Wargaming With Non-Wargamers

As alluded to in an earlier post, Nancy hosted one of the irregularly scheduled game days for her primary social group.  Since the event was to be held at our house, Nancy asked if I was interested in putting on a light wargame such as Commands & Colors to broaden the scope of games on offer.  She announced my participation and several showed an interest in giving this option a try.  As game day approached and the number of potential participants grew along with the number of tables needed, we decided to move my game downstairs into the game room and change from Commands & Colors to a tabletop miniatures game.  That way, I could get more than two players at a time into action.

Now, none of the potential participants had ever played a wargame.  One had played RPGs years ago.  Others had played chess and Risk.  This would present an interesting challenge.  I decided to bring my 28mm Sumerian armies out and play using Basic Impetvs on hexes.  On game day, I had three active players and one who was content to watch the action unfold from the sidelines.  Throughout the session, others would come down to have a look at the figures and see how the game was progressing.

Initial deployments

One challenge in bringing non-wargames into wargaming is introducing and explaining the many concepts unique to our gaming genre.  Every mechanism and concept that veteran wargamers accept as second nature and a "given" had to be explained and demonstrated in laymen's terms.  Not always as easy as the task may sound!  Anyway, after less than thirty minutes of overview, the players were tentatively ready to get stuck in.  One player would command the Red Army (red and green VBU dice) alone while the Blue Army (red and black VBU dice) would be split into two commands to accommodate two players.

Both sides began the approach to contact gingerly as players came to grips with maneuvering the different troop types.  I offered options available throughout to help their decision making.  After a few turns of cautious maneuvering, the two armies were poised within striking distance.  Let's see how the battle unfolded.

Armies slowly advance toward the center.

On the Left Wing, Red battle car rumbles forward and
 drives off an enemy massed bow unit but
not before the archers disorder the car as it closes.
Red battle car pursues and smashes into the Blue battle car.

View down the battle lines.

Red battle car rumbles into a large body of spear.
Spearmen are driven back in disorder.
The battle car does not pursue. 

In an action-packed turn, Red's Left Wing battle car pursues the enemy off table but is now essentially out of the fight.
In the foreground, Blue archers are driven off as Red's spearmen attacks.
Blue's battle car overruns enemy archers.
Players are getting a good grounding in how combat works! 

Blue Army's Right Wing (black VBU dice) wavers as most
of its command is either destroyed or reduced to '1' VBU.

The end is near...

With Blue Army's Right Wing teetering on collapse and the difference in the Army Breakpoint totals large, the battle is called in favor of the Red Army.  Game duration, after introductions, was about two-and-a-half hours of play.

How did this introduction to tabletop miniatures wargaming to non-wargamers turn out?  Players were all good sports as they took some lumps with the dice.  All three players said they would play again.  One exclaimed that he would play anything anytime!  I reckon this was a success.  As a bonus, I was invited to join one of the players for some billiards' session.  Now, I have not picked up a cue stick in thirty years or more.  This should be fun.  Perhaps I will receive a lesson in billiards for non-billiards players?

Sumerians On Parade

In an effort to upgrade my Impetvs armies to include a two-frame, dice tray at the back of each stand, I pulled all of the 28mm Sumerians from their boxes and set to work.  Having made short work of this little project by adding Warbases' dice trays to the 28mm Sumerian collection, I figured why not take a group photo while they are all out of their boxes?

When lined up across the table, I was surprised at how this project has grown even though new units are only added occasionally.  For a sense of size, each hex is five inches, so the footprint of this display is about three feet square.  Several collections remain to receive this treatment.  Maybe Punic Wars will be next?  First, I need to place another order with Warbases for a restock.

Why lead off with the Sumerian collection for this upgrade?  Well, Nancy is hosting a game day for her social group next Saturday and asked if I was interested in hosting a game.  Since there are men with an interest in history joining, she suggested several rounds of Commands & Colors.  Now, only one person had played a wargame and that was a game of Commands & Colors years ago.  Still, several were interested and willing to give it a try.  Well, the size of the potential participant pool grew, and table space was drawing tight.    

With three tables reserved upstairs, my little game was pushed downstairs into the game room.  A game with a small footprint on my large gaming table was not going to work especially with three or four players interested in playing.  A change of plan was needed.  How about a game to introduce these gamers to tabletop miniatures gaming?  

My choice?  A small four-player, Basic Impetvs game using the Sumerians.  With four, like armies on the table, I figured that after a brief overview and coaching throughout, that we could get through a game in about 90 minutes.  At least the players will get a taste of miniatures wargaming.

Will introducing four non-wargamers to a simple wargame with figures be a bridge too far?  We will see.  Wish me luck.

A Look at Some Akkadians

While time at the painting desk seems at a premium of late due to other distractions, work continues albeit at a slower pace.  What time I find, continues to be monopolized primarily by SYW/WAS units.  Still, my attention is turning back to Biblicals and today's entry illustrates one such diversion.

