Introducing callsign JUMPER

The lesser known but no less enthusiastic Tartan Squadron took to the skies again this week, this time in Canberra on a flying visit.  The highlight was Comrade James earning the callsign JUMPER after he bravely took his Y-Wing immediately to hyperspace after escorting the freighter off the board, leaving his wingman to be destroyed by the raft of TIE fighters closing in...

Nice one Comrade!

Day Bolt Action Tourney

Miserable weekend weather cancelled the kids' sporting events and provided the perfect opportunity to visit a local games club with Slowp8nter John instead!

The games club "Company of Dice" was playing a mega Bolt Action campaign to commemorate this week being 6 June.

13 Missions were played over two sessions, with an overall Commander on both sides, allocating players to tasks.

Morning games being beach landing/areo drop focused, and the afternoon ones being focused in the bocage and approaches to Caen.  To be honest we dropped in for socials not gaming so here is some of the eye candy that was on display, including a lot of lovely scratch built terrain:

I really liked this lovely scratchbuilt entrenchment position terrain

And I loved the use of .22 rim fire casings as shock markers too! Might have to steal that idea...

This was a really beautifully painted late war German platoon I spied (the painter said he used a toothpick to do the camo dots)

A wonderful scenario set around a large bridge feature in the centre of the table:

This lovely table was painstakingly put together with many, many Hirst arts blocks and topped off with a range of 4 Ground buildings

And made a great spot for some mechanised 'cat and mouse' games with big cats:

And these just took my fancy!

This is the best paper printed buildings I've seen: printed and stuck onto a plasticard frame

"There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today" - a Century on

Today is the centenary of the Battle of Jutland.  A hundred years on there still remains controversy and divided opinion on the battle and how it was it fought (and not fought).  On one hand the dashing and but potentially reckless Beatty..

On the other hand the staid and risk aware (or risk averse?) Admiral Jellicoe, who was the only man on either side who could lose the war in an afternoon

Pretty sure I wrote 10,000 words on the subject once at Staff College...

Want to know more? Then go read these highly recommended and fascinating accounts of the naval race and the lead up and conduct of the largest fleet engagement of WW1.

Jugula Campaign commences

Match time at the Arena!

Alan and I kicked off our Jugula campaign a week or two ago, pitting my Ludus Caeruleus (see here) against his Ludus Lupi Invicti.  We started with a double header match, both in illegal pit arenas but thats where a poor Lanista has to earn his stripes to get his fighters some experience and progress to contest bigger prizes.

The gladiators advance

Our first match was an interesting one as we really got into the rules - such a myriad of tactical choices with the card system.  Its hard to avoid analysis paralysis at times

Rux's Retiarius falls - first blood to my provocatur Barbus Magnificus

 With 6 choices for each card but only one card to play, we found that deep analysis and reaction means that the game can bog down in decision making

Barbus spins around and takes down Dux's Threax without missing a beat

I think we need to build in some kind of time limit to keep that issue at bay, because otherwise I think its a really rich system

Isolated, Dux's second last Gladiator is cornered...

...and nobly falls in combat!  Victory to me (which is very rare against Dux I might add)

Our second game was more balanced and Dux was more careful to avoid my being able to divide and conquer.

My Murillo Noctis was corned by a Crupilarius and Thraex - and only escaped through a lucky run of cards

The match became a bit of a slog but we learned a lot of about the nuances of the game

Vengeance for the first game - Barbus Magnificus falls (Dux's thumbs down sign!)

The second match as called on time and declared a draw with 3 wound equivalents apiece.

So our treasuries have grown a little larger and we look forward to the next matches!