I got up especially early today in order to get a game played on my new 12x8 grid board before reporting for cleaning/shopping duty. Rules were The Portable Wargame with Exhaustion Point (EP) set at the standard 30% and activation and initiative by turning playing cards. The game was set to last for 10 turns. It was a bit dark this morning so the pictures are not the best.
Introduction
Having failed in his first attempt at invading the Albionian colony, the King of Uqbalistan sent another army to the border. The force comprised of Regular Army, conscripts and hill/desert tribesmen.
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| Albionian Police patrolling the border discover the assembling enemy army |
A column of Albionian troops rushed to the border. The force was smaller than that of the invaders but was of higher quality. General Algernon McTavish commanded.
A reporter from The Uqbalii Bugle recorded the battle for posterity.
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| The tyranny of the blank page |
Game
General McTavish placed all his cavalry on his left facing the lower quality tribesmen intending to outflank the enemy. Regular Infantry, Naval brigade and The Guards were in the centre, with the elite Hibernian battalion on the right.
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| Desert Starling's eye view of the initial disposition |
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| Uqbalistan Cavalry/camelry charge the centre |
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| Artillery duel - General McTavish encourages the gunners |
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| Albionia's Cavalry in action |
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| The situation after 3 turns |
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| Conclusion of the artillery action |
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| The hilltribes hold the cavalry at bay |
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| The Hibernians take long distance shots at their adversaries |
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| The tribesmen begin to give ground |
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| Uqbalistan reached EP by turn 7, Albionia on turn 10 |
A victory for Albionia as the invading army was halted and reduced to below 50% of its' original size. The King of Uqbalistan will be forced to ask for peace terms, though it is rumoured that he has already had talks with the Consul of Swarzlandia regarding some sort of pact...
You look like you had a most enjoyable game.
ReplyDeleteThanks, yes it was good to have a game!
DeleteLove your little battles, always handsome, minis and terrain!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Phil
DeleteWhat a great little battle ... and one I simply MUST mention on my blog!
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Bob
Thanks Bob - please feel free to use the pictures.
DeleteA day beginning with a game is a good day!
ReplyDeleteThe tribesmen performed well against the invading cavalry. Neat little scrap.
So true! Made up for all the domestic work to follow!
DeleteGreat battle sir, the larger board looks great and must have been fun to 'blood'. Note to self: must get up earlier!.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr Sprinks - I have to say that I am up early most days but usually to go to work rather than play!
DeleteLooks to me as if the new board has earned its keep.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ross! It should allow a bit more space for the larger scale figures that use a 3 inch grid square.
DeleteI always thought that fighting a battle was a crepuscular activity... Nice armies and battlefield :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Philotep - it wasn't exactly stygian-night, but it was certainly dim. My camera is a bit feeble and needs an upgrade.
ReplyDeleteRegarding cameras... At the beginning of my blog, I only took pictures with natural light, so I had to wait for a sunny weather, and sometimes (not too often, bu t these days...) you can wait for a certain time. Now I only use artificial light (my camera has a mode for electric light), two sources in order to avoid too much shadows, and it's ok like that. Of course it's easier with a fistful of minis than for an entire wargame table!
DeleteThanks for your tips Philotep. I might look at getting some better lighting rather than relying on daylight.
DeleteA good looking game and reminds me of pictures from Advanced War Games showing games by Morschauser.
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter - you're right, this project was heavily influenced by Joseph Morschauser's wonderful looking colonial games. I really wanted to do them in 40mm or 54mm but cost and space do not allow this so went for 28mm.
DeleteExcellent board and action. Will be ken to see what happens next...
ReplyDeleteCheers Duc. Well... **Spoiler Alert** I think next time we'll find out what the Swarzlandians' are doing on the Continent of Uqbal, providing a risk of a more global conflagration... Crikey.
DeleteGreat looking game there . Looking forward to seeing the next installment.
ReplyDeleteCheers! Me too. Probably be awhile as I have to paint some more figures.
DeleteWonderfully elegant set-up, Mr Tar! The 12x8 array seems to me so much 'roomier' than, say, an 8x8, which has too much of a chessboard look, for mine.
ReplyDeleteThanks Archduke. As most published scenarios use a rectangular board (interestingly Neil Thomas is an exception in OHW) I was keen to make this. It certainly has made more space though this will make the games longer. At 3x2 feet it cannot be considered too Portable!
DeleteHaving a game is always a boost to one's enthusiasm, but having a bigger game, on a (new) larger board is an immense acheivement.
ReplyDeleteI love the 'old-school' simplistic games you put on they always seem a lot of fun.
Thanks Joe. My enthusiasm has returned indeed, though lack of time is a problem right now!
DeleteI enjoyed reading your battle report a lot. Your miniatures look wonderful! Cheers, Karl
ReplyDeleteThanks Karl! I haven't managed a game recently but hope to during the holidays.
ReplyDelete