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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

And Yet More El Cid

Rules question?  I also love the rubber duckies in the fountain.

Count Garcia closes in on Ibn 'Ammar's spearmen.  The model railway orange trees do look nice.  Note the booty (slaves, religious artifacts, livestock, dirty books etc) on the road.

Getting down to the crunch!

The Castillians hit the line on both ends with charging Hidlagos.  Unfortunately, in both cases the charges were repulsed and the Hildalgos eliminated a effective fighters.

I should point out that the mitre belongs to Sylvain - his wife picked it up at the local theatre's jumble sale.

Curt looks resigned to his fate as he prepares to roll the dice of fate.  But he rolled up and the Castillians rolled down.

Taken during set up - this shows off my new troop carrying boxes.  File boxes with inserts made from foam core board glued together with hot glue.  Amazing what happens when a cheap-ass war gamer and his ex-brownie troop leader wife get together.

Set up pictures again but from a bird's eye view.

Oh yes - the trays come with handles made from bias tape.  Check out Curt's really cool buildings in the rafters behind.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

More El Cid Photos


Going with my strong suit here.  I've got lots of Sean's superb pics and he's making my figures look better than they have a right to.

A lot of action going on here looking from the Castillain side.  On the left, Count Sancho's Hidalgos are in melee with El Cid's.  This would lead to the Campeador and followers being swept fro the table to be followed up by Sancho.  Meanwhile the militia in the centre and Sean's right wing advance.  Note that Sylvain has position his Cavalry for a flank charge on the far right.

Curt and I deal with the Light Cavalry melee on the far left.  The Andalusians were victorious and followed up into the militia. .


The Bishop on top of the Church

Two units of Morrish LC crash into Jeremy's militia.  Blood stains mark the hits.  The peons did very well seeing off multiple attacks.

Add your own caption - what it Curt saying?

Andalusian HC charge Castillian militia MC, while Hildalgos come through the orange groves.

If you go down to the woods today...


Having seen off the militia MC, Sylvain's HC crash into mercenary HI.

Blood trails follow Sylvain, but look to your flanks boys!







Monday, November 24, 2014

Photos From the Recent El Cid Game

I had meant to post these a while ago, but I plead real life (it's down to the last 2 week of term and I had a ton of marking to get through).

The superb quality is once again down to having our artist gamer Sean take the photos.   Don't expect anything I take to be anything near as good as these!
Castillian right wing.  I should have deployed the Hidalgos in front of the militia cavalry (instead of behind), in all fairness to Sean.

Zaragozan defensive position

I am either sneezing or confused or possibly both!

Close up of the Castillian cavalry

Same spot, different focal point.

Andalusian infantry with Sylvain moving elusively behind.

Castillian right wing slingers with Cavalry and militia in the background.

Muslim light cavalry with Sylvain doing his Flash imitation beyond.  He's obviously bent on raiding the bottle of red wine on the counter.

An idyllic scene ti you notice the Castillian army in the distance.

Sylvain moves his Andalusian heavies through an orange grove.  

Oh my gosh Sylvain slowed down enough to be in focus!

The bishop Jeromino looking less saintly!

Charge!

Countercharge!



Monday, November 17, 2014

El Cid Alliance Game Objectives, Forces and Roles

Zaragozan Overview

Your force has just completed a successful raid of the Christian Kingdom of Castile.  The Castilians have raised the militia and have caught up with you as you escort your booty to the south.  You have taken up a defensive position on a low hill.

Your objective is to hold the hill line and prevent the Christians from moving south and recapturing the loot.  Your forces are organized as follows.

