Armchair Dragoons Forums

Wargaming => Age of Gunpowder => Topic started by: Cyrano on January 16, 2019, 10:59:52 PM

Title: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 16, 2019, 10:59:52 PM
So, after a bit of thought and self-examination (thanks, Doug) and a conversation or two with the game designer (thanks Ed) I've decided to build a TTS set for Two Hour Wargames' "Colonial Adventures".

As always a teaching game, this fight will see the British Army raiding over the Blood River against the Zulu.

As can be done with these rules -- based on Ed Texeira's well-regarded "Reaction" system -- this one will be all the humans against the game's A.I.

If we go again on Saturday at 1900 CST, who's in?

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Barthheart on January 17, 2019, 06:24:37 AM
Out of town this weekend.  :(
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Capn Darwin on January 17, 2019, 06:35:31 AM
So are we all playing as Zulus and if so can we be equipped with Wakandan tech for the fight?  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 17, 2019, 08:31:14 AM
Is this another 'easy one to learn', like What a Tanker? Not that I would have been able to fire a shot without hand holding on how to do it :p! But it was easy to participate ;-)
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 17, 2019, 11:55:23 AM
@Tuna -- It's a bit more complicated, although not much.

It's intended to be intro level and I've taught the Vietnam version several times at Historicon.

The big thing is that the scenario I have in mind pits the players against the system.



Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 17, 2019, 01:46:35 PM
Okay, "If nothing is going on"  ;D
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: panzerde on January 17, 2019, 05:02:34 PM
I'm in. We're supposed to be having a blizzard then, anyway.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 17, 2019, 05:17:54 PM
Yep blizzard here too.. I was supposed to drive my kid back to UMass Amherst on Sunday in the thick of it. But they just waived the 'early' fee of 60 bucks.. So I'm gonna try and run him out there before the storm Saturday. But hopefully should be back in time! Storm starts Saturday afternoon here.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: ojsdad on January 17, 2019, 10:10:15 PM
Blizzard conditions for me also, so Im in.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on January 18, 2019, 11:01:50 AM
If I can plan ahead, I should be able to join!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 18, 2019, 11:16:15 AM
I told Nefaro too, so he might come.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: mirth on January 18, 2019, 12:18:18 PM
I'll catch the stream
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 18, 2019, 12:53:37 PM
I'll catch the stream


Subject line says it's a river, dammit
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: mirth on January 18, 2019, 01:45:49 PM
I'll catch the stream


Subject line says it's a river, dammit

https://instantrimshot.com/index.php?sound=rimshot&play=true
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 18, 2019, 01:52:29 PM
I'll catch the stream


Subject line says it's a river, dammit

https://instantrimshot.com/index.php?sound=rimshot&play=true

It this going to be "Live Rivered' tomorrow night?

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 18, 2019, 02:23:34 PM
As the fates would have it -- the rules allow for such things -- they found over the river a LAKE.

All the lads are up and in, REPs established, and named after my wife's current favorite podcast, "Wooden Overcoats".

I have a total of FIVE commands ready, so I think we're set!

I, of course, will happily run your friendly, neighborhood ZULU.

https://imgur.com/a/IJcaO8A (https://imgur.com/a/IJcaO8A)
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 18, 2019, 02:31:24 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/z3TW3ZX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/uyEU7Al.jpg)

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Staggerwing on January 18, 2019, 06:07:59 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/uyEU7Al.jpg)

STRATEGO!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 18, 2019, 06:49:08 PM
^^ YOU WILL TAKE THAT BACK! STRATEGO is PLAINLY Napoleonic.

Heretic.

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: ojsdad on January 18, 2019, 07:12:20 PM
(https://img.memecdn.com/nerd-fights_o_569680.jpg)
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on January 19, 2019, 02:49:30 PM
Blooooooood Rivvverrrrrr!
We're crosssssing you to fiiiight
the immmmpis of the niiiiight
toodaaaayyyy

Chaaaasing after our ends,
Death's jussssst around the bend.
You'll see.


