I played another game of
Song
of Shadows and Dust with the kids over the weekend. This time I
actually got them to make up their own factions (using my figures – for the
moment). We thought we might start a campaign, but then later decided we’d play
a few more one-off games to get a sense of how it works. I also wanted to try
and make up a new campaign system with some elements from
Song
of Deeds and Glory.
I’ve been obsessing over this game for the last few weeks
and have been thinking I might actually use it for the 11
th Annual
Wargaming Birthday Bash in February (since
this
year’s skirmish campaign went over so well… We shall see… but part of
the obsessing has involved trying to find the best deals on some armed ancient
civilians so the kids could make their own factions and I decided that the
Wargames
Factory Numidian Light Infantry might be the best option –
inexpensive plastic, lots of customizing options – they can all have bare heads
(i.e. no helmets) and have a range of weapons that might be useful for a street
fight (swords, slings, bows – clubs and other things could easily be converted
– I could even leave the hands empty for unarmed civilians or add a little ball
of green stuff to make them look like they’re chucking rocks).
So When I happened to be looking at them today I happened to
notice that they’re 25% off (some sort of sale tied in with Historicon) and
that the shipping to Canada for one box was $12, but the shipping for two was
$14… so I ordered three boxes in the end… yeah… and a couple of frames of Persian infantrymen that were on
some crazy blow out sale (6 frames/12 figures for $2.40!?! plus they were 25%
off of that too!? How could I NOT tack a couple of those one for a few more
conversion options!?)
Anyway… the game…
Iskedumdrum, 69BCE
SITUATION
Marcus Petrificus Totalis,
unsavoury Roman Noble and very corrupt politician, had had it with his
political rival and was out for a bit of pay-back after a particularly
effective smear campaign. Well… HE called it a smear campaign… all his
opponents did was bring to light some of Totalis nefarious undertakings…
SCENARIO
The Girl rolled “Seize the
Suburb” for her faction’s objective – meaning she gained victory points for
“controlling” certain buildings – receiving points for every turn that she held
them.
The Boy rolled “Aeneas’ Bees”
for his. He had to retrieve a bee hive from one part of the table and throw it
in through a building in another part of the table! Revenge is sweet!
It was midday, The Boy was
attacking, The Girl went first.
FORCES
The Boy’s Faction
Marcus Petrificus Totalis –
Faction Leader
Q 3+, C 2, 60 points
Leader
Phillipadonis – Cretan Bodyguard
Q 3+, C 3, 60 points
Agile, Armed, Bow, Protect
Leader
5x Armed Henchmen (Sword or
Spear)
Q 4+, C 3, 26 Points
Armed, Bellicose
The Girl’s Faction
Porcia Venustus – Faction Leader
Q 3+, C 2, 60 points
Leader
Canicula - Dog
Decimus Atrius - Assasin
Q 3+, C 4, 90 points
Agile, Poison, Quick, Stealth
4x Armed Henchmen (Sword or
Spear)
Q 4+, C 3, 26 Points
Armed, Bellicose
THE GAME
The Boy, when I read his
objective, decided that would be too hard to do and he’d just ignore it and try
and kill all of his enemies… until I explained how the victory points worked
for that particular objective – he only got 1 VP for every 100 points of enemy
he took out (as opposed to the usual 1 VP for 25 points), but he got 10VP for
delivering the bee hive to the house. Also considering how quickly The Girl
couple potentially accumulate points if she managed to control any of the
designated buildings AND she got 1 VP for every 50 points of enemies she took
out… he decided he’d have a go at grabbing the bee hive.
Right from the get-go I though
this was going to be a really interesting scenario – I will have to make some
proper mini bee hives for when thei comes up in the future!
(Remember: click on the pictures
for a bigger version)
The scene of the confrontation.
The Boy’s faction is arrived at
the left, The Girls faction is arriving at the right of the picture.
Marcus Petrificus Totalis,
Phillipadonis – his loyal bodyguard Cretan Bodyguard, and five other hired
thugs arrive in Venustus’ neighborhood.
Warned of Totalis’ approach,
Porcia Venustus and a few of her loyal followers spread out to protect the
shops and abode of her loyal clients she thought Totalis might act against.
The Irritable Mule and the
makeshift Objective Marker/Bee Hive.
Noisy Pigeons that would momentarily take to flight whenever anyone approached (negating any Stealth or Ambush bonuses)
Porcia Venustus people spread
out through the neighborhood.