Out from the workbench today are 24 Akkadian spearmen deployed into two units.  Figures are 28mm Newline Designs.  Superb sculpts.  These Akkadians march out to reinforce the Sumerian project.  Remaining in The Lead Pile are enough Akkadians to form two more such 12-figure units. 

What other Biblicals are working through the painting queue?  Well, there are two bodies of Babylonian spear in progress at present.  Two dozen Hittite spear are being prepped for undercoating.  I would like to work more Biblicals into the painting queue in 2025.  Off to a good start in the New Year but the pace really needs to increase if March production is going to come anywhere close to totals seen in January and February.

Working up rules for an upcoming Wars of the Roses game is taking away time at the painting desk as I prepare to bring the WotR collection to the table for the first time.  Still, much to consider and refine as I wrestle with building something (hopefully) useful, enjoyable, and challenging.

More Sumerians and a Bit of Shopping

Close upon the heels of last week's Sumerian reinforcements (see Sumerian Reinforcements), a similarly sized batch of Sumerian javelinmen departs from the painting desk.  This dozen light infantry is split between a four-figure stand of skirmishers and an eight-figure stand of light infantry.  Figures are, again, from Newline Designs.

While attention at the painting desk has turned toward projects not Sumerian, I did dig out a pack of two dozen Akkadian spearmen to prep for pushing into the painting queue.  First, though, more FPW Prussians are on deck as is a return to the SYW/WAS project.  Time at the workbench has actually increased over the last two weeks and progress is being made on the painting front.  I may reach 900 figures painted by year-end.  We will see.

While figure purchases have remained very much at a minimum this year, recent sales on books and games have dented the wallet slighty.

Helion recently offered a Black Friday sale with 25% discounts and free shipping to the USA.  An offer I could not refuse!  The two books shown above are part of the order.

In similar sales and preorder releases, the following games dropped into my mailbox of late:

I know, these annual holiday sales can be so difficult to resist.  While 19th Century Miniatures always holds a Christmas sale on 15mm Old Glory figures, I am resisting in order to keep my 2024 Figures Purchased tally in check.  Since the sale runs through 04 January, I can place an order in the New Year after the counter resets.

On the gaming front, one more First Battle of Azukizaka is on deck for a Tuesday game.

Sumerian Reinforcements

Over the last two weeks, I have actually made some progress on the painting front. If you glance at the counter on the right sidebar, the counter shows that I have painted 834 figures in 2024. November was a very good month compared to some others and just over 100 figures passed across the painting desk. While December may not see such productivity, I am off to a solid start.

Off the painting desk today (well, in November) are two units of Sumerian Javelinmen.  One unit is a four-figure skirmisher stand and the other is an eight-figure unit of massed, light infantry javelin.  Today's offering is the first of two such pairings in work.  Figures are Newline Designs. 

Besides the Sumerians, lots more in work.  FPW Prussians, SYW Bavarians, and WAS Spanish are all making progress through the production line.  As is often the case, painting production picks up as the year draws to a close.  Once the books are closed out for 2024, I plan to revisit the painting seasonality analytics to see if this year saw unusual painting activity.

On the gaming front, Monday witnessed a four-player refight of the 1542 Battle of Azukizaka with Postie's Rejects.  Very good game, hotly contested down to the last charge.  Great fun!  Details another time.

Back to Sumeria

After wallowing in painting 15/18mm horse and musket figures over the last five months, something different finally pushed across the painting desk.  That something different sees a brief return to Ancient Sumeria in 28mm.

Today's offering shows 26 figures in four units.  These units comprise two stands of four skirmishers and two stands of nine massed bow.  Figures are all 28mm Newline Designs.

The brief Sumerian distraction will be followed up by more FPW Prussians and the first of SYW/WAS British cavalry.  Yes, looks like I finally begin work on a British army for this period.

On the gaming front, today sees a return to the very long-running AWI campaign with Matt as he rolls out the Battle of Bennington.  Matt and I have experienced a very long hiatus in this campaign so it will be a welcome return to old.  Monday sees a rematch of Shiloh in a remote game with Postie's Rejects before I clear the table of ACW and plan for the next series of games.  Since the 15mm Feudal Japan armies have not seen action in a very long time, that period is where I am headed next.

Finally, a panoramic photo of the Spokane River Gorge, the Monroe Street Bridge, and the Lower Falls taken on a loop walk on a mostly sunny and warm Saturday afternoon.

Now, time to refresh my memory on Rebels & Patriots before this morning's action with Matt.

Sumer of '69

It was the Sumer summer of 2569 BCE, that is.  Thanks to Ray for the catchy post title!  Last week, four of Postie's Rejects gathered for a remote game on the plains of Sumeria to test their hands at running battle cars (I use "chariot" synonymously).  Attendees were Ray and Steve commanding the Blue Army while Richard and Lee took command of the Red Army.  Army and player dispositions illustrated in the map below:

This Reject foursome has seen action fighting with chariots in an earlier Egypt vs Hittite clash but this would be their first attempt at running the bulkier Sumerian battle cars.

