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| On the cold road home...... |
Another “Trumpeter Salute” convention by the local Trumpeter Tabletop Society club is over and leaving me with a bit of a “wargamer hangover” This can be described as a worn out feeling, sore feet, weak voice, throbbing head, aching back, and always that slight regret of not purchasing that good deal…..
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| the 'Vodka Wagon' pulled along |
I hosted my “Retreat from Moscow” game. For those two fellows in the back row unaware of the history (or myth…) Napoleon’s Grand Armee consisting of most of Europe’s armies was making its way back from the disastrous campaign in Russia in 1812 and through the snows of winter.
The game has very simple rules using measuring sticks and lots of randomness which helps in the fun atmosphere. Because the Russians (mostly armed peasants but a smattering of Cossacks and Jagers) are on ‘auto-pilot’ they can act in unforeseen ways but in this game with my rather low rolls, generally did not give the Allies much grief. This, at least to me, rather boring state of affairs would change when one of the players, having safely crossed the bridge with his two units abruptly turned about and starting shooting at his compatriots!!
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| The peasants make a rare stand near the log pile |
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| a close up of the Polish contingent |
Apparently he decided on gaining the ‘Vodka Wagon’ for himself and the points. He had asked me before doing this nefarious act, if he "could shoot at any unit?". I said “yeah, sure I guess” not thinking it would be his friends. JimD, up from the States, after this action, said he moved closer to me so I would hold him back from lunging at “the traitor”. He later said he was really angry. I totally missed his reaction and thought the whole thing amusing and made the game that more interesting…….
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| congestion on the bridge |
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| the 'traitors' (on the left) fire upon their erstwhile compatriots who retreat from the fire and abandon the wagon |
As a note I made up a rule, on the spot, about the bridge, over which they must cross lest they chance dying in the frozen waters of the creek, a chance of partial collapse. 1 in 6 chance. Of course, it would break three times each time having a greater chance. PeterM, our statistician, wryly was calculating if it were better to chance the cold water instead!
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| the Old Guard form a powerful rear guard...that is until JimF orders his unit to break rank to run for the bridge leaving PeterM to hold on his own with only half the firepower. Only his good dice and random fate (aka my poor dice rolling for the Russian aggression) allow him to retreat intact also. (the bridge held intact long enough!) |