Tuesday, December 22, 2015

2015 Gaming Year in review

WOW, where did 2015 go? 


Not a single post in 2015.....I will try to do better in the coming year.


I tend to take a lot of pictures of games and thanks to Photo bucket they catalog all my mobile uploads by month.  In the near future I will be a guest on a podcast to talk about the Bolt Action scene in our area during 2015.  In preparation I reviewed my pics from the last year and a lot more than I imagined transpired.


Here we go.......


Bolt Action and Black powder (AWI) was the primary focus for gaming in the past year.  My figure collections seems to have grown exponentially in the process.


This past year I managed to complete (well are they ever really complete?) two new Bolt Action Armies as well as almost complete most of my AWI armies (close to 900 figures now).  In addition I added many new models to the existing armies.





IJA Infantry Vehicles and SNLF


In the process I also participated in a Firestorm Normandy campaign adapted to Bolt Action (Great experience) by Phil.  Finally I closed out the year by hosting/playing in one Bolt Action Tournament and playing in two others.  All in all it was a stellar year on the gaming front.


Undefeated French List that went 6-0-3 in Tournament play
Here is the month by month break down per my pictorial records.


January 2015:
-Worked on my newly acquired French Bolt Action army adding the Bus and Schneider armored car
-Added Rubicon T34 for the Soviets
-Played AWI Freeman's Farm with the crew


Rubicon T-34


AWI Freeman's Farm


February 2015:
-Added a few models to U.S Airborne for upcoming Firestorm Campaign
-Completed Warlord Tank Obstacles
-Played the first games for the Firestorm Campaign

U.S. 82nd Preparing for Normandy invasion
First successful Airborne Landing vs. Sam's Vet Grenadier's Apparently they do not like BBQ



March 2015:
-Finished U.S. 1st ID for possible Normandy landings in the Firestorm campaign and then never used them as I ended up being the U.S. Airborne commander
-Expanded the French with  R35, FFL Light Howitzer and more Infantry
-Helped out at the Demo Day at Black Dog Games by providing armies and playing
-Supported Bolt Action Demo Day and Vanguard games


1st ID rebuilt....yet to see the table


French Armor support
Mighty French Cavalry will become vital to my list
Black Dog Demo day


April 2015:
-Started Soviet Cavalry project
-Played Brian Soviets Vs. IJA (Epic 1250 pt Battle)
 -Attended Little Wars in IL



Little Wars...Mark's Gold Beach Scenario in 15mm
IJA vs Soviets where all Armor was neutralized early and it became and infantry slug fest
Vanguard Games Demo DAK vs. 8th Army


May 2015:
-New Project Purchased IJA used.  This was very unplanned, but to good a deal to pass up.  I had previously sworn off the Pacific theater now it is one of my favorite armies.
-Played AWI With Phil (Chatterton's Hill)
-French added HQ units, Senegalese and  L37
-Soviet added BA 6
-German Lieg Gun and PZ J1...Liege gun was an inside joke as it was my downfall when Brian played me the first time and I did not know what it was.


Chatterton's Hill...a resounding American victory
IJA....an unplanned project
Senegalese....Regular tough fighters


June 2015:
-Much progress on IJA adding some armor:Type 94, HaGo, Shinhoto Chi-Ha, Scout Cars, Vent and Jungle Infantry


IJA goodies added


Jul 2015:
-Battle of Kahlkyn Gol (Soviets vs IJA) with Brian and Donavon on Brian's terrain Board.  This was one of the best and most memorable Bolt Action games of the year.  Not just because we won with the IJA, but the terrain board Brian created truly made it an event.


Kahlkyn Gol.....IJA win Handily, awesome terrain
Type 94 Charges down the river bed


August 2015:
-Soviet Cav Complete with the help of Brian (My little Pony)
-Added Soviet Small Teams
-Played French Maginot Line with Brian...first real test for the French in what turned out to be a lopsided affair as the Germans never had a chance with the terrain.
-IJA Matchbox Truck conversions
-Restarted ACW 10mm project (now all painted pending basing)
-Thursday night Game night in Madison kicked off w/ Ben and crew
-Added BA Plastic Panther for the Germans painted by Brian
-Char 2C added in Prep for Vanguard Tournament which in the end I could not attend.


Soviet Cavalry ready thanks to Brian's painting
Maginot Line is a tough day for the attackers


Match box 1920 Mack truck conversion for IJA


10mm ACW Project rekindled
Char 2C joins the French...compared to T28


September 2015:
-Added Warlord T34
-Prep for What-Khan TO...I always start early as in order to make the events look as professional as possible and run smoothly with great prize support.


Char 2c Goes into battle for the first time
Warlord T34 (Top) with Rubicon

October 2015:
-What-Khan Tournament as TO (Played as odd man)
-What-Khan AWI game
-Phil's WWI CoC at What-Khan....I am sold


What-Khan Bolt Action Tournament ready to go
Generous Prize Support


AWI Freeman's Farm with 7 new players
Phil and James hosted a great WWI Chain of Command Demo


November 2015:
-Game Hole Con Tournament run by Brian
-Added IJA Type 92 Shape ways
-Started Anglo-Zulu Project....Impulse project with Brian and Phil
-AWI Bemis Heights...this game was a year in the making, but well worth the wait.


Game Hole Con...French once again thwart Phil's IJA
Ben's Soviets prove a tough adversary resulting in a draw
Dice gods took a coffee break giving Donavon's Italians a well earned draw






In true style Phil's dice abandon him along with his troops and Gen Arnold captures the redoubt.


December 2015:
-Continued Anglo-Zulu (Confirmed what we already know Brian has A.D.D.)
-Supported Steven and the  Twin Cities "Winter Storm" Tournament
-Playing BA w/ My Son, Justin (Americans v French Americans v FJ)
-End of year clean up and organization of hobby bench
Anglo-Zulu Progress


Luke's Americans feel the sting of French Cavalry




Char 2C Scores a rare Ace on Joe's Greyhound






Rick's Germans fight the French to a draw in the final game
Justin returned home and learned to respect the French


Hobby Area cleaned and ready for future projects
If all goes well before the end of the year I will get a couple more games of Bolt Action in with Justin as well as play at least one more AWI scenario.


Gaming goals for 2016:

1.  Be a better blogger with at least a monthly summary post if not for each significant event.


2. Surprisingly, adding another BA army is not on the list, just the opposite I am going to try not to buy any more BA other than a few models to round out what I already have.  Mostly I want to take time to play and enjoy the collection I already own.


3. Host at least one area Bolt Action tournament, although in may not be in conjunction with a convention.  The past two years at What-Khan were very rewarding, but not the participation level I had hoped.  My gut tells me there are too many other distractions at the convention that pull the Bolt Action players away.


4. Host another Black Powder game at a Convention, possibly Bemis Heights.


5.  Possibly return to my Naval gaming which has been on hiatus for the past two plus years since I discovered Bolt Action and Black Powder.


6. Continue to enjoy the friendship of my current gaming group and add new ones.


Until next time......













3 comments:

  1. OMG I thot you gave up on the blog do more Span-Am war plz

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    Replies
    1. The Ships have been in harbor and many new vessels still on the blocks while land campaigns have been waged. Hope to get back to the seas this year. ;)

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