Sunday All-Day session at LBWS

Last Sunday was one of our all-dayers at Lincombe Barn Wargames Society. We had a pretty good turnout and there were plenty of games being played. 

They ranged from Peninsular War Sharp Practice, via HoTT, Saga: Age of Magic, Warhammer Ancient Battles and an unknown AWI game to Alien Squad Leader.

We actually played through a short HoTT campaign, with a variety of armies (Barbarians, Pirates, two lots of Orcs) invading an island continent and fighting both against the defenders and one another. This was rather successful and we will probably do something else along these lines again in the future.

If there are any wargamers in the Bristol area, or even a bit further afield who would like to play regularly on a Sunday afternoon, we are located at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, Downend, BS16 2RW.

LBWS Barn HOTT report

Well, last Sunday was our annual Horses Of The Things tournament, with a reasonable turnout of players. We all played four games each, with each game lasting 45 minutes. It was nice to see regular competitors from outside the club again.

As usual, there were many different armies on the table, so here are some pictures, including one or two you might recognise from a previous post;

I did manage to win one game, which left me in the lower portion of mid-table when it came to the overall results, but the first and second spots went to Arnaud and Keith, who are regular attendees from outside the club. Keith fielded the excellent giant pumpkin army and Arnaud had a late mediaeval army that I came up against in what actually looked like a historical encounter.  I started out with an oblique line strategy, with my right held back to protect my Stronghold. Unfortunately, at the crucial point I rolled three or four 1s in succession when rolling for PIPs, which left me at something of a disadvantage, especially as I lost the unit defending the extreme right of my line, leaving the path clear for Arnaud to capture my Stronghold. So it goes.

Just another Sunday at Lincombe Barn.......

.............and this week, many of us were practising for next weekend's Hordes Of The Things tournament.

Personally, I welcomed the opportunity for a few practice games, because pretty much the only time I play HoTT is in January each year. This year, I decided to use my Warhammer Fantasy Averland-themed army, which I put together and painted in 2017. Obviously, I won't be using all 48pts, because the tournament uses standard 24pt armies.

Anyway, on with the eye candy. I didn't take many pictures, but I did want to show my army in all its black and yellow glory;

Here are a couple of pictures of Nick's Meerkat army;

And here is another one of my Averland troops against Matt's Dwarves;

Elsewhere, non-HoTT players were enjoying such things as Saga, Seven Days To The Rhine, Alien Squad Leader and 7TV Pulp (which reminds me that I really must stop collecting figures for the game and start painting the ones I already have);

All in all, it was a pretty busy Sunday afternoon, which always seems to be the case when we end up in the smaller room.

How did I fare in my five games of HoTT? Well, probably better than I'll do in the actual tournament. I won three and lost two. I think the blend of troops I've chosen is fundamentally OK, I just need to remember that Warbands destroy Blades and Spears if they win the combat, and that you shouldn't expose your General to the risk of getting flanked and then losing in the subsequent combat .

Feeling cold? Time to get HoTT at the Barn.

A fixture in the the club's annual calendar is the January Hordes Of The Things tournament.

Lincombe Barn Wargames Society will be holding this year's tournament on Sunday Jan 19th. As usual there isn't a theme for armies, i.e. anything goes. Be imaginative. It makes for a fun series of games. Armies are 15mm ones, based as per the rules with a 40mm frontage. The entry fee, payable on the day will include the traditional HOTT lunch. Let Nick Pope know if you have any specific dietary choices regarding meat or meat-free.

We'll also have an informal Bring & Buy sale for anyone who wants to either sell off old junk desirable collectables or fancies starting a new army or period. Details on our website (www.bristolwargaming.co.uk). 

If you wish to take part, you can leave a message here, or email me or Nick via the email addresses on the club website.

Our address is;

Lincombe Barn, 

Overndale Road, 

Downend, 

Bristol,

BS16 2RW

My army for this year's Hordes Of The Things tournament

I've had these painted up for a while, but didn't feel like posting them until the tournament was almost upon us (it is this coming Sunday).

I didn't want to field either of my existing HoTT armies (Warhammer Empire Averland and Hyborian Barbarians, the latter now repurposed for Sword and Spear Fantasy) so I spent some time looking for alternatives. I did thing about an Undead theme for a while, also Orcs and Goblins, but nothing grabbed me. In the end I decided to do something that might be difficult to play against, i.e. an all-Aerial army. It was only later that I realised that it would also be difficult to play with as well.

Anyway, I had a few things lying around, and a quick small purchase filled the thing out, so here it is;

It is a fleet of space ships (actually six of them are really Kra'vak drones) from Ground Zero Games, with a small asteroid as the Stronghold. The asteroid is made from a polystyrene ball covered in Basetex textured paint.

The army consists of

1 x Aerial Hero General (with the red flashes on the base and the weapons pods)

1 x Aerial Hero

6 x Flyers

Stronghold

I am pretty happy with how they have turned out. I know that they will be tough to get moving, because in HoTT, aerial units require two PIPs to activate, but it will be interesting to see how they fare.

Lincombe Barn 2019 Hordes of the Things tournament

January is here again, and with it comes the annual LBWS Hordes of the Things tournament, to be held at the usual location, Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, Downend, Bristol BS16 2RW

This year the event will be held on Sunday Jan 20th.

Armies in 15mm scale (or 40mm frontage if you prefer), no theme, so just be inventive.

There will be the usual informal Bring & Buy sale (i.e. bring along unwanted wargames-related Christmas presents, rare figures, armies you no longer love and whatever else you have lurking around and see if you can find a gullible mug willing buyer).

HOTT pies, tea/coffee (and  hopefully some biscuits) will be available to keep mind and body in peak condition. 

Doors open at 10.00 and tournament will start at 10.30.

Cost £8 (payable on day).

Please let the organiser Nick Pope know, either via the Yahoo HoTT group or the club website (www.bristolwargaming.co.uk) if you wish to attend and if you are a carnivore or herbivore pie-wise.

Lincombe Barn 2018 HOTT tournament

Yesterday was the long-awaited 2018 HOTT tournament at the club. There was a total of 12 contestants, four from the club and eight players who had travelled from elsewhere to take part. 

There was a wide variety of 24pt armies on display, with a huge variation in styles and inspiration, making each game a joy to play or watch. I brought along my Hyborian Barbarians, comprised of a Rider general, four Warbands, three Blades, two Shooters and a Hero. We all played five games, so we all faced plenty of challenges to overcome, some of us more successfully than others. 

Also, there were some club players who weren't taking part in the tournament. Some were playing Clive's excellent Airspeed post-apocalyptic pod racing game, just take a look at the terrain items Clive has scratch-built. I particularly like the trailer home with a garden. Even in a blasted wasteland there is a budding Alan Titchmarsh, dreaming, no doubt of the Chelsea Flower Show.

Elsewhere there was an Arkham Horror boardgame in progress.

Now, here is a selection of pictures of the main event, the HOTT tournament. First, Dwarves vs Meerkats (none of whom seemed to wear a smoking jacket or have a dodgy Russian accent).

I particularly liked this giant jellyfish (I think it was a Flyer) in the Fishman army. (edit: actually, as has been pointed out by Martin below, the jellyfish was a Dragon).

Here are my Hyborians in action. Firstly, against a nice-looking army of Abyssinians;

Here facing off against a Life of Brian-themed army led, inevitably, by Biggus Dickus as a Blade general and featuring Brian's Mum as a Paladin and Brian as a Hero, rather than a Very Naughty Boy.

My Hyborians also had a game against an army of Teutonic Knights, with two Behemoths portrayed by wedges of knights.

Here are the Fishmen against one of two King Arthur armies.

These are Ninja Camels, with a Unicorn Paladin.

And next, here is probably the most innovative army, made up from a load of flying Puffins with a Scary Rock stronghold, although the Rock looks more surprised than actually scary.

And here is Nick, who organised everything, taking some time out to photograph the various games.

Thanks Nick! Also, thanks are due to Andy, who organised the catering and kept everyone fed and watered.

So, what happened in the end? Well, the plaudits go to Pete, the defending champion with his Life of Brian army who won again this year. Here are the final standings;

1. Pete              W5  L0  15pts
2. Armand        W4  L1  12pts
3. Colin             W3  L2    9pts (killed 2 generals)
4. Mark             W3  L2    9pts (killed 1 general)
5. John              W3  L2    9pts
6. Martin          W2  L3    6pts (took 1 stronghold)
7. Owen            W2  L3    6pts (took 1 stronghold, but worse kill/lost difference)
8. Kevin            W2  L3    6pts (killed 2 generals)
9. Keith             W2  L3    6pts (killed 2 generals worse kill/lost difference)
=10. Tony         W2  L3    6pts
        Carole       W2  L3    6pts
12. Nick            W0  L5

As you can see, it was pretty tightly-fought, with many of the placings being decided by killing generals and taking strongholds. 

It was a terrific day of gaming, lots of fun and a nice and friendly bunch of opponents. I look forward to the 2019 tournament. I expect that I'll spend the intervening 12 months trying to build a killer army.

A new Hyborian stronghold for HOTT

When I first created my Hyborian Barbarian army for HOTT, I scratch-built a stronghold that was the maximum 600 paces square. Now, I really like the finished article, but it has to be admitted that it takes up a lot of room on a 15mm HOTT battlefield. So, I've built a new, smaller one that will hopefully be easier to defend.

You will see that I've kept the detachable Cthulhu statue, because I think that it is a terrific model, and I've used a similar construction method, i.e. blue insulating foam, cut to shape, undercoated, with ballast glued on, painted and then drybrushed and flocked. The two rocky outcrops that act as a primitive gate are two pieces of resin rock scenery that I bought at Colours last Autumn from, I think The Square.This smaller stronghold is roughly 300 x 450 paces. 

It has a secondary purpose too, because I am going to use my Hyborian Barbarians as the basis for a 15mm Sword and Spear Fantasy army, and this will be the army's Baggage Camp. Of course, I will need to buy more figures to give me a suitably-sized army, but when did a wargamer ever have enough toys? At least it will give me a reason to buy some of the wonderful Copplestone Yetis and Wolves (to be Large Beasts and Beasts), as well as more warriors to bulk out my rank and file units.