Assembling The Paras

So I've started getting my British Paras modeled up so I can quit press ganging Imperial Guard models into service for Bolt Action games.  I've got a game against Cheef coming up in a couple weeks and I'm hoping to run this game with all official models.

First up is some heavier fire power than I've been running with the addition of a 6lb anti-tank gun and a pack howitzer which are the two heaviest guns that the British Airborne list are allowed.  The anti-tank gun especially should help out with the light tanks and lone half track that I've been running up against.

Next is the trio of recce jeeps that I've assembled.  I've become a fan of this unit in the couple games I've got in so far.  It makes a nice mobile platform that with it's pair of medium machine guns can kick out a good amount of fire.  With the recce rule they've got a nice ability to scoot backwards when shot at which has saved them a couple times by putting them beyond half range of something shooting at them.

Then we've got a hoard of men ready to be sorted into sections and other roles.  I've got many more that I need to behead so that I can get them properly attired in their berets rather than helmets.  For some reason, you get 1 model with a beret per 2 with a helmet.

I'm planning on trying to get this batch all primered this evening.  Tomorrow the plan is to see about making progress on the still helmeted paras.  I also want to get started on some of the models for the War of the Roses force.  That's all for now and I'll see you all next post.

A Large Pile Of Loot

So, as mentioned in previous posts, the Warhound went the way of the auction block.  This post will be covering the first influx of what it's funded.  And I've still got about $150 not spent from that with a number of items slated to go up on eBay tomorrow.  Since I've moved, I've had a chance to get my hobby stuff much more organized as I've been unpacking.  While I've still got a number of stuff to finish unpacking (mainly books, knick knacks, and lots of space marines), it's been nice to go through it a box at a time and get things under control.

This is DEFINITELY more organized than the pile and jumble I had pre-move

First up from the loot pile is two boxes of Perry Miniatures infantry for the War of the Roses force I'm putting together.  One is a box of War of the Roses infantry which can be assembled as archers or infantry and the other is a box of European infantry in the same time frame which can be assembled as crossbowmen, handgunners, or pikemen.  Each box contains enough model parts to assemble 40 models, so it was right at $70 for 80 models of multipart plastics.  Eat that GW.

The forces are being marshaled, but which side to support?

Next up is a box of mounted sergeants from Fireforge Games.  There are 12 multipart cavalry in the box and they're easily the match of GW Fantasy other than you don't get an entire sprues worth of detail bits.  But it was another good value at $20 on eBay.  I've got a couple individual models coming from the Dark Blade line of Game of Thrones models to represent the leadership of the force.  Once they arrive hopefully by this weekend, I'll have a bunch of the infantry assembled and will be doing an entire post on the force.  Also, I'm currently looking into the Fields of Glory rules for playing this army and would welcome any advice on the ruleset.

I read good reviews on this set and they were right

After that we'll make a quick hyperspace jump and look at a pair of basic Tie Fighters to bring me up to 5 basics as I slowly build up my Imperial forces.  I still want to get a pair of bombers, 3 more Ties to be able to field a full swarm list, and then a Firespray.  I'm not going to make the jump into Scum and Villainy just yet.

Soon you will feel the power of .... two lone fighters with no shields

And then last but far far far from least, my order from Warlord arrived with the last of my Bolt Action British paratroopers.  With what I already have, this will easily let me put together a force of up to 1,000 points quite easily.  I'll be working on getting them all onto bases when I'm off work this coming Sunday and Monday so they'll all be ready for my next foray up to Johnson City.  There paras have a return engagement planned with some aardvarks and we'll see if the paras can continue their success when properly modeled and not proxied.

Airborne rangers from the sky, fearless men who'll ...

So that's what all I've got on the plate for now.  Plus I've got some stuff to finish getting organized to get up on eBay.  My goal (if most likely a bit more than ambitious) is to get all this assembled by the end of the month and make a dent is starting to get it painted.  Hopefully I'll at least get it all primed by then and perhaps some basic colors on them as well.  The paras will be the top item for getting paint as they'll definitely be seeing the table top a fair amount while the War of the Roses force will be more of a hobby project for now while I find a rule set that looks promising.  I think I've got Bob talked into trying the time frame at least.

Thanks for the reads and I'll see you all later.

Updates From A New Location

So over the last two weeks I've moved and now am in the process of unpacking.  As part of that process I'm getting my hobby stuff sorted out and even thinned out some to free up funds and space for other things.  I'm still going to keep the core main part of my Lions of Harlech and some other choice pieces, but a lot of the excess is going.

