MDF Ruin

As a step back from making hills, I decided to take a couple of my pieces of MDF ruins and base them to make a more usable terrain piece. So far I like how its gone and so I may make a lot more for use for Frostgrave and Bolt Action.

I started off by selecting the two pieces and marking out on a base the outline of the former building. The planks were marked out using a stanley knife whilst the exterior cobbles were formed using a rotary tool.

Once the pieces are glued down I'll be adding sculptamold around the joins and texturing them to give the appearance of rubble piles. I will also add some tufts and flock to the cracks in the slabs.

Last 2 Weeks

I've been back to Lancaster Wargames Club again these last two weeks and played a couple of new rule sets (Exciting!!).

Overview of board

Last week I joined in a 6 player game of Dracula's America. Set in the post American Civil War USA,the basic rules are basically Wild West (we didn't play any undead etc). I'm not sure but it did not seem massively deadly and almost impossible to actually get an outright kill. However I think this may have been due to a misunderstanding with regards save rolls. (We were saving with fails being per hit rather than the amount below the save value).

Left Flank - Nutter running across the street - survived and ran back.

With a lot of these games (this one included) there is an error in the set up of terrain - no one wants to cross the "valley of death" (or street as in this example). So it almost just becomes dice wars.

Having said that the card mechanic by which you drew 4 cards for a turn then bid with your cards for where you were to go in the turn had a good blend of luck and game theory.

This week myself and AE played our first game of Rommel. (Unfortunately I forgot my camera so no pictures). So we felt we could judge the rules correctly we played a scenario which was half based off the Breakthrough mission and a Spearkrieg game we played a few year ago over the Battle of Prokhorovka. Scaled down we played 1st SS Panzer Grenadiers against 52nd Guards Rifle Division.

The game worked well with the Germans having to peel a way through the defensive lines (reinforced by the "Workers to the Front" event. Maybe I wasn't sufficiently aggressive early doors (new game syndrome) and it took a while to get through. Eventually a whole appeared and I was able to widen it out. By turn 15 the aggressive use of Recce, Armour and Armoured Infantry allowed me to take an objective where we called it.

Things we learned:

• Tactics and defences really help to reduce casualties; in reverse the fact that my entire force was motorised meant I could evade to reduce hits against myself. As ops dice disappear and attacks are going in by brute force, combat becomes more deadly.
• If you can lure an attack onto yourself and pinning attack has already been used and surprise attack isn't in effect then withdraw is a really good way to make your opponent burn and waste ops dice.
• Recce units with their free scout turns are really useful (even with a 50% success rate). I had a full battalion of recce as the Germans formed their Recce units as fighting battalions which really helped.
• Always plan for the worst. I attacked a single infantry company with one remaining hit in the open with 3 stands. Missed and I hadn't left enough space to retreat. Up until this point these were my only units destroyed.
• Attacking across the narrow part of the table is grim.
• All in all the rules are simple whilst giving a seemingly historical result. Could be really interesting to battle the whole campaign although we discussed it and think we'll go for an ops sheet per division. The ebb and flow of resetting etc could be absorbing as the various attacking divisions have to pause at different times.

As a side piece I also based Schy'yrk. I'm going to do the rest of Gronne Flamme like this to complete my raiding party for Frostgrave.

Schy'yrk

Update

Still advancing through bits and bobs (any painting this week will be reward for study time on Driving Theory). I got one of the 2 Hungarian Regiments painted (still awaiting colours) and it looks good; with their red trousers they really stand out compared to the Austrian units.

I also did some more work on Sch'yyrk. Painted the base black (think I'm going to make a rubble base?) as well as repainting his shirt and breeches black which I think looks good. His boots and gloves will darken as well when I wash them in brown, whilst I'll be less heavy on the green wash on the cloak.

