Battle of Fulford Gate, 1066

     The Vikings sailed up the River Ouse, disembarked and headed towards York  

     Earl Morcar and Earl Edwin's British forces

The Viking invaders

   British on left side of photo, Vikings on the right

Vikings on top of board, British defending the town

                Pitched hand to hand fighting along the banks of the River Ouse 

The British regain the heights

A stalemate 

           The victors successfully defend their town from the Viking invaders

Order of Battle:            6 Viking Warriors

                                     4 British Warriors, 1 Archer (crossbowmen)

          

What a glorious afternoon spent over the gaming board with painted 15mm miniatures, experimental rules and a good friend. "Old school wargaming". 

Future plans are to fight the same battle, switching sides and using Granny Grate armies. Comparing scales.

       Marian Romans: hair curler 2 mm, Granny Grate 6 mm, Essex 15 mm 

 

Something's Brewing... trouble, Trouble Brewing

Something's Brewing... trouble, Trouble Brewing...

                                   

                                                     Sorry, I couldn't resist the segue.  

What happened ?!? It began when the leader of the Red Bearded Dwarves imposed a tariff on White Beard Ale and then the White Beard leader reciprocated with a tariff on Red Beard Ale, and the pubs and brewing houses erupted. After 680 years of peace, the Red and White Bearded Dwarves, with their gnome allies, were at war, again.  It's "the Battle of the Boots of Malark", part 2.  

                                    
                                                            Old school tape measure 8-)

                                    
                    Remembering Gary (sorry it's not a sand table) and the "big guy" from Rockford

The figures are 25mm Minifig Dungeon & Dragons (tm) Dwarves painted with Humbrol paints 40 years ago for The first Battle of the Boots of Malark. This month, 50 years ago, I began gaming with Frank. It started with playing Bridge, Chess and Go. I have been blessed to have such a great friend, who shared my interest in gaming . And, this night's battle was as much fun and as dramatic as any throughout the decades. Thanks Frank ! 

 Red bearded dwarves (top) quickly seize the high ground around "the Boots"

 RB Dwarves take heavy casualties from WBD's crossbow fire

 The struggle for the high ground

                                              The gnomes are the first to engage in the center.

 Bolt, arrow and stone fire continues on the slopes 

 The bloody main battle is joined

 The WB dwarves armed with Battle Axes turn the tide in the center

                                     

 WB Dwarves reform and the reserves are committed

 Despite heavy losses the RB Dwarves continue to fight inflicting heavy damage.

                      Down to their last stand, the Red Bearded Dwarves finally concede defeat.

                                    "Nothing except a battle lost can be half as melancholy as a battle won."

                                                        A night to revisit old friends.

No Paint Armies Primer

   I am a 68 year old gamer. My eyesight, even with magnification, and hand aren't what they used to be. Painting armies is no longer a pleasant part of my gaming hobby (was it ever ? ). I am also retired, which makes me cautious with my finances. But, I remember back to when I started in this hobby, when 54mm figures were imported and conveniently primed with black and white primers. In fact, they were probably used more in that state then when they were finally beautifully painted. "Get them on the table and let's play."  Yes, I have a very nice collection of painted 15mm figures for AWI, ECW, ACW, and DBA/Triumph!, as well as 25mm fantasy armies and smaller scale WW2 and Modern. But, you know, I still want to die with the most toys 8-) I'm retired and a widower, so I have time to expand my hobby interests. Hence, No Paint Armies (NPA). [Remember photos can be enlarged by clicking on them]
 

     I recently found some new Needlepoint plastic mesh in Gunmetal, Silver, Gold and Copper. Still haven't found gray or olive mesh for my No Paint Armies.  How to cut Needlepoint plastic mesh figures.

     No Paint Armies can also be made from repurposed Risk (tm) replacement parts, which can be found inexpensively on Ebay, at Goodwill stores, yard sales, or second hand stores.

 Risk (tm) 2003 replacement parts (above). Blue, Red, White, Green, Yellow/Gold, Dark gray. Tricornes and flags.

Risk (tm)1998 Replacement parts (above). Black, Blue, Red, Gray, Yellow, Green. Shakos and kneeling infantry.

   Quick and easy Napoleonic No Paint Armies. Red (British), Blue (French), White/light Gray (Austrians), Green (Russians), Black/Dark Gray (Prussians), Yellow/Gold (German states).

                   Testing various mounting methods for use with The Portable Wargame rules set.

    The 1998 Risk (tm) figures are approximately 10 mm and the 2003 figures are approximately 15 mm, while the Needlepoint mesh armies are approximately 6 mm. Both sets of Risk (tm) figures contain 40 infantry, 12 cavalry, and 8 artillery figures per color.

     Cost comparison: A Needlepoint mesh army costs under $1.00, and the best I've done so far for a Risk (tm) replacement army is $1.34 with free shipping (but on average around $2.00).

                   Risk(tm) is a trademark of Hasbro. I remember who paid me royalties  8-) 

NPA Triumph! at the Camel's House

The Battle of Gaugamela/Arbela using Triumph! rules and the No Paint Armies (NPA). Please click on the photos to enlarge.

 The earth shook as the armies approached. The gods were foretelling that this would be an unsettling battle for Alexander

 Darius chooses to challenge General Parmenion's cavalry with his skirmishers on the Macedonian left.

 Alexander only activates his forces in the center.

Alexander (purple/blue) defeats the Persian (red) spears on his right flank, while holding his position with his Companions. 

 Despite early losses, the Persians activate and fully engage in their center and right flank. 

The Persian's aggression is rewarded with the defeat of the Macedonian light foot (auxilia) by the Persian cavalry. The Macedonian right flank was threatened. Would Parmenion's cavalry hold ? However, as in history, Darius and his chariots evade to the rear.

 Alexander could wait no longer and he and his Compatriots press forward on their right flank, but with mixed results.

Alexander manages to solidify his left flank, though Parmenion's cavalry falls back. 

 Alexander and his Compatriots continue to press forward on the Macedonian right flank.

 Let the die decide. Another Persian spear is flanked and defeated as the Persian chariots fail to sustain traction against the Sarissa Phalanx..

 The Compatriots continue to move forward, but the rest of the Macedonian right flank stalls.

 The Macedonian center holds firm, while Parmenion's cavalry continues to fall back.

 Darius continues to evade while the Macedonian center solidifies.

 Success on Alexander's right wing 

 The Macedonian left wing holds firm.

 Alexander and the Compatriots, supported by their javelin cavalry seize their right flank and the battle.

A very hard fought victory for Alexander at "the Camel's House"