Dispatches
of The
Big Muddy Historical Gaming Alliance – St. Louis
Volume 6 Issue #03 (March 2024)
Winter giving way to Spring and what better way to celebrate than by rolling some dice with friends at…..
Our
March Game Day
on
Saturday 03/23/24 12 Noon
at
Miniature Market Retail Superstore
1077 Cave Springs Blvd.
St. Peters, MO 63376
Featuring
“Martians on the Marne”
– It’s All Quiet on the Martian Front in the European Theater as the battle between French and German forces is interrupted by menacing forces from beyond. Is it every faction for themselves, or will new alliances be suddenly born of necessity?
Burt Campbell GM 6-8 players. 15mm figures.
Napoleonic Skirmish
It’s Austrians and Hungarians heading out for a stroll when here come those rascally French to interrupt the pleasant day and the planned picnic.
Are they after our beer?
Tim Lalk GM 4-6 players 15mm figures Fist Full of Lead Miniatures
Ork School Gaming
It’s rockin’ and rolling as the Orks are out to take over the neighborhood.
Dave Schaffner GM Battle Master Rules 2-4 players
Special Surprise Game
With our change of schedule for March we are working with our established GMs to fill our final table. Stay tuned to our Facebook page and website for final details.
Godzilla Island
Can your intrepid pilots fly close enough to the mighty Godzilla and sedate him for the scientists to study or will you and your plane end up as part of the scenery? Help to develop this intro game to be played in the new family gaming area of Barracks Battles @ DieCon.
Kevin Fitzpatrick GM 2-8 players
Wings of Glory WWI /Tripods & Triplanes
Have you checked out our website?
Recent After Action Reports
Wednesday Night Gaming 01/31/24 – Leyte Gulf – Nimitz
Was held at Fantasy Books & Games in O’Fallon, IL as part of the Wednesday Night Series. It was the IJN vs the USN with the somewhat hapless Taffy 3 in the middle of lines of battleships and destroyers on this January evening.
The smaller table lead to the engagement heating up quickly as the valiant DDs & DEs escorting the CVEs heading straight at the IJN battle-line only to be met by withering fire from the lights and the heavies.
The CVEs of Taffy 3 poured on the coal trying to make their escape while launching everything they had to keep the IJN busy. Our simplified air rules for this scenario were a 1D6 roll for the air group commander each turn. That would indicate the number of airstrikes the USN would have and they could be allocated as he wished. A 6 was required for a hit and that would generate a roll on the Critical Hit table for the defending vessel. Our Air Group Commander was unfortunately not blessed with great dice rolls and the airstrikes provided only a very limited benefit.
Nimitz may not have boarding rules but the USS Hoel ignored that trivial issue as it headed straight at a line of IJN DD’s. I am sure that there were some 2400 scale grappling hooks being tossed along with small arms as the ships certainly raked each other at less than point blank range.
Not to be outdone in close combat a line of IJN DDs crossed the T of the US Battleline or more accurately sailed across B Turret of one Battleship. This did not work out particularly well for the destroyers as secondaries and mains of the heavies bore down accurate fire sending several beneath the waves.
End game view. The IJN did better in this outing than any previous run of this scenario sinking two of the Escort Carriers. The USS Johnston scored a torpedo hit against the Yamato forcing it out of the battle line. The Japanese DD’s took a brutal punishing in the middle defending their battleships but did their job against a hail of shells coming from the guns of all those Fletchers. It was concluded that the remaining CVEs would likely escape and the IJN would likely extract themselves from a situation becoming unfavorable. Certainly more destroyers from both sides would head to Davy Jones locker as this process proceeded.
Overall a good night of gaming and a big thanks to all the players who joined in for our second trip to O’Fallon to run Nimitz. We also extend a Thank You to our generous host Fantasy Books & Games and their superb crew.
Wednesday Night Gaslands
It is a “GAS” every Wednesday night at the Cave Springs Miniature Market with Powell Hall running his “Gaslands” Game. Here are some pics from the game on February 7 giving you a look at this arena battle featuring a motorhome, gun turrets, tractor trailer, high performance tracked car & a tank to top things off.
