April 2026 – Ancients Hail Caesar game

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Another Hail Caesar game was played while the practice game was fresh in our minds.

Republican and Imperial Rome took on Carthage and Macedon.

Armies were roughly 400 points for each player.

View from Roman side.

Macedonian skirmishers blundered and charged!

My Imperials…was moving the Auxilia for woods….they didn’t really want to move sadly. Rest of Macedonians are catching up.

In center and right was battle of the skirmishers.

Now that looks great below…..Republicans in their small units in the checkerboard. Heavy infantry and warbands moving to engage…the games have the right look and feel.

Skirmishers looking to pepper the Elephants.

The Carthaginian Army is an attractive one…very well painted!

Let battle commence!.

I really like the look of the game……other gaming systems don’t ‘do it’ for me….but below is how I always imagined a battle should look.

Smash……Roman Maniple system faces a testing time.

Macedonian Pike Phalanx clash with the Legionnaires. The combats between them are quite even but the Legionnaires had more and better supports….attrition got to the Pikes.

On the other flank it was also a battle of attrition…the maniples being small are quit fragile if you can’t swap them out of combat before they ‘pop’.

I managed to get an auxilia unit into flank of Pike block and it ‘popped’. The shaken Legion unit then withdrew behind its support.

Pikes destroyed….as are supporting skirmishers…..elite cavalry unit in rear was getting shot by the bolt thrower and forced back disordered.

Its getting messy …… units are withdrawing…popping …sustaining casualties.

Auxilia charged the cavalry in flank…who then turned to face….and legionnaire unit then hit them in flank. FLANKS.

The grinding down the Macedonians continues.

I had thought the Republicans were toast as last time I checked they looked in dire position…somehow…… from the jaws of defeat…….

End of Game….Macedonians pulling back…..Carthaginians are joining them.

Nice picture of Republicans…lovely paint job.

So that was that… an attractive looking game…..more lessons learned…..more rules understood…..more units now will get painted…….I think we all enjoying this change of period. We are working out the shooting from skirmishers is VERY IMPORTANT…..you need supports…flank and rear…..makes army list selection even more critical…all great fun.

Until next time.. Terry out.

April 2026 – ACW Campaign Game # 2 Strasburg

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So a 2nd battle has been generated in the campaign.

On a sunny Autumn Saturday the group gathered in my garage to play it. My better half deserted me for the day so I was on catering duty.

Thankfully….I have a large driveway to accomodate my guests!

The crew are below, Steve T was late and missed the photo session.

The battle was fought at Strasburg. The Union held the town, the Confederates launched an attack from Woodstock with troops marching from Wardens having moved there from the victory at Moorefield in battle # 1. A Confederate force had been at Front Royal but had retired to Lurray when attacked by 6 Union brigades who are presumably still at Front Royal.

The movement limitations are:

Confederate battery sets up on low hill facing Strasburg. It is a light smoothbore battery… 4 barrels..range 36 inches….beside town is a Union 3 inch battery… 6 barrels…..60 inch range…do the math(more than 36 inches apart).

The terrain has low hills…river…streams….open areas and… trees……most Union troops have rifles…24 inch range….Confederates … muskets….18 inches…..you can move once and still shoot….movement is 12 inches in open. Again, do the math.

Goldie in his gaming shirt of many year’s..it’s designed to ruin your concentration……more Union troops have arrived……

Lunch…….there had been quite a feast…..lovely warm day…..

Jackson has arrived on left flank from Wardens after forced march from Moorefield/Wardens.

Confederates have decided as it is a campaign….and odds of getting serious casualties are high…..with drawl is the best option……so below Union are moving after the retiring Confederates….

So that was that…….Confederates have retired from abortive advance on Strasburg….and both sides live to fight another day…..

Interesting result as in a normal one day game both sides would have just ‘gone at it’. But, its a campaign……and so pragmatic approach taken by Confederates.

