A week of Fantastic Battles and Fantastic Scuffles
Due to a twist of fate I found myself showcasing a game of Fantastic Battles through my work in the museum sector last week! We were approached by Ballycastle Men's Shed who are researching the battle of Glentaise (1565). They are looking to create a gaming table based on the local topography, and build armies based on the best evidence of the available forces.
Over the weekend, Andrew, Jim and I sat down for a catch-up and very first play through of Fantastic Scuffles, the work-in-progress skirmish version of Fantastic Battles... 🙈
Despite being the weakest party on paper, Clachtoll and Nigg managed to fly about and collect three of the treasures, while the kobolds and orcs thrashed about scuffling over the remaining two. After seven turns it was clear that Jim was going to be victorious and Andrew and I withdrew our respective parties to count the cost.
The battle of Glentaise is a window into a fascinating part of Ballycastle (and North Antrim) history - seeing Shane O'Neill's Irish bring low James McDonnell's Antrim Scots, but inadvertantly clearing the way for the rise of Sorely Boy McDonnell who's life reads like a Boys' Own adventure and would have a lasting legacy in the area.
Chatting with Jon form the Men's Shed, I suggested that Fantastic Battles would give the flexibility needed to replay the battle. He invited me to demo a game up at the Shed, and with the agreement of my manager, away we went.
This time we weren't using armies of the correct period - just a trial run using my Classical Macedonians vs Thessalian Greeks (c.650 points per side), but it was a start to help the gents come to terms with the core concepts of wargaming and get a feel for 10mm models as a scale.
For what it's worth, the Macedonians won the day, scattering the Thessalian cavalry and supporting light infantry, leaving the hoplites exposed and surrounded.
Through Ballycastle Museum we'll be supporting the project as it comes together and hope to exhibit the finished table/diorama in the museum when the current refurbishment project is finished.
It was a simple scenario with five treasures of randondom value (worth 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 victory points respectively). Each of us too a wee party - my kobolds, Jim with Clachtoll & Nigg, my wyvern-goblin duo, and Andrew with a party of brawny orcs supported by a troll and a clutch of goblins.
Most aspects of the rules worked well, a number need more testing, and there a few changes that are definately required. All in all, it was great to get testing underway.