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Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Mad Guru on April 03, 2020, 06:29:08 PM

Title: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: Mad Guru on April 03, 2020, 06:29:08 PM
Greetings,

In these challenging times, I'm trying to keep my little corner of the hobby alive and kicking.  I hope everyone reading this is staying safe and healthy and that the same goes for all those close to you.  And if you are a Medical Professional on the front lines, or an essential worker helping to keep our society functioning, THANK YOU and Godspeed.

Now to the refreshingly mundane...

Recently fellow LAFer Sparrow was kind (and super fast!) enough to post about this project of mine before I did so myself.  His thread, discussing the start of this project of nine, is here:

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=123331.0 (https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=123331.0)

But as I plan to post more about it over the coming weeks and months, I felt I should start a thread of my own, rather than completely take over his, which is the reason I'm starting this thread.  I Just put up the second post on my blog RE: prepping for a refight of the Sept. 1st 1880 Battle of Kandahar, AKA: Battle of Baba Wali.  I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of the fold-out MAP of the battle from the British Army's Intelligence Branch OFFICIAL HISTORY of the Second Afghan War, and used it to adjust the terrain on my table.  I also decided -- spurred on by my friend and fellow LAFer Sgt. Guinness -- to extend the table 2', which allowed me to include the second, MARZA/MURCHA/MIRZA KOTAL pass at the far North end.  If interested in reading and seeing more, please feel free to CLICK THE LINK and visit my Maiwand Day blog:

https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/04/battle-of-kandahar-revised-table-layout.html (https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/04/battle-of-kandahar-revised-table-layout.html)

Here's a taste of the new material...

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sGGL3HB4z8Y/XoWThtdR5uI/AAAAAAAAUYM/I3SLSSa82Ao4IfUHEA0FExISsJIGj5EQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Battle%2Bof%2BKandahar%2Bmap%2Bfrom%2B%2522The%2BMarch%2Bto%2BKandahar%2522.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWHYL-GNp-o/XoWSQy3p_cI/AAAAAAAAUXo/fx0sQMwi0rgbazEsesQKQfY8VmfeVfMBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Panorama%2BBattle%2Bof%2BKandahar%2Bfull.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9MdM_ITemRU/XoRtgj55xTI/AAAAAAAAUXU/ZCWPWHylGBMzubCK2Q83RcXMPwYLxW0FACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Kandahar%2B12%2527%2Btable%2BBritish%2Bview%2Bfrom%2BEast.JPG)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: juergen c. olk on April 03, 2020, 09:18:27 PM
One Hell of a table ...keep up the great work.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: marianas_gamer on April 03, 2020, 10:26:44 PM
Great table. Will be watching this with great interest. I am sure that it will live up to your normal quality work.
LB
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: flatpack on April 03, 2020, 10:29:49 PM
What a beauty, keep going please.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: FifteensAway on April 04, 2020, 05:57:11 AM
One - anyone who knows Mad Guru's work has no need of teaser pics to link to his blog.  Top notch work.

Two - that map with elevation details is priceless for recreating a battlefield if simulating history is the goal.  Sure, in a modeled playable battlefield there must be compromises but a better informed source map means better thought out compromises.

Three - Salivating over getting to see the rework in its final form.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: Atheling on April 04, 2020, 07:48:20 AM
Gobsmackingly impressive MG!!!!!  :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: Sparrow on April 04, 2020, 12:00:00 PM
Brilliant...
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: Eclaireur on April 04, 2020, 11:08:24 PM
This is a fantastic project MG - and the scale of the battle makes it a challenge even for you. A few years ago I had the experience of going into the Arghandab valley in a Blackhawk helicopter that flew around that mountainous ridge in the centre of this battlefield as it took us in. The contrast between the green, fertile, valley and the arid slopes above is very marked.
I will be fascinated to see what you discover about the Afghan order of battle for this action.
EC
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: JBaumal on April 07, 2020, 07:34:00 PM
MG, well, know that I’ve “encouraged” you to add the extra terrain I will do everything I can to assist you with this project my friend. It truly looks amazing already. I’m impressed and am looking forward to your posting the progress.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: War In 15MM on April 07, 2020, 07:51:55 PM
Very impressive table!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: CTMM on April 07, 2020, 11:19:27 PM
Looks amazing Mad Guru.
You always put on a great game.
My first post.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: JBaumal on April 08, 2020, 02:21:58 AM
CTMM, how true! His games look even better in person. I have to say, your buildings up the bar and raise ante for all of our tables.

I can’t believe it’s your first post!

Cheers,
JB
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: CTMM on April 08, 2020, 03:04:39 AM
Thanks  JBaumal .I'm not great on the computer, I'd rather build something.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: JBaumal on April 08, 2020, 03:50:58 AM
Chris, and that you do sir! Our club’s most prized buildings were handmade by you. Both Mad Guru and I use your awesome buildings in every one of our NWF games. I also use them in all my African scenarios for every period.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: Mad Guru on April 08, 2020, 10:30:36 AM
Looks amazing Mad Guru.
You always put on a great game.
My first post.

@Chris: Seeing your comment on this thread and learning it's your first ever post here at LAF has made my day, probably my week, most likely my entire rest of April!  Thank you, my friend.  I just hope the handful of small terrain pieces I still need to make for this game will turn out half as good as if you'd made them.  Thanks again! -Ethan

@Eclaireur: Great to hear from you here my friend!  I only hope my efforts can rise to meet your expectations!  I think you mentioned that helicopter flight to me once before, and I still envy you for it!  I have managed to get my hands on more and varied primary source versions of the battle than expected, mostly thanks to online digitized books, but the Afghan OOB is virtually identical in all, and consistent with those in the "Official History" and Roberts' "41 Years in India".  However, I did gather one new piece of information very recently, re: how the ground was...

"littered with dead men and horses ... on the hillside North of the village (Gundamullah Sahibdad), where Ayub's cavalry had charged our troops..."

This was on page 213 of "Personal Records of the Kandahar Campaign by Officers Engaged Therein".  A very interesting detail, as that's the first I've ever read about Afghan cavalry taking an active part in the battle in any way, shape or form, other than routing away across the Arghandab after it was lost.

@Jeff: One of the best things about this project is looking forward to hosting you and Last Stand Dan and Capt. Lucas around the table here at my place when it's all done!  Hopefully our schedule will remain intact.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: CTMM on April 08, 2020, 01:33:57 PM
Thanks again JB for the compliment. Another new internet friend. This hobby is so welcoming.

Ethan, I really love your games, such a display of beautiful figures. Museum quality.
I still look at your Camerome game. I really get inspired when I see pics of great battles.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: Eclaireur on April 13, 2020, 10:02:18 PM
Guru my friend, agree that's a fascinating detail
 
"littered with dead men and horses ... on the hillside North of the village (Gundamullah Sahibdad), where Ayub's cavalry had charged our troops..."

Fascinating that they had tried a full on charge. Will follow your project with the greatest interest,
EC
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: Mad Guru on May 01, 2020, 12:15:50 AM
Eclaireur, the Kandahar refight project continues, and I will be posting an update soon.

Chris, thanks so much for your comments re: my 150th Anniversary Camerone game from 2013.  That game ranks amongst the best hobby experiences of my life, largely thanks to the work you did making all the buildings, the 30" sq Hacienda de la Trinidad compound in particular.

