Lots of Cover for your Infantry

The farm has a lot of places where the infantry can take cover.

Room for lots of troops

You can cram a lot of troops and gun teams onto the farm.

T34s Roll toward the farm

Here you see the rubber scenery in action. Bwana Bill's Russian tank battalion rolling toward Blogmeister Keith's German Recon Company.

Roads and Craters too

I bought some craters and road pieces too. Next time I should look for a little river or stream. Maybe a bridge too.

Cheese Weasel Logistics

Have a look down on the right hand side of the browser here, and you will see under Gamer Resources, a brand spanking new link, all shiney and what-not!

Cheese Weasel Logistics is a startup company that currently produce a card carrying box, called the Card Coffin.

This box is designed for several different games, to include the WizKidz Pirates game I told you all about back here.

If you wargame with Pirates or other Collectable Card Games, these guys are there to help you transport your force for the day! Pop on over and do a little clicking, and help a startup company of gamers, for gamers!

From the Chief Weasel, "At present we have our Card Coffin line and a few accessories for it in production. I don’t know if you have seen our Card Coffins or not. It wasn’t designed with miniatures in mind but it seems that it has come to fit even more then we thought. We created a custom card Coffin for the Pirates game by Wizkids. It holds an entire fleet but not your whole collection. Folks make that mistake all the time. It is designed to take all components for a playable game to the table, not hold collections. We also found that the Card Coffin holds all the components for the new Axis and Allies minis game by WoTC. So while the card Coffin was created with CCGs in mind I fits perfectly with miniatures games as well.

We are also in the midst of creating 2 new games that we will present to the public in March at the GAMA convention. One of these games in a miniatures based game. It won’t fit in the Card Coffin, unless you use a hammer and some serious stomping, but we don’t recommend that."

Desert Rats Revenge

Twice before the British Desert Rats 7th Armored Divison had been soundly thrashed by the German Afrika Korps 15th Panzer Division. This time Blogmeisters Keith and Bwana Bill try out the Cauldron Scenario from the Flames of War Desert Rats book. Bill volunteered to sit in the Cauldron and take the heat. In this scenario you put half your platoons on the table and assign the other half to reserve status. The British Desert Rat attackers, played by Keith and his buddy Josh, set up all around in a manner determined by random die rolls. Bill decided to put his infantry out first with only one platoon of MK IIIJ panzers to support them. There should also have been a 50mm Pak 38 anti-tank gun platoon but the runner carrying their orders was captured by a Desert Rat patrol so they stayed in reserve status. As the sun rose the Desert Rats realized that in the confusion of the previous day and evening, as the running battle was dying down, a German Afrika Korps company had "lagered up" for the night right in the middle of the British 7th Armored Division. As usual, Major Crisp was the first to realize the situation. Running through the camp to his M3 "Honey" tank he yells, "no time for tea now lads, this is our chance to even the score with Jerry!" Crisp uses his tank's radio to alert his entire Division and all British units start to converge on the German lager. The Cauldron will soon boil over!

The Attackers Close In

The Desert Rat tanks converge from all sides. The Afrika Korps troops are dug in and they take few losses from the British tank machine gun fire.

Grant tanks close in from the South

The new Grant tanks hit the Germans with their 75s.

Ariete to the Rescue?

Responding to the distress calls, a platoon of Italian M14/41 tanks from the vaunted Ariete Division suddenly appears in the rear of the Grants. Could this be the salvation of the Axis side? Not this time! The plucky Italians inflict little damage on the well-armored Grants. Unfazed, the even pluckier Desert Rat tankers whip there vehicles around and pummel the M14s with their superior weapons. Someone heard that the platoon commander, Major Kennedy, has been recommended for a Victoria Cross!

The Cauldron is overrun

Meawhile the German infantry has been overrun by the other British tank platoons. The German panzerdrenadiers fought back desperately with their AT rifles, teller mines, and even some bottles of schnapps that had to be used as Molotov cocktails!

The Panzers fight on!

In previous battles the Mark IIIJ panzers have always saved the day. This time they strike back at the attackers but, being hit from all sides, the fight starts to go against them.

The Panzers Succumb

Before long the vaunted Mark IIIs are finished.

First Objective is taken

Before long the Desert Rats take the first objective.

Irish Guards take the second objective

Honeys from the Irish Guards surround the second objective. Hey, I thought I saw someone jump out of his tank to dance a jig!

Here's looking at you!

