US Civil War: Army of New England

I bought 3 groups of loose 15mm figures on eBay that I'm going to fix up for my Brigadier Army of New England.  The first regiment will be the 5th New York Zouaves, followed by the 4th Rhode Island Volunteer Light Artillery, the 7th Mass. Infantry, and the 3rd US Infantry.  The Army of New England is led by Brigadier General Clarence McAnally III.

Year in Review and Forward Thoughts on the New Game Year

Despite my paint and game totals I did accomplish a lot in 2012.  Started several new periods/genres, sold a ton of minis that I was never going to game with and purchased a ton more that I will.  I still have thoughts of consolidating my six wargame blogs into one, but am simply not going too.  There exists too much uniqueness to my 6mm Republic of Prussia and Duchy of Saxe-Huack blogs to mix them with others.  I have many thoughts on new and existing campaigns for the coming year.  I will continue to sell off minis that will not be gamed by myself or family and use those funds to purchase items that will see use and bring merriment.

2012 Gaming Year In Review.
Adventures with Gun, Sabre & Horse
Created my VSF Campaign.  Continued work on Balkans Campaign and WW2 German Army, WW1 French.  Colonial battles were fought.

Duchy of Saxe-Huack
Work continued on the Frei Stadt of Bittburg Army, it's only 4 elements from being finished.  Horror skirmish side campaign introduced.

6mm Republic of Prussia
Expanded campaign to include Africa.  Major character was severely wounded requiring retirement.  UN troops introduced.

The Comet Empire
Reintroduced 15mm to the campaign at my son's request.  Work up 6mm RPG system and expand upon it.

The Chronicles of Aeyr
Lots of action here.  Games played.  The Black Dungeon was created.  25mm warband painted up and ready for battle.

The Valeria Victrix
My Imperial Roman Legion Project in 6mm takes flight.  First centuria painted up, based and flocked.  Celtic Project began as OPFOR for Romans.

Upcoming Game Year
New Campaign Ideas
Microscale WW2 at Brigade and Division Level.
Microscale Modern at Brigade and Division Level.

Current Campaigns
Find troops for Balkans Campaign.
Finish Texas VSF Army.
Add Steam-Tech elements to VSF Armies.
Finish 15mm WW2 German Army.
Find troops for some VSF Factions.
Continue work on Fantasy Campaign.
Expand the Black Dungeon.

New Game Ideas
15mm WW2 Bush War FUBAR Skirmish.
Brigadier WW2 Rules
Commodore WW2 Naval Rules

Final Results: The Pledge 2012

Merry Christmas!  It's Christmas Day which means my gaming year begins anew.  A tradition that dates back to childhood when I would receive cash from my aunts and uncles and used that money to build up my model armies at that time.  I can remember fancying myself the "Inspector General" of my Imagi-Nations and perusing armaments to acquire for the army.

Pledge Final Results 2012

Painted/Purchased

6mm: 273/1059

15mm: 188/800

25mm: 13/21

54mm: 0/0

1/72: 0/0

Terrain & Acc: 23/5

Total: 497

Goal: 1000

Games Played Final Results 2012

Bush War FUBAR: 16

Hordes of the Empire: 1

Dark Myth: 8

Pathfinder RPG: 1

Hordes of the Things: 2

Song Blades&Heroes: 3

Total: 31

Target: 50

Now, it's time to set target goals for the new gaming year.  I only achieved 49.7% of my desired painting goal.  So I could reduce that desired number.  I just started using a goal last year, so I have considered removing it and just tallying what I do paint with the ambition of increasing each year.  However I do like the idea of setting a goal for myself to achieve.  So I think I shall set the goal of beating last years total.  As far as "Games Played" goes I do want a goal there, and I am going to keep it at 50 for now.  I believe that in this new gaming year I will surpass that number with ease.

Battle of the Alamo Vignette: SE Wall

I assembled and painted up this vignette as a Christmas gift to a friend of mine.  He's not a wargamer so he won't notice the combatants are out of place.  Besides it's the thought that counts.

15mm UEF Infantry Squad and Mech

Painted up the first of 3 infantry squads for 15mm FUBAR games with my son.  These were fun to paint.  The Mech is a GW 40K Tau model.

UEF 1st Squad, Strike Force Rhino, and a Class 2 Combat Mech.

Raid on Kutebbe

Strike Force Jackal led by Lt. Heinrich Pilz was tasked with escorting a UN Peacekeeping team to the small town of Kutebbe.  Word had come that Mafeking Nationalist Front had siezed the town, and killed many of it's folk.  The Nationalists Front sent one of their bloodiest field commanders, Major Umboto Daudee, to capture the town and setup a training camp for young boys being forcibly conscripted into the MNF.  

