Tuesday 20 June 2017

Its official, I am plain unlucky.

 Well its now official I am the Unluckiest General, and that has finally been recognised by my peers following the Amateur Military Gentleman weekend. I look on it as a positive achievement especially as I was awarded a wonderful trophy very kindly donated by Aly Morrison, who again shows why he is a top wargamer.

   The Unluckiest General Trophy, won by well, the acknowledged unluckiest general..... Me.

   To be honest I feel I didnt deserve the award simply because my dice throwing was pretty average, for me anyway. Commanding the Austrians twice in Colin's refight of the Battle of Leuthen we won one and lost one. I found it interesting how different wargamers fight and the AMG weekend was a great opportunity to watch this in action. Not just how they view and tackle a battle, but also how they react to interaction between individuals.
   The weekend is now in its second year, and hopefully will continue given its undoubted success. Initially it was a means to get members of the AMG forum to come together face too face for a wargaming extravaganza, but given the various upheavals in the said forum it has morphed into something which I view as what is best about wargamers.
 Over the wargaming years you normally get to know various individuals after meeting at the shows, through other wargamers introducing someone and of course through the internet.
 But normally you are like ships passing in the night.
So a wargames weekend where one can play in a number of large games with a number of generals per side is wonderful. Stopping in a decent hotel, eating and drinking, and discussing wargames issues, and generally talking history is something a little bit special. I hasten to add its not about showing off one's knowledge about some obscure period, its more about enjoying the company of people who love the hobby, beer and food. Now that the AMG connection is firmly left behind, the weekend has the potential of growing into an even better wargames weekend.
 Fellow attenders have posted far better images than me of the weekend, but there were four large 28mm wargames to fight over.
  A wonderful Malburian affair which rightly won the best hosted game, created by Paul Robinson of Grimsby [ the club not the film  ] fame. There were some wonderful painted units and the rules written by Paul made the game run very smoothly.

 The prize, for the best wargame host held over the weekend. Again donated by the most excellent Mr Morrison. I really would like to have won that.

                   Sorry about the image of Paul's Malburian set up, it really doesn't do it justice.


Graham Cummings, of Crann Tara, hosted a Jacobite War battle, using his lovely figures and the Honours of War Rules. Sorry about the images, it was very hot in the room. Again a top quality game.


 Two dodgy cockney types hosted a wonderful Sudan game, with some brilliantly painted 28mm figures. Des Darkin and Martin Gane, of South London Warlords fame were convivial hosts and also great to take the michael out of. A pair of good sports.  Its fair to say that wargamers came from the four corners of the kingdom and one from our former colony of the Americas. God knows what Jim Purkey made of us [ well me actually] but for such a diverse group, the mix worked.
                          I loved the look of these buildings and really wanted to snaffle them.



 Colin staged Leuthen twice over the weekend, with me as the Austrian adviser. Both battles were tense affairs, with interesting ideas by the Prussians on how to tackle to problems of the terrain. Both days I took 'control' of the Reicharmee contingent, and to be honest for really poor troops they did alright. We won one, and got absolutely hammered in the second game, by the use of some heartless and cowardly Teutonic tactics.


 I could wax lyrical about the whole weekend, but all I will say is that if one likes to take part in some great games, of a very high standard, and like shooting the breeze with other wargamers while drinking and eating then this is the weekend for you. One comes away with new ideas, a bit tired but most certainly enthused. One tip though, never ever drink with Angus Konstam the guy is a legend.










22 comments:

  1. I hear you. The dice don't like me either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But I still manage to grind out draws and close wins. I think of myself as a Mourhinio type of wargamer.

      Delete
  2. Looks and sounds like it was a tremendous experience all the way around. And your trophy really isn't so bad. He reminds me of one of Charles Grant's old figures wearing a yellow coat. Was it the Graf von Grunt?

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right on the money Stokes. It makes the figure even more special.

      Delete
  3. Robbie: it was great to meet you in person and you cheerfully gave as good as you got in terms of all of the ribbing that flew your way. For that alone you deserved an award. Your post today does a good job of summarizing the essence of the weekend and I look forward to seeing you again next year.

    Jim

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim,
      I thought you were very unlucky to lose the battle. I really felt you had us on the ropes. Its a pity you follow Frederick, he was a thoroughly bad person.

      Delete
  4. Robbie, thanks for your support during both of the Leuthen games, much appreciated, especially as I wasn't at my best on Saturday afternoon. And you definitely deserved the award 👍

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    Replies
    1. Given the heat in the place both weather and man made it is amazing that the games ran so smoothly.

      Delete
  5. Robbie,
    I have met many fine gentleman in my hobby life but the group that assemble for this event I could play games with every day all day. Nice post thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not a problem Paul, it was a very good weekend again.

      Delete
  6. Stokes, It is a beautiful figure, and clearly Aly wanted to recreate Peter Young's commander.You do know that our American cousins are very welcome, and the dollar is very strong against the pound.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Robbie, agree entirely. Great weekend and I really enjoyed it all. Everyone made me welcome and even managed to understand my dodgy cockney accent......

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great to meet Dave, I thought you were a perfect dodgy gent.

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  8. Havers, man. O thought My libation quantities were unusually moderate. Saying the Londoners had dodgy accents is a bit rich coming from someone who sounds like Andy Capp with a mouthful of gravel! Thanks for the crack this weekend ... it was all great fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angus,
      Technically you should be pickled by now, how do you do it.A veritable Keith Richards of the wargames world.

      Delete
  9. A very fair account Robbie and it turned out a very enjoyable experience facing you across the table - very little abuse but lots of sarcasm :-). But, man, you are not unlucky - you have such lovely friends!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chris,
      It is the lowest form of wit, but very British.

      Delete
  10. Robbie,
    Good job you didn't play in the Falkirk game where the Jacobites had consistent runs of bad luck. You would have made them suicidal!
    Glad you had a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Graham,
      Sometimes losing badly feels better than winning easily. I was itching to lead those rebels to defeat.

      Delete
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My 6mm Napoleonic set up.

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.
Austria 1809.

Austrian Hussars

Austrian Hussars
Hinchliffe figures

Austrian Grenzer

Austrian Grenzer
Austrian Grenzer

Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2013
Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2012

Smoggycon 2012
Smoggycon 2012

Smoogycon 2009

Smoogycon 2009
My French getting another beating