Bob and Cleo Liebl

It is with great sorrow to announce the passing of Bob Liebl earlier this month.  Bob and his wife Cleo were delightful personalities, even fixtures, at the HMGS conventions.  He had a great wit, like "Saving Ryan's Privates", they marvelous scenario builders, and carried a box of fresh baked cookies.  They were official chroniclers of HMGS events.

A paragraph is too small a description of a life.  And while they were always noticeable with matching Hawaiian shirts, I only had sporadic contact with them over the last decade.  Bob always had a story to tell.  And I will relate one he told me on our penultimate get together.

It involved two family members of his. I will refer to them as "the Uncle", and "the Nephew."  It is the mid 1930's.  And the depression was still going on.  But the word was out, at least in the German speaking community, that things were turning around in Germany.  So the Uncle, who was naturalized citizen, and the Nephew, a natural born citizen, went to Germany looking for work.  

They were still there when WWII broke out and both were drafted.  The Uncle had a college degree and spoke perfect English, was assigned to German Army Intelligence.  The Nephew had skills with animals, and was assigned to a divisional veterinary company.  As a side note, the German army ran on horses and mules.  8,000 per infantry division.   

Spoiler alert here.  They both survived the war.  So no drama is intended there.

One of the key events by the Uncle involved the British mini-sub attack on the Battleship Tirpitz.  They snuck into the anchorage, planted bombs on the hull, and then were captured.  The Tripitz was not noticeably harmed in the attack.   

The Gestapo was unable to get the UK sailors to talk.  And then the Uncle was sent in to interrogate them.  He took the tactic of throwing a party for them, with lots of booze and imported Swedish hookers.  He then just worked the room with pleasant conversation, and gaining everything relevant about the attack. 

And got one of the lower grade Iron Crosses for the effort.

The Nephew spent 3 years on the Russian front.  And as part of the retreat into Poland in late 1944.  He swam a river, only to be caught up in an artillery barrage.  He woke up some time later, in some hospital in Germany proper.  His uncle was given leave to visit him in the hospital.  He borrowed a car, see Iron Cross above, loaded the Nephew into it, and proceeded west.  They were stopped a couple of times by German authorities, but then again, an officer wearing an Iron Cross.  Eventually they were stopped by an American patrol, and taken prisoner.  They spent some time in POW camps before being released.  

The Nephew returned to Germany after the war and served as an air traffic controller during the Berlin air lift.  Somewhere around this time there was a massive burial of old military equipment that he was witnessed to.  Later, he worked for the Smithsonian, and recovered that same equipment. 

There was more to this story, and I may update it as memory clears.

Official obituary is here...

We are all diminished by their passing.

Hannibal on a Bad Day

A Headless Body Production

Venue: Eisenhower Hotel (well, on the property.  You can see the hotel, if you stand on one leg, and squint...)
Event: Cold Wars, 2025
Theme: Classic Age, 6 mounted units maximum, Round 2
Players: Phil Gardocki running German, 100BC
              Jeff Wiltrout running Carthaginian,  "In Italy" option.
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.
Font: Times Roman...

The Forces
The Germans, list 91, are commanded by Asterix, the Competent, Obilix, the Competent, and Bastardix, the Ordinary, and somewhat Unreliable.
12 Chatti, "Brave", Warriors, Heavy Swordsmen, Impetuous, 4 are Elite
4 Cherusci, Medium Swordsmen, Impetuous
6 Light Infantry with sharp, pointy sticks
4 Horsemen, Medium Cavalry, 2 are Elite
2 Tencteri Light Cavalry, Javelin
Breakpoint...28
 

The title, "Hannibal on a Bad Day" just means Hannibal is only Brilliant today.  Do not consider it as foreshadowing.

