Animate Your Games!
/Saw this on FB and thought it worth sharing!
I think I’d replace the couple dancing on the snail with a weapons team!
IABSM AAR: Decision at Le Mer, D-Day -1
/Bob Cockayne and friends have been playing out an epic Normandy game over the last month or so.
They only have a limited time each session, so tend to play a single game over a number of get-togethers, with Bob reporting on each one on a week-by-week “serial” basis.
You can see Bob’s original posts on the Beasts of War forum but, firmly believing in the binge-the-box-set mentality (I’ve just finished a Peaky Blinders marathon!), I’ve gathered them all together into one massive AAR that you can read here on Vis Lardica by clicking on the picture, below.
IABSM at Clotted Lard 2019
/Clotted Lard is the Devon Wargames Group’s annual Lard Day. A full report of the 2019 event can be found on the DWG blog, but here’s an extract describing the game of IABSM that took place as part of the festivities.
Click on the picture below to see all:
TFL Painting Challenge: Latest Update
/I’m determined to keep on top of the Challenge as we enter the busiest time of the year, so here’s another update. In no particular order, we have:
Travis with some more barbarians
Mark Luther (fresh from his AAR from Friday) with the first of his German pioneers
There’s some Kickstarter sci-fi from Carole
Finally Mervyn has escaped Hyboria: there’ s some foot sergeants and wild west desperadoes on show
More 15mm Renaissance from Andrew
And last, but by no means least, Lloyd claims to have finished his 6mm ACW armies for now with another large submission. Time will tell…but looking back through his gallery, he seems to have painted vast numbers of Greys and Blues over the past few months
And that was it for this week. For all my protestations, quite slow after a very busy summer. As per usual, clicking on the name of the person in the list above will take you straight to their gallery (opens in a new window). Here are today’s pics:
Finally Got Some Painting Done
/So I finally managed to get some painting done: a third Sumerian spear block.
These are more of Museum Miniatures excellent CAD designed 15mm figures: some of the best Ancients I’ve seen and very easy to paint up.
As with the other two blocks, these were painted using the new Citadel Contrast Paints: one coat only for every colour except the bronze.
Three down, three to go!
IABSM AAR: Cymru Am Byth #12: Let's Get At The B*st*rds!
/Mark Luther gives his very special treatment to the twelfth scenario from the Cymru Am Byth Welsh Guard scenario pack.
This is an attack for control of the little cluster of farm buildings on top of hill 242 overlooking Chenedolle at Le Haut Perrier on August 11, 1944.
Click on the picture, below, to see all:
TFL Painting Challenge: Monday Morning Update
/Morning all. Didn’t have time to update the Challenge over the weekend, so you get it first thing Monday morning instead. What a great start to the week!
So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are the Painting Challenge entries from the last seven days or so:
Mark Luther has been building trenches and pimping up tanks
More Saracen archers from Steve Burt
Yet more Conan figures from Mervyn Douglas…and it’s a trick question: he punches the camel in both Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer
Travis has switched to painting Celts
It’s good to see Stumpy back on the list: an eclectic list of basing from him
Three gorgeous vehicles and an amazing Arnhem bridge in 28mm from John Emmett
And last, but not least, a mix of sci fi, fantasy and samurai from Derek (I recognise those buildings!)
As always, clicking on the name of the person above will take you straight through to their gallery (opens in a new window); and I’ll be updating the Scorecard later in the week.
Here are today’s pictures:
And as a reminder:
The 25% Off The September War Scenario Packs Sale Is Still On
To mark the 80th year after the accepted start of WW2 with the invasion of Poland on 1st September 1939, the TooFatLardies and I are pleased to offer a great discount on the two September War scenario packs for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! with a whopping 25% off when you buy them as a bundle.
Written by Robert Avery and Alexander Kawczynski, each September War scenario pack for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! provides thirty scenarios for the theatre, making sixty available in all.
Divided into eight mini-campaigns, the first pack (The September War Part One) begins with the battles at the border, then covers the fight for the Polish corridor, the Polish Thermopylae at Narew, the Siege of Warsaw, the climactic battles at Bzura and Tomaszow Lubelski, and the actions of the 10th Motorised Cavalry “Black” Brigade and the Independent Operational Group Polesie. There are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, desperate defences…there’s even an armoured train or two.
