Mortimer's Cross - sort of

After all the crazy-ness of Comic-Con, I guess I needed the comfort of a good game of historicals. I dug my most favorite-est Medieval rules, Flower of Chivalry, and ran the War of the Roses battle of Mortimer's Cross. 

Edward (York) is trying to keep Lancastrian forces from uniting and heads them off at the River Lugg at the town of Mortimer's Cross. More people showed up than planned (Hey, look, its Roger!) and I had to add some fictional troops from what figs I had left. Thus, in the pics you'll see some mythical pikemen.

Lancastrian forces cross the river

Yorkist forces started to the west of the river, Lancastrians to the east. Victory points for holding the town, and even more holding the bridge.

The battle was a close one (as usual). Highlights included a lowly band of archers holding out against three heavier units (including pikemen) until the end. In the end, it was a marginal Yorkist victory. Huzzah!

I've had these boys for 20+ years. They have seen many battles.

My brave little archers

Super Thursday

Being in the middle of a week long heat advisory, I thought it appropriate to do a desert themed game. In previous issues, Emperor Ape had stolen the sarcophagus of the Black Pharaoh. So after he was able to build his Simian Ray that turned most of the Earth's population into monkeys. The few remaining heroes, led by Doc Titan have surmised the link between the two. Emperor Ape used the strange black material the pharaoh's tomb was made of to fuel his ray. A few deposits of the substance still pepper the area the tomb was discovered. Now our heroes race to grab some more of this X-matter to undo the effects of the Simian Ray.

From the start, our Heroes got ponded. As soon as A.J.A.X. took to the air, he was blasted out of the sky by Killshot and his henchmen.

Killshot did this most of the game. Gunning down heroes.

Behemoth super-leaped to the tomb and grabbed some x-matter before the heroes could react, while Eggsterminator scrambled the brains of several of the heroes.

Eggsterminator stalks the ruins in search of prey

AJAX, Mr Wonderful, the Crimson Cowl and Herakles approach the ruins

 Mr. Wonderful and Herakles tried valiantly to stem the villainous tide, but to no avail.

Hero Sandwich managed to escape with one measelly scrap of x-matter. Hope that's enough?

Mechagor uses a statue as a super-club

Behemoth and Herakles square off. An equal match

Next issue: Assault on Emperor Ape's Satellite!

Behemoth is an homage to one of my favorites from Villains and Vigilantes. I hope to some day recreate all my heroes and villains from this 80s RPG into SS2.

Thursday by GASLIGHT

I decided to take a break from play testing and do an old favorite, GASLIGHT. I dusted off the contraptions, through down some terrain, and put the Germans on the defensive for once.

French forces approach.

Germans wait

The Empress's Own Elite Lady Hussars defend the town

Regulars and Zouaves move forward protected by armor

Professor Nightshade's "klanks" have trouble with the stream

Only two lonely French regulars make it across the river

GASLIgHT is always fun, and this was no exception. I should have given the Anglo-French attacking forces more troops, as this was a defensive game. But, oh well.

B&B playtest 2

The strong willed daughter of the High Priestess of the Solarian Sisterhood, a matriarchal warrior cult, has been kidnapped by the evil Krool. The High Priestess has dispatched a strike force to get her back.

That was the set up for last Thursday's game of Blasters and Bulkheads. The Krool forces were allowed to set up first, being the defenders. They had 5 warriors and a warbot.

Solarian Strike force set up

Krool encampment

The "Good Guys" , as the attackers got a little more firepower with 6 warriors and a vehicle carrying missiles and heavy blasters.

The Deathball stares down his target

The Krool decided to position their heavy gunner on a watch tower, where he proceeded to drop lead on the oncoming  strike team. But, it was actually the smaller Krool (space goblins) that pounded the good guys. 

One warrior in particular, planted himself behind an outhouse, and was able to not only take down 3 attackers, but survive fire from the "Deathball" for most of the game. It was only when the Kroll finally became outflanked that the attackers in the last round, were able to knab the girl.

A well fought game. Some issues came up, but I have corresponded to Scott about. This is why you playtest!