Border Reiver, new date, new venue!

 Today, we attended a sort of trial show at the Nissan factory Sports and Leisure building. Run by the Border Reivers club, who are hoping this (significantly cheaper) venue will work out as their new home. The second Border Reiver show is on 19th September, at this same venue.

After getting the bus there, I found it hard to find the venue, but fortunately there were some workmen digging up the road, who kindly directed us the right way!

As is my normal, I will start with the traders! (If you want to just see the games, please scroll down to the heading on the left)

First is one of my favourites, 'The Last Valley' who do fabulous hand made terrain!

Next, Dave Thomas, who have the best selection of plastic figures I know! If they haven't got it, it probably isn't available!!!

Crescent Creations 3D...

...a very colourful presentation!

Pete's flags, these are amazing looking, and my pictures do not do them justice, the late 16th century figures he sells are lovely too!!

Faux Geek, who sell bags, dice trays, cuddly toys etc!

The Pit gaming shop.

These nice ladies provided a lovely selection of cakes, drinks, sandwiches, hot food and all manner of goodies!

Not sure who these were, sorry!

Grahams Wuerkshoppe

Keelmen Miniatures

Element games

They had a selection of art materials prominent.

Mardav Miniatures, I am sure you guessed!!

Some very interesting WW2 terrain and vehicles.

Phoenix games studios

Sarissa Precision

(NB: in the background - ABC Brushes, I forgot to pic them...sorry!)

The Games

? Greg Ward's English Civil War game?

3D Wargames 30 Years war game

This lovely couple were demonstrating some Scottish costumes and weapons!

Very nice!

(My own) Tyneside Wargaming club's game.

Pete, explaining the rules to an interested punter!

More from our club!

The ever interesting and friendly Westerhope Wargaming Group!

(Yes, I know the flags are later than 1775!!!)

Very pretty!

A lovely Baron's war game! (Newbiggin Wargames Club)

First time I have seen Mounted knights skulking behind a wall!!!

On to the Flea Market.

Our local Hospice, St Oswalds had a stall, selling old mags and books!

Adrianople game. (? Border Reivers wargames group- Hex wars)

Sorry I missed some traders - ABC Brushes, I bought from them and forgot to take their picture!. Eagle figures and Uhrwerk Spiele UK LTD

I think, although small, the show was good, I certainly spent pretty much all of my budget!!

Return to Hellas

 Today I got my Pyrrhic and Hoplite Greek armies out to play Midgard - last time Pyrrhus was out was when we did our version of Asculum, his first battle in Italy, we now moved to his last campaign in Greece. Although he didn't fight a major battle in the open against the Hellenes, when has that ever stopped us wargamers?

I played Pyrrhus with Phil running my left wing...and the Elephants he loves! - we were defending so the Greeks deployed second, placing their forces against my wing alone. Very clever. Lawrence makes a sneaky Greek!!! Rhod took the Greek right.

The Pyrrhic army in the distance.

The Greeks threw all their cavalry and half their light infantry far out on the left

I used my 2 unit free move to send my Archers and Tarentine cavalry to face them.

The Greek left advanced with Peltastoi supported by the Cavalry, their Archers secured the wood.

I charged them with my Tarentines, and routed them! Unfortunately their Archers damaged my victorious horse soon after.

Phil, on my left, started the long trip to join the battle.

My Phalanx had to engage the Hoplites as well as they could, before they got outflanked.

Phil was being held up by more Peltastoi.

One of Phil's Phalanx Speira engaged some Greek slingers... and lost! (probably shot back by short range shooting?)

In the centre, one of my Macedonian Speira was pushing a Hoplite unit back, but in doing so his flanks were vulnerable.

The flanking Speira were all driven back!!!

My Allied cavalry got caught by some Hoplites and routed, Even my Agema was repulsed by the Greek Heavy cavalry! - I had to fling my Archers, who had been damaged by the Greek archers, into the Greeks flank.

The Greek cavalry finally broke! My Tarentines had beaten the Greek light Cavalry, and even though damaged, they now attacked the Greek Archers in flank!

Unfortunately my Phalangitae's retreat allowed more Hoplites onto the Agema's flank.

At least Phil's Phalanx destroyed those cursed slingers...finally!

As expected, my Agema was routed, and Pyrrhus had to make a quick escape!

My Tarentines, tired after their previous battles, failed to beat the Greek Archers.

My own Archers failed to move in their Cavalry's support.

My advanced Phalanx Speira was signally failing to rout the stubborn Greek Hoplites, and was getting surrounded.

Finally, the Hoplites broke and ran, Phil's Phalangitae were pushing forward, would they get to me in time?

The battle between the Greek Archers and my Tarentines ended with both sides being broken!

Unfortunately, another one of my Phalanx Speira broke as 2 Hoplite units attacked.

Phil was pushing back a Hoplite unit, but the Greeks managed to catch my victorious Speira in a vice.

The poor Phalangitae broke to their right.

So my others (no surprise) decided to follow suit!

Pyrrhus joined the Thessalian Cavalry and charged one of the pursuing Hoplite units.

The battle was bloody!

One of Phil's Phalanx Spirae was broken as the Greek commander led his Hoplites in a desperate charge!

The other Phalanx Speira destroyed the exultant Hoplites and killed the commander, Aristides!

At this point we totted up Reputation, and amazingly Pyrrhus's forces had won, but only just! I had been at 0 Rep till Phil and Pyrrhus charging had saved the army in the previous turn. The final totals were Pyrrhics at 0, Hellenes at -7, a Pyrrhic victory if ever there was one!