Stackton Trestle a town through time and rules

 

 I had this idea.  I wanted to redo this game, which has been well up in my favorites.  Prompted by Alternative Armies bringing out a bigger version.

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2021/02/flying-lead-clacking-contraptions-of.html

I want to do it VSF again.  Then I thought "hang on, what if I do a later rerun version?"

One thing about the UK, I'm not sure if it's the same elsewhere, but building plots tend to remain intact.  Even if burnt or bombed they keep going.  Many of our roads follow the Roman road network.

Uses might change.  A Medieval common pasture might become an estate or public park.  This might be developed as a housing estate, military camp or business park.

Old cloth.  Mark out roads and river.  Sorted.

Now I had a further senior mercurial moment.  Why stop there?  Got the cloth, got other stuff.  I have churches and a large barn from my Pool In Flames.  These stay.  

The barn featured  has just had an internal makeover but didn't need any structural work.  It's over a thousand years old.  Still in daily use.  

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2022/02/poole-in-flames-first-playthrough.html.  

This is my itial list, it will change.

Lion Rampant. 1066.  During the Viking invasion, Odbad the Bad leaves the camp with his warband, claiming to "pop into town to visit the bakers".  He takes orders.  He has heard that the church of St Englefart has a holy relic that he believes is a relic of Odins spear Gungnir.

Lion Rampant. 1069.  The Harrying of the North.  Newly appointed Bishop Dido decides if anyone's going to do some harrowing, its going to be him.  He is rather partial to lamb chops and getting a load of stuff he can sell to the army going north should be a nice little earner.

Dragon Rampant.  In the time of (an) King Edward.  Scottish lord McFume hastily marries the widow Karen of Stackton.  He mistakenly believed that the coloquial "Me Duc" means that she is a duchess.  She isn't.  He raises a large group of clan followers and colonists from the Scottish midlands who flee perceived oppression  and settle in the town.  They bring the chiltron and the sheddes of war to a town that has already by charter been excused longbow, as the locals prefer the sling and ever-present rocks.

Xenos Rampant 1899.  The evil Baron Von Alone seizes the town in the belief that the fabled artifact is an ancient or alien device that will allow world domination of all custard related products.  The Royal Engineers respond, supported by the Lummoxshire light infantry respond!

Xenos Rampant 1979.  What! the contraptions are back!  They were supposed to be scrapped, bar one in a local museum!  Baron Silas Greenback has recovered or built a new force!  Now he is trying to find the artefact, believed stored in the local museum vault or in the church of St Englefart.  Now it's the turn of UNIT to stop him, again supported by the home service (Territorial Army) Company of the Lummoxshire light infantry.

Xenos Rampant 2369  Daleks (or other- I could use the Ixx to go WAY back!) have invaded.  The town has no military significance.  Units of the Anglican Company of the Lummoxshire light infantry supported by UNIT fight in the ruins.   https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2013/08/troublet-mill-beingadventures-in.html

That's my list.  Sort of a campaign by other means.  Please take this concept and run!

Of Gods And Mortals. Amazons besiege Athens. Version 1.

 

Perseus led an interesting life.  One of the most famous in Greek Mythology, with his adventures making him one of the original Heroes, a time long before the Trojan War and the birth (their descendant) Hercules.

Ruling over the city, Perseus and Andromeda would have many children together, with their family's reign lasting for generations to come. 

The earliest Athenian buildings date from the Late Bronze Age, particularly about 1200 bce when the Acropolis was the citadel. Around its top was built a massive wall that probably marks the union of the 12 towns of Attica under the leadership of Athens, traditionally ascribed to Theseus. The palace of the king was in the area of the later Erechtheum, but almost no traces of it have been identified. The town, insofar as it was outside the Acropolis, lay to the south, where wells and slight remains of houses have been found. 

