Thanks Keith! Please keep them coming!
Keith and guys. Aces are High see I.
Great you had a black wallet of appropriate size in the Mess.
"We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."
I can taste the beer from here!
You have a great time ver there.
Hey Keith, they confiscated your wallet for the next round.
Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!
Looks like you are having a lot of fun!
Great to put a couple more names to faces.
Mike
"Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
"Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59
What a great group of guys! It was a pleasure to hang out with them this weekend and get to know them.
Origins is worth the time, for those of you able to make it. Lots of great gaming and comradeship Already looking forward to next year!
All the best,
Matt
I'm going to try my best to make it next year. I do get to quite a few cons during the year but I have never been out as far as Origins. 8 1/2 hour drive is my longest but 11 isn't that much longer???
At Origins there are so many Wings games it will be more than worth it!
Thanks to everyone that made this Origins another great success! And I'm already looking forward to next year as well.
Thomas
May I say a great big thankyou to everyone who made this a more than memorable trip. It was without doubt the trip of a lifetime for me. Fantastic to put faces to names and lifelong friendships made. Shame I had to come home.
At London now waiting for the train home. Lots of photos and reports to post. And thanks for Tom for introducing me to Bang! A great game to play over a drink. It certainly added to the fun for my last game there, the WW1 invitational run by Keith.
By for now. Just have to sort through over a thousand pics to see which ones I'm posting. And yes Randy I'll include all the boom cards. Especially from our end of the table. Yours in perpetual friendly rivalry.
Neil.
See you on the Dark Side......
Haven't made an Origins convention in oh, maybe about 20 years. Makes me want to re-consider.
It was another great Origins. It was great to see all the usual crew, many I only see there, but esp. to meet and game with Neil (Skafloc ).
Andrzej; we were all thinking of you, Sven (BOOM-BOOM, er Marechallannes), and Steve (Guntruck); the spirits of past Origins were with us (esp. in the bar )
Now planning for next year.
Karl
It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus
What a fantastic photo - everyone is looking really well
Looking forward to the AAR
Yeah! The days at Origins are unforgetable for us all attendees, LLs especially. For me it was also a trip of a lifetime and a reason to speak proudly about the Community here. When I tell the gamers I meet that I had been the chosen one and we choose a happy Forumer every single year, people listen to me with their jaws wide open.
"We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."
Well earned and well deserved trip of a lifetime 'chalked up' to all who have been Lend-Lease Participants ... I bet people listen because of just what a unique experience this has to be - especially in return for making a significant contribution to the game. This coming from a great believer in 'give and take' as proven on a scaled-down basis when I sparked the 'Circuits and Bumps' WW2 Mission Thread early on in my Glory playing career: An explanation as to what that's all about can be found there.
Add another member to your 'all ears' list - me
I will say that those of us who are the "locals" to origins (I've only been going for the 4 years the Buckeye Gamers have been running games) have been enriched by those who come from afar. This goes double for out LL members. While obviously not possible, I'd love it if the whole 'Drome could be there
Karl
It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus
This year again I had to miss Origins. Did get to meet Andy at the one I went to. I am glad to hear you had a great time. Always good to get other member here to meet. Congratulations on being here Neil and glad you had a good time.
This was the first year I have played at Origins (I have only been playing the rare home game for about a 2 yrs) and it was a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone for putting up with a Newb and for making it a fun time!
Looking forward to pics and commentary of battles won and lost. Glad all had a great time.
The US and UK Wings make a sortie together
Randy takes top honors in the Invitational
These P-51s seemed to have forgotten about the Fw 190 on their tail in their attempt to catch back up to the B-17 box.
More photos can be seen in my Origins 2015 album.
It was indeed a fun time at Origins. I'd met a few of the Buckeye gamers in Columbus, but it was a treat to do dinner and drinks twice that week. Met up with Matt56 and Rhodie80, who I hadn't seen for a decade and a few new faces I'd only seen on the forums.
If I could drive 30 minutes to a game with steaks and drinks afterward everyday, I'd soon have trouble fitting out the door.
Rhodie80 and I went to high school together in the '70's.
This is how the gaming hobby brings people back together!
Who is who in the picture, John?
...Oh, I have checked your profile and now!
"We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."
