Category: lance and longbow society

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lance and longbow society wargame shows wargaming

Recon 2023 at Pudsey

I was back at Recon in Pudsey for what is the year end show for me.

First a massive hats off to the Pit Gaming Shop who stepped in after last years event proved to be the last that Wakefield Gamers were able to host. https://thepitgamingshop.co.uk/

I like Recon – it is a good regional show and has that blend of traders, games to see, games to play and a bring and buy. The venue – Pudsey Civic Hall is equipped for such events so you get a nice bar and seating area and plenty of space to circulate.

Wintry but bright and sunny – the civic hall has good lighting unlike Fiasco venue in Leeds

I was late arriving this year and then played a game straight away, then discovered the bring and buy had been huge but also plundered very very quickly.

The Ottoman Turks defend a hill against impetuous Crusaders

I played two games at the Lance and Longbow Society participation table. First up I took the Crusader Centre for a Nicopolis 1396 era encounter. I quickly advanced and was promptly decimated by the defending turks led by Bob.

The crusader centre looked suitably heavy

In the second game I took a flank of the turkish army and got badly beaten up by the crusaders led by Andy.

Second game flank force – mainly bow although they did ok
Second games ends abruptly when the Porte is killed! on first contact! The dreaded dice throw check for leaders in melees…….

Rules were home adapted Lion Rampant and they are fun to play.

Always an enjoyable game with Steve, Bob, Will, Andy and the Wargaming Amateur! https://wargameamateur.blogspot.com/

I did have a good look round the show.

The first floor this year contained the very much enlarged bring and buy plus a HOTT competition.

In the main hall were the traders and games. Pit Gaming were located on the large stage – but I failed to snap their offering!

1941 – Mussolini launches his Greek adventure

Attack on Height 518 from the 1941 Italian invasion of Greece caught my eye. Ironically they were using Rapid Fire Rules which I had recently started to look at – I had got a free copy of the “reloaded” booklet somewhere last year and became interested in the original ruleset. Then I passed up a secondhand copy at battleground https://wordpress.com/post/thewargamingerratic.home.blog/7155

Anyway the guy hosting gave me a lot of his time to chat about the game which I appreciated, and is one of the benefits of a demonstration game – although this was actually a game being fought by him and two other gamers. So hats off to him.

tankettes are a feature of early war combat as well as towed artillery/anti tank guns. scale was 1/72.

Hill 518 was a few metres lower after this battle simply because the Italians deluged the location with so much bombardment – neatly illustrated in the game by the shellholes and destroyed trees

Immaculate model aircraft – 1/72 does give you unlimited airpower of course

Blotz is a trader, they had some very interesting buildings on show. I liked their offerings.

Actual Size Miniatures had some interesting boats and just in the distance an impressive range of 28mm mid 19th century guns

This Sci Fi dropship I also liked along with a nicely detailed RPG gaming set up for a control centre building

Another Sci Fi game attracted me. This time the precise and colourful hexes drew you in.

What a pirate also looked engaging.

What a tanker in 15mm? was on offer

In 15mm? again were two Napoleonic games by Central London Wargames Club.

Undaunted – another grid game looked intriguing

Blucher Rules in 6mm was being fought on stage!

Archduke John and eugene peruse their options from the erie ………

All in all I had a very enjoyable day.

Once again thanks to Pit Gaming, I hope Recon is back in 2024.

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lance and longbow society wargame shows wargaming

VAP 2023

VAP 2022 felt like a throw back – as if COVID19 had not happened – all those companies were back and there was a feeling of relief.

You can read here my thoughts a year ago https://wordpress.com/post/thewargamingerratic.home.blog/4337

VAP 2023 felt changed – I had seen changes at other shows in recent years – VAP had seemed to buck the trend. It had continued to grow and evolve. This time it was the show with empty space and yet more shoppers and less players?

It also had the misfortune to have some logistics issues around not enough people on the entry tills and perhaps not enough show experience either?