You'll seeeeee.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on January 19, 2019, 02:53:17 PM
On a more serious comment, which mic source will we be using? (Steam, Discord channel, Teamspeak channel, etc.?)
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 19, 2019, 04:02:08 PM
They use Steam.. worked ok last week.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 19, 2019, 05:22:18 PM
Yep, STEAM.  I’ve already got 12 windows open.  Don’t need 21.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 19, 2019, 05:58:17 PM
Yep, STEAM.  I’ve already got 12 windows open.  Don’t need 21.


you need more monitors
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: mirth on January 19, 2019, 06:26:47 PM
Cyrano during Saturday Night Fights


(http://www.customconsoles.co.uk/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Media-Wall-display-at-AP-London-.jpg)
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 19, 2019, 07:10:51 PM
^^ Who gave you a key to my house?!?
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 19, 2019, 07:12:22 PM
Also, if we're not "friends" on Steam and you want to be invited to the game, please send me a friend request?

I'm the Cyrano with the Berthier portrait.

Less than one hour!

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on January 19, 2019, 07:30:54 PM
Invite sent. plans cleared!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: mirth on January 19, 2019, 07:33:18 PM


It's no Winged Hussars, but I give it 7/10
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on January 19, 2019, 07:39:01 PM
Something to watch while we wait anyway...
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: mirth on January 19, 2019, 07:50:19 PM
Something to watch while we wait anyway...

 :bigthumb:
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 19, 2019, 08:21:51 PM
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/events/wn/saturday-night-fights-2/ (https://www.armchairdragoons.com/events/wn/saturday-night-fights-2/)

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on January 19, 2019, 11:33:08 PM
Next week: the grand slaughter!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 20, 2019, 12:35:03 AM
Thanks for everyone who joined and watched.

Curious how this one comes out, although I think Jason's take that the Zulus are going to have a bad time of it is accurate.

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on January 20, 2019, 09:19:26 AM
Well, apart from information having watched the event, "the grand slaughter" could be read either way. ;)

This was certainly a tutorial milk run. At least one more point should have spawned-in by probability, maybe two.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 20, 2019, 12:07:12 PM
Well, apart from information having watched the event, "the grand slaughter" could be read either way. ;)

This was certainly a tutorial milk run. At least one more point should have spawned-in by probability, maybe two.

Well Tuna had absolutely no clue, so good thing you seasoned board gamers were there to run the show!

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: ojsdad on January 21, 2019, 08:22:22 AM
Don't worry Tuna, I was confused also at times.  I'm not sure I was following all of the dice rolls. 
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 21, 2019, 11:19:50 AM
If confusion is the question, I obviously must cop as well.

I'll admit that, as many times as I've played these games, the InSight test -- that's what Ed now calls the "12-inch-sighting" thing -- always screws me up and it did here.

Still I hope everyone can come back on Saturday (same time) to finish up what Jason has aptly described as the "Colonial Adventures" "milk run".

I've vowed to do some "Sword and the Flame" using the Skirmish Campaigns Zulu Wars book, but there's a part of me that would like to have another go either at this scenario or something from the Mahdist insurrection in the Sudan.  I'm nudging Kendo to create a Gordon figure and he says he wants to!  Doing the Mahdists would let the natives have guns and cavalry, at a minimum.

Also appreciate feedback/thoughts for what people would like to see in the "fights".



Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: mirth on January 21, 2019, 11:23:33 AM
Also appreciate feedback/thoughts for what people would like to see in the "fights".

actual fighting would be cool :P
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 21, 2019, 12:20:24 PM
Don't worry Tuna, I was confused also at times.  I'm not sure I was following all of the dice rolls.

Well you faked me out, I thought you were as knowledgeable as the others!   ;)
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 21, 2019, 01:55:35 PM
Also appreciate feedback/thoughts for what people would like to see in the "fights".

For the record, Doug shot one whole dude.  Leader as it turned out.

actual fighting would be cool :P
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 21, 2019, 02:24:23 PM
decapitation strike
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: panzerde on January 21, 2019, 05:28:38 PM
22nd January 1879 - Battle of Isandlwana. Or, what happens when you fail to scout...

