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| "Bag for the pot lads!" |
Of
Armies And Hordes isn’t a set of colonial rules. But no set of
colonial rules will allow for the presence of big nasty biting
things.
For
decades it’s been presumed that the American President was privy to
secrets passed down from previous post holders. Many believed that
this involved secret pacts with aliens, alien vehicles and bodies
plus the use of same to back-engineer velcro.
Now
the truth can be told as the present incumbent can no more keep a
secret than a meaningful relationship. I am indebted to by learned friend
Philip Mackie, who is as acknowledged expert in the warfare of this
period for the latest research that has allowed me to make this game
as accurate as possible. Plus I'm still not firing on all cylinders so am, as always, grateful for the constructive advise of my esteamed opponent and collaborator Tony Pidgeon.
The
rebel colonies, wanting to expand their revolting behavior find in the southern colonies an offshoot of
the Flamingo family being raised in the Banjo area. As with other terror birds, this one is a
throwback to the raptors of old. This species is not capable of
flight but is an intelligent, capable hunter being the apex predator
of the everglades. They name it Floridas Flamingo Rex*.
These
vicious, territorial, creatures are the natural watchdogs for the
giant Roc’s that are being increasingly used by the rebels.
Figures used:
Big beasties are new from Crom's Anvil. Sorry not finished.
Most figures Old Glory.
Rifle Brigade pirate hunters from Rebel miniatures.
*
Prehistoric species of flamingo:
- Phoenicopterus floridanus Brodkorb 1953 (Early Pliocene of Florida)
- Phoenicopterus stocki (Miller 1944) (Middle Pliocene of Rincón, Mexico)
- Phoenicopterus siamensis Cheneval et al. 1991
- Phoenicopterus gracilis Miller 1963 (Early Pleistocene of Lake Kanunka, Australia)
- Phoenicopterus copei (Late Pleistocene of W North America and C. Mexico)
- Phoenicopterus minutus (Late Pleistocene of California, US)
- Phoenicopterus croizeti (Middle Oligocene – Middle Miocene of C. Europe)
- Phoenicopterus eyrensis (Late Oligocene of South Australia)
- Phoenicopterus novaehollandiae (Late Oligocene of South Australia)
Let me explain the battlefield. Foreground is the rebel airfield. It is surrounded by a bank-and ditch construction using materials cleared from the field and proving drainage. The yellow strip to the right is a road.
I then diced (D6) for each (non airfield) square. A 1= woods and 6=swamp, marked in blue.
The
forces assemble. The British have sent the Colonel Sir Hilary Clinton Ballsover with a
small force to undertake the capture of the small rebel airfield deep
in the Washington swamps that is a thorn in the side. The battle of Trumpville is imminent.
British Colonel 3 3 4 Mounted General Fast extra lives 2 =86
British
County Infantry 4 2 4 Shooters 2 Drilled 16 x 45= 720
British
Rifle Company 3 3 4 Shooter3 Resiliant Forester 11 x 81= 891
British
Dragoon 4 3 4 Mounted Shooters 6 x 48= 288
Local
loyalist (foote) scouts 4 3 4 Shoot 1 Scout 4 x 42= 164
Total
2,149
His
opponent the acting defence commisar Colonel Pratt has a local force to defend the
airfield.Colonial Colonel 3 3 4 Mounted General Fast extra lives 2 =86
Colonial
Rebels 4 2 4 Shooters 2. 32 x 38 = 1,216
Colonial
Dragoons 4 3 4 Mounted Shooters 1. 6 x 48= 288
Colonial
scouts 4 3 4 Mounted, Shoot1, Scout. 3 x 47 = 141
Colonial
artillery 3 3 4 Artillery L2, Resilient. =74
Flamingo
Rex Monster 3
3 6 Fast, Fear, Swamp walk, Devastating charge. 3 x 119
= 357
Total 2,162
The Game. Tony took the British and won the scouting. I placed all my figures on the table.
My scouts out front.
Artillery redoubt at the corner.
I diced for the nest sight, which was in the rough area next to the guns. I should have added a gate.
Infantry manned the perimeter barricade with dragoons in reserve.
The British advance up the road whilst the scouts sneak into the woods in front of the cannon.
The British Dragoons probe the flank with the intention of drawing forces out.
The colonial dragoons crawl to the fray in response-. Initiative swap.
The rebel scouts try the Greenjackets and get shot to bits-.
The Greenjackets in turn get hit by artillery and retire to the woods.
With the artillery distracted, the dragoons dash forward and succeed in drawing a rex out.
The rest follow.
Retreat is the best option-.
At last the rebel dragoons move.
The British advance continues.
The local scouts failed to go forward all game! Causing an initiative swap and the tardy dragoons go forward. They get the better of the initial shooting exchange but both are removed in the melee.
That puts the Colonel in danger!
Recovering, the remnants clash in a desperate brawl.
Another bird goes down to the infantry.
The British probe the weakened line.
A clash!
The shooting is equal, and one lone Brit survives.
Frantic rebels fill the gap in front of the British. The two generals eye each other and a duel ensues.
Both are injured, but rolling on the "dead general" table proves that the British general has captured the rebel and escaped!
The rebels in front of the British withdraw in dismay.
Outflanked, the rest retire in good order to rally their comrades.
The British advance with rude and discouraging calls.
One unit races after their general while the other falls on the British line.
The rebels are successful, and are left in possession of the field.
At long last the loyalists come out of the woodwork. They fall on the rebels to halt their pursuit and pay the price.
That worked well-. I'll have to give the birds a second chance-. Are we the first to do this?!
New dice trays turned up mid game!
I had time, cooler weather and willing hand, so painted up the birds proper.
Now for something completely different!
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