Take that LOOT!

First go with CONGO!

Kalle had been the first in our Nopat -club to acquire the quite new "Darkest Africa" game Congo by Wargames Foundry and Studio Tomahawk  . 

So far there had only been excited discussion on our facebook discussion group focusing on not so main stream "eccentric" games. Now Kalle had taken a decisive action and announced a demo game to held. This led to 5 club members to announce themselves to come and play or watch. I "volunteered to play" and  this lead to frenzied painting to some African Forest Tribe warriors I had started earlier...

GNW: Battle of Klissow (Klesow) 1702

Lion of the North vs. August II the Strong

The Battle of Kliszów (Klissow) (Klezow) took place on July 8 (Julian calendar) / July 9 (Swedish calendar) / July 19, 1702 (Gregorian calendar) near Kliszów, Poland-Lithuania, during the Great Northern War.^[7] The numerically superior Polish-Saxon army of August II the Strong, operating from an advantageous defensive position, was defeated by a Swedish army half its size under the command of King Charles XII.<sup>[8]   
Source Wikipedia.

After beating Danes in Humlebaek and Russians in Narva Charles turned his attention towards his cousin
Augustus, King of Poland and Electorate of Saxony. Their first encounter was fought in Klissow.

Charles was so arrogant, that he hadn't even scouted the enemy forces and was surprised to find the well positioned
behind obstructive terrain and more superior in numbers than he had expected... this demanded decisive and innovative moves...

Read on to find out, whether history was repeated or...</sup>

Bolt Action: Assault on the Mannerheim -defensive line

On 30th of November was the 77th anniversary of start of the Winter War, where Soviet Union started bombing targets in Finland and assaulted the Finnish soil - all without a declaration of war or other warning. This nasty habbit they still seem to have...

It has now become a tradition to play a Winter War battle on this date. This time it was me playing the Finns, defending the Mannerheim-line and Martti and Jussi attacking with a division of Russians each! Kalle acted as the umpire (and as an advisor for trhe Russians), Juha played the role of a war reporter. Pictures from all involved are included in this AAR.

Eagle Rampant: Battle of Virta bridges 27.10.1808

Babtism of fire for my Finns

Battle of Koljonvirta

For the last 6 weeks I've mainly been painting miniatures for the Russo-Swedish war 1808-1809 (after it Finland was ceded to Russia). So it was high time to get them onto battlefield, even if their painting is still mostly WIP. We played the so called "Koljonvirta battle", which is epitomized in Finnish national history as part of Ensign Ståls (Steel) poems by our national poet  Johan Ludvig Runeberg. 

Some info in English on the battle here

Warning: this AAR includes poetry in Finnish. You have been warned!

Mut toista tuli, törmältä kun täyttä vauhtia

riens' adjutantti Sandelsin, hevonen vaahdossa:

"Jumalan tähden, portaallen, aseihin", huusi hän,

"vihollisjoukon tiedetään täst' yli pyrkivän."

Päämiehelle hän lisäsi: "Te silta purkakaa,

jos voitte, muuten viimeiseen verehen taistelkaa!

Hukassa kaikk' on, taaksemme jo ryssät ennättää;

apua saatte, kenraali jo tulla lennättää."

Sven Tuuva

More Savolax Jaegers

New conversions for the Russo-Swedish War 1808-09

Check the pictures and how they were made,

KoW Historical First GO

Mongol invasion to Japan

Actual, historical invasions by Mongols didn't go so well. Read more to find out, how our "what if" game went...

MDF Japanese Buildings

New terrain for both Sengogu & WW2 periods

As I'm planning to try out Kings of War Historical with my Samurai era -army and preparing an airfield raid -scenario for Bolt Action, I was fired up to build my Sarissa Precision Japanese buildings, that I've had for a year or so (probably two).

UPDATED: Russo-Swedish War 1808-1809 proggres report

I've Been busy building My Finnish troops for 1808-1809.

I've used both metal and plastic miniatures.

Read more on how and what.