I think one of the challenges in terms of seeing "actual fighting" is that we'll have to pick games that are pretty much set piece battles, and then just do the standard wargamer thing of crashing groups of toy soldiers together if we're going to stream. If you want to do learning games, or games that involve more maneuver, you're going to have to record and edit them. Those things are interesting for the participants, not so interesting for people watching.
 
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on January 21, 2019, 07:08:26 PM
Doug also made three guys run away, when he threatened to charge the whole Zulu regiment with three British rifle-cavs -- and then settled for the decap strike. Just to show what would happen if he really got serious.

"Oh strong was the Red Man, and fierce was the Black! The enemy trembled and tried to turn back! -- but it was of the White man they shouted, 'Beware! He throws men in handfuls straight up in the air!'"

(Bonus points for anyone who knows what genuine classic book series that comes.)

Spoiler: ShowHide
(Hint: the white man in this case is a pudgy and genial British scholar who wears a top-hat.)


Spoiler: ShowHide
(And is friends with Mothra. Kind of not kidding!)
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 21, 2019, 08:14:22 PM

I think one of the challenges in terms of seeing "actual fighting" is that we'll have to pick games that are pretty much set piece battles, and then just do the standard wargamer thing of crashing groups of toy soldiers together if we're going to stream. If you want to do learning games, or games that involve more maneuver, you're going to have to record and edit them. Those things are interesting for the participants, not so interesting for people watching.

I dunno.  Three hours is three hours and, watching the Little Wars TV guys — my models as you know — all of their games have been of the sort you describe and most seem to take at least 3-4 hours.  No, there’s no easy replacement for someone with the time and talent to edit the video down if you’re hoping to catch a casual look-in.  It’s a hard dollar; my wife’ll tell you so.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 21, 2019, 08:27:16 PM
I have huddled with “she who knows such thing and is to be obeyed” and have formulated a plan for the next one.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: panzerde on January 21, 2019, 10:10:43 PM

I dunno.  Three hours is three hours and, watching the Little Wars TV guys — my models as you know — all of their games have been of the sort you describe and most seem to take at least 3-4 hours.  No, there’s no easy replacement for someone with the time and talent to edit the video down if you’re hoping to catch a casual look-in.  It’s a hard dollar; my wife’ll tell you so.

Their games may be 3-4 hours, but it looks like their longest video is about 40 minutes.

I'm happy to spend three hours maneuvering to get to the point of getting a single shot off to pick off a single Zulu leader, and feel quite satisfied because I pulled off a successful cavalry scouting operation during that time.  Judging by the comments during the stream, though, people want to see piles of toy soldiers crashing into each other.  I'm not suggesting spending time and effort recording and editing, I'm suggesting people seem to want to watch games that result in immediate action and lots of casualties.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 22, 2019, 06:48:33 AM
They want to see one of those Scourge of War games we had on with Asid's group?
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 22, 2019, 08:03:31 AM
I think there's real value in the learning of the game that's going on.  I think a few of us were a little punchy when commenting on the video.

I've got a few notes / ideas to share with Cyrano when we get a chance to chat.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 22, 2019, 08:25:39 AM
I appreciate that training, you guys might make a board gamer out of me yet!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on January 22, 2019, 08:47:07 AM
They want to see one of those Scourge of War games we had on with Asid's group?

Figuring out a way to simulcast a multiplayer SoW match would be pretty great!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on January 22, 2019, 08:49:10 AM
Meanwhile, it's entirely possible to produce and keep a full live-stream of the event, and ALSO produce an edited down version later that includes amusing comments from the sidebar. Then viewers have a choice which one to watch.  O:-)
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 22, 2019, 09:11:15 AM
They want to see one of those Scourge of War games we had on with Asid's group?

Figuring out a way to simulcast a multiplayer SoW match would be pretty great!

We should do one, those were fun! Though I think Generals should be able to 'scout'!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 22, 2019, 01:53:55 PM
Animadversions:

*My goal, from the beginning, was to compensate for the envy I have had at those who have their own local wargaming club.  The broadcast bit was a late addition, although in part inspired by the guys at Little Wars TV who do very good work.