The Carthaginians, list 55, year 𐤉𐤓𐤇𐤒𐤑𐤓𐤔𐤏𐤓𐤌, are commanded by Hannibal, the Brilliant, Bomilcar, also Brilliant, and Getulio, the Samnite.
2 Spanish and Samnite Horsemen, Medium Cavalry
2 Spanish and Numidian Light Cavalry, Javelin, Elite
1 Elephant, Mediocre
2 Spanish Scutarii, Medium Swordsmen, Impact
2 African Spearmen, Heavy Spearmen, Armour, Elite
2 Gallic, Heavy Swordsmen, Impact
2 Campanians, Heavy Swordsmen, Armour, Impact
4 Light Infantry, Sling and Javelin, Elite
1 Triarii, Heavy Spear, Armour.
5 Samnite Warriors and Hoplites, Heavy Swordsmen, Impact
Breakpoint...23

Display Conventions: When you see a word bubble like "Ouch!" or "𐤀‬‬𐤉‬𐤍‬!", or "AHH!", or "SMERZA!", this implies a disorder from missiles. Letters in parenthesis represent some value change for the specific unit. For commanders it is s for strategist, b for Brilliant, c for Competent and o for Ordinary, u for unreliable. For troops it is e for Elite, and m for Mediocre. Other abbreviations, Hvy Heavy, XB Crossbow, LB, Longbow, Jav Javelin, 2HW 2 Handed Weapons, B Bow, Kn Knight, HKn Heavy Knight, HC Heavy Cavalry, Md Medium, Sgt Sergeants, LC Light Cavalry, Chr Chariot, Cat Cataphract, Pa Pavise, LI, Light Infantry, HG Hand Gun, FKn Foot Knight, Hvy Spear, Heavy Spearmen. I tend not to point out Light Infantry, as it clutters the pictures for no real value.

Inappropriately capitalized words are used to highlight terms that are specific to the game. For example Brilliant, Competent and Ordinary have specific game values for the commanders.

"XX" implies a unit killed in that location on that turn.

Any vagueness or inaccuracies in the descriptions is to be considered is to be considered Fog of War, and is to be considered part of the fun.

The Venue:

Having not hosted HMGS for a while, the hotel was moderately unprepared for us.  I'm sure the litany of complaints are on the boards somewhere else.  Not to promote the Eisenhower over much but...

The bathrooms in the off board area, the "Allstar Expo Complex", were not up to the volume of people there.  But they are going to be totally renovated and expanded.  Starting the Monday after we left.

The buffet breakfast area was lackluster, but clean.  It did have constant 2 or 3 attendants during breakfast.

The dinner offerings in town were outstanding.  I had dinner at the Appalachian Brewing Company which has the best root beer I have ever had.  And at the Irish Pub, the best meat loaf in many a decade.

The Board:

Hannibal continues to have a bad day and loses the initiative.  The Germans elect to attack in the plains.

His elite spearmen take the point of honor on the right.

In the center, he deploys Greek mercenaries and "me too" Italians.

Makes sense.  The center is where the heaviest fighting would occur.  As this is the "Hannibal in Italy" list, the Italians are replaceable.  Where as the African's are not.  The Gauls only somewhat.  Northern Italy was still populated with Gallic tribes.

On his left, Hannibal sets up his command behind his few remaining elephants.

The Germans have ideal terrain.  Their heavy swordsmen fitting almost perfectly between the terrain.

The field by the sea to a lowland marsh center right.

Bastardix with all the horse in the German army hopes to turn Hannibal's flank.

All the terrain fell on the German's side save one field.  But the Chatti snuck in over night and pulled the weeds and filled in the divots so it was as flat as the rest of the battleground.

It was pointed out, several times, that the German list required an allied commander due to the mixing of tribes.  Mainly the medium sword Cherusci and the heavy sword Chatti.  And upon examination, the Tencteri  are also a different tribe.  I blame reading only the list, and not the notes on the other side of the fold.

Turn 1:

Per the usual plan,

the Germans surge across the field.

Bastardix pushes his horse beyond Hannibal's flank. 

Bomilcar and Gelato's forces

march forward to meet them.

Hannibal turns to meet Bastardix's horse.

Turn 2:

Asterix's rolls deficient in command points and can only advance 2 of his three groups.

Obilix stays in line.

Looking at the pictures, it seems like this command is a couple of elements short.

Bastardix's turns his horse.  The lights to just sort of pin Hannibal's command.  The mediums to possibly run down Gelatos main line of battle.

Bomilcar advances his main line to charge reach, his skimishers scoring a lucky hit.

