ECW Horse and a Fort

The first week of the New Year begins with a bang!

Not only do I have a few year-end wargaming wrap-ups to pound out, another installation of the Great Wargaming Survey analysis to finish, but I hosted three remote games too.  Add into those activities some time at the painting desk and it has been an busy week.

While finished units are lingering in the photo shoot queue, I managed to get one of these loiterers off the To Do plate.

Mustering out today is a nine-figure regiment of ECW horse regiment from TAG.  Good sculpts and a joy to paint but the swords seem a wee bit spindly and fragile.  We will see how they hold up under the rigors of battlefield conditions.  I may be reaching near the bottom of The Lead Pile for TAG ECW figures picked up in a large lot many years ago.  Hooray for that!

After a nearly two-month delay, a HUGE box plopped onto my doorstep this week.  Inside was a very well packaged walled desert town for 28mm figures.  This piece is massive with a footprint of about two feet square.  Beautiful work.  I am shocked it made it through the post intact.  Roofs are removable and many of the gates open.

My plan is to push this piece into service for North Africa, Middle East, Spain, and perhaps even the Northwest Frontier. What about the American Old Southwest sans dome?  Why not?  I may simply use it as a backdrop too.  Perhaps I need a new project to more frequently employ this grand feature?

On the painting desk is another WotR Battle (Somerset) of 52 figures and several War of Austrian Succession infantry regiments.  Oh, I have battle reports to write too.

Year in Review: Games Played

On the gaming front, 2022 demonstrated that the sudden and dramatic increase in games played in 2021 was no fluke.  Well, if 2021 was a quirk of fate then that run continued into 2022.  Games played in 2021 reached 97 games.  While 2022 saw a reduction in number of games played from 2021, 2022 managed to tally 89 games played.  Still, that is a lot of games played.  Some weeks witnessed as many as four games on the schedule.

Of course, this level of activity would not be possible without remote gaming via Zoom or Google Meet.  Neither would these numbers be reached if I was not also hosting almost as many games as I attended as a participant. 

Looking back over the games played in 2022, how did the year unfold?  While some genres and rules led the pack, activity was spread out over a wide swath of both rules, wargaming periods, and figure scales.  How were the 89 games distributed over rules played?  See Table 1, Counts of Games Played in 2022 for details.

Table 1

The count shows 24 different rulesets hit the table in 2022.  This total is one more than seen in 2021.   These totals do not break out all of the different variants in use for Basic Impetvs (BI) and Fields of Honor (FoH).  If those variants are tossed into the mix, I reckon the count of rules played tops 30.  Basic Impetvs led the way with 23 games played with Fields of Honor coming in at #2 with 13 games.  Commands & Colors rounded out the Top 3.  Most of Commands & Colors games were played using my 6mm collection.  These Top 3 made up nearly 50% of all rules played.  Seeing Basic Impetvs coming out at the top of the list is not much of a surprise.  Throughout the year, Matt and I traded hosting a variety of games playing BI on a grid.  BI also saw much service in many of my other hosted games.  Fields of Honor saw lots of action too.  The main contributors were a number of battles fought with settings in the Franco-Austrian War and War of Austrian succession.      

Graphically, Figure 1 illustrates the distribution of games played by ruleset.  Clearly, Basic Impetvs was my favorite, by far.  Do I see this trend continuing into 2023?  I suspect so.  Only four days into the New Year and BI has seen action in two games.

Figure 1

What stands out in this listing is that almost all of the rules played are either self-published or homegrown rulesets.  Scanning the list, very few rules are commercial with widespread audiences.  I clearly run in the rules' tinkerer band.  Some may wonder how anyone can keep that many different rulesets in mind.  With a good QRS, it is not so hard.    

What about figure size or scale? Was there breadth in that respect too? Yes, breadth was in abundance.  See Figure 2.

Figure 2

While 15/18mm and 25/28mm may have dominated games played, 1/72 and 20mm saw much activity too thanks to Graham, Richard, and Peter's many games in plastics.  Not much change in figure scale distribution from 2021 counts.  2023 ought to see similar results.

What about breaking these game totals down by wargaming period?  Are there any tendencies here or simply a scattershot across a wide variety of periods?

Figure 3

Looking at Figure 3, 24 different wargaming saw action on the various hosts' gaming tables in 2023.  This is a surprising amount of variety when these results are tallied.  Seems like there is no specialization here especially when games are hosted by a number of GMs.  This demonstrates that each GM has his own interests and willing to share those interests with others.  A corollary to this observation is that players are willing to step out of their areas of interest and readily try new periods and rules.  Rarely have I encountered anyone in my small remote gaming world unwilling to try whatever is on offer.  This total number of unique periods played is the same as the number of rulesets played.  Coincidence?

Feudal Japan and Franco-Austrian Wars saw the most playings but my long-running AWI campaigning with Matt and our 2022 entry into fighting battles in the Reconquista are not far behind.  

Were the games concentrated within a few months or evenly distributed throughout the year? While Figure 4 shows spikes of activity in February, October, and November and relative lulls during the summer months.  Most months saw 7-8 games played.  Still just short of an average of two games per week but still these totals represent a lot of gaming.  I am exhausted looking back and pondering all of the games played. 

