Recon 2017 - Bombardment in the Sudan (Gunboat Action)

This is the first of two battles I put on at Recon 2017 in Orlando last week.  The setup was easy thanks to some excellent terrain features by Bill's Gamer Garage.  The boats are from the Last Stand Dan Boatyard.  Three B Class Sidewheelers armed with a Heavy and Medium gun fore and aft.  And the infamous and unlucky stern wheeler Giza commanded by now legendary Captain Lucas.  All had a handful of Royal Marines.  

So the scenario is actually laid out below on the scenario sheet that was handed to all.  The one page sheet was meant to have most of what you need to play the battle except for the individual Boat Data sheets.  

The Dervish had two shoreline batteries which turned out to be very deadly.  They also had two Dhows loaded with warriors and two gunboats of their own.  All of the Dervish Commanders, Emirs' Andy, Bill and Robert played very well holding their own and stopping the British advance although losing the final tally.  The British attack started out well but didn't really develop as well as they had planned.

If didn't help when early on the Giza took a serious hit which almost sank her and then another hit by Dervish gunboats and shore guns that took out her main gun and finally put her down.  Captain Jones and Hogan received honorable mention taking out dervish guns and protecting and saving the Giza crew.  British Captain Bill on the left flank took on and sank two dhows and a gunboat after repelling two Dhows from boarding and fighting off Emir Andy's Gunboat boarding attempt.  It was a short bloody affair where the Royal Marines killed and wounded all of the boarders then cutting the lines as the gunboat sank.  

With that last action the British scored the last victory points although the mission was not totally a success.  

The Dervish sank the Giza for 16 points where the British scored six points for the three guns, 8 points for the two Dhows and 8 points for the one gunboat.  Final score was 18 to 16.  One of those unexpected mixed up victory results.  Yes the British scored the points but no the Channel is not clear of a Dervish gunboat and a full battery to the South.  

Hopefully you will be able to read the scenario and the Victory points off the sheet.  I think everyone had a good time.

If there are any questions please let me know!  dagurule@me.com

The pictures have some of the story in them.  

Last Stand Dan

Recon 2017 or Bust!

Well the day has finally come, Recon 2017 in Orlando, Florida!  Tomorrow morning Bill of Bill's Gamer Garage and I are hitting the road starting here in Denver.  This time we will take a more southern route through Houston, then along the Gulf to the convention site.  Half the fun is in the Journey.  We are already planning a visit to the Civil War Naval Museum in Atlanta on the way back.  Can't wait!

Bill and I are bringing the usual stuff; Loads of excellent terrain, Dhows, Gunboats, Congo Boats, 15mm Dhows and Gunboats.

I will also be putting on two scenarios.  The first is a Sudan Bombardment. A kind of introductory river battle using my Gunboat and Dhows! rules.  Gunboats will be subject to entrenched batteries and maybe a couple of Dervish boats might make an appearance.  There will be plenty of boat action in this one.  

The second scenario called Get to the Boat! will be using modified rules from The Sword and the Flame.  We will be using small units in this one where the Government staff are making a run to the docks.  The heavy Gunboat Cairo has disembarked units to clear an escape path.  It will be an interesting city fight where the Dervish can appear from hidden locations around the board.  As the battle rages on the Dervish attacks will of course become more intense.  Should be a lot of Bloody fun.

Hope to see you there...Last Stand Dan

New 15mm Nile Boats - Last Stand Dan Boatyard

Well, I have been getting asked where I have been lately.  You know how life gets in the way.  My new job has me on the road again.  Recon 2017 is right around the corner and I still have lots to do.  But in the meantime I have been busy.  Getting a lot of requests for 15mm so I thought I would start building a few.

And again, these are not meant to be Historical models.  They are my interpretations of what I see in various forms of media.  My intention is to make them functional for you to put 'bases' of troops compared to individual figures as we do in lager scales.

I am almost finished with six (6) Dhows and four (4) gunboats.  I have them here showing some of the different stages of the builds.  I would like to say they are easier to build than 28's but I can't.  They definitely take less material but making sails and paddle wheels still take time.  Just a couple of small details on each model and they are ready for a fight.

I will definitely update my catalog later this week.  I will add these 15's and looking forward to releasing a "Quick Play" Packet of my Gunboat and Dhow! rules.  The Gunboat scenario collection will be also be coming out soon which many are from my Sudan Campaign a couple of years ago.  I will tell you more about those next week.

Well I hope you enjoy the pictures and hope to see some of you at Recon in Orlando.

Oh and I had the privilege of hosting Sgt. Guinness and his lovely Wife here in Colorado a couple of weeks ago during their visit to see family.  It was great to see him here in my "Dan" Cave to show him around and have a couple of cold ones.  See you at Recon Sgt.!

Happy Gaming!

Last Stand Dan (Gurule)

Keep sending those suggestions on boat builds.  In 15mm I think a Melik Class type screw boat and and large Dhow (twin mast) is next.  Then its back to 28mm Sudan with some new boats and working out some designs on some Junks.  I also have some Congo Boat requests I need to look at.

Please let me know if anyone is looking for any river coastal terrain and I will get the word out to Bill at Bill's Gamer Garage (i.e. Mud Forts, sand bars, Gun and rifle pits, etc.).