Adventures on the Wargames Table

As promised here are some photos from the Zero Hour participation game. I’ve added a few notes to some to help make sense of the action, but really I think the pictures speak for themselves! The basic premise of the game is that the French are attacking a section of the line with the aim of capturing the second line of trenches (including a command post) and the nearby ruined village. The French have superior numbers and armour, but the Germans have a Storm Trooper company held off table ready to mount a counter attack if the forward trench line is breached. The French mass in and around the blasted wood on a low hill. And the Germans are waiting in their trenches! On the French left the Senegalese are supported by tanks and big guns. Scarab’s WW1 Rommel figure keeps an eye on things from a ruined building (a Charlie Foxtrot kit). The whistles blow and the attack begins! German artillery begins to hammer the advancing French as they scramble through mud filled craters and along rickety...

Legionary is almost my local show as Exeter is only 60 ish miles away so when Orange Dave floated the idea of us partnering with Rob at Scarab to put on a demo/participation game of Zero Hour my interest was understandably piqued.   The French advance through a shattered wood. Germans man the trenches. More about our Zero Hour game in a later post. Dave has put a huge amount of effort in to this project and I think it shows! The show is hosted in the Matford Centre which is spacious, bright and airy. The people running things were readily available, efficient and very helpful. It’s easy to find too, so we arrived in plenty of time and headed for a McBreakfast (thanks Dave!) before unloading the car. Here’s a few pics of some of the games:   Blood & Plunder from Firelock Games. This game drew quite a bit if attention - just look at the galleon ... Arrrr me hearties! Devon Wargames put on this large game of TFLs "Kiss me, Hardy!". The boats are from Warlord (I think) and ar...

A quick post to show some figures I've recently completed for good chum Orange Dave. Some Scarab WW1 French Chauchat teams. The Horizon Blue uniform is actually the Foundy Night Sky triad. Rather enjoyed painting these characterful figures. En avant mes braves!

Wargames Table chums Rob Broom and Orange Dave put on a rather splendid Somme inspired WW1 demo game for Dave's superb Zero Hour rules at the Worlds show, Donnington (01/10/16). Now, I couldn't make it along but I did supply some scenery and troops so I was kind of there in spirit! ;o)  Here's a few pics... (slightly dodgy lighting made good pics quite tricky) British mass for the attack on the German trenches From the German side New technology makes it's debut ... a tank rumbles into the line! Not to be outdone... he comes the RFC Advance! The French also attack The tank proves useful at cutting through obstacles A shattered farm somewhere on the Somme Every battlefield needs a river The British reach the trench lines! Hurrah! Hopefully this demo game will gradually expand and feature at a few more shows!

Wargames Table chum Dave took along his Great War demo game (for Zero Hour) to Daffcon recently. Now, I wasn't available to attend but I was pleased to be able to help out with a few bits of terrain, etc. Dave sent me these photos which I was keen to share. The game all set up and ready to 'bully off' As mentioned before the Zero Hour rules are currently being re-worked to provide a more streamlined reading experience. The actual game mechanisms have been in place for some time and work very well. But as any rules writer will tell you, trying to turn ideas in to written rules can be quite challenging. This battle was themed around part of the British attack at Cambrai in November/December 1917, hence the Mark IV tanks and bare trees. More specifically the bridge crossing the St Quentin Canal at Masnieres. The British advance The Forces British 1 infantry battalion (3 companies of 2 platoons) supported by a tank company (2 male + 1 female, Goliath, Apollo, G...