IABSM AAR: Return to Les Attaques
/Tim Whitworth and friends have found the Les Attaques scenario from the Defence of Calais scenario pack strangely addictive.
See all the new pics (at the end of the original report) from games two and three:
TFL Painting Challenge: Update
/I thought I’d get ahead of myself as I have a busy weekend coming up!
In no particular order, we have:
Derek Hodge with lots of Samurai and WW2 goodness
Carole with some more sci-fi figures
Mervyn is in the middle-ages (oh, in so many ways!)
A lovely mix from Travis: an armoured car, some buildings, Hessians
Mr Helliwell also sends in a mixture…along with a foolish claim to have finished one of his armies (we’ve all heard that before!)
Mark Luther fills a gap or two
There’s a gigantic castle and some occupants from Chris Cornwell
And last, but by no means least, it’s great to welcome Jason Ralls back to the challenge, and with a big first submission of the year as well
As usual, clicking o the name of the person in the list above will send you straight through to their gallery (opens in a new window).
We’re in the last quarter of the year now, so keep an eye on those points totals: got to beat last year! Speaking of which, the Scorecard will be updated in the next day or so: apologies for the delay, especially after my previous exhortation!
Today’s pictures:
IABSM AAR: Les Attaques
/Great looking AAR from Tim Whitworth and chums using the Les Attaques scenario from the Defence of Calais scenario book.
Click on the picture below to see all…
Blitzkrieg in the Far East Part One: Japan now available!
/
Published today, and available to buy from the TooFatLardies shop, Blitzkrieg in the Far East 1: Japan is the sixth in the series of early war handbooks for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum. The handbook is 116 pages long and covers the Japanese army during the first phase of the War in the Pacific, December 1941 to June 1942, when its battle-hardened armies inflicted defeat after defeat on the Allies.
Unlike the other titles so far in the series, the nature of Japan’s campaign of expansion means that the booklet is not divided into sections defined by the different types of division that fought, but into sections defined by the different geographical mini-campaigns: Malaya and Singapore, Burma, the Philippines, The Dutch East Indies and the South Seas. In effect, it is several theatre booklets rolled into one.
There are a total of forty-eight different lists split as follows:
Malaya & Singapore: 7 lists from 25th Army
Thailand & Burma: 5 lists from 15th Army
The Philippines: 16 lists from 14th Army
Hong Kong: 1 list from 38th Division
Borneo: 2 lists from 35th Brigade
The Dutch East Indies: 15 lists from 16th Army
The South Seas: 2 lists from the South Seas Detachment
Finally, we have the usual ratings and armoury sections, and a note on air support.
Although designed for IABSM, Blitzkrieg in the Far East: Japan contains a vast amount of information useful to gamers of other systems, and is really a must-buy for anyone interested in the early war period.
IABSM AAR: Grabow
/Another amazing-looking IABSM 6mm gamed played at Gigabites Café in September 2019 by Mark Luther and friends.
It’s Germany, February 1945, and the Germans prepare to counter-attack the advancing Soviets. Click on the picture below to see all.
TFL Painting Challenge: End of September Update
/More entries have been flying in, but generally from the same people. Come on the rest of you! Let’s make a bit of an effort in the run up to Christmas!
Today, in no particular order, we have:
Mark Luther and a lot of Germans for WW2 Crimea
Lloyd Bowler submits a stunning model of HMS Blankney
There are some sci-fi Ghosts from Carole
An emergency paint job from Mervyn
Lots of barbarians and a few Romans to face them, and some Shermans, from Travis
Stumpy has shroffed up an E-Bay bargain
Matt Slade has a multitude of Sengalese Tirailleusr for us to admire, and some tanks
There’s more Moorish cavalry from Steve Burt
Sapper sends in the Spanish
And last, but not least, there some more Italian Wars figures and, randomly, two doors, from Mr Helliwell
As usual, clicking on the name of the person in the list above will send you straight through to their gallery.
Here are today’s pictures:
IABSM AAR: Taking Ochota By Surprise
/By the end of the first week of September 1939, the German 4th Panzer Division had advanced as far as Warsaw. Thinking the Poles would be knocked off balance by the speed of their advance, German commanders issued orders for the city to be stormed via the Ochota district on the western flak of Warsaw.
The Poles, however, had heavily reinforced the area, with units from the 40th “Children of Lwow” Regiment barricading streets and manning gun emplacements along all the approaches.
The Poles let the Germans drive into the city, and then opened fire with everything they had. Worse, many streets had been covered in turpentine, which was then lit on fire, destroying several German tanks and catching German infantry in the inferno that followed.