Divided into six mini-campaigns, the second pack (The September War Part Two) begins with four based on specific German units: Panzerdivision Kempf, the 1st GebirgsjaegerDivision, the 4th Panzer Division, and the 1st Kavallerie Brigade. Then there are two mini-campaigns based on the Soviet invasion of Poland: the Belorussian Front and the Ukrainian Front. Finally there are details of two stand-alone battles: Westerplatte and the Hel Peninsula. As always, there are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, and desperate defences, all containing a whole host of useful scenario mechanics that can be re-used elsewhere.
No need for any preparation: each scenario contains a brief background history, maps, a full game briefing, and a full briefing for each player. Simply print out the pages you need, make up the deck from the list of cards required, unpack your figures and dice, set up the table and away you go!
IABSM AAR: A Learning Game
/Michael Curtis and friends had a quick “learning game” of I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum recently, all in preparation for their demo game at Salute next year.
Some lovely models and terrain already on show. Click on the pic below to see all:
IABSM AAR: Cymru am Byth #03: The Crossroads
/A great AAR from Tim Whitworth and the Like a Stone Wall group! This encounter is taken from the Cymru am Byth (Welsh Guards) scenario pack, and features a game based on their heroic but ultimately doomed defence of Boulogne.
See how the Guards stand up to the German Panzers by clicking on the picture, below:
IABSM AAR: Eastern Front Clash
/Desmondo Darkin and friends recently played an eastern front clash in 20mm using their dice-driven variant of IABSM.
Click on the pic below to see what happened, and to admire the superb winter terrain…
And as a reminder:
25% Off The September War Scenario Packs
To mark the 80th year after the accepted start of WW2 with the invasion of Poland on 1st September 1939, the TooFatLardies and I are pleased to offer a great discount on the two September War scenario packs for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! with a whopping 25% off when you buy them as a bundle.
Written by Robert Avery and Alexander Kawczynski, each September War scenario pack for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! provides thirty scenarios for the theatre, making sixty available in all.
Divided into eight mini-campaigns, the first pack (The September War Part One) begins with the battles at the border, then covers the fight for the Polish corridor, the Polish Thermopylae at Narew, the Siege of Warsaw, the climactic battles at Bzura and Tomaszow Lubelski, and the actions of the 10th Motorised Cavalry “Black” Brigade and the Independent Operational Group Polesie. There are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, desperate defences…there’s even an armoured train or two.
Divided into six mini-campaigns, the second pack (The September War Part Two) begins with four based on specific German units: Panzerdivision Kempf, the 1st GebirgsjaegerDivision, the 4th Panzer Division, and the 1st Kavallerie Brigade. Then there are two mini-campaigns based on the Soviet invasion of Poland: the Belorussian Front and the Ukrainian Front. Finally there are details of two stand-alone battles: Westerplatte and the Hel Peninsula. As always, there are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, and desperate defences, all containing a whole host of useful scenario mechanics that can be re-used elsewhere.
No need for any preparation: each scenario contains a brief background history, maps, a full game briefing, and a full briefing for each player. Simply print out the pages you need, make up the deck from the list of cards required, unpack your figures and dice, set up the table and away you go!
TFL Painting Challenge: 1st September Update
/Another two weeks of hard work by our painters, with the results appearing on the 80th anniversary of what’s generally accepted as the start date of WW2.
In no particular order, we have:
Matt Slade with some Valiant Miniatures 20mm goodness
Two Khurasan vehicles and some goblins from Ralph Plowman
More Conan from Mervyn
More 20mm WW2 figures from John de Terre Neuve
Carole sends in some treasure
John Emmett submits two lovely houses and a couple of cracking half-tracks
More 6mm and 15mm terrain madness from Mark Luther, and a whole airforce of tiny ‘planes too
Sapper has some Napoleonics to show us
Chris Cornwell has been at the Burgundians
The start of a new army for Andrew Helliwell: don’t tell the missus!
Napoleonic French Lancers of the Guard from Steve Burt
Joe McGinn has more 15mm Fallschirmjaegers, and some US Pioneers
As per usual, clicking on the name of the person above will take you straight through to their gallery. Here are today’s pictures…
And as a reminder from yesterday:
25% Off The September War Scenario Packs
To mark the 80th year after the accepted start of WW2 with the invasion of Poland on 1st September 1939, the TooFatLardies and I are pleased to offer a great discount on the two September War scenario packs for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! with a whopping 25% off when you buy them as a bundle.
Written by Robert Avery and Alexander Kawczynski, each September War scenario pack for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! provides thirty scenarios for the theatre, making sixty available in all.
