Lion Rampant Game Day

Just got back from a nice Lion Rampant game day hosted by Pat L. (aka SocalWarhammer). It was held in a quaint library in Gig Harbor, WA. A nice turn out with about 10 or 12 players. I managed to get my Hundred Years War English retinue killed off in two games. I tried to be slick and have a "heavy-hitting" retinue of one Mounted MAA and two Foot MAA units and only one missile firing unit of Mounted Yeomen. Well, that was a recipe for disaster against my first opponent's crossbow and bow heavy Early French retinue. My second game pitted me against bow-armed mounted Mongols. One of my Foot MAA units did kill off a couple of the French in combat - well, if I recall it correctly, I think it was mostly due to his units failing their Courage tests repeatedly. Oh, well I'll take 'em as I can get 'em. Here are a few images of the games. Sorry for the lack of clarity using my cell phone.

My Mounted MAA making the second greatest error in warfare - getting too close and Wild Charging enemy in Rough Terrain; the greatest error being starting a land war in Asia, of course.

My retinue intact at the start of the game. It didn't last long against missile heavy opponents.

My buddy Ron's crossbow blocks.

A nice Middle Eastern set up.

Dark Age scenario

Another Dark Age - Medieval set up.

A Steppe Russian vs. Mongols game.

My buddy Mikey G's awesomely painted Mongols - he also painted the Russians.

My second game had me teaming up with my earlier opponent with his potent crossbow French retinue against a combined Mongol-Russian army.

My Foot MAA waiting to come to close combat with the Mounted Mongol archers - it never happened as the enemy wore them down with bow fire

My buddy Mikey G.'s Russians advancing headlong into the French Crossbowmen. They'll pay a heavy price for their audacity; as did my English!

We're planning to host a, hopefully, larger Lion Rampant game day next March. If I use my HYW English again, they will drop the mounted troops and be replaced with two units of Expert Archers. Not only making the retinue better performing (I hope), but actually more historically correct in composition. On the painting front, I went ahead and ordered a box of Perry European Mercenaries, and just started on them.

Fix Bayonets! Game Day

Spent the day at historic Fort Steilacoom near Puget Sound at the annual game day. Although games and attendance were a bit lighter than previous years a good time was had by all. I ran the First Battle of St Albans game using Lion Rampant in the morning session. The six players were great and enjoyed themselves. However, the object to capture King Henry VI was not achieved even though we played for about 3 hours. What I plan to do when I run it again at Enfilade! next year is to start the attackers a bit closer, as well as having less rough terrain for movement.

The Duke of York moving up along Sopwell Lane.

The Earl of Warwick leading a somewhat overly cautious advance between Sopwell and Shropshire Lanes.

View looking towards St Albans

The venue is the building on the left of the sign.

The building is Quarters 2, which is was Lieutenant Colonel Silas Casey's.

The historical marker for the fort.

Napoleon Cannon at the fort, which according to the placards were used in the American Civil War.

American Rampant using Men Who Would Be Kings by Kevin S.

A cool game run by the host of the event, Lawrence B. The game was based on
Puget Sound Indian War 1855-56 using Brother Against Brother rules. I ran a "squad" of Natives - twice - once before and once after I got them killed off.

First Nation guys lurking in the woods with US troops in skirmish line.

Canadian reinforcements.

Scott P's ACW game using Regimental Fire and Fury.

A WW1 Naval game run in the two periods - I think my buddy Damond ran it.

There were several other games going on in the two (morning and afternoon period), but I failed to get pictures of them, as I was busy running a game in the first period, and played in the Puget Sound game in the afternoon. Finally, there was a Bring & Buy, and I managed to pick up a book for a $5 donation to the preservation of the fort  - see below :)

Amazing what you can find in someone else's "trash."