So what about the actual show? Well I decided to “play” first. I chose the lance and longbow society refight of the Battle of Buda between The Ottomans and Imperialists. My post about the Tour de France visit to Hungary finishes with scenes of Hussars and Berlioz in the Capital. Budapest is still a fantastic city and well worth a visit if you like history and panorama.

The Ottomans led by light cavalry Akinji begin their attack on the Imperial forces

The game was multiplayer using modified Lion Rampant and played well in a crowded show area – the actual play took a few hours simply because it turned out neither side could get a knock out and the attrition took some time to play out with both sides in with a shout of victory until the final turn. I compounded poor decision making with poor dice throwing in the early stages – nothing new there! It was a good game in my book (for multiplayers) as there were no early disinterested observers.

Thanks to the guys at Lance & Longbow Society for another great game.

The Ottomans begin to crush the Imperialists – now hemmed in on all sides.

By the time the game ended I needed some food and after that it was early afternoon – the show was now emptying out after seemingly very crowded. I wandered round the trade stands and detected satisfaction – maybe buyers had been out in sufficient force?

There were participation games The Balkan Wargamer highlighted some and the Lake Priepus game looked enticing. On the other hand I was now in buying mode. Actually I only bought some 1/72 figures at the, by then, deserted bring and buy.

Some nice 28mm Ancients – not my bag or maybe………….

One company did catch my eye and given I am not into 28mm that was interesting. Black Scorpion Miniatures had a small but effective stand showing their range of 3D printed miniatures.

3D printed ranges are growing in variety and number

If I was to enter the 3D market in 28mm I think this sort of figure type might entice me. The detail clearly repays careful painting.

Thats it for VAP 2023 and I had a great time playing a game but found little to tempt my wallet on this occasion.

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1/72 scale figures 20/25/28mm figures anglo saxons basing Carolingians lance and longbow society life metal miniatures Mid 19th Century Wargaming natural world normans in the south wargame rules wargaming

That was 2020!

Well we are at the end of a year that will become notorious.

A year when humanity staggered from the blows of a simple virus. It is perhaps a reminder that nature always has the upper hand no matter how sophisticated our societies have become.

I guess there are plenty of historical parallels to this type of massive societal correction. Not in the same vein but I read recently about how the particularly bad 9th century weather or should I say mini climate change dealt the Carolingians numerous bad harvests damaging their always vunerable Empire. Except even if it were decisive, the roaring vikings is a much more exciting concept of Empire destruction.

Yet right now the Dark Ages have become just that – the Dark Ages as in a box with a lid on it! Right now it is the 19th Century that dominates Wargames in the mind of Norber the Wargaming Erratic.

Before we go and embark on another year there is just enough time to reflect on the fact that 2020 has proven to be rather a good year for my wargaming.

The year got going with a trip to Vapnartak, notable for the fact that it proved to be my one and only show of 2020.

Lithuanian Knights gather to charge the Teutons – figures by WillWarWeb I believe

Playing (LIVE) the Lance and Longbow Society game of Tannenberg 1410 made it all the more important as it turned out. It was my last face to face gaming of 2020.

I was into Carolingians at the time of Vapnartak.

The scary plastic soldier review horses of Carolingia!

so which soldiers marched across my painting table in 2020?

well in 2018 I had managed zero painting while in 2019 I painted and based 32 “normans in the south infantry” and 11 “normans in the south” archers.

in 2020 I managed

  • 12 Carolingians including the man himself – comprising the much maligned (by plastic soldier review) horses which actually give my bases some nice dynamics – in my humble view
  • 10 Anglo Norman archers
  • 24 Normans in the South (NITS – I can’t resist an abbreviation) Cavalry
  • 21 Ottonian foot which look very much like anglo danes or could pass for NITS foot soldiers
  • 43 Anglo Danes were my biggest effort
A fine array of some Anglo Saxons, Anglo Danes and Ottonians
  • I finished the year with 4 slavs posing as Picts in my “to be” great army of Danes, Scots, Northumbrians and Norsemen which would fight Athelstan again at Brunanburh

And then the proverbial wheels came off the Dark Ages cart.

