Weekend Update

The post COLD BARRAGE post as it were... 

Well, Friday and Saturday it was "The Big Game", an ADLG Team Tournament at COLD BARRAGE in Harve de Grace, Maryland. Four of us comprising Team Full Monty (all of us residing in Montgomery County, PA) took on The Peach State Platoon, The Birmingham Bunnies, The Balrogs (another Pennsylvania based team), The Cellar Rats (some Allentown-Scranton area folk), and finally, The Jersey Boys. 

My band of time was the Medieval Period, with my Golden Horde Mongols, and I can say that I managed a perfect record in this competition.....a record of 0 - 5! 

That's right. Not a single win. The Golden Horde was more like the Iron Pyrite Mob. But we did slap a few elephants around and we did sack one camp. I learned a lot about playing ADLG and I had a tremendous amount of fun. 

Paul came all the way from Gee-orgee-ah with his Medieval Spanish and an auto de fe, I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition though... 

Bill from Birmingham (the one in Alabamia, not the one in the UK) and his Siamese, if you please. A close-run match that made me hopeful, only to be trampled underneath and turned into elephant poop. 

Kornell and his Medieval Hungarians. I really enjoyed playing against this gentleman, we had a great conversation and he was very helpful in showing me some aspects of the rules...not that it stopped him from schwacking my pony boys like a bad, bad bunch of donkey riders. 

Thomas and his Medieval Teutonic army was another up armored collection of Knights and Crossbowmen that defied my ability to find a flank and were impossible to play bowfire games against. My loss against him was the worst one, points wise, that I suffered. 

Kevin from Joisy, wid his Tech Support Army of Ellies and Ellie poop scoopers. Unfortunately, he was able to outlast my (sort of) brilliant tactical maneuvers... And that's my story...It was a close game, though. The flipping pooper scoopers were all "Impact" or "Bow-somethings" which made it annoying.

I did NOT need to rent a van to carry all this stuff. Includes the official Team Full Monty uniform shirt...

Bill's camp that I sacked and looted the fruit. I love this camp marker... 

Overall, this was a great show. Made some new friends. Saw some old ones. And I played five games! I almost never get to play that many games in a show. 

Were there cons to this, er, con? Sure. The short time between games meant that it was a speed trip through the folks selling stuff and seeing other games that were not in the tournament area. With COLD BARRAGE there are not a lot of options for food, so I usually bring my own. 

And I really, really, really got tired of fighting Up Armored Pony Boys. I'd rather see the elephants. 

But the pros well outweigh those cons. 

Can't wait for the next chance to run my Mongols. For now, there are some other things to paint. I will probably download some top down paper miniatures to make some training aids and refine my game. 

And I see I have completely forgotten to take pictures of the loot I brought home as well... ah, well. 

Next time.

More Mongol Madness!

As a break from the last couple of weeks of work and military duty, I went down to the RAP Gamers this past Wednesday for a game of ADLG and some much needed mental floss.

With the upcoming tournament at COLD BARRAGE, we decided to run another night of games. I was paired up with Steve T. who brought an Italian Condotta army to face my Golden Horde Mongols. 

His Milanese, or maybe Florentines, possibly Genovese were commanded by Fredo Sforza, with brothers Michael and Sonny as sub commanders. There were a bunch of Heavy Knight Impact and some naughty LMI Crossbows, and some other bits and bobs. Most importantly, he had a fortified camp, which meant my Light Horse Bow couldn't raid the bugger. I needed my Medium Cavalry at a minimum to sack the thing. 

I brought the army I'm using for the tourney, Chaka Khan as my general in chief with four Heavy Cavalry Bow, two Light Horse Bow, and one unit of Levy set in ambush. His brother, Jenga Khan, with two Heavy Cavalry Bow Impact, two Heavy Cavalry Bow, and two Light Horse Bow. And his other brother, Iffya Khan, with four Medium Cavalry Bow and three Light Horse Bow. All the Heavy Cavalry are rated "Elite"... 

At the start of the game, when all hope burned bright...

Steve surging bodily across the board pushing me back

Almost at the end...little clusters of Italians and Mongols beating each other senseless...

We played to the end, almost 10PM, and it was a nearer run thing than I figured it would be. I lost...again...18 to 14, but had there been enough time to play another turn, I might have managed to even things up. I did manage to kill Fredo in melee, he fumbled drawing his sword, so I hear Michael Sforza is now head of the family... 

I still need to get comfortable with playing Mongols in a more chaotic manner than I have been. The water feature on my left flank didn't help me spread out to flank Steve. I almost, ALMOST, managed to get a couple of flank attacks in this time. 