Gelato advances, yielding an overlap to the Germans.

Hannibal closes the gap on Bastadix's horse.  They are not going to interfere with the main line of battle.

 Turn 3:

The heroes of Germania charge!  Better described as tripping over their own feet.

The German left did not win any of the contacts to battle.  Obilix's line wins two.

Bastardix decides not to play.

In the middle of the third turn, the Carthaginian score is just 3.  (no elephants were harmed in the making of this blog)

The Germans are at 9.

I missed taking pictures at the bottom of the 4th.  But <BAM> <POW> <THACK>  there was a lot of action.  You should have seen it. 

The German score is now at 14!

To the Carthaginians 7!

 Turn 4:

The Cherusi, held in reserve till now, enter the fray.

The German right have turned the Carthaginian flank.  But are turned as well.

I really did have two fewer units on the board.  They are mounted just like the Cherusi on the far left.

Bastardix figures he did his job.  Hannibal and his elephant will not see combat.

But it did cost him 4 points in lost light horse. 

The Germans are now 18

To just 8.

Asterix is down to his last unit.

 

Gelato pulls a double envelopment. 

Turn 5:

Bastardix gallops to the center of the board.

And does a quick head count.

Obilix's Chatti died hard.

But die they did.

I'm sorry that this wasn't a more interesting narrative. 

What a blow out!   What went wrong?  Easily a succession of bad die rolls on bound 3.  But there were other factors.

In the early approach, there was a choice, either advance the main line and skirmishers, or the main line and the Cherusci.  I chose the skirmishers.  Meaning that the main line charged yielding an overlap advantage to the Carthaginians.  

But the real mistake was separating the skirmishers at all, looking for a cheap, and inconsequential missile hit.  Because 1's do happen, and always at a very inconvenient time.  Would it have made a difference?  Maybe some, we will never know.  

The second was with the cavalry on the far right.  They sacrificed two light horse on what was a 50/50 shot at winning.  And lost.  Giving the Carthaginians another 4 points.  Would pulling them back on turn 2 have mattered?  Probably.  Hannibal would still have to react to the German horse.  

 

 

 

 

Germania, 75BC, Tuesday

A Headless Body Production

Venue: Eisenhower Hotel (well, on the property...)
Event: Cold Wars, 2025
Theme: Classic Age, 6 mounted units maximum, Round 1
Players: Phil Gardocki running German, 100BC
              Jim Bisignani running Ancient Spanish
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.
Font: Germania One

The Forces
The Germans, list 91, are commanded by Asterix, the Competent, Obilix, the Competent, and Bastardix, the Ordinary, and somewhat Unreliable.
12 Chatti, "Brave", Warriors, Heavy Swordsmen, Impetuous, 4 are Elite
4 Cherusci, Medium Swordsmen, Impetuous
6 Light Infantry with sharp, pointy sticks
4 Horsemen, Medium Cavalry, 2 are Elite
2 Tencteri Light Cavalry, Javelin
Breakpoint...28
 
The Spanish, list 90, are commanded by the great Sertorius, a Strategist, and two other Competent Commanders.
4 Veteran Legionaries, Heavy Swordsmen, Armor, Impact, Elite
4 Lusitanian Scutarii, Medium Swordsmen, Impact, Elite
6 Lusitanian Scutarii, Medium Swordsmen, Impetuous
5 Light Infantry, Sling or Javelin
2 Spanish Horsemen, Medium Cavalry, 1 Elite
4 Light Cavalry, Javelin
Breakpoint...25

Impetuous on Impetuous, this game is not going the distance.

Display Conventions: When you see a word bubble like "Ouch!" or "Ouh!", or "¡Ai!", this implies a disorder from missiles. Letters in parenthesis represent some value change for the specific unit. For commanders it is s for strategist, b for Brilliant, c for Competent and o for Ordinary, u for unreliable. For troops it is e for Elite, and m for Mediocre. Other abbreviations, Hvy Heavy, XB Crossbow, LB, Longbow, Jav Javelin, 2HW 2 Handed Weapons, B Bow, Kn Knight, HKn Heavy Knight, HC Heavy Cavalry, Md Medium, Sgt Sergeants, LC Light Cavalry, Chr Chariot, Cat Cataphract, Pa Pavise, LI, Light Infantry, HG Hand Gun, FKn Foot Knight, Hvy Spear, Heavy Spearmen. I tend not to point out Light Infantry, as it clutters the pictures for no real value.