Here's some pics showing the start of that game, just because I think they rate being shared, and after all, it is CAMERONE DAY -- VIVE LA LEGION:

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EPMl3hYD3oQ/UYhOeGtGfMI/AAAAAAAAHJc/LCKD_hhpaUg/s1600/IMG_5842.JPG)

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F1vdrvYhC70/UYhUsRwNMtI/AAAAAAAAHKE/oAoHX2x17uw/s1600/IMG_5849.JPG)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kjHhAmqpmo4/UYhUzctz_5I/AAAAAAAAHKM/fqOPk981Szw/s1600/IMG_5850.JPG)

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eKzpwFB_Cz8/UYhVfJGR5TI/AAAAAAAAHKs/iAv2EeFa2Ew/s1600/IMG_5856.JPG)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3xpbIYE-GI4/UYhVk8-7TFI/AAAAAAAAHK0/KIDx25HTf2A/s1600/IMG_5859.JPG)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ISWMgxVkAEU/UYhWBdjYm8I/AAAAAAAAHLk/b1g_pSIGYhM/s1600/IMG_5867.JPG)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nJz63zY2Dbs/UYhbLFTd_fI/AAAAAAAAHMg/eB2Tg0S33p4/s1600/IMG_5878.JPG)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OIWSK4LDUUM/UYhbfAZK59I/AAAAAAAAHM8/8M5Mf9SQcz4/s1600/IMG_5883.JPG)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SVLL0sHF3t0/UYhpQBakf7I/AAAAAAAAHSM/p1ajJy_yA0Y/s1600/IMG_5937.JPG)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VUqYDy81Akk/UYhqPVjUOdI/AAAAAAAAHSU/BS_lgxzLOJI/s1600/IMG_5938.JPG)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nUI2rDDnItc/UYhqvLv_NjI/AAAAAAAAHTU/rzpZ0ruA_CI/s1600/IMG_5947.JPG)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YIrJCdwR3PY/UYhq8qaV5mI/AAAAAAAAHTs/zUSrqxUwBq4/s1600/IMG_5950.JPG)

In honor of today being CAMERONE DAY, I am including a LINK to the extensive series of photos from the game you mentioned, which I first posed on my Camerone Day blog back in May 2013, for anyone interested in seeing more:

http://cameroneday.blogspot.com/2013/05/my-camerone-day-2013-pics-1-of-x.html (http://cameroneday.blogspot.com/2013/05/my-camerone-day-2013-pics-1-of-x.html)

Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: commissarmoody on May 01, 2020, 04:58:10 AM
Very cool.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: FifteensAway on May 01, 2020, 05:26:27 AM
I spy that fine gentleman, Mr. Stirn - he has a bit more gray hair these days!

Looks cool.  Did that game ever make it up to Pacificon?
Title: Re: Mad Guru's 1880 Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #2
Post by: Atheling on May 01, 2020, 07:29:52 AM
As beautiful a game as we have come to expect MG  :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #3 - May 1st UPDATE
Post by: Mad Guru on May 01, 2020, 08:57:28 AM
Thanks very much for the kind compliments, CommissarMoody and Atheling!

@FifteensAway: That Camerone game never made it anywhere outside my house!  At first I started the previous sentence with "Sadly" but then I deleted the "sad" part since that game was so much fun.  I would have loved to have taken it up to Pacificon, probably together with Mr. Stern, who you so accurately spotted!  Many of the troops were his.  For better or worse I was extremely busy with work at the time and it was a bit of a stretch just to organize, prep for, and hold the game at home.  But a great game it was!  It's a bit sad when I think how little action the Hacienda and its accompanying buildings have seen over the past 7 years, but at some point I will finally expand my own collection of Maximillian Intervention Mexican forces, and start playing Camerone at least once every year, and also get in some other Mexican Intervention games.  At the end of this coming Summer our youngest child will -- hopefully, if the situation has returned close to what previously was normal -- head across the country to start college in New York City, at which point it may be possible for me to expand my collecting and do a bit more actual gaming.  At least that's the theory in my mind!

Meantime I have made a bit more progress on the 1880 Battle of Kandahar front, making the box for the last terrain board and cutting out the baseboard for the Mirza "Kotal" (mountain pass).  I've also got a few WIP photos from my friend Bob Ridenhour, who goes by Rhingyll here on LAF and other hobby forums, and who has generously volunteered to provide some troops and make a couple of buildings for the Kandahar game.

If interested I invite you to pop over to my blog for a visit by clicking the LINK, and my sincere thanks should you choose to spend your time doing so:

https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/04/1880-kandahar-refight-post-3.html (https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/04/1880-kandahar-refight-post-3.html)

Here's some teaser pics:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yE5pdqviYhg/XqtC3ldrfzI/AAAAAAAAUa8/nJz-Mzoe2C8tes_ed2YOEZ50I81H9cKMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tomb%2BShrine%2Bsketches%2B2.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-unLlgDprs78/Xqsr64W-X3I/AAAAAAAAUak/gY0-6-P-te86d_C9AQWfLnxiLuwEGfGUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Bob%2527s%2Bsand%2Bcovered%2Bshrine%2Bdome%2B1%2Bof%2B2.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxioRNTaEkA/XqtHm0mLOYI/AAAAAAAAUbU/-69ZLpwM-2Q3BrRPo10_1pYOa-narMTigCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Bob%2527s%2B3rd%2BBengal%2BCav%2B%2528Skinner%2527s%2BHorse%2529.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxzvgON3dv4/XqtT5Abk-ZI/AAAAAAAAUdA/0Yk_VkOS00cSZqVPv-SeY_JbReUPlHgIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_3385.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FeCBLKKGsV4/XqtT8NEqPRI/AAAAAAAAUdU/z1qUx735ht0J8BQePh9gn299UYExM0BwACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_3500.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-9nGeLSnQY/XqtN-JYHPoI/AAAAAAAAUb8/LKPNv60uhiIcjYhnHEmRgwPDSWZlfsfwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4469.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2lEOje_FpM/XqtOAFZSkqI/AAAAAAAAUcM/dfL9jh89dOMLsqu9_x_BlLAdkDs28QUbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4489.HEIC)

I hope you're staying safe and healthy and sane, and I hope to be back reporting more progress on the 140th Anniversary Kandahar project before too long.  There is a rumor that Guru, Jr. and I will conduct a play-test of the scenario -- or at least the first few turns thereof -- this weekend.  I admit similar rumors were bouncing around the past two weekends, but at this point my son and I have each completed a ton of our own respective time-sensitive "real world" work, so my confidence is high!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #3 - May 1st UPDATE
Post by: Sparrow on May 01, 2020, 05:59:33 PM
Really inspiring stuff! Brilliant!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #3 - May 1st UPDATE
Post by: Arundel on May 02, 2020, 12:22:47 AM
Wonderful work, Guru (you are disgustingly talented) - hoping that the rumoured meeting with Guru Jr comes off!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #3 - May 1st UPDATE
Post by: JBaumal on May 02, 2020, 12:44:39 AM
Agreed, stunning indeed! I’d not seen those Camerone pictures for many a year. CTMM really does some incredible work, very evocative!!!

The WIP pics really look great. Hopefully you and Guru Jr will be able to have a go this weekend.

 Cheers and be well.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #3 - May 1st UPDATE
Post by: CTMM on May 02, 2020, 04:17:24 PM
  Great work Mad Guru, I really enjoy seeing your games.

  I'm sure your day job helps with such great game productions.

 Looking forward to more .
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep - post #3 - May 1st UPDATE
Post by: Marine0846 on May 04, 2020, 06:02:37 PM
Thanks for showing photos of your Camerone game.
I never get tried of looking at them again.
Love the terrain, wonderful stuff. :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep #4 - 5/19 update: Ayub's Tent
Post by: Mad Guru on May 19, 2020, 11:22:02 PM
Greetings fellow LAFers,

Hope everyone reading this and all your friends and family are staying healthy, or if you or someone you love is ill I hope and pray and send you my sincere best wishes for a fast and full recovery.

On a far less meaningful but much more fun front, I just put up a post on my blog re: making Ayub Khan's command tent for the main Afghan Army camp, which is a somewhat significant terrain piece for the game.  It turns out okay.  Not great but not bad either, and definitely more appropriate than any of the store-bought 28mm tents I searched through before deciding I had to make it from scratch.

I've made a good amount of other progress on the game, but there's still a f@#k-ton more to do, so I must leave those details for next time.  For now here's a LINK to my blog-post, and as always thanks advance for your time should you choose to visit:

https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/05/ayubs-tent.html (https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/05/ayubs-tent.html)

...and a handful of WIP pics showing AYUB'S TENT:

