Demo Game Box

Today's video is inspired by my recent call-to-arms and a flood of excellent subjects for future videos. Subscriber Mr__Blue asked, "What are the essential contents of the umpires demo box?" I've adapted this question sightly to look specifically at what you need to bring with you when running a Demo game, either at a club or a show. I've run several demo games at shows and am working on one right now for a show in June so I felt this was a subject I could speak with a little bit of authority on.

As usual, I ask readers/viewers for their views and experiences on this subject. So please leave your stories in the comments below or over on my channel Miniature Adventures. 

How many dice is too many?

Am I the only wargamer that buys new dice for every rule set I own? I already own THOUSANDS so what's a few hundred more?

Miniature Adventures Needs You!

A call-to-arms for all subscribers (new and old) to suggest video topics for the future. I'm always working on several subjects at once, and I have managed to make at least one video per week for the last two years, but it's time I asked for help coming up with subjects to chat about. So do you have a burning question you need to be answered? Are there any subjects you would like me to tackle? What shall we discuss next?

Ideally, the questions need to be answerable in a ten-minute video or at most split into a short series of linked subjects. 

Managing Wargame Admin: Paperwork or Tokens

I recently discussed that I prefer to keep in-game admin on the table, rather than use off-table paperwork. Most games have some form of 'admin' whether this is recording hits or keeping track of conditions and effects. There is probably no one correct answer but today I ask, how do you feel about the use of tokens or other on-table devices for tracking these items?

AHPC Final Update FFL in Algeria 1900 1903

Last week I posted the traditional wrap-up photo of my efforts in this year's Painting Challenge on the Challenge Blog (see the post here)

I've now put together a very short video version of this post, showing all the miniatures I painted for my Foreign Legion project during the Challenge. 

Battle of Mount Rock - French Indian War large scale skirmish in 28mm

Once again I'm a bit late in reporting on this (covid-in-da-house) but now that I'm feeling a little better it's time to get this Battle Report written up. So a couple of weeks ago the Rejects gathered for a game in the Shed-o-War and this time El Capitano Postie was our umpire. His French Indian Wars rules are simple, fast to play and fun so when he runs a 'Skirmish' game it is usually on a massive scale. True to form this game used the whole of the 6ft by 12ft table and hosted five players fighting it out through a frontier town c.1757. Ray posted his battle report last week and it's worth checking it out here. 

The Setup & OOB

The British forces are a mix of Regulars, Light Infantry, provincials and civilians. They are dispersed across much of the table with the Line troops concentrated around the construction site for a new fort. They also have a unit of friendly Indians hiding in nearby woods. The French have a mixed force with Marines, Militia,  Coureur de Bois and a sizable Indian contingent. 

The British players (Myself, Ray and Mark) start the game not knowing where the French may attack from, and based on previous games, fully expecting to have to defend at various points around the table edge. I don't know if Stuart gave the French players (Steve & Surjit) much choice in deployment but they decided to attack with everything from one direction. The British had to wait a couple of turns to be absolutely sure that this was the only attack, before drawing reserves away from the other roads and this delay proved crucial for the outcome of the game. 

The setup (picture gratefully borrowed from Ray's blog, Don't Throw a 1)

The Action

The largest British unit on the table (not counting Militia) was the 44th Line, but they were concentrated around the Fort construction site, guarding several roads and a bridge into the area. When the French arrived at the other end of the table (twelve feet away!!) we had to decide whether to abandon this defensive position or wait to see what the French plan was. 

The French and their Indians emerge from the woods and move quickly to get across the river. Their movement was very swift and the British were on the back foot for most of the game...especially when the French kept winning Initiative turn after turn. 

French troops and Indians press forward sending British Militia and Civilians running for their lives. 

The 44th start to form up and move towards the battle, but having waited for two turns to be certain of the French attack, maybe it is too late?

The French press quickly into the town, with British stragglers ruthlessly cut down. Casualties are mounting and as the victory points for this game are purely based on kills, this is already a one-sided game for the British. 

One of the British Militia units has been pursued several turns and have lost all but two men. They decide they can't run anymore so bravely turn and charge the nearest Indians. Their attack, and 18 inches of British Steel on the ends of their rifles, kills a couple of pursuers but then the Indians rash in and finish them. 

Now the Indians start to funnel into the centre of town, shifting their attack more towards the left of the British defence. There was considerable confusion as units mixed (I'm pretty sure some movement distances were 'stretched' a little) but it was already clear this game was only going one way for the British. 

The British now see the direction of the attack and try to concentrate their forces. The 44th have reached the rear of the defensive line and started to consolidate into a formed unit blocking the road.

Formed up like this both lines can fire and with a bonus for volley fire...but only if they can get close enough to fire on the invaiders. 

Having swept through the outskirts of the town, the French forces reach a more open area and coalesce into a concentrated line. They are probably considering the wisdom of pressing across open ground (especially the Indians) but do they need to? They have already caused considerable casualties to the British for relatively light losses on their side. 

The British have a strong looking defensive line, but the light is fading and the French decide their raid has been a success. The Victory points agree! British 62 pts to a massive 132 pts for the French

The winners. Steve and Surjit after a well-deserved win. Steve's ability to roll hits was so impressive he won Man-of-the-Match, hence the happy look on his face. 

Conclusion

An excellent game, with some beautiful terrain and figures from Posties collection. As a British player, I was of course hoping for a different result, but the points at the end showed this as a clear win for the French, not least because they won the Initiative in all but one turn of the game.