Last Saturday morning I had the chance to GM and play…(wait for it)…a real tabletop wargame!!! We were able to play a game of Feudal Patrol™ via Zoom. This game is a member of the Combat Patrol™ WWII family of games, and will be available soon from On Military Matters in the US and Sally 4th in the UK. The players were all alone at home and included myself (in Massachusetts), Buck Surdu (in Florida), Dave Wood (in Maryland), Greg Priebe (also in Maryland), and Chris Abbey (in the UK). Buck hosted the Zoom meeting, and I ran the game with some of my Aztec figures in my cellar that followers of this blog have seen completed such as my last one here.
The scenario is called “Raid to Satisfy Huitzilopochtli”. Huitzilopochtli was a major deity in the Aztec religion, and was particularly noted as a god of war and sacrifice. The scenario uses the supplement I wrote for Feudal Patrol™ called Civilizations Collide. It takes 60 points of attackers against 26 points of defense. However, this being an Aztec attack on another Mexica town, the focus is on capturing incapacitated warriors and dragging them back for sacrifice on the altar of Huitzilopochtli. Of course, the defenders would be trying to take captives to satisfy their particular deity as well. My rules focus on this, and other aspects of Mesoamerican warfare – to try to create an authentic feel – and a different wargaming experience. Even the difficult-to-pronounce names of the weapons (macuahuitl, tepoztopilli, cuauhololli, atlatl, sling (well not that one)) add to the feel. I aimed to create a scenario that is similar to a “Flower War” – where both sides deployed for a ritualized pre-arranged showdown.
The defenders would get more victory points for the same achievements – such as taking captives or incapacitating an enemy figure. One interesting aspect of the Aztec supplement rules is that as you take out an enemy you must take troops away from the battle to drag the incapacitated figure back to a prearranged spot for your side. Which means that as you achieve success on the battlefield, you lose troops for “captive duty” as it were.
Dave, Buck and I were on the attack – and Buck and Chris defended. At first, the defenders were a bit concerned with the seemingly overwhelming odds facing them. But they had the advantage of choosing to deploy after the attackers, as well as the chance to use the defensive terrain around the fields.
Logistically, I had two cameras logged in for the game – one from my iPad and one from my iPhone. I had acquired a nice inexpensive tripod from Xenvo via Amazon called a “Lobsterpod” that worked really well. I moved the figures based on the gamers commands and the game moved along fairly well on the Zoom platform, though not as fast as if the players were all in the same room. Of course, the option to actually see my figures in all their “glory” was compromised (I’m pretty proud of them) – but hey – they are on my previous blog posts for all my readers to see so no problem, right? I only used Aztec figures, but later I will be able to augment the defenders with Tlaxcalans (when I get them painted). I planned here and for the future to allow the gamers to pick their figures beforehand from a menu of available ones, and organize their forces prior to a game.
I set up the tabletop as shown below – some of my 15mm Normandy hedgerows served well as protection around the fields. The walled section of the village is pretty basic here as it does not come into the game except as a collection point for captives.
The attackers tried to flank the enemy on both sides of the board while simultaneously making a frontal assaults to tie the defenders down at the wall. The attackers got a bit unlucky (to say the least) as a veteran/novice “twinned” unit (Dave) moved slowly (even at a sprint). Buck took a unit of Jaguar Warriors straight at Chris’ Arrow Warriors (yes I know they may not have been historical – think of them as elite atlatl troops with limited ammunition), and got mauled – losing two Jaguars Warriors to the defenders as potential sacrifices. On the other flank, I faced off against Greg, and despite his having a terrible early morale result that dispersed his troops, he was able to inflict good damage on my greater numbers. In the end, the defenders were able to do enough damage and take enough prisoners on the attackers for a pretty convincing victory. All agreed that the scenario was well-balanced, and all seemed to have a good time.
Buck took some screen shots that I will share below (click on them for a better view) – and he also wrote a blog post on the battle that you can read here.
The battle begins… 
Approching the defenders…
The gamers are focused. 
I kept busy moving around the table.
Dave attempts to flank while Buck assaults. 
Greg and I get in a big scrum.
The defenders take prisoners. 
The attackers vainly try to pursue the captors.
The assault on the defenders’ right devolves further. 
Mark’s Warrior Priest and other Aztecs stopped by Greg.
I used color-coded and numbered magnets to try to keep the forces straight, and it worked. But magnets in melee do attract…so next time I will use poster tack and small hole punched card of different colors. A gaming challenge is to make sure that the Aztecs and other forces are identifiable for the player, either in remote mode or live. The card solution should be an easy fix.
Here are some shots that I took after the game:
Greg and I battle at the wall. 
Buck’s Jaguar Warriors head for a brutal end on the sacrificial altar. 
Buck’s captured Jaguar Warriors. 
You can see the magnets I used – nice try but will not be using again. 