Looks like you had a grand time over there Neil. did you larn them any good Geordie phrases to take back with them? Look forward to you telling us all how it went down in Donnie
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing
Origins 2015 was an absolute BLAST!!! I have uploaded all of my pictures to various albums, which can be found here.
I hope to put up three AARS from the events I ran before I have surgery on Tuesday... time will tell. In the meantime here are some of the better of the pictures in my collection:
Thanks to everyone who made it special this year... especially our L/L member Neil! You have to be one of the most down to earth guys I can say I know... and I am proud to say it!
Ken Head - "The Cowman"
You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. Robin Williams
Neil it was an honor and a pleasure to meet you!!! BBsuds and I will truly miss your sense of humor...so much like our own...oh speaking of that, we've only told a few about you playing "freckle"... You tell it best though....carry on with bringing a smile to the world!!!
Sorry for the wait. Still catching up on sleep. Here is a link to my photos from Origins 2015. Will try to get some highlights up on the forum soon.
Thomas
Excellent! So many faces in context!
Thanks for the photos.
I'm sitting here thinking about attending next year... I play a ton of WoW/G during the year, but it was a blast get around the table with gamer friends from far away.
Speaking of friends from far away, a reenacting friend of mine lives in Columbus, and she took part in that big Hoth battle.
Great to see Ken the cowman in action too - good luck with the surgery Ken
That is Hugh! One hell of a pilot! I did the Dance of Death with him and BBsuds for pretty much all of the Invitational... all four hours. Got him once with some help from my Wingman Redcoon2, and other than that they held me off for the whole fight... right down to the wire with each of them having 1 point left in Albatrosses (Albatri?) and me in a clunky old Tripe with a D deck.
Ken Head - "The Cowman"
You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. Robin Williams
Having finally got myself back together after my own sortie to the States, I have had time to feast my eyes on this magnificent set of photographs taken by all of you chaps. Being only about 500 miles from the action did rankle a bit, but Richard and Sheryl took my mind off it very well.
It never ceases to amaze me every year just how much work you all put into the show, nor how versatile our games are.
Well done, and long may it continue.
Kyte.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Battle of Taranto November 11th 1940
23 Fairey Swordfish and 2 Fairey Fulmers took off from HMS Illustrious on the night of 11th November 1940. During the darkness on the morning of the 12th they struck the Italian fleet at anchor in Taranto harbour.
(Phillip "Now just how am I going to get through the searchlights and flak?)
In the outer harbour (Mar Grande) were 6 destroyers and the heavy cruisers, Fiume, Pola and Goriza. Within the breakwater 6 battleships; Littorio, Veneto Vittorio, Caio Dulio, Andrea Doria, Conti di Cavour and Giulio Cesare. Within the Mar Piccolo 3 more heavy cruisers; Trento, Trieste and Bolzano and nearby the light cruisers Albruzi and Garabaldi.
Searchlights alerted to incoming aircraft the waters around Taranto were illuminated by a myriad of bright beams of light. The outdated ‘Stringbags’ and Fulmers came on regardless. Attcking from all directions they soon made short work of 5 destroyers. Successive torpedo hits on Fiume and Pola sent them to the bottom of the harbour.
Torpedo just about to strike Littorio
Bolzano was struck by a 500lb bomb but the Fulmer was too quick to be targeted by the AAA. Over 192 AAA guns and machine guns ringed the harbour and each searched for the illusive attackers.
Fiume about to be sunk!
Damage wasn't all one way!
Littorio reeled under a double torpedo strike. Hits on Caio Dulio and Andrea Doria followed shortly after. The AAA was also striking back as successive Stringbags plunged into the harbour.
In quick succession Littorio, Caio Dulio and Andrea Doria settled into the murky waters of the harbour, succumbing to many torpedo and bomb hits.
The attackers switched to Conti di Cavour, and Gulio Cesare; both taking hits. Only Veneto Vittorio of all the battleships, stood alone undamaged. Goriza was badly damaged by a second hit as the Stringbags and Fulmers, anger sated threaded their way through the searchlight beams and AAA to make their way back to Illustrious.
Summary: 23 Fairey Swordfish (includes 11 re-spawns) and 2 Fairey Fulmers. 11 Fairey Swordfish shot down.
