I've post processed my pictures from day 1 of ValleyCon 2016 and will work on putting together my battle report.
There were about 100 gamers at the Convention which featured DBMM, Flames of War, Bolt Action, Malifaux, Warmachine and WH 40K comps as well as four demo games.
Public entry was free and we got a reasonable amount of visitors, many overflowing from the IMAGINARY WORLDS exhibition (Science fiction, steam punk and fantasy art from over 40 award-winning NZ designers) next door.
In the meantime here are some general shots of the Convention
The west (fantasy, except for us) end of the hall from the entrance
Those in pink shirts were on the committee of the Hutt Miniature Wargames Club, the organisers
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1259_zpsfqcfjhra.jpg)
The east (mainly historic) end of the hall
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1261_zpsgcth9cvb.jpg)
The one and only trade stand
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1264_zpsqxlpgtck.jpg)
A closer look at Cowpens as seen from the entrance to the hall
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1260_zpsetexiogv.jpg)
The table with the Americans deployed and the British waiting to be deployed
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1262_zpsryvrvclo.jpg)
We got a lot of interest from the public, of all ages
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1296_zpskx9bcnfa.jpg)
Nicely done Paul! :)
I really like the last picture, with the lad getting down to get a miniature's eye view of the game. Get them hooked young!!
The trade stall looks a bit sorry for itself...
Quote from: fred. on 01 February 2016, 09:44:04 PM
I really like the last picture, with the lad getting down to get a miniature's eye view of the game. Get them hooked young!!
The trade stall looks a bit sorry for itself...
They went away with some figures, 28mm WSS, to paint from the Bring & Buy, the seller kindly tossed in some extras :) :D
Traders are pretty thin on the ground over here :(
Pictures taking 3billion years to load so I sort of half get what's going on. No lad getting down on my last picture, just the other one looking askance.
Quote from: Leman on 01 February 2016, 11:00:21 PM
Pictures taking 3billion years to load so I sort of half get what's going on. No lad getting down on my last picture, just the other one looking askance.
Time to clean out your Interwebs perhaps ;)
Quote from: Leman on 01 February 2016, 11:00:21 PM
Pictures taking 3billion years to load so I sort of half get what's going on. No lad getting down on my last picture, just the other one looking askance.
Ah.... Going back to your point about slow 'intraweb' service from yesterday, Bob.
I forgot to say that I noticed this problem here, starting a few months ago now.......I've got used to it now.....BUT.....I put it down to the 'system' getting busier (hence slower) as other folk around here start using the web. (Bet I'm one of the few folk awake and using it at this time of the morning. :D)
It's absolutely fine at the mo'........But it'll get slower as the day progresses.....To the point, that like you, piccies will take a
long time to load later in the day/evening.
I USED to get about 6mb per sec....But now, the best I get is around 1.45 Mbps.
Cheers - Phil
Nice piccies Paul !! :)
As promised the Cowpens Battle report
Peter and I commanded the Americans, Peter commanding the Militia and Cavalry Brigades and in overall command. I commanded the Continentals. We deployed first and chose to deploy pretty much historically.
Roy commanded the British and deployed second. Roy also deployed fairly historically except for the British Legion Infantry that he deployed on his extreme left separated by the forest from the rest of Tarleton's Column.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1265_zpscvi1jlsl.jpg)
The Americans get first turn and rushed the riflemen of the Militia Brigade forward into the woods to harry the flanks of the British forces. After some discussion it was also decided to use the Continentals to see off the isolated British Legion Infantry.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1267_zpsakw28mi7.jpg)
The British reaction was swift and decisive. The 7th Foot and 1st Battalion, 71st Foot ignored the skirmishers on their flanks and charged the Militia to their front. The right wing of the 7th Foot forced the 1st Spartan South Carolina Militia back in disorder but the left wing, to the surprise of all was repulsed by the 2nd Spartan South Carolina Militia. The Highlanders of the 71st Foot destroyed the remainder of the Militia.
The British Legion Infantry also charged the approaching Continentals, routing the State Troops Battalion and repulsing the right wing of the Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion.