Bolt Action 2. First go!

Top Secret! Finns vs. Soviets 1000p.

Got to have a first go with BA 2. with my friend Kalle. I was playing my battle hardened Finns against Kalle's Russians, so this was a pretty historical set up - Continuation war 1941-1944.

Rearguard action 1812 - Eagle Rampant demo

After our visit to Little Wars in Stockholm, we set to work on creating our own resources for the Russo-Swedish War 1808-1809 or "Suomen Sota" (War for Finland). As it takes time to convert and paint the Finnish / Swedish troops we started playing Eagle Rampant (see WI April 2016) or "Pikeman's Lament" with Russians chasing after the retreating French in the cold winter of 1812...

This was a team game for 4 players, 2 of whom had never played any Rampant variant before.

Russo-Swedish War 1808-1809 - first Finns WIP

These Savolax Jägers are made from French Dragoons on foot (Perry). Heads are from some other plastic napoleonic set. I had them in my bitsbox. See the others and learn how they were made.

UPDTED: Day 2. Visiting Little Wars in Stockholm - The Army Museum

The second day of Nopat-Club's "class trip" to Stockholm contained a visit to Sweden's Army Museum. An excellent museum and an obvious choice for a wargamer. After several hours in the museum we settled down to "fika" with our host for the day Micke aka Dalauppror and played a demo game of "La Belle Alliance aka Waterloo 1815" we have brought as a gift for The Little Wars.

Read on to see pictures from the museum and some comments on them.

Bolt Action Tournament

The Final Campaign of Bolt Action 1.0

A detachment of heroes from Nopat Club took on to a Bolt Action Crusade and headed to far away place called Lahti on an September Sunday. The day would not be peaceful...

Visiting Stockholm's Historical Wargaming Club Little Wars - DAY 1 THE GAMES

The Long planned visit

Here are the 3 brave Finns (Marko, Ludde and myself), that eventually made it all the way to this far western country of Sweden and two of our most generous host: Jesper and Micke

During the day we managed 3 excellent games... see how they went and how we felt about it all...

Finnish war 1808-09 -project REBOOTED!

Visiting Little Wars in Stockholm this weekend really got me and my friends fired up on both playing the excellent Pikemans Lament (or Eagle Rampant, see Wargames Illustrated April 2016 issue) AND on getting the armies for it, that is Russians and Fins & Swedes.

I had had a slowly growing Russian army for the Napoleonic  era in my cupboard for a few years and had so far painted only few of them for Retreat from Moscow 1812 games. So off I went to rummage my dash and the pile of lead and plastic came up quite impressive...

Tonite I then went on to kitbash different Napoleonic miniatures to create plastic troopers for 1808 Finns... see the pics on how it turned out!

Bolt Action: In the name of the father

Bolt Action: Hold until relieved

This is a most unlike story of Finnish troops defending a church somewhere very deep behind the enemy lines... so deep that they are attacked by the troops of Imperial Army of Japan!

And yes, you guessed it right: this game is not based on any historical battle!

Adventures of Tom Bombadil & Co.

Escape from Barrow-Wights (Haudanhaamut in Finnish)

Yesterday evening Tom Bombadil and Goldberry helped the infamous four hobbits trying to escape from a terrible faith in the ghastly hands of Barrow Wights!

Read on to learn how it all went down...

Vengeance of Ultramarines

Another 40K battle against Sons of Ultramar and their
gallant Warmaster Heinrich!

Re-enacting: Viking Market and battle in Pukkisaari

Viking market

Visited, as I've done many times before again. Nice battle re-enactment and nice handicrafts.

LOTR: Tom Bombadil & Goldberry

Painting Tom & Goldberry

We're going to play the LOTR scenario with Tom and Barrow Wights soon, so I finally got the reason to paint these quite old Mithril Miniatures. I have them as Citadel versions too, but decided to go with these.

See the finalized version

Dux Britanniarum

Last Sunday I had the most pleasant opportunity to try out Dux Britanniarum by Two Fat Lardies.

