Sunday, March 22, 2009

SYW Association Convention - Part II


Der Alte Fritz's skirmish game to determine the fate of the Duchess of Saxen-Vindow

I am posting a number of pictures that I took at this year's Seven Years War Association Convention in South Bend, Indiana that took place on March 20 and 21, 2009. Rather than go into details, I think that it is easier to let the pictures tell the story. So please read the captions and be sure to click on the pictures to see them at full size. A tip of the tricorn should go to convention organizer, Randy Frye, who was in charge of this year's convention. This is Randy's first go as convention director and he did an outstanding job or organizing the events and handling all of the behind-the-scenes logistics that we all take for granted. Randy reports that we had over 100 attendees at the convention, a significant increase from the 70 or so that attended last year's event. Well done Randy!

The annual Pour Le Merite Trophy for the best game was a tie with Dean West's "Korbitz" 15mm game, and Mike Lowrey's "Siege Game" coping the honours. Going forward, the trophy will be renamed the "Mitchell Cup" in honor of our late editor, Jim Mitchell.

In other convention news, Der Alte Fritz and General Chevert volunteered to attempt to publish a single issue SYW Association Newsletter. We think that we might be able to handle the rigors of this job if it is only published once a year. A newsletter of some kind would be beneficial in keeping the bonds of the association fellowship in tack. More on this as we proceed.



Dean West (on the left) moves some lead on his "Best of Show" recreation of the Battle of Korbitz, in 15mm.


A view of the besieger's first gun emplacement in Mike Lowrey's award winning siege game.


Same siege game, but this time a view of the defenses of the town. This fine game won the best of show several years ago, but returned with an even larger town and defenses. It was quite an impressive game.


An Age of Reason naval game hosted by Todd Fisher (right). No terrain involved, but impressive to watch (and easy to play) none the less.


This game was called, "A Cow Too Far". I don't know what it was all about as it ran at the same time as my game. However, I was impressed with the terrain for this skirmish game.


Another view of my SYW skirmish game. Buildings and trees by Herb Gundt. Foundry figures. Roads by Der Alte Fritz. I think that my game won the Susan Lucci Award.


Milady de Winter (in the black coach) and her Black Legion enter the town in search of the Duchess of Sachsen-Vindow. Note the winsome women outside the house offering their wares to the passing soldiers (disgracefully, all but three of the Black Legion piled into the bawdy house for a couple of turns, so they didn't capture the Duchess).


Bayreuth Dragoons in 54mm, from Tradition Studios, thunder across the heath in a skirmish game hosted by Jude Becker. Talk about impressive! I am only glad that I did not see these figures before embarking on my 60-figure cavalry regiments in 30mm size.


54mm Bercheny Hussars in the service of France, from Jude Becker's skirmish game. Absolutely lovely figures and excellent brushwork by Jude.


The 87th (Keith's) Highlanders from the collection of Der Alte Fritz. These are Suren figures painted as the Black Watch (42nd Foot). A Suren British general on horse is in the foreground. This is the first time that the regiment has actually fought in the King's service, given that they have been filling in as Jacobites in our Forty Five Campaign. They handled themselves well in a tough rear-guard role.


British Cavalry: Stadden horse grenadiers and Suren Horse regiment.


Some unfortnuate Bavarians got charged in the flank by a squadron of Prussian Black Hussars (yes, THOSE Black Hussars which continue to vex the French & Allies) and got wiped out in their very first game. They are beautifully painted Crusader Austrians and I tip my hat to the fellow that brought them to the game. I hope that they have better luck the next time.


Speaking of the Black Hussars, here they are. They always seem to ride down half of the French army whenever someone else commands them, but when I command them, they seem to always get wiped out. I believe that they rode down three battalions and capture 2 or 3 flags in our BAR game.


Here is a long shot of the BAR game that Bill and I hosted at the convention. It was based on the Charles Grant "Wagon Train" scenario depicted in the Battlegames Table Top Teaser special issue. The British were attempting to get the wagon train off the table before the mighty French army could close in. We just barely made, with all but one of our infantry battalions either wiped out or routing at the end of the game. Our cavalry saved the day.


Christopher Duffy presented an informative and entertaining analysis of the evolution of Austrian and Prussian battle tactics at the convention. He is currently working on a revised version of his book about the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.


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13 comments:

  1. Jim,

    Thanks for the kind comments with running the convention. However I have to say the most important pieces to the convention where the outstanding games and players.

    Great Photos and I also agree Jude's game and figures looked great!

    Randy

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  2. Thanks for sharing such a great recap of the convention for all of us who could not attend...

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  3. There are so many interesting ways to game the mid-18th Century as Der Alte's photos allow. Our show is kind of an "immersion" experience this way. BTW, I say "our" because attendees feel a kind of ownership and camradery that is very special and unique to this gathering. You really need to attend to understand this. You will get another chance in 2010 at the 27th Gathering.
    ----------
    Charles Grant wrote that the wagon train scenario was popular and that he had done it many times. This also means "fun!" I hoped it would be fluid too and the game was all these things. I chose to sit out and just judge and so I am itching to get a command the next time we do this Teaser. There is a careful balance needed here regarding the speed of the train and the speed of the game.
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    The Black Hussars are frankly supernatural. That's all! They indeed did ride down three French battalions and captured two flags. I have been calling them "The Horrible Black Hussars" for more than a year and with darn good reasons. This game was their masterpeace of the art of war on the tabletop ably commanded by long-time friend Jim H. In his hands or if commanded by George R. they are my nemesis. I just shook my head watching the mayhem and confusion they caused fully expecting it and in some cases at long odds too. I playfully threatened to expand my Maison du Roi Grenadiers a Cheval from one to an unhistorical three squadrons with a mission to seek and destroy The Horrible Black Hussars in a future game. Howeer, I may just let the Rutowski Chevaulegers handle the job!
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    Jeff, when you read this you will perhaps understand a little more why I stopped the game to explain what happened to the Bavarians. I was solely trying to communicate to the pards at the table the continuing saga of these chaps. As proof, at agame end they were impossibly still near full strength! Supernatural.
    ----------
    Confusion to the Black Hussars,
    written with a companionable smile
    Bill

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  4. Jim,

    My thanks to you (and also to Bill) for your photos and accounts of the various games.

    As for the SYWAJ, one of the things I always enjoyed when I subscribed was the "game scenarios".

    Oh the history is good, but I want to have battles transferred to the table top . . . which is a broad hint suggesting that you keep such in mind when you put together your issue.


    -- Jeff

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  5. Bill: how about painting the Mousquetaires du Roi at 2 squadrons and then brigading them with your horse grenadiers, as they did historically?

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  6. Thanks so much for the photos. One of these years I will have to budget my time and funds to make this convention.

    Jim

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  7. Bill,

    I have already started thinking of painting up Taxis Cuirassiers for next year to protect my poor bavarians from said menace. :) It was a great game and I enjoyed meeting everyone at the event.

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  8. Thanks for posting your reports and photos. I appreciate seeing some of what went on. Skirmish gaming with Tradition 54's --now that is a concept. It could lead one to truly BIG battalions, couldn't it!

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  9. Thaks for sharing the convention with us.One day ....
    best wishes
    Alan

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  10. Jim
    I noticed the joker from a pack of cards in the pic of my lady DiWinter entering the table. I have a similar one in a pack of cards I got in Austria nearly 30 years ago and still use for gaming purposes. Does the pack have Old Fritz as one of the kings and include other 18th century characters as Josef 2 etc?
    Alan

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  11. Alan: yes, that is the same deck of cards. Maria Theresa, Frederick II, Louis XV and ? are the kings. Joseph, Mdm Pompadour etc are the queens, some of the generals are the jacks. I got my deck in Vienna a couple of years ago at the Schonbrunn Palace.

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  12. Thanks for ther vicarious thrill! Many great pictures of well-painted minis and cool terrain. Sounds like a lot of fun! Makes me want to attend (maybe some day?).
    :-)

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  13. More About The Wagon Train Game:
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    1. Jim, Randy and I brought enough miniatures for the game but....
    ~~
    2. This was a BYOB or Bring Your Own Brigade or Battalion game too. Many thanks to Jeff C., Mark or Mike E. and Chad C. who each brought a battalion and battalion gun. One of our regulars, Jim H. brought two battalions. Did I forget anyone? Thank you Sirs!
    ~~
    3. The table arrangement was one
    6'x16' main table supported by two back tables each 2.5'x16'. All tables were available for maneuver and initial deployments.
    ~~
    4. We played something like 8-9 turns in about five hours and reached a conclusion with the Brunswick and Britannian Contingents getting away with the wagon train.
    ~~
    5. Number of miniatures = 1,150 approximately.
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    6. Congratulations, thanks and compliments to all to everyone involved.
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    7. Let's do a BYOB again in 2010! It's a nice way to be involved.
    ~~
    Respectfully yours,
    Bill

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