Historicon Report Part 1: Look, Sarge, It's Mars Game

I had a great time at Historicon. I ran two games and played in one. Jennifer and I arrived Friday morning and toured the convention center, locating where everything was. We checked in around 4:30, then headed down to the HAWKs room to set up my Friday evening game: Look, Sarge, It's Mars.


For the game I used 2mm infantry from Irregular and land ironclads and areonefs from Brigade Models. (See previous articles on this blog for more information on the figures) The rules were A Union So Tested, also called Look, Sarge, No Charts: ACW; modified for the inclusion of the ironclad vehicles. I have posted the stats and added rules I used on the Look, Sarge, No Charts, and on the 2mm Yahoogroups.


We got 4 of our 6 players, and with a little rearranging of forces were all set to go. The scenario took place in 1895 on Mars, between German and British forces. The table was cut into four sectors by two intersecting canals, with a city located at the juncture making a fifth sector. The Germans start the game controlling two of the sectors and the city. The British advance from the other two sectors. The winner was determined by who controlled three areas of sectors: either two land sectors and the city sector, or three land sectors.


The Germans began the game with a small force that could be placed anywhere on their side of the table, with the rest starting from one of the short table edges in their area. The British began by setting up in their area, 18 inches from the canal that divided the two areas. There were four bridges (The only place the canal could be crossed) one in the center of the city and one on each leg of the canals. A good time was had by all, and I, as gamemaster, was very pleased with how the modifications to the rules worked.



Now, on to the pictures!
(Remember to click on any photo to view it larger.)

View from the south west. Germans controlled the city in the center, the sector to the south and the sector to the east.

View from the south east.

British Aeronefs prepare to cross into German territory.

On the German left, a cavalry brigade with a battery of horse artillery was tasked with holding the bridge. The artillery does some damage to two squadrons of approaching British Gun Carriers.








Over view of the battle after a few turns, looking north east

A view from the British side, as a British ironclad brigade and cavalry brigade crosses over into German territory and assault a German infantry brigade taking cover in a field
.

Me (in the tan shirt) answering a players question.

British ironclads still trying to dislodge the German infantry from the field on the German right. The British cavalry have turned to face an approaching German light ironclad brigade.

On the German left, a land-train provides covering fire from the edge of a woods as a unit of German contraptions forces its way over the bridge into British territory in the face of fire from two regiments of British Martian allies.

An air battle develops overhead, as British infantry masses on their side
of the city for the final push. The British overwhelming force in the city marked the end for the German defense and the British were declared the winners.

2mm Ships and Martians for Mars

Here's a few pictures of some new units I've completed for my 2mm "Look, Sarge, Its Mars" Historicon game.
First up are some naval units for both sides. The British are equipped with the Cerberus Monitor from Brigade Models' Land Ironclads range. I painted it in Games Workshop Fortress Gray, washed with black ink and dry brushed with white for the hull; and, GW Dheneb Stone, washed with brown ink, for the decks. The Martian Canal section is made from craft foam sheets, cut in 2 inch strips for the base and .25 inch strips for the sides. The water is painted with tube acrylics to give texture, and given some white highlights. The ship bases are also done this way. In the background is the fallen Colossus of Mars made from an old 25mm fantasy figure broken into a few pieces and mounted on a mini CD.

The second ships shown are attached to the German force. They are two of Irregular Miniatures' 2mm Monitors (Item IK04). I painted them in GW Codex Gray and gave them a back ink wash, than dry brushed with GW Fortress Grey. All the bases shown are 3 inches by 1.5 inches which will help give you a sense of scale. In the background is a large stone head that come in a pack of two from Dream Pod 9

The last photo for today is of a base of Martian allies for the British. I used Irregular's code BG33 for the long line of Radium Riflemen in the center, and code BG16 for the swordsmen that make up the rest of the unit. I primed them black than gave a heavy dry brush of GW Tanned Flesh to represent the reddish Martian skin, and then gave them a thin line dry brush of Apple Barrel Lemon Chiffon for their tunics. The base is covered in white glue and then in fine railroad ballast with sand mixed in. When dry the base is painted with Folk Art Barnyard Red, and dry brushed with Americana Burnt Orange, and then GW Vomit Brown. Lastly, some little bits of flocking are added for Martian vegetation

2mm VSF for Historicon: The British

In my last post I featured some example bases of the German VSF troops that I am preparing for my Historicon "Look, Sarge, It's Mars" game, using modified "Look, Sarge, No Charts: ACW" rules, Brigade Models Land Ironclads, and Irregular's 2mm troops. Today I am featuring examples from my British forces.
As before, all troop and vehicle stands are 3 inches by 1.5 inches, HQ and battery stands are 1.5 by 1.5 inches. I also wanted to expain that I purposely did not paint the windows on my ironclads. I feel that in battle they would have some sort of protective shutters on them, rather than expose the crew to lots of shattering glass.

British Infantry

Battery and Brigade HQ

Mk. I Armored Gun Carrier






Warlord Class Ironclad

Britannic Class Ironclad

Sovereign Class Ironclad

Lancers

Dragoons

Dismounted Dragoons

Posting these now to show I once painted eyes on a 2mm figure:

2mm VSF for Historicon: The Germans

I'm busy painting and basing a lot of 2mm stuff for my "Look, Sarge, It's Mars" game at Historicon. I'm going to be using a modified version of our "Look, Sarge, No Charts: ACW" rules and the great Land Ironclads and Aeronef models from Brigade Models
and 2mm infantry from Irregular Miniatures

With these rules each stand equals a regiment of infantry or cavalry, a battery of 4-6 guns,or 4-6 land ironclads or aeronefs.
Note that in the photos below, there is a strip of bare base where eventually the LSNC labels will be located once I have made a final determination of each unit's stats. The stands are 3 inches across by 1.5 inches deep for units, and 1.5 by 1.5 for HQs and batteries. The size of the stands will help give you a sense of scale for the minis
I will start by showcasing example bases for the Germans. Later I will show the British. Enjoy:

Infantry Regiment

Battery of Artillery and Brigade HQ

Land Train

Self Propelled Heavy Artillery (Converted from GW Epic vehicles with the simple addition of smokestacks.)

Gretchin Scout Contraptions

Volker Gun Contraptions

Loki Class Ironclads

Brigade of Wolfherz Class Ironclads

Lowehertz Class Ironclad

Loki Class Ironclads with Infantry Regiment

SA-15 Class Patrol Nef