Recon 2023, day 1

 My first day (or first evening) at Recon was indeed a good time. Saw some really cool soldiers and terrain:

All the King's Men figures, used to play Rebels and Patriots.

Bought two books:

And joined in a cracking, eight-player game of The Sword in Africa:

My part of the forces - twenty Zanzibari slavers, a gun,
and a command element.

Some of the justly unhappy opposition.

Backed up by inexplicably pro-native Belgians.

One of my leaders wandered off and drowned in quicksand.

We had to do much of our combat "off-table" because
most of the village had hidden in a nearby cave.
Which we assaulted before I realized it would be smarter 
to "smoke 'em out."

Elsewhere, we had a bit of success
driving in the farmers and even
taking a few prisoners.

Part of the village, with a dead cow and witch doctor.

The GM, Dwight, has lots of terrain for sale and I'm quite tempted, to get some native buildings and lovely kraals if nothing else. Spotted a few more things I'd like to get, but key to keep in mind is the swap meet which will be tomorrow at six, and apparently always has a long line to get in!

Highlights:

• My gun crew rolls nine dice to hit, needing 6s or less on D20, and gets none at all;
• A few turns later the gun fires five shots for three hits;
• One of our units lost its shooting phase to blast some baboons instead;
• A lion appeared in the village, which at the time was surrounded by a four-way fight between Zanzibaris, pygmies, natives and Belgians, killed two slavers and escaped.
• Charging into an occupied cave, twice, and losing badly.

Can't wait for tomorrow! Or this morning as the case may be, as I write it's nine hours till my next game. Night!