An after game update tells us that Steve T. driving the tank came out on top as Powell garnered the initial attention of the other players in a three way battle royale.
Be sure to check out this gaming action on some coming Wednesday evening. Dice start rolling at 5:30pm so don’t be late
Semi Regular Retirees Game 02/15/24 – Nimitz
A change of venue with MM Manchester relocates saw us at the Cave Springs store in St. Peters.
it was some hot action at MM Cave Springs as the IJN (Tom, Greg & Pat) poured on the coal to chase down Taffy 3 before the USN (Steve T, Kurt & Steve L) could make good their rescue and escape of the beleaguered CVEs & escorts.
Air power were not favoring the US as low numbers were rolled on the available airstrikes and even lower numbers were rolled on the hits. It seems over the several turns that only one strike found it’s way home only to cause a critical hit on a weapon the target did not have.
The IJN split into three groups with Tom having the fast battle cruisers on the right, Greg in the middle with the Nagato & Yamato and Pat on the left in order to box in the US forces no matter which way they turned. DDs rushed forward to get into range for torpedo attacks brushing aside the close escorts of the Taffy 3 under Steve L.
Steve T & Kurt rushed forward with their battlewagons as fast as the Pearl Harbor survivors would go and sent their DDs ahead to relieve the much battered light screening force. With the range closing quickly Kurt was able to unleash a terrific barrage at Tom’s BCs and cause some heavy damage to both them and the light cruisers in his force.
Destroyers on both sides traded blows throughout the engagement leading to many leaving the scene slipping under the waves or in one case a bright flash as a Japanese destroyer exploded.
In the end two of the CVEs were sunk (one by a Long Lance at long range) and one of Tom’s BCs succumbed to a torpedo attack. It was likely a hard fought draw as both sides were beat up.
Semi Regular Retirees Game 02/22/24 – Dawn of Iron
It was American Civil War Naval Action on tap for the group as the Rebels were headed out to sea and relief supplies in this late war scenario. Greg did a wonderful job explaining these simple to play rules on our first outing. Mark J, Bill & Pat took on the roles of the Rebels while Steve T, Mark & Kevin represented the Union forces.
The Rebels goal was to break out and sail downstream, the Union of course was to foil that attempt. The CSA sent some of their best ironclads, supported by spar torpedo boats. The Union had a smaller fleet, but was assisted by a line of obstacles in the river and floating mines along with two shore batteries.
The system combines similar guns into light, medium and heavy with hits determined mostly by target size and range brackets. Once a hit is scored the range, weight of weapons and class of vessel will lead to the number required by the target to “save”. Failing to save adds a damage card of differing types to the target. Collect more damage cards than your vessel’s number and you are dead in the water hoping for a good dice roll in the repair phase at turn’s end. Get too many and you are rechristened a “hazard to navigation.”
We had one collision as Mark in self preservation mode ran over a Confederate spar torpedo boat. The Rebels managed two successful spar torpedo attacks in one turn reducing the Union Navy by half.
The game ended with two CSA Ironclads breaking free of their entanglements on the river obstacles and a likely Rebel victory as one, perhaps two ironclads would eventually break out.
All in all a very interesting set of rules that will certainly play more quickly as the group becomes more familiar with them.
Official Notices
The Big Muddy Historical Gaming Alliance – St. Louis
Posts The Following Official Notice
Membership Donation Drive 2024
Big Muddy Historical Gaming Alliance (BMHGA)
The officers of the Big Muddy Historical Gaming Alliance are asking for your help in supporting the continued financial health of Big Muddy, and the continuation of our convention schedule through 2024.
We wish to offer you the following Donation Levels for your financial support.
STANDARD – $30.00
$30.00 donation provides the following:
- Paid registration for Barracks Battles 2024.
- Receipt of all Big Muddy communications including “Dispatches” our monthly E-Newsletter, participation in our Facebook Group and other channels as they evolve.
- Full voting membership for officers and any other items forwarded by the Board of Directors.
- Entitled to serve as a board member or officer.
