Enfilade 2014 Recap Part 1 – Other People’s Games

Enfilade 2014 is done and, as usual, it was a fun convention. Enfilade 2014 had record attendance (over 360, including vendors) and the gaming tables were full for the Friday night and almost all Saturday sessions. It seemed like there were a younger gamers in attendance this year. This is the second year Enfilade has had a theme and this year’s theme was obscure theaters, which led to a lot of different games, game types, and places. Overall it was another good year.

As with the recaps from previous years, I’m doing two Enfilade posts; one on the general convention and other people's games (including ones I played in) and a second covering the games I ran. This post will cover the general convention stuff and games I played in. As always, just click on a photo to get a closer view.

Friday Afternoon 
The first gaming period started at 2:00 on Friday afternoon. I took some time to get checked in and move my stuff into my room before going to check out the games.

The 29th Infantry at St. Lo using the Battleground Normandy rules

Battle of Texel (versions of which went on most of the weekend) WWI naval

The Martians land at Five Points as the Gangs of New York face-off against the warriors of old Mars

Guards Counterattack - the old Squad Leader scenario using Crossfire rules on scratch-built terrain

The Siege of of Haengju from the Imjin War (this went on to win Best of Show)

Sails of Glory game (this also went on most of the weekend)

Snakes and Zeros - A Japanese air attack on Port Moresby

Thunderboats - an old favorite

Friday Evening
I was running my Bulldogs Away game on Friday evening, but managed to sneak away while the missiles were flying to get a few photos from other events.

The Battle of Ligny - 28mm Napoleonics with home-brew rules

The Almost Fallout pulp game (I really like the terrain on this one)

Battle of Campaldino 1289

Battle of Montmirail - 15mm Napoleonic game

Bronze Age Heroes (more of this tomorrow)

Over the Top - British trenches (another set of wonderful scratch-built terrain)

Over the Top - German trenches

Over the Top - British advance through No-Man's Land

Fall of Shanghai - WWII Japanese vs. Chinese

Feudal Japan Ikko-Ikki Wars

Wings over Tillamook - Japanese flying boats and floatplanes attack Oregon

Saturday Morning 
I played in the Bolt Action Waltzing Matilda game on Saturday morning. It was good to familiarize myself with the rules again and gave me a chance to think about some opponents for my Australian troops (you can see them here). First the other games in the period and then the photos from the Bolt Action game.

Battle of Crysler's Farm from the War of 1812

Attack on Riga - using the Wings of War rules

Battle of Texel - WWI naval action

Battle of Contlarf

Pieces of Eight - fantasy pirate game in 28mm (with huge ships!)

That's No Moon - X-wing fighter attack on the Deathstar

Falklands Furball - WWI naval action in the South Atlantic

Learning to Ram - gallery action

Cold War Jets - US Air Force jets fight it out with the North Vietnamese

Waltzing Matilda - I joined the fray on the Australian side

To my right were more Aussies with some native auxilaries

My force of 'Diggers' was advancing up the middle with support from a Bren carrier

Then a Japanese flamethrower team jumped out and torched my carrier. After that we stayed in cover and pinned down the Japanese as the Americans on the left flank pushed ahead

In the end, the Allies won the game and the natives enjoyed a little treat of their own

Saturday Afternoon 
It took a little longer to get lunch than I expected, so I had to rush to get my AirWar C21 game setup. Once the game was going, I didn’t really have time to wander around for photos, except for a couple pictures of the game table next to mine.

LZ X-Ray - Vietnam War chopper landing game in 1/300 scale

LZ X-Ray after the choppers have cleared out

Saturday Evening 
On Saturday evening I decided to have a more leisurely dinner and just watch a few games. I was happy to see that someone was running the Golden Age Air Racing game, with only slightly modified rules (the main change was getting rid of the need for hexes). It is always fun to see someone playing with your rules.

Golden Age Air Racing rules on action

The game presenter showing off how to move without hexes (he really came up with a nice way to free the game from the hex mat)

There were a lot of other games too.