*Live streams are going to be long, there's no avoiding that.  Doug's point re: picking more slobber-knockery games and scenarios is well taken.  I very much liked the "Colonial Adventures" game and would love to play more.  I may be, in part, at fault for its length, though, as, because I scaled  the troops to 54mm, I doubled the size of the board.  That may have been a poor call on my part, but I wanted to make sure everything fit.

*I am, as i said, going to have a go at a possible video AAR.  I will start simple and work from there.  Of course it's best when, again as Little Wars TV, you can have everybody talking before, during, and after, but we'll make well with do at first.

*I would LOVE an SoW game, but doing it HiTS would not make good television at all.  On the other hand, having one player responsible for zooming around the battlefield and reporting on happenings as they go -- that might work.  Note that that person need not be on the feed and therefore audible to the players.

*Frankly, I'd really love to do a bunch of JTS games -- the first "SNF" with Doug playing North Africa was an hoot -- but I've not wanted to make people buy lots of different games.  This, of course, is the advantage of TTS.  One game really does fit many.

My current plan, scheduled to change:

1.  Finish CA
2.  A stand-up scenario using the new Osprey rules "The Men Who Would Be King".  It imagines itself a streamlined "Sword and the Flame" and I think it might solve the lag problem. I am also open to playing another CA adventure -- there are more direct scenarios -- perhaps in the Sudan?
3.  Battle of the Nile (?) using "Fighting Sail".  It's an excellent system for our purposes.
4.  God as my witness, I will have by the third week the Aspern-Essling "Blucher" setup done.

I have a LOT of game ideas -- mostly vengeance for not having miniatures games I could play locally for years -- but heaven knows I'd love to have, say, a multi-player JTS "Waterloo" or the like.

*Seriously, though, thanks to everyone who's joined the club so far.  It's been great to have you by.



Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Barthheart on January 22, 2019, 02:55:12 PM
…The broadcast bit was a late addition, ...

And this leads to my reason for giving up on AARs. I want to play fun games, then think I should share my fun with others only for the fun to turn to work and then neither playing or AARing get done...  :(
Lots of on lookers asking for this and that but not actually stepping in to help , let alone play with us.

I love that fact that you have started a game "club" where we can play with our toys that normally sit on shelves and look pretty. When it starts to be work as well...
Not that I've been tasked with doing anything other than coming to play but I don't want you to burn out on this grand idea and we lose our driving force.

But that's just me....  :biggrin:
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 22, 2019, 03:08:04 PM
I would be thrilled to step in and play, but I'm watching from the concessions desk at an indoor soccer facility where I'm moonlighting on Saturday nights and not able to dedicate the time to playing.  I can watch b/c that doesn't require constant attention.  But I can't play, because that does.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 22, 2019, 03:20:17 PM
…The broadcast bit was a late addition, ...

And this leads to my reason for giving up on AARs. I want to play fun games, then think I should share my fun with others only for the fun to turn to work and then neither playing or AARing get done...  :(
Lots of on lookers asking for this and that but not actually stepping in to help , let alone play with us.

I love that fact that you have started a game "club" where we can play with our toys that normally sit on shelves and look pretty. When it starts to be work as well...
Not that I've been tasked with doing anything other than coming to play but I don't want you to burn out on this grand idea and we lose our driving force.

But that's just me....  :biggrin:

I agree with Barth.. These streams shouldn't turn into 'work' for you.  We appreciate the work you do just to 'host' the game. If people don't want to 'watch', then maybe they should join the game instead?
Maybe have a blurb in the beginning to join the web site in order to get into future matches if they want. Or can you have a 'link' on screen that would do that.

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Barthheart on January 22, 2019, 03:30:55 PM
I would be thrilled to step in and play, but I'm watching from the concessions desk at an indoor soccer facility where I'm moonlighting on Saturday nights and not able to dedicate the time to playing.  I can watch b/c that doesn't require constant attention.  But I can't play, because that does.

