Huzzah 2026

 

This past Saturday I drove up to Portland, ME for the annual gaming convention put on by the Maine Historical Wargamers Association. I played a two games.

Sharp Practice FIW

This game was put on by Jack Breen, and he really did a great job. The scenario who put together was a lot of fun. Essentially a French warband comprised of Milice Canadien, Coureur de Bois and Indiens had attacked an English settlement 2 days before, burning several buildings as well as wiping out the settlers. One of the settler's daughters convinced a mixed British force to go back to the ruined settlement to gather up gold, silver, liquor and food that had been hidden in the village. This force made up of Regular infantry, Colonial militia and Rangers had to gather this by task rolls once making contact with the areas where the goods were hidden. The French players had no idea what the British players victory conditions were. It was a lot of fun and quite a bloody engagement but the British pulled it off.

Great Terrain

No end of gun fire

What a Cowboy

This game was put on by Tom Ballou, there were 9 players with one character each divided into 3 groups; the Good, the Bad and the Ugly! I would not have thought this would have worked as I am used to games where each player has 2-4 characters but it was enormous fun and Tom did a great job creating an excellent gaming scenario. I think 2 of us had played the ruleset before but the other 7 players figured it out very quickly and the session was enjoyed by all.

The Terrain

The Character Plates

Tom made us all throw in a dollar as the prize

Tom explains the rules!

Other Games

I wish I could do Teddt Bear fur like this.

This topographical terrain was very well done with styrofoam and vinyl spackle.

My friend Mike's CoC game, this is a great mat.

Another nicely done table

ditto

Naval Theatre, a new WWII ruleset put on by Adam

It was a great day, really enjoyed the 2 games I played. Two terrific games masters and generally a lot of nice looking games. Look forward to next year.

Huzzah 2024

I had a nice day Saturday meeting up with some old gaming friends in Portland, Maine. This is the major gaming convention in the northeast of the US and is generally well attended. There were quite a few games but maybe less vendors than usual. I only went up on the Saturday, but got in 2 games.

Devil in San Miguel

This is an offshoot of the Devil in the Wilderness but has a weird west setting with a large Lovecraftian element. The characters in the game are the descendants of the Mather and Burrough's faction from the original game who are involved in a generational conflict between good and evil. Interesting enough though one can also have a K'y-an faction which should be known to any fan of Lovecraft's novella, The Mound.  How cool is that. Our game had 6 players with the Witch-Hunters facing off against the Witches. The game appears to more streamlined than the original and I certainly enjoyed myself. Here are a few photos. The rules are quite simple and I would play again and I hope to put on a game myself.

Force on Force Chad-2008

I played this game in the afternoon, I had never played Force on Force, and as I was quite curious about the ruleset I signed up for this game. It was also my introduction to wargaming in the 21st century, a period characterised by asymmetric conflicts. Here we have an UN Irish peace force trying to get a convoy of aid across southeastern Chad. A rebel faction of insurgents is trying to stop them to capture the aid. This was certainly a very impressive set up. The terrain was just amazing as were all the figures and vehicles. I should note that the games-master won best of session.  I quite enjoyed the game, and the rules were quite good but I believe they might have a bit of a learning curve. I would play again.

A day well spent.

 

Huzzah 2022-Chain of Command

 

Last Friday, I had a quick trip to Portland, ME for the annual convention put on by the The Maine Historical Wargamers Association. I could only go for a half day as I have been recently working around the clock. This was the first convention in 3 years so it was extended by a day with 3 days of wargaming rather then the usual two. 

I actually had signed up for 2 games, one Friday morning and one in the afternoon. The afternoon game was cancelled, I would have liked to have played it as it was a WWII version of Epic. But the highlight, of course ,was going to be Dick Bryant's CoC game. I have played three times in Dick's games in the past and they are always characterised by excellent terrain and scenarios. This game was the best he has put on.

The scenario "Just Another Bridge" pitted a German Rifle Platoon against an Elite American Paratrooper Platoon. It was not immediately obvious that although the Americans were the attackers, the German defenders had to go on the attack to win the game. We had 4 players, 3 novice and myself, whom Dick had characterised by epitaph "Expert". I was one of the Germans and as it came to pass Expert does not mean Good!

I will not go into the game itself but Dick and his friend Richard put on an excellent game and my 3 fellow players were all great and picked up on the game quite quickly. So quickly, in fact that the novices easily won the game. Here are some photos.

Dick explaining to Bill and Jon the how to play the game.

Some American Paratroopers, they are protecting a squad of engineers whose task is to blow the bridge.