A new friend - Antti - met at Ropecon gave me and his another friend Heikki a demo of the game: my Vikings were to loot a Saxon village before the Saxon army arrived. DB is actually designed for Arthurian time, but Antti had adapted it for later Dark age... Excellent work!

UPDATED: Painting Micromachines and Hotwheels Die cast -toys for X-Wing

Here's a brief account on how I turned toys to miniatures for X-Wing Game.

Getting started with X-wing... in an affordable way?

After hearing several recommendations from my friends and testing the game of my friend with kids and a friend, I decided to buy the starting kit. Since expansions are quite pricey, I set out to find a bit more affordable options...

Getting started with X-wing... in an affordable way?

After hearing several recommendations from my friends and testing the game of my friend with kids and a friend, I decided to buy the starting kit. Since expansions are quite pricey, I set out to find a bit more affordable options...

Back to the Grim Future... 40K!

It's been a long time since my previous 40K game...

Heinrich was kind enough to guide me through the game (and some of the new Eldar rules). I was kind enough to give his Ultra Marines a sound trashing...

Blood Rage - Second full game

Tonight I hosted a first full game my self...

GNW: Battle of Narva 1700 - Black Powder style

Another go for Narva...

Scenario written by Jaakko

Deus Vult: Battle of Arsuf - Report completed!

Mighty Battle and a mighty man feast!

This was a long term plan: prepare for the first BIG Deus Vult gae of the year: Arsuf. Plan started to develop and it evolved into a weekend trip to Sultan Kallah's summer cottage. So an umpire and 4 mighty warlords packed their armies and supplies and gathered for an epic battle... read on how the both battle and all side events unfolded... 

Unboxing ForgeStarter first wave

ForgeStarter's (by FireForge Games) first wave arrived... see it's contents unboxed in following pictures.

Demoralized (Burn & Loot) / Disordered (Deus Vult) markers painted by Kalle

GNW: Black Powder demo @ Porocon

Our Nopat & Taktiikka club run 4 demos in this new "CON" called Porocon (Reindeer con): Bolt Action, Flames of War, Infinity and our Black Powder. You might not be surprised to find out, that in our demo Swedish Karoliner under Charles XII fought Russians under Peter the Great...

GNW: Battle of Narva 1700 - report completed

Scenario was fine tuned after Tuesday's play testing (slightly easier for Swedes) and three regiment commanders were assigned to take command of the Swedish Karoliner. All of them had painted at least one unit for the army, this made me very happy. We were ready to the biggest Muskets & Tomahawks game so far played at the Nopat-club. Read on how did the battle unfold! 

GNW: Playtesting Battle of Narva Scenario

This is going to be a BIG BATTLE. At least the table is.  See the images from play testing below.

BLOOOOOOODDD RRRRAAAAAGGGGEEEE! First game played.

Finally got around to play Blood Rage by Cool Mini or not, that I got as a kick starter set.

Read how it went and what I think about the game and rules...

GNW: Getting ready for Narva and Poltava

Defensive Works for the Great Northern War 

(and other Black Powder -era games)

As a continuation for the already built earthwork defensive line I started modeling a redoubt and another defensive line, that will be suitable for snowy battlefield - like Narva.

GNW: Camping out

As our Great Northern War Campaign progresses more troops and related terrain is needed. Our participants are actively painting more troops for the coming battle of Narva, so I got the inspiration to make more terrain for our scenarios. This time it's a camp for our miniature soldiers to take some rest in.

Read more to find out how this camp came to be.

GNW: Double trouble in Humblebek

Battle of Humblebek was fought as the kickstart for our Great Northern War Campaign. 

GNW Campaign Kick Off!

Gå På! Och helan går!

Tonight all of the commanders joining the Great Northern War Campaign gathered to our Nopat & Taktiikka Club and orders of war were handed out.

UPDATED: Playtesting Burn & Loot by FireForge Games

Deus Vult in skirmish?