Right now the painting table has plastic Union Infantry posing as Piedmont Line Infantry along with some venerable Warrior Miniatures French Dragoons posing as – well French Dragoons. And they are metal!!!

Piedmontese in frock coats – shame about the squished stove pipe hats

I must say I had a good year with basing – finally getting a look for my mediterranean NITS – ok Normans in the South project.

Vikings aka Ottonians aka Anglo Danes aka NITS – the beauty of dark ages

In fact I have decided it will work for pretty much everything dark ages.

On the gaming front I started solo gaming with an unexpected purchase. Neil Shuck had recommended War & Conquest shortly before jumping ship with another ancients ruleset.

One of the many offspring writers/thinkers that Games Workshop brought to our wargames world.
Sea peoples and desert tribes close in on Libyian bowmen

I gave it a go with my bronze age one hour wargame figures based using my hybrid impetus basing of 80mm x 60mm for 1/72 plastics. Ever awkward – probably just as well I don’t need to satisfy a live opponent. I rather liked the feel of the rules even though the play through was so limited.

And then with Covid19 lock down in full swing and some fine weather I had other distractions including lots of gardening .

I really like simple flowers with a few petals
The colours are just fantastic

INTERMISSION

Intermission even surprised me – that was not in the plan

INTERMISSION

And of course there is always some track laying to do……………..

Eventually the dark ages gaming started in late August with numerous shieldwall rule tests – I did really enjoy them all. The biggest surprise was playing gridded wargames using Mike Smith’s Table Top Battles.

My lst shieldwall battle took place in late October and many games and rulesets later was swiftly followed by a thoroughly enjoyable game of Dux Britanniarum by Too Fat Lardies.

My vintage Garrison Vikings got a run out.

I fleshed out some campaign plans as per the rules advice and then…………nothing. I was just starting some Pictish Warriors when I read the wrong article.

On the way the renaissance troll introduced me to Faux Napoleonics for fantasy – here is my own 1970’s era Faux Fantasy Orc veering towards napoleonics?

Next minute it is baggy pants Zoaves, Spikey helms and far too much rifling. OK so it is still rather pedestrian Piedmontese – these proto Italians are quite conservative chaps – very un Napoleonic.

Will they really look like Piedmontese or just Union men on the wrong continent?

And since then two battles have been fought – one with Practical Wargaming by Charles Wesencraft and the other using 19th Century Wargames by Neil Thomas.

Whats in the container? – rescued from a dim corner of the erratic’s tardis store………
Warrior Miniatures – yes they are metal and yes the brown paint was administered back around 1975!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats a long time on the paint table – 45 years ish. But probably not a record.

And so I wish you all a graceful end to the year 2020 and hope that 2021 brings you all that you hope for.

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lance and longbow society Mid 19th Century Wargaming Pike & Shot Society Solo Wargamers Association wargaming

it was only one article……..

I have had a spate of journals recently including two fine editions. The first, the Hobilar by the the Lance & Longbow Society. Some excellent reads here. Then there is the Arquebusier, journal of the Pike and Shot Society. Again some wonderful looking articles.

But I stopped myself – I am on an Anglo Saxon spree, yes even my current Pictish figure painting is to provide enemy forces for the Anglo Saxons. 2020 has been a fruitful year for my Anglo Saxons and probably the most concerted period project for years.

The BUT arrives…………

And then I received my “E copy” of Lone Warrior published in the USA by the Solo Wargamers Association.

I had a quick look through that and well here were some more interesting articles – not least Rob Morgans one about chessboards and wargames so to speak.

And for some reason I started to read Brian Cameron’s part 2 article on playing solo battles. It was about horse musket warfare (1750-1850 -ish as he says). Well my end period up to 1725 – Great Northern Wars just allows for my interest in the horse and musket era. So this might be interesting I thought. Just an aside of course.

