Giglamps and the Halfling Eaters of Chavo

This tale follows-on from here, and concludes here.

Dear Notables,

We are now some 19 weeks out of Pisofia, and have reached the town of Bemako where we must take on some much needed stores and enjoy some much needed rest.

It pleases me to announce that we have found the source of the Nigella, as well as that of the Gumbia! Alas this has not been without loss.

Shortly after my last dispatch to your Gentle Selves, it was decided that rather than retrace the reverse of Mungorc's route from Bemako to the Gumbia, by which means he returned to Pisofia after his last foray, that we should rather Skirt south of that Route. This allowed us to skirt some rather Unpleasant Stretches of desert and rough mountainous terrain.

Our guide from the Du Bi Du Bi Doo people, Vikda Moan, assured us that such a deviation from our projected course would save us time and  no little exposure to evil spirits! Od's Fish! Let Afri's evil spirits appear and we shall give them such a Thrashing as they shall never forget!! However, saving time is always a good thing, especially when one is reduced to eating Mania. Have I mentioned the sweet corn, "Mania" before? It is a variety, common in this region, but I believe, unknown outside Afri. Ripping good it is too although one does tend to run about a bit and sometimes scream "woodle doodle pyang" after partaking of the pasty meal.

But I digress. Veering south we followed the course of the Gumbia to its head waters, which Mungorc duly christened "The Source of the Gumbia". Fine rat is Mungorc but perhaps not the most taken with fancy eh? Stout fellah none the less and wouldn't want to be traipsing about in the middle of Sentinel knows where with any other!

We rested there a bit to regain our collective strength. Sadly it was here that dear Anderat breathed his last and shed his mortal coil. Two of the Marines were laid to rest here as well. All three victims of the dread Mouldarea for which this region is too well known. Mungorc himself has already suffered several attacks of the malady and I fear for his continued well being but more on that later.

From our camp at the Source of the Gumbia, we  struck out overland into a region Vikda Moan styled "Chavo", This is the home of a loose confederation of halfling tribes who pride themselves on their fierce appearance and willingness to plunder travelers we were told. Their traditional garment, the "Burrbeery" is frequently adorned with chains of gold and other such frip froppery and it is said they are easy prey for the local lions being so well weighted down by their "bling"!

As such Vkda Moan told us to be on our guard in camp and on the march lest we fall prey to either looters or lions. How right he was too! One night one of our sentries was carried off. We found the poor chap next day, nearly done for, well chewed and that sort of thing. We took him back to camp of course where he later died of infection.

Immediately I set Lt. Martyn gathering a few of the Marines for a hunt! Bally fun it was too. I had three of the lads out beating before us as Pine and I followed, guns at the ready.

These lions are quite crafty. Quite indeed! One of the things sprang out of a bush at the lead beater, took a chunk out of him, and vanished back into the bush before we could take a shot! Well that "will not stand" I says and took off after it. They say following a lion into the bush is the act of  a fool. I am here to tell you that  I was just the fool for the work too.

The lion soon turned and leapt out at me.

I raised my pistol just in time only to have the demned thing  mis-fire! Down I went, with a great big angry cat for a blanket. Dare say I must have blacked out for moment. Martyn and the rest of the boyz fired a volley at the feroucious beast before it could finish me off. Dem me for a school orcling if they did not all miss! Apparently this got the cat really angry. Ripped out the throat of one of my orcs before I recovered meself!

I dare say that lion deserved a good thrashing! I mean one of my chaps wounded and another slain by ..an animal? Not even a rascally Elf should dare such an thing in my presence.

Drawing my heavy cavalry sword, I charged! Half expected the lion to scarper off into the bush again. Unwisely he chose to charge me...

I am sending you the pelt via courier. Please see that it is stuffed and displayed in a suitably life-like pose, in the main hall of the Club.

About a week after our beastly encounter we heard a tremendous rumbling ahead. Turned out be another water fall, only this river headed south. We decided to follow its course for a bit to see if it would indeed change course and bring us closer to our goal.

