Played a game of Wings of Glory with a Zeppelin Straaken (Richard) on a bomber mission. The British were commander by Steve and Brian. The German escort were commander by Jerry and Jim. It seemed the British policy was to inadvertently kamikaze against the Zepplin bomber. Jerry as the German even took a whack at it. The Zeppelln was ready to drop its load on target when Steve flying a Nieuport 11 with rockets managed to score a double hit, sending the bomber to the dirt.
You are standing in a half-lit alcove in one of the inner chambers of Nebuchadnezzar II’s palace. Babylon is scorching under the late spring sun, but the events which are taking place before your very eyes, chill you to the bone. A 13-years reign of unmatched courage, splendorous victories and relentless conquests comes to an end not with a last glorious battle but a death rattle. Alexander the Great, surrounded by his most loyal generals, is breathing his last breath. You are not quite sure if you have heard the raspy whisper coming from within the circle correctly – “for the strongest”. What does it mean? The broad shoulders of generals part a little and allow you to see Alexander’s lifeless, mask-like countenance and his ring – a symbol of his astounding power – placed on a small pillow resting upon his chest. You take a bow to pay respect to your beloved king with whom you have battled arm in arm for the past 10 years since Issoss. When you look up, fighting to clear the lump in your throat, you can’t believe what you are seeing. Some of the generals have focused their stares upon the ring, stares you have witnessed many times before, in other circumstances of course, but nevertheless. Stares of self-restricted greed – the greed of power – breaking loose. You momentarily tense up, glaring furiously, clenching your fists. This can only mean one thing – war of the succession is soon to come…
Lose yourself in one of the best multiplayer strategy games ever published. Take part in the conflict between titular diadochi – Successors – to the legacy and empire of Alexander the Great. Clash with your former brothers in arms turned enemies to gain control of provinces in order to increase the number of your Victory Points or pull appropriate strings to secure the Legitimacy Points e.g. by providing Alexander’s tomb with a suitable resting place. But beware, too many Victory Points with respect to other players and you end up having an esteem of a Usurper who could be attacked freely by everyone. Therefore, choose you strategy wisely. It sometimes is more profitable to hold your horses for every aspect of the game is intertwined with another and the sudden turn of events may surprise you with the most unfortunate outcome, for instance you might be forced to take sides with someone who stabbed you in the back couple of rounds earlier. However, as they must have said even in 4th Century B.C., the end justifies the means. Especially, when succession is at stake.
This is the next game in our rotation when we can get 5 players together and learn the somewhat complex rule system.
Napoleon 1815 is a block game for up to three players who assume the role of Napoleon, Wellington, or Blucher, recreating the campaign leading to the Battle of Waterloo or not. Playing Napoleon, do you select the central position of driving a wedge between the enemy armies and then annihilating each of them in turn or determine your own master plan?
Napoleon must strike before Wellington and Blucher combine forces.
Lee, Jim and I played three games.. Lee was the French, Jim the British and Richard the Prussians.. The Allies won the first two.. we then switched with Jim being the French… the French lost again… meaning the Prussians (me) won all three games.
Historicon 2022 was held in lancaster Pa in July. Mike Gesser, Dan Allnutt and I attended. Below are photos of games I participated in.
Stamford Bridge 1066 – Carnage and Glory
Rolling Down The River – Ironclads
Hastings 1066 – Carnage and Glory
Battles Near Gembloux – Battleground WW2
Battle of Camden 1780 – Carnage and Glory
Battle of Monongahela 1755 – Carnage and Glory
Waterloo campaign from 12:00 PM. Jerry is the British and Jim (left wing) and Richard (right wing). Awaiting Lee with his Prussians and Brian with the reserve to enter the arena. Carnage and Glory Rules (June 5, 2022)
1:00pm
The field quiets as gun go largely silent following a 30 minute barrage of La Haye Saint by the combined artillery of the Guard.
Kellerman is ordered to move his Cavalry Corps around to the southwest of Hougoumont, as the 1st Brigade of Foy’s 9th Division moves to the southern facing of that farm.
D’Erlon’s I Corps, supported by Milhaud’s cuirassiers step off towards the British main line to their front, Picton and the rest of that line having pulled behind the ridge on the reverse slope.
Throughout the area around Papelotte continues with minor sparing by Durette and French light horse.
1:30pm
Sensing unpreparedness on the Allied line, three brigades of cuirassiers charge into Best and neighboring units. Behind the crest, the Allies cannot get off enough fire and fall back in disorder. Only Pack’s brigade managed square and repulses the French charge.
To the west, a coordinated attack by Reille dislodges the British Guards out of the Hougoumont Farm. The objective taken, several French Brigades will be forced to recover and regroup from the hard fighting.