The first to go was my never completed after 4 years Warhound Titan.  It fetched a bit over $460 on eBay which I was quite content with.  Next on the chopping block are my 4 Super Heavy Tanks, 2 Apocalypse variants of the Landraider, and some other marine stuff never started such as a couple Rhinos still on the sprues.  There is also a batch of Warmahordes that'll be going as I only got the lot to try and do some 40K imperial guard conversions that really didn't come close to working out.  There is a lot of 40K being played in a group I used to game with quite a bit, so I'm offering some of this there first and then it'll be finding it's way onto eBay.

Now as to what it'll be funding, I've got the last of my Bolt Action British airborne on order and will need to get them all assembled and painted.  Once the British Paras are done, I'm considering a US Army (possibly a Marine) force for a change of pace army and something that goes in for heavier armaments, especially in armored options.

I also got the core rule book for Black Powder.  I must say that I'm .... not a fan.  I'm not saying that it's a bad rule system, far from it.  But it isn't what I'm looking for in a system.  It is DEFINITELY for the historical gamer who likes to figure out their own scenarios and army forces for the game, not a casual gamer quick pick up type thing.  This is a game that you have to get lots of planning in on the front side.

I'm considering some X-Wing purchases as well, not making the Scum and Villainy jump yet, but I need to add to my fledgling Imperial force.  I need four more basic Ties to be able to field a horde list, and I'd like to get a couple Tie Bombers as well.  Still need a Slave One option in my collection as well.

Also while talking with Bob (of Fist Full of D6 infamy), we're both interested in some historical gaming that is farther back in years than Bolt Action.  While we haven't figured out a rule system, I have ordered a couple boxes of Perry Miniatures plastics in their War of the Roses line to get some units put together for when we do figure out a rule set to try.

So that's it for now and I'll see you later.  Feel free to leave any advice on rulesets or inquiries into what is on the chopping block.

Albion Triumphant

So last evening I got my second game of Bolt Action in against Bob and his Germans.  We stretched it a bit and played a 1000 point game which let us try out some of the rules that we haven't used yet at 500 points such as Air Strikes, Mortars, Sniper Team, and there was even an infantry close combat.  The mission was maximum attrition with 10 units on his side and 11 units on my side.

The battlefield before deployment

I lost a total of 3 units which included both 5 man squads representing the two halves of Section C of 11th Platoon and the recce jeep.  Bob lost his light tank, 2 of 3 infantry squads, his Pioneer squad (with flamethrowers, thank goodness they didn't get used), his forward observer, his officer, and his mortar team.  In true blogger fashion, after taking the board set up picture, I got so involved in the game that I never took another picture.

We both had mixed luck on the dice.  I had a section of infantry with just one pin marker that didn't activate twice due to being unable to pass leadership of the modified 9.  Then there was the small assault squad that paused to rally and dropped 5 pin markers of the 6 they had picked up.  C Section has taken the most casualties in the two battles by far but they've taken out a light tank in each battle.  I think assaulting with anti-tank grenades is definitely the way to go, though as my opponents adapt to that, it's likely to change.

I'm a fan of mortars now.  The spotter making it a lot easier to hit was a big boost and they really could pile the pin markers on a unit.  My medium mortar kept his pioneers pinned in place while slowly whittling them away.  My sniper team was completely useless.  He took 4 shots and got a total of 1 hit which didn't wound.  I'm in no hurry to take this unit again.  The Medium Machine gun team did ok, but I think I like units that are more mobile.

2nd Lt. Marlowe again did very well leading his troops in battle.  At one point late in the game, 4 remaining members of a German squad assaulting him and his one remaining aide.  The first round of combat saw no injuries taken which lead to a second round where the aide and a German soldier were laid low.  The Lt. then finished off one more German soldier which scattered the other two.  An infantry assault being fought until it's decided is interesting, but I can see losing most of a squad because one man was killed to lose the combat could be annoying.  I'll have to see how it works more in the future.  A bit on the fence on this one.  Going back to the Lt. though, 2nd Lt. Vincent Marlowe was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry as I feel he earned a bit more than another mentioned in dispatches for his performance.  He's also being looked at for promotion to 1st Lt.

The ineffective sniper has been assigned field punishment and is busy digging new latrines and foxholes.  Hopefully he'll learn his lesson.

That's all for now and feel free to leave some input.  I like how my paras are evolving and as soon as I finish moving this month, I'll be ordering the last of my miniatures to get them put together properly and retire the borrowed Naval Infantry from my 40K range.

A Second Bolt Action Skirmish Upcoming

So this coming Friday, 2nd Lt Vincent Marlowe will once more be leading his 11th Platoon of C Company, 2nd Battalion of the 1st Airborne Regiment into battle.  After proving his abilities in the skirmish against the Wylsh rebels (for which he received the minor decoration of Mentioned in Dispatches), he's been intrusted with a larger force this time while probing the German lines.

