12th to 14th August, Manchester

After 15 years, this was McNeil's last Britcon.

(Britcon 2011: everything stops for the fire alarm!)

Well it's been quite a journey ...

When they ask iconic questions like where were you when Diana died, I will always know I was a Britcon ... (Aston University): it has become part of who we are and what we do.

I was there when the old nationals crashed into a wall in Harrow, I was there when they tried to manage a public meeting to launch a national wargames federation (or to strangle it at birth depending on what you though they were all up to ...), and I was there when the new model Nationals, Britcon, burst into life.
Like tournaments or not, this one has been made to work, and has been made the premier National Wargaming event.

Yes, JD, you succeeded. Congratulations on the job well done.

Britcon this year was therefore a swansong ... lots of players there as guests of the management, there were presentations and there was polishing of helmets. There was a film crew and there was the search for a successor ...

(upstairs with the Armati players: a game you will struggle to see in play at Britcon ...)

Frustrated by last year's inability to make the vestigial wargames show presence work, this year I let Steve and Martin S from Lance and Longbow mind the pitch for me while I played Armati.
I enjoyed the games and banter a lot, but was really playing amongst friends as a shelter from the cheesier tournament play of FoG (which seems to play less gamily as a Doubles game with more points on the table) and in order to have some control over the amount of time I spend playing soldiers (8am to 8pm on the Saturday - and that for just 3 games! - is too much of a good thing ... even if it is a good thing!) ...

Struggling to get something I could cobble together from the over-restrictive theme (goodness! This is the year of themes alright ... why to people organise events then rule half the possible players out by insisting on banning most of the armies people have got? Doh! No wonder some events struggle for support ...)..

I ended up with 'The Goths of Totilla' ... Yes, you know him ... the man who charged into Narses at Tadinae. Well, the eunuch general was scarred of them so I thought they might do me some warlike service, too.

(Glorious Goths at Britcon: some of mine and some of Carl's)

It's a very nice army actually, and spurred me into a bit of painting and tidying.

With the travelling Armati players only playing warm up games on the Friday, we had five scored games over the weekend, and I came out about square (actually a very strong performance for me: I might have won a couple of 'scenario based' Armati events over the years, but these Old School 'bring your own' events often see me at the bottom of the table with no wins at all!).

(the ferocious Moors join in the killing)

My favourite unit of the weekend? Certainly the Moorish Light Cavalry I was almost obliged to take (the only LC available, and necessary to get the benefit of all the light units).

Now,many Armati players will tell you that 'key' javelin armed LC are a liability, and hardly worth the price ... well I christened these the 'ferocious Moors' after the Late Roman unit on the Notitia ('Equites Mauri Feroces') from whom it seemed like they must have been recruited ... They had a very high kill ratio, mostly against HC ... sometimes, yes, with their missiles, sometimes charging into the flank.

However, they did not let me down when I trusted them with a game turning frontal charge. OK, the HC were exhausted from defeating some of my own HC but it isn't a move you see that often in Armati.

I like it when the armies start driving their own narratives ...

(as tough as they come ... FV3 and out of command - but scary enough if you are a Hun!)

Wimps of the weekend must surely go to Craig's Hunnic Heavy Cavalry who pussyfooted around with the Gothic Slave HI ...

FV3 against Craig's FV4 with impetus (who would sweep them away if he won) - so he nurdled up to them just behind their flank to charge them from round the corner in a future turn: not brave enough to charge with the odds all in favour.

Not very Hunnic at all ...

So, what else?

The Apres Ski was excellent and tiring in equal measure ...

(convivial scenes from the Britcon Bar)

The usual suspects won, of course ... the other events, as well as the Armati, or so it seemed ... the 'show' was poor - and boring for the people doing it (except those traders who still cater directly for the tournament audience - otherwise the 'show' is really a whopping great Slitherine banner in the shadow of which everyone else - and so that means fewer and fewer - get to lurk if they are lucky enough to be allowed in) ...

(Meth the Merciful's splendid Sarmatian army)

(Patrick's Carthaginians battling away in the FoG 15mm events)

(Graham's English fluttering in the FoG 25mm)

The Flames of War terrain was great, and favoured to front - the FoG terrain was rubbish as you'd expect from a game that doesn't value it ...