April 2026 – Epic ACW Game # 1

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In a change from ACW being played in 28mm , some of the group have been squireling away painting(or printing and painting in Alans case)at the Epic(13mm) scale.

With enough now painted for a game Alan hosted our first game.

So 3 Union and 4 Confederate Commanders gathers for a 1st game. Alan had procured some new cloths from Temu as base cloths…looked good. All terrain printed/made by Alan.

Rebel force used by Rob (All Printed/painted by Alan).

We made the brigades all 4 regts. Each regt we have were 3 bases rather than the 5 in the Warlord Games boxes. Will will use 2 or 4 as required in games but 5 just take up to much space for the games we want to play in this scale.

Some of my ladz. I have enjoyed painting these.

Alans cheating…printing greatcoated chaps!

Robert and Russ fought at one end with the cavalry that has been painted. Lots more to come!

More China sourced add on’s…casualty counters and some yellow triangles with ! on them…we used as disorders.

The cavalry seemed to fight all game…….

I do like the feel this this size for bigger battles.

Alan has added lots of buildings he has printed/painted and woods(Temu).

In foreground Stephens troops…has painted butternut coloured Florida units for some variety….looked great. Alan has also made some small casualty counter similar to the Hail Caesar ones….. he ordered red dice…..got orange……Temu.

More Union advancing.

End of game(Thursday night…some of us are still working so finished 10ish).

So that was the first game in Epic scale. We got to move some troops around…were some combats…shooting…and play around with moving/shooting ranges etc. I enjoyed it…looked very good!!

March 2026 – Hail Caesar practice game

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As we are planning a Hail Caesar campaign next year based on the ‘Pyrrhic Wars’ period we had a wee taster game to have a play with the rules as ‘Ancients’ has not been a major play period for us(am ignoring those who play DBMM).

So I had 6 players around yesterday for a practice.

Armies in use were:

  • Carthaginian(Alan)
  • Macedonian Successor(Keith)
  • Ptolemaic(Russ)
  • Alexandrian Macedonian(Rob)
  • Republican Rome(Goldie)
  • Early Imperial Rome(Robert)

The 2 sides were Alan/Keith/Russ v Robert/Goldie/Rob.

Below is Alans Carthaginians.

Keith’s Macedonians….they blundered their first order and decided to retire…..

Russ’s Ptolemaic’s with pet crocodile awaiting Rob.

Robs force was a cobbled together from differing collections….Macedonians/Hoplites and Spanish.

Goldies Republicans.

Republican cavalry.

Rob’s Phalanx awaiting Russ advance.

Russ had his escape planned early.

Lovely painted Victrix figures…the crocodile is positioning for a flank attack.

Keith sends cavalry in against skirmishers who took the charge….they popped….

then the cavalry continued into the Hastati’s….our first encounter with them…..their special rules on swapping units in battle is….annoying.

Cavalry on flanks doing what cavalry on flanks do…..sorting out who is the best.

Goldie formed a Roman blob…oh for a mortar.

Combined Carthaginians and Macedonian cavalry take on Republican Roman cavalry.

Moorish light cavalry v Imperial Romans on flank..exactly as it should be!

The cavalry fights were … interesting…..

Yet more cavalry combats with a Roman Division also moving up.

The infantry battles were fights of attrition……the differing troops types made it interesting as players try and maximize supports.

We played the Hoplites as Pikes….they were grinding down the Ptolemaic’s by the end.

Fun… Russ left early to go watch a Rugby Game at the Stadium…..so I played a couple of turns at end….positioned the Elephants to charge flank of Romans….but before had chance to launch them..Rob finally got the Spanish cavalry to move…and they smashed a light infantry unit and carried on into the flank of the Elephants…who are allowed to turn and face them…cavalry don’t like fighting Elephants…they lost and we both retired!

And they was the end…..the Cathaginians were going okay… Keith’s Hoplites discovered Republican Roman infantry are tricky…his cavalry had a lot of fun though….and the Ptolemaic’s were in deep…deep trouble….on the other side….Rob was punching through the Ptolemaic’s now that his Spanish infantry has decided to move up…..and Robert was going okay against the Cathaginians…lots of shooting…combats…..