- Entitled to free monthly text style classified ad (up to three paragraphs) in Big Muddy E- Newsletter.
STUDENTS – $20.00: The membership level is for young people who are in school. To acquire this membership, the donor will need to show a current student ID.
$20.00 donation provides the following:
- Paid registration for Barracks Battles 2024.
- Receipt of all Big Muddy communications including our monthly E-Newsletter, participation in our Facebook Group and other channels as they evolve.
- Full voting membership for officers and any other items forwarded by the Board of Directors.
- Entitled to serve as a board member or officer.
- Entitled to free monthly text style classified ad (up to three paragraphs) in Big Muddy E- Newsletter.
COMMUNICATING MEMBER – $10.00
A $10.00 donation provides the following:
- Pre-registration rate charged at the door for Barrack Battles 2024.
- Receipt of all Big Muddy Communicating including our monthly E-Newsletter, participation in our Facebook Group and other channels as they evolve.
- Full Voting Membership for officers and any other items forwarded by the Board of Directors.
- Entitled to serve as a board member or officer.
- Entitled to Free monthly text style classified ad (up to three paragraphs) in Big Muddy E- Newsletter.
If you wish to support Big Muddy by participating in any of the plans listed above, please complete the donor contact section below and send your check or money order made payable to Big Muddy to our Treasurer:
William Doelling
1410 Mohican Trail
St. Charles, MO 63304.
Thank you for your support,
David Paul Harrison
President BMHGA
312-636-3836
Donor Contact Information
Name: __________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________
Phone: __________________________________________________________
E-mail: __________________________________________________________
Donation Level: _____________________________________Date_________________
A Tip of the Hat
The Board of Directors would like to acknowledge the following members who have already submitted their membership donations for 2024.
The Board of Directors would like to acknowledge the following members who have already submitted their membership donations for 2024.
Warren Burris, Robert Clark, Ray Gluck,
Will Hodgens, James Kantor, Jon Bancroft,
Harry Borchart, William Doelling, Kevin Fitzpatrick,
Mark Johnson, Edward Menefee, John Nozka,
David Schaffner, Keith Stuckmeyer, John Voelker,
Glen Wilson, Kevin Weber, Pat Connaughton, Jerry Merrill,
Bob Roby, Les Hostetler, Kenneth Widmer, Tim Low,
Mark Luechkenhoff, Martin Gallo, Edward Gray, Tim Lalk,
Ray Runge, Britt Eubanks, Eddie Mosey, James Broshot,
Pat Lewis, Greg Dieckhaus, Steven Lowry
Our Group’s New Email Box
Info@bmhga.com
Election 2024
No not the one that will be blaring through your TV this year, although we certainly encourage everyone to be an informed voter and make it to the polls November 5th and every election.
Rather we are talking about the
Big Muddy Elections
coming in November at Command Con Lite.
The Offices of
President
(4 year term)
Secretary
(4 year term)
&
Board Member at Large
(2 year term)
are to be on the ballot.
Anyone interested in putting their names forward for these board positions should email
William Doelling at treasurer@bmhga.com who will be serving as our election official for 2024.
Board Meetings
The Board of Big Muddy Historical Gaming Alliance-St. Louis generally meets once per month at Miniature Market or alternate public location. These meetings will be posted on the calendar of our website as well as announced on our Facebook Page and we encourage all members of the gaming community to attend.
St. Louis Historical Gaming Society
Meets generally on the Third Saturday of each month to enjoy historical board wargaming at Miniature Market. We will be posting their meeting dates on both our website and in “Dispatches”. Those of you who participate in this portion of our historical gaming hobby (and many of us do so) are invited to join in.
Classified Ads
For Classified Ads, be sure to check the Quartermaster page on our website at bmhga.com
###
Obituary
Our condolences are extended to the family & friends of John Brockel who passed away on February 8, 2024. John was an avid gamer with us many years ago at Epic Gallery and Games, Crafts, Hobbies & Stuff.
Help Share Our Great Hobby
with Others!