The Miniature Building Authority

One of the most satisfying aspects of miniature wargaming is recreating the world in miniature for your battle.

We gamers often make a good deal of our own scenery, however some folks come along once in a while to offer such great bargains in scenery that you can't pass it up!

See, if you are building scenery, you are not painting figures or models for your games. So, if you are busy with several armies at once, like many gamers, you don't feel like taking the time to make really nice terrain.

So something suffers. Either you get no terrain at all, or quickly made stuff that looks like quickly made stuff!

Enter one of the finest proprietors of pre-painted scenery: The Miniature Building Authority

At the last Fall-In Convention, I purchased "Middle Eastern Town Set A". It arrived yesterday!!

It's exactly as pictured at the above link! Amazing.

So, here is this lovely terrain, beautiful, true-color buildings that are already painted! I mean, what could be better?

You ask? What? Could? Be? Better?

The buildings come apart to show battle damage!!! Wooo hooo!!!

They are pre-painted (Did I mention that?) both inside and out and they break apart in pre-cut places to resemble battle damaged buildings.

These are beyond cool. I cannot recommend them highly enough! If you are a gamer, get some of this stuff! It saves time and looks great!

Online shopping V.S. Brick and Mortar shops

Many of us are lucky enough to have a “local” shop we can play at. These shops sell our favorite products, figures, paints, rules, and accessories. They provide all the goodies, for a price, but they also provide tables and space for us to play. That space could be used to sell goods; I’ll also put in here that there is no better form of advertisement than people involved in a game with beautifully painted figures and models, and they are having a blast! That draws crowds and sells product.

For those not lucky enough to have a “brick and mortar” shop near them, there are the online folks. Online shops also provide special deals periodically, and can also sometimes get difficult-to-find products or lines of product.

I will always support my local shop with my purchases, since they are kind enough to provide table space for me to play. This means I don’t have to build my own table or keep space for it in the basement.

So, for those of you not lucky enough to have “brick and mortar” shops, here are a few places online that I recommend.

Brigade Games

The WarStore.com

Grandiosity Historical Miniatures and Military Books (Warweb.com)

Now if you are in the Washington, D.C. Metro area, there are a few shops that are within driving distance.

Eagle and Empire (Virginia)

HobbyTown (Virginia)

Game Parlor (Virginia)

The Arena Sports Cards and Games (Maryland)

If you are aware of any local shops that would like a “shout” on the Internet, drop TabletopGamer a line and we’ll see what we can do!

Remember, we want to give credit to shops that sell Wargaming miniatures, paints, and other hobby supplies!

ZULU WAR: The Battle of Gingindlovo

I recently had the opportunity to participate in another playtesting of Mark Fastoso's collection of Zulu War scenarios. Mark is a talented scenario designer who will be publishing these scenarios in book format. He told me they will be available for purchase at the next Cold Wars convention in March 2006. This latest scenario represents the Battle of Gingindlovo. This was shortly after the disaster at Isandlwhana and British commanders were now in the habit of forming wagon lagers after every day of marching, and only fighting the Zulus from within prepared positions or by forming squares if they were out in the open. In this particluar scenario the British start out already formed into a square. They also have the benefit of a wagon lager and a trench! Needless to say, this is a very challenging scenario for the Zulu side. Although a Zulu victory seems pretty hopeless, Mark said that it can, and has, been done. It is the recycling of spent units that gives the Zulus a chance. Mark came up with an interesting concept here. (Mark has a lot of interesting concepts along with a system for using 8 figure units instead of 20.) He allows every Zulu unit that has been reduced down to 3 figures to be recycled as long as the unit was reduced in close combat with the enemy and not merely by rifle or artillery fire. This allows the Zulu side to keep coming and coming, and it also forces them to do what Zulus do best; charge and fight hand-to-hand! However, I am sorry to report that when two other gamers and I played the Zulu side we failed miserably! We were snookered in the very beginning by a clever and gutsy move by the British commander. I'm not going to tell you what he did because I don't want to ruin the scenario before Mark's book is published. For now I will just share some photos of the action.
Good Hunting!
Bwana Bill

Gingindlovo: Zulus deploying for the attack

Gingindlovo: The Zulus try to mass their attack effort in an area where the distance to the British square is minimal.

Gingindlovo: After successfully countering a threat to the kraal, a third of the Zulu impi is out of postion and vulnerable to artillery fire.

Gingindlovo: After repeatedly throwing themselves on the British square, the Zulus succeed in opening a gap but they are still driven back.