The Converged Light Infantry covered the left flank by skirmishing with Cunningham's Battalion in the wood. The Artillery engaged McDowell's North Carolina Riflemen in the right hand wood from beyond effective rifle range. 17th Light Dragoons and the British Legion Dragoons advanced in support of the infantry attack.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1269_zpstd6kaqqm.jpg)
While Brigadier General Morgan raced to rally the State Troops Battalion the Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion counter attacked the British Legion Infantry. The left wing routed their opponents but the right wing was again repulsed and the survivors left the field.
The cumulative casualties on the South Carolina Militia Brigade caused their morale to collapse. Cunningham's Battalion disengaged from the British Converged Light Infantry while McDowell's North Carolina Riflemen found what little cover from artillery fire they could in the forest.
The 2nd Spartan South Carolina Militia gallantly again repulsed the left wing of the 7th Foot despite fire from the right wing of 71st Foot. Triplett's Virginia Militia Riflemen advanced from their forest on the left rear and poured a deadly fire into the right wing of the 7th Foot. Combined with the casualties already inflicted by McDowell's North Carolina Riflemen it was too much and the survivors of the 7th Foot left the field.
In desperation the South Carolina Dragoons charged in support of their Militia comrades and routed the left wing of the 71st Foot.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1270_zpsk2tkmbnh.jpg)
Casualties were rapidly mounting on both sides and Tarleton had almost 'run out' of infantry. He launched an all-out attack. The remaining wing of the British Legion Infantry charged the surviving wing of the Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion but were routed from the field.
The Converged Light Infantry re-engaged Cunningham's Battalion but couldn't inflict significant casualties on the woodsmen in the forest.
The 17th Light Dragoons moved up to cover the left flank of the remaining wing of the 71st Foot. The 71st Foot and a troop of the British Legion Dragoons charged and destroyed the gallant but over matched 2nd Spartan South Carolina Militia.
Another troop of the British Legion Dragoons made Triplett's Virginia Militia Riflemen pay for their attack on the 7th Foot catching a company skirmishing in the open and riding them down.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1272_zpsvan2wo8p.jpg)
The casualties suffered by the Continentals had almost broken the morale of the brigade. The survivors of the Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion therefore withdrew and the remaining companies of Triplett's Virginia Militia Riflemen ran for the cover of the forest.
Cunningham's Battalion continued skirmishing inconclusively with the Converged Light Infantry in the forest on the British left. One troop of the British Legion Dragoons had strayed too close to the McDowell's North Carolina Riflemen sheltering from the British artillery in the forest on the British right. Enough rifle shots struck home to drive the troop from the field. (The Dragoons failed both their saving throws.)
In the centre half the Continental Dragoons charged the 17th Light Dragoons while the other half supported the South Carolina Dragoons charge against the remaining wing of the 71st Foot. The 17th Light Dragoons repulsed the Continental Dragoons. The 71st Foot was routed.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1276_zpsidtdaxm7.jpg)
The casualties were enough to exhaust Tarleton's Column giving the Americans a minor victory.
One more casualty on the Continentals would have given the British a minor victory, a very close run game.
Great stuff, Paul !
Cheers - Phil
We had all enjoyed a very intense deadly game and it was only 11:30 :o
We had played five turns or about 15 minutes longer than the historic battle (1 hour).
We tidied the table and broke for lunch :)
After lunch we played it again, this time Peter would command the British and Roy the Americans. I commanded the Continentals again.
I'll put the second report together over the next couple of days ;)
Great report and nice idea of how to mark the edge of the woods. Personally everytime the Spartan Militia moved, I would have put on my best actor voice and said "This is Sparta!!!". Maybe I'll grow up one day :D
My internet connection is behaving incredibly well this morning. so very nice to see all the photos from NZ. Definitely looks to be a very different atmosphere to a British show. Looks like the trader got hold of the entire historical stock of the Southport wargames shop.
Lovely report, sounds like a good fast paced game!
Had a great couple of days at Valleycon.
Both games on Saturday went quickly....but confirmed my interest in playing C18 games with 10mm figures using wing scale V&B rules.....Keen on doing some Jacobites now...since some of my forefathers were involved somewhere along the line through one of the clans.