THE TARGET TO RECREATE IN MINIATURE:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hb8FZF8tEPo/XrDAJXTfAYI/AAAAAAAAUm4/00DZUZKls74CQr-Hmvyjpz1ToC3uXDbswCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/CU%2Bof%2BAyub%2BKhan%2527s%2Btent%2Bin%2Bcamp.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqtPE33hFpc/Xqva6aR5dFI/AAAAAAAAUeg/b8rZRdf-W84WC18_9HMiZcJ9QLr9GJh1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_3889.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOqBANdM1SM/XqvbIRUqAoI/AAAAAAAAUfE/u5t9eg7PZJceMDXnZZ5kFskjyP7CFqAPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_3940.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wwDDS0A2Kng/XqvbIQpom_I/AAAAAAAAUfI/e9K_WvkPtT8rX-tGzfTOyy-JYhzyxQ5oACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_3950.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5-RMJKllSAQ/XqvbYzuqspI/AAAAAAAAUfo/Y2zXu-H6CW0rxjMd4lrUsrvraIGuJRNSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_3994.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qCFxSa2n27o/XqvbaXX9bzI/AAAAAAAAUf4/5Socxe_ipXsTIS5BmnjGdz53ofoaaZXKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4016.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PlBGv-hMBM0/Xq016tIXrNI/AAAAAAAAUik/TuLM12vKCy4Itz7T-A1c2RZF0eOrMCaGACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4227.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVeuh8d4ZzI/Xq023SpnkEI/AAAAAAAAUj0/05YMrEfcHcclGvhEAOphYve6eu678y7-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4384.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kEOx1gUSuis/Xq037JPBVeI/AAAAAAAAUkw/-Yj6cw_rOfAmh--G-OlYNtZjRRpYk9JpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4536.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WO7PZGWkdl8/Xq037Vl5iAI/AAAAAAAAUk4/mt_KRUXX_S0aMiVizJZuj_GVJdsiw5A9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4539.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_XBorGQ2xxU/Xq05Ae3Bg0I/AAAAAAAAUmY/ti7vRVGk5p0fgFVmZqUMZKb1yVDwmIkvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4642.HEIC)

...Stay healthy my friends!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep #4 - May 19th UPDATE - Ayub's Tent
Post by: FifteensAway on May 20, 2020, 02:35:27 AM
Madness well applied, Guru. 

To add to your options for future endeavors, perhaps using plain white tissue paper soaked in diluted glue might have given the result you wanted - though it can be a minor challenge to work with depending on the desired result.

However, I rather like the result.  I would never have thought to use such ladies garments but now I have some ideas.

But the real question is: does the lady of the house know what you did?!  :o lol
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep #4 - May 19th UPDATE - Ayub's Tent
Post by: Mad Guru on May 20, 2020, 06:59:08 AM
Thank you, FifteensAway!  Thereby hangs a bit of a tale, my fine NorCal amigo.  I didn't get the advice re: women's nylon panythose style knee socks until after the COVID-19 lockdown had begun.  For better or worse this meant I didn't have the chance to visit a department store or women's speciality store to buy some, so... I asked my wife.  She didn't have any but I am a lucky man as she did not hesitate, after chuckling, to put the word out to her friends, one of whom came through for me.  If that hadn't worked I probably would have tried to order them online.

Re: tissue paper soaked in white glue, that's similar to the paper towels also drenched in white glue which I mentioned.  I've used that method for tarps, blankets, awnings, etc.  I finished Ayub's tent a while ago but being a bit disappointed with my efforts and the arguably ridiculous amount of time and effort I'd spent on it, I kind of shunted it aside to focus on bigger and more important terrain pieces, figures, and play-testing for the Kandahar game.  Now after finally posting about the tent I feel more copacetic with how it turned out.  I may still go back to it and try to smooth out its texture, maybe with some watered-down filler.  I got that suggestion from my good buddy Sgt. Baumal, and I think it would work.  The only potential problem I see is losing some or all of the subtle surface detail like the tent-pole lines, but if that happens I could try to paint them back in.  For now I'm happy with it as-is!  I'm also almost done with the hard part of making the Murcha Kotal -- which was very challenging.  Once that's done I can move on to adding ground cover and then painting both Kotals and the 10'x2' of terrain boards that still need to be finished.  It's a lot but I'm enjoying getting it done and hope to finish in time.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep #4 - May 19th UPDATE - Ayub's Tent
Post by: Marine0846 on May 20, 2020, 02:43:38 PM
Well done, love it.
Great thinking "out of the box."
You know what they say,
"Behind every man is a great woman." :)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep #4 - May 19th UPDATE - Ayub's Tent
Post by: OB on May 20, 2020, 02:45:39 PM
Great stuff as ever.  Every post is a treat.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep #4 - May 19th UPDATE - Ayub's Tent
Post by: Hu Rhu on May 20, 2020, 05:22:16 PM
Wonderful project and a great idea with those tents.  :-* :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep #4 - May 19th UPDATE - Ayub's Tent
Post by: Atheling on May 21, 2020, 11:19:31 AM
Superbly detailed stuff as usual MG  :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep #4 - May 19th UPDATE - Ayub's Tent
Post by: ragbones on May 23, 2020, 12:42:33 AM
Ayub Khan’s tent looks terrific!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Game Prep #4 - May 19th UPDATE - Ayub's Tent
Post by: LordSpode1879 on May 26, 2020, 09:16:09 AM
I love the attention to detail in this and other projects, Mad Guru I am in awe of the table......and that's before its seen a dice rolled in the game.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Battle of Kandahar Prep #5- May 27 UPDATE- MARZA KOTAL, Etc.
Post by: Mad Guru on May 28, 2020, 06:14:26 AM
Greetings fellow Corona Era Gamers. Hope you and your loved ones are all doing well, staying healthy and whole, and mostly sane. And if you are a health care professional still slogging it out in the trenches of this pandemic, thank you and Godspeed, and I hope and pray you stay safe.

Meanwhile on the mundane side of life, I'm happy to report Ive been making good headway since my Ayub's Tent post, on several aspects of the upcoming 1880 Battle of Kandahar game:

1. Kotal-i-Murcha AKA: Marza Kotal, which sits at the far North-Eastern narrow table end. It was a job and a half to build but I'm done with the hard part, going from this:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vc1oE59jpRM/Xs7cuiZxjfI/AAAAAAAAUng/IZqtgp7KdHoMhQIps0giI6iMCvdShY04ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5043.HEIC)

...to this:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zWtdBmH5tsw/Xs7czH1Tn1I/AAAAAAAAUoY/ZiS8r4chK2AA7gikqohPw-7LJRBVBFcZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5463.HEIC)

2. Lt. Hector MacLaine, RHA, as Afghan prisoner. I converted this special character figure using parts of 3 Wargames Foundry figures, and a talented painter was kind enough to paint him for me:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qqWuxZnsGA/Xs7pBO3TaTI/AAAAAAAAUqw/o6wbX5xXMf4IJ1Y_aHI6skpuipJFZRjlwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/0519202000-1.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJOjhYvOMBA/Xs7pBZtA8dI/AAAAAAAAUq0/wiKwjVRRgXokuvlVbV1qD0uJQKq5LDEfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/0519202000a-1.jpg)

3. Saving the best for last, Bob Ridenhour, known on hobby forums as Rhingyll, sent me pics of his latest efforts in building a model of what I have dubbed the Ahmed Khan Shrine, located at the foot of the Baba Wali Kotal.

Here's a pic of the real thing taken soon after the battle in early September 1880:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qq_HgIJLNQM/Xs7qFcpWoZI/AAAAAAAAUrA/snU0ipycdvoVeWgXQppVDz00qZiIVkKqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/pic3.jpg)

…and here's Bob's latest WIP pic:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q6XW5Q8Fjd0/Xs7ae3CA_zI/AAAAAAAAUnQ/mUotymbGBE8p7baZkLGVTZBV3r-DlG_gQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Bob%2527s%2Bshrine%2Broof%2Bon.jpg)

I won't hesitate to say this last pic from Bob kind of took my mini breath away. His model is really coming together now and I can't wait to see the final result, first on his work-bench and then when it arrives (maybe in person or -- sigh -- if need be via the mail) set down in place on the table.

If you'd like to see more pics of all this stuff and hear about some other Kandahar game related stuff, please stop by to visit this latest post over on my MaiwandDay blog by clicking on the handy LINK below, and thanks in advance for your time should you choose to do so!

https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/05/more-kandahar-game-progress-post-5.html (https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/05/more-kandahar-game-progress-post-5.html)

Keep on keeping on and I hope to be back before too long with an update on further progress.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #5- May 27th UPDATE- MARZA KOTAL, Etc.
Post by: Atheling on May 28, 2020, 08:22:20 AM
 :-* :-* :-* And  :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #5- May 27th UPDATE- MARZA KOTAL, Etc.
Post by: FifteensAway on May 28, 2020, 02:02:34 PM
Your level of dedication to a project is inspiring.  A bit worrisome maybe - but inspiring.   ;)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6- June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: Mad Guru on June 20, 2020, 01:22:09 AM
Lol -- FifteensAway, I can't in good conscience disagree.  And so -- no surprise -- I'm back with UPDATE #6.

