AUTUMN BIG GAME 2021 (PART SEVEN) - CONCLUSION

Thing were now looking black for Spode (and we don't just mean his shorts). There was nothing to do but 'fight it out' with the few troops left under his command. But his intended "glorious last stand" was interrupted by the sound of rapidly descending Anglican shells:

"Steady men!" Spode resolves to sell his life dearly in the cause...

...until a well aimed Anglican barrage blows up his "Spodemobile" and sends
him flying into the roadway. Has Spode met his end? The last of the BUF
Armour (homemade) is tasked to investigate...

as Spode (bottom right) remains insensible to the clattering tracks....

LATE NEWS : Spode is most definitely not dead. While the above battlefield pictures suggest he came close to meeting his maker, Spode's PR men have put out that he was merely "feigning injury" (his enemies, of course, have suggested he was instead lying in the roadway, kicking and screaming, in the middle of a 'childish tantrum'). There is no doubt, however, that Spode has retired to Leominster itself, and re-started his 'speaking tour' of Herefordshire:

while the Bishop of Lichfield, victor of the battle, has the luxury of surveying the scene of his triumph:

On to the Spring Big Game 2022 ("Assault on Leominster")!

AUTUMN BIG GAME (PART SIX) - ADVANCE INTO STRANGENESS...

 With Spode's armour despatched, the Bishop of Lichfield ordered a general infantry advance:

Forward! The once threatened infantry section
make it safely across the field...

aided by another section of infantry on the left
(i.e. the distaff side)

It was now, however, that events began to take a very strange turn:

A squad of Anglican Morris Men are the first to discover
that Spode's much vaunted pillboxes and fortifications..

..are nothing but lathe and plaster fronts, staffed by straw dummies..

staked up Fort Zinderneuf style to confuse the enemy..

..at least, that's what we think they were...or were they straw
dolls, animated by strange Mommet magic?

With no news from either commander on the ticker tape,
we must leave the reader to make up his own mind
as to exactly what happened north of Leominster..

More to follow....

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2021 (PART FIVE) - BUF ARMOURED CHARGE!

Faced with heavy artillery fire, Spode recalled that "attack was the best means of defence". At once, he ordered his "formidable tank force" to charge forward and into the advancing Anglican infantry:

The charge of the BUF "Heavy Tanks". An Anglican
infantry section is caught in the open, as their trench
mortar desperately tries to provide covering fire.

Anglican infantry in danger (1)

Anglican infantry in danger (2)

The Bishop of Lichfield wastes no time - "whistling up"
a very special Anti Tank Squad...

Beautiful but deadly? (certainly beautifully painted).
This highly trained specialist summoned her school
friends, and initiated....

...a fierce school hockey stick attack
on the BUF armour!

Spode's dreams of armoured victory are swiftly
beaten into submission (along with his tanks).

More to follow....

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2021 (PART FOUR) - VBCW ANGLICAN ARTILLERY

Back to the north of Leominster, and the Bishop of Lichfield positions his artillery: 

The "Big Gun" of the First Platoon moves up....

...and is unlimbered in an advantageous position. Meanwhile...

The Horse Artillery of the Second Platoon is equally carefully
sited, and both begin an "area barrage" of Spode's outgunned BUF.

More to follow...

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2021 (PART THREE) - OTHER TABLES

While Spode faced up to the Anglicans to the north of Leominster, the BUF "Wyrd Force" (aka Giles) defended the east of the town against the incursions of the attacks from the Bromyard Republican Levies (aka Roo), and Staff Captain Maynard (aka Alan) held the western lines against Comrade Colonel I.V. Knockisblokov's newly raised Communist Shock Armies. Such was the fierceness of the fighting, only a few photographs remain of these actions:

Cautious advance from Wyrd Force's sailors

A barricaded defence line for the outnumbered Wyrd Force infantry

but the "Gods of War" clearly favoured Giles throughout the day.
Just one of his initiative hands (Aces High, Jokers Wild)

The flamethrowing tank of the Bromyard Republican Levy
- just before it was disabled by a lucky(?)expert(?) shot from
 Wyrd Force's anti tank gunners.

The Presteigne Communists brought along two sections of "Red Cavalry"
(Perry ACW Cavalry conversions with PSC 28mm heads)

...who actually managed to "charge home" during the day (unheard of in the VBCW!)