Along the way we neared a small halfling village. What passed for the local militia turned out and in no uncertain terms made it clear our presence was unwelcome. I urged Park to let me lead the boyz forward to teach the jollyjipjabs some manners and force them to give us a proper welcome. Park consulted Vikda Moan who again proved his worth, pointing out that the locals probably feared we were slavers like the Othari and associated halfling who ply that odious trade in these parts.

In the end we took a detour around the village and there was an end to it.

The river soon turned northwestwards and we can now say with certainty that it is indeed the Nigella!!

We now sit in council with the King of Bemako. His Highness is an acquaintance of Park's  from his first journey and is urging the good rat to head home to the hills and glens of fair Joccia lest Afri become his grave.

Undaunted, brave Mungorc Park, is insisting we make our way down river in search of the fabled city of Timsbucktoof. 

For my part I am ready to follow the Nigella to its very mouth...

Your Obedient Servant,

Giglamps, Capt (brvt), Halflingland Rifles

PS: Do please tell me dear Uncle Rogipoos that we have finally seen the Elehump. Quite a few of them as it happens. As well as something called a Rhinosaurus and Potohipamee. This is truly a land chock a block full of wonder!

"WW2 All at Sea" Review

I have been asked to elaborate on Agema’s “WW2 All at Sea” due to a general dearth of information about the game on line. So where to begin?

Scale:

Each tactical turn = 10 minutes, strategic turns = 40 minutes

4 cm = one nautical mile although imperial measurements are used for game play.

1 model = one ship or four or five aircraft.

As you can see from the time scale this is a very “high level” game. In land warfare one might refer to this as an operational simulation.  A good way to look at it is that you are in the role of squadron or fleet commander, rather than ship’s captain.

The rules use six sided dice throughout. Essentially you roll one dice per battery firing and if you score a hit another dice is rolled to determine the damage. AA fire is handled a bit differently with each ship having a number of Light AA, and AA dice dependent upon armament. Within certain restrictions these dice may be allocated to more than one enemy flight per turn as required.

Games will usually start with both sides beyond detection range (randomly determined at game start). Forces will then move in strategic turns until the range closes. Then tactical turns will commence with each side trying to detect the other and so on. Radar can be useful to tell that someone is out there, but only if it works. Once figures come within visibility range firing is likely to commence.

For those new to naval games with longish scale turns, damage rates can seem high. It is quite possible for a destroyer to be sunk in a single round of combat. Of course it could just as easily escape being damaged at all, or suffer from non-lethal degradation of firepower, speed, or comms.

Speaking of comms, each player is assigned a flagship. The flagship may be maneuvered as the player sees fit and any ships in formation with it will conform. If you want a ship that is not in the flagship’s formation to turn, you have to roll a dice to see if the order is received and carried out. Usually it will be. Damage to comms systems on the flag or receiving ship, or just bad luck, can result in the order being missed or misinterpreted.

There are rules for submarines and aircraft as well as surface vessels. A system is provided by which forces may be built using points to give “balanced” games. However where and when the battle it to take place does have considerable impact on what is available and even if you get to use what you purchased.

There are also campaign rules that regulate using the same forces over a number of games with all that entails. This is not a map campaign, but rather a resource management exercise.

Ship date is provided for just about anyone you might need to see included: Argentina, Australia, Britain, Brizil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Soviet Union, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Unitied States. The listed ships run from BB’s and CV’s down to subs and mtbs. There are also aircraft stats for the major powers included.

As an added plus some historical scenarios are included; River Plate, Pantelleria, Dakar (a campaign scenario), and Denmark Strait.

All things considered you get a  lot of game in the 158 page book or pdf. As in any game where fewer rather than more dice are used, luck will be an important factor. For example I had a single flight of Swordfish make a run at Bismarck. Quite improbably they sunk her (I know AH said “she” should be a “he”, but I don’t care : ). Now that actually required Bismarck not getting a 6 on any of 10 dice, while the aircraft rolled not one but two sixes. As you can see that sort of thing won’t happen often.