I hope everyone seeing this and all their loved ones are safe and healthy and doing well.  I started this project 3 months ago, the day before the state of California, where I live, issued its shelter-at-home/shutdown order.  Here in Los Angeles some things have gotten better since then, others worse.  My family and I attended our first ever drive-thru high school graduation for my youngest child, which was a bit surreal but still a lot of fun, and a thousand times better than no graduation at all.

This is a big update, including completion of both the Baba Wali and Mirza/Marza Kotals, getting a unit painted as the 23rd Sikh Pioneers, and -- most exciting for me -- finding a way to disguise the 3 gaps in the big ridge-line that runs down the center of the table.  Those gaps were there because I made the ridge-line by arranging 5 pre-existing hills in a line.

If you'd like to read more about the process and see a ton of WIP photos, I invite you to visit my blog by clicking the LINK below, and thanks for your time if you choose to do so:

https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/06/new-map-kotals-complete-23rd-sikhs.html (https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/06/new-map-kotals-complete-23rd-sikhs.html)

Meantime, here's a few pics for your enjoyment, and to possibly entice you into clicking the link and making a visit.  I hope to be back soon with another update to show the 3 finished "connector" pieces.  Until then, I hope you stay healthy and safe and sound -- and find time to paint some figures and/or build some terrain and maybe even squeeze in a game or two.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EYzhWus7hZg/Xu0WsA6BVcI/AAAAAAAAU0A/cowh4-Z5-OcbqQA8bJg_MjO3vKicVy51wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/i_b_512fp_large.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TA2Au-7cCeE/Xu1UqKpb9NI/AAAAAAAAU0Q/QU-30VN46ogv8GyZuwhciNwOnatPCBHcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_3742.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKW1D4bpODs/XuvSoq5gVXI/AAAAAAAAUsI/NO0MSV79ILw0nF7lRmoUiEoaGK3-NavHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5638.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibsZxi2HDm0/XuvSolvhk1I/AAAAAAAAUsM/XREDxdIUhaICj50y011CK5XlSfNWleVQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5653.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Umo8q2yQhE/XuvSrjOxzeI/AAAAAAAAUsw/-TohvucWfN41TaSC10tQ8naE9UHyIPjTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5738.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xZ6QVpI8z_k/XuvSsFlAD6I/AAAAAAAAUs4/zeuGhuSKDA0hgs-4qE2vxDIyVKENosUUACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5829.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKbpwww1W7w/XuvSv-Sr2iI/AAAAAAAAUtY/d7hTfcdzbvwQuktTdR11Kk3lIXskWMIawCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6314.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SpCMfHXK8e8/XuvSv8F0NEI/AAAAAAAAUtc/Vz8kD73BehAi7OTc0HN3CQRuNvrMjS5ZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6364.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFoaoxcPCYM/XuvSxDPLMdI/AAAAAAAAUtk/iYFEJNsJzJYfbmSbgKDVEXGqbnGp8KCuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6375.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlxLq5IyBAI/XuvSxwnAGTI/AAAAAAAAUts/X45Z9okolIQ2eysTKx7qCKyoOT55FPR-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6377.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BbKYcK694LU/XuvTS7u5BRI/AAAAAAAAUuU/w7zYYNQuwgo7LyYL_sXlWwpKC3sr58SYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6405.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CJBQCmCz5ec/XuvTTxuS8XI/AAAAAAAAUuY/jkaUdxyvUi45roNpRKys5qyvQg1gpF6-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6411.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yOKZ-wm3suY/XuvTVlAZgAI/AAAAAAAAUuw/iW9MAuAgUSIrhQoIXuybMBOe_151t3Y1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6420.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D4t7SQsAfkM/XuvTc1ZSgCI/AAAAAAAAUvc/gIvFsufUIlYHkrzzFujSMhQVsgGtKzcOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6453.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Vzl4m6C5fM/XuvTf6CU0GI/AAAAAAAAUv4/sjvQlRSniyIHvygo3DQi2aDSpsCTQX6JwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6513.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Hu5V-5qO-U/XuvTilJhOYI/AAAAAAAAUwQ/gjO2RBW0kjIPXjsBRtZBdhTrAc_BaZK3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6565.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiyrBZ01-kM/XuvTldd8XRI/AAAAAAAAUws/ktIf7PJ-19sLhQzZ8fvxvMwlgk2nF7hMACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6625.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zfp4b3ZH5Vc/XuvTmNpWT-I/AAAAAAAAUw0/tMoL_Npgs8Unk1LstK27BC_Kv9HKhmN7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6632.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8s7le0wCjw/XuvTm9LNc0I/AAAAAAAAUxA/r7SrA0R14WsKuZQPf0fjb94OqtxMkb6VACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6720.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wAXf_obMcdM/XuvTqVx_sxI/AAAAAAAAUxQ/MOM2EO4FBmkzp-d4RN0nSBPIPaVYR7cRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6805.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m2PjWqz3nsg/XuwrlH56IpI/AAAAAAAAUzU/vYeokHgA5JU0s3tJLQrmPAU4jMoDLgEzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/9-Soldiers-of-the-23rd-Sikh-Pioneers-holding-the-Indian-Order-of-Merit.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xNFc_fq7oyQ/XuwqGxe8hZI/AAAAAAAAUys/lf55NqlgF9o8CFjqfa8xnRWZm27I00eRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6188.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0e8RmAhYQeE/XuwqICWg3mI/AAAAAAAAUy8/mzOqyGt5wksjLn6oTMGP7RilSvujfmTOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6198.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEEF2E3JZWk/XusQZBAD2UI/AAAAAAAAUr0/Aj8CdoYDbFwFF78LxHQ7uMx4C19AJZ1LgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6246.jpg)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: OB on June 20, 2020, 12:18:48 PM
A fine body of men there.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: Plynkes on June 20, 2020, 12:32:47 PM
Excellent stuff! A silly and small detail for me to pick up on, but my favourite things are those officer and NCO turbans. The yellow and red on that headgear is really striking. Love that colour scheme. 

Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: FifteensAway on June 20, 2020, 01:40:46 PM
Quite naturally, the beautiful additions will assist the 'game of games' that is your target. 

But, when that is in the rear view mirror, you can also use the ridge line to host a 'chase' game of some sort that starts in one of the passes and works its way all the way around the ridge until arriving back at the start point - or maybe even heads out for a second lap!  Was there ever a gun-toting road rally?  Or maybe get yourself a Stutz-Bearcat and some pre-World War One Mexican and German troops and whatever else you fancy from the old Bearcats! television show.  Yeah, I am that old!  Now that I think about it, that might have been the first "Pulp" television show post 'serial' era. 

Again, nice work and hope it all comes together to its best possible fruition.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: Atheling on June 20, 2020, 06:11:52 PM
Excellent stuff! A silly and small detail for me to pick up on, but my favourite things are those officer and NCO turbans. The yellow and red on that headgear is really striking. Love that colour scheme.

Funny, I was about to say the very same thing.  :-*

Fab work MG. Looks like things are really coming together- how far to go now?
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: JBaumal on June 21, 2020, 03:30:35 PM
MG, I love the conversion work and the awesome paint jobs on the 23rd Sikh Pioneers!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: Mad Guru on June 22, 2020, 07:52:32 AM
Not silly at all, Plynkes!  After my friend Frank painted them for me, I came THIIIIIISSSS close to repainting to turn the red into brown, which is what it was supposed to be, as per historical accuracy.  But then... despite being a stickler for historical accuracy... I just couldn't do it.  They looked too good as-is.  Frank thought the red and yellow would look better.  I still haven't spray-sealed them with dullcote, so maybe the button-counter in me will win out in the end.  But seems unlikely.  After all, Darrell and Sgt. Guinness (aka: JBaumal) both agree with you.

@FifteensAway: Interesting scenario idea -- kind of a wilderness chariot race?  I remember reading a scenario long ago in either WI or MW for a post-Maiwand retreat scenario, with a handful of survivors trying to make it back to Kandahar alive.  Your potential game sounds a bit similar.  Funny you mentioned the Mexican Revolution setting, as that's an obscure period I've long considered wading into, and I do have a small pile of unpainted troops -- including a Mexican Army command car -- stashed away in some dark corner of my hobby storage closet.  When my son saw the recently finished line of rocky hills, he suggested we use it as "The Wall" in a Game Of Thrones... game.  We used to play a lot of 14th and 15th Century Medievals, albeit of the purely historical variety, and I still have all those figures, stashed in the not-so-dark part of the closet, so maybe we'll get around to that some time, though I guess we'd have to paint up a bunch of Medieval Ice Zombies for it to really work.  For now I'll try to stay focused on the game that brought me to this dance, be it referred to as BABA WALI or KANDAHAR!