Siege of Athens

Plutarch states that the Amazons had most likely conquered most of the Athenian state, the portion of the city where the Amazons had camped bear many Amazonian hallmarks, names and graves. Once the Amazons set siege on Athens, both sides remained disengaged for a period of time. Theseus then attacked the Amazonian camp, the left wing of the Amazon army stood in a place in Athens that came to be known later as the "Amazoneum", and the right flank reached to the Pnyx hill.  The Athenians attacked the Amazonian right wing, situated on the Pnyx, Plutarch states that the tombs of the fallen from this battle could be seen then along this area. The Athenian attack was repulsed by the Amazonians on this side, and the Amazonians counterattacked and pushed the Athenians as far back as the temple of Eumenides. On the other wing, where the Athenians attacked from the temples of Pallas and Ardettus and the Lyceum drove back the Amazonian left to their camp.

Many versions of the myth exist, one myth states that Antiope was slain fighting by a javelin. In another version of the Myth Antiope led the Amazons in battle against the Athenians and was wounded in the fighting, upon which Molpadia killed the wounded queen to save her from being captured by the Athenians, another version where Antiope is the wife of Theseus relates that she helped secretly transport wounded Amazons.

A peace treaty was concluded on the 4th month. The Athenians agreed to make sacrifices to the Amazons before each festival of Theseus. Plutarch writes that more Amazon graves suggest that the Amazons had to fight more battles with other Greeks on their way back to their home.

Note on kit.  This is the early/middle bronze age, and right out in the sticks.  Armoured is a relative term meaning some protection, even if it's a big shield and the aggressive attitude of a warrior culture.

Did Amazons exist?  Or did did early horse using tribes use younger/lighter people of both sexes as cavalry?  Centaurs could be the best on the biggest, also using a shield to protect the horse.  That will slow them down, but allow them to get close to some enemy.

Irregular Miniatures.  Alas the Small Yorkshire Gods of wargaming are now gone.  There are 4 manufacturers featured in these games.  Bulk of the Amazons are theirs.  (Many moons ago in the before time I had a very bad back that meant I lived in an office chair, leaning on my table.  To help keep my mind off it I found a box from Irregular to hand and based up the Amazon army pack.  They are now finished!)  I still have umpteen 6mm armies and a few other Victorians needing doing up!

Battle Valor (through kickstarter and the good offices of https://www.dragonfroggames.co.uk/amazonians) for the remainder/juvenile Amazons and centaurs, newly bought, 4 hero/leaders conversions coming up.  Bulk of my Trojans, not used here,  plus some cracking big nasties.  This honour is extended to Splintered light for cyclops, centaurs and more.

Museum miniatures.  If you haven't noticed, the bulk of the human forces.  I begged Dave (we rule the world) for nude javelins.  Here is batch 1.  More to come, I need to add shields for even more variety.  I bought loads for my Gods go to war proposed participation game but I gave up when I couldn't get the players.  That left me with a pool of mostly done figures, so I've gone through several batches, concentrating on the lighter troops.

L put a lot of time into converting and finishing this lot, so for once I cannot apologise for unfinished figures!

Of Gods And Mortals.  No big surprises here.  The Amazons worshiped Ares and Athens is the city of Athena.

I'm suggesting the scenarios Temple Under Siege (p44) for the raid on the  Amazon  camp plus the Athenian stand at the temple of Eumenides.  So a good days "swapsies" there.

Battle in the Sacred City. (p45) For the initial Amazonian siege and the Athenian attack on the right wing. 

Here's a thought.  If you have 4 players and a 6x4 table you could play both together, with the Gods having to decide where to manifest, possibly swapping when they get stomped? 

Or can they move in mysterious wars betwix tables?  Suggesting that you point as 1 huge force, 1 god, 5 Heroes?  

1_ Temple Under Siege (p44) Raid on the Amazon  camp

Amazon defends.

Ares Q2 C5 Group fighter, Combat master, Hammering blow.

Shapeshift Boar Q2 C4 Forester, Long move, Dashing, Poison. 376.

