CanCon with the Too Fat Lardies

 Last weekend was CanCon, one of Australia's larger hobby conventions. Despite living in the capital for years now, I usually only attend to do some shopping and a bit of gawking. This year, I was invited as a spare to the Too Fat Lardies Chain of Command campaign weekend. There was a real chance a few players' schedules might be shaky, the Australia CoC scene is always recruiting, and I'm local: a great combination.

The campaign day was run by a chap named Steve, who is probably now in my top-five Friendly Wargaming Lads. We'd never met, but you'd never know it for how welcoming and chill he was, happy to explain rules, point out fun details, and just generally be a chill bloke. He also ran a fun weekend, with an interesting scenario - on some very fine terrain by John Bond.

The scenario is as follows: Some time following the Normandy invasion, the British are pushing into this French town. Day One (Saturday AM) involves crossing the fields and entering the town proper. Day Two (Saturday PM) is attempting to make the bridge. Day Three (Sunday AM), the Germans have to hold the bridge itself or blow it. Day Four (Sunday PM) was flexible, depending on the previous days, but there was a chance for German armour to arrive and retake the British side.

In the end, the games fought to a standstill over the bridge - the Brits were held in place and didn't cross, but the bridge stayed open. I only fought a few rounds, rolling some dice during Sunday AM, but it was great fun and really sealed the deal on me digging out those Early War Poles...

Saturday: The British cross the fields into the shelled French town. A lot of open, boggy terrain to cover.

Sunday: The Germans, having withdrawn in good order despite a number of casualties, now fight to hold the riverbank. If the British look to take the bridge, they will blow it. My orders are to shield the engineers with our bodies if we have to, but we are able to enfilade the British infantry in a crossfire, after the platoon on the left flank takes out the British armoured support.

look at the detail

Sunday PM: The Germans, having driven the British back and nearly annihilating their western platoon with a well-timed mortar barrage, have the forward elements of a motorized convoy arrive. As the front tip of a spear, they try to counter-attack, but the British are dug in and hold their ground.

A bit of fun with some tanks.

Sudan: Another Lardies table had The Tactical Painter running his Sudan variant for Sharp Practice. This is especially dangerous for me, as I've wanted to play in the Sudan for years, but never wanted to get the figures required for Black Powder. Plus, his beautiful terrain is inspiring for my sci-fi desert project...

so simple! i could totally do this!

he made his own acacia trees because he is better than me

i really need to actually cut up that mat i bought for this reason

Small Scale desert action: I think this is What A Tanker! but I mostly took the photos because 'ooh cool desert terrain'. I do love the plumes of dust kicked up by the vehicles though, a really nice touch for this kind of ruleset. I don't know who built the table, so no credits this time.

hexagons. can't beat a good hexagon.

A great weekend. Thanks again to Steve for having me and Al for asking Steve to have me.