Brant, my comment was not leveled at you..... buuuuuut maybe you could help by making a shorted edited version and thus off loading that from Jim... can't be much different than editing a pod cast can it? (He says knowing nothing about editing anything...  :whistle: )
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on January 22, 2019, 03:44:17 PM
I would be thrilled to step in and play, but I'm watching from the concessions desk at an indoor soccer facility where I'm moonlighting on Saturday nights and not able to dedicate the time to playing.  I can watch b/c that doesn't require constant attention.  But I can't play, because that does.

Brant, my comment was not leveled at you..... buuuuuut maybe you could help by making a shorted edited version and thus off loading that from Jim... can't be much different than editing a pod cast can it? (He says knowing nothing about editing anything...  :whistle: )

The hard part there I think (due to my rookie experience with my few IL2 flicks) is that the file from a 3 and 1/2 hour Stream would be Humongous!!!..
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on January 22, 2019, 04:21:15 PM
I could do some of the editing work -- it wouldn't be much different than what I already do when working on video AARs / LPs. Less post-production with titles and stuff.  :nerd:
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: panzerde on January 22, 2019, 04:53:51 PM
…The broadcast bit was a late addition, ...

And this leads to my reason for giving up on AARs. I want to play fun games, then think I should share my fun with others only for the fun to turn to work and then neither playing or AARing get done...  :(
Lots of on lookers asking for this and that but not actually stepping in to help , let alone play with us.

I love that fact that you have started a game "club" where we can play with our toys that normally sit on shelves and look pretty. When it starts to be work as well...
Not that I've been tasked with doing anything other than coming to play but I don't want you to burn out on this grand idea and we lose our driving force.

But that's just me....  :biggrin:

Agreed, and +1. My personal preference is for deeper games. If we're teaching the game, that means it'll be even slower. The streaming thing seemed like a means to maybe get past the AAR writing drudgery, but it now seems like there's danger of it turning into just that.

Jim is building all of the TTS stuff himself - granted, he's enjoying doing it, but it seems a bit much to ask more than that. I think his idea of multiplayer JTS games would be good; I would like to do some Vassal games. These have the advantage of being less work to set up, but there's no guarantee they're any faster. Jim and I just spent 60 out of 90 turns of the Battle of Friedland maneuvering before finally coming to grips.

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 22, 2019, 09:30:07 PM
Jim and I had a chat today with a couple of ideas for the streams and we will see how that impacts things going forward before we start making too many other changes
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 24, 2019, 11:00:08 PM
Checking:  All players good for Saturday, 1900 CST?

The legs of my Zulus are cramped from hiding behind that hill for so bloody long.

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bob48 on January 25, 2019, 06:03:13 AM
Zulu leg-cramp was a serious problem in those days.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Staggerwing on January 25, 2019, 06:43:42 AM
Zulu leg-cramp was a serious problem in those days.

Sounds like one of the results of drinking non-potable water...
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bob48 on January 25, 2019, 07:29:27 AM
Not as bad as the dreaded 'Rangoon Crouch' caused by eating too many curried eggs!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on January 25, 2019, 09:46:09 AM
Making plans to be there!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: panzerde on January 25, 2019, 11:17:19 AM
Not as bad as the dreaded 'Rangoon Crouch' caused by eating too many curried eggs!

Is that what causes that? Here I thought it was from too many hours in the saddle. ::looks suspiciously at satchel full of curried eggs::
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 25, 2019, 12:49:20 PM
I'll need a call on how many curried eggs is too many?
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Capn Darwin on January 25, 2019, 12:54:57 PM
When they trip you down an escalator .
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Barthheart on January 25, 2019, 01:14:26 PM
I'll need a call on how many curried eggs is too many?

Rangoon Crouch will let you know when you've hit the correct number....  :sick:

I might be able to fill on Sat if required.... or just sit in the peanut gallery and throw popcorn....  :groovy:
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 25, 2019, 01:47:06 PM
I'll need a call on how many curried eggs is too many?


I'm going to start with "1" and count backwards from there
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: ojsdad on January 26, 2019, 11:40:16 AM
I should be available
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: panzerde on January 26, 2019, 05:04:26 PM
I don't think I can make it tonight, so Vance or someone can take my spot.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 26, 2019, 07:43:28 PM
I weep for Capt. Templar's men.

