February 2022 Northern Conspiracy Game Night

I'm about a week late posting this. Earlier this month the Northern Conspiracy got together for our February game night. We had an excellent turnout. My game was a fill-in game for another from a host that couldn't attend. 

My concept for this game was to make Saga accessible to newer or first-time Saga players. I created a set of generic battle boards. Each had the same six advanced Saga abilities. I chose them from all of the Crusades battle boards. The six abilities were chosen mostly based on how easy to understand they were and how universally useful they were. This would allow each player to learn Saga without being overwhelmed by a full, complex battle board and an opponent's battle board that is also similarly overwhelming. 

The game was Michael and Kevin helping me test out the system. Both received the simplified battle boards well, with some constructive input. Kevin is a newer Saga player, Michael very much an expert. 

Both players played the simplified battle boards well. In the end, Kevin's crossbows in the ruin carried the day for the Eastern Princes. 

Northern Conspiracy Game Night - January 2022

Last Friday we had the first Northern Conspiracy game night of 2022. With Omicron looming large here in New Hampshire the club members opted to return to masking up for the event. We also had a winter storm that made travel difficult so we had a smaller than usual turnout - 11 members. We ended up running two of the three scheduled games. 

To the left, a photo of Michael's Crusades 'Saga Big Battles' game with his beautifully painted 28mm figures. 

I was engrossed in the game I was playing, so I was remiss in my duties as photographer and only got this one additional photograph of Michael's game, part way through the setup.

By the time my game finished, Michael and his players were also picking up his game, so I assume it went well and played to conclusion.

 

I played in John's Blitzkrieg Commander 4 game which was a historical WWII Eastern Front scenario in 15mm. Charlie and I were the Russians, with Ross and John as the Germans. The scenario is to capture the village in the center of the table. 

 

 

Charlie had T-34/66 tanks and infantry riding on them and some unarmored trucks with a mortar team. Opposite him John had Panzer IVs and some Panzergrenadiers in halftracks. 

I had three KV-1 heavy tanks and three T-70 light tanks - all with infantry riding on them. 

Opposite me Ross had three Panzer III tanks and Panzergrenadiers in halftracks. He also had a tripod-mounted MG-42 MMG team which was quite effective.

On the Russian right flank, Charlie races to the ravine and the cover it offers. He ended up dueling with John's Panzer IVs. The German tanks earned a Pyrrhic victory in that duel. Charlie's infantry later diverted to take the German side of the town as I was occupying our side and contesting the central building. 

My assault's initial stages. I opted to press forward with my KV-1 tanks. In hindsight they would have been better off in the rear on a hill overlooking the town. This would have taken advantage of their longer range and heavier armor. My T-70s scored an early destruction of one of Ross's halftracks, then they got systematically destroyed one at a time by Ross's Panzer IIIs. Ross' HMG and remaining halftrack MGs out-ranged my infantry and eventually all but wiped them out. My SMG tank riders from the KV-1s were all I had left after I assaulted Ross' Panzer-IIIs with infantry and took one out in a mutually destructive duel with one of my KV-1 tanks. 

In the end, the Russians held the majority of the town's building and had all but eliminated the German Infantry. We had two KV-1 tanks at the crossroads and only one Panzer III and one (or two?) battered Panzer IVs opposing us. General consensus from John was a minor Russian victory. 

In typical Russian style, my command suffered over 60% casualties in the 'victory'. I think Charlie fared better staying under 50%. No matter the costs, it was a VERY fun game. Thanks to John for running it!

Northern Conspiracy Game Night - May 2021

With a majority of our club having viable vaccinations and the NH Governor softening up restrictions on social gatherings, the Northern Conspiracy held our first face-to-face game night since the pandemic shut us down twelve months ago. Attendance was very good with I think 23 members present. Masks were still used just for good measure and the hotel gave us two conference rooms allowing for a generous ten feet between tables.  

Show to the left was a 15mm brigade level Fire & Fury game run by Phil (in blue, center). So great to see miniatures and terrain on the tables and to be able to push figures around and socialize with fellow club members.

 

 

Michael ran a Cruel Seas scenario with Warlord Games PT boats and other small boats. 

Not knowing if we would get enough attendance for a third miniatures game I brought the board game 'Colt Express' as a backup game. It also ran with five players. The game has a 'board' made up of cardboard train cars and gunslinger 'meeples' that look almost like miniatures. We played twice with players rotating in. It was my first time playing the game and I have to admit, it was a lot of fun, even in the first game where I came in dead last.

Northern Conspiracy February Game Day

Saturday the Northern Conspiracy got together for a HUGE ACW game of the Union approach to capture Richmond after taking Fort Monroe. I was the Confederate commanding general and fellow Blogger Ed M. was the Union Commander. Ed did a great job of preparing the Union troops with a concise battle plan and thorough supporting documentation. Having some life issues getting in the way, I relied on a council of war and solid support from my Admiral George, and wing commanders Byron and Rob. The rules used were 'Steady Boys!' a home brew set created by Ralph of the Northern Conspiracy.

The table for this game was an epic representation of the entire peninsula including Ralph's scratch built 28mm ACW ironclads and paddle wheel transports. Naval rules were simple, but allowed for the union to attempt to land a marine force behind the Confederate lines. Good fun.

The day started out with Charlie giving the general objectives of the battle, with additional information about the naval rules and special scenario rules that aren't part of the base Steady Boys! rule set.

Ralph followed up with a quick overview of Steady Boys! including going over the QRS.

Initial deployments are set. my Jonny Rebs deployed in a thin line with successive reinforcements ready to take up secondary and tertiary positions as the battle progressed.

The Union plan - rolling thunder. Their divisions in columns with artillery leading the way hub to hub across the battle line their attack advancing at the speed of the artillery.

Shameless selfie as the initial turns are started. The Union plan, cohesive and well executed worked to obliterate our first line. Our 'forlorn hope' line did well taking up a good part of the day and eliminating a large amount of the Union artillery, being given little else to target. Concentrated fire also took out 25% of the Union siege artillery train which was pushed aggressively too close to the front. 

As the first line has its last attacks and defenses, the Confederate's second line of defense is brought up to prevent the Union from using the train station. The Union's left flank, backed with a full untouched cavalry division looked strong. Their right flank while solid, was not as thick, but dust clouds filled the road behind the union lines.

On the river things finally heated up after a long stalemate. Ross rammed the Confederate with a Union side-wheeler that was supposed to carry troops. This eventually ended up as a major contributing factor to both being sunk. The Confederate navy moved in to land their marines....

Lunch break. Neither army can fight on an empty stomach.

The marines land under the guns of the Union ironclads. The Confederates counter this with a division of infantry and a division of cavalry. The latter awaits atop a larg hill outside gun range from the Union gunboats.

Unable to secure a dock and with one of their troop transports under water, the marine attack is a 'rail station too far'.

At the main battle line, the Union artillery is thinning out, but so are the field pieces for the Confederates. The photo to the left is the 'high tide of the Confederacy' for this battle. Kevin's confederates clear a path to the Union siege train, only to have local reinforcements pulled in front of it just in time. At the rear a fresh Union division arrives. Unable to use the train station, they instead marched to the front double-time on foot.

As the battle wound down, casualties on the Confederate side and the Union's disposition brought this to a Union victory. Costly in terms of artillery lost, their manpower losses were otherwise slight in comparison to the Confederates.

Fun day. Thanks to Charlie, Bob and Ralph for hosting a great event. Club participation for this was exceptional as well.

Northern Conspiracy Game Night - November 2019

Last night the Northern Conspiracy gathered for our monthly game night. This was the final meeting of the current administrative board as our club operates on a December to November fiscal year. It has been a great year of gaming.

Seen to the left here is Warren receiving the club's sportsmanship trophy from outgoing president Dick. The Northern Conspiracy highly values the friendship and sportsmanship of its members. Warren well embodies these values every year. This year the club recognized him with the sportsman award. Warren is a consummate gentleman at the table while still being an excellent gamer - a combination to be honored.

Now on to the games!

I played in Don's Maurice game of 30 Year's war Russians versus Turks. John, Bruce and I were the Russians. Our Turkish opponents Peter, Warren, Paul and Dave.

We nominated John to be CinC, and he chose to hold the right flank against Peter and Warren's double-team force.

I received and all infantry force tasked with assaulting the village defended by Paul's elite Janissarys and militia.



Bruce and Dave faced off in a massive cavalry clash which saw to the total destruction of both cavalry wings.

Photos here of Dave and Bruce sorting out the Carnage.

The final photo on the lower right also shows Paul's troops occupying and protecting the village preparing to receive my assault.

My assault goes in. I lost two infantry battalions, but gave as good as I got eliminating one Janissary unit and the militia in the town. This cleared the town of enemy but my troops were too exhausted to attempt to hold the town with Paul's other Janissarys ready to counter attack, so I attempted to rest and recover before taking the position.

With Dave's command mostly neutralized, Bruce brings his infantry up to support the press through the town. My troops are still fatigued, while my commander is otherwise distracted trying to help our right flank hold (by using event cards).

On our right flank, Warren and Peter press home their attacks. John does a fine job eliminating some of Peter's militia and at least one of Warren's cavalry, but in the end both attacks wear down our right.  As time was called the Turkish army was near its breaking point but in a very good position. The consensus, and GM Don's opinion was that the Russians had enough army morale left to seal the deal. That and the clearing of the town made this a Russian victory. The Turkish players I thought played very well and the battle was a close fought affair the entire night.

Incoming club president Charlie ran a 15mm Iron Cross game that seemed to generate a lot of excitement. I couldn't take much time away from my game to get more details about the battle, but it looked like everyone had a great time.

Michael ran a Sails of Glory game that was also full of players. From what Michael told me, his ships of the line were out maneuvered and harassed by a larger number of smaller frigates. The frigate's superior agility coming to play to their advantage in the battle.

We had a great turn out this month. This I attribute to an excellent slate of games put on by all the game masters. Thanks to them for hosting great games.