Still, another good time and a great evening out. On to COLD BARRAGE! 

Weekend Update

A quiet Sunday here in the Duchy with some time to play at my hobby before getting back to work om my thesis. Hard to believe a first draft is due in two weeks. 

Yesterday, I drove out to Carlisle, PA, to the Army Heritage and Education Center (AHEC) for a Re-enactor Recruitment Day. There were quite a few units and periods represented. I went at the behest of my American Civil War group, the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. 

Free piece of hardtack with every enlistment...

There were some Green Jackets and some Crapauds there are well looking for new recruits

The "great" Lynn Otto, and his Pennsylvania Regiment from the FIW was there. With some lovely John Jenkins Design figures holding down a map... 

Veteran re-enactor and wargamer Tom Flynn on the left and a buddy from Lee's Company of Rangers, also an FIW unit. The drum belongs to a Highland Grenadier company that does FIW and AWI

Various other ACW units, in this case, the 93rd Pennsylvania and the 1st Minnesota

Some of the ladies from the 39th New York (Garibaldi Guard) and their presentation

Finally, some young folks doing "Modern" impressions...pretty depressing to think I was issued and wore some of the kit they were displaying and wearing... 

There was quite a diverse collection of periods. And this was the first time since COVID they have held this event. I enjoyed it immensely, even if I did not manage to convince anyone to sign up and enjoy a piece of hardtack. 

On the wargame front, things are slowly moving along with my Mongols for ADLG. I managed a game two weeks ago against Bruce P. and his Order of St. John Army. That was a close game he managed to squeak out a very narrow victory on points alone. But I'll leave off pictures for another time. 

Finally, Happy St. David's Day to all the Taffys out there in Blog-Land! Have a leek for me. My last batch of potato and leek soup was quite good actually...time to get some chowder on for lunch. 

Trudging On

First, I would like to thank the friends who were kind enough to say something with the passing on my father. It was most appreciated, even if I did completely forget to respond via the blog. 

It has been a very busy week here in the Duchy. An exceptionally busy week at work, followed by the purchase of a new (used) car to replace my 2008 Ford Focus. More of that anon. 

The new Ducal horseless carriage, a 2022 Ford Edge with only 57,000 miles...

One project I have been slowly working on is a Seven Years War/Soldier King style project in 25/28mm. A recent post on TMP from a gentleman in North Carolina soon had me spending some Pine Tree Shillings on a large collection of figures surplus to his requirements, but quite fortunately, needed for my project. 

In a deal a la Jean-Luc Pickard of the Tiberian Armed Forces, concocted in Mrs. Miggins' Pie Shop, I managed to be the recipient of about 1200 figures, mounted and foot. Mostly RSM. 

Willz Harley, eat your heart out, Shipmate, I finally scored a deal worthy of yourself! 

Now, there are gaps. Many, many gaps. But fortunately, Jim Purky from Fife and Drum Miniatures and Rich and Dave at DPC, will be able to fill those gaps. 

My friend John the OFM managed to snag one box of Austrians before I could respond to the seller, but that is just fine. 

Finally, our Team Shirts arrived for our ADLG Team Tournament at COLD BARRAGE next month. The company sent the incorrect sizes, but as they were a custom job, I suppose we'll have to be satisfied. All of four them were sent as 3XL size, when only us wears that size... Oops. 

Since all four of us reside in Montgomery County, the name is Team Full Monty, with the outline of the county on the shirt...

Now, as things settle back into something approaching "normal", we can get back to toy soldiery things.  

In Memoriam

It's been a tough week here in the fictional Duchy, as well as in The Real World. My father had a bad fall, which resulted in hospitalization. Unfortunately, the combination of injury and age and other health issues was too much for the man and on Saturday evening, he passed into the next world, to be with my mother, who passed away in 2002. 

Frederick Peter Turner

10 June 1943 - 07 February 2026

My father was a pharmacist and also taught high school physical science, biology, and chemistry. He moved to Chelmsford as a young man in 1955 and graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1961. 

Graduating from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, he later earned a Master's in Education from Fitchburg State College, whilst simultaneously working a full and a part time job and helping to raise my younger brother and myself. 

After my mother passed away from cancer in 2002, he later met and married Laurie and built a second life, still in the same house he had bought in 1970. Needless to say, he had some quirks and one of them was the house I grew up in... 

After a forced retirement, despite being an intellectually active person, he languished and unfortunately did not do well in that part of his life. A few years ago, he was diagnosed with the onset of Alzheimer's and dementia. The last three years saw a progressive decline and more and more medical issues rob him of his health. 