Speaking of which, since this latest update I managed to finish painting the 3 CONNECTORS, so I'm back with... 3 more pics:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MUO6aKIQ2U0/Xu_yktH16dI/AAAAAAAAU00/tBYr_jZdl70Y50z0tJAuB4pcjLtF9AI6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6951.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QwYFaPZB73c/Xu_ykjrNXMI/AAAAAAAAU04/ITQKBtdTOFsn6vmJ7n_1CxDfs2VUFT6nwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6948.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ENsRt1wjV_k/Xu_ylUOuKYI/AAAAAAAAU08/lirZ2y3Xsq4lHDOelZ58Q7BdYndjQGTqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6947.jpg)

@Atheling: RE: "how far to go now?" thanks for asking!  Not that close but not far either.  I have a bunch of things left to finish but only one really big ticket item: glue pebbles and sand onto 3 unfinished terrain boards totaling 10'x2' and then give them all 3 coats of paint.  It will be time-consuming but I still have more than a month before game day arrives.  The sooner I finish those boards the more time I'll have for more play-testing, so hopefully it won't drag out for too long.  In the meantime I'm expecting to receive the Ahmed Khan Shrine in the mail from my friend Bob in the near future, at which time I may well be back with some pics of it set up for the first time where it goes on the table. 
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: miltiades on June 22, 2020, 01:09:08 PM
I am out of words to describe the feeling and the excitement on seeing this awesome terrain... the river, the rocky hills, the fantastic fields ... :o  wonderful. I am looking forward for a battle report now... :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: Arundel on June 22, 2020, 02:15:32 PM
Simply extraordinary work, Guru!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: Atheling on June 22, 2020, 03:25:38 PM
Wow!  :o It looks nothing short of amazing already MG  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: JBaumal on June 23, 2020, 02:50:27 AM
Incredible MG, your an inspiration!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: Mad Guru on June 23, 2020, 10:07:15 AM
Jeff, Atheling, Arundel and miltiades,

Thanks!  You guys are all too kind, and I very much appreciate the compliments.  So much so, I raced back here to post a few pics of the newly-arrived Ahmed Khan Shrine, scratch built by Bob Ridenhour.  I was starting to worry if it had met with some problem en route from Kansas to Los Angeles, since it was supposed to arrive a few days ago, but then just before sundown a rumbling brown UPS truck pulled up while I was out in the front yard and I knew all was well -- at least on the Battle of Kandahar game prep front.  Here's a few hastily arranged pics, in imitation of the photo taken by Benjamin Simpson some time after the battle, as seen here:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kjyv6BVbz0Y/XvHRptYR4CI/AAAAAAAAU1Q/ygCKXt4-DgkPYQqU_x1hBEgMhmgRyhb3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Ahmed%2BKhan%2BShrine.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-or6LB5PZ5lo/XvHRrIV97BI/AAAAAAAAU1g/SqU9Z1A4J2s_GygfH4wlUS8eEVFM9oCewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7081.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-i7FTO-QUs/XvHRp5-p1BI/AAAAAAAAU1Y/yMIM-87i6Ak_qdwFX_2v27zXJNi_wf0TwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7075.jpg)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: JBaumal on June 23, 2020, 12:17:35 PM
Awesome!!!!! Great job Bob, and beautiful table MG!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: CTMM on June 23, 2020, 12:53:31 PM
 Everything looks amazing Mad Guru.
You must be in show business.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: Atheling on June 23, 2020, 01:42:33 PM
Brilliant and inspiring  :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: Mad Guru on June 23, 2020, 09:04:56 PM
Thanks again you guys!

Bob -- genius that he is -- asked for a B&W version, which I took and sent him, and share with you all now:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1bm3Y32QNSs/XvJuBP3xT3I/AAAAAAAAU1s/JHN9euUSfYAomDv-SNE3o1u89V_X16UKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7097.jpg)

Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: OSHIROmodels on June 23, 2020, 09:10:21 PM
Splendid additions  8)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: OB on June 25, 2020, 04:57:10 PM
I like the shrine-a great piece of modelling.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #6: June 19th UPDATE- KOTALS complete, Etc.
Post by: Anderson Collection on June 26, 2020, 02:57:56 PM
Terrific stuff :-* :-* :-*
Title: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #7: July 7th UPDATE- Terrain Board Progress, Etc
Post by: Mad Guru on July 08, 2020, 01:59:13 AM
Thanks very much for the generous comments, guys!

Hello out there in Hobby-Land,

Hope everyone reading this is staying healthy and safe, sound and sane.  I'm keeping busy on the hobby front, just put up a new post on my blog with more details on terrain progress for my 140th Anniversary Battle of Kandahar refight.  If interested, please feel free to CLICK on the link below:

https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/07/kandahar-game-post-7-connectors-done.html (https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/07/kandahar-game-post-7-connectors-done.html)

Meanwhile here are a few of the WIP pics:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kH8hLtWYpg/XwTffZbbGpI/AAAAAAAAU5Y/Uco5Vc7beWQlCu1SnkgpDO0wWe4LKM3uwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7030.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPJJ_tgqlBg/XwTePi_7vFI/AAAAAAAAU4o/qHlZ63yIsaUpbQ6GHored3bq-vwWLBWHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7536.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SbRQZzJKY3g/XwTHqWQZdiI/AAAAAAAAU3E/GwK2F4eOe_0VZxilrT54G3VnrQqGucU2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_7049.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GPHbRwhhh4/XwTNP-WapJI/AAAAAAAAU3Y/jfYWqCypl98JdXRDelW9pbyO73tXJ8_kQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6950.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mPwerl57YKE/XwTNhTFYC5I/AAAAAAAAU3k/U6c0fRBJKmsYyDesxkt84b-X69pmIrk7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6951.HEIC)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #7: July 7th UPDATE- Terrain Board progress, Etc.
Post by: Eric the Shed on July 08, 2020, 07:26:19 AM
fantastic stuff
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #7: July 7th UPDATE- Terrain Board progress, Etc.
Post by: Ray Rivers on July 08, 2020, 10:29:40 AM
Looks great on the table!  :-*

Amazing amount of work. Well done!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #7: July 7th UPDATE- Terrain Board progress, Etc.
Post by: FifteensAway on July 09, 2020, 01:22:05 AM
1. I can't believe I am only the third person to respond to the most recent update!

2. Lovely work on the additions.

3. The videos, though short, were a treat (How did you add them here - I've never had luck uploading a video here, been a long time since I tried).

4. Don't hate me or curse me Mad Guru, but your videos made me realize that 15 mm is a great scale for recreating sweeping landscapes and not over-crowding the field of play (though we can certainly have enough figures to do that despite our best intentions).
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #7: July 7th UPDATE- Terrain Board progress, Etc.
Post by: syrinx0 on July 09, 2020, 01:39:42 AM
Truly an impressive project.  Wonderful work.  :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Prep #7: July 7th UPDATE- Terrain Board progress, Etc.
Post by: VonAkers on July 09, 2020, 12:20:14 PM
Mad Guru
Been away a bit , just picked up this thread and WOW.. :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o..JUST WOW
This is simply superb work , your work is up there with Frank , and the terrain looks like you have refinanced your home and had a Professional make it all.
Most importantly though, you inspire other people to try it for them selves.

Bravo Sir , well done indeed.

Cheers
Title: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: Mad Guru on August 17, 2020, 08:49:11 AM
Greetings my fellow Colonial LAFers and many thanks for all the kind words!

It's been too long since I posted an update here on my feverish preparations for this game.  As you might expect this was due to the fact that in addition to work and family life, that game prep took up close to all the waking moments of my time in the interim.  But the day of battle has come and gone, and all the prep was completed in time, and battle was done... unfortunately however a local tree-trimming accident interrupted the supply of all electric power to my house and my neighbors for FOUR HOURS -- which as you might expect threw a monkey-wrench into the works for our REMOTE GAME, being played over "Google Meet" via 2 webcams & 2 iPhone cameras, one of each for each side.

Luckily for us this interruption came almost exactly at lunchtime for the GM team (myself as LORD HIGH MASTER TINPOT GOD OF WAR and my two loyal and faithful deputies, my son Skylar as British GM and our good buddy Matthew -- who had tested negative for COVID-19 the day before helping us run the game -- as Afghan GM), so it was less disruptive than it might have been.  The loss of 4 hrs killed any chance to finish that same day, but all 6 players spread across the country in various time-zones reconvened to complete one more turn, and an eventful turn it was.