1.     Commander Rodrigo Diaz El Cid Set up on the middle 1/3 of the table
a.     One unit of Christian mercenary knights  (HC)
b.     One unit of armoured spearmen (HI)
c.      One small unit of mercenary armoured crossbows (LI)
d.     One small unit of mercenary archers (LI)
e.     One small unit of Naffatun (LI) with nasty sticky flaming goop (unfortunately these were left out of the box and didn't show up)
2.     Ibn ‘Ammar Set up on the left 1/3 of the table
a.     One unit of Andalusian Cavalry (HC)
b.     One unit of Andalusian spearmen (MI levy)
c.      One unit of Berber mercenary spearmen (HI)
d.     One small unit of Andalusian archers (LI)
3.     Yusuf the Moor Set up on the right 1/3 of the table
a.     3 small units of Andalusian light cavalry (Jinettes) (LC)

Rodrigo Diaz (Curt)

Since you went into exile you have done well serving the Taifa King of Zaragoza.  You have earned his trust (and his gold), and now command this raiding force.   Your personal objective is to serve you employer well and return south with your force intact and your booty in hand.  The bulk of the loot lies to your southwest beyond the woods and scrub.
  • You have a good working relationship with Ibn ‘Ammar, although you consider him a bit of an old woman as he tends to be cautious.  Ibn ‘Ammar commands the Taifa King’s personal troops and holds the left of your position.  In last night’s council of war he seemed very concerned about the security of the loot.  You are not sure if he is interested in the gold, the goats or certain books containing graphic illustrations of an explicit nature…
  • You speak Arabic quite well and can communicate with most of your commanders and units quite easily.
  • Yusuf the Moor is relatively unknown and works hard to make sure it stays that way.  He speaks Arabic with a rough Berber accent and does not always seem to understand what you (or the Zaragozans) say to him.  Nonetheless his is a tough fighter who knows his trade.  He wants to stay on the plains where his light cavalry feel safe and is leery about moving into mountain terrain.  He seems less concerned with the security of the loot, presumably his saddlebags are stuffed as full as they can get.
  • As a prominent Castilian exile in the service of an Andalusian state, you may find yourself a marked man among the more hot-blooded Hidalgos in the Castilian army.

Ibn ‘Ammar (Sylvain)

You command the Taifa King’s personal troops and hold the left of your position.  The bulk of the loot lies to your southwest beyond the woods and scrub.  Your personal objective is to protect the security of the loot, by holding the road exit to your southwest.
  • You have a good working relationship with Diaz, although you consider he a bit of a hot head.  He does speak Arabic well for a Northerner.
  • Yusuf the Moor is relatively unknown and works hard to make sure it stays that way.  He speaks Arabic with a rough Berber accent and does not always seem to understand what you (or Diaz) say to him.  Nonetheless his is a tough fighter who knows his trade.  He wants to stay on the plains where his light cavalry feel safe and is leery about moving into mountain terrain.  He seems less concerned with the security of the loot, presumably his saddlebags are stuffed as full as they can get.
  • As a prominent Castilian exile in the service of an Andalusian state, Diaz may find himself a marked man among the more hot-blooded Hidalgos in the Castilian army.

Yusuf the Moor (NPC)

You do not understand these Iberians- either the Northern Infidels or the so-called Moslems of the pleasure-loving south.  However, the gold is good and the opportunities for you are many.  Your personal objective is to keep you light cavalry intact and protect their exit to the southeast where the ground suits your forces.  You really do not care about the loot, but it lies to the southwest beyond the woods and scrub.  Your saddlebags are full and Zaragozan goats seem as tasty as Castilian goats.
  •        The commander Diaz knows his trade and is an able leader.  He seems to let his blood get hot at times and is too involved with petty politics for your taste.
  •      Ibn ‘Ammar is a pleasure loving deviant who has fallen from Islam’s true path.  He is far too concerned about his own wealth and prestige. 



Castilian Overview

A Zaragozan raiding force led by the notorious Castilian exile has caught you by surprise and has captured much booty including sacred relics from a local monastery.  You have raised the militias and caught the raiders red handed as they try to escape.  Your objective is to break through to the south to recapture the relics of Santiago Matamoros (Saint James the Moor-slayer).

