Here are some more photos, along with a few notes, from the recent Scarab Miniatures Great War Event.
I borrowed some BEF from Rob in order to bulk out my force to a sensible size. Here they are manning the impromptu trench line looking out across no man's land ready for the enemy.
(click for a larger image)
For this game there were three objectives along the trench line that the Germans had to capture. You can see two (just) in this picture. The first is a group of barrels in the background. The second is the ruined building in the centre of my line. Here I placed my best fighters, the Highlanders. The NCO is even helpfully pointing out the German advance.
(click for a larger image)
Looking along the trench, in the foreground we can see the small haystack used to represent the battalion command post (we were pushed for suitable markers!) and to its left you can just make out some of the battalion command. Keith very kindly loaned me his 'Whiteviper' figures (from Scarab) to use as my commander.
(click for a larger image)
The view from the other end of the line. I kept the tank in reserve to help plug any gaps that might appear in the line ... but I forgot that it doesn't count as a scoring unit so cannot therefore capture/hold an objective!
(click for a larger image)
Keith's Germans are wonderfully painted. All Sturmtruppen too - yikes! Note the flamethrower on the right. The tank on the right is a scratch built "Panzer K-wagen". In reality very few were built, they weighed in at around 150 tons and required a crew of 22.
(click for a larger image)
More of Keith's figures. A light field gun, more storm troops and a captured MkIV Male tank.
(click for a larger image)
A close up of some of the 'Whiteviper' command. Melchett and Darling I think?
(click for a larger image)
Part way through the game in this picture. The German heavy artillery (off-table but shown in the top-left) tore my line to shreds with some amazingly accurate shooting. The tank has moved up to occupy the building and to engage the German MkIV. To it's left you can see quite a bit of empty trench too, with the Germans about to attack.
(click for a larger image)
This game resulted in a very narrow victory for the BEF. The Germans made it in to the trenches but a desperate, last minute counter attack by the British meant that one objective remained in allied hands. Had one more German survived the trench assault then it would have been a draw with one objective each!
Whilst most of the games were set in the Late War (LW) era, one table had a great looking Early War (EW) game going on. The British and Belgian forces, supported by a French monoplane, were trying to hold back the advancing Germans. Aren't Pickelhaubs great headgear!?
(click for a larger image)
The Belgians (with dog drawn HMG carts!) and the British. I also like the way the Belgian commanders are on horseback ... it's not Waterloo you know. All of the scenery belongs to Phil and I think it looks superb!
(click for a larger image)
After lunch (a big thank you to Barbara and the girls for the excellent food) players swapped around and a second set of games got underway. The games were played using rules from The Great War (Warhammer Historical) but instead of the normal turn sequence a deck of cards was used to determine which units could move, shoot, etc. This way two unequal forces could engage each other on an equal basis by adjusting the deck contents. It took a bit of getting used to (especially for an I-go-you-go player like me) but it worked really well. Details can be found on the Scarab forum.
Finally, a scene from the second game of the day. The Highlanders have infiltrated the church yard in an attempt to get close to the German tank and take it out with grenades. In the background German Storm troops hold the grounds of a small manor house. The Highlanders bravely leapt over the wall and closed on the tank, but then the Germans drew a card allowing them to 'activate' the tank which blazed away with it's HMGs cutting the brave troops to shreds.
(click for a larger image)
Two splendid games, plus plenty of others going too. An excellent day and a real boost for my gaming enthusiasm.
I borrowed some BEF from Rob in order to bulk out my force to a sensible size. Here they are manning the impromptu trench line looking out across no man's land ready for the enemy.
(click for a larger image)
For this game there were three objectives along the trench line that the Germans had to capture. You can see two (just) in this picture. The first is a group of barrels in the background. The second is the ruined building in the centre of my line. Here I placed my best fighters, the Highlanders. The NCO is even helpfully pointing out the German advance.
(click for a larger image)
Looking along the trench, in the foreground we can see the small haystack used to represent the battalion command post (we were pushed for suitable markers!) and to its left you can just make out some of the battalion command. Keith very kindly loaned me his 'Whiteviper' figures (from Scarab) to use as my commander.
(click for a larger image)
The view from the other end of the line. I kept the tank in reserve to help plug any gaps that might appear in the line ... but I forgot that it doesn't count as a scoring unit so cannot therefore capture/hold an objective!
(click for a larger image)
Keith's Germans are wonderfully painted. All Sturmtruppen too - yikes! Note the flamethrower on the right. The tank on the right is a scratch built "Panzer K-wagen". In reality very few were built, they weighed in at around 150 tons and required a crew of 22.
(click for a larger image)
More of Keith's figures. A light field gun, more storm troops and a captured MkIV Male tank.
(click for a larger image)
A close up of some of the 'Whiteviper' command. Melchett and Darling I think?
(click for a larger image)
Part way through the game in this picture. The German heavy artillery (off-table but shown in the top-left) tore my line to shreds with some amazingly accurate shooting. The tank has moved up to occupy the building and to engage the German MkIV. To it's left you can see quite a bit of empty trench too, with the Germans about to attack.
(click for a larger image)
This game resulted in a very narrow victory for the BEF. The Germans made it in to the trenches but a desperate, last minute counter attack by the British meant that one objective remained in allied hands. Had one more German survived the trench assault then it would have been a draw with one objective each!
Whilst most of the games were set in the Late War (LW) era, one table had a great looking Early War (EW) game going on. The British and Belgian forces, supported by a French monoplane, were trying to hold back the advancing Germans. Aren't Pickelhaubs great headgear!?
(click for a larger image)
The Belgians (with dog drawn HMG carts!) and the British. I also like the way the Belgian commanders are on horseback ... it's not Waterloo you know. All of the scenery belongs to Phil and I think it looks superb!
(click for a larger image)
After lunch (a big thank you to Barbara and the girls for the excellent food) players swapped around and a second set of games got underway. The games were played using rules from The Great War (Warhammer Historical) but instead of the normal turn sequence a deck of cards was used to determine which units could move, shoot, etc. This way two unequal forces could engage each other on an equal basis by adjusting the deck contents. It took a bit of getting used to (especially for an I-go-you-go player like me) but it worked really well. Details can be found on the Scarab forum.
Finally, a scene from the second game of the day. The Highlanders have infiltrated the church yard in an attempt to get close to the German tank and take it out with grenades. In the background German Storm troops hold the grounds of a small manor house. The Highlanders bravely leapt over the wall and closed on the tank, but then the Germans drew a card allowing them to 'activate' the tank which blazed away with it's HMGs cutting the brave troops to shreds.
(click for a larger image)
Two splendid games, plus plenty of others going too. An excellent day and a real boost for my gaming enthusiasm.
Fabulous figures and terrain. Nice to see the Great War being gamed on a grand scale such as this. I hosted a small game once at a one day event, but I think I didn't have enough bells and whistles to get more players. I had fun with a buddy playing it though. Regards, Dean
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the photos.
ReplyDeleteI'm very pleased that the event was so well supported.
Rob did a grand job organising it.
Cheers
Matt
Awesome looking miniatures! Say, how did you paint those BEF (and the Germans too, I'm thinking of getting into some WW1 wargaming).
ReplyDelete