.

G



Wallenstein and colleague




Nuremberg regiment




Light gun prepares to fire in support of the Swedish advance




Lorraine regiment marches to engage the Swedes




Gallas directing traffic as his vocal companion provides support




Imperialist siege gun




The Upplands cavalry regiment wants some action



Munich-Ebersberg clashes with Hepburn's. Hepburn's break after a sharp clash, but the Swedes refuse to rout with their Scots mercenaries and the advance continues

The Imperialist saker comes into action as the Loebl regiment moves up behind

The Vastgota are also keen to engage

The Croats, fresh from a raid, burst from the hamlet in the rear of the Swedish lines

The Pappenheim Kurassiere prepare to meet the onrushing Baner's Lifeguard in the climactic struggle of the game.

Piccolomini arquebusiers arrive from the camp

Jung Tilly advance under Wallenstein's watching eyes

The Imperialist lines are belatedly forming as the Swedes close in. The Yellow regiment to the right will soon blow great holes in it....

The endgame. The Pappenhiem Kurassiere are smashed by Baner's Lifeguard and rout

The late arrival of the Schwarze Kurassiere does nothing to help other than force the Swedish Blue regiment into hedgehog

The Swedish Yellow regiment break Jung Tilly, having first despatched the Aldringen regiment in the Imperialist vanguard

The Swedish Blue regiment forms hedgehog in the face of enemy cavalry, as Gustavus Adolphus rides off to glory