"Fort Zinderneuf Game in 54mm" Topic

Last Saturday I ran a 54mm French Foreign Legion game using Fistful of Lead Bigger Battle rules. The rules use a regular deck of playing cards to determine order of activation, which is why you'll see cards on the game table. The scenario set a relief column, starting at the table edge, on the way to break a siege on the desert fort. What developed was two separate games, as the Arab players divided their forces equally and made simultaneous attacks on both the column and the fort. The game ended with an Arab victory as they were able to defeat the relief column and break into the fort. When I run the game next week, I will start the column a lot closer to the fort.

Wow! 54mm, in all of its visual glory! There is something special in 54mm gaming that nothing else can match.

I ran a 28mm siege of a city wall section (fantasy, undead army attacking the city), and the attackers had siege engines, intended by me, the scenario designer, to supplement the wall breach attack… The attacking army lead player opted to "soften up the defenses", before launching the breach attack. His teammates sat on their hands for multiple game Turns, watching the artillery accomplish nothing. It was a hard lesson learned about what to include in the forces, and also what happens if I give the attackers too much distance to their enemy forces.

Designing a scenario that is challenging for the players, is fun, but those pesky players will often think of things I did not. If there is a way for them to ruin the enjoyment of the other Players at the table, they will find it -- and they will exploit it, to their own detriment. I felt like the defeated villain in a Scooby-Do cartoon: "I'd have done it, if it wasn't for those pesky kids and their dog!" I need a Scooby Snack. Cheers!

Nice one, Nick! And yup, the FFL relief was a looong way off! Scratch built fort?

Did the tower cost the defenders one figure casualty per turn?

The fort is made of some kind of foam. I bought it several years ago on eBay for $100. USD They are now selling for $1,000 USD!

Sergeant Markoff would be proud! Great report.

Nick, the fort isn't a Conte Collectable, is it? I gave a Conte version to my grandson not too long ago. If yours is a Conte, it's been modified somewhat.

Great job, Nick.

Awesome looking game as usual, Nick! Wish I was there! Planning to run -- and command the opposing forces -- a game tomorrow for a friend who's never played historical miniatures before. If I'm lucky it will go as well as yours did. Wish me luck! One question: were any of the Geste brothers present with the FFL garrison and/or relief column?

MG: Your friend doesn't know how lucky he is to be initiated into our brotherhood by yourself. No Geste brothers, although the Conte Collectibles set came with an alive and a dead Sgt. Markov and dead legionaires to prop up along the wall.

Nick, it looks quite spectacular.

Great looking game!