We are looking for a couple of energetic gamers who will volunteer to help us out an upcoming game days as hosts. The duties entail talking with visitors to our area, explaining what is going on at each the tables, directing them to our signs with upcoming game day information/QR codes and generally being welcoming to newcomers. The host usually doesn’t participate in any games but rather moves around the room, taking some photos of the event and working to keep things running smoothly. The upsides are helping to share the energy & excitement of the hobby, getting to talk with new gamers and old pals along with knowing you are making a significant contribution to the growth of our gaming community.
Outgoing personality. Sales and/or Retail backgrounds a plus
contactinfo@bmhga.com
if you would be willing to help us out.
Big Muddy Game Days 2024
If you are thinking of running a game please let us know as soon as you can do so in order to get the date(s) you prefer. email: Director@bmhga.com
March 23, 2024 Miniature Market Cave Springs
All Quiet on the Martian Front
Napoleonic Skirmish – Fist Full of Lead
American War of Independence
Wings of Glory WW1
April 6, 2024 Tentative Date
Table One Bolt Action Poland 1939
Table Two Battle Masters
Table Three Brawl At The Admiral Benbow Inn
Table Four Unassigned
Table Five Three Musketeers – And One For All!.
May 4, 2024 Tentative Date
Table One Pike & Shotte
Table Two The First Day Poland 1939 – Luftwaffe 46
Table Three Unassigned
Table Four Unassigned
Table Five Overflow Unassigned
May 31 June 2 — Barracks Battles @ DieCon
Bunker Hill – Black Powder
Poland 1939 – Luftwaffe 46
Three Musketeers – And All For One!
Smugglers Run – Limeys & Slimeys
Pike & Shotte
Godzilla Island – Wings of Glory WWI
July 6, 2024
The Battle of The Chippewa
Table Two Unassigned
Table Three Unassigned
Table Four Unassigned
Table Five Overflow Unassigned
August 3, 2024
Table One Assigned TBA
Table Two Siege At The TA Ranch
Table Three Unassigned
Table Four Unassigned
Table Five Overflow Unassigned
September 7, 2024
The Battle of Westerplatte 85th Anniversary – Bolt Action
Table Two Unassigned
Table Three Unassigned
Table Four Unassigned
Table Five Overflow Unassigned
October 4-6, 2024 Archon
October 5, 2024
Table One Unassigned
Table Two Unassigned
Table Three Unassigned
Table Four Unassigned
Table Five Overflow Unassigned
November 2, 2024
Command Con Lite
December 7, 2024
Table One Unassigned
Table Two Unassigned
Table Three Unassigned
Table Four Unassigned
Table Five Overflow Unassigned
Reindeer Wars 2024
Dates to be Determined
Note: April & May Game Days off a great opportunity to run through those scenarios that you are planning for Barracks Battles @ Die Con in June. Don’t fail to take advantage of that opportunity. July & August Game Days are likewise a great chance to reprise a game from Barracks Battles to a new audience. September & October just like April & May offer a chance to preview & tweak a game for Command Con Lite in November.
Tables for our monthly game days are going fast with February – March filled at this time. We have slots for April & May and a bit of flexibility for the earlier months.
Contact director@bmhga.com to submit a game.
Semi Regular Retirees Email List
Want to be on the email list for our weekly laid back Thursday gathering? Just send a message to
info@bmhga.com and we will add you to the list.
You don’t need to be retired to join in.
Regional Convention News:
Conventions that will see participation by Big Muddy Historical Gaming Alliance -St. Louis are listed in bold.