Entrusted to a Canadian.

Nothing reputable in any of that!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 26, 2019, 08:14:26 PM
We're live!

https://www.armchairdragoons.com/events/wn/saturday-night-fights-3/
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on January 26, 2019, 11:49:52 PM
I can't say I know as they make great viewing, but I've really enjoyed the CA games.

British are having the better time of it, pace the carbineers getting swarmed by Zulu.

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: ojsdad on January 27, 2019, 10:43:43 AM
I thought I was watching the charge of the Lihjt Brigade.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Capn Darwin on January 27, 2019, 11:27:49 AM
Let's be honest ,more like the charge of the Light-headed Brigade... :bigthumb:
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 27, 2019, 11:38:40 AM
I can't say I know as they make great viewing, but I've really enjoyed the CA games.

British are having the better time of it, pace the carbineers getting swarmed by Zulu.


The quip I was positing in the chat last night was


when the Natal Carabiniers come back as replacements, are they the Neonatal Carabiniers

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on February 01, 2019, 08:20:40 AM
I'm not sure if I will be around this Saturday, my son is coming home, and I think he ordered some 'starter' packs of Magic the Gathering, he wants to force feed/teach me this game. We'll see, I'll let you know tomorrow. Maybe he means to 'teach me' in the afternoon and go out with his friends tomorrow night.  ;)
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on February 01, 2019, 11:03:34 AM
Ever the problem with things like this.

Right as the band was about to have at him, the Capt. rides to the rear muttering to himself about having to see to some affair or other.

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Barthheart on February 01, 2019, 11:13:57 AM
Should be able to make it this week for whatever you've got going.


My wife had other... better... plans last week...  ;)
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on February 01, 2019, 12:13:37 PM
Nieces are visiting for a protracted period tomorrow, BUT odds seem very good that I'll be available by 7pm. (As long as I refuse to go eat with the family: last week I was like, ah, we couldn't possibly be back later than 6:30...  :hehe: )

I'm not sure if I will be around this Saturday, my son is coming home, and I think he ordered some 'starter' packs of Magic the Gathering, he wants to force feed/teach me this game. We'll see, I'll let you know tomorrow. Maybe he means to 'teach me' in the afternoon and go out with his friends tomorrow night.  ;)

If you want to get a head start on that, Tuna, the "Magic Duels" game on Steam is one hundred percent free and has (mostly) good tutorials. (Sometimes, maybe as much as 1/5th, the tutorials break while loading in, preventing you from having enough cards or whatever to finish the demonstration; but reloading the tutorial has always worked for me when that happens.) It even 'pays' you to learn the tutorials, and you can end up with a very substantial budget to go buy 'boosters' with afterward -- on the game's system of course, not irl.

This could give you a head start in understanding what your son is talking about. But MtG and similar games are great tactical and strategic concentration battle generators.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on February 01, 2019, 08:45:12 PM
Argh! -- got in tonight, and my faithful computer THE PRESENCE (because it's a 70 lb black monolith), which has been showing signs of minor instability for the past few weeks, now won't completely load up at all. Nor does it want to restart or even shut down. Hard cold reboot (physical switchoff plus unplugging) leads to the Bios screen saying that overclocking has failed, and the system needs reconfiguring.

I'm on wait-call for Falcon Northwest tech support. I doubt I actually need overclocking, especially with the 1080ti card I put in several months ago (to replace the aging 600 series SLI from the original purchase), but experience suggests this is something in the motherboard finally failing.

My system has been a hard puncher since mid December 2012, a little more than six years, and was still totally competent at running anything I wanted no matter how moxie (once the gfx card was updated -- which I'm sure I can port over easily if I need a new computer). I'll miss it, if it can't be salvaged.

The practical point to this announcement, is that I may be unable to join the conclusion of the epic trilogy tomorrow night.  :waah: My portable backup, a Surface Pro 3 (almost as old ;) ), might or might not be able to run TTS sufficiently along with a mic arrangement through Steam. (It's fine for doing this, or for light gaming including many older wargames, but...)
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on February 01, 2019, 11:48:24 PM
Fie upon it.

