Fiasco II - Royal Armouries, Leeds

Royal Armouries Leeds - if you have not been.......GO!

It was a bright clear Sunday morning when I set out from Stockport for the 50 odd mile drive to Leeds. Speeding along (within the 70mph limit of course) with Homespun Songs of the Confederacy blasting in my ears I spotted the Tourist info sign for Leeds Armories some 20 miles out of town. Follow Leeds city centre it instructed, so on I drove looking for such a sign. As I neared Tadcaster, the familiar twin breweries of the excellent Samuel and rather more insipid John Smiths ales, I realised something was amiss and turned back. 

It was not until I came off the M62 that I came across a sign for the city centre, and once I had trawled through the nightmare of the filter system the route to the show was clearly marked. Apart from the £3 parking charge, that was the only real fiasco of the day. Despite its name the show itself was excellent, and real club gamers gathering. The games may not have reached the artistic excellence of those that we have come to expect from Partizan, but they were well presented, and enthusiastically played, and did credit to the hobby.

Gladiators, one of the many participation games at FiascoII

I was pleased to see that a large number of youngsters attended the show and while Dad or Mum wandered off to spend their hard earned cash, the new brood of gamers were lobbing dice like veterans and having a great time. So all credit to those clubs who planned and presented these participation games. The Leeds club also presented a “beginners” display, where you could learn the basics of gaming in a gladiatorial arena, and pick up tips for the painting of figures. I think that this is a very good practice, and I wish it were more widely adopted.

Leeds Wargames beginners stand

Wandering round the show the first game to draw my eye was a 25mm replay of the Battle of Adowa, 1896. An interesting choice of subject this with the Italian Colonial War in Abyssinia not being something you see everyday. The battle to is an interesting one, where a modern army was cut to pieces because of appalling staff work and confused command. As one of the members of the East Leeds Militaria Society explained to me the Italians undertook the campaign with only one map for the whole army. The terrain was simple but effective, and example of what can be done by all clubs with a bit of imagination. The game was fought using Principles of War rules and figures from a range of manufacturers.

East Leeds Militaria Society and their Adowa game

The Bring and buy was well stocked, with some real bargains available. As they took cheques I was tempted to invest in a range of purchases, that even now I feel were real bargains. Even though I have no interest in Ancient gaming I was almost seduced into buying a force of 15mm Romans, because they were so beautifully painted, but luckily I was dragged away by someone wanting to advertise on the website. 

Back in the main room, games were well under way, with Chris and Roger from the Leeds Club staging an impressive World War II games based around the Fall of France in 1940 and entitled German Eagles V French Hedgehogs. The intriguing title of the game was fully explained in the excellent, illustrated, handout available from the players. 

Eagles versus Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs were the defensive strategy developed by the French Commander In Chief, Marshall Weygand, in a bid to combat German Blitzkrieg tactics. These were small defensible area based on suitable terrain blocking the principle movement routes required by the German forces. Each Hedgehog contained a balance mix of all arms designed to be self supporting, but the original plans called for groups of these positions to be mutually supporting with overlapping fields of fire. Unfortunately the badly mauled French forces did not have enough men left to complete the deployments. 

Impressive terrain made this game very popular

Initially this plan met with some success, and the German advance was stalled. However this did not last long, mounting casualties and German domination of the air led to the reduction of the French defences and their supporting armour. The game represented an assault on two of these hedgehogs by elements of a Panzer Division, with air support. The models used were excellently presented and the terrain was most impressive.

Custer gets it wrong again.......and again........and ag

A few yards away the Harrogate Club were sending the 7^th Cavalry into the Little Bighorn, much to the joy of the large number of youngsters who experienced this  participation game. Although I did not play myself I did spend some time watching the game develop. It seemed to be based on the veteran Pony Wars rules, with random event cards being drawn to everyone’s frustration or elation. The success of this game owed a great deal to the showmanship of the umpires, who had no problem in playing to the gallery, which the kids thought was great.

Lance and Longbow Society

Fantasy was well represented with Kallistra Miniatures displaying their 10mm Hordes and Heroes fantasy range in a neat and colourful game. While the Wakefield and Ossett Society encouraged us to brave the magic of the Wizards Tower. The Lance and Longbow society features a static display of their excellent publications, that are available to members of the society. They also presented a very colourful game representing an assault on a defended camp. However I was disappointed by the Society of Ancients display, it seems to me that as probably the foremost and principle historical wargaming group in existence they should be able to present a more professional public personae.

The Wizard's Tower

The traders seemed to be doing brisk business throughout the day, and included a few names that were new to me, and who will hopefully send some products for review in the Forum in due course. As usual I ended up with a bag full of books that I have to sneak on to my shelves without my wife noticing (she is worried about the load bearing capacity of the floorboards). 

A final trawl around the show drew me into discussion of the relative merits of the Piquet set of Wargames rules. They were being used by The Ilkley Lads in refighting the Franco-Prussian war action of Froschwiller. Having refought this battle myself in 15mm using ECW’s Blood and Iron Rules it was interesting to compare notes. I the game that I fought we used large numbers of 15mm troops at Battalion level. The Ilkley Lads used 25mm at a Brigade level. Both battles would seem to have given interesting and exciting games, but personally I still prefer the 15mm scale and the image of masses of troops for this period.

Ilkley lads refight the Franco-Prussian War

I have not used Piquet myself, but I have received good reports. They provide rapid games, and large actions can be fought to a conclusion in a day. The lads from Ilkley are certain certainly fans and are heavily engaged in developing and playtesting supplements for the rules including English Civil war and World War I.

More of Froschwiller

Regretfully it was time to go, and so collecting my baggage from Alan Lumley of Lancashire Games I left the Royal Armouries to the thunderous discharge of a demi culverin, reflecting on an enjoyable morning and very good show.

JOS 

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