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RECON 2014 – Friday Photos

Photos from RECON, the HMGS-South spring convention in Orlando Florida.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/130153196@N08/albums/72157661242722751

Battle of Cos Using Hail, Agrippa! Rules

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a game of Hail, Agrippa! at the Dogs of War shop. The Hail, Agrippa! rules are a modification of Hail Caesar published in Issue 66 of ‘Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy’ magazine. [Hail Agrippa! rules link]

The scenario was loosely based on the Battle of Cos, 258 BCE (or 261, or whenever; nobody knows) fought between an Antigonid fleet and a Ptolemaic fleet. The order of battle was determined by the miniatures available, and included ships as large as deceres (or dekeres) which are probably heavier than any at the real battle. Fleets of this period might be 100-200 ships, so the units (4 models on a base) might represent 9-18 ships.

Miniatures are primarily Langton 1:1200 and Navwar 1:1200, with a few Valiant 1:900 and scratch-built ships.

The six players each had a division of 3 or 4 units. The southern shore of Cos Island is in the background.

The seaward division of the Antigonid (blue) fleet consisted of trieres only. One unit engages Ptolemaic penteres while the division tries for an outflanking move.

One unit of trieres is destroyed, but the others use their speed (and very good command rolls) to escape.

The center Antigonid division has lost two units to lighter opponents. We did not use the ‘broken division’ Hail Caesar rules, so the remaining unit fights on. The victorious Ptolemaic units blunder and continue to the right. Bad command rolls make it difficult for the Ptolemaic division in the foreground to reform and give chase. In the distance, the Antigonid division backs water to avoid heavier opponents.

The seaward Ptolemaic division has left 2 units behind in order to get back in the battle. Antigonid trieres race to the opposite end of the line to threaten the rear of the heavy Ptolemaic units.

The landward divisions engage. The Ptolemaic ships are heavier, but the Gods favor the Antigonid ships.

With the Antigonid fleet having lost 4 of 10 units and the Ptolemaic fleet 2 of 11, we called the game at this point.

WWI Naval Battle – Italians vs French

In another non-historical scenario, the Italians decide the Central Powers will be the winning side. The Italian fleet sails out to challenge the French fleet.

Visibility was 24,000 yards. Wind was north-westerly at 16 knots and the seastate was 3.

Status at the end of the game: Italia final status

Damage output summary (part 1): Damage part 1

Damage output summary (part 2): Damage part 2

Plot (part 1): Italia plot 1st part

Plot (part 2): Italia plot 2nd part

The fleets deploy into battle lines, with the Italians (on the right) somewhat more organized. An early French torpedo boat attack has been repulsed with heavy loss.

The four French dreadnoughts and the lead pre-dreadnought take damage from the five Italian dreadnoughts. French ACs (background) attempt to get within torpedo range.

The Italians also take damage, but not nearly as much.

One French dreadnought has been sunk and one has no propulsion. Italian torpedo boats (bottom) close in on the crippled French dreadnoughts to use their short-ranged torpedoes.

The remaining French dreadnoughts are slowed by flooding damage and are overtaken by the pre-dreadnoughts. Several French ACs are quickly sunk when the Italian battle line shifts fire to them.

The Italian battle line evades a torpedo attack by a turn together. One dreadnought has sunk.

The volume of fire of the four Cavour and Duilio class ships was about 50% greater than that of the four Courbet class ships (13 gun vs 10 gun broadsides and a slightly higher rate of fire). The longer range French torpedoes might have evened the odds, but the attacks were stopped or evaded. A decisive victory for Italy and a good test of the code.

WWI Naval – 1/6000 Scale Armed Merchant Cruisers and Troopships

1/6000 scale WWI ships by Figurehead miniatures.

Starship Troopers AAR

On March 22nd the local HMGS-South group played a Starship Troopers game.

Three scientists required evacuation by Mobile Infantry when their lab was attacked by the Arachnids. The initial defense consisted of robots and mercenaries which were nearly wiped out by the time the infantry arrived in two dropships.