Mortar Fire Support (OOP PSC 28mm Soviets)

New products from the Presteigne Motor Works ("PMW") - 20mm Oerlikon AT guns
mounted on PMW 1.5 ton trucks. Ancient "Tudor Rose" guns on "cheep plastic" jeeps
 (with free 'moulded in' Red Star!). Infantry OOP PSC 28mm Soviets; standard bearer
Copplestone Castings Neo-Sov (FW41) with paper flag.

More to follow.....

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2021 (PART TWO) - SPODE'S BLACKSHORTS

It has been some while since the 7th Earl of Sidcup, Roderick Spode, has made an appearance in the Hereford VBCW. But here he was again (aka Rob, on this occasion), inevitably with his "Blackshorts", preparing to 'do or die' against a numerically superior Anglican field force:  

Spode and his HQ Section, motorised in his "Spodemobile" (with added "special standards").
Spode himself is a clever conversion from "One Arm Sutton" in Copplestone Castings
Back of Beyond range (Pack BC20)

Blackshort infantry take up defensive positions

Blackshort "heavy armour" rolls past field fortications.
Their crews must count as 'experienced' by now - see HERE

A panorama of the battlefield. Spode's HQ bottom right.

Lovely Copplestone figures, with a few Pulp Miniatures conversions

A Blackshort reserve section

Blackshorts in Pillboxes grimly await the impending Anglican onslaught...

More follows.....

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2021 (PART ONE) - VBCW ANGLICAN FIELD ARMY

The Bishop of Lichfield (aka Tym) enjoyed a "smashing victory" over His Majesty's Government forces at the Autumn Big Game 2021, playing two Platoons on the attack, north of Leominster, against the single Platoon of the Earl of Sidcup (aka Spode, aka Rob). Unfortunately, the captions to his Staff Photographer's pictures appear to have been "lost in transmission" on their way to Fleet Street, leaving us with only the best armchair analysis of our usual VBCW military experts (Messrs. Featherstone of the "Daily Mail" and Scruby of the "Daily Herald"):

Two sections of infantry, an HMG and towed "Big Gun" in the background

A section of deadly Morris Dancers

The "great standard" of Lichfield is proudly carried forward, protected
by a mortar and MMG

The Bishop of Lichfield's HQ (First Platoon) with Great Standard

HQ, Second Platoon. Lovely Hinterland (mostly) figures (now OOP)

Advance of the Horse Artillery. Roo's river was especially authentic,
being freshly painted and still wet.

A close up of the Horse Artillery.....

More follows....

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2021 - STOP PRESS!

Reports are now flooding into Fleet Street of recent heavy fighting in the area surrounding Leominster. While the products of "staff photographers in the field" are breathlessly awaited in central London, presses poised for fully illustrated editions of battle news, the "tickertape" has given brief details:

Notwithstanding being outnumbered "two Platoons to one Platoon", Commander Queeg (BUF "Wyrd Force") (aka Giles) successfully held off the challenge of the Bromyard Republican Levies (aka Roo) to the east of Leominster ("a winning draw" was declared for Giles); whilst elsewhere....

Having committed his strategic reserve to the west of Leominster (in a "two Platoon v two Platoon" battle), Staff Captain Maynard (Royalist, aka Alan) "held the line" against the newly raised "Shock Armies" of Comrade Colonel Knokisblokov, including "Red Cavalry" and veteran OGPU troops (Communist, aka Clive) ("a combative draw" was mutually declared); but............

Outnumbered to the north of Leominster ("two Platoons to one Platoon"), the re-appeared Roderick Spode, Earl of Sidcup (aka Rob B) was decisively defeated by the Bishop of Lichfield's mighty Anglican Field Army (aka Tym) (a "smashing victory" was declared for Tym); and so

available reinforcements having been rushed to Spode, the lines of His Majesty's Government's remaining defensive forces are drawn even tighter, and ever thinner, around the town of Leominster - all in anticipation of the Spring Big Game 2022 ("Assault on Leominster")!

More news and pictures follow....

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2021 - ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED

Just a summary blogpost, bringing together various previous threads, for the convenience of players in the Hereford VBCW Autumn Big Game 2021 ("Advance to Leominster") to be held at our usual venue, the Burley Gate Village Hall, from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 30th October 2021:

The Campaign Strategic Situation - see HERE

The Campaign Tactical Situation - see HERE

The Campaign Gossip - see HERE

The Autumn Big Game 2021 Platoon Generator - see HERE

The Autumn Big Game 2021 Rule Clarifications - see HERE

Practical Arrangements - Coffee and biscuits will be served, but remember to bring your own lunch! Remember to bring a camera if you can (to record all the action and produce your own propaganda after the event). Pencil and paper for "on the day Platoon Generation". Cost per player - £20 "on the day".

