CEF Bombers, Rifle Grenadiers and Signallers for WWI

I am keen to use my CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Force) to play out some of the scenarios from TFL's Stout Hearts and Iron Troopers scenario book, specifically the 'training the Entente' scenarios.  Each of these are based on a British platoon that includes a section each of riflemen, bombers, Lewis gun and rifle grenadiers.  However, it turns out that I only had two of the required four rifle grenadiers, so I ordered another pack of Great War Miniatures from North Star. 

The pack includes two rifle grenadiers and four bombers.  In any other language, the bombers would be called grenadiers, but in the British Army, the title of Grenadier is exclusive to the First Regiment of Foot Guards - no chance that any pleb will be allowed to call himself a 'grenadier' simply because he is armed with grenades!  

The red patches on the sleeves show the formation patches for the 5th Battalion CEF, Western Cavalry (perpetuated today by the North Saskatchewan Regiment).  I did not remember making this decision, thinking that I would instinctively try to paint them as the 10th Battalion (perpetuated by my old comrades, the Calgary Highlanders). I assume that a small square on top of a larger square was just too finicky for me to paint, so I went for the easier to replicate circle!

I did my best to match the colour and style of the same figures I painted in 2008 (or thereabouts).  I think I managed ok, especially considering that the original base uniform colour was something that I blended from GW Catachan Green and Kommando Khaki!  In the comparison photos that follow, the 2008 versions are the ones with flocking on the bases, and the 2023 versions have unflocked bases.

While I was adding these extra bombers into the mix, I also found time to finish up some signallers - an officer with a field telephone, and a soldier sending a pigeon on its way.  I was of course thinking about poor old Speckled Jim as I painted him!

More ersatz Nazgûl

 In preparation for when the Quest of the Ringbearer reaches Amon Sûl (aka Weathertop), I assembled a few more of my ersatz Nazgûl.  This time I used some Frostgrave plastic wizards as a base.  Even though these are the female wizards, once they are not going to be recognizable once they are covered in their cloaks.  And who is to say that all these ancient lords of men who were seduced by Sauron's rings were all really men - maybe the Nazgûl actually included some women in their numbers as well!

So here are the base figures.  The three on the left are the future ringwraiths; the fourth will be a future barrow wight, and the last was just for fun because I wanted to use the head with the witch's hat.

Here are the Nazgûl with their cloaks.

And here they are with some paint!

Here are all the Nazgûl so far.

What a Cowboy at Bonsor

 Arthur and I took What a Cowboy to Trumpeter Gaming Society's monthly game night at Bonsor Community Centre.  It turned out to be very popular - we had seven players, one more than the six that I'd intended as a cap.  I think everyone had fun, but there were also a few lessons I learned for future games.

First mistake was that there was no particular scenario, just 'wild west shootout'.  Each player was allowed two characters, a greenhorn and a shootist.  And naturally, they pretty much started shooting as soon as the game began.  Next time, I will be certain to create teams or alliances.

The table was set up as a dusty, southwestern/spaghetti western style of setting.

Here we see Rooster Cogburn stalking two men in black.

Poundmaker up on the hill was trying to find a target for his long rifle, when a bear showed up as a random action!  It was a bit of a WTF moment for the player, but he took it in good humour.

Shootout in the cemetary.  This was one of the fights that started in the very first turn - allowing players to go at each other right from the drop was a bit problematic.  If I require teams at least at the start of the game, then hopefully two things will happen:  action will take place more in the center of the table, and characters will get a chance to move into favourable terrain before getting shot at!

An unarmed Louis Riel decided to walk boldly down the centre of main street, heading straight for the church.  Tragically, he was shot down on the very steps of the church!

The man with no name did manage to reach and enter the church, using it as a fortress from which to shoot at gunmen in the street.

Riel continues down the street, observed by Rooster Cogburn.

Another random event - two henchman groups of Mexican banditos appear, and immediately take exception to the desecration of the church by the man with no name.

I was too busy trying to keep the game moving, so didn't manage to take photos or even keep up with the narrative of the game.  

More thoughts - 7 players with 2 characters each was a bit too much for me to keep under control.  I dropped the random activation, and shifted to simply going clockwise around the table.  Perhaps with many players, restrict each player to a single character each

Lack of a specific scenario was also a problem.  Giving the players some specific objective or objectives would have given some focus to their actions, although I have previously hosted other multiplayer games where such objectives have been ignored in favour of simply shooting at the nearest target, so take that suggestion with a grain of salt.  

All in all, though, the game was still fun.  Perhaps next time the game will be in the Yukon!

Buckleberry Ferry

 Arthur and I continued following the Quest of the Ringbearer, as Frodo and company flee toward the Buckleberry Ferry.  This scenario is similar to the Short Cuts... scenario, with three ringwraiths starting the game as sentries, and the hobbits trying to cross the table to the escape point.  This scenario increases the challenge level for the hobbits in several ways:  the ringwraiths are not impaired by the daylight, so the hobbits no longer benefit from the stalk unseen rule, Frodo must reach the ferry in particular, and not just any point on the east side of the board, and most importantly, Gildor Inglorion, 70-point elf hero of fortitude and nemesis of the ringwraiths, has been replaced by Merry, 10-point minor hero.

Here is the ferry, the goal for the hobbits.  Dock is from the Laketown House kit!

The hobbits enter, staying together, as the ringwraiths cast about searching for the ringbearer.

As the ringwraiths slowly search toward the hobbits, they swing right to try to avoid the searchers.

A ringwraith finally gets close enough, the alarm is raised and no more sentries rule for the evil side!

And so the Nazgul attempt to pile on to Frodo, while his friends try to run interference.  Hobbits must pass a courage test to charge the Nazgul, with a -1 penalty due to their Harbinger of Evil aura - as a general rule, this means Sam almost always is successful, while Merry and Pippin are more hit or miss.

Merry gets taken out, but Sam and Pippin keep doing their best to distract the Nazgul while Frodo makes for the ferry.

The hobbits make good use of their wounds and fate rolls, plus a great amount of luck, and outlast two of the ringwraiths.  Each time they enter combat, they lose a point of will, so eventually they lose their last point and their corporeal presence dissolves.  Actually, this only happened to one of the Nazgul, as Sam, after many unsuccessful attempts, finally managed to wound the other and (temporarily) banished him from the mortal realm!

With two of the Nazgul gone, it's now a race between Frodo and the remaining ringwraith!

Frodo reaches the ferry with the Nazgul hot on his tail!  It all comes down to a single die roll:  who will win priority for the next turn?

Priority goes to the forces of Good!  Frodo launches the ferry, and even though it only travels 1", that is enough as the Nazgul cannot enter the water.  Victory to the ringbearer, by the narrowest of margins!