I will post many more details of my past 5 weeks of final prep for terrain, figures, army lists, rules, webcam technology, etc.  But right now I want to share some pics of the game before any more time passes, so I just posted them over at my old MaiwandDay blog.  A month or so ago I migrated that blog over to a new bespoke website built for me by my older daughter.  She went back to school before showing me all the details of how to administer it, and I just ran into a problem posting decent size images there.  I'm sure I'll find an answer to this problem, but in order to put these pics out quickly, I've returned to my old Blogger blog and posted the pics over there.

We played the first 2 turns at a pace of 1-hour per turn, which was as good as I could have hoped for (our one play-test turn using the cameras and computers had taken 90 minutes).

After the blackout delay turn 3 took a bit more than one hour, but it involved a lot of tough decision making by all players and a great deal of combat.

Overall I was very happy with how things went, how the game flowed.  Voice and picture communications maintained decent quality throughout.

We plan to reconvene in the very near future and -- barring further incidents of tree-trimming gone awry -- finish the game.

Till then I leave you with this LINK to my old blog...

https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/08/battle-of-kandahar-140.html (https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/08/battle-of-kandahar-140.html)

...and this typical batch of TEASER PICS meant to seduce you into visiting so you can see more of those three turns in full color:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBVimVgP3RA/XzoeeqMUQ3I/AAAAAAAAU94/LU0hEZQLiKk5BKXfJ8aRtUNReGPJZZ2pACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9730.JPG)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iryo-XeXMeo/Xzm2l5witPI/AAAAAAAAU7A/TWKO-4R31yomW3E9NMVg9LIj4-A9_Xt5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0027.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vzv6nP60i14/Xzm2nfLs9uI/AAAAAAAAU7Q/mTiVWTqJ7xgIqWLLJfm5MHhq0NcFbS_LgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0048.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aEwOjzvuMr8/Xzm2oLbHN4I/AAAAAAAAU7c/l5Y7B31oEI4iNavWJtLGpVVg6ofTrXs-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0053.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WNnXOw08-m8/Xzm2oxIw_eI/AAAAAAAAU7k/r8gL4mcmDcogHK8lFjWs36MKSnoUG8W5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0067.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ks3Id9STmxA/Xzm2tr9lpyI/AAAAAAAAU8c/TDKFmdbWneMyS8Mpnv9jAvkI9Fe98s5jACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9878.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YFsxkOtNOGw/Xzm2wqjixdI/AAAAAAAAU88/CUOkugc6lyQ_BFJx5iMp8z374sc4nQ33wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9963.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dpo6gOmHut4/Xzm2xqI0hxI/AAAAAAAAU9E/yRsfNotWRVczVnUy7QxezU3tR0uMHOLmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9974.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJEuMJpVdKE/Xzm2q13QzgI/AAAAAAAAU78/Lme5kfDCXRE44OmEpIBDcxTw2gXpttofQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9857.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2DcnaiLWtpg/Xzm2yCPAyWI/AAAAAAAAU9I/TTTbjCVpyjcFeIJgeI-Wdj2b_AHNrI5jQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9976.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUso5GbGO34/Xzm2yRuaDNI/AAAAAAAAU9M/mQDDHlMVNd4jNfay7AFQkssC0XB4SSe7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9982.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Isd3SwPHOmc/Xzm2yspyFiI/AAAAAAAAU9Q/B6MqHxrPVe0mP46lF0OBu47sRDRbCOswQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9984.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2M8Aa4TH52Y/Xzm2zE33pzI/AAAAAAAAU9U/0g1ysf7c298duJrrAYRgcWIz5qXkwT-SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9990.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nb_yz7RFDcg/Xzm2zVxFdfI/AAAAAAAAU9Y/74ptjGC2JA88X-oHp2cigDsIIJrDcgo5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9999.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KG7kBm4tLVk/Xzm2pQ2xBSI/AAAAAAAAU7s/JX04Q3Trd2ocZ9Gr_EpB7qxA8woKRLMygCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0074.HEIC)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: Lord Raglan on August 17, 2020, 08:55:01 AM
Love everything about the look of this game!!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: flatpack on August 17, 2020, 09:39:59 AM
Looks fantastic.
You’ve put some real time and effort into that battle.
You are a triumph in the hobby.
Keep it up.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: Atheling on August 17, 2020, 10:26:18 AM
I'm stunned!!!  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: Arundel on August 17, 2020, 12:48:18 PM
Breathtaking work, Ethan!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: Plynkes on August 17, 2020, 01:03:08 PM
What a treat!

Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: Ray Rivers on August 17, 2020, 01:37:03 PM
Magnificent!  :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: Marine0846 on August 17, 2020, 01:38:53 PM
Wonderful table, sir.
I am very glad all of your hard work has paid off.
Just love what you have done, :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: Captain Blood on August 17, 2020, 05:46:07 PM
Positively Featherstone-esque. What a spread  :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: CTMM on August 19, 2020, 12:17:03 PM

 WOW!
Very impressive and inspiring.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: AKULA on August 19, 2020, 01:29:38 PM
Stunning table....the figures are impressive, but for me what really grabs the attention is the terrain.

Hills that look like hills, and will cause some serious tactical issues for the players, in terms of choke points and the higher ground dominating the fields below

  8)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: Golgotha on August 19, 2020, 08:41:12 PM
So much eye candy on one table I think my eyes are bleeding - awesome work.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game Update #8: August 17th - GAME ON!!!
Post by: Mad Lord Snapcase on August 20, 2020, 11:38:04 AM
Fantastic! What a great set-up. You and your colleagues must have had so much fun. Brilliant!   :-*
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Update #9: August 25th GAME ON - PART 2...
Post by: Mad Guru on August 25, 2020, 09:48:01 AM
Thanks once again for all the positive feedback, folks!

This past Saturday August 22nd we picked up our Battle of Kandahar 140th Anniversary game where it left off a week before.

We played 2 more turns -- 4 and 5 -- before taking another pause.

The 3HR time difference amongst players and between some players and the GMs made it difficult to press on past dinner time on the East Coast.

Once again all 6 players spread across the USA from coast to coast, and the 3 GMs here in Los Angeles, all seemed to enjoy themselves through 4-1/4 HRS of remote gaming goodness plus a 1 HR lunch-break. Like last time we used 2 separate "GOOGLE MEET"s each linked to a dedicated webcam on their side of the table plus their dedicated GM's iPhone camera for close-up views of units and terrain.

The 2 long-lasting turns were jam-packed with action. They were later described by an Afghan player as "wow, what a slug-fest!" and a British player as "very intense and fun!" As a GM, player feedback doesn't get much better than that.

The best part -- at least for me as a GM -- is that at the end of turn five I still don't know who's going to win.

It remains anyone's game.

The Brits have made progress at the South end of the table and are close to turning the corner -- literally and figuratively -- around the razorback ridge and Pir Paimal Village, despite command problems following the unfortunate demise of their Brigade Commander when he gallantly/recklessly attached himself to the 4th Gurkhas as they charged Tribal Foot entrenched in a drained stretch of canal.

In the middle of the table the Afghans brought so much fire to bear on 3rd Bengal Lancers (Skinner's Horse) as they raced straight through the Baba Wali Pass and charged a gun, that there were no Lancers left to close into combat with the crew. It was a mini "Charge of the Light Brigade", with the C.O. and NCO the last 2 figures to fall under an ill-timed (at least from the British POV) Afghan BONUS FIRE CARD.

At the North end of the table the British 1st Brigade has crossed over Marza Pass, routed a unit of Afghan Regular Cavalry and reduced the Infantry defending Marza Village to below half-strength, but are now taking fire from Afghan Artillery to the South.

Pre-game British intelligence reports included several units of Ghazi fanatics in the Afghan roster, and none have been seen so far, so it's possible there may be more surprises in store for the British.

RHA Lieutenant Hector MacLaine remains a prisoner in the Afghan Camp, currently being harangued by a hostile Ghazi, defended by a friendly Afghan Regular Cavalry Officer, and guarded by a neutral Regular Infantry Sentry. How his captivity will end is anyone's guess.

