The Curious Case Of Ms. Slocombe's Posse...

So, after a quick round of social bashes at work, I find myself giving over this weekend to gaming aplenty.

Messrs Neatherway and Watkins, the Div and Rich popped round on Saturday for this months' boardgame bash.  We began with Gibson Games' Britannia, cleared the palate with The Stars Are Right (kindly provided by Mr. Watkins) and unfortunately came a cropper with the dense, rich confection that is Arkham Horror with its various expansions.

Britannia was great fun, not least because of the petty turf fighting it encourages, and the fact that it really is unclear who is winning for most of the full game's sixteen turns.  However, the balance of the five player version was the subject of some discussion, as poor Mr. Neatherway never seemed to be in control of a tribe/faction that could acquire significant numbers of points.  There was much dark muttering about "house rules for next time..."

The Stars Are Right was a great example of a fiendishly simple game to pick up, but with plenty of potential subtlety.  Mr. Watkins and the Div commented that it was all the more better for having numerous players.  There followed a short intermission as food was sought, and Rich walked a dog.

Our ambition got the better of us, as we attempted to play Arkham Horror.  Unfortunately, I'd not filtered out the various expansions, and soon we were disappearing behind stacks of counters and cards.  Never say that FFG stint on their games' components.  As the sun dawned, and mental faculties dimmed, the assembled gamers fled, to reserve their powers for forthcoming events...

Specifically, AWC's themed Club Sunday.  For the Div and I, it was time to mosey on over and take part in our One Day Legends Of The Old West campaign, magnificently organised by Chris W.  The theme days really do seem to be encouraging participation from club members, which is fantastic. 

I can only give edited highlights, focussed around Ms. Slocombe's Lawmen posse, led by Sheriff Peacock (ex-US Army Captain) and his two deputies, the Grace Brothers.  Ms. Slocombe's violent pink hairdo attracted a good deal of fire during the day, whilst Miss Brahms (late of Miss Kipling's House Of French Fancies) always seemed to get the better of her male opponents in melee (everyone made the same observation regarding this ability of hers...).  After a severe drubbing at the hands of Juan Cornetto's Mexicans, the posse rallied magnificently against some pesky Indians.  Captain Peacock seemed to be working through some kind of trauma, as he did for 3 of them with some magnificent shooting.  The Slocombe posse had the misfortune to run into Juan Cornetto's boys again towards the end of the day, but managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.  Vigilante Mr. Humphreys was particularly pleased, having spent much of the game trapped by the Mexicans, and was heard to joyously announce "I'm free!" towards the scenario's end.  A great day with many other fantastic moments and games unnoticed here, sadly.   

With AWC's regular Club Friday on the horizon, I see it's time to swap the well-worn double entendres of "Are You Being Served?" for those of  "Carry On Up The Khyber", as once again we seek to establish whether the Mahdists do indeed like it up 'em...

Charlie Don't Surf: Experience versus youth...

So, this week has seen me embark upon painting up a platoon of VC for Charlie Don't Surf, along with a couple of support weapons.  After an unscientific review of source material (in other words some DVDs were watched), I decided go for a more irregular look than the last time Charlie got painted.  Primarily this was to avoid masses of figures who look like they could "throw on some pearls and be ready for evening wear" (he misquoted in typing).  The plan is to finish them by the end of Sunday, with the incentive being that each stick of miniatures completed is a Peter Pig pack that can be bought at Warfare 2010. 

Well, that's the plan.

On the gaming front at Abingdon Wargames Club, Junior members Joe and Luke took on the role of the British at the second battle of el-Teb against the wily veteran Nick, and utter gaming newbie Andrew, for a game of They Don't Like It Up 'Em.  No-one left that night traumatised by the game, which is always a good sign. 

Joe clearly remembered from his previous game that charging cavalry up a rocky slope was a bad idea, and the British actually adopted a setup close to their historical counterparts.  However, their initial caution ("I know the card lets my brigade act, we're happy where we are!") allowed the main Mahdist body of troops to actually move up and join their brothers in arms on the central ridge dominating the battle field.  By this point the British finally had begun to advance, with Luke's cavalry spotting like men possessed.  Unfortunately, this merely prompted the Mahdists to rise as one, screaming "Allah Akhbar!" and hurl themselves at the Brits.  This was the most breathtaking use of that particular card I'd seen (certainly better than using it when the enemy are almost two feet away) with only one Mahdist Rub not involved!

It's perhaps best to draw a modest curtain over what then occurred, particularly given the fact that only two units of British had fixed bayonets.  Suffice to say, Big Men of the calibre of Fred Burnaby were low on the ground once the dust settled....

Work commitments (or should that be socials?  Oh, the curse of being in multiple departments!) mean I won't return to a Friday meeting until the 22nd of October.  However, there is the prospect of a one-day Legends Of The Old West Campaign on the 17th.  Already, the Grace Brothers' posse of lawmen are dusting off their six-shooters...