This then was the background for scenario #48 (Taking Ochota by Surprise) of the second September war scenario pack. The game would begin as the Poles (played by Dave) open their attack on the advancing Germans (played by John). The Germans’ objective was just to get as many of their units as possible back off the table; the Poles’ objective was to destroy as many German units as possible.
Click on the picture below to see what happened:
Poland 1939: Book Recommendation
/
I picked up an excellent book on the September War the other day: Roger Moorhouse’s “First to Fight”.
It’s a very readable summary of the campaign that concentrates more on the day-to-day events of the campaign than on the politics that inspired them i.e. very much a wargamer’s book!
I’ve just started reading it, and what’s especially pleasing is that the first few actions described coincide almost exactly with the first few scenarios in the first September War scenario pack for IABSM. We’re talking Chojnice, Mokra, Wegierska Gorka and many more. I haven’t found any contradictions between the two publications yet either.
Here’s the official blurb:
'This deeply researched, very well-written and penetrating book will be the standard work on the subject for many years to come' - Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny
The Second World War began on 1 September 1939, when German tanks, trucks and infantry crossed the Polish border, and the Luftwaffe began bombing Poland’s cities. The Polish army fought bravely but could not withstand an attacker superior in numbers and technology; and when the Red Army invaded from the east – as agreed in the pact Hitler had concluded with Stalin – the country’s fate was sealed. Poland was the first to fight the German aggressor; it would be the first to suffer the full murderous force of Nazi persecution. By the end of the Second World War, one in five of its people had perished.
The Polish campaign is the forgotten story of the Second World War. Despite prefacing many of that conflict's later horrors – the wanton targeting of civilians, indiscriminate bombing and ethnic cleansing – it is little understood, and most of what we think we know about it is Nazi propaganda, such as the myth of Polish cavalry charging German tanks with their lances. In truth, Polish forces put up a spirited defence, in the expectation that they would be assisted by their British and French allies. That assistance never came.
First to Fight is the first history of the Polish war for almost half a century. Drawing on letters, memoirs and diaries by generals and politicians, soldiers and civilians from all sides, Roger Moorhouse’s dramatic account of the military events is entwined with a tragic human story of courage and suffering, and a dark tale of diplomatic betrayal.
Highly recommended:
Animate Your Games!
/Saw this on FB and thought it worth sharing!
I think I’d replace the couple dancing on the snail with a weapons team!
IABSM AAR: Decision at Le Mer, D-Day -1
/Bob Cockayne and friends have been playing out an epic Normandy game over the last month or so.
They only have a limited time each session, so tend to play a single game over a number of get-togethers, with Bob reporting on each one on a week-by-week “serial” basis.
You can see Bob’s original posts on the Beasts of War forum but, firmly believing in the binge-the-box-set mentality (I’ve just finished a Peaky Blinders marathon!), I’ve gathered them all together into one massive AAR that you can read here on Vis Lardica by clicking on the picture, below.
IABSM at Clotted Lard 2019
/Clotted Lard is the Devon Wargames Group’s annual Lard Day. A full report of the 2019 event can be found on the DWG blog, but here’s an extract describing the game of IABSM that took place as part of the festivities.
Click on the picture below to see all:
TFL Painting Challenge: Latest Update
/I’m determined to keep on top of the Challenge as we enter the busiest time of the year, so here’s another update. In no particular order, we have:
Travis with some more barbarians
Mark Luther (fresh from his AAR from Friday) with the first of his German pioneers
There’s some Kickstarter sci-fi from Carole
Finally Mervyn has escaped Hyboria: there’ s some foot sergeants and wild west desperadoes on show
More 15mm Renaissance from Andrew
And last, but by no means least, Lloyd claims to have finished his 6mm ACW armies for now with another large submission. Time will tell…but looking back through his gallery, he seems to have painted vast numbers of Greys and Blues over the past few months
And that was it for this week. For all my protestations, quite slow after a very busy summer. As per usual, clicking on the name of the person in the list above will take you straight to their gallery (opens in a new window). Here are today’s pics:
Finally Got Some Painting Done
/So I finally managed to get some painting done: a third Sumerian spear block.
These are more of Museum Miniatures excellent CAD designed 15mm figures: some of the best Ancients I’ve seen and very easy to paint up.
As with the other two blocks, these were painted using the new Citadel Contrast Paints: one coat only for every colour except the bronze.
Three down, three to go!
IABSM AAR: Cymru Am Byth #12: Let's Get At The B*st*rds!
/Mark Luther gives his very special treatment to the twelfth scenario from the Cymru Am Byth Welsh Guard scenario pack.
