The League of Extraordinary Kriegspielers presents..The Manchurian Candidate

[Ignatieff]

OK, I have a few crapolla ones taken on my box brownie.  I will prod the good doctor to get some more out pronto...

But before that, the first White brief...

The Manchurian Candidate                  Smirnoff Brief

Your brief

You are General Count Pierre Smirnoff, the last of your line, and revered Hetman of the Don Cossacks.  You are the most decorated soldier of your age and the last of the line. You command the last White Cavalry in the field, and all the finest loyal cavalrymen left have flocked to your standard.  However you are as poor as a serf and very short of weapons and ammunition.
Things were getting pretty desperate therefore when you out of the blue received a coded message, using the highest and most secret of Imperial codes, known only to the most senior Imperial Russian Commanders (a select club which you were – of course - a member of).
The message, from the high command of Osobii Manchzurskii Otryad (OMO), The Special Manchurian Detachment, calls upon you and your Division to rally at the tomb of Temujin, a much speculated about but hitherto unknown spot just south of Lake Baikal.  The rumours are that the Great Khan lies beneath this simple mound of stones and that far within his tomb lie the vast treasurers of his wars of conquest.  No doubt these are long looted, but you wouldn’t mind a poke about with a Cossack lance, just to be sure.
You are heartened to see that the other two main White forces still under arms, that of Baron Ungern Von Sternberg and Admiral Doleczech, have also been summoned to the colours at this symbolic spot.  Ammunition and gold have been promised, and your orders, from that old rascal Semenov himself, are to march to the sound of the guns.  A Red advance guard is rumoured to be deployed just to the west of your position.  As the senior White Commander on the spot, you are to take command.

Your objectives:
1.   Death or Glory – defeat the Reds!  The greater the glory, the greater the win!
2.   Loot the tomb of Temujin
3.   Re-supply your troops from the indicated ammo dump.

Forces
Smirnoff: morale +2, grand tactical: ??
8  ‘White Wolves’ Cossacks.  T2 M2, with bombs.  2 LMG’s
12  White Officer Cavalry. T2 M2, with bombs.  2 LMG’s
2 x 9 White Cossacks. T3 M3, with bombs. 1 LMG each.
15 x Irregular Kazakh Cavalry. M4. Single shot rifles.
1 Putilov Garford Armoured Car. T3 M3.  2 LMG’s and 1 Tank gun.  Can fire any 2 from 3 any one move.
2 x horse drawn HMG’s.  Move at 2D6 per move. T3 M3
n.b. Ammo low rules apply to this Division until/unless re-supplied.  One of the towns on the board (umpire will indicate on the day) is rumoured to have an old White ammo dump.
1 destroyer/ice-breaker: The ‘Czarina’, anchored in Lake Baikal bay.  Armed with 2 field guns (fire as tank guns), this could prove to be decisive in the coming fight.  Unfortunately both firing pins are missing from the guns.  You have however arranged for Von Stauffenberg to deliver these to the camp.  He is currently transporting some former German and Austrian POW’s to Vladivostock, and will appear at some point in the game.  It would be useful to the cause to get him to fight.

Special Rules
1.   Divisional Activation Roll: At the start of the game, Smirnoff must throw for his Grand Tactical Rating (n.b. this is in addition to his personal +2 rating).  This can range between 0 or +3.  Throw 2 x D6: 2-3 = 0; 4-7 = +1; 8-10= +2; 11-12= +3.  He then adds this to his Divisional Activation Roll, which is made the first time one of his unit cards is drawn from the pack each move. If Smirnoff’s personal card is first out, he adds an additional +1 to his dice throw. His division is activated on a 3-6 on 1D6, plus whatever modifiers he has, e.g. Smirnoff has a Grand Tactical Rating of +1 and his card is first out that move (another +1).  His division therefore ‘activates’ automatically that move.  An ‘activated’ Division moves and fires as normal.  If however his division fails to activate they may not move, but can fire.  Mounted troops can also counter-charge if attacked.  If Smirnoff is attached to a unit he and it can move as normal, regardless of the throw for the rest of the division.
2.   Divisional and Army Morale: The Don Cossack Division must check morale when casualties for that Division (measured in on-board units lost) reach 50%. A throw of 4-6 on 1D6 ensures they fight on.  On reaching 60%, a throw of 5-6 is required to stay on the field.  On reaching 70% a throw of 6 is required, as it is for every 10% lost after that. +1 is added to any throw if the majority of the Division is in cover.
3.   Vodka: The White Vodka rule applies! All units (you can’t discriminate!) can be dished out extra vodka rations at the start of the game.  This means that everyone’s morale rises by 1 for the first five turns (which means that M2’s cannot fail), but is reduced by one for the remainder of the game.




The 'Czarina' in Lake Baikal Bay, crewed by the usual detrius of Central Asia.  Unbeknownst to the Reds however the guns have no firing pins nor the ship any starting handle.......

[Ignatieff]

Here's a few battlefield shots before deployment.  The shaky picture below is because its very difficult to hold the box brownie steady in the front seat of a Junkers ground attack aircraft......


This gives a decent view of the battlefield looking south.  A 16' x 6' table, with the Trans Siberian running through the centre.  White camp can be picked out on the left, the Reds would appear on the right (from the west) and on the short edge of the table, far to the south..


A view of where the main Red surprise assault would come in - the rail junction.  Captruing this would allow the Bolos to throw for their armoured train to come on


A view from the southern end of the battlefield.  The foothills that dominate this terrain are clearly visible.

[Ignatieff]

The Tomb of Temujin, showing the long cold shadows of a winters day in Siberia. The simple mound of stones is said to contain the remains of the Great Khan, along with the looted treasures of three continents. And for nearly a thousand years, a fresh horses head would appear miraculously every day.  Expertly thrown together on the day by Rodge 'Smirnoff' Williams.  Simple low hill, a bit of Woodland Scenic tallus, Warlord Games tufts, a cocktail stick and the George Washington's horses head from the sweet Euraka set made it work.  Running red blood is done with inks....I am extremely grateful to 'coggon' (Allan) for suggesting the tomb sub plot as I struggled to make sense of the plot in the lead upto the game...it all worked a treat mate!

[Lt. Hazel]

Great set up! Just noticed that you are doing the same thing! Have fun fellas!!

[Remington]

Amazing table! Absolutely stunning! My BoB nerve is twitching!!!

[Ignatieff]

Our fun was last weekend....now just a fading memory, until the rest of the photos arrive!

[Ignatieff]

Amazing table! Absolutely stunning! My BoB nerve is twitching!!!

for God sake man, dont stroke it any more!!!!

[redzed]

Tchankas[/quote
store bought or scratch built

[Ignatieff]

Tchankas[/quote
store bought or scratch built

Eureka models, with (I think) Foundry horses as the Euraka ones, whilst beautifully animated, were too fragile and broke at the ankles.  All painted by the blessed Steve Dean

[Ignatieff]

The two other main White briefs.....I'll hold off from now till I get my mittens on some more pictures....

chin chin chaps!

The Manchurian Candidate                      Der Baron Brief

Your brief
You are Major General Baron Ungern Von Sternberg, a White Russian officer of Baltic German descent.   You are also ruler of Mongolia, Conqueror of Kashgar (with two bars), Celestial Warlord of the Peking Pocket, Beth Din first Dan (self appointed) and Khan of the known world.  You truly believe yourself to be the descendent of Genghis Khan, and know that it is your destiny to recreate his world empire.  Though talk throughout the bazaars is that you are barking mad (you later had the bazaars torched) you know that this is all a cunning front.  Rather your savagery and cruelty are merely expressions of values from a different, happier, earlier age, which the fools of the so-called civilized world are unable to see that is where the world going.  You are in a word, a man ahead of his time. 
You command the ‘Asiatic Cavalry Division’, the front name for your united horde of Mongol, White Russian, German, Japanese and Buryat soldiers, all dedicated to your savage cause.
Your right hand man is the loyal Chuffer Campbell, a man of ready wit and unrefined toilet habits, with whom you would trust your life.
You have an insatiable hatred of the Bolsheviks, all non Buddhists, fornication and strong drink.  You feel that it is your duty to release them to another existence to save them from their collective miseries.
Over the past few years you have won world renown and fear for your enlightened success in Central Asia and beyond.  Yours is now an Empire recognised by and kow-towed to by the soft living degenerate western world, and don’t you like reminding them of it!
You are intrigued therefore to receive a message from your old Commander, Semenov (who you long thought dead) informing you of the discovery of the tomb of yourself, Temujin, at a spot just south of Lake Baikal.  This is a moment you have dreamed all your lives.  The very spot where you died and were interred! The message, from your old unit, the high command of Osobii Manchzurskii Otryad (OMO), The Special Manchurian Detachment, calls upon you and your troops to rally at your tomb. The rumours are that you lie beneath a simple mound of stones and that far within your tomb lie the vast treasurers of your wars of conquest.  OMO want you to join with two old comrades, Count Smirnoff and Admiral Doleczech, and stem once and for all the Red vomit that is even now reaching across the Central Asian plains.
This is indeed a moment of destiny.  You pledge to yourself to protect the tomb of yourself and build a new thousand year capital city on the spot! (the stench of putrefying flesh at Urga is even getting a bit much for you by now).
As the only head of state in the alliance you are obviously the senior White Commander on the spot and are therefore expected to take command.  Your forces are well supplied with ammunition.

Your objectives:
1.   Protect the tomb of Temujin
2.   Defeat the Reds

Forces
15 Tibetan Bodyguard Cavalry:  Irregular Cavalry, Morale 2, ferocious.
9 Chahar Mongol Cavalry: T2 M4
10 White Officers: T3 M2, ferocious with bombs. 1LMG
10 Chinese infantry: T4 M4 close order.
10 ex-German POW stormtroopers: T2 M2, ferocious, with bombs.  2 LMG’s
1 Buryat sniper T2 M3
2 x HMG’s T3 M3
2 x Japanese field guns T3 M3
1 x anti-aircraft gun T4 M4

Special Rules
1.   Divisional Activation Roll: At the start of the game, Der Baron must throw for his Grand Tactical Rating (n.b. this is in addition to his personal +2 rating).  This can range between 0 or +3.  Throw 2 x D6: 2-5 = 0; 6-8 = +1; 9-10= +2; 11-12= +3.  He then adds this to his Divisional Activation Roll, which is made the first time one of his unit cards is drawn from the pack each move. If Der Baron’s personal card is first out, he adds an additional +1 to his dice throw. His division is activated on a 3-6 on 1D6, plus whatever modifiers he has, e.g. Der Baron has a Grand Tactical Rating of +1 and his card is first out that move (another +1).  His division therefore ‘activates’ automatically that move.  An ‘activated’ Division moves and fires as normal.  If however his division fails to activate they may not move, but can fire.  Mounted troops can also counter-charge if attacked.  If Der Baron (or Chuffer Campbell) is attached to a unit he and it can move as normal, regardless of the throw for the rest of the division.
2.   Divisional and Army Morale: The Asiatic Cavalry Division must check morale when casualties for that Division (measured in on-board units lost) reach 50%. A throw of 4-6 on 1D6 ensures they fight on.  On reaching 60%, a throw of 5-6 is required to stay on the field.  On reaching 70% a throw of 6 is required, as it is for every 10% lost after that. +1 is added to any throw if the majority of the Division is in cover.
3.   Der Lucky Baron: Unlike most commanders of this period, Der Baron was quite happy to fight in person.  He was also extremely lucky, which accounts for the admiration with which the superstitious Mongols regarded him. He therefore moves and fights as a cavalryman armed with a rifle, but adds an additional +3 to all his hand to hand combat dice. However all Tibetan, Mongol and Chahar units must take a morale test if they see him killed within 18”.
4.   Motivation: A man of unspeakable medieval cruelty, Der Baron spread fear wherever he went, particularly amongst his own troops.  Therefore any units within 4” of either him or Chuffer ignore one morale turn per move.


The Manchurian Candidate                      Doleczech Brief

Your brief
Your are Count  Mikhalovich Gibson, Scottish émigré in the 18th century, Lion of the White Cause, scourge of the Bolsheviks, victor of a hundred battles, and committed monarchist.
Unfortunately however, things have not been going too well of late.......
Having escaped those Czech bastards and their illegitimate French pimps at Glaskov, you have scraped together the last – and largest remaining - White army: The ‘Mother Russia’ Division.  You were buoyed by the fact that reports suggest that Smirnoff and his Don Cossack division are still operational, as well as that psychopathic nut-job, Ungern Von Sternberg.  Imagine your surprise and delight therefore when you received a secret telex from Semenov’s old mob, the Osobii Manchzurskii Otryad (OMO), or Special Manchurian Detachment.  They request that you and your troops to rally to the recently discovered tomb of Temujin, just south of Lake Baikal. You know the stories of this place.  A remote simple tomb, underneath which lies the treasures of world conquest. It symbolism lies heavy with you and your troops, but the chance to have one last go, in the company of Smirnoff and Sternberg is attractive. You set off, meet up, and plan a surprise counter offensive to the west.  As the last recognised ruler of old Russia, you look forward to taking command.
As the good Admiral has been taken out with a case of Trotsky’s Revenge, he has asked you to pick up the baton of glory!

