7TV Event - If you go down to the woods today

Last Saturday, I along with nine other fans of the immense game system 7TV arrived at Wargames Workshop in Milton Keynes to throw down at the Fantasy Genre event - If you go down to the woods today. Hosted and arranged by the wonderful David Brown, the event consisted of four games/scenarios with elements of the previous scenario rolling over to the next and other scenarios.

Each player either brought a Heroic or Villainous cast and as a bonus it worked out on the day that there was five of each. Five tables were set up with an impressive amount of scenery supplied by David and after each game players would move up or down the tables with a Heroic player always against a Villainous one.

My cast for the day consisted of the Eureka miniatures Wolf Order figures from their Hawkmoon range.

Star: Wolfish Warlord - Baron Meliadus of Kroiden

Co Star: Henchman - Wolf Order Captain

Villainous Extra: Chaos Lord - Wolf Order Warrior with massive mace

Villainous Extras x 4: Chaos Raiders - Wolf Order Warriors with Hand Weapons and Shield

Neutral Extra x 2: Archers - Wolf Order Crossbow Warriors

Neutral Extras x 2: Wolves

Game 1 - vs Peter and his Heroic Goblins! The Dun Cow Scenario.

This game had no other objectives other than injure or Kill the Cow. The Cow would move in random directions and loose off a rather pungent Bovine emission each time it would be hit, knocking over and stunning characters.

Poor Peter's Goblins although numerous, fell quickly to a flurry of Wolf Order Crossbows, with the Wolves and Wolf Order Captain taking out the Giant Spider Rider, which managed to kill the wolves.

Peters Goblin archers managed to wound to the Cow and take out a Wolf. However the game quickly slipped away from his as the Cow was killed by Baron Meliadus' warriors with their crossbows, completely negating the Bovines emissions, its random movement also had no major effect on the game. The Baron then took out the Goblin Champion. With only a severely wounded Jabberwocky and a few Goblins left Peter's cast was Axed and ran away, Leaving the Gran Bretan Wolf Order victorious.

VP's 7-1 with the Dun Cow being dispatched!

Game 2 - vs Anthony and his Heroic D&D cast (with Venger) Defend/Gain the Rune Sword Scenario.

This game saw a Tower being placed in the centre of the table. If you had won the previous game you would be attacking and if you had lost you would be the defender but hold the Rune Sword.

The objective of the game was to keep/obtain the Rune Sword as a Maguffin, giving extra VP's as well as various other objective tokens scattered about. Each of these extra ones were numbered and a certain thing would occur once they were obtained.

As I had killed the Cow last game I set up in a corner of the board as the attacker and Anthony placed his cast in defence. I thought this would help me as he would have to drag characters away from the tower to obtain the other objective markers, leaving me able to pick them off. However I forgot he had Shelia (Spy) who was able to set up after I had deployed, as well as a summoned Bear which came in on turn 2. Both of these would be able to collect objectives. 

Unfortunately the bear failed to pick up anything turn after turn. Shelia completely fluffed her rolls all game and ran away in the end once Anthony's cast was axed. He also lost the Runesword to Baron Mediadus and his rampaging Wolf Order troops. The Games Master had a good run throwing spells about and nearly took out the Baron, however with a evil Mwah hahah, Meliadus revealed his mirrored shield and reflected the strike back on the Games Master, seriously ruining the short balding wizards day.

VP's 12-0 and I gained the Runesword for the glory of Gran Bretan.

Game 3 vs Wayne's Discworld Irregulars - Deliver Excalibur to the tower scenario.

I always enjoyed my games with Wayne, such a great bloke. This scenario saw a cast having to deliver Excalibur to yet another tower (seem to be a lot of these in Fantasy tropes) however a test had to be made to gain access to the tower (it's never that simple even for Heroic characters eh?)