Legends
Hippolyte (Queen) Q3 C3 Armoured, group fighter, mounted 95
Amazon Chariot Hero Q3 C3 Armoured, mounted 87
Amazon Mounted Hero Javelin Q3 C3.  Mounted Long move shooter short 96

Mortals
13 Amazon spear Q4 C2 Greedy (head takers) @ 12 = 156
8 Amazon maiden javelin Q4 C1 Greedy, shoot short @ 8 (rare, max 8) = 64
4 Centaur Q4 C3 Drunkard. Long move @ 31 = 124

God 376

Legends 278

Mortals 344

Total  998

1_ Temple Under Siege (p44) Raid on the Amazon  camp

Athenian Attack

Athena  Q2 C4  248

Prophecy Roll 3 dice BEFORE game, can swap for C or Q dice any unit.

Protection  

Shapeshift Owl Q2 C3 Long, Flying.

Legends

Perseus Q3 C3 Armoured, combat master, mounted 99

Queen Q3 C3 Armoured, group fighter, mounted 95

2 x Achaean Chariot Heroes Q3 C3 Armoured, mounted 87

Mortals
4 Picked Warriors Q4 C2 Armoured @ 20 = 80
24 Citizen Spear Q4 C2 @15 = 360
7 Dregs  Q4 C1 @ 8 (rare, max 8) = 56
8 Javelin Q4 C1 shoot short @ 11 (rare, max 8) 88

God 248

Legends 368

Mortals 584

1,200

2 Temple Under Siege (p44) Athenian stand at the temple of Eumenides.  Amazons Attack 

Ares Q2 C5 Group fighter, Combat master, Hammering blow.

Shapeshift Boar Q2 C4 Forester, Long move, Dashing, Poison. 376.

Legends
Hypolyte (Queen) Q3 C3 Armoured, group fighter, mounted 95
2 Amazon Chariot Heroes Q3 C3 Armoured, mounted 174
Amazon Mounted Hero Javelin Q3 C3.  Mounted Long move shooter short 96

Mortals
2 Amazon Cavalry Q4 C2 jav Mounted long move shooter short @   25 = 50
16 Amazon spear Q4 C2 Armoured @ 20 = 320
8 Amazon maiden javelin Q4 C1 Greedy, shoot short @ 8 rare= 64
4 Centaur Q4 C3 Drunkard. Long move @ 31 124

God 376

Legends 278

Mortals 365

Total  558

1201

2 Temple Under Siege (p44) Athenian stand at the temple of Eumenides. Athens defends.

Athena  Q2 C4 

Prophecy Roll 3 dice BEFORE game, can swap for C or Q dice any unit.

Protection  

Shapeshift Owl Q2 C3 Long, Flying.   248

Legends

Perseus Q3 C3 Armoured, combat master, mounted 99

Queen Q3 C3 Armoured, group fighter, mounted 95

Achaean Chariot Hero Q3 C3 Armoured, mounted 87

Mortals
4 Picked Warriors Q4 C2 Armoured @ 20 = 80
8 Citizen Spear Q4 C2 @15 = 120
6 Dregs  Q4 C1 @ 8 rare = 48
8 Javelin Q4 C1 shoot short @ 11 rare.  88
4 Slingers or archers Q4 C1 shoot Medium @ 13 = 52

God 248

Legends 368

Mortals 388

1,004

3 Battle in the Sacred City. (p46) The initial Amazonian siege

Amazons Attacking.

Ares Q2 C5 Group fighter, Combat master, Hammering blow.

Shapeshift Boar Q2 C4 Forester, Long move, Dashing, Poison. 376.

Legends
Hypolyte (Queen) Q3 C3 Armoured, group fighter, mounted 95
Amazon Chariot Hero Q3 C3 Armoured, mounted 87
Amazon Mounted Hero Javelin Q3 C3.  Mounted Long move shooter short 96

Mortals
4 Amazon Cavalry  Q4 C2 Bow Mounted shooter Medium  @ 27  = 108
9 Amazon spear Q4 C2 Armoured @ 20 = 180
8 Amazon maiden javelin Q4 C1 Greedy, shoot short @ 8 rare = 64

God 376

Legends 278

Mortals 352

Total  1,006

3 Battle in the Sacred City. (p46) The initial Amazonian siege

Athens Defend

Athena  Q2 C4  248

Prophecy Roll 3 dice BEFORE game, can swap for C or Q dice any unit.

