The “DOGS of WAR” Gaming club news.
This page is devoted to one of Southern California’s best and longest running gaming groups. Club battles, weekly “after action reports” general news and goings on as well as upcoming events will also be posted here. “Post” here will not appear as a normal post on the opening page but as a notification that new info is on this page along with a link to this page. I feel that this give the “Dogs” a central “special” place where all “Dogs of War” info is located. This page will be under Chris Snells control and mine, but any of the “Dogs” can become a member with “contributor” status and post here if they like. In fact the more of us/you who take the time to do this the better the page will be!
Below is the first “post” for this page and since I was not there needs to be edited by one of the club members at the game, text added, pictures captioned, etc….
Battle Report by Chris Armstrong 5/4/2019
Here is my write-up of my dust up with Frank last Saturday.
Saturday at the Dog Pound – Saga – Russian Princes v. Ordenstaat
Frank and I faced off against each other in a game of SAGA. I took the Russian Princes and Frank took the Ordenstaat led by legendary leader Grandmaster von Salza and his bodyguard. It was a beautiful game with lots of terrain. I placed three woods and Frank placed a hill and log cabin.
I was the defender and placed my missile troops in the woods and supported them with two units of spear armed warriors. I placed my two units of Druzhina behind the woods awaiting Frank’s final deployment. Frank weighted his left flank with his knights and Grand Master, held the center with his trusty Turcopoles and secured his right flank with his warriors.
This was a 6 turn game and it went to till the end. My shooting with crossbowmen and archers from the woods was very effective. Frank occupied the log cabin with his warrior crossbowmen and this setup a Hougoumont situation as he was able to bring fire to bear on any part of my center and right flank.
Frank moved his knights up his left flank to move around the woods. I obliged him by bringing my Druzhina out to play hoping to get some covering fire from my crossbowmen. My fire proved effective with Frank’s knights taking some casualties, but Frank reciprocated by opening up with his crossbowmen in the cabin. In the end the Ordenstaat knights and my Druzhina mixed it up with me coming off badly when the Grand Master intervened.
I had success on my left when Frank’s warriors approached too close and I one-two punched him with bow fire and a charge with my warriors. I ended up chasing him through the woods, eventually destroying that unit. Bow fire from the Turcopoles proved relatively ineffective, read I threw some really good defense dice, and then they retired to the rear. In the end it came down to a dual between my Prince, with support from the doughty crossbowmen and warriors, and Frank’s Grand Master and his retinue. Frank piled up fatigue fighting off the warriors and I finished him off with my Prince. It was a victory for Orthodoxy against those nasty papists.
Frank and I always have exciting games. Thanks, Frank, for an excellent game. He took the last one, so it was my turn to emerge victorious. Many thanks to Herr Snell for allowing me to use his beautiful Russian Princes army, it was painted by Mr. Stone and what a sight to behold.
I have to say, the best part of these games for me is the inevitable kibitzing session. Eventually, Snell, Galen and David sat down around the table and offered commentary. And really the game is a pretext for getting together and hanging out. Thanks guys.