Any feedback is appreciated :)

WIP - A Certain Drow Rogue

So I've posted a couple of times about Sch'yyrk Revan'tyl - well I've finally started with a fig for him (which I will also use as an Assassin in Frostgrave). The model came in the Nickstarter for the Barbarian expansion for Frostgrave and I've converted to be a bloke and also to be holding a shortsword rather than a wand. Still needs washes and highlighting as well as basing but here it is so far,

The mottled cloak with wolf pelt above - may have overdone the dry brushing on the pelt - or it might be the picture

I might repaint the under layers a darker colour - maybe even black. The sword will also be darkened when I apply some gunmetal.

I'm going to go through my Frostgrave/DnD minis and see if I have enough for a couple of 4 point warbands for SAGA - me and JT are really enjoying The Last Kingdom; Episode 3 really was epic - and it might be an excuse to get her into something different.

I've also completed a couple of Grenzer skirmish stands - more are following as well as Hungarians and Grenadiers.

Banal Grenzers

Austrians so far

This Sunday is the first league game for Morecambe Bay Storm, hopefully (signal permitting) you should be able to follow the score here.

Frostgrave - Standard Deployment (2)

Got some laser cut mdf building ruins in a bundle and we gave our Frostgrave warband another run out. We decided to just do another throw down game (although I'm determined to play some alternative scenarios considering I know have them all printed and put in a folder). Again the game was close although repeated use of telekinesis, teleport and leap really mixed it up.

Set Up

I really need to get some better pictures taken - also need a grey sheet or something. Anyhow this game really was a mad dash to run for the treasure, spells were going off left right and centre, although I've agreed to let JT rechoose her spells as shes currently got no offensive spells and far too many out of game spells (which we both forgot about). Before this I had purchased a tracker (as I had one painted), and having closer to parity on numbers really helped.

All in all I think we're both still enjoying it although I think we might give the Dark Alchemy campaign a go or maybe the new Ambronnax Campaign from the Forgotten Pacts book.

Roughing it out for the last few treasures

After all of that we both got 3 treasures, although Jade was a lot luckier with KO results having no ongoing effects compared to me losing my archer as well as a badly wounded Apprentice.

Blue Sapphire (Update)

Wizard Romanoff Apprentice Zito - KO (Recovered)Elgiva the Archer - KO (Recovered)Gerard the Crossbowman - KO (Recovered)Guy the Infantryman - KO (Recovered)Etheldreda the ThiefFaramond the ThugAnsger the ThugSedemay the Treasure Hunter - KO (Recovered)Osgyth the War Hound - KO (Recovered)

Cast 6 Spells and Carried off 3 Treasure = 210 XP (460 XP)200 GC2 Grimoires - Steal Health, Elemental ShieldMagical Weapon/Armour - Magical Shield (+1)Base: InnL4 (increased 2 levels) (increase ?and?) 
Purchased 1 Archer (-50GC) = Current Gold 360GC

Gronn Flamme

Wizard Heimr
Apprentice Baldr - KO (Badly Wounded)
Aylwin the Archer - KO (DEAD)
Walburga the Infantryman
Wulfhild the Infantryman
Goldwin the Infantryman
Bathsheba the Man-At-Arms- KO (Recovered)
Diggory the Thug

Aslak the Tracker

Cast 8 Spells, Carried off 3 Treasure, 1 Kill by Wizard) = 270 XP (590 XP)
450 GC
3 Scrolls - (Plague of Insects, Imp, Spell Eater)
Magical Item - Ring of Protection (+1)
L5 (increased 2 levels) (increase ?and?)

Purchased 1 Archer (-50GC) + Recovered Apprentice (-100GC) = Current Gold 400GC

On a side note it also turns out that model ruins are great to get the eldest interested. Maybe not but can but hope :p

Frostgrave - Standard Deployment

So me and the missus played a throw down game of Frostgrave; half the minis are unpainted, the other half need the bases doing, some scenery is built but part painted and we found didn't have nearly enough - so might just buy a few bits to tie me over (just not enough time to do everything I want to!).

