The Treasure of Sierra Madre II: (02/23/07) Wild West Campaign
Cresting the wave of enthusiasm for the continuation of the W.W. Campaign the membership finally succeeded in compelling the umpire, and your humble correspondent, to organize another game. Of course it had been so long since the last excursion on the table, that no one seemed to remember where everything was located on the map. So, in a flash of save the day brilliance, the umpire decided to resume play on the mini-campaign based upon the well known Humphrey Bogart movie.

At right, one of the now mandatory dirigible shots of the battlefield providing examples of characteristics now required by a TBC table top game; libation container (bottom right) obstructing view of the playing surface, special events cards (making the rules even more complex), and frenzied combat taking place crowded into one corner of the table, within 18 inches of the edge.

Here the 5 prospectors are ambushed by 10 Bandito gunman emerging from the rocks at top and the scrubby hillside, just north of the rule cards and libation container.

Above, Hugh Walterson (and not Walter Huston) brandishes his fists at a hapless Bandito. By maneuvering behind the rough terrain marker, that's the cactus in front of him, he has severely inconvenienced his opponents marksmanship.

Above right, Johnny Wang, one of the disproportionately large number of Chinese characters in the campaign, follows Walterson's lead and conceals himself behind rough terrain. This time represented by an oak tree from a set of railroad decorations.

At right, events proceed rapidly down hill for the bandits, who throw a surprising number of 1's on their hit dice. Consequently, many of their six guns are ruled 'plum busted' by the umpire. Meanwhile, the prospectors throw an alarming number of 6's while shooting. Many of the banditos succumb to wounds, while the rest maneuver off the table, i.e. flee for their lives.

At right, the second game of the night. The prospectors starting at bottom right, from just beneath the scattered shooting dice, must move to where they believe the gold mine is located, at the top left section of the table. Concealed within the rough terrain in between is a random number of Apache Indians. The Apache chief rolls very well for the number of Indians, 10, so that the adventurers are once again outnumbered by 2 to 1. He then rolls up a very eclectic mix of weapons for his warriors, consisting of a few knives, a few rifles, and more than half the hostiles are equipped with muzzle loading muskets.

Unlike the banditos, who attempted to surprise the prospectors by popping up at close range, the Apaches reveal themselves while their victims are still far away, then begin AIMING at their intended targets. Mr. Walterson quickly sees the handwriting on the wall, reverses course, and exits the table at bottom right. Everyone else presses on to the rough terrain, this time again a cactus, at the top of the hill at left. From this point they attempt to out shoot the poorly armed Indians. All of the Apaches modern rifles break while shooting. However, they do remarkably well with their muskets, and succeed in drilling two of the prospectors 'through the forehead.' And yes, it was an actual result from one of the chits drawn as part of the incredibly complex wound determination rules.

The surviving prospectors elected to gather up their mules and edge back off the table. In the 1st game the Non-Player-Characters couldn't seem to do a thing right. In the 2nd game they could seem to do no wrong..

40K with André: (02/16/07) Warhammer 40K
A bit out of the usual for an historical gaming club, but many members did have '40K Space Opera Fantasy' figures which they'd purchased back in the 1980's. Besides, one of the members swore that he could produce mixed drinks within a theme that supported Science Fiction Gaming. Let it not be said that the membership would ever vote against expanding services provided by the club bar.

At right, 'Blood Angel Space Marines' (I think?) deploy to protect a 'Frosty Franco' cocktail. Now follow closely on this, because the explanation for the theme drinks becomes a bit convoluted, even for your humble correspondent, who is not exactly unacquainted with distilled beverages. OK, here goes. Back when some of the members were actually gaming 40K they didn't much like the sort of scenarios provided with the standard rule books. It was all too gothic and creepy, so they decided to design a gaming universe based upon something a little more up beat. Naturally, they chose The Spanish Civil War, because it seemed more light hearted and optimistic (!!!!) Therefore the guest bartender provided; the "Red Captain Cocktail" (RED, get it), the "Nationalist Cocktail" (which was sort of a teal green in color), and the "Frosty Franco Cocktail." Determined interrogation of the bartender revealed that the Frosty Franco was probably not named after the former generalissimo and Presidente d'Espagne, but more believably a gentleman on the West Coast who specialized in the manufacture of some sort of long board for surfing enthusiasts.