CincyCon: 2024, Hamilton, OH cincycon.org
AdeptiCon: 2024 Schaumberg, IL https://www.adepticon.org
March to Victory: 2024 Blue Springs, MO https://www.marchtovictory.net/
Little Wars 2024 Naperville, IL hmgsmidewest.com
CODCON XXVII: 2024, Glen Ely, IL https://www.codcon.com
Heroicon: 2024 Decatur, IL https://tabletop.events/conventions/heroicon-2023
Border Wars: 2024 , Overland Park, KS http://www.hahmgs.org/
DieCon 2024: Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville, IL https://www.diecon.com
Origins: 2024 Columbus, OH https://www.originsgamefair.com/
Twisted Lords Con:, 2024 Midwest City, OK http://www.twistedlordscon.com/
Gen Con 2024: Indianapolis, IN https://www.gencon.com/indy
HistoriKC Fest Kansas City: Overland Park, KS .https://historikcfest.com/faq/
Nashcon: 2024 Nashville, TN https://www.nashcon.org
Autumn Wars 2024 //tabletop.events/conventions/autumn-wars-2023
Archon 47: Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville, Illinois http://www.archonstl.org/
Advance the Colors: 2024, Columbus, OH https://www.hmgsgl.org/advance-the-colors
Siege of Vicksburg 2024: Vicksburg, TN siegeofvicksburg.org
Advance the Colors: October 2024, Columbus, OH https://www.hmgsgl.org/advance-the-colors
Siege of Vicksburg: Vicksburg, TN siegeofvicksburg.org
Rock-Con: Rockford, IL https://www.rock-con.com
Command Con Lite: Miniature Market Retail Superstore 13380 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO 63131
Winter War: 2024, Champaign, IL winterwar.org
Gamicon: 2024, Cedar Rapids, IA https://tabletop.events/conventions/gamicon-germanium
Local Gaming Events Calendar:
This information is also available on our website just use the Calendar of Events button on the right hand side.
Remember to be inviting to passers-by at public events. Let’s share our hobby with those who might find it of interest.
03/06: Wednesday Night Gaming: Fantasy Books & Games 6pm
03/06: Gaslands: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 5:30pm
03/07: Semi Regular Retirees: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 12pm
03/13: Gaslands: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 5:30pm
03/13: Wednesday Night Gaming: Fantasy Books & Games 6pm
03/14: Semi Regular Retirees: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 12pm.
03/20: Wednesday Night Gaming: Fantasy Books & Games 6pm
03/20: Gaslands: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 5:30pm
03/21: Semi Regular Retirees: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 12pm
03/23: Big Muddy Game Day: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 11am
03/27: Wednesday Night Gaming: Fantasy Books & Games 6pm
03/27: Gaslands: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 5:30pm
03/28: Semi Regular Retirees: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 12pm
And Beyond
04/03: Wednesday Night Gaming: Fantasy Books & Games 6pm
04/03: Gaslands: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 5:30pm
04/04: Semi Regular Retirees: Miniature Market 11am
04/06: Big Muddy Game Day: Miniature Market 11am
04/10: Gaslands: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 5:30pm
04/10: Wednesday Night Gaming: Fantasy Books & Games 6pm
04/11: Semi Regular Retirees: Miniature Market 11am
04/17: Wednesday Night Gaming: Fantasy Books & Games 6pm
04/17: Gaslands: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 5:30pm
04/18: Semi Regular Retirees: Miniature Market 11am
04/20: StL Historical Gaming Society – Miniature Mrkt 10am.
04/24: Wednesday Night Gaming: Fantasy Books & Games 6pm
04/24: Gaslands: Miniature Market St. Peter’s 5:30pm
04/25: Semi Regular Retirees: Miniature Market 11am
For all of the above events listed remember that you do not need to bring along anything to play as all items necessary will be on the table and ready to go.
Suggestions/Ideas/Articles?
If you have any suggestions for
Dispatches of The Big Muddy Historical Gaming Alliance – St. Louis
our Facebook Page, Website or know of someone who would like to be included in our email listings please feel free to let us know. The contact information is at the end of this newsletter.
To have your event listed please email
Info@bmhga.com
no later than the 20th of the month preceding the event.
While we strive to be as accurate as is possible all events listed are subject to last minute changes, substitutions and/or cancellations.
Website & Facebook Page
Are the places to check for the latest updates & news in our area.
Have you checked out our website?
Big Muddy Historical Gaming Alliance – St. Louis (BMHGA) strives to support and build the historical gaming hobby in the St. Louis Metro Area “By demonstration, presentations at conventions, schools. libraries, and other events, where the theme includes military or gaming.
For further information email: info@bmhga.com