If you'd like to read more details about this still ongoing game and see a bunch of photos, come on over and visit my humble old-time blog at the LINK below, and thanks for your time if you choose to do so::

https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/08/battle-of-kandahar-part-2.html (https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/08/battle-of-kandahar-part-2.html)

Meanwhile here's a taste of the visuals visible at the other end of the above link:

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rl5jJE2xXZ4/X0SgyU3r8SI/AAAAAAAAVAE/Rt530du8KM4Vwln50XH2a5rVLZ9C0zvPACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0359.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d5SsdTmgt_k/X0SgzzIGRGI/AAAAAAAAVAU/2mIpTrBEdqIz-YwiITOJaBNMJLBeAcSMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0367.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_e69v9MXS8/X0Sg4Ov1gqI/AAAAAAAAVA4/k-SoZD6SFdAtDv72J9uE9X8-R-4RDgSmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0393.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tD_wg9r2iXs/X0Sg4r_GskI/AAAAAAAAVA8/E-41IHJ5SIsgFyoV2EEzjZaItNN_-41uACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0395.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejB-y_PH99c/X0Sg5kE8qJI/AAAAAAAAVBI/kuYfDvlQr3QeZDrDwjNiZQhXFIkyQW6IwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0399.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2a71-J6r8Ic/X0Sg7bX1A5I/AAAAAAAAVBY/JteEkxRHFjwRwbINUsOOdOnn7bIxIk_-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0411.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kUBjqhcUEIg/X0Sg71BmoYI/AAAAAAAAVBg/GsdekVyR0wkOf9NvVIzDZon6cb_g13qtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0416.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1TkB_I_Rz5c/X0Sg9Wcc64I/AAAAAAAAVBs/q85X76DeLiwdRlSUHyDDBGmiAbqcSG8LQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0422.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8UyJMMi480c/X0Sg9zryP7I/AAAAAAAAVBw/Ymzxw59V5AEs4mmmX0wPj0VcHOnuJleRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0427.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wYhkYQy2wNA/X0Sg_Dw1A4I/AAAAAAAAVCA/4NgzFk3ituUfxmabFeomVwK14aiFOUvNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0440.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CjbOBMSk8Ac/X0ShB1_DaVI/AAAAAAAAVCg/B7C6CeoW5GAAXBcMbvKz3Recu3nrypGOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0455.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKNL-CHtXDs/X0ShCza94-I/AAAAAAAAVCw/4Bp0AEPCaW8DQ_0LZ2hkp7wh2ARBuVadACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0459.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-00PuHJUbCgc/X0ShEtrR-qI/AAAAAAAAVC8/VqVKhhogw2o3FAoODmB6Btb0J_qFbAq7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0463.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k4lhh-5R1zc/X0ShE8wdyqI/AAAAAAAAVDA/vJRxFljN6L87WJsvuhNe0VDzQLsHblWPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0465.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KtmXaPvrVKE/X0ShF1rEUSI/AAAAAAAAVDI/mDS5AtbSE64vYxWMJTf36_-s3_ngpEMIACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0467.HEIC)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OI1el8O_e6Q/X0SebizpccI/AAAAAAAAU_c/OKTQfwkgK6wtZpQHNk8e_iSPJF62alikwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0527.HEIC)

Whew.  I hope to be back again next week with the third and – perhaps – final installment of this remote gaming extravaganza...
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Update #9: August 25th GAME ON - PART 2...
Post by: Atheling on August 25, 2020, 10:50:07 AM
Superb as ever Ethan  :-* :-* :-*

There's so much to take in that one has to really examine every shot!  :o

Is the Mountain Gun Mule Train from Tiger miniatures?
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Update #9: August 25th GAME ON - PART 2...
Post by: Mad Guru on August 25, 2020, 06:00:05 PM
Thanks, Darrell.  The Indian Mountain Gun Pack Mules are from Old Glory.  Each set includes 1 officer, 1 NCO, 6 mule skinners, & 6 loaded mules.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Update #9: August 25th GAME ON - PART 2...
Post by: Atheling on August 25, 2020, 06:43:58 PM
Thanks, Darrell.  The Indian Mountain Gun Pack Mules are from Old Glory.  Each set includes 1 officer, 1 NCO, 6 mule skinners, & 6 loaded mules.

Thanks mate. I'm heading to their UK site now :)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Update #9: August 25th GAME ON - PART 2...
Post by: JBaumal on August 25, 2020, 11:28:40 PM
It truly is another Mad Guru productions, LLC extravaganza!!!!
Cheers,
Sgt G, recently promoted to Major General…
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Update #9: August 25th GAME ON - PART 2...
Post by: tin shed gamer on August 30, 2020, 09:26:49 AM
Splendid .
I do love a busy table. More over I appreciate seening the sheer amount of time, level of effort and dedication taken to build such a collection.
Cracking stuff.
Title: Mad Guru's Kandahar Update #9: August 31st - NEW PICS...
Post by: Mad Guru on August 31, 2020, 08:18:16 PM
Wow.

What a day and what a game.

I will be back some day soon with details on all aspects of this third day's events, including the results.

For now all I'll say is that it was AN EPIC SLUGFEST -- maybe the toughest, hardest fought miniature wargame I've ever participated in.  My two fellow GMs, my son Skylar and our good friend Matthew, and all 6 players -- Afghans Bob, Nick & Phil, and British Jeff, Mike & Dan -- did a great job of hanging in through the mix of epic highs and grinding lows.

Happily for all of us the game reached a definitive conclusion, and I'll tell you all about that the next time I post, after catching my breath and dealing with some "real life" work stuff.

Until then, here's some pics I took just before we kicked off this final leg of the Battle of Kandahar/Baba Wali 140th Anniversary Tour, and a LINK to my blog, which has a few more...

https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/08/battle-of-kandahar-pt-3-thrill-packed.html (https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/08/battle-of-kandahar-pt-3-thrill-packed.html)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c9NpuhmKgZ0/X0yuAsBi8qI/AAAAAAAAVD8/Zt4lYRAWyBc9IbXjjDja9dWdyr5h2BtKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_3502.jpeg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_BbbfmiNpI/X0yyWZ3KWJI/AAAAAAAAVEk/XMwshGlnNVwR5ZPp2PlgnkRQRMc1iSdwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/0a9f539a-6a1b-4ed8-803f-e4ea603e1a87.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BdbIzdJdwc/X0yyYlx1c8I/AAAAAAAAVE8/xnh1a0lU5tYg8_ZW3Oqjitwb7bWzmZMXACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/8e7f88a0-44a9-4063-93e5-57fc30c65538.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VBAlQYDGGQ/X0yyWa04T2I/AAAAAAAAVEc/vYwA-ztAqlwqGmlDKhS-DvmdyT5BPUSgACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/152cc29e-60a2-449d-b463-2536c2b068ef.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-03FCsGXXwbA/X0yyXKXJmSI/AAAAAAAAVEs/8XG4KbimmcEql-itwaRKJTJ3_5BWCdxQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/3703a257-65fc-485c-a237-f38328ec518a.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YtKmun_Z-9k/X0yyWaY9C6I/AAAAAAAAVEg/Drgpb3AM94MprBsYLiAIusAFESP-EqrPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/116887b9-1fcb-443c-8989-fba00e9daaa7.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GeBjp-s5dYM/X0yyYicQSHI/AAAAAAAAVFE/1GyDKb6KkMUJdMuezZ5dF4qolgeATaKCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/a8c9d868-c809-4b0a-a257-354c94be1682.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ne7Rt-7RhU/X0yybaNgThI/AAAAAAAAVFY/WY2VvREHupcBMfFfS15pDMipRqHseRePQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/efa1551f-fea3-47d5-9e26-776328663ba2.jpg)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Update #10: August 31st NEW PICS
Post by: Plynkes on August 31, 2020, 09:10:29 PM
Cor, you really know how to put on a game, Guru. Sounds like you had a great time. I hope you did.

Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Update #10: August 31st NEW PICS
Post by: Atheling on August 31, 2020, 09:23:41 PM
Absolutely outstanding Ethan!!!  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*

It's one of those games that one desperately wished to have witnessed at first hand and then some, then some again!

Wonderful  :)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Update #10: August 31st NEW PICS
Post by: Marine0846 on September 01, 2020, 12:23:41 AM
Wonderful terrain and figures.
Great photos, am at a lost for words.
So,  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: Mad Guru on September 06, 2020, 11:44:57 PM
Plynkes, Darrell & Marine0846, thanks for your kind comments, which are always very much appreciated!

I finally managed to finish the AAR on our 140th Anniversary refight of the last major battle of the Second Afghan War.