I spoke to him Sunday, the day before he fell, making my usual Sunday noontime call. We had a very pleasant chat and he was able to tell me how happy he was that I was doing well and that he loved me.

My own love of history, reading, and learning comes directly from him. He never properly understood my wargaming hobby, it rather bemused him. But he appreciated the work I put into my figures and such. He always enjoyed my telling about battlefields I walked. 

I miss him terribly already. 

Weekend Update

Just a quick update on where various bits and pieces of my Mongol ADLG project are in the pipeline. 

My friend Neil P. was kind enough to gift me a pair of gers, more popularly known by their Turkic name, yurt, for my Mongol camp element. He generously sent me two different sizes. 

The larger ger, I decided to give it a bottom border, but balked at doing any fancy work on the border or the door. 

The small ger. Cute and simple. 

My highly technical Ambush marker

I went with decidedly simple ambush markers. Phil G. has some lovely ones, but I saw Steve T.'s and they were dead easy to make. Being only so crafty, so to speak, I went with the Steve model. 

In order to "ZOC it to him", I figured I'd make a semi-professional Zone of Control Marker like some of the more experienced ADLG players. I mean, it's a pin glued into a bare base. But I like it. 

Simple hills made from foamboard, felt, glue, and paint. I need a couple more, between my mandatory and optional terrain pieces. 

I have three commanders that I've got based up now. One is from the figures bought painted, two are from my recently ordered 19th Century Miniatures. 

Chaka Khan, the Supreme Commander

Jenga Khan, he's a puzzle for sure, but he's my Number 2

Finally, there's Iffya Khan. He's kind of a so-so guy, so he gets the so-so wing of the Horde...

Anyway, there's more figures to paint and more Moby Dick I've got to read for class. Hopefully, I'll be adding some Levy and new Heavy Cavalry figures. 

Away we go....

Again?! With the Mongols....?!?!

Yes. Again. With the Mongols. 

Another test drive this past Wednesday with my 15mm Golden Horde Mongols. Another game against Garth and his dastardly Normans. I am beginning to really dislike "Impetuous" Knights....LMI (meaning "Loose Medium Infantry") Bowmen...pretty much anything Garth has in his Norman arsenal. 

While I faced Garth, Phil (our ADLG Spirit Guide) on the left, and Bruce, on the right, pitted Romans against Other Romans.

John and Steve faced off with a pair of Greek-ish hoplite style armies that mostly glared at each other for the evening. (they tried to blame their poor dice rolling...)

Garth and I faced each other. My Right Wing has advanced quickly, thus throwing Garth into confusion since I am not doing Orc-ish things by charging directly at him....

My Cunning Plan was to load my Left Wing and Center Wing (?) up with Heavy Cavalry mit Bows and Surly Attitudes, whilst my Right Wing, which had mostly Medium and Light Cavalry (think Elves from LoTR with flowing hair and awesome dance-fighting moves) went for his poorly placed camp all the way in the corner. Taking a camp automatically causes the side taking it to gain four victory points or whatever they are in ADLG. 

Well, they were the four easiest points I ever earned. Unfortunately, I couldn't rally my Elves....er, Light Cavalry, back from looting and pillaging, so those fellas kept out of the fight for the rest of the night... 

Garth plotting my demise on my Left Flank. 

The turn before I loot and pillage, when everything was sunny and golden for my Golden Horde...it all goes horribly wrong soon after this... 

The Turn before The Golden Horde gets schwacked

Whilst I made a decent job of it on my right, it didn't quite work out so well on the Left and Center. I chose to stand when I should have Disengaged (NOT Evade...apparently there is a BIG difference in ADLG...who knew?) And I Disengaged when I probably should have stood or charged, but either way, the result was the same. Normans 22, Golden Horde 12. As in the number of hits that each side inflicted on each other. 

As my Break Point was 20, Garth snuck in a couple of extra jabs by the time the turn ended and we counted up to status. 

On the plus side, I have a better idea of how Mongols should work in this game. And I scored more hits this time than last time. Garth and I also went longer than the normal tourney game time. So, had time been called it may have been a draw. As we went into OT, that was where I managed to make some bad die rolls when shooting and Garth made a couple of clutch rolls in melee. 

Meh. Next week I've got Steve as my opponent. Bruce is off to the Caribbean for his 50th Anniversary, so Phil will watch Garth and John and Steve and I play and help adjudicate things. 

Hopefully I'll get those sneaky tragi-comic Mongolian Levy painted, all one stand of them, for my Ambush. I think Steve has something Camel based, which means smelly peasants with pointy sticks and LOTS of LMI bowmen....oh joy, oh rapture....