Let's see how they got on in driving battle cars.

As the battle opens, both armies move forward to close the distance with the enemy.  Skirmishing erupts all along the battle line as skirmishers attack and then fall back.  Lee moves up his massed archers to bring the enemy under fire.  After softening them up, Lee crashes into one of the skirmishers who cannot evade.  Ray's skirmisher is dispatched but Lee fails to pursue.  Or did Lee choose not to pursue into the waiting enemy battle line? 

Battle lines close...

as skirmishing begins.

Lee moves the Left Wing forward...

and prepares an attack.

Ray's skirmishers scatter in the face of heavy infantry.

On the other wing, with enemy skirmishers cleared from his front, Steve sends his battle car in against Red Army's Right.  This is a bold move since both archers get a chance at defensive fire before the chariot closes.  Both bodies of massed bowmen let loose their arrows.  Little damage is done but the chariot is disordered on the approach.  In the clash, the missile fire must have made the difference.  Richard's bowmen stand firm and the chariot is driven off in retreat.  

As Steve's chariot veers to the left, Richard brings forward his battle car.  Richard engages Steve in a chariot-on-chariot clash.  Richard comes out the better as Steve's car continues its retreat.     

Steve attacks!

The enemy stands strong.  Steve is forced to retreat.

Richard opts to pursue.  Without having the maneuverability to turn about to follow the retreating chariot, Richard's chariot plunges ahead.  Straight into enemy archers!  Surprised at seeing an enemy battle car bearing down upon them, the archers put up a stiff, nonetheless.  Still, after a protracted battle, the archers are scattered.  Richard pursues again but fails to reach the enemy's second battle line.

Richard pursues...

cutting through the enemy's first line.

Seeing the carnage to his left, Steve, pushes his large spear block forward to engage the enemy and, perhaps, steady the ship.  Steve's spear block crashes into Richard's spear block.  In the initial contact, Steve manages an impressive number of hits to which Richard responds by scoring no hits and then failing his Cohesion Test.  Richard's back rank is destroyed.  What remains retreats.  Steve pursues.  Steve's spear catches the retreating spear and again send them packing.  Even Richard's archers offering some support reel back!  Steve continues his pursuit as he catches Richard's skirmishers in the open.  They are dispatched.  Steve stops there, probably exhausted.  The line joining Richard and Lee's commands is severed.

Steve's spear block attacks...

and attacks...

and attacks!

Perhaps over-extending the pursuit in all of the excitement, Steve's spear block is taken by surprise when Red Lugal's chariot turns about and strikes these spearmen from the rear.  Well, being hit from the rear is no good and Steve's spear rout away.  That score has been settled!

Revenge!

With the center outcome settled for now, focus shifts to the Red Army's Left Flank.  Lee starts off the action by sending his chariot in against Ray's spear block.  Not surprisingly, Lee's attack is repulsed as Ray's spear stand firm.  Lee's chariot veers off to the left heading back to his own line.  As a counterpunch, Ray sends his chariot forward against Lee's spear block.  Ray's result is much different!  Ray overpowers Lee's spear block and sends it back in retreat.  Ray continues on, trampling the spearmen as they run. 

Ray and Lee's battle cars in action.

Seeing the collapse of his spear block, Lee wheels his chariot around to take up the chase on Ray's chariot rampaging in the Red Army's rear.  Making the turn around his own bowmen, Lee catches Ray in the flank.  Nice maneuver!  Ray may never have seen this coming.  In the clash, Ray loses the melee and is forced to retreat.  He routs!  With the enemy chariot dispatched, Richard and Lee's routing spearmen may have a chance to rally.

Ray's chariot caught in flank!

Red Army survivors can breathe a bit easier.

At this point in the battle, both armies have seen significant casualties.  Both armies teeter on the breaking point.  The next army to suffer loss would likely be pushed over the brink to destruction.

In the time-honored tradition of mythic heroes, the two Lugals wheel about to face each other and decide the issue once and for all.  In the crash of chariots, Blue Lugal gains the upper hand and Red Lugal is forced to veer away in retreat.  While Red Lugal avoids destruction, his retreat opens a line of sight to Richard's routing spearmen.  Ray pursues and catches the spearmen in the rear.  It is all over 'cept the crying. 

Clash of Titans!

Red Lugal veers off...

opening a path to destruction!

Victory to the Blue Army with Ray and Steve leading the way!

The battle really came down to the last combat (and nearly the last die roll) in a fitting fashion.  That is, with the two Lugals facing-off in singlehanded combat.  Richard and Lee fought hard throughout with victory up for grabs until the very last.  

Very exciting clash and very fun to watch unfold.  There was much laughter and good-natured ribbing along the way. 

Fantastic session, guys!  Thank you!

After three Sumerian games, time to switch periods.  Next time, expect to see action set during the Spanish Reconquista.