So lessons were learned…..was good as a rule refresher and now we can start having more regular games to get the hang of the game. I used the Army Builder from Lone Wolf to generate Army Lists.

That’s all for now…Terry out.

February 2026 ACW Campaign Game #1 – Moorefield

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After several turns of maneuvering we have our first battle of the Campaign!

The Union are holding the town of Moorefield with the Confederates attacking it.

The Union force in Moorefield is commanded by BG Louis Blenker and has the following forces:

  • BG Schencks(Alan) Brigade: 4 regts + Rigbys battery Indiana light artillery
  • Col Cluserets Brigade(Goldie)- 2 Regts + Battery G West Virgina light artillery
  • Col Dickels(Goldie) Cavalry attachment – 2 Regts cavalry, all Tiny units

On Turn 2 BG Milroy’s(Keith) brigade of 4 Regts + 12th battery, Ohio light artillery will march in on the road from Wardens.

The Union briefing and set up instructions is below.

The Confederate’s are attacking from Upper Tract where part of Jacksons Division with the Brigades of Fulkerson and Conner with SteveC in charge.

  • 3rd Fulkersons Brigade – 4 regts + Carpenters battery
  • 4th Conners Brigade – 3 Regts + Carringtons Virginia battery

Ashby’s 7th Cavalry Brigade with 3 small Regts and Chews Virginia battery of Horse Artillery commanded by Rob.

On turn 2 PaulW would arrive on the battlefield from Woodstock with not only the 1st Brigade of the Stonewall Division but the man himself!

The Confederate briefing and set up is below. Ashby’s troopers had been scouting the area and the Confederates were aware of the Union positions and the troops marching from Wardens.

The table is set up below from South to North.

Schenck’s Brigade below.

Cluseret’s Brigade is in Moorefield with a battery in a redoubt beside it, with skirmishing cavalry linking to the 2nd battery in a redoubt elevated commanding the center of the table.

Confederates march onto the battlefield. Ashby’s cavalry are on the left flank, then Conner and Fulkerson on the right.

Milroy’s brigade marches onto battlefield.

Jackson marches on…..much to the Union players surprise!! It’s like the French Imperial Guard appearing on your flank……

They flood forward……..

Schencks troops retire to consolidate position.

2 Tiny Union cavalry units stayed in front of the Confederate lines and were extremely difficult to move.

Lunch time and although we had all bought food along, Alans wife Joni prepared a feast for us!

The large Union batteries were effective…..the Union players didn’t agree but they were consistently disordering units and inflicting casualties….and being redoubts was difficult to inflict casualties on. The redoubts are 3 sided…we just didn’t bring them along(as we didn’t know about them).

Troops in buildings with artillery in cover makes for a difficult target to get to.

Over on the flank the dismounted cavalry were fighting it out. Thankfully….this distracted Milroy as planned so he was unable to support Schenck.

Jacksons troops in combat with Schencks. This combat went on for a number of turns.

The join point of Fulkerson and Winders brigades where the Union cavalry has finally been driven off.

Schenck is holding on and a regt from Milroy has arrived to assist.

The dismounted cavalry fight is over and the surviving troops of Ashby have been driven off, but without Ashby who was captured in a combat.

Schenk’s brigade has fled the field.

The brave 25th Ohio regt of Milroy’s brigade that rushed to their assistance is about to suffer the cost…..

The flank of redoubts were now open….

and both batteries were destroyed.

The death of the 25th Ohio…..

The remaining Union forces withdrew from the field of battle.

So a decisive Confederate Victory. I must say if was harder for the Confederates than I expected with Winders flank attack stalling against dismounted Union cavalry…the guns in the redoubts kept the Confederates at bay and Schenck held on longer than I though he would. The sacrifice of Ashby and his cavalry tying up Milroy worked perfectly however.

Great game for first one of the campaign and big call out for Russell of organizing and running a superb campaign.

