Warfare 2010

Went to Warfare today. I like this show, it's a big mix of competition games, outstanding demos and lost of traders. My day was much busier than usual, and by turn, busy, fun, profitable, frantic and  tiring.

Staines Wargamers took the Charge of the Light Brigade participation game for it's last outing this year. I've got a large car which can easily transport 5 adults plus a large game so I was driver for the day and so was out of the door before 8.00 to pick up the other guys. The CoLB game is always fun and with several of us there we can keep it going all day while taking turns to go round the actual show.

Just before lunch I came across a trader who was selling painted figures for a friend at knock-down prices. I picked up about 200 Gauls (including 5 chariots and 12 cavalry) plus about 900 FOG points of Imperial Romans. Tim picked up the accompanying Republican Romans before his eye went wonky. There were several others there as well and all were seriously underpriced. The Gauls will probably end up on Ebay as DBA lots, but the Romans I think I will keep. I did walk round the competitions, but since I hadn't brought a camera I didn't take any pictures.

Soon after this good fortune, the main crisis of the day struck when Tim's replacement lens went out of position. After a couple of frantic phone calls I ended up taking him straight to Guildford hospital for a consultation with an eye spcialist. Reading to Guildford and back took almost two and a half hours and by the time I got back I was knackered.

As usual the game was well received and some groups of players had a lot of fun with it. For next year we have a new game in development but it's still a secret at the moment ...

Anderida 2010

As weekends go that was fun but tiring. Tim and I took part in the Anderida competition at the same venue in Farnborough as the 1 Day competition in September.

This was Fog doubles event (850 points) and for armies out of the 'Swifter Than Eagles' book only. We took Hittite empire with an impresive 20 heavy and 4 light chariots excluding generals. Despite this we lost all 4 games, although quite how we managed to lose the last one is a bit of a mystery.

Despite this, we had a good weekend, and won the 'Gallant Losers' trophy. We both agreed that doubles comps are more laid back and are planning to go to some more next year.

Giving in to the Dark Side ....

It's decided. I'm going to try to play some games of DBA and enter a couple of competitions.

The first one will probably be PAWS in December, although this is a themed competition and it's limited to the armies of the Americas and Polynesia.

Aztecs, Tupi, Mayans, Hawaiians etc. I've never even looked at these as armies before, and now I have to get an army and a camp together.

Saxons and Normans - 2010

Last weekend was my final re-enactment event for this year. Every October we get to re-enact the battle of Hastings on the site of the original event in 1066.

This year I only went down for the day, but there were still about 500 warriors on the field plus about a dozen cavalry. The Living History area was huge with over 160 structures and that means there were probably another 200 non combatants as well.

Now we all go into hibernation for the winter.

Busy month - New Kingdom Egyptians, Gauls and Hebrews

This month I managed to get three DBA armies finished. First, the Gauls. Three chariots, two cavalry, nine warband and a single psiloi make up this lot. I enjoyed paining these guys and will do some more.

Next was a New Kingdom Egyptian army complete with a Sea Peoples warband element

Finally a Hebrew army.

I confess all this painting DBA armies and reading the rulebook has me wondering about playing some games ...

One Sunday In Farnborough

Spent last Sunday playing FOG in a one-day comp in Farnborough.

The whole day was themed and all of the 650 point figures (25mm figures) were provided by the hosts. The day consisted of three games. I played first as Chinese vs Mongols, then Indians vs Macedonians and finally Sea Peoples vs New kingdom Egyptians.

In the first one, not really having any idea how eitehr army 'works' I was out manuvered fairly easily. The second one was mor of a slog as I hammered my opponents left flank. Close but in the end I lost. The third one felt more familiar considering I'm painting a Sea Peoples army myself, and have played against NKE's a couple times at the club. It was close, but I managed to force a win. This meant I didn't finish bottom !

A good fun day and if they run it again I plan to attend.

Back in the swing

After a refreshing break, I managed two armies this month, Selucids and Vikings.

The Selucids were a gift from someone at my club who bought them 10 years ago in a BaB but didn't know whet they were or what he could do with them. I worked out they were an old DBA V1 Selucid army, so I bought a scythed chariot and did them up for V2.2.

The Vikings were an Ebay lot - like most of my figures. I did them up nice and they went quite well too.