Lasalle 2 A First Look

Last evening Ian and I ran through our first game of Lasalle 2. We decided to use the introductory scenario the Battle of Eselbach - this especially suited us with our French and Austrian armies. We played very slowly to get to grips with the rules as - being a standard Mustafa rules set - there are many novelties which are easy to understand but take a little getting used to. To this point our 'go to' rules have been Blucher - also by Mr Mustafa. 

We only used the basic rules and both very much enjoyed the game. The MO system is excellent and we found the skirmishing system, while abstract, produced a very logical and historical effect. (I still would like to use all those skirmish bases I painted up for Lasalle 1 and General de Brigade!) The French grabbed the initiative in most turns due to their superior skirmish values and usually had a few more MO to change formation or rally in the later stages of the turn. 

We also enjoyed the appearance and gaming choices of the having a full range of formations to choose from - march, mass, line and square. I still need to figure out when line would be most useful. Above I decided to put two battalions into line. This worked but only due to good defence rolls when the Austrians charged. I did find the combat quite variable with the D6 roll being a very large factor which decides the combat. The attacker has a safety margin but leaves themselves in danger of volley fire afterwards or a counter charge once the opponent interrupts. My French were able to stand up to the charges and pour murderous fire onto the Austrian columns in reply. Further on that right flank the two Austrian charges broke two fresh units with disparate dice rolls - high Austrian and low French. We were both shocked by the instant evaporation of two units. 

Disruptions also takes a little while to figure out. Disruptions are suffered by are only permanent if not rallied. We needed to have two types of markers on each affected unit to mark these different types of hits. At the moment, both Ian and I are resisting moving to unit cards - suggested by the rules. 

Artillery is also quite surprising. The shot just keeps on going - up to 96 cm - meaning a bit of time was spent trying to determine the path of the bouncing cannon ball - especially those fired at an angle across the table. Rallying can take care of early hits but any not rallied at the first attempt become permanent deductions from the elan (hit points) of a unit. Of course, a commander also needs to MO to rally hits from forces too. Early cannon fire might be a way to soak up some of your opponents MO. 

I did find myself constantly checking what were global or force orders and which orders gave the opponent the opportunity to interrupt. I might make a little list of page references or book marks to help me find this quickly. I do like that Lasalle 2 has made garrisoning a little harder than other rules as nearby enemy can prevent a garrison move taking place. This was prevented in our game as can be seen above. Four Austrian battalions were not able to enter the fight - which may well have been costly as the game was taken by the French - 2 units to 4. 

I eagerly await my next Lasalle 2 game - possibly increasing to 4 brigades and making those MO a little move precious (which I look forward to as I love a wargame that presents simple but challenging command choices.) 

 

New Year Wizard, Zombies and an Idol

Amid two beach/pool holidays, the Xmas break has seen ‘some’ painting – just not very much. 

I dusted off some more old GW zombies and repainted these. I wanted to paint people who had died from various causes, like a virulent disease that discoloured the skin. Hence, I did olive, grey and yellow zombies.

Next came a Reaper Bones wizard. The result was very pleasing using shades of blue. I wanted to create a weather wizard and think it turned out well. I have no idea what game he will appear in … probably Mord.

Finally, another Reaper Bones model … the Fertility Idol. This will be used in Congo or IHMN games even though she is clearly based off European Neolithic figurines rather than African ones. Oh well, who worries about this sort of thing except me. She’ll be a great basis for a game … I’m sure some muzungu will end up being captured and potentially sacrificed before her.

 

A Return to 'In Her Majesties Name" (1st ed)

 Our first game of the year was ... IHMN. I really couldn't think of anything else to play as I was quite distracted and needed something light, fun and with little reading (to remind me of the rules.) 

My good friend Michael and I fumbled our way through a scenario. Usually we play with 4-6 players with IHMN so having a 1v1 game was a novelty. I chose a scenario from the book which involved killing the opposing leader. 

My company was the cult of Akhenaton and Mick chose 'Abdullah's Slaving Bastard's' - a company of my own concoction. 

The cult ran across the table shouting obsequies to their God and master. They braved the hail of bullets sent by the slavers trying to use the temple pillars for cover. Several fell but it was not the slavers night as dice deserted them and the cultists faith was rewarded. Abdullah fell to the poisoned blades of Sairah - the femme fatale assassin. 

Above Al-Hurun wields his wickedly sharp tulwar slashing at Akhenaton. 

Even the frenzied efforts of Al-Hurun (swordsman extraordinary) could not defeat the risen Pharaoh. Above shows Nectanebo the mummy trying to strangle a Baluchistan warrior with help from cultist Bedlam Bob.

Mongo ... derranged jungle horror!

 From the depths of the jungle comes a force feared by even the cannibals of the M'Bopo river ... Mongo!

A brute reared by malign ju-ju, incest and feasting upon living flesh, Mongo ravages all who comes within his path and sight ... a primeval missile to be aligned and launched to whatever enemy. 

Fed by sucking the marrow from bones or enviscerating a freshly supplied corpse ... Mongo always hungers after new flesh. But if his fearful hunger is not met ... 

... woe to those who awoke this savage. 

Weird Expansion

 My reading has remained fixed on the subject of weird fiction. I find the genre very enjoyable - although a little hit and miss - perhaps due to the nature of the writing (ie: to fit into a regular magazine with a fixed audience.) 

