Disturbing News Report from Venus....

[Malamute]

Illustrated London News. Sunday, february 8th, 1884.

Dear Reader,

 The ILN has just received this news via a wireless link to our correspondent in New Victoria, Venus.

Incident on Venus!.....STOP

Peaceful British trade caravan attacked!......STOP

Lord Belborough Missing!......STOP

Key members of the Royal Geographical Society missing!.....STOP

Her Majesty's (Guad bless 'Er) forces engaged with both Prussian and French Troops!......STOP

British casualties heavy!......STOP

Local Parrotmen men attack British in overwhelming numbers......STOP

Reports are so far incomplete as yet, but we are able to bring you early images and will contine to keep you informed as fresh news arrives....

The British trade caravan including members of the Royal Geographical society winds it was through the treacherous, dangerous, steamy, hot Venusian  jungle supported by Troops from  Queens Own Bhurpa Rifles (famous for their heroic actions in the Anglo Prussian war of 1881), mechanised troops from the Grenadier Guards Impervious suits division and Royal Navy mechanised Steam transports.




The  Royal Geographical Society attempts to retrieve fossils for study back in London.



In the distance French forces can be seen gradually closing on the caravan , Parrotmen massing in the long grass and in the right foreground you can see a Prussian Automaton, moving to intercept the British.



Members of the new French Legion Extraterrestriale with a mechanical steam powered walker "Le Mulet."



The French Steam walker ( Believed to have been designed by Monsieur Gustaf Eiffel) transporting an expedition from a French perfume house, supposedly looking for new scents. We are horrified to learn this Perfume house is by Royal appointment to her Majesty Queen Victoria (Gaud Bless 'Er).
Whilst these were not directly involved in attack on our forces, members of the French aero navy were directly involved in a skirmish withour own Royal Marines.
(We understand a strongly worded letter has been sent to Paris with questions raised.)




More images will be printed as soon as we receive them and we will report further on this devasting attack as fresh news arrives....

STOP PRESS ********* MORE IMAGES RECEIVED***********

French Naval forces arrive with the aid of a light Aeroneph " Piaff" and in the foreground you will see Parrottmen askaris in service to the French.




Parrottmen swarm across the jugle floor at a terrifying speed.




A ferocious beast used by the Parrottmen to great effect. One managed to bring down a British walker, by gnawing its legs...



Much needed British reinforcements arrive in the form of a Naval Brigade under the able command of The Admiral, lord Ivor Mough-D'Iver including the RNAS Ariadne.



The caravan crawls behind the protective line of the combined Navy and Infantry units as they were relentlessly assaulted by the Prussians.



Terrible news has reached us of the disappearance of Lord Belborough. He was last seen striding to the front with his trusty Elephant gun Bessie and began engaging Prussian steam walkers in a firefight. He was unfortunatley wounded shortly thereafter.

Captain Roger Boyes, Grenadier Guards Impervious suits division had similar misfortunes when his suit was destroyed. He managed to make it to the aid of Lord Belborough,despite being  fired upon by Prussian machine guns. Neither has been seen since crawling into some long grass for cover.




The last round ........or Lunch.

[Ray Rivers]

 

Good Lord!

Those frightful French and Prussians are at it again!

I say send reinforcements and give them a bit of what for to sort them out!

 

Jolly good board by the way!  I detect a new French walker as well.

Can't wait for more news!

[Ook]

Excellent report, I'm quite liking the idea of VSF and may delve further 

[JollyBob]

Great looking game, I hope our stout-hearted lads gave those dastardly continentals and Johnny Parrotface a good sound thrashing!

[Bullshott]

It was a most excellent game. Thank you to all who made it possible.

The forces of France achieved their objective (retreival of their agent travelling incognito in the British caravan), but at great cost.

Lieutenant Camenbert and his landing party of Fusiliers Aerospatiale were the subject of an unprovoked attack by the British Royal Marines, resulting in the loss of the entire landing party. We understand that diplomatic pressure has been brought to bear by Paris and that the marines' officer, Lt. Curtis Ramshackle, is to be the subject of discipliniary proceedings.

The other major French loss was the their commander, Commandante Hackman and his men of the Legion Extraterrestriale. Following the death of the Parrotman chief (not a the hands of the French), these brave men were over-run and killed by an overwhelming horde of Red Parrotmen. However, fortunatelty for France, few of these brave legionaires were actually French (being recruited in the same manner as the Legion Etranger). The only survivor of the legion's forces was brave Capt. Depardieu, who managed to break off from overwhelming odds and scrambele up the legs of the walker Behemoth.

[Bullshott]

I forgot to men that  the playsheets and unit cards we used for this game and our previous 'Prussian Invasion of England' games have been posted on the Yahoo GASLIGHT rules forum (you well need to be a member to access the forum)

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/GASLIGHTrules/

The playsheets and unit cards can be found in the FILES section in the HOUSE RULES folder.

[Ramshackle_Curtis]

Good gosh, the photos just dont do the models justice!

Great game, really nice armies and crazy vsf machinery. Enjoyed it thouroughly and it was good to meet some of the LAFers!

I played as the english, made several tactical errors and generally blighted by those pesky foreigners! Stiff upper lip and all that, jolly good show all round!

[Captain Blood]

Lovely stuff. That last pic is a classic 

Any chance of some slightly bigger pics? 

[Dewbakuk]

I believe the sound effects for that shot as uttered by the Parrotman player  was along the lines of "nom nom nom"

Great pics, I'll upload the few I took later.

[Westfalia Chris]

Hurrah for the Great Knarloc Beast of the Parrotmen! Finally a use in a game that DESERVES such splendid models!

Looks like a veritable long ton of fun! I REALLY need to get back into VSF. Now, where is that half-built aethersloop I had lying around...

[gamer Mac]

Great looking game
Would love to see some larger pictures.

[Thunderchicken]

As I was late and mainly because the chaps feel threatened by my tactical genius (cough) I was put in charge of the random encounters - anything from dinosaurs to lizardmen armed with blow pipes (although the blow pipes were changed to pan pipes during the game to annoy the hell out of some Prussians hiding in the bushes). I can confidently say everything I put on that board was well and truly vapourised by Victorian technology apart from some flying things which successfully flung poo at some Brits but failed to bite them.

It was a great game and Malamute's write up does it justice. Many pics were taken so I'm sure they will be along soon.

[Furt]

Awesome - there is a lot happening there! 

Second for some more close ups.

[Chairface]

Exactly what VSF is meant to be!

[commissarmoody]

Great report, you guys never fall in the entertanment department. I never heard the conclusion of the England invaded campagen. I guess it is still going on.

REally nice set up and I enjoy seeing thouse Parrotmen beening used. Great game over all.