Skirmish games are back. True to form, I’ve been slow to adapt. When the fashion conscious moved to Bolt Action, I stuck with Flames of War. When those in the know started collecting SAGA war bands, I moved into L’Art de la Guerre. Full fat milk has always trumped semi skimmmed in my book. But we live to be educated ( unless You are in one of my classes!) Mike Lane offered a chance to play a Crete skirmish game last week and what a Terriffic game. Mike has devised his own rules over a number of years, detailed enough to empathise with the figures but not so detailed that you have to roll to see which trouser leg has snagged on a fence post.

I chose the Fallshirmjager and elected to take a flight path along a low ridge that I calculated would save me from the Bofors below. My first section made a perfect descent and then took up position to cover the entrance to the ravine. My platoon headquarters were made of sterner stuff and landed almost right on the entrenched Tommmies at the road junction. Unfastentening belt buckles and finding the drop canisters wasn’t easy with rapid fire from the trenches.  With support from the first section in the orchard, we had a foothold. Third section vaulted the stone wall and charged Mikes dazed and battered defenders. We called it today or rather the night at this point. The battle was still in the balance even after two hours and the chip break that Mike insisted on.

Can’t wait to get back and play some more. I know, the trendy ones are into Frosty Bottom, Game of Bras or some such…………