Battle of Abensberg April 1809 - using the Black Powder

Battle of Yamazaki

Battle of La Rothiere

Blood and Beer in Pomerania

Chariot racers getting their instructions for Circus Maximus

Colonial action in the Sudan

DBA Treasures of the Nile tournament

Doctor Who and the Pyramids of Sutekh - yes, that's a TARDIS

Get the Message Through! Napoleonic courier game (a very interesting game system)

More Bronze Age Heroes

Cloudships of Mars - 28mm scratch-built ships

Sunday Morning 
The annual members meeting was Sunday morning at 8:30 and there were plenty of bleary-eyed gamers in attendance. My good friend Kevin stepped down as NHMGS President and Sven Luger was announced as the new President. Taking charge is a lot of work, but I’m sure Sven is up to the task.

After the meeting it was on to more gaming. I helped Kevin out with his “Emperor of Texas, the Aaron Burr Conspiracy” game. This game was a lot different than your typical miniatures game. There weren’t any real set sides in the game and we were relying on the players to use a little diplomacy (along with some brute force) to get their way. It turned out to be a lot of fun and went right up to the last turn, when Burr barely escaped with the Spanish and Americans on his tail.

Burr's men preparing to head into Spanish territory (maybe with the blessing of the Spanish?)

American force engage with the Spanish, just before attempting to arrest Burr

And here are the other games from Sunday.

Bomb Alley - Check Your 6 Jets Falklands game

Deadman's Hand - Old West game

War of the Worlds game with some nice scratch-built tripods

Siege of Castle Miser

The British advance during the Battle of Sackett's Harbor from the War of 1812

Singapore Standoff - Japanesebattleships

Teutoburg Revisited

Sunday Morning at the Luminous Toad tavern brawl

There were really a lot of great games at Enfilade this year. I am always amazed at what I see, from the great scratch-built items (like the ships from the 28mm Cloudships of Mars game or the trenchline from the Over the Top game) and beautifully painted figures to the innovative home-brew rules (like the Get the Message Through courier game) and great scenarios. It is a really great community we have here in the Pacific Northwest (or Southwest for the Canadians) where people really plan and prepare for their Enfilade games. I’m already looking forward to next year’s convention.

Off to Enfilade

I'm packing up to head off to Olympia for Enfilade! 2014.

But before I go, as with previous years, I wanted to publish the list of naval games at this year's convention (including my game on Friday evening). I think I might try getting in on the Seekrieg game on Saturday night (I haven't tried version V). I'll get pictures from the convention up sometime next week.

Friday Afternoon
Thunderboats!
Rules: Thunderboats! room for 6 players
Description: Nothing better after a long day of driving and gaming than unwinding with a little boat racing. Create your boat and driver, cut those corners, push your engine, curse your rivals and kick a roostertail in their faces. Ummm. Thunderboats.

The Battle of Texel
Rules: Fleet Action Imminent, room for 6 players
Description: It’s late June 1916 and Jutland has not happened. Hipper leads another foray against the coast of England. Will this escalate into a full blown fleet engagement or will it be another hit and miss. Only your choices will decide. This is a walk-up game, feel free to stop by and jump in.

Friday Evening
Seekrieg V Introduction
Rules: Seekrieg V, room for 4 players
Description: Is Seekrieg a detailed game of naval combat? Or rivet-counting run riot? Command one ship, learn the system and check it out. Note: each player will be given a 1:2400 model donated by War Times Journal.

Slow Boat from China
Rules: Bulldogs Away, room for 5 players
Description: The Chinese Navy is making a supply run to bases in the Spratly Islands, but ships from the recently formed Littoral Alliance are blocking the way. Will one side back down or will the shooting start?

The Battle of Texel
Rules: Fleet Action Imminent, room for 6 players
Description: Did Hipper success in phase one? If so then onto phase 2. If not then back to square one. This is a walk-up game, feel free to stop by and jump in.

Tin Cans in the Aegean
Rules: Axis & Allies War at Sea, room for 8 players
Description: A battle between British, Greek and Italian cruisers and destroyers in the Aegean Sea. Lots of crummy ships to go around. Very simple rules; we might play twice!

