Claymore 2014

Saturday saw ArabianSquire and myself attend Edinburgh's main Wargame show, Claymore. We got there nice and early for a good look round to see what Participation games were where and spot out any potential purchasing targets (although I had my mind and budget pretty set before we arrived)

First game played was a WWII Bridge assault game (which we'd missed playing at Carronade). Good simple, well led participation game, although my D Platoon were obviously shaken by the glider landing and couldn't hit the enemy!

A quick trip across the hall and were at a very nice sprawling Wild West Mining Town. Given my latest Dead Man's Hand games, we had to play.

The game was another simple set of home spun rules, and after an unintentionally combined effort to rid the town of a Mexican gang the final showdown between the Arabiansquires Lawmen and my Drunkards went the way of the later - mostly because The Lawmen had spent most their ammunition on the Mexicans!

In the Main Foyer Hall a couple of comnapies were out in force. One was Mantic, who had demo games of Mars Attacks!, Dreadball and Dead Zone all out on what was a busy table.

However for the majority of the afternoon Arabiansquire was playing at the impressive Spartan Games table, where they were demoing their soon to be released Firestorm Planetfall game.

Very impressive it was too, and everyone seemed to have a good time playing.

The game is loosely scheduled for an Autumn release so no doubt will be in line for an Xmas purchase...

And talking of purchases, what business did the traders do with my wallet? Well, after finally getting a Gang for Dead Man's Hand I felt I'd better look out the rulebook, and linked to that picked up a bargain box of 18 Black Scorpion Miniatures Cowboys and Mexicans. And whilst all that was still in my head went all 15mm with Bluemoon Manufacturing's Cowboy and Personalities sets (courtesy of the Old Glory UK).

Information Gathering - SoBH AAR

A one off "Song of Blades and Heroes" battle this week, between MacSver's Dwarves and a new Human Holy Order warband.

 The scenario was "Traces to Emrpise" from Hour11's Scenario booklet. The aim was to get round the buildings and question or torture the inhabitants for pieces information.

Quick Crossbowmen

This week a one off game of "Song of Blades and Heroes" is planned. The campaign is in a haitus at the moment until MacSver can find time in his busy schedule to get his recruits painted (autumn time probably). Lots of games to play in the meantime. For this week I had a bit of a rummage around and came up with some blue and white quartered Empire Soldiers I'd painted ages ago as a town or noble guard for roleplaying. Coincidentally they fitted in with the robe colours of a Battling Bishop I'd picked up somewhere (already painted). If they are to try and face up to MacSver's Dwarves though they'll need a bit more than a willingness to go toe-to-toe in battle. So I raided the old Empire soldiers and Mercenary boxsets to make up a couple of crossbowmen, and gave them a quick paint to match the existing troops.

I thought town\noble guards would be more likely to have crossbows than long bows.

The assembled warband.

As far as SoBH stats go the guards are just standard Human soldiers\archers. I think I'll make the Bishop an Enchanter to give the flavour of shouting religious zeal to encourage a particular soldier for a turn (pass 2 or 3 dice to add 1 to combat for his turn). I would also like to make one or two of the pikemen as bodyguards, but that's a "Song of Arthur and Merlin" rule, and so far I don't think we've included any of those rules.

The Citizens Come out

When writing up the last Dead Man's Hand session I finally succumbed and bought a gang. I had always planned to buy a quick to paint, easy to play gang to let me get on with other projects, but looking round the Great Escape Games website I seduced by the obvious characters in the citizens pack, so bought them with "The Stranger" add-on (basically a Pale Rider set)

So with them embarrassingly naked MacSver and I gave them a run through to see how they played.

Dawn Breaks and the Lawmen advance.

The Citizen's gathered in the Undertakers and Rogan's bar

The Law reach the centre of the town, confident
against the hesitant local populace.

The Stranger makes a move to confront the Sheriff, but
poor activation cards, and well played one's by MacSver
leave him exposed without taking a shot.

The Sheirff and his deputy take care of the interloper.

The Citizen's are spurred into action with Drunken dutchman
Rutger charging in with his shotgun, backed up by Jolene from the bar.

The game was inconclusive mainly thanks to my inability to roll numbers in double figures on a d20! The Stranger is quite powerful, but will need the backup (or shielding) of the citizens to make best use of his talents.