As said by one of the Afghan players, it was an "EPIC SLUGFEST" – the results arguably hanging in the balance until the final -- 9th -- turn. Despite the odd blunder, all 6 Afghan and British commanders acquitted themselves very well indeed, and myself and my 2 fellow GMs all felt lucky to have them as players.  I also must reiterate that as organizer of the event I was VERY GRATEFUL to have my son, Skylar, and our buddy Matthew agree to help me run the game. I could not have done it alone.

The game took 3 days, stretched out over 3 weekends, played entirely via DIGITAL AUDIO & VIDEO using 2 Google "MEET" links, one for each side.

I won't spoil the ending here, so if you're interested in learning more, please click the LINK below to visit my blog, and thanks in advance should you choose to do so:

https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/09/kandahar-140-aar-includes-thrill-packed.html (https://maiwandday.blogspot.com/2020/09/kandahar-140-aar-includes-thrill-packed.html)

Though I won't spoil the ending, I will provide a sampling of the 80+ pics posted on the blog, as seen below...

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HsgzyV3zfuk/X1VRan40cOI/AAAAAAAAVH8/ehOwbKpA4rMaXYvq7WZa_fmlPxVDv8JrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bc9c7156-5a97-4046-b914-29fc416b2812.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ew9lhKDDDJU/X1Vbex3RJ1I/AAAAAAAAVK0/wySOMZ7E604T70NwWLbiLxNKNQI_t2tzACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/9fc5eb57-18b8-4942-93e1-f4f934e846c5.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZhD7tTc2wE/X1VbeIgSOAI/AAAAAAAAVKo/6PBk7WuB_e0L1V1rltwJvRSoOzcgsfavACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/84ebbbcc-8b8d-4ade-b132-f23551c8f994.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_tHAVIia2A/X1Vbeq7-_TI/AAAAAAAAVKw/Xebc7t8j4dgbdbY1tW-phHl5E2rkiaPmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/953069e9-6c73-4ded-be27-184384808f29.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xDUnqp4xxo/X1Vbe4oTeaI/AAAAAAAAVK4/qh2L6SLmBZE4pTMHnRq1goYEnr0aIpntQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/a4e630ad-2bcc-47af-8c54-ea541dca90c7.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GUZWV0rGXHw/X1VZoYjd5OI/AAAAAAAAVIw/xrCMLKCv7w8YdIrfkWWPD1iFo8SGH_RZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2f85503b-80ec-44e4-b991-274ea001519d.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7BWpK6aEOc/X1VZsHVhSiI/AAAAAAAAVJg/_aSbxulISNY6HcWSlLa8BQ-8VmMx4IjvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/894b6ce2-8a73-49d4-89ec-319d1b8bd4b6.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wx6Wt9wFDbA/X1VZoX2z_mI/AAAAAAAAVI0/yJqtl6JN_PkdIiOs4PyJNiEPHOjmKKSoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/211605cd-9365-45f5-a952-948f74f5d4a2.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-2lOHLBDLc/X1VZs24L4CI/AAAAAAAAVJo/RLdUOhak-68EEokd-zUd1HmkuhsKo5lFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/a3e6201b-8cec-46ef-b4b6-e89a90d2ba87.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgX8S7rzUZA/X1VZtjbwo3I/AAAAAAAAVJ0/xUKp1Ihvn_keHgkKxR2LLFpf2WIRrYQZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/e746d626-a2c0-4b3d-a5d3-11c8c03ef745.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cvvfFGrXIfs/X1VVSW7KPEI/AAAAAAAAVII/Ch_RbGUK3OQtwm9bOrq7ByZNhla3WGVUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/45aca1cd-a6af-41fb-80dc-157c38d04598.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_6MfZymox8/X1VVTO9JoGI/AAAAAAAAVIQ/mim68a3ZFjcxdFRAGkXWvqQfW6jKa04lACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/917daf18-3760-4887-8846-8de152c03b30.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sKkrQxY3T0/X1VVUv5Ge1I/AAAAAAAAVIc/F2b4XrWXVnAR8I7zZo9MsvTRImrd36uQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/e84bae6e-ea7d-4036-aeee-8a28090f655b.jpg)

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Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: Atheling on September 07, 2020, 08:49:00 AM
 :o :o :o :o :o
 :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*

Amazing! Astonishing! I'm utterly gobsmacked at the beauty of the thing  :)
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: Plynkes on September 07, 2020, 09:16:41 AM
I love that shot of those Highlanders packed in on that rooftop. But I bet the officer had a devil of a time getting his horse up the stairs. :)

Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: OB on September 07, 2020, 09:51:27 AM
Not just a good game but a work of art too.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: Mad Guru on September 07, 2020, 09:57:31 AM
Thanks, Darrell, you are very kind, and I sincerely appreciate your compliments.

Thanks, OB, that's extremely generous of you to say.

And thank you, Plynkes, LOL -- yes, he had a devil of a time indeed!

It was the last turn of the game -- #9 -- and I was conflicted about leaving him on his horse and later on I actually swapped out that mounted General. MacPherson figure for a spare high-ranking officer on foot.  I even have some pics with that version to prove it!  But since all key command figures in the rules are referred to as "MOUNTED LEADERS" I stuck with the version on horseback in the game & for the pics I chose to post, despite the somewhat incongruous nature of it.

The irony is that any of the 3 other villages on the table would have been easy for him to appear LESS incongruous in, since they all contain some walled-in ground level space... but not Marza Village, where MacPherson & the remnants of the 1st Brigade were able to hunker down after wiping out the Afghan defenders.

Such are the compromises of 28mm "medium battle" gaming.  Note I didn't use the term "big battle" since the combined total of both armies was about 23,000 scale men, represented at 1:30 scale by about 760 figures.  So not that big compared to big Napoleonic, ACW or Ancients games.  But still probably the most figures in any Second Afghan War game I've ever played.

The model I used for Marza Village does feature an exterior stairway leading up to that lower rooftop where MacPherson is on horseback, so it might have been possible for him to get up there without breaking his own neck or one or more of his horse's legs.  I definitely saw a hero do it in a movie once or twice, even before digital VFX!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: syrinx0 on September 08, 2020, 01:22:25 AM
Wow.  What an impressive battle!  Beautiful table and battle report.   :-*
Love the 'movie' at the end. 
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: giorgio on August 29, 2021, 06:12:58 AM
Not just a good game but a work of art too.
And an excellent work of art, so many details , fabulous and impressive! Now it is first anniversary and it is a reference masterpiece for all NWF lovers! Fantastic work buddy, my greatest compliments!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: MaleGriffin on August 29, 2021, 05:36:15 PM
Quote
I love that shot of those Highlanders packed in on that rooftop. But I bet the officer had a devil of a time getting his horse up the stairs. :)


Getting a horse up steps is easy.... it's getting the horse back down that's hard!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: Marine0846 on August 29, 2021, 06:30:14 PM
So glad this thread popped up again.
Really enjoyed rereading and looking at all the great photos again.
I think one of the best battles reports that has been posted on this Forum.
A wonderful effort.
Thanks again for all the enjoyment.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: Mad Guru on August 30, 2021, 02:02:04 PM
Giorgio, MaleGriffin, & Marine0846,

Thanks for the resurrection, and for all the kind words!

PS.  And yes, my sincere thanks extends even to Giorgio, despite his belief in false rules and precepts!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: FifteensAway on August 31, 2021, 01:08:17 AM
Eye Candy?  Nope.

Gaming Porn?  Nope.

Sixty Course Gourmet Banquet?  Maybe.

Words just fail in the face of such a spectacular visual game. 

I will have to find a half day when I have nothing else needs doing to devour the full report of the multi-event game. 
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: rafm3ic on August 31, 2021, 02:42:22 PM
This is a great table and a great thread that I scrolled all the way through. Thanks and it all looks great!
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: twrchtrwyth on January 06, 2022, 01:16:43 AM
That looks amazing. Superb.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: Rhingyll on January 06, 2022, 05:02:06 AM
Twrchtrwyth - Da chi'n siarad Cymraeg?
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: twrchtrwyth on January 06, 2022, 09:11:23 AM
Twrchtrwyth - Da chi'n siarad Cymraeg?
Yndw.
Title: Re: Mad Guru's Kandahar Game post #11 - Sept 6th: THRILL-PACKED CONCLUSION...
Post by: Umra Khan on January 06, 2022, 11:17:12 AM
Compliments Mad Guru, one of the best table and scenario I have ever  seen.
Is a MUST for any NWF lovers !