Anyway my Gronn Flamme boys took on JT's lads in a free for all - 6 treasure in the buildings and see what happens.

I can report (as I did after the game I played at the club) that the mindset has to be different to a traditional wargame mind (especially one like mine which tends to play larger scale games). Its a raid - get what you want and get out. This mindset was there for Jade and she managed to quickly get the 3 on her side of the table. Meanwhile my apprentice (with half of my smaller warband) took up position on a small hill with a great field of fire - unfortunately not really covering any tokens and only really good if enemy were coming to attack me. Eventually the removal of thugs to carry off her treasure whittled her strength down and I was able to cause some casualties with my better quality soldiers including my wizard laying the smackdown on her wizard.

I promise next time to have some pictures of the game but here are the results (for housekeeping if nothing else). Can I say although I was lucky in game with some of my combat rolls, JT rolled incredibly for recovery.

Blue Sapphire (Update)

Wizard Romanoff - KO (Recovered)
Apprentice Zito
Elgiva the Archer
Gerard the Crossbowman - KO (Recovered)
Guy the Infantryman - KO (Recovered)
Etheldreda the Thief
Faramond the Thug
Ansger the Thug
Sedemay the Treasure Hunter
Osgyth the War Hound - KO (Recovered)

Cast 4 Spells and Carried off 4 Treasure = 250 XP
210 GC
Magic Weapon/Armour - Mail Armour
Magical Item - Horn of Destruction
3 Scrolls - (Leap, Furious Quill, Illusionary Soldier)
L2 (increase Fight and Health)

Gronn Flamme

Wizard Heimr
Apprentice Baldr
Aylwin the Archer
Walburga the Infantryman
Wulfhild the Infantryman
Goldwin the Infantryman
Bathsheba the Man-At-Arms
Diggory the Thug

Cast 3 Spells, Carried off 2 Treasure, 1 Kill by Wizard, Wizard killed Wizard = 320 XP
180 GC
3 Potions - (Teleportation, Invisibility x2)
Grimoire - (Enchant Armour)
L3 (increase Fight and Health, Learn Enchant Armour from Grimoire)

Needs for next game; Choose Base of Operations, Reinforcements (Paint), Get more scenery, Make Spell Cards, Make Quick Reference Sheets (I've got some somewhere)

Frostgrave Scenery Update

Months ago when I ordered my bases for my Seven Years War and WW2 things I also ordered some larger bases to make scenery for 28mm (ruins), mostly for Frostgrave. I'm experimenting with these at moment but I've already decided that I definitely want to make a few more. This is where I'm up to so far:

This one will have a reasonably significant bit of flooring in the far taller corner.

The black painted one in the background is the one shown previously but painted with its undercoat.

Part Painted Thug for scale

The walls are stuck with lots and lots of PVA - I'm not bothered about drips as I'm going to texture the bases anyway.

Pringles!

This one will have to be well painted to cover the bright colours - but then it isn't as thick anyway so probably needs it anyway for some rigidity. This one is going to have 2 partial floors (just enough to stand on) and some remnants of stairs (using lollipop sticks).

This final one is at a slightly later stage with filler added to texture and represent rubble. It also has a partial floor (with a small window to shoot from).

I want to make a few more unique buildings: religious building, fountains, pillars,

I also have played a couple of games of X-Wing with the missus. Was enjoyed; quick start game was stupidly quick and the second with full rules (and boosting up to 32 points) was really long with Luke combined with R2-D2 being seemingly impossible to shoot down. Going to buy another ship each: probably a Y-Wing and a TIE Interceptor to add to the fun - unless others have better suggestions?

Campaign?

I don't have many chances to go down to Lancaster Wargames Club much at the moment so when I do go I want to have a game organised. I also like when a game has repercussions (so games with "growth" like Frostgrave, or where casualties are carried forward) so therefore I'm looking at campaigns. I want to keep it simple and so we can potentially just play a game and it appear to stand alone (so anyone can join in).

