Requiescat

My grandfather called my dad in the morning to tell him his mother - my grandmother - died. She was 74, which is a venerable age, but for the last two or three years her mental health was declining very fast and in the end she was just lying in her bed. She's been a school teacher and a very patient, religious woman. I'm trying to recollect all those good moments we had together now, then I'm off drinking to her memory.

We stop these times a little and wonder, remember and then move on, for that is the order of things. I have a few posts prepared but I won't be posting this week or the first part of the next. I have exams and studies which will require the last bits of self-control and attention.

Also I usually keep these things to myself until I work it up and get over it, but this time it had to be done.

More Lego goodness

I just bumped into this exhibition on Sunday when going back to the dorm, then it was mostly model trains and railroads. I returned today, and this time, although the entry fee has been raised as well, there were Lego pieces only.

Based on actual Hungarian trains mind you. And they move around the table.

Zvezda Russian Noble Cavalry

This is me actually painting something, but not the thing I wanted, how surprising. I went to the hobby store - they seem to be low on everything as usual. I wanted some winged hussars or Cossacks - neither of which I could find. I have, on the other hand, some Streltsi painted up not very historically, and I have seen all the Zvezda cavalry boxes are down to the infantry boxes' price - well people, demand must be low. And yes, a cavalry box of 18-19 figs costed 1,5x as much as an infantry box with 40 figs. Sort this out. Anyway, I bought this little box because it seemed just fitting for my Muscovites.

Out of complaining, the figures are very nice as usual from Zvezda. 19 riders, horses included, with various weaponry and whatnot.

Painting is the usual 'quick' method with some brown wash and metal drybrushing used on the appropriate parts. I am beginning to suspect that the Model Master enamel paint is responsible for the high percentage of glossy finishes on my figures of late. And I will throw it out. 

Martian Rebellion Campaign Ep. 1 - Viribus Unitis

The Martian Red Fleet was well prepared for an attack of the Terrans. They knew too well the conflict won't end peacefully this time. However the fleet commanders did not favor the violence with which the Overseers met, there was just enough patriotism in them to launch the fleet, trying to intercept the Terran attack. 

That attack came soon enough. 

The Terran centre of battlecruisers moves forward slowly.

Martian Rebellion campaign - rules and background

We are at the beginning of the Space Age: Earth is ruled by the Federal Nations' Overssers; mankind's first colony is the terraformed Mars, and outposts had been built throughout the solar system. A good two hundred years ago a fleet of colonists left Earth, seeking for other habitable planets, but no news were heard of them. 

After warp speed had been made possible for humans, so-called warp holes spawned around Sol in the outskirts of the system, and sentient aliens appeared - one species, the Zaqasdari being aggressive, while the others look for trading and forming new alliances. These Zaqasdari usually appear, cause some trouble then leave with their massive ships. These actions called for the commission of a united Martian-Terran fleet, together a formidable force of several types of ships.


Before continuing, I strongly advice to check out the magnificent Back to the Minis blog  where giveaways are held and the prizes are worthy of a comment. A non-paid advertisement this was.
Also check out the Principality of Schultze-Böhnstadt where I uploaded two battle reports with tons of pictures.

Thoughts on OPF (One Page Fleets)

This little rule set is made for space combat with the aim of being simple and fun, both of which it manages to achieve. There are a few observations though which I'd like to share, had anyone got the idea to use them.

Here's a link to the rules in PDF. Written down they really take only one page. 

Dice beating highest. When rolling an obviously higher die (example: 7 on d8 against a d6), it saves some time to apply the damage directly instead of triggering an opposed roll.

Flanking speed& Aft shields critical save. When a unit's die is d4 on DV and is shot in the rear 90° of its perimeter or performed a flanking move (and according to the situation it would be interpreted as d0 - a single hit, no matter what the defensive roll is, would destroy these units, which is really unfair), no attack die is rolled, but the unit being attacked rolls 1d4 and remains on the table if scores a 4.

Above, a photo of the first test game with various ships engaging each other.

While I am used to play with an I go, you go mechanism (where one player is the agressor and by winning initiative is able to move all his troops at once, and the other player may only react to these) the movement sequence used by OPF is alternating movement between single units or fighter squadrons of each player which sort of defines the whole gameplay and requires more situational awareness (as it really matters which unit a player chooses and where that unit is moved on the table). It also, surprisingly, doesn't give such a good flow of events as the games in which one entire army is moved then the other one follows. Combat is more fragmented.

Here's a shoutout to two new readers, Geordie an Exiled Fog (blog here) and j.d. (blog here). Welcome aboard guys!

Inter Arma large scale skirmish - fight for the mine

With the mercenary contingent I now own a decent size (painted) TYW era army. These guys now battled the Turks for a gold mine somewhere in the Hungarian border. The Turks had a gun while the European infantry was reinforced with two cavalry units on the flanks.

Due to some bad luck (it usually comes down to that, in form of poor dice rolls) the Turks got beaten, however the European force had a good deal of losses. It seems that, to earn some balance, more guns are needed to counter cavalry. It also didn't help that the Janissaries had no pikes and the pikemen were armoured so didn't die too easily.

Closing scene with the right flank of the cavalry occupying the mine - Jürgen von Bekkön and his musketeer detachment guards the bridge so no Pagans could enter.

Naval campaign - Episode 5. (Finale)

Ep. 4 is here.

Turn 32-3

Another Imperial fleet showed up. The routed Rebel cruiser reached Fleet Yellow and gave a detailed list of Rebel units inside Ingre Harbor. Yet the Imperial admiral was hesitant and instead gave order to wait for Fleet Grey 2 to arrive and launch a cooperative strike.

The Rebel fleet, however, moved out to strike them down.

Initial setup. The Imperial left flank is protected by mines.

The Rebels charge right in. Two destroyers attempt to defend their carrier from enemy cruiser fire; those are busy enough fighting the Rebel heavy ships anyway.

May Wishlist

Finances are a tad low these days as payments are late. Once everything's cleared up these are the few things I intend to buy:

Pike&shot stuff, mainly from Mars:

• Imperial cuirassiers
• Polish 'European' infantry or whatever they are called, there is a little confusion about this set but does just well for a generic warband.
• Scots mercenaries

The reason behind this is watching the 'Deluge' movie and being caught up by the atmosphere and a lot of Mount&Blade lately. Now Mars makes some very unique sets but their quality is not the one I used to with Zvezda/Italeri, hope a good paintjob will only make them look better. Should wait for some till my birthday. 

I'm saving up money because I won't get any during summer except the lot I earn and I want to buy a new laptop.

If those do not work out however I'll buy some Forged in Battle 15mm WW2 infantry (namely Russian and German rifle platoons for starters). And maybe for some diversity the long promised Imperial Romans.

In the meantime I've set up a bunch of Lego space fleets to recreate the times of the Martian Rebellion. I played that game with cardboard ships and stuff about 10 years ago, and now, as the very extravagant Chinese dice have arrived, I have the opportunity to expand this to a campaign.