This is an attack for control of the little cluster of farm buildings on top of hill 242 overlooking Chenedolle at Le Haut Perrier on August 11, 1944.
Click on the picture, below, to see all:
TFL Painting Challenge: Monday Morning Update
/Morning all. Didn’t have time to update the Challenge over the weekend, so you get it first thing Monday morning instead. What a great start to the week!
So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are the Painting Challenge entries from the last seven days or so:
Mark Luther has been building trenches and pimping up tanks
More Saracen archers from Steve Burt
Yet more Conan figures from Mervyn Douglas…and it’s a trick question: he punches the camel in both Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer
Travis has switched to painting Celts
It’s good to see Stumpy back on the list: an eclectic list of basing from him
Three gorgeous vehicles and an amazing Arnhem bridge in 28mm from John Emmett
And last, but not least, a mix of sci fi, fantasy and samurai from Derek (I recognise those buildings!)
As always, clicking on the name of the person above will take you straight through to their gallery (opens in a new window); and I’ll be updating the Scorecard later in the week.
Here are today’s pictures:
And as a reminder:
The 25% Off The September War Scenario Packs Sale Is Still On
To mark the 80th year after the accepted start of WW2 with the invasion of Poland on 1st September 1939, the TooFatLardies and I are pleased to offer a great discount on the two September War scenario packs for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! with a whopping 25% off when you buy them as a bundle.
Written by Robert Avery and Alexander Kawczynski, each September War scenario pack for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! provides thirty scenarios for the theatre, making sixty available in all.
Divided into eight mini-campaigns, the first pack (The September War Part One) begins with the battles at the border, then covers the fight for the Polish corridor, the Polish Thermopylae at Narew, the Siege of Warsaw, the climactic battles at Bzura and Tomaszow Lubelski, and the actions of the 10th Motorised Cavalry “Black” Brigade and the Independent Operational Group Polesie. There are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, desperate defences…there’s even an armoured train or two.
Divided into six mini-campaigns, the second pack (The September War Part Two) begins with four based on specific German units: Panzerdivision Kempf, the 1st GebirgsjaegerDivision, the 4th Panzer Division, and the 1st Kavallerie Brigade. Then there are two mini-campaigns based on the Soviet invasion of Poland: the Belorussian Front and the Ukrainian Front. Finally there are details of two stand-alone battles: Westerplatte and the Hel Peninsula. As always, there are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, and desperate defences, all containing a whole host of useful scenario mechanics that can be re-used elsewhere.
No need for any preparation: each scenario contains a brief background history, maps, a full game briefing, and a full briefing for each player. Simply print out the pages you need, make up the deck from the list of cards required, unpack your figures and dice, set up the table and away you go!
IABSM AAR: A Learning Game
/Michael Curtis and friends had a quick “learning game” of I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum recently, all in preparation for their demo game at Salute next year.
Some lovely models and terrain already on show. Click on the pic below to see all:
IABSM AAR: Cymru am Byth #03: The Crossroads
/A great AAR from Tim Whitworth and the Like a Stone Wall group! This encounter is taken from the Cymru am Byth (Welsh Guards) scenario pack, and features a game based on their heroic but ultimately doomed defence of Boulogne.
See how the Guards stand up to the German Panzers by clicking on the picture, below:
IABSM AAR: Eastern Front Clash
/Desmondo Darkin and friends recently played an eastern front clash in 20mm using their dice-driven variant of IABSM.
Click on the pic below to see what happened, and to admire the superb winter terrain…
And as a reminder:
25% Off The September War Scenario Packs
To mark the 80th year after the accepted start of WW2 with the invasion of Poland on 1st September 1939, the TooFatLardies and I are pleased to offer a great discount on the two September War scenario packs for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! with a whopping 25% off when you buy them as a bundle.
Written by Robert Avery and Alexander Kawczynski, each September War scenario pack for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! provides thirty scenarios for the theatre, making sixty available in all.
Divided into eight mini-campaigns, the first pack (The September War Part One) begins with the battles at the border, then covers the fight for the Polish corridor, the Polish Thermopylae at Narew, the Siege of Warsaw, the climactic battles at Bzura and Tomaszow Lubelski, and the actions of the 10th Motorised Cavalry “Black” Brigade and the Independent Operational Group Polesie. There are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, desperate defences…there’s even an armoured train or two.
Divided into six mini-campaigns, the second pack (The September War Part Two) begins with four based on specific German units: Panzerdivision Kempf, the 1st GebirgsjaegerDivision, the 4th Panzer Division, and the 1st Kavallerie Brigade. Then there are two mini-campaigns based on the Soviet invasion of Poland: the Belorussian Front and the Ukrainian Front. Finally there are details of two stand-alone battles: Westerplatte and the Hel Peninsula. As always, there are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, and desperate defences, all containing a whole host of useful scenario mechanics that can be re-used elsewhere.