On the Boy’s first turn two of
his henchmen advanced towards buildings to try and challenge The Girl’s control
of them… and then rolled a turn over – the first of MANY early turn-overs in
the game… Not being able to make it to the one building The Girl’s faction was
already in contact with, The Girls scored her first victory point
On his next turn they spread out
a bit more...
On the Girl’s third turn she got
one of her henchmen in contact with one of the Boy’s that was in contact with
one of the buildings she needed to control to score points… the two were set
apart from the rest of the groups and would always selected last to activate as
they would not enjoy their leader’s activation bonus… as there were so many
turn-overs rolled they stood there in contact for many turns… so we figured
without their bosses eyes on them or any sort of back-up, both parties were
reluctant to engage and stood in the street circling each other trying to taunt
each other while a nearby citizen implored them to calm themselves and that
there was no need for bloodshed!
The two groups spied each other
as they rounded a corner in an alley way in the middle of the table. With all
the failed activation rolls it seemed they were a little reluctant to engage…
First Blood went to
Phillipadonis – the Cretan Bodyguard – with his first shot he took down one of
Venustus’ henchmen! So incensed by this sudden violence in the street one of
the nearby civilians activated to join The Girl’s side.
Venustus’ henchmen rushed
forward to get at the Cretan Bodyguard before he could get off another one of
his deadly shots.
One of Totalis’ men took out the
newly activated civilians – in hindsight, not the best idea – easy to take out
but counted towards the total dead which would bring the end of the scenario
quicker.
Rolling to activate
Phillipadonis who – when within the leaders command range - activated on a 2+… this
was the third or fourth time this had happened… so he decided they were cursed
and switched dice.
On his next turn… first activation... yellow dice
didn’t seem to be working so great either!?
The Cretan Bodyguard –
outnumbered and knocked down!
Some of Totalis’ men rushed back
to help out the body guard – distracting them for their objective and getting
them bogged down in a brawl in the middle of the table which they couldn’t come
out of on top…
Venustus’ dog joined in the
fray.
Another of Venustus’ henchmen
cut down in the battle.
Finally on the Eighth Turn The
Girl was able to activate the separated hanchman and…
Knocked down his opponent!
Just when I thought The Boys
luck couldn’t get any worse… SERIOUSLY!?
Later I started joking that if he rolled that again he should just quit because he clearly did not have the favour of the gods today.
The back street brawl drags on
turn after turn.
“Just stay down there until I
can activate again…”
The Cretan Body guard finally
extracted himself from the brawl and loosed another arrow – missing Venustus’
henchmen – before joining his boss and making for the Bee Hive.
Four henchmen and a civilian lie
injured in the street.
Totalis grabs the bee hive.
On his following turn Totalis
makes it past the Irritable Mule…
Venustus’ henchmen finally takes
out the downed opponent…
Venustus’ dog and remaining
henchmen at the street brawl in the center of the table gang up on the last of Totalis’ men there.
He is driven back into the
corner…
The Cretan Bodyguard sneaks past
the Irritable Mule… but one of the henchmen is kicked and recoils.
The last of Totalis’ men fights
desperately to keep the game going (once the death toll reaches seven the game
ends…)....
...but is finally slain.
As it turns out it was probably
for the best – for Marcus Petrificus Totalis – tottering down the street with
his beehive – the building in view – he suddenly heard shouts of “THE GUARD IS
HERE! THE GUARD IS HERE! RUN FOR IT!” knowing this was the end and he could not
possibly make it to the building and get away before getting caught by The
Guard, Totalis cursed, tossed the bee hive to the ground and ran for it –
little did he know it probably save his life, for hiding behind the corner of
the building he would have to pass to get to the target building was The Girls
assassin!! Without the support of his body guard and henchmen –who were still
trying to slip past the Irritable Mule – Totalis could not possibly survive
against the assassin!
Another totally exciting game – we played TWELVE TURNS –
which seems like a lot, but I don’t think either of the kids got through an
entire turn without rolling a turn-over – often it was on their first
activation!!
In the end The Girl ended up with four victory points – two
for holding buildings for a turn, two for taking down 100points of The Boys
faction. The boy, on the other hand, ended up with nothing. The civilian he
took out was worthless, and the two Henchmen weren’t worth 100 points.
Checking afterwards both of Venustus’ and the civilian died
of their wounds. Two of Totalis’ men died as well, but the third escaped with
minor wounds and would have been fit to fight in the next scenario – had we
continued on with a campaign…
Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:
