Morris' Wargaming Escapades

Yesterday I played a very interesting one-shot in Spanish hombrewed by dungeon master Alejandro and called 'El cuerno de los caídos'. I played a human rogue in a mercenary party searching for a moveable underground cathedral. A thrilling four hours session! 

Fleeing from the brutal crackdown decreed by governor Mantis on people that are not up on their taxes, our drifters ( see session 0 ) meet in a back alley of the mega-city Nemain. They don't want to be pressed on the local guard to make up for their debt. They read on each others eyes the fear of being at the end of the rope. Sakir, a paranoid and resourceful enforcer tasked by a fringe religious group to scout the galaxy for ancient artifacts, suggests to the pair a temporary refuge. He knows the location of an Ashtari Cult den. After all, they also worship artifacts and their religion is in good terms with Sakir's fringe cult. The other two agree. Mostly to rest for a while and also for the chance to sample the infamous gasses that the Ashatari inhale to have visions of archeological sites. Sakir Once in the den they relax. Perhaps a little too much. Echo, the quiet and lethal bounty hunter, wrecks a sofa with her power claw while whole-body-shaking enthralled by the drug. An...

Inspired by Shaun's blog I decided to start a Five Parsecs From Home 1st edition campaign. I like this edition because it has less book keeping than the current edition and the FiveCore combat system is suited to my taste. I will use these books: Five Parsecs From Home (1e) FiveCore Skirmish gaming (1e) Every Star an Opportunity supplement for planet descriptions  Scum and Villany for factions because they are quirky and fun Session 0 involved character creation. The group will consist of 3 PC + 1 goon. They meet in the planet Nemain because all three of them are in trouble with the authorities.The randomly generated characters were (from left to right): Echo (a bounty hunter with a Power Claw), Sakir (and ordnance specialist from a religious cult) and Christa (a genetically enhanced hulker modified to have an absurdly strong body). Echo                        Sakir               ...

In this variant I wanted to capture three things that in my opinion represent ACW fighting well. There are of course other views, but these are fairly standard: At the onset there was a mish-mash of different weapons that evolved during the war. Later on the rifled musket became dominant. The Union tended to have better muskets. Cavalry could fight dismounted. Charges were less frequent.  Confederate cavalry was better until the balance changed later in the war. Lurkers should be given a more skirmishing role (they can shoot).  I use some deployment rules that avoid the effect of skirmishers “teleporting” behind enemy lines and popping up in a forest or BUA. Ambushes are still possible but risky.  DOWNLOAD HERE 

Today I tested my HoTT Napoleonic variant playing a battle of French Vs British with Wofun 18mm miniatures. I used the Solo Tactical Engine uploaded by David Lemon to the file section of the DBA & HOTT Wargaming FB group. It worked great! Before the battle, poor scouting only revealed to the French the presence of  Highlanders in the village. Napoleon deploys with a strong center of  veterans wearing dustcoasts ... and a battery strategically placed on the heights   Wellington chooses a mixed center, allied infantry stiffened by the thin red line... ...and close artillery support... ...which he directs personally. The battle rages on!! Specially in the center and the French right. On the left, conscript units on both sides just stare at each other The French veterans advance and do not waver when battered by cannon fire On the British left, 1st Foot infantry advances with Dragoons in close support The chaps of the 1st Foot face and repel an ambush from voltigeurs l...

Refight the Napoleonic campaign in Egypt with these lists for French Republican armies, Mamluks and Ottomans. It includes some experimental rules for forming square s that may come in handy against unrelenting waves of Mamluks! A new variant for Hordes of the Things (HOTT).   DOWNLOAD HERE         

This file contains in just a page the armies and rules to refight battles in the Waterloo campaign. Some granularity has been added to shooters and lurkers to replicate Napoleonic tactics, troop grades and even national characteristics. Hopefully this black powder adaptation displays (yet again!) the flexibility and fun of the Hordes of the Things rules. The unit types in this file can be generalized to other napoleonic campaigns and even ACW. DOWNLOAD HERE