The Gathering - An Impetus Tournament

Yesterday saw Dunfermline Wargames Club's first venture in organising and hosting a one day Impetus event in 28mm. A variety of gamers from several local clubs gathered and prepare for what was hoped to be a relaxed and fun day's gaming,  The players included:

David Burns - New Kingdom Egyptians
Russ Gibb - Carthaginians
Frazer Watson - Sui Dynasty Chinese
Richard Aiken - British and Welsh Kingdoms
Dax Robertson - Lombards (584AD)
Mike Dodds - Vikings - Norwegian & Danish
Dave Knight - El Cid
Richard Coates - Maximilian Imperialists

For some this was their first experiences of Impetus over Basic Impetus. Due to the numbers and range of armies, the first game was based on the close historical matches with the subsequent two games being based on the SWISS system where the highest scores of the first game play each other in the next round and so on until all players are matched.

Here are some pictures of the day's action throughout the three rounds that were played:

Beautifully painted figures of the Sui Chinese

Even the ghostly hand couldn't save the Vikings on this day

Opportunity trap sprung!

It got bloody in this one with both sides routing

What to do next?

Getting in there before the shield wall was raised

More fantastically painted Sui Chinese

As with all tournaments and games there has to be winners and losers and The Gathering was no different with some very hard fought games occurring throughout the day. Here are the matches for each round with the final scores for all players shown at the end.

Round One

New Kingdom Egyptians (46) vs Carthaginians (39)
Sui Chinese (92) vs British & Welsh Kingdoms (38)
Lombards (130) vs Norwegian Vikings (0)
El Cid (40) vs Maximilian Imperialists (20)

Round Two

Sui Chinese (29) vs Lombards (101)
El Cid (29) vs New Kingdom Egyptians (29)
Carthaginians (64) vs British & Welsh Kingdoms - (52)
Maximilian Imperialists (70) vs Norwegian Vikings (70) both sides routed

Round Three

Carthaginians (0) vs Lombards (130)
Sui Chinese (130) vs Maximilian Imperialists (0)
El Cid ( 117) vs Norwegian Vikings (13)
New Kingdom Egyptians (64) vs British & Welsh Kingdoms (67)

Finals Scores

Dax Robertson - 361
Frazer Watson - 251
Dave Knight - 186
Richard Aiken - 157
David Burns - 139
Russ Gibb - 103
Richard Coates - 90
Mike Dodds - 83

Hopefully enjoyed the day and the games as much as I did even though I wasn't playing. Looking forward to organising and playing in next year's Gathering.

Cheers for now

And Now for Something Completely Different 5

As some followers may be aware that Ray and Fran have set twenty questions to stimulate the mind, so here they are:

1.        Favourite Wargaming period and why?

This would have to be Ancients from the Trojan War to the end of the Macedonian/Successors Empires. Why, mostly to do with some films, Helen of Troy, The 300 Spartans, Alexander the Great and the Peter Connelly books on the some subjects. Loved all of these as a child and still do.

2.       Next period, money no object?

A LOTR project in 28mm based on The Impetus Fantasticus rules with Dark Age armies for all human antagonists. With Grenadier Orcs/Citadel Pre-slotta Hobgoblins for the forces of Sauron etc.

3.       Favourite 5 films?

Inception, The Bourne Trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back, The Breakfast Club, Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

4.       Favourite 5 TV series?

24, Merlin, Sherlock, A Game of Thrones, Blackadder

5.       Favourite book and author?

Too many, but if I really had to pick one it would be Lord of the Rings, Tolkien, J.R.R.

6.       Greatest General? Can’t count yourself!!

Alexander

7.       Favourite Wargames rules?

Impetus, Songs of Blades and Heroes and Disposable Heroes: 7CF7B

8.       Favourite Sport and team?

Don’t really have a favourite sport, but do watch the 6 Nations where I fly the flag for Scotland. I also am a suffering Dunfermline fan.

9.       If you had a only use once time machine, when and where would you go?

Where to start here, so many things to see and only one chance to do it in. I think I’d have to go for Troy to see if Helen was really that beautiful and if there ever was a horse.

10.   Last meal on Death Row?

A very long Italian meal with five or six courses including cheese and fruit. There would of course be a lot of Barolo in between, an awful lot of Barolo.

11.    Fantasy relationship and why?

Eva Green, apart from the obvious who can really say it’s a fantasy relationship.

12.   If your life were a movie, who would play you?

Steve McQueen of Harrison Ford

13.   Favourite Comic Superhero?

Batman

14.   Favourite Military quote?

Molon Labe – come and get them

15.   Historical destination to visit?

The library of Alexandria, part personal interest, part professional interest.

16.   Biggest Wargaming regret?

Starting WW2 in 20mm and then buying into FoW in 15mm. Just stupid really.

