A subtle shift towards gaming...

After a summer of working on my Vostroyans I am in need of a bit of a change up. One of the things that has been bugging me lately is that despite painting numerous figures I can't remember the last time I played a game of any system!

I always have so many projects on the go that progress on any one is usually slow. I've been thinking about it for quite a while now especially since Leon's last blog lamenting the lack of opponents. Although I really enjoy the painting and modelling side of the hobby I have always seem myself as a gamer as well. It would seem that lately this isn't really that true...

So I am going to trial a different approach this year. I am aiming to run two specific games next summer. These will each be home made scenarios with a table and forces to match. I'll be keeping the model count relatively low (there is no such thing in Napoleonics really) and therefore both games will be small affairs with the emphasis on building a believable narrative and looking epic! The idea is that both players are given a set of written orders and are oblivious to those of the enemy. Surprises will be sprung on both sets of players to keep them on their toes!

Game 1:

British vs French 28mm Peninsular Napoleonic

General narrative: A British force has been dispatched to prevent the French from building a pontoon bridge across a river. The bridge itself will be fully modelled with engineers and 'hired help' working hard while a French Infantry Battalion act as a guard (and the hired help) along with a gun battery. A small French camp will be built on one side of the river reinforcing the feel of a lonely guard duty. The British forces include two battalions of infantry and three companies of riflemen who will have to advance on the French position. Unknown to the French player a band of Spanish Guerrillas have been waiting for just such an opportunity to attack. Unknown to the British player a squadron of French Dragoons have been in the vicinity (probably searching for the Guerrillas) and arrive in time to counter the British attack.


Game 2:

British Chindits vs Japanese 28mm Burma WWII

General Narrative: A small Chindit force is ordered to investigate a forward observation post that has fallen silent. What they do not realise is that a Japanese force has bypassed the OP and launched a surprise attack destroying the British force and now are waiting in ambush. I am thinking of adding in a wounded survivor from the original British OP who needs rescuing/capturing. The focal point for this table will be a small Burmese hamlet on a river with the surrounding board made up of thick Jungle. I may even add in a Gurkha section whose job it is to extricate the Chindits from the inevitable ambush!

From now on I will be publishing the progress on each scenario and  all being well this will culminate in two battle reports. I have never approached the hobby in this way before so I am really excited about getting started.