Now, Summer has been a non event for us with the weather being generally awful. However, this month I had a 2 week break and Anita and I went and stayed up north in Whangamata which as expected was sunny, warm and the water was great! Anita had also accepted a new position so I celebrated with a Whisky purchase while I was there.

Below is the Tomatin 18.

Reviews say:

An 18 year old finished in Oloroso sherry butts…..Nose….rich and sherried…citrus and died fruit….palate……sweet…..fruit cake….chocolate….Finish…llloonngggg and warming spice and I will add…Oily …..in a pleasant way……an inspired purchase.

Sigh…will pop upstairs and enjoy one now….. happy days… Terry out!

So what will 2026 bring?

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Welcome to 2026…..

The group met for a ‘Council of War’ to decide on how we would structure any Campaigns for the next couple of years and review troop stocks so ladz could decide if they needed/wanted to add troops for upcoming events.

As a result upcoming campaigns are:

  • ACW Fire in the Shenandoah May 1862
  • Napoleonic 1813
  • Pyrrhic
  • Dark Ages

The ACW campaign is already underway with Russ running it and we are on Turn 2.Map is below. The Union players are Robert/Keith/Goldie/Alan and the Confederates Paul/Steven/Stephen/Rob and me(Terry).

The Napoleonic 1813 campaign will be our 3rd one and Paul will be running this in the second half of the year.

The Pyrrhic and Dark Ages campaigns are for 2027.

And to show the Gods of War are happy with these choices Warlord Games have just released a new book in their ‘Hail Caesar’ series entitled’ The Pyrrhic Wars’!

Within the group we have armies of:

  • Republican Rome
  • Carthage
  • Alexandrian Macedonian
  • Successor Macedonian
  • Pyrrhic

Additionally there are Early Imperial Roman Armies(that’s me….have way to many of them) and some Spanish. But then…campaigns have a way of spawning armies so who knows what will be added by next year!

The Dark Ages is tentatively 900AD to 1200AD and looks to be Normans/Byzantines/Arabs etc.

Tucked in among these campaigns will be the regular games and several ‘BFG’s are planned. The ‘BFG’ is a ‘Big ******* Game’ and these are those in the past such as out Waterloo 2015 game at the Wellesley Club, the Leipzig game and the Borodino games. A BFG that was held before these was a Gettysburg game on Christchurch which I did not attend… so mid year our plan is to play a 2 day BFG Gettysburg when our local club the Warlords has a 2 day gaming weekend at the club venue, The Johnsonville Club.

The 2nd BFG which will be in 2027 is a Normandy 1944 breakout rumble using 12mm scale.

So lots happening………

There will be updates through the year …..

Very excited.

Now rather than a whisky, as it is summer(well occasionally…when it hasn’t rained) I have been drinking Ginger beers from the Hawkes Bay Brewing Company .

The Ginger Fusion is a 5% alc/vol infused with mandarin. Its a beauty.

Then there is my favorite thirst quencher after a session in the garden. The Spiced Ginger Beer has been infused with Cinnamon and Chili and is truly amazing!!

That’s all for now….. Terry out.

December 2025 – Black Powder – Lossnig 1813

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The last game we played in 2025 was a refight of Lossnig 1813 from the ‘Lets Fight Leipzig’ Book which was a birthday game for Alan!

Map is below.

The scenario is the French are holding a line form Dosen to Dolitz. The Allies have 9 turns to take these 2 villages and Lossnig. The French have reinforcements arriving at different times, including 4th Cavalry Corp, 3rd Young Guard Division, 2nd Old Guard Division and the Berg lancers!

The French players were Russ, Rob and Keith with Austrians being Alan, Goldie, Steve and me(Terry).

The French players are set up defending Dosen to Dolitz.

The Austrians march on between A and B. French players below.

Dolitz defenders.

Alan advances towards Dossen.

Austrians advance on Dolitz. Goldie to the left of Village and Steve to the right.