The UN contacted Prussia and advised that if our forces would liberate the town they would send in peacekeepers to protect it.  So accompanied by a Mafeking Republic political officer the Strike Force set off with the UN team to retake the village.

Deployment

Mafeking Nationalist Front troops led by Major Daudee.

SF Jackal and UN Peacekeepers

MNF Armored Car takes out a SF HMV and killing the Mafeking Political Officer
 and a Prussian soldier.  The rest of Squad 1 exit the burning vehicle.

Fighting continues as both sides advance.

The UN Team decides to advance cautiously, and comes under fire.
The UN Armored Car fires it's gun but misses.  However just a minute later the
UN armoured  car is hit from RPG fire and takes critical damage.
Luckily the crew survived with minor wounds.

Squad 1 siezes the west bank of the murky Kutebbe Lake and sets up
 a field of fire on the advancing MNF troops.  Squad 2 deploys and
 attacks the MNF in their right flank.  Meanwhile Lt. Pilzs' T-55P tank takes
 out the MNF armoured car.

As their casualties became severe Major Daudee and a follower
 flee the field running for their miserable lives.

Post battle the PDF assists the UN team with clearing the town.  The UN troops commandeer the abandoned MNF cargo truck.  SF Jackal loads up and heads back to Camp Bushbuck.

VSF: Texas Tea in China - The Republic Strikes Back!

The Republic of Texas sent an aether ship and a platoon of soldiers to Hong Kong, China to investigate the alledged kidnapping of Texas import millionaire, R. George Burt.  The Hong Kong Expedition arrived at Mr. Burts warehouse on the western outskirts of Hong Kong close to the silk farms where he purchased his inventory.  Lt. Don Gobel leads a squad of soldiers down to investigate the charred remains of the building once known as Burt Far Asia Imports.

Initial deployment.  Boxers on the left, Texans on the right.

Lt. Gobel's squad investigates the ruined warehouse while
 Sgt. Holcomb's squad waits on the aether ship. 

RTAS Auston with sailors and soldiers of the Hong Kong Expedition.

Nationalist Chinese Boxers.

Boxers spot the hovering aether ship and advance to kill more foreigners.

Seeing the advance Lt. Gobel's soldiers on the ground and his men
and sailors in the aether ship fire on the advancing Boxers killing 4.

Boxers in their frenzy charging the warehouse.  While his squad shoots
 them down, Lt. Gobel orders Sgt Holcomb to burn down
 the Boxer Communal Hall and for his men on the
ground to "FIX BAYONETS!"

Texas Sailors maneuver the aether ship over the Boxer communal hall.

Boxers dying at the feet of the Texans!

Sgt Holcomb and a trooper set fire to the Boxer hall.

Crazed boxers charge in and kill 2 Texans in bloody hand to hand combat.

The RTAS Auston circles back to the warehouse to find
 Lt. Gobel with 3 of his soldiers left holding the
warehouse surrounded by dead Boxers.

The three dead Texas soldiers are, Pvt. Emilio Guiterez, Pvt. John Bach, Pfc William Bell.  All three were buried at sea on the return trip with full military honors.  Lt. Don Gobel and his Hong Kong Expedition were treated as heroes upon their safe landing in Corpus Christi.  All were awarded Expedition medals created for the raid, and some will soon see promotion!  Lt. Gobel and the 4 surviving soldiers of his squad were all awarded The Crockett Star for bravery in combat.

The battle was fought using my Bush War FUBAR mod.  The Boxers were classed as Green d6 troops, with the Texans as Seasoned d8 troops.

UN Peacekeepers

Since the PDF is now involved in the Mafeking Civil War I thought it would be neat to introduce some peacekeepers into the mix.

Skirmish Rules Update: Bush War FUBAR

I've uploaded my own version of FUBAR over at the Forge of War forums, it can be found here: Bush War FUBAR these are the same rules I use in my 6mm modern campaign.  Thanks.

War Hero Returns Home

 KOENIGSBERG, Prussia (REUTERS News):  Captain Erik von Falkenhuack returned home today aboard an army transport plane.  Due to his grievous wounds suffered during intense fighting to save an allied Russian helicopter crew; the Captain is no longer fit for field service.  For the loss of his right arm, and leg along with his left eye the Captain has been awarded the Frederick's Cross as do all Prussian soldiers whom are wounded in combat.

Captain Falkenhuack has been reassigned to the Koenigsberg Military Academy as an instructor of Small Unit Tactics and German Military History.

Frederick's Cross.  Awarded to all Prussian Soldiers whom sustain wounds in combat.