Figure 4

Looking back at my 2021 review, I did not expect 97 games played as sustainable.  While I did not reach 97 games played in 2022, 89 games played is not much of a drop-off in frequency.  89 games is still a lot of gaming!  I may have to cut back a little in 2023 since I am uncertain that 89 games played is sustainable especially with other work to get done.

The next time I return to the yearly review, I dig into the Painting Log and see what 2022 held.

Last (and First) Game of the Year

Last and First game of the year?  How is that possible?

When one player is situated in the USA on the afternoon of December 31st and the other player hosts the game from Australia on the morning of January 1st.  That is how.

Peter (Grid Based Wargaming) set up his table in a continuation of his WWI Palestine solo campaign.  Rather than fighting the next battle in the campaign solo, he asked if I would consider taking command of one of the armies.  Without hesitation, I said, "of course!"

The scenario background and details can be found on Peter's blog at WWI Palestine Turn 4 - Game 2 prep.  I would command the Turkish defense of the hill objective.  If the Turks can have a unit on the hill at the end of fifteen turns, they will be declared the winner.  Outnumbered and outgunned, I thought the Turks might have a difficult time hanging on for the requisite turns.  To compound the Turkish misery, the EEF can call in a bombardment mission upon the hill before the game begins in earnest.  Ouch.

Let's see how the battle played out.

The Turkish defenders await the attack
but there is only enough trench to protect one unit.
Preliminary bombardment causes heavy casualties
 on the Turks caught in the open.

Lead elements of the EEF arrive.

While one battery deploys to provide support, 
infantry move into the light woods
and mounted cavalry advance along the road.

As the EEF closes in on the hill,
Turkish reinforcements appear on the horizon.
For now, aid comes as one battery and supporting infantry.

Heavy fire is exchanged at the hill.
With the high ground proving too hot to hold,
the Turks fall back off the hillcrest. 
Turkish artillery targets the mounted infantry.
Taking fire, they dismount.

Turkish guns continue to pound the dismounted infantry.

EEF infantry fire from the cover of the woods
 against the approaching Turks.
Caught in a crossfire, the dismounted infantry
 in the open see their casualties rise.

The last of the Turkish reinforcements appear.
Hoorah!

With no targets remaining within sight,
EEF guns must redeploy.
The attack is stalling.

Sharp firefights continue on the EEF right
as the armored car moves to turn the Turkish left.

As the Turks begin to deploy in depth,
 EEF guns move up on the left.

Fighting is intense on the EEF center and right.
Turkish guns and infantry target the armored car.
Dismounted cavalry are destroyed in exchange
 for a Turkish infantry with MG. 
EEF infantry advances to take the hill.
Can this position be held until the final turn?

A second EEF unit is destroyed near the base of the hill.

The EEF holds the objective with its guns
working their way up the hill.

The Turks continue pounding the armored car.
Failing its activation, The armored car is wrecked.  

With EEF infantry on the crest coming under
a deadly crossfire, it can take no more and scatters.

EEF guns destroy the rightmost Turkish infantry.
Before this opening can be exploited, the sole EEF
infantry is hit from the right. Casualties are heavy.

The remaining attacking infantry is destroyed
 as the Turks move up to secure the hill.

Recapturing the hill with only EEF artillery remaining,
Turkish victory is complete. 

Victory to the Turks!

This loss for the EEF likely puts their plans, once again, behind schedule.

Neil Thomas' OHW scenario offered up another interesting and challenging fight.  With only two units on table at the start and two reinforcements arriving on Turn 3 and the remaining two reinforcements arriving on Turn 6, I figured staying in the game might be a challenge for the Turks.

The pre-battle bombardment caused some damage, but follow-on artillery barrages caused a lot of pain on the two Turkish units stationed on the hill.  While both Turkish units on the hill vacated their positions by Turn 3, I probably should have pulled both back off the heights on Turn 1 to preserve their fighting strength.  I realized this almost too late after they both were already heavily damaged by enemy artillery fire.  Once on the back side of the hill, these Turks were protected from enemy fire by the intervening crest.  As it was, heavy casualties prevented these two units from activating time and time again.

In the end, Turkish refusal on their right while concentrating fire against EEF elements on their left, brought about a winning combination.  Three EEF units fell in quick succession as the Turkish left got into range.  The EEF right was open and turned.  Turkish coordinated attacks kept the enemy from securing its objective but only in the nick of time.

This action was the third to see Peter's D3 adaptation of Thomas' OHW.  The third different period too.  Again, the rules and scenario produced a very good game.  Yet again, the result came down to the very last turn.

A great way to end an Old Year and start a New Year.

Happy New Year!

Another Batch of Sumerians

As 2022 winds down, one last tranche of 28mm Sumerians musters out from the painting desk.  Following rapidly upon the heels of their brethren in the previous post, today sees 2 x 12-figure units of heavy spearmen march out.

The figures are all Wargames Foundry Sumerians and these are the last spearmen in The Lead Pile.  Actually, only two more battle carts and a handful of skirmishers remain unpainted for this project.