(some splendidly plausible Flames of War terrain)

You wouldn't know about any of the other games as FoW and FoG are the favoured children of the event and take centre stage (anyone not dancing to that choice of BHGS tunes is tucked away somewhere in the building) ... then again, I did get to present the Society of Ancients Sportsmanship award (the Persian Helmet) so, OK, there was some role in the event for those of us who have supported it since the very beginning.

Nobby from Flames of War takes over from now.

So having congratulated JD on all he has achieved, what are the notes for Nobby?

Well (a) it isn't a Flames of War tournament and it is a 'fix' that FoW has the best placed tables (try shifting the layout around so that the show gives equal prominence to the other games that are in the mix) ...
(b) when JD talked to me about his big project years ago it was to create a sort of UK Historicon (with all that entails) ... he created a tournament games feast, but not the diverse 'convention and show' the Historicon analogy might suggest. There is much more that can be done - so much more.
(c) the game all day format is far less popular than the BHGS insiders think: more people would come of the game pressure (indeed all the regulation) was more relaxed ...

(d) you inherit the project at the point where the wargames show side of Britcon has almost been killed off. It can be resuscitated, but only by a massive change of attitude (you might be just the guy to do that!): see Roll Call (the BHGS are great at competition events that don't host shows ... but their events often clash with 'regular' wargames shows, so you can tell they don't go to them or maybe even understand what makes them tick) ...

Good luck!

Amongst the tanks, Ironsides and Goblins there are still quite a few Ancients events hosted at Britcon ...

(Britcon awards ceremony in full swing)

Ian Stewart, Shaun Drummond and Neil Howard won the various FoG 15mm categories;
Dave Handley won the FoG 25mm;

Jan Van Embden won the DBMM;

Wayne Richards won the WAB event, and ...
Bill Wilson won the Armati.

Paul Crozier won the best painted army (ancient/medieval) for his Seljuks.

Ian Speed won the Society of Ancients Sportsmanship award
THE PERSIAN HELMET

God bless the good ship Britcon and all who sail in her ...

Good luck, Nobby ... (just ask ...)

6th August, Edinburgh

Claymore

The annual race to the north saw us get to Scotland in daylight for a change ... and staying over in Linlithgow (birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots ... which it regularly reminds you, but which I shall remember) strategically a few miles short of Edinburgh.
A very friendly town and somewhere worth paying more attention (it has a palace and a loch though not open as darkness was falling ...)...

After our usual scenic trip into Edinburgh, we met up with Paul and the Glasgow team with half an hour or so in which to set up.
(Claymore 2011 ... click on the pictures for a larger image)
The Phoenix team were doing a vast 28mm demonstration game of Magnesia using Tactica II, a big table and a good number of players. I hope I can convey properly the size of this game
(Awesome: the Battle of Magnesia by the Society of Ancients and Glasgow Phoenix Club)
Elsewhere, the show was not quite as thrilling as last year.
Our Hall was pretty good and had the great value 'RAF' Leuchars team doing a Great Escape game, some good looking naval stuff and a genuinely remarkable Chinese battle and terrain display in 15mm.


(more of that Great Escape game)

(ancient China brought alive in every detail)
The Atrium was not the spectacle I was eagerly anticipating after last year. A mix of corporate 28mm and really quite poor Sci Fi. Or was it fantasy? Anyway the part-painted black plastic 28mm stuff on bases that don't match the crude terrain. That's usually Sci Fi, I think ...

Though there were some historical tables that didn't do much better (to think this was home last year to that magnificent Napoleon in the Desert and to an Old School demo!).
It means I'll be giving the photo space to Magnesia which drew a lot of attention and had some exciting moments.

Here is some more of the big picture ...

(engagements all along the line)
(the elephants pushed ahead of the phalanx in this reconstruction)
And here are some close ups ...
(the celebrated confrontation between the Cataphracts and Legions)
(the Argyraspides push ahead and to maintain contact with the Cataphract assault ...)
(Dahae allies skirmish on the river flank)
Excellent. Many thanks to SESWC for another great show.

Yes we will certainly be back.

It was a pity some of the Atrium exhibitors let the show down ... maybe the Warhammer stuff needs hiving off somewhere so there's plenty for youngsters to join in but it doesn't get too central an exposure - in a play space rather than a showcase ...