In our Nopat & Taktiikka gaming club there are few Deus Vult and we have been in communicating with FireForge -games. Previously we playtested their armylist for Mongols and when Francesco contacted me for play testing their skirmish version of Deus Vult - Burn & Loot - we were more than ready to accept the offer.

As a disclaimer(before reading on), please consider this:

•  rules are still in beta and they can change in any moment
•  special rules for the armies need still to be modified for this new ruleset.

So anything in this blogspot is my subjective view and subject to change.

Fate of Eirik Bloodaxe, end of his Saga aka Battle of Clontarf

Today we fought the historical battle of Clontarf to conclude our club's Britannia Campaign. Campaign was played with Saga ruleset, but this battle was fought with Hail Caesar rules.

Read on to learn whether history repeated itself or not...

Building a redoubt

GNW: Battle of Humblebek 1700

Invasion!

Russia, Denmark and Saxony-Poland under Augustus the Strong have formed an alliance and declared a war against Sweden.

In May, 1700, Charles XII - then eighteen - responded to the challenge from his neighbors by landing troops a few miles north of Copenhagen, in Humblebek. Charles leads the invasion personally and storm the earthwork defenses with his livsgard (lifeguard) - hence securing a beach head for the rest of his forces to land. Without putting up more of a fight, Frederick of Denmark agrees to commit no future hostilities against his cousin.

How did Charles XII fare in this game of modified Musket & Tomahawks?

GNW: tools for the Great Northern War

Essentials for a Campaign?

Armies are being prepared (= painted), plans and schedules are being drafted (doodle) and Regiment Commander are equipping themselves with both strategic and  tactical resources...

Great book about Charles XII's army "Karoliner". In Swedish, but that's not a problem. Got the book from a fellow blogger Dalauppor, whom was so kind, that he actually went around and looked for this book in old book stores! Wow! Very much appreciated!

3rd Part of Eirik Bloodaxes Saga

SAGA SIEGE!

For our Britannia Saga Campaign's last round I had planned larger team games: SIEGE!

This scenario was designed last year with my campaign wingman Aleksis for the Crescent and Cross campaign. Details on the scenario here

GNW Campaign: Russian villages are burning!

Burn & Loot!

Today we played another practise game of "Muskets & Pikes" eg. Musket & Tomahawks -variant being fine tuned for The Great Northern War -campaign we'll soon start, Aito took charge of Swedes and Finns (Pori Regiment mainly, where he actually works as an officer today!) Those evil Swedes were raiding local Russian villages and heroic forces of General Kujalasov hurried to stop or at least to reap vengeance...

Few rules were also discussed... Read on!

I'm Spartacus!

Visiting Gladiator Exhibition in Espoo City Museum WeeGee

2nd part of Eirik Bloodaxe's Saga

Peasants & monks - who cares?

"Eirik woke up from his drunken slumber into a hangover, pale morning. Last nights feasting must have matched to the eternal feasting in Valhalla... maybe one pint of mead too much Eirik thought. He grunted as a messenger entered his tent. Group of Danish settlers wanted to move to the near town vikings had seized earlier and the captured Irish monks would soon all be dead - and not worth any ransom - if they had to endure a one more night of viking feasting. Eirik cursed the messaanger, peasants and especially monks twice. He really didn't feel like herding  them..."

As part of our Britannia Saga-campaign we played the scenario published in the February Wargames Illustrated Magazine: "Seek Sanctuary". Idea is to get three groups of civilians into safety, without them getting captured by attacking enemies.The game would end when either 8 civilians have been captured by the attackers or reached sanctuary or after 7 rounds, which would mean victory for defenders.

GNW: Six pikemen from Ebor Miniatures

Call for Arms!

Commanders for Sweden and it's enemies are now preparing for the Great Northern War -campaing! Troops are prepared every where. 

I just finished 6 pikemen for my Caroliner:

Miniatures by Ebor Miniatures, unfortunately not yet available from their website.

More images here: http://1drv.ms/1oggNzw