I believe a number of us are going to play demo games, but I don't see Peter Pig on the trader list?
Nor do I see Tiny Wargames, who are another regular there, I believe.
Simon
Indeed Simon.
It is too tiring for me to do 2 days.
I am there on the Sunday, gaming Vietnam.
Gives me time for chat and wander.
Two day shows are a no for me these days.
The Colours 1 day show in September is fine. We take a reduced trade stand and a game.
martin :)
Oh no - I'll miss you then, Martin, as I'll only be there on the Saturday.
I understand about the 2-day fatigue, though - just one day must be more than enough for a trade stand and all that palaver.
Simon
Oh dear. Just leave your best wishes with Big Mike and Miles.
We can get game day in at some point?
martin :)
Indeed. If not beforehand, I'll be down for the Vietnam day.
Simon
On call this year, I was last year and the phone started to ring when I was on my way.
That is a nuisance for you Lee :(
See you at Entoyment some time
martin :)
Went the day well?
martin :)
Very good thanks, Martin.
Photo report to follow in due course.
Simon
Not sure what was going on. Placed felt very cramped for some reason.
It couldn't be the amount of trade stands as I felt it was far from the best I had seen. Too many dice sellers misc "stuff" that I wouldn't have called gaming. Maybe it was but didnt call out to me as such so just walked past.
Demo games were ongoing and there was a range being played. Both D-Day games looked good to me so well done guys. I know it takes a lot to put a good looking game on.
Overall I wasn't overly impressed. Will give it another visit next year and see if it improves.
Maybe its just me getting jaded!
Derek
Ben and Dave's game was Dieppe, not D-Day, Derek. And yes, I made the same mistake :D
I agree about the trade stands. A lot of candles, crystals and dice, and a number of the normal wargames traders missing.
But I did feel that the games on show were of a universally high standard - better than previous years?
Simon
My apologies guys. Didn't ask and didn't see any signage.
Derek
Here are a couple of views of our Gold Beach game. Simon will provide a high standard overview at some point, I am sure.
We done a Templated version of the table this time rather than the boards which were done in 2019. The cut boards did look good back then but very heavy to carry.(Also would have warped and be out of shape by now?)
The look of this game maybe not quite as good ? Not quiet as shiny and Polished ?
But a lot easier to carry and assemble, also store. As a lot of what I provided has or will be used in other games.
Especially as Mike has mentioned that we might be taking it to Fort Northe ? Later this year for DDay event and possibly a Entoyment event too ?
A good first day, a few things to go thru and iron out and improve on with the table and game, on the first day at BiC.
Note the Pink table at the rear so PP is represented in spirit at least !
Also helps people see the table is there too !
Miles
(https://i.postimg.cc/fSc5jb0b/IMG-2371.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fSc5jb0b)
(https://i.postimg.cc/bsPmY1KS/IMG-2382.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bsPmY1KS)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Wh7XdhvW/IMG-2383.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Wh7XdhvW)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MXbkd9jT/IMG-0679-002.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MXbkd9jT)
We all had a good day playing 'One day in August' yesterday at Beachhead. As you can see Ben and Paddy are deep in tactical conversations, the game went fairly true to history with most of the tanks getting stuck on the beach. Ben did a really good job amending the rules to build in the Dieppe terrain, naval landing, air power and other twists (he had note book of amendments).
The game picked up third in show and WSS magazine are going to do an article on it, so the 15mm PBI flag has been flown.
D&B
It was a great-looking game, Dave. I particularly liked your chppy sea.
Here are a couple more shots from land- side:
(https://i.postimg.cc/TLZmRnKP/20240210-130141.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TLZmRnKP)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QFX7x8dc/20240210-131058.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QFX7x8dc)
Simon
Thanks Simon. Ben wants to do another next year, not sure what game!
D&B
Finally some photos of our game. Scenario rules and some of the scenery (also the engineers?) by Big Mike; the rest of the scenery (particularly Le Hanmel and the marshes), as well as the British tank park by Miles. I just rocked up with my dice and the Germans. Colin borrowed Miles's dice but may have had a big hand in the landing craft :)
First up - the calm before the storm:
(https://i.postimg.cc/zbX8Pf8X/20240210-100226.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zbX8Pf8X)
(https://i.postimg.cc/PLXgdFcS/20240210-100241.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PLXgdFcS)
In the scenario, the Germans got to place a couple of lines of dragons' teeth, some mines and barbed wire.
Simon
Our game started off with some Sherman DD tanks and mine-clearing engineers landing on the beach. These were followed by some "Funnies", including flails and bridge-layers.