Inappropriately capitalized words are used to highlight terms that are specific to the game. For example Brilliant, Competent and Ordinary have specific game values for the commanders.

"XX" implies a unit killed in that location on that turn.

Any vagueness or inaccuracies in the descriptions is to be considered is to be considered Fog of War, and is to be considered part of the fun.

OK, the Germania font 'may' have been humorous, but enough is enough, back to Times New Roman.

Oh my.  Sifting through the email list and noted two addresses are to dead gamers. 

The Board:

The Spanish win the initiative and will attack in the forest!

The Spanish right flank has 4 of their 6 troops of horse, supported by Lusitanian regulars.

Their loonies deploy dead center.

On their left, long term Roman exPat's. 

Bastardix with 6 horse take the German left.

The German center is full of Chatti Tribe.

With more Chatti and Cherusci on the right.

OK, read the room here.  Only some of the Spanish are impetuous.  Most of them are Impact!

The rest of the room...

Turn 1:

With no shortage of command points...

the Spanish rush the field.

No subtlety here.

It is rare I actually have the edge in quantity and quality in cavalry this tournament.

Bastardex was deployed in a column and ready to move elsewhere.  But the situation looks to his advantage, and he has enough command points to extend the main line of horse.

Asterix calls his Cherusci that were hidden in the woods.  His main line advances 3 to within charge reach of the impetuous Lusitanian Scutarii

And in an amazing display of discipline, the main lines of battle advance in perfect sync.

Turn 2:

Choking on what he now sees, the Spanish commander recalls his lights, but advances his Scutarii.

Wait, what turn is this?  Top of the second?  Units are already dropping dead?

Jim rolled poorly on his command rolls.  His fanatical troops are forced to charge.  Winning 3, losing 2, tying 1 on contact.

The Spanish legionaries advance, but were out of charge reach.

Bastardix pushes his advantage

Asterix's Cherusci were just behind the flank of the Spanish line and charge. 

Obilix is in a hurry to get into combat.  His charges win 2, lose 2, tie 2.

Turn 3:

The Spanish cavalry command withdraws their lights, but commit their medium cavalry to combat.  Their Scutarii take up position on the flank.

Asterix's command has just about finished off his opponents.  Having a magic potion will do that.

The legionnaires continue to fight.  But with little gain.  On the other hand, the armor they paid for is paying dividends.

Bastardix is ignoring the Scutarii, and going in for the kill of the Spanish horse.

Their other Scutarii rushes the Cherusci near the wood.

The last fanatical Spanish Scutarii is eliminated.  The equally fanatical Cherusci is now on the flanks of the Roman Legionaries. 

It hasn't occurred to me until now, but that Cherusci is now engaged with it's 6th enemy unit.

The supporting Scutarii for the Romans have been routed. 

A repeat of Cannae is in the works here.

At the bottom of the third, the score is 22 of 25 for the Spanish

to 11 of 28 for the Germans

Turn 4:

The Lusitanians flank the German horse.

Asterix is taking a breather.

The Legionary cohorts hold their position.

And hold their score at 22

Taking the Germans to 13

Bastardix's lights run their Spanish counterparts off the board, for another +1 to the score.  His horse takes out the Spanish mediums for another point.

The Romans have a cohort routed, and two more beginning to crack for +3 towards their demoralization level of 25.

The final moves involve the Germans continuing to flank the Roman cohorts.

This was unusual where everything just worked.  On the German left, there was an actual superiority of cavalry.  If only 4 mediums to 2 with parity of lights, as the Spanish had 2 light horse supporting their infantry directly.  

In the center, a small ambush served to divert any flanking attempts by the Spanish on the main German line.  The German heavies then were pitted against the Spanish mediums.

And on the right, the Germans stood toe-to-toe with Roman cohorts.  And lasted long enough to turn the Roman flanks.