Thursday, May 24, 2018

the Spring Offensive - the Race for Ace above Flanders Fields

 

To prepare for the Memorial Day holiday here in the United States, it's time to get out our collection of clothes pin WWI airplanes. We are using the excellent rules by Matt Fritz, which are simple and easy to expand, as you desire.

   
 Hauptmann Krebs flying a borrowed Fokker Triplane engages Capitano Frank
 The dance begins
             
              The Italian pilot gets a critical hit on the triplane's engine
 With limited maneuverability the Hauptmann is shot down, but walks away from the                                                                        crash
 Hauptmann Krebs gets his favorite candy cane striped Fokker Tri and goes hunting
                                                           for Capitano Frank
                                  Another dance begins 
 The Hauptmann pulls off an impressive Immelmann turn to shoot down his rival,                                                        who was killed in the crash
 Capitano Frank the younger brother flies an Ansaldo A.1 plotting revenge on the                                                                    Hauptmann
 After inflicting major damage on his opponent, Hauptmann Krebs signals the young                              Capitano offering an escape route off the board.
                   The Capitano declines the offer and is shot down and killed

                                                

                         

                         In Flanders Fields

                                           By John McCrae
                                            In Flanders fields the poppies blow
                                            Between the crosses, row on row,
                                            That mark our place; and in the sky
                                            The larks, still bravely singing, fly
                                            Scarce heard amid the guns below.

                                            We are the Dead. Short days ago
                                            We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
                                             Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
                                             In Flanders fields.

                                             Take up our quarrel with the foe:
                                             To you from failing hands we throw
                                             The torch; be yours to hold it high.
                                              If ye break faith with us who die
                                             We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
                                              In Flanders fields.


Wednesday, May 16, 2018

the Barbarian final 4 with Granny Grate & Triumph! part 2

The next matchup in our Barbarian final 4 is the Hun army led by Attila versus the tribal Mongolian Horde. We used the Triumph! rules set.  The armies were made with Granny Grate/ plastic needlepoint mesh . It was a "blind draw" for army selection.

                                    
                        Mongolian horde, top of photo and the Hunnic army is on the bottom 
                                    
                                                 The mounted forces initial engagement
                                      
                                           Horse bows engage each other on the Hun left flank
                                       
                                     Attila's bow horse are forced back taking an early loss of troops
                                       
                                              The Mongolian horde continues its early success
                                       
                            The Hun led by Attila are defeated in this clash of mounted armies
                                       
                                        The Mongolian horde advances to the Barbarian finals.


The tribal Mongolian horde faces off against the early Visigoths for the Barbarian Championship.

Thursday, May 10, 2018

the Barbarian final 4 begins using Granny Grate & Triumph!

The first matchup in our Barbarian final 4 is the Early Visigoths led by Alaric I versus the Early Vandals under the command of Gunderic. We used the Triumph! rules set.  The armies were made with Granny Grate/ plastic needlepoint mesh . It was a "blind draw" for army selection.

 Vandals on top of photo, Visigoths on bottom
 Closeup of Gunderic's (early Visigoths) Warriors supported by his Knights and Javelin Cavalry
 Alaric I's Knights and Warriors 



 Forces engage
 Visigoth skirmishers flank the Vandal warriors
 Alaric I's Knights try to break the Vandal center
 Warriors engage on the right flank of Alaric's battle line
 The early Vandals aren't rolling well this night.
 The rout of the early Vandals is on
Alaric I and the early Visigoths advance to the Barbarian Finals 

              Up next, Attila the Hun's army faces off against the tribal Mongol Horde.