Saturday Morning
Falklands Furball
Rules: Steel Fleets, room for 6 players
Description: The Battles of Coronel and the Falklands were two overwhelming victories - one for the Germans and one for the British. But what if Craddock had waited and Churchill had dithered? This action combines forces from both battles to give a more even matchup at Stanley Harbour.

The Battle of Texel
Rules: Fleet Action Imminent, room for 6 players
Description: Can you as the German change the balance of sea power in the North Sea. Maybe, maybe not, but it will be fun to try. This is just the heavies, no lights allowed. Dreadnoughts, Battle Cruisers and Pre-dreadnoughts steaming, shooting and sinking. Can you put the Channel Fleet on the bottom; can the Brits stop you? This is a walk-up game, feel free to stop by and jump in.

Saturday Afternoon
Napoleonic Naval Warfare
Rules: Sails of Glory, room for 10 players
Description: Learn the system "Sails of Glory", 1800s naval action where each player controls 1-2 ships.

Battle of Texel
Rules: Fleet Action Imminent, room for 6 players
Description: Can you as the German change the balance of sea power in the North Sea. Maybe, maybe not, but it will be fun to try. This is just the heavies, no lights allowed. Dreadnoughts, Battle Cruisers and Pre-dreadnoughts steaming, shooting and sinking. Can you put the Channel Fleet on the bottom; can the Brits stop you? This is a walk-up game, feel free to stop by and jump in.

Saturday Evening
Something Wrong With Our...Ships Today
Rules: Seekrieg V, room for 4 players
Description: Early 1896. The French try to take advantage of Italian weakness to acquire Pantellaria. The British object and send a squadron towards Tunisia on a "training cruise". The French object. Result: live fire training. Each player will receive a 1:2400 scale model contributed by War Times Journal!

Thunderboats!
Rules: Thunderboats!, room for 6 players
Description: Nothing better after a long day of gaming than unwinding with a little boat racing. Create your boat and driver, cut those corners, push your engine, curse your rivals and kick a roostertail in their faces. Ummm... It's Thunderboats!

Sunday Morning
Battle of Myonessus
Rules: Galleys & Glory Ancient Naval Rules, room for 10 players
Description: Roman Republic with Rhodes vs Seleucid Empire near Myonessus.

Singapore Standoff
Rules: Supremacy at Sea, room for 8 players
Description: In a very alternate timeline, where the Japanese are not as air-minded and there is better cooperation between the British and U.S. navies, a key surface action occurs off Singapore as the U.S. chooses that port as the springboard for the recapture of the Philippines. Can the Bushido spirit foil the Western Imperialists?

Enfilade 2014 Plans

With Enfilade a little over a week away, I thought I'd post a little information about the games I'm running.

On Friday night I'm running Slow Boat from China, a Bulldogs Away game featuring my recently completed PLA Navy forces escorting a container ship.

Chinese forces

Facing off against a mixed group of ships from Vietnam, Philippines, and Taiwan (the players will have some choices to make about their forces).

A group of recently completed Taiwanese Kuang Hua VI missile boats

The PLA forces need to escort the container ship off the board, while the other side is trying to stop them. The situation is complicated because no one has orders to open fire (at least not at the start of the game), but each side does have some non-lethal options.

My second game, being run on Saturday afternoon, is Sandy One to the Rescue, an AirWar C21 game taking place during the Vietnam War with the US Air Force players trying to cover the rescue of the downed crew. The US players will have some fighters to cover the rescue (although they have limited fuel).

F-4D Phantoms

Along with the search and rescue group with A-1 Skyraiders and the rescue helicopter.

A-1s and a CH-53

The North Vietnamese will have MiGs (although they won't get all of them)

MiG-17s

MiG-21s and MiG-19s

Along with some ground forces.

Some NVA AAA and trucks

The US players need to rescue the downed pilot, while the North Vietnamese are trying to stop them or inflict a bunch of casualties.

Enfilade is always a fun time and I'm looking forward to it.

As in previous years, I'll try to post a list of the Enfilade naval games. But on a side note, I have pretty much failed with my plan to update the blog more often.