2024 Thus Far and March to Victory

I had planned on being a more regular poster on my blog this year, but I did fall behind, and then off the map. We had a tragedy in the family where my 43 yo son-in-law, unexpectedly passed away the first week of March. My daughter, a fairly recent immigrant from China, does not speak English well, nor does she know the ins, and outs of our systems here so she has leaned on me for help, which I have done to the best of my ability.  And while I have continued to paint, to keep my sanity, I haven't had time for much else like basing, picture taking, blogging, etc. But, I did manage to get out last Saturday to attend the annual March to Victory event put on by Wiley Games at the Game Cafe in Independence, MO.

I did not attend on Friday however I heard the were some great games played. Along with the new Wiley Games rules Arena of Blood, there was some What a Tanker, Boxer Rebellion, Blood and Plunder, and a chariot race as well. The Boxer game was still set up Saturday, here are a few pics

Saturday was a packed house

There was lots of fun gaming going on

A Victorian Sci-fi game using Wiley Games Bigger Battles

Battle of Cape Matapan using Ocean Thunder rules

A Post Apocalypse game using Wiley Games Wasteland Warriors

Last Action Heroes game using Wiley Games FFOL

A couple shots of Byrams Ford using Johnny Reb 3

An 1863 ACW battle using Live Free or Die Rules

There were a couple other cool games I did not get shots of, Jaye Wiley ran the great Goblin games, which looked like Goblin Olympics kinda, and a 54mm Hue game. I also ran a game. A refight of the Mexican American War Battle of Palo Alto. Given my circumstances I was not as prepared as I would like to have been, but, it went pretty well none the less.

The American setup

The Mexican lines, yes, the Americans are outnumbered

Mexican advance on their left across the resaca and into the scrub

Showing the general Mexican advance

Mexican cavalry charges a square and breaks it! The American right is in trouble

The Mexicans push toward the US wagon train

On the US left the 8th Infantry form square in the face of the Lt Cavalry of Mexico and the US 1st Artillery (inf) fight off the Mexicans coming through the swamp.

The 8th Infantry's square is assailed by the Lt Cavalry and the Zappadores but to no avail, they hold and beat back their attackers

The end of the game. The American lines hold off and beat back the Mexican attackers.  Mexican Generals Torrejon and Vega paid the ultimate price.

Overall a really good game, and a big thanks to those who played, I was not as prepared as I would have like but you all helped out and it was appreciated. I played the ponds as marshy ground, though I think they are supposed to be played as actual ponds. I think that may be a tough sell for the Mexicans to get enough troops to bear that way. I'll have to play around with it and see.  Anyway it went well, and I even got in a turn because the American players had to leave.  Definitely a fun time! I did play this out using Regimental Fire and Fury. I am going to rebase/upgrade my AWI stuff for use with these rules as well. 

Well that is all I have this time around. There were a couple other games that I did not get pictures of , I'm sorry, but, after my game I was, in Fire and Fury terms, spent. Anyway, There should be more posts forthcoming, things have settled down around here so I can get back to my usual routines.

Thanks everyone for taking a look!