The Germans aggressively advancing with 2 squads to Handgranaten the Engineers. 

The American engineers were quite difficult to get LOS on.

Thanks to Bill and Jon who played the Americans and David who played with me for the Germans. 

Hobby Bunker Games Day-8-24-19

 

Hobby Bunker had it's annual summer gamesday yesterday, there seemed to be an excellent turnout with lots of good looking games. Unfortunately I got wound up into the two games I played and completely neglected to take any photos of the other games.

Maneuver

This was a fan based WWII Tactical ruleset  on the Napoleonic Boardgame Manoeuver. Gabriel from New Hampshire put together the ruleset and from what I understand is hoping to get it published. I really thought it was a lot of fun, a lot of decision making but mechanics were quite simple. Definitely would play it again, so I hope he gets it published.

Microarmour with each element representing a believe a company.

Hex based movement

Eas=ch unit was combined arms with 1 infantry company and 1 armoured company allowed in each hex.

I got crushed!

Sharp Practice

My friend Mike put on a great game  of SP2, I believe set in 1813, just prior to the Battle of Bussaco.

He really has fantastic figures and put on a great game. The other two players had not played before and although I have played it was not for some time. Mike did a brilliant job on teaching the rules and keeping the game flowing.

 

Do not let the 95th get in hard cover!

 

 

A failed but glorious charge of the French Dragoons against the British Red Line.

I really had a great time, and thanks to the Hobby Bunker owner, Matt Murphy for hosting such a great event. 

Huzzah 2019

 

This past weekend Huzzah, the once a year con put on by MHWGA took place. It is usually held in Portland, ME and appears to be generally well attended. It is the only con, I have ever gone to and have gone 4 out of the past 5 years. I was a little disapointed this year as there was only 4 TFL games and I was only able to sign up for two as they are quite popular. I decided to just drive up each day rather than stay the night, it is only 90 minutes and a pleasant drive. There were several nice looking games but of course, I only photographed a few.

Day 1

This was a lovely looking Victoria Pulp Horror game set in the jungle. Very nice looking figures as well, apparently some dinosuars were attacking a German explorers camp but they are not there yet.

Dracula in America, again quite nice.

I forgot what this one was.

My friend Mike's SP2 game which I believe was filled within a couple of hours.

Looks like some Spaniards

Quite a firing line.

Flint and Feather

This is the game I played on Friday afternoon, I have been curious about these rules for sometime. A skirmish set set in the period before European exploration of North America. The game is put out by Crucible Crush, a British Columbian gaming company. They have some absolutely stunning figures as you will see below. Exactly in scale with Conquest Miniatures from where I obtained my FIW figures. They are quite an eclectic company with 28mm figures foe WW2, Cthulhu (very nice deep ones) as well as the Flint and Feather line which includes various mythical creatures including the Windego.

I had quite a lot of fun with the game, myself and my friend Adam teamed up against 2 other guys. Beautiful terrain as you can see as well as great looking figures. I would play again and will probably buy the rulebook. The guy who ran the game said they are quite well supported by the rules writer.....and we won!

 

 

Day 2

I got there a little late on Saturday so did not get a lot of photos taken as I had some purchases to make and some people to chat with. The game below did catch my eye though. It is the main square of Florence during the time of the Medici and the game was set around the Pazzi Conspiracy. How cool is that! The game was put on by Rich Clayton, the president of the Boston Trained Bands gaming club. Really a great looking terrain and the buildings are all from TTCombat, which was great for me as they are the buildings I plan to use if I ever get my Carnevale Venice table off the gound. I took a lot of photos.

 

 

 

 

 

Chain of Command

Of course the main event for me was  the CoC game I was signed up for. The game was put on by Dick Bryant, one of the fathers of miniature wargaming in the northeast. We played an Attack and Defend scenario with an American Armoured Rifle platoon attacking a village held by a unit of Panzergrenadiers. Three aside, I played with 2 of my regular gaming friends, Tom was the American platoon leader (I was one of the squad leaders) taking on Mike who was the German PzG platoon leader. I had not played the Americans much and these guys had no BAR's! We did make good use of the 50cal HMG though and with this we were able to defeat the PzG's, I think by 6FM. It was a fun game and Dick did a great job. I believe we were all quite familar with the rules and that must me a challenge for the gamesmaster.

Dick telling Mike on how he wanted the JOP's placed!

My squad of Americans

Well placed PzG's.

Lots of fireing across the field

Well I had a good time and I think next year we will try to emulate other North American lardies and  and put on several TFL games.