Of all, Lovecraft and Smith I enjoy the most with Howard producing some fine tales ... many of which almost leave the horror genre and become action stories. Howard did revisit stories several times, this includes ideas or themes, but these did get better (I'm thinking about the development of the degenerate underground race best illustrated in 'Worms of the Earth.) I can detect Machen's view of fairy creatures here. 

I'm looking forward to reading the critical analysis of Joshi and the horror fiction of Bloch (I would like to read more of his stories later - I've listen to a few and very much enjoy his style and humour.) I have also found Blackwood to be excellent - but due to his writing in an earlier period style, a modern reader needs to persevere. 

Postcards from the Lagoon

 I have posted images of my ADLG 15mm late medieval Venetians before but I wanted to show off some better images. Now I'm on hols, I can take photos in the day more easily and natural light makes for better images with my crappy old phone. In any case here they are. I'm very pleased with the results.  

(My beloved Captain General ... and what a banner! Pete's Flags ... what a champion!) 

(Medium cav XB, Hungarian LC Bow and knights aplenty in rear)

(LF - XB, Handgun, Bow ... and the main battle line behind.)

(My beloved mercenary pike and MF - or HF - 2HW - with that superstar = heavy artillery.) 

The miniatures were Mirliton - who were a bit hit and miss. When the miniatures are good they are very good BUT there is a little too much size variation in regard to the longbow and some weakness (too thin) around weapons - especially lances. I particularly liked the Italian crossbow, pikes, stradioti and all the knights. I do like the longbowmen too but they are just head and shoulders larger than the other foot miniatures.

(Knights and stradotti - a single bases of LC XB far left)

(My XB line - Italian and Dalmatian) 

All up - I do really like the army - I'm just going to have to be very careful in handling it. 

(Hand gunners, Longbow, Knights and stradotti) 

(Medium cav XB - magnificent troops - more knights and Hungarian LC Bow)

I must say that the Condotta army in ADLG is AWESOME!!! 

It has ALL the toys with some wonderful options. I love the medium foot 2HW for operating in, and charging out of, rough terrain. These are deadly. Two bases of elite longbow are very powerful especially included in a cavalry command. The amount of light foot is very dangerous for other western medieval armies - and these are very well protected by the stradotti who are a significant threat. Once maneuvered through the enemy line they can sack the camp or attack a flank or rear wonderfully. Pike and dismounted knights are a VERY powerful combination and that single heavy artillery to plink away at the enemy forces the opposing general to make decisions - and the result is usually not a good choice for them. 

I love to take a shooty army with knights and pikes to clean up once the arrows finish flying. The sheer amount of hits this army can put on will seriously stack up and push the opponent toward the break point very quickly. Then the pressure mounts as they will snap with not too many routs.

What can I say? The Venetians move well, shoot well and fight well. A great army that involves you in all phases of the game ... and it loves to ambush too (and doesn't mind fighting in some terrain too.) 

(Another image of my XB line ... with dismounted knights bases behind. I have four and am yet to experiment with choosing to dismount my knights. A great addition to a heavy battle line.)

(That's a line of significant heavy hitters ... and boy do they punch on when they do! If my missile line can put a few hits on the target first - its serious trouble when these boys go in.) 

Shadow Deep ... better late than never!

 With this year closing down soon ... I looked at my pitiful amount of posts for 2021 and my cheeks reddened with shame. 

So, with an hour or three up my sleeve this arvo, I decided to play a Rangers of Shadow Deep scenario solo. I have much wanted to see how this game played. It was certainly straight forward, logical and enjoyable - although I do think the first scenario is made to create an easy introduction to the game. 

Below are some photos ... in the end my little group mowed down 10 zombies and 2 giant rats. They found all the secrets (but failed to solve the mystery of the tracks) and walked away with some treasure, herbs, a dead body, a living one and a slightly magical sword. 

My little band gathered near the well in the centre of the deserted hamlet. It was at that moment groans and loud squeeks communicated something was awry. We had been surrounded by enemies with the mystery still afoot! 

An overview of the hamlet. 

The giant rats were quickly killed by the decisive action of Peregrin, my ranger, and the swift arrows of my two archers - Lena and Reynard. The zombies shambling toward out little group would provide a greater challenge.  

With the small board size the zombies closed quickly. 

Sigurd, the barbarian, proved to be worth all the ale he guzzled as he slew all the zombies to arrive in his portion of the table. He protected the archers who then had the opportunity to look for clues. 

Fighting and missile fire erupted in the central area with foes falling without wounding my ranger band. Special events saw another 4 zombies enter the table. These would regularly arrive for much of the early turn replenishing their numbers as swiftly as we could slay them. 

As the game went on, the initial flurry of zombies began to wane and the ranger band had more time to secure the clues - largely unmolested by enemies. 

The great surprise was when my rouge, Ruprecht, thought he had gathered treasure but instead a rotting corpse (once named Franz) rose from the earth to assail him. Luckily, my ranger was not far away. He quickly downed the Fondler and dashed to the rescue ... the rogue was in the party of other reasons than marital skill. 

Peregrin dispatched his foe then ran to engage in several turns of combat against the strongest zombie of the day. Eventually he fell and the two giants rats which arrived late in the game did not reach combat. Peregrin's band had secured all they needed - especially the body of Aventine and a survivor - to aid their further investigation of the dread lurking behind these rotting minions. 

Overall, the game was enjoyable but left me thinking I'd been guided to learn the rules ... not face a challenge. But I'm pretty sure that will be amended when Peregrin follows his leads into the depths of the forest where the spider webs cluster in a most remarkable and chilling manner.