FROM TINY ACORNS...

 Projects grow into giant oaks, and so it goes with my Toy Soldiers army. Back around 2009, on a whim, I decided to pick up some of the Eurika Toy Town figures with the idea of putting on a Christmas game. This was a small project as I was only getting about 130 total figures to represent both sides. I painted them up, dug out some simple rules, I think it was Sword and the Flame, and played a few games using a rug, books, and as I recall even a small Christmas tree. That simple project turned into something a bit bigger. I added a few more figures, about double, wrote some simple rules, and put on some more games and to my surprise people really liked this. I had also discovered I really enjoyed putting together these armies, especially coming up with a little background story for each army and why they fought, and oddly, I really liked painting them. I find I keep adding more, continue to tweak the rules, and run games...OK you get it. I am obsessive about these figures. Every time I decide enough is enough and go onto other projects, inevitably during the Christmas season I pull them out for an annual game, then my mind drifts into the dangerous spot of thinking, "You know what would be cool?", and below you can see this year's results.   

The Newest Additions Since Christmas.

The 1st Udderwhere Battalion: The Winter Guard.

The 1st Oberhere Hussars. An Important Addition, as This Gives Both Sides an Independent Light Cavalry Brigade. 

Who the Heck are These Guys?

CONTEMPLATING MY NAVEL

With the Holidays finally past I have gotten back to gaming. This year I have already played a couple of games, a WWII Bulge fight and a pair of playtests of the Portable Ironclads Wargame by David Cook, and Bob Cordery. 

The Bulge Battle saw the Germans withdrawing in front of a serious US counter-offensive. My part was the German infantry garrison force of a town, so I mostly sat back and waited for the Americans to come to me. It took to the very end when the US Shermans seeking cover from massed German AT guns and Panthers pulled in behind a set of building for shelter. That was what I had been waiting for. I sprung my ambush and in a hail of panzerfaust and panzerschreck fire destroyed the entire Sherman platoon. It was my moment of glory and the end of the game. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures. 

The next game was a play test of the new ACW Portable Ironclads Wargame. It pitted four Union vessels against four Confederates. In the first game the Confederates had two ships sunk and two others heavily damaged. The Union lost two ships sunk and the two others moving off into the Gulf which was the objective. The second game saw all the Confederates out of action and the Union having suffered the loss of two ships, with the remaining two seriously damaged. 

Things we learned were that the overall systems worked out, giving a quick game play of about an hour. We felt changes to angles of firing arcs, blocking fire, and the way turning was done needed addressing. Most of this will be done by having ships occupy only a single hexagonal. 

There was no attempt to balance the scenario as only results were desired. In future a wide range of ship layouts will be used to increase the challenge of the games. 

The First Games Final Moments. USS Monitor, USS Benton, CSS Tennesse all in a Sinking State. CSS Virginia has Already Gone Under. The US Monitors Milwaukee with Twin Turrets and Ozark are Headed for the Open Gulf. 

The Second Games Opening Moments. Union Fast Monitors Lead the Way, While This Time the Confederates Steam Forward with the Spar Torpedo Armed Richmond in Front. 

Second Game with the Richmond Beached. Shortly After This the Monitor, Benton and all the Rest of the Confederate Fleet will be on the Bottom. The Milwaukee will be Heavily Damage, with Only the Ozark Being in Fighting Trim. Ramming and Gunfire was the Way of This Battle 

THE RELIEF OF FOX RIVER GROVE - Spring Campaign Battle 5

The Relief of Fox River Grove Commences. 

The Union of Pacts Commonwealth has taken a slight lead in the Spring Campain. This last battle will see if they can turn this into a decisive victory, or will the Empire be able to continue its goals of reduction of UPC gains?

With the Union of Pacts Commonwealths destruction of the Empires Field Army at Ridgeville it freed up troops to rush to the relief of the besieged town of Fox River Grove. This key point along the Fox River if taken would provide the Empire a strong position to continue campaigns into the Northern Territory of the UPC, while its relief would secure this area for the Commonwealth for years to come.