Nice chatting to old friends and new ones, too

Norwich, August: coming attractions

THE ADVERTISED DBA COMPETITION AT EASTERN FRONT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO LOW ENTRIES. THE WARGAMES SHOW, OF COURSE, GOES AHEAD, AND THE SOCIETY WILL BE THERE RUNNING A DBA PROMOTIONAL PARTICIPATION GAME

East of England DBA Challenge (a Society of Ancients UK DBA League event)

24th July, Chipping Warden (Edgcote battlefield)

Ancients on the Move on the Battlefields Trail

(the Anniversary Edgcote battlefield walk)
A beautiful sunny afternoon with an occasional light breeze. Ideal conditions for visiting a battlefield (unlike my visit to an inundated Naseby 2 weeks ago!). A July battle, no mention is made of weather conditions (which generally are mentioned if they affect events): so we must assume that it was also a fine day in 1469.

(lunchtime meet at the Griffin Inn, Chipping Warden)
This visit combined the Battlefields Trust, Medieval Siege Society and SNAG, marking both the 542nd year and the last week of the consultation period before the Government makes a decision that might send a High Speed rail link right through the potential heritage site.

(The Battlefields Trail links Edgcote, Cropredy and Edgehill)
Edgcote is one of those Medieval battles where the location is not entirely secure.

Nevertheless, it was clearly on the flat ground in amongst 3 hills near Edgcote and Chipping Warden on the banks of the Cherwell. We can explore those fields knowing we are very close to the location, knowing that all the probable sites will be destroyed by the rail link.

Although I am entirely unconvinced of the need for the High Speed link between London and Birmingham (relative to all the other pressing transport priorities), I wouldn't presume to tell others what to think.

However, you have until Friday 29th to register a view in the consultation process (there is an online form at https://highspeedrail.dft.gov.​uk/have-your-say).

(Commemorative roses dropped at Trafford Bridge, Edgcote Battlefield)
If you support the Battlefields Trust's objections to the proposed route, you will want to answer 'NO' to question 5 ... (suggested answer ... 'I disagree with the proposed route around the village of Chipping Warden as it cuts directly across the historic battlefield of Edgcote, 1469'). If you have no view on the other questions, you could answer 'no view'.

You must act now (before 29th July)
(SNAG, Battlefields Trust and Medieval Siege Society at Edgcote Battlefield)
One of the problems with the Edgcote location being uncertain is that it has compromised it being included in English Heritage's list of battlefields ... and that in turn leaves it more vulnerable to big government/big ideas. However, the latest research leaves us much better informed. See the Battlefield Trust Edgcote report.

(Edgcote: the Rebel cavalry may have charged down these slopes)
On the day, of course, a rebel army led by a self-styled Robin Hood (Robin of Redesdale, probably Sir John Conyers) beat a squabbling Yorkist army under Herbert and Stafford. Lacking the expected support of Stafford's archers, Herbert's Welsh spearmen were destroyed by a combination of archers and cavalry.

(Edgcote: explaining the possible site of burial pits)
As well as a general exploration of the battlefield, members of the Medieval Siege Society threw red and white roses into the Cherwell off Trafford Bridge to commemorate the dead of both sides.


You can find out more about the Medieval Siege Society
You can find out more about SNAG against HS2
You can find out more about the Battlefields Trust

On the move next weekend to a Society of Ancients Committee Meeting (London)
On the move the week after to Claymore (Edinburgh)

16th -17th July, Northamptonshire

Festival of History

Festival of History is English Heritage's annual historical and reenactment event hosted at Kelmarsh Hall just a few miles away from the battlefield of Naseby.

The emphasis is strongly military, and there is always a lot for the ancient and medieval enthusiast to enjoy.

Attending the event as part of the Battlefields Trust team, I could only see a fraction during my breaks (and so missed the much praised Bosworth presentations) ... nevertheless, I caught some interesting Crusades stuff and managed a bit of SoA recruiting.

I'm a wargamer, but I can multitask ....

(Gladiators prepare for the arena)

(The Normans arrive)

(scenes from Outremer)



There were also plenty of armourers able to furnish equipment - like these gleaming Romano-Celtic helmets

In the Wargames tent, Phoenix Club and Warlord Games provided a choice of games including this Hail Caesar attack on the Roman baggage romp.


Plenty of youngsters getting involved here - even during the sunny spells.




For pictures of the 20th Century features, have a look at my P.B.Eye-Candy blog over on wordpress.

(click on the picture)

Northamptonshire, 8th - 10th July

2011 Conference of Wargamers

This year's Conference of Wargamers started with a visit to the battlefield of Naseby hosted by myself and Graham D Evans (and, later, a staging of my miniature version of the battle on the Sunday morning - see my ECW Battles blog for more on these events) ...