For some reason Brian’s article led me to thinking about the Franco-Prussian War. And specifically page 146 in Donald Featherstones book Advanced Wargames!

I enjoyed Brians article, which being about his imaginations further stoked my thinking. Suddenly I wanted a similar game.

Oh dear – where does this support my “anglo saxons project”or much delayed “normans in the south” for that matter?

In Advanced Wargames, page 146 introduced me to the Franco Prussian war and I was captivated at the time. This was a history I just did not know about back then (1970’s), although when you think about it, it was about 100 years after the events. I better remember the American War of Independence washing through the hobby with more impact back then. Well I never did get into the period. I did mimic the ideas though, with my Airfix Naploeonics and my first metal figures from Warrior and Tradition. Many have been sold along the way yet I have kept some for nostalgic reasons and now use them in my own imaginations games right next to my tricorne wearing Great Northern War Russians and Swedes.

So what to do?

Well obviously start rereading that chapter in Advanced Wargames. You always have to go with the flow. And anyway some reading like this is like “a change is as good as a rest”.

Worringly I am already perusing some possible kepi’s and stove pipe hats on Plastic Soldier Review.

Ok so the Russians are from 1877 which is hardly 1870, 1859 or 1854 let alone 1848 which was another date I had my eye on. And in the midst of all this muskets are out and rifles are in.

I am not looking for 4KTV realism here (you can drench yourself in it and on wikipedia alone – don’t forget to donate – nothing is ever free thats worth keeping). No, I want to get back to the simple ideas in various wargames books of the 1970’s. I want some 1970’s gaming.

So it looks like I have broken my rule of nothing after 1725 nor starting another wargames project before the anglo saxons are complete.

Oh dear oh dear………….

Photo by Petr Ganaj on Pexels.com

From small acorns sometimes mighty oaks do grow. Right now that looks unlikely for my Anglo Saxons.

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1/72 scale figures lance and longbow society wargame shows wargaming

Recon-structing Recon

“Recon” in New Pudsey is run by the Wakefield & District wargamers and usually happens today – the first Saturday in December.

It is not the largest show on the circuit yet it has become a regular visit for me. There is always a decent selection of traders and a variety of games.

Pudsey Civic Hall is a relaxed venue with sufficient refreshments and plenty of seating plus parking (I travel by car) on site.

I have dropped by the Lance and Longbow Society (LLBS) stand for the last two years. I think they did the battle of Lewes in 2018 and last year they did the battle of Clifton Moor 1475. Its a participation game I always join in. The team are always very welcoming and really are there to throw the dice and get some pieces moving with any interested visitor.

snapshot of LLBS Clifton Moor battle thanks to storm of steel wargaming

I have no other photos except the headline one which shows tumbling dice 1/72 metallic command sets. I like the Saxon and Norman ones in particular.

ok a poor photo but you get the idea – these are nicely crafted 1/72 metals

On youtube “storm of steel wargaming” have posted a short video of the 2019 event. so you could do a quick “recon of recon” using it.

Storm of steel posted a 6 minute mini tour of Recon 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umgtgfri9VE

Here is hoping that in 2021 I will be able to visit this show again, assuming the Wakefield Gamers have the wherewithal to do it. I certainly hope so.

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lance and longbow society

Tannenberg 1410 at Vapnartak

A good visit to Vapnartak which including playing in the participation game laid on by the Lance and Longbow society (LLS). The battle of was fought in 1410 between the teutonic order and the polish lithuanians and is variously now known as Grunwald, 1st Tannenberg or Zalgiris according to the useful LLS table guide provided on the day.

The Teutons mass to attack
Th Lithuanians are up for a fight
More Commonwealth Troops
In the centre the Poles are pressing home their attacks
the beginning of the end as the polish left wing is driven from the field

Many thanks to the guys who ran this participation game which used a house rules version of big battle lion rampant and also their advice on painting plastics. The figures were all 1/72 or 20mm from various manaufacturers medieval ranges. They might be considered small in these 28mm days but they looked good to me.