At right, the leading edge of the Ork front line surges forward. Just out of frame, beyond the top of the photo, the Ork player shovels huge quantities of his figures onto the table, with a device some members claim was more suited to the removal of snow from a driveway. In the center of the photo is a 1/35th scale German Mark II tank, in Spanish Civil War markings, note the yellow and red flag painted on the side of the turret. In this game the tank is not a 'vehicle,' but rather a decorative piece of terrain.

Below, Spanish sailors (please take note of the hats and Spanish flag badges on their left breast pockets) cower in the face of a 'Melta-Gun, Laser, Death Ray' weapon. Or perhaps your correspondent merely set the camera flash too close to their defensive position?

At right, the traditional Bengal Club Dirigible shot. Although under these Sci-fi circumstances it might better be described as a 'Hover Craft Shot.' Or maybe a 'Satellite in Geosyncronus Orbit Shot.'

Col. Winky's Colonial Campaign: (02/09/07) TSATF
With great trepidation, the membership embarks upon the next battle in their Victorian colonial campaign. Naturally, events have conspired to present the imperialists with a major battle smack dab in the middle of the West African jungles, against the King of the Ashantis. This required deployment of every single 'tree like' model in the club's inventory. Civilian visitors, and by that one means girls, commented on the over powering scent of polystyrene plastic that came wafting out of the club house after the jungle had been set up.

At right, Major Weenie's unit of Ashanti musket men deployed for combat. Well, they're there. You just can't see them as they are concealed by; Birthday cake palm trees (background), aquarium grass (at center, around the Ashanti headquarters hut), and American Civil War trees (in the foreground). One suspects that this is not the time to complement the paint job on the native figures, as they are completely invisible. Indeed, this unit remained invisible for the rest of the game.

At right, the Grenadier Guards press ahead through the thick, plastic foliage. Well, it might have been the GG. Your correspondent was at the other end of the table, close to the bar, fulfilling the role of Ashanti sub-commander. So it was a bit difficult to determine exactly what was going on, and to whom, at the west end of the table. Still, everyone is certain that these figures represent an elite unit of the British army, as Her Majesty appears to have sent the entire Guards division, and quite a few Royal Marines, out to teach the recalcitrant Ashantis a lesson. Again, the native figures are just out of view, in the shrubs on the right of the photo.

At lower right, finally some Ashanti figures appear in a photograph. Unfortunately those who are in focus are mostly dead, having been killed by spirited musketry from the Coldstream Guards. As has already been mentioned, there was plenty of elite British infantry sloshing about in the fetid swamps of Ashantiland for this game. In the foreground can be seen the, blurry, second wave of Ashantis rushing towards the stalwart CG, who will soon defeat them with a heavy volume of 303 ammunition. Except that it didn't quite work out that way. The guardsmen shot poorly, failed their morale test, and then ran away from the charging natives. However, the tribesmen didn't quite reach the, newly christened, Cold Cream Guards, as they maneuvered - not fled, but maneuvered - to a new, more secure position that was closer to the British table edge.

Below. At last! A decent photo of Ashanti warriors. Here two bands of the gallant natives pounce on a unit of Royal Marines, and part of the Naval Brigade. (both in foreground) In the background, the troops in khaki are the Coldstream Guards who have just maneuvered into their new position closer to the table edge. In the middle distance, between the Royal Marines the the CG, the Grenadier Guards have just pushed down the jungle path and out of frame to the right. Where they have quite literally stumbled into a pit trap in the middle of the road. Thus the GG suffer their only casualties of the game, by having some of their men fall into a big game trap. And notice that the sailors of the Naval Brigade have their backs up against the very edge of the table. So once again, in the great Bengal Club tradition, most of the battle action takes place within 18 inches of the British table edge.

Finally, at right another of the Ashanti units, deployed in a village, just beyond the farthest penetration by Imperial forces. Again, the thickness of the jungle precludes the viewer from enjoying the niceties of these magnificent figures.