The Bordurian Incursion Part 1

Every time I read about games in non-existing, imagined countries (Imagi-Nations) I thought about doing this myself. As a long time fan of Tintin, Syldavia and Borduria immediately came to mind. I wanted to use the Toofatlardies Sharpe Practice rules but stretch them to a little beyond the Franco-Prussian war, before the Balkan Wars.

Fortunately Simon Walker published his "Pushing the envelope" article in Lard Mag 02, providing Sharpe Practice rule additions to allow for this.

I had collected a bunch of miniatures I wanted to use. The idea was that Syldavia would receive support from France/Belgium and Borduria from Germany/Austria. The WWI Belgians with shakos from Brigade Models and Northstar were going to be Syldavian light infantry. The 1870 Prussians from Foundry were going to be Bordurian light infantry. I converted a number of Wargames Factory plastic British Zulu war infantry models (using Steve Barber heads) to provide extra troops for both sides. In addition I bought Montenigrin irregulars from Tiger miniatures to serve as Syldavian militia and Warlord games Prussian landwehr to serve as Bordurian conscripts.

After painting the lot they had to wait several years to feature in a game, but last friday they got their baptism of fire.

The background story

The Bordurians have crossed the Northern Syldavian border across the Zympathian Mountains. Information from local sources and Syldavian agents suggests the Bordurians have discovered valuable mineral and ore deposits in the mountains on the Syldavian side of the border and they intend to add this part of the Zympathian Mountains to Borduria.

Syldavian forces are trying to stop the Bordurians at the village of Volodj (A on the campaign map). When the Syldavians arrive, the Bordurians have set up defensive positions in the village.

The Bordurians have 4 groups of light infantry. The Syldavians have 3 groups of light infantry and a group of militia. All are armed with breech loading rifles. I made a mistake and gave all light infantry groups 8 men instead of 6, but we'll fix that in the next game of the campaign.

The game

The Bordurians deployed behind breastworks in the village. The Syldavian main group deployed in the forest and started to move to flank the Bordurians.

The Syldavian Militia deployed in the forest (secondary fixed deployment point) opposite the Bordurian breastworks to discourage them from moving to meet the Syldavian light infantry.

The two remaining Bordurian groups deployed and moved to the road to stop the oncoming Syldavians.

Exchanges of long range fire started chipping away at the Bordurians.

The Syldavian Militia had moved to the forest edge and fired at the Bordurians to keep them engaged, but (voluntarily) withdrew into the forest after losing two men.

I forgot that I bought a Holy man and a Physic (carrying liquid courage), but in the end didn't need them on the table.

When the Bordurian flank collapsed and routed off table, the Bordurians decided to retreat from the village to save their men for later in the campaign.

The Syldavian victory means that the Bordurians will fall back to the old mountain stronghold of Tor Volodokar (C on the map) where they will again try to stop the Syldavians.

Project WW2 Pacific Part 5

 Even more Japanese:

Senior leaders and guy with flag (probably to be used as a marker):

Tank killer team:

Third squad:

Infantry gun:

Sniper and extras for the MMG. The sniper is actually a figure from the WW2 Italian range, but he'll be partly covered with foliage to obscure this.

More support options and an additional marker figure (the bugler). The rifle grenade is from the WW2 French infantry box. The historically accurate type 100 Japanese rifle grenade looked too flimsy to scratchbuild myself. The Japanese made ample use of material left behind by retreating or overrun allied forces so who's to say that they didn't pick up some French VB launchers in Indochina.

Spider holes:

And the multi-role engineer team:

Plus one final addition to the Australians: the fuzzy wuzzy angels.

All of the minis are now in my painting queue. Let's hope the Chain of Command Pacific handbook is also forthcoming!

Indiana Jones and the sword of Cortes part 4

Zum Boot!

Von Drüben escaped from Canada with the sword (read all about it here) and has travelled through the US towards the coast, where he hopes to escape by U-boat. For the last leg of his journey, he has teamed up with a local gangster: Luigi Bertorelli.

Indy is in pursuit together with Marcus Brody, FBI agent Mulder and local police officer Flanagan.

My son played the heroes, who's job it was to stop Von Drüben and retrieve the sword in this last game of the campaign. I played the villains. There were three jokers in the deck. The first one to turn up meant the U-boat would arrive with support forces (first time I used the U-boat in a game!). Until then, Von Drüben and Bertorelli had to survive on their own. Should no joker be drawn, the U-boat would arrive anyway after turn 5.

Indy and friends arrive on the scene in a police car. Von Drüben and Bertorelli arrive in a small truck. Flanagan stops the car. Mulder gets out and fires his BAR at the passing truck.

Bertorelli stops the truck near the house. Von Drüben gets out with the sword and takes cover behind the truck while Marcus, Indy and Agent Mulder move towards him.

Unable to see Mulder or Brody from his position, Bertorelli fires his Thompson at Flanagan. Flanagan is only shaken. 

Von Drüben retreats towards the house while being whipped by Indy.

The joker turns up and the U-boat arrives! Bootsmann Geering and three sailors set course for the beach in an inflatable boat.

Undeterred by Indy's whip, Von Drüben aims his pistol at Indy and fires: Indy is out of action! So far Indy has managed to get himself shot in each game he was present!

Agent Mulder avenges Indy and drops Von Drüben with a salvo from his BAR. The "9 lives" trait saves Von Drüben however, changing the out of action result into a single wound. 

Marcus Brody reaffirms his reputation as a stone cold killer, earned during this campaign, by gunning down Bertorelli.

Meanwhile, Kaleun Klopp has ordered his men to man the deck gun.

Just when Bootsmann Geering and his team reach the shore, Marcus Brody finishes off Bertorelli. Flanagan drove his police car into the hedge near the house, dodging a bullet from Von Drüben who got lucky and recovered from his wound (Queen of Hearts card).

Kaleun Klopp orders the deck gun crew to fire on the truck, but the gun jams. Verdammt!

Flanagan gets out of the car and puts a bullet in Von Drüben. He then strolls towards Von Drüben and shoots him again, putting him out of action. Flanagan picks up the briefcase, checks if the sword is inside and runs towards safety (off the board). Victory for the heroes!

The heroes retreat before the deck gun can open fire on them. Von Drüben is rescued by the shore party and taken back to Germany where he will face the wrath of the Führer for failing to bring back the sword of Cortes.

While Indy recovers from his wounds, Marcus Brody stores the sword in one of the storage rooms of the university where it continues to wait to be examined by an historian....  

Project WW2 Pacific Part 4

More Japanese!

Second squad:

Grenade discharger squad:

Junior leader for the grenade discharger squad:

And junior leaders for the regular squads: