If there is one group who can withstand four weeks of Virus- inspired isolation it’s wargamers! Four weeks without contact with any human maybe a chore in some respects but hobby time? Nevermind the golden 90:10 ratio of playing to painting, reverse that, or alternatively play solo. You don’t have to be on top of a mountain to be without an opponent, so this Saturday I turned to my Christmas present, Commands and Colors Medieval.

This is a classic game system and one which I intend using as a basis for my 15mm miniatures collection. Not only are the rules great fun but the support from GMT is also so impressive. So out came the blocks, my two sons headed for cover, and I embarked on a solo encounter between the Eastern Roman Empire and the dreaded Huns.

Whilst I will always love miniatures, it is liberating just to reach for a box and you have everything one needs. This is doubly so for Commands and Colors as all the components are such high quality. Some moan about the application of the stickers but really, compared to hours of painting?

Five cards for me but the Hun “A.I.” Would just have the top card. Without a huge number of ifs and buts, I wanted to keep it simple. Enemy lights would just advance to shoot , whilst medium and heavy horse would aim for the opponent directly in front a la To the Strongest! The medieval variant does have Inspired action cards, these my “opponent” would just save and redraw. The counter-attack card was drawn early , so my follow up moves would be curtailed.

The skirmish lines duly met. The Huns have a large number of light javelinmen and my own auxilia were singularly unimpressive. So long as you keep your “opponent” from doing anything rash, the system for single play appeared to be working. But then…….

Attlla’s warrior units struck. If you thought elephants were deadly in earlier versions, barbarian foot are so powerful. My heavy foot were sorely pressed and it took Zandalas, with the heavy horse to stem the tide. And then Attila regrouped with an inspired action card. The barbarians were back……

A series of cards for the Hunnic centre saw the Hunnic heavy horse charge forward. This time it was the Byzantine Arnegisclus who had to personally lead the Romans forward to hold on. I needed just one more victory token.

It wasn’t to be, the Hunnic lights closed in and shot me down! I had lost to the A.I.. Oh the ignomy! I had really enjoyed this games and it really is full steam ahead now to get the miniatures for this system. Simon Hall, of MeG fame is already enticing me with new Roman miniatures in PLASTIC! ( purists look away now! ) So here goes a month of self imposed isolation! Good luck and God bless to all of you at this strangest of time!