Protection  

Shapeshift Owl Q2 C3 Long, Flying.

Legends

Perseus Q3 C3 Armoured, combat master, mounted 99

Queen Q3 C3 Armoured, group fighter, mounted 95

Achaean Chariot Hero Q3 C3 Armoured, mounted 87

Mortals
4 Picked Warriors Q4 C2 Armoured @ 20 = 80
16 Citizen Spear Q4 C2 @15 = 240
8 Dregs  Q4 C1 @ 8 rare = 64
4 Javelin Q4 C1 shoot short @ 11 rare = 44
4 Slingers or archers Q4 C1 shoot Medium @ 13= 52

God 248

Legends 281

Mortals 480

1,009

I managed to get Sacred City played. Proved to be a bloodbath with the legends clashing in mutual destruction, the gods clashing but not going and most of the mortals getting pummeled!

The players enjoyed it. I was playing a game with a new player (nothing like it to concentrate on the rules) so only got a few pictures.

Original set up.

Replacement buildings from Blotz. Assembled but not washed and finished.

Ares had a hard time with this unit of javelins!

IF the others get played, I'll post that separately. I also have the BIG 4 person Dragon Rampant version in the pipe ready to rock n roll.

Xenos Rampant Starlords, Spongs, Jaffas & Kakes for Time Wars Game 1.

 

Taking the frankly ridiculous and making it sort of work.  Here goes! You've all seen the films and TV series.

Nasty alien overlord parasites have "inherited" a high level of technology and a species of host/slave soldiers.

As well as the usual spaceflight technology they have access to a network of star gates.  

The one on Earth, located in ancient Egypt is where we start our Time War.

The Nasty overlords want it back.  They've sent a starship to claim it.

The gate is located in a fortress.  They have to push through the local town to attack it.

The players and shops and the manufacturers:

Slave Infantry.

 Force leader Spong:   https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/as03215-planetary-archivist-garren-madwon?variant=55232089293186

Elite troops and berserkers: https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/15mm-stargrunt/infantry/human-characters-and-misc-aliens/sg15-sfe1.html

"Lesser" Jaffas and Kakes:  Battle Valor Pyramian guards.  I got the last from Dragonfrog Games who used (?) to be the UK supplier back in the more, um, settled economic times!

https://www.dragonfroggames.co.uk/pyramian-temple-guard-no-helmets-32-figures

Didn't get where I am today without getting added value!  I've used these (early batch) figures for both Dragon Rampant and Of Gods And Mortals:  

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2024/12/dragon-rampant-goes-hollywood.html

https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2023/06/of-gods-and-mortals-bast-vs-anubis.html

Design.  These are a warrior culture, not disciplined soldiers.  They have some basic head and body armour and a weapon that serves as both quarterstaff and projectile.  In this respect they resemble the Janissaries.

Spong is the command groups, picked warriors and an overlord commander.

Jaffas are the main warriors, berserk fits their culture, more used to violent crowd control than effective combatants. Fanatic for increased morale and increased armour. Close Quarter discipline reflects the short effective range of the weapon.

Kakes are the standard heavy infantry, similarly equipped and poorly trained.  These could also be used as light infantry. I've resisted the option to make them a 10 unit - although I note that it would fill the APC.

Recon is standard.  I did add fanatic for continuity.  I've given everyone else used in this scenario special insertion via a teleport style system but given the option to infiltrate to help "spread the load".

Swap option for beasts is for a fun option,  A pack of demonic hounds tearing into the locals.  Probably get shot up a bit quick--. 

