"This brawl today...shall send, between the red rose and the white, a thousand souls to death and deadly night." Mk2

Last Thursday saw Paul return to GHQ for a Wars of the Roses game, using Hail Ceasar Mk2 to drive the game action. There is however a slight spanner in the works when it comes to this AAR in that I took no pictures and a number of Paul's failed to focus correctly. Subsequently those we can present in the usual anotated photomontage give a rather disjointed view of what was a game of nip and tuck on the day, but I'm confident that you will cut us some slack and enjoy seeing my collection in action. For the record Paul took command of the Yorkists leaving the Lancastrians to my tender mercies. Here we go then ~

The Yorkist host lead by Edward prepare to advance towards the King's forces.

The Lancastrians steel themselves to do their duty under the eyes of their king! Though true to form he is somewhat to the rear of the action!

Some of the new fangled artillery deployed by both sides, not that it did much for either side's cause, other than a bit of a noisy morale booster!

The king's baggage, like his good self, safely in the rear and ready to make a swift advance rearward, should the circumstances warrant it!

Warwick's powerful presence in the Yorkist ranks bolsters Edward's army as it advances on the enemy lines of battle.

An early reverse for the Lancastrians sees a body of men at arms halted in Disorder by a lucky artillery hit at long range! If only their own gunners had been so accurate!

Mercenary handgonners are well in advance of the central ward lead by the retinue of Giffard of Chillington.

The knights and mounted men at arms of both sides are quick to get into the fray.  Black Geordie urges his Scots forward on their flank while Wenlock's retinue supports their flank in turn.

The flower of Lancastrian nobility is shattered by the violence of the Yorkist knights and their men at arms!

Even the presence of the king near the action fails to quell Disorder and Dismay in the ranks!

It's not all doom and gloom for the King's cause though as one Yorkist retinue is put to flight in the contest for the higher ground on the battlefield. 

Despite the Lancastrian reverses on their right Black Geordie's pikemen drive off the mercenary crossbowmen in short order! Things are looking more promising for the Lancastrian cause.

A mighty melee develops in the centre of the lines as Warwick's men seek to punch straight through the Lancastrian lines!

As the flower of Lancastrian nobility are swept aside the victorious Yorkists are able to slam into the flank of the Scots pike!

In fierce fighting Warwick's advanced retinue are having a hard time as losses mount. They are Shaken by these losses but cling on by the skin of their teeth!

But not for long! A big reverse for Yorkist fortunes sees them flee to the rear. A dangerous moment for the Yorkist cause!

As Yorkist knights and mounted men at arms seek to move around the Lancastrian flank Black Geordie sends his swordsman forward!

In the centre the Lancastrians are having the better of exchanges without being able to deliver the coup de grace!

The King is looking rather vulnerable in the distance there! The Fortunes of War swing back and forth though neither can seem to make the decisive breakthrough!

As darkness falls and men tire the Yorkists realise that it is not to be their day! While not decisively beaten they quit the field to fight another day leaving Henry to celebrate if not a victory at least the best of an inconclusive action! Hurrah!

It will be a little quiet now in GHQ for a while as Sue and I are off for a little R&R with Matt and the boys. More on that I hope in due course! I just have to pack the game away first!

A Little Distraction

Paul and I played an AWI encounter last Thursday. While I was getting sorted beforehand I played around with some of the bits and pieces, ephemera if you will, which I've accumulated over time and took a few pictures for interest. I thought you might like to see them ~

An C18th coach and horses which Phil painted for me a few years back now. The lady and gentleman greeting the occupant are from Perry Miniatures,  while the field worker you can just make out is from a Eureka set.

A better view of the coach and horses set. If I recall accurately its by either Westphalia or Black Hussar. The driver is a Foundry figure I think.

A camp scene from Perry Miniatures. Various camp detritus in resin, from lord knows where or when! The Robinson House from Hovels, acquired as is for £5.00 last Sunday at the Tabletop Sale held at Aldersley Leisure Village. 

An alternate viewpoint of the vignette. Its cleverly done so it can feature for both the Crown and the Rebels. I was going to repaint the house but I don't think I'll bother now.

"Gotta pick a bit o' cotton!" Cotton plants sourced on the web from Vietnam, really model railroad scenics. Made of wire and paper balls if you fancy a bash at your own. Female field hands from Eureka Miniatures UK. Dan got cold feet I think when I submitted a short piece about the representation of slavery and of Colored troops in ACW gaming Illustrated by this piece. It was very positively received though on my blog.

