Phalanx 2025 and Gentlemen Pensioners AWI Breed's Hill

 Saturday 21st June saw Will and I drive over to St Helens for the Phalanx show.  Beacon Gaming Club were involved in two games this year.  El Presidente Si Graham laid out a participation game using modified Lion Rampant rules with the Lance and Longbow Society (David and Steve).  The battle of Arsuf in the third crusade (1191 CE).  Richard the Lionheart was skirting the sea in the foreground, suddenly finding himself ambushed by Saladin and his Muslim host.  Richard was trying to prevent his knights charging off into the wild blue, so the crusaders had to roll to see if Richard changes his no charge order, succeeding on a 6 turn 1, 5+ turn 2, etc.  We played it through twice and both ended with crusader victories.

Beacon members Dave and Owain, with some assistance from Ian, put on a post D-day scenario, with British marines and paratroopers, plus Sherman support, advancing into a heavily defended built-up area.  The table looked superb and no real surprise they won best in show.

The day after Phalanx, Will and I headed across to join the Gentlemen Pensioners game organised and hosted by Steve.  This year was close enough to the 250th anniversary of Breed's Hill, part of the Bunker Hill battle during the AWI siege of Boston.  Played using Patriots and Loyalists, which none of the players had used before, but we learned quickly.

On the British right and centre, the battalions advanced at speed, initially under cover of a bombardment from two medium artillery batteries, until the target was masked by the advancing infantry.

The rebs fired off a lot of their limited ammunition, thinning the ranks of the British as they came on.

But eventually the British closed with the left flank of the redoubt, while fanning out to take the rebels lining the fences behind under fire.

Sadly, no photos of the British grenadiers storming into the redoubt at the point of the bayonet, but after a lot of losses.  The rebels were already filtering troops from their right, although the umpire, Steve, decided they would probably disengage and fall back to Bunker Hill to rearm and resupply.

Some links to Will's and David's reports.

https://willwarweb.blogspot.com/2025/06/bunker-hill-1775-refight.html?m=1

https://wargameamateur.blogspot.com/2025/07/bunker-hill-gentlemen-pensioners-sunday.html?m=1

All in all, a great couple of days gaming and adding some goodies to the stash.

Thanks for looking.

28mm Dark Ages additions

In an effort to clear out some backlog in the lead mountain, I dug out some of my Foundry sales purchases, Romano-British spears standing and command.  First up, a unit of 12 spears, led by a suitably Arthurian commander and labarum holder.  These were given white shields and apothecary white cloaks.

Another unit of spears, this time with purple cloaks and commanded by Vortigern himself.

Then I started on the most excellent Vikings from Victrix that my wife gave me for Christmas a few years back.  These will see service as Vikings, but also as early Saxons, so could be both allies and enemies of the Romano-British.

I've tried hand drawing some simple shield designs, which I quite like, but they aren't doing the figures justice, so I'll have to invest in some decals.

So, plans are to continue with the Vikings and make a start on some Victrix Late Romans to add to my Romano-Brits.  Then there are some RN sailors for Darkest Africa plus crew for various gun boats and paddle steamers and I've dusted off some Natal Mounted Police figures to get on with.  I've decided variety is the spice of life and the way to stop getting bogged down with projects.

As ever, thanks for looking.