So I have 3 plans:

1. Carry on D&D campaign if can get organised with babysitters etc.
2. Build up Frostgrave terrain and play some games with my wonderful (and patient) girlfriend (and anyone else who fancies it).
3. Wargames campaign for WW2 using Flames of War - "Firestorm" campaign system but fighting battles using Spearkrieg Rules.

Fort those who don't know - Flames of War is a points based system (which Spearkrieg is not - focusing on historical scenarios) which works well for this style of campaign. It is therefore very suitable for this style of set battle - win or lose style environment. Spearkrieg battles are often decided before we even start playing - we almost use the system just to confirm hypotheses rather than playing competitively. Any larger battles with cumulative casualties and recovery have usually been quite linear in nature (a single advance axis such as Prokhorovka) or can be played sector by sector as assaults go in one at a time (Stalingrad). As such it may be best to fight out a campaign such as Market Garden where the advance is linear. Otherwise working out a campaign for an assault upon a specific target.

The biggest problem is balancing the forces. A British Rifle Brigade does not equate to a German Panzergrenadier Regiment. One option is to use Blitzkrieg Commander points for historical formations and see how they equate. Alternatively there is a Spearhead points system - though this would have to be modified to take into account different command values.

At the moment my thinking is split - I like the idea of multiple battles taking place over a turn and reinforcements being assigned to sectors (which may be in the wrong place). But I think it would be easier to carry out a linear assault and just have the "campaign" effect being the recording of casualties - eg Set scenarios with results of battles affecting the following ones.

I'll get back to you.

More Prussian Infantry and a Guest Appearance

So a couple more regiments finished towards Frederick's Army. These ones have got lapels so bit more colour than 3rd Regiment.

9th Infantry Regiment (Red Lapels)

I'm finding I'm getting much better at painting the white straps and am leading less and less to go back over with the blue to neaten them up.

5th Infantry Regiment (Cream Lapels)

5th Infantry Regiment (Cream Lapels)

I've got 1 more regiment at near completion and I'm going to do the 7th Regiment with that one. However after that I'm not sure where to go - one option is to do the regiments at Lobositz as was my original plan, the the other is to do regiments 1-12 as I have the colours already for these. I've got a little time to choose as I have 4 Grenadier units, 3 Dragoons, Command Stands, 2 Hussars and Artillery I can do before them.

Infantry so far

As I was painting these, my missus (JT) was painting her Apprentice for Frostgrave, as my Warband is identified by green, hers is blue - she's even attempted to give mystical blue eyes which I quite like.

All in all a very nice job - just need to make up a load more scenery and we can get going with a few more games of this. In the meanwhile we have been playing quite a lot of Ticket to Ride (great game which we're looking forward to playing with more players which could cause chaos with routes crossing) and the other day we went back to Waterdeep and had a nail biter of a game which I barely won.

Hopefully will get other Infantry Regiment done and some buildings - maybe more Soviets too.

Update (August 2016)

So I've painted all sorts of bits and bobs but aren't really massively moving forward with any. Really need to pick just one and paint that. Having said that - I've no actual planned games in near future so I guess its more about enjoyment at the moment.

To give you an idea of how disorganised my painting is at the moment I have painted the following in the last few weeks.

• Soviet 10mm Armour
• Soviet Heavy Mortars and HMGs
• German 10mm Armour
• 2 Prussian SYW Cavalry Regiments
• My Gronn Flamme Warband for Frostgrave

1st Prussian Hussars

Both my seven years war cavalry and my warband still need their based doing as I'm undecided how to do them (hence why their pictures have "snow" bases presently. As such their official posts will come when these are done.

And now I have got back to scenery. I've got plans for a few different things for my Frostgrave terrains and once I really get into it I'm going to start mass manufacture to sell a few I think. Here's my first (single storey) ruin's walls.