Your forces are as follows.
1)   Count Garcia (CinC) Set up on the right 1/3 of the table
a)    One unit of Hidalgos Caballeros (HC Knight)
b)   One unit of Militia Cavalry (MC)
c)    One unit of mercenary spearmen (HI)
d)   One unit of mercenary crossbows (LI small)
2)   Bishop Jeromino Set up on the middle 1/3 of the table
a)    Three units of militia spearmen (MI)
b)   One unit of militia crossbows (LI small)
c)    Two units of slingers (skirmishers)
3)   Count Sancho Set up on the left 1/3 of the table
a)    One unit of Hidalgos Caballeros (HC Knight)
b)   One unit of archers (LI Small)
c)    Two units of Spanish Jinettes (LC small)
d)   One unit of javeliners (skirmishers)

Count Garcia (Sean)

Your personal objective is to deliver justice to the traitor and exile Diaz. 
  •        Count Sancho is a young hotshot who needs to be kept in check.  He is likely more interested in glory and in tactics
  •        The Bishop is a venerated figure, but bluntly an idiot.  He is however, a well-connected idiot and needs to be treated with respect.  He is very concerned about recovering the relics (and also apparently certain books containing illustrations of a less religious nature).


Count Sancho (NPC)

Your personal objective is to achieve glory so that the troubadours will sing of your exploits for generations to follow (and to get girls). 

  • Count Garcia is an old ninny who thinks you were born yesterday.
  • The Bishop is a venerated figure, but bluntly an idiot.  He is however, a well-connected idiot and needs to be treated with respect.  He is very concerned about recovering the relics (and also apparently certain books of a less religious nature). 

Bishop Jeromino


Your personal objective is to recovery the relics of Santiago.  It also appears that certain other materials were captured that you were prefer not be made public (the illustrations in these books may not reflect well on your Saintly image. 

  •        Count Sancho is a young hotshot who needs to be kept in check.  He is likely more interested in glory and in tactics
  •        Count Garcia interests lie in more secular pursuits.  You need to remind him of his duty to serve the church’s interests (or at least your interests) as well as the King’s.




El Cid Alliance Game November 2014

Bishop Jeromino in both 1:1 and 28mm scales.  The mini is by Reaper

After several aborted attempts called off do to lack of participants, we finally got to do a large Hail Caesar game featuring my El Cid era figures.  I basically put my entire collection on the table and it came to 5 Heavy and Medium Cavalry units, 5 LC units, 6 Heavy and Medium Units plus archers, crossbows and skirmishers.  The scenario was the "Alliance" from CS Grant's Programmed Wargame Scenarios with the (Muslim) Zaragosans defending and the (Christian) Castillians attacking.  There were 3 commands a side, 2 player plus 1 NPC, and each command was given a personal objective plus a team objective.  Curt and Sylvain took the Zaragosans while Jeremy and Sean took Castillian roles.  I acted as umpire and NPC interpreter.

After a long, hard fight game it was a Zaragosan victory.  'Ibn Ammar (Sylvain) and Count Garcia (NPC) both met their personal objective and El Cid may be looking for other employment….

Sean took a series of photos, including the following ones which he took at timed intervals and linked together as a GIF.  It the photos, the Zaragosans are closest with the Castillians facing.  That's Jeremy in the Mitre (yes he wore it for the entire game), Sean in the glasses with Blue sweater and Sylvain in the red.  Curt and I are hiding off camera to the right.


This nicely encapsulates the action.  The Christian left flank advances and charges the Muslim right, followed by a counter charge and stalemate.  On our left, Sylvain moves his Cavalry through an orange grove before leading a successful charge, while Sean files his knights through the woods to attack the line on the hill.  The terrain is Curt's except for the orange trees and building which are mine.  The grey tower in the background is a resin model from some forgotten fantasy range while the church is a home built foam core and cardboard jobby.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Remembrance Day 2014

Most years I think about my grandfather who served on the Western Front in the Great War, my great uncles who served in WW2 or my father who served in the RN in Korea.  However, this year it feels appropriate to remember those closer to home.


Thursday, November 6, 2014

Europe in The Dark Ages

Not politically correct, but neither were the vikings.