Homeland - a SAGA game

Friday night was the first games night for a while, and I was feeling knackered, but arranged with Michael to play a SAGA game. Since finishing the Normans I was really keen to take them for an outing. I was also keen to put my SAGA scenery into our game and so we chose the Homeland scenario from the rules. In this game a six point attacker tries to clear some buildings of a defender who has less points - in this case 4.
Michael chose to take 2 units of Warriors and 2 units of Hearthguard while I took all of the Normans.

'What a lovely day it is. Not expecting any problems, just taking our shields and spears for a walk...'

'Uh-oh! Looks like we have visitors. Lucky we are all armed and our hearthguard are all in that house together. Hang on, what would they be doing in the house together if we aren't expecting any problems...?!'

'You'll never get my Flossy!'

'I'm looking for a bulls-eye but all I can see are sheep and pigs.'
'Just shut up and shoot.'

'Run Aethelathel! Those Normans are nasty!'

'Too late!'
'Cor, I fancy a bit of that les gars! Quel un beau chien!'

'Mmmm, bacon. Non! Must stay focussed!'

'New tactic boys! We'll hide,err... I mean seek cover, behind this house.'

'Darn it! They found us!'

'Ok, now might be a good time to hide in the house'

'Sorry boss, did you say come out and fight them in the open?'
'I'm surrounded by morons...'

'Victoire!!!! Allons enfants de la patrie...'

'Oh haw haw haw! Time to party. Ou sont les moutons?'

In hindsight I don't think I was allowed to charge my hearthguard into Mike's warrior unit that was right beside the building which had been occupied by the Anglo-Danish Hearthguard, but I'm still not 100% sure. Does remaining VS away from occupied buildings unless engaging them apply if you charge a unit that is within VS of them, make them withdraw and then you are left there? (This is an open question to anyone reading.)

The battle board gave me some wicked archery in the first couple of turns from my levy and the crossbows. This was followed up by the Hearthguard charging and basically winning the day. The Norman warriors on foot pretty much sat on the sidelines and cheered.

Admittedly it took until turn 6 to win, and I don't know what might have happened if Mike had sat back in his building and saved his battle board abilities for me to charge, but in all it was still a really enjoyable game and I am proud of my new Normans.

Nate

It's official ... FoW Great War

The sales sheet was leaked a while back, but now it is official - Flames of War are producing figures and rules for WWI!

The cover for the Great War supplement

They are starting with 1918 - my favourite year in my favourite conflict, and so it will have tanks, infantry using similar tactics to WW2, and semi-open warfare. Some people have bemoaned that BF has not started with 1914, but these are people that probably do not understand that 1918 is not a one-dimensional trench slog. They also don't understand that from a business perspective the target audience is FoW gamers who might want to try a new period, and that tanks are something that these people are used to.

Others have complained that the French have been ignored, but this is a small release in a new period. There is no point from a business perspective in producing a vast range of figures from Czech Legion to the Russian Woman's Death Battalion if it isn't going to sell.  Needless to say that if this is successful, French will probably be released, and if they are released they will definitely be purchased by at least one gamer (that is me).

The starter companies of 1500 points look very tasty at US$100 each (the NZ peso being exceptionally strong at the moment), and I've convinced my wife that they would make an ideal birthday present this August. These can be expanded with a range of blisters that are being released alongside the company boxes. They are also making a range of scenery including a trench system for US$70. All of this is rather affordable.

Since selling my 28mm WWI figures I have toyed with the idea of 15mm, but not seen it through. That will now be changing! I can't wait!

Nate

Normans and a Sherman

That's what I have painted this week.

Great to hide behind - the Sherman! Tamiya 1/48 has more bulk and is a better fit for 28mm figs than 1/56 IMHO.

Just what the Fourth Armoured Brigade in 2 NZ Division was designed for - infantry support in heavily built up areas...

I've spent a considerable amount of time with hand-painted chipping, oil paint streaking and pigment placement to make this beast come alive. And when I finished I realised that it had no tank markings. So I've painted on the formation insignia - red squares with the tank number in them. Not sure if they are correct, but I wanted 18th regiment so it had to be red, and I wanted tank 8, which I think is in a square, but I'm unsure. It doesn't bother me a great deal to be honest. Nowhere near as much as the fact that red on green makes my colour blindness go mad. I can't actually see the insignia on the second photo and on the first it flashes like Xmas tree lights as my eyes try to work out what the hell is happening. How does it appear to 'normal' people? How the hell did anyone come up with red and green as the colours of Xmas? Someone, somewhere obviously hates me and wants me to say 'Bah, humbug!' a lot.

I also managed to complete my Norman bowmen, which means that I now have two completed 6 point armies for SAGA. Once the Vikings are complete it will be time for a solo campaign, I feel.

You may think Levy are worthless, but who took down King Harold, huh? Give you a clue, it wasn't those bloody toffs on horses!

This week the Trojans are on the painting tray. We'll see whether I can get through them in time for an update next Sunday. I've decided that I will aim for a post every Sunday to try to keep myself regular (that and metamucil). It is the best I can do in a congested life where blogging has to be the fourth priority after family, work, and painting.

Nate

Kiwis at Cassino

I've taken a break from painting the Trojan Wars project  because I like to mix up my painting in order to stop things from getting stale. My digression has been the first section in my Bolt Action World War Two project which is Kiwis vs Green Devils at Cassino (or at least in Italy).

First, a close up of the section corporal. I haven't painted his stripes yet.

The Bren gun team are part of the advance.

Here is the whole section.

All figures are Black Tree Designs. They are nice sculpts, but for some reason a few of the figures have the gas mask slung on the chest like in the First World War or the Blitzkrieg period. It doesn't offend me too much, it would just be nice if it wasn't there.

Along with the Brits I painted up some important characters that I ordered from Redoubt Enterprises.

PIGS!

and SHEEP!

Nate