When Paul has found time to process the pictures there will be an AAR of the game. Pop back later in the week for that. Meanwhile Tuesday sees GHQ in action again, with a SYW game with Phil. Then it'll be time for some R&R for Sue and I towards the end of the month.

An Advertisement...

 ...of sorts. I thought my loyal reader would cut me some slack if I posted this brief 'advert' on my blog. I've been working with Dave Ryan of Caliver Books for the past several months, and with his talented graphic designer Jay, to bring new editions of my self published rules to the hobby market. So far we have completed the Anglo-Zulu War rules, Washing the Spears...

...and just recently the rules for the Indian Mutiny, The Devil'sWind...

Both sets are available from Caliver Books priced at £17.50. Obviously I'm not exactly unbiased in encouraging anyone interested in the periods to buy a copy! As Mrs Doyle might say, "Go on, Go on, Go on..."

I'm not sure if, or when, A Good Dusting might appear for the Sudan War, partly because I'm still mulling over some new ideas for a couple of elements in the rules. Hopefully I shall have more to report on this in due course.

A Day Out...

...at Partizan with Phil and William. 

We three 'Sad Beggars' spent a fine day attending the Newark Irregulars' annual Partizan wargames extravaganza on Sunday. Despite delays and detours, due to break downs and seemingly everlasting roadworks, we arrived in record time, parked up on the runway and joined the short queue for entry to what now must surely be considered as THE show for any serious historical wargamer. As is now usual it was crowded with gaming goodness for the delight of what I understand was its record attendance. 

It was William's first time at Partizan, although he has been with us to several WMMS in the past. I was a little apprehensive about how he would cope with the crowds, as I had been last year with Reuben, but I need not have worried. He was off like a rat up a drainpipe to the Warlord Games stand for a Bolt Action fix!

Somewhat relieved I left him to it and tootled off to do my modest shopping: four packs of figures for my Darkest Africa diversion and three paint triads from Wargames Foundry - very disappointed in a big hobby player having no show deals though; six for five packs of tufts from Great Escape Games; preordered, at a discount, 3mm bases from Warbases. That was it. William on the other hand bought three large boxes for WWII Bolt Action, several paints and weathering powders. I think he is leaving grandad behind...

The games: well of course very many of the expected standout standard, even some of the participation games! (For me they are a pointless intrusion - their absence would create more space to appreciate the display games and provide an area of social seating for we over 21's!) By now of course there will be many video and pictorial appreciations of the show available on line, I will limit myself to those which matched my interest or caught my attention ~

McPhearson's Ridge, Gettysburg 1863 - an ACW spectacular from The Bodkins. A group of outstandingly talented chaps who can be absolutely relied on to put on a superb show!

The Iron Brigade ~ lead by Kevin Calder, a good friend all the way from Aberdeen, with a beautifully conceived Samurai game replete with castle and numerous splendid group scenes and vignettes. I really liked the Koi water feature!

A second ACW game, Second Kernstown 1864 by Bramley Barn Wargames Club, visually pleasing but for the gaming aids left on the table. A no-no for we veterans of display games.

The Boondock Sayntes' Lucknow game, a visual extravaganza of a display game. I especially liked the destroyed building effects in the last photo.

The League of Augsberg's splendid game showcasing both Warfare Miniatures and the new revised edition of Beneath the Lily Banners by Barry Hilton.

An AWI game, Chatterton's Hill, 1776, by Steve Jones I believe.

The Back of Beyond! From the League of Extraordinary Kriegspielers! I always love their tongue in cheek display games! So much to see and inspire!

A selection of quite superb building groups. The schloss and town were on the game by The Friends of a Military Gentlemen. I find these types of display something  I can aspire to, but sadly never reach. That's a major joy of Partizan though, it always leaves you with ideas for your own wargames table!

Another fine group of buildings, this time from the venerable Hovels range, on Simon Miller's game showcasing the coming Lust For Glory rules I believe.

Of course there were many, many more outstanding games; almost too many to take in and fully appreciate, at least for me. A case for less is more in my opinion. Others are free to disagree of course. One slight downside though, ventilation! Walking back into the hall after lunch I was struck sharply by the fug! Perhaps our collective noun really is a Stink of Wargamers?

It wouldn't be fitting to close without mentioning the other joy of Partizan, namely the chance to meet up and chew the hobby fat face to face with geographically distant friends. Too many to mention really, but meeting fellow Blogger SteveJ at last stands out for me. A shout out too for Dave O'brien, Matt Crump and the newly retired Aly Morrison. William's verdict on his first Partizan? When's the next one grandad? Torch passed on there I think.