This would be an attack Vs defense battle, with the attackers holding a fort under siege able to launch a supporting attack into the defenders rear if the opportunity arose. 

The Field of Battle as Seen from the West. UPC Forces will be Approaching from the top area.  

Battlefield as Seen from the East. The Town of Fox River Grove on the Lower Right. 

Empire Reserves Await a Breach to be Made for Their Opportunity to Launch an Assault. 

Fort Springtail Under Siege Outside Fox River Grove. 

The Empire's Northern Hill Defenders Await the UPC Onslaught. 

The Southern Hill Defenders. 

Ranks of UPC Infantry Advance on the Hill Position, while on both Flanks Their Cavalry Moves to Envelope the Empire. The Town of Fox River Grove is Under Heavy Pressure. 

With the Town Taken the full Weight of the UPC Hammers at the Empire Forces on the Hills. Behind can be Seen the Empire Reinforcements Beginning to Come Up. The Siege Lines Remain Manned Keeping the Forts Occupants from Joining the Attack.   

Empire Forces Surge Forward to Reinforce the Center and Hold the UPC on the Flanks. 

UPC's Massed Grenadiers Take the Hill, While the Light Infantry in the Woods Drive Back the Empire's Cavalry. The Second Line of Empire Infantry Prepares to Meet the Advance. 

On the Right Flank the UPC Drives the Empires Light Infantry from the Woods and Continues Forward in the Center. Undaunted the Empire Continues to Bring Forward more Reserves to Contest the Next Line of Defenses. 

Despite their wave like advance taking one defensive line after the other the UPC was running out of daylight. As darkness fell the Empire still tenaciously held on to their last line of defense coving the trench lines. The relief was halted short of its goal and rumor of addition approaching Empire forces forced the breakoff from the battle.  

Empire Forces Still Manning the Siege Line. 

The Spring Campaign was over. The UPC had won a minor victory over the Empire. Both sides would go home and lick their wounds while preparing for the next coming Campaign Season. 

CHRISTMAS TOY SOLDIERS GAME 2022 - SLAY BELLS RINGING

 

Another Holliday Season is upon us and that means it is time for the annual Toy Soldiers Game. This was the first outing for my newest Fast Play rules. The rules are targeted for larger numbers of players to be able to understand easily and play games of around 15 turns in 4 hours. They still need some testing, polishing, and a little expanding so, I will post details on them later. 

The game pitted the attacking forces of Queen Azkadellia's (The Wicked Witch) army of Otherwhen against King Charming's army of Nodd defending an area of high ground in front of the Mighty River. After losing the resent battle of Tinsel Town, King Charming had given orders for a general retreat, then parted the army to review the construction of the defenses around Sugarton. The King left his fiery General Hans C. Anderson in charge of the army in his absence.  Rather than retreat back to Sugarton, General Anderson decided he could stop Otherwhen's advance here and erase the loss of Tinsel Town from his reputation. General Anderson's confidence of victory grew when he saw the small size of the pursuing forces of Otherwhen. 

Unbeknown to General Anderson was that General L. Carrol in command of the Guard, had been given direct order to save the Guard and "Get them to Sugarton" by the King himself on his departure. Torn between duty to the King, loyalty to his comrades in arms, and his own desire to seek revenge for the insult of Tinsel Town General Carrol delayed his Brigades withdrawal to see how the battle turned. 

Otherwhen Forces Appear Ready to Give Battle Against Nodd. 

Arrayed for Battle the Otherwhen Forces Appear Outnumbered. 

Nodd's Army Offers Battle Feeling Secure on Their Superior Position on the Highground.  

On Their Right Otherwhen Forces Advance Up the Valley to Avoid Fire from the Nodd Artillery Covering the Opposite Valley. 

As Massed Otherwhen Reinforcements Appear Nodd's General's Anderson and Carrol Realize Their Mistake in Trying to Hold Here. 

The Trap is Sprung as Elite Combined Forces of Otherwhen Suddenly Appear Behind the Right Flank of Nodd's Army. 

