Little Churchyard War

Army Dark Blue and Army Red met for a rematch on the dining room table.  We again used a super-simplified house-rules version of HG Wells' Little Wars.

My son had a better time this go-around, as he seemed to do better aiming Army Red's cannon on the table than on the floor.

Highlights included: a dead-on hit on an Army Dark Blue infantryman that sent him flying backwards a good foot and a half; knocking figures off the table edge and having my son say in complete seriousness "I don't think that even hit that guy"; and hiding a guy from ever-closer cannon fire by hooking his base onto the top of a house roof - I countered by hitting the house on my next shot, sending the poor chap tumbling down.

Pretty brutal game of attrition...

I lost, in the end, although I had to coach him a little to take advantage of gains he had already earned all on his own ("I think now would be a good time to use that reserve you've cleverly kept hidden all game.")

Showdown at Cardboard Creek

The third session of viking vs Anglo-Dane dark age battles using the SAGA ruleset was the other weekend.  Instead of using the 'Clash of the Warlords' scenario which is a quick-and-dirty six-turn dust-up which seemed to not favor the viking faction, we used the 'battle of the fords' which involves two bridges over a river or stream,with points assigned after seven turns based on how many figures each side has managed to get to the opposite bank - no fording the river, the bridges are the only way over.

I must praise the ruleset because this scenario produced a completely different game than the previous sessions.  Both sides used limit breaks special abilities not used before.  It was also fairly up-in-the-air until close to the end, with the Anglo-Danes not clearing a bridge, moving figures to the opposite bank, and earning points to win the game until the seventh and final turn.

Here's the situation at the south bridge. I parked a unit of warriors on there and then menaced with my archers at the bank.  Just out of shot on the left is a reserve of hearthguard elites.  Gabe had gotten burned bad enough in earlier games by the archers than he was content to let all of this sit as is for several turns - which was fine by me because the extent of my strategy for this game was "stall at the south, grind it out at the north."

I think this (the below photo) is after the first clash on the north bridge?  My front rank of eight warriors appears to be down to seven.  This was against a viking warrior unit of twelve.

The vikings continuing their push here...

Maybe after repelling the second attack?

Way later on: here's the viking warlord holding the north bridge all by hisself.

And here's his hearthguard flying to his side.

The last pic from the evening...

Pretty happy with that flag. I hope to add a few more to this army, since they help add a little narrative element.  Bonus prize if anyone can identify the design...