Gaming at Pendraken Miniatures - 20/04/2024

[Roy]

10mm American Civil War - Battle of Chancellorsville - Altar of Freedom rules





















Other club members took photos, too. DaveD has some, I know, so maybe there'll be more added to this collection.

- Second photo: who put that chair there?! Blocking the Pendraken sign.
- last photo: Blooming 'eck, has there been a buying spree on Blitzkrieg Commander blister packs, or what!

[fred.]

Great looking game

[Steve J]

Superb game there !

[paulr]

        

[streetgang]

Man that looks like a blast. How do you like the Altar of Freedom rules? Being on the other side of the Atlantic with as much as I love 10mm, I can only imagine how fun playing a game at Pendraken would be.

[Glorfindel]

Looks superb, just how I imagine this period should.   More photos would certainly be appreciated.   I'd also be interested in your thoughts on the rules.

[sunjester]

That is a great looking game.    

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Superb looking game! 

[steve_holmes_11]

Fantastic looking table.

[Roy]

Thank you for your kind words. Though I can't take any credit, as the majority of the miniatures and terrain belonged to Dave (Union co-commander alongside myself). Steve (CSA co-commander alongside Bren and Martin) might have provided some of the CSA troops(?). I do know that some of the trees used belonged to Ian 'Skywalker', who wasn't gaming with us on the day. My (tiny in comparison) contribution was providing three bases/brigades of Union infantry and creating a 'quick-look' admin sheet to record Union command points.

More photos would certainly be appreciated.

Dave has created a blog post AAR on the game, with a decent written account, over on his blog. I don't know if he's going to copy-and-paste onto the forum, so I won't post the address until I know.

I'd also be interested in your thoughts on the rules.

How do you like the Altar of Freedom rules?

Dave would give you a better answer, to be honest, as I play so infrequently that I can't compare them to many other rules and they're the only ACW rules I've played (except for naval).

For me, I like them. The dual aspect of commanding miniatures on the tabletop and trying to position brigades for the best battlefield advantage, as well as the cerebral element of secret bidding for the turn clock management and in what order of priority brigades will activate, gives a multi-faceted game in which to try and outwit your opponent(s). I, also, like games where you're not in full control of everything - not all of your troops will move in a turn, possibly they'll never move during the entire game but their continued presence is enough to ensure a flank is protected, or that there's an army reserve should it be needed.

The rules section of the rules books is something like 20-pages long, which includes photos and historic images and combat examples to explain game situations. The rules are pretty simple, though offer tactical complexity in games. Dice rolls are only ever one six-sided dice, which are then modified and compared to a single table (Combat/Shooting/Rallying/General's Fate). Friendly brigades can leap-frog over each other during movement, saving the need to mess about with precision positioning. I find the rules to be user-friendly.

Having so many scenarios of battles readily available is also a great asset.

I played in the Antietam game on the last Sunday of last month. Chancellorsville, yesterday. And on this coming Sunday, myself and Dave are playing Peas Ridge, where I'll be commanding an army on my own instead of a partnership-team. Haven't decided which side to take, though I'm leaning towards taking Van Dorn's Confederates since I've played Union twice, now, and the scenario offers the Confederate player something different than what I've experienced in the two games I've already played.

- I'll find out from Dave if he's going to post his AAR and photo's on the forum.

[Roy]

I can only imagine how fun playing a game at Pendraken would be.

Pendraken Miniatures are great hosts. I'll definitely state that. I believe they set up the tables for us on the night before, in the shop, as another club was using the tables in the games room. All we had to do was come in, lay out the gaming cloth and crack on.

While we were playing this game, Adele was working on replacing items on the display racks or serving us hot drinks from the water boiler behind the counter, or busy in the packing/sorting room (there's a small window so staff can look into the shop/main entrance if they're in the other room). Leon came in and engaged with us, asking about the game scenario, the rules, the items of terrain that weren't bought from Pendraken (for future reference/knowledge/ideas), talking about what Salute 51 show had been like on the weekend before. You do get people/customers popping into the shop, or coming into the games room to see what is happening, but it never interferes with the game(s).

You do get tempted to make snap-decision purchases, however. Although I only bought what I'd preordered this time (more ACW miniatures, custom order of sabot MDF bases for AoF, a book on US General John Pope, and some MDF bases from the display shelves). Others ended up buying, however - I'm sure Bren picked up some SciFi Tripod walkers!? And there was another custom order for MDF sabot bases placed with Leon.

Yes, I like playing at Pendraken. They're friendly. Inviting. It's useful to pick up stuff at the same time. And there's been the opportunity to meet other gamers in the area, on the occasions I've been there.

[Deedles]

My blog post on the game is here http://onemanhisbrushes.blogspot.com/2024/04/gaming-chancellorsville-using-aof.html

AOF are a set of rules that let you play a larger battle with some exposure to command challenges of the period . As the commander you have no need to know what weapons your troops have of the formation they are in. You are commanding divisions and Corps , not regiments . The fact the brigades do well or poorly in combat by dice roll / support etc help to add to the feel . It's a game where I think you can outwit your opponent by the strategy you choose and that is then altered by the in table results - but if you have it right you will be rewarded  . Personally think  a great game

The historical battle detail provided for the scenarios help to focus on the challenge for that battle .With the core rules in essence distilled down to a two page QRF after a game turn ir two you are up and running . Though it's easy to learn it's fun to try and master with command game layered over the top  .

I have enough kit to a large medium sized battle , providing both sides . Just a top up this year to take it to over the top levels ...😂😂

[Leon]

Great looking game this weekend, really nicely put together.  Could have done with more trees though...! 

- last photo: Blooming 'eck, has there been a buying spree on Blitzkrieg Commander blister packs, or what!

I think they've all been taken to restock the show stand at Salute, so the casting guys should have them filled up again soon!

Pendraken Miniatures are great hosts. I'll definitely state that.
...
They're friendly. Inviting. It's useful to pick up stuff at the same time. And there's been the opportunity to meet other gamers in the area, on the occasions I've been there.

Thanks for the kind words too Roy.

[Roy]

My (tiny) contribution to the game - just the three Union infantry brigades, representing troops of Sickle's III Corps. Everything else is Deedles (Dave's).



Mentioned that Bren had bought some Tripods on Saturday. He's converted them (extending the legs) and painted them up, basing them on textured sea bases. I've seen some quick photo's of them facing off against a model of HMS Rodney and they look really good. Bren wants to stage some better photos, a true battle scene or something, and has agreed/allowed for me to post them up on the forum.

[hammurabi70]

Man that looks like a blast. How do you like the Altar of Freedom rules? Being on the other side of the Atlantic with as much as I love 10mm, I can only imagine how fun playing a game at Pendraken would be.

Yes; I would be interested in your views on the rules.  Everyone I know (about five individuals, including an ACW specialist) have said that the rules are unplayable as written and need major adjustments to make them usable.  Units are said to boomerang backwards & forwards and inflicting casualties is very difficult.  Everyone agrees it is an interesting and nice system!  So, how was it for you?