I have long believed that there not much that can take place on the weekend that can't be improved by adding liberal quantities of beer. Watching football. Having dinner with the in-laws. Socialising with friends. Even DIY. On Saturday I found that wargaming may be the exception that proves the rule.
Game 1 - 2500 KoW Game
A coalition of greenskins clashing with the ordered regiments of the Dwarves - what better way to get my old pals back into the swing of massed fantasy battles?
A scenario where each turn 1-3 asteroid fragments of great value fell to earth, randomly scattered across the battlefield, and where there is a steadily increasing chance of a third or even fourth faction arriving to contest the field seemed simple enough.
It went well at first, although hampered by no one bringing the free downloadable army lists despite repeated prompts slowed things down. Unfamiliarity with unit types didn't help tactics either. About an hour into the game, we started on the beer. Showing chronically bad judgement we decided to start on a super-strength home brew one of guests had 'kindly' brought along.
I stopped taking photos around an hour later. Sometime later, after an undead force arrived, a marsh monster got pissy with some orcs, most regiments on both sides had died and another 4 or 5 beers, we decided 'the goblins have probably won' and moved on to our second game.
Game 2 - AtDE Zombies and stuff
From just after the second turn of the KoW game I forgot to take photos, so impossible to give a decent battle report really. I can report that we debated the merits of Greene King's traditional IPA against some of their more recent creations at some length, with more heat than light. From this game I learnt several things:
1) My idea of gangs starting with d3+1 gang members on the board is stupid and doesn't work.
2) Rocket launchers in confined spaces - awesome - 4 Hunters, 1 Meat Eater leader an a zombie incinerated in a single shot. I want one for my campaign gang.
3) Sollus / Zombies - looking forward to the official rules as mine were rubbish.
4) Secret objectives - different for each player - is a recipe for acrimonious post-match analysis if combined with 10 hours of drinking.
Good to catch up with the old amigos, but a bit of a shame they didn't get a better introduction to this excellent game.