Alans 1st and 2nd Austrian Divisions advance on Dosen. The 27th light cavalry Division is behind the village.

Austrians sweep into attack on Dolitz.

Alan launches attack on Dosen.

The French took an aggressive posture and attacked the advancing Austrians. Some gaps are appearing in both sides as a result.

Flanks……Goldies flank was exposed…and he was punished….his artillery was also placed in the open when it marched on…..took punishment while still limbered.

Combats lasted several turns.

Dolitz is still holding out.

Austrian Grenadier reserve march on and move towards French flank.

Alan is still trying to take out Dosen with assistance of Steve’s 2nd command arriving(was random arrival)!

Alan launched an attack on the Krakus who evaded….leaving Alan exposed to the Polish Cuirassiers.

Dosen rumble continues.

Cavalry playing.

French center cleared out. The Austrian reserve Cuirassiers should be on the table…but they refused to arrive…for the entire game!

Dolitz has been taken so the Austrian left and center move on Lossnig.

Dosen is finally taken. The French 4th Cavalry had arrived and were doing a great job of forcing the Austrians into square and stopping the advance. Without the Austrian Kuirassiers we lacked ability to quickly counter them.

End of game….boyz started packing up b4 had chance to take some close up pictures! But the Yound Guard were on table….Old Guard had not been needed……and it was Turn 9!

So French Victory and well done to them!

So that was 2025!

Terry out.

December 2025 – WW3 Team Yankee Game # 3

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After the drubbing in Game 2 it was 2 nights later and onto Game 3!

Sadly for me that meant my Germans lost 2 Leopards 2’s from the Orbat for this game… so a tough task just became…really tough!

So for this game I had…..a Pzer Company of 6 Leopard 2’s and 2 Pahs on table in the right top quarter of table. In reserve I had the Pzer Grenadiers and 1 Leopard that could attempt to come on in the bottom left quarter. The Russkies were deployed up to 24 inches in and 32 inches down edge of table. However, they start pinned and bailed out! They were 20 tanks….a Motor Rifle Company, 2 Shilka’s, 3 carnations and a BMP observation unit.

So turn 1 and I move first. I actually had a plan for once! I decided I needed to get rid of the spotters for the Carnations on turn 1. This would force them to move out from behind woods and over an objective marker to see me to fire. Winging it plan from that was to destroy as many targets as I could…..and send choppers into take that objective on turn 5/6.

My 6 Leopard 2s are lined up and shoot the tank unit on the left…which contains the command tank. They managed to destroy them all .

My choppers then took out the Observation BMP. So plan is working so far!

Sadly…my reserve Pzer Grenadiers did not arrive until turn 2…..just the lone Leopard…who raced away and hid behind a tree line and shot up 2 BMPs(target rich environment…but expected it would be destroyed quickly and needed to reduce firepower that would face my Pzer Grenadiers when they arrived).

Goldie manages to destroy 1 of the Leopards.

As expected… the lone Leopard is destroyed. The Shilka’s have raced forward….targeting the Pahs.

My Pzer Grenadiers arrive…..destroy or bailout the BMP’s. Their grunts were behind them sitting on an objective.

My Leopards are dishing out damage.

Carnations move out from corner and sit on objective marker.

Oh dear….the left side Leopard with bail out marker had now had it for 3 turns! last remaining Leopard now also bails out. Its not looking good……

Last turn…the bailed out Leopards remount…move forward and take out last Russian tanks.

The Pahs and Milan crews from the Pz Grenadiers the previous turn had taken out the Carnations leaving this objective uncontested. With the Shilka’s and every other unit of Goldies army bar the grunts destroyed…the Choppers flew over table and took the Objective!

The remains of the Pz Grenadiers …… they poured so much firepower into the BMP’s that Goldie was unable to hit back with much each turn as so many destroyed or bailed out.

Goldie’s grunts on the 2nd objective……they had a very quiet game.

Well…that was exciting! By turn 4 I thought I was toast…….the rolling of 1s and 2s from previous game was back….and Goldie was taking out my Leopards…..but somehow I manage to sneak a win!!