Wayne set up his Discworld Irregulars (wonderful Micro Arts miniatures) crossing the northern bridge, ready to head straight to the tower to defend the access point, whilst Cohen the Barbarian escorted Rincewind, Twoflower and the Luggage (containing Excalibur)

Baron Meliadus hearing of the fabled sword of Arthur and an iconic item of old Gran Bretan, was adamant he would claim it for the glory of the Emperor in the conquest of the Kamarg.

With Samuel Grimes, Capt Carrot, Nobby and Sgt Colon marching to the tower, they were met with a hail of iron bolts from the Wolf Order crossbows, which caused significant damage. Baron Meladius ran towards an objective on the East bridge but as soon as he picked up the artifact, was transformed into an Imp. Fortunately he was too far away to be attacked and soon the transformation spell wore off and he returned to his Wolfish self. picked up an objective after exiting the northern bridge but suddenly popped out of existence (despite Wayne rolling in every end phase for him to return, he failed miserably haha) The Wolf Captain was left on his own after the massive mace wielding warrior was dominated by Rincewind which then forced the reluctant warrior to cut down a few of his own comrades. 

However the Captain prevailed, cutting down Cohen the Barbarian finally after he had been protected with a Magical Amulet and with Baron Meliadus and his troops taking out Grimes and Colon, who at the time had breached the magical door of the tower this left the Discworld entities axed and they faded back to their reality.

Excalibur however was unable to be claimed by the Gran Bretan Warlord and disappeared back to Avalon!

VP's 10-2 and although not claimed I prevented Excalibur being delivered.

Game 4 vs Matt and another Heroic D&D party - Pandora's Box in the Enchanted Pond scenario.

This last game had a large pond in the centre of the table and at the centre of the pond was Pandora's Box (never to be opened)

The pond was enchanted and everyone who entered it would gain a VP but at the same time something could happen - good, bad or maybe nothing!

Both side started strong, with the D&D party moving forward towards the pool. Presto, Eric, Shelia and Diana in the main body whilst Hank and Bobby took the flank. On the other flank across the river the Wolves ran howling towards the far bridge.

Bobby made a dash into the pool with try and grab Pandora's box whilst Hank let fly with his arrows. These caused a bit of damage on the advancing Wolf Warriors but not enough to deter them. With Eric moving forward more to deflect any attacks with his shield, both sides started coming to blows. Bobby was taken down in a few turns by concentrated crossbow fire, leaving Pandora's box free. The enchanted pool was too disconcerting for people at the moment, sight ripples across the water their only concern.

Presto waved his hands any muttered a few incantations weakening and disorientating the oncoming Wolf Order troops. Suddenly the D&D party caught fire - wild magic or the nuances of the enchanted pool or another artefact?

With the complications of burning, Presto's concentration wavered and he was mercilessly cut down by the Wolf Captain. The rest of the Heroes started to succumb to the increased violence meted out by the Wolf Order and soon they were sent back to their reality leaving the mythical Box in the hands of Baron Meliadus (He's going to open it - you just know it!)

VP's 16-4 Gained Pandora's box and wiped out the D& D Party.

Overall a smashing days event with 4 great games and got to catch up some really good friends which includes Karl Perrotton, the designer and creator of 7TV!.

Now 7TV events are not really all about who wins and loses etc but about the story. However a couple of prizes were given out.

Most Heroic Cast: This went to Wayne and his Discworld cast even though losing all 4 games.

Most Villainous Cast: I claimed this as I won all 4 games but basically what is best in life - Crush your foes, drive them before you and hear the lamentations of their women mwah haha!

Best Cast: This went to Anthony's D&D cast and was voted for by the staff of Wargames Workshop.

Each of us would receive a voucher to spend at Crooked Dice from Karl - THANK YOU!!

