Last Alliance vs. Mordor

Elements of our Middle Earth Strategy Battle Games mustered the forces of the Last Alliance to stop the advance of the Witch King of Angmar and Gothmog's Orc and Uruk-Hai host.  Each side fielded 500 (I think) points, the mission was Annihilation and I commanded the Mordor army. 

The spear of Gil-Galad and the sword of Earendil ready their warriors.

Tabletop view, with "evil" arrayed on the right.

Paul does excellent work on his figures.

Orcs and an armored troll rumble up the middle while
the Witch King and his Morgul Knights flank.

And just like that, my troll goes down in a hail of 
Elven arrows.

After yielding ground, the Alliance takes the brunt of
the charge.

Orcs swarmed the archers and decimated them with
hot dice.

Swirling melee with magic flying.

Judging the timing is right, the Knights rush in.

Gothmog has two wounds but stays in the fight.

The Elven archers are wiped out as some Mordor Uruk-Hai
battle warriors in the distance.

The Morgul Blade is worth the points and Gil-Galad,
out of fate, goes down.

The Last Alliance was shattered at this point and the game ended.  Always a pleasure to play with and against a talented gentleman.  Thanks for the game.

Tundra Con 2022

On January 8th, 2022 we held the 7th Tundra Con at the American Legion Hall, always on the weekend after New Years.  With the surge in COVID variants we didn't know what to expect but wanted to forge ahead anyway and let people decide for themselves about their risk comfort level.  In the end we were below average for attendance, but did better than expected.  The Legion Hall is ideal for a one-day convention, featuring adequate space and food and refreshments available on site.  This year they had an expanded menu of specials for us.

We had eleven game masters running an assortment of games on land, sea, air and the dungeon.  Participants paid a $10 fee and could play in as many games as desired.  Some games were longer than others but many played three games and all could get in two.  Take a look at the pictures below to get a feel for the day.   

Battle of Midway, a possible surface action with 
Naval Thunder, Adam Apell game master.  Savo Island
followed on the same table.

Walking in a Winter Killing Field with Flames of
War, Michael Mathews game master.

Relief of Fort Kasala with The Sword and the Flame,
Greg Miller game master.

Battle Tech Grinder - A Learning Game

Battle of Lake Takitwithya with Drums Along the
Mohawk, Todd Prochniak game master.

Bolt Action demo games all day.

Encounter Appleton with All Quiet on the Martian 
Front, Bob Rondou game master.

Dan Verssen Games, one of our valued vendors.

LOD Enterprises, another regular vendor.  Not pictured,
Jadeco Hobby.

Action heating up in the Battle of the Bulge game.
Will Peiper take the bridge in time?

British relief column vs. the Mahdi looking to rescue
the Egyptian garrison and missionaries.

Ireland Forever, Maybe! with Nevermind the Billhooks,
Todd Prochniak game master.

Invasion at Normandy with Memoir '44, Todd
Chirhart game master.

Rescue and Ambush with Flames of War 'Nam.  Paul
Alaniz game master.  One of three tables.

Relief just needs to drive down this road to rescue
the L,R.P.S. team.  No problem, right?

NVA regulars intercept and engage the now distracted
US armor.

Puff the Magic Dragon and heavy air is available
to support the drive.

A heavy toll is exacted, but the insurgents win in 
the end.

Shadows of Brimstone, Alex Drumm game master.

 

A view of the Legion Hall in the morning.

Yes, I was even seen smiling.

Not pictured are the evening games of Wings of War with Bob Rondau and Mind the Gap with Armageddon '89 with Dan Wideman.

Finally, a shout out to the American Legion Post #38 who has worked with us for years to bring this event to life, and to the men and women who have served with honor.

Tundra Con IV

January 6th saw the 4th installment of Tundra Con at the American Legion Post in Appleton, WI.  We had a wide range of games and a few vendors.  Food and drink available on site too, so at just $10 for a day of gaming it seems a bargain and attracts around 50 players each year.  We have been lucky that in four years there has been bitter cold, but no severe storms.  Check out Tundra Con V on January 5th, 2019.

"Siege of the Lich King" on an adjustable table (for sale).
Bruce Laue GM

Setting up Memoir '44.  Todd Chirhart GM.

Battle of Culloden using Final Argument of Kings.  Todd
Prochniak GM.

54mm Greeks and Trojans for sale by Ken Ciak.
https://www.facebook.com/Lodtoysoldiers

Russo-Japanese War in 1/600 using Naval Thunder.  Dan
Wideman GM.

Pikemans' Lament set-up, "They Are Coming For Us" scenario
set in the colonies around the turn of the 17/18th century.
Mike Husky GM.

Something has gone wrong for Kyle apparently, Star Fleet Battles.
Eric Drumm GM.

Table detail and dice tower.

A 4x6' table that can be custom built.  Multi use item.

The undead hordes are shambling forward.

The invasion is on.

The "Lost Battalion" is lost, using 1916 as rules.  Paul Alaniz GM.

Lots of Bolt Action action.  Teddy Alecos and Kyle Bey GMs.

Check Your 6 being prepared over the Eastern Front.  Chuck
Seegert GM.

My own game, a pirate "Raid on Marquay". 

Pirates rowing ashore in the gloom.

The Free Men of Color company rushes to rescue the brig Electra.

We also had Hail Caesar (Paul Alaniz), Wings of Glory (Bob Rondou), modern micro-armor (Dan Wideman) and probably others I'm forgetting.  Some games ran multiple times.  In my own game the pirates cut out the Electra (4 guns) and a small craft but failed to take the shore battery or town, in part because of a warband of natives that showed up to investigate all the noise.  But the creepy Governor escaped with his entourage and most of his ill-gotten fortune, all while mentally wording his report to the King of Spain about how the pirates took everything and taxes would need to be doubled.

See you in 2019!