Italian Ships Sunk:
BB Littorio 5 TORPEDO HITS AND 1 BOMB HIT
BB Caio Dulio 3 TORPEDO AND 1 BOMB HIT
BB Andrea Doria 3 TORPEDO AND 1 BOMB HIT
CA Pola 3 TORPEDO HITS
CA Fiume 2 TORPEDO HITS AND 1 BOMB HIT
DD Carducci 1 TORPEDO HIT
DD Alfieri 1 TORPEDO HIT
DD Oriani 1 TORPEDO HIT
DD Lampo 1 TORPEDO HIT
DD Baleno 1 TORPEDO HIT
Italian Ships Damaged:
BB Conte di Cavour 1 TORPEDO HIT
BB Giulio Cesare 1 TORPEDO HIT
CA Goriza 2 TORPEDO HITS (SEVERE DAMAGE)
CA Bolzano 1 BOMB HIT
Italian Ships Undamaged:
BB Vittorio Veneto
CA Trento
CA Trieste
CL Albruzzi
CL Garabaldi
DD Gioberti
Individual Player Scores:
Ross: 9 hits: Shot down once: Sank DD Baleno (won best pilot)
Zach: 8 hits: Shot down once: Sank BB Andrea Doria and CA Fiume (won the commando training pamphlet for pilots)
Patrick: 7 hits: Sank: CA Pola
Paul: 6 hits
Josh: 6 hits: Shot down once: Sank DD Oriani and DD Lampo
Eric: 6 hits: Shot down once
Phillip: 7 hits: Shot down twice
Susan: 5 hits: Shot down twice (a close call, by 2 points, but won the honour of most shot down pilot) Mark: 4 hits: Shot down once: Sank DD Alfieri
Ken: 4 hits
Michael/James: 4 hits: Shot down once: Sank BB Littorio
Keith: 2 hits: Sank DD Carducci
Tom: 2 hits
Ray: 0 hits: Shot down once
The Gallant FAA Crews (l to r)
Susan, Eric, Keith, Ross, James (took over from Mark)
Ross, James, Ken, Josh, Phillip, Zach
Phillip, Zach, Ray, Tom, Patrick and Paul
How the game ran:
1. Planes chosen by first come first served.
2. Searchlight beams large split into A damage and B damage sections. end up on one after playing maneuver card take relevant damage (1 brave pilot flew down the length of one!)
3. Searchlight small same as above but A damage from cruisers, B damage from battleships and 1 C damage from Goriza (simulate being the only ship to destroy a swordfish and kill the crew!)
4. Bomb hit = 2 points/1 hit. (low level fly over ship direct hit).
5. Torpedo hit from 2 to 1 range ruler 1 point/1 hit.
6. Torpedo hit from under 1 ruler 2 points/1 hit.
7. Bonus point to last bomb/torpedo to hit a ship and sink it.
8. Littorio/ Veneto Vittorio taje 6 hits to sink.
9. All other BB 4 hits to sink.
10. CA's 3 hits to sink.
11. CL's 2 hits to sink.
12. DD's 1 hit to sink.
13. Odds/Even die roll to decide on aircraft respawn point.
14. 2 torpedo/bomb respawn points. Fly over and you have a torpedo/bomb to use.
15. No altitude.
Behind the scenes:
A big thank you to Clipper1801: David without your Stringbags this could not have happened.
A big thank you to Flying Officer Kyte: Rob again without your Stringbags and Fulmers this would not have happened and for sowing the original seeds of the game into my warped mind.
All the lads at War & Pieces for trial running the game and coming up with many suggestions to make the game run smoother: Michael (Grumpy1), George, Jake, et al.
See you on the Dark Side......
We spoke about perspex searchlights - I have someone that could produce those for you Neil - just need to know sizes etc.
Never Knowingly Undergunned !!
Large 2 foot long, 4 inches at widest point. Split at halfway point letter B on largest section letter A on smallest.
Small 1 foot long, 2 inches at widest point. Mix of A, B and 1 C letter ( 1 on each beam).
See you on the Dark Side......
Now that looked like an AWESOME game Neil.
Well done to all the Pilots!
The Taranto game looks really neat and a lot of fun! Well done on the design and execution!
Great AAR Neil - "Top Bombing" to those involved !
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