I will also be making towers, columns, archways, wells and larger buildings until I can cover a table. I'm going to make them fairly generic so that I can use them for other periods (Stalingrad perhaps or Skirmishes in Hue for my Tour of Darkness campaign).

Frostgrave Warband Green

So I first put these models together back in August last year and I've finally got a warband competed (well still need to do the bases). To identify mine from the missus' I've used green on every model (as opposed to the blue on the other force). Anyone, due to my Enchanter looking a bit Nordic, I've gone with that theme - cherry picked the helmets I feel match and even painted the symbol for Thor on my Man-At-Arms' shield. And in deference to my most recent guilty pleasure Acquisitons Incorporated my Warband is named Grønn Flamme.

Complete Warband

I do have more than 500 points here to allow for growth in further missions - I may need more as time goes by too.

Heidr and Bjarnn

Master and apprentice. My only slight issue with these is the rule where wizards always have a better fight value than the apprentice - Bjarnn is significantly bigger than any of my other figures.

Heidr and Bjarnn with all the things they may need.

Infantrymen

This is the core of my force, 3 infantrymen who can really deal the damage - as I've stated I recently won a copy of "Into the Breeding Pits" and our battles may primarily take place underground - alternatively in the "Hunting the Golem" mini campaign. Ordinarily I probably would have taken a bunch of thugs and thieves for a normal game.

Infantrymen again - including a nice green scarf

I will probably go a bit more shooter heavy in future but for now I only have the 2 in my force, although I intend to get some offensive weapons for my Wizards.

Tracker and Archer

Really like this Archer model and how its come out - used a bit darker brown for his clothes and think it really works.

Tracker and Archer

Also really like how the wraps (can't really call them boots) and the quills look - I will get some better pictures once based.

Man-At-Arms and Thief

These pictures do not do justice - I really like my Man-At-Arms - so much that I'm probably going to build my next DnD character around him. I did the thief in grey with thoughts of making his smock mottled and sneaky looking but I haven't dry dusted the mottle effect on yet.

Man-At-Arms and Thief with his dirty sack.

So there they are - I hope to get my other warband painted asap and then I'll probably base them all together - I also need to get some monsters and things.

28mm!

You might have noticed but all my finished models are small - either 6mm or 10mm. I've tried bigger before but never got a good result so I've never really committed to it.

Well with Frostgrave I have every intention of fielding a properly painted warband - besides I'll only need a few models for me and missus.

So I stepped into the breach with one of my Man-At-Arms and here is the (nearly) finished result - I'm going to colour code our warbands so for my force there will be light green. I haven't decided on the bases yet so I'll post more pictures when I've done a few.

Thor Rune on Shield

My force is based upon a Nordic force with an Enchanter Wizard so I have picked those with this style helmet and each model with a shield will get a nordic rune symbol.

Blade

The difference that a wash makes - picking up the details within the cloak.

Rear View

I am undecided as to how to base them - snow limits them for other settings, grass and mud looks out of place in  Felstad and the tunnels beneath - also looks out of place if using in D&D setting in a dungeon. So I've got 3 choices:

1. Standard mud and grass
2. Snow and rubble
3. Cityscape

Choices, choices.

A Sign of Things to Come

Having two children under the age of 2 is proving to be very restrictive in terms of painting time - especially now that the boy is old enough to get bored in his play pen and both of them are ill.
However I am hosting a D&D game on Friday (using the 5e Starter Box) with MS, CC, JT, BM and EK (Initials used to kind of hide identity) for which I really need to get a few minis at least made if not painted fully.

I'm using a combination of D&D minis as well as my Frostgrave stuff and even some donkeys from my Vietnam War Stuff but for the baddies I need to get a few bits and bobs glued together (and preferably sprayed). So that is my mission this week. Work, care for sick kiddies/clean house, put boy to bed, paint. Somewhere in there I need to do some training up for American Football Rookie Day too (sit ups and baby bench press).