Avoided a few temptations on the bring and buy table to put money towards the next PM 10mm order :-X
You'll have to wait for Paul to post his next report to find out what happened in the second game :-SS
What a desperate fight! Looks like a really enjoyable game for everyone. Also, first time I've heard of Wing scale V&B.
:-bd :-bd
Great set of photographs!
Quote from: Westmarcher on 02 February 2016, 10:23:24 AM
What a desperate fight! Looks like a really enjoyable game for everyone. Also, first time I've heard of Wing scale V&B.
Wing scale is one of four semi-official variants that were posted for discussion on the V&B yahoo group prior to the publication of version 2 V&B Road to Glory.
In V&B a stand represents a brigade, in the four variants it represents a regiment, battalion, wing (1/2 battalion), or division (1/4 battalion)
I think some of the V&B books use one of the alternate scales.
Quote from: Steve J on 02 February 2016, 06:52:14 AM
Great report and nice idea of how to mark the edge of the woods. Personally everytime the Spartan Militia moved, I would have put on my best actor voice and said "This is Sparta!!!". Maybe I'll grow up one day :D
Grow up, why :-/
By 1pm we had had lunch and deployed for game 2.
Roy and I commanded the Americans, Roy commanding the Militia and Cavalry Brigades and in overall command. I again commanded the Continentals. Seeing the thrashing the Militia had taken in the first game Roy decided to deploy them in a less exposed position, so 'hid' them behind the forest on our right. We also deployed the Continentals back far enough so they couldn't be charged by the British in their first turn and could get some support from the Militia.
Peter commanded the British and deployed second. He had also a taken a couple of lessons from the first game and deployed his skirmishers to cover the forests on his flanks.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1279_zpsctmlqznx.jpg)
In the American first turn McDowell's North Carolina Riflemen and Cunningham's Battalion pressed forward in the right hand forest. McDowell skirmishing ineffectively with the British Converged Light Infantry, Cunningham lining the forest edge ready to fire into the advancing British. On the left flank Triplett's Virginia Militia Riflemen were unable to enter the forest held by the British Legion Infantry and concerned by the presence of the 17th Light Dragoons withdrew into the forest on the Continental Brigade's left rear.
The British advanced all along the line, the British Legion Infantry reforming from skirmish order as they left the forest. Cunningham's Battalion fired into the flank of the advancing 1st Battalion, 71st Foot as they exchanged fire with the Little River, South Carolina Militia. The Continentals carefully dressed their ranks (went stationary) as they prepared to receive the British supported on both flanks. (They may have been better off to charge and get the shock bonus for 2 of their 3 stands but this would have forced the Cavalry Brigade to move up to support their left flank and denied them the support of the Militia :-\)
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1283_zpstpstonzh.jpg)
The 7th Foot and the right wing of the 71st Foot charged the Continentals while the left wing of the 71st Foot charged the 2nd Spartan South Carolina Militia. The State Troops Battalion and the 2nd Spartan South Carolina Militia routed. The right wing of the Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion was repulsed but the left wing held and repulsed the left wing of the 7th Foot.
On the British left the Converged Light Infantry skirmished ineffectively with McDowell's North Carolina Riflemen. The Royal Artillery moved up supported by the British Legion Dragoons. On the right the British Legion Infantry advanced on Triplett's Virginia Militia Riflemen in the forest and exchanged fire. They did not want to be disordered by entering the forest.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1285_zpsq8okzh4q.jpg)
The American Cavalry Brigade moved behind the Continentals to provide support if required. The right wing of the Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion counter attacked but was routed by the right wing of the 71st Foot. The left wing of the Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion, reluctant to expose its flank to the British cavalry exchanged fire with the right wing of the 7th Foot. Brigadier General Morgan raced to rally the State Troops Battalion (as he had in the morning game).