Gingindlovo: The British break the square and start "mopping up" the dwindling Zulu impi

Gingindlovo: Before long the threat to the square is eliminated.

Gingindlovo: The troops celebrate their victory. Time for an extra grog ration!

Gingindlovo: More Zulu Trivia from Bwana Bill

As you may know, there was a great class division between British officers and their soldiers that manifested itself in many ways. It has been said that this extended to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. British soldiers were fond of beer and gin (usually too fond!) and a proper officer would not been seen touching either one. Wine and brandy were their acceptable alternatives. As you may have noticed, many words in the Zulu language are hard for the English speaking tongue to pronounce. During the 1879 Zulu War the British troops could not help but notice the word "gin" in the name Gingindlovo. (It means "the place of the elephants.") They therefore jokingly referred to the place as "Gin, gin, I love you." Having read about this prior to my trip to South Africa I had assumed that Gingindlovo was pronounced with soft g's. During the trip, my guide and I drove past Gingindlovo and I told him the "Gin, gin, I love you" story which he thought was very amusing. I then asked him if it was pronounced with soft g's or hard g's he assured me that it was hard g's. Good to know, right?

17th/21st Lancers Cap Badge

I'm working on my 17th/21stLancers, often called "The Death or Glory Boys".

This cap badge is theirs. The unit history reaches back to the Crimean War, and the (in)famous charge of the Light Brigade.

Other Gamer Blogs

I've recently discovered that several other gamers have also started "Blogging", so I've linked to their pages! Have a look at Little Wars, Miniature Gamer, and Little Lead Heroes.

I'm certain there are more Blogs out there about miniature wargames; If you know of one, or you run one, drop me a comment here and I'll check it out and link to your Blog!

When you check out the three blogs listed, drop a them comment to let the authors know you popped in, and give them a shout from the Tabletop Gamer blog!

Roll bones, push lead, have fun!

Still More Action from Fall In: Scenes of a spectacular castle siege

Here is view of the moat and drawbridge

"Flames of War" Action at Fall In: A horde of T34s rolls toward the enemy!

A really neat Stalingrad set up.

A huge horde of Russian infantry descend on the tractor factory at Stalingrad

Every nook and cranny of the tractor factory is bursting with Russian troops!

Italian M14 tanks prepare to move out. Hey, looks like they borrowed a German 88mm gun. That should give the enemy more trouble than all those tanks!

British tanks try to screen advancing infantry. Too bad that trick won't work with the Flames of War rules! They're in for a rude surprise!

U.S. tanks fighting a rearguard action in North Africa.

Blogmeister Keith's Desert Rats make another appearance! Man, I see them everywhere these days!

U.S. halftracks unlimber an anti-tank gun battery.

More Action at Fall In: A British film crew was on hand to film Lee and Meade fighting it out again at Gettysburg!

Civil War soldiers "making time" with the Film Crew Girl

Lee and Meade discuss tactics after the battle, hey wait a minute!; why is Lee using his hands like he was a fighter pilot? Did I miss something?

Action at Fall In: Blogmeister Keith fires his "random number generators" during a Flames of War game.

Keith is shocked by the results (the other chaps snicker)

Desperate, he calls for air support, but he is playing the U.S. side, isn't his cell co. owned by Deutsch Telekom? What will respond; P47s or Stukas?

Desperate Rearguard Action in the Burning Sands!

This time we tried the Hold-the-Line scenario in the Flames of War rule book. It has a lot of good special rules that work really well. The Reserves and Ambush rules are particularly effective in making for a tense game!

A German panzergrenadier company in a rear-guard position is charged with holding back a victorious British advance while their “komeraden” are in full retreat. They are on the defensive and dug in. Half of their units will arrive randomly as reinforcements. Two are being held in ambush positions. The question is; will this be enough to hold back the British Desert Rats tank company that wants to block the German retreat? "Tune in" below to find out!

"The Thin Feldgrau Line"

Panzergrenadiers are dug in and waiting, the sound of tank treads grows stonger and they see dust plumes all across the horizon!

Enemy sighted; Tally Ho!

British Grant tanks maneuver around the escarpment

The Desert Rats Prepare to Charge!

The panzergrenadiers hunker down on the objective

A concealed 88 battery reveals itself by spitting hot lead!

The attackers start taking losses

A tanker's life can be short and brutal!

The Grants try but fail to silence the 88s with machine guns