All of this whilst eating cheap and healthy...

Frostgrave Game 2

Bit of a delay but hey.  So ended up playing a Frostgrave against MD at the club. Didn't tkae many pictures and a week in past now but I'll remember what I can.

Again rolled for The Keep but this time there was just 2 of us - both with a games experience behind us. However MD had got a lot more from his game and his Summoner Warband frightened me with Templars and numerous items.

Again in pregame I rolled my potion so ended with a demon - which this time I summoned.

My warband sneaks forward

The game was close - his possessed Templar was worrying but I managed to keep myself in it through mass castings of strength and enchant weapon on my thugs which I was willing to throw away.

Demon confronts the Possessed, Glowing Templar

Eventually  (through annoying use of telekinesis) MD got 4 treasures and I got 2. Katla the Warhound died but everyone else was ok, I think MD just lost an archer. Fortunately I rolled amazingly afterwards and got 200gc and 2 grimoires! Just need to pick my 2 level ups.

Tonight will either be another Frostgrave or Crescent and Cross. And with my shed cleared - huzzah! Should have a mass sweep on painting - may have unearthed my 1941 German Cavalry Division.

Frostgrave - Game 1 (The Keep)

So I finally got a game of Frostgrave at the club. Really enjoyed the game despite the apparent randomness of the scenario. Sorry about the slightly weird finish to the images - new tablets camera isn't great.

I don't have the warband lists available but mine was made up as such;

The Keep

Baldr the Enchanter
Hjalgrim (His apprentice)
Tracker
Archer
Crossbowman
Infantryman
Thug x 2
Thief
Warhound

Advancing through the ruins.

I figured that with no-one boosted up etc it would be best to go for quantity rather than quality and then using my ranged fighters combined with the Grenade spell I'd sit back and see how it went. With "The Keep" scenario dictating there would only be 6 treasure on the table I also figured that I'd just try and keep the treasure on table whilst other warbands were whittled down whilst I tried to learn my spells and abilities. My Man of the Match was definitely my Infantryman - despite being blinded he managed to get his treasure off table and with random swings of his Halberd decapitated 2 enemy soldiers!

It kind of worked - I mean I had few casualties (except for my wizard who was glowing and hit by many arrows and spells). And both him and my wiped out thug fully recovered. And I got a treasure off.

To be honest I would make a few changes to how we played. I think the long range sniping and some of the horrendous area effect attacks would be reduced in potency if we really made it claustrophobic - narrow streets and ruins really closed up - I think this would also add to the usefulness of the more subtle magic schools.

I also think players need to more play it as the game intends - its a raid to get as much treasure and knowledge as possible - NOT a wargame to defeat the opposition in battle per say.

My warband was intact after rolling, I'd gained 140 exp, 50gc, 2 Scrolls. I've decided not to purchase anything for now and my level up has been used to improve my grenade spell by 1 (as its my only offensive spell).

Alternative perspective from Roger (who played an Illusionist) as well as his results:

"My warband was well beaten up. Most of the casualties came from archery and elemental balls, but ultimately I only lost one dead thug. In compensation, my wizard gained 80 experience, 40gc and some Boots of Speed.

I’m still pondering my insights, but there is a definite trade-off between keeping your warband together for efficiency of activation and vulnerability to area-effect spells. Elemental Ball was particularly devastating, taking out my apprentice who was completely hidden from the caster behind a building at the time. After that, my ability to respond to events was severely curtailed.

Also, multiple players makes for a very chaotic and brutal game. With four warbands in such a small space it was so long between phases that it was almost impossible to develop any strategy other than simply reacting to events, and quite possible to be simply overwhelmed without having any chance to respond.  No problem with that per se, but if we were playing a long campaign I wouldn’t want most of the games to be like that.

But I enjoyed it as a first time out, and will certainly come back for more!"