No need for any preparation: each scenario contains a brief background history, maps, a full game briefing, and a full briefing for each player. Simply print out the pages you need, make up the deck from the list of cards required, unpack your figures and dice, set up the table and away you go!
TFL Painting Challenge: 1st September Update
/Another two weeks of hard work by our painters, with the results appearing on the 80th anniversary of what’s generally accepted as the start date of WW2.
In no particular order, we have:
Matt Slade with some Valiant Miniatures 20mm goodness
Two Khurasan vehicles and some goblins from Ralph Plowman
More Conan from Mervyn
More 20mm WW2 figures from John de Terre Neuve
Carole sends in some treasure
John Emmett submits two lovely houses and a couple of cracking half-tracks
More 6mm and 15mm terrain madness from Mark Luther, and a whole airforce of tiny ‘planes too
Sapper has some Napoleonics to show us
Chris Cornwell has been at the Burgundians
The start of a new army for Andrew Helliwell: don’t tell the missus!
Napoleonic French Lancers of the Guard from Steve Burt
Joe McGinn has more 15mm Fallschirmjaegers, and some US Pioneers
As per usual, clicking on the name of the person above will take you straight through to their gallery. Here are today’s pictures…
And as a reminder from yesterday:
25% Off The September War Scenario Packs
To mark the 80th year after the accepted start of WW2 with the invasion of Poland on 1st September 1939, the TooFatLardies and I are pleased to offer a great discount on the two September War scenario packs for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! with a whopping 25% off when you buy them as a bundle.
Written by Robert Avery and Alexander Kawczynski, each September War scenario pack for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! provides thirty scenarios for the theatre, making sixty available in all.
Divided into eight mini-campaigns, the first pack (The September War Part One) begins with the battles at the border, then covers the fight for the Polish corridor, the Polish Thermopylae at Narew, the Siege of Warsaw, the climactic battles at Bzura and Tomaszow Lubelski, and the actions of the 10th Motorised Cavalry “Black” Brigade and the Independent Operational Group Polesie. There are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, desperate defences…there’s even an armoured train or two.
Divided into six mini-campaigns, the second pack (The September War Part Two) begins with four based on specific German units: Panzerdivision Kempf, the 1st GebirgsjaegerDivision, the 4th Panzer Division, and the 1st Kavallerie Brigade. Then there are two mini-campaigns based on the Soviet invasion of Poland: the Belorussian Front and the Ukrainian Front. Finally there are details of two stand-alone battles: Westerplatte and the Hel Peninsula. As always, there are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, and desperate defences, all containing a whole host of useful scenario mechanics that can be re-used elsewhere.
No need for any preparation: each scenario contains a brief background history, maps, a full game briefing, and a full briefing for each player. Simply print out the pages you need, make up the deck from the list of cards required, unpack your figures and dice, set up the table and away you go!
25% Off The September War Scenario Packs
/To mark the 80th year after the accepted start of WW2 with the invasion of Poland on 1st September 1939, the TooFatLardies and I are pleased to offer a great discount on the two September War scenario packs for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! with a whopping 25% off when you buy them as a bundle.
Written by Robert Avery and Alexander Kawczynski, each September War scenario pack for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! provides thirty scenarios for the theatre, making sixty available in all.
Divided into eight mini-campaigns, the first pack (The September War Part One) begins with the battles at the border, then covers the fight for the Polish corridor, the Polish Thermopylae at Narew, the Siege of Warsaw, the climactic battles at Bzura and Tomaszow Lubelski, and the actions of the 10th Motorised Cavalry “Black” Brigade and the Independent Operational Group Polesie. There are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, desperate defences…there’s even an armoured train or two.
Divided into six mini-campaigns, the second pack (The September War Part Two) begins with four based on specific German units: Panzerdivision Kempf, the 1st GebirgsjaegerDivision, the 4th Panzer Division, and the 1st Kavallerie Brigade. Then there are two mini-campaigns based on the Soviet invasion of Poland: the Belorussian Front and the Ukrainian Front. Finally there are details of two stand-alone battles: Westerplatte and the Hel Peninsula. As always, there are attacks, counter-attacks, encounter battles, and desperate defences, all containing a whole host of useful scenario mechanics that can be re-used elsewhere.
No need for any preparation: each scenario contains a brief background history, maps, a full game briefing, and a full briefing for each player. Simply print out the pages you need, make up the deck from the list of cards required, unpack your figures and dice, set up the table and away you go!
