"Right lads, the aim is simple; we sneak ups on 'em, we jumps them, we wins!" My orc boss giving his lads a pep-talk before game 1. Graham/Sunjester invited me round for a game (or three) of 'Song of Blades and Heroes' and presented with multiple warbands to try, I plumped for his beautiful Ral Paths orcs, while he chose his gnolls. Mine were better fighters, his were more motivated. This was an interesting mechanism, which would add definite flavour to the groups of warriors. Aim for game one, was simple, I had 8 orcs in some kind of ambush, could I get him, before he got me? The gnoll warband brings an ogre as muscle! A couple of turns later, my lads obviously unable to hide in bushes without lots of "Shhh, be quiet!" "No you be quiet!" "Stop giggling, they'll hear us!" The Gnoll warriors and ogre charge in. However, one of my savage orcs lands a 'gruesome' injury on the ogre before the behemoth can get a charge in, and ...
Well, it's been all a minute! Neil suggested a game of Test of Honour, which neither of us have played since Neil absolutely trounced me in my first attempt at playing... My list was almost the same, The boss was an Onna Bugeisha as my armoured samurai hero , a devoted samurai follower and a battleworn samurai as retainers, bows, arquibusiers, spears. This time I dropped the second spears and took a veteran Ashugari sergeant and a single spearman to get to exactly 24 points. My mob assembled. Neil putting his boys through their paces. I mean, it's great looking terrain Neil owns. Really looks atmospheric. Oh yeah, he split his forces in two, either side of the stream, so I matched him as much as possible. His bows and spears cone down Neil's left, his hero clashes with mine. My retainer follows up as Neil's crosses the bridge. My ashugaru with Tepu unleash a volley at the Samurai crossing the bridge. And their shots strike true! Neil's first gero is ...