Clash of Rhylfes (3x games of a new system)

With my initial Quar force painted up I was ready to play my first game of Clash of Rhyfles by Zombiesmith Miniatures. Stew came down this Sunday with his nicely painted and extensive Quar collection, and I'd set up a couple 2'x2' tables in preparation for his arrival (altho thankfully Stew had brought a few "Quarish" scenic items to Quar them up a bit better). 

Obligatory "Yay we actually gamed for the first time in over two years or something" pic. I missed that guy, he's great company and a solid chap in general. (I really need to do something about those awful extra chins...)

Having somehow the whole of Sunday to myself is a rarity and so I took full advantage and we managed to cram in 3 full games, which was excellent. The Clash of Rhyfles system was extremely fun and I really liked how although there was a definite "turn" system, each player had stuff to do or to react with so one wasn't just waiting around. The lack of surety as to how many activations one gets (3-5 based on a card draw) each turn was also a flippin brill and really made choices in-game both tough, but also ensured one really had to plan out each turn carefully in case their opponent revealed fewer than one might have been expecting. This rules set seemed nicely balanced for the skirmish size it was designed for and I could easily see it used for all sorts of squad-based muskets thru modern genres if the Quar aesthetic wasn't your thing.

Enough Waffling - on to some pics. Forgive the quality, the lighting in my game-space is average at best. I played my recently painted Fidwog in each game. 

Game One -Vs. Stew's Toulmore (200 or so points a side.)

This was my first game of Clash of Rhyflers so I was learning it all like a newborn babe being handed their first boob. We played two small lists of basic rhyflers, a yawdryl and my LMG guy. I was so caught up, I forgot to start taking snaps until almost the last turn. Boo.

In this pic, my brave Yawdryl (Sergeant) hunkers down behind one of the objectives we were both fighting over as Toulmorese troops shift about shooting at him from inside the ruins ahead.

Over at the other objective my Miner and a Gaefyn secure things there while two more Gaefyn are caught out in the open trying to assist, the one with tokens next to him and the yellow "whirlies" over his head is "Gobsmacked" & "Down" and needs to Recover.

Toulmorese bodies are littering the field of battle. It's not looking good for these Crusader Fanatics. 

Bottom left in this pic, my han-Gaefyn (Corporal) has just taken out one of the last of the enemy with a well-placed long ranged burst with his squad support LMG. Thankfully though, cos the rest of his buds in this pic all needed to use the Recover activation to get rid of their "Gobsmacked" & "Down" markers had there been another turn!

In the end, if you hadn't already guessed I won this learning game rather handily. I picked up the basics of the rules pretty quickly and we quickly moved on to game two.

Game Two - Vs. Stew's Crusaders. (My 365 vs Stew's 300-ish points)

Stew brought out his Crusaders for game two. (Those are the generic not-Communist faction that multiple nations have joined in the setting.) They have lots more options for list building. I numbered and lettered the different models and their placings in the below first image, but sheesh - if I am having a hard time reading that crap I can only imagine how you lot are so ignore the labeling and just know, green boxes denote Stew's troop placements, Red show mine. The scenario had my slightly larger Fidwog force being ordered to assault the Crusader encampment at the north of the first pic and take two objectives to win. 

Stew's guys at the top of the pic - basic Rhyflers, a couple Ryshi high powered Rhyflers, a Yawdryl and an AT Torpedo team. Mine was the same list as the first game but with an added Caertyn (Lieutenant), Marksquar (Sniper) and Fynrydhad (Tiny tractor). The river was treated as a "One move action to enter, another needed to move out". 

Stew's setup. That wattle fencing was way better at providing cover against firearms than one would have guessed!

Stew quickly became annoyed as my Marksquar set up early on in the game and began popping off long range shots primarily at his AT Torpedo team about 2 or 3 turns in a row.

My Tractor rumbled up and started peppering Stew's line. These early turns didn't look good for the Crusader defenders at all.

With infantry support creeping up in support, my tractor had a turn of multiple insane rolls and lots of Quar Rhyflers fell to aggressive fire.

Then some other Quar picked up the Crusader AT Torpedo.... and well, down went three of those infantry and a lucky Ryshi rhyfle shot took out the tractor. My right flank wasn't looking good all of a sudden.

Over on the other flank it was a slog getting across the river. But slowly my brave boys managed to make a bridgehead. Poor young Caerten tho took a shot trying to vault the fencing.

Another lucky long range shot finally takes out my Marksquar. He earned his mothcakes this day though.

Endgame. Lots of Quar littering in and around the Crusader encampment and others are stunned and otherwise useless. My last ditch effort to rush the objectives came up short and Stew got a good win. This game was even more fun than the first.

Game Three - Vs. Stew's Crusaders (Around 365 points each)

After a brief interlude for vivers, we managed to get one last game in before we called it quits on the day, a Meeting Engagement where we each scored points for getting the most troops over the halfway mark or something. 

The set up for this game had a LOT of cover. Each field where the trees are seen were treated as all "Light cover" as were the fences and the swampy looking not-cd's-at-all-honest made movement slow. My boys again were heading north.

Stew started off strong this game, causing a trio of my troops to do down and even taking one out. He also knocked off a point of hull from my little tractor too. 

The going's rough and casualties are starting to mount up on both sides. I have some of my troops a smidge over the half-way point.

Stew has a cunning plan? Or just a cheeky grin. Those glasses are not ours.

Getting toward the end of the game. It's been a right back-and-forth affair and we both have suffered a lot of casualties. 

Unimpressed at having not won or just downright tired after a long day of gaming, my guest poses in a very manly fashion. We called this one a draw. 

There, a very pleasant day of gaming with a good friend and I got to hop fully onto the "Quar Train". Colour me hooked!

Now I'm trying to decide whether to save to buy my own Crusader force or just wait for the rumoured to be released later this year new Starter Set which is supposed to be featuring new plastic kits for a couple new Quar nations in their unending war?

We'll see. 

(O and at many of your requests, I did enquire as to whether Stew will return to blogging!? He responded - "Maybe".)

Hope all are well and safe out there,

- Dai