Nodd's Right Flank Being Assailed from the Front and the Flank Have Been Forced to Retreat Back Through the Woods. 

With More Enemies Continually Arriving Nodd Forces are Unsure Which Way to Go.

With Artillery Firing Directly in Their Faces Otherwhen's Elite Cavalry and Infantry Continue on Pounding on the Enemy Flank.  

On the Opposite Side of the Field Seasoned Otherwhen Troops Emerge from the Valley Driving the Nodd Forces Back. 

Lead Forward by Otherwhen's Famous Zeebatillion "Orcas" with Fire and Steel They Drive Back Nodd's Celebrated Black Barron's Brigade.

With the Situation Desperate Genral Anderson Personally Rides Forward to Attempt to Inspire his Troops to Hold as The Guard and Others Attempt to Retreat Across the Mighty River Bridge. 

By battles end General Anderson had saved the entire Guard and nearly half the rest of his army, but at a high cost. His best cavalry and infantry lay fallen on the field. Otherwhen had been slowed, but their losses were minimal. In a day they would have rested and reformed and again be on their way to battle King Charming. 

For the most part the rules ran smoothly. A few issues arose, such as no rule for Command casualties, and the low casualty rate from shooting. Basic mechanics all are sound, and Command Control worked out the way I wanted it. Rules are tweaked, missed parts have been added and a fuller roll for the army C-in-C is being worked on. All this leads me to the conclusion there will be a new battle sooner than later. 

TANKSGIVING - Toy for Tots

 This past Thanksgiving week there were a number of games played in support of the Toy for Tots Charitie. The Bulge games were run on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The North Africa games on Wednesday and Saturday, and to round it off a massive Team Yankee game on Saturday as well. Credit goes to HMGS Midwest, Games Plus in Mount Prospect and the Wednesday Night Historical Group who provided the games, space, models and a host of participants. They raised over 80 toys for this worthwhile endeavor.  

I personally participated in the Wednesday North Africa game on the British side, but no others as my work schedule required me elsewhere. I did get to glance in on the games throughout the days, and it looked like a good time was had by everyone. 

North Africa was a Meeting Engagement with the British Vs the Italians in 1940. There was a large mix of armor on both sides. In this timeframe the Italian armor is very good compared to the British. Both sides launched drives from their respective right flanks. The British was tied down until late in the game when they finally started making headway, but too late to be decisive. The Italians did much better and were only stopped at the last moments by the British pulling reinforcements from their center to stem the tide. 

British Starting Point. Australian Mixed Armor, Infantry and Artillery Support on Each Flank Stands British Armor. 

In the Center the Italians Held a Dominate Ridgeline That Held Up British Forces.

British Bring up Australian Reserves to try and Break the Center Deadlock to no Avail.  

On the British Left the Italians Advance with Massed Armor Supported by 90mm Anti-tank Guns.

This Proved Very Effective with Only a Last-Minute Reinforcement from the Center Stopping the Advance Short of Their Objective (Burned Out Tank Bottom of Picture).  

On the British Right Italian Light and Medium Tanks Stall the British for Most of the Game. 

Finally, in the Last Few Turns the British Make a Breakthrough, but it is too Late to be of Any Real Effect. 

In the end the game was a draw with both sides heavily bloodied.

British Command Observes the Carnage Safely from the Rear. 

As this Bulge game was going on simultaneously with the North Africa event, I was unable to get details. The Americans were tasked with holding off an attack by the Gross Deutschland forces along a wide front. In the end accurate German artillery fire and superior tank tactics won the day, giving the Germans a minor victory. 

Start of the Game Showing the US Center.

On Their Right US Tanks Await Behind Cover for the German Advance. 

German Center Advances

And is Slowed by some Accurate Fire. 

German Advances in the Center Continue as US Casualties Begin to Mount Up. 

On the American Right More Disaster Continues. 

On the Left Having Secured the Town the Germans Begin Turning the Flank. 

Near Games End and the Grim Harvest of the American Defense on the Left.