We're almost there!

Ah, well, life and all that.

Velker, Barth, and I will soldier on as necessary, but OJ, are you in?

Doug?  Velker is VERY sorry for that horse thing.

I know Tuna is a "maybe".

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: ojsdad on February 02, 2019, 09:12:02 AM
I'm not sure I'm going to make it or not tonight.  I'll have to let you know for sure later today.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: panzerde on February 02, 2019, 12:43:26 PM
Sorry, I'm out on this one.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Nefaro on February 02, 2019, 04:01:11 PM
Some day I'll get around to joining you ne'er-do-wells.

Weekends have been busy lately.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 02, 2019, 04:30:49 PM
What's up Nef?!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bbmike on February 02, 2019, 05:01:56 PM
Some day I'll get around to joining you ne'er-do-wells.

Weekends have been busy lately.

Welcome!  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: mirth on February 02, 2019, 05:15:25 PM
Hey Nef!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: tuna on February 02, 2019, 06:22:01 PM
Welcome Nef!
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: ojsdad on February 02, 2019, 07:13:05 PM
Still in town, and wife wants to go to Kohls. So I'm out.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on February 03, 2019, 12:17:37 AM
Nef!  Love to have you by!

This was one fun game.  Especially once everyone -- myself included -- had more-or-less sussed out the charts and kept the rolls moving, things really did haul.

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/374400386?t=18m09s

Thanks for those that showed.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: bob48 on February 03, 2019, 06:49:35 AM
Welcome, Nef! :bigthumb:
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on February 04, 2019, 08:43:52 AM
We had a good spread of new people (new for this game or this scenario playthrough anyway) joining in: Barthheart and W8aminute, and one of Cyrano's friends whose nickname I can't clearly recall (not 'dopplenator', but that would have sounded awesome). W8 ran my company until he had to quit for the night.

Fortunately, my computer problems turned out to be one hundred percent the fault of Avast's Cleanup Premium, which Falcon tech support helped me deduce and then clean out (when Cleanup just happened not to want to be uninstalled completely  ::) ).

So I was able to join up only ten or fifteen minutes late, and hung around spectating and commenting (and sometimes asking game-process questions). Then when W8 had to go, I picked back up on my company again, and led them to glorious victory! -- thanks in no small part to the last few remnants of Panzerde's carabiner company, who under the command of Cyrano's son performed an amazing screening maneuver to secure my second platoon's flanks! You'll be proud of them, Doug, whenever you watch the fight!  :bigthumb:

(My tactic was inspired by Tuna's company under his leadership, not-incidentally!  :rockon: )
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Barthheart on February 04, 2019, 11:04:37 AM
It was a fun game to play and very interesting too. Never get in a melee with a Zulu mob! Nice to see the combat rules point that out.

Unless of course yer stand on Funn's Hill.  8)
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Nefaro on February 04, 2019, 05:53:59 PM
Thanks for the welcome.  :go-on:

I'll check for open slots on Saturday games in the future.  I've actually been getting some face-to-face tabletop games going, here, lately and maybe more so in the future.  Weekends are spotty, but I'll surely find a free Sat to get digitally skewered on a spear with you fine gentlemen.
Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: Cyrano on February 04, 2019, 10:50:45 PM
From those who played the last one, I give you a choice -- love to hear your thoughts:

1.  Everybody who's played has a pretty good handle on how CA works.  That, of course, makes things flow much more quickly.  I could readily set up a game with the same motley force and have them, instead of "Patrol", "Raid" into Zululand.

OR

2.  Begin the run-up for what I'm calling "Burnaby's Revenge", British war in the Sudan using the relatively new "The Men Who Would Be Kings".  Unlike CA, this is typically a two-sided affair.

What would the house prefer?  I'll be finishing up details Thursday and Friday, but would like to do a bit of early publicity too.

Title: Re: "Saturday Night Fights" -- A Sprint Over the Blood River -- 1879
Post by: JasonPratt on February 05, 2019, 08:45:12 AM
I'm good either way, although I'd prefer seeing the new system.