It ended with a meeting of the Paul Morris Memorial Prize panel to start the process of selecting the 2011 winner. The prize is sponsored by John Curry's history of wargaming (and, in addition to other benefits, the winner will be entitled to choose a book from John's increasing stable of classic titles). At present, the panel consists of myself, John and John Bassett O.B.E. (the 2010 winner). We are happy to add other enthusiasts to the team, and are keen to look at nominees for the award.

The Paul Morris Prize is awarded to the most innovative non-commercial wargame within the Society's remit. In practice, the game needs to have been presented in a public forum (at a show or event, published in the Internet or similar), but not sold in a fully commercial package.

(COW 2011: a wide variety of games and presentations)

The panel is able to consider reports on games that correspondents have seen in play or played, it is not able to consider games submitted by authors in the expectation that we set them up and evaluate them ourselves (though when we have a short list we will endeavour to see the games in action where we can ...)..

Please contact any of the panel if you wish to join us or if you have a game you wish to nominate.

Over the course of the COW weekend ...
John Bassett's Caesar's Heirs was a fast paced multi format romp through the civil war following Caesar's assassination. I took the role of Mark Antony and immediately set about consolidating my support and hoping to see the decline of my two great rivals ... Octavian (my rival on my own side) and Brutus (the murderous republican) .. as luck would have it both were killed in a great battle which the Triumvirate won, leaving me the greater power in the land.

(Caesar's Heirs: discussion over the theatre map)

It was delightful to see the Republican players gobbling up the power and offices we were able to scatter on the table as the fruits of victory ... Rome indeed is a great she-wolf at her best nursing her little ones.

At game end, only Cimber was left ... isolated but powerful, still holding true to his old-fashioned values, and with a significant force at his disposal. However, the grain was now flowing, and Cimber's army though vast comprised more allies and auxiliaries, less the veteran legions that would dominate a coming battle. He would surely be hunted down.

After dinner both evenings saw the Society's Domino Double Header games out and offering lively entertainment. In one of the hard actions at Harfleur, Henry got himself surrounded. Having bloodied the Captain of the Guard almost to the point of defeat, he confronted a critical decision: one high-powered domino available amongst a handful of low numbers - should this go to the attack and finish the action? Or should he, more sensibly, make sure his defence was adequate as victory looked assured whatever?

(GitS: this time a victory for the English King)

He went for the attack, the Captain just survived and so was able to make the counter. The random counter attack domino was deadly and Henry went down in the breach. There would be no Agincourt - the campaign would end in failure on the muddy coast of France.

You can get a copy of Domino Double Header from the website ... or from us at a show (next outing ... Claymore, of course) ... You will need access to 2 to 4 sets of dominoes.

(The Elephant in the Room: nearing the Roman lines)

Elsewhere, over the weekend, I was engaged by a very varied selection of games and talks, from Mike Elliott's interesting look at the battle (and battlefield) of Quebec to John Curry's sprawling Fletcher Pratt naval game. I very much enjoyed sitting in on the Drury and Brooks Froeschwiller Franco-Prussian tussle, and had a couple of ripping yarns with the WD Display Team North ('Better Red than Dead' - a board game of Red Army careers in which I remained too lowly to get purged - and 'Rollbahn Ost' - Operation Barbarossa in 20 minutes (!), in which my rivals in Army Group Centre took Moscow in less than 10 minutes) ...

For more on the twentieth century COW content, have a look at my P.B.Eye-Candy blog ..

(John Curry's presentation of the Fletcher Pratt Naval Game)

(Bob Cordery's Portable Wargame)

(The battle of Froeschwiller teetering in the balance)

As I've mentioned in the past, COW is also often my only opportunity of the year to sit down with the Society's Life Vice President Phil Barker and chat about relevant topics. We had a good look at some of the burning topics (DBA v3 and such like), and some valuable reminiscences about the early days of ancients gaming. Re DBA 3, I can only pass on Phil's general advice (don't judge it in advance, on the basis of rumours about some isolated changes ... judge the whole game that has resulted extensive input and testing).

COW forms part of a very intensive early July. Campaign took place on the same weekend (so I await reports ... ), meanwhile, I am writing this a week later - already after English Heritage's Festival of History at Kelmarsh Hall.

Some perspective on that event will have to wait for another session (and another batch of photos).