ALY MORRISON'S "BUTTERFLY" ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD OF WARGAMES AND TOY SOLDIERS

Sunday 24 September 2017

From my side of the table... The rescue of St John the Evangelist.

OR.......






THE TUDOR'S... Season 5 episode 53


Last week Michael hosted a game for myself ,Rick Priestly, Stuart Mulligan, Simon Chick and Alan (Perry).


The scenario was based loosely on an incident during Henry VIII's invasion of France in 1513 and involved the recovery of a Bombard called St John the Evangelist... One of Henry's beloved twelve large bombards know as The Apostles...


Alan, Michael and Rick played... THE TUDOR'S (this has to be said in a booming deep voice).
Stuart, Simon and myself played the brave and honourable French... all three of use had units that had never been on the table before so there was also a bit of show and tell going on and a lot of picture taking, hence the number of photo's in this post...


THE TUDOR's were very keen to get their bombard back... I suspect there was the usual stash of dodgy tapestries hidden inside.
If we captured the gun there was going to be a nationwide competition to choose a new name...
I was going to propose Mr Bombardie Face....


To war...




This is just here to show the beautiful manor house that Simon brought with him...
It was made by the very talented Dave Marshal of TM Terrain...
https://www.facebook.com/Tmterrain/


You can also see some of THE TUDOR'S German mercenaries skulking by the river... you wouldn't catch us employing the likes of them...




Here we see St John the Evangelist..."careful lads we don't want them tapestries to get all wet"




Simons cavalry appear from the woods...





THE TUDOR'S...




Stuarts cavalry make their appearance...




My infantry start to move forwards...






German mercenaries in the pay of THE TUDOR'S...




Stuarts shiny new mounted archers...







Milliers de TUDOR...




Some of them 'blundered' and made a headlong charge towards our Gendarmes...





They then reconsidered their options and trotted off towards the river...


 
Our fellows had to show great restraint not to rush headlong across the field of battle...
We failed our movement throw...This happened a lot.





THE TUDOR'S surge forwards... nice flag




Ah! This is where our reserves are supposed to appear... I think the gods of luck and dice were checking out the stash of dodgy tapestries at this point...




My valiant men move to the centre of the table ... Simons cavalry ... think about it.




This is just pretty...




TUDOR'S... moving steadily forwards... 




Stuarts reserves...




Me moving forwards... you can see where Stuart has cunningly left himself a lot of space for manoeuvre...




Simons cavalry... waiting... very pretty... but waiting...




Me looking brave because I know that the reserve and the Gendarmes wont let me down...











THE TUDOR'S in all their glory...




Just you wait my buddies will be on them like leaping panthers...




This is Hail Caesar for nope!


 
This is Hail Caesar for you are disordered ,taking casualties and alone...




Stuart Lucky Mulligans Gendarmes...




Hang about... They are moving Hurrah!




What's this?... The reserve... Hurrah! Hurrah!...




More troops... Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!...
By the way the chaps on the right are NOT mercenaries they are unpaid volunteers... if after we are victorious we choose to give them a generous gift of a big bag of gold for their efforts ...that's  our business... 




No real reason for this picture... I just like that manor house...




The mercenaries hold their breath...




Henry holds his breath...




The freshly painted TUDOR foot hold their breath...




The reserve holds its breath... but fortunately keeps moving...




Even the gods of wargaming hold their breath...




Yup! We are going to have us a big old cavalry fight...


 Will you stop waving those bloody flags for a minute ...I cant see anything...


Round one... in they go...




And out they go...




Not looking so tough now...




Round two...




Lets have another look at that...




And a shot from the eye in the sky...




And BOOM! its all over ... this lot are off for an early bath...




Only a madman would paint a flag like that by hand...




Meanwhile the Stradiots were doing what Stradiots do best...




Bothering old people... sorry I mean Pensioners




No real reason for this one... Its just another pretty picture.




The infantry exchange missile fire in the centre...





As Simons horse wears its self out trying to break THE TUDOR infantry ...




The mounted xbow remember that we are trying to steal a bombard and sneak around the back of the manor house... I've become rather fond of that building...





THE TUDOR'S remember that they are trying to recover a bombard and manage to pull the thing out the water and with their escort of running away cavalry make for a quick getaway...




In the very last minute of the game ....




Stuart proves that he can roll good dice...


At this point we agreed that THE TUDOR'S could have St John the Evangelist (Mr Bombardie Face) back and we all retired to the pub...



Yes that one...

This was a great afternoon of gaming with lots and lots of lovely toy soldiers and excellent company.

Most of the toys came from ...
The rules were Hail Caesar...

Stuarts blog...
Simons blog's...

And of course for something that may be a bit closer to the truth...
Perry miniatures Facebook page...

All the best  Aly







 

16 comments:

  1. Haha a just and true account Aly, I chuckled my way through it much like the game. I thought your troops held the line admirably and unlike my shiny freshly painted lot they didn't turn up and get annihilated. I think Bormbard Mc Bombard face would have been a fitting name.
    Excellent company and always a pleasure Aly.
    Until the next time. Cheers.

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  2. To play with toys like those, on terrain like that, with good chums too: you lucky man!
    Nice unbiased account too!

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  3. Brilliant Aly
    To play with those must have been a real treat

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  4. Aly - thats a great account and reflects the fun of the game! We woz robbed by the dodgy dice - lesson here is to bring your own I think.
    Thanks for holding off most of the Tudor army all afternoon...
    Now, we need lots more of your French Ordonnance painted up for the next one.
    Cheers, Simon.

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  5. Never got into the Tudor period, probably too many English and not enough Scots for me.

    You might remember me from away back, several decades ago.

    I still keep pottering about when my general health lets me.

    Jim Duncan
    http://jim-duncan.blogspot.co.uk/

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    Replies
    1. Of course I remember you Jim.
      Good to hear from you...
      I actually thought I was already following your blog...apparently not!
      This has been rectified...
      All the best. Aly

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    2. Good that you remember me Aly, I sometimes forget who I am, or was, or might be again.

      Ignore that whippersnapper O'Brien. He wasn't a pretty sight in short trousers and hasn't improved much over the years.

      Delete
  6. Fantastic game Aly and I wouldn't talk to that Jim Duncan if I was you, it's his fault I got into this lovely/mad hobby and cost me a fortune but then we wouldn't have become pals so perhaps I'll let him off.🤓

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  7. Just had a look at this on the Perry's facebook, and someone linked to your blog. Amazing report and scenario. I'm very inspired and planning on turning the scenario into a warhammer game in the near future. Glad I found your blog. ;)

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    Replies
    1. It's quite a flexible scenario...
      I think you could use it in any period..

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  8. Simply stunning, I could look at this all day, but alas one has to earn a crumb, back to painting, but I'll be back.

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  9. Wonderful and entertainmenting post Aly. A superb array of figures and terrain and a very amusing commentary always proves to be a top shelf combination.

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  10. A great looking game with wonderful toys....I love that bombard!

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  11. Wonderful and colourful looking game.

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