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2021 - RULE AMENDMENTS

The rules for the Autumn Big Game 2021 ("Advance to Leominster") will be the "Went the Day Well Rules" (Mort Amendment Edition v.11). These are the rules that we usually play, but with the following clarifications (mostly for speed of play): 

(1). One phase bounds, no Mort "two phases";

(2). Tanks have a maximum of one gun and one LMG;

(3). Armoured Cars can only be armed with one LMG;

(4). Cavalry and Infantry do not need to take a morale test to "charge home";

(5). "Hedge hopping and obstacle crossing" - test by unit, not by single figure;

(6). Flamethrower tanks utilise special rules "written only on Roo's Mobile Phone";

(7). Only Platoon Leaders and one Platoon Standard Bearer can produce morale effects, other than a product of the "2021 Modelling Challenge".

Special Rule for a product of the "2021 Modelling Challenge"

"Any unit or section that has suffered an adverse morale result using the ordinary rules may take another morale test within the same move if situated within 24 inches of a product of 'The 2021 Modelling Challenge" (that their side has produced).

On a throw of a D6:

1 - 4 = cancel adverse morale result, unit is in good order. 

5 -6 = unit automatically rushes over to such product (automatic movement) and engages only in relevant activity for the next move i.e. tea drinking, listening to propaganda, engaging in discussions of various types, being otherwise incapable of movement or any other activity (i.e. defenceless) for such next move. Thereafter, unit may again move and shoot as desired/allowed by rules generally. 

Notes: 

(1). there will be copies of WTDW (Mort Amend v11) available for consultation at the Big Game, plus experienced players and Umpires. No need to worry about not knowing the rules!

(2). for the 2021 Modelling Challenge, see HERE

(3). for the Autumn Big Game 2021 Platoon Generator, see HERE

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2021 ("ADVANCE TO LEOMINSTER") - TACTICAL MAPS

It's a month to go until the Autumn Big Game 2021 ("Advance to Leominster")

Keeping their collective ears close to the ground and thus well aware of the coming battles, Fleet Street's editors have been baying for fully illustrated articles from their respective military correspondents as to the likely zones of conflict.

The forces of His Majesty's Government, lead by Major Everard (CRO) and ably assisted by Staff Captain Maynard, have responded to the new strategic situation by slightly withdrawing their forces from previous positions around Leominster, ensuring a "continuous front" against the Anglicans (to the north), the Totally Communist Now (no longer even pretending to be the "Broad Left") Front (to the west) and the forces of the newly founded Democratic Socialist Republic of Bromyard (to the east).

At considerable risk to his own life, an intrepid civilian aviator in a Gypsy Moth ("Mr Roo"), managed to snatch these aerial photographs of the likely battlefields - before being chased away by BUF air cover:

Table 1 - area of Stockton, 2 miles north east of Leominster.
The Anglican "A49 thrust" collides with HMG's "Leominster line" of defence.

Table 2 - area of Stretford, 3 miles east of Leominster.
The first test for the newly founded Democratic Socialist
Republic of Bromyard's mercenaries volunteer levies vs HMG

Table 3 - area of Cobnash/Lawton, 3 miles west of Leominster
The advancing Red hordes of Communists v HMG 

(Wargamers Notes)

(1). The tables will be set up approximately as per the above. Please do not plan on the basis that the tables will be exactly as above - limitations of terrain, time, etc. may interfere with the best laid plans!

(2). Although all three tables are around the area of Leominster, the town itself is not represented. The Autumn Big Game 2021 ("Advance to Leominster") is planned as a "linked game" with the Spring Big Game 2022 (and 10th Anniversary Game) ("Assault on Leominster") when the town itself will definitely feature. Through a handicap system yet to be worked out (but bound to be infinitely sophisticated) success in the Autumn Big Game will make your faction's prospects in the Spring Big Game definitely brighter (and contrariwise....)

(3). And don't forget (there's still time) the 2021 Modelling Challenge !!

(4). All photos (and terrain) courtesy of TerrainTsar Roo.

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2021 - EARLY NOTICE!

The Hereford VBCW Autumn Big Game will take place at Burley Gate Village Hall, Herefordshire, on:

Saturday 30th October 2021, 10am - 5pm

Stand by for further exciting announcements!