Palaeo Diet: Eat or be Eaten

Had a great time at The Abyss last night playing Palaeo Diet: Eat or be Eaten.

The tabletop

My Hunting Party

In a scene right out of One Million Years B.C., two tribes of four cavemen went out looking for a Mammoth and ended up tangling with a Brachiosaurus, a Pachycephalosaurus, and a Deinonychus. The 90-minute hunt ended in success: Mammoth steaks, Brachiosaurus ribs, and enough battle scars to earn our warrior status.

William's/Grug's clan approaches the target

A raptor appears 

And engages one of my figures.

Huge thanks to Graham for running the game game, and to William for being my fellow willing victim. Graham provided everything needed for the game. Below the mighty hunters succeed both in the hunt and fighting off the raptor.

It was a packed room at the Abyss, although the club only had another three SAGA tables in action as members prepare for November's Grand Melee.

Palaeo Diet: Eat or be Eaten is a stand-alone set of gaming rules for recreating prehistoric animal hunts on your table top. The game models a time when humans were not yet in control of the world around them, when the landscape could just as easily give succour to a struggling tribe, as it could cripple a thriving people. Designed with solo and multiplayer games in mind, players take on the role of the hunting party while an integral response mechanism means that beasts react in different ways in different situations. In an unforgiving world, the choice is simple - either eat, or be eaten.

Late Roman Archers

 It’s been a little over a month since my Late Roman warband last hit the table. Following their last outing, I picked up two units of bow-armed Warriors. I hoped to field them last Thursday night, but the paint was still drying! I finished them up Friday evening, and they’re officially ready for the front lines.

Thursday night’s match saw me face off against the Picts. The games were held at the Abyss, the room was buzzing with six active SAGA tables, three of which were running the Ambush scenario. With our annual Grand Melee coming up in November, players are getting in as much practice as possible with their final warband rosters.

The Picts enter the table through their fields

The Romans are bunched up due to the terrain and
the scenario entry requirements

The Pict War Lord in all his glory

The wagons advance between  the battle lines

Two wagons are taken, one by each side

My casualties can be seen to the left of the green dice,
which sit on top of a swamp feature. My initial entry
point was to the left of the hill. I avoided the swamp.

End of the game. One wagon escaped.
Both sides fade back with their loot.

I was lucky. By the end of the second turn, I had eliminated both the opposing Warlord and his Hearthguard. Though I lost a six-man Hearthguard Cavalry unit in the process, it was a trade I was more than willing to make. The Picts managed to capture the first wagon, but I seized one during my following phase. The third and final wagon escaped us both. Under the scenario rules, the game ended in a draw, but taking down the enemy Warlord secured me one extra victory point for the edge.

GPIP -Game Planning in Progress Bosworth Field

 About six months ago, Little Wars TV refought the decisive climax of the Wars of the Roses: the Battle of Bosworth. That inspired our club members to host our very own version of Bosworth Field!

Little Wars TV Video 

Over the summer, everyone gathered their forces, painted miniatures, and prepped movement trays. Like the video, we'll be determining the outcome using the Midgard ruleset.

Foot Knights (Rear) and Billmen (Front)

More Foot Knights (Rear) and Billmen (Front)

2 Units of Archers

One Bombard

Unit of Hand Gunners

Our demonstration game is set for October 10th at The Abyss, with a rehearsal scheduled for October 8th. With just three weeks to go, it's time to gather my host and make sure all the troops I promised are ready for the field! Everyone accounted for and set to travel.

The figures I have are a mix of Gripping Beast, Claymore Castings and warlord Games. They are from my War of the Roses SAGA Warband or my Scots Warband both for play with the Age of Chivalry. 

Sharpe's Practice - Don't Go In the Woods Today

Last Thursday evening, John hosted a French and Indian War Sharpe’s Practice game at The Abyss. William, Graham, and I were the eager participants. I took command of the British line, while Graham led the American colonists and our Native allies. 

The view of the table and the opposition from the British side.

On the other side, William commanded the French forces, supported by John’s Native allies. William won the opening toss, giving him an early edge on the French deployment markers.

Table as viwed from the French side.  The Hills are impassable terrain.

French early placement with a barricade

Initial volleys are exchanged.

Taking early positions, the French allies secured the woods on their right flank. Meanwhile, the warriors of the Six Nations Confederacy deployed to our left, advancing steadily toward their traditional rivals. From the outset, the devastating accuracy of the Huron musketry was unmistakable.

Even the regulars were forced to retire due to the firepower displayed by the native warriors. 

Emerging from nowhere, the Coureurs des Bois fell upon the British redcoat flank. Closing into a brutal hand-to-hand melee, they inflicted devastating losses on a unit of regulars. A spirited countercharge by the other regular British faltered, failing to even reach the fight.

The open ground quickly turned into a killing field with heavy casualties on both sides. Though the French initially held the upper hand, a decisive final push by the British regulars—supported by the remnants of the shattered redcoat infantry—turned the tide. The British eked out a narrow victory, forcing a full French withdrawal.

Battle of San Millán-Osma 8 June 1813

Saturday afternoon at the Abyss, a 10 turn game of General d'Armee 2 played out in just under 5 hours.

The game was put on by John (john de terre neuve - check his blog) and Graham. Details of the scenario from John are found below.

Anglo-Portuguese (Attackers): Played by William and Michel. French (Defenders): Commanded by Myriam and myself. John and Graham were the Gamemasters. 

View of the table after Turn 4 arrival of Montfort's Brigade is the corner.

The layout of the terrain naturally split the battlefield into two distinct flanks, which worked out perfectly. A huge thanks to our game masters, John and Graham, who each took charge of a flank. Their expert guidance kept the game flowing without any noticeable delays or controversies. Both William and Myriam were complete newcomers playing their first game of GdA2. This was my third match, the last taking place over a year ago.

Stolen directly from John notes, " The Battle of San Millán-Osma  8 June 1813 was a sharp Allied advance-guard action fought during the campaign leading directly to the decisive Battle of Battle of Vitoria. It took place in northern Spain around the villages of San Millán and Osma as the army of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington pushed eastward against the retreating French under Honoré Charles Reille and Bertrand Clausel.

Map stolen from the GMs files

Wellington’s army was advancing in several columns through difficult mountainous terrain in an attempt to outflank the French and cut their communications. On 18 June, Allied forces struck two separated French positions:

At San Millán, the Light Division under Charles Alten attacked elements of Clausel’s corps. The British light infantry and riflemen aggressively pushed the French out of the village after hard fighting in narrow streets and broken ground. The French withdrew after suffering significant casualties and confusion.

At Osma, to the northeast, part of Thomas Graham’s column engaged French troops covering the road network. Fighting here was less intense but added pressure on the French flank and rear. "

Pinoteau's Brigade trying to blunt the Allied Advance

View of the Allied forces bearing down on Espejo

William ponders his next move. Graham looks on.

Michel ignores the ref's advice and prepares to throw red dice.

SAGA - Greek tragedy.

Last night the Montréal Historical Wargaming Club held a monthly Saga/Age of Magic night at the Abyss. From the Age of Hannibal I choose Epirus as the city option for my Warband. I was faced with a Spartan warband from the Age of Alexander. In the words of my opponent we had a great lil brawl. Quick and brutal. At the end of the 4th round, Sparta had three saga dice remaining. Since I choose Pyrrhus I, king of Epirus as a legendary Warlord, I would still generate between four and six.