Divided into eight mini-campaigns, the first pack (The September War Part One) begins with the battles at the border, then covers the fight for the Polish corridor, the Polish Thermopylae at Narew, the Siege of Warsaw, the climactic battles at Bzura and Tomaszow Lubelski, and the actions of the 10th Motorised Cavalry “Black” Brigade and the Independent Operational Group Polesie. There are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, desperate defences…there’s even an armoured train or two.
Divided into six mini-campaigns, the second pack (The September War Part Two) begins with four based on specific German units: Panzerdivision Kempf, the 1st GebirgsjaegerDivision, the 4th Panzer Division, and the 1st Kavallerie Brigade. Then there are two mini-campaigns based on the Soviet invasion of Poland: the Belorussian Front and the Ukrainian Front. Finally there are details of two stand-alone battles: Westerplatte and the Hel Peninsula. As always, there are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, and desperate defences, all containing a whole host of useful scenario mechanics that can be re-used elsewhere.
No need for any preparation: each scenario contains a brief background history, maps, a full game briefing, and a full briefing for each player. Simply print out the pages you need, make up the deck from the list of cards required, unpack your figures and dice, set up the table and away you go!
25% Off The September War Scenario Packs
/To mark the 80th year after the accepted start of WW2 with the invasion of Poland on 1st September 1939, the TooFatLardies and I are pleased to offer a great discount on the two September War scenario packs for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! with a whopping 25% off when you buy them as a bundle.
Written by Robert Avery and Alexander Kawczynski, each September War scenario pack for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! provides thirty scenarios for the theatre, making sixty available in all.
Divided into eight mini-campaigns, the first pack (The September War Part One) begins with the battles at the border, then covers the fight for the Polish corridor, the Polish Thermopylae at Narew, the Siege of Warsaw, the climactic battles at Bzura and Tomaszow Lubelski, and the actions of the 10th Motorised Cavalry “Black” Brigade and the Independent Operational Group Polesie. There are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, desperate defences…there’s even an armoured train or two.
Divided into six mini-campaigns, the second pack (The September War Part Two) begins with four based on specific German units: Panzerdivision Kempf, the 1st GebirgsjaegerDivision, the 4th Panzer Division, and the 1st Kavallerie Brigade. Then there are two mini-campaigns based on the Soviet invasion of Poland: the Belorussian Front and the Ukrainian Front. Finally there are details of two stand-alone battles: Westerplatte and the Hel Peninsula. As always, there are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, and desperate defences, all containing a whole host of useful scenario mechanics that can be re-used elsewhere.
No need for any preparation: each scenario contains a brief background history, maps, a full game briefing, and a full briefing for each player. Simply print out the pages you need, make up the deck from the list of cards required, unpack your figures and dice, set up the table and away you go!
IABSM AAR: The 4th Panssari Goes to War!
/Dave Lister had a lot of fun running a scenario based on the Battle for Honkaniemi (Feb. 26, 1940) at Broadsword 9 last weekend,. Honkaniemi is known as the only, and therefore largest, tank battle of the Winter War!
As you may know, while the Soviets had thousands of tanks at their command, the Finns had very few indeed. They threw them into a desperate attack late in the war that they hoped would throw back the Soviet forces that were closing on Viipuri (only 15km away at this point in the conflict) and spearhead a larger Finnish offensive operation.
Well, it turned out to be a terrible day for the Finns, from losing more than half of their thirteen operational tanks to mechanical trouble, to friendly artillery falling on the heads of the supporting infantry, to a complete lack of reconnaissance that could have revealed the Soviets were planning their own attack operation at the very same place and the very same time!
While a conventional victory was probably out of the question, Dave and friends decided to judge the results of this scenario against what the plucky and hopeless Finnish tankers achieved historically. And for all that, the Finns did very well during the game! Have a look and see what you think by clicking on the picture below:
IABSM AAR: 1st Corps, 1st Game
/Those nice people at 1st Corps recently played their first game of I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum: and it looks like a colossal set up as well.
Click on the picture below to see a pictorial report:
IABSM AAR: Over the Hill with Steves
/Carojon and his colleagues at the Devon Wargames Group recently resurrected the Over the Hill scenario for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! playing the game with, coincidentally, four players named Steve!
Click on the picture below to see how the battle of the Steves worked out…
IABSM AAR: WTHHYBB #05: The Drive on Point du Hoc
/Here is a quick I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! AAR taken from Scenario #05 from the IABSM scenario book Where the Hell have you been, Boys? played by members of the Vermont Historical Gamers Group.
Click on the pic below to see all:
A "Test of Honour" Tester
/Always nice to get an invitation to a game, so it was with great pleasure that I joined fellow Lardy Derek Hodge and friends at the South East Scotland Wargames Club last night for a game of Test of Honour.
