Friday Night "Nutters"

 On the night that we later learned was officially the wettest ever recorded in Auckland, John and I ignored instructions for essential travel only (to be fair, they were not in force when we were travelling) to make our way to Julians for another game of Nuts.

Julian had decided we would try a campaign from the Nuts scenario books, the first game starting with us controlling one single figure each. There was a German quad 20mm AA gun in the middle of a field, and a couple of PEF (Possible Enemy Forces) markers. and the three of us. The aim was to explore the table, looking for any other lost allied servicemen, and lead them off the table by one of two exit points. The PEF's in this scenario could resolve into either (on the roll of a D6) 1 - an equipment cannister 2,3 or 4 - Allied servicemen or 5 and 6 German enemies.

The scenario took place during the hours of darkness and anything over twelve inches away was invisible.

Here are some images and a brief rundown on the action.

But first, a special picture for Stew at Enormous Loss of Lead and Wealth, who likes details on any snacks - these are plain old Ready Salted chips for the pre-game munch!

I succeeded in getting one of my own 20mm Valiant figures on the table - even though he isn't a para (as per the scenario) or an American!

This bugger could cause us some problems....

.... but, not if the first PEF resolution test leads to a US officer appearing right next to it, winning the Insight Test and peppering it with grenades

Supported by SMG fire from the adjacent hedge line!

The results were devastating for the Germans! That Flak gun never even fired a round.

Julian was again a demon for rolling doubles at activation time. leading to a new PEF appearing at one of six entry points, or a score of 7, which meant a reinforcement for either the Germans or Americans

Initially, a couple of PEF's/reinforcements appeared as more US troops.

John's figure leads the new additions towards the ERV point.

Meanwhile, Julian took command of another small group and lead them up one of the Bocage lined lanes.

Another PEF resolved itself into a German LMG team in the lane ahead of Julian's band - we managed to generate about three or four of these throughout the game!

Two more PEF's appear at the far end of the table.

American paratroopers moving towards the ERV. 

"Hey guys, I think I can hear something."

Enemy forces coming the other way.

This was one of the Allied reinforcements, a lone NCO!

Another bloody LMG team - this one took out two of the three-man group Julian lead down the quiet country lane....!

The new batch of Americans reach the field with the Flak gun.

And yet ANOTHER German LMG team is revealed!

Allied troops close in from all sides.

But the plucky Bosche win the In Sight test and take out a few of our guys, including my character figure, who is forced to duck back behind the nearest cover where, rolling 2 x 6 for his morale test, (TOTAL FAIL in these rules!) he was reduced to a quivering wreck, cowering on the floor!

Tail end Charlie throws a grenade at another LMG team in the adjacent lane.

The combined group of Allied troops exiting the table at the designated point.

Various groups of pursuing Germans - we got our Band of Brothers out of Dodge just in time - even though we had to abandon one cowering American to his fate (it would have been suicidal to attempt to go back and motivate him to come with us, even though John REALLY wanted to do that!)

We lost 3 or 4 killed or Out of the Fight, but fortunately, none of our character figures, although I came pretty close!

The merry band exits, stage left - hopefully to rendezvous with more dispersed Allied troops in the next exciting installment - stay tuned!

Another enjoyable game of Nuts. Apparently, the guys at Little Wars TV have done a review of the rules, if you are interested in taking a look. 

Thanks for your visit and I hope you have time to leave a few words of comment.

Encore, Les 2eme Lanciers

 The 2eme Regiment of Lancers are now completed, including a bit of remedial work I felt was necessary after the previous post - so here are all twelve of them, including the command group and lance armed front rank, that have already appeared here once!

The musician now has a blue coat, as per the uniform detail card in the last post.

And I repainted the front of the trooper's coats too!

Now the new figures, the sabre armed second rank troopers.

The set only comes with a sword resting on the shoulder pose....

But thanks to the ease of plastic conversions...

Most of the figures have a different right arm!

I am now part way through another unit of plastic Napoleonic cavalry, this time some British Hussars - dont ask me which regiment, I cant remember!

2eme Regiment de Chevau Legere Lanciers de la Ligne

 These are the Warlord plastic line lancers I cajoled my daughter into buying me for Christmas. It's the second pack I have done and added to the two metal regiments I have had for a decade or more, I now own four regiments of line lancers - and there were only six in total, in this style of uniform - so that's a high proportion really! For variety's sake, I chose the second regiment, as they wore orange as their facing colours.

This post is only the first half of the unit. This time, I decided to make them more historically accurate and have done the second six as sabre armed rather than genuine lancers. The latter will make an appearance in a day or two.

Rather annoyingly, I found this reference when searching for an image to add to this post - not sure if I can be bothered going back to the trumpeter and changing his coat to blue faced orange - gggrrr!

The command element with my inaccurate musician!

Two lancers from the elite company, with red epaulettes to denote how special they are!

The two standard lance armed troopers

Here are all six together.

Nice simple figures to put together and to paint - just enough detail to make them attractive but without getting too fiddly. The horses colours by the way are courtesy of inspiration provided by this post from Peter over at Blunders on the Danube blog Blunders on the Danube: Hessen-Darmstadt Chevaulegers

With the sword armed "lancers" nearing completion, I have been inspired to go straight onto assembling the Perry plastic British Hussars that were a birthday present from my son back in August - so they will be next off the painting desk in the coming week or two.