Our Distinguished Hero, 2nd Lt Vincent Marlowe

2nd Lt Marlowe will  be accompanied once more by his two personal aides and runners with all three having Sten SMGs.  He'll have his A and B Sections led by Sgts Oliver Crowe and Andrew Jamieson, all armed with Enfield rifles and a Bren LMG.  C Section will be divided into two 5 man elements lead by Sgt Paul Halstead and Corporel Neville Barton, each armed fully with Sten SMGs and Anti-tank grenades.

Mortar Team with Spotter and the Machine Gun Team

1st Lt Willard Stowe will be present with two assistants as a Forward Observer for the Royal Artillery of the BEF.  Lt Andrew Candless of the RAF will also be along as a Forward Observation Officer with a pair of paratrooper bodyguards.  A Medium Mortar Team and Medium Machine Gun team will be attached from 2nd Platoon as well as a Sniper Team from the Intelligence Section of the Battalion.  Last of all a Recce Jeep will be sent along from the 3rd Platoon.

It needs a repaint to fit the army, but I love this model

I'll be using this nice model from Dust Tactics to represent my Air Support.  I really like the look of the model and will need to see about getting it into RAF colors at some point to continue supporting my Airborne troopers.
That's all for now and I'll see about getting a batrep up this weekend after the game on Friday.

Finally First Bolt Action Game

So I finally got a game of Bolt Action in.  This past Friday I managed to get up to Johnson City for a game.  My British Airborne took on Cheef's Quar who are impersonating Welshmen.  His Battle Report can be found here.

I took 2nd Battalion, C Company, 11th Platoon of the British Airborne with some attachments.  That meant 2nd Lt Vincent Marlowe with two runners all three with Sten Guns, A Section with Sgt Oliver Crowe and nine men armed with Enfield rifles and a Bren Gun, B Section with Sgt Andrew Jamieson and nine men armed the same as A Section, C Section with Sgt Paul Halstead with four men all with Sten Guns and Anti-Tank Grenades, 1st Lt. Willard Stowe, Forward Observation Officer, Royal Artillery, BEF with 2 assistants, all three with Sten Guns, and then a Recce Jeep with 2 Vickers Medium Machine Guns.

Paratroopers being veterans is definitely a plus.  I only failed one leadership test and had no problems keeping pin markers from getting too bad.  My opponent on the other hand with his inexperienced militia troops had a squad spend pretty much the entire game stuck unresponsive with 3 pin markers on them (caused by his own artillery no less).

Remembering that fortune favors the bold, I tried to go aggressively at him the entire game and had good luck with those tactics.  It also helped that Cheef not only took my artillery strike but his own as well on the same turn.  Assaulting his tank with the anti-tank grenades had WAY better luck than Bob had with his Bazooka team.  In the end I had one squad shot up majorly, a few minor casualties spread around and then my jeep was blown up by the tank.  I managed to finish off 5 of Cheef's 7 units leaving only the lone artillery spotter and the pinned squad left at the end of the game.

I definitely like how Bolt Action plays and am looking forward to more games in the future.  I spent some time yesterday evening and today working on some supply dump scatter terrain to use.  I'm pretty happy with how they came out.  I've got a bunch of fuel drums coming to keep expanding that supply dump theme.  Also coming up is some wheat field terrain that is easy to make that I found on a YouTube tutorial, just have to buy the mat needed to make it my next day at work.

 

 

Thanks for reading and I'll see you later all.

Getting Ready for Bolt Action

So it's going to be a bit before any of my paras are ready for the tabletop.  but I still want to see about some small practice games to get use to the rules and game system play style.  So even though they'll be a bit over sized at 28mm heroic instead of 28mm, I've raided my 40K Imperial Guard 4th Naval Infantry Regiment.  This gives me a 500 point list (494 points actually) of counts as British Paras.  This will be part of 2nd Battalion's 11th Platoon under 2nd Lt. Vincent Marlowe with A and B Sections and attached support.

2nd Lt. Vincent Marlowe with two aides/runners, all with Sten SMGs

A Section under Sgt Oliver Crowe with SMG, section includes 8 Enfield rifles and Bren LMG with assistant

B Section under Sgt Andrew Jamieson with SMG, section has  4 SMGs, 2 Rifles, and Anti-tank grenades

Vickers Medium Machine Gun with 3 crewmen

PIAT Team of gunner and loader

Artillery Observer with two aides, all three with Sten SMGs

This gives me a nice small flexible force for some test games while I get my paras all put together and tabletop ready.  If there are any Bolt Action British Para veterans out there with some advice, please post up.

 That's all for now and thanks for reading.