For those of you not familiar with the game, ToH is a game of samurai skirmish warfare. Each side gets one major league samurai and a number of followers, one figure = one man, and fights it out for a set objective using a simple dice based combat system.
The forces at my command last night
The game comes with a variety of different scenario suggestions included: here we were tasked with taking a number of objectives within an enemy village.
The game began with both sides exchanging some long range missile fire, with my ashigaru bowmen getting a slight advantage over Derek’s musketeers.
The enemy musketeer-wielding ashigaru
Meanwhile, my lead samurai and some ashigaru pikemen were sneaking around the bottom of the village, aiming to take the objective indicated by the counter in the nearest building in the picture above.
I say sneaking, but my lead samurai just ran at the village at top speed, hidden from enemy missilemen by the various buildings. Very quickly, he had clambered into the hut and taken the objective: one down, two to go.
Time was against us (we only had five turns of play to get the matter done) so I decided not to waste any more time and, as the three enemy musketeers were currently unloaded, to charge out of the hut and show them how a real man fights!
Despite being slightly impeded by the terrain, I smashed into the three ashigaru and, with a couple of stabs of my yari or long spear, killed one musketeer and sent the other two reeling backwards in a panic.
At this point the enemy no.2 samurai charged forward and took a mighty swing at me with his sword, but missed as I had gained a characteristic card allowing me a nifty dodge. I stabbed back, and managed a critical hit impale, technically killing him and knocking him to the ground.
I say technically as samurai characters have a dog’s chance like extra life…meaning my enemy was still drawing breath.
Not for long, however, as the initiative came my way again, and I polished him off with another critical hit. The dice were definitely on my side today!
With half their missilemen and one leader down, and two objectives out of three already in my hands, the opposition gave up: withdrawing to cede me total control of the village.
A glorious victory achieved almost solely with one major league samurai character. Excellent stuff and just like the movies!
They sent an army against him. He threw it back in pieces!
A great fun game with a great fun system that I shall definitely play again when I can. My thanks to Derek and friends for a great fun evening. Now back to the Fringe…
Peleliu at The Other Partisan
/The other game of I AIn’t Been Shot, Mum at The Other Partisan was another amphibious assault: Tim Whitworth and the Like a Stone Wall Group’s magnificent Pelelie scenario, set in the Pacific with US Marines assaulting a Japanese-held beach.
This game was, in fact, so good that it won the Best Demonstration Game award for the show. Click on the picture below to see loads of excellent pictures of the game:
Bloody Omaha at The Other Partisan
/Here’s a full write-up of the superb Bloody Omaha game that Mike Whitaker and crew put on at The Other Partisan this weekend just gone. It’s taken from Mike’s excellent blog Trouble At T’Mill: well worth a visit.
Click on the picture below to see all:
The Other Partisan
/I don’t usually get to The Other Partisan: Newark is normally too far to go on one of the few days off I get each week.
This year, however, I did get to go: mainly because I had promised to drive my daughter’s rollerscate of a car up to Edinburgh for her, and Newark provided a reasonable waypoint on the journey: drive to Newark on the Sunday, do Partisan, stay overnight, then do the rest of the journey on the Monday.
So I did get to go to Partisan, and great fun it was too. Lots of good trade stands, although I didn’t actually buy anything (still far too much in the lead mountain!) and, almost more importantly, a huge number of very impressive demonstration and participation games.
And what a lot of Lard on show too!
In all, I think there were six games featuring Lardy rules: Big Rich was running CoC (more on that later); Mike Whitaker had brought his Omaha game; the Like A Stone Wall chaps were there with their Peleliu game; Matt Slade was also playing CoC, but desert-style; there was a Sharp Practice Ancients variant; and a huge WW2 Normandy CoC game too. That’s six Lard games in all. Here are some pictures:
I even managed to get a battle in as well: I played the Fallschirmjaegers attempting to capture a Dutch windmill in Richard’s afternoon CoC participation game.
After I’d watched the FJs getting beaten in the morning through attempting to use no tactics at all - just trying to overwhelm their Dutch reservist opponents through sheer firepower - I was determined to do better. A bit of the old feint to the right, then pin with the centre and attack on left soon had the Cloggies defeated…although the way my opponent’s young daughter was rolling the dice meant that the path to victory was definitely not all plain sailing. Very nerve-wracking in fact.
Third Fallschirmjaeger squad at the moment of their victory!
So, all in all, a very good show indeed. Highly recommended.