Some of the Casts of the Day

Baron Meliadus and his Wolf Order of Gran Bretan

The Yellow Brick Road Compatriots

Dwarfs of the Deep Halls

Grimdark Goblins - not evil honest

Discworld Irregulars

Dungeons and Dragons - Voted best cast

Happy Star Wars Day 2025

 

Guards of Traitors Toll - Lady Merron's Patrol

I can be quite a hobby butterfly, flitting from one project to the next. Jumping in and out of different game systems from any type of genre. However I have recently heavily invested in Guards of Traitors Toll. Graham Davey the designer of the Samurai game Test of Honour and 0200 Hours, the WW2 night time raiding game, has now had his new game published.

You can find out all the information about the game Guards of Traitors Toll here.

Below is the first Guard Squad/Patrol that I have painted up. The models are all Wargames Atlantic's new Fantasy Guard miniatures and includes one of their Halfling Militia and one Landsknecht Ogre miniature.

The Stat cards for the guards do not differentiate Races, but there are attribute cards such as Slight and Heavy which you could attribute to highlight the likes of Dwarves, Ogres etc.

So to introduce Lady Merron's, East Watch, Paunsdorf Street Guardhouse.

Members

Watch Captain Sigismund Von der Tann

Watch Sergeant Piotr Kreuth

Watch Constable Karl Fussen

Watch Constable Felix Jachenau

Watch Constable Hilda Krun

Watch Constable Olaf Dinklesbuhl

Watch Constable Gerhard Muhldorf

Watch Constable Tarfen Kleines

Watch Constable (Heavy) Ziegel Nebengebaude

The Paunsdorf Pounders

Happy Easter

Not into the religious significance for this part of the year but Happy Easter ! 

 

Salute 2025

 Another year and another Salute. The largest wargames show in the UK and one I pretty much make sure I attend every year, as April is my birthday month. However this year for some reason I cant quite explain, I wasn't really feeling it.

Things were not made much better on arrival at the Excel centre in London, to see an officious florescent vest wearing minion, you smugly told us that parking was only for the pre-booked? and oh I suppose you dont know eh? well of you go down the road and you might get parked near the rowing club! now fortunately I didn't have the same altercation as my friend Ray, see his blog post here. Well no where on South London Warlords or Excels site was anything mentioned about the parking issues. Anyway finally got parked, did the 15 minute walk over to Excel and joined the maddening hordes in the queue. We all know the queue, but this year did seem to go a lot more smoothly.

As for the show. I believe over 7000 attended this year. The morning seemed very busy but it tailed of in the afternoon and the hall felt a lot more spacious as there seemed to be a lack of traders and the games were the usual mix of clubs who put great games on but didn't want to interact with the public to very small, niche demo games with great enthusiastic demonstrators. 

I didn't have a big shopping list this time round and had already pre-ordered some stuff to collect and didn't get to play many games as nothing was really gripping me. However I played a fantastic game of Hairfoot Jousting, which was Halflings riding animals jousting in an arena. A fabulously hilariously fun game!

As mentioned I wasn't really feeling it this year, so the show for me was a bit lackluster - however I had a lovely day catching up with friends new and old, bloggers, gamers and people in the industry I've know for ages.

Some of my favourite people are Michael and Jo at Oathsworn Miniatures, Karl and Anna at Crooked Dice Miniatures, Wayne at Tangent Miniatures and Alex and his family at Warp miniatures amongst others.

                                                                  Some of the Games

                                                                           My Friends

Gordon GCT Studios

Ray, Me, Lee

Michael Oathsworn Miniatures

Jo Oathsworn Miniatures

Duncan Rhodes

Michael and Alan Perry

Wayne Tangent Miniatures

Karl and Anna Crooked Dice

Wendy West Wind Productions

Richard Clarke Two Fat Lardies

Me, Lee, Ray

Wing, Dawn, Rob and Alex Warp Miniatures

The Blog Squad

The Obligatory Swag pic

Not a lot of loot this year, picked up the new Second Edition Burrows and Badgers rulebook, more Visitor miniatures from Crooked Dice miniatures, Paved bases from Renedra for Guards of Traitors Toll as well as a few 3D prints and other miniatures for the same game.