With 19 units completed in 2022, the project nearly doubled in size.  The project, only begun in June of 2021, now fields 44 units in the collection.  The collection has even seen battle two or three times in 2022.

As it stands now, the Sumerian collection has six battle carts and about 300 infantry.  Enough figures and equipment to field two equally matched armies.  Should I remain satisfied that enough BMUs are present under arms for a game or look toward continued, moderate expansion in the New Year?

With the traditional Newline Design's annual January sale on the horizon, perhaps I could use a few more units?  

While I ponder that decision, clearing the table for a parade may be warranted.

Meic, if you are reading, a little more temptation for you.

Sumerians and a Game Not Played

First, I hope everyone is enjoying a holiday break.

Second, with a steady stream of games and battle reports of late, few figures have shown up on the blog.

In an effort to clear some of the logjam at the photo booth, up today are more Sumerians in 28mm.  All figures are Newline Designs.  With The Lead Pile running low of Newline Design figures, one New Year's wish is that we see another January sale so that I can replenish the coffers.

First up are two, four-figure stands of Sumerian archers skirmishing.  As always, these are based for Impetvs or To the Strongest!.

Next up is a nine-figure stand of massed archers.  These will classify as 'T' missile under Impetvs.  Accounting shows I can field seven such massed bow units.  

Two more, 12-figure heavy spear units are waiting in the wings for a chance at a photo op.

The gaming slate has lightened during the holidays.  I have a remote game scheduled for Tuesday in which Chris is hosting his first remote game (hooray!).  The game looks to see action in the AWI using Loose Files and American Scramble.  Not a ruleset to which I am familiar but sure to pick it up quickly.  Having played British Grenadier, the concepts are not foreign.  A return to recreating Samurai battles is back on the front burner again after a long hiatus.

Unfortunately, I had to cancel last week's pre-Christmas game due to an aching back.  The action was to see a return to Old West gunfights with a collection having seen no action in more than 20 years.  Hopefully, I can get this one rescheduled.  The table was laid out, character cards drawn up, and a scenario in place.

Adobe Wells

Sample of player character cards

Until next time...

Merry Christmas!

To all readers who visit on purpose or by accident, regularly or irregularly, in silence or with comment, I wish you all

a

 Very Merry Christmas!

Plataea, My Way

photo courtesy wargamesinthedungeon

Matt drew up the Battle of Plataea to fight out on his table recently.  We used a hex grid and my Basic Impetvs variant.  Having fought gridded battles in other periods, Matt was ready to take the fight to the Greco-Persian Wars.  Matt tells his side of the story at, Battle of Plataea, 479BC.  Time to tell the battle account from the Persian perspective.

The battle begins with both armies deployed across the 6' x 4' table.  Each army is arrayed into three distinct wings.  I would command the Persian Army.  For the Persians, Theban Hoplites are deployed on the right wing.  Persian Immortals and much of the cavalry are deployed on the left.  The Persian center is occupied by an assortment of light troops.  The battlefield is effectively split by the Asopus Ridge.  Reinforcing one wing from the other will be impossible.  

Initial deployments
photo courtesy wargamesinthedungeon

On to battle!

Matt points out the pride of the Spartan Army.
Would they rise to the challenge?

Battle begins on the Persian left.
Having won the initiative, the Immortals advance.
The Spartans counter.

Seizing the initiative, the Spartans attack!
Persian arrows cause some discomfort before the clash.

You win some; you lose some

but the Persians are winning more!
Two Spartan Hoplites are destroyed
as Persians splinter the Spartan line.

The Spartan right is tattered. 

The Immortals drive on!

With the battle seemingly decided on the Persian left,
 focus shifts to the right.  The armies advance.

Now within striking distance, the Greeks win
initiative and charge into the Thebans.

The Thebans fold like a cheap tunic!
With destruction everywhere, the Thebans take to flight.

Carnage continues on the Persian right.

Back against the Spartans,
mopping-up actions continue.
the Immortals know not what is befalling their right.

In a last ditch effort, Pausanius drives
 Persian horse back across the river
but the Spartan wing is destroyed.

Thebans are driven back.

With Spartans nowhere, Persians head for the ridge.

In hot pursuit of the fleeing Thebans,
the Greeks give no quarter. 

Hardly a Theban remains...

With the battle hanging in balance,
one attack will destroy a Great Army.
The Theban cavalry attacks a Hoplite rear!

The Thebans are repulsed,
 and a Great Army is destroyed.

Matt and his Spartans are victorious but only by a hair.

With the Battle Clock down to one point apiece, one more loss or retreat would bring either victory or defeat.  Unfortunately for my Persians, it brought defeat but only by the narrowest of margins.

This refight of Plataea resulted in one of the most closely contested fights I have seen in ages.  Victorious on the left, the Persians sensed victory could be theirs on this day.  The Greeks had other ideas, though.  Thoroughly dismantling the Thebans on the Persian right, the destruction was complete.

Congratulations to Matt for a well-played hand and a superb game.

One day, I would enjoy a rematch.