(https://i.postimg.cc/gxb5Dq9q/20240210-111556.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gxb5Dq9q)
(https://i.postimg.cc/VJ7q6mFr/20240210-132113.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VJ7q6mFr)
The well-protected 77mm gun at Le Hanel did considerable damage to both tanks and landing craft, but couldn't get shots offs fast enough to stem the tide.
(https://i.postimg.cc/S24C1RSP/20240210-132216.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/S24C1RSP)
By this time, the sole two German platoons on the table - both support, with machine guns and mortars, respectively, were now feeling both lonely and a little exposed.
(https://i.postimg.cc/4H7fzbCR/20240210-135418.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4H7fzbCR)
(https://i.postimg.cc/4KfX8TC5/20240210-142327.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4KfX8TC5)
With nothing to hit the tanks with, the Germans tried to kills as many infant's they could, but their flanks was soon turned as the British drove through the minefields to the East and onto the coastal road.
Fortunately by now a couple of infantry platoons had arrived (better late than never...). One squad hiding in a rapidly fortified strong point to the rear of the German lines scored a point blank hit with a Panzerfaust on a DD's side armour, resulting in the Sherman immediately brewing up.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Czstcnw3/20240210-160904.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Czstcnw3)
Meanwhile, another platoon was infiltrating through the town of Le Hamel, just in time to resist the seaborne invasion across the sea wall.
(https://i.postimg.cc/1nzw1TF0/20240210-154908.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1nzw1TF0)
The British advance from the East was inexorable, with the pillbox falling to a tank HE round.
Both the machine gun and mortar platoons routed off table, having failed a morale test and being reduced to just a couple of bases each.
(https://i.postimg.cc/v4QmKnff/20240210-162554.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/v4QmKnff)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7GTPznr8/20240210-163549.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7GTPznr8)
So that was where we got to on our Saturday refihght of Jig Sector of Gold Beach.
We used the latest version (#90) of the evolving rewrite of the PBI rules, alongside some additions that Big Mike had written specifically to deal with the various beach defences.
The core PBI rules worked fine, even (in this scenario with few infantry) the new limits on opportunity fire.
Mike came up with a clever mechanism for the concrete defences, effectively using the AP rules against a defined defence value and needing a margin to destroy the defence piece.
No doubt more lessons will have been learned today about how best to play this particular scenario!
Simon
As Miles has pointed out previously, this was designed as an accessible game to put on. No big boards or anything too fancy (other than bigger cloths, and lots of buildings and vehicles!).
We didn't win a prize, but hopefully showed what can - with some thought and patience - readily be achieved by The Common Man and a range of products from Peter Pig (some may have come from other manufacturers too ;) ).
Simon
I agree with Simon, I am hoping to have some PP buildings in Le Harmel by the next time.
We looked at the old pictures of 2019 against the newer version, and realised the the Harmel and sand dune and road line needs to move up 6 inches, giving a further 6 inches of beach to actually cross.
Other than that Mike did a fantastic job on recreating the original MDF boards we had in 2019.
The main objective was to make the whole table a lot easier to transport and using templates that we use in other /normal RFCM games, that we achieved.
I will have to make a "big" plastic foam board template for La Harmel to raise the town slightly in the Sea wall area, and buy some Wall pieces from Grubby Tanks.
A very good exercise in making it a lot simpler to make and put together and transport etc, a few more things to look at and talk about to make the game run a bit better and give the Germans a slightly better chance to get some achievable small victories in game, as we know in the end the Germans didn't win ? lol !
Miles
All good points, Miles.
Other than that we all know the Germans won on Saturday ;D
Simon
Great looking game gents! It re-kindles my idea to do a amphibious landing game for Gallipoli 1915. A few years ago I bought a 5 x 3 mat with the sea & beach longways for this. I already will try it out as a club game at Burton when I get my ANZACs painted up. I have the Ottomans painted & based.
Thanks for popping by the Forum, Ray, and glad you liked it.
Gallipoli could look fab on the tabletop. What rules would you use - maybe PBI adapted for WW1?
Simon
The game did indeed look splendid. Well done you chaps.
martin :)
Quote from: martin goddard on February 07, 2024, 01:46:08 PMThat is a nuisance for you Lee :(
See you at Entoyment some time
martin :)
Absolutely, well overdue and lacking on the gaming front currently.
Thanks for the write-up of Saturday's game, Simon. We received plenty of positive comments from show attendees. My thanks to all those who contributed figures, models and scenery to make it such an enjoyable game on both days.
Mike
And well done to you, Mike, on organising us all and writing the special rules, which I think worked very well.
Simon
Well done all. It looks like a splendid game.