Objectives
1.   Take command of the united White forces
2.   Destroy the Reds

Forces: The ‘Mother Russia’ Division
2 x 10 ‘Colour’ units: T3 M2, ferocious with bombs.  1 LMG each
3 x 10 Regular infantry: T4 M4, with bombs.  1 LMG each
10 Partizans: Irregular M4. Modern rifles.
1 sniper T3 M3
1 x HMG T3 M3
2 x field guns T3 M4
1 Lancia Armoured Car T3 M4
1 Schneider tank T3 M4
6 rounds of off table HE, with an on-board spotter Tactical 3
1 White aircraft T2 M2

Special Rules
1.   Divisional Activation Roll: At the start of the game, Gibson must throw for his Grand Tactical Rating (n.b. this is in addition to his personal +2 rating).  This can range between 0 or +3.  Throw 2 x D6: 2-5 = 0; 6-8 = +1; 9-10= +2; 11-12= +3.  He then adds this to his Divisional Activation Roll, which is made the first time one of his unit cards is drawn from the pack each move. If Gibson’s personal card is first out, he adds an additional +1 to his dice throw. His division is activated on a 4-6 on 1D6, plus whatever modifiers he has, e.g. Gibson has a Grand Tactical Rating of +1 and his card is first out that move (another +1).  His division therefore ‘activates’ on anything but a one that move.  An ‘activated’ Division moves and fires as normal.  If however his division fails to activate they may not move, but can fire.  Mounted troops can also counter-charge if attacked.  If Gibson is attached to a unit he and it can move as normal, regardless of the throw for the rest of the division.
2.   Divisional and Army Morale: Gibson’s Division must check morale when casualties for that Division (measured in on-board units lost) reach 40%. A throw of 4-6 on 1D6 ensures they fight on.  On reaching 50%, a throw of 5-6 is required to stay on the field.  On reaching 60% a throw of 6 is required, as it is for every 10% lost after that. +1 is added to any throw if the majority of the Division is in cover.
3.   Mother Russia: As a scion of the Old Order in Mother Russia, you carry the most sacred icon of Imperial Russia: The Banner of the Black Madonna.  All White Russian troops within 18“of the banner get a +1 on all morale throws (including Divisional activation and morale throws).  However if the banner is captured, all White Russian troops within 18” must take a morale test with a -2!
S.Langan 02/12/10

[Remington]

for God sake man, dont stroke it any more!!!!

I... cannot... stop... The... Bolshevik... fever... is... too... strong! *sigh of relief* It feels good!

So, they were Foundry horses, were they? That's the info I was missing. Idea nicked. Now, off to find them on the Foundry store.

PS: Ordering Eureka models... Directly through Eureka or is there a UK distributor worth mentioning?

[Ignatieff]

I... cannot... stop... The... Bolshevik... fever... is... too... strong! *sigh of relief* It feels good!

So, they were Foundry horses, were they? That's the info I was missing. Idea nicked. Now, off to find them on the Foundry store.

PS: Ordering Eureka models... Directly through Eureka or is there a UK distributor worth mentioning?

Couldnt be sure on that, even Steve Dean couldnt recall as he blagged them off someone.  The consensus at our end was that they were.

[Bugsda]

Can't you put a rocket up Dr Blackwood? We need to see more photos  

I love to see Steve's paintwork in it's natural habitat  

[Ignatieff]

Can't you put a rocket up Dr Blackwood? We need to see more photos  

I love to see Steve's paintwork in it's natural habitat  

I have and I will!

Meantimes here's a picture of us at our summer game, 'Return to the Heart of Darkness' (I'm the Bukharan regular in the fez and moustache).  Note the nifty fiftieth birthday present the lads secretly smuggled down from Scotland - a real Russian maxim gun!!!

[Remington]

Brilliant group photo!

Paul Baker apparently knows what horses were used. I wrote him a PM... Let's see if he'll react.