Was great fun…looking forward to more games!!

Terry Out.

December 2025 WW3 Team Yankee Game # 2

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So we played Game 2 of the 3 scenario’s.

This scenario has each player deploying up to 24 inches in from opposite corners. The Germans lose some Pzer Grenadiers, the Jaguars but gain 4 Leopard 2’s and 2 Luchs. The Russians add 5 tanks but lose the recon BMP’s and gain 4 Shilka’s!

So turn 1 and I have gone all aggressive and have units within 8 inches of the objectives. I had misread the instructions and I was meant to be denying Goldie them…not taking them…so I was way to close to him. Big Mistake!

Goldie deployment…..those Hinds are some huge awesome kits!

Woohoo……turn 1 German shooting…not quite as good as first game…rolling lots of 1s and 2s.

Oopsy…….being in the range of Russians so early meant I got some rapid pain.

Bit I did take out the Hinds again.

Goldies Motor Rifle Company was taking some damage…but to many bailouts which the passed each turn…..

Took out the flankers that got my Leopards last turn.

My Pzer grenadiers were dug in on a tree line by the Petrol Station……Goldie shot them up with the Shilka’s…. 16 shots…needing 6s…he through….8! Twas not going well as this stage for me.

The end is nigh…..

End game…..what a beating! I misread scenario…deployed to far forward…..through way over average for 1s and 2s…..and Goldie was able to elminate my Leopards quickly…as for my choppers…they were hopeless!!

So a good win for Goldie!

Sadly this loss meant for Game 3 I deducted 2 Leopard 2’s from my orbat!!

November 2025 – WW3 Team Yankee Game # 1

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For something total different, I asked Goldie for a game of Team Yankee. I have gradually been painting a West German force and Goldie has Russkies.

We played the 1st Scenario from the West German book which has the Germans defending a Russian attack.

Only tried 1 or 2 games before so an absolute novice as don’t play FOW either.

So I was defending a wood line in the middle of the table. The Russkies need to capture 1 of the 2 objectives and hold it at end of Turn 2 or 3. They can fail that and take 1 of 2 alternates toward edge of table instead on turn 4 onwards. The Russkies were 80 points of evil and I was 62 points of the righteous!

The Russkies get first move. I can have 1 command ‘Ambush’ which means hidden set up and are placed in my turn. I chose the 3 Leopard 2’s.

Russkies move up and unleash. My grunts were in foxholes and survived, however as a beginner I left my Marder’s in the woods rather than behind., and they got whacked. I had kept my 3 Leopard 2’s as my ambush unit which can be seen now in the woods below. A Gepard is providing AA cover behind the wood. The Russkie marker is an objective.

My first turn was basically fire everything I could! There were 12 T-72’s, 9 BMP-2s and 2 BMP-s to target!! The Mi-24s were out of Gepard range.

Woohoo…..some great shooting was made!!

The wee BMP-s quickly were blown away.

Next turn the Hind’s move up to assault the woods but the Gepard’s quickly destroyed them.

The Motor Rifle Company moved up the flank heading for one of the objectives. I managed to inflict some more damage.

WOOOHHHOOOO….. some more great shooting!

So one side of table now has no Russkies left.

End of game……the Russkies made it to the objective……so I had to destroy them in my turn to not lose the game. So the troops in the woods were shot at by the Jaguar 2s and the Gepards. The troops standing in the open were machine gunned by the Leopards…..and the Russkies failed and were destroyed!

Objective marker, its turn 3 and the Russkies are broken!

That was great fun. basically had no idea what I was doing…so game slower than should have been…but getting a feel for it.

The next game is part of 3 linked so this time I get 99 points as does Goldie. I get to add 4 Leopards, 2 Luchs but lose the Jaguar 2s and some Panzer Grenadiers. Goldie adds 5 T-72’sand 4 Shilka’s!

Should be fun.

Until next time, Terry out.