Buck’s command group attempts to rally his forces.
Lastly, here are the gamers:
My thanks to all who participated. It was a nice test of my scenario and the special rules I wrote for Civilizations Collide, which will be a free download from the game’s website when it goes live in September. I must say it was a gratifying experience, and one that I hope to repeat.
I intend to buy Zoom if there is enough interest and host some more games – at least until we are clear of the COVID-19 virus. I could see my running more Feudal Patrol™ games, and even What a Tanker games. If you would be up to a remote game, let me know in the comments section – maybe we can make it happen!
Check out the links for Feudal Patrol™ – its a great and easy card-based system that is really a great step forward.
Mark A. Morin 
Mark
Thanks for running a great game
Dave
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Thanks buddy. I know you are a marathoner – and unfortunately you needed to sprint! Still, great to game with ya roomie.
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Bloody well done to everyone involved. I love the fort you went to and it clearly pid off. Glad the special rules went well too man. 👍🏼
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Cheers IRO. I’m thinking at some point inviting you to a game if and when I get Zoom. Gotta get through a few other projects first, but I’m thinking about it.
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Geez mate I’d have no idea haha but thanks for the thought
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All you need is the app (which is free) an internet connection with a camera on a tablet, phone, or laptop. I’m going to pay to get the app soon and then schedule something. Basically, all you’d need to do is know how to roll dice and tell me what you want to happen on the board while consuming port, beer, or milk.
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Haha sounds great but I’ll take a pass for now. Maybe down the track some time though
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Oh no worries, wasn’t looking for a commitment. Whenever I do give this a shot you’ll know, but still have more stuff to finish painting.
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Can’t wait to see more man
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Thanks for a great game
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All praise Huitzilopochtli. Very pleasing that Zoom worked to facilitate a game. Nice to see your Aztecs on the table
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Thanks Dave – I’m hoping to repeat the gaming experience soon. Maybe even get some of you Aussies?
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the start of a plan!
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Yes!
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Yep, have to agree with Dave! 🙂 It’s great that you could have a game in real time and get your Aztecs into action! Great stuff!
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Thanks John, been up to my eyeballs (for a retired guy) since so sorry for the late reply. I think the Zoom stuff opens a whole new world of possibilities.
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Well done to all involved, looks to have been a great game, and a way of having a real time game, with others
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Yes, and no masks required or risk of virus! Thanks for looking Dave (lots of Daves here now on the comments section!)
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Just love the use of the technology Mark and most impressed that you got this up and running in real time. I’m guessing that following this success that this is something you will be doing again and again. Great stuff and the figures look great.
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I’m hoping to TIM. The technology impressed me when we got together on Dave’s chat. Thinking that in September or by then I’ll try to do something cool.
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That looks great Mark- great to see technology doing some good.
If you ever run What a Tanker I’d be very interested- you are on Eastern Time I take it?
Cheers,
Pete.
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Cheers Pete, sounds good. Yes, EST is my time zone. What is yours Pete?
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Excellent- in British Summer time so I think that makes me 5 hours ahead of you.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Will keep you in mind for sure Pete. I need to finish some more Aztecs and will aim for sometime in the fall. My thoughts are percolating!
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Looks like you had a lot of fun across the miles, great to see you not letting isolation hold you back, if anything it’s actually expanded your gaming circle!
Well done sir!
Cheers Roger.
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Cheers Roger, and I always will have room for you if I get some gaming on the schedule. Been pretty busy with the Board of Health duties, walking up to 10 miles a day, and golf! Retirement is a busy time!
Cheers back at ya!
Mark
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Ha ha, if I walked ten miles in a day I need the rest of the week to recover!
Cheers Roger.
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11 today (and it was hot!)
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Excellent stuff Mark
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Thanks Per!
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That looks bloody amazing and I applaud you for going to all the work of setting it up and running it successfully. Really amazing idea and well-executed. While it obviously doesn’t have the in-person or tactile elements that we love so much, I can see it adding a different dimension that you don’t see that often – the “detatched general” element. There are some boardgames (Memoir’44?) and some large custom miniature games have players designated as “Generals” who give orders to their sub-commanders who in turtn move their own sets of models, and it’s up to those players to execute them to their own level of comptence. I can see this kind of preserving that, but on an even closer to the ground scale as a commander of the local units.
I’d be all over a game of something, when time and schedules allow. I’m on AEST +10 (Australian Eastern Standard Time) at the moment, though soon we’ll transition to AEDT +11 (Daylight).
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Thanks Az and that would be awesome to have you. I’m definitely thinking of something when I get my Tlaxcalans done and a few Conquistadores. I will let you know, maybe even WaT!
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Either sounds good, but the WaT stuff really appeals after all the Batreps you’ve shown!
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I am toying with a WaT playoff series idea where any volunteer players face off in a bracket challenge or something similar.
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