Historical-fantasy" campaign - come and join in

Craig and Jim are planning a simple "historical-fantasy" campaign based loosely on Italian city states. Come to the club on Sunday January 10 to join in the planning meeting.

You can use your own Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance or Fantasy armies but you do not need to have your own army. Loan armies will be available. Armies do not have to be Italian but should be "Italian-like", an enemy of, or  "traditional" fantasy armies (Dwarfs, Elves, Undead, Empire, etc. and you could say Horsemen of Rohan are sort of like Lombards).

The starting idea is that all campaign moves and battles would be at club meetings with minimal book-keeping required. The rules will be simple enough for several campaign moves and two or three battles to be played at a meeting. The battle rules will probably be either DBA 3 or Hordes of the Things. Respectively, these are fun, quick-play Ancient and Fantasy rules.

Come to the meeting on January 10 to find out what the campaign will be about, join in the discussion and find out how you could get involved. The meeting will, of course, be an ordinary gaming day too, and you are welcome to bring your armies to play games.

December 13 meeting - World War 1 dogfights

The last meeting of the year saw Craig bring squadrons of his World War 1 planes and the Wings of War rules. Three multi-player games were played.

Game 1: Craig, Andrew and Jim (Allies) vs Peter, James and Ross (German)
Game 2: Jim Andrew and Peter (Allies) vs Rex, Craig and James (German)
Games 3: Jim and Andrew (Allies) vs Rex and Craig (German)

The Germans won all three games.

Carl, Jono and big James also came along.

December 13, last meeting of the year

The last club meeting of the year will be this Sunday, December 13, at the Masterton Croquet Club, 1pm to 5pm. I understand Craig is bringing Wings of War and his large collection of aircraft for multiplayer dogfights. Others will be there too with their games. So, come along, join in or just catch up and talk toy soldiers.

Please note there will not be a meeting on the last Sunday of the month, December 27.

Meetings will resume on the second Sunday next month, January 10.

And remember, if you don't hear Snoopy's Christmas at least once, it isn't really Christmas!

Story in this morning's Times-Age

The story in this morning's Times-Age. The story does not include club contacts. I have written a letter to the editor thanking Chris Kilford for the photos and providing club contacts.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=11553891

Pix from second day of Wairarapa Two-Day-Match

The  second day of the Wairarapa Two-Day-Match Ancient and Medieval tournament was held Saturday November 28 at the Parkvale Deerstalkers' Hall. More pix on the club Facebook "Masterton Marauders" https://www.facebook.com/groups/110862205607872/

As with day 1, it begins with the hall being set up.

A photographer from the Wairarapa Times-Age was there

Chris Kilford with Drew Fortune (Ottoman Turks). Later, Drew was awarded the certificate for Best Presented Army.

Another shot of Chris and Drew

Peter Noble (Ptolemaic on day 2) and Chris. Peter eventually won.

Phil Gates (Later Carthaginian) and Chris. Phil was voted Best Opponent and  Finest Chap There

Chris and Phil again.

Round 3

Phil vs Andrew Brazendale (Early Achaemenid Persian), and Chris taking pix.

Top of the table clash: David McLachlan (Marian Roman) vs Peter. A winning draw to Peter leaving him first going into round 4. David ended the tournament second.

Armies march on their stomachs

A view into the kitchen. One of my boys, Ben, and my darling wife, Mim (a.k.a at work Dr Miriam Hughes). I am a lucky and most grateful husband :-)

Ben, wired for sound.

One of the pots of chicken curry. There were also ham and cheese rolls, tea, coffee and biscuits. Worth saying again:  I am a lucky and most grateful husband :-) 

Mim took a selfie

View from the kitchen into the hall.

There was a lot in the kitchen.

Round 4

Kelly Gay from Palmerston North was using Medieval French today.

Alastair Duncan (Tupi in round 4) with friends looking over his shoulder.

Top of the table clash: Gary lewis (Komnenan Byzantine) vs Peter. Peter went on to win and Gary was third.

Kevin O'Kane (Lydian) vs Drew.

Another shot of Kelly's Medieval French

Wargaming impedimenta 

The rules

Books of army lists

Dice and a familiar pose

Measuring sticks

Toy soldiers'first aid kit

It is not all a game

While we are spending two days playing with toy soldiers at the Parkvale Deerstalkers' Hall, spare a thought for the people who were here before us. The local primary school was closed many years ago. Its World War 1 and World War 2 honours boards have been preserved and are displayed in the hall foyer as part of local history.

The end bits

Awarded to the non-playing umpire and organiser, me. Old school wargamers will remember these fondly: Humbrol gloss emerald green, and the even brighter Testors green enamel. Back in the day these were the basing colours! I have no idea where Alastair and Richard found these, but I shall treasure them 
smile emoticon

Winners from left: Drew Fortune, best presented army; Ottoman Turks; second, David McLachlan, Marian Roman; best opponent and finest chap there, Phil Gates, Later Carthaginians; winner second year in a row, Peter Noble, Post-Mongol Samurai day 1 Ptolemaic day 2; third and general slayer, Gary Lewis, Komnenan Byzantines. Allen Yaxley was looter of baggage but had left before the photo was taken.

Working party putting away tables.

A view from the hall.

Another view from the hall.

The hall locked up.
The end. 

It was a great fun two days of gaming. Thank you to all 19 gamers who took part and to Mim and Ben for helping. See you all next year, second and fourth Saturdays of November.

Pix from first day of Two-Day-Match

Pix from the first day of the Wairarapa Two-Day-Match, Saturday November 14. The second day is Saturday November 28. The tables in the hall are larger than the standard 8'x 6' we usually play on. Players are welcome to use the full width or measure off 8'.

You can also view on the club Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/110862205607872/ 

The day begins with the hall being set up.

There are, of course, armies. Here is a selection.

Kelly Gay, Palmeston North, Macedonians - Asiatic Early Successor

Peter Noble, Lower Hutt, Post-Mongol Samurai

Another shot of Peter's Samurai

Phil Gates, Greytown, Later Carthaginian

Andrew Brazendale, Carterton, Early Achaemenid Persian

Gary Lewis, Lower Hutt, Komnenan Byzantine

Doug Smith, Wainuiomata, Pre-Feudal Scots

Drew Fortune, Upper Hutt, Ottoman Turks

John van den Hoeven, Upper Hutt, Hittite allies for his Trojans

Alastair Duncan, Wellington, Western Sudanese

Mike Thorn, Lower Hutt, Huns

Some of the games in progress

Andrew (Early Achaemendi Persians) vs Peter (Post-Mongol Samurai)

Drew (Ottoman Turks) vs John (Trojans)

Paul Graham (Parthians) vs Mike (Huns). I first met Paul on 1979 when I rocked up to the Wellington Warlords wargaming club. He was the president and took me under his wing. So it's his fault!

Trophies: the one we play for and those on the walls of the hall.

The Horse Head Trophy, won last year by Peer Noble (Ptolemaic)

Mike at the Kitchen servery

Andrew, Early Achaemenid Persians in the round 2 top of the table clash

Foreground, John Zittersteijn, Featherston, Early Imperial Roman, vs Doug, Pre-Feudal Scots; background Che Tibby, Wellington, Seleucids vs Alastair, Western Sudanese.

Foreground, David McLachlan, Featherston, Marian Romans.

There was a Marlburian game too

David Nichols, Wellington, Craig Mabon, Carterton, and Rex Fowler, Masterton, setting up a 25mm Marlburian game using the Horse Foot and Guns rules.

Rex getting organised

Some of Craig's British cavalry.