Thursday, 2 July 2026

Battle records 2


Afternoon #Warhammer Community although there's not a lot of Warhammer I have kept posting battle records up for the other games we play. They're dated on the days they happened, posted on different day so you may not have seen them unless you search. I've collected the last 6-8 months of links below in case you're interested in looking at a lot of [not completely] un-annotated photographs of figures, followed by some grinning loons in a shed, then knock yourself out:

2026 [25 games]

2025 [10 games]

Thursday, 25 June 2026

Battle Record - American Civil War and Bolt Action 25/06/26

Afternoon we've been having a bit of a heatwave and as my shed peaked at 35C I started working earlier so I could get the benefit of the cooler morning temperatures before it all hotted up! One unexpected bonus was Ben's cousin Woll had decided to come up and visit the hobby shed again [remember you can still vote for us in shed of the year]. This meant I could nip along in the afternoon to join them.


And they were playing an American Civil War game called Longstreet. Apparently it's out of print, relies heavily on some card decks which only had one set produced for every copy of the rules. Unfortunately most people bought two sets of cards with the rules and they're now like hen's teeth!


So if you have a set, or even just the rules let us know as Otty really wants to play again. I was just an observer, not knowing what was going on.


It all looked really impressive, although I was disappointed that the barricades seemed to offer no obstruction whatsoever for the charging soldiers. Not even just moving through them normally, it was like they weren't there at all.


And the charge ranges seemed very long so even from a distance these units were getting into combat despite the battlefield obstacles. They had fun though.


Following that we set up another Bolt Action board, which I thought looked stunning. It was a mission where the Germans had to get within 12" of our board edge, or exit the board from our edge for even more VPs.


But the British set up first, having to spread out across the board, while a lot of the Germans [mainly the tanks] were in reserve.


Which meant that as they did come on they could come on in the flanks, leaving the central defenders slightly out of position because which flank could the join to offer support?


One set of engineers or rangers, snuck down the side. Unfortunately mortar crews don't carry any rifles or small arms, so they exited the battle unchallenged.


But look how cool this game looks!


One of our tanks caught fire, with the crew abandoning it. We went a little overboard to represent it was destroyed, particularly as it didn't even explode!


Our Command tank just went round the board taking names, probably the MVP.


The Command doing the business


Unfortunately we didn't get the order draw we hoped for, to block the road and the half-track was making for board edge. Instead we sent two squads in to assault it. 


With the second squad setting it ablaze.


Meanwhile on the right flank our other tank couldn't wound the German tanks that had just driven over a gun emplacement. 


Out tank crashed through the hedges to get a bead on it's rear armour point blank


And another turret went skyward!


While on the extreme right a German tank was intent on breaching our mortar battery.


Squishing the crew, leaving a spotter, then exiting the board for the mission. The infantry were following closely.


And decided to rustle some sheep while they were at it.


Also destroying our tank - a trio of turrets exploded!


The brits had been good, excelling with their ability for commanders to draw 3 or 4 additional order dice. This allowed us to control the game in some places. But the German deployment and Blitzkrieg worked perfectly. Punching through our flanks to secure the mission and win the game. 


We were out of position, outflanked, and with a loss of some units early on slightly outgunned in places. But it was a lot of fun.


So great to see Woll again, but a couple of issues being that the hobby shed was hot, hot, hot. There is almost no air circulation and we accidentally broke Ben's fan that was the only thing bringing cool air in. Couple that with later in the evening having the door open hoping some cool air would come in. It didn't, but we were inundated with flies and other insects.


So, cooling and pest control are new issues that the shed committee must look into solving.


Monday, 22 June 2026

Vote for Otty Shed 2.0 in Shed of the Year 2026

Afternoon #Warhammer Community. As you know, we entered Otty's Hobby Shed 2.0 in the Readers' Sheds, Shed of the Year contest 2026.

We actually got nominated as finalists! I only just realised that out of all the pub and home cinema themed sheds Otty's hobby shed got shortlisted to the final 5! But you can take us all the way, because it's a public vote. Please click the link below and vote for  Otty's Hobby Shed 2.0, Lancashire. 

It would mean so much for us if you vote and share the link with your friends.



Friday, 19 June 2026

Battle Report - Middle Earth Goblin Town Vs Reclamation of Osgiliath, Game 3 #MESBG

Afternoon #WarHamFam and #WarhammerCommunity I've been playing MESBG again at Warhammer World! We had signed up for a midweek event again, just 500pts, 3 games. But this time we went down the day before, had a game and stayed overnight, so we were fresh the next day to do battle. But the 

Here's my 500 point warband with the 'might bank' from the captain's to buff the King with the Scribe.
  • The Goblin King with 10 Goblins
  • Grinnah with 6 Goblins
  • The Scribe with 6 Goblins
  • Goblin captain with 6 Goblins
  • Goblin captain with 6 Goblins
Third game and it was Andy Munt and his Reclamation of Osgiliath. Andy was by far the most efficient person I've gamed with. We set out everything particular about the armies, how we played and he kept track of my usage of Might and wounds. To have the spare brain capacity to do that and keep track of what your own army is doing, while freely admitting neither of us were playing for any competitive honours. I was just really impressed
  • Boromir, Banner of Minas Tirith, Horse and Shield
    • 2 Knights of Minas Tirith
    • 5 Warriors of Minas Tirith with Shield
    • 5 Warriors of Minas Tirith with Spear and Shield
  • Madril, Captain of Ithilien
    • 4 Rangers of Gondor with Spear
    • 2 Rangers of Gondor
    • 2 Warriors of Minas Tirith with Shield
    • 2 Warriors of Minas Tirith with Spear and Shield

It's been over a week now and I've forgotten a lot of what happened. I think the game was Assassination, we had to kill enemy heroes, but Boromir has 6 Might! Anyway, having been caught out many times trying to defend small enclosed fields I sent my army round the outside.


And just kept going, with Andy saying he thought I was being much more aggressive than he expected. We had a couple more turns of trying to get a decent position, but I think we were over half way at this point and possibly the only thing that had died was a goblin the King had thrown. I did put a few goblins in the field though just in case they could be helpful


With time running out I think I barged a Ranger out of the way to get to Boromir but he was too far away. I did this knowing full well I'd probably be trapped the next turn and I was. But his blubbery mass was just too effective. They may have put one wound on him but Fate denied it so no VPs. Meanwhile my left flank was doing a bit better in that I'd trapped both cavalry I think it took a couple of turns but I was eventually able to take them down. But they weren't characters so no points for that.


I think we were quickly running out of time so we just played some of the more pivotal fights involving characters. Unfortunately I can't remember if the King died. All I know is the final score was 10:0 to Andy.


This was a good game, my only issue being that the tactical play we had at the beginning had to be abandoned recklessly just so we got stuck in. I really would have liked a bit more time on this one. I was a bit more successful in winning fights. There were quite a few more dead Gondorians, just not the ones that scored points. So as one-sided as the score says I once again left feeling that Goblin Town is a good list. I may well have come 40th out of 46 but I didn't feel beaten. Yes the Haradrim battle was a bit challenging but it's definitely a challenge I'd like us to explore in the shed to se ehow to counter it.


In the end Otty came 10th and Ben came 27th. But Ben actually won best painted miniature with his Radagast riding Gwaihir [giant eagle]. Absolutely well deserved.


We finished up with tea in Bugman's I had the pulled pork loaded fries, which were really good. Although the sweet chilli chicken strips Ben had also looked really nice.  


We have another midweek MESBG due in September. I may consider taking Scott's army of the dead, plus some of the Three Hunters. We'll have to see what makes sense. It might be too nuanced for me.

Thursday, 18 June 2026

Battle Record - Middle Earth Gundabad and Bolg Vs Dain and his Dwarves #MESBG 18/06/26

Afternoon #Warhammer Community we've been playing MESBG again because we just didn't get 11th Edition Warhammer 40k rules in time. Liam was back from his hospital stay, still work to do but we decided to treat him with using two of his armies. Gundabad Orcs, trolls, ogres and berserkers led by Bolg on a Warg, versus Dain on his war boar, dwarves on mountain goats and a load of dwarven warriors with 6 crossbows in amongst them.


Again, I've left this a little late, so I've no recollection of the game. But that is the point of 'records' not 'reports'. However, I may remember a few things as we go through.


I think overall we were beset by some bad dice rolling. It seemed we were out classed completely. Initially I think it was quite tactical where I was using my warband to entice Dain and the goat riders around the viaduct.


Meanwhile Otty went through the middle.


I lured the dwarves in and then used the viaduct to limit how many could get into combat and have the advantage of defended obstacles. I'd basically corked the route to the objective.


Meanwhile the Gundabad Troll just rampaged through the Dwarven Crossbows, squishing them flat. It was looking good for us.


Bolg had failed to do any damage with his bow. Otty was adamant he'd come good, he could hit for days but damage eluded him and he was cornered by the goats. 


Who cut him down, which lost us a whole load of benefits. The goats then attacked the breach in the viaduct.


After it's initial success the troll was having trouble getting to stomp anything else. The Dwarves were taking the fight to it.


We'd managed to slow their route to the objective but it was crumbling beneath us.


I'm not sure if the Troll survived the game.


But I think it finally came to an end with a win for the Dwarves. No idea what score it was.


But by the look on the faces it was good for them, but disappointing for the 'bad' guys.