6p J. Spong Elite 2 as 5	1	Move 5   8”		Attack Free (5+) Attack V 4. Defence V 4+
Courage 3 Armour 4		Free (5+) 4  12”		CQ. Special insert Back Fray.   Firefight. Ranger.
5p Jaffas Bers.  5	2	Move Free (6)   8”		Attack 5+ Attack V 6. Defence V 5
Courage 3 Armour 3		Shoot 7+  6  12”		Wild Charge. Countercharge Firefight.  Open order. Ranger.  Fanatic. Enthuse. H armour. Special insert
3p J. Kakes  HI 5	2	Move 5   6”		Attack 6+ Attack V 6. Defence V 5+
Courage 4 Armour 3		Shoot Free (6+) 6  12”		Fanatic.  CQ.  Undisciplined. Special insert.   Firefight.  Go to Ground.
5p Recon.  2 as 5	1	Move Free (5)   8”		Attack 7+ Attack V 6. Defence V 6
Courage 4 Armour 1		Shoot 7+  5+  12”		Firefight Hard to target  (12” armour 2 vs shooting) Open order. Fanatics.  Skirmish 7+ half move shoot 6+ 12”
				Special Insertion p 90 OR Infiltrator. p83

Variant   Swap. 1 Jaffa-	1
4p  Less Xeno Beast 5		Move Free (6)   12”		Attack 5+ Attack V 4. Defence V 6 Tgt Armour -1.
Courage 3 Armour 3		No shoot.		Wild Charge.  Open order. Ranger.   Blades. Fanatic Special insert.

Vehicles.  This was a bit (Gor bless AA sale! Again)  easier:

Flying Tank.  https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/15mm-stargrunt/vehicles/kra-vak-alien-vehicles/v15-34a.html

Grav Tank.  https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/raf027p-vasseth-strike-tank-platoon-3?variant=37288615882

APC  https://www.alternative-armies.com/products/rap008p-sirrus-apc-platoon-3?pr_prod_strat=jac&pr_rec_id=6d55da0ce&pr_rec_pid=10042951754&pr_ref_pid=10042816074&pr_seq=uniform

I covered the support weapons here:  https://unitrecon.blogspot.com/2025/02/pendraken-10mm-for-15mm-brigade-models.html

In my selection I considered that the vehicle had to fit through the gate in much the same way that some modern combat vehicles are designed to fit into cargo containers and railway cars.

Kakes are their for support, so not as fanatical as their chosen brethren.

7p Fly Tank FV 1 as 5	1	Move Free (6+)  12” Retreat full move.		Attack 6+ Attack V 6. Defence V 6  Attacked/Attack other flying units ONLY.
Courage 3 Armour 5		Shoot 6+ 4+ 18” AT  Tgt Vec armour half.		LAV. ATV AT. Flying Mobile.
7p Grav Tank 1 as 5	1	Move Free (6+)  8”		Attack 6+ Attack V 6. Defence V 6  Attacked/Attack -1 armour.
Courage 3 Armour 6		Shoot 6+ 4+ 18”  AT Tgt Vec armour half.		HP Blades. ATV AT. Line breaker. Skimmer
6p APC 1 as 5	1	Move Free (6+)  10”		Attack 6+ Attack V 6. Defence V 6  Attacked/Attack -1 armour.
Courage 4 Armour 5		Shoot 6+ 5+ 12”		ATV. HP Blades. Skimmer Carry 5p
2p J. Kakes  HI 5	1	Move 5   6”		Attack 6+ Attack V 6. Defence V 5+
Courage 4 Armour 3		Shoot Free (6+) 6  12”		Fanatic.  CQ.  Undisciplined.  Firefight.   Go to Ground.
7p  Support Mortar  2 as 5	1	Move 6+ 6”		Defence 5+
Courage 4  Armour 2		Shoot Free (7+)  4+ 24”		Firefight.  Spotters then Indirect p30.  Skimmer.

This game is going to be a raid in force being big and multi-player, with some players joining in the later stage.  

Largeish table divided into 3 areas, top, middle and bottom.  It is further divided left to right.

Top area is the local citadel that housed the objective.  The area is defended with limited forces available to sortie.

Middle area is divided into left and right and each is the target for the special insertions.

The locals have to congregate into units.  

The vehicles are the follow-on units, the rear 2 sections getting one force each.

I Messed UP the Lemurians in my last post.  

For the first time ever I'm doing a rewrite!

Thus the first "layer" of Time Wars is heading your way early in 2026.  The main bit missing is to find and organise my UNIT force.  I got this and started just before moving and it got jumbled---.