17.   Favourite Fantasy job?

Librarian in Alexandria, chef

18.   Favourite Song, Top 5?

Could go on for ever here so not in particular order: Nick Cave – Red Right Hand, Johnny Cash – Hurt, Skids – Arena, Peter Gabriel – Rhythm of the Heat, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Learning to Fly, The Jam – That’s Entertainment. Oops that’s 6 ah well… you decide.

19.   Favourite Wargaming Moment?

When a game that is hanging the balance finishes and you don’t mind losing. Happens a lot to me.

20.   The miserable Git question, what upsets you?

The sense of apathy I receive from many people who are employed and I use the term loosely in customer service. This is becoming more and more noticeable in the retail and service industries in my local area. Simple rule, poor customer service does not attract repeat custom. No customers, no jobs.

Normal service will resume shortly.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 32

Just a few ongoing pictures of ongoing work. First up some more skirmishers for the Spartans and their allies. Figures from the original Foundry range of Greeks.

Next there is the ongoing stand of Huns for the Late Romans which have been getting worked on for the last few months. These and another unit of horse archers will be a priority this week, but more of that later. 

The figures are from Gripping Beast and have always been a firm favourite here. Figures with character    are always highly praised here and these gents have a large amount of character.

That is all for now, but more to follow throughout the coming week.

Cheers for now

Back to the Brushes 31

A few pictures of the latest Myceneaean Light foot unit armed with swords:

Lastly a warm welcome for the following:

• Ivan Soloview
• CPBelt
• Scotty

HOpefully you find something of interest and use in these pages/

Cheers for now.

Imperium Sine Fine 10

At last found a few minutes to complete the basing of the current stand of Foderatii for the Late Romans. These have been on the go for sometime and have been entertaining to paint. The figures are from Gripping Beast and the standard and shield transfers from Little Big Men. Hope you enjoy the final pictures.

More to follow soon with work in progress pictures of Mycenaean swordsmen and mercenary peltasts from Redoubt and Foundry respectively.

Lastly a warm welcome to:

• anton.parker
• dramatic katastases

Hopefully you will find something of interest and use in these pages.

Cheers for now

Claymore 2012 - the missing pictures

Just a few pictures of another display game from Claymore. This time of Plataea as the Spartans and Greeks crash into the Persian lines. Sadly spent to much time chatting and not paying attention to the pictures been taken. 

The game was being run using a newer version of Tactica.

The pieces of green pipe cleaner are used as casualty markers, although they aren't the most photogenic available they do work.

You can see more pictures of this display game at Caliban's blog in the May posts for Carronade.

Lastly, a warm welcome to:

• Philip Wright

Hope that you find something of use and interest here.

Cheers for now

Claymore 2012

Went to Claymore yesterday for the first time in a couple of years and really enjoyed the show. There was no emphasis on buying anything and this gave plenty of time to chat with traders and fellow gamers.

First a few pictures of David Imrie's excellent Claymore Castings display for the Battle of Otterburn, 1388. The pictures don't really do the figures justice as there was too much light. That said the table always seemed to be busy when passed and you can see more pictures here.

The next main stop was at Gripping Beast where Darren chatted on the future plans for SAGA, all of which sound excellent and will give the game more interest and longevity. There was talk also of a favoured range being completed in the near future so generally all good. Even better as the chat and visit to their stall didn't involve parting with large sums of cash.

Chatting with a few fellow gamers showed the interest in the forth coming Impetus event at Dunfermline Wargames Club. As co-organiser for the event, this excellent new and everybody seems to be looking forward to an entertaining day's gaming. On that subject there was also talk of a SAGA event been planned in Kirkcaldy in the near future.

On the purchases front, this was kept to the bear minimum with a few bases from Warbases and some Ninja from Dixon Miniatures. The Ninja are for Songs of Blades and Heroes as there are a few too many Perry Samurai in a friend's collection that need thinning down.

Lastly, a warm welcome to:

• Commisarmoody
• Anibal invictus

Hope that you both find something of use and interest here.

Cheers for now.

Back to the Brushes 30

Well, July has finished and August is already a day gone.  The last few figures on the stand of Foederatii have been completed and are waiting the finishing touches to the base. Here are a few pictures to show the nearly finished base.

The figures are all from Gripping Beast and the standard and a few shield transfers are from Little Big Men.

The standard comes from a limited edition pack produced some years back for Yule tide, great images in this pack and the pagan festive look appeals greatly. Its just that little bit left of field from many of the other images available.

All being well the base will be completed this weekend and then its on to the next base. At this stage this will definitely be another base of Huns for the Late Romans as they are already started, then Myceneans and peltasts, lots of peltasts; but more of them later.

Lastly, a warm welcome to:

• Tarty

Hope that you find things of interest and use here.

Cheers for now