Both battalions of the 1st Spartan South Carolina Militia moved up and exchanged fire with the left wing of the 71st Foot. The Little River, South Carolina Militia and Cunningham's Battalion fired on the British Legion Dragoons forcing one troop to retire. McDowell's North Carolina Riflemen continued skirmishing ineffectively with the British Converged Light Infantry. Triplett's Virginia Militia Riflemen in the forest exchanged fire with the British Legion Infantry.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1290_zpsymphuztk.jpg)
The 71st Foot charged both battalions of the 1st Spartan South Carolina Militia routing them. The right wing of the 7th Foot charged the Little River, South Carolina Militia and was repulsed. The casualties on the Spartans combined with the earlier losses were enough to exhaust the South Carolina Militia Brigade.
The left wing of the 7th Foot charged the left wing of the Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion and was repulsed. During this melee the 17th Light Dragoons and half the British Legion Dragoons moved past the left wing of the Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion and formed line facing the American Cavalry Brigade.
On the British left the Converged Light Infantry continued skirmishing ineffectively with McDowell's North Carolina Riflemen. On the right the British Legion Infantry managed to inflict some casualties on Triplett's Virginia Militia Riflemen in the forest. These loses combined with those on the main Continental line exhausted the Continental Brigade.
With two American Brigades, out of three, exhausted the British had won a minor victory. The Americans could gain a minor victory of their own if they could exhaust Tarleton's Column but they had a long way to go.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1292_zpsmsfrx70c.jpg)
The State Troops Battalion moved up behind the stream on the left of the American Cavalry Brigade, their fire forced a troop of the 17th Light Dragoons to withdraw without inflicting significant casualties (the Dragoons passed their saving throw). Triplett's Virginia Militia Riflemen in the forest continued to exchange fire with the British Legion Infantry.
The fire of the left wing of the Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion forced a troop of the British Legion Dragoons to withdraw without inflicting significant casualties (the Dragoons also passed their saving throw).
The Little River, South Carolina Militia wheeled to their left and delivered a devastating volley into the flank of the reforming 71st Foot destroying the left wing and disordering the right wing.
McDowell's North Carolina Riflemen continued skirmishing ineffectively with the British Converged Light Infantry. The British were staying out of range of Cunningham's Battalion and with cavalry present they dare not venture out of the forest.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1294_zpsjkzwsdfz.jpg)
With their eyes on a major victory the British launched three attacks.
The right wing of the 71st Foot reformed and charged the front of the Little River, South Carolina Militia while a troop of British Legion Dragoons charged their flank. The gallant men of Little River, South Carolina were finally overwhelmed.
The left wing of the British Legion Infantry charged the left wing of the Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion in the flank while a troop of British Legion Dragoons charged their front. The courageous Maryland/Delaware Light Infantry were finally beaten.
The remaining two troops of British Legion Dragoons and one troop of the 17th Light Dragoons charged the American Cavalry Brigade. Exhausting this brigade would give the British the major victory they were after. :-SS
On the British left a troop of British Legion Dragoons was routed by a troop of Continental Dragoons. In the centre the other troop of British Legion Dragoons routed the South Carolina Dragoons. On the right the troop of the 17th Light Dragoons routed the poorly trained State Dragoons.
The loss of these two units were enough to exhaust the American Cavalry Brigade giving Peter a very well deserved major victory.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ValleyCon%202016/Day%201%20Cowpens/IMG_1297_zpsmwgnqroh.jpg)
Another exciting game, not as close as the first one ;)
Beautiful figures and terrain and a great batrep. Very enjoyable ... when's the next one? :)
Quote from: Ithoriel on 04 February 2016, 02:04:34 AM
Beautiful figures and terrain and a great batrep. Very enjoyable ... when's the next one? :)
Thanks :-[ :D
The next AWI game will be Guilford Courthouse, probably at Easter. This is the BIG one this project has been building up to :) :D
I'm working on the pictures from day 2 of ValleyCon and am about to post the intro with a couple of teaser pictures
The second game was amazing. I decided that, based on the first game that Tarlton's best chance was a continious "rolling maul" and advance up the table as quickly as possible. The movement allowances in V and B (up to 16" for fast infantry and 24" per turn for cavalry) mean that you can cover a lot of ground. I was careful to keep my flanks covered too. I was lucky and won majority of the combats. Fantastic game :)
On to Guilford Courthouse!!
Superb looking game too! Well done gents. 8)
Looks good, I forgot all about Valleycon.... I've been hibernating for a while.