Noshers Wargaming Review 2013

[Nosher]

I thought it would be a bit of fun to briefly look at 2013 and whats been hot and what's not in 2013. So, from a purely personal perspective here goes:

Rules of the Year Without doubt TFL Chain of Command. An absolutely refreshing approach to skirmish level gaming in WW2

Wargames Range of the Year Last Valley Scenics - odd choice I guess but these have been my favourite purchase of 2013. Sturdy, beautiful and worth every penny. I just wish I could afford more and that ordering was a bit easier!!!

Mini of the Year My Warlord Games Hetzer which was great fun to paint.

Army of the Year Has to be my In Her Majesty's Name Servants of Ra which again were good fun to paint, followed closely by my Shingle Street Gentleman's Club

Forum of the Year It would be rude not to.... PENDRAKEN FORUM still remains the friendliest place on the planet

Retailer of the Year I maybe a bit biased but MINIBITS. Next day delivery in most cases and friendly, helpful and games in the nude to boot...

Let down of the year Longstreet. Still feel ripped off needing a second card deck

Most looked forward to of next year Getting some more gaming time in. With the new job and weird shift patterns, opportunities to play have been restricted

[Ithoriel]

Nice idea Nosher. Not sure my purely personal perspective is too much different. Having effectively retired this year I'm back to figure gaming for the first time in about a decade:

Rules of the Year Also without doubt TFL Chain of Command. Most fun I've had this year with my clothes on Though in terms of actual games played BKCII and Legends of the Old West are ahead of it.

Wargames Range of the Year Pendraken WW2 - for depth and breadth of coverage, quality of service and friendliness of staff. Honourable mention to 4Ground who's range of buildings could tempt me to bankruptcy next year!

Mini of the Year Joint winners - Pendraken Sdkfz 251/3 with frame aerial and  Sdkfz 251 with map table and crew. Planning and creating my command stands for BKCII has undoubtedly been the high point of my painting schedule. 

Army of the Year Has to be my Pendraken WW2 Germans as being the only stuff I've painted this year in enough quantity to actually field on the table.

Forum of the Year "It would be rude not to.... PENDRAKEN FORUM still remains the friendliest place on the planet" - I'll second that!!

Retailer of the Year Pendraken. Not the fastest but undoubtedly the friendliest and most obliging.

Let down of the year A retailer who shall remain nameless who decided they didn't have time to fulfill my order.

Most looked forward to of next year Getting some more things painted. After a hiatus of a decade there's a mountain of part completed projects to finish ... and so many new ones to start 

[fsn]

Nice idea Mr Nosher/ I shall have to think very carefully about what my favourite Miniof the year has been. 

Rules of the Year Also without doubt TFL Chain of Command. Most fun I've had this year with my clothes on

Coming soon TFL Chain of Command - Clothes Optional Supplement?  

[TinyTerrain]

Heres mine:

Rules: Chain of Command certainly has got my ww2 skirmish juices flowing again, and they get top spot from me. Runners up: I must mention developing my own 100 years war rules (Star & Garter) has been a really fun process and the first time in years that I have had a crack at writing something like this. I ve also just picked up "By fire and Sword" which look gorgeous and after 1 quick mechanics trial seem good, but too early to tell.

Wargame range: Tricky one for me, Pendrakens medievals and ancients have lovely detail, but for me their ww2 Germans (which I have just finished painting) just pip them to the post due to the massive range. Have a feeling the Mongols might win this next year though.

Mini of the year: A bespoke Warrior Bishop that Techno made for me to go with my 100 Years War English Army. Runner up: 28mm Converted troll to make a Yeti for In Her Majestys Name

Army of the year: 15mm US Airborne, painted and based individually for CoC. Runner up: Pendraken Welsh Mounted Warband for Dux Bellorum

Forum: Pendraken

Retailer: 4Ground.......mega quick delivery, good product. Pendraken v close 2nd.

Let Down: Warfare at Reading (poor demo games).

Most looked forward too: Receiving my Pendraken Mongols so I can paint them up as Tartars and get to grips with "By Fire and Sword" in 10mm. I also have big hopes for Forged in Battles 15mm Ancients kickstarter which closes in 4 days  ( search kickstarter for "War & Empire")

Cheers,

Craig

[Ithoriel]

Coming soon TFL Chain of Command - Clothes Optional Supplement?  

Isn't that an X-Box exclusive release? 

[fsn]

Rules of the Year Haven't bought any.

Wargames Range of the Year I love the revamped Pendraken ACW.

Mini of the Year As if you have to ask - Pendraken Centurion!

Army of the Year I'm much taken by my French 1940 - now I have the trucks and APCs it's got to get even better.

Forum of the Year I eschew any forum but thisone. OK, I''ve been banned from every other forum but this one.

Retailer of the Year Long, long time ago (July 2012) I placed my first Pendraken order. I don't regret my choice, they're still my no. 1!

Let down of the year Having to buy a T35 from a non-Pendraken supplier. It was OK, but a bit like having a McDonalds Happy Meal. It serves a purpose, but there's not much pleasure in it. 

Most looked forward to of next year British Napoleonics?

[sebigboss79]

Great idea Nosher. So here I go


Rules of the Year: Urban War Second Edition. Although released 2012 I have not gamed anything more recent and quite like the rules for their balancing.

Wargames Range of the Year: The new MDF offering from Thomas Farnell and equally so the Battleterrain guys with Colin in charge.

Mini of the Year: Urban mammoth, Neo Iskandrian Sergeant (kneeling pose)

Army of the Year: Urban Mammoth Neo Iskandrians

Forum of the Year: PENDRAKEN. No other forum can elaborate on controversial topics in such gentlemanlike fashion.

Retailer of the Year: Minibits

Let down of the year: AvP Kickstarter

Most looked forward to of next year: Getting some more gaming time in. Painting some more.

[Fenton]

Rules of the Year: I haven't played any new rules this year, still enjoying Impetus though

Wargames Range of the Year: Although 6mm I really love the Leven miniatures range

Mini of the Year: N/A

Army of the Year: Although not new I really enjoyed painting Rapier Miniatures 6mm Egyptians

Forum of the Year: PENDRAKEN.

Retailer of the Year: I haven't really bought anything new this year except the Rapier Miniatures

Let down of the year: Bolt Action..played it once, never again

Most looked forward to of next year: Getting some more gaming time in. Painting some more.

[sunjester]

As others have joined in, so shall I:

Rules of the Year Once again TFL's Chain of Command. Without doubt the best rules I have played for skirmish level gaming in WW2

Wargames Range of the Year Haven't got one as I didn't really buy many new releases from anywhere this year. I mostly bought Pendraken's ACW and AVBCW figures, which were actually released last year!

Army of the Year My 10mm AVBCW armies.

Forum of the Year It has to be this one, no other forum has caused so much hilarity in 2013!

Retailer of the Year Too Fat Lardies, not only did Rich release a fantastic set of WW2 rules, he has been churning out a succession of supplementary army lists, all of which are available as free downloads!

Let down of the year Not got one this time around.

Most looked forward to of next year Getting stuck in with the Chain of Command League running at the Tring Club. We have got 14 players and we are each going to play all the scenarios from the main rulebook using 1940 (or earlier) armies.



 

[Shecky]

I'm not sure I can comment on all the categories so I'll just give my opinions on the ones I know.

Rules of the Year: I've got to vote for CoC as well. I had no interest in skirmish level gaming until I watched the videos Rich produced prior to the publication.

Wargames Range of the Year - Pendraken Falklands range. It really fills a niche. Now I just need to find the time to complete that project.

Forum of the Year - this one. I've found myself here more often as my frustration with TMP grows.

Retailer of the Year - tie between Pendraken and TFL. Pendraken is my enabler - as I become interested in different areas I find that Pendraken can supply my needs. TFL continues to produce innovative and fun rules and provide great support.

Let down of the year - I'd have to agree with Longstreet as well. I had put off my ACW project for a few years as these rules were in development, hoping they would provide the same level of entertainment as I had experienced with Might & Reason. For some reason they just didn't strike me. I don't know if it is the gamey-ness of the rules, the two deck controversy or the divisional level of the rules which let me down.

Most looked forward to of next year - another tie. I'm looking forward to the new ACW rules, Altar of Freedom. After the first of the year I'll be trying these rules using my 6mm armies and if I like them I'll start rebasing and building my 10mm armies. I'm also looking forward to my DBN project getting started.

[Steve J]

Rules of the Year Definitely CoC. Such a great set of skirmish rules.

Wargames Range of the Year I think Clibs Late Romans or AWI range. Just awesome sculpts

Mini of the Year Craig buying me a very old Minifigs Orc (and others) as a suprise 50th birthday treat.

Army of the Year Hmmm, probably my Late War British Infantry Battalion as they have been a long time coming to fruition.

Forum of the Year This one and looking at my time record I spend far too much time on it.

Retailer of the Year Definitely Pendraken. Leon and Dave have a service second to none.

Let down of the year Warfare as Craig said.

Most looked forward to of next year Getting more games in and playing some NWE games of CoC and BKCII.

[Sandinista]

Rules of the Year: Pike & Shotte - played a lot of times and gets better each time

Wargames Range of the Year: Pendraken LoA range

Mini of the Year: Don't have one

Army of the Year: My 17/18th century imagi-nation Indians

Forum of the Year: Pendraken Miniatures

Retailer of the Year: Republic of Tolworth painting - I would have no painted toys otherwise 

Let down of the year: Slow release of new LoA sculpts 

Most looked forward to of next year: Release of new LoA sculpts  (Apart from my holiday in NZ)

[Womble67]

Nice idea Nosher, i'm a bit late tho.

Rules of the Year, For me Black Powder, Hail Caesar, Rapid Fire and Blitzkrieg Commander.

Wargames Range of the Year, Has to be my Pendrakens World War II Russians, Germans. I now have decent size armies to put on the table

Mini of the Year, Pendrakens T34 lots and lots of them 

Army of the Year, Has to be my Pendraken World War II Russians, Germans

Forum of the Year, Pendraken first and secondly Warlord Games forum

Retailer of the Year, Pendraken, TimeCast and Fieldworks Buildings, service and friendliness of staff

Let down of the year, To be honest don't really have one

Most looked forward to of next year, Well quite a few, Pendrakens Painting Competition, Completing My Anglo Zulu War project (I will not, I must not get distracted by nice new shinnies until Competed) Caesars Gallic War and French Indian War

take care

Andy

[Leon]

Thanks for all the comments, it's really appreciated and makes all the hard work worthwhile.   

[paulr]

A bit late as well and slightly off beat

Rules of the the Year General Quarters I/II 1970s vintage naval rules, wish I had found them decades ago

Wargames Range of the Year Pendraken AWI

Mini of the Year Davco 1/3000 Yamato

Army of the Year American & Japanese navies circa 1942 (with a few British & Dutch from Java as well)

Forum of the Year Pendraken

Retailer of the Year Pendraken, service and helpfulness of staff

Let down of the year To be honest don't really have one

Most looked forward to this year Painting my Pendraken AWI and playing my first ever AWI game, only been on the to do list since American bicentennial (1976!!!)