All things considered I’m a fan. If I want to play a really small action and know the effect of each round fired I’ll play Seekrieg V. Failing that I am more likely to play All at Sea than any of the other games mentioned below*.

Oh and lest I forget, Agema offers WWI naval rules by the name of "Challenge and Reply". These predate "All at Sea", and are similar in execution but not in detail.

Hope you find this info of interest, and thanks for stopping by!

* WWII Naval Miniatures Games that I have played:

Command At Sea

Seekrieg V

Sea Wars

Battle Stations! Battle Stations!

Warship

General Quarters (1, 2, and 3)

Convoy

Miniatures-like board games:

World War II at Sea

NWS Naval Warfare World War II

NWS  Nights of Fury

Naval Thunder

Shipbase 3

Tokyo Express

Royal Navy

This is just the primarily surface warfare oriented games that I can recall having played but will do for the purposes of establishing a base line.

All at Sea: River Plate 1939

Admiral Graf Spee under fire

While Giggers is sorting out the overland bit of Park's expedition, thought it was time for a quick break.

Have had Agema's All at Sea WWII naval rules for a while now, yet never actually had a chance to play a game. Well that's been taken care of now.

The rules are very easy to use and not for the micro manager. The fire of each battery is resolved by the roll of 1d6, there are only three or four possible damage results, and there is no need to cross off tick boxes on a ship form. I like it.

The complex calculations required are hidden in the data as with A&A Game Engineering's "Sea Wars", and the result is an even more streamlined game that puts you firmly in the role of commander rather than the jack of all trades most other naval simulations require you to be.

Tonight's game was the River Plate fought in 1939 between a German so called "pocket battleship" and three RN ships, the 6" gun light cruisers Ajax, and Achilles, along with the 8" heavy cruiser Exeter ( the same poor ship that was to be lost off Java in the opening stages of the Pacific War).

This battle is pretty straight forward and one of the "go to" scenarios I like to use when trying out a new set of rules.

So here is how it went...

The two forces approached one another from a starting range of 27,000 yards.

The RN needed to close the range so that the 6" guns of the light cruisers would be able to overcome Spee's armour. Conversely it suited Langsdorf to keep the range open where his slower firing 11" battery would have the advantage.

The Germans were quite lucky early on and hits on the RN flagship, Ajax  brought her to half speed for turn. Ajax fell out of line to effect repairs while Achilles and Exeter screened her.

Here Langsdorf was favored again as Spee's fire soon made a shambles of Achilles communications systems.

Achilles takes damage while leading Exeter.

The end result was that while Ajax was soon back up to full speed, Achilles misinterpreted an order and led Exeter clear in the opposite of the intended direction!

Ajax in pursuit.
Achilles and Exeter may be seen pursuing a different course of action entirely (background).

Despite losing two thirds of his squadron to mis-communication,  Harwood had Ajax gamely pursue Spee.
Even though the range was too great for Ajax's 6" guns to have any great effect versus Spee's armour, Ajax's gunners kept up such a barrage that the German gunners were well hindered in their ability to return fire.

Admiral Graf Spee straddled by Ajax's fire.

The scenario was slated to only last six turns. The final two turns of the game saw Admiral Graf Spee sailing off, pursued by Ajax, while Achilles and Exeter were coming about and trying to make up lost ground.

Neither side had been able to achieve their objectives of so damaging the enemy that pursuit (German) or escape (British) could be prevented and so the game was a draw.

I could have handled Admiral Graf Spee more aggressively its true, but closing range with the superior British force would have been a recipe for disaster, as in reality, this scenario is a difficult one for the Germans whose armament though superior is limited (only a total of 6x 28cm guns.and less effective 15cm secondaries), suffer from only middling armour (only slightly better than most heavy cruisers) and slower speed than their pursuers.

The game itself proved very easy to play and ought to handle large numbers of ships quite well, while still providing an interesting game for smaller actions.

 I fear that my meager photographic skills were found lacking when taking pictures of the beautiful Hallmark 1/6000 ships so apologies for that!

As always thanks for stopping by!

Dispatch from the Gumbia: Week Eight

This installment is a follow-on from here, and is continued here.

Dear Notables,

We are now five weeks out of Pisofia. Here we must leave the river behind to strike out overland for the Nigella.

Three of our number, including poor Captain Anderat, are down with the mouldarea. There is after all a reason this quarter of Afri has become known as “The Uropian’s Grave” when even the stout yoeorcs of the Royale Marines can succumb to such Malefactroal Vapours. The malady leaves the victim weak as a kitten and probably not half so tasty. I have been told that if an orc dies of this fell disease it is not even safe to eat him! Od’s Fish! Demmned inconvenient that. We’d have to do something else with the body and quick I dare say, lest more of the boys come a cropper due to it.

Fortunately Dear Captain Park has been putting his years as a ship’s Doctor to good use ministering to the ill, and so far none of our party has Pierced the Veil so to speak.

Welcoming Commitee

Yesterday, as we proceeded up the Gumbia, we were met by the Du Bi Du Bi Doo people. They came at us on the river with Great Ferocity, and I would have had them fired on had it not been for Goode Captain Park, “Belaying” that order. “Belaying” is some sort of thing those Shyppey types say when they really mean “Knock it Off” or just “Shut It”. Takes a bit of getting used to I must say.

Well, in any event, the Captain had me “Belay” my order to open fire and I thought us all lost for a Halfling’s stew pot! Turns out the Du Bi Du Bi Doo are right Splendid chaps and good friends with our dear leader.

They had us round their village for some sort of parlay with a good deal of Puffery and I dare say Mummery as well! Lot’s of singing and dancing. Only unlike the halflings of the Naal who sort of dance and sing together, these fellahs had only their Headhalfling sing. Chap goes by the name of Franksen Atra, and is apparently a bit of Rake with the lady Halflings by Sentinel!

As he sang, Dear Park was good enough to translate. Atra likened our expedition and his tribe to Strangers who pass one another in the Night, and yet become Bally Good friends. Throughout he was accompanied by his Ministers who played a variety of native musical Thingamajubers. The whole was led by one Nel, Son of Rid El and the performance was really quite moving.

Once we got down to, well one hates to say it, but, well “Business”, it turned out the Du Bi Du Bi Doo are keen traders that would do any Londinium shop keeper proud! We handed over quite a lot of Hongo, simply for the privilege of traversing their territory. “Hongo” is another one of those Words dear Park is so fond of only this one is not so Shyppey as much as it is Halflingy. It basically means, well, whatever the Halfling’s happen to fancy taking from one in return for whatever it is, if anything, they wish to Bestow upon one.

In the end we couldn’t get quite as many mules as we should have liked, did get a fine fellah to guide us cross country, and were regaled with tales of the mysterious Whig El people.

Seems these chappies live in the middle of Sentinel Knows Where and worship a great big Lizardy Goddess known as Doro Tee. In fact the reason these bally fellahs were mentioned at all is by way of forewarning. Apparently they are said to cut a caper that leads to un-gentleorcly sacrifice. They lure in prospective victims by mimicking the Du Bi Du Bi Doo with their chant of “Do the Oooby Doo, with Doro Tee”. Any Traveler so bemused by the chant as to participate in their Savage Rite, will soon find himself in pieces, if not also in some Ritual Dish called “Newt Salad”. They say it is yummy yummy but I nearly wretch even at its contemplation from this safe distance.

Well time to bid you all a  most Fond Farewell for we must depart early in the morning.

I am leaving this missive in the hands of a Caravan, or as the natives say, Koffle, bound to Pisofia for trading. Will write again as opportunity allows.

Your Obedient Servant

Giglamps, Capt (brvt), Halflingland Rifles

P.S. I have sent a letter to my Dear Uncle Rogipoos under separate cover along with a copy of this dispatch.  Should you not hear of it from Him do please send word to Willorcs Hall that I have been most fortunate to have received his gifts of Gin and Tonic to see me Proof against the Most Dreadful Maladies of the Gumbian region. Also do tell him that although I have not seen any Elehumps as yet there have been plentiful and well Large, grey cherry trees in plenty. Such a Bountious Land! Huzzah! The Native chappies we have encountered all evinced a great fear of travelling under said trees due to some Absurd and Regrettable Taboo. Silly custom I dare say!

Giglamps Up the Gumbia

Mungorc Park's Second Nigella Expedition

We last left Giglamps triumphant as he recovered the Kyng's Colours of the 21st "Eyes in Gourds" lost at the Fords of Isandlwana. In the aftermath a well chuffed Lord Chumpsford rewarded Giggers with a brevet Captaincy. However as is so often the case, there was no vacancy for a Captain in the "Sewon and Soforths".

As a result Giggers has been temporarily seconded to the army of the Royal Halflingland Company, and ordered to lead the troops escorting esteemed Afri explorer Mungorc Park on his second Nigella Expedition.

This is the start of an exploration campaign using a number of sets of rules.

The party will start out travelling up river using The Virtual Armchair General's  The Sword in Africa River Event Deck followed by overland travel using The Sword in Africa Safari Event Deck .

As new territory is explored the terrain will be determined using the excellent "Dr. Deadrock I Presume" that appeared as part of this years Advent Calendar on Orcs in the Webbe .

Folded in with all of the above I will be using the fantastic "Dark Continent" role playing game for bits and bobs.

Of course in all cases results will be subject to change based on what fits my collection and fancy.

Tactical combat will be resolved using either "Muskets and Mohawks" and/or "Long Rifle"  or "Flintloque" .

That intrepid Joccian, Mungorc Park

In his previous journey, Mungorc Parck suffered great hardship at the hands of Ottermen and Halfling alike. Having set out into the interior of Afri, accompanied only by some trusted halfling servents, Park soon found himself robbed, imprisoned, stripped, and left for dead repeatedly and not necessarily in that order.

Park had however achieved his goal. Mungorc was the first Rat, Orc, or even Elf to reach the fabled river Nigela and to return to tell of it.

After several years of recuperation, and writing of his adventures, the Royal Afri Society has prevailed upon Park to return to Afri and further his (their!) work. This time Park, now commissioned a Captain in his Majesty's Navy, is to seek out both the source of the Nigella and the legendary golden city of  Timsbucktoof.

Realizing that Park survived his last mission only by a great deal of luck and more importantly the Grace of Sentinel, this, the second Gumbia and Nigella expedition is travelling well armed indeed.

The expedition's second in command is Parks brother-in-law, Captain Alexander Anderat.

Captain Anderat preferring a scented hanky to the scent of the Gumbia

As already mentioned, brevet Captain Giglamps serves as leader of the expedition's soldiery.

Giglamps of the Gumbia!

Lieutenant  Pine Martyn of the Royal Marines serves as Giglamp's second.

Lt. Pine Martyn may be seen center background with cutlass.

The soldiery themselvesnsist of some twenty privates and two sergeants of the Royal Marines.

The rest of the expedition consists of four Jacke Tarrs led by a Bosun's Mate, and the expedition's engineer Vaughn Bone.

Vaughn Bone

The Plan:

Making use of Capt. Park's previous experience the expedition is heading up the Gumbia to the trading station at Pisofia, where supplies will be laid in and final preparations made for the journey inland. The expedition will then proceed further up river until eventually porteeing their whaleboats on  pack donkeys, trekking overland to the Nigella, and once again taking to the river.

The Map.
Dark Continent? More like Blank Continent!

On the map above you can see the territory "discovered" by Captain Park on his first trek. This trek begins on the coast and will head east until reaching the Nigella and/or traveling south to find its source or north to find Timsbucktoof and beyond!

Of  course circumstances may well force a change of plan...

That's all for now. Future updates as they occur.

This tale is continued here.

Thanks for stopping by!