HMGS-PSW Mini-Wars 2025 - Saturday October 11th & Sunday October 12th

 

Greetings Fellow Gamers in FL & Elsewhere!

(A message from my brother E form the west coast, AKA, Mad Guru on all the game forums)

DISCLAIMER: This message is not about an upcoming game at your AMAZING DAS KIREG HAUS CLUBHOUSE, which I drool over and beat my breast in despair for being unable to convince my wife we NEED TO MOVE to South Florida every time I get one of your emails -- it is an attempt to recruit a few more GMs and players to attend our modest Southern California tabletop wargaming convention, MINI-WARS, being held this year the weekend of Saturday October 11th & Sunday October 12th on the beautiful campus of California State University, Fullerton in Orange County, California -- within easy reach of Disney Land and a bunch of awesome Pacific coast beaches.

Attached please find a flyer for the event, complete with a QR code that will take you to the same link I am putting here, which will bring you to our convention's page on the Table Top Events website:

https://tabletop.events/conventions/hmgs-psw-mini-wars-2025

I realize with barely one month's notice it's unlikely many of you Floridians will travel across country to join us -- sadly! -- BUT I'm hoping at least some of you must have hobby friends who live somewhere in the South-Western U.S.A, not too far from Fullerton (out here "too far" generally means under a thousand miles!) so I am humbly asking your help to spread word of our little-engine-that-could convention a bit farther and wider.

This year we are making a concerted effort to try and raise the quality of our show and grow its attendance, so even one more cool game or one more happy (until he rolls his dice!) gamer showing up will be greatly appreciated.

On the plus side, all our shows feature at least a few truly outstanding epic games, such as last year's 32 ft x 7 ft layout commemorating the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, refought from start to finish in gorgeous 28mm over the weekend...

Any help you can provide in spreading word of our upcoming MINI-WARS 2025 will be greatly appreciated, and when I finally show up to visit my brother from another mother Sgt. Guinness AKA: Jeff Baumal on a day when DKH is open, I will come by and thank you in person by buying a beer or soft drink of your choice.  Until then, thanks again for reading this and for any efforts you expend helping out your little cousins across the continent!

Gratefully Yours,

Ethan Reiff (AKA: Mad Guru)

PS. If any of you find yourselves out here in Lala Land & looking for a wargame to play, feel free to email me.  Between my place in L.A. and the group I game with down in Orange County that runs this convention, we should be able to find a command slot for you to fill.

Dispatch from Eggmuhl 1809, DKH Game Day AAR

 

BEI EGGMUHL, DEN 22. APRIL 1809. 'This original antique plate shows the Battle of Eckmuhl in Germany on 21 April 22 April 1809, it was the turning point of the 1809 Campaign, also known as the War of the Fifth Coalition.

The Battle of Eckmühl fought on 22 April 1809, was the turning point of the 1809 Campaign, also known as the War of the Fifth Coalition.

DKH Gamers, Refreshed and reinvigorated after the “binge gaming” weekend, we have Firelock 15mm this coming Saturday.  Our scenario is the famous battle at Eggmuhl 1809.  Napoleon figure takes the field with Nansouty’s cavalry division of Carabiniers, Cuirassiers and allied Bavarian and Wurttenberg forces in a maximum effort to push the Austrians of Archduke Charles out of Bavaria.  The two-day battle featured ten corps of troops ultimately engaged.  This scenario will focus on Napoleon’s attack centered at the village of Eggmuhl on the second day with the French attempting to turn the Austrian left flank anchored on the twin hills of Vorberg and Bettelberg.  I will send the scenario on Thursday, but there will be over 40 stands of cavalry, much of it heavy, and a considerable amount of artillery involved.  If you like pushing cavalry this is the battle for you!!

 Carabiniers, Cuirassiers and Lancers OH MY! Below is the AAR from the game master, Mark Ritchie:

Eggmuhl 1809, Devon (Austrian) and Tom (French) playing 15mm Firelock, both first time gaming Firelock-Napoleonic.  Scenario is larger game with over 120 stands present (company-level game) representing about 10,000 in forces combined, both sides.  


1st photo overall setup with French Carabiners and Cuirassiers to enter turn 1.  2nd Napoleon with grand battery of 12#. 3rd Cuirassiers cross stream west (left) of Eggmuhl as 4th Wurttenberg line cross bridge to assault Eggmuhl. 5th overall picture end Turn 4. 5th Austrian cavalry incl Cuirassiers Uhlan and Hussars halt French and gaps develop in both. Not pictured Carabiners follow Wurrtenberg and past thru Eggmuhl opening a gap in Austrian line precipitating an Austrian withdrawal, and French Voltiguers engaging in long range musketry gaining an edge on Austrian line infantry and grenzers.   Game outcome similar to historical with Austrian withdrawal preserving the artillery and most of cavalry and infantry in good order.  French Carabiniers and Cuirassiers bore the brunt of action along with Wurttemberg infantry.  Well played by both gamers!!
Mark

 

TSATF - The Sword And The Flame Games at Hurricon-2025!

 

(Click the photo to see it clearly - I don’t know why it’s blurry on the blog page)

Here is the list of games thus far for the upcoming HMGS-South convention Hurricon-2025! There are currently 6 games listed, that’s 3 per day with one more being added for Thursday night. 

Thursday Night’s convention game opener on the club TSATF - The Sword And The Flame table. 

Send in the Marines!

Coast of Mogadishu, 1906, a merchant vessel has been captured by Somali and Arab pirates. Negotiations have broken down, the ship’s crew have become pawns in an evil game. The hostages lives are at risk. An informant has leaked intel that the Somali warlord has no intention of letting the crew go and that they will be killed at dawn.

The American consulate general to Mogadishu has no choices left, “send in the Marines!”

                (Rough game map for Thursday night)

At Hurricon-24 with SMG, Last Stand Dan & Bud’s Blast Markers

There were a lot of really amazing games this past weekend. I was lucky enough to play in a bunch of them, see pics below of some that I attended. All these GM’s ran excellent, fun, and beautiful games!  

Coolidge running a Boxer Rebellion game. Hard Fight outside of Tienstin. The Boxers leave the city to stop the invading allies from entering and sacking it.

  

The Chinese vigorously attacked the allies, the superior firepower and numbers of the allies where just too much

for the Chinese to overcome. Despite these factors it was a minor Chinese victory because they stalled the allies and blunted their attack on Tienstin. 

It is rumored that a spy had given the allies the Chinese battle plans. Someone must pay for this …

Last Stand Dan ran a TMWWBK WWI Tigris River game, Attack Along the Tigris 1916. The Turks gallantly defend an outpost on the Tigris from a combined arms Anglo-Indian assault. It seemed as if there were thousands of Turks. Could the Brits break the trench line, silence the shore batteries, take the town, and move their gunboat upriver???

Custom hand made gunboat by Last Stand Boatyard.

More Buds Blast Markers and plane fire / damage markers. Bud’s Blast Markers.

WWII, Operation Norwind, 17 January, 1945, Rapid Fire Reloaded game run by RBW.

Some of the RBW Crew setting up, Scotty couldn’t make it due to the hurricane. 

Jeff from RBW patiently awaits the players Saturday morning. 

The Americans are on their 3rd or 4th attempt at taking this vital bridgehead, town, and railway stations. The Americans made it across the river albeit with major casualties in personnel and armor. Both sides of the river were stoutly defended. 

German Panthers emerge from the cover of the railway station to finish of the advancing American armor. 

A lucky long range flank shot takes out a Panther on its way to reinforce the railway station. 

Big Dave runs a TSATF Sudan game, To Save Their Own! from the official The Sword And The Flame 2016 Scenario Portfolio.

Capt Stewart has been picked to lead a small force of men from the main column on a night raid against a Grand Emir, in order to rescue some British officers of the Denbigh Fusiliers, including Capt Griffiths, who were captured after the last action. 

Sgt. Guinness runs a TSATF 1891 NWF game from the ongoing campaign, Never Trust Anyone on the Frontier.

Redemption, Rescue the General’s Daughter. In our last episode the General’s daughter was captured in an ambush on a supply column headed to the Lowari Pass garrison.

Captain Barrington Hawthorne Smyth, Queens 2nd Dragoon Guards, can you redeem yourself and rescue General Horatio McGuinness' daughter Margaret Fitzpatrick McGuinness from the clutches of your enemy?

                                            

                                            

Hmmm, Russians on the Grim, from Askari Miniatures

The British and Indian forces have redeemed themselves, captured a Russian officer, reduced a village to burnt cinders, and rescued the general’s daughter. Fire markers by Bud’s Blast Markers.

Another game by Last Stand Dan. Villa Rides, The Battle of Conejos 1914.

Left to right, Capt Lucas, Bud ala Bud’s Blast Markers, Jennifer Librarian Gamer, & el jeffe Roger. 

Sgt Guinness had the kids roll his dice for him to keep them included in the fun. 

                                    Good turn …

Good Ground Miniatures

                         HMGS-South Conventions

             SMG - South Florida Miniatures Gamers