Rebel in the Room 2

Some pictures showing the setup for our big game just before Christmas. A very rusty affair with a couple of the guys coming out of ACW retirement and a few new boys to the Johnny Reb II rules too, eight of us braved the snowy weather (2 of us making it along after Christmas nights out!) not a bad turn out for the last Saturday before Christmas.

JP setting up for us as usual, the only man I know who carries an old snooker table baize in the boot of his car and a box of chalk in his back pocket while out shopping just in case he bumps into a fellow wargamer!

Ahh the Saturday afternoon rituals, tea, coffee, biscuits and crisps. Just incase we starve to death during the long hard game!

Down to the game in hand
The Union Army: David C had our left flank covered with JP in the centre

A closeup of David C's Zouaves.

I was on the right of centre in a pretty exposed position awaiting the arrival of Jon B who had sent a telegram (text actually, that he had just left the house, cockney rhyming slang for he had actually just rolled out of bed and was about to tuck into some sausage, bacon and egg butties before jumping in the shower!) The main thing was he was going to make it!!

The Confederates : basically set up in a big line right across from us. This was going to be a stand up fight just like our first games of Naps before we discovered tactics.

David P's troops on the far left of the Rebel lines.

On the left of centre was General Zebadiah Billy Bob Livingstone "Zebedee" to his friends! (we will hear more about his magical exploits in the following reports of the battle). To the right of centre was John M an experienced ACW player in 10mm. John M and Jon B do most of their wargaming in 10mm so we had to familiarize the guys with the larger 15mm figures (kind of like Father Ted explaining to Father Dougal about the toy cows being small and the ones in the field being Farrrr Awwway) but the guys are fast learners and the size issue didn't cause to many problems.

Finally on the far right of the rebel line was Billy S the most experienced ACW play of us all, a veteran of many a campaign coming out of retirement to help the South in their momentous struggle for Independence.


to be continued . . .

Rebel in the Room 1

So here we are in a new year at the club (a belated Happy New Year to all) and it's been a slow start with the mountains of snow everywhere and real life commitments taking precedent but the numbers are starting to pick up again.

American Civil War has been the poison of choice from our last meeting before the Christmas break (with 8 of us in a big shoot out) right through to last Saturday.

The pictures this time are from the big game pre Christmas that I should have had posted long ago but to be honest I couldn't be arsed due to too much work.

So I thought I'd start off with some closeups of the troops on display. The 1st 3 pictures are from David P's collection of Yankees and Rebels.

Some rebels from Billy S a very welcome new arrival at the CWClub, a seasoned wargamer who has been helping some of the less experienced ACW players (namely me) get the hang of the Johnny Reb rules.

Another piece of eye candy from David P's collection.

And some more shots of Billy's Rebel army.

One thing interesting about wargaming is how everyone has their own style of painting and basing figures and the more people you meet at the club the more ideas you get for yourself.

And a little bit more eye candy for the table.

And to finish off some more of David P's Rebs. JP and David C also had really nice figures with them that will be seen in the main blog but unfortunately I was (again) just off nightshift and despite taking loads of pics most were junk and had to be trashed.

So in total we have played 3 ACW games in the past few weeks with some of us playing a couple more and next Saturday we are going to go for it again. I must say I have enjoyed the little buzz we've had around the club for ACW at the moment but it hasn't stopped me getting humped most of the time. Last Saturday was the worst of all (big apologies to my partner in crime Robert T) who thankfully wasn't paying for his petrol on the day! However it has to be said I am just learning and the Johnny Reb rules are a cruel mistress that don't leave much margin for error. If you mess up in any way it's "Goodnight Vienna" (added to that my dice seem terrified when the big lads in the room, must be all those negative waves dude :-)

One last note: If you like what you see and read guys hows about signing in to follow your club blog and